#but i suspect that might not be the case so I'll be damned if i let anyone else die when i can help

[trice-the-nobling]

HEY!

YOU HAVE TO STAY

ALIVE

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!

I LOVE YOU AND I NEED YOU TO STAY ALIVE OKAY?!

This is to everyone who is feeling scared and horrified and panicked right now! EVERY QUEER, BLACK, LATINO, INDIGENOUS, DISABLED, IMMIGRANT AND/OR PERSON WITH A UTERUS I LOVE YOU!

I WANT YOU TO STAY ALIVE CAUSE I NEED TO STAY ALIVE TOO!

THESE BASTARDS ONLY WIN WHEN WE ARE ALL DEAD

SO STAY

FUCKING ALIVE!

DO YOU HEAR ME?!?

WE ARE GOING TO LIVE! WE'RE GOING TO CRY AND GRIEVE AND RAGE AND BURY OUR LOVED ONES DUE TO HORRIBLE HORRIBLE REASONS!

BUT GOD DAMMIT WE ARE GOING TO LIVE!

PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU NEED SOME REASSURANCE! WE HAVE GOT TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES AND TAKE CARE OF THEM

I FUCKING LOVE YOU.

SO STAY ALIVE!

[rainbowsky]

Award nominations - my thoughts

There has been a lot of uproar about the Magnolia Awards nominations. Here are my thoughts.

Disclaimer: I'm going to preface this by talking about a life lesson I refuse to learn (to the dismay of those closest to me). The lesson is, "Don't make yourself a target." That can often mean, "Don't speak your mind if your perspective differs from popular opinion" or in this case, "When people are upset, don't put yourself in the position to become the outlet for all their anger."

But I respect diversity of opinion, and that means I want to hear from a variety of perspectives on an issue and I suspect some of my readers do as well. So I hope everyone can remain open to hearing things they might not agree with, and respect each other's views. I also want to add that everything I say here is about me and my views - not a commentary on anyone else or their views.

I also think it's important that I make clear that I have not yet seen War of Faith. I'm relying on reviews and on reports from other fans, from my friends, and from my sister for my understanding of the drama and the performances actors gave.

A bit of background

For those who aren't aware of this issue, I'll try to outline the broad strokes of it all.

The Magnolias are prestigious drama awards in China, somewhat on par with the Emmies. For months now there has been a lot of buzz building about the possibility of a nomination for GG and The Youth Memories, and/or for DD and War of Faith.

The nominations came through today, and there was just the nomination for War of Faith for Best Drama. DD was not nominated, but Wang Yang was nominated for Best Leading Actor.

A lot of fans and even a few passers-by have been very vocally upset about this, saying it's a snub to DD and his excellent performance. Some have even characterized it as a huge betrayal of DD to nominate Wang Yang, who was really only a supporting actor, over DD, who was the real leading actor.

There have been claims that DD wasn't even put forth for the award by the producers, which has made fans even more angry. Many are attacking the producers, speaking out against DD appearing in a proposed season 2 of the series, and threatening backlash if the producers celebrate the nominations the drama received.

Checking the facts

As far as I can tell, here's what we know for sure:

The drama was co-billed with three leading actors: Wang Yibo, Li Qin and Wang Yang.

While DD's character was the protagonist of the drama, he wasn't billed as the sole male lead for the series.

All three leading actors gave solid performances.

We do not know for sure whether Li Qin's or Yibo's names were put forth for the awards. I personally can't think of any reason the producers would hold back on submitting everyone they can for the awards. The more nominations and wins the drama gets, the better for everyone involved.

Edit: according to a document purported by fans to be the official record of the names put forward for awards, Yibo, Li Qin and Wang Yang were all put forth as leads, which is in line with the billing each had in casting.

Fans are treating this as damning evidence that the producers unjustly put the supporting actor forward as a lead actor, but we have to keep in mind that there are likely contractual and legal considerations here. If somebody is cast in a leading role, then they have rights to be billed and promoted as such. We know that Li Qin and Wang Yang were both billed as co-leads.

Edit 2: The studio and producer have released statements where it was confirmed that all the lead actors were put forth for the awards.

My thoughts

I understand the disappointment fans feel when one of our boys is passed over for accolades and recognition. We're all invested in their well-being and success. However, I don't think it does any of us - and especially not DD - any kind of service to get upset and up in arms over something like this.

There are some really good reasons to believe that DD would not be thanking people for reacting the way they have:

It is an insult to Wang Yang and the performance he gave, which from what I understand, was outstanding. DD would not want his colleague's successes to be in any way diminished by the behavior and attitudes of his fans. It's not the kind of person he is.

It's disrespectful to the project as a whole. As I've said before, "A rising tide lifts all boats." The fact that the drama was nominated at all is to DD's great benefit. Turning something positive into a negative doesn't serve any productive purpose.

This makes DD look really bad, frankly. We shouldn't fail to recognize the irony of burning down the internet with cries of, "DD's being treated like a traffic star rather than the great actor he is!!" "He was snubbed!" "What a betrayal!" Nothing makes DD look more like a traffic star than fans behaving this way. This is classic fan culture behavior. We want DD to be recognized as a serious actor, but we simultaneously rely on traffic idol data and numbers to try to 'push his case', and claim he's 'being used for traffic' rather than ourselves respect his serious role in this drama.

This type of awards entitlement is not DD's style. Quite the contrary. He is an extremely humble, hardworking guy who likely cringes at the idea of people being outraged on his behalf in a situation like this.

Everything good that happens for this project, whether it's directly connected to DD or not, benefits DD. Everything bad that happens - every bit of bad publicity - harms DD.

This is a propaganda drama that's of significance to the ruling party. This type of fan behavior in relation to it has the chance of really harming DD and his career. Just like the whole debacle with GG's fans and their reaction over Ace Troops, this is not the kind of thing people should be doing.

From what I've learned about the Magnolias, these awards are given to established career actors. Young actors and newer actors do not tend to get nominated for these awards.

Like it or not, DD is a newcomer with a career that's still in transition. He has a lot of talent and some great successes under his belt, but he is still pretty green as an actor. Wang Yang has a career that goes back 20 years. DD has only been a serious actor for maybe a quarter of that time. It was unrealistic for fans to expect the tiger to change its stripes just for him.

This is not some nasty conspiracy against DD, this is just the reality of the industry he is in. Major awards tend to go to established career actors - both in China and globally. We should know this by now.

As far as I can tell, DD isn't being 'singled out' in any way. He's being treated like any other newcomer; being expected to 'pay his dues' just like everyone else.

DD is young, he has his whole career ahead of him. He is so talented and hardworking - he WILL win major awards. The fact that almost every project he's involved with gets nominations and awards is a very good sign, and ensures he will continue to get solid opportunities to show his skills. He's clearly picking good projects and performing well in them. Directors and producers will take notice of that and want to work with him.

He is on a normal - even exceptionally strong - career trajectory. Given his successes we should be very happy for the trajectory he is on. He will continue to work hard, get good roles, perform well and grow his audiences and his credibility among those audiences.

On a personal level

I love DD so much. He has something truly special about him. I want to see him do well, and for others to see and recognize what's so great about him.

He deals with an outrageous level of hatred and slander from antis, some of it truly makes me sick to my stomach. Nothing would make me happier than to see him be in a position to slap those assholes in the face with prestigious awards and recognition for his talent.

Of course I was dismayed when he wasn't nominated, just as I was dismayed that GG wasn't nominated.

However, I recognize that for what it is - a personal emotional reaction. Ultimately nothing that has happened here appears to be unjust or underhanded. Disappointing, perhaps, but not a conspiracy, not a betrayal.

Quite the contrary. DD's drama was nominated for 5 awards including Best Drama! We should be celebrating. There are probably hundreds of dramas that hope for this type of recognition every year, and DD's was one of those chosen among the very few nominated.

It makes me sad to see something positive being turned into a negative in this way. For all the reasons I outlined, I think it's misguided and could come back to bite DD hard in the ass.

Just my opinion. Hopefully once everyone has simmered down a bit we can all take a second look at this and find another perspective. One that is more worthy of DD as the humble human being he is.

[thebigbadbatswife]

Internal Conflict (Part 2 of 3)

Pairing - Batman x F!Hero!Reader Series - Under Your Skin Part 1 here | Part 3 here

Summary - Following the aftermath of your fight with the Dark Knight, you end up recieving a call from him asking you for help on one of his cases. Making you wonder, just what is he up to?

Warnings - Canon typical violence, brief mention of death, major character injury, blood. (If I somehow missed a TW, lmk!)

A/N - Since for October I'll be posting what I've written for Kinktober, Part 3 will be coming sometime during Novemeber simply so it isn't lost in the wave of fics! As always hope you enjoy! 💜

Taglist - At the end of the fic. Please message me if you would like to be added/removed.

Word Count - 5.1k

You sighed softly as you wrapped the towel around your body and walked out of the bathroom. The blinds were open, allowing the early morning sunlight to stream into your bedroom. Something that your cat was taking full advantage of as he was fully stretched out across your bed. You chuckled as you briefly stopped to ruffle his fur, earning you a small chirp as his eyes opened and he greeted you.

“How about some breakfast?” He perked up at that, meowing as he got back up onto his paws and followed you from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Today was going to be a good day, you had decided. Not even Batman was going to get you down. Not that he had been doing much in the ways of talking, or arguing, with you anyway. Of course that was likely down to how good you had become at avoiding him or making sure you had left the room before anyone else. Now the only time he spoke to you was during briefing, the middle of a mission or debriefing.

The injury that you had sustained during Lex’s attack had not only kept you away from your usual superhero duties, but had left quite the scar. Some of your focus over the past few weeks had been on healing and slowly building your strength back up, following the advice that Black Canary had given you. Though you had no actual proof, you suspected that the advice had actually come from Batman. Why he hadn’t just given it to you direct, you didn’t understand. You might hate his guts, but he was still a teammate. And a teammate who was very knowledgeable when it came to the medical side of things. If he had any advice to give in regards to that, then you would listen.

The rest of your focus had been on your equipment and future suits. It was important, not only to be prepared, but to stay a few steps ahead of the bad guys.

Now that your leg was fully healed, you would be returning to the Watchtower today. Though had been talking to everyone, other than Batman, through the group chat that The Flash had set up, it wasn’t the same as seeing everyone in person. You had also missed kicking bad guys’ asses and doing your best to make the world a little bit better.

After you had gotten your cat his breakfast, you proceeded to make yourself something and sat down on your couch. It was rare that you were awake this early. Typically waking up either right before or right after midday. You were curious of what sort of trashy tv was on at this time in the morning. As you flipped through the channels, you came across a talkshow that had Bruce Wayne on as their guest star. You didn’t have a clue as to what had been said, but the host was laughing rather hard. With nothing else to watch, you decided to leave it on while you ate. Besides, he was very easy on the eyes. He was a man that you certainly wouldn’t throw out of your bed.

You scoffed and shook your head. Damn. Was this really what you were doing? Fantasising about a well known womanising billionaire? Dammit, you really needed to get out more. It was just a shame that the superhero lifestyle didn’t really allow for that. You switched the tv off and focused on finishing your breakfast. It wasn’t going to do you any good to dwell on things like that. The life that you had choses was a good one, even if it did get lonely at times.

Once you were finished with breakfast, and had finally gotten dressed, you walked over to your bookcase and pulled on rather inconspicuous book. There were several clicking noises and the bookcase slid back before sliding to the side, revealing a hidden elevator. You stepped inside and pressed one of two buttons. As the doors slid shut, the bookcase slid back into place.

The elevator trip was a long one. It had to be to get from your apartment all the way down to the hidden basement of this building. The money wasn’t yours. At least it hadn’t always been yours. The money, the company, the real estate. All of it had been your father’s, but after his untimely death everything he’d had landed into your lap. 

Your father’s death had been the catalyst to your new life as a crimefighter. That was a day that you didn’t like to dwell on for too long. Besides today was supposed to be a good day and it very well couldn’t be if you were wishing you could change the past.

The doors of the elevator dinged as they opened up into your base. It wasn’t the most hightech place, especially when compared to a place like the Watchtower, but it did everything you needed it do. And you weren’t looking to upgrade it right now.

A large black box sat on the centre table. The sight of it made you smile. You had forgotten that was down here. Your new suit. You hadn’t had a chance to try it on before Luthor had injured you. Well what better time to debut it than now?

Your smile was big as you checked yourself out in the mirror. Your friend had done well. Very well. From the colours to the new kevlar weave, it was a hell of a lot better than your last one. And it should hold up nicely against bald rich men and their overly large mechs. Mechs that were definitely compensating for something.

Once you had gone through your gear, making sure you had everything you needed, you left your base and headed for the nearest zeta tube.

The Watchtower was quiet when you arrived. Which wasn’t a surprise, with how early it was. You imagined people had either already gone home, after working all night, or were slowly waking up. Being mindful of that, you kept your steps light and made you way toward the breakroom. As you entered the room you were greeted with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Other than yourself the only other person in the breakroom was Black Canary.

In recent months you and her had become quite close. So close, in fact, that you knew each other’s secret identities. After all, you weren’t just coworkers or allies, you were friends. And it felt good to have friends that you could share the burdens of a superhero life with. As much as you trusted your friend that made your suits, at the same time you knew that there were lots of things that she couldn’t understand. 

“Welcome back,” Dinah greeted you as you entered the room. “There’s coffee, if you want any.”

“Thanks, it feels good to be back,” you replied. You made your way over to the coffee machine and poured yourself a cup before joining her at the table.

The two of you spent the morning catching up with each other. It felt good to finally catch up with each other in person. It really wasn’t the same using text on a screen. As you chatted, the door to the breakroom opened and in walked Batman. You took a long drink from your cup, keeping your focus on what Dinah was saying, pretending that he wasn’t there. He didn’t stay in the breakroom for long. Grabbing himself some coffee before leaving again.

She looked between you and the closed door. You thought she was going to ask you what was going on there, you knew the question had to be everyone’s minds. The two of you go from being at each other’s throats to not speaking whatsoever? She didn’t though.

“Me, Ollie and Hal are going to a bar later tonight, if you want to come along as well?” she offered.

It sounded good; a night out with your friends. It had been awhile since you had last been out. Maybe that was what you needed. To go out, get drunk and maybe end up waking up next to a stranger. Something that might help in you in forgetting how it had felt to have sex with him.

You nodded. “Yeah, that sounds great. I would love to. You know, as long as no supervillain tries world domination again.” 

Dinah chuckled at that.

The bar was far quieter than you had thought it was going to be. It didn’t look like you were going to be taking anyone back to your hotel room tonight. Which was fine. You were here to hang out with your friends after all. While Dinah, Oliver and Hal had ordered themselves some beers, you had opted for just a soda. The more you had thought about it, the more you hadn’t wanted to get drunk. You would rather to keep a clear and focused mind. Maybe next time.

Right now the four of you were laughing at Hal’s rather on point impression of Batman. You shook your head, smiling, and calming yourself down long enough to take a sip of your drink. After weeks of being cooped up, using the majority of your free time to focus on future equipment blueprints and potential future materiels to use, while your leg had healed, it felt good to be out with them.

Oliver raised his beer bottle to his lips, frowning when he found it empty. “I’m gonna go and get us another round,” he announced as he got up and turned to head toward the bar.

“I’ll help you,” Hal said very abruptly, going after him.

You frowned. That was… strange. What was going on with him? That was when you saw it, out of the corner of your eye, Dinah moving, leaning in close to you, so that no one would overhear. Now you understood.

“You and Batman. Spill.”

You looked at her like she had just grown horns. You scoffed. “What do you mean “spill”? You’ve seen the arguments. Everyone one has. What else is there to talk about?”

