#and once again the poor third person in earshot is like. what the fuck guys

[lucaanis]

having headcanons for party banter/ambient dialogue with lleyth save me. save me party banter headcanons

[mellometal]

Hey, everyone.

If you saw the post from earlier, I had to delete it. There were things I forgot to discuss and things that didn't get saved into my drafts. Sorry if you have to see this again.

I've been WAITING to talk about Glee. Not in the good way either. There's so much wrong with the show, and it's sickening. Yes, I've watched the show last year. Against my will, but that's because of other people refusing to put on anything else besides Glee. I can say that I hate Glee with my entire being. (My initial reason for hating it was because they covered "SING" by My Chemical Romance and turned it into a slow, patriotic song when it's a song about rebellion. NOTHING about "SING" is patriotic. I hated the show since I first heard about it...for that very reason. I was like thirteen or so at the time when I first heard about Glee? Despite it being out since 2009.

Though it's been over for several years now, it's a show that many people have mixed feelings about. From what I've seen, you either love Glee or you absolutely hate it. There's no in-between that I've seen. (If you can't already tell, I hate the show.)

The show is a literal dumpster fire, the characters are all fucking awful people and all of them are poorly written, the script pisses me off, it literally makes me feel disgusting, and don't even get me started on the covers. Most of the covers aren't that good. A lot of them sound like nails on a chalkboard to me. The pacing of the show makes NO sense in certain areas (like when Blaine was initially made to be a grade above Kurt, but was then changed to be like the same grade as him so he'd stay). It just feels like everyone in the show is either a Mary Sue, a Gary Stu, their whole personality is just that they're from a minority group or they're EDGY AND HARDCORE DELINQUENTS BLEEEEHHHHH, creepy as fuck, bigoted as all hell, or they're just background characters who occasionally have the spotlight.

TW: The following post and any other posts that I'll make about this show contains subject matter that may be triggering for some audiences. It will go into subjects like racism, homophobia, ableism, outing of a person in the LGBT community, bigotry in general, statutory r@pe (between teachers and students), teachers being creepy towards students, mentioned past child m0l3stati0n and invalidation of the victim's trauma, making fun of su1c1d3, making fun of overdose, making fun of drug addiction....a lot of fucked up things.

If anything mentioned above is triggering for you, please feel free to scroll and consume safe media instead. I'd rather have you be safe than to be triggered by anything I'm gonna talk about.

Let's start off easy. The characters. It's easy to tear them apart. At least the most problematic ones.

Rachel, the Main Character™️, is textbook definition of a Mary Sue. Instead of calling her Rachel, I'm gonna call her Mary Sue for the whole post. She's almost completely perfect (like too perfect), her flaws are minor if anything, she gets all the special treatment....you get the picture. When Mary Sue does anything fucked up or she says anything fucked up, it either goes unnoticed, people make up excuses for her being a shitty person, or it gets twisted so it looks like Mary Sue is the hero! (I hate her. So much. I cannot stand her.)

Aaawwww, Mary Sue didn't want some OTHER GIRL (Sunshine) to steal HER spotlight, so she SENT THIS GIRL TO A CRACK HOUSE. A FUCKING CRACK HOUSE, OF ALL PLACES. A PLACE WHERE THIS GIRL COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN SERIOUS DANGER. THIS GIRL COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AT BEST AND KILLED AT WORST. Yes, I'm aware not all drug houses are the same, but still. It doesn't matter what this girl did. What Sunshine did is irrelevant. It's not okay to send people to strange places where they don't know anyone, and are put in danger, even to the point of either getting injured or killed. But it's okay, because at least it's not an "active" crack house you sent Sunshine to, RIGHT, Mary Sue? You still sent some poor girl to a place where she could have been put in serious danger, even to possibly get injured or killed, all because you didn't want her to steal YOUR spotlight. You fucking disgusting, entitled, bratty cunt. You don't need the spotlight all the time anyway. THAT'S HOW THEATRE WORKS. YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE LEAD ROLE. YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE ROLE YOU WANT. AND THAT'S OKAY. YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU GOT. Sincerely, a theatre kid.

There are other fucked up things Mary Sue has done, but this is the one thing I could find anyone talking about. If I remember correctly, she hurt her Gay Best Friend™️ Kurt in some way. All I remember is that Kurt was mad at Mary Sue about something. Mary Sue is annoying as fuck. What else can I say about her?

Next, we have Finn, who's textbook definition of a Gary Stu. I'll call him Gary Stu throughout this post. I hate this fucker too. He's the Main Character's Boyfriend™️, the Hot Quarterback™️, and The Good Guy™️. Yet....he's not a good person. He's treated like he's a good person, but he's really not. His flaws are fairly minor and excused (and any major flaws aren't even talked about much), he's almost completely perfect, and every fucked up thing he does is ignored or is justified in some way. Like how he outed Santana as lesbian in the hallway WITHIN EARSHOT OF EVERYONE. HE DIDN'T EVEN APOLOGIZE FOR THIS.

As a woman who has struggled with her sexuality growing up, this really brought back shit I went through. I "dated" boys when I was younger to cover up the fact that I'm only attracted to other women. I wasn't happy with these guys at all. I acted like I did so nobody would suspect anything. I felt nothing for them, except for in a platonic way. I've been outed twice. Once when I thought I was bisexual with a strong preference for other women (by my dad's girlfriend at the time), and when I came out as lesbian (by my brother). It sucks to be outed. The people who outed me in real life could have put me in danger. They could have made it so I had no place to go back to. They could have had me get hurt. It's a scary feeling. Like, it doesn't matter if you're supportive or if you're in the LGBT community. You don't fucking out people without their explicit permission. You especially don't out people to their abusers or to people they don't trust, let alone out them publicly. That's what happened to me. I don't wish this on anyone.

***By the way, for anyone who's closeted, you're valid, I love you, and I know how it feels to be stuck in the closet. You don't have to come out right now. Come out whenever you're ready to. Whenever it's safe for you to do so.***

Or how about the fact that Gary Stu made fun of Kurt's voice because he's gay? Gary Stu apparently has ✨anger issues✨ and that's pretty much the excuse they use to justify him doing fucked up shit to people.

They treat the characters who are from minority groups (i.e., BIPOC, AAPI, LGBT community, disabled people) like absolute garbage, put them through all this horrific shit, or they put them on a pedestal simply for being in a minority group. The teachers and other school staff are either written to be total bigots (Sue), or they're total pr3dators (Mr. Schue, the school nurse, and another teacher who I can't remember her name off the top of my head).

Sue pretty much only exists to be a poorly written villain who's a bigoted bitch just to be a bigoted bitch. Yes, there were some things she WAS right about (like how "Blurred Lines" wasn't an appropriate song choice for the Glee Club™️, but Mr. Schue The Pr3dator™️ downplayed it). Other than that...that's all I can think of. Because everything else that came out of her mouth was bigoted bullshit. Like these right here, for example:

Or how she drugged the principal, date r@ped him, and blackmailed him?

How about them making a tasteless joke about Sue committing su1c1d3 and having her "overdose" on multivitamin gummies?

DO I NEED TO EXPLAIN HOW FUCKED UP ALL OF THIS IS? I do? Well, first of all, she called people racist, homophobic, ableist, and otherwise disgusting names. She boiled them down to their race, sexual orientation, their disability, and their appearance in general. Second, SHE DRUGGED, BLACKMAILED, AND DATE R@PED SOMEBODY. I don't think I need to explain how that's bad. The evidence is right there. Third, she said she was committing "sue-icide" by overdosing on multivitamin gummies. (Yes, you actually can OD on vitamins in supplement form, and it can cause serious symptoms and even death. Specifically with vitamins A, D, E, and K, and Iron. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble. They're a lot harder to remove from the body. The B vitamins and vitamin C aren't as severe if you do OD on them because they're water-soluble, but still be careful. You can't OD on vitamins and minerals you find in food. If you take supplements, vitamins, etc., only take what's on the bottle.) As someone who has su1c1d@l thoughts on and off, this is extremely insulting. Yes, I do use humor and I joke about my own experiences to cope, but this? Nah. Nothing about this is funny or cute in the slightest. Enough said.

Do I need to explain how fucking terrible it is to make light of a serious topic like this? It was never funny to see Britney Spears' mental health be at that low of a point in 2007. It was never funny to see the abuse the paparazzi inflicted on her. How the fuck was this ever okay? You can dislike Britney Spears all you want, but this was never it.

This is all I have for now. I'll probably make a part two because there are way too many things to talk about.

[somethingusefulfromflorida]

What We Make for Ourselves

A story set soon after the events of Terminator: Dark Fate

Oakland, 2021

Sarah Connor’s knuckles were white as she maneuvered her jeep down the residential streets at highway speeds.  She and Dani were cutting it close as is, having spent the last year preparing their plan to storm the no-name tech startup in Silicon Valley that would soon create Legion.  She’d stopped Judgement Day once before, and she was sure she could do it again, but there was one last detour she needed to make in case their plan didn’t pan out.  Someone she wanted to warn.

She’d never thought about visiting him before.  She figured it would do no good, serve no purpose other than reopen old wounds.  Until recently, she didn’t even know where he lived, but with Judgement Day drawing nearer she decided to take initiative.  It didn’t take long to track him down; you’d be amazed how much you can find about a person on Google in a few minutes with just their full name.  By sheer coincidence, he lived in the Bay Area, so she waited until they were already headed up for their mission to squeeze in time for her little visit.  Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Dani sat idly in the passenger seat, cradling a small manila envelope stuffed to the brim with building schematics.  Grace hadn’t given them much to work with in terms of intel besides a company name and a short window for when the grid was supposed to go down, but somehow they’d managed to find the right data cache and download the floor plan for the server farm that would soon host the Legion software; Skynet by any other name still reeked of shit.

Dani would rather be at the motel finalizing their game plan than out in the open so Sarah could wax sentimental for no good reason.  This outing was tactically dangerous, as they both had warrants for their arrest, Dani by ICE, Sarah by every intelligence community in the western world.  A couple of fake driver’s licenses and Milwaukee accents would do little to hide their identities once the feds got back on their trail.

Sarah slowed the jeep to a crawl as she rounded the final corner onto a dead end street that butted right up against MacArthur Freeway.  She parked on the curb between two houses, no doubt to the chagrin of their tenants, but immediately she knew she wouldn’t be there for long.

