#but she also didn’t go back in to call Tabitha’s mom to tell her that her daughter brought the cat

[cameronthecryptid]

Mackenzie’s mother was probably still in ear shot of the inside of the house.

She heard those little preteen girls chanting “Knife, knife, knife, knife!”

And she chose not to go back inside.

And that’s the funniest shit ever.

[alaffy]

Riverdale 5x14 - Midnight Gallery (Spoilers)

During one of his interviews, Roberto said that this season is about trauma and tonight they really doubled down on it.  Three horrific stories: Archie; Betty; and Jughead.  I think that the reason why Veronica was left out of this is because, while she also has experienced trauma, her’s was a story that was more easily explained.  Also, they probably didn’t want to deal with faking a helicopter crash. 

Spoilers

 Archie’s story starts with him actually getting some help (maybe).  Also, Archie is contacted by Cheryl to start digging up the Palladium under her property (because it’s not like mining takes any sort of professional crew or anything).  The thing is Archie is starting to see dead people and while that may seem like a joke, it’s not.  Turns out Bingo isn’t the only man Archie lost and his mind is no loner suppressing that information.  So, look, clearly Archie is not ok and clearly being in this mine is setting off some of his issues (something Frank seemed to realize).  Archie asks his therapist for medication, but it seems to make things worse.  And Archie barges into her office, claiming she’s working for Hiram.  She denies knowing who that is (which is hard to believe) and Archie is told to leave.  Archie stops taking the medication and tells Jackson to also stop seeing the therapist.  However, a few days later, all of the miners start acting crazy and they realize that the tunnel is filling with carbon monoxide (why you need professionals).  Archie goes back to the therapist and explains about the carbon monoxide and the fact he’s seeing more dead officers.  She says she’s afraid to be alone with him and thinks he’s not safe around anyone.  Honestly, I don’t know if I trust this therapist.  Is she military?  And does she work at that base that Hiram is also working with?

Also, I think Cheryl might be becoming a villain. 

 Betty is seen at the beginning of her story talking to Tabitha.  Tabitha is trying to get Betty to turn the trucker over to the authorities.  Betty refuses, but also tells Tabitha that Tabitha should no longer be involved.  So, Betty tries to get the trucker to talk and it’s obvious he’s a murder, but other then that she’s getting nothing from him.  Except one PTSD flashback to being in the hole.  She even tries to humanize the victims, by having Alice talk to the killer about Polly (Betty may be good at finding killers, not so great with interrogations).  Of course that fails and the trucker says horrible things about Polly’s death, which sets Alice off.  Later, Betty tells her mom that she’s going to try something else, but Alice is just like, nah, kill him.  And on the one hand, I can understand a grieving mother wanting the man she believes to have killed her daughter dead, on the other hand…is she trying to loose all her children?  I mean, why tell Betty to kill him?  Anyway, Betty goes back and threatens to torcher him with a chainsaw.  And she goes into this very creepy explanation of what she plans to do to him.  At this point, he gives very specific information about Polly and then pretends he doesn’t know anything about her.  Betty goes to get the chainsaw.  Here’s the thing, as she gets the chainsaw, she flashes back to being in the hole.  And the thing she told the trucker?  Apparently, she was quoting TBK.  That’s what TBK told her as she was begging him to kill her.  Somebody who cares about Betty needs to find out about her capture!  Anyway, she returns to the trucker with the chainsaw and finds him dead.  He had bitten through and swallowed his tongue.  Now, was Betty really going to kill him?  Eh, they leave it pretty ambiguous.  You’re supposed to question.  Although, when Alice made it clear she was glad the trucker was dead, Betty says that she’s fine with it, but it’s obvious she’s not.  But one thing is clear now, from what the trucker said, there isn’t just one killer.

