#Tess and Jacob

[rebouks]

Previous // Next

[wind whistling]

Robin: This doesn’t seem right. Levi: How did we get so lost? Aster: The others can’t be far.

Penny: What a stupid place for a field trip, who the fuck even cares how a lumbermill works?

Robin: Um, guys.. when did it get dark? Jacob: It’s not-.. wait. Tess: It wasn’t dark a second ago, right?

Robin: Holy shit, where are we..?

Aster: We clearly took a wrong turn somewhere. Penny: [snorts] Y’think? Tess: What is this place?

Levi: Who knows-.. fuck finding the others though, we’re totally going spelunking!

Penny: Spelunking? Levi: Alright, it’s not a cave but still… Penny: What?

Tess: I don’t know, we should probably turn back-.. whatever this place is, it’s creeping me out from here.

Robin: Let’s have a quick look around at least. Jacob: Seriously? Levi: Hell yeah!

Jacob: Fine, but if I have to save anyone from a pile of rubble…

Aster: [snickers] What if you’re the one that needs saving? Tess: No one’s gonna need saving, shut up! Robin: It’ll be fun, c’mon.

Aster: Last one in’s a rotten turd!

[liliwoohoo]

I thought this was funny

[pixeldolly]

The Sacrifice - Part 11 - The End

"How are they, Tess?"

"I've treated Roman's injuries and he's resting now. I've also given him antibiotics and painkillers, so he should be comfortable...as much as he can be, given the circumstances."

"As for Evelyn, I've done all I could for the moment, but we'll have to wait for the morning change before I can perform a full examination. Her wounds seem to be healing remarkably fast though."

"Is it because she's a werewolf?"

"Yes, although I do want to take a closer look at that bite, in case it's at risk of becoming infected. I admit I don't have any experience treating demon-inflicted wounds."

"They are prone to infection."

"I still can't wrap my head around the idea that anyone would do something like this! To their own child, no less!"

"It shocked me as well."

"You took such a risk in confronting her, Fiona! The inhabitants of the Hellplanes are not to be trifled with!"

"I'm aware of that, Dad. Would you rather I'd let Jacob and Evelyn go in there alone?"

"Of course not - what you did was very brave - but we can't help worrying. The whole thing could've gone so much worse."

"Well, it worked out fine, so you can let it go now."

It was Abby who brought the conversation back on track.

"Is Roman going to be all right?"

"Physically? Probably. He had a number of deep gashes that needed stitches, several broken bones including two ribs, a bruised lung, plus the...runes carved into his back, which will be uncomfortable for a while. Assuming there are no complications, these should heal in time."

"Mentally, it's a different matter. I'm not an expert, but I don't think the kind of trauma he's been through is something he'll be able to just shrug off. Speaking to therapist might help him."

"May we go in and see them?"

"You may, but just for a little while. Jacob is with Roman already; he hasn't left his bedside since I brought him back to the ward."

"Mr Stigfinnare is with his wife as well. He's been worried sick about her, prowling around the waiting room like a caged wolf."

"I'm surprised he didn't kick the door down."

"He might've done, if I hadn't let him in."

The trio - together with Ulf, who refused to be parted from Evelyn - gathered around Roman's bed.

Roman was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep and forget, but he forced a smile on his face as he looked at each of the people who had risked their lives to save him.

In truth, he could hardly believe it.

"I don't know what to say. I owe you my life - no, more than my life. My soul. 'Thank you' doesn't seem like enough..."

"This is the second time I had to help save your ass, Turner! You'd better not make a habit out of it!"

Evelyn's cheerful tone helped defuse some of the tension, although Ulf kept his arm wrapped protectively around his wife. She was putting up a brave front, but he could tell she was hurting more than she was letting on. He hated it!

"It's over now."

"Maybe...maybe not."

"Fiona...? What do you mean?"

"The ritual circle carved into his back. The Nameless One may be have been banished, but those runes are magic. He's tied to the Hellplanes now."

"WHAT?!"

Roman sat up so fast that white stars burst before his eyes and his injuries flared painfully despite the medication keeping the worst of it at bay. He felt the cold panic rising like a tide.

"Are you saying it can come back?"

"Fuck. You're not, are you?"

"There are many doors between the planes, and things have a way of slipping through the cracks. That sigil is one such door; closed for the moment, but not locked."

"But you can remove it, right?! Or...render it inert, or something?"

"I...I'll do some research. Ask around."

Roman looked so crestfallen, Jacob's heart twinged in sympathy.

"Guys? Can you give us a moment, please?"

"Please try not to think about it, all right? If anything happens, my whole family are witches; they'll help. You need to focus on getting better."

Roman smiled humorlessly; it was hard not to think about the interdimensional door to Hell itself he carried around on his back, but he was so very tired. Sleep beckoned, demons or no demons.

But first, there was something he needed to say to Jacob.

"I have to admit, I didn't expect you to come to my rescue. Considering how things are between us..."