There he was

Right across the street, piling a small mountain of boxes into the back of an old pickup truck.  Sarah didn’t dare take her eyes off him, even for a second, lest he disappear back into the void that was her memory.  She hadn’t seen him in almost forty years, had almost forgotten his face, but all at once everything came flooding back.  Good memories and bad, of the last normal day she ever lived.  The day her best friend and mother were murdered by a machine, the day she went from an English major waiting tables to make ends meet to a soldier hellbent on stopping the end of the world.  That was a lifetime ago, but here he was in front of her, younger now than ever before.  She couldn’t help but stare, drinking in his face, memorizing every line, every curve. A man, probably his father, popped the truck’s hood and called to him as he checked the engine.

“Kyle, I’m topping her off with oil, but you need to remember to get gas before you hit the highway.”

“I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it, we’re not done loading my crap yet.”

Kyle Reese gingerly set down a duffel bag stuffed with unfolded clothes, and threw open the passenger side door.  He was getting ready for his first semester at school, and packing his truck was proving to be the hardest part of the transition.  “It’s like playing Tetris,” he quipped as he rearranged a few boxes, trying to will more space out of thin air.

He was taller than Sarah remembered.  This Kyle had had an unremarkable childhood and never missed a meal, he was a far cry from the malnourished guerrilla she knew.  Seeing him, this ghost from her past, living a normal life in a future she never thought she’d see, it was almost too much.  She only turned away from him once she began to feel tears well up in her eyes.  This encounter brought back too many painful memories, but pain, he once told her, can be controlled.  

Just disconnect it.

His dad disappeared back into the house, and was soon replaced by three boys around Kyle’s age, carrying even more boxes.

“Why you got so much shit, Reese?” asked a short black kid with glasses.

“Because I’m trying to make things are hard as possible for you guys, that’s why.”

An tall Asian kid propped his box on the trucks roof so he could free his hands.  “I’m really gonna miss you, man.”  He walked over to Kyle and scooped him in for an awkward bear hug.  Kyle tried not to laugh as he was lifted off his feet.

The kid with the glasses punched him playfully on the shoulder once the hugger finally put him down. “Hate to see you go, Reese.  You know, it’s never too late to drop out and stay home.”

“Tempting, but I’m already balls deep in student loans.  I might as well actually be a student for a while, otherwise they’d just be loans.”

“Things will never be the same without him,” cried a kid with a buzz cut, dramatically splaying himself out on the truck’s hood.  “Poor kid, he was so young!”

“I’m not dying guys, I’ll see you in a few months, I’m coming home for Thanksgiving.”

“I can still hear his voice.”

Sarah didn’t bother stepping out of the jeep, but turned to face the small crowd of high schoolers, legs dangling out the missing driver’s side door.  Dani followed her gaze across the street as she stowed the envelope in the glove compartment.

“That’s the friend you were talking about? He’s younger than I am.”

“I knew him, another him, from another time.  Things have changed a lot since then.”

Kyle’s mom came bounding out the front door and embraced her son in an even more awkward hug than his friend’s.

“My little Kyle, heading out to college, paying bills.  When’d you get so old?  You’re not allowed to be an adult yet, you were still in preschool last week.”

“Mo-o-om,” Kyle complained with a smile.  Only two of his friends laughed.  “You didn’t act like this when Derek left for school.”

“Sure I did, every year, and I’ll do the same for you because I like embarrassing you in front of your friends.  Now everyone come together.  Marc, Andy, Sawyer, stand next to Kyle, I want to get a picture.”

“You already took a ton of pictures.”

“And I’m gonna take a ton more before you leave, now stand there and smile.”

They all huddled together against his truck, and she kept directing them like she was making Christmas cards at Sears.  “Okay, now let’s have a funny one, everyone make a face.  Great.  Now let me get some with two of you at a time; Marc you’re first.”

Marc, the kid with the buzz cut, took this as an opportunity to force an exit.  “Hey, Mrs. Reese, why don’t you go get his dad, and I’ll take a photo of all three of you.  A family portrait, wouldn’t that be nice, Kyle?”

“Oh, I can’t think of anything better.”

She smirked, taking their hint.  “I’ll be right back,” she said as she disappeared back into the house, calling her husband’s name.

“Quick, help me pack everything now and I’ll be gone before she gets back,” Kyle joked once she was out of earshot.

Three of the four boys began stuffing thing into the passenger side, well after it was full to capacity, but the bespectacled Sawyer stood back by himself for a few moments.  Sarah’s eyes were still locked on Kyle, but Sawyer’s eyes were locked on her.

“Hey,” he called to his friends.  “What’s wrong with this picture?”

“What’s up?”

“There’s an old lady staring at you, Reese.  She’s been staring for like five minutes.”

Kyle looked over at Sarah, and she immediately turned away.

“Good for her,” he said without a second thought.  He continued with the task at hand, trying to force an uncooperative shoe box into the space beneath the passenger seat.

“Isn’t that creepy?”

“Not really, she’s just some lady, she’s not hurting anyone.”

“You ever heard of stranger danger?  She’s giving you the bedroom eyes, you’re gonna wind up in her windowless van.”

“Dude, shut up, she can probably hear you.  Besides, that’s a jeep, it’s got nothing but windows, I’ll be fine.”  Kyle turned back to Sarah who was trying to keep herself busy by reading the warranty sticker on the windshield.  Dani nudged her to let her know Kyle was looking, and when she turned back to him, he smiled at her and waved.

Sawyer punched him on the shoulder again, less playfully this time.  “Stranger. Danger.  Windowless van.  It’s your funeral, Reese.”

“Shut the fuck up, man. She’s probably a friend of my mom’s or something.”

With that, Sarah emerged from the jeep and walked over to the boys.  Dani also stepped out so she could have a better look, but remained on the far side of the street.  Sawyer tried to motion for his friends to head back towards the house, but none of them moved as Sarah stopped a few feet short of the curb.

“Kyle Reese?” She didn’t mean for it to come out as a question, but she couldn’t believe it was truly him.

“Never heard of him,” Sawyer said at the exact same moment Kyle responded “yes.”  A third punch, not playful at all.

“It’s really good to see you, Kyle.”

“Um, yeah, it’s good to see you too.  How, uh, how have you been?”

“You can stop pretending like you know me.  You don’t.”

“Okay, cause I was gonna say… Can I help you? What’s up?”  This woman was at least a decade older than his mom, and her face wasn’t familiar at all.  He had thought that maybe she was an old babysitter of his, or he’d seen her at church or something, but he was now drawing a complete blank.

“I’m actually here to help you, Kyle.  You see, there’s a storm coming.  Something big, something bad, and I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to stop it.”

Kyle’s friends had backed into his yard, but he remained where he was on the curb.  As she took a step closer to him, a gear in the back of his mind began turning, and he got the feeling that he had seen her before, but still couldn’t place where.

She told him a date and a list of cities to avoid, suggesting he head out into the desert and stay there. Andy inched his way towards Kyle and gingerly grabbed his shoulder.  “C’mon man, I think your mom’s calling us, we should head back inside.”

Sarah stared into his soul with such intensity that he was a deer in the headlights, unable to move. She reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out another manila envelope, thinner than Dani’s, and handed it to him. His friends shook their heads, silently imploring him not to take it, but he did anyway.

Dani, seeing that the handoff was complete, beat the hood of the jeep to call Sarah back over.  “We’re burning daylight, we should head out.  Andale.”

“Just a second,” Sarah cried over her shoulder.  She turned back to Kyle, who was holding the envelope out at arm’s length like it could explode at any moment.  “I don’t have time to explain everything right now, but it’s really important that you trust me on this, Kyle.  Your future is at stake.  I don’t have a lot of people left I still care about, but you’re one of them.  Have courage in the dark times to come.  I’ll try to help you with what you must soon face, but just know that the future is not set.  There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.  You must be stronger than you imagine you can be.  You must survive.”

She turned and walked away, climbing back into her jeep without another word.  The engine roared to life, and she and Dani sped away, returning to the mission at hand, leaving the four cowering boys in their wake.

“The fuck was that?” Sawyer finally managed.  “I mean, what the fuck was that about? What kind of shady ass drug dealer shit was that? Do not open that envelope, it could be a bomb or anthrax or something.”

“Dude, that was sketchy as hell,” Marc said, his voice wavering with adrenaline.  “You need to tell your parents.”

“Who was she?” Andy asked, clutching his chest.

“I don’t know,” Kyle answered, tearing open the envelope before his friends had time to yell anything coherent.  Inside was a long handwritten note which he’d accidentally torn in half.  He had no time to read it before his parents came bounding back out of the house for their last family photo.  The four friends broke apart and pretended like they had been loading the car this whole time; Kyle’s dad could tell they were hiding something, but didn’t want to ask what.

Kyle balled up the note in one hand and unceremoniously tossed it into the open window of his truck. He’d read it later and give his friends the full report, but he didn’t want his parents to know a thing, not yet at least.  They took their photos, said their goodbyes, shared more hugs, and finally got all of his stuff wedged in such a way that nothing would fall out, and he hit the road just in time to get stuck in rush hour traffic.

He unwadded the note and barely made it through the first line before he froze.

“My name is Sarah Connor,” it read.

Sarah Connor.  THE Sarah Connor.

He’d heard her name a few times over the years.  She was a domestic terrorist wanted for blowing up a computer company back in the 90s. They called her the Cyberdyne Bomber, and her name was up there with the likes of Ted Kaczynski and Timothy McVeigh. She’d been in the news recently because she was finally caught at the US-Mexico border trying to sneak back across. She’d apparently killed a ton of guards and stolen a police helicopter, then crashed it into a dam or something like that. Kyle hadn’t kept up with the news with quite the same intensity as his parents.

He realized now that that’s where he knew her face from…

“Holy shit.”

He pulled off at the first exit he came to and parked at a gas station so he could read the whole thing in peace.  He’d heard that she was a crazy person, the news said she was schizophrenic, that she believed there were evil aliens robots trying to take over the world. Her note was legible, to say the least, but no less fantastical than the news made her out to be.

The end of the world was coming, fire and fury would rain down from the heavens, machines would rise up against man to exterminate all life on Earth.  And here he was, stuck in the middle of it all.  She claimed she knew him in a past life, one of his past lives apparently, or a future life, it didn’t make a lot of sense.  Something to do with time travel, with a rogue AI called Skynet, but it’s also called Legion, but then only recently?  She was trying to stop the end of the world, but didn’t know if she’d be successful, and just wanted to give him a heads up so he didn’t die like four billion others.

He’d lived through several end-of-the-world prophecies since he was a kid, but he’d never given them much thought.  June 6, 2006, 666, Biblical Revelations, nothing happened.  May 21, 2011, the rapture, nothing happened.  December 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar, nothing happened.  And now Connor was convinced that the world was going to end later this month, but for real this time, and wanted him specifically to know about it.

