#because when i had to stop playing him and make lori he was only at necropolis for the 1st time

[get-more-bald]

the fuck do you mean I have to leave....

[ssvnriseya]

LOVE AFFAIR (R.G.)

summary - you and rick had a forbidden affair that you knew was bad for the both of you, but you loved him and you can't help it.

warning - MDNI 18+ heavy angst, smut, unprotected p in v (wrap it buddy!), cumming inside, rick is a bit of an asshole and a jerk but we love him for it, lowercase intended, mentions of shane, mentions of lori and shane cheating on our poor baby, I think that's it. (lmk if i missed anything.)

notes - i love rick, period, previously the other woman but i changed it to love affair.

masterlist

you glanced at rick as he assisted lori and carl out of the car and onto the little camp you and the group has decided to settle in for the night.

it had been months since the farm fell when it was hit by a herd, months since you and the others have been on the road and were consistently on the run.

it has been months since something happened between you and rick, five months to be exact. you didn't know what happened or how it happened.

you only knew that you and rick needed comfort and stress relief since that night when you and rick were on the top floor of a house your group stayed in for a week.

you and rick were guarding the house from the top of the balcony, well rick was, you were just accompanying him because sometimes you know it gets too lonely.

you were talking his ear off and trying to converse with the man you've liked since the first time you met.

he was older, you were fine with that, it wasn't much of a big problem. it wasn't the thing to stop you from your feelings over him.

he has a wife. that was the thing that would stop you, you've tried to stop liking him but you could not, he was a great leader and he was a great father.

carl is rick and lori's son, he was a teenage boy that was a very sweet guy, he was the reason you met rick. otis has accidentally shot the boy and that brought rick to ask your uncle for help.

you looked away from the family as you bit your lip, staring at the fire embers instead as if it would make the aching pain in your chest go away.

fuck, you can see from the corner of your eyes how lori and rick lovingly held their son as they told him stories and cuddled with him.

"is that how you met mom?"

you could hear carl ask innocently as he looked up into his fathers blue eyes, you tilted your head a bit to the side to look at them and now you wish you didn't.

rick was smiling as he made heart eyes to his wife, the woman also had a smiling face as rick slowly nodded and looked back down at his son.

"yeah, bud. that's how i met your mom." rick nodded as he played with the boy's hair. was it really a good memory that it had them laugh amidst the chaos around the world?

you've never made him laugh, were you not really just funny? you also wanted to make rick laugh, you wanted to be the reason why he was laughing.

he rarely ever smiles when he's with you, whenever your bodies are onto each other or after that. he rarely smiled or laughed.

it was truly a rare moment to see him smile with you, and you would give up everything you had just to see him smile again, because of you.

you're crazy and down bad but whatever, you loved him. what can you do? it's not like you can control who your heart likes or loves.

"share it with us." beth smiled at the couple as she laid her head on your uncle hershel's lap, the old man was stroking the girl's blonde hair as he also looked at the couple.

everyone was looking at the family by now, also wanting to hear a love story once again for the first time since shit hit the fan.

you can feel butterflies form inside your stomach when rick's gaze landed on you, you smiled a bit as you looked away again.

he always had this stupid effect on you. you hate and love it at the same time, you hated it because it shows how weak you are for him, you love it because you love him and only he could make you feel this way.

you can hear the silence of the night as everybody waited for the story or rick and lori, how they met and how their love happened.

you didn't wanna hear it, you can't hear it. it would burn you and hurt you but you can't do anything, others would get suspicious.

maggie was a smart woman, she would instantly figure out what was going on and you didn't want anyone to know what's up with you and rick.

you only pressed your lips into a thin line as you mirrored daryl's usual position, you dazed into the fire as you waited for rick to start the story.

"well, there's this college party my brother and i attended." rick started and you didn't dare look at him while he told the group how he met his wife.

"and?" carl asked impatiently and everyone laughed at the little boy, even you let out a little smile as you quickly wiped it.

"i saw your mom with her friends and we fell in love." rick stated simply as he finished the story in two simple sentences.

"that's it?" beth and carl grumbled as they wanted more, treating it like a bed time story as beth finds it hard to sleep on the cold grass.

"well, lori... she liked to make pancakes on sundays..." rick stated in a teasing voice as lori slapped his arm, also smiling at the memory.

"they weren't great." she instantly informed everyone as she waved at the air like she was trying to clear off the fact that rick tried to make her look like a good cook.

you frowned a little, you were a better cook. you don't burn your pancakes and surely you could do them a little better than lori.

you shook your head and thought about the times the older woman has been kind and generous to you. you can't say things about her just because you love her husband.

you were attracted to her husband yet she was the one who stood like your mother when you and the group were still in atlanta.

"rick doesn't bring lunch to work, he buys them." she chuckled as everyone laughed along with her. you let out a small scoff.

how could rick like her if she doesn't even know how to cook? how could she be a wife without learning how to cook in the first place.

but yet again your cooking skills would be no use if the guy you liked already has a wife and loves her despite her bad cooking skills.

you were glad hershel and beth were between you and the family. you can't stand being that close to rick. you would probably just have broken down.

he wasn't okay with her just a month ago, that's why you were both grinding against each other while everyone was asleep in the next building.

he definitely wasn't okay with her two months back, hence why he claimed that he needed you and only you could make him feel better.

three months back was the worse, lori and rick weren't even in speaking terms despite the woman trying to converse with her husband.

they weren't okay four months ago because lori cheated on rick with shane, thinking that her husband's dead, they weren't okay because she hooked up with rick's best friend.

they started drifting apart five months back when the farm was hit by a herd and shane died, rick wasn't even able to look at her in the eyes.

so when did everything go wrong? they weren't on good terms one month ago and now they're just laughing like a family like everything is back to normal?

maybe everything is back to normal. maybe rick has forgotten the fact that lori had cheated on him or maybe he just forgave her.

maybe it's just because his feelings for her came back and they were willing to try again for carl? maybe they were willing to try again as a whole family?

you took a quick glance at lori's stomach and your heart felt like it was being stabbed multiple times at the same time with different knives.

she was six months along, she was pregnant. none of you knew if it was rick's or shane's but the former was willing to stand up as a father for the baby whether it was his or not.

and that made you sick. he dropped you at the sidewalk to start a family again with the first woman he loved. he dumped you because he wants the four of them as a family.

did you actually mean so little to him? were you just really a bed warmer or a body he could use whenever he was feeling horny or stressed?

but you didn't care, you loved him, right? you don't care if he was using you or not. you would do anything for him because you loved him.

loving him comes along with things, and you were willing to pay for it. you can endure the pain and suffering, as long as you can love him.

you would rather it be that no one loves you than no one loves him. he was your everything and he's great, he deserves all the love in the world.

if letting him go means him being happy, you would let him go a million times. you loved seeing a smile on his face, you loved hearing the sound of his laughter.

your smile at maggie held so much meaning when she offered you a beef jerky that was being passed along the group as rick and lori went on sharing stories.

you passed the beef jerky to your uncle hershel and beth and you accidentally made eye contact with rick. only this time neither of you looked away from each other.

you smiled bitterly as if telling him that you understood, telling him that it was fine, that you were fine. but you weren't and the both of you knew that.

"rick..." you moaned his name as you both kept the pace you had, desperate to get some release. your hands were entangled in his curls as he was kissing your neck.

he was thrusting his hips into you so bad that the bed almost broke, you almost felt bad for the bed if you both weren't so starved for each other.

"please..." you begged as you met his hips, you were nearing and he was too. "ric—" you moaned loudly and rick had to cover your mouth with his hand to keep you quiet.

you would scream his name out loud like it was the only word you knew, but you knew you can't. the group was sleeping on the third floor of the building.

it was too quiet except for the occasional grunts and moans of the passing walkers. it meant that your moans would echo and reach those who were sleeping.

"i-i missed you..." you moaned.

you both were on the ground floor but you knew you would never lose a thing by making sure you were quiet. rick could keep his moans at bay while you? you can't.

it was too much of a pleasure for you and you wanted rick to finish inside you, to have him cumming the same time you are. you wanted to feel close to him more than ever.

"i-i'm coming..." your moaning was muffled by his big hand that almost took over the whole part of your face. you closed your eyes as you tightened up around him and came.

rick groaned in relief as he stopped thrusting and muttered praises as he felt your warm walls tighten up more around him.

"fuck... lori—" he came inside you as you stopped yourself from moving, you were frozen as you gripped his shoulders, pushing him away from you.

"what the fuck?" you stood up once he was off you, he also looked shocked when the word slipped out of his lips. the same lips you loved to kiss.

you searched for your clothes as tears threatened to spill out of your eyes, you found your undies and jeans as you reached for your bra and shirt along with your sweatshirt.

you didn't even dare to turn around and face his stupidly handsome face, you were too scared to do so. he was stuttering as he tried to come up with an explanation.

"what?!" you finally faced him as you started slipping on your undies, followed by your jeans. "you can't fuck her so you fucked me?!" you screamed, you didn't care if anyone heard you at the moment.

"what? is it because she's pregnant or she fucking only wants your best friend fucking her?" you hissed in pure anger.

"it's not—" he started as he tried to grab your arm, you backed away as you put in your shirt followed by your sweatshirt after putting in your bra.

"i'm not—" you sobbed as you stopped yourself from completing your sentence, "i'm not a fucking whore you can k-keep around to fuck when you feel... feel horny!"

"it's not fair how you just fuck me because you want to... or when you want to fuck your wife but forget you can't so you fuck me..." you sniffled as you crouched down.

"i-i love you that's why i always have sex with you." you confessed to him as you hid your face in the palm of your hands.

"it hurts me how you were laughing with her last week when you weren't fine a week ago..." you shook your head, disappointed at yourself.

"i said no strings attached..." rick looked down at you as he also started clothing himself if anyone ever came down due to your screams.

"i know... but i got attached. maybe too much more than before." your voice cracked as you looked up at him, wiping your tears.

"we're—" he started as he ran his right hand over his face and hair, "we're casual." he finished and you nodded several times.

"i-i know rick. i know." you nodded as you slowly stood up as you looked up at him, slowly walking towards him as you wiped your tears away.

"c-can't you try loving me?" you asked once you were standing face-to-face in front of him, voice cracking as he looked anywhere but you.

"i'm sorry." he looked down at the ground as he put a hand in his hips, shaking his head as you reached for his hands. he was breaking your heart and he knew it just by the sobs and whimpers that escapes you.

"please?" you begged as you lifted his head to look at you, pulling your hand away from his hand as you supported the sides of his cheeks.

"i-i can't." he shook his head and he also had tears in his eyes by now, also waiting to spill out any moment. he was shocked how he could hold back his tears.

you were desperate, sad, and angry. maybe this didn't hurt him too much and he really had no feelings for you that's why he can't even spare a tear for you.

"in another life?" you asked as you gave up, your shoulders slumping as you smiled at the older man, caressing his stubble.

"in another life." he nodded finally breaking as he saw your pained smile and at how you were so accepting and understanding.

"i love you, rick." you whispered out as you searched his eyes for any signs that he wanted you too, not the way of you being beneath him but wanting to be with you.

you waited for a second but all you got was silence and his silent sobs. you nodded and smiled again, wiping his tears as he looked down.

"it's okay... i understand..." you assured him as you brought the taller man into a hug, he buried his face into the crook of your neck as you rubbed his back.

maybe you weren't meant to be in this universe. maybe the universe had other plans for the both of you. maybe in the next life... he could finally learn to love you.

he might not love you in this life or universe, the next life and the next one after that but you knew one thing.

you might be the other woman in this universe, in this life. but maybe in another life you could be the one he chose, the one he loved.

you would always be waiting for him.

[ashtheketchum]

A new family {Daryl Dixon X Reader} Part 1

A/N: In this chapter, the reader already has a child! I came up with this idea while rewatching the first season and I liked it :3 Have fun!

(D/N) = Daughter name

Warnings: fem.Reader, Reader already has a child, Merle is an asshole, mentions of abuse, insults (slut, bitch, etc.)

Picture is from Pinterest!

Masterlist!

____________________________________________________

PoV (Y/N):

My daughter (D/N) and I were brought to camp by Glenn and Andrea while they were looking for something to eat. We were very lucky, our supplies were running out and we couldn't defend ourselves. Their leader, Shane, accepted us, but only after Lori and Dale talked him into it. (D/N) and I settled in well, we were given a tent, some food and tasks to do during the day.

I was supposed to take care of the laundry and the kids while (D/N) had to do study work and keep watch with Dale. Actually, they were just watching birds, but they still enjoyed it. But there were also two people who didn't play well with us. The Dixon brothers, Merle and Daryl. Merle was Daryl's big brother and they were more alone. It wouldn't actually bother me if Merle didn't constantly make comments and Daryl looked after him like his lap dog. Once Merle whistled at me because I was wearing shorts.

When I tried to contradict him, Daryl immediately jumped between us and drove me away. "Go awa´, ya damn bitch!" He screamed the whole time. However, I didn't leave because Daryl scared me, but because (D/N) was coming towards us. After that day, I had avoided the Dixon brothers and I forbade (D/N) to be near them.

One day (D/N) made a necklace with a small stone hanging on it. The stone looked almost like a heart and she had it attached to one of her shoelaces. "She looks great, darling." I said proudly. (D/N) grinned widely at me before looking around. Apparently she was looking for someone, but I couldn't figure out who she was looking for. "Mom, where is Daryl?" Her question stole all color and emotion from me.

I looked around uncertainly before kneeling down next to her. "Honey, we talked about it… you're not going to them, not even to Daryl." I said, a little more sternly. (D/N) just pouted before putting the necklace away and sitting next to a tree. I felt bad about giving her so little choice, but there was no other option. At least she could still play with Carl and Sophia while I started doing the laundry.

PoV Daryl:

I sat by a tree and cleaned my arrows from my crossbow. Merle had gone deeper into the woods to take a piss, so I waited for him, but at a safe distance. "Daryl!" I suddenly heard someone scream. I immediately looked in the direction from which I was being called.

It was that stupid bitch's daughter. She looked at me brightly as she ran toward me. You'd think she wouldn't understand the current situation, the way she sometimes ran around and laughed. I stood up and sighed in annoyance. "Wha´ do ya wan´?" I asked harshly.

(D/N), that was her name, stopped in front of me and held out a necklace. It was a shoelace with a strangely shaped stone attached to it. I briefly looked at the necklace in confusion, then at the little girl. "Wha´?" I didn't understand what she wanted. "I did that! For you!” she then said. I knelt down so that I was eye level with her. Then I snatched the necklace from her hand and I looked at the necklace.

