#Serpents (basement) and Heavy Games could work too

[idledreams4]

my dad got us all the beatsaber DLCs let's gooooooo

I was looking at them last night and debating whether or not I actually wanted to spend all the money it would take to get the Metallica, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, Rock Mixtape, Panic! 2, and The Weekend DLCs

But my dad just got all of them for us

[snowbellewells]

The Case of the Heart in Armor {Part Six}

Summary: Killian “Holmes” Jones is rarely surprised or shocked anymore, but that all changes when he meets one very stubborn - and very beautiful - pickpocket, and trouble brews in the distance, hidden by the London fog…

Wow, I’ve finally reached the end of this tale (which was really only intended to be a one shot at the beginning).  I’m sorry that it has taken so long, but I absolutely appreciate all who have read and commented on this one, and especially @courtorderedcake who provided the artwork above which inspired it to begin with.  Thanks so much for sticking with me, and I hope you will all enjoy the conclusion!

From the beginning: Here or on AO3

Part Six

Blinking her way back into awareness was a difficult process when Emma Nolan sucked in a harsh, strangled breath as her eyes blearily opened, still clouded and unable to focus properly. A dark shadow leaned over her, someone in vaguely human shape; not one that she could recognize as male or female, but rather some sort of unknown threat. Instinct from years of self-protection kicked in and she tried to flinch away from an arm raised with a weapon. Yet, even as she moved to stretch a hand out in defense against the blow, to her horror, Emma realized in a flash of descending panic that her movements were brought up short by her being bound tightly to the surface on which she lay.

Gulping in a frightened rasp of air, she began to fight and wriggle more violently, to little avail; her breath coming with continued harshness as her heartbeat raced in anxiety. It felt as if the dark chamber she was in was closing around her, dwindling to only herself and the specter above her.

A low, sultry chuckle passed the stranger’s lips, her assailant leaning in close enough that Emma could at last make out a gleaming smile and painted lips, the abductor now obviously female. The voice which followed was silken, slithering over her skin like a menacing serpent. “Well, hello, Miss Nolan. Welcome to my workshop. This will be all the more entertaining with you awake to participate.” The deeply colored corners of that sinister expression turned up with evil satisfaction. One gloved hand stroked along the side of Emma’s trembling face, despite her determined attempt to remain still and stoic, not showing the true extent of her fear.

“So sweet,” the unknown woman cooed with false sympathy. “So needlessly lost. I do apologize, dear, but you were necessary to draw him out.”

It was then that Emma registered the sharp gleam of the blade in the woman’s other hand; the one which had been raised above her head when she first woke, but which had escaped her focus as she blearily tried to understand all that was happening. Her brow furrowed, unable to process what this woman could want, or how taking Emma would lure anyone else, even as her thoughts raced for a way to avert a painful and life-threatening blow.

Unfazed by Emma’s quickly whirling thoughts and inner turmoil, her tormentor shocked her once again. Instead of plunging the weapon into her chest as Emma had expected, the woman instead drew the knife sickeningly alone Emma’s collarbone and down her arm. A thin line of blood welled up in the wake of the cut, and Emma hissed through her teeth at the sting, in spite of her best efforts. She still pulled against her restraints, but it did little good; only seeming to bring her captor more enjoyment of the deadly game. The only comfort Emma could find within her predicament was that this witch seemed in no hurry to finish her off. The cuts the woman was making obviously hurt, but they wouldn’t kill her any time soon.

Her focus was stolen moments later as the blade sliced into the soft skin of her inner elbow, twisting cruelly and forcing a whimper from Emma’s tightly clenched mouth. She jerked her head away, refusing to watch the sadistic glee lighting those dark eyes looming over her, but a sharply manicured hand gripped her chin and turned her back to face her doom. “Ah, ah, ah, now pet, you can’t stop watching. We’ve almost reached the main event.”

As if on some unheard cue, the heavy wooden door across the basement room began to rattle and groan as something rammed against it; once, twice, a third time, with increasingly desperate force. “Hmm,” the shadowy figure mused. “Right on time.”

Suddenly, with an unearthly shattering and rending, the door burst from its hinges, wood splintering as it was caved in by three avenging forms charging through into her prison. With a howl of such raw emotion she wouldn’t have imagined him capable, Killian ‘Holmes’ Jones hurtled across the small, dank space in a flash, clearly intending to tackle to the ground the murderess holding her prisoner.

His charge was brought up short by the dagger suddenly poised directly over her heart and a coolly staying hand. “Not another step, Holmes,” that cultured voice ordered as calmly as if she were suggesting he sit down for tea. “Miss Nolan has served her purpose beautifully, but I can still cut out her heart if need be.”

Killian Jones… Emma’s breath stuttered again without her command at the anguished look on the gentleman detective’s face. He nodded his head grudgingly, wordlessly agreeing to this fiend’s demands and freezing in place. For the life of her, Emma couldn’t fathom why Jones cared so much, but he looked as if it might undo him should this woman drive her blade home. Beyond him, she could see David and Graham, both looking worried for her and at a loss; her brother practically vibrating with thwarted rage at the cuts which had already been made against her skin.

“You’ve made your point, Regine,” Killian spoke, his voice icily controlled, as he held the woman’s gaze. “What is it that you want? You have our attention; there’s no need to punish innocents further.” He gestured to Emma as he said so, not looking her way, struggling to seem as if she were just anyone to him, but his words were still a hissed threat. The implication was clear: Millsen would not get what she wanted if she killed the young woman under her raised knife.

Pursing her garish red lips in a sort of pout, Regine Millsen abandoned her hovering stance over Emma’s prone body. Seeming assured of the fact that Emma could not escape, Regine instead began to stalk toward ‘Holmes’ Jones with a sinister purr. “Really, you could be a bit less predictable,” she chided, as if playfully admonishing a willful lover. “You’re making this too easy with your honor and good form and such nonsense.”

As she spoke, seemingly focussing all her attention on Killian, Graham had stealthily attempted to creep around behind her toward Emma. Suddenly, Regine’s free hand shot out toward Watson, and he was thrown back against the stone wall with a single shout of surprise, a sickening thud of impact, and then silence. Shaking her head ‘no’, she arched a sculpted brow at David after, as if to question whether he wished to be next.

Eyes zeroing back on Killian’s in a flash, she questioned,“Now, Holmes, where were we? Oh yes… Are you ready to make a deal? If you’re so concerned for the innocent, I will allow you to stand in her place. It seems only fair.”  She shrugged lightly as if it weren’t of much consequence, the gesture fooling no one, as he had been her true quarry all along. “You failed to care so much for the death of my sweet, blameless Daniel. Not such good form after all, hmm? Still your unconcern came back to me as the final piece needed to solve my puzzle after all this time.”

Though certain his horrifying theory had been correct, Killian still had nothing with which to fight against her, not while Emma Nolan’s life hung in the balance. Unable to do otherwise, Killian paused any movement, holding fast just where he was with hands raised in patient supplication. With a nod of acquiescence, he gritted begrudgingly, “Aye, you harpy, you know I’ve no other choice. What is it you wish me to do?”

Holding his breath, he waited for this dangerously unbalanced foe to move her blade away from Emma before he did anything else that might unsettle her. Managing to subvert his expectations once again, at his compliance, the sharp, edgy rage and unpredictability that had painted Regine Millsen’s face eased and she straightened regally, moving toward the detective with what would have almost seemed a seductive sway and a simpering expression of satisfaction on her face. “I knew you would see sense, Mr. Jones. You are billed after all as a man of reason.”

Killian did not respond to her attempt at flirtatious distraction; holding himself rigidly still, and only with strict self-control, managing not to shiver away from her questing fingers as they traced uninvited along his jawline, down to his collar and grazed along his upper chest. For the first time ever, he found himself cursing his predilection to leave his top few shirt buttons undone; he wanted no part of this vicious creature’s touch lingering upon his skin. Clenching his teeth, he tried to focus on the fact that under different circumstances he could have heard Emma laughing at him in such a predicament, shaking her head with exasperated mirth and telling him it served him right if he left half his chest on display; some poor woman would have to touch it.

The thought of Miss Nolan in happier times immediately sent his gaze searching for hers over their foe’s shoulder. Even pinned down as she was, he could see that since her attacker’s focus was no longer solely on the younger woman, Emma was already wriggling and working at loosening her bindings and freeing herself from Regine’s knots of rope. The pickpocketing skills she’d honed for a lifetime -  her natural deft touch, slim build, and sleight of hand -  might just save them now if they were lucky and he could buy her a bit more time not under Millsen’s rapt observation.

Without further hesitation, Killian resolved to do just that, gritting his teeth against the snide comeback burning on his tongue and forcing himself not to enrage the woman, he continued to hold himself still rather than pulling back or pushing her away. Despite the disturbing feeling of Regine Millsen’s sharply pointed nails and chilled hand slipping inside his shirt front and mapping the planes of his chest in a possessive way that caused bile to rise in his throat - he would much prefer the intrusion than for her to go back to gouging and slicing at Emma Nolan’s pale and flawless skin.

It almost seemed as though Emma could read what was going on in his mind. Even if  he would once have labeled her as little more than a nuisance and thorn in his side - pretty, but a dishonest thief and an annoying distraction - he was quickly coming to realize that few people had ever as quickly seemed to understand his meaning, his thought process, and incisively glimpse right behind the protective veneer of cool detachment he wore like a mask, as this wisp of a woman had done at first meeting. It was the pocketwatch she had nicked, but those small, graceful hands reached inside him much further than that. If he were as given to the romantic bent as he had once foolishly been, he might have claimed she had pulled his heart out clutched in her sticky fingers as well.

A particularly unfortunate exaggeration to make in their current situation, he chided himself, snapping back to reality as the murderess before him finally removed her unbidden touch from his chest, and stood back to face him squarely, gauging whether or not she had his full attention. He needed to stop dwelling on more pleasant moments and focus on his opponent. Yes, he could physically overpower her in a fair fight, but he didn’t know what this woman’s next move might be, nor what sort of occult power she might throw at them next. He couldn’t risk trying to simply cuff her or disarm her until he was sure of the advantage - the opportune moment. If he failed, any of his compatriots, and most likely Emma, might well pay the price with him. Thankfully, he could see that Emma was making progress - one arm was moving much more freely than it had been, and with a couple more minutes unseen, she would hopefully free herself. He was banking on it, as he might or might not be able to provide much more than distraction if those few minutes went as he was beginning to suspect they would.

“Well, now we come to it at last,” he spoke up, forcing his voice to a low, smooth rumble and purposefully returning Regine Millsen’s blatant stare with his own, making certain he had her undivided attention while he noted a flash of gold over her head. Emma had her hands free and was working on the knot at her stomach. It might hurt, but if he could prolong this just a little longer… If the others were free to run when need be and he could still get Millsen in his grasp…

All he said was, “You have me right where you wanted, don’t you?”

“That depends,” Regine purred back with a  sinister quirk of her brow. “You know why you are here, and what I desire? And you mean to cooperate?”

Holmes gave her a condescending smile. “Possibly,” he shrugged, “if you answer a question for me first. If you admit what all of this has been about. Why hearts? What can you possibly hope to accomplish with a person’s heart cut from the body?”

“Why resurrection, of course,” she replied, as if it were as sensible and normal as any sane rationale. “You must have heard the theory… the possibility of reanimation… a man as well-read and learned as you. I have come so close to success so many times, and now the missing piece is right within my grasp; the single reason why each time before has failed. I needed the exact heart strong enough to withstand the procedure with enough armour to shield it until it can bring my Daniel back to me.”

Killian tilted his head, knowing he needed to keep her talking just a few moments longer. He could see Emma frantically working at the knots holding her ankles now; heard Graham stirring back into wakefulness over against the wall where he had landed and knew David could help him. Only a few more seconds, just a couple steps closer and he could reach her, hopefully grab Millsen and stop her, before she could retaliate. He attempted a look of curiosity as he asked, “And it’s mine? What made my heart so special? How did you even know?”

Shaking her head and clicking her tongue with a sort of feigned disappointment, Regine gave him a questioning eye. “Really now, Holmes. I’d think you might have that answer worked out for yourself. After I had made attempts with, shall we call them less-than-suitable donors, it became clear that only the most resilient of hearts, organs which could withstand pain, undergo trauma, and carry on beating, could possibly handle what the feat of reanimation requires. Once that was clear, I remembered our previous meetings long ago - the passion and depth in your eyes, though clearly guarded and walled for strength against easy temptations - even against a match as fine as I was then. At the time, true, I was offended. But now, I can only be grateful. I did not forget such reserve and discipline, and it was easy to learn it had only carried on and grown in your daily life and distinctions over the intervening years.”

Killian nodded sagely, as if truly taking her reasoning under consideration. Then he queried, “And I suppose I should simply submit to being the catalyst for such a remarkable event, regardless of the personal cost?” He couldn’t help a small amount of his contempt for her plan at last leaking through his voice. It was preposterous! The sheer arrogance of her presumption! How could she possibly imagine it would go? Would anyone offer oneself up gladly? But then he thought of the scene he had burst into moments before. If it stayed her hand from shedding Emma’s lifesblood - or that of anyone he cared for - then he admitted that he would submit to the woman’s most insane demand.

Luckily, he could see that Emma was even at that moment finally free of her restraints and climbing down from the worktop upon which she had been laid.. The pretty blonde - whom he might as well admit had captured his attention as no other in years - leaned against the table’s edge, looking a bit woozy and off-balance for a moment, either from loss of blood or whatever Millsen had used to knock her out, but then she straightened, eyes meeting his quickly and hardening with determination.

