#also happy halloween! we guess this is our trick and or treat for you

[all-the-pacs]

#3 - Pac-Man (Galaxian Hardware) (1981)

Who am I? I'm having an identity crisis over here...

Oh yeah. We're going there.

So, a bit of historical context for you at home. Galaxian has a bit of history in a much... seedier part of games publishing from the early 1980s. Namely, it was dirt cheap, its hardware was dirt cheap to clone, and it was powerful enough at processing video games.

As a result, a bunch of unofficial clones of arcade games based on Galaxian's hardware were created. We couldn't find if these happened to be conversion kits (which is a very different thing mostly done by official companies, which effectively lets you swap out the games across cabinets) or if these were wholesale original cabinets. These were mostly popular in countries that were not Japan or America, seeing as publishing wasn't exactly covered by a Namco or a Bally Midway over there, and nowadays these are all extremely, extremely rare. If not for the preservation efforts of arcade gamers, these would very likely be borderline lost!

There were other Galaxian Hardware clones of games, but Pac-Man probably is the most iconic one. Heck, the second most iconic one, Ghostmuncher, is just another clone of Pac-Man. ...No, we're not playing that one, are you nuts? We're only playing this one for two reasons:

It's notable. It's the first one of these bootlegs that's related to Pac-Man as far we can tell, and hey, we think this is the first bootleg Pac-Man game... Ever. We think it fits.

...It's very, very funny to us to first play Galaxian, then play Pac-Man, then play this.

...Yeep.

Already, you can see that while Galaxian's hardware is good enough, it isn't. Good. Enough. The colors are all wrong, and the screen margins are inherently different (224x256 resolution instead of 224x288), so it ends up looking a little squished. This only will become more apparent when we enter the maze!

In addition, the text is... A little odd. So! Something we neglected to mention last week is a weird thing about the DIP Switches for Pac-Man. For those not aware, basically, DIP Switches are little settings that arcade cabinet owners could configure to customize the game to an extent. Stuff like how many coins it takes to get a credit, the game's difficulty, as well as a few other miscellaneous settings.

For some reason, in Japan only, one of the DIP Switches... changes the names of the ghosts. Blinky is Macky, Pinky is Micky, Inky is Mucky, and Clyde is Mocky. These alternative names were scrapped extremely fast, especially after the game took off in the way it did, and heck--by the time the game made it over to the west by Bally Midway, if that DIP Switch were set on in their release, all that it'd do is dummy out the names into template strings of 8 letters.

...All this to say that, for some reason, this bootleg uses those names. We don't quite get it either. Maybe this was based on a specific machine that was just configured an oddly-specific way? The fact that the default score to get an extra life is 15000 instead of 10000 (and in fact, 10k is not an option) would lend credence to that hypothesis, but there's effectively zero way to be for sure. This was a bootleg made by an uncredited bootlegging team in 1981, after all.

We enter the game and GAAAAAH.

Okay, you know how when we played Galaxian, we pointed out that the game audio was super shrill? This leaves us no choice... We must deploy an audio recording. (Light headphone warning--it's not loud, but it sure is annoying!)

Yeesh. That is extremely harsh. When we said it was only good enough, nowhere is that more readily apparent than the audio of this thing. Believe us when we say it gets worse, but we just couldn't get clean audio of it. For example, the iconic "waka waka waka" sounds more like "uuEEuuEEuuEE", and the 1-up jingle is... Literally just a solid tone.

In addition, the colors are all wrong. And it's not even like they couldn't have the pallete right on a few of these, at least--the Ghosts and especially the Bonus Fruit we understand to some extent, they only have so many colors to go around after all. But two of the ghosts are red and one is distinguished by having no eyes? And neither of the red ghosts are Blinky (well, Macky in this case), who is red by default anyways? And why is the maze yellow with blue insides, anyways? The maze is simply black and blue outlines, with zero insides at all*, so we don't even know how this one happens.

...Okay, that is a slight exaggeration--there are specified inside colors, but they literally never use them in-game in the final game. So this is technically a look at something that otherwise goes unseen in the original game without a certain glitch we're saving for later.

Aside from all that, however... Despite how garish the game looks and especially sounds, the game AI seems to be entirely intact? Admittedly, we did not study this one too hard, but the ghosts do seem to be alternating between chasing and patrolling their corners, the bonus fruit only appears after eating a certain amount of dots, and the ghost AI works as you'd expect it to. Macky beelines, Micky heads to ahead of you, Mucky takes Macky's position into account before charging you, and Mocky tries to hover vaguely nearby.

Also, you know how if in the original Pac-Man, when you eat a ghost, it turns into just its eyes and returns to the ghost pen? Well, this bootleg is a little different... They lose their eyes entirely, leaving only their sheet! It honestly looks a lot more frightening than if their eyes were the only things unscathed, honestly, especially since the sheet is now a sickly pale white.

Also, here's just a weird little detail. If you get up to the top of the screen, or if a ghost ends up there, the top third of the sprite is covered up entirely by this weird... black bar. The maze looks entirely normal, but anything that goes up there is truncated. We have NO idea how this one happens this time, and we don't even have a guess like the weird interior-maze thing.

We obviously were not keen to play this to the end whatsoever--both for the sake of time and also the fact that unlike Pac-Man, there is zero Rack Test. (What that means is that one of the DIP Switches will automatically clear the stage--presumably this is for testing stuff like potential hardware issues or to progress past a Certain Glitch we once again will refrain from spilling the juicy deets on.) And, uh, no thanks! We are not sitting here for hours for a few screenshots! But we had to see if there was an intermission, and sure enough, they do include them. Gnarly!

So... Now that it's over, what next? Well, still in 1981, we've still got a bit of time in the early stages of Pac-Man Fever where Namco could not officially provide new games yet, but people, of course, wanted more Pac-Man in their lives. So without Arcade games, what else would they have?

...If you've seen the Q&A, do you remember the line when we said we had to clarify a video game is a game with some form of video elements? Yep. We've got a little bit more silliness to go through before we hit recognizable territory. And, hey, this next one has the backing of Namco themselves! See you then!

[specialagentartemis]

trick or treat!! 😋🎃

Happy Late Halloween!

Have a fanfic snippet inspired by a conversation from the Preservation Tree Server. Where is it going? Who knows but the concept was very funny to me.

Pin-Lee was frowning at her feed screen and tapping her fingernails on the table arrhythmically when Mensah sat down. “You said there was an update on the TranRollinHyfa suit?” Mensah asked her.  Pin-Lee’s expression was causing her stomach to twist.  Deep breaths, let her chest fill with cool Preservation Station air and release it calmly.  It couldn’t be that bad.  Surely it couldn’t be that bad. “Yeah.”  Pin-Lee grimaced slightly and laid her screen down.  Seeing Mensah’s expression, Pin-Lee’s eyes widened just a little and her grimace turned apologetic.  (Was her own face that bad? Was she that obvious?)  “It’s not bad!  It’s… I mean.  We’re fine.  We’re.  Okay.  So you know that the governing board of shareholders for TranRollinHyfa sued us for the mess we made on their station.  And we counter-sued them going, are you fucking serious right now.” Mensah nodded.  “I’m aware,” she said dryly. “Yeah.  So we sued them for, y’know, allowing you to be held hostage on their station for twenty-two cycles and not only doing nothing about it, taking bribes to actually prevent our ship from docking.  Also letting GrayCris’s asshole lawyer carry around an illegal gun.  Also emotional damages for you, and for me, Ratthi, and Gurathin for good measure.  Approving SecUnits to come after you trying to kill you.  Lots of stuff to counter-sue for.  And it was intentionally overkill.  Trying to send them a message to knock it the fuck off.  I expected them to settle for dropping their suit.”  Pin-Lee’s smile was pained.  “But.” “But?” Mensah prompted.  “You look concerned.  Did we lose?  Do we owe them money after all?” “No,” Pin-Lee said.  “I’m too damn good at my job, I guess.  We won.” “… I don’t follow.” “We were awarded everything we asked for.” “You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.” Pin-Lee tilted her head back and forth in a gesture of ambivalence.  “Turns out they don’t have the money to pay it.” “So we’ll take exactly what they were suing us for, and call it even.” “Can’t. TranRollinHyfa is going into bankruptcy and liquidation for this.  But for something the size of a station, that’s really, really bad, and tends to end up with assassinations and a bunch of employees dying rather than having their contracts auctioned off and it’s a whole fucking nightmare.  So.  They offered to settle for everything.” “And when you say ‘everything,’ you can’t possibly mean…” “I sure do,” Pin-Lee said, spreading her arms to mean either expansiveness or defeat, Mensah couldn’t tell which.  “Preservation is now the sole owner and proprietor of TranRollinHyfa Station.”

[thesweetnessofspring]

(I think my trick or treat sent without anything added to it oops!! here’s my second attempt 😅)

Last Minute Trick or Treat! 🍬🍬 -

What Halloween party games (like apple bobbing, pumpkin carving etc) do you think Everlark absolutely excel at?

Happy Halloween!

This has spun off into a very quick, rough fanfic--some THG characters play the party game "Werewolf" (also known as Mafia).

"What roles are we doing again?" Clove asks. I shift in my seat, glancing at the random bunch assembled here in Caesar Flickerman's basement. From the popular Gale to Thresh and his little cousin Rue, we have nothing in common but that for some reason, Caesar invited us all here for a game of Werewolf. I hadn't wanted to come, but Prim claimed she was too old for trick-or-treating and Gale insisted we come.

The party, hosted by the senior Caesar, mostly consists of high-achievers, do-gooders, and Thresh who had to watch his little cousin Rue. Basically, those not the type to get drunk on Halloween night. And as Gale knew I was one of those, he lowered himself to come to this party with me. Although this smaller group is more my speed, I'm lost in the rules of their game. I understand we have three werewolves to kill and we have to guess who they are, but I don't understand all of the different names people are tossing out for other roles in the game. I sit back as others discuss the particular minutia of this particular game.

"Three werewolves, a witch, a seer, a hunter, a little girl, four villagers," Caesar says, then gives a wide, toothy smile. "Oh, and cupid. They'll pick the lovers."

"Can the witch save someone each night?" Marvel asks.

"No," Caesar said. "One potion to save and one potion to kill the whole game. If they die before they use it, that's never used."

More questions fly at Caesar as he clarifies the roles and what each one does. I try to keep them in mind because I'll end up with one of them. The seer can find out if someone is a werewolf or not each night. The hunter can choose one person to kill alongside them if they're killed. The little girl can peek during play to see who's who, but if they get caught, the werewolves will surely kill them. And the two lovers, chosen by the cupid, will die if the other one does, too. The villagers do nothing but get killed and join in the accusations of who the werewolf is.

"Let's have everyone pick out their roles now," Caesar says as he jostles a bowl of torn-up paper with the roles jotted down. He starts with Glimmer, then goes around the circle of us to hand out the slips of paper. I'm halfway into the circle and I pick out my role.

Witch.

Two potions the whole game. One to save and one to kill. Easy enough to remember, but I don't care for that responsibility.

"Now that everyone has their role," Caesar says, "we can get the game started!"

He steps outside the circle and turns off the lights, so the only light comes from the LED color-changing lights, which Caesar sets to blue. Shadows form around the circle and makes everyone now just a little harder to read.

"Welcome to our little village," Caesar says as he takes center stage in the middle of the circle. "All of us have lived quite peacefully together in our village on the outskirts of the forest. But lately, something's been happening. Sheep and pigs have gone missing, only track marks of being dragged away and finally splatters of blood giving any clue to what this bloodthirsty monster must be. Now, after a long day toiling at your crops and spinning wheel, you retire to bed. Everyone, close your eyes."

I follow the instructions and settle into the darkness behind my eyelids.

"First, cupid will have to choose the lovers. Cupid, open your eyes." Caesar pauses, then says, "Cupid, point to the two lovers." Another pause. "Thank you Cupid, you may close your eyes. As for the rest of you, I'm going to walk around in a circle and if I tap your knee, you're one of the lovers. When I tell you to, you'll open your eyes and see your true love. And remember, if they die, you die, too."

Not me, not me, not me, I chant in my head. It might only be a game, but the thought of being anyone's "lover" makes me uncomfortable. My eyes still shut, I wait as Caesar takes a loop around the circle and then feel a strong tap against my knee so that I can't deny I've been chosen for this.

"Lovers, open your eyes and discover who it is you will die without," Caesar says.

I open my eyes and immediately make eye contact with Peeta Mellark, who is possibly the nicest boy in my grade. The whole school, probably. He gives me a shy smile and my insides become runny and I can't help but smile back and hope I don't ruin his game for him by getting accused first of being a werewolf thanks to my resting bitch face.

"Lovers, close your eyes."

I shut them again. Caesar runs through the werewolves, who make their first decision on who to kill, then offer the seer an insight into whether or not someone's a werewolf, then the witch. I open my eyes and decline to use either potion.

"The sun rises red in the east, you wake up and discover that blood has been spilled this night," Caesar says. "Madge and Cato are on their way to the town's bakery only to discover in the middle of the town square, slashed and gutted: Delly!"

Delly lets out a groan. "The first one!"

"Who were you?" The red-headed Kit asks.

"Cupid," she says, showing her slip of paper. Caesar holds out the bowl an she tosses it back in. I narrow my eyes at her for a moment. So she's who I have to thank for this extra job of keeping Peeta safe.

"Any accusations?" Caesar asks.

"I've noticed in this game," Gale says, "that the first person to die is often closer to one of the werewolves."

I already know where he's going with this. Delly and Peeta are good friends, have been since we were kids since they live next door to each other. And I have to stop it.

"Delly's friends with everyone," I say. "Even me. That doesn't help much."

"But there are some people she's closer to," Gale says.

"You know, I heard Glimmer moving around during the werewolf part," Clove interrupts.

Glimmer gasps and says, "I was scratching my arm!"

"Or you could have been moving your arm to point at someone," Peeta says. He clearly knows what Gale had been thinking, too.

"Are you accusing Glimmer then?" Caesar asks.

"I am," Clove says.

"Seconded," Peeta agrees.

"Anyone else?" Caesar asks.

"Marvel," Cato says.

"What?!" Marvel asks.

"I don't know," Cato says, shrugging. "Gotta have at least two and you're just as likely as any of us."

Glimmer and Marvel have their opportunity to defend themselves, Glimmer giving an impassioned speech about this being just like the Salem Witch Trials, and Marvel shrugging it off with a "Whatever. I didn't do it and Cato's an idiot."

The vote's close, but in the end, it's seven to five, not in favor Glimmer.

"Villager!" she says, showing her paper. "I hope you're happy now!"

Madge gets killed off by the werewolves next, and the accusations around that fly around. Kit ends up on the chopping block, but that was bad news, since she was our seer and now we have no insight into who might be a werewolf. She didn't even get to share with us what she'd learned the first two nights.

The next round, when I open my eyes, planning to turn down using the potion, Rue's little hand waves at me from around Thresh's huge body on the chair next to me. She gestures to herself and I understand she is, aptly, the game's little girl.

"Would you like to save anyone tonight?" Caesar asks.

Rue looks at me with wide eyes. I look at Caesar, nod, and gesture toward Rue. He points at Rue in confirmation.

"Would you like to poison anyone, witch?" Caesar says. "And as a reminder to the little girl, they cannot communicate during the night. Only peek."

With Rue unable to aid me, I shake my head.

"Well, last night was quite an adventure," Caesar says. "Rue was out of bed and spying on the werewolves when they spotted her and ripped her open with their teeth. Leaving her to die, a witch came by and used a potion to revive our Rue back to life. No one has died tonight, and the witch's saving potion is used up. Now, any accusations?"

"Marvel!" Rue says, pointing her finger at him. "I was peeking and he saw me and pointed to me! I didn't get a good look at the others, but I know he's a werewolf!"