She raised an eyebrow at you. It was more than clear that she didn’t believe a word you were saying. “Right. That’s why you both disappeared for hours at a time afterward hmmm? Because there’s nothing else to talk about?”

Okay. It was clear to you that she definitely knew what happened between you and Batman, but how? Had she somehow overheard the two of you? Mentally, you shook your head. It didn’t matter how close you were with her, you would still rather forget what had happened between you and Batman and talking to her about it wouldn’t help. Before anything else could be said, Oliver and Hal returned to the table, drinks in hand.

“And what were you two talking about?” Oliver asked as he set down his and Dinah’s drinks, while Hal set down his and yours. You thanked him.

“Nothing, just some girl talk,” she replied. You nodded in agreement with her before taking a sip of your drink.

The rest of the night went by quickly. The situation between you and Batman wasn’t brought up again, but you didn’t believe that Oliver and Hal were oblivious to the situation. The timing of their leaving and Dinah’s questions were too much of a coincidence. It made you wonder how many more Leaguers were aware of it. 

As the night came to a close, they walked you back to the zeta tube. Since you weren’t having a one night stand tonight, you figured you may as well just go back to your apartment.

You were curled up on your couch, underneath a fleece with a bowl of popcorn on your lap. You were watching a movie you had been meaning to watch for a while now, but had just never got around to it. Until now. It had felt good to go out with your friend, but it had completely drained your social battery. You needed to recharge, so to speak. And this was the perfect way to do so.

You were about halfway through the movie when the phone you had specifically for League only business, started to ring. It was for emergencies, in case that you weren’t on the Watchtower or away from home. You paused the movie and picked up the phone, groaning when you saw who was calling you. Batman? There were plenty of other Leaguers available tonight, so why you?

You pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter. He was a teammate and he needed help.

“Where are you?” you asked as soon as you had answered the phone. There wasn’t any time to waste if he was in trouble.

“There’s an old amusement park, just outside of Gotham.” He sounded winded. Something you were sure that you had only picked up on because of you… time together.

“I’m on my way.”

The sight of the amusement park had the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. It just seemed… wrong. A place that was supposed to be filled with people, lights and laughter was dark, devoid of life and decaying. It was unsettling. The fog drifting in certainly wasn’t helping with that.

You stayed down and kept your steps light as you stalked through the park, looking for Batman. You wouldn’t lie, it confused you a lot. Why he would call you, of all people, for help. Hell, the fact that he had called for help to begin with. You had heard the stories from the other Leaguers. How is stubbornness to handle things all by himself had nearly killed him more than once. Not to mention that he had made his feeling about you more than perfectly clear. So why had he asked you for help? Especially when there were other Leaguers that he not only liked more, but had more experience with this sort of thing than you did. There were plenty of them on standby. You knew because you had double checked, in case the two of you weren’t enough for whatever this threat was.

You thought about asking him why, once you found him, but you dismissed it almost as quickly as it had come to mind. He wouldn’t tell you even if you did. There was no point in wasting your breath.

The old rides groaned and creaked. Chains, whose purpose had been long forgotten rattled and banged against various makeshift stands and equally rusted poles. The clanging noise echoing around you. The shadowy remains of the rollercoaster loomed high above you, like the unnatural skeleton of some giant creature. If you hadn’t been unsettled before, you certainly were now.

Voices ahead caught your attention. They were loud and distressed. Like they had been attacked. You had a good feeling you knew by who. Sticking to the shadows, you slowly began to creep toward them. Through the fog, two silhouettes started to take shape ahead of you, but before you could get closer, someone grabbed you. An arm wrapped around your waist white the other covered your mouth, pulling you to the side and keeping you secured against a muscular chest. Your instincts had kicked in and you attempted to fight against the person who had grabbed you, not stopping to think who it might actually be. You stopped when you heard his voice.

“It’s me.” His voice was deep and gravelly, sending goosebumps across your skin. You were thankful your suit didn’t show any skin.

Even as you stopped fighting, your body remained tense. You stayed still and silent. The two of you watched as the two figures, two henchmen dressed in black and red, rushed past. They were yelling at how Batman must have gone in the direction they were headed, completely unaware that in their hurry they had run past him and you. When they were gone, their footsteps fading, he released his grip on you. Now free, you spun around to face him.

You were so close together, lips centimetres apart. If either of you moved forward just a little bit they would meet…

You snapped out of it immediately and backed away from him, putting space between you both. What the hell where you thinking? This was not the time or place to be thinking with anything other than you brain. Especially with him, of all people.

“What’s going on?” you asked, making sure to keep your voice low.

He gestured with his head for you to follow him before he moved away from the wall, continuing down the makeshift alleyway. 

“I’ve been investigating the recent super villain attacks,” he started to explain as he led you through the park. “So many happening so close together is too much for it to be a coincidence.”

You stuck to the shadows and kept low. The henchmen were on high alert from their run in with Batman. You were sure that their trigger fingers were itching, ready to fire at anything that looked just a little bit like a bat.

“They’re connected?” While you had found the attacks a little strange, you hadn’t found it so strange to have thought that they might be connected. Of course, that's why he was the World's Greatest Detective. He saw and picked up on things that others didn't.

He nodded and looked over his shoulder at you. “Tonight should prove that.” Then he turned back and continued leading you.

Batman didn’t elaborate further. Not that that wasn’t unexpected. He had a thing for being cryptic. That was something you had learned quickly after joining the League. The amusement park was crawling with henchmen as well. Too much talking and you could definitely end up drawing some very much unwanted attention. Being silent for the time being would be best.

Still, it was gnawing at you. Why had he asked for your help? There was a part of you that really wanted to know. You remembered the night in Star City vividly. The words said, how he had snapped at you. Showing his true colours. Similar fights had broken out on the Watchtower, more often than not involving him and Hal. As far as you knew he had never called him for assistance. Especially when there were other Leaguers he preferred working with. Then it hit you. Was this his way of attempting to start over with you? 

The two of you soon came to a funhouse. Which, unlike the rest of the park, was seemingly devoid of life entirely. The quiet though. It didn’t feel natural.

Batman rose a hand as he stopped in his tracks, stopping you at the same time.

“Something’s wrong,” he stated, voice low.

“Definitely,” you agreed with him for once. “Could it be a trap?”

“Maybe. Stick close.”

You nodded and followed him into the funhouse.

Floorboards creaked beneath your feet. Some of them felt like they were about to break beneath your weight. So you kept your steps as light as possible, hoping to avoid that. You didn’t want to reinjure your leg. There was a strong stench of wood rot and mould, making you wrinkle your noise in disgust. The further into the funhouse that you got, the worse the smells started to get.

After walking through a couple of rooms that had clearly been gutted, you and Batman came to a hallway full of mirrors. The distorted mirrors coerced the walls and ceiling. They were either cracked or broken, glass littering the floor, cracking and crunching beneath your boots. He came to a stop before one of the broken mirrors, something catching his eye, and stepped through it. You followed after him, careful of the jagged pieces of glass that were still attached to the frame.

There was a short hallway behind the mirror, with a door at the end of it. Likely for employees back when this place was still operational. Batman had already dropped down onto one knee, lockpicking equipment in hand, working on the door’s lock. You kept watch, listening for anyone who might potentially be headed this way. A few minutes later, you heard the door creak open.

It hadn’t been open for even a few seconds before the smell hit you. It had you coughing hard and gagging, though nothing came up. You covered your nose with your arm, hoping to try and block out some of the smell. It felt like it was all over you, coating your hair, skin and the inside of your throat and nose. You had no idea if you were ever going to be able to get it off of you. It was a smell of rot, but not like what you had been breathing in throughout the funhouse so far. This was far, far worse. The only thing you could think was that this was what death must smell like. Which had your stomach churning.

Other than a few coughs when the door first opened, Batman didn’t seem to be overly effected by the smell. It made you wonder just how many times he had to have encountered the stench before for it to not effect him as much as it was effecting you. You were about to ask him to confirm that what you thought you were smelling was exactly that, when you were stopped by the sound of laughter.

“Are those—”

“Hyenas? Yes,” he cut you off. “Two of them, to be exact. Stay close.”

Hyenas? Who of Gotham’s criminals kept hyenas again? You racked your brain for the answer. It came to you as you followed him further in. Harley Quinn. She kept hyenas. You were only aware of that because everytime she did something it was big, televised and all over social media.

“Harley Quinn is here?” 

“Most likely, but even if she’s not here currently she would have left something behind,” he replied. “Either way we should stay on high alert. She’s become even more dangerous since Joker’s death.”

“Didn’t she kill him?” 

“Yes, in a slaughter house. There wasn’t much left of him.”

Though he didn’t go into detail, your mind unprovoked conjured up an image of what likely happened, making you cringe. 

“You saw?”

He was silent for a moment before finally answering you. “Yes. I arrived too late to stop her.”

As you continued deeper into the funhouse, the smell of rot grew stronger, making you gag again. The hyenas’ laughter had stopped by now, which made you even more anxious. At least before, when they were making noise, you could have pinpointed where they were.

After walking down a maze of corridors that all looked the same as each other, the two of you soon came to a room where the smell was at its strongest. It wasn’t hard to see why. You didn’t know what this room would have been when the funhouse was being used, but now it had a large cage in the centre of it. There were two hyenas with spiked collars within the cage, surrounded by bones and fighting over a piece of meat. It looked fresh, meaning they had been fed recently. Harley was probably close by then.

The bigger of the two won the fight and ran off with its prize. While the smaller one now had its attention fixed on you and Batman. Its ears came forward as it sniffed the air intensely. You were grateful for the bars the stood between you and the hyenas.

There was a couple of desks shoved into the corner of the the room, piled with various papers and files and there was a map of Gotham attached to a corkboard, sitting just above the desks. While you had been focused on Harley’s pets, Batman had already made his way over to the desk and was going through the papers.

“She stole them from the zoo an hour afterwards,” he answered your unasked question, like he could read your mind.

You nodded and moved away from the cage, deciding to help him go through the papers to help him. Only for him to bat your hands way and glaring at you for getting in his way.

“Only trying to help!” you snapped.

“Then keep watch,” he grumbled, looking way from you and continuing to focus on the task at hand.

Folding your arms across your chest, your turned away from the desk to survey the rest of the room. If Harley was still around, after feeding the hyenas, she wasn’t going to be getting the drop on the two of you. As you kept watch, you listened to the way he was sutling through the papers.

Wondering what was taking so long, you briefly looked over your shoulder, watching how he shuffled through the papers and kept looking up at the map. Trying to match the information with the scribbles perhaps? Before you could think to ask, his head snapped up and you found yourself being thrown across the room.

You hit the floor, hard. Pain radiated through your arm and ribs at how awkward your landing was. Your arm, thankfully, hadn’t been broken in the fall, but with the way your ribs hurt from just shallow breaths you figured a couple of them had to be broken. As you pushed yourself up from the ground, hissing as your arm protested, you looked back over to where you had just been standing.

Batman laid on the floor, completely still, whilst Harley Quinn stood over him, an almost comically large mallet in her hands. How the hell was she carrying that thing, let alone managing to swing it?

She looked away from his body and over to you.

“Who are you? Batsy’s newest sidekick or just the stand in until Catwoman comes back?” she taunted, a smile on her face.

You pushed down the anger you could feel rising in you at her comment. You couldn’t let her get a rise out of you. Doing so could, and most likely would, get both you and Batman killed. If that initial hit from the mallet hadn’t already killed him. You really hoped that it hadn’t. One of your hands came up to your utility belt and pressed the SOS button there. Though you were sure you could take Harley on, Batman was still in need of serious and immediate medical attention and you seriously doubted you would be able to haul him out of here by yourself.

“The silent type like him huh? Ugh, how boring!” She rolled her eyes.

She charged for you, her mallet at the ready. You waited until the last second to jump out of the way. The resulting swing made Harley stumble and almost fall over. While she had the strength to lift and swing the mallet, her control over it seemed to depend whether or not she hit someone with it. You could work with that.

You kept light on your feet, dodging each of her swing. The aim right now was to try to tire her out, before you got tired yourself. Which would hopefully give you an opening to take her out.

“Stop moving!” she yelled as you dodged again. The time, instead of hitting air, the mallet smashed into the door of the cage. The door squeaked as it swung open and banged against the bars of the cage. Your stomach dropped. Fuck.

She laughed manically and pointed at you. “Babies! Get her!”

The hyenas whooped and giggled as they ran out of their cage, baring their teeth as the headed straight for you. You didn’t want to hurt them, at the same time you really didn’t fancy getting ripped apart by them. You narrowly avoided the bigger on as it lunged for you and kicked out at the other one, trying to force it back. You went to reach for your belt, but a gunshot rang out, making you jump.

“Uh uh uh! My babies can’t use flash grenades so neither can you! The next bullet goes into your leg if I see you reaching for that pesky belt again!” Harley was now sat on one of the desks. Her mallet was propped up next to it and a gun in her hand. Batman was still laying on the ground, unmoving. God, you wished he would just spring back up and surprise her, but he wasn’t going to. This was all up to you now.

The hyenas were well coordinated, doing their best to get you to jump back into either one of their jaws. Which you really didn’t want. You could smell the rotten meat stuck deep within their sharp teeth. You were sure that a single bite from either of them would likely be singing your death certificate. And the longer this went on for, the more of a chance they had to do that. You were going to be bitten if you didn’t find a way to either render them unconscious or scare them. 

As you did your best to avoid the hyenas, you were getting closer and closer to Harley. Who was getting more and more annoyed that her “babies” hadn’t ripped you apart yet. Taking both her and the hyenas by surprise, you darted forward and grabbed the mallet, doing your very best to swing it. It hit one of the hyenas, making it yelp as it slid across the floor. When it climbed back up onto its feet, it ran out of the room, the other one following close behind. You let go of the mallet and it hit the floor with a loud thump.

“How dare you!” she screamed, the gun she held was now pointed directly at you. Though you jumped out of the way as she pulled the trigger, pain flared through your side. Ignoring the pain in your side, you darted forward again. Disarming her with a kick and slamming her head down into the desk, successfully knocking her out cold.

Your hand went to your side and when you pulled it away again, it was covered in your blood.

“Fuck,” you muttered, pressing your hand back against your side. You really hoped that the bullet hadn’t hit anything vital.

After handcuffing her, you left Harley laying where she was and dropped down by Batman’s side. “You had better not be dead,” you told him. Using your non-bloodied hand, you slipped it beneath his cowl to get to his neck. You sighed in relief when you finally found his pulse. You removed your hand and slumped against the desk. Now all you had to do was wait for help to arrive and hope that her thugs or hyenas didn’t end up coming back beforehand.

So much for today being a good day.

*

Taglist - @the-last-twin-of-krypton @bakugous-bakahoe @fromfoolishpeopletodeadpeople @little-rivers @callalily2000 @geminicinderella @warsaur @theclassicvinyldragon @aniya7 @bluebear19 @jdream55 @thedeadlythoughts

[ckret2]

When you watch an animatoc to a fast paced song do you prefer longer shots or just pure high scene changing chaos?

Secret third answer: I prefer for it not to loop.

A lot of fast-paced animatics like that will have a 30 second clip, and spend 10 seconds flashing through like six beautifully drawn animated shots, super fast, very impressive... aaand then it flashes through the same six shots again... and then it flashes through them a third time......

Like, I saw them the first time. If you only produced ten total seconds of animation, then I only need to see ten total seconds of video.

This particularly stands out on longer animatics (or other forms of fanvids—AMVs are guilty of this too) when, say, there's a chorus that repeats, and the video just loops the same animations/scenes/images every time the chorus comes up. The tension is supposed to build as the song goes on! It's supposed to get more moving, more exciting, more emotional, more funny—whatever the mood is. When I see 20 seconds of animation I just already saw 50 seconds ago, it kills the tension and the emotional build. And also I might stop paying attention, because man, ADHD really do be like that.