And then we have Jughead’s story.  Think Hunter S. Thompson.  The fact is, Jughead’s story is well, it shows the story of the human condition.  And it is tragic, but…look, people want to make Jughead’s story all about Betty.  She’s a part of it, but she’s not the reason.  In fact, it turns out they were on, what seems to be, good speaking terms.  The reality is, Jughead had a hard time transitioning from his life from Riverdale out into the real world.  He went to Iowa, but he didn’t make any friends and he started drinking.  Then, he sent part of his book off and got himself an agent.  The first thing he does is call Betty.  Betty makes a comment about hoping his Iowa friends take him out that night and…he lies and tells her they will.  However, what happens is Jughead leaves school and moves to New York.  At some point he meets Jessica, who becomes his girlfriend.  But it sounds like, I don’t know how to say it, his interest in Jessica was more about what she could get him.  Like she had access to the drugs that helped him do his writing and that’s why they became a couple.  Anyway, what is made clear is that while he was with Jessica, he was also in contact with Betty (and it is heavily implied that he was contacting Betty behind Jessica’s back).  It should be said if your significant other is contacting his ex behind your back, they aren’t your significant other.  Meanwhile, it sounds like when he talks to Betty he’s telling her his life if great, when it’s not.  So, it is easy to see that maybe Betty thinks he’s moving on in his life, when in fact he’s not.  Also, what is interesting is that there are two flashbacks to Betty in this.  However, this is in Jughead’s narration.  So, are those scenes actual flashback or what he thinks Betty’s life is like at the time?  I guess will find out.  Anyway, it turns out that he does invite her to the book launch and she says she’ll go.  However, she cancels at the last minute (at the moment we don’t know why).  Jughead, drunk and on the way to his party, calls her and leaves the message.  And why did he leave that message?  Because the reality is, he knows deep down inside that (if Betty were at the party), she would be the only one there who actually cared.  And the fact she couldn't make it, sets him off. So, does Betty deserve the message?  No.  The fact is, Jughead is upset with the way his life has turned out and is taking it out on her.  And there was no way for her to have known how important it was for her to be there, because she was under the impression that things where going good for Jughead.  Anyway, right after the call he falls into a hole and is trapped for underground for a few days with rats crawling all over him.  During those days, Jughead learns during his trip to New York, he had a bunch of hallucinations (also he got rabies) of a Rat King who wanted him to stay in the tunnels.  However, Jughead is rescued by a hallucination of Betty, who gets him out of the tunnels.  But learning what happened to him in New York has made him realize how alone he is in his life and he wants to get better.  Again, quick warning, not interested in fighting about ships, just discussing the show.  Look, the fact that it’s Betty “saving” him, the fact that she’s the first person he calls about the book…he’s not over her.  Does that mean they’ll get back together?  Well, at the moment, Betty thinks he doesn’t want her in his life and she’s got her own issues.  So, that may be where they're heading, maybe not. After all, seven years have passed. But we'll see. At the very least, it looks like Jughead is starting to work through his problems.

Quick edit: One other thing I forgot to mention, I like the fact this it is Jughead himself that decided to get help. So many stories have the trope that if the emo boy just falls for the right girl...nope. Sorry. People can help you get better, but only you can choose to get help.

[solo-23]

I'd debated about whether or not to post this because it's definitely a rant and there is definitely a lot of negativity, but I need to vent after last night's episode (with some leftover issues from earlier this season, too). If Betty is your favorite and you don't like to read anything negative about her, you will not like this post.

1. The way the voicemail has been blown completely out of proportion by the writers, reviewers, and some shippers is ridiculous. We keep hearing about how it was terrible, emotionally abusive, toxic, and something that Jughead definitely needed to apologize for, but nothing he said was actually out of line. There is absolutely nothing in that voicemail that Betty should have been surprised about, let alone treating it like it somehow turns her into the victim in the fall of Bughead.

It's not surprising that Jughead has now apologized twice for the voicemail, even if he doesn't actually remember all of it, because he knows that it hurt Betty. He can also probably guess what he said because he knows what he feels and how it can be exaggerated when he's feeling depressed or under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Generally if you actually admit what you're thinking or feeling when you know it would hurt someone, you feel bad about it. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, or if you're under the influence. A good person apologizes if they know they hurt someone. Jughead is a good person.

Just a note here, I've seen other people saying that Betty's actions while high should be excused just like people have said Jughead's voicemail should be excused because he was under the influence. Being under the influence DOES NOT excuse the voicemail.

The fact that Betty cheated on Jughead, did continue to sneak around with Archie while debating whether or not she wanted to "officially" pursue him, hid the whole affair until Jughead actually caught on and she had to make up a direct lie to his face or confess, never actually explained anything to Jughead (things like she was the one who stopped the affair, she wanted to stay with Jughead, etc.) even after he asked if they could talk about it, stood him up at Pop's a year later, and then stood him up again at the book release party justify Jughead's voicemail. And he has apologized for it twice.

2. That is why it was so intensely frustrating for Betty to just brush off his apology (again) and then turn the conversation to her, but without actually apologizing for anything. When Jughead mentioned not really being able to remember the voicemail, she could have brought up what bothered her in it so (a) he would know and (b) they could actually discuss the issues, which could have led into Betty actually explaining what happened with the cheating, including how the affair ended, and she could have apologized for that. It still wouldn't have been fully satisfying because Betty never apologizes first for her actions, but it would've been better than nothing. She also could have apologized for standing him up, although at least she explained why she didn't make it to the book release party.

