#and then going ''whatd i say??'' when she doesnt listen

[two-calicos-in-a-trenchcoat]

My dads finally going out of town

I get 4 days of unimpeded dog training

[violetwinterwidow01]

MEMORY LANE (AU)

A/N: I meant to post this Jan. 1st, 2024, but never got around to it!!!

Feel free to reblog!!!

ENJOY

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

It's Cevyn and Bucky's 4th wedding anniversary, and their 9th best friend anniversary. But since Buck is on a mission, Cev has nothing better to do than go down memory lane from when they first go together.

Quick timeline:

Besties: Dec. 31st, 2014

Dated: Dec. 31st, 2016

Married: Dec. 31st, 2020

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Cevyn walks into the common living room finding Natasha, Yelena, and Clint.

Cevyn: hey guys

C/Y/N: hey! Happy anniversary!!!

Cevyn: Thank you, lovelies!!!

She joins them on the couch as they indulge in some action movie.

Yelena: We know it was yesterday and Bucky couldn't be here.

Cevyn: it's fine, I told him I'd figure out what I wanted by the time he got back today.

They hum.

Out of nowhere, She decides to ask a question.

Cevyn: ...Ya'll remember when i was such a whore back in 2021?

Yelena: SUCH A WHORE!!!

Natasha: ABSOLUTELY, HOW THE HELL COULD WE FORGET!?!?

Yelena: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!?!

The girls talk over each other making Cevyn laugh, while Clint violently chokes and spits out his beer. Cevyn and Natasha tap him on his back.

Cevyn: Yo, you good?

Clint: *cough, cough* No, no!!! *cough* Im not good!! I- I dont think i should be listening to this!!!

Natasha and Yelena laugh. He tries to get off the couch but nat pulls him back down and crosses her legs over top of his motioning Cevyn to do the same to keep him there. She lays her head in Yelena's lap.

Natasha: Sit down, she was a menace last year. youll wanna hear this!

He gives up. Sounds like good tea any damn way. (We all know Clint is one of the girls!!!)

Yelena: Cevy, what happened?

Cevyn: well after my 2 year relationship failed, i decided to have some... fun. Safe fun.

Natasha: Yeah, a WHOLE year worth of 'fun'.

Clint: that asswhole cheated on you didnt he?

Cevyn: yup

Clint sighs.

Clint: Why didnt you call me?

Cevyn: Cause i handled it... no ones gonna miss him.

C/Y/N: WHAT!?!?

She laughs.

Cevyn: im kidding!... maybe.

Clint looks at nat.

Clint: And what do you mean by a whole year?

Nat sighs and rubs her temples at the very fond memories of the year before.

Natasha: a different guy. Each day. 365 days in a year. You do the math.

Clint: CYNTHIA ELINA VALYN YAZMINE NOELLE STRYKER!!!

Cevyn side-eyes him at the use of her government name.

Clint: what the hell?!?! Didnt you have missions???

She smirks as Yelena burst out laughing.

Clint: my god

Cevyn: yup, i called upon him a couple of times. It was also more ladies than guys.

Yelena calms down from damn near dying.

Yelena: WHAT?!?! ARE YOU SAYING I COULDVE BEEN ONE OF THEM?!?!

Cevyn: im sorry baby, and it was only 364. I didnt have anybody on new years eve.

Yelena mumbles.

Yelena: could've had me...

Cevyn sits up and kisses her cheeks.

Cevyn: Maybe next time, boo. But Doesnt mean i didnt do anything though.

Yelena: whatd you do?

Cevyn: Well...

Flashback: Tony's Avengers ONLY New years eve pajama party 2021

Cevyn's PJs

(For once Tony didn't want a hell of a lot of people around.)

The party was BANGIN'!!! It was getting close to midnight, There was tons of liquor, everybody was dancing, Cevyn got so drunk she gave a full on lipsync concert. After that, she walked into the kitchen to grab some water.

When she walked in she saw her best friend Bucky and the one shady bitch she could never stand: Sharon. It seriously bothered her that bucky would choose that thing to date out of any woman in the world, which she reminded Buck daily about.

Theres a reason why Cevyn hates Sharon. Before Cevyn's last relationship, she caught the bitch sucking him off. After that, Sharon tried to act as if nothing ever happened. (Tryna be her friend and shit, bitch you know what the fuck you did!)

Finally, when she gave up and started dating Buck, Cev plotted her revenge. If bitches feel that they can take and play the delusional card, two can play that game. She walks over, purposely bumping Sharon out of the way to stand on her tiptoes wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a loving kiss on Bucky's cheek.

Bucky: Hi Cevy.

Cevyn: Hi Bucket.

Sharon scoffs as he wraps his arms around her voluptuous body, damn near feeling her up. He returns the kiss close to the corner of her mouth, a sight Sharon doesn't miss.

She shoves Cev out of the way. Cevyn was about to swipe Sharon across her face but Bucky caught her wrist and turned her around slowly.

As she opens the fridge she mumbles about how she was gonna snatch this hoe up by the hair on the nape of her neck and slang her on the floor resulting in dog walking her like the bitch she is.

Bucky: Sharon, the hell did you do that for?

Sharon: Oh, when she does it theres no problem, but when i do it there is?

Bucky scoffs, making Cev turn around snickering.

Bucky: Oh god, im not doing this with you.

Sharon walks away damn near on the brink of tears, which no one cares about. Bucky lets her go, reaching to grab a cupcake from the cake tower. As he grabs it, frosting gets on his metal thumb. Before he can grab a napkin, Cevyn takes his hand.

Cevyn: Dont worry, baby. Ill lick it up

Bucky: Its okay- oh shit!

Hes cut off as she latches her soft, plump lips around the tip of his thumb, gently sucking the tip. She pulls back with a pop that echos throughout the kitchen, even though the music is pretty loud.

Cevyn: What was that?

Bucky stumbles over his words trying to get out of the trance shes put him in.

Bucky: I-I- I dont-

Keeping eye contact, she kitten licks his thumb. She plays confused while smirking.

Cevyn: You dont what, baby? Whats wrong?

He continues to stammer and look between her eyes and her tongue rounding circles on his thumb, placing it back in her mouth.

Bucky: I dont know w-whats happening... but- but i like it.

She smiles. She moves to kiss his lips mumbling against them.

Cevyn: Mm-hm *kiss* I know you do *kiss* Keep your eyes on mommy, ok?

He nods absentmindedly slipping into a place he's never been before: ✨️SUBMISSION✨️ With his thumb back in its rightful spot, and continuous eye contact, she gets on her knees, holding his wrist, sucking faster. She unzips her onsie letting her tits spill out.

She places his right hand on her boob for him to squish. She moves her hand feeling him grow in his sweatpants. She moves off of his thumb to pull his sweats and boxers down to reveal his dick. Before he can say anything, shes fast like lightning, sucking his tip greedily then deepthroats him causing his knees to weaken and a string of 'holy fucks' to leave his mouth, catching him off guard. She giggles and moans sending vibrations around his shaft.

5 minutes go by and Sharon walks back in. She hears moans so she tries to be silent. She gets around the island and sees Cevyn on her knees with her eyes rolled back as Bucky fucks her throat. Cevyn looks over to see her standing with her jaw dropped. She sends her a menacing wink, smirking with her mouth full, cum dribbling down the side of her mouth.

She pulls away from Bucky swallowing every drop. She pulls up his sweats, using his thumb to swipe up his sweet sticky leftovers just to suck it off, and stands up to fix her clothes, but Bucky stops her picking her up to sit her on the island, and latches on to her nipple, making her laugh. She rubs her hands through his hair still eyeing up Sharon.

Cevyn: Enjoying the show?

Bucky turns his head, not so concerned about the situation at hand. Hes had a thing for Cev for a long time. But he made the mistake of dating Sharon to take his mind off of her. He smiles at her, picks up Cevyn wrapping her legs around his waist, walking out of the kitchen.

Cevyn: Paybacks a bitch, aint it?

Bucky: We're done Sharon.

Cevyn laughs. Bucky gets in the elevator.

Cevyn: where we going?

Bucky: To our floor. Where im gonna fuck you SENSELESS and make you cum so hard while we count down. Is that alright with you mama?

She smirks.

Cevyn: Yes, daddy.

End of flashback

As Nat and Yelena clapped and cheered, Clint sat puzzled.

Clint: didnt you ruin a relationship?

The girls laugh.

Cevyn: More like rescued Bucky because that shit show was doomed from the beginning. He's mine now, and I don't plan on letting him go anywhere.

Buck sneaks up behind. He gently pulls her head back, planting multiple kisses on her lips putting a smile on her face.

Cevyn: Hi baby.

Bucky: Hi mama. Happy anniversary.

Cevyn: happy anniversary. Oh, speaking of...

She gets up, rounding the couch.

Cevyn: I know what I wanna do now.

Bucky: Whats that?

She whispers in his ear.

Cevyn: Mind-blowing, life-altering, earth-shattering sex.

Without a second thought, he taps her thighs, signaling her to jump up.

Bucky: SOLD!!!

He runs them out of the room.

C/Y/N: BYE GUYS!

C/B: BYE!

Cevyn: IF YOU HEAR SCREAMING, ITS NOT ME!!!!

FIN.

[retro-rezz-the-est]

Opposites Attract pt. 1 (Balor/Reader)

Summary: Reader is Balor’s complete opposite, and yet he finds himself drawn to her gentle and angelic behavior. He takes her back to his kingdom one night and discovers that she’s not as innocent as she claims to be.

(A/N: Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! I hope you all have found love on this day in any form it may be in. And if not, I hope that this will bring some into your life ^^. There will be a second part to this and yes, it will include smut XD)

(Y/n): your name

Bolded text is Balor speaking.

Finn could feel Balor’s jealousy begin to flow through his veins as he watched Drew approach your table, Dolph flanking his left side. You were absorbed in your conversation with Natalya and Alicia before the Scottish man’s large hand slammed down harshly onto the table, startling the three of you and drawing your eyes to his own lingering ones.

“Hello, (Y/n),” he breathed, his gaze raking down chest in your sleeveless RAW tee. Finn could see how uncomfortable you where, noting how your arms gave way to slight shakes and how you began to scratch at your palm.

“H-Heya, Drew,” you said as you moved your chair back slightly. His dominating aura was not what you expected to encounter that Monday, especially so early in the afternoon. Glancing at the two women next to you, you could see their eyes narrow and twitch in the direction of the Scotsman and his blonde friend. For once, you thanked them for how protective of you they were.

You gave him a meek wave and brushed some hair in front of your face to hide yourself from his stare, but he wouldn’t budge. Instead, he pulled up his own chair, spinning it around and throwing himself down onto it without breaking eye contact. Alicia’s grip on your thigh tightened as a sly grin made its way onto his face, and you could feel the tension between your two girls and him grow immensely.

Drew’s breath reeked of stale beer, and you wondered about how far you could lean back before the chair you sat in gave out and you fell on your ass. He leaned forward and raised his eyebrows at the three of you, making a show out of glancing at your disgusted faces.

He turned his attention to you and asked, “Say, (Y/n), why don’t you an’ I get th’ hell outta here with me an’ Dolph over here and go have some real fun? Just th’ three of us.”

He tried to make a move towards you but you moved away, attempting to hide yourself inside your shirt. The two men gave a roar of laughter at your meekness and sighed, your hold on Alicia’s wrist slipping.

At last, her anger burst through the folds. “Listen here, you drunk motherfu-”

“I think that’s enough outta you, McIntyre.”

The five of you went silent as a hand fell onto the Scot’s shoulder and turned him around. There stood an angry Finn, eyebrows furrowed with rage and veins almost bursting out of his biceps. His aura spread across the entire room, rendering everyone else to their metaphorical knees.

Dolph, being the brave but stupid foot soldier that he is, felt the need to step up to the angry Irishman and poke his finger into his chest. “Oh yeah? What are you, of all people, gonna do about it?”

Lashing his own hand out, he pulled the blonde’s arm away from him and gripped his wrist tight. The twist he gave his arm made him scream out in pain, his face being slammed into the table. The shock made you, Alicia, and Nattie jump out of fear and surprise.

“That’s what I’m gonna do about it,” he uttered in a cold voice. “Now, get him and yourself outta here before I do some real damage.”

He released Ziggler’s arm and stepped back, allowing him to stand back up and lead Drew out of catering before throwing a nasty look his way. As soon as the duo was gone, he pivoted and overlooked the three of you. “Are you all alright?”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Nattie answered, taking a hold of one of your shaking hands. “Thanks for coming when you did. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t here.”

Alicia pouted, crossing her arms and huffing. “I know what I would have done. I would have punched him and Dolph in their smug faces.”

“Oh, you would so do that,” Nattie teased, getting up and brushing off her legs. The two of them said their goodbyes to both you and Finn and kissed your forehead, waving as they headed to their locker rooms to change. It felt like hours had gone by when they left until he cleared his throat, garnering your attention.

“Are you okay, (Y/n)? They didn’t hurt ya in any way, did they?”

You were quick to shoot down his second question, shaking your head rapidly as your hair swished in front of your face. “No, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

He continued to stand there for a few moments until he said, “I could walk ya to your locker room, if ya want.”

You could see him scratch at the nape of his neck and blush like a teenager, and that made you do the same. Getting up, you pushed in your chair and shuffled to the door, glancing behind you and giving him the signal to follow you. The two of you exited the room and you cradled your elbow in your free hand as he followed closely behind.

As the two of you made your way to the door with your name marked onto it, you stopped and felt his presence radiating from behind you. You turned and looked up at him, your eyes soft and gentle.

“Thanks again for walking me here, Finn,” you whispered, reaching up and and twirling a strand of your hair around your finger. The coloring in your cheeks didn’t seem to want to cease, and you were desperate for an exit.

He brushed a hand over his face, replying, “Don’t mention it, (Y/n). Just didn’t want anyone else coming onto ya like Drew did.”

Ask her out, you fool.

“Shut it before I lock you out again.”

You peered up at him, asking, “Where you talking to me?”

He chuckled nervously, running a hand through his beard again as he commented, “Not at all, darling. I’m just gonna head back and watch the rest of the show. I’ll see ya around (Y/n).”

And with that, he spun around and began walking back to catering, leaving you stunned.

He… he called me “darling”…

He waited for you near the curtain as you walked up the ramp after your win against Sarah Logan. You could feel the adrenaline running through your veins when you passed the curtain, but as soon as you saw him, it all ran ice cold. The feeling of him brushing against your arm sent goosebumps flying across the flesh.

“(Y/n)! I was hoping to catch you here.”

You couldn’t stop the stutter in your voice as you spoke. “Y’Yeah, Finn. What’d you n-need?”

“I wanted to ask you… uh….” The words just wouldn’t come out of his mouth, even though he had practiced them right after he had left you at your locker room. “I wanted to… to know if you-”

Oh for fuck’s sake, you poor, stuttering fool. Move aside.

The shudder that zapped into his body didn’t go unnoticed by you, and you saw the blacks of his pupils absorb the blues and whites of his eyes, leaving behind inky pools of dark. His back straightened and he straightened the “Balor Club Worldwide” tee that he was wearing.