"Seconded," Thresh says, the first time he's talked all game.

"Any other accusations?" Caesar asks. No one brings up any other names and Marvel groans, accepting his fate.

"I was a werewolf," he says and puts his slip back in the bowl. Everyone cheers the first successful werewolf kill.

Next round, all I have left is a killing potion, which I don't use. I wish for more saving potion, because clearly the werewolves will be after Rue now, and sure enough, come sunrise, she's the one who's dead.

Now with the accusations, things are desperate.

"Katniss has been quiet," Clove says. "Hasn't talked since the first round."

"Katniss is always quiet," Peeta says. "You can't accuse her because of that. You'd have to throw Thresh in as well."

"I think it's Clove," Gale says. "She's been making bad accusations this whole time."

"Shut up!" Clove says. "Actually, I think it's you. You only voted Marvel because everyone else was and you've been bossing everyone around more than us, but we've only gotten one werewolf."

"I second Clove," I say. She is acting a little too defensive.

"And I second Gale," Cato says.

Gale and I are the only one who vote for Clove, and everyone else votes for Gale.

"Hunter," Gale says. "And I'm taking Clove out with me."

Clove gives a low growl and flips her paper around. "I was a werewolf."

"So there's one left." Cato looks around. "Who else? The witch and two villagers?"

"And the lovers," Thresh says.

I try not to look guilty, but Thresh clocks my expression and squints at me. Oh no, he thinks I'm the werewolf.

"All right, remaining players, close your eyes," Caesar says.

With my eyes shut and Caesar telling the remaining werewolf to choose their kill. Based on the look given to me, Thresh must be a villager. Which means that either Cato or Peeta is the werewolf. If Peeta dies, I die. Even if he is a monster. But maybe, if it's Cato and I take him out with the poison, Thresh won't have to die, too.

"Witch, you may open your eyes," Caesar says. I look up at him, his skin and hair illuminated blue in the light. "Do you wish to use your potion?"

I point at Cato. Caesar confirms, but the pool is so small now it'd be impossible to misunderstand where I'd pointed. I see the "dead" look at each other in despair and realize my mistake. Cato isn't the werewolf.

Peeta is.

"Very well, everyone open your eyes," Caesar says and claps his hands in delight. "Oh, this has been quite an interesting round! Last night, a pair of lovers slipped out in the dark together to commit a double-murder. First, the werewolf ripped Thresh's throat out and ensured his death, while the witch poisoned Cato's beer and he died choking on his own vomit."

Cato throws his hands up and glares between Peeta and me. "Which one of you killed me?"

I raise my hand. "I was the witch."

"And I'm the werewolf," Peeta says.

"So the werewolves won?" Clove asks, holding her hands to her chest in hope.

"No, the lovers won," Caesar said. "It's rare that neither of them gets killed off, but it helps that Peeta, as a werewolf, deterred them from killing Katniss and they stuck together in the game without the rest of you realizing it. With the other two dead, in the end, the lovers prevailed and get to live in their little village in the woods peacefully, with no one to bother their supernatural lives."

I can't help but cheer and when Peeta gets up from his seat and offers me a high-five, I do one better and give him a hug. We are lovers, after all--it's the least I can do.

[lilliathshifts]

Ok this post is going to be long and if you see any sentences that are just… wrong, ignore it, it's fine.

I AM DOING A SUPERNATURAL DR POST THINGY (I'm explaining the dr)

So to begin, my name is Paige Elaine Winchester, yes my initials are pew (I'm hilarious). I was born to Sharron Wailer (who her up in a family of hunters but didn’t want that life) and John Winchester (bleh 🤮) on June 6, 1988, I am a Gemini. John was in and out of my life pretty early, I was only a week old when he dipped for the first time and didn't come back until I was 1. Coming to visit once or twice a year but by the time I was 5, he just stopped visiting.

By this time, my mom started seeing this guy named Blake Blee. He was pretty cool, but he was a shapeshifter, surprisingly mom didn’t care. Blake never hurt anyone and his current id was a guy who died years ago. I started viewing him as my dad after a couple of weeks of living with us. After 1.5 years of my mom and Blake dating, they got engaged and a couple of months later, got married.

Now it was me, Blake, and my mom. Life was great. And then, suddenly, with no warning, John Winchester started showing up again after three years. It was so ridiculous because he expected me to run to him and say “daddy, daddy, I missed you oh so much 🥺🥺,” but I didn’t miss him, because Blake replaced him in every way. I mean, I called him dad, he thought me how to ride a bike, he’d secretly let me stay home from school so we could hang out, and John hated Blake for it. Luckily, he left shortly after that and I didn’t see him for another 8 years.

Within those 8 years, mom and Blake had a baby, his name is Evan Jonas Blee. I was weird being an older sister after 10 years of being an only child, but I loved my baby brother. Also around this time, I asked Blake to adopt me, which he did. Now it’s me, Blake, mom and Evan. We were a happy nuclear family. I loved bragging about my family, I loved them so much, we even got a cat and a dog named Stir Fry and Chick (laugh at the funny names).

It’s a couple of days before Halloween 2004, and life is going great. I needed to go to a store to get some last minute candy for the trick-or treaters. While I’m in the store, guess who I run into, John Winchester, and he didn’t even recognize me, how funny. Anyway, I don’t even bother talking to him and I just go home to tell my parents. A couple of hours later he shows up at our door asking if he can stay for a couple of days while he’s in town. My mom and I go to say no but my dad (Blake) tells him to stay as long as he needs to and that we have a spare room next to the living room. Evan and John weirdly got along, it was very unsettling. Mom was really stressed and when I asked her why, she started saying how she’s scared that John will somehow find out that dad is a shapeshifter and hurt him, but dad told her to not worry about that, and that he’d make sure that John would never find out about him.

On Halloween, I took Evan trick-or-treating while my parents and John went out. Evan and I were out pretty late and for back in around 10:30. Mom was home but not Dad and John. I was really tired and so was Evan and mom was a lil drunk so I out Evan to bed and ended up falling asleep in his room, still in my costume.

The next morning, I woke up around 8:30am and went down stairs expecting to see dad cooking breakfast, but he wasn’t there. So I thought that he was still asleep with mom. I passed the front windows and didn’t see John’s truck and assumed he left when things were going a little good. Mom woke up at 10am and asked if dad was asleep on the couch, he wasn’t. I then asked if he called last night to say if he and John were at a hotel or something, but no one called. Mom was a little worried and decided to go back to the bar to see if the workers know where they went. When Evan woke up, we took Stir Fry and Chick for walks while also looking for my dad and John.

Me, Evan and mom got back at the same time, but with no luck on finding them. A couple of hours has passed and a cop showed up at our door. Blake was dead. He was found in a dumpster behind a Brookshires across town. He had a singular stab wound in his abdomen, it looked like he didn’t fight back.

The next couple of months were a blur. Christmas and New Years were very quiet. We decorated and had a small party for Evan. For dad’s birthday, we went to his favorite fishing spot and just cried. I ended up graduating high school early, just like how dad and I planned. Graduation was great, my speech was mainly about him and how he helped me through so much.

It had been 8 months since he died and things were kinda normal. I celebrated my 17th birthday and mom celebrated her 39th.

Then it was September, Evan just turned 7 and I took him to his favorite places while mom had to work. While we were at Evan’s favorite pizza place, I saw this guy who weirdly looked like John. I guess I was staring pretty hard because he walked up to me. I really wanted to ask him a question but before I could, he asked for my name, so I told him. He just kinda stared at me for a bit and asked me to repeat what I said, I did. Tell me why this random stranger pulled up a chair and started asking me weird questions.

“Who are your parents” Sharron and Blake Blee, “when’s your birthday” june 6, 1988, “Do you know a man named John” yea he’s my deadbeat dad

I was getting weirded out but I asked him his name and he said his name was Dean Winchester. Same last name, I guess it’s common? He said his dad’s name is John Winchester. Guess these names are also common, maybe..?

Then he pulled out a picture of him and MY John a saying he was John oldest son and that he has a younger brother name Sam etc.

Me and Evan left with Dean and we dove to my house. I searched that house for pictures of me and John and finally found one of a year ago that my dad took of us. And that’s how I found out I had two older brothers from John’s first marriage.

BAM finished backstory. I’ve been sitting on this story for a while and was finally able to put this into words. Anyway hope you like

[jobrookekarev]

All Dressed Up.

Chapter: One of two

Words: 2,466

Summary: The karev’s pick out their costumes and go trick-or-treating at the hospital. 

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy.

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson

Characters: Alex Karev, Jo Wilson, Cormac Hayes, Levi Schmitt, Luna Wilson, Helena Karev, Edith Karev.

Rating: General Audiences.

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Fluff, Family, Love, One Shot, Holidays, Domestic, Children, Cute, Halloween, Costumes, Trick-or-treating, Family fun.

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

AN: Happy Halloween! I'll post part two tomorrow.

…………………………………………………………………

“Guess what your daughter wants to be for Halloween?” Jo asked Alex as he came back into the kitchen.

“Well guessing by the fact that you said she was my daughter, it's probably something… different, ”Alex said as he came back into the kitchen.

He had come back from changing Edith's diaper and held her in one arm as he sat down next to the two girls at the kitchen counter. Jo was across from them cutting bananas as they made lunch on that rainy October afternoon. 

“Well what do you want to be for Halloween, Helena?” Alex asked with this smile.

“A peanut,” Helena said as she lit up and smiled her teeth full of peanut butter from her sandwich.

“That might be cute!” Alex said this smile then. “We could do peanut butter and jelly as a family costume.”

“I don't know about that,” Jo said with a frown. 

Alex looked down at Edith as he rubbed her chest and she squirmed, kicking her legs. “Maybe this pretty lady can be a little strawberry or something?” 

“But I want to do a family costume this year. It'd be nice to do something fun rather than just peanut butter and jelly.” Jo lamented with a frown before she signed to Luna. “What about you, Luna? What do you want to be for Halloween?” 

Luna thought about it for a second as she chewed on her sandwich holding it in both of her hands, something only she did. “A purple princess and sparkles.” 

“We could work with that,” Jo said with this smile. “You could be our handsome king and I could be queen, with the girls being our princesses.”

“No I a peanut,” Helena stressed to Jo clearly determined in her choice of Halloween costumes.

“Okay Helena, you can be a peanut and Luna can be a princess. We don't have to have a family costume,” Alex said with a shrug looking over at Jo only to see her pouting.

“I guess,” Jo said with a shrug, clearly disappointed.

“Well then what should Edith be?” Alex playfully asked her as he tickled her tummy and she squealed with delight.

“She is going to be a pumpkin,” Jo said with a smile.

“You love that costume way too much,” Alex said, shaking his head as he sat down at the countertop.

They were referencing the little pumpkin costume she had dressed all of the girls in at one point. The little pumpkin costume was complete with a little pumpkin knitted hat that Helen had made several years ago. Luna had worn it for her first Halloween and then Jo had put Helena the following October. Although at one year old she barely fit into it and had to switch to the rocket ship costume. Jo had still paraded her around the hospital in it, as she showed off her little pumpkin baby. 

“No, it's just the best baby costume and if you think I'm not going to put this baby in a pumpkin this year then you are mistaken,” Jo said, side eyeing him to prove her point as she showed off photos of both Helena and Luna in a carved pumpkin.

“Jo she can't even sit up on her own,” Alex said, setting her on the table as she promptly fell back into his chest and sat against him.

“I’ll prop her up or something,” Jo said with a smile as she cooed over at her girl.

“If you insist,” Alex said as he rolled his eyes. “I suppose we can decide on costumes later, but maybe we could be a family of pirates?”

“No Daddy no pirates,” Luna said, snapping at him with the sign for no as she shook her head. 

Jo laughed as she took Edith back and went to sit down next to the girls. “What about a unicorn?”

“Yes,” Luna said with a nod as she also signed ‘yes’. 

“What about a doctor, Helena?” Alex offered to Helena, hoping to get them to be something a little more fun. 

“I a peanut,” Helena said, determinant with her choice as she ate her sandwich. 

“Okay we'll keep thinking about what everyone else can be,” Alex said, taking a handful of chips and sitting with them. 

…………………………………………………………………

They finally decided just to go to the costume store and pick out what they all wanted to wear. Although Jo was still determined to do a family costume the girls could not decide on anything even remotely close to matching. Thus Jo had given up and it just decided her girls to let the girls pick whatever they wanted.

“Oh it's scary,” Alex said pointing at a skeleton that popped up from a bowl and sang a little song while the girls laughed. They kept away from the more creepy decorations but saw a few of the less scary ones as they looked at lawn decorations. 

“Come on, let's go find the toddler costumes,”Jo said, turning down the right aisle finally as they were greeted with rows and rows of costumes on display, from sparkly purple dresses to basketball uniforms.

“Pretty,” Helena giggled as she grabbed onto one of the sparkly purple princess dresses and hugged it.

”Alright so one down one to go five to go,” Alex said as he placed it in the carts next to Edith who was in the car seat. She grasped a hold of the edge with her little hands and tried to bring it up to her mouth.

“No, no baby yucky,” Jo untangled it from her fingers where she was grabbing onto it. “Besides it's for sissy.”

Jo offered her the toy keys that were hanging from the handle and gave them a shake as Edith got distracted and let Jo move the dress away from her. 

“What about this one?” Alex said, pointing to a pink dinosaur costume.

“Dinosaur roar,” Luna said as she reached out for the costume and took it from Alex.

However Helena wanted it too and grabbed the costume as she tried to take it from Luna.

“No,’ Luna signed as she started crying and Alex quickly stepped in and separated them, but Helena started crying and reaching for the costume as Alex reached to hold her back. 

“Helena, that's Luna’s costume,” Jo gently reminded her although Helena continued to cry.

“Dino,” Helena said, reaching for the costume as Luna ran from her and hid by Jo’s legs.

“Do you want to be a Dinosaur too?” Alex asked as Helena nodded. “Okay we'll get you one of your own,” 

Alex searched through the rack for one in Helena's size. Although Luna was six months older and they were both the same height, Helena still had a lot of her chubby baby fat, whereas Luna had never really had any fat to begin with. Jo often worried about her tiny toddler and it didn't help that Luna was a picky eater, but both Hayes and Alex reassured her that she was healthy. However, Jo didn't complain when she wanted an extra cookie or an extra helping at dinner and she didn't hold Helena back from having the same extra treats and nutrition. Helena ate like her father and pretty much liked everything Jo served her and would always ask for seconds then thirds, but they always allowed it especially especially considering that she often grew when she was extra hungry. 

”There we go two dinosaurs,” Alex said, handing the costume to Helena as she smiled. 

“Okay, baby, but now you need to pick. The princess dress…” Jo said, holding up the purple costume to Helena before pointing to the one in her hands. “Or the dinosaur”

Helena just smiled, grabbing the princess costume and holding both of them close to her. “Mine.”

Jo sighed as she looked over at Alex who just shrugged. “Well we could get her one for dress up and one for Halloween and she can decide what she wants on the night of Halloween.”

“Alex it's bad enough that every time you guys go to Target you come home with a princess dress or something, can’t we just leave with one costume?”

As if to make things even more difficult, Luna wandered over and picked out one of the rainbow unicorn costumes. “I like ‘dis” 

“Uh-oh,” Jo said under her breath as she watched Luna pull at it trying to get it off the rack before Alex went over and helped her pick out the right size.

By the time they had gone to the end of the aisle Helena had five costumes to choose from and Luna had three. 

“All right girls we can only take one home,” Jo said, holding up her finger as she looked at the costumes in the cart. 

“I don't see the harm in getting at least two,” Alex said quietly, disagreeing with her again as Jo glared at him. 

