#Stu come on man save some for us

[s0da-b0y]

Uhm tw mentions of weed I guess

[amomentsescape]

hi hi! I was hoping you could do slashers with a super bubbly and affectionate s/o who would beat up anyone who dares hurt the slasher while still holding their sweet smile

Slashers with Sweet and Dangerous! Reader

Slashers x Reader (Separate)

Includes: Freddy, Michael, Jason, Thomas, Bubba, Brahms, Norman, Billy, Stu, Vincent, & Bo

A/N: So I got a bit carried away and wrote this as if Reader is willing to kill for the Slashers. So hopefully it's not too intense for what you were wanting! Feel free to let me know what you think :)

Freddy Krueger

He knew there was a reason he was so drawn to you

You were sweet, kind, and just an overall ray of sunshine that Freddy never knew he needed

He loves basking in your warmth

But seeing you hold that damn grin while ripping out someone's throat for just punching Freddy has him weak in the knees

He loves the affectionate sweet side to you, don't get him wrong

But knowing that you can do a complete 180 makes him feel like he's in his own beautiful type of dream

He feels more comfortable telling you his plans now and the types of ideas he has for killing future victims

And you just sit there all happily and nod along like he's telling you a bedtime story

It's cute but also so foreign to him

He has a hard time remembering that you can be just as deadly as him when you want to be

Michael Myers

He honestly has no idea how to feel about this situation

It took him some time to get used to being with someone so cuddly and happy all the time

He wasn't much of a fan of it at first, but something inside him refused to let you go or kill you

But seeing you smile over his victims and even step in to prevent him from getting injured has him confused

He is more than capable of protecting himself

He doesn't need you getting involved

But at the same time, knowing he isn't the only one with this grotesque side makes him feel.... content, in a way

He just doesn't like you stepping in too much

His victims are his, and he refuses to share

But if you save him from getting stabbed or set on fire

Well... then that's fine he guesses

Jason Voorhees

You two are practically different sides to the same coin

He comes off as deadly, incapable of emotions, and just an overall killing machine

But when he's with you, he's the sweetest and most kind man you have ever met

You're practically the opposite

You come off as an innocent, bubbly goody-two-shoes to most of the public

But when someone dares hurt Jason, a hidden poison emerges from within you

Jason never thought you were capable of picking up his notorious machete, nonetheless swinging it right through someone's skull

He just froze up in shock at this realization

He was drawn to how sweet you were to him, but knowing that you're capable of killing only makes him more happy

He was always worried that you would leave him after dealing with his darkness for too long

But knowing that you aren't all sunshine and rainbows has reassured him

Thomas Hewitt

Considering what his family eats every night for dinner, he would have hoped that you were capable of similar actions to him

Killing is just a way of life to him, so knowing that you can do the same is so normal

That isn't to say that he wasn't surprised the first time you stuck up for him

But if anything, that surprise was immediately followed by a sense of relief

If you can do that, then you can fit right in with the rest of his family!

They liked how affectionate and kind you were to Thomas, but they were always worried that you were going to be too soft for their way of life

Now he knows there's nothing to worry about

Well, maybe except for getting on your bad side

You always have that sweet smile on your face, and he'll be damned if he pisses you off one of these times

Bubba Sawyer

The first time you killed for him, he couldn't help but jump around in glee

You're just like him!

You're covered in blood and guts but still smile sweetly at Bubba

Just like he does for you

It honestly just reinforces the idea that you were meant to be together in his mind

You stick up for him, and he sticks up for you

With that being said, he does still paint you as this sweet little angel that needs to be safe at all times

He doesn't want you to get your hands dirty unless absolutely necessary

So he prefers for you to stay away from all the carnage he goes through on a daily basis

But he won't try and control you

As long as he is met with that soft smile and big hug at the end of a long day, Bubba is content

Brahms Heelshire

Oh...

He's flattered, don't get him wrong

The fact that you're willing to protect him shows that you really are devoted to him

And he loves that

But he also doesn't want you intruding with his desires

That person is going to die?

Brahms wants to be the one to see their last breath

It's not very often he gets to feel like this, so he wants to soak up every exhilarating second of it while it's there

And you're just so pure and kind that he doesn't want you becoming all tainted like him

Your job is to be the good in Brahms and take care of him

Not to let this darkness take over

You provide, he protects

That's all he asks for

Norman Bates

And to think after all of this time, Norman just assumed you were like him

Quiet, sweet, affectionate

He had no idea you'd be capable of fully plunging a knife into someone's neck just for saying a couple mean words to Norman

But he secretly couldn't help the way he admired your blood splattered face, that smile he loved so much shining through it all

He likes feeling protected by you

It lets him know that you really care about him

And the fact that you can flip from one side to the other is so intriguing to him

In every other situation, you speak softly and gently laugh at the smallest things

But when one bad thing happens, the darkness creeps out

It doesn't freak him out as much as he would have originally thought

He just still can't believe that these sides to you are coming from the same person

Who is he to judge though?

Billy Loomis

Billy was immediately attracted to your warm energy

But he was also hesitant that he would somehow contaminate you with his trauma and dark fantasies

He wanted to keep you as were: the bubbly and happy partner that was always by his side

But when a last minute heist was going wrong, he would have never expected to look over and see you all bloody, a stained knife in your hand and a lifeless body on the floor

When he called your name, all you did was look up at him and smile

Billy just about lost it

He had always thought that he needed to be the one to protect you and himself

But seeing you throw yourself into violence for his sake was absolutely beautiful

He didn't think you'd be capable of something like this

But knowing that you are makes him love you that much more

You're nothing but perfect for him

Stu Macher

He won't say it out loud, but he's the tiniest bit scared of you

Not in a bad way by any means

If anything, he thinks it's sexy

And he can see a bit of familiarity in the way you act too

You both enjoy laughing at stupid things and keeping the energy up when needed

At any given moment, you two are all over each other and smiling so wide that you can feel your cheeks burn

You two make the ultimate power couple

But if someone dares say something bad about you, they're dead the next morning

And if Stu gets hurt by one of his attempted victims, you better believe you'll be there to finish the job

Stu honestly loves how deceiving you can be

No one would ever look at you and expect you to have this darker element

But to be fair, he's in the same boat

No one would ever suspect him of such behavior

And that's probably why you two make the perfect team

Vincent Sinclair

He never thought he'd ever meet some who cared for him the way you do

Especially resorting to violence just to keep him safe

This must be some sort of dream

You practically tore this person to shreds and yet, you're still able to turn back at Vincent and smile sweetly, asking if he's okay

Are you even the same person he was just cuddling with 10 minutes ago?

He worries that you'll get yourself hurt one of these times, so he tries to advise you against doing something like that again

But he won't deny the thrill it gave him seeing you act so... differently

Just please don't step in unless absolutely necessary

If anything happened to you, he wouldn't know what to do

He knows you can clearly take care of yourself, he just doesn't want to risk it

Bo Sinclair

What a precious little thing

It would be a lie to say that Bo wasn't immediately drawn to your softness and positivity

You radiated sunshine, and it was a new experience for him

He has always wanted to be the protector in his relationships

And he truly had no clue that you weren't just another damsel looking to be rescued

He remembers the first time you saved his ass

He turned up to see the man with a metal pipe sticking out of his chest

All the while, you're standing behind him, that sweet little smile still on your face like usual

Bo was at a complete loss for words

He loves this side to you

He still likes to feel all bad and tough

And he loves when you ask him for help and play up the innocence

But when something comes up, he knows he doesn't need to worry about you

[tac-the-unseen]

I love all ur blog sm!! Can I ask abt something with the slashers (specially Thomas <3) with an foreigner!reader that don't quit speak english very well and normally forget words?

(Sorry if something is spelled wrong, English is not my native language lmao)

Absolutely, I can!

And because the request didn't specify, this fic will strictly be about speaking a foreign language.

Sorry if this is inaccurate! I'm a native English speaker and don't know many who aren't. Sorry in advance!!

Slashers x Foreigner!Reader

Micheal Myers:

•This man will act like he doesn't care but in reality he's so intrigued. (It might be why you're still alive) 

•He’ll spend his time watching you practice your pronunciation and recognition patterns, like it's a movie.

•Is he a bit mean about it? Yes. Will he laugh? Probably.

•If you find yourself not knowing what certain words are and stumble around until you find the right word, You'd be surprised at how patient he is. 

•If you are very new to the English language he'll secretly get you flash cards and stash them into a place he knows you'll find them

•Despite everything, if you ask him for help, he will help. He might be mute but he can write and use TV to aid you.

Billy loomis & Stu macher:

•Stu is already romanticizing your language, but instead of using the actual name of your language, he calls it “Talking pretty to me”

•Billy asks if you want any text books or study equipment to help you on your English speaking journey 

•Both boys are a surprising help! Stuttering trying to articulate what you mean? They've already jumped in to, A) help save you some of the embarrassment, and B) give you time to think about what you're trying to say. 

•Someone making fun of you? They're either dead or a social outcast by the end of the week. 

•Are you struggling to remember a certain word? These boys are willing play charades until you figure it out. And they won't drop it either, Stu says ‘It’s bad to give up when you've already come so far.’ 

•Over all it's not so bad (Stu 100,000,000% uses Google translate to figure out how to say ‘i love you’ in your native language) 

Thomas Hewitt:

•When both of you met, he had never met an actual foreigner before.

•He knew people travel around and occasionally some valley girl would end up in their small town, But someone from a whole different part of the world?

•His interest in you spiked the moment he heard your accent 

•Thomas has so many questions but doesn't know how to ask you

•With him being mute and your struggles with English, It's not the easiest relationship. In the end both of you just end up pointing at things and making noises to get your point across. 

•Absolutely loves to listen to you speak in your native language, Even if he'll never understand it. 

•When he's first trying to court you, he leaves you slightly damaged flowers (he struggled to pick them) to communicate his affection. 

•even with a language barrier, he's gonna love you like no one ever could 

Bubba Sawyer:

•He had no idea people outside of America existed 

•When You fell into the palm of Texas and his brothers found you failing to remember the word for your favorite snack, They knew you would be an easy target.

•When they kidnapped you and brought you to the basement so Bubba could chop you up, he was fascinated by the way you desperately tried to beg him not to kill you. 

•It ended in a huge fight in the family, But he got everyone to let you live a bit longer.

•Sits Criss Cross applesauce while you speak for your life. You could babble about anything and he would listen intently. 

•He pulls out his alphabet soup machine and spends hours typing with you. (You help him finally get past the clown level)

Bo Sinclair:

•absolute meanie, stinky poopy head about it >:(

•will mock your stutters and say stuff like “Oh come ON! The word is Cat! C. A. T. CAT! What's so hard about that?” 

•If you speak your native language around him, He thinks you're insulting him or intentionally hiding something. 

•”If you could say it to my face in your language you can say it to my face again in mine!”

•The same sentiment is not shared when it involves bedroom fun

•Will eventually apologize, But that's going to take a while 

Vincent Sinclair:

•As another non-speaking fellow he takes his time to make sure you two can understand each other 

•He’ll mostly use body language and and little doodles to get his point across 

•Stuttering over a word? He doesn't care, he'll let you work it out without any judgment!

•Want his help? He has several books, Vincent will just pull out a book he knows as the word in it, flipped to the page, and point at the word. 

•Love listening to you talk, In English or not. He'll happily let you yap his ear off. 

Lester Sinclair:

•Poor boy was lovestruck when he first heard you talk!

•Full on heart eyes while you explain where you're from and how you ended up here 

•If you end up fumbling on a word he'll start shouting out potential words for what you're trying to say. 

•Example: “and then I had too…uh…um..” “Run? Pee? Eat? Were you hungry? Are you hungry right now?” 

•So helpful, I know

•But the guy is already googling restaurants based off your native cuisine. He's got the date set up. 

•”It's no biggie, I'm a native English speaker and I still can't get it right!” 

Billy Lenz:

•Billy 100% understands the struggle of finding the right word to say 

•He can't stop stuttering himself, so when you start stuttering you kind of reinforce us in his brain that you were meant to be together 

•He feels like he can bond with you over it, and even feel safer around you knowing that you also mess up 

•the thing is if you start stuttering, he'll start stuttering. If you can't get it by God he will.

•”W-we can't bo-oth be wrong.” 

Brahms Heelshire:

•this man will 100% try to learn your language as soon as he finds out you're a foreigner

•That man has a huge library, there's bound to be at least one book written in your mother tongue 

•He spends a lot of time practicing your native language so he can speak to you more comfortably

•You already know he has children's learning books he'll pull out if you ask. 

•Can't find the word you're looking for? He's already 10 books deep, he'll find it for you. 

•Brahms is a well-educated man and he intends to use His years of learning to help 

•If you want to take classes to better your English skills he will 100,000% throw money your way to do so.

Hannibal Lecter:

•Now Hannibal really understands 

•He's a Lithuanian who learned English as a 10 year old

•He didn't struggle as much, But for the first couple of months you bet he was stumbling. 

•If you're struggling with a word, He has a process of teaching you so you don't forget it again. 

1) Identify what you're trying to say 

2)Slowly begin to sound out the word 

3)Have you recite the word a few times 

4)He'll either teaches you a little tune to remember or he'll do something so you remember the moment 

•Does it feel a little condescending? Yes. But it works 

•He's also willing to pour an ungodly amount of money into your English education if you ask 

•He'll even teach you himself in his spare time

Will Graham:

•Doesn't really know what to do, He's a bit awkward about it 

•He'll also identify the word and repeat it a few times so you can get a better handle on it.

•He thinks it's a bit funny and a bit cute when you stutter or mispronounce something 

•He will gently correct you and move on like nothing happened 

The Lost Boys:

•holy fucking shit this is a cluster fuck, let's do this one by one 

•David

-David, having been around a while, has picked up a couple languages.

-If he does know the language you're speaking he'll speak it back to you and guide you into English better than the other boys could 

-If not, he'll just read your mind and tell you what you're trying to say. It's by far the easiest way to articulate what you mean. 

•Dwayne

-Dwayne being just slightly younger than David has also picked up a couple languages 

-It's really the same if he does know your language But with a little more verbal teaching 

-If he doesn't he'll patiently wait until you figure out what you're trying to say. 

•Paul

-as soon as you start to stutter over yourself Paul starts shotgunning words off 

-some slightly related to the situation and others wildly out there 

-”Drink? Food? Ocean? Horse? The unforgiving eyes of God and His kingdom???” 

-he'll do this to confuse you and have a nice laugh 

•Marko

-Marko speaks English and Italian, so if your language isn't one of those two you're kind of shit out of luck 

-”Come on babe, you'll get it” 

-He finds it a bit funny but still tries to help in little ways 

Thanks for reading <3

Sorry if this seems hastily written together, I haven't had the request in a while so I kind of jumped at the opportunity.

[filthyslashertoad]

Slashers (billy and stu) with fem! reader thats scared of spiders (im speaking PANIC), so they always have to take care of it

Oooh ok!

And yes, Hoffman is in here too!

Slashers with an S/O that’s Scared of Spiders

Billy Loomis

Teases you for being scared.

Kills it but gives you shit for being scared of it for weeks.

Tries to scare you by saying "Careful Babe! there's a spider on your shoulder." and laughs when you scream.

Stu Macher

Screams too.

Both of you are huddled up on a chair waiting for Billy to come over and kill the spider.

Squeals when Billy throws it at him after squashing it.

Amanda Young

Doesn't understand why you're scared but catches it in a jar for you and sets it outside.

Asks you if you're ok afterward and brings you some tea so you can relax.

Mark Hoffman

Looks at you like you're crazy.

Kills it and says "You know you're bigger than he is right?"

Secretly loves that he gets to save you from such silly things.

Brahms Heelshire

Is used to seeing spiders all of the time so he isn't phased.

Grabs the spider and puts it on his shoulder. (100% talks to it and asks it to leave you alone)

Makes you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk so you feel better.

Patrick Bateman

Says you're embarrassing and that you shouldn't need a man to save you from a small bug.

Gets upset afterward when you stop asking him for help tho.

Jason Voorhees

Is careful not to hurt it and takes it outside to a bush.

When he comes back to the cabin he's holding a few flowers that he made sure were entirely bug-free.