Carding his fingers together, he said, “I wanted to know if you were free this weekend. I wanted to take you out to eat. Will you join me?”

Something took over your body and through his bluntness, you nodded and he smirked.

“That’s great, (Y/n). I’ll meet you at your place. Text me the address, will you?”

He walked away directly after, leaving you stunned for the second time in a row that night, and then reality walked into your mind and hit you with a sack of bricks.

“I have a fucking date with… holy shit!” you exclaimed, rushing as fast as you could back to your locker room to grab your things and head out for the night.

The following Saturday, you paced anxiously in front of your apartment door as you waited for him to arrive, running your hands through your hair another time. Trying to heed your friends’ advice was difficult as is, but you weren’t going on a date with just anybody. This was Finn Balor: a man that exuded confidence and sexual prowess with every step. And with Balor inside of his body...

Your fingers continued to pick at the cuffs of your white off-the-shoulder top and your thoughts continued to roam down a narrow path.

You were just… you. You were nothing special, especially compared to someone like him. The majority of your dates seemed to make fun of your apparent shy and good-hearted nature, and you weren’t sure it you could handle that coming from the man who held your heart in his hands.

You’ll be fine, you thought, looking at your phone. He should be here soon. He might be your complete, utter opposite but that’s ok. Doesn’t that trope always work out on TV?

A knock on your door pulled you away from your head and you picked at your black leggings, giving yourself a quick look in a nearby mirror before slipping on a pair of flats. Opening the door slowly, there stood the man himself, clad in a black and red silk suit jacket and some black dress pants. The first few buttons of his crisp white dress shirt where unbuttoned, and in that moment you felt severely under-dressed.

Looking down at your choice of attire, you uttered, “Y-You told me to dress casually for tonight, but I can go back upstairs and change into something more fancy if we’re going someplace nicer than what I pictured. Not that you’re gonna take me anywhere gross, because I know you have standards and oh God, now I’m rambling and I sound like a complete fo-”

You felt a finger press to your lips gently. Removing it, he used it to then lift your chin and look you in the eye with his cold, but comforting lighter ones.

“You don’t have to change for anything, sweetheart,” he spoke, his breath fanning out across your face. “This is fine for now. Everything will be taken care of when we get there.”

You didn’t realize how close he was until he was leaning down to look at you, and you took a moment to gaze over the softness in his face and the slight redness flushing his cheeks, paired with those perfectly shaped lips of his…

“Wait, where are we going? You never specified.”

A laugh was heard as he placed two finger against your temple. “You’ll find out soon enough. After all, you did want to get to know me better.”

A wave of nauseousness rolled over you as you felt your legs buckle underneath you. Your vision soon grew blurrier and blurrier, and the sounds around you became more warbled and joined together. Before the darkness claimed you, you felt a soft pair of arms wrap around your torso and hold you close to a solid chest. You peered up at Finn’s face to see twin black eyes staring directly back at you. A grin slid onto his face and he let out a small chuckle.

“This is going to be a very interesting night,” he spoke, the tone of his voice echoing in your ear as you faded to black…

…

…

...

...until you abruptly woke up, sputtering out a gasp and holding your chest. Wiping the sweat from your forehead with your hand, you looked down to see your clothes and your shoes still on. But, a closer look around the room proved that you were not anywhere you knew.

The bedroom around you contained various shades of grey, black, and red, including some of the most lavish items you’d ever seen. You splayed your fingers out onto the soft sheets below and held them, turning around to see the vast seat of pillows behind you.

Where am I? you wondered as you slid from the wine colored bedspread, your feet softly hitting the grey carpet below you. Another quick look around the room led you to one of the chairs near the door, a long black and red dress hanging from its back. Attached to the seat was a note and you gingerly unfolded it, taking in a breath at the name on the bottom.

Dearest (Y/n),

I’m sorry that I made you black out earlier in your apartment. The way to my home isn’t… conventional, so I had to shield you from it.I hope you can forgive me. I can assure you nothing happened to you during the time from your apartment to now. You have my word.

Along the sides of this chair lies an new ensemble for you to wear for dinner tonight. Don’t worry, everything is in your size. I got a little help from a few of your friends. Please join me downstairs whenever you are ready. I can’t wait to see where the night takes us, darling.

Yours truly, Balor

The note fluttered out of your hands and onto the ground as you felt your head start to spin. “Well, that explains the black eyes… and me passing out…” you mumbled, glancing at the chair draped over the ornate wooden seat. Lifting it revealed it to be a floor length blood red gown with a sheer black lace top, complete with a black belt holding the two to each other. Underneath the chair was a pair of sleek black heels, and you wondered how much all of this costed him.

Thank God for strapless bras, you thought, slipping off your shirt and out of you leggings and folding them. Placing them on the bed behind you, you unzipped the back of the dress and slid it on. The lace was surprisingly soft against the skin of your arms, and the dress itself fit perfectly. The shoes did as well, moving them from underneath the chair and sitting back down on the bed to put them on. A large floor-to-ceiling mirror was placed conveniently next to you, and you hesitate to take a look at yourself.

You looked… good. You felt good. All your best features were shown, and you loved it. You felt sexy, powerful, and ready to take on the man waiting for you downstairs.

You felt dominant.

Spinning around to get another angle, you said, “Never thought this would be the thing to make me feel this way but hey, I’ll take it.”

With a quick drag of your fingers through your hair, you left the room, the soft clacking of the heels echoed throughout the dark and empty hallway as you stepped outside. Suddenly, the candles lining the walls around you came to life, giving the area a surprisingly soft glow. As you started your voyage to the stairs, you dragged your fingertips along the carvings of the dark oak walls near you and the shining silver candelabras that held the lights.

“Ah, you’re finally here. I was beginning to worry.”

The deep voice drew your head towards the bottom of the stairs and you saw him, still clad in the suit from earlier. You could feel the blood rush to your cheeks as you slowly walked down to Balor and his eyes roamed down your body. Taking the hand he outstretched to you, you looked away from his lingering gaze and the two of you made your way to the dining room. He could see your fascination with his home, and loved how wide your eyes got when you saw something you liked on the walls.

Finally, a large wooden door opened to reveal his dining area, complete with a long black marble table that held even more candles, a bouquet of roses near one of the seats, plates of food, and two glasses of red wine ready for you.

He squeezed your hand and pointed up, directing you to the glass roof that exposed the most clear night sky you’ve ever had the beauty of seeing. You felt your mouth open slightly as you gasped and saw the millions of stars shine above you.

His hand grazed your jaw, and you turned to face him. “The stars in the sky tonight don’t even shine half as bright as you do, my dear,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “And close your mouth, (Y/n). You might catch flies.”

He chuckled at his little jab and moved towards the head of the table, you wiping your now sweaty palms on the sides of your gown. Pulling out the chair next to him, you sat down and looked down at your lap, the emptiness of the room seeming to seep into your skin.

“So, it is true. Was he okay with it?”

He raised his eyebrow. “What’s true, darling?”

Lifting your hands, you gestured towards Balor and the midnight pools that were his eyes. His posture was too straight, his actions too flirty. This was Balor: a manipulator at heart and a piece of the man you loved. The man before you grinned slyly, placing his elbows on the table and leaning forward.

“Yes, it’s true, and he’s fine with me taking the wheels for our little get-together tonight. We are very much alike, him and I.”

Your chair suddenly scooched forward and you were face to face with him, the look in his eyes a mischievous one. “But, unlike him, I had the balls to ask you out first.”

Another faint gasp left your lips and he began to roar with laughter. “What, you actually believed he planned all of this? Please, you’re in my kingdom now, (Y/n).”

His smile seemed to stretch for miles, his blinding white teeth looking as if they were growing and becoming sharper. You don’t know why but him looking at you in such a manner made your core wet, causing you to squirm in your seat. The room soon fell quiet after a few moments until a loud growling came from your stomach, your face growing as hot as the candles around you.

“Eat, dear,” he said, the smell of the food in front of you now too enticing to ignore. “We can continue our conversations as the night goes on. After all, I do want to get to know you better.”

And talk you did. In between bites of food and sips of wine, you shared small stories about yourself and your interests, throwing some things about your personal life as well. Throughout it, Balor said very few words - only commenting a few times - but was very attentive to the little movements you made while you spoke of your home.

He noticed how your shoulders would vibrate with energy as you talked about subjects you loved, and how your eyebrows furrowed when discussing topics that gave you distaste. He saw you eyes sparkle when you began speaking about your family and how you got to the WWE. You were too into your thoughts, but he listened to you and saw the little things.

And all of those little things made his cold heart a little bit warmer.

Time seemed to slow down in the dining room as the two of you continued to chat, laughter and jabs pouring out of you both. Over time, your hand drifted onto and across the table, slipping into one of his free ones. Balor closed his hand around your much smaller one and looked up, seeing how worked up and buoyant you became.

At that moment, a loud chime was heard from down the hall and you stopped mid-sentence. Looking up at the ceiling, you were able to see the stars much more clearly. They seemed to shine even more like celestial diamonds as you rose from your seat, removing your hand from Balor’s soft hold and clasping them together.

Glancing at the door, you asked, “The clock chime… what did it mean? How long have we been in here?”

He snapped his fingers and the dishes and the decor that littered the table was gone, save for a single red rose in front of your chair. “Oh, that? That means that it’s midnight, darling.”

“Midnight?! I didn’t realize we were talking for so long!”

You placed a hand to your chest and felt your heart beat faster, turning your head to face him. He picked up the rose from the table and placed it behind your ear before moving his hand to caress your jaw.

“There, there, sweetheart. The conversations we had were an amazing way to pass the time. They only made me fall for you even harder than before.”

He wrapped an arm around your waist as he dragged the tips of his fingers along the grooves of the lace on your dress. Leaning forward, you caught a whiff of a smell that was undeniably his and felt his lips press against your forehead, his beard brushing against your nose and cheek.

“There’s a choice to make here, (Y/n). I won’t force you to stay, but I would love to continue this little rendezvous of ours,” he whispered against your temple, pulling you close. “Would you like to stay the night with me?”

Throughout the entirety of your dinner, you could feel a voice pounding at the back of your head. You had silenced it before but now it was getting louder, almost as if it was screaming through a megaphone connected to a billion speakers.

Take him.

Claim his heart just as he claimed yours.

Make him yours.

Show him how much you care for him.

Make him beg for you.

Show him who’s in charge.

Dominate him.

Stay. The. Night.

You slid your hands up his chest and gripped the lapels of his twin colored suit jacket. You could feel a newfound surge of confidence roll through your body like a wave, and you could see his shock as your eyes grew dark with lust.

“You got yourself a deal, Balor. I’ll stay the night. Let’s see where this ‘rendezvous’ takes us now.”

Tagging: @crossfitjesusinskinnyjeans @theneverendingthirst @tacoshu @gold--gucciempress @i-have-saracasm @littledeadrottinghood @liampaynesartist @writing-reigns @wrestlingxbalorxrollins @wrestlingfae @hardcorewwetrash @wrestlingbabe @aj-mac21 @the-carter-mob-don @melinated-moon-goddess @luciddrreamss @justsimplevicky @meremaidqueen @missjenniferb @wwevampireamongkpop @rosequartz-ext @wrestlingbabe @wrestlingxbalorxrollins @spacemansam @thelifeofmely

[angrylizardjacket]

ask you destiny to dance [7] {Roger Taylor}

[masterpost]

“What did you do? Ash is more pissed at you than usual.” Brian’s looking covertly between Ash wiping glasses at the bar, and Roger, adjusting the height of his high hats a few weeks after he’d confronted her about August. She hadn’t spoken to him directly since then, but the other band members were starting to catch on.

“I didn’t do anything-” Roger tries to protest, but Freddie’s laugh cuts him off.

“He made a comment about Pocket Rocket’s dear friend.” Freddie adds, having adapted to the nickname with ease, an amused smile on his face as he looks at Roger over his shoulder.

“You mean her boyfriend.” Roger snaps, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ash tense at the bar, giving away her eavesdropping, though he didn’t call her out on it.

“Ash isn’t dating that guy, he’s like forty.” Brian laughed, but Roger caught the way Freddie’s expression darkened, though he didn’t dwell on it, and Roger’s own smile became knowing and bitter.

“Yeah, listen Bri, I know what I said.” He responded venomously, and the mood around them sobered considerably. “I don’t like him, okay, he’s too old for her,” after a beat, he wrinkled his nose, “got a dickhead aura.” 

“You’ve met him once.” John points out, trying to lighten the aura. Roger just bristled at the statement.

“Rog is just fond of her,” Freddie cuts in, voice a little condescending, smile mischievous, “let him be jealous, it might take him down a peg or two.”  

“I’m not bloody jealous of that creep!” After a beat of feeling particularly hurt, and Freddie’s commenting hitting a little too close to home, he hears himself lashing out, “And how low do you think my standards really are, Freds?” And that shocked Freddie into silence, eyes wide and disbelieving, his eyebrows raised, as he turned away, jaw clenched.

“You really are just trying to burn that bridge while we’re standing on it, aren’t you?” Brian shook his head, sighing heavily as he went back to his guitar.

“Roger,” John said carefully, coming over to speak quietly to the drummer, as the rest of the band turned away, uncomfortable, “let me get the drinks tonight.” And it’s not what he expected to hear, but when he looks to John, John’s looking over at the bar. Ash is making direct eye contact with him, her customer service smile looking mostly threatening as she keeps polishing the same spot on a glass. “Because that woman is going to spit in all of your drinks and make you watch.” John explains, now looking to Roger, who’s expression was carefully neutral, trying not to betray his own anger at himself. “And as much as I love our dear Pocket Rocket, it’s not something I particularly want.” 

She’s definitely gone back to hating him, and he didn’t realise how much it would hurt. 

The worst part is that she’s so damn happy around everyone else, and he hates himself for being hurt by that. He’s angry, but not at her (never at her, not for something like this) he’s angry because he sees the way she smiles at him from behind the bar, and he sees the way August spends more time looking at the girls in the crowd, though she can’t even tell from where she’s standing. Roger’s angry because she fucking gushes about August - “He’s just made tenure!” - and yet he won’t even touch her if there’s someone else around. He’s livid because she’s so clearly in love with him, but she still can’t bring herself to tell the others his name because she knows - knows - something’s up with August, even if she doesn’t want to admit it, even if the others can’t see it.

Except that’s not the reason she doesn’t say his name.

“He’s here at every show, we should say thank you.” Brian tries after a gig, talking mainly to Roger and John, as Freddie had been giggling with Mary, the two of them in their own little world. Ash is nowhere to be seen. Roger takes another drag of his cigarette.

“Heaps of people are fans of us, it doesn’t mean we have to personally thank them every time.” Roger scoffed, but Brian made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like he disagreed.

“It’s a show of good faith, we should at least shake hands with-” and he paused for a moment, brow furrowing, “what’d she say his name was again?”

