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lambourngb · 4 years ago

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Get me out of here - places to go when canon is complicated

It’s Day 3, time to celebrate those stories that I turn to when I can’t deal with canon, or when I don’t have the emotional energy to untangle all the emotions I have for what’s going on in canon. Alternative universes, the safe harbor for us. Below are a mix of rewrites of canon, remixes of canon, or out right not even set in Roswell- to fill every type distance you want from canon- from near to far.

The first story I’m reccing is a long one,- so pardon the very long review below.

my love is a life taker by @jocarthage (267,600) So one day, Jessi popped into discord to share a dream she had about timetravel and being able to save yourself in the past basically, particularly Alex getting to give his baby-self a hug, and we all went, “holy shit that’s a cool fic idea please write it!” and really reality sucks right now with quarantine and whatnot, so what better thing to do than follow a WIP? I can’t tell you how badly I needed to something to look forward to as I was staring down a milestone birthday with all my plans in tatters, and this story filled the void.

Okay- now about the actual story itself, the world building about time travel in this is incredible but easy to absorb. Jessi dumps you straight into the action in chapter 1 with Alex, at 28, assassinating an Iraqi intelligence agent in 2009 that averts a bomb that was planned on US forces. You learn so much about both the story-universe and Alex here- one, that even dressed in mask and killing someone, Alex is kind and uses morphine as an overdose and has arranged for his victim’s family to be compensated, you learn that time agents can only visit places they themselves have visited during that time, and Jesse Manes had dragged his son, who was ‘time aware’ to every place of war and ruin on the planet before he was 18 and that, Alex’s victim, even as he’s dying, recognizes what a shit childhood Alex had but that Alex doesn’t.

The next part is where Alex’s time crystal malfunctions, instead of returning him to 2018, it takes him to 1998 where an 8 year old Michael is getting beaten by his foster dad and Alex, out of his time line mysteriously, visible to only Michael, saves him, but only temporarily. We all know with abusers, until you’re out of the house, it’s just a matter of time before the next beating. However, with one act, Alex at 28 starts putting into action (even though he doesn’t recognize it at the time) the steps to save his own life as he works to save Michael from his childhood. Each mission, each jump through time, Alex meets Michael, always a year apart and only for 1000 seconds, or almost 17 minutes. Jessi takes you through some of the darkest points of US foreign policy, only as Alex takes control of his life, he also starts to change the missions, and change the world. The details of places, people, food, etc are authentic from the author’s experience, if you don’t click on the links at the end of the chapters and disappear down google-rabbit holes about the events in history, well- you’re made of stronger stuff than I am. There are lots of heavy subjects discussed, but there’s always care and honesty behind the intent. The way Michael grows, the way Alex grows, and of course the journey to the present time when they could be together? It’s like pining on steroids but it’s so wonderful. I wish I could pull out one thing that I loved in particular in this story- but it’s impossible, only to say that I love that I could disappear completely within the confines of ‘my love is a life taker’ knowing that I would be kept safe by the author, that goodness prevails.

 when I’m oceans away by @neapeaikea (28,000) this is a post-2008 shed canon-divergent AU where Alex Manes, after the best/worst night of his life bolts from Roswell and leaves Michael behind. 10 years later, on the hunt for a child conceived at Caulfield, Michael walks into a youth home in California and finds Alex. A few things, I love that this author writes an Alex who didn’t join the Air Force but still lost a leg, I don’t really enjoy disability erasure in modern AUs (I’m better at looking past that in historical or sci fi aus) . It’s pretty clear after five minutes that the connection between the two men is still there and strong despite anger, secrets and guilt. The teasing and flirting between them is great but so is the acceptance of baring their vulnerabilities. I loved the care they take with each other, and the tie in to an alien child is just so perfect.

Crucibles (series) @ninswhimsy (9,000)- I’m cheating and naming both here, but obviously nin had her finger on the pulse of fandom, by writing crusade-set queer stories before The Old Guard ever boomed into a fandom from the movie. I was lucky enough to trade DMs over the ideas of holiness and the body, and how Alex would have treated himself, certain of his doomed soul, and how Michael would have responded in turn. It’s no secret I love everything Nin writes, but this series stuck in my mind. I will be drifting off to sleep, and think about Alex walking through the ancient city of Aleppo, ready to be done with his burden and Michael there with soft palms and scented oil, and boom! I reach for my kindle to re-read it.

no regrets if we walk this new road by @andrea-lyn (97,000) This author has written so many amazing AUs, some quite far away from canon events like her Mummy AU or her Avengers AU, but I have to say, I have a very soft-spot for this rewrite of season 1 for a lot of reasons. I mean, it’s 2020, so my appetite for Cop!Max is definitely at an all-time low, so the idea of exchanging his job with Kyle’s was extremely appealing. At least Kyle is a POC holding the badge, not a white man like our canon. Anyway, politics aside, this story is special to me for the scorching good Isobel/Kyle relationship that develops, the way Isobel sharpens herself into a lawyer (not an event planner) and how Michael rounds his own edges off in turn by becoming a teacher (and being secretly married). Each deviation from canon made complete sense once you alter the way Rosa’s death affects the pod squad, and how they covered it up ripples out toward Liz, Kyle, etc.

 Layer on layer, down on down by @dotsayers (9,440) I love sci-fi tropes, especially time-loops, but they are incredibly hard to write (I know, I abandoned mine a while ago) so this story stands out because of just how well done the execution is and also the angst. Michael in a time loop about Caulfield, like how great/agonizing is that? The plot is so good, how it ties into Caulfield and why it happens in the first place, like wow. The care, and the hurt, and the fatigue that Michael has in this story, oh you just want to wrap him in a blanket. There’s a tiny throwaway line about how one of the first things Michael learned to do in foster care was to make himself heavy and unmovable- and you instantly picture kid!Michael not wanting to be removed from a house - like my heart broke! The structure of the story, with the background of his just how much he loves Alex but how badly it hurts to see him die, really makes this study of 1x12 special. Along with all the angst, there’s tiny gallows humor lines, so am I weird, that I laughed through a couple of these scenes even as Michael kept dying?

Petty pace by @aewriting (11,600) Aewriting has a couple of stellar AUs, so trying to pick just one was difficult, but I rather feel this story is sadly underappreciated it (mind the tags). It was a remix of @iwontbeyourmedicine ‘s fantastic ‘Freaky Friday’, where the humans and aliens swap roles. Alex in the role of Michael basically was something I had never pictured until Ly wrote that story, and now feel utterly changed by it, especially with this backstory- the idea of Jesse Manes bringing a foster child home? Incredibly well done because there’s an off the charts level of menace in this story. The way Jesse watches Alex, who at first mistakes it for how a pedophile might size up a victim, but then catches on quickly that it’s so much worse in a lot of ways. And Alex is such a loner in the beginning, even as he reconnects with his pod siblings Liz and Maria, he’s still planning on keeping his head down and leaving Roswell far behind. Like freedom is literally the only thing he can conceive of for himself, no real dreams outside of that until Michael slips under his defenses. I probably could have saved this story for angst day- because the second half of the story, if you don’t sob while you read it, then I dunno. It’s helpful to read Ly’s story right afterward as a reminder that things do get better for Alex ten years later. In a lot of ways this story is sadder than canon (though there’s no murder of Rosa/4th alien), I’m comforted that at least Alex has Liz in the aftermath, alike in heartache in a way that Michael didn’t have because of the pact he and Max made about Isobel in canon.

Unexpected tidings by @bestillmyslashyheart (24,800) Another rewrite of canon, that explores a couple of very interesting questions, like what would it look like if Michael never made it back to Roswell as a kid but met Alex by chance in 2008? Imagine the cornerstone of the Lost Decade love affair revolving around the mundane questions of a long distance relationship that wasn’t built on the pain of the shed or Rosa’s death? Marlo writes an amazing take on this, that is both real and deep with the normal couple problems, before introducing that spanner in the works of oh yeah, aliens are real. With Michael on the east coast, and Alex finishing off his service in Roswell, Project Shepherd still entangles Alex with Liz bringing him in on the secret in hopes that with his hacker skills he can track down the third alien child that Max and Iz remember so they can warn him. As interesting as the current plot was, I found myself absolutely revitted the slow piecemeal reveals that Marlo doled out about Alex and Michael’s relationship over time. (I also while rereading this recently got very nostaglic for season 1 Alex who didn’t trust Jesse as far as he could toss him.)

Don’t Punish Me For What I Feel by @winged-fool (3,600) Tarsus IV AU - another wonderful author with a catalog of great AUs, both sci-fi and dark, and honestly it was difficult to narrow it down to one. This story, well in 2009 I was a hard core Trek movie fan, so when I saw a trek-fusion story appear, I knew I would love it just on that basis. The thing is, this gave me Michael as the Captain, a surprisingly rare role for these space fusions, even though genius level repeat offender Jim Kirk and genius level repeat offender Michael Guerin seems pretty married in my mind as a connection. As a Tarsus-like story, all the tags are well earned by the story that Alex finally shares with Michael. It hit on so many levels, the hurt/comfort level for sure, but also to have a story where Michael is this stalwart protector of Alex was really nice to find.

this isn’t the ‘holiday best friends championship’ by @usbournejez (6,090) alright to leave this on a lighter note, my final AU rec is this masterpiece by Kieran that was part of Malex Secret Santa gift fics- and what a gift it was to all of us! The way she writes established Malex is first-rate, because she always includes their canon-levels of snark/sharpness but it’s never directed at each other and that’s something I love. Here we have Alex, where we learn in just a few short lines, is a huge control freak but has the extremely big emotional handicap, and that’s his love/fondness/deserve to caretake Michael. Emotional cactus Alex who is soft for Michael? Love it. There are small drops of angsty backstory peppered in this, but really that just fuels just how sweet and wonderful the main theme of the story- which is Alex might hate the whole world at large, he loves, protects and worships Michael (and vice versa). As someone who can bake cookies, but that’s about it, I was still enthralled with the baking details and this story has never failed to encourage me to eat dessert before dinner basically.

#rnmcreate2020 #malex fic #roswell new mexico #malex fic rec #malex #MALEX FEELS #michael guerin #alex manes #fandom positivity #worship our great authors in this fandom #can we pretend it's Wednesday?#a day late and a dollar short #working on today's now!

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brokenhardies · 4 years ago

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FREAKY OCS MASTERLIST

TINA STRODE in KILLER CRUSH

Twin sister of Booker Strode, best friend of Millie Kessler, hella gay. Gets asked to Homecoming by the Butcher in Millie’s body only to be snapped back to reality thanks to the real Millie showing up. Definitely the most awkward hot mess. Millie pairing.

MITCHELL KESSLER in HEADS WILL ROLL

Twin brother of Millie. Following their Dad’s death, he lashed out and became a bit of a troublemaker, but kept his popularity due to his relationship with Ryler. Notices Millie is acting weird the day after the homecoming game, and feels guilt that he left before the game was finished before she... Straight up got stabbed. Technically a Ryler pairing but like...

RICKY BRADFORD in SHUT UP AND GIVE ME MURDER

Disaster true crime and cryptid fanatic who finds herself researching La Dola and getting sucked into the plot thanks to Millie being smart enough to remember that OF COURSE this girl would be into some freaky shit. Enthusiastic, easily excitable and quite possibly the most pure bean, even though she is a bit talkative.

RYAN JARVIS in DEVIL IN ME

The BEST himbo. Linebacker for the Blissfield Valley Beavers. Best friends with Booker and has been trying to get him together with Millie for 3 years. Doesn’t realize the reason he’s been trying to do that is because he personally finds Millie cute. Gets duped by the Butcher, because, of course. Millie pairing.

SUMMER KESSLER in MY SISTER’S KEEPER

Perfectionistic and hardworking older sister of Millie who’s been swamped by school work and working two jobs in order to hide her emotions about her Dad’s passing. Doesn’t realize that Millie has been jealous of her for a while now, but does notice that she’s been acting weirdly the morning after homecoming.

VICTORIA GARRIS in SWITCH HAPPENS

The daughter of the Blissfield Butcher who’s trying to experience a normal high school senior year when her dad completely fucks it up. Genuinely tries to be friendly and nice but can and will cut a bitch who hurts her family or her friends. Winds up teaming up with Millie and pals because she so wants a normal life that now she’s cool with getting her father arrested. Nyla pairing.

WILLOW GELBMAN in JUST A GIRL

Younger sister of Happy Death Day’s Tree Gelbman, and an absolute traumatised disaster. Has only recently moved to Blissfield Valley High as Homecoming comes around. Basically the universe hates her and decides to stick a serial killer on her, which is always fun. Nyla pairing.

TAGLIST

@seize-the-droid @anotherunreadblog@ocfairygodmother @randomfandoming1 @eddysocs @foxesandmagic @vivis-ghost-wife

FREAKY OCS TAGLIST

@hughstheforcelou

TINA TAGLIST

@randomestfandoms

#ocappreciation #ochub #queerocs #freakyocs #OC: Tina #story: killer crush #OC: Mitchell #story: heads will roll #OC: Ricky #OC: Ryan #story: shut up and give me murder #story: devil in me #OC: Summer #story: my sister's keeper #OC: Victoria #story: switch happens #OC: Willow #story: just a girl #not featured; aurora becker :(

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winchesterbrotherstan · 5 years ago

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Supernatural- Provenance (1.19)

b.. a. by.

Pairing: Olive Winchester (OC)

Summary: While working a case, a girl catches Sam’s eye, Dean and Olive butt heads, and Olive goes into attack mode.

Warnings: cursing, screaming, creepy little ghost, slit throats, olive is a monster, the usual

Word Count: 8163

I yawned, dropping my head onto the table of the bar. Dean was flirting with a pretty girl while Sam and I were elbow-deep in research. Sam made a face at Dean before gesturing to him. Dean only held up a hand, laughing at something the girl whispered to him.

“Dean!” I called, annoyed.

He rolled his eyes before coming back to us, dropping a beer in front of Sam.

“Alright, I think we’ve got something.” Sam sighed.

Dean glanced back over his shoulder. “Yeah, me too. I think we need to take a little shore leave, just a little bit.” He grinned. “What do you think, huh? I’m so in the door with this one.”

I rolled my eyes, biting back a snarky comment. Sam sighed.

“So what are we today, Dean? I mean, are we rock stars, are we army rangers?”

Dean’s grin grew, and I rolled my eyes again.

“Reality TV scouts, looking for people with special skills. I mean, hey, it’s not that far off, right?” He leaned toward Sam. “By the way, she’s got a friend. Possibly hook you up. Whatcha think?”

Sam sighed. “No thanks, Dean. I can get my own dates.”

“Yeah, you can but you don’t.” Dean made a face.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sam shot back.

“Hey! Dean’s just being a jackass. Don’t pay him any attention.”

Dean tried to protest, but Sam rolled his eyes. “Mark and Ann Telesca of New Paltz, New York were both found dead in their own home, a few days ago. Throats were slit. No prints, no murder weapons, all…”

Dean was distracted, staring back at the girl at the bar. I kicked him under the table and he turned back to me with lips curled, angry.

“Dean! Pay attention.”

“No prints, no murder weapons, all the doors and windows locked from the inside.”

Dean took a sip from his beer with a shrug. “Could just be a garden variety murder. You know, not our department.”

“Dad says different.” I spat, flicking through his journal.

“What do you mean?”

Sam pointed to the map on the page. “Dad noted three murders in the same area of upstate New York. First one here in 1912, second one here in 1945, third in 1970.”

“Same MO as the Telescas. Throats slit, doors locked from the inside. So much time happened between the two that nobody checked for a pattern.”

“Except Dad.” Sam sighed. “He kept his eyes peeled for another one.”

“And now we got one.” Dean pouted. “Alright, I’m with ya. It’s worth checking out. Can’t we pick this up first thing though?”

I sighed, and Sam shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Good.” Dean patted Sam’s arm and circled the table to me. “Love you, kid. Even when you’re being a brat.”

I scoffed back at him, and he pulled me into a hug. “I love you.”

“Fuck off.” I spat, pushing him away.

He rolled his eyes and flipped me off as he walked back to the bar. Sam bumped his elbow into my side.

“What’s the deal, bug?”

I sighed and leaned against him with a huff. “Just not in the mood for his shit.”

“The flirting? Aw, bug, are you jealous that you don’t have all of Dean’s attention?”

I rolled my eyes again. “No, you big idiot. I’m just sick of him being a horny fucker all the time. It’s really annoying.”

Sam only snickered.

***

I snuggled further into Dean’s side, kicking my shoes off. He was asleep, slumped in the passenger seat with a pair of sunglasses on. He went out last night with two girls and came back to the motel beyond drunk. He had thrown up countless times. I stayed up with him, rubbing his back and wiping the sweat off his forehead. Taking care of a grown man was frustratingly difficult when you only had one arm.

Sam walked around the car, knocking on the hood. I looked at him through slitted eyes. He put a finger up to his mouth before leaning in through the window and slamming the horn. I let out a squeak, and Dean jumped up, spooked. Sam got into the driver’s seat, cackling. Jinx howled, and Sam turned around to pat her head.

