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madelineorionswan · 2 years ago

Text

Unrevealed secrets.

Summary: After Madeline solved the mystery of Ben’s disappearance, the whole school was let in shock. Now Madeline must unravel the mystery of the cursed ice and what connections it has with her brother… and the cursed vaults.

Warnings: Mentions of the previous injury, hypothermia.

A/N: I am sorry, you guys for my long absence. A lot of things have happened in life and I've been going crazy. I've been barely finding time to write. But I promise some exciting stuff will be coming soon. For now, enjoy this chapter!

After Madeline and Rowan found out about their friend, Ben’s whereabouts, the news spread like wildfire. Everyone (except some of the professors) seemed to be shocked when they heard about the giant jinxed blocks of ice.

Needless to say, this raised a sudden tension amongst the students of Hogwarts. The cursed ice and Madeline were the hot topics of the day. Everywhere Madeline went the students gave her looks of fear or revulsion. Even Rowan and Penny were judged for being her friends although not as harshly as Madeline.

But fortunately for her, Madeline was made of thicker skin and she went about her day as usual without being bothered about people’s opinions.

On the inside, however, Madeline was worried for her friends’ safety. She had guessed that the dangerous jinxed ice had something to do with the cursed vaults and her brother’s whereabouts. And from what she had seen, the ice would start spreading throughout the school and she knew they would be a target. It was as if the Ice had a mind of its own.

One morning while chatting with Rowan over breakfast at the Great Hall, Madeline heard a sudden commotion at the entrance of the hall. The two girls turned to face the entrance and saw Penny quickly making her way to them.

“Guys, I heard that Ben’s in the hospital wing, apparently none of the Professors are allowing the other students to visit,” said Penny, breathlessly.

Madeline immediately stood up, a look of urgency on her face, saying, “Think there’s a chance they’ll let me in?”

“It is possible, you do know about the situation in detail,” Rowan remarked, whilst rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Penny too nodded in agreement and sat down on the bench beside Rowan.

Madeline nodded affirmatively and said, “right then, I’m going to visit him, see if he remembers anything about how he got himself stuck in the bloody ice.”

“Good luck, tell us if you get any clues,” Penny quipped as Rowan pursed her lips when she heard Madeline swear although she didn’t say anything.

Madeline then quickly left the Great Hall and reached the hospital wing. Usually, she’d known the place to be extra quiet since most of the sick students would be resting and Madam Pomphrey made sure that the place was kept quiet.

But once Madeline reached the entrance to the wing she saw a group of students chitchatting. Madeline cleared her throat to grab their attention and excused herself as she entered the wing. While closing the door she saw them lower their voices and throw weird looks at her, possibly because they were gossiping about her.

Madeline shut the door and let out a breath. This is what her life had been like for the past couple of days, just gossip, gossip and more gossip about her. Sure it had been a little frustrating, but with the support of her friends, Madeline had been getting through.

But once Madeline had entered the hospital wing she immediately put her thoughts aside and approached Madam Pomfrey who was tending to a sick student.

"Ah, Ms. orionswan, come to visit Mr. copper I believe?" the matron asked.

"Is he going to be alright Madam Pomfrey?" Madeline asked, her voice full of concern.

"I believe so. His memory seems to be erratic, but I have seen patients in far worse conditions in my time as matron of Hogwarts," she replied, making Madeline let out a sigh of relief.

"Did he ask for any of us?" she asked.

"Many times, along with some strange proclamations and requests. I believe he is experiencing some delirium," the matron replied, rather solemnly, now fully facing Madeline.

"Is it okay if I... talk to him maybe?" Madeline asked.

Madam Pomfrey let out a sigh, now getting impatient, and said, "I knew you would make this request, but Mr Copper has been through quite the ordeal and is still in a delicate state. What exactly do you want to know from him?"

"I just what know how he's doing... and maybe cheer him up?" Madeline said, trying to seem innocent. And yes she wanted to check up on her friend but also needed to gather any information she could from Ben.

This seemed to convince the matron who let out a sigh and said, "Very well then, he's in the last bed."

Madeline thanked the matron and walked over to the last bed in the wing. A curtain was drawn over the bed, which Madeline carefully moved aside. Madeline saw that Ben was asleep, although his brows were still furrowed with fear.

She sat down on a stool beside his cot as quietly as she could and gently shook his shoulder to wake him up. This seemed to work as Ben flinched a little at the touch and sat up a little, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Hey Ben, how're you feeling?" Madeline asked softly.

"Cold. Tired. Sore. Not that different from usual, to be honest," Ben replied, his face forming a pitiful expression. At this, Madeline noticed how pale and cold Ben looked.

"Anything I can do to cheer you up? Maybe a nice snack?" Madeline asked, hoping to cheer up Ben's glum mood.

"Seeing a friendly face is enough. Madam Pomfrey is very helpful, but she doesn't really have the most comforting bedside manner," Ben replied, his lips forming a half-smile.

"If you want, me, penny and Rowan could visit you," Madeline said, smiling a little.

"That would be nice, thanks," Ben said, the tone of his voice getting lighter and his face forming a slightly brighter smile.

Then there was a minute of silence, where Ben took his medicine, while Madeline sat quietly, deep in her thoughts.

"...Did you ask to see me?" Madeline asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Did I? I feel like I'm losing it..." Ben couldn't finish his sentence, getting lost in his thoughts.

"Do you remember what you were doing in the corridor? Or how got trapped in the ice?" Madeline pressed.

"I don't remember. I can't remember anything at all. Madam Pomfrey says it's got something to do with the ice..." Ben drifted off.

I found a black quill in the Slytherin common room," Madeline said lowering her voice, "it mentioned something about severe punishment and directed me and Ro towards the corridor. Do you have any idea who might have written it?"

The mention of "severe punishment" frightened Ben but he shook his head in denial of any information, "I'm sorry Madeline. I just don't remember,"

"You must remember something. Anything that can help us understand what exactly happened to you in that corridor,"

Just as Madeline was about to ask another question, she felt someone place a firm hand on her shoulder. Madeline looked up and saw Madam Pomfrey look strictly at her.

"Now, I think that's quite enough for today. Mr copper needs his rest," Madam Pomfrey said firmly.

"But-" Madeline was about to protest but she noticed the tired expression on Ben's face and one strict glare from madam Pomfrey was enough to make her decide against it.

"We'll visit again soon. Ok, Ben?" Madeline smiled, patting Ben's shoulder who smiled weakly before pulling the covers up to his chin.

While walking out of the hospital wing, Madeline's brows were furrowed with concentration as thoughts raced through her mind. If Ben doesn't remember anything from his encounters, there's only one person who might be able to help her with it. Madeline proceeded to run to the Gryffindor common room having a particular person in mind.

---

"Okay, what are we doing here Madie?" Rowan asked, shuddering in the cold.

After Madeline had left the hospital wing she ran to the great hall grabbed a turkey sandwich and then rushed to the Gryffindor Common room. It didn't take her long to spot Rowan and she grabbed the bespeckled girl's hand, excusing themselves, not paying mind to Rowan's protests, before heading off to the forbidden corridor.

"When I asked Ben if he remembered anything from the cursed ice incident he acted really weird and said he didn't remember anything. So I thought that we should investigate the area," Madeline said, her eyes searching through the blocks of ice in the dark corridor.

Rowan Furrowed her brows with doubt. But searched the corridor with Madeline. madeline however noticed her friend's doubtful expression.

"Is everything alright?" Madeline asked Rowan.

"I don't know how to say this Madeline... but I feel like Ben is lying," Rowan said, her expression relaying that she was in thought.

"What do you mean?" Madeline quirked a brow in confusion.

"I've always felt like he knew more than he was telling. Like he was keeping secrets. e might just be afraid of whoever sent those instructions or just attempting to protect us," She said, frowning.

Madeline frowned, stopping her search, getting immersed in thought.

"You do have a point," Madeline muttered, still in thought, "I suppose that might explain his behaviour and why he's so nervous all the time and sneaking off alone..."

Madeline let out a frustrated groan, and dropped onto the dusty floor, "Sometimes I don't know what to believe."

"Hey, I just gave you a recommendation, it might not be the answer you know," Rowan said, standing beside Madeline.

"You're right," Madeline sighed getting up, "I'm overreacting."

"Let's just search this corridor, and do some research later," Rowan said.

"Yeah, there has to be a reason why Ben's acting the way he is," Madeline said, but while searching she stopped abruptly in front of the wall whilst Rowan continued to search.

Madeline's eyes started to change colours ever so slightly. She sensed magic. Strong Magic somewhere behind the wall.

"Hey, Ro, could you come over here," Madeline called as she put her ear on the wall, trying to find any trace of a sound... or maybe a presence.

Rowan walked over to Madeline and studied the wall carefully, squinting her eyes and rubbing her chin with her index finger. Her eyes widened when she too heard a sound.

"Whoa, I think I hear something too..."

"I think there might a passage or something behind this wall," Madeline articulated.

"Could be. Anything is possible at Hogwarts. Who knows what secrets walls like these have," Rowan commented looking up the wall.

"Question is, how do we know what's behind the wall," Madeline muttered mostly to herself, as she placed a hand on the wall.

"The only way we can find out is by using Revelio," Rowan answered.

"Revelio?"

"It's a spell which reveals concealed object and reveals its true appearance. It's a pretty advanced spell," Rowan said matter-of-factly.

"Then we should start learning it straight away. 'Think McGonagall, might teach us the spell," Madeline asked, half-joking.

"I might be able to convince her," Rowan smiled. The girls let out a light laugh before walking out of the corridor. It was safe to say that they were glad to leave the cold and dark corridor at the earliest.

They bolted down the stairs and ran through the halls, Madeline pushing aside anyone in their way, while Rowan occasionally apologised to every other grumpy student.

Finally, they made it to the east end of the lower floor, and subsequently to the transfiguration classroom. Placing her hand on the wall to support herself Madeline panted as Rowan too huffed for air and fixed her glasses.

"Ah Ms Khanna and Ms Orionswan, it seems that you both are in quite a rush," the girls entered the classroom and were approached by Professor McGonagall.

The geriatric professor then turned to Madeline and stated, "And Ms Orionswan, I understand that you visited Mr Copper."

"Although you didn't discover his whereabouts, you both should be rewarded for your dedicated search and the concern you've shown him. Twenty points to Gryffindor.

At this Rowan frowned and was about to protest, but Madeline quickly nudged her friend with her elbow and feigned a smile.

"Thank you, Professor. But I actually wanted to ask you about something else," Madeline interrupted.

"What can I help you with, Ms Orionswan?"

"Well, Professor, we were hoping that you could teach us this advanced spell, we both were curious about."

"What spell might that be?", Professor McGonagall frowned a little.

"The Revelio Charm, professor", Rowan quipped and Madeline nodded in agreement.

"I believe that I informed you, that you would receive an owl when you are to have your private lessons," she said.

"But professor we really need to learn that spell today," Madeline pleaded.

"Why?" Professor McGonagall questioned, narrowing her eyes.

"Uhm..." the two girls shared a look between themselves for a split second before Rowan stepped forward and said, "You see professor, we were doing some extra research about the homework you gave last week and we came across this spell and there's this part of the text that we both cant understand because it's related to the spell, so... we were hoping you could teach us the spell."

"Flattery will get you two nowhere. You both aren't ready to learn an advanced spell as Revelio," Professor McGonagall instructed.

"Please professor. We wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. I'll do anything," Madeline tried to appeal.

Sighing, Professor McGonagall got up from her chair and moved to stand in front of the girls.

"I will teach you Revelio when you have proven yourself worthy. I would typically have you attend many classes in preparation. Still, since you both accepted my offer of a private class, this will be much easier", She stated, " You will receive an owl when I've determined that you are ready to learn Revelio."

"Thank you professor", Rowan and Madeline said together. Professor McGonagall smiled and walked away.

After an awkward moment of silence, the girls walked back to the Gryffindor common room, Rowan already having ideas about what Madeline should do to impress Professor McGonagall.

And that started with finishing her homework at the earliest.

---

Over the next few days, Madeline and Rowan spent their entire time studying. Madeline didn't enjoy keeping her nose buried in her textbooks, but she would agree that Rowan made it much more enjoyable.

It was obvious to the girls that they were being watched by Professor McGonagall during her classes. They both noticed that when she asked a question, she almost always looked expectantly at them to answer. Every time they would be writing notes, the girls would feel the elderly professor's presence when she would be looming over them.

Finally, one morning while Madeline and Rowan were having breakfast, an owl flew above the Gryffindor table before dramatically flapping its wings and landing on the plate of waffles on the table.

"You do know people were meant to eat that," Madeline said to the bird, pursing her lips.

Rowan shook her head dismissively and took the letter from the owl's book. The bird ruffled its feathers and flew off.

"Do you think it's from professor McGonagall?" Madeline asked, studying the envelope from her side of the table.

"Could be. Only one way to find out," Rowan tore open the seal gently before removing the letter from the envelope and skimming through it.

"It's from McGonagall alright, she wants to see us, at her classroom after our classes."

"That long after?! God, it's going to feel like an eternity," Madeline groaned.

"Hey cheer up. At least we won't miss professor Flitwick's test on the standards of duelling postures," Rowan said, enthusiastically.

"You are probably the only one who's excited about it," Madeline chuckled. The girls stood up from their seats at the table and picked up their plates to get some more food. After finishing, they headed of to their day's classes.

---

The classes dragged on for what seemed like an eternity to Madeline and surprisingly, even for Rowan towards the end. After they were dismissed from classes they quickly headed to dinner and stuffed their faces as quickly as they could before they scampered downstairs to the Transfigurations classroom.

"Ah, Ms Khanna, Ms Orionswan," Professor Mcgongal greeted as she approached the two girls, towering over them.

"I have been very impressed with both your work ethics recently, not only in transfiguration but also for other subjects."

"Thank you, professor," Rowan smiled thankfully.

"Do you think we can learn Revelio now professor?" Madeline asked, hopefully.

"As much as I detest this endeavour, I do believe you two are ready to perform the spell," Professor McGonagall said, pursing her lips ", Take a seat."

Madeline and Rowan shared an exciting look between themselves and quickly took a seat in front of Professor McGonagall. The professor nodded and took out her wand.

"Pay close attention, if you want to learn girls. I will now demonstrate the charm."

The girls concentrated on professor Mcgongal's wand, as she swished it, in an aloof manner. Slowly, white sparkles started being produced from the tip of her wand. The sparkles started to get brighter with a pale yellow mist floating around the black cauldron placed on her desk. Within seconds, the cauldron transformed into a white tabby cat.

"Well, that is all that is there is for the basics of this spell," professor Mcgongal said, stepping back a little as Rowan quickly stood up, to get a better look at the transfigured cat.

"You may attempt to cast the Revelio spell, Ms Orionswan," McGonagall said.

"Alright professor," she said, taking out her wand. Carefully, she waved her wand and muttered the incantation.

And just as Professor McGonagall had done, she transformed the cat into the cauldron.

"Well done Ms orionswan," Professor McGonagall praised ", Now you Ms Khanna."

Rowan performed the spell and turned the cauldron back into the cat, at which point it immediately jumped off the table and growled at Rowan and Madeline.

"Now I trust you both will find this spell helpful. It can reveal, secret messages and passageways," Professor McGonagall said solemnly.

"Thank you again, professor," Madeline said. the two girls then left the classroom, after a couple more pointers from professor McGonagall about the spell.

Once they were out of the classroom and in a secluded hallway, Madeline turned to Rowan, "Let's head to the hallway tonight."

"We'll need to make sure no one can see us leave," Rowan warned.

"Oh don't worry, I'm pretty sure that the entire student population today is going to have a pretty sleepy day," Madeline smirked and Rowan knew from her friend's facial expression, that she already had something brewing in her head.

---

Madeline was right to say that all the students would be pretty sleepy. Rowan remembered that it was a Friday night and a long week had surpassed the students and teachers, which had clearly, exhausted everyone. Not only that, the house elves had made quite the lovely turkey dinner which everyone generously indulged themselves in.

By 10:00pm at night, the entire Gryffindor common room was deep in slumber, giving the girls the perfect opportunity to sneak away early.

"You ready?" Madeline asked Rowan, pulling on the hood of her uniform, to conceal her face a little.

"Yeah, let's find that secret passageway," Rowan said, inhaling deeply and confidently.

Tiptoeing among the shadows the girls concealed themselves from the few passing people. Ultimately, they made it into the corridor. Making sure that no one was nearby, Madeline, carefully shut the door.

"Alright, now I have a few suggestions as to how we can attempt to reveal the passage," Rowan said, taking out a notepad, "Now we could magnify the spell somehow or you could use this really cool punnet square which can help to hit the correct area of the wall to efficiently cast the spell, or we could-"

"Or we could just cast the spell together," Madeline interrupted, grinning at Rowan before she continued to ramble, placing a hand on her shoulder gently.

"Let's get to finding those vaults now," Madeline frowned, turning to face the wall as she whipped out her wand.

"Just be careful, Madie. We have no idea what might appear when you cast the spell," Rowan precautioned.

"Right, let's cast the spell before it gets too late."

The girls drew their wands from their wand pockets. They then carefully, waved them around the wall. Sparkles started to be produced from the tips as slowly the wall started to turn transparent, revealing a swampy green hue from behind it.

"Merlin's beard, Madie! You just unvanished a secret staircase!" Rowan exclaimed, jaw-dropping as the girls found a staircase, behind the wall.

"Merlin's Beard undoubtedly. It's the same one I saw in my vision," Madeline muttered under her breath, frowning.

"And most likely the staircase from the message we found carved in the caused ice," Rowan speculated, "Where do you think it leads?"

"Wherever it leads we're headed up these stairs. Common'" Madeline beckoned to Rowan as she jogged up the chairs. Rowan, though somewhat nervous, decided to shrug off her doubts and follow Madeline up the stairs.

On top of the stairs, the girls found a dark hall, with a couple fireplaces, emitting the same swampy green fire. They were amazed and at the same time intrigued by the mysterious hallway.

"This place is so cool! We just discovered an undiscovered part of Hogwarts!" Rowan said with amazement.

"Yeah," Madeline agreed, staring up at the intricate carvings on the ceilings. although it was covered in cobwebs, the carvings could be seen clearly enough. But Madeline couldn't observe them for too long.

Within minutes of them finding the hallway, the girls felt themselves shivering at the sudden drop in the temperature. The temperature dropped at a drastic speed as the girls hugged their cloaks closer to their bodies, their teeth chattering.

"Why d-d-d-d-di-i-id i-i-i-i-i-t g-g-g-et s-s-s-s-s-so c-c-c-c-co-ld all o-o-o-of a s-s-s--s-suden?" Madeline asked Rowan, her teeth chattering.

"Un-na-na-na-naturally c-c-c-c-cold," Rowan remarked, tugging her cloak sleeves closer.

Suddenly, Madeline had a strange sensation. She felt her eyes start to burn up, a murderous red colour starting to form in her irises. The strange gut feeling she had, as if something was close, grew.

"I have a feeling that one of the vaults could be here. My brother could be close."

"Alright. Let's hurry and see what we find. And maybe come back later with a warm coat in hand..."

Walking down the hall, the girls kept their eyes and ears open for any clue, which could lead them to something.

"Wait, Ro, look...", Madeline crouched down beside what resembled a track of muddy footprints, "someone else must've been here before."

"But who? How and Why?" Rowan muttered, mostly to herself as she observed the footprints.

"Let's follow them and see where they lead," Madeline quickly got to her feet, and the two girls followed the footprints down the hall like before. The further they followed the footprints, the further it seemed to get colder and colder. Eventually, there were chunks of ice visible in the nooks and crannies behind the fireplaces. Madeline's head started to throb painfully, but she decided to ignore it.

Once the footprints came to an end the girls looked up and saw the and of the hall. But it wasn't just any other dead end. No... there was a wall of stormy blue mist swirling at the end of the hall. It was impossibly cold, almost as if at any moment they would freeze into ice statues.

"It's some kind of mist..."

"It's freezing cold Madie! I don't think we can pass through it," Rowan said, shivering.

"You're right. We can try and use Flipendo to get rid of the mist?" Madeline questioned Rowan.

"Try it. It just might do the trick!"

Madeline cast the spell with full force. It took only a couple seconds before the mist disappeared. But what was revealed as the mist parted really amazed the girls for what seemed the millionth time.

"Ro... are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Madeline asked Rowan, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Yeah, I am." Rowan let out a breath.

The hall finally came to an end and in front of them stood a giant gate. But this wasn't just any other gate. This part of the hall and the gate were covered in ice. Small shards of ice were scattered through the floor, making soft crunching noises as the girls walked over them.

There were also, giant icicles hanging from the ceiling, and Madeline and Rowan knew that if either were hit by those, they would be stuck in the hospital wing for a long time.

A giant snowflake Ice-sculpture guarded the gate in front of them. The girls walked up a small flight of stairs and stood in front of the gate.

"This must be a cursed vault..."

"What should we do?" Rowan asked, looking at Madeline.

"Let's try and see if we can open the door."

Madeline walked in front of the giant gate. She held onto a part of the snowflake and tried to push it to see if it would turn. She let out a grunt as she noticed the ice sculpture would not budge.

Suddenly, the snowflake started to glow as Madeline placed her hand once again on it. Feeling a sudden rush of magic and pain through her body, Madeline was thrown back as she let out an ear-piercing, painful scream as she crumpled to her knees. She gripped her head in her hands as pain seared through her head. She felt as if she was her head was being racked apart with the pain.

"Madeline! Are you alright?!" Rowan rushed to her friend's side, crouching down beside her.

"I- I saw something. A v-vision," Madeline said weakly her head still reeling from the pain.

"Can you tell me whether you saw anything in there?" Rowan asked, helping Madeline up.

"Two rooms. one dark filled with stacks of books and the other one was cluttered with a door outlined in chalk..." Madeline said.

Rowan nodded, keeping a mental note about the descriptions of the rooms. Abruptly she let out a small gasp as Madeline looked to face her. Rowan saw Madeline's eyes had turned to a horrifying red colour which looked to be much worse than the last time she saw them like this.

"What?" Madeline asked, puzzled.

Rowan was about to reply when a burst of blue magic hit her and she was hurled down the flight of stairs.

"Rowan!" Madeline exclaimed, jumping to her feet to which almost immediately she fell back on her knees again.

Madeline clenched her teeth as she got up again, judging another burst of Magic from the enchanted door, vaulting down the stairs to her friend. She shook rowan's shoulder but to no avail as Rowan remained unconscious.