,, Wha´ is tha´? An a-…” I stopped when I realized she was only 8 years old. I cleared my throat briefly before speaking up again. "… A-an apple…?" I then corrected myself. (D/N) laughed briefly before shaking her head and tracing the outline with her finger. "That's a heart! Mom and I found it!” she explained. "Ah…" I said before putting the necklace in my pocket. "I won´t wear tha… it'll break while I'm huntin´…" I just lied.

Merle would just laugh at me if he saw the necklace and I wasn't in the mood for that. But (D/N) nodded in understanding and opened her mouth again to say something, but a more aggressive voice made her stop. "Daryl, what are ya doing? Leave tha´ kid alone!” Merle shouted. I immediately turned around to Merle. (D/N) looked scared and she hid slightly, behind me. Merle walked up to her and grabbed her arm roughly. "He, little one… my brotha is too old for ya!" Merle said. (D/N) whimpered loudly and tears gathered in her eyes. I stayed silent for a while before I spoke up. "Merle, tha's enough… I was just ´bout to send her awa´." I said. "Oh yeh? Then why is tha´ stupid brat still here? Go to yar slutty motha.” Merle then shouted loudly.

(D/N) cried loudly before he let go of her and she ran away. Grinning, Merle stood up again before looking at me. I looked after the little girl before I could no longer see her. "Wha´?" I suddenly heard Merle's voice. "Nothin´…" is all I said before we retreated into the forest.

PoV (Y/N):

I chatted with Carol while we hung out the laundry together. Her husband, Ed, stared at us the whole time. When Carol and I were alone, I told her what my husband had done to me and my daughter. Carol was in the same situation I was in, except I killed my husband. So I understood her. “Mom!” I suddenly heard (D/N) scream loudly. I immediately threw the clothes on the floor and ran to my daughter, who was crying and sobbing. I hugged her tightly and tried to calm her down.

"Honey, what happened!? Why are you crying!?" I asked her as I checked her for injuries. But I didn't find any, luckily. "I-I…! D-daryl-! Merle…!” She stuttered around random words. But I understood enough to let my anger rise. Even though I told her to stay away from the Dixon brothers, I didn't want to yell at her right now. Apparently the brothers had already done it. "Everything is fine…! I will talk to them…” I promised her. But (D/N) immediately shook her head and clutched my shirt tightly. "M-merle called you a slut…! He’s just like daddy!” she cried loudly. My eyes filled with anger and I carried (D/N) to Lori, who was cutting Carl's hair.

She immediately looked at me confused while (D/N) was still breathing heavily. "What happened?" Lori asked. Carl also looked at (D/N) while I sat her down next to him. "Dixon happened." I said simply before turning around and running towards the brothers. They could hear something from me.

Next Chaper!

[emmis15]

Daryl's three favorite memories,

2-

Daryl was leaning against the corner of that small room as loud music played. The tears streaming down his face were inevitable, and he was trying everything he could to stop them and at least close his eyes. Lost in hopelessness and the desire to die, he couldn't shake the guilt of the situation, along with not knowing what was happening outside or how Kat was doing. He stared at a fixed point between the dim light coming in and the floor, reminiscing about an old memory from when they were at the prison.

—Judith, I promise if you stop crying for Aunt Kat, I'll let you play with my pens, okay? —I heard the whisper of my "girlfriend's" soft voice as she returned from guard duty; dawn was breaking through the cell windows.

—What are you doing?—I leaned against the bars of the open door, looking at her. She looked tired, her hair tied back haphazardly, and dark circles prominent under her eyes.

—I accidentally hit the metal plate with the candle and woke her up, so I'm trying to calm her down so the others can sleep a little longer.—Kat rocked the baby in her arms as she whispered to him, but the little troublemaker wouldn't stop crying.

I approached her and took the baby from her arms, resting the baby's head on my shoulder and moving around the small space just as I had seen Carol and Beth do many times before. Kat tied her hair back better, focusing on organizing the scattered papers on the desk quickly.

—Did you get any sleep? —I asked, running my hand over Judith's head.

—Sleeping these days is a waste of time. I have to make the most of it to organize the group my way while Rick is grieving and having schizophrenic episodes anyway—she replied brusquely. I raised an eyebrow at her tone, which made her relax, calm her shoulders, and lean against the table.

Her arms crossed over her chest as she sighed, looking at her worn-out sneakers and the dirty floor. I could see her biting her lip hard as she avoided my gaze.

—You should sleep— I said, looking at her.

—At the moment, that's a luxury I can't afford.

—I know we're all going through a tough time. Lori's death was unexpected, but believe me, even when we have to regroup without Rick, we all take some rest, even if it's just a little.

—I know, and all I care about is that everyone rests so we can work tomorrow. But I took Rick's place for a reason; I can handle these situations. I can multitask, but time waits for no one, and I can't waste minutes or hours closing my eyes only to realize tomorrow that no one is guarding the fence or that essential supplies are missing. — his hands moved to his hips as he spoke.

—I know, really, I do, dear, but you can't carry the entire group on your shoulders, okay? We're supposed to be a team, or isn't that what you always say? —I asked in a softer tone as the baby began to fall asleep.

—That's what I say, but every team has a leader. Rick was the leader, but now he's seeing things in the air or ignoring his son, and I can't let everything fall apart. We all contribute in some way, but there will always be someone who has to bear the brunt of it, and that's okay because I want to be that person. I have ideas and an organization that's self-sufficient and fair to everyone, better than what we had before—she grabbed her papers and showed them to me, proving her point.

I sighed heavily and approached her, picking up the scribbled sheets with indecipherable handwriting and putting them back where they were before embracing her tightly against my chest. I could feel her muscles relax under my touch as she wrapped her arms around my body.

—I'm pretty sure your plan for managing everything and ensuring equitable tasks will be a success, I know it. But I need you to rest because when you go to manage everything and control or do your tasks, it'll be very hard for you. You'll get tired, and somehow you'll end up ruining your perfectly planned work— I spoke against her hair, kissing her forehead gently.

We remained silent, enjoying the rays of sun beginning to enter through the small window, the light gradually warming our skin.

—¿You are going to sleep?

—No, I have to explain my plan and convince everyone that it's the best idea. Forget all of Rick's work to do what I want while he's grieving. Besides, I promised Lori to take care of her son, so I have to give everything I can to make his grieving process as bearable as possible and not force his sister onto him as an obligation— she pulled away from me as she spoke, running her hands over her face to wake herself up.

—Carl is a smart kid, ¿okay? He will realize when you are with him out of obligation and fatigue, and that will not help.

—But at least I'm doing something, okay? I'm not trying to shield him from pain or ignore him like Rick does. I promised Lori I'd take care of her son and daughter, and if I have to collapse from exhaustion to do it, I will, not just for him, but for everyone.

—You should be able to rest and enjoy the possible stability it gives you. Not carrying all the work or the burden of the group, trying to live a normal life that we will never have again. That's your problem too, Kat. You are trying to paint reality rosy so that we can feel good about the little normality we have in this new world.

¿The problem? When everything goes to hell, it is a much harder blow for everyone to face reality.

—I can't do it. Someone has to suffer for everyone else to be happy, and I offer myself as a tribute to the harsh reality, so everyone can have a plate of food, shelter, family, comics, and baby food—she was about to slam her hand on the table, but my tense look at Judith stopped her in time, letting her hand drop slowly onto the wood.

I sighed, she was as stubborn as a mule, but I wouldn't stop until she could close her eyes for at least five minutes.

—Let's make a deal, ¿okay? I need to sleep now. I'll give you three hours to do everything, and if you're not in my bed with me by 9, I'll come looking for you— I pointed at her sternly.

She gave me a dirty look, but she nodded anyway, just in time to hear the whole group starting to get up because the sun was already high in the sky.

I left Judith in Carol's arms before walking to my cell and collapsing onto the lousy bed to grab a couple of branches that weren't yet arrows to distract myself, waiting for her to come to my arms. Calculating the time with a tap of my foot against the wall and in my mind, counting the seconds and minutes like a clock.

I knew the three hours had passed because no one was in the dining area, and everyone was scattered with papers in their hands. It seemed like everyone had agreed to try Kat's idea, even if they didn't understand her handwriting or the concept, judging by the confusion on their faces, like Glenn's.

I was about to get up heavily and my eyes barely open, but I saw her walking tiredly to my cell.

—40 minutes, just that, Glenn's going to come wake me up because I know he won't have any compassion if I get mad at him for letting me sleep longer—she nestled into my chest as if it were her pillow and wrapped her arms around my neck.

—You and Maggie have the poor guy trapped between a rock and a hard place—I said with laughter in my voice, closing my eyes and enjoying her weight on my body.

I chuckled before feeling her lips on mine and then resting her head against my neck, my hands on her waist resting as if it were my home between the worn seams of her jeans and the little skin left exposed by the short shirt she was wearing.

Hello, I hope you like it and that you can give it a like or reblog to reach more people. English is not my native language, so if there is any mistake, please let me know respectfully <3

[rfsak2]

Y’all are the fuckin’ best. I love all of y’all so very much. Please continue to leave me comments and likes. Let me know if I can do anything for you!

Onward!

Spitfire, Pt. 3

Everyone always thought Daryl was the rough one. DarylxOC

Warnings: violence, lots of bad language words, discussion of r*** and the a**** of children.

Part 2

**

Rick unrolled the small cache of weapons Carl had found the day before. “Everybody takes a weapon.”

“These aren’t the kind of weapons we need.” Andrea set a hand on her hip. “What about the guns?”

“We been over that?” Shane huffed. “Daryl, Mitzi, Rick and I are carrying. We can’t have people popping off rounds every time a tree rustles.”

“It’s not the trees I’m worried about.”

Mitzi arched a brow. “Might as well be. Walkers do not think, do not strategize. We just need to stay quiet and smart. Guns are not quiet and guns in untrained hands are not smart.”

Andrea bit the inside of her cheek. “How is it smart to go out there without guns?”

Mitzi rolled her eyes. “Because you don’t need a gun for a single walker. It’s a waste of ammo. Using a knife or a machete is more practical and safer.” She turned to the rest of the group. “If you don’t feel ready to take down a walker without a gun,” Mitzi gestured around them. “Today’s the day. We can do some practical self-defense training. Practice makes perfect.”

“It’s easy for you to say we don’t need guns.” Andrea sucked on her teeth, gesturing at her suppressed hunting rifle. “You’re carrying a gun.”

Mitzi grinned. “A gun I won’t be using if we come across a single walker. Pinky promise.” She patted her hunting knife in its holster.

“That’s not all.” Shane scoffed. “Say somebody fires at the wrong moment, a herd happens to be passing by. See, then it’s game over for all of us. So you need to get over it.”

Andrea looked disappointed, but didn’t press the issue.

“Th’idea’s to take the creek up about five miles, turn around and come back down the other side.” Daryl nodded vaguely. “Chances are she’ll be by the creek, it’s her only landmark.”

“Stay quiet and stay sharp,” Rick added. “Keep space between you but always stay within sight of each other.”

They all nodded and Shane directed people to assemble their packs while Rick turned to Dale.

Daryl crossed to the abandoned Ford pickup behind her. He tapped Mitzi’s side as he passed and jerked his chin toward the truck.

She followed, checking the clip on her handgun as she watched Andrea and Dale argue over the CDC incident.

Daryl caught her eyes and Mitzi made a face.

“What?”

She sighed and whispered so only he could hear, holstering her pistol. “Not sayin’ either of them are right or wrong. Dale needs to mind his business and she needs to stop blaming him for her not makin’ the decision she wanted to make… Regardless, I’ll be glad when the soap opera is over.”

He nodded. “Don’t trust her with a gun.” He shrugged. “Not ‘cause wanted t’off herself neither, she’s too jumpy.”

“She thinks she’s smarter than everyone else. And maybe she is, but she can’t grasp why we don’t want everyone havin’ guns. Doesn’t sound so smart to me.” She noted.

Daryl patted her thigh and moved to lead the group down to the creek.

Carl and Lori passed by her and she reached over to ruffle his hair. When he turned to look at her, she stuck her tongue out at him.

Carl smiled and stuck his tongue out at her in return.

Lori smiled at her. “You’re good with kids.”

Mitzi huffed out a laugh. “Don’t know about that.”

“No, you are. You never really interacted with them at the old camp, but I saw you playing foozball with them at the CDC. They have fun with you.”

Mitzi shrugged. “I have younger brothers.”

Lori looked shocked and, when Mitzi looked confused, she shrugged. “I’m sorry but I just- I feel horrible, I haven’t thought about your family.”

Mitzi waved her off. “Don’t worry about it. None of us have really had time to think beyond right now.”

“How much younger than you are they?”

“Davey is seven years younger, Mikey almost fifteen.”

Lori hummed. “Your parents spaced them out.”

Mitzi sighed. “I appreciate you not assumin’.” She grinned. “We had different mothers. My dad was a dick.”

Lori chuckled slightly. “Sorry.”

Mitzi made a face, dismissing the apology. “It is what it is. They were- are still my brothers.”

“Do you know if they’re okay?”

Mitzi shook her head. “When all the stuff started comin’ up on th’news, I spoke to them. Wasn’t able to get them on the phone since then. They’re with my cousin and Will’s always been somethin’ of a prepper, so I like to think they’re alright.”

Lori smiled again, nodding. “You and Daryl, yeah?”

Mitzi frowned. “Can’t be much’a surprise.”

She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. Y’all make sense.”

“Birds of a feather and all that.”

“That’s part of it, sure. You have some similarities in temperament. You’re both very direct, willing to help.” Lori smiled down at her. “But you two seem more at ease with each other than you are apart.”

Mitzi nodded. “As at ease as you can be.”

“Well… for that matter, you both are well-equipped for this.” She made a motion around her.

“Not much of a choice.” Mitzi tsked, making a face. “Die or do not. I can say for my part, that this is exhausting. And it’s not sustainable. I’m trained to do it, sure. Spend the majority of a six or eight-month long deployment moving from place to place, hiding out in the wild, but-“ she whistled.

Lori nodded. “I agr-“

Mitzi held up a finger and pointed behind them, where Carl was speaking with Shane.

Lori reached out and motioned Carl in front of her, between her and Mitzi. “Gotta keep up.”

Carl sighed heavily. “I am.”

Mitzi glanced at Lori and then back at Shane. She caught Lori’s eye and whispered, ‘Dick.’

Lori took a deep breath and addressed Carl. “You okay?”