3. However, she still didn't admit to or apologize for giving away Jughead's manuscript. The entire reason Jughead relapsed into drinking and almost plagiarized Cora is because Betty gave Jessica his manuscript. No, Betty does not get credit for "saving" Jughead because she was present when he got a phone call from Samm and admitted that he wasn't the author. She's the reason he was in that position in the first place. Yes, she had been drugged. Yes, Tabitha was present and didn't stop her. No, neither of those things excuse it. It also doesn't excuse her from sharing the voicemail with Tabitha and Jessica.

Why not? She and Tabitha were still shown as functional when all of this happened. Jessica admitted that she drugged them to try to get the manuscript. They were both capable of thinking and arguing. Betty chose to give the manuscript to Jessica. It wasn't until afterward that Betty and Tabitha started being really impacted by the drugs. Jughead's manuscript wasn't Betty's (or Tabitha's) to give away and doing so completely screwed Jughead over.

There are some questions here--did he switch over to his typewriter and that's why there was no backup? did he forget to save a copy on his laptop? did his laptop crash or get lost? who knows, but in the story it doesn't matter. There was one copy and Betty gave it away, placing Jughead in the position of losing his agent or plagiarizing another author.

Also, for playing the voicemail, Jessica had just brought the drugged fries to the table. No one is shown as having felt the effects of the drugs until Tabitha made a comment about being warm after the voicemail is over. Betty had been reluctant to help from the beginning, before Tabitha mentioned the "don't be a Betty" line, and made fairly rude comments about Jughead throughout the episode. I don't think she needs to apologize to Jughead for sharing it, but I also thought that playing the victim and having some people blame it on "being high" was ridiculous.

4. You cannot convince me that Betty cares about Jughead in the slightest when he was telling her he was an alcoholic and he's trying to get better and he's clearly drinking alcohol right in front of her and her response is "I'm an addict, too. I'm addicted to serial killers." She's struggling, yes, and it's good that she's opening up, but if she cared about Jughead at all an appropriate response here would be "So, why are you drinking?" or "are you okay?" Show some sort of concern for someone who is relapsing in front of your face. Jughead does it for Betty when he suggests she should take a break, even though he's in a moral quandary caused by Betty, depressed, and drunk.

Also, no, chasing serial killers is not an addiction in the same way as drugs or alcohol and it's insulting to say they're the same. Chasing serial killers could be described as a compulsion for Betty, or a hyperfixation, but it's not the same. It's difficult, but you can choose to not follow a compulsion without experiencing the often severe physical side effects experienced by actual addicts. I'm glad Betty recognized that she has a problem, but no, that is not an addiction.

5. The entire conversation is extremely awkward. It's clear that it isn't what Jughead had in mind, but his life that he had just been starting to get back together fell apart. He sank to new (or at least different) lows. Betty seemed like she wanted to leave as soon as she got there (understandable given how awkward it was, even secondhand) and disappeared once Jughead was distracted by a phone call. It's understandable, but disappointing. The part that was really frustrating, though, was that after talking to Jughead about how unhealthy her serial killer obsession is and how she's worried about her mom, she still goes out. Alice was passed out on the couch, which Betty paused to acknowledge. That should have been a turning point for Betty and it just wasn't. Screw these writers.

6. I loved that Tabitha and Jughead had mutual apologies, discussed their issues, and genuinely seemed to care about each other. I also loved that Jughead still cares and worries about Betty (frustrating as it is when it seems unreciprocated) because it's so true to Jughead's character.

7. It is absolutely fine and understandable if Betty has moved on from Jughead. She seemed to believe that if he found out about the cheating in their senior year, it would be the end of their relationship. She started shutting him out and trying to move on the next day.

However, as a Jughead fan, it's intensely annoying to see him still struggling with the lack of closure and continuing to have feelings for Betty after all of that. I would have preferred to see either both of them move on, then rediscover each other later (or not, depending on where the show is going), or have Betty be the one who still clearly has feelings for Jughead and have her regret blowing up the relationship.

8. Overall, I hate a lot of what the writers have done this season. I don't particularly like any of the backstories for the characters during the time jump, I don't like each character following a separate plot line(s), the lack of interaction between characters, and how disjointed everything feels.

The mothman plot was interesting, but seems destined for a disappointing end. There have been a lot of missed opportunities to bring storylines together (Jughead went missing while Archie was looking for escaped prisoners, he could have found Jughead; Jughead hitchhiked with a random trucker, even without the trucker attacking him he could have seen clues or found Polly; Sweet Pea or Fangs could have seen Betty playing hooker and organized an intervention instead of having the weird cult plot line; I'm sure there's more). Maybe it'll be better with a binge watch, but I'm having trouble maintaining interest in the final three episodes, let alone rewatching this mess of a season.

