#and Nicky earned his trust back

[jean-meowreau]

Having feelings and thoughts about Nicky

[zairaalbereo]

✨Happy New Year ✨ to all of you, but most especially my darling friend @isabellehemlock. I’m so glad we got to meet each other in this fandom, and so very happy to share a wonderful, supportive space with you online. May 2025 bring you all the joy, peace and happiness. ❤️

You asked for romantic vibes of any kind — new, established, domestic, fluffy. And my brain came up with this moment of Joe and Nicky’s relationship. A moment when their love is established, but still feels new and wondrous. A moment of new beginnings.

By the time they had decided to go looking for the women showing up in their dreams, it had been decades. In their defense, they had been somewhat preoccupied. They had traveled, first the Levante and then the Byzantine Empire, further west to Tunis and then back along the Northern coastal cities, only avoiding Genoa. For a few beautiful years they settled down in Malta. And yet the true journey — just as winding, and filled with as many challenges and surprising turns — has been the one towards finding each other.  It’s hard to say what came first in their relationship — trust, affection, lust. They started out killing each other, and then became traveling companions before they had outgrown that habit. The last time Yusuf killed him, was after he had kissed him. And yet it would be years after trusting Nicolò to have his back in a battle before he allowed him to strip Yusuf bare, and allowed himself to come undone beneath him. Now that they’ve found the women, there is a new journey waiting, and Nicolò isn’t sure where it will lead yet. The first night they make camp together, he doesn’t sleep. He’s not worried about his own safety — there’s little anyone can do to him that Nicolò would fear — but he’s not going to leave Yusuf defenseless. He’s not going to let anyone come between them or separate them. Yusuf, ever perceptive, smiles at him knowingly before he presses a soft kiss against Nicolò’s lips, right there in front of their new acquaintances, and then settles himself against Nicolò’s chest, allowing Nicolò to wrap his arms around him and hold him close. The warm weight of him is a comfort; the steady heartbeat echoing between them grounding.  He pulls a blanket up around them, and when he lifts his gaze, he sees that he’s being watched from across the campfire. Dark eyes study him for a long moment, then the Eastern woman starts to smile, and she closes her eyes and curls up against her companion.  “I trust you will be keeping watch,” she says, just loud enough for Nicolò to hear the underlying amusement in her voice. “If only for his sake.” Nicolò doesn’t answer, but as the night proceeds, he contemplates the notion of trust, and how he has earned hers so quickly. It will not take long for Quynh and Andromache to take root in his heart, and he will do anything for them for their own sake. But it won’t be for many decades, to Andromache’s endless exasperation and Quynh’s quiet amusement, that he’ll be willing to trust them with the safety of his heart — or rather the man who firmly holds it in his possession.

Find this on AO3

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

The Arcana HCs: M6's ringtones

Julian

For Asra: Hot n Cold by Katy Perry

I mean, does it even need explaining? Yes, Asra knows this is their assigned ringtone, and no, they don't mind it at all

For Nadia: Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce

Nadia didn't know that this was her ringtone until you told her, to which she looked flattered and Julian began to stutter

For Muriel: Why Can't We Be Friends by War

Does Julian respect that Muriel is allowed to feel however he wants to about him? Yes. Does the dislike still bother him? ... maybe

For Portia: Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

This was the most sentimental ringtone Portia would allow him to set for her, and only because of the sick guitar intro

For Lucio: Mean by Taylor Swift

He's not going to lie, some of Lucio's accusatory words did hurt a little, especially after he saved his life with that amputation

For you: Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley

A classic. It sums up his feelings for you perfectly, and if you happen to dial him in earshot he'll croon along for you

Asra

For Julian: Dumb Ways to Die by Tangerine Kitty

There's no hard feelings between them anymore, but the moment Julian decided dying counted as a solution this became his song

For Nadia: That's My Girl by Little Mix

She might not remember how close they were, but after the tea parties they had together, he'll always be rooting for her

For Muriel: Lean On by Major Lazer

Never let it be said that they can't be sentimental. They'll just do it to EDM and cheesy lyrics for maximum teasing potential

For Portia: Drama by AJR

If you think for a second that he and Portia didn't eventually bond over their love of collecting tea, I beg you to reconsider

For Lucio: Stupid Hoe by Nicki Minaj

You can try to shame them for this all you want. They are humming along, and have been known to keep singing after picking up

For you: Tear in my Heart by twenty one pilots

You're the tear in his heart, and that means he's alive. Changes it sometimes to lighten the mood, but always switches back

Nadia

For Julian: Rasputin by Boney M.

She doesn't remember him, but there's one thing she knows for sure - the only thing he does more shamelessly than flirt is dance

For Asra: Daydreamer by AURORA

Doesn't the title of the song say enough? Even if it didn't, the dreamy music fits them too well too deny

For Muriel: Lean on Me by Bill Withers

Here is what she knows about Muriel: Vesuvia failed him, and she wants him to have better. Now if she could just get his trust ...

For Portia: Count on Me by Bruno Mars

The person who sat by her as she slept and took care of her needs after awakening and stuck by her side? She can count on her

For Lucio: Shout Out to My Ex by Little Mix

Never let it be said that Nadia is afraid of growing and getting stronger. Though saying he broke her heart is an overstatement

For you: Halo by Beyonce

Just ... read through the lyrics. She's never going to hear you call her without remembering what you mean to her

Muriel

For Julian: D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F. by Kevin Bloody Wilson

Specifically the chorus - "Do I Look, Like I Give A F***: DILLIGAF." He doesn't plan on getting chummy with him any time soon

For Asra: Stressed Out by twenty one pilots

He knows they both had to grow up and suffer, but he still gets nostalgic for the quieter years they spent as kids in the woods

For Nadia: Kings & Queens by Ava Max

Is she intimidating? Yeah, but he'd pop champagne to celebrate her succeeding Lucio any day. More queens on the throne, please

For Portia: W.I.T.C.H. by Devon Cole

Nadia may be intimidating, but Portia's the one he truly fears the most. This woman is small and mighty and way too unpredictable

For Lucio: When Will You Die? by They Might Be Giants

Does he have any murderous intent towards the count? not really. Will he sleep easier when he knows he's all the way gone? ... yeah

For you: All of Me by John Legend

Well it's true, isn't it? You pulled him back out into the world and earned his total trust. But he's never letting you hear his ringtone

Portia

For Julian: Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance

As all younger sisters must, she chose this solely to make fun of him. Julian, on the other hand, is flattered at the iconic song choice

For Asra: Jericho by Iniko

She knows there's better choices out there, but it's just the vibes, y'know? Try convincing her that they haven't been to outer space