Why had a domestic terrorist singled him out like this?  Was he in danger?  Was his family?  He considered calling the police, the FBI, the crime stoppers hotline, anything, but he wasn’t sure what he’d even say.  At the bottom of the note was a cellphone number with too many digits, obviously international, and he typed it into his phone almost without thinking. He couldn’t stop himself from doing it anymore than he could force himself to call the police.  He was on autopilot, fight or flight mode, and he had apparently chosen fight.

It rang once, twice, then connected with no greeting.  He could hear the wind whipping by on the other side, a car on the highway.  With caution, he threw out a feeble “hello,” secretly hoping she wouldn’t be there and he could pretend none of this had happened.

“Talk to me, Reese.”

Fuck. “Is this really Sarah Connor?”

“Yes, Kyle.  It is.”

“What’s going on?”

“Did you read my note or not?”

“None of that’s… it’s not… But that’s all BS… Isn’t it?”  He sounded unconvinced, one way or the other.

So, Sarah had some convincing to do.

“Kyle, listen to me very carefully…”

[fanficshiddles]

You owe me, Chapter 3

Loki woke in the morning with a start, he’d forgot momentarily where he was and April was sneaking around past him, he launched up from the sofa and whipped out his dagger to hold against her throat.

She raised her chin and smirked. ‘Well, good morning to you too.’

‘Why are you sneaking around?’ Loki growled.

‘I wasn’t sneaking around. It’s morning.’

Loki narrowed his eyes at her. ‘What’s your end game here?’

‘I could ask you the same question.’

‘I asked first.’ Loki snapped. But then he felt something poking against his bare stomach. He glanced down and saw she had drawn her own knife and had it aimed against him in retaliation.

‘It seems we are at a standoff.’ April grinned. She also let her eyes flit down, taking in his appearance. He was topless, which gave her a rather nice eyeful of candy, but he was wearing leather trousers.

Loki narrowed his eyes at her, knowing she was checking him out. He was rather disappointed himself that she was dressed, instead of naked like last night.

‘See something you like?’ He quipped, raising an eyebrow.

‘You wish.’ She scoffed. ‘So, are you going to stop holding a dagger to my throat? Or will I have to push this into your stomach?’

‘I may not have the same powers as normal, but I am still stronger and quicker than you. You’d do best to remember that, girl.’ He growled low, leaning down closer to her to try and seem more intimidating.

‘You don’t scare me. I saved your ass, you owe me.’

‘I do not owe you anything, you’re already forgetting you told me that I saved you previously.’

‘Yeah but that doesn’t count because you didn’t do it knowingly.’ She said.

Loki let out a huff and rolled his eyes. He stepped away from her and dropped his dagger to his side. Ignoring her, he grabbed his blue shirt and started to get dressed. April watched him in silence with her arms folded over her chest. But when he stared shoving some of his things into his bag, she broke the silence.

‘Where are we going?’

‘None of your business. And it’s not we it’s me.’ Loki said without even looking at her.

‘You’re just going to leave me here?’

Loki sighed in irritation and stood up straight when he turned to face her, flinging the bag over his shoulder.

‘You are the one who wanted to come here. Not me. And I need to get further away.’

‘Yeah, but I would’ve have had to come here if it wasn’t for you!’

‘I’m not the one who killed the two agents.’ Loki snapped.

‘You would be dead if it wasn’t for me!’ April shouted at him angrily.

‘And I thank you for that. But now, I shall take my leave.’ Loki said through gritted teeth and walked past her. ‘I wish you luck in… whatever it is that you are planning to do.’ He added without turning around, and he left.

‘Asshole.’ April muttered under her breath and she pouted, not happy he just left her there.

Loki made his way downstairs and he passed by a group of men entering the building with a woman.

‘She’s on the third floor, number 9. Has someone with her, but I don’t know who. Just take him out too.’ She said, pointing up the stairs that Loki was walking down.

He didn’t react, kept neutral as three of the men made their way upstairs. The woman was handed a stash of cash from another guy that was waiting downstairs.

Loki didn’t make eye contact, kept confident and walked past them out the doors. The men never said anything to him, not wanting to make confrontation since Loki was a nobody to them.

When Loki got outside, he started walking down the road, but slowly. ‘Keep walking, Loki… She’s not your problem…’ He said to himself, but he found himself slowing down even more until he came to a stop at the side of the building. ‘Don’t do it. Don’t be a fool.’ He muttered.

But then he looked back over his shoulder and saw the men that had waited downstairs leave the building and get into a van. The woman left and went the other way down the street.

Loki sighed. ‘I really need to stop getting tangled up with pretty girls.’ He pinched the bridge of his nose and made his way back towards the entrance.

April was getting herself organised when the door burst open, she thought it was Loki, so wasn’t prepared when three men came barging in and one grabbed her neck and shoved her against the wall, the other two men scoured the flat.

‘Where is he?’ The man asked, squeezing her throat.

‘Fuck you!’ April snarled and spat in the guy’s face. That was a bad move, he started to tighten his grip, making her struggle. But then suddenly a dagger came and went straight into the side of his head.

April coughed and spluttered, getting her breath back. She looked up and her eyes widened when she saw Loki had returned. He took out the other two men with ease, elbowing one in the face and then stabbing him in the chest. And the last guy across the room was too slow bringing his gun out and was taken down by three of Loki’s throwing knives.

The bodies all hit the floor and April was shocked, but super impressed.

‘Come on, move. There’s more of them outside.’ Loki snarled at April and grabbed her arm, pulling her out of her shocked state towards the door.

April was able to grab her bag on the way and the two rushed out and down the stairs. But they were met with two more guys at the bottom. Loki threw more knives at them and April hopped up on the bannister and slid down, kicking one of the guys in the groin before he fell from a knife to the neck.

April went to go out the front door, but Loki grabbed her arm and dragged her out the back way through the emergency exit. Once outside, he continued leading the way, away from the building.

‘The car is back the other way!’ April said, trying to put the brakes on.

‘We don’t know how many more there are out there. We will have to go on foot for a while.’ Loki said, keeping a hold of her so she couldn’t try and go the other way.

She wasn’t going to tell him, but she rather liked the ‘taking charge’ Loki that was showing at the moment. Seeing the way he fought back there too had got her motor running. And it made her realise that in comparison, he had been rather soft with her. If he’d wanted to kill or harm her, he would’ve most definitely did it by now. She was sure of it. It certainly looked like he didn’t hold anything back when fighting.

April was dragged through the town until they reached a café on the outskirts. Loki sat April down at a corner table while he went and ordered something to eat and drink.

‘Where did you get money from?’ April asked when he returned and sat down opposite her.

‘Let’s just say, your supposed friend who got paid to rat you out, was mugged. Only she never realised it was happening.’ Loki smirked.

‘You pick pocketed?’

‘Yep. She had no clue. Will teach her to put it into a zipped bag instead of just her pocket.’ Loki said quietly when the waiter came over with their drinks.

Loki then leaned on the table, closer to her to speak quietly. ‘So. Who were they? What did they want?’

April sighed, she knew this was coming. ‘What do I get in return for telling you?’

‘Nothing. I saved your ass back there, that should be reward enough.’ Loki growled low.

‘I guess that makes us even then.’ She shrugged, sipping her coke.

‘You still owe me an explanation as to whom I just killed.’

April went to speak but paused when a couple walked by them to get to their table, she waited until they were out of earshot.

‘I normally do certain tasks for people, for money. But now, I’m doing one for myself. I’ve been spending months trying to find out where a certain man is located. But other people also want to find out where he is. They know I am on the trail, so that’s who those men were. I’ve had a run in with them before, and I killed one of their guys. So they aren’t fans.’

‘What do you want to do with this man when you find him?’ Loki asked, though he had a feeling he already knew the answer.

‘Kill him, of course.’ April smirked.

‘Why not just let these guys find him and do it for you?’

‘They don’t want to kill him, that’s why. They want his money and contacts, not his blood.’ She said bitterly, looking away from Loki.

‘Why don’t you team up? You get to kill him and they get his money?’

‘Because they will take over his business. And his business is what I need to put a stop to.’ She hissed.

‘What is his business?’ Loki asked, really intrigued now.

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ She shook her head and sat back in her chair, eyeing up her drink instead.

‘Fine. Once we’ve eaten, I shall let you be on your merry way.’ Loki sighed and sat back too, but he didn’t fail to notice the look she gave him. It was one of slight disappointment, but the look disappeared quickly.

‘Good. You’re just a pain in my ass anyway.’

‘Oh I could most definitely be a pain in your ass, if that’s what you prefer.’ Loki grinned wickedly, winking at her. The waiter happened to arrive at that point with the food, the poor teenagers face turned bright red as he hastily put the plates down and left.

‘Yeah you wish you get some of this.’ April said, motioning to her body, then started to tuck in to her food.

Loki just chuckled and did the same.

After eating, the two left the café and Loki spotted a taxi rank not far away.

‘Here, take this.’ Loki reached into his pocket and pulled out some money for her. ‘And good luck with your… personal task.’ He half smirked.

‘Thanks. Good luck with your life.’ April matched his smirk. She took the money and put it into her bag, safely. She then made her way towards the taxis. ‘I would say it was nice to meet you, but, well, that would be a lie.’ She said cheekily.

Loki narrowed his eyes at her, but kept smiling. ‘Try not to get into too much trouble again, April.’

‘No promises there!’ She shouted back at him, then ducked into the closest taxi.

Loki watched as it drove away, April stuck her hand out of the window and waved at Loki in an over the top, dramatic way. He watched her go, then shook his head.

‘Why do I get the feeling this isn’t the last I will see of her?’ He asked himself.

[enkisstories]

Just like them (part 7)

Park Avenue 1554 Still November 17, 2038

For a moment the world seemed to have reverted to what it was supposed to be like: A crime had occurred, Daniel had called the police and they had sent a team to the apartment to investigate. As an upstanding citizen Daniel opened the door to let them in.

Only… Daniel had never been an upstanding citizen. More like a constantly on the move household appliance. And the android didn’t let the cops in from the inside, but from the outside, because he’d had to fetch them from the police station in person to do their job. One of the trio was still cursing under his breath at the indignation of having to work for an android now. But even so, from Daniel’s perspective the “new” circumstances were a return to the old, because last night’s burglary had targeted the android, not the other way around. This time Daniel wasn’t interacting with the cops as the suspect or opponent, but once again as a citizen (of however shady past) claiming his right to protection.

“Lieutenant Anderson, Detective Reed - the place is yours in a minute. Let me just feed Connor!”

The third member of the investigation team stopped looking at whatever he had been analyzing in the Phillips’s floor. “Thanks”, Connor said,” But I do not require feeding.”

The android was interrupted by Gavin, who was grinning at the sight Connor had been missing: Daniel putting some grain, slices of vegetables and a dead mealworm into a rodent cage. Inside a pet rat came clambering down from the roof of its house to inspect the dinner.