Now was the moment. Emma was on her feet and free to run; he simply had to hope, trusting the capabilities of the two men behind him to have each other’s backs. He only needed a moment to arrest the strike he was certain Regine Millsen would make with the blade still in her hand, to catch her while she was focused on removing his heart, rather than her seemingly magical abilities to fend off capture. Meeting the occultist’s hungry gaze, he finally blew out a short breath through his nose, hoping he looked sufficiently resigned, as if bowing to his choice and the sacrifice he faced. “Very well,” he acknowledged. “You obviously know I cannot save my own skin and allow you to stalk others if it is within my power to stop it. If I have your word that Miss Nolan goes free, that this is the end of your murderous reign, then do what you will.”

She smiled, dipping her chin slightly to affirm her agreement. “Of course, Holmes. You have my word. Once I gain this heart of yours, my work will finally be complete. I’ll have no need of any more.”

Muscles tensed, every fiber of his being at the ready to lunge forward and grab her as she prepared to strike the final blow to his chest, Killian’s focus narrowed. There was no margin for distraction or error. Regine Millsen’s arm raised in triumph; her deluded assumption that he was giving himself over to simply stand as his heart was carved from his body lending a crazed fervor to her actions, disregarding caution in her avarice and the nearness of her goal. 

The villainess swept forward, knife’s edge bared, and Killian crouched as she was in motion, raising his hands to capture her wrists once it was too late for her to pull back. Then, suddenly, a scream of rage and fear rang throughout the chamber and bounced off the stone walls. Regine’s form collided with his own, but with far more weight and force than her slight body should have carried. Both of them were borne to the ground; Killian’s head striking against the cement floor hard enough for his vision to swim and the solid mass of more than just the witch he had expected pressing down upon him.

He groaned involuntarily, trying to keep his vision clear to subdue their murderess while she was also stunned. Unfortunately, the blow to his skull was sharply compounded by a ragged, burning fire that flared along his side. Agony shot through him, realizing that the knife must have been caught between himself and Millsen in their fall, and though not dissecting his heart, it was still carving a painful line across his torso.

Regine had not moved, but suddenly Emma peeked over her abductor’s motionless shoulder. A heavy metal object he couldn’t identify was clutched in her trembling hand, and Killian was just aware enough to understand that she must have used it to render Millsen insensate as she had plowed into the other woman - saving herself and him too. Well, maybe, if only he weren’t so disoriented… “Emma?” he questioned, tongue seeming thick and too unwieldy to speak properly.

“Jones?” she replied, eyes shining widely with fear and concern. “Are you…?” Those intriguing eyes widened as she took him in, her chin wobbling only a second before she turned to cry out her brother’s name urgently.

Holmes suddenly felt highly unconcerned with everything but her face so near his own. “You - you saved me,” he managed to state awkwardly as he attempted to touch her face. His fingers couldn’t reach their goal, and his hand fell back to the floor, stained with blood.

“Just take it easy, Jones,” she murmured, threading her small delicate fingers with his own, despite the sticky residue. He grinned at her with a giddiness that was almost loopy, prompting a watery smile in response that wheeled alarmingly in his vision. “What can I say?” she added. “It seemed like the honorable thing to do.”