For Nadia: Best Friend by Saweetie

Can't resist singing along to it every time it goes off. Which means that she'll always answer with "hi bestie!!" even when she shouldn't

For Muriel: Y.M.C.A. by Village People

1) She doesn't know him that well, 2) it's a really good song, 3) telling him not to feel down is what she wants to do anyways

For Lucio: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys

*cue gremlin face* sure, she never met him personally, but the dude wasn't a great husband for her bestie. giggles each time

For you: I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton

Likes to belt this out to you when she picks up. Whether she squeaks on the high notes each time is up to the listener

Lucio

For Julian: House of Memories by Panic! at the Disco

You can't get amputated on the battlefield by a newbie without trauma bonding at least a little bit. Besides, it's catchy

For Asra: Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

Ohh, he remembers when they were a teenager, and he does not want to go back. He had good reason to be uneasy around them

For Nadia: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift

Yes, he knows their marriage ended because he died, but indulge him a little if sometimes he likes to fantasize that he called it off

For Muriel: Sorry by Justin Bieber

Well, what other song are you supposed to give the victim of your past self? Okay so maybe it isn't the best apology, but it is "sorry"

For Portia: Sweet but a Psycho by Ava Max

Oh, he knows that the force truly worth fearing is not the woman you did wrong - it's her loyal and unhinged best friend.

For you: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

You do make him feel like a teenager again! It's not nearly as glamorous as life used to be, but having you there for it is exciting

[beemoon17]

My Personal Fox Rankings

I saw @yourleftpinkytoe-blog do this and thought I'd give it a go! These are just my personal rankings and obviously I'd love to talk about why or hear about anyone else's.

Kevin Day (I relate to his mental health struggles and his need for perfection, he's giving gifted kid syndrome, autistic af)

Andrew Minyard (Devoted to his family, enforces his boundaries, relate to his mental health struggles, killing for his brother)

Neil Josten (Most of my love for him is because of his love for other characters, his loyalty and protectiveness over the family he found in the Foxes and his absolute devotion to respecting Andrew's boundaries)

David Wymack ("It's about second chances, Neil. Second, third, fourth, whatever, as long as you get at least one more than what anyone else wanted to give you." I think that covers all my reasoning)

Seth Gordon (We don't get to learn as much about him as the others but Seth hit me a lot harder than I've seen most people feel. He wanted to prove himself, he wanted to be better, he wanted to win. He's the what if. The almost. Every kid who couldn't be saved, Who gave up or was given up on a minute too soon. He was almost there. And then he was gone.)

Aaron Minyard (I have a weak spot for sibling relationships, killing for his brother, the urge to protect your siblings and to stay by your siblings side and at the same time wanting to prove you can be more or different or better than them, not understanding each other completely but knowing you stand and fall together always.)

Matt Boyd (100% projected every urge I've ever had to have a big brother onto him. The way he's always there on the Court to physically protect his teammates, he's big and strong and powerful, but off the Court he is kind and caring and gentle. He loves the Foxes and he has their backs. His relationship with Neil was everything.)

Nicky Hemmick (I loved his blatant and unavoidable queerness, for a character who has canonically been shammed and abused for his sexuality and coming from a world myself where I don't feel safe or brave enough to be unapologetically queer it's so beautiful to read. He took in the twins, he never gave up on them, never walked away. The twins weren't easy, not before the story started and not when we get to arrive in it, but he loves his family and he wants them to have better than he did, and that means something.)

Dan Wilds (Oh Captain my Captain. Dan is an amazing leader and my love for her comes from her devotion to her team. She is tough and she worked her ass off for the role she has, she's more than earned her share of respect. She believes in her team even after years of failing and bullshit.)

Betsy Dobson (The therapist we all dream of having. If Andrew could trust her I can't imagine anyone couldn't with enough time. She is a safe space and a constant, and clearly has patience for days with the twinyards as her clients. The fact that she provides hot chocolate is 100% a huge plus for me.)

Abby Winfield (Always there for the Foxes, whether that's patching them up, giving them a roof to sleep under, or cooking warm meals. She's a safe adult like Bee and Wymack and they are so very important and precious.)

Allison Reynolds (I love Allison, her being this low is NOT Allison hate, I simply did not connect with her as much as other characters, she is still dear to me, all of the Foxes are. She is devoted to the Foxes and found them somewhere safe to run off to and have some fun after shit went down. and even when the worst possible thing happens and she loses the man she loves she comes back ready to fight because she knows it's what he would've wanted.)

Renee Walker (Once again NOT Renee hate, all of those Foxes are dear to me. I had trouble with her "religious angel girl" attitude in a similar way to Neil, I just couldn't trust it. Renee is an amazing force within the Foxes, the bridge before Neil arrived, providing Andrew with an outlet and a friend, protecting the upperclassmen Foxes. I admire her for pulling herself out of darkness, even if I can't connect to the religious aspect, and I admire that she acknowledges and respects her old life, not burying it but not letting it control her future or her present day.

[aftgficrec]

Hii! I'm so glad i caught you guys, youre doing gods work over here. I've been wanting something similar to blame it on my youth and way down we go . Something long and addicting and eventually wholesome, preferably something where Aaron is kinda jealous of Neil. I love the soulmate idea. Thanks so much <3

You’ve got a mix of things in your ask, so I’m giving you long andeil fics with happy ending + Aaron angst that are post canon like ‘Blame it On My Youth’ (here), pre-canon canon divergent like ‘Way Down We Go’ (here), soulmates, and some other aus. -A

previous recs:

long fics like BIOMY here

‘Guardian Angel’ series here

‘on the tip of my tongue (say something)’ series here (completed)

‘progress comes in small steps’ series here

‘we were together’ series here

‘This Complicated Life’ and ‘In My Defense, I Have None’ here

you may also like:

Neil & Aaron: quests, situations, friendship & slash here

post canon:

Trust Fall (And Welcoming Arms) by SpangleBangle [Rated E, 84557 Words, Complete, 2017]

Life goes on after the Foxes win the championship, and for Andrew and Neil it's uncharted territory with only each other for guides. Maybe it's time to put away some of those hard edges, and learn how to touch more softly, and speak more honestly. And if they falter, they have their family to help them get back on their feet.

tw: scars, tw: homophobia, tw: panic attacks, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: discussions of self harm, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced eating disorders, tw: depression, tw: dissociation, tw: flashbacks, tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced drug abuse, tw: explicit sexual content

pre-canon canon divergent:

Oakland by AgentCoop [Rated M, 105947 Words, Complete, 2023]

