#bella conrad
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bechloeislegit · 1 year ago
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Chapters: 2/8 Fandom: Pitch Perfect (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell Characters: Beca Mitchell, Chloe Beale, Aubrey Posen, Stacie Conrad, Fat Amy (Pitch Perfect), Lilly Onakuramara, Jessica Smith (Pitch Perfect), Ashley Jones, Flo Fuentes, Emily Junk, Cynthia-Rose Adams, Denise (Pitch Perfect), Treblemakers Members (Pitch Perfect), Bella Conrad Additional Tags: Bechloe Week 2023, bechloe - Freeform Series: Part 1 of BECHLOE WEEK 2023 Summary:
It's BeChloe Week and here is where you'll find my submissions! A week of BeChloe fics for your enjoyment (I hope). This year the week will be 8 days long, so sit back, relax, and read about our favorite girls.
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vampstaubrey · 10 days ago
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yall,, single parent!stacie x teacher!chloe/aubrey au? 🧍‍♀️
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chriscdcase95 · 4 months ago
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Loves Sacrifices update: "A Sight For Sore Eyes" three parter
Chapters 16 to 18 are up, and I've been waiting for over a year to post this.
This is a three part chapter, and I wanted to wait until all three were up before making this post. I had to split because all three parts put together is nearly five hours of reading. Almost as long as all three Pitch Perfect movies back to back.
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I kept saying I wanted to finally get the baby shower done for over two years, and now it's finally finished. What else is that this chapter is meant to wrap up the Bailey Downs arc…which is why it took a while for me to get too.
This is also meant to be a siege chapter, much like I did with Unlife is Strange. Because of how long it took me to get these out, I'm also taking a little break from Love's Sacrifices, and going to be focusing on finishing Mission to Silas, and getting back to writing Unlife.
And since this is meant to wrap up the Bailey Downs storyline, think of it like a "Mid Season" finale.
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Which also leads me to this content warning.
Like I said, this is meant to be a battle chapter, and it's probably where the story gets to its darkest points. You may even forget this is a Pitch Perfect crossover.
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These chapters include: Blood, light gore and mutilation. Vampire related violence. Werewolf related violence. Demon related violence, curtesy of Lamashtu. Nudity and mild sexuality. Torture. Shooting and gun violence. Children being threatened.
And of course, character death; these three chapters will see two named characters, who were introduced in the first few chapters, being killed off.
...or you could read the TV Tropes page and see who bites it in advance. But what's the fun in that ?
Anyways, links to all three parts down below.
Part one
Part two
Part three
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enamoredwithbella · 1 year ago
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Hate to say it, hope it’s not too controversial but I literally audibly sigh every time I realize kinktober is around the corner 😭😭😭 I’m a fluff girlie till I DIE
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pitch-perfect-spookfest · 1 month ago
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Pitch Perfect SpookFest is coming soon.
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becabeale143 · 1 month ago
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Twelve years ago today Pitch Perfect premiered. The story brought to life by these incredible people. It sent me down a (BeChloe/Staubey/etc…) rabbit hole I never want to climb out of. It has stood the test of time and endeared itself in my heart 🌹❤️
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godzillachloe · 2 years ago
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The Barden Bellas as Barbies
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cycwrites · 11 months ago
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A (Few) Day(s) in the Life - Lingerie
A very overdue second chapter of random glimpses into the lives of my favorite girls.
This was meant to be a short, fade to black ficlet while I tried to remember how to do this words thing. Close enough.
Thank you to everyone who has ever left me a comment on AO3 (I owe so many responses over the last 3 years) or sent me a message on Tumblr, encouraging me to continue after all this time. I’m really hoping to finish a few things next year as I still owe everyone a Staubrey origin and cliffhanger reveal.
For @tiny-maus-boots and @kimmania. I honestly don’t know if I’d be here without your unending support and encouragement in life as well as writing.