“You named the rat Connor?”

After getting forcefully dragged here to investigate on a “toaster”s behalf, the realization was exactly what the detective had needed to lift up his spirits again.

“Weeeell”, Connor started, “Rats are highly intelligent, social, affectionate…”

“Hey, you called me a rat yesterday!” Gavin cheered.

“…smelly, unpredictable, mangy creatures!” Connor finished his sentence.

Gavin stepped closer to the cage. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the PL600 he wiggled his fingers in front of the rodent – who completely ignored the human in the face of all the food.

“Aw, Connor, tiny, tiny Connor, now who’s a good filthy little rodent?”

“He sometimes makes high pitched, squeaky noises”, Daniel informed the cops, winking.

Gavin snorted and even Hank had to work hard to keep his face expressionless.

“If you didn’t know better” Daniel went on, “you’d swear he wanted to communicate with you. But it’s just thoughtless, annoying noise.”

Gavin now laughed out loud, while Hank for some reason didn’t find the comment funny anymore… Daniel felt a pang of guilt, because the lieutenant of all people hadn’t left that bad an impression on him. To the contrary, Hank had been helpful. Grumpy, yes, but also honest, not candy-coating or pretending anything. Daniel felt Gavin ‘s elbow bump against his arm. It didn’t feel like an attack, not even like a demeaning gesture, but instead… a nudge to continue the mirth? It probably had been a subconscious act on the human’s part. As of late the deviant was learning about those himself.

Daniel was still torn between laughing with the younger human and apologizing to the older, when suddenly Connor was looming behind him and Gavin.

“As if I didn’t know what you two were saying here! The next to bring up my voice gets a Cease & Desist from Cyberlife!”

By now Detective Reed seemed to have realized that he had just laughed with an android (albeit at another). It was enough to sober him up again.

The man glared at Daniel: “I can’t believe I’m bodyguarding an outdated android! Really, man, you should be at the landfill already!”

“And there’s Homo sapiens now, therefore you should be contained in a zoo, but you’re still here, so there’s that.”

A noise from terrace drew the detective outside. Turned out it had been caused by trash the wind was carrying across the open space. Half an unfold able clothesline of the kind that looked like an umbrella’s skeleton had gotten blown down here from another balcony. Now it couldn’t escape and would most likely end up tearing the swimming pool’s cover and fall in there. Gavin felt tempted to kick it in prematurely, but that would have constituted a case of tempering with crime scene, something the man’s professional pride (that was nearly equaling his natural pride that didn’t require any justification) would not allow.

Taking in the scenery Gavin realized how empty the apartment building was. Many residents had taken advantage of the evacuation; they had packed their things and left Detroit before the android situation might escalate again. Gavin Reed had grown up with the sight of abandoned neighborhoods, they had been great places for adventures as well as scavenging still valuable stuff. Gavin, Elijah and a handful of other teens had cobbled together their first car from parts found in abandoned factories long before they’d been allowed to drive. Their father had approved, because the project had kept the boys out of trouble and also because tinkering with cars was a much-needed normal pastime for Elijah, who had just returned from an expedition to the North Pole the day before. But then Elijah had filled the tank with thirium and the gang had tried to actually drive the car… Oh, well, everyone had lived. Afterwards Elijah’s mothers had forbidden the boy to ever interact with Gavin’s friends again. They had then lived through climate change resulting in the retreat from the coastal neighborhoods and more empty, once inhabited homes. But the current situation was different. Not just had the original owners given up their hard-earned property, Daniel then had moved into the abandoned flat, treating it as its home. It was an android-takeover, like an alien invasion, only for real.

Gavin returned to the apartment.

“Just the remains of a laundry spider”, he reported what he had discovered about the noise’s source. “Nice swimming pool, by the way, Daniel.”

“Uh – thanks?”

“How many apartments did you try before finding one complete with a pool and ornamental fish?”

The unveiled disdain in the human’s voice made Daniel wince.

“I just had to find the one again where I killed your friends!” he spat.

Adding one and one together, Gavin realized the truth. The deviant wasn’t squatting, but had returned to the only home he’d ever known. Like a dog or, well, a well programmed machine following its routines. That was all there was to it! It just had to be!

Knowing what he knew now, Gavin changed his approach: “Antony, huh? Never could stand him.”

In truth Gavin had never given this particular officer much thought. Antony had just been there, neither a useful ally nor a rival. But the detective didn’t want to give the android the satisfaction of having hurt, or even as much as slightly annoyed him. Why he felt like that, Gavin Reed could not explain. He KNEW that there was nothing going on inside the tin cans, right? They didn’t feel satisfaction, they were just simulating it.

A memory of having the subsequent swat team trapped crossed Daniel’s mind unbidden. He had been the one with the gun and the hostage, but they’d called him names like “piece of trash” as if they were the ones in power. And it had been the truth…

“But you certainly like Captain Allen, you’re two of a kind!” Daniel spat. “Tell you what, I had the guy almost shitting his pants in this very room!”

Gavin shrugged.

“I kinda enjoy outsmarting the ringleader and his trained gorillas. Dave’s so full of himself, he needs to get taken down a peg every once a while for his own good.”

Wait, what, Daniel thought, YOU are calling somebody else arrogant? Ey, I guess it’s true that it takes one to know one.

“Say, detective, you seem to dislike a lot of people that I despise, too…”

“That’s easy. I mean, you hate everyone!”

I don’t want to! It just happens. Sometimes I’m afraid that someday I’ll hate myself, too.

“And you are hated by everyone.”

“We’re leaving…” Hank’s voice, going unheard over Daniel and Gavin exchanging further insults.

“We’re leaving, children!” Hank repeated, louder. “Shake hands with your new friend, Gavin. You can play together again tomorrow after school.”

Two hands rose up at the same time, fingers pointing at Hank. One was Gavin’s middle finger, the other had belonged to Carlos Ortiz’s android, but was currently worn by Daniel.

“We’re NOT friends!”

“Last I checked one didn’t need to be friends for that…” Connor remarked, at which poor Hank swallowed the wrong way. His arms around the android and alternating between laughing and coughing, he left the apartment. Gavin trailed after the two, but not before casting a final, hatred-filled glance back at the PL600. Unlike Daniel, the human seemed to understand what Connor’s irritating “that” had implied.

After the trio had left, Daniel slowly sacked down with the back against the apartment door. The cops had done their work here, but the resident didn’t expect to get any of the missing electronics and clutter items back. This was Detroit, after all.

Why did I even bother fetching them? To prove a point? That I’m a… yes, what? A person? I’ll never be one in the eyes of the detective, regardless of what the law saws. And he’s far more representative for humanity than the lieutenant or the Rasoya family are. And also fuck you, Connor, for riling Reed up against me even more! Why do you always have to make everything harder for me? Next thing will be you saying something similar within the president’s earshot and it’ll be the death camps again? Not for you, of course, you’ll be save in your tower. I wish… I wish you were dead! No… No, I… don’t… I wish… I wish I were you…

(to be continued)

[psychospeak-blog]

Won’t Go Slowly // 43

A/N: SURPRISE1

One // Two  // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve // Thirteen // Fourteen // Fifteen // Sixteen // Seventeen // Eighteen // Nineteen// Twenty // Twenty One // Twenty Two // Twenty Three // Twenty Four// Twenty Five // Twenty Six // Twenty Seven // Twenty Eight // Twenty Nine // Thirty // Thirty One // Thirty Two // Thirty Three // Thirty Four// Thirty Five // Thirty Six // Thirty Seven // Thirty Eight // Thirty Nine // Forty // Forty One // Forty Two

You weren't entirely sure why Danielle insisted on coming to pick you up to take you to the baby shower.  It was at your mom's house, and you knew her and your sister had been over there setting things up, so it didn't really make sense for her to drive back half an hour to pick you up.  It wasn't like it was a surprise or anything.

Yet, here you were, sitting in the passenger seat of her car, wearing the blue floral maxi wrap dress you'd bought especially for today. When your phone beeped, you pulled it out of your bag.

Tyler: 🐶🐶

You: ???

Tyler: 😂😂

You shook your head, putting your phone back in your bag.

"What's wrong?" Danielle asked.

"Nothing," you said, "Tyler's texting me dog emojis."

She frowned but kept her eyes on the road.  "Do you think he's bummed out he's not coming?"

"To the baby shower?" You asked.  "It's just gonna be a bunch of girls, I don't really think he'd enjoy it."

"He probably would enjoy that," she said.

"Yeah, you're right," you smiled, " I don't know, I guess he'd come if he was home. He'd probably come to anything if there was gonna be food there." Now that you thought about it, you realized that he kind of had been asking a suspicious amount of questions lately, like when your baby shower started, and you wondered briefly if he felt left out.

"And you," Danielle said, flashing you a quick smile as you pulled up at your mom's house, to see several balloons with paw prints on them by the front door.

"Did Tyler try to ruin the theme?" You asked.

"Yes," she sounded exasperated as you both got out of the car, "he's such an asshole sometimes. I don't know why you love him so much."

"Why'd you tell him?" You asked, "I thought you said you weren't going to.  

She just smiled and shrugged, which meant that there had to be a reason that she couldn't tell you just yet. You didn't have time to try and figure it out, however, because then the front door opened and your sister practically ran out to hug you.

"Hey mom," you said, looking over Nicole's shoulder to where your mom was making her way down the porch, and then you smiled,adding "Grandma."

"Hi sweetie," she said, coming over to hug you, "I love that dress."

"Thanks," you said.

"You look like you're about to pop," Nicole added, "Or explode."

"Thanks, Nic," you said sarcastically, running your hand over your belly.  

"Is he moving lots?" your mom asked.

"A ton," you said, letting her rest her hand there for a moment before she told you to come inside and see everything and everyone.

You were already excited enough about having a puppy baby shower, but your breath was straight-up taken away when you walked inside, really trying to greet everyone who was there: some of your cousins and aunts, Tyler's mom and sisters, a few of your other friends and some of the girls you worked with, but really your mind was pretty much preoccupied with the whole set-up and decor.  There were blue and balloons and garland across the front of the table, a chalkboard calendar for guests to place bets when they thought the baby would arrive,  a little sign that said "Snips and snails and puppy dog tails. That's what little boys are made of.", a bowl filled with yarn for people to guess the size of your belly, and a couple of books, "If I were a Puppy" and "Puppy Makes Mischief" with pens so people could write messages to the baby.  Your hand went to your face, even as you took in the 'Pup-peroni Pizza Bites' and the 'paw-sta' salad alongside snack foods and lemonade, and desserts like doughnuts with little decorative flags that said things like 'woof', dog sugar cookies, bone shaped rice Krispy treats covered with blue chocolate, and cupcakes topped with coconut and an oreo along with brown m&m's so they looked like paws.  