When Neil Josten gets arrested for a fake ID and thrown into the Juvenile Detention System, he knows that he's running on borrowed time before his father's men catch up. His mother is dead, there's nowhere to run, there's nothing left at all but an Exy court at the Oakland County Detention Center that he has to earn the right to play on through good behavior. And Neil's never been great at obeying rules. -- An Andriel AU where the boys meet as teens in Juvie.

tw: violence, tw: blood, tw: panic attacks, tw: nightmares, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon

Lifeline by pandaseek [Rated T, 269357 Words, Incomplete, Updated April 2023]

"What is your name." He wouldn't care usually, but the way this kid had avoided it last time he asked, he was curious. "I've had six so far." He answers slowly, weighing each word. "Which one do you want?" Six names? Yep, there is something going on there.

tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: implied/referenced child abuse

NB: fanart for this fic by Super_Yellow on AO3 here

soulmates:

i once believed love would be black and white by acidmeringue [Rated E, 26708 Words, Complete, 2023]

Andrew does not believe in soulmates. Nicky has a soulmate. His twin Aaron has a soulmate too, but Andrew doesn't let them speak. Everyone around him has a soulmate. They can all see in color. He can't. He doesn't believe in soulmates, doesn't believe in love at all. When enough people tell you what love should look like, when you're told enough times that you should be able to see in color but you can't, you start to believe that you don't have a soulmate after all. And that's okay. At least, it was, until Andrew makes eye contact with a stranger at Eden's and the world comes to a screeching halt. ~ Soulmate au where you can't see in color until you lock eyes with your soulmate. Additionally, if your soulmate dies, your vision goes back to monochrome.

tw: implied/referenced abuse

The Real Thing by nekojita [Rated M, 34125 Words, Complete, 2021]

Andrew was more than willing to turn down the Ravens' offer to be their newest goalie, unwilling to play five more years of Exy - let alone for someone with a too-sharp smile and a manic gleam in their eyes. That was, until he realized that a member of their Perfect Court was his soulmate. (That was, until Riko Moriyama realized that Nathaniel Wesninski, the Ravens' #3 in waiting, was Andrew's soulmate.) Andrew always knew that Fate loved tormenting him, he didn't need a reminder yet again via a too-attractive soulmate who appeared to loathe him. Yet things aren't always what they seem, especially in the Nest.

tw: attempted rape/noncon, tw: abuse, tw: violence, tw: blood, tw: alcohol, tw: medication withdrawal

other aus:

If I Knew You by AceSirenSinger [Rated T, 43145 Words, Complete, 2024]

Neil is imprisoned at sixteen years old for being the Butcher of Baltimore. Andrew obsesses, and Aaron obsesses because Andrew does, and everything goes wrong and raw and painful. Feat. the twinyards breaking each other’s hearts, and a decent amount of shade on the American justice system.

tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: recreational drug use, tw: implied/referenced violence, tw: implied/referenced torture

Shut Up and Dance (With Me) by OfficialStarsandGutters [Rated E, 168160 Words, Complete, 2021]

Dance AU. - Neil Josten just wants to dance, but being on the run leaves little time for frivolous hobbies. He has no idea what one night of risk will lead to when he first steps into Eden’s Twilight. Andrew Minyard dances alone. Everyone knows this. Until a wide eyed, desperate rabbit of a boy stumbles into his path, and he breaks his self imposed rule.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: torture, tw: suicidal thoughts, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: anxiety, tw: depression, tw: panic attacks, tw: implied/referenced drug abuse, tw: explicit sexual content, tw: implied/referenced eating disorder, tw: vomit, tw: graphic injuries, tw: nonconsensual drug use

[heauxvibez]

5 Songs Challenge

5 Songs. Put your music on shuffle, write an imagine based on the song chosen. Start writing when the music starts, stop writing when the music stops. No cheating babes.

Tagging below who I want to see try this:

@harmshake @visionarymode @thesamoanqueen @southerngirl41

@lina26s @keyaho

Pills and Potions-Nicki Minaj

Jayda gazed at the bottle of pills, tears cascading down her cheeks, her phone gripped tightly in her other hand. Roman's cruel words echoed in her mind—he had abandoned her for another woman, someone he'd assured her was just a friend. She chastised herself for believing their relationship could endure. Soon enough, he'd realize the depth of his mistake, but by then, it would be too late. She'd be gone, and he'd ache for her absence, she was certain of it.

Sitting on the bathroom floor, her back against the wall, Jayda bit her lip in anguish as she poured the pills into her hand and swallowed them. She braced herself, waiting for the darkness to envelop her vision.

Sorry -Beyoncé

Anija smirked devilishly as she tore his clothes apart, hurling them to the floor with a satisfying thud. She managed to find a bottle of bleach and doused his clothes, enjoying the act of destruction.

She had warned him that if he didn't grab his belongings from her house, there would be consequences. Just then, a notification chimed on her phone, drawing her attention.

"Babe, I'm on my way. Please, don't ruin my things. I'm sorry," the text read.

"Boy Bye," she muttered with disgust, tapping out her reply. "Tell Becky with the good hair to replace your ruined crap."

She tossed her phone onto the bed and resumed her rampage, her eyes lighting up the same way his bleached clothes did.

Controlla-Drake

She had barely knocked three times before he swung the door open with urgency.

"Babe!"

Roman pulled her into a tight embrace, his longing clear in the way he held onto her. A month had felt like an eternity without her, and now that she was here, he couldn't wait to feel her touch once again, and he knew the feeling was mutual.

Their lips met in a tender kiss before he closed the door behind her.

"I've been waiting for you for so long," he murmured, his eyes filled with desire as he looked at her. She couldn't help but bite her lip, acknowledging the yearning she felt for him and the intensity of his presence as he took her arm and led her into the bedroom. It was clear that this was going to be a night to remember.

Another Round-Fat Joe ft Chris Brown

Joe's hands roamed over her body, his lips pressed together in anticipation of what he was about to do. He had been intimate with many women, but she held a unique place in his heart. She was more than just another conquest; she was an addiction he couldn't resist. No one else compared to her.

As he moved inside her, his face buried in the curve of her neck, he trailed kisses along her skin, making his way to her ear.

"Don't hold back, baby. Give me everything you've got," he whispered huskily, his voice dripping with seduction. She arched her back, her wrists straining against the restraints.

"I promise, you'll be begging for more after I'm through with you."

Don't Judge Me-Chris Brown

Joe sat on the couch, his head buried in his hands, listening to the heart-wrenching sobs of his girlfriend. Once again, his infidelity had been exposed, and he had hoped it wouldn't come to this.