“Man, that is so not cool.” Dean grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“God fuck, Sams.” I hissed.

“I just swept the Telescas with EMF. It’s clean. And last night, while you were… well, out…”

I pushed my head further into Dean’s chest. “We checked the history of the house. Nothing strange about the family.”

“Alright, so if it’s not the people and it’s not the house, then maybe it’s the contents. Cursed object or something.” Dean mumbled.

“What?” Sam asked, leaning in.

“No, bubba, house is clean.” I groaned, sitting up.

“Yeah I know, Sam said that.”

“No, I mean it’s empty. No furniture. Nothing.” Sam shook his head.

I blinked, suddenly awake. “What?”

“Where’s all their stuff?” Dean squinted.

***

I wiggled my nose, trying to move my glasses back into place as I followed Sam around, hand in his. I squeezed, a signal to wait for Dean as he picked a piece of finger food off a tray. Sam squeezed my hand back. Jinx was asleep in the Impala, and I was hoping it would stay that way. The last thing we needed was somebody with a stick up their ass calling animal control on her. We were out of place.

This fancy auction house, with women in fancy flowing dresses and men in tuxedos. I kept myself behind Sam. We were in our scratchy canvas jackets, dirty flannels, ripped jeans and scuffed boots. Dean grumbled as he caught up.

“Consignment auctions, estate sales. Looks like a garage sale for WASPs if you ask me.” He plucked more food off another tray.

A man in a tuxedo popped up behind us, and we spun around. Sam pulled me closer to him as we forced matching polite smiles.

“Can I help you gentlemen?”

Dean eyed him and cleared his throat. “I’d like some champagne please.” He spoke in a posh accent.

Sam’s jaw clenched, and I dug my arm into Dean’s side, ignoring the throb that radiated from my bones. “He’s not a waiter.”

Dean cocked an eyebrow, and Sam held his hand out. “I’m Sam Connors.”

The man blinked at him, not taking Sam’s hand. I popped out from behind him and squared my shoulders.

“I’m Olive Connors, and this is our brother Dean.” I nodded to Dean.

“We’re art dealers, with Connors Limited.”

“You are… art dealers.” The man repeated, eyeing us.

I sighed, and Sam squeezed my hand again.

It’s okay, just stay calm.

“That’s right.”

“I’m Daniel Blake, this is my auction house. Now, this is a private showing, and I don’t remember seeing you on the guest list.” The man cleared his throat, the look of disgust clear on his face.

“We’re there, Chuckles. You just need to take another look.” Dean snapped as he swiped a glass off a passing tray. “Oh, finally.” He sniffed the glass, raised his eyebrows, and walked off.

“Cheers.” Sam forced a smile as I yanked on his arm, trying to follow Dean.

“What is wrong with you?” Sam snarled at Dean.

“Hey.” I tugged his arm. “Relax. He’s just being a prick again.”

The three of us fell silent as we stared at an old painting of a family. Our heads tilted the same way, identical looks on our faces.

“A fine example of American Primitive, wouldn’t you say?”

The three of us turned up to see a very pretty girl about Sam’s age coming down the spiral stairs. Her dress was black and sleek, hugging her body. She gave off classy vibes, and I was immediately entranced. I blinked as her back turned to us. Dean slapped Sam on the back, and Sam ignored him.

“Well, I’d say it’s more Grant Wood than Grandma Moses. But you knew that, you just wanted to see if I did.” Sam smiled.

“Guilty.” She smiled back. “And clumsy. I apologize. I’m Sarah Blake.” She held her hand out to him.

He took it, and my heart softened at the twinkle in his eyes. “I’m Sam. This is my little sister Olive, and our…” He sighed as Dean continued to stuff his face with food.

“This is our brother, Dean.” I grinned.

Sarah chuckled. “Dean. Can we get you some more mini-quiche?”

Dean shook his head, in the middle of chewing. I giggled.

“He’s okay, thank you.”

Sarah smiled widely as she turned back to Sam. “So, can I help you with something?”

“Yeah, actually. What can you tell us about the Telesca estate?”

Sarah grimaced. “The whole thing’s pretty grisly if you ask me, selling your things so soon. But Dad’s right, sensationalism brings out the crowds. Even the rich ones.”

“Is it possible to see the provenances?” Sam asked.

Dean and I eyed each other, confused.

What the fuck does that word mean?

“I’m afraid there isn’t any chance of that.” Blake came back up behind us.

“Why not?” I asked, shuffling around to be in front of Dean.

“You’re not on the guest list. And I think it’s time to leave.”

“Well we don’t have to be told twice.” Dean spoke poshly again.

“Apparently you do.” Blake took a step toward us.

I backed up, running into Dean’s front. Sam reached for my hand.

“Okay. It’s all right. We don’t want any trouble. We’ll go.”

Dean rolled his eyes and walked off. Sam and Sarah stared at each other until I grabbed Sam’s hand and pulled him along to follow Dean. I glanced over my shoulder to see Sarah staring right at Sam’s ass. I shivered, uncomfortable.

***

“Grant Wood?” Dean spoke to Sam as they walked behind me.

“Yeah, Sams.” I called over my shoulder. “The hell was all that?”

“Grandma Moses?”

“Art history course.” Sam smiled. “It’s good for meeting girls.”

Dean shook his head as I unlocked the motel door. Jinx ran in, wagging her tail.

“It’s like I don’t even know you.”

We shuffled into the room and blinked. Retro 70s disco fantasy room. The Do Not Disturb sign was a silver outline of John Travolta. Jinx watched us as we took the scene in, all heads tilted.

“Huh.”

I shrugged and tossed my bag at the feet of the bed furthest from the door. Sam and Dean did the same, still staring at the room.

“Sams, what was… providence?” I stumbled over the word.

“Provenance.” Sam sounded it out. “It’s a certificate of origin, like a biography. Ya know, we can use them to check the history of the pieces, see if any of them have a freaky past.”

I frowned. “Huh.”

“Well, we’re not getting anything out of Chuckles, but Sarah…” Dean made finger guns at Sam.

I giggled, and Sam smirked at Dean. “Yeah, maybe you can get her to write it all down on a cocktail napkin.”

Dean laughed, and I shook my head.

“No no no, pick-ups are Dean’s thing.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t Dean’s ass she was checking out.” I dropped onto the bed.

Sam narrowed his eyes at me, and Dean grinned. Jinx jumped onto the bed and barked in Sam’s direction.

“In other words, you two want me to use her to get information.” Sam sighed.

I shrugged. “Sometimes you gotta take one for the team.”

Dean grinned wider. “Call her, Sam.”

***

I put my glasses on as I left the bathroom and turned the lights off. Dean was sitting on our bed, sharpening his knife. Sam was criss-cross on his own bed, rustling through papers.

“Hey, Sams!” I grinned. “How’d it go?”

He had gone out to drinks with Sarah while Dean and I stayed at the motel, showering and fixing weapons.

“She just handed the providences over to him.” Dean grinned.

“Provenances.” I corrected.

“Provenances?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, turning to Sam. “Okay, so?”

“We went back to her place, I got a copy of the papers-”

“And?” Dean wiggled his eyebrows.

“And nothing. That’s it. I left, told her I had to get home to my little sister.”

I giggled, and Dean made a face.

“You didn’t have to con her, or do any… special favors or anything like that?”

“Dean.” I chastised, trying to keep the smile off my face. “Get your mind out of the gutter!”

Dean laughed as Sam rolled his eyes. I dropped on the bed, next to Dean.

“You know, when this whole thing’s over, we could… stick around for a little bit.” He offered.

“Why?” Sam furrowed his eyebrows.

“So you can take her out again.” I shrugged. “Duh.”

“It’s obvious you’re into her, even I can see that.”

“I think I’ve got something here.” Sam ignored us, holding a paper up.

I switched over to sit next to Sam, taking the paper from his hand. “What am I looking at here?”

“Portrait of Isaiah Merchant’s family, painted in 1910.” Dean read off the paper.

“Wasn’t the first murder in 1912?” I tilted my head.

Sam nodded. “First purchased in 1912, Peter Simms. He was murdered in 1912. Same thing in 1945, oh, and 1970.”

“Then stored, until it was donated to a charity auction last month. Where the Telescas bought it.” Dean read from Dad’s journal.

“So, what do you think? Haunted? Cursed?”

Dean dropped the paper and grabbed his knife. “Either way, it’s toast.”

I grinned. “I’ll get the gloves.”

***

Dean lept halfway up the metal gate, easily climbing the rest. He sprinted into the fog, then called back to us.

“Come on!”

Sam dropped onto a knee, helping me get a step up onto the gate. I climbed it faster than he did, anxious to be back on solid ground. I balanced on the top, knuckles white. Although I had gotten used to being down an arm, scaling fences became a lot more difficult. I had to rely mostly on the weight of my body against the fence and the soles of my boots. I took a breath before getting a grip and climbing down the other side. Dean helped me once I was halfway, and Sam jumped off, hitting the ground and rolling back to his feet.

“Stay with Dean.” Sam whispered as he went for the security alarm.

He fidgeted with the wires, and I watched with a smile on my face as he worked.

“Alright, go ahead.” He turned back to Dean.

Dean picked the lock with ease, pushing the door open. I led the way, flashlight low as we looked around. Dean tapped my arm and pointed up the stairs. I grabbed Sam and followed as he sprinted up the same spiral staircase from earlier. Dean went to put his flashlight in his mouth but I took it, handing him a switchblade.

He flicked it open and cut the painting from the frame. Sam helped him roll it up, and I pulled a hair tie off my wrist with my teeth and wrapped it around the painting. Dean tucked it under his arm and patted my shoulder.

Let’s go.

***

“Ugly ass thing.” Dean spat as he struck a match. “If you ask me, we’re doing the art world a favor.”

Sam sighed, aiming the flashlight. “Dean, just hurry up.”

Dean dropped the match without a word, and the painting began to curl at the edges. We stood in a huddle, watching it burn.

“Alright. We can head back to the motel, take the night and then pack up and hit the road.” Dean wrapped his arms around himself.

I nodded, smacking at a mosquito. “Let’s go.”

***

“Bug?” Sam’s voice was a whisper.

“What’s up, Sams?” I mumbled.

I was wrapped in Dean’s arms, buried under three different blankets.

“Can we share a bed tonight?”

I grunted as I shuffled out of Dean’s grip and rolled onto the floor. Sam sat up and pulled the blankets back.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

I nodded as I curled up in his bed, snuggling into his side. He threw the blankets back over us and sighed.

“You okay?”

He nodded, resting his chin on the top of my head. “I’m just not feeling great.”

“Upset?”

He nodded again, wrapping his arms tight around me. “Yeah.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry, Sams.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got you guys.”

I snorted and pushed my head into his neck. “We’ll find you a girl, Sams. Don’t worry.”

***

“We’ve got a problem!” Dean rushed out from the bathroom.

“What happened?” I asked, clipping Jinx’s collar on.

“I can’t find my wallet.”

Sam didn’t look up from his duffel bag. “How is that our problem?”

“Cause I think I dropped it in the warehouse last night.”

Sam’s eyes went wide and his head snapped up. I stumbled backward, dropping onto the bed and struggling to breath.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No.” Dean shook his head.

“Dean! That’s got your prints all over it, your ID!” I ran a hand through my hair.

“Well, my fake ID, but yeah.” Dean nodded.

“We’ve gotta find it before somebody else does. Come on.”

***

“How do you lose your wallet, Dean?” Sam hissed.

I rubbed the back of my neck as we rushed around the auction house, eyes scanning every possible surface. Dean threw his hands up and kept looking. I groaned, ready to duck and check under tables.

“Hey guys!”

We turned around to see Sarah with a huge smile on her face. We all smiled back, trying to act cool and collected.

“Sarah! Hey!” Sam’s smile came naturally.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, glancing at Dean and I, who were still looking around.

“Ah, we uh… we’re leaving town, and you know, thought we’d come to say goodbye.” Sam stumbled.

“What are you talking about, Sam? We’re sticking around for at least another day or two.” Dean grinned as he tugged me along.

Sam looked at us, confused. Dean fished his wallet out of his pocket and smiled at Sam. “Oh, Sam. By the way, I’m gonna go ahead and give you that twenty dollars I owe you.” He turned to Sarah with a smile. “I always forget, you know.”

Sam only blinked, and Dean held the cash out with a grin. “There you go.”

Sam snatched it, glaring at Dean.

“Well, I’ll leave you two crazy kids along, I gotta-”

“We should go check on the dog!” I grinned, patting Sam on the back. “See ya!”

I grabbed Dean by the hand and tugged him to follow as we scrambled away, toward the parking lot.

“Are you insane?” I asked, eyes wide.

“He likes her.”

“I know he does, De, but you almost gave us both heart attacks.” I hissed.

“Oh my God!” Sam shouted.

I whipped around, hearing my teeth crackle inside my head. Dean grabbed my wrist and yanked me back his way, shaking his head.

Relax.

“Yeah, and now you’re just going to sell it again?” I heard Sam again.

I blinked, swallowing the blood in my mouth. Dean let out a breath, and Sam hurried into view, grabbing us both by the wrists and tugged us along.

“We’ve gotta go, now.”

He dragged us to the Impala, dodging our questions. Dean slid into the driver’s seat, and Sam shoved me to sit in the middle of the front bench. Jinx yapped as Sam slammed the door shut.

“Sams, what happened?” I asked.

“The painting.” Sam hissed.

“What?” Dean made a face.

“The painting is back.”

I shook my head. “Sammy, that’s not funny.”

Sam glared. “I’m not playing. I saw it.”

Dean let out a breath. “What the hell?”

“I don’t understand, Dean. We burned the damn thing!”

“Yeah, I got that, Captain Obvious!” Dean spat.

“Hey! Both of you relax. We just need to figure out another way to get rid of the thing. Ideas?”

“Okay, alright.” Sam sighed. “Well, um, in almost all the lore about haunted painting, it’s always the painting’s subject that haunts ‘em.”

“Yeah.” Dean nodded. “So we just need to figure out everything there is to know about that creepy-ass family in the creepy-ass painting. What were their names again?”

***

“You said the Isaiah Merchant family, right?” The proprietor asked.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Dean circled the table, a huge smile on his face as he flipped through an old book full of pictures of guns.

The proprietor put down a large book of newspapers clipping down on the table. “I dug up every scrap of local history I could find. So you kids are crime buffs?”

“Kinda.” Dean shrugged. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“Well…” He held up a newspaper article, pointing to a side article.

Father Slaughters Family, Kills Himself.

“Yes.” Dean piped up. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“The whole family was killed?” I asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“It seems that Isaiah, he slits his kids’ throats, then his wife, and then himself. He was a barber by trade. Used a straight razor.”

I shivered. Dad was a bit crazy, that was true, but there was no way he’d ever kill us.

“Why’d he do it?” Sam asked as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Let’s look… uh,” He skimmed the page, “People who knew him describe Isaiah as having a stern and harsh temperament. Controlled his family with an iron fist. Wife, uh, two sons, adopted daughter… there were whispers that the wife was going to take the children and leave.” He made a face. “Which of course, you know, in that day and age… so, um, instead, the old man… well, he gave them all a shave.” The man dragged a finger across his throat and made gagging noises.

He kept his eyes on Dean as he laughed, and Dean laughed back, maintaining eye contact. He was flirting. I blinked, holding back a smile. Sam gave Dean a bitchface, and Dean immediately stopped, clearing his throat.

“Does it say what happened to the bodies?” I asked, rubbing Dean’s arm.

“I’m sorry?” The proprietor blinked, looking at me.

“What happened to the bodies?” Dean repeated.

“Just that they were all cremated.” The man shrugged.

I sighed, and Sam groaned. “Is that all?”

“Yeah.” He glanced at Dean, then back to Sam. “Actually, I found a picture of the family. It’s right here… somewhere.” He flicked through the book. “Right, here it is!” He pulled out a paper and showed us.

It was a picture of the painting. I sighed, and Sam asked him for a copy. The guy nodded before turning around and disappearing into the back room.

“Hey.” I smacked Sam’s arm. “Be nice.”

“What?” He squinted.

Dean was looking through the book of guns again, his demeanor sad. His shoulders were dropped and a sad look was on his face.

“Why’d you give him a bitch face?” I whispered.

“Because he was laughing at a dead family.”

I rolled my eyes. “You idiot. He was flirting.”

“With … a guy?”

I rolled my eyes again. “What, I can be bi, but Dean can’t be?”

Sam shook his head. “Olive, that’s not what I’m saying. I just… I’ve never seen him be forward about it.”

I snorted. “That’s cause you haven’t seen him without Dad in a while.”

Sam blinked. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

The guy came back with a copy of the picture and handed it to us with a small smile. “Here you go.”

I smiled back as Sam took it. Dean smiled at the guy as we left the store.

“Come on.” I held my hand out.

Dean took it with a soft smile and held the car door open for me.

***

“What the hell?” I squinted, bringing the copy of the photo closer to my face.

“What?” Dean looked over his shoulder as he stood in front of the sink, washing the coffee mugs from earlier.

“The pictures are different.” I rolled from my stomach onto my back and sat up.

Dean snorted. Sam reached out across the beds and took the paper. Jinx whined, popping her head up as Sam stopped petting her.