Checks everything in the cabin for you before you go to bed to make sure there are no more spiders.

[fandom-imagines-stories]

Film Studies Slashers Part One

Mickey Altieri x Reader

Words: 2839

Summary: With her revenge plot foiled by campus killers beating her to the punch, the reader investigates the killings only to find that her boyfriend is one of the murderers. This proves to be rather useful in her mission to kill Gale Weathers… until Mickey’s partner takes matters into her own hands. 

Notes: Listen… I’m just going to leave this here. Judge me if you will, but remember that this is Timothy Olyphant and the man is beautiful. Plus, Mickey is one of the best Ghostfaces. I’m obviously tweaking some things, but I’m not gonna lie, I actually hate Gale so I was okay writing the reader hating her. I’m going to have to do some tweaking with which is which Ghostface in certain scenes, but I’ll try to make it make sense. I don’t know how much of this I’ll get done, but it’s honestly a blast to write. (I also have a finished Mickey fluff so keep an eye out for that) Happy Halloween! 

-

The campus was dead. Pardon the pun, of course, but there was no other way to describe it. With everyone terrified of the killer, going out at night was out of the question for most of the student body. 

You hoped he found you. This fucker was stealing your thunder and you were pissed as hell. You had spent too many years sucking up to Sidney fucking Prescott to have your revenge stolen by some Stu Macher wannabe. 

Granted, your plan also involved some significant stabbing, but you needed to make sure that this new guy didn’t beat you to the punch. Whoever it was. 

“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself, you know,” a voice whispered from the dark. “You never know what kind of weirdos come out at night.” 

“Other than you, you mean?” You snarked back, leaning against the streetlamp you stood under. 

Mickey stepped into the light. A sly smile spread across his lips.

“Says the one wandering around in the dark armed with…” he reached into your satchel with one hand and ran a finger up your arm with the other, making you shiver. Mickey pulled out your notebook and flipped through the pages. 

You winced as his eyes scanned your notes on all of the killings, including pictures of all of the victims so far. 

He cocked a brow. “Maybe I should be worried for my own safety. Tell me, Y/N.” He held up your page with a picture of Sidney. “Are you the killer?” 

You snatched the notebook back. “Very funny, asshole.” 

“I’m being totally serious. That is like Serial Killer 101. You should know, Little Miss Legal Studies,” Mickey teased.

You took a step toward him, looking up at him through your lashes with a darkened gaze. 

“I guess that means you should start running, huh?”

He returned your stare, eyes bright and challenging. He put his hands on your shoulders and crashed his lips against yours. You wasted no time either, fingers lacing through his dark hair and deepening the kiss until you forgot where you were. You forgot about the killer. You forgot about Woodsboro. Most of all, you forgot about Gale Weathers. 

“What are you thinking about?” He muttered against the skin of your jaw. 

You poked his side. “Stabbing and death,” you teased. “You?”

His mouth opened in mock surprise and spoke with a sing-song tone. “Would you believe me if I said the same thing?” 

You laughed, shaking your head. 

“We are seriously fucked up, huh?” You laced your fingers through his and started walking back down the path. 

“But that’s why we work so well.” 

Mickey twirled you around, pulling you into his arms again to bury his face in your neck, playfully nipping. 

“We have to get to that stupid party,” you said, pulling away again.

He pouted. 

You rolled your eyes. “I promised Sidney I’d save her from the sorority swarm.” 

“You don’t even like her.”

“I do too.”

“No, you don’t,” he argued, tone still teasing. “And you’ve never actually told me why.” He tried to urge you back to him, but you resisted, a darkness suddenly settling over you. 

“It’s a long story,” you said. 

He held up his hands innocently. “Okay.” His head tilted in curiosity, but he didn’t press the issue. 

“We really should get going”

“Actually,” he clapped his hands together, “I will catch up with you.” You opened your mouth to protest. “I know, I know, but I promise I’ll be quick. I just have this project I have to finish up for class first.”

“Since when do you care about homework?”

“Babe,” he smiled, “it’s for film theory.”

You crossed your arms, frowning. You already weren’t looking forward to this fucking mixer and you certainly weren’t looking forward to going without your usual partner in crime. Mickey wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you close, kissing you in between every word. 

“I. Will. Be. Right. There,” he promised. “And then we can make fun of every shitfaced frat boy there.” 

You sighed dramatically. “Fine. But I’m getting drunk without you.” 

“Fair enough.” He kissed you one more time. “I’ll see you there.” 

He went back toward his dorm, you went to the sorority house, both of you taking different paths into the night. 

-

If one more preppy girl came up to you with her stupid smile and her stupid small talk and a stupid sweater tied around her stupid neck, you were going to use that sweater to strangle her. 

Two of them were talking to Sidney, who kept looking at you to save her. 

You gave her an encouraging thumbs up and downed the rest of your drink. You weren’t sure what was in it, but it was sure working. 

“Empire Strikes Back.” A familiarly smug voice said across the yard. “It was a better story, improved effects.”

You looked up, finding Randy talking to your oh-so-late boyfriend. Now that was a blue sweater you wanted nothing more than to rip off. 

“Not a sequel,” Randy corrected. “It was part of a trilogy. Completely planned.”

Mickey rolled his eyes and spotted you in the process. He grinned. You scowled. He crossed the yard towards you. 

“It’s been foooooreeever,” you drawled, tongue weighed down by the cheap liquor. He sat on the bench beside you. 

“The assignment took longer than I thought, baby,” Mickey said, putting your drink aside and pulling you into his lap. “But I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Your lips latched onto his neck, fingers tracing along the edge of that silly blue sweater. Mickey took your wandering hands in his. 

“Easy, tiger. What would your little Woodsboro friends think?”

“Who fucking cares?” You grabbed the collar of his sweater and pulled his lips back to yours. He didn’t argue again, hands cupping your face and body pressed against yours. You seemed to stay like that for hours, barely even coming up for air. 

Everyone else disappeared. Until-

“Something happened.”

“Not. Now. Randy.” You said in between kisses, annoyance clear in your still tipsy tone. 

Randy put a hand on Mickey’s shoulder and pulled him away. The look the other boy gave him made him take a step back. Between Mickey’s glare and the news that broke up the party, his nerves were more than a little on edge. 

“Listen, sorry to interrupt your little sex party over here, but there are cop cars around the Omega Beta Zeta house. And I’ve got a really bad feeling.” He looked at you pointedly. 

Unlike your hometown buddies, you could care less about the latest killer’s hobbies. But where there was a killer, there were bloodthirsty journalists. 

You clenched your jaw. “Fine. Let’s go find out who else got sliced and diced, huh?”

Mickey helped you up, keeping his fingers laced with yours as everyone rushed toward the doors. 

Across the street, people swarmed in flashing red and blue. News vans clogged the driveway. You stopped moving. Your grip on your boyfriend’s hand tightened. 

“What the fuck is she doing here?” 

Across the street was the sobering sight of one Gale Weathers. She was heckling some other woman who had her back towards you. 

“She was here earlier today,” Halle said. “Totally blindsided Sidney by bringing Cotton Weary to campus.”

“Gale’s here with Cotton?” You exclaimed. 

First, a new killer starts mimicking the movie based on her fucking book, and now she’s harassing the survivors by bringing up the past. 

Your plan might have to happen sooner than you thought. 

“Don’t worry,” Halle added with a smirk, “Sidney already gave her a piece of her mind.” She made the motion of a punch. 

“Did you know about this?” You turned to Mickey, whose eyes were fixed across the way. 

The woman talking to Gale hurried off. 

Mickey’s thumb rubbed the back of your hand. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Well, I’m upset now!” 

His phone started buzzing. “Shit.” 

Your anger shifted into fear, gruesome memories rushing through your head. Your eyes widened as he answered. 

“M-Mickey…” You tugged on his arm anxiously. 

He listened to the voice on the other side and mouthed “It’s fine.” He brought your hand to his lips as another reassurance. 

“I have to take this, I’m sorry,” he whispered. His eyes darted between you and the crowd. “Stay here.”

 Mickey stepped away, leaving you with the others to watch the chaos at the other sorority house. That’s when you saw that familiar head of chunky highlights heading towards you. 

“Fucking bitch,” you muttered to yourself and headed back to the Delta Lambda Zeta house. With Derek the guard dog at the front door, you decided to go around back to avoid any real interaction with Sidney’s boyfriend. Pitying looks was the last thing you needed from the frat prince. 

You didn’t see the flash of black until it overtook you.  

And, suddenly, it all came back. 

You saw the face of Billy Loomis as you ripped off the stupid, elongated white mask. He smirked down at you. 

“I always had a bit of a hard-on for you, Y/N,” he sneered, slowly pushing the knife into your side. He put a hand over your mouth to silence your screams. “I mean, Syd’s great and all but, the principal's daughter?” He chuckled. “I mean, it sounds like something out of a movie.” 

He took out the knife and started again. 

You stared up at that same mask as it hovered over you, arm raised with the same curved knife that almost killed you. 

“Not this time you sonofabitch,” you spat and used all of your strength to bring your knee up into your attacker’s stomach. 

They cried out and fell to the grass beside you, but not before they got a solid swipe at your side, sliding through your shirt down to the skin. A familiar, hot sting radiated from the spot and you screamed. You screamed like hell.

“Mickey!” One hand clawed at the ground to pull you away, the other clamped over your now bleeding wound. “Derek! Mickey! Anybody! Help me!” 

“Y/N?” Sydney’s voice called from inside the house. 

Ghostface whipped around at the sound. 

“Syd, run!” You shrieked. 

A flash of blue sweater came around the corner just as a large black boot stomped the side of your head. Memories and darkness took over, all speaking with the altered voice of your nightmares.

-

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He wasn’t supposed to care. But with every stirring motion, the traitor in his chest jumped. 

Your eyes fluttered open and Mickey let out a sigh of relief. 

“There she is,” he smiled. “I was starting to wonder if this was going to turn into a The Dead Zone situation.”

“Well, I don’t know, do I have any powers?” You asked wearily, looking around at your surroundings. You were in the emergency room. Guess they figured your injuries weren’t too serious to take you to surgery. You felt at the bandage on your side, letting the haze in your head clear before you sat up. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” You swung your legs over the side of the hospital bed and started to stand, ignoring every sore limb telling you not to. 

“Hey, I don’t think you're supposed to do that, babe,” Mickey said, putting a hand out to stop you.

“I’m not staying here so everyone can gawk at me like a zoo animal, Mickey,” you snapped. “Especially when Gale fucking Weathers is in town.” 

“I won’t let her anywhere near you.”

Your eyes blazed. “I don’t want your help.” 

Something flashed in his eyes. Something you’d never seen before. Something that made you sit down again. 

But just as quickly as it was there, it was gone. Mickey looked at the ground. 

“I’m going to go check on Derek. He got cut up by the guy that attacked Sidney.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I think she’s probably more freaked out than he is, so I should probably talk to her too.”

He left you in the hospital room feeling like a total bitch. 

-

Mickey stretched his sore limbs as he stepped into the unlocked apartment. He should really remind you to lock that. There were psychos running around. 

“Y/N?” He called into the dark. “Baby, you here?” 

“In here,” you spoke through a gasp. 

Mickey dropped his bag at the foot of the bed, looking at the light pooling out of the ajar bathroom door. He could just see your frame standing in front of the mirror. Your shirt was off and your fingers were peeling up the bandage that the hospital put on the gash in your side. 

“Hey, I don’t think you should be doing that-” Mickey started, pushing the door open all the way. 

He stopped, seeing the reflection of your tear-filled eyes looking back at him. 

You swiped at your cheeks with the back of your hand and turned around to face him, displaying your new wound, along with marks of old ones. Three long, jagged lines along your torso. 

He imagined Billy sticking a knife in you and unconsciously clenched his fists. 

“It brought it all back,” you said through gritted teeth. “I promised myself I would never be that scared again and today I felt like that weak, pathetic high school girl again.” You ran your fingers over the scars, flinching as you touched the angry, red stitched-up cut on your side. “All because of her.”

Mickey’s brows drew together. 

You took a breath and jutted out your chin. “Gale Fucking Weathers.” 

“Wait.” He ran a hand down his face, almost laughing. “You just got stabbed and curb-stomped by a guy dressed in the same outfit that someone who stabbed you- and almost killed you- was wearing and you’re freaked out about a journalist.” 

“I’ve looked killers in the eye before, baby,” you snapped. “But Gale Weathers is a goddamn necromancer. She brought Billy Loomis and Stu Macher back from the dead and now they’re going to outlive all of us.”

“Babe-” He started to reach out to you, but you pushed past him. 

“And we can’t forget about Sidney,” you exclaimed. “Poor, perfect Sidney, the tragic hero of the story. It’s all about her.” You paced back and forth, anger boiling out any soreness you might still have felt. “It’s like nobody else made it out. Randy’s a plot device, Dewey is a joke, and me-” You whipped around with eyes on fire. “I’m not even in it!” You picked up one of Mickey’s shoes, knocking over his backpack, and threw it at a picture on your wall. A photo from high school- with you, Sidney, and Tatum. 

Mickey hurried toward you and grabbed your wrist in each hand. 

“She wrote me out of my life.” You fought against him, refusing to let him see you cry, but his grip was too strong. “That bitch wrote me out of my own life and now she’s back to do it all over again.” 

“We won’t let her,” Mickey said, his own rage starting to surface. He tightened his hold so much it almost hurt. “Gale Weathers is just another hack who will get what’s coming to her and someone else will turn it into just another story.” He let go of your wrists and moved his hands to your face. “I promise, baby.” 

His dark eyes held that same look you saw in the hospital. It should have scared you. Instead, it pushed you into him, crashing your lips against his and pulling his body against yours despite the slight pain in your side. Maybe you just needed to put all of your roiling energy to good use. And Mickey was more than happy to help. 

-

Mickey got in the shower with a head clouded full of feelings he didn’t know what to do with. He wanted to kill that reporter bitch- not because it would be the kind of poetic justice perfect for his plan, but because she had hurt you. Everything was getting too complicated. 

He wrapped a towel around his waist and went back to your bedroom, finding you at the foot of the bed, hunched over and holding something in your hand. 

“I thought you were too tired to move,” he teased. “But if you’re up for another round, then I am-”

He stopped as you stood. 

The cloak spilled out of the backpack. The knife glinted at your feet. The Ghostface mask gaped back at him in your hands.

Mickey swallowed. “I can explain that.”

You walked towards him, eyes wide and chin held high. Your gaze burned a hole in his panicking heart. Mickey gritted his teeth. He wasn’t supposed to panic. He wasn’t supposed to feel. 

You shoved the mask against his chest. 

“Y/N…” He searched for the words, more for himself than for you. 

You spoke firmly and coolly, like reading a movie line. “I want in.” 

[calmcoldevening]

♡ Slashers as drinks ♡

Michael Myers — Water

• Firstly, it is good for the body (Michael can also be useful, yes)

• Secondly, if you replace many harmful drinks with water, your life will become much better. Well, if you spend more time with Michael, your life will get a little better (hey, he will kill all the people who somehow offend you, he will save your life from "bad drinks")

• Water is so delicious when you don't drink for several hours in a row. Seriously. Especially after some training. And so you come home after a long day, and you are greeted by this miracle (yeah, very friendly, especially with his emotionality) and you spend the whole evening together. Cute.

• Just, if you love Michael (I do), drink more water. And you will support Michael, and your body will thank you :)

Jason Voorhees — Morse

• It's sweet.

• It's delicious.

• This is useful, especially if it is at home.

• Well, just look at this adorable bun, it's impossible not to love it! It is so sweet and refreshing, like a delicious fruit drink made from fresh summer berries! It's like I'm back at camp again.

Bubba Sawyer — Cocoa with marshmallow

• Brighten up any of your cold evening with his warm, pleasant company.

• You, him and a warm blanket on the sofa in front of the fireplace, what could be better?

• This man has the most tremulous and loving hugs. His big plush body is literally created for pleasant, gentle hugs. And take another ginger cookie for both of you, and it will be the best evening of your lives.

• Cocoa will help you relax after a long chase after victims and dragging a heavy chainsaw. Bubba's tense body begs for such a pleasant rest.

