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Chapter 84 of human Bill Cipher getting a day pass out of being the Mystery Shack's prisoner: so it turns out Bill and Pacifica have a lot in common! And it's not weird at all! It's—it's very normal. Their childhoods were so normal.

(Since this entire chapter is from the point of view of a character who doesn't know the person she's talking to is Bill, a PSA for those of y'all who missed it. Thanks.)

####

"Okay, that's as much as I can do to help your hair without deep conditioning it," Pacifica said. "Now let's talk about styling it."

They were back in Pacifica's office, with Goldie seated in his folding chair and Mabel sitting in Pacifica's desk chair (slowly spinning it back and forth) as Pacifica lectured them. Pacifica had given Goldie a spare t-shirt to dry his hair with (you could never have too much spare clothing on hand when you were dealing with farm animals), but he'd just loosely wrapped it around his hair and promptly ignored it.

Pacifica said, "You've got this issue where the weight of your curls pulls the top of your hair down and makes it flatten out near your scalp—but your hair's all the same length, so it really flares out near your shoulders. It's called triangle hair and it is not a cute look."

Goldie and Mabel bit their lips and exchanged a look, and Pacifica got the distinct impression that she'd accidentally reminded them about some inside joke she wasn't part of.

Trying to ignore the feeling that she was being left out of something, Pacifica cleared her throat and went on. "So, uh—you can fix it with like, layering your haircut and stuff? But. I don't actually... know how to do that." All her knowledge of curly hair and its care—much less fashionable haircuts—came from fashion and beauty magazines, which covered things like shampoo and flattering styles but assumed you'd leave the actual hair-cutting to the professionals. "So. I can get your curls presentable, and I guess we can figure out a way to pin it that looks nice? But that's the best I can do without an emergency salon trip."

"You sure we can't leave the triangle hair?" Goldie asked innocently. "I think it's cute. It really feels like me." Mabel clapped a hand over her mouth and snorted.

Pacifica raised her brows. "Do you want to feel like you, or do you want to get the guy?"

"Right, of course," Goldie said. "I almost forgot what's really important!"

Pacifica passed Goldie her phone. "Here—I wasn't sure what kind of look you were going for so I saved a few pictures of curly hair styles, let me know if you like any of these." She searched through the collection of makeup on her desk for the bobby pins and hair ties she'd picked up earlier. "The trend this year is for slicked-back styles, braids, and buns—but your curls are so pretty, I'd hate to hide them." 

Mabel leaned halfway across the desk to try to see the pictures too; Goldie's held out the phone to meet her halfway as as he scrolled—and scrolled, and scrolled, and scrolled. He said, "Good job narrowing down the list to a modest two hundred pictures."

Pacifica said, "Excuse me for wanting you to have options."

Mabel pointed. "Awww, look at that one with all the little butterfly hair clips!"

"It's like butterflies are eating her brain."

"And they look adorable doing it."

"Too juvenile for me. It looks like something Prisma the fairy would wear," Goldie said. "You should wear it."

Mabel's eyes lit up. "You've got to help me make fifty butterfly hair clips."

"You got it." He closed out of Pacifica's pictures, opened up the browser, and awkwardly typed in a search. "Hey, Alpaca, look at this one."

That was the second time he'd called her that. "Do you actually know my name?"

"Rapunzel." He held up a picture of some seventies movie star with thick, feathery hair that fluffed out around her face like the wings of a panicked swan trying to take off. "Think you can pull this one off?"

Pacifica grimaced. "You'd look like my mom." Except even worse and more old fashioned. (She kept that part to herself.)

Flatly, he said, "Oh no, how will I ever convince a male that I'm a prize worth winning if I literally look like a trophy wife."

That would be just about the only part of Goldie that looked like a trophy wife. (She kept that part to herself too.) "And we'd have to give you bangs."

As she suspected, Goldie grimaced and flipped to another image. At least he knew bang weren't for him. "How 'bout this one?"

It looked like a solid helmet of hair, with the ends uniformly curled outward like the embarrassing forced-whimsical hairstyle of the minions of an insane chocolatier. "Ew. That's about the only thing that could make you look even worse than you already do."

"Pacifica," Mabel said sharply. "Be nice!"

"Sorry!" She'd kept so many parts to herself that she didn't have any spare room to keep that part. "I can't do it, anyway. It would need a flat iron and a curling iron, and I don't have either."

"Can't we get some?" Goldie asked. "Any drug store should have 'em, it's a fifteen minute walk to—"

"I don't use them," Pacifica said sharply.

Goldie's stare was like a heat lamp—or maybe that was just self-consciousness heating up Pacifica's face as he scrutinized her. But after several long seconds, Goldie's gaze turned off her face. She quietly sighed in relief.

"Okay," he said. "Then this one." He showed her another picture. It had curly shoulder-length bangs, which wasn't really in style but fine, but behind them was a bouffant shaped like a deflating basketball with a wilting palm tree sprouting out of it.

Pacifica cringed. It was, unfortunately, doable. A note of pleading in her voice, she asked, "Are you really into this look? Really?"

("I think it's pretty," Mabel muttered.)

"Oh, no way!" Goldie said. "Look at that mess! That's way too much effort for a 'do that looks like she did it drunk in the dark in under two minutes."

(Mabel looked at Goldie like he'd personally betrayed her.)

"But," he went on, "it's what our guy is into, and that's what matters here. Right?"

Pacifica studied the picture dubiously. "You're sure?"

"He went through puberty in the 70s! When his libido opened its eyes for the first time, this is what it imprinted on."

Pacifica bit her lip. Well. At least Goldie didn't think it looked good, but. "Can I at least improve it a little?"

"Oh, please!"

She picked up the comb again and grabbed a couple of bobby pins. "No promises, but I'll do what I can."

Pacifica talked a big game, but in truth, she knew a lot more about the theory of hairstyles than she did about actually styling hair. You don't have to film a blockbuster to be a film critic. So at that point, all she could do was experiment with Goldie's hair as she attempted to approximate the picture he'd shown her. She circled around him as she worked—putting in pins, taking them out, occasionally asking him his opinion.

But although Goldie had previously been a non-stop chatterer, the moment she'd started working on his hair, he'd fallen silent.

He only glanced in the hand mirror she'd given him when she prompted him, and then only to give one-word answers—usually "fine." His shoulders were as tense and his mouth as tight as Pacifica's had been the first time she had to wash alpaca poop off the bottom of a boot. And Pacifica had nearly vommed, so, that was pretty serious.

Why? It couldn't be pain. Pacifica had gotten all the knots out of his hair earlier—and even when she wasn't using the comb, it was like she couldn't even move a lock of his hair without him wincing. She kept wanting to apologize even though she was just doing what he wanted her to.

There was something going on here. It wasn't just how uncomfortable he was with being touched. There was also the way he did an awful job of washing his hair even though he knew how to perfectly well. And how he'd rather let Mabel brush his hair into a frizzy mess than comb it out himself. And beyond all that, the first thing Pacifica had ever learned about him was that he'd gotten his hair melted off and needed emergency help to grow it back. "You... really don't like your hair, do you?"

"I like it fine. It's gorgeous." He was speaking through gritted teeth, and he had his legs crossed with his feet under his thighs, palms up in lap, eyes fixed on the blanket Mabel had made, as though having a staring contest with the triangle creep would help him endure the torture without flinching. "I just—don't like messing with it."

"Which is fine," Mabel cut in. "Because I like brushing it!" She quickly amended herself: "Combing it. We've got like a symbiotic relationship going on."

"Yeah! Star girl's my personal stylist! She does my hair and makeup. I wouldn't deprive her of that honor!"

Pacifica nodded slowly. Right—all that, and he was defensive about not taking care of it.

Not embarrassed because he didn't take care of it, it dawned on her; embarrassed because he couldn't take care of it. She had a sense for those sorts of things—a middle school queen bee had to develop that sense—because that was what you targeted if you really wanted to humiliate someone: something that they couldn't help. That was it, wasn't it? He'd said he was apathetic about his body; he didn't care that his hair was messy. Because if he did care that it was messy, he would have done something about it. Unless he couldn't. Like, a mental block.

As she tried for the eighth time to gather the bulk of his hair into an updo that looked sorta fun and casual without looking stupid, she turned over everything she knew about him—about his hair, his apathy, his shame... the things he'd said to her the moment they met, before they even got started.

It wasn't a logical deduction so much as it was an instinct, and just looking at Goldie it seemed impossible; but still she said, hesitantly, "Your mom made you do pageants as a kid, didn't she?"

Mabel sat up a little straighter, confused; but Goldie turned around to stare at her, dumbfounded. "How— What—makes you think that?"

Oh please. He wasn't fooling anyone, it was all over his face. "You're so weird about your hair. It's obviously trauma from your mom."

Beneath his sunburn, Goldie's burned cheeks somehow managed to flush even darker. He gaped at her, wide-eyed and terrified, like she was a psychic who had just told him how his own parents had died. He croaked, "What?"

Pacifica burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh, you should see your face! Listen, you're clearly familiar with pageant life. And I saw so many curly girls getting their hair mauled by their moms half an hour before going on stage. I don't blame you for being weird about touching it! I had it easy—" she flipped her naturally straight hair, "—but even at that, I can't stand using a flat iron to this day."

Goldie relaxed, apparently reassured that Pacifica hadn't read his mind. He settled back in his seat. "Oh, I dunno, I find the smell of burning hair comforting! It reminds me of home!"

"Ha! Okay, yeah, you do get used to it after a while." She started attempt number nine to gather up his curls. "I wouldn't have guessed when you came in. You don't look like a... I mean... you know. No offense."

"Well, duh, you can't tell now." He gestured at himself, "I lost my good looks. What I wouldn't give to have my old body back..." He sighed wistfully.

Pacifica held back a snort. Oh yeah. More than anything else he'd said so far, that convinced her he really was a former pageant kid. In her experience, every single pageant mom trying to relive her own beauty queen glory days through her daughter said things exactly like that.

Mabel said, "Aww..." She stretched a hand out toward Goldie, couldn't reach him across Pacifica's enormous desk, and with a grunt heaved herself up to lay across the top—knocking over a couple of the cosmetic supplies Pacifica had set up in the process—so she could pat his shoulder. "There, there."

"Thanks."

She slid back into her seat. "Did you really do pageants? You didn't tell me that." A note of betrayal crept into her voice.

"I didn't tell her either—" he jabbed a thumb at Pacifica, "—but here we are!" (Pacifica shrugged unapologetically.) "I've got a lotta backstory you're still catching up on."

"Well, yeah, but—you said you just did..." She grasped for the right words, and settled on, "build-y stuff with pageants."

"I didn't say that," he said breezily. Mabel scowled at him; but shot a look at Pacifica, and just sat back without saying anything, arms crossed, her feet audibly kicking at the inside of the desk. 

He didn't seem as stressed about his hair while he was talking, Pacifica noticed. (Maybe that was why hairdressers were so chatty? Or maybe just because it was kind of weird to stick your hands in someone's hair for an hour in total silence.) She asked, "Which pageant systems did you compete in?"

"None you'd have heard about," Goldie said. "They weren't on this continent and it was like a trillion years ago." Before Pacifica could pry about which continent, he added, "Hey, fun fact! Didja know that the first beauty contest in Oregon was established here in Gravity Falls?"

"Pff, duh, of course I know that," Pacifica said. "It was established by the town founder, my great-great grandpa."

"Close, but no," he said gleefully. "It was established by the real town founder."

Pacifica grimaced. "Him? The crazy undead guy without pants? Ugh, no wonder we're the only pageant with a mandatory bird calls category."

"The first three competitions were actually won by birds! They only added a fashion category to balance out the birds' unfair advantage at birdsong. Quentin resigned from the judges' panel in protest."

"He should've taken the dumb birdsong requirement with him," Pacifica muttered. "They make the kids pageant do it too. I had to get a private tutor to learn how to whistle."

"That sounds fun, though," Mabel said. "I can do bird song! Grunkle Ford taught me some. Listen to this!" She let out an admittedly impressive moo.

"Not a bad cowl call," Goldie said. "You woulda killed it at the accompanying bird costume requirement."

Mabel gasped. "I can make feather wings. Hey, do you think I could compete?"

"Not unless you move to Oregon."

"Aww."

"We can still make wings, though," Goldie said.

Pacifica had never had to deal with the dumb bird costume requirement, thank goodness. That only started in the teen brackets. Which made her wonder—"How old were you when you quit? Pretty young, right? Like, no offense, but if you need teenagers to do your makeup..." If Goldie was living as a guy now, it'd make sense if he didn't wear makeup day-to-day; but if he'd stuck with pageants past like age ten, he would have at least learned how to do his own makeup.

"Ha! You're right. I started when I was young enough that my mom could dust glitter on my butt without getting weird looks! I quit around... equivalent to third or fourth grade in the States? She wanted me to keep going—so I said, 'You want me to perform? Fine then—I'll put on the best performance you've ever seen.' And that's exactly what I did!" Thoughtfully, he added, "But for some reason I didn't win the talent portion. I guess the judges weren't impressed that I could play the piano and set it on fire at the same time."

Pacifica cracked up. "Okay wow—I retired during the talent portion too, but how you did it is way more exciting. The year I was aging out of the 9-11 bracket, I kinda had a meltdown on stage over losing to some girl with a hula hoop? Yeah, I did not win supreme that year."

"You shoulda won talent just for that scream! You hit some impressively high notes." At Pacifica's odd look, Goldie said, "Saw it online."

Figured. That was probably coming back to haunt her in ten years. "It's weird. There's like... two ways pageant girls go—er, girls or guys or... whatever."

"Whatever," Goldie agreed.

"Yeah. Either they make it part of their identity? And keep up the makeup and fashion and everything, sometimes stick with pageants as teens or start modeling professionally? Which is what I did. Or they totally burn out, don't want anythingto do with the beauty industry, and just, like, wear sweats forever."

With a faint air of wounded pride, Goldie said, "It's the bedsheet sarong, isn't it."

"No offense! I'm just saying."

"I'll have you know it's laundry day and Jesús stole my clean clothes instead of my dirty laundry." (Pacifica decided to forgive him for the weird fish smell.) "You're looking at me at a low point, kid. I was actually a pretty snappy dresser up until... lllast summer."

Hearing Goldie call her kid gave Pacifica a little jolt of surprise. For a moment, she'd forgotten she was talking to somebody with an age; she'd started to feel like she was being visited by the immortal Spirit of Washed-Up Former Pageant Children. As if he'd died and stopped aging the same time he retired. "What happened last summer?"

Goldie looked at Mabel. "Yeah, what did happen last summer?"

"Um." Mabel froze. "He... lost it all in a... um... overseas parrot circus venture! Yeah—all the trained parrots escaped before the opening night of the circus and he lost all his money."

Goldie let out a shrill cackle. "I like that, I'm keeping that."

Okay, got it, it wasn't any of Pacifica's business. "I think... this is the best I can do with your hair." She stepped back. "Unless you want to pick a style that doesn't suck."

He gave himself a cursory glance in the hand mirror, immediately lowered it, and said, "Sucky style's fine!"

"Don't say that, you look so beautiful," Mabel said. "You look like a babysitter!"

"Well, it doesn't get much better than that." He dropped the mirror on the desk. "What's next?"

####

Next—finally—was the part they'd actually come here for: the makeup.

"Okay, I tried to get around the eyepatch while I was doing your hair, but you've got to take it off for this part," Pacifica said.

He groaned, but muttered, "Fine, I've put up with this tyranny so far," removed it, and looked at her with his previously-covered eye squinted against the light—which was the point at which Pacifica realized that he had eyepatch tan lines... around his other eye. How???

There was no fixing that before tomorrow. She bit her lips, shut her eyes, pressed her hands together, and took in a deep breath. Okay. She could handle this.

"Why do you even wear this?" She tossed the eyepatch to Mabel—it was one of those cheap costume pirate-y looking patches. "Is this one of the Mystery Shack's gimmicky touristy things? Both your eyes work! And wearing an eyepatch when you obviously don't need it is just tacky."

"I've got a neurological condition! Seeing through two eyes messes up my depth perception," Goldie said. "I get migraines if I don't keep one covered! Which is admittedly the most fun thing you can do to your brain without involving narcotics, but it makes it hard to keep down lunch!"

"Oh," Pacifica mumbled. Maybe she should just get to work before she shoved her foot any deeper in her mouth.

She started by slapping aloe vera on as much sunburned skin as she could reach, handed over the jar with strict instructions to apply more in the morning, and gave him an emphatic lecture on sunburns and sunscreen and skin damage that petered out when he cheerfully started telling her about skin cancer statistics. She changed the topic when he started listing his favorite kinds of skin cancer.

She stripped off the nail polish that Goldie had apparently gotten during one of Mabel's sleepovers, and repainted it with, at Pacifica's insistence, something more "mature." (She vetoed Mabel's suggestion to paint little hearts. She vetoed Goldie's request for gold. She gave him the choice between white French tips, pale pink, or solid red. He chose red.)

She hadn't anticipated that her customer would be in such dire straits that she'd need to shave him, so she didn't have any supplies for that; but she also ordered him to get his legs as smooth as the surface of a balloon as soon as he got home—"And do you think there's any chance this guy you're after will see your pits?" "He already has!" "Hm. Okay. Yeah, uh, get those anyway."—and informed him that she would report him to the police for vandalism if he "shaved" using whatever depilatory cream he'd previously used on his hair.

As she finished plucking his brows, she said, "Okay, I think you're finally in decent enough condition for actual makeup." She stepped back, took in his face, and said, "Barely." She grimaced. "I wish I'd bought a concealer with better coverage. I didn't know the situation was so bad."

To his credit, Goldie had taken her criticism (and occasional looks of horror) like a champ. He simply drawled, amused, "The body rituals of the Nacirema are as elaborate as they are bizarre."