“Holy shit. Olive’s right.”

Dean shook his head. “No way.”

“I’m telling you, De.”

“The painting at the auction house, the dad is looking down. This copy, the dad’s looking out. The painting changed, Dean.” Sam squinted at the picture.

“Alright, so you think that Daddy dearest is trapped in the painting and is handing out Columbian neckties like he did with his family?” Dean turned the tap off.

“Well, yeah, it seems like it.” Sam sighed.

“But if his bones are already dusted, how are we gonna stop him?” I asked.

“Well, if Isaiah’s position changed, then maybe some other things in the painting changed too. Ya know, it could give us some clues.”

“What, like a Da Vinci Code deal?” Sam began to pet Jinx again.

“Uh…” Dean stammered, staring at Sam with a blank look. “I don’t… know, uh…”

“He’s still waiting on the movie for that one.” I giggled.

“Anyway, we gotta get back in and see that painting.” Dean threw himself on the bed and crossed his arms behind his head.

I dropped onto my side and snuggled up to him, curling up and placing my cheek on his chest. He wrapped one arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

“This is a good thing.” I mumbled.

“Yeah, cause Sam gets more time to crush on his girlfriend.”

“Dude.” Sam rolled his eyes. “Enough, already.”

“What?” Dean asked.

“What do you mean, what? Ever since we’ve gotten here, you two have been trying to pimp me out to Sarah. Just back off, alright?” Sam snapped.

“What, you don’t like her?”

Sam rolled his eyes and dropped onto his back, annoyed.

“Alright. You like her, she obviously likes you. You’re both consenting adults…” Dean trailed off.

“What’s the point?” Sam raised his voice. “We’ll just leave. We always leave!”

“He’s not talking about marriage, Sams.”

“You know, I don’t get it.” Sam turned to us. “What do you two care if I hook up?”

Dean sighed, calm as he talked. “Cause then maybe you wouldn’t be so cranky all the time.”

Sam glared, let out a huff, and looked back up to the ceiling.

I bumped my head into Dean’s chin and sat up with a sigh. “Sammy, we’re serious. This isn’t just about hooking up, okay? I mean, we… we think that Sarah could be good for you.”

Sam scratched his head, staying silent. Jinx whined, sensing the tension. I shot Dean a look.

Say something.

“And…” Dean spoke as he sat up, voice soft. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but… I’m sure this about Jessica. Right? Now, we don’t know what it’s like to lose somebody like that, but…”

“Sams, I know you miss her.” I whispered. “But she would want you to be happy.”

Sam said nothing as he listened, tears in his eyes. Dean sighed.

“God forbid have fun once in a while. Wouldn’t she?”

Sam gave a soft laugh. “Yeah, I know she would.” He sighed. “Yeah, you two are right. Part of this is about Jessica. But not the main part.”

“What’s it about?” Dean asked.

Sam said nothing, and Dean huffed.

“Okay.” I laid back down, and Dean followed.

He wrapped his arm around me again and yawned. I closed my eyes as Sam flicked his phone open and cleared his throat.

“Sarah, hey.” Sam spoke, awkwardly. “It’s Sam.”

A pause, and I cracked my eyes open.

“Hey, hi.”

Another pause.

“Good. Good, yeah, um… what about you?”

I watched as he paced around the room.

“Yeah, good, good, really good.”

Dean huffed. “Smooth.”

I thumped my head against Dean’s chest. “Be nice.”

“So, uh, listen… my siblings and I were uh… thinking that maybe we’d like to come back in and look at the painting again, I…”

Dean shook his head again, then turned to me with a smile.

“I think maybe we are interested in buying it.”

My nose wrinkled up.

“Buy it and be haunted? No thanks.” I whispered.

“What!” Sam snapped, and I pushed myself up, eyebrows furrowed.

“Who’d you sell it to?”

I rolled over Dean and got to my feet, digging through the duffel bag. Jinx jumped off the bed and ran toward me, sniffing the bag.

“Hey, no.” I pushed her nose away. “Don’t do that.”

“Sarah, I need an address right now.”

***

Dean slammed the brake and put the car in park. He moved slower than Sam, and I scrambled out past him.

“Sam, what’s happening?” Sarah asked as she jumped out of the car in the driveway.

“I told you, you shouldn’t have come.” He ran past her, bolting up the porch steps.

“Hello? Anyone home?” I asked as I pounded on the door.

Dean tried kicking at it, but it didn’t budge.

“You said Evelyn might be in danger. What sort of danger?”

“I can’t knock this sucker down. I’ve gotta pick it.” He groaned.

I sprinted back to the car and dug through the backseat. Jinx tried to lick my face, and I pushed her away again.

“Stop it.” I mumbled as I fished out the pick case.

“Here.” I shoved the case into Dean’s hands and joined Sam at the windows, which were covered in security bars.

“What are you guys, burglars?”

“I wish it was that simple.” I scoffed, hitting the window.

“Look, you really should wait in the car. It’s for your own good.” Sam tried to get her out of the way.

I rushed to Dean’s side as he got the door open.

“The hell I will. Evelyn’s a friend.” Sarah ran in after us.

“Evelyn?” Sam called.

“Evelyn.” I inched into the lounge.

She was sitting on a couch, half turned away from us. The painting moved, the dad’s position changing again. Sarah reached for Evelyn, and Sam tried to get her to stop. Evelyn’s head tipped back, and her slashed throat was exposed. Sarah let out a scream, jumping back into Sam’s arms. He led her out of the room.

***

There was a knock on the door, and I shifted. Sam opened the door, and Sarah stormed in past him.

“Hey. You alright?”

“No, actually.” She crossed her arms over his chest. “I just lied to the cops and told them I went to Evelyn’s, alone, and that I found her like that.”

Sam let out a huff. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” She growled.

I sat up and yawned. Jinx was on her back next to me, kicking in her sleep.

“I’m about to call them back right now if you don’t tell me what the hell’s going on. Who’s killing these people?”

Sam glanced at Dean, who shrugged.

“What.”

“What?” Sarah looked at me.

“Not who. It’s a what. A what is killing these people.”

She looked at me like I was insane.

“Sarah, you saw that painting move.” Sam spoke softly.

She shook her head, becoming agitated. “No! No, I was… I was seeing things. It’s impossible.”

Dean snorted. “Well, welcome to our world.”

“Sarah. I know this sounds crazy, but…” Sam stumbled.

“We think the painting is haunted.”

She shook her head at me again. “No. You’re joking.”

The three of us sighed, faces dead-panned as she looked at each of us.

“You’re not joking.” She wiped fresh tears out of her eyes. “God, the guys I go out with.”

“Sarah, just think about it.” Sam tried to reason with her, and she took a step back.

“Look. Evelyn, the Telesca’s. They both had the painting, and there were others before that too. Wherever that butt-ugly painting goes, people die.” I shrugged.

“We’re just trying to stop it. And that’s the truth.” Sam sighed.

“Then I guess you’d better show me. I’m coming with you.” She pulled her purse over her shoulder.

“What? No! Sarah, no, you should just go home. This stuff can get dangerous, and I… I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Sarah snorted. “I’m sorry, how old’s your sister?”

I rolled my eyes as I moved to sit next to Dean at the table. “I’m fifteen.”

“Look, you guys are probably crazy. But if you’re right about this?” She sighed. “Me and my Dad sold that painting that might’ve got these people killed. Look, I’m not saying I’m not scared, because I am scared as hell, but… I’m not gonna run and hide either.” She took two long strides to the door and turned back to us, arms crossed over her chest. “So. Are we going or what?” She walked out.

“Sam?” Dean got his attention.

Sam looked up at us, eyes wide.

“Marry that girl.”

***

“Uh, isn’t this a crime scene?” Sarah asked, looking around as Dean picked the lock.

“You’ve already lied to the cops once.” I shrugged. “What’s another infraction?”

Dean pushed the door open and stepped inside. I followed, and Sam and Sarah came in last, looking nervous.

“Aren’t you worried that it’s… gonna kill us?” She asked as Sam lifted it off the wall.

“Nah, it seems to do its thing at night. I think we’re okay in the daylight.”

I pulled the picture out of my back pocket and unfolded it, trying to flatten it out over my thigh. I compared it to the picture and my lips curled up.

“Yeesh. Sams, check it out. The razor. Closed in this, open in that.” I pointed to the razor blade in Isaiah’s hand.

“What are you guys looking for?” Sarah asked.

“If the spirit’s changing aspects of the painting then it’s doing so for a reason.” Dean explained.

“Hey, hey, hey. Look at this.” Sam pointed at something. “The painting in the painting.”

I huffed and looked around. Dean picked up a glass ashtray and held it up to the painting. I squinted.

“What is it?”

“Merchant.” He read.

***

Jinx pulled hard on her leash, and Sam pulled back. She sniffed one headstone before jumping around to another.

“This is the third boneyard we’ve checked.” Dean groaned. “I think this ghost is jerking us around.”

“So this is what you guys do for a living?” Sarah asked.

“Not exactly.” Sam shrugged. “We don’t get paid.”

“Well, Mazel tov.” She sighed.

“Hey.” I hit Dean’s arm as I spotted the mausoleum. “Over there.”

I hurried over, leaving the others to catch up. I tugged on the lock, but it was solid. Dean moved me aside and slammed a knife handle into it, breaking it open. He stepped in first, and I followed. There was a bunch of name plates, and four urns in small glass boxes. I flinched as I noticed the dolls set up next to each urn.

“Okay. That right there? The creepiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Sarah shuffled.

“It was a… tradition at the time. Whenever a child died, sometimes they’d preserve the kid’s favorite toy in a glass case, put it next to the headstone or crypt.”

Jinx began to bark. A breeze blew in, and I shuddered as the cobwebs fluttered around us. Dean wrapped an arm around me.

“Notice anything strange here?”

Sarah giggled. “Uh, where do I start?”

Sam laughed, and I rolled my eyes at him.

“No, that’s not what he means. Look at the urns.”

“Yeah.” Sam noticed. “Only four.”

“Mom and three kids.”

“Father dearest isn’t here.” I sighed.

“So where is he?”

***

I yawned, then giggled as Jinx did the same. Sarah and Sam were sitting on a short wall next to the office buildings. I was sitting on the ground next to them.

“So what exactly is your brother doing in there?”

“Searching county death certificates trying to find out what happened to Isaiah’s body.” Sam fiddled with his fingers.

“How’d he even get in the door?” She chuckled.

“Lying and subterfuge mostly.”

I snorted. “Dean’s really charming, actually. Especially when he wants to be. He can get himself wherever he needs to be.”

She nodded, turning back to Sam.

“You have a, uh… you have a right… no, uh, you know what…” Sam smiled at her. “Do you mind if I get it?”

“No.” She smiled.

He brushed it off and held it out on his finger. “Okay. Got it. Make a wish.”

Sarah laughed and then blew it away.

“Sam, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m gonna… take Jinx for a walk.” I rushed to my feet and pulled Jinx along.

We circled the block. Jinx wanted to sniff everything, but there was nobody around, and being alone freaked me out. I hadn’t been alone for more than a few hours, come to think of it. I grew up stuck to Sam and Dean. When Dean started going on hunts, Sam stayed with me. When Sam moved away, Dad and Dean would go on hunts, and I would stay with Bobby or Pastor Jim.

I circled back around to the front of the building, where Sam was in the middle of a heart-felt sentence, and Dean was standing with his hands in his pockets.

“Are we interrupting something?” Dean asked.

“No.”

“Not at all.”

Sam and Sarah spoke at the same time.

“Huh.”

“Oookay.” I let out a breath and shuffled back to Dean.

He bumped my arm as Sam asked what he had found out.

“Paydirt.”

“Oh, do share.” I grinned up at him.

“Apparently the surviving relatives of the Merchant family were so ashamed of Isaiah that they didn’t want him interred with the rest of the family. So, they handed him over to the county. County gave him a pauper’s funeral. Economy style.” Dean clicked his tongue. “He wasn’t created. He was buried in a pine box.”

“So there are bones to burn.”

“There are bones to burn.” Dean nodded.

“Please tell me you know where.”

***

I flung dirt over my shoulder with a huff. It was hot, and I was sweaty and gross. I could’ve sat out on digging, Dean and Sam understood that doing that with a single arm was difficult, but I didn’t want to engage in small talk with Sarah. Dean took a second, and Sam crawled out of the grave, standing next to Sarah.

“You guys seem to be uncomfortably comfortable with this.” She noted.

“Well, uh, this isn’t exactly the first grave we’ve dug.” He chuckled. “Still think I’m a catch?”

She laughed, and Dean tapped his shovel against something hard.

“Think we’ve got something.”

“Wanna crack it open?” I asked Dean.

“Nah. Jump.” He tossed his shovel up to Sam.

I did the same, and Dean held his hands out to me, holding onto my forearm and elbow. I giggled as he smiled.

“Ready?”

“Are they… laughing?”

“She grew up in this life. We all did.” Sam sighed. “Olive tends to find joy in the very little things.

“Alright, come on.” Dean gave my arm a squeeze.

I anchored my feet down before hopping. The heels of my boots cracked through the wood. Dean gripped me by the middle and held me back up. Sam reached down and helped me out. I shook the dirt off my boots as Dean got himself back on solid ground.

I rustled through the bag and yanked out the rock salt. Sam poured the kerosene all over the coffin, and I dumped the container of salt in. Dean struck a match and watched it burn for a second.

“You’ve been a real pain in the ass, Isaiah.”

“Good riddance, bitch.” I grinned as Dean tossed the match down.

The coffin went up in flames.

***

“Keep the motor running.” Sam instructed as we rolled up.

“I thought the painting was harmless now.” Sarah tilted her head as Sam got out of the car.

“Better safe than sorry. We’re gonna bury the sucker.” Sam shut the door.

“I’m going with you.”

“You sure?” Sam was taken aback.

“Hey! Hey, hey!” Dean called Sam. “Olive and I will stay here.”

“Go make your move!” I grinned, punching his arm.

Sam rolled his eyes.

“Sam! We’re serious!”

Sam flipped us off behind his back at he and Sarah jogged up the stairs. Dean flicked the station and turned the radio up. I giggled as a love song blared. Sam turned around and glared. Dean shrugged, and Sam pulled a finger across his throat. Dean sighed and turned the radio off. I threw my head back against the seat as Sam and Sarah disappeared inside the house. Dean sighed.

“He’s never gonna get laid.”

I rolled my eyes. “We can’t force him to go on a date if he doesn’t want to.”

Dean opened his mouth to respond, but a child’s loud laughter cut him off. We sat up straight to see the front door slam shut. We turned to each other for a second, and then busted out of the car, bolting up to the door. Dean pushed at the door, and I shoved it with my shoulder. Something on the other side, hopefully Sam, was trying to pull it open.

“Dean! Olive! Is that you?”

“Sams!”

“Sammy, you alright?”

Sam didn’t answer, but Dean’s phone rang. He flicked it open and put it on speaker.

“Tell me you slammed the front door.” He shoved the phone into my hand and began to work on the lock.

“No, it wasn’t me. I think it was the little girl.”

“Girl?” Dean echoed. “What girl?”

“Oh fuck, the girl in the painting!”

“Yeah! She’s not in it anymore. I think it might’ve been her all along.”

“Wasn’t the dad looking down at her?” Dean glanced at me. “Maybe he was trying to warn us.”

“Hey hey hey! Let’s recap later. Just get us out of here.” Sam pleaded.

“Well I’m trying to pick the lock, but the door won’t budge.”

“Well then knock it down.”

“Okay, Sams, let us just grab the battering ram.” I spat.

“Guys, the damn thing is coming.”

“You’re just gonna have to hold it off until we figure something out. Get salt and iron.” Dean instructed.

I slammed my shoulder against the door, and nothing happened. I shook my head as I took a breath. Dean paid no attention, again trying to take the door down. My teeth shifted inside my mouth, my jaw splintered, and blood came down in streams.

“Uh, guys, gimme a sec, don’t go anywhere.”

Dean walked around the porch, looking for a way in. There was a shout over the phone, and I clenched my fists, head spinning.

“Sammy, you okay?”

“Yeah, for now.”

“How are we gonna waste her?” I whispered.

“I don’t know. She was already cremated, there’s nothing left to burn.”

“Then how’s she still around?” Dean hit the door again.

“There must be something else.”

I opened my eyes and let out a breath. I could feel fangs in my mouth, digging into my bottom lip.

“Guys! Sarah said the doll might have the kid’s real hair. Human remains, same as bones.”

“The Mausoleum!”

“Dean, you’ve gotta go.” I shut the phone and shoved it into his hand.

He blinked, stumbling backward. I breathed heavily.

“What-”

“I’m in control right now. Go burn the doll.”

“What are you gonna do?”

I ran my tongue over my teeth and squared my shoulders. “Get in there and get Sammy safe.”

“Olive, you can’t-”

“I can take a ghost better than Sam can right now.” I huffed. “Dean. Go.”

He stared at me for a second before turning and dashing back to the car. The engine roared, and he peeled out of there in record time. I struggled with the sling before managing to fling it off onto the ground.