Thomas Hewitt — Hot chocolate

• Like hot chocolate, it is very sweet and pleasant. Warms the throat and soul and all that.

• God, have you seen this divine man? I'm ready to kiss it all, it's the sweetest chocolate in the world.

• Lyude-Mae, thank you for raising such an incredible boy.

• Chocolate improves brain function and increases dopamine levels in the brain, isn't that a sign? In addition, the touch of another person produces dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which lift the mood and increase resistance to stress. Hugs?

Stu Matcher/Billy Loomis — Vodka

• Can I not comment on this..?

Vincent Sinclair — Milkshake (your favorite flavor)

• Oh, yes.

• Milkshake is especially good in the heat. A little cream, your favorite ice cream and some fresh berries (you can do without them) and voila, it turns out such a yummy.

• You can freeze and get ice cream. Multifunctional boy.

• If you start drinking, the cocktail ends in an instant, and then you want more and more... This boy is addictive.

• But he's so sweet...

Bo Sinclair — Pomegranate juice

• I just don't like pomegranate juice. But it's useful. Bo, what's the use of you? (Sorry if you like him)

Lester Sinclair — Mineral water

• Simple and tasteful.

• Lester is really like a mineral water. In a difficult moment, he will always offer his friendly shoulder so that you can lean on or cry.

• The best thing you'll find with a hangover...

• Quenches thirst better than sweet soda.

• If you add syrup to it, you will get a sweet fruit lemonade. This boy will help in all cases of life.

Pyramid head - Green tea

• Many people don't like it (for example, my dad), but if you try this divine drink, you won't be able to drink something else.

• Pyra is truly a gift to the universe!

• Improves well-being, skin condition, accelerates metabolism, improves mood and the name system... I can go on for a long time.

• Delicious both hot and cold (But the Pyramid head one is always hot as Hell...)

• This man is addictive.

John Kramer — Lemonade

• Simple and tasteful.

• You won't find a better alternative for the holidays.

• It's delicious. It's beautiful. This is always relevant. Eternal classics.

• With what other drink do you get to know the essence of this life?

• Chilled lemonade with ice cubes and mint...

Amanda Young — Red wine

• Oh, this baby is the best.

• Improves sleep. Any time spent with this goddess is fine, but sleep is especially good. Next to Amanda, you will only have sweet, pleasant dreams! Maybe even smut... I assure you, sleeping with her is a pleasure.

• Useful for pressure. If Amanda is around, your heart starts beating wildly in a chaotic dance, and the blood rises to your pale cheeks until this moment. Now you don't look so tired, right?

• Hugs and kisses with this gorgeous woman are like Paradise, so it's quite possible to say that she herself tastes like good wine.

Mark Hoffman — Black coffee

• He took my heart.

• No sugar is needed to taste this man.

• At first it seems bitter and nasty, but... Hey, pour me another cup, please?

• It's fucking addictive, and after a while you just won't be able to drink coffee with sugar.

• Where to sign to sell your soul to the Devil? I just want to drink this coffee forever (and have Hoffman forever, ahem)

• As black as his soul.

• Bitter, but delicious in its own way and damn sweet.

• For connoisseurs of true art and something truly beautiful.

Brahms Heelshire — Milk

• Baby Brahmsey.

• Helps you fall asleep. This man will ask for a bedtime story and a kiss before going to bed... And then he will throw you on the bed and ask you to fall asleep with him.

• You know, it's good for the throat if you're sick.

• Milk reminds of childhood ...

• Sometimes milk is nasty and Brahms too. If your mood is more towards tea than coffee, drink tea. Brahms will get mad and calm down. And after that there will be time for hugs.

Hannibal Lecter — Cognac

• This man is good.

• After his appearance in my life, I decided to connect my life with psychology and helping others (and after Kramer's appearance, of course).

• Always good. Especially if you are some kind of boss or a serious person, you should have cognac. In the movies, it looks like a success.

• This man understands exquisite things and looks so great all the time... Really cognac, there is no other way.

• Will support you on a lonely night and cheer you up when you meet some of your friend.

Will Graham — Black tea with milk/cream

• This is... Cute?

• My cousin had a grandmother, she always made me such tea. It evokes a feeling of nostalgia and comfort, as if I am back in childhood.

• This is the most comfortable character for me! So warm, sweet, sweet and pleasant ...

• It's unusual, especially if you try it for the first time, but it's delicious, I assure you.

• A combination of classic harsh tea and something soft and kind from childhood, Will is really the best.

• I want to get to know Will by sight. I want to hug him. I want to be him, okay?

[m-jelly]

I've got you

Pairing: Sheriff Levi x Fem!Reader

Genre and tags: Modern AU, married couple, romance, fluff, threats of violence, scared reader, Levi giving comfort, Levi saving reader, love, kisses, cuddles.

Concept: You work for Mayor Erwin as his assistant and one day he is out and doesn't have much work for you, you opt to work in reception with the lady who is normally there. While behind the protective screens, a man comes in shouting and screaming and making threats towards you and your friend. You call your husband up right away a little scared. Levi comes racing over and saves the day.

@levisbrat25 @ladycheesington @li-anne @nyxiieluna @notgoodforlife @nbinairyn @cypidity @youre-ackermine @galactict3a @2moth-anon2 @thebobaprincess @demonsimp6

You hummed a laugh at Suzie's story. "Can't believe some people."

"I know, right?"

You released a long sigh. "Any emails?"

She looked at her screen. "All answered. Anything from the mayor while he's away at a meeting?"

You checked your work phone. "Nothing at all. Only cute texts from Levi."

She smiled. "Must be nice being married to the sheriff. He's so handsome and sweet. You reached a year yet?"

You shook your head. "Not yet, we will in a few months. We're planning to go away for it, so he's planning on training up his cadets so they'll be okay without him."

"It'll be so romantic!"

You let out a long sigh. "Right? I just want to run off with him now for a nice camping trip."

Suzie giggled. "I can only imagine what he'll get up to with you." She sat up when she saw a man approaching the doors. "Oh...oh no, that's Stu."

You looked out. "Crap, Erwin isn't here. Do we have security down here?"

"We've never needed one. Stay back here with me, we'll be protected with the card reading door and the screens."

Stu stormed through the front door, grabbed the stand with the leaflets on and threw it against the room and screamed. "FUCK YOU BITCHES! YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! FUCK YOU ALL! YOU JUST HURT ME! ALL YOU DO IS HURT ME!"

Suzie stood up and backed up. "Back up."

Stu charged to the glass window and slammed his fist against it and spat at the glass. "I FUCKING SEE YOU IN THERE! YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! COME OUT HERE NOW! I FUCKING DARE YOU BITCHES TO COME OUT HERE!

You moved closer to the glass. "Stu? Stu, do you have a meeting booked today? You normally see Mr Lee, right?"

"I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT ASSHOLE! HE DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! NONE OF YOU DO! I HAVE TOLD HIM WHAT THE PROBLEM IS! HE DOES JACKSHIT!"

You sighed. "Stu, can you tell me why you're angry? Maybe I can help you out."

"I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU! YOU'RE THE DUMB BITCH WHORE YOU FUCKS THE SHERIFF! YOU TAINTED THE SHERIFF."

"Stu, I can't help you if you shout like this. You want help, right?" You sighed as he nodded. "All right, then talk to me."

He leaned on the counter. "I have come in time and time again about my situation." His voice croaked from screaming so much. "Mr Lee moved me out of the town into a new home because I needed it. I needed to be close to certain things. My home isn't good enough. I don't like it. It doesn't have what I need. It's noisy in the city, I don't have two bathrooms, its wooden floors and not carpet. I demand a better home. I am not leaving here until you give me a better home."

You sighed. "Stu, us here at reception can't give you that. You need to talk to Mr Lee. You have his number, give him a call and he'll talk to you about it."

"I don't want Mr Lee."

"Mr Lee is the only person you can talk to. He is the only person we have here in the department you need."

He pointed at you. "SEE!? YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! FUCK YOU BOTH! GET OUT HERE NOW! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU BOTH! GET OUT HERE NOW!"

You fiddled with your phone as he started kicking things and throwing them around as he screamed. You tapped on Levi's name and called him up right away. "Levi?"

Levi called your name. "Hey darlin', everything okay? Who's screaming and shouting?"

"Stu is here. He's making threats and he won't leave. He's throwing things around and we can't leave the town hall."

"Fuck, he shouldn't be in this town! He's moved to the city. I'm racing there now, okay darlin'? You stay behind the glass with Suzie. I'll come for you."

"Thank you, Levi." You ended the call and stayed by Suzie's side. "Levi's coming."

Suzie watched Stu scream and throw things around. "I've never seen him this bad before and it's all over little things."

You hummed. "Mr Lee helps people move out of Town and is a kind guy to do it all. He is way too demanding." You gasped when you saw Levi's sheriff vehicle skid to a speedy stop. "Levi."

Levi got out and plopped his hat on his head before leaping up the steps. He jogged to the doors and opened them wide as Mike followed behind. "Stu, you all right lad?"

Stu turned to Levi. "Sheriff! About fucking time I met someone with sense! These bitches don't give a shit about me! THEY DON'T! THEY HAVE TO COME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW! I DEMAND IT. ALL THEY DO IS HURT ME!"

Levi moved closer as he fought his rage. "Stu, no one is hurting you right now. Look at your hands and arms, are they hurt?"

Stu looked down. "N-No, but the hurt is elsewhere!"

"Look at your reflection in the glass, is there blood?"

"No."

"Do you look hurt?"

"No."

Levi sighed. "So, you've not been hurt."

He gulped hard. "But those-."

Levi put his hand up. "Please don't call them names, okay? You wouldn't like it if they called you names, would you?"

"N-No."

Levi put his hands on his belt with his cuffs and weapons. "These ladies have nothing to do with your situation. Do you really think screaming at them will get you anywhere?"

"They don't care about me!"

"If they didn't care, they wouldn't have talked to you. They wouldn't have tried."

He looked over at you and Suzie. "Look at how scared they are."

Stu studied you and Suzie. "I...I..."

"I know my wife as well. My wife is incredibly kind, caring and helpful. I know she would have taken care of you." He sighed and looked at the mess. "Look at this mess. Why don't you work with Mike and clean this place up for the nice ladies, yeah?"

Stu whined. "Yes, sheriff."

"Good lad. Start cleaning while I talk to the lovely ladies."

Mike walked to the cleaning cupboard and got a few things out. "Here, Stu. Get to work."

You hurried over to the secure door and opened it for Levi. "In you come."

Levi winked at you before walking in. "Thank you kindly." He sighed when you closed the door and waited for the lock to click. He took his hat off and smiled. "So, how did this start?"

Suzie gave Levi the rundown as he made notes in his notepad. You told him your side of the story, but you were spending most of the time admiring your husband. He looked incredible in his tan sheriff uniform with his badge standing proud on his chest. His clothes were a little tight so it showed off his muscular figure. You loved his long boots a lot. You blushed when his wedding ring caught the light.

Levi put his notebook away. "Thank you, both of you and I'm sorry you had to deal with this shit."

Suzie shrugged. "Fucked up to say, but we're used to it."

Levi looked over at you with his brow raised. "That true?"

You hugged yourself. "It is."

"Tch, don't like it."

You rubbed his back. "I know, sugar."

He huffed. "It's not fair."

"Levi!" Mike waved to Levi. "I'll take Stu to cool off down at the station."

"Thanks. I'll escort you two home."

Suzie grabbed her things. "That's okay, sheriff. I'm happy to walk home now Stu is taken care of, but I'm sure your wife needs walking home."

Levi gazed at you. "May I escort you home?"

You nodded. "Please."

Levi smiled and opened the door. He waited for you to get your bag before walking you and Suzie out the front doors and waited for Suzie to lock up. "You sure you're going to be okay Suzie?"

Suzie winked at him. "I'm good. Was gonna go to the town bar for a drink anyway." She waved. "Thanks for saving us." She called your name. "Thanks for helping today. You were so cool and calm. I was impressed."

You blushed a little. "You're welcome."

Levi waved. "Night!" He sighed and looked down at you. "You wanna ride in the car?"

You hummed and gripped a bit of his shirt between your fingers. "Mm."

He rubbed your back. "You're doing so well. Let's get you home, okay?"

"Mm."

He opened the passenger side of the door and let you in. He hurried around to his side and drove the short drive home to your cute home right on the lake with a pretty garden. You and Levi were living the simple cottage dream. You were in absolute bliss with the love of your life.

Levi let you out of the car and locked it up. He escorted you inside and slipped his boots off, placed his belt on the side and hung up his hat. "All right, darlin', come here."

You threw yourself into Levi's arms and squeezed. "I was so scared."

"I can only imagine. That was not fair today for you to go through that. Stu is a piece of shit to do that."

You whimpered. "Yeah."

He picked you up and cuddled you. "I'm sorry you went through that all."

"It was horrible, but you saved the day."

"I'll always come running when you need me, okay?"

You nuzzled the crook of his neck. "Mm."

He sat down on the sofa and rubbed your back. "You wanna talk about it?"

"There's not much to talk about. It was scary to be there, but it's all done with. Thank you." You cupped his face. "So handsome and brave."

He smiled at you. "I love you."

"I love you so much."

Levi pulled you close and kissed you. "I don't know what I would have done if you had gotten hurt."

You massaged your fingers into his hair. "I knew you'd save me."

He leaned up and kissed you again. He sighed through his nose and nipped your lip. He slipped his tongue into your mouth and moaned in delight. He gripped your back tightly and moved with you. He could feel the desperation within your kiss. He lifted you up, lay you on the sofa, and snuggled up to you.

Levi held you close to him. "How are you feeling darlin'?"

You hugged Levi tightly. "I feel better, but more kisses."

Levi chuckled and kissed you passionately. "You know I love kissing you. I can't get enough of it and it makes you feel better, right?"

You nodded and kissed him again. "I love kissing you. I love you, Levi. I love you so much."

"I love you too. You are my everything."

[roadkillremi]

Glances Exchanged

Tatum Riley X F!Reader

^Picture above does not dictate readers appearance^

MasterList

Summary : after a long painful crush on Tatum. The truth comes out in front of her and her boyfriend.

Warnings: language, underaged drinking, mentions drunk dad, being outted. A corny truth or dare. I know just read it.

There was something about her pink lipgloss. The way she slid it on perfectly and licked her lips. You wondered if it tasted like bubblegum or strawberry. The wind blew lightly moving her bangs in her face. She smiled as Stu fixed her hair, you looked away trying to hide the realization.

"You're staring again." Randy whispered holding his sad brown bag of lunch. You looked down and stared walking towards the fountain.

"I didn't mean too-" you muttered. He chuckled, "Uh-huh. Like how you didn't mean to stare at her tits last week?". You glared at him wanting him to shut up. You sat in your usual spot, "Y/N! Finally you can save me from all this... testosterone" she cringed. You smiled, "Sure.". Stu kissed her cheek, "Yeah like you don't enjoy it.".

Your stomach knotted even more. Twisting in new directions, you wanted to puke and hide. More of hide and then puke.

"Anyway." She rolled her eyes looking at you. You took a bite of a pretzel, "Stus having a small party, you in?".

"Uh, the last "Small Party" was around 100 people.." you corrected. She smirked, "it's just gonna be me, Stu, Sydney, Billy, and.. Randy.".

Tatum had this sick thought of you and Randy together. Which wouldn't work due to you not liking Randy, or men. You blinked, "Uh..".

"She'll come." Randy chimed in. You gave him a look hoping it'd explode his head. You turned back towards Tatum, "I have homework..".

"Aw.. come on! Don't be a buzz kill!" Stu shouted. He gently hit your shoulder. You inhaled deeply, "Okay. But only us? Got it?" You pointed at the two of them.

"Sure thing, Mary Poppins." Stu scoffed.

Mary Poppins was the oh so glorious nickname you were given. Stu decided this because you were quoted, "the caring mom friend.". You cringed at the name, "Stop calling her that." Tatum snapped. Your face formed a shade of pink you smiled to yourself and looked down.

"What time tonight.. I'll bring some beer." You offered.