"No no no, Ro wake up!" Madeline almost pleaded as she shook her friend once again. This thankfully seemed to do the trick as Rowan's eyes fluttered open slightly. But she was in no state to get up So Madeline waited a couple minutes for Rowan to gather her strength, before helping her out of the hall and eventually to the warm safety of the hospital wing's beds.

#madeline orionswan #hogwarts mystery #harry potter #hphm mc #wizarding world #fanfiction #hp fanfic #hphm au #hogwarts #rowan khanna #penny haywood #ben copper #year 2

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chaoshaswon · 3 years ago

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Wasteland, Baby Chapter One

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Madeline Sage had lived her life in a state of uncertainty. She accepted that most of life was out of her control, that there were millions of things she would never know and so much more she would never understand.

As a realist, she wasn’t trapped by beliefs of fairness or blinded by optimism. And while she had hoped to live a long life, had prepared to do so by studying and extending her education, she wasn’t terribly surprised when the world went to hell.

After all, Earth was long overdue for an extinction event.

Truthfully, the only thing that surprised her was that she had somehow survived.

So when the world ended, Madeline was really only certain of three things.

First, crises did not bring people together. The caste system of the Outpost made it very clear that there would always be a hierarchy.

Second, no matter how much her fellow survivors longed for it, no one was coming to save them. And a changing song on a radio didn’t mean shit.

And third, she was going to die in Outpost Three.

For eighteen months, she breathed that truth and learned to accept the worst. To die of old age would be a blessing but it was safer to bet on a radiation leak, starvation, or cannibals.

Until Michael Langdon.

It started with a proximity alert.

After eighteen months of isolation, someone had found them. Friend or foe, Maddie wasn’t sure it would make much of a difference.

Venable had sent them all away as she went to deal with whoever had come to darken their door. The fact that she sent the greys away, too, meant it was serious. Unless it was curfew, greys were expected to be cooking, cleaning, or serving at all times.

Her roommates, three female greys, were taking advantage of the free time to rest. Exhausting hours and endless tasks knocked them all out within minutes of returning-- the first nap any of them had been allowed since arriving at the Outpost.

She wished she could join them, but sleep eluded Maddie. In fact, she was pretty certain she hadn't got a solid eight hours of sleep since before the apocalypse. Long before the apocalypse.

Instead, she read from her books. There were four texts that had been in her bag before the world ended and a fucking SWAT team had descended on her in her university library to lock her away. Plus, there were the two plays she’d filched from Evie Gallant’s trash.

Plato's Republic

The Iliad

The Odyssey

The Aeneid

Macbeth

And Waiting for Godot

Despite the massive library at the Outpost, greys were forbidden from reading. Not that it ever stopped Maddie. She just waited for everyone to fall asleep. She knew the guards schedules well enough that she could make it to the library and back without being caught. She'd stay hidden while she read but monthly random inspections kept her from sneaking the books back to her quarters.

With the possibility of a surprise visitor, plus the fact it was technically still daytime, she wasn't going to chance sneaking out. So she reread The Iliad for the umpteenth time and tried to feel sorry for the Trojans, who only lost a city.

The survivors of Outpost 3 had lost the world.

At quarter past four, there was a knock on the door. The only one awake, Maddie tiptoed to open it. All her efforts for quiet were in vain as Ms. Mead loudly proclaimed, "Resume your duties."

She didn’t have to look to know that Mallory, Emma, and Jane had been woken. Barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Maddie offered a tight smile and a nod.

Mead turned on her heel, loudly stomping down the hall.

Looking back, she wished she had put up a bigger fight against the SWAT team. She didn't mind the menial work, nor the day to day bullshit of life after the apocalypse but being treated like a servant grated on her.

The words 'please' and 'thank you’ seemed absent from most of the purples and Venable's staff vocabularies.

"Anyone else suddenly have the urge to sing Hard Knock Life?" Maddie asked, sweeping her dark hair up into a the stupid bun they were required to don outside their quarters.

"Don't tempt me," Emma muttered, slipping into their shared bathroom.

Mallory rubbed her eyes. "Since we're cleaning, I take it we haven't been overrun by cannibals?"

"We aren't that lucky."

Mal offered a small smile as she pushed herself to a sitting position. “A girl can dream.”

As greys, dreaming was about all they were allowed to do. And only on their own time.

Buttoning up her dress and slipping on her apron, Maddie slipped into the hall.

They hadn’t cleared breakfast that morning due to the proximity alert. God forbid one of the purples venture into the dining hall and find it imperfect. They tended to search for fault as abusing the greys was one of the few pleasures that Venable still allowed.

Maddie got to work, immediately stacking plates to take back to the kitchen.

She took comfort in the fact the day was half done already. Instead of the normal twelve hours between breakfast and curfew, she only had seven to go. Then another half-hour before it was safe to sneak out of her room and down to the library.

Her lips twitched in anticipation.

The other greys weren’t far behind. While Mallory and Emma were off dealing with Coco and Dinah, respectively, Maddie and the rest made quick work of cleaning the dining room and the kitchen. Maddie had just washed the last of the dishes when Mead and the Fist came in, each carrying a dark-stained bag.

“Your lucky day, Eric,” Mead addressed the grey who had once been a chef, shoving the bag in his direction while the Fist dropped hers on the ground with a solid thud .

Peaking over the counter, Maddie caught sight of long, scaled bodies. She gasped as she realized the contents were snakes.

She looked up, noting Eric had a similar shocked expression on his face.

“Where did these come from?”

“They’re safe to eat,” Mead said, without answering his question. “Took the Gieger over all of ‘em.”

“We’re supposed to eat them?” James, another of the greys, asked. He looked nauseous at the thought and Maddie couldn’t entirely blame him.

“It’s protein. It’s good for you.” Mead shook her head before exiting the kitchen.

As soon as the door swung shut behind her, Maddie muttered, “I think I speak for everyone when I say: what the fuck.”

“You really think it’s safe?” Eric asked.

“I’d wear gloves before touching them.”

“Shit.”

“Think they came from outside?” James asked, looking at Maddie.

She peeked, reluctantly, into the bag. “Don’t think they came from inside. Bets on who’s going to throw the largest fit?”

There was a brief pause before the others all bemoaned, “Coco.”

Maddie laughed along with them.

Sure enough, lunch was a fiasco. Even those who didn’t openly complain about the source of protein made faces of disgust as they were served.

Maddie remained silent, listening intently for any mention of the proximity alert. Between complaints and exaggerated stories of life before the blasts, it didn’t seem like anyone was going to be willing to speak up.

Finally, and to her credit, Emily turned to Venable. “So, who’s in your office?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Alarms went off before. Someone came inside.”

Her lips twitched as one of the only purples she could stand held her ground against the HBIC.

“Who else is here?”

But Venable’s pinched face told Maddie that she wasn’t going to tell them shit.

“All questions will be answered in due course.”

There wasn’t time to be disappointed as, almost immediately, snakes began slithering out of the hot broth and across the table. No matter the fact that they had all been chopped to bits and boiled beyond recognition. Suddenly, they were whole and seemingly pissed at their treatment, hissing at anyone who came near.

Coco and Gallant climbed onto their chairs as Andre ran out of the room, screaming.

“Grab them!” Venable cried even as she backed away herself. Eric had rushed to the kitchen to grab something to contain them with while the other greys turned pale.

Catching snakes had never been in the job description.

“Are they poisonous?” James asked, eyes wide.

Maddie barely withheld correcting him that, technically, the snakes were venomous . She didn’t think he’d appreciate that little lesson, though.

She’d caught three by the time Eric had come back with a pot and a lid to store them in.

They were slippery little bastards and the others seemed almost too afraid to make a real attempt at catching them. They probably didn’t have her experience, playing with little garden snakes in her backyard. She’d always had a soft spot for snakes. Maddie knew what it was like to be a misunderstood creature.

The others saw snakes and thought of cowards, crawling on their bellies. Or stories of sin and seduction.

She thought of Asclepius and the symbol of medicine. The sacredness of the creatures in thousands of cultures, revered for the ability to shed their skin and be born again. They represented life just as much as they represented death.

She caught six more with ease while Eric, Emma, and Mallory managed to catch about one a piece. Mead shot another before they were taken away to be disposed of, once and for all.

As usual, the greys did the dirty work while the purples wandered off and debated just how it had happened.

Maddie slipped into the kitchen, now empty as Eric and James followed Mead, carrying the large pot.

She had started to heat the water to wash the dishes when she saw it out of the corner of her eye.

A little slither and two black, shining eyes staring up at her from under a stove.

She set down the dishes, creeping slowly towards it.

"Hello, there," she whispered, kneeling down. "You're a quick little thing, aren't you? Never even saw you slip away."

She reached for it, carefully grabbing it from the neck so it couldn't bite her. It's tail began winding its way down her wrist. It was smaller than the others but no less deadly.

"What am I to do with you?"

She should bring him down the hall to where Mead was disposing of them for good. But it was so little, so helpless. It's venom was potent but it couldn't kill them all. And there were many of them.

She swore it was trying to nuzzle her hand.

Fuck.

She couldn't leave it to die.

She turned around, searching for some kind of container. She found a brown box with a detachable lid in the storeroom. Using a knife, she cut holes into the lid and set the snake inside.

The door to the kitchen opened and Venable came inside.

"What are you doing?" she asked with her ever present frown.

"Putting away napkins.”

Venable made a noise of annoyance. “Well, finish it up. Everyone has been summoned to the parlor by our new guest.”

“The dishes aren’t…”

“You can finish with your menial tasks later. Your presence is required now.”

Maddie nodded, stifling a wince. She’d have to hide her new friend someplace and come back for him after the meeting. She settled it on the top shelf in the store room before hurrying off to the parlor.

The purples took the parlor section, lounging on the soft, leather couches that Venable would have her whipped for touching without a rag in her hand. Two greys were left down below to attend any emergency needs.

With the others of her class, Maddie climbed up to the balcony.

Aside from mourning the loss of heat as they trekked further away from the fire, she truly didn’t mind it. There were few purples who could hold a conversation anyway.

“What do you think is going on?” James asked, a harsh whisper in her ear.

Maddie barely withheld a wince as she leaned down against the bannister. Her need for personal space pushed her away as she replied, “My money’s on bullshit.”

Instead, she thought about the little snake she had acquired and what she would call him. Cleo, Asp-en, Medusa… she smiled as she thought to herself. Macula . The classical Latin word for spot . No one would get it, but then, it wasn’t like they got her anyway.

Beneath them, a hush fell over the purples. Slow and measured footsteps echoed across the library as a blond man with granite features entered the room and walked over to Venable. He inclined his head, almost daring her to say something.

Instead, she backed away, looking as spooked as Maddie had ever seen her.

An unusual sight that made her do a double take.

He was attractive, to be sure, vaguely reminding her of a GQ model. Even from the balcony she could make out his striking blue eyes and full, pink lips. But more than just his physical appearance, he carried with him a fuck with me. I dare you attitude.

“My name is Langdon,” the man introduced, looking around the room. “And I represent The Cooperative. I won't sugarcoat the situation. Humanity is on the brink of failure. My arrival here was crucial to the survival of civilized life on Earth. The three other compounds… In Syracuse, New York, Beckley, West Virginia, and San Angelo, Texas have been overrun and destroyed. We've had no contact from the six international Outposts, but we are assuming that they, too, have been eliminated.”

“Holy shit,” James muttered as Emma took a sharp breath on her other side.

“What happened to the people inside?” asked Tim.

“ Massacred .” Maddie inclined her head as Langdon spoke. The word was said with what she could only describe as fondness. He continued, the barest hint of a smile on his, albeit, handsome face. “The same fate that will befall almost all of you.”

“Almost all?” came Mallory’s voice. The purples looked over towards her in disgust but Langdon didn’t seem to notice.

“In the knowledge that this very moment might occur, we built a failsafe… The Sanctuary.”

“The Sanctuary?”

Maddie frowned, feeling the beginning of a headache coming on. Deja vu, bitch.

“The Sanctuary is unique. It has certain security measures that will prevent overrun.”

“Excuse me, sir.” Mead interrupted, asking, “What measures? Why weren't we given them?”

Langdon held up a hand, dramatically. His long fingers were adorned with rings of varying sizes. “That's classified. All that matters is that The Sanctuary will survive, so the people populating it will survive, so humanity will survive.”

“Who are the people who are populating it?”

“Also classified. However, I have been sent to determine if any of you are worthy and fit to join us.”

That caused a murmur amongst the purples. Gallant and Coco were loudly whispering to each other, causing Maddie to roll her eyes. Maybe, if she was very lucky, Langdon would take them with him when he left.

The man in question continued. “The Cooperative has developed a particular and rigorous questioning technique we like to call… ‘Cooperating.’ I will then use the information gained to determine if you belong.”

“What is this, The Hunger Games?” Coco said angrily. Apparently the idea of talking was too much work for her. “This is bullshit. I paid my way in here, and that is the only cooperating I plan on doing.”

“You don't have to sit for questioning.” Langon gave her a pointed stare.

“What happens if we choose not to?”

“Then you stay here and die.”

Maddie snorted softly.

So what? It was the end of the world. Truthfully, it was incredible they’d all lived that long.

Langdon’s eyes shot up to the balcony, narrowing on her. And then, as quickly as it had happened, they were gone, looking back around the room at large.

“I volunteer to go first,” Gallant said with a wave of his hand.

“And so you shall,” Langdon acquiesced before addressing them all together. “The process should only take me a couple of days, so you won't be kept in suspense forever. For those of you who don't make the cut, all is not lost. If the worst should happen and feral cannibals come knocking, down one of these.” He held up a small vial filled with pills. “One minute later, you fall asleep and never wake up. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.”

Without another word, Langdon strolled from the room with a peace and assuredness that was almost worse than being told most of them would die shortly.

Maddie had to give him credit. The man had a way about him that was utterly show stopping.

“That was fucking intense,” James noted.

“Do you think he’d take any of the greys with him?” asked Eric, like he didn’t dare to hope.

“I wouldn’t get my hopes up,” Maddie murmured. There was an air about Langdon that screamed sociopath . It was in the way he spoke of the downfalls of the other Outposts, the smirk as he offered suicide-capsules. The ease in which he spoke about their imminent deaths by cannibals.

At the very least, he was a narcissist. The way he strutted in, playing savior.

Like they should all be on their knees, kissing the tails of his coat, and praising his coming.

James and Eric continued to whisper about the possibilities of Sanctuary.

A waste of time, she thought.

Hope was a luxury and her time was already stretched to its limits. She couldn’t indulge in such fantasies.

“We should get back to the dining room. Finish cleaning up,” she said pointedly, thinking of her new little friend, hidden amongst the storeroom. She’d have to get him to her room but that wouldn’t be too much of a struggle. No one paid any attention to the greys unless they wanted something.

And she could convince her roommates to keep quiet, at least for a few days until she figured out a better plan.

“Mads is right,” Eric said with a sign. “Give us time to prepare for our interviews as we clean.”

She nodded half-heartedly.

Maddie gave a final sweeping glance to the library. Her fingers itched to touch the books but, unless she was dusting, it was forbidden for a grey to sully the old texts. Despite the fact that half of them were in Latin and she was the only one in the Outpost who could understand them.

But the day was half-done already. In just a matter of hours, she would be back to read by candlelight. And that was the only thought that could still bring a smile to her face.

..........................................

Michael had gone into Outpost 3 with low expectations. Or so he had thought. As it turned out, low was not nearly low enough. Already, he had talked to two of Venable’s designated purples, the queen bee, herself, and a grey. All of whom ranged on a scale of grossly pathetic to unbearably uninteresting.

In hindsight, he should have paid more attention to those allowed to survive the blasts.

While the billionaires who had bought their way to survival had financed his Outposts, they were all the same.

The self-indulgence and greed didn’t bother him so much. After all, Satan preached worldly pleasure above all things.

It was the inflated egos and misplaced pride that grinded against his sensibilities.

Take Gallant. A former avant-garde hairdresser who had spent the last eighteen months whining about when the world was better. There was no gratitude towards surviving.

Granted, Gallant had survived by the skin of his teeth, managing to manipulate his way to one of the St. Pierre Vanderbilt's tickets.

But even Coco and Dinah, who had paid for their tickets, were shallow ingrates.

No goals. No cares. No substance.

Outposts 1 and 2 had been the same. Even Sanctuary, filled with the best and the brightest scientists who were prepared to remake the world in his image, made him yawn.

Perhaps he should just kill them all and be done with it, although he hated to get his hands dirty. If he was patient, Venable would take care of them all and he could just sit back and wait.

Disappointing but not unexpected, he thought as he walked down the corridors of his old school. They were completely empty from Venable’s imposed curfew.

The Outpost leader’s rules were borderline puritanical. How he had ever been convinced by Jeff and Mutt to allow her to lead an Outpost was beyond him. She was the antithesis to all things Satanic, from the modest dress everyone was forced to wear to the rules denying all sexual contact under threat of death.

Two of her ‘greys’ had been shot execution-style not long after the Outpost opened after being caught in flagrante delicto .

Michael found himself outside the library. He blinked in surprise. How many times had he wandered these halls as a student, only to end up in the same place?

He’d always favored the room. He’d immersed himself in his studies from his very first day at Hawthorne. The only place he’d ever felt as though he’d fit in.

He slipped inside, admiring the ceiling-high bookshelves. He’d once vowed to read every one of those texts. He’d made decent progress before things all went sideways with the presence of Cordelia Goode and her army of weak, teenage witches.

Maybe he’d take the books with him when he left...

A small intake of breath caught his attention as Michael realized he wasn’t alone.

His lips twitched. It seemed someone wasn’t as afraid of Ms. Venable as the bitch would like to think they all were.

“Come out, come out,” he found himself taunting, looking around the room in a broad sweep. As if he couldn’t hear exactly where the quiet sound of her breathing came from.

The girl didn’t move.

Truly amused for the first time since arriving at Hawthorne, Michael tried again. “Show yourself, little one, and maybe I won’t tell Venable you’ve been out and about.”

For a moment, there was only silence, followed by a soft, “Fuck.”

Michael pursed his lips to keep from smiling. There was a quiet thud and a rustling of clothes as she stood from her hiding place, tucked away in a little alcove.

He recognized the little grey from the Outpost meeting earlier. She had leaned against the bannister up above, seemingly annoyed by his very existence. While others had taken in his presence with an appropriate level of awe, she had acted as if she were inconvenienced by his offer of Sanctuary.

She wore the same stupid grey dress mandated by Venable, although she had undone the top few buttons. And though the head bitch also required all ‘greys’ to wear their hair in the most unflattering knot he had ever seen, the girl’s hair had been let loose in silky waves.

She squared her shoulders in open defiance. “Mister Langdon.”

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.” He crossed the room in a wide arch, carefully closing in on her. “What is your name?”

She tensed ever so slightly, a flash of fear in her eyes, gone as quickly as it had appeared. Lost under a mask of bravado.

How curious…

“Madeline Sage.”

The name echoed through his mind. Madeline.

A name with Hebrew origins. He’d studied enough of language and the Christian texts to know her name was an homage to Mary Magdalene, the disputed bride of Christ.

Surely, a coincidence of no significance. And yet…

Michael took another step closer. “And what, Madeline Sage, are you doing out so long past curfew?”

“A little light reading?”

He’d killed people for using such insolent tones with him before. So why did hers make him want to smile?

“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”

At his question, she frowned, glancing to the side.

His eyes narrowed. “What?” he asked at her sudden silence.

“I’m grey .”

It was his turn to frown. “And?”

She shrugged a shoulder, not quite meeting his eye even as she gazed in his direction. “Greys aren’t allowed to access the library.”

For a moment, Michael truly regretted killing Mutt and Jeff, if only for the opportunity to do so again. Slower, this time. And more painfully, solely for the fact that they unleashed Venable to his new world.

But he would deal with the bitch in black later.

“What,” he asked, glancing at the book and college-ruled spiral notebook by her feet, “was so worth incurring the wrath of Venable?”

He stepped directly in front of her, looking down pointedly. She was a full head shorter than he was and his close proximity forced her to look up.

Rather than waiting for her answer, Michael knelt down to the floor. The book she was reading from was an old occult text outlining the history of magic. In Latin.

But what truly caught his attention was the spiral-bound notebook. In careful, neat lettering, she was writing out English definitions. Michael picked them both up, setting the notebook on top as he flipped backward.

Sure enough, page after page of definitions. Towards the beginning, multiple charts of standard declensions and conjugations.

He tilted his head, stunned for the first time since discovering who he truly was the night of his first Black Mass.

“You’re writing a Latin dictionary?”

Adding to his surprise, the girl’s cheeks flushed. Still, she looked up, meeting his gaze with that same fierce defiance he had seen when he first ordered her to stand.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She swallowed, eyeing her work as if she was afraid he would take it away. "What we don’t save is lost.”

He followed her gaze back to her writing, the perfectly constructed charts, the crisp lettering. Time and care had gone into all of it.

She had risked punishment to save a dead language.

After an evening of listening to half a dozen people blather on about their uses while whining about their circumstances, he was awed.

" Acta non verba, " he murmured aloud.

"Deeds, not words," she translated without missing a beat. Her eyes met his, no longer defiant and defensive but curious. "You know Latin?"

Michael nodded. His birthright had come with a variety of powers, including the ability to comprehend and speak any language across time. “Where did you learn?"

"High school. I'll admit, it's been quite a while. My translations are far from perfect. I remember learning a lot more about Roman farmers and a lot less of the occult than the boys of Hawthorne."

"I take it your knowledge is of Classical Latin rather than Ecclesiastical."

Her eyes widened and her breath hitched ever so prettily. "Exactly! It's why this dictionary has been so much more of a struggle."

The excitement coating her words almost made him smile. It had been a long time since he saw or felt true excitement. Someone able to make something from the rubble rather than languishing like the rest.

There was a warm, fuzzy sensation in his chest that he couldn't name.

Her words somehow caught up to his brain. There was something about the way she had said 'this' that gave him pause. "Have you made more than one dictionary?"

The flush stained her cheeks again, like she had been slapped. Yet somehow, it was even more enchanting.

Madeline nodded. "I'm more fluent in Ancient Greek than Latin. Both Attic and Koine, which are the main dialects that--”

“Attic was an Ionic dialect associated with many of the classical texts and the early philosophers,” Michael interrupted. “Koine was a more common, widespread tongue. The early editions of the New Testament were written in Koine.”

She nodded again, momentarily stunned. "Y-yes. I wrote out an Attic dictionary already but I only had one notebook left.”

Madeline gestured to the spiral-bound atrocity in his hands. It was plebian, vulgar.

For some reason, it pissed him off that she was recording lost knowledge with a ballpoint pen and something school children would doodle in.