She picked up a couple of the foundations she'd bought and held them up next to the eye that had been protected by the eyepatch tan line, trying to determine which one was a closer match for whatever his skin tone was when he wasn't burned. "Who're the Nacirema? One of the tribes that used to live around here?"

"They're still in the area. Look 'em up."

Pacifica thought the darker foundation was closer; she tested it on his inner arm to be sure. "So, how much makeup do you already know how to apply? Any?"

"I can do mascara, eyeliner, and mascara."

"Riiight. Okay, both of you pay attention to what I'm doing." She evicted Mabel from her desk chair and dragged it around in front of Goldie's folding chair. "Because I will not be coming over to do this tomorrow, so the two of you will have to repeat this yourself. Here." She handed Goldie a mirror so he could watch her work.

Mabel hopped up to sit on the desk next to Goldie. "You have one hundred percent of my attention!" She immediately looked away from Pacifica at the makeup brushes laid out on the desk, picked up a fan brush curiously, and started dragging it up and down her arm. "Ooh. Tickly." 

"Emphasize my eyes," Goldie said. "They're my best feature. You can forget about everything else, but my eyes have to look good."

Pacifica looked at his eyes. Pacifica really looked at his eyes.

There was something wrong with his eyes.

She decided to stop looking at his eyes. "Okaaay, great great great, you've got suuuper long lashes, that's fantastic. We can totally draw attention there. You don't even need fake lashes. And you've got nice big prominent eyes. Kinda bulgy, but that should be easy to hide with eyeshadow. I'm thinking maybe a smokey eye?"

"What about metallics? Like gold?" Goldie asked innocently. "Kind of a retro 'secret agent villainess' look, don't you think! It'd bring out the yellow in my eyes!"

Pacifica said, "You do not want to bring out your jaundice."

"Don't tell me what I want."

"No gold eyeshadow," Pacifica said. "Period. If you want to experiment with color, we can try a smoky eye in burgundy. Burgundy is hot this year."

Goldie muttered something about welcoming a bottle of burgundy right now, then said, "Fine! Burgundy."

(As Pacifica looked through her makeup palettes for the burgundy, Bill leaned over to Mabel and whispered, "Do we have any leftover gold eyeshadow?" Mabel nodded and winked. Bill winked back.)

"What about the rest of your face?"

"Skip it."

"I'm not letting you go bare-faced aside from your eyes," Pacifica said. "But we can do a natural makeup look."

"That's so boring," Mabel said. She was dragging the fan brush over her lips now. "If it looks natural why's he wearing any makeup at all?"

Goldie said, "Because humans are insane about the most uninteresting things."

As Pacifica worked her way through the foundation, concealer—she decided his sunburned skin had enough of a sun-kissed glow that she could skip bronzer—and contouring, she said, "You are... really good at holding still when you try." He'd gone completely still, like a statue. A statue that was making direct eye contact with her soul. She felt a bead of sweat slide down her neck. She wasn't sure he was breathing.

"He's super good," Mabel agreed. "It's kinda creepy."

"Thanks!" And just like that, he was smiling and alive again. "I do a lot of meditating! Gimme a focal point to watch and I can go like two billion years!"

"You didn't learn from...?"

"Pageants? Ha! No way, I was the wiggliest little demon you've ever seen. It drove my mom nuts when she was trying to do my lashes. She used to say 'If you love me, hold still' to keep me in place—but you know how contrary kids are when they're mad! Eventually I got fed up and said, 'Well then, maybe I don't love you!' And she didn't speak to me for three days." Goldie laughed. "Ahh, I had the most dramatic mom."

"Wow, my mom would kill me if I ever tried something like that—especially if it was in public where people could see us," Pacifica said. "She hired makeup artists so I'd struggle against them instead of her. Your mom did your makeup? Did she ever hire anyone?"

"Nooo way. We ran our operation on a razor-thin budget to maximize the profits from my winnings. The name of the game was efficiency!"

"My mom's sure wasn't," Pacifica said. "(Shut your right eye, I've got to get your eyeshadow.) We went through like, fifty makeup artists or something. Sometimes more than one while prepping for the same pageant." She lowered her voice a tad, "A couple times when the makeup artist was a creep, I messed up my own makeup just so Mom would fire them."

"Ha! Suckers. Yeah, that's probably how it woulda gone if my mom had handed me off to a makeup artist. I was not afraid to sic her on adults! We didn't have any hired help when I was that age, but the principal was terrified of her. And if another kid at a competition was getting on my nerves, I'd go crying to her that they pushed me and oh, man, she'd come down on their parents like the asteroid on Chicxulub."

"Me too! There was this girl in third grade who was so... I don't know, just—" she pulled a face, "eugh, you know? I complained to mom about her and got her family blacklisted by the whole town. They had to move out of the state just to get a job."

Goldie laughed loudly. "Now that is impressive!"

Pacifica's gut shifted uncomfortably. Was it? "Other eye now." She didn't speak for a moment as she tried to get both eyes matching. "Actually... it was... kinda scary?"

She'd asked her mom if she could puh-lease get this girl out of Pacifica's class. She'd just expected the girl to be switched to another teacher.

Instead, over the next few weeks, she heard about the girl's mother losing her job, then her father. Her older brother got kicked out of the local Future Lumberjacks of America chapter. One day the girl came to school in tears after being cut from the softball team. A couple months later, the girl's friends—the two that hadn't drifted away from her as her family became pariahs—threw her a tearful goodbye party during lunch with a mall-bought cookie cake; and the next day, she was gone forever.

After that first time Pacifica had complained about her classmate, her mom had never once mentioned the girl or her family. She never asked if Pacifica had any more trouble with her. Not even when they left town. It was as though, after her mom ground them under her heel, they were beneath her notice. Just four crushed ants.

But Goldie was staring at her, frowning in confusion, like she didn't make any sense. "What—scary for the other kid?" he asked. "Sure. It's supposed to be, isn't it?"

Pacifica didn't reply for a second. I'm afraid of how good she was at doing exactly what I asked her to do without realizing I was asking for it—that sounded stupid. Finally, she said, "Don't wrinkle your face like that, I haven't set your foundation yet. It'll make it cake up."

"Your moms sound insane," Mabel said. While they'd been swapping stories about their childhoods, she'd been staring at them, chin in one hand, chewing on the fan brush's bristles. "Were you guys tortured growing up?"

"Pfff, what? No, of course not!" Pacifica said. "My parents would never. You've only seen my mom's worst side, she's not really that bad. I mean—not to me. She's horrible to poor people, but that's different."

Goldie said, "Yeah, my mom was my biggest defender! If anyone tried to hold me back, she'd rip them a new one."

"But—forcing you to do pageants until you have a breakdown?" Mabel said, glancing between Goldie and Pacifica, mouth twisting up like the words tasted sour. "Guilting you into wearing makeup and attacking other parents and stuff? That's nuts."

"It's not like that," Pacifica said automatically, then tried to figure out what it was like.

"Now we're calling a kid's temper tantrum a breakdown? You've got a future career in propaganda, star girl," Goldie said wryly. "It's a mom's job to bring out a kid's potential, right? Sure, it drove me nuts at the time—but kids don't want their potential brought out, kids are lazy!" He shrugged, "Yeah, my parents weren't perfect—they didn't really 'get' me, they held me back from reaching my full potential because they couldn't see what it was—but I'd never have gotten on the road to unlocking my potential myself if they hadn't put me on the right path as a kid."

Pacifica nodded. "Totally! That's just normal mom stuff! My parents are exactly the same—they don't get my alpaca business at all—but there's no way I'd be running a business at thirteen if my mom hadn't pushed me to be the best I can be. Or supporting my alpacas through modeling if I hadn't learned how to present myself in the pageant system. Even mini-golf was just a hobby until my parents got me a coach and started taking me to competitions."

"And I wouldn't be the huge success I am today without those early lessons in public speaking!"

Mabel shot Goldie a meaningful look. He pointed at her. "Don't say a word. I've had a bad year, you can't judge me by that. Anyone could've lost their parrots in a freak accident."

"And some kids had it way worse," Pacifica said. "Some parents would hit their kids or scream at them for messing up their routines or getting distracted? Those girls never lasted long, you can tell if a contestant's just going through the motions because she's scared. I was never treated like that. My pageant coach taught my parents to use a 'warning bell,' when they rang it that was my warning to stop goofing off and focus on practicing or listen to them or whatever. They'd pay me in chocolate if I got back in line."

"Ha!" Goldie smacked the desk, "Oh wow, that's hilarious! Pageant coach Pavlov. My parents would have loved that when I was in the toddler competitions."

"Right?!" Pacifica laughed. "Now I'm like, wow, I used to be bribable with a piece of chocolate? Kids are sooo easy to manipulate."

"But hey, it's a good life lesson: the occasional reward and the fear of punishment is a lot more effective at keeping people in line than actual punishments."

Pacifica nodded thoughtfully. "Wow. That's so insightful."

"See?" Goldie beamed at Mabel. "Pageants teach kids all kinds of useful things! Ambition, poise, charisma, self-confidence, social skills..."

She grimaced. "Yeah, but... all the restrictions and pressure and trauma and stuff? That really sounds bad."

"I think you're just bitter that you can't enter the birdsong contest."

She kicked his arm. "I'm serious!"

He pushed back her shoe and waved her off dismissively. "It only sounds bad to you because you were never in the pageant world! It's got its own rituals and expectations, of course it looks weird to outsiders."

"And everyone judges pageants so much more harshly than other competitive sports—which is what pageants basically are," Pacifica said. "Like, pageants and competitive mini-golf took just as much practice, just as much coaching, just as much time and money—but in real life, knowing how to make myself look presentable and talk to adults has helped me way more often than knowing how to knock a ball into a hole. Mini-golf only saved my life once."

"Charisma will get you everywhere," Goldie agreed. "It's the most effective form of mind-control you can do without psychically rewiring someone's neurons."

"Basically! But getting a medal at the Sportlympics has everyone talk about how skilled and hard-working and dedicated you are, and getting a tiara in a national pageant gets people who have never even watched a pageant calling you a bimbo. Like, what?"

"Blatant double standards!" To Mabel, Goldie said, "Both your parents work in Silicon Valley. Their priority is intelligence and grades instead of looks and charisma, so that's why you and your brother get pushed in school—but it's all the same! Parents push their kids to be successful whatever way they know how."

Mabel stared into space. "Huh." She fell silent, gnawing on the fan brush's handle—pondering whether her parents worrying about her so-so grades was comparable to the pageant moms desperate for their daughters' straight hair to be straighter and curly hair to be curlier.

Smugly, Goldie went on, "If anything, the pageant circuit was more useful than school. I—"

"(Stop moving around, I've got to do your other eye.)"

Goldie obediently leaned forward and shut his other eye. "I went from pageants straight into public speaking. I had an entire career before I was out of school. Everyone loved me! I was a natural in the spotlight!"

"Really?" Pacifica said dubiously. She could buy that he might have been a competitor as a kid, but honestly, he seemed pretty creepy to her. Enough confidence could carry you pretty far, but...

He rolled his open eye. "Don't take that tone with me. It was before you were born! And like I said—I've lost my looks. I used to be..."

He trailed off, staring down at his nail polished hands like he didn't recognize them.

He muttered, "I used to be so much better than this."

Mabel reached out and rubbed his upper arm comfortingly.

Sometimes Pacifica caught her mom staring in a mirror, studying her face with an expression somewhere between nervous and depressed, gently touching her fingertips to the thin lines beginning to appear around her eyes and mouth as though she were examining gruesome wounds. Her mother had always said that looks are everything; and even though she didn't talk about her feelings directly, from the way she sometimes snapped at Pacifica to keep up her skincare—moisturizer, sunscreen, hydration, don't frown too hard—Pacifica thought maybe she wasn't worried about Pacifica's face so much as her own.

Goldie only had the faintest traces of the start of wrinkles, unnoticeable if Pacifica hadn't just spent the past few minutes plastering foundation on his face. She wondered how old he was. She wondered whether he had the same fear her mother did: that his body was letting him down, slowly dying all around him.

You don't go through the child pageant world without learning two things: everyone wants you to look and act older than you are; and the older you get, the less anyone wants you.

"I've got to do your lips," Pacifica said, picking out a couple of options: a red so bright it was nearly orange (totally in this year), a nice glossy nude that ought to be a close match to Goldie's natural lip color. "Did you want to stick with the natural look, or...?"

He glanced up from his hands at the offered lipsticks. "What the heck," he sighed. "Let's make it red."

Pacifica nodded. "Pooch your lips out for me, like this." And that was the last they spoke for a while.

####

(Here's your regular TBOB report: no actual plot was changed due to TBOB. I added in a few lines referencing it: the imagery of Priscilla grinding normal people beneath her heel is meant to be reminiscent of Pacifica's giant nightmare on TINAWDC; the "meditating" for specifically two billion years is a direct reference to the barber pole, although I'd already headcanoned that Bill can meditate/dissociate for absolutely vast quantities of time; I already had dialogue where he goes on the importance of charisma and how much everyone adored him as a kid, but I tossed in another sentence or two about charisma just because of how strongly he emphasizes it in TBOB; and originally I had dialogue where Bill went on about what big supporters his parents were, even though he privately feels like they didn't get him—all I changed was deciding to make him admit to some of those feelings out loud, since it's something he says outright in TBOB. I've imagined that he tends to swing between "they were the best/they were the worst" based on how he's feeling at the time with no neutral ground in between—whiiich lines up pretty well with what TBOB gave us.

And unrelated but I spent way too long researching makeup & hair trends in the 70s and in 2013. I had no idea orange lipstick was hot for a while. My idea of doing makeup is painting my nails once every six years.

Hope y'all enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts! I've been eager to dive into this aspect of Bill's backstory and Pacifica's POV for a while.)

[justalittlebitbored]

part two: willow tree | remus lupin

part two: a brand new day

pairing/au: marauders era, remus lupin × reader

summary: you've loved your best friend for as long as you can remember and loving someone who doesn't love you back hurts. a lot.

warnings: angst, unrequited love, sadness, fluff, friends to lovers, childhood best friends to lovers. drinking, mentions of alcohol and parties. no use of y/n. slightly jealous!remus I have not specified what you’ve done to your hair so you pick

this part is set in their sixth year

wc: 9.5k

a/n: sorry about the month long wait guys but here’s part 2

series masterlist main masterlist

“Thank god we’re dorm mates this year.”

Lily was pacing up and down the middle of your room whilst you were laying on your bed, your hands under your chin watching her.

It was hectic business getting her to be your dorm mate this year. She was adamant on it, saying something along the lines of ‘being head prefect does not mean I should get stuck babysitting third and fourth years. Absolutely ridiculous.’

Lily being Lily somehow managed to convince the school to allow her to move into yours. You still had the same room though, the best room in the flat in your opinion, you had an en-suite and the view of the willow tree right outside your window; so unpacking wasn’t an issue for you as much as it was for her.

“I don’t think I could handle dealing with those children for another year. And I- you’re not listening are you?”

You were in fact not listening to her, you had zoned out about five minutes into her ranting. She loudly said your name. When you didn’t respond she said clapped her hands in front of your face to snap you out of your daze.

You jumped and began to teasingly console her.

“I am. You were just saying how glad you are to be sharing with me, because I’m so amazing and smart and funny and-”

You were cut off when one of your throw pillows was chucked at you. You crossed your arms over your face as it bounced off your hands onto the floor.

“Rude.” You muttered with a smile on your face.

“I swear that hair dye must be seeping into your brain because you were much nicer last year. Probably would’ve offered to help me unpack too.” She teased, referencing the fact that you had gotten your hair done over the summer.

It was a last minute sort of thing, your mum had guilted you into it, deciding to pull the ‘you’re at Hogwarts all year and I never get to see you’ card. So mother daughter bonding this summer had been in a hair salon, but she had also spoilt you rotten with new clothes so you couldn’t complain.

When you had come home that day you had sat in the mirror looking at your self for about an hour, pleasantly surprised by the outcome. You looked… pretty.

“Shut up.” You stared at her blankly, a trace of a grin on your face. You shuffled off your bed and stood up brushing your hands against your jeans.

“Come on then, move your cute little butt. Let’s go unpack.”

—

You don’t think walking into Hogwarts on your first day of school every year could ever get old. It was an enigma, a puzzle that had yet to be solved and it just brimmed with magical excellence. Everything you could dream of was possible at this school.

As you walked through the entrance you could hear shrieks of laughter. You looked up and saw some seventh years flying on their broom sticks in circles above the courtyard. You smiled. Nope, it never gets old.

The first day buzz was hitting everyone, you could see the first years being taken on their tours, their little figures being swamped by the uniform that was three times too big on them. Everyone was catching up with their friends about the summer, talking about what they did, where they went.

The issue now was finding your group of friends to catch up with. You had said goodbye to Lily at the dorms, she had to go and talk to the teachers about her prefect duties saying she’d catch up with you later. You stood by the water fountain near the middle of the courtyard looking around for any familiar heads of hair.

“Moony you’re so tall, what did you do, decide to morph into a giraffe this summer?”

Sirius. You rolled your eyes.

Oh god you’ve missed them. Missed Remus. You hadn’t had a chance to catch up at all during summer, especially after that awkward moment before Lily dragged you away.

She had gotten everything out of you, your feelings about him, just all of it. You had talked so much about Remus that night.

You could feel the dread set in and the butterflies in your belly at the thought of seeing him. But you had to act natural, normal. The way you would usually act.

So you spun on your heels and turned about quickly walking towards the group of boys. Remus’ back was towards you, they hadn’t noticed you yet so you slowly approached.

Once you had reached them and resided behind Remus, you stood on your tiptoes and covered his eyes with your hands.

“Guess who?”

You could feel his hands come up gently grab you wrists, keeping your hands there.

“I wonder who it could be?” He said in a teasing voice and you knew he was smiling although you couldn’t see his face.

You popped your head out from behind his shoulder, initially being hidden behind his back due to how tall he had gotten.

The marauders had all gone quiet once they saw you. Peters face filled with a red flush whilst James’ mouth was open whilst he looked at you.