“Doctor Reid, if I recall.” John piped up, and Brian shifted his weight, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, but what’s his first name? That sounds so formal, like, ‘Oh, can I grab you a beer Doctor Reid?’” He put on a voice, laughing at his own joke, looking to John, who just shrugged helplessly.

“August.” Roger’s voice is very quiet, hunched in on himself sitting in the back of the van. Brian frowns, leaning in a little, confused as to both how Roger has kept this for so long, and what the name actually was. “His name’s August.” Roger repeated, voice heavy but louder this time. Freddie freezes. “She calls him Gus.” He adds.

“You’re joking, right?” Freddie says into the uncertain silence, and that’s the moment that the back door comes crashing open and Ash comes out, grinning, hands in her pockets.

“Hey guys,” she grinned, nodding at them, not even sparing Roger a glace, “could I have my jacket back? You can drop the pants back tomorrow if you like.” Freddie turns to her, eyes wide, disbelieving smile still frozen almost painfully onto his face, not removing the oversized, blood red velour button down shirt Freddie had been wearing over a black singlet.

“Is that man we keep seeing Gus?” He asked, voice scarily neutral. None of the others had ever heard him like this, had barely heard Freddie genuinely angry like this, and Ash’s expression dropped.

“I’ve gotta go.” It’s not the answer any of them expect, nor is Ash turning on her heel and heading back into the pub before the door had even swung fully shut. Turning back to the band, they could all see that Freddie was livid.

“I’m going to gut the bastard. Gut him like a goddamn fish, I swear I will.” He seethed, hands curling and uncurling into fists, staring at the gravel. It was as if the air around him was snapping with the electricity of a storm. Looking up, all Freddie could see was how shocked the others were, even Roger, and he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to calm down.

“That’s the bastard that ruined her life.” He admitted through clenched teeth. “Roger’s fucking right, the man’s no good.” And Roger couldn’t even take the moment to bask in the vindication that would have usually surged through him at being told he was right, instead, his blood runs cold.

“He what?” Mary asked softly, and Freddie’s expression softened, looking finally between all of them, realising what he’d said.

“He’s the reason she was expelled from her last university, and...” Frowning, Freddie shakes his head. Brian, John, and Mary all took a moment to process this new information, shock written all over their faces. “It’s not my place,” and he started on a new strand of information, “he was her teacher, he started a clandestine affair with her when she started university, and,” pausing again, he sighed, the anger still clearly flowing through him, though it had simmered down to a bitter rage, “not my place.” He repeated. 

“Doesn’t he have a wife and family? How old was she?” Brian asked, a little aghast, and Freddie sighed.

“She was eighteen.” Freddie sighed.

“She was a kid.” Roger breathed, anger bubbling up inside of him.

“Hey, that’s only a year younger than me.” John pointed out, but Roger turned on him.

“Oh, I’m sorry John, are you having an affair with one of your teachers that we need to stage an intervention for?” He snapped, and John’s face fell, and he looked to the ground.

“I’m just saying she was an adult is all, doesn’t make it right, but she can make her own choices.” He paused. “She seems happy.” Both Freddie and Roger deflated at that, they’re all quiet for a long moment, and without a word, Freddie heads inside.

“Ash.” When he says her name, she looks up with an expression that tells him she’s ready to fight.

“He’s different now, Freddie.” She tells him, already defending herself and the man who she knows in her heart probably doesn’t deserve it. Freddie was ready to fight him the moment he heard August’s name, and he didn’t even know the full story. Sure he could gather the impact it had on Ash, but he never really truly realised the effect August had on her.

“What does that mean, Ash? What exactly is keeping me from coming over here and beating him bloody with my microphone next time we play here?” Freddie asked, voice very serious. Pulling off her apron, Ash told Maureen, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, that she was knocking off for the night, which Maureen agreed to, and Ash walked around the bar and took Freddie’s hand.

“We’re not having this conversation here.” She hissed, pulling him into the staff bathroom and locking it behind them. “I love him.” She said through gritted teeth, crossing her hands over her chest, looking away. “And after everything I did, I think he still loves me too.”

“After everything you- Ash do you hear yourself?” Freddie takes a deep breath, steadying himself, holding her shoulders, “He start an affair with you, his student, refuse to be seen with you in public, and used his power within the faculty to kick you out of school when you wanted to stop-”

“I only wanted to stop because I found out he was engaged when his fiance found out about me!” Ash cried, as if it were somehow her fault. Freddie actually stepped back.

“Found out about you- He was engaged?!” He whispered, eyes wide and horrified. “Darling that’s nowhere near being your fault. He had a whole town calling you a slut and a homewrecker; he didn’t love you, he ran you out of Scotland.” 

“He ran me out of Fife.” She spits back the correction. “I would know, I was there.” But she doesn’t seem to connect to the words he’s saying, it’s as if she’s replayed the events in her head so many times that she’s become desensitised to it. “But he’s changed, I was practically a kid last time, I’m different now too. And if he didn’t love me then,” she looks a little hurt as she says it, and Freddie doesn’t know if he wants to hug her or shake some sense into her, “well I think he does now.” After a beat she ducked her gaze, voice becoming a weary sigh as she leaned against the counter. “Listen, Freds, I’ll keep him out of the bar, you won’t have to see him, but this is my life.”

“Don’t make the same mistake again-”

“He’s told me that Kira’s his ex-fiance, so I don’t think she’ll be a problem.” Ash rolled her eyes at Freddie, who opened his mouth to protest that that wasn’t the point, but she added. “Can you get Roger to shut up? I’m sick of hearing him bitching.” 

“Did something happen between you two?” Is what Freddie finally finds himself asking.

“I could get used to this.” Roger grins at her when she brings him a cup of tea in the warm light of the late morning, a book under one of her arms. She keeps using the mug with the cat faces on it for him, he’s started calling it ‘his mug’ and maybe she’s started calling it that too in her mind.

“Yeah, well don’t. You can get your own tea next time.” Ash laughed, sitting up beside in bed, cradling her own tea in one hand, pulling out the book with the other.

“Just show me where everything is, I think I could manage.” Roger chuckles, putting his free arm around her where she’s sat back against the headboard. “What are you reading?” Looking at him with a little surprise, Ash smiles slightly, taking a big gulp of tea, putting the mostly full cup on the bedside table before tucking herself against him, opening up the book.

“I found it in the common room, it’s one of those trashy romance novels,” after a beat, she closed the book, keeping her place with her finger, showing him the cover, where a woman was posing sensuously with a hand on a beautifully painted horse, “but I think she fucks the horse.” Roger snorts at that, his arm tightening around her just a little.

He doesn’t have an answer, just laughs, reading with her when she opens the book back up. It’s soft and domestic, her head on his chest as they both read the novella, sipping their tea on occasion. The blinds are down, but there’s still stripes of light peeking through, hitting the floor with golden light and the room feels warm and hazy. They stay like that for a long while, Roger actually becomes rather engrossed in the story, and when Ash shifts to lean over and take a sip of her tea, he takes the book to read ahead a few lines. When she turns back, she just watches him for a moment, a fond smile slowly spreading over her face, and when he finally looks up, realised he was caught, she leans forward, pressing a kiss to his lips, sweet, her hand coming up to cup his cheek, and when she pulls back, he’s smiling back at her, a little confused.

“What was that for?” He grinned, and Ash shrugged, ducking her head to hide her blush.

“I dunno, maybe the book got me going.” She lied easily, and Roger’s expression turns a little unreadable, though it’s clear he doesn’t believe her.

“We weren’t even up to the hot part!” He countered, and Ash laughed, taking the book from him, but he stays holding it, lets himself be pulled with it until he’s meeting her for a kiss, his hand on her wrist when he lets go of the book to move up her arm and start sliding off her dressing gown. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Yeah, Ash had thought, I could get used to this.

“Hello, Ash?” In the present, Freddie waves a hand in front of her face. Ash’s expression soured as her chest began to ache.

“No, okay? Nothing happened between us, Freddie. Roger’s just being a bitch.”

the ususal suspects: @deakydickfanpage @hollyissuchahoe  @laueecakee@smittyjaws @crystalshines2909 @i-am-sarah @legendsaresooftenwarnings@2ptonpt @benhardy24-7 @maiilovely @mickey-yr-a-goner @butter-times@heyyouitskay @tired-eyes-fairy-lights​ @yepimthatperson @missieluvsmurder @ironqueen98 @ceruleanrainblues ​ @banhbao329 @fantasticchaoticwho @ko-kitty @seven-seas-of-hi @mimisfangirlfantasy @aadjuric @rogmobile @cardybenhardy

[jackandmarksavedme88]

@ashphoenix06 @weirdmixofweirdness @honestlyitsjustkennaswriting @emma-wrote

TW: Violence anxd Blood

(I dont have a title for it lmao)

I could hear Jack in the next room recording his let's play; I heard him laugh and giggled. "My best friend is an idiot." I checked my phone, waiting for him to be done. I looked around and wondered how the hell i got here. Four years ago i was just someone just watching his videoes. Now? He's one of my best friends....something i would've laughed in your face for even suggesting it could happen. And yet here i am.

Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck stand up...something's wrong. I realized its too quiet. I look toward Jack's game room and realize its silent.... except for a faint static sound.

"Jack?? You ok in there dude?"

My question was met with silence.

"Jack?" I get up and walk towards the door to the room hes in. The sound makes me shiver. 'What the hell is that?' I wonder.

"Hey... You ok?" I say as i knock on the door

"Ye-yeah...Im good...hey listen i dont think i can go tonight."

I frown "Huh? The whole reason anyone is coming is because youre here in LA for a while and they havent seen you in forever"

I hear him breathing hard "Just...go and tell them im sick"

I turn the knob slightly to open the door "Jack, are you sure youre ok?

"YES! ITS JUST A DAMN HEADACHE. GO"

I jump back, startled at the rage and pain mixed in his voice.

"Uh..o-ok...... If you need something let me know" I turn and walk out of the apartment hes renting and frown as i step onto the street

'What the hell was that?' I wonder.

I see a text from Amy asking if we are on the way. I dial her

'Hellllooooo?' I hear her boyfriend Mark's goofy voice

'Hey guys...jack is sick. He's not coming tonight'

Theres a pause as they take in the confusion and hurt in my voice

'What happened?' Asked Amy

'Fuckin beats me. But if he was a girl id guess PMS. He yelled at me! But its whatever. I'll just go hang out at home. I dont feel much like going anywhere anymore"

"No. Im going to come get you." Amy said. "Ill invite Katherine and Tyler and Ethan and we will all hang out at our house.... I dont want you alone right now"

I knew why. Mark and Amy knew all about the nightmares, the panic attacks. All of it started ten months ago and whenever they could, they kept me company

I was quiet...thinking back. To that night that everything came crashing down. The facade i built up was torn away.

*************

"Ugh. Youre talking to them AGAIN? Why do you feel the need to be up their asses"

I jumped, startled by Brandon speaking from the doorway

"Jesus babe. You scared me! Im watching Jack's video and talking to him and Mark."

'Yeah. Like you do every freakin day. You ever think they get tired of you?" His words dripped coldly, stabbing at a well known insecurity and finding their mark

I took a deep breath "No. Because they would say so. They would tell me 'hey. I dont feel like talking' and that would be that"

Brandon rolled his eyes "Yeah. Whatever. I dont see why youre friends with them anyway. They take too much priority. You should be focused on other things...like me"

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes "I focus on you enough. Come watch with me! Its funny!"

"No. Thanks. I have better things to do. You should too" his voice getting that edge to it...the one I knew too well, it made me cringe but at the same time pissed me off

"I really dont get what your deal is." I said

"My deal is they stick their nose where it doesnt belong and they dont know when to walk away....especially that little Irish asshole" he sneered.

That struck me for some reason "Hey! Jack has never done anything to you Brandon. Neither has Mark for that matter. Back the hell off" I said, standing up and facing him

His green eyes flashed darkly "You need to watch how you talk to me. Thats another thing, you get mouthy when you talk to them. You forget where you belong"

I stared at him...wondering how the hell it had come to this. He wasnt always this way...and i wasnt always afraid of what would happen...

Mouthy?! If standing up for myself and people i care about makes me mouthy then i guess so! And what do you mean they dont know how to walk away? What the hell are you talking about? Whatd Jack do that was so bad?"

He barked a laugh out "When we went out to LA for you to see them, he didnt like how he perceived i was treating you. He threatened me. Him and Mark. Threating me! Not that you care"

I thought about that trip. About the bruise on my face i got the first night for a hug that lasted too long. The bruise on my arm when i wanted to go dance but not with Brandon... Thats when Jack, Mark and Amy had begged me to stay there.

To leave Brandon... Thats when they peeked behind the curtain i had kept up for the last two years.

"What do you mean by threatened?" I asked warily. Not sure what happened

" He waited till you went to the bathroom with the girls and slammed me up against the wall and said if i knew what was good for me Id 'treat you better' and he better not hear of it again" Mark just stood there and watched it and when i went to say something to him he said it was better that Jack did it because he wouldve done worse! Thats what your precious friends did." He spat. Words dripping with disdain.

I stood speechless.... I didn't think anyone gave a crap. Sure they said they did and wanted me to leave...but i didnt think i was a friend worth threatening someone over

"Well. Thats what happens when you care about someone. You protect them" i said quietly...before i realized what that would set off, then steeled myself for it

The atmosphere of the room changed. It went from normal to almost foggy. The tension grew thick. Brandon stepped up close to me, his 6ft frame dwarfing my 5'3" one.

"Im the ONLY person that gives a shit about you. They keep you around for entertainment. You think they care? You could disappear and in a month they wouldnt even remember your name. Im the one that takes care of you. Im the one that made you who you are. You would still be in your moms house in that backwoods town if it wasnt for me! You keep forgetting just where you stand in this relationship Alison. Keep pushing and im going to have to reteach you some things" his words were almost a whisper

"Now. Unless you want me to wait and kick his ass myself to make him leave you be, i suggest you not talk to him as much." He said smiling...it didnt quiet reach his eyes though. Those were cold and hateful

The thought of him putting hands on jack was too much. I stepped up right in his face

"You can do whatever you want to me. Say what ever you want to me....but dont you EVER threaten one of them again!" I spit out the words, my emotions and courage suprising me

I shouldve prepared myself, but the smack caught me off guard and i fell against the wall. He grabbed me and turned me to face him, pressing my back to it

"I told you. Dont. Speak.To.Me.That.Way" he spit out as he painfully grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

"Brandon.. Let go!" I cried. He just laughed and hit me in the ribs on each side. I went down to my knees

"Get up you pathetic bitch. You want to stand up for your man, then do it"

"Brandon. Hes my friend. Why do you have to be this way. Hes a friend!" I yelled through my tears

"Oh. I know. Because why would he want something like you? But you seem to forget how to talk to me" his words dripped in hatred and anger. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and drug me to my feet. "Now. Are you going to do as told? Or do i need to convince you further?"

I breathed in sharply, pretty sure a rib was at the least bruised if not broken. But then i thought back to what he said. Thought of what hed do to Jack....because he really was that possesive.