I get the feeling sometimes people have their animations loop like that because they want to use like 1 minute of song, and they want to do really fast-paced quick cuts, but they only have the time and stamina to put together 15 seconds of animation at that pace. The frenetic pace isn't sustainable for them. And if that's the case, I'd prefer it if they'd:

Admit they only made 15 seconds of animation and make it a 15 second video

make longer slower shots so they aren't giving themselves as much work and can stretch the idea for a full minute.

In an ideal world an animator could just produce 1 full minute of fresh animation, but in an ideal world I'd be able to write one million words in a month, all of wish we could make more art than we have time to make, so I'm not begrudging an animator for not being able to produce Even More Art than they already did. If u got 15 seconds u got 15 seconds. Just don't loop it, that's all.

Same goes for animations that use a full song. If you're doing a song with a chorus that repeats a few times, either do something at least a little different with the chorus each time, or edit the song to take out the choruses you'd otherwise just repeat.

(Caveat that this "please don't loop" plea doesn't apply if repeating over & over is part of the artistic vision. Like, if you're doing a video about being stuck in a time loop, or a toxic relationship repeating the same cycle over & over, or what have you, then I'll be like "damn... deep cinematic choice there." But if you're looping it just to avoid work, then just... cut that part of the song. It's fine.)

Anyway that matters a lot more to me than the length of the actual cuts—but I suspect the length of the cuts sometimes factors into a creator's choice to just loop what they've got.

[elfieafterdark]

One big criticism I have for The Locked Tomb is more so me bitching rather than it being bad. Because make no mistake, it is a very very good book series.

My complaint though? How little Griddlehark we get. I'll start with Gideon herself, one of the very best things about the first book is Gideon.

She's a delight. She's funny, interesting, flawed, she's fallible and she makes big mistakes. She feels real, and raw and amazing and you want to root for her. She's a great narrator, and seeing her interact with this awesome world is amazing.

And she fucking dies in the first book. True, she's still the narrator of the second one... But we're robbed of her interacting with the world herself for the vast majority of HtN. That's a damn shame.

I understand why Gideon isn't in the book, I understand why she died at the end of the first, but I can't help but wish and wonder what might have been if Gideon came back sooner.

Second big issue ties into the first, because Gideon is gone for so much of the series so far, Harrow is alone. And that sucks, because the second best thing about the first book is how the two girls interact.

Their banter, their rapport, their chemistry; It's electric and Muir knows that. Yet, it's completely absent from HtN, another damn tragedy. Judging by how Nona seems to be shaping up in its first chapters, it looks like we're not going to get any of that chemistry.

We might not even get it until the very fucking end of the series and that's a damn shame.

I wouldn't be opposed to Muir extending the series (I reblogged someone today who mentioned that she says Alecto might be the ending) on the condition that Muir actually gives us some of that good good.

Griddlehark interacting is a delight and we don't get any in HtN, and I suspect that's the case for NtN too.

That being said I'm feral for this series. I am undone by it, I understand why quite a few of my favorite sapphic writers left for it and stuck with it.

I'm devoted.

But I also have opinions! 11/10 book series. I'm here for the rest of the ride.

One flesh, one end.

[octuscle]

Business trip (Day one)

I am a counsellor. I analyse customer processes and try to optimise them. Optimising this planet is my goal in life. Some people think I'm a nerd. But I also have another side… Is it wrong that it's 11 o'clock in the morning and I'm feeling horny…? While I'm sitting at a client's desk in a suit and tie, analysing work instructions…? That's actually not that sexy. Maybe it's just hunger. Maybe I should go to lunch earlier today.

The place where I'm currently working is a medium-sized town with maybe 100,000 inhabitants. Could be a few more. Could be a few less. My customer is on the edge of the city centre, and the choice of restaurants in the immediate vicinity is rather limited. My customer recommended a snack bar for my lunch break. Better than nothing.

At 11.30 a.m., the snack bar is still very quiet. The guy who works there is really hot. He's wearing a black T-shirt under his black shooter that shows off his well-defined upper arms. He seems to have noticed you checking him out. He looks at you with a grin. You swear that he's taken a good look at your bum.

We start chatting… I'm a stranger here. Far away from home. Apart from the customer I'm visiting, I don't know anyone here. I ask if there are any good bars in the neighbourhood. He recommends one and says he's going there later….. "Maybe you could meet me there," he says. I have to tell him I don't have any casual clothes with me. Maybe he can help me out…. Yes, he says, he's about the same size as me. But he's only wearing skinny jeans and trainers. I wonder if that's my style. I laugh. Definitely for going to a bar. I reckon we're both 32 in the waist… My thighs are probably a bit more muscular than his. But it's worth a try.

He reckons if they're a bit too tight, squeezing into them would help me. Do I need underwear too? I suspect I won't be able to fit much in a really tight pair of jeans other than a jockstrap. In that case, I'd really have to hope for his help. Sure thing, he replies. That's all he wears!!! He has a black one and a white one. Which would I prefer, unless of course I want a dirty one from his hamper….. The thought makes me lick even more precum. Seriously, it's for a night out in a bar. I'll also happily take a worn jockstrap. Gladly in white. What kind of bar is this, I ask. I mean, can I keep the white button-down shirt on? For the start of the evening, yes, he replies. A lot of the guys there take strip off when the evening gets warmer. And about the pants: he has a white jockstrap in his hamper, but he admits it might be a little stained with his cum from last night. I wonder if that bothers me?

I don't think it's any worse than the precum soaked white boxer shorts I'm wearing now. And I add that it's because of him. I grab my crotch. He does too. About the shirt, I ask him if he has a plain white T-shirt or something. Then I would certainly feel more comfortable in it with jeans and trainers… He has a plain white T-shirt that I'm happily invited to wear.

I arrange to meet him at his house at 20:00. I go straight there. No diversions via the hotel. The afternoon is extremely unproductive. All I can think about is the hot guy and the evening with him. I try to remember the name of the bar. But I can't find it. And everything I find on Google Maps doesn't match the description the guy in the café gave me at all… Maybe I misunderstood him too. And it's not really a bar at all.

Damn, I can't wait to be in this guy's jeans tonight. I'm so annoyed that I travelled to my business meeting this time without sportswear. Otherwise I could have worked out at the gym beforehand.

It's almost eight o'clock in the evening. I'm standing in front of the house of the hunk from the snack bar. It doesn't look like a house at all. More like a warehouse. But there is actually an entrance door to the right of the large garage door. Just a single doorbell. No name… But the address and the house number seem to be correct… I press the doorbell. There is no sound, but obviously there are visual signals. I can see flashes of light through a window. And shortly afterwards I hear footsteps.

I have to take a deep breath when the door opens. The hunk is wearing jeans, probably the same ones he was wearing in the snack bar. But he's taken off his T-shirt. Above the belt, he's only wearing a flashy gold chain. In between, a slim, well-trained upper body covered with well-trimmed body hair. He greets me with a fist bump. "Sick that you actually came. I wasn't sure if I hadn't been too pushy." I swallow briefly. And then I smile "We haven't even introduced ourselves yet. My name is Marcus." He's grinning. Perfect teeth. Bright blue eyes. "Call me Liam. Everyone calls me Liam." He gestures for me to follow him and we enter the building.

It looks as if the offices of the warehouse have been converted into a makeshift flat. Some of the furniture is clearly from an office. Moving boxes are standing around. Not untidy, but not cosy either.

Liam opens a door and we enter a warehouse. Empty except for a food truck, an old Ford Mustang and a Ducati racing bike. I look at him questioningly. "You'll have to excuse me. The whole property was a bargain. But a lot of it is still very improvised." He strokes the motorbike. "My great love," he says with a grin. He asks if I ride a motorbike too. I shake my head. "Big mistake, mate! You should change that!" Liam strides briskly through the hall, opening a steel door at the end opposite the gate. Behind it is obviously his laundry room. Liam points to a laundry basket and says with a grin that I should help myself. He doesn't even pretend to be discreet as I undress. He stops in the doorway and kneads his bump. Naked except for my boxer shorts, I rummage through his dirty underwear. Shit, my boner is building such an obvious tent in my shorts that I might as well not bother. I reach for the first available jockstrap, take off my boxer shorts and put on the urine-yellow, cum-encrusted jockstrap. An unmistakable wet spot forms. Liam has pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his trouser pocket, takes a fag, lights a cigarette and hands it to me. I gave up smoking three years ago. Never mind.

The jeans are stained. The white T-shirt smells as if Liam had worn it several days in a row on hot summer days while cooking in the snack bar. It takes me a while to find two socks that match. Liam goes to a cupboard, takes a pair of worn-out trainers and throws them to me. I can't help but press a shoe to my face and take a deep breath. It smells of many kilometres walked. Liam scrutinises me. He nods appreciatively. And asks me to throw him a vest. "Let's go," he says and stubs out his fag on the concrete floor. He walks towards the garage door. I follow him.

I've had this job as a management consultant for a year and a half. After graduating, I started at a bank, but that was boring. I like travelling around, I like the variety. And I actually like the anonymity. At home, I would never have dared to leave the house in this lift. Here it just doesn't matter. Nobody knows me here. And looking like a redneck makes me horny. With the hot redneck next to me, even more so. It's one of the first warm evenings of the year. We walk through the streets in silence. Liam gives me a second cigarette. Shit, why did I ever stop?

No wonder Google couldn't find the pub. The pub to which the door we're standing in front of belongs seems to have been closed for a long time. The windows are boarded up. The old door has been replaced by a metal building door. Nevertheless, there is a doorbell. Liam presses it. It doesn't take long for a muscular guy with a naked, heavily tattooed torso to open the door. He first greets Liam with a firm handshake. And then he scrutinises me. "Mack, a friend," says Liam. The guy shakes my hand too. God knows I'm no pushover. But he almost crushes my hand. And then he waves me in.

Despite the fact that the building looks completely deserted from the outside, there's a lot going on inside. A good dozen men are hanging around a bar, smoking and drinking beer. Most of them around Liam's and my age. Late 20s, early 30s, sporty types. Jeans, T-shirt. We fit in perfectly. Liam takes off his vest and tucks it into his trousers. Without warning, his right hand goes under my shirt and pinches my nipple. "Bit of a prude, mate?" he asks. Grinning, I take my shirt off. A bloke arrives with three bottles of beer. He scrutinises Liam's chest first, then mine. He hands us each a bottle and says to Liam that it wouldn't be clever of him to bring his own competition. I'm not a bodybuilder… But I am indeed a bit more muscular than Liam. I grin at the guy "Mack, nice to meet you. Always nice to meet Liam's friends." "Mason. Nice to meet you. And I didn't realise Liam had friends." I don't see the icy stare Liam gives Mason. I just laugh and take a sip of beer.

The place is getting fuller and fuller. Liam knows God and the world. He introduces me to a dozen horny blokes. Everyone invites me for a beer. Thank God, because I have my mobile phone and wallet in my suit in Liam's laundry room. I'm practically at the mercy of the guys here. And they take advantage of it. I remember pissing in my trousers at some point. I vaguely remember throwing up in a totally filthy toilet at some point. And then I don't remember anything else…

[goddessofmischief]

      WHITE VEIL OCCASION - BUGGY X READER

A/N: This is part of this series, which requests are open for! These fics are all one-shots, so they can be read separately. Also, I highly recommend listening to the song linked in the title while you read.

"I need your help," you told Buggy, standing outside of his cabin door during an afternoon in the summertime.

"Okay," said Buggy immediately, then, a moment later - "Did you ask Shanks?"

You shake your head. Whatever it is, whatever you wanted, Buggy is now in.

"No," you said. "...I didn't think he would understand."

Now Buggy is definitely in.

...

"Really?" Buggy asked skeptically, adjusting to find comfort on the satin chair he sat in. "Why am I the guy for this?"

"Because I don't have any other friends," you said, carrying armfuls of wedding dresses back to the dressing room where he sat.

"You have Shanks."

"He's different."

"Why is he different?"

"You're vainer than he is," you said, admiring yourself in the mirror.

"Please, that pretty boy? Are you kidding me?"

"You know colors, fabrics. Face it, Buggy, you're the resident fashion expert. And don't you wanna help me?"

Damn it, he did.

"Fine," he said, waving his hand. "Show me the first."

You pushed the curtain back, revealing yourself in a puffy pink dress. You gave a little twirl. Buggy burst out laughing.

"Oh, that's terrible. I think you should get that one."

You turned red, closing the curtain again. Buggy groaned.

"Okay, I'm sorry, that was a little mean-"

"A little?"

"A lot - show me the next one, I promise I'll be nice."

Some two-hundred dresses later, you tried on a smaller one - short, pure white.

"It's not bad," said Buggy, not wanting to admit to you or himself that it was the best you'd ever looked. "It's not terrible at all."

"You think so?" you said. "But - I can't twirl in it."

"Oh, right. Not that one, then."

"What would Mihawk want, you think?"

"Geez, I dunno. Black?"

"Black," you repeated, contemplatively. "I don't think I want black."

Buggy was suddenly reminded of the pink dress from earlier, and how happy you'd looked in it. Sure, it wasn't precisely to his taste, but that didn't matter. The color was still ghastly, though. Damn it - maybe he did know as much about fashion as you'd suggested.

"Say, doll - did they have that puffy one in another color?"

"Yeah," you said, thoughtfully. "White."

...

"Thanks for coming with me today," you mumbled, legs swinging off the side of the cliff. You and Buggy liked to sit there sometimes, whenever you were docked at this particular island, it was 'your spot.' It was the place you two talked about things that Shanks, Mihawk, Rayleigh and Roger couldn't understand (which was a lot.)

"It wasn't as bad as I thought, I guess," Buggy said, refusing to admit to you that it had been actually kind of fun. "But, uh - you seem kinda sad, doll. If I'm not - if I'm not overstepping."

"You're not," you assured him, with a sad smile. "You're not. I'm just... scared."

"What do you have to be scared of? I mean, c'mon, you're engaged to the best swordsman in the East Blue, you live with the king of the pirates, and then there's Shanks, who's no slouch, and then there's, um, me. You got me."

"It's not that kind of fear."

Buggy thought he might understand what you were saying. Maybe. He'd secretly suspected that there had been doubt in you for some time, but had thought maybe he was unable to separate what was really going on with you from what he wished were the case. He wanted you to doubt. He wanted you to walk away from Mihawk.

"...I don't want things to change."

Ah, so that's what it was.

"Neither do I. I mean, it sure would be great if we could just live together and sail together forever, huh? But that's not really how it works. People grow up. People... die," Buggy said, thinking about Roger with a pang. He knew he didn't have long. There was little doubt in his mind that some time after your wedding, Roger would allow himself to succumb to his illness, and Shanks would take everything that was left, and Buggy would be alone.

Your eyes welled up with tears, and you rested your head on Buggy's shoulder, staring out at the waves. You threaded your fingers through his gloved ones, as if you wanted something physical to tether you to the moment.

"I don't want to lose you, Bug," you whispered.

"You're not gonna lose me. We'll still be best friends, same as ever. I'll come visit you all the time. And if Mihawk ever gives you trouble - well, I'll just kill him."

You laughed.

"Come on, stop crying, okay? I hate it when you cry."

"Okay."

"Okay," said Buggy, almost mimicking your exact soft voice. He squeezed your hand. You raised your face up to fix your gaze on him, as if an essential thought had only just occurred to you.

"Swear we'll always be best friends, Buggy."

Buggy laughed. You stared at him, bottom lip trembling.

"Oh, you're serious?"

"Buggy," you scolded.

"I mean, I'd like to - I really would - but I really can't promise such a thing-"

"Swear to me," you repeated. "Swear to me."

Buggy searched your eyes - you were dead serious.

You couldn't lose him. You refused to do that. You could sacrifice everything else but you refused to lose Buggy.