What was wrong?

You awkwardly looked at your feet before looking back up again.

“Um. Hi?”

You pulled your hands away from Remus’ eyes just in time for Sirius to pick up and twirl you around, his hands on your waist. As he put you down you placed your hands on his upper arms to steady yourself. He instantly wrapped his arms around you, telling you he missed you over the summer before he let go you.

James and Peter had also pulled you in for an individual hug and said their hellos.

Surprisingly, Remus hadn’t said anything yet and when you turned to look at him you found he was already looking at you.

“Hey.” You said breathlessly.

He still hadn’t said anything, you could see his eyes darting around your face his mouth opening and closing. This was really starting to get ridiculous now, you had only been gone for 2 months.

“Remus?” You called his name attempting to get his attention.

The only thing that snapped him out of it was Sirius firmly slapping him on the back, an awkward chuckle coming from his mouth.

“Moony she’s back. You’ve been moping around all summer why don’t you say hi instead of… this?”

This seemed to snap him out of it as he charged forward wrapping his arms around your middle. You curled you arms around his neck as he lifted you up and squeezed you tight, your feet just nearly touching the floor as he leaned back with you in his arms.

After a long moment he set you down.

“Hi. I- wow.” He blinked. “You look… um.” He gulped opening his mouth before closing it again. He trailed off, staring at you for a long moment.

You heard a loud, awkward laugh coming from Sirius before he intervened, stepping to your side.

“Pretty. You look pretty.” He rolled his eyes playfully, his hand coming up to ruffle your hair. “I like the new hair, nerd.”

“Why thank you Sirius. Very kind of you.” You chuckled stepping back and twirling around on one foot, your hair flying around your head.

“You look very pretty too.” You teased him.

“Of course I do, this is a known fact.” He said with a smirk on his face.

Idiot. You’ve missed him.

Before you could could say anything else you heard your name loudly being called. You turned around seeing Marlene and the girls waving you over.

You turned around and began apologising.

“I’m gunna go say hi. I will see you guys later, okay.” You began walking away backwards. “Oh and I missed you guys too.”

You said your goodbyes and spun on your heel and walked towards Marlene, you needed a deep catch up with them about the summer too.

That went well right? Although Remus acted weirdly, you acted fine. Completely normally you hope. You shook your head, snapping out of it has you reached the girls.

What you didn’t see was Sirius and James slapping Remus round the head, their laughs filling the air. His eyes were still on your retreating figure, a dazed look on his face.

“Alright, alright. You can stop staring now moony, let’s go to tutor.”

—

It had only been a couple of hours and you had already fallen back into your normal routine, it was like you had never left.

Currently, you were walking down the main corridor towards to great hall where you assumed you were to meet your friends. You all had had potions together that morning but you didn’t share the next lesson after that with any of them.

You were walking with Alexander, a new friend you had just made in your defence of the dark arts lesson. You had clicked almost instantly and had made fast friends. He was in Ravenclaw and was very sweet. It didn’t help that he was also very good looking.

As you reached the entrance of the the hall you both turned to each other and said goodbye, his hand touching your elbow for a quick moment before you went your separate ways towards your relative friends.

You threw your bag on the table and slumped down in a seat next to Lily, right in the middle of the group. The boys had seemingly settled on the left and the girls on the right.

“Who was that?”

You turned to look at Lily.

“Who was who?” Giving her a perplexed look you furrowed your brows.

“That boy who you walked in with.” She was now smirking at you, her comment had drawn the attention of both groups.

“Oh that was Alexander, we just met last lesson. He’s just transferred here from up north.” You explained this, trying to act as nonchalant as you could.

“Oh, has he now?” Marlene had chimed. Her and Lily turned and exchanged mischievous smiles before looking at you.

Oh my god. You truly hated your friends. You could not wait for Lily and James to finally get together. When they finally did, you’ll make sure that they’ll never hear the end of it.

You could feel Remus’ stare from across the table, his eyes felt like they were burning a hole into the side of your face.

“Urgh, you guys are so annoying.” You complained rolling your eyes playfully.

“Only because we love ya!” Lily threw her arm around your shoulder.

The conversation quickly switched over to Marlene and the boy she had met over the summer, with you alternating talking to the boys and then your other group of friends. However, you could feel Remus looking at you from time to time, his eyes flickering to your face before he quickly looked away.

You felt two heavy hands suddenly make their way onto your shoulders before you were shaken harshly. You let out a screech and put you hand to your chest. Hearing loud laughter you turned around to see Sirius stood behind you, swearing at him you turned your back on him with a smile on your face.

“Move over. Everyone’s favourite person has arrived.” He said in a cocky voice as he sat down next to you.

“Not sure about that padfoot, I’m definitely the favourite here.” James exclaimed with a smirk, his eyes on Lily. “Right Lils?”

She turned and gave in an incredulous look before rolling her eyes, a ghost of a smile on her face. Oh yeah, they are definitely going to get together. The whole group had a bet going. You had bet that they’d be together by the end of the year, whilst Remus, Sirius and Marlene were betting that by Christmas he would finally be able to win her over.

“Right, Jack Fullingham is having a party tonight to celebrate the beginning of the year.”

“Umm, who’s Jack Fullingham?” Peter asked timidly.

“This seventh year. Listen it doesn’t matter, I’ve managed to get us all invited so don’t worry about it. I’m ready to party so who’s in?” With a mischievous look on his face he wriggled his eyes brows.

“I swear he hates you. Didn’t you try it on with his girlfriend last year?” Remus raised his eye brows at him.

“Pffft. That’s all in the past now, don’t worry about it moony.” He kissed his teeth and leant forward grabbing the cookie from Remus’ plate.

“Well then, I guess we’re in.”

You heard murmurs of agreement from the girls. With the boys following quickly after.

“Brilliant.”

—

You had been at this party for about an hour now and it was beginning to get boring.

James had dragged Lily off somewhere trying to woo her and no matter how much the girl denied her feelings she had gone along with his antics. What morons.

The rest of the marauders had been stolen from you by Sirius claiming he needed their help trying to seduce this girl in the year above.

Although, you had seen Violet floating about and you were hoping her and Remus wouldn’t bump into each other because you couldn’t handle seeing them interact, it literally made you want to gouge your eyes out.

Not that that would matter to you, you were friends. Just friends.

You had kind of managed to distance yourself from the party and were sat on the counter in the kitchen, a drink in your hand observing the scene in front of you.

There were huddles of seventh and sixth years together, empty cups strewn everywhere with a massive herd of empty bottles by the kitchen sink.

And of course there were couples spotted around, obviously attempting to get lucky tonight and by the looks of it most of them will.

“So, what are you doing sat here alone?” A deep voice next to you spoke out.

Startled you turned to see Alexander stood next to you, leaning against the counter. He was wearing jeans with a top that fit him… nicely you could say. Well, fit his biceps very nicely.

You were suddenly grateful that Lily had dragged you into her room to get ready together, her wardrobe had been of great benefit to you tonight and you were certainly glad that you were dressed appropriately for the evening. That was made clear by the wolf whistles Marlene and your friend Janie had shot you when you’d seen them.

Shooting him a smile you responded. “I’m bored, been ditched by all my friends.”

“Ah, well they made the wrong choice.”

“Yeah I’ll tell them as much if I bump into them again tonight.”

He chuckled, his eyes darting around your face for a moment.

“I’ll stay with you until then. Hopefully they don’t turn up and who knows maybe I can keep you company all night.” He shot you a cheeky grin, his brows raised.

Was he flirting with you? No surely not. He was him and you were, well just you. Your mouth parted and you’d realised you’d just been staring at him a moment too long.

“Or not. Hey, I saw a pretty girl and I thought it was time to shoot my shot.” He said nervously.

You quickly snapped out your daze. Yup, definitely flirting.

“I never said you couldn’t shoot your shot. Shoot it and you’ll see where it takes you.”

Woah, where did that come from. That was bold. Oh god, thank Merlin you had some liquid courage in you.

Interacting with boys was never your forte, definitely not sober and most certainly not drunk.

You weren’t sure how he was going to react until he shot you a smirk. “I guess I’ll be sticking around then.”

You didn’t realise how long you had spent chatting until you heard the front door slam, and looking around the place was now half empty couples had fallen asleep on each other and the party had mainly moved into the garden.

You had been caught up in conversation, Alex was funny and witty and you hadn’t stopped laughing since he had come over to you. He told you all about his life up north and why he moved down to Hogwarts.

After the front door slammed again you both fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, not really needing to fill the gap. He was stood up at the kitchen counter leaning against your arm whilst you were sat on it.

Taking a sip of your drink let out breathe. Alex moved to stand in front of you, even though you were sat on the counter he was still taller so you tilted your chin up to look at him. He rubbed his arm before he began talking and you were now worried about what he was going to do.

He began to speak. “So, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to hang out again? Alone this time, just me and you.”

Oh my god, was he asking you on a date? He was sweet but you still had feelings for Remus and you didn’t want to lead him on. But he could have meant it in a friendly way, right?

“Like a date?” You said breathless.

“Like a date. So what’d ya say?” He smiled at you nervously.

You opened your mouth to turn him down before something caught your eye behind his shoulder. Remus and Violet had just walked down the stairs hand in hand.

You felt sick.

This was it then, you had to begin to move on. You couldn’t follow Remus around like a lost puppy forever.

Alex was a good guy, and maybe if it all went well he could be the boy that’ll help you move on.

You inhaled sharply before meeting Alex’s eyes.

“I’d love too.” You gave him a tight smile.

“Cool. I’ll be looking forward to it.” He gave you a grin and you could tell he was very happy.

Guilt instantly started to fill your veins as you were only going to be using him as a distraction and you couldn’t help feel disheartened at the prospect.

Your gaze found Remus over his shoulder again. He was now alone and slumped against the wall, he was drunk. You could tell by the way his pupils were dilated and he was staring up at the ceiling with a clenched jaw. He was beginning to slide downwards and eventually was going down o take a seat on the floor.

Just because he didn’t love you back that didn’t mean you had the right to abandon him altogether, and that was the reason you said your goodbyes to Alex. You have him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek as you told him you had seen one of your friends that you needed to look after.

Jumping off the counter you began your trek over to Remus.

He was now fully sat on the floor his head leaned back on the wall and his eyes shut.

You crouched down next to his legs and placed your hand on his shoulder as you should him gently.

“Remus.” He let out a large groan. “Remus are you alright?”

“No.”

You rolled your eyes, he was fine but sitting on the floor was not the best place to be at the moment so you began attempting to stand him up. You wrapped your arm around his back placed your other on his chest attempting to haul him up.

“Remus come on. You can’t sit on the floor, let’s go and sit on the couch.”

“No, it’s comfy here.” He half slurred his words.

“Please, come on.” You tried again and this time luckily he listen to you and began to push his body off the ground.

When he finally stood up he leaned against you full and nearly buckled under his weight. The boy had grown significantly over the summer and wan no longer slightly taller than you but rather towered over you now. As Sirius so nicely put it, he’s a giraffe now.

Managing to drag him over the the sofa, you sat him down as gently as you could but that was quite difficult when he had practically lost control of all his limbs.

You were quite out of breath by the time he’s slumped down on the sofa, you did not have the best stamina and you would rue the day you ever entered a gym.

You sat down beside him and pushed his hair off of his forehead as it had flopped down and covered his eyes.

“How much have you had to drink?” You sighed. He grunted.

“Remus, come on.”

“You’d know if you weren’t so distracted tonight.” He said with a huff.

Excuse me, who had ditched who?

“Distracted with what, huh?” Was this to do with Alex?

“You know with what.” He huffed again and crossed his arms and stared forward, a pout on his face.

“What a big baby. You sad I didn’t give you any attention tonight?” He certainly had all of Violet’s attention but you weren’t complaining about that.

He hummed finally turning to look at you.

“Yes.”

Remind you to never let this boy get drunk again, you cannot deal with his moodiness again.

Letting out a deep sigh you put your head on his shoulder and stared forward, you were too tired for this conversation right now and analysing what it all meant.

You could feel his neck tense as he stayed with his head facing you. He stared at you for a long moment before you began feel uncomfortable.

Moving away from his you looked at him with a glare.

“What now Remus?”

If this boy started again you were actually going to slap him, it was nearly 2am you didn’t have the energy for this right now.

“You’re beautiful.” He stared at you with an intense look, furrowing his brows giving you a small smile. “You’ve always been beautiful.”

You could feel your cheeks burning and your mouth softly part open in shock.

What?

“Remus, I-”

There was suddenly a loud bang coming from behind you both before you heard glass shattering. You both turned around to try and look into the kitchen through the sliver of the ajar door.

“Wormtail, I’m blaming this on you.” You heard Sirius say.

“What, no way.” Peter responded.

You heard shuffling next to you and by the time you’d turned around Remus was gone and you could hear his voice in the kitchen.

You slumped harshly back into the sofa.

What was that.

Remus thought you were beautiful, in fact apparently he’d always thought that. Was this a sign of sorts, was he trying to signal anything to you?

Surely it had to mean something? Boys don’t go around telling girls these things unless they truly meant them.

You could feel your face involuntarily turn into a smile, and your cheeks were beginning to hurt as you stared down at you hands in shock.

He thought you were pretty.

Oh god, he had to stop doing this. Dating Violet and then telling you these things, you had no idea what it all meant. It was just confusing, especially when you were supposed to be just best friends.

Your thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Lily sat down next to you, her head on your shoulder.

“Hey gorgeous, what’s got you smiling like that?” There was a teasing smile on her face as you looked over at her.

Act cool. It doesn’t mean anything.

Well it could mean something. Did it mean something?

“Nothing, just thinking about stuff.”

You didn’t want to mention it and get your hopes up if it wasn’t anything special.

She hummed. You could never hide anything from Lily, she had this ability of reading you the way no one else but Remus could and you could tell she wanted to ask about him since she must have seen you both talking.

But she didn’t say anything. Wrapping her hands around your upper arm she brought her legs up and splayed them across your lap and began ranting about James and his antics.

You smiled.

Of course. She could also tell when you didn’t want to talk about things and knew exactly how to move on swiftly and avoid the topic of conversation. How you went without her for 16 years you’ll never know.

So for now you’ll sit and listen to her talk about James, but you know that your not truly listening, your is mind elsewhere.

But you couldn’t wait to reap your shares of the group bet at the end of the year when she and James finally get together.

Sweet victory awaits.

—

“When is it?!”

Hearing squeals you looked up from your notebook. Marlene, Lily and Mary and sat down around you, throwing their bags on the table.

“Sorry, what?”

“I can’t believe we didn’t hear it from you, we’re supposed to be your closest friends.” Lily said with a huff.

Okay, now you were really confused.

“Hear what from me?”

Marlene rolled her eyes before responding.

“The date. With Alexander.”

There was a smug chuckle next to you from Mary.“See I knew there was something more there than what you said.”

Oh, the date. If you were honest you had forgotten about it until now.

“Yes.” You said in a caution voice. “Alex asked me on a date.”

“Oh it’s Alex now is it?” Lily had a smirk on her face.

“When is it?”

“I don’t really know, I think he said Friday.” Taking a bite of your sandwich you shrugged. All you wanted was to eat your lunch in peace, the great hall had finally quieted down since everyone had now left for the courtyard.

“You don’t know for sure?! This is a travesty. Why aren’t you more excited about this?” You couldn’t keep up with Marlene’s intense questioning. “This is Alexander Cromwell asking you on a date. I mean do you know how many girls are crushing on him?”

“Ummm… no I don’t. I don’t even really know how it happened. We were just talking at Jack’s party and it just happened. I honestly forgot about it.”

“You’ll have to make this up to us later for not telling us as soon as it happened.

At this point Marlene was more excited than you were about it. If she liked him so much why didn’t she go out and date him.

“Wait, how did you guys hear about this if I didn’t tell you?”

“Well, we heard from Lory who heard from Anna who heard from her boyfriend Jack who heard it from the man himself.”

You could feel Lily’s stare on the side of your face. Her unspoken question lingered in the air. ‘What about Remus?’ You didn’t want to speak about it. Which probably wasn’t a healthy coping mechanism but it was the way you were dealing with it.

Thinking too hard about your feelings for Remus could literally make it feel as if your heart could shatter. The line between friends and more than that was so blurred between you. Sometimes he would treat you in a way that had you smiling all week, and making your heart feel as if it could beat out of your chest.

Other times it cemented what you really were. ‘We’re just friends.’ was a comment you had heard him say more times than you could imagine. It was very clear to you when he would ditch you for Violet, or the fact that he didn’t come and see you during the full moons anymore.

You had been pushing your feelings as deep down as you could, but you couldn’t help but feel like this was a what if that would only ever be that. Ironic how there are 8 billion people in the world and you’ve managed to fall in love with the one person that would never love you back.

Letting out a nervous chuckle you responded. “Merlin. That’s a lot of people.” You could feel you face heat.

Lily’s pensive stare eventually turned into a question. “Are you excited about the date?”

It was a good question actually. Are you excited about the date?

Speaking to Alex the whole night of that party was the most memorable moment of the night. You could still remember how you felt when his arm brushed yours and the smiles he would shoot you.

And it didn’t help that he was ridiculously good looking. He had sharp features, a strong jaw and piercing eyes. He was quite the opposite to Remus. Where he had fierce look to him whilst Remus had softer features. He was loud and outgoing whereas Remus was quiet and reserved.

It didn’t make sense but oddly in a way it did. You need to reach out of your comfort zone and grow, and potentially that had to be away from your childhood friend.

“I think so. I mean he makes me laugh and he’s so cute. It’s all just exciting.” You could feel yourself become giddy. Maybe a part of you was happy about this date. After all your bad luck in the romantic department maybe this was your gift for waiting.

Lily’s face scrunched slightly for a moment before it turned into a smile.

“Good. You deserve it.”

You smiled back, ignoring the voice in the back of your mind.