"Was she beautiful? Was she an actress? Was she better looking than me? What did I do wrong?" she cried out.

Feeling the weight of his guilt, Joe knelt in front of her, gently grasping her hands in his own.

"Baby, please look at me," he pleaded, his voice filled with remorse.

"I'm so sorry. You are incredibly beautiful, okay? I know you've heard rumors about me, and maybe you've seen some pictures online... and they might be true. But I love you, baby girl. I'm begging you, please give me another chance. I'll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust. Just... please."

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pleaded with her, his heart breaking at the thought of losing her.

She turned away, unable to meet his gaze, her voice barely a whisper to contain her emotions.

"I can't," she murmured, fighting back tears.

-----------

That was fun as hell! It was a struggle though, as soon as I heard the song ending, I started wrapping the imagine up quick lmao. I was typing hella fast ya'll.

Tags: @harmshake @southerngirl41 @spritelucozade @empressdede @alichesmi

[kissorkill16]

Should I Or Shouldn't I?: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: Nicky asks Finch for advice.

Nicky walked down the hallway, holding the note Delroy gave to him in class.

The note asked if him and Delroy were friends now, considering all that's happened the past few weeks.

He wasn't so sure if he wanted to be friends with him, especially after all they've been through together. They didn't get along in the past, they've been at each other's throats for longer than anyone could remember, and even when Delroy joined the Inventor's Club, Nicky was not enthused.

So should he say yes?

He walked past a familiar girl scout and called out to her.

"Finch."

The girl scout turned around to look at Nicky. "Oh hey, Nicky. What's up?"

"I need advice."

Finch looked down at her nails, "What kind of advice? Dating advice? Because I can tell you that I -"

Nicky put his hand up, signaling her to stop. "No. Not dating advice."

They walked down the hallway together.

"In class today, Delroy gave me a note asking me if we were friends now.", said Nicky. "I'm not sure if I should say yes. Sure, we've been through a lot these past few weeks that have forced us to help each other, but even after all of that, I still don't feel so sure."

Finch whistled as she looked in the opposite direction. She didn't really know how to handle the situation either, but she'd try for the sake of Nicky.

For some reason, she felt like she'd do anything for Nicky nowadays.

"Well...", she started. "Just imagine it's that time where I apologized to you for embarrassing you with the...picture.", she said, trying desperately hard not to mention that time. "You wanted to give me a chance to be better, and it took me a while to earn your trust. But now we're friends and I actually learned to like you and the Inventor's Club."

She hesitantly put a hand on Nicky's shoulder, "Do you trust Delroy?"

Nicky looked down at his shoes, "Actually, yes.", he said. "He's actually really cool, despite being kind of a douche sometimes. He told me he doesn't hate me as much as he used to anymore, so I guess that's another thing."

Finch smiled at him, "See?", she said. "Even though you two didn't have the best history together, you can still make up for it and it's totally your decision if you want to be friends."

Nicky smiled back at her, thankful for her advice. He took Finch's hand and gently shook it. "Thank you, Finch.", he said before walking away.

Finch held her hand close to her chest, "No problem, Nicky.", she whispered.

Meanwhile, Maritza was snickering behind the girl scout, and Delroy stood next to her and tried to hold back happy tears.

When she turned around to see them, her face turned red.

"When's the wedding?"

"SHUT UP, MARITZA!"

[peri-helia]

If I can’t dance (I don’t want any part of your revolution)

I hope the song choice isn't ooc for Nile but I was re-watching St. Trinian’s and this happened.

“Are you sure she’s ready for this?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that” Nicky retorted serenely, not even bothering to look at Copley, as they both watch over the railing as Nile maneuvers herself through the tangle of red wool threads that was doubling for the lasers she would navigate.

Copley sighed, privately wondering if there would ever be a day he didn’t put his foot in his mouth around these people. Probably not in his lifetime.

“I only meant she doesn’t seem happy with the arrangement. I know she’s fully capable, believe me. When –“ he swallowed, unsure of how much Nile had told them of the events preceding their rescue from Merrick Industries, “Nile tracked me down, I offered to come with her. What happened to you was my fault and I was determined to put things right. She just looked at me and said that out of the two of us, she would be the one to walk out of there again”

Out of the corner of his eye, he’s sure he sees the corner of Nicky’s mouth tick upward infinitesimally.

“Technically she jumped out the window” Joe says as he appears behind Nicky, taking a mug of coffee from the tray to offer it to Nicky. Copley’s eyebrows hit his hairline and as he turns to look at the other two men they are both definitely grinning in a mixture of pride and bemusement.

“Faster than the elevator” Nicky quips and it must already be some private joke from the way Joe snorts into his coffee mug.

“Before I forget, Copley, Booker wants you to go over the IDs” Joe tells him

“Again?!” he doesn’t know if it’s the forger critiquing his work or perhaps wanting to be seen as making as much effort as possible as part of re-earning everyone’s trust. Still, given the sharp looks he’s receiving from both Nicky and Joe, Copley decides its probably a smart move. Besides which, it doesn’t look like Joe’s asking.

---

“Thank you, habibi” Nicky sighs as soon as Copley is out of earshot. He takes a grateful sip of his coffee, naturally brewed to perfection. Joe gently presses his hand to the small of Nicky’s back in comfort.

“I don’t like him watching us training any more than you do. Especially when we’re still working through the logistics”

As they watch, Nile’s foot catches in some of the wool for the umpteenth time and Andy stops counting the seconds. Nile gives a shout of frustration and pulls her way free of the strands.

“That’s enough for today” they hear Andy say, passing Nile a bottle of water and patting her on the shoulder for an effort well made.

Copley’s a double-crossing bastard, but he’s not stupid. This way isn’t working for Nile. But she’s so determined to do this part of the job and none of them want to dissuade her. Retrieving the stolen artwork has been her gig from the start, she was the one who brought it to Copley.  If she triggers the lasers, it’s nothing they can’t handle but it’s a challenge she hasn’t had before and Nile is determined as ever to rise to it.

Sure enough, the next thing is Nile saying “I can do this” as much to herself as to Andy.

“We know you can” Quynh unfurls herself from where she’s been watching, “But a break might help. Try again later and it will go smoother for the rest.”

---

About an hour later, the pedestrian access door into the warehouse bangs open and Nile shouts, “ANDY! Andy, I’ve got it!”

Looking up from the mess of schematics, tea things and poker chips, they see Nile striding triumphantly into the space. She hits the loading bay door control panel. There’s a bit of banging of something that sounds heavy and likely expensive, when Booker appears on the other side with a flatbed trolley; two massive loudspeakers precariously loaded atop it.