“Hang on, Sams. I’m coming.”

I sprinted down the porch and to the windows. I had to jump to get a good grip on the security bars. I slipped my legs in through them, anchoring my feet on the glass. I kicked as hard as I could, and the glass shattered. The alarm began to go off, and I flinched. It was worse than it would’ve been normally.

I tucked my legs back under my body and tugged at the bars with my full weight and strength. They broke at the connections, and I slammed my shoulder into them. They fell into the house, and I scrambled as I hit the floor, skimming across a layer of broken glass.

“Sammy!” I called.

“Sam!” Sarah shrieked from another room.

I followed the noise. A wardrobe was pinning Sam to the ground, and the little bitch of a ghost was staring Sarah down, razor in hand. Sam strained under the wood, trying to get it off. The girl raised her hand, and Sarah was thrown up into the air like a rag doll.

“Hey, kid!” I spat.

The ghost’s head turned to me unnaturally fast, and a rage filled her dead eyes. Sarah took the opportunity to scramble to Sam, helping him push the wardrobe off. The girl ran at me, blade up high.

“Olive!”

I took a swing at her, feeling metal slice against my forearm. Sam knocked me to the ground, away from the ghost. She stumbled backwards, burning up. Her figure reappeared in the painting. I hissed as Sam’s hand clamped down on my skin. His phone rang, and Sarah fished it out of his pocket for him.

“Sam, you good? Did Olive-”

“Right here, De.” I snarled, teeth bared as I tried to squirm away.

Sam grabbed me and held me down in his lap and yanked his flannel off, tying the sleeve around my arm. I blinked, coughing on my blood as my teeth began to go back to normal, bones cracking.

Sarah stared, and Sam sighed as he leaned his head back against the wall. I pushed off of the ground and onto my feet, heading right for the painting.

“Olive?”

I took it down and flicked out a switchblade. I spat the rest of the blood in my mouth onto the little girl’s face, then drove the blade right into her face.

“Rot in hell.”

***

“This was archived in the county records.” Dean smacked my head with a paper.

“What is it?” I asked, snatching the papers away as he stood next to me.

Sarah and Sam turned their attention from the painting, which was being crated up, to us.

“The Merchant’s adopted daughter, Melanie. Know why she was up for adoption?”

I flicked the papers open and read off the paper with a snort. “Her real family was murdered in their sleep.”

“Think she killed them?” Sarah asked.

I shrugged, and Dean nodded.

“Who would suspect a sweet little girl? She kills Isaiah and his family. Old man takes the blame.”

“You’re right, his spirit must’ve been trying to warn people ever since.”

“Where’s this one go?” A worker asked as he patted the crate.

“Take it out back and burn it.” Sarah didn’t skip a beat.

We blinked at her, taken aback.

“I’m serious, guys. Thanks.” She nodded at them and they shrugged at each other before lifting the crate and stumbling away.

“So why’d the girl do it?” Sarah turned back to us and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Killing others? Killing herself?” Sam tilted his head and shrugged. “Some people are just born tortured. So when they die, their spirits are just as dark.”

“Maybe.” Dean huffed. “I don’t really care. It’s over, our time to move on.”

“Oh…” Sarah’s shoulders fell. “I guess this means you’re leaving.”

Dean and I glanced between Sarah and Sam. Sam blinked at us, then cleared his throat. Realization dawned on me as I grabbed Dean by the hand and smiled.

“See you around, Sarah!”

“Oh. Yeah, we’ll go wait in the car. Bye, Sarah.” Dean grinned, wrapping an arm over my shoulder and leading us out of the door.

She said nothing, and Dean rolled his eyes. I snorted.

“Not like I got sliced and almost dislocated my shoulder, but it’s fine.”

“And I’m the one that burned the doll, destroyed the spirit, but don’t thank me or anything.” Dean grumbled under his breath.

I shook my head. “Some guys just get all the glory, don’t they?”

Dean laughed as we leaned against the car. I stifled a yawn as Sarah let Sam out of the house, closing the door behind him. I sighed as Sam stood on the porch, hands in his pockets.

“Alright, come on.” Dean pushed me into the car. “Guess he didn’t wanna make his move.”

“Wait, wait.” I smacked his hand away and watched.

Sam knocked on Sarah’s door. She opened it, and he stepped in and kissed her. I smiled and slid into the car. Dean grinned.

“That’s my boy.”

“Go Sams.” I giggled as they continued to kiss in the doorway. “Think he’ll ask to stay?” I leaned against Dean’s shoulder.

He shook his head. “No. He won’t.”

Previous Ep: Something Wicked (1.18)

Next Ep: Dead Man’s Blood (1.20)

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tfw-no-tennis · 5 years ago

Text

continuted hxh thotz

we watched more so i continue my ramblings

so we finished the trick tower stuff and started on the stuff on the island where theyre all hunting each other....wow finally some hunting in hunter x hunter

can i just say....fuck hisoka i hate that guyyyy oh my goddddd hes the worst. i just feel incandescent rage whenever hes on screen vhbjdshfjhbsd smarmy horny clown bitch. looooord. he invokes a similar emotion to part 1 dio tbh....like i lose my domestication when i see both those bitches

oh god that part where hisoka had just spent like hours de-hornifying himself or w/e and he looks all crusty and dehydrated and then he spots that old guy who looks kinda ghibli and he just goes AFTER ghibli man....like hisoka literally had one of those wack ass super detailed faces and just started screaming and running at that guy...like man i wouldve died instantly on the spot. jesus

gon remains best best perfect baby boy. every time he does something so cute and pure that my heart starts palpating, i get even more nervous for the shit hes gonna go thru someday

gon and killua are literally soooo precious theyre just two lil boys!!! two lads!!! lad boys! augh i love how much theyre vibing all the time...like on the boat to the island when theyre like refusing to tell each other who their target is and then they both start laughing and then show each other....so precious

honestly im really enjoying how they dont really have a rivalry (yet?) - theyre not like ‘yes we are friends but we’re also COMPETING! so we cant be That nice to each other bc that wouldnt be fair! or w/e you know that typical shounen stuff. i only enjoy that sometimes and im glad its not a thing rn, and if it does become like that later i probs wont mind bc i feel like itd be done well

so ruth and i caught on to the fact that that weird guy with the pins stuck all over himself was illuminati or w/e his name is (illumi? illumini? i forget already) but HOLY FUCK we both thought he was wearing a mask....god i wish that were the case, that face transformation shit was the WORST. sir why can you do that

also when hisoka just watched this and was like ‘i always like seeing you do that’ or whatever god gross nasty i hate them

my take on the little we’ve seen of hisoka and illumitations relationship: theyre like the catty mean girls-types but Super Fucking Weird. idk if theyre gay togther (probably) but theyd be the epitome of a ‘is this allowed? [gestures at All That]’ couple. i had more thoughts on them but i forgt

i find it funny that they havent shown killua like at all during this island hunting thing hvbhsdhfbjdk he probably has like 10 randos badges already. i feel like he would give gon a badge or 2 if gon needed them but that doesnt seem to be the case

when hisoka spotted leorio and kurapika and went after them i was like [guy yelling NOOOOOOOOOOO meme] freal

thank goodness kurapika could recognize that they would Fucking Die trying to fight hisoka, and bargained w/him instead. also seeing the flashback of leorio trying to fight hisoka was so funny. my man WHAT! were you thinking

this is probably the stage that tonpa is getting out on and can i just say thank god i hate that guy. good riddance

that sniper lady looked cool and im bummed illuminty took her out offscreen :( i also thought the black guy with the beehive stick thing was gonna do more but guess not

i find it funny that so many characters have these loud character designs but end up not having a lot of screentime...i feel like ive been conditioned by one piece to see an eye-catching character and mentally prepare to see a wholeass backstory lol

also. illunikn is clearly a huge freak which is probably why hisoka is willing to work w/him, but his design is weirdly cute sometimes (when hes not doing absolutely freaky shit, which....admittedly isnt often)

like the part where he transforms into his True Cat Man Form and then, without changing expression, digs a giant hole with his bare hands (with the body language of a feral person) and then gets into it to nap.....like.....bro.

also ik illiminini is killuas brother (i think brother?) and wow that family has some strong Cat genes

i find it interesting that hisoka has been working with illiimini this whole time, hisoka strikes me as a solo type of guy who would be all like ‘teamwork is beneath me’ and only have minions (a la dio, espec p1 dio) but he seems to have a fairly even relationship w/illuimian which is wild. i rlly wonder if thatll last or if hisoka is gonna like, murder/abandon ilubimi later bc he ‘gets in hisokas way’ or st

i like that kurapika and leorio teamed up....married

i generally really like how the relationships between the main characters are handled, its sweet how theyre just like....generally nice to each other and stuff lol

also oh my god i forgot that last time i hadnt seen the end of trick tower i need to talk abt that

KILLUA MY BOY OH MY GOD....ive been waiting for this ngl. ily smug murderous catboy

i love so much how killua casually kills this ~*~scary guy~*~ and everyones like :0 but gon is just like yep thats killua! hes from a family of assassins! like the way he says it so casually and kinda cheery aw i love him. he doesnt even care that killua can murder people in 2 seconds flat, he thinks killua is AWESOME

and oh my god i love how hard killua is trying like, all the time. he is trying his HARDEST to be AS COOL AS POSSIBLE for gon and thats adorable. its working too gon clearly thinks killua is SUPER cool

the eternally hilarious part where kurapika asked what killuas secret tactic are re: ripping that guys heart out, and killua is just like ‘uh i just ripped it out. yknow...as one does..’ and kurapika is like wow im glad this murder catboy is on our side..

the psychology stuff in the trick tower was interesting as hell (catch me brushing off my psych minor like, oh yeah i know abt this stuff lol)...i like the stuff abt leorio getting discouraged/disgruntled when the majority ended up being against him a lot bc thats true!! thats how it works!! it leads to learned helplessness and stuff like that...also that animation of kurapika and leorio playing cards to explain the tough candle choice was sooo cute

i really loved the solution to the final majority rule things....ingeniously following the rules while still managing to circumvent them in ways...love it

also gon is so perfect have i mentioned that already

im so curious whos gonna pass the hunter exam, i legit have no idea and i would find it so funny if gon becomes a hunter in the first goddamn arc hjhbdfhsdjbgk as ruth said, itd kinda be like luffy becoming pirate king in like chapter 70

i mean tbf if i had to guess id say gon passes, simply bc i cant see the story taking the time to have him do the hunter exam again in a year. also his motivation is to become a hunter in order to see what its all about bc of his dad - not JUST to become a hunter

gons fishing rod is so cute. perfect item for a perfect boy

his training was adorable. hes a smart lad! formidable baby

the blooderflies were so cool and OH MY GOD how could i forget the part where gon had two blooderflies with little leashes on and had the leashes tied to one of his fingers....OOOUGHHHHGBSJFHSJBFUHEJKSDD bro my heart literally palpated like it does when my cat does something rlly cute, gon is seriously That cute and pure and good

every time hisoka is anywhere near gon i just wanna call the FBI on that clowns ass oh y god. pls leave ladboy alone....

anyways i love the main characters (HISOKA DONT INTERACT) and i cant wait to see what happens next. i might have more thoughts but coherency is not one of my strengths so bye

#lj watches hxh #hollaaaa #more ramblings from me #im too lazy to do a true liveblog so this mess will have to do lmoa #*lmao #i just retyped that tag bc i spelled lmao as lmoa and then i did it AGAIN god fuck this #hxh

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five-wow · 6 years ago

Text

9.20 thoughts! this got very long, just as an fyi.

not even a minute in and some guys sold a teenage girl a gun. oh boy.

on the plus side: i remember which episode this is now! it’s the one with the gun that somehow has a connection to lots of five-0 members’ lives!

the banter between those two cops was really fun (and not as stilted as it sometimes is when a random Cop Or Security Duo shows up!) and then one of them got shot and something like that kind of HAD to happen but i’m still sad

OKAY so the first connection is that junior is friends with one of the guys who sold the gun and the guy shows up at HQ and i was like, oh no, but then he tells junior what he did!!! that’s so good!!! i’m weirdly proud of this very minor side character who did a very bad thing

DANNY. THERE’S DANNY. i technically knew he had to be in this episode somewhere because i’ve seen photographical evidence of it here on tumblr, but THERE HE IS. YAY. i mean, i love almost all of the main cast, but i think part of the reason why it took me a month to watch the previous episode was because danny wasn’t in it. it still just doesn’t feel right. it’s like there’s something missing. and here that something is!

junior and his buddy leave and steve and danny are alone in the office and steve said something case-related directly to danny and i’m weirdly excited about that, too!! my bars are literally so low.

BABY STEVE. baby steve is watching inspector gadget, oh my gosh, aw.

i love how doris is supposed to be there and she picks up the phone and tells mini steve to turn down the tv, but we never see any part of her except a hand and some hair because they didn’t hire the actress for this episode. so subtle.

i am... so conflicted about this scene. on the one hand, mini steve is super cute. on the other, we’re probably supposed to like young john here and think he’s a Good Dad but i just... kind of low key hate everything he does. he looks annoyed when doris tells him the call is for him, like she’s bugging him somehow after being the one who picked up the phone in the first place, and the whole “i have to go to work. take care of your mom while i’m gone, okay?” that he says to steve is so bad, omfg. steve is what, five? i know the “man of the house” thing is very common in media but it’s! so! stupid! doris is a grown woman and steve is a tiny little boy - doris has to (and can!) take care of steve, not the other way around, god. /rant

oh! we do get a full body shot of doris but it’s blurry doris! and she’s SUPER PREGNANT which makes the fact that john let her get up to answer the phone in the first place kind of bad too, actually, oh boy.

doris: “john, if something was wrong you’d tell me, right?” john: “i’m not gonna lie to you, i don’t know. just lock the door behind me, i’ll try to call you as soon as i get this straightened out.” OMG WHAT. okay a) this is hilarious knowing as we do that doris was actually a highly trained cia agent/assassin and probably way more skilled than john and outranks him by far, fjdkfd, and b) i’ll give john a little credit for being somewhat honest and not just going with “no, everything’s totally fine, don’t worry”, but the answer he does give is almost worse because it’s so incredibly vague, holy shit. he says “i’m not gonna lie to you” and he doesn’t, but he also doesn’t tell doris who called or what they said or why he’s suddenly leaving for work in the middle of the night or why he thinks she needs to lock the door.

i’m only six minutes in at this point. i’m talking too much oh gosh

WAIT WAIT WAIT. john is offering himself up as a hostage, alone and unarmed and without backup, and THAT’s the “oh, i don’t know if there’s something wrong honey” situation he was leaving for? john. the fuck. now the “i’m not gonna lie” was definitely a lie after all.

the guy with the gun: “you’re such a good boy, john.” i respectfully disagree, my man.

the guy with the gun apparently killed his business partner and john arrested him (of course) and he and john have a talk about it where the guy is like “i shouldn’t have gone to prison!” and john is like “you got off lightly!” and it’s okay but. john is so smug about it and i hate that. he’s probably supposed to look bad ass and cool but i just. i just really dislike it. it’s this macho man thing and i’m not into it at all.

guy with gun, talking about his son: “you made sure he grew up without a father.” this, um, kind of made me laugh, because apparently that’s one of john’s specialties - for this guy’s kid by sending him (probably deservedly) to prison, sure, but later also his own kids by sending them away, fdjfkd. wow.

ooohhhh the gun guy said “steve, right?” and the frame kind of flipped to present day steve and that was very cool! i loved that.

2010 danny! and he’s talking to grace on the phone!!! already love it.

i also love that they gave him a baseball cap, presumably to hide the kind of obvious difference in hair that nine years brought.

danny kind of snubs the local food and it’s very 2010!him, but oh danny. it’s not the poor shop owner’s fault that your ex dragged you there against your will.

oh BOY. the shop gets robbed and the owner shot (which was expected, of course, when a main character wanders in there at night), and then danny asks the random woman shopping there to keep pressure on the owner’s wound until the ambulance gets there (which... he hasn’t called, and he also hasn’t told her to call for one, so that, uh, might take a long, long while) and then he takes the shop owner’s shotgun and RUNS AFTER THE SHOOTER. which is very heroic of him but also makes every single complaint he has in season 1 about steve’s daredevil approach to law enforcement VERY IRONIC.

oh, danny loses the guy and NOW he calls it in, fjdkfkd.

jerry is doing some smart tracking thing on the computer and it’s pretty regular h50 stuff but there’s an email adress on the screen that’s literally “gunlover[bunch of numbers]” and i’m screaming oh gosh

they already found the girl! but her dad is understandably not that jazzed about letting his daughter be investigated for murder. but good job on tracking her down so quickly!