"I don't think your old man would like that" Billy jabbed. He didn't talk this whole time, you scanned his body language.

"He's too drunk to notice." You purse your lips together. You go quiet, Tatum sighed "How about you come over after school to get ready with me?". You gaze over in her direction, your eyes lit up.

"Sure." You hesitantly answered. She smiled sweetly at you, Randy playfully elbowed your side. You continued to eat your food feeling all giddy inside.

2 hours later

You waited by Tatum's locker, you gripped your bag tightly. You spotted her prancing down the hall with a lollipop in her mouth. She smiled jogging over to you, "I'm so excited. I'm gonna make you hotter!". Her face dropped realizing what she said.

"Not that you're not hot. Im just excited to do your makeup and stuff. I mean I'm youre beautiful without makeup-"

"Tatum." You interrupted. She glanced up at you going silent, "I get it, you're good.". She smiled in relief, "Anyway. Let's pick out clothes from your house and then go to mine.". She looped her arm through yours before walking towards the front door of the school.

"I'm thinking of that cute white skirt and a baby tee." She suggested. She pushed open the doors walking straight ahead. People scurried out of the way for her, she sucked on her lollipop pulling it out with a loud pop.

"And I can do your hair!" She gushed. You smiled, "Sure.". She swayed hips slightly bumping them into yours. Randy made eye contact with you on the way to his house. He shook his head with a toothy smile. You rolled your eyes towards him going back to listening to Tatum ramble.

The short walk to your house ended, you pulled out your keys to open the door. You invited Tatum in, "My rooms down the hall.." you instructed. She nodded observing your house, you walked to your room with her close behind you. You opened the door to your room, the lacey curtains let the light in.

"Your rooms are so cozy!" She cooed. You shrugged, "Eh, some of this shit is from when I was 5.". She looked in your closet pulling out some clothes.

"I think it's adorable. You listen to The Hole?" She asked looking at the poster. You nod, "Yeah she's so ho- er.. cool!" You corrected. She smiled, "Yeah. I'm more of a.. Madonna girl.".

"I mean she did change music culture." You smiled. She smiled back, "Exactly. She like.. told people AIDS aren't bad. And just... she's so cool.". You nodded, "Totally.". She grabbed a pair of jeans, "These are so cute on you.".

You had to admit, the jeans hugged your figure just right and were slightly baggy on your calves. She then pulled out a cropped tanked and put it out in front of you.

"With this!" She shoved the pieces of clothing towards you. You took them and started to change, her eyes widen. She watched you for a moment before looking away. She cleared her throat, "So.. where's that beer?".

"Uh, the kitchen cabinet near the pantry." You slid your jeans on with a hop. You finished getting dressed and grabbed your tote. You glanced at Tatum, "Ready?". She nodded practically slipping out the door. She went to grab some beer slipping them in your bag. You looked in the living room to see your dad passed out.

"Okay, let's go." You gently nudged her shoulder. She grinned walking towards the door. Once you locked the door behind you the both of you giggled.

"God, I can't believe he didn't wake up." She exclaimed. You watched the cars go by as you walked down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, he was knocked out." You added. She ran to her front door opening it for you. She ran upstairs to her room, she grabbed your arm pulling you to her vanity.

"let's get this party started." She smiled. She grabbed some of her mascara and lip gloss. You close your eyes trying to relax, you'd jump whenever she touches you without warning.

"Purse your lips out.." she calmly instructed. You did as told, you felt the wand glide against your lips. The same lip gloss that touched her lips. You felt like a preschooler gushing over this.

"Wow.. you look.. sexy-" she admired her work moving some strands of your hair. You fluttered your eyes open, you immediately looked at her. She grinned down at you, "Yeah.. really gorgeous.." you whispered.

"Are.. you and Randy dating?" She questioned. She went to her closet looking through clothes.

"Uh, no. He's not my type." You laughed a bit in the end. You watched her undress her self revealing her back to you. Your mouth went dry, "I uh... hows things with Stu?".

"Good I guess.." she muttered putting a different shirt on.

"Do you like Randy?" She turned back towards you.

"No. Not a chance." You smiled. She nodded, "I mean you're too good for him anyway." She sighed.

"Now let's go! I'll drive you!" She grabbed your hand pulling up. She sprinted downstairs only to be stopped by her mom.

"Tatum. Where are you going?" She placed her hands on her hips firmly. You glanced in between the two ladies, "Out with Y/N Sydney joining us!". Her mom slowly nodded, "Alright... be safe. I love you!".

"I love you too, Mom." She smiled leaving the house. She walked towards her yellow bug.

The drive there was filled with music. She sang along to almost every song. She tapped the stirring wheel to the beat. When Stus driveway was close by she whipped her car in.

"Ah, we're fashionably late!" She unbuckled getting out of the car. You followed behind her, Stu opened the door on cue.

"About time!" He called out embracing Tatum. You walked in unloading the beer from your bag. Randy grabbed a beer leaning back into the couch.

"How'd it go?" He opened the beer against the coffee table. You leaned back exhaling, "She took off her shirt in front of me..". Randy almost choked, "What!".

"Oh keep your dick in your pants. I only saw her back.". Billy strolled in holding chips, "Y/N.".

"Billy." You mocked. He placed the chips on the table. He gave you a look, a mocking smirk.

"So.. you're little crush..".

"Is Randy! Haha caught me." You panicked. Randy's eyes widened, "Mhm!". You two had a pact if anyone found out without you telling them. You'd fake date each other, sadly it was now .

"Wait. So you and Randy are?" Billy scoffed. Tatum glanced over, "Wait... you said you two weren't dating..".

"We aren't! I mean.. we are?" You looked at Randy for guidance. He looked at Tatum, "Uh. We're not dating. We are thinking about dating." He pointed. She leaned on her leg, "Uh-huh..". Sydney walked through the door frame.

"What'd I miss?" She smiled. You sunk into the couch, you felt nauseous.

"Nothing..." you muttered. Billy glared down at you, "Y/N and Randy might date.". You wanted to sink more, "Wow. How cute!" She smiled.

"Yeah. Hey I have a brilliant idea. Let's play truth or dare!" Billy clasped his hands together. Tatum rolled her eyes sitting in an arm chair.

"How old are you?" She judged. He grinned, "Just go with it...". He opened a beer bottle handing it to you. You quickly gulped the beer down, "Randy truth or dare?".

"Uh tr-"

"Don't be a pussy man!" Stu cheered. Randy exhaled, "Dare.". You shook your head, "This is stupid Billy. Let's just watch TV.".

"I dare you to kiss, Y/N..." Billy smiled widen. It frightened you a bit, "Sure.". Randy scooted closer to you giving you a peck. You stayed still and left slammed your eyes shut. Billy scoffed, "God that was pathetic..".

"Stu your turn." Billy kept his eyes on you. You stiffened and sat up, "That's not how this works!". Randy also sat up, Stu out his hands on top his head stretching.

"Stu-" Randy warned.

"Hmm. Is it true you have a crush on my girlfriend?.."

"Randy? I known him since first grade-" Tatum cringed. Stu laughed, "No not Randy..". Tatum face went red, she gazed over to you. Your eyes hurt due to tears poking through. Your chest felt like it was gonna explode.

She wouldn't want to be near you anymore. You probably freaked her out, she'll likely will tell everyone. You shook lightly wanting to run, "So?..".

"I uh..". Randy fidgeted, "Shut up, Billy! Like you aren't gay for Stu!" He shouted. You glanced over at Randy, "leave her alone. She should come out on her own terms.". A small tear fell and you looked down at the floor.

"I like girls.. okay? I just so happen to like Tatum.. but I never did anything." You defended. Tatum sat up, Stu shook his head. Billy raised his eyebrow and moved back against the couch. The criticism radiated, you hugged your torso.

"I can't believe you, Stuart! We're over!" She stood up getting in his face. He looked confused, "What?".

"God, you moron.. I'm bisexual! Madonna is a icon for the gays." She sighed. Randy looked at you, "I told you so! I knew it was weird she liked Madonna so much!".

"Randy shut up!" You and Tatum fussed in unison. Tatum looked at you sweetly, she grabbed your hand leading you out the house. You panicked looking back at Randy. He shrugged, she went out into the chilly night air.

"You should've told me sooner.."

You blankly stared at her, "Hello? Earth to Y/N!" She laughed. You smiled, "Sorry I just... You didn't have to break up with Stu.." you mumbled. She smirked, "He sucks anyways.".

She looked into your eyes, she leaned closer kissing you. Your heart melted, "WOOHOO!" Randy cheered. You rolled your eyes at him and cupped her face. She grinned, "are you gonna ask me on a proper date?". You blinked and then jerked your hand away.

"Oh! Yeah, do you wanna get dinner?.." you asked softly. She smiled, "Sure. And then we're going to the zoo." She added. You smiled, "Of course.".

She smiled and kissed you again, you melted into her touch. Her lipgloss, the lipgloss, tasted like warm vanilla cake. You pressed against her more holding her waist. When she separated from the kiss she giggled slightly.

"My lip gloss got on your lips.." she tried to take it off your lips. You grinned, "It's alright..".

[heydorothea009]

Bread on Toast 2162 - A Future Man s2 Fanfiction

After saving the world from the Biotics, Josh and Liv are catapulted into Tiger and Wolf’s time, 2162. The gang is separated from each other and contention begins to brew. Tiger and Liv find themselves face to face with an old “friend”, while Wolf gets caught in being someone he’s not, and Josh’s life is on the line. Things can’t possibly get any worse.

Warnings: strong language, violent descriptions

Chapter 6: Homicide: Life In The Mons

Liger

Stu Camillo’s Compound

Tuesday, Blapuary 2ndth 2161

08:17AM

Tiger shook Liv awake the next morning. “Stu found something.” She said excitedly.

Liv groggily sat up, not understanding a word Tiger had said. “…what?”

“Get dressed, Stu needs us.”

“…what?”

Tiger sighed, dragging Liv out of bed and pulled her to the main room. They found Stu standing in front of the screen of camera feeds using his hands to summon up pictures and blueprints.

“What did you find?” Tiger asked as she and Liv stood at his side.

“A break!” Stu said enthusiastically. “Using facial recognition, I pinpointed a location where all the Pointed Circle members intersected before dropping off my grid.” He zoomed in on the map of the Mons. “There’s not much out there, mostly storage units.” He pointed to the small bunch of circles that represented the storage units. “Go a little bit further and you’re in cannibal country.”

That woke Liv up. “I’m sorry, ‘cannibal country’?”

Tiger gave a breathy laugh. “Ah, so you guys have cannibals in this timeline too?”

“Desperate people will eat each other.” Stu shrugged and started laughing jovially. Tiger joined in.

“They will, they really will.” She laughed. Liv uncomfortably stood next to them, watching.

Stu’s laughter died down. “Anyways, you should talk to Jeff Breakfast, he runs the storage facilities over there.” He summoned Jeff Breakfast’s picture.

Tiger clapped Liv on the shoulder. “Copy that, Jeffy Breaks. Let’s go.” Tiger began to walk towards the door.

Liv followed Tiger out, extremely confused by whatever the fuck that interaction was.

Storage Station Bravo

2 klicks south of cannibal country

10:21AM

Jeff Breakfast was a short man who wore the same yellow jumpsuit as the rest of the Mons. Tiger looked around at the storage units, which were reflective dome shaped tents, and looked unimpressed.

“People must not be storing anything of great value here,” she murmured to Liv. “I could break into any of these no problem.”

“Hello, ladies, how can I help you?” Jeff Breakfast rounded one of the tents. Liv and Tiger immediately recognized him. Wordlessly, Liv held up the picture of Dr. Hogeveen.

Jeff squinted and got closer to the picture. “Oh, uh,” he looked at it for a moment. “Hm…I don’t know who that is.”

“You haven’t seen anyone coming or going?” Tiger asked, hands on her hips.

Jeff shook his head as he lifted some storage crates and stacked them. “No one ever comes here. They store all their priceless possessions and then just kind of forget about them.” He turned back to them, face sad. “Kind of like me…”

“Oh…” Liv peered up at Tiger, who just rolled her eyes at Jeff.

“Okay, yeah, yeah, we get it, you’re all sad and lonely. We’re just gonna go check things out.” Tiger pushed past him. Liv stepped around him, avoiding eye contact.

“Oh, you…you ladies don’t need any company?” Jeff asked hopefully, following behind them.

“No!” Liv and Tiger said at the same time. They disappeared behind the tents and out of Jeff’s view. Liv unzipped one of the tents slightly and peeked inside.

“How will we know which one?” She asked quietly. Tiger placed her hands on her hips again and scanned the tents, eyes narrowed. A crash behind the tent caught both of their attention. Looking at each other with wide eyes, Tiger motioned for Liv to look around the tent. Liv peeked around and turned back to Tiger, rolling her eyes.

“Woah!” A shrill voice whined.

Tiger sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me that isn’t who I think it is.” Liv looked equally annoyed and nodded. TyAnne bumbled her way over to them, tripping in her high heels over every crate in her path, making a loud noise with each fall. Tiger set her jaw. “There goes the element of surprise, you dumb slunt.” she groaned.

TyAnne, in her space buns and her irritatingly massive fuzzy heart shaped coat, cocked her head. “That’s really not how you use that word.” She stumbled up next to Liv.

“Why are you here?” Liv asked, barely veiling the annoyance in her voice as she peered up at TyAnne the giant, with her six inch chunky heeled boots.

“Um,” TyAnne panted, using Liv as an armrest. Liv bristled as TyAnne put an arm around her. “Well, you said you guys were gonna leave after this, and then I thought, maybe this could be our last chance to hang out, you know, like we talked about non-verbally.” TyAnne gave Liv and Tiger a massive grin. Liv sputtered as some of TyAnne’s fuzzy coat got in her mouth.

“Oh,” Tiger rolled her eyes. “Last night when you tried to kill me.”

“Yeah!” TyAnne beamed.

“That was a nice moment.” Tiger folded her arms. Liv unwrapped TyAnne’s arm from her shoulders and stepped away from her. “You know what, fine,” Tiger sighed. “You wanna help? Here’s what you can do, I want you to start by checking that area over there.” Tiger pointed over TyAnne’s shoulder. “Liv, start that way.” She turned her head so TyAnne couldn’t see and widened her eyes at Liv in a way that said, “don’t worry, I’ll handle her”.

Liv slowly nodded and walked a few short steps away, looking over her shoulder to see what Tiger would do.

TyAnne pranced over and looked around the tent Tiger was pointing to. “Do I get a cheddar blade?” TyAnne sang as she unzipped the tent and poked her head inside.

Tiger stalked up behind her. “Yeah, yeah, I got your cheddar blade,” she smacked her fist against TyAnne’s neck. “Right here.” TyAnne slumped down into the tent.

“Holy shit!” Liv gasped.

“She’s fine.” Tiger sauntered back over to Liv.

Liv started to snicker. “Holy shit.”

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that for.” Tiger looked proud of herself. “Check that one.” She pointed to the tent TyAnne had dumped all the crates around. Liv ducked inside the tent and stood upright.

“What should I do?” She asked, looking around at the loads of cases inside.

“Move them around and see if they trigger or are concealing anything, I’ll check this one over here.” Tiger disappeared from view. Liv started pushing around the cases, flipping them over and shoving them aside as she scoured the tent. She tilted her head as she studied the metal floor. The rounded shaped cutout in the metal sure looked like the perfect secret door. Liv shoved the last few cases and crates aside and stacked them.

“Tiger!” Liv called. “I might have something.” She heard the rustling of Tiger shuffling out of her tent as she turned back to the metal floor. She slipped two fingers into the indents in the floor and lifted it. It was indeed a trap door. Tiger poked her head in just in time. Liv stood upright in shock, looking at Tiger with giant eyes. “I found it.” She mouthed.

“Rat pot.” Tiger whispered in awe, ducking inside the tent. A clang came from down below. “Somebody’s down there, go, go!” Liv hurried and swung herself down into the opening, climbing down the ladder. Tiger followed after her. Dr. Hogeveen, who was sitting at a table full of destroyed research, looked up at them climbing down, convulsing.

“Athena,” Liv seethed, jumping down and beelining for her.