—

The date went well. In fact it went better than you could’ve imagined.

There was not a moment that night where you didn’t stop talking, and even thinking about it put a grin on your face.

You also had had your first kiss that Friday. He had walked you home after that date, said goodbye and kissed you under the willow tree outside your dorm. Hidden under the view of all the droopy leaves, it was almost perfect.

Although it didn’t happen with the person you had wanted it to happen with the most, it was still good. Alex was sweet and kind and you almost couldn’t imagine it have happening with someone else.

Lily had forced it all out of you the moment you had stepped through the door, a smile on your face. Even though she had ruined your night by mentioning Remus. She was till weary of your feelings, with good reason, but you couldn’t go the rest of your life being weary about moving on.

Sitting in the common room, you were fiddling with the pages of the book you were reading led across the sofa, your legs crossed over at your ankles. Your mind had been in the clouds recently, I mean you did have a lot to think about.

Like for example, currently you were sat not paying attention to your book or the conversation your were supposedly a part of.

The marauders were sat on the opposing sofa with Remus sat in the arm chair by your head.

“Hey, stop pretending to read and pay attention.” Your were rudely interrupted from your thoughts by Remus knocking on the sofa closest to your head.

“Urgh if I have too.” You groaned and turned to your side leaning all your weight onto your elbow placing your book down on the table in front of you.

“What were you thinking so hard about then chief.” You hated this nickname. James had given it to you after you had taken charge of your herbology group project. It’s not your fault he’s a lazy bastard who doesn’t do anything you tell him to.

Out of the corner of your eye you saw two hands about to come down on the back of the sofa. They slammed down and Marlene leaning forward.

“Probably about Alex, and their date, and how romantic he is and what a good kisser he is.” She teased you.

She and Lily came around and sat down on either side of you whilst you sat up. You could feel your cheeks burning. This was not a conversation you wanted to have now. You had not told Remus about it yet, you had blocked that thought from your mind. If you had told him all you would done in the back of your mind would compare the night to what he would’ve done if the date was with him.

The shock on their faces was clear.

“You went on a date?” Peter muttered out, his eyes wide.

“By Merlin’s beard. Really? I thought that was just a rumour.” Sirius leaned back in his chair and smirked at you.

“With Alexander Cromwell? You said you were just friends.” Remus finally spoke out.

You finally met his gaze. His brows were furrowed a tense look on his face.

“Yeah, we were. It kind of just happened.” You scrunched your nose with a smile.

His jaw clenched tightly.

“It just happened. How does something like that just happen?” His voice was dark, he was not happy.

He should be happy for you, I mean he has Violet and you had no one. This is something Remus should encourage.

“I don’t know, we’ve spoken a couple times and it was good so we just went for it.”

What was his problem? You chuckled nervously and look around seeing Sirius and Lily staring intensely at Remus with their brows furrowed.

“When did it happen?” His frown deepened.

Fuck. Looking around you could see the awkward expressions on everyone’s faces, you almost wanted to die on the spot.

Luckily for you, Marlene responded instead. “A lady never kisses and tells Remus, come on you should know this by now.”

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Why was he doing this right here, right now.

“Yeah Remus, you don’t hear all about the feathers I’ve ruffled.” Sirius gave his input, you could tell he was attempting to ease the awkward tension and with Lily’s response the conversation moved on from your date.

“It’s all I hear about thank you very much. Sirius did this, Sirius is an ass, etc etc.”

He let out an exaggerated laugh. “What lies, I am a very nice gentleman for your information.”

Everyone began giving their input and you finally started to relax, slouching into yourself and refusing to look at Remus.

His stare was obvious along with his disapproval, and no matter for how long you refused to meet his stare you could feel him looking at you every so often with that frown you knew too well.

This wasn’t quite the reception you were expecting from him.

But you decided to do what you always do, which is ignoring your problems, so you kept your gaze forward.

You wouldn’t meet his eyes and you will most definitely pretend like it was no big deal.

No big deal at all.

—

The year had now passed by quite quickly, Easter was approaching and you finally had the chance to go home soon. Finally a change to get away from Remus.

Things had been weird between you two, there was this underlying tension that you didn’t know how to break, ever since you had started dating Alex.

Remus hated him and he constantly made this know. His behaviour often made its way into your late night thoughts. You would lie under your covers, your hand under your head think about him and he had been acting these past couple months.

The behaviour he was displaying would usually incline a girl to believe that he liked them, and the way he acted towards Alex was intriguing.

It was things like this that would get your hopes up, it would make you believe that there was a chance that he would return your feelings. However, his relationship with Violet would indicate otherwise. They had gotten back to get her around November time and had been together since.

These mixed signals he was sending you made your head spin. It would also cause waves of overwhelming guilt to wash over you. Alex was a great guy, he was smart and funny and you got along great, but there was something that was missing. A spark, a feeling, just something. You couldn’t help but ignore the fact that the thing that was really the problem were your feelings for Remus.

Lily had voiced her concern several times about this issue and you had shut the conversation down every time and ran away. It felt humiliating talking about it with her, especially when she had James in the palm of her hand. She was beautiful and a genius could have just about anybody had she ever wanted too.

It was different, she never had to deal with the pains of unrequited love.

Being with Alex was a distraction you welcomed, he took your mind off of Remus and it was good. You didn’t have to think about the pain of it anymore, it made it easier to bury it deep down. They were different enough that you couldn’t really compare the two, which helped a lot. If you had dated a Remus 2.0 you would not have been able to handle it.

Alex did however play quidditch which was a massive distinction the two boys and you were currently on your way to one of his matches. It was Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw tonight which was kind of a conflict of interest.

All of your friends were Gryffindor, as were you, so you were kind of a traitor considering you were cheering for Ravenclaw. However, this factor did mean that you could never lose, if Gryffindor won your house had succeed and if Ravenclaw won your boyfriend had succeed.

You were currently putting on a Ravenclaw scarf that Alex had asked you to wear, it was his. It was almost a way of claiming you were his and the concept of it was very adorable.

Initially he had asked you to wear a version of the robes he would wear in the matches but you thought that might be a bit too much and tip your friends over the edge, so you settled for wearing his scarves. The deep purple was a bright contrast against Gryffindor’s colours so you stuck out like a sore thumb but at least he could always see you when he was playing.

Lily and you were currently on your way to the stadium, hand in hand you had left your accommodation and were chatting along the way. The group had all decided to meet before hand and walk to the stadium together, that referred to all of you that didn’t play - which was everyone but James and Sirius.

You were currently approaching the meeting spot and you could see Marlene and Mary were already there.

“Hey guys!” They both waved at you as you walking up to them.

“Hey! Where’s Remus and Peter?” Lily had asked in a curious tone. She hated the cold and was eager to get to the stadium.

Well that was the reason she had told you but personally you think she may have an ulterior motive. Potentially her eagerness wasn’t linked to the cold but perhaps for a certain someone that she wanted to see.

Mary shrugged noncommittally. “I think they should be on their way, I mean they’re usually on time.”

“Well they’re here now so we can probably get going.”

You could see the two boys behind her shoulder, so you nodded you chin upwards with your gaze on them.

You all started walking towards them, meeting in the middle and saying your hellos.

“As much as I love this chitchat, can we please go, I feel like my hands are about to freeze off.”

“Alright, alright let’s go grumpy.” You chuckled as the six of you began your trek over.

Remus had coincidentally ended up next to you, and you both walked in stride along the pavement.

“What are you wearing?” He said your name in disgust. He was referring to your scarf, he did this every single match without fail.

“A scarf.” You played dumb because you were so done with this conversation.

“You are a Gryffindor you know.” There was a pointed look on his face as he tugged gently on one end of your purple scarf.

“Because my boyfriend is a Ravenclaw and I support my boyfriend in his endeavours.”

He let out a groan. “But you’ve never liked quidditch, I always had to drag you to these matches before.”

“I never had a reason to go before.”

Remus rolled his eyes so hard you were sure they were going to get stuck like that.

“Here we go again. I still just don’t understand why you don’t like him.”

Letting out a tut he responded. “He just gets on my nerves.”

“Sure uh huh, because that’s definitely the reason.”

He let out a huff and was quiet for the remainder of the walk to the stadium and as you took your seats in your house’s box.

Overall the game was a tense two hours, with the whole school on the edge of their seats. This was a long awaited game.

Ultimately Ravenclaw pulled through and won after the long match, neither of the teams had been able to catch the golden snitch.

As they had scored the last goal you jumped up and let a loud cheer. You heard booing behind you and you turned around to see pointed glares at you. Shrinking in to yourself you gave everyone sheepish smiles.

Well, at least Alex had won, right?

You all had began walking down towards the pitch, attempting to push past the throngs of people.

“Stop smiling, it’s annoying me.”

“Shut up Mary, it’s okay not everyone wins every time.” You smirked at her. She gave you a playful push and you stumbled into Remus’ arm. You looked up at him and he had a deadpan look on his face.

Your name was called loudly.

Spinning around you attempted to find where it was coming from.

It was shouted again.

Before you knew it Alex was in front of you and had planted a fast one on you. His hand was on the back of your head as he gave you a long kiss.

You heard an annoyed sigh coming from behind you and you decidedly ignored it knowing that it came from Remus.

Eventually, you managed to pull away from Alex. He gave you a massive hug, his sweaty body all over you.

“We won.” He had a grin on his face, his eyes sparkling. It was moments like this where you looked back at him and you felt so guilty because you knew that you could never return his feelings they way that he deserved.

You let out a breathless chuckle. “I know, I saw.” Giving him a a big smile you pushed his hair out of his face. “You played really great.”

“I had a special girl I was trying to impress in the crowd.” With a smirk on his face he leaned in to kiss you again.

Pulling away, your hand slid down from his arm to his hand. You see, Alex was a big fan of pda and unfortunately you were not. You didn’t know if it was because of the fact you didn’t have very strong feelings for him or because you just didn’t like it all together but he was a big fan of it.

He loved giving you long kisses and having his hand on you as often as he could and whilst you appreciated it, Remus’ glares on the back of your head every time stuff like this happened was clear and made you very very uncomfortable.

In fact you could feel his stare deep in the back of your head at this moment.

“Alright, alright. We get it you won, no need to show off.”

James had walked up to us in this time and gave Alex a firm pat on the back along the way.

Alex wasn’t the gloating type but you knew this match had meant a lot to him. Why this one specifically you don’t know, but it was something he was very passionate about.

“No hard feelings right, Potter?” He gave the Gryffindor boy a playful grin, his eyes lighting up. He was like the human version of a puppy.

James gave Alex a deadpan look as the corners of his mouth begun to turn upwards. Before he could smile fully he looked down towards the floor and gave a playful scoff.

“Shut up.” He muttered loud enough for us to hear.

As much as the marauders hated to admit it, Alex was a great guy. You knew how much they respected Remus but you could tell they disagreed with his feelings about your boyfriend, and each one shared a wholesome friendship with him.

Your herd of friends were currently waiting for Sirius, the boy had a habit of being late. Everywhere. His habit normally had something to do with a girl, and if he was late after a quidditch match it was definitely to do with a girl. He was seeing someone called Marcy at the moment and your top guess was that he was caught up with her.

“So did you want to do something now, or later?” You looked back at Alex after you had finished scanning your surroundings.

You were both currently holding both of each others hands, with him leaning back and forth into you and away from you, whilst his bag was on the ground next to you.

Looking up at him you gave him a shrug and kissed your teeth before responding.

“I don’t really know, what do you want to do?”

“It’s up to you.”

This boy. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“Don’t do this to me.” He smirked at you whilst his thumbs began rubbing along the sides of your hands in a calming motion.

“What ever you want to do is good.”

“Stop, you know how indecisive I am, I can’t decide. I don’t mind so you pick, please.”

Furrowing your brows you scrunched your nose and looked at him whilst tilting your head.

After a moment of you both staring each other down he smiled and began to tut at you.

“Fineee. I’ll choose, you know it’s very tiring having to hold the weight of these decisions everytime.”

“Shush now.”

“I’m sorry.” He leaned in and pecked your lips. “We can go to a restaurant and grab some food now?”

You quietly let out a long hum and furrowed your brows.

“Okay. Or we can go back to yours, watch a movie and order food in. Ares can go grab it.”

This time you let out a short hum and smiled. Ares was Alex’s owl, you loved that little guy. Particularly, when he would travel all the way for the city to get you food and come back.

“Alright.” He pulled you in for a hug and wrapped his arms tightly around your shoulders, pinning your arms to your sides and reducing a majority of your movement. “And you say I make all the decisions in this relationship.” He kissed the top of your head.

You scoffed and pulled away from him before smacking his chest with the back of your hand.

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a two way street lady, what just happened here then, right now.”

He had a point. But technically without him giving you the options you couldn’t have mutually decided which one you wanted to do.

“It was a mutual agreement, you ass.”

You let out a loud, dramatic breathe before playfully rolling your eyes. Leaning down you grabbed his bag and shoved it into his chest and stepped away from him before turning around to speak to everyone else.

“Umm, we’re going home. So we’ll see you guys tomorrow, right?”

Raising your eyebrows you let out a meek smile. Firstly, because Lily will hate you for ‘leaving her here alone with these idiots’, aka James Potter, alone.

Secondly, because you cannot stand to see Katie Jelson pine after Remus. She had recently began to tag along with your group when Remus was there and Merlin, she looked at him like he had hung the stars in the sky.

Is that how you look at him- looked at him. Reflecting back on your fifth year it must have been so obvious. All you could think about was if he pretended to not know about and ignore your feelings for him like he was doing to Katie.

Did he also complain about you to the marauders as he was doing with Katie.

It was humiliating, looking back there was no way he couldn’t have known. At least you had Alex this year as a distraction so help you move away from your love for your childhood friend.

You felt terrible, leading the boy on. It was selfish and you were a horrible person, and you knew that. Lily knew that.

But you ignored it, you ignored the guilty feeling when he smiled at you. The nagging voice in the back of your head when he kissed you. And you too, like Remus, pretended you didn’t notice. It was easier than having to acknowledge the harsh realities of his non existent feelings for you.

“I’m sorry, what do you mean your going home?” Lily instantly gave her disappointed gaze, God you felt sorry for her future children if they had to deal with that. At least you could bond with your future nieces and nephews about it, hey?

“Alex is really tired from the game- ” Said person pinched your hip as he knew you were lying. “-so we’re going to watch a movie and get some food in.”

Caught in a staring match with her you didn’t see Sirius walk up next to you.

“Aw yes. I don’t think I could go another second out here, ordering food in sounds like a great idea.”

His hair was ruffled and he had a suspicious red mark beginning to form behind his ear that you, and you assumed Alex, could see whilst stood next to him.

“No, Sirius it was just-” Alex joined in and began to defend your plans together.

“No it sounds like a great plan, let’s go.”

Remus had interrupted you and when you looked towards him, he was already looking at you. Well rather he had his hard gaze directed towards your boyfriends hand on you hip.

Again no matter how long you had been with Alex, Remus would always find be moody and find something to glare at. Alex however, no matter how hard you tried to avoid the pda in front of your fellow werewolf, would always end up doing something to piss Remus off.

It was an endless cycle. Frankly, you couldn’t tell which one of them started it and you didn’t want to have to have to choose between because you knew your answer.

You knew who you would pick.

You didn’t even have to think about it.

Both of you began protesting telling your friends it was okay, they really didn’t have to join.

Lily gave you a smug smile. “Nonsense, I’ve gotten quite tired of not spending any time with my best friend.”

“Lily.”

“Alright everyone let’s go. Our humble abode awaits.”

—

Looking back on that night, it had been a weird one.

Lily and Remus had both been acting particularly weird and you couldn’t tell why - for either of them.

Neither of them would let you or Alex retreat to your room, both adamant on keeping you in the living room with everyone else.

Remus specifically was very against it, you don’t know why. You and Alex weren’t going to do anything in particular in your bedroom, but anytime you got up his gaze would dart to your conjoined hands and his jaw would clench before protesting.

You were both just tired and wanted to sleep, he had had a long match and well you, you were literally just tired. There was no funny business happening there.

Anyways that long night had since passed and it was the beginning of summer.

The summer before your last year at Hogwarts and the nostalgia had began to hit you. You were currently sat on a rock on the side of the hill you and your friends were on.

The sun was beginning to set and the view. Well, you had never in your life ever seen anything so gorgeous.

You took a deep breath in before exhaling slowly, shutting your eyes for a moment.

It has been a long year, one that you’d hoped to forget. With Alex and Remus’ weird rivalry and then Remus’ fangirls. Lily’s weird behaviour and well… really just everything.

You heard soft steps moving towards you as some one situated themselves next to you.

“Hey.”

It was Remus, you could tell from his deep voice.

“Hi.”

You kept your eyes closed.

“Whatcha doing here, by yourself?”

Keeping a neutral expression you replied. “Just thinking about stuff.”

“About what?”

You opened your eyes and stopped leaning back in your hands, sitting up straight. Pulling your knees into your chest, you wrapped your arms tightly around your legs whilst placing your head on you knees and faced him.

“How much of an idiot all of my friends are.”

He smiled and scrunched his nose. Since it had gotten warmer and was now summer he had more freckles appearing on his cheeks, a new one under his eye and another on the tip of his nose.

“Hey, that’s what we were all thinking about you.”

You chuckled and raised your brows at him. “Sure, sure.”

He moved closer towards you and glanced at your face.

“So, where you going this summer? You leaving me alone again then?” His cheeky smile lit up his whole face, all but his eyes. You knew him so well you knew all of his expressions, bad and good.

“Nowhere actually. I told my mum I was staying here for the summer. Needed to spend time with my best friends.”

“Did you mention me? That was probably what convinced her.”

Your mum loved Remus. You don’t know why particularly, well you knew why you liked him, wasn’t too sure about your mum though. But he dangled this fact above your head as often as you could and it drew you mad.

“Yes definitely, that was the main reason why.” You gave him a mocking smile and looked down at the rock you were sat on, scratching your nails on it.