2015 tani at a party!!! aww.

ohhh gosh koa is target shooting with the gun, which probably means he’s going to end up getting framed for something, oh no.

oh boy, tani has the same concerns so she confronts her boyfriend about it but she also knows her boyfriend’s in a gang and then the police comes knocking at his door about a murder, so that’s not going to end well.

ooh, 2015 tani was a police informant! and she’s talking to a pretty cool female detective and i appreciate that, even though you’d have to squint to count this scene as passing the bechdell test because almost every sentence references tani’s boyfriend, the boyfriend’s gang or tani’s brother.

steve and danny are interrogating a suspect together!! i might be completely wrong, but i feel like we haven’t seen that in a while.

suspect: “i don’t know if either of you guys are married, but even if it goes south, you can’t shut down some of those feelings, you know? like the ones that go right down into the core.” HMMM. INTERESTING. the camera is literally on danny’s face for a good portion of this, gosh.

they close their main case and i thought for a moment there was going to be some big twist because the episode isn’t near over yet, but instead they realize that this gun was used for a whole bunch of other crimes. it’s a “community gun”! i love that term, wow. how nice and cooperative of them all, sharing this one piece between them.

danny recognizes his case from the ones on the screen!!! and he tells the rest of them that he went to get a bite to eat on his first night in hawaii and that the store was robbed, and i’m kind of glad that at least the team seems to recognize that this is extraordinarily bad luck, ha.

also, steve barely reacts to danny’s story, so i’m taking that to mean that he definitely already knows it. which would make total sense! this seems like the kind of thing danny would rant about at some point during one of his “why i hate hawaii” tirades in season 1, but still, i like that. they know each other.

fjdkfjdk i LOVE how the whole team is standing there and piecing together the fact that they have connections to a ridiculous number of the crimes committed with this one gun, and jerry keeps commenting about how freaky it all is. this is so much fun, awww.

young john gets shot but of course he was wearing a vest, because he can’t die yet, because he needs to save that for a moment much later when he’s scarred his kids more and when he can die horribly on the phone with his son.

OKAY BUT “d. lukela”!!!! i’ve been watching the john bits very sceptically at this point but THIS I DID NOT SEE COMING and i ADORE IT.

john: “listen, duke, i’m not gonna lie to you man...” WHY do you keep saying that john, omfg. at least this time you’re telling the truth about not lying, i suppose. 50% not lying about not lying isn’t much, but it’s a start.

steve!! remembers!! that night!! and it’s because he was six and really scared because he knew something was wrong oh nooo

danny and tani talking in the car is super nice!!! and danny gets to drive the camaro for once which, wow, that’s pretty shocking

ahhhhh, the only thing this danny+car scene was missing was steve and then he CALLS. very good.

i just. listen. i just love danny. the way he keeps butting into the tense conversation between tani and this guy she used to know who she put in prison? it’s both hilarious and secretly very kind, because it’s making the moment so much more bearable for tani.

danny and tani find the guy from the convenience store robbery and he just turns around and puts his hands on his back to be cuffed when they ask him to! he doesn’t pull out a gun from somewhere or even try to run away! holy shit!

duke and steve are in california rounding off steve’s dad’s case and of course they get shot at before even knocking on the door and then the suspect runs for it, too. maybe it’s just steve. maybe their work would be a lot easier if steve’s presence didn’t magically make all the suspects shoot and run.

and the gun gets put away in a box in evidence storage, closing the case(s). aww. that’s a nice end.

okay, so, as much as i complain about john mcgarrett, i did really enjoy this episode very much! it was a really fun idea to have this gun travel around the island and use it to show little parts of characters’ backstories and i liked the execution of it too, plus the pacing was good and it had some funny moments and it had (very importantly) danny in it. and tani’s background!!! i think that was the one that surprised me most, because danny being a good cop with bad luck and steve having a not-so-great dad are a bit of a given at this point (though i still enjoyed seeing that, too!), but we knew precious little about tani’s life before five-0, and apparently there’s a huge story there. knowing what this episode showed us, i kind of want her to have a conversation with kamekona at some point - they both had a youth where they (almost) went the wrong direction, and they both got out of that in part for the sake of their brothers, and then they both ended up in the five-ohana somehow, which is probably not a place they ever saw themselves. i don’t know, i just love the idea of this unexpected friendship/understanding between two characters who don’t seem to have a lot in common at first glance.

also, more general comment: the funny thing is, until i watched this episode i hadn’t realized how much i missed this silly show and its silly characters over the past month. i totally did that not-watching-it thing to myself (not even intentionally, but still) and clearly it was more of a mistake than i realized because oh my god it felt good to see them all on my screen again, gosh. :D

#9.20 #h50 #this!! this is the kind of thing i want more of #*

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lgbtsheep · 6 years ago

Text

my aj characters

buckle in pardners cause this is gonna be a looong ride

ya this is gonna be a really long post lol

i finally got a membership!!!!!! so i can make a post with all my characters!!!! which ive been wanting to do for AGES

i’ll put my Main Kids here and then put a read more for those who are interested!

so get ready folks because this is like a big dysfunctional family

MAIN KIDS

Meadow

the “main” boi, the face of the whole group

usually manages stuff like den stores and trading

genderfluid, will go by any pronouns

pansexual

very friendly and sociable! he’s the one you see and think “i should talk to them”

lives in peck’s den, but needs to redecorate it

he loves his bedroom, even if desert went a little crazy decorating it...

this is his pet, Mumbleimus:

he’s a star and he knows it

will probably strike a pose for u

gender roles whomst? he only knows fashion

occasionally makes bad puns

Desert

secret mira fanboy

kind of edgy

tries to act mean or secluded but he’s not really that mean

he/him but he isn’t totally a binary dude

his sexuality is a mystery to everybody, even himself

his bird tendencies are. through the roof. he is just. so very bird.

wants to become a therapist stationed in the basement of secrets

lives in peck’s den or the treehouse

he......... lov his bed................

this is his pet, Musicalfrost!

desert’s PRIDE AND JOY, he would kill for this little gal

punk rock

might try and attack you

mischievous

Atom

me, but cooler

Hip With the Kids™

they/them

bisexual

starts celebrating halloween in august

probably a demon

cryptid and space enthusiast

lives in any of the dens, but most primarily peck’s den and the enchanted hollow

what a nerd.

this is their pet, Oddpebble!

a little fucking rascal

very good at percussion (he has many hands)

definitely a demon

lovable weirdo

Magical

THE OG!!!

very first animal, ever

literally just me

he/they

pansexual

has anxiety issues

tries very hard

huge nerd

lives with greencloud in the default den, but is putting together another den to move into

one of the nonmember kiddos

goes on the land missions/adventures

they really like plants

this is his pet, Windowbee!

kind of creepy but aesthetically pleasing

a lot like onion from steven universe

those feathers he’s holding are what remains of his enemies

Magical loves him

that’s all the main kiddos! the rest are under the cut!

PRIMARY KIDS

Greencloud

was going to be a tertiary, but he complained so much he became a primary

the cooler Magical

probably cooler than you

also hip with the kids

unmedicated ADHD

he/they

bisexual

kind of annoying

acts like he isnt trying, but he really is

lives in the default den

this is his pet, Silverysky!

quiet, tiny punk

kind of shy

is actually pretty cool when you get to know him

Soft™

likes metal and screamo

Bean

kind of freaked out by all the other animals

lives in the default den, but is rarely ever seen there

quiet

always weirded out but tries to go along

he/they

heterosexual (or... attracted to women?? idk) aromantic

the other nonmember kiddo

never talks to anybody

this is his pet, Misscrystal!

the mom friend

all of the animals adore her

she loves u

Pear

a REAL PIRATE!!

goes on the water missions/adventures

adventurous

he/him

heterosexual

YARR

isnt lgbt but is a very enthusiastic ally

lowkey a softie

lives in either the treehouse, the lost ruins den, or the sky kingdom

this is his land pet, Microbook!

he’s very old and kind of kooky

has embraced the pirate aesthetic

wants to be a pirate just like his dad

gets very excited about adventures

loves adventuring w Pear

this is his ocean pet, Summershell!

he loves her to death

isn’t necessarily fond of the pirate aesthetic but doesn’t mind it

she especially loves when Pear gets excited about dressing her like a pirate and coos over her

loves attention

was the product of a crappy trade but Pear didn’t want to get rid of her

not as enthusiastic about being a pirate

Apple

an absolute ray of sunshine

very carefree and friendly

there’s a running gag between the animals about Apple and Pear being a duo called “the fruit bowl”

doesn’t talk very much but will make sure u know he loves u

he/they

asexual aromantic

lives in the lost ruins den, but they really need to decorate it

this is their pet, Uberimus!

he’s pretty spooky but actually very friendly

needs more friends. he scared all his old ones off

quiet

just wants to be loved

gets lots of cuddles from Apple

gentle

Rainy

avid australian

very adventurous

tomboy aesthetic

loves all the freaky animals out there. the more exotic, the better

wants one of those shows where they go to australia and do a lot of dangerous stuff with the wildlife

“that over there is the most venomous animal in the world!...”

“...I’m gonna poke it with a stick.”

she/they (usually they)

homosexual

lives in the treehouse

the only time they’d be seen without their aviator’s hat is if they were dead

Desert got to decorate the bedroom, and, uh... yeah.

this is her pet, Macroimus!

she would kill for this “dapper little fellow”

used to have a top hat and monocle

recently went into an anime phase

loves adventures

Rosy

loves pink

has a very masculine build that he is very happy with

loves flowers and cute things and everything girly

lives in peck’s den

he/him

sexuality? who has time for that? i only have time for fashion.

probably asexual homoromantic (but he’s never really looked into it)

total fashionista

fuck gender roles

luxury.

this is his pet, Toyturtle! (sorry for the bad picture oops)

very pampered

the sweetest little turtle

loves her little beetle friend

friendly but a little airheaded

Lilac

is an artist

a nervous nerd

likes anime

she/her

grey asexual panromantic

lives in the enchanted hollow

shy, but once you get to know her she never shuts up

this is her pet, Sircrystal!

narcissistic

very much like King George’s depiction from Hamilton the musical

probably plotting your murder

he is the best. everybody else in inferior.

thinks he’s an actual king, higher then the alphas

“i’ll kill your friends and family to remind you of my love”

possessive

materialist

Lilac is kind of terrified of him but she still loves him

Sunny

obsessed with nature

an actual child

impulsive

has to be closely monitored or else she’ll probably make stupid decisions

ridiculously friendly

a mildly annoying ray of sunshine

she/her

she’s a literal child she doesn’t know romance

the equivalent of like an 8 year old

lives in the mushroom hut with her brother (she needs to decorate it though!!)

this is her pet, Gummyturtle!

can kick ass

kind of like a tiny bodyguard for Sunny

loves being dressed up

essentially teaches Sunny how to take care of her and properly treat pets, since Sunny does behave much like a child

kawaii as fuck

big,, floppy ears,,,,,,,,

likes spicy food

from Japan

DJ Kawaiimoon

demands you call him by his full name while staring him in the eye

tsundere type

grumpy

secretly soft

likes screamo bands

he/him

bisexual but still figuring it out

the equivalent of 13 years old

Sunny’s brother

lives in the mushroom hut

relatively quiet, but usually complaining if he’s talking

this is his pet, Jellyninja!

DJ Kawaiimoon LOVES him

is like the only person DJ Kawaiimoon is nice to

friendly and boyish

really likes sweets

TERTIARY KIDS

Juniper

still figuring out what the hell her look is supposed to be

frenemies with Lilac

the bad kind of weaboo

pretty problematic

probably posts edgy things in hopes of getting attention

probably fetishizes “yaoi” (ew)

she/her

calls herself bisexual to look “cool” but is actually straight

lives in the enchanted hollow

this is her pet, Snowytitan!

smol

love-hate relationship with Juniper

quiet

absolutely loves everybody (except Juniper sometimes)

if you feed him he’ll keep you in his heart until he dies

quiet

River

is a witch

very very creepy

takes the hyena laughter trope to heart

freaks everybody out

not as mean or scary as everybody thinks she is

they’ll still hex your ass if you wrong them though

she/they

demisexual aromantic

lives in the sky kingdom

not many of the other animals understand her; only really Mellow, Atom, and Magical

this is her pet, Puppyfrost!

also very creepy

spooks everybody

probably posessed

River’s loyal assistant

quiet

can receive prophecies and communicate with spirits

Mellow

blind

mute

just trying to get by

nonchalant and just sort of accepts all the weird shit that happens with the group

mildly edgy

he/him

bisexual demiromantic (has a preference for dudes)

lives in the volcano den

gets along with Bean

sometimes helps River with their magic

this is his pet, Mirrorfrost!

he adores her

sometimes mischievous

quiet and very intelligent

from China

is a dj

“yooooo that’s radical dude!”

surfer dude personality

very leisurely and kind of lazy

he/him

bisexual, but the type of person you wouldn’t expect to be lgbt

lives in the volcano den and needs to decorate it

very friendly

this is his pet, Zippynote!

DJ thinks he’s such a weird little fellow

and he is

very quiet

kind of just there?

relatively friendly

Quill

moved from India

think’s he’s the “chosen one” picked by Zios to defend Jamaa

wants to be part of “the fruit bowl”

self-proclaimed air-bender

he/him

heterosexual

lives in the sky kingdom

doesn’t really know anybody

heavy accent

this is his pet, Starrymantis!

he ADORES her. he thinks she is the absolute most adorable thing

he still needs to dress her up though

very sweet and friendly

loves cuddles

Mister Wonkybuddy

literally just. a dad. he is dad

he/him

heterosexual

lives in the volcano den to “keep track of those rascal teenagers”

really likes mythologies

used to be an adventurer and even got to meet sir gilbert

this is his pet, Gummypeach!

quiet and kind of creepy

it’s probably just because of his outfit though

Mister dressed him up when he was really absorbed in a book on Egyptian mythology

loves his dad and Mister loves him

Peach

the newest member to the family!

like, she is BRAND SPANKIN NEW. she doesn’t even have a pet

soft pastel nature aesthetic

clumsy due to her masculine frame

socially awkward

autistic

she/her

heterosexual (shes been experimenting with girls though)

lives in the treehouse

WHEW THATS ALL OF THEM!!!

i really hope you love my kids as much as i do!!!! if you like them please reblog them!! i’ve put so much energy into these kiddos. my children. i love them

if you’ve made it this far, holy shit thanks this took me a really long time to put together

bye!!

#cursing #aj #animal jam #jamblr #jamaa #aj ocs #aj oc #animal jam ocs #animal jam oc #jamblr blog #jamblr account #aj account #aj blog #animal jam blog #animal jam account

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sending-the-message · 6 years ago

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Has anyone heard of the Bell Witch? by BelkiraHoTep

When I was a kid I was a bit gullible. My friends would spin a tale and I'd fall for it. I was about seven when my friends started talking about Bloody Mary.

"You stand in the bathroom with the lights off and say her name three times. She either appears as a young woman and smiles at you or as a witch and she tries to claw your eyes out!"

"My cousin goes to another school and she knew this girl who tried it. Bloody Mary nearly killed her, and she got one of her eyes! She has to wear this shitty eye patch now. It's freaky."

"My brother's friend knew someone who did it, too. Nothing happened in the bathroom, but Bloody Mary showed up in her room later and her arm got all cut up! She had to wear a sling for like a week!"

The stories went on and on, and I lapped it all up. Apparently, you can make the spirit mad by saying "Bloody Mary, come get your baby" three times. Why you would want to guarantee a vengeful spirit showing up in your bathroom was beyond me, but they seemed to think it was cool. I was terrified of our upstairs bathroom, only going in there if one of my parents or my older brother was already upstairs. After a shower, I would turn off the water, snake my arm outside the curtain to snatch the towel, and dry myself off with the curtain still pulled, certain that Bloody Mary would be there, waiting to murder me. Maybe just THINKING her name while in the bathroom was enough! I would squeeze my eyes shut and throw the curtain back, jumping out to sit, shivering, on the toilet with the towel over my head thinking over and over, "If I can't see it, it can't see me."

Yeah, I was a stupid kid.

Eventually my mother caught on to my paralyzing fear. She got so angry with me one night when she told me to go upstairs and get ready for bed, but I was wasting time trying to stall until my brother, Brad, had to go up, too.

"Goddammit, Elizabeth. It's fake! Watch." She grabbed me and Brad by the arm and hauled us upstairs into the bathroom. She slammed the door, plunging us into darkness.

"Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary!" She probably said it at a normal volume, even if in an irritated and angry way, but in my memory, she's practically screaming it. I'm standing there with tears running down my cheeks petrified into immobility. This was it. She was going to show up and kill my mother for being so disrespectful! I honestly don't remember what Brad was doing, probably trying not to laugh too hard, I just stared at my pale reflection waiting for the undead bitch to show up and kill us all.

We stood like that for a while, then my mother shouted, "See?? Now wash your damn face and brush your teeth and go to bed." She flung the door open and stomped back down the stairs.

I'm sure that demonstration didn't exactly cure me, but that's the last memory I have of stressing about Bloody Mary.

When I was ten, my family packed up everything and moved from Michigan to Tennessee for my dad's job. I made a close group of friends quickly, and slumber parties became the highlight of my life.

I remember being at one small sleepover and the girls were trying to scare each other, but the stories were so lame. I decided to bust out the old Bloody Mary stories, but the other girls just laughed at me.

"Bloody Mary is fake," Sarah told me. "It's the Bell Witch you have to be afraid of." Then she promptly pulled all of us into the downstairs bathroom to call her. The four of us crowded in and shut the door. We linked hands and Sarah flipped the light off. I was standing next to her, holding her hand. Jessica was next to me, clutching my hand with a sweaty little palm, and next to her was Kacy.