Nicky wonders briefly what they’ve done with Copley. He’s probably weeping over the budget somewhere, because they definitely didn’t own these speakers this morning.

Something he’s grown to love about Nile, something they all love her for truly, is her innovation. It’s similar to Andy in a way, and maybe in a thousand years they’ll get to know Nile’s way of thinking well enough that they can see her logic but the thrill of the surprise is a treat in itself for the time being.

Once they get the speakers unloaded and set up, Nile walks towards the red string maze again like a gymnast taking first position. She nods at Booker and at her cue, he hits play on her iPod.

A pop song with a heavy beat starts thudding through the warehouse, filling the space so that the room itself thrums with sound. Casting a quick glance at each other, they watch as Nile starts working through the crisscross of threads. It’s…transformative. She’s clearly focused; her jaw set determinedly as she moves through the set-up. But her moves are more sinuous than they had been earlier. The air of distraction is gone and it is like watching a dance; the way she twists and slips through. The threads don’t touch her. Before they know it she’s made it through to the other side of the mats. She’s giving a victory bow as the song fades out.

“Nearly three minutes exactly” Booker announces, pausing the music having evidently been timing her.

Nile beams at them, hands on her hips. “I realized that the counting was putting me off. Sorry, Andy. I train better when I’ve got my music blasting and I suddenly thought what if I can time myself to a song roughly the same time as the we’ve got before the timer on the laser resets. What d’you think?”

It’s clear from Andy’s face that she’s thinking, the world’s best strategist, assessing what she’s just seen. The smile that breaks over her face is like the sun coming up; intrigued and pleased all at once. Something she appreciates probably most of all of them is someone realizing their potential.

“I think we’ll walk it”

---

“The Storm on the Sea of Gallilee by Rembrandt has been returned to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, having been deemed lost after a burglary more than thirty years ago. It was discovered this morning by a cleaner, along with a note that read ‘Thought you should have this back. Thief’s details with Interpol. Love your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman’. More on this story at-“

That piece had been one of his bloody favourites and now all he’s got is a bleached spot on the wall and probably about twenty minutes before the cops show up. What he’d dearly like to know is how they even got in and why his Spotify has a Sophie Ellis-Bextor song in his recently liked that wasn’t there before.

[devilagent]

What is Nick's favorite thing to do with your sona? c:

YAY SONA QUESTION / always accepting ! :D

ASKS THAT I RECIEVE THAT IMMEDIATELY MAKE ME SPIN AROUND SO HAPPY!! THANK YOU! AAARGH i love any opportunity to talk about my sona and nicky ;__; this is such a fun question too!

so the immediate thing that popped into my mind - i undoubtedly feel that his favorite activity with my sona would be whenever he trains her magic abilities. i just refer to it as 'magic training' for short. basically nicholas teaches her how to use her abilities and hone them! you can catch a glimpse of that in this art of them, that one of my close friends /@the-commonrose made for my birthday … it captures their dynamic perfectly in general :)c

now this is a double-sided answer because Character Growth (tm) over time …

in the beginning of their dynamic nicholas was eager to train with her, but mainly for his own gain rather than genuinely wanting to spend time with her.

my sona is no different from Adam or Jeb in this retrospect. nicholas took both of those men under his wing for his own agenda. although my sonas role is way more of an apprentice to him than adam / jeb were considered to be. with adam, he took on a mentor role, and as for jeb hawkes i have said this numerous times but nicholas genuinely acts more as his babysitter if anything. for some reason adopting monster adults is just nicks thing, i guess!

also funny thing that @widowshill pointed out to me, all of nicholas' monster underlings have worn turtlenecks FEKMDWMKWD this is the nicholas blair brand …….

anyways back to the subject at hand

inadvertently, over time, his feelings on it change to sincerity. magic training truly brings out a lot in their dynamic and it is a key factor as to how their relationship grew stronger! naturally over time they just formed a bond ^_^

ASIDE FROM THAT - my sona is very much unlike adam and jeb personality-wise, and generally unlike many people he is used to interacting with - therefore he finds himself in many peculiar situations he otherwise would've never been in because of her. like, ever.

she often has lunch on a towel on the beach, located in his backyard. he can sit out there with her sometimes to enjoy the scenery and talk to her :3 she can throw food to the seagulls which he doesn't approve of. those birds annoy him!

nicholas has also become fond of reading her books for bedtime ^_^ he wasn't really a fan of it at first and thought it was completely ridiculous when she requested him to read to her. he gave in to the request eventually because he wanted to earn her trust, similar to adam. but yeah, it's very sweet and it's a relaxing way for him to end the day - he ends up enjoying the time spent with her! this headcanon was partially inspired by humberts love of reading books.

every day is an adventure with her in some way, even the mundane, that is the joy of having a weird daughter (tm)

[sergeifyodorov]

not to loop back to a days old post about which leafs are real ttc takers and fake ttc takers, but I feel like nicky bobby should also earn the (not in a joke way) parenthetical given that him his mom and his older brother lived in toronto for a couple of years when the boys were younger. idk why but i trust the same robertson brothers who made hockey work in california by way of RV to have also made it work in toronto by way of the ttc

you totally get it anon... i can picture VIVIDLY jaded older brother jason (lmao) and nicky crossing the bloor viaduct and baby nicky going in a tiny squeaky voice "look jason the bridge!" and jasons like. we do this every time. but also he happily looks over the bridge because it is, admittedly, very cool

[bisexualmikisayaka]

i also think (and again this is not on him) that boyd lashing out at the cop lady is going to backfire and once randall wakes up they’ll team up against him, possibly along with other fromville denizens at the end of their rope and willing to take stupid chances. it’s unfortunate that she shows up when he is at his worst emotionally and represents everything that he considers his own failures - i blame the town lol, fromville is probably subconsciously influencing her to go talk to him when he’s feeling like shit over something - because he knows he would normally never react to someone like that (see his little “god. fuck!” after she leaves) even though she definitely fucked up big time with nicky and her suggestion in the station was like… girl you think he doesn’t know that? i’m sure when she told him to give them a project, he thought of the radio tower, which pretty much directly preceded everything going to shit - i know i did lol.