Carl hung his head. “I think Shane’s mad at me. Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” Lori rubbed at his back. “No, honey I promise you. He’s just worried about Sophia is all. Come on.”

Mitzi nodded. “Sometimes worry makes adults jerks. Sure he didn’t mean anythin’ by it. You wanna show me your knife?”

Carl smiled up at her, passing her the little 3-inch blade Lori had let him carry. “Isn’t it cool, Ms. Mitzi?”

She nodded. “Pretty cool indeed. I’ll have to show you how to clean it later.”

Carl nodded enthusiastically and she handed it back.

“Mitzi.”

She looked up the line where Rick was motioning for her and stepped around Glenn. As she cleared Rick’s side, she saw a small tent in a copse of trees.

Daryl caught her eyes and motioned her to come closer. “Need’ya to cover the entrance as I check it.”

She nodded and passed her rifle to Rick, shooting a look at Andrea as she pulled her hunting knife from its holster.

Shane rounded the line of trees. “She could be in there.”

Daryl advanced quietly, Mitzi at his shoulder, Rick and Shane behind. “Could be a lotta things in there.”

She squatted about a foot away from the zippered door, knife in hand, while Daryl attempted to peek in the door and window.

He motioned vaguely at Rick who turned to direct Carol to call out for Sophia.

Daryl caught her eye and Mitzi raised her knife at the door when no response came.

Daryl gingerly opened the zipper, parted the flap and coughed. The smell hit Mitzi a second later.

She winced, eyes watering, but fought to keep her eyes open. Keeping her voice low, she nodded at Daryl. “Whatever’s in there is dead but it ain’t movin’.”

Daryl nodded and stepped in, emerging a moment later empty handed. “It ain’t her.”

She heard Carol’s relieved sigh and Mitzi took Daryl’s hand, allowing him to pull her to a stand.

“What’s in there?”

Daryl turned to Andrea. “Some guy. Did what Jenner said. Opted out. Ain’t that what he called it?”

He shouldered his crossbow and they all jumped when the church bells started ringing.

**

“What happened?” Mitzi was still about 15 yards away when she saw the small gaggle of group members. The anxiety in their body language reading loud and clear across the distance.

Then she saw Andrea and Dale running full speed across the field and Mitzi felt her gut drop.

“Is he dead? Is he dead?”

“What the fuck happened?” She closed the distance fast but was still a couple yards away when Rick turned and caught her eyes.

“Mitzi, stay back!”

She ignored him, arching to see what they were gathering around. She caught sight of the crossbow on the ground and froze.

“Is that Daryl?” She pushed forward.

Rick turned to her again, pulling a limp arm up over his shoulder. “Mitzi-“

“Is he…” she swallowed dryly. “Is he dead?”

Glenn turned, shaking his head and reaching for her shoulder. “No, he just passed out.”

“Passed out?” Breathing deep, she passed her rifle off to Glenn. She stepped around him and shouldered her way between Shane and Daryl’s other side, pulling his arm over her other shoulder. “What happened?”

She noticed the blood along the hem of his shirt and caught Rick’s eyes. With shaking hands, she lifted his shirt to expose his side.

She gasped when she saw the puncture wounds, the lump in her throat loosening suddenly. “He wasn’t bit.”

When no one else seemed to relax, she frowned. “What?”

She felt something on her shoulder and saw blood dripping from a cut near Daryl’s temple. She pushed his hair away from the wound and her blood boiled.

It was a bullet graze wound, clear as day.

She turned, catching Andrea’s terrified eyes. “You shot him?”

Andrea stuttered. “I thought he was a walker… I couldn’t see.”

“You couldn’t see and you still took the fuckin’ shot?” Her voice rose and she saw Andrea blanch. “Are you fuckin’ stupid?”

Rick abruptly shifted, forcing her to take more of Daryl’s weight. Shane shifted closer to her elbow.

“I’m sorry… I was just-“

“Fuck your sorry.” Mitzi cut her off, snarling.

“I was just trying-“

“If you say that you were trying to protect the group, I’ll knock your teeth down your throat.”

“Mitzi-“ Rick crossed his arm over Daryl’s back to touch her shoulder, taking more of Daryl’s weight back. “It was an accident.”

“A fuckin’ avoidable one. You two bozos keep coddlin’ her fuckin’ feelin’s and now y’see where it gets us.” She shifted Daryl’s weight against hers. “Now git outta my way or help me get him to th’house.”

Rick nodded. “Glenn, grab his bow, please.”

**

“M’fine.”

She whittled a piece of wood of the branch she was holding. “I know you’re fine. If you weren’t, she-“

“Baby.” Daryl huffed out a raspy laugh. “M’fine.”

She glanced at him, rolling her eyes. “You’re lucky, stupid bitch coulda killed ya.”

“She was tryin’ to protect the camp.”

Mitzi grit her teeth and set her knife and wood down. “I know what she was tryin’ t’do. I do. But what she was tryin’ and what she did are two different things.”

“It was an accident.”

“Oh, I’m so tired of hearing’ that.” She rotated her neck, agitated. “Excuse after excuse. No one willing to sack up and tell her the truth.”

“It was an accident, Spitfire.”

“A dumb one. She shouldn’t ‘ve taken a shot she couldn’t spot. She shouldn’t ‘ve picked up a rifle when she hasn’t even been trained on the handgun.” Mitzi scoffed. “Shouldn’t ‘ve shot a lone walker.”

He conceded.

She picked at her nails. “To be honest if she helped more, if she wasn’t so fixated on doin’ the one thing she hasn’t been trained to do, I wouldn’t be so angry.”

“So it wasn’t just ‘cause she hurt me?” Daryl smirked at her. “Here I was thinkin’ you were bein’ my white knight.”

She chuckled. “Next time, I’ll leave you layin’ in the dirt.”

He smiled and held his hand out to her. She stood, laying her hand in his. He tugged her gently to the bed and she sat gingerly next to him.

“I could kinda hear ya. I wasn’t all the way out.”

She hummed and teased her fingers through his hair.

“You sounded scared.”

“I was.” She shrugged.

“Scared to lose me?”

She took a moment to observe him, the quiet stillness that always followed a question that felt more vulnerable for him.

She nodded. “I’ve never…” she searched for the word, “clicked with someone this way. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I enjoy who I am around you. Feel accepted, seen, for the first time in a while.”

He nodded, squeezing her knee.

“So yeah, I’m not quite ready to be without ya, Daryl Dixon.” She leaned over and kissed him softly. “Not nearly.”

There was a knock at the door and they both turned to Carol.

She smiled shyly. “I brought y’all some food.”

Mitzi smiled. “Thanks, Carol.”

Carol nodded and lingered at the door. She fidgeted and then steeled her shoulders. “I just wanted to say: you did more for my daughter than her own daddy did for her his whole life.”

Daryl nodded awkwardly. Carol leaned down after a moment and pressed a kiss to his head.

He stuttered. “Watch out. I got stitches.”

Mitzi hid a smile until the door closed behind Carol. Once it did, she giggled. “You’re blushin’.”

Daryl turned to eye her. “You like when I blush.”

She grinned. “I do but you got stitches.”

**

“Mitzi-“

Mitzi shook her head, forcibly cracking a branch over her knee and tossing it in a kindling pile.

“Can I talk with you please?”

“No.” She set a log onto a wood block.

“Please.”

She lifted the ax over her head and brought it down hard on the log she was splitting. Continuing to ignore Andrea, she tossed one half of the log out of the way and set the other up to be split again.

Andrea shifted, uncomfortable, and jumped when the ax came down.

“Mitzi-“

“I said ‘no.’” She snarled over her shoulder. “I ain’t ‘bout’ta waste m’time talkin’ at someone who don’t fuckin’ want t’listen.”

She tossed the two new halves and picked up another piece.

Andrea sighed. “I’m ready to listen.”

Mitzi turned on her. “Oh, you’re ready to listen? After you shot someone? That’s goddamn convenient.”

“Daryl accepted my apology.” She sounded almost incredulous, impatient.

Mitzi went back to splitting wood. “That’s his prerogative. You shot him.”

“Then why can’t you?”

She tossed a split log in the general direction of Hershel’s wood shed.

“I don’t know what your problem is.”

Mitzi shook her head. “That’s ‘cause you don’t listen.”

“No,” Andrea was indignant, hand on her hip. “You have never said-“

“Are you really that stupid?” Mitzi turned back to Andrea, ax in hand. “Or is your head that far up your ass?”

“I accidentally-“

“I know it was an accident. If I thought it had been on purpose, we woulda been dragging your ass back to camp, not just Daryl.”

Andrea’s eyes were on the ax and Mitzi could see Rick and Shane watching her from near the RV. She huffed out a laugh and lifted the ax, bringing it down on the wood block she had been chopping on.

Andrea jumped.

“You see that?” Mitzi pointed at the former cops who were still watching them. “If I had laid your ass out in that field, I would’ve ended up with my face in the dirt, even though you almost killed someone.”

Andrea nodded, arms crossed over her chest. “You’re a hothead, so-“

“I am. But I’m not gonna ax ya because you’re stupid.” Mitzi turned away again, tossing another split log into the pile. “No matter how entitled you are.”

“Entitled?”

“Yeah. Entitled.” Mitzi spat to the side. “Walkin’ around like your shit don’t stink. Like we fuckin’ owe you shit.”

“I do not act like you owe me anything.” Andrea huffed. “I help out. I protect the camp.”

“By takin’ shoots even when you can’t see what you’re shootin’ at. I know.” Mitzi clapped sarcastically. “Good job you.”

“I was trying to help. I thought he was a walker.”

“You failed, you missed. Thank whatever god applies for that because Shane and Rick wouldn’t ‘be been able to stop me.” She huffed. “Even if he had been, he would’ve been a single walker. It would’ve been better to use a knife or machete. You don’t know who or what could’ve heard that shot.”

“If Daryl had been a walker-“

“Glenn, Shane, and Rick were already on their way out.” Mitzi gestured at the RV. “You put the group in danger by firing that shot, even if he had been a walker.”

Andrea rolled her eyes. “I disagree. I handled what I thought needed to be handled.”

“Why can’t you take accountability?” Mitzi threw her hands in the air. “Not only did you fuckin’ miss, so you didn’t handle nuthin’, you also took a wholly unnecessary shot that you couldn’t spot properly. This is why I don’t trust you with a gun in camp. You don’t respect the power, the danger that comes with a weapon like that. You just want to do the easy thing.”

Andrea pulled back, like she had been hit. “This isn’t about the CDC.”

“I didn’t say it was.” Mitzi stared her in eye. “You consistently avoid tasks that you don’t want to do or have decided are beneath you. You don’t want to get your hands dirty. You want all the benefits but none of the costs.”

Andrea looked confused. “What cost?”

“The training, killing walkers in a safe way, the hard way, the day-to-day tasks of living, scavenging, hunting, the laundry, the cooking.” Mitzi said. “You want to sit on high and let the grunts do it for you.”

“That’s bullshit.” Andrea rolled her eyes. “Why is it the women do all the cooking and cleaning? Why is it that the men sit and do the watch?”

“They don’t. Glenn consistently risks his life scavenging or being fed to a walker in a well.” She shot her a hard look. “T-Dog does whatever needs to be done, he scavenges, siphons fuel, he cooks. If you pulled your head outta your ass, you’d see that.”

She gaped at Mitzi, who rolled her eyes. “We all do what we can. Not everyone in this group is equipped the same way.”

Recovering quickly, Andrea squared her shoulders. “By that logic: I know how to use a gun, therefore I should help in defense.”

“The minute we can do some training on gun safety, the minute I have materials for suppressors, I am all for making sure everyone can use a gun competently, for arming everyone. However, until such a time as that, untrained people with guns are clearly dangerous. Case in point.” She gestured at Andrea.

Andrea chewed on the inside of her cheek. “So you’re the exception.”

“Excuse me?”

“They respect you, they don’t talk down to you or ask you to do laundry-“

“You gonna make me explain it again?” Mitzi stared at her. “I do laundry. Mine and Daryl’s.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m not some uppity bitch that’s too good to wash my own clothes.”

“And Daryl’s?” Andrea ignored the jibe and looked like she had discovered some dirt. “Why do you do his laundry?”

“Because I’m fuckin’ him on the reg and while he’s just as attractive in dirty clothes, clean clothes sure are nice.”

Andrea had obviously not expected her to be so blunt. “So he makes-“

“He doesn’t make me do anythin’. He is not focused on what he wears, he doesn’t give a shit if his shirt is clean. I’m going to do my laundry anyways, because again, I ain’t too good for chores, so I might as well do his, too.”

“You don’t cook.”

Mitzi snorted. “And no one wants me to, I assure you. I lived off of McDonald’s and MREs.”

“So you do it all, Mitzi.” Andrea gestured at the camp. “You keep us safe, you hunt and clean, but god forbid any of us want to do something more important-“

“I swear to god, there’s bees in your brain.” Mitzi point at her temple, exasperated. “There is no task that is more important than any other task. Everything is vital and everyone is vital no matter what they are skilled at.”

“Can’t keep surviving, if we get eaten by walkers.”

Mitzi gestured, sarcastically. “Can’t get eaten by walkers if we starve to death.”

“If everything is just as important, why can’t I do what I want to? Why can’t I help with the defense of the camp?”

“Because you don’t know how to handle yourself with a gun, as evidenced by today and by this conversation.” Mitzi threw her hands in the air. “But then, you apparently know best, despite the fact that you’ve only been usin’ a gun for two months, so who am I to say?”

“How long is gun training in the Army? Can’t imagine you’ve been using guns that long.” Andrea looked smug.

Mitzi gaped at her. “You are catastrophic levels of stupid. Ima explain it one last time. Listen good. First of all, I’m a sniper, so that is an abysmally dumb assertion. Secondly, I was active duty for over ten years before all this happened- meaning, in case you didn’t catch it: I used a high-powered sniper rifle routinely for ten years. Lastly, I have been competitively shooting since I was ten.

“So yeah, my twenty plus years trumps your 60-something days. I am easily the most experienced gunman here. Easily. More so than Shane and Rick combined. So this idea that you are entitled to carrying a weapon and only taking guard shifts, based solely on your ownership and ‘experience’ with a gun, is imbecilic.”

Mitzi turned away again, dismissing her. “If I need any information on the penal code, I’ll call you up, though. Don’t worry, Andrea, you’re still an expert in something… I guess.”

Andrea reached for her arm. Mitzi shook her head and put space between them. “I want to learn, I am willing to learn, but I don’t understand why you are so against me being armed.”

Mitzi shook her head. “I thought you were ready to listen. Until you are trained, I don’t feel comfortable with you havin’ a gun. When you are, feel free to take a watch shift, but even then, that’s not all you can, or should, help with. Carol and Lori aren’t your maids.”

“I never said they were-” Andrea held up her hand to stop Mitzi from interjecting.

It didn’t stop Mitzi. “But you act like they are.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?”

“Use your goddamn brain and get your hands dirty.” Mitzi gestured at the camp. “Do what needs to be done. Not just what you want to do. Take some goddamn accountability for how you’ve been actin’.”

**

“Uh… guys. So… the barn’s full of walkers.”

Mitzi raised another forkful of eggs to her mouth. She chewed and swallowed and what had just came out of Glenn’s mouth still didn’t make sense.

“What?”

She looked at Daryl, who looked at her. She looked at Rick, who looked at Glenn.

The silence dragged on and then suddenly the rubber band snapped. Everyone seemed to shove to their feet at the same time, panic and fury setting their feet into motion.

Mitzi wasn’t the first to the barn, by virtue of her shorter legs, but she outstripped most of the group.

She circled the barn, knife in hand, looking for any hole big enough for a walker to escape through.

When she returned to the front, the rest of the group anxiously watching Shane stare into the crack in the door, Rick turned to her. “Anything?”

She shook her head. “It’s sealed up pretty tight.”

Shane pulled away from the door. “For now.”

“For now.” She parroted, squatting in front of the doors. She felt Daryl walk up behind her and leaned against his leg.

Shane scoffed and stalked at Rick. “You can not tell me you’re alright with this.”

Rick matched his aggression. “No, I’m not. But we’re guests here. This isn’t our land.”

“This is our lives, man!”

Glenn raised his hands, warning. “Lower your voice.”

Andrea joined the fray. “We can’t just sweep this under the rug.”

T-Dog shook his head, hands on hips. “It ain’t right. Not remotely.”

Shane had started pacing. “Okay. We have either got to go in there. We got to make this right or we’ve just got to go. Now we’ve been talking about Fort Benning for a long-“

“Fort Benning is a pipe dream, Walsh. There is very little possibility that it is operational. And if it is, the only way that’s possible is if they are turning away civilians.”

“You don’t know that, Donovan.”

Mitzi rolled her eyes. “I know it’s real comforting to think that the military is there to protect you but,” She stood, dusting her hands off. “It ain’t. It’s there to maintain the power and authority of the US government. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“That what you tell yourself? Justify you deserting?”

“Shut up, Walsh.”

“You too mucha coward to take a legitimate chance.”

She pegged him with a hard stare. Daryl hooked his hand around her elbow. “It ain’t a legitimate chance, Walsh. You have no proof that it is still operational.”

“And you have no proof it ain’t.”

“No, Shane.” She pointed at her chest, stalking toward him. “I have experience which is somethin’ you don’t have. I have been to Fort Benning, I trained at Fort Benning. If it is overrun, is a death trap. If it is operational, it will not offer the safety or help we need and we will have wasted a hundred miles of fuel.”

He turned to the group. “This deserter-“

Daryl tried to keep her behind him. He turned to Shane. “Watch what you say.”

Shane sucked on his teeth. “Fuck off, man. Just cause you fuck her don’t mean you gotta put up-“

Lori looked aghast. “Shane!”

“Th’fuck ya say?” Daryl stepped forward, Mitzi fisting a hand in his shirt.

“I said just ‘cause she sucked y’off, don’t mean you have-“

Rick stepped in. “Shane, enough!”

Shane rounded on Rick. “She is a coward, man. She deserted and doesn’t wanna go back. That’s why-“

“Last chance, Walsh. Say it again.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I ain’t playing with you today. Watch y’mouth.”

“Or what?” He grinned when she turned to glare at him.

Daryl blocked her way, arm across her chest, as she pushed aggressively against it. “I’ll knock all your teeth out so you can watch it better.”

Shane opened his arms wide. “Bring it, bitch. You ain’t gonna do nothing. Nothing but a cowar-”

She was on him before anyone could react.

Shane lifted a hand, to block her, hold her off, she didn’t care, she batted his much larger hand out of the way, popping him in the face with her south paw.

He swung. Dodging, she delivered two heavy blows to his solar plexus. As he tried to shift away, doubled over, holding his side, she kneed him in the face, before sweeping his legs out from under him.

“Mitzi!”

She felt hands on her shoulder and shook them off, kneeling on his chest to bring her fist down on him hard. Once, Twice.

Shane grunted, vaulting to his feet and slamming her down on the ground.

“Shane!”

She could see the others crowding around, trying to pull him off of her. She ignored them.

She slapped her hands over his ears and elbowed him across the jaw when he reared back.

Two more quick jabs to his face and she pulled him into her, wrapping a leg around the back of his neck and hooking her foot under her other leg.

She squeezed.

She snarled. “Stupid fuckin’ prick. I told you not to fuck with me.” As his eyes became unfocused, she released him and kicked him away.

He fell back, shaking his head, blood coloring his face from a cut over his eye.

All at once she became aware of the cacophony of noise.

“Daryl, get her off of him!” Rick hollered. She could hear crying, more shouting.

Daryl’s hand came into view and she took it, letting him pull her to her feet. He prodded at the back of her head and came away bloody. “Shit.”

She brushed off his hand, now armed with his bandana. “M’fine.”

“Keep your bitch in line, Dixon.” Shane shoved to his feet, wiping at his split lip.

“Why? You couldn’t handle me even if, little boy.”

Shane stepped aggressively toward her.

“Shane! That is enough.” Rick growled, pushing him back. “Mitzi! Stop it.”

Daryl put pressure on her head wound as Shane and Rick argued.

“We ain’t going to Fort Benning. Mitzi’s likely right. She makes bad choices,” Rick pegged her with a hard look. “But she knows more about the military and Fort Benning than any of us. The chance that it is operational is low.”

“You’re gonna take this rabid-ass, hick-bitch’s word over mine?”

“A hick-bitch that just beat your dumbass.” She lurched at him again and he stepped back. She grinned. “You scared? You oughta keep my name outta your mouth or Rick won’t save ya next time.”

Rick pointed at her. “Stop it.”

“Why, Rick?” Shane pressed towards Rick. “Why not Fort Benning?”

Carol steeled her shoulders. “Because my daughter’s still out there.”

Shane let out a frustrated, patronizing laugh. “Okay… okay, I think it’s time that we all start to just consider the other possibility.”

“Shane!” Rick looked even more disappointed in Shane. “We are not leaving Sophia behind.”

“I’m close to finding this girl.” Daryl insisted, lifting Mitzi’s hand to hold the bandana to her head. “I just found her damn doll two days ago.”

Shane all but rolled his eyes. “You found her doll, Daryl. That’s what you did, you found a doll.”

Daryl stalked toward Shane and threw his hand out in a frustrated wave. “Man, you don’t know what t’hell yer talkin’ ‘bout.”

Shane stepped back, glancing at Mitzi as she took a step forward after Daryl. “Look, I’m just saying what needs to be said. You get a good lead, it’s in the first 48-hours.”

Rick pushed him away. “Shane, stop.”

Shane turned back to Daryl. “Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you coming, all methed-out, with your buck knife and geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction, man.”

Daryl lunged at him, Rick getting in the middle as chaos erupted again.

She made to join the fray but Glenn stepped in front of her, albeit nervously. She moved to step around him and Glenn caged her in.

“I don’t wanna hurt you, Glenn.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I don’t want you to hurt me either, so don’t.”

She stepped around him and made it to Daryl’s side as Rick separated them. He glanced down at her and moved so she was behind him.

“Let me just talk to Hershel. Let me figure it out.”

Shane scoffed, shouting back at Rick. “What are you gonna figure out?”

“If we’re gonna stay, if we’re gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it. This is his land.”

Dale stepped in. “Hershel sees those things in there as people, sick people. His wife, his stepson.“

Rick sounded frustrated as he turned to Dale. “You knew?”

Dale nodded. “Yesterday, I talked to Hershel.”

Shane advanced on Dale. “You waited the night?”

“I thought we could survive one more night. We did.” Dale stared Shane down. “I was waiting until this morning to say something but Glenn wanted to be the one.”

“The man is crazy, Rick. If Hershel thinks those things are alive-“

Rick pushed Shane back again. “Enough!”

The commotion aggravated the walkers, who shook the doors and snarled, forcing a number of the group members to fall back.

**

She had planted her ass in a chair the minute it was over, face blank.

“You just don’t care, d’ya?”

She glanced at him. “Of course I care.”

Daryl scoffed. “Don’t seem like it.”

“How should I show that I care, D?” She huddled deeper into her camp chair. “What do you need to see? Cryin’, weepin’? All the walkers are dead, so I can’t go beat up on them.”

He snarled and began pacing.

“There’s not much to do about any of that now that will do any good. So if it’s any difference to you, I’m gonna try not to think.”

He kicked a camp chair clear across camp. “Maybe Shane’s right…”

She picked at her nails. “About what? Gunning down people in front of their family members?”

Daryl spat to the side, before glancing at her. “Maybe you are just a coward-“

She recoiled like he had hit her. “Fuck you, Dixon.”

“You didn’t even pick up a gun. Just sat and watched.”

“I had the pistol Shane tried to give Carl. There were already enough people firin’.”

He huffed. “What is it then? You wanna stay here? Even though it ain’t safe?”

She shook her head. “I never said that. I don’t give a fuck about this farm. I do think we need somethin’ more permanent, more protective than a tent camp, but I don’t feel particularly easy here either,” she shrugged. “I don’t wanna go to Fort Benning because it’s a waste of time.”

“But what if it is still runnin’?”

She sighed. “Best case scenario: say it is. Say they take us in. I will be right back in the field. Right back under the thumb of the government. Battle, killin’ walkers isn’t the concern. It’s being cannon fodder for the government.”

He shook his head. “You were an officer- a captain.”

She smiled softly at him. “Baby, I know you think that means somethin’, that I’m valued or important to the government, but it really doesn’t. I am a weapon, that is all. A weapon with a cunt, what’s worse. They do not give a fuck about me.”

He scoffed and paced away, angrily pulling up the stakes to their tent and packing up their shit.

When it was all done, he turned back to her. Quiet and intense.

He set his hands on his hips, worrying his lip between his teeth. He grunted and kicked a pile of logs over. “Sumova bitch!”

She watched quietly as he paced. He glanced at her, caught her eyes, and stopped. “Sophia-“ He stopped and sucked in a breath. “I looked for that little girl for days.”

She nodded.

“And y’thought she was dead.” His tone was accusatory and she winced.

“I wanted her t’be alive.” She gestured at the barn. “I was gonna keep lookin’ until we found out for sure. But, baby… she ain’t you. You could survive out in the woods for a week at her age. I wasn’t sure she could.”

He snarled. “Y’didn’t say anythin’ t’me. You just let-“ He turned away from her.

She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t- I didn’t know anythin’ for sure-“

“Y’still coulda told me! Trusted me ‘nough.” He threw his hands in the air. “I’m not some dumb fuck who wouldn’t ‘ve listened. ‘Stead y’let me-“ He huffed in frustration.

Her mouth opened and then closed.

He trailed off. “Lemme assume you’re on m’side.”

“I am on your side.” He scoffed and turned away. She stood, approaching him. “I thought what you were doing was right, that’s why I was doing it with you. I’m sorry th-“

“Everyone in that camp thinks I’m fuckin’ stupid!” He gestured at the camp. “Thinks I’m some grunt-work hick. Rick’s goddamn errand boy.”

“That’s because they’re assholes.” She reached for his shoulder. He shook her off. “I know that you’re intelligent and fuckin’ sharp as a tack. I know that you are the most capable person here. They know you’re the most capable person here. They know that you can do what they ask you to do. Whether they have a right to ask is a different story.”

He sucked on his teeth. “They think you’re just some fuckin’ hired gun… some fuckin’ some grunt on a tower.”

She sighed and set her cheek against his shoulder blade. She shrugged. “Point and Shoot.”

He shook his head, turning to look out over the house and camp. “You’re more than tha’.”

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “You are too. They’ll see it.”

“Sometimes I don’t wanna wait.” He turned over his shoulder, looking down at the top of her head. “Jus’ leave, you ‘n me.”

She nodded. “Me too, but there is something about having a job, a purpose, a group that has been helpful… processin’ all this.”

“Better numbers.”

“Not just better numbers, shared experience.”

He sighed. “This group is broken.”

She shook her head against his shoulder. “Not yet. What happens in the next couple of days may make it so.”

He hummed in agreement.

She turned him to face her and set her hands on his shoulders. “I am on your side. I’m sorry. I didn’t want t’say anything that I didn’t know for sure. Break Carol’s heart, break your heart. I didn’t want t’be right. But I should’ve talked t’you, should’ve trusted you t’hear me.”

He was silent for a moment and nodded. “I’m still fuckin’ pissed… necessarily at ya but-” He gestured vaguely.

She leaned up to press her forehead to his. “You have every right t’be pissed. Yesterday was horrible, it fuckin’ sucked the life outta all’a us.”

Daryl deflated and she flattened herself to him. “Why did’ya pack everythin’ up?”

“I’m movin’ our shit, further from the house.” Daryl pressed his face into her hair. “Tired of bein’ their errand boy.”

**

“Mitzi.”

She turned to see Rick striding toward where she sat cleaning guns. “Yeah?”

Rick jerked his head away from the camp and she stood, frowning at him as she set the pistol she had been cleaning in the chair. She turned over her shoulder and locked eyes with Daryl, following.

Rick was pensive, silent as he led her around the house toward the barn. When he was satisfied with how far away they were, he started pacing.

She crossed her eyes over her chest. “Look I’m sorry I beat the shit outta your friend.”

Rick pinch the bridge of his nose. “No, you’re not.”

She grinned and rubbed her thumb over her busted knuckles. “No, I’m not. He fuckin’ deserved it.”

Rick nodded vaguely. “He has been testin’ fate with you since Atlanta.”

“So if you’re not plannin’ on reamin’ me for Walsh, what is it you want?”

Rick sucked in air. ���I needed to ask you somethin’.”

She huffed. “Just say it. It can’t be-“

“We need information outta Randall. The size of his group. What they are like…”

He was met with Mitzi’s uncharacteristic silence.

“I need to know. If I kill this kid… I need to know that I’m makin’ the right decision.”

She frowned hard. “You need him interrogated? You’re a cop- go interrogate him. What are you askin’ me for?”

“I can’t get anythin’ outta him except for the same bullshit.” Rick scuffed his foot in the dirt. “He won’t speak at all to Shane.”

He looked over her shoulder. The touch on her waist told her Daryl had followed.

She forced out a long breath. “Why do you think I’ll fare any better? I’m a sniper not psych ops.”

Rick winced. “You’re a woman… maybe he’ll let his guard down.”

She stiffened. “Excuse the fuck outta me, but what? You want me to what?”

He sighed and leaned over to get closer to eye-to-eye with her. “You are a capable soldier, an excellent judge of character. See what you can get outta him-“

“So what, flash him my tits, give him a handy-“

Rick blushed, saying emphatically: “No.”

Daryl shifted behind her, rasping, “Then what are y’askin’, Rick?”

“I wasn’t asking for that kind of handy.” Rick caught her eyes and held them. “You are… exceptionally skilled at causing’ pain. If it’s necessary…”

“You want me to beat the shit outta him.”

He nodded. “I appreciate that what I’m askin’ for is unsavory, but we need information and you absolutely have the right to say no, but-“

“I’ll do it.” Daryl squeezed her hip. She turned to him and he nodded. “I’ll do it.”

Rick nodded. “Alright.”

She shook her head. “D-“

“Ain’t bouta let my woman go in there by herself.” Daryl sucked his teeth. “Kinda pissed you asked her at’all, Rick.”

Rick nodded. “Kinda think your woman could handle herself. Proved it today.”

“Just ‘cause she can, don’t mean she should. She’s not some hit man.”

She shook her head. “Stop talking ‘bout me like I’m not right here. Let’s think this over some more.”

Daryl shook his head. “We need’ta know right?”

Rick nodded.

Mitzi bit her lip. “I’ll go with you.” Daryl sighed, about to argue. Mitzi shook her head and made toward the shed. “Ain’t bouta let my man go in there by himself. Let’s get this over with.”

Daryl looked at Rick who looked back.

Rick made a face. “She’s your woman… said so yourself.”

Daryl nodded. Rick reached over to squeeze his shoulder. “Picked a helluva one.”

“D! We fuckin’ doin’ this or not?”

**

Daryl tapped her ass lightly. “Sit.”

She shook her head, leaning back against the little curio cabinet he was leaning against. He hummed, pressing closer to her.

Glenn sighed, twisting his hat in his hands. “So how do we do this? Take a vote?”

Andrea shifted. “Does it have to be unanimous?”

Lori supplied, “How about majority rules?”

Rick stepped forward. “Well, let’s just see where everyone stands. Then we can talk through the options.”

“Well, where I sit,” Shane leaned back against the mantle. “There’s only one way to move forward.”

“Killing him?” Dale interjected. “Right? I mean why even bother taking a vote? It’s clear which way the wind is blowing.”

“We’ll, if people believe we should spare him,” Rick leaned over the back of the couch in front of him. “I wanna know.”

“Well, I can tell you it’s a small group. Maybe just me and Glenn.”

Glenn flinched away from the disappointment in his eyes. “Look… I think you’re pretty much right about everything, all the time, but this-“

“They’ve got you scared!”

“He’s not one of us.” Glenn sighed. “And we’ve lost too many people already.”

Dale turned to Maggie, motioning with his hat. “How about you? Do you agree with this?”

Maggie shifted, uncomfortable, looking at Daryl. “Couldn’t we continue keeping him prisoner?”

Daryl shifted. “Just another mouth to feed.”

“It may be a lean winter.” Hershel added.

“We could ration better.”

Dale seized on Lori’s comment. “Well, he could be an asset. Give him a chance to prove himself.”

“Prove what?” She pressed back against Daryl. “That he isn’t like his psycho friends? How do you prove somethin’ like that?”

Glenn gestured vaguely. “Put him to work.”

Rick shook his head. “We’re not letting him walk around.”

Maggie nodded. “We could put an escort on him.”

Shane scoffed. “Who wants to volunteer for that duty?”

Dale stepped forward. “I will.”

Rick held up a hand. “I don’t think any of us should be walking around with this guy.”

“He’s right.” Lori sighed. “I wouldn’t feel safe unless he was tied up.”

Andrea addressed Dale. “We can’t exactly put chains around his ankles and sentence him to hard labor.”

“Look…” Shane sighed. “Say we let him join us, right? Maybe he’s helpful, maybe he’s nice. We let our guard down and maybe he runs off, brings back his thirty men.”

Dale’s voice broke. “So the answer is to kill him to prevent a crime he may never even attempt? If we do this, we are saying there’s no hope. Rule of law is dead, there is no civilization.”

“He sat and watched two teenaged girls getting raped in front of their father. Even if he didn’t join in…” Mitzi met Dale’s eyes. “Nice people- civilized people don’t do that. If you need a crime to feel better ‘bout this, there ya go.”

Dale scoffed. “You hear that before or after you tortured him?”

Mitzi sighed. “During. And I don’t think he was lying. Except maybe about his lack of participation.”

“You don’t know that!” Dale’s voice was getting louder. “People will say anything when under duress.”

“They’ll say anything to get out of duress, sure. How does confessing to bein’ into little girls help him, Dale?”

“Could you drive him further out?” Hershel looked at Rick. “Leave him like you planned?”

Lori shook her head. “You barely came back this time. There are walkers, you could break down, y-you could get lost.”

“Or get ambushed,” Daryl added.

Glenn leaned over his lap on his elbows. “They’re right. We should not put our own people at risk.”

Patricia worried her hands in front of her. “If you go through with it, how would you do it? Would he suffer?”

Rick looked at Shane. “We could hang him, right? Just snap his neck?”

Rick shook his head. “I thought about that. Shooting may be more humane.”

T-Dog shifted forward. “And what about the body? Do we bury him?”

Dale held his hands up. “Hold on! Hold on! You’re talking about this like it’s already decided.”

Daryl made a circular motion over her shoulder. “We’ve been talkin’ all day, goin’ ‘round in circles. You just wanna go ‘round in circles again?”

Mitzi shrugged. “No amount of lipstick on this pig is gonna make it prettier. Might as well sack up and handle it.”

Dale was visibly distressed. “This is a young man’s life and it is worth more than a five minute conversation. Is this what it’s come to? We kill someone because we can’t decide what else to do with him? You saved him!” He gestured at Rick. “Now look at us. He’s been tortured. He’s gonna be executed. How are we any better than those people that we’re so afraid of?”

Shane softened his tone. “We all know what needs to be done.”

“No, Dale is right. We can’t leave any stone unturned here. We have a responsibility-“

Andrea stepped forward. “So what’s the other solution? We haven’t come up with a single viable option, yet.”

“So let’s work on it!” Dale pleaded.

“We are!”

“Stop it.” Carol interjected. “Just stop It. I'm sick of everybody arguing and fighting. I didn’t ask for this. You can’t ask us to decide something like this. Please decide- either of you, both of you but leave me out.”

Dale shook his head. “Not speaking out, killing him yourself, there is no difference.”

Rick stepped between them. “Alright, that’s enough. Anybody wants the floor before we make a final decision has the chance.”

**

Hershel whispered. “I don’t know how much longer we can stay here.”

Carl stayed between them, blue eyes turned up at his dad. “I'm not leaving without Mom.”

Rick kept his voice low as she watched the walker that just passed them through her scope. “So we just walk away? Not knowing if my wife, your girls are still out there? How do we live with that?”

Hershel shook his head, looking down at Carl. “You’ve only got one concern now, just one, keeping him alive. Nature may be throwing us a curveball, but that law is still true.”

Mitzi sucked her teeth. “I ain’t leaving’ without knowin’ one way or another. I’ll go back to the farm and check every goddamn walker if I have to. None of our people are gonna be left like that.”

“Mitzi,” Rick shook his head. “That’s not an option.”

“Then I guess we’re waitin’ then.” She checked her magazine and reinserted it into her M110.

Rick was breathing heavily and knelt in front of Carl. “Carl, it’s not safe here. I’m sorry.”

Mitzi bit her lip, fighting not to scream every cuss word she knew by and attract every walker in the area. “You all leave. I ain’t leavin’ until I’m sure. Not gonna potentially leave Daryl wanderin’ the Georgia countryside like that.”

Rick reached for her shoulder and Carl pressed his face into Rick’s sternum. “Mitzi, you can’t-“

He paused and they both turned to look down the Highway.

“Holy fuckin’ shit.” She smiled widely as Daryl guided his bike over the median, Carol behind him, followed by the truck and an SUV.

She waited patiently for Daryl to swing his leg over the bike before passing her rifle off to Carol.

Daryl reached over and pulled her into his chest.

“Fuck, Spitfire, I thought you died.” He buried his face in her hair. “One minute you were standin’ on the RV, the next you were gone.”

She clutched at his vest, tangling her fingers in the laces at his side. “Last I saw, you were shouting from the hog, like it was fuckin’ Tombstone. Scared the shit outta me.”

Part 4

[endless-oc-creations]

Mimi's Mini Plot Bunnies!

So, a few days ago the lovely @daughter-of-melpomene messaged me and wanted to know more about my boy Sean here after seeing his Pinterest.

And I thought I would do so by doing a little mini-info post about him!

Meet Sean Carter!

So! First off Sean is going to be paired with Rock Grimes and Daryl Dixon, a poly pairing of course!

Sean used to be a soldier, a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq before getting a serious leg injury during the war. Because of this injury, Sean was honorably discharged and had to go through multiple surgeries and physical therapy.

During his time at physical therapy and recovering from the surgeries, Sean was staying at the hospital. Sean usually kept to himself since he didn't have a great relationship with his family and the friends he had, died in the war.

One day, Sean met a young boy, Carl Grimes, who was visiting his father who had gotten shot while on the job as a police officer. The boy was obviously upset since his dad was in a coma and was unsure if he would ever talk to his dad again.

So, Sean spent time with the kid. trying to distract him from the adult problems he was going through. by playing cards or just drawing things.

The boy's mother, Lori, seemed to appreciate Sean's help and always thanked him for being understanding and helping her son.

But then things decided to take a turn for the worse when the news started to talk about a virus outbreak that seemed to make people attack.

It was only chaos from there, the boy and his mother stopped visiting for a few days. Sean could only assume it was from the news and reports of all the attacks. Then the military came in and started killing everyone.

Sean managed to escape on his own during the chaos and in a twist of events found Carl who begged his mother and Uncle Shane to let him come with them.

With Sean's military skills, he proved useful and helped protect the group from the dangers of the Walkers.

When they found a safe place to settle down with a bigger group Sean for the most part still kept to himself, except for when Carl came to spend time with him, sometimes bringing a little girl that was also in their group, Sophia, from time to time.

About a month later, the group who had gone out a few days ago to scavenge a few supplies came back with another person.

The man who had been in a coma while Sean was in the hospital, Carl's father, Rick Grimes

💕 Forever Taglist: @bravelittleflower​ @sunlitscribe​​​ @eddysocs​​ @raith-way​​ @waterloou​​​ @decennia​​ @hiddenqveendom​ @aaronhotchstuff​ @foxesandmagic​ @booty-boggins​​  @asirensrage​​  @connietheecunning​​  @lucys-chen @arrthurpendragon @daughter-of-melpomene 💕

[radioactive-earthshine]

have any random losh hcs?

👀 A few... Some of them I have explored here on other posts and others in various fanfic but I'll collect them here. Note, all of these focus on PZH.

1.) Jan is gender fluid. His people, the Trommites, celebrate change and thus Jan being gender fluid was regarded with great joy and embraced fully.

2.) Also on the Trommites, their society in general practices a high amount of polyamory or changes in romantic/sexual partners. It is considered normal and healthy for them to experience many different people and emotions and relationships. As a result a queer relationship to them would be staunch monogamy. Their attitudes towards queer relationships are regarded with curiosity and not hostility or fear.

3.) If Querl isn't in the lab (rarely) you might be able to find him dancing.

4.) Lyle and Tinya have absolutely messed with combining their powers when bored; she can phase through objects and people, and he can make various layers of his body. Once, (once) they made a horrifying chimera of themselves and decided to play a prank on Querl and Jo by running into whatever room they were in screaming that they had 'an accident' and had been spliced together. Both Jo and Querl shrieked and hit pitches that should have only been capable by Lori Morning. It took a long time for either to forgive them.

5.) Gates purrs.

6.) Luornu does consider Querl to be her brother given that she was taken in by Brande and so was he. Granted, they did not spend a whole lot of time with each other (she rarely saw him at all) they still share that Brande took them in. If you pay attention in the comics they do have a pretty close relationship.

7.) Once Andrew got comfortable with everyone sometimes he'd just LIE about facts from the 90s just to see their reactions. It eventually became a game where he'd come up with two truths about his birth time and then one lie and everyone would have to guess what it was like "Blue raspberry was a flavor that came from actual blue raspberries" or "back then cucumber skins were poisonous and you had to peel them"

8.) Because the hard ground of the headquarters 'hurt Gates' feet', Chuck put in special little grass paths all throughout their compound so he didn't have to rely on his powers all the time and could, if he wanted to, just take a stroll.

9.) Everyone loves hugs from Candi and Jeka.

10.) Jenni out of all them frightens the easiest but she is actually one of the most courageous and will still do what she must even though she is terrified. This is also a bit of a contrast to no-fear Bart Allen. She cannot do a scary movie without screaming, hiding her eyes, jumping and spilling her popcorn. However if any of her friends are in danger or peril, that fear sort of washes away and she turns into a terrifying cyclone that cannot be stopped. Bart's fear response spikes when his friends are in danger so they're sort of mirrors and opposites.

11.) I just like all of the 'aliens' just being alien and not being quite so human looking even if they are seeded humans. To me it's just lazy to paint a human green, or pink, or blue and then claim "behold an alien!" but this isn't really a hc.

12.) As a result I think Imra has hooves and a very fawn-like face.

13.) Every single Legionnaire is one of Jenni's lightning rods. In particular Ayla, Mon-el, Rokk, Gates and Zoe.

14.) Rokk proposes to Garth at least once a week, it's a running gag between them. Garth always tells him no.

15.) I do favor Brande being Vril Dox II's Durlan even though the reboot sort of obliterated that, I just think it adds something.

[owlbelly]

found an 80s hardcover of Cabal in the thrift store & grabbed it because i had completely forgotten i'd ever read it (which tells you something!!!) & thought "oh yeah i love Nightbreed, i should really read this one"

truly incredible how much the movie is just exactly the book, except you get a little more interiority for Lori & more interesting descriptions of the monsters - i love the practical effects & costuming in the movie but they just couldn't pull off what Barker actually wrote. but oh man this story in either form just epitomizes my love/hate relationship with the dude's work. it's got so much potential. it's so, so bad. Cabal (1988) / Nightbreed (1990) spoilers ahead

i mean come on: queer monster misfit sanctuary vs. the "real monsters" of policing & carceral mental health systems (that enable & provide cover for sadistic humans)? fuck yes. vivid descriptions of wild genderfucky polyamorous kinky mystical creatures living in their huge necropolis? all day long please

but Clive's brilliance is only matched by how much he sucks so we get an incredibly bullshit portrayal of mental illness (what's Boone's deal? we'll never know. it doesn't matter, it only matters that he's Beautiful and Tortured) & a fairly confused sense of the moral standing of various characters/systems. like. are at least some of the Breed not also sadistic killers? what exactly makes them better than Decker or the cops - is it just that they admit to what they do & they're more sexually liberated? would Decker have been accepted if he came to them looking for belonging? also are we meant to think Decker is "mentally ill" - and what does that mean for the narrative - or is the Mask literally a separate entity & does that make him/it a Breed-type monster too?

Boone calls Ashberry a monster (non-pejoratively?) for being secretly some kind of trans ("a crossdresser" but there are some other vague gestures towards gender stuff, Clive doesn't know or care) & then Ashberry, who has been trying to stop the massacre, appears to genuinely want to accept himself & join the Breed, but when he comes into contact with Baphomet (who should recognize his gender stuff!) he gets rejected & fucked all the way up instead. why?

the queerness in this story is all over the place but critics seem weirdly obsessed with a queer reading of Boone/Decker, which i just don't see at all - in the movie there's NOTHING backing that up, in the book there's some bits of narration around them being "like lovers" in terms of their mutual dependence/obsession - but Boone & Lori's very straight relationship is pretty centered! i would be super interested in a queer and/or trans reading of Lori, who actually has some dysphoria (around looking "sweet") & thinks about herself when she's jacking off (iconic...), i just don't think there's anything interesting going on with Boone. obviously the Breed as a whole are a queer allegory & in the movie & background of the book, there are some obviously queer people/relationships, but honestly why tell this queers vs. the straight world story by focusing on an apparently straight, extremely lackluster "tortured man & devoted woman" romance??

and good lord the sex scene. the reason i remembered i HAD read it is that the phrase "he threw his fuck up into her" was burned into my mind & activated me like a sleeper agent when i read it again. honey no. also Boone ejaculating on Baphomet's severed head...oh Clive.

the funniest thing i'm taking away is that i forgot that Boone is supposed to be a bewitchingly gorgeous man with a face no one can resist & the guy playing him in the movie looks like THIS

[nikkisreading]

The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

★☆☆☆☆

I don’t even know where to start.

The characters are very real. It’s easy to see the world in the book, how the families interact internally and externally. It’s a very real world that evokes a lot of real emotions, which is a huge bonus for the author. I know quite a few readers that would love this angsty romance for a long time. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.

It needed an editor. There was so much internal monologue that led nowhere, I ended up skimming the last half of the book. Seriously, it was soooo much thoughts and emotions and no growth and action.

Nico was...awful. I wanted to love him. I wanted to see him become the dangerously protective husband I knew he could be. He never did. The man was hypocritical the entire book (telling Elena to never assume while only making assumptions about her). And he never grew. He never learned. He wasn’t ever faced with any consequence of hurting Elena and it pissed me off so much. And I couldn’t handle how Nico saw Elena in the first half of the book! So what that you’re attracted to her?! Man up, own your feelings, and stop blaming the woman for your dick!! If I wanted to read about that, I’d just go listen to an incel.

There was a moment at the climax of the book where Nico could have redeemed himself completely and my rating would be infinitely higher. But he didn’t. He doesn’t. He lets his pride and bruised ego overpower everything he learned about Elena the entire book and he acts the exact same as he did in the beginning, killing any semblance of growth his character had.

Elena was meek. Which is different and unique to see in a mafia book, but I was so angry on her behalf. So many times she was hurt and yet she was the one to apologize every. single. time. At the end, even with her heart broken, I wish so much that she had stood up to Nico. Thrown it back in his face that he hurt her throughout the entire book because of his assumptions. But nooooooo, she had to swallow her teeth and play the meek Sweet Abelli for him and his ego.

Beyond that, I hated all of the side characters. Except Nonna. And Gianna and Christian, but that’s because I already read their story. But everyone else? Elena’s Papa can choke on Oscar’s rotting dick and her mother can drown in vomit. Tony was okay, I would have liked to see some growth with him away from Jenny. Nico’s cousins? Didn’t care. Though. I am very curious about Sebastian. I would have liked to see what his story looks like.

This entire book was a mental crisis of how on earth could I have enjoyed the second book so much when this one was just…this.

But I will cop to the fact that I like a very specific type of dark romance — the “I will kill anyone that touches you”. And while Nico had that, he also had the type of dark romance I absolutely loathe — “No one hurts you but me.” I would love to read a book that showed Nico exactly what he did and made him live with it.

[walkingdeadrewatch]

Season 2 Episode 2

Been a WHILE since I watched the early episodes, however, I have now finished the entire series so this will be interesting.

Ah the before times 

Rick being polite is annoying. Damn Lori, guess we understand why you like Shane.

Aw baby Carl is sad

Run Rick, Run

Admiring Rick for his ability to carry the dead weight of a child WHILE RUNNING (again)

MAGGIE!!!!!!!!!! Fucking love her

Hershel and BETH! Ah I forgot how much I love them (not at this stage though)

Hershel is so efficient but very different from the Hershel I remember, interesting to see characters at their start after knowing their end.

As much as I hate Shane, I do appreciate how he is trying to keep Rick calm

The blood type thing is funny to me after watching the finale.

Love that Daryl’s current priority is Sophia. He is fighting so hard to get her back

I love that medical care, taping a cloth to it, I suppose that’s all they have, but no wonder it gets infected

Theodore Douglas. I think I missed that was his name every other time I’ve watched this.

Dale is just giving T-dog a task because he doesn’t want to babysit

So this is what it’s like for Shane to have Rick’s back.

Carl actually showing his pain here makes me realise a lot of characters don’t show theirs like that when injured. Normally just a hiss of pain or instantly passes out. Amazing acting from baby chandler Riggs here.

(FINALE SPOILERS Judith showed her pain but didn’t cry like that, just saying)

Feel like Shane is being very supportive so far in this episode, feels a bit OOC

At least Otis is taking responsibility for his actions, Maybe you could learn a little something, Shane

Just a little bit on Carol. In later seasons she can be ruthless when it comes to protecting her people, and never stops fighting. Whereas here, she has lost the most important thing to her but agrees to head back for the night as long as they continue tomorrow. Carol from the later seasons would say fuck that and keep searching. However, this Carol has just had her world changed by losing Sofia, after having her world changed with Ed’s death, and that freedom after having her world changed by a freaking apocalypse. Shit keeps happening and it’s interesting to see her like this compared to the multiple Carols from throughout the season.

Don’t understand Rick why gives his gun that means a lot to him to Otis when Otis has a gun and Shane is right there. I know Shane has a gun, but this one means a lot to him.

Did Dale just take a look at Glenn and assume he plays guitar? TF?

Watching this scene just reminds me of the Bad Lip Reading video (Very Cool)

T-Dog is spitting Facts

Fish can hear you thinking just before you sneeze

That’s a big spiders web

How did she walk so far away when they were just walking as a group?

But I mean, cool entrance for Maggie

‘This chick’? That is your future wife Glenn, speak more respectfully!

Thinking about it, was Otis going to carry that deer all the way back? Feel like he would have struggled a bit

I love Hershel’s optimism, but lol you’re all fucked, this is worse than a plague.

Aw love that Carl wanted to give his blood, adorable

I was just thinking why isn’t this man surrounded by food and drinks after donating so much blood.

Why is Lori wearing makeup during a freaking apocalypse?

Lol he might be just a vet, but he’s a damn good vet, and literally all you have

Did they not JUST pass an ambulance? maybe check in there for supplies as well?

Why is Glenn apparently the only competent one to get T-Dog there? Literally feels like trying to get rid of him but whatever

Daryl is good and helpful

Did they consider turning the sirens on and running? It would keep the walkers attention for much longer

Rick needs to sit the fuck down.

Also if they had finale knowledge Daryl should have gone to donate blood.

Why is Otis carrying what appears to be the bigger and heavier bag?

I do appreciate how dedicated Shane is to getting back to Carl and making sure he lives. 

[imaxafterlife]

""Norm, you don’t understand. I never had a problem with the jokes. I loved them. I just noticed that about six months ago you stopped doing them. You never bring O.J. up at all anymore.”

“Well, Don, that’s because a jury of his peers found Mr. Simpson not guilty of all the charges filed against him. He’s as innocent as you or me. If I was to mention O.J. at all on the telecast, it would be to deliver a profound and heartfelt apology for the cruel, racist remarks I made in my self-appointed role as judge, jury, and executioner.”

“Norm, I’ve known O.J. for many years. He’s a close friend. I visited him in prison every Monday morning, and you know how I’d greet him, Norm?”

“No, sir, I don’t.”

“I’d give him the business about this whole double-murder thing. Lay a couple of zingers on him from your Update segment. Boy, old O.J. would see red, I’m here to tell you. And the more steamed he got, the funnier it struck me.”

“Well, it’s nice to know you liked the jokes, sir.”

“Well, there’s the rub, son,” said Don. “Ever since he’s been acquitted, he and I golf over at Brentwood. We have a standing tee time every Monday at six A.M. Problem is, you’ve decided to stop doing jokes about him and I don’t have anything to zing him with. Do you follow?”

“Sir, I hope you’re not asking me to do what I think you are.”

“If you want to save your job, Norm, get back to the O.J. jokes. You promise me that and I promise that you can have Update as long as you like.”

“I don’t think I could do that, sir. What about the jury system and fair play and all that?”

“Oh, c’mon, Norm, O.J. can take a joke. They’re all meant in good fun. And I’m just a guy who works hard trying to make the TV viewers happy. Heck, the only kicks I get are when I can give my friend O. J. Simpson the business. Now, you wouldn’t want to take that away from me, would you?”

“I’ll have to think about it, sir.”

But there wasn’t a lot to think about. I flew back to New York and talked with Lori Jo, Downey, Frank, and Ross. We all agreed that what we had done to O.J. had been unconscionable. We had been mostly fueled by my lifelong institutionalized racism. Now that we’d woken up to that fact, to continue to make O.J. jokes while the real killers were at large was out of the question. And for what? So Don Ohlmeyer could get under his pal’s skin at the Brentwood Country Club? The only thing O. J. Simpson was guilty of was being the best running back in history. And while O. J. Simpson had proven himself to be the greatest rusher, I had proven myself to be the greatest rusher to judgment."

-from Norm MacDonald's memoir, "Based on a True Story"

[marjaystuff]

Interview with Lori Foster

The Fearless One

Osborn Brothers Book 2

Lori Foster

Canary Street Press

Dec 26th, 2023

The Fearless One by Lori Foster is another home run.  Per usual, readers will not be disappointed in this story.  The plot has adventure, suspense, and great characters. A bonus is that some of the secondary characters will be familiar to those who have read the first Osborn book or the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series.

The plot begins with Memphis Osborne cleaning up after working on restoring the campground he bought.  But to his surprise there is a woman, Jedidiah “Diah” Stephens, and her dog staring at him. He is shocked to discover that his brother and sister-in-law hired her to be his handyperson. What he discovers is that she has nothing but the backpack she carries yet a lot of secrets. She is there to uncover the truth behind the fire that killed her family. She’s been chasing down clues, and everything has led her to an isolated campground. Realizing she needs help; Memphis slowly breaks down her barriers and together they investigate.  But it becomes more than that as the attraction between them becomes off the charts.

As with all her suspense books, this one is no different.  Readers will find non-stop action, twists, and turns, within an emotional, gripping, and intense story. 

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for this story?

Lori Foster: When someone asks me where I got an idea, it can be an easy answer – or an impossible one. Sometimes I’m intrigued by a headline, or a social issue, or I just see something, like an RV, and my imagination takes off. For this one, it was pure imagination. 

I wondered how difficult it would be to have a dangerous enemy, with no idea why. Or who. Or when they might strike. From there, I knew we needed a champion, someone to help out to keep others safe. The plot of the story evolved from that.

EC: What is the role of Tuff the dog, what characteristics does Tuff have, and how did Tuff and Diah come together?

LF: I’m a big believer that pets play a huge role in our lives. They’re often attuned to us, and they can be far more understanding and compassionate than some people. Diah, who is fearful for her life, needed something or someone that brought her a measure of peace. That turned out to be her rescue dog, Tuff. 

For fun, I got the name, and the type of dog, from a reader on my Facebook page. I often ask readers for information on their pets. 

Dogs don’t ask questions, which is a good thing because Diah keeps a lot of secrets. As it turns out, Tuff decides to not only trust Memphis, but very obviously like him. That helps Diah to trust him, too. In a way, the dog is her protector, best friend, confidante, and an encourager who leads her into safe adventures – like getting cozy with Memphis.

EC: How would you describe Diah?-what is with her stare?

LF: Diah has had to be wary for much of her life, starting when she was just a girl. She watches people closely to better gauge if they’re a threat. Her stare is so intense it can be intimidating. Thankfully, it doesn’t intimidate Memphis, and in fact intrigues him instead.

She’s also been traumatized a few times, so she can be jumpy in uncertain situations – which actually, makes her incredibly brave for facing her fears and pushing forward, regardless of how it unsettles her. She has strong convictions, a gentle heart, but for her trust is extremely hard won.

EC: Since Jodi was also in the story (YEA) what would you say are the differences and similarities between Jodi and Diah?

LF: Diah and Jodi, who will end up as sisters-in-law, are extremely different. 

Diah has remained gentle, whereas Jodi is abrasive. Diah admits to her weaknesses – and in fact thinks she’s weaker than she is, but Jodi would deny having any weakness - even to herself. 

Diah has to force herself to face her fear, but for Jodi, not facing it would be impossible. One woman tiptoes into danger and the other explodes into it. 

However, they’re both extremely loyal, honorable in their own unique ways, and both would go the limits to protect others.

EC: How would you describe Memphis vs his brother Hunter?

LF: Memphis’s brother, Hunter, is a very intense type of person. Heroic to the extreme, which has been proven. He’s private, and humble, and protective of others. 

Memphis, however, has always been easy-going, never really tested in any way because life and success came to him easily. He considers his brother a super-hero and has massive respect for him. Now he wants to do his part. He wants to stop playing it safe and instead use his tech skills to help people, combat crime, and do some good for society. When he made those plans, however, he hadn’t expected Diah to enter his life. She puts a dent in his plans, but it’s all good. 

EC: What are the differences and similarities between the relationship of Hunter and Jodi, Memphis and Diah?

LF: There are two books in this set – The Dangerous One, and The Fearless One. 

The Dangerous One has Hunter and Jodi, and The Fearless One has Memphis and Diah. 

The brothers are close, but have very different personality types. There’s a fun play on the titles, because you don’t know who’s more dangerous: Hunter or Jodi.

And you don’t know who’s more fearless: Memphis or Diah. 

They complement each other with their conflicting manners.

Jodi had a truly horrendous experience that naturally makes her extra guarded – but then, Hunter did, too. They each want different things from their experiences. Jodi wants to blend in and become like other people, whereas Hunter has retreated and wants solitude. Together though, they mesh perfectly. 

Memphis wants to be as heroic as his brother, to be able to make substantial changes that will help others since his life has always been so blessed. Diah wants to face her fears and stiffen her backbone so she can avenge her family – a family she wasn’t close to, but she feels an obligation. Besides, if she can’t figure out what happened to them, the same could happen to her. For Memphis and Diah, each sees the best in the other. Diah knows Memphis is already incredibly heroic, and Memphis thinks she’s brave to the point of being foolhardy. Together, they’re the whole package, each boosting the other.

EC: What is the relationship between Memphis and Madison?

LF: Memphis and Madison are both scary-good at anything tech. They can hack like professionals, gaining access to other people’s privacy whenever they want, although Memphis knows Madison is ten times better than him. 

For Madison, it’s great to be able to chat with someone who understands the working of her brain. She’s madly in love with someone else, and Memphis has shown no interest in a personal relationship, so they’re able to be very good friends without the complications of a romance. 

If one needs the other, they’re there. 

EC: Next book?

LF: My publisher wanted something all new, so I am considering my options.

Thanks! 

[socheckitout-mikey]

these weren't requested but i'm still in love with brett talbot, so here ya goooo! (': <333 - mae

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Dating Brett Talbot Hc's:

° Ngl Brett can be a mean boyfriend in the sense that he likes to tease (bully) you playfully a lot of the time, but he never actually means it or wants to hurt you because he's really so soft on you™. 

° If he gets too rowdy just tease him back ‘cause he secretly enjoys it! Banter is one of his only languages lmaoo.

° However, please speak up when and if he’s hurt your feelings: Brett prizes honesty over most things and he’d rather you be up front about something that’s bugging you. Otherwise he’ll figure it out for himself through other signals you give out - and trust me, he’s like a mother goose: He will find out!

° Always will apologise when he’s taken things too far. He’ll be extremely honest if something ever bugs him, but he’s got thick skin and not much can wound his ego: or so he thinks…

° Honestly, underneath all that hothead jock stuff is a real, genuine softie. He loves snuggles and affection! Practically demands it and becomes pouty when he doesn't get it. It's quite adorable!

° Just straight up flops his head on your tummy or lap for some head pats. He loooves it when you play with his hair, and can be a bit unfair when it comes to returning the favour because he’s a brat haha.

° You want hoodies and great big jackets much too big for you? Sweet, they're yours now! He loves you in his clothes and can't say no to you taking them, even if he's practically naked. 

° "I'm guessing that you actually want me to be naked around town right? That's the fourth hoodie this month."

° "I don't know what you're talking about!" 

° "You're such a loser. You have to just be a thief huh?" 

° Bonus points if you wear his spare Jersey! Though not so much when he needs it. 

° "Babe this is a problem-" 

° "But it's comfy!" 

° "I can't play without a Jersey! Cough it up you little thief." 

° "Awe man!"

° Lmaoo you act like you're dying or something.

° “It’s only gonna get smelly and dirty…”

° Brett's pretty blunt/opinionated so he may mince his words a lot, but he means well, I promise! Even if he is a total savage.

° He’s known for having a protective streak, but he’s not particularly overbearing such as Derek Hale or Stiles Stilinski. However he would move mountains for you if given the chance. He’s the type to make sacrifices for the ones he loves: Just look at his sister Lori.

° Perhaps expect a bit of unsolicited opinions on other people in your life - especially newcomers. His intuition is insanely on point. He chalks it up to him just being a werewolf, which is partly true, but he’s got good judgement. He’s also got good people skills, knowing how to trust himself on pretty much everything. His protectiveness naturally falls into place when it comes to his pack and you. He may (will) bite if someone fucks with his loved ones.

° Hands down is willing to fight anyone and anything for you if it’s warranted. Regardless if it’s a supernatural threat or not.

° Lmaoo you gotta be there to stop him from wolfing out on the kid who gave y’all the stink eye when you were in line at the movies. He says he just wants to “scare him”, but we all know better than that, don’t we?

° Is a sucker for when you attend his practices and games, especially when you cheer for him. He appreciates the support, a happy grin dawns across his face, which is wholesome indeed.

° Once he attempted to show off in front of you during a game and he quite literally fell from grace. That mouthful of grass sure did pack a punch! Luckily he had his mouth guard on, but yourself and Lori still go on about that one to this day. It’s unfortunate for Brett who gets rather salty about it.

° Spontaneous late night drives that just hit differently. Sometimes they’re quiet, Brett’s hand smoothing circles into your thigh that make you lull off to sleep. Other times he’s blasting music with you, belting out the best tunes.

° It’s always a ritual for you both to get huge slushies at 7-11. His treat always. He won’t let you even put a cent towards them. Slushies are his treat and he always gets a bad brain freeze because he decided to inhale that stuff essentially!

° Slushies are his treat to get for you because you typically do a lot of things for him that make his heart melt. He’s usually very busy because of practices, games and studying - often extremely tired when all is said and done. Sometimes he doesn’t see you as much as he really wants to, but you always find a way to see him or do little things for him that just makes life that much easier. He wants to repay you back somehow. So paying for things on dates and such is his way of ensuring you know that he loves you most. As if the insistent cuddles and kisses when you are together didn’t already put that across.

° Brett always picks up your calls, even at 4am. His sleepy, "Babe?" rumbles into the phone and warms you up.

° If you're upset then it makes you cry harder, which wakes him up immediately. He stays up with you until you both pass out if he can't come to you for whatever reason. He's a werewolf, but his motor functions when he's tired will cause him to crash his car pretty easily. However, he wants to be there for you whenever he can. He’d really feel rotten if you didn’t reach out to him when you needed comfort or he didn’t answer.

° But often the calls are humorous yet he still answers them just in case.

° "What do you want?" 

° "Did you know axolotls regenerate their limbs?" 

° "Seriously? You called me at 4am for this?" 

° "But it's important-" 

° "I'm hanging up now." 

° "No, I love you!" 

° Lmaoo he just laughed and hung up! He did send you a voice message that went, "I love you, you dork." with a laugh to it.

° He loves you really though, I promise!

° Brett tries his hardest to keep you as separate from the whole supernatural thing as possible. It can be really challenging as both worlds often blur together alarmingly in Beacon Hills. However, it isn’t long until you find out his werewolf secret - much to Satomi’s displeasure of course. She just wants to protect her pack at the end of the day, so it isn’t anything personal. She understands that once you’re aware of such a secret, it draws in darker things. So she also wishes to protect you.

° The way in which you discovered his secret was chaotic, harmless, hilarious and quite frankly innocent. All I can really say is; you’d come over to his house only to walk in on Brett starting to fang out, his features warped into a grotesque expression with razor sharp teeth, fury thick sideburns appearing and glowing gold eyes piercing in the blue like of his computer screen. Lori had come into his room for the hundredth time that night to mess with her brother whilst he’d been playing a game on his PC. It was one time too many by the looks of it, the pair yanking the mouse back and forth between them with Brett snarling and snapping at his sister momentarily. Even the cable had snapped like a brittle elastic band. Yet they fought over the crackling mouse ferociously.

° You stood there frozen like ice, unsure of what you were seeing. Honing in on Brett’s appearance. It was the erratic beating of your heart that let the pair know someone had intruded on their wolfish argument. Brett just about had an aneurism when he saw you - Lori squeaking out an, “Oops!” just as she let go of the mouse.

° This movement sent Brett flying backwards onto his bed, somersaulting onto the floor and splatting his back into the once pristine dark green wall. He sat there dumbfounded, drywall speckled in his hair, coughing with the wind knocked out of his lungs.

° You were like 👁️👄👁️ before pointing at him and saying with the utmost conviction, “I KNEW YOU WERE A FREAK!”

° Waaaaaay to break the ice dude! Lori almost peed her pants laughing whilst Satomi stormed up the stairs to see what the hell was going on. To say she was unhappy was an understatement.

° That was how you realised werewolves existed! It was definitely not what Brett had anticipated, but he wasn’t complaining. Your instant acceptance made it easier for you both to move forward. Honestly, he’d actually expected you to wuss out, running away and screaming. When he told you that, you may have put salt in his coffee as payback.

° Though moving forward became a thorn in his ass when a bunch of useless questions came firing out of your mouth all the time. We’ll never forget the, “If your butt gets itchy when you shift, do you slide along the carpet like a dog?” You honestly did deserve the pillow that got launched at your face lmaoo.

° Your relationship is definitely not all sunshine and rainbows. Where it is teasing and light loads of the time, it can get pretty heavy and serious. Arguments between the pair of you are pretty unbearable. The area is cleared by everyone else because words can get quite brutal. You both can also be quite stubborn, so reuniting, communicating and putting things behind you can be quite difficult at times: Especially on Brett’s behalf, because he always wants to be right and definitely thinks he is the majority of the time.

° But he does wave his white flag of surrender. You always know that an apology is on the tip of his tongue when he sits beside you quietly, fiddling with the tips of his own fingers. His apologies are sincere and he does his best not to repeat the same mistakes twice. He’s good enough to admit when he’s wrong, and he expects the same in return.

° Despite how he may appear to most people, Brett is incredibly loving, kind, sweet and considerate. He puts those that he loves first always, doing his best to protect them. You’ve got a ride or die kind of guy here, but he won’t let you or anyone walk all over him.

° It’s pivotal that you get on really well with his younger sister Lori. She means the world to him, meaning that she isn’t going anywhere. It is a great thing that you guys get on so well: Lori tells you all sorts of soft things Brett says about you. Also sometimes she tells you embarrassing things he did when he was younger which makes him go bright red with embarrassment! Don't worry, he chases after Lori, giving her the noogie of a lifetime as payback before she shoves him off a little embarrassed herself, because, “Great, now I stink of your smelly armpits!”.

° Brett is an amazing listener. He doesn’t seem like he would be, but he is. He’s always observing other people around him and it’s just natural. His silence may seem daunting, but he’s really just letting you vent out your frustrations, disappointments, hopes, dreams and so on. If you want his advice then he’s happy to give it to you, though be prepared for possibly encountering something you weren’t quite expecting. Brett tells the truth, but will try to say it as respectfully as possible. He’s also your biggest hype man, offering lots of praise and sweet nothings.

° Brett’s a good secret keeper. Lots of his friends and pack tell him their secrets. Once it’s been entrusted with him then he’s keeping it safe: Not another soul will be told unless for safety reasons I suppose.

° He loves it when you fall asleep on him. Sometimes he’s mischievous and pulls a small prank on you. Where there is Brett, there is usually a prank about to go down. They’re usually quite harmless when it comes to you. However he is known for playing dirty.

° Brett never forgets a date. Be prepared to be showered in gifts and to go on the cutest planned out things for special events, etc. He’s very thoughtful and gets the gist of what you like and don’t like. Sometimes they go wrong, but he always saves it in the end. He’s smooth after all.

° You always return the favour, doing things for him that makes him so damn happy! In fact, you’re always reminding him to pace himself, ensuring he eats properly and whatnot because he often forgets with his busy schedule.

° Surprisingly you’ve protected him more times than he can count when it comes to the supernatural side of things. Despite being human yourself, you pack quite the punch. We won’t forget the time when you decided not to run in Sinema after Brett got slashed in the stomach trying to protect Mason.

° “Just get outta here!” He’d snarled at you.

° “In your dreams, Talbot. You think you get to steal the show?”

° You were lucky that Liam and Scott had turned up when they had with Kira, because you weren’t faring well with a bloody bar stool in your hand!

° Boy did Brett give you hell for that one. He made you promise never to pull a stunt like that again, but when the time comes again, there’s not much left to debate. You just react. You’re just as protective of him and Lori as he is.

° What is left of his pack loves you very much. You even him out and he seems to make you feel more sure of yourself. Satomi is happy you humble him lmaoo.

° Cuddles galore! Y’all are so gentle with limbs intertwined. Usually one of you will fall asleep. The amount of photos both of you have of the other sleeping is cute! Obviously Brett catches you in the act more often.

° After every game, win or lose, he gets a kiss from you both before and after. Before is for luck and after is either for celebration or comfort. You get crushed in the biggest sweaty hug ever. You never get used to that one haha!

° If you go to Beacon Hills, he playfully calls you a “traitor” - and so do all of your friends. Coach Finstock has a personal vendetta against you for “dating the enemy” and constantly asks you for inside secrets. You’re the only one besides Scott McCall that he can stand. Being friends with Liam may result in both a disgruntled Brett and Liam. Both are disgusted: Liam being very vocal about it and Brett being just as vocal, but respectful-ish nonetheless. Who you’re friends with isn’t Brett’s business unless they hurt you. 

° If you attend Devonford, just know that you’re both the it couple. Man you guys are gorgeous! A lot of people are jealous of you ngl. Who wouldn’t be? You’re dating freaking Brett Talbot!

° You guys stick together through thick and thin. It’s very sweet. And as you age together, you grow up to be better people.

° BRETT AND LORI DO NOT DIE! CANON PULLED A PRANK ON US!

° Instead you saved the pair, stopping them from climbing the ladder out of the sewer system just in time. Luckily Brett pulled through after almost succumbing to his wounds that Deaton wasn’t sure he’d survive. You never gave up hope - even when other people told you to give up.

° With each dark period that settled over Beacon Hills, Brett became more protective over you. But he wasn’t scared to face those adversities, which made you decide that you weren’t either. You found more courage in being with him, finding where you belonged in this new world and pack available to you.