And for Rylee, who somehow convinced-slash-hoodwinked me into thinking about the Mitchsen chapter, which in turn reminded me I needed to get this one done first.
Words: 3600ish (aka the 2nd shortest thing I've ever written.)
Rating: Mature/Explicit
Chapter 1 (and the whole Nowish Universe) on AO3
Master Post for Tumblr
And just because, the Spotify playlist that helped me write pretty much every Pitch story.
A Pitch Perfect Lifetime
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~S~
Wednesday, October 11th, 2017
“Is it dumb that I’m nervous?”
Stacie turned to look at Aubrey who very clearly was avoiding looking at her. Which meant she missed the loving smile that Stacie aimed her way.
“Bree.” Aubrey didn’t turn, merely slid another hanger to the side and intently looked at the clothing behind it, which was exactly the same style and color. “There is a list of things you are not, and dumb is definitely on it.” Stacie resumed going through the rack in front of her, deciding this was one of those times that Aubrey needed to pretend they weren’t having a discussion about whatever was bothering her. She knew they’d eventually get to the heart of it. “Were you nervous with Chloe?”
A pause. “No.” Another few seconds filled with the sounds of hangers sliding along metal racks. “Chloe is home.”
“Are you saying Beca’s less?” Stacie grinned even though they still weren’t looking at each other.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.” Very snooty, very amused but then a longer pause. “But my history with Beca is more…”
“Spicy?” Stacie looked over her shoulder and saw Aubrey’s beautiful smile in profile.
“I suppose that’s one way to put it,” Aubrey agreed wryly. “But that’s not quite what I meant.”
Stacie looked around them and lowered her voice even though there was no one else near them in the shop. “You guys have been alone before.”
“Not like this, no. Not since…” Aubrey’s voice was even quieter and Stacie had to strain a little to hear it. “You and or Chloe have always been in the house or within minutes of getting home.”
“Really?” Stacie turned and rested one elbow on the rack. “I’d have sworn…” She thought for a minute, watching Aubrey’s hands as they ran down lacy fabric. Their movements were graceful but precise. Controlled.
Chloe had a convention she wanted to attend the following week and it was Stacie’s turn to go with her, leaving Aubrey and Beca at home to hold down the fort. It was something they had done many times before, but it was the first time since beginning their new shared life together.
The nerves were making a kind of sense now, Stacie mused, reaching out to run her hand down Aubrey’s back before moving past her to another rack of lingerie. She didn’t know yet what exactly was going on in her beautiful wife’s head, but since Aubrey was at least dancing around the subject, it hopefully wouldn’t be too long before she could help work through it.
Briefly she wondered if Beca was nervous before deciding that of course she was. The two women were far more alike than either of them usually admitted to. In fact, she’d almost be willing to place a large sum of money that whatever was setting off Aubrey’s nerves was at least partially in Beca’s mind as well.
“Bree?” Stacie waited until Aubrey turned and held up a random negligee. “What about this one?”
“Hmm?” She turned, eyed it narrowly from top to bottom and pursed her lips before giving a single dismissive shake of her head “No.”
As she turned away, Stacie sighed and hung it back up before moving to stand next to Aubrey and flip through the same rack, though she wasn’t paying any attention to the clothing in front of them. “Are you turning your nose up at everything in every store we’ve stopped at today because you can’t find anything you think will make a good impression on the woman who already loves you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Another precise sliding of hangers from right to left.
“You’re using your high voice, Bree.” Stacie nudged her gently with her elbow. “The denial tone doesn’t work on me anymore.” She’d used to think it was just haughty and dismissive – and okay, sometimes it was – but now she knew that it usually hid uncertainty and a need to look in control when Aubrey felt anything but. “You could wear the Bella uniform and she’d still think you’re one of the three hottest women she’s ever seen. She’d be dying to rip it off you.”
Aubrey snorted. “That last is true – mostly because of the PTSD it would cause.”