“You’re too late, your trail ends here.” Dr. Hogeveen said shakily. Liv faltered, noticing the electric hum in the air, the red dots pressed to Dr. Hogeveen’s temples, the way her body seized.

“What is she-“ Liv’s eyes darted to the remote in Dr. Hogeveen’s hand. She was killing herself.

Tiger noticed too and stalled. “Eunice,” she sighed, as if she were only disappointed. “Why did you have to go and do that?”

“You-“ Hogeveen twitched. “You were going to torture me for my secrets,” she gave them a defiant look. “And I didn’t want you to.”

“Well, you got me there.” Said Tiger, an edge of annoyance in her voice.

Liv slammed a hand on the table. “Where is our TTD!” She yelled.

“What?” Hogeveen managed to choke out.

“Time Travel Device.” Liv and Tiger said in unison.

“That’s a…stupid name.” Hogeveen twitched.

“Really, that’s what you’re going to waste your last breath on?” Tiger spat. Hogeveen nodded weakly and fell limp. Tiger threw her hands up in the air. Liv let out a frustrated cry and pushed Hogeveen’s dead body to the ground.

Secret Pointed Circle Lab

Necropsy of Dr. Eunice Hogeveen

10:47AM

TyAnne was so horrified by the death of Hogeveen that she went mute. She’d woken up a few minutes after Hogeveen had passed, wandering around above them and whining so loud that Liv and Tiger could hear her with the trapdoor closed. They figured TyAnne’s loud voice and her bumbling around was how Hogeveen had known they were coming and shocked herself to death. They’d pulled TyAnne down into the underground lab to get her to stay quiet. That’s when she saw who was dead in the lab.

TyAnne’s whining had alerted Jeff Breakfast, who came running in a frenzy. He saw the trapdoor and had a panic attack, swearing up and down that he didn’t know it was there. Tiger and Liv decided he should know about what had been going on under his nose and let him down into the lab too.

Tiger stood over Hogeveen, nudging her with her foot. “I remember my first dead body.” She said, almost fondly. “I was four and half of a person just fell from the sky during a drone-ado. Just a body sliced,” Tiger made a slow downward slicing motion through the air. “Right down the middle.” Liv made a face as her stomach turned.

“She was the closest thing I had to a mother.” TyAnne finally spoke after several minutes of sitting in the corner in shock. It was the first time Liv actually felt bad for TyAnne. Tiger didn’t feel bad.

“You’ll get used to it.” Tiger leaned against the table. “By the time I was six, we built training grounds out of corpses.” She gave a fond chuckle. “The Obstacle Corpse.”

“Tiger…” Liv sighed.

Jeff Breakfast, who hadn’t stopped spinning around in circles with his eyes almost the size of his head as he took in the idea of this underground lab, finally spoke too. “This is a full-on hideout?!”

“Yeah,” Tiger raised an eyebrow. “And there were a ton of footprints by the exit that were not yours, or mine, or Liv’s, or TyAnne’s. Trust me, I checked. Are you one hundred percent sure you didn’t see anyone coming or going?”

“I’ve been here all day, I didn’t see anything!” Jeff answered.

“Then you sir, are bad at your job.” Liv jabbed a finger at him, narrowing her eyes.

Jeff looked panicked. “Okay, but- it’s just- this job is all I have. I don’t wanna die.” He walked off and looked around at the lab in even more horror. Tiger shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“So…” TyAnne started, running her hands over her knees. “Now that the one thing you guys were looking for is…dead…” she looked down and tucked a strand of loose purple hair behind her ear. “Does that mean you’re leaving?”

Liv opened her mouth to answer, but Tiger beat her to it. “See this finger, TyAnne?” She held up her finger. “This is the ‘stop talking finger’. So when you see this,” she held the finger to her lips. “You stop talking.”

Liv kicked at the ground. “Tiger, she just lost her mother figure. Come on,” she shook her head disapprovingly. Tiger held the “stop talking finger’ to Liv as she looked down at the ground. Liv tensed. “Tiger, don’t you dare do that to me-“

“Do that again.” Tiger said, quirking an eyebrow down at the ground.

“What?” Liv furrowed her brows.

“Kick at the dirt again.” Liv scuffed the toe of her shoe again and Tiger’s face lit up. “Did you see that white powder you just kicked up?” Tiger crouched.

Liv looked at TyAnne, who looked just as confused as she did. “…no?” Tiger pinched some dirt and sprinkled it onto her tongue.

TyAnne wrinkled her nose. “Ugh!”

Tiger ran her tongue over her lips and looked deep in thought. “Sedimentary…hint of limestone…very old…why would there be ancient stone dust here…where is it from…?”

TyAnne’s face lit up and she raised her hand. “Ooh! Ooh! I know!”

“Tell me.” Tiger demanded. TyAnne raised an eyebrow and folded her arms defiantly, falling silent.

Tiger nudged Liv. “You ask.” Liv rolled her eyes.

“TyAnne, will you please,” she shot Tiger a look. “Tell us.” TyAnne shook her head brattily.

Tiger groaned. “Ugh, fine. You can come with us.” Her tone was mocking.

TyAnne grinned and clapped her hands. “Yay!”

Hab Unit of Lil’ Jimmy McGurgan

(First Boy on Mars)

“Art Smash”

12:02PM

TyAnne led them to Jimmy McGurgan’s place, finding the door unlocked. When they walked in, they were immediately greeted with famous artwork and statues lewdly decorated with penises, smashed to bits, and with holes punched through the canvases.

Liv looked around, jaw on the ground in disgust. “This is just disrespectful!”

Tiger rolled her eyes, running her finger over a painting covered in stone dust. “Come on Liv, don’t be a prude.”

“This is- was- art, these were in museums! You can’t just smash them like that?!” Her head was on a swivel looking around in horror. Jimmy McGurgan could be seen down the hall, bowling with a cherub statue head. There was a loud tearing sound that reverberated off the walls as a canvas ripped. “Unbelievable!” She cried.

“Okay, nerd.” Tiger condescended, folding her arms and walking ahead of TyAnne and Liv.

TyAnne looked over at Liv and grinned. “But it’s fun!” She skipped ahead of Liv and joined Tiger. Liv stomped up to join them. Jimmy had two other friends over, all fucking up different art from various eras. Liv couldn’t believe the disrespect.

Jimmy turned and saw them walking into the room. “Well hello, ladies!” He greeted them enthusiastically. “What brings you to Chez McGurgs?”

“You cannot just destroy-“ Liv began angrily, eye twitching as she saw the broken frame and torn up canvas of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” beside him.

Tiger held up her “stop talking finger”. She’d used it more on Liv than who it was meant for. “I got this.” She muttered, turning to TyAnne. “You just get these chuckle fucks out of here.”

TyAnne bobbed her head. “Hey Thad, Greg!” She called out to the other boys in the room. “Come with me, we’re gonna make a slip n’ slide out of the Dead Sea Scrolls.” The other two guys perked up, excitedly following TyAnne out of the room, passing an angry, gaping Liv.

“Those are historic!” She cried out.

Jimmy strolled over to the two of them. “Famous Miss Tiger and Liv.” He put his hands sassily on his hips. “A lot of people are wondering what you two are doing here, where you come from, how you exist.”

“We’re time travelers from alternate realities.” Tiger deadpanned.

Jimmy chuckled. “Okay,” he seemed to accept this answer. “Fly and coy.” He stepped closer. “Listen ladies, as someone who has been in the public eye my entire life, I know what it’s like to be talked about.” He reached out and pat Tiger’s arm.

“Don’t.” Tiger whispered coolly. “I just want to know how long you’ve been smashing this stuff.”

“And demand that you stop.” Liv added.

“Liv,” Tiger nudged Liv.

“As soon as Stu moved up the launch!” Jimmy answered excitedly. “We can’t take all this with us, so we might as well have fun.” He shrugged, looking at Liv. “Sorry if that makes you upset that we’re having fun.”

“Who’s been in and out of here?” Tiger asked, stepping around Jimmy to inspect the room.

Jimmy turned to face Tiger. “The inner circle. Centurion deck and above.” He looked over at Liv, who stood firmly with her arms folded. “I’m Alpha Deck on the Camillo One, obviously.” He bragged flirtatiously.

“I literally don’t care.” Liv glowered at him.

The back door whooshed open. “Jimmy, are you guys still going? I brought my hammer!” The girl walking in said. Jimmy waved at her. Liv dropped her arms to her sides in shock. Tiger’s eyes widened in recognition. Jeri Lang, in full Mons attire, stood in front of them, holding her hammer proudly.

“No fucking way…” Liv breathed out.

“Shoe-Neck…” Tiger muttered.

Jolf

In the excitement of the new Supreme Overlord being crowned, Josh was able to slip out of the Smash Pit unnoticed. After almost being abducted by the Pointed Circle he had to get out of this timeline. Now. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him back to the NAG, hoping he could find Wolf. He threw open many doors to many shacks that didn’t belong to Wolf, alarming many people, but he moved so frantically fast that he was darting away before anyone could pinpoint him as a Stray.

“Wolf- Wolf!” Josh stopped so hard that he almost fell over, spotting Wolf sitting at a desk through a window. He flung himself inside, toppling over at Wolf’s feet. “You gotta help me, okay? They’re after me, they’re after me!” Josh stammered, whole body quaking. “The Pointed Circle is inside the NAG!”

“Rogue Smasher!” Josh turned to see the guard from the Smash Pit barreling at him. Josh yelped and ducked behind Wolf, who seemed unphased. The guard stopped and bowed to Wolf respectfully.

“My apologies, your eminence.”

“Eminence?” Josh quivered behind Wolf.

“But this one still owes a debt in the Smash Pit.” The guard pointed at Josh accusingly. Wolf sighed and looked down at the many scrolls in front of him.

“Wolf, I can’t go back there.” Josh responded quickly. “It’s not safe.”

Wolf sighed, looked at Josh, and then looked back at one of the scrolls. “‘Smash Pit is a publicly held entity, requiring an open forum and 2/3rds majority to commute your service, or failing that…” he followed along with his finger. “‘A stampede of yellow ants, followed by a carrot-colored wind.’”

Josh stared down at the scroll in disbelief. “Wolf, you are reading nonsense from a bean husk.”

Wolf looked back at Josh. “An airtight bean husk. My hands are tied here. I can’t amend this thing until the next blood moon.”

“Wolf!” Josh waved his hands frantically. “I cannot go back there! If I go back there, I will be killed! They already attacked me once, I am a sitting duck. It’s not safe!” He pleaded. “Please!”

Wolf looked torn. He glanced up at the guard. “Look, Chisel,” he called the guard by name. “Your Honorable Pit Boss, maybe we can come to an understanding.” Wolf gave him a charming grin.

Chisel left that day with a brand new bicycle with far too many wheels, a giddy smile on his face.

The Wheelmaker cluster was not so fond of the idea of having a Stray in the house, so Wolf made Josh stay outside while he talked them into it.

Josh paced around outside the back door, trying to listen in on the cluster inside. He could hear talking, but couldn’t make out the words. A shadow passed over him, making him spin around, eyes wide with fear thinking it was someone ready to kill him.

Instead he saw several drones flying in the sky over the NAG. His jaw dropped to the ground. Pieces of paper began to flutter down around him. He stood, arms reached out on both sides of him, awestruck. He caught a piece of paper.

“‘Mars launch in…’” Josh’s heart dropped. “‘2 days’?!”He blinked hard, making sure he was actually reading the pamphlet correctly. The writing remained the same, the Mars launch was in two days. Josh turned and shoved his way through the door. “Wolf! Wolf!” He cried, holding the pamphlet in the air. Wolf’s cluster turned to look at Josh, their faces varying from shock, disgust, and terror. He ignored them, running straight for Wolf. “Drones are dropping pamphlets from the sky!” He shoved the pamphlet in Wolf’s face. “We have two days to stop the attack. We’re all gonna die!”

Wolf’s husbands and wives gasped. One of his wives plugged her ears and started humming nervously, resting her head on the woman’s shoulder next to her. Wolf pursed his lips and shook his head at Josh, signaling to him too late that it wasn’t a good time.

“We won’t even notice him, huh?” One of Wolf’s husbands, a black man, made a raw muscle, folded his arms and gave Josh the death stare.

That was how Josh ended up being chained to Wolf’s makeshift dog house. Wolf fastened a cuff around Josh’s ankle.

“I’m adding this to my list of things I’m telling Liv about.” Josh glared down at Wolf.

“You brought this on yourself.” Wolf reminded him. “I was so close to getting you a mat on the floor behind the cum bucket.”

Josh opened his mouth to retaliate, but the words quickly left him at the mention of “cum bucket”. He just stood with his mouth hanging open for a moment before shaking his head. “I’m not even going to ask about that, but I will ask about this: what are we planning to do about the Pointed Circle attacking me last night?”

Wolf stood up and towered over Josh. “Who you think attacked you last night. The de-bat got everyone all worked up, my guess is someone saw you talking to me, old loyalties die hard, and they tried to murder you.” He shrugged. “That’s democracy in action.” Josh set his jaw and looked away, growing frustrated. “I was almost hit by an assassin’s arrow, from who? Who knows. You don’t see me all worked up.” He started for the door.

“Well, you should be!” Josh stopped him. “How can you even think that we’re safe here? Are you serious?”

Wolf took a breath before talking down to Josh in a condescending tone. “I can see this is important to you,”

“Yes, thank you.” Josh sighed.

“And I am committed to being responsive to all my constituents of this burgeoning modern city-state.” Wolf whipped out a small journal and pen from his cape, scribbling down Josh’s “complaint”. “Investigate claims of possible…” he said out loud as he jotted his thoughts down.

“Definite.” Josh’s voice was taute.

“Internal terrorist activity.” He shut the journal and gave Josh a smile. “And there you go.”

“Don’t you want more information? I have leads, Wolf.” Josh turned as Wolf walked around him and back inside. “Red hair, resistance tattoo-“ Wolf just gave him a big thumbs up. Josh squinted at him in irritation. “I find your concern disingenuous.” Wolf shut the door behind him. Josh let his head fall back as he groaned, squeezing his fists. He turned back to his dog house of a shelter. He sighed and ducked inside, curling up on the bed in defeat.

Liger

Hab Unit of Lil’ Jimmy McGurgan

The Interrogation of Cunt-O Shoe-Neck Bitch

1:08 PM

Jeri was tied to a chair, whimpering in confusion and fear. Tiger and Liv stood over her, glaring.

“Seems like old times, huh, Jer Bear?” Tiger folded her arms. “Why don’t you tell us where the TTD is and maybe this time you can keep your head.”

Jeri shook her, looking as though she were about to break into tears. “Who’s Jeri? My name is Geraldine, and I don’t even know what a TTD is!”

“Time Travel Device,” Liv and Tiger said in unison.

“Don’t say it’s a dumb name, we know.” Liv said, rolling her eyes.

Jeri shook her head earnestly. “I won’t, it’s not in my nature.”

Liv let out a sharp, snarky laugh. “Oh yeah, right.”

Tiger stepped forward. “I’m gonna hurt you Jeri, ‘cause we know that no matter the timeline, you’re a murderer and a liar.”

Liv stepped forward, pointing a finger in Jeri’s face. “And a manipulator.”

“And you’ve got a real slunty face.” Tiger added.

“That’s…that’s not how you use that word.” Jeri flinched as soon as she said it, worried that Tiger might execute her for speaking out of turn.

“I’m sorry,” Tiger tilted her head, feigning an apology. “I don’t speak Bio-Tech.”

Jeri looked up at Tiger, confused. “But aren’t you one too?” Tiger’s lips pressed together. She wound up and slapped Jeri across the face. Jeri gasped in pain, looking back up between Liv and Tiger. “It seems like you two are going through something right now, and you’re using me to work out your issues.” She looked at Liv with those pleading eyes she remembered her giving Josh.

Liv scoffed, not falling for it. She wasn’t in love with Jeri like Josh had been. “Oh, what, so are you a therapist now?”

Jeri nodded earnestly. “Yes, yes that’s my vocation.”

Liv and Tiger shared annoyed glances. “Why don’t you stop stalling and tell me where our TTD is?” Tiger hissed.