She should be writing in ink or fountain pens. Her words not bleeding through the thin pages, leaving indents behind in what would otherwise be perfection.

“I figured one of each language was better than two Greek dialects. Plus, some of the Koine rules are just so specific, I didn’t want to make a mistake and... I’m rambling. Sorry. It’s been a long time since I spoke to someone who knew anything about dead languages.”

“Indeed,” he agreed. “Did you learn Greek in high school, as well?”

She shook her head. “Undergrad. I double-majored in Ancient Civ and Ancient Greek. What about you? It was hard to find someone in the old world who knew the differences between Greek dialects. I didn’t think to look for it in a Cooperative adjudicator.”

Usually, personal questions pissed Michael off to no end. His business was his own but he couldn't help but wish he had a better answer for her.

For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to tell her the truth. His birthright, his abilities and understanding of languages. Would it impress her that he could read fluently from every dead language known and unknown to man?

But to tell her would be to admit who he was. That could interfere with his plans for Outpost 3, for those who resided there as well.

He chose the most simple answer. “My father had an ear for languages. He began teaching me when I was young.”

She offered a small smile that shot through him like a drug. His pants grew uncomfortably tight.

How… strange. He usually had more control over such bodily functions. He'd never struggled when the need arose but that had never just happened on it's own.

“I’m glad to hear that other languages will survive, at least a little bit longer.” Her tone was wistful, longing.

He thought of the books and artifacts saved in the Sanctuary. Pieces of art and history that he deemed worth saving.

What would she think of his choices? Would her eyes light up if he showed her? Would her cheeks burn red if he fucked her against a two-thousand-year-old tapestry?

He barely withheld a moan at the image.

Her petite body wrapped around his, nails digging into his shoulders as she would cling to him. Her teeth sinking into his neck as he whispered all the dirty things he would do to her...

Madeline Sage.

He regretted not having familiarized himself with the files before his arrival. He knew her name was not on the original roster for Outpost three. He would have recognized it.

But Venable and the other Outpost leaders had sent updated rosters within a week of the explosions and one of his assistants had compiled files on each of them.

Histories, family trees. Their kindergarten report cards all the way to their employee reviews at their jobs. Credit reports and IQ.

He hated not knowing only a little more than he hated asking.

For the first time in any Outpost, he was looking forward to interviewing someone for something beyond the fleeting amusement of watching them squirm.

But, oh, to watch her squirm...

"In hindsight, though, I probably should have studied engineering," she added. "I feel like the ability to make a radio or make a wind turbine would have been a lot more useful."

Michael smirked. He already had several dozen people at the Sanctuary for that but no one who knew the major dialects in ancient languages. He wondered what else she knew about.

"I'm not sure I'd agree. The preservation of knowledge is a… noble pursuit."

She shrugged off the praise in a way that made him frown. Either she wasn't used to it or someone had made her feel less for her endeavors. A spike of rage hit him in the chest, making him want to lash out at all those around her, past and present.

"It makes me feel better but I'm not sure how much good it will do."

"Good is rather subjective. Is making yourself feel better not enough?"

She seemed to consider it before inclining her head. "Some days it is. It's not like I ever expected to make a big difference in the world before it went to hell. It's just some days it feels pointless."

"And what do you do on those days?"

She raised her chin. "I get up and do it anyway."

"You're a rebel,” he commented, fighting a smile

"I prefer 'civilly disobedient'."

This time, he couldn't stop the smile from spreading. She was magnificent.

"Rules were made to be broken, then?"

"Often. But they need to be understood before they can be discarded."

"And why do you think you're forbidden from these texts?"

"Knowledge is a dangerous thing." She shrugged. "Or the Cooperative is made up of fascists. Take your pick."

Little Madeline thought to taunt him?

How… fascinating.

"An interesting sentiment to pass on to the Cooperative representative who chooses if you live or die," he said imposingly, resisting the urge to set her straight that such rules stemmed from Venable and not from him. At least, for now.

She raised a defiant brow. "Prove me wrong."

He hummed. "The others of this Outpost seek to find their way to Sanctuary at all costs. Lying, betrayal, begging .” Fuck, he wanted to see her beg. “And yet you disrespect the only one who could save you.”

“Would you go as far as to say I’m not cooperating? ”

He ignored her question, narrowing his eyes. “Do you fear death?”

“Everyone dies. And that was true long before the apocalypse.” Madeline tilted her head. “Truthfully, I’m surprised I’ve made it this long.”

As a rule, Michael tended to be good at reading people. Another gift from his father. Not quite mind-reading but the ability to see intentions and understand desires. He was better than sodium pentothal.

Standing before the little grey, he couldn’t manage to get a reading at all.

No intentions, no desires, no secrets.

Her every word and action surprised him.

The aura of a hopelessly good girl who was purposefully, admittedly breaking the rules to make humanity a little bit better.

He was helplessly drawn to her light like a fucking moth to a flame.

He longed to reach out and touch her pink cheek, to see if it was as soft and warm as it appeared. Would she cower from his touch? Or lean into him?

His hand began to stretch when his ears twitched.

"Get on your knees," he said lowly.

Thr flush was back, this time indignant as she hissed, "Excuse me?"

"Kneel!" he ordered, mentally rushing a pillow from the couch to land on the floor, cushioning her as her body obeyed. "Be silent!"

There was a flash of fear in her eyes and he instantly regretted his actions, even if it were for her protection.

The click of shoes grew louder and Madeline's eyes widened in understanding. Michael dropped the books, letting them float to the floor quietly, just as the guard known as the Fist entered the library.

From where the guard stood, she would be unable to see his little civilly disobedient girl.

He shot her a look of pure contempt. "Can I help you?"

"I heard voices. Who was with you?"

Michael tilted his head slowly. "I do not believe I answer to you."

"The rules may not apply to you, Mister Langdon, but they do to those who live on this Outpost. I need to know who is up and out of their beds past curfew."

One moment his hand was empty, in the next, there was a phone. He held it up. "I was speaking with the Sanctuary."

The guard looked shocked. "That works?"

"Obviously," he drawled. "Now if you would be so kind as to allow me to finish my call in private?"

With a frown, the Fist turned on her heel and stalked off, down the hall.

When the footsteps receded, he turned back to Madeline. He tried to ignore the feelings that arose, seeing her in such a position before him.

He waved his hand and the spell broke. She gasped quietly at the sensation, looking up over long lashes.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Michael offered his hand but nothing could prepare him for the electrical current when she accepted his touch. He grit his teeth to keep from making a sound as he tugged her to her feet.

In his haste, his unchecked strength sent her off balance, crashing into him. Michael quickly circled his arm around her, keeping her from falling. Her hand braced against his chest as the world stood still.

His heart pounded in his chest in a way that made him wonder if it had truly beat before.

Her face nearly scarlet, Madeline stepped back.

Reluctantly, he let her go wondering what the fuck was coming over him.

Why did he feel the need to kiss her senseless and why the fuck wasn't he just taking what he wanted?

“You’re a warlock?” she asked.

Michael held a hand over where her books had fallen. They raced back up to land in his arms. He offered them to her and she accepted, clutching them to her chest.

“Not quite.”

Her eyes narrowed, curiously. “Then what are you?”

“Depends on who you ask.”

“Not a very helpful answer, Mister Langdon.”

“Michael,” he corrected, surprising himself by offering his given name. He hadn’t given Venable nor anyone else on the other Outposts the honor.

Those in the Sanctuary referred to him as King or My Liege .

And those outside knew him only as Langdon.

She gave a gentle nod but it wasn’t lost on him that she did not immediately jump to use it. He frowned slightly before explaining, “The warlocks had access to magic in its most basic forms but none were particularly powerful. They referred to me as The Alpha. The witches acknowledged me as the next Supreme.”

If she watched any of the news in the last ten years before the blast, Michael was certain she would understand the significance of that title. The subtle widening of her eyes told him that she did, indeed, recognize it.

He wondered if she were impressed.

At the time, the Seven Wonders had seemed like a chore. Nothing more than another homework assignment to be completed. Yet now, he felt like boasting.

Telling her exactly how he accomplished each and every task with ease.

How he had gone beyond the simple task of descending to Hell by finding witches locked in their own personal hells and releasing them back onto the world.

“Does Venable know?”

“No.” Not that it mattered. He could accomplish his goals regardless of how afraid of him they all were. Still, he was curious how she would respond when he asked, “Are you going to tell her?”

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

She wasn’t.

And while he wouldn’t care if she did share what she had seen, he felt the need to praise her. Reaching forward, he pushed her hair back out of her face and behind her ear.

She swallowed, stilling under his linger touch as he ran his hand through the dark tresses. His fingers closed around one lock, watching as it straightened before bouncing back into a curl as he released it.

Finally, he understood why little boys tugged on little girls' pigtails.

Her eyes flickered down, his touch obviously affecting her he realized with a sense of pride.

“I should get back to my quarters,” she said softly. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”

Disappointing, but he would see her soon. After all, he still had her interview to complete.

“Allow me to escort you.”

“That’s not necessary--”

“I insist ,” he pushed, offering his arm.

Madeline hesitated before accepting the gesture, slipping her hand into its crook.

“Thank you.”

She slipped the occult text into the nearby shelf she had taken it from.

With a charming smile, Michael led her down the corridor, towards the old dormitories that had been converted into housing for the greys. She wondered, idly, if he had been to Hawthorne before, either as a student or before the bombs fell. He seemed to know his way around without much direction.

“Do you enjoy your life here?” he asked, leading her up a set of stairs.

“Parts of it.”

“You would enjoy it more as a purple ,” he guessed, the color a biting remark on his tongue.

“Probably not,” she admitted. “While I wish I had access to the library, I think I might have gone insane with all the forced socializing.”

“How so?”

She flushed, as if she didn’t wish to speak ill of the others. How oddly endearing.

“Tell me,” he prompted.

Madeline looked down, thoughtfully, before looking back at him. “I’ve never heard so many people speak so much about nothing . A thousand conversations about back when life was different. Regaling each other with accomplishments that don’t hold the same weight in a world where even the richest are starving... I spend most of my day cleaning but the hours I spend serving and interacting with the purples directly are undoubtedly the longest. When Venable announced we were cutting back to one meal a day, I was actually grateful that it meant I wouldn’t have to spend as much time in their presence.”

He withheld a wince.

He blamed himself for such failures. He had offered tickets in exchange for money when he should have just taken their money as his due and individually picked out those worthy of survival. Allowing the rich who had sold their souls long ago to be the sole survivors had backfired.

He now had dozens of survivors who were incapable of working hard or independent thought. They desired everything while giving nothing.

“This is me,” she told him, stopping outside her door. “Thank you for the conversation. And for hiding me from the Fist.”

Madeline removed her hand from his arm but he quickly caught it in his own hand, turning it over. He bowed his head, brushing his lips gently over her knuckles.

“The pleasure was all mine. Goodnight, Madeline.”

“Goodnight, Mister Langdon.”

His grip tightened on her hand.

“Michael,” he corrected.

He refused to release her until she softly echoed, “Michael.”

She slipped back into her room, quietly allowing the door to latch behind her while Michael remained in place. His superior hearing could hear the rustle of fabrics as she undressed, the soft creak of the bedsprings as she settled in.

A curious thing which he had not accounted for.

Michael Langdon smiled as he realized, for the first time, he would not be returning home empty-handed.

#michael langdon #michael langdon x oc #Michael langdon x reader #ahs8 #ahs apocalypse #american horror story #ahs fic #protective michael langdon #intellectual foreplay #religious symbolism

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duggardata · 3 years ago

Text

The Next 6 Months: August 2020—January 2022

Returning after an unintended hiatus, it’s your ‘monthly’ installment of The Next 6 Months! (Hurray! Hurray!) Just ahead...

What all has happened since April 1, 2021? Was it early, late, or what?

Did anyone miss a deadline in the last few months? Who? For what?

What’s expected to happen from now through January 2022?

Latest Events—

Fern Elliana Seewald was born on July 18, 2021, and it was a Hospital Birth. (Thank God!) Fern is Jessa (Duggar) + Ben Seewald’s 4th Child / 2nd Daughter. The Seewalds announced the birth via YouTube.

David Keller + Hannah Reber got engaged on July 15, 2021. Hannah, ~22, is the daughter of LaCount + Maria Reber (Josh’s Custodians).

Madeline Sue Maxell was born ~10 Weeks Premature on July 9, 2021, and remains in the NICU. She wasn’t due until Mid–September. She is John + Chelsy (Bontrager) Maxwell’s 3rd Child and 1st Daughter.

Charlotte Raine Smith was born on June 24, 2021, at 5:35 AM. She is Tori (Bates) + Bobby Smith’s 3rd Child and 1st Daughter.

Nurie (Rodrigues) + Nathan Keller did a Sex Reveal for their Firstborn, due in October, on June 17, 2021. It’s a boy.

Hazel Sloane Balka arrived on June 14, 2021. She’s the 2nd Child and 2nd Daughter of Josie (Bates) + Kelton Balka. She went to the NICU for awhile, but is now home and doing well.

Jadon Carl Bates was born to Zach + Whitney (Perkins) Bates on June 7, 2021. After a 9–Day NICU hospitalization, he is home with the family. He is their 4th Child, bringing their total to 2 Sons + 2 Daughters.

Malachi Seth Helferich, Firstborn Son of Allison (Bontrager) + Jeremiah Helferich, was born on June 4, 2021. Literally no details were given.

Nathan Bates + Esther Keyes got engaged in Orlando, Florida on May 22, 2021. They plan to wed in October 2021. (Oh, and Esther also said “yes” to a Ms. Renée wedding dress.)

Moriah Faith Caldwell was born to Pastor Paul + Christina Caldwell on May 17, 2021. She is their 9th Child.

John + Chelsy (Bontrager) Maxwell announced Pregnancy #3 on May 13, 2021, via Chelsy’s Blog. Chelsy’s Due Date was in September. She already gave birth, though! Maddy was ~10 Weeks Early.

Josh Duggar was taken into custody by US Marshals on April 28, 2021. He’s facing a two count federal indictment for possession and receipt of child sexual abuse images. He’s currently out of custody on conditional release, including GPS monitoring, pending trial.

Josh + Anna Duggar announced Pregnancy #7 on Anna’s Instagram on April 23, 2021. It’s another girl. Anna is due “this fall,” but hasn’t stated exactly when.

Katie Bates + Travis Clark got engaged in Key West, Florida on April 7, 2021. They will wed on December 3, 2021 at Castleton Farms (Loudon, Tennessee)—the same place that Carlin + Evan got married.

Jed + Katey Duggar tied the knot on April 3, 2021 in Springdale, AR, at a wedding venue called The Barn at The Springs.

Just Missed A Deadline—

These events were already late, they missed a deadline against since April 1st, and still haven’t happened— (Alphabetical by Predictor Family’s Last Name)

Carlin (Bates) + Evan Stewart did not announce Pregnancy #2 on April 26 (+1.5 SDs) or June 4 (+2 SDs). Their Next Predicted Date (or, NPD) is August 19, 2021 (+2.5 SDs).

Trace Bates didn’t ‘courtpose’ on May 29 (0.5 SD Late). NPD is July 3, 2022 (+1 SD).

Sierra Jo + Mark Dominguez didn’t announce Pregnancy #8 on June 2 (2 SDs Late). NPD is August 11, 2021 (2.5 SDs Late).

Josiah + Lauren (Swanson) Duggar didn’t announce Pregnancy #2 on June 5 (+1.5 SDs). NPD is August 14, 2021 (+2 SDs).

Esther (Keller) + John Shrader didn’t reveal Pregnancy #13 on May 21 (+0.5 SD) or July 10, 2021 (+1 SD). NPD is August 30, 2021.

Jesse + Anna Patrice (Craig) Maxwell didn’t announce Pregnancy #1 on April 9 (0.5 SD Late) or on June 5 (1 SD Late). Their ‘Next Predicted Date’ (NPD) is tomorrow, August 4, 2021 (+1.5 SDs).

Mary Maxwell didn’t start courting on April 30 (+0.5 SD), as anticipated by the Predictor. NPD is May 27, 2022 (+1 SD). Good luck, Mary!

Kaylee Rodrigues didn’t begin courting on May 18 (+0.5 SD). Her NPD is January 16, 2022 (+1 SD).

... and, these events weren’t late, but now are—

Lawson Bates didn’t ‘courtpose’ to Tiffany on July 2 (On Time). NPD is September 24, 2021 (+0.5 SD)—but honestly, it’s unclear if they’re going to court, if they’re pre–courting now, if they’re already courting, or what.

John + Abbie (Burnett) Duggar didn’t announce Pregnancy #2 on June 13 (On Time). NPD is August 23, 2021 (+0.5 SD).

Courtney + Chris Rogers failed to announce Pregnancy #12 on May 19 (On Time), June 23 (0.5 SD Late), or July 27, 2021 (1 SD Late). Her NPD is August 31, 2021 (+1.5 SDs).

Also, Lauren Caldwell didn’t marry Titus Hall on June 18. So... They definitely broke up. The Predictor considers Lauren to be single, again.

What’s Next (July–December 2021)—

Anna will give birth sometime this Fall. Also, all of this is forecast—

08–04–21 Jesse + Anna (Craig) Maxwell announce Pregnancy #1. (1.5 SDs Late!)

08–04–21 Meagan (Forsyth) + Bobby Ballinger announce Pregnancy #4.

08–06–21 Priscilla (Keller) + David Waller announce Pregnancy #6.

08–11–21 Sierra + Mark Dominguez announce Pregnancy #8. (2.5 SDs Late!)

08–13–21 Joy (Duggar) + Austin Forsyth announce Pregnancy #3.

08–14–21 Josiah + Lauren (Swanson) Duggar announce Pregnancy #2. (2 SDs Late!)

08–19–21 Carlin (Bates) + Evan Stewart announce Pregnancy #2. (2.5 SDs Late!)

08–23–21 John + Abbie (Burnett) Duggar announce Pregnancy #2. (0.5 SD Late!)

08–28–21 Josh + Cassidy (Bowers) Bontrager announce Pregnancy #3.

08–30–21 Esther (Keller) + John Shrader announce Pregnancy #13. (1.5 SDs Late!)

08–31–21 Renee Rodrigues starts courting.

08–31–21 Courtney + Christopher Rogers announce Pregnancy #12. (1.5 SDs Late!)

09–01–21 Justin + Claire (Spivey) Duggar announce Pregnancy #1.

09–10–21 Karissa + Madrae Collins announce Pregnancy #10.

09–25–21 Stephan Wissmann proposes to Jana Duggar. (Based on an Estimated C.S. Start Date of Christmas 2020.)

09–24–21 Lawson Bates officially ‘courtposes’ to Tiffany Espensen. (0.5 SD Late!)

10–07–21 Jed + Katey (Nakatsu) Duggar announce Pregnancy #1.

10–13–21 Keller–Rodrigues #1 born to Nurie + Nathan. (Rodrigues Data)

10–16–21 Keller–Rodrigues #1 born to Nurie + Nathan. (Keller Data)

10–22–21 Nathan Bates marries Esther Keyes. (Suspected)

10–24–21 Joseph + Elissa (Frost) Maxwell announce Pregnancy #4.

10–25–21 Anna Maxwell starts courting. (2.5 SDs Late!)

11–26–21 Denver + Praise (Helferich) Bontrager announce Pregnancy #1.

12–03–21 Katie Bates marries Travis Clark. (Confirmed)

12–04–21 Lauren Caldwell starts courting, again.

12–10–21 Jana Duggar marries Stephan Wissmann.

12–11–21 David Keller marries Hannah Reber.

12–15–21 Young #4 born to Kristen + Justin Young.

12–23–21 Joe + Kendra (Caldwell) Duggar announce Pregnancy #4.

01–15–22 Stewart #2 born to Carlin (Bates) + Evan Stewart.

01–16–22 Kaylee Rodrigues starts courting. (1 SD Late!)

01–28–22 J. Bontrager–Bowers #3 born to Josh + Cassidy.

01–29–22 Duggar–Burnett #2 born to John + Abbie.

01–29–22 Renee Rodrigues gets engaged.

Nothing New For—

Bateses Zach + Whitney, Alyssa + John, Tori + Bobby, Trace, Josie + Kelton, Jackson to Jeb

Bontragers Chelsy + John, Mitchell + Bryn, Allison + Jeremiah, Carson + Carolina, Taylor to Rebecca

Caldwells Paul + Christina, Micah to Moriah

Duggars Jessa + Ben, Jinger + Jeremy, Jer, Jason, James, Jackson to Josie

Maxwells Nathan + Melanie, John + Chelsy, Mary

Rodriguii Timothy, Phillip to Janessa

Courtship Prediction is halted for Sarah Maxwell.

Pregnancy Predictions are halted for Jill + Derick Dillard, Michaela + Brandon Keilen, Anna Marie + Christopher Maxwell, and Erin + Chad Paine.

#next 6 months #the next 6 months

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derpyanimatesstuff · 4 years ago

Text

The Ghost of Jamie Sulivan

So I wrote something, feel free to take a look.

Ao3

"So Ms. Chainman, is this your first time volunteering?" The high pitched voice of the receptionist drew my attention away from the forms she herself had asked me to fill out. She stared at me bug-eyed from the small front desk.

"Yes it is. Why do you ask?" I figured it would be a bit too rude not to answer, but I kept it short.

She threw on a large smile that made my whole body wanna cringe. "Oh it's just that in a small town like this most of the volunteers have been here a while, that or they're friends of previous volunteers. So I'm guessin' that you just moved here."

"That’d be right."

Clearly that was the wrong answer as her face lit up. "Wonderful! You'll have to get signed up for the newspaper! Oh, and-" She just kept on talking. I tried to focus on anything except her squealing. I focused on the small empty lobby, tile floor and plastic chairs. I focused on the medical smell of bleach, sharp and lingering. And unfortunately I eventually focused back on the girl, still yapping away. "-the church is always looking for new folks. But now I just gotta ask, why'd a woman of your age move out here to the boonies?"

"Mind your tongue. I’m not dead yet, just getting up there in years. And as for why I moved, my friend and long-term roommate passed. No sense staying in the big place all alone, so I went ahead and rented it out to a couple for the season and moved to the smallest town I could find." I finished signing the last line and brought them to the girl.

"Oh I'm sorry, that must've been terrible. Any grandkids to help you move?" She gave the papers a once over before storing them and handing me a clip-on ID.

"No grandkids. Don't really have anyone anymore." That put a crack in her mask.