"Look, just because we broke up doesn't mean I don't still lo- care about you. Besides, I didn't actually do much, it was mostly Evelyn and Fiona."

"Still. Facing down demons and witches when you're just a regular person with no special powers took guts."

"I did have an axe."

Something happened then that Roman did not expect: he burst into laughter. Which hurt, but it was worth it, and his heart felt lighter for it.

"I think I'd like to sleep now..."

"Yes, you should. I'll be back to see you in the morning."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

As Roman sank into the cottonwool depths of drug-induced sleep, a smile fluttered on his lips.

The End!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the story!

[petitemaman2021]

The Sweet East (2023), directed by Sean Price Williams

Cinematography: Sean Price Williams

[shopaholixs]

Jacket, and skirt by Marc Jacobs. Necklace by Yutai.

Photographed by Cameron McCool. Styled by Alex White. Modelled by Tess Breeden.

Elle September 2024

[aestheticjunkyard]

Tess McMillan for Marc Jacobs Beauty

[dead-lights]

into the woods // twilight ensemble

♫ no need to be afraid there ...there's something in the glade there ♫

I found these twilight poses by @ratboysims and thought they were hilarious, so I threw my Into the Woods cast on stage and had some fun.

[mybeingthere]

Kim Lim (1936-1997, Singaporean/British)

In 1954, Kim Lim left Singapore for Britain with the aim of studying art and becoming an artist. In London, she enrolled at St. Martin’s School of Fine Art and later at the Slade School of Fine Art, studying printmaking and sculpture with equal enthusiasm—two approaches that formed the basis of her work in the four decades that followed. During those formative school years, Lim studied under Anthony Caro and befriended other artists like Tess Jaray and Julia Farrer. She was particularly fascinated by the work of Brancusi, a shared affinity with William Turnbull, who became her husband in 1960. Lim began exhibiting work relatively soon after finishing her studies, with her first solo exhibition at Axiom Gallery in 1966 where she displayed early, colourful works such as Borneo II and Candy (as seen in the studio shot below), acquired the year after it was made by the Arts Council Collection. She exhibited regularly through the 1970s and 1980s with Nicola Jacobs Gallery.

Much of Lim’s early work can be characterised by her engagement with materials such as wood and bronze. Her printmaking practice was equally pervasive and prominent from the beginning. Works such as Abacus I and II (1959), two sister relief sculptures, modelled after the ancient Chinese calculation tool, employ a poverty of material and reveal Lim’s ability to transform fundamental shapes and concepts with an elegant gesture. Made of plaster shapes hung on wire within a rectangular wooden frame, these works eschew “high art” material for simplicity of form. Both works are now in the collections of the Singapore National Gallery and M+ in Hong Kong, respectively. Lim extracted inspiration from her own personal journey from the East to West, with the vernacular of those artists she admired from the West such as Giacometti. Importantly, Lim looked outside the “canon” of art as well. A keen observer of nature and of natural forces, she would echo the sinuous curves of a vast desert plain, the waves of a silent sea breeze, and other experiential moments of life in her work. The strength of a Gingko tree’s trunk, for example, as seen in the 1989 sculpture titled after this living fossil, in which a monolith of rose aurora marble fluted and carved by hand rests on a Portland stone base.

Lim’s 1970s work is marked by a deeper experimentation into concepts of “form, space, rhythm and light”. Her series Intervals, which refers to both sculptural and paper works, employs negative space with equal detail as it does with ideas of density and volume. The year 1979 would prove be a watershed moment for the artist, culminating in a mid-career survey show at The Roundhouse where Lim would exhibit works from every period in a non-linear and non-chronological method, partly in response to the venue itself, a circular gallery space. This was also the year that Lim moved toward an embracing of stone and marble mediums, materials that would remain present in her practice until her untimely passing in 1997.

Continue reading https://www.turnbullstudiokimlim.com/kim-lim

[watsittoyah]

Mix tape (NATE JACOBS X BLK FEM READER)

In which Nate Jacob makes you mix tapes because his toxic ass can’t tell you how he feels…

(Track 01) In my city I'm a young god. That pussy kill be so vicious. My god white, he in my pocket. He get me redder than the devil 'til I go nauseous… -Often, The Weeknd

Warnings- oral sex (female Receiving)

(Next)