"Okay," he agreed, hoarsely. "Okay."

You nodded, satisfied, and tucked your head into his shoulder again.

...He needed to stop this wedding.

taglist: @sawendel @twinklesnake @literaturewithliz @sordidmusings @foggyturtleknightangel @toertchen @96jnie @lunanight1021

[cure-icy-writes]

Finally watched death note. these are my thoughts

-it's actually hilarious that light doesn't have a corruption arc. within an episode he decides that he is god, actually, and he's going to dedicate his long life to watching the news and murdering people.

-i don't think light's meant to be representative of all of humanity being devoid of morals. i think he's a special kind of shut-in freak who exclusively exposes himself to the worst aspects of humanity by watching the news and having no friends. he would doomscroll twitter and become corrupted like saruman and his orb.

-ace attorney would have a fucking field day with him. this guy kills mostly suspected criminals who haven't even gone to trial yet.

-i actually don't think that misa is a lesbian experiencing comphet. i think she's straight and has severe attachment issues. i think she deserves to be the protagonist of a gothic romance novel with a guy who is just as obsessively in love with her as she is with him. like babygirl you have got to ditch light and find an mcr boy who dresses just as elaborately as you and then never let him go. i still think misa deserves to kill people i just also think she needs a better boyfriend than light. get you a guy to match your freak.

-the scene where light watches a woman being sexually harassed through the glass window of a convenience store is genuinely horrific because it shows you how fucked up and detached his worldview is. at no point does he think "hm, i should go outside and be so confident that no one questions it when i pretend to know that woman and usher her inside the store where it's better lit and there are more witnesses". no. he goes "damn. i guess humanity is fucked. oh well i guess i'll kill that guy."

-literally no one is forcing light to commit mass murder. he could have stopped any time he wanted. furthermore, he could have made these deaths look like accidents. he was the one who very deliberately chose to make a name for Kira and taunt his enemies.

-misa is the second kira? no, she's KiraKira☆

-after being tortured by him for 50 or so days, i think misa deserves to torture L right back. she should seduce him and lock him in her basement. for feminism.

-i dont think ive seen anyone talking about how L can pilot a helicopter flawlessly the first time and says it's just intuition. buddy.

-shout out to the gorgeous clothes misa wears. like yessss beading lace trim on your gothic lolita coord complete with headdress and rocking horse shoes get it girllll

-L being surrounded with sweets and crouching like a gargoyle could be chalked up to autism. but by the time Near comes around and starts surrounding himself with circular tracks for toy trains, we're into surrealism. like you might as well declare the platonic ideal of princehood dead and turn into a car at this point

-the ending is so fucking funny. wdym L has been amoral this entire fucking time and only took on the case because he was bored. light could have asked misa to help seduce him and then they'd be kira3 forever. like he was so obsessed with a nemesis that he didn't pause to think at ALL.

-that said. if misa needs a guy to match her freak, then maybe light and L need to be in a cartoon where they can blow each other up and be fine next episode. light cannot fucking deal with the consequences of his actions

-the death note is the ring of power in a different font because it allows you to escape responsibility for your actions

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

A storm is brewing and since I'm stuck indoors, I thought I could have some fun. Big emphasis on fun, for my sake and everyone else's. Please. So, without prolonging this too much, I'm down for some theories and speculations today and when I do it, either call me Columbo or a clown, but what's important is that I do it in style.

I've observed that these days, some idols have been a bit careless with their watches. Are they using them simply as expensive accesories? Do they need to know the time or they have their managers to do that for them? Oh, to live an idol lifestyle....nothing but idleness, right?

Or is it? The suspects today are Park Jimin, Choi Minho and Lee Taemin. My assistant to this case @peppertaemint and her reliable sources brought to my attention something we've briefly talked about a few weeks ago. Actually, we made some jokes. The situation was as follows.

Was the Rolex broken and the guy didn't know? It seems a bit silly given that the watch is not cheap at all. And usually, with an item like that, you do cherish and take care of it. It's a status symbol (I'll expand on that below). Also, Minho is known for posting on Bubble at specific times. His birthday or SHINee anniversary. It's not part of the fandom's collective imagination. They don't need to invent their own math in order to come up with the number they want. It's pretty straightforward.

Now, what does 11:55 mean? Nothing for now, but it's close to 12:09 which is Minho time (thank you pptm again). Anyway, the jury is still out on this one. It might just be that Minho needs to fix his watch.

But well, well, well, what do we have here? Taemin himself showing the same negligence as his boyfriend Hyung.

In Taemin's case, I wouldn't be surprised he just didn't care that his time was wrong, but then what is going on? Do 2Min need to buy new watches? Did the Rolexes skip quality control and somehow these 2 idols are victims, scammed of thousands of dollars? Is it a trend? A secret code between them? I'll say that all of the above should be taken into consideration.

Finally, the third victim (?) of faulty watches, Park Jimin-ssi. In his case, we're dealing with a Patek Philippe. It's the type of watch that a media mogul like Logan Roy would appreciate, or at least that's what Tom Wambsgans thought.

Logan did not care at all about the watch and it ended up as the equivalent of hush money for a kid that they all made fun of when they offered him a million bucks if he scores at a game. Oh, I miss Succession so much.....

Back to Patek Philippe. As Tom said in his rehearsed funny line, everytime you look at it, it tells you how rich you are, aka a status symbol. Or in Jimin's case, it tells you Jungkook's birth hour?

Like Minho, we also know that Jimin has his Jimin hour, he knows his way around the date calculator and so on. And given all the investigative work already done by other people (like the thread I linked), would it be so outrageous, so hard to believe that it was intentional? I don't think so. It's a sweet gesture and it shows Jimin's attention to details. He did talk about Jungkook's birthday and was among the reasons why he was livestreaming.

Pre-recorded or not (or whatever excuses/conspiracies weirdos like to engage with) Jimin wore the watch in his home and it somehow it was Jungkook's birth hour. Could it all be just a massive coincidence? Maybe. Could the Patek Philippe be faulty? Maybe, but damn, these idols should stop buying expensive watches then.

Is it such a harmful and delusional theory that needs to be buried because some fans are either pussies or plain stupid? No. This fandom loves numbers so much when it involves 20 other pairings within BTS. I think it's fine to talk about an additional one. I'm not the biggest fan/follower of the number theories, especially when it comes to I-jikookers (they work those numbers like they're trying to fix the books), but it doesn't mean that everything is absurd or completely ridiculous.

I'm not ready to close the case, my work as a detective is not done yet. I'll put it on hold, who knows what other evidence I might find myself in posession of in the future?

[just-antithings]

For a popular ship in my fandom (the closest thing to an OTP I'll ever have prob) there's a discord which has the rules, "nothing illegal here such as incest, pedophilia, or rape." The other rule was "no arguing about the rules."

They're obviously free to moderate the space however they want. They're the ones running the server. If I don't like it, I'm free to bounce, which is exactly what I promptly did lol.

However, the more I sat with this, the more it occurred to me just what a ridiculous case of bad faith anti virtue signaling this was.

With my blog for that fandom, on my mutual list alone, there are fellow fic writers from Scandanavia, Brazil, the UK, Mexico, and France. The source material is from Japan. Should people in the discord be obeying one of *those* counties' laws or the source material's?

The fact that I can assume the answer is no and that we're defaulting to U.S. law is actually outrageously ethnocentric, even moreso than it might be in other fandoms given how small it is these days. If you're in a chat with 50 people, 25 of whom aren't residents from your country, and you say "oh and of course don't be a filthy, disgusting law-breaker and bad citizen uwu" that's about half the group you've just been a pretty big asshole to 😬 "Me, me, me."

Even if we are defaulting to U.S. law, it's a ludicrous request. Take the rules literally and we shouldn't even be talking about canon because "break the law and damn the consequences" is the biggest running bit in the story lmao. Again, they're asking us to assume--this time that they're only talking about the REALLY bad stuff, sex, which is uniquely bad and evil and dirty and wrong even more than murder or torture (both of which also happen in the show) of course.

I can think of ten classic fics in this fandom which technically wouldn't/dubiously pass their rules. Wildly popular high school AUs and stuff that I suspect they wouldn't think counted, but how are the members of the discord supposed to know that? If we're all in a room, and you say "alright, I'm running this meeting! Also I'm laying my Christian Gun on the table, just to have it out for any FILTHY, HELL-BOUND PERVERTS taking refuge here, kay? What? Nuh-uh NO arguing about the gun you unruly children!" ....people with good ideas are going to leave, or not share them out of fear. Way to speed up the death of our fandom.

Finally, that example leads me to something even more fundamental that bothered me a lot about this: are they seriously under the impression that people are going to plug their filthy copefics/darkfics in a public space about a general popular ship of two characters who canonically haven't even kissed? It's inherently accusatory and condescending and noxious.

Anyways, sorry this got long. Thanks for having this inbox open so people like me can share stuff like this that's hard to talk about in small fandoms.

.

[kingofspadescos]

Xavier Thorpe x Reader

Drawn to You

You sighed, head dropping onto your open palm as you stared down at the empty music sheet. You were supposed to be writing Wednesday some new Cello music but couldn't quite get started. "God Dammit!" You called out to no one, throwing yourself backward in your chair.

"What should I damn?" Came a monotone voice.

Your eyes shot upwards to lock eyes with your sister, Wednesday. Quickly turning around you stood up "I'm trying to write your cello music, but I can't get anything down" you complained, causing your sister to sigh.

"Leave that be, for now, I have more information on our murder case," Wednesday said, "your...love interest might be our suspect."

You scowled "do tell who this 'love interest' is" you sneered, while Wednesday simply deadpanned. "Xavier" she replied, "I see the way you stare at him."

You scoffed but your cheeks turned a shade of pink "Right" you rolled your eyes "maybe stop obsessing over this monster? Take a break? Isn't that Rave'N dance coming up?"

Now Wednesday let out a small scoff "I don't need breaks, I need answers. I will solve this" she insisted shouldering her bag "I'm checking out something, I'll be back later."

You nodded waving her off and turning back to stare at the blank staff that stared right back as if to taunt you. You hummed disappointed, fingers drumming on the chipped wood of your desk. As you drummed, your fingers began tapping out a rhythm and you smiled. "Finally" you murmured, picking up your pen.

~ Time skip ~

You smiled brightly down at the full pages of music you had been able to finish. It was a counter melody to Wednesday's already written cello music and you were so proud of it. Leaves crunched under your feet as you walked through the forest. Enid had said Wednesday had gone out to question someone and you had automatically known where she was. As you came to your destination two familiar figures appeared and your smile widened. However, just as you were about to call out to them, words that you had hoped to ask shattered your mood.

"Do you want to go to the dance with me?" Wednesday asked, eyes blankly staring at Xavier.

Your eyes went wide and your grip on the music tightened, creasing the paper. Taking a deep breath, you crossed the remaining distance. "I finished the music," you said, refusing to make eye contact with either Xavier or Wednesday.

Unbeknownst to you, Xavier had his eyes trained on you, his mouth slightly open in shock that you were there. His heart sped up and he swore that if it got any louder you would be able to hear it. "Y/n, what are you doing here?" He asked, relieved that he was able to keep his voice even.

You cringed "handing off the music. You two, uh- have fun," you said, eyes skipping around the landscape not daring to even look at him.

Wednesday stared at you, taking the sheet music without saying anything, just a blank stare.

A couple more awkward seconds later and you were booking it back down the path you came from. Desperately trying to keep the tears that threatened to spill at bay. Your thoughts were too loud to hear a voice calling after you.

~ Time Skip ~

It was the day of the dance and you were miserable. You tried to convince yourself that you were okay and shouldn't be so worked up but it didn't work out that well. In hopes to clear your head, you had gone out for a walk, outside of the school.

As you walked you heard footsteps accelerating behind you. Out of instinct, you turned around your pocket knife in hand, holding it to the person's throat. To your surprise, you were face to face with Xavier who had his hands up in defense.

"Woah there, I thought Wednesday was the only one who liked sharp objects," he said, trying to joke around. You however just rolled your eyes, sliding the knife back into your pocket "self-defense comes in handy at my house" you replied.

Xavier gulped and nodded putting his hands down "oh- right" he muttered, "but that's not the point I wanted to show you something." You scoffed at this "why? Aren't you supposed to be with Wednesday? At the dance?" You questioned, crossing your arms.

He sighed "look, just come with me okay? I'll make it worth your while" he promised, holding out his hand for you to take. You glanced from his outstretched hand to his eyes back to his hand before sighing and taking his hand "fine."

Xavier smiled before he began pulling you to the woods. Neither of you said anything as he lead you down a familiar path, to a recognizable building. He tugged you inside, and your eyes were quick to dart around the room that was covered wall to wall with drawings.

You were amazed, most of the images were simply in black yet there was so much attention to detail, it took your breath away. Xavier smiled at your reaction, walking over to a covered-up drawing "don't freak out okay?" He said.

You nodded and with that he took the tarp off with one fluid motion, revealing a large drawing of yourself writing music. Your eyes widened walking over, your fingers delicately tracing over the ink, before your attention was brought to Xavier.

"You drew this? Why? How? When?" You questioned.

Xavier shoved his hands in his pockets, head bowed with a sheepish grin "I've had visions of you and it helps to think through my thoughts by drawing them" he tried to explain "me and Wednesday we didn't- nothing happened between us. I refused her offer to the dance, I wanted someone else to ask me."

Your breathing hitched as he took a step closer to you "who?" You asked your voice barely above a whisper.

"You" Came his reply "it's always been you."

His hand reached up to cup your face and you allowed yourself to relax into the touch.

Xavier's smile turned into a smirk as his eyes flickered to the drawing "guess you could say I'm drawn to you"

[cloudburst-ink]

Wuju you stay 👀

flkgjdklfgkdj you KNOW WHAT THIS IS 😂

Okay, but for those who don't:

I had a plan of writing a KimChay AU called Wuju You Stay, where I would basically just jokingly try to predict the plot of Wuju Bakery and see if anything landed. I have since tabled this project as there's no realistic way I could write it before Wuju airs, but I'll include some fun highlights below.

Kim crash lands on Earth. Not into Chay's shop, but nearby. He ends up at Chay's shop because it's vaguely space themed and Kim is hoping that even if Chay isn't in the business of space travel, he can point him to someone who is.

The first time Kim walks into Chay's shop imitates the Wuju Bakery teaser with them seeing each other through the bakery case. After their spark moment, Chay then stands and brightly offers Kim a sample from his sample tray. Kim doesn't understand what Chay is saying to him because Kim's automatic translator broke in the crash, but he is very well traveled and understands that in most cultures across the universe, it is very rude to refuse a gift when someone offers it. So he graciously accepts the entire sample tray and walks out of the bakery with it. Chay then has to track down the weird foreign guy who absconded with his sample tray to get it back. He decides not to make a big deal out of it because he's worried that maybe Kim is lost and hungry. Chay is all alone now since his brother moved away, so he makes the impulsive decision to try to help Kim.

There's an entire subplot where Kim's people are very non-touchy except for during mating season. Kim suspects that maybe humans are currently in their mating season because he sees so much casual touching around him, and is trying to be respectful about it. Except if that's the case, Chay is clearly refusing suitors left and right, and Chay casually touches Kim so much--though less so once Chay realizes Kim is sensitive about it. This leads Kim to come to the conclusion that Chay has chosen Kim to be his mate, and Kim does a lot of cute and silly things as a result, trying to get Chay to turn his clearly romantic intentions (aka normal platonic touchiness) on someone of his own species.

Chay teaches Kim “I come in peace.” with the Spock hand gesture. Kim starts using it on people Very Seriously so Chay has to laughingly tell him to stop and conveys that ‘hello’ and ‘nice to meet you’ are fine.