"Well I hope you enjoy your time talking to the patients. You can go head an’ make a few rounds. Just watch yourself when you get to room 218, that kids got somethin’ of what you might call a piss poor attitude." The smile was back at full strength as she waved me down the colorless hall.

Jesus Christ, what would Jamie think of me now? Living in a small town, why she'd laugh her ass off at the thought; but volunteering? She'd think her own mother had risen from the grave and possessed me. That woman was always wanting the two of us to do one good deed or another. She had volunteered us for everything from painting old Mrs. Crumbstone’s fence, to taking Josh Daylee and his half wit brother to the spring dance. But never once had we volunteered at a hospital, guess that’s why I picked it.

Room 103 held Ms. Sheppard, a young thing who just didn’t know when to stop running on a hurt foot. Now with a cast she said she was only stuck there for a little bit longer; she was stuck waiting for her mom to get home and check the answering machine, and till she came Ms. Sheppard was on strict orders not to move. So I listened to her babble on about some boy she had her heart set on until her mom burst in and gave her the what for. She said her goodbyes and I said mine.

Room 108 belonged to nearly blind Mr. Scott. And for a man who couldn’t tell what color shirt I was wearing he sure knew his way around a deck of cards. We made nice and he kicked my ass into next week. He told me to come by again, I said I’d be sure to so long as he gave me a chance. He gave a low chuckle and said he’d think about it.

Room 116 held the sweetest thing on wheels. Mary was a tiny little girl, said she was in there after getting her pendis out, never felt the need to correct the poor thing. I read her Curious George and Madeline , think the last one was brought in as a bit of irony, though I doubt she understood. When we finished she told me that I better come in next week if she’s still there, and of course I promised I would. Doubt anyone could say no to her little chubby face.

Eventually I made my way to room 218, the room the chihuahua of a receptionist warned me about. I made sure I went in, felt like getting back at the woman somehow. I suppose spending time with a sick person isn’t really a form of revenge, but here it sure felt like it and that’s what counted.

I knocked on the door and pushed it open. “Hello? I’m a new volunteer here. Name’s Victoria Chainman.” The room was almost a carbon copy of all the rest, a startling white with a large window opposite the door, and a bed right in the middle pushed to an adjacent wall. What was different was the extra nightstand at the foot of the bed, it was covered in movies and books of all sizes.

“Fresh meat eh?” The sickly boy was sitting against the headboard, book closed but the page saved with his hand.

The door closed with a creak and the chair I sat in gave a strained creak. “I suppose you could put it like that.”

“Well then I guess a ‘suppose’ will have to do. My name’s Jackson Landings, but please, call me Jack. Jackson was my grandfather’s name.” He spoke the last part in some sort of funny voice, a movie maybe?

“That headless chicken of a receptionist said you had ‘a piss poor attitude,’ so I figured I’d like you.”

He let out a small groan and grabbed his head in an overly dramatic sort of way.. “Dear lord that gabbing Gabby is always putting in a bad word for me with the fresh meat.”

“And may I ask why that might be? Surely it takes something real mean to tick off that ball of endless energy.”

Using his free hand he cupped his chin and cocked his head. “Isn’t it obvious? She was completely and utterly jealous about my amazingly dashing looks.”

I raised my eyebrow. The kid looked like what could only be described as a half starved sewer rat. His hair was a sandy brown, greasy and shaggy, but still a sandy brown; the kid was also deathly pale and skinny as a twig. Probably been in here longer than he’d lived outside.

“Okay, you caught me. I told her that her personality reminds me of a butterfly with rabies. But in my defense it’s completely true.”

I wasn’t expecting that. “Kid I think the two of us are going to get along like two peas in a pod.”

“Hmmm… I think I prefer the term ‘house on fire.’ A bit more dramatic, don’tcha think?” He dogeared his page and set the book aside, turning his full attention to me.

“That I do kid, that I do.”

The second Wednesday I came in I got my ass handed to me once again by Mr. Scott, then I went straight to Jack’s room. The small space looked the same as the week before, perhaps there were a few more books and movies but I couldn’t know for sure.

“Hey kiddo, whatcha reading this week?”

Same as the time before he sat up against the backboard, novel in hand. “ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.”

“Ain’t that the one about the two kids with cancer. Bit sad for a place like this, doncha think?”

The boy had the nerve to smile. “I think reading this here is actually pretty funny. You should’ve seen the look on nurse Rayan’s face when he asked what it was about. Was completely priceless. And I personally think the book itself is really funny. This author has a way of taking something everyone thinks steals life and making it into something that gives that life right back.”

“Sounds like quite the book. Does it make you wanna go out on some adventure?”

The kids laugh makes the room seem just a bit more colorful, it was a lot like Jamie’s. “God no! Or at least not this kind of adventure. Sure this one means a whole lotta something, but I don’t want some starcrossed romance. I don’t want to leave that kind of ghost behind, not the kind where people will think of me as dying,” he said with the seriousness of a soldier.

“What do you mean by ghosts?” I don’t know why I asked the question, seeing as I already knew the answer.

“Ya’know? Ghosts? But not the spooky kind; not quite Casper either though. The kind of ghost that comes with too many memories and not enough time. I don’t want my folks or any lovers to have a ghost of sick me living free in their minds. I want my parents ghosts to be of their little boy; the one they brought into this world screaming and kicking. The one who cried after scraping his knee on the playground. I want my sister’s ghost to be of a strong big brother; the one who swung her around in the yard by her tiny legs. And it’s far too late in the game to pick up any poor soul for a relationship.”

“That's why you’re dying here and not at home?” I don’t think it was really a question, we both already knew it was a truth.

“Yeah. I don’t want their ghosts to be of their kid wasting away in their home. Wouldn’t be fair to any of ‘em. This way the only bad ghosts they’ll get will be in this building.”

“How old are you boy?”

“Well grams I’m fifteen.”

“You’re way too young to be talking like you and death are ol’ pals.”

His smile was weak as shaggy hair blocked his eyes. “I know.”

That evening when I went back to my new apartment I got thinking about my own ghosts and what kind they were. Mine weren’t the wasting away sort of ghosts, they were the nonexistent one moment and there the next sort. One day Jamie was knitting away on her fancy rocking chair on the porch, the next it was a ghost. Never did get to say goodbye properly.

“So grams, why’d ya start volunteering at this old place?” It was the fifth Wednesday.

“Well I’m new to the area-”

“Figured that much,” Jackson interrupted.

I gave him a stern look, he would mind his manners with me if he knew what was good for him. “- And I’m retired. Not real big on church either, so I found myself with way too much free time.”

“Why’d ya move? Surely if it was just for retirement you would’ve found someplace better than hicksville here. All we have is that church and maybe like a park or two.”

“Well kid I guess you could say I had one too many ghosts.”

He pondered this for a moment. “Bad ghost, or just ghost?”

“I’m not really sure, it was a sort of out of the blue kind of ghost.”

He nodded and we fell into a silence. I busied myself with reading today's book title. The Afterlife of Holly Chase by a Cynthia Hand. I wonder if it’s another funny kind of sad, or if it’s a make you think kind of book.

“Who’s your ghost?” he asked.

There was far too much to call her. A friend? A soulmate? “Jamie Sulivan,” I said simply.

“What was your Jamie Sulivan like?”

How could I even begin? Jamie Sulivan was a complete and utter whirlwind of a woman. She could walk into a room and turn heads so fast they would spin; it wasn’t because she was pretty, but because any soul with ears would hurt themselves just trying to focus on her words. She was loud, fast, and wild. But she was also calm as a mouse. She would wander into the kitchen in the morning and scrub the dinner dishes, all the while humming under her breath. She would talk to the plant when she tended them; whispering good mornings and hellos. She was a whole galaxy of a person. And she was my person, so I told him that.

“She was the sun. She had every single person she met revolving around her, yet she never abused that. She was a bit crazy, a bit wild, but she knew when she shouldn’t be. She dragged me into far more schemes that I could count. I was always worried we’d get caught- goodness knows her daddy would’ve had both our heads- but we never did. She could’ve picked anyone to be her person, and I will forever be thankful for that fact that she took one look at me and decided I would do.”

Jack hummed in acknowledgement and looked out the big window, taking a moment to think out what he’d heard. “Did you love your Jamie Sulivan?”

“Yeah kid, I reckon I loved her something fierce. And I have a pretty good feelin’ that she loved me too.”

“And now?”

“Whaddya mean now?”

“How do you feel about her ghost? Are you sorry you left it behind?”

I didn’t know how to respond.

When I came in on the seventh Wednesday the kid figured it was about time he asked me a few more questions. I knew they were coming at some point, jus’ part of gettin’ to know a person, yet I don’t think I was ready; it felt like it’d been a long time since I’d been around someone who didn’t know everything that made up my person.

“Hey Vicky?” Jack asked.

I huffed out a small laugh, that’s what Jamie’s dad had always tried to call me. “Yeah that nickname ain’t gonna work, but whatcha want kiddo?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment, all high and mighty in his tiny frame on his big bed. “How old are you?”

I wasn’t expecting that. “Let’s see…” Thought I might humor him by thinking about it for a second, won me a small chuckle. “I’ll be turning seventy-two this year.”

Again he looked lost in thought. “So you were twenty something through the sixties?”

“Yeah I guess that sounds about right.” I wasn’t sure why this was so important.

“Must’ve been hard.” He looked a little sad.

“Why do you say that?”

He waved at all of me, wasn’t sure if I should be offended or not. “I mean with you and your Jamie, didja haveta walk on eggshells ‘round everyone?”

I suppose his question made a lot of sense. I never really thought about it like that. We were never the town lesbians or somethin’ like that, we were just Tori and Jamie; those two young ladies who kicked ass at the bowling alley every Tuesday.

“No, I don’t think we did. I don’t think folks even really knew who we were to each other. To them we were the two girls joined at the hip since we were lil’ tikes. We were just us, sure some of the old kooks gave us the stink eye when we’d hold hands down the street, but in the end I think they all just chalked it up to us being good ol’ gal pals.

He nodded and smiled, think he was happy for me. I think he was happy that we got the chance to love each other and I couldn’t help but think about how happy I was to have had the chance to love her.

“Tell me more about your Jamie?”

I smiled, it was a smile I had long thought gone, I guess Jamie was still the only one who could bring it out of me. “Sure thing kid.”

So I told him about me and Jamie’s parents, the ones who never thought to tell us it was high time to settle down with some nice gentlemen; the ones who each had asked us if we were happy. Of course we had said yes, and for them that was enough. I told him about the time Jamie pulled down the trousers of a boy in the school yard, for he had spilt milk on her nice Sunday the week before. I told him about how Jamie went ahead and socked the girl who made cracks at my having braids in high school. And I told him about the home we made together over in Utah.

When I finished he said one more thing to me. “I sure am glad you and your Jamie had a chance. If ya hadn’t I don’t think you would know about ghosts, and I don’t think we’d be friends.”

The kid was too smart, I felt he was too young to know about the hate we could’ve gotten back when, but I suppose he just wanted to leave behind the best ghost he could.

On the twelfth Wednesday I dragged in my old record player. A bit of a hunky thing, but when I mentioned it last Wednesday Jack’s face had lit up like Christmas lights, so of course I brought it with me.

He waved when I maneuvered myself through the door. “Whatcha reading today kiddo?”

He gave a great smile as he turned the novel so I could see. Today's book was They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.

I set the player down on the end table he kept clear for his lunch. “Jesus Christ kid! Ain’t that one just a bit on the nose.”

“Rayan just about pissed himself today when he saw it.” His face showed with glee.

I shook my head. “One of these days you gonna run that poor kid out of here.”

“Nah, Rayan knows I’m just messing around. And besides it’s like actually a good book.”

This time I simply nodded along. “Gonna give me the rundown?”

“Of course, who do you take me for? Gabby?”

“We don’t speak the devil's name in this room. Now get on with it.”

“Okay so this one’s another romance. Basically people get an alert the day they’re going to die. So there’s a system that pairs up people who die on the same day, that way they can make a friend. Anyway these two dudes get paired and basically fall in love.” He gave little jazz hands as he finished.

“That was a piss poor description.”

“Now you know why I read and not write. Now what’d ya bring me today grams?” He gestured to the various records tucked under my arm.

I pulled one out. “Well you seem like the kind of kid who’d like Frank Sinatra.”

“Hell yeah I do!” His excitement was extremely contagious.

I couldn’t help but smile as I set up the record, Frank Sinatra had been Jamie’s favorite. Sometimes Jack felt a little bit too much like her for comfort, other times it felt like maybe Jamie herself led me to this boy.

We exchanged smiles as the songs filtered through the grainy speaker, we hummed along poorly and did a sort of swaying in our seats. It was something I might be bold enough to call perfect. Neither of us could sing for shit, but what mattered is that we did, and we did poorly together.

All the while I thought about how excited Jamie got every time I brought home a new record. The way she’d make me go fetch my fancy dress shoes just so we could stumble around the kitchen, and of course like always, she was the lead. Some days I didn’t really know what to do without my lead.

That night when I put the record player back into its box I couldn’t help wondering how Jamie’s ghost was fairing without me. Sure it’d always be stuck in that too big for one person house, but even with that couple renting I’m the only one who’d know she was there. I probably owed it a few apologies by now. Heck maybe next week I’d see if Jack couldn’t convince me to go for a visit. I’d just tell ‘em I wanted to see how they’re settling, ask if they’ve found a more permanent place to move into yet. Yeah, I’d get him to convince me next week.

On the thirteenth Wednesday I walked in through those two big sliding glass doors and was greeted by something I never thought would happen. Gabbing Gabby had shut her trap for the first time since I started coming. She and a tall woman with sandy brown locks where lookin’ at me with faces I’d only seen once before. I’d only seen that face when the neighbor came and told me he’d found Jamie face down on the porch. So I did the only thing I could do, I walked up to them and started a conversation with Gabby for the first time.

“Afternoon Gabby-” I nodded to the woman ”-Miss. How’re you this afternoon?”

She wasn’t smiling, and for once that was the part that scared me. “Well Ms. Chainman, I could be better. This here’s Jackson’s Mother, she wanted to tell you herself.”

I held out my hand to Jack’s mama and she took it in both of hers, she was shaking. “It alright if I call you Victoria?”

“Yes’m.”

“Victoria, I know you and Jackson were close. Heaven knows that he would blab about you when we visited.” She let out a choked laugh, tears fillin’ her eyes. “It started gettin’ bad over the weekend, and by Monday he was gone.” She dropped one of her hands and pulled a paper from under her arm. “Y’know he wrote you something. When nurse Rayan told him this was probably it he wrote you a letter. That kid hated writing, but he wrote you a letter. Said that you only come on Wednesdays and that he oughta tell you something.” She tucked the paper into my hand. “Well… that’s all I really came here to do.” She let go of my hands and took a step towards the doors. “Ms. Victoria Chainman, I do hope to see you around.” I had a feeling we both knew she wouldn’t.

“Same to you ma’am. Oh and ma’am.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.” I would’ve told her I was sorry, sorry that she was left with only a ghost, but I think she knew.

She tilted her head through the tears and gave me Jack’s smile. “You’re most very welcome.” And with that Jack’s mother walked right through those two sliding doors.

“Gabby, ya mind if I read this here?” I think that all of his ghost was meant to stay right here.

She gave a sad smile, the effect wasn’t the same anymore. “That would be no problem Ms. Chainman.”

Sitting in those damn creaky plastic chairs I went ahead and started reading.

Dear grams,

Sorry I won’t see you on Wednesday, got a little busy. I figured I might as well try my hand at writing something, so you should feel honored that you’ll be the one getting this. I wanted to thank you for coming every Wednesday. I know that you stopped seeing the other patients and chose to hangout with little ol’ me. I’m thankful that you let me tell you about the books I was reading, and that you brought up those vinyl even though I could see the hurt in your eyes when they played. Thank you for listening to me talk about ghosts, even though most everyone has one I don’t think they can always see them; I know that you can see them. And finally thank you for telling me about your Jamie Sulivan. I think we both know I was the only thing keeping you here, so I think maybe it’s time for you to go home. Don’t you agree?

See ya later,

Jack

Carefully I folded the paper and tucked it into my jacket, I didn’t want it to get crinkled.

“Ms. Chainman?” Gabby actually looked worried.

“I think I’m going to go home if that’s alright with you.”

“Of course. I’ll see you next week?”

I handed her that tacky clip on ID. “Sorry but I won’t be back.” That was the last I saw of that Gabby, her nodding silently and putting the ID back where it came from.

On that thirteenth Wednesday I went right ahead and packed up that small one person apartment. It didn’t take too long I suppose, I had never really unpacked. I loaded everything that had seen Jamie into that truck and drove off, I could call the landlord to deal with the rest of it.

The whole ride I thought about Jack and I thought about Jamie. Jack was a tiny thing who knew he was gonna die, yet he acted like he wasn’t scared, but I knew he had been. Kid had been so obsessed with reading about death, sometimes I thought he was tryin’ to find what came next for him in the pages; but the thing about those books it that they only tell you about the ghosts. Those books only let you know what a person leaves behind, in those books he read you never knew where the person went, just where they had been. Maybe that’s why he knew about ghosts. Jack and Jamie were similar, but they were never comparable. Jamie had been the kind of person you never thought would ever be a ghost. She was the kind of person who you figured would be your stone until you were in the ground yourself, and yet she wasn’t. Jamie was a bright goofball who loved to live her life even if it meant getting closer to dying, and I was that shy girl she picked up who loved to live it with her. Jack had been ten miles on a life long road, and Jamie was at the start and the finish; and I couldn’t wait to get there.

On the way I had called the couple renting, it seemed that everything was going to work out, they had found a place and were almost out, jus’ forgot to call and let me know. Normally I would’ve been mad about someone forgettin’ about informing me like that, but this was a God send.

Drivin’ through the town I got glimpses of the ghost I had once wanted to leave behind. On Old Wicker Street Jamie waved to me from a bench that I had always driven by on my way to and from work. On Main Street she was smiling into the bakery window, ogling the fresh croissants. In our neighborhood she was getting the mail. And on the front lawn she was weeding the flowerbed.

I took a deep breath and I got out of that rusted pickup she hated so much and I went home. I went back to the ghost of Jamie Sulivan.

#my writing #story #short story #origional work #derpstuff

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eadanga · 5 years ago

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My Lost Love Part 6 (NSFW)

Summary: Liam a prince fell in love with Gracelyn a palace maid who disappeared from his life years ago. Now king Liam is determined to find his lost love who is harboring a secret

Author Note: This series is for @texaskitten30 one of the winners of my 400 followers giveaway. Hope you enjoy this

Liam stood outside his balcony his jaw fixed in a thin line. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number Come on love pick up pick up please

“Hi this a Gracelyn leave a name and number and I’ll get back to you”

Liam hung up and sighed running his fingers through his hair I need to see her. He rushed out the room and got his shirt. He opened the door and saw Bastien’s surprised face

“Your majesty where are you going at this time of the night?”

“I need to see Gracelyn what’s her address?”

“I don’t think-”

“Bastien” He fixed him a stern gaze “Her address”

Bastien stared at him and saw the passion in his eyes. He quickly scribbled down something on his notepad and handed it to him “This way King Liam”

Liam nodded then headed out the hotel. He got into the car and drove down to her apartment. He walked into the lobby and walked to the front desk “Hi I’m looking for Ms. Gracelyn’s apartment”

The front desk guy smiled “Are you the one who sent her the flowers?”

“Yeah that was me”

He chuckles “Apartment 7G”

“Thanks” Liam heads to the elevator and heads up to the 7th floor. He walks down the hall to her apartment. He takes a deep breath and knocks on the door.

A few minutes pass before Gracelyn opens the door. Her eyes wide in surprise as she sees him standing there

“Liam It’s 3 in the morning what are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t sleep I needed to see you”

“Please Liam just go alright” She tries to close the door but he stops it with his shoe

“Please Gracie don’t turn me away please just 5 minutes that’s all I’m asking you. Please”

Gracelyn stares at him then opens the door and lets him in. Liam walks in and sits on the couch as she takes a seat next to him “Gracelyn I’m sorry”

“For what Liam?”

“For anything I’ve done to hurt you” He begins to sob “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the arrangement I had I didn’t think much of it when I found you and I’m sorry for anything else I’ve done that’s hurt you please forgive me”

Gracelyn felt tears come to her eyes as she watched him “I already forgave you Liam I’m sorry for fighting with you I never want to do that” She wrapped his arms around him and he pulled her closer.

“Never doubt my love for you ever I love you more than anything you mean so much to me I can’t live without you Gracie”

Gracelyn pulls back “I…need to tell you something”

“What is it?”

“After our date as I was leaving the hotel Madeline showed up”

“Madeline?”

Gracelyn nods “She told me about the arrangement and how you were just using me and that if the press get a hold of us sleeping together it would be bad”

Liam clenched his jaw “That bitch this trip was supposed to be Madeline free and she follows me. That obsessed psycho needs to leave me alone”

“That’s not all Liam…” She bites her lip “She’s the reason why I left”

“She’s what? What did she do?”

“It was the night before coronation and after we had came back from the hedge maze…”

****

Gracelyn headed back to her room and smiled as she fiddled with the promise ring Liam gave to her This is so beautiful I love it. There was a knock on the door “Just a second!” Gracelyn quickly hid the ring and opened the door and saw Madeline “Countess Madeline” She curtsied “What can I do for you?”

“We need to have a chat” Gracelyn stepped aside and let her in. Madeline smirked “Never been to the servants quarters now I’m glad I never have”

“What did you want to talk about?”

“Been seeing you with the Prince a lot”

“We’re just friends we’ve known each other since childhood”

“Yeah sure the friend that you kiss” Gracelyn looked at the floor “Oh come now you don’t believe that Liam is in love with you do you?” She scoffed “I mean just look at you and look at me. I’m a countess of Fydelia and you’re…a maid. Why would anyone make you queen of anything?” She takes a step towards her “Look I’m a noble I’ve been training for this my whole life Liam needs me by his side I’m meant to be queen. Then I will give him children and we’ll be a happy family together there’s no place for you in that. I mean how would Constantine and Regina react to him marrying a maid”

Gracelyn swallowed her tears “I…understand I’ll leave him alone”

“Oh no I don’t mean just leave him alone I want you out of here gone by tonight” She hands her a plane ticket “I got you on the next flight out of here there’s a car ready to take you to the airport”

“Can I at least tell him goodbye?”

“Write a note and begone and if you mention this to him I will make you pay”

“Yes Lady Madeline”

“Good now start packing” She walks out the door

Gracelyn sits on the bed and pulls out a notepad. Tears stream down her face as she writes the letter. She then leaves it on her table and packs her things.