He was the reason why you were staying, he couldn’t fault you for for lying there.

“Shush, you really staying then?”

“Of course.”

The smile he gave you was one of the smiles that made you fall in love with him, it was so pure and innocent. He looked unburdened by the stress of his secret. He looked beautiful.

“Alright then. We can finally do everything I had planned to do last year. Do you still like the beach?”

You answered him and he smiled letting out a laugh.

“Of course, who doesn’t like the beach?”

“Sirius.” You chorused together with a smile.

“The sand gives his delicate skin a rash, you know.”

His comment made you laugh loudly.

God, you had missed this. Your banter had kind of died down the last couple of months, the both of you had been caught up with school and hadn’t had the chance to catch up with one another.

And that was were you both remained for the rest of the night.

Until the sun disappeared and the starts shone brightly you both sat on that rock and talked for hours, your friends leaving you both to your own devices.

It was something you had missed greatly, missed him.

The summer was going to be good. You had Lily and Marlene. All the marauders, Remus. You had to make the most of it all while it lasted.

“Look- a shooting star. Make a wish”

Hours had gone by since you had both started speaking and you hadn’t even noticed the sun go down until the boy sitting next to you had pointed it out.

You closed your eyes and made your wish.

When you opened them again Remus’ wide gaze was on you.

“What’d you wish for?” He asked you this every time and every time you had the same answer.

“If I tell you it won’t come true.”

Then he would complain about it and say that wishing on a star was just a concept, not magic related.

Then you would interject that folk tradition says that shooting stars are when gods have their eyes on Earth; they listen to people's wishes and make them come true.

He would then say ‘God’s aren’t real’, and you would argue that ‘if magic is real, why can’t God’s be?’

This debate then could last hours between the two of you but it would never get old.

Your wish had been that that night wouldn’t never end. Sadly the sun listens to no one and rose again the next morning. However, you had no recollection of how you’d gotten home or in your bed or who had tucked you in.

But you remembered a featherlight kiss on your forehead and someone stroking your hair before you fell into a deep sleep.

And you definitely remembered the smile on your face as you drifted off.

part 3

tag list:

@diorgirl444 @starkluvrr @theweasleyskettle @milkteeboba @blakeblue01 @starqwerty20 @iluvfetuszarry @raindropstearsandtea @katsuniverse @middle-of-the-earth @speedunkle @mypeace4 @garfieldsladybird @welnasynchbest @marauders-eras @4rt3m1ss @aki-chan-20 @poetsneil @stained-tea-cup @hawkinsavclub1983 @spxcekru @stars-havefallen

-

[amandapalmer]

Sexy new author photo time! I never wear my hair down but I’m getting brave so you better believe I’m serious about getting back into being an author this year. And…while I have you here, a great excuse to talk about my upcoming book-y events. ✍️

Fate dealt me a great hand when I was working away in the Porter Square Books café a few months ago and I ran into the photographer Mark Ostow, who asked if he could take my portrait.

And boom, beautiful new author photo for me!

I am working on deals for several new books and it’s VERY EXCITING!!

And at the same time, I’ve been steeped in so many incredible and inspiring new books and made friends with so many POWERHOUSE GODDAMN WRITERS from the NY area…and hell, I have my own venue….

…so I decided to connect all the dots and I’m hosting three salon-style “in conversation” events this month at Graveside Variety, my little crowdfunded hidey-hole in Woodstock, NY.

Co-presented by our local indie The Golden Notebook Bookstore, only 50 tickets for every conversation (all tickets are $25 and help keep the venue afloat) and will include a Q&A with me and each author.

We are also curating a special book sale table for each event! There’ll be coffee and tea and tears and truth and I hope you all make the trip. This is the way I really wanna say goodbye to this iteration of this venue: with stories that don’t usually get told. With stories that matter. Come share in the moment.

I’ll be throwing down with authors:

Elizabeth Lesser (bestsellers “Broken Open” and “Cassandra Speaks: WHEN WOMEN ARE THE STORYTELLERS, THE HUMAN STORY CHANGES”)

May 12th - 12:30pm

Katherine Yeske Taylor (author of brand-new “SHE’S A BAD ASS: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism”)

May 18th - 1pm

Leslie Jamison (author of best-selling “The Recovering” and the new - incredible - “Splinters”)

June 1st @ 1pm

Get tickets FAST. Leslie’s day is nearing sold out. These are gonna be so so cosy and good. Read the books and come armed with questions !!!

All tickets here:

Gravesidevariety.com

We are at 33 Rock City Road, in Woodstock, NY

📚♥️🙏

[gali-la]

FIC REC FIFTEENTH

I've been so busy lately I've been neglecting the good fics of AO3. In the spirit of getting back into it, I'm gonna make a list (or recommendation list) of the fics I read and like over the course of the month!

Disclaimer—these are not One Piece specific, despite the majority of this blog being so. 'Tis whatever strikes my fancy

(tagging the authors whose blogs i know/can find because i need you all to know i love you sm. feel free to yell at me)

SFW FICS

Bad Hair Day by Aerle [2.9k, One Piece]

Ratings: General Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Thatch/Izou Additional Tags: Hairdresser au Summary: When Thatch is about to close his hair salon early because of the heat, a last minute and rather desperate customer shows up. Notes: Absolutely adorable fic!! from a favor for a near-stranger to sweet small talk and conniving matchmaker friends... this one has so much packed into a cute little one shot. Absolutely recommend!!

go ahead and bite off more than you can chew by gendervapor ( @gendervapor14 ) [1.1k, One Piece]

Ratings: Teen And Up Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Charlotte Katakuri/Donquixote Rosinante Additional Tags: Romance, first kiss, insecurity, domestic fluff, established relationshipSummary: "You—you hardly know what I am, what I look like. And you think I’m planning to wed you? I couldn’t." Notes: Sweetest thing on the planet written by the sweetest person on the planet (ya im a little biased. fite me). The delicious insecurity and subsequent reassurance all topped of with a first kiss!! this fic will forever have my heart and soul <3

OP Rare Pair Week Day 5 - Season by ArgelTal ( @chaoticargeltal ) [1.3k, One Piece]

Ratings: General Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Akainu | Sakazuki/Ryokugyu | Aramaki Additional Tags: Admirals polycule, cute, fluff, domestic fluff, fluff and humor, one-sided crush, pre-relationship Summary: Day 5 of the One Piece Rare Pair Week, prompt: Season. Aramaki hates winter. The cold is terrible on his plant body and the sun is too weak. But then he finds a new sun in Sakazuki. Notes: Absolutely adorbsss I love the dynamic between all the admirals. I'm normally not a marines fan, but this fic could just about make me one XD

Those freckles are misleading by Lerya ( @lerya-fanfic ) [1.4k, One Piece]

Ratings: Mature, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Marco/Ace Additional Tags: miscommunication, mutual pining, modern au Summary: Marco couldn't deal with this, he had only just started teaching history at Grand Line University, there was no way he was putting all of that on the line because he student was flirting with him. He's less than stellar sex life can't be the reason why he'd dare to do this. The 'student' in question is hot though, but still not worth his job. Notes: A lot of this fic was me just laughing at Marco, poor guy. Thank god Izou comes to the rescue—I'm pretty sure Marco wasn't gonna survive much longer. Ends with a sweet date and a night spent together!! Absolutely worth reading

challenge by starbitz ( @j1rouz ) [1.3k, One Piece]

Ratings: General Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship(s): Zoro/Luffy Additional Tags: feelings realization, first kiss, roronoa zoro and vinsmoke sanji bickering, roronoa zoro-centric, slice of life, fluff, canon compliant Summary: "You don’t have a romantic bone in your big, dumb body,” Sanji quips, giving Zoro a hearty shove. Notes: One of my favorite zolu dynamics—captain and his first mate being silly and dumb together. This fic totally captures that in the best was possible <3 beginning to show up sanji and ending so sweetly

for what it's worth by de_winter [6.8k, One Piece]

Ratings: Teen and up audiences, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Thatch/Izou Additional Tags: modern au, getting together, friends to lovers, mutual pining, cabin fic, first kiss, Summary: A year since they’d seen each other in person, and Izou had once again forgotten how good Thatch looked. An impossible feat, now that he once again laid eyes on those shoulders. With each passing year, Thatch seemed to look better and better, and his sweaters seemed to be getting smaller and smaller at the same rate. Notes: One of my fav Thatch/Izou fics. the way theyre both so in love with each other... GOD its fucking delicious

Observe When I Am Dead by Augment [8.3k, One Piece]

Ratings: Mature, creator chose not to use archive warnings Relationship(s): Zoro/Luffy Additional Tags: angst, thriller bark fallout Summary: Kuma offers Zoro a slightly different deal. Notes: god the PAIN with this one. absolutely recommended read 10/10 zoro's devotion and silence—god it hurts and tastes so GOOD

pay you in love without returns by wishbone [3k, House M.D.]

Ratings: Teen and up audiences, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Greg House/James Wilson Additional Tags: gift giving, friends to lovers, lack of communication, joke proposal is treated seriously, marriage proposal, relationship advice, wedding rings, angst with a happy ending Summary: When Wilson tells House how much he spent on the Hammond organ he gifts him, House makes a mistake that will reveal their feelings for each other. Notes: Poor wilson—though to be fair, they're both idiots in this one, and i wouldn't have it any other way. if you want some feels and some happy endings with a dose of oh god that hurt you're dumbasses, this is the fic for you!

honest with you by astrange_one [8.8k, My Hero Academia]

Ratings: Teen and up audiences, Creator chose not to use archive warnings Relationship(s): Yamada Hizashi/Aizawa Shouta Additional Tags: fluff and angst, hurt/comfort, mutual pining Summary: Hizashi doesn't want to be a burden to anyone, but he forgets that things are different now compared to back when he was in foster care. Because if there's one thing he's perfected over the years, it's keeping his problems to himself. He's used to it, after all. It's just that Shota doesn't like it when he does that. Notes: this is angsty as HELL. Total Mic whump (yum) with a happy ending. delicious

Eye of the Beholder by Heronfem [6.8k, My Hero Academia]

Ratings: mature, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Sero Hanta/Todoroki Shouto Additional Tags: Falling in love, idiots in love, didn't know they were dating, oblivious, humor, romance, first kiss Summary: “I’m just saying,” Mina says, propping her chin in her hand and pouting, “it’s unfair. It’s totally unfair. We were all fools and our punishment is too extreme to be borne. The gods are making us pay.” Bakugou cracks an eye open from where he’s sprawled out with his head in Kirishima’s lap. It’s a nice day, closing in on the end of summer during their third year of school, and the heat is fully upon them. “What the fuck are you talking about?” “That,” she huffs, and points. “Oh,” Bakugou says wryly. “That.” --- Or, Sero gets hot over summer break and Todoroki gets his man (though not without a few bumps along the way) Notes: the obliviousness is STRONG with this one. Paired with Todoroki's not-quite-perfect understanding of social cues, this is *chefs kiss*

Shovel Talk by nirejseki [1.7k, The Flash]

Ratings: not rated, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Additional Tags: canon divergence Summary: Barry warned him that people might try to give Len the shovel talk, now that Barry had decided to bring his and Len's year-old relationship into the light. Len never said he was going to be nice about letting them. Notes: Len is a little shit and I love him for it. he also doesn't take shit from anyone. it's fantastic.

Everybody else is second best by barrylen [3.8k, The Flash]

Ratings: teen and up audiences, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Additional Tags: fix-it, light angst, fluff Summary: Barry couldn't stop sneaking glances at Leo and Ray. Leo had a plan, of course. Notes: I'm a sucker for fix-its. thats it. i cant stand the fact that they killed len off and every fix there is ill swallow it whole

Mr. Blue Sky by BeauregardsTaxicab ( @beauregardstaxicab ) [269k, The Flash]

Ratings: Teen and up audiences, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Additional Tags: canon divergence, humor, friendship, angst with a happy ending Summary: Shortly after Barry is struck by lightning, Iris discovers that not only does he have a secret boyfriend, but that boyfriend is Leonard Snart, a notorious thief. She learns to trust him, however, as they both begin looking into Dr. Wells for Barry's sake. Over the nine months that Barry's asleep, their team grows and they discover more frightening details about the man who was currently keeping Barry alive. Together, they have to figure out the whole truth and make a plan to keep Barry safe before Dr. Wells catches onto them, or there will be no stopping him... Notes: I read this entire thing in a week. maybe less. (and finished it this morning!!) i am INSANE over the coldflash dynamic in this one. It's so good, so sweet, they're so in love and i want to cry. the plot is FANTASTIC i was hanging on every word. I can't explain how much i loved this—every single twist, every single moment of agony and happiness, there was no tearing me away from this. It is worth every single one of the 21 chapters and the 268,722 words within them. 1000/10. im never recovering. i need to leave five hundred comments once i regain brain function

NSFW FICS

Mantra by goldsaffron [4.9k, One Piece]

Ratings: Explicit, Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings Relationship(s): Silvers Rayleigh/Gol D. Roger Additional Tags: observation haki, kenbunshoku, pre-canon, getting together, sharing a bed, strangers to lovers, domestic bliss Summary: Rayleigh and Roger meet, and Rayleigh promptly develops telepathy. At least, that's what it seems like, because Rayleigh swears he can sense Roger's emotions. Affection, jealousy, desire--but is Rayleigh just imagining it? There's no way Roger wants him like that... right? Alternatively, how Roger and Rayleigh discovered kenbunshoku haki and fell in love along the way Notes: the TENSION between these two. goldsaffron is one of my favorite Roger/Ray authors, and this one SHOWS IT. the build up and series of events to lead up to the final wall breaking down and both of them giving in... absolutely love this fic. i think ive read it like, three times in the past couple of days

you heat me like a filament by priestkink [6k, Spider-man: Spider-Verse]

Ratings: explicit, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Miguel O'Hara/Peter B. Parker Additional Tags: Body worship, body image, blow jobs, intercrural sex, fantasizing, established relationship Summary: Peter thinks Miguel is unfairly, distractingly hot. Miguel shows Peter that he is, too. Notes: Body appreciation but in the "I'm so obsessed with you how DARE you think you're anything but perfect and exactly what i want" my favorite vintage. regular revisit

shallow then halo by xarvel [1.9k, Spider-man: Spider-Verse]

Ratings: explicit, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Miguel O'Hara/Peter B. Parker Additional Tags: Trans Miguel O'Hara, Trans Peter Parker, established relationship, use of AFAB terms Summary: Peter trembles above him, both hands on Miguel’s chest as he moves, and if Miguel could drown in this, he would. “There you are,” he murmurs, and Peter huffs out a laugh, turning to kiss the inside of Miguel’s wrist. Notes: toe-curling smut with a smattering of sweet dirty talk. nothing better than fucking three orgasms out of yours boyfriend and then losing your own mind (with love)

just for show by arxaris ( @arxaris ) [1k, My Hero Academia]

Ratings: explicit, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Sero Hanta/Todoroki Shouto Additional Tags: PWP, fake/pretend relationship, getting together Summary: “Shouto,” he gasped, vaguely wondering when they had switched to using given names all the time, instead of just in public. “Wh-what are we - oh, fuck - what are we doing?” “Fucking,” Todoroki panted. “Specifically, I’m riding you.” Sero huffed a laugh that turned into a moan. “Not what I-I meant, baby,” he replied, and suddenly he was distracted again, trying and failing to remember when exactly pet names had been brought into private, too. Just like this, it had sort of just happened. Notes: TASTY AS HELL. i love seroroki pissing off endeavor, and I love them getting together over it even more

We Keep Rockin' by orphan_account [1.7k, The Flash]

Ratings: explicit, no archive warnings apply Relationship(s): Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Additional Tags: jealous len, possessive len Summary: They'd been in this situation before, Barry pressed against the nearest surface, Cold fucking into him with a rhythm that was anything but gentle. Yet despite the rough and hot and heavy movements of their typical exchanges, Barry couldn't help but feel like there was an underlying rage to Snart’s thrusts tonight. Notes: the possessiveness, the jealousy—perfect and delicious. I love this fic so much.

if you made it to here, thanks for sticking around!! go give love to all of these wonderful authors, and I will see you on the next fifteenth o7

[swiftsdelucaa]

Being a fellow doctor at Grey salon and also Amelia's or Teddy's lover . Maybe reader got into an accident and is critically injured .

❛ 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 ❜

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜: Teddy Altman x f!reader ♡

𝘼/𝙣: So I chose Teddy since I haven't written anything for her yet! Hope you like it and enjoyy ;)

You had seen millions of soldiers lose their minds and threaten anyone who bothered them with a weapon. So you knew how to behave. You knew how to act when that boy pulled a gun out of his pocket terrifying all the passers. You were walking to the hospital, you couldn't ignore the situation. Some of them had called the police, but no one had arrived yet, so you stepped forward. You knew somehow that boy wasn't into him, otherwise why threaten everyone with a gun?

You were about to get him to put the weapon down so that you would pick it up and he wouldn't scare anyone again, but then the police came yelling at him from behind, so he started getting really upset and angry, picking on you, saying that you tricked him, so he fired a bullet that hit you right in the belly. You felt a weight hit you, suddenly it was hard to even breathe, all you could do was collapse on the ground, closing your eyes, as the blood started flowing out and people ran to your rescue. Then you heard nothing more.

You were rushed to Grey-Sloan, where April and Teddy were waiting. She was prepared for the trauma of a gunshot wound, but with you it would have been different, and maybe finding out like this wouldn't have been even one of the best ways.

"What do we have?" Kepner asked when the ambulance arrived.

"Woman, 34, gunshot wound to abdomen, she lost much blood" the paramedics carried your stretcher off the vehicle.

"Y/n?" Teddy raised her eyes when she recognized you even you had an oxygen mask and were still unconscious. "Oh my God, what happened?!" she asked confused and afraid.

"Teddy it's okay, I'll call Owen, he'll help me with he, she'll be fine, okay?" April tried to calm her down as she just panicked.

