#Monstrous Movie Music
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Video eassays part 2? Please?
gladly (part one: x)
the shining and the lighthouse: the horror of isolation
monstrous menstruations: the dehumanising of women in horror
the feminist horrors of jennifer's body, teeth, and a girl walks home alone at night
why the shining is terrifying
why you should watch disturbing horror movies
a monstress comes of age: horror & girlhood
jennifer's body & the horror of bad marketing
scary faces and loud sounds - analog horror
the nostalgic nightmare of skinamarink
queer representation in modern horror
the real reason the thing (1982) is better than the thing (2011)
how to make possession horror/the exorcist
the existential horror of david cronenberg's camera
the tale of two sisters / the unsettling mise-en-scene
what happened to japanese horror?
nope: the rise of existential horror
deconstructing the horror musical
pennywise: how to make a horror villain
alien - the art of horror
green room: why dumb decisions matter
let's talk about goosebumps scariest episode
the catharsis of body horror
the thing is the best horror movie of all time
what we can learn from korean horror
cure / creating the scariest non-horror film
the rocky horror picture show is the most important cult film ever made
ambiguous horror of the wailing
elements of horror - screams in horror movies
noroi: realistic j-horror
kairo / anatomy of the scariest scene ever
psycho / how alfred hitchcock manipulates an audience
the faith & horror of the exorcist
jurassic park is actually a horror movie
the horror (and problem) of sinister
the horror romance of let the right one in and let me in
mainland chinese horror & censorship
the most profound ending in horror film history?
courage the cowardly dog: an intro to horror
why do people dislike smart horror films?
exploring netflix's most unsettling found footage
universal monsters - why are classic horror movies still popular?
strange phenomena: the films of dario argento
exploring cinema's most controversial horror movie
why do horror games sound so beautiful?
atmosphere makes a great horror movie (alien 1979)
horror comedy: juxtaposed genre
why perfect blue is terrifying
the thing: horror in isolation
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Man as a 90s-early 2000s Wade Wilson enjoyer I have opinions on that guy's gender.
Idk if I feel like typing a whole thing but there's something to a guy who no matter what he can't NOT be big due to his healing factor/ metabolism and has to wear a costume because he knows people will only see grotesqueness underneath. Early comics Wade is incredibly insecure and toxic, performing masculinity to the point of even he admits it's an act at times but whats the point ya know? He's big and scary and monstrous and that's going to be the first thing anyone sees so why not lean into what people expect him to be. Besides the only thing more mocked by straight men than a feminine man in the 90s is an gross unattractive masculine man in a dress. You'd be seen as both perverted and predatory in a way that isnt celebrated by the men around you in the way that misogyny is. And if Wade Wilson desires anything its acceptance and admiration from his peers.
In the later comics even his queerness is aggressive and confrontational. Because he's the big masculine one. He has to be the pitcher because who the hell is going to desire him as a catcher? The only thing he has going for him is that he's large and muscular and that's only attractive when you're topping right??
Anyhow all this to say Wade is gender fluid to me but it's so buried under body dysmorphia and self hatred he just doesn't address it ever because who is ever going to see him and assume anything but he/him or a top and there's nothing he can do to change his body. Better to be quiet than mocked. At least about this.
All this was inspired by me watching Some Like it Hot the other day with my partners and damn does Jack Lemmon's mannerisms and candor remind me of Wade. ((The musical of this movie is fantastic btw))
Anyhow I have a lot more in depth thoughts about this but for now this is what I could articulate.
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the possible future of the hatchetfield series: hatchetfield halloween party livestream full rundown
again apologies if someone has already done something like this, but I’m procrastinating doing my coursework and just want to talk about hatchetfield I want everyone to be aware of this exciting stuff that was announced in the stream so here you go:
the next starkid musical to be released will not be in the hatchetfield universe.
the guy who didn’t like musicals will soon be ready to license.
nightmare time 3 was originally planned to be released in the same year as nightmare time 2 and will wrap up the overarching nightmare time stories (which seem to be miss holloway and the foster sisters respectively).
if they did a fourth hatchetfield musical, it would be about miss holloway and her backstory. it is already written. I am very very extremely normal about this fact 😃
there is a possibility of a hatchetfield movie, and workin’ boys was sort of a test for this concept. it would be a slasher murder mystery centering around the hatchetfield community players (zoey chambers and the cast of workin’ girls, possibly also with ruth, hidgens, alice and any other theatre-oriented characters but that part’s just my speculation). the transcription of the teaser description can be found below the nmt descriptions.
ok so here are the transcriptions of the nmt3 episode descriptions:
Story #1: Bottle Imps
Bill Woodward has been chosen to test CCRP’s latest and greatest product; Bottle Imps. These reality-bending buddies will bring their owner the one thing they desire most. When his new imp, Lovely, leads him to his soulmate, Bill decides to use his magical companion to play matchmaker. But to help Charlotte find the man of her dreams, Bill will have to bend the Imp’s rules. Rules he’s been warned, must never be broken…
Story #2: Frankenruth
Desperate to see a naked body, Ruth Fleming and Richie Lipschitz volunteer at the morgue of St. Damien’s Hospital. Their terrible plan becomes exponentially more terrible, when they become unwitting subjects in the experiments of the body-snatching madman, Doctor Laszlo, who claims to have conquered death itself. If Hatchetfield thought Ruth was bad before, then they will cower before the unspeakable horror of… Frankenruth!
Story #3: Becky Barnes Climbed a Tree
Becky Barnes is on top of the world! Not in a literal sense, of course. She’s deathly afraid of heights. After years of struggle, Becky’s life is finally everything she dreamed it would be. She’s engaged to her high school sweetheart, Tom Houston, and the two have a surprise baby on the way! But, as the couple prepare for the arrival of baby Marie, a shadow from Becky’s past returns to haunt them.
Story #4: Devil’s Night
Tim Houston has a crush. Unfortunately, it’s on his older, mature and totally cool babysitter, Grace Chasity, who he fears will never see him as anything but a snot-nosed little kid. But when a devilish maniac with murderous designs on Grace attacks Hatchetfield the night before Halloween, Tim must protect his beloved, or join the killer’s growing body count. It’s another slashing adventure on the night HE came home… Devil’s Night.
Story #5: (long special episode) Miss Holloween
It’s Halloween in Hatchetfield once again, and Miss Holloway is celebrating the same way she’s done for decades, staving off the horrors that go bump in the night. But when Duke gives her an invitation to his wedding, the dejected Miss Holloway begins to chafe under the terms of a contract forged many years ago. She strikes a new bargain, but unfortunately her creditors are known for their tricks, not treats. Just as Miss Holloway gives up her powers in exchange for a mortal life, a monstrous new threat rears its ugly head. As All Hallows Eve descends, and all Hell breaks loose, Miss Holloway must save the town or die trying… for real this time.
Story #6: (long special episode / season finale) Orb Weaver
Lex Foster had a life once. A home. A boyfriend. Now there is only the road, and her sister, and the fear of the men who are hunting them. As Hannah Foster watched Lex sink deeper into despair, she is certain of only three things: Webby is gone. She cannot help them. They are alone. Elsewhere, an old soldier awakens from a catatonic state. Returned from some unimaginable Hell with a mission. He knows that somewhere, two magical girls require immediate evac… then maybe some coffee.
very important: if you want nightmare time 3, WATCH NIGHTMARE TIME 2. BUY A TICKET TO THE LIVESTREAM. SHOW THAT THERE IS LOVE AND DEMAND AND IT’S WORTH THEIR TIME AND MONEY I AM BEGGING YOU
hatchetfield movie: Cast Party Massacre
The Hatchetfield Community Players. You will never find a cattier troupe of two-faced thespians. But when the blood begins to flow at their latest show’s cast party, they must consider: is there a secret murderer in their midst? And more importantly, who amongst them is a good enough actor to pull off such a performance? Can they set aside their petty squabbles and tangled romances, or is it curtains for this ensemble? Who will survive… the Cast Party Massacre!
#doing the lord (wiggly’s) work 🫡#I hope this isn’t dodgy in any way in terms of the livestream being pay-to-see#but I just wanted people to know and be able to talk about it#hatchetfield halloween party#workin boys#workin boys spoilers#hatchetfield#hatchetverse#hatchetfield universe#the guy who didn’t like musicals#tgwdlm#black friday musical#npmd#nerdy prudes must die#nightmare time#nmt#nightmare time 3#nmt3#lex foster#hannah foster#miss holloway#douglas keane#duke keane#holloduke#general john macnamara#zoey chambers#ruth fleming#richie lipschitz#bill woodward#charlotte sweetly
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Why did no one tell me about Cats Don't Dance? I had to hear it mentioned in an off-hand line in a Youtube video as an example of a good movie that flopped because it was screwed over by the studio, then I had to seek it out for myself, and only then find out:
It was the first non-Disney movie to win the Annie Award for Best Picture (it beat out Hercules).
It's an animated tribute to 1930s movie musicals done in the 1990s, which gives it a very Animaniacs vibe.
It has an insanely energetic and stretchy animation style.
It gives us the story of a starry-eyed song-and-dance man (who happens to be a talking cat) who leaves small-town Indiana hoping to make it big in Hollywood, only to find that talking animals don't get any starring roles. And then of course he meets a motley crew of eccentric animal actors who've had to content themselves with stereotyped bit parts and inspire them to try for better.
It has a romance where the cynical girl who had her dreams crushed gets inspired by the innocent, wide-eyed idealist to chase after hope again. (Which happens to be one of my special favorite kind of romances).
It's directed by a guy who'd go on to direct The Emperor's New Groove.
It's got songs by Randy Newman.
Scott Bakula voices the lead (and has a surprisingly decent singing voice).
Don Knotts plays a superstitious turtle.
There is a piano-playing elephant voiced by John Rhys-Davies.
The actress who voiced Cruella de Ville came out of retirement to voice a chain-smoking elderly fish (who might be my favorite side character).
Gene Kelly did the choreography (and it was the last project he worked on before his death).
The villain is an utterly insane Shirley-Temple-type child star who gets some of the most over-the-top animation I've ever seen.
She has a giant monstrous butler--like, it is absurd how giant this guy is.
And there are wild setpieces and big musical numbers and a scene with a clever use of color to show inner emotions.
It's not like the greatest movie ever made or anything, but it's a solid B-tier story that's a lot of fun and happens to perfectly fit my taste in so many ways, so I'm upset no one bothered to alert me to its existence.
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The Addams Family Through the Years
Before I get into character profiles, let me first do a run-through of the incarnations of the Addams family through the years.
As I wrote in my first post, Charles Addams created the nameless, bizarre family in some of the many comics he drew for The New Yorker starting in 1938. Morticia and Wednesday were named in 1962 when dolls of them were released. Charles Addams was asked for a list of names and descriptions for them and the other family members when the TV show was in development in 1963, but had little other involvement with the show.
The show ran for two seasons from 1964 to 1966, totalling 64 episodes. This was the same time that a similar show, The Munsters, was also on the air. Both shows were about wacky families of monstrous weirdos living in American suburbia. Both were in black and white, and both were canceled in 1966, possibly due to the rise of color television.
After a cross-over with Scooby-Doo, Hanna-Barbera produced a 16-episode animated series in 1973 which featured the family on a road trip in a creepy camper that looked like their mansion. It featured the same actors who played Lurch and Fester voicing their previous characters, and a 10-year-old Jodie Foster as the voice of Pugsley!
There was a reunion special in 1977, which reunited most of the cast of the show, called Halloween with the New Addams Family. The original show had remained popular, running in syndication for years. It was especially popular in Australia. According to one fan, this was because the Addams family was “less American” than the Munsters.