"Im waiiiiting Ali. Or do you need a visual of what ill do to him? Id probably start at his kneecaps. Break those and hes at my mercy. Then ill work over his ribs and his face...if im feeling generous i might stop before theres a need for ICU...."

That did it. I went numb and saw red. I couldnt feel the pain in my face or ribcage anymore. The thought of it sent me flying into his face

I think it suprised him because i had never fought back before. Id always bowed down to whatever he wanted. Because i thought i loved him. Because i thought he was all i had.

I screamed as i drove myself into him and out into the living room. He tripped on his own feet and i landed on him, throwing fists anywhere theyd land. I heard a crack as i landed one on the bridge of his nose and blood started to flow. He yelled and grabbed me and flipped me over. He smacked me in the face and his body weight pinned me to the floor

"You dumb cunt. You really thought that would work? Did you really think you could make me do what you wanted by fighting back????? Youre mine and you will obey me!!" He punched me in the face and i almost blacked out. He looked up to the coffee table and saw his pocket knife and got a look of pure evil in his eyes. "And apparently you need a reminder of the fact that whats mine is MINE" With one hand he held my wrists as i struggle to break free, with the other he grabbed the knife and popped it open, the blade sharp and gleaming.... This was it... I knew i was going to die. Hed threatened so many times and hes finally going to do it.

He lifted the bottom of my shirt up, exposing my stomach. "Now. Hold still sweetheart" he purred coldly.

I started to kick and scream as i felt the knife drag across and slice my skin open....and the world went black..

..........

I slowly came to, blinking against the fluorescent lights. I opened my eyes slowly, letting them adjust. Feeling dizzy, worn out... What the hell was going on?

"No. Shes been out of it since she came up here. Theyve given her medicine to help her rest and keep her calm. No, i dont know what they think yet...... Yes i know you want to kill him but the fact is, youre in England and hes here in Texas... Jack. Dude ill let you know, i promise...alright. Bye'.... I knew that voice..

I was confused. What is Mark talking about and why the hell does he sound so close? My eyes finally cleared and i could see Amy on the couch against the windows... Mark was pacing back and forth. His hair messed up like it is when he constantly runs his hands through it....i knew that was a nervous tic of his... I realized I was in a hospital bed

"M-Mark? I croaked out. Throat dry

He turned sharply "Alison!" Rushing to the bed side he grabbed my hand "Hey...welcome back" I looked to the other side where Amy had perched on the bed next to me, a worried look

"What.....what the hell happened?" I murmured, thoughts jumbled. I looked in Marks eyes, they were wet with tears that he blinked away quickly. "That bastard almost killed you.... The neighbor heard you screaming and called the cops....when they got there they could hear it so they busted in... He broke four of your ribs, gave you a concussion and cut you all up....you had me and Amy on emergency numbers so we got here this morning....youve been here about 24 hours." Tears streamed down his face as he squeezed my hand. I felt Amy rub my arm and looked over to her.

"You guys didnt have to come all the way here for me. Really.... Thats crazy. Amazing. But crazy"

"Heh" mark laughed "jack wanted to jump a flight from England... Oh i better call him"

He walked outside the room and shut the door

"Alison....I want you to come home with us when you get out of here. Im not leaving you in that apartment." Amy said, determination on her face. I knew there was no arguing.

"Ok...maybe for a little while..." I trailed off. We sat in silence for a moment

"By the way....cops said you broke that assholes nose and an orbital bone. Also busted his ribs when you were kicking him when he cut you...nice job" she laughed bitterly

**********

Ali??" Amy said over the phone. I snapped out of my daydream. "Yeah Amy...Im here. Um...Im just not up to people tonight... I promise im ok. If im not, I'll call you." I said

It was quiet for a moment and then Mark spoke up "Are you sure? We can be to your place in no time." I smiled "Yeah guys. Im sure. Ill talk to ya'll tomorrow" i hung up the phone after saying goodbye and walked to my car. Pondering what my life had become in just a few years..... 'Screw this. Im going for a drink' i said aloud.

I went back to my apartment and picked out my black dress from the back of the closet. I felt like wearing it for the first time since i bought it. I held it up to my body and studied my reflection and laughed, remembering the day i bought it

*********************

"Amy..... I really dont think i can come out in this" i said from inside the dressing room

"Alison Jaymes if you dont step out here right this minute im crawling under the door!' She said laughing

I grimaced...embarrassed to be in something cut so low.....sure my legs looked great and it gave me great cleavage but..... id be a laughing stock if i walked in anywhere in this...but i knew shed do what she said. i cracked the door and peeked out, making sure no one was around and stepped out.

Amy's eyes widened "holy crap! Girl. You have to get that. You look amazing!!!!"

"Yeah. Right im sure. And where or when would i wear the damn thing.... It shows too many of...these" i said bitterly as i traced the light scar down my arm and then one on my leg...both left that night by Brandon

Amy stepped closer to me "Ali, you look amazing. Please get it. Especially since your hair is that cherry cola color. Your green eyes pop and this dress just completes it. You.look.amazing..... I bet Jack would be speechless....and thats hard to think of" she laughed, looking at me mischeviously

I threw my head back and laughed. "Yeah. Speechless as to why i would wear something like this. I could have a Playstation attached to my head and he wouldnt notice me. Not that way..and thats fine. But.....this would be good to wear out to get drinks...meet a stranger....dance. Hmmm"

********************

I finished my eyeliner was applying my red lipstick. I stepped back from the mirror and admired myself. Id lost about thirty pounds in the last few months and had to admit i didnt look half bad.....i slipped my heels on and grabbed my coat and walked to the car.

As i was putting the keys in the ignition, my phone rang. I looked down at it as the screen lit up with Jacks face

"Hello? " I answered. Not knowing what to expect

"A-alison?" Jacks voice came through the phone raspily. It made me shiver

"Yeah Jack. Whats up?" I asked, a little worried now. He didnt sound like himself

"Hey...im really sorry about that... I-I didnt mean to yell at you at all. Its just...hard to fight those headaches and....well im just sorry ok?" He said, rushing through his words. I could tell he was tired. Worriedly i said " Are you sure you dont need anything? I have medicine in my purse. I could go get you some food or something...." Losing all thought of going out. Wanting to know what was actually going on

"Yeah...maybe...maybe some soup or something?" He asked. I smiled "Sure. I can do that. Give me a little bit and I'll be there, ok?" He sighed "Ok...and Ali? Again im really sorry-"

"Ah ah" i stopped him. It doesnt matter now. We're good. " i hung up, still worried, but glad to not end on a bad note. I got back out of the car and hurried inside. Instead of changing i just grabbed some sweat pants and old tshirt to change into when i got there.

About an hour later i knocked on the door. Jack opened it and invited me in...not speaking. I was carrying some chicken soup from the diner i loved going to. Homemade and it smelled amazing

"Hey. Thanks for coming back....what is all that?" Jack chuckled as i put the food and a bag from the pharmacy on the counter

"Well, i got tylenol, ibprophen and even some icy hot and vicks..... I didnt know what was causing the headache so i just grabbed what i use for different ones" I studied him for a moment.... "You sure you're ok? You freaked me out"

He looked at me with a sad expression "Yeah...im really sorry Ali...i dont know what happened. I feel like an asshole" he stared at the ground. I stepped toward him and put my hand on his shoulder. "Hey. I told you not to apologize anymore. All is forgiven. I just want to make sure youre ok Jack. Thats all that matters..ok?" He looked up, his blue eyes staring into mine and nodded. "Yeah...okay" he sighed and relaxed.

The he looked me up and down "what the hell are you wearing?" He laughed

I looked down, suddenly remembering the clothes in the bag on the table and the fact that i had my dress on. Blushing i laughed "Well. I was on my way to get a drink when you called.....i brought some clothes to change into.. I look dumb i know, i just didnt want to take the time to change' He looked down at my feet "were you going to wear your converse to the bar??" He said teasingly.

I laughed "No! I had heels on, but i didnt think you needed to see all that! Shut up!" I said throwing my hands up. Uncomfortable under his gaze all of a sudden. Feeling his baby blues on me

He touched my arm lightly and chuckled "hey. Im sorry. I didnt mean anything by it. Honestly you look great Alison. Ive never seen you dressed up like this"

I stared at my feet for a moment, trying to regain composure. "Well. Let me go change. You start eating" i said. Grabbing the bag with my clothes i went into the bathroom and changed.

After eating we sat down and popped in a movie. As it played i watched Jack from the other end of the couch...studying him. He seemed normal....i guess. There was still something off...but maybe hes just getting sick.

I held out the bowl of popcorn wed made and offered it to him. When he didnt notice i took a piece and tossed it at the side of his face

"Huh?! What the hell?" He said. I laughed "dude. You were spaced the hell out!" He grabbed the bowl and then looked at me mischeviously. He got a handful of popcorn and lobbed them at my face, laughing

"Hey! I threw a single piece! Not fair!" I dove over to his side of the couch for the bowl, giggling as he transferred it to his far hand and held it out of reach. "Urghh. Why am i so..short?" I growled as i struggled to reach it.

"Because its fun to play keep away" Jack laughed. I tried to get up to steal it but he held me with one arm. "Thats not fair either!" I laughed, collapsing as he poked me in the side. I looked down at him, one arm stretched over the side of the couch with the bowl of popcorn and me pretty much just laying on him....suddenly very aware of my face's proximity to his face...i flushed crimson and sat up and adjusted myself so i was again leaning to the other side of the couch

"Rude. Im ticklish and short...whats your flaw?" I jokingly pouted. He threw his head back and laughed. "You don't have the time or mental space for all my flaws Alison" Jack got up "Ill be right back. I want to make sure the video uploaded right" he walked into his game room, leaving the door cracked open.

After about five minutes i stood up, stretching and went to the kitchen to get a drink. As i was standing there, my back to the living room, i heard...laughter? My head whipped around...that didnt sound like Jack though. It was...weird. I sat my glass on the counter and creeped up to the crack in the game room door.

"Jack....hows the video?" My question was met with silence so i pushed the door open.

Jack sat in the corner of the room, on the floor, back to me with his head in his hands. His head was moving...twitching side to side..

"J-Jack? Are you ok?" I walked slowly to him...suddenly aware of how very silent it was...i couldnt even hear outside nosies....

I reached my hand out and right as i was about to grab his shoulder he spoke...pained....like he was fighting with the words.

"Al-Alison....go back to the living room....please....please just go.....just go in there ok? Give me a little bit...Im-Im fine but i need you to go...shut the door....please ali"

I shrunk back...he sounded almost desperate. "Jack. Please...let me help you...if youd just tell me what's wrong...."

He laughed bitterly "No. I need to be alone on this...please just go....and....do one other thing?" he sounded serious. I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to jerk him up and find out what was going on.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

"Ali.....just remember..no matter what i say when i get like this .. I love you. Ok? I dont say it enough but i do. You're always there for me " i stood there...replaying his words, my heart hammering in my chest as he suddenly bent further down, face almost touching the floor and grabbing his head. I ran out of the door and shut it, my hand lingering as i wispered "i love you too......"

I sat looking at my phone, trying to distract myself. It buzzed with a new message. It was from my cousin Jennifer.

J: Hey cousin. What're you up to??"

Me: Nothing. Over at the apartment Jack's renting while hes in LA. You

J:Nm. Ooooooo Jack huh? You ever admit to yourself, or him, what a major crush you have on him? Or still in denial?

Me:Jen! No. And im never telling him that! Its fuckin weird. He's my best friend and thats it

J: whatever. You know, you just need to grab him by the shirt and lay one on him. I bet yall would be down and dirty in two seconds

Me: omfg Jen. Im done with you lmfao. Jesus. Dirty ass mind

J: Yeah. Like you haven't daydreamed about him saying your name in that cute little accent in the bedroom. But seriously....say something. Youll never know till you do

Me: yeah ok. Thanks Dr Phil.

I put my phone down, laughing at her. Then looked up when i heard the game room door open. Jack stepped out, looking as though hed been through a war.

"Jack!" I just up and hurried to him. Wrapping an arm around his waist i led him to the couch. "Sit your ass down. And tell me whats going on" i demanded as we sat on the couch.

He looked at me, his blue eyes searching mine. "Alison. There are some things i never want you to deal with....and that is one of them" i reached my hand out, cupping his face. "Jack. Youre my best friend. And i swear to you Im here. No matter whats going on...ok?" He nodded and closed his eyes, leaning his head to the side trapping my hand to his shoulder.

He suddenly looked up. Almost....frightened.

"Jack?" I said quietly. He turned toward me.... Everything became very still, his head twitched to the side. "Damnit" he whispered, standing quickly. This time i followed him as he walked away.

"Oh no. We aint doing this shit again. What the hell is happening" i demanded. He suddenly stopped at the closed bedroom door and i ran into his back

Jack....c'mon. This isnt funny." I said, angry and little bit terrified

He began to laugh but....it was off. It sounded....higher pitched and crackling. Suddenly he shook his head "No! Leave her alone!!!" He shouted, smacking the side of his head.

"Jack! What the hell!?" His head twitched side to side. I stepped back, the hair on my arms standing up. Something is wrong here. I reached out slowly, touching his shoulder and in a whisper choked out "Ja--Jack?"

Suddenly i was being twisted and thrown backwards against the wall, his hand at my throat, head hanging to his chest. "Jack!" I screamed. "WHAT ARE YOU----"

My words died in my throat as he raised his head, his beautiful blue eyes had been replaced by emotionless black. His head cocked to the side as he grinned evily at me.. Teeth seeming longer

"Alison" the thing purred "Dont you know when someone says to leave them alone. .you should? You know the saying about the cat and curiosity dont you kitten?" All color drained from my face

"An--anti? What. How?" I stammered. Not believing this" he got rid of you....you were gone!

The demon threw his head back and laughed. "Oh Ali....you think this...weakling could kill ME? You think id be defeated by your BOY?" He spit out mockingly, his grasp tightening on my throat. "Jack and i. We are the same person. Without me, theres no him" he giggled that insane laugh again. Id only ever heard it in videos....it was so much worse in real life

"Anti. Hes NOTHING like you. Hes pure good. Strong, smart and successful. Youre just a glitched out bitch that has become a joke. Your angry turtle voice isnt going to scare me. Show me something worthwhile or get the hell out!"

His gaze locked onto mine, it felt as though he was staring deep into my soul.....then he smiled, the grin sinister.

He leaned right into my face, waving the knife that was in his other hand and running it gingerly down my arm. "Should i leave a few more scars? Im a bit more well learned in this than Brandon was though Princess.....i bet my scars will run deeper..maybe ill let Jack watch as i cut you.. I think hed enjoy it" he growled. I stiffened at his words.