“Ooh, yeah. That’s probably true.” She waited a moment, trying to figure out the best way to help. “It’s true though. She loves you and when I asked if you wanted to pick up matching lingerie, I didn’t mean to make you think you needed to dress up.”
“No, I know.” Aubrey glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “And I know I don’t, but…” She bit her lip in a very Chloe manner that made Stacie smile. “I want to make it special.”
“The fact that you exist makes every day special, love.” She leaned over and kissed Aubrey’s cheek. “For all of us. What’s really going on?”
With a sigh, Aubrey finally turned to face her, sheepishly meeting her eyes. “I have a lot to make up for.”
“What do you mean?” Stacie’s brow furrowed.  
She wondered if there was something else she was missing, having obviously not realized that the two women had never been fully alone together before. Sure, she and Chloe hadn’t yet either – a circumstance they were happily changing next weekend as well – but that was more random luck than anything. She knew how they all felt, knew them better than herself some days, and it had never occurred to her that any of them would be hesitant. Not with how much they loved and trusted each other.
Then again, she reminded herself, they were only three months into their new phase of life. A fact that she found hard to accept since it felt like they had been together for years this way. Plus, Aubrey and Beca were built a little different. More prone to listen to their darker fears even knowing they shouldn’t. Not anymore. And now that Stacie was thinking about it that way, things started falling into place.
“I wasn’t nervous with Chloe because she’s been my home for years. But with Beca…” Aubrey continued, looking down and then back up through lowered brows. “I worry she… It’s just that, the first year I was so terrible.”
“Aubrey.” Stacie very much wanted to reach out and hold her but didn’t think it was the place even if it was the damn time. “You’re both so far past that –”
“Rationally I know that!” Aubrey raised her hands in frustration but kept her voice low. “Or tell myself I do.” She signed softly, shoulders slumping. “But does she know?”
It was said so plaintively that Stacie pulled her into a hug, potential audiences be damned. “Know what, love?”
“That she’s as necessary to my continued existence as you and Chloe.” Aubrey pressed her face into Stacie’s shoulder, the words muffled but the worry coming through loud and clear.
Stacie thought about the way Beca would sometimes watch Aubrey in their quiet moments – while one or the other was working quietly on a laptop on the couch; when Aubrey was taking pictures of her garden, trying out her artistic angles while sober – her eyes so filled with peace and love… Chloe had confided to Stacie that on at least one occasion she’d had to make up some excuse and leave the room because it had moved her to tears.
“Oh… I’m very certain she knows.” Stacie kissed the side of her head. “But I’m definitely behind Project Woo Her if that’s what you want. I will never say no to looking at all these sexy outfits and picturing you in them.” She leaned down and whispered in Aubrey’s ear. “And to imagine Beca slowly removing them from you.” There was nothing more beautiful in Stacie’s mind than the image of any of them being together.
With a laugh, Aubrey stepped back, her smile genuine and more than a touch wicked. “Don’t think you’re going wind me up and lure me into the dressing room, lover.”
Relieved at the teasing, Stacie lifted her chin at the challenge. “Don’t think I’m ever going to give up trying.” She turned Aubrey around and patted her on the ass. “Now, let’s find you something that’ll make Beca’s legs weak before you even lay one silken fingertip on her skin.” Aubrey flashed a wink over her shoulder and Stacie felt some of the tension drain from her. It was likely only temporary, but she’d just do her best to draw the rest of it out or, at the least, keep Aubrey distracted for the next week.
In part she supposed that’s why she had made the suggestion that they go shopping for the non-boring sleepwear that Beca said they should bring over. Both because she wanted to reaffirm, once again, that this was all okay and she was one million percent behind this amazing new life they were making as a foursome. But also, that she expected Aubrey and Beca to enjoy any and all of their moments alone just as Aubrey was encouraging Stacie to do with Chloe. Sure, it might be a little strange to just be two bodies instead of three or four, but they all knew each other inside and out – puns absolutely intended – and she couldn’t imagine it feeling awkward for any of them.