You were a straight A student. You didn’t step out of line, hell you didn’t even sneak out to meet boys. But that’s all about to change…

~~~

“What? Little Jade about to step on the field with the big girls?!” Your best friend and infamous influence, Stacey squeals as you two stretch out on the field.

“Shh! Don’t be so dang loud. I’m only trying it out because Tess said it would be fun.” You tell her. “First of all the word is Damn, and second since when you listen to Tess’ stuck up ass?”

Your eyes widen as you look back to make sure Tess, your step sister, didn’t hear her. “Shh! Why are you so loud?” You both laugh and Stacey lean in so no one else can hear.

“Since you’re all big poppin’ how about you come out tonight? I heard McKay’s fine ass is throwing a Halloween party and his parents aren’t even home. You gotta come with me, I want him to see me in my maid costume but I need my best friend there with me to hype me up. So you coming?”

Here you we go.

On the angelic side, you’d decline the offer. Grab a pizza with your family and pass out candy to a few trick or treaters while you watch some boring show on Netflix. And you’d hear about the Halloween party of the century the next day.

On the hot girl side you’d say fuck it, let’s go. And you’d have a ball, smoke some weed, shit you might actually get a guy to touch you, and not act like a priss miss.

So what’s it gonna be, Jade?

You snap out of your inner monologue and raise a brow. “What time is the party?” Stacey bursts out laughing. “Girl I know you’re not serious. I was just playing with you. I’m sure I can ask Monica to go with me.”

You frown at her and pull your braids up into a ponytail. “I’m not playing. What time is the party?” The smile on your best friends face melts away. “Jade, if you’re serious, then it’s happening tonight around ten. Please tell me you have a costume to wear? And don’t you come to this party wearing your first Sunday clothes.” You roll your eyes. “Girl shut up, I have a cute costume.” Stacey rolls her eyes at you. “Yeah I’ll be the judge of that, I’m coming over to your place an hour before then. And don’t even try to cop out last minute.”

“I am not going to cop out last minute. Damn.”

~~~

There is no way in hell you can go to this party? What were you thinking?

You were pacing your bedroom, on the verge of hyperventilating.

“I can’t do this. I just can’t.” You hear knocking and without even thinking you open your door and Stacey was standing there wearing a form fitted maid costume that cut down low to show her tits. “What’s wrong?” She asks while walking into your bedroom.

“I must be out of my mind, that’s what’s wrong. I can’t go. I don’t have anything to wear, plus what if the police are called? What if they find out I was at that party and that goes on my permanent record? What if they tell me I can’t get into a good college? I’ll be some bum on the street scraping up pennies off of the sidewalk!”

Stacey shakes you by your shoulders. “Jade! Chill! We’re going to a party not some drug run. Now let me see your costume. And before you say anything you’re going to this party.”

You pout and grab the little box you had stashed in the back of your closet. You pass it over to her and she opens the box.

“Where have you been hiding this? And can I borrow it?” You snatch the box back, putting it on your bed.

“It’s been in my closet since last summer. I bought it just in case for times like these but now I don’t think I can pull it off.”

“Go put it on.” Stacey tells you. You open your mouth to argue but she points to your bathroom and you take the box then march your crack to the bathroom.

Once the dress is on your peek out of the bathroom. “Jade, we got ten minutes before the party starts. And I’m all for being fashionably late but my future baby daddy is hosting this thing. Come on now.”

You step out of the bathroom and you’re tugging at the hem of the dress. It was a tight red dress that came mid thigh. It might have been longer if you didn’t have hips and ass on you.

“You look good! Now I know you still have those red thigh highs, because I haven’t took them for my closet yet.” Stacey goes into your closet and you take a deep breathe. Dressing up as a she-devil wasn’t your first pick but the costume was a laugh at the moment and it was on sale last year.

