#alastor x reader

[greenandsorrow]

Morning Wood.

rut!Alastor x gn!reader

☞ I had some leftover smut scenes from the first chapter of "The price for misbehaving" and so, I decided to combine them with a slightly different depiction of Alastor. He's all fuzzy, basically covered in deer fur -anthropomorphic animal vibes and not the cartoonish, bright red guy we all know!

☞ You don't need to have read the actual multi chap in order to enjoy and understand this. However, I did keep the rutting/mating season theme. I love it when fictional men act pathetic -and the fact that I'm the one determining that in my silly, not so little, fics.

☞ Lots of horniness and hormones. Pet names. Masturbation and a blowjob, but make it goofy and playful! The reader is full of sass. Alastor is eepy and needy. Pre-established relationship. You're his mate!

🪻

Alastor is a mess.

A mess of sharp edges.

And antlers.

Antlers that bear little nicks along their edges.

His wiry frame is covered in patches of scruffy fur that cling to his body in a disarray. It's a chaotic blend of rough textures and soft tufts. His chest and arms are a map of scars, faint reminders of a past that seems to be trying to hide beneath some of the fluffiest tufts.

His tail is twitching with restless energy.

Somewhere on the upper floors of the hotel, his bedroom is dimly lit, the only source of illumination coming from the radio dial of a fancy antique. Alastor is sitting perched on the edge of his bed, legs spread wide and claws digging into the mattress beneath him. His chest rises and falls in shallow, uneven breaths.

The air is heavy with the dizzying scent of his rut.

He lets out a low growl, his usual composure cracked by the haze of primal need that's clouding his mind. His cock is already in his hand, long, throbbing and impossibly hard, with veins pulsing. The fur at its base is damp with sweat and precum. His heavy balls are drawn tight against his body.

Alastor squeezes the base of his cock and the sound that escapes him comes out unbidden, raw and guttural. He can feel it... The unbearable heat coursing through him, a wild and instinctual drive he can't suppress.

He pumps his shaft, slowly and deliberately at first, as he tries to maintain an ounce of control. But his rut isn't something he can just ignore... And soon his pace quickens, his hips bucking into his hand.

"F~ fffuck~" he hisses through gritted teeth, his free hand gripping his thigh -in an attempt to not tear the poor bedding. His thoughts are filled with glimpses of you... The way you tease him with that infuriating smirk, the way your hands feel on his chest, your breath ghosting over his neck.

It only makes things worse.

His cock twitches violently in his hand, precum running down the length in sticky lines. His clawed hand grazes the sensitive skin of his cock head just enough to sting, but the pain only spurs him on more.

"Why now?" he growls, his voice gravelly.

His tail thrashes behind him.

Alastor is imagining you beneath him, your hands exploring every inch of his furred body while your voice whispers filthy encouragements in his ear.

The thought alone sends him over the edge. With a strangled cry, his body tenses, his hips jerking forward as his release spills on his hand in thick, hot ropes. His vision blurs for a moment, the intensity of his orgasm leaving him trembling.

The room is now silent, save for the sound of his ragged breathing. Alastor slumps forward, claw still sticky and cock softening slowly. He grimaces, dragging a hand down his flushed face before letting out a defeated sigh.

"Disgraceful" he mutters to himself -though the shame is only fleeting. The rut isn't done with him yet and he knows it's only a matter of time before the unbearable ache returns.

Had you found him like that... What would have happened?

For now, though, he allows himself a moment of tranquility.

You said it'll only be four days... He can go four days without you, right? Pfft. Sure, he can. That was literally day two.

The morning light filters through opac curtains and the hotel fills with the familiar sounds of its guests going about their day.

Alastor stirs on the couch, his lanky frame sprawled across the cushions, tail twitching lazily. He lets out a small groan, rubbing at his chest absentmindedly.

The Radio Demon is practically draped across the couch like he invented the concept of fatigue. His shirt is half-tucked, the fabric wrinkled like he's been sleeping in it for days. His legs dangle off the arm of the sofa, one hoof idly moving to some rhythm only he can hear. His hair sticks out in every direction, defying both gravity and logic.

That's when he feels it.