"Anti. Youre nothing like him. Youre not even HALF the man Jack is' i spit out, pissed off and scared. He studied me for a moment and leaned over into my ear. His breath hot on my neck

"You think hes just so perfect? Such a good boy?" He purred into my ear "i just want to cut you....to make you feel pain. Him? He wants you to enjoy it when he hurts you" his knife traced my side as he spoke. " They say Im from hell and some of the things in his head when hes around you almost make me blush" the words came out half amused and half disgusted. He leaned back and laughed, the sound twisted and distorted. "Hes a pussy. Cant even do anything about this.....he couldnt even save you from Brandon...and he reallllly wanted to let me loose that day. Had him against the wall and everything" The glitch laughed darkly

"And now. He gets to watch while i kill you.....i might even let him back to reality after so he can feel your blood on his hands" Antisepticeye giggled again.

"Jack! I need you to wake up.....i need you to fight this! Please!" I pleaded, searching for any sign of him in the abyss that his eyes had become. "Jack!!!" I raised my hand and slapped him almost instinctively.

All of a sudden he fell to his knees. Clutching his head. "Aghhhhh!!!" His yell ripped from his throat, the sound of torture.

"Jack. Fight him! Please!!!! " i dropped to my knees in front of him and grabbed his face in ny hands. When i forced him to look at me his right eye shown that beautiful blue color...the other still black. "Jack. Come on. Please. You can do this. Please come back! I didnt tell you i love you too!! You have to come back so i can tell you!!"

I began to sob as he fell to the floor, jerking and holding his head, cries of pain eminating from deep within.

And suddenly.....he was still.

I reached for him, still on my knees. "Jack?" I said softly as i touched him. I rolled him over. His eyes were closed and he was too still for a long moment

Then he coughed. I sank to the side, butt hitting the ground and sighed. He half sat up and looked at me. Both eyes the most beautiful shade of blue id ever seen

We stood up and after a moment he looked at me. "Alison....oh my God. Your neck..." I looked at him "My neck?! Thats what youre going to comment on??!?" I half yelled incredulously. "Really?! Not the fact that Anti has been screwing with you??? You didnt think we needed to know?!"

Jack stepped closer to me, fingers trailing my throat....tracing the sore spots left by anti's hand. "Im so sorry....i didnt mean to...i.... Oh God whats happening to me?! He cried out.

I stepped forward and buried my face in his chest hugging him tightly. Both of us crying.

"Jack.....i almost lost you." I whispered.

"He almost killed you Alison......that asshole almost......and i couldnt stop him! How fuckin useless am i? He cried out

I stepped back and looked at him and then held him tightly. "Jack. You didnt do anything wrong " i said

"It was MY hand around your throat Ali!!!" He yelled as he pushed away. "Dont you get it? I stay so far away so i dont end up hurting anyone." He turned his back to me, wiping his face and walked to the bedroom.

I followed him and sat beside him on his bed. Silence stretched out. Neither of us knowing what to say. Then he spoke "I cant believe i threw you into a wall and choked you..."

I laughed and before my brain could filter my words i said "Oh cmon....it wasnt that bad. I mean, if not for the whole Anti posessing you thing it wouldve been kinda hot!".... Then realizing what i said i fell backwards and just laughed, soon he was laughing his ass off right next to me. "What the ACTUAL FUCK Alison!!???" He sputtered, the fuck sounding more like FOOK in his accent, as he laughed more. "I dont fuckin know. I was almost choked out by a demon glitch Jack!" I shot back through my laughs.

Soon the laughter died and i sat up. Taking a deep breath...Suddenly he grabbed my hand and said softly.. "Did you mean it?"

I looked at him. "Did i mean what?" I asked. He looked down at the floor and then spoke as he raised his gaze to meet mine "When you said you loved me......did you mean it?

I stared at the ground a long while...then stood up fidgeting with my hands and i walked back across the room, putting my back to him as i spoke

"I-i....mean..." I sighed hard and just let the words out "Yeah. Ive always meant it when i said it Jack.... For the last three years." I heard him stand and walk up behind me. "Well alison....you couldve said something." He said softly

I laughed and turned to face him "Yeah. Let me just tell my best friend that somewhere along the way i fell for him. Let me open myself up to THAT rejection. Ha! No. Thanks im good with that." He studied my face intently, then reached up and pushed my hair behind my ear and cupping my chin

"What kinda of an idiot would reject you?" He asked softly and then said "well....ok im an idiot for not noticing.....but not that big of an idiot. I have my limits you know..' and with that leaned his face down and pressed his lips to mine. The world stopped for a minute, and then i wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back as he pulled me against him.

When he pulled back we were both breathless "Jack....." I said and then stopped. Not knowing what to say so i leaned against his chest. Wrapping my arms under his to hold him. His hands trailed up and down my back as we stood there, completely comfortable in our slience.

He sharted shaking and laughing again out of no where. I stepped back and he shook his head "Sorry. Sorry. Just what you said earlier... I cant believe that came outta your mouth!"

Putting my hands on my hips i glared at him playfully "you just haaad to go a ruin a great moment didnt ya!" Then i started laughing too.

He put his hands on my shoulders "Ali...hon. Im sorry its just hilarious hearing you say that! Dirty minded much?" Then he stopped and very slowly stepped closer and closer to me until my back hit the wall softly and he stared me down with a serious look.

"J-Jack?? Very funny. Ha ha. Stop it"

He smiled. His blue eyes twinkling. "What? I just wanted you to have a better memory of being backed into a wall by me is all" his hand softly pressed to my throat as his mouth captured mine again, more urgent this time, pressing his body to mine. Softly but in control of my every move.

[notcastillos]

♡ s t a r  s h o p p i n g (6) ♡

@gggunner has messaged @andrew_palm, @tonytonynelson and @petersmithhh

gggunner: guys

andrew_palm: si señor gunner

tonytonynelson: wassup

petersmithhh: what now

gggunner: two words

gggunner: julies

gggunner: pool party

petersmithhh: thats 3 words

andrew_palm: DID U AND ROWAN HOOK UP

gggunner: what no thats crazy dude

tonytonynelson: thats a fat lie bro everyone saw yall takin off

andrew_palm: jamie said u guys had sex in julies garage

gggunner: thats disgusting andrew no

andrew_palm: idk thats what jamie told us

petersmithhh: whos “us”

andrew_palm: me, tony and jared

gggunner: no that didnt happen

tonytonynelson: lmao did she even ask for her o pen

petersmithhh: i hope u used condoms

gggunner: we didnt fuck

andrew_palm: what should gunner name his kids

tonytonynelson: tayden* bc gunners gonna be the kids last names

petersmithhh: lmao tayden jr

andrew_palm: AND ROWAN JR FOR THE GIRL

tonytonynelson: rowan gunner and rowan jr gunner wtf

petersmithhh: doesnt sound as horrible as tayden gunner and tayden jr gunner

gggunner: u guys

andrew_palm: i think their third kid could be named andy after me

tonytonynelson: andy gunner doesnt even sound that bad

petersmithhh: and grilled chicken for the girl

andrew_palm: grilled chicken gunner

tonytonynelson: i like the sound of that ;)

gggunner: YOU GUYS

andrew_palm: sorry what

gggunner: listen

gggunner; i’ll tell u what happened but shut up

tonytonynelson: um wow rude *white girl voice*

andrew_palm: ok dad :(

petersmithhh: fine spill the tea sis

andrew_palm: ur home of sexual

tonytonynelson: what

petersmithhh: what

gggunner: andrew please

andrew_palm: sorry go

gggunner: one second i was chilling w/ eddie turner and starlie holland right like we were just talking and drinking soda since julie isnt a smoker and were tryna respect that

tonytonynelson: when did u become a stoner

petersmithhh: aw ofc julies precious

gggunner: im not a stoner but i smoke from time to time. mostly a plug.

tonytonynelson: thats what i thought lol continue

gggunner: and then eddies like “rowan come here” and she was in the pool w/ scotty and kiarra so she came over and eddie was like “hes got ur bat”

andrew_palm: fuck eddie turner

tonytonynelson: thats fucked up

petersmithhh: was eddie drunk

gggunner: no lol i told him to say that bc i legit felt kinda bad bout swooping her shit

tonytonynelson: cuz shes hot?

andrew_palm: fiends gonna fiend unless the girls mildly attractive

petersmithhh: or maybe he has a conscience could be that

gggunner: thank u peter

gggunner: anyways i was like its in the car ill go get it and she was like ill go too so i was like ight

tonytonynelson: oooooooo she made the first move

andrew_palm: was she in a bikini

gggunner: no she wasnt like swimming she just had her feet in

tonytonynelson: whatd she have on

gggunner: does it matter

tonytonynelson: yeah

andrew_palm: yep

petersmithhh: please just continue the story

gggunner: adidas trainers w the cuffs rolled up and a tank top

gggunner: so we go to scottys car bc i put it in kiarras purse since she was supposed to give it to her and i like open the door and get it and shes like “nice of eddie to cover for u” and i was like oh shit

petersmithhh: oof

gggunner: but then i was like whatever she can see thru the bs and i said “yeah hes a chiller huh” and she smiled and dude not to sound like a girl but it was a nice smile u know

tonytonynelson: sure

andrew_palm: ya

gggunner: so i give her her bat and im closing the door and i turn around and she just kissed me

petersmithhh: are u sure she kissed u and u didnt just like bump into her on accident

gggunner: im sure

tonytonynelson: YEET

andrew_palm: damn get it gunner

gggunner: and it was kind of short but shes a decent kisser so i kept it going for like 30 seconds

tonytonynelson: tongue?

gggunner: a lil bit yeah

petersmithhh: u have sinned gunner

gggunner: ik so my hand was around her waist so i kind of moved it down to see if she would let me

tonytonynelson: the moment of truth

andrew_palm: the world is in shock! did gunner get that ass? click now to find out!

petersmithhh: oh boy holy water

gggunner: and she let me

tonytonynelson: panties?

gggunner: lace ones

andrew_palm: i mean not thongs but lace isnt bad

gggunner: she tied her hair up while we were making out too it was great

andrew_palm: shes tall tho

gggunner: im taller

andrew_palm: but shes tall for a girl

gggunner: so

andrew_palm: i thot u were into short girls

tonytonynelson: it doesnt matter a girl is a girl

petersmithhh: i thought that was some sort of feminist standup then i realized tony nelson was the one saying it

tonytonynelson: lmaooooo facts

gggunner: i had my hand in her shirt kind of but i only felt her bra bc a car came by

petersmithhh: i mean u were hooking up in the middle of the street

andrew_palm: and then?

gggunner: idk man we just like laughed and walked back and i thought i was gonna talk to her a bit more but she went back w kiarra and scotty

tonytonynelson: thats weird

andrew_palm: she did what

gggunner: yeah i just kept talking w eddie and starlie it wasnt a big deal

petersmithhh: has she followed u or anything

gggunner: no nothing

tonytonynelson: wait for her to come to u

andrew_palm: ya dont make the first move this time

gggunner: i was gonna dm her

tonytonynelson: nooooooo she’ll dm u just give it the weekend

gggunner: u sure?

andrew_palm: ya tonys right just let her dm u first

gggunner: ight

petersmithhh: thats retarded gunner u can dm her if u want

andrew_palm: no girls have to dm first

petersmithhh: since when

tonytonynelson: since most of the time

petersmithhh: i dm first

andrew_palm: ya but ur homologous

tonytonynelson: what

petersmithhh: what

andrew_palm: u know

andrew_palm: home of sexual

@gggunner has logged off!

[midoridragonuus]

< previous | compendium | next >

- x -

from: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co to: gabe69@schwartzind.co cc: maeharamahouji subject: hey

hey gabe can you log into siims? thanks

- Secretary and Head of Divisions, Ellie Schwartz

- x -

from: gabe69@schwartzind.co to: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co cc: subject: RE: hey

hey elliepop! u ok??? this doesnt sound like one of ur usual mails dont think ive ever seen u write wo grammar n punctuation also y cc that guy

- gabe bar owner. business guy. stud.

- x -

from: gabe69@schwartzind.co to: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co cc: subject: FWD: RE: hey

ellie? gurl whats ^ reply soon i miss u

- gabe bar owner. business guy. stud.

- x -

from: gabe69@schwartzind.co to: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co cc: subject: FWD: FWD: RE: hey

ok ok ill be right on dont b mad at me ily

- gabe bar owner. business guy. stud.

- x -

gabe69 has signed into the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

gabe69: hello??? anyone here?? woo hoo????

schwartzellie has signed into the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

gabe69: ellie! hey honeybuns. ive missed u whats ^

gabe69: ellie?

maeharamahouji has signed into the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

gabe69: whats going on here

maeharamahouji has uploaded a file: sserver470.exe

maeharamahouji: hey gabe. can you test this for me? thanks. send me a report when you're done.

gabe69: what

maeharamahouji has signed out of the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

gabe69: whats going on

gabe69: ellie cmon what the hell

schwartzellie: Click the file, stupid.

schwartzellie has signed out of the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

gabe69: fuck

gabe69 has signed out of the Schwartz Ind. Internal Messaging System (SIIMS)

- x -

> initializing sserver470.exe > protocol and logs will be erased upon exit > "hope it helps. - m."

gabe69 has signed into SSERVER470

gabe69: what is this place?

schwartzellie: Oh thank the Gods.

gabe69: elliepop? what the entire fuck is going on?????

schwartzellie: Look. I couldn't talk to you sooner. I wanted to. I really did. I couldn't... I was afraid to contact you.

gabe69: what? y? whats wrong with me? hon if u didnt want a follow up

schwartzellie: It's not you. It's who's listening. I'm pretty sure my office is bugged. My phone is too. I've had to be really careful with what I say in case it's distorted. I don't know how to explain it better than that.

gabe69: ellie i dont get what ur saying can u start at the top?

schwartzellie: Okay. Okay. Do you remember a few weeks ago when Carlos interrupted our dinner and told me it was an emergency?

gabe69: vaguely. i remember his smug ass ruining a nite w ur beautiful face ♥♥♥

schwartzellie: Right so, I went with him. He was silent through the whole walk to the archives.

gabe69: the archives?

schwartzellie: Yeah. Where we keep files on literally everyone and everything. You know. Contracts. Secret info? Well, we got stopped by security, so I know there's at least one witness out there that knows we entered the archives; that the whole thing really took place.

gabe69: what do u mean "took place" ???

schwartzellie: Shut up and let me type!

gabe69: k

schwartzellie: So we entered, and we walked into the middle of the room. I'm not sure if it was the exact middle or anything, but that's what it felt like neck deep in the rows of file cabinets and servers. Anyway, the archives are heavily guarded. I'm pretty shocked he had clearance but in hindsight, but also? Not really. I told you his files were a fucking mess and his permissions were probably redacted as well.

gabe69: uh huh

schwartzellie: There's cameras all over. Lasers. Devil's traps. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if any flat surface read DNA or heat signatures or something. Schwartz is really out-there about security. I mean, there's less than a handful of people who can get into the archives, and they're 99% accompanied by Schwartz herself.

gabe69: sounds high key

schwartzellie: It is. As far as I know, the only people with permissions to enter the archives are Schwartz, Irkalla, myself, and now... Carlos. It's under such heavy security that two people on shift have to watch it. One physically, and the other in a special cam room somewhere on site. Like... it's really guarded.

gabe69: and u 2 just waltzed in there huh?