You tug at the dress and Stacey tsks. “Don’t you have a thong? I can see your granny panties.” Your eyes widen. “No, I don’t own a pair.” Stacey circles you and grins.

~~~

You feel uncomfortable not wearing underwear under the dress but Stacey tells you that it’s fine. But you’re nervous. This isn’t something you’d do. When Stacey is about to open the door you grab her arm. “What if I can’t do this?”

“And what if you can? Look, you look fucking amazing. Let loose for a change. If you could be anyone right now who would you be? Don’t tell me just take a deep breathe and be them. Alright?”

You nod and you take a deep breathe and you think about all those girls you’ve seen in those teen movies you’ve watched with Tess. You roll your shoulders back and Stacey opens the door. You’re hit with the smell of weed, bodies, and alcohol. Stacey takes your hand and you two enter together.

“McKay is over by the corner, and I see Cassie trying to get her hands on him. But watch this.” Stacey says in your ear as she guides you two over to them.

Remember me by Wiz Khalifa was playing and you see McKay glancing at Stacey. He then looks your way and your stomach was doing summersaults.

You won’t admit it to Stacey but Christopher McKay was fine as hell to you. But since she was your best friend you took the step back.

He gives Cassie a nod and he leans off of the wall and heads towards the two of you. “Hello ladies.” He greets as he yells a bit over the music. “Hey McKay.” Stacey says in her best sex voice. You turn your face a bit to keep from laughing and you see the punch bowl. “Is there water?” You turn back to ask and see Stacey pulling McKay towards the crowd.

“So much for sticking together.” You mumble as you move towards the kitchen. You see a few freshman dressed as gorillas doing body shots off of two junior girls dressed as bananas. You gently chuckle at that as you grab a small bottle of water, inspecting it.

Once you’ve seen it hasn’t been tampered with you crack it open and take a few gulps. Someone passes you a blunt but you pass and find some cheese puffs. You go to reach for some and your hand brushes against someone.

And that someone happened to be Nate Jacobs.

You knew Nate because he was your friend, at least until he found the gym and became a jock. After that, you both drifted apart and you moved to the upper east side of town.

Nate still had a special place in your heart seeing that the both of you looked out for each other when bad times had hit both of your families. Especially when that shit went down with his br-

“Jade Springfield?” He asks as he squints at you. “Nate Jacobs?” You mimic him and he gives a big smile which makes your heart leap. “How have you been?” He pulls you into a hug and you hold him close. For just that split second it felt like old times again.

“I’ve been good. Damn Jacobs you got tall.” You say to him with a smile. “And you stayed short.” He teases. You punch him playfully in the stomach and he laughs.

“Anyways, how have you been?” You ask him as he keeps his hands wrapped around you. “I’ve been good. Better now that I know you’re here.” The last part of his answer made your spine tingle a bit.

You clear your throat and step back from his touch. “Hey you wanna go outside? It’s kind of-”

“Loud? Yeah let’s go.” He takes your hand and you two head out to the back. As soon as you two step outside the music just stops and you allow yourself to relax. You two were on the back deck, you sit down on the steps and Nate sits down besides you.

“You still don’t like loud places huh?” Nate asks you. “You remember that?” You ask as you empty the water bottle. “Of course, I mean it’s been what almost four and a half years? But yeah, I remember.” He smirks at a thought and he takes a swig of beer. “That better be root beer, Nate.” You tease, bumping your leg against his. He rolls his eyes but smiles when he’s done drinking.

“Of course its root beer, Jade. Because that’s what teens drink of parties like this.” It was your turn to roll your eyes. “Smart ass. So I heard through the grapevine that you’re playing football.”

“I am, and I heard through the same grapevine that you’re cheerleading. When are you gonna come cheer for me?” He says in a flirtatious tone. “Alright that ‘root beer’ getting you talking reckless Jacobs.”

You notice he’s leaning in a bit closer. And you cross your legs. “You remember that one time in the fourth grade when Jason Bateman dared you to kiss me?”

“Oh god, yes and you punched me in the jaw. Your little first hurt.” You two laugh at the memory and you lean your head on his shoulder. “I missed this, Nate-Nate.” He scoffs. “Shit I haven’t heard that nickname in a long time, Jay-Jay.” You smile at your childhood nickname.

“Why did you have to become some jerk who forgot about me?” You ask him as he hands you the rest of his beer. You accept it and down the rest, wincing from the bad taste.

“I could never forget about you, Jade. Actually if I’m being honest when we were kids I had the hugest crush on you.” You lean away from him and turn so you’re facing him. “You’re lying.”

He raises his hands and laughs. “I’m not lying. I took that dare from Jason because I didn’t want anyone else kissing you. As far as I knew you were going to be my girlfriend in the fourth grade.”

The way Nate was eyeing your legs made your inner thighs throb. “I heard…you’re dating Maddie Perez.” You say instantly regretting that.

He sighs and you notice his jaw clenching. “She dumped me last week, so…yeah.” Way to go Jade, you tell yourself.

“Sorry, I didn’t know.” He nods. “No one knows that she dumped me. I just told everyone that we’re taking a break.”