“I think it’s a little excessive, especially considering all the ones they have at home,” Jo said as she gestured to the full cart 

Even Edith had lost a battle and had been taken out of the carseat and was now being carried by Alex rather than being buried under all the costumes. They hadn't even picked one out for her yet as they had waited for the girls to decide what they wanted to be.

“Alright,” Alex conceited with a sigh. “Let's narrow this down.”

“Why don't you three narrow down your choices to two and Edith and I will go look for a costume for her,” Jo said, trying to take Edith's car seat from him.

“Jo, no it's way too heavy,” Alex protested as he stopped her from taking it and held firm to the car seat.

Jo did have to admit that the car seat was pretty heavy. Edith was definitely not a tiny baby. At almost 2 months old She was just shy of 13 lb. She was chubby like Helena with the most adorable fat rolls that made Jo just want to eat her up. Alex was extremely cautious with her. Most of the time it was fine and something Jo definitely took advantage of, but sometimes he was a little too cautious. 

“Fine I'll just take her out of the car seat then,” Jo said as she unstrapped her and Edith got excited as Jo picked her up he kissed her head before settling her in her arms and walked away. “Your daddy is too overprotective.”

Jo smiled as she touched Edith's nose with a little laugh and walked down the other aisle for the baby costumes. She quickly realized where her girls got their indecision from as she quickly accumulated a couple of costumes for Edith. Although she was kind of set on reusing the little pumpkin costume again. She did admit that there were too many cute little baby costumes. 

“Okay,” Jo said looking at her choices she held up the choices for Edith. “Which ones do you want?” 

She offered the costumes and a tiny little baby dinosaur costume and a princess dress. Edith kicked with excitement and looked towards the little dinosaur costume. Jo let her have it and she immediately pulled the egg hat into her mouth and chewed on it.

“Well I guess we have to get it now,” Jo said with a little laugh as she let her daughter have the costume and put the other one back on the shelf. 

“Mama,” Helena shouted, as Jo looked back to see Alex and the girls coming towards her. Luna was holding her cat and unicorn costume and Helena was wearing her dinosaur costume while Alex had one of the princess dresses in the cart.

“Hello my little dinosaur, I see that you picked out your costume?” Jo said, reaching down to hug her. 

“Raor,” Helena said as Jo leaned down and tickled her, causing her to laugh.

“Mama I'm a kitty,” Luna said proudly holding up her black cat costume as she tried to sign to her with her hands full.

“I see,” Jo said with a little laugh as she kissed her cheek, absolutely melting at how adorable it was. 

“You got a dinosaur costume too?” Alex asked Edith as he looked at the dinosaur costume Edith had. “It looks like we're going to have a Jurassic Park on our hands?”

Jo smiled over at him. “Well I suppose I wouldn't mind going as Dr. Ellie and you would make a very good Dr. Malcolm.”

Alex smiled as they wandered over to the adult section. They quickly found a  Dr. Ellie costume in her size but they only had one of Dr. Grant that he wasn't too fond of. 

“It's not that bad, let's just get it and go, it's been almost an hour, and you know the girls are going to get cranky,” Jo said as she leaned against the car looking down at Edith.

She was back in her car seat and starting to fuss as Jo stuck the pacifier in her mouth. This stalled her for a little while and Jo pushed the cart back and forth, knowing she was due for a nap. 

They took all their purchases to the front and paid an amount that made Alex’s eyes widen before they went home. Upon arriving home, Alex immediately put the tombstone in the front yard along with a couple of blow ups that they definitely didn't need, but looked good.

“This is really cool, maybe I'll have to put up lights and stuff,” Alex said as he stepped back and looked at the bow up ghost.

“Yeah, but but if you kill yourself putting up lights, I'm going to bring you back and then kill you again,” Jo said smiled at him as she held a sleeping Edith and threw the ball for Reeses. The girls were in the driveway riding their toddler tricycles as Jo stood at the end of the driveway to keep them from going in the road.

“I know and last year putting up Christmas lights was bad enough, because you were pregnant and extra worried about me,” Alex said as he pretended not to see the way she raised an eyebrow at him as he looked back at the ghost.

“Ladder and lights accidents are the number two cause of an ER visit around the holidays,” Jo said as she waved to the girls. “Come on girls, let's go inside and try on those costumes.” 

“Alright,” Alex said reluctantly, following her inside.

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

Leo & Marcel's Halloween Adventure!

Here we are again with our favorite Rodentia and Corvid, on an adventure.  

Back in the countryside, it’s a beautiful fall day. There is a gentle breeze rolling through, rustling corn, sending the leaves on an adventure themselves, and we see it gently tousling the children’s hair as they run about their day preparing for the fun ahead. Now, let us head to Leo’s house because he is buzzing with energy on this beautiful day.  

As we get closer to Leo’s home, we hear a “WHOOP!” from within. Peering in we see the silly little mouse lay flat on his bum. Why, you ask? Well, from tripping over his costume of course! You see today is Halloween, and little Leo has a plan. I know you are curious as to what he is going to be, but we will get to that in a bit, oh curious one.  

He removes his costume, looks around, and starts to think aloud, “Now, let us see if I have all I need. Ok, #1. My bag for all delicious berries we shall get tonight, check. #2. My costume, check. #3. My jacket, in case it gets a bit nippy, check. Well, I do believe I have everything!”  

As he makes his way to the door, he remembers something, “Marcel’s costume!” he shouts. He runs and gets it. Smiling proudly, he says to himself, “Wait till Marcel sees this!”  

Leo finally makes his way out of the door, and in his excitement, he accidently slams it shut and he hears a thud from inside, he winces and thinks, “Well, I’ll fix that tomorrow.”  

He darts across the field as fast as he can, bobbing and weaving through the corn stalks dragging along quite a large sack for such a little mouse. As he gets closer to the clearing, he sees Marcel, but Marcel seems upset. Leo quietly wonders as to why Marcel seems so sad as he carefully approaches his feathered friend.  

Leo softly speaks, “Marcel?’  

Marcel whispers, “Yes.”  

Leo softly asks his friend, “Why are you sad?”  

Marcel chuckles and says, “You really don’t know subtly, you know.”  

Leo furrows his eyebrows, “Of course not. I really prefer direct questions and even more so, direct answers. So, would you please tell me as to why you are so upset?”  

Marcel sighs sadly, “I can’t go trick-or-treating with you.”  

Leo halts, eyebrows pinching in sadness and stutters, “W-why?”  

Marcel also halts and he furrows his eyebrows, and he speaks in an exasperated tone, “W-why?! You really ask why?!”  

Leo goes to speak, “Ye- “  

Marcel cuts him off and shouts in a heartbroken voice, “Leo, you really must ask that question?! You know why! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT WHO I AM!”  

Leo says carefully, “I know not what you mean, Marcel. Truly I do not.”  

Marcel gives him a ludicrous look as tears fill his eyes and his voice drops to a whisper, “D-do you not see who I am?! Do you not see the way they fear me?! Do you not see any of it?!”  

It clicks in Leo’s brain as to what Marcel is talking about. Leo carefully approaches and whispers, “Of course I see who you are, Marcellus, I see it all.”  

Marcel stares at Leo for a bit, then he says, “Then why do you ask such a question?”  

Leo sighs fondly, “Because what and who I see does not match with others. Marcel, I see my frie- no, not my friend. I see my brother when I look at you and only my brother, Marcellus. Not "The Dark One", just my brother.”  

Marcel gasps sharply and tears gather, “Oh.”  

Leo panics as tears start to slowly fall from Marcel’s eyes, “O-oh! I-I am so sorry, Marcel. I am terribly sorry!”  

Marcel asks in a wet voice, “Why are you sorry, Leo?”  

Leo, who is very confused, states, “Well, I-I made you cry, I never meant to make you cry.”  

Marcel lets out a wet laugh, “Oh. These are happy tears, you silly little mouse.”  

Leo lets out a soft sigh of relief, rubs the back of his neck, looks down, and laughs sheepishly, “Oh. I uh” he clears his throat and looks up, “I guess I really need to learn cues, huh?”  

Marcel gently bows his head and softly shakes it, “No, no you do not. You are perfect as is, my fluffy brother.”  

Leo beams, “Well, in that case, so are you!”  

Marcel smiles softly, “Thank you.”  

Leo grows serious, “Marcel, I want you to look at me and listen. Listen very carefully to every word.”  

Marcel looks up and directly at Leo, he says in a confused tone, “Ok, I will listen.”  

Leo takes a breath and then starts, “Marcel, it should never matter what I or others think about you. I know it helps but-but it should only matter what you think of yourself. Marcel, you are positively wonderful, but that is my opinion. No one’s opinion matters but your own; your own is all that ever matters. Oh Marcel, how I wish you see yourself as I see you, not how those uneducated simpletons see you. No one’s opinion matters but your own when it comes to yourself. You are perfect as is, Dear Brother. Always have been, always will be.”   

Marcel, tears dripping down his beak, gasps, “T-Thank y-you, Leo-o. Honestly and truly thank you.”  

Leo smiles and gently approaches Marcel, “Can I hug you?”  

Marcel lets out a relieved and happy laugh, “Of course!”  

Leo wraps his little arms around Marcel as best he can and looks up, “Wow, I really am tiny.”   

Marcel lets out a hearty laugh, “Yes, yes you are!”  

Leo pulls back, “Now, how about it? Are you up for some fun?”  

Marcel thinks, smiles, and says, “Yes, I do believe I am. Now, what will be our costumes?”  

Leo whoops with glee and excitedly says, “Ok, you are going to be a warlock! While I am going to be a ghost! What do you think?”  

Marcel is now quite excited as well, “Well, let’s see what you have!”  

Leo smiles and digs through the sack and drags out a hat he made and a stick he found that would be a perfect staff and places them in front of Marcel, “What do you think?”  

Marcel squawks happily, “I love it! Now, let us see yours!”  

Leo drags out his costume and puts it on, “What do you think?”  

Marcel snickers slightly, “Well, #1. Is your bed sheet ruined? #2. It is a bit long. #3. I love it!”  

Leo giggles slightly, “Ok, yes, it is my bed sheet. Yes, it is a bit long, I must admit. No laughing, but I have already tripped over it several times.”  

Marcel could not help but let out a small giggle, “Of course you did.”  

Leo rushes to the hat, “Well, what are we waiting for?! Let me place this just so…AHA! There! Perfect fit if I do say so myself!”  

Marcel watches as Leo beams and gives a chuckle of his own, “You know, it is. Leo, silly question I know, but…did you measure my head while I slept?”  

Leo looks at him pondering what to say. He then speaks unsurely, “….Nooooo?”  

Marcel gives him a playful look, “Leo, be honest. Did you measure my head while I slept?”  

Leo lets out a playful dramatic huff, “Okay, fine. I did. Are you happy? But how else was I supposed to get it just right?!”  

Marcel giggles, “Oh Leo, you truly are something.”  

Leo laughs, “I know! Now, let us go! We have a long, fun night ahead!  

Marcel chuckles and grabs his staff within his beak and watches Leo take off before, of course, tripping over his sheet. Marcel drops his staff and lets out a squawk of laughter, “OH! Leo! Are you ok?”  

Leo giggles and dusts himself off, “Yes, I’m alright!”  

Marcel lets out a fond huff, “You silly little mouse.”  

Leo smiles and climbs in the sack, so it will not take as long getting back to the field, “Alright! I am ready, Marcel!”  

Marcel carefully picks up the sack holding his frien-no, his brother and takes off. When they arrive, there are gasps heard amongst the other animals, murmuring is heard, “Oh no! He has grabbed Leonardo!”  

Leo pops out before anything else can be said, “No, you old bat! He does not have me, if anything I have him!”  

Marcel gasps, “Leo! Be nice to your elders!”  

Leo huffs, “Why?”  

Marcel sighs, “Because, you silly mouse, it will keep your bum from getting a right good whack.”  

Leo rolls his eyes and looks towards the lady and can see she is torn between being offended at what Leo said to her and Marcel’s willingness to stick up for her. She carefully approaches him and speaks unsurely, “What’s your name, young bird?”   

Marcel looks shocked and says, “Marcellus, ma’am. But you can call me Marcel.”  

The old and worn mouse stares at Marcel and realizes they have been quite wrong this whole time, he was not “The Dark One”, in fact he was much more respectable and kinder than Leo. “But really, Marion, it is not Leo's fault he is harsh. He just likes honesty and does not necessarily realize how much it can hurt someone.” she thinks to herself  

She carefully walks a bit closer and smiles softly,” Well, I do believe we have room for one more, young Marcel.” She then turns and eyeballs the crowd, “Don’t we? Hmm?”  

A collective yes breaks out because honestly, while they realize they were very wrong about the bird, they are also scared of their town elder. That old mouse rules with an iron fist and what she says goes, or else. But she was also truly kind and caring, and she is also learning to be accepting of differences. They all are, honestly.  

Marcel looks towards Leo for confirmation and Leo speaks up, “Well, you want to join?”  

Marcel glances back at the crowd and back to Leo, lets out a happy chirp, “Most definitely!”  

So, join the festivities they did. They had a fun filled night of games and treats, and by the end they were exhausted. Marcel flew Leo home and they bid each other a goodnight, and as they settled in for bed, they each had their own happy thoughts.  

Leo sighed happily, “Goodnight, my silly feathered brother. I hope you sleep well and thank you for being in my life.”  

Across the field, on his perch Marcel settled in and smiled at the sky, “Goodnight, my silly ball of fluff brother. Sleep well and thank you for being in my life.”  

With both Leo and Marcel drifting off to sleep we zoom out to get a full view of all. The town is quiet and peaceful as are the children that were also having their own festivities. The animals and humans are all in harmony during the peace the night brings. Sleep well, all of you because there is more fun to come. 

[journeydb]

October 31 2023 Barcelona

Happy Halloween! This afternoon we had a community costume party at the community center at our Illa de la Llum apartment complex. People really dressed up, kids and adults alike! There were witches, pirates, Spidermen, clowns, ghosts, pumpkins, and firefighters, as well as many other creative costumes. The committee running the party did a great job decorating and they also laid out an amazing spread of food that people had donated. I couldn't eat a single thing.

The little ones were adorable and some took it more seriously than others. I think these girls are supposed to be black cats, don't you?

Oscar and Michael's girls took their picture with me and I was impressed with their costumes. The twins, Valentina and Paula are preteens now and a lot more serious than they used to be and their "little" sister, Julieta, who is nearly as tall as Valentina, is always trying to keep up with them. Me? I'm just a kid at heart so Little Red Riding Hood seemed perfect for me.

Oh my gosh, the baby angel and toddler Batman were so cute!

I had just enough time to go home and make dinner for Bruce before the Trick or Treaters arrived. First they stopped at our neighbors' door, where the dad, Keko had rigged up a very scary light show. The kids loved it and I actually heard a few kids scream.

The kids were all so excited to Trick-or-Treat in our complex, where we usually have about fifty kids show up at the door. I had mostly small toys and trinkets for them because I don't believe in giving out lots of candy, but I also did have a few dark chocolate mini-bars without too much sugar.

As the night wore on the kids got older, so by the time we ran out of candy and toys, I turned out all the lights and wouldn't answer the door.

As Bruce and I left for the party at our friends Carla and Carlos's place, we stopped at Oscar's. I had bought a woodsman costume for Bruce and he didn't want to wear it so I gave to Oscar earlier in the day. It turned out to be pretty scary with the wolf mask he already had so we staged a photo with The Big Bad Wolf menacing Little Red Riding Hood and it turned out to be rather convincing.

By the time we arrived at Carla's place, everybody had been eating and drinking for a while and the sangria was flowing and the karaoke was loud, but we all had fun with it, even the husbands.

I'm not sure what the "stick your tongue out" move on Branka's part was all about but Mafe (Maria Fernanda) looked happy and Carla's dog looked bored.

Pepi, Fernanda, and Carla got a little carried away with the groping scene and it looked like the color scheme for the costumes was black and red, so I guess I fit in, kind of.