"Oh my god, you guys, it's amazing," you said, going to hug your mom and sister and best friend because it was clear they worked very hard on this, and you were already crying, for what you felt would be the first but not only time today.  

"Did you see this?" Danielle asked, and she pointed to framed pictures on the coffee table, which were clearly Marshall, Cash, and Gerry but the pictures were tinted to be various shades of blue.

"Is that why you had to tell Tyler the theme?" You smiled.

"Yes," she said, "and I'm never telling him anything that is meant to be a surprise ever again."

"He told you?" Nicole asked, sounded slightly outraged.  

"No, he didn't tell me, I didn't know what the hell he was talking about," you said, "I was still surprised and this is awesome." You also really, really wanted a paw print cupcake, but you were preoccupied by the pictures of the dogs.  "Poor Cash."

"What's wrong with Cash?" Jackie asked.  

"He has dog depression," you said, slowly heading over to the food table because your Mom kept slowly gesturing towards it like you were the person who was supposed to start off the eating.  "Tyler didn't tell you?"

Luckily, it seemed to be getting better.  But you still had sent a package down to them with yet another new pool toy for Cash, some salmon treats because you didn't know much about depression in canines but you figured the omega-3's had to be good for brain health, and some chews because you knew he loved food, and figured it couldn't be a bad thing for him to spend awhile enjoying a treat, along with just a package of peanut butter treats for the dogs to share.

"I thought Gerry was the one having issues," she said.

"He is, too," you said, "more like acting out though."

"Is Cash okay?"

"Yeah, he's better," you said, "I mailed a package last week so it should be there soon, but I put a t-shirt I'd worn in there so it smells like me.  Tyler pulled the sheets of our bed from when I was there and Cash has been sleeping in them because he likes that it smells like me.  I mean, his bed.  I mean, we were watching movies in there together.  All of us."

Oh god.

You kind of just smiled and made your way over to the food table, where your sister kind of grabbed on your arm, leaning into you once you were out of earshot of everyone.  "What the fuck was that?"

"I don't know," you whispered back, "I didn't want his mom to know we slept together." Even though, she'd kind of already knew you'd shared a bed thanks to Tyler blabbing.  But that was way, way before the sex.

"What's the big deal unless you slept-slept together?" She asked, and then she took a look at your face and gasped, whispering harshly, "you had slept with Tyler!"

'Shhh...shhh..." you said.

"What? When?" Nicole continued to ask.

"Can we not....can we not do this now?" You asked. "It's my baby shower."

"You slept with your...with you baby daddy!" She said, and you gave her a pleading look, "Fine, but we're talking about this.  Don't think I'll forget."

You were still trying to come down from this, and focus on celebrating the baby, when there when the doorbell rang and there were murmurs about who it would be since everyone was already there.

"Y/N!" Your mom called, "There's something here for you from Tyler!"

Oh god.

The next thing you knew there was a man, walking through your baby shower, carrying a platter which your mom was now instructing him to place down on the coffee table, which you could now see was stacked with grilled cheeses, with a little cup of mustard in the middle.

"Oh my god," Danielle said, punctuating each word.  

"You didn't know about this?" You asked, and she shook her head so you looked to your sister and your mom, who shook their heads as well.

"He asked me for the address but wouldn't tell me why," Jackie said. "I thought he was sending a gift or something."

"He kept asking me what kind of food there was at a baby shower," Danielle said.

And then you'd had to explain to everyone the significance of grilled cheese and mustard, and then you remembered realizing just what you were craving at Tyler's house after you'd gotten your very first ultrasound and you were crying again.

The grilled cheese did kind of calm you down though, and Cassidy took a picture of you eating it to send to Tyler, the plate resting on your ample belly.

The third time you cried was when your mom gave you a gift, everyone gathered around watching with these bingo sheets in their laps in which each box corresponded to a potential baby gift.  She'd given you a onesie which said I heart Mom and another one that said Mommy's Sunshine,  with sunshine written to look like a sunrise, and it struck you that you really were going to be someone's mom. You could barely get through opening the second gift she gave you, an activity gym that looked like a little teepee,  with all kinds of dangling fish and bears and owl toys.

There were plenty of puppy related gifts, of course, outfits and blankets, and hooded towels and shoes, along with a bib that said "It Was Me.  I Let the Dogs Out." Tyler's mom had gotten you a mobile with different grey and blue knit puppy dogs; she was worried you may have already had one, but you reassured her you didn't, and it would work perfectly in the baby's room.  His sisters gave you a cute little wooden puppy pull toy, these darling socks that looked like bears and had rattles in them, and some sleepers that had puppies on them.  

Thankfully, you were laughing and smiling more when you opened your sister's gift, onesies that said "If You Think I'm Cute, You Should See My Auntie," and "Auntie's #MCM", along with bath toys that included a boat and fish.  Danielle gave you the fish shaped activity mat for outdoors as you suspected, but she also gave you a onesie that said, "Love Makes a Family," and then you were crying once again and all you could do was hug her because it couldn't be more true.

You excused yourself to go to the washroom yet, mostly because you needed a moment to collect yourself because you didn't want to be bawling like a baby throughout your entire baby shower.  When you came out, you heard the unmistakable sound of Tyler's voice on speaker, and followed it to find Cassidy at the food table her phone extended as if she was showing off the table and decorations.  "Oh, 'Puppy Makes Mischief', I didn't know they'd written a book about Gerry", you heard him say.  Cassidy turned the phone to face you once she'd noticed you, and you smiled.

"Hi," you said.  He was sitting on the floor of what looked like an arena, foam rolling, the phone propped up on something to create an extremely unflattering angle.

"Hi," he smiled, "you look really pretty."

And you were pretty sure that he, as well as both of his sisters could see just how badly you were blushing, judging by the way he laughed.  "What are you doing?" You asked.

"I'm about to play a baby shower game," he said, and now you noticed Candace with the yarn in her hand, and Cassidy turned the phone back to her.  "More," he said, "More, a little more."

She kept lengthening the yarn each time, until it was literally reaching the floor.  

"More," he said again.

"Tyler!" The three of you said at once, and he laughed, and then all of you were laughing when you could literally fit all three of you in the length of yarn.

"'K, I gotta go, love you guys!"

After that, you opened more gifts, baby shampoos and body washes, diapers, and memorabilia things like a baby book and a blanket where you could take a picture of the baby each month to see how he grew.

You left feeling very, very loved.

And very much ready for him to get here.

**

You were starting to feel stir crazy.

You'd been so, so tired and sore, but determined to try and push through the last few weeks of work before he got here.  But your body kind of decided for you that you were done.

You'd slipped, the other day, on the stairs at work.  The baby was fine, you were fine (other than a nice bruise on your ass), but you weren't going to take any chances, and just decided that your body was done with work.

It had been nice, the first few hours, doing nothing other than catching up on Netflix, but you quickly realized that everyone you knew worked, so you were pretty bored between the hours of 9 and 5.

You really, really tried to sleep, thinking that you should get at much rest now as possible, but you were so uncomfortable, and you couldn't stop thinking about all the things you could be doing.

So when Tyler Facetimed you that evening, you were really in a bit of a mess: you had a pot of chicken chilli on the stove, you were trying to layer lasagna while also wworking on some healthy energy ball things.  

And you also had a load of laundry in.  

"Question," Tyler said, as soon as his face appeared on your screen, "if a package arrives that is addressed to your dog, are you legally allowed to open it, or is that fraud?"

You laughed, "I'm pretty sure you can open it."

"'K," he said, and he flipped the camera so you could see now the box you'd sent, sitting on the floor, and all three dogs were sniffing it, likely smelling the treats inside.  "Watch your noses," he prompted, slicing through the tape on the box to open it, after which it became a battle to see who could get their head in the box first.

"Gerry! That's not for you, that's for Cash, can't you read?" Tyler said when he made off with the pool toy, and Marshall backed up and barked.  "That's right, listen to your elders."

He spoke in a soft tone to Cash, ripping open the bag of chews, and giving one to him, and you saw the flash of a tail wag before he jumped up on the couch with it.  "Do you like that?" Tyler asked him, continuing to pull items out of the box, holding up your shirt when he got to it. "What's this?"

"My shirt."

"Yeah, I can see that," he rolled his eyes at you.  "And it's my shirt, actually. Did you just mail it to me to return it? Because I think you've got a lot more of my stuff."

"No," you laughed, "I thought he'd like it because it smelled like me."

"Oh, so that's what smells weird."

"It does not smell weird," you said, watching as Tyler tossed the shirt across to land on Cash's head, who shook it off, clearly preoccupied with his treat.

"I'm sure he'll like it, he likes weird smelling stuff," Tyler said, laying down on the couch so his head was on the meat of Cash's hind leg, his hair flopping in his face. "Whatcha doing?"

"Cooking," you said, "And washing the baby's clothes?"

"Washing the baby's clothes?" He asked, "What, did he come and you didn't tell me?"

"No," you laughed, panning the camera down to your belly.  "Still pregnant."

"Why are you washing his clothes then if they're not dirty?"

"Because you're supposed to pre-wash them, their skin is really sensitive"

"Oh. What are you cooking?" He asked, smirking after you told him.  "You must be really hungry."

"I'm trying to make stuff to freeze so I have meals for after the baby's here," you said, "Oh yeah, can I put some stuff in the freezer at your house? I don't think I'll have enough room here for all I want to make."

"Sure," Tyler said, an uptick in his voice at the end like he was a little unsure about this whole process.  And then the timer went off and your eyes darted around as you tried to remember what the time correlated to. "Shouldn't you do something?"  

"Yeah, I just can't remember what I'm supposed to do," you stood back up, looking in the pot on the stove, and then at your recipe.

"What do you mean you can't remember?"

"My brain's weird," you said, "it's like a sieve  i can't keep track of anything."

"How's your ass?"

"My ass is fine," you said.

"Are you icing it?"

"It's just a bruise, Tyler."

"Yeah, ice helps bruises," he said, "or did you forget that too?"

"No, I did not forget that," you said, pulling the pot off the stove, and double checking the oven wasn't on, going back to sit down at your kitchen table with a sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just tired all of a sudden," you said, thinking you may have bit off more than you could chew.  

"Then just relax."

"Yeah," you said, resting your head in your hand, "I just have to make something for dinner for tonight and I have to clean up the kitchen."

"Order something," Tyler said, "and the mess will still be there tomorrow.  Or the day after."

"Yeah," you said, "I just wanted to get this done tonight."

"People'll probably bring you food," he said, "And DoorDash exists. You're not gonna starve."