In 1991, a feature film was released after a tumultuous production. Raul Julia became the new face of Gomez Addams in the popular consciousness. It was followed by a sequel called Addams Family Values in 1993, and in between there was another animated series. John Astin reprised his role as Gomez in that animated series.
There were plans to continue the film series, but Raul Julia suffered from stomach cancer and died suddenly in 1994, canceling those plans. Although both films performed poorly at the box office, they gained a loyal following on home video and remain popular to this day. In 1992, an Addams family pinball machine was produced featuring original voice acting from Raul Julia as Gomez and Angelica Huston as Morticia. It became the most popular pinball machine of all time, selling over 20,000 units.
In 1998, a TV movie called Addams Family Reunion was produced by Saban, featuring Tim Curry as Gomez and Daryl Hannah as Morticia. The only returning actors from the 1991/93 movies were Carel Struycken and Christopher Hart's hand, who played Lurch and Thing, respectively. I have not seen it, and can not attest to its quality, or lack thereof. That movie was also meant to be the pilot for a TV show called The New Addams Family, but most of the cast was different. It ran for 65 episodes, none of which have I seen. (Hat tip to @tenthirtyone for pointing this out.)
After a try-out in Chicago, a musical debuted on Broadway in 2010. I was lucky enough to see that for my birthday that year. It starred Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia. It was pretty entertaining. It would have been better if Lane wasn’t trying to be Raul Julia. He did a very fake Spanish accent, and it was terribly distracting. The musical was panned by critics and didn’t last long, but it was popular enough that it is now performed by high schools across the country. In fact, my friend Sarah and my cousin Charlie were both involved with different productions of it this past Spring.
That same year (2010), the rights were purchased by Illumination Entertainment, and they announced that they were going to produce a stop-motion film with Tim Burton. However, he decided to go with computer animation instead. That eventually turned into the 2019 film, after Tim Burton dropped out. This version was the closest in appearance to the original comics. Although the characters are rendered in 3D, the animators aimed to make them look as much like Charles Addams’ drawings as possible.
You’d think Tim Burton had been involved since at least the 1991 movie, but he hadn’t. Black and white stripes? Bats? Other goth things? That sounds like Tim Burton, but oddly enough, he actually hasn’t been attached to any Addams Family property until the Netflix show in 2022. It’s a natural pairing, and perhaps he would have been great friends with Charles Addams, had he been born several decades earlier.
Now the Netflix show, centered on Wednesday, is in production for its second season after its first season was one of the streaming service's most popular shows to date. It's not the first time the Addams family has spawned a viral dance sensation. Way back in the 1960s, the original TV show started a dance craze called “the Lurch”.
In coming posts, I’ll go into how Charles Addams originally portrayed each of the nine characters in the Addams family pictured above (Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Fester, Grandmama, Lurch, Thing, and Cousin Itt) and how they evolved, or didn’t, over time.
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Linked Universe AU Directory
Anyway, I didn't put every single AU on this thing. I do not have the time and energy for that because there's over 600 LU works tagged as alternate universes on Ao3. I did follow some general guidelines when I was deciding which works to add, the most important one being that the AU had to be more than just canon divergence and had to affect all the characters equally. Feel free to add onto this post, if you think something is missing.
Link to the Ao3 Collection
Age Swap | Age Shuffle AU
Apocalypse - Unspecified | Brothers In Arms
Apocalypse - Zombies | Autolysis
Apocalypse - Zombies | LU Zombie AU
Fae | Across the River
Fae | Flower Garden
Fae | From Open Seas, to Dark Tangled Depths
Folklore | If You Thought This Was Gonna Have a Cool Title, You Obviously Don't Know Me
Fusion - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Hyrule's Adventures in Wonderland
Fusion - Among Us | Good Riddance
Fusion - Atlantis: The Lost Empire | The Sage's Journal
Fusion - Big Hero 6 | Fierce Hero 9
Fusion - Captain America: Civil War | United We Stand, Divided We Fall
Fusion - Dungeons & Dragons | LU x DnD Crossover
Fusion - Full House | Full House AU
Fusion - Lethal Company | Linked Company AU
Fusion - Lethal Company | Linked Universe AU: Lethal Company
Fusion - Mad Max | And the World Ends Again
Fusion - Monstrous Regiment | Linked Regiment
Fusion - Nailed It! | You Really Nailed it Right There, Buddy!
Fusion - Pokémon | LU Pokémon AU
Fusion - Pride and Prejudice | Pride and Prejudice but it's a Fair-Play Whodunnit
Fusion - Tangled | LU Tangled AU
Fusion - The Hunger Games | LU Hunger Games AU
Fusion - The Incredibles | Linked Universe Incredibles AU
Fusion - The Secret World of Arrietty | The Secret World of Wild and Twilight
Fusion - Spirited Away | One Summer's Day
Fusion - Star Wars | Tales of Courage from Across the Galaxy
Fusion - Warrior Cats | Faronclan AU
Gods & Goddesses | And the Universe Said "I Love You"
Heist | Heist AU
Historical - 1800s | City of Light and Dark
Historical - Supernatural | 1931
Science Fiction - Space Crew | Linked Nexus
Mermaids | Flared Fins
Miscellaneous - Disability | Shatterproof
Miscellaneous - Intrigue | Castle Intrigue
Miscellaneous - Magic | We Could be Immortals
Miscellaneous - Unspecified | Eyes Wide Open
Miscellaneous - Unspecified | Manus Lupus
Modern | Adoption AU
Modern | Good Enough
Modern | In the Heart of Hyrule
Modern | LU Modern AU
Modern | Modern Zeldas AU
Modern | Ranch House AU
Modern | The Many Realities of the Hero Spirit and Modern Living
Modern | The Roadtrip AU
Modern | The Weather Outside is Frightful
Modern - Actors | Linked Universe Actor AU
Modern - Coffeeshop/Café | Looking for Group
Modern - College/University | All You Need to Know
Modern - College/University | Linked University
Modern - College/University | Oh No, They're Theater Kids Now
Modern - College/University | RIP
Modern - Emergency Services | Of Officers and Stuffed Elephants
Modern - Farm | Fresh from the Farm
Modern - Ghost Hunters | A Haunting in Hyrule
Modern - Healthcare | How to Save a Life
Modern - Healthcare | LU in Healthcare
Modern - Magic | Everything but Blood
Modern - Magic | Family is Made of...
Modern - Magic | Maybe Human
Modern - Magic | Summer Camp Lon!
Modern - Magic | The Chain that Binds Us
Modern - Magic | Wild's Magic Shop AU
Modern - Monsters | Here There Be Monsters
Modern - Movie Theater | There's a Remlit... Loose in the Theater!
Modern - Music Camp | Linked Repertoire
Modern - Newsroom | BSX: Hyrule SatellaNews
Modern - Newsroom | Professions and Professionals
Modern - Office | Linked Corporations
Modern - Opera | Opera House AU
Modern - Retail | The Hot Topic Debate
Modern - Retail | What Goes Down at Festival Foods
Monsters | Seelies and Selkies
Murder Mystery | How to Kill a God
Post-Nuclear War | Chain Reaction
Royalty | Every Other Star
Royalty | I'll Be There
Royalty | Royal Links AU
Royalty | Lost Prince AU Part 1 & Lost Prince AU Part 2
Soulmates - Platonic | Marks on Your Body, Marks on Your Soul
Soulmates - Romantic | Castle Town Coffee Shop
Vigilantes | Empty Streets Full of Life
Vigilantes | We Will Find You, Wherever You Are
Wings | Four's a Dad!?
Wings | Wings AU
Wings | Wing Bois
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so i’m still thinking about this
about how in the shape of water, eliza is presented as a social outcast, how she has few friends and those that she does have are marginalised (a Black woman and a gay man), how she is mute and communicates through sign language
the amphibian man is presented as a misunderstood being, a creature who appears monstrous and has done things that cause him to be feared (including responding to a threat by severing his attacker’s fingers. sounds familiar huh)
and they become friends and lovers because eliza is the only one to see past that, to disregard the legend around the amphibious man and see him for who he is, to discover that he’s a person as much as she is, to spend time with him and bring him snacks and introduce him to music and protect him from people who want to harm him
and they end up being able to communicate in their own way, adapting to each other’s environment - eliza teaches him sign language, and when they escape to the sea at the end of the movie the amphibious man’s healing power allows the wounds on eliza’s neck to become gills
it’s absolutely no coincidence that it’s stede who is on eliza’s side in the shot despite him being the ‘creature’ and not the human
it’s absolutely no coincidence that they chose to reference this movie in a story about an outcast who looks at a character that everyone believes is a monster and simply sees a man, about them learning to communicate through stories and metaphors and restaurant themed improv, about the two of them falling in love because they understand each other in a way that nobody else ever has or ever could
#please watch the shape of water if you haven’t already#ofmd#ofmd s2 spoilers#the shape of water#blackbonnet#stede bonnet#edward teach#ofmd meta#lyse.jpg
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Through the Looking Glass - One
Rafe Cameron x Reader
content: drinking, tension (rafe likes to look at you)
word count: 6k
prologue
The last time you set foot in a new school, you were nine years old. Your father had sent you off to a prestigious boarding school halfway across the country. Though it wasn’t a school, not really. It was more like a factory, cold and unyielding, designed to shape children from high-profile government families into the next generation of leaders and operatives. The halls were filled with future politicians, intelligence agents, and power brokers. Each was more intense, more cutthroat, and more determined than the last.
Breaks were a luxury you couldn’t afford. The instructors were strict to the point of being merciless, expecting perfection and punishing anything less. The curriculum was relentless, grinding you down and reshaping you into something sharp and efficient. There were no sleepovers or giggling with friends, no carefree afternoons in the park. Just drills, evaluations, and endless expectations. You learned quickly how to suppress your emotions, to quiet the part of you that wanted to cry or rebel.
You became what they wanted: disciplined, composed, and ready to take orders. But walking onto the University of North Carolina’s campus felt like stepping into another universe.
The differences were staggering, almost surreal. Where the boarding school had been rigid and sterile, UNC was alive, teeming with energy and freedom. Some students sprawled out on blankets under monstrous oak trees, laughing and playing games of spikeball in the sunshine, while others sat in their own study groups more focused on gossiping about who was interested in whom than working on their essays.
The buildings, their brick facades draped in ivy, stood proud yet inviting, as though welcoming you into a new chapter of your life. It was a world you’d only ever viewed from a distance, in movies or fleeting glimpses during missions. It felt chaotic, free, and utterly alien to you.
UNC wasn’t just one of the country’s top business schools; it was also renowned for its vibrant social scene. Greek Row was the epicenter of it all, alive with parties that raged late into the night, music spilling into the streets. On game days, tailgates transformed the campus into a sprawling festival, with canopies, kegs, and mini grills crowding every open space. Each weekend brought something new to celebrate, another excuse to gather and let loose. It was a world you could barely imagine fitting into, let alone navigating by yourself.
But you didn’t have to imagine. You’d been preparing for this moment for nearly a year. From the second the case file landed on your desk, you’d immersed yourself in everything UNC had to offer. You memorized its culture, its traditions, and even its most recent scandals. You knew which bars on Franklin Street were the most popular on Thursday nights, which fraternity houses held the most exclusive parties, and which sororities had the most influence. You even learned the best shortcuts through campus, routes that would let you avoid campus police or slip away unnoticed.
Your apartment was a short ten-minute walk from the heart of campus. On the surface, it seemed ordinary: a modest brick complex tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined street. But as you approached, the details stood out. The doorman, Johnny, was the first clue. He wasn’t just a friendly face stationed at the entrance — he was part of the agency, placed there to keep an eye on you. Whether his presence was meant to protect you or monitor you was unclear, but it didn’t matter. Either way, it offered a small sense of security in an otherwise unsettling situation.