“Stop! Guys!” TyAnne threw open the door. “Geraldine had nothing to do with this!”

“She has everything to do with this! We’re getting answers.” Liv swung her head around to look at TyAnne.

“Yeah, and everyone knows that torture is the most effective way to get the truth out.” Tiger said.

“Yeah,” Liv followed immediately, pausing when she realized she’d just agreed with Tiger about that.

Tiger wound up to slap Jeri again, but TyAnne quickly caught her arm. Tiger looked shocked, yanking her hand away. TyAnne looked hurt.

“This has been about your stupid time machine.” Her eyes darted between Liv and Tiger. “You never cared about Stu,” she accused Tiger. “And you never cared about getting to know me.” She gave a wounded look to both of them.

“Not really.” Tiger rounded Jeri in the chair, standing behind her.

“See, now that’s hurtful, Tiger.” Jeri said.

“Shut up.” Liv rolled her eyes.

TyAnne narrowed her eyes at Tiger. “At first, I wanted to be more like you, but now…I think you might be the worst version of me.”

Liv’s face fell and she looked back at Tiger, who’s cheeks flushed red. “No. You’re the worst version of me.” Tiger said, a little louder than she’d meant to. “Worse versions ask better versions for help…that’s…that’s the versions rule.”

TyAnne shook her head. “You were getting something out of it too.”

“I was trying to fix you, but just like this place, you’re a lost cause, which is why Liv and I are bailing.” Tiger snapped.

“We all want to hit the reset button.” Jeri jumped in. “But unfortunately, life doesn’t give us a machine to go back and fix all of our problems.”

“Shut up, Jeri!” Tiger and Liv yelled in unison. TyAnne gave Liv and Tiger the “stop talking finger”.

Tiger looked stunned. “You cannot use my finger against me.”

“I’m using it.” TyAnne snapped. She pointed to a counter directly behind Jeri and Tiger. “When did those get here?”

Jeri craned her neck to see. “Oh, those? The storage guy brought them this morning.”

Liv quirked an eyebrow at Tiger. “Jeff Breakfast said he never left his post today.” She reminded Tiger.

“Jeff Breakfast lied.” Tiger whispered as TyAnne drawled the exact same thing.

Liv shrugged to Tiger. “TyAnne just cracked the case.”

Tiger shot Liv a glare. “Come on, let’s go.” She walked around Jeri’s chair.

“No thanks,” TyAnne sang, stomping her foot down. “After today, the last thing I want is to be more like you.” There was venom in TyAnne’s words. She sashayed to the door and left Tiger, with her brow twitching, and Liv, biting the insides of her cheeks.

“Relationships are hard.” Jeri's voice came from behind them. Tiger struck Jeri again.

Hab Unit of Jefferson Breakfast

Objective: Torture With Intent to Interrogate

3:43 PM

“I can’t believe we just took that whiny creep’s word for it.” Liv grumbled as they stormed back to the storage units in search for Jeff Breakfast.

Tiger sighed as they walked up to Jeff’s hab unit. “Well, if you ask me, he plays the victim role really well.” She said as her and Liv stepped inside. They both froze as they heard the click of a loaded blaster next to both of their heads.

After being blindfolded and led to another room, Tiger and Liv were both strapped to chairs and had their blindfolds removed. Tiger didn’t put up a fight, wearing a small smirk on her face. Liv was trying not to seem frantic about this situation, but on the inside she was losing her mind. The door swung open and Jeri stepped inside, looking at them both with a smug look. Neither of them knew how she’d escaped, seeing as they had left her tied to a chair, but here she was.

Liv gritted her teeth. “Once a bitch, always a bitch.” She seethed under her breath.

Tiger shook her head knowingly up at Jeri. “In every timeline.” She added.

Jeri put her hands on her hips. “Looks like the shoe’s in the other neck.”

“You don’t even understand that reference.” Liv raised an eyebrow.

“Your time machine has a battery and it’s missing.” Jeri studied them as she said this. “You’re going to tell me where it is.”

“Nope.” Tiger shook her head. “I’m a warrior, Liv’s just my companion. We don’t do all the science-y stuff.” She sent Liv a side glance that Liv understood immediately. Fuck with Jeri’s head.

Jeri scoffed. “Don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure you both have very leveled,” she stepped towards Liv, eyeing her. “Skill sets.” Liv stared back up at Jeri, eyes burning with anger. “As tough as you look,” Jeri cooed in a condescending voice to Liv. “I’m not afraid of you.” She swung her fist directly in front of Tiger’s face, stopping her knuckles just centimeters from her nose. Her hand reached down into the neckline of Tiger’s shirt, hooking a finger around the Cameronium vial that Tiger had strung on a chain. Tiger kept a blank face as Jeri snapped the chain from Tiger’s neck. Jeri glanced at Liv for a reaction, but Liv shoved down any rage, keeping her face neutral. Jeri couldn’t hide the flash of disappointment in her eyes from seeing how neither of them gave her the reaction she wanted.

“What do you want with my glow worm blood?” Tiger asked in a steady voice.

“Blood that fits in the vial that perfectly fits into your time machine?” Jeri narrowed her eyes.

“Times were tough where I came from, there was only one vial size.” Tiger said in the same tone.

Jeri nodded in disbelief. “Right…I’ll see you around ladies.” She gave them another smug grin. She caught Liv’s slight eyebrow quirk, making her grin falter. “…what’s going to happen when I put this in the machine?”

“Oh,” Tiger looked over at Liv and shrugged. Liv played along, shrugging back nonchalantly. “Nothing, if you know how to do it right.”

Jeri smirked. “Nice try, we’ve used the machine before.”

“Oh, then you must know the initiation sequence that activates the fuel after it’s been removed?” Tiger said, studying Jeri’s body language. “You get that wrong, you lose your head.” She sent Liv a knowing smirk.

Jeri’s brows furrowed. “You’re lying.”

“Sharp as a nail, Jeri.” Tiger shook her head with a smile.

“Reverse psychology won’t work.” Jeri said in the same tone as Tiger. “You just told me everything.”

“She’s good.” Liv said, feigning surprise.

Jeri furrowed her brows again. “Reverse-reverse psychology won’t work either.” She had an frustrated tone in her voice.

“Sounds like that’s just psychology.” Liv continued to pester.

Jeri glared at Liv. “I’m not a psychologist, I dunno.” A man walked into the room holding a case. Jeri got an evil glint in her eyes as she took it from him, opening it to show off the TTD with different colored wires plugged into it. Liv caught sight of Tiger’s fingers curling tightly around her restraints.

“Yahtzee.” Tiger muttered under her breath as she grinned, ripping through the restraint, making Jeri’s face fall. She kicked Jeri in the gut and slammed the man’s head into the wall. She wrestled Liv’s restraints off of her.

“Holy shit! Tiger that was-“ Liv’s eyes were bright.

“Hold your applause.” Tiger said, as another woman burst into the room to stop them. Tiger threw her out of the window.

Liv grabbed the TTD off of the ground, ripping the wires out. As she made for the door, something caught her ankle. Liv fell face down onto the floor with a grunt, holding the TTD against her chest. Jeri rolled Liv over, sitting on her while she tried to pry the TTD from her arms. Liv held on tightly, teeth gritted.

“Come on, tough girl,” Jeri gave a sharp tug. “Give me the time travel device.”

“TTD,” Liv corrected, holding on tightly. Tiger lunged at Jeri, knocking her off of Liv. Liv began to run for the exit. Before Tiger could hold Jeri down, she slithered from her grasp. Jeri tackled Liv to the ground, grabbing Liv’s hair and smashing her head into the floor. Hard. The ringing in her ears was disorienting, the world began to spin. She felt a sharp pain in her forehead as a sharp slit in the metal floor cut through her skin. She felt woozy.

The TTD slid across the floor, hitting the door. Tiger and Jeri lunged for it at the same time, their heads smashing against one another. Jeri’s hand landed on it first, snatching it up and stumbling quickly out of the door.

Tiger panted, spinning around to check on Liv. Her forehead was bleeding, a nice gash slashed over her right eyebrow. Tiger picked Liv up and supported her arm over her shoulder.

“Come on,” Tiger panted, helping Liv stumble out of the hab unit. Jeri was awkwardly jogging away, clutching the TTD tightly, holding her stomach and coughing. She caught sight of them, stopping and opening the TTD, a threatening look in her eyes. “Don’t do it!” Tiger yelled. “A plutonium-based power source has a fraction of the joules necessary to generate a field stable enough to breach the inter-dimensional plane!”

Jeri wobbled as she pressed buttons and flipped switches. “No science stuff, huh?” She coughed again.

“I guess we’re all liars.” Liv said shakily. “Don’t do it, Jeri.”

The TTD began to start up. “I’ll take my chances.”

“Wait, wait!” Tiger held out the hand that was not supporting Liv.” We can all walk away with something we want. You with your head attached, us with the TTD.” Tiger negotiated.

Jeri narrowed her eyes. “If you say it won’t work, that means it will.”

“And if you’re wrong?” Tiger held Liv tightly. Liv gripped Tiger’s shoulder.

“Then I’ll die knowing I took away the one thing you wanted most.” She looked down and fired it up.

Tiger grabbed Liv around the waist. “No!” She screamed, pulling both of them behind a large crate. The sound of Jeri’s body exploding ripped through the area. The moment Liv saw innards splatter around them and her world went dark. Tiger caught Liv as she slumped forward, quietly cursing. Jeri’s head came rolling in front of them. Tiger peeked up over the crate to see that the rest of Jeri’s body was in bits and pieces within a mile radius. She glanced back at the head. “God fucking dammit!” She screamed, hoisting up Liv’s unconscious form.

Jolf

Josh sat curled up on his cushion fiddling with Pup-E, who he’d named Pup-E Q. Barkington. All he wanted was to turn on the little robot and to give it a second chance at life. He pressed on the head, which was loose and threatening to fall off. He pressed his lips together and pressed down again. The sound of the back door opening behind him made him jump, quickly hiding Pup-E under his cushion and grabbing a rock for protection. He was surprised by the amount of horrors that were in the NAG. A young blonde girl’s face popped into his view. He yelped in surprise.

She giggled apologetically. “I’m sorry,” she looked at him, eyes full of intrigue. “I’ve never met a Stray before.” This must have been Lugnut, Wolf’s fake daughter. Josh lowered the rock and let out a sigh of relief. “Can I see you gills?” She asked excitedly, crouching down.

Josh stared at her blankly. “Uh…my what?”

“Are you going to steal my hair and make a nest? Take my baby teeth and make a crown? I have them under my bed if you want, and this one’s loose!” She was beaming excitedly, showing him her wiggly left canine tooth.

Josh slowly shook his head. “No, uh, no…” he was baffled. “I’m just…from out of town.”

“I heard you only have two parents.” She said, wrinkling her nose.

“…that’s part’s true actually.”

She looked at him with her eyebrows raised slightly. “Is that why there’s a horn growing out of your butt?”

“…no?”

Lugnut and Josh became fast friends. Josh told her about what he had seen when he was almost captured. Lugnut listened intently, excited by the idea that she could help this stranger.

“So, have you seen anybody who looks like that?” He asked her after recounting the memory.

“You said hair that’s red like blood? There are only, like, five ladies in the NAG with hair like that. I know all of them.” She grinned excitedly. “I actually know everybody here! It’s the faces of the dead I pushed from my mind.” She said.

Josh blinked a couple times. “Cool…cool…so, uh, the one I’m looking for has a cut about here,” he made a cut motion on his thigh. “So all you need to do is see if any of those ladies are walking kinda funny-“

“Oh, then not Trowel, she can’t walk.” Lugnut interjected. “She has no legs.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

“Then we’re down to four.” Josh said. “You think you could, uh, check them out for me? Our little secret?” Josh held out his pinky finger. Lugnut looked confused. Josh demonstrated linking his pinky around his other one for her. “It’s called a pinky promise,” he explained. “It means you promise to keep this our little secret.”

Lugnut nodded earnestly. “Yeah, I can do that!” She linked to pinky finger to Josh’s.

“That’s great!” Josh sighed in relief. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome!” Lugnut began to skip off before she stopped and turned back to him. “Papa Torque said your name is Josh, right?”

“Uh, yeah…papa…Torque is right.”

Lugnut gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you for helping my Papa Torque escape. He’s told us about you and the other girl, Liv.” And with that, she skipped away.

Wolf was humming to himself happily, sipping his bean juice and reading over his scrolls when Lugnut came running in, face contorting with panic.

“Papa Torque!” She cried. “Papa Torque, come quick! It’s the Stray, Josh!”

Wolf bolted from his seat. “What- what’s going on?” He hurried over.

“Well, the Stay, Josh, asked me to help him find a lady with hair like blood and a cut on her leg, but Mama Thimble found out and told other people about it, and…they’re trying to burn him.” She admitted, sounding guilty. Wolf grabbed Lugnut’s hand.

“Show me where.”

They found Josh in the town center, tied to a chair, eyes the size of saucers in fear.

“Burn the stray! Burn the stray!” The crowd yelled, carrying torches.

“Damn...” Wolf breathed out, eyes as wide as Josh’s.

“Not a good move!” Wolf scolded Josh.

Wolf had had to jump up in front of Josh and plead for his freedom, promising to keep him in check. Then Wolf had carried him home, Ram’s Sack style.

“You mess with the cluster, you’re gonna find yourself on the business end of a bonfire.” Wolf finished chaining Josh back to his dumpster shelter.

Josh groaned. “Do you even hear yourself right now? Those people were trying to burn me alive! Like the Salem Witch Trials!” Not only was he terrified out of his mind, but also annoyed that Lugnut hadn’t taken her pinky promise very seriously.

“You shouldn’t have brought Lugnut into this.” Wolf scolded again. “I promised I would look into your Pointed Circle allegations, and I have never broken a promise in my whole political career.” Josh let out a frustrated sigh. “Hey! A little gratitude would be nice, I just saved you from being burned alive. Salesman Witch Trial, or whatever you said.”

Josh glared up at Wolf. “You promised me that if I came to your time, you would take care of me.”

“Well, looky here,” Wolf gestured to the dumpster shelter. “You’ve got a roof, three walls, and mushy bean leavings fed to you. I’d say you’re living pretty large. Now, hold still while I put this muzzle on.” Wolf whipped out a muzzle.

Josh immediately tried flinching away as Wolf wrestled it over his head. “Woah, no, no! You’re not gonna muzzle me! Don’t muzzle me!” He strained and craned his neck, trying to fight off Wolf. “I’m J1, you can’t just muzzle me!”

Wolf got all the straps around Josh’s head, holding his head still as he buckled it. “I can. I will.” Josh glared up at Wolf as Wolf shushed him. “Just did.”

Josh tried to say something, but it was muffled.

“You brought this on yourself.” Wolf said, cupping Josh’s cheek. Josh began to try and speak again, but Wolf just held his finger to where Josh’s lips would have been. “Shhhhh.” Their pagers beeped in unison. Wolf sighed as he pulled it out. Josh tried to peer over Wolf’s hands and see. “Oh, boobs, of course.” He turned and started to walk off.

Josh followed him as far as the chain would allow, his cries of protest muffled. “No, no!” Wolf whipped back around, pointing a stern finger at Josh. “You need to stay.”

Josh cried out again.

“Stay!”

Josh folded his arms angrily.

“Stay.” Wolf gave him a look over. “Good boy.” He said, winking.

As Wolf walked away, he could hear Josh’s furious pleas following him.

Tiger and Liv stood at Josh’s piss hole, Tiger waiting stoically and patiently, Liv waiting anxiously and impatiently. It was dark by the time Wolf came trotting over to them, Liv’s whole face lit up, only to quickly fall when she realized Josh wasn’t there.

“Where’s Josh?” She asked anxiously.

“He’s tied up.” Wolf said casually. Tiger and Liv both squinted their eyes at him. “Literally.” Wolf added.

“Why is he tied up?” Liv asked, anger rising in her voice.

“Look, he’s been causing some uproar amongst my cluster, it’s to make them and the rest of the NAG feel better about a Stray living with them.” Wolf tried explaining. Liv’s eyes were growing angrier and angrier. “I had to muzzle him because he was putting ideas in my Lugnut’s head-“

“You MUZZLED my boyfriend?!” Liv screeched, storming over and shoving Wolf in the chest.