Araceli and Angie fit right in and Javier was dressed to save everyone's Souls, so we were in good company.

The guys usually don't like to dress up and Toni and Bruce were no exception but whoever was under the scary mask, and I think it was Carlos, didn't read the playbook.

Michele's mother, Iria, looked lovely in her Day of the Dead costume. I'm still not sure what Araceli's costume was supposed to be but the thing on her head looked like a spider.

I'm not good at karaoke, especially in Portuguese, but I did my best to sing along with everyone else. Michele was the best and had the sultry voice to be able to pull off the Latin pop and jazz songs.

If there is one mixed drink I like here it's definitely sangria and Carla makes a yummy pitcher with lots of fruit. I might have had a couple of glasses but I felt like it was more. Bruce wasn't complaining.

It was one of, if not the most fun Halloween parties I've been to in a long time but by the witching hour I was ready to call it a night while the rest of them partied on. Even the kids here stay up later than I do!

Yes, there WERE children at this party but none of them sang karaoke, to my knowledge. Iris is a pre-teen now and her devil costume was not appropriate because if there has ever been an angel child, she is it. Julia made a good witch but, apart from a few meltdowns I've heard she has had, she's a really sweet little girl, so that costume was off base. Of course, it's Halloween, so people are supposed to dress up like someone else, especially their alter ego.

I didn't know the other girl, I think she was a friend of Santiago's and I don't even think she was wearing a costume, but Santiago was his usual mischievous self. He seemed to be sans costume also, unless there was some significance to the t-shirt that I missed.

Iris has always been like Julia's big sister. Since their mothers are best friends that makes sense. They are both getting SO tall and they aren't really little kids any more, either. Iris just turned twelve in September and Julia turned nine in July. Iris is taller than I am and Julia will be by the time she turns ten next summer. It always happens that the little ones are taller than I am by the time they are ten!

[always-andromeda]

Trick or Treat || Edward Nashton x GN!Reader

Edward Nashton x GN!Reader

Word Count || 2,336

Summary || When Edward tells you that he never went trick or treating as a child, you take the chance to help him heal his inner child.

Author’s Note || happy riddler: year one release day!! today we celebrate with our favorite little serial killer and terrorist!! this fic kicks off my next week of Halloween content and I hope y'all are excited!! I can't wait for you all to see what's to come!! Also, I apologize in advance for my obvious love for the Halloween franchise in this fic, I love all of the movies even though almost all of them are actually so terrible <3

Warnings || spoilers for Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981), some heated kissing, Edward and his Tragic Past™, sliiiiight mask kink if you squint, nothing else I can think of!!

"Remember, Eddie, it's Halloween. Everyone's entitled to one good scare." You tease with a light tickle to Edward's side. He squirms away from you in response. 

Edward proposes uncertainly, "Isn't Halloween supposed to be for kids?"

The grimace he throws at the packaged costume on the shelf before you makes you chuckle. "Do you not understand the reference?"

"The reference?" He spares one more look to the folded boiler suit and the mask. He doesn't see it through the plastic, but the paper label says there's a plastic knife inside to complete the ensemble. How people fantasize about being such a character, Edward doesn't know. 

You say, "The quote? Everyone's entitled to one good scare."

Edward turns back to you. "That's a reference?"

Your expression is aghast, eyes wide and mouth already open and ready to protest, "You're telling me you haven't seen one of the most classic slasher films of all time?"

Edward rolls his eyes and mutters, "There's plenty of things that I haven't seen."

You guess that he's probably telling you the truth based on the directness of his words. But you can never be quite sure. Edward isn't always the most forthcoming with his life experiences. You figured it out the hard way when you brought up your parents during a date. It was only natural. Everybody has parents, right?

Apparently not. Of course the tall and adorable nerd from accounting you had begun dating just happened to be an orphan. And of course he was so nervous to mention it that you’d gushed all about your parents and your childhood dozens of times before he said something. You’d asked him what type of toys his parents had gotten him when he was little and he hesitantly muttered that he hadn’t had any of either in the first place. The conversation promptly sunk like a rock to the bottom of your stomach. How you hadn’t noticed his blank stare every time you talked about your childhood, you didn’t know. 

His childhood often provided for some...interesting conversations. Especially over the holidays. The orphanage didn't have the money nor the desire to treat the children under their care to something other than the constant poverty and paucity that plagued their lives.

While you got to shop for a brand new Halloween costume every year, Edward had stayed in the repurposed Wayne manor, looking out over the city. With every year it passed, the building and the children were more and more neglected. Gotham was just as dangerous during Halloween; possibly even more so. But deep down inside he knew that the children outside had to be having fun in some way.

For some reason, life decided that children like Edward Nashton didn't need candies wrapped in colored cellophane and fun costumes. Halloween was something that he hadn't ever been able to properly revel in. Tricks weren't nearly as fun when there was never a promise of a treat. Life had already played a horror movie for Edward to live. To find joy in the holiday seemed to be a privilege to one and he tries not to hold it against you.

You whine, "Oh, c'mon, you can't just play along? At least for my sake?" Edward offers little more response aside from another eye roll at your theatrics. He doesn't expect any less coming from you.

Pretending to be someone else didn't seem all that appealing. Maybe pretending to not be Edward Nashton would help him feel a little more comforted, at least until the autumn chill crept in through the poorly insulated walls and made him wish that it was summer. It made him wish that the rot inside would take over and consume him entirely. It made him more conscious of the simple fact that no matter how hard he tried, he would always be Edward Nashton, the wishy washy forensic accountant who was practically invisible.

Well, invisible to everyone except you, for some reason. Why you insist upon sharing these traditions of yours with him, he'll never know.  The rudimentary animatronics that jump out at him every time he steps on a button make him want to snort more than anything else. He would admit though that he quite liked some of the masks. Though he had no clue what movies they referenced, he gathered that they were villains. Only villains covered their faces like that and wore oversized cloaks or boiler suits. Only the villains kept in the dark; kept themselves masked and too afraid to confess to the world their sins.

As he stares into the dark voids of the eyeholes in the plastic mask in the package, he nudges you with his shoulder. "I'll play along," he starts quietly, "Tell me about this movie of yours."

Your eyes light up immediately. "Really? You don't care about spoilers?"

"I don't think so." he chuckles, "Besides, if I'm going to be wearing this thing for Halloween...I think I'll have to know what the guy does. "

As you continue to wander up and down the aisles of the Halloween store, Edward listens intently as you describe the tale of Michael Myers. A child who who murders his sister then spends fifteen years in a sanitarium, only to break out and finish the job with his secret sister and all of her teenage friends. Edward is sure that he's seen the events play out the same way in about a dozen different slasher movies before. He holds back the urge to scoff at all the cheesy tropes; a couple that has sex and is subsequently brutally murdered, a jammed doorknob, cut phone lines, and a helpless babysitter. However, there is one bit that Edward gets.

"So...this Michael Myers...why does he kill everyone?"

"He's out to get his family and Laurie is his sister. He's there to clean house."

"No, no, no, I get that. But why everyone else? Why her friends and everyone else at the hospital? Why does he even have to murder his family? What's his motive?"

That question is more important to him than anything. What's the point in anything if there isn't a why? There must be a reason for violence. A focus. Some sort of angle to make the ends justify the means.

You stop dead on your feet in the aisle and slowly turn on your heel, tilting your head when you finally face him. The move confuses him until you raise your hands conspiratorially. 

"That's the thing, Eddie. He almost doesn't even have a motive. He doesn't understand right from wrong or good from bad. All he knows is evil. That's it. And that motivation is what keeps him going every single time he's put out of commission."

Edward raises an eyebrow and asks monotonously, "Evil keeps him from dying?"

"Exactly! Because at the end of the day...Michael always finds a way to come home."

Though he's sure an antagonist from a 70s horror film wasn't meant to be analyzed outside the simple parameters of shock value and blood just for the sake of blood, something about that idea intrigues Eddie. He is dormant. Lying in wait. Counting down the days until the next opportunity; the next Halloween. Now that thought--more than heavy breathing on the other end of a phone--sends a shiver down his spine.

But this Halloween...this one isn't home for thoughts of vengeance and appeasing the intrusive voices that tell him he should hate the world. This Halloween is just for you and him. And the home he will now always yearn to come back to is this; you and him on the couch of his apartment, candy wrappers scattered about.

Even during the best of times, Edward isn't a fan of sweets. As he'd gotten older, the craving for them had simply faded. But this is one of those nights where he's willing to indulge. The blended aftertaste of caramel, nougat, peanuts, and chocolate makes his throat ache with richness. He pats his protruding belly, feeling like a child who's been allowed to have their bucket of candy for dinner.

If this is what Halloween had been for you during your childhood, he understands why you enjoy it. There's a sort of control and escapism in constructing your own fear and soothing it with a nostalgic film and sugary treats by the warmth of a lit fireplace. He can almost forget the real pain that lingers just below the surface of his skin. At the very least, he can quiet it down just enough to where he can let himself feel normal. He's a normal man with a normal childhood and this is a normal Halloween. And there's you, his actually normal partner rested on his chest and spreading the lazy haze that overtakes his senses.

The polyester boiler suit feels smooth against his skin, nothing like what he guesses the real thing is like as he watches Michael Myers on the television screen in front of the couch. Right at that moment, Michael kills the truck driver whom he eventually takes the jumpsuit from. For some reason, he has to admire the resourcefulness.

You look up at his face, transfixed on the screen, and giggle. "Are you getting scared yet, Eddie?"

His attention broken from the movie, Edward spares a small glance at you before grabbing the iconic mask he had tucked between his thigh and the couch and taking off his glasses. With a little bit of an awkward struggle to stretch the rubber over his round face--which only makes you laugh more--Edward finally gets the iconic mask of Michael himself on. He looks to you once more. The stoically molded expression of the mask stares back almost blankly.

Voice deep and unsettlingly even, Edward asks you this time, "Are you getting scared yet?" To add to the drama of the whole act, he begins to breathe heavily. So heavy that you're sure the inside of that mask is quickly heating up. Probably making his skin flush and form a thin layer of sweat. And what begins as stone cold fear in your core slowly warms as you remember that your chubby cheeked and kind eyed Edward is underneath there. And no mask can completely kill the comfort you feel with him.

"Well, lucky for you, I'm actually into that." you cup the cheeks of the mask and press a small kiss to the lips. Behind the rubber, you can practically feel him scowl. 

Edward says incredulously, "You're into this?" Based on his inflection alone, you know he's skeptical and a slight bit horrified. It's a skepticism that you plan to completely smother.

You give a little pout, peer through the dark eyeholes, and answer, "Well, actually there's one thing I'm not into about this." You reach for the edge of the mask at his neck and pull it back over his head. Lacing your fingers through his real hair, now slightly damp and disheveled, his face looks just as red as you imagined. His brows turned, he waits for some sort of explanation as you admire his soft features. Maybe his normal partner isn't quite as normal as he expected of them.

Brushing a bit of his hair off of his forehead, you assert, "If you're going to get into wearing these, you should really get one where I can see your eyes better. I like seeing them."

Eddie rarely believes in the world telling him the truth in such stark terms. Even the grandest gestures could always be a lie. But your fingertips stroking his bare cheek and your body pressed against his in a way that tells him that you need him...that can't be faked. You'd have to be completely insane to look at him with such reverence and mean none of it. And he decides that with the safety you surround him with as proof, you're being honest. You'd never trick him. Despite the half full bag of store-bought candies that now lays discarded on the floor and his full stomach, he concludes that you're his favorite treat during this conflicting season. You're saccharine and filling but you never make him feel sick and full of regret.

This time, he kisses you. Hungry and feral, he displays a confidence you don't see in him often when his hands run up the back of your thighs and pull him up onto his lap.

You feel his teeth graze your lips and your skin flutters. "B-but what about...the movie...don't you want to...finish it?" you manage to utter between every fervid kiss that Edward lays on you.

He pulls back just long enough to give you a fond look, similar to how you'd been observing him. There's something a little deeper to it though, something possessive in how his grip on you tightens. It makes your breath catch in a tight pocket of your throat.

He finally replies, "You already told me all about how it ends. The killer gets away. I don't think I need to hear it twice." Before you can let yourself get embarrassed for spoiling the entire movie for him earlier on in the day, Edward goes in for the kill, inflicting a ravenous kiss on your neck that succeeds in making you breath once more; puncturing the pocket your air supply had been trapped in and driving you just as wild as he needs you to be for him now. He engulfs you in his arms and makes you simply bleed with a want for more of him.

It doesn't unsettle Edward; being dressed like a serial killer, that is. There were worse creatures that he'd seen in Gotham. For now, though, he can pretend that tonight is forever. You are his haunted house; the keeper of his hopes and dreams and desires and all his brokenness. You are the window that he looks through and sees himself in. Only in this reflection, he's home and he doesn't need bloodshed to get there.

[candid-confetti]

@littleredwing89 1 year Anniversary Challenge!

Preamble:

Holy shit this took me way too long to even get the courage to even write this. Honestly, I don’t write often because I like to ✨imagine✨ and obsess over other people's own work and writings but y’know, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO PUT THE WRITING CAP ON!

I promised Elle I would try, and this is me trying (any swifties see what I did there? I’m not subtle.)

But in all seriousness, A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Elle! I absolutely love your writing, and I positively adore you, you’ve worked so hard. Cheers to you!! Thank you for challenging me to get out of my comfort zone with this challenge.

Warnings: None. Just likely some grammar things. Let me perish on my mistakes 😂. I own ‘em, I cry over ‘em. English minor is I, but only because English is fun. Not because I’m particularly skilled with the quill. I also was super excited to post this because I just finished it and I’m like really happy that its done because I honestly thought I wasn’t going to get it done by the 3rd.

Word count: 1,210

A !Batsis Reader x Wally West story.

“You’re everything I could’ve wanted and more.”

If Y/n had to guess, Wally likely cut down his speed by a solid 3% to get this here. The box was in pristine condition; oddly, Wally likely transferred the box when he brought it home and slapped a label on it to be more inconspicuous of what it was. You were no detective, but you had a knack for guessing what was in your gifts. So Wally worked to surprise you each year.

“Alright you’ve saved the best for last sis, I think it's about time you opened the damned box. We all want to know what the hells in it already.”

“Well from the label on the front of the box, Todd, one would assume it's from—“

“You can shut up demon spawn, I saw the label.”

“Someone seems impatient, huh?” Y/n asked incredulously, tapping her chin, “you almost remind me of that one kid during Halloween that rang our doorbell 52 times after hearing we gave out full sized candy bars.”

Everyone groaned, “Not this story again.”

The kid in question during that Halloween night was none other than Jason of course. But Y/n didn’t know that, so when this random kid spammed the manors doorbell, Y/n considered opening the door to just slam it in the kids face.

Alfred was off that day, and Y/n had volunteered for trick-or-treat duty. Jason the brat, even dressed up in one of Dick’s old circus costumes, thinking he could deceive her and get away with snagging yet another Kitkat bar, even after stashing half the box in his room.

Y/n never forgot that night, and she loved to bring it up whenever the opportunity arose.

“Sis, everytime you tell this story I swear you add another number to how many times I rang the damned thing. We’ve been over this. I only rang the bell like 15 times! MAX.”

“Well our security camera would say otherwise.” She drummed her fingers atop the top of the box, “Need I bring up the footage?”

“As much as I would love to see you two bicker over this exact same scenario, for the umteenth time that could honestly be in its own Guiness book of world records, why don’t you see what Wally brought you?” Dick chimed in, gesturing to the box in question.

“Ah yes, sorry, right. The box.” Y/n stuck her tongue out at Jason as he rolled his eyes.

Y/n let out a breathy laugh as she read the label, “Made in Canada, of course.” It was a bit of an inside joke that when she would be given a gift it would often be Canadian themed. So the label on the box didn’t give much indication to its contents.