Johnny greeted you with a polite nod as you entered, his expression neutral. You returned the gesture with a tight smile, the kind that didn’t reach your eyes. It wasn’t personal; you simply couldn’t afford to let your guard down. Not here. Not yet.
The elevator ride to the third floor was quiet, the soft hum of the machinery filling the space. When the doors slid open, you stepped into a hallway lined with neutral-toned carpeting and soft overhead lighting. Your apartment was at the end of the hall. The space was small but well-appointed, with sleek, modern furniture, warm lighting, and a fully stocked kitchen. It looked nothing like the cramped dorms you’d read about in your research, where freshmen shared tiny rooms and whispered secrets late into the night.
You set your bag down just inside the door, taking a moment to absorb your surroundings. This was it. Your new life. For the next semester you wouldn’t be the girl forged in the cold, unyielding halls of your past. You’d become a confident, ambitious, college girl who blended seamlessly into this bright, chaotic world.
The girl who walked into this apartment was no longer a government agent’s daughter or a product of a childhood spent in the shadows of high-stakes operations. She was a girl who went to all the football games and studied on the quad. Someone who danced under neon lights at Sigma Chi parties and laughed too loudly with friends in the library.
At least, that’s who you needed to be.
You crossed the room and pulled open the blinds, letting the golden light of the setting sun flood the space. From here, you could see the edges of campus. Students moved in clusters, their voices carrying faintly through the evening air. Somewhere out there, Rafe Cameron was waiting.
You’d seen his face a hundred times in the photos tucked inside his dossier. From the cocky smirk, the piercing blue eyes, the sleek buzzed blonde hair, it was all etched into your memory. You knew his routines, his weaknesses, his tells. You’d studied him like a final exam, preparing for the moment you’d meet him in person. Yet, as you stared out at the campus, a knot of unease twisted in your stomach.
Because no amount of training could prepare you for what came next. This wasn’t just another assignment you sat on the sidelines of, watching every move, critiquing every wrong step. It was your very own assignment. The decade long case you were meant to crack. And this was Rafe Cameron, the key to the entire operation.
You let out a slow breath, your fingers gripping the edge of the windowsill. The world outside seemed so vibrant, so full of life, but you knew better than to get swept up in it. This wasn’t about fun or freedom. It was about the mission. The stakes were too high to let anything distract you.
You turned away from the window, the sound of your sandals clicking softly against the polished wood floors as you moved back toward your bag. Somewhere deep inside, a flicker of doubt tried to take hold, but you pushed it down. You couldn’t afford doubt.
Brooke O’Brien was UNC’s very own Barbie doll. The kind of girl who seemed almost too perfect, her presence glowing with an effortless charisma that felt more polished than natural. Maybe it was her blonde curls and doll-like hazel eyes, or the way she lit up every room she entered with an energy that was both magnetic and overwhelming. Either way, she was someone people both admired and envied in equal measure.
To you, Brooke was… a lot. Too much, maybe. But that didn’t matter. She was your way in. If there was one person you needed to befriend, it was Brooke O’Brien.
When you saw her crossing the quad toward you, waving enthusiastically, you braced yourself. Her dazzling smile and quick pace made it seem like nothing could stop her.
“Wow!” she called out, her voice ringing through the crowd. “It’s so great to finally meet you!”
Before you could react, she had thrown her arms around you, pulling you into a tight hug. Caught off guard, you hesitated for only a moment before hugging her back. If she was this excited, then so were you. Or at least, that’s what you had to make her believe.
“Totally,” you said, pulling back with your best gleaming smile. “Everyone here already seems so friendly.”
Brooke’s laugh was light and airy, the kind of laugh that made you want to laugh along even if you didn’t know what was funny. “Oh, honey, you don’t even know! UNC is, like, the friendliest place on Earth. You’re going to love it here, I promise.”
She slipped her arm through yours without hesitation, as though you’d been best friends for years, and began guiding you across the quad. Her energy was infectious, and you found yourself grateful for how easy she made it to keep up the act.
“So,” she said, turning her head to study you, “first impressions? Be honest.”
“It’s... a lot,” you admitted, your gaze sweeping over the bustling campus. “But in a good way.”
Brooke beamed. “That’s what I like to hear! College is supposed to be a lot. It’s all about finding yourself, you know? And trust me, UNC is the perfect place for that.”
You smiled politely, wondering if the line about "finding yourself" was something she said to everyone or if she actually believed it. Still, it was hard not to be drawn in by her enthusiasm.
As she gestured toward a row of buildings, pointing out the arts building and student union, she glanced at you curiously. “So, tell me about your last school. What was it like?”
The question was casual, but your stomach tightened all the same. You’d been preparing for this, practicing your answers until they felt natural, but it was still unnerving to hear it aloud. “Oh, it was... fine,” you said with a small shrug. “A lot smaller than this. Not as lively.”
Brooke tilted her head, her curls bouncing slightly. “Really? Where’d you go again?”
“Uh, Hawthorne College,” you said, dropping the name of the small liberal arts school the agency had assigned to your cover story. “It was nice, but it didn’t really feel like the right fit.”
Brooke nodded knowingly. “Oh, I totally get that. Sometimes you just need a fresh start, you know? That’s what I love about UNC — it’s, like, impossible not to find your people here.”
You nodded along, grateful that she didn’t press further. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”
“You will,” Brooke said firmly, giving your arm a reassuring squeeze. “College is all about reinventing yourself. I mean, when I got here, I was, like, so shy. Couldn’t even raise my hand in class without turning bright red.”
You raise an eyebrow, struggling to imagine Brooke as anything less than radiant and self-assured. “Really?”
“Okay, maybe not that shy,” she admits with a laugh. “But still, this college changes you. In the best way. You’ll see.”
As she leads you through the quad, Brooke chats non-stop, pointing out landmarks and weaving in bits of campus gossip like it’s second nature. You nod along, doing your best to look captivated while mentally filing away the information that might actually be useful.
Brooke’s warmth was disarming, a sharp contrast to the cold precision you’d been trained to embody since becoming a pre-teen. For a moment, you wondered if it was genuine or if everyone here wore their own kind of mask. Either way, letting your guard down wasn’t an option, not even with the sweet and charming Brooke O’Brien. Not with so much riding on this.
“That’s the library,” Brooke says, gesturing toward an imposing brick building covered in ivy. “You’ll spend way too much time there during finals. Oh, and over there—” she points to a cluster of tables shaded by oak trees, “—that’s where the serious study groups hang out. They’re, like, terrifyingly intense. But if you ever need help with a project, that’s the place to go.”
You nod, making a mental note. “Good to know.”
Brooke stops suddenly, spinning to face you with wide eyes. “Wait! I have to introduce you to my favorite place on campus.”
Without waiting for a response, she grabs your hand and pulls you toward a small café tucked into the corner of the quad. The smell of freshly brewed coffee hits you as soon as you step inside, and you can’t help but feel a small pang of appreciation. For all her energy, Brooke seems genuinely excited to share this with you.
“Isn’t it cute?” she gushes, gesturing toward the mismatched chairs and cozy lighting. “I swear, their iced caramel macchiatos are life-changing. And if you ever need a good place to study, this is it.”
“Noted,” you say, allowing a small smile to slip through. It’s hard not to truly warm up to her enthusiasm, even if you’re supposed to be keeping people at arm's length.
The two of you grab drinks before heading back outside, and as you settle onto a bench near the quad, Brooke leans in conspiratorially. “Okay, so now that you’ve got the basics, it’s time for the fun stuff.”
You tilt your head, feigning curiosity. “Oh?”
“My friends,” she says with a grin. “You’re going to love them. Well, most of them.”
She launched into a detailed rundown of her friend group as the two of you sat and enjoyed your drinks. You had to admit, the coffee rivaled anything you’d had in the city.
“Okay, so first there’s Maddie, she’s my best friend. She’s super sweet, but, like, don’t get on her bad side. She’ll smile while ripping you to shreds, and you won’t even realize it until it’s too late.”
You chuckled, making a mental note of Maddie’s name.
“Then there’s Sabrina,” Brooke continued. “She’s the fun one. She can make anyone dance, even if they swear they don’t dance. Seriously, she could probably convince a statue to do the Cupid Shuffle.”
You smiled, appreciating the way Brooke’s tone shifted slightly with each new person she described. It was obvious she genuinely cared about them.
“And then there’s Liam,” she said, her voice softening slightly. “He’s... complicated. Kind of a wild card, but in a good way. He’s always down for an adventure. Like, last week, he tried to convince us all to go skydiving. At midnight. I don’t even think that’s legal.”
Your brows lifted. “Sounds interesting.”
“Oh, he is,” Brooke said with a knowing grin. “But don’t worry. He’s harmless.” She hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting slightly. “And, um, Chase. We’ve been... talking. Kind of.”
You raised an eyebrow, your lips quirking up slightly. “Talking?”
“Okay, maybe more than talking,” Brooke admitted, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. “He’s cute, but, like, he can be so frustrating sometimes. He has this thing where he just disappears for days and then texts me like nothing happened. But whatever. It’s not serious.”
The slight edge in her voice suggested otherwise, but you didn’t press. “He sounds... nice?”
Brooke laughed, rolling her eyes. “He is. When he wants to be.” She paused for a moment, her expression shifting. “And then there’s Rafe.”
Your heartbeat quickened at the mention of his name, but you kept your face carefully neutral. “What’s he like?”
Brooke hesitated, as though searching for the right words. “He’s complicated too. Intense, definitely. But once you get to know him, he’s one of the most loyal people you’ll ever meet.”
She took a sip of her drink, her brows knitting together. “Lately, though, he’s been in a mood. Something about a girl he was seeing. But he won’t talk about it. Anyway, he invited everyone to a sports bar tonight, so maybe he’s trying to shake it off.”
You nodded, keeping your expression casual even as your thoughts raced. A girl? That wasn’t in the file. Who was she, and what did she mean to him?
Brooke’s face brightened again, and she reached out to squeeze your arm. “You should come! It’ll be fun, and you can meet everyone.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” you said, feigning reluctance. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“Are you kidding?” Brooke laughed. “You’re not intruding. You’re with me now, and trust me, they’ll love you. Besides, I’ll pick you up, so you have no excuse.”
You let out a small laugh, unable to resist her enthusiasm. “Okay, fine. I’ll come.”
“Yay!” Brooke clapped her hands together. “This is going to be so much fun. Text me your address and I’ll let you know when I’m on my way.”
Later that evening, after carefully choosing an outfit, you stood by the window. The campus nightlife flickered to life below, a vibrant pulse that felt both foreign and inviting. When Brooke’s text came through, your breath caught for a moment before you grabbed your bag and headed down.
She waved excitedly as you approached, her pristine convertible parked at an angle, music thumping from the speakers like it was an extension of her energy.
You climbed into the passenger seat with a bright smile and as she pulled away, she launched into another flurry of conversation. This time, it was all about classes, professors, Chase, and her favorite spots on Franklin Street.
“I swear,” she said, shaking her head, “Professor Klein is the worst. Like, don’t even bother trying to win her over. Just turn in your essays on time and pray for a C.”
You laughed, relaxing slightly as Brooke’s chatter filled the car. For all her energy, there was something undeniably comforting about her. It was easy to see how she’d become the center of her friend group — and why she was exactly who you needed on your side.
When the sports bar came into view, its neon lights glowing against the night sky, Brooke turned to you with a grin. “Ready to meet the crew?”
You nodded, your stomach tightening with anticipation. “Let’s do it.”
The moment you stepped inside, the bar thrummed with life, a cacophony of laughter, clinking glasses, and thumping bass. The mingling scents of fried food and beer created a sensory overload that left you slightly off balance
This was nothing like the polished, controlled environments of stuffy dinners with your father and his colleagues. Here, the chaos was unfiltered: crop tops and cutoff shorts replaced formal evening wear, discount beer flowed from taps instead of martinis, and greasy nachos piled high replaced hors d'oeuvres served on silver platters.