“Why would you tell me then?” Nate shrugs and scoots in close to you. “Because I can trust you, not to tell anyone. And because out of everyone in this fucked up town, I actually like you. And I’m sorry I just stopped being friends with you. I was going through a lot and your parents were going through that divorce. Which isn’t an excuse, but-”

You lean in and hug him. “I know when you ramble you like that, underneath it means you need a hug. You know my number hasn’t changed. If you need someone to talk to I’m here.” He hugs you back and he inhales deep. “How has it been a few years and you still understand me better than anyone?” He asks. You lean back and shrug.

“We just have that connection, Nate-Nate.” You smile at him and he brings his hands to your hips.

The warmth from his hands made your chilly body feel good. And his cologne was making a small puddle between your legs.

Calm down Jade. This is Nate you’re thinking about. The same Nate that you would play with on the playground. The same Nate that you knew before the muscles.

The same muscles that you were sure you wouldn’t mind looking at under his criminal costume.

“A she-devil, hm? Seems like the perfect costume for you, Jade. I especially like these thigh high boots on you.” His hand seems to trail from your knee all the way up to your inner thigh. You bite your bottom lip and look pass his shoulder but he shakes his head.

“No, baby focus. I want those pretty eyes on me.” His hand reaches under your dress and he sucks in a sharp breathe. “You’re not even wearing panties?” You jerk your legs closed and move back.

“I’m sorry! I’ll go.” You were about to get up but Nate stops you. “You don’t need to apologize. I was just surprised is all, I didn’t except a snack ready for me to eat.” Nate eyes between your thighs this time and when he looks back up you find yourself leaning in.

He leans in close as well. Both of your lips meet and you feel yourself move, straddling him. He places his hands on your hips and he presses his erection against your cunt. You let out a moan and he bites your bottom lip. “Do you feel that?” You nod as he presses it harder against you. “I want this inside of you, right now. But only if that’s okay with you, Jay-Jay.” His hand travels up your neck and he brings your mouth close to his. “Use those words, pretty girl.”

“I want you inside of me, Nate.” You mouth as you kiss him again. He grunts as his tongue slides past your lips. He tastes like cheap beer, and some strong mint he probably ate before he got to the party.

He stands up with your legs wrapped around him. And he walks off of the deck. “Mm, where. Are, we going?” You ask moaning against his lips. “Just to my truck.” He answers as he kisses your neck.

When he gets to his truck his presses the key and the door unlocks. He places you inside and climbs in after you. “Get in the back, Jay-Jay.” Nate says to you as he takes off the top half of his costume.

You do as you’re told and he follows after you. He gets on top of you and he looks down at you. “Never thought I would have Jade Springfield in my truck.” He says with a smirk.

“Oh shut up, Nate.” You laugh but Nate wasn’t. Instead he gets down on his knees, spreading your legs apart and placing them on his shoulders.

“Don’t look away, I want your eyes on me.” He says as he leans down and flicks his tongue across your clit. Your legs jerk a bit which makes Nate smirk.

“Does my tongue scare you, Jay-Jay?”

“No.” You lie as he spreads your lips apart. “I think you’re lying. I think my tongue scares you and you like that.” He flicks his tongue across your clit slowly and your breathes hitches.

You move your hips to the rhythm of his tongue and you moan out while your nails scratch at his seat. You watch as his eyes flutter closed and the grabs you and pulls you closer.

“Oh shit, Nate don’t stop.” Your hands find their way to his hair and you grip his hair as you work your hips harder. He sucks your clit and your legs clench.

He continues to flick his tongue against your clit but he slides in two fingers, doing the here motion which causes you to moan out in tongues as he massages that sweet spot.

“N…Nate you’re gonna make me cum.” You whimper. He just keeps eating you out like your his last meal on earth. You feel your eyes rolling to the back of your skull with your back arching. Without warning you squirt in his mouth and on his seats.

You try to close your legs because it’s sensitive but he keeps going. “N-Nate it’s se-sensitive please.” He looks up at you and he twirls his tongue which makes you stutter out gibberish.

“Sure you’re not scared of my tongue, Jade?” He rolls his tongue and you feel your orgasm hit again. “Y, yes I’m scared. I can’t h..handle i- I’m coming.” You moan out as your hips move to your orgasm.

He gives one more good suck to your pussy lips and he leans up, kissing you so you can taste yourself on his tongue. “I could eat your pussy for hours, Jay-Jay. But I’ll do that next time. Right now I know you want this.”

He places your hand on his crotch and your eyes go wide. There no way that is fitting inside of you. Nate sees the fear in your eyes and he leans down kissing your neck. “I know it’s big, but I’ll be gentle. I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you.” He sucks the side of your neck and you moan his name out softly.

You feel him move you back against his seat. And you hear his zipper unzip. You can’t see what his dick looks like in the dark but from the feel of it you know it’s bigger than the toys you use.