Once the light was turned off, we all chanted together, "Bell Witch, Bell Witch, Bell Witch," then stood in silence, staring back into the mirror waiting.

The next thing I knew, Jessica screamed, Sarah wrenched the door open, and I was simultaneously pulled and shoved out of the bathroom and back into Sarah’s room. Jessica was pale, and she swore up and down that something pinched her arm. Sarah nodded solemnly and said she was sure she'd seen a face or something in the mirror moving toward us. Kacy and I just looked at each other in awe.

We all let out some undignified little girl squeals when Sarah's mom came in the room wearing her bathrobe with her hair in curlers looking sleepy and squinting in the harsh light of the bedroom. She scolded us for still being up and for making such a ruckus, reminding us that Sarah's dad had to work in the morning and didn't we all just feel so bad for having fun? She glared at us until we were all in our sleeping bags, then she turned off the light.

The next week in school the story had spread through our little group of friends. The last time I heard it, Sarah had seen a bloody skull with glowing eyes and snapping teeth glaring at us in the mirror, and Jessica's hair had been mysteriously pulled so hard that she had strands fall out in her hairbrush the next morning. Like good friends, Kacy and I corroborated every single story, and we were instant celebrities in our little circle. At least until Tiffany let Bobby Pullham put his hand up her shirt under the bleachers at a football game, and the Bell Witch was mostly forgotten.

In case you've never heard of her, the Bell Witch plagued the Bell Family with terrifying paranormal activity, making it known that it was her life's work to see old John Bell dead. She got her wish in 1821 when John Bell died, and she promised that she'd return in 107 years to visit John Bell's direct descendant. Whether she kept her word or not no one knows.

After I graduated from college and got an office job, the Bell Witch popped back into my life. A group of the ladies at work and I were discussing Halloween two years ago, and I mentioned that I'd always wanted to visit the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee and take one of their tours. The other women in the office thought that sounded like a lot of fun, but we'd left it too long and all the tours were booked solid.

I finally got my shit together this past year and booked a tour in advance with three of the other women in the office who were still around and remembered talking about it. Adams, Tennessee, is fairly close to Nashville, so we didn’t need to worry about finding a hotel and I didn’t need to worry about getting someone to check in on Pickles, my cat. She’s a sweet little ten-year-old cat that I found outside of a dumpster when she was just tiny little kitten. A lot of people don’t like cats because they say they aren’t as affectionate as dogs, but Pickles is different. She loves to cuddle with me and she greets me at the door every night after work, winding her lithe body between my legs and purring like crazy.

Okay, I’m sorry, I’m stalling.

The four of us piled into my car the Saturday evening before Halloween and headed to Adams. It was a pretty boring drive. We stopped off for an early dinner and got to the farm around 5:30, as it was just starting to get dark.

We all were a little nervous and we joked about who had to go first and who had to bring up the rear. It didn’t really matter, there wasn’t a corridor in the cave that was small enough that we had to walk single file.

The tour guide gave me a funny look when I gave him my name for the reservation, but Elizabeth Gardner isn’t THAT uncommon, so I wasn’t sure why he was acting so weird. At least, not until the tour started. He gave us some background that I had already known and shared with the girls, so him telling the story of Andrew Jackson’s run in with the Bell Witch fell a little flat and he seemed disappointed that we weren’t as impressed as he’d hoped. Then he told us about John Bell’s youngest daughter.

Her name was Elizabeth, and the witch had a bit of a fascination with her. Elizabeth Bell complained regularly of phantom hands slapping her and pulling her hair. At one point, Elizabeth fell in love with a young man named Joshua Gardner, and they were eventually engaged to be married. The witch was having none of that, however, and tormented the young couple until finally Joshua called off the engagement.

Other than that, the tour was pretty uneventful. We were laughing as we made our way back to the car when I heard the tour guide call out to me. I turned to see him stalking toward me looking annoyed. He thrust an object into my hands and I instinctively caught it so that it wouldn’t hit the ground.

“You left this behind, and we don’t accept or appreciate our tourists redecorating for us,” he snapped.

I looked down at the object in my hands. It was an old doll with a porcelain head, arms, and legs but a soft body that felt like it was filled with rags. The doll was a bit dirty, but it wasn’t the ugliest doll I’d ever seen. It had this strange smile on its face, almost a smirk.

“You’re mistaken,” I said, holding the doll back out to him. “This isn’t mine.”

The tour guide took a step back, his hands going to his hips. “You left it sitting right behind where you were standing, Ms. Gardner, if that’s even your real name. I mean, you’re a bit old for this kind of thing, aren’t you? I don’t know why you people insist on trying to do things like this.”

I thrust the doll at him again, but he ignored me. He was on a roll and he wouldn’t be stopped.

“If it’s some weird, misguided offering to the Witch, or you’re just trying to be an asshole, I have no idea. But take your trash and get off of our property. I’ve got enough to deal with without having to go back through that damn cave after every tour to clean up after you ungrateful little shits.”

With that said, he spun on his heel and walked back toward the next group of tourists who were all openly staring at me at this point.

“You comin’, Liz?” Janice called from the car.

I hurried back over to them and tossed the doll in the trunk, too embarrassed to do anything other than leave as quickly as possible.

On the drive back, the other girls were sympathetic about how unfair the tour guide had been “just because the creeptastic douche-canoe thinks your name slightly resembles the chick in his story,” as Janice put it. But they seemed to forget about it rather easily as they discussed what a let down the tour had been.

“Hey, at least you got a free souvenir and an interesting story out of it,” Katie said as I dropped her off. “Leave them a nasty Yelp review.” She gave me a wicked grin and slammed the car door shut.

I retrieved the doll from the trunk when I got home and went inside. Pickles jumped off of her perch on the back of the sofa and made her way over to greet me, until she saw the doll in my hands. She gave the strangest hissing snarl I’ve ever heard and streaked past me to tear up the stairs.

“Well, hello to you, too,” I called after her. I put the doll on my bookshelf and plopped down on the couch to watch some TV before bed. Pickles didn’t come back downstairs to join me, which I found odd and left me feeling weirdly rejected.

I got up momentarily to wriggle out of my pants and grab a glass of whiskey-infused coke and a blanket. “This is why you’re single,” I muttered to myself before plopping back down on the sofa.

I woke up around 2:00 am to find Netflix asking if I was still alive. I turned everything off and shambled my way up the stairs. Pickles was still nowhere to be found, but I was too tired to do more than curse her with a “fucking cat” before I collapsed on the bed. I felt her thump up on to the bed and curl up on the pillow next to me shortly afterwards.

That night, I dreamt that I was outside my home, which was a farm on a few acres of land. The boy a few farms over had come over to take a picnic lunch together down by the river.

We had just reached the fence that denoted the edge of my father’s property when the boy dropped the basket and raised his hands to my face. I looked deep into his hazel eyes, and he pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was sweet and unexpected, and I found myself lost in his touch, my hands raising to rest on his shoulders. His tongue darted forward and parted my own lips as he shifted closer to me, pressing me back against the fence, his body covering mine. I could feel how much he wanted me as I raised my hands further, twining my fingers in his hair. His kiss deepened, and he pressed his leg between my thighs, gently nudging them apart, applying pressure that swiftly turned to pleasure. I pulled out of the kiss and tilted my head back as I gasped.

“Elizabeth,” he murmured in a thick southern accent as his lips traveled over my cheek and down my neck. He ground his thigh between my legs as he kissed, sucked, and licked on my neck and the sweet place where my neck met my shoulder. His lips traveled up to my earlobe and he took that between his teeth as I moaned and melted against him. “Elizabeth,” he panted in my ear, licking my lobe and causing me to shiver and press myself harder against his thigh.

“Elizabeth,” he hissed in my ear and his tone held so much hatred I jerked backward. He reared back, his hand fisted in my hair, pulling my head further back and slapped me across the face so hard that I sat straight up in my bed, jolted awake.

I pressed my fingers to my cheek, wincing at the sharp pain. Throwing the covers back, I stumbled into the bathroom on weak legs. I flipped the switch on and squinted into the mirror against the harsh light, and for a moment my reflection appeared to be doubled, as though there was a face just behind my right shoulder. I blinked and the face seemed to meld back with mine. I turned my face and could see a slightly red outline of a handprint on my cheek. I watched as it faded away quickly, leaving me questioning my own eyes.

I shook my head and ran some cold water onto a washrag. I scrubbed the rag over my face and dried off with a hand towel, glancing back into the mirror.

“I’ve got to stop drinking before bed,” I whispered, shaking my head again. I turned off the light and shuffled back toward my bed. The clock on my nightstand read 5:35 am. I climbed back in bed and rolled over, reaching out to Pickles’ pillow so I could stroke her silky fur before I fell back asleep.

Instead of her soft coat, my hand was met with cold, hard porcelain and fake, straw like hair. I jerked backwards, my hand flying out to the bedside lamp and twisting the switch to turn it on. Laying next to me on the other pillow was the old doll that the tour guide had forced on me at the Bell Witch Cave.

“What the fuck!” I cried out, rolling out of bed and almost falling on my ass. I backed up against the wall, staring at the doll. There was no way in hell I had gotten so drunk last night that I brought that THING up to bed with me.

I backed into the corner and slid down to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees and staring at the doll. As I watched, it seemed to slowly turn its head until those painted eyes were staring at me, and that smirk that I found almost cute and sassy earlier seemed mocking and sinister now.

I sat that way for a while, I’m not sure how long. A few minutes? An hour? I must have dozed off because when I looked back at my beside clock, it was 7:00 am and the doll was no longer on my pillow. I whimpered a little and scrubbed my hands over my face. What a fucked-up dream.

I’m not usually up before ten on a Sunday, especially when I’ve had a drink or two the night before, but there was no way I was getting back into that bed. I pulled myself up and retrieved my pajama pants and decided to go ahead and get the day started.

Downstairs, I saw the doll sitting on my bookshelf where I’d left her the night before. I heard a thump behind me and saw Pickles pause halfway down the stairs, peering through the bannister.

“Yeah, you better be embarrassed. I can’t believe you ignored me all night,” I said, wagging a finger in her direction. But her gaze never moved from a point just over my right shoulder. I turned to look behind me, seeing nothing, and when I turned back she had scampered back up the stairs. “Fucking cat,” I muttered shaking my head.

I microwaved some bacon and popped a few slices of bread in the toaster, slathering them with plenty of butter once they were toasty warm. I took my greasy, buttery breakfast back out into the living room and booted Hulu to watch Saturday Night Live. I loved it when they made fun of Trump.

Later in the morning, when I felt a little more alive, I stripped my bed to do laundry and I found a weird brown streak on the pillow case of Pickles’ pillow. “Damn cat better not be leaving poop streaks on my sheets,” I muttered.

A few weeks later, I had pretty much forgotten my weird dream. Pickles was making short appearances into the downstairs, mostly to eat and use her litterbox, and my usual routine was mostly uninterrupted. I had a few more dreams about the farm, but the boy didn’t make an appearance. It was mostly about wide open fields, farm animals, and freedom. I figured it had more to do with the stress of my job and my subconscious telling me I needed a break.

Thanksgiving was swiftly approaching and, while I would usually go home to my mother’s house for the holiday, this year I had a Hungry Man turkey dinner with my name on it, a full bottle of whiskey, and a full Netflix queue waiting for me. My mom and my step-dad had decided that a Caribbean cruise sounded better than a full turkey dinner with a sink full of dirty dishes waiting afterwards. I couldn’t blame them.

I ate my single-girl Thanksgiving meal and was just about to start my third Netflix movie when I heard a thump near my bookcase. I pushed myself to my feet and looked around my recliner. The weird doll had fallen off of the shelf and was laying on the carpet, staring up at me. I reached down to pick it up, but it seemed to almost scurry away from my hand. I shook my head, thinking maybe I’d had a drink too many, and stepped forward, leaning down to pick it up again. This time I was able to set it back on the bookshelf. I stared at it for a moment before returning to my well-worn spot on the sofa and my next Netflix movie.

That night, I went to bed pretty late and felt Pickles climb up onto the bed to curl up on her pillow. I fell asleep and started to dream about the farm again.

I was standing in a field, the grass and wildflowers as tall as my knees, and there was another young woman staring at me from across the field. I started to walk toward her, and at the same moment, she started to walk toward me. We met in the middle of the field.

The look she gave me as she stared into my eyes had me taking a step back. There was so much hatred in her eyes. “Why did you take it?” she demanded. “Why did you bring it inside?”

I looked down at the bouquet of wildflowers in my hand and looked back up at the young woman. “I don’t know what you mean,” I whispered.

“Why did you take it?!” she screamed at me. “Why did you bring it inside??” She stepped toward me and reached out to grasp my shoulders. I screamed and twisted away, turning to run away from her. “It’s evil!” she screamed after me. “You stupid girl!”

I ran to the fence-line toward the river, tears streaming down my cheeks. I had lost my bouquet that I was going to give my father. I reached the gap between the fence posts and as I was about to squeeze through, someone grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me back into the field.

“Oh no you don’t,” a female voice whispered.

I jerked around to face my assailant and found only empty air. The young woman I had run away from was still standing in the middle of the field, staring after me. I saw her lift her apron to her eyes as if she were wiping away tears.

“You’re mine now,” the voice hissed. I felt another yank on my hair, and a phantom hand slapped me across the face.

The pain forced me to wake up, hand clutched to my cheek. Once again, I ran into the bathroom to examine my face in the mirror. As I turned on the light, I saw again a doubling up in the mirror, my pale face with a pink hand print on one cheek, and another woman standing just slightly behind me. I didn’t blink this time, I stared at her face. Her hands were on my shoulders and her dark hair was pulled back in a severe bun that seemed to stretch the skin across the bones of her face. She grinned at me, and her lips pulled back over teeth that seemed jagged, broken, and yellow. Her lips moved, and I heard a faint voice in my ear, “Elizabeth….”

I spun around, my fists raised to ward off my attacker, but there was no one behind me. When I turned back to the mirror I was alone again, and the handprint on my cheek had faded.

I turned to the doorway between my bathroom and my bedroom to look at my bed, already sure what I would see. The doll from the cave sat on the other pillow, smirking at me.

“Fuck this shit,” I snapped. I kept one eye on the doll as I yanked a pair of jeans out of my dresser and pulled them on. I strode over to the bed and yanked the doll off of the pillow by its leg.

The next thing that happened had me questioning my sanity, but the doll, I swear to god, that doll fought back. It’s porcelain hands clawed at my arm, it battered its porcelain head against my elbow, it fought and it was making inhuman sounds, growling and spitting at me. I ignored it, and marched straight down the stairs, blood from the scratches it was inflicting staining my carpet.

I had enough presence of mind to turn off my alarm system before I opened my back door. I lifted the writhing doll and slammed it down into the firepit. The force of the slam must have stunned it, because it moved sluggishly, trying to crawl off of the dead coals, but before it could get too far, I snatched up the lighter fluid and the elongated lighter I kept near the fire pit. I quickly doused the creature in the lighter fluid, then pushed the ignite button on the lighter and thrust it toward the fire pit, turning my face away from the blaring heat as the flame caught and ignited.

It screamed and writhed, and I could smell the fake hair burning with a horrible stench. I backed away, my eyes slanted into slits against the heat, and watched it as it burned. I felt a light, weak smack against my cheek, an ineffectual tug on my hair, but I stood firm and watched the creature in my fire pit burn until all that was left were ashes.

I didn’t realize I was crying until I reached up to rub my face and I felt the wetness against my fingertips. With the fire out now, I realized how chilly it was outside, and I shuffled back into the house.

I set the lighter down on my counter top as I shut the back door. I leaned heavily against it as I locked it, and I felt a relief surge through me.

I made my way back into the living room and sunk down into my recliner. I wiped my face off on the sleeve of my nightshirt and looked around the living room. A small shaft of sunlight fell through the front window. I turned toward my bookcase, and I felt the blood in my veins freeze.

There, on the middle shelf, smirking at me, was the doll from the cave.

“No,” I whispered. I looked down at my arms, at the scratches that the doll had inflicted. The bruises from the heavy head as it had battered against me. My stomach turned, and I made a mad dash into the downstairs bathroom and heaved my guts into the toilet. I heaved until nothing but bile would come out, then I collapsed onto the floor, feeling weak and dirty.

I crawled on my hands and knees back into my living room and looked back up to the bookshelf. The doll was still staring at me somehow. I felt my hair, pulled back onto a ponytail, being lifted off of my neck. I heard a harsh whisper, “Elizabeth…” then my hair was yanked so hard, I flew back up onto my knees into a kneeling position, crying out.

I heard the crack as a phantom hand slapped my cheek hard enough to twist my head to the side. Tears formed in my eyes as my cheek began to sting. The phantom hand in my hair held my head up as another hand smacked into my other cheek, causing my head to twist back the other way, back toward the doll, whose smile seemed to grow wider. The hand in my hair suddenly let go, and I feel onto my hands, a sob escaping my throat. I felt something kick me in the ass, and my face smashed into the carpet, causing the stinging skin on my cheek to burst into fire as it rubbed against the carpet.