Brooke led the way, weaving through the crowd like she’d done it a hundred times before, her confidence a beacon in the chaos. You followed closely, trying not to bump into too many shoulders as you glanced around, taking it all in. Groups of students laughed loudly, some leaning over the tables to shout above the music, others already swaying slightly from one too many drinks.
“Over here!” Brooke chirped, pointing toward a table in the corner where three people were already seated. As you got closer, you could make out two girls and a guy, all of them mid-conversation and laughing.
“This is them!” Brooke said, practically bouncing on her toes as she gestured to the group. “Guys, this is the girl I was telling you about.”
The girl with dark, pin-straight hair was the first to look up, her sharp look flicking over you before her lips curved into a welcoming smile. “Hey! I’m Sabrina. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi,” you said, returning the smile as she reached out for a quick handshake. Her grip was warm but firm, and she had this effortless confidence that instantly put you at ease.
The guy beside her leaned back in his chair, his grin easy and a little mischievous as he said, “I’m Liam. You must be the new girl Brooke’s been hyping up.”
You laughed lightly, glancing at Brooke. “I guess so.”
“Don’t worry,” Liam added, raising his beer. “If you can survive Brooke, you’ll fit right in.”
“Shut up, Liam,” Brooke said with a roll of her eyes, though her smile didn’t falter. “And this,” she added, gesturing toward the last girl at the table, “is Maddie.”
Maddie’s sharp gaze flicked over you, her crossed arms and measured tone making it clear she wasn’t quick to warm up. “Hey,” she said, her words as neutral as her expression.
“Hi,” you replied. Maddie didn’t smile, her silence sharper than words, and you couldn’t help but feel like she was sizing you up.
Brooke patted the seat beside her, breaking the moment. “Come on, sit! I’ll grab us drinks in a second.”
As you slid into the booth, the group’s chatter flowed easily around you. Sabrina asked about your classes, Liam cracked jokes that drew groans from Brooke, and even Maddie softened slightly, her dry humor slipping through now and then.
But as the night went on, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something, or someone, was missing.
“Where’s Chase?” Brooke asked suddenly, leaning closer to Sabrina and Maddie.
Maddie smirked, tilting her head toward the bar. “Over there. He’s with Rafe.”
Your stomach tightened as you followed her eye line, scanning the crowd until your eyes found them. Chase was easy to spot, leaning against the counter, his grin wide and animated as he chatted with the bartender. He was exactly as you’d seen in the photos: open, carefree, the life of any conversation.
But the man beside him was a different story.
Rafe Cameron was the kind of person whose presence you felt before you saw him. His presence preceded him, tangible and charged, like the static before a storm. He stood at ease, resting his arms on the bartop, his sharp features caught in the dim light that carved shadows along his jawline. When his eyes found yours, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement: I see you.
The air shifted. The sounds of the bar faded into a dull hum. His intensity sent a ripple through you, one you couldn’t quite name. You hadn’t expected this — not from a man you’d studied for months, memorized through pages and pages of official documents. Yet here he was, impossibly real and entirely unsettling.
There was no smile, no casual acknowledgment, just a quiet intensity that felt like it was meant to see past every carefully constructed layer.
“He’s looking at you,” Brooke murmured, her voice low and tinged with amusement as she leaned in closer.
You blinked, breaking the moment as you turned to her. “Who?”
She smirked knowingly, her view flicking back toward the bar. “Rafe. I told you, he’s intense.”
Your pulse quickened as you stole another glance. Rafe was still angled toward you, though his focus had shifted momentarily to Chase, who was speaking beside him. He didn’t respond to whatever Chase had said, his attention half-turned as though occupied by something else entirely.
Brooke’s playful tone broke the spell and you turned your attention back to the table, willing yourself to focus. But even as you smiled and joined the group’s chatter, Rafe’s gaze lingered in your mind like an unfinished thought.
“Okay,” Sabrina said, breaking through your thoughts. “So, tell me… what’s your major?”
You blinked, grateful for the distraction as you turned toward her. “Communications,” you replied, the answer smooth and practiced. “I was studying it at my last school, so it made sense to stick with it here.”
“Smart choice,” Liam chimed in, resting his elbows on the table. “You could probably out-talk all of us, huh?”
“Definitely me,” Brooke interjected with a grin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you lose an argument, Liam.”
“That’s because I don’t lose,” he said, lifting his beer in mock celebration.
“Oh, please,” Maddie cut in, her tone dry. “You lose all the time. You just don’t know it.”
The group laughed, and you found yourself smiling despite the underlying tension still buzzing in your chest. Sabrina drew closer, her curiosity apparent. “Why communications, though? What’s the endgame?”
You hesitated, the question catching you off guard. “I guess I like the idea of... connecting with people,” you said carefully. “Understanding how they think, how they move and work. How to utilize that to your advantage. It’s fascinating.”
Sabrina nodded, her smile genuine. “I get that. Honestly, it sounds way more interesting than my major. I’m stuck in econ.”
“Econ’s useful,” Liam said, shrugging. “You’ll be the one bailing us all out when we screw up our taxes.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not what economics is,” Maddie muttered, though her lips twitched into a small smile.
The conversation flowed easily after that, with Sabrina asking about your transition to UNC and Liam tossing out lighthearted quips that kept the mood buoyant. Even Maddie seemed to loosen up a bit more, though her sharp watch still flicked toward you now and then, like she was assessing your place in the group.
Just as you were beginning to relax, you felt a shift in the air, subtle but undeniable. The energy at the table changed, the noise around you seeming to dim as two familiar figures approached. You glanced up instinctively, your breath catching as Rafe and Chase came into view.
Chase was the first to speak, his grin wide and easy as he set a tray of drinks on the table. “Miss us?”
“Finally!” Brooke said, clapping her hands together. “What took you so long?”
“The line’s insane,” Chase replied, sliding into the booth beside her. “Be grateful we didn’t give up and just grab water.”
Rafe didn’t say anything as he followed, his movements measured and calculated. He placed a glass in front of Maddie before taking the last empty seat across from you. The table suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker, as his presence settled over the group.
Brooke leaned into Chase, nudging him playfully. “So, are you just going to ignore our new friend, or...?”
Chase’s eyes flicked to you, his grin widening. “Oh, right. You’re the transfer, right? I’m Chase. Welcome to the chaos.”
“Thanks,” you introduced yourself, your voice steady despite the way your pulse had quickened again.
“And this,” Brooke said, gesturing to the man sitting across from you, “is Rafe.”
His name lingered in the air for a beat too long, the unspoken weight of it making your chest tighten. Rafe’s gaze met yours again, the intensity in vision eyes sharper now that he was closer. His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile, more of an acknowledgment, as he nodded once.
“Hi,” you managed, your voice softer than you intended.
“Hi,” he replied, his voice low and smooth, carrying an edge that sent a shiver down your spine.
The table filled with chatter as the others picked up where they’d left off, but you barely heard it. Rafe’s watch didn’t waver, fixed on you in a way that felt deliberately unnerving, as though he wanted you to squirm. It wasn’t hostile, but it wasn't welcoming either. It was something else entirely. A silent challenge, perhaps, or a test you weren’t sure how to pass.
“So,” Chase said, drawing your attention to him. “How are you liking UNC so far?”
“It’s... different,” you said, choosing your words carefully. “Bigger than my last school, for sure.”
“Better parties, too,” Liam added, raising his drink in mock toast.
“Oh, absolutely,” Chase agreed. “Stick with us, and you’ll see the best this place has to offer.”
“She’s already stuck with us,” Brooke interjected, giving you a reassuring smile. “I’ve claimed her.”
“Possessive much?” Maddie muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone now.
The laughter at the table felt like a reprieve, a momentary distraction from the way Rafe’s presence filled every corner of your awareness. Even when you weren’t looking, you could feel his eyes on you.
As the conversation continued, you risked another glance at him. He was sitting back slightly, his arms crossed over his chest, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips. When your eyes met, his brow arched just slightly, as if to say caught you.
You looked away quickly, your cheeks warming despite the chill in the air-conditioned room. The tension was almost unbearable.
“Another round?” Brooke suggested, breaking the moment as she reached for her empty glass.
“Yes, please,” Sabrina said. “And get me some fries while you’re at it.”
Brooke stood, tugging Chase up with her. “Come on, you’re helping.”
Chase groaned but followed, leaving the rest of you at the table. Liam immediately launched into a story about some party mishap the night before, pulling laughter from Maddie and Sabrina. Their energy was light and easy, but your focus drifted. The conversation faded into the background as a quiet tension hummed in the air.
You absently toyed with the straw in your drink, the condensation cool against your fingertips. It wasn’t the story keeping you distracted, it was a feeling, steady and insistent, like the faint pull of a current just beneath the surface.
Your eyes flicked toward Rafe, catching him mid-motion. He leaned forward in his seat, his fingers resting lightly around his glass. His expression was unreadable, but when his eyes met yours, something shifted. His expression shifted slightly, almost imperceptibly, like he was inviting you into a silent exchange you weren’t sure you were ready for.
Before you could think better of it, you asked, “so, does he always let her boss him around like that?” You nodded toward the bar, where Chase and Brooke were deep in conversation with each other.
Rafe’s lips curved faintly into something between a smirk and a smile. “Only when it’s easier than arguing.”
His voice was low, smooth, and somehow it cut through the noise of the bar as if it were meant just for you. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he added, “Besides, Brooke likes to think she’s in charge. No harm in letting her believe it.”
You couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “Generous of you.”
He tilted his head, studying you with a casualness that felt anything but. “And you? Do you let people boss you around, or are you the one calling the shots?”
The question caught you off guard, the weight of it settling in a way that felt heavier than the words themselves. You played it off with a shrug, your voice light as you said, “I guess it depends on who’s asking.”
For a moment, he didn’t respond, his regard was steady and unflinching. The space between you felt charged, as though the brief exchange had opened a door you weren’t sure you wanted to walk through. Then, just as quickly as it had come, the tension shifted. Rafe leaned back again, his attention flicking to the table for a moment before returning to you.
“Fair enough,” he said simply, his tone neutral but laced with something that made your pulse quicken.
The conversation broke as Liam’s voice rose in laughter again, drawing your focus back to the group. You turned away from Rafe, but the weight of his words, and the way he’d looked at you, like he was turning over some unspoken thought, lingered in the back of your mind.
Chase and Brooke returned a few minutes later, Brooke balancing a tray of drinks with the practiced ease of someone who could do it blindfolded. Chase trailed behind her, a basket of fries in one hand and a triumphant grin on his face.
“Fries are here, ladies and gentlemen,” Chase announced, sliding the basket onto the table with exaggerated flair. “You’re welcome.”
“And drinks,” Brooke added, placing the tray down and handing out glasses. “Okay, who’s ready to have some real fun?”
Sabrina immediately perked up. “What kind of fun are we talking about?”
“Dancing, duh,” Brooke said, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she looked at you. “Come on, you’re coming with me.”
You returned her smile easily, “lead the way!”
Brooke’s grin widened. “Now that’s the energy I like! Let’s go.”
The group cheered enthusiastically as Brooke grabbed your hand, tugging you out of your seat with surprising strength and pulling you toward the dance floor with a playful urgency. The music grew louder as you wove through the crowd, the bass thrumming beneath your feet and mingling with the laughter and chatter around you. It was vibrant, intoxicating, and all too easy to step into.
The moment you reached the dance floor, you fell into the rhythm naturally. The beat pulsed through your body, every movement intentional but fluid. This was the game you were built to play, slipping into the moment, owning it, and making it look effortless.
“See?” Brooke shouted over the music as she spun to face you, her hands grabbing yours. “Isn’t this amazing?”