BONUS: I was relieved that the Bughead talk did not go with my worst case scenario. Based on the possible B/A return, I was a little bit worried that Jughead would apologize for the voicemail and remember what he said, then talk about how he always knew Betty had feelings for Archie. Betty, who said she'd been "wanting this since high school," would then nod along and say she was sorry for hurting him, but acknowledge those feelings. Then Jughead would ask why they never acted on those feelings after the breakup, Betty would talk about the FWB, and Jughead would go full B/A cheerleader and tell her to give it a chance (like the Pacey and Joey chat about Dawson at Mitch's funeral in Dawson's Creek). I was dreading that possibility and I'm so glad the show didn't go there. I'm sorry if I've given anyone nightmares.

[bossbex]

5x05 Reaction

WOW it’s been a while since I did an episode reaction post.  I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS SHOW AGAIN!!!

The bughead walk home.  I liked this! I liked how it was awkward.  WHAT WAS IN THE VOICEMAIL??? Does Jughead even know what’s in the voicemail? 

Varchie walk home.  Cute! Friendly.  Was getting zero romantic, or even tense vibes.  He tells her that he hasn’t been in a relationship since her, which completely makes sense considering he’s been in the army since high school.  He didn’t say he hasn’t been with anyone, just that he hasn’t been in a relationship.  

Ok how old are the twins? Shouldn’t they be like 10? Alice is talking about them like they’re babies lmao “shhh, I just got them down”

Poor sad Jug.  I actually really like this turn for him... reminds me of S1 Jughead which was honestly the last time I really loved his character?? And obviously they are setting him up to be at his lowest so he can only go up from here (with a few bumps, probably) 

Kevin and Betty friendship YES!!! HOW is Betty only going through Charles’ stuff NOW, 7 years later after he was discovered to be a serial killer? I know it’s obviously just so she can play the Polly tape which is relevant to the plot of this episode and we shouldn’t be asking more questions but COME ON

Veronica and Hiram... this seems... repetitive... but I liked what happened with her character by the end of this episode. 

BOSS TONI I AM OBSESSED!!! And I love that they are all mad about his book, it’s great.  “You mean, the Vipers?” LMAO

AND MORE BOSS TONI!!! THEY’VE BEEN WASTING HER FOR 3 SEASONS SHE IS AMAZING

And Archie back to savior mode, we love to see it.  

Jugitha? Tabhead? I like their banter.  I’m into it.  I’m just really hoping that they don’t use another WOC as a plot device for Jughead to get back with Betty. If it happens, make it meaningful.  

MORE BOSS TONI!!! I love that Toni has never once strayed from her morals... no amount of money is going to make her screw over a bunch of students and work for Hiram lodge. 

“It used to be Kevin and I would sneak peaks through that window, hoping you were shirtless” BETTY YOU ARE SHAMELESS (also I absolutely LOVE a pilot reference) 

Wtf is Reggie doing.  Will he have a redemption arc? I really hope so! Like that he was blackmailed into working for Hiram and he is protecting his family in some way? Or something? Or maybe they have decided that he’s just “bad” now.  His hair is certainly bad...

Ok so Veronica is looking at getting a job as a... sports agent?? In LA?? Ok, Riverdale.  Sure.  And I guess she’s just done with Chad? Which ok, sure, that guy’s awful.  

SMITHERS LIVES!!!!!!!!!!

Lmao of course Monica Posh is back.  And this guy just casually has $30K cash laying around? Sounds legit.  

Ok I really thought the Betty gun scene was going to be Archie but turns out it’s Polly! Which I am happy to see!!! So it seems like Alice and Polly are bitter with Betty for “abandoning” them... which like, I don’t think that going to school and getting a job in a different state is “abandoning” your family.  But it does sound like Betty doesn’t call much and basically hasn’t been back to Riverdale since she left for college? Which is like... kinda shitty.  I wonder if that will be delved into a bit more.  Oh, who am I kidding, I know what show I’m watching.  

Toni at the Cooper house? Toni and Alice team up?? We love to see it!!!  

Ok Jughead lying about staying at the 5 seasons and actually staying in the bunker is just the saddest thing ever.  

Ok, I LOVE Tabitha?? “I think I’d remember a weird-ass name like that” LMAO. I Also love that she called the guy “pumpkin” in response to him calling her “sweetie” lol.  So good.  

Veggie comeback?? I miss them!!! But his hair... I can’t get past his hair. 

I actually love this plot point with Polly being involved with the Ghoulies and that being what gets Betty passionate about the raid (she had already offered help but now she’s IN)

The Betty and Archie arm touch? “You good?” I CAN’T

Can Kevin ever say a line without being interrupted? That’s just a running gag now lol.  I did enjoy the Succession reference though.  AND MORE BOSS TONI like seriously it’s so good.  