Teddy followed her as she carried you into the room, where Owen and Meredith were already ready.

"Hey, isn't she Y/n?" Owen asked.

"God, what the hell happened?" Meredith asked too, with a worried tone.

"They said a guy shot her... she tried to stop him" April said starting to check you. Teddy was still near the entrance of your room, she put a hand on her mouth as she tried to hold on the tears. Owen noticed it, so he went to her.

"Teddy, you can't stay here..."

"I- I know, I just-" she stopped, couldn't continue the sentence.

"We'll take care of her, now you should take care of yourself" he reassured her. "Do you trust us?" she nodded wiping away a tear that she couldn't help but hold back, while Owen returned with the others to deal with you.

They gave you more units of blood and took you to surgery to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding. It had managed to puncture the intestine and diaphragm, luckily nothing they couldn't take care of. The repair was done perfectly, the most involved procedure was the extraction of the bullet as it risked damaging the artery, but you had been entrusted to the best, Teddy had nothing to fear.

When you woke up it took you a while to figure out where you were and why, then you turned around to find Teddy next to you, still crying. As soon as you woke up her face lit up and she squeezed your hand.

"God, you have to stop scaring me!" she wiped away her tears and you smiled at her.

"I... I couldn't not doing anything..." you justified yourself.

"I know, I know you" she stroked your cheek. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Weak, but fine" you kissed her hand which was still on your cheek.

Her gaze remained fixed on you for a while, before she started talking again.

"How would I do without you?" You sighed at her question.

"I'll be strong for tou whatever thing will happen, I promise" you smiled at her as she approached to kiss you on your lips, then laying next to you and holding you in each other arms, feeling safe.

[downwiththeficness]

The Usurper-Chapter Thirty Six

Summary: Lilah McNamara stole things for a living. It was tedious work and often dangerous, which made it just exciting enough to keep her interested. After botching a routine job, Lilah finds herself standing amid monsters. Wholly unprepared for the horror of living under Amaru’s reign, Lilah decides to use her well honed skills to thwart the queen’s plans and prevent the end of the world.

Word Count: ~5,000

Disclaimer: I do not consent to this work being copied or posted to other sites of blogs.

Start at the Beginning Previous Chapter Next Chapter

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Lilah closed her eyes and bowed her head. She was so, so naive. She could admit that now. It was incredibly naive to think that coming to the cabin, that keeping distance between herself and her parents, would protect them. Lilah knew what kind of man Mr. Pickerelle was, and the information she got through conjecture only supported her understanding that he had no concept of mercy. If she allowed for the fact that he had ungodly amounts of money, the situation she found herself in made complete sense.

Of course he would track the flights into the country. Of course he would watch her for to disembark. Of course he’d have someone follow her to the cabin. And, of course, Mr. Pickerelle would take the opportunity to divide and conquer. It made far too much sense for Lilah not to see it coming.

“Are you still there, Ms. McNamara?”

She let out a breath through her nose, “Yeah, I’m here. Just so I know what I’m dealing with, how many did you bring with you?”

He laughed, “Oh, half a dozen or so. You’re not a great shot.”

Lilah nodded, silently agreeing with him. “So, six plus you. Gotta say, not very good odds for me.”

“No, Ms. McNamara. Not very good at all.”

“And, how many are at my parents’ house?”

“The rest. Fifteen, all armed, all wearing body armor.”

It was comical, the thought of so many killers surrounding her family, so many killers surrounding her. Lilah smiled despite the very real danger, “All this for one errant contractor? What makes me so special?”

An inhale, “Oh, don’t think its you that I have any interest in…”

His words kept going, but Lilah stopped paying attention. She focused inward, on the rope that held her and Brasa together. It was right where she left it, hanging taut between them. Lilah gave it an urgent tug, conveying across the space between them all the fear burning through her body. It was strangely easy to reach out her hand and feel him, strangely easy to feel his palm slide into hers.

What’s wrong?

He’s here. He saw you leave and now he’s here.

I’m on my way.

No! He’s got people on my parents. Are you there?

I am near.

How far?

A minute and a half. I’ve parked the car. Running will be faster.

Lilah would like to see that. Maybe, when they weren’t in the middle of utter chaos, she could get him to show her how fast he could be.

Okay...okay. I’ll stall him here while you take care of the dick heads over there. Can you do it discreetly?

I will do my best. Quick kills can be messy.

Yes, I know.

Be careful until I get there.

I will try.

Lilah’s focus returned to the room around her just as Mr. Pickerelle finished speaking, “...even you can understand that, can’t you Ms. McNamara?”

She had no idea what he’d said, but she was pretty sure it was a load of bullshit. That didn’t matter much. Not when she needed to buy time. “I can understand it. What I can’t understand is how you’re going to recover once it gets around that you’ve killed me and my family.”

“You are self important, aren’t you?”

“I’m...experienced,” she replied in a voice she hoped didn’t show how annoyed she was at his tone. “I know my peers. We gossip like old women at the hair salon. Someone will know what happened here and no one will want to work with you. It will be too dangerous.”

“I’ll raise my rates,” he countered easily.

“It’ll be lucrative,” Lilah said as she looked around the room for the best defensive position, “for a while. Eventually, even that well will dry up. And then, you’ll be shit outta luck, won’t you?”

She was riding the line between buying time and pissing him off. Lilah cringed as she listened for the response. Through the phone, she thought she could hear someone loading a gun, which meant she was leaning more towards pissing him off than buying time. More than that, there wasn’t a single place in the living room that she thought might survive a barrage of bullets.

“You’re still so young,” Mr. Pickerelle cooed at her. “There will always be someone willing to take the risk.”

Lilah rolled her eyes. She wasn’t young. At least, not in her line of work. Most of the newbies dropped out within the first year. Half of those who made it to five years in the field would end up in jail. If they were lucky enough to avoid burn out or jail time, they were usually head hunted by people like Mr. Pickerelle or dead. Lilah could count on two hands the number of colleagues that were over thirty five years old. Anyone over forty usually took a step back and let the younger, more driven contractors do most of the heavy lifting. More and more, Lilah was beginning to see the wisdom in doing that.

“You kill enough of us, we’ll blacklist you.”

“Oh, you think too much of your people. Everyone can be bought.”

That was the thing about rich assholes. They thought money could make up for having to deal with them. Yeah, money was good. Lilah liked money. She liked spending it on the occasional handbag or first class flight. But, no amount of money was worth cowering behind a couch, trying to figure out how she was going to survive an ambush.

“That might be true,” she said as she pushed the end of the couch so that it was parallel with the front windows, “but no one likes dealing with a bad boss.”

“Please, Ms. McNamara. You might come well recommended and you might have done some good work for me, but—and, don’t take this as a criticism—you have no idea what its like to lead. Prague notwithstanding, you’re not known for being a team player.”

Lilah ignored the reminder of the bad memory and said, “Team players don’t kill other members of their team.”

His laughed scratched across the back of her brain in a way that was painful, “Ms. McNamara, I said you don’t know what its like to lead. Its very different from working with a team. You don’t have the skills.”

She tucked herself between the couch and the kitchen island. It was the best she was going to get without turning over the fridge. Lilah knew better than to intentionally damage her mother’s appliances. The fridge might be empty, it might be the cast off from when her father asked for forgiveness after a bad fight, but it still worked. Which made it valuable. And, what was valuable didn’t get tossed aside. Repurposed, maybe. But, not tossed aside. Not in her mother’s house.

Lilah pulled the gun out of her waist band and set the phone on the ground at her feet. She tapped the speakerphone button and said, “A lot has changed since we talked last. I’m a better person. I’m stronger.”

Your Mr. Pickerelle is going to need to hire some new people.

Lilah blinked rapidly to clear the blur in her vision. You get them all?

Yes, Brasa replied, and she could hear the satisfaction in his tone.

Good. My parents?

Getting ready for bed. Your mother ironed at least six shirts while I was taking care of things. She’s very efficient.

She was so relieved that her shoulders dropped and the ache in her chest eased. It was probably five. She always irons dad’s shirts on Sundays.

Makes sense. A pause, then, I’m a few minutes away. Everything okay on your end?

Oh, everything’s fine. I’m bullshitting with Mr. Pickerelle right now. I don’t think he’ll wait much longer, though.

Are you wearing the vest?

Yes, and I have all three guns loaded.

Very good. Try to take your time with aiming.

Was everyone going to criticize her skill today? You just focus on getting your ass here as quick as possible.

Yes, dear.

She blinked again and heard the wooden boards of the porch creaking. Her father never got around to fixing that first step or the loose board near the door. Lilah focused hard and let her ears pick up every little sound around her. There was someone moving near the kitchen window, at least two on the porch with Mr. Pickerelle. That left three unaccounted for. She was sure that they would make themselves known in due time. Until then, Lilah had to keep stalling.

“You want to know what I think?”

“What?”

“I think,” Lilah said as she peered over the edge of the island, “that you ratted us out.”

“What’s that now?”

“I think,” she said again, “that you ratted us out. In Prague. Our intel was good and you know that. No one knew what we were doing, no one but you. What I can’t figure out is why you’d want to tank the whole team—good fucking thieves—it doesn’t make any sense.”

He sighed and it sounded tired, even to Lilah, “You’re an idiot if you think I wanted all of you dead. You don’t kill off good workers.”

“Guess I’m an idiot, then.”

“You come up with this inane explanation for your screw up. And yet, you kept working for me.”

He had a point. As soon as the thought passed through Lilah’s mind, she should have turned tail and run as far and as fast as she could. “That was my mistake.”

“It was. You have a habit of making mistakes. That cut and run on the team. Letting your man walk away this evening. You keep leaving yourself wide open.”

The motherfucker was sort of right, but Lilah wasn’t going to admit that. She’d let them put a thousand bullets into her first. Yeah, she’d made a bad call in Prague. Several of them, maybe. Yeah, she’d run from a job, which she knew would put her in hot water. And, yeah, she’d asked Brasa to protect her parents, which had left her all alone. Tough calls. Possibly bad calls. Lilah didn’t care.

I’m here.

Lilah’s smile was slow. Very small, at first, then growing until it spread into a grin that stretched her lips uncomfortably wide. She couldn’t push back the laugh, and it rolled out of her with the kind of relief that made her lightheaded. She started to drop her head into her hand, stopping when she remembered that she was holding a gun and it wasn’t over yet.

“Hey, Mr. Pickerelle?”

“Yes, Ms. McNamara?”

“I hope you’ve got a will because someone is about to get a massive inheritance.”

Before he could respond, a loud yell came from outside the kitchen window. It started as a howl and ended as a high pitched squeal. Lilah almost went to look when a spray of bullets shattered the window and embedded themselves in the cabinets. She ducked down, flinching when a second round of bullets went flying.

“Don’t hit the appliances!” Lilah yelled out.

They weren’t listening. Someone fired more bullets, hitting just about everything in the kitchen, including the ceiling. Plaster and dust floated down from above, followed by the sound of a loud crack. A long, crooked line worked its way along a rafter and the drywall began to sag. Lilah just barely dodged a chunk that fell down between the island and the couch. It landed in a puff of spackle before cracking into several pieces. She scuttled over and peeked around the edge into the kitchen. The cabinets around the window were splintered with their doors hanging off the hinges. Shards of glass were scattered over the counter and floor. And...the fridge was leaking water.

“Ah, hell,” Lilah breathed, “Mom is never going to forget about this.”

Scuffles came from the phone next to her. She heard the muffled voice of Mr. Pickerelle giving orders. He was calling his people to him for protection. Lilah was sure it wouldn’t do any good. She ended the call and shoved the phone into her back pocket. Another bad decision. If she hadn’t hung up, she would have known that Mr. Pickerelle was making demands to break down her front door.

A loud bang rattled the frame. Lilah popped up from behind the couch, brows at her hairline and eyes wide as saucers. Something hit the door again, stretching the limits of the deadbolt. Lilah winced and yelled out, “Stop trying to break down my door!”

She didn’t know what she thought yelling would do, but she wasn’t exactly surprised when the door broke open and Mr. Pickerelle rushed inside with two heavily armed men. One of them had an arm around Mr. Pickerelle and was guiding him to the far end of the room. The other pushed the door closed and leaned weight into it. Both carried rifles at their back and wore body armor, including a hefty looking helmet.

“Find me something to block it with, Doyle!” Screamed the guy at the door.

Doyle started looking around, his eyes falling on Lilah standing behind the couch. They stared at one another for a long second before Lilah’s brain caught up with her and she lifted the gun to aim.

“Stay right there,” she said. “I mean it.”

Doyle held up his hands, “I just want to move the couch.”

“I think I like the couch right where it is—really completes the Feng Shui of the room.”

“Go ahead and shoot her, Doyle,” Mr. Pickerelle said. “I don’t need any more of her sass.”

Lilah’s body lit up with a heavy rush of adrenaline. There might be a gun in her hand, but there was pretty powerful rifle staring right at her. She had to remind herself that Brasa was right outside. He’d make quick work of the others and come check on her.

“Doyle,” she said in a tone she hoped was assuring, “you don’t want to shoot me. It’ll be a lot worse for you if you do.” She could see that he was trying to process what she meant, so Lilah added, “You heard what happened to the other guys. That’s definitely going to happen to you. Best you can hope for is a quick kill.”

Mr. Pickerelle scoffed loudly. “Oh, don’t listen to her. She’s just trying to save herself.” He cocked his head at her. “Just like always, right Lilah?”

“Can somebody please bring me the fucking couch?” said the man leaning against the door.

From outside came another cry. It sounded painful. Lilah lifted her brows at Doyle meaningfully.

“Right,” Doyle said. He started towards Lilah with a determined stride. Lilah shook the gun at him and tried to look menacing. Doyle stopped mid-step and gestured to the strap across his chest. “I have a gun, too.”

“So?”

“Its a bigger gun.”

She glanced at the rifle on his back, “So?”

Doyle blinked. “I’m also wearing body armor.”

“So?”

He sighed and scratched his eyebrow. “So...You’re either gonna miss or hit the body armor. In either case, I’ll have time to draw and put a hollow point in your head. Just let me take the couch, alright?”

Lilah didn’t have time to respond to what was actually sounding like a reasonable request. The front door burst into pieces, flying into the room with such force that the far wall got a dusting of splinters. Walt, being heavier than a splinter, fell to the floor hard enough that his head bounced twice on the hardwood. Lilah stared at the destruction and decided that she was going to have to burn the house down when they got through this situation. There was no explaining to her parents how the kitchen, living room, and porch were torn apart. Lilah wasn’t that good of a liar.

Brasa walked in holding a severed head with the protective helmet still attached. He swung it lazily in time with his casual step. Lilah squinted at the face peeking out above the chin strap. It was contorted in a permanent grimace of pain. The effect was so gruesome that it took a minute for her to notice the bullet holes scattered over Brasa’s chest and upper thighs. They weren’t bleeding anymore, which was pretty good. But, there were a lot of them, which was pretty not good. Brasa stepped on top of Walt with his full weight. The crack of Walt’s ribs was the only other audible sound in the room, aside from the crackling fire.

Walt cried out and curled in on himself. When Brasa pushed off of him to step forward, he let out a sob. Brasa ignored him to address Lilah, “Are you alright?”

Lilah shrugged, “I’d be better if you weren’t dripping blood all over the hardwood.”

He looked down at the head, looked back at her, gave a little ‘okay’ motion, and threw the head back through the door. It landed somewhere in the yard, which Lilah thought was infinitely better than inside the cabin. He glanced at Lilah for approval and she nodded.

“Will someone shoot him, please?” Mr. Pickerelle ordered in exasperation.

Doyle, who looked like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, quickly tugged the rifle around and took aim. Lilah lifted her own weapon and pointed it at Mr. Pickerelle, “You fire, I fire.”

Mr. Pickerelle rolled his eyes, but held up his hand towards Doyle, “There’s three of us and two of you. Still bad odds, I would say.”

It was fucking amazing that he didn’t seem to understand the situation he’d found himself in, even with Brasa’s display. Lilah tipped her head to the side. “Did your guys at my parents’ house ever check in with you?”

His chin lifted. “You’ve got it the wrong way around. I’m supposed to be checking in with them. And, I’ve missed my window. Your parents are dead by now, Lilah.”

Lilah flicked her eyes to Brasa, who gave a subtle shake of his head. She adjusted her grip on the gun. “You’re wrong. You don’t know how wrong you are.”

Mr. Pickerelle shifted his weight and opened his mouth as if to speak. In the same motion, he raised a small barrel revolver and fired off two shots in quick succession. Lilah had never been shot before, although she had seen it happen to others. It felt like getting hit with the end of a baseball bat. Hard. The force sent her back into the island where her knees gave out and she crumpled to the floor.

She got to her hands and knees just as a roar shook the room. Lilah ignored it and performed a mental and physical check of her body. Lungs were working. Heart was working. Brain was on standby. Her hand rested against one of the two deep tears in her vest. Thank God for Kevlar.

A shadow fell over her. She looked up to find Brasa standing near the end of the couch. His expression was panicked and his breath was quick. Lilah gave him a weak thumbs up before a bullet ripped through his neck. Blood hit her square in the face, distorting her vision. She gave an involuntary scream and covered her head. Brasa disappeared from view, falling into the kitchen. Lilah scrambled to follow him, pulling back when another bullet whizzed past her.

Not knowing how else to get to Brasa, Lilah lifted the gun over the edge of the couch and emptied the magazine blindly. She jerked her arm back to safety and listened. After a moment, Doyle said, “You know, I thought you were joking, but she really is a terrible shot.”

Incensed, Lilah scooted around the island, saying, “I was shooting blind, you asshole.” She found Brasa bleeding all over the floor. His hand was holding the front of his neck and he looked pissed. “Are you okay?”

He nodded. “Flesh wound. Didn’t even hit my windpipe.”

“Oh?” she replied in a high, breathless voice, “It didn’t even hit your windpipe. That’s good.”