It certainly hadn’t phased Aubrey just a few weeks earlier when she and Chloe had finally realized what had been growing between them for years.
Then again, the rest of them didn’t have the contentious history that Beca and Aubrey did, and the last thing she wanted to do was dismiss Aubrey’s worries and make her feel worse about them. Maybe she’d just have to have a talk with Chloe to see if there was matching nerves and anxiety at the Beale-Mitchell household and see what they could do to help their partners relax. She smirked to herself as she continued that thought and realized that even if she and Chlo failed, once the other two were past the first few minutes they would help each other relax just fine. Repeatedly.
After a couple more minutes of perusing, holding up various outfits up to each other and dismissing them, Stacie pulled a white bustier and panty set and held them up. It was satin and lace, zipped down the center and it was solid with none of the peek-a-boo cutouts that she normally bought. Simple and yet it called to her to try it on.
“Hey Bree? I’m going to go try this one.”
“Oh?” Aubrey turned and Stacie held it behind her back. “Seriously?” She pouted and Stacie laughed.
“You’ll see soon enough.” The pout deepened and she relented. “I won’t make you wait until we’re home – you’ll get to decide if we buy it or not.”
“Oooh, I’m in charge today?” Aubrey’s eyebrows rose in delight.
“For now.” As Aubrey laughed behind her, Stacie made her way to the fitting rooms and found most of them unoccupied. Taking the one against the left wall, she locked the door behind her and quickly stripped, knowing that Aubrey would be drifting closer as she looked for the perfect outfit.
The straps over the shoulder were adjustable and fit comfortably and when she zipped the top closed, it wasn’t constrictive. The front of the bustier came down to points that would pair perfectly with nylons and garter straps if one were so inclined.
Each room had tri-fold mirror on one wall so shoppers could get a better idea of how everything looked from all angles and after a couple minutes of turning this way and that, Stacie decided she approved. She’d also decided that Aubrey would look utterly fucking delicious in this same outfit in black and definitely with nylons. Satisfied with how it fit her, she opened the door and found Aubrey only a little way away, holding up another bustier and panty set that was all silk, lace and almost matched the color of Chloe’s eyes.
“We’re definitely going to have to get that one for her,” Stacie said softly, leaning against the doorframe.
“Yeah?” Aubrey tilted her head as she eyed the outfit. “I think so too.” She finally turned her head and toward the dressing rooms. “I thi –” She stopped mid word, her eyes widening and her hands going slack, suddenly nerveless fingers losing their grip on the hanger and letting it fall to the ground, utterly forgotten.
It immediately brought to mind the night she’d proposed; Aubrey had reflexively dropped the rib that she’d been eating when Stacie had brought out the ring. It almost shamed her to admit it, but her ego purred under the immediate desire that lit Aubrey’s face, even as she marveled that this beautiful and complex woman was hers to love forever.
Then Aubrey was moving, a not-quite-casual swift power walk that bordered on a charge. Stacie was unprepared as her wife pushed her back into the fitting room, closing the door behind them. Stacie started laughing as Aubrey’s hands began to run over her hips and thighs; the amusement at the best reaction she had ever gotten in public from Aubrey filtering the slow building sizzle as the touches burned with serious intent.
“Bree?” The chuckles still bubbled up but they were followed quickly by the urge to moan as Aubrey’s fingertips dipped just under the edge of the panties and slid back and forth.
“Can you be quiet?” Aubrey’s lips were busy pressing kisses to her exposed upper chest and Stacie took an involuntary deep breath, lifting herself closer and it was Aubrey’s turn to chuckle against her skin.
“Me?” Stacie found herself in the unfamiliar position of having her mind short circuit and having to sprint to catch up with her normally restrained in public spouse. “You’re the loud one.”
Aubrey’s head snapped up, indignant. “I am not!” To her credit, it was whispered and not shouted like it usually was at home. The corner of her mouth twitched. “That’s Beca.” She slowly backed Stacie up until she was against the wall.