Kim learns to trust Chay and shows Chay his crashed ship, revealing that he's an alien. They accidentally and unknowingly activate the ship's tracking beacon that finally will bring someone to come rescue Kim--right as Kim realizes that maybe he might like to try being this guy's chosen mate after all.

Since Kim is an alien, Chay decides he must see all of the best alien movies. They have a cute horror movie marathon and Chay hides his face in Kim's shoulder and teaches Kim the word "scary."

Later, when some mean antagonist character is in the shop bullying Chay, Kim very pointedly and seriously looks at Chay and says "scary" and mimes covering his face. Hesitantly, Chay obeys. There's a horrible sound, and then screaming, and when Chay panics and turns back around, Kim is standing there looking perfectly normal and calm as the mean antagonist scrambles away and flees down the sidewalk outside. Chay never really learns what Kim did, but he decides that whatever it was, it was pretty damn hot.

After they sleep together for the first time, Kim is baffled when Chay wants to go again in the morning--usually for Kim's people, the desire to touch and mate ends after they couple. For a day or so, he thinks that he's not satisfying Chay because Chay keeps crowding him back toward bed for more. This is finally cleared up when Chay catches onto Kim's hesitance. It's a challenging conversation because they only have the limited human vocabulary Chay has taught him, but Kim basically has to end up admitting that he's considered very kinky for his people and kind of likes all these weird, year-round affections that humans share.

There's a recurring theme of pinky promises, which Chay teaches Kim how to do early on. Near the end of the fic, when Kim is found by his people and must go home, he pinky promises Chay that he will return one day. This is the first scene where Kim gets to talk to Chay using a proper automatic translator and it's a Big Emotional Moment.

Big, who is the person who came to rescue Kim and take him home, has to keep averting his eyes in embarrassment as Kim and Chay say their goodbyes because they keep holding hands and touching and it's so embarrassing, they might as well be fucking on the countertop.

The last scene of the story very closely mirrors their first meeting. Chay is down putting sweets in the display case, when Kim approaches and crouches down to see him through the glass. Kim smiles and in a much clearer, unaccented voice now that he has a functioning translator, says "I come in peace." Chay squeals and jumps over the counter and throws his arms around him and they live happily ever after.

🛸👽🍰

THERE. NOW IT'S OUT IN THE WORLD. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY!!

If you're curious about my WIPs, you can find the original Ask Game post here!

[unprofessionalprofessionalbinger]

Who is she? Spencer Reid x Fmc

So, this is it. My first oneshot. It is a Criminal minds Oneshot. The point is to introduce fmc to y'all and the BAU. There's a case, politics force the BAU to get help for it. Fmc goes undercover. She's supposed to be the funny morally gray character, so I hope I kinda catch that.

Warnings: Cursing, mentions of violence, murder, drugs, fmc gets drugged, hint at past drug abuse ~1.3k words

Whoever the fuck is responsible for letting politics mingle with law enforcement really did smoke way too much weed. They already make the rules. Now they make the rules for those that enforce the rules even after they already made the rules?? Fine. Maybe I smoke too much too.

Seriously though, this job drives me nuts. One day I'm running towards bombs, trying to diffuse them (which luckily has worked for me for quite some time) and the next day I get called to the fucking FBI to help them with an undercover case that handles a killer that has killed three people. Three. Not saying I've got more important things to do, but I honestly kinda do. As if they have no other redhead with green eyes in the departement.

According to my dickhead boss 'not one with your ass'. Right. I'll gladly fry his ass if I ever get the chance. So, beautiful monday, fantastic. I walk into the BAU. Get introduced to even more beautiful people (like honestly damn, if I wasn't bi they totally would've made me question things)

Then the case briefing. Started beautifully with the whisper of "Who is she?" from the nerdy looking guy with the glasses and the brown cardigan jacket. The question was directed at the African-American man seated next to him. They both eye me curiously. Not just them, their female colleagues too. I already know the Unit Chief, Aaron Hotchner, and the media liaison, Jennifer Jareau. So that crosses off the fatherly-looking brunet and the young, pretty blonde. The oldest in the room would probably be Jason Gideon. He's generally known as one of the founders of the BAU.

That leaves the pretty brunette sitting on nerd's other side, nerd himself and his friend. Introductions were made. Turns out they're happy about my help, but do share the opinion that it was stupid to push the case. Problem being that the case was, in fact, being pushed.

Apparently, politicians take it as a personal attack when their models get murdered. Even more so, they're arrogant enough to make the death of three innocent women about themselves. I quote: "She was supposed to come with me to my room tonight, this is so scary. What if they wanted to attack me?"

Whatever. At least these women might get their justice faster. Back to the point, the case are the murders of three women. Three redhead, green-eyed, model women. Great. They got killed all throughout the states, which is why nobody noticed the pattern.

The models get drugged on set, go outside to get some fresh air and get taken, most likely in a van. The unsub knows perfectly well how to get around the cameras and any curious eyes. In fact, they have pretty much nothing on him. The models are all in their late teens-early twenties, so victimology doesn't give that much either. The model industry is a dangerous territory anyway, it could be anyone. Jealous girl, partner of the jealous girl, any person obsessed with another model, somebody that has an obsession with a green-eyed redhead that he can never have?

The suspect pool is as big as the pressure. The last model was supposed to meet with a senator, so her kill was somehow taken personally and as an attack. Naturally, some bootlickers a little further down the chain decided it'd be a perfect undercover mission for me. I do have a past of udnercover work, but there's a reason I left that behind. As if they care.

And that is how we all ended at a show. Precisely how I ended showing underwear on a catwalk and baiting the unsub while the team is somewhere in the crowd, keeping an eye on people. There are local police forces covering the back entrance, making sure nobody suspicious comes or goes.

It's not that I feel particularly unsafe, despite the lingering danger of a serial killer somewhere in the building. It's more that I'm pissed off that they pulled me back for this. My fucking boss doesn't make it better. I really need to quit and find something else. At this point I'm just surrounded by idiots. Maybe the BAU wouldn't be so bad after all... Whatever. Focus! Murderer! Now!

I have walked out there like three times by now. My throat is all dried up. Plus it slowly starts to feel like the designers noticed they didn't have enough fabric halfway through the making of the collection. But hey, nothing goes over flashing your maybe-new-teammates, right? Right! Said probably nobody ever. A man offers me a drink from his serving tray. I accept and down the drink, expecting the bitter taste of alcohol. But that's not it. It tastes really funny.

...

...

Fuck

Complains about being surrounded by idiots and walks into a simple trap like a complete moron. FUCK fuck fuck fuck fuck

I stumble. A girl gently grabs my arms. "Hey, are you okay?" Am I okay? Fucking stupid question. Two seconds of looking at me probably answers it. The role. The role. The character. I'm a naive pretty little redhead model, that's it. "yeah... yeah. I'm okay. Jus need sum air.." I mutter and walk past her out the backdoor.

They're out here, right? They better be. How far? They need to be out of sight... but also- "aah-!" I squeal as I stumble down the two steps. Arms swoop in under me, keep me from falling and immediately, a foul smell fills my nose.

"Woah there, baby, what's going on with you, hmm?" asks a husky male voice. My vision is slightly blurry, my head getting heavier. Still, I tilt my head up. A man is towering over me. As my eyes sweep over his feature, I get hung up on the nasty scarring. I look at him wide-eyed, the drugs scrambling my brain.

"Ugly, isn't it? IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" He yells, shaking me. He shoves me against the wall, his harsh hand grabbing my jaw. "You-YOU DID THIS TO ME, WHY?!! Just... why?" I blink harshly, my gaze falling to the ground again. "Don't you dare look away from the monster you created, you bitch! NOW ANSWER THE QUESTION. Maybe I'll just shoot you."

My head tips slightly and I give my best to concentrate. "I didn't mean to! It was an- ugh- a terrible... a terrible accident." I slur and stutter a little. He's throwing me off. "No. NO! It wasn't an accident. You looked me straight in the eyes while you cut me! All that for a tiny bit of information! You don't deserve the grace of a bullet between your eyes you need to bleed, to suff-"

"FBI! STEP AWAY FROM THE WOMAN! PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" Ugh finafuckingly! Took them long enough. The man moves, I feel his arm around my throat. I try to blink against my blurring vision. Reid and Greenaway and Hotchner and guns. Lots of guns. Gun at my head? Fuck. Just how much can I risk?

Doesn't matter what I do, chances of dying aren't as slim as one would hope anyway. And I always come prepared. I bring the gun to the fistfight for the ass that brings the knife. The high boots with the thick heel absolutely pays off when you can hide a fucking taser in it. I shove my foot against his leg and let myself drop out of his hold. I stagger forwards, the pavement staring so kindly at me. I'm caught again, I do hear the sound of a body flopping onto the pavement though.

Smells good. Love the perfume. Love the way I fit into this person's arms. "Seeing me in underwear and me asking for your number usually goes in a different order. Still would like that number though." I slur with a grin. I turn my head up to see soft hazel eyes look into mine. Concern evident. An embarassed blush is spread across his delicate cheeks.

Flirting with your maybe-new-coworker after tasing a serial killer and stumbling into his arms with only boots and very suggestive underwear? Check. "Are-uhm.. uhhhh ahh, are you... you okay?" He stutters, slowly trying to put me on my own feet. I realize how much I'm clinging and stand up more or less straight.

"Yeah, yeah I'm okay." I reply softly with a smile. At least I've got the drugs going for me. Nobody's gonna blame a high girl for being attracted to a god in human form.

"Romanov! How are you still standing? He almost gave you an overdose. You could've straight up dropped flat to the floor." Says a worried voice behind me. It's Derek Morgan with two EMT's. I smile appreciatively at them. "Maybe I jus have the tolerance of an elephant." I reply jokingly and let the EMT's take a look at everything. But not before I feel something warm getting laid over my shoulder. Soft fabric. A brown cardigan jacket.

Soooo that's it. If you read all that, I am so thankful, hope you enjoyed it. Give me some feedback so I can get better. Honestly, it's 2:12 am rn and I don't feel like rereading it but I want to post, so I'll just go over it in the morning. Love to whoever sees this, I promise there will be more Spencer Reid in the following oneshots. I'm kind of making up a story through oneshots y'know. This is the introduction. <333

[msookyspooky]

Fours a Franchise

Part 7

wordcount: 8,567

  Your face scrunched up with a groan as a very loud, persistent knocking sounded on the front door. You stretched up, looking around yourself to see daylight pouring into the living room. You rubbed at your eyes as you heard the banging get louder.

"Hey! YN! Randy! Open up!" Gale yelled, banging louder.

You got up, groaning and feeling your limbs stiffen up. "God...OKAY!" You yelled in a raspy voice, sleep heavy in your eyes as you groggily looked through the peephole and then opened the door.

Gale burst in, dressed in an all white feminine suit with dainty gold jewelry, slender high heels, hair flowing in long dark curls and a fresh face of makeup.

She gave you a disgruntled look. "You look like shit. it's 7:30."

You gave her an annoyed look right back, eyes squinting at her. "No shit, it's 7:30!...Why didn't you send a text or just call?"

"Randy didn't answer my call and you didn't answer my text so I decided to just pop in and wake you up instead."

'Yeah. Out of spite.' You thought.

She walked past you. "Sorry but the rest of the world gets up by this time. Not everyone can stay home on Court ordered money."

You rolled your eyes into the back your head. "Considering you've been a bit of a homemaker yourself the last few years; I don't think you get to throw stones." She flipped you off while walking by. "And I travel for book tours, you know! There's a difference between planning on getting up and someone waking you by just barging in!"

"Don't care. Where's Randy?"

You gave her a glare as Randy shuffled out of his room. Rubbing his face and his hair standing almost straight up in a messy heap on his head. "God damn it, Gale. What are you doing in my house this early?..."He looked your way. "YN. Didn't I tell you to not leave the door open too long? The ex journalist might run in under your feet."

Gale gave him a threatening smirk. "Ha. Ha. Ha." Before dropping that smirk and leaning forward. "Should've answered my call, you ingrat. Now get your asses up! I have potential suspects and I'm not running late."

Randy groaned and went to shuffle to the kitchen counter. "Wait, let me get my coffee first-"

"No! I'll buy it for us on the way. Go get freshened up. You'll scare people looking like that." She ordered. Randy went to argue and she snapped. "I can persuade Dewey to issue a ticket for that stop sign and speeding and evading cops. Remember that."

Randy rolled his eyes, arms up before they fell to his sides and he went to the bathroom.

You stretched your neck as you at least grabbed water to drink. "Uh, who says we're even working with you? Last time I checked, me and Randy were trying to get the fuck away from the killer this time; not go towards them."

"Who got you both out of jail?" She gave a cocky look your way.

"Oh sorry! I thought that was just showing your friends a kindness; not blackmail." You leaned against the counter. "We weren't even charged with anything; It's not like we were behind bars. Besides, I thought you were going rogue?"

"Yeaahh, from my husband... Thinking he can cut me off the case. Me!? Even Detective Kincaid wanted my help in Hollywood but my own husband doesn't want it?! OH but that bitch Judy he has no problem-"

You zoned out as she ranted. You hadn't even heard the name in years until the last few days. The mention of his name and the Hollywood case made his image pop up in your mind. It was a fleeting thought but you still wondered if he had lived how much better all this would be? Could have permanently cleared your name, told Randy and Dewey the truth, lived without fear,  possibly had a semi normal life with Billy and Stu behind bars...Maybe even have a husband and or a family one day? Who knows! You never got a chance to know and never would. You may not have 'loved' him but you could have. You certainly had feelings for him that were budding before Neil shot that chance down.

"YN." You could still hear his voice in your mind after so many years and still vividly remember the twinkle in his blue eyes whenever he looked at you. He was one of those people that touched your life no matter how short of a time you knew him.

"YN?...YN!"

You snapped out of it. Looking at Gale staring at you intently.

"YN, are you even fucking listening to me?" She gave with a mocking expression as you stammered at first.

"U-Uh...Sorry. I spaced out."

Gale huffed in annoyance but looked at you a moment. Gale was a lot of things but of all those things you couldn't deny her being observant. It was what got her famous and made her a TV sensation in the 90s. She was definitely more observant than Dewey and probably even more than Randy. Her features softened as she must have realized the exact moment you spaced out.

"...You miss him, don't you?"

"Huh?" You blinked repeatedly.

"Kincaid."

You looked down in silence a moment. "...Sometimes. It feels stupid to miss him. We only knew each other for a few days."

Gale exhaled through her nose with a tight frown. "No, it's not.... Without being too sappy, I knew Dewey just a few days during the first Woodsboro Massacre and...Here we are." She showed her ring on her left hand.

You gave a nod and looked up at her as she settled across from you near the table and gave you a slight smile. "Okay...YN, I might need your help."

"...My help?" You mumbled with a raised brow.

"Yes. Just hear me out, okay." Gale tilted her head. "Because if you're with me; we're going back to Woodsboro High."

You stared at her. "...What am I? 17? You woke me up barging in here yelling at me to get up to go back to School?"

Gale gave you a serious look. "Just hear me out. I think your fanboys at the Cinema Club might have answers to all this."

"...Cinema Club?" Randy came out having his hair more tamed and a green shirt on with a jean jacket and khakis. "Did you say, Cinema Club?... At Woodsboro High?"

"You heard of it?" Gale asked.

Randy huffed with a bewildered grin. "Heard of it? I technically helped get it started! Kind of." He stood by you and you could smell the mint toothpaste and spicy cologne as he leaned next to you on the counter across from Gale.

"So, how did you somehow help invent that stupid little club?" She asked.

"Two boys a few years back came into the video store looking for hard to find horror flicks they couldn't get anywhere else. I helped them pick out the best movies to show their classmates and talked them into a movie club after they heard about how film class was for me in college. I didn't realize they actually did it though! Just the name they came up with if they ever did do it."