You hear something rip and in the street light you see it’s a condom wrapper. He moves himself closer to you and you know it’s going to hurt since he is your first but you both freeze when you hear a cop siren in the distance.

Nate moves back and you sit up to see the lights of a few cop cars.

Suddenly everyone runs out of McKay’s house and you two scramble to get decent. “I can take you home.” Nate tells you, but you shake your head.

“I’m not leaving, Stacey behind. Let me out real quick.” He opens the door and you climb out of his truck, looking through the crowd for Stacey.

You feel your phone vibrate and you answer it. “Where are you?” You hear Stacey ask in a panic. “I’m outside, where are you? I’ll find you.” You hear Nate say something but you take off running where you see Stacey’s car.

When you get in she was panicking. “Girl, apparently someone’s ex girlfriend called a noise complaint and got the party shut down…” As Stacey gives you the details you get a text from an unknown number.

Unknown-

Hey, it’s Nate. Maybe we can pick up where we left off. Not just tonight but from back then? 🙂

You feel a small smile on your lips and you go to answer but Stacey says something that makes you reconsider.

“..McKay says he thinks it was Maddie who called, since she heard that Nate was here..”

You feel the guilt in your heart and you give a wow that’s crazy for your comment and lean your head against the window.

Maybe meeting up with Nate tonight was a bad thing.

Boy was it ever…

[oh-no-another-idea]

Find the word tag

Tagged a long time ago by the lovely @tabswrites -- thank you! Read Tess's excerpts here, including one about an ancient bear in the woods :D

I'm gonna search Bent Nails or Something for these excellent words! We're getting into some later scenes here, how fun >:)

Hunt:

“Are you kidding me,” Michael said, turning in his seat to glare properly. “Are you three years old?” “No,” Sutton said defensively. “I didn’t think of it. I go barefoot at your house, and you called me out and I was unprepared! I wasn’t thinking about making you wait while I went on a mad shoe hunt, okay?”

Sharp (ie):

“You think it over,” [Jacob] said, pulling a sharpie out of his pocket. “Come see me on Wednesday and tell me your decision. Give me your arm. Come on, give it to me, I’m not gonna chop it off.” He took her wrist and pushed her sleeve up, writing on her arm with the sharpie. An address flowed to life in ink. 28 Winston Farm Rd. “That’s permanent marker,” Sutton said blankly, staring at the ugly letters on her skin.

Cry:

“Do you know what I’ve been thinking?” Sutton asked, and Michael knew her well enough by now to know that it was a rhetorical question. “All I can be is jealous of you, Michael Bradley. Yeah, your dad died. He didn’t mean to leave you and nothing short of the accident would’ve made him. And Nick isn’t a replacement, but he’s pretty damn good to you. So why me? Why am I the one who ended up with a dad who fucking walked out on me the moment he could?” She was crying, he thought.

Breathe:

“You know why you’d stay?” “Sure,” Jacob said, the farthest thing from a coward Michael had ever seen. “There’s a lot to like in this town. Good people, good work. I could convince Reynolds to let me rent it for a few months more, hell, I could convince him to sell with a little gentle arm wrestling.” To sell, to sell, to sell. “But not if there’s no Sutton,” Jacob finished, looking down. “Not if there’s no you.” Michael breathed in.

Tags for anyone, tags for everyone, and also @ashen-crest @charlesjosephwrites @eccaiia @reneesbooks @willtheweaver

@revenantlore @indecentpause @zmwrites and @cherrybombfangirlwrites! Your words are celebration, proud, listen, jaw, and height <3

[hypnotisedfireflies]

Your honor, I am requesting TessJoel & Tess’s assistant supporting Sarah at a really terrible musical she’s in. This is a challenge because you hate fluff. But we, your loyal audience, adore your fluff.

You have made me relive some high school trauma, my friend. I listened to the soundtrack and it took me back places I never, ever wanted to go again. I cannot vouch for anything I've written. In fact, there's a chance that below the cut is just:

"all Joseph and no play makes Arien a dull girl"

over and over. I just don't know.

Go, Go, Go Joseph!

Between Chapters 41 and 42 of Snowqueen of Texas.

Ji-Min was on Tess’s left and Joel on her right and the moods between the two could not have been more different.  Ms Positivity and Light was poring over the program and chattering enthusiastically about her school musical experiences.  Joel was quiet, uncomfortable.  He smelt the horrors yet to come and was helpless to parent his daughter out of the danger.

“I actually have kind of an amazing voice,” Ji-Min continued.  “I did this when I was in school, can you believe that?  I played the Narrator.  I still know all the words.  And then the next year I got to be Sister Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.  Ha.  Can you imagine?  And the year after that –”

Tess leaned sideways into Joel and pulled his hand into her lap.  “Are you gonna make it?”

“It never gets easier,” he admitted, staring at the seat in front of him.  “If anything, it just gets worse.  Every year, they get worse.”

“How did Tommy get out of this?”

“Work dinner with Maria,” he answered.  “Thing is, Tommy actually likes these fuckin’ things.”

Ji-Min squealed and thrust the program in their faces.  “Look, there she is!  She looks so pretty, Joel!”

And there was Sarah’s smiling photo.  Sarah Miller is NAPHTALI.

“I would never have picked Sarah as willingly joining a musical,” Tess commented, passing the program back to Ji-Min.