“Oh, right.” Stacie licked her lips as Aubrey’s hands resumed their wandering over her body. She flicked a look at the door and was grateful to see that even in her rush to get them in the room, Aubrey had locked it behind them. “You’re going to get us kicked out of here before we can buy these, aren’t you?”
“Not if we’re quiet.” She paused, just the slightest bit, giving Stacie the opportunity to stop things before they got too far.
As if.
“Well, I did say you’re in charge…”
With a familiar wicked glint in her eyes, Aubrey’s fingertips once again dipped under the edge of the panties but this time she pushed, her palms skimming down and taking the fabric with them until they fell to the floor. Her nails ran back up the outside of Stacie’s thighs and up her sides to trace the edge of the bustier, tickling as they barely grazed her skin. “God, you look amazing, Stacie.” She flattened her hands and ran them over Stacie’s breasts to her stomach, curving them around her ribs before retracing her steps. “You feel so good.”
It was unspoken that they would need to be quick as well as quiet. There had only been a handful of times that Stacie had been able to coax Aubrey into anything even half as risky and all of them had been at night and most with alcohol. She knew without being told that if she hadn’t come before Aubrey reached whatever timer she had going on in her head, Stacie would have to wait until they got home.
Aubrey’s fingers were on the zipper of the bustier and Stacie could tell she wanted to do it slow, teasingly, but they just didn’t have that sort of time. She pulled normally, as if this were any normal trying on of outfits, but the second Stacie’s breasts were free, her lips covered one nipple and sucked lightly.
Stacie’s head rebounded lightly off the wall as she jerked in pure reaction and she winced at the small thump, hoping it didn’t carry. She tried to say something, anything, to keep anyone from asking if she was okay, but even a simple “Oops” wouldn’t pass her lips when Aubrey’s hand slid down and cupped her center.
“I think that one looks great, Stace.” Aubrey’s voice was shockingly even for someone who’s lips brushed Stacie’s nipple as she spoke for the benefit of an audience that might not even exist. “Try the other one.” As if her middle finger wasn’t slightly stroking Stacie’s clit in all the right ways to make her whimper even though that was definitely not in today’s rules.
‘Let’s hear it for Posen control,’ she thought giddily, her legs parting to give Aubrey a little more room. But even as she really hoped Aubrey didn’t expect her to answer, she looked down and saw Aubrey’s eyebrow lift in challenge.
Goddamnit.
She licked lips suddenly gone dry and took a deep breath. “Sure, Bree.” She was rewarded by Aubrey’s mouth on her breast once more, tongue swirling to match the motions of her middle finger.
Stacie could already tell it wasn’t going to take long, the sheer fact of Aubrey – her unbelievably sexy but usually-proper-in-public wife – taking her in broad goddamned daylight, even if they were in a locked room, was enough to throw her halfway to orgasm; she could hear people talking in other rooms for fucks sake and Aubrey was still touching her and showing no signs of stopping.
With an ease brought about only by familiarity and deep trust, it didn’t take long for Aubrey to have Stacie wet and writhing against her. She swallowed the gasp as those long, skillful fingers filled her in a way guaranteed to reduce her to a trembling mess in their bed. Except she was plastered to a wall and had to lock her knees to keep herself upright as Aubrey took her in complete silence, their eyes locked together.
She would have thought it was the images of them in the mirrors that surrounded them that would have done it, but it was Aubrey’s gaze softening from wicked determination to sensual devotion – a distinction and emotion Stacie had never known before Aubrey – that pushed Stacie to the peak. She reached down with her hand and gripped Aubrey’s wrist, pulling up until Aubrey understood what she was after and thrust deep within, her palm tight to the curve of Stacie’s body; letting her set the pace and take what she needed. Her eyes closing involuntarily, Stacie rolled her hips, rising and falling, chasing her release until Aubrey leaned forward and raised ever so slightly on her tiptoes to whisper in Stacie’s ear.
“Come for me, mon Soleil.”