"Oh, dear" he mutters, blinking, as he shifts his hips and feels the unyielding pressure against the front of his slacks. His cock, half-hard when he fell asleep, is now achingly stiff...

Alastor gives an exasperated sigh, though it is also tinged with some embarrassment. He shifts his long legs awkwardly, but the motion only heightens the friction, earning an involuntary hiss from him.

"Of all the things to wake up to" he says under his breath, voice carrying its usual cadence despite the situation.

One hand is already slithering near his waist before he thinks better of it... But he decides to resist.

It's no use.

His cock throbs, demanding attention, the weight of his balls adding to the torture. Alastor whines softly, while his tail is moving erratically against the cushions of the couch.

That's the sight you walk in on -Alastor spread on the couch, red-faced and visibly aroused, brows furrowed in sleepy distress. You lean against the doorway, taking a moment to soak in the ridiculousness of it all.

"Well, good morning to you too, sunshine." you begin, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see you've got a… pressing issue in your hands."

Alastor's head snaps up, his wide eyes widening even more. He had forgotten it was today you were coming back.

"Wha-?!", he struggles to sit up.

You toss a pillow at him. He doesn't dodge -it smacks him in the chest and he groans theatrically, clutching it like it has wounded him mortally.

"Careful!" he pouts, half-lidded eyes gazing at you under messy bangs. "I'm already frightfully weak. Don't make it worse."

You rollyour eyes. "You're always weak when you want something, Al. So spit it out. What do you need?"

Alastor stretches, the movement languid and a bit too purposeful as his shirt rides up, exposing his lean, scarred stomach and the dip of his hip bones.

"Well", he drawls in a tone full of fake innocence, "since you're offering…"

He really is weak.... He hates but simultaneously loves how lust dictates his decisions.

His ears flatten against his head, hands moving to shield himself, though it does little to mask the twitching outline beneath the thin fabric of his slacks.

"Relax." you say, stepping closer with an amused smirk. "It's nothing I haven't seen before. Though, I'll admit… you look particularly needy this morning."

"I- I wasn't expecting company s- so soon again..." he stammers, his usual smoothness nowhere to be found as his tail continues to flick nervously behind him.

You raise a brow, letting your gaze drift deliberately downward.

"Clearly. But hey, I'm here now, so why don't I help you… ease into your morning?"

It's obscene, the way his cock is straining against the fabric like it is fighting to break free. The outline is clear -a fat dick, slightly curved and frankly, too big for him to be this embarrassed about it. His trousers don't stand a chance... The poor button at the top looks like it's holding on for dear life.

"Wow" you observe, crossing your arms. "When you called to say you were 'resting', I didn't realize you meant that. I guess you really were up all night."

His lips part in protest, but the words get caught in his throat when you kneel between his legs, smiling up at him.

"Don't act so shocked... You always do that." you tease, dragging your palms up his hairy thighs. "Y'know Alastor, you look like you could use a hand -or a mouth."

"Y- You are positively scandalous" he manages out, though his voice wavers -probably from the excruciating anticipation for your touch.

"Yeah, yeah" you quip, tugging at the waistband of his slacks. "Now shut up and let me work."

He can't help but make a strangled, static-laced whine at your order.

The moment his cock springs free, it hits his stomach with a thud, the thick shaft flushed and throbbing with need. A soft, furry, happy trail goes down till the base -where his balls rest against the couch, each movement causing them to shift enticingly.

You let out a low whistle, leaning in close. "Well, aren't you a pretty buck."

"This whole ordeal is utterly flawed!"

"Oh, I wouldn't use that word. It's more like an opportunity."

Alastor's right ear twitches at that, his breath ragged. "A- An opportunity for what, exactly?"

Grinning wickedly, you answer. "To see just how needy the great Alastor can get."

Alastor freezes... like a deer caught in headlights, the eternal grin faltering. He shifts his limbs, trying to compose himself, but there's no hiding it -there he is, the Radio Demon, infamous and terrifying… now looking like prey that has wandered into a very compromising situation.

And oh, is it compromising.

Your newly acquainted mate's cheeks flush a deeper crimson, his grin stretching unnaturally wide in a desperate attempt to assert himself. "Ah, well, you see- It's not- !"