Brasa lifted a brow. “I’m fine.”

“You’re staining the floor.”

He looked down at the blood splattered all around him. It was mixing with the water from the fridge to form a pink pool. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly.

Lilah shook her head. “Its fine. We’re probably gonna have to burn down the house, anyway.”

Brasa looked around at the damaged cabinets and the pool of water coming from the fridge. “Don’t be so pessimistic. We can renovate.”

“You tell that to my parents.”

“I’ll be happy to.”

“Good fucking luck.”

“Excuse me,” came Doyle’s voice. “I hate to interrupt, but could you come out here so I can kill you?”

Brasa’s eyes closed in annoyance. “Just a moment.”

Lilah heard a sigh followed by. “I don’t have all night.” This came from Mr. Pickerelle.

“Did you have dinner plans?” Lilah quipped while she got her feet underneath her. She set aside the empty gun and pulled a fresh one from the holster at her side. To Brasa, she whispered, “What do we do?”

He flashed his teeth. “I should probably feed. Replenish what I’ve lost.”

“So, you go for Doyle, I’ll fire off a few at Mr. Pickerelle to cover you.” When Brasa’s mouth tilted up, she sneered, “I don’t have to hit him. Just keep him from hitting you.”

“Point,” Brasa replied. “On three?”

Lilah nodded and Brasa started counting. One. She turned off the safety. Two. She moved close to the island. Three. Lilah stood up quickly and found Mr. Pickerelle. He was standing near the fireplace, looking impatient. She took the gun in both hands and held it out in front of her. Brasa raced by at inhuman speeds, ruffling the air around her. She looked down the sight and fired off the first round just as Brasa got a hold on Doyle and yanked his head to the side at an unnatural angle.

Mr. Pickerelle ducked in time for the bullet to hit the fireplace behind him. It cracked the rock, sending chunks to the floor. Lilah ignored the gurgle coming from Doyle and took aim again, she squeezed the trigger just as Mr. Pickerelle threw himself behind an upholstered chair. Lilah sucked her teeth in dismay. That was her father’s reading chair. She couldn’t shoot at her father’s reading chair.

“Can you come out from there?”

“What do you think?”

“Fair enough.”

Brasa released Doyle’s neck with a growl and dropped him to the floor. He wiped his face with the back of his sleeve and turned golden eyes on Mr. Pickerelle. Lilah got to see in real time how fear changes a person’ expression. How the muscles of the cheeks relax as the jaw opens. How the eyes grow bright and watery. How sweat forms at the brow and around the mouth. Lilah watched all of this occur in real time and it was bewildering.

Mr. Pickerelle straightened from where he crouched behind the chair. He placed his hands on the back of it while he gathered his courage. Brasa let him take his time, not moving from where he stood. Lilah looked between them with her gun still on Mr. Pickerelle. She didn’t trust him not to try to pull something, especially with his life on the line.

“Well,” Mr. Pickerelle said eventually, “it seems that the odds are against me.”

“I’ll say,” Lilah drawled.

Mr. Pickerelle briefly traded the fear in his expression for anger. “I don’t need your commentary.”

“Too bad.”

He drew in a breath that was cut off by Brasa’s warning growl. Lilah smirked. She circled the island and moved to stand closer to Brasa. “Drop the gun.”

Mr. Pickerelle hesitated, but slowly crouched to lay the gun at his feet. Lilah started to ask him to put some space between him and the weapon, but she was distracted by the scuff of a body moving behind her. She turned to find Walt getting to his feet. His rifle was held loosely in one hand and there was blood running down his chin.

“Do you honestly think you have a chance?” Lilah asked sardonically. Walt stopped moving, but she saw him glance at his boss. “Let me ask another question. Is he paying you enough to risk what happened to Doyle?”

Walt looked down and visibly shivered. He sighed, wiped his mouth, gave a half-hearted salute, and walked out. Lilah smiled at his back and returned her attention to Mr. Pickerelle. He looked substantially more dejected than Walt had.

“Let’s talk.”

“No. No talking,” Lilah replied. “You got your phone on you?” When he nodded, she said, “Get it. Slowly, if you don’t mind.”

Mr. Pickerelle very, very slowly, reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell. He held it up to her with his brows raised in question.

“I know you’ve got access to your bank accounts. You’re gonna transfer three million dollars. Then, and only then, will I consider letting you go.”

Mr. Pickerelle blinked. “Just three million?”

“You want me to ask for more?”

He unlocked his phone and tapped on the screen. “What account number?” She told him. More tapping, then he looked up and said, “Done.”

Lilah tugged her phone out of her back pocket and checked. “Thank you.” She put her phone back in her pocket, then pointed her gun at him. “Into the kitchen.”

Mr. Pickerelle’s eyes narrowed. “The kitchen?”

“Yeah, the flooring will be easier to replace. Hard to get blood out of hardwood.”

“You said—.”

“—I said I’d consider it. I’ve considered it. You’re gonna have to die.”

“Lilah, please.”

“No. No ‘please’ about it. But, I’ll offer you a choice. A bullet or his teeth,” she jerked her chin at Brasa.

Mr. Pickerelle looked back and forth between them and Lilah saw him make a decision. He walked steadily to the kitchen and turned around to face them. “You’re sure about this?”

Lilah nodded. “You threatened my family.”

“Don’t be a child. You’re a criminal. You work with criminals.” He nodded to Brasa. “And killers. There will always be another threat. At least I was willing to warn you first.”

“That’s why I gave you a choice. To show my gratitude.”

Mr. Pickerelle sighed. “Alright. Go on.”

It was one thing to talk about killing him and another to actually pull the trigger. Especially with him looking her square in the eye. She hated herself for hesitating, hated that her finger was shaking on the trigger. This was a man who had threatened her parents. He’d brought killers to her doorstep and literally broke it down in an attempt to take her out.

In the end, it wasn’t about the threats or the damage to the house or the holes in her vest. It wasn’t about the fact that she was going to have to lie her ass off to cover for the wreckage around her. It wasn’t even about the firing squad in the church. In the end, the thing that made her pull the trigger was the little smirk that passed over Mr. Pickerelle’s mouth as he recognized her struggle. She held his life in her hands and he was laughing about it.

He didn’t think she could do it—no, he knew she couldn’t do it. Mr. Pickerelle knew without a doubt that Lilah couldn’t kill him. And, it amused him. Lilah felt her fingers tighten around the handle in anger. In all his life, with all the things Lilah knew he had done, Mr. Pickerelle was still standing there thinking he was going to get out of it. That she was going to let him walk free. He was right. Almost.

Right up until that stupid little smirk ran across his lips, Lilah was going to let Mr. Pickerelle go. She would threaten him, sure, but she’d let him go. Maybe try to figure out how to protect her parents from a distance. It would be difficult, but she would figure it out. And then, he had to smile and ruin it.

Lilah fired. At this range, she actually hit her target. Mr. Pickerelle’s head snapped back and the cabinets behind him were painted in red. Her arms fell and she released a long, exhausted breath. Brasa walked forward and stood next to her. They stared down at the body for a while.

She sniffed and turned to him, “Its late. Mom expects at the house tomorrow morning and we really, really have to figure out something to explain all of this.”

Brasa smiled sympathetically, “We should sleep. I’ll take care of the bodies and join you in an hour or so.”

Lilah turned with him and started towards the stairs. She paused halfway across the room and gestured towards the place where the front door used to be. “I know this is ridiculous, but shouldn’t we put something in front of it?”

He looked around. “The couch?”

She also looked around. “That’s probably the best we’re going to get.”

Together they moved the couch and set it on its end in front of the door. Lilah stood back and took it in. “Thank God we don’t have neighbors for miles.”

“Someone will have heard the gun shots.”

Lilah shrugged. “They’ll think its hunters.”

“After dark?”

“Its been known to happen.”

Brasa considered it. “Alright. Go upstairs, lay down. I’ll see you shortly.”

Lilah did as he asked and went up to the bedroom. She pulled off the vest and set the last loaded gun on the nightstand. Then, she lay back on the bed and waited for the adrenaline to leave her body so that she could sleep. At some point, Brasa returned. She felt him lay beside her in the dark, the smell of him warm and welcome. Lilah let herself drop down into a calm she knew would dissipate in the morning when she had to face what was probably going to be her biggest challenge yet. Her parents.

[shaiylo]

Importance of Finding a Good Hair Salon

Hair is a significant piece of our bodies and our personality, in this way dealing with them is significant. Nonetheless, it isn't easy to do that all alone. You would need assistance from an expert every once in a while to guarantee that your braids look hair patch near me healthy. Notwithstanding, finding a solid salon that you can trust can be a laborious cycle, especially when you don't have any idea where to look. Finding the best salon takes a few work and in this article we will cover just that.

So to know how to find the Best Salon in Jaipur, then you ought to peruse this article to know more.

Pick a specialist in light of their experience

Men frequently tragically confuse among hairdressers and salons. The previous is simply prepared to deal with basic haircuts while a salon has the experience and the preparation to give you most recent hairstyles that supplement your personality. Ladies benefit from salons because the hairdressers can work intimately with them to give them the hairstyle that will draw out their personality. In any case, this is just conceivable in the event that your salon has the required insight to deal with a wide range of hair as well as hairstyles.

Stick to one hair salon as it were

Try not to flip between hair salons assuming that you believe your hairstyle should remain steady. Pick the one that takes care of your needs and afterward stick to it. Try not to be lured into two, three, or more salons because they have unfathomable limits. Visiting one hairdresser consistently will lay out a relationship that will assist you with conveying obviously about what you need. It is a lot easier to work with one master than attempting to account for yourself to many others.

Make a few inquiries for recommendation

At the point when you are looking for a salon, the best methodology is to make an inquiry or two for recommendations. You can ask your companions, relatives or partners at work to propose you a salon they use and vouch for. You can likewise ask that woman at your office front work area who as of late got an astounding haircut! Indeed, even in today's day and period of innovation, verbal exchange actually stays the most dependable type of promoting so use it for your potential benefit.

Do an exhaustive exploration

At the point when you have a couple of names to work with, you ought to fire looking them up on the web. Look at their site, read internet based surveys, request that your companions give you an assessment on this new salon. These are a few basic tips that will assist you with surveying the nature of work they do before you let them clip your hair.

[facialsinsydney]

Anti aging facials

In the heart of Sydney, where the rhythm of life is fast and relentless, taking a moment to invest in self-care becomes a vital act of rejuvenation. Among the myriad of options available, facials stand out as a profoundly restorative experience, blending the science of skincare with the art of relaxation.

Sydney is renowned for its diverse and high-quality beauty salons, each offering a sanctuary where you can escape the hustle and bustle. Whether you're searching for a salon near me for a quick refresh or a more immersive experience, the city has something to cater to every need. From traditional methods to cutting-edge techniques, the facial treatments available in a salon in Sydney are as varied as the city itself.

One of the most unique and transformative facial experiences available today is Buccal treatments. This innovative approach, which involves a deep face massage that targets the muscles inside the cheeks and along the jawline, offers a sculpting effect that is both natural and effective. Unlike traditional facials, Buccal treatments work to release tension in areas often overlooked, resulting in a more lifted and contoured appearance. For those looking to enhance their facial structure without invasive procedures, this technique is becoming increasingly popular in Sydney’s top salons.

For those concerned with the signs of aging, an anti-aging facial is a must-try. These treatments are specifically designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity, using advanced products and techniques that stimulate collagen production and promote cell renewal. Whether you're dealing with early signs of aging or more pronounced skin changes, an anti-aging facial in a beauty salon in Sydney can help restore your skin’s youthful vibrancy.

The choice of beautician in Sydney plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of your facial treatment. These skilled professionals are not only trained in the latest skincare techniques but also possess a deep understanding of how to tailor treatments to meet individual needs. Whether it's your first facial or you're a seasoned spa-goer, finding a beautician in Sydney who understands your skin type and concerns is essential to achieving the best results.

Sydney’s beauty scene is rich with options for those seeking to refresh their skin and unwind. From the deeply relaxing face massage to the more specialized Buccal treatments and anti-aging facials, the city’s salons offer a wide array of services designed to enhance your natural beauty. Taking the time to indulge in a facial treatment is not just about looking good; it's about feeling good, too. In a city as dynamic as Sydney, making self-care a priority is key to maintaining a healthy balance between looking after your skin and your overall well-being.

[globalbrandacademy]

Find the Best Haircut & Grooming Services at Toni & Guy India

Are you looking for a barber shop near me that offers top-notch haircuts and grooming services? Look no further than Toni & Guy India, a globally recognized salon brand known for its expertise in hairstyling, innovation, and excellence. Whether you need a stylish haircut, a refreshing grooming session, or expert hair care advice, our salons provide world-class services tailored to your needs.

Why Choose Toni & Guy India?

With years of experience in the hair and beauty industry, Toni & Guy has established itself as a leader in hairstyling. Our highly trained professionals ensure that every haircut or treatment enhances your look and confidence.

If you’re searching for a hair cutting salon that prioritizes precision and customer satisfaction, our salons are the perfect choice. Whether it's a trendy new look or a classic style, we cater to all hair types and preferences.

Find a Barber Shop Near Me for the Best Grooming Services

For those who want premium grooming services, our barber shops near me offer an exceptional experience. From sharp, professional haircuts to expert beard styling, our barbers provide a full range of services that keep you looking sharp and stylish.

Wondering about barber shops open near me? Toni & Guy salons have flexible working hours, ensuring you can get a fresh haircut at your convenience.

Affordable Barber Shop Near Me and Prices

Many people search for barber shop near me and prices to find the best deals on haircuts and grooming. At Toni & Guy India, we offer competitive pricing for premium services. Whether you need a quick trim or a complete hair transformation, our pricing ensures you receive high-quality service without breaking the bank.

Join the Toni & Guy Franchise – A Lucrative Business Opportunity

If you're passionate about the hair and beauty industry, consider joining the Toni & Guy franchise. Our globally renowned brand provides entrepreneurs with a profitable business model, expert training, and ongoing support to ensure success. By investing in a Toni & Guy salon, you align with a trusted name in the industry, ensuring high customer engagement and long-term profitability.

Conveniently Located Hair Cutting Salons Across India

Toni & Guy has a strong presence in India, making it easy to find a haircut near me whenever you need a stylish and refreshing look. Our salons are equipped with modern amenities, highly trained stylists, and a comfortable ambiance to enhance your grooming experience.

Book Your Appointment Today!

Don’t settle for just any barber shop near me—choose Toni & Guy India for a world-class hairstyling experience. Whether you need a trendy haircut, a relaxing grooming session, or expert haircare solutions, our professional team is ready to serve you.

[mycommunityapp]

Discover the Best Local Services with Just One Tap on MyCommunity App

Finding reliable local services can be a challenge. Whether you need a plumber, a handyman, a hairdresser, or even a pet groomer, the search often involves multiple apps, websites, and phone calls. But what if you could find everything you need in one place? That’s exactly what MyCommunity App offers!

With just a single tap, you can connect with trusted local professionals, book appointments, compare prices, and even access exclusive discounts — all in one app. Here’s why MyCommunity App is your go-to solution for discovering the best local services near you.

1. A One-Stop Platform for Every Local Service

Gone are the days of browsing endless search results or asking for recommendations in community groups. MyCommunity App brings all essential services to your fingertips. Whether you need:

✔ Home Services — Plumbers, electricians, cleaners, carpenters, landscapers, and more ✔ Health & Wellness — Salons, spas, fitness trainers, massage therapists, and yoga instructors ✔ Auto Care — Car repairs, detailing, towing, and mechanics ✔ Professional Services — Tax consultants, real estate agents, legal advisors, and business coaches ✔ Pet Services — Groomers, pet sitters, veterinarians, and trainers ✔ Event Services — DJs, photographers, decorators, and caterers

No more searching across multiple websites. Everything you need is now in one easy-to-use app!

2. Verified and Trusted Professionals

When it comes to hiring a service, trust is everything. MyCommunity App ensures you connect with verified professionals who have been rated and reviewed by real users.

✅ Customer Reviews & Ratings — Read honest feedback before making a choice ✅ Verified Listings — Only trusted businesses and professionals are featured ✅ Direct Communication — Chat or call service providers instantly through the app

With MyCommunity App, you can book services with confidence, knowing you’re choosing from the best local providers.

3. Compare Prices and Get the Best Deals

Finding high-quality service at the right price can be time-consuming. MyCommunity App makes it easy!

💰 Compare prices from multiple providers to get the best value 💰 Access exclusive in-app discounts and special promotions 💰 Book services within your budget — no surprises or hidden fees!

Whether you need a quick home repair or a luxury beauty treatment, you’ll always find the best deals in your area.

4. Hassle-Free Booking and Scheduling

No more waiting on hold or dealing with back-and-forth scheduling. MyCommunity App lets you book services instantly!

📅 Check availability and book appointments in real time 📅 Get instant confirmations and reminders 📅 Easily reschedule or cancel if plans change

With MyCommunity App, booking a service is as simple as ordering a meal!

5. Support Local Businesses and Grow Your Community

When you use MyCommunity App, you’re not just finding great services — you’re also supporting local businesses and strengthening your community.

🏪 Boost local entrepreneurs and small businesses 🏪 Encourage economic growth in your neighborhood 🏪 Build long-term relationships with trusted service providers

Every time you book a local service through MyCommunity App, you’re contributing to the success of businesses right in your area.

Ready to Simplify Your Life? Download MyCommunity App Today!

From home repairs to personal wellness, MyCommunity App makes finding and booking local services easier than ever. No more stress, no more wasted time — just fast, reliable, and affordable services at your fingertips.

🔹 Download MyCommunity App now and discover the best local services with just one tap! 🔹

https://gomycommunity.com/home

Got a favorite local service provider? Let them know about MyCommunity App so they can reach more customers like you! 🚀

Would you like to add a call-to-action for businesses to join MyCommunity App? Let me know if you want any tweaks!