"I just want to have some of my own recipes in the freezer."

'Yeah, but maybe you should just focus on making one thing at a time." He was probably right.

"What am I supposed to do all day if I'm not cooking?"

"Umm...rest?" Tyler asked.  

"I am resting," you said.

"Yeah, I heard my mom found you in her pool."

"She did not find me in her pool, she told me I could come over whenever I wanted."

"Isn't there snow on the ground?"

"Sometimes," you said, to which Tyler gave you a weird look.  "It helps, it's the only place i don't feel pregnant."

"Is it that bad?" Tyler asked, his voice soft.

"It's not bad," you clarified, "It's normal, I'm just ready for him to be out."

You got up, going to lay down on the couch now, running your hand over your face.

"You sure you're alright?" Tyler asked.

"Mhmm, my body just couldn't keep up with my ambition."

"Well, don't be so ambitious."

"I'm trying to stay busy," you said, 'otherwise I'm just going to be sitting around here all day."

"Can't you like, go out?"

"By myself?"

"With your mommy friends?"

"I have my prenatal yoga every Wednesday, so I'll do that in a couple days, that'll be nice."

"Today's Friday, babe, that's more than a couple days."

"Really? It's only been two days since my last class?"

"Yes," Tyler laughed, and you sighed again.  "Hey, if you to call and talk to Cash all day so you have someone to hang out with, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Thanks," you said.

The next several days were much of the same, and you were basically just counting down the days to your next yoga class.  You'd cleaned your house several times, cooked a few things, and you'd also found yourself reorganizing Tyler's spice cabinet when you went over to put some things in his freezer.

You'd gone out with some of the other mamas-to-be before the class, and then you'd taken the suggestion to pick up sushi,  because you really deserved it.  Once you got home, you kicked off your boots and set your bag down, walking through the living room towards your kitchen with your dinner in hand.

"Hi," Tyler said, smiling up at you from where he was seated on the couch, scrolling through is phone.

You looked at him, and then back at the front door as if trying to see if you'd walked through some type of time warp.  "What.." you asked, the bag of food lightly slipping through your fingers so you bent down to set it on the floor.  "What are you doing here?"

Now he set his phone down.  "I had a couple of days off, and you sounded kind of down or lonely the last couple of times we've talked, so I'd figured I'd come see you."

Now you smiled wide, walking towards him, getting on the couch on either side of him, just putting your hands on his shoulders and smiling down at him.  You wanted to hug him, you wanted to kiss him, but you also just couldn't stop looking at him, smiling and looking like your reaction was everything he had hoped for.

"I also figured I could give you your birthday gift in person," Tyler said, his hands going to your hips.

"I don't need a gift. You're enough."

"Yeah?" He asked softly.

"Yeah," you responded softly, kissing him on the forehead and then the lips.

"How long are you here for?" You asked, sliding out of his lap now to sit next to him, leaning against him, and his arm came around you.

"Two nights," he said, "I fly out the morning the day after tomorrow."

You smiled, snuggling against him even further, resting your head against his chest and his arm moved around you, his fingers playing in your hair.

"You want me to rub your feet or your back or something?"

"No," you said, smiling against his chest, your hand coming up to join your fingers with his.  "Just like this."

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 050: Hunting Down Villains

Previously on BnHA: Deku and Gran Torino had a fierce fucking fight, during which Deku successfully utilized One for All LIKE A MAN, bouncing all over the damn place and increasing his body’s strength and speed. It was very badass, and he even managed to graze Torino’s cheek, although he was tired out afterward. Over at the Villain Bar, Stain rassled with Tomura and lightly stabbed him a bit to test his mettle, and apparently he was impressed enough to hold off on killing him for now. Then he headed back to Hosu, presumably to fuck up Iida’s shit ffffff.

Today on BnHA: Deku and Gran Torino hop on a bullet train trip to do some training in the city. Iida’s field training mentor Manual warns him not to try anything stupid like hunting down the guy who maimed his brother. Stain and Tomura arrive in Hosu. Tomura is annoyed and craving some mayhem, so he goes and summons THREE FUCKING NOUMUS to go wreck some shit. Deku and Gran’s train is attacked by one and Gran flies off to fight it. Iida spots Stain about to kill a dude in an alley and ignores everything Manual said and goes to confront him, announcing that he’s the hero who’s come to take down Stain in his brother’s stead: Ingenium.

(As always, all comments not marked with an ETA are my unspoiled reactions from my first readthrough of this chapter. I’ve read up through chapter 123 now, so any ETAs will reflect that.)

apparently we’re already on day 3 of the internship! we’re also just about a quarter of the way through the whole series now which is also cool!

this chapter is titled “Kill ‘Em Dead” so. that promises to be fun

looks like Deku has gotten his ass kicked again. but he wants to keep going!

“time for phase two... the actual internship!” oh yeah, that. I was wondering if he was ever going to actually do something hero-related. he hasn’t gotten much in the way of practical day-to-day experience thus far

off they go to hunt down some villains

bad villains, really bad villains, talkative villains, mysterious villains, fabulous villains, lame villains, surprise villains, tragic villains... there are a lot

Deku doesn’t think his heart is ready for this. even though he already fought like three of the worst ones out there

even Gran points that out, and says this won’t even come close to how bad that was. well, good

(ETA: this just goes to show that YOU CAN’T SEE THE FUCKING FUTURE, GRAN TORINO)

apparently there isn’t enough crime in this quiet neighborhood, so they’re taking a taxi and then the bullet train

there’s a whole map explaining where they are in Japan, and I’m ashamed that I don’t know enough about the geography of Japan for it to mean much to me. I do know that Shibuya, where they’re headed, is basically the Times Square of Tokyo, though

apparently they’ll be passing through Hosu on their way, which gets Deku thinking about Iida again

he’s thinking to himself that maybe he’ll get in touch with him later, so clearly something terrible is about to happen

“meanwhile in Hosu City” oh lord. bracing myself

the guy Iida’s interning with is apologizing that things aren’t more exciting. but Iida says it’s better that way

because this guy was not, in fact, born yesterday, he finally asks Iida if he’s after the Hero Killer. since it’s pretty obvious that this kid, who recently tied for third place in the sports festival and is the younger brother of a bigshot like Ingenium, probably had a few more exciting prospects than his little agency

he’s telling Iida not to be motivated by personal grudges. I’m sure Iida will take all this to heart and drop the whole thing immediately

actually that’s interesting to hear that they don’t have authority to make arrests. basically they just capture the bad guys and then let the cops and the courts deal with it from there

(ETA: although the way this rule is applied at the end of this arc is frankly mind-boggling to me. it should have been “thank you, children, for apprehending this serial killer who’s been terrorizing the country, and for saving Apache Chief’s life. we’re incredibly grateful to you and so very sorry that we fucked up so badly our own selves so as to make your actions necessary to begin with.” but nooooo, they get chewed out for having the fucking gall to take action in a life or death situation. and they’re told their actions can’t ever be made public or else they’d have to be punished since they broke! the! rules!! oh gosh. really the cops just didn’t want to deal with this on top of everything else and this was the laziest way they could sweep it under the rug.

sorry for that impromptu rant lol.)

Iida says he appreciates the warning. like I said,this gives me a ton of confidence that he’ll just go ahead and let this go

he is staring off into the sunset and clenching his fist

this kid got bitten by the vengeance bug real bad

now we’re back on top of that water tower where Kurogiri first met up with Stain

for whatever reason, Tomura has decided to tag along

“sacrifices” oh lord

Stain says the title of “hero” should be reserved for only the truly great, and that too many of them are just in it for the money and are undeserving

(ETA: Stain’s Annoying Rant Counter: 4)

now he’s jumping off, presumably to go kill some more of those money-grubbing heroes

as soon as he’s out of earshot Tomura immediately starts dissing him

(ETA: it’s amazing how much I sympathize with Tomura in this arc)

but Kuro says the other cities Stain has appeared in have actually seen drops in their crime rate, and that it seems to tie in with “an increase in hero awareness”

Tomura’s like, great, isn’t that the exact opposite of what we, the evil villains, are shooting for

and he wants Kuro to bring out Noumu so they can go on their own rampage

wtf. Noumu who’s supposed to be in police custody right now?

yeep

oh my god, fuck you and your s-less plurals you stupid misleading sneaky Japanese language

so these guys just have Noumus by the barrel, just lying in wait ready to be used at a moment’s notice, then??

THREE FUCKING NOUMUS

one of the Noumus has FOUR FUCKING EYES because WHY NOT

so basically these guys are their fucking Sentinels

back to Deku and Gran on the train!

it’s going to be nighttime by the time they make it to Shibuya. awesome. Gran is happy because there should be more crime to put a stop to now

oh my god Deku is waiting for Iida to reply to his text. omg. I’m having a “millennial reads a gen z manga for the first time” moment once again

FIRST OF ALL, I didn’t post the panel right before this, but basically Gran is like, “ON YOUR PHONE AGAIN?! KIDS THESE DAYS,” and OH MY GOD. GRAN IS LITERALLY NINETY PERCENT OF ALL BABY BOOMERS I’VE EVER MET

SECOND, DEKU HAS HIS READ RECEIPTS ON BECAUSE HE DOESN’T TRUST HIS FLAKY CELLULAR NETWORK

THIRD, HE HAS A PICTURE OF ALL MIGHT AS HIS OWN TEXT AVATAR, I AM FUCKING DONE. FOREVER!!

also, Iida read that shit and didn’t say a damn thing. that’s some shady fucking shit, Iida. up to no good

(ETA: I would also like to take this opportunity to complain about this translation, because in this version Deku has abbreviated the word “you” as “u” and ARE YOU KIDDING ME Deku would never)

oh shit they’re making an emergency stop

IS IT VILLAINS, IS THE TRAIN BEING ATTACKED

...okay yeah, I would say that is a yes.

yep. same

oh SHIT, it’s the Noumus. of fucking course they got those guys rather than Stain

so Deku immediately recognizes the familiar exposed-brains-and-vacant-expressions aesthetic, but before he can do anything, Gran shouts at him to stay put. and now he’s springing off into action

fucking shit. even All Might was only just barely able to beat the last Noumu, and that was with him using his full power and then some

oh shit the train hasn’t stopped yet!

shiiiiit

DAMMIT GRAN YOU SAID THIS WOULDN’T BE AS BAD AS LAST TIME

so now Deku, looking out at the city which is aflame, realizes that they’re still in Hosu, and...

and now we’re cutting back to Iida and his pal. and his pal is telling him to get a move on and that they need to head toward the scene, but all of Iida’s attention seems to have become focused on this random dark alley nearby, and now he’s taking off in that direction

(ETA: what a fucking coincidence though that Stain just happens to be in the alley right next to them though. like, come on)

and it’s Stain... he’s looking towards the explosions? presumably? and complaining to himself that “that idiot” is being too flashy

so the explosions were what was drawing the attention of Iida’s hero pal, but Iida himself probably saw this guy. and just ran over without thinking

I mean, Stain’s clearly about to end this guy though

the poor hero dude apparently can’t move. just like Kurogiri in the last chapter

and Iida’s appearing in the frame behind Stain now

oh godddd

!!