Her body surrendered instantaneously. She pulled harder on Aubrey’s wrist, her hips driving downward in rocking spasms as she rode Aubrey’s touch. Eventually her body slowed and she realized she had no idea how much time had gone by, though she was very aware she didn’t have enough time to sink into the blissful lassitude spreading through her muscles in the aftermath. They had to pull themselves together – or apart as the case may be – and clean up. There was also no way they were leaving without buying the garments that had been so gleefully stripped from her.
In several variations.
Leaning against the wall, she kept her eyes closed for another few moments, enjoying the languor before she had to hustle back into her clothes. Except she heard another zipper and looked around to find Aubrey digging into her purse one handed. She couldn’t help it; she started laughing as Aubrey pulled out a pack of wet wipes.
“Always prepared, aren’t you, love?” Just one of the legion of reasons she had fallen in love.
Despite the hint of rose in her cheeks, Aubrey handed over several. “Never know when they might come in handy.” In a lower aside, she half muttered, “Besides, it’s not like I’m going to go walking through the shop with you all over my hand.” A pause. “You’re definitely going to go pay and I’ll meet you in the car.”
Stacie merely smiled. “’Kay.”
It didn’t take long to clean themselves up and for Stacie to get dressed. When Aubrey left the room, power walking like a champ, Stacie took another moment to rearrange the outfit on the hanger and hopefully make it less obvious the room had been very occupied.
When she went back to the rack, she kept an unobtrusive eye on other shoppers but no one seemed to be paying any special attention to her. Deciding to stop worrying about it, she picked up the same outfit in black in Aubrey’s size, as well as a red outfit of similar design that caught her eye. It took only another moment to find the blue lingerie Aubrey had been holding and bring all four outfits up to the counter.
Finishing the transaction without the cashier giving her any sort of knowing look, she pushed her way through the door and out into the bright sun, wishing she’d brought her sunglasses with her. Lengthening her stride, she headed down the block to where they’d parked the car, anticipation singing through her veins like champagne. She couldn’t wait to get Aubrey home and in bed to return the gift she’d just been given…
And maybe later they’d invite Beca and Chloe over and see who was louder once and for all.
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noceurkoi · 7 months ago
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Sketches for Aubrey's birthday
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143bc · 3 months ago
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Here and Now
eolhceB143
Chapter 2: Meeting Alex
Summary:
The next morning provides a scare. It also leads to a very special introduction.
Ups and downs in this chapter, but more up than down. Trigger warnings are still active for this chapter - mentions of domestic abuse.
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Chloe could feel her hands shaking as she enveloped WJ and Beca in a hug.
She prayed the brunette didn't notice.
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kris246 · 4 months ago
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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Pitch Perfect (Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Stacie Conrad/Aubrey Posen, Chloe Beale/Aubrey Posen, Aubrey Posen/Original Male Character(s), Aubrey Posen/Original Character(s), Chloe Beale/Stacie Conrad/Beca Mitchell/Aubrey Posen Characters: Aubrey Posen, Stacie Conrad, Chloe Beale, Beca Mitchell Additional Tags: Minor Original Character(s), Lesbian Character, Teenagers, College, Alternate Universe - Parents, Mentioned Other Barden Bellas, Oral Sex Series: Part 4 of Captured Hearts, Part 45 of One Shots Summary:
The story of Aubrey Posen before her senior year. Pt.3 of the Captured Hearts series
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atotalpitch · 18 days ago
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hey guys i'm going to a tropical zoo tomorrow would anyone be interested if i did a photo collab of reptiles for each pitch perfect character that reminds me of them
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pitch-perfect-spookfest · 1 month ago
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One month until the FRIGHTS come for the Bellas
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becabeale143 · 1 month ago
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Here and Now
eolhceB143
Chapter 3 / ?
Summary:
A lot to unpack in this chapter.
Chloe is shaken when she gets a more extensive view of Beca's injuries
Beca meets the Chief of Police and Assistant District Attorney.