“I’ve noticed a theme here in your apartment Y/n, why… Canada?” Duke inquired, as Y/n began to pick at the label with her nail.

Tim piped up, “Well, Bruce had met her on the streets of Gotham as she tried to barter with him in selling a Canadian flag lawn chair.” Tim nodded in direction to the very lawn chair that sat in the corner of the room, with beaver stuffies Cass had gifted you over the years.

“Mhm, that's right. Timmy, don't forget to tell Duke about my amazing bargain.”

Tim snorted, “She even tried to throw in those beaver slippers, Bruce wears around the manor on occasion, to ‘better the bargain.’”

“It was a good deal.” Y/n muttered, as the label at last came off and she opened the box with a soft gasp, turning towards her boyfriend with glee, “Aw Walls I can’t believe you got these!”

“Um, sis? All we see is box.”

“Ah right, sorry.” You turned the box towards the rest of the table, “Look! Wally got those mochi donuts I’ve been raving to try! All the way from Toronto!” Your siblings leaning in to peer at the box of sweets, with “Oohs.”

You squeezed his hand, “He went all the way North for me, thanks baby.”

Wally smiled sheepishly, leaning in to give you a soft peck on the cheek,“‘Course I did. Happy Birthday, love.”

Your family chiming in with, “Happy Birthday Y/n!”, and “Happy Birthday Sis!”

“Alright go,” she laughed, with a shooing motion, “You can go have pizza now.”

The room erupted into whoops and cheers, as your brothers and Cass, scrambled towards the kitchen to grab plates. Dibs being called out for edge pieces, and Damian threatening them if they even opened his box of vegan pizza.

“Just saying, we should have food first then gifts, but it makes sense given how impatient you are.” Steph teased as she gave a quick hug to you from behind, dodging your elbow with a laugh at her ‘impatient,’ comment.

“Rude!” You called back at her, turning back towards Wally who had an amused smile.

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

You whacked his arm. “I am not impatient.”

“Mhm sure, love, no comment.”

“Hush Sonic, you’re the one that can run at super speed. If anyone is impatient it is you. Now shush while I try one of these donuts you’ve so graciously brought back for me.”

“And I’m the impatient one?” You shoved a donut into his mouth cutting him off, “Mhmpf.”

“Shhh it's my birthday, we’ll just ignore that fact for today. Now bite. I think that one's matcha and I want to eat one of these before those squirrels come back. Especially the sugar plum fairy.”

“I heard that!” Jason shouted from the kitchen.

“You were supposed to!”

He chewed while you looked at him expectantly, motioning for him to chew faster and tell you how it tasted. “Sooo? Is it as good as I’ve been telling you that I think it is?”

He swallowed, “It's a bit bitter? But the texture is different than a typical donut because of the mochi. But it's good, you like matcha here.” He offered.

Taking a bite you hmmed in delight. “Gosh, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”

“Aw thanks, love. Wait— are you talking to the donut?”

“No?”

“Wow, that's cold. I’ve travelled a thousand miles for you for this treatment?” He said in mock hurt.

“Aw baby, don’t be like that, now put down the donut before anyone gets hurt.”

He glanced down at the donut in hand, getting up with a grin, stepping towards the living room. “This one? You want this one?”

“Yes,” you laughed, getting up to follow him as he backed away with waggling brows.

“Wally! Come on, give it here!”

“Mmm no.”

He zipped behind the couch, taking another bite. “You should really have a second bite, love. The flavour really comes out then.”

Your family, having got their pizza, shook their heads, as they watched you and Wally dart around the couch.

“So, she still didn’t see the proposal on the business card, huh?” Duke asked, glancing at the business card taped to the top of the inside of the box, with a cursive font of ‘marry me?’

“Nope.”

“Well she’ll spot it eventually.” Dick shrugged, “Run Wally!”

“Whose side are you on?” You glanced over at your brother in disbelief, failing to catch Wally's arm with a laugh.

You’d spot it eventually.

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Can You Get Enough Of Me? - Michael Myers x Reader

"It's a nice day today, huh?" Y/N smiled up at the sky as she went back and forth in the swing. "Will you push me, Mickey?" "Sure." he shrugged as he got off his own swing and went behind her, pushing her the best he could. "Look, Mickey, I'm flying! Whooooo!" the little girl giggled without a care in the world, as Michael watched her long, beautiful hair going everywhere. "Okay, okay, I wanna swing too!" but before the girl could take her time and stop swinging, a bunch of older boys came by and roughly grabbed the chains holding the swing, which in turn, made the girl fall off and get hurt. "Y/N!" Michael gasped as he ran to her side, helping her up, and seeing the blood seeping from one of her legs and arm. "Aww, Myers's got a giiirlfriend! Look at them, gonna fuck? Girl, don'tcha know, Myers's a faggot?" the gang hollered maliciously, and Y/N could only frown, despite the tears of pain from her injuries, and clinging on Michael for support, she got up and yelled at the boys. "Leave Michael alone, jerks! You're rude!" but instead of trying to fight them off, or go in a brawl, she grabbed her friend's arm and dragged him away from there, knowing that if he were to get in trouble again, he'd get some bad detention, and that's the last thing she'd want. Besides...Two kids couldn't possibly fight those guys. "Why didn't you let me fight them?! I could've taken them on!" the blond boy glared at his friend, who only rolled her eyes and sighed at his childishness. "No, you couldn't. Besides, if the teachers find out you got in trouble again, who knows what will happen? Come on, let's go to the fountain, I have to wipe off the blood." Y/N muttered, going on ahead to sit on the rocks by the fountain and took out her handkerchief from her little bag, dipping it in the water and carefully wiping away the red liquid streaming down her limbs, hissing from the pain here and there, but otherwise, staying completely silent. "I'm sorry..." the girl suddenly heard the blond boy mutter, barely audible. "Huh? What do you have to be sorry about, Mickey?" as her eyes widened from the shock, she leaned forward, raising his chin up with her finger. "...I couldn't protect you. I suck. I'm as bad as that fuckass says I am..." he sighed, gently pulling away her hand and looking away from her. "Look at what they did to you. Could've been much worse. And yet, you stood up for me, while I did nothing. I'm a horrible friend." his voice was pitiful, and it was obvious he hated his lack of strength. "First of all, you aren't just my friend. You're my BEST friend. Okay? And nothing in this world will change that. Got it? Okay. Second of all, we're still little and weak. That's how kids are. Trying to fight those guys is like trying to fight the forces of nature...You...You can't fight a hurricane, you know? And...Violence isn't the answer. I mean...Look at our parents. There's nothing good coming out of that...But someday! Someday we'll get older and stronger, and nobody will bully us anymore! It just...It takes a while...I guess." she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, trying to comfort him. "That's shit! They'll see, they'll ALL pay for it! Nobody will dare be fuckers with us anymore! And when I grow up, I will make sure everyone is nice to you." he was so revolted, but his anger gradually dissipated as he felt her warmth. "Please don't speak like that. Calm down, Mickey. Things are okay now. At least we have each other, and we will always have each other, don't forget that, okay?" she leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes for a while, only to hear an aggressive male voice booming through the park which made the girl yelp and tremble in fear. "GET AWAY FROM THAT FREAK, Y/N! GET HERE RIGHT NOW!" her father yelled at her and she could only whimper silently, trying to stop herself from hyperventilating. "B-But daddy, Michael is not bad...! H-He tried to protect me from those mean boys from the playground!" she spoke meekly, slowly walking in front of her father, her head hung in fear, only for the man to burry his hand in

her hair, pulling on it roughly, making the girl yelp in pain. "Don't talk back to me, you stupid little bitch! You have no right to go against what I say while you're under MY roof, got it? Home, now." Michael couldn't even retaliate in any way, knowing that if he were to cause trouble for her, she would get in even more trouble, and that's the last thing he'd want...But why did it have to be her...?

He can take it, alright...But her...That's just not acceptable. She is small, and weak, and frail, and innocent...And there is nobody who can protect her.

Nobody but him...

----

"Michael, Michael, are we going trick or treating today?" Y/N asked, skipping around him in her cutesy witch costume, while he was a boring clown. "I guess." he shrugged, pulling down his clown mask. "Come on, it's Halloween, Mickey! You love Halloween! It's your favourite holiday! And we get free candy! It's gonna be fuuun~!" she bumped him with her body, making him stumble a bit, before looking at her and groaning. "Fine, fine, we're going. I just have to tell my mum." he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to his house, but on the way, she stopped him. "Hey, how about we trick or treat all the houses on the way to yours? I mean, there's nothing bad in that, right? We're just going home! It's not even considered a detour!" Y/N grinned widely, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement. "...Okay, let's do that." as he said that, Michael took out his candy bag from his schoolbag and taking her hand, they went to all house from both sides of the street. "Trick or Treat!" they both exclaimed as the first grandma opened the door with a loving look on her face. "Ahh, my, my, how cute you two are! And what do we have here...A very adorable, magical witch! And...A funny clown! How lovely!" the woman clapped her hands together to her chest, admiring the two kids. "Ma'am, he's not just a clown, he is my jester! Isn't he so cute?" she threw her arms around his neck, slamming his face to hers as she grinned even wider, making the woman laugh at them. "Yees, yes, I understand! Here, darlings, you're so adorable, take all of these. Hope to see you two, cuties, next year as well! Have fun!" the grandma patted both their heads before going back to her home. "Wiiicked! Look how much candy we've got! My fave holiday is Christmas, but honestly, Halloween is a very close runner up! Our teeth will literally rot after this!" the girl giggled as she inspected each variety of candy in her bag, "I love it 'cause I can spare people." Michael shrugged simply, but he also munched on some candy corn. "Would you scare me, Mickey?" Y/N turned her face to his, her eyes widening with a glimmering, innocent curiosity. "...No. I wouldn't. But you're the only one, okay?! Everyone else, I'd scare!" he tried to sound scary and dangerous, but it only made the little girl giggle and kiss his cheek. "You're my hero! My handsome knight in shining armour, Mickey! Thank you for protecting me. You're the best." help his soul, he wasn't used to people saying good things about him... "...But I'm ugly...That's why I wear a mask so often..." he muttered, looking down at the ground. "No! That's so not true! You're very pretty, okay? I love your face! And you have the most gorgeous eyes in the world! And...And...And your hair is so lovely, I'm jealous! Please don't say bad things about yourself, Mickey, it makes me very upset." she pouted, hugging him tightly, and it was pretty clear neither of them wanted to let go. "You won't leave me, would you, Y/N?" Michael's low voice came out barely above a whisper, but it was the only time he ever allowed himself to show any kind of weakness or vulnerability. "Never. Some day, we will be together forever, okay?" she ruffled his hair playfully, which made his face flush softly. "Hey, actually...Here you go. This is yours now. This way, if you're ever lonely, you'll remember I'm always thinking of you, okay?" Y/N grinned sweetly at him as she took off her flower-charmed necklace and put in on him, hiding it under his costume, so nobody else could see it. "Mum gave this to me on my birthday, before she died. It means the world for me, and so do you. So...Don't forget that, okay? I hope you'd smile more, you have a very pretty smile." as she said that, she squished his chipmunk cheeks.

The boy said nothing - What was he supposed to do, anyway? He was overwhelmed entirely by the only person who makes him feel...Good? But he had to go home, and he already knew that home was hell, and by the time he went there, he knew he wouldn't actually be going trick or treating, as promised...And he'd have to let Y/N down again.

Stupid family.

With a very disappointed voice, he went outside of the house and told the girl that he can't go trick or treating with her, but instead of yelling or disappointment, she just smiled and hugged him.

"It's alright! There's always next year! And besides, we already kinda went trick or treating, right? Sweet dreams, Mickey! Take care!" she waved at him cheerfully and skipped back home.

But little did she know that would be the last Halloween they'd spend together, for that night, a massacre happened at his home, and deep down, Y/N knew.

She just...Knew.

It was Michael who created that blood bath. He couldn't take all that abuse anymore, and Y/N understood that well enough...And she hated herself for thinking this, but she knew she was selfish...

If Michael didn't kill his family, they'd still have been able to hang out daily, and laugh together, lick each other's wounds, and go trick or treating on Halloween...

But she had to be happy with visiting him at Smith's Grove institute weekly with his mum, and they'd chat, and talk, and try to get him out of the shell that he hid himself into...

And he wouldn't stop hiding his face behind his masks, every week, a new one, a new one, and a new one, each time, weirder and creepier and grotesque.

No matter what his mother told him, and no matter what Y/N told him...Michael didn't listen, and the more time he spent there, the less he spoke...Until he hasn't said a word to Y/N in at least two weeks. It made the poor girl tear up, fearing that he hated her, but at least he'd shake his head and clutch his shirt where the gifted necklace would be.

And she would understand.

His mother was confused, and the Dr. was confused as well, but Y/N wasn't, and she'd smile at him and wouldn't explain what happened. It was their little secret, and nobody would be able to be made aware of.

And then...After many weeks of visiting, Michael stuck again and killed a nurse, which led to his mother committing suicide, and since she had nobody to go with to visit him, the last thing she could do was send in letters weekly, hoping they will be given to him, but she had no way of knowing, since nobody wanted to tell her anything, and no reply came by.

Until she gave up writing, thinking that Michael actually hated her, and decided to go on with her life, and her father made her move away to another state to get better education.

15 years passed, and the now 27 year old Y/N was a University graduate who worked hard and was able to get her old home in Haddonfield...To think she'd finally be able to go there again, she never would have thought that.

But here she was, having found a nice, well-paying job, and she was pretty happy, albeit nostalgic, being again back...Home. By the time she returned, she had already learnt how to play the guitar too, so every Friday night, she'd sit on her porch and play a song, softly singing along, hoping not to disturb anyone.

"I was made for lovin' you baby, you were made for loving me..." she hummed, singing the song by Kiss as she looked up at the starry night with no care in the world.

It was a simple life, but it was good and peaceful - And she had quite a lot of money to do with as she pleases - What else could ask for?

"BREAKING NEWS! A psychiatric patient from Smith's Grove escaped just last night and -..." but Y/N didn't bother hearing the rest of it, because...Because... "Michael...!" she gasped, covering her mouth with both her hands from the shock, tears threatening to fall and she goes outside, looking around, left and right, down the street, hoping to see a glimpse of the blond boy she once held so dear to her heart.

And what a coincidence, tomorrow night was Halloween...Did he do it on purpose? Did he even remember the days they spent together? Or how special Halloween was for him? Did he still have that silly necklace with him? Did he ever read her letters?

So many questions that she was pretty sure she'll never get an answer to, and that thought alone killed her.

The next day, she dressed in her Kiss loose Tshirt, remembering how that was Michael's favourite band, and somewhere in her heart, she hoped to see him again, even just by a little bit. Even a glimpse at his beautiful blue eyes would be enough.

But she knew she was dreaming...

She went to work as usual, but she was so busy that she didn't realise she ended up overstaying and overworking herself until she left the place and realised it was already dark outside, and there were barely any children trick or treating - But hey, there still were a few - And Y/N couldn't help but smile and remember the cute witch and her loyal jester.

The good times...

As she hummed carefree and looked up at the starry sky, but then she heard a crack, and looking back...Nothing? Hmm...Suspicious... She continued walking, but the ominous feeling in the back of her head continued, and so, she took out her pocket mirror and noticed a man somewhere in the back, walking towards her. A colleague from work, she recognised him, yes, she remembers him. He was kicked out from the job because of his inappropriate behaviour...And him following her now truly was no good news.

Analysing the situation, she realised she was close enough to home to make a break for it, so taking a deep breath, she sprinted the hell out of there...But...things didn't go as expected.

Before she could even reach her home, for she was pushed to the ground and straddled, his hands immediately finding their way around her neck, trying to immobilise her, to stop her from struggling and let him have his way with her.