You laughed, matching her energy. “I get it now. Totally worth it.”
Brooke twirled herself dramatically, her curls bouncing with the movement. “I knew you’d fit right in. Seriously, I’m so glad we met. It’s like, you were meant to be here.”
Her words carried a warmth that felt genuine, even though you knew you couldn’t take them at face value. Still, you played along, letting your smile widen as you leaned in. “I’m glad, too. This is exactly what I needed.”
“Same,” Brooke said, her expression softening for a moment. “You don’t even know. You’re like... the missing piece. It’s been forever since I clicked with someone this fast.”
The sincerity in her voice struck you more than you expected, and you squeezed her hands briefly before letting go, your movements falling effortlessly back into the music.
“You’re making this way too easy!” You teased.
“Good!” Brooke laughed, tossing her head back, “that’s what friends are for.”
The crowd pressed in around you, bodies swaying and shifting with the beat, but you held your space with ease, your movements a blend of precision and spontaneity. Brooke’s laughter rang As Brooke spun you, you caught a flicker of movement near the table. Rafe leaned forward across the table, murmuring something to Chase.
His hand moved absently to the edge of the table, fingers drumming once, twice, before stilling. Chase laughed, gesturing animatedly, though it was clear Rafe’s attention wasn’t fully on him. There was a restlessness to his movements, a little pull that made your focus longer than you meant to let it.
“Don’t look,” Brooke began a second later, leaning in with a grin that was both teasing and knowing, “but Rafe had been staring at you for, like, five minutes straight.”
You blinked and turned to Brooke. “Really?”
Brooke gave you a playful nudge. “Uh, yeah. It’s not exactly subtle.”
Your stomach fluttered as you glanced back toward the table, this time catching Rafe’s gaze. His fingers rested lightly on the table’s edge now, his posture easy yet fixed, as though he was aware of exactly when you’d look. The corner of his mouth curved slightly, not quite a smile, but enough to leave you wondering what it meant.
“Told you,” Brooke said, leaning closer. “You’ve got his attention.”
Your heart raced, but your exterior stayed calm. You held his focus a bit longer before turning back to Brooke with a playful shrug. “Maybe I’ll let him keep it. He’s cute.”
Brooke gasped and twirled you dramatically, her laughter ringing out above the music. “Oh, I like you! You’re dangerous.”
You grinned, letting the energy of the moment wash over you. The weight of Rafe’s attention only added to your focus, sharpening every movement, every smile.
The song shifted and Brooke leaned in again, her voice warm and truly genuine, “I mean it. I’m really glad you’re here. You’ve made this semester so much better already.”
“Right back at you,” you said, matching her sincerity.
But even as you spoke, the weight of Rafe’s fixation clung to you, impossible to ignore.
You glanced back at the table, catching his focus once more. His expression hadn’t changed, but something in his eyes made your chest tighten. A heat spread through you that had nothing to do with the dancing.
He wasn’t just looking. His stare lingered, sharp and probing, as if peeling back layers you hadn’t meant to reveal. It felt deliberate, practiced. Like a skill honed over years. This wasn’t just attention. It was control.
And Rafe Cameron knew how to hold it. Everyone was aware of it. He was the kind of guy who turned heads effortlessly, who drew people toward him whether they wanted to be near him or not.
For a split second, you’d doubted if you were the one setting the trap — or if you’d already stepped into his.
#rafe cameron x reader#rafe cameron#outer banks#rafe cameron angst#rafe obx#rafe cameron x you#rafe cameron au#rafe cameron fanfiction
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i could talk about remus lupin forever so heres a rant/character study as writer..
Remus Lupin got bitten at the age of 4, before this him and his parents were an average family. nothing too exciting, nothing too romantic, one of those families you know settled and not in the good kinda way, but it is his family. he is an only child, hope wanted more children maybe to fill a void she was trying to cover up, but when Remus got bitten obviously that shook her wants. Lyall felt shame, he couldn’t depict exactly if it was shame for his son or for himself, he already kept the fact that he was a werewolf a secret and the fact that the guy who turned him now turned his almost 5 year old son. So a few months later he killed himself, leaving Hope alone with Remus, she tried to take care of her little boy, but it was always the bare minimum because she was just a muggle, Lyall didn’t really teach her about magic and she was scared. So she did what was best at 6 years old she gave Remus to Mcgonagall who in turn didn’t know what to do with him either, but Madame Pomfrey wanted him, and after a few days realized she too wanted him. So he now had 2 Mom’s and his Mother promised to write, but didn’t. He grew up in the magic world, with gentle, but firm parents who loved dearly. He knew nothing but love even though he wondered what happened to his Mother. At 11 he met James Potter, the overly outgoing kind boy that loved making friends and took in Remus. He didn’t know what to think, but like an extrovert adopting an introvert it just happened, which is where he meets Sirius Black. Who didn’t know what to think of him at first because of his somewhat shyness, and also being taller than him. But once Remus pointed out David Bowie in his muggle music they were just fine.
He showed the boys his favorite things magic mixed with muggle, Mcgonagall not letting him forget about the muggle world. Chocolate, his favorite music, posters in his room, he showed James muggle movies he’s never seen.
Until Remus realized he had feelings for who he considered his best friend even though he knew he wasn’t Sirius’s best friend. The slight touches while passing, the sitting a little too close while studying, the way Sirius would sneak into his bed so Remus could read to him and, James and Peter would find them slumped (again). James pretended like he didn’t know, but come on his parents are the most precious love story how could he not?
When the boys found out he was a werewolf they didn’t turn him away or even get scared like he remember’s Hope’s eyes being. If anything they were excited… and without him knowing learned the animagus spell turning themselves into animals to keep their remus safe. Sirius a black wolf, James a stag, and Peter a hamster. So even when he was his monstrous self he still had a home. but little did he know the cat he saw every once in a while was Mcgonagall to make sure her boy was safe. And no even though the spell was illegal she kept it a secret for the inseparable boys because Remus felt safety and that’s all she wanted for him. Remus always had a home.
#YEA HE HAS TRAUMA BUT HE IS LOVED EAT ME#also please send me asks about my remus i love him#marauders#ao3 author#marauders fandom#marauders era#dead gay wizards#james potter#remus lupin#sirius black#wolfstar#peter pettigrew#minerva mcgonagall#madame pomfrey#lupin family
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A brief self-introduction
My creator name is 涼森弐敷-Suzumori Nishiki-. Until last year, I was working as a 3DCG modeler at a video production company.
Let me introduce you to some of the works I have been involved in.
■ジョジョの奇妙な冒険ストーンオーシャン・オープニングムービーJoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean - Opening Movie
youtube
youtube
■Star Wars: Visions『The Duel』
youtube
■Netflix Stargill Simpson: Sound and Fury - Music Video Kamikazedouga Production Division
And so on... I mainly worked as a modeler for main characters and also served as the modeling director for projects. Last year, I left the company, and from this year, I have been working as a freelancer, doing illustrations and manga creations. Currently, I am unable to take on long-term requests, but as long as I have availability in my schedule, I am open to taking on commissions from both companies and individuals. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me!😸
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Basic sleep token hcs...
An// Nearly all of these have reasons, either from songs, stage costumes, etc. i think about sleep token lore a little too often. The boys also use he/they/it.
Tws// monster vessels, they are not human. Mentions of human sacrifice, also mentions of cannibalism? Kinda? They aren't human so like, cannibalism adjacent
✦sleep is a lady. Or at least fem presenting. I don't care. I do not have a reason for this it just is.
✦her possession or prolonged heavy influence causes mutations to the body and mind
✦most commonly claws, sharpened teeth, hunger for blood/flesh, patches of grey and black skin
✦sleep prefers human sacrifice, as seen in Nazareth.
✦He's sleep's preacher. Also her preferred vessel, his body does not react as severely to her possession.
✦He has the widest emotional range of the vessels, as seen in the music.
✦Has six eyes, each set is a slightly different color, his mask highlights that feature.
✦While you would think humans would feel comfortable around him, they tend to be off put by him.
✦His prey drive is the lowest, it's rare to see him randomly hunting, prefers to give offerings in other ways.
✦He is a lot more mellow than any of the others, has the lowest emotional range. he's also more logical. He does have moments of being more expressive though.
✦He tends to plan a lot of the things related to the cult. He's sleep's second hand, despite being the second choice for a vessel
✦He has no mouth, the skin there is completely smooth, as seen in his mask.
✦He feeds through a proboscis-like appendage that sprouts when he's hungry. Because of that his “bite” is the least messy and painful. I do not have a reason for this but??? I cannot think of how else he would eat.
✦He also speaks telepathically. The ability also allows him to manipulate people's thoughts to a certain extent, similar to mind control.
✦He's sleep’s hunter. His prey drive is massive.
✦Not only does he thoroughly enjoy making his own sacrifices to sleep via hunting, he's also the one to pick and take the sacrifices for group rituals.
✦He's a horribly messy eater, looks like something straight out of a horror movie. When iii feeds nothing is safe from the blood stains.
✦He's the most sadistic vessel
✦Flesh on his torso + arms and upper thighs is zombified. Not too bad, but it looks worse than it is
✦When he was human he had tattoos all over those areas, they're still visible, albeit subtly
✦He's covered in a lot of piercings, iv gave him most of them
✦While his main form of offering is sacrifices, he also gets piercings/dyes his hair whenever he still wants to give her something but he isn't feeling as violent.
✦He doesn't quite have a role in the cult yet, though he has picked up habits from the other three boys
✦Sleep has noticed that iv does the best with new members, likely due to how human he seems to remain
✦His lasting humanity has also managed to enchant the other vessels. They're often more protective of him than each other (which is saying something)
✦The odd mix of humanity and monstrosity also has a siren-like effect with the humans. Vessel and his words draw them into the cult, and iv's presence is what makes them feel safe enough to finally join the cult
✦His main monstrous features haven't formed yet, mostly due to a lack of possession, but he does have the basics. (Claws, sharp teeth, etc.)
✦the results of the past three attempts of sleep getting a fem vessel
✦they are spirits that died during sleep's possession.
✦because they died during possession they are essentially tethered to sleep, and are often found where her presence is the strongest
#vessel#sleep token#iii sleep token#ii#iii#iv#vessel sleep token#ii sleep token#iv sleep token#sleep token headcanons#the espera#Rain's offerings ๋࣭ .𖥔 ݁ ˖✦
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You can play a straightforward Shylock as sympathetic (though I wouldn't bother) and I would love to see an actual Jewish portrayal of that charming murderer Israel Rank. You can't do that with Fagin as written, because of the constant physical descriptions of him as monstrous and fanged and cackling. To humanize him, you have to create a totally new character, as the musical and Disney did- which I don't mind, that's a great character! If you just take out the Judaism, you get a horror movie monster in a realist work.
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Many have commented when it comes to adaptations/retellings "don't watch it, don't read it, if don't like it ,don't engage".
The point they don't realise is that, these issues continue happening, so commenting on that isn't an issue, but apparently for them is. Like they are saying "keep your mouth shut".
Why? 🤔 What's so bothering with saying facts that these adaptations simply are mocking Greek culture?
Nolan's version had sparked a debate again and unfortunately won't be the last to make such.
And the problem is that these versions gain so much popularity which makes one sad to think how amazing would it be instead of these twisted up versions or oversimplified versions (like Epic the Musical or PJO or Miller's books) were not as popular and instead we have had projects like "L'Odissea" or "Iphigenia" "Trojan Women" etc be the top of the top at fans preferences how much better would people understand mythology!