****

“And then I left I didn’t want to but I didn’t have a choice” Gracelyn puts her head in her hands as she sobs

Liam looked at her he felt the rage burning inside of him. He immediately took her in his arms as she cried. He was silent for a moment as he held her then he spoke “I’m so sorry love now I see why you were pushing me away” He lifted her chin up so that she was looking at him “Gracelyn don’t listen to the words of Madeline. I couldn’t care less whether you were a maid, princess, or queen. I’m in love with you truly madly in love with you. No woman has captured my heart like you do you’re my world my everything. I don’t want anyone else but you my love” He kisses her deeply pouring all his love into it. Their arms go around each other. He trails kisses down her neck as she sighs then he whispers “Where’s the bedroom love?” She points to down the hall and he lifts her up and carries her to the bedroom.

They fall onto the bed kissing as he takes off her tank top. He stares at her “Beautiful so beautiful” He kisses her neck then sucks on her nipples as she moans

“Liam…”

He pulls back to pull off her shorts then undresses himself “Spread your legs love”

She opens her legs and Liam lowers his head between them. He slowly moves his tongue up and downs her folds “You taste exquisitely my love” He plunges his tongue into her as she moans. He inserts a finger inside of her as he continues to taste her juices.

“Mmmmm Liam”

He moves his way up to her as he moves his fingers slowly in and out of her. He kisses her deeply “Love the way you taste love?” She nods as he removes his fingers then cups her face “You’re mine forever and always do you believe that?”

Gracelyn nods he slowly pushes his manhood into her. He holds her tightly then slowly begins to thrust. He smiles as her moans grow louder “I love the sounds you make for me”

“Oh yes Liam! Fuck me harder”

“As you wish” He begins to thrust harder and faster as she pulls him closer “That’s it feel my love”

“Liam mmmmmm yes!”

He feels her tightening around him and thrusts into her till he finds release. They collapse on the bed breathing heavily. He turns to her “I love you Gracie”

“I love you too” He kisses her forehead and fall asleep in each other’s arms.

****

Liam wakes up the next morning to half the bed empty. He gets out of bed and walks into the kitchen and sees Gracelyn and older woman. Gracelyn turns around “Morning Liam”

“Morning Gracie” He kisses her on the forehead “Who’s this?”

“This is my mom”

“You’re the guy my daughter always talked about” She smiles and sticks out her hand “Evelyn”

“Nice to meet you” He shakes it

“You too King Liam”

“Liam is fine”

“Of course and I’m so glad she’s finally decided to tell you after all these years”

Liam looks at Gracelyn “Tell me what?”

She takes a deep breath “Liam I’m sorry for keeping this from you but I didn’t know about it until after I left”

He takes both her hands in his “You can tell me love what is it?”

Gracelyn nods to her mom who gestures for someone to come in. A blonde-haired girl with sparkling blue eyes comes in. Liam watched as she walked in slowly.

Gracelyn smiles “It’s ok baby come” She walks to Gracelyn and she takes her hand.

Liam felt tears coming to his eyes “Gracie who is that?”

“This is Lorelai she’s…your daughter”

Tags: @annekebbphotography @indiacater @hopefulmoonobject @mfackenthal @the-soot-sprite @sanchita012 @iaminlovewithtrr @jared2612 @cordoniaqueensworld @princess-geek @queenjilian @texaskitten30 @choicesloversstuff @mrsdrakewalkerblog

#king liam #liam x mc #the royal romance #the royal heir #trh #choices trr #trr liam #trr/trh #choices fanfiction

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asweethistory · 5 years ago

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Clue

Mustard Seed and Green Peppercorn Monkey Bread Ice Cream Served Three Ways: Red Berry Brandy Affogato, Plum Champaign Coulis, White Chocolate Cayenne Dipped Swedish Fish

Some know it as a classic board game invited during Word War II, but many know Clue as a film they grew up quoting before they could fully grasp all the innuendos and dark humor. Clue, the movie, was the first motion picture to be based on a board game and as you might have guessed did not gain initial success. But since 1985 when the movie was first released, Clue has become a cult favorite. Personally, Clue captured my heart when I was 11, already into murder mysteries (don’t know where that came from), and I decided to rent the VHS at our local video store. I was immediately hooked, and since then, I forced my friends to watch clue at my 13th birthday party which was murder mystery themed, got my cousin on board and as obsessed as me, turned a junior-year Netflix and chill into a Clue and that’s it, and have religiously watch Clue anywhere from once to five times a year. I, like the rest of Clue fans, love the fast-paced dialogue, wit, clever references to McCarthyism, eccentric characters, wacky plot, and the food (maybe that one isn’t as universal…but monkey brains, anyone?).

The whodunit was directed and written by Jonathan Lynn, after many others turned down the project proposed by John Landis. Turning a board game into a movie caused enough story challenges as it was, but then executive producer Landis suggested having four separate versions of the ending, each with their own killer. Four was whittled down to three, and when the film was released each theater showed only one of the different endings. They’d hoped the gimmick would encourage people to attend multiple screenings, but instead, many first time watchers walked away with a different moviegoing experience than their friends. Lynn guesses that this marketing ploy resulted in the poor reviews and lackluster reception. For those who screen the film at home, though, each ending is played one right after the other, which many fans agree is the way it should have been presented all along.

Lynn decided on the film’s setting when he was halfway done with the screenplay. Inspired by many of his Hollywood friends who were blacklisted during McCarthy Era, the story takes place in 1954 New England with the main characters hailing from Washington, D.C. These six characters enter the house, named Hill House after New England writer Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, with color pseudonyms to hide their identities. At the start of the evening, Wadsworth the Butler, played by the amazing Tim Curry, welcomes each character in through the hall (he knows because he was there). One by one they all arrive, first Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull) and then Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn, “looking pale and tragic”), followed by Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), and Mr. Green (Michael McKean) and finally Ms. Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren) and Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd). After being served champagne by French maid Yvette, dinner begins without the host, Mr. Boddy, who arrives after the shark-fin soup slurping and Peacock’s tangent (“Well, someone’s got to break the ice”).

Over coffee and brandy in the study, it is revealed that the guests are being blackmailed by Boddy for various reasons (such as White possibly killing her husband and Green being gay in the FBI). Wadsworth, who claims his wife was blackmailed, hopes that the cast will testify against Boddy and the police will stop this madness for good. But Boddy has another idea and presents everyone with wrapped weapons (if you’ve played the game, you know what they are). He turns off the lights, a gunshot rings out, and someone screams. Long story short (“Too late!”), the guests and Wadsworth run throughout the house (including through secret passageways) trying to figure out who has killed whom as throughout the film there are six murders all together (“This is getting serious”). I won’t tell you what each ending reveals, but some of my favorite one-liners are featured among them (“Communism was just a red herring”).

After the movie’s box-office flop, Lynn was essentially blacklisted from working in Hollywood for a while, video stores promoted the film as a movie to dare to rent, and the movie started playing regularly on tv as an inexpensive way to fill spots, which is how a younger generation had the opportunity to revive the comedy.

Now, “Would anyone care for fruit or dessert?”

#clue #ice cream #swedish fish #white chocolate #plum #affogato #brandy #mustard seed #peppercorn #monkeybread #1985 #whodunnit

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elane-in-the-shadows · 5 years ago

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Red Queen Fan Fiction - Red Huntress Chapter 6

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Find this on wattpad and on AO3

Diana was to arrive at the Cordes farm before sunrise, when mere streaks of green, yellow and red were announcing the coming day. Accordingly, Diana felt the lingering cold of the night on her face and was soon glad to help pack the transport, as first the work and then the machine’s roaring motor were warming her up.

While Armina Cordes, looking fit and fresh despite her fifty years and the early hour, had greeted her friendlily and waved off Diana and the travelling merchant, Marcus Wolff, the latter was far less talkative.

He was a pale, almost colourless man in his late thirties, with light skin that neither bronzed nor burned in the sun, and hair like sandy mud. As a travelling merchant, Diana saw him often enough, but never got to know him; it was her father or Madeline who usually bought from or sold to him.

Mr. Wolff didn’t try to mend this impression and had asked Diana to stay in the storage area of his transport to check some lists. Obviously, that was only give her a reason to travel in the back and to occupy her there, as it was too dark to read and control at first, and once she could start, it turned out to be a quick and easy task leaving Diana to her thoughts.

When she’d assisted her mother at the butcher shop the day before, she’d told her about Ms. Cordes hiring her. Mama had revealed no reaction, concentrated on cutting meat. “You want to do that?” she’d only asked, hinting at the missed school day.

Diana had been reluctant to reply, about to inquire if her mother knew more about Armina Cordes and her possible connections to the Scarlet Guard. Then she’d shrugged and said, “I do.”

To be honest, by now she waited for her parents to let something slip. Yet today, she’d look for what Marcus Wolff had to slip.

They arrived in town, their county’s capital, in the early morning. After setting up their stall, “Marcus’s plums” at the market square, Wolff wanted her to assist him in a similar way to how she helped her mother – clean, listen to the customers’ orders, gather their goods, weigh and pack them – tasks that demanded attention and sure, fast hands. He only used her last name to call her, if he called her anything at all, and so she started to address in the same manner.

From Wolff’s glances, she figured she did as well as expected, but even then, he made no comments, offering neither praise nor chide – so be it. If she’d been wrong, and this job had nothing to do with the Guard, at least she’d get paid.

At first, Diana was puzzled that Wolff was similarly quiet with the customers as with her, until she figured out that some of them had to prefer it that way, given the hurry they all seemed to be in. Yet there were a few, barely a handful, who pulled a conversation out of Wolff; not a smile, but a slightly softening change to his features. If their words carried any notes of conspiracy, Diana didn’t manage to unravel them as these customers also enjoyed to keep her busy with elaborate, detailed orders.

The last of these had shown up when the market was already dying down in the afternoon. It was then that Wolff rattled off a set of directions and told Diana to deliver one crate to a depot and bring back several others. That would require several runs, too. When she frowned, he added, “there must be a wheelbarrow in the depot, you can use it.”

She sighed, and lifted the crate he wanted away. She didn’t have the wheelbarrow for his one, and would’ve to return it after her last run.

She found the depot easy enough, getting a slight feeling for the town’s layout. She tried to take notice of the other people going around there too, to remember them, though that proved difficult as none of them was interested in a break or small talk.

Giselle had a point, Diana thought, it’s not easy to get into contact here. The people are restrained here.

Wolff was packing up when she’d finished, about to get on his way before the sunset. “It’s early enough to travel,” he said.

She nodded. “You’ll stop at Sieverling to drop me off.” He raised his eyebrows. She took a breath. “I mean … it’s your transport. You’d go the fastest road to your next station without me … “

He shrugged. “No matter, I’ll like to see Armina again tonight.”

She didn’t know what to reply to this, which could be a very private notion or imply a report on rebel activities. Back in the transport, she fell in line with his silence.

Several weeks later, Wolff asked for Diana again. It was more of the same, besides they went to another town. Another month later, with autumn approaching and Wolff changing his range of products, she accompanied him for the third time.

The novelty was that after two hours at the market selling to a few regulars, Wolff started to pack up, announcing they’d make deliveries for the rest of the day.

“Sure,” Diana agreed, but there was a switch in his demeanour bespeaking this wasn’t a wholly routine activity.

Wolf hesitated to speak, to explain, for the first time ever. He was all about few words, but quick orders. Now he didn’t face her when he said, “when we arrive at the town hall, you go in and … steal five blank travel permits.” He turned to her, holding out a servant uniform. “Put this on then.”

Diana blinked, disbelieving. She’d almost given up the idea this job was a Scarlet Guard recruitment, but Wolff had made himself clear, not shying away from the term “steal”. Or was this just to be a favour to him?

“Why should I do that?” she asked.

Wolff didn’t flinch. “You want to see the dawn, don’t you?”

It was she who flinched at what would sound like a threat to anyone else. Good cover. “I do,” she replied with a smirk.

Marcus Wolff was truly a man of few words as he offered no other orders, instructions or advice. A test then, Diana concluded. Wolff didn’t even nod at her when he stopped his transport and Diana stepped out in the servant uniform at the town hall at noon. She could only enter the building, pretending to be supposed to be there.

A cook or a cleaning person, she imagined. Briefly, she considered finding herself a broom to complement her attire, but soon refrained from that. She couldn’t even afford to look at the map of the building, let alone search every room and corner for equipment.

Or … could she? It was one excuse to open doors. She chewed on her lip. It wasn’t her task to find a broom but travel permits and to get out fast. She’d already lingered too long here in her opinion, doing nothing but walking down corridors reading door signs. She grew nervous as she could only hope to stumble upon a promising one.

Finally, she passed a room labelled transfer office, which sounded fitting enough. Her heart beat faster as she knocked on the door and then entered, an excuse on her lips. An unnecessary one, fortunately. No one was inside. A lunch break? Good for her. She rounded the room, eyes on the shelves before she focused on the cluttered desk.

She touched as little as possible. But the form block with the travel permits wasn’t hard to find: it was almost on top. Her thumb was already on its edge, counting off five sheets.

She hesitated. The forms were numbered, and probably for a reason. Sweat beaded down her back. Wasn’t the responsible official to see such an obvious theft?

She pulled her hand away, her blood pulsing loudly in her head. She could take the sheets. But it might be just another test.

She had to figure out a different way.

Feeling her time running out, she examined the drawers of the desk and the shelves. Too late she realized she should’ve set herself a deadline. No matter now. Three more drawers, she told herself, before she’d take the sheets.

There was no need. In the first drawer, she saw a whole other block of forms which she dropped into her apron pocket.

Wolff’s expression was stony when she handed him the forms. “I figured it’d be less obvious to pick a reserve block than one currently in use,” she explained, “given that the forms are numbered. This way, it might take a while until its loss is noticed – if at all.”

Wolff inclined his head.

“Unless you really wanted only five forms?” she added, but without letting her face display any doubt.

When he nodded finally, she still felt relieved. She breathed out. “However, I think it’d be a better course of action to go right for a storage room the next time. Or to the place where the forms are printed.” She lowered her head in a mock excuse. “I should’ve considered this first thing, but I hope the Guard appreciates the fast provision.”

Wolff actually grabbed her shoulder then, his face relaxing. “Keep up your mettle, Farley,” he said.

In the next three months, Diana did several jobs in towns as a cover for illegal activities. It wasn’t only with Wolff, or in the same places, but the gist remained the same: sneak in, play a part and steal something useful. Sometimes it was an office to get documents, other times Silver estates. At the latter, her companions always became more careful. She knew it was because Silver houses weren’t public places, with regular employees harder to hide among. But Silver estates were also the only spots to obtain things of value to finance the Guard, be they coins or jewellery to sell.

Despite her assignments, Diana still wasn’t Scarlet Guard proper, remaining an informal supporter. She was aware the Guard could just as well hire day labourers or Red gangs for this kind of work, but those people were only in for the money the Guard offered them – while a supporter like Diana merely expected a little coin for the legal part of her jobs, like selling goods at the market, occasional tasks basically unrelated to the Scarlet Guard.

That changed the day the soldier appeared.

Nothing special had taken place that morning, so Diana almost supposed she was really just to assist Wolff at the market, selling metal tools now that winter was coming. Nor did she pay much attention to the customer in the lakelander army uniform, not until she noticed how long the woman had stood already in front of the stall and that she actually made Wolff chuckle.

Diana lifted her head in surprise when she heard that strange sound. It stopped as quickly as it had started, yet there was still an unusual elatedness lingering on his face. Diana glimpsed at the soldier, a woman in her parents’ age, with straight black hair, folded eyelids and brown skin. Dian saw amusement similar to Wolff’s in her heart-shaped, ruddy face, but also a seriousness underneath. The soldier was smiling, but Diana felt it was only on the surface, like the soldier had a coldness not easily melted in her. Diana knew that kind of smile – it was the same her father wore.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Diana greeted the soldier. “How can I help you?”

The soldier titled her head, still friendly, yet obviously assessing her. “Good morning Ms. Farley,” she said. “I’ve heard of you.”

Diana frowned while the soldier considered her words. “I’ve been …” she began, then started anew. “How old are you?”

Diana raised an eyebrow. “Fifteen.”

The soldier nodded, thinking, and Diana looked her over in turn. She carried no visible weapons, besides that holster that might held a knife, and she was of average height, with a plumb but muscular built. She wore no name tag, an empty spot beneath the Lakelands’ swan sigil. She flicked her hand eventually, leaning forward. “I’d like to talk with you in private.”

“Where?” Diana glanced at Wolff who raised his eyebrows, which probably meant encouragement.

The soldier shrugged. “Just around the corner.” The corners of her mouth twitched.

Diana sighed, rolled her shoulders and cleaned her hands. “Sure, ma’am.”

“I’ll spare us the exchange of codewords and get to the point,” the soldier said as they entered an empty backyard, covered by a canvas. She stopped and turned to Diana. “After all, we behaved suspiciously enough.”

Diana crossed her arms. “I think so too,” she said, and saw the soldier was about to continue. Then Diana went on, “Yet I’d like some kind of introduction, ma’am. To the Scarlet Guard itself, that is, as I come to believe you’re one of its leaders.”

The soldier’s face gave nothing away, showing only the hardness Diana had noticed before. That rather made Diana more certain in her assessment. “Be careful what you say, Ms. Farley,” the soldier replied eventually, “you must know we are a quiet lot.”

What will quietness achieve in the long run? “I don’t want to waste my chance now that I’ve met you,” said Diana.

The corners of the soldier’s mouth twitched. “You’re an impatient woman.”

Diana’s eyes widened at the last word. It was like a lure, an offer she’d waited for. Her parents told her she couldn’t join the Guard because she was a child, yet this Guard leader addressed her as an adult. Diana straightened. “I’m a woman who wants to get things done.”

The soldier chuckled quietly. Oddly, that didn’t irk Diana. Rather the opposite, she began to like the woman.

The soldier extended her hand and Diana shook it. “My designation is ‘Swan’, Ms. Farley”, the soldier told her, and Diana glanced at the missing name tag under the Lakelands insignia. Smart codename, she thought. She even looks a little like the queen.

“As we have this done, let me be plain,” Swan went on. “Now that I’ve seen you too, I don’t think you can continue with your current assignments.”

When Diana wanted to protest, she lifted a hand. “It is so, you’re a little too big and pretty to go unnoticed.”

Diana gaped, then caught herself. “Well, thanks?”

Swan waved her off. “No need to feel flattered. But I don’t want you to sneak in and steal any longer. I’d rather hide you in plain sight.”

Swan wanted her to pose as Tina Fields, a 19-year-old Red woman with an internship in an office in Trial. Diana would take Tina’s place and do her job for five months, passing on the information she found there.

What about the real Tina? Diana didn’t ask. Maybe she didn’t even exist. Neither did she ask her parents about their opinions. What for? For show, Diana had avoided to agree to the assignment too eagerly, but agree she did. Swan expected her to, or she could forget ever joining the Scarlet Guard. If you wanted to change things, you had to make sacrifices for it.

But to her surprise, when Diana informed her parents she’d move to Trial in a few weeks and stay for five months, they were shocked. So shocked they didn’t even object with words other than, “Diana, no.”

That was her mother. Strange. If anything, she’d thought her father to be more opposing.

Diana cocked her head. “I know you need me here, but – “

“It’s not that,” Mama said firmly, but her lips quivered.

“Not that? Well, I will get some money for it … “

Her father stood up and moved to Diana’s side. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, he squeezed her shoulders.

Diana touched his wrist, grasping something. “That’s really not ‘it’,” she said. “You’re afraid for me.” She was barely able to believe it. She pushed her father’s hand off, rose and stepped away from the table they’d gathered around. “You think it’s too dangerous to join the Scarlet Guard? For me? That I can’t take care of myself, of my mission?”

Her parents gasped but she went on, glaring. “You could’ve warned me at any point. Tides, you could’ve mentioned what the Guard does, so I could’ve decided for myself. But if you don’t believe in me, you should’ve never told me about the rebellion.”

Now her mother got up as well, incensed, about to rein in Diana. But Diana stormed off, up to her room, because she knew Mama would have a point. She always did.

While Diana felt ashamed for accusing her parents for worrying about her. Still, it was too late now. She’d go to Trial, and serve the Scarlet Guard.

Her mother came to her room later that night, in the dark where Madeline slept and they couldn’t see each other. “I can’t tell you not to do this,” she said, sitting down on Diana’s bed. “Not after everything I’ve done.”

Diana still did no know what her mother had done for the Guard. This was the first time she ever alluded to anything.

Mama sighed. “And yet, I do wish for nothing more than you to be safe, Diana. Is that strange?”

Diana didn’t know what to say to that, she only grasped her mother’s hand. Her mother leaned down. “It is just, are you ready to devote your whole life to them?” she whispered. “You can have a life here, and be a one of them. You can have both.”

She paused, leaving Diana to think. “I only wanted to remind you of that. You’re fifteen now, more than old enough to pick a profession. When you come back,” her mother took a breath, “then I’d like you to choose if you want be the apprentice of either of us.

“Or to leave the village, if that is what you want.”

Mama waited a few more moments, then started to rise. “Back then, you asked me to choose too,” Diana said quietly.

“Yes,” Mama murmured, “I did. But in truth, you have to make choices every bloody day anew.”

It wasn’t easy to say farewell to Giselle, not after the many times Diana had already done jobs in the surrounding towns. They’d had … a moment, and then Diana did the opposite of what Giselle had asked her too. Now she could hardly believe it.

Maybe she felt betrayed. Maybe she’d felt so for months. All she said was wonder if Diana didn’t rue she missed school so often.

Diana did rue that. But that was one of the sacrifices she was willing to make.

“It’s really just another job, a chance I don’t want to waste,” Diana explained. “I’ll be back soon.”

Giselle grabbed her hands, her eyes piercing into Diana’s. “A chance? But why would you want an office job unless …” She didn’t finish.

Diana knew what she meant anyway. Why would a peasant girl need experience in an office, unless she intended to move to a city someday? She couldn’t tell her the truth, though. She caressed Giselle’s cheek. “I don’t want an office job. I want to help my home,” she said. “And my home is the people I love.”

Giselle hugged her then, sinking into Diana’s chest and the implication of her words that really said nothing. Diana couldn’t help kissing her brow as Giselle’s fingers circled her back. “I’ll come home again,” she repeated.

Despite their protests, Giselle and Diana’s parents accepted her mission. It was Madeline who stood in the door the December morning Diana was to set off.

“Hey,” Diana said, finishing her breakfast snack in the kitchen. She smiled at her sister. “You take care of the house? Of Mama and Papa?”