schwartzellie: Yeah. And when we got to the middle, he just stood there and wouldn't look me in the eyes. He literally titled his head back and locked eyes with one of the, what I assume was, a camera. Stared into it the whole time we talked.

gabe69: what a fuckin weirdo. whatd he tell u babe?

schwartzellie: I don't.... I don't really remember. I was so weirded out by the whole experience... I remember getting goosebumps. My stomach hurt. I was feeling pretty nauseous and

gabe69: ok but it wasnt my food so

schwartzellie: Oh my Gods, I didn't say it was!

gabe69: just makin sure ;)

schwartzellie: Ugh. But...

gabe69: but?

schwartzellie: I remember staring at him really intense-like. Squinting and trying to figure out what his motive was. What he was saying. Like, his mouth was moving and words were coming out, but my brain couldn't figure out what they were! I even tried to remember later on, but none of the sounds or words I made felt right. I don't even remember leaving, or how I got back to my room... I slept with a diary that night in case I remembered anything in my sleep, but my dreams were blank. When I went to the security office, there was no record of us visiting the archives. And the guy on duty who stopped us outside the door? Gone. Vanished. I asked around and no one knew of anyone who matched that description ever working at SI. No one knew who I was talking about, and by then, his face was too blurry in my memory to ask again. After a few days of frustration, I asked Jade to help me. He reads lips, you know. So I tried to make the same movements I remembered Carlos making with his mouth, but Jade had no idea what I was trying to say. He said it was just gibberish.

gabe69: ellie this is fucking weird

schwartzellie: I know.

gabe69: so what ur telling me is that that dick took u 2 a place w heavy security did some mumbo jumbo magic shit that u cant remember and now ur phones being bugged and a guys missing???

schwartzellie: No, there's more to it than that. I think...

gabe69: ???

schwartzellie: So I tried to do some more digging about him, in hopes that it might.... I don't know... tell me something? Anything? But then more people disappeared.

gabe69: what do u mean? who disappeared?

schwartzellie: I... don't know.

gabe69: then how do u kno theyre gone??

schwartzellie: I have a list of employees on my desk for the monthly newsletter that have left the company. We publish goodbyes every month, but I don't remember any of them on this month's letter ever working here.

gabe69: well SI is a big company! surely a few slip by ur ever watchful eyes. u cant do everything doll

schwartzellie: No, but I sign every employment contract as Schwartz' witness. Even when they're mostly redacted. I've seen every person who enters this company, including business partners in different districts, contracted/affiliated help, and even have the names for people who work FOR our associates. But I don't know any of these names or faces.

gabe69: and ur sure they worked for SI

schwartzellie: The list is from Schwartz. I'm sure of that. But even she's been... off? There's something going on with her too. She won't reply to any non-related business mail.

gabe69: and ur surprised by that of all things?? ms unfeeling not talking about feelings?

schwartzellie: Well, no, but you don't know her, Gabe. It's like she's shutting down.

gabe69: uh huh

schwartzellie: With SI off the table, I told Wendy I had to look up something in Crowley's office, so I shadowed her to work. I wanted to check if maybe the city had those names on file, somewhere. They didn't.

gabe69: and?

schwartzellie: What they did have, though, was a blank space where those names SHOULD be. I don't think the person who was supposed to clean up got rid of the dividers.

gabe69: elliepop this is nuts like wacky pistachi kiddo! people fuck up on putting dividers in. it happens. i sometimes order double my stock on accident

schwartzellie: Okay, one? Wasteful. Two? I know I sound paranoid, okay? I know it. But something's going on. There's more, okay?

gabe69: more?

schwartzellie: Yeah.... After I left Crowley's office, Wendy stopped me on my way out. She asked if I found what I needed, and I told her I did. As she turned around to go back to work, I saw something around the corner. At first I thought it was a shadow. Maybe my eyes playing tricks on me. Shit happens, right? But I know someone was watching me.

gabe69: ellie

schwartzellie: No, listen! So I.... I didn't go straight home. I decided to take the bus, rather than get a cab, just in case. Better safe than sorry, right? And as I was waiting at the bus stop, I felt eyes on the back of my head.

gabe69: ellie....

schwartzellie: Gabe will you shut the fuck up? I know I sound crazy, but just let me finish. Please. You owe me this.

gabe69: ok elliecakes. im sorry :((

schwartzellie: I felt really antsy, rocking back and forth. I knew someone was watching me. I just knew it, okay? So I get on the next bus, not knowing where it was going. If someone was really following me, they probably wouldn't go somewhere random, right? Risk being seen by a lot of people? Turns out the next stop wasn't too far from Karen's, so I got off there. I went in, grabbed a latte, and sat down until my nerves returned to normal. I thought I was also being pretty ridiculous and letting weird events turn me into some sort of conspiracy theorist. Half way through my drink, I looked up and... there was nothing wrong. I didn't feel anyone looking. There were just some random people in there eating breakfast and drinking coffee. I was so relieved. Honestly, I felt so stupid.

gabe69: :( i love ur smarts

schwartzellie: So I paid my bill, and waited for the next bus. I rode back to SI, got off, and felt like a huge idiot for being so nervous. I was home! No reason to feel afraid when we have the best security in the District. I waved to Kat and sat in the lobby for a minute with weak knees. Like, I was just really relieved it was all in my head.

gabe69: that sounds good

schwartzellie: Until

gabe69: o

schwartzellie: I checked my phone for any alerts I might have missed while snooping, or trying to chill in Karen's. A few e-mails, a few texts, and then one weird notif from an iSpy app? But... I never installed anything like that. I checked my apps, but there wasn't one installed on the phone or the SD card. I started to get really freaked again. I mean, iSpy? Of all the alerts that could be the result of some virus or something... So I took the next elevator to the Tech Division. Mahouji was on shift, so I gave him my phone to look at.

gabe69: let me guess he found something

schwartzellie: He sure fucking did. He ran a scan while I was standing right there. The first one didn't pick up anything, but I insisted that there was something on it that I didn't put in there. After another unsuccessful scan, he ran his own with his.... I don't know. Whatever it is he works with. Personal code or program or something? I don't know. But he looked really disturbed. He fiddled with it, then downloaded an iSpy game from the app store.

gabe69: what

schwartzellie: Yeah, I was really confused too. He explained to me that it was probably just an advertisement for a new game that was mass spammed from a link I might have clicked and that, with the actual app in, he was able to turn off the notifications. But that's what he said, not what he showed me.

gabe69: what i dont get it

schwartzellie: While he was telling me all this and pointing my phone at me with his left hand, he pulled some paper and a pencil out of his own desk and wrote on it with his right hand. "Ellie, there's a nasty program on here. I don't know what it is, but I know it's not something anyone should tamper with. I don't even want to try to debug it. It has access to everything, including your cam and mic. Getting rid of the phone will only make whoever's watching suspicious. I recommend playing dumb while I investigate."

gabe69: holy shit

schwartzellie: I... I thanked him and left. I thought that it might just be a huge prank on me, but I don't think he's that kind of guy. I mean, we're not close friends or anything, but of all the people in this company? I think I can trust him.

gabe69: u sure u dont trust him just bc he validates w/e ur thinking is going on

schwartzellie: So you don't believe me?

gabe69: no elliecakes its not that. u kno im always on ur side. i just gotta play devils advocate yea???

schwartzellie: Yeah. Yeah. So.... Like.... I took the phone with me. I tried to keep it pointed away from me unless I had a message. I've been really jumpy and trying not to give too much info away in my emails or texts. I've tried changing my writing to kinda make it seem like it might not be me in case I disappear so people can figure out the dates things went wrong.

gabe69: ellie wtf nothings gonna happen 2 u. not when im around. i promise. u kno that.

schwartzellie: No, but-

gabe69: that y u emailed me the way u did earlier??

schwartzellie: Yeah, I wanted to leave a trail, okay? So anyone else who looked into it could tell something was up and I wasn't just making things up. And I thought that things were finally going back to normal, you know? I wanted things to be less weird, and they were, until earlier today.

gabe69: what happened??

schwartzellie: I was coming back to my office. I was thinking about finally getting back to my social life.

gabe69: so me

schwartzellie: Sure.

gabe69: :( cmon u love me

schwartzellie: Sure.

gabe69: ;*

schwartzellie: And on the way, I saw a guy standing in front of one of the windows in the hall. I didn't recognize him, so I asked him who he was. He didn't answer. I asked again, and still nothing. So I approached him from the side.

gabe69: ellie!

schwartzellie: I know it wasn't the smartest thing. Approaching some rando? But he was weird. Out of place weird. Because I know all of the employees. I know who has access to my floor. And this guy! Was just standing there! Looking out the window! I sent a text to security as a precaution, and then went to tap him on the shoulder. Then I blinked, and the window was broken. Alarms were going off. There was a woman screaming from below. The wind blew my hair out of place! I remember the tears coming down my face at the shock because what the fuck just happened?

gabe69: wtf i dont remember any alarm

schwartzellie: My legs gave out, and after a few seconds, I crawled to the window to look out. I was expecting to see the guy on the pavement below, you know? All bloody and broken and... yeah... But the window was fine.

gabe69: what

schwartzellie: The window! Was fine! It wasn't broken. There was no one below but regular day traffic! I was still on the floor, still with tears, but nothing happened? I checked my phone for the text I sent and it was in my drafts folder, saying "Message failed to send. Try again." I called the security office to ask for video of the hall, and got sent a video where I just walk by the window like nothing happened. Then I come back, sit down, and cry.

gabe69: ellie

schwartzellie: Gabe, please. Please just... I'm almost done.

gabe69: ok

schwartzellie: I called Mahouji and asked him to come pick me up from the hallway. He thought it was weird, because one? He was asleep. Two? We're not friends. Not really. And three? He's def. not security. So he was concerned.

gabe69: yea so am i y didnt u call me babe??

schwartzellie: Because when he got there, I showed him the video and told him that I must have not been paying attention because I was playing my iSpy app. He's smart enough to figure out the hidden meaning there. He asked if I needed to go to see a doctor in case I hurt anything falling down, but I told him that no, I'd be alright, but I did want to see you. Privately.

gabe69: oh hon hon hon baguette

schwartzellie: Can you be serious for one fucking second? Like, this is my life, Gabe!

gabe69: sorry go on

schwartzellie: Again, being the smart man he is,

gabe69: >:|

schwartzellie: he figured out what I meant. Told me that maybe it wouldn't be smart to go see someone if I was dizzy from the fall, and that I should message you instead using his computer.

gabe69: that y i had 2 click that weird file?

schwartzellie: Yeah. It's something he made to delete all records after we're done talking. It's safer that way. Because Gabe? I'm scared.

gabe69: ellie....

schwartzellie: I'm really scared. I don't know what to do now. Mahouji told me to try and back off. To forget the whole thing.

gabe69: suspicious

schwartzellie: No, I think he's really just concerned. He doesn't seem weird? Not like that hallway guy. Not like Carlos. I think he's worried. I think he knows there's something going on but I don't think he knows how weird it is. How twisted it is? There's something going on, Gabe, and it's so big. People are disappearing. Things are happening and not happening at the same time. Schwartz is off. I'm going crazy. There's something going on and someone who's not this deep in needs to know before I don't know anymore. Does that make sense?

gabe69: ellie where r u? u still in the tech div?

schwartzellie has signed out of SSERVER470

gabe69: fuck

gabe69 has signed out of SSERVER470

>initializing shut down of sserver470.exe >initializing self-deletion sequence >del470.exe in progress, authorization m confirm >ERROR >ERROR >ERROR >ERROR >ERROR >ERROR

- x -

from: gabe69@schwartzind.co to: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co cc: subject: HEY

um where are u elliepop? wanna get a coffee? nite cap? ;))

- gabe bar owner. business guy. stud.

- x -

from: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co to: gabe69@schwartzind.co cc: subject: RE: HEY

Downstairs at the cafeteria. Why? Wanna join? lol

- Secretary and Head of Divisions, Ellie Schwartz

- x -

from: schwartzellie@schwartzind.co to: gabe69@schwartzind.co cc: subject: RE: HEY

error

- Secretary and Head of Divisions, Ellie Schwartz

- x -

[chickenfetus]

ALL!!!! (also the gemini sqUAD LOL)

im gonna enjoy a nice cup of water while doing this bc idk a tea (update i didnt drink water at all and now im dying of thirst,, also undercut bc many)

1: Golden mornings or peachy sunsets?

i dont wake up early enough to see the sunrise and when i do i never manage to take pics bc of school so peachy sunsets

2: Sugar cones or waffle cones?

idk what a sugar cone is but i like waffle cones!!! havent eaten ice cream with a cone in forever though,, i rarely eat ice cream now

3: Do you wear scarves often? do you have a favorite?

listen…. its about 33 degrees everyday but even if im in a colder country i dont wear scarves

4: How long do you lay in bed before you finally get up?

this depends?? on how motivated im feeling lmao never more than 10 minutes though because if i lay awake for that long ill just fall back asleep

5: Is there a food you’ve never had but always wanted to try?

i dont think so?? im bad at trying new things especially food

6: What does your umbrella look like?

i dont.. go outside often and whenever i do i take public transport so basically everythings sheltered so i never had a need for umbrellas

7: Do you listen to ASMR?

ive only listened to one everybody please listen to this gift

8: Rain storms or a light drizzle?

both, preferably when im indoors

9: What’s a little thing in life that you love?

hm??????????? my tags lmao 

UPDATE: i also really like reading other people’s tags and their rambles that is all

10: Favorite color aesthetic?

does the word aesthetic make this question any different from a normal favourite colour question???? if it doesnt then sky blue 

11: Wobbly lines or using a ruler?

in this house we draw lines with no ruler like men (but also because even if i did use a ruler it wouldnt be like… straight idk i cant use rulers

12:  Bright colorful living room or neutral cozy living room?

neutral cozy living room but i also love basking in sunlight 

13: Do you have any candles? what scents are they?

im not a big fan of heavy smelling products so i dont own any candles

14: Have you ever rode a horse?

i dont think so??????? ive seen horses before though

15: Do you have glasses?

without my glasses i wouldnt be able to read these questions lmao and . .. theyre also a result of watching pokemon too closely to the tv at a young age… its been like 10 years since i got glasses

16: What’s a language you’d like to speak?

japanese i tried speaking it but i got 2 embarrassed to say anything properly while i was in japan (i cant even speak english properly to a friend whyd i think i could speak another language to a stranger beats me) 

17: What’s your favorite season and favorite month in that season?

my singaporean no season ass: ? but autumn and november (is this cutting it too close to winter? idk my seasons)

18: Do you have a favorite pair of socks?

hm not really i just wear blue ankle socks a lot but my friend did give me a pair of pokemon and gudetama socks before and i adore those although i lost the gudetama ones in the uk last year she got me another pair whatd i do to deserve her?

19: Favorite Ghibli and/or disney movie

m .. um? big. hero 6?????? 