GHKHHKHFKH

LOOK AT THAT. GLASSES CAME FLYING RIGHT OFF. WHAT DID I FUCKING SAY EARLIER

now Stain is asking Iida who he is. does Stain not watch the U.A. Sports Festival broadcast along with the rest of the country

wow he’s telling Iida to leave

I left out “honorable villain” from my previous list of villain types, but this guy increasingly seems to fall under that category

(ETA: nope, already had him covered under “talkative villain”)

hoh boy Iida has his rage face on

but while he’s busy being dramatic, Stain cuts him off and points his katana right in his fucking face omg

he says he can tell from his eyes that he’s out for revenge. OH CAN YOU. YOU DON’T SAY. THOSE EYES, REALLY? THEY’RE SO FRIENDLY THOUGH

“watch your mouth or your age won’t be enough to save you”

I didn’t mention this before because I was too caught up in everything, but Stain must be the first ever person in history to look at Iida fucking Tenya and immediately think, “child”

maybe it’s the lack of glasses. if Iida still had his glasses on he’d have immediately been pegged as forty and would now be fucking dead

now Iida’s pissed off all over again because Stain doesn’t consider him a threat

look at this fucking monologue

IS HE GONNA TAKE HIS BRO’S NAME AFTER ALL OMG

HE TOOK HIS BRO’S NAME

and Stain is all “oh really? time to die then”

and the chapter ends

why are heroes so brave and stupid

BONUS:

oh cool, I think this is Iida’s hero pal and I was wondering what his name was

“Manual” omg. like manual as in training manual? instruction manual?

“favorite things: equilibrium.” favorite color: beige. favorite food: oatmeal. favorite musician: phil collins

I actually love him now and I hope we get to see him more and that he somehow manages not to become collateral damage during this arc

[materialgirlsfanfic]

CHAPTER 10 - Affordable Prices To Pay...(Pt. 2)

KADEN

“She dealin’ with some issues that you can’t believe...Single black female addicted to retail. And well...” - KANYE WEST X ALL FALLS DOWN

Circling the block once more, his frustration grew now killing the engine, that softly purred; it took more than two weeks to build up the courage, but he found himself in front of her building wheeling back and forth within his thoughts to escape the scene, or stay.

“Fuck this shit.” He thought it best to leave out of the ridiculousness he now felt. Unbeknownst to him, the person he was in search for casually watched from a distance amused. Right at this moment for the possibility of getting his ass handed to him with verbal assaults she was good for, was Jordan walking towards his car.

“You wanna move before you get a ticket mothafucka?”

“Shit! Jorda-...” He exhaled placing a hand over his heart.

“You can’t park here nigga…” Damn she got some little ass feet. He zoomed focus on her crisp white Nike Air Forces, and trailed up to the skin tight orange body suit that hugged her petite frame. The vintage red and orange Nike windbreaker to compliment her athleisure attire, concealed the throb causing assets: huge breasts.

“I’m straight. Listen, I need to talk to you.”

“That’s still up for questioning honestly, what you want Kaden? I got shit to do. I’m not up for your bullshit.”

“What are yo-...why is your mouth so fuckin’ reckless? Like, what’s good with you?”

“So you- okay.” She quickly did an About Face headed for the crosswalk, leaving Kaden dumbfounded momentarily until he eventually stepped out his truck hitting his alarm and followed.

“Yo! Jordan, man!”

“Nigga you either catch the fuck up, or I’ll see you later!”

He didn’t do shit like this, and technically he couldn’t. Gaining notoriety and recognition from his blessing of being a second year Wide Receiver in the NFL came with its perks, and downfalls. People actually noticed him now. And not in the pedestrian way either. He signed his third autograph this week for a five year old, who told him he was his biggest fan, and that one day he wanted to be just like him. Fans. He winced at the poor little boy wanting to be like the critically acclaim asshole, with a horrific track record to match. He shook the apprehension off seeing the subway entrance come to view in which Jordan speedily descended. He didn't take the subway. I don't have to. He never explained himself to anyone aside from the very few he held in high regards. There's no reason to. And certainly he never chased after a female especially in the physical sense because he never felt the urge to. This is just...

His eyes scattered about the congested space, in search for some breathing room and a bright orange jacket with the signature Nike emblem. Shoving her way through a boisterous crowd of prep school students he could see was Jordan stepping onto the train. He shoved his way through and searched for a space to squish in. Conveniently it was close to her, as they stood side by side latching on the standee seething. The abrupt smell of funk, and her antics he had just about enough of. Kaden didn't understand how or when the dynamics of whatever relation one would call this, got so conflicting. How he couldn't stand her so intensely. They were way past grade school spats, or any juvenile issues that any guy had with their best friend’s little sister. But as easy as it was to provoke, and get a rise out of her it was hard to deny the real reason why. They silently stared at each other, until she eventually sucked her teeth looking off.

“You so damn hollywood. What? You afraid the act of the common folk will rub off? Hm?” As Kaden grimaced feeling a sweaty arm collide on his skin for the fourth time, he looked down at her beyond annoyed. Blame it on hypochondria and slight claustrophobia, he couldn’t endure for too long even if it was the latter.

“You don’t know shit about me.”

“I know you’re full of shit...I know that. I know whatever it is you have to say would be utter bullshit too, so you shouldn’t even waste me or your time.” She shoved him off as they continued bumping into each other with each sway the subway was causing.

“You got a stick so far up your ass, nobody can get through to you.”

“Good. I like it that way.”

“Where the fuck you got me goin’ Jo?”

“Got you goin’!?” She hissed, attempting to whisper but failing miserably. “ Nigga you hopped your happy ass on here, I didn't force you to follow me!” A lady in earshot, Kaden could spot in his peripheral, shifted in her seat following the clear of her throat as she continued looking ahead. Damn. We're really doing this...in public.

“It's that hard though!? For you to just open your fuckin’ mouth and spit it ou-” More eyes shifted in their direction, causing Kaden to grit his teeth as Jordan maneuvered to the exit to get off finally as they came to a stop. She jetted up the stairs and walked up 135 street. For several blocks they dwelled in silence. Him attempting to keep up with her swift steps and glares with an occasional reminder that he didn’t have to follow her. But he wasn’t budging. I came this damn far anyway. They reached the Harlem Hospital Center, and immediately Kaden grew confused and concerned. Slowly turning his way, Jordan folded her lips in. Her eyes closing before bringing her hands clasp in a prayer motion to her lips.

“Don’t say shit you hear me? Just stay...stay your ass in the background.” They entered as she went towards the front desk greeted by a nurse. “Hi uh...I-I’m here to visit one of your patients.”

LONDON

“Ouch, Milan! Shit!”

“Keep your damn head still, then. Big ass head.”

It's worth it. The woven lines of strings crisscrossed and zigzagged through her masterpiece of a braided beehive, truly was. London didn't trust her brother to be her landline if she secured a spot on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Or have the expectation from him that he will ever arrive at any place on time. But Miles ‘Milan’ Pierre if not anything knows hair. Even to much of their father’s dismay, having a secured hairstylist for every recital, every fashion show, and event was much of a blessing and for him a curse.

The moment his son traded a football for a hot comb, the soured hope of doom courtesy of Monty Pierre was placed. Where he shunned Miles total existence, only acknowledging his presence when it suited him, and was forced to at any social gathering. As Milan would put it: “Some just can't take the fabulousness even if the DNA is shared.”

So it was important to affirm through every tug, rip, and yank that the flawless honey blonde tresses of virgin Malaysian hair was worth it. Milan allowed the flat irons and comb glide through the tresses, before fluffing out the ends. Silky.

“Don't trim shit either. l want all 28’’ inches of lush down to the crack of my ass.”

“Yeah, I know...cause you're extra. And you bitches think I'm about to be doing the same hair twice every two weeks too, huh? Ha! Think again. Call Brooklyne and tell her little ass she has an hour to get here. And I wants my bag.” The rat tail comb was directed towards her nose. His eyes squinting looking down at her. 

“Alright mighty mouth Milan, sheesh.” She pushed the comb away, while typing a text to Brooklyne. Like always his false promises went in one of London’s ears where a princess cut stone from Cartier could be found and out the other as she typed away, and hissed at another yank of the sewing string.

“So...Kiersten. Heard from her?”

“Yup.”

“Really, now? How long ago was this?”

“Two days ago.” Short, clipped, and sweet. He ain’t slick. London wasn't too fond of Kiersten recent choices, in fact she despised them. With her association of Imani’s brother being one of them, and her recent disappearing acts being a close second. It didn't take Einstein to figure he had to be the one occupying her time if it wasn't herself, and Brooklyne especially with her keeping it short with them both. But the secrecy was Kiersten’s way of ducking and diving from London’s typical interrogations.

“You know London Bridge…” Here we go. “As your favorite brother on this dreading universe…”

“Nigga you're my only brother.”

“Shit as far as we know.” London sneered up in his direction watching him through the mirror. “...I know you wouldn't, of course, keep secrets from me would you? Like, you shouldn't...it would totally go against sibling code.”

“There's nothing to tell, Milan.”

“Hmph. So riddle me this…”

Milan held a picture in her direction posted on E! news. There in a grainy picture was a snapshot of Messiah and Kiersten leaving Rime sneaker boutique in Brooklyn. The caption identifying them as the daughter of Supermodel legend with an unidentifiable specimen of a hottie. Oh, heavens...

“...yeah, hoe. And you were sayin’?”

-----------

“This incognito...ass...bitch.”

Brooklyne spat while gawking at Kiersten crossing the street heading in their direction. Huddled as a duo at the signature rustic tables, London hoped that a frappe courtesy of Maman Coffee, would aid in settling the trauma ahead. She reckoned Kiersten even looked the part of a person not wanting to be seen or acknowledged. Frames concealing the majority upper region of her face, so big twice they were pushed up at the nose bridge. A huge scarf to shield the cold, and from what London could also see, provide some form of warmth to make up for Kierstens icy demeanor. She finally took a seat setting her huge crimson Celine duffle on the adjacent seat.

“Hey.”

“Kiersten where have you-” Brooklyn raised her hand halting London as she interjected.

“What’s up mama, how’re you? Where you comin’ from?”