Ok I love how the plot point of Riverdale “going private” exists solely to allow all the main characters to become teachers there without having any teaching qualifications whatsoever LMAO.  Sure yes ok.  

I feel like Veronica should be asking her mom for help with Chad and not her dad? Wouldn’t she be more experienced in that side of things? Oh wait, we’re not supposed to ask questions about logic of storylines.  I do like the Hiram refused her help and brought up the scene “7 years ago” where she compared him to a dog, lol.  

Ok I feel like Betty is justified in questioning Polly about lying about where she’s working at the drugs (and since when has she ever done anything sensitively or discreetly?) and Polly is also justified in being defensive about it and thinking it’s none of Betty’s business since she hasn’t been around.  You know who’s business it IS, though? ALICE’S!!! Maybe Alice is overcompensating for sending Polly to SoQM years ago but she is all kinds of enabling her now.  

BARCHIEEEEEEEEEEEEE I could write a whole post on this.  Maybe I should? THE TENSION!! THE AKWARDNESS!!! “Cool” ---ARCHIE WAS SO NERVOUS WITH HER!!! THE SHOWER!!! OF COURSE BETTY CAN’T GO NEXT DOOR AND SHOWER AT HOME THAT WOULD BE TOO LOGICAL!!! THE LOOK THEY GIVE EACH OTHER THEY BOTH JUST FUCKING KNOW!!! THAT WAS SUCH A LONG AND EXPLICIT SEX SCENE FOR THE CW!!!!!! I KNEW IT WAS COMING FROM THE PROMO BUT I WAS STILL NOT READY!!!

Ok I’ve caught my breath... thoughts on this: 

This was LONG overdue.  I thought it was perfect.  They are adults, they both wanted each other, there was absolutely nothing in their way, and the show made sure that there was NO ambiguity about what they were doing.  They fucked in the shower, that’s it.  Some other notes - Betty twice in this episode talks about how Archie hasn’t changed - he is STILL the boy she has loved since she was a kid.

AND THEN THE CONVERSATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER!!! This show would normally not even have the characters address it.  We would have gone straight to the Pop’s scene with no discussion. “Something we’ve been wanting to do since high school but never got around to” I SCREAMED.  And their SMILES they are both so happy. I LOVED THIS!!! So we’re getting FWB barchie, great, I’m here for it.  You can see though, by both of their expressions, it’s more than that for both of them.  BETTY’S LIP BITE AT THE END GIRL IS IN LOOOOOVE

Jug’s speech at the retirement party was really good.  

Ok this Choni scene is just lovely.  They are both so soft I’M CRYING. “If our love ever meant anything to you, help us” SOB. 

Betty is the first one to agree to help Archie, noted.

Uh oh, Jughead is going to get in trouble again for writing about all his friends.  Or will he dig his way out of this? 

One last barchie moment TEXTING they are SICK

Jughead and Archie roomies!!! I love this!!! So much potential for tension and akwardness!! 

TL;DR - this episode was GREAT, barchie is HOT, and Toni is BOSS, this dynamic change up was NEEDED

[ambiguously-ambitious]

Chapter Three: (Overdue) Introductions PT. I

Author: ambiguoslyambitious (me!)

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 3,839

Summary: Today's the day that Bela will finally make her debut in Pelican Town and meet some of the townspeople. Will she be able to salvage her reputation or has her fresh start already began to expire?

“Wait, so you’re telling me that the townspeople have been trying to welcome me all week?” Bela lowered her eyes in shame, her face reddening once again. Yoba, they must think I’m some stuck up city bitch.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Victor answered reassuringly. “However, none of us knew that you were...hearing impaired.” Victor rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish look sweeping across his face. Something Mayor Lewis failed to mention. Thanks a lot.

“Oh, Yoba,” Bela shook her head. “The whole town must think that I’m so rude.” So much for a fresh start. Maybe I should just become a hermit. No socialization. Just me and Mother Nature.

“Don’t worry! I’m sure we can clear this all up.” Suddenly, Victor’s dark eyes brightened. “Would you like to accompany me into town? I know that my mother wanted to invite you over to our residence for dinner. I-if you aren’t too busy, that is.” He quickly looked away, cheeks flooded with pink.

“Oh, uh,” Bela also averted her gaze briefly. “T-that would be lovely.” Shit, meeting the mom already.

Victor shot her a sheepish grin. “Splendid! Hopefully, we’ll be able to run into a few of the townspeople and try to salvage your reputation.”

The pair proceeded to exit the farmhouse.

“I must say, Bela,” Victor said, sweeping his gaze across the farm. “You’ve done a magnificent job so far.”

“Thank you,” Bela responded shyly. "I admit, I hadn't realized how much this old farm had gone into ruin." She stared out sadly out towards the other islands she hadn't reached yet, remembering when the farm was bustling with activity. And I still have so much work left to do.