Madeline came nearer and Diana opened her arms. Yet Madeline stopped, not closing in for an embrace. She looked up to her sister. “It’s isn’t just a job,” she said.

Diana raised her eyebrows but stayed silent.

“Don’t think I notice nothing,” claimed Madeline. “You can’t keep secrets from your family. I just …” She glanced aside, only to return her gaze to Diana after a second. “Don’t forget, okay?”

“What?”

Madeline shrugged. “Home, I guess. Us”

Diana squeezed her sister’s shoulders, not inclining her head because Madeline hated that. “How could I? It’s, you are the reason I want to fight.”

This time, Madeline stepped forward to hug her sister. She still reached only to Diana’s chest. “I couldn’t do that,” she muttered.

“You don’t have to,” Diana replied, caressing her sister’s head and gathering her resolve.

@elliemarchetti @avid-author-activist @mareshmallow @marecalrandomstuff @misslucyhutton @lilyharvord @olivegreenolives @sxfik @shadykittentraveler @loveverygalaxybouquetstuff @gamer670 @yjlover @evervaleli @scxrletguardsdawn

#red queen #diana farley #farley #red queen fanfiction #victoria aveyard #captain farley #broken throne spoilers #red huntress ch 6 #red huntress

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itwasanangryinch · 6 years ago

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JCM Projects -- 2019

My aim is to update this at least monthly, ideally weekly with all of the projects John Cameron Mitchell will be working on, debuting, or a part of in the upcoming year. If you know of a project not listed here, please message me thru inbox or IM. | | Updated June 19th

This Week (June 19th-23rd)

(DJing) Mattachine – Monthly queer dance party with Amber Martin and Ang DiCarlo at the Julius

The Origin of Love Tour (North American) (ongoing)

New York – June 27th, at The Town Hall (3 left!) New York – June 28th, at The Town Hall – sold out! New York – June 29th, at The Town Hall – sold out! New York – July 27th, two shows! at Fischer Theatre/Bard College (16 left!) Michigan – November 2nd, at the University of Michigan, (tix on sale in Aug.) Austin – February 7th, 2020, at University of Texas at Austin/Bass Concert Hall (tix on sale in August) San Fransciso – February 29th, 2020, at Berkley University. (tix on sale in Aug.) Salt Lake City – April 3rd, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall (tix on sale in July) Los Angeles – April 11th, 2020, at UCLA/The Theatre at Ace Hotel (tix on sale in July)

more dates to come!

MERCHANDISE: Junction City Mercantile (launched! all proceeds go to helping John’s mum)

Other Concerts

New York – June 22nd, John will be singing a selection of songs from Anthem as part of the first Topic Talks: Music concert. Tickets on sale now.

TV Shows

Shrill (series regular) – Hulu, first season available now! – RENEWED!!

The Good Fight (guest star) – CBS All Access Trailer | | Sneak Peak | | Episode

Movies

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) – June 25th. Critereon Collection DVD/Blu-Ray release featuring a new 4K restoration of the film, a new chat with the original creatives behind the film, a talk between Stephen Trask and Rolling Stone writer David Fricke, and all of the features from the original DVD release. Critereon.com | | bbfc certification | | watch now

How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017) – May 8th. Transmission Films. After almost a full year since JCM was there and told that there were no immediate plans for distribution, Australia is finally getting HtTtGaP on DVD and digital.

Podcasts

Anthem: Homunculus: A ten episode podcast series written by JCM and HtTtGaP collaborator Bryan Weller and featuring performers such as Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Madeline Brewer, and Nakhane. All episodes available. Luminary Podcasts. Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine: Upcoming. John was interviewed on April 29th, episode presumably airs soon. iTunes | | Podbean | | Stitcher The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air): New episodes dropping generally 2019. A fictional series set in the world of a radio show that broadcasts from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Season one, season one remaster featuring interviews with Julian Koster and JCM, and The Second Imaginary Symphony (does not feature JCM) available now. WNYC Studios.

Too Hot For Radio: 2019. John recorded a live reading of a short story for the NPR program. If it follows past airings, it will be included sometime when the new season starts streaming later this year.

Dreamboy: an ethereal monster movie told in podcast form. JCM guest starred in the finale, aired March 25th, and sang a song. NightValePresents Website.

More John podcasts

Albums

Anthem: Homunculus (Soundtrack) – Out now. Full soundtrack currently available as a digital download from Ghostlight Records. Featuring John, Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Nakhane, and others, written by JCM and Bryan Weller. Ghostlight Records

T-Rex Tribute Album – John will be singing ‘Diamond Meadows’ as part of producer Hal Willner’s project. No release date yet. Variety, JCM ig

Interviews

For interviews that are not really part of a podcast or other thing.

Big Think: May 18th. Video. (Different from the 9th) [ YT, BT ]

Psychology Today: May 15th. Text interview with John about one of the key plot points in Anthem. More talking about the show than actual interview. There is a more spoilery interview linked off of it relating to ep 7, though the spoiler is something that’s been hinted at in past interviews. [ PT, C ]

Big Think: May 9th. Video [ YT ]

BuzzFeed AM to DM: Daily webshow. May 2nd. [ Periscope, Twitter, BFN ]

New York Live TV/The Hub Boston: TV interview. Same interview ran on both programs. About 5 minutes. May 1st [ YT ]

Time Out Mexico: Text interview. Translated into Spanish. April 29th [ TO ]

Backstage.com: John answered questions from the people at Backstage and fan questions left on their forum and social media. April 25th. [ FB ]

Broadway.com Live at Five: John was interviewed to talk about Anthem: Homunculus and Hedwig. April 24th. [ YouTube, text write up ]

Other Projects

Come Back Once More So I Can Say Goodbye – a theatre piece by Labyrinth Dance Theatre. About gay life in NYC 1965-1995. JCM is part of Julius' Honorary Host Committee for the show. $40 gen. admission. $25 student/senior/artist. June 14-17th.

Broadway: The Next Generation – documentary. No release date yet.

Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time – documentary. No release date yet.

TV Series 1: John has talked about this in interviews. Something that he would be writting/showrunning as well as creating. (impending)

TV Series 2: Something that John would be creating, but not as involved in the day-to-day workings of. Has talked about in interviews. (impending)

Other Appearances

Mattachine, June 20th – a monthly queer dance party at Julius’ Bar in New York. Usually the 3rd Thursday of the month, but does vary. John usually shows up, but does not go to all Mattachines. @mattachineparty UPDATED!

Filmmaker on the Edge, June 15th – John is going to be honoured with the award, have a conversation with resident artist John Waters, and screen Hedwig. (press release)

ARCHIVED

After a certain amount of time, older information will drop here so that fans looking for recent, current, and upcoming projects will have an easier time. Things that have already been done will drop down here. And going into 2020, there will be a new list.

The Origin of Love Tour

February 8th -- Washington DC, National Theatre February 22nd -- Chicago, IL, Atheneum Theatre March 2nd -- Boston, MA, Schubert Theatre May 22nd -- Mexico City, MX, Auditorio BlackBerry June 8th -- Miami, FL, The Arsht Center/Knight Hall

Other Concerts

Drop down after performance unless there’s a stream or a downloadable thing for them.

TV Shows

Shows drop down here after three months for guest appearances and six months after the last episode airs for series regular status.

Movies

Movies drop down six months after last release.

Podcasts

Podcasts that John is in the regular cast for will drop here six months after the last episode. guest starring, three months. Interview, one month.

Regular Cast

Guest Starring

Interview

Adulting: an interview format podcast where JCM and another guest star were interviewed. Broadcast live April 12th as part of a celebration for the venue. Watch video on FB | | Periscope | | Youtube

Death, Sex Money: John is guest hosting and interviewing his friend Marilyn Maye while the regular host is on maternity leave. April 17th. WYNC Studios.

Katya and Craig/Whimsically Volatile: April 25th. Podcast hosted by drag star Katya Zamolodchikova and director Craig MacNeil. This week, Craig hosted the show and interviewed John without Katya. Soundcloud | | Libsyn | | iTunes | YouTube

Chapo Trap House: April 29th. Podcast where John talks about Anthem, Hedwig, Shortbus, “the end of sex.” Soundcloud

Laura Heywood Interviews: May 8. player.fm | | Libsyn

The Frame: May 9. John has a segment talking about Anthem. iTunes | | player.fm | | NPR

Studio 360: May 14th. John and Bryan talking about Anthem and performing a live version of ‘The End of Love.’ Slate | | iTunes

Albums

If John is guest appearing on the album, it will move after four months. If it’s his project, it will move after six.

Interviews

Drops down after one month for text interviews. Three for video.

Rolling Stone Mexico and GQ Mexico: John is interviewed in both for his performance in Mexico City

Mural: May 18th. Text interview in Spanish. [ M ]

Escandala: May 15th. Text interview with John. In Spanish [ E ] Open Revista: May 14th Text interview with John in Spanish. [ OR ]

TheatreMania: May 12. Text interview with John and Bryan Weller about Anthem. [ TM ]

Metro Source: May 10th. Text interview with John about Anthem. [ MS ]

Time Out: May 9th. Press release/info for Orbital DJing Event [ TO ]

Daily Beast: May 6th. Text interview. [ DB ]

Rolling Stone: Text interview with John and Glenn Close about Anthem. May 5th [ RS ]

Backstage.com: write up of the FB/IG live video that John did the previous week. May 1st [ Backstage ]

Forbes: Text interview about Anthem and transforming it from the Hedwig sequel. John also talks about his writing process, The Orbiting Human Circus, and which Broadway shows he’s excited by this season. April 26th [ Forbes ]

NewNowNext: Text interview. April 23rd. [ NNN ]

Observer: Text interview. April 23rd. [ Observer ]

Queerty: Text interview. April 20th. [ Queerty ]

New York Times: Text interview. April 19th. [ NYT ]

Other Projects

Unless John is featured heavily, these will drop down after a month or two. These projects might also be less available than some of the other programs.

Other Appearances

Too Hot For Radio – January 26th, as part of San Francisco SketchFest, John went out and read a story for NPR’s Selected Shorts radio program. Eventually it will air via streaming like iTunes, NPR’s website, SoundCloud....

JCM interviews Claywoman – March 17th, John participated in a performance art interview of a drag character reported to be the oldest being in the universe who has travelled to our planet from her own.

JCM screens Entertaining Mr. Sloane – March 19th, John screened one of his favourite movies, a British sex comedy called Entertaining Mr. Sloane as part of a Quad Cinema series.

Various Promotion – various times in January thru March, John was on location being interviewed to promote Shrill. These appearances include the Hulu winter TCAs, the New York Shrill premiere, and San Francisco SketchFest.

Jay Brannon, Joe’s Pub – April 9th, John announced attending concert. Presumably did not perform.

Club Cumming – April 15th, John made his first appearance at Club Cumming as part of a star studded benefit for New Alternatives, an LGBT Youth charity. Sold out!

SirusFM//Signal Boost Show – April 25th, interview about Anthem, Hedwig, Uber rides, and sex.

Tribeca Celebrates Pride – May 4th, John was interviewed his Shrill costar Patti Hardison about how his queer identity has affected his work.

Chocolate Babies screening – May 7th. John announced on ig that he was going to be attending a screening of Stephen Winter’s film.

Orbital – May 24th. John and Amber DJed at the Ortibal dance party in Mexico.

Tony Awards - June 9th. Guest.

Nahkane, The Illustrious Blacks - June 20th. John announced on ig he would be attended Nahkane’s performance before June’s Mattachine Party.

#john cameron mitchell #hedwig and the angry inch #hedwig #shrill #the good fight #anthem #hatai #mattachine #anthem homunculus #dreamboy #the origin of love #club cumming #orbiting human circus #the orbiting human circus #orbiting human circus (of the air)#wnyc #jcm

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mylifeissuperboring · 3 years ago

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Books Read in 2020

[2017] [2018] [2019]

January (8 books)

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (Non-fiction) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (Fiction) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson (Non-fiction) The Toll by Neal Shusterman (Fiction) Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Anderson (Non-fiction, Comic) How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh (Non-fiction) Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (Fiction) Squirrel Girl Vol. 11 by Ryan North (Comic)

February (8 books)

Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery (Non-fiction) The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (Fiction) Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (Fiction) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Fiction) Dear Ijeawele by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi (Non-fiction) Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Magge Stiefvater (Fiction) How To by Randall Munroe (Non-fiction) Ms. Marvel Vol. 10 by G. Willow Wilson (Comic)

March (17 books)

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Fiction) Why Do I Feel Like an Imposter by Sandi Mann (Non-fiction) Way of the House Husband Vol. 2 by Kousuke Ouno (Manga) A Man & His Cat by Umi Sakurai (Manga) Sorry for My Familiar Vol. 1 by Tekka Yaguraba (Manga) Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 7 by Ryoko Kui (Manga) The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 7 by Nagabe (Manga) My Brother’s Husband Vol. 2 by Gengoroh Tagame (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 1 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 2 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 3 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 4 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 5 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 6 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) A Silent Voice Vol. 7 by Yoshitoki Oima (Manga) The Middle Finger Project by Ash Ambirge (Non-fiction) Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (Fiction)

April (1 book)

Grow a Sustainable Diet by Cindy Conner (Non-fiction)

May (4 books)

When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (Non-fiction) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (Fiction) The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett (Fiction) If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) by Betty White (Non-fiction)

June (6 books)

Company Town by Madeline Ashby (Fiction) Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (Non-fiction) Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (Fiction) Sorry for my Familiar Vol. 2 by Tekka Yaguraba (Manga) On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Non-fiction) Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett (Fiction)

July (5 books)

How to Survive a Plague by David France (Non-fiction) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Fiction) Ms. Marvel Teamup by Eve Ewing (Comic) The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman (Comic) The Nice and Accurate Good Omens TV Companion by Matt Whyman (Non-fiction)

August (2 books)

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Non-fiction) White Night by Jim Butcher (Fiction)

September (3 books)

Necessary Trouble by Sarah Jaffe (Non-fiction) Buy Yourself the Fucking Lilies by Tara Schuster (Non-fiction) Squirrel Girl Vol. 12 by Ryan North (Comic)

October (4 books)

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison (Fiction) White Rage by Carol Anderson (Non-fiction) Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (Non-fiction) Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 6 by Hiromu Arakawa (Manga)

November (10 books)

Under My Hat by Various (Fiction) Adventures in the Dream Trade by Neil Gaiman (Non-fiction) The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett (Fiction) Deadpool Classic Vol. 9 by Gail Simone (Comic) Small Favor by Jim Butcher (Fiction) Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (Non-fiction) The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman (Non-fiction) Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 8 by Ryoko Kui (Manga) Night of the Hunter by R.A. Salvatore (Fiction) The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish (Non-fiction)

December (6 books)

The Future of the Mind by Michio Kaku (Non-Fiction) The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore (Fiction) Streams of Silver by R.A. Salvatore (Fiction) The Halfling’s Gem by R.A. Salvatore (Fiction) The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar (Fiction) The Truth by Terry Pratchett (Fiction)

YEAR TOTAL: 74 Fiction: 26 Non-fiction: 26 Comic/Manga: 22

Female author: 43 Male author: 30 Other author: 1* POC author: 29

*”Other” in this case was an anthology with various authors, not a non-binary author

#books

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annamaskus · 3 years ago

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“Safe spaces for dangerous ideas”: how regional galleries are surviving COVID

By Anna Maskus

As the country hunkers down amidst the challenging outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant, regional art galleries in southern NSW face a new challenge – persisting in a world where COVID is now an unwavering presence.

The arts and entertainment sector has experienced unique setbacks thanks to COVID in the form of restrictions on public gatherings, changes in consumer behaviour, and prolonged, severe unemployment.1 Dr Lee-Anne Hall, the Director of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery (WWAG), says that COVID has had a bigger ripple effect than the public realise.

“We schedule our shows well in advance, 18 months, 2 years in some cases, and we had to be very quick on our feet when [the Delta outbreak] occurred. Communication with our funding bodies, the council and the public has been really important in keeping us afloat.”

Huge numbers of businesses have moved operations online to survive, but what exactly does it mean for an art gallery to successfully transition online? Madeline Bonnici, a Visitor Experience Officer at Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), explained how the process unfolded.

“We have created a virtual tour of the gallery online, which has broadened our scope and reminded us that the MAMA audience is more than just those that can physically visit our building, which will hopefully boost attendance now that we’re open,” Ms Bonnici explained.

“The pandemic allowed us to step away from the physical museum and plan what our next step is and allowed us to rethink our planning for future programs, perhaps allowing them to move online,” Ms. Bonnici said.

Dr Hall has fostered similar online spaces for regional residents to access art – virtual exhibition openings have been livestreamed on the WWAG website, Facebook and Instagram, and artists have been posting recorded talks about their work on a regular basis.

Losing the inimitable physical experience of viewing art in a gallery was a major concern for staff. But the change in operations may have unintentionally drawn more art enthusiasts to the regions. Online arts engagement is booming, reaching new audiences as opposed to replacing existing ones.2 MAMA has seen heightened online engagement with art enthusiasts who are not residents of the Albury-Wodonga region.

“I don’t think that seeing or interacting with art online diminishes the experience, especially for those developing a new interest in art. From the gallery’s point of view, anything that generates curiosity and interest in MAMA is positive,” Ms Bonnici said.

Dr Hall also holds hope that the strengthened online presence of WWAG will be beneficial in the long-term but emphasises that despite regional galleries suffering from the loss of the tourist trade, the local audience should not be neglected.

“We are working with council more closely, we’ve had advertisements on the front page of the local paper, we’re speaking to community very directly via social media and local broadcast media. The pivot towards the locals is essential, and the shows need to be relevant to them and their interests. They will be so important when we reopen fully.”

Thanks to COVID, Australia is at a historical crossroads of social change. Regional galleries have always provided a place where cultural feeling can be expressed in a way which brings people together. Now, when it is needed more than ever, these places have been forced into a digital sphere. Despite this, there appears to be a silver lining.

“Art galleries are a safe space for dangerous ideas,” Dr Hall mused.

In a world which can sometimes feel dangerous nowadays, regional galleries have not been hindered in their unmatched ability to connect with their audience.

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and MAMA are (at time of writing) both open to the public with additional COVID safety measures in place.

References

Many thanks to Madeline Bonnici (Murray Art Museum Albury) and Dr Lee-Anne Hall (Wagga Wagga Art Gallery) for their time and insights.

1 Pennington, A., & Eltham, B. 2021. Creativity in Crisis: Rebooting Australia’s Arts and Entertainment Sector After COVID. The Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, Canberra.

2Schirmer, J, Yabsley, B, Mylek, M. and Peel, D. 2016. Wellbeing, resilience and liveability in regional Australia: The 2015 Regional Wellbeing Survey. University of Canberra, Canberra.

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shachaai · 7 years ago

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[Ficlet] Meow

Short bit of single mothers human AU, nyo fruk at the very start of checking each other out, for Halloween. If it’s not clear, Marianne = f!France, Elaine = f!England, Madeline = f!Canada, and Abigail = f!America.

There are not many things Marianne Bonnefoy will not do for the sake of her daughter. So if her Madeline - sweet, dear, charming little Madeline - wishes to attend a Halloween party/sleepover being thrown by one of her friends, Marianne will make sure she is finished work early that day so she can take Madeline to the party.

Even if the mother of the girl who invited Madeline is one of the few parents of the children in Madeline’s class - or possibly the whole school - that Marianne would happily throttle with a smile.

Abigail Kirkland, bright, bubbly and one month older than Madeline, is a loud but extraordinarily friendly six years old who Marianne thinks of with great fondness, because Abigail had taken one long look at a nervous Madeline on Madeline’s first day in her new school and instantly declared herself to be Madeline’s best friend. And had stuck to her oath. She had stayed by Madeline ever since: Madeline speaks, shy but happy, of how they help each other out in class, play together at playtimes, and swap treats and stories and fraying friendship bracelets made of ribbons and thread.

Elaine Kirkland, Abigail Kirkland’s single mother, is a lithe mid-twenty-something sent straight from hell in a pencil skirt to make Marianne’s life a hell whenever the both of them show up to the same PTA meetings. How Kirkland birthed or otherwise gained a child as amicable as Abigail when she herself is such a sharp-tongued wilful creature is a mystery known only to God, because Marianne has found herself at loggerheads with the woman on multiple spectacular occasions, the last of which had seen them both forbidden by the school’s headteacher from ever again running or otherwise contributing to the cake stall at the school’s summer or winter fairs.

(Words had been said that should not have been said in the presence of under-10s. Two plates had been damaged, and a Victoria sponge had hit the wall. A blouse had certainly been torn, and the rumour-mill still cannot agree on whether there had been hairpulling.

Kirkland still insists the problem had been Marianne’s attitude, as though attitude sent projectiles flying down the length of the school hall with a harpy’s shriek.

Marianne still blames, firstly, Kirkland’s rock cakes, which had been hard, grey and definitely more rock than cake, and secondly, Kirkland’s inability to realise her contributions to the stall counted as lethal weapons - both when thrown and when imbibed.)

Many others - however grudgingly - sing Elaine Kirkland’s praises, and Marianne just does not get it. Kirkland can be brusque with others - never the girls; Marianne would whisk Madeline away if she thought for one second that Kirkland had so much as dared to dream of hurting Madeline’s feelings in some ways those times Abigail had had her friend stay for dinner at her house after school -, but the only person she seems to reserve her most particular ire for is Marianne. Something about Marianne seems to get on Kirkland’s nerves, and, well, everything about Kirkland - from her blunt words and smug expression down to her poisonous cooking, wilful stubbornness and terribly ugly shoes - gets on Marianne’s.

But Abigail is Madeline’s dearest friend, and Madeline does not have many friends, so if that means Marianne must occasionally tolerate Abigail’s awful, awful mother, Marianne will gracefully grit her teeth and do so.

For Madeline.

Marianne is a wonderful mother, even if she must say so herself.

That still doesn’t stop the first words coming out of her mouth when Elaine Kirkland opens up her front door in all black and cat ears from being:

“Oh, ma chérie, did you get tired of being a demon the other 364 days of the year?”

Madeline, an angel too precious for this terrible world and currently looking too adorable for her mother’s heart in her yellow-and-black-striped leotard and matching tulle skirt, doesn’t get it. Still holding Marianne’s hand, she tilts her head back to look at her mother, making both the gauze wings on her back and the sparkly antennae on her headband bounce and flutter. “But, maman, Miss Kirkland doesn’t wear costumes?”