i hope he’s able to catch up with acosta and level with her - it won’t be in this many words, but I’d love it if he was able to convey “hey, i’m sorry for saying those things, you keep catching me at a time when i am under a lot of stress and we are losing people constantly and everyone is scared and wants to go home and relies on me for answers when i have none. and also these things have told me specifically they are trying to break my spirit and keep putting me in impossible situations so i feel like all of this is my fault all the time. forgive me for reacting poorly every time you show up. i know you were trying to help, but you also need to realize that i do know how to run this town.” and to her credit i think she is pretty aware of how badly she fucked up but also everyone reacts like that on their first night in town; most of them just aren’t cops with access to guns. and she’s certainly no sarah, who earned her trust back under uhhh extenuating circumstances, so we’ll see if they’re able to develop some kind of rapport. but also knowing this show boyd will be like hey we have to talk Actually Sorry I Gotta Go and randall will sneak in to conspire against him while boyd has to. idk. dig dale out of the fucking pool wall

[butternuggets-blog]

FOR WANT OF A NAIL

@baldwin-montclair @adowobsessed @sylverdeclermont @nicki-mac-me @thereadersmuse @kynthiamoon @wheresthesunshinesblog @adowbaldwin @beautifulsoulsublime @lady-lazarus-declermont @adarafaelbarba @dogblessyoutascha

Part Thirty

Summary: Baldwin Montclair had a string of ex girlfriends, a single child, and a lifetime longer than most people could dream of to make all kinds of mistakes. His family knew one which kept coming out of the woodwork to irritate him every other century.

Also on AO3

BLOOD/GORE,  MASS MURDER, RELIGIOUS CONFLICT. JUST...EVERY TRIGGER WARNING. CONSIDER THIS A BLANKET WARNING FOR THE ONGOING STORY ARC FOR THE NEXT FEW  CHAPTERS.

Philippe did not trust Martin, and because he did not trust him Martin found himself and a sliver of his Burgundian troops being sent to Edessa with Baldwin while Godfrey marched south to Jerusalem.

'The irony that my soldiers outnumber yours sixty to forty has no doubt gone straight over your father's head' said Martin, as they rode along.

'I am sure he assumed that we would have more men.'

Martin's glib expression dulled; Baldwin absentmindedly straightened the black tabard he wore in place of his usual one.

They had buried Godehilde in a cemetery in the centre of Marash. Martin and Baldwin both would have liked to have sent her body back to her family, but none of the witches they had made contact with in the city knew spells for preserving flesh. Martin was certain nobody did, but he had asked anyway.

'I will have to marry again' said Baldwin, sniffing.

'Wait a month or two at least. She deserves that.'

Baldwin nodded, eyes far away. 'She does.'

They rode along in uncomfortable silence for a while until Martin awkwardly cleared his throat.

'So, the plan for Edessa.'

'We slaughter the Seljuks, taking their fortresses for ourselves-'

'Especially Ravendel and Turbessel'

'-and thus we will earn Thoros' trust and be brought into his inner circle.'

'Which we will then mercilessly exploit in order to take over ourselves.'

'Of course.'

________________________________________________________________ 

Baldwin and Martin sat on the balcony of the villa and watched Edessa implode.

The Armenians had welcomed them with open arms, and Baldwin soon found himself in possession of a much bigger army than he had hoped for. With governers installed at Ravendel and Turbessel, they happily accepted a plea from Thoros for assistance against his Seljuk neighbours.

Martin could hardly believe their luck.

He'd been even more shocked when the townspeople, terrified of the prospect of losing their new protection, had begged Thoros to adopt Baldwin as his son. Baldwin had barely been able to contain his glee; the two had had a good laugh about that after they got to their new quarters after the ceremony.

The snakes had slithered from their hiding places when Baldwin came back from campaign. Thoros was Orthodox, and his religious affiliation set him apart from his subjects.

It was far easier than they could have possibly imagined. All they had to do was look away.

'There goes the gate'

A great roar echoed up as the rioters poured into the citadel. They had been at work for hours now, screams and howls and the scent of burning hay and wood climbing up to the villa.

Martin stretched, leaning back on the wall.

'I was wondering when they were going to unveil the battering ram.'

'They probably could not find it' Baldwin gestured towards the distant armoury. 'I heard that the guards had hidden it.'

'Someone must have talked.'

Martin smiled. 'If I was in charge of hiding it I would have set up a trap, so that nobody would get their hands on it.'

'Traps. You are obsessed.' Baldwin scoffed.

'Nothing too elaborate. Something quick and small; just sharp enough for a lost finger or two.'

'I had an elaborate trap sprung upon me once'

Martin turned towards him; Baldwin gazed sightlessly back into the past.

'I was riding my horse along a track through the forest just south of Bibracte. It was right before we defeated the Helvetii.'

The hairs on the back of Martin's neck stood up.

'A young man- I saw him peering across at me from behind a hedge- had dug a hole in the ground next to a pit-'

'- full of sharp spikes and dropped an asp into it.'

Baldwin stared at him.

Martin started to laugh. 'That was you?!'

'That is my line-'

Martin chuckled and shook his head. 'You have been haunting me my whole life.'

Baldwin let him get the last of his giggles out before asking, quietly, 'Why did you not attack?'

Martin looked bashful.

'It was not mercy. I..ate something that did not agree with me.'

'You had the shits?!'

Baldwin clutched himself, eyes streaming, as he cackled.

________________________________________________________________ 

'I have found a wife' Baldwin announced loudly, as he strode into the courtyard.

'And a good morning to you too, Your Excellency' Martin wiped the grease from his mouth as a servant went to fetch another plate of venison. Baldwin sat down opposite him, and slid a piece of parchment across the table.

'Arda, daughter of Thathoul.' Martin looked surprised as he finished reading. 'With a dowry of 60,000 bezants and a father who is Lord of Marash. Well, at least the money is worthwhile.'

'She is the daughter of a minor Armenian noble. Her blood gives my rule here legitimacy.'

'True.' Martin picked up his goblet and tipped it at Baldwin. 'Congratulations. I hope your engagement goes smoothly.'

'And yours. I want to encourage the men to grow roots here, and I would appreciate my second in command leading by example.'

Martin's jaw dropped.

'You are not serious?!'

'I am' Baldwin smiled around a piece of venison. 'You may choose whomever you want. As long as you choose.'

'Is that an order?'

'...it is.'

Martin's face wrinkled in disgust.

'I am not sure sparing your life was not a mistake'

'I suppose you will have to wait and see, won’t you?' said Baldwin, through a shit-eating grin.

****

Arda of Armenia turned out to be forty years old, chronically single, and heavily disgusted by physical intimacy. She refused to even kiss Baldwin, and had made it quite clear that if he tried to she would stab him.

It was a pity. She had a forwardness that he liked in other people.

Martin watched a bird looping overhead while the priest droned through the ceremony. The man was old and dithering, and Martin was having trouble focusing on the words.