Sensing her sadness, Victor tried to lighten the mood. "You used to visit this farm, right?"

"Yeah," Bela gave a sad smile. "When I was a kid, I used to spend the entire summer here, helping Grandfather tend to the chickens and cows, and watering the crops each morning."

"Sounds like you two were close."

"Not really," Bela admitted. "Summertime was the only time I got to see Grandfather. He and my father weren't very close. The last summer I spent here was ten years ago. Before he got sick and..." Her eyes welled up with tears.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Victor apologized, looking over at her worried. "I don't mean to remind you of such sorrowful things."

"It's fine," Bela offered a half-smile. She brought her gaze up to the bright afternoon sky, taking in the sweet scent of grass and the warm spring breeze. "Not all of my memories of him are sad. I know that there were really great times that are just easy to forget now that he's gone."

This time, Victor was the one to offer a half-smile. "I suppose it is easier to remember the bad times. Remembering the good times forces you to remember how much you miss the ones you've lost."

“HELLO, VICTOR!” called out a frantic, yet cheerful voice. “OH MY YOBA, IS THAT THE NEW FARMER? HI!” A bubbly young woman, adorn in bubblegum pink rushed over to meet them on the dirt path across from the defunct bus stop heading towards town.

“Tabitha, this is Bela.” Victor smiled, knowing that Tabitha was one of the friendliest people in town to meet. She had a habit of making even the grumpiest people smile. Thank Yoba, we've run into Tabitha. She can quickly turn around this somber conversation.

“Hi, Bela! It’s so nice to meet you!” Tabitha giggled, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “My twin brother Theo and I moved here a year ago and run The Stray Café across from the bus stop. Hopefully, you’ll be able to meet him soon, though he isn’t much of a socializer.”

“Hi, Tabitha.” Bela smiled unconsciously, the young woman’s happy energy was infectious.

“Those are cool headphones!” Tabitha said, taking notice of the devices in Bela’s ears. “Listening to any good music?”

Victor quickly glanced over at Bela before responding. “Um, Tabitha. Those aren’t headph-”

“These are actually hearing aids.” Bela interrupted.

Suddenly, Tabitha’s face fell. “I’m so sorry! I hope that I didn’t offend you!” The poor woman looked close to tears. Yoba, how can I be so stupid and insensitive?! Theo always tells me to never assume. I'm sure she hates me now.

“It’s ok!” Bela quickly reassured the young lady. “It’s an honest mistake.”

Tabitha visibly relaxed at Bela's words, letting out a sigh of relief. "Good, I'm glad that I didn't ruin our chances of becoming best friends."

"Hold on," Victor laughed. "Who says that I'm not already Bela's best friend?"

Tabitha rolled her eyes playfully. "I guess then we will all just have to be besties."

Bela let out a laugh, with the pair soon joining in. Maybe meeting the townspeople will go more smoothly than I thought. At least I 've managed to make friends with these two.

"So, besties," Tabitha glanced between Victor and Bela. "Where are you guys headed?"

"I was just bringing Bela into town to meet everyone." Victor responded. "My mother invited her over for dinner and I figured that I would take her to the saloon afterwards."

"That's a good idea. Why don't you guys come with me to Pierre's first?"

"Sure," Victor nodded. Then he looked over at Bela sheepishly. "That is, if it's ok with you."

Bela smiled at them. "Yeah, that's fine. You guys know the town better than me."

_____________________________________________________________

The trio continued their way into town, heading east towards Pierre’s General Store. As they entered the store, Pierre looked up from the catalogue he was reading at the register.

“It’s farmer Bela!” Pierre greets excitedly. “Welcome to Pierre’s! If you’re looking to buy seeds, my shop is the place to go.” Finally, a new customer.

Bela offered a small smile. “Thank you, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” Bela’s eyes swung around the small shop, taking note of the tall shelves filled with different kinds of seeds. Small containers held fresh produce with labels containing the names of all the local farms.

“I’ll also purchase whatever produce you make on your farm for a good price.” Pierre’s grin became slightly more forced as he continued making his sales pitch. Hopefully, this city kid will be able to produce crops worth selling. Can't be any worse than anything Andy brings.

“Hopefully, I’ll have something worthy to sell soon.” Bela awkwardly joked. “ Yoba, this guy is intense.

To the right of the counter, a door suddenly slammed open. Pierre rolled his eyes as a purple-headed figure stepped out looking annoyed.

“Really, Abigail?” Pierre glared at her.

Abigail shot back a similarly annoyed look. “What? You know the door gets stuck. It’s not a big deal.”