20: Disney, Dreamworks, or Pixar?

my dumb ass didnt know they were different

21: What snacks do you usually get at the theater?

i rarely go and watch movies anymore but when i did watch a lot of movies with my friend at the theater we’d get afternoon shows and sneak mcdonalds in lmao

22: What’s an underrated video game/ movie/ show you love and think it needs more recognition?

how about band? day6 i only ever play pokemon + sif + bandori so i cant say much and i rarely watch movies and a show? if its an anime id say the one i mentioned before in my one text post 

23: Would you fill your house with plants if you had a green thumb?

not really rip 

24; All plants are great but do you have a favorite?

HM mmmmmm there was this one but i forgot the name lmao pass

25: Do you have a favorite type of art style? (eg: soft looking, no to little color, sketches, crisp and clean, minimalist, pixel art etc.)

when im the … audience? what do u call it???? i like seeing all kinda of art styles!!! everyone has their own unique art style and i love it all :o

for ME,, , ive been doing art for 6 years maybe and i still cant do shit

26: What would you do if someone gave you flowers?

i would die straight up die thats such a soft concept i cant imagine myself receiving flowers thats 2 sweet oh my god wtf id combust??? i prefer leaves though is that weird i picked some nice leaves recently and im gonna give those to my friends

27: Do you like nicknames?

giving and having nicknames is my favorite past time

28: Do you still watch shows you watched when you were a kid? even from time to time?

pokemon lmao thank u 4 not ending it…. the animation has only improved and im so proud to have been watching it since the start pokemon is my special thing i love it so much!! an interest that never died down, with an anime that stays super like idk to my preference? i tried watching the new digimon stuff but i just couldnt :^( im glad they made ash stay the main character 

29: Do you still like old memes? (tell the truth)

never forget dat boi

30: Favorite Halloween costume you dressed up as? (if you don’t celebrate halloween have you ever cosplayed or would you like to? who did you cosplay as?)

we dont celebrate halloween and i would never cosplay, big shoutout to cosplayers though!!! they put in so much effort and just, respect!!!!! 

i dont know if this is an actual memory because i dont remember well but when i was younger i thiNK? i had to dress up as a swan thing i have no clue i dont even remember the performance but i might have had to ?? and dance??? or act i dont remember everythings fuzzy but i dressed up a swan once? in kindergarten ????? 

31:  Are you a fashionable person?

i have the worst fashion sense and even though jeans are nice once again the weather here doesnt allow me to be as fashionable as i can be

32: Do you like watching holiday movies?

not realyyy??? the jack frost (rip) movie was ncie????

33:  Cookies or brownies?

i live 4 chocolate chip cookies but too much is . . not preferable

34: Do you blow in the cold air just to see your breath?

no i hate breathing in & out from my mouth

35: Do you find the crickets chirping outside your window relaxing?

WELL from the great cockroach ordeal last night id probably die bc we live in an apartment building so the only way id be hearing crickets would be if they were in the ROOM 

36: Do you like cobblestone streets?

my only knowledge of cobblestone is from minecraft so idk

37:  How often do you doodle?

when school was still relevant i would doodle as soon as i picked up a pencil lmao i try not to anymore bc i doodled on my math assignment and forgot to fucking erase it and my math teacher called me out

38: When was the last time you blew bubbles?

a year ago?? i dont remember but i do remember when i was younger id try and blow bubbles at the void deck do yall kno what that is its just a space near the lift lobby anyway i swallowed the soap thing idk u know how ur supposed to blow? well i sucked the soap in yum

39: What’s your favorite random piece of decor in your house and room?

in my room its the bed and in the house its the water bottle that contains water

40: Do you bite your fingernails off or clip them more often?

i………………………… i dont actualy kno how to clip my nails and my mum would kill me if i tried but i dont bite my nails either

41: Any birthmarks?

not that i know of

42: Thoughts on freckles?

ive never actually seen someone with freckles in public before but theyre good stuff i gueess?? i dont actually have an opinion on them? everyone says theyre cute and all but im just ??? not that i hate freckles tho if u have freckles? thats cool! 

43: First video game you ever played?

pokemon pearl?? either that or megaman on my ps3 OR the bomb square guy????? idk the game name but.. ya

44: what type of bird do you hear most often outside your door?

i dont know what the bird species are but theyre small black birds not crows idk

45: Do you use gifs/ memes a lot when replying to people?

memes yes gifs no bc im not lame like jen

46: Thoughts on spring?

no comment?? i mean? its nice??????? i guess ??? if we had a spring

47: Ideal temperature outside?

oh boy 20 degrees would be enough for me but its never gotten that low before sunny island’s life

48: Cloudy, partly cloudy, or clear skies?

i like clear skies when its bright! but not too sunny and not too warm!!!!! clouds are nice to look at too though

49: How often do you hear airplanes outside?

yeah we live near an airport i dont think anybody uses????

50: Do you enjoy windy days?

windy days are my SHIT back in school our basketball court was open spaced and whenevr wind blew we could feel it man thats the life right there but i hate windy days when im sitting at home bc it flows the curtains rigth into my face i like the feel of the wind and the smell of fresh air but… curtains in my face? not 2 great so rip i close all the windows lmao

okay thank u so much 4 asking falen i love you and wow this was a lot

[yumenosakiacademy]

hm.

i heard nana talking to her friend n i heard her go “oh [my name] just came home. she’s eating rice rn-- rice is the only she ever eats. and she’s been-” n i thought i heard her abt to talk abt how ive been losing weight (i thought i heard the word weight) or mention my weight (which i kno, knowing her, that she skewers it to make me sound kinda :// i cant explain how just. listen.) n i hate her talking abt both it and abt me to others, so where i was in the kitchen (she was in the office w the door open) i kinda loudly said “eff off.” to kinda tell her to stop talking abt me but in a curt way or rather a heads up/warning (?) n she was like “excuse me? whatd u say?” n i think i repeated myself n she gasped n was all like “excuse???” so i told her not to talk abt me n she (still on the phone, n speaking loudly cuz she was in another room was like “’don’t talk abt you’?? she just asked when u were gonna graduate” n i was like “cool then just tell her when n dont mention anything else” cuz like. i hate whenever she talks abt me cuz she overshares or doesnt word things in a way i like cuz shes :// so she kept repeating my words aloud back to me as if to tell the lady on the other line like “can u believe?” cuz she cant shut up n she was like “i guess i cant talk abt her to you shelley, sorry 😒🙄” in that kind of pointed tone n i just went “good. as it should be.” like. thatz not gonna get a rise outta me

n after her call she was like “what u did earlier was rude; you embarrassed me” n like?? she was the one vocalizing our convo? dumbass? so i was like “ya coulda easily said ‘shut up [my name]’ or ignored me then scolded me after ur call like, u were the one who said everything right into the phone. ya embarrassed yerself” n of course she was like no but like. i was Right shez just dumb. sure i wasnt nice (duh) but shes the one who dug the hole for herself n even if the lady on the line DID somehow hear me (how??) theres no evidence it was pointed at nana cuz like. we have others in the house dumbass. i coulda been talking on the phone too for all she knowz duh.

n just a sec ago i went to go get some OJ from the minifridge n she was talking to another friend on the phone n she was like “Shelley asked if [my name] had graduated so i told her [my name] was graduating next yr n was eating rice then but that thatz all she practically eats n [my name] said ‘dont f**ing talk abt me.’-- er, ‘don’t effing talk abt me.’, [cuz she doesnt curse (?)] n Shelley was like ‘did i hear what i just heard?’ n i was like ‘yea.’ n she was like ‘if i was her mom, i’d have already popped her’ but i just kinda laughed n went ‘oh she talks like this to me all the time if/when she does talk to me” like?? alright 1. how did she hear me 2. i never stated nanaz name so itz not like it would sound as if that was directed at nana explicitly 3. why the hell were u telling this to another friend if u were embarrassed like. can i get a Huh. did u just wanna talk abt how ur daughter is “so disrespectful sigh 😔🙄😒” also wow how rude of her to keep talking abt me like. damn ya rly just dont care huh. nana shut up challenge.

[wueyahfantai]

The Eradictator: Have a Chat =>

-- roaringMechanix [RM] you're just havin a good day! you left work for now after getting a good amount of profits! you were beaming and overall were just in a great darn mood! --

-- theEradictator [TE] you were pissed off and wanted to fight God. --

-- roaringMechanix [RM] as you turn a corner, you can see down the whole street an extremely tall figure. a very FAMILIAR tall figure. like, the kind that ripped your arm off and took it with them. the shock actually freezes you in place before you even realize you should turn around --

-- theEradictator [TE] wasn't even looking. You were too focused on the broken phone on the ground, shifting it a little with your feet. --

TE: Trusik wαs hεrε...

-- roaringMechanix [RM] okay, yeah. time to back up. you start to, but end up tripping over some garbage, making a loud thud as you fell. ....goddammit --

-- theEradictator's [TE'S] fins perk up and she immediately looked toward the source of the noise, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. --

-- roaringMechanix [RM] goddammit if this isn't familiar...though she's lacking the more intimidating clothes. well, she's seen you, and if you run, you'll just look suspicious and she'll chase you, so you just stand up --

TE: Whαt αrε you doing hεrε.

RM: ....i work around here. im going hive

RM: what are YOU doing here

TE: I cαmε to sεε why Trusik's signαl stoppεd.

-- theEradictator [TE] kicks the broken phone towards him. --

TE: You'rε closε to hεr. αrε YOU involvεd in this...?

RM: ive already been interrogated by your "friend" butcher. no, i didnt have anything to do with it

-- theEradictator [TE] narrows her eyes and snarls. --

TE: Why do I gεt thε fεεling... thαt is α complεtε αnd αβsolutε *liε*....?

RM: probably because youre pissed and want it to be

RM: i wont lie that im not glad she ran, but i didnt help her run or get out

TE: .......

TE: Shε's βεεn gonε for wεεks now. This is αll I hαvε of hεr right now.

TE: Don't you miss hεr, too...?

RM: do i miss her? yes

RM: am i glad shes probably in a better place, though? also yes

TE: α βεttεr plαcε. Shε wαs finε whεrε shε wαs

RM: oh yeah, gettin beat and also sliced nearly in half was definately "good"

RM: havin her mate turned into a weapon that doesnt have much free will is "good"

RM: just like how you rippin my arm off felt "good"

TE: Whilε I will αdmit I wεnt too fαr whεn it comεs to thε βεαting, I sαvεd Cαtrix's lifε αnd mαdε usε for hεr. αs for you? You dεsεrvεd it.

RM: uh huh, "saved"

RM: keep tellin yourself that at dawn, might help ya sleep better

TE: You don't know whαt hαppεnεd. You wεrεn't thεrε. You wouldn't εvεn survivε if you wεrε.

RM: least i know when too fars too far. yeah, its easy to preach when you werent directly involved. but from what ive heard from rivers and claire? didnt seem like you were that bothered doin it

RM: whatever. im not here to debate or to continue to chastise you

RM: i just wanna go hive

TE: Pff... βiαsεd opinions.

-- roaringMechanix [RM] you go to walk. you try to leave. aaaand of course she's got to say that --

RM: .....says the one that beats one of them, and drove the other to plead for suicide

RM: but, yknow, biased, right?

TE: It wαs Clαirε's own fαult shε got hεrsεlf into thε αPSα. Thεrε wαs nothing I could do αβout it. Shε wαs going to βε α normαl prisonεr βut shε provεd hεrsεlf to βε α thrεαt. SHε HεRSεLF ON HεR OWN, provεd to βε α thrεαt worthy εnough to βε quαrαntinεd.

TE: I hαd nothing to do with it. I nεvεr wαntεd it to hαppεn.

TE: αnd I nεvεr KNεW it hαppεnεd until shε got shippεd to thε βεllαdonnα for contαinmεnt.

RM: youre still the one that turned her in, in the first place. and yeah, i know the rest of the story, dont have to go on about it to me. and you alreayd know my opinion about it, so lets just skip it already

TE: Do you? DO you know thε rεst of thε story?

TE: αs I sαid, you hεαrd it from βiαsεd sourcεs.

RM: alright. fine

TE: Hm...

-- roaringMechanix [RM] he walks over to her, but his hands are in his pockets, out of view. good thing, too. they're shaking --

-- theEradictator [TE] looks up at the sky. --

TE: I wαnt you to imαginε somεonε you lovε right now.

RM: you wanna explain it? then we'll sit down and ill listen

TE: Imαginε it.

TE: Imαginε somεonε who you lovε. Who hαs your undying trust

RM: alright. go on

TE: αrε you imαgining it?

TE: βεcαusε I wαnt you to rεαlly fεεl this.

RM: yes, i am

-- roaringMechanix [RM] is it bad he thought of the "I'M REALLY FEELIN IT" meme? --

TE: Imαginε thαt you αskεd thεm to do somεthing incrεdiβly importαnt. Somεthing so importαnt thαt you, yoursεlf, mαdε it α priority.

RM: alright

TE: Now imαginε onε dαy... thεy ruin it.

TE: βεhind your βαck

TE: Without your knowing.

TE: Your most focusεd-on projεct. Gonε.

TE: βy somεonε you trustεd thε most.

TE: βy somεonε who εαRNεD thαt trust

RM: uh huh

-- roaringMechanix [RM] ordinarily, he might feel for someone like this. but considering that she commits genocides on whole worlds, it's hard to have empathy --

TE: Now imαginε thαt this wαs thε first timε you εvεr fully trustεd somεonε.

TE: βεcαusε you'vε gottεn usεd to βεing βαckstαββεd.

TE: Ovεr.

TE: αnd ovεr.

TE: αnd ovεr αgαin.

TE: αnd thε onε timε you dεcidε to βε sαfε αnd opεn up...

TE: It βlows up in your fαcε.

RM: this thing that needed trusting with

RM: was it killing off a whole species from its planet?

TE: No.

RM: alright, then what was it?

TE: It's just to look αftεr α prisonεr.

TE: α singlε prisonεr.

RM: whatd this prisoner do?

TE: Committεd αcts of trεαson αgαinst thεir own. Invεntεd α rεβεllion systεm, αnd thε imprisonmεnt wαs upon somεonε's rεquεst. It wαs not my own doing.

-- roaringMechanix [RM] yeah, you know who this about now. both the person she trusted and her prisoner --

TE: I rεgrεt βεαting hεr.

TE: I wαs not mysεlf.

RM: spoken like an abuser or alcohlic

TE: You idiot.

TE: Thαt wαs thε first timε I εvεr lαid α hαnd on hεr.

TE: Thεrε is no cyclε of αβusε. This isn't α continuous thing.

TE: It wαs onε timε. αnd I rεgrεt it.

RM: alright. lets say that i go with you truly regretting what happened. everything, from forcing rivers to serve you, to turning his mate into a killing machine, to beating her

RM: what would you do if you found her again? give her hugs and kisses?

TE: βεforε I αnswεr thαt ridiculous quεstion, I mαy wαnt to corrεct you with somεthing

TE: Rivεrs wαs nεvεr forcεd to work with mε.

TE: Shε WαNTεD to

TE: You cαn εvεn αsk hεr nεxt timε you sεε hεr. IF you sεε hεr αgαin.