I rolled onto my side, covering my head with my arms to ward off any more blows, but they never came. When I finally lowered my hands and looked up, the doll was in the same position it had always been in, and no more phantom blows rained down on me.

I continued to lay on the floor, gathering my strength and courage to rise. One last, fearful glance back toward the bookshelf and the doll, and I pulled myself to my feet and scampered up the stairs.

Once in my room, I slammed the door, locking it. I turned to my closet and called for Pickles. There was no answer. I looked on the shelves where I kept my sweaters, I peered through the clothes I had hanging up. I couldn’t find her.

I turned from the closet back to the bedroom and fell to my hands and knees, peering under the bed, calling for my cat and making kissing noises to entice her. There was no answering purr, no shadows shifting under the bed to greet me.

I stood and gathered my courage once more to head back downstairs. I walked briskly past the bookshelf, not able to stifle a wince as I avoided looking at the doll. I unlocked and opened the back door, hesitating a little before walked up to the firepit.

There was a charred figure on the still-glowing coals. I could make out four legs, a small skull. The bones were blackened, but I could easily make out the cat-shape that they made. I fell to my knees, my eyes wide in horror and shock. The evidence was clear, I had somehow burned my poor cat to death.

I buried Pickles in the backyard. Since that day, I have gone to work and come home to hold up in my bedroom. Some nights, I dream about the girl in the field, and sometimes she’s sympathetic. Other nights, I think I feel Pickles curling up on her pillow. On those nights, the girl in the field screams at me, telling me how stupid I am, and phantom hands slap me, pull my hair, and pummel my body. I avoid looking in mirrors these days. Even when I can’t see her over my shoulder, hunching over my back, her fingers digging into my shoulders and her lips parting to show me those jagged teeth, I can’t stand to look myself in the eye. My pale face, with the bags under the eyes, looks haggard and run down.

I want to try to try to destroy the doll again, but I’m so terrified of what I might actually end up doing that I don’t dare try again.

#reddit #nosleep #scary #story

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shamelessly4shameless-blog · 7 years ago

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130lb of Ukrainian Courage (pt.17)

Mandy pauses on the stairs, she can hear soft piano music coming from the little second hand radio Ian likes to have on in the kitchen when he is making coffee. She’s been with them for nearly two weeks and Ian has been back at work for most of that time. He’s just got home from his first of three night shifts and Mickey is just getting ready to go out to work. The lines ‘ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing’ come to Mandy unbidden as she listens to the soft murmur of their voices but she can’t place them, maybe a song she heard or something? She shrugs it off and treads lightly down, peering round the banister to glance at the two men.

Ian is sat on the counter top and Mickey is sat on a kitchen chair in front of him, one of Ian’s bare feet cradled in his hands, his thumbs working up and down the sole. Ian’s other foot is resting lightly on Mickey’s thigh. They each have a cigarette dangling from their lips, although Mickey’s is unlit.

“Is it here?”

“Up a little … yeah … oh yeah! Right there! Mmmmm!”

Ian laughs softly and tips his head back in bliss as Mickey’s right thumb finds the exact spot he needed. Ian is rakishly perfect under the dim glow of the kitchen light, his hair a little messy, flopping over to one side in a sweep of orange and red, like a birthday candle caught on the breath of a wish; but it is Mickey who Mandy’s eyes are drawn to.

He is looking up at Ian with the gentlest smile on his face that Mandy has ever seen. It is a little wonky because of the cigarette but it reaches all the way to his eyes and Mandy wonders how she never noticed this shadow of softness that lurks around his hard edges before.

“Keep makin’ noises like that I’m gonna be late for work.”

“Keep pressing your thumb like that and I’m going to rob a bank so you never have to work again.”

Ian counters happily. Mickey snorts softly and runs the heel of his hand up and down Ian’s foot a few times before glancing up at the clock and regretfully patting his ankle.

“I’m sorry but I gotta go. Does that feel a little looser though?”

“Like new.”

Ian assures him, hopping off of the counter and straddling Mickey’s lap, bumping his ass down with a deliberate roll of his hips. He leans in close and whispers something that Mandy can’t hear and she feels that is probably for the best, given the wolfish grin that suffuses her brother’s face.

“I’ll hold you to that, Firecrotch. Now come on, move your ass.”

Mickey pats Ian’s leg and they both stand up. Mandy knows she should move or make her presence known but she’s just completely transfixed by them.

“I want you to try and get some sleep, okay? Don’t be stayin’ up readin’ or any shit like that.”

“Okay Dad.”

Ian teases and receives a middle finger in response.

“You need anything, you call me. Tommy don’t give a shit about me takin’ off early as long as I buy him a couple beers to make up for it so don’t worry about gettin’ me in trouble. Just call.”

Ian’s face softens and he nods

“I’ll be fine. I’m gonna get a few hours sleep and then hang out with Mandy.”

“Cool. Alright, I’ll see you later. I love you.”

“Love you too. Keep safe and don’t murder Alan.”

“Be doin’ the world a fuckin’ favour if I did, man.”

Mickey grins as the back door closes behind him. A few moments later the sound of his car starts up and headlights swing across the kitchen and then the sound fades as he drives down the street.

Mandy shakes herself and stands up, making a show of clearing her throat and clomping down the last few stairs.

“Hey!”

She smiles, rubbing her eyes for effect. Ian doesn’t seem any the wiser, he’s still got that dopey smile on his face from Mickey as he waves a hand in greeting

“Mornin’. How you feeling?”

“Sick.”

Mandy admits, helping herself to juice from the fridge

Ian makes a low humming noise at the back of his throat and nibbles his lip in excitement. This is the first time Mandy has made any comment that can even loosely be linked to her pregnancy since first telling him of it. Mickey has firmly forbidden him from bringing it up with her until she is ready to talk, but Ian has never been great at leaving things alone and unlike her brother, Mandy does often want to talk things through – she just needs a bit of a nudge.

“You mean, like morning sickness?”

Mandy hesitates and then nods.

“Yeah I think it must be. Kinda freaky huh?”

Ian shakes his head and pulls up the chair Mickey vacated, gesturing for her to sit.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Mandy sighs. She needs to make a decision but it feels too huge, too heavy. The father is long gone and thank God. She is safer for it and her child, if she dares to think of it as her child, is safer for it too.

She needs to try and find work but who will hire her? Most likely no one Mandy wants to work for.

Mickey and Ian have said nothing about rent or bills and both told her, in very different ways, not to worry about it when she has brought it up.

Maybe she does want to talk about it all, maybe she’s ready to.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Mandy asks taking in the slightly tired lines around his eyes.

“Not really.”

He shrugs. It’s true, he really isn’t tired and he has lodged that as the potential signifier of a manic episode on the brink but for now it’s actually useful so he just smiles and pours the rest of Mickey’s morning coffee between two mugs and hands one to his friend.

“Well … I guess the big question is whether or not I’m gonna keep it.”

Ian nods and sips his drink, desperately hoping his face looks neutral. Mickey has made it very clear, in that slightly formidable way he has when something is very important to him, that as far as Mandy is concerned, neither of them have any opinion on that issue one way or the other.

“The guy is a prick but most men are so I guess if I ever want to be a Mom, I just have to get over that.”

Mandy continues, absently winding a long strand of dark hair around her finger.

“Do you? Want to be a Mom?”

Ian asks, leaning back against the counter.

“I guess so. I mean, I like the idea of it. Not sure I’d be any good but I mean … well, shit! If even Mickey can manage a kid …”

“Hey!”

“Well you know what I mean! Would you have ever picked Mick for being a good dad?”

“Of course!”

Ian frowns at her but Mandy shrugs, unperturbed.

“Really?”

Mandy gives Ian a sceptical glance and Ian nods, folding his arms defensively

“Yeah. He’s always had a good heart and he’s loyal and takes care of the people he loves. He’s brilliant with Yevgeny.”

“Oh! Yeah, no, he is and I didn’t mean … It’s just I could never have seen him being like that.”

“Well I could. Just like I can see you being an awesome mom. You’re smart and kind and you’re crazy protective – you’d be brilliant.”

Mandy ducks her head, blushing at the compliment.

“This baby wouldn’t have a dad though. Just me.”

“But he or she will have two uncles who are basically dad’s. We’ll be there Mandy. Every step of the way. If you’re worried that you’d be alone, don’t be.”

“I don’t want to be a burden on you guys.”

“You won’t be. We’ll get a bigger place and you can stay with us while you save up for your own home.”

“You think Mickey would move just to help me out?”

“It was his idea actually.”

Mandy is quiet for a minute taking that information in and then she sighs and smiles gently at her friend.

“You want me to have it, huh?”

Ian draws a sharp breath, well and truly caught between the wills of two Milkovich’s. It is a little like being caught between a hungry tiger and a hungry lion and knowing that whichever way you turn, you’re lunch meat.

Might as well be honest lunch meat.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Me to.”

Mandy smiles and just like that the decision is made.

Mandy is frying hamburger in their huge old skillet when Mickey gets home. He sniffs appreciatively as he tugs his work boots off and rolls his shoulders. He’s been a labourer for a few months but his body is still adjusting to it and he is always stiff as Hell at the end of the day. He doesn’t mind the work and Tommy mostly leaves him alone to get on with it, but it has taken a while for him to adjust to having a legitimate job and not just coming and going as he pleases. Still, with Yev getting older and Ian working steadily, it was time to make the effort to go completely legit. Mickey has too much to lose now if a scam, heist, or deal were to go wrong.

Mandy glances over her shoulder at Mickey and watches him roll the kinks out of his neck. She is ridiculously glad he is home. Ian has only been gone a couple of hours but her head is too full of thoughts and helter-skelter emotions and Mandy really wants the company.

“Burgers will be ready in ten minutes, okay?”

“Thanks.”

“Beer?”

“Yeah.”

“Good day?”

“Yeah…. I mean Alan’s a prick and Jim’s a fuckin’ liability, the guy don’t even seem to know which end of a drill to hold, but I was down the other end of the yard so they mostly stayed out of my way. Anyway, how was your day? You see Ian before he left for work?”

“I told Ian I want to keep the baby.”

Her hand flies to her mouth as if trying to push the words back in but it’s too late and Mandy promptly bursts into tears. Mickey freezes, a cigarette half-way to his lips, unprepared for the sudden emotional shit-storm. For a wild moment he considers grabbing his boots and running away but that is always his first thought whenever Ian or Yev get upset too and just like with his boys, the moment passes and he stands up and places a hand on her arm, with a sympathetic noise.

“Hey, come on, sit down.”

“I’m sorry, shit, I’m really sorry.”

Mandy pats her face with the sleeve of her shirt and tries not to smudge what is left of her eye liner as Mickey awkwardly pats her back and gestures at the stove

“Go sit down, I can do this.”

Mickey goes to take the flipper out of her hand but Mandy shakes her head irritably, holding it out of his reach

“No, you’re filthy. Take a shower and I’ll finish up.”

Mickey gives her a concerned glance but does as she asks and heads to the bathroom, grabbing his cell on the way out. While the shower heats up Mickey fires a quick text to his boyfriend.

Mandys crying. Keeping baby. Thanks 4 the fuckin heads-up.

Oh shit! Is she upset cause I told her I think she should? She seemed ok before.

You did what??? WTF Ian?

Shit. She pissed at me? Really sorry Mick. Talk 2morow?

Damn right we will.

Ok. Sorry again. Love you.

LY2

Mickey scowls at the phone and purses his lips. He doesn’t want Mandy pressured into anything and he certainly doesn’t want Ian painting some happy picture of what being a parent is. It is hard fucking work and Mandy doesn’t have a job or a partner or any savings as far as Mickey can tell. A kid is going to complicate her life more than it already is and if that is what she wants … well fine. But no one is going to push her into it. Not even Ian.

He washes the dirt of the day from his body and hair and makes his way downstairs dressed in mostly clean jeans a passable long sleeved tee, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

“Hey.”

“Hey!”

Mandy smiles brightly at him but her eyes are red rimmed and Mickey frowns at her.

“You need to talk or somethin’?”

“It’s okay, Mickey. Besides your burger is getting cold.”

“Yeah well cold burger never killed anyone. Come on.”

He jerks his head toward the living room and walks off, leaving Mandy little choice but to follow.

Mickey sits on the edge of the sofa, legs spread wide taking up more physical space than he really needs and settling into it as if he is preparing for a fight.

“Ian’s got a big fuckin’ mouth.”

He snaps as Mandy settles beside him

“Don’t be mad at him…”

“I’ll be mad at whoever the fuck I want to be mad at. Havin’ a kid is hard fuckin’ work Mandy”

“You don’t think I can do it?”

The hurt in her voice is painfully obvious and Mickey runs a hand tersely through his hair.

“Course you can do it. And you’d be fine. But … you got options, alright?”

“Do you want me to have the baby?”

Mickey’s nostrils flare and he arches both brows at her in obvious irritation.

“What kind of dumb question is that?”

“Well … Ian said you guys would help out so you have to have some say in it, right?”

Mandy grimaces at how feeble that sounds as Mickey makes an exasperated gesture

“No, we don’t get any fuckin’ say in it. This is your life, your kid, you do whatever you gotta do. No one should be pushed into havin’ a kid they don’t want. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it don’t but it’s besides the point. You got a choice Mandy and no one is takin’ that away from you.”

“I do want this baby. I’m just scared, Mick. I’m really scared.”

Mandy reaches out on impulse and grips her brother’s hand. It’s something she would never have done before but times are very different now and he squeezes her fingers tightly in his own, his expression earnest and intense a way that makes Mandy smile despite her fluttering nerves.

“You don’t need to be scared. You got Ian, you got me,”

Mickey takes a breath and then lets it out quickly

“and we both want to take care of you, Mandy.”

Mandy gives a small shaky laugh and blinks rapidly, lifting her eyes to the ceiling fan

“What did Ian do to you?”

Mickey snorts and twitches his nose, slouching back into the sofa

“Fucked if I know.”

The siblings look across at each other and then away again, grinning.

“Poor Ian. He’s got two Milkovich’s already and now he’s gonna have four of us.”

Mickey chuckles and shakes his head

“Nah, he’ll just have four people fuckin’ swooning after him instead of two. He’ll be in his element.”

Ian edges the door open and closes it quietly behind him. His second night shift has wiped him out, he’s tired and irritable and worried about the scolding he is pretty damn certain is coming his way. He considers ignoring the scent of coffee already wafting from the kitchen and ignoring Mickey altogether until he’s had a chance to sleep, but that feels shitty so he braces his shoulders, drops his back by the sofa and wanders through.

Mickey looks up when Ian enters the room and his face softens from it’s usual morning scowl.

“Hey man.”

“Hey.”

Ian kisses the top of his head and sits down beside him, accepting the toast and pill box that Mickey slides across to him.

“How mad are you?”

Ian asks, munching his toast and popping his pills casually. Mickey smiles slightly to himself.

“Like a two out of ten.”

“Huh. You’re usually a three at this time in the morning.”

Ian quips back but gives Mickey a small knowing smirk which is returned and the matter of who said what is dropped.

Ian strokes Mickey’s morning hair back from his face

“I guess we have to start planning a move and sorting out all the paper work for that...”

“Hey, yeah about that. I … ah … I wanted to ask you somethin’ and I wanted to wait a bit but with a new house to buy and other shit to do … and like you say, we’re gonna have paperwork and ...”

Mickey presses his lips together to stop himself rambling and locks eyes with Ian, who is gazing at him with fond amusement.

Mickey reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a small leather box and Ian’s eyes widen in shock.

Mickey sits up straighter and taps the box lid with one finger. He had thought to propose in July, but if anything, the last month has taught Mickey that life gets away from you pretty damn quickly and it can throw curve balls that can knock even the strongest rhythm into flux. If you have something you want to do, or something you need to say, you have to do it sooner because later is not fucking guaranteed. He nearly lost Ian, nearly lost his family and now there is a brand new life forming right under this very roof! Everything changes so fast … everything except how he feels about Ian. That has been a constant for a decade and Ian deserves to be shown how certain Mickey really is about him.

“I don’t know how to do this properly, but … uh ... Ian, will you marry me?”

It isn’t poetic, but it is a bold and brave and more than Ian had ever really dared to hope to hear.

Mickey opens the box and reveals a wide silver band with a minute diamond set in the centre.

“I will. Jesus, Mick! Of course I will!”

Ian beams at him and the quiet beauty of the moment last for a few seconds more before he explodes out of the chair and throws himself into Mickey’s arms. The little chair tips back alarmingly but by some miracle doesn’t collapse beneath their combined weight. Ian cups Mickey’s face in his hands, staring at him as if he is some new and marvellous thing that Ian is seeing for the very first time.

“Holy shit, Mickey. We’re getting married!”

“Hell yes, we are! Gimmee your hand.”

The ring slips easily over Ian’s knuckle and settles perfectly beside the letter ‘U’ on Mickey’s own finger as they link their left hands together on the table top.