But her voice and all the other noise and movement in that strange, cavernous cellar was already fading away, growing softer and smaller, as if gaining distance from him - until there was nothing there at all.

~~~~~~~~~***

Two Weeks Later…

Upon leaving his London flat, Killian ‘Holmes’ Jones drew in a grateful breath of the crisp morning air, more than past his fill of Graham Watson and his physician’s orders to stay abed until the knife wound in his side was fully healed and his blood loss recouped - to say nothing of the fussing and smothering he had endured from Liam in the past fortnight. He would not have expected it from the man, but his elder brother was as overprotective as a crochety nursemaid since his injury, barely leaving Killian alone long enough to feed and dress himself, and rushing headlong back into his chambers if Killian so much as let a hiss of discomfort escape.

He could admit to himself, since he had finally been allowed to leave the house for a short walk in the fresh air, alone and under his own steam, as he had been promising he was capable for some days, that the wound where Regine Millsen’s blade had sunk into his flesh was indeed still tender. He held himself gingerly as he reached the bottom step and moved out onto the busy sidewalk. All the same, he was not about to let on to another soul. In fact, he would not in the least be surprised if he were to turn round and look up to find his sibling and Watson peeking out through the window curtains and keeping an eye on him. He would not even put it past them, after the well-intentioned but ridiculous mollycoddling he had endured, to find Nolan waiting for him at the corner, a police escort to see him home safely at the end of his stroll.

Still, as he found his natural gait and started down the familiar street, Killian knew despite his irritation, that they were only so anxious because they cared. He had looked to be in dire straits there for a moment on the floor of that vault. His head had struck the floor with enough force to bring on concussion, and once he had passed out, he had been utterly unresponsive to all their pleas. Added to the fact that the blood spilling from his side had been hard to stem at first, and he knew he had given them all quite a turn. And Emma, well…

Miss Nolan had been the only one who had not visited him in the hospital, or at his home afterward as he convalesced. She had sent a handsome bottle of rum with a note expressing her sincerest thanks for his chivalrous rescue, along with the cheeky reassurance that she had indeed paid for the fine liquor. He could just see the sparkle in those bright green eyes, and her challenging smirk as he imagined her teasing him with the words aloud. All the same, he wished to see her alive and well, and no worse for wear, with his own two eyes, regardless of his belief in her brother’s assurances. 

Upon pressing David Nolan further, the inspector had admitted reluctantly, with eyes downcast, that Emma blamed herself. Apparently she thought that he wouldn’t have been so badly hurt if she hadn’t tried to help take Millsen down. The very idea made a fissure split through the ancient and already weakening protection around his heart. It had been nothing of the sort. His own plan had been last ditch and slipshod at best, and that she would have thrown herself back into harm’s way to come to his aid, after what she had already been through, meant more to him than he could adequately express or comprehend. He would never begin to blame her for the effort.

If he could just tell her that!

Therefore, as he turned the corner and walked on toward the nearby park, Killian felt a smile break across his weary face at the sight up ahead. The brightly colored pushcart full of carnations, asters, lilies, and all variety of cheerful blooms was wonderfully familiar, and as he tried to pick up his pace, he could only hope that its lovely proprietress would be there as well.

When Emma Nolan’s bright golden hair caught the sunlight as he drew near, Killian knew his pleased grin must have stretched wide enough to make him look quite the fool - and he could not find it within himself to care. Her back was still turned to him while she counted out change for a customer, wishing them enjoyment of the daisy bouquet they had purchased. Her trim figure stood straight-backed and proud, as strong and confident, alert and ready for action, as she had proven herself to be time and again. The swelling in his chest as he neared her side and reached out to gain her attention told Killian he had missed her more than he would have ever thought possible.

Once her customer had moved on, Killian tapped Emma’s shoulder lightly, holding his breath in nervous anticipation as she turned his way. Her beguiling gaze met his the moment she did so, green pupils widening in surprise before quickly falling to her hands as they fluttered nervously over the blossoms before her, anything to avoid his concerned and all-too-knowing stare.

“Emma,” he breathed, his voice hushed and raspy, overcome at seeing her there before him again. Her obvious anxiety and the pained guilt in her bearing tore at him. Even if she did not return the deeper feelings he could no longer deny, Holmes was glad he had come looking for her. He could not bear for Emma to go on blaming herself.

“Please, Lass, look at me,” he begged softly, reaching shaky fingers out to touch her chin and tilt her face back up to meet his own.

Shaking her head abruptly, the jade of her irises welled with unshed tears and she tried to pull away, but Killian persisted, needing her to see his sincerity. “You’re so bloody brilliant, Emma Nolan,” he hastened on before she could stop him. “Truly. Do you not even realize how rare the person who could have kept their wits about them in that dungeon? You were drugged, injured, and still you managed to free yourself and think of another as well. Yet, you haven’t given me a chance to thank you.”

He tried to take her hand, to press it in gratitude, but Emma resisted, spluttering in disbelief. “Thank me?! Are you mad, Jones? It’s because of me that - ” 

“No, not another word of blame, Darling,” he interjected firmly, intent on seeing her let that burden go. “The way I see it, you stopped our foe and saved my life. I’ll not hear any talk against your actions.”

Deflating, Emma shook her head in fond exasperation, knowing it wasn’t worth arguing further. His mind was set, and she honestly felt nothing but relief. No longer than she had known him, and as mad as he had made her when they met, the image of him splayed across that cold stone, his blood pooling beneath him, had refused to leave her mind, haunting her night and day, and repeating cruelly that if they had lost him, it would have been her fault. Biting her lower lip sharply to keep uncharacteristically emotional tears from pouring out, she pulled Jones to her finally, embracing him tightly with all the emotion she had tried to hide. 

When she stood back to right herself, Emma offered the infuriatingly handsome detective a hopeful smile. “Thank you, Jones… Killian,” she whispered. “I can’t say how glad I am that you’re alright.”

He flushed a telling pink under the scruff on his cheeks and up to the tips of his ears at her words. Dipping his head at her show of affection, Killian prepared to leave her to her work. With a wink, he spoke once more before departing, a hint of his previous charm in the words. “Until we meet again, Miss Nolan,” he bowed and turned to go.

“Soon, I hope,” she answered knowingly. A grin was already crossing her face as he stopped abruptly, hand freezing while he felt curiously in his waistcoat pocket. Pulling an object from it, Jones turned to her with his pilfered watch in hand.

“How did you - ?” he began to ask.

Emma only gave him a mischievous wink of her own, a woman needed a few secrets after all. Shrugging playfully, she offered in a tease, “I think you more than earned it.”

Tagging: @csrolereversal @courtorderedcake @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @tiganasummertree @laschatzi @resident-of-storybrooke @thisonesatellite @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @ilovemesomekillianjones @lfh1226-linda @stahlop  @drowned-dreamer @teamhook @revanmeetra87  @snidgetsafan @shireness-says @artistic-writer​ @hollyethecurious​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @winterbaby89​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @searchingwardrobes​ @cocohook38​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @gingerchangeling​

[floggingink]

Riverdale, “Chapter Thirty-Eight: As Above, So Below”

Day At Least Seven Solitary Coif: struggling

Alice’s thigh: stunning

Sexy, aesthetic Southside: FP’s jellybean tattoo: incredibly, tenderly sad

Certified pedigree: “I’m glad the Farm opened you up to the possibility of us”: either Alice thought about this to herself, or she (absolutely) asked the rest of her cult what they thought. what they THOUGHT about her sleeping with FP again. “What d’you think, girls?” Alice wine clubbed FP Jones’s dick!

who has more game, FP or Jughead? FP a) is a grown man, b) is oftentimes gainfully employed (I’ve forgotten if he’s employed right now), c) is strong enough to carry a high school boy out of the woods, d) was VERY smooth with his seemingly instinctual “Then don’t. Tell him,” e) did that thing where he took the gum out of his mouth when Alice came to his trailer, and f) looked pretty good in his crisp Pop’s uniform when he was employed at Pop’s. however FP also a) tends to drink when not employed and b) is fucking obsessed with Toledo, a town I will burn to the ground if I ever set foot in it. meanwhile, Jughead a) climbed up a fucking ladder to Betty’s bedroom, b) ABSOLUTELY KILLED IT when he and Betty almost fucked each other in the kitchen, c) KILLED IT AND BURIED IT in the moments before fucking her on the couch when he was all, “Or you could stay,” and fucking touched her dress like she was an angel of the Lord and he was just a humble shepherd boy whose eyes were not worthy to gaze upon her countenance, d) only strategically removes his hat, and e) rides a motorcycle. the hat is not a con, necessarily, and being a writer in high school is a cross some of us simply have to bear, but he is like, kind of a pain sometimes and a little squirrelly, but w/r/t the love of his life, he has tailored himself to her every need almost perfectly

OH AND I FORGOT WHEN HE KISSED HER SCABBY BLOOD KNUCKLES! OH SHIT!

Veronica has the most game on the entire show

I like when they have Jughead use words like “modicum”

“Ben’s death haunts me, Jug. He didn’t scream. Why not, I wonder?”: writing credits this episode go to Daphne de Maurier

YYEEEAAAAAHHH THE BLUE & GOLD CRIME BOARD BABY

I would almost expect something more from the warden’s tie, except that I know plain clothing is, in and of itself, a warning sign

anything that gets Veronica in her reading glasses is okay by me, and this includes Pop’s hemorrhaging money

Jughead can wear just a T-shirt sans jacket or flannel any old time he wants, I’m just putting that vibe out there

“Of course we’re calling it a speakeasy.”

Jug’s suspender game is strong, so really Betty should know she has nothing to worry about

his stupid dumb round face looking at her when she pulls him aside is pretty. remember when he kissed her hands? fucking Jughead sometimes, dude

“Evelyn...creeps me out.”

I like Betty’s overalls and Evelyn’s romper thing

what I expected when Kevin dialed the phone was for the whole booth to sink into the basement like a surprise elevator

Kander and Ebb wrote the music to, among much else, Cabaret and Chicago, those being some of their most gay

I LOVE VERONICA’S WHITE SHIRT. IT’S JUST A FUCKING PLAIN WHITE SHIRT, SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL

Every triangle has three corners, every triangle has three sides: is there some heat between Veronica and Reggie? am I crazy?

the foursome of Reg, Ronnie, Josie, and Kev is basically just as strong as the cour four strictly in terms of hair

I don’t know that I like Penny’s sleeveless Ghoulies vest more than her leather Serpents jacket but I do know I like it at least the same amount (oodles)

Fwoopy hair is the best hair: Day One Lifted Bag Off Head Hair: GREAT

OH MY GOD, JOAQUIN!!!! WHEN WILL JOAQUIN REST. DOES EVERY TERRIBLE THING HAVE TO HAPPEN TO JOAQUIN BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. IS JOAQUIN IN THE FARM

does Archie have a scar on his head? is it KJ’s? have I lost track of something?

Gay?!: BABY TEETH is an absolute twink and he was tapped to save his life

I’m suspicious of Peter because his name is, simply, “Peter”

Gay.: Cheryl and Toni are just like lounging in a single chair together and that’s the bisexual agenda

Veronica was rich: Veronica’s heavy card stock IS very nice

Ethel’s cute yellow cardigan is back, which matches her thermos and lunchbox

I enjoyed when Betty sits down and you think she’s going to apologize for being there at Ben’s death but instead she just fucking grills Ethel some more

“...G&G.”

OOOOOOHHHHHHH JUGHEAD’S TURNING IT ON WITH THAT PRINCESS SHIT

Please protect Betty: Betty’s entire expression at being told she’s “not worthy,” God bless her

The female gaze: I don’t know why Reggie’s shirt is off. probably Reggie doesn’t even know

Reggie’s panicked JJ face is one of the top five panicked faces of all time. he’s tied at least with the girl in Jurassic Park when she sees the raptor shadow and her hand holding that green Jell-O starts shaking

Minetta doesn’t even pretend he’s looking for something other than whatever was in those boxes. cold, Minetta

REGGIE’S SALUTE

Reg simply being aware that Minetta and the Ghoulies work for Hiram almost brings me to tears. not only is he a walking sculpture with a pair of lips that would make Sarah Steller throw herself off the Hoover Dam, but he is also a genius

VERONICA IS SO BEAUTIFUL. “Not until I’m properly armed.” just look at her!

Ethel didn’t even come to the first meeting of the Farm Club? cold, Ethel

Evelyn offering Betty a pizza slice comes off as her genuinely wanting Betty to have a piece of pizza if she wants, which is the first non-creepy thing she’s done (Jughead would take the pizza)

she of course follows this up with “that darn medication”

Archie looks like a corpse in the blue light

tell me “wakey, wakey” is a Kill Bill reference. TELL ME IT IS

the guy they have fighting Archie looks just enough like Khabib Nurmagomedov that I was like, is this an unconscious wish on someone’s part to do a rematch of red-haired McGregor vs. Khabib except it’s on Riverdale so it’s in something called “the Pit” which is a drained swimming pool and they’re in juvie? (it’d have to be a fantasy in that Conor McGregor would get his ass beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov in any rematch in any universe, in the universe)

dude does his best but, as Sweet Pea and Vintage Reggie can tell you, you cannot let Archie land a) a right hook or b) an uppercut or he will end this fight

who’re the rando white women watching? their fucking wives? goddammit, white women

I think Baby Teeth could take Reggie jawline-to-jawline

Veronica’s kittenish heels sinking into the dirt as opposed to her striding effortlessly as Moses parting the Red Sea

Cheryl’s a chaos angel from hell: “THAT VIPER BITCH”

Antoinette Topaz is fluent in many languages, including Veronica’s

God bless jingle-jangle: the fucking cat burglar sequence set to “Jingle Jangle” just about fucking did it

Ethel’s candle game is reaching midnight mass-levels of mastery

so did Betty and Jughead get their ad hoc sex den (good band name) out of the bunker before Ethel got there? or was it there the whole time but for Ben and Ethel?

I feel I want to write down that Ben abandoned Ethel to ascend prematurely with Dilton otherwise I’ll forget and will be tricked by something later on

POLLY’S KNITTED HALTER

closed captioning capitalized the Shady Man, the second strangest Riverdale skull

Alice really just did Betty like that! maybe Betty DOES need to live in a bunker

50 Shades of Betty: “The wig. The webcaming.”

I love how Betty always gets very sarcastically OH, OKAY THEN when she decides to start laying out some truths

Alice stands up and her dress has some sort of insane asymmetrical hemline and she’s also got an ankle bracelet!!!!!!

Dilton Doiley Ethel Muggs is a canonically great dancer the DM: Ethel’s little crush on Jughead circa his birthday party has not abated. even when he was being insane about the Serpents I bet she entertained sweet fantasies of buying a pleather jacket off ModCloth and Jughead “inducting” her. so she found herself a coterie of pliable boys who were also gangly and weird and obsessed with details and pacts and she became their princess. so THERE. you fucking bet she’s gonna get a kiss out of Jughead before she fucking poisons herself

Ethel’s dungeon master voice is giving me a sort of ASMR vibe

I don’t want to veer too wildly but she is wearing a crown, her character has “a crown”

dog, was she about to kill Jughead right then and there? Ethel goes hard. Ethel might go harder than Jughead

“You’re asking me to play Russian roulette!” “I’m asking you to play Gryphons and Gargoyles.” THIS BITCH (in context it’s very smooth and bitchy)

GOD BUT JUGHEAD DID DRINK IT. VERY WELL KNOWINGLY, HE DID IT

Jughead eats: Salud is just the sort of thing I’d expect Jug to say before maybe drinking cyanide (or skol, if he had been watching Ingmar Bergman)

I don’t know if I could drink that much Kool-Aid that fast. Kool-Aid and Sunny D always made my teeth feel filmy. I could definitely down that much Capri Sun, if it were in a pouch the size of my shin

anyway Ethel’s sick move telling Jughead he has to kiss her first got an emotional reaction from me at almost the level of when Cheryl came down to Jason’s wake in that white dress

Jughead and Ethel are almost of a height, which is weirdly lovely

These students are legally children: maybe Ethel put the poison in after Jughead had chosen. I maybe doubt she would’ve just fucking assassinated Jughead

Jughead was reading next to her when she woke up, which is just a specific kind of daydream you have, sometimes

Sixth period is Intro to Film: HEISENBURG

Toni’s pictures are certainly shot with a mind to lighting, depth

is blue light the light of evil? Hiram’s study, the warden’s office?

Archie > Dawson: of course Archie imagines talking to his father and of course he imagines his father telling him to “take one.” I love Self-Sacrificial Lamb Archie (or just momentarily self-sacrificing). better than Fascist Archie!

well, Betty’s room has blue light too. fucking forget it then

although she is SURROUNDED BY EVIL at all times

Mädchen Amick, MÄDCHEN AMICK: “I trust them more than I trust you” is season one-level Alice-shade

Cheryl’s sheaths: I like very much Cheryl’s bosomy sequin thing and Toni’s back jewelry

I also like the RROTC boys in their like WWII uniforms, which may be anachronistic but still hard vintage, and the cigar girls

Jughead doubts it: there’s so much going on when Betty goes all melty and wipes some of the Fresh-Aid off Jug’s lips and Jug, who is not smiling, looks at Sweet Pea helping Veronica

Best costume bit: Veronica is in magenta, because I deserve it

I can’t wholly endorse Reggie’s non-black plaid trousers paired with a solid black blazer but I CAN endorse Reggie as a whole

Cheryl’s Hiram’s pins: I think Hiram has a fucking octopus pin! I think it is!!!!!!!!

the wallpaper behind Hiram downstairs is...interesting. it’s like a cutout from that Disney cartoon for “Winter Wonderland”

we stay on Veronica’s face for sort of an extra beat, so I can confirm a) she’s still beautiful and b) she has a sparkly thing in her hair

The 2001 Josie and the Pussycats movie was a masterpiece: Josie’s got that thing going on where you gem up the part in your hair

God I love a good Riverdale music/mayhem montage. like what were they playing when Jughead ran the gauntlet? fuck sometimes this stuff is just still so good (“Mess Around” when Reggie lunged for Jughead also counts, though not performed live somewhere else in Riverdale at the same moment)

“Anything Goes” is in fact not Kander and Ebb but Cole Porter

I’ve seen Brick like thirty times: I love a good bead of bloody spit dangling from someone’s mouth during a slow-mo fight sequence

I’m writing a scene where it’s gay.: “THAT KID…..IS A STAR.”

that fucking rum, can you believe it? the fucking shade of it all

Fifth period is AP English: OH MY GOD. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. OH MY GOD, THE FUCKING HAMMER. THE COUNT OF MONTE MOTHERFUCKING GODDAMN YES GOD HOLY BITCH

“Damn good coffee”: the goddamn shot of FP and Alice standing together flanked by the flames of their righteous destruction of the G&G manual

Summer + Blair = Veronica: Veronica is pretty fucking brave to still be living in Hiram Lodge’s HOUSE. and of course that’s what her dressing gown looks like

oh my god, Joaquin is still alive? Joaquin’s STILL HERE?

ARCHIE’S GONNA BREAK OUT OF PRISON AND I MUST CLEANSE MYSELF OF SIN TO BE WORTHY OF ITS GLORY (I trust Riverdale a lot more again at the moment)

so wait, Jughead put the cot BACK? are these two different bunkers? is it the same effing bunker???

“It’s over”: you fucking fool

yes, it’s the same goddamn bunker. the candles are still there! I guess I thought the wicked juju from Ethel’s ~SUICIDE ATTEMPT~ would deter the two of them from FUCKING IN THE EXACT SAME BUNKER but Betty and Jughead literally do not give a single damn where they do it

Jug’s headphones!!!!!!!!!

Cheryl’s expression at reading the G&G manual is appropriately be-Blossomed

The Blossom spawn: she still has a photo of Jason in her locker and I think a sticker that says “Literally no one cares”

What damn high school in America: those manuals have a QR code on the back, so you can play on your phone! GIVE ME THE APP, RAS

who unsheathed Ethel? LORD, WHO LET HER LOOSE?

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

NEXT WEEK: Camila Mendes wears glasses the entire time

[madelainesvixens]

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT: CHAPTER SIX | ME AND MY BROKEN ARM

Saturday, October, 10th

4:21

Turned out it was indeed broken.

Or, at least, that's what Dr. Richard said. He used to patch up soldiers in the military but lost a foot during an explosion and was forced to retire. Now, patch up people who can't afford hospital fees in an old basement on Southside.

Dr. Richard casted FP's arm without asking questions. With Serpents frequently coming in with gun/knife wounds, the old man knew better than to ask. The less he knew, the safer he was.

Once they were done with the cast, Alice walked FP home, saying she had left her bag there. Truth was, she didn't brought her bag tonight; she simply wanted to make sure his dad wouldn't aim at him again.

FP couldn't help but feel like an infant as Alice helped him undress - it was a struggle with his cast. His arm would hurt every time he'd try to move it. How was he supposed to take off his jeans and tee shirt with one arm without moving his right arm? It was impossible without someone's help.

''If I can't undress by myself, how am I going to have sex with this damn cast?'' the teenager asked as Alice pulled his tee shirt over his head.

She snorted. ''Tell your big dick not to worry. The swelling will go down and the painkillers will kick in. You'll be fine.''

''The painkillers?'' 

Dr. Richard wanted to sell them for fifty bucks but FP's wallet was dry...so they didn't get them. That's what he thought.

Alice pulled out the bottle from her leather jacket's pocket and wiggled them in front of FP's eyes.

''Did you steal them?'' he asked, popping open the painkillers's cap and swallowing two pills dry.

''No, Dr. Richard keeps his good shit locked up. He has like, five padlocks on his cupboard.''

''Wow. That...intense.''

They moved to the jeans and FP undid his belt, working on the button and zipper. ''How did you get them, then? Please tell me you didn't pay-''

''You're a good fuck, Jones, but, I wouldn't spend fifty bucks on you. I just showed him my boobs and he let me the bottle.''

''You did what?! That man's a fucking perv.''

''You didn't have anything to pay, I wasn't going to let you in pain.''

She helped him out of his jeans and FP pulled her onto his lap before kissing her. ''I'm the one you should be showing your boobs to.'' He dipped his head and bit at the part of her breast that was peaking out from her bra.

The blonde laughed and swatted his good arm. ''Stop it, you're gonna pierce my shirt.''

FP snickered. ''I'm not a fucking shark.''

''I know. I wouldn't let you go down on me if you were.''

A smug grin spread on the boy's lips. ''You love when I do that, don't you?''

She hummed, closing the gap between their lips, tongue sliding in. FP's hand snaked under her shirt and she pulled back. ''I should get going. It's almost four-thirty.'' Standing from the Bulldog's lap, she straightened her clothes and headed toward the door. ''Night, Jones.''

.

16:09

When FP woke up, he quickly realized the painkillers had stopped working their magic. He groaned, rolling over and grabbed the bottle of medicine from his nightstand, taking two. Checking the time on his alarm, FP almost couldn't believe he it was ten past four. He had never slept in this late before. Maybe it was the painkillers's fault?

The stillness of the house told FP that his dad hadn't returned from work. He let out a breath, relieved. After last night, the teenager didn't feel like sharing a room with his old man. He fucking broke his arm, it wasn't some little bruise he could cover. People would ask questions at school. Around town. At work. Can he even work with his cast?

''How am gonna explain this to everyone, Ali?'' FP asked as they were taking the turn on Elm Street. He raised his cast. ''I can't tell them what happened.''

Alice pursed her lips. ''You have time to figure it out...or I can push you down the stairs.''

Standing from his bed, FP made his way to the bathroom to shower. He took one after the game but with everything that happened last night, FP doubted he was still smelling fresh. Like always, the water was on the colder side - thanks to his dad for not replacing the water heater. To add to his unpleasing shower, he had to put a plastic bag around his cast to keep it from getting wet - very trendy if you ask him.

The doorbell rang mid-shower but FP ignored it. At this hour, it's probably an Avon ambassadors or hawkers.

To his annoyance, the sound persisted and the teenager quickly rinsed off, wrapping a towel around his waist. He went downstairs and opened the door, leaving a trail of water behind him. A tall man with slicked back salt-pepper hair, a matching beard and a heavy, worn in leather jacket stood of their doorstep.

''Is Forsythe here?'' the man asked, skipping presentations and greetings.

''Who's asking?''

''A...friend.''

FP pursed his lips, judging the man.

Beside his work buddies, his dad didn't have many friends and FP was pretty sure he had never seen this man before. Who was this man and why was he trying to pass for father's pseudo friend?

''Do you know what time he'll be back?'' the man pressed.

''Erm, no,'' FP lied, having a bad feeling.

Jaw clenching, the man cursed. ''You're Forsythe's son, aren't you?'' He raised an eyebrow at FP, seeing a resemblance with his dad. ''Tell your old man he better bring us the money soon or else he won't be walking on his two legs,'' he threatened before turning around, leaving the Jones's property, giving FP a full view of the patch on the back of his jacket. A beige skull with a red ring around it and one word at the bottom of the design: Ghoulies.

.

18:45

Forsythe came home half an hour after the man left. He didn't stay long though. He changed out of his work uniform and headed back out for the night - probably to some bar. A part of FP wanted to confront his dad about the man who came this late afternoon, last night's fight came into his mind as he glanced down at his casted arm and he decided to ask another time. He already one invalid arm, he didn't want to risk another injury.

Taking advantage of the absence of his father, FP turned up the sound of his and put on one of his favorite cassette tape - thanks Fred for the birthday present. He laid on his back, only clothed of plaid boxers and an old band tee, letting Nirvana's Come as You Are fill his ears. The music was so loud he almost didn't hear the phone ringing downstairs. If the song hadn't ended and the caller hadn't persisted, he honestly would've never heard it.

FP paused his music and headed to the kitchen, picking up the device from its receptor. ''Hello?''

''Hey, FP, it's Gladys. My dad is letting me borrow his car for the night, wanna go to the drive-in with me? There's a special showing of Dirty Dancing.''

FP scoffed. Dirty Dancing? Not really his genre... ''Why would I go see Dirty Dancing?''

''There's some steamy scenes in it...and we don't have to actually watch the movie,'' she said suggestively.

Although a good fuck would've helped him releave some tension, FP couldn't say yes to Gladys. He would have to explained how he got his arm in a cast and, honestly, he wasn't feeling up for that. He also didn't want her to scribble pink hearts all over it with a marker.

His left hand and crumpled magazines will have to do for tonight.

''Tempting. But, I'll have to pass.''

''Since when do you pass on a good fuck?'' There was a short pause and Gladys blurted out a new offer, afraid FP would hang up. ''I'll suck your dick. I know you love my lips around you.''

''Another time.'' FP laughed, shaking his head. ''Bye, Gladys.''

.

21:03

Around nine, FP's stomach felt funny and he realized he had been popping painkillers all day on an empty stomach. Very bright. Knowing better than checking in the fridge - he knew it was empty -, he put on a thick flannel over his tee shirt and a pair of ripped jeans and headed to Pop's.

The diner was empty when he walked in.

''You know it's your day off, kid?'' Pop said from behind the counter as he saw FP walking in.

''Can't I crave a good burger on my day off?''

Pop smiled. ''Sure can.''

The elder man went to the kitchen and got started with FP's order. Two cheeseburgers, on large fry and a chocolate milkshake. Once everything was ready, he returned to the front and set the teenager's order on the counter.

''What happened to your face?'' Pop asked as he put FP's burgers down, catching sight of the cut on his forehead.

''Partied too hard last night. Fell on the way home,'' FP explained, lying through his teeth and lifting his cast.

Pop hummed. ''You should go lighter on the beer, next time,'' he suggested with no judgement. ''Still able to come in tomorrow?''

''I guess so.'' FP took a large bite of his burger, calming down his stomach.

''I've seen a blind man flipping burgers. You sure can take orders and clean tables with one hand.''

Two girls walked in, taking a seat at one of the booths. Pop went over to take their orders, telling FP he'll be back shortly.

''A brunette with brown eyes passed and asked for you earlier tonight.''

Gladys, FP guessed. She must've passed to see if he was working before calling.

''Is she your girlfriend?''

FP snorted. ''No, Pop.''

The man hummed. ''Why not? She seemed nice. And beautiful too.''

''We're just fooling around. Nothing serious.'' He'll admit, Gladys was a beautiful girl but, FP couldn't see himself dating Gladys. She was a bit too eager for his taste. ''Since where are you interested in my love life?''

''I've known you since you were barely two foot, FP. I've seen you grow up and become the handsome man you are today. I'm just surprised that the Bulldogs's MVP isn't already taken.''

Just as Pop finished his sentence, the bell dinged and Alice walked in, looking dashing as always in her ripped denim and leather jacket.

''Rumor has it, FP Jones has some erectile trouble.''

FP turned, a frown on his face. ''What the fu-?'' His eyes softened, catching sight of her. She had a grin on her lips, knowing very well it wasn't true.

''I was at the drive-in with friends and I heard a group of girls saying Riverdale High's BMOC had problems below the belt. Is that true, Jonesy?'' She raised an eyebrow and took a seat beside FP, stealing a fry from his plate.

He flashed her a smug smile, holding her gaze. ''You're best placed to know, don't you think, Alice?''

''You came here to drown your sexual frustration in burgers?''

''Pop's burgers are the best, can't you blame me? Oh, that's right, you haven't tasted them yet.''

She rolled her eyes, stealing another fry.

''Did he mention today's his day off?'' Pop informed her, butting in from behind the counter.

FP narrowed his eyes at his boss.

''It's your day off?'' She gave him a judgmental look. ''Who in their right mind go to their work place during their day off?''

''Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want. These are still fucking delicious.'' He took a large bite of his burger and exaggeratingly moaned at the taste.

.

21:51

Secluded in FP's bedroom, the raven haired boy pushed the material up Alice's torso until her breasts were exposed to his hungry eyes. He pressed a kiss right between her two breasts before moving his mouth to the side, closing over her nipple and Alice moaned. She arched her back as FP sucked gently, stopping for a brief second to switch and take her other nipple in his mouth.

Alice sat up, reluctantly pushing FP's mouth off her body. ''Let's play a game tonight, Jones.''

FP cocked an eyebrow, pushing that annoying piece of hair away from his face. ''A game?''

The blonde nodded, a mischievous look on her face. ''Since Dr. Richard said you had to rest, I thought...maybe I should be in control tonight. What do you say, FP?''

It wouldn't be the first time she'd take control. She had the ridden the stallion before and - wow - that girl was something. She knew what she was doing and wasn't the kind to get tired after two minutes, she was a strong one.

''I say it's a fucking brilliant idea.''

She rose from her spot and removed the rest of her clothing, laughing as FP was still in the process of removing his belt. He gave her the finger and she laughed even more, clearly amused.

Once he was ridden of all clothing pieces, FP sat comfortably against his pillows. ''Ma lady.'' FP took Alice's hand and pulled her over his lap, one leg on each side.

''Do you still have condoms?''

He nodded and reached to his bedside table, ripping the packet with his teeth. At least he knew how to do that with one hand.

Guiding Alice closer with his good arm, she closed the gap between their bodies, pressing her lips to his. Her hands moved to the side of his head, fingers lost in his dark tresses as FP's dick brushed her entrance. He groaned at the contact, jerking his hips up to meet her but she fled his touch, an amused grin on her lips.

While it was fun to tease FP, she too was horny for the good dick so she reached back, holding FP's erection and sunk down without warning, feeling his fingers curl on her waist, digging into her skin as he disappeared inside her.

"Fuck, Ali," he muttered under his breath, feeling her tight walls around him.

She rose up on her knees and sunk down again as FP licked into her mouth and met her every moves. At that, she let out a small noise that he wanted to hear for the rest of his life...so he did it again.

.

Sunday, October 16th

6:53

When FP arrived at Pop's on Sunday, he was surprised to see Pop alone behind the counter.

''Morning, Pop. Where's Fred?'' he asked his boss.

''At home.'' FP pulled his eyebrows together. ''He called saying his father had been admitted to the hospital during the night.''

''Mr. Andrews? How come? I've seen him no later than Friday at the game. He was looking in great shape.''

Pop shrugged. ''Fred didn't say a lot. He sounded pretty shaken up. You should give him a call. He'll need the support from his best friend.''

FP nodded, taking note. ''Will do.''

.

19:30

After his shift, FP headed straight to Fred's. If he's not home, he'll go to the hospital.

FP pushed the doorbell and a few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a tired looking Fred. Without saying anything, Fred stepped away from the door and FP followed him inside. They sat in the kitchen, Fred at the head and FP to his left.

''I heard from Pop about your dad.'' FP paused, seeing his friend stiffening. ''How is he?''

''He's stable. The doctors was sketchy, though. I think they're holding something from me.''

That can't be good, FP reasonned but said nothing. He was there to show his friend support, not make him worry and feel worse.

''What happened?''

''Heart attack,'' Fred replied. ''I-I found him on the floor when I got home from the party. I shouldn't have gone-'' Fred put his head into his hands.

''Hey, it's not your fault. You couldn't have know, Freddie.''

''The doctor said if I had found him five minutes later he would-''

''Stop. Your dad's alive. That's all that matters.'' Fred rubbed his eyes, nodding. ''Whatever happens, he'll get through it. Your dad's a strong one.''

Fred nodded and FP pulled him in a bro hug.

''I'm scared for him. I...I can't lose my dad, FP.''

.

Monday, October 12th

10:10

In English, Hermione took Fred's seat and sat beside FP.

''I saw you.''

FP glanced at her, eyebrows pulled together.

''With that Southside hoe at Mantle's party,'' she continued, scribbling down on her worksheet, making it look as if they were discussing about the lesson. ''Lowering your standards, I see. Let me guess, did all the hot girls saw through your player game and ditched you for your teammates? Next thing, you'll be hitting on Penelope Blossom.''

The raven haired boy snorted. ''As if,'' he said, chewing one his gum.

''Maybe that's not such a good idea, after all. I heard tiny dicks gets caught between brace archwires.''

''Thinking about my dick, uh?'' FP called back with a smirk.

She wrinkled her nose. ''Ew, gross.''

''What exactly is going down with you and Alice?''

''Nothing serious. We're just messing around.''

''Does messing around include a pain kink or? Last time I saw you, your arm was fine and that was before you left with that blonde psycho.''

''Shut up, Hermione. You don't know shit,'' FP replied through gritted teeth, defensive. ''I was drunk and fell on the way home.''

She laughed, shaking her head. ''Disreputable. At least Hiram can hold his alcohol.''

Why was she bringing Hiram into this? Wasn't she into Fred at the party?

FP scoffed. ''Such an admirable Romeo.''

The sarcasm in his voice made Hermione narrow her eyes at him behind her glasses.

''Laugh all you want, Forsythe. One day, I'll be on the edge of glory with Hiram and you'll be at the rock bottom, scrubbing toilets in one of our properties all because you got downgraded from the football team in high school. Why was it again? Being caught pants down on school grounds?''

''Fuck off.''

NEXT CHAPTER (COMING SOON)

[mst3kproject]

Skullduggery

I do a lot of complaining about movies that aren’t about anything.  Well, here is a movie that’s trying far too hard to be about something, to the point where it leaves its storyline an utter incomprehensible shambles.  It has in common with The Final Sacrifice that it’s a low-budget Canadian production, and there are a few terrible ‘medieval’ sequences as awful as anything in Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell.  Mostly, though, I’m reviewing it because it’s just fucking weird.  We’re talking Overdrawn at the Memory Bank weird here.

Long ago, some wizard laid a curse on all the descendants of some guy.  In the 1980’s, either the last descendant or the reincarnation of the cursed guy is a dude named Adam, who works at a costume shop and plays Dungeons and Dragons with his friends in the basement.  At a talent show where nobody shows any sort of talent whatsoever, the curse takes over and Adam becomes unable to distinguish real life from his D&D game, so he goes on a killing spree.  When the Dungeon Master tells him his character has been hired to assassinate a sorceress dressed in white, he goes out and kills women in nurse’s uniforms. Told to fight the Apostles of Hell at the Villa Evil, he goes to a club called Villa Evil and murders a bunch of the cultists who hang out there.

Guess how it ends.  Did you guess that the cops shoot him down without asking any questions? Congratulations.  That’s exactly the caliber of shitty movie we’ve got here.

I’m going to get my most pedantic complaint out of the way first.  Throughout the film, Skullduggery’s characters use the Latin phrase Diabolus me adiuvet, meaning so the Devil help me.  Thing is, diabolus me adiuvet is in the indicative case, and means the devil helps me as a statement of present fact.  If it’s a thing the speaker wishes should happen, as in may the devil help me, it ought to be in the subjunctive: diabolus me adiuvaret.  This is what happens when you get your Latin from fucking Babelfish.  Also, does anybody actually play tabletop games like it’s a ritual, with candles burning and solemn expressions on their faces? The games I’ve been to tended to have episodes of Scrubs on TV in the background and impassioned arguments over whether Courtney was allowed to roll diplomacy against the wasps.

Skullduggery has several themes.  The one I find the most interesting is that of costumes.  Adam works at a costume warehouse, commits most of his murders while in various costumes, and goes to a masquerade party.  The movie toys with the idea that dressing up as somebody else brings out our true self, but where it really seems to be going, especially with Adam’s multiple costume changes during his Club Evil killing spree, is that costumes give us anonymity.  Adam can kill because he’s anonymous, and is caught when he accidentally reveals his name. The partygoers at Villa Evil can live out their fantasies because they are anonymous and will suffer no consequences – once we know their names, they have to die.  Anonymity brings out the worst in humanity, as anybody who’s ever turned on anon asks can attest.

But costumes are a relatively minor motif here.  The movie’s main theme is that of temptation.  We see several images of the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden: a mysterious figure assembles a puzzle bearing a medieval-style image of Adam, Eve, and the serpent, and the first victim of our protagonist (also named Adam… perhaps the ‘curse’ is not so much about the wizard but about the expulsion from Eden?) is a girl playing Eve in the talent show.  In the opening scene the evil wizard offers the medieval lord a poisoned apple, and it seems to be the sight of the apple in the play that triggers Adam to kill the actress.  Adam is ruled by temptation.  When the lust for blood comes over him, he never even tries to resist it.

He is not alone in this plight.  Other characters are shown to be tempted by various things, and respond with immediate indulgence.  The two nurses are tempted by sex, to the point where one comes very close to attempting rape.  One of the players of the D&D game makes sexual innuendos at every opportunity. The actors at the talent show dive on the beer and nachos the magician offers to them.  The medieval guy at the beginning sold his soul for power.  When Adam arrives at the Villa Evil, the cultists offer him all his fantasies made real, and one of the women there tells him there are only two absolutes: money and power.  I never actually counted but I’m pretty sure all seven sins show up and nobody ever even tries to say no.  The Devil, through his temptations, rules us all.

The Devil appears in Skullduggery in multiple forms. He lurks in the back of random scenes in the shape of a jester puppet with a nightmare-inducing grin.  Once the police have gunned Adam down they find only the puppet inside his costume, suggesting that the devil has indeed claimed him body and soul.  He also appears as Dr. Evil, the head of the satanic cult that meets at the Villa Evil – the DM says that the leader of the Apostles of Hell is the Devil himself, and we also watch Dr. Evil putting together the Adam and Eve puzzle, which harks back to the fortune teller informing Adam that his life is a puzzle only the devil can solve.

Since Dr. Evil also turns out to have been Chuck the DM, the implication is that the Devil is the game-master not only of this particular roleplaying club, but of all the characters’ lives.  It also seems to tell us, perhaps not intentionally, that Jack Chick is right and roleplaying games are a gateway to Satanism!  By obeying the DM’s orders to murder and pillage within the world of the game, the players are allowing the Devil to rule their souls, and they will all be destroyed by him as surely as Adam was!  Or something.

Then again, maybe not – because Adam kills the various cultists and at the end the suit of armor, which appears to represent his ghost, murders the GM, who was Dr. Evil.  The fortune teller said that if Adam were lucky God could also solve his puzzle… so maybe this whole time Adam was actually an instrument of divine vengeance? The people he killed can be seen as sinners – the proud actress, the lusty nurses, the decidedly shifty fortune teller, and the rapists and temptresses at Club Evil.  Perhaps the movie is reminding us that even the Devil is part of God’s plan, that in the words of an anonymous fifteenth century poet, nor had one apple taken been, the apple taken been/then had never our Lady a-been heaven’s queen.

So yeah, there’s all of that in a movie the filmmakers clearly thought was very deep and meaningful, and since I can tell what they were on about for the most part, they must be said to have met with some success.  However, all this heavy symbolism and pessimistic outlook on human nature is crammed into a crappy slasher movie with a terrible script and abysmally low production values!  Much of Skullduggery is so dark you can barely tell what’s going on, and there’s not a single line in it that sounds natural.  Characters say things like so hard to say where the game begins and life ends.  I think the only direction given to the people in the ‘talent show’ sequences was act badly.  Once we get to Club Evil, the plot just wanders off to have a coffee and leaves us to sit and watch Adam wandering around murdering random people.

Then there’s the apparently symbolic content I did not discuss above… and I honestly can’t decide if these parts are symbolic or if they just got thrown in there because somebody thought they sounded fucked-up and cool.  What’s up with Simcoe the lipstick-wearing Magician, who shows up, does his act, and never appears again?  What is the significance of the one girl's itchy ankle? What’s up with the horny doctor in the gorilla suit?  Why is there a guy in a bathrobe with a tic-tac-toe game on the back of it?  Why do characters call a phone sex line that actually just tells lame jokes?  Why does Adam wear a bunny suit to kill the woman obsessed with Sarah Bernhardt?

Or maybe Adam’s not killing people at all.  He stabs the fortune teller in the neck with a dagger, but the news report claims she had a heart attack.  The same thing happens to one of the nurses: he stabs her in the temple, yet she’s found on the floor by her colleagues who also diagnose a heart attack.  Is this evidence for the ‘divine justice’ theory?  Or is it meant to suggest that Adam is just happening across people who are about to die, and hallucinating that he is killing them – as Dr. Mustache suggests in It Lives by Night?  But how does that tie in with the cops arriving and finding a bloodbath at Club Evil?  Does witnessing deaths drive Adam to murder?  I don’t know!  At this point I’m as confused as Spoony!

MST3K could have done so much with this one.  I’m positive Simcoe the Magician would have visited the SOL to puzzle and amaze.  Tom and Crow could have played D&D with Pitch the Devil as their DM.  The horny doctor in the gorilla suit could have made things very uncomfortable for Pearl and Bobo.  They doubtless would have heaped more abuse on Canada, but I can’t deny that our indie movie scene is pretty fucking weird.  Anybody out there seen Phil the Alien?

[sometipsygnostalgic]

Hiveswap Act 1 OST Review

Ok, I’ve been listening to it for some time. I should really review the OST! 

I’m a musical ameteur so this is a bad idea. Hope you enjoy it! 

1. Definitely Safe Forever -  good. 3 out of 5. nothing else to say on the matter

2. Snake Escape - great. very funky, nice bass tones. iconic hiveswap tone... 4 out of 5.

3. Joey Claire, Extraordinaire - Nice slow buildup, gentle theme. Feels welcoming and safe, yet a bit more curious than your average Pokemon hometown theme. The wind instrument gets extremely loud at times, maybe too loud. But this track is so different from what Homestuck usually offers that it paints a new identity for Hiveswap. It’s repetitive enough to not distract you, but interesting enough to not bore you. I like how it gets a bit more mellow and bittersweet over time, which is something you can say for a lot of tracks. 4/5.

4. Half-Harley Manor - I have always liked  the leitmotif for this house. It’s... not quite spooky, but not warm and welcoming either. I love how this track starts loud and spooky, then you have quiet percussion, then it gets back to the original theme with a bit more windiness... very satsifying. Then the part where it gets VERY sparkly and happy. Idk what intrument that is. Keyboard? It’s the only part of the song that makes this feel like home, ut then it loops back into the original alienating theme. 4 out of 5..... 

5. Relatively Visible Darkness - I don’t like the trumpets in this much but I enjoy everything else about this theme. Serves its job. Relatively unspectacular... until the chorus in the second half,  then it gets great. for a little bit. 3 out of 5.

6. Bedroom for an Annoying Dog - Love the final fantasy joke. Love how scary they made the fucking basement sound. Love how this builds up with the, uhh, organ pipes? 5 out of 5.

7. That’s How I Beat Snake - hmmm... Very nice intro but the main theme is a bit shit, until it hits the chorus, then it gets catchy. Its soundfont is... odd. I think it serves well as a fight theme but is the weakest battle music in the game. I do like the drop at the second part a lot! 3 out of 5. or 6 out of 10. yes. lets start doing them out of 10 from now on because fuck consistency.  

8. Jude Harley, Bizarrely - Nice character theme but terrible music. I think that’s the intention. You do however lose points for it being a remix of Joey’s theme and Harleyhouse Manor because it means the only sort of leitmotif Jude has is how fucking bad his music is . 6 out of 10 get this CANMT shit out of here.