TE: You sεεm to likε twisting words so thεy sαtisfy yoursεlf.

TE: Mεαnwhilε I hαvε βεεn tεlling thε truth.

RM: you have to admit its hard to sympathize with someone who tore my arm off, and KEPT it

RM: i dont even wanna know what happened to it at this point

RM: but fine

RM: whatever

TE: βoo fucking hoo.

RM: tell me what youd do if you found rivers again

TE: God you whinε.

TE: Whαt I would do?

-- theEradictator [TE] shrugs. --

TE: Fuck if I know.

TE: βut it wouldn't involvε hurting hεr.

RM: and you certainly wouldnt make her come back with you, of course

TE: I would.

RM: i know you would, it was sarcasam

TE: Shε'll εvεntuαlly wαnt to comε βαck.

RM: sure she will, buddy

TE: You don't know hεr

TE: You think you do, just βεcαusε you wεnt to thε mαll with hεr.

TE: Or spεnt timε with hεr αt your hivε.

TE: Good joβ for kεεping it in your pαnts βy thε wαy. I wαs worriεd.

RM: jesus, youre like the obsessed girlfriend that tracks her significant other in fear theyll cheat

TE: I lovε how εvεrything goεs to rεlαtionships with you.

TE: Oβsεssεd girlfriεnd.

-- theEradictator [TE] shakes her head. --

RM: least i dont have to put a tracker on mine in case theyll run from me in terror

TE: Didn't you put α trαckεr on α onε swεεp old, I hεαrd?

RM: yeah. because she was a single sweep old. and the type to see a bear in the woods and ask it for a hug. piss off, if youre gonna even try to make that kind of connection

TE: You put α trαcking βαnglε.

TE: On α child.

RM: because shes a DUMBASS, and i was worried about a kid falling off a cliff or gettin hurt from a wild animal! you tracked rivers because you didnt want to lose your PROPERTY

RM: you know how she acted when she learned she had to go back to your ship?

RM: she was in DISPAIR

RM: the idea MORTIFIED her

RM: she only left to go because she was so scared youd hurt her again!

-- theEradictator's [TE'S] fins flick straight up. He did not just... --

TE: Dumβαss...?

TE: I trαck Rivεrs for thαt sαmε rεαson.

TE: Shε hαs nothing to dεfεnd hεrsεlf with βUT α GUN.

TE: IF SHε IS IN MORTαL DαNGεR, HεR TOP βUTTON CαLLS Mε.

TE: *Mε*

TE: NOT α GUαRD. NOT αN αSSISTαNT.

TE: *Mε*.

TE: αnd OF COURSε shε wαs scαrεd to go βαck to thε fucking SHIP.

TE: αftεr I HURT hεr!

TE: Not to mεntion if shε wεnt βαck to thε ship, I would hαvε thought αβout lεtting hεr out of thε ship morε αs αN αPOLOGY.

TE: FOR FUCKING UP.

TE: βεCαUSε YεS.

TE: I

TE: FUCKεD

TE: UP.

TE: Sεε?

TE: IS THαT WHαT YOU WαNTεD TO HεαR, TαUSHI?!

TE: LULITH "THε εRαDICTαTOR" εNKεLI,

TE: FUCKεD UP.

TE: βUT YOU.

-- theEradictator [TE] STANDS UP to her full height. --

TE: YOU put α SLαVε βαNGLε on α CHILD.

TE: Whαt thε fuck αrε trolls going to think whεn thεy sεε α LOWβLOOD wεαring HIGHβLOOD TRαCKING PROPεRTY on thεir horns?

TE: 9/10 sαy thαt child is α SLαVε

TE: I didn't εvεn KNOW you did this!!!

TE: You cαll Mε α βαd pεrson, αt lεαst I'm αβlε to αdmit thαt I fuckεd up αnd TRY not to do it αgαin!

TE: I αm NOT α pεrfεct troll! NεVεR wαs!

TE: αnd you cαllεd hεr α *DUMβαSS*!!!

RM: SHES ONE GODDAMN SWEEP OLD, ALL WRIGGLERS ARE DUMBASSES, BECAUSE THEY DONT KNOW BETTER

TE: Thεy αrε not DUMβαSSεS, thεy αrε WIGGLεRS.

TE: Whαt wεrε YOU doing αt onε swεεp old?

TE: αll shε wαnts is to εXPLORε. Whεn shε βrεαchεd my ship, αll shε wαntεd wαs to βε friεnds with mε!

TE: Shε didn't know mε! Shε didn't know who I wαs!

TE: αll shε sαw wαs α "βig fishy"!

TE: Of COURSε shε's nαivε! Shε's α CHILD, shε doεsn't know SHIT.

TE: βut thαt doεsn't mαkε hεr αn IDIOT.

TE: Shε's so smαrt αt whαt shε doεs.

-- roaringMechanix [RM] that's actually the perfect reason wrigglers are dumb, but..... --

TE: Shε wαs thε only troll. THε ONLY TROLL, to succεssfully βRεαCH my ship.

TE: Hαd shε βε αny othεr troll, shε would hαvε hαd thε knowlεdgε to know thαt shε mαdε my ship vulnεrαβlε αnd hαd εvεry opportunity to ruin it.

TE: βut no.

TE: Shε wαs found βy βutchεr, αnd shε mαdε friεnds with litεrαlly εVεRYONε THεRε>

TE: Shε εvεn drεw mε α picturε!

-- theEradictator [TE] uncaptchas a picture Irisma drew of her and Lulith together being friends. --

TE: Shε cαll mε LuLu!

TE: Shε cαlls my mαtεsprit "Tushiε"!

RM: aww, thats cute

TE: Shε's fucking hilαrious!

TE: Shε's mischεvious, shε's nαivε, αnd shε's curious.

TE: βUT SHε IS NOT.

TE: IN αNY STRεTCH

TE: αN

TE: IDIOT.

-- theEradictator [TE] was full on Commander Admiral mode now. --

TE: I DO NOT WαNT YOU TO εVεR SαY THαT βULLSHIT IN FRONT OF Mε αGαIN.

TE: OR YOU WILL LOSε YOUR JαW.

TE: FUCK YOUR αRM.

TE: I WILL TεαR OUT YOUR TONGUε.

RM: well, thats unpleasant

TE: Or I cαn just go for your βulgε sincε thαt sεεms to βε your βεst fεαturε αppαrεntly?

-- roaringMechanix [RM] part of him is afraid, while the other part just thinks ROBOBULGE --

TE: I should just tεll Irismα thαt.

TE: "Irismα, onε of your βεst friεnds who you trustεd αnd lovεd cαllεd you α dumβαss todαy."

TE: No...

TE: I should tεll CLαIRε thαt.

TE: I wondεr how shε would rεαct.

-- roaringMechanix [RM] is just staring at her, because he can't believe that Lulith is taking the "moral high ground" when she's utterly terrible --

TE: Yεαh.

TE: I'll do thαt.

TE: I'll tεll Clαirε εxαctly whαt you sαid.

RM: ........youre seriously being a tattletale on me right now

TE: α TαTT-

-- theEradictator [TE] LAUGHS. --

TE: WHαT αRε YOU, α WIGGLεR.

TE: OH NO, YεS YOU αRε.

TE: βεCαUSε YOU'Rε α DUMβαSS.

RM: .....i honestly dont know how to react to this

TE: Thε fuck do you mεαn?

TE: αrε you thαt in shock?

RM: i just

RM: the way that all went was so surprising

RM: youre raving mad at first, then you started acting motherly for iris

RM: then back to raving mad, threatening to kill me

TE: Yεs.

RM: and then saying youre gonna tell on me to claire

TE: "Tεll on mε", christ, I'm βεing schoolfεd αgαin.

RM: thats what you said! ill tell claire exactly what you said!

RM: ....this is too much for me

TE: You αct likε you'rε in thε Twilight Zonε.

TE: Is your world thαt βlαck αnd whitε thαt you cαn't possiβly sεε somεonε likε mε CαRING for somεonε?

RM: i mean......its not like its implausible

RM: you have to admit, literally every experience ive had with you, in person or talking about you, has been negative

TE: You βring it up on yoursεlf βεcαusε αll you sεε is α monstεr.

RM: but at the same time, i know youre capable of it, like anyone else

RM: and /you/ dont exactly paint yourself in the prettiest light

TE: Of coursε I fucking don't.

RM: then what do you expect when people think the WORST of you?

TE: I'm usεd to it.

TE: Your rεαction to mε isn't uniquε.

RM: then....i dunno.....why not try to CHANGE that?

TE: Tαushi

TE: I αm fαr too fαr gonε.

TE: I cαn't just βε α good guy αt thε drop of α hαt.

RM: well thats bullshit

RM: of course not. nobody is

RM: i cant exactly talk from experience

RM: but i at least know it takes a fuck ton of time and effort

RM: besides, it aint like you dont have time to try

TE: Timε αnd εffort wαstεd.

RM: youll probably even live for another thousand years

RM: i mean....you say that

RM: but this certainly went better than our LAST meeting

RM: id say thats some improvement

TE: Mostly βεcαusε I'm tirεd αnd I only hurt thosε who physicαlly provokε it.

TE: You could hαvε hαd your αrm hαd you not hαvε punchεd mε.

TE: Its your fαult.

RM: its not like i MEANT to

TE: Whαt...

RM: hell, i was gonna go back hive cause claire told me to

TE: αnd thεn you dεcidεd to αpproαch mε.

RM: i only got angry cause i saw you covered in her blood

TE: Yεs αnd?

TE: You wεnt αgαinst hεr wishεs.

RM: no, seriously, i didnt even go out to find you! i just happened upon you!

TE: Yεs you did!

RM: oh cmon, youre a highblood. you know about rage issues

TE: Oh plεαsε.

TE: Of coursε I do.

TE: βut I αlso know whεn to fucking NOT.

RM: yeah, and youre like 17 times older than me

RM: i just fuckin lost it, okay

TE: You should hαvε sεεn from MILεS αWαY how unstαβlε I wαs.

TE: Yεs, I wαs covεrεd in hεr βlood.

TE: βut Clαirε βεggεd you to αvoid mε.

TE: αnd look whαt you didn't do?

RM: and i TRIED

TE: You fαilεd MISεRαβLY.

TE: εvεn *I* would hαvε donε it succεssfully!

-- roaringMechanix [RM] he's.....actually getting kind of flustered now. throughout this, he's either been calm, annoy, or a tad afraid. but he hasn't really broken his comosure like this --

RM: .......screw you. i just fuckin lost it. i just......i fuckin....

TE: You did this.

TE: You could hαvε stoppεd it. βut you did this.

-- theEradictator [TE] yawns. --

TE: αnywαy, thε mαtε is wαiting βαck hivε.

TE: Shε isn't fεεling wεll αnd I nεεd to pick up α fεw things.

TE: Mαyβε somε snαcks if shε's hungry.

TE: Good dαwn, Xεrx. Mαyβε thε nεxt timε wε tαlk, It'll improvε α littlε βεttεr.

-- roaringMechanix [RM] he doesn't say anything, just lets her walk away, muttering "goddammit" when she leaves and hitting the wall hard enough to leave his imprint in it, despite it being brick --

[grubhivemind]

-- primadonnaTartuffe [PT] began pestering obliteratedEmpath [OE] -- 

PT: tell me where youre at cuz im coming to see you.

OE: oh boy. 

OE: I'm at the skaia resort. penthouse.

PT: alright here i come. 

RYAN: -and there she goes, off to the resort and up to the penthouse. it's a strange feeling... all the emotions swirling around inside her gut that... actually seem to be processing through her mind with amazing clarity. there's just something about climactic moments such as these that are, appropriately, sobering.- 

RYAN: -knocks SOMEWHAT aggressively on the door when she arrives.- bitch lemme iiinnnn.

JINJIN: -It's probably inappropriate to be in the lap of luxury after what has occurred, and yet here Jinjin is. She was still very raw with the entire situation.- 

JINJIN: -Ryan isn't knocking for long before Jinjin opens the door, looking back at her cousin like welp you found me-

RYAN: -she isn't sure what to say now that she's here... so for a second she just stands there looking over at her until she's letting out the uncertainty with an exhale.- 

RYAN: jin... whatd you do that for?

JINJIN: I....-She looks down, around, anywhere but at Ryan before finally settling her gaze on her.- 

JINJIN: I don't know? she hurt you, hurt our friends. I guess she deserves to be hurt too. I didn't mean to actually HIT her, but...

RYAN: -fixes her with a stern look. stern but... very worried.- yeah okay sure. 

RYAN: but thats not like you. 

RYAN: i mean sure everyones capable of going off the deep end but!!! that shit doesnt happen for no reason. 

RYAN: so whats the reason?

JINJIN: she just...so easily fucked it up, fucked you up, fucked everyone up. I'm supposed to just sit by and let that happen? I'm supposed to just let her sit up there and get buddy buddy with joel while she's just laughing about stirring up all this shit for you to clean up? no! fuck that. maybe I can't actually help you with this mess but her I can do something about, I can...did make her hurt, make her maybe feel what everyone else was feeling....

RYAN: -expression softens as she listens to her.- baby... please. 

RYAN: so much of this mess i made on my own... long before nona was ever in the picture. you know? 

RYAN: what she did was fucked up yeah. but... it made everything... more real. it made me realize things i hadnt before... 

RYAN: you always did so much for me. maybe you feel like its never been enough but fuck. you shouldnt have to be proving yourself. you dont have to pick fights standing up for me. 

RYAN: youre enough just being you... and being my family. and my best friend. thats always... made more of a difference then i ever knew how to show.

JINJIN: -She's quiet, listening to her and sniffling a little. She hasn't done anything for anyone. All she'd ever done in her life was shut herself away smoke herself stupid. It was unbelievable that she'd EVER been, or done enough. - 

JINJIN: -She wipes at her face a little.- 

JINJIN: it's okay ry. you don't have to say all that. I mean, I really appreciate it but I don't think I've ever really done much for anybody least of all you. all I ever did was get high and stay in my room to escape my powers, I've never been...there. I don't know. I'm sorry ry.

RYAN: well shit jinjin... i know how it is. 

RYAN: maybe we both have things we gotta answer to cuz of our escapism. i dont wanna deny theres consequences. 

RYAN: it never helped me... i know i shouldve done more for people. even if people dont want me to feel responsible for it... that guilts still there. -tries reaching out to her to pull her into a hug.- 

RYAN: but we love each other. right? you broke a bitchs leg for me... if theres ever i time i felt sore about you being off on your own how the fuck can i possibly feel that way anymore??? thats the dopest shit anyones ever done on my account.

JINJIN: -SNUFFLE, but she's pulled into a hug and DON'T MAKE HER LAUGH 

RYAN. Hugs all this cousin.- 

JINJIN: I guess more of my parents rubbed off on me than I thought. I'm sorry ry...no more broken legs, I promise.

RYAN: -smiles a little up at her.- oh i feel it... 

RYAN: thanks tho i appreciate it. broken legs are more trouble than theyre worth. :weary: