#being stuck in a truck and trailer with people who hate everything you are for 11 days sure will fuck your brain all up!

[piplupod]

i will never be popular in any sphere because i am sickeningly earnest and consistently use too many words. also probably because im off-puttingly neurotic

[artiststarme]

The Gift of Not Dying Part 14

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

It's been awhile but hopefully this will get me back in the groove of things. I hope you like it and please leave your thoughts in the comments!

~*~*~*~ Steve watched as the dazzling smile on Eddie’s face dropped to reveal absolute, unadulterated horror. He clearly wasn’t expecting his best friend/tomorrow’s date/future boyfriend to show up at fuck past two in the morning with a bruised face and blood covered sailor’s uniform. Steve could only imagine how he would respond if Eddie had shown up to Hopper's cabin looking like death the way Steve must right now.

“Oh my god, Steve?! What the fuck happened? Are you alright?” Eddie ushered him into the trailer and gently pushed him to a seat on the couch. 

Steve didn't know how to respond to him. On the one hand, he didn't want Eddie to worry. On the other hand, nothing would ever be alright again. Hop was dead, his body still stuck in the Russian base under Starcourt where he himself had died multiple times. Steve could feel the throbbing of his broken heart's beats pulsating in his face still. He definitely had a concussion if the double vision and underwater hearing were indicative of anything. Worst of all, it was all Steve's fault. This entire situation never would have happened had he not tempted the universe. He was too happy, he knew everything would fall into catastrophe eventually and he hadn't warned anyone.

So instead of answering his best friend, he pulled at Eddie's shoulders until the man got the message and wrapped him in a warm embrace that smelled of Honeybunches, motor oil, and marijuana. All of Steve's favorite smells that usually calmed him down. But not this time.

He sobbed into Eddie's chest, tears and blood mixing together on his face and soaking into the thin black fabric of Eddie's shirt. Steve just couldn't stop. He cried for the pain he'd gone through in the Russian base and the incessant battery he'd endured at the hands of sadists. He cried for the loss of Robin's normal life and the fact that she would probably hate him now since he'd dragged her into the absolute shit-show that was his life. Most of all though, he cried for Hopper. He cried for his dad that adopted him into his little family and gave him a little sister, the dad that dropped everything to help Steve whenever he needed it.

Poor Eddie just hugged him through it all. He didn't know why Steve had woken him up from a dead sleep at an ungodly hour in the morning only to unveil a face more recognizable as ground beef. He didn't know who had beaten him up or why Hopper wasn't behind him in his truck ready to drag him back to the overprotected cabin in the woods. He didn't need to understand because his best friend was in need of help and a good hug which Eddie could provide.

After what felt like hours of crying, Steve rasped, “Eds, Hop is gone. He died tonight.”

Eddie’s hands stopped their soothing circles on his back and he pulled back to look him in the eyes. There was no joking there, just complete and utter dread and hopelessness in the eye that wasn't swollen shut.

“Chief Hopper died tonight? Are you okay, where are you going to go?” He backtracked for a moment and pulled Steve’s battered body to his gently once more. “I’m sorry for your loss, man. I know the Chief was like a father to you. What’s going to happen now?”

Steve wanted to cry, to scream at the world for being so unfair as to take one of the only people that had ever cared for him. But his eyes were dry and his heart was bone tired after such an arduous night. So instead of sobbing some more or breaking down, Steve shrugged. “I’m going to have to go back to my parent’s house. I can’t stay in Hop’s cabin without him there. And El is going to live with Mrs. Byers. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Eddie shook his head and placed a weary hand on Steve's face. He wanted to give him comfort but with all the blood and bruises on his face, he didn't know where to touch without causing more pain. “You can stay here. Wayne won’t mind as long as we don’t mess with his mug or cap collections. He’s got a habit for taking in strays. Hell, just look at me. You’ll always have a place here.”

Steve couldn’t move in though. Everywhere he went, misfortune followed. He was like a plague, sucking the life out of everything he touched. It started with his parents and he sucked the joy right out of their lives leaving nothing but bitterness and sorrow, certainly not enough love for the disappointment he became. It broke Nancy by killing her best friend and tainting their relationship. Steve should’ve kept his distance from Hop and El but his selfishness won out in the end. And now Hopper was gone. Steve’s plague had struck once again and had stolen his happiness with it. He couldn’t do that to Eddie and Wayne, they’d been through far too much already. They didn’t deserve to deal with him on top of it all. 

“Thanks but I don’t want you guys to get sick of me. I’ll just stay at my parent’s house and crash here when they come home. If that’s okay with you and Wayne.”

Eddie shook his head before entwining his fingers with Steve’s. “Of course it is. We’ll worry about that tomorrow. For now, let’s deal with your face. Did you go to the hospital? I can literally see the bruises swelling in front of my eyes. There’s no way you don’t have a concussion right now, why would they let you drive like this?”

“They didn’t, I walked,” Steve corrected distractedly. His mind was reeling over grief and pain, too distracted to abide by the story he was supposed to use. 

“Walked from where?”

“Starcourt,” his mouth just kept talking despite his eyes seeing the alarm on Eddie’s face. “The Russians stole my car keys so I couldn’t drive. It’s fine though, I have an extra set in the kitchen of my parent’s house. It was only four miles or so, not too bad in the grand scheme of things. I’ve had worse.”

Eddie just looked at him blankly, too indecisive to decide on concern, horror, or anger at whoever had done this to his friend. He was pretty positive he loved this weirdo, who the fuck had the audacity to keep beating him to a pulp? Couldn't these monsters see how lovable he was?!

“Um, I don’t know how to respond to that. I’m getting my keys and we’re going to the hospital. I don’t need to know what happened, especially since I’m pretty positive that you’re concussed and not making sense. I just need to know you’re okay so we’re going to the ER. Let me just call Wayne and we can go.” Eddie motioned with both hands for Steve to stay still and he did. Even when he heard crashing in Eddie’s room while he looked for his keys and panicked whispers when he finally reached Wayne on the phone, Steve remained in his seat on the old couch.  

He knew he didn’t have to go to the hospital, the worst that could happen already had, but he couldn’t reveal that to Eddie. So, he’d bite his tongue and go through the motions. That was his specialty after all. For now, he’d let Eddie take care of him. He would ignore the grief that blackened his soul and the pain that accompanied the thought of his found family breaking apart. He'd deal with the trauma of loss and pain and death sometime later when he could handle a breakdown alone. At this very moment, Steve would hold himself together and lie to his friend and the doctors he was forced to see to keep the Party's secret. He had already dragged Robin into this mess and had probably lost her in the process, he didn't think he could survive losing Eddie too.

Tag list: @doubleb11 @nburkhardt @counting-dollars-counting-stars @newtstabber @estrellami-1 @thegoblinboy @manda-panda-monium @i-less-than-three-you @joruni @swimmingbirdrunningrock @mentalcyborg @vampireinthesun @spectrum-spectre @goodolefashionedloverboi @grtwdsmwhr @nam-draws @anaibis @zerokrox-blog @renaissan-vvitch @a-huge-nerdy-nerd @labels-are-for-the-weak @amoris-no-smut-allowed @5ammi90 @precursorandthedragon @i-must-potato @valinwonderland @lololol-1234 @wonderland-girl143-blog @tailsfromthecrypt @trippypancakes @ghosttotheparty @thing-a-ling @bleach-the-kitten @pyrohonk @carlyv @gregre369 @lololol-1234

@conversesweetheart @suddenlyinlove @yikes-a-bee @perseus-notjackson @merricatty @maya-custodios-dionach @lumoschild @lawrencebshoggoth @devondespresso @y0urnewstepp4r3nt @nohomoyesbi @theseaofdespair @justdrugsformethanks @space-invading-pigeon @audz-aus @mintmont

[polijakefim]

Outside Magazine, November 2016 | Travis fimmel, Vikings actors, Happy play

Travis Fimmel’s Minimalist Broasis

Vikings star Travis Fimmel has exactly three possessions: his trailer, his pickup truck, and his horse

I’d been told to meet the Australian ­actor Travis Fimmel, best known for his role as Norse warrior Ragnar Lothbrok in the ­History channel’s Vikings series, at his ranch outside Los Angeles. Given the popularity of the show—four seasons, an Amazon Prime ­release, and season five in the works—I had assumed that Fimmel’s pad would be some secluded midcentury hideout with a well-stocked kitchen and a gym worthy of a broadsword slinger who’d also recently anchored a Warcraft film adaptation that made nearly half a billion dollars worldwide

But the address led to a dusty outdoor riding arena just off the highway, where Fimmel, barefoot in a pair of camo cargo shorts and a surf tee, greeted me from the back of his 15-year-old chestnut quarter horse, Wanker.

“I’m just getting him warmed up so he doesn’t buck you off,” says Fimmel, who is 37 and was raised on a dairy farm in Echuca, Australia. He grew up working in his family’s cherry orchards, camping and fishing with his two older brothers, and surfing behind dirt bikes in irrigation canals. He came to L.A. when he was 21, after being scouted by a modeling agency and dropping out of architecture school. Almost immediately, he was stopping traffic on billboards modeling Calvin Klein underwear

"Among a generation who’ve shunned material possessions, Fimmel has achieved an advanced state of stoic minimalism."

Still mounted, Fimmel led me in my rental car up to his broasis, which, it quickly became clear, was actually a dilapidated 18-foot beige and white Nomad travel trailer parked permanently in the shade of a pepper tree between a water tank and the tack shed. 

“Got it real cheap, over in Phelan,” says Fimmel. “Towing it back, the side panels were flapping, and the back door fell off.” The ranch belongs to longtime stunt coordinator Walter Scott. Fimmel showed up in 2010 looking for riding lessons ahead of a big-screen remake of the 1960s TV show Big Valley. Most of the work around his family’s farm was performed on ATVs, so he was a novice horseman.

“Just ask me about when I first met him,” says Scott. “He says he knew about horses—everything he learned right here, on that horse. Roping and everything. Him and another guy came. He never left.”

The film went down in flames after the director was convicted of committing tax-credit fraud on a previous project, but Fimmel stuck around the stable and now squats there when he’s not traveling. “Out here it’s just good people. No industry,” Fimmel explains. “Just the stunt boys.”

Among a generation who’ve shunned material possessions as barriers to life experience, Fimmel has achieved an advanced state of stoic minimalism. According to him, his only worldly possessions are Wanker, the Craigslist trailer (which now has air-­conditioning), and a red 1982 GMC stepside pickup with a ’73 bed (which does not). ­Before the trailer, he lived in an old Ford Econoline with a pop-up bed. 

“It got taken off me,” he says. “It wasn’t road worthy.” Unlike the cool kids who gussy up Sprinter vans and Westfalias, Fimmel only recently upgraded from a flip phone to an iPhone 4, does no social media, and rarely checks his e-mail. “I’m always getting texts asking why I’m not responding on Instagram or Facebook, and I’m like, ‘It’s not me. You’re writing to some stranger.’ ” 

Fimmel helped me into the saddle, and we headed out for a hack on a trail behind the property, him riding Scott’s horse Josey. It was hot, and Wanker wanted to stop in the shade. Fimmel’s ultimate goal is to save as much money as he can and end up back in Australia on a nice spread—“with three or four wives,” he jokes, though at the moment he says of the opposite sex, “They all hate me, although it’s not for lack of trying. When you do a lot of traveling, it’s hard.” 

He eats what he wants, works out only when he’s forced to, and does his drinking at the local VFW hall. But for a guy who regrets his modeling days and says he wasn’t looking to get into acting—“Still not looking to, mate”—he’s stripped away everything else. If he could, he’d spend three months studying for each of his parts. “You get sucked into it, trying to be good at it,” he says. “I wish you could make money and people never saw what you did. Then you could relax and not care about how bad you are.”

It’s the proper amount of self-hatred for an action hero who’s actually good at his craft—more Viggo Mortensen than Chris Hemsworth. He starts shooting a blockbuster bank-heist film, Finding Steve McQueen, in September, starring alongside Kate Bosworth and Forest Whitaker. 

Fimmel is extraordinarily soft-spoken—introverted, even—for a guy at risk of being typecast as a barbarian. At an interview with three of his Vikings castmates at Comic-Con in July, Fimmel managed to get through the entire Q&A saying exactly zero words. But he’s only now being tested in parts with more range, like his supporting role as a bearded-hipster pickle entrepreneur in the 2016 roman­tic comedy Maggie’s Plan and a loving, alcoholic father in an adaptation of the horse-racing novel Lean on Pete that was shot in Oregon and wrapped this summer. On that project, he ducked out for a few days to reel in his first steelhead with a friend at the mouth of the Chehalis River. 

It was nearly 100 degrees on the trail. The Blue Cut Fire had just broken out in San Bernardino, and disaster-relief crews were a constant presence on the highway. Each of the past three summers, Fimmel has escaped this kind of heat, shooting Vikings in the cold mists of Ireland. The Ragnar role even landed him an endorsement deal as the face of high-end down-jacket company Canada Goose, which photographed him earlier this year among the icebergs of Newfoundland. 

Here, though, it was just really hot. We put the horses up, Fimmel hosed Wanker down, and we went for a Bud Light at the VFW. If any of the vets and bikers recognized him, they didn’t show it. This time next year, it may not be so easy.

Lead Photo: Jeff Lipsky

[iguessweallcrazyithinktho]

𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆

I want to hold your hand while sitting by the river on a bench at night, looking at the city lights reflect in the water and admiring how lovely you look. I want to kiss you while I sit on my hands so you don't notice how much they're shaking.

𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒚

𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒄𝒐 ���𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔

𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒙 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝒏𝒐 𝒊 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒕 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈😶

𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮: 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

𝑪���𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑺 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑹𝑬𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑺 𝑾𝑬𝑳𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑬

Chris didn't expect this outcome when he chose the movie he was currently playing in the you. He didn't expect to fall in love with you but he did. At first it was scary, but as he spent days with you he knew it was nothing to be scared about. You were delightful, beautiful, smart; everything that Chris wanted. And he was happy you both found each other.

First day on set

The place was crowded with people talking and fixing things up for scenes. You made your way over to the director which you've met a few weeks before.

"hi." You smiled not paying attention to the other person beside her. "Hi, y/n. Welcome to set."

You chuckled, "thanks, thanks." You turned to the guy beside her. Your breath hitched in your throat as you saw who it was. Chris Fucking Evans.

You keep it together despite being next to the very popular bachelor. "Y/n this is Chris. Chris this is y/n."

The director introduced you both. Chris smiled and stuck his hand out. God his smile gave you butterflies.

"hi y/n, nice to meet you." You chuckled softly, shaking his his. Your chuckle it came out more nervously then you intended it to. "Hi, nice to meet you too."

Chris looked at you. There was no denying you were a beautiful woman, and your cute smile was the cherry on top for him. He could tell you were nervous but he didn't make it obvious to you; he was nervous himself to be honest.

You started to notice you were shaking Chris hand for a while now. You cleared your throat and pulled your hand from his soft hand.

"so as you know, you two are playing love interest in the movie. It's a romantic movie and there's lots of kisses and intense scene. I hope you two are ready for this." The director widened her eyes at you both. You nodded your head peering over at Chris who was also nodding.

"well I got your scripts in your trailer for you both. Have fun you two." She walked away leaving you and Chris standing together. You hesitantly turned to Chris. "Well... Uh, I'll see you later then." You laughed turning around.

"yeah, I will too."

Chris watched as you Walked away to your trailer. It's something about you that made him feel flustered, something that made him nervous and shy. He wasn't sure what it was he was feeling but it was a feeling he didn't want to let go of.

End of that week

After many hours and scene the end of the week rolled through. It was nice Because you only had to do a couple of more scenes before you got the weekend off. Even though that was exciting, the last scene you were doing that week was a scene of you kissing Chris for the first time.

It made you fucking nervous. What if you messed the kiss up? What if you get so nervous you throw up? What if Chris hated it? So many things ran through your mind as you sat aside on the set.

Chris walked on to set a few minutes later parking himself right beside you. "Hi." He mumbled bumping your shoulder. You looked over at him, trying not to smile so hard, "hi."

"you ready for this scene?" Chris asked, looking at you. You sighed, "um I guess so." You placed your hand under your legs that were starting to bounce.

Chris noticed, "hey, don't be nervous." You looked up at him, "I'm fine just never kissed Anyone on screen before."

Chris sighed, "it was a little awkward for my first kissed on screen but once you do it y'all be fine."

The co-director came up to you both saying it was time to film. "Come on, let's get it over with." Chris voice was soft as you both got up. It relaxed you a lot.

You walked over to the set, standing in front of Chris. He took your hand as told and looked into your eyes. The director yelled action and you began your acting.

Chris leaned in settling his lips on yours. Your eyes fluttered close as you began to Kiss him. Right away you noticed his lips were extremely soft. It made you get butterflies; Chris was feeling the same way.

Chris slipped his tongue into your mouth making you moan before he pulled away and placed his forehead against yours. The director called cut and you slowly pulled away. Chris ears were red and he looked flustered.

You smiled at him. "Was that good?" You asked Chris. He chuckled, "that was perfect darling." You breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally over.

Later that night

Chris couldn't stop thinking about the kiss you both had earlier that day. The way you kissed blew him away, he wasn't sure why you were so nervous.

He threw his coat onto the trailer couch before he sat down there with a sigh. He was happy he was getting the weekend off, but he hated how he wasn't going to see you for those two days. He grew so attached to you throughout the whole week it was insane. Chris Decided that he wasn't going to spend the weekend alone, he was going to invite you to spend it with him.

-

After a call with Chris, you agreed to spend it with him. He took you out to breakfast Saturday, took you to Disneyland with him. You were scared to go on the rollercoaster unless you held chris' hand.

He Brought you lot of sweets and by time you made it back to your hotel you were out. It was just one day and it was clear you both were getting comfortable with each other.

Sunday, Chris Decided to go easy on you. Around 7pm he invited you out to go eat street food near a lake. You agreed and waited for 7 to roll around.

When it was about half past 6, you got yourself ready. You put on some blue jeans and a simple Graphic shirt.

You left your hotel Room and made your way down to the lobby. Chris was already waiting there. When he saw you, he smiled.

"hi." He hugged you and you hugged him back. "Ready to go?" You nodded, "never been more ready."

Chris nodded, "okay, let's go then." You walked out of the hotel with him and down the streets. It wasn't busy, a few people here and there which was nice. Chris stopped at a food truck and you both ordered some amazing food. You both ate it as you Walked to the bench where the lake was.

You took a seat on the bench as soon as you both reached it; Chris sat beside you. You looked out at the beautiful landscape in front of you.

The city was lit up in front of you, it reflected off the lake. It was beautiful and it was amazing to admire it. Chris noticed.

"it's beautiful isn't it?" You looked over at Chris, "yeah it is." You chuckled placing your empty food tray on the ground beside your chair.

"I always come here when I need to clear my mind. LA is crazy so it's nice." He peered over at the scenery before looking at you.

He had a soft smile on his face. It wasn't a lot but it made you flustered. It was clear you weren't good around guys.

Your hands slipped under your thighs. Chris chuckled, "why are you so nervous? Keeping putting your hands under your legs."

You shook your head. "You make me nervous." You honestly said. Chris grinned, "you make me nervous too."

He bumped your shoulder laughing. You looked at him. "you know what, I want to try that kiss again. You know the one we did two days ago beca-"

You were cut off by Chris lips. He kissed you hard. You moaned as his warm tongue slipped into your mouth. After two minutes Chris pulled away. It was clear his lips were red from how hard he kissed you.

"Because what?"

"Because I love it."

A little fluff for you

Chris beamed, "I love it too." You laughed before you kissed him again. Yeah, you really loved it.

--

[bular]

Welcome to Live Commentary

I had no one to talk to while watching the movie and I hate being alone with my thoughts so I wrote everything down in my notes app. It's not coherent! Enjoy!

Aw yeah 1.5 seconds of Bular that is all I needed! Might as well stop now I've seen my boy I'm satisfied.

Why is there a nearly 4 minute recap as if I haven't watched the show at least 50 times. I should be the one giving the recap.

The beginning felt a bit forced to me but maybe that's just me? Like they just tried to squeeze too many things into a small timeframe without any buildup, it just didn't really work. Congrats on the engagement! This is my OTP so I'm very happy! But it came out of nowhere.

Nari in Douxies body is so wrong and I love it and hate it at the same time (positive)

Eli is BIG. I knew he was gonna be tall but I was not prepared for that chiseled face. Or the fact that he stepped off the ship without glasses? I wear glasses and I would not choose to step off a spaceship blind.

OkAY who had mpreg on their bingo card?

AAARRRGGHH actually said a full sentence 🥺 there is no heterosexual explanation for this scene and I'm here for it

Arcadia being the center of the universe really does make a lot of sense. I hate how much sense it makes. Despise it.

Strickler in a Christmas sweater is something i didn't know I needed. Jim's jacket too but that's just adorable, Jim's adorable. Oh sweet baby you're about to get fucked over so bad.

Love seeing Barbara actively participating in battle too. Good for her! Power family!!

Where are the kids tho? Is NotEnrique babysitting? Either that or they hired the girl from the Incredibles movie.

Nomura is so talented I love seeing her fighting on the good side. I can't explain it but I love digitigrade legs they're just so pretty?? Aesthetically pleasing??? Fuck yeah, legg! I could watch Nomura run around and be badass all day.

WAIT NO OH SHIT HOW DARE YOU FUCK

STRICKLER DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE NOT YOU TOO THAT'S TOO FUCKING RUDE DON'T DO THIS TO ME

THERE'S NO WAY HE'S DEAD RIGHT WE SAW NO BODY

Barbara does not deserve this I refuse to accept it. He's fine he'll be back they wouldn't kill two Changelings at once. Also Nomura is with Draal now I take no criticism.

So my favorite characters were Bular, Draal, Gunmar and Angor. And before this movie I always half-joked that everyone I love dies, how I still like Strickler and Nomura but apart from them all of my faves were killed in the very order of favoritism. AND NOW LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I LOVE A CHARACTER. MY LOVE IS TOXIC.

OKAY I LOVE GUN RO- WAIT NO I DON'T LOVE HIM FUCK ABORT ABORT

It's great tho omg

I didn't realize it was Gun Robot when I saw it in the trailer this is amazing

Okay but imagine you're chilling in your trollmarket minding your own business when some misfit group of strangers waltzes in, steals your favorite shiny and celebrates your death before running off

"I AM GUN ROBOT" IS THE HORN LMAOOO

Nana better show up at some point to reunite with her boytoy, I'll cancel this entire franchise otherwise

Something bad is going to happen to Toby isn't it. He's getting too much screentime

Jim's hand got DEEP FRIED

ARCHIE NO

We can play Scrabble okay if they don't free them (which they must) I want an after credits scene of them playing scrabble

Douxie and Nari's bond 🥺🥺🥺

Nari pls just say what you fuckin mean the world is ending

Oh god is she going to remember killing Nomura oh nooo

Claire don't make the portal you will die again. Your hair gon be white all over

EVERYONE AVOIDING THE SCHOOL JUST RIGHT THERE LMAO RIP

I love how Darci is just with the school bus. Civilian girlfriend. But also love how the world is ending and Coach is like "fuck that I'm gonna teach these kids"

Does he know his son is pregnant

"Going back to the city where it's safe" buddy have you been to that city

Whatever happens, Nari has the coolest looking titan. Giant four legged gremlin. I'd adopt him.

WAIT SHE CAN FEEL THE PAIN?

Me: oh i love that titan

The titan 5 seconds later:

Did Nari just fucking die what the FUCK

Oh of COURSE the pages are stuck together RIGHT THERE

Seriously tho how do you not notice an entire nougat nummy in a book

Wait so Arcadia has another heartstone? Or OH SO IT'S ALIVE. OKAY GREAT. GUNMAR COULDN'T EVEN DO THAT RIGHT HUH

Love how the Heartstone has been dormant/dead for months and apparently heard Blinky say it's alive and decided to wake up RIGHT THEN

Finally they're evacuating the city. This is like, the third apocalypse there. About time.

Okay so you can't pull Excalibur from the rock, but you CAN carve out the stone. Couldn't you just carve it off the sword as close as possible and like. Use that? Just swing the whole damn rock around?

God i can NOT get over Steve's pants. I mean I read a spoiler he was gonna be pregnant but I thought it was a prank or shitpost. I did not see this coming and I am never going to be over it. I love how he and Aja just roll with it and nobody else even cares. They've seen weirder stuff. So he's pregnant now. Whatever.

Jim's hand is bandaged and his ribs still hurt. I love that they're actually consistent with his injuries. I mean sucks for him but hell yeah for hero that doesn't always win!

Okayyy here comes the heartstone. Why not!

IS HE IN LABOR

So if you kiss an Akiridion 7 times you will have 3-5 babies in a few hours. How are they not overpopulated?? Also Aja couldn't have WARNED STEVE BEFOREHAND?

Eli is so supportive omfg

So uh where are the babies gonna come out of? I'm not into mpreg how does this usually work

OH STEVE THANKS FOR ASKING MY QUESTION

Oh good thing he happens to have 8 friends still alive. Otherwise this would've never worked. Nomura had to die otherwise there would've been 10 of them.

Why is everyone bowing to Jim? Did they rehearse this?

Stuart if you hadn't taken a bathroom break you would've thrown off the math and doomed the world. That was a poop of fate my man

Ahhh the signature quote. Where did Douxie and the Akiridions learn it? Did they rehearse this too? It's really cliché but I do like it tbh

If Strickler were dead we'd see more Barbara right?

WOOO BLINKY DRIVING

Ah Jim just used she/her for Bellroc! Finally we're learning some pronouns. I've been wondering this whole time.

MY VIRGIN EYES. WHAT IS GOING O N

How are they not dying with all this lava?

She really just yeeted Varvatos

Did Claire just tell AAARRRGGHH to jump off the titan and he did it without question

I want to say I like Stuart and want him to have more screentime, but I won't say it because I don't want him to die

Jim's poor ribs

Toby can drive yoooo

Tobyyy you're scaring meeeee

So did they really need the different stone or was the amulet just waiting for Jim to choose death over giving up

I saw the armor before but it looks VERY COOL

Also I didn't mention this before but I love that they cut Merlin's name from the incantation. Good for them.

Toby you lost your helmet noooo

For real tho I'm terrified for Toby rn. I saw a comment somewhere earlier that just said "Toby no" with no context and I am AFRAID

So do Bellroc's eyes work after all? I thought she was blinded back in Wizards in the past.

DID SHE JUST FUCKING STAB MY BOY

TOBY YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE GET OUT THE TRUCK

Bellroc maybe screaming "i'm powerless" in front of your enemy isn't the best idea

She sploosh

DID JIM SURVIVE THAT FALL AND ALSO IS THE TACO TRUCK OKAY

How is he lifting Claire like that buddy you have bruised ribs and just got stabbed

ELI HI CAN WE SEE THE KIDS

SEVEN KIDS! AND ELI JR I LOVE IT

This show really loves to give people more than the recommended amount of babies with no warning huh

She immediately knows which one is Eli Jr 🥺 okay listen I'm not the biggest fan of comic relief sideplot surprise babies, but I have to admit they're cute. Cute couple. Throuple. Eli is in on this. He even has a Junior.

I TOLD YOU WHERE'S THE DAMN TACO TRUCK NANA WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU AND NEITHER WILL I

Oh yea he better fuckin be alive I will commit murder

HE BETTER FUCKIN BE ALIVE BITCH

FUCK YOU

THAT'S A WHOLE ASS CHILD HE ISN'T ALLOWED TO DIE IT'S ILLEGAL

JIM IS GONNA LOOK DOWN AT THE GREEN GLOWING BITCH AAARRRGGHH CONVENIENTLY THREW THERE AND SEE HIM ALIVE OR SOMETHING

YEAH USE THE SWORD TO UNDEAD HIM! THAT'S HOW YOU USE SWORDS!

Unbecoming Part 2

So is Jim just gonna Groundhog Day it until everyone is fine? There's only 13 minutes left we're gonna need a bigger movie

Also I screamed so much about everyone's death and now everyone reading this after they already saw the whole thing is gonna shame me for clowning huh

The scene where Blinky is giving his goodbye speech, there are no babies and Steve has a round belly? Did he reabsorb them?? I mean I know Jim is about to un-birth them but he hasn't started yet

JUST HOW FAR BACK IS HE PLANNING TO GO

WAIT HOLD UP EXCUSE ME WHAT

Oh they did NOT just do that. I though he was just gonna go back to like, the start of the movie maybe. Not all the way

Imagine being in your early twenties with as much trauma as this kid has and having to pretend you're 16 again

Somewhere Unkar is complaining because "oh sure NOW it's a good idea"

I know Jim is wondering where Toby is because he was there before. But before, he made an entire meatloaf AND did his homework before leaving the house, so honey maybe wait a minute

For a second I thought Toby wasn't gonna be there and Jim would return to the right time. But there he is!

Alright so they're in school now, did they take the canal and just didn't mention the amulet on screen or did they pass it as if the Unbecoming episode hadn't been that traumatizing? Jim you know what happens when you ignore it

Jim maybe you're being too obvious here lmao

Soooo. Anyway. These whole past years I've rewatched this show over and over and over again are cancelled now?

OKAY AT LEAST WE SAW NANA FOR A SPLIT SECOND THAT'S IRONIC TIMING

So we get the quote again. And Trollhunter Tobias is nice. Cool. Cool AU I mean, but I don't know. I don't knowwww. I've been way too invested in everything to just accept that it never happened?? So uh. Hm. How about this.

Strickler survived because fuck you, and Toby also survived and just has scars now. Maybe a wheelchair but he's fine, also he can use the Warhammer for super speed and make it awesome once he's used to it. Archie and Charlie get freed once they rebuild the bridge (and they were playing scrabble to pass the time). Nomura is still dead because she died on screen and I can't really deny that but she's with Draal so it's okay. Everyone is traumatized but they'll be fine. NotEnrique is still babysitting 500 babies and Steve is about to bring 7 more.

In summary, I reject Groundhog Day ending but everything else was great, as long as it actually happened. It was a good movie. But you can't just cancel years of passion. Having the prospect of a million "canon AUs" sounds great for writing but at the same time nooo you can't do that he didn't have to go back THAT far HHHHH

I liked the movie. It was a great watch and a satisfying end to a franchise, but I gotta say I do not fancy the ending of it so I will from now on be in denial. I honestly feel kind of betrayed that this show was my whole life for so long, I learned every smallest fact, and they basically deleted it from existence. I know what they were going for, I think, but no thank you I will be going with my own opinion. Still gonna rewatch it a few dozen times though ✌🏻

And that concludes my live commentary that was supposed to be a small handful of notes. Feel free to shame me for my opinions. See ya!

[forgedirons]

              *     so  like.  yeah.  it  me,  cc.  i  can’t  read,  spell,  or  write  –  &  yet  i  joined  this  anyway  because  i  am  are  in  love  with  you  all.  anyway.

❛           𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫  𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬     ›     𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔     .  

the   communication's   chair   of   the   yale's   elite,   they're   twenty-two   and   a   senior   undergrad   student   majoring   in   print   journalism.   they   are   as   vigilant   as   they   are   importunate.

blackmail  :

(i).  despite claiming to be a journalist that holds the truth over everything, she's being paid off by an embezzling official & keeping the funds for her own personal spending. 

(ii).  she won her current internship by sabotaging her competitors with “strategic investigating”, which she then used against them by creating a gossip buzz under an anonymous pseudonym. 

(iii). death tw: claims that her parents passed away her freshman year of undergrad and uses it as a way to avoid talking about how they’re in prison ( & how it’s her testimony that landed them there ).

 ❛           𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫  𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬     ›     𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒     .    

you  wear  sorrow  well,  grief  is  not  a  compliment  –  nor  is  it  to  be  romanticized.  your  heart’s  always  been  broken  &  you  doubt  it  was  ever  whole  to  begin  with.  behind  closed  eyes,  maroon  rose  petals  fall  onto  a  fresh  blanket  of  white  snow;  your  fingers  are  pricked  by  the  thorns  while  you  open  your  eyes  to  the  flickering  lamp  in  your  room.  cloaked  in  shadows,  red  string  is  strung  across  a  board,  connecting  clues  that  nobody  else  but  you  seems  to  see.  you  are  meant  for  so  much  more  than  this  run  down  shack,  you’ve  always  told  yourself  this  –  you  wonder  if  anyone  else  is  listening  (  but,  you’ve  always  been  alone;  your  words  have  always  bounced  back  onto  your  own  skin  ).

 ❛           𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫  𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦    ›     𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐒     .  

                           ✧  *   core  

↠  full  name  .  isabeau  hwang  . ↠ nickname(s)  /  alias(es)  /   title(s)  .  (  off  brand  )  nancy  drew,  isa,  is,  beau  . ↠  age  /  dob  .  twenty  -  two  /  march,  19  . ↠  hometown  .  ?  idk?  kansas  somewhere  . ↠  current  location  .  yale  idk  what  city  it’s  in  don’t  @  me  . ↠  ethnicity  .  korean  . ↠  nationality  .  american  . ↠  gender .  cis  gender  woman  . ↠  pronouns .  she  /  her  . ↠  orientation  .  bisexual  ,  grayromantic  . ↠  occupation  .  undergraduate  student  . ↠  face  claim  .  kim  sojung  (  sowon  )  .

       ✧  *   countenance

↠  height  .  five  feet,  eight  inches  (  172  cm  ) ↠  build .  slim,  well  toned  but  tall  –  slim  /  athletic. ↠  tattoos  .  be  good,  on  the  inside  of  her  left  middle  finger.  also,  this.  ↠  piercings  .  ears  . ↠  scars  .  a  couple,  none  too  prominent  . ↠  hair .  kept  long  &  though  she  seems  to  sport  a  different  color  every  year  since  arriving  on  campus,  she’s  recently  dyed  it  back  to  a  natural  shade  of  black.  it’s  always  in  place  &  always  styled  neatly,  whether  it’s  pulled  back  or  curled  (  to  pretentiously  imperfectly  perfection  )  . ↠  eyes  .  dark  brown  &  often  inquisitive,  like  she’s  trying  to  solve  a  riddle  that  nobody  else  is  in  on  except  herself.  half  of  the  time,  they’re  hidden  behind  gold  -  rimmed  glasses  that  look  a  little  too  expensive  for  someone  of  her  background,  but  she  otherwise  wears  contacts.  has  really  bad  vision,  though,  &  is  a  blind  bitch  . ↠  clothing  style  .  best  described  as  business  casual,  semi-formal,  professional  but  make  it  chic.  lots  of  skirts,  lots  of  turtlenecks,  long  coats  &  expensive  fabrics  that  all  coordinate  to  make  her  look  either  like  she  just  walked  out  of  a  dark  academia  novel  or  a  meeting  with  the  president  of  the  school  where  she  did  nothing  but  argue.  very  rarely  seen  in  sweats  or  anything  “bummy”  –  maybe  she  cares  too  much  about  her  image. ↠  usual  expression  .  resting  bitch  face  –  but  promote  it.  she  just  looks  unapproachable  in  general,  her  usual  expression  is  something  between  disgust  &  apathy,  it  makes  her  look  like  she’s  consistently  looking  at  her  surroundings  &  being  very  displeased  with  everything  around  her  (  it’s  because  she  made  the  face  too  much  as  a  kid,  now  it’s  stuck  that  way  )  . ↠  speech  .  elegant  &  well  -  thought  out.  everything  she  says  sounds  like  it’s  rehearsed  &  practiced,  like  she  wakes  up  in  the  morning  &  writes  a  script  for  her  entire  day.  she  very  obviously  thinks  before  she  speaks,  always,  &  tries  to  sound  like  she  looks,  but  catch  her  without  anyone  around  &  she  speaks  a  lot  like  the  trailer  trash  she  really  is  . ↠  distinguishing  features  .  intense  eyes  that  make  her  look  like  she  always  knows  someone’s  secret,  the  slight  lopsided  grin  –  she  might  be  smirking  or  maybe  she  just  knows  something  you  don’t,  finely  shaped  eyebrows  idk  dude

       ✧  *  ruminations    

↠  (  +  )  positive .  vigilant  ,  heedful  ,  aspiring ↠  (  -  )  negative  .  importunate  ,  reckless  ,  impetuous ↠  moral  alignment  .  true  neutral  -  neutral  evil ↠  likes  .  her  designated  corner  of  the  library  –  especially  late  at  night  when  she  can  sigh  super  loudly  without  anyone  glaring  at  her,  iced  americanos  but  only  on  rainy  days  &  only  on  rainy  days  where  she  wears  her  glasses,  the  feeling  &  the  smell  of  solid  cash,  putting  together  the  pieces  of  a  puzzle  that  she’s  been  working  on  for  a  long  time  (  investigations  or  not  ),  stargazing  but  only  on  beaches  &  only  during  the  wintertime  . ↠  dislikes  .  any  other  journalist  ever,  any  pop  beverages  (  because  she  also  doesn’t  like  to  burp ),  the  smell  of  chlorine  or  gasoline  or  freshly  cut  grass,  being  touched  by  strangers  in  any  sort  of  instance,  waking  up  before  ten  in  the  morning  (  staying  up  until  10  am  however,  different  story  ),  know  it  all  TA’s,  professors  who  can’t  debate  her  for  more  than  fifteen  minutes ↠  quirks  .  always  has  a  small,  moleskin  notebook  on  her  person  that  she’ll  pull  out  to  write  little  notes  in,  has  amazing  penmanship,  speaking  of  –  only  ever  writes  in  pen  &  never  uses  anything  else  to  write,  squints  &  digs  her  front  teeth  into  her  tongue  when  she’s  really  focusing  on  something  . ↠  hobbies  .  disappearing  for  long  periods  of  time  just  to  resurface  &  act  like  nothing  happened  (  solving  mysteries,  like  nancy  drew  ),  being  the  first  to  let  her  opinion  be  heard  by  anyone  who  happens  to  be  nearby,  starting  fights  &  finishing  them  by  cheating.

❛           𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫  𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲     ›     𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄     .

trigger  warnings : death  ,  lots  of  illegal  activity

       ✧  *  ISABEAU.

        *     she’s  born  to  a  wanted  pair  .  with  bounties  &  rewards  attached  to  their  mugshots,  they  bring  a  baby  into  the  world  &  decide  to  bring  her  along  for  the  ride.  named  isabeau,  her  first  memory  is  watching  the  door  while  her  parents  count  money  on  a  motel  bed  behind  her.  her  first  word  is  “fuck!”  while  she  rides  in  the  backseat  of  a  stolen  pick  up  truck,  a  toddler  clutching  a  stolen  baby  toy  while  wearing  clothes  that  definitely  don’t  belong  to  her.  whether  it’s  inherited  or  not,  she  grasps  greed  &  holds  it  as  her  biggest  sin.  much  like  her  father,  in  that  aspect  –  there’s  nothing  more  she  craves  than  having  more.  more  money,  more  lust,  more  power,  more  reputation  –  more,  more,  more.  it  sits  in  her  gut  like  a  waning  hunger  she’ll  never  get  rid  of  –  but,  she  doesn’t  know  what  to  call  it  for  almost  her  entire  life. 

she’s  not  the  eldest  of  the  crew.  her  sister  is  three  years  older  than  her  &  much  more  kind  than  anyone  else  in  the  family  will  ever  be.  where  isabeau  takes  after  their  parents  (  often  described  as  ruthless,  greedy,  selfish  &  reckless  ),  pippa  was  her  own  person  through  &  through.  she  was  soft,  &  sweet,  &  she  always  did  what  was  right.  though,  she  was  raised  to  believe  that  lying  to  the  police  was  right,  &  that  stealing  in  the  supermarkets  was  the  right  thing  to  do.  growing  up,  though,  isabeau  always  sort  of  knew  that  it  was  really  just  her  &  pippa  against  the  world.  their  parents,  however  eccentric,  were  often  absent  &  left  them  alone  for  days  on  end  –  only  to  return  with  more  trouble  on  their  hands.

eventually,  they  decided  to  settle  in  buttcrack  nowhere,  kansas  in  the  smallest,  shittiest  trailer  park  they  could  find.  it  was  one  small  trailer  that  kept  the  hwang  family  together;  isabeau  &  pippa  sleeping  on  a  couch  -  turned  -  bed,  their  parents  on  the  big  one  in  the  back.  she  gets  enrolled  in  school  &  is  taught  to  never  tell  anyone  who  her  parents  are  or  what  they  do  for  a  living  (  which,  including  robbery,  dealing,  blackmailing,  etc.  is  a  lot  )  otherwise  she’ll  get  in  a  lot  of  trouble.  but  isabeau  is  a  curious  girl,  she  watches  everything  unfold  in  front  of  her  &  always  wants  to  know  more  (  &  more,  &  more,  &  more  ).

one  of  the  brightest  of  her  class  in  the  small  town,  she  grows  to  be  somewhat  of  a  nancy  drew.  people  of  the  town  know  her,  they  give  her  their  problems  &  missing  cats  &  disappearing  letters  &  mismatched  shoes  to  solve.  isabeau,  no  matter  how  troubled,  is  smart  &  the  townspeople  know  it.  looking  back  on  it,  she’ll  always  remark  that  they  were  trying  to  help  her,  but  she  only  ever  saw  it  as  something  to  do.  her  biggest  case,  finding  a  missing  girl  in  the  seventh  grade  –  her  smallest  case,  finding  a  coin  purse  that  someone  misplaced.

in  eighth  grade,  she  starts  her  own  newspaper  at  school  where  she  publishes  stories  of  her  investigations.  initially,  it’s  just  something  to  keep  her  at  school  longer  (  because,  home  isn’t  really  where  she  wants  to  be  –  she’s  old  enough  now  to  realize  home  isn’t  home  ),  but  she  learns  how  good  she  is  at  it.  creating  pieces,  interviewing  people,  just,  plain  writing  –  it’s  her  thing.  her  english  teacher  (  mrs.  kenningston  )  encourages  her  &  gets  her  a  freelance  spot  with  the  town  newspaper.

things  are  great  for  isabeau  in  high  school.  she’s  popular,  editor  of  the  school  newspaper,  amateur  detective  &  freelance  reporter  for  the  town  newspaper.  her  goal  is  to  get  out  of  town,  to  get  far  away  from  her  family  &  become  some  sort  of  lois  lane.  freshman  year,  her  sister  graduates  high  school  &  is  set  to  go  to  ksu  –  before  sophomore  year,  isabeau’s  burying  her  sister  in  the  graveyard  of  a  town  they  both  hated.  a  freak  accident,  the  newspaper  reports  –  &  for  a  month,  everyone  believes  it.  but,  sophomore  year  starts  &  isabeau  anonymously  testifies  against  her  parents  in  court;  their  recklessness,  along  with  their  shady  dealings  led  to  the  death  of  not  only  pippa,  but  a  group  of  graduated  teenagers  in  town.  the  hwang  parents  go  away  for  life  on  isabeau’s  testimony,  &  she’s  never  seen  in  town  again. 

by  dumb  luck,  she’s  adopted  into  a  middle-class  family  somewhere  in  vermont  &  sent  to  a  very  good  school  that  looks  very  good  on  her  transcripts.  she  goes  into  overdrive  trying  to  bury  her  past,  carefully  crafting  herself  a  new  identity  with  each  year  that  passes  in  her  high  school  career.  things  get  buried,  people  are  swayed  –  isabeau  hwang  isn’t  the  same  isabeau  hwang  from  that  small  town  in  kansas  who  saved  a  group  of  children,  she  isn’t  the  isabeau  hwang  who  befriended  the  unfriendly  folks  on  the  outskirts  of  town  that  people  thought  were  possessed.  isabeau  hwang  from  vermont  is  a  very  lucky  girl  with  a  troubling  past  she  doesn’t  talk  about,  but  manages  to  graduate  top  of  her  class  with  offers  from  three  ivy  league  colleges  &  every  other  school  she  applied  to.  that’s  all  she  offers,  that’s  all  most  people  know.

at  yale,  she  works  even  harder  to  maintain  her  reputation.  she’s  the  girl  who’ll  go  places,  a  poor  girl  who’ll  get  into  yale’s  elites,  the  girl  who  nobody  wants  to  argue  with.  on  campus,  she’s  loud,  she’s  opinionated  &  she’s  (  or,  thinks  she’s  )  powerful.  a  member  of  the  school  newspaper,  her  pieces  are  quick  to  be  published  &  even  quicker  to  gain  traction.  isabeau,  a  nosy  investigator  at  heart,  chooses  to  publish  stories  that  grab  attention  &  often  expose  a  thing  or  two  –  she  gains  a  small  following  just  because  she  tends  to  always  know  a  thing  or  two  about  a  thing  or  two.

it’s  obvious  she  had  her  eye  set  on  the  elites  from  the  moment  she  stepped  foot  onto  campus,  &  after  fighting  tooth  &  nail  to  gain  a  reputation  (  as  an  opinionated,  over  -  achieving,  pretentious  shrew  of  a  person  ),  she  argues  her  way  into  the  elites.  in  her  own  words,  it’s  much  better  to  have  her  on  their  side  rather  than  have  her  against  them  (  empty  threat,  what  she  gonna  do,  she  have  no  money  really  ).  at  the  moment,  it  looks  like  she’s  really  gotten  everything  she’s  dreamed  of  –  but  isabeau  hwang  deals  in  greed,  &  all  she  wants  now  is  more,  more,  more

[love-fireflysong]

Day 10: Road Trip

Fandom: Until Dawn Character(s): Josh Washington, Chris Hartley, Ashley Brown Words: 2791  Rating: General Author’s Notes: And we are back to our regularly scheduled dose of Nerd Trio™ shenanigans! With bonus appearance of “oh no. there’s only one bed!”. I can only hope that you guys have half as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

To say that the three of them weren’t looking forward to this trip, would have been a dirty, rotten lie. They had been planning this ever since Ashley first joined them in the esteemed and hallowed halls of high school. The moment (or at least, couple of weeks after) she graduated, the three of them were going to rent an RV and just go. They had spent the last couple of years saving up for it in fact. While Josh had graciously accepted the cost of renting the RV, they still needed money to pay for gas, food, lodging, and so forth. It was planned as one last summer of freedom for all three of them before the duties of college, work, and being an adult lessened the ability to just hang out.

And oh, did Josh have a plan

He stood in front of the RV rental location, hands on his hips, and his head held high as he went through the objectives of said plan once again.

Step 1: Rent RV with 3 beds Step 2: Immediately change rental to two beds when the other two leave. Step 3: Feign shock when you drive it to pick up the others at how there’s not enough beds anymore. Oh no! What to do?! Step 4: ???? (Hint: it may have involved sharing the bed) Step 5: Profit

Steps one and two had been completed at the beginning of May, and now he had to get his acting chops together for step three. He had a bet to win after all. He had put down a frankly stupid amount of money that Chris and Ash would be married before they finished college. And the best way to do that was to get them dating before Ash even started. Hence, the whole ‘there’s not enough beds’ shtick.

‘I don’t know what to say guys’ Josh practiced in his head as he walked to the front desk. ‘There was a mix-up and we got stuck with this one instead. I tried to talk to some people but because it’s summer it was just too short notice to find another vehicle. But it’s fine! We got this! I’ll take the smaller bed, no, it fine, I’ll be okay, don’t you worry. You both know how I tend to hog the blankets anyways. And you two—oh. I guess that just leaves the double for you. Well, I’m sure you’ll manage.’

It was perfect. The plan was completely foolproof. Sure the multiple others he had tried over the last couple of years had failed spectacularly, but this one was different. If the two of them waking up in the same bed nestled in each others arms everyday for a month didn’t change things, then nothing would.

And so, Josh walked into the air conditioned lobby of the rental place, and greeted the man sitting at the front desk with an exuberant cock-sure grin. After a quick confirmation check, making sure to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, Josh signed the paperwork with an overly outlandish signature and was handed the keys to their new home for the next month.

This month was going to be great.

-------------------------------------------------------------

“This month is going to be awful.”

Ashley stood in the center of the RV, her arms crossed angrily over her chest as she glared at the double bed situated further to the back. 

“C’mon Ash, it’s not so bad. I mean, we can definitely make it work. Maybe?”

She turned towards Chris, who’s skill at placating Ash was less then stellar right now. “Make it work? How in the world are we supposed to make it work? There are three of us Chris! And only one bed!”

Unfortunately for everyone, especially Josh, she was right. After a day of driving, the three of them had finally arrived at their first stop on their leg of the journey. And with the way things were going already, it was looking like it might be their last.

“I don’t see how on earth you didn’t catch this Josh!”

From where he was sitting at the kitchen table and leaning back against one of the wall cushions, Josh shrugged weakly. “There was a mix-up and they accidentally booked us the wrong RV.” he lied, though not quite as smoothly as he had planned earlier in the day. “It’s summer and they didn’t have any others available that weren’t already booked.”

There was no way he was ever going to admit that he had declined the quick inspection that the agent had offered. He had just taken the keys and hooked it up to the truck without a single look. He was taking that secret to the grave.

With a groan, Ash joined Josh on the bench and placed her head in her hands. “I knew that I should have insisted a look when we were throwing everything into the back of the truck. But no, you insisted that everything was fine and we were late leaving anyway so I didn’t argue.” She moved to just placing her head face-down onto the table in the circle of her arms. 

Hesitantly, Chris walked over to the table and joined them. For a moment, Josh thought he was going to start rubbing Ash’s back to try and calm her down, but he chickened out and awkwardly placed his hand back at his side. Instead the blond looked at the two of them hopefully. “I mean, maybe there is another bed somewhere?”

Josh regarded him with a flat look. “And where would you suggest that be Cochise?” He gestured with his arm to the rest of the area and watched as Chris’s face fell at the admittance the Josh had a point.

The area of the RV was small, as one would expect. There was the aforementioned double bed at the one end of the trailer, the kitchen table and its U-shaped benches where they sat at the other end, and the door leading to the small bathroom across from them. In the middle was a small kitchenette with a couple of cupboards, and the storage closets across from it. There was no chair or couch for them to sit on, or sleep on as the case was. They couldn’t even use the weird little table alcove as a bed either. The table was bolted into the floor of the trailer so you had to literally slide in if you wanted to sit down. Meaning that there was a very high chance of someone waking up and cracking their head on the table if they weren’t careful.

Ashley’s voice was muffled but mournful from where she had deigned to face plant on the table. “Knew Josh shouldn’t have went alone to grab the stupid thing. One of us should have went with him.”

“Yeah, well, them’s the breaks girl. I hate to be the one to interrupt this lovely pity party we have going on, but we really need to finish bring in the rest of our shit.”

Thankfully, Chris seemed to agree with him. “He’s right, Ash. Aside from bringing in the pots and pans and our clothes and toiletries, we still need to buy food. And I don’t know about you two, but I for one am starving.”

Slowly coming up from the safety of her arms, Ash sighed. “You’re right,” and continued with a more hopeful “And hey, maybe we’ll figure something out after eating some food.”

Three hours later, after an exciting evening of putting away their stuff, fighting over what food to put on the list, grocery shopping, fighting again (‘Who put the stupid Oreo's in the cart? We agreed no Oreo's!’ and ‘Really? Spinach? What are we, rabbits?’ being only two examples of the many, many arguments had there), and having shared a hearty and nutritional dinner of Kraft Dinner before bickering over who got to clean the dishes first (Josh lost that fight, on virtue of screwing up with the RV), they still hadn’t figured anything out. So now here they were, the three of them dressed for bed in old t-shirts and sleep shorts and/or sweats. And all staring at the only bed in resigned acceptance of their fate.

“I mean, one of us could just sleep in the truck.”

Ashley sighed. “No Chris, no one’s sleeping in the truck.” Noticing the look on his face, she was quick to shut him down. “Or on the floor, so don’t even bother offering.”

Josh shrugged. “ I mean, we’re all pretty skinny people. The one benefit of being pasty bookworm, and even more pasty technophile, and a handsome horror movie connoisseur.” He expertly ducked to avoid Chris’s headlock, though it put him right in line for Ash’s smack to connect with the back of his head. “So if we squeeze, we might all fit.”

The groan that came from Ash would have been insulting if he wasn’t feeling the same way. “Unfortunately, I think that’s the only option available to us. Oh, this is so not going to be comfortable.”

“Well, excuse you Ash, but I have heard from reputable sources that I am a very comfortable person, a human shaped body pillow if it were, so I take extreme offense to your complaints.” Again, Josh was able to avoid Ash’s push but was left open for Chris to punch him in the arm. He rubbed his arm as he stared at the other two. “Okay, seriously, how are you two doing that? Do you plan this out or something? Have normal, scheduled meeting about how best to injure me?”

“Something like that.” Chris responded distractedly as he dug through a drawer, closed it, and then opened another. Eventually, he managed to find what he was looking for and after a few more moments, turned around with three pieces of a plastic straw in his hand.

Josh eyed the straws warily. “What? You planning on having one last milkshake before bed or something?”

Chris rolled his eyes as he offered his hand clutching the straws to both Josh and Ashley. “Of course not you moron. Ash didn’t let us buy any ice cream anyway. No, this is to decide who gets to be in the middle.”

With a slightly nervous glance shared with Ash, Josh swallowed and reluctantly chose a straw.

And, as it turns out, ending up as the middle spoon as he laid cramped and miserable and oh so awkwardly between Chris in front and Ash at his back.

“This is awkward and I hate it,” Josh said.

“Shut up, Josh,” Chris and Ashley replied in unison.

-------------------------------------------------------------

When Josh woke up the next morning, the early morning sun shining into the window right above the bed, it was with him spread on his back. Chris was snoring right by his head, Ash’s face was smushed into his shoulder, and each of them had one arm draped over his chest. Someone might have found this entire scene cute.With Chris snoring loudly in his ear and Ash drooling on shoulder though, Josh was not that person. 

With a groan, he carefully extracted himself from the center of the bed, somehow miraculously managing to not wake the other two up, and watched with nonplussed amusement as Chris and Ashley gravitated in their sleep to the now empty center, Ash ending up pressing her face into Chris’s chest as he buried his own into the top of her head, still snoring all the while. With a wistful sigh, he could only bemoan the fact that his plan totally would have worked. If only there had been a second bed.

Yawning and scratching at his stomach, Josh made his way to the shower at the other end of the trailer, grabbing a fresh set of clothes and his own shampoo on the way. When he emerged refreshed and marginally more awake thirty minutes later, it was to the smell of bacon and eggs and the still slightly red faces of his two best friends.

“Oooh. Service and a show.” With a grin, he twisted his towel and as a joke snapped it lightly at Chris’s ass while he cooked the bacon. He snickered at the yelp that resulted, and even more at the flat eyed look of disapproval from Ashley as she sliced a loaf of bread at the counter.

“That’s it. No breakfast for you.”

“Oh come on, Ash!”

“Nope. You lost your chance. Either cook your own bacon and eggs or have a bowl of cereal.”

“You are a cruel and heartless woman, Ashley Brown. I hope you know this as you sentence me to this injustice.”

Josh gave an overly exaggerated wail of despair as he moved to steal a piece of cooked bacon from one of the plates, and was intercepted by a smack to the back of his hand from Chris’s spatula. He cradled his now grievously injured hand to his chest. 

“You heard the lady. You’ve been regulated to cereal like the child you are.”

“You two are going to be the most killjoy and unfun parents ever. I will have to rescue my poor nieces and nephews from your clutches just to show them life outside of their bleak and dreary lives.” He ignored them sputtering behind him as he dug through through their makeshift pantry. “What did we do with the cereal?”

While not removing his eyes from the pan of sizzling bacon, Chris turned his head slightly to talk over his shoulder. “Check the middle shelf to the right. I think Ash put a couple of boxes there.”

“Yeah, I see those one’s Cochise, I meant the fun cereal.”

“And what exactly is wrong with Raisin Bran and Cheerios?”

“Um, everything Ash. Just, everything.”

Chris snorted, then gave another yelp when he moved to dodge some grease when the bacon popped with a sharp crack. “Top shelf. I put the good stuff up there.”

“Chris!”

 With a shout of victory, Josh pulled out a box of Oreo O’s and came behind Ash to grab a bowl from the cupboard above her head and the carton of milk from the fridge next to her.

“Wait, how the hell did you manage to sneak those into the cart?”

“I wanted Oreo’s, Ash, and I was gonna get my Oreo’s one way or another,” Josh said as he poured way more then the recommended serving into the bowl and poured in a helpful amount of milk. Replacing the milk in the fridge he grabbed a spoon and sat down at the kitchen table and started to eat his bowl of pure sugar as he reclined into the cushioned back of the benches. Shortly after, Ash and Chris joined him at the table with their own plates of slightly burnt bacon, eggs, and toast. “So, sleep well?” he asked innocently.

In response, Chris and Ash both ripped off a piece of toast and threw it at his head, which Josh easily dodged with a cackle. The rest of the meal passed in relative peace, aside from the occasional minor food fight that was Josh flicking pieces of cereal at their heads, as he felt wont to do every now and then. Until, that is, Chris dropped his fork by accident and it fell to the floor with a clatter.

Swearing under his breath, Chris vanished under the table only to not reappear seconds later with said fork in hand.

“Ya doing alright down there, Cochise?”

When Chris responded back, it was with a pained edge to his voice, still under the table. “Can you two clear the table for me please.”

“You get stuck down there or something?”

“Just, just clear the table.”

Giving Ash a look of confusion similar to the one she was giving him, the two of them nonetheless cleared the table of all dishes, cutlery, cups, and ketchup that rested on it. With a grunt of effort, Chris extracted himself from beneath the table. And then, giving an extremely pained long-suffering sigh, put his hand underneath the table top and something mechanical snapped. In silence, they could only watch as the table slowly collapsed down to rest on what everyone now noticed to be the slightly lowered edges of the u-shaped benches, making a completely flat surface.

Without a word, it was Ash who reached for the cushioned backs of the benches and was easily able to rip them from their velcro and laid them across the newly flat surface. The three of them could only stare nonplussed and quiet at what was obviously a second bed. The burnt bacon and soggy cereal now long forgotten on the counter top behind them.

“I call dibs on the Table Bed.”

[delightfulstarlightparadise]

Stardew Valley Imagine Reader/(Probably Sebastian) Part 2

-Before we start, I would like to remind you that English is not my main language, but I am doing my best to write things correctly.

Previous part here:

“... and this is the tavern.” he says, pointing from the center of the square. “It is not a big town.”

“It is very charming.” you say. “I don’t remember much from when I was here.”

“You have been here before?” his voice changes from the monotonous tone he was using to describe the town to a slightly more interested one.

“When I was a kid... I used to come here during summer to visit my grandfather. Me and my eleven cousins.”

“You are one of the Paradise kids?!” he asked while gagging at the smoke of his cigarette. “I guess we used to play together... wow, it has been a long time. Sam had a crush on one of you, maybe it is you?”

“Who’s Sam? I barely remember my cousin’s names.” you say, shrugging.  

“Oh, ok.” he says, replicating your gesture. “I guess it’s been a very long time.”

You suddenly feel something bump into your head and it makes you dizzy for a moment. Sebastian holds you by one of your arms so you don’t fall forward out of surprise and two kids come running towards you.

“We are so sorry! I told you not to kick the ball so hard, Vincent!” a little girl dressed up in lilac says.

“Sorry.” a little boy with messy hair replies.

“It... it is ok.” you say rubbing your head with a moan of pain.

“Hi Seb.” the little boy waves at Sebastian and he smirks at him.

You hear a call and a ginger lady comes running after the kids. She tries to greet you, but her breath is too heavy to proceed. You can’t help but notice how pretty she is.

“Hi... he... hello. I am really sorry about the kids.” she finally gets to say. “Oh, you are new here, aren’t you?” then she turns to Sebastian. “Hello, Sebastian.”

“Penny.” he replies without much excitement.

She actually is not paying attention to you. She is staring at Sebastian. She is staring at Sebastian’s hand, the one with the cigarette. She glances from it to the kids, then to the cigarette again.

He tries to pretend not to notice, but her stare is too firm, so he groans and puts it out in his shoes, then puts the bud in one of his pockets. She smiles and then turns to you.

“So, you must be the new farmer, right?” she says with a gentle smile, offering you her hand. “I am Penny.”

You are completely blushed and seem not to know how to react. She is REALLY pretty. Sebastian seems to notice your situation and pokes you with his elbow, making you wake up and shake her hand, but in an awkward way.  

“I am the farm. I mean, I live in a farmer. I meant... I will live in the farm, but I am not a farmer.”

Sebastian chuckles at your disaster of an introduction.

“So... what is your name?” she says.

“Y/n!” you answer promptly, annoyed by Sebastian’s laugh.

“It is going to be very good to have you here in the city! If you need anything, I live in the trailer near the bridge to Joja Mart.” she says. “I will be glad to help. Let’s go kids.”

“Bye bye.” they both wave at you, and you wave back in a very dummy way.

After they are a little further you turn to Sebastian with a frown as he is still laughing. He takes a while to stop.  

“So... now that you are done flirting, should I take you to the farm?” he asks.

“Oh, shut up.” you mumble under your breath. “You don’t need to bother about me, I need to buy some stuff to settle. Where is the Joja mart?”

“YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THE JOJA MART!!!” a man comes down the square screaming and running towards you.  

“Hi mister Pierre.” Sebastian says as the man tries to catch his breath.

“Sebastian. I can’t believe you were going to let the new farmer go to Joja Mart! What kind of in-law are you?! You need to help me protect business for the future!”

Sebastian who is unusually pale blushes to the same tone of his mother’s hair and he puts both hands on his forehead as if he was about to have a stroke. You wonder why but are suddenly pulled by the man to a small market on the top of the square.  

“So, what is your name again?” he asks while conducting you through the corridors.

“y/n” you say, confused.

“So, y/n, Pierre’s store is the local, community friendly, and best store around. We also have a cashback program that is very useful for newcomers. Even more farmers! I have seeds of all kinds, some saplings too, everything you will want to have to rebuild that old Paradise farm...”

You tried to explain that you were not a farmer but the man kept talking nonstop and you felt like you were being brainwashed. All of a sudden you had spring seeds in your hands and were paying in cash for an apple sapling.  

“It is really good to have you come to our lovely community y/n, remember to come by when you need anything. This chicken totem is a small gift for you, as a new costumer and friend. I might also buy things you produce in your farm for a nice price, so come by when the crops are grown! Also to have a tea with my wife, she will love to meet you. Now I need to get back to work, and it seems that you have a lot of work to do too! Bye!”

You found yourself out of the store as suddenly as you got into it.

“I thought you were not a farmer.” Sebastian says as he sees you come out.

He seemed to be leaning against the wall waiting for you.

“Me too...” you say, very confused about everything that just happened. “I don’t even have farming tools. I don’t know what the... am I going to do with these.”

“You will figure it out. Can we go now? I have a code to finish by tomorrow.”

“I said you didn’t have to wait for me.”

“If my mother finds out I left you here I am going to be so busted. Let’s g...”

Sebastian stopped talking as the door from Pierre’s store opened up and a beautiful purple haired girl, like those very stylish girls from the city, came out. She looked at you confused, but then her face brightened up when she turned to Sebastian. He was blushed and you didn’t need to do much math to understand what was going on there.

“I thought I had heard your voice.” She says smiling.

“Hi, Abby.” he greets her with a low whisper.

“So... who is your friend?” She asks turning to you.

“This is the new farmer.” he says.

“Not a farmer.” you reply and turn to her. “I am y/n. I will be living in the Paradise farm now.”

“Ah, you are the new farmer!”

You put your head down with a sigh, why even bother anymore?

“Ah man, too bad. I liked exploring that abandoned farm sometimes, at night. There are so many bats there.”

“BATS?!” your voice fails after you shriek.

“Some frogs too.” Sebastian says.

“Frogs are fine, but BATS?!” you say turning to him. “I don’t remember granpa’s farm having bats.”

“They probably live in your roof.” Sebastian mocks, but as soon as he sees you getting pale, he gets back to being serious. “They are no hazard, bats around here feed on fruits and insects.”

“Why did I have this fucking idea, who do I think I am, moving to a farm, of course there are bats, and probably scorpions and spiders, oh shit, I didn’t think this through.” you murmur to yourself while walking towards where you think is the path to your farm.

“Hey wait!” Sebastian yells but you are not even paying attention, stuck in your anxious thoughts. “I gotta go, my mom had me take care of the farmer.”

“Ok, see you later.” Abigail answers in a mix of a affirmation and a question.

He nods and goes after you.

“Where the hell do you think you are going... hey?”

Sebastian notices that you are not fine. You have tears streaming down your cheeks and your skin has gone two tones paler, you are shaking so much you have dropped some of the items you purchased at Pierre’s. That is a panic attack, and you are very used to those.

“Hey, I was joking about the bats. And Abby just saw one once.” He says trying to calm you down.

You finally notice he is next to you and let go a gag of surprise. You hate letting people see you like that, and once you get these often, you don’t keep many people around.

“I... I am fine. You can go back to your house. I am going to mine.” by mine, you don’t seem to mean the farm.

“No way I will leave you here like this.”

“Like this what? I am fine.” you even try to smile but it comes out so fake you seem to be growling at him.

Sebastian sighs, he must be thinking you are such a weirdo right now. He takes your purchases away from you and grabs you softly by the forearm.

“Either you let me drive you to the farm or I am taking you to the hospital.” he says.

“What?” you reply, but you are already following him to the truck.

He drives you there, both of you in complete silence, you are still staring at the horizon filled with your thoughts of uncertainty. When you get there you see him lean towards the car’s lever to go out, but you burst out as quickly as you can, carrying your things and yelling “good bye and thank you!” and then rushes to the cabin, locking the door behind you.  

“Oh my fucking yoba!” you say tossing these purchases on the small table near your bed and then lying down. “What do I think I am doing?”

It was not about the bats or the scorpions, neither the spiders. It was about that feeling of uncertainty of leaving that old life in the city behind you. It was about having interacted with more people in a day than you were used to in a whole month in the city.  

You had no friends anymore, not since high school. You barely spoke to your father, your life used to be all about work and you didn’t have a job anymore. What to do now?

As you turn around you see a package closed. You hadn’t noticed it there before. There is a letter on top of it.  

You knell beside it and read.

“My dearest and most precious grandchild. If you are reading this, you have gotten the courage to leave the city life behind and come to Stardew Valley, to my precious Paradise farm. I know many of you cousins would like to have the farm for themselves, but only you, y/n, would be the one not to sell it for profit or turn it into a modern mall, but the one to bring It back from the ruins they are left. I am sorry I could not make things easier to you, but I guess there is beauty in turning something rotten into something bright again. And I am not talking about the farm, only.

You see, my child, you were always the one to connect to the valley the most, the one that cared about the farm, the animals, the trees.

Remember that day, when you almost drowned in the mountain lake? I thought you would never want to come back, but you did and you swam on the lake so many more times, for you are the most fearless of my grandchildren.

In this package you will find my old tools and some seeds I asked Lewis to provide you.  

I hope not only you bring the farm back to life but it also brings you back to that nice life.

Love, Grandpa.”

The tears came down your cheeks smudging grandpa’s pretty handwriting as you sobbed unstop. For quite a while you cried, but not out of despair. You were feeling hugged by grandpa and filled with good memories and hopes for a better life. You needed that.  

You unpacked the tools, and then your laptop.

You opened google: basics of farming.

Research.

Next part here:

[belladonnaappreciation]

Blake Belladonna and Myself.

Here’s the thing. I’m gonna tell you a bit about some semi dark times in my life. So, Trigger warnings are applied here for those that suffer or have suffered from Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Sexual abuse from a partner or parental figure. And hopefully that will shed some light on what I am going to say about my connection to my favorite RWBY character. Blake Belladonna. 

When I was about two years old my parents divorced. My mother had met this man by the name of Robert Domin. They got married and as a two year old I was excited to have a dad again. Seeing as my actual dad was not allowed to see me at the time due to my mothers manipulative tactics and managing to get a stronger custody hold on us than she should have. So this man, Robert Domin, He seemed like the greatest father figure alive. I looked up to this man until I was about 5 years old.  That man went from what I thought was a blessing..... to a wolf in sheeps clothing. My mother often had to work a tad later than he did. She worked at a bank and actually did an amazing job. So she was often stuck working later. Rob would get my brother in the shower and when he got out I was next. He would wait until he heard the water running, since we were 5 and 6 we had to leave the door open just in case something happened there was no chance of it being locked, after I had began getting in the shower he would creep into the room without saying anything and approach me. I don’t know the reason..... nor do I think I ever will...... But he would grab me by the arm and proceed to spank me as hard as he could several times.  Now, spankings. Not the worst thing. But he would do it until I was unable to sit down without feeling like I had knives in my rear. (Attempted to say that as humorlessly as I could.But feel free to laugh at the other ways I could have said it.) And this went on for the next 4 and a half years. My mother never caught on because I would often hide the pain or just flat out run away to dress myself whenever she was home.  Jump ahead to 10 year old me. Despite the traumas left behind by Robert I was excelling at school. I loved books and had actually begun the Harry Potter series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the series! I wanted to grow up to be as sassy as Snape, as Brave as Harry. and as Courageous as Harry. I had good friends and things were..... happy. Aside from the man I still had to come home to after school. Fortunately we moved to Jacksonville, Florida. He decided to divorce my mother because he did not want to move to Florida. I had thought that things were finally going my way. Until I found out my mom had been seeing a man by the name of Douglas Humphrey. Now here’s the trip. Amazing at first. He took us mudding in a big old truck and with a couple of four wheelers! It was awesome! We watched NASCAR together, we went and saw the 3rd spider-man movie in theaters together! But it didn’t last long. I had broken my foot while playing around with my brother but he had told me it wasn’t broken. To walk it off. My mother wanted me to go to the hospital but he wouldn’t let her take me. When she tried to leave anyways he got scary..... I spent 4 DAYS crawling around the house and limping with tears in my eyes at school. I kept telling everybody I was fine at school. But finally my mom had him take me to the hospital because it got to the point where I couldn't even walk on it without crying. The doctors took X-rays and found I had a break in between my big toe and what I call the index toe. I’m sure there’s a name for it but that’s what I call it. The doctors had to do whats called “resetting” because my food had actually partially healed. But it was very much so incorrect. They had to break my foot again. And this time it hurt worse. When I cried, as all kids would, He smacked me upside the head and told me to “Man up”. That was the first time he had hit me. And it.... gave me a feeling of impending doom. I was terrified that he was gonna turn out to be just like Rob. And I can say that I was wrong..... He was worse. Not only did he let his children walk all over us and do whatever they wanted to us. But he would punish my brother and I for retaliating. He would push us, choke us, he even held us while his children would hit us. He would physically abuse our own mother in front of us.He caused my mother and my Aunt to turn on each other..... I had to save my mothers life from my aunt. My brother managed to get her outside and I went and helped my mother up and locked her and myself in the bathroom..... She had a broken nose.... several cuts and gashes all over her face. Our living room was a literal bloody crime scene. It looked like somebody DIED in there. I had to lie to child protective services. I HAD TO DENY MYSELF AN ESCAPE FROM AN ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. Because if I had left.... I’m pretty sure he would have killed my mother....  I was thankfully removed from that situation and sent to live with my grandmother back home in Illinois. Then proceed the best years of my life. I finally met my best friend. Was the guy that a lot of people avoided. But those who did interact with me either loved me or hated me. And.... I felt normal. I FELT SAFE for once in my life.

Fast forward to age 19. I’ll keep this one a bit shorter.  I was in a semi-broken home living with my mother once again. Except there wasn’t any man trying to hit me. Or abuse me. A guy who was a bit of an ass hole but relatively harmless none the less was there instead. I had two baby sisters who I love so very much and are my best friends to this day. My mother and I got into a fight about money and she kicked me out. I wound up living on the streets. I thankfully had a job. But would constantly be found couch surfing or sleeping either inside a McDonald, which I had to buy something every couple hours to not be kicked out, or I would be sleeping under a highway bridge near my job. I met a guy who was really sweet. He said he wanted to fix the injustices that had been done to me. Just to clarify I am Bi-sexual. But I avoid men romantically for reasons you are about to learn. He sought to right the wrongs and love me for me. He wanted to help me heal. My traumas. My scars. My past. He made me feel..... whole. To this day I can’t recall his last name. But his first name haunts me. ad I hadn’t realized just how much until I met a particular character in RWBY.

ADAM. The fall of beacon hurt. But the part that hurt the most wasn’t Ruby losing two friends. It wasn’t Penny. It wasn’t Pyrrah. It was Adam. Fucking. Taurus. I couldn’t recall previous mentions of his name from earlier in the show. But Blake catching sight of him as he butchered Yang at the end of Volume 3. The terror in Blake's eyes struck a very personal chord with me. I have seen Adam after he and I have gone our separate ways..... and it truly is that terrifying.

My heart sank. You could hear the despair filling her soul. And it hurt me. My anxiety was at a high and honestly..... Hearing her say his name..... Adam... It terrified me. Adam Taurus represented everything I HATED about my Adam. The lies.... manipulation..... the mental and emotional abuse.  Admittedly I had written Blake off as the stereo typical moody, edgy, goth teen character. Because I had neglected to watch trailers for anyone except Ruby. I was certain Ruby Rose was going to be my favorite because she was fun and exciting and bad ass. But I would only be proven wrong in time.

Come Volume 6. Learning more about Blake’s past and her struggle with Adam. Her demons haunting her constantly. We all know why she ran. And why she feels the need to take on Adam alone. But you can see during their whole fight. She not fighting to beat him. She is NOT fighting to best her abuser. She is fighting to SURVIVE against someone she knows she could not beat on her own. But she still feels as though she HAS to try. Because this is HER battle. This is HER demon.  She does not even register the idea of asking Yang for help. And this.... also hit home very hard. I have been struggling with my demons for years. Not letting anyone in to understand them. Until I met my current group of friends. one of which is here on tumblr. And she helped me realize why I love Blake so much. ( @songbirdforever​ )  Blake realizing she could let people in and help her with this fight.... It helped me open up more to the people I care about.

Much like when Blake is able to set her fears aside and show a resolve unlike anything she has put forward with Yang being there. She gains the will to fight her demon. Yang, her friend, being there. Even though Blake did not tell her she needed her. And that Blake did not WANT her to be there out of fear of Yang getting hurt. She didn’t have a choice. She knew Yang would never leave her until she knew she was safe. 

Blake's Demon had already lashed out and maimed a loved one (Yang) once already. And seeing that same loved one face her demons with a resolve that she could not bring to muster up herself gave her a reason to stand firm. To stay her ground and tell him that she is not afraid anymore. Together. Blake and Yang kill Adam. Almost in mental synchronization they know what each other needs to succeed. This is a bond forged in fires that were kept by the demons of the past and fueled by scars. 

This is why I love her so much. She has not only shown me that it’s okay to not be able to fight your demons on your own. That sometimes you lose the struggle and cave.... But whether you know it or not.... someone sees your struggle. And there is going to be that one person that will always be there for you whether you want them to be or not. In your darkest hour the person you need will find their way to you and help you fight these battles. The victim turned victor. 

She has found someone she can confide in.... and someone who can help her heal. And it makes me so happy. In conclusion.... Blake's demons and my demons share a scary amount of beats. Including the point of us both being mentally and emotionally tortured by a man named Adam. A man who promised us safety and love. A man who betrayed us and only when we were all but destroyed did we manage to escape.

She found her Happiness. And I hope to one day be in the same light that she is.  Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this. I hope this explains why I have absolutely nothing but love for Blake Belladonna and can even see myself in her. As well as my undying support for the bees. This post is.... a lot more personal than I ever thought I would have gotten on this sight. But I couldn’t fully express my love and identification of this character without telling you what I have. And if any of you ever need an ear... I am always here to listen. I love you all. And I want you all to know you have a friend in me. Now I end this post with a question: Is there a character in the world of remnant that you find yourself identifying with? Why? BONUS BLEP:

[heechulhamster]

Flawed Humans - Kim Jongin (Kai)

KIM JONGIN x Reader

Angst, Husband!Jongin AU. 4162 words.

Warnings: Mentions of sex and infidelity, and lots of angst. (I hate the fact that I can only write angst, it seems like I don’t have any sweet bones for a fluff) 

   You two are just humans, flawed and imperfect. Humans that were susceptible to mistakes and to break promises. He was fragile and you’re unforgiving. Jongin was too malleable and you were too stubborn.

(Inspired by the song  Humans by The Human League. One of my favorite 80s songs :)

+++

A glimmering color of gold, that was supposed to be the symbol of the love that never fades. The shape of a circle that emphasizes the infinite amount of time you were to spend with each other. And both of your initials symbolizing that it was something you own, whether that ownership be regarding the mere exorbitant jewelry lying in front of you, or the person whose other initial engraved upon it belongs to.

You stare at the wedding band you absentmindedly placed over the glass table, keenly examining all its features. And it was when you wonder, how a miniscule object can hold a boundless amount of sentiment attached and ordained by its owner. To others, it’s just an expensive metal forged into a piece of jewelry - a symbol of luxurious commitment. But to you, it is a metal that gave your life further meaning. It felt as if an extension of your existence, a portal from your ring finger to another person’s life - to his life. Well, it was.

You removed the ring for a reason.

There was always a restless feeling whenever the ring didn’t made contact on your finger. And you’ll typically be in a rush in search for the connection once more. But now, the skin that touched the jewelry itched, stinged, burned. Like a sore reminder of a relationship that turned sour, a promise that was broken, and a heart that was ruined - that he ruined.

So now you sit in isolation on the long dining table, your back facing the entrance that he could emerge from an any time now. All of your luggages are now packed and sealed in your room, ready to be picked up once the conversation you were dreading to engage in is over.

Then you hear the opening and shutting of the door. Your mere knowledge of his presence made your stomach turn a random degree, in pain, in disgust, in sadness. Your senses told you that he was approaching your place, and you breathed deeply. This is it.

You couldn’t even bring yourself to look at him as his large hands started to envelop your torso from the back of your dining chair. His smell still that familiar musk that you love - yes, present tense, despite all the torment it stirs in your bones. You feel his lips on your cheek as his embrace around you tightens.

“What are you doing here all alone? I hope you weren’t waiting for me.” Jongin said with a chuckle before he lets you go and makes his way around the table to grab a cold drink from the refrigerator.

You swear you practiced the parting speech you were supposed to give. A rough explanation on why you’ll leave, a summary of his infidelity and how he broke you - and how much you’re unable to heal afterwards. But now like a dagger in your throat, your words were stuck and left silence on the thin air that enveloped the both of you.

“Work was a chaos today, Sehun kept on messing his lines up and we did a ton shit of retakes. Ah, the pain of the ass that boy is.” He started rambling regarding his job, his dream, his passion. The profession where you met him.

Jongin was just a simple production assistant when you met him, and you were just starting your way up an endless ladder of show business and landed a small role as a friend of the sister of the lead character. It was far off from your dream of formally acting and starring on the big screen but it was a start. You met him on set, the charismatic and promising crew member that was on one of his stepping stones to become an actual director.

You found yourself during the breaks in between takes with him hanging out in the back of a trailer truck. Sipping the much needed coffee for the shoot that transpired the whole night till the sun rises again. Chatting over the parts of your lives that you still didn’t know each other, seemingly catching up to the times that was before him and his life before he met you - as if the information would be useful as you’ll be spending the future together.

Maybe it wasn’t wishful thinking, as he asked you out after the production - not wanting to end your connection the same time the reel of the film ended. And two years after that, you gave your vows in front of your family and gave the promise of being together as long as your breaths are in the same rhythm as the other. And stand together as long as your heart beats the sound of his name and his bled yours in capital letters.The very same vow that he broke.

You decided to give up your futile dream of being a movie star not long after. Realizing that you just weren’t suited for the job, as the glitz and the glamour didn’t fit you nor satisfy you. You realized that the entertainment business was less of the art, and more of the business. An industry built on the capitalization of glamorous people to market them as what the society wants to be like. You deemed that as preposterous, you saw acting as a form of expression and art - and it just wasn’t it. So you shifted to the officework that most would say was legions of degrees more boring and black and white that the industry you used to be in. But you actually found happiness in the isolation and quietness of it.

However, Jongin is persevered to reach his lifelong dream of making art and imaginary universes on screen. To breathe conceptual characters unto life, making the ideas of writers translate onto screen and the audience. Which he actually reached, and became the wick of the time bomb that was your marriage.

It was inevitable for Jongin to meet a handful of astonishing, tempting, and young women who were eager to seduce him in their way up the industry ladder. You knew the hustle, it was dirty play but it’s how it works. Two years into your seemingly perfect and happy marriage, a promising young actress wannabe seduces your husband, the dashing director, her way into the lead role.

You weren’t supposed to find out. You sometimes wonder if you didn’t drop by on the set on unholy hours of the night. You drove 4 hours into the remote location they needed for the beach setting of the movie. Jongin has been gone for the better parts of the week, and besides for the natural longing for your husband, you wondered if he was resting enough to at least be at a functioning state or overworking yet again like the workaholic that he is. If you were to be honest, a peculiar intuition also fueled you to go there. A noticeable influx of texts from an unlabelled workmate flooded his phone during the few times that he was beside you when his new project started. He would usually be enthusiastic to tell each and every detail of an undergoing production but those past few days marked a decline in the information he gave. As if he was trying to hide something from you.

The hunches that you felt almost screamed at your face when a few of his crew looked as if all blood left their body when you appeared on the set. You just knew something was happening, but you were too afraid to conclude. It would be instinctive of you to crash on his trailer and catch him on the act, red handed. But what would that benefit you? An image to fill your nightmares with? A photographic memory of your husband, the love of your life, your Jongin, fucking a younger, sexier, and prettier starlet with the wide hips and small frame you could only be in memory. You’re sure you wouldn’t be able to bear with that memory, that image, ingrained in your mind for eternity so you faked a smile to his production assistant.

“On a break?” You tried to fake innocence, the image of a wife that was only here to see his husband - not catch him cheating.

Donghyuck, his young and loyal assistant was only able to nod. You see his tent illuminated from the inside, so you gestured that you’ll be on your way there. He opened his mouth, as if to warn you or hold you back from the nightmare that you’re imagining. It was rather a confirmation that your thoughts were real and God knows what’s happening inside that tent.

“Don’t worry, I’ll wait for him outside.” And you smiled with a paint of reassurance for the young man. A face with the underlying image of pain, and a pair of eyes that was only a blink away from shedding tears.

And there you stood outside the tent, and it took all your willpower to not go inside and pull the homewrecker by her hair. Or kick Jongin by his dick that was probably engaged in a heated activity inside another woman. The sounds gave off what exactly has happening inside, it was the shattering of a vow, the destruction of your heart, and the invalidation of the future you planned for the both of you.

All for what? A steaming sex inside a collapsible tent with a woman with the body proportions of a goddess, the lips of a devious seductress, and the eyes of a feline.

Yes, that was all it took for him to ruin everything.

Maybe her image spoke of the way you did look like when you first met? Young and fresh and new, maybe that was he was looking for. Maybe Jongin was tired of the same old you that didn’t see proper taking care of the past few months because she was too busy for her office work.

After what seemingly took forever of you waiting outside the dreaded tent, two figures emerged from the flaps of the exit. One of a breathtaking homewrecker, and that of a cheater of a husband.  Both sweaty from what just took place, and Jongin was still buttoning his shirt when his eyes caught yours. His face turned from lust to an insurmountable amount of shock.

That was the last thread that was holding the floodgates from your eyes.

The first tear shed as you caught the other pair of eyes. You weren’t sure if she was just shocked, but she surely wasn’t apologetic. Damn, you couldn’t even pin a name on the slut that destroyed your marriage. A lame excuse of an artist who was willing to ruin a marriage in exchange of fame, or maybe she really lusted after your husband - the one labelled as the hottest director in the industry as to date. One who looked like he belonged more in front of the cameras rather than giving instructions behind it. You wouldn’t be able to blame her then, who could help themselves from wanting a taste of Kim Jongin?

But that Kim Jongin was yours, that taste was only yours for the taking.

Your eyes wandered back to Jongin when he spoke of your name. A bitter taste flooded your mouth in the thought that he still had the audacity to call you after what had transpired moments ago. You tried to win the situation and keep your calm, be the classy and mannered wife in front of the other woman and your cheating husband. With a small smile forming on your lips, your eyes wandered on his left hand. And there you saw the familiar shimmer of gold, a band of metal that’s full of promises and a future that can now be considered tarnished or obsolete.

“You didn’t even bother removing your ring, I see. That excited?” You said sarcastically.

“It’s not-” Jongin started as he took steps to you. To which you cackled a small amount of laugh at, he wasn’t actually trying to lie out of this wasn’t he?

“We both know what this is, Jongin.” You turned your head back to her. “I don’t usually have a knack for sharing, but it looks like I didn’t have control over the situation. It’s not my choice that my husband wanted to be shared.”

Jongin’s warm hands held your elbows, a usual gesture that you should be used to but now disgusted at. His warm brown eyes pleading for you to listen, or maybe for forgiveness as he accepted his defeat that he cannot be acquitted of the situation. So you just let your guard down and your tears fall, maybe it would break him to see you in pain if his love and care for you still existed in the deepest chambers of his heart.

“I hope it was all worth it, Jongin.” With that, you struggled out of his grasps and back into your car. It was blurry how you managed to get home with all the noise that occupied your mind - but you managed to go home safe, and it was needless to say that Jongin came barging in a few hours after begging for your forgiveness.

He promised a lot of things, that he would change for the better, that he would try and make things right, that he’ll never look the other way again, and that he would make it up to you. But were those band-aid solutions enough to mend the ruins that was left of your heart? You agreed to try again, still too stubborn and dumbly inlove with Jongin to let him go. You don’t know if you could start your life from scratch so you agreed to stay and maybe rebuild the things he broke.

And he indeed changed, he would always come home no matter how late the production ends and no matter how far away the locations were set. He always updated you on everything, as if he could lessen or eradicate the doubts that were bound to fill your mind when he was away. Jongin always let you meet the new actors he was working with and always introduced you as his loving wife, the love of his life, his everything. And maybe you would believe that he really viewed you that way. That if he labelled himself as taken and committed to a wife that waits for him at home, you’d be assured that he’s sticking to your vows that it was just you and him for better or for worse.

But for you, it was never the same. It’s unfair, for sure. But then again, he was the one who ruined the trust you built for him. Every flower he sends, you think that maybe he’s covering up for another mistake. That every call you get late at night was a facade he uses to hide his wrongdoings. And everytime he touches you, when his lips touch yours, you can’t help but remember that you’re not the sole body he made contact with even if you were already bound and tied by marriage. He tried his best but you were to ruined to take notice, too much of a mess to even build yourself back. You can’t even fix yourself at this point, what more your marriage?

And there was his damn ring that was a splitting image of yours, only a few sizes larger. You’ll never forget that he was able to cheat, to touch another, to break you, wearing the ring you put on him on your wedding day along with all your promises and dreams. It was a sore, painful, insult that the ring that meant so much to you wasn’t able to remind Jongin of the promises he said in front of your family and friend, the promises he made for you. That it will always and only be you.

And that’s why your own ring sat on the table and not in the middle of your fingers.

Jongin saw the blank stare of your eyes, either wanting to tell so much that it wouldn’t come out or just a space of nothingness. So you proceeded to talk,

“I’m leaving.” Was all you muttered to say of all the pieces of speech you prepared the past few days.

“Where are you going? We could take a vacation right after this production we’re only two weeks away from finishing-” You cut him off. There was a rushed sense in the way he spoke so you knew that he was aware of what you were actually pertaining to.

“I’m leaving for good, Jongin.” Your eyes met his warm gaze, his face painted of confusion and pain. “My bags are packed upstairs, I just wanted to tell you formally so I waited for you.” You tried to smile as if it would lighted the burden of the situation.

“Why?” Was all he muttered to say, a contrast of the man he is with his way with words. All he was able to matter was a three letter word that he already knew an answer to.

“You know why, Jongin.” It was already a good four months after that night but you came to a resolution that everything was never going to be the same for the both of you so you came to this conclusion.

“I thought we were doing great, I thought we were being fine? I told you I’ll make it up.” He was a mess in front of you, the way his fingers rattled as he took the seat opposite yours and clasped your hands on the table. The way his words were a rattle rather than a concrete sentence. You couldn’t bring yourself to hurt him, to hate him, you still loved him so much. And the sight before you still brought a pang to your heart despite everything that happened.

“Was it not enough? I swear I’ll spend more time with you. After this- after this, I won’t take in projects to spend more time with you. Just don’t leave, don’t leave please. Let me fix this. Let me fix us.” Jongin put your hands on his cheeks and pressed lousy kisses on it as small drops of tears escaped his face which led to your own falling too.

“I’m sorry but I just can’t look at you the same way as before. I don’t know how to meet your eyes without breaking my heart. How to trust you when you’re away. How to accept your touches without ever thinking about how you touched her. It’s just not the same.” You explained. His hands still clasping yours as he sobbed on them.

His eyes trailed to the gold band on top of the table, one hand letting go of yours as he picked up the ring. “Why would you take it off? We’re still married, please put it back. Please, Y/N..”

A sudden surge of displeasure flooded your palate. “How could you be the one to remind me that we’re still married? I know, Jongin. I know very well. Weren’t you the one who purposefully forget that even if you still wore a fucking ring?” You stood up in disbelief.

“It was a mistake! It was a mistake that I fucking regret everyday. Are you just going to hold it against me forever? I’m trying to fix this -” His hands waved all over the place as he tried to make a point. “I’m trying to fix us! But you’re unfair and you’re not giving me a chance!”

“I’m unfair? I’m the one who’s unfair, Jongin? It’s not my fault I can’t trust you anymore. How can I? How can I trust you when you were the very person I dedicated my life to but disregarded that by fucking some starlet for her big boobs and tiny waist?” You were never fond of profanities but there was no other way for expressing the pent up anger and pain in your heart.

“And mistake? It was never just as simple as that, Jongin. It was a group of decisions you’ve made, choices you’ve taken even if you knew how much it would break me, how much it would destroy me, how much it would break us. And the fact that you still went for it like an excited teenage boy just destroys every piece inside me that makes me want to make amends with you. Because how could I live with the knowledge that you chose to ruin our marriage over something as shallow as sex?”

All he was able to do was stare at the floor, on nothingness.

“You know what? That’s the most optimistic point of view I had in the situation. At least you were still thinking of me. But sometimes I think maybe I was completely absent from your mind, that you don’t think of me anymore that’s why it was so easy for you.” The last strands of your strength just crashed. After all these time, this marked the first time you opened up about what he did. Because there was a silent agreement between you two that if you didn’t talk about it, it would feel as if it never happened. That his infidelity never existed. That she was just a speckle of imagination and the two of you were still the perfect couple you once were. But tonight, the front is dropped and the truth is told. That neither of you have healed from the trauma, that he’s still guilty and he’ll always be, and you’re still hurt and you don’t know if it will change.

“I love you, I love you so much, Y/N. I was wrong. I was so wrong, and I know that nothing I say would make it alright, that I couldn’t change what I’ve done. But believe me that I’m still mad at myself for hurting you, for ruining us. I’d do everything, fuck, anything to keep you here. Please.” Jongin is now kneeling in front of you as he clasped your knees, begging you to stay as he sobbed greater than you’ve ever seen him cry before.

“I can’t stay. I love you but I can’t stay. I’d only be fooling the both of us if I stay.” You also kneeled and put your hands on the either sides of his face as you asked his eyes to look back at yours. His handsome, ethereal face already scrunched up from all the crying and screaming. It broke you to see him like this.

You want to forgive him, to forget everything and start anew. But you just couldn’t do it, not right now, not this way when everything just brought you back to the pain.

“Just come back, please. I don’t know what I’ll do without you. I don’t want to live my life without you in it. I don’t want it. Please come back, please.” He was a mess. Jongin is just an apologetic mess in front of you.

“I just need to leave to fix myself. And when I come back, then we’ll fix us. I just can’t be here and hope to fix our marriage when I’m a ruin inside. We should take the time off, reevaluate, maybe miss each other so when we see each other again we’re excited. Damn, I love you too much, Jongin. I don’t want to be away, but we need this.” Your foreheads now rested against each other. It was a blind promise, you don’t know how long healing would take you. But you knew you wanted to come back.

He let you go, physically that is. Jongin even helped you stack your luggages on the back of your car. But he didn’t let you go away without planting a kiss on every visible nook of your face, and without you promising that you’d come back.

Most people would consider you stupid for still wanting to come back, but back when you said in front of all the important people in your life that you were to love Jongin all your life no matter what - you meant it a little bit too much. And he already regretted the poor choices he made, you already saw how broken he could be if he loses you in his life. You’re just two shattered pieces that want to fit together again, but you know that won’t happen if the shattered pieces of your own beings aren’t even fixed.

You two are just humans, flawed and imperfect. Humans that were susceptible to mistakes and to break promises. He was fragile and you’re unforgiving. Jongin was too malleable and you were too stubborn. Two imperfect humans that felt whole when they are together.

So maybe when the downfall subsided, when the shrapnels start to fall back into its rightful places, and the heart he so rightfully owned started beating the right rhythm again - you’ll find your way back to him.

[unitedwearestoned]

2

When I’ve thought about writing a book before, it always included some thought of an epic tale of love and happiness and joy and shit right? Well, I hate to disappoint, so I can indeed tell you there is an epic tale of love in this book, you just haven’t made it there yet.

WARNING this is gonna get a little adorable.

At the ripe and lovely age of 19, I was a meth addict. I threw away every bit of what I had going for me away for drugs. I looked gross, too honestly. I had greasy nasty hair, I never showered (too busy playing cards). I was disgusting. I had a son, who I loved dearly and I lost him because of my choice to use drugs.

I lost my sweet boy and met my husband to be in the same week. I had also managed to get pregnant again. (I did warn you this was going to be a roller coaster of emotions with me.

I downloaded an app on my phone in my old best friends room. Meetme. This is the beginning of our love story and it’s also the beginning of a very, very long hard road. Just as I’d joined, there were plenty of boys trying to meet up and hookup. I was looking for something to drown the sorrow of losing my son.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I quit using drugs right about at this point.

Back to my husband to be...

I wish all those years ago I saved our first conversation. It was so cute. I’ll try to quote it to the best of my memory for you.

T- “Hey cutie, how are you?”

Me- “not too bad, homeless isn’t the worst position I’ve ever been in”

T-“Do you have somewhere to sleep tonight?”

Me- “My car counts right?”

T- “No, why don’t you come over you can have the bed I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Me- “I’m not gonna take your bed from you.”

T- “We can figure that out when you get here”

Mind you, all of this happened at like 3AM, and he had to work the next day. So I get in my Nissan and roll on down to his apartment, where I stayed for about a week.

T- “Wow, you’re even more beautiful in person than I expected.”

Me- *Blushing so hard I literally can’t speak*

That very night, I knew I loved him. A week after my arrival, T knew I was pregnant and knew he loved me, too. There is one small problem that I forgot to mention. He was just previously engaged.

I know, GASP. What have I gotten myself into?! He was betrothed to be MARRIED, for God’s sake!

On the first day I was there, we laughed and talked until about 4:30AM and finally we both passed out, sideways on his bed.

The second day wasn’t so casual. He admitted being engaged previously to my arrival and we sat on the couch and talked about everything that has happened to him and this girl previously. I guess I’m a love counselor as long as it wasn’t for myself back then. Then, later that evening, we were talking more and he broke. He was just telling me something and I saw his eyes begin to tear up. I embraced him tightly and held him for what seemed like the rest of our lives. In this 24 hour period, I fell in love with a broken man who was as kind and sweet as could be.

The third day I was there, my insecurities overrode me and I, at 2am, was going through his phone. I read how he missed her and wanted her back and plenty of things I DID NOT need to see. I was infuriated. I actually didn’t bother confronting him about it because I knew he was already broken inside. I didn’t need to help that. I left it alone and pretended like I never saw the messages. That afternoon, we sat on the couch and listened to music and talked about our past. When we’d finally exhausted everything we had to say, I began to sing. I will never forget how his eyes lit up. I’ll never forget how he almost teared up when I sang for him.

The rest of the week was a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but eventually, he let her manipulate him into letting her come back and destroy him again. I went to his mothers house and they basically adopted me. T didn’t come over for a while with his fiancée back in his life. A couple times they actually did come over, I was a bit of a bitch. Still not sorry for that one.

Until one day, the fat witch finally messed up. She struck him. Smacked him clean across the face. At the time, I laughed and shook my head because I knew T was more than capable of handling the situation. He proved to be very brave that night, and called the police to come and arrest her for domestic assault.

BOOM. This is my chance.

I, of course, showed up at his house with his mother and sister, if I’m not mistaken. And he came outside and told me I shouldn’t be there blah, blah, blah. I didn’t care, all I wanted was one more day with him. I could figure everything else out later. This day, I just wanted him. The police escorted her out and to jail and I happily stayed to comfort my love. His mom has loved me since day one.

Just like that, she was gone. She never came back, either. Just like that, she was a memory. Well, at the time she was. You’ll see what I mean, later.

We slept on the floor of his newly rented trailer and listened to music all night while he cried about losing the woman he thought he knew he loved. The truth was, he’d fallen in love with me that second day, too. He was confused and overwhelmed because he loved her, too. She’d been there for almost 3 years of his life.

We eventually ended up moving in with his mom because $900 a month for a trailer in 2015 was a laughing joke. We couldn’t afford that. By this time, I’m around

six months pregnant with my daughter. When that got to be too much to handle, I called my mom up and begged for her help. She let us set up a tent outside her house and slept in it for a week before it got cold outside. Then my mom put us in their box truck. With a space heater. It’s at least October at this point. Temps are dropping and I’m six months pregnant. We made it through it, of course. It was not easy or fun.

T and I made the best out of a bad situation and struggled financially, emotionally, and mentally for four years before we finally are on track today. We stuck it out together and reprogrammed each other’s destructive thinking and actions to be the better people we are today. Well, mostly better.

I did mention we sell weed, right? I don’t recommend you go out and try to repeat what we are doing. I’m writing this from my bed in D.C. happily fixing to bag another 8th for some tourist that doesnt give a damn how much it costs-only that it’s the best.

[waywardxson]

Rotting in Vain

Who: Rory, Derek ( @derek-ghoulie ), Darius ( @sshardassanderson )

What: Rory fails a test, is punished, and gets help in an unexpected place

When: Nov 6, Evening

Where: At House of the Dead, Trailer Park, Dare’s place, Hospital

Notes: TW for a lot of violence, arson, fire, murder, kidnapping

Derek

Derek sent the message to Rory with a sharp snap of his burner and stuck it back into his pocket. He was going to put the ghoulie through the ringer tonight, and solely to see just how dedicated he was to the task. To being loyal. Derek had been doubting his loyalties from the beginning, only now he knew exactly where his daughter was, knew that he could easily gain access to her, and knew he’d have nowhere to turn to but Derek for mercy. He sat down with his dog and waited for the man to show up. If things went well then it was just icing on the cake.

Rory

Rory felt a growing sense of dread with every step he took. Hands dug deep in his pockets, he slouched all the way to his truck and took a cigarette out of his emergency pack. He didn't smoke around Grace but sometimes after a fight it helped calm him down on the ride home. Rory had been hesitant and worried about what Derek would do from the moment he'd showed up and sent everything in a whirlwind. Aaron was gone, and the girls fawned over their 'daddy' like he hadn't just leveled their normal with his new normal. Rory parked, his face a shaggy mess now that he didn't have his little girl yelling at him to trim his beard. Flicking away the cigarette, Rory walked in, doing his best not to look like he was terrified of what Derek was going to say. When he found the new boss, Rory simply nodded at him. "Hey, man. You wanted to see me?"

Derek

Staring down Rory as he entered as if he could smell the fear on him, Derek gave a curt nod and then scratched his Shepard’s head again before urging the dog to go. The dog sniffed Rory once before bounding out of the room. Derek stood up and moved into Rory’s personal space, leaving only a foot or so of distance between them. “Smoking’s gonna kill you.” He commented. “Tonight. You’re going to head over to Sunnyside trailer park. Two serpent twins are going to be coming home after a fun night, and they’re going to come to an even more fun conclusion. I want to send a very clear message to the Andersons. Go to the trailer. Seal it up with them inside, doors, windows, everything. Use this,” He kicked a canister at his side. “All around the trailer. And burn it down.”

Rory

Rory clenched his jaw, watching the dog as it moved past him. He had no doubt in his mind that it would probably attack him if Derek told it to. He had been against dogs for a reason - he hated them after he'd been attacked when he was a kid. Once it was gone, he looked up and found himself close enough to Derek to make him want to step away. Of course he couldn't. He wasn't supposed to show that kind of fear so he forced himself to stand still. "If life doesn't kill me first," he said simply. But then the instructions came and Rory looked down at the canister, knowing exactly what was in it. It played out in his head in an instant. Sealing the trailer. Setting it on fire. Hearing them scream. He couldn't do that-- he wouldn't do that. "You.. want me to set two people on fire?" He asked, perking an eyebrow. "Don't you think that's a little dramatic? I'm more of a fighter than an arsonist. I could just beat them up." It would be preferable.

Derek

For a moment, Derek leaned back, arms folded across his broad chest as he stared Rory down. It was all written across his body. Uncertainty. Fear. Resistance. It was why he targeted the daughter. She’d be safe, he wasn’t a complete monster. What he’d want in the end was Rory to suffer for what Derek was positive he’d fail at. The dog curled up into a corner, watching the scenario unfold with a protective, watchful eye. “It’s not up for you to decide if it’s dramatic or not. If I wanted them beat up, I’d send someone else. This is what I want you to do. Nobody else. And this is how I want it done.” He extended a folded up piece of paper. “I’ve marked the trailer for you. They’ll be home at 7:30 for family dinner. Maybe you’ll get lucky and the parents won’t be there too but...collateral damage happens sometimes. No survivors. No trace evidence. Am I clear?”

Rory

There wasn't much of Rory that trusted he could change Derek's mind but that didn't mean he couldn't try. However, he was quickly rebuffed and his throat went tight though he tried to train his expression not to give off the look of hopelessness. Looking down at the paper, he studiod the layout, the trailer, then he crinkled it in the palm of his hand. Holding it back out to Derek to take, he said, "No evidence." Both in agreement of his plan, and not to leave even the shred of paper behind. He looked down at the canister and tried to swallow the knot in his throat but it was a huge, arson-slash-murder sized knot. His phone buzzed and Rory took a quick glance at it. Seeing Riley's name, he declined the call. He couldn't talk right now. He needed to think. He needed to plan and process. When the call came from a second time, he switched his phone off and shoved it in his pocket. "Who are they?" he asked but immediately knew it wouldn't matter.

Derek

The paper returned to his hand and Derek nodded, tucking it away. He’d dispose of it later but he sincerely doubted this evening would play out with four dead bodies. Stone-faces, he handed the canister to Rory and watched as he switched his phone off, expectantly raising a brow as if Rory were going to explain who the hell was calling. But Derek knew. A little blonde girl was missing after all. Behind Derek was a large closet door where little Grace was napping quietly. “Serpents.” Derek answered flatly. “Why? Do you think if I said ones a pedophile you’ll have a guilt-free conscience? We all have to make bold moves in this war and that’s just what this is. Better to let that little teen bitch die than to birth another Snake-to-be.” He had no evidence that the serpent girl was pregnant but he laid on the implication thick. “No survivors. I’ll expect you back here when it’s done. Now go.”

Rory

Rory knew better than to question him. Derek wasn't the kind of man you could question. He told you what to do and you did it. That simple and that complicated. He knew when he was excused so Rory simply turned and walked outside. He held his composure climbing in the truck, kept a straight face as he started it and drove down the block, and fought back any signs of fear until he drove out of the neighborhood. Once he'd made it far enough away, he pulled over on the side of the road, balled his hands into fists, and punched the steering wheel over and over, almost wishing he could break it right off. But that wouldn't be enough of a reason to keep him from doing this, not to Derek. 

 He raked his hands through his hair and leaned forward, spying the canister in the floorboard. This was what he was afraid of. Aaron had never ordered him to kill someone in cold blood, and Rory was sure that he couldn't have done it even if the previous leader had. Rory knew that he was a general piece of shit human but he wasn't capable of murder. He didn't care if they were Serpents, or just Southsiders. Or Northsiders. Or anyone - he couldn't. 

 But what choice did he have?

Still trying to figure something out, Rory checked the time on the clock of his truck, not even venturing to turn his cell phone back on. He couldn't talk to Riley right now. What would he tell her? *Hey, sorry I missed your call but I was just given orders to filet some snakes. Catch you later?* - No. He needed to do something and he needed to do it fast. He checked traffic and pulled back onto the road, making his way to the trailer park. 

 Every second he came closer made the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach grow until it was an all-consuming ache that he couldn't breathe through. He couldn't kill anyone. He couldn't kill a pregnant girl. He couldn't kill. Period.  Rory parked at the end of the street and sat in the truck, waiting until the time turned, all the while playing out different scenarios in his head until it hit 7:30 and he didn't have a single one that worked. No matter what he did, he was fucked. That was the thought he carried as he grabbed the canister in the darkness and tossed his third cigarette out the window. If he'd had Weston money, Rory would have just paid the family to disappear. He'd burn the place down and act surprised that no one had been there - but he didn't have that kind of money. Even with his win from the last fight, Rory had dumped it all in paying for Grace's school and buy her new things. She’d loved her new backpack and pencil case. She never had new things and he’d been so proud to buy those folders with the glossy shine. After paying his rent for the month, he was broke again.

Gripping the canister, Rory looked up at the trailer that he was supposed to hit and even though he didn’t know what he was going to do, he had to start working. The longer it took, the longer it would be before he got back to the House of the Dead. The longer he took the get back, the less Derek would trust him and no matter what, he needed to keep that trust if he was going to survive this -- if the people he loved were going to survive it. Twisting off the top, Rory hated himself as he started to splash the gasoline around the bottom of the trailer. Night had fallen enough to keep his body in shadows, especially thanks to a streetlamp that was going out on the corner. He’d actually wished it hadn’t been going out. If he was in light, someone could call the cops. Maybe that was it. If he could make enough noise, someone would hear and call the police and then he could run off without doing any of this. That wouldn’t be his fault, right? Derek wouldn’t blame him for that. But that didn’t mean Derek wouldn’t make him try again. 

Still, Rory started making more noise as he walked around the house, boots crunching dead leaves as he splashed the gasoline with enough gusto that he hoped someone inside would notice. But as he made it to the back of the trailer where he’d started, it was all too obvious that no one had heard a single thing. He cursed under his breath, dropping the empty canister back on the ground at his feet. He needed to do something and he had to do it now, before it was too late. 

Nervous tick alone had him playing with the lighter, flashing it for a moment before extinguishing it, and then again, over and over.

“Knew you couldn’t do it,” a voice said, stealing Rory’s attention and making him jump. He felt stupid that he’d been that distracted he hadn’t heard someone come up behind him. Or had he always been there? 

Rory recognized the Ghoulie that stood there, a look in his eyes that was pure apathy. It wasn’t hate. It wasn’t happiness. He just existed and Rory knew instantly that someone like Junk wouldn’t have had a single hesitation setting the trailer on fire. 

 “What are you talking about?” He asked Junk, trying to act like he hadn’t been hesitating. Rory turned to face him but all his eyes could focus on was the zippo in his hand, the flame at the end. Then it all happened like it was slow motion. 

The lighter was tossed, he watched it curl through the air. He hand shot out like he could stop it but it slipped by, igniting the gasoline the moment it bounced against the side of the trailer. The siding caught instantly and Rory jumped back, shielding his eyes from the heat while Junk stood admiring the chaos as the trailer went up in flames. Rory didn’t think. He charged the man and took him to the ground, punching him in the face. Blood spurted from his nose and mouth, a cut pierced over his eye. He would have kept punching if he didn’t hear screaming from inside the trailer. The first scream erupted and drew his attention. Just as he’d attacked Junk, Rory threw himself on his feet. He couldn’t let people die..

Grabbing a trashcan, he threw it through the window and then climbed in, glass piercing his arms and legs as he did. The smoke had erupted inside, billowing along the ceiling but he didn’t think. He followed the sounds of screaming and was shocked to see the younger woman standing there, cowering with.. two children. Young. Frightened. 

 Fuck. You. Derek. 

 “Come on,” Rory growled, grabbing her arm. She held the two year old that was clinging towards him and Rory scooped up the baby from the crib, hiding her inside his jacket. Covering his mouth with the other hand, Rory asked her where everyone else was when they made it to the window. She pointed down the hall and he quickly helped her out, carefully but swiftly giving her the baby that was now screaming at the top of her lungs.The heat was intense, flames catching on the couch, the walls, pictures and toys. Rory ran through it, kicked open the door and yelled at the two others that were cowering by the bed. When they didn’t move, he grabbed them, yanking roughly and shoving them towards the hallway.

“The living room,” he yelled, coughing through the smoke, pointing. One of them shook her head and ran back to him, throwing her arms around his waist, and Rory tried to push her off. There was a cracking sound and the ceiling in the hallway collapsed, blocking their exit. She screamed and Rory cursed. 

 Bringing his shirt up to cover his mouth, Rory tried to breathe but the smoke was making it exceedingly difficult. There was a small window near the ceiling but he doubted they could get out it without burning so he only had one choice. He had to force his way through the hallway. Grabbing a blanket from the bed, he threw it over the woman’s head and pointed. 

“Count of three.” She shook her head rapidly but Rory had no patience for it. He counted down quickly and then yanked her, forcing her to go with it. The broken wood and flames cut into his legs, knocking him to the ground with her but he didn’t stop.

Shoving her to her feet, Rory practically pushed her out the window. Then he jumped out himself, finding the little group of people and children rushing to their friend. Rory coughed, face down in the grass as he shoved his hands into the ground, already knowing that he was absolutely, and completely fucked. Looking up, he asked if that was everyone, trying to make sure they were all safe. He didn’t even breathe a sigh of relief until they assured him that was everyone. Even as they thanked him and hugged him, Rory felt like a piece of shit. One of the ladies called the fire department and Rory took that as his leave. He’d even forgotten about Junk until he walked around the back of the house to grab the canister and found the grass empty. 

 “Fuck...” 

He needed to get back to the House of the Dead before Junk did. Jumping into his truck, he backed out as fast as he could and slammed his foot on the gas, not sure what excuse he would use but certain he needed to talk to Derek first.

Derek

By the time the report came in that Rory had rescued the family, Derek had already moved Grace to a different location. She’d be safe, provided that Rory was able to follow through on one last simple task since it was quite clear that he couldn’t listen. He excused the ghoulie who was only known as Junk and focused his attention on the arrival of his soon to be former ghoulie friend. It wasn’t that he’d rescued the family. His intention was never for the fire to even happen. But Rory didn’t listen, didn’t intend to listen. And that’s where Derek had to draw a line. He was lovingly stroking Pamela’s head when the door opened and Rory entered the room. He lifted a brow and stroked the dog’s head one last time before standing up. “So. It seems that you really can’t follow instruction.”

Rory

How long had it been since Junk took off? Was Rory too late? The other guy didn't have a car that he knew of so maybe Rory got the jump on him. What would he say? Piecing together a quick story about--what? He could say that he fought Junk because he was trying to take his job from him. It would mean Derek would give him another task, maybe another fire, but he could deal with that then. Right now, all he could think about was fucking up too much that the man went after one of the people that Rory cared so deeply for. He didn't turn off the truck when he parked in front of the House of the Dead, running inside as he called out after Derek. But it seemed he was already waiting for him. Rory looked around quickly and at first glance, he didn't see Junk. Maybe he did make it here first. But Derek's words told him he didn't. "Dude, there were kids in there, a baby. I have a kid myself."

Derek

“I’m aware.” Derek replied coldly, approaching Rory from his spot across the room and getting into Rory’s face again. “But you see I wasn’t asking you to think about it. I wasn’t even asking you to come back here and justify your heroics. I asked you to burn the trailer down with everyone inside. And you disobeyed me.” He got closer, the front of his shoes lightly scuffing they top of Rory‘s. “I’m well aware of your daughter. In fact, I knew that you’d never follow through. Had you just admitted that from the get go, this might’ve turned out differently.” He grabbed the front of Rory’s shirt and violently headbutted him, with enough force to make the ghoulies nose spurt with blood as it collided sharply with Derek’s forehead. 

He seized him again and threw him violently to the floor, kicking him in the head, then between the ribs, and then again. “Now, you get to play for your daughter’s life.” Derek crouched down by Rory on the floor and held him upright by the front of his shirt. “I had a friend grab little Grace when this all started. And now you have to earn her back. If you succeed, you’ll get grace back, and you will never return to the Ghoulies again.” He slammed Rory to the floor, then punched him hard across the face. “Fail me, and you will never see her again.” He stood, dragging Rory up with him by his neck. “Bring me Darius Anderson. Do that, and you and your daughter can walk away.”

Rory

Rory wanted to slink away but he stood his ground, almost hoping the little show of strength would earn him some points. He looked down at their shoes and then back at Derek, clenching his hand into a fist at his side. "You want me to fight, I can fight but you--" Then the blow came and Rory's vision went white for a minute. He'd been in enough fights to know that it would fade but the world was upending when he was tossed to the ground, hitting his head on the hard floor. "De--" His hand went up to his nose, capturing blood in the palm of his hand as his eyes started to adjust. All they saw was Derek's food, the momentum of his kick rolling him onto his back before the next kick came, and another. It wasn't the smart decision when he heard Grace's name. 

Rory let out a grunt and threw his arm out to get a quick jab against Derek's jaw. The next punch made him dizzy. Rory had fought plenty of times in his life, usually for money, and he'd fought some real sons of bitches but Derek was different. Worse. More wild. And he groaned in back, spitting blood as he was dragged to his feet, head floating and face pounding with pain. "Where the hell is my daughter?" He spewed, suddenly remembering the calls he'd ignored from Riley. Now he knew why she must have been calling. "You son of a bitch, where is she?" he choked out.

Derek

Derek was acutely aware that Rory had some skill as a fighter, which is why it’d been critical to incapacitate him as quickly as possible. Blows to the head to disorient, to the sides to injure. He wasn’t about the petty little hand to hand sparring, and he needed to make himself very clear. The resonating blow to his face stung, and he knew beyond a doubt his jaw would be sporting a nice bruise for a few days. Rory would have to pay for that one too. With his neck tightly seized in a tight fist, he clenched hard, enough to certainly make catching a shallow breath a challenge. 

“I don’t think you heard me,” Derek practically growled, clenching Rory’s throat tighter. “You’re done asking questions. You’re done as a Ghoulie. The only shred of hope you have at finding your precious daughter is to get me what I asked for. I’ll forgive you for not hearing me clearly the first time since your ears must be ringing.” He wrapped a second hand around Rory’s neck, the pressure of both his thumbs against his trachea with enough force to nearly crush it. 

 “If you’re fortunate enough to regain consciousness after this,” He slammed them both back down onto the floor again, putting all of his body mass on top of Rory as he continued to choke the life out of him. “You’ll bring me Anderson within 24hrs. Do that, and Grace will be returned. And if you don’t...” He finally released Rory, standing upright and this time stomping with the entire force of his leg down onto Rory‘s rib cage. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Rory

Rory knew he could fight. At least, he thought he knew he could fight. But this was different because he'd never once had the intention of killing someone. There was a cold, dark place inside of him that knew that wasn't true of Derek. His hands gripped, trying to release the hold on his throat but growing both increasingly weaker and more frantic the longer he went without a breath. Stars flashed in front of his eyes when he hit the ground, the loud rushing sound of blood in his ears as he fought with the only strength he had left. But it wasn't enough. He should have known, it would never be enough. 

Then suddenly his throat was free and he could gasp in a breath that made the whole world spin on its side, but the stomp to his chest sent a sharp pain that stole the only breath he'd gotten, and like a lamp, everything went dark. His whole body was in pain, worse than any fight he'd been in because at least in those fights he'd been able to fight back. When he had adrenaline bursting through his veins, it was hard to feel the extent of your damage. 

Grace.. he thought. He needed to get up. He needed to find Grace. Derek had her and if anything happened to her..

A low groan came from a busted lip and while he tried to open his eyes, one of them was swollen shut. Dried blood clung to his face and every time he tried to take a breath, a sharp explosion erupted in his chest. He wasn't sure what the fuck happened in his chest but now wasn't the time to figure it out. "Grace," he mumbled, voice cracking from the pressure that had been on his throat. It barely came out a whisper. Get up, he thought. Get Grace. He put his hands on the floor and tried to push himself up but the pain turned him into a shaking ball of blood and broken bones. 

Fighting through the pain, he called his daughter's name again and when he finally got up, he expected to be in the House of the Dead but he wasn't. He was in the back of his shitty pick up out in a field in the middle of nowhere. Rory didn't remember passing out, or being moved, but none of that mattered right now. The man jumped out of the trunk, landed on his feet - and realized what an awful mistake he'd made as the pain shot through his chest. Wrapping his arm around himself, Rory was thankful the keys were still in his jeans pocket. Maybe Derek hadn't realized they were there. Rory doubted the man wouldn't make him go on foot if he'd known.

The last place the man wanted to end up was back in the trailer park but he drove like his life depended on it. No. Like his daughter's life did. Finding the correct trailer, Rory climbed out and had to steady himself on the back end of the truck to cough and spit a mouthful of blood. He made it to the door, slammed an open hand against it constantly until it finally opened. Without shame or hesitation, he said, "I need help."

Darius

It’d gotten to the point that Bruce was no longer coming home, and Dare figured if he’d found a ditch to sleep in, he might as well change the locks and keep him out for good. As much as he wanted to live with Charlie, he had responsibilities to take care of on the Serpent side of things. He needed to be close by and give instruction while Bruce continued to drink himself into oblivion. All the while, fucking Derek Gilbert had functionally declared war after his bullshit stunt that night that left a Serpent family homeless. Dare helped them find a place to stay for the night with a promise he’d give them a hand in the morning. It felt like his head had only just hit his pillow when there was loud pounding on his door. “Go away.” He pleaded under his breath, glancing at his phone. 9:14pm. He groaned and tried to ignore it, but whoever was at the door was hitting it like his life depended on it. 

Dare finally got up, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt and finally headed to the door. It swung open inward and the man in the doorway was nearly unrecognizable. Had he not just recently met him in person, Dare wouldn’t have even known who he was. He sighed. “Listen dude, whatever shit Derek wants to fight about now can wait until tomorrow. You look like shit. Go home.”

Rory

Rory's heart was thrumming and he felt too much; too much pain, too much fear. His mind was a cruel bitch playing images of his daughter, scared and alone, with people she didn't know - people he didn't trust to hurt her. In his head, he imagined her screaming for him to save her and all he wanted to do was go to her. He had no idea where Derek could have taken her, where she was hidden, and he knew going to the cops wouldn't do shit. This was his only option.

Clutching his arm around his ribs, Rory felt thankful that Dare was even there but now what? He didn't expect the Serpent to just walk freely into Ghoulie territory to offer himself up. And Rory knew he was in no position to fight Dare in the hopes that he could knock him out and drag him there. This was his only play. "He has my daughter," Rory hissed. "He wanted me to kill that family where the fire was and I couldn't. I didn't set the fire but he wanted me to. I got them out," he said, hoping it would earn him.. something. "He's punishing me so he.. took her." But Rory didn't come here to tell Dare a sob story so he cut to it. "He wants you. He-- gave me 24 hours but.. He has her."

Darius

There was hardly a thing that Rory was going to be able to say that would make Dare continue this conversation. But the second he mentioned a kid was involved, Dare stopped and the frustration visibly drained from him. Of course Derek would leverage with a kid. He couldn’t be surprised and yet he was. He sighed and stepped out of the doorway, leaving enough space for Rory to come inside and shutting the door firmly behind him. He locked the bolt and gestured for Rory to take a seat on the couch. “I should kill you for what you did to the Hendrickson’s.” He muttered as he went around the house and finally found his cigarettes, lighting one up quickly and taking a long drag as he rubbed his forehead. “When did he grab your kid?”

Rory

Honestly, Rory would have understood if Dare attacked him for what he'd done. If he hadn't spilled the gasoline, it wouldn't have gone up the way it did but he wasn't going to fight semantics. Either way, he'd done it. He didn't refuse Derek. Maybe the fact he'd gone in the house and got them out would earn him some pity points. He walked into Dare's place and was thankful to take a seat, until he actually did. His chest hurt and he slouched to hold pressure. "You can. I don't care. I just need to make sure she's safe," he said, looking up and watching Dare as he moved around. "Some time after the fire. Or probably before knowing him. Riley-" He hesitated and knew he would need to call her. She was probably freaking out but he couldn't think about her right now. Rory rubbed his face. "Look, she's seven.. I-- I don't know.. I didn't know what to do."

Darius

Rarely was he ever in a position of such immense power. Darius was holding all the cards. He could kill Rory, he could demand his unyielding loyalty, he could demand that the ghoulie banish from the town and never return. But...he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that his time with Charlie and the ordeal with Aidan and the kids hadn’t softened him. Made him take a good, hard look at the kind of man he was capable of being. Like Derek. He didn’t want to go down that route. He looked over Rory and his injuries. He’d never convince him to go to the hospital while his daughter was missing. 

Pulling out his phone, Darius sent out a mass text. Kid missing, seven years old, blonde. She’s being held captive someone secure and possibly ghoulie guarded. I want this kid found ASAP. Bring her back to the Wyrm. You have two hours. Confirm back to me once she’s safe. He put his phone back in his pocket and straightened up, taking another drag from his cigarette. “Alright. I’ve got everyone and their mother looking for your kid. We’ll find her. In the meantime, we need to keep Derek distracted. He wants me? You’re gonna bring me to him.” He approached the couch and carefully helped Rory onto his feet. Squaring his shoulders, he put his hands down at his sides. “Hit me.”

Rory

Rory expected Dare to turn him away. He'd never been particularly nice to the guy, even letting his own prejudices rule his emotions when Sammy had wandered off after Derek scared her. He'd stood by Dare at Pop's, eyeing him the whole time, ready to attack if he'd done anything. But he'd been decent about the whole situation, and now he hadn't just turned his back on this beaten and bloodied guy he had no allegiance to be good to. Rory hung his head in relief when Dare said he'd sent out a text. There were so many Serpents, and they were looking for his little girl. He didn't know how to take that. 

He mumbled a thank you and would have probably said it a million more times if it wasn't for Dare's next comment. Rory's head snapped up and it made the pain in his head wash over him. He fought through it, confusion on his face as Dare helped him up. "Wait-- what? You.." His brows pressed together. Was this a trick? "What?"

Darius

Charlie was most definitely going to have his ass when she found out about this, but if Rory wanted his help, Dare had to go on faith that he’d help him get out of the situation too. It’s not like he’d have Rory’s daughter at the ready, and by the time they got there, she’d hopefully be found. They didn’t Derek to know they were looking. And what better way to hold his attention than to bring him what he wanted? 

“If you’re going to bring me to him, he’s can’t find out I went willingly. So you need to make it look like I put up a fight. I’m still pretty banged up inside from...something else. It wouldn’t take you much. And Derek can’t know we’re looking for your kid. So...” He once again straightened his composure. “I want you to hit me. Then you’re gonna tie up my hands, and take me to him. He’s not gonna give you your kid back until then, but we should have her safe before he knows she’s gone. And hopefully...before he kills me.” He gave Rory a pointed look. “I’m hoping you’ll help me get out of there but...if not, I get it. So come on. Hit me.”

Rory

Rory shoved his fist against his side, already knowing that his body was going to hate him for throwing any kind of punches. He'd barely managed to get one off on Derek but.. maybe if Derek though he'd caught Dare off guard? Like he said, he was still healing. Rory knew all about that. He listened to Dare and in that moment, he realized that he picked the wrong gang to join a long time ago. Maybe he didn't know Dare that well, but he wasn't a raging psychopath like Derek. He nodded, realizing that everything Dare said was right. He just couldn't believe the other male was wiling to help him after everything. Rory let his hands fall to the sides, needing to shake out the feeling in them from his rigid position.

"I'll help you," he said suddenly, sure that he could have said nothing. But Dare could have done nothing too, and now he was willing to walk into the flames for Rory's daughter. That meant more than he'd know. "I swear." Maybe Dare believed him, maybe he didn't, but whatever happened, he would do everything he could. He owed him that much. Making a fist a few times, Rory squared up and for the first time, he didn't enjoy throwing a punch. His chest exploded in pain after he made contact, and he smacked his hand on Dare's back. "Sorry.." he offered.

Darius

Though he’d anticipated it to hurt, Dare wasn’t expecting to see stars when Rory’s fist collided with his face. Even injured he packed a wallop, and Dare muttered a stream of profanities under his breath as he waved Rory’s apology off. “Damn. Wish I had you on my team back when. Fuck me that hurt. Okay.” 

He huffed miserably and straightened up, picking up his fallen cigarette to keep smoking as he brought Rory some thin extension cords from another room. He removed his burner from his pocket and handed it over. “You’ll get the text when Grace is safe. Tap me on the shoulder or pinch me or something to let me know. Then we can try and get the hell out of there alive. But for now, we gotta keep up appearances. So don’t go dying on me until we get your kid safe.” He turned around and put his wrists behind his back. “Go ahead and make it tight.”

Rory

Rory shook his hand, the feeling throbbing through his knuckles. He hadn't wanted to hurt Dare, especially after he was helping him find his daughter, but he did have to make this look legitimate. "Can I get one of those?" he asked, eyeing the cigarette for the tenth time. He needed to keep up the facade that he'd done this, attacked Dare, brought him.. but his nerves were still shot. He nodded, shoving the phone into his pocket. He wasn't exactly sure how they were going to make it out of there alive but after all this, he'd do anything as long as his little girl was safe. "I'll do my best," Rory said, grabbing the cords and pulling them around Dare's wrists. 

Although it may have occurred to any other Ghoulie that he could just hand over Dare and be done with it - that would certainly earn major points with Derek - he had no intention of doing that. He wouldn't support the guy that kidnapped his daughter. All Rory ever wanted to do was keep her safe and this wasn't this. Looking at the ties, he considered them and then tightened them more. Appearances. "My truck's out front."

Darius

Dare offered the pack of cigarettes along with his lighter, biting down a remark about Rory being a firefly tonight as he still needed the man’s help getting out of the situation he was willingly putting himself into. He’d of done the same for anyone’s kids, especially Charlie’s, and although he had no reason to believe Rory would help him escape, he had to believe it. If nothing else, he wanted to be certain there was good in people and the folks with kids seemed to be the most apt for it. With his arms secured tight behind his back, Dare nodded. “I’m ready.” 

He let Rory lead the way out and had to get into the truck with the assistance. Sitting back, he tried to stomach down his nerves. He wasn’t sure what was worse, whatever Derek might to do him before they found the kid, or what Charlie was going to do to him when he came back with injuries again. But it didn’t matter. Rory looked to be at about death’s door and Darius needed to focus. “Let’s go.”

Rory

Rory never expected to be driving back like this, Dare coming willingly, the Serpents looking for the daughter of a no good Ghoulie like him. But whatever happened, he had a new respect for the people he'd thought he hated. They drove in silence, Rory smoking down the cigarette, every minute bringing them closer. Until finally, they stopped. Deciding to leave the keys in the truck - easier for a quick escape - Rory climbed out, groaning as he looked out his one good eye. 

Normally he would have planned on picking Dare up, carrying him around like a sack of potatoes but he knew his body wouldn't get him more than two feet if he tried. Hooking his arm through Dare's, Rory tugged the man, trying to make it look like he didn't give a shit about the person he was pulling into the devil's den. "Derek," Rory called out when they made it inside, doing his best to hold on for Dare to struggle. When he saw the shadow move in the corner of the room, Rory did his best to toss Dare onto the ground, grunting in pain as he did, panting through the aching in his chest. "You wanted him, you fucking got him," he hissed.

Derek/Darius

The minute they were ready to go in, Dare smashed down the remainder of his nerves and steeled himself for what was to come. He tried to keep his weight off Rory as he squirmed and twisted against his hold, cursing him out, dragging a foot without actually throwing weight onto it, and he collapsed on the floor of the House of the Dead with an angry shout as he hit his healing sides. “Fuck you, fucking ghoulie scumbag. Fucking attacking me in my own house. You are DEAD! You think you’re gonna be able to even step outside again after this??” He turned his attention to a bemused looking Derek. 

Derek stood up from his seat and set aside his book, approaching Darius hunched on the ground, visibly favoring one of his sides and a massive bruise forming on the side of his head. Derek quirked a brow at Rory. “I’m gonna be honest. This is not exactly what I was expecting. Especially in your...condition.” 

He kicked Dare over onto his side with his shoe and then approached Rory. “I’m impressed. You actually can follow instruction with the right motivation. Your daughter will be returned to you in the morning. Provided...you do one other thing for me.” Derek’s attention turned back to Dare and he dragged him up off the floor, holding him by his neck in the same way he’d held Rory earlier. “I’ve waited so long for this, Anderson. But your old man needs to be here to see this.” 

“Fat chance.” Dare snarled between gasping breaths. “Fuck you.” Inside Rory’s pocket, Darius’ burner buzzed.

Rory

"One other thing?" Rory growled almost like he knew Derek's dog did on his command. "You said I bring him and I get my kid." Except this time he struggled to hide the disdain in his eyes. "He's fucked up. Didn't take much to knock his ass down. Look at him." He threw a look over at Dare and tried to pretend that hated on his face was for him and not Derek. Watching the man walk over to Darius and lift him up, Rory had to fight not to step in. He'd clearly said that he wanted Dare's father to be there so he wouldn't kill him yet. At least that's what Rory was betting on. 

Feeling the buzzing in his pocket, Rory tried to be slick as he pulled the phone out and looked at the message. Got her. Headed to the Wyrm. It took all of Rory's strength to hold it together. He shoved the phone back down and looked around the floor. They needed to get out of here and Rory knew from experience it wouldn't be easy. Finding a broken beer bottle on the ground, he picked up the piece and shoved it in his sleeve. Dare would have an easier time getting away if he wasn't tied up. 

"What other thing do you want?" He asked Derek, hoping to drag his attention away.

Darius/Derek

Derek and Dare glared at each other, Derek moving across the room and throwing Dare to the floor like he weighed nothing. Darius shifted uncomfortably, lifting up his head and feigning a look of defeat. Derek, blinded by his need for revenge so damn close he could practically feel the rage tingling in his fingertips, went to one of the shelves in his room and grabbed a large meat cleaver. Pamela the Shepard looked up from her spot on the floor and whined, but Derek shushed the dog gently. It was a tone he rarely used but his dog was of great importance to him. 

“If the son was no problem for you, should be just as easy for you to get your hands on the drunk too. I’m sure you can find him stumbling around town somewhere.” Derek muttered, eyes appearing wild, unfocused as he started across the room and pressed a foot against Darius’ chest, waving the cleaver in front of his face. “I’ve waited twenty god damn years to get to this point.” He growled in Darius’ face. “Do you have any idea how your father ruined my life?” 

“Get in line, he ruined a lot of people’s lives.” Dare snapped back. “What the fuck does that have to do with—“ A blow landed to his face with enough force to nearly knock him unconscious. Dare dizzingly stilled for the moment as Derek approached Rory again. 

“Tie him to the pole. I’ll be right back.” And Derek exited the room.

Rory

Rory knew what Derek was going for the moment he opened his mouth. He wasn't going anywhere. Right now he didn't give a fuck about Dare's father but they were getting the hell out of here. Now. Gripping the piece of bottle, the glass cutting into his skin, Rory was about to swipe it out at Derek. He only stilled himself when Derek gave an order and then left the room. This was their chance. 

Falling to Dare's side, he pulled the man up to a sitting position, looking back to make sure Derek hadn't come back around the corner yet. "They got her," he said under his breath, using the glass to sheer across the ties at his wrist. At the moment, Rory mostly distrusted everyone and all he was sure of was that Grace wasn't with Derek's people anymore. That's all that mattered. "He'll be back any second." Tugging Dare up to his feet, he pulled him towards the hallway that led to the exit. "Come on. We have to go now."

Darius/Derek

One minute he was seeing stars and the next his wrists were free and he was being hauled up onto his feet. His old man had hit him into unconsciousness before and yet this still was worse. It was like Derek only  punched him at a fifth of what he was actually capable of. Shaking the cobwebs out of his head, Dare focused his eyes and nodded. “Yeah. Yep. Okay. We’re going.” Was a double concussion possible? A super concussion? 

His head felt like it had a million gumballs inside of it and had been violently rattled around. But he moved, knowing Rory would need probably most of his help. Just as they cleared the doorway and entered one of the halls, Derek came flying out of nowhere, slamming Darius up against a wall with enough force to rattle the foundation. 

He turned on Rory, grabbing him at his neck before the man could even put up an arm and gripping on with both hands. “I warned you not to fuck with me,” Derek snarled, crushing the life out of him. “I want to see the life leave your fucking eyes! I want you to know that your little girl is going to be my little servant for the rest of her fucking days! You’ve betrayed me for the last god damn time! SUFFOCATE, FUCKER!”

Rory

If Derek came back before they got out of here, it was going to be bad. Very bad. Rory fought through the pain in his chest as he pushed Dare towards the exit. The whole place could be crawling in seconds so there was no time to waste. They barely made it into a hall when a blur of motion hit the man in front of him like a train. "H--" Just as he tried to yell or throw himself at Derek, the man whirled and was on him. He'd thought the first time he had Derek's hands on his neck was bad but there was no warning for this, no attempt to take a breath, nothing but intense pressure that left him gagging, trying to force air through the neck that was being compressed. 

Rory threw his hands out, trying to push Derek away, hit his face, neck, eyes, anything he could try but panic quickly set in as he felt pin pricks of pain along his face. His vision was quickly blacking out. It wasn't like passing out where it started outlining your vision. This came in thick blocks and all he could hear was Derek threatening his daughter. 

The more he struggled, the quickly he lost energy and soon his knees gave out. But even as he fell, the hands weren't letting him go. He was going to die. It was the first time he ever thought and really believed it. Derek was killing him.

Darius/Derek

Dare was seeing stars again, the force of Derek hitting him against the wall left him dazed. The mass on the man was like being hit with a two ton bolder, all of the force going into his torso and knocking the breath from his lungs. Coughing and wheezing, he could hear the scuffle going on around him and tried his damndest to focus. Up, get UP! 

He finally managed to clear his vision in time to see Rory going down, his motions becoming so much less calculated and more flaccid. It was then he realized what was happening, and pushed up off the ground. 

“That’s it...” Derek crooned as Rory started to give out beneath him, the fire in his eyes dimming into a dull, glazed over appearance. “That’s the last fucking time you’ll ever—FUCK!” 

With that same shard of glass Rory had used to free him, Darius stabbed Derek in the shoulder, causing the ghoulie to release his titan grip on Rory’s neck. He grabbed onto his back and iron-barred his forearm around Derek’s neck, hauling him with all his might back off of Rory and struggling to hold on. 

Derek grunted, panted, threw his back into walls to try and force the Snake to let him go, his brain screaming out a mantra of NO NO NO! as pinpricks of darkness sparked in his eyes. He couldn’t breathe, ironically, collapsing on his knees beside Rory as the Snake continued to press his forearm against his trachea. Derek’s arms flew up, clawing at Darius, and finally collapsing into darkness on the floor. 

Straightening up, panting, and sick to his stomach, Dare released Derek before he accidentally killed him, looking at the door, then down at Rory. He cursed under his breath and grabbed him by his underarms, hauling with all his reserve strength and slinging Rory’s arm around his neck. “What did I say? Don’t go dying on me.”

Rory

Rory always thought he would fight harder when it came to this. In his underground fights, he didn't stop until the bell rang. But there was no bell here, and Derek wasn't going to stop. He felt all the strength leaving his body and the only thing that hurt worse was the sudden and complete inhale of breath he took when the hands were no longer on his neck. 

His lungs expanded and the ache in his ribs took over, blinding him for anything else. He didn't even know what was going on or who was picking him up until he was moving. Not sure how his feet shuffled along the floor, Rory's eyes were focused on the ground. He saw it. Then it was in front of him. He hadn't remembered falling, or the pain from hitting the floor. Or how he got back up. All he knew was he was suddenly in the truck and he collapsed against the side door. 

"Ple-- ge her.." The words were raw in his throat and it still felt like he couldn't breathe, like his heart was pounding like a desperate thing looking for air. He still felt the hands around his throat, squeezing, killing. All he could think. Please get her.

Darius/Derek

Getting the fuck out of the house of the dead without being detected was nothing shy of a miracle, and Rory was absolutely dead weight he owed very little to given the circumstances. But he brought the ghoulie down the road and to his truck, carefully getting him into the front passenger seat and resting his head back. He slammed the door shut and climbed in the drivers, using the keys to get the ignition going and peeling away from the house like a bat out of hell. “She’s fine.” Dare reassured as he fished his burner out of Rory’s pocket and called one of his connections. 

“Vic? It’s D. I’ve got one coming in and I need him treated on the DL, you got me?” He glanced over at Rory and snapped his fingers in his face. “Hey. Focus. We’re almost to the hospital.” They still had a bit to go, but he needed Rory as conscious as possible as he made the call to the serpent that’d found Grace. “Put her on. Yeah.” He passed the burner over and stuck it between Rory’s shoulder and head. “It’s your kid.”

Rory

It didn't cross Rory's mind until they were barreling down the road that Dare had every chance to leave without him. He didn't have to help him get out. He didn't have to help him find Grace. He didn't have to do anything but he did, and that was a debt he knew he'd never be able to pay. If he could have said anything without falling into the unconsciousness that wanted to pull him down, he would have told Dare no hospitals. He couldn't afford that and he didn't need it. He just had to rest. Rest and take aspirin, and see his little girl. But even trying to talk was stealing away any breath he had in him. 

Leaning his forehead on the window, Rory felt himself slipping into a sleep, brought back only when he heard that sweet voice say "Daddy?" Rory pushed himself up, tried to say her name but no sound came out. He tried a second time and his voice broke. "Grace.. Yeah, it's me. You okay?" 

She started going on about her adventure but all he heard was that she was alive. She didn't sound hurt or scared. She was safe. The relief that tore through him gave into the pain and while she spoke, Rory slouched forward and allowed himself to let go.

Darius/Derek

Dare focused on the road and knew that they were running out of time. Rory revived himself long enough to talk to Grace for just a moment before he was slumped forward against the dash. At an intersection he stopped to lean him back and grabbed the phone. 

“Hey...Grace. This is Darius. I’m a friend of your dad’s. My friend is gonna keep an eye on you. She’s very nice. And then I’ll bring you to your dad. Talk soon.” And hung up. 

Within ten minutes he pulled up to the side of the hospital where the ambulances unloaded people, where Victor was waiting with a stretcher. He helped unload Rory onto it and paused. “Isn’t this guy a Ghoulie?” 

“Not anymore.” Dare clarified with a glare. “He’s just a guy now. And you’re gonna treat him like he’s one of us.” 

“D, this—“ 

“Derek almost killed him saving me. So do as I ask. You got the papers?” Victor sighed but nodded, holding up a forged chart. 

“Name’s Fred Petersburg. He’s a 24 year old male from the south side. What the fuck happened to him?” 

“He came to me looking like shit but Derek about strangled him to death. Go.” Without another word, Rory was rushed into the hospital and Dare stood outside, cursing the shitty evening.

[veronicassadboi]

I love your writing! I have a prompt if you like it: in the beginning of their relationship, veronica plans a dinner date and upon arriving jughead realizes the restaurant is fancier than he's used to and he feels uncomfortable

Thanks for the prompt, beautiful. And the kind words that inflate my ego.

—————

The place was covered in ivy, and there was waitstaff for every table, or at least that’s how it appears from the outside looking in. Golden candelabras sitting upon the tables, women with pretty red lips and hushed tones that only gently ride the air. No harsh coffee steam and clashing metal bowls to be seen or heard at all.

Jughead leans against Sweetpea’s truck with his eyes closed, left hand in his jeans pocket, right clutching onto his phone. A quick shiver flows through his body. Fuck, he thinks. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He dials a number, lets out a hiss of impatience and awaits an answer.

An out-loud laugh escapes him. This was the sort of thing he signed up for when he decided that he wanted Veronica Lodge all to himself, out in public, booths at Pop’s, her sitting in the trailer at Sunnyside. This was to be expected. This was her world, and if he couldn’t get used to Greendale, New York would be even harder. Dirty cafes with overflowing caffeine down damp streets were going to be okay… the Upper East Side would be harder. But, this was what he signed up for and he knows it.

The hazy lights of the restaurant in Greendale reflect off the rearview mirrors of the truck and shine into his eyes when he opens them.

“Jug?”

“Dad,” he says in a sigh, part relief, part panic.

“Are you okay?” FP asks, panic ringing through his tone too. “I thought you were going to some place to eat in Greendale?”

Jughead’s eyes start to sting so he squeezes them shut. Tighter and tighter his hand clutches onto his phone. He hates himself when he’s short, sharp, sporadic thoughts that don’t connect in his mind well. The smell of food whispers through the air but not even that was enough to ground him. He looks quickly over his shoulder, trying to look into the window past mood lighting to see if she was waiting for him, of course she is, he knows. It just elevates the panic more.

“Jug?”

“Dad,” he says in a sigh again. “I made it.”

“Good! What’s the place called?” FP asks with a bounce in his voice. Jughead swallows down the lump in his throat as his dad waits for the answer.

“I don’t know,” Jug groans. “It’s french.”

“I expect no less from a Lodge.”

Jughead takes a steadying breath. “They’re all in suits… I saw one woman in what appeared to be a ball gown… who eats in a damn ball gown?”

FP chuckles and Jughead knits his eyebrows, the cool, calming and settling words he wanted from his father didn’t come. “I mean, a girl’s gotta eat, right?”

“Right,” Jughead replies shortly. “I’m not made for this place…”

“Maybe not, son. But you’re made for Veronica and I’m sure she wouldn’t expect you to change yourself just for a meal.”

“Right,” Jughead repeats. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, I’m not dressed appropriately for starters.”

“Why did you just say ‘appropriately’? Sounds weird.”

“This place is weird!” Jughead groans. He looks over his shoulder again but can’t see Veronica through the bodies. “I better go.”

“Don’t forget to have a good time! And son,” FP starts with seriousness. “Just because this isn’t your scene… it doesn’t,” FP’s voice crackles on the other side. “It doesn’t mean you’re not good enough for Veronica, okay?”

Jughead doesn’t answer. He just hangs up and lets the anxiety eat him instead.

_____

The waiter at the door looks Jughead up and down. Jughead’s heart beats fast, his words feel slow out of his mouth. The waiter’s focus shifts from his Docs to his beanie. “Do you have a reservation?”

“I don’t,” Jughead manages. “I’m here for Veronica Lodge.”

The waiter moves in an instant and just like that, it’s like his beanie doesn’t even exist anymore. Jughead plays with a lighter in his pocket as he walks in, Docs scuffing the cream coloured carpet and his eyes brush over the wall trimmings. The place even smells expensive, he notices. There’s no lingering smell of fried onions, no slightly soured spilled shakes and no greasy lino flooring. The weight of his boots feel like they’re pulling him through the floor so he finally removes his hands from his pockets and runs one over his face.

Eyes are burning him through sips of Moët, only identifiable to Jughead through the big, obnoxious label stuck to the bottle and the candelabras are buffed to a shine that only rivals the flooring at Thornhill after a spring clean. Hushed murmurs follow him as he walks down the tables that are only drowned out by his own mind reminding him he shouldn’t be here.

Before the first sweat breaks, the spinning feeling that was dominating his world slows right down to a halt. Her hair was up, something that Jughead loved but rarely ever saw. She wears the pearls that Jughead knows costs more than probably everything he owns that Hiram bought her and she pretended to despise but the longing in her eyes as she looked at her reflection in his dirty, toothpaste splattered mirror in the trailer bathroom told him that she loved them. The simple black, turtleneck knitted dress is a favourite of his too. She bought it for their first date. He took her to the old Drive In site. They sat on the back of Sweetpea’s truck.

She smiles at him, he feels at ease.

Her excitement was palpable, even when Jughead sits across from her, taking his beanie off and shoving it into her handbag across from him, she can barely sit still in her seat. “You look beautiful,” he says with a small smile, reaching to her hand and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.

“And you, a gentleman,” she replies with a grin.

Jughead gives Veronica an incredulous look, his nervous leg unable to stop moving as his heart races. “I look stupid.”

Veronica’s shock is apparent, but he smiles at the fact that she can’t hide her disbelief - her complete and utter honesty is something that he loves about her; her face reads like a book. “You do not!”

Jughead looks at the people around him, all pretty, perfect people who fit in just like a puzzle, he runs fingers over napkins that feel better than his sheets. “V,” he trails off, wishing himself out of the place.

Her gaze punishes him, slinking further into his seat as he can almost feel her thoughts. She wants to argue, in any other setting, she’d be yelling at him by now or dragging him by the hand to prove her point, but her frowning lips covered in mauve lean across the table and brush his cheek. “I just wanted to take you somewhere special.”

“Anywhere with you is special,” he murmurs, looking down at the Southside ring on his firefinger. “Chocolate shakes are special.”

“Chocolate shakes are special,” she agrees, tracing patterns on his palms that lay facing upwards next to silverware.

He looks Veronica in the eye. Everything she is was more than he would ever pray for, but every blessing comes with a curse and sometimes he wonders if the Princess was too much for his Southside Kingdom and he didn’t deserve her. “I love you for bringing me here, truly, I do.”

“I just thought somewhere different would be nice... “ she says, studying him again. The frown returns and even with her troubled look, he wants to kiss her. “You know that I don’t expect you to try and fit in, right?”

The question sits in the air above them, hanging over Jughead’s head. He shakes his head, but answers don’t come easy. He wants to say he knows. But he doesn’t feel it. “I know.”

“Jug,” she says in a breath. “If we’re going to be together, there’s going to be moments where you and I don’t get it quite right for eachother, that’s the best part of being in a relationship,” she says lightly, hands holding onto his tightly. “We learn what works and what doesn’t and I think in this moment, this doesn’t work and Pop’s does.”

He shakes his head, pulling Veronica’s hands across the table closer to him and finally her smile returns. “I don’t mind this, it’s not my scene but I’m willing to do this.”

Veronica this time holds up her right hand and picks up her handbag with the left. “I’m starved anyway and have you seen the salmon? It’s tiny.”

She moves out of her seat quickly, grabbing her handbag and throwing his beanie back at him, ignoring the waitress following after her and Jughead rushes behind, a smirk that he can’t hide and shoving his beanie back on his head. Silver against crystal ringing through the air as he gets out into the cool breeze.

“How did you get here?” he asks, unlocking Sweetpea’s truck with a kick to the right hand corner of the drivers door.

“Smithers, but I’ll text him and tell him I’m going home with you.”

“Are you sure you want to go to Pop’s?” he asks, guilt washing over him as she lifts up her dress over her thighs to stretch her legs as she gets into the passengers side.

“Cheeseburger and chocolate shake,” she replies. “It wouldn’t be us if we didn’t have them.”

The trip isn’t long when he listens to her singing to the radio and tales of New York. Even under the glowing lights of Pop’s with blues and reds on her skin make him feel invincible. He can almost taste the chocolate and cream when she follows behind him to the steps with her hand in his.

————

Send me a jeronica/core 4 prompt and I’ll write you a >2000 word Drabble!

[thebookvortex-blog]

Book Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Released 2011, Sci-fi

Kindle - £3.99 Paperback - £6.47

“I never felt at home in the real world. I didn’t know how to connect with the people there. I was afraid, for all my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realised, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness, because reality is real,”

A blend of the era gone and the era to come.

with spoilers, duh

Dear Reader,

Ready Player One really impressed me; the concept, the dystopian world, the characters and their development. After reading this I’d say it’s one of my new favourites and I’ll explain why in this review. At first the story just seems fun, a bunch of adventures with a truck load of 80’s nostalgia, however the characters become a lot more fleshed out as the situations they find themselves in get a lot more real.

In dystopian future, circa 2045, the world is experiencing an energy crisis and has had to cut back on a lot of things. Humanity has wrecked the climate, famine and poverty are widespread. However, there is the OASIS. An MMORPG, an escape from the horrors of the real world. This is essentially a massive virtual reality utopia, with thousands of themed planets to explore, quests and adventures to take for hours on end. You can live wherever you want and be who you want to be. James Halliday, creator of the OASIS and a multi-billionaire has no heir to his possessions and ownership to the OASIS. When he died he created a quest full of riddles, the one who completes the quest inherits all his money and the OASIS. Wade is just like everyone else on the planet, poor and obsessed with the OASIS. Halliday was obsessed with 80’s pop culture, and the entire quest is based off knowledge from that time. Wade is what’s known as a gunter, one of those who are dedicated to the quest and desperate to win. When he finds the first key he is suddenly up against thousands of competitors. Soon, however, the game takes a deadly turn and he finds himself fighting for the future of the OASIS and his life.

Ready Player One takes place twenty years on from our current society. Inevitably we have run out of oil and although with advanced technology, the world is crippled. To give you an example of how bad things are, main character Wade Watts lives in a trailer… stacked on top of fifteen others… in a trailer park full of hundreds of these stacks. My favourite types of books are dystopia’s, so with this being mentioned at the beginning I was already really interested. You wouldn’t expect a world so corrupt to have something as magical as the OASIS, a place where you can create your own avatar and be whoever you want to be. The OASIS is a place away from the awful reality everyone faces, life sucks in the real world but there are never ending possibilities online. You can be anything and do anything. Although living in a futuristic world, the 80s is what almost everyone is obsessed with. After James Halliday’s death, the more knowledgeable you are about this time period, the better chance you have of winning. One of the things I liked most about this book is the constant switch between these two eras which are sixty years apart. For myself I’m just a bystander, in the middle of these times. If you’re a fan of movies and videogames form thirty years ago, you’ll probably like all the worlds and puzzles included in the story. Maybe you’ll marvel at how they’re constructed. I am glad that I did get some references, Atari games and the Rocky Horror Picture show that I’ve seen mentioned in other books I’ve read. It’s kind of funny how later in the book, Wade spends so much on technology, just to be fuller immersed in what’s essentially an 80s simulation. For most of the book he’s hiding away from the villain of the story, a company called IOI. This company is desperate to inherit to OASIS, to, you know, be evil with it. They bend the rules as much as possible to win. It’s not the type of story where the main character is ahead of the enemy, something bad happens and they fall, then pick themselves up again and win. It’s a constant back and forth between the two, it builds tensions until the end and even though you know what will happen (how often does the main character never win?) I still worried about the outcome. I mean, maybe the author will decide to make the journey of the last three hundred pages for nothing, just to flip off the reader. At first this corporation seems basic, not able to do much but make empty threats while still acting all professional and all. It’s not the best enemy I’ve seen but I wasn’t disappointed with them.

“As the three of us stepped forward, preparing to enter the gate, I heard an ear-splitting boom. It sounded like the entire universe was cracking in half. And then we all died.”

There’s a lot of foreshadowing, maybe I’m just good at picking up on it but personally I found it a bit easy to notice when something seemingly meaningless was said but would prove important later. If you can pick up on it, good for you, it’s satisfying in a way.

The main character, Wade Watts, is well written, at least in my opinion. He starts from humble beginnings, not having enough money to even travel to another planet in the OASIS. When he does earn riches, he becomes obsessed with fame and the new lavish lifestyle he leads, in and out of the OASIS. He becomes a celebrity for being the first person to complete the first gate and can finally have all the fun that he was missing out on, however it distracts him from continuing his quest. He has fun, doing what he’s always wanted.

“I looked like Plastic Man, if he were tripping on LSD. Then everyone else on the dance floor also began to shape-shift, melting into prismatic blobs of light,”

It’s almost depressing when you realise that all he’s experiencing isn’t real, he’s become one of the many who see the OASIS as their true reality. He even proclaims his love for who was a few months ago his enemy, they’ve both been side-tracked by all the fame and forgotten about the quest. When rejected he is hurt, he’s wasted all his time for nothing and takes his anger out on her, angry that she’d turn him down. They’re all just avatars, pretending to be these great people, Wade can no longer see the line between reality and the OASIS. He had become selfish, letting his aunt die and losing his best friend just to continue the fake world he was so unravelled in. I can’t pin losing his friends entirely on Wade, after the first gate and not being able to figure out the next clue they all kind of drifted apart. Instead of being the perfect hero throughout and brought down by other people’s mistakes, he was what held himself back, which doesn’t happen very often. Even in a computer-generated world, Wade is still human and behind his perfect avatar, is still subject to human feelings and thought processes. I was happy when he realised the errors of his ways, after acknowledging his selfishness after what was quite a depressing moment in the book. This realistic downfall, even though it hurt me to read through wishing everything would be normal again, was a good addition and necessary for the story to develop.

“The hour or so after I woke up was my least favourite part of each day, because I spent it in the real world (…) I hated this part of the day because everything about it contradicted my other life. My real life, inside the OASIS. The sight of my one-room apartment, my immersion rig, or my reflection in the mirror – they all served as a harsh reminder that the world I spent my days in was not, in fact, the real one,”

Yes, Ernest Cline did a good job in developing Wade’s character, but there were some things about him that irked me a bit. For one, how is he such a smartass? There’s nothing wrong with intelligence as personality trait, but the part of the book where he sneaks into IOI depending on information that he bought months ago, information that might not even be legitimate, and bases his whole plan and escape off is a bit thinly wound. Also, being able to hack into one of the largest corporations on Earth’s database and accessing highly classified files is a stretch. And the part where figuring out the riddle to the last gate, the one IOI have been stuck on for ages. Even with a team with a wide knowledge of about almost everything that happened in the 80s they couldn’t figure it out, but Wade just thought about it for a few minutes and got it. For such a big part in the journey, it seemed very rushed, I feel like there was potential for a good chapter, racing against IOI to figure it out, but it was just wasted.

Let’s talk about Art3mis (spelled Artemis now because it’s much easier for me), the female lead. She has a pretty cool name, but I’ll admit that I found her a bit annoying. I love a hardcore female character, but it feels like portraying her as badass was very forced and she came off stereotypical. You can awesome and skilled without being rude, constantly having snarky comments isn’t necessary. And of course, she has a hidden soft side, brought out by Wade because he’s so in love with her and wants to know the real her. There’s nothing wrong with this, even though she’s a bit unique I just feel like I’ve seen her before. Don’t get me wrong, I still like her. I do give her credit for being more level headed than Wade, she didn’t get as carried away as he did with all the fame. She didn’t fall in love with something she’s never met and got back onto the quest, her main priority, after leaving him. Artemis didn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself when stuck on what to do after the first gate.

As far as the writing style goes, I really liked it. I feel like this is important to talk about because the way the book flows and how the author tells the story greatly affects what you feel. It’s written in first person past tense, personally my favourite. It doesn’t feel like Wade is talking to me, more like he’s talking to himself, and I’m just witnessing it. It’s not so complex that I have a hard time keeping up and don’t understand some of what’s going on, but also not too basic that I must guess what everything looks like and there’s no emotion.

There are several things I liked about Ready Player One. I’ve already mentioned this, and I don’t really know why, but I loved the constant switch between the 80s and the future. I’ve never seen it before, this earns the book some brownie points. Another thing that was done well was foreshadowing. Even though I found it a bit obvious that some things would be used later, it still made the book seem more dimensional and thought out. One thing I wasn’t expecting was the use of the quarter that Wade got after playing the perfect game of Pacman. I didn’t think too much about it at the time, only until after the bomb went off at the final battle did I remember it when he was still alive. I don’t know why but that pleased me and made me smile. He didn’t spend all that time for nothing.

Another moment I liked is when I started to realise the immensity of Wade’s situation. It starts of as a reality innocent game, I mean yeah, billions of dollars are up for grabs but it’s not life threatening. That is until Wade’s home gets destroyed because he refuses to share information. It’s so absurd that he didn’t think it would happen, he was even mocking the head of IOI.

“I was pulling my gloves back on when I heard the explosion (…) The stack containing my aunt’s trailer had collapsed into a fiery, smoking ruin”

Wade wasn’t close with his aunt but it’s still a bit shocking. What hit me even more later was the death of Daito, the Sixers killing him directly. It’s not a game anymore at this point. The book started off light-hearted but took a dark turn, luring the reader into a false sense of safeness, into a net separating them from things like this. Then slowly cutting the net so you don’t realise you’re falling.

One of the really important things was how Wade was given weakness, a weakness that isn’t a good thing like being too hardworking, but something realistic that everyone can relate to and believe. The other characters also aren’t dependent on him. Sure, you can say that Artemis got the first key because Wade told her to play on the left and he gave away his position to Aech. But they proved they can think for themselves and can be independent later when they got the Jade key. Wade is smart, but so are they and he doesn’t have to carry them. He also isn’t constantly ahead of them on the scoreboard. Other characters are in front of him for large periods of time, even the villain gets ahead of him. It keeps things tense. Wade isn’t better than everyone, he has to fight to remain on top.

Something that did sort of annoy me was the final battle. I found it a bit anti-climactic and rushed. I’ve seen it several times now, where the main characters call on all the other citizens to help them fight and it doesn’t really add much for me. I feel like the author might have spent too long on other details of the book and didn’t leave enough time for what was supposed to be the main event. They charged, beat the boss, went inside. I can understand that it can be hard to write big scenes like these, but there could’ve been a bit more. I did laugh at the bit where it says

“And then we all died,”

That was NOT expected but didn’t ruin the moment. The aftermath of this where Wade survives and finds a way back up was more enjoyable for me than the actual battle. Going through the last gate was a good combination of all the previous challenges but even though Sorrento, leader of IOI, was behind him I didn’t find it that intense.

Every book has its faults, Ready Player One has its own but I still think it’s really entertaining and well written despite them. Of course, there’s a happy ending, I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest one I’ve ever read but it’s satisfying. You don’t have to be completely obsessed with the 80s, the future, or moral questions to enjoy this. It’s a good sci-fi adventure tale with a real and fleshed out protagonist.

This book had me hooked, I just wanted to power through it and get to the parts where everything was happy and dandy for the characters. I don’t want a story where everything is okay all the time. They need down points where there is a struggle, even though I don’t like these times because I’ve become invested in the story and want everything to be okay, they are necessary for a good story and it’s all worth it when everything is over. No matter what type of books you read, you should try this. Whether you want to take a deeper look and analyse what happens or you just want some action, this is a recommended read.

Yours Sincerely, theBookVortex

[thesecretfandom]

Bittersweet Goodbyes and New Beginnings -- Bughead

Words: 2,967

Rated: G

Summary:  The day has finally come for them to say goodbye to Riverdale High and hello to the real world that awaits them. Betty and Jughead have big plans in New York City, but are Jughead's plans just a little bit bigger than expected?

A/N:  The Core Four Graduation dream sequence got me in the mood for a graduation fic, so enjoy this little ditty following Betty on her graduation day. (Read on AO3)

"C'mon, V. The boys are here to pick us up." Betty sat on her windowsill, where she could see FP Jones' old truck in her driveway. Archie and Jughead were sitting on the hood, waiting for the girls to come down.

Veronica was sitting at Betty's vanity, where she'd been for the past two hours, applying makeup and doing her hair. Betty had brought an extra chair in from the kitchen so they could both share the mirror.  However, Betty's makeup routine was much less elaborate than Veronica's. A simple line of eyeliner ended in an almost unnoticeable cat eye, a few swipes of mascara, and her favorite Pretty in Pink lipstick, the one she saved for special occasions.  

Veronica, on the other hand, wore a full face of makeup. Foundation, contour, highlights… all the things that Betty never did unless Veronica did it for her, like she had for her first anniversary with Jughead. Betty had hated it, and Jughead complained about the makeup that she left on his pillowcase when they were…messing around that night.

"You can't rush perfection, B." Veronica responded as she finally pulled her Midnight Berry lipstick across her lips. The two girls were like Ying and Yang, black and white, fire and water… complete opposites. Betty in a baby blue dress with a lace overlay and bubblegum pink pumps and Veronica in a tight black, high-necked dress with a stiff peplum circling her center and nondescript black heeled booties.

Veronica glided over to the window and pulled up on the frame. She knelt over Betty as she stuck her head out the window and shouted to the two handsome boys waiting for them. "We'll be right down! Archie Andrews, if you get your pants dirty so help me God!" She pointed a stiff finger at her boyfriend… one that he'd gotten used to seeing over the years. It was a warning.

Betty laughed as Archie jumped of the hood of the truck, which she could tell Jughead had washed for the occasion. Veronica was already halfway out the door when Betty stood to follow her. Betty stumbled down the carpeted hallway in her heels, praying to God she wouldn't trip and fall as they walked down the center aisle of their high school gym that afternoon.

Archie opened the front door for Veronica, who pecked his cheek with her freshly colored lips. A dark purple stain was left on his freckled cheek. Veronica blushed.

"Oops, sorry Arch." She tugged a tissue from her purse and wiped the mark off his face.

Jughead waited by the driver's door. His body seemed to shrink behind the door as he watched the other's through the window. Betty raised an eyebrow curiously. Why was he acting weird?

Betty decided it must be the nerves. It had taken her some time to convince Jughead to actually show his face at their graduation ceremony. He'd wanted to skip out on it. After all, it was just a dumb ceremony where he would be forced to pretend he'd actually miss their high school and his classmates which, of course, he wouldn't. Jughead's words, not hers.

"You look nice, Jug." Betty smiled sweetly as she stepped up to her boyfriend. She opened her arms to him and tried pulling him into a hug.

Jughead fidgeted under her touch, his hands landing on her shoulders. He pushed the girl's body back slightly and bent down so his lips grazed hers. They might've stayed that way forever, his arms on her shoulders, hers on his hips, and lips pressing together softly, if not for their other two friends waiting for them.

"Get a room, you two." Veronica sighed. "Wait, scratch that…you two would actually get a room."

Jughead smiled at the memory. Betty had thrown him yet another birthday party when he turned eighteen, but only because he'd agreed to it, and on the grounds that the party be at FP's trailer. At least that way he could keep uninvited guests away. Cheryl,  Reggie… the rest of the football team and the River Vixens? They wouldn't be caught dead in a trailer park on the Southside.

Over time, Betty had taught Jughead to love his birthday. More importantly, she'd told him where they would go after the party was over. Betty and Jughead had been all over each other pretty early that night, the booze loosening Betty's lips as she crawled all over her boyfriend. Lips on his neck as the music blasted around them.

Archie and Veronica had stumbled into the kitchen looking for food, when they found Betty sitting on the countertop with Jughead pressing her against the cabinets as his lips wandered over the bare skin of her neck and shoulders

"Get a room." Veronica had said. They did just that.

Jughead was so caught up in his memory he didn't even remember sliding into the driver's seat. The truck's cab was small, only meant for three people, only comfortable for two, and currently holding four. Veronica was practically sitting in Archie's lap and Betty was scrunched in next to him.

"Seatbelts?" Jughead said, which garnered a lot of glares.

It was a short drive to the high school, and the student parking lot was already filled with the cars of their classmates and teachers. All but one space was filled, marked with a sign for the student body president.

The presidential parking spot was instigated by none other than Cheryl Blossom, who'd somehow manipulated her way into a position of power. She'd also instituted senior parking privileges. Jughead hated to admit it, but Cheryl had done some good work in her time.

The truck grumbled to a stop and the four friends piled out of the cab like clowns in a miniature car. Betty and Veronica linked arms as they walked headlong into their high school for the last time.

Archie looped his arm in Jughead's, mimicking the girls in from of them, but didn't garner the reaction he wanted. Normally Jughead would pull away from him or at least laugh, but today his eyes were slightly glazed over and he was hardly speaking.

"You okay, Jug?" Archie clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Jughead blinked a couple of times, his eyebrows knit together in thought. "Just… just nervous is all."

"Yeah, me too."

The cafeteria was full of students pulling royal blue robes over their shoulders. Everyone begrudgingly pulling their caps over meticulously styled hair. Jughead was limited in a different way. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to wear his beanie for this occasion, and he was glad that he would have a different cap to disguise his perpetual hat hair. Regardless, he hesitated to remove his beanie. He was more comfortable with it on, and everything about this day was entirely uncomfortable.

Betty adjusted his tie as they waited to be called into the gymnasium. When Principal Weatherby finally came to retrieve the senior class Betty held out her hand expectantly. Jughead slid his hand into hers, assuming that was what she was expecting.

"Jughead…" She had to speak loudly over the pandemonium of teenagers filing toward the door.  "The hat."

Betty nodded toward his beanie and Jughead pulled the piece of cloth from his head sadly and handed it to his girlfriend. She, in turn, handed over the cap that Jughead had drawn a crown on with black sharpie.

"You ready?" Betty asked.

Jughead's breath caught in his throat as Betty tried wrapping her arms around him. He thrust his hands into his pockets, and Betty scrunched her nose up at him. She was annoyed, he could tell, that he wasn't reciprocating any of her touches today, but she would understand.

"Okay, sourpuss." She backed away slightly, just to give him the space that he apparently needed today. "Get your hands out of your pockets and I'll zip you up."

Jughead looked so handsome and grown up with his tie poking out just above the robe he was wearing. His hair was poking out under his cap in much the same way that it did under his beanie, and Betty adored that little curl. Jughead would often be caught fiddling with that piece of hair that was always falling in his face.

"See you after?" Betty leaned up to give Jughead a quick kiss on the lips.

Jughead tried to smile, but it came out in more of a grimace. "Yeah, after… right."

Betty slid through the crowd to her spot in the line toward the front. Cheryl was already standing at her spot, right next to Betty. Having last names back to back in the alphabet put them right next to each other.

"Ah, the bittersweet goodbye." Cheryl crooned, her voice a sweet as maple syrup. She looped her arm through Betty's as the doors into the gymnasium swung open. "I will miss you Betty Cooper."

Cheryl had never said anything so nice to her before. It was slightly disconcerting, but because this was the last time they'd have to interact she decided to ignore the out of character announcement.

"I'll miss you too Cheryl."

Cheryl offered her a close-lipped smile, signature Cheryl Blossom red lips contrasted beautifully with her royal blue robes. Betty vaguely recalled Cheryl campaigning to be allowed to wear an all red cap and gown to 'set her apart as the president,' but the school had declined.

All of a sudden the school band started playing Pomp and Circumstance, and Archie , being at the front of the line, led the way for the rest of their class to follow. Betty quickly glanced behind her, where Jughead stood just next to Kevin. She raised her eyebrows at them as if to say, 'This is it." And then she was following alongside Cheryl to their chairs at the front of the gym.

Their seats lined up in the most perfect way, so that Kevin and Jughead took their seats just behind where Betty sat. It wasn't as good as having Jughead right next to her, but it was good enough.

Principal Weatherby spoke first, welcoming the parents, friends, and families of the graduates. This was followed by a speech by Mayor McCoy. The salutatorian and valedictorian were also required to give speeches. Betty still wasn't sure how Cheryl had managed to keep a 4.0 even during all the issues that befell her during their sophomore year, but Betty was just as happy with her 3.98 GPA, which meant she had to make her way to the stage.

Deep breaths, she reminded herself, deep breaths. Her speech was sitting on the podium when she walked up the set of temporary steps to the stage. Betty hadn't spoken in front of so many people since the mayor's jubilee over two years ago. She was nervous, so she made eye contact with Jughead; he was always able to keep her calm.

"I want to start off by thanking all of you for coming. To our families, thank you for making us the people we are today and for supporting us during this trial run at life, preparing us for the real world. To our friends, thank you for being the second family we never knew we needed, for understanding us in ways that our families couldn't."

"I have a few very important people that I need to thank personally. My parents, who have made me strong and prepared me for the craziness of the real world. To Polly and the kids, you inspire me every day. To me, you three are the perfect family and I want something like that one day. Archie and Kevin, for being  two of my best friends for as long as I can remember. You've always taught be to go after the important things in life and to only settle for the best. To Veronica, for being the friend I never knew I needed, who showed up exactly when I needed her and provided a female perspective on life that I'd never experienced before."

"Finally, I want to thank Jughead. You're always there for me. You support me through all my crazy ideas and love me even when I'm angry. You make me want to do better, to work hard… to make my dreams come true. Thank you… from the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Betty finished off her speech with some crap she'd written about missing her classmates, her teachers, and the town, though she didn't mean any of it. Of course, she'd come home to visit, but she and Jughead were both headed to New York City for school, where they'd share similar classes, Betty majoring in journalism and Jughead double majoring in creative and non-fiction writing. She'd have everything she needed in New York, in the small studio apartment she and Jughead had signed a lease for just last week.

The applause from the audience was forced, but that was to be expected at an event like this. Cheryl passed Betty on the stairs as she took the stage and Betty hurried back to her seat, heart racing. Jughead placed a hand on her shoulder and she immediately calmed. She will never fully understand how Jughead's hand on her shoulder always made her feel better.

She zoned out during Cheryl's speech, which was far too long, and only began focusing on the ceremony again when their row was dismissed to walk to the stage and receive their diplomas.

"Archibald Andrews."

Archie walked across the stage, receiving his diploma from the principal and shaking hands with him, the mayor, the and the superintendant. Cheryl marched confidently across the stage, blowing a kiss to the audience.

"Elizabeth Cooper." Kevin cheered for her as she walked across the stage, while Jughead sat smiling and clapping; silently supporting her.

Betty was already back in her seat when Jughead was set to walk across the stage.

"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the Third." Jughead's given name garnered laughs from the audience, some of whom didn't realize that the other name he went by might be just as laughable.

The ceremony was coming to a close as the last members of the class returned to their seat. There was, however, one last little thing to close off the event. Every year at the end of the graduation ceremony they showed a slideshow containing pictures and a chosen senior quote for each student.

It wouldn't be winning any awards, that was for sure. Just a simple slideshow, with no transitions, and a song overlaid in the background. It was unremarkable, really, but Betty was excited to see what quote Jughead had chosen. He had refused to tell her beforehand, no matter how much she begged. Surely it was something really deep from one of his favorite movies.

When his face finally appeared on the screen Betty's stomach dropped, her heart raced, and her cheeks flamed red. There, written in italics under Jughead's ridiculously long name, was something that Betty would have never seen coming.

'Betty Cooper, will you marry me?'

She spun around in her chair so quickly she could have gotten whiplash. Jughead was kneeling on the floor behind her, ignoring the stares from his classmates and the rest of the audience. He only had eyes for Betty, and his heart pounded as he waited for a response. Maybe this was the wrong way to do this, he should have done it in private. A million thoughts were running through his mind even as Betty crawled over her chair and into Jughead's arms.

Her lips crashed against his and she was glad that he was finally hugging her back. Something hard was pressing into her back as she hugged her, and she finally made the decision to pull away. Jughead pulled his hands back in front of him, where he held open a small velvet box. Inside sat a simple silver band with a gem placed elegantly on top.

"It's white sapphire." Jughead said. "I'll get you a diamond, I promise, I just need to save up a bit more."

Tears were falling softly down Betty's pink cheeks. "I don't want a diamond, this is perfect."

The smile on Jughead's face threatened to split open his cheeks. He'd never been so happy in his life. "Is that a yes?"

Betty nodded, unable to even form words at that moment. Jughead slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her again. Their classmates were still staring, even as they were dismissed and began filing out of their seats.

"I think we should probably run away." Jughead whispered to her.

"Why?"

"I think your mom might be ready to murder me."

Betty glanced behind Jughead, where her mom had found a seat pretty close to the front. She had the same look of rage she'd had when Betty had stayed over with Jughead in FP's trailer and returned home with a hickey on her neck.

"You're right," Betty said. "Let's run."

Betty and Jughead jumped from the ground and Jughead grabbed his girlfr- his fiancé's hand. But Betty couldn't run in her heels. Instead, Jughead bent his knees so Betty could hop on his back. He piggybacked her out of the gym and out the front doors of the school, where their classmates were lined up waiting for their families.

Jughead ran them past their friends, amidst cheers for the couple, and Jughead didn't stop until they'd ran back to the solitude of the parking lot, where he finally set Betty down on the hood of his dad's truck.

"You are something else Jughead." Betty fiddled with the hair at the back of his neck. "But I love you for it."

"I love you too, Betts." He placed a soft kiss to her lips. "Always have and always will."

-------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this little thing I threw together. I really enjoyed writing it! Leave a comment or send me a message to let me know what you think and if I should write more fluffy little one shots. 

[kittymaverick]

Tradition dictates that I must make commentary on each MCF games, even when I complain about how thing the content is...

Spoilers under cut. Also, this is written from memory, so order might be a little off.

1. MD: Ah, finally. A well deserved holiday just like I requested-- Queen: Oh Master Detective the Americas are being incredibly incompetent at this whole supernatural thing. Awfully sorry for disrupting your vacation, but your service are requested. MD: ...Just shoot me in the head, will you, Your Majesty? Queen: I’m flying you over on a private jet plane. MD: Okay, everything’s forgiven. 2. Me: Cassette tape? Really? MD: I didn’t know our beloved Queen’s a hipster. Queen: Not only that, I also write letters. Me: My god she really is a hipster. 3. Me: ...Really? Artifact of immense power capable of granting immortality, and you use it as a quill? MD: I have no idea what you are talking about. 4. MD: ...Why isn’t anyone here to pick me up? I thought this was an all expense paid trip? I’m going to need to walk TEN MILES to the murder scene? Me: You’ve walked more than that in underground complexes. A wheat field is nothing. 5. Woman: Oh hi Detective you’re totally here to investigate the murder right. Me and MD in unison: SUSPECT! INSTANT SUSPECT! Woman: Also, why are you not turning on the truck lights? You can progress the game until you do that. MD: ... I hate this town already. Me: For a town that’s devoid of people you sure fill it with a lotta hate. MD: Me and abandoned towns don’t go so well together, in case my history hasn’t reflected that enough. 6. MD: Hm, interesting grave-- [GRABBED] FUUUUUUUUUUUCK MEEEEEEEEEEEE. Alvin: Hi. Bye. [Gone~] MD: .................How am I still alive? Me: You know, it’s awfully refreshing for once when the enemy isn’t obsessed with you. 7. Me: Who’s this magic guy that keeps on showing up on all the flyers? MD: If you actually used your head, it’s the first murder victim. Me: ...Can you not? 8. Housekeeper lady: Oh this town is so full of gossip you know, about it’s rich people. Me: Yes do share. I love gossips. 83 MD: .......What has my life come to. 9. [Creepy doll thing] MD: ... Totally not creepy at all. Nope! [Eyes lights up red] Not creepy! [MD begins weeping.] 10. Woman to other woman: GET OUTTA TOWN. Me: Someone get me a camera, imma gonna paparazzi this. MD: ...When I submit my case report, I am so going to request that I just have a mundane investigation of a heist or something simple for once. Me: Awwww, but the supernatural cases are the fun ones. D: 11. [Sees door with contraption] Me: Oh yeah...This is totally not a reminder of something. 12. Housekeeper: Oh no I’m trapped because I stuck my hand in this thing please help. MD: I am so fed up by non-player characters. Me: And I am dying of laughter inside because it’s legit the first time I’ve seen a complicated door puzzle TRAP someone. 13. MD: Alright, opening this hunting room right now-- [Bullet goes through the Elephant’s head] JESUS CHRIST! Me: YOUR HEAD. IS IT OKAY? MD: I’m glad I’m not taller! Me: Wait no, you have that immortal feather why am I worried about you? 14. Guy with gun: You made me waste a bullet! MD: And you made me waste my wits. What the hell is going on? Guy: Do you hear that? MD: ...No? Guy: The silence, it’s deafening. MD: ...Yeah, exactly. So I heard nothing. 15. [EPIC CRASH THROUGH THE WINDOW] {SHOTS FIRE} Me: OMG HE SHOT THE REVENANT-- oh wait yeah, guy’s undead he’s fine. 16. Guy: SHOOT HIM WITH THE CROSS BOWS! MD: WHAT CROSSBOW--[accidentally sets it off] ... OKAY GOT IT. GUY: IT’S NOT WORKING GET THE NET! MD: WHAT NET-- oh I SEE IT. Me: That worked? Holy shit it worked. 17. Alvin: Bye bye again. [Zoink!] Guy: COME BACK HERE. Me: No wait come back people that chase after the enemy tends to die you know. MD: ...Guy had it coming. Me: Also, it’s refreshing that YOU aren’t the one that set the building on fire this time. 18. MD: Alright, finally able to follow them. Ghost of first victim: BEWARE OF WHAT LIES AHEAD. MD: SOME FUCKING WARNING WOULD BE NICE. Me: ...Well you saw ghosts in Ravenhearst so-- MD: NO. 19. MD: Let’s find the guy-- Me: AAAAAHHHHHH BODY STABBED TO TREE! DEAD BODY ALERT! MD: ............I can’t even at this point. Me: You know, you’ve been less able to save people recently. MD: Can you really blame me? The last few enemies were rather homicidal. I have better self preservation instincts than to dive right in and risk my neck for people. 20. Me: Alright! We’ve got a ladder to the window! MD: ...THAT ENTIRE GEAR PUZZLE WAS ALL FOR A FREAKING WEIGHT??? Me: Yeah, was a tad unsatisfying... 21. Me: Aw they have a place called Lover’s Point-- MD: NOPE. Me: ...I didn’t even-- MD: CAN’T HEAR YOU. 22. Me: ...BTW, why are you kicking piles of leaves? MD: Stress relief. It’s that or setting things on fire. The latter’s kinda illegal. Me: Duly noted. 23. Alvin’s sister(?): Yeah just go ahead and have a look around. MD: You have a shite garden you know that? Me: WHAT SHE MEANT IS YOUR PUMPKIN PATCH IS WONDERFUL. 24. MD: It’s so nice to have an opponent who’s actually sane and has an organized room for once. Me: It’s a double decker trailer. I’m not sure how “neat” that is. MD: Just let me enjoy this for a moment, okay? 25. Woman: Hi this is totally not a supervillain confession tape. Well okay it is. MD: That makes you 1000% more forthcoming than the others I’ve faced. 26. MD: I need something with a hook on it to get this thing. Me: Alright, let’s find a broom-- MD: I’m going to stretch this rubber chicken out and attach a hook to it! Me: ...Is your mind okay?... 27. Me: Hm...There’s nothing about this creepy toy factory that’s ringing any bells, is it? MD: Hm.....I sure hope there isn’t. Me: Yeah, think we might just be paranoid. Devs: [Cackling in the background as they plot evilly] 28. Woman: PLEASE DON’T KILL OUR KID ALVIN. Alvin: Whatever. [Kills the woman] Me: ...You seriously just watched that happen and did nothing, didn’t you? MD: Yep. The less people there are alive, the less trouble I need to handle later. Me: ...Is this because you’ve had to save so many characters again you’re now letting them die so that’ll never trouble you again? MD: Damn, my master plan has been figured out ABORT ABORT. 29. MD: Oh no so the woman’s houskeeper’s daughter is really her own daughter! Le gasp. Me: ...For rich people this is kinda tame. MD: I know, right? They could have made it spicier. Housekeeper’s notes: I found ropes and handcuffs. Wonder what the miss is up to. Me: ...I don’t think that counts. 30. Housekeeper: The girl’s locked herself in her room! Me: Alright, just let me find one thing-- [Alvin comes charging through the door] MD: GOD DAMMIT CAN YOU TIME YOUR ENTRANCE A LITTLE BETTER ALVIN? 31. MD: Wait, what are they weak to? Me: Salt. Good old table salt. MD: Oh I’ll give them salt-- HERE HAVE ALL OF MY SALTINESS THAT’S DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE ABUSE I’VE SUFFERED DURING MY CASES. YOU GET A SALT, YOU GET A SALT, YOU ALL GET A SALT! SALT FOR DAYS! Me: ......Nice therapy. 32. Housekeeper: Quick, open the door! Me: WE’RE MISSING A KEY-- Housekeeper: Oh that here I have it for you. MD: ...SERIOUSLY?! Me: I’m not sure if you’re surprised that she actually gave you something directly or that you’re insulted you didn’t get to search for it. 33. The girl: MH MH MH MH! MD: Oh so that’s what the bindings are for. Me: Huh, she’s left a vial of her own blood. MD: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU RICH PEOPLE??? 34. Me: So things have gone to shit downstairs. We’re taking the bedsheets down. MD: At least it’s not us escaping from a death trap. Alvin: [GLARING YELLOW EYES[ MD: I’M GOING I’M GOING! 35. Ghostly voice of the woman: ENTER THE ART EXHIBITION OF REGRET. Me: What do you mean exhibition-- oh my dear gods. This is like if Charles Dalimar built his complexes out of guilt of his crimes against humanity. MD: ....Why can’t I just see a NORMAL art gallery for once? Me: Well at least this time it’s not dedicated to you. MD: Please don’t jinx me. 36. MD: Really? All of that for a really nice fancy leather jacket? Me: It’s a nice leather jacket. Alvin’s got taste. Alvin: Hi, I heard you’re touching my jacket. Also is that what’s-her-name’s blood? MD: Um... yeah? Alvin: Okay. [GRABS STRANGLES] MD: FUUUUUUUUU-- Me: Oh don’t worry this isn’t so bad-- Alvin: [Breaks vial of blood] Me: Oh shit this is bad. 37. MD: YOU WANT IT HERE HAVE IT [Tosses the jacket into the fire] Alvin: Finally I’ve been avengeeeeeeeeeeddddddd [Ashes] Me: NOOOOOOO NOT THE JACKET IT WAS INNOCENT. MD: It was tacky. Real cool people wear detective long coats. 38. The girl: So the woman’s really my mom? But she was so mean to me. Housekeeper: Well she wanted what was best for you. Me and MD: Not it’s because she’s a self centered abusive bitch who keeps using her rich background as an excuse go hang out with your cool aunt. 39. Housekeeper: Omg that was so much drama. I can’t wait until I tell my friends at brunch. MD: Can you not??? Me: I’ll take brunch! 40. Me: You know, I can’t believe that went by so fast. We solved the case in a single evening for once. MD: Does this mean I can have the rest of my vacation back? Oh thank god. Me: Wait hold on a minute you let like TWO people die. MD: Two out of three people. I save the third. Me: Why couldn’t you save all three??? MD: Well you know what they say. Third times the charm-- Me: THAT’S NOT HOW THAT SAYING WORKS.