But yes I find this notion of "if you don't like it don't watch it" interesting because I could answer the same to many people who say that "if you don't like my critique don't read it" or "if you don't like my comment don't read it and delete it from your page". Why do you feel the need to point the obvious to me? Another interesting thing that I get all the time is "why don't you see them as different like I do to like them both?" Like for starters me seeing them as different is exactly my problem. I find the notion of something being "different" especially to THAT degree when they claim to adapt or retell material is exactly my problem and second please show me the part of moral code where it says that I have the moral obligation to like them all?
I love Nolan's work before but even him I feel they are up for disaster. Many times over we have the same talk. Ironically people are trying to give FANTASY books the attention they deserve (successfully or not is another story) by making trilogies or tetralogies etc. They made a majestic production for Lord of the Rings with three movies spanning over 3 hours each in order to adapt the book properly for example but when it comes to epics like Odyssey they just go like "fuck it we shall squeeze everything in a movie" with the rare exceptions of some writers and even then the budget wouldn't allow them to unravel everything they needed to unravel. Makes me feel that if they gave the same attention to the mythological movies as they do to fan material we would have great things going on but nope. They just refuse to do it.
And yes they make monstrous changes to the material or the story or the cast and then somehow people who point the harm this has done for decades out are somehow the bitter bad guys who should shut it and turn the other way like okay dude then you too shut it and turn the other way when I express my opinion. I find it tiring how sometimes people play the self-righteous card but suddenly YOUR opinion doesn't matter because YOU have no right to speak and your problem is as easily solvable by "looking the other way". And it is the same type of people that for OTHER projects would be screaming first like that "ENOUGH WITH LOOKING THE OTHER WAY! WE MUST DO SOMETHING AND FINALLY DO THIS RIGHT!"
Apparently Greek mythology is not entitled of the same courtesy. Sweet irony how it seems that the mythology material was greatly adapted till the 60s or 70s (of course not without their problems but the projects were great)
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~Fox and their love-sick hound~
Yan!Dog!Rook x Fox!Mc
Warning: yandere, hunting (its rook...), stalking, drugs??,
I really wanted to write something for this. like I said in the mainly art version of this. I 100% think Rook as a Dog is a Golden retriever. they're hunting dogs but also little ray of sunshine. i know there is a movie about the fox and the hound but in the movie the dog is a blood hound. but rook... as a golden retriever.. i had to qwq
~~You found the fanfic! There’s an art piece that goes with this, here you go! Enjoy ^^~~
~~~~~
Surprise! surprise! the classes were over and everyone were doing their club activity. You were just stopping by each club to see how everyone was doing. a friendly visit, you can say.
You stopped by the music club and saw that their 3 members were playing a new rhythm game on cater's phone.
You stopped by the Basketball club. you quickly left when you say Floyd throwing the balls like they were dodgeballs...
you stopped by the board game club. Azul and Idia were playing a card game that you couldn't understand with Azul honey laced words trying to explain it to you.
you see the film club in the hallway for a film shot. vil seems to be lecturing a freshmen... fun.
you see malleus on the roof looking at gargoyles, you wave to him and he waves back.
you watched Riddle ride his horse, flawlessly. Silver was sleeping on a horse and Sebek was screaming at him to wake up.. fun.
the magical shift club were playing their game
you see Jack and Deuce running around the school and you quickly yelled at them to not to drink water.
now the science club, you were honestly on the fence on even entering. its nothing about the club that made you uncomfortable. it was a certain hunter that did.
when you first meet him, he went on and on with compliments about your beauty. at first it was nice and quite flattering but it started to make you feel uncomfortable and you started to feel a little self-conscious. did everyone notice that you misplace your buttons? or did everyone notice the way you part your hair? all this "positive" attention was too much for you to handle and when you confront him about it.... it was like he was holding back before cause now he just wont stop! You started to avoid him every chance you got. the spotlight was just too much for you to take and you didn't have the heart to tell anyone about how you felt about this. it was too embarrassing and frankly silly to not like all the "praise".
you were still at the door to the science club... and you really didn't want to leave this club with say hi or checking in like the others... plus! Trey will be there! he might help if Rook does... a Rook.
You took a deep breathe for courage and open the door. you were introduced to a cloud of purple mist that smelled floral but sour? with the force of the mist, you were knocked down on the floor. you immediately braced yourself on the floor. the mist took a good minute for it clear out.
"Little pup! Are you okay?"
towering over you stood Divus Crewel, you couldn't see his face but you did see his coat which helped you to identify him. his hand was extended to you.
"im okay.. what happened here??"
you took his hand and stood. with your other hand, you waved off the remaining mist.
"tsk.. it seems a pup mixed the wrong herbs to the base making the reactions to be more... monstrous than it was intended. we normally have good ventilation here but.. frankly, if you haven't open the doors, we'd likely suffocated by the fumes, so thank you pup."
he starts to walk away to check his students, leaving you standing there process what he said... good thing you went into the science club then huh.. you thought. you make your way in the class room and helped some of the students clear out the rest of the mist, it was still kinda hard to see everyone but with a little wave of a notebook as a makeshift fan, it cleared up quickly.
you noticed that there is a lot of beastmen in here? weird but you didnt seem to mind too much. the kicker is when you recognize a non-beastmen beastmen.
"trey? aww you have cute little doggy ears!"
Trey has cute dog ears on his head! one of the ear's is up and the other is flopped down. They were just the cutest! As you were distacted by his ears, he laughs and turns to show off his tail. he knew what he was doing.
"heh.. we were making transformation potions kinda like the sea Witch but instead of turning merfolk into human, we tried humans into beastmen."
"ah.. that makes sense but... umm... may i..?"
you motion to his tail and ears. he lets out a charming laugh and nods. your face beamed as he bends down to you so you can pet his ears. they were so soft and when you brushed your finger on the bottom edge of his ears, they twitched. you tried to hold your joyish squeal and just hugged trey.
"hehe... im guessing you like my ears and tail?"
"mhmm..." you said in his shoulder
"you dont look half bad yourself, perfect"
you felt a flitch on your... head, no... ears? you immediately push yourself off trey and ran to the nearest glass shelf to look at yourself in the reflection. you had big long ears standing on your head. they looked a lot bigger than trey's ears but not like bunny ears. you looked at your behind and saw you had a big long tail. it was flowy and the fur looked coarse but soft too.
"but how-?"
"it was likely when you opened the door, and the mist hit you. any ways, i need to check with Professor Crewel and see when an antidote can be made. if you don't mind perfect, can you help out the other freshmen to clean up? we should get this place clear out of the mist or any hidden residue. there's extra lab coats and gloves over here."
"o-oh! ya sure. i dont mind."
you ran to slip on a lab coat and... felt someone's eyes on you. you looked around and everyone seemed to do their own thing. maybe your just not used to the extra sensations with your ears and tail?
you shrugged it off and hurried to check on everyone and clean up.
"..."
~~~~~
3 days...
3 days until you ears and tail were gone. Trey said since they were mimicking the sea witch's merfolk to human potion. they estimate they potion will last for 3 days. anyone with ears and tail (that aren't suppose to) are suppose to check with professor crewel immediately.
Frankly ace and epel are not helping! they keep laughing and messing with you. blowing wind in your direction to watch you ears and tail twitch. if you're nice they use magic, if not, they get close and blow in your ear.
"my gosh! quit it!"
the only time they actually stopped (until next time) is when deuce and jack are protecting you from them. such sweet hearts. they compliment it and Deuce actually ask to feel them, he's just curious!
Sebek isn't much help either. he doesn't play jokes on you but his yelling is 10x worst now. you were half tempted to go straight to malleus or lilia and ask if they can talk to sebek about his volume.
other than that everything has gone quiet... its just smooth sailing. until 3 days is up, you continued your day like normal. you get comments here and there but everyone (except ace and epel) has been main respectful. bet the science club are getting lots of questions. maybe some went to azul for a temp cure, i mean, scarabia can be really loud with all the parties. what about Trey? cater is probably all over him with request for pictures or maybe he should get ears and a tail.
you laughed to yourself as you make it back to the Ramshackle dorm. Grim is with ace and deuce right now, after they were caught messing with the desserts. so you have alone time for a while, yippy!
your ear twitched and you quickly turned around to find... no one there.. maybe.. an animal? with too many strange feelings, the ears and tail sensing things, you just haven't been able to feel alone recently.. you quicken your steps and rushed inside your dorm. you quickly locked the doors and check the rest of house. locking doors and windows. you did a quick clean of the place, no hanging jackets or clothes that can be mistaken as figures in the house. you're suppose to just enjoy alone time... which you don't feel alone.. which is concerning.. you run to your room and try to get comfortable. new clothes, and your phone with ace and deuce's number on standby.
you lay down on your bed and took a deep breathe.. then you were out like a light.
~~~~~
running.
how and why were you running? it was the third day, you were suppose to say good bye to the ears and tails, plus the strange feelings those ears and tail senses you couldn't shake off. you were tired of it, the first day, they were really cool to have and the senses were really neat but the strange feeling of just something, or someone, just made the whole experience sour for you. even when you were in the ramshackle dorm with grim, grim had to contently be your voice of reason, which is new but not unwelcomed. you could tell that grim was starting to worry for you, which made you feel a little guilty.
that night, you needed some fresh air. once you were out of the dorm, you sat on the pouch. the cold winds felt nice on your ears. you took a deep breathe and looked at the stars to calm your nerves. you just had to wait a few more hours... until midnight, right? you took a few minutes to just relax in the stars until you felt like you had enough and started to make you way inside.
when you stepped inside, you were greeted with a shadowy figure in your way. you froze, all you can see from his figure were their sharp eyes. no one moved for a moment...
....
..
the figured jumped at your direction! the ears and tail wasn't just for show, the potion gave you beastmen abilities too, like speed and strength. but mainly the speed part is important right now.
you swiftly jumped out of the way and ran.
you didn't know where to go. if you try to run to the other dorms, it'll take you some time just to get into the hall of mirrors. but if you head to the forest by ramshackle, there's a tiny chance you lose this creep but if they catch you, its all over for you.
you had to pick no chance or a tiny chance!
but you have beastmen senses, if you go into the forest. maybe they'll aid you away from this creep!!
who cares, just run!!
~~~~~
...
..
you were hiding now...
you do have beastmen abilities now but doesn't mean you still wont get tired. you were hiding in a little hole, two fallen trees made this small hole in the ground and you were so grateful that you noticed it. maybe you could run out of the forest now and hide in another building? maybe you successfully made the creep lost? hopefully..
you tired your luck, your chest felt so heavy but you had to get help.
you tired to be slow and quiet as you crawled out of the hole. an arrow was shot right in front of you, in the ground. you let out a quick scream and ran.
your running was short lived when heard a whistle in the wind and a sharp pain in your leg, you were shot. you fell and rolled into the dirt.
this is it. you couldn't make it home and now no one will hear from you again. you felt like your life was flashing before your eyes. regrets... guilts... what was the last thing you said to everyone..? would they be okay without you..? would you be okay without them...?! you feel hot tears falling from your eyes. you didn't want to go like this! there was so much you wanted to experience in twisted wonderland! please someone, hel-
"Aww~ Trickster, no need for these tears. shh... i was only playing~"
your heart downed, you slowly turned your head around to see him, Rook Hunt.. he stepped closer to you so you can see him better. he had floppy golden ears on his head and a wagging tail to follow...
"Aw~ My Trickster~ i see I've stolen your breathe away so let me explain. the day where you heroically saved everyone in the science club from our demise, we, including yourself, were gifted beastmen abilities. id admit, it took every fiber of my being to not just jump you when you were all over Chevalier des Roses. but.. i decided, since we were gifted these abilities, i should test them out. to understand your creations, you must test them. so i selfishly took on the hunt for my mon cher renarde~~"
he took off his hat and bowed, taking one of your hand and gently kissing your knuckles. you were too shocked to even respond. you were feeling too many emotions at once. does this mean you'll live? Rook was the strange figure that you sensed... that's why you haven't seen him in days. he did all of this to test the potion...? he shot you in the leg!!
you started to feel little headed and just collapsed on the floor. as you were falling in and out of conciseness, rook picked you up bridle style and started to talk some more.