"Save it. You're not fooling anyone, stag boy. Look at you... All scruffy and needy... Rocking an erection on your favourite vintage couch."

He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I- I assure you, it's entirely… involuntary!"

"Yeah?" you quirk an eyebrow, letting your hand trail up his chest and then back down his stomach, relishing in the feel of his muscles clenching underneath your fingertips.

"Sh- shocking behavior! I- I don't know what you're-"

"Alastor" you cut him off sharply. "Stop talking."

He did.

The trembling demon's shaft isn't just stiff -it's... raging, twitching as if annoyed that it's not already getting attention. And oh, the head. Flushed an angry red, it's bulbous, slick with an impossible amount of precum that's dripping lazily down the sides. It is cartoonishly swollen to say the least.

"Good lord. How can you always wake up like this?"

Alastor squirms, his grin trembling. "I- I am a creature of many talents, my dear!"

His hand grips the armrest of the couch so tightly that the fabric starts to fray.

"Right" you mutter, your fingers finally wrapping around him. The moment you touch him, he lets out a static-filled gasp and the hotel's lights all flicker, his whole body jerking as though he hasn't been touched in centuries. It's been four days.

His cock is hot to the touch. The contrast between the smooth head and the slightly fuzzy base is oddly satisfying under your palm. You give him a little squeeze. He twitches violently in response, tail flicking and ears flattening again.

"Eager, huh?" you tease, stroking slowly. Alastor's sharp teeth clench, his head falling back against the couch as he lets out a broken groan.

"N- nothing like that! I- I'm always prepared!" he babbles, his voice breaking into static again.

"Sure, sure."

That earns you a petulant glare.

The smell of him -something earthy and musky- fills your senses. You let your tongue dart out, licking a stripe along the underside of his cock, slowly, tasting the salty precum that has been pooling at the tip.

Alastor lets out a sound that can only be described as pathetic, his sharp claws scratching the couch (aka the real victim) in a vain attempt to ground himself.

"Prepared?" you mock, your breath falling on his slick glans. "You're shaking like a leaf,u freckled sweetie. I'd say you're anything but prepared."

Alastor whimpers, an uncharacteristic noise for someone so smug. His deer tail is lashing furiously now, the coarse fur of his thighs brushing against you as he shifts in place.

You wrap your lips around him in one swift motion, taking him just far enough to feel the weight of him on your tongue. The ridges along his shaft catch against the wet heat of your mouth as you slide down his length. His claws dig into the couch, again.

He almost chokes... His grown antlers momentarily catch on the backrest. His chest is heaving.

Meanwhile, your lips remain around his hot cock. You hum, the vibration making him jerk so hard he nearly bucks into your mouth. He spills even more precum, coating your tongue.

Pulling back just enough to tease, you let your lips part with a wet pop, his shiny length gleaming.

His ears are still pinned back, his teeth biting into his lip as he struggles -and fails- to suppress a shuddering moan.

You don't wait for him to recover. Instead, you lower your mouth back onto him, taking him even deeper this time. His cock twitches and twitches, the veins pulsing against your tongue as you hollow your cheeks and suck hard.

"Ah- !", static again.

You pause to look up at him, his sweaty and flushed face making you feel oddly proud. Alastor's response to your simple gaze is a little pat on your head. He appreciates what you do, even if it brings him equal amounts of relief and torture.

An incoherent and strangled series of moans leave his open mouth as you work him over with a mix of slow strokes and hard sucks. His legs tense, the fur along his thighs bristling as he teeters on the edge.

"P- Please" he begs, his voice cracking in a way that makes heat pool in your stomach. His usual bravado has vanished completely, leaving him dazed, needy... and utterly at your mercy.

You hum again, the sound sending a shockwave through his body. His cock pulses hard in your mouth and you can feel him getting closer with every ragged breath and broken moan.

You shift your position on the rug slightly, your hand slipping lower to cup his balls. They are heavy and warm in your palm, fuzzy with coarse fur -like the rest of him. You give them a teasing squeeze. Alastor practically yelps, his thighs snapping shut for a moment before falling open again, leaving him vulnerable and exposed to you.