Miss Kirkland, whose once-pleasant smile has frozen on her face in the familiar rigor mortis it suffers whenever it chances across Marianne, does the honourable thing - for once - and ignores Marianne’s comment. Perhaps it got lost in the wall of noise coming from the house: pop music and happy children’s shrieks.“Madeline, what a pretty costume! I love your skirt.”

Madeline, who really does not get as many compliments as she deserves despite her mother’s best efforts, beams. “I’m a bee!”

“So I see,” says Kirkland, and smiles a great deal more genuinely down at the girl between them, making the black whiskers painted on her cheeks shift with her smile.

Marianne would be able to forgive the woman many things if only she smiled that way more, preferably at Madeline - and also preferably, Marianne is slowly realising, whilst wearing the very shimmery, very sheer gauzy black top she currently has on, which all the world can just see through enough to see Elaine Kirkland’s surprisingly sexy black lace bra beneath.

Elaine Kirkland is a pretty lithe mid-twenty-something from hell (how old is she? Surely she’s younger than Marianne), and looks very, very good in black. (Such a shame about everything else about her.) She makes an interesting cat, and is certainly feline enough to pass the look off: her eyes are very green in the night when she smiles - a lot more sharply - at Marianne. “And I see your maman came as a hag?”

“Uh,” says Madeline, confused, and misses entirely the way her mother is glaring over her darling head at her best friend’s mother. That had been an exceedingly cheap shot; Marianne is disgusted for all of their sakes. “Maman?”

Marianne doesn’t get the chance to comment. Elaine had already pushed the door wider, letting out even more noise from the party within, and yelled over her shoulder: “Abigail, Madeline is here!”

There is the immediate thunder of many young feet from inside the house.

“Why don’t you come in?” Elaine gestures at both Madeline and Marianne, though she speaks to the girl first. “Abby will show you where to put your overnight bag, dear,” which Marianne is content to pass into her bewildered daughter’s hands from where she’d been carrying it on her shoulder for their walk to the house, Abigail appearing in a blur of Wonder Woman red, blue and gold with at least three other girls behind her and immediately hauling Madeline away with a cheerful hi, Ms. Bonnefoy! “Some of the other parents have stopped for a little while to have a drink and chat, and we can discuss what time it would be best for you to pick up Madeline tomorrow.”

“I drove here,” says Marianne flatly, in reply to the drink. With no innocent ears around to hear her, she need not be so polite any more.

Elaine rolls her eyes, and steps back further. (Rather than a cat, she should have dressed as a witch.) The hallway behind her is festooned in cotton-wool cobwebs and strings of electric pumpkin lights. “It’s a children’s party, Bonnefoy. We have soft drinks. Or tea, coffee, if you’re worried about sugar.”

Marianne caves a little, if only for the excuse to peer around the house of the woman in front of her a little more. Before, she had always picked up Madeline at the door. “...Then coffee, please, if you have it.”

She follows Kirkland in, and after the other woman to the kitchen when Kirkland shuts the front door - and regrets it abruptly, every step of the way.

Along with the sheer shirt and gorgeous bra, Elaine Kirkland is wearing a tail pinned to her beautifully fitted trousers, and, with every step she takes, it sways, drawing the eye - Marianne’s eyes - inexorably to Elaine Kirkland’s beguilingly long legs and the faint curve of her arse.

Marianne has gladly dated men and women with legs and arse less beguiling. That one such combination should try and seduce her whilst Marianne is surrounded by plastic bats, spiders, skeletons and neon orange things, on a body belonging to such a pain in the metaphorical arse, is an affront to Marianne’s good sensibilities.

Some things should be inexcusable.

“You are a menace to decent society,” Marianne mutters, not meaning to be overhead - but is, because of course she is due to the universe suddenly deciding to hate her, Elaine turning to look back over her shoulder before Marianne has lifted her horrified eyes from where they are still firmly fixed on her cat hostess’ swaying tail.

“...Excuse me?” Kirkland has gone abruptly, terribly, quite fetchingly pink. In the face at least, Marianne cannot see any pink on her chest yet under the sheer black shirt.

Marianne is saved from wishing she had showed up that Halloween as the Invisible Woman by the reappearance of her daughter, still being happily hauled around by Abigail. Both girls screech to a stop so Madeline can seize her mother in a hug about the thighs, Madeline’s cheeks already red and eyes bright with excitement, headband lopsided on her head.

“Maman, there’s a piñata!”

Marianne loves her daughter so very, very much. And in that moment, for aiding her in providing a distraction from the repercussions from Marianne’s roving gaze, Abigail too.

“Vraiment?” Marianne crouches down a little to return Madeline’s hug, smiling over the girl’s shoulder at Abigail since her daughter’s friend seems just as excited. “What shape is it?”

Perhaps it is cruel to use the excited chatter of children to stop Elaine Kirkland and her watchful green eyes from probing Marianne any further, but Marianne does so anyway until her hostess takes the hint and leaves for the kitchen without her. Besides, Marianne is actually interested in what the girls have to say, happy about whatever it is making her Madeline so happy.

And if it means Marianne can leave a message with Abigail about what time she plans to pick Madeline up again the next day rather than having to talk again to the cat-demon- witch that is Abigail’s mother? All the better.

(There are not many things Marianne Bonnefoy will not do for the sake of her daughter. Some things, however, she definitely does not mind delaying for as long as possible.)

#Shacha fic #nyotalia #fruk #fem!France #fem!England #chibi #fem!Canada #fem!America #Francis Bonnefoy #Arthur Kirkland #Matthew Williams #Alfred F. Jones #hetalia #Halloween

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sorenmarie87 · 7 years ago

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In The Middle of The Ride (1/?)

Word Count - 2,451

Warnings - None that I can think of. All grammar mistakes are my own - so if something seems off, please let me know. Also if you read this and want to see where the story goes, send me an ask and I’ll tag you :)

Tagging - @lovetusk @mirajanefairytailmage @dragongirl420

Opening the front door and stepping out onto the porch, she said bye to her mom and dad then closed door. ‘Today might be an interesting day,’ Ryuichi thought to herself before taking her first step down the road. Ryuichi is your basic 12th grade student, only child but to make up for it, she has her best friends Cordelia (whom they call Cordy) and Maddie (call her Madeline and you die), and her cousin Lucille (everyone calls her Lucy for short). Having a firm grip on her guitar case and her backpack placed around her shoulders, she walked down the street singing a song to herself.

"Hey Ryuichi, wait up!" Maddie cried out running towards the older girl, making her spin around in place. She shook her head and then stopped to let her catch up. "Hey Maddie, by chance did you finish writing that song yet?" Ryuichi asked curiously with a glint in her eye. "Oh yeah, I finished it last night." She replied while handing her a printout of the lyrics from the folder she held in her hands.

“Maddie this is really good, you’re going to sound so great when you sing it,” Ryuichi said placing the lyrics within her pocket of her shoulder bag. Maddie only sighed then took a glance at her friend. “I have an idea Ryu. Why don't you sing it instead of me?" Ryuichi gave the other girl a quizzical look but kept walking, "I’m serious Ryuichi you have a beautiful singing voice. Maybe it’s your turn to sing one,” Maddie said keeping a step behind the older girl.

"Seriously Maddie, you know as well as I do, it’s not possible for me to sing in front of others," Ryuichi stated but Maddie had heard her say this before.

“Ryuichi, it is possible to sing in front of others. You put yourself down so much that you believe you can’t do it. I know you missy. You can sing in front of others, you just need the confidence to actually do it,” Maddie said leaving Ryuichi outside the school.

Before walking into the double doors, Ryuichi processed what Maddie was saying. ‘She's right actually, I tend to put myself down a lot… maybe it’s all in my head, I can sing and she’s right, I just need to look at this positively.’ She sighed to herself then kept a hold of her guitar case and headed inside. Without knowing it, Ryuichi ran head first into a guy who only looked about a couple years older than her. He looked about 6’2’’, had crystal blue eyes and had black hair. ‘He must think I’m a klutz or something…’ She thought to herself before rubbing her forehead. "Ms. Madison, I expect you to be in class today and hopefully you’ll pay attention, you might actually learn something,” Mrs. Anderson simply stated as Ryuichi sighed to herself. The guy she bumped into laughed quietly to himself before heading inside the office door. ‘Just great, he REALLY must think I’m accident prone or something. He is kind of cute though’ She blushed then headed towards her homeroom.

"Ryu did you hear the news?" Cordelia asked while she placed her book bag by her desk.

"No what?" She asked while sitting on the top of Cordy’s desk.

"We’re getting a transfer student," Cordy replied as Ryuichi’s eyebrows rose.

“Do you know where he came from?” Ryuichi asked curiously eyeing the doorway.

“No idea actually,” Maddie stated as the bell rang.

“Think he’ll be cute?” Cordelia asked while Ryuichi hopped off of her desk.

"Students! Settle down please." Mr. Parker said after the bell rang. He stood in front of his desk to call the class to attention. "As you all know, we have a new student with us today. This is Will Sparrow from England, Mr. Sparrow is there anything you'd like to say about yourself?"

"You’ve pretty much summed it up Mr. Parker," Will replied with a hint of his British accent kicking in. All of the girls in the class giggled as he answered. "He’s the guy I ran into before coming into the school," Ryuichi softly said to herself before looking back at the front of the room.

"His last name makes me think of Jack Sparrow." Maddie commented making Cordy and Ryuichi turn to her. "What, it does.."

"That's only because you watched that movie like fifty times," Ryuichi said quickly before looking up at him.

"You did too..."

“Now that the formalities are out of the way, Mr. Sparrow there is an empty desk beside Ms. Madison." He stated as Ryuichi turned beet red. Mr. Parker quickly walked around to the back of his desk and watched his class. Before Will took his seat, he gave a shy smile to Ryuichi. Murmurs came from everyone around the room but both Maddie and Cordelia stared at Ryuichi, as if something was going on without them knowing.

"As long as we’re all on friendly terms, Ms. Madison would you kindly show Mr. Sparrow around?" Mr. Parker asked before he started taking attendance.

“Yes Mr. Parker, I can show him around.” Ryuichi stated while glancing over Will.

"Hey Maddie look she’s turning red, I think she likes him," Cordelia whispered to Maddie before Ryuichi hit her in the arm. The bell rang and everyone filed out of the room. Will stayed behind as Ryuichi gathered her bearings.

“Which class is this?” He said glancing around the empty room.

“Geometry,” Ryuichi sighed after she answered. She shook her head then turned to him. “What class do you have first?” Will took a moment to pull the folded up schedule out from his pocket. “I have study hall.” He waited to see if she would respond before walking any closer.

“Are you sure?” She asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice as the schedule was handed to her. “Well this isn’t too bad. We have some classes together.”

Ryuichi sighed to herself and shook her head before handing his schedule back to him. For a split second her hand brushed his and her face turned beet red. She noted to herself that his hands, despite being guy’s hands, felt really smooth and had no calluses. Will noticed this and smiled briefly as he watched the embarrassed girl leave the room in a hurry. He noticed she was muttering about food or class, but seriously he really couldn’t tell.

As a promise to Mr. Parker, Ryuichi kept to her word about helping Will learn his way around and all about his new school. She walked him to class and explained to him how everything was run in Lasiter High School. He absorbed all of her knowledge but kept his questions to a minimum.

Will’s first day at the school seemed to drag on. In his old school, classes seemed to move more fluidly and he wasn’t as bored. His thoughts remained on the girl who had been showing him around. He was clueless as to where his newly acquainted friend was. He spotted Cordelia and Maddie walking in front of him, at first he didn’t say anything but approached from the behind to speak to both of the girls.

“Oy you two!” Will cried out, making the two girls turn around.

“If by chance you’re looking for Ryuichi, she’s not with us.” Cordelia said while Maddie stood beside her, waiting beside her friend.

“Is it too much of a bother to ask where she might be?” Will asked hopefully.

“You can check the auditorium,” Maddie replied as he looked hopeful. “She usually goes there to practice..”

Quickly he said thank you to both of the girls and headed towards the auditorium. For a few seconds, Maddie and Cordy were silent and stunned, but as nothing had happened, they sprung back and started talking as animated as they had before.

“Do you think they’ll get together?” Cordelia asked.

“Cordy…Ryuichi would tell us if she liked him,” Maddie said shaking her head.

“Do you think she was raised in a satanic cult?”

“She’d have to be if she doesn’t go out with Will.”

Ryuichi sat on the auditorium stage just strumming on the guitar her mom got for her when she had turned twelve. Beside her was the copied lyrics Maddie had handed her this morning. During lunch she read them and here she was, trying to put a tune with a song her friend wrote.

I've dipped my toes into something I don't want to escape from

And no one or nothing can stop me from feeling how I do

“Okay so maybe first impressions aren’t as misleading as they say. Because when I seen you this morning, you read ‘punk rock chick’… boy was I wrong. You had me fooled Ms. Madison, I thought you only liked heavier music than this…” He said finally approaching the stage. He hopped onto the stage and sat beside her.

“I really do like all types of music, it’s just a friend gave me this song and it just so happens, this was the beat I chose for this song… and besides, not all soft music is bad…” Ryuichi replied with a small blush growing on her face.

“So which one of you three writes music?” Will asked curiously.

“Maddie’s the songwriter, Cordy sings and I play the guitar,” Ryuichi answered without thinking first.

“So you only sing when you’re alone?” He asked.

“Pretty much,” Ryuichi said while strumming her guitar,” I love singing but I get really nervous when I think about people listening to me sing.”

“Well Ms. Ryuichi, you have a beautiful singing voice. I’m serious when I say this, you should sing more often.” Will said before brushing a stray piece of hair away from her cheek.” And for the sake of everyone, stay true to yourself, the worst thing a person can do is not act like themselves.”

Will hopped off the stage and a smile grew on her face as he walked down the aisle of the auditorium. Ryuichi watched him as left then she sighed to herself. “I hope he meant that,” She said to herself while placing the guitar in its case. Ryuichi hopped off of the stage and fastened the case. She slid the straps of her backpack on her shoulders then placed her hand around the handle of the guitar case. Ryuichi slowly walked out of the school and then glanced at the front of the school. The wind was gently blowing as Ryuichi stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of the school building. As she walked down the street, the wind picked up, and so did the rain. “This is just great,” Ryuichi said as she quickened her steps. She walked down the sidewalk on familiar streets as she came closer to her house.

“Mom…I’m home,” She said while dropping everything in the doorway.

“Hey Ryu, I have some news for you,” Her mom replied as she stepped into the kitchen. “Luke told us that Lucas is coming down to visit this weekend.”

Ryuichi turned to her mother and grinned, “Cordy is going to love this! ”

“So you figured out that he likes Cordy?” Her mom asked curiously while taking a sip from the cup of coffee in front of her.

“Mom…it’s so obvious with how he acts when she’s around,” Ryuichi replied getting something to drink out of the fridge.

She picked up the black and blue book-bag then headed up to her room. Ryuichi quickly finished off the can of pop and threw it into the plastic bag she had on her doorknob. Her mom turned on the sink in the kitchen to clean up the kitchen before dinner. For the total of three minutes, Ryuichi was silent but glanced around the room. Afterwards, she felt a familiar pang and rushed towards the bathroom. Elizabeth laughed that her daughter announced when she had to use the bathroom. Smiling and humming to herself, Elizabeth began cooking dinner. A few minutes later, she heard the front door open and close very slowly.

“Guys I’m home,” Jack cried out while heading into the kitchen.

“Welcome home,” Her mom said kissing him on the cheek as Ryuichi descended the stairs.

“How are my two favorite girls doing?” He asked while kissing each of them on the cheek. Elizabeth described how her day went while both of them set the table. Ryuichi held her plate as she gazed out the kitchen window. It wasn’t until her mom called out her name that she snapped out of her daze.

“You know, that plate isn't going to set itself...” Her mom asked as Ryuichi sheepishly laughed.

“Sorry mum,” Ryuichi said sitting the plate down.

“Let me take a guess at why you’re so distracted.” Her mom raised her eyebrow then hit one hand into the other. ”Ah I know! There’s a new guy at your school and you like him.”

Ryuichi’s eyes got wider, “Mom that’s really creepy but how did you know?”

“Oh it’s easy…that’s the same way I met your father,” She asked while Ryuichi went silent.

“Was dad a transfer student?” She asked curiously.

“No it wasn’t anything like that, I had gotten a job in England to be an animator and she followed me over there,” Jack answered honestly.

“This may sound completely random but do you want to know something? A couple hours after you were born, a little boy passed by while I was holding you and he said to me ‘She’s so pretty when she gets a bit older, can I be her friend?’ He didn't even know you but yet he wanted to be your friend. He might have liked you,” Her mom said while glancing at Ryuichi,” When we mentioned we'd be moving to America, he seemed so distraught and heartbroken. All I can remember is his initials were W.S.”

“But after you turned three, they transferred me to America…”

“W.S. huh?” Ryuichi asked quietly to herself and then glanced back at her mom. She finished eating and went back up to her room. She sighed to herself then flopped down on her bed.

“Promise me something?” A little boy asked while sitting in front of a big oak tree.

“Sure what is it?” The little girl asked again.

“Remember me when you go over there…we’ll see each other again,” He replied with tears forming in the little girl’s eyes.

“I promise I won’t forget,” the little girl answered while Ryuichi stared up to her bare ceiling. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t even remember your name let alone your face or what you look like.’ She thought to herself before she fell asleep.

#Part 1 #Original Story #Original characters #original fiction #In The Middle of The Ride

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thisiswhatmylifeamountsto · 8 years ago

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Squipped Brooke AU (Brooke/Christine)

So unpopular Brooke has three friends - Christine, Jeremy and Michael Everyone knows that Michael has a crush on Jeremy, Jeremy has a crush on Michael and Christine is just oblivious Well Brooke knows at least

She always kinda feels like a bit of an outsider She loves her friends and part of her knows they love her too But sometimes she wonders if she's just kind of annoying

Then she finds out about the SQUIP

And when Rich tells her about the Squip, she is interested but she goes to check it out by herself bc she doesn't want any of the other three to stop her

Over time Brooke becomes more popular and she ends up dating Jake She doesn't notice that the squip was blocking out the other three until she actually bumps into Jeremy in the hall

Jeremy literally stands there until she walks into him

"Jeremy! Hey! I haven't seen you in ages - I haven't seen any of you three!" "...Brooke...you've been ignoring us." "What? No, I haven't? I just never see you. "It's called optic nerve blocking." And then it plays out like Upgrade AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE HALLOWEEN PARTY

So it plays out like Halloween except Christine, Jere and Michael have each other so they're all a lot more stubborn and have done a lot more research

Brooke ends up in the bathroom and Christine locks it "WHAT'S GOING ON?" "Brooke? I just need you to do something for me ok?" "WHY DID YOU LOCK ME IN HERE?" "Please Brooke." "...what?" "Drink this." "WHAT NO?" "Brooke come on please." "Look Christine just leave me alone." "NO" "Why do you even care?" "Because, ughhhhh-" Christine cuts herself off by pulling Brooke down to her height and kissing her swiftly.

Brooke shoves her away

"Get away from me...freak" Christine takes a moment to swallow Brooke pushes past her, opens the door and heads out into the party And Christine is left alone Just Christine in the bathroom

Christine is in the play with Jere and Michael is on tech Normally Brooke would be the lead with Christine but she She's not here right now And now it's opening night And it's the first time Christine has ever done a show without Brooke Without her best friend Without the girl she's been in love with for years

It's five minutes before the curtain goes up when Chloe Valentine races into the room

"CHRISTINE" "...Chloe?" "Please...I don't know what's happening but...come with me...please" "I have a sho-" "It's Brooke sh-" "OK. Just give me a minute." Christine turns to Jeremy. "I guess Madeline can have the lead after all." "Chri-" "Just-just keep an eye out for anything weird ok. Break a leg." Jeremy hugs her. "Good luck Chris."

Christine follows Chloe out to the football field.

She begins to get worried. "Chloe? What's going on?" "...I'm afraid we had to get you out of the way." "Get me out of the way of what?" "..." "CHLOE." "We were worried that you were too strong-willed." "Who is we?"

"Don't you get it Christine? The squips. Did you not do enough research?"

"What?" "Why do you think a powerful piece of technology would end up in some random new jersey school?" "I don-" "Because teenagers are the most impressionable. And once everyone at this school is squipped, it's only a matter of time until every single teenager is squipped. And these squipped teenagers will eventually grow up to be the world leaders, the politicians, the influencers of the whole world."

"But. Why not just squip me?"

"Oh believe me you're going to be squipped. However, since you know so much, it's going to be a lot more...in-depth than the usual pill." Chloe holds up a blue oblong pill. "Here I have the upgraded SQUIP. It's going to hurt. A lot. But you'll feel better afterwards I promise." Christine moves to run but, without her noticing, other juniors have begun to surround her - Jake, Rich, Jenna. And believe me, they're strong when they need to be.

Brooke is so confused. She had managed to convince her SQUIP to let her come see the play - they hadn't put up that much of a fight which worried her. But It didn't matter. She wasn't on good terms with Christine. Or Jeremy or Michael for that matter. But she wouldn't miss the play - she'd never missed a play. Though of course, she was normally in it. She took her seat and looked at the cast list. She found Christine's name in the programme - she was the title character. She looked at Christine's face and let her mind drift back to that time in the bathroom at Jake's par- Brooke jolted up right as her SQUIP shocked her. They may not care about her being at the play but they obviously cared about suppressing any thoughts about Christine in any way other than a friend.

At 7 o'clock, Mr Reyes steps out onto the stage.

"Unfortunately Ms Canigula has had to leave for a family emergency and so Madeline Bl..." Brooke ignored the rest of Mr Reyes's speech, focusing more on the start. Christine Canigula missing a performance? It was practically unheard of Brooke guessed that Christine would still prioritise her family over her play however so settled down to watch the show

The play was really good. Or rather The ten minutes of the play that Brooke had actually seen was really good.

Madeline and Dustin had been the only two on-stage until suddenly Jeremy had run on. "MISS CARTWRIGHT I HAVE A LET...BROOKE?" Jeremy was staring right at her. "Jeremy what are you do-" "You can't be here." "What do you me-" "Christine went with Chloe because you were...you weren't ok." "Jeremy I'm fine b-wait she went with Chloe." "Yeah" "...oh fuck."

"Brooke what?"