She dramatically rolled her eyes, walking towards the exit. She shot a quick glance at Victor and nodded, coming to a stop once she laid eyes on the new farmer, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Who are you?”

Victor smiled, seemingly unperturbed by the young woman’s rudeness. “Abigail, this is Bela, the new farmer.”

“Hi,” Bela waved awkwardly. Well, she definitely doesn’t like me.

“Oh, I heard someone was moving into that old farm,” Abigail said, looking Bela up and down without meeting her eyes. “A shame, I liked exploring around there.” Without another word, Abigail walked out of the store.

“Ms. Rivers?” called out a small, quiet voice from the right. Bela could barely hear the man even with her hearing aids turned on. She turned to look over and was surprised to see a tall man, with thick glasses and an even thicker moustache. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Harvey Hickey, the local doctor.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Hickey.”

“Please, call me Dr. Harvey.” He offered an awkward smile. “I work, well and live, in the clinic next door with Paul, the town’s optometrist.” Suddenly his ears burned red. “A-as roommates of course!”

Bela just smiled politely. And they were roommates.

“Uh,” Harvey rubbed the back of his head nervously. “Well, um, please, uh, make sure to, uh, schedule your annual check up at, uh, some point. It was, uh, nice to meet you.” He awkwardly made his way up the register, a simple protein bar in hand.

"Well, I've got to pick up some things for the café," Tabitha said with a smile. "I'll see you guys around!"

"You're not coming to the saloon?" Bela furrowed her eyebrows.

"Oh, uh," Tabitha started stammering nervously. "T-that's not, uh, really my scene." I hope Bela doesn't think I'm lame.

"That's fine," Bela replied reassuringly. "Since we're neighbors, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other often. I'll try and visit the café soon."

"Oh, you should! I can't wait to introduce you to my brother!" Tabitha's eyes lit up once again. “Bye. Bela! Bye, Victor!” Tabitha waved goodbye, as she proceeded to gather supplies for the café.

"Well," Victor said, a hint of nervousness creeping into his usually calm voice. "Now it's time to meet my mother."

_____________________________________________________________

Bela and Victor exited the store, making their way east to the Jenkins’ Residence, which happened to be located directly next to Pierre's General Store.

“I told you this would be a short walk.” Victor smiled as they approached the giant, two-story manor which was painted a beautiful shade of robin’s egg blue. Bela’s eyes widened at the vastness of the manor, whose front entrance was guarded by a set of beautiful bronze gates.

Victor pushed the gate open and gestured for Bela to head inside. She followed the ornate crystal path until she reached a set of giant oak doors.

“Allow me.” Victor again held open the door for Bela, who stood in the entryway desperately trying to take in all the grandeur. Directly across from her was a beautiful wooden staircase, hinting that more beauty was yet to be seen. To her left was the living room, adorned in rich red and gold curtains and rugs. To her right, a kitchen with a large mahogany table sat with matching chairs.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful in here.” Bela’s eyes glowed with wonder.

“Why, thank you.” called out a sultry, yet sophisticated voice. An elegantly dressed woman appeared to cascade down the stairs effortlessly. “You must be Ms. Bela Rivers.” The woman extended a hand in greeting, which Bela immediately took.

“Yes, it is nice to meet you, Mrs. Jenkins.” Bela smiled nervously. I can’t believe this is Victor’s mother.

“Please, call me Olivia.” She gave a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Is this really the same girl who ignored Caroline and Jodi? She seems polite enough.

“Well, Olivia,” Bela said awkwardly. “Thank you for inviting me over. I appreciate your hospitality.”

“Don’t worry, Bela.” Victor chimed in. “My mother loves any opportunity to entertain guests.”

��Well, I wouldn’t want this manor to go to waste!” Olivia gives a dry laugh. “Let’s head over to the kitchen.” She quickly turned on her heels and elegantly strutted away. Victor offered a small smile to Bela before following his mother.

As the pair took their seats, Olivia brought a large platter with a covering on top of it.

“What fine dish have you prepared this time, Mother?”

“Well, since, I heard that our guest used to live in Zuzu City,” Olivia smiled coyly as she lifted the top. “ I decided to prepare pan-seared butterfish over a plate of assorted vegetables from the garden.”

Both Bela and Victor stared at the platter in absolute wonder. The butterfish was a brilliant shade of gold, contrasting the rich greens of the cabbage and lettuce underneath.

“This looks amazing!” Bela exclaimed, remembering the holidays when her mother would prepare this. Her heart tinged with sadness, as her eyes began burning with unshed tears. I need to think about something else.

“Is something troubling you dear?” Olivia asked inquisitively, eyes narrowing as she glanced over the newcomer. She noticed a faint glint emitting from Bela’s ear, eyes widening in realization. She's deaf! That's why no one's been able to get in contact with her. Can't wait to clear that up with the ladies.