"Sensitive, aren't we?" you comment, rolling them gently between your fingers. His cock twitches violently in response, a bead of precum spilling onto your lips as you kiss the base of his shaft.

Alastor's hands claw at the couch helplessly, his sharp nails ripping the fabric. (🛋️RIP)

"I- I can't take this anymore!", his voice breaks into a high-pitched whine. His antlers clatter against the backrest, as his head tips back, neck taut and exposed.

"Oh, but you can, deer boy" you murmur, your voice sultry. "And you will."

As if spurred by your words, his hips jerk forward, his instincts betraying him. The movement is sudden, sharp and almost frantic, his cock sliding further into your mouth as he begins to rut against your face. His balls slap against your chin with each desperate thrust, their weight a reminder of just how pent-up he truly is when he's in musth.

"G- Goodness gracious, I- ah- oh my~!"

His fur bristles everywhere now -all over his back, his arms and chest- and his ears are spasming.

Static crackles in the air.

You tighten your grip on his base, your free hand moving to steady his hips.

"Easy there, mister buck" you say, pulling back just enough to catch your breath. "Getting ahead of yourself, don't you think?"

"F- forgive me... I really c- can't help it!" he stammers, eyes glazed over with a mix of embarrassment and raw, animalistic need. "You're- you're too good! And frankly, I missed you!"

You chuckle.

Then, you lick a stripe from the base of his cock to the very tip, savoring the way he shudders. "Oh, I know", you say smugly. "Now, be a good little deer and stay still, or I might stop altogether."

The threat makes him whine again, the sound almost pitiful -but he forces himself to stay still. His thighs tremble, the tension in his body visible.

Satisfied with his obedience, you take him back into your mouth, your tongue swirling around his tip before sliding down to the base. His hips twitch despite himself, his cock pulsing hard as you swallow him down.

His breathing grows extremely ragged.

"I- I'm... ah! I'm so close" he chokes out. His balls have drawn up tight against your palm, a telltale sign of his impending orgasm -making you moan around him.

Simply, that's enough.

With a desperate cry, Alastor comes undone, his cock throbbing violently as he spills into your waiting mouth. You swallow it, the salty heat flooding your senses as he slumps against the couch, his body trembling with aftershocks.

When you finally pull back, he is even more of a mess than you found him -his hair disheveled and wet, his chest heaving rapidly and his face flushed with a mix of exertion and satisfaction. You lick your lips, your eyes gleaming with mischief as you look up at him.

"Feeling better, bucko?" you ask, your tone smug but with an undertone of affection.

Alastor's ears rise on top of his head and he gives you a sheepish, toothy smile. "I… suppose you could say that", he admits, still breathless.

You laugh, the sound light.

You stand up and give his lips a peck."Good. You look cute like this... completely wrecked and at my mercy."

"The couch looks worse."

Thank you for reading!🪻

Support me further: ☞ PayPal link

~ My Hazbin Hotel masterlist ~

This work is part of the nymph's daily gifts! 💌

The dividers are by @saradika-graphics.

Tags; @stygianoir @aperfectidiot @lady-valtieri @what-0-life @clowncollegealum @whatinthepluto @dragonqueenfk @ajajajabdjsjx @ellie-x0xo @1rxsemary1 @ermmmwhattheflipguys @kimkimmm2411 @sukaretto-n @crowleysthings @ratskinsuit @mariaclarade-la-cruz1 @ilikemyteawithmilk @dontevenknowwhyimhere @dennsfz @sirens-and-moonflowers @diffidentphantom @midorichoco @speedycoffeedelight @cinnamon-galaxies @kammsinn @chibistar45 @alastorthirsty @victias @mezzo-piano230 @shayshaymonyou @atlaloversblog @iheartalastor @mydickisjuicy @pinestwinssimp

[redvexillum]

iykyk

[hazelfoureyes]

Wrote this when I was high and totally forgot lmao

[voxslays]

could i request voxval or radiostatic x reader (gn reader or male reader preferred) headcanons

POLYANDRY

RADIOSTATIC X READER

Early 2010’s love triangle vibes fr. On one side you have Alastor; the charming and mysterious overlord ‘bad-boy’ (as Niffty likes to call him) who has a sexy voice and everyone wants to get with for some reason. And on the other, you have Vox—the wealthy CEO (and overlord) who is both cunning, conniving, and attractive, while having a soft spot for very few people, which you are one of.

Both are very publicly vying for your affection while shaming the other. You are quickly overwhelmed and shut them down—telling them to get their acts together (to stop harassing both you and eachother and get over their decade-long beef) then come back, they decide to come up with a plan to get you back.

It’s clear as day that they both hate eachother, don’t get me wrong, but they could possibly put that aside for a little while and share you…possibly? They only start to have an actual conversation after you force the two of them into a closet and lock the door though…and they weren’t very happy...

The only real solution is spreading your weeks between them (kinda like divorced parents ig…?) these two can only really get along for so long and it’s better not to push them…even though Vox has an insane obsession with Alastor that he totally knows about…yeah…

VOXVAL X READER

These two were looking for something new in their on and off relationship, someone to make it more exciting—someone like you, their lovely little assistant, who they may or may not stalk. You had been working at Voxtek for only around three years now. Yet, you managed to catch the attention of two of the biggest overlords in pride—who you also have a little crush on? It feels like all your dreams have come true…especially when one night they ask you to join them in doing the deed. You say yes.

The next morning, they ask you to be their third partner, and you say yes. Velvette is not pleased, because now not only does she have to watch over what she considers to be two ‘sappy old tossers’ but three. She is NOT pleased. For being in hell and with two overlords, your relationship is relatively healthy (especially by Valentino standards) even though it can get toxic quickly because of their issues…

Vox has extreme toxic masculinity and beliefs from the fifties—like men shouldn’t cry and should be the head of the house for example, even though he is extremely progressive with everything else, and Valentino is just Valentino…Overall, once you send them to therapy, your good.

[pannman]

Child reader with their sibling going through old boxes in Alastor's radio tower

Child reader: wow Alastor sure has a lot old stuff in here-oh look! A microphone thingy! Ahem...

Sibling giggles as reader imitates Alastor*

Child reader: HeLlo PlEaSuRe To Be MeEtInG yOu qUiTe a PlEaSuRe!

Sibling giggles harder then suddenly stops*

Child reader: he's right behind me isn't he?

Reader slowly turns to see Alastor leaning down at an unnatural angle face inches away*

Alastor: ....boo

Reader and their sibling: AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

They both run away screaming while Alastor is cackling*

Alastor: Oh, kids! They are so fun!

[poppyquills]

Hi guys I would really appreciate if you sent me some requests Σ>―(〃°ω°〃)♡→

[greeniegirl23]

I can absolutely see Alastor turning into an over-clingy cat. Constantly cuddles and snuggles, you aren't allowed to move too much or leave his presence without him following you or sticking to you like glue.

Gets a little cranky when hungry, irritated when you don't have time to snuggle, wants all your attention during the season, gets a little lazy, and etc. Does subtle grooming like licking your hair, rubbing you so you smell like him, you MUST BATHE TOGETHER!

Again, like a cat, he will bring you food when hungry. Make sure you are as cozy as him, has multiple pairs of matching pajamas, and you will sleep more than you ever have when Alastor is in the rutting season.

Consider: Alastor in-a-rut trope but because he's Ace it has a different effect on him than it would others. In short: he just gets super duper cuddly. Like. constant hugs and snuggles. Sucks to be you if you're his partner and you had plans. You don't anymore. Now you're snuggling. Congrats

[cinnamon-galaxies]

I saw this trend a lot on Twitter/X, so I decided to take part as well – but on Tumblr. I think it's about time you get to know my beloved OC better...

Per every like I'll drop a fun fact about Mara !

[nana-lun]

By: @knightshade26

«《 • 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 • 》»

↑ || 𝐎𝐍𝐄 || 𝐓𝐖𝐎 || 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 || ___ || --- >

𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

(𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄: 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌)

"𝐈-𝐔𝐡..𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐘/𝐍 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫?" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤.

"𝐍𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞? 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞? 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬-"

"𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐲! 𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐞!!" 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. "𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐠!"

𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, "𝐮𝐡𝐦- 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥?" 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.

𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, "𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐞, 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠.."