[vedaearthloungespa]

Pamper Your Hands & Feet: The Benefits of a Manicure & Pedicure

Looking for the perfect way to relax while maintaining your personal grooming? A manicure and pedicure might be just what you need! More than just a beauty treatment, professional nail care promotes hygiene, relaxation, and overall well-being. Whether it’s an occasional treat or part of your regular self-care routine, these treatments keep your nails healthy, skin soft, and stress levels in check.

Here are reasons why personal grooming services like manicures and pedicures should be part of your self-care routine at least three to four times a month.

Healthy Nails, Happy Hands & Feet

One of the biggest benefits of regular manicures and pedicures is nail health. Just like your skin and hair, your nails need care to stay strong and healthy. Over time, nails can become brittle, prone to splitting, and even develop fungal infections if not maintained properly.

A professional manicure and pedicure involve cuticle care, nail trimming, buffing, and deep moisturizing, ensuring your nails remain in their best shape. Additionally, the exfoliation process removes dead skin cells, reducing the risk of infections and promoting smoother hands and feet.

If you’re someone who frequently uses nail polish, regular manicures help prevent discoloration and keep your nails looking fresh and healthy. Investing in professional personal grooming services ensures your nails are well taken care of with the best products and techniques.

Relaxation & Stress Relief

Life can be stressful, and finding small ways to relax is crucial. A manicure and pedicure session is not just about grooming — it’s a mini spa experience that helps you unwind and recharge. The gentle massage involved in these treatments helps improve blood circulation, relieving tension in your hands and feet.

The relaxing environment, soothing lotions, and aromatic oils used during the treatment enhance the overall experience, making it the perfect way to de-stress after a long day. Whether you’re dealing with work pressure, sore muscles, or just need some “me-time,” a quick search for a manicure and pedicure near me can lead you to the perfect salon for an hour of relaxation and self-care.

Hygiene & Skin Care Benefits

Your hands and feet are exposed to dirt, bacteria, and pollutants daily. Without proper care, dead skin buildup, calluses, and dryness can lead to cracked skin, infections, and other skin issues. Regular exfoliation through manicures and pedicures removes dead skin and prevents rough patches, ensuring soft and smooth skin.

Pedicures, in particular, are highly beneficial for foot health. They help prevent ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and calluses, keeping your feet in top condition. If you wear closed shoes for long hours, your feet are more likely to accumulate sweat and bacteria, making pedicure treatments essential for hygiene.

For those who prefer natural treatments, many salons now offer herbal or organic manicures and pedicures, using essential oils and plant-based exfoliators for a more soothing experience.

Choosing the Right Nail Treatment

With so many options available, it’s important to find the right manicure and pedicure treatment based on your lifestyle and preferences. Some popular options include:

Classic Manicure & Pedicure: This service is ideal for regular maintenance, including nail shaping, cuticle care, and basic polish.

Gel Manicure — Long-lasting and chip-resistant, perfect for those who want a polished look for weeks.

Spa Pedicure — Includes deep exfoliation, hydration masks, and an extended massage for extra relaxation.

Paraffin Wax Treatment — Best for dry, cracked skin, providing intense moisture and softness.

French Manicure — A timeless, elegant look that complements any outfit or occasion.

If you’re unsure which option suits you best, consult with a nail technician at your preferred salon.

Why Regular Manicures & Pedicures Matter

Many people treat manicures and pedicures as an occasional indulgence, but incorporating them into your regular self-care routine can be a game-changer. Here’s why you should book these treatments at least three to four times a month:

✅ Consistent Nail Health: Regular maintenance keeps nails strong and prevents issues like brittleness and infections.

✅ Stress Relief: The massage and relaxation techniques help reduce stress and improve mood.

✅ Polished & Professional Appearance: Well-groomed hands and feet create a great first impression, whether in personal or professional settings.

From promoting healthy nails and skin to providing relaxation and hygiene benefits, manicures and pedicures are essential for personal grooming. Investing in these services regularly ensures your hands and feet remain well-maintained, leaving you feeling confident and refreshed.

The next time you look for a manicure and pedicure service near you, choose a professional salon that prioritizes hygiene, quality products, and customer care. Your hands and feet deserve the best!

Looking for the best manicure and pedicure service near you? Book your manicure and pedicure appointment today only at Vedaearth Lounge- Bengaluru’s first and only 100% vegan spa and experience the difference good nail care can make! Vedaearth Lounge offers the best manicure and pedicure services that include cruelty-free products. It is exclusively for the women and by the women.

[allaboutmedical]

Pedicure Near Me: Find the Best Nail Salon for Ultimate Foot Care

Looking for a pedicure near me? A professional pedicure is a perfect way to relax, maintain foot health, and enhance the appearance of your nails. Whether you need a simple polish change or a luxurious spa experience, finding the right nail salon is essential.

Why You Should Get Regular Pedicures

1. Improves Foot Health

Pedicures help remove dead skin, prevent calluses, and reduce the risk of infections, keeping your feet soft and healthy.

2. Promotes Blood Circulation

The massage during a pedicure enhances blood flow, reducing swelling and relieving stress.

3. Prevents Ingrown Nails

Proper nail trimming and cuticle care prevent painful ingrown toenails and nail infections.

4. Boosts Confidence

Well-groomed nails and smooth feet make you feel more confident, especially in open-toe shoes.

5. Relaxation and Stress Relief

Soaking your feet in warm water and receiving a gentle massage helps relax tired muscles.

How to Choose the Best Pedicure Salon Near You

1. Look for Clean and Hygienic Salons

A clean environment, sterilized tools, and fresh foot baths ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

2. Read Customer Reviews

Check reviews to see what others say about the quality of service, hygiene, and pricing.

3. Explore Different Pedicure Options

Salons offer a variety of pedicures, including:

Basic Pedicure – Nail trimming, shaping, cuticle care, and polish.

Spa Pedicure – Includes scrubs, foot masks, and deep massage.

Gel Pedicure – Chip-resistant polish that lasts longer.

Callus Treatment Pedicure – Focuses on removing hard skin and rough patches.

4. Compare Prices and Services

While affordability matters, prioritize quality over cheap deals to ensure a safe and satisfying experience.

5. Choose Experienced Nail Technicians

A skilled technician ensures precise nail care, relaxing massage techniques, and flawless polish application.

When Is the Best Time to Get a Pedicure?

Before a special occasion – Weddings, vacations, or events.

At the start of a new season – Get summer-ready feet or winter hydration.

After long workdays – Pamper your tired feet and de-stress.

Enjoy a Relaxing Pedicure Near You

A pedicure near me can be the ultimate self-care experience, leaving your feet looking and feeling amazing. Whether you want a quick refresh or a luxurious spa treatment, choosing a professional nail salon ensures beautiful, healthy feet with lasting results.

[merabtblogs]

Digital Marketing Trends in Trivandrum: What’s Hot in 2025?

Trivandrum, Kerala’s bustling capital, is evolving rapidly in the digital space. With businesses—from cozy cafés to tech startups—embracing online marketing like never before, staying ahead of the latest trends isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity.

So, what’s working in Trivandrum’s digital landscape right now? Let’s break down the top trends shaping how businesses connect with customers in 2025.

1. Hyper-Local Marketing is Winning

Gone are the days when digital marketing meant casting a wide net. In Trivandrum, businesses are focusing on hyper-local strategies—targeting customers right in their neighborhood. Whether it’s a boutique in Vazhuthacaud or a bakery in Pattom, location-based ads, Google My Business optimization, and WhatsApp marketing are helping businesses reach the right people at the right time.

🔹 Trend to Watch: “Near me” searches on Google are skyrocketing. If your business isn’t optimized for local search, you’re missing out on foot traffic and online leads.

2. WhatsApp Marketing is Exploding

In Trivandrum, WhatsApp isn’t just for chatting—it’s a full-fledged business tool. From appointment booking to customer support, businesses are using WhatsApp Business to engage with customers instantly.

Why is it working? ✔️ Customers prefer direct, quick responses over emails. ✔️ The open rate for WhatsApp messages is 98%—far higher than emails. ✔️ Small businesses can send product catalogs, order updates, and exclusive deals effortlessly.

✅ Pro Tip: Use WhatsApp’s click-to-chat feature in your ads so customers can start a conversation instantly.

3. Reels & Short-Form Videos Are King

Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, one thing is clear—short-form video content is dominating. Businesses in Trivandrum are leveraging Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even LinkedIn videos to connect with audiences in a fun and engaging way.

What’s working?🎥 Behind-the-scenes content from local cafés and restaurants. 📢 Quick product demos and tutorials. 🤣 Humorous, relatable content showcasing Kerala’s unique culture.

💡 Bonus Tip: If you run a business, don’t overthink video content. A simple phone-shot Reel showing your service in action can outperform a professionally produced ad!

4. Influencer Collaborations with Local Creators

Forget big celebrity endorsements—Trivandrum’s social media stars are the new brand ambassadors. Local influencers on Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok (through VPN, of course 😉) are helping brands gain trust and reach engaged audiences.

Who’s using this?📌 Boutique cafés partnering with food bloggers. 📌 Salons and spas featuring lifestyle influencers. 📌 Local fashion brands collaborating with micro-influencers.

⭐ Pro Tip: Micro-influencers (those with 5k–50k followers) have higher engagement rates than celebrities. Partner with them for authentic brand promotions!

5. AI-Powered Chatbots & Automation (Done Right!)

Yes, AI chatbots are everywhere, but in Trivandrum, businesses are getting smart about automation. Instead of robotic auto-replies, brands are using AI alongside human interaction to offer better customer support.

✅ Best Examples:📞 Restaurants using WhatsApp chatbots for reservations. 🛒 Local e-commerce stores automating order updates. 👨‍⚕️ Clinics using AI-powered appointment scheduling.

🚀 Want to integrate smart automation into your business? Check out MeraBT for cutting-edge digital solutions!

6. SEO is More Relevant Than Ever

With digital competition rising, businesses in Trivandrum are investing more in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to ensure they appear on Google’s front page.

📌 What’s trending in SEO?🔍 Voice search optimization (“Best dosa place near me” searches). 📷 Google Lens & image search (People searching by snapping pictures). 📄 Long-form blog content (like this one! 😉).

✅ Local SEO Tip: Register your business on Google My Business and get genuine customer reviews—it’s a game-changer for local rankings!

7. Paid Ads? Smarter, Not Bigger

Gone are the days of blindly spending on Facebook and Google Ads. Businesses in Trivandrum are now optimizing ad spending by using:

🎯 Retargeting ads (Showing ads to people who’ve already visited your site). 📌 Geo-targeted campaigns (Focusing on specific areas in Trivandrum). 📊 AI-powered ad optimization (Automatically adjusting budget based on performance).

💰 Smart Move: Instead of a huge budget, start small, test, and scale up based on results.

Final Thoughts

Digital marketing in Trivandrum scene is booming, but success lies in adapting to what works for your audience. Whether it’s leveraging WhatsApp, creating Reels, or optimizing for local search, the businesses that embrace these trends will stay ahead.

Need expert guidance? 🚀 MeraBT helps businesses in Trivandrum level up their digital game with customized marketing strategies.

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape 2025 the most? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

[lavyahairdesign]

Looking for Hair Smoothing Treatments Near Me in Toowoomba? Visit Lavya Hair Design

Are you tired of dealing with frizzy, unmanageable hair? If you're searching for “hair smoothing treatments near me” in Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Lavya Hair Design is the place to be! Our professional hair smoothing treatments are designed to give you sleek, smooth, and shiny hair that’s easy to style and maintain. Whether you have curly, wavy, or coarse hair, our expert stylists are here to help you achieve the hair you’ve always wanted.

What Are Hair Smoothing Treatments?

Hair smoothing treatments are designed to reduce frizz, tame unruly curls, and enhance the natural texture of your hair. These treatments work by infusing the hair with a blend of nourishing ingredients that smooth the cuticle and lock in moisture. The result is hair that’s shinier, more manageable, and less prone to frizz, even in humid weather.

At Lavya Hair Design, we specialize in providing personalized hair smoothing treatments that are suitable for all hair types. Whether you're looking for a subtle reduction in frizz or a complete transformation, our team will tailor the treatment to meet your specific needs.

Why Choose Hair Smoothing Treatments?

If you’re wondering why you should consider hair smoothing treatments, the benefits are endless. Here’s why you’ll love them:

Frizz Control – If you’re constantly battling frizz, smoothing treatments can help you achieve a sleek, polished look that lasts. No more worrying about your hair getting puffy or frizzy throughout the day!

Shiny, Healthy Hair – Smoothing treatments coat the hair with nourishing ingredients that help improve the overall health of your hair. This leaves your locks looking shiny, soft, and healthier than ever before.

Long-Lasting Results – Unlike temporary frizz-control products, hair smoothing treatments provide long-lasting results that keep your hair looking sleek for weeks, saving you time and effort with daily styling.

Easy Styling – With smoother hair, styling becomes easier and faster. You’ll spend less time on your hair each day and more time enjoying your flawless look.

Why Choose Lavya Hair Design for Your Hair Smoothing Treatment?

When you search for “hair smoothing treatments near me,” it’s important to choose a salon that offers high-quality treatments and expert care. Lavya Hair Design in Toowoomba stands out for several reasons:

Experienced Stylists – Our team is highly trained and experienced in performing hair smoothing treatments. We take the time to understand your hair type and needs to deliver the best possible results.

Custom Treatments – We believe that no two heads of hair are the same, so we offer customized hair smoothing treatments. Whether you have thick, coarse hair or fine, frizzy strands, we’ll tailor the treatment to suit your unique hair type and desired outcome.

Premium Products – At Lavya Hair Design, we only use high-quality, professional-grade products that nourish and protect your hair while providing beautiful smoothing results. Our products are selected with your hair’s health in mind.

Affordable & Convenient – We believe everyone deserves to have smooth, gorgeous hair. That’s why our hair smoothing treatments are priced competitively, and we offer flexible appointment times to fit your schedule.

Comfortable Salon Environment – From the moment you walk into Lavya Hair Design, you’ll feel relaxed and pampered. Our team is dedicated to making your salon experience enjoyable, and we ensure every treatment is performed in a comfortable, welcoming environment.

Book Your Hair Smoothing Treatment Today

If you’re ready to say goodbye to frizzy, unmanageable hair, it’s time to try a professional hair smoothing treatment at Lavya Hair Design. We’re here to help you achieve the smooth, sleek hair you’ve always wanted. To schedule your appointment or learn more about our services, simply give us a call at (07) 4636 0099.

Don’t waste another day battling frizz—book your hair smoothing treatment near me at Lavya Hair Design in Toowoomba and discover the difference our expert team can make! We look forward to helping you love your hair again!

[markeshblog]

Best Full Body Massage in Chennai: Ultimate Guide to Relaxation

A full body massage is one of the best ways to relax, rejuvenate, and relieve stress. Whether you're dealing with muscle tension, fatigue, or simply need a break from your busy schedule, Chennai offers a variety of high-quality massage centers that cater to all your wellness needs. In this guide, we explore the best full body massage spas in Chennai where you can experience true relaxation.

Why Choose a Full Body Massage?

Relieves Muscle Tension: Helps ease stiffness and soreness.

Boosts Circulation: Enhances blood flow and oxygen supply.

Reduces Stress: Releases endorphins for better mood and relaxation.

Improves Sleep: Aids in deeper and more restful sleep.

Detoxifies the Body: Helps flush out toxins and improves lymphatic drainage.

Top 10 Full Body Massage Spas in Chennai

1. Ashlee Spa

A premier wellness center, Ashlee Spa offers top-notch full body massages performed by expert therapists. Their services include Swedish, deep tissue, and aromatherapy massages. Check out their Top 10 Best Spa in Chennai for more relaxation options.

2. O2 Spa

A well-known chain with skilled therapists specializing in various massage techniques.

3. River Day Spa

Offers a range of body massages including traditional Thai and Balinese massages.

4. Green Day Spa

Known for its serene environment and expert body massage services.

5. Influence Spa

Provides deep tissue and therapeutic massages for ultimate relaxation.

6. Le Bliss Spa

Popular for its luxurious treatments and rejuvenating therapies.

7. Four Fountains Spa

An affordable yet high-quality spa focusing on stress relief.

8. Ananta Spa & Salon

Offers premium body massages tailored to individual needs.

9. Orchid Thai Spa

Specializes in Thai massage and holistic healing therapies.

10. Sowkhya Ayurvedic Spa

Blends Ayurvedic techniques with full body massage treatments for a rejuvenating experience.

Popular Types of Full Body Massages

Swedish Massage: A gentle, relaxing massage with long, flowing strokes.

Deep Tissue Massage: Targets deeper muscle layers to relieve chronic pain.

Aromatherapy Massage: Uses essential oils to enhance relaxation.

Balinese Massage: A combination of gentle stretches and acupressure.

Thai Massage: A dynamic massage involving stretching and deep pressure.

Hot Stone Massage: Uses heated stones to relax muscles and promote circulation.

How to Choose the Best Full Body Massage Spa?

Check Reviews: Read customer feedback for service quality.

Therapist Expertise: Ensure therapists are certified and experienced.

Hygiene Standards: A clean and well-maintained spa ensures a safe experience.

Range of Services: Look for a spa that offers multiple massage techniques.

Ambiance & Comfort: Choose a spa that provides a peaceful and relaxing setting.

Tips for the Best Massage Experience

Arrive early to settle in and enjoy the ambiance.

Communicate with your therapist about any pain points.

Drink plenty of water before and after your session.

Avoid heavy meals before your massage.

Follow up with recommended self-care practices.

Conclusion

A full body massage in Chennai is a fantastic way to restore balance and improve overall well-being. Whether you’re looking for deep tissue therapy, an Ayurvedic massage, or a luxurious spa experience, the city offers plenty of options. For a premium relaxation experience, visit Ashlee Spa and indulge in world-class massage therapies. Looking for more nearby options? Check out the Best 10 Massage Spa Near Me for top recommendations.