"Ahh~ Mon cher Renarde~ watching you deny your instincts only to let them take over was truly an honor. Vraiment magnifique~ your cute little twitches, ahh~ i couldn't get enough. i might force you to take the potion again.."
he stops and smiles at you. a smile that made you feel sick.
"hehe~ just kidding~"
...
..
"unless..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
French words!! i used google translate so sorry for the people who knows french.
Mon cher Renarde = my dear fox
Vraiment magnifique = truly beautiful
#twst fanart#twst#twst headcanons#twst wonderland#yandere twst#disney twst#disney twisted wonderland#twst x reader#art#digital art#twst rook hunt#twst rook#twst rook x reader#twst yandere rook#twst yan rook#twst yandere rook hunt
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June 2088. (previously)
Jordan’s ten years with Colette had been a cacophony of ’no’s’.
“No, don’t come to bed after ten. It wakes me up and I can’t fall back asleep. Don’t get in my bed without a shower. Don’t get in my bed wet. No naps, either. You know what? The couch is fine for you, isn’t it?”
“No more tattoos. They’re trashy.”
“No, we’re not getting a bigger truck because no, you’re not getting a camper. I don’t want a camper outside my house. That’s trashy.”
“No, I hate that music. I hate that music, too. I just hate music. All music.”
“No, we’re not getting a dog. No, not a cat, either. A chicken? Are you fucking kidding me? Where the hell are we gonna put a goddamn chicken?!?”
“No work clothes in the house. No tools, either. I hate your clothes—you dress like a homeless man.”
“No campfires. Ew, I can smell it on you for days.”
“No kippers in the house. Ew, no kippers at work either. No kippers ever. I can smell them before you even eat them, and it makes me want to vomit.”
So when he came to her with this idea, he had little faith that she would say yes.
The boys were in the living room with a cartoon, and Colette was at the dining room table with her laptop. Jordan sat down.
She looked up from her work with a sneer. “What?”
“I want to take the boys on a backpacking trip,” Jordan said. “Banff, it’s in Canada. It’s a two-day drive.”
Go big or go home.
He held his breath.
“So you’re not working?” Colette asked. “Is she paying you for all this time off?”
“She is, actually.”
“Huh.” Then he saw the wheels of her brain turning, doing the math. An ask this big would cost him. Did he want to pay the price? After some consideration, Colette let out a patronizing chuckle, “Well, good luck with that.”
She didn’t say no. He was surprised, but also not.
Maybe she didn’t believe he would actually do it. Or maybe she’d hold it against him as ammunition. She did this sometimes. When she knew her razor sharp attitude had run away from her for too long, she offered a little peace treaty, as if to say, Remember that time I let you take the boys backpacking in Canada? Remember that? And she would remind him of that small grace for the rest of his life.
But he intended to take this grace, and he would run with it.
The boys needed no convincing. They minded their father, fetching this and that from whatever corner of the house, making a monstrous pile by the door. Then, before she could complain about it, both the pile and the boys were gone in a blitz, leaving only the movie they hadn’t been watching with its credits rolling.
With the boys out of her hair for two weeks, Colette felt adrift. Since they were on their own vacation, she thought she should treat herself to a few days off as well.
The first few hours, the first whole day, she reveled in the novelty of having only herself to worry about. She day-drank a whole bottle of rosé while watching HGTV in her bathrobe.
He was mad. He’d been mad for months. Why? She didn’t know, she didn’t ask, and she wasn’t sure she really cared. Mad was what they did with each other. But what Colette knew was that they never really broke up because they were never exactly together, which meant they never needed to make up because they never broke up in the first place. He would get over it, eventually. And maybe this time away would help.
Maybe she even owed him this little favor because he always wanted to be a scout dad. “No, that’s stupid. They don’t need that,” she’d said. She wanted the boys in academic triathlon instead. What good is learning to make a campfire as opposed to world diplomacy? High school was coming for them faster than they realized. You get on the wrong track, and your prospects were sunk. Colette knew better than anyone how one wrong choice in your youth could destroy all your hopes and dreams.
But sure, go light campfires in the wilderness for a couple of weeks, if you must.
You have to throw the dog a bone sometimes.
Colette stayed up late, binging crime dramas. With no chance of little boys barging into her room, she slept naked in her bed long into the morning. Then she took herself out for lunch at the kind of place you couldn’t bring nine-year-olds.
Not that she didn’t worry. She questioned Jordan’s parenting skills. She sent them off with a notebook of rules and phone numbers, and she was sure they’d already tucked it under the front seat of the truck where it would stay until the day they returned. Would the boys come back bruised and burnt and eaten alive by who knows what creatures? Would they catch rashes and intestinal parasites from drinking river water? The hiking, the falls, the wildfires, the hot springs full of boiling acid that dumb souls have ventured too close to and took their last bath. She doubted whether Jordan had ever even seen those news stories.
“I’m not an idiot,” Jordan promised. But, huh, she’d be the judge of that when he brought those boys back in one piece.
To be honest, she hated taking time off. She was bored and irritated and could never really relax. So she went back to work.
— “why are you here? #2: little sparks catch fire” part 5/6
author’s note: bonus points for actually asking her for a chicken though, right? 😂🤣😂
Next -> // WAYH #2 start // index
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Fic Series Pt 2: Bookmarks & Oneshots (Under 50K)
Hey all!! As promised on last week's post, here are the remainder of my bookmarks under 50 that are part of a series! AGAIN, these are fics on my bookmarks, so no fics will be added to this post BUT willl be saved for my MONSTROUS MFL list!!! So if you have them please feel free to comment and I'll catalogue them for the future list! Enjoy!
See also:
Fic Series Pt 1: Bookmarks & Oneshots (50K+)
The Trial of Sherlock Holmes Series by jenna221b (G, 3,015 w. across 3 works || TAB!lock, Metafic / TJLC, Victorian AU / 1895, Christmas, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Oscar Wilde) – Scripts based on speculation that Sherlock will be put on trial in The Abominable Bride to parallel the Oscar Wilde Trials of 1895.
Sherlock's military kinks Series by kirakira_nanoda (E, 5,191+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Military Kink, Slash, PWP) – John finds out about Sherlock's militaty kink. John indulges in Sherlock's military kink.
'How To...' Series by tigersilver (T, 5,445+ w. across 2 works || Post S3, Post Mary, First Kiss/Time, Mutual Pining, Requited Love) – Pining, requited, and unabated spates of 'first kiss' fluff. Post Mary, AU, mildly cracky. John lays a smooch on Sherlock's nape in passing. The world does that thing it does when it wobbles and Sherlock practically falls off his own pins.
No Mushrooms Please Series by lbmisscharlie (G, 5,456 w. across 3 works || Friendship / Bromance, Food Sharing, Fluff) – John and Sherlock and their lazy, dysfunctional Sunday mornings in bed. In which Sherlock has difficulty sleeping and John makes lots of toast.
The (Secret) Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Series by DoubleNegative (E, 5,791 w. across 4 works || Fake Relationship, For A Case, Clubbing, First Kiss/Time, Established Relationship, Bad Pick-Up Lines, Banter, For Science!, Humour, Inconvenient Erections) – Sherlock Holmes and John Watson solve mysteries... in bed. Each of these stories stands on its own, but they all take place more or less in the same 'verse. None of them should be taken seriously.
Sherlock Advent Series by bofurs_laugh (T, 5,963+ w. across 9 works || Series WiP || Friendship, Angsty Fluff, Christmas, Pre-Relationship, Jumpers, Heavy Fluff, Kissing, Friends to Lovers) – Sherlock and John take a case that starts to unravel their friendship, but the good doctor will do anything to keep his detective safe, even if that means walking away.
proper procedure Series by paxlux (T, 6,147+ w. across 2 works || Series WIP || Post-TGG, First Kiss, Sherlock’s Violin, Fluff) – He lies back in bed and listens to the notes and pictures them gathering around Sherlock’s feet like water. He feels like there's a stone in his chest, maybe an albatross around his neck.
Human Error Series by Spark_Writer (T, 6,432+ w. across 7 works || Series WiP || Canon Compliant, Mutual Pining, Unrequited Love, Angst, Dancing, Alternating POV, Infidelity, Happy Ending) – “It’s the end of an era,” says Mycroft. And the world lists on its axis.
Made of Music Series by SosoHolmesWatson (T, 6,464+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Post S4, Parentlock with Rosie, First Kiss, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Cuddling, Love Confessions, Angst with Happy Ending) – For the past years, John and Sherlock have lived at Baker Street again, raising Rosie together--as friends and nothing more. Ever since the little girl has watched her first Disney movie, she is obsessed with princesses. When John comes home one day, he finds his friend and his daughter in the middle of a reenactment of her current favourite.
Undressed Series by QuinnAnderson (E, 6,653+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Mutual Masturbation, PWP, Anal Sex, Table Sex, Sexual Tension) – Gymnophoria: (noun) the sensation that someone is mentally undressing you. Apodyopsis: (æpəʊdaɪˈɒpsɪs) noun. the act of mentally undressing someone.
Caught In The Act Series by ShirleyCarlton (E, 7,009 w. across 6 stories || Est. Rel, Voyeurism, Character POV’s, Masturbation, Switchlock) – This is a series of six scenarios written from the points of view of six different people as they accidentally walk in on Sherlock and John having sex.
Sherlock Holmes Is A Very Lucky Man Series by panickedbee (E, 8,181 w. across 7 works || Established Relationship, Anniversary, Cuddles, Fluff, Hand Jobs, Rimming, Teasing, Bed Sharing, Domestics, Public Sex, Blow Jobs, Bickering, Assorted Kinks, Flirting) – Just a lazy morning in bed, warm, soft, and two terribly romantic boyfriends loving each other.
Caught In The Act Series by ShirleyCarlton (E, 9,217 w. across 7 works || Established Relationship, Unintentional Voyeurism, Alternate POVs, Humour, Blow Jobs, Walking in on Someone, Switching, Public Sex) – This is a series of six scenarios written from the points of view of six different people as they accidentally walk in on Sherlock and John having sex.
The "This" Series by suitesamba (M, 9,230 w. across 12 works || S3 Fix-It, Humour, Drunkenness, First Kiss, Angst, Semi-Clueless Sherlock, Angsty Fluff, Hurt / Comfort) – Stag Night - back at 221B - in a world where Mrs. Hudson doesn't interrupt the guessing game with the client.
Dreamscapes Series by Goddess_of_the_Night (E, 9,897+ w. across 2 works || Series WIP || Bed Sharing, Platonic Cuddling, Sleepy Conversations, Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Hand Jobs, Frottage, Insomnia, Touching, Nightmares, Soft Sherlock, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Dirty Talk, Chair Sex, Sherlock's Mind Palace, Sleep Experiments, Wet Dream, Praise Kink) – Sherlock and John spend the night in Scotland after finishing a case. The sole Inn in town only has one room left...one bed. This would be fine - if not a bit awkward - if Sherlock hadn't developed a habit of snoring loudly. John suffers through many hours of sleeplessness before he discovers that skin-to-skin contact stops the noise.
Imagines Moti Series by SwissMiss (T, 9,927 w. across 4 works || Magical Realism AU || Tattoos, Cover Art) – An AU in which life events appear as symbols on the skin.
The Light of Day Series by allonsys_girl (E, 10,607+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || TSo3 Rewrite, First Kiss / Time, Angst, Love Declarations, POV Sherlock, Fluff and Angst, Possessive Sherlock, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Humour, Sherlock-centric) – John actually notices Sherlock leaving the reception early, and chases after him. Angsty Johnlock. Happy ending, for sure.