The brunette has difficult decisions to make.
Notes:
Chapter Text
“Alex, WJ…you two behave” Chloe chuckled, maintaining her ‘mom’ authority. It was difficult, as she was absolutely enamored with antics of the pair of toddlers.
“I’ll be back soon, ladies” the redhead smiled at the guests overseeing the kid's bathroom routines. “I’m going to check on Beca.”
Chloe turned, freezing in her tracks when she caught a glimpse of Beca padding toward her room, with only a towel wrapped around her torso. She had witnessed injuries to guests many times. The shades of blue, yellow, and purple bruises. The scratches present on her dear friend’s shoulder, base of her neck, shook the redhead
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hungryyheart · 11 months ago
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@miidnighters [🎅] our muses meet a mall Santa (from Bella)
"that was great!"
conrad's just as exhilarated as the six-year-olds, when he bounces back over to bella. he's waving his tape recorder around, in his customary fashion, but taking care not to be too enthusiastic, since the PAUSE button keeps falling off again.
"twenty minutes! i can't remember the last time anyone gave me twenty minutes. his name's davy, and he's been a mall santa since '83. the worst thing that ever happened to him on duty was the kid who threw up in his beard in minnesota. he couldn't get the stain out, and the mall wouldn't reimburse him."
he's breathless. which is weird, since he technically doesn't breathe anymore.
"aaaaaand--"
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tiny-maus-boots · 1 year ago
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Down South pt 3
Stacie:
Stacie peeked around the back corner of their house and took note of where the remaining shooters were located. There weren’t that many but a few had taken cover behind still living tumbleweeds that ringed their courtyard. Without a good line of sight Aubrey would be hard pressed to pick them off. In the end each side would resort to potshots at the other until someone ran out of ammo or they lit the house and barn. 
Well that sure as hell wasn’t going to happen on her watch. They had spent good long hours together, sweating and bleeding to build a home from nothing but dirt and clay. It was the proudest work she’d ever done and the most peace she had ever felt and she wasn’t willing to let anyone ruin it for her. For any of them. Stacie gave a soft bird whistle and smiled when a volley of shots rang out from the second floor. Just enough fire to give her cover as she scooted the exposed span from the house to the barn. 
She ducked inside and closed the door behind her. Shouts from the bushes let her know they’d seen her and they were planning to flush her out. Stacie chuckled and rolled her eyes at the predictability. 
“Men. Always in a rush to get ‘er done.” 
The tall brunette ducked down behind a squat platform on wheels and pushed it forward to center it to the door. She stepped up behind it and yanked away the heavy canvas tarp covering her newest baby. Stacie’s fingers traced over the calligraphy lovingly etched on the side of one of the six barrels of her gatling gun. 
Southern Hospitality. 
 Each piece was crafted by her own two hands with the help of the local blacksmith. It had taken her weeks just to figure out how to get the lock cylinder to work and truthfully she’d hadn’t had the chance to try her out. There was a very real possibility that it would blow up in her face from misfires when she turned the crank. And it was still the sexiest damn hardware she’d ever laid eyes on, making her hands itch with anticipation.
“Hello gorgeous.”
Rough voices barked out orders in short staccato bursts. It didn’t worry her none. Stacie whistled a tuneless melody as she lifted the hopper full of rounds and clicked it into place. The activity on the other side of the door became frenzied when the men had finally made their way past the barrage of bullets from the house. 
“We know you’re in there, woman. Come without a fight and make this easy. Don’t make us have to hurt you.” 
If she had a peso for every time she’d heard that. Stacie snagged a long stalk of hay from the abandoned pile and stuck it between her smiling lips. Well, they’d learn just like the others, she never went down without a fight. 
“Well boys, if ya want me you’re gonna hafta just come and get me.” 