“Her fuckin’ friends,” Joel muttered.  “Poppy and Taissa, specifically.  You know what really pisses me off, though?  Taissa didn’t even get cast this year.  There was a whole thing between them about it.”

“Oh – is that what that was about?”

Ji-Min leaned over, nodding enthusiastically.  “Yeah, Taissa wanted her to quit and tell Miss Oswald to cast her instead.  Keep an eye open for Joseph.  Everyone’s chasing him.”

“Sarah?”

“No,” Ji-Min folded her program back and fanned herself.  “She’s dated the Baker a couple of times.”

Joel looked at Tess’s profile.  “You know about that?”

“No, of course not,” Tess lied, squeezing his hand.

The lights dimmed and gentle music filtered down.  A single spot washed out a girl in a tuxedo, her hair slicked back. 

“Some folks dream of the wonders they'll do Before their time on this planet is through…”

Ji-Min was passionately mouthing along.  The girl’s voice wasn’t bad, but this was going to be hard to listen to for the next …. However long they were trapped here.  The prologue finished and a soft calypso beat filled the auditorium. 

Sarah had told Tess about Scott, who played Joesph.  Scott was the lead singer of the school’s resident metal band and while his voice was … fine … it wasn’t really geared toward a matinee musical.  The softness of Any Dream Will Do took on a new edge.  By the time he neared the end of the number the innocence was lost and his voice had taken on a raspy, electric edge. 

“Why is he wearing leather pants?”  Joel muttered.  “Those are leather pants, right?”

“He’s gonna regret that under that spot,” Ji-Min murmured, almost looking frightened for him.  “I saw someone get stuck in a pair of leather pants once.  They had to cut him out.  With nail scissors.”

The band nearly knocked them out of their seats with noisy, overly loud fanfare.

“Oh sweet Jesus,” Tess whispered.

The Narrator was almost shouting to be heard over the top.

“JACOB!! JACOB AND SONS!!”

Ji-Min interrupted her own sing-a-long to point.  “There she is!”

Sarah had appeared on the side of the stage with the rest of Jacob’s sons.

"...AND RED AND YELLOW AND GREEN AND BROWN AND SCARLET AND BLACK AND OCHRE AND PEACH AND RUBY AND OLIVE AND VIOLET AND FAWN AND LILAC AND GOLD AND CHOCOLATE AND MAUVE AND CREAM AND CRIMSON AND SILVER AND ROSE AND AZURE AND LEMON AND RUSSET AND GREY AND PURPLE AND WHITE AND PINK AND ORANGE AND BLUE!”

Every colour was like a fresh blow across the head.

“Wait, Joseph’s supposed to be the good guy?”  Joel muttered in the next song.

It was all kind of downhill from there.  It rapidly became clear that the band had only moderate success with learning how to play all the songs together.  The first few numbers were pretty tight and then it began to unravel at a frightening rate. It was painfully under rehearsed and too loud.  The drowned out the softer singers and the bolder overcompensated.  The choreography was standard, framed around the few solid dancers they had, who took up most of the space and sometimes just gave over to wild dancing that was all about showing off skill, regardless of whether it suited the scene or not.

By Go, Go, Go Joseph, Joel brought Tess’s fingers to his lips and closed his eyes.  He tilted their heads together.

“I am so fuckin’ sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Please don’t leave me.”

Tess’s witty response was swallowed up by her giggles.  What else was she supposed to do?   They still had all of Act II to contend with.

Ji-Min leaned over.  “When I need to really pick myself up, I sing this to myself.  I mean, not all of it.  Just the plucky bit.  Doesn’t it just make you feel like you can do anything?  It packs the same punch as Flashdance.”

Joel covertly gestured to her PA.  “You willingly made friends with this woman?”

“GO, GO, GO JOSEPH YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY HANG ON NOW JOSEPH YOU'LL MAKE IT SOME DAY SHA LA LA JOSEPH YOU'RE STILL IN YOUR PRIME YOU AND YOUR DREAMCOAT AHEAD OF YOUR TIME!”

“What if I asked you to learn this for me?”  Tess whispered in his ear.

“I’d leave you.”

Intermission began.  Ji-Min got chatting to one of the teachers involved and Tess pulled Joel aside.  She glanced down the empty corridor lined with lockers and pulled him along with her.

“Tess, no,” he weakly protested.  “We’d get Sarah expelled.”

“Shut up,��� she laughed.  “You’ve got a dirty mind.”

“No way I can get it up anyway.  No way I can ever get it up again.”

Tess stopped around the corner, a darker corridor.  She reached into her handbag and fished out a little flask.

“I came prepared.  I thought weed might be better, honestly, but they’re trained to sniff that shit out in places like this.”

“What is it?”  Joel took the flash and uncapped it.  “Whisky?”

“Mm hm.”

“Fuckin’ godsend,” he muttered.  Joel kissed the top of her head and they shared a few clandestine nips before heading back to the auditorium to suffer through Act II – though perhaps now they had the fortitude to survive it.

Act II seemed longer, but everything wrong with the horrendous musical was suddenly a little easier to bear.  They giggled through the Pharaoh’s song and Ji-Min was most encouraged by their change of heart until she caught a whiff of the whisky.

She tutted at them.  Then:  “Any left?”

Tess passed her the flask and she slouched down in her seat to finish it off over the course of the song.

“Why is he Elvis?!”  Joel finally asked, scandalised. 

Tess pressed her hands to her face.  She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  “Why are they so loud!?”

“COULD IT BE, COULD IT BE COULD IT BE, COULD IT BE COULD IT BE, COULD IT BE COULD IT POSSIBLY BE BENJAMIN? YES! YES! YES!”