"I GAVE CHLOE A SQUIP." "Wait...WHAT?" "I...they told me to." "Chloe we need to find her." "We do Je-" Mr Reyes walks on stage at this point. "Ladies and Gentlemen I'm sorry about this. Please excuse this interruption." Mr Reyes violently gestures to one of the stagehands who closes the curtains. Brooke sprints out of the auditorium and finds Jeremy and Michael outside. "WHAT DO WE DO?" "OK well, we have some mountain dew red. Maybe you should drink some first Brooke?" "Will it stop the squip?" "It should do." "OK." Brooke grabs the bottle and tries to take a sip. She can't move her arm. "THEY'RE NOT LETTING ME DRINK IT." "FUCK. OK JEREMY HOLD HER STILL." Jeremy tries to grab her but Brooke punches him in the face. "JEREMY I'M SORRY IT'S THE SQUIP." Michael pulls Jeremy away from Brooke. The bottle of mountain dew red lies on the floor beside them. Just at that moment, Brooke hears someone call her name. Not just someone. Christine. She hears Christine call her name. "BROOKE."

"Oh...oh god." Brooke catches sight of Christine. Her eyes...they're glowing blue. Whilst Brooke was distracted by Christine, Jake and Rich had snuck up on Michael and Jeremy and forced squips down their throats. Brooke was alone - she still hadn't become the zombie the rest of them were. "Brooke...I'm...it's me. I'm so much better. And now we can be together." Brooke turns to her SQUIP. "You'd...you'd let me be with her." "She's perfect, Brooke. Of course you can be with her. She's all yours - she can't stop you anymore." "Oh."

"You just have to let go."

"Let go?" "You're still fighting against me, Brooke. Even now you're struggling to stand up straight. Just...let go." "Let go and I can have Christine. And Jeremy and Michael." "Yes." "As long as we all have SQUIPs?" "Yes." "Can I ask Christine to do something for me?" "She'll do anything - she loves you." "Christine?" "OK." "Walk towards Jeremy." "OK." "Now do this really quickly." "BROOKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "PICK UP THE BOTTLE AND DRINK IT CHRISTINE." "BROOKE YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET THIS." Christine takes a drink and immediately begins to scream. The other kids join her in screaming until they all collapse to the ground.

When Brooke wakes up, she's aware of a hand holding hers and the weight of two other people on the other side of her. She blearily opens her eyes to find Jeremy, Michael and Christine leaning on her bed. Across from her, her mom is sitting on her phone tapping away. "...mom?" "Brooke? OH THANK GOD YOU'RE AWAKE." "Shhhhh." "Right sorry." "I thought you were on a business trip?" "Brooke. You were in hospital. I wasn't just going to leave you here alone." "But what about the cli-" "The client doesn't matter. You are my daughter and that is what matters." "Mom I'm sor-" "Shhhh it's ok. All that matters is that everyone's ok." "Is everyone ok?" "Yes - you're the second-last one to wake up. Richard is still asleep but he's stable and should wake up just like you and the others did." "Ok."

"Brooke?" Jeremy's voice interrupted whatever Brooke's mom might have been about to say

"I'll leave you and your friends alone." "OK, mom."

Jeremy nudged Michael awake. Brooke moved to do the same to Christine but Jeremy stopped her. "I think you two need some time to talk about this alone." "Ok." The two of them sit there in silence for a moment as Michael wakes himself up. "Brooke?" "Hey, Mikey." "Man am I glad to see you." "I'm glad to see you too." Brooke takes a deep breath: "I'm so sorry about everything I did whilst I had the squip. I'm so sorry I ignored you and didn't listen to what you said and I'm definitely sorry I ditched you at the play and I'm sorry I took that stupid oblong pill in the first place. I'm so sorry." At this point, Brooke is in tears Jeremy and Michael glance at each other. Michael speaks first "I don't think we'll be able to move on straight away but..." "But?" Jeremy continues "We forgive you. And we'll keep forgiving you." "Why?" "Why what?" "Why are you just going to forgive me like that? I was a horrible person. And a terrible friend." "Brooke, you were influenced by that weird computer chip thing. Even though I only had it for five minutes, I was completely under its influence and you had it for a couple months. We're not gonna move on immediately because we still have to talk about this but. Not everything is your fault."

Then Christine stirs. "OK Brooke, we'll leave you two alone. But if you ever want to talk, just say the words ok?" "Ok." Michael and Jeremy file out of the room. Brooke notices them holding hands but doesn't say anything. "Brooke? BROOKE YOU'RE AWAKE OH MY GOSH," "...hey." "You ok?" "...I'M REALLY SORRY OK I KNOW I HURT YOU AT JAKE'S PARTY AND I KNOW I HURT YOU BY IGNORING YOU AND NOT COMING TO PLAY REHEARSAL AND TAKING THE SQUIP IN THE FIRST PLACE AND I AM SO SO SORRY AND I-AND I..."

Brooke breaks down into sobs. Christine just stares in shock for a moment before she gathers her wits "Brooke, can I hug you?" Brooke nods her head slightly before Christine pulls her into a tight hug Christine just whispers random comforting things as she hugs Brooke until she feels Brooke's sobs subside and pulls back to look at her.

Somehow Christine started crying as well without realising it. "Honestly, Brooke you hurt me a lo-" "I'M SORRY." "No shh, it's ok, let me finish. I know it’s not your fault. I'm not going to blame you. I won't be able to get over it straight away but. I will get over it. And I will forgive you. I've already begun to forgive you. And I'm sorry for what happened in the bathroom too." "You didn't do anyt-" "I kissed you without asking and that's wrong." "Christine it's ok." "No, it's not. And I'm sorry." "Ok."

And they're not perfect - they never were

But they're ok

And then they get better

And then they're good

Things are good And when Christine and Brooke finally have a long talk about their feelings for each other which includes some tears, some yelling and some kissing Things are really good Brooke would give anything to go back to before she had the SQUIP and stop everything from happening But, as it is, she's still happy They're all still happy And that's what matters.

#brooke lohst #playride #brooke/christine #be more chill #bmc fanfic #squipped au #mine #save #writing #angst

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chanzicoup · 8 years ago

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Runaways (Wonwoo x Reader Gang!AU) pt. 2

Make sure to read the post explaining the roles each SVT member has!

Count: 4.0k

Genre: Life on the run

Warning: Abusive Parents, Mentions of Drug and Alcohol abuse, fight scenes

Next Part

Mae's POV

I did the work JinHa gave me and I am not sure if all of it was right, but it's done. I took the chance of having my phone out to get the answers I needed for the tests, study guide and worksheets. Cheating was not new for me, how do you think I made it this far into high school?

Getting by with C's and the occasional B here and there was how I rolled. I only got an A if I got lucky and ended up being partners with someone who didn't mind doing all the work, but it's not like anyone was at home to care about it. I packed up my things like I had done before I had arrived, leaving my work on the desk with a sticky note of my own, which read:

'I finished my work but a teacher wasn't here to collect it. Take it to my teacher Ms. Lee and try to get a supervisor in here next time. ~Madeline'

I walked out of the ACI room just before the lunch bell rang and students filled in the halls, a few of them shoving me out of the way and brushing shoulders with mine for the soul purpose of being annoying. I rolled my eyes and made my way to the stairway Wonwoo and I inhabited a year or so ago instead of getting lunch. The stairway was one of those secret school exits that everyone forgot about. It lead to the back of the school away from the football fields and parking lots. Wonwoo wasn't there yet so I set my bag down and pulled my hood over my head. It was perfectly fine out this morning, why is it suddenly chilly? Suddenly I felt something being draped over my shoulders and pecks on my cheek. Wonwoo.

"Sorry I'm late. I got lunch." He said holding out half of a tuna sandwich. I took it and he patted my head. I glared as he ate his other half and smirked. I swear this man will kill me with embarrassment.

"How are you, babe?" He asked and set his sandwich on a napkin, using his empty hands to cup my knee.

"I'm fine. I got in trouble with Ms. Lee but it's not really a big deal." I chuckled remembering how red her face had gotten when she ordered me to leave. Suddenly Wonwoo leaned closer and breathed in deeply, retracting with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Why do you smell like lemons and wet paper towels?" Is that damn smell still on me? I thought I did a good enough job at hiding it. Dollar store perfume has got to go.

"Uh, I was cleaning." No need to worry him more just to tell him something neither him nor I could prevent. He cocked his head to the side, he didn't believe me.

"Mae do you think I would fall for that? What did Daena do this time?" He removed his hand from my knee to wrap it over my shoulder. I sighed and began telling him the story. "She just poured water over me. Ms. Lee told me to go to the nurse to clean up but no one was there so I had to use the sink and paper towels in the bathroom." I explained. Wonwoo's eyed darkened but he pursed his lips and kept his cool.

"Is that it?" He asked. I shook my head and continued speaking.

"When I came back it was an hour or so later so Ms. Lee got mad at me for the second time today. I was sent to the ACI room again, but it's nothing I hadn't expected so it's not a big deal." I shrugged.

"But it's a big deal to me, Mae! You don't deserve all the shit they give you!" He wasn't yelling, his voice had only gotten sharper and the tone showed his annoyance.

"We can't do anything, it's just how things are. Both of us could get in trouble, and not only with the school, our parents wouldn't be too happy with it either." He knew I was right, but his gaze on me didn't falter as he sat in silence.

"But it's worth it." I said.

"Worth what?" He questioned, sudden confusion blurring his face.

"This." I lunged myself foreword to straddle his hips and bent my face down to his, fly away hairs loosening themselves out of my ponytail and falling to the sides of my cheeks. Wonwoo blushed but held me tightly in his grip, he hadn't wanted me to move and neither did I.

"We're worth it?" He asked as if it wasn't the only answer. I nodded and we pressed our lips together. There was nothing sexual occurring, young love is innocent until proven guilty, that's what my mother told me when she read me bedtime stories as a child. Wonwoo and I pulled apart and he smiled and brushed a stray hair out of my face.

"There's 15 minutes before we need to get to our next class. What do you want to do?" Resting his head back and against the wall I laid down and sat my head on his chest.

"Can we take a nap here?" I asked. He chuckled and nodded.

"Of course, princess." And with that I closed my eyes to fall into a quick cat nap.

Wonwoo's POV

As Mae rested her head against my body I set an alarm for ten minutes, which would give us just enough time to say our goodbyes and arrive to class on time while giving her a bit of rest she must have needed after just the first half of the day. I stroked her back as it raised with every breath she took. I regretted that I couldn't help her earlier, if I was there at least one person would've defended her. I even bet the school called her house to let her father know she'd gotten into trouble, which was not her fault in the slightest. But knowing him, he had probably slept through the ringing of his house phone.

"I'm sorry you must live your life like this. I promise as soon as we are adults I'll take you away from all of this." I whispered before kissing her forehead. She didn't stir nor make a sound, she's clearly tired. If I recall correctly she hadn't slept well last night, nor the night before. Her father is getting on her tail about college, since senior year ends in just 6 months. In four months I will be 18, Mae will be the same age in five months. Her father doesn't care about her future, he just wants her out of the house and out of his life as much as she does. If she had it her way she'd be on her own with me by her side. I wouldn't have it any other way. We'd live in our own apartment with our own jobs to attend to after school and living without secrets being kept from our parents. We'd probably have a dog, Jojo would be it's name no matter what gender it is. We understand it'll be hard, the transition to adulthood. But it sure as hell beats living with our families who want nothing to do with us. An idea popped into my head and my hopes raised. Who said we had to wait until we were 18? Neither of us like being trapped here until then, so why don't we just leave?

3rd POV

The two held each other warmly until the man's alarm rang, signaling they'd have to detach and walk to their classes. Wonwoo had his Biology seminar while Mae had to attend her Psychology course, which she actually looked forward to. If there was one thing she liked about her school it would have to be that class, the class that discusses why people do things and what else they could've done. It strangely helped her cope with her mother's passing and her father's negligence and abuse. Their lesson was about childhood decisions and in the scenario they were being educated on there was a child wanting to go to a party and their parents saying no. It was no where near Mae's situation but there was one thing in common, both of their parents were keeping them from living the life they wanted. At least that's how Mae saw it.

The day had ended and the couple walks only a few blocks away from the school. There was the point where they had to go their separate ways to avoid the rath of their parents, Wonwoo lived on the East side of town while Mae lived on the West. It was almost as if their parents had planned on them being together and wished to make it as difficult on them as possible. Both of them had the same idea, running away and escaping. Yet neither of them spoke of it. It was just an idea, nothing to take too seriously. They'd do whatever they could, they were even willing to take shelter in the woods as long as it meant being together and away from their homes, if they were welcoming enough to be called such a childish term. Neither of them knew that if the other had pitched the plan that they would go through with it until the end. They knew it was illegal but they were willing to live on the run and waiting for the day they reach the legal age of consent and the nationwide accepted age of adulthood. It's not like their parents would go looking for them, they'd probably celebrate wine more alcohol and drugs then normal.

It was so close, one of them had to say the words, "Let's go." to have their new lives begin. Instead they fell back into their routine, sneaking around to live like young adults only to come home and treated like criminals by the people no one else would expect. Due to the winter season night had come earlier then it usually does. It was only four o'clock and it looked like midnight. Mae entered her house and had seen her father passed out on the couch. She grabs a snack and hides in her room, feeling like she had gotten off the hook. If her father was awake she would've had his anger and sorrow from his wife's early departure years ago pinned on her, depending on his alcohol intake he might have hit her.

Wonwoo wasn't as lucky. He came home not much later and with the soft EDM songs playing in the background he immediately smelled a mixture of pot and tobacco smoke in the air as he walked through the door. He coughed and waved his hand around to make a passage through the fog.

Four men he had not known sit on the couch with bloodshot eyes and bruises on their cheeks. Knuckles were nearly see through and the skin was as thin as paper but they still kept on smoking. They paid no mind to Wonwoo and he mentally thanked them for doing so. It didn't take much for him to see what was going on, his parents were throwing another party. What type of party, Wonwoo had not known nor did he care. There were times when they'd fill the house with addicts just to use up the surplus of drugs they transported that were least likely to be sold and there were other times were poker games turned violent and bets were settled on fights in the backyard. Most of the times it was both.

Wonwoo lived in an empty lot with a house that looks high priced on the outside but like a trash heap on the inside. He only stayed home for a couple hours of the night, it was to keep his parents thinking he was in his room. If they needed him they'd go and get him. He only snuck out when he was completely sure they were asleep. He knew they would stay asleep because he had heard hangover was a bitch. On a few occasions they caught him, but he made the excuse of dealing narcotics or going to 'teach someone a lesson', which sadly made them smile. Why did they want him to live like that?

Wonwoo tried to make his way out of the smoke, it was getting too hard for him to breathe for comfort. But when he walked through the hall to disappear into his room his father's colleagues all busted out of the basement door, a boy around his age being dragged by the back of his neck. The boy is petrified and is near tears. Wonwoo's father comes up from behind them with a cigar hanging in the corner of his smiling lips.

"Pyeonghan, my son. What a pleasure it is for you to join us." Blowing smoke into the boy's face, Wonwoo's father chuckled as the lad broke into a violent coughing fit. Clearly the kid didn't want to be here, and wasn't meant to, but it didn't look like he was forced to attend either. Wonwoo could gather that he came here and was caught in something way over his head, now it's too late to go back. What a sucker.

"What's this kid doing here?" Wonwoo sneered, he had to put on the 'disgusted disguise' to get his father to play along.

"Kid shows up trying to join in our poker game like it's all fun and games and we catch him cheating. Costing us nearly a thousand dollars." His father smacks the boys back in all but a joking matter.

"We need to teach him a lesson, right son?" Wonwoo had no choice but to nod, at refusal would lead to him being punished as well. Last thing his father wanted was to be embarrassed by his poor excuse of a son in front of so many people.

Wonwoo's father gathered everyone from the basement and from the rest of the house to congregate in the backyard. Torches lit up the night in place of the moon and Wonwoo stood quietly behind a group of men with their hands over the shoulders of...mature women wearing bikini tops and shorts. He leaned his body weight on to a porch pillar and crossed his arms. He had learned years ago that if he had not watched the gang activities his father would force him to partake in them more then he normally does. Everyone formed a large circle, the boy standing in the center of it. Members laughed and told jokes to the people near them, acting like the boy was a bonfire not yet to be lit. They were relaxed, taking swigs from their flasks or drags of their death sticks. Wonwoo was the only one nervous, not entirely for himself, partially for the boy as well. Wonwoo has muscles and years of fighting experience, the boy was scrawny and wore a collar shirt with khakis. No way will this end well. The crowd silenced as Wonwoo's father came into view, an evil smirk making the cigar impossible to keep in his mouth so instead it's laced in his fingers. With the only sound being the cackles of torch flames and his father's footsteps against fallen leaves. Wonwoo could bleed the sound into his mind.

"We have ourselves a little pest, no one cares what his name is, none of us care who's son he is, who's brother, friend or ally he might be. No one cares here." His father announces. The boy begins to shake and Wonwoo wishes for mercy on the poor dumb ass.

"This kid dares to cheat me of my money, now are we going to let that slide?!" A roaring 'No!' comes from the audience, Wonwoo spotting his mother cheering along.

"We all know how punishments work in my home. We fight with no mercy. We do not stop until one is down and stays down." More cheering. Wonwoo was sickened by the sadistic laughter he is surrounded by, hopefully the kid falls fast.

"Anyone wish to take the first hit?" Silence. Had no one wanted to waste a calorie to get everything done and over with? Or had they wanted someone specific to do the dirty deed?

"No? Pyeonghan my boy, I guess it's up to you." Wonwoo's prayers apparently weren't heard and he left his position, the crowd of people making way for their boss' kid. Some whistled, other's drank more and clapped. Wonwoo felt sick to his stomach once more but had no choice. It was either the kid or him and he wasn't taking that chance. Despite what his father had said he will go easy on the kid. It'll be a warning to never come back, but not because he most likely will not be welcome, but to keep him from being killed if he was dumb enough to return.

"Let him have it." Wonwoo's father spoke in his ear, the hairs of the back of his neck indicating that if Wonwoo didn't obey he'd surely be in deep shit after the party. Wonwoo's father joined the anticipated crowd, his arms crossed and a stern look upon his face. The boy collapsed to his knees when he was let go by the goons and trembled in the fire lit darkness. Wonwoo strode over coldly, trying to prolong the fight for as long as possible, and bent down to the kid's ear.

"Sorry, dumb ass." And the first punch was given. A loud, and painful, groan came from the kid. The crowd "ooohhh"ing excitedly once more. The kid fell to the ground, leaving his torso open and up for grabs. Wonwoo closed his eyes and kicked with all of his might. A roar of laughter and cheers masked over the cries of Wonwoo's latest victim. He felt sick and knew he was gonna vomit if he didn't stop. Ignoring the voices around him, urging him to draw blood, Wonwoo picked up the semi barely beaten boy by the collar of his shirt and brought his ear close to whisper, "If you're smart you'll go away and never return. Next time they might kill you." Wonwoo threw the boy off of him, dead silence now surrounding and filling his ears. The boy nodded and scrambled away, pushing his way through the crowd of drunks and hookers to hopefully return home and forget this evening ever happened. Wonwoo's knees weakened but he couldn't fall, he couldn't let himself go down in front of his father's followers. What would they say? The boss' son can't throw down without fainting? How pathetic can he look in his father's eyes?

The man of the hour shows up in Wonwoo's blurring vision and drags him off to the other side of the house, hidden away from the wandering eyes of his nosy peers. Wonwoo's body is forced to the wall and the only thing keeping him up straight is the pressure his father's hand is putting around his arm.

"What the hell was that back there? Why did you let the cheater go? Have you gone soft, boy?" Every sentence hurt Wonwoo's dignity the same way his father's finger pushed deeper into Wonwoo's chest as he poked. Why was his father so ruthless? Had he not cared for anything but his appearance? The very question had already been answered. Of course he hasn't, image is everything and Wonwoo had just made a fool of his father without regret.

"Are you just going to stand there and not answer me?" His father's voice was getting sharper by the word, silence was clearly once of the many wrong moves Wonwoo played in his father's game.

"He was just a kid who didn't know better." Wonwoo played his final card and hoped for the best, which would be another mark on his back to keep record of the number of times he's disobeyed his father. "I gave him a warning. He's too afraid to come back."

"And who gave you the right to award the moron with a fucking warning? Because it wasn't me!" Wonwoo's father pulled out his pocket knife and he knew what was coming. His father let go of his arm and turned him around, lifting his shirt to reveal dozens of scars from the very same tool. The cool metal grazed the skin of Wonwoo's back and the "shing" noise indicated the day had been documented. Wonwoo's father pushed him to the ground and on his knees so the fresh cut was facing the sky.

"Life would be better without you here." His father spoke to himself, half hoping Wonwoo had heard, which would've been impossible not to. His father was right, life without him here would be pure bliss for his parents. Pure bliss for everyone. Which means he doesn't have to be here. He's a legal adult, he can leave when he wants for what ever reason and his parents couldn't do a thing about it without ruining their reputation, something they cherished more than their only son.

Standing to his feet, Wonwoo touched the sore spot of his back and saw his fingers are now dotted with his own blood. The cut wasn't as serious as the ones in the past, a bandage should do the job. Striding to the front of the house, a ways away from his father's celebratory fighting and his mother's delusional support, he made his way up to his room and pulled his phone out, a message from Mae being the first thing he sees on the screen. Instead of reading it and replying how he normally would he dials her number and puts the phone up to his ear while grabbing a bag from the back of his closet. He wasn't going to just let things be the way they are any longer. Three rings later Mae picks up and greets her boyfriend before he tells her his plan.

"Pack a bag, you and I are outta here tonight." The phone is in between his ear and his shoulder but that didn't stop him one bit.

"What are you talking about?" She was surprise no doubt, but not hating the idea.

"Me and you. We are leaving, only if you want to." He could easily leave his parents behind, but not her. If she wanted to stay he'd put his things away and wait for her to choose.

"Of course I want to leave, but where would we go?" He heard ruffling from the other end and assumed it was Mae getting up and packing her things like he is.

"We can get a cheap hotel for a few days. We can go far away and never come back." He stuffed in the last of his clothes and went around the top floor of the house for cash laying around. Three hundred dollars was found after looking in one room, for once Wonwoo liked that fact his parents were god awful with money management.

"Easy for you to say, you're eighteen!" He could tell she was worried but all she needed to do was trust him. He knew it sounded crazy, but crazy isn't always bad.

"And you will be too. We just have to wait it out together." Another room and another hundred bucks. And that's just on the top floor. In another house on the other side of town there's a seventeen year old girl putting her necessities in a duffel, plotting her escape from hell with the love of her life. The young lovers were in agreement. The plan was to gather as much cash as they could and meet at the girls house at three in the morning to give both of them enough time to prepare. After that it's all on the table. They might have to go a few town's over to get a room for a day or two before heading further away. They both bared the thought that their families wouldn't go looking for them, why would they when all they've done is the opposite of what loving families do?

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