#ian gallagher #gallavich #mickey milkovich #ian x mickey #Ian loves Mickey #mandy milkovich #Milkovich #Mickey and Mandy #130lb of ukrainian courage #shameless #shameless us #shameless fanfiction #shameless imagine

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pepperbox · 7 years ago

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Tell me about your DnD campaign? My group is on a hiatus so I'm living vicariously through other people :(

THE WORST we just came off a month hiatus from the main game, tho last month we were doing slayers take style sessions w/ the party split while we did bounty hunting things

it’s the phoenix fields!! i post some stuff on my art blog @hydrae and there’s a tumblr our dm made @thephoenixfields that has inspo, occasionally session summaries, all that jazz

THE PCS bc why the heck not

sariel is a sun elf from a magically closed off elven city called alanar, who HAD been a wizard once upon a time but one night she sort of. exploded. literally. and awakened as a (homebrew class) fury, tho she still doesn’t know wtf that is. she ran away from home and eventually met the rest of us losers. we ended up heading to alanar for help dealing w/ a revenant problem we kiiiinda had and she reunited with her family. she was named grand enchantress while we were there but not without losing her mentor in the process :( sariel felt abandoned by the sun elf god corellon larethian, but while in alanar and then in the northdark, she started having visions of corellon (and lolth’s) daughter eilistraee, who eventually blessed her. sariel now prays to her and we’re all kinda EYES EMOJI at where it’s going. during their slayers take games, sariel, julian & rowan went back to some woods called the northern wilds that she has some Bad memories in aaaand the fury side to her took over?? so that was a thing. julian punched it. it liked it. WELP. but sariel is basically the leader of our group of disasters and everyone kinda looks to her a lot for what to do

julian is a human rogue who’s an absolute disaster. OKAY BUT NO REALLY he’s gr8. the party doesn’t know much about him yet, except for sariel which was sparked by her finding a wanted poster for him 👀👀👀👀 julian’s from a city called gilead, the same city with the bounty on him from the count, rhys, who julian has some History™ with. sariel found out that someone (rhys) carved a binding rune into julian’s chest, and that someone he cares about (a woman named isolde) is in the shadowfell. julian became the accidental AND VERY RELUCTANT dad to the group, who tends to reel sariel back from just murdering people who piss her off lmao. he tries to be broody and sad but he’s also super weak to fen and rowan–which was unfortunate when dominate person was used on him and compelled him to nearly kill fen, it’s cool it’s fine. also fun fact he’s super bad with animals and has failed every single animal handling check. help him

rowan is a lightborn human life cleric of pelor, lightborn being a variant where she is. very glowy. also when she’s killed, she automatically casts heroism around her and comes back at 1 hp. SHOUTOUT TO THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND SHE DIDN’T TELL US, SO WE SAW HER STAB HERSELF SO SHE’D GIVE US ALL THE BUFF BEFORE A FIGHT AND WE WERE JUST LIKE UM!!!!! /BREATHES it’s fine it’s cool. but rowan is a good egg and also the only lawful good one in our band of chaotics and neutrals. she’s super empathetic and second guesses herself a lot esp when we’re being uh. us. had a Time in the northdark bc she couldn’t reach pelor down there. oh and also? first one of us to die for real. sariel and julian of the main crew were the only ones there, but so was the (former) thief king raphael, an npc we helped (and crowned!) during our first quest who rowan had a small thing?? with. THEY BROUGHT EACH OTHER BACK FROM THE DEAD AND KISSED, IT WAS A WHOLE THING. has a loaded dice from nemo that he gave her so she wouldn’t forget him

fen is a human druid–mostly. she’s from a place called the witchcombe and left home after a freaky dream that she eventually found out was of tharizdun. gods kept popping up in her dreams and she found out through sariel’s mentor that her mind is basically an open window, and told her about some monks of ioun in the desert who’d be able to help her close herself off again. things got bad in the northdark tho ‘cause they down there for a WHILE, and tharizdun marked her apparently bc he’s a dick so now she’s just kinda giving off his aura. cool. he gifted her a dagger for her to use for a shiny new (homebrew) class called avatar (not that one), so that’s fun. also fen has an accidental Thing w/ a revenant named salome that was risen for the purpose of raising tharizdun. TURNS INTO A DIRE WOLF 99% OF THE TIME, 1% CAT WHEN SHE WANTS TO ESCAPE A CONVERSATION. also fen has holes in her memory for?? some reason???? has no clue if it’s due to the god fuckery or something else. has the bag of holding and is a magpie. also can’t stealth for shit despite having a +3 dex modifier, why

nemo is a human umbramancer who we know literally NOTHING about except that he’s a disaster and he revealed as a trade of secrets that he doesn’t have a shadow and he’s “cursed.” he didn’t deign to mention that he makes people forget him, which ONLY rowan just found out (rowan, sending to an npc from a past city: hey do you know nemo?/ them: who?? / rowan: K!!!!). we also don’t know that nemo himself has no memories, yikes!! for magic reasons, nemo also uh. did a ritual to remove his own eyes. for new powers. he kept casting minor illusion on himself to make his eyes look normal literally until he was forced to explain why he had a pair of eyes in his pocket, THANKS NEMO (he’s not actually blind tho, he uses his new shadow powers to see, cool cool). nemo tried trading his eyes to the raven queen to get her to help us but since they were something he’d given up already and were meaningless, it just ticked her off. nemo gave her the memory of his brother linus instead bc it’s all he had and none of the party knows this :( during a side quest with fen, they fought a lord of hell named sammael who could tell what was done to him??? nemo also has a sort of not really boyfriend named lysander, a cleric of the raven queen. THE TRULY STEALTHY ONE OF OUR PARTY, TRIES TO CRIME BUT HECKS IT UP A LOT. has a mace with bees in it, has been described as “horny eldritch raccoon boy”

#Anonymous #replies

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stargleeksil-blog · 7 years ago

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Criminal Minds s04e12 Soul Mates review - or more aptly named, the episode where Shemar acted for his life and I nearly shed a tear at his passion. FUCK.

Episode 12 – Soul Mates

Hey guys! So last episode was definitely a doozy in the weirdest way possible, and ended up with me freaking out in an embarrassing way. Lol.

This title has my filthy mind going in whichever direction you can possibly think.

Let’s see what happens.

Oh my god, Sarasota is so pretty.

Oh I love this actress!!! I’m horrible with remembering where they are from … it’s 2008 in there, give me a break! Oh my god! That’s Chastity from the series of ’10 Things I Hate About You’! COOL!

Oh this girl is well-informed, good girl!

Wait. They’re arresting her dad? What the hell?

Wait. They’re seriously suspecting him? SHIT.

Oh fuck. Even my superheroes suspect this guy? Then he must have done something wrong.

Sigmund Freud: “No mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips. Betrayal oozes out of him at every pore.” Yikers. And people wonder why he’s considered a freak.

I love how Matthew reads the excerpt. So into it. I love it!

Why is Jordan still here? I thought JJ was back? FUCK YOU JORDAN!

Sorry. Still resentful she bitched at my baby.

Oh god, that breast pocket is doing things to me on that pectoral. Fuck.

“We have a witness who can place you at the mall the same time of her abduction.”

Oh damn.

“And, uh, well, rumor has it that you seem to have a history of this type of behavior.”

WHAT?

Derek is judging you.

Not a good place to be.

Whoa. Those women are fierce. I love them.

“Give me a minute, I will find the grime.”

You go, girl.

“I’m always in control, sweet cheeks.”

Sweetie, that’s poodle you’re talking to, not hot stuff.

“Yeah, just because you delete your history, it doesn’t mean all your dirty cyberlaundry isn’t hanging out there for me to find on your hard drive.”

“Rookie mistake.”

Wait. Did he just tell them to put up the house for bail money? Where would they go? Dummy.

“She found an encrypted link to a web page.”

“Where did it take you?” You can see the Shemar part of the brain going ‘porn, porn, porn’

“An unsearchable, untraceable blog with tons of journal entries. It’s like some sort of diaries.”

“I was able to differentiate between two distinct voices, two authors.”

Now that’s weird.

“I found various idiosyncratic words, phrases, punctuation, and orthography within the blog entries consistent with each separate person – words like ‘soda’ and ‘pop’. One guy uses dashes while the other uses ellipses.”

Aw, my poodle giggled.

“Where’d you find this kid?”

“He was left in a basket on the steps of the FBI.”

Oh my freaking goodness, Rossi is killing me over here.

“One side of the discourse made a reference to the devil’s strip.”

“What the hell is that?”

“Uh, it’s a small patch of grass that separates the sidewalk from the street.”

What?

“Now, that term is only used in central Ohio.”

“William lived in Atlanta for twenty years, but he grew up in Columbus.”

Dang. My baby is good.

“Kid, you sure about this?”

Reid’s bitch face gives me life.

“Right.”

The found Missy.

Detective! What the fuck?

Dead. They found her dead.

Damn. It wasn’t fucking William. Shit.

Wait. The wife is in on this? Oh damn.

Calculating poodle is the best poodle you can kanoodle with.

“Tell me you found his partner.”

Yes, please.

“It’s all so cryptic.”

Well, that’s not good.

Look at my two gorgeous men at work.

“Well, they clearly enjoyed being together.”

“They wrote a cluster of others right after the first victim, Kim Groves, was killed.”

Oh boy.

“We need to figure out how they met. There’s gotta be something in all this about their courtship.”

Hold the fucking phone, Shemar said courtship.

That’s one of the sexiest words out there, and he just said it.

I’m dead.

“He didn’t start killing until he met his soul mate.”

Yikes.

Talk about the devil on your shoulder.

“Sounds like these two aren’t just obsessed with rape and murder. They’re addicted to one another.”

You know, the higher Shemar’s vocabulary and expression is in this series, the hotter he is? Fuck.

They had me reeled in when he said the word ‘love’ and I’m hooked now he’s said ‘courtship’.

And of course ‘soul mate’.

“The partner is a biter.”

Kinky.

“They never did that before.”

Damn.

“DA was ready to charge him when Missy was still alive. How the hell are we supposed to keep him now?” damn.

“I’m surprised you’re writing all this stuff to a fella. Sounds like you have a real special thing going on.”

Wait, so now they think he’s having an affair with a dude? Cuz I’m pretty sure it’s the wife.

“I mean, I’m thinking if the two of you had just got it on, maybe these women would still be alive.”

“So where’d you meet him? Chat room? Porn sites? Gay bar?”

Oh honey, you’re biting up the wrong ass.

“Whoever this guy is, he’s looking out for you, cleaning up for you.”

“I wanna know why your pen pal killed her when he could have let her rot.”

“Wow, this friend of yours wants to please you bad, doesn’t he?”

What do they got, William?

“Proof that someone out there is just as sick as you.”

Hell yeah.

“It turns out there’s a lot of sick pups in central Florida.”

Well, I’m keeping out of there.

“So we’re looking at two dominant personalities.”

Damn.

“Makes sense. They have similar discourse. They’re equally well-written.”

Can I just say? I love it when Reid uses the word ‘discourse’ so academic and rare.

“These men are addicted to each other.”

Oh damn. So they’re using that to lure the fucker out? Good.

So it’s not the wife like I thought.

Okay.

“A betrayal could devastate him.”

Oh boy.

“All we have to say is that William’s cooperating, and then hope he takes the bait.”

I hope so.

Sounds like the dude is rather frisky.

Wait. His wife posted bail? Oh god.

“Partner made the first move. He’s the one with the balls.”

Whoa, there, Rossi.

“Yeah, and it was pretty risky, too. Think about it. What if you did turn in here? Or at least your partner thought you turned in here? Then he’d have no choice but to turn himself in. Your lives would be ruined.”

“That’s the reason it works. You both have everything to lose.”

“He’s only cleaning up because he can’t afford to get caught either.”

“How is he gonna react to the entry we wrote?”

Oh god, they’re goading him. I love those two.

“William, you wrote, ‘thanks for the perfect place to play’.”

��What were you talking about?”

Golfing. Right.

“What was it like?”

Hey! I know the white guy! God, I love that actor too.

Oh god, I love the guest stars they’re casting.

Oh god, I can’t handle hot people sitting on furniture that is so obvious you can fuck on. Shit. Now I’m having dirty desk sex fantasies.

“Not an ounce of sincerity.” Damn.

What’s going on?

Aw, see, now that’s just sad.

“It’s been so long, my heart aches.”

“I need to see that face again soon.”

Oh god, Shemar reading out love letters is too much.

“Sounds more like two men in love with each other.”

Let’s see how this unfolds.

“I have absolutely no idea what it’s like to be in love with another man.”

Well, now it’s been confirmed that Derek is straight. Yay for me.

“Now who’s the one who has no idea what he’s talking about?”

Damn straight. William can shut up about my baby, he has no idea what happened to him.

“First of all, I am not your boy.”

Oh shit.

“And this look on my face is a look of contempt, because you disgust me.”

“You and I are nothing alike.”

Oh and just so we’re clear, it’s obvious that Derek’s disgust isn’t about the homosexuality part, am I right? It’s so obvious it’s because they kill people. I mean, ugh.

That daughter is one smart cookie.

“I feel like such an outsider, no one understands me. I watch them chase their little spawns, the same old conversation. Nothing stimulates me.”

Ew.

“Sounds like a party with kids.”

Double ew.

“I looked across the room, and everything changed. The only spark in my day. It feel so good, so free, so right.”

You know, if he took the contempt out of his voice, I would be a melting puddle right now.

“You know what you are? You’re lost.”

Wait, now he’s trying a different tactic? Oh boy.

“I think you’ve been running from yourself your entire life, trying to disappear.”

“What’d you think you were gonna do, man? What, if you got away from Atlanta, all these little urges, they’d just go away?”

“So you go find another posh little uppity neighborhood, and you think it might make you feel al little better about yourself?”

Oh god, Derek said posh. I can’t.

“But then you wake up one day, and there he is, somebody just as sick and pathetic as you are, and your whole world changes.”

Is this all about that black comment? Seriously, dude? You think Derek is that weak?

“You really think that we’re the same because of our skin color?”

“You hurt innocent people. I don’t.”

“You’re not even a man.”

Yup.

“I’m a serial killer writing to my partner.”

Never.

They never write about a time.

“So how’d they know when to meet?”

Oh boy. How?

“Other than the blog, there is nothing else suspicious on Mr. Sneaky’s phone or his computer.”

I love her nicknames. So pure.

Shit. They used songs to give signals? Oh boy.

Good girl, Garcia.

Shit. Andrea followed Steven because she was suspicious, and now the fucker got her. Shit.

“No, Steven Baleman is not just your neighbor.”

“And you know this, how?”

“You told us.”

Yup.

Oh good girl. She didn’t post bail.

Love you, lady.

Oh god, those two taunting William about his daughter is seriously freaking me out and turning me on at the same time. Shit.

“Your little boyfriend is twisted, and now he’s got your baby girl.”

Uh-oh, he brought out the special nickname.

“What, is nothing sacred to you?”

Yup. Nothing.

“Man, turn around and look at me!”

Yeah, you coward.

“What is wrong with you, man?”

Oh god, Derek angry is freaky and hot.

“Why aren’t you trying to run out that door and save your child?”

“He’s alone with your little girl.”

Oh my god, Derek just turned emotional. The most emotional I’ve ever seen him in an interrogation room, holy mother of all that is sacred. Fuck.

“She’s probably crying out for you.”

“Daddy.”

Oh my god, look at his expressive face!!!!!!!

“Why aren’t you helping me?

“Why, because you’re standing here, doing nothing.”

Oh shit, he just spat! Oh my god, that is one amazing performance. Fuck.

“Be a man. For god sakes, be a father.”

Oh god. This man is amazing.

Why did they let him go to get his daughter? I’m not following.

Oh god, how the fuck can he actually stand there and talk to this fucker? If I were a parent, I would have strangled him and got my daughter out of there.

Oh they bugged him. Good.

“Those two had everything figured out.” “Except how it would end.”

Yup.

C. Northcote Parkinson: “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.” Wow. That is some serious stuff. And I’m so happy Shemar read that out.

Hi? Okay, I am so sorry for the long review, you guys! I didn’t even notice how long it was getting till I reached the last word. I am so sorry! But holy fuck what an episode! At first you’re like, there’s no fucking way it’s the dad, he’s so loving to his daughter, then you’re like – fuck. it’s him. Shit. And then you think his wife is in on it. Turns out he’s killing because he’s repressing his homosexuality and he’s a sick fucker. Then you have Shemar Moore acting for his fucking life and turning me on like a kettle, getting me emotionally involved. Then it was just – holy shit, how can this end so much better? Ah yes, Joe Mantegna was acting with Shemar and it was glorious.

Seriously. One of the best episodes out there, hands down.

Not too bloody. Amazing acting. Emotional. I love it!

Hands down, best season ever.

Can’t wait to see what’s next tomorrow, cuz I have to go to sleep unless I want to accidentally sell guns and murder instead of coffee and machines XD

Good night lovelies…. And yes, I’m writing this while the second season is still posting itself in my queue … oh god. By the time this is posted I’ll be balls-deep in season seven, won’t I? Oh boy.

As ever, thank you so much for your support, folks! It makes my day to hear those tiny ‘pings’ on my gorgeous rose gold Xiaomi phone.

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