9. Table for Tooth - NICE INTRO! This was used in the trailer, right? I love the initial drop. The main theme’s instrument is... garbage, yes. But then it plays the Harleyhouse theme and it’s SO GOOD.  Wish that part was longer. 7 out of 10. 

10. Final Spice - if you think this sounds like an Undertale track it’s cos this one had the least touching up by James. It reminds me of Toriel’s theme. Nice and catchy but not quite good enough for me to enjoy. 7 out of 10. 

11. Living Legend - The final and best battle theme on tis track. Another Final Fantasy joke. I love this theme and what James and Toby did with it. 9 out of 10.... not quite the best track on the album, but very close. 

12. Singular Peril - nice and perilous. Also nice coming off of the Final Fantasy track cos this reminds me  of when you escape the nuclear plant in FF7. 8 out of 10. Would work better if it wasnt heard for just 3 seconds.

13. A More Defensible Position  - I, think this is the tied second-best track on the album because of its second part. So magical, so ominous. You feel shit building up here.  9 out of 10. 

14. Open the Door - Majestic buildup, dark, intense, spooky......... then it becomes nothing shot of an anticlimax. It needs to be LOUDER on the piano part! Then it could have been the best track easily! 7 out of 10. 

15. Keep Your Head Down - I’m annoyed at how far forward this track is cos you only hear it after Xefros gets flattened. I love it though, very 80s, fitting remix of Xefros’s theme to represent the path he and Joey have ahead of them. 1980 out of 2000.

16. Oh Whoah, What’s This - The theme’s fine. A nice intro to Dammek’s hive, gentle and empty after the dramatic teleportation. The name however is unacceptable. 0 out of 10. 

17. Some Kind Of Alien - WHOAHHHH the transition between these two themes is nuts. I love how LOUD this track is! I love the waltzy beat, the flute, how it represents Dammek’s conspiring nature. It gets much more cheerful as it goes on,perhaps indicating this boy isn’t entirely a weird jerk.  And it ends on Karkat! 8 out of 10. Probably deserves a 9. 

18. Rustblood - When people play through this game, this tune really catches them. And I enjoy it, because this is the part of the game that starts feeling like homestuck, yknow? Anyway Xefros has by far the most distinguished theme out of any of his mates. This is very Toby Fox. Very solid 7 out of 10. 

19. Filthy Nuclear Bunker - you know how HYPE this track is? You just want to click on everything and read all the text, because it has hit you that you’re playing the HOMESTUCK VIDEOGAME  and youre REALLY ENJOYING IT. 9 out of 10 for the variety of instruments, the upbeat mood. Despite the weird soundfont. I’m feeling generous. This music is relatively long though, compared to the others. It should end before I change my mind.

20. SPORTS! Personally I Love Them - this is the third time ive listened to this track today. 7.8 out of 10 too much Superbowl. Liked the Dark Souls reference in this room. I wish the music that played during the puzzle was in this OST.

21. Lofted Gunpile - A more “meh” version of Dammek’s theme. I prefer what they eventually went with. Why did James want it to be so.... low? Same complaint as the anticlimactic portal theme. Do like when the instruments start blending together near the end. 6 out of 10. 

22. Serpent Genesis Better, original version of the snake fight with better soundfont. 8 out of 10. 

23. We Shall Go Together - Beautiful ending to the game. Nothing spectacular about it though. 6 out of 10. 

24. Wish You Were Here - Our first taste of Trizza’s theme and by jegus it’s amazing. Very little can make you more hyped for act 2 than an intimidating introduction to the antagonist, a selfie over a burning village. WHOAHHH its actually playing now and I like it even more. That DROP. 9 out of 10 easily. 

25. Intermission 1 - Welcome to the best track on the fucking album. I think the credits should always be the best. Starts off with continuing Trizza’s theme, letting us absorb what we just witnessed, as drawings of the game we just played appear. Then you get hints of the theme from Dammek’s hive. Quieter during this part.... funkier again... THEN IT GETS REALLY INTENSE.  That’s easily my favourite part. Anyway, 10 out of 10. This track alone has me ready to wait for act 2. 

26. Alternate Recipe - 8bit mix of the spice theme. Louder, which is good. 7.5 out of 10. Catchy.

27. Heavy Snaking - I... prefer the original snake theme in the context of a fight. This is ok to listen to by itself though. Oh gosh that bass! 8 out of 10 great music, wrong atmosphere for the extremely brief battle. This’d be great as a boss encounter theme though. If it was used in the right place, then it’d possibly score even a 9 or 10.

28. “How It Could Have Gone” - seems to be about the portal? A ot louder than what they went with. I wouldnt have minded this being merged with the actual theme, but I still think it could be better. 7 out of 10.I love the spookiness of the original and would be sad if that was gone.

29. Old steps - Dance, Joey, Dance! Not really a song. 

30. UNDERTALE. 10/10. Sincerely. I love it. 

Total musical rating -  8 out of 10. Does its job very well of being good but not distracting. Good background music, rather than the energetic music of Homestuck itself.

[stunudo]

That Got Away: A Criminal Minds Fan-fiction Part 9

Inspired by: Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away”

Foo Fighters “Monkey Wrench”

Featuring: Spencer x Reader   Rating: Teen    Setting: Season 4

(I know this pic is from season 5, but come on!) A/N: What does it mean when you make yourself cry while writing? Angst. Let’s see if the team can make up for the crappy hotel security... xoxo Stu

I do not own any of the lyrics, characters or images.

Part 1   Part 7    Part 8

Emily saw the envelope sitting neglected on the desk. The unsubs had the BAU rolling around this hotel like a tangled ball of yarn betwixt the claws of a pack of sadistic kittens. She grabbed a pair of gloves from a uniformed cop at the desk, knowing in her gut it was exactly like the one found at Reid’s hotel room that morning. She opened the gently pronged seal, a single sheet of printer paper with typical Times New Roman Font stared back.

Regarding: A Trade

When: At your earliest convenience

Who: Dr. Reid for Agent Jareau

Where: To Be Determined

How: Please have Dr. Reid pick up the security desk phone and dial #999 to receive further instructions

Don't wanna be your monkey wrench One more indecent accident I'd rather leave than suffer this I'll never be your monkey wrench

You felt like you were trapped in a bad after school special about abstinence. How could your dad; your sweet, goofy, dork of a dad be this controlling?! You were an adult. You had lived on your own for an entire year of college. Why was it so bad to finally have a boyfriend? Even in your memories you could hear the whine of your voice in your thoughts. You had never felt so alone and angry before. What could you do with all these emotions?

You blasted Dave Grohl through the sound system and threw your stuff around your bedroom.

“JJ, can you see an exit? Can you get out of there before she catches up to you?” Hotch did not want to risk heroics, he wanted JJ back with the team.

“Yeah, Hotch, there seems to be a door at the end of the other hall. If I make it through, I will work on getting above ground.” JJ had controlled her breathing, yet she was still determined to move on to the next step of escaping. “If I don’t come back to the phone, take it as a good sign.”

“JJ, be careful.” Hotch stayed on the line, until he heard the other phone rest into the cradle.

Spencer was agitated, “Hotch, did she see Y/N? Were there any other doors she could have tried?!”

Hotch looked at Reid with his serious, yet blank face. “You can ask her when we get her back. Right now, we know Dr. Y/L/N is not in any real danger. Also, one of the unsubs have been taken down with ease.”

“And one of them is walking amongst us.” Emily Prentiss had arrived with the next clue from the suspects. “We have another note. This time it is an invitation for Reid.”

Every member of the local and BAU team present exchanged glances as Spencer rushed toward Agent Prentiss. She held up the page for him to read without touching it. His eyes ran over the note, it was impossibly short. He read it three times. “Hotch, make sure Garcia is on the trace.”

Spencer walked calmly back over to the security desk and picked up the phone.

Morgan and Rossi were in the conference room staring at the wall. There were three “known” unsubs: Kurt Hansen, Unsub Mail Carrier (female) and Unsub Prison Guard (older female). The available pictures and generic descriptions were on sheets with details of the profiles below each part of the team. This group was organized, willing to take high risk victims and had resources to pull this off.

They were pointing to the one keeping watch of JJ and Y/N as the leader, this was personal for her. They were looking into ties with both Dr. Y/L/Ns to build a suspect list. Y/N was injured while JJ was not, was this about her from the beginning? Had the father’s murder occurred because the original target, Y/N was not yet in Pasadena?

Kurt Hansen was muscle and accessibility. He probably didn’t know much about the other members of the team, but he liked their bankroll. How did Y/N end up choosing a room at this hotel? Did they know that the BAU would be staying here as well? How far did their research go?

The mail carrier unsub was fearless. She made no attempt to hide her features besides knowing where security cameras were. She helped develop the games that Reid and Y/N were battling. She was intelligent, probably a sociopath, and also had a personal vendetta against Y/N.

The room behind your wall had a tussle. You hoped JJ was alright, Auntie Miriam could have a mean streak about her. You tried to get her attention after you heard her door, followed by a yelp. Yet again you were greeted with silence. You began reciting Nonnus’ ‘Dionysiaca’ because right now you could really use a god of wine.

Bring me the fennel, rattle the cymbals, ye Muses! put in my hand the wand of Dionysos whom I sing: but bring me a partner for your dance in the neighbouring island of Paros, Proteus of many turns, that he may appear in all his diversity of shapes, since I twang my harp to a diversity of songs. For if, as a serpent, he should glide along his winding trail, I will sing my god’s achievement--

It was not your favorite epic poem, but it was flowery and the dank cell you were in needed such fantastic color. You returned to sitting on the cold floor, your lack of underwear a constant reminder of how far you had fallen over the course of this short, yet arduous day. You smiled against the desperation, you had spent the night with ‘ton chevalier’ and those memories were worth reliving.

Too soon reality returned. After some time, you began to accept that you had gotten your father killed by being a terrible niece. Aunt Miriam needed something from you and apparently Spencer also. What you two could offer her, after years apart was the largest puzzle piece. You hoped Spencer was safe, wherever he was. That his team would protect him, as they tried to protect you. After all, he didn’t deserve to be hurt by your family again.

All this time to make amends What do you do when all your enemies are friends Now and then I'll try to bend Under pressure Wind up snapping in the end

This was Spencer’s third pass down Dr. Y/L/N’s office in an hour. The young doctor knew the older man was studying him, he just couldn’t have foreseen their conversation.

“Spencer, why don’t you come in for a sec?” Dr. Y/L/N’s wide face beckoned through his casually open office door. Spencer set his last box of materials on the floor near the door. He plopped down on one of the same uncomfortable brown laminate chairs that were found throughout the building. He waited, his breathing still labored from his repeat trips to his next research hub and he didn’t know what Dr. Y/L/N wanted.

From his spot, Spencer could see a framed photograph of Y/N. She was probably eight or nine, in the background was the Colosseum. Her front teeth elephantine to her features. Spencer wondered if that was before or after Dr. Y/L/N’s wife had passed. For someone so fortunate to travel the world and absorb such varied cultures and history, Y/N had been through many hardships. Spencer smiled, knowing just how the world hadn’t truly seen Y/N Y/L/N yet.

“Spencer,” Graham sighed, “I have been watching you fall in love with my Y/N/N for a year now. And I am sorry for that.”

Spencer’s brown eyes bulged in embarrassment, he cleared his throat. “Sir? While I have known Y/N for one year, two months, 6 days and eighteen hours, I would not say my feelings,” his voice cracking, “were as that involving the complex chemical and hormonal mixture that is romantic love until most recently.”

“Spencer, when you are an old man, such as I am,” Dr. Y/L/N continued. “You will witness young love quite clearly as you can never have it like that again. It is fleeting and priceless.” His large form rose to sit on the edge of his fine desk, taking a casual aside in this formal setting. “I have turned a blind eye these past few weeks, because she is, you both are so special to me. But I can no longer ignore the potential ramifications from such summer flings.”

Spencer’s mind soared while his stomach dropped to the floor. The worst was the shame he felt, it gave him a searing jolt; silencing his usually generous words. His mouth opened and closed before he could articulate, “Sir, I, um we have not done anything that could endanger your daughter. I, mean, sir I wouldn’t hurt her.”

“Even so, I have made arrangements with my sister. Y/N will be spending the rest of her summer with her Aunt in San Francisco. She is leaving tomorrow morning. You are welcome to say goodbye, if you would like.”

Spencer stood. Like an animal released from a pen, he could no longer sit in one place. He picked up his research box and dropped it, twice, before looking back at his mentor. Then all he saw was the man that was oddly breaking his heart. “I will, I will call Y/N and set up a time, sir. Thank you, I must, <cough> go now and finish up in my new department, sir.”

JJ made it to the doorway at the end of the narrow hall from the captor’s base. The wide push release at waist height engaged, allowing her passage. She found another short hallway, it’s floor descending. It was lined in cinder blocks and ended in a ladder like a service entrance. She turned, trying to retrace her steps, but there was no handle on the exterior of the door she had used.

JJ squared her shoulders and began to climb up the cold iron rungs. The buzzing lights of the basement were lost as she ascended into warmer air. The sounds of machinery and voices urged the agent onward. People were near, people are her specialty, she can work with people. Her exhausted, undernourished mind kept thoughts at a minimum. Suddenly she couldn’t climb anymore, her hands and head bumped into a heavy stone hatch.

After ensuring Garcia was on the line and tracing the call, Spencer pushed the code through. The answering rings were clipped, more mechanical than he expected. On the fourth chirp, she answered, rather breathy. “Dr. Reid I presume.”

“Why did you give up on the prose?” Spencer started, “Was it for efficiency sake or couldn’t you find your muse? Perhaps that little errand girl you have roaming the lobby didn’t meet your deadline and you had to improvise.”

“No matter, Dr. Reid.” The older woman appeared to be talking, a notable accent the more she spoke. “As you now have Agent Jareau, how would you like to proceed?”

Spencer looked to Hotch, JJ wasn’t here. What did this woman want after losing her trading jewel? Hotch shook his head at Reid, knowing it wouldn’t convince him anyway. “Miriam, Miriam Y/L/N?” Spencer held his hand over the mouthpiece, and stage whispered, “The unsub is Y/N’s aunt!”

Hotch was floored, “Reid, are you sure?” Spencer nodded, writing on a pad beside the phone: ‘same accent as Graham’ in his stylized scribbles.

The team regrouped, Emily called Morgan to continue with the profile. Garcia flew through her research getting any information that could take this brother-killer down. Hotch continued to watch Reid and Y/N’s monitor. Someone had entered the room with her, but Hotch wouldn’t draw Spencer’s eye away from the phone.

Part 10

@sparkle-dinosaur, @dontshootmespence @reiding-and-writing @speedreiding @reid-my-fortune @sapphire1727 @holagubler @cherry-loves-fanfic @lookingforgalifrey @miss-gleek-freak-geek @criminal-minds-fanfiction @reidbyers @sortaathief 

[abundantchewtoys]

Hiveswap ‘17-10-01 : Heavy, wet darkness and takeout leftovers