“Woah, woah!” Wolf barely budged, but still held up his hands defensively. “Liv, don’t shove the Supreme Overlord-“

“Liv, shove him again, he can’t tell you what to do.” Tiger said loudly, glaring at Wolf. With a loud cry, Liv shoved Wolf again.

“Liv-“

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Liv screamed, pounding her fists on Wolf’s chest. She whipped around to Tiger. “I told you he should have come with us!”

“2162 has made you feisty, Liv.” Wolf chuckled lightly. Liv screamed again and punched Wolf in the arm. Wolf actually winced. “And stronger too.”

“Shut your rathole, Wolf.” Tiger narrowed her eyes at Wolf. “We need to get Josh. That Jeri bitch blew up again and the TTD got destroyed.”

“Her again? Head explode?”

“No, the rest of her. It was her head that was fine.” Tiger said, sounding skeptical of Wolf. “We’re officially trapped here. If we want to survive we need to be on a spaceship to Mars in two days.”

Wolf snorted, raising an eyebrow. Tiger stiffened. “We’re going to a sky sparkle? Ha, no thank you.”

Liv glowered up at him again. “2162 has made you an asshole.” She seethed.

Tiger took her keycuff bracelet off, offering it to Wolf. “Take this.” She demanded. “It’s a key to Stu’s compound, it will let you in no matter what.” Wolf scoffed and shook his head. “Wolf. This is serious.” Tiger pleaded.

“My name isn’t Wolf. It’s Torque.”

“Your name is Wolf.” Tiger snapped.

“Was. I was Wolf, then Corey Wolfhart, then Wolf again briefly, and now I’m Torque.” Wolf folded his arms. “Or if you want to be formal, His Eminence, the Supreme Overlord Wheelmaker, First of His Name.”

“Okay, Supreme Overlord,” Tiger’s tone was angry and condescending. “The planet’s about to be uninhabitable.”

“Don’t try and make me feel bad with your climate change lies, okay?” Wolf scoffed. “Everyone knows that scientists just made all that up because of…of the…” he searched his brain for why that could possibly be.

“So the NAG completely turned you into an idiot.” Liv snapped.

“Look, it sucks that your TTD was destroyed, but look around, this could be our new home.” Wolf held his arms up, gesturing into the night. “Come back to the NAG, you can see Josh,” he said to Liv. “And we can build a new home.” He said to Tiger.

Tiger and Liv both tensed. “I can’t do that.” Tiger muttered.

“Why not?” Wolf finally burst out. “Why? Why do you keep fighting this?”

Tiger shoved her hands into her pockets and dropped her gaze. Liv looked up at Tiger and shifted her feet uncomfortably, looking down at the sand too. In the uncomfortable silence, Wolf began to piece everything together. His face slowly became one of shock and disgust.

“The DMC gas…” he whispered. Liv stared off, swallowing thickly. “You’ve…you’re one of them…” he looked to Liv for confirmation. She wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“I’m still me…” Tiger lifted her gaze to his. He looked disgusted and terrified of her.

“You’re a Biotic. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Tiger felt a prick behind her eyes. “It wasn’t supposed to matter. We were supposed to come back to a time where this didn’t matter.”

“We come from a time when it does.” Wolf stated sharply.

Tiger let out a shaky breath. “I guess I just couldn’t take you looking at me…like that.”

“You’re a liar.” Wolf’s furious gaze turned to Liv. “And you’re just as bad as her. You knew!”

“We’re liars, Torque?” Liv lashed out. Wolf was taken aback. “You go home and lie every single day to that man’s family and his daughter.”

“Don’t you dare bring my daughter into his!” Wolf shouted.

“She’s not your daughter!” Tiger scoffed. Wolf swallowed, lips quivering in fury. “You know deep down that no matter how much you smile and charm them, their love is for someone else.”

Wolf walked right up to Tiger, standing over her. “At least I have someone else. Who do you have? Liv? I give it a few more hours before she bails on you.” He turned away and brushed past Liv, whose eyes were beginning to stream with hot, raging tears. He turned back, looking Liv straight in the eyes. “Josh is waiting for you.” Then he disappeared into the sage brush.

[love-bokumono-fics]

Fresh Crops! December 11 - December 17, 2023

This week's newest stories and chapter updates for Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons on AO3!

Insatiable - by Perversions; Complete, 1/1, 3.2k

Rating: Explicit; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandom: Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons Relationship: Gwen/Vaughn; Characters: Gwen, Vaughn | Waltz Additional Tags: **NOTE: Some tags have been removed to remain Safe For Tumblr. Please see AO3 for complete list** Unsafe Sex, Established Relationship, Riding, Doggy Style, Rough Sex, Dirty Talk, Dirty Thoughts, Begging, Teasing, Wet Dream, Frottage, Masturbation, Cussing, Marking Summary: Waking up horny was never a problem. It always had an easy solution to solve when they were both awake. Waking up horny in the middle of the night while her boyfriend was sleeping was a different story.

Her Voice Within - by syavwits; Complete, 6/6, 14k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Back To Nature Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Gray; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Pete the Farmer, Gray, Rick, Kai, Cliff, Doctor | Trent, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Karen, Popuri, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Elli | Elly, Manna, Duke, Doug | Dudley, Old Ellen, May | Mei, Stu | Yu, Zack, Won | Huang, Anna, Basil the Writer, Saibara, Harris, Gotz | Gotts, Kano, Louis the Entomologist | Chuu, Greg, Barley | Mugi, Aja | Adge Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Romantic Soulmates, Soul-Searching, Mystery, Mute Protagonist, Found Family Summary: It's not that Claire can't talk, she sometimes speaks yes, but only when she really put all her energies to do it. Then there's Gray, the stoic guy with the famous resting b*tch face, he doesn't want anything to do with anyone, everyone, even the new girl although she's… cute. While Pete tries to save his farm, he also confides in Claire and asks her help to search for his unknown childhood friend, his first love, who apparently is one of the girls in Mineral town?!? Will Claire manage to find Pete's long-lost Best friend? Will Claire find what she truly desires in her second chance at life?

Don't Eat Flowers - by Maymist; Complete, 10/10, 20k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/F Fandoms: A Wonderful Life Relationship: Nami/Pony | Aya | Jill; Characters: Nami, Pony | Aya | Jill, Rock, Reader Additional Tags: Lesbian Character, Inspired by Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, Mentions of Other Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons Games, Blue Feather, Romance, LGBTQ Character, POV Lesbian Character, Canon Lesbian Relationship Summary: The new farmer girl in Forgotten Valley attempts to give Nami some flowers to, er… totally give the hint that she's romantically interested in the very much reserved tomboyish red-head. Nami completely jumps to conclusions and misunderstands though, and that's where this silly romance begins. What kind of other madness will ensue?

The Heart of a Westown Cowboy - by Mya_Stone; WIP, 36/?, 50k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandom: Trio of Towns Relationships: Female Farmer/Wayne, Farmer & Wayne, Wayne & Ford; Characters: Frank, Ford, Carrie, Brad, Megan, Hector, Colin, Daryl | Darius, Marlena, Lynn, Wayne, Miranda Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Romance, Romantic Friendship, Guy Falls First, famiy drama, I Wrote This For Me But I'll Share It With You Summary: Wayne is Westown's perpetually single lady's man. He'd like to settle down but he just hasn't found The One and he's fairly certain he's met everyone in town. Then Melody moves in, taking a plot of her uncle's ranch to fulfill her dream of being a rancher. A college-educated business woman, Melody doesn't accept failure - especially not her own. As Wayne falls hard for her, she struggles to return his affections until she has what she came for - and when she continually comes up short at the cow competitions, she begins to wonder if Westown is really the place for her.

The Scientist and his Farmer - by Daryls_Favourite; WIP, 13/?, 13k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: A Wonderful Life Relationship: Daryl/reader; Characters: Daryl, Rock, Muffy | Molly, Marlin | Matthew, Forgotten valley villagers, Reader Summary: You have been living in forgotten valley for a little under a year. Winter is underway and you need to keep your farm afloat whilst also trying to court a suitable spouse.

The Princess and the Carpenter - by SymphonicFantasia; WIP, 20/50, 2.9k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Magical Melody, Save the Homeland, Hero of Leaf Valley Relationship: Dia/Kurt | Hayato; Characters: Dia, Kurt Summary: They weren't so different from one another although others may not think so. Just because she was a "princess" didn't mean that the carpenter didn't belong with her. It just took a bit of chiseling to see who they really were deep down. And even then, they would only show those halves to one another.

What Others Say - by Anonymous; Complete, 1/1, 1.8k

Rating: Explicit; Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con; Category: M/M Fandom: Pioneers of Olive Town Relationship: Eiji | Ollie/Iori; Characters: Iori, Eiji | Ollie Additional Tags:**NOTE: Some tags have been removed to stay Save For Tumblr. Please see AO3 for complete list. Sexual Coercion, Jealousy, Established Relationship, Domestic Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Top Iori, Bottom Eiji | Ollie Summary: It's hard to ignore what others say when it aligns with your hunches.

Unkind - by Anonymous; Complete, 1/1, <1k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/F Fandom: Friends of Mineral Town Relationship: Claire/Elli | Elly; Characters: Claire, Elli | Elly, Harvest Goddess Additional Tags: Domestic Violence, Magical Pregnancy, Misunderstandings, Hurt/Comfort Summary: A lot of pain and heartache could have been avoided if only a certain someone had communicated beforehand.

And one Not Safe for Tumblr fic by Thefallen1986

[msookyspooky]

https://www.tumblr.com/msookyspooky/746467988785496064/oh-my-god-spooky-that-chapter?source=share

No bc????? Dewey just full on gave up on her and she is totally alone besides Stu and Billy??? Like she ACTIVELY stood in front of Billy and tried to defend them from Jill so on some level she is aware that she has some kind of feelings for them!!

I know I always say this but it reminds me of, when in Havoc and Daisy has that show down with Hardy and he goes "like it or not, little girl, I am apart of you." (Of course the audience won't know what that exactly means until the second book!!) But its just like, "my father is the worst man alive. . .and I am his favorite daughter."

Just like with Billy and Stu: on some level they LIKE our final girl. Stu can admit it, Billy??? Maybe, lmao.

Personally, I am rooting for a deep talk on a rooftop in New York between Billy and our final girl 🤷💗

GD WHY DOES TUMBLR NOT LET ME KNOW THINGS LIKE NEW ISH IN MY INBOX (I am so so sorry this is late wtf)

Anyways, no fr irl I thought "How would I choose two men that betrayed me, killed my friends and have tried to kill me for years?" and the answer is THEY'RE ALL I HAVE LEFT.

I knew it was coming. I did. Bc affairs usually do eventually come out even though this isn't an 'affair' it's a secret involving 3 fucked up ppl two that actively choose to be fucked up and one (Us) that just can't catch a damn break!

I mean, when I saw Sam in Scream 6 I was elated but sad for her bc "OMFG SAM IS OUR YN!!" like how can you have a normal life when you're accused of being involved with the killers and death threats and death attempts on your life and everyone you trust turns on you and never having true friends or relationships and never having a decent career or kids or anything remotely normal bc of the killers still hunting you or the threat of it? That has GOT to wear you down and now you're on the run with two killers that are monsters and horrible people but they also saved you and care in some toxic way while your best friend is dead and your surragate older brother is so devastated he won't even listen?

I WOULD BE SOBBING. Like, I would be distraught and numb and so so devastated by everything if I was in yn shoes!

We'll see! Bc I agree I don't think either of them are good enough guys to ever be a healthy partner or even fucking friend at this point so...We'll see!

(And I love you're writing all the slasher tropes are *chefs kiss* ♡♡♡)

[larabiatasstuff]

Part three 🖤

.I cleaned the table , did the dishes and put them away when I heard rustling coming from the  living room. „Are you finished precious?“  „Yeah I`ll  be there in a minute . „ I said folding the dishtowel and making my way into the living room. Nick was lighting candles and an open wine bottle was standing on the coffee table. „There you are. And? What do you say?“  he asked gesturing through the room.“ It´s wonderful ,really it`s very nice.“  He sat down on the sofa patting on the spot next to him. I joined him leaning my head on his shoulder and he immediatly put an arm around me. „What movie did you pick?“  „ Oh it`s called  P.S I love you, I asked a few ladies for suggestions and they said you might like it.“ „Well that was very thoughtful of honey,thank you.“  „Anything for you precious.“   I was in a pretty good mood when I woke up the next morning , it would be the first time that I left this apartment  alone since I was brought here. Nick was already gone ,he had to patrol the border with some other men today. I took  a shower , got dressed and made my way to the weapons depot. I had to walk through the whole coutyard until I arrived at the small building. I opened the door and walked in. „Hello? Is anybody here?“   „Oh yeah hi I`m…oh it´s you.“ The nervous looking man said. „Yep it´s me and I have a name actually .I`m Y/N and you are Stu right?“  „Yes umm listen I`m sorry what happened to your friend.“  „Oh I`m sorry too.You have no idea how sorry I am Stu. But let`s  change the subject, Nick said you would show me how everything works so how about  giving me a tour?“  „Of course ,alright follow me. So one of us will always be here behind the counter in case  someone needs a gun or ammunition. If that´s the case you have to enter it in this book and let them sign it.“ He said his eyes locked to the collar on my neck. „ It`s a gift from my fiancè ,pretty cool huh?“  he immediatly  looked up „I`m… I`m so sorry Y/N …“  „It`s fine Stu, it´s okay , let´s continue with our tour okay?“  „ Okay , well let me show you the storage room.“ He gave me a warm smile and started walking.  After our tour we decided that I would stay behind the counter while he would check the inventory. A few men and women came by bringing in their guns  for cleaning , getting ammuntion or  picking up their cleaned weapons. Stu and I even spent our break together and  I had to admit that he actually was a pretty nice guy. „So tell me Stu why  are you  positioned here at the weaponry instead of going out on patrols?“ he sighed „ I`m not like the other guys here . Everyone seems to find it easy to kill people ,some of them even enjoy it but…I can`t do that. I was lucky that they needed someone to organize  the weapons .If not they would have..“  „Pushed you down the abyss.I`ve been there, two times actually.“  He looked at me with wide eyes „ Two times? How did you survive that?“  „I ran away the first time and the second time I was on a rescue mission and saved a friend from falling.“  „Oh I heard about that, Stone was furious. Listen Y/N I´m really sorry about everything,I had no choice.“  „I know Stu, well our break is over let´s get back to work.“  The rest of the time went by pretty fast  and before I knew it my first day was over .

Part four🖤

[slashingdisneypasta]

Omg I love the would you rathers so much- anyway here are my answers:

1. I’m sorry, but I am absolutely chomping. I feel like he’d still make a sexual reference either way, like “Damn, you’re that excited to go down on it? 😏”

2. Yeah Jennifer is getting someone else. Best part is I can get rid of a guy I don’t like!

3. I would never do that to Bubba 😭, I’ll take one for the team. My no-major injury streak had to end sometime

4. Look, Patrick is the one of the many people I’d rather not make an enemy with, so I’ll gladly go sleep on the couch. Chances are someone else might tell him to shut up though.

5. I do not trust Chucky within an inch of my life. Jason will at least be courteous and withhold on the chopping, can’t say the same for Michael but if I’m quick enough, I can get by without a stab wound.