Ji-Min leaned forward and gaped.  “It’s getting worse!  Is it getting worse?”

“I thought you were enjoyin’ it!”  Joel hissed across Tess’s lap.

“My musical was the living end, Joel.  The living end.  There is no therapy that will fix your daughter after this.  Or you. You’ll be singing these songs for weeks.”

“You’re singin’ along!”

“I’m reliving my trauma!”

Tess squinted at the colourful stage.  Nobody seemed to know what they were doing anymore.  The Narrator was doing her level best to hold it together but most of the kids were looking at each other to guess what they were supposed to do next.

And then it seemed to be mercifully over – but no, it was just a repeat of that song again, the namesake song.  At least they all kind of knew what they were doing with that one, though. Then there was an indeterminable flurry of bows and thanks to this person and that.  But by then, Tess was just looking at Sarah.  She was giggling with two of the other brother roles and looked so alive, so thrilled with herself.  She was a smart girl.  She knew it was garbage, and she was still having the time of her life up there.

They met Sarah outside.  Ji-Min rushed to grab her and handed over the big bunch of flowers she’d left in the back of the car.  Sarah’s flushed, pleased face peered out from above the tulips.  “Thank you!”

“You were great!”

“How bad was it?”  Sarah asked, looking from one face to the next.

“It was pretty bad,” Tess admitted.

Joel and Ji-Min looked at her in horror.

“Oh come on, she knows.”

“It was so bad,” Sarah agreed and began to laugh, pushing her face into the flowers.  “Oh my God.  I am so glad that is over.  I am done.  I am done forever.”

“We need to get out of here,” Ji-Min said, and turned to the car. 

Tess leaned over and kissed Sarah’s cheek.  “You were amazing, though.”

“Fully technicolour?”

“Let’s not push it.”

Tess got behind the wheel.  Ji-Min was texting and complaining about her sister, but Tess’s gaze was on the rearview mirror.  She watched Joel and Sarah talking.  She beamed at him and he pulled her in for a tight hug under one arm, kissing the side of her head repeatedly.  The car bounced back and forth as they climbed in.

“Can we get milkshakes?”  Sarah asked.

“You haven’t asked enough of me for one night?”  Joel asked.  He grinned at her and then swung to Ji-Min. “You want to come, too?”

Ji-Min nodded distractedly.  “Yeah. I just – gotta call my sister.  She’s freaking out again.”

It took ages to get out of the carpark.  Tess put the foot down once they were clear and headed to Sarah’s favourite milkshake spot.  Her fingers tapped on the steering wheel until Joel reached across to stop her at the lights.

“Don’t.  Don’t do that.”

“IT WAS RED AND YELLOW AND GREEN AND BROWN AND SCARLET AND BLACK AND OCHRE AND PEACH AND RUBY AND OLIVE AND VIOLET AND FAWN…”

[rebouks]

Previous // Next

Penny: [huffs] What now? Levi: Déjà vu much. Penny: Shut up.

UNIDENTIFIED RETINA – ACCESS DENIED

Aster: Woah. Penny: Don’t suppose you can pick that? [Robin scoffed, shaking his head]

Jacob: Maybe one of these bodies would work. Levi: Jesus, no one’s dragging a dead body around-.. besides, the eyes are the first to rot. Tess: EW-.. how do you know that?

Levi: It’s basic anatomy! Aster: Nerd. Penny: Lol.

RETINA IDENTIFIED – ACCESS GRANTED

Levi: What the fuck, Robin?! Robin: I didn’t do anything! Jacob: You didn’t hack it?

Robin: No, I just looked at it! [Levi squinted suspiciously] Robin: What?! It’s not like I’ve been here before.

Levi: If you say so. Jacob: Pretty weird, either way. Penny: Whatever, let’s keep going.

…

Penny: [groans] This place is even more disgusting than the last. Aster: Yeah.. if this is a prank, I’m way over it. Penny: Same.

Robin: Well, we’re stuck here until we find a way out. Tess: Great. Jacob: C’mon, let’s sit down for a sec…

[electricity humming]

[liliwoohoo]

:333

[roses-n-rads]

T?

T'kkall - a starfleet engineer living on DS9 who is next door neighbors to Aspen my main star trek oc. A vulcan who secretly loves how 'illogical' the station is, both the engineering aspect and the drama that happens lol

Tess Lane - a low ranking cultist in edens gate who runs the kitchen in Jacob's compound and takes Wren under her wing. Takes absolutely no shit from anyone and that includes Jacob himself

Trevor Fuller - a reclaimer who leaves the vault an angry asshole who thinks he can save appalachia without helping other people and being a part of a community and learns from Nia that that's absolutely the wrong mindset with that goal. listen I don't have a step by step for how he goes from angry outsider teen to steady presence community leader but I'll figure it out

Tulsa - absolutely wild and chaotic thrill seeker who joined the scraver gang because they weren't raiders and also everyone called them insane for climbing dilapidated sky scrappers that even desperate scavengers avoided because they were death traps

[storiesfabled]

new muses (and it's all @prettytragcdies fault :p)

i'm officially starting a rewatch of er so i'm adding some muses from there. also added back my twilight muses, because of @sherunsfaster. my friends are bad influences (jk, i'm just a muse wh*re)

er muses: mark greene, rachel greene, elizabeth corday, john carter, doug ross, carol hathaway, abby lockhart, tess ross, kate ross, (possibly more once i get further into the watch)

twilight muses: bella swan, edward cullen, carlisle cullen, jasper cullen, emmett cullen, jacob black, charlie swan

[shopaholixs]

Jacket, skirt, and pumps by Marc Jacobs. Necklace by Yutai.

Photographed by Cameron McCool. Styled by Alex White. Modelled by Tess Breeden.

Elle September 2024.