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, "𝐒𝐨?" 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐎𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡, 𝐎𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡~ 𝐍𝐨 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐨, 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭-𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭..." 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟.

"𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐘/𝐍 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐡𝐨𝐭.." 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠,

"𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐢 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐱𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝!" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝.

"𝐘/𝐍 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐁𝐮𝐭, 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐊𝐢𝐝, 𝐢 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫. "𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐳𝐞.

"𝐔𝐠𝐡! 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧." 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞.

𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐘/𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲; 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 �� 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐝, 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫��𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞, "𝐎𝐡! 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧! 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝"

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, "𝐖𝐨𝐰, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥!"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, "𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭! 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐢 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭."

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦.

"𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐢 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐨! 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐘/𝐍.." 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲.

"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐢 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬?" 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝.

𝐎𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠.

"𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥.." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝.

"𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭! 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐘/𝐍, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥......"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞��.

"𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫.." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲, "𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰..'

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐟 𝐢 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐦 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭? 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠~"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐲𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐬; 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐫𝐮𝐩, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐫𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐣𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞.

"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞~"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

"𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞, 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲~" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝.

"𝐒𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲..

"𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞~" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭..

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐭 ��𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐲.

"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐌𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞?" 𝐇𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞.

"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐲, 𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫? 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠~" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥(𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞), 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

"𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝.." 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬.

"𝐊𝐢𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐭𝐬." 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

"𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞-"

"𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬..."

𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬.

"𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐠𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞.." 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲.

"𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡, 𝐢 𝐛𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞.."

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬.

𝐘/𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭 (𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞). 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥.

"𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝..." 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬.

𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝!" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐫𝐮𝐩.

"𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧." 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝. 𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡?

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 '𝐎𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐫' 𝐌𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐠. 𝐎𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭! 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭—

"𝐘𝐞𝐬??" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝. 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮-𝐮𝐡𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐠?" 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐠.

"𝐎𝐡? 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝟏𝟕 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬..

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝.

"𝐎𝐡! 𝐰𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞.

"𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞!"

𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬��𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐲𝐞, 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥, 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞.

"𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐲." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭! 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮—"

"𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞! 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭!—" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ����𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠—" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧—"

"𝐍𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫! 𝐢 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐈'𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫." 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞?

"𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤? 𝐇𝐦𝐦?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐎𝐡? 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝—" 𝐇𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛.

"𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲! 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧.

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐝. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫.

"𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝." 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜. 𝐇𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

"𝐔𝐡𝐡..𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨?" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝.

"𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞?"

"𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐧?"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?"

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨! 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐱𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞!" 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞.

"𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞!"

"𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞!"

𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

"𝐀𝐧𝐝, 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!"

"𝐀𝐧𝐝, 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐥'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬..

"𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠! 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧—" 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞.

"𝐘/𝐍, 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭!"

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥, 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤.

"𝐀𝐡, 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞.

"𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐡—𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.." 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲—𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐦𝐦?" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞! 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈'𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲? 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐲𝐚' 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬!"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 (𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚��𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥'𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫.

𝐍𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫, "𝐈'𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐬!!!"

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦. 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞.

"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐘/𝐍! 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠?" 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞—𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬!" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲—"𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥.

[wicked-barbie]

Hazbin Hotel Masterlist

Reader Fics:

Hurt So Good (The Vees x fem!reader)(smut)

Everybody's Looking for Something (Alastor x gn!reader)

The softest hearts always have the toughest shields (Lute x Seraphim!reader)

Headcanons:

Lute NSFW Headcanons

Vox NSFW Headcanons

[mcntsee]

me when I reach the angst part of the angsty fic that I specifically chose for the angst

[nifftyisgonnakillu]

LGBT stands for Let’s Get Blitzo Therapy

[fromduck]

Me with you guys simping over hot men

[voxslays]

POLL TIME

I’ve gotten a lot of requests lately (I’ve since closed my ask box until I’ve gotten through all of them…sorry guys!) and need help deciding which one I should start first. If your request isn’t here, don’t worry! I will get to it soon. Anyways…

[nanami1chu]

Someone please write about Cursed Cat Alastor!!

He’s so ugly but funny looking at the same time it’s cute! I want him lmao ❤️

[love-at-first-sight-23]

Welcome to the world of “Being in love with a person who doesn’t exist in real life but you pretend they do anyway because you’re obsessed” ✧˖*°࿐