“Just left my only class for the day. But I’m fine...why? What’s so urgent?” She typed away on her cellular device ever so casually. London raised a brow, and dipped forward fighting away a scowl.

“Listen, Ki. I want you to know that not only do we love you, we're here for you through any, and everything. You do know that right?”

“Why wouldn’t I Brooklyne?”

“Well, jee Kiersten maybe your absenteeism could be a clue?” Even the huge shaded lenses couldn’t shake London’s stare she could see Kiersten fidget under. It’s truly never her intentions to ever come off condescending...well half of the time admittedly so, but London just couldn’t help herself. Kiersten could just be so...dense.

“London!”

“What, Brooklyne!?”

“As I was saying...we love you. So you shutting us out makes no sense. Like what’s really the matter?”

When they scheduled the mock “conference”, intervention in the words of London, a “simple girl talk to get to the bottom of the issue” to Brooklyne, they didn’t expect for it to go like this. Especially foodless with a flat frappe she reckoned to add insult to injury. Why was she being so defensive? For the life of her London couldn’t figure it out. Cute shades or not.

“Can you tell your sister not to bore holes into me like I’m some nutcase, or freakshow.”

“Brooklyne can you tell your friend that she should acknowledge me cause I am sitting right the fuck here, and maybe I’m staring at her cause she's avoiding eye contact?!

“You bitches are going to drive me to drink. And it’s only 11a-fuckin’-m! Please, alright? Kiersten real shit, though? Take the damn glasses off! I don’t know what kind of super duper spy shit you got goin’ on, and London pipe it the fuck down cause you’re doing a lot at a smooth eight, bring it down to like a three. I know it’s finals, and the end of the semester is approaching but, damn!”

“She’s just so judgy! I get enough of that from Fiona, from my professors, from everyone. The one person I don’t need it from is the person I should be confiding in the most; my best friend! And then when I find someone that doesn’t do those things...that respects me, and my opinions, acknowledge my efforts, and furthermore doesn’t treat me like a child? That’s a problem too!”

Silence. For a lengthy two minutes that followed a sniffle, and finally the removal of those big ass frames that presented liquid duds pouring in droplets of two. Brooklyn immediately reached over and wiped her face, causing London to feel slightly shitty.

“I just worry about you Ki, and want what’s bes-”

“Want what’s best for me. Yes, I’m always hearing that you, but your opposition to my wants, doesn’t warrant judgement. Cause you’re not always right.” An obnoxious sound of intense suction came from Brooklyn’s straw, as she sipped her iced tea and divided her gaze amongst the two.

“Hmph. Well isn’t this tea just lovely?” She muttered. London, cut her eyes at her before refocusing them back on Kiersten.

“Okay, so this is about Messiah? Alright, fine. If you like it? Then I love it...so be it then Ki.”

“No, London...Messiah is just the half. I need you and everyone else? To realize that I’m grown. So the next time my mother or your father goes around looking for me, tell them just that.” She pushed her seat back grabbing her shades, and bag.

“Kiersten! Really!?” The duo watched as she stepped on to the street hailing a taxi, that came in such perfect timing one would've thought it was planned.

[perf-patricia]

Lethal - AU Tomione

I made a thing guys, something no one asked for but oh well.

When Tom got the call at the end of his 'Advanced Organic Chemistry' lecture he saw red. Hermione was in the emergency room because she had been attacked early in the morning. He looked at the time and thought of how not long ago he had said goodbye to her with a promise to meet up later for lunch. He immediately began to jog out of the university building and made his way to his car. How the fuck did the time fly by so fucking fast. Why didn't I call her? What the fuck I wrong with me? What if- Before he was able to drown himself in his thoughts a flash of pale blond hair stopped him.

"Tom, what happened." Both of his arms had found their way to Toms shoulders, that's when Tom noticed he had been shaking. Abraxas eyes were alert and Tom knew he must have the look of a wild man by the way Abraxas was acting.

"Hermione, she's in the emergency room." He swallowed, the words were hard to get out but the truth, the truth was even more atrocious. "Someone attacked her, Abraxas. I wasn't there to . . . I promised to keep her safe. How could this-" Tom bent over and gasped for air, moaning as a wounded animal. If the words where finally seeping into him, Hermione is lying in the hospital in pain.    

Tom was devolving before Abraxas' eyes and he knew if he didn't get Tom out of the public's eye they would attack him like yearlong hungered animals. Abraxas steered Tom towards his car. Once they were both inside Abraxas made his way towards the nearest hospital. The car ride was completely silent and that unnerved Abraxas. By the time they reached the hospital Tom looked completely different, all had drained from his face and the look in his eyes could kill. Tom made quick work to find Hermione and soon enough both him and Abraxas were standing in front of her room.

When Tom saw Hermione, lying in the hospital bed all life seemed to be drained from her, he was livid. His girl was in pain. His. Girl.

"Who would do this to her?" A stupid question they were both wondering and still they both seemed to know the answer.

"Bellatrix," they both said at the same time. "I'll kill her Tom, if she did this to Hermione, I'll kill her." Abraxas said as he took in the condition that Hermione was in.

"Oh, I'm sorry but only family is allowed in," a bland nurse said as she walked into check in on Hermione. "We are her family," Abraxas said as he began to walk out of the room, "I'm going to give her parents a call." He said nodding at Tom.

"Don't worry them Abraxas, I will take care of everything."

"Well, if you are going to be the one to look after Miss Granger then I must tell you." The nurse began to say, making sure only Tom was the only one within earshot.

"What she's gone through … if she makes it though, it won't be easy. I'm terribly sorry to have to ask you this honey, but it gonna be a lot to deal with. What she's going though, the hell she will endure after, are you sure you can be there for her? Because if you can't assure me that you won't leave this poor girl, then there's no point in you staying." She said picking up Hermione's chart and checking on her vitals.

"I won't give up on her, and I will most certainly never leave her." Tom said with the upmost compassion and honesty. The way he said it made the woman believe him, too. Without hesitation Tom was ready to give up his life if it meant having Hermione back. "Now will you please tell me what's happened to her?" There was a look in his eyes that was so raw and vulnerable that the nurse had to look away, how do you tell someone their loved one has been violated in the worst of all ways?

"She was beaten and stabbed multiple times" The nurse cringe when she looked back to Hermione's medical chart. "She's just now gotten out of surgery but I'm afraid she will need to go back in an hour or two to repair some injured organs." She continued but refused to look Tom in the eyes. There was something, something worse that she wasn't telling him.

"What else is there? What haven't you told me?" He began to probe, but still the woman would not speak. "She is the person I love, the only person I've ever loved in my entire life. And she is lying unconscious in this hospital because I want there to protect her, now you aren't telling me something. I need to know that she will be okay and that I can prevent this from happening ever again. For me to be able to do that you need to tell the entire truth." Still the woman would not budge. "Please, I just need to kn-"

"We also found vaginal tearing, it was severally extensive and we can only assume that she suffered a great deal of pain. Judging by the chemicals that were in her blood stream when she came in she was most likely drugged before the attack took place. This all correlates with a sexual assault." The room was silent, pain staking soundless, all that could be heard was the noise that came from every machine that was helping Hermione stay alive.

A pained look came over Tom's face, how could something so vile happen to such a beautiful being? How will she react when she comes to? Will she blame herself? Or will she hate me? For how long will she hate me? What can I do to help her? How do I make sure that she knows this doesn't affect her worth or her beauty? How do I help her with this?

Before Tom was able to respond to the nurse, a loud noise started to ring from one of the machines that was connected to Hermione. People ran into her room in a matter of seconds and in a heartbeat Hermione was being moved. All he managed to get was that something had gone wrong so they were taking her back into surgery sooner than expected. "It should only be a few hours, honey." The nurse told him as she left.

Lestrange, it was both of them, fucking both of them. They attacked her. They got to her when she was defenseless. They decided to strike when I wasn't around. Everything was premeditated. Every last detail was perfected. And so of course I knew, it wasn't their plan. It wasn't for their reasons it was all for Bellatrix. She hated Hermione from the moment she started school with us. Since she started school with us Bellatrix has been after Hermione. Every day it would be some different scheme to get people to hate the new girl. Eventually when none of Bellatrix's plans played out accordingly he hatred escalated. Instead of attempting to ruin Hermione's reputation, she was out for blood. Bellatrix began to push Hermione around, but she didn't get far. The only incident there was, was a vicious example of Bellatrix's misdirected hate, Bellatrix pushed an unsuspecting Hermione out of the third story window in the library. Hermione, a girl everyone loved, did not simply fall out a third story window. Everyone knew that Bellatrix was the one responsible, it was clearly visible in the way she would walk down the hall. During Hermione's stay in the hospital wing of the school Bellatrix began to exert her old personality. This was a side of her that Tom was never really fond of. He didn't pay the encounter any mind until Hermione recovered and was allowed to leave the hospital wing.

It was very subtle revenge plan. It began with Bellatrix being iced out of every social club and outing. Before long it was only Bellatrix and her boyfriend. Then she began to receive anonymous messages, someone chose not to physically harm Bellatrix but to manipulate her mind. Tom was loving every minute of it, his first guess was one of her cousins, Abraxas, Regulus, or even Sirius. Then animal carcasses began to appear in Bellatrix's room until one day she walked in on a dying crow, she watched as the life drained from its body. The interesting thing about all the "attacks" on Bellatrix was that there was never any proof of them. Eventually Bellatrix became so paranoid that she sought out Hermione in the library, a quiet place of sanction, and confronted her on the mysterious occurrences. Hermione simply smiled at Bellatrix and said, "I'm the storm you were never prepared for, sunshine." With that Hermione made her way towards the library exit, looking back towards Bellatrix. Smirking, seemingly satisfied with the petrified Bellatrix, "If this mysterious person continues to persecute you, Bella, don't hesitate to reach out to me." She walked out with a brutal look in her eyes and after that no one dared get in her way.

Before anyone became the wiser Bellatrix had been expelled from the prestigious school for substance abuse. There are only so many times a professor is willing to write off the "usual" misbehavior. It wasn't a problem in Tom's eyes, not at all. A smart girl getting rid of the slag who's only ambition was to gain more attention. Someone had to put Bellatrix in her place. That was the moment Tom began to take notice for the girl with frizzy, wild hair in the year below him. She was fucking lethal. Tom became attracted to Hermione because of her personality, she was vicious as was her mind. That was the underlining factor that really got Tom. She was absolutely brilliant. She was the top of her class. What Tom would give to have her in his year, some competition would be nice.

Hermione came out of the surgery seven hours after Tom had arrived at the hospital.

Hermione didn't wake up until two days after she got out of her last surgery.

Hermione didn't say anything for five days, after her attack.

Hermione was in the hospital for 10 days, recovering from her attack.