Which door to pick, oh which should we pick?

The big doors seem like they lead outside, since the other pair of big doors in this space also do so. But then, how do we get to all of the other rooms left in the house, the trophy room and the kitchen (and basement)? Maybe there's another hallway to the right. --- Gonna try the right door first, it seems less likely the trophy room is behind it. WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOWWWWW. Never mind! This is the trophy room after all. Wow. So dark. So atmospheric. ... Such a creepy background noise we hear there. (Horrorterrors? Wait no. :P) Is there a monster in here, maybe? ... And so it came to be that Joey entered the Land of Wrath and Angels. :P The style of this scene, with light pouring in from outside, and the rest in black, reminds me of it. Bonus points for Jake being a Hope player. Blaperile has a good point, that we might not even be able to DO anything here before the flashlight works. So we'll ignore my first instinct of exiting the room again. It'll probably take us getting batteries from the radio in the kitchen before we can find the attic key. And then - according to the spoiler we saw for CHERUB KEY + ATTIC DOOR... Apparently we temporarily lose it again? :P We're on this ride forever. LISTEN: ... Something... Breathing? D: Definitely a monster, right? ... That, or Jude's pet got out. ... I don't suppose it'll be a fakeout with regard to Jude's pet, that it's one of pigeons, actually. :P Because, you know, the hamster tube. ... Unless he uses the tube to send and receive covert messages! With pigeons. Through the kitchen (that I suppose is through the other doors) Ooooohh! We tried to contact Jude but COULDN'T. It's like the walkey got jammed! ... Are the monsters responsible for this? Or is it just a coincidence, for instance because she's on the farthest side of the house, away from the treehut? On a brighter note, item combinations with the dark room actually work and give hilarious responses! :DO CHERUB KEY + DARKNESS : It only glows in her dreams, apparently. TREATS, SHOES, POINTES + DARKNESS : I'm getting the vague impression the narration is prepping us for Round 2 vs the snake monster? :P ... Wow. We exit the room, only for something heavy and wet??? to slam against the door, shutting it. Eesh, doesn't seem like the snake monster. More like an ooze monster. D: Then we make contact with Jude, and he recommends we restore power to the house before the sun sets. That's a good idea, actually! Wouldn't want to be left in the dark with these things about. Although, the power box is either outside or in the basement, none of which are good options right now. Who knows what out there, or down there in the dark? But Jude also says we'll need the power to retrieve the key?! Is there a powered device in the trophy room containing the attic key? As long as it isn't a Five Nights at Freddy-esque animal corpse-turned-automaton. *shudder* He doesn't want to discuss it further over this "unsecured channel", so I guess he might send a pigeon over with instructions! That'll get accosted by one of the monsters, in the kitchen. Oooh! We could contact Jude a second time, and then he mentions the circuit breaker's in the basement! That was indeed helpful. Unlike the lead-in comment, which just told us what we already know: the power outage gives the monsters a significant advantage. For now, it's limited to stealthiness, but they also feed on darkness, who even knows! Anyway, the trophy room is probably off-limits until power is restored. That was actually a sweet extra scene we would've missed out on otherwise. ... Yup, the door can't be opened anymore now. Onwards through the big doors then! --- This is the kitchen! Ah, the radio is highlighted to draw our attention. The static actually sounds a lot like highway traffic, or construction site sounds! So the kitchen is about directly beneath Joey's room, given that we can see the treehouse. I like the old fashioned tiny tiles on the walls, very appropriate for this room. "HOME SWEET HOME", today and on most day, however, isn't very appropriate in this family. The pictures on the fridge are a delight again. Puppy Tesseract! Camera shy Jude! ... Grandpa posing with blunderbuss on a landscape that brings to mind Hellmurder Island! (Green pastures and blue skies.) And Bigfoot. Oh Jude. I like the abundance of kitchen magnets, especially the paw print one, top right. Oooh! There's the fax I remember from concept art. I do wonder whether Jude has power in his treehouse. Or... would have, if the power wasn't out. Maybe he has a fax of his own. The stains on the floor, mud on the door, and trash and dirty dishes all about are more proof that sitter is a lousy housekeeper. The hamster tube ends in a loop here. Huh. No tube going outside. I also hear a clock ticking. ... That spider web in the closet though. ... The spider even moves! I've had my fair share of spiders already this week, thanks. ... Huh, the tube... goes down on this end of the room? Through the floor, to the basement?? And the room even continues beyond the wall to the right! There's the basement door... And for some reason the tube both extends through the floor AND goes into the wall next to the basement door, huh. D'ahh, and there's a distinguished houseguest here. Looks quite like one of THE distinguished houseguest - the Napoliteanian mummie! It blocks one of the doors here. Maybe that door leads to the street? So, if we get no other stuffed humans in this game, this at least let's us reach our quotum. :P FAX : Apparently the device is quite important to Joey somehow. BATTERIES + FAX : ... Pfffffff, Joey takes the opportunity to think back with nostalgia to an 80s invention, the battery-powered fax machine. This is so meta, and the prompt acknowledges it: Decade-based nostalgia can be a tough row to hoe. POGS, TREATS + FAX : Oh Joey, keep being so silly, please. CHERUB KEY + FAX : Oh, so it's actually called the GREEN KEY? ... Does that mean there's a RED KEY somewhere too?? On Alternia, perhaps?? POINTES + FAX : Another dud! LOOK at FRIDGE : Welp, someone forgot to do groceries again? ... I guess all the takeaway leftover should've been a dead giveaway. Then again, how do they pay for the stuff, anyway? Does the sitter use her loan? Do Jude and Joey get an allowance? SNACK : Yup, sitter is slacking on the food shopping front, as well as all those other fronts. :/ BATTERIES + FRIDGE : ... Pfffffff. Now that's a spin on the old wive's tale (that might be true?) that cooling batteries in the fridge can restore some power to them. ... Also, seems like it's time for us to get more intel on the sitter. ... It might be more info than we bargained on, however. We're starting to learn about all the ways in which she is neglectful. POGS + FRIDGE : "Not even the FRIDGE can make POGS cool!" ... I should've seen that pun coming. And Joey, that was actually a good one, don't fret! GREEN KEY + FRIDGE : ... Cold case. ... Of course. In actuality, the fridge is of course slowly getting warmer from losing power. POINTES + FRDIGE : ... Hats off to you, Joey. Hats off to you. Trying to OPEN WINDOW : Oh, right, this is the window that the pigeon and monster bat will come flying through later on! BATTERIES + WINDOW : PFffff, now the narration is slamming on Gen-X' tendency to need batteries for enjoying everything, even sunsets! GREEN KEY + WINDOW : Heh, hearing "scratch" mentioned in the same sentence as the key makes me think of Doc Scratch. SHOES + WINDOW : I actually didn't think this would prompt her to dance, but here we are. POINTES + WINDOW : ... And I didn't expect this to prompt such a deep and meaningful message, but here we are. "If ballet be the hymn of wratch, let's dance" That's actually a very nice quote. I wonder if it's pre-existing? At least it's not misattributed. In fact, this whole prompt kind of reminds me of the texts accompanying the atmospheric scenes all B1 kids had! Oooh! We can finally acknowledge the hamster tube! ... TUBE HIGHWAY, pffff. Well, yeah, the pet can use it to zip from room to room in a hurry. Of course, there don't appear to be any ways for it to exit the tube, probably only from Jude's room? So, it must really be a slender animal. ... Or an octopus, they fit into everything. :P But yeah, there were hints it's a vertebrate. So a snake at this moment seems most likely. TREATS + HIGHWAY : Hmm, so it DOESN'T like the treats? I thought it did, the prompt for Jude's room said they made it get riled up? ... So does that mean it doesn't eat meat, perhaps? What could the "very specific" diet be then? ... Maybe Jude has trained his snake to eat insect only. You know, to de-bug his room, make sure he can't be overheard? GREEN KEY + HIGHWAY : OOOoooooh, this is some VERY specific denial going on here, it's very likely it's a serpent now! ... Bonus points for if it's a two-headed snake! That's a naturally occuring mutation, after all. :D SHOES + HIGHWAY : Yup, as I thought to remember, the pet gets worked up by tap dancing. Something about rhytmic pacing? Does it remind it of its prey? Trying to make Joey to CLEAN DIRTY DISHES : Heheheh, first time that it's addressed that Jude kind of bailed on his sis in a pinch there. Not that I blaim him, flight or fight response is a bitch. GREEN KEY + SINK : Joey says she's been having a weird feeling about the key all day. Yeah, prized though it may be, if it has any agency in sending Joey off-planet, its intentions can't have been all good. CHINESE FOOD PACK : ... Oh the irony. They order takeout to avoid doing dishes, then avoid taking out the trash instead. But apparently Mom is a decent enough chef! Who'd have thunk? Roxy's only ingredient was pumpkins, after all, there's not much routes you can take with them. Well, not much variety in routes, at least. POGS + PACK : Hahahahah, another reference to the fact that Jude probably filled those Pringles packs upstairs with pogs. Joey is suddenly chilled to the bone by, as she put it, a cold otherwordly wind. Dun dun DUNNN. --- With the kitchen half explored, we'll stop for the night. I think it's not going to be that long anymore until our first real strife! At least, I shouldn't think so. Maybe even in the next room we go from here!

[thefreckledone]

searching far and wide

thank you for the commission @beyondthemoor! it was quite enjoyable.

Something strange is going on in Hawkins.

Mike can feel it in his bones, like the day Will disappeared so only a few weeks ago. A shiver runs down his spine before he roughly shakes his head, grabs his walkie-talkie, and heads downstairs.

Nancy is unusually subdued as well, though Mike guesses it could just be one of those days. Ever since she lost Barb, Nancy is prone to fits of melancholy and introspection. Mike meets her eyes briefly as he grabs a couple waffles and nods.

Nancy smiles back at him, wan but there. She looks down at the waffles in his hand, smirks, and presses a few more toward him. “She’ll appreciate it,” she says with a wink.

Mike laughs, saluting her and heading out to hop on his bike. The crisp bite of winter is melting away into spring and he greatly appreciates it. Not just for himself, but for Eleven.

He grins, anticipation thrumming through him as he maneuvers the bike over the more difficult terrain off the beaten path. Light streams through the leaves of the looming trees and Mike makes his way deeper and deeper into the forest.

“Eleven,” he calls softly, pedaling forward. She moves around a good bit, never settling in a single place (though he knows that she has stayed with Hopper a few times) for long. “Eleven?”

Rustling greets him.

He stops, jumping off his bike. That feeling of strangeness is still there as he waits for Eleven to emerge.

What greets him is…a dinosaur?

It is orange and stares up at him with bright green eyes. Upon its tail is a flame.

Mike stumbles back and trips, dropping the waffles and the walkie-talkie. He watches, frightened, as the beast waddles forward, ignoring the walkie-talkie entirely as it goes to sniff the waffles. It releases a happy noise, before digging into the delicious Eggo goodness.

“H-hey!” Mike says, sitting up. Now that he knows that the dinosaur doesn’t seem to be interested in injuring him, he’s a bit angry. “C’mon now! Those aren’t for you!”

The beast looks up and glares at him. “Char!” it says before breathing fire at him.

Admittedly, it is barely more than a spark, but it is enough to make Mike wary again. He raises his hands and scoots away. “Fine, it’s yours.”

“Mike?”

Gratitude wells in Mike as he tilts his head up to meet Eleven’s quizzical gaze. He scrambles to his feet, keeping himself between Eleven and the creature. Eleven is looking at the beast, eyes narrowed in on the Eggos. Mike is a bit worried a fight is at hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Mike says, tentatively taking her hand.

Eleven doesn’t even seem to notice as she stares intently at the animal. “Charmander,” she says finally. “Charmander is friend to Mike.”

“Charmander?” Mike asks. “Is that the dinosaur?” Eleven shrugs. “He’s my friend?” Eleven nods. “Why?”

“He likes Eggos.”

Eggos seem to be a constant interest for all paranormal creatures.

“Guys? Over.”

Mike and Charmander jump. Mike skirts Charmander and pounces on the walkie-talkie. Charmander doesn’t seem interested.

“What is it Dustin? Over.”

“There’s a…there’s a plant thing in my room. It’s freaking me out! Over.”

Mike glances askance at Eleven. “Is this one of these…things? Like Charmander?”

“Pokémon,” Eleven says. “Upside Down.”

“They come from the Upside Down?” Mike hisses, moving away from Charmander as if scalded. “Are they safe?”

Eleven doesn’t respond for a long moment. “Won’t hurt you.”

“Will they hurt Dustin?”

“No,” Eleven says. “Need to meet.”

The walkie-talkie is still crackling with fierce conversation among Will, Lucas, and Dustin. “Guys!” Mike shouts into the talkie. “Guys, listen up! Meet at Dustin’s. Over.”

Mike eyes Charmander as everyone agrees. It has finished eating and looks up at him expectantly. Mike turns with pleading eyes to Eleven. She doesn’t take pity on him, instead gazing up into the trees. Her nose doesn’t bleed, but it seems like she’s speaking with someone.

…Or something.

“Is there…is there another one out here?” Mike whispers, flinching as Charmander grabs onto his leg. As it doesn’t really do anything, Mike leaves it alone.

Eleven nods, turning to look at the other side of the forest.

“Are there more than one out here?”

Again, she nods, a smile on her face.

“Can I meet it?” Eleven converses telepathically with them before holding up a finger. “Only one?”

“Yes,” Eleven says, as the air next to her shimmers. Mike blinks as a ball of pink energy manifests next to her. As the ball dissipates, he sees a small pink furred creature that looks somewhat like a giant mouse. She blinks big blue eyes his way, cocking her head as her tail sways to and fro. “This is Mew.”

Mike waves at it, still shocked by its appearance. Mew giggles, flipping over and going to nuzzle Eleven’s short hair. Eleven picks up the discarded Eggo, brushing it off, and passing it to Mew.

“Okay,” Mike says, running a hand over his face. “Okay. So, we’ll definitely need a disguise.”

“A wig?” Eleven asks, thinking of the blonde hair and pink dress.

Mike smiles. “Not quite.”

Eleven gently tucks Mew into her backpack, brushing a hand over the warm knit hat placed on her head. Mew presses her muzzle into Eleven’s hand for a moment before snuggling down into the bag. Eleven smiles, pressing a half-eaten waffle into Mew’s paws before pulling the cover over the knapsack. She doesn’t like putting Mew in a bag like this; it reminds her too much of the sterile cage she was kept in, where Father made her live…

She shakes off the thought as she quietly follows Mike into the basement. He rummages through the chest of dress-up clothes, shaking out a few options before sighing. “It’d probably be best to get some of Holly’s clothes, a hat maybe. Mew is pink and all…maybe we could grab a jumper and pass her off as a doll?”

Eleven shrugs, not really caring one way or another. Her thoughts are connected with Mew’s, glad that she is enjoying the Eggo. It is good to have connections out in the wilderness, companionship. And her Pokémon friends make for the best companions.

She waits downstairs as Mike veritably bounds away, promising to return in a few moments. She is fine, after all, she is not alone.

Eleven closes her eyes, listening to the voices in her head, one chiming like a bell, the other deep and soothing.

Soon, everyone will know.

Soon, all the bonds will be made.

But first she needs to explain to those who were chosen.

Mike comes back quickly, pressing a spring green knit hat into her hands as well as a blue onesie. “Will this work?”

Eleven nods, gently removing Mew and setting the hat upon her head as Mew, with both her paws and telekinesis, puts on the onesie. Eleven presses a question to Mew which is answered with bubbling joy.