But Y/N was a fighter, and she didn't want to allow the bullying she experienced as a child to take over her adult life, but she also didn't have the body strength to go against this guy, no matter how much she tried to struggle.

However...Before she knew it, the man stopped - Almost as if he froze - And she was splattered with liquid. It was blood. The man above her was stabbed in the chest, then in the head continuously, before his body was snatched and tossed away like a ragdoll.

Great - Y/N thought - From one criminal to another, with a whimper, she tried to get up and run away, but the man was too fast for her, and he picked her up with a weird ease, getting her inside her own house and letting her fall down on her couch.

The man saw fear in her eyes, and she was whimpering, her head hung as she tried to make herself as small as possible - As if she wasn't already so small, especially compared to him - It was pissing him off, as he remembered her jackass father abusing her. He would never hurt her! He promised her he'd always protect her, so why is she so scared of him...?!

"E-Excuse me...Uhm...Mister...A-Are you...Maybe...Uhmm...Are you Michael...?" she stuttered in such a meek voice that it grated his brain. This isn't right, Y/N was cheerful and happy. This...This wasn't right... The man got a hand underneath the neck of his blouse, only to reveal the old flower necklace from long ago. "Michael...! It really is you...Michael...I can't believe it! Oh my God...You grew up so much, this is insane!" as if a switch turned inside her, the girl jumped on her couch and threw herself on the incredibly tall man, not caring whether he liked it or not.

He was her Michael, and she missed him.

"You still don't talk, do you? Well...At least take off this mask of yours. I told you, I hate it when you hide yourself from me. I want to see your beautiful face." she chuckled, pulling Michael down with her on the couch, as he stood with his hands mid-way in the air, rather awkwardly, before finally pulling up his old mask and threading with it with his hands that were laying on his lap. "There we go, as beautiful as ever." she chuckled softly as she parted his long, dirty blond hair and letting it fall down his back, so his face could properly be seen. "Oh my God, you even have a stubble. I can't believe it. Well, we are all grown up after all, aren't we? Seems like almost yesterday when we'd go trick or treating...On this very day." she kept talking of the nostalgic things from so long ago, so much that it made Michael grunt in amusement, but his face didn't sketch any emotion. It really upset Y/N, it felt like talking to a wall. "Well, at least I'm happy that you remember me. I didn't think you did. I kinda thought you hated me too, I didn't know if you got any of my letters either. Uhm...I don't really know what to say. It's weird talking to myself like that. But I'm happy to see you again." she continued speaking before stopping altogether and fidgeting awkwardly on her spot next to him, as he didn't even move, or bother saying a single word.

They stood like that for a while, until Michael suddenly started moving, and revealed a bunch of unopened letters - All from her.

"You have all of them...!" Y/N gasped in shock, taking the letters and examining all of them one by one. "Why didn't you open them?" but instead of an answer, he shook his head. "Did you...Not have them...Until recently?" Y/N tried to guess, and the answer came in the form of a nod. "That stupid doctor! How dare he?! ...You must have felt so lonely stuck there...With your mum shooting herself, I couldn't go there anymore, so I sent you letters weekly...The doctor promised to give them to you...Urgh, what a jerk. And I thought you hated me and that's why you didn't want to reply to them...But you just got them. How annoying." Y/N groaned, realising the truth of what happened, and she let the letters fall down on the coffee table.

After some more silence between the two, Michael pointed towards her shirt, and she smiled, nodding and taking her guitar before leaning on his side. "Yeah, I know it's your favourite band. I never forgot that." she chuckled, and as she started playing the same song she knew so well - And she felt a strong arm sneaking around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. It surprised her a bit, but she felt so safe and warm in his embrace.

"I was made for lovin' you baby, you were made for lovin' me. And I can't get enough of you, baby..." she sang in the same sweet, crystalline, soft voice that he loved so much, and missed over the many years they've been separated.

"...Can you get enough of me?"

[askmaddogz]

HELLOOOOOOOOO MAD DOGS!!!!!!!!!

I have arrived !!! >:D I've recently found this blog and haven't taken a large amount of time for looking into it before following soooooooooo, what is this about exactly ? its unusual for me to find a group account for all the turtles lol.

Also, happy spooky month 🎃 do you guys have anything planned to celebrate Halloween ?

-Kid ❤

Yellow! Welcome to our blog =) we just sort of answer questions when we get them!

I’ll just answer this I guess because it’s the same for all five of us and I think Leo and Donnie are getting their butts beat in Mario Kart right now? Anyways, every Halloween we carve pumpkins with April then go trick or treating! =) pops usually sorts through our candy when we get home.

-Raph

[babymetaldoll]

Family probation period (Matthew Gray Gubler/ Reader)

Requested: Yes 

Summary: Matthew Gray Gubler meets his girlfriend’s family on Christmas eve. Just one detail: none of them knew she was dating. 

Warnings: Cursing, mentions of abusive relationships 

Category: Fluff

Pairing: Matthew Gray Gubler/ Reader 

Wordcount: 3,5K

A/N: A late Christmas story, but I think we are still in the holiday season... right? also: requests are officially open

Masterlist 

- 

- "Are you sure about this?"- (Y/N) looked at Matthew and he nodded with a huge grin on his face. They were parked outside her parent’s house. They had driven from Los Angeles to San Francisco to spend Christmas Eve with them. 

- "Why not? I bet they are gonna love me"- he answered with his “Matthew Gray Gubler’s certified to make you drop your panties smile.”

- "I don’t know, I’m nervous"

- "Well missy, it was your idea to drop by your parents and surprise them with the news of your adorable boyfriend, so?"- (Y/N) smiled and nodded. 

- "And you thought it was a great idea, by the way, that's why you are here"

- "Yeah"- Gubler sighed and looked outside- "Why do you still trust my good judgment?" 

- "Well…"- (Y/N) looked at me and bit her lips- "You are very convincing"- he smiled and kissed her lips softly.

- "It's gonna be ok, they love you, I love you, which means we are gonna get along"- she nodded and smiled. 

- "Alright, I'll pretend that makes sense"- Gubler chuckled and kissed her again

- "Let's do this, Bunny".

-

Matthew and (Y/N) had been dating for over ten months. At first, they decided to take things slow, get to know each other better, try to make things work with their crazy schedules. But soon, they realized they had fallen in love, and “taking things slow” was not their thing. 

(Y/N) had decided to wait for the right moment to tell her parents she had found someone. Her last relationship had been a nightmare, and she knew her family (especially her brother) was going to be apprehensive about her new boyfriend. However, she was eager to tell them how happy she was with Matthew and how great he was with her. 

He was, hands down, the best boyfriend she had ever had. He was sweet and thoughtful. Sure, he wasn’t perfect. He would forget many things 'cos his head was in hundredth places at once (she was almost sure he had ADHD). And sometimes it felt she had a boyfriend and a son all wrapped in the same 6 ft adorable manchild she was dating. But still, he was the best boyfriend.

She was hoping her parents and family would see he made her happy.   

-

- “Ok, here we go”- Matthew rang the bell and turned to (Y/N), excited. She laughed and opened the door.

- “I still got my key.”

- “Right.”

- “Hello? Mom? Dad?”- she took a step inside and looked around. Her father stood up from the couch quickly and nearly ran to the door.

- “Peanut! You are home!”

Matthew smiled and held their bags staring at the scene. In all the time they had been together, he had heard a lot about (Y/N)’s parents. She loved them deeply, and he knew she wanted to share their relationship with them.

Her last boyfriend was an abuser, he hit her, and she kept it from everybody for months before breaking up. That’s why he could understand why her family would be apprehensive. And he was ready to show them how much he loved her.

- “My baby is home!”- (Y/N)’s mom appeared from the kitchen and hugged her daughter, who was still wrapped in her father’s embrace. 

- “Guys! I can’t breathe!”- she pretended to be suffocating and giggled. 

- “Too bad! You are never home! So bear with it!”- her father chuckled and kissed the top of her head 

- “By the way, (Y/N), who’s the man standing by the door?”- her mother asked and frowned, looking at Gubler. He smiled and waved, making his best to look as nice as possible. 

- “Guys, I want you to meet Matthew Gray Gubler… my boyfriend.”

And the silence in the room was as thick and uncomfortable as possible.

- “Hello”- Gubler smiled and shook their hands- “It’s a pleasure to meet you, (Y/N) talks so much about you”- but neither of them knew what to say. 

- “Guys, it’s ok, he is a good guy”- (Y/N) wrapped an arm around Matthew, and he immediately kissed the top of her head. 

- “Did I hear my sister has a new boyfriend?”- footsteps coming down the stairs surprised the couple, and (Y/N) wide opened her eyes immediately.

- “Adam!! You are home!!”- she hugged her brother so tight, he couldn’t help but laugh.

- “I’ve got the feeling you missed me.”

- “So fucking much!! When did you get home?”

- “Last night, mom said you’d be coming for Christmas, so I thought I could surprise you.”

- “And where are my nephews? I wanna spoil my babies!”

- “With Emma getting the last few things mom needed from the grocery’s, but they should be here any minute. I missed you, kitty.”

Adam kissed her forehead and looked at her sweetly. It was clear he loved and cared about his little sister. But as soon as his eyes reached Matthew, his whole face changed. 

- “And who is this?”  

- “This is my boyfriend, Matthew”- (Y/N) walked back to Gubler and held his hand- “He is awesome, so be nice, ok?”

- “Nice to meet you, Adam. (Y/N) talks so much about you. I was looking forward to meeting you”- Matthew shook his hand and smiled. 

- “Funny, she never mentioned you.”

- “Yeah,”- (Y/N) explained- “I wanted to give you guys a surprise, and I knew if I told you over the phone, you were going to stress out, so I thought it would be better if you just met him”

Her family nodded but didn’t look pretty convinced. 

- “I know you are all real apprehensive about (Y/N) having a new boyfriend, but I promise you, I’m nothing like her ex, and I wanna show you how much I care for her if you let me.”

Gubler was sincere and upfront. (Y/N)’s parents nodded, but her brother just crossed his arms and frowned.  

- “Adam, be nice”- she warned and grabbed her bag- “Let’s leave these in my room, Gub.”

- “You are not sharing rooms with a boy!”- her brother instantly replied, but she ignored him and walked upstairs. Matthew took the bags from her hands and followed her.

-

- “Sorry”- (Y/N) whispered and closed her eyes, embarrassed. Gubler left the bags on the floor of her room and walked towards her to hold her hands. 

- “Hey, it’s ok, they are just shocked,”- he whispered and smiled at her, trying his best to make her feel better. 

- “I would be shocked too if our daughter walks into our house and tells us she has been dating nearly a year with some guy I’ve never heard about.”

(Y/N) chuckled and sighed. The words “Our daughter” had been enough to make her forget everything that troubled her. The idea of a future with him was too sweet to worry about anything else. 

- “Now, back to what really matters here”- Gubler took a look around and pointed at the walls- “Did you have some kind of obsession with My Chemical Romance growing up, or is it just me?”

- “Eh… nope”- she simply answered and laughed. There were many posters of the band on every wall in that room. 

- “I don’t know, I’m getting the vibe you had a thing on that guy… he kinda looks like a vampire.”

- “Gerard? he was…”- (Y/N) made a pause and looked at the walls- “I had a little crush on him”

- “Little?”- Gubler raised an eyebrow

- “Yeah, just a little, nothing to worry about… I just wanted to marry him, that’s all.”- he chuckled and leaned in to kiss her.  

- “I guess you never know someone until you walk into their teenage room.”

Matthew was nervous, but he was never going to face it. He wanted to make a good impression, and he wanted (Y/N)’s parents to like him. He was in that relationship for the long run, and it was important for him to have her parent’s approval. And clearly, now her brother’s too.

-

- “So, Matthew, what do you do?”- Adam asked him as everybody gathered in the kitchen, drinking eggnog and setting the last few things for the Christmas dinner. 

- “I majored in film directing in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts"- (Y/N) bit her lips and smiled. She was torn between feeling embarrassed and enjoying the moment.  

- “Film directing”- Adam looked at him and raised an eyebrow. 

- “Yeah, I always loved making movies and telling stories”- Gubler sipped his cup of coffee and smiled. 

- “But, do you have a regular job?”- Adam asked and raised an eyebrow- “Making movies doesn’t sound like a real job to me.”

- “Adam!”- (Y/N) looked at her brother with daggers in her eyes

- “What? I’m getting to know your boyfriend, isn’t that what you wanted?”

- “Yes, but you don’t have to be a dickhead”- the young woman walked a few steps closer to her brother and raised an eyebrow- I haven’t seen you in six months. Can you just be nice?”

Adam meant no harm, but he was worried. He had been the one his sister called after her ex-boyfriend hit her. He had been the one who took her out from that apartment, picked up her things, and took care of her. Of course, he was scared she might get hurt again. 

-

- “And where are you from?”- (Y/N)’s mom asked him as they all walked to the living room and sat down. 

- “Las Vegas,”- Matthew answered and smiled- “My family still lives there, and we visit as often as we can.”

- “So, you’ve met his family”- Mrs. (Y/L/N) looked at her daughter and raised an eyebrow, surprised. 

- “Yeah, they are the best! We spent Halloween with them this year. We took Matthew’s nephews trick and treating. It was really fun!”

Mrs. (Y/L/N) nodded and stared at the scene. Gubler was sitting next to her daughter, holding her hand and looking at her in honest and deep adoration. It was strange and shocking, but at the same time, she could feel he was a nice guy who loved her very much. And that was all she needed to know. 

Meanwhile, Mr. (Y/L/N) started asking Gubler questions about his family, school, and what he did for a living. 

- “Right now, I have an acting job.” 

- “Really?”- (Y/N)’s brother raised an eyebrow, surprised- “TV?”

- “Yeah.”

Adam was about to keep asking about it when his wife, Emma, walked in with their five-year-old twins.   

- “Aunt (Y/N)!!

- “Munchkins!”- the young woman opened her arms and hugged them at the same time as the kids held her legs tight, almost making her fall.

- “You are so big! why aren’t you two babies anymore?”

- “(Y/N)! hey”- Emma walked over and looked at her, but suddenly she just gasped. 

- “What?”- Adam asked, confused- “What is it?”

- “Oh shit!”- she nearly dropped the bag and wide opened her eyes, suddenly- “Why is Spencer Reid in our living room?”

Matthew looked at (Y/N), and neither of them knew what to do or say. So he just stood up and walked over to shake her hand. 

- “Hi, I’m Matthew, (Y/N)’s boyfriend.”

- “No freaking way!”- Emma whispered and held his hand, repeating a little slowlier- “No freaking way”. 

Adam looked at his wife and didn’t understand a word she was saying. His parents didn’t get what was going on, and (Y/N) just bit her lips, trying not to laugh. She never thought that could happen. 

- “I’m gonna put an eye on dinner…”- Mrs. (Y/L/N) said and stood up- “(Y/N), can you give me a hand?”

- “Sure mom”- she said and smiled at Gubler. He winked and watched her walking to the kitchen with her mom. Things were a little weirder than he thought. 

- “Ok, what was that?”

- “What was what, mom?

- “Emma nearly died when she saw Matthew. Why?”

- “‘Cos he is in a tv show and she recognized him, I think”- Mrs. (Y/L/N) looked at her and sighed.

- “Is he good with you?”

- “The best”

- “‘Cos he looks like he is a nice guy”

- “I swear, mom, he is the sweetest. He wanted to come and meet you to show you he is nothing like Bret”- (Y/N) held a bowl with roasted potatoes and smiled at her mother- “I love him”

- “You can tell… and he loves you too, especially if he is willing to put up with your brother”

- “Can you tell Adam to stop being an ass?”

- “I can tell him, but that won’t stop him”.