° After highschool is said and done, Brett is adamant to take you and Lori as far away from Beacon Hills. It’s challenging to fight the pull towards such a prominent place, but you manage it. A weight lifted off of your shoulders. It’s easy for you all to blend into the city or town that you choose to settle in. As they possess the gift to hide their scent, other creatures are kept at bay: The siblings are able to control their shifting - teaching you such arts that Satomi had once passed down to them.

° Brett has rugged scars that didn’t quite heal after his near death experience from Liam’s mixup. He’s a little self-conscious, he can’t deny it, but they don’t deter you at all. The jagged, scarred tissue where the arrow went straight through is mesmerising to you, something you subconsciously trace whilst you lay in his arms at night.

° Nowadays Brett has trouble healing from the amount of wolfsbane he’d been given. It doesn’t stop him from acting the same way - snarling and snapping at prominent threats. He’s your wall of guardianship, but you help him understand that it’s okay to take a step back once in a while.

° If mates were a true thing, that would be yourself and Brett. You’re made for each other, able to sooth each other yet grow excited together. You match each other’s energy at the drop of a pin! Silliness runs rampant - a kind of love that blossoms in all the experiences that you both endure together; both good and bad. It’s the kind of love that isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. There’s an understanding between you both. You know what the other needs. You’re not clingy or dependent on one another. It all just flows perfectly. It feels like home. Home is where the heart is.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

please like, reblog and follow for more!

requests: closed!

[iguessweallcrazyithinktho]

Hiii, hope you’re doing well ❤️

If you’re taking requests/concepts can I request where Jack & reader are on the talking/dating stage. But she gets word of the rumor going around about him and Lori? (Too soon? Someone else then??) reader confronts him and they get into a huge argument??? Ion something around that lol. Thank you in advance & again thank you incase you’re not taking these kind of requests ❤️❤️

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 – 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐖

A knot formed in your stomach as you read the tweets. There were tons about Jack and Lori being together. You knew it was stupid reading them, but you couldn't stop not when you and Jack have something going on. For the past month you and Jack were in the talking stage of your relationship. You weren't even sure what you both even were to be honest. You thought you were more, but jack had another idea. At least that's what it seemed.

You groaned shutting off your phone. You felt sick just thinking about it. You wanted nothing more than to be in an actual relationship with jack, but it seemed like maybe your change has past. It made you upset, but also it made you angry.

You got up from your couch and went to the bedroom. You decided you were going to clear your head by watching a movie. The whole time while you were watching your movie jack was calling you. You weren't sure why, but you sure as hell wasn't picking up. You turned back to your movie and keep watching it.

The next day you woke up feeling a lot better. Jack wasn't on your mind much but you were sure on his mind. He was wondering why you weren't picking up the phone yesterday. He tried to think about something he may have done wrong but his mind drew a blank.

The whole day while in the studio jack couldn't focus. He knew he had to see you to see what was wrong. After his session ended he drove his way over to your place.

You were sitting on the bed when you heard a knock on the door. You walked out of your bedroom to the door. Before jack could knock again you opened the door.

"hey."

You exhaled. "Hi. What do you want?"

Jack cringed at the harsh tone. "calm down, I just wanna know why you've been ignoring my calls and text."

You looked at him. "I don't know maybe you should ask Lori."

Jack sighed, "is this what this about? Y/n, there's nothing going on between me and her."

You rolled your eyes. "That's not the only reason I'm pissed off." "Well than tell me the other reasons? Hm?" Jack Walked into your house shutting the door. He turned to you, he was way taller than you so he towered over you.

"jack, what are we?" You looked up to his ocean blue eyes. The boy looked at you confused. "What are we?"

"yeah what are we because it seems like we're nothing. I mean we went on three dates already and you have yet to ask me if we should be more and move on from the talking stage or if you want to end this. I hate this and I especially hate seeing rumors of you with another girl when I'm so close to being yours. It makes my stomach churn, So what are we?"

Jack looked at you. He saw the tears threatening to spill from your eyes. He hated that you were feeling this way. He didn't notice it was eating you alive.

"y/n, I'm sorry." Jack cupped your face and ran his thumb over your cheek. "I thought you didn't want more so that made me pull back, but that's no excuse. I should have asked you if you wanted more."

You looked at jack as he continued. "I have no interest in Lori ok. All I did was follow her that's it. I want you and only you." Jack smiled softly making you smile.

"y/n, do you wanna be my girl?"

You sighed shutting your eyes. "Lemme think about it." You stayed quiet for a few seconds confusing jack, but when he seen the smirk on your face he knew you were playing with him.

"yes, I wanna be your girlfriend! I thought you'd never ask."

Jack laughed and kissed you. It wasn't just a normal kiss for you, it was a kiss of relief. You finally got him.

[punkheadspace]

dbd crack fic

posted to my ao3 as well

everyone sat around the campfire, all the survivors at least. jokes and laughter heard from a mile away as tonight’s main entertainment was smash or pass: normally theyd had played it as horny teenagers. but now they were all adults, however they were bound to an eternity of being murdered brutally, night after night. what better way than to spend it than with your friends.

“smash or pass: huntress” the sultry voice of zarina spoke beside you. it was only a matter of seconds before the question was answered.

“smash, hard long all night smash.” ace answered, before getting a wolf whistle from mikaela. his eyes peered around look at everyone around them, almost expecting more of a response. “guys cmon back me up on this. she’s got those strong shoulders and get strong grip. she’s such with pretty lady.”

“he’s got a point,” dwight spoke up before getting a rather strong shove from his girlfriend : kate. ace has previously commented on their relationship about how odd it is that kate would choose someone like dwight over someone like leon on chris. but then proceeded to fist bump dwight.

“my turn, smash or pass oni.” ace cut the awkward tension before a giggled emerged from a throat.

“smash and i have smashed” mikaela deadpanned towards everyone, painting the image of petite mikaela getting absolutely raw dogged by oni. mikaela had sexual relations with everyone, whether being the third for dwight and kate, or even taking the virginity of feng min, to even having sex with michael. fucking michael. lori was not a fan of that.

“how does that work?” that was the first time you’d spoken all night long, only earning a devious glint from mikaela.

“oh you know, a little bit of shimey. i must say, he’s an absolute fan of my circle of healing if i may say so myself.”

“oh my god mikaela SHUT UP.” lori borderline screeched in humiliation. lori had been the only person mikaela didn’t make moved on. she didn’t like short hair. feng was different because they had a different, spiritual understanding of one another. which eventually led to them being in an open relationship.

“smash or pass: ghostface.” mikaela spoke up again, laughter on the verge of her throat, she’d known about your little crush on the ghost man.

she’s seen it in trials, you staring at him like a pathetic school girl. which was rather odd considering he had just launched your body on a hook. but hey, who was she to judge.

well, no, she would judge because why did you look like you were about to orgasm over a man who obviously just fucking put a NEW HOLE THRU YOUR BODY.

mikaela got a pay off from thirsting over the killers, they were more gentle with killer her. but no, the more you seemed to crush on the masked killer, the more aggressive he got with absolutely fucking murdering you.

“pass.” you spoke, eyes stared at you from all around before laughing.

“you’re so full of shit.” dwight said, he spoke before anyone else only making the laughter grow, especially because he was the most kind person there.

“exactly! they were practically grinding their ass into his face when he picked them up the other day.” mikaela added on, being snarky as ever.

“was not-“ you were almost instantly cut off by foreign laughter. almost instantly, all of the survivors stopped.

“what the fuck.”

ghostface, the legion (all members might i add), and huntress were stranding watching around.

“was too.” was all that ghostface/danny had said before walking off with the others.

[baka-monarch]

Innocent

Part One

Trigger warnings: mention of death, vore, mouth play

Part 2

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Tommy was sitting down in the middle of his familiar cage, looking out at all the big people that were walking around and grabbing other cages. He didn't understand why people kept screaming whenever a big person would grab their cage though, the big people were always so nice, giving him free food and water, and sometimes even things to play with- well, until one of the special big people in aprons take his new toy away saying it's bad. He kept watching the big people, listening to their conversations, just like he did everyday… but today nothing interesting was happening, no one was doing any funny things and it was starting to get boring to just sit here.

Tommy's boredom was cut off at the sound of a familiar ding. He looked up to the door and saw a new big person wearing a yellow shirt with really fluffy looking brown hair and- they were looking at him!! No one ever looked at him apart from the special big people!!! Tommy smiled brightly and ran to the front of his cage to wave at the person, excited and hopeful that he could finally have a friend! The big person gave him a weird look, and Tommy wasn't sure why they seemed confused- he was just being friendly. For now Tommy didn't think about it, or really, he forgot about it as the big person walked over to him and crouched down in front of his cage.

"Now what do we have here~" The big person smirked, showing off a few of their teeth, and Tommy smiled in return at getting attention.

"Hello! I'm Tommy!!!" He introduced himself, and didn't notice the look of confusion that crossed the person's face.

"Uh, hi Tommy- are you… are you not scared?" The big person asked, and Tommy tilted his head, a bit confused by the question.

"No? Why would I be scared?" It was true that most other people were scared when a big person talked to them, but Tommy still really didn't understand what there was to be scared of.

"O- oh uhm…." The big person's face changed to show several different emotions, and after a few minutes they picked up Tommy's cage.

Tommy immediately started to bounce excitedly. He'd been picked up! That meant they picked him!! Now he'd finally get to see where all the big people took everyone to! Tommy started to think about his mama, she'd been picked once too, but she hadn't been taken out of the store like Tommy was. He zoned out the conversation the big person was having with the special big person as he imagined all the things he'd be able to do with his new friend, like finally having someone to talk to!

Tommy smiled and kept looking everywhere as he was carried out of his home and saw loads of huge walls with square holes. He'd never been out here before, and it was amazing to see the blue blanket above with it's big light (didn't big people call it the "sky and sun"? He couldn't remember-). He winced a bit whenever a loud roaring shiny thing passed them, but was still amazed by all the different colours and how fast all of them were. He let out little gasps as he saw walls with bigger holes that showed loads of amazing items he'd never seen before inside. It was all so amazing! Tommy wished he could go run around and see everything- unfortunately he couldn't as the big person carrying him made a hole appear on one of the big walls and walked inside.

"Wooooaaaahhhhh, where are we?" Tommy asked as he looked around, seeing a very unfamiliar but just as exciting new place he was now.

"This is my home…" The big person answered, and when Tommy looked up at them he was a little confused by the look on their face, he couldn't really tell what emotion it was, but it definitely wasn't the happy look they had earlier. Hmmmmm… maybe they just thought it was a mess? There was a lot of big things sitting around in the middle of the room after all.

"Well it's really really cool!!!" Tommy shouted up, trying his best to cheer up the big person.

"I guess it is…" they let out a small chuckle. They opened the cage door, and Tommy stood up in excitement. He didn't try to leave the cage as much as he wanted to, because he knew he'd just be picked up out of the cage like what was supposed to happen! So he waited, and waited… and waited, for eh big person to pick him up? Why haven't they picked him up yet? It's been a few minutes now, usually he'd be grabbed by now. "You gonna come out?"

"No, I'm waiting!" Tommy smiled up at the big person, still waiting patiently to be taken out. The big person looked at him in confusion, and he just smiled back. They let out a sigh, and Tommy smiled as he watched their huge hand reach in and pick him up. He squirmed with excitement at the feeling of being lifted up high.

"It's just like any other tiny…." They mumbled and licked their lips. Tommy watched as their mouth opened wide and he could see all of their teeth, their huge tongue, and even the dark abyss that was their throat; he didn't fight as he was dropped onto their slimey tongue, only moving to reposition himself to be comfortable. He watched as the mouth slowly closed around him, and all the light left… he wasn't scared though! He knew big people did this to people all the time! Tommy was actually excited to see where people went after being put into mouths!

Tommy started to giggle as the tongue under him began to lick him all over. Throwing him around the small space and tickling him whenever it touched his skin. He whiped some spit out of his hair, then laughed as the tongue pinned him down and got spit all over him once again. He wiggled a little bit once he was moved around and now the tongue pinned him to the top of the mouth, he then soon heard a loud gulp behind him- then he finally thought of something.

"Big person, can I ask you a question?" Tommy asked, then felt himself get pushed into a cheek, he only squirmed a little bit at how tight it was, but was otherwise comfortable already.

"Oh- uh sure…"

"When you swallow me, will I see mama? She got put into a big person's mouth too, is this gonna take me to her or to where your mouth goes?" The child asked, innocently and curiously. He waited a long time for an answer, and started to wonder if the big person didn't know where mouths took people- but then was surprised when he was spit out into the big person's hands.

"Fuuuuu- frick, you… you're actually just a kid…" They said as they held the innocent child- god he'd almost killed a child- in his hands. Wilbur watched the small one look around in confusion then finally up at him.

"Why'd you spit me out?" It- no- they asked, and Wilbur felt nothing but pain and guilt in his chest. Did they not understand? Did nobody tell them? Did they really think…. Did they really believe that humans didn't kill tinoes when they are them? "Wasn't I gonna see mama?" Dammit morals-

"W- well uh, it's not time for you t- to see her yet?" Wilbur lied, he had no idea who this kid's mom had been, just that she was dead now if she'd been eaten.

"Oh… Oh! She told me to wait for her when she was picked! I remember, so I just gotta wait more!!" He smiled up at Wilbur and he felt his heart beat more.

"Y- yeah- yeah… you just gotta.. gotta wait…" Hold it in Wil, don't cry in front of the kid.

"I can't wait to see her again-" The kid (didn't they say their name was Tommy?) said then gasped "and now I can show her my new friend!"

"New friend?" Wilbur couldn't stop himself from asking, a little curious.

"Yeah! You!!!" Tommy smiled and Wilbur felt his heart crush to a pulp.

"You- you think I'm your friend?"

"Yeah!! Your the first person to be nice to me, big person!!"

"Wilbur." He cut in.

"Hm?"

"My name is uh Wilbur…" He was definitely going to keep this kid now and try to make sure nothing bad ever happened to them.

"Okie Wilby! We'll be the bestest friends foreva!!!!" And as Tommy said that, it solidified Wilbur's promise to himself to keep this child safe. He gently ruffled their hair with a finger, and smiled when Tommy laughed.

Yeah… he'd keep them safe...... And hopefully Dream wouldn't find out about them...

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Mcyt g/t list:

@trashpumped @lorie-the-little-ghost @encaos @i-am-a-weeb @wyforyu-gaming @5unfl0writ3r @colorfulsiren @moonmwah @iwasgoingtohellanyways @echoslime @wilbur-simp @trouble-off-grid @lilsyxx @smogs-0 @hello-world-im-snow