6. Omg this one was so hard. I guess I’ll go with Beetlejuice. At least I can make him go away

7. As a child of divorced parents, going into the kitchen with two people are arguing will be just like old times. If I want chips I’m getting chips

8. Well, I have no idea how hard she’s flinging that table. So sorry Carrie, as much as I would like to help you, I’d rather not possibly die by table

9. So my favorite Slasher is Jason and my favorite Non-favorite is Pennywise. I honestly don’t know if either of them really need my help, but if I had to pick one…..I’ll save Penny. Jason has a history of coming back after dying so he’ll be up and going again soon. Penny can only do so much against an adult

10. I’m going to Mama Voorhees, I think she’ll appreciate the honesty. If I go to Freddy, I’ll have to owe him a favor, and something tells me he’ll take full advantage of that

11. Truth. God knows what they’d make me do as a dare.

12. Again, a very hard choice. I guess I’ll go with Patrick, at least he’ll try to make me look flattering.

13. I would definitely want Penny to turn into Freddy. It would come as no surprise to anyone if “Freddy” flirted with Pam. Plus, it’d be kinda funny seeing Jason chuck Freddy through the wall lol

What are your answers though? 👀

I'm so glad you liked them XDD

Oh he sure would- that or he'd be over dramatic and toony and, like, you would see his soul would crack inside his eyes XDD

Exactly!! I'm glad this is the consensus so far XDD Like, Jennifer's telling ya'll that A sacrifice must be made., and you're just going 'Okay! :D :D :D I have a list!'

That's very brave of you ^^ ^^ XD Bubba should make you a stew.

Oh same. We can brave the living room together! I think if we build the best fort- it should be fine. Haha

Again, guys-

I just don't think these are the actions of a polite boy!! This is a bitter old man!

6. Hahahaha, I'm glad it was hard 😈😈😈

7. Sameeee!! Don't mind us, guys, just gettin cheezels. Hey do we have- Hey. Hey. HEY- DO WE HAVE THE CHICKEN FLAVOUR??

8. Good call 😅

9. Good point!! We shouldn't worry too much about Jason. He's stubborn ^^ Also- same as Fox Anon!

10. Very honourable!! And you now may befriend Jason because you're pure! Congrats!

11. OKAY YOUR TRUTH! Here we go- from Billy and Stu: Would you live inside Christine, a car, if she allowed you to do so??

12. Ohhh, good choice!! Yeah, and you'd probably get some really nice, expensive digs out of the deal!

13. Its always funny to see Jason take the hammer to Freddy XD I agree.

Thank you for your answers!!! They're were great! Also thank you for the opportunity to give my answers, too! ^^ They're below if you're interested ^^

I'm eating that popsicle normally. I canNOT bite cold things, or hot things, or wood- My teeth are SO SENSITIVE!! If he has a reaction, oh well that sounds like a him problem and he can deal with it.

I'm sure I can find someone for her...

I kinda wanna meet Aubrey II!! 😅😅😅 So yeah, I'll go! Bubba can stay inside and have a tea. But I'm gonna see if I can, like, drop some food down from above somehow.

Couch!! Patrick is scary. Bring all your blankets and pillows and books for the fort. Also chocolate- we'll need rations.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, this one was hard!! I think I have to go with Jason and Michael too, though! I'd rather be manhandled to death (What? Look me in the eyes and tell you that some of those gifs of Michael holding women against walls with knives and yanking them around doesn't do something to you. Look me directly in the eye- ) then whatever that dreaded big red button does... God forbid.

Drayton!~ I love Drayton ^^ And I'm very good at listening. And-

... no no no- No. No. NO

7. Like I said, I'm with you here.

8. ... *sigh* I'm probably gonna get concussed. Bring on the table!

9. Favourite Slasher? Freddy. Favourite Non-Slasher? Probably Aubrey II now!

... I would love to see this fight XD And I would probably try to save Aubrey II. Like you said- Slashers have a knack for comin back.

10. If Freddy can help me I'm going to him. That way- if it all goes south still and Pam finds out anyway- I'm not going down alone. I am taking him with me. Ha

11. Oh dear god. ... truth...

12. Oh!! Oh! This is hard. I... hmmmm... I'm gonna go with Jerry. He might be nicer to me 😅😅 And he does have a good sense of style.

13. Oof... the thought of real Chucky being oh so confused and wondering why the hell Tiffany is throwing shit at him again is hilarious... But yeah, option B. I'd rather get Freddy chucked out a window then cause a divorce.

[wh0-1s-m1aaaa]

Js a lil treat for my scream 1996 lvrs :)🤍

Notes: this is my first time writing on here pls be nice :( ANYWAYS here’s a lil blurb of them at the beach :D

Honestly kind of randy centered for plot sake and a bit of sarcastic bimbo reader sprinkled in for flavor and like I didn’t really finish this so I mighttttt make this 2 parts (pls don’t murder me pookies💔)

Platonic!AFAB! reader x main 5

Word count: roughly 1000

———————🌊🏝️☀️🐚——————

• in a world where they (sid, tate, billy, Stu, and ray) where all *platonic* besties: they plan a beach day in the nearest town with a beach about 2 hours out.

•Tatum has Sidney and randy in her red buggy. While stu has billy and y/n in his Nisan skyline with his serf-board zip tied uptop.

•The reason they ride in separate cars in both due to space and Stu’s music taste💀. Tatum and Sidney have every piece of beach equipment known to man settled in her buggy and this takes up about 3/4 of a car by itself, leaving Sid the passenger seat and randy stuck between 3 sets of chairs and an umbrella. As for Stu, he listens to the trashiest, cheesiest, pop music you have ever heard on full blast the ENTIRE time. Even with you and billy complaining (billy isn’t so much complaining as he is annoyed and turning the volume down and Stu keeps turning it back up) and swearing your ears are bleeding the entire time😭.

•Once you guys FINALLY get to said beach randy is forced to go and find a spot for y’all to set up base. (through vigorous complaining ofc, but he gave in after Sidney asked) he then proceeded to search for all of 5-7 minutes before picking a spot randomly after getting tired of stepping on seashells and almost tripping on what used to be a sand castle and is now a lump of sand. He comes back to you guys (out of breath and on the verge of death bc he is a lanky babygirl of a man) and tells u guys to scope out the spot he found.

You all decided it was good enough and started unpacking the hoard of beach equipment, well you, Sidney, and Tatum at least. Randy is turning red already and was forced to put on sunblock. Billy is just standing off to the side with his arms crossed watching you guys set up, so helpful right? And Stu ran to the water the second he dropped the umbrella and god knows what else he carried in the sand and left with a simple “see y’all byeeeeeee” (and he was gone😔💔)

After what seemed like at least a millennium you guys where finished unpacking. Tatum was trying to tan, Sidney was on a towel under the umbrella reading a book, billy found the boardwalk through his smartypants context clues and like the incel teen he is went on his merry way to find some girls (and possibly a guy) to talk too. Randy is basically off at sea searching for Stu bc he needed him for something or other. Meanwhile Stu is nowhere to be seen in at least a 30 mile radius (why randy is searching for him? Let alone In the OCEAN? You have no idea.) you where simply watching randy in the water slowly drifting farther from your home base with no sense of direction (genius huh?) and laughing at him to yourself.

After randy wandered WAYYYYY too far out you got up to yell for him because if he goes out any further he will be in the news by tomorrow morning as the dumbest man in woodsburo. He heard you after about the 7th call and yelled he was looking for Stu, intriguing to you considering he and Stu never really actively go on hunts for each other, but regardless, you call out to him saying he’s too far out and as if you said the magic words a big fat wave crashed down on randy. And like the smart cookie you are decide to ALSO get in the water and save him from drowning (super sexy hot funny life saver y/n🥰🥰😻) so you Scurry up to the water in your hot pink 2 piece bikini (or wtv you want ofc) and like the badass you are, you don’t find him, BUT he does find you. “JESUS randy you scared me, I thought you where like a kraken or something” “y/n were in knee deep water your fine” randy said to which you replied and ended the out of breath conversation with a simple “still”. Both of you are looking like wet poodles and the rough waves crash against the 2 of you for a hot second before the seemingly second sense kicked in and you both look to land only to find yourself on (seemingly) the “other side of the damn world” as randy stated.

“Do you know where we are now y/n” randy said “no…..BUT I don’t think we could have drifted to far from our little camp. And uh Sidney or Tatum probably saw so no need to worry” “okay then so we should probably get out of the water and start trying to find them or the camp” he said casually slightly calmed from the reassurance you laced your words with “that would probably be a good idea” (and so you and Mr Meeks are now slowly but surely making your way onto the hot sand to hunt down the wizard of ozz and find your way home😻).

————————☀️🌊🏝️🐚————————

Okay so yea this is a 2 parter I’m srry my brain is having the worst writers block and I’m running off 2 hours of sleep,a granola bar, Wawa cold brew coffee, and hopes and dreams. Anyways to the porn bots and my 5 real followers I love yawl 😻😻♥️🫶🫶🫶🫶

[doubleddenden]

Genuinely wish there could be a wholesome anime about a guy adopting a bunch of kids and it doesn't get weird

Like okay they can be monster children but the focus is that he's a good father figure they need and the normality they so desperately needed in their lives

No weird twist where the dad marries the daughter he raised, no no weird "will they won't they" dynamic between the dad and daughters, no weird fan service from the children at all

If anything it's a failed harem anime where women think he's an ordinary DILF, but then they meet the kids and one accidentally squirts them with squid ink because they have anxiety about getting a new mom, or the cat daughter pukes up a hairball on the carpet, or the dark elf son that has visions has a vision of the woman's exact moment of death and casually says some fucked up shit like "you will die aboard the train to Shibuya Station on February 30th, 2025 c:" and she runs away because she's too stupid to realize Feb doesn't have 30 days

And there's obviously a mom that's perfect for them, she's the childhood friend to the dilf that's also coworkers and has dinner with them sometimes, but the DILF is an idiot and sees her as a sister or something despite the glaring obvious signs. Even says himself "man you'd be perfect for the kids lol"

But more importantly it's day to day chaos that the dad gently calms, it's helping the kids feel better because they don't really fit into society, the dad standing up for his kids- like this is a normal ass person embracing absolute weirdness but he wouldn't have it any other way

Maybe there's a scene where he gets into a fist fight with an elf king that has come for his daughter's hand in marriage- king is fighting with magic but DILF just uses karate he learned in high school

There's an a school festival and like his vampire daughter SHREDS guitar because he taught her how to play at an early age and she knows all the classics

Dad teaches his slime girl daughter how to make chocolate for valentines and helps her figure out a way to keep from spilling herself into the mix with plastic wrap

He's got a demon son that comes from hell and his ancestors like tormented billions for eons, but son brags to his human friends that his human dad is cool because he showed him how to work on cars to save a buck

Also the dad encourages the kids to not totally abandon their roots, because it's important to know about where you come from and all that, but also encourages them to try the mundane human stuff like new coffee flavors or roller coasters

Like this man is an average joe but not a Gary Stu, and his kids fucking ADORE him and there's NOTHING MORE between them except they love their dad and their dad loves them

[slowpoke272]

“the stand” by stephen king

finished: january 2, 2023

oof where to begin. WHERE TO BEGIN

this is my third stephen king novel, i read “IT” in 2019 and read “’salem’s lot” in 2020. i really like stephen king and while i completely understand the desire to bring his stories to the big screen (and many of them are movies/shows worth seeing, too) i think his stories flourish as written word. just makes it so much more thrilling and without any limitations of visuals. stephen king knows our minds are our greatest thrill and he uses that to his advantage.

“the stand” i had heard was the one that was “just like 2020″ because of a deadly virus. it had been described to me like this on an individual and global standpoint: it’s marketed as an apocalyptic novel. and it’s very, very lengthy.

just in case, spoilers ahead?

so we do start off with big scary virus, only unlike the real 2020 pandemic, this one is totally manmade and comes with hefty criticism of the military as they are the ones handling this whole “project.” everything is maintained in labs and all is well until it isn’t, all it takes it one slip up one time from one guard and BAM, end of the world. pretty poetic huh. even though how it happens is way different, to me the most relatable thing is that it’s so believable that something so destructive would be hanging by a thread and upon it being unleashed, humanity has zero preparation to stop it and very little of the population even knows it exists as a threat.

shit hits the fan and we see the trickle effect quickly in action across the county, state, and country. there is an absolute explosion of characters and you can tell king is gonna save some of these characters but definitely a lot of people will be dying. even though you know their demise is coming, it’s still a bit terrifying how some of them come to pass.

frannie right away is our darling heroine, pregnant and without her mother’s love or blessing, we’re drawn to her right away. nick andros was my favorite character immediately, there was just something so charming about him, and he was already so resilient by the time the plague happened. nick and tom cullen’s relationship had to be my favorite bond of the whole novel, the impossibility of their communication is thrillingly tragic but we’re still able to have hallmark moments between the two of them.

i didn’t know what to think of stu for the longest time, for some reason i thought he might end up being like a harold, i guess solely on stu’s east texas context and what he was doing when the accident happened. just didn’t see him being any kind of hero but simply getting by. just like in real life, our first impressions can be very misguided. larry underwood became a fun surprise with his character arc, in fact i think more than anyone else, larry was completely redeemed. really didn’t care much about him at all after rita died, but when he came in contact with nadine and leo, it showed that he was grateful for a clean slate and ready to change. he was a totally different person after that and i slowly came to like him.

harold. you meet him and are disgusted, like frannie you can easily go with ignoring his existence entirely. then you find out a little bit more about him, how he was trying to be thoughtful to frannie, and how he stuck by her to get her out of town... started liking the guy and sympathizing with him. then stu comes along and harold’s jealousy takes center stage in his character arc and it never leaves. it’s like, okay, i get it to an extent, you have a “special” connection with fran because you knew her before the world ended, but once it’s clear the other person doesn’t feel the same way... let it go, man. even if you’re the only two people left on earth, it doesn’t give you any entitlement to anyone or mean that your connection is infinite.

by the time to get to mother abigail’s, the story has already taken on a form i didn’t expect to see coming. this is my third king novel so i felt like, duh, of course there’s gonna be some magical realism going on and of course there are going to be unforeseen twists. king does a great job of creating his universe, one that is just close enough to ours to be relatable, but one he can play in and set the rules for and we’re still just as hooked. the point isn’t whether or not you believe in magic, the point is what the characters are doing with the magic and the likelihood that people would behave this way, and 100% of the time i agree with king regarding predictable human behavior.

this novel is mostly about good vs. evil and humanity’s struggle to keep itself thriving with community without imploding in on itself. the fact that all these characters even survived is a miracle, that they were able to find each other despite no electricity or power is beyond a miracle, but even with all that good fortune on their side, humans have a way of ruining it. you would think collaboration and community would make us stronger, and it does, but king postulates that once a community becomes large enough, it’s only a matter of time before you have a harold, a trashcan man, or worse: a randall flagg.

there are some really graphic moments, including various illnesses and injuries that happen throughout the boulder and vegas communities, a sexual assault, but the most horrifying scene to me was lloyd henreid in the jail. “camptown races.” i really felt his hopelessness, and despite him being an absolutely shitbag previously by killing people, i still thought lloyd’s punishment was way too big for his crimes. i don’t think anyone deserves that. and to have him rescued by randall flagg, a hopeless situation becomes more hopeless in a way because lloyd was very much still imprisoned with flagg.

this novel was so magical to me, hitting all the right elements of “humanity is this dumb and would totally do this.” the ending is superb and not worth spoiling even behind a tag. just go read it. definitely will want to read it again someday, especially knowing which characters survive the longest, i’ll want to pay extra attention to the clues we’re given about their fates early on.

i thought “IT” would remain my favorite king novel, being my first and the one that pulled me in to his writing at all... but i don’t know, “the stand” is so good and has so many layers and while there’s a villain, we learn so much about humanity on the way and our role allowing a villain in. “IT” is my favorite coming of age novel, without a doubt, and i love the way it tackles fear for fear’s sake, but i think “the stand” is a story anyone could enjoy without being too freaked out with fear. i don’t know, it’s hard to pick one over the other when i just adore both so much, but days later i’m really still thinking about “the stand” and the characters and everything that happened.

i read about the two adaptations, one in the 90s and one from 2020, the one in the 90s seems to have the right thing going for it to pay respects to the original story, but the changes i read that the 2020 adaptation made are hard for me to push aside. it’s just not the same story anymore and i think the original story in its original format is best. i do like a lot of 2020′s casting, but that’s about it. i don’t feel obligated to see either one, but i will definitely re-read “the stand” again someday.

rip nicky. you were the best. glen, you were also great. kojak, good boy.

rating: 10/10 this deeply resonated with me, i will re-read it again numerous times and recommend it to anyone i know, the story and characters will stick with me forever; crave discussing it all the time and bring it up unprovoked