'Pay attention' Anoush pinched Martin's wrist, smiling a brittle smile that didn't quite make it to her eyes. She had deep misgivings about her cousin's husband, and had watched Baldwin and Arda's swift courtship with tactful disapproval.

Anoush was young, pretty, and in a committed relationship with her maid. But her brother's heart had skipped a beat when Martin came to their house to make his introduction, so she had agreed to marry him for Vahagn's sake.

There was a brief smattering of applause as the bride and groom shook hands, and then everyone dispersed towards the great hall for the wedding feast.

Vahagn beamed beneath his helmet as he walked beside Martin.

'Ah, that was romantic'

I suppose. We will see how long it lasts.

Author's Notes

Thoros's adoption of Baldwin happened "...according to the custom of that region and people, binding him to his naked chest and clothing him once for all under the garment closest to his own flesh, with pledges given and received by both parties."

Me: ...MEDIEVAL GET-ALONG SHIRT!!

A count is addressed with "Your Excellency"

We know absolutely nothing about Baldwin's second wife. Even her name was only written down in the 17th century. She may have actually been Thoros's daughter, which makes sense because then Baldwin would have been his son-in-law with a legitimate claim to Edessa via marriage.

[elen-000]

The Perfect Grift

Focus, a 2015 crime-comedy film directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, is a rollercoaster of cons, romance, and high-stakes tension. Starring Will Smith as the seasoned con artist Nicky Spurgeon and Margot Robbie as the ambitious rookie Jess Barrett, the movie is packed with clever schemes and surprising twists. Released on February 27, 2015, it received mixed reviews but became a box office success, grossing $158 million worldwide against its $50 million budget.

Plot Summary

The story follows Nicky Spurgeon, a professional con artist who crosses paths with Jess Barrett, a rookie looking to make her mark. After an unsuccessful attempt to con Nicky, Jess becomes fascinated by his skills. Nicky agrees to mentor her, teaching her the art of deception. Their partnership takes them to New Orleans, where they pull off a series of scams that help Jess hone her skills. Along the way, a romantic spark ignites between them, much to Nicky’s discomfort, as his golden rule is never to get emotionally involved with a partner.

Things come to a head during a high-stakes Super Bowl con, where Nicky gambles away all their earnings. In a last-ditch effort, he gets Jess involved in an intricate con to win the money back. They trick a wealthy gambler, Liyuan Tse, using subliminal messages to influence his choice. The con succeeds, but Nicky abruptly leaves Jess afterward, ending both their relationship and their partnership.

Three Years Later...

Fast forward three years, and Nicky is working a new job in Buenos Aires, setting up a high-stakes con for a wealthy motorsport team owner named Rafael Garriga. Things get complicated when Nicky unexpectedly runs into Jess, who is now romantically involved with Garriga. Old feelings resurface as Nicky and Jess rekindle their romance, but they find themselves caught in a dangerous game of betrayal.

When Garriga's men capture Nicky and Jess, Nicky’s quick thinking saves their lives. He convinces Garriga that Jess was merely a pawn, and in a twist of fate, Nicky’s father, Bucky (also a con man), shows up to help them escape using a trick called the "Toledo Panic Button." The film wraps up with Nicky and Jess making it out alive, with Jess swiping Garriga’s expensive watch as a final nod to their shared life of deception.

Final Thoughts

Focus is a slick, stylish thriller that blends romance, humor, and intrigue. With sharp performances by Smith and Robbie, the film keeps viewers on their toes, constantly guessing what’s real and what’s part of the con. It's a fast-paced exploration of trust, betrayal, and the fine art of staying one step ahead.

[we-pay-for-everything]

I'm only an episode away from finishing season 1 of Kung Fu (don't get the title tbh), but I really have to vent about it, even though I'm very sleepy and should be going to bed... Soooo, a few things:

The show is obviously very cheesy sometimes. What bothers me the most is that it tries to tackle real life issues such as sinophobia, BLM, sexual abuse, etc. but offers fairytale-like solutions that don't do those issues justice and even undermine them to some extent. For example, Nicky prevented Joe from getting arrested at a BLM protest by standing up to the cops, prompting everyone else to do the same. So, you're telling me the police just backed off because a bunch of black and Asian-American protesters stood up to them? How about when she saved a girl and her mother from an abuser by, again, standing up to the guy (and kicking ass)? The show even made mention of programs to help women like them. Counting on the American government to help anyone is pretty risky, especially the most vulnerable. The show is obviously not pro-police, but it also isn't as anti-police/authority/capitalism as it should be. If the goal is to educate people and bring attention to such huge issues in society, you can't offer up bullshit, Disney-like solutions - that's just misleading your audience. The writing is completely on the nose and cliché when it comes to this.

Actually, the writing is pretty inelegant overall and lacks direction. The writers want to avoid falling into certain clichés and attempt to put a twist on some tropes, but the delivery is so predictable. For example, the "love triangle", it was obvious from the beginning that they were going to work that in, but it was equally obvious how it was going to unfold. Love triangles are so overdone and the writers seemingly wanted to stay clear of that kind of drama, so why make it a thing to begin with? If you don't want a love triangle and aren't willing to explore both relationships, just don't add the character of the ex - it was so unnecessary and unsatisfying. I prefer Evan so that annoyed me, but I don't care about Nicky and Henry for a lot of reasons. They're cute, but they were pretty much a couple from day 1. Their story unfolded in a rather predictable manner and the power couple angle imo only works if you actually care about the couple. Was I supposed to care about how badass they were only two episodes into the show, when I didn't care about any of the characters yet?

What the show does best imo, and quite well at that, is the lore and mythology of it all. It's fun when Nicky goes on an adventures and any time Zhilan shows up.