Gale tilted her chin upward and asked. "Who were the kids?"

"Uh, Charlie Walker and Robbie...What's his face."

Gale sighed. "Yep. Those are the future basement dwellers I talked to."

"Hey, I was that kid once and look at me now."

She gave an amused look. "Once? You're wearing a jean jacket and khakis combo in 2011." Then she looked at you. "What are you doing still standing around? Go get cleaned up and let's go!"

"God, don't they host it in the evening or something as an after-school activity? It's in the middle of the week!" You exclaimed.

"It's Friday. It's a big day for those little weirdos so they're having it a little earlier than usual. Right before lunch period. "

"Oh...Damn, I thought it was Wednesday. Time flies when a murderer is trying to off you." Before giving Randy an exasperated look. "Why do I feel like you're right and we should just barricade ourselves in here with snacks and movies till the killer is caught?"

Gale answered for Randy. "You know damn well you aren't going to sit around and wait for the killer to come to you or kill more innocent kids. And the killer would just barge in and probably kill you both when you least expect it."

"How convenient would that be..." You rolled your eyes at yourself with a groan as you went to get cleaned up.

✦

You got out of Gale's car. Not a bad car at all but not exactly her new Benz she had a decade prior either. The police car assigned to follow you guys parked right behind you. You stepped out with a brown suede jacket, camisole, jeans and boots. Nothing to fancy or out there as you walked behind Randy and Gale. You got a few stares. Frowning and looking down when a few kids openly took pictures of you on their phones.

"If it isn't the media flashing cameras in my face, it's everyday people now."

Gale smiled as she walked ahead, pushing her hair over her shoulder. "It's legal, Thank god. It makes journalism so much easier. Why hunt down the story when kids just upload it for you?"

Randy huffed. "Marrying your cousin is legal in places; doesn't mean I'm gonna do it. I mean, seriously. Did we take out our cameras and take pictures of random people as teens just because we could??" He imitated having a camera in your face and you shoved his hands away.

You sighed. "Yeah but I'm not a random person...It may be rude but they're kids. Can't blame them for taking snapshots of the local celebrity before she's on the chopping block."

"I can." Randy grumbled. "...My kids will be raised to have at least a little bit of decency."

Gale chuckled in a mocking tone. "Yeah, yeah. You keep thinking that. The second they walk out that door all home training will be out the window. Smoking cigarettes and pot, maybe popping some pills, drinking for sure, sex. And most of all, being rude little shits."

Randy huffed. "Maybe YOU were like that considering your wonderful personality now...We all saw the college photos circulating on the net-"

Gale whipped around with a finger in his face and a glare. "Hey! Those were photoshopped." He raised an unconvinced brow as she turned back around and marched towards the doors. "Devils advocate; So what if I DID possibly go to a few college parties while I was still in Highschool? Just because you were a little nerd as a teen doesn't mean your kids will be."

Randy gave her an offended look to the back of her head. "I drank! I partied, okay?! But I also wasn't a rude asshole either."

He looked at you to see if you agreed. "Eh...True but a few teens being dicks is nothing new, Ray. I'm sure we were too; we just don't remember. " You shrugged. Stu being the first 'asshole' teen you remembered along with a good makority of kids at his party e en if you didn't say it outloud.

"Feels like this generation is exceptional with that. They have zero shame or respect for people or...Oh Jesus, I sound like my freaking Dad." He cringed with a whine and hung his head.

You couldn't help the amused smirk on your face. "Congratulations! In a few years you'll be manicuring your lawn, not knowing how to work technology, watching news and politics for fun and then yelling at kids for stepping on your perfectly trimmed grass."

"Do you want me to have some weird quarter life crisis? I'm 33, okay? Stop." He loudly groaned at that and you just laughed it off. Perkin's followed behind you a couple of yards away.

You all walked in the building and it was like a blast from your past. You stared awestruck that not too much had changed and yet just enough had changed to make you feel out of place...How many times you walked these halls flooded your memory. Images of how teens looked when you were a teen replaced with the modern era. All the teens were like little kids to you now versus your peers. The clothes were throwing you off too compared to the 90's...You knew 15 years was a long time but It was still such a stark contrast from your teen years; you couldn't help staring with a sad feeling in your chest at how much your life had gone by in a blink of an eye...And half of it seemed like you had nothing but people trying to kill you.

"Everything alright, Miss YN?" Perkin's asked behind you.

You were silent a moment.  "...Yeah, just taking it all in." You faltered before smiling and nodded as you saw Gale and Randy walking ahead and forced yourself to follow them. Going to the back of the school and seeing the 'Cinema Club' in a banner overtop of a small classroom. You went in as Perkin's stood guard outside.

It wasn't long before you walked in and took a seat, all eyes on you as Randy sat beside you, marveling at the posters. He whispered. "Look at this place! Teen Randy would be over the fucking moon! Why didn't this exist in school when we went?!"

You couldn't resist smiling as he had his arms on the desk and a huge grin on his face. Not even looking at you as he looked up at all the posters on the wall. Just seeing youths appreciate cinema the way he did made him look 15 years younger.

You leaned towards him and whispered back. "Because you would have been the only member." He gave you a look and you chuckled. "...Kidding! I don't know but isn't it great that so many kids seem to be here?"

"I know! In the 90's those jocks and preppy kids in the back wouldn't be caught dead here. Maybe not even the burn outs or the grungy kids."

"See? At least this generation is a little more inclusive than ours."

Gale stayed standing and leaned down to mumble. "Well, I think It helps when there's murders going around and the people that survived them are at this club today to possibly give advice."

Randy frowned and puffed air past his lips while putting his chin in his hand. "Thanks for raining on my parade, Gale. You gonna go kick a puppy after this? Maybe shove a kid on the sidewalk on your way home?"

You looked around and saw Kirby as she looked up from her phone and waved at you. You smiled and waved back...However, you felt eyes boring into you. That unnerving feeling you were being watched as you looked slightly behind her to see some boy...Straight up staring you down. You stared back, raising your brows slightly as a silent 'Can I help you??' message as he glared but didn't look away. You turned back around with a grimace as he kept staring.

Gale noticed and so did Randy as they both looked at him and he looked away.

Gale raised a brow. "Told you we might find suspects here."

You released a heavy sigh. "...Great."

Soon two teen boys came in. Both were shorter, especially compared to a few teen boys standing up near the back of the classroom, still talking. Both looked like average kids. Except one had a stupid looking camera headset on. Messing with it as the long haired boy addressed the room while walking around.

"Okay Cinema Club, may I have your attention gentleman and...Ladies-" He inclined his head to Kirby as she gave him a mocking smile back. "We are now in session. Welcome...I'll tell you a little bit about ourselves; we are a sanctioned after-school activity one run below Glee Club but two above Nintendo Wii Fit Club." A few chuckles sounded out as he continued. "However, thanks to the recent events and the Principal's anxiety over said recent events; we are hosting a little earlier than usual...And let me just say...To our guest, YN, it's an honor."

He gave with a slight smile as he stood next to his friend with the headset and everyone clapped. You stood up and forced a smile for the room as the kids clapped and gave you a warm welcome. You noticed the boy behind Kirby didn't clap...Just glared at you.

The boy you guessed was Robbie with the headset chimed in. "Beyond Jamie Lee Curtis and forget Linda Blair. I mean, this is the ultimate." He gave with a hand wave and a huge excited smile.

Charlie then gestured to Randy. "And we can't forget the other Woodsboro survivor, Randy Meeks. Who personally helped Cinema Club become what it is today. He taught me and Robbie everything we know. The OG, everyone." Charlie raised a hand upward towards Randy as everyone clapped too. You nudged Randy to stand up too when you heard his name as he gave a surprised look then a slight smirk as he waved.

Gale gave Charlie a death stare. Clearly miffed she wasn't mentioned but didn't audibly say it. You and Randy sat back down as people stopped clapping. You had to admit being behind a school desk again was strange.

You gave a slight forced chuckle, unsure what to say as Robbie pointed his camera at you. "Thanks. I guess. Um...This-" You gestured to Robbie's headset by pointing at your own head. "You film your entire High School experience and post it on the net or?-"

Robbie nodded. "Everybody will be doing it someday, YN."

"It's kind of the one component the killer is missing." Charlie off handedly commented.

"Wait." Gale interrupted as she went from standing to the side of the class near you and Randy's desk to walking towards both of them a bit as her heels clicked against the floor. "What do you mean?"

Charlie clarified. "Well. If you want to be the 'new' new version; the killer should be filming the murders."

You and Randy gave each other surprised looks before turning back to them.

Robbie added. "I mean, that's like the natural next step slasher psycho innovation." His hands fell in his lap as he shrugged before gesturing to the class. "I mean, you film them all, real time, and then before you get caught; you upload them into cyberspace."

"Like the dark web?" You asked.

Charlie nodded. "Sort of. It will end up there but if you posted it to Twitter or Instagram or Facebook it's bound to circulate around before the site admins can take it down. Getting it out there to average people that save it to their device and reupload it for views before authorities can get it under control...Make your art as immortal as you." He pointed in the direction of Kirby and Trevor.

Both boys answered simultaneously. "Not to implicate him."

You asked slowly. "So...Who do you think is behind the murders?"

Charlie opened his mouth then closed it trying to think of the answer as Robbie got closer to you with his headset. The light blinked as you stared at it.

"Well uh, it's a Stab fanatic. Clearly." Charlie gave. "Working on less of a Screaquel and more Scream-make. Copyrighted terms, by the way."

Randy's eyes lit up before he groaned with a shake of his head. Robbie's camera directed onto him as he ranted. "A remake? No...No, no, no just-" He stood up to address the class. "This is clearly a franchise, people."

Charlie smirked with a slight huff. "Well, with due respect Randy, you've been out of the game for a while."

Randy huffed. "Oh really, new meat? Okay. I can see the confusion of thinking this is a remake IF...YN wasn't here or some awful shit happened to her like she was the opening kill or something like that or she was just a minor cameo character-" He pointed to you and Robbie's camera followed with his sight of vision before going back to Randy. "However...She is here. She is targeted. She's still the main attraction. If the old killer would have killed her but it's still happening to a new set of characters and a new final girl in Woodsboro with the same shtick as the other installments; THEN it's a remake. I'm leaning more towards a franchise here."

Robbie looked back at Randy, giving an almost mocking face. "O-kay but what if the killer is trying to get rid of the main cast to make it a remake with the new characters? Then what?"

Randy gave him a shrug. "Perhaps. A remake keeps the original storyline but revolves around a new cast sometimes with a cameo from an old character or killing that old character off."

"So it's completely new?" Gale mumbled.

"No if it was set in a different town with no previous lore or backstories and different characters; that's a reboot. A remake still has some lore or the same town or a few characters or the killer that is the same. Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine 3D, that god awful Nightmare on Elm Street last year-"

Some guy in the back said. "Hey! What's wrong with that movie? It's better than the old one!"

"Of course you think that. It looks like it matches your comprehension skills-" Randy mumbled while looking around and speaking a bit louder. "This is the fourth round. YN and us other Legacy characters are still targets-"

The dark haired boy glaring at you spoke up with a scowl. "Are you? Because I think Jill is the one that almost died 2 nights ago and who the killer called twice. And it was her best friend that died...In fact, none of this happened to her until SHE showed back up."

Robbie whipped his head to him and adjusted his headset. "Trevor trying to pin the blame on YN. Accurate or suspicious?" He seemed to ask his audience.

Chattering sounded throughout the classroom as you looked back at Trevor who gave you a challenging look.

Kirby whipped her head to scoff at Trevor behind her, leaning back her seat. "YN was the one who drove off the killer, Trevor...And how do you know the killer called Jill twice? Last time I checked, she wasn't speaking to you."

He leaned forward with a smug smirk. "Yeah well, looks like Jill is following her heart instead of what her noisy friend thinks. We talked."

Kirby scoffed with a bewildered grin. "When you're stalking her or?-"

Trevor ignored her. "YN here didn't have a single knife wound when she was attacked...How is that? That she didn't get a scratch on her while everyone around her are all being picked off...Angel of Death." He growled out.

Gale waved a dismissive hand. "Let's not divert back to that tired ass storyline, alright? Unlike you kids, us adults are actually working with the police to solve this instead of blaming YN's presence on something some dumbass was gonna do regardless."

Trevor, Robbie and Charlie all looked like they wanted to say something but Randy cut them all off. "Look, kids. There's always a group of people in every movie connected somehow to the main cast because the final girl is running out of friends being slaughtered every installment so movies have to introduce new ones. It's just a fact whether it's right or wrong!...I'm telling you all as someone that lived through this multiple times; we're in a damn Franchise."

He held up a finger to everyone. "Now since we're in a Franchise; There are certain rules for a continuing franchise that we can follow in order to hopefully survive. Because you know why? Because without them, it would just be a shitty run of the mill Sequel to be forgotten with all the others... So without further ado let's discuss the rules to hope to survive this shit. Rule one: everything is bigger than last time." He walked around the room while listing off his fingers. "Bigger budget, bigger cast, bigger body count. Longer chases, shoot outs, beheadings." He excitedly threw his hands out. "You gotta top what came before in order to keep people coming back."

Kirby raised a brow with a bewildered smirk. "...Beheadings?"

Randy gave an almost wildly excited grin down at her. "Beheadings." He walked away and you saw the amused look on Kirby's face as he ranted. If you didn't know Randy, he'd be suspect number one with how excited he was talking about this.

"Rule two: Whatever happened last time; forget it! Expect the opposite. Franchises only survive by subverting expectations." He looked at the class as he stood near Robbie and Charlie. "If the killers last time were grown men out for revenge while competing with each other in some macho alpha male pissing contest; expect the opposite. Because the opposite is always true in a franchise in order to keep the shit going and keep executives' pockets lined."

Robbie and Charlie exchanged looks as Randy circled near to your desk. He put his hand on it to look at you. "Rule Three: ...No one is safe. " He mumbled before standing back up fully to look at Gale who stood at the side of the classroom. "Legacy Characters? Cannon fodder at this point. Once the nostalgia has reached its peak; We're done! Because keeping legacy characters around feels too safe and too safe becomes redundant. Why do you think Stab 3 flopped? Because they preached that it was bigger stakes, then whoops; no one important fucking died. It was a pointless installment except for the killer's backstory."

A girl raised her hand then asked. "Uh...Didn't you die in 3??"

His features sagged into a light scowl. "No, that was in 2."

Gale scrunched her brows. "So a legacy character, huh?"

Charlie answered for Randy. "Oh that's...That's you guys. YN, Randy, You, Dewey. Anyone that was a player in the first movie."

Randy nodded at him like a proud teacher at his students getting it right. "There you go!" He walked back to the front of the class with a shake of his head and slashing his hand through the air. "That's not the worst part! You all have to understand that Franchises are just continuing episodic installments. It means the main characters are completely expendable now. Either they die or the most fucked up shit possible happens to them. Nancy Thompson-"

You interrupted him. "Okay...But you said this shit about her in a trilogy, Randy."

He shook his hand in a teetering motion with a shrug. "Eh, TECHNICALLY Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors was numerologically a trilogy but was more a franchise starter. What can I say? Now that this is happening for a fourth time, it changes the dynamic of the story here. Dream Warriors was the making of a true franchise. It made Freddy Krueger who he is today! Its tone, the lore, and killing off the one person to truly stop him in the past sealed it as a Franchise for years to come... Nancy Thompson, Ellen Ripley, Clear Rivers, even the killer like John Kramer had to die so the franchise could live on and build upon it! No one is safe. No one."

The room was deathly silent as everyone stared at him. Gale smacked her lips and drew out. "As always, your pep talks are so optimistic."

He walked back over to sit beside you, shrugging at her.