The Emergency Contact Series by blueink3 (M, 11,763 w. across 2 works || Five and Ones, Mutual Pining, Fluff and Angst, Whump, Hurt/Comfort, Hospitals, Happy Endings) – The first time John Watson’s emergency contact is called is the first time Sherlock Holmes finds out that he has the job. The first time Sherlock Holmes realizes he needs an emergency contact is the first time he mentally appoints John Watson with the job. John, of course, does not know this and neither does the local hospital.
Intimacy Series by sussexbound (E, 12,281+ w. across 2 works || Series WIP || Love Confessions, Trapped in a Closet, First Kiss / Time, Emotional Intimacy, Physical Intimacy, Frottage, Fluff, Trust Issues) – This will basically be an exploration of building trust and intimacy (emotional and physical), the growth of a burgeoning sexual relationship, and John and Sherlock learning what a loving, intimate and committed relationship means for the two of them.
Reichenbach To Return Series by missilemuse (T, 13,272 w. across 6 works || Post-TRF, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Unrequited Love, Friendship, Humour, Love, Sherlock Whump, Doctor John, Hallucination, Fake Relationship) – For someone who was a genius, he was realizing too many things for the first time...
The Unintentional Crafts of Sherlock Holmes Series by KarlyAnne & cwb (E, 13,297+ works across 3 works || Series WiP || Post S3, Established Relationship, Panties, Arts and Crafts, Love, Experiments, Domestic Bliss, Penis Size, Fluff and Crack, Sexual Roleplay, Oral/Anal Sex, Couch Cuddles) – A collaboration between CWB and KarlyAnne, based on prompts from our Crafty!Sherlock Poll
The High Tide Series by stardust_made (E, 15,269 w. across 3 works || OMC, Angst, Jealousy, Developing Relationship, First Time, Romance) – A little favour Sherlock stupidly agrees to do for Mycroft leads to John meeting a handsome, afluent man, who is going out of his way to woo him. Sherlock struggles with the situation and with his own reactions to it.
Thermodynamics Series by entanglednow (E, 16,300 w. across 4 works || Asexuality, Bed Sharing, Sharing Body Heat) – In which there's no heating and there's a dead owl in Sherlock's bed.
Longitudinal Cohort Series by Anonymous (E, 17,355+ w. across 6 works || Series WiP || PWP, Angst, Anal, Rimming, Light BDSM, Bottom Sherlock, Caretaking, Established Relationship, Insecure Sherlock, Proposal, Fluff, Come Play, Fellatio) – PURPOSE: To describe single-point observations of life inside 221B Baker Street, specifically in the period of time after the love declaration of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. DESIGN: Longitudinal Cohort Study. METHODS: Sherlock Holmes and John Watson periodically observed. RESULTS: see attached reference documents. CONCLUSIONS: Best encompassed by this quote from Linda Brady, ""We recognize a soulmate by the supreme level of comfort and security we feel with that person. That doesn't mean that there aren't issues that remain to be ironed out. Rather, it means we know intuitively that we can resolve issues with our soul mate without losing his or her love and respect."
Baetica Series by Jberry (E, 17,943 w. across 2 works || Post-S3, Fake Marriage For a Case, Cruise Ship, Homophobic Language, Developing Relationship) – John Watson and Sherlock Holmes must solve a case on a cruise ship. To get close to the crew and passengers, they must get married for the case on the Baetica. However, their relationship hits rocky seas both due to the case and internal conflicts.
Gifts from the Sea Series by patternofdefiance (E, 19,438+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Supernatural Creature AU || Tentacle Sex, Anal / Oral Sex, Switching, Pheromones, Puns, Emotional Sex, OctoJohn, Relationship Anxiety, Emotional Sex) – “A few weeks ago I would have thought you were impossible,” Sherlock begins, walking into the kitchen in his blue robe, and John – not quite catching on – wants to scoff and argue, No, actually, you are impossible, but then Sherlock continues: “But now I’d say you are improbable.” John thinks this might be flattering, if he could wrap his head around it, but he can’t – Sherlock is standing near, steaming his sun-baked-clean-sand smell, like the beach after rain, an alive smell, an other smell. It’s intoxicating, and John has been studiously avoiding it, but he can’t shift away now it’s so near. Now Sherlock’s so near. And then Sherlock ruins the probable-loveliness of his words and the definite-beauty of his presence by saying: “And by ‘improbable’ I mean ‘not yet scientifically acknowledged.’”
Barricade Series by stitchy (E, 21,016+ w. across 3 works || Series WiP || Post-HLV, Drunkenness, UST/URT, Angst with Happy Ending, Pining Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, First Time, Oral Sex, Developing Relationship, Holmes Family, Parentlock) – Sherlock has been struggling to keep his feelings at bay for everyone's sake.
Solace Series by CKLizzy (E, 21,515 w. across 5 works || Post-TRF, Developing Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Cuddling / Snuggling, Nightmares, Bed Sharing, Touching, Sleepy Cuddles, Kissing, Caressing, Frottage, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Friends to Lovers, First Time, Angst, Romance) – An Experiment - how long can you keep two characters physically and emotionally close without their relationship turning into a sexual one? Has five parts that see the development of John and Sherlock's relationship from their bedroom's perspective (no, don't worry, there will NOT be a talking bedroom in the story).
Through The Clouds Series by Mazarin221b (E, 23,134+ w. across 3 works || Series WiP || Retirement, Romance, First Time, Sussex, Beekeeping, Home Improvement, Developing Relationship, Marriage Proposal) – Sherlock takes a remarkably early retirement at 47, and convinces John that a change of pace would do them both good. They buy an old cottage on the South Downs, and exchange their nonstop life in Baker Street for quiet contemplation, bee studies, and book writing.
Forever Freebatch Series by alexxphoenix42 (E, 23,472+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Real Person Fiction || Filming Sherlock, Gay Sex, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Infidelity, Polyamory, Pining, Angst, Happy Ending, Phone Sex, Shower Sex, Cuddles) – Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are working hard at both filming the Sherlock special, and keeping all its secrets under wraps. Somehow along the way, they stumble onto new developments that need to be kept just as private.
Winter's Delights Series by TakePenAndInk (E, 24,084 w. across 3 works || Original Characters, Christmas, Holmes Family) – Sherlock takes John home for Christmas to meet the extended Holmes family.
Two Coffees One Black One with Sugar Please Series by Linpatootie (E, 25,419 w. across 4 works || Pre-Slash, Developing Relationship, Fluff, It's an Experiment, Domestic Bliss, First Time, Light Angst, Bed Sharing) – A somewhat pointless experiment on Sherlock's behalf leads to John having to re-evaluate pretty much his entire life.
A Satisfactory Arrangement Series by SilentAuror (E, 25,637 w. across 2 works || Post S3, Post-Divorce, POV John, Porn With Feels) – John has an issue. He loves being back at Baker Street now that his marriage is over. The only thing is, he doesn't fancy going the rest of his life without ever having sex again...
Sherlock’s Laboratory Series by berlynn_wohl (E, 27,362+ w. across 4 works || Series WiP || Science Fiction AU || Double Penetration, Oral/Anal Sex, Clone Sex, Dirty Talk, Foursome, Kinks, Established Relationship, Tentacles, Dubious Consent, Forced Orgasm, Massage, Genetic Engineering, Multiple Orgasms, Gangbang, Robot Sex, Androids, Angst) – “John, this isn’t one of your science fiction programmes. This is reality."
An Experiment in Apathy Series by belovedmuerto (G to E, 28,701 w. across 13 stories || Empath John, Empath-by-Proxy Sherlock, Epic Bromance Becomes Romance, Angst, Nightmares, Experiments, Trauma, Dreams) – "No man is an island, John. You less so than most." A sequel to the EiE Series, wherein John and Sherlock explore their relationship.
Dear John Series by wendymarlowe (E, 30,802+ w. across 3 works || Post-TRF, Long Distance Relationship, Mutual Pining, Epistolary, Cybersex, Angst, Apologies, Online Dating) – With Sherlock dead, John eventually (under duress) makes a profile on an online dating site. And falls into a long-distance relationship with an enigmatic partner who reminds him of Sherlock in all the right ways. (Hint: it turns out to be Sherlock.)
Xmas Dinners Verse Series by ardenteurophile (T, 31,236+ w. across 2 works || Series WIP || Christmas, Family, Humour, Romance, Drama, Fluff, Angst, Developing Relationship) – Sherlock takes John along for Christmas dinner with Mycroft and Mummy (And "Anthea", too). Over the course of the evening, John realises that everyone in the room - apart from him - seems to think that he and Sherlock are a couple.
Among the Secret Things Series by TakePenAndInk (E, 33,565 w. across 2 works || Amnesia, Angst, Drama, Pining) – Sherlock would be the last person to describe himself as given to flights of fancy, but at the look on Lestrade’s face he could swear that something inside him curls up and dies.
It’s No Longer Eighteen Ninety-Five Series by glenien (E, 36,080+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Post-TAB, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Fluff and Angst, Tears, Sherlock's Mind Palace, Past Drug Use, PTSD, Awkward Sex, References to Depression, Hugging, Soft John, First Kiss/Time, Dance Lessons, Parentlock, Happy Ending) – John takes Sherlock home. Although it is true love which fills their hearts with mutual flame, both John and Sherlock need to face their ghosts, to be able to speak its name.
Love Is Series by SilentAuror (E, 36,903 w. across 2 works || Post S3, Alternating POV Each Story, Angst, Unrequited Love, Rejection then Reconciliation, Romance, Mary Divorce, Eventual Happy Ending) – At Mrs Hudson's urging, Sherlock finally decides to tell John how he feels about him.
Inscriptions Series by orphan_account (T, 36,909+ w. across 2 works || Series WiP || Soulmates AU || ASiP, Symbolic Rings, Romance) – Everyone is born with the name of their Soul Mate on their finger. This is called their SBI, or Soul Bond Inscription, and from the time a person turns sixteen, they are locked in a Search for the person with the corresponding SBI; the person with their name on their finger, in the same color as their own SBI. They do not know when, and they do not know where. All they know is that at the end of their Search is the person they are meant to spend the rest of their life with.
The Pool Series by Salambo06 (E, 39,340 w. across 2 works || Fake Relationship, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication, Misunderstandings, First Kiss/Time, Alternating POV Per Story, Sexual Fantasies, Love Declarations, Angst with Happy Endings) – John and Sherlock know the Yard has a pool going for when they’re finally going to get together. It’s been running forever, and it’s worth thousands of pounds. It’s all fun and games, hahaha, until they find out Lestrade is in dire financial straits (dog needs emergency surgery, he’s putting his kid through gymnastics training, I don’t know, something), and they decide to fake a relationship to win the pool for him. Sherlock figures out the day and way that Lestrade thinks it’s going to happen, and they act it out. It’s all for a good cause, fake relationship style, until it’s not.
HOT DOLPHIN SEX Series by cwb (E, 47,486+ w. across 2 works || Series WIP || Post S3, Villain Mary, Friends to Lovers, Pining Sherlock, Spies/Secret Agents, Epistolary, Confused Sherlock, Dreams, First Kiss/Time, Texting/Sexting, Hand Jobs, Honeymoon, Travelling, Wedding Fluff, Happy Endings) – What's next on the sex holiday agenda? Bingo or shuffleboard? SH. You don't want to know. Now you have to tell me. SH
A Love with No Name Series by aceofhearts61 (G to M, 49,955 w. across 20 stories || Asexual Sherlock / Straight John, Est. Rel, Queerplatonic Relationship, Romance, Cuddling, Fluff, Platonic Romance, Domestics, Rape/Non-Con) – In which Asexual!Sherlock and Straight!John are platonically in love life partners.
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