Zhilan, to me, is the most nuanced and interesting character on the show alongside Mei-Li (they're also the best actresses imo, especially the actress who plays Nicky's mom). I like it when the show explores these characters and their strengths, vulnerabilities, and how their fears and desires drive their actions and lead them to make the wrong choices. I could say a lot about Zhilan. I think she's the most fleshed-out character. It's very easy to understand where she comes from and to relate to her... That leads me to the reason I had to write this post:

Zhilan and Kerwin... Stop killing my ships! I knew from the moment Kerwin killed someone for Zhilan that he was either going to be killed/die in front of her - forcing her to grow even more cruel and determined to reach her goals - or she was going to choose power over him and let him die or kill him herself. This was so obviously going to happen that it was even more upsetting and disappointing when it did. The writers hit gold with those two. They had great chemistry, they were similar, they were fun. They were an actual power couple that was fun and exciting to watch because it felt earned. We saw them falling for each other and overcoming their fears to be together - in Zhilan's case it was trusting someone, and in Kerwin's it was loving someone more than he feared his family. I absolutely understand that Zhilan loved Kerwin but was scared for herself - she was scared of losing sight of her goals, scared to fully trust Kerwin, scared of the changes she saw in herself. All she had was herself and the thought of losing that was terrifying. Loving someone changes you and she was scared of becoming someone she didn't fully control or understand. She was scared of trusting someone completely too, especially a Tan, but I think the fact that Kerwin was a Tan didn't even matter as much as it was a reminder of everything she'd lost. From her perspective, she lived alone for decades so she wasn't scared of being without him - it was actually the opposite. So yeah, I get why she killed him, but wouldn't it have been better if she hadn't? What if she trusted him instead? What if they were a power couple? Loving someone wouldn't have made her any less evil. It's boring that Nicky is good so she trusted Henry but Zhilan is bad so she couldn't trust Kerwin. She still could've..? That would've been funner and opened up many exciting avenues for her character. How do you write a villain with trust issues who's in love and wants to have it all - revenge and romance - but the guy is kind of the enemy? He wants all of her and is willing to accept he can't have it, but can she change and do better? Can she change and grow while remaining the villain and not being redeemed? We could've had it all: a good villain with a compelling backstory and an exciting romance!!

TL;DR: I loved that couple a lot and their scenes were the ones I actually 100% paid attention to. Now that Kerwin is gone, I guess I don't have to worry about being invested in the show. I can go back to only half-watching it. I had my romance and now it's over. I like Zhilian less too. I know a strong, evil woman like herself can't have a boyfriend so they're going to pretend like she was never in love.

Also, I don't know if this will happen, but from the beginning I also had the feeling Evan wasn't going to last long. When Nicky figured out who she wanted, he would be kicked to the curb and leave the show. Still feel like that might happen...

Anyway, the show is good and has (had) a lot of potential, but some of the writers' ideas need a better execution or follow-up

[aresmelaina]

Ares raised his eyebrows slightly when she mentioned being an exotic dancer. That wasn't entirely what he'd expected. Hairdresser by day and exotic dancer by night? That wasn't something you heard everyday. Not that he was bothered by that. People had to earn their money somehow, hadn't they? And it wasn't like Ares' own business back in the day hadn't been any more illicit Fuck, he'd probably sold quite a lot of drugs to strip clubs and strippers. "I mean it is interesting. So you and Nicki go way back, huh? Before all of-" he gestured around himself- "this?"

He could relate to what she was saying about impulses though. Wasn't like he was a type to think things through. When he'd started selling drugs, he'd been thinking about the money he'd have in his pocket by the end of the night. The thrill of it. He hadn't been thinking about the people he was selling too. The trouble his family could get into when he'd hid his stash in their house. Hadn't even thought much about the fact that he might end up in prison. A slightly bitter taste rose in his throat. "Well, you know what they say-" he stared down into his glass, the last little bits of liquid at the bottom. "-trust everyone, but don't trust the devil inside of them"

Mayra knew the question would come eventually, especially with the way she had worded her answer. However, she knew there was no reason to be ashamed of what she had done to survive before surviving was all they had to do. Not that she was ashamed of it before, but Mayra used to avoid the looks. "Yeah, after my shifts were done at the salon, I'd go home and finish my chores then get ready to go to the club where I worked as an exotic dancer by night." She looked up to Ares, assessing his reaction. "Not all that interesting, but that's where I met Nicki."

How do you play devil's advocate for yourself? She let out an exasperated chuckle. "I try to picture myself in different shoes. Mostly, the shoes of anyone that could be affected by a decision I make. A lot of the time I come up with confirming reasons to not do the shit that I do, but impulse wins a majority of the time. Which leaves me kicking myself in the long run." The hole in the wall being one of those times.

[kissorkill16]

Don't Lose Your Head: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: An alternative ending to "Decapitation".

"If you won't complete your task, I will.", growled the crow man.

Trinity instantly dropped her phone and ran inside the classroom. She picked up a chair and threw it next to the two, making Crowface lose his grip on Mr. Murtaugh's throat and drop him on the floor.

Trinity grabbed the science teacher's hand, pulling him out of the room. They ran down the hallway, down the stairs, and out of the school.

They ran behind the school and fell down on the ground to catch their breaths.

"Thank you, Ms. Bales.", said Mr. Murtaugh. Instead of a "You're welcome", Trinity got back up and suddenly started yelling at the man, and she showed him the video on her phone.

"Don't think that just because I saved you means I trust you. You're a despicable human being and you should be ashamed of yourself! Helping a demonic crow creature curse the town with bad luck and death coins and putting on an innocent facade to hide who you truly are on the inside. What's worse is that you had the nerve to call me out for being a bad friend to Nicky when you were literally working for that creature. I seriously don't understand how you live knowing that while you say you care for him, you're devoting your life to someone who wants to kill him!", she said.

Mr. Murtaugh watched the video in horror. But when Trinity finished talking, he stood up and looked down at her. "And I seriously don't understand how Nicky could still want to help you after all you little brats put him through."

He leaned down to meet her level.

"Don't act like you're so innocent, young lady. I may be in the wrong here, but at least I've kept my promises. Nicky trusts me to be there for him whenever he needs to vent, because he can't trust his own friends to listen.", said the science teacher. "I tried to convince the demonic crow creature to spare you and almost lost my head. I was willing to die protecting him, and you dare say that I'm a terrible person? I mean, I was, but still."

He then got down on both of his knees and folded his hands together, "Please don't tell him I was a cultist. I know this would break his heart, and I want to keep his trust. Nicholas is very important to me and I don't want him to be heartbroken when he finds out I was an accomplice to The Guest."

Trinity knew it was risky, but deep down, she kind of knew that he was right. She was a terrible friend to Nicky, and she should've realized that when she left him in the basement. She put her phone in her pocket.

"Listen, how about we keep this whole thing between us. You'll still be able to see Nicky for weekly therapy sessions, but you'll stay away from us when we get together for information.", she said.

Mr. Murtaugh nodded, "Of course, Ms. Bales. Thank you so much.", he said. Then he got up. "And don't you worry, I don't even want to come close to the crow man after what he tried to do to me."

Trinity pointed her finger at the man, "This still doesn't mean I trust you. If you want me to trust you, if you want any of us besides Nicky to trust you, then you're going to have to earn it."

The science teacher nodded so fast before Trinity grabbed his cheeks and held them in her hands. "Woah! Don't lose your head.", she joked.