Charlie broke the stiff silence in the room with a slight huff of a chuckle. "Normally, I'd never argue with the real deal...However, it's what it is now. No one wants a continuous Franchise anymore. Nothing but remakes." He held up a hand as he spoke. "All horror movies now are remakes. It's the only horror the studios will green light now...I mean, there's still rules-"

Kirby 'psst' at you as Charlie was distracted talking. You looked as she showed you a video on her phone of Trevor glaring at you from a different angle as Trevor looked at Robbie's camera and you looked back.

Charlie continued. "-But the rules have changed and times have changed...It's not the 90's anymore and remakes are the only way to go."

Robbie continued. "Let's face it; nobody wants to see the same final girl becoming 30 and getting old; fighting an even older killer. That's the beauty of Stab! It's always a new killer but the downside is it's always the same final girl with heavy plot armor."

Charlie shrugged. "...Well, except for YN sueing to get her character removed by 3."

Robbie added with a smirk and eyeroll. "I mean, how long is Gale's character going to be 60 running from Ghostface-" Gale tilted her head as Robbie quickly stuttered out. "I-In the movies!"

"Yeah, and my characters gonna be in it for at least 2 more movies. People love a legend. And I'm fucking 47, you fetus." Gale glared at him as a few kids 'ooh'ed' in the background.

Robbie cleared his throat and added. "N-Not that there's not truth to that but...Ghostface changes but the Final Girl doesn't? No one wants to see that forever. Eventually you need a stronger killer, more gruesome deaths, a new fresh face for a new generation."

Randy leaned forward, looking extremely interested in what they were saying. Charlie continued. "Therefore, a remake. The unexpected is the new cliché."

Robbie walked the room and said. "Yeah, yeah. You gotta have an opening sequence that blows the doors off, done with some flashy music video direction and the kills have got to be way more extreme."

Randy tilted his head with a nod. "Of course. Your gore whore horror hounds expect it."

Charlie corrected him. "Right. But the rules have changed even if the expectation has not. Modern audiences got savvy to the rules of the originals. So, the reversal became the new standard."

Robbie added. "I mean, Horror drastically declined once CGI became the standard. It was cheaper for Studios, the jumpscares desensitized viewers from good old fashioned suspense while being able to replace hard to make storylines with cheap thrills and gore through the internet and video games uping the scare standards of an entire generation. We all saw 1 guy 1 jar...If you didn't, you're lucky. We're fucking desensitized too much to be scared of what you Gen X'ers were scared of."

You and Randy gave each other odd looks not knowing what exactly they were talking about as Charlie finished for him. "Things that terrified older audiences are snooze fest to the majority of the new generation. It made gore and jumpscares the main focal point instead of plot and characterization. Remakes that top the original are the only way now."

Randy rolled his tongue to his cheek as they spoke. Listening intently before mumbling.

"This is a first for me to ask but...What rules do you think is the theme here then? Since you're the new generation and all."

Charlie huffed out with a slight smirk at Randy asking him. "Well, pretty much the only sure fire way to survive a modern horror movie is...Well, you pretty much have to be gay."

Randy's face scrunched up. "...Really?" He monotoned as a few kids chuckled and Kirby, you and Gale all gave the same stare.

Charlie threw his hands up. "Hey, I don't make the rules! Just recite them."

Gale tilted her head, eyeing them up and down. "So, why are you so sure Randy's wrong and the killer is working with the rules to create a remake? "

Charlie leaned back on the desk and went to speak but Robbie spoke for him. "Well, the original Stab structure is pretty apparent. Recreating kills that already happened to replicate the original but with a new twist." Charlie added. "Two kids were gutted in a house while their parents were away..."

Robbie said. "And then the schools hot chick ravaged beyond recognition and shoved in a doggy door." You swallowed at that as Robbie muttered. "We all know where it goes from there..."

"A party." You answered.

Charlie pointed at you. "Exactly. A party. A guaranteed third act main cast bloodbath."

Robbie weaved around Gale as he mumbled, adjusting his headset to look down at her outfit a second. "Fingers crossed for some nudity for a change." She just gave him a stare as he moved back to Charlie and all the boys giggled around you...And you just stared at them.

Gale walked up to them, closer this time. "Okay, so do you know what party is happening tonight?"

Charlie blinked and mumbled. "U-Uh well, there's Stab-a-thon."

"Stab-a-thon?" Randy asked as you stood up. You walked to where Gale was and he stayed near the desk you both sat at.

"Uh, it's a movie marathon. All 7 Stab movies back to back. We host it every year." Charlie replied.

Randy huffed with an offended glare. "And I'm just learning about this because?-" You gave him a look and he shrugged. "I mean, because it's so dumb to host right now! We should've known sooner!" He barely saved as a few kids stifled their laughter.

You on the other hand just stared at Charlie and Robbie. Both of them gave you bad vibes you couldn't shake.

You replied. "It's tonight? There's a killer patterning their murders after the original movie. A movie based on her book-" You gestured to Gale. "And about us." You pointed between you and Randy.

Trevor called out. "So uh, you being with Billy Loomis and Stu Macher behind your friends backs...Was that based on real life or just put in the movie for views?" As boys and a few girls around him giggled like it was the funniest thing as he gave you a serious stare. "If we're going based off of Stab then I think we all need to be worried about you being involved."

Before you could react, Gale asked him with a glare. "...What's your fucking problem?"

His face dragged down as he drew out. "My problem is YN being here is putting everyone in danger. The killer didn't attack until she showed up..." He looked at you." Jill could've died the other night and the fact you're staying across the street from her is putting her in danger."

You looked at him. "...I understand your concern but I can assure you that I'm not purposely putting anyone in danger. Obviously. I'm actively working with Gale Riley and Sheriff Riley to get this killer before anyone else gets hurt."

"Yeah, I bet." He mumbled while glaring your way.

Kirby glanced at him. "Do you realize how suspicious you look pointing fingers right now? Showing up right after the killer attacked Olivia. And the fact you and Jenny were-"

"Just friends, Kirby." He snapped.

Kirby stared before slightly smirking and muttering. "...Yeah. I bet."

The air was thick as Robbie whispered something to his headset along the lines of. "The plot thickens."

You swallowed and turned to Charlie. "...Anyone can be the killer, Charlie."

Charlie looked away and smirked. "I know, it's pretty wild."

"You have to call it off!"

Robbie and Charlie both gave amused scoffs and chuckles as Robbie drew out. "Pft, um...Okay, um. It's Friday. I'm sure we're not the only party in Woodsboro. Why do you think we had Cinema Club early? So we can prepare."

Gale shifted in place. "Okay, where's this circle jerk gonna take place?"

Charlie quickly asked the class. "So who's ready for this Q&A?"

"No-" Gale put her hand out to stop him from leaving as Randy got up and walked closer to you all. Gale continued. "No, I really want to know this location."

Charlie half cringed and smiled. "You know, it's kind of an underground, Email invite only thing. Pretty secret."

You gave him a dumbfounded look. "One of your friends is fucking dead along with 3 other people."

Robbie grimaced. "I mean, chicks so far. Maybe guys are safe?"

Randy tilted his head with a disarming smirk. "Come on, guys. I get it, you don't want them to cramp your style but we really need that location."

Charlie hissed through his teeth. "Yeeahh no can do. Sorry but...It's not your scene. Underground. Young people scene only, you know."

Randy's face fell. "What? Do you know who you're talking to? WE WERE IN STAB-"

"No, you had actors play you guys. Probably not even accurate dialog." Robbie corrected.

Charlie gave him an awkward smile. "...Sorry Randy, we appreciate your help when we were in like Freshman year but you're in the age of VHS and we're pirating online. We don't even need to visit the video store now. Just have Media Player, blank Dvd's and a good firewall. I mean, You're scream queen was like Jennifer Love Hewitt and ours is Katie Cassidy. Even your rules aren't accurate now...You can sit this one out. I mean, you're probably getting out of  partying anyways. No hard feelings, right?"

"OR-" Randy raised his voice. "You can fuck off-" You put a hand out and lightly shoved him back.

"You're a business owner on camera yelling at minors; stop it." You hissed out through your teeth low enough for hopefully only him to hear. He jerked away from you and scowled at Charlie and Robbie.

Gale gave them a threatening smile. "What?...You're not gonna tell us? Really? We're working together. Remember?"

Charlie nervously chuckled and asked the class. "Uh, so how about that Q&A?"

"Fuck you." Gale dropped the smile and told him as she placed a hand on your back and led you both out. Clearly not caring what teenagers thought even if she was on camera. "Let's go."

Randy followed and you all made your way down the hall. Perkin's following as he asked. "So, how was film class?"

"Awful." You scoffed out. "Can you believe these assholes? I agree with Randy. Fuck these kids."

"Thank you! I dread Mindy and Chad being their age." He drew out as he caught up with both of you. You guys stopped in the middle of the hallway.

Gale looked at Perkin's. "Can you give us a minute?"

"...Okay, Mizz Weathers." He enunciated her old name as he sighed and went to the end of the hall a few yards.

Gale looked between you both. "Suspects?"

"Of course." Randy looked to the ground while thinking aloud. "Two film obsessed kids who love horror movies the most, hosting a party in a secret location during murders. One is obsessed with tech and likes posting things for views while talking about the killer doing the same thing. They're definitely suspects!...However, if they're suspects then I'm a suspect so let's shove them to the side a moment-"

Gale held up a hand. "Suspects are suspects. Besides we already deducted us from the list based on all of us being present or having alibis."

Everyone was quiet a moment, Perkin's eyeing all of you from afar before Randy added. "...Or Trevor. The way he was mean mugging YN was definitely suspicious. "

Gale tilted her head and folded her arms. "I did some snooping and he's Jill's recent ex boyfriend, apparently something to do with cheating with a blonde. Jenny Randall."

"Explains why Kirby is hostile towards him. Kirby's Jill's best friend." Randy mumbled.

Gale nodded. "It's pretty much girl code the guy that cheated on your best friend is the worst creature to ever exist on the face of the Earth." You whispered low. "...But the fact Jenny was one of the first victims and not to mention he showed up so soon to comfort Jill after we were attacked when by the sounds of it he shouldn't have been there in the first place?...Yeah."

Gale added. "And if what they say is true; that means Jill is a new target."

"It's still a franchise. I'm calling it but..." Randy sighed. "If Jill Robert's is the new final girl of this story for whatever reason then the boyfriend or ex boyfriend is the prime suspect."

You shrugged. "Yeah for Billy and Sidney but after that Derek was a red herring and so was Mark. They were both good guys." You reasoned.

"That may be true for you but we still have to consider every trope, YN. And right now, Trevor is looking pretty suspicious."

You all talked a bit longer before leaving with Perkin's following. Going outside before stopping again. "Wait." You told Randy and Gale as they stopped. "...What are we going to do about the party even when we find it?"

"Easy." Gale smirked. "Record the killer, get evidence, send it to the police."

Randy raised a brow. "And you think it'll be that easy?"

"I may go by Gale Riley now but I am Gale fucking Weathers. If there's a story, I'll find it." She went to walk again and you stopped her.

"Hold on!...You aren't doing this for the reason I think you are, are you?" You eyed her. "It's just for police...Right?"

She huffed with a small nonchalant smile. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just using my skills to catch this killer."

"The book, Gale. Are you trying to report this again to turn it into a book?"

Gale stared a moment at you and Randy before huffing and throwing one of her hands up towards you. "What is the big deal if I do? Somebody is going to report it so why not be the first to write about it from first hand experience and save lives while I do it?"

Randy kind of shifted back with his lips tightly rolled back as he watched your demeanor. You gave her an angry scowl as you drew out. "...You've gotta be fucking kidding me with this."

Gale leaned forward with a determined look. "I'm dead serious."

Your face contorted in anger. "You SWORE to me in my kitchen the day Dewey proposed to you that you would never write about these murders ever again."

"Yeah well, maybe things changed? "

"Like what-" You were cut off by someone rushing you from the side. Gale yelled and Randy went to grab you just a second too late. You blinked in shock as a middle aged had woman clocked you hard enough near your shoulder to lose your balance and land on the ground...Broad daylight on school grounds. You didn't expect it.

"Stay the hell away from our children!! Wherever you go, people die! Stay away from our kids!!" She screamed before Hoss grabbed her within seconds. Already running to intercept the second he saw her coming towards you, forcing her hands behind her back as Perkin's got to you before anyone else could. Shielding you as Randy and Gale stared in shock as well. Perkin's helped you up as Hoss detained the woman...Just for you to see a large group of parents that got wind of you at Woodsboro High. Enraged and glaring at you from the sidewalk. A few had followed the woman to confront you but stopped once Hoss apprehended her.

"Stay away from the kids!", "No one wants you here, YN!", "It's your fault they're dead!" Parents shouted from the sidelines.

Randy went to you next to Perkin's asking if you were alright as you nodded. More shocked than anything as you stared with wide eyes at the parents.

Gale stared at you before rolling her lips and telling you with a determined voice. "...This has to stop. These people need a new narrative. I'm no amateur at this and I know what I'm doing. I know it's the right thing to do. I have the info I need and I'll handle this myself...I'm trying to do the right thing here!"

You sucked in a breath and told her in a heavy voice. "The right thing would be to work together with police to catch the killer and then leave it be...Haven't you done enough storytelling, Gale?...If you wanted this to change, you would've agreed to retract your statements in Court years ago. You would have changed this instead of worrying about fame."

Gale frowned with her brows furrowed before turning on her heels and leaving. Randy threw up his arms. "Where the hell are you going? You're our ride!"

She got to her car. "Ride with Perkin's and Hoss!" She shut her door.

He yelled at her. "With this crazy in the back?!" He gestured to the woman crying and making a scene as Hoss put her in the police cruiser. "You don't even know where this party is!"

"I'll figure it out!" She yelled back while starting her car and finally driving off.

Randy and you stood there with dumbfounded looks as Perkin's demanded the parents all go back to their cars for pick up or they'd be charged.

Randy huffed as you ran and hand over your face. "...Why are we still shocked she's a selfish, insecure, opportunistic human being?"

Perkin's walked up with a shrug. "She's definitely...Something. We all might have to wait here while we get another sqaud car and take YN to a hospital." 

You tsked. "I don't need a hospital. I-"

Before you could finish your sentence, someone yelled behind you. "Hey, wait!" Kirby bounded up to you and Randy and Perkin's. "Hey, do you guys still want the address to the party?...Shit...What's the deal there?"

She pointed to your check as you felt it; not even registering the woman's hand made contact with your face when she went to shove you.

"...Nothing."

Randy gave you a look. "Some crazy helicopter mom got arrested and Gale bailed on us so now we gotta wait on another cruiser."

"Oh, you need a ride? I gotta drop Jill off anyways and you're neighbors. Sooo."

Perkin's answered for both of you. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Kirby looked surprised. "Oh...Okay, I was going to suggest you guys-" She pointed to the police car. "Follow us."

You and Randy exchanged lokks before you nodded. "We have limited time. " You mumbled to Randy.

Randy nodded to Perkin's. "I can vouch for the kid. She's safe. She's extremely low on the suspect list."

Perkin's still looked unsure. You patted your leg. "I'm carrying, Perkin's. Responsibly, of course." If not...You would've unloaded on the parents trying to form an angry mob to attack you...

Perkin's ran a hand over his face as Hoss gestured with his hands from the car and the middle aged woman was throwing a fit in the back. A few parents didn't leave, getting angrier and angrier by your presence and one of their own being arrested for something in their eyes that was justified....It could get ugly here. Some parents left with their kids but the few angry ones didn't. In their cars or outside them. Clearly panicking and wanting trouble.

"...Shit. Shit, shit, shit." Perkin's hissed out. "OKAY. But do not let Sheriff Riley get wind of this-"

Randy gave a thumbs up. "You're good! 4 out of 5 stars on protecting."