The doors to the barn rattled ominously, a threat of what would come if they had to come in and get her. They would come in with guns drawn and ready, that was for sure. They might underestimate who exactly they were dealing with but not enough to be that careless and stupid. Stacie didn’t intend to give them a chance to shoot. The moment she saw the doors buckle and start to bow out she started to crank her girl up. 
Her lips tugged back wider as her grin turned to a grimace from the loud crack of rapid fire shots blasting through the doors of the barn. Acrid smoke from the gunpowder stung her nostrils, the heat of combustion left her face feeling warm and raw like she’d been too close to a blacksmith’s forge. 
Stacie kept cranking until the hopper was empty and the only sounds left were the echoing clacks of spinning barrels rotating through the locking gear. What was left of the lower half of one of the doors creaked in the breeze and promptly fell to the dirt. From where she stood she counted four sets of legs on the ground and none of them were moving. 
Careful steps brought her around Southern Hospitality toward the doors. The woman cautiously pushed the door open and peeked out at the damage. They’d need to replace the doors before the cattle arrived, maybe a plank or two out of the front wall but the building stood strong. Stacie gave a testing kick to the foot of one of the men and nodded with satisfaction. Movement by the porch caught her eye and she drew her pistol without thought and fired.
He dropped to the ground with a groan and a curse. Gut shot. No bullet wound was a good one but a gut shot was the worst. The man raises his gun and fired back wildly, making her have to duck back into the barn for cover. Now she was pinned until he either bled out or one of the girls came downstairs to deal with him. She was guessing the latter would be happening very quickly.
It wasn’t long before she heard the soft fluttering chirp of their all clear call. Whatever end that man had met it ended silently and likely by one of Beca’s blades. Stacie pushed the door open wider and scanned the area. Nothing moved save for Beca wiping a knife on the shirt of the man on the porch. They shared a solemn nod as she closed the distance to the house. 
“We get all of them?”
“Aubrey says yes.”
“Good enough. Who the hell are they?”
Beca knelt by the man and searched his vest pockets. She sighed and ripped off the badge pinned to his shirt to hold it up. Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Well shit. Stacie holstered her gun and kicked at the man’s leg just out of spite. They looked at each other over the Pinkerton’s body, each refusing to say the smartest course of action. 
They could run. They should run. 
But she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Stacie couldn’t even bring herself to voice the idea that felt like admitting so much defeat. They broke eye contact when the front door swung open and Chloe and Aubrey shuffled out. Beca silently held out the badge to Chloe and stood back. The redhead shuddered and dropped the badge on the ground as if it burned. 
Aubrey wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulders and nodded to the men laying scattered around their property with her chin. Her nose wrinkled daintily as she considered all their options. Stacie hoped the blonde wasn’t about to suggest a Christian burial for any of them. She was far past being done with breaking her back for a man. Any man.
“They’ll come looking when this lot doesn’t come back to the pueblo. If they come here they will burn it to the ground if we’re inside or not.”
Chloe shook off the memory that had prompted her statement and hooked her thumbs in her suspenders. If they ran now it wouldn’t matter, everything would still be destroyed. They’d lose everything but their lives and even that wasn’t guaranteed. Stacie tossed her long locks over her shoulder and looked up at the position of the sun. It would be dark soon enough and that would provide them a measure of cover. 
“I don’t know about y’all but I’m all out of run. This is our home now, we built this, and I’ll be damned if I like some shiny metal scare me off our land.”
Aubrey gave her a long measuring look before nodding her agreement. Her soft voice carried the weight of all their thoughts. 
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born…”
“And a time to die.” 
They finished the verse solemnly. Stacie imagined those Pinkertons would agree. Right up until they realized they would be the ones doing the dying. Aubrey mumbled a soft prayer for them all and placed her hat on her head with firm conviction. 
And so their time for peace was at an end, as they were certain to ride into a time of war. Stacie watched the light that had grown in Aubrey’s eyes dim with cold resignation. For now. For now they’d give up their peace. But Stacie would spend every minute until her last bringing that light back if she had to blow up every single Pinkerton that crossed the border.
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