-

When (Y/N) walked to the dining room, she looked at her boyfriend, who was now sitting on the floor, doing magic tricks for her nephews. She felt her heart was about to burst, staring at the scene. The twins were laughing, and Gubler kept making pennies disappear in front of them. 

She couldn’t stop hearing his voice saying “our daughter” over and over again. It was a dream, and it was too soon to even think about it, but it felt so right. It made so much sense.

- “I like him”- her father’s voice took her from her thoughts and forced her to turn around

- “Really?”

- “Yeah… he’s good with kids, and it’s clear he loves you, that’s all I need to know”- he kissed the top of his daughter’s head and sighed. 

- “Your brother hates him though”

- “I kind of figured”

- “The fact Emma is drooling over him is not making things better”- (Y/N) looked at her father and just laughed.

- “Are you kidding me?”

- “No, he took her upstairs to cool her off”

- “Shit… well, it could be worst” 

- “How?”- she looked at her father in silence

- “Well… Adam hasn’t tried to kick him out”

- “Yet”- Mr. (Y/L/N) chuckled at his own joke and shook his head- “Don’t worry peanuts, Matt is safe”. 

- “Actually, can you not call him Matt, please? bad memories.”

- “Sure, Matthew it is?”- she nodded and smiled. 

- “Thanks dad”

-

- “Dinner is ready”- Mrs. (Y/L/N) announced after half an hour. She walked to the living room where Adam, Matthew, and her husband were talking. 

Gubler was having a good time talking with Mr. (Y/L/N). He was fun and kept telling her funny stories about (Y/N). Adam was still a dick, but at least his father wasn’t paying him much attention, so neither did Gubler. 

- “This smells amazing”- Gubler said as he sat down next to (Y/N)- “I’m guessing this is Mrs. (Y/L/N) ’s signature turkey recipe. (Y/N) talked about it the whole way over.” 

- “She has the recipe, by the way, if you like it, she can cook it for you”- Mrs. (Y/L/N) smiled proudly.  

- “Yeah, just make sure she won’t burn down the house”- Adam joked and felt his sister’s angry eyes on him- “What? I’m making an aimless conversation. Isn’t that what you wanted?” 

- “Shut up”

- “She is a great baker”- Matthew continued talking- “She is actually making me gain weight in the latest months”

- “Sure, like you could get fat”- (Y/N) snorted and looked at her boyfriend

- “Hey, you are making me eat cinnamon rolls, cake, and cookies like three times a week”- Gubler chuckled and looked at her- “My pants almost don’t close”

- “So, Matthew”- Emma said suddenly- “How did you two meet?”

- “He actually said I smelled like cinnamon rolls the first time he met me”- (Y/N) smiled and looked at her sister in law.

- “We met at a party, her friend Ana is dating my friend Charlie. And when I saw her, I knew I had to talk to her ‘cos she has the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen”- Emma was nearly sighing at those words.

- “And did you recognize him?”- Adam was embarrassed by his wife’s questions, but he couldn’t stop her. 

- “No, I had never seen the show…”

- “And do you know the rest of the cast now? Do you hang out?”- Adam looked at Emma and frowned- “What? I’m just asking”

(Y/N) blushed and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and felt her boyfriend’s hand on hers, knowing what she was about to say. 

- “So, we are here today because I wanted you to know Matthew. He is the best guy on earth, and he makes me happy every day”- she made a pause and looked at him. 

- “You make me happy too, Bunny”- he whispered and smiled. 

- “Ok, so you are in love, is that what you wanted to tell us?”- Adam said with an annoyed voice.

- “No, we wanted to tell you we are moving in together.”

(Y/N) bit her lips after delivering the news. Her parents looked at each other but didn’t seem mad, just surprised. Adam, on the other hand, frowned immediately. 

- “Before you start freaking out and yell at me,”- Matthew said with a soft voice- “I need you to know and understand how much I love your sister, and I would never hurt her in any way. Never.”

Her family looked at him in silence. Her father nodded and smiled. 

- “It’s clear you are a good guy, Matthew,”- he said, and (Y/N) sighed, feeling relieved to hear those words- “And I know you understand we will always be a little scared something bad might happen to our baby again.”

- “I completely understand. I just want you to know I will never hurt her. I love her, I wanna live with her. I’m here for the long run, and I wish you could all give me a chance”. 

(Y/N) felt like crying when she heard those words. Matthew was telling her family how much he loved her. He was showing them he wanted to be with her. Nothing could be better than that. 

- “And have you thought about where you’ll live?”- her mother asked, smiling.

- “I recently bought a house,”- Matthew explained- “We are planning to move in after the holidays. Meanwhile, we’ve been busy getting a few things we needed”- he looked so happy, no one could doubt he was excited with the plans. 

- “Listen”- no one but Adam, apparently- “If anything happens to my sister, I’m gonna hunt you, I will find you, and I will make you pay.” 

- “Adam…”- she tried to argue, but Gubler smiled at her and nodded

- “I know there is nothing I can say that will make you believe me, so I will just ask you to give me the chance to show you how much I love her.”- but Adam didn’t say a word. 

- “I know what happened to her was awful, and I know you don’t want anyone hurting her, but that’s not what I wanna do. I just wanna make her happy. If she wants me to.”

Adam looked at his sister, who had tears in her eyes. He couldn’t bear to see her cry, though those weren’t sad tears. She looked at Matthew, and he smiled at her, wiping the tears from her cheeks and kissing her lips sweetly for a second. He whispered, “I love you,” and she giggled. 

- “Oh come on!”- Mr. (Y/L/N)- “Even I can see he loves your sister! stop being a dick and be happy for them!”- Adam sighed at his father’s words and stood up.  

- “If you fuck it up, you are dead”- he said and reached out his hand to Gubler- “But I trust you won’t”- and Matthew quickly stood up and shook it. 

- “I know you just want to take care of her, and I completely understand that”

- “You are in family probation period.” 

(Y/N) smiled at her brother, and he winked at her. Finally, she sighed, relieved. 

- “I can’t believe you are gonna move in with Dr. Reid!!”- Emma almost shrieked

- “Please don’t”- Adam frowned and looked at his wife- “Don’t make this harder”

- “You are gonna have to watch the show with me, you are gonna love it. I swear you won’t be able to hate him once you know Reid”

(Y/N) looked at Matthew and whispered in his ear. 

- “Your family wasn’t embarrassing. Mine was. I’m sorry”- he nearly laughed at those words and shook his head. 

- “My friends are embarrassing if it counts”

- “Your friends are my friends, Gubler”

- “Fine, we have embarrassing friends, we are gonna have to live with it”

Gubler moved a little closer, and was ready to kiss her when Adam’s voice stopped him. 

- “Just don’t make out with my sister in front of me while you are on probation, dude!”

- “Sorry!”- Gubler nearly jumped on his chair, and (Y/N) chuckled- “Sorry!”. 

[lilacprincessofrecovery]

A Stark Halloween Party // Tony Stark x Plus Size Reader

Word Count: 1788 Warning: Light insecurity

There's this one girl. She wasn't a girl. She was a woman. She was bigger than other women. She was different. She loved herself. That's what drew big time tech billionare Tony Stark to her. He liked that she was confident. She was sometimes sarcastic under her breath when she thought no one could hear her. Tony realized that she was very similar to him. Tony didn't treat her like he treated Pepper. Pepper had actually decided to go to a law firm instead of working with Tony.

He knew y/n would be slower than Pepper in heels. He would only order her to stand beside him and write his work notes while he was in his lab. She would make him laugh. That wasn't easy for him since the New York incident. He loved to see her every day at 10am. Being confident was a great thing to be around Tony Stark.

Another thing about him, Tony always loved parties. No disaster would get him down when it came to a celebration or charity. Halloween was a big shen-dig for him. He was a man who liked costumes, too. He made everyone's costumes better yet he had someone else make the costumes; not that he didn't have an idea of the costumes but he couldn't sew. He decided after the computer generated the costumes to go and switch them up himself and give everyone Tony Stark appointed costumes.

He had called everyone in the compound to the main conference room. Everyone was surprised that Tony called everyone since there was nothing on the news or on the tv monitors hanging around the place, lately. He explained that he wanted to throw a Halloween bash. He started giving everyone their costumes and that their outfits will be sent to them when they get made. It was 2 weeks until Halloween. He could do it. He even thought about making them dress up as each other but after he chuckled about that he decided to go with traditional costumes.

Tony named off announcing the costumes explaining he used a generator so they won't guess he chose legitimately to give him and y/n similar matching costumes. or get annoyed if they didn't like the costumes he picked.

Steve. Sailor.

Natasha. Angel.

Y/n. Princess.

Clint. Ghost Face.

Thor. Pro Wrestler.

Peter Parker. Vampire.

Sam. Police Officer.

Scott. Devil.

Rhodey. Storm Trooper.

Wanda. Jessica Rabbit. (Mostly because of the hair)

Vision. Michael Myers.

Bucky. Werewolf.

Happy. Superman.

Loki. Plague Doctor.

and himself. Prince Charming.

It was a bit harder than he thought to give them all costumes. They all practically live in costumes. He chose the most ironic costumes he could. He however made sure he and y/N were matching. He wouldn't tell he didn't generate the costumes. Only FRIDAY knows.

Once everyone got their costumes, they're of course was arguements of why they got the costume they got. Tony rolled his eyes. "Deal with it." He smiled at y/N and went and left to go to his office. He ordered a famous designer to create the costumes except the princess one. He wanted to design that one himself.

"I can't believe I'm even coming to this party," Loki complained.

"Your face will be covered, Brother," Thor responded.

Loki groaned.

"I am stronger than any wrestler," Thor thinks. "I do not trust technology."

Steve looked at Natasha. "I considered joining the marines. I preferred to be an army soldier though."

Natasha was in shock and crossed her arms. "I am no angel. I would rather be a ninja."

Steve chuckles, "Tony's not going to change his mind."

Natasha rolled her eyes, "I blame the computer more than him."

Wanda looked to Steve and Natasha, "My costume is the most sexist outfit..."

Vision looks at her with a soft smile, "I would love to see you in that costume."

Wanda then forgets all her worries about being so sexy and caresses his cheek, "You ok with your costume babe?"

Vision nods, "I will wear whatever is given. I haven't ever celebrated Halloween before."

Wanda smiles, "Ok."

Vision tilts his head, "Who is Michael Myers?"

Wanda calmly describes the psycho to him.

Vision thinks, "I see..." He said that a lot.

Scott looks to Clint, "I'm just glad to be a part of this team."

Clint nodded, "I was going to take my kids trick-or-treating this year..."

Scott laughed, "Well maybe it won't be on actual Halloween."

Clint nodded, "Hope so." He wasn't too fond of his costume. The devil? Really? He disapproved.

Natasha looked at Clint, "Really? you think you got it bad? I've never worn a dress before. A white one at that."

"Computers aren't against you," Happy interrupted Nat and Clint.

Happy liked the idea of being Superman. Finally, he is a superhero like everyone else around him.

Happy looked at Peter who was over excited for being invited to his first Avenger/Tony/"Adult" party. "Are you alright kid?"

Peter nods and flops down on the couch. "Oh yeah. I am excited! I also love that Tony is making our costumes. He always makes me great costumes. You think I can invite MJ? and/or Ned? Do you think Mr. Stark would mind?"

Happy shrugged, "I don't think he would mind."

Bucky was quiet standing in a corner not caring either which way. but trying to think of what a werewolf costume would look like.

Rhodey thought a storm trooper would be cool. Star Wars is a classic afterall.

Sam was neutral about his outfit. He didn't care one way or another about being a police officer. He was trying to imagine himself in it. He could be a police officer. He loved helping people and saving the day. He felt like a police officer anyway. Just with the metal wings.

y/N was being quiet. She was worried now that her costume wouldn't fit once Tony gives it to her. Talk about embarassing. She hurriedly rushed up to her room to avoid anyone else. She wasn't an insecure person since middle school. She was surprised her confidence was currently faltering.

"Looks like the computer thinks you and I should match," She bumps into Tony.

"Tony... I didn't see you... sorry," y/n told him.

"Are you alright?" Tony arched his brow.

"I was wondering if... maybe I could pick my own costume. I mean I'll still be a princess... I just..."

"What are you afraid of... you don't want to match with me?"

"Tony... I'm not feeling well. I am going to my room," She left.

"Hmm... hey... y/N, wait!" Tony didn't understand why she wasn't happy or glad they matched.

She looked in the mirror and immediately went to bed after sighing loudly. She needed to get her mind off of the party. She wasn't even happy that she was even invited to one of the biggest shen-digs of the year.

She was very quiet during her work the following days. Tony was concerned. He had FRIDAY keep an eye on her for him. She was just anxious and didn't try to keep up with him anymore. She wasn't even wearing heels anymore.

The costumes came in from the designer. Tony already had everyone's measurements so he had sent them out. He didn't have y/n's so he tried scientifically to decide the size of her costume. She would never tell him or let him near her with a measuring tape. She would rather disappear than have ANY of the Avenger's Family know her size, especially Tony. She had a crush on her boss. Who wouldn't? He was Tony Freaking Stark. Tall, dark, handsome, rich, smart, and a superhero.

Everyone is glad how their costumes turned out. They fit just right and were amazing. Tony definitely appreciated the styles and the designs worth every penny. Everyone was happy with their costumes.

The night of the party y/n didn't come to the party hall. He went to her room and knocked on the door. She was crying on the edge of her bed with the dress in her lap, makeup running down her cheeks. "Why aren't you dressed?"

"I can't fit it."

"W... did you try it on?" She shrugs then sighs and shakes her head. "No..."

Tony just stared at her. "O....k. Come on I'll help you. If I have to wear poofy sleeves you have to wear the poofy dress."

She blushed nodding and stood up and he helped her dress into her costume, sucking in her stomach as much as she could so he doesn't see her 'girth'.

As a Prince and Princess, Tony and the reader smiling

"You look sexy in that costume," Tony smiled softly at her.

She blushed deep, "You're drunk and that's inappropriate Mr. Stark..."

"Call me Tony. Please... You've been here for 6 months... You're always with me. You know me better than anyone... You have pretty hair, y/n... and such soft, delicate figure... You are so beautiful. Now will you come downstairs and be with me at the party?"

She giggled, "We are at the party."

He smiled, "I made sure we matched."

"What...really?"

He nodded, "I wanted to be with you. I chose all the costumes. The generator was just me. Don't tell." He laughed. "You are my date on purpose."

y/N's eyes widened, "You wanted me to look like a giant marshmallow?"

Tony looked offended, "I wanted you to be mine."

"Wait... like me... and you?"

"Me and you..."

"What why? I'm not as hot as the other women you..."

"NEVER say you are less than anyone else. Where's the y/N I am used to that doesn't care what others think about how she looks? and Especially bimbos from my past. They don't matter. It's the past. This is the future." He takes her hand and puts a palm against her palm and smiles down at her.

" You know... you are such a catch. I'm attracted to you and all your beauty and snark. Yeah, I notice you. You have an old timey type of beauty like a princess... and I am your Prince. Well, I would call myself a King. You do everything for me. You know me better than anyone has ever..."

"He is so egotistical," Bucky said.

Tony rolled his eyes. "She is a Queen. My queen; not a princess."

Steve smiled soft. "She is sweet as can be. Princess was a perfect outfit for her. She better watch out for him. He will corrupt her." He laughs.

y/n grinned wide at Tony insecurities all gone and leans up and kisses him. "My Tony?"

"My y/N..." Tony kisses back passionately.

Everyone claps.

[themonotonysyndrome]

REDACTED verse - Movie marathon? Hell yeah!

Prompt: Any Fandom | Any Pairing | "I got us matching shirts!"