"5 out of 5." Perkin's drew out.

"Okay, let's not get too unrealistic here." Randy gave with a 'get real' look on his face.

"And Hoss is riding with you."

You were the one to interject. "No. We're fine. Really, you don't need Hoss away from you...." You whispered. "He's new, isn't he?"

Perkin's whispered back. "Rookie. Obvious?"

You nodded with grimace. "Yeah. I just think it's best if you're together in case something does go wrong. I'll be in the back and we'll go straight to the police station and then Kirby can drop us off at Randy's while you guys follow."

Randy nodded furiously and Kirby replied, "Yeah, it's no biggie. I want to talk to Miss. YN and Mr. Meeks anyways about facts and trivia from Stab. So perfect opportunity."

"...Fine. Don't talk their legs off." He looked at Kirby. "And I'm following you, Little Lady. Don't try nothing funny."

"No sir, no funny stuff here!" Kirby gave with a shake of her head and her hands up.

Perkin's eyed her but nodded as he followed you all to her car. The parents glaring but saying nothing with a cop there as you walked by. You all got into Kirby's Toyota and Perkin's eyed you. "Be careful, YN. Straight to the police station and straight home."

You nodded as he shut the door. Randy waited till he was gone before turning to you from the passenger seat with a grin. "Nice save, YN. Now, we get to talk without Dewey's minions on our butts." You smirked slightly before catching a glimpse of your check in the mirror. Red and a slight bruising where that woman made contact with her hand, elbow, shoulder. Hard to say in the heat of it...You were still a bit shaken up she had the audacity to do it in daylight on school grounds...You dreaded the thought of how far they'd go if cops weren't there. You just wanted to get home and as far away from this town as you could.

Randy frowned and asked. "Are you sure you're okay? That was crazy."

You sighed but nodded. "I'm fine, Ray. It takes more than that to get to me...People are scared, panicking and getting stupid because of it."

Randy quirked a brow. "It's Woodsboro. You'd think people would be used to this."

"Were you when it came to your kids when they were still here? Parents panic."

He was quiet at that as Kirby buckled up.

and started her car. All of you cringing at how loud her rock music was as she turned it down. "Sorry! Just jamming after school...Jill texted. She'll be here in a minute."

You leaned forward, asking. "So, you said something about the party?"

"Yeah, I can give you the address...You know that old abandon barn on Fort Dillion Road?"

Randy looked surprised. "Yeah, of course. That's where they're having it?"

She nodded. "Yep. Perfect place. In the middle of nowhere. No witnesses to drinking, sex, or murders." She half joked.

Randy tsked. "Damn, it is perfect. Looks like Robbie and Charlie just got a little higher on my suspect list..."

Jill opened the door beside you. Looking surprised before smiling. "Hey."

"I promised them a ride." Kirby told her.

Jill got in, backpack on the floorboard as she shut the door. "Of course, that's cool actually...You okay? I saw the commotion out front but didn't see what happened."

You gave her a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine...Just...Everyday chaos when you're the final girl of a movie you didn't want to be a part of in the first place."

Kirby put the car in drive a pulled off the curb as you looked at the school...Seeing Robbie and Charlie near the building...Charlie watching intently as the car left. You saw him eyeing Kirby and Randy, most likely unable to see you in the backseat. You watched him a moment as Kirby pulled away and drove.

[final-girl96]

Broke World: Chapter Thirty-Two

Daryl was coming out of the woods carrying a couple squirrels when I finally made it to his tent. “The hell do ya want?” He grumbled. I sighed and walked closer to him. He sat down on a log he set up in front of the small fire he made and started to dress the squirrels. “I just wanted to see if you were alright.” He scoffed, not looking up at me. “Like you fucking care.” I rolled my eyes letting a scuff out myself. “Of course I fucking, Daryl! Jesus christ, what the fuck is wrong with you? Are you seriously still pissed at me after all these years?”

He didn't say anything, just continued to gut the squirrel in his hand. “Look, Daryl, I have always cared about you. I've thought about you over the years. Thought about what you've been up to and how you were doing. Wouldn't you say that us finding each other at the end of the world is maybe fate?” Daryl laughed, like actually laughed. “No such thing as fate. This ain't no damn Fairy tale. Now leave me the hell alone!” I felt the burning of tears form behind my eyes so I turned around and went back down to the house. Fuck him.

When I got back down to the house Glenn and Rick were packing up Carol's Cherokee. “What's going on?” I asked. Glenn turned to look at me. “Hershel disappeared. We're going into town to get him,” he said. I nodded my head, “I'll come with you guys. Just in case,” I said. Rick nodded, “Yeah, alright. Go get your stuff.” I jogged over to my tent, grabbed an extra magazine for my gun, grabbed my backpack and stuffed a couple bottles of water into it, checking to make sure my first aid kit was still inside.

I opened the front pocket to shove a couple protein bars inside, because you never know what might happen, and saw my badge. I pulled it out and looked at the pendant I had slipped onto the chain I used for my badge. The necklace Daryl had gotten me all those years ago had gotten broken when I was trying to take a suspect down. I was lucky that I found the small pendant. I had slipped it on the chain so it laid behind the badge. I figured it would be safer that way. And then that way It was always with me. I put it back in the pocket with the protein bars, zipped it, and quickly went back to the car and got into the back seat.

It only took about twenty minutes to get into town. It was one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and their business, or at least used to. We parked outside the bar that Maggie said Hershel used to go to when he had a drinking problem back in the day. We got out of the car and headed for the doors to the bar. Hershel sat inside on a stool at the bar, glass of untouched whiskey in his hand. “Maggie send you?” He asked without looking at who it was. “She's just worried is all,” Rick told him.

Rick tried to talk to Hershel; to get him to come back to the farm. He was having a hard time with the whole figuring out that people weren't just sick. He blamed himself for Beth, which I haven't mentioned. Beth collapsed earlier from being in such shock over what had happened at the barn. Hershel still didn't move even after Rick told him what had happened. He asked if Maggie was with her and that was it.

After being there for about ten minutes, two men walked in. One of them was a big fat dude who looked me up and down with a smirk as soon as his eyes landed on me. Dave and Tony, Tony is the fat creep that won't stop looking at my tits. “I'm Glenn. It's nice to meet some new people,” Glenn said, smiling.

“Rick Grimes.”

”How about you, pal?” Tony asked Hershel. “Have one?” He asked, nodding towards the liquor. “I just quit, “ Hershel said. “You've got a unique sense of timing, my friend.” Hershel made eye contact with him. None of us were too trusting of the two strangers. “His name's Hershel. He lost people today, a lot of them,” Glenn said. “I'm truly sorry to hear that. To better days and new friends,and to our dead, may they be in a better place,” Tony said. He looked over at me next and smiled. “How about you, doll? What's your name?” I stared at him for a few long minutes debating if I really wanted to give him my name. “Yn.”

He smiled and looked me up and down. I wanted to crawl out of my fucking skin at this point. He noticed Rick staring at him and he looked down. “Not bad, huh? I got it off a cop,” Dave said, picking up the pistol he had set on the table. “I'm a cop and so is she,” Rick told him. “I'm Technically a detective but whatever,” I mumbled. Dave nodded his head, not letting his smile drop. “This one was already dead.”

“You fellas are a long way from Philadelphia,” Hershel said, changing the subject. “It feels like we're a long way from anywhere,” Dave said. Well, what drove you south?” I asked. His eyes flicked over to me. “Well, I can tell you it wasn't the weather. I must've dropped 30 pounds in sweat alone down here.” Tony scoffed, “I wish.”

“No, first it was D.C. I heard there

might be some kind of refugee camp,but the roads were so jammed, we never even got close. We decided to get off the highways,

into the sticks, keep hauling ass. Every group we came across had a new rumor about a way out of this thing. One guy told us there was the Coast Guard sitting in the gulf, sending ferries to the islands. The latest was a rail yard in Montgomery running trains to the middle of the country in Kansas, Nebraska.”

“Nebraska?” Glenn asked. “Low population, lots of guns,” Dave cleared up. “Kind of makes sense,” Glenn said. “Ever been to Nebraska, kid? There's a reason they call 'em fly-over states. How about you guys?”

“Fort Benning, eventually,” Rick said.

“I hate to piss in your cornflakes, Officer, but we ran across a grunt who was stationed at Benning. He said the place was overrun by lamebrains,” Dave told us. Glenn looked surprised and disappointed. “Wait, Fort Benning is gone? Are you for real?”

“Sadly, I am. The ugly truth is there is no way out of this mess. Just keep going from one pipe dream to the next, praying one of these mindless freaks doesn't grab a hold of you when you sleep.” Tony then chipped in his two cents. “If you sleep.” Dave nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it doesn't look like you guys are hanging your hats here. You holed up somewhere else?” He asked. The four of us didn't say anything, just looked at him until Rick finally said, “Not really.”

[iamatrashbag]

In defense of Levi Fontana (SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 2!!)

A very popular theory going around is that Levi is the chapter 2 killer. This is mainly because he is one of the few who hasn't had a secret revealed yet, and he's had relevance with Ace in this chapter.

The only secrets that haven't been revealed thus far are Levis, Veronikas, and Hus (I'm pretty sure but I could be wrong). Due to Hu having recent relevance and Veronika not having lived her full potential yet, Levi is the prime suspect. But I stand here today in defense of him.

I don't think Levi Fontana is the killer, I don't think he was even involved in the case besides a minor interaction with the true killer. Here I will discuss why it wasn't Levi, and who I think the culprit is

How do we know Levi is innocent

Its hard to know for sure if Levi is 100% innocent, but if he's the culprit, he got god damn lucky. Let me run through my thought process.

Arei was hung with her own weapon, the rope that referenced her whole birthday trauma (for those who forgot, Arei was given ropes on her birthday, people told her to hang herself)

This was only ever discussed that one time in the dining hall, and let me provide a screenshot on who all was in there

4 people were not present in the dining hall at this time, the 4 were...

David

Hu

Rose

Levi

Meaning, these 4 would have no idea about the significance of Areis rope. But I'll admit this reasoning is shaky. There's no proof that the culprit even knew, and even if they did, Arei could've admitted it at some other point off screen to them.

So that means Levi is still a suspect, right? Wrong.

I have more proof that proves Levi innocent

We all know at this point that the murder method was hanging. Due to Areis broken neck, it's hard to imagine anything else being the cause of death (I'm not gonna get too far into the murder method here)

However, this method would be highly unnecessary for Levi. The creator confirmed that Levi is the strongest person among the cast in the chapter 2 part 1 ask box

He could've easily gone for something simpler, like blunt force trauma. The more steps you put into a plan, the more chances it has to mess up afterall. But he didnt.

The culprit instead chose an intricate way of killing Arei, a way that could be easily avoidable if your as strong as Levi.

Anyone else would need this method because Arei is imaginably quite athletic, due to being a bowler. It isn't immediately clear if Arei is stronger then anyone else except Levi.

He could've just invited her to the playground and whacked her over the head with a dumbell, but instead, there was a much more thought out plan done, why?

Simple, because Levi is not the culprit.

Still not convinced? I have one more piece of proof

The grippy tape

Incase you aren't aware, I'll go over what was found during this scene.

While Teruko is investigating, you can clearly see the tape at the scene

Its in the middle of the box, but you can see it through the text box too

But as soon as Ace wakes up, the tape disappears

But you might be asking, how does this relate to Levi? He wasn't even in the room and we don't know if this was the tape the culprit used

Except we do know that this is the tape the culprit used. The proof is in the scene between Teruko, Arei, and MonoTV

MonoTV didn't want Arei throwing the rope out, because it'd be "such a waste"

So if the tape wasn't taken by someone intending murder, MonoTV would've likely brought it back or even replaced it being as careful with inventory as be is (due to budget)

But he didnt

If it wasn't being used for a murder, MonoTV wouldn't have wanted it to go to waste, therefore it would've still been there.

But it isn't, which means the tape that was at Aces murder scene was the one used in Areis murder.

And that in turn proves Levis innocence, because he was in his room at the time of Nicos attempted murder against Ace. He couldn't have taken the tape.

...so who did?

The true culprit

The tape was taken at Aces crime scene, which means the 4 people there are our prime suspects

Teruko

Eden

Nico

Ace

One of those 4 had to have been the one to take the tape and kill Arei, but which one? We can figure it out by process of elimination

First off, we can rule out Nico pretty easily. They left almost immediately after Teruko and Eden walked in, and the roll of tape was still there after they left

That leaves 3 suspects, and I think I know how to prove 2 of the 3 innocent

Rule 10 states the BDA will not play until 3 people who didn't witness the murder find the body.

Now, without knowing the murder method, it's pretty clear the killer could've just looked away and not looked at the murder by technicality.

But, Eden was already framed by the note, and showed that it wasn't in her handwriting, why would she change her handwriting just to frame herself?

So that leaves 2, and this wasn't Teruko since she's the god damn protagonist, but if you need proof, she doesn't even know what her secret is, and wasn't paranoid enough to kill for it by any means.

So that leaves one suspicious individual

Ace Markey.

Why the culprit is Ace

I have multiple reasons for suspecting Ace, even beyond process of elimination.

Starting off, the tape disappeared right after he woke up, it's a weird detail to include, especially seeing as Eden got knocked over, and (once again) Teruko is the protagonist and wouldn't have taken it. So it only could've been Ace.

But is there proof of Ace taking the tape? We didn't see him take it, so it could've easily been Teruko despite her being the protagonist.

Yes, yes there is, and it comes right after they leave the gym

Ace refuses help to heal his wound from Levi, Eden, and Teruko.

One would think this could just be Ace being his Ace self, but I disagree.

I think Ace didn't accept help because he didn't want them to find the tape on his person. Granted, there'd be no reason for them to search his pockets, but Ace has always been a paranoid person, I doubt he'd want to take that risk.

If he didn't have tape, I bet he would accept help from atleast Eden. He may be obnoxious but he's not an idiot (when it comes to self preservation)

So if Ace had the grippy tape, and the culprit had the grippy tape. That means Ace is the culprit.

But I still have more pointing to Ace

Recall back to episode 2 of chapter 2

Ace took the band used for physical therapy, look at the width of that band

It sort of matches the width of the marks on Areis wrists, almost as if that's what she was restrained with.

And even besides both of those points

Ace offered to protect the body first, he could've very easily manipulated something with it

These could both be seen as coincidences (especially the guard duty one), but when you add the grippy tape point to it, the coincidences start to put together a scary picture

I have one more piece of evidence pointing towards Ace as the culprit, the motive.

I don't mean this in a bad way for anything, but an eating disorder isn't a secret to kill for.

Dont get me wrong, eating disorders are serious issues and deserve to be taken extremely seriously, but I don't think it's worth risking your own life and attempting to kill everyone else in your proximity over (I really hope this doesn't sound insensitive!)

But a big point of this motive is that; the cast didn't know what their secrets are

Ace was a paranoid person to begin with, and with secrets being revealed, he likely thought the worst out of the situation, thinking his life would be ruined if his secret was revealed

But why? If his darkest secret is his eating disorder, how could that ruin his life?

2 points help me explain that thought process

First off, once again, Ace had no idea what his secret was

And second off, he didnt even know if he remembered his own secret.

It's already a fact that the cast lost alot of memories, that was confirmed way in the beginning. But it was confirmed that the cast doesn't need to remember their secrets

Ace likely thought he could've forgotten something horrible about himself, and killed to prevent it from getting out

Conclusion

In conclusion, Levi Fontana is not the killer, there were aspects of this crime unnecessary and unavailable to him. However completely avaliable to Ace, and with everything stacking up, it's safe to assume he's the culprit

This is my first time writing a big thing like this, so if you have any questions or critiques, I'd be happy to answer!!