Mew likes the clothes, though their other companion finds them silly.

Eleven notices Mike trying to hide his laughter but she doesn’t care. As long as Mew is happy, so is she. “Mike,” she says with a frown.

“Yeah?” he asks, sifting through his bags in the search for the most flame-retardant one.

“Nancy too.”

“Really? She hasn’t said anything.”

“Not yet,” Eleven replies. “Soon.”

“I’ll go get her then,” Mike says. “Anyone else?”

“Jonathan,” Eleven says with a decisive. “Others later. Joyce. Hopper. Not today.”

“Okay,” Mike says. “Go ahead and head outside and wait out there with Charmander. I’d really rather not have Nancy screaming her head off in here.”

As it turns out, Nancy does not scream when the Pokémon are revealed to her. She goes a little pale, her eyes go a little wide, but other than saying, “Oh,” she doesn’t really have a reaction.

She can tell they don’t seem to intend any harm, at least not to Mike and Eleven and really that’s all that matters to her at the moment.

Nancy knows that she should probably be more surprised but honestly, after the year she’s had, this is rather low on her list of weirdness. Little creatures exist outside the known realm of zoology? Some even have phenomenal powers? No big deal.

They reach Dustin’s house and Nancy blinks as she is faced with all of Mike’s friends along with Jonathan. Dustin seems to be wrestling with a green creature, Lucas is soaking wet and glaring down at what appears to be a blue turtle, Will serenely holds a large yellow mouse, and Jonathan holds a blue seahorse the size of his fist.

“Huh,” she says before smiling. “Not exactly a typical day here is it? This seem anything like your uh…dungeons game?”

“Dungeons and Dragons,” Dustin says reverently. “Not quite.”

“Too outlandish,” Lucas says, eyeing the turtle with heavy suspicion before looking at the creature in Eleven’s arms. “Should have known you’d be involved.”

“When did you and Will get Pokémon?” Mike asks. “Only Dustin had one when we were talking on the radio.”

“I was ambushed by this thing on the way over,” Lucas says, arms crossed. “We do not get along.”

Eleven shakes her head. “Bonded.”

“What does that mean?” Lucas asks, frustration clear in his face.

Eleven struggles for a moment and Mike can tell she’s communicating with Mew and probably the other one. “Friends,” she finally says, voice soft and giving weight to the word.

Lucas immediately softens, knowing what it means to Eleven. “Oh. Why does it keep spraying me?”

“She,” Eleven corrects and then shrugs. “Teasing?”

Dustin snickers at that and stops wrangling the green creature. “What’s the name of mine?”

“Called Bulbasaur,” Eleven replies. “But willing to take on new name.”

“Really?” Dustin says, eyes alight with all the possibilities.

Nancy sidles over to Jonathan, gazing at the seahorse in his hands with curiosity.

“I, uh, think it’s called Horsea,” Jonathan says, looking chagrined. “At least, that’s what it keeps repeating.”

“Horsea,” Nancy says, reaching out to touch it.

Horsea squeals and releases a spray of water right into Nancy’s face. Nancy sputters, wiping at her face as the rest of the group laughs.

The laughter dies, however, as a large blue serpent streaks out in front of Nancy, flaring the wings on its head protectively as it stares down at Jonathan. He meets its large, liquid eyes with a gulp, turning slightly to protect his small friend. His eyes screw shut as the creature releases a cry of anger.

Eleven is suddenly in front of him, hands up and out, trying to calm the Pokémon. It reminds Jonathan of a horse handler, staring down a powerful beast with an air of peaceful tranquility. Her Pokémon floats beside her, watching the snake one intently.

“Dratini no,” Eleven says aloud as her nose begins to bleed.

Dratini is surrounded by purple energy and lifted away from Eleven as a being blinks into existence beside her. It is humanoid in shape, sleek and contoured in shades of grey and purple. It glares at Dratini as if personally insulted.

Jonathan bites back a shout as Eleven wraps her arms around this obviously powerful Pokémon, waiting for the worst.

It doesn’t come.

Instead Dratini is placed beside Nancy where it butts its head against hers, tail wrapping loosely around her legs. The newcomer turns to the group, hand resting on Eleven’s shoulder.

I am Mewtwo, it, rather he, greets telepathically. I am a friend of El.

“You…you talk!” Dustin exclaims, squeezing Bulbasaur close.

Indeed, he replies drily. We come from In Between the Upside Down…Sideways if you will. This is not our world but we find ourselves inevitably tethered here. He looks to Eleven. Those beside you are Bonded to you and they will be your friends for life. He closes his eyes. I will allow them to introduce themselves in this space now.

The being falls silent, concentrating as each Bonded pair begins private conversation. Eleven watches it all with satisfaction, glad to see them begin to act as friends.

“Why have you come here?” Jonathan asks, stroking a hand over Horsea’s head.

We were summoned by her voice. Others were summoned as well. Not all by Eleven’s voice but by…others.

“How many?” Will asks quietly.

Thousands.

“And will all of them…” Dustin screws up his face, trying to remember. “Will all of them bond?”

No. You must protect and be protected by your Pokémon companion. His purple eyes flash. This is only the beginning.

[abundantchewtoys]

Hiveswap ‘17-09-24: Living it up

Onwards to uncharted territory!

---

We'll be entering the ground floor tonight, and there's at least two rooms to explore here - the trophy room and the kitchen. Blaperile thinks there might also be a living room - I guess it depends on whether the trophy room is a study, a dinner room or a living room; the other kinds of room might still be there. ... Also, you could expect there to be a bedroom for Grandpa and Ms. Claire somewhere, couldn't you? Though it might have been off-frame, in the hallway Jude's room comes out on.

I guess a living room might be expected - there should be SOME place for the sitter to crash on those nights she drank too much. That might be any day ending on a y, for all we know.

I expect our first strife with a monster might not be far off anymore! It would be kind of surprising if we would find the pigeon BEFORE we've been Jude, but who knows? Maybe it's Joey that starts off the communication-by-bird?

---

Oh, right, the coat of arms. ... Welp, it's not clickable. 'JOEY: No comment.'

Oh boy! As we try to go down, the power is cut! (We already thought something was off, since the stairs were clickable with the 'hand' symbol, instead of being shown to be leading to another level.)

And then the music changes into a tenser version of the House melody. Also, Joey's back to her original, distraught pose. Welp, guess we might have to venture to the basement to get it back on?

Hmm, okay, Joey just wants to continue on to the trophy room, even though it would be more of a challenge. Maybe the room at least has large windows, so the moonlight may enter?

Let's see what Jude has to say - he probably witnessed the blackout. The monsters are most likely to blame.

I'll admit - when the scene darkened, my first thought was that the first strife would come much sooner than expected.

Blaperile has a good point, the rooms upstairs would now look quite different. It might be worth checking out.

... Well, that conversation with Jude did not give the emotional support Joey kind of needed now. Of course she was holding up a brave face - or, uh, voice - but we can tell she doesn't really like this. Also, 'late afternoon', in autumn, means that it's still getting dark fast. I mean, the moon's out, the sky is already darkening...

Going back up, everything indeed is dark, everything, the stairs, the portrait wall... What Pumpkin really did a great number on this!

... I wonder, that should mean the TV, PC and maybe also the LITE BRITE don't work anymore! That could prompt new things from her.

So in the stairway, the top of the walls also disappear in the shadow. Eery...

Yup, the LITE BRITE apparently was plugged in too. Also, I forgot to mention the console, which is also plugged in, like the lamp in this hallway, but yeah, that wasn't something we could turn on, unlike the things I mentioned (and the lights in her room).

Blaperile notes how it's at least a bit lighter in the hallway, thanks to the big window at the end. (Reminds me of the hallway Rose had to cross at one point in her house, where Mom first appeared as a shadow.) But the other end is dark, so there appears to be a door or blank wall there - if the former, then maybe the master bedroom was there!

Hmm, the jewelry box on the table is closed again and can't be opened anymore! It apparently forgot whatever we did originally to open it. But the arrow globe can still be spun.

Heheh, in the painting of the naked lady that Joey improved upon, it looks as if she's wearing reminders on her fingers, I hadn't noticed it before!

Anyway, the attic stairway looks way more illuminated than I expected. Maybe it has a roof window.

Yup, the switch in her room doesn't work anymore. No prompt, but it looks as if she tries to flip it expectantly... only to be disappointed by the lack of reaction. 'That didn't work. :('

PLAY CONSOLE: Yup, different response. Not by clicking the TV, but by trying the action we originally made to turn it on.

PC: PFfff, 'spoiled computer'. Heheheh. I like that the prompts changed, nice that they remembered to program it in.

Also, now Joey is inside a darkened house, like Rose, in search of a power source. Unlike John after he entered, her appliances don't mysteriously keep working when the power incoming from the grid is cut.

Oooooh, so the attic is illuminated by a wall window. A part of me expected attic stairways to be closed in by uninterrupted walls, somehow, illogical though that might sound. I guess it's because in most shows or movies, the attic stairway is in the center of the house, but in the mansion, it borders on one of the outside walls.

... Blaperile has a theory there might a fire place in the house we may come by at one point. Neat idea, it might be another light source - if it isn't electrical. What if Sassacre is standing stuffed in front of the fireplace, though? Bonus points if it's in the trophy room - as part of the collection of beings Grandpa has shot throughout his life! :P (I kind of doubt it, though.)

Okay, that concludes our tour upstairs, time to get back on track.

Just as we moved onto the next room, some items came into view at the bottom of the stairs. An african statue, a pile of clothes with an arrow in them, covering a piano stuffed with puppets (so it's not their preferred instruments, I suppose?)... And another defaced hunting picture with a trunk underneath, both sadly unclickable. Also, what seems like the top of a toy castle.

I wonder if we see more of it moving onto the next room? I actually clicked a little too earlier back there but just returned as soon as we noted the items.

Ah, so this is the living room - it's HUUUUGE and sprawling.

Some more hunting trophies, but notably, also some stuff from early concept art. Blue lady on the wall, blue lady lamp post, winged bear grandfather clock... (maybe a type of lusus we get to encounter later on?) It seems the far end of the living room is a separate level, nice.

The 'living' part of the room is very messy, it might be where Sitter spends a lot of her time. Since I see a walkman, a game boy, an assortment of magazines and videos...

Nice detail - the grandfather clock's pendule is moving!

The carpet we're nearest to is fascinating - it's palette is like those of Dutch porcelain, huh.

There also appears to be a level near the piano to walk to, nice! I wonder what she has to say about the instrument. Did Grandpa put her on obligatory piano lessons, making her dislike the instrument, maybe?

The squirrels taxidermified to look like little tropical explorers, on top of the television... So gaudy. Grandpa probably fell instantly in love.

I wonder if the doors leading up to this space are all accessible to us.

Also, what lies to the right of the scene we see here, can we much further in that direction without leaving the level?

Uhh... Hmm, the tube for Jude's pet leads up to the grand doors in the back, but not to any other part of the living room.

Okay yeah, there's a little part of the living room left to the right. Looks like the amusement corner? Darts board, patched-up plush (a double pirate, hahah, like Sollux), game boxes*, books...

*Okay, so: Monu- ... Monument? As a spoof of Monopoly. Hint - Clue? And CARBY, or something... I have nothing.

BOOK SHELF - ... Pfff, okay, so Grandpa really did taxidermied all his hunting trophies himself! I suppose if he didn't also shoot the animals, Joey would've been more tolerant of the hobby. As it is, she snarkily comes up with a bunch of (hopefully) fake book titles in the closet. No comment on the game boxes.

POGS + BOOK SHELF : Oh, I thought Pogs would be plastic. So they're more like Flippos than I thought. Pfff, 'tiny nibble of a book feast'.

TREATS + BOOK SHELF : ... Hmm. From this prompt, I get the impression that either Joey's just REALLY not a cat person, or Jude's pet might be some kind of mutant kitten! Maybe it's a failed ectobiology experiment the sitter brought with her from the lab for him. ... Maybe it's a cat serpent mutant. Hence the tube, for it to slitter through.

My first thought when Joey said the mice wouldn't last long in this house went out to Grandpa, though. Imagine him chasing rodents through the house with his blunderbuss in full-on Tom and Jerry style.

SHOES + BOOK SHELF : Pfffff, Joey already tap danced near here once before, causing them to become this messy.

POINTES + BOOK SHELF : Oh, so Joey prefers games over books. Well, at least, she prefers her games over THESE books, that aren't about her interests, unlike the ones upstairs.

TV: Joey at least is able to watch her favorite shows on this widescreen, which puts her leagues ahead of her peers. She mentions her favorite tv protagonists: all female, of course, but there aren't that many of her, sadly.

POGS + TV : This isn't Star Trek, so we're good, no explosion imminent by combining these opposites, Joey, you can go ahead and throw some against the screen if you don't like a show.

TREATS + TV : The TV is not an animal, she says. Now, on Alternia, on the other hand, maybe a part of the television apparatus could actually be living. ... I kind of wonder what Joey's general attitude regarding insects is, particularly the caterpillar variety. She's in for a lot of them.

SHOES + TV : Joey is REALLY not a fan of the boy-girl stuff in movies. She hasn't specified why yet, but the HOT STEPPIN' poster comes to mind.

POINTES + TV : Oh, hmm, so it seems Jude is out a lot, with his friends, when he's not in the treehouse. So he's not just chatting them up online! Also, 'keep on your toes', hahah, nice one. Immediately brings to mind the sound that plays on the Flintstones when Fred bowls and walks on his toes before throwing the ball.

Oh, wow, the remote on the table is actually a UNIVERSAL remote. And it is apparently majorly clunky, from what I understand, it might be just as heavy as it's big! (I originally those were two separate remotes, but apparently not.)

We get the option to 'SCAVENGE' it, so... Are the batteries inside them usable? On the other hand, it would be sweet if we had been able to use the item after the power was restored.

POGS + REMOTE : ... I know that there's this thing about an antropomorphic CLOCK and ... some other general appliance, so this thing Joey is referring to about the humanized remote and buxom TV... Might refer to that. *shudder*

TREATS + REMOTE : Okay, so Tess at least enters the house on SOME occasions. And yeah, I understand the remote would look like a chew toy to her.

SHOES + REMOTE : ... I don't think there's a TV out there controlled by tap dance, so I wonder what lawsuites Joey is referring to? Maybe there's a TV controlled by clicks or clapping, and 'tapping' would be too close for comfort, for that company.

SCAVENGE REMOTE : Niiiice! We DO get batteries, only not the ones we're looking for. ... E-cell, though? I kind of only use AA and AAA regularly. Different times, maybe? Also, it just hit me the batteries are made to resemble Duracell batteries.

Blaperile has a good point this leaves us with a lot more combinations to try again! Wow momma. I PRESUME most of them are the same as the previous ones, but that was just in Joey's room. There's a bunch of new items to combine these with now.

---

Seems like as good a place as any to stop for the night, since, well, yeah, next time there's going to be a bunch of running around again.

(Also, to explain this post’s title: Living it up - Living room.)