Word Count: 1,027

Author/Team: LadyMonotone

Fandom/Original: Redacted ASMR (Asher/Babe)

Rating: G

Triggers: NA

Summary: After a busy work week, Babe suggests they do something fun on the weekend. Asher has just the idea. 

ConCrit: Y

I realised that I’ve never wrote a oneshot for Asher & Babe. Let’s fix that!

-

"Hey, welcome home Babe. Are you - shit, is everything OK? You look pale!" 

Asher stops himself when his Mate steps into their apartment, looking like they're seconds away from collapsing. So he hurries over to support them. Babe throws him a tired yet grateful smile and lets Asher takes their bag from their shoulders. 

"I'm OK, Asher. I'm just... exhausted. It's been a long day." Babe reluctantly admits and allows Asher to gently pull them on the couch so they can rest their feet.

Asher's eyebrows furrow in distress at the state of his Mate. They're exhausted, probably starving (he doesn't know if Babe has eaten anything other than the breakfast they had together today. He silently cursed himself for not calling to check up on them) and emotionally drained. He hates it. 

"You've been having a long week, Babe." Asher gently corrects them. When Babe rests their head on his shoulder, he hugs them tightly as if to shield them from the world. Babe snuggles deeper into his embrace. "You've been going out for work early morning and coming back late at night, every day. Sometimes even later than me. I'm just... I'm worried about you, Babe." 

"I'm sorry, Ash." Babe sleepily reply. They yawn and continue with a weary sigh, "Work has been crazy lately, but today was our last deadline, so next week should be a bit calmer. Hopefully." 

Asher beams and rubs their arm comfortingly. "Hell yeah, that's great to hear, Babe! Is there anything I can do to help you tonight? I made some avocado Caprese wraps, chickpea salad sandwiches and a cold chicken salad for dinner. Oh! We also have some lemonade in the fridge; squeeze 'em myself this morning too. You're up for it?" 

Before Babe could say anything, the hunger that had been on the edges of their mind now made itself known with a vocal reminder - both Babe and Asher startle when they heard their stomach growl loudly. 

Babe chuckles sheepishly. "Food sounds fantastic right now." They pause. "Hey, Ash?" 

"Hmm?" 

"We both have been working hard lately. How about we do something this weekend? I think we both badly need a break." 

Asher's eyes lit up at his Mate's suggestion, mind already racing with ideas. "Oh, yes! We should totally do something fun tomorrow! But you also need to rest up, Babe." 

Babe hums thoughtfully. "Well, I'm happy as long as we can do something together. It feels like I rarely get to see you nowadays..." 

Heart twisted in pain at his Mate's quiet admission, Asher kisses the top of Babe's head. "Same here, Babe. It sucks being adults, eh?" 

They snicker and remain on the couch to cuddle for a few more minutes before Babe's stomach growls again. While Babe excuses themselves for the bathroom, Asher makes himself busy by serving their dinner. He cheers when Babe re-appear wearing their pyjamas and with colours back in their complexion. It looks like the hot shower did them a world of good. "There's my, Babe! Come on, come on - let's eat! You're going to love the avocado Caprese wraps, I promise!" He declares after ushering Babe towards the chair beside his. 

Babe glances at their meals with a knowing smirk as they help themselves with a plate of wraps and some salad. "Interesting spread, Asher. All the things that don't require the stove." 

"You know it." Asher shoots his Mate a wink and grabs his own plate. Throughout their meal, Asher and Babe entertain one another about the possibilities of what they could do at the weekends. Babe offers to play Halo with Asher, which nearly makes him leap from his chair in joy but instead, something dawn on him. 

"I got it! Wait here, Babe!" Asher suddenly shouts, eyes wide with glee. His body practically vibrates with excitement as he abandons his food and runs towards their bedroom. 

Leaving Babe frozen in their seat with a fork halfway into their mouth. When they hear rummaging sounds coming from the room, Babe slowly resumes eating; their eyes glued to the bedroom door. 

When Asher burst out of the room, he's proudly holding up two t-shirts. "Ta-da! What do you think, Babe!?" 

Babe takes their time in chewing their food, swallow before replying, "Uh, think of what, Ash?" They ask sceptically. 

Asher is more than happy to explain his plan. "OK, here me out, Babe. Since October is just around the corner, do you know what that means?" 

"Uh, our bill for the heaters would increase?" 

"OK, yeah, I guess you're right on that one - hey, are you teasing me?" 

Babe laughs. "Only because it's so easy to do so." At Asher's puppy pout expression, Babe hurries to amend themselves while still supporting a fond smile on their face, "I'm sorry, Ash. What were you trying to say?" 

Asher perks up once more and flaps the t-shirts. "October means Halloween, Babe! So that means we're having a movie marathon all weekend tomorrow; the Fear Street Trilogy, the classics like Hellraiser, and uh, I guess we can give Malignant a shot too." 

A horror movie marathon? Well, Babe always wanted to watch Midsommar but work always get in the way. "We definitely have to give Malignant a try. But what's with the t-shirts?" 

"I bought these last week. Check it out, Babe!" Asher unfolds one of the shirts to display the front side. It wrote 'He's my trick' with an arrow pointing to the right, which Asher then showed the other shirt that wrote, 'They're my treat' with an arrow pointing to the left. "I got us matching shirts! Don't they look cool!? We have to wear them for our movie marathon tomorrow!" Here, Asher suddenly realises something judging by his shit-eating grin. "We can wear them to David's place on Halloween and watch him try not to die inside." 

Goofy matching shirts. That's so Asher that Babe can't help but fall helplessly in love with him all over again. 

Babe also can't help laughing their guts out at his 'prank' against the Alpha. "I'm in favour of David staring at our shirts in utter disgust. Let's do it, Asher!" 

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Twitter ー Carla Tsukinami [2020 Compilation]

–> This post includes all tweets posted on the official Rejet Twitter account for Carla Tsukinami (@DialoverCarlaT) in 2020.

Shuu l Reiji l Ayato l Kanato l Laito l Subaru l Ruki l Kou l Yuma l Azusa l Shin l Kino

February 14, 2020 (Valentine’s Day)

> What a bothersome lot. I’ll blow all of you away at once.

> When it comes to these things, it’s quality over quantity.

> One precious thing. Obtaining that is more important, don’t you think?

March 14, 2020 (White Day)

> An uncommon guest has come to visit.

> Guess I shall give these ‘marsh mallow’ things Kanato gifted me to Shin.

–> This took me a while to figure out, but Carla wrote he received 魔種麻呂 from Kanato, which isn’t an existing word in Japanese at all. However, when you look at the individual readings of each character, they are pronounced as ‘ma-shu-ma-ro’ or マッシュマロー, the Japanese word for ‘marshmallow’. I guess Carla does not know what a marshmallow is. xD

> I do not know which magic creature has been put into these things. So until I identify them, it seems wise not to eat them.

–> The ‘ma’ character in Carla’s unique spelling of the word ‘marshmallow’ means ‘magic’ on its own, hence why he thinks they’re made from magic beasts living in the Demon World.

> Oi, you. Come closer.

> I heard that today you are supposed to return the favor of last month’s festivity. Following said tradition, I shall thank you as well.

> You are a woman worthy of becoming the bride of a Founder. However, that is not all. You are also a woman I personally do not wish to lose. I am grateful towards the fate that brought us together. Furthermore, I shall fulfill my own duty as well. I vow to protect you, no matter what awaits us in the future.

April 1, 2020 (April Fools)

> Moon March 🌙 E-shop opened

ll Cured dry ham ll

From today onwards, we shall start selling farm fresh and Founder-approached cured dry ham. We can ensure the delivery of high quality products to your doorstep. Only those capable of grasping its value, should press the purchase button.

April 30, 2020

> Come here. We do not get to enjoy such a peaceful time together very often. I shall dote on you plenty to make up for all the lost time. 

> Tell me. Go ahead and explain to me what lovers usually do when together in their room.

May 28, 2020 (Birthday)

> How puzzling. Why do you seem so happy, when it is my birthday being celebrated? However, it is not a bad thing. It appears I can get a sense of fulfillment from seeing you try so hard for my sake. In that case, scoot over. I want to feel you close to me. I want to confirm that you are most definitely by my side by touching you directly.

June 26, 2020

> I cannot believe you are asking me to play the role of a teacher. It seems like you do not quite comprehend your own position.

> Again? Watch your step carefully. How many times must I repeat myself?

June 27, 2020

> You could have simply gone to bed before me.

July 7, 2020 (Tanabata)

> I wish to come across a new art gallery.

July 22, 2020

> I am surprised you are still conscious.

> I forced my fangs inside your flesh. It would have not have been strange for you to faint from the pain.

> Seems like you have become capable of accepting any and all stimuli. When you give me such a commendable reaction, I cannot help but want to ‘dote’ on you even more.

> This time, I will give you something you are always craving for...Exactly, pleasure.

> I shall love you more profoundly.

July 27, 2020

> Dry cured ham represents despair and sadness?

> Why?

August 31, 2020

> The buzzing of cicadas makes for a rather elegant tune.

> Shin. Prepare a watermelon at once.

October 16, 2020

> On my way to the museum, I ran into a certain young man. He was a *

--> In the original Tweet, his sentence cuts off mid-way as well.

> He was a court painter who specializes in portraits. I had him paint my picture, but ultimately, I did not feel very satisfied with the end result.

> My face is not buried that deep inside my scarf. Why did he have to exaggerate it such an extend? For one, a portrait usually takes several days to finish, yet the painter in question finished it in just mere seconds. One should take their time painting a picture of me.

> It truly is a shame, but it seems like his skill level has decreased over time.

October 22, 2020 (DL x Mayla Classic)

> Oi, you. Why are you spacing out in the hallway?

> Aah, Shin said that…? I see.

> In that case, I might have a clue. Follow me.

> Take a look at those stairs.

> Amongst the Wolf Familiars, there’s one which has a bad habit of leaving all shiny objects he stumbles upon on the staircase like that.

> I assume Shin hid the gift in the underground dungeon, hoping you would find it after being ordered to clean the place. However, it was taken away by the Familiar before that, ruining Shin’s plans.

> He should have simply handed it to you. Shin is still quite immature as well, taking such a roundabout approach and then getting upset.

> Oh well, I suppose it is fine. Either way, you should take it.

> This is our gift. From here on out, you should always keep them on you, so they do not get stolen by the Familiar again.

October 31, 2020 (Halloween)

> Trick or Treat...is truly ridiculous. There is no reason to choose one or the other. I shall get my hands on all things I desire. Well then, go ahead and submit your everything to me.

November 11, 2020

> Today calls for a celebration.

> It is ‘cured ham day’. There is not a single day in the whole year worth celebrating more.

> I suppose I should have Shin prepare a few extra legs.*

-> I was really confused by this tweet at first because when I looked up the word 原木, it translates as ‘timber’. However, apparently it is also used to refer to the whole legs of dried ham which come on a wooden stand. 

December 18, 2020

> Why are you making such a face? ...The cold? I see, I suppose humans already show the first signs of hypothermia at this temperature. I cannot simply stand and watch in silence as you continue to freeze. Well then, let me prepare you a cup of hot tea. Let us get warm together.

December 19, 2020

> Woman. This one. Order this one. I desire this drink, its crimson color is vibrant, yet somewhat reminiscent of the dark as well. However, please do not get the wrong idea. I do not feel attracted to it due to its strong resemblance to blood. Any blood other than yours holds no value. Of course, you are special and irreplaceable to me as a person as well.

December 24, 2020 (Christmas)

> Are you enjoying yourself? No, I am not criticizing you for your behavior. When I see you in high spirits, even I get a pleasant feeling inside. I feel like I can sympathize with humans who get excited about Christmas a little better now.

[1ddotdhq]

👁 Sun 01 Nov ‘20 🍼

After yesterday’s amazing show (the timey wimey of which was even more wibbly wobbly than we thought- it was only an hour late in SOME markets, there was just a big confusing daylight savings time fail in the announcements), today Liam’s Halloween merch is making quite a splash! There's a mask with his name in a spooky gothic font with classic flash tattoo style doodles, including swallows, a microphone, an eye, several skulls, a weird tongue looking thing, and some lyrics! His T-shirt design is also Halloween themed (or, like - Dia de los Muertos themed, which is different) and has a large skull covered in purple and yellow roses (and patterns), his name, another eye, cobwebs, lightning bolts, and some more swallows. There are indeed designs on the merch that match up with many of Zayn's tattoos but honestly that line art eye looks as much like MY eye as it does Zayn's. I feel like a comparison to Zayn's eye TATTOO would have been more convincing, but that wasn't the conjecture! Meanwhile Zayn and all six of his eyes (tattooed, real, and glasses) were seen again! Twice in ONE DAY, truly a holiday! Late in the day yesterday we got one last treat (or trick, depending on your perspective) from Gigi: a family zelfie of her, Zayn and zaby X in their family-of-geeks costume...oh wait no that's their actual identities! Their costumes were Gigi as not just a videogame character but a specific variant suit (Zero Suit Samus? I guess? *shrugs as if I know what I'm talking about*), and Zayn in his full Slytherin uniform including a jumper and thick glasses he'd left out of his earlier post, smiling down at the zaby in his arms (tiny hulk!! uwu) with a soft happy face. You'd think this would generate discourse, and it has, but mostly people are busy arguing about whether Z is a Slytherin! Messing with peoples' sorting headcanons is no joke, it's an even more surefire way to get the fandom fired up than babies and girlfriends.

A receipt has circulated wildly from an Kuwaiti man who describes an encounter with Louis from Vegas in like 2016 or '17 it seems like. He says Louis walked up to him randomly, touched him and complimented his beard (lol), and then walked away again. A few days later they ran into each other again and Louis (and Oli!) passed by him and - yup! Louis touched his shoulder, complimented him again, and asked if the man remembered him. The guy was like, ‘uh, yeah dude, it's been like a day,’ and then Louis disappeared into the party once more like the vision he is. Our hero was then like, ‘who WAS that man’, googled him, and figured out that yes, he'd been hit on TWICE by an international superstar. In my head, I imagine Louis flitting around being very charming, capturing people’s attention, then leaving just as quickly as he came, leaving Oli standing there smiling awkwardly. Anyway in slightly more professional Louis news:  Lyric Drop 2 has been pulled from Louis’ merch store (that was REALLY limited edition, huh?). This means the next single for release is We Made It, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for rainbows! An A&R Sony manager (Micheala Lundin, who previously worked on Louis’ team at Syco) celebrated Two Of Us’ milestone - it reached 100 million streams on Spotify! Her instagram story tags the people involved with the making of the song and says, “This little baby reached 100 million! 🌟...Will always be a special one! Pop perfection by my favorite legends”. Same, though it always makes me cry! And, in other Louis things that make me cry, Reverse Rett (a charity that works to improve the lives of those touched by Rett syndrome) - which  Louis donated thousands of pounds through an art fundraiser in 2016 - has revealed that he has quietly been supporting them by donating auction prizes ever since. I have a lot of feelings about this, and I’m always floored by his consistent and continued kindness, though I definitely shouldn’t be at this point. 

Drip, drip drip it goes - the news, I mean, but I can see why you might think it would be milk! GQ posted a Golden picture of Harry on instagram (from the video, but also a good description of the picture itself), and the comments are really something else! “Didn’t know my dude was a C cup,” said one guy. “Is my dude lactating,” asked another one. And the band Cannon announced that they would start their “Covers by Cannon” series with a cover of Golden, and Harry, apparently lurking around insta, liked the post: I hope this means he's seeing the GQ comments too cause that's the real entertainment of the day! And finally, Instagram Issues Curse strikes again: “did Niall just post something on ig and deleted it?” and to which Niall - always creeping around in his mentions - replied, “Yeh I think so...I can’t see it on my story”. Well, neither can I, so I can’t tell you what it was (:/), but I’m gonna be keeping a closer eye on his insta in the week leading up to the show!