“Oh, i-it’s nothing.” Bela offered a flicker of a smile before lowering her gaze.

Olivia shot her son a look, to which Victor responded by shrugging.

“Perhaps,” Victor looked between his mother and Bela. “I should pour us each a glass of wine.”

Olivia nodded, stealing another glance at Bela. “Why don’t you grab some pomegranate wine from the cellar? I’m sure the tartness will compliment the sweetness of the butterfish wonderfully.” The young woman also nodded in agreement. Oh, Victor, please don't leave me alone with your mom. There's just something scary about her.

Victor glanced over at Bela once more. “Of course. I’ll be just a moment.” He gracefully walked away from the table, disappearing down the stairs of the cellar.

“So, Bela,” Olivia clasped her hands together. “What brings you to Pelican Town?”

“Well,” Bela nervously met the older woman’s gaze. “I decided that I wanted a fresh start.” Bela purposely kept her answer vague. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to talk about her parents just yet.

“A fresh start?” Olivia’s gaze hardened. There must be something this girl is running from. Why else would she need a fresh start so young?

“Yes,” Bela responded, meeting her gaze. “I found that life in Zuzu City just wasn’t for me anymore.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “But, what about your career? If I’m not mistaken, I heard that you had a very promising job at Joja in their corporate office.”

“I did.” Bela responded. “However, I’ve found the work to be...unfulfilling.”

Olivia’s eyes widened and she leaned back in surprise, a hand raised up against her chest. “Unfulfilling? By Yoba, I spent thirty years working my way to become an accounting manager and accumulating all of this.” She gestured with her hand carelessly.

“Mother,” Victor chided, walking up the stairs from the cellar with a dark red bottle. “Not everyone wants to be a corporate monkey.”

“Didn’t this corporate monkey earn enough to give you a full-ride to one of the finest universities in the entirety of the Ferngill Republic?” Olivia shot back, her tone icy.

“Yes, Mother,” Victor’s tone softened considerably, as he began pouring the wine, “But, money shouldn’t be the only thing you work for.” Why can't she understand that money isn't everything?

“Oh, really?” Olivia retorted, condescendingly taking a sip. “But was it not money that afforded you this life of privilege?”

The room suddenly went silent. Well, this has gotten awkward, Bela thought to herself, her fork lazily moving some of the greens in front of her.

Victor's jaw clenched, struggling to maintain his composure. Why can't my mother just realize that I'm not trying to be ungrateful. I just want to be happy.

"I recently lost my parents," Bela said quietly, interrupting the momentary silence. "A-and I didn't know what to do with myself. One day, I just found this envelope from my grandfather that said that one day I'd be in need of change and that I had this farm for when I needed it."

Victor gently placed a hand on her shoulder, as she fought to keep tears from streaming down her face. "I'm sorry for your loss, Bela."

"I'm sorry." Olivia said, glassy-eyed as well. She quickly grabbed a napkin, dabbing her eyes delicately. "Part of the reason why Victor and I moved to Pelican Town was due to my husband's...passing." Yoba, I should've been more sympathetic instead of interrogating this poor girl. I should've recognized that she was also going through loss.

Victor exchanged a somber look with his mother before looking back over at Bela. He reached over and grabbed his glass, raising it up in a toast. "To new beginnings."

Bela and Olivia followed in suit, each taking a long gulp of wine to help assuage some of the emotional pain caused by their respective grief.

_____________________________________________________________

"Well, that could have gone more smoothly," Victor shook his head as he and Bela left the manor for the saloon.

"It certainly was an interesting dinner," Bela responded gently. The rest of the dinner had been eaten in an awkward silence. "Your mom is a really good cook." And an even better interrogator. Maybe she volunteered part-time at the Zuzu City PD?

"Yeah, well she's usually an even better host." His eyes looked apologetic as they met Bela's. "I'm really sorry for the way dinner turned out. My mother can be...a lot."

Bela gave him a smile, playfully pushing his arm, "Don't even worry about it. I'm already making memories in this town."

Victor pushed open the thick oak door of The Stardrop Saloon, a barrage of sounds and smells overwhelming the new farmer. Bela was hit with the warm, bitter scent of beer as a jaunty folk tune played in the background, accompanied by the sounds of glasses clinking and laughter.

“Why if it isn’t the new farmer, Ms. Bela Rivers,” a kind voice greeted. “Welcome to The Stardrop Saloon! What can I get for ya?”

“Hello, Gus,” Victor smiled, taking a seat at the bar and gesturing for Bela to join him. “Why don’t we just take two glasses of wine to start?” The mustached man glanced over at Bela.

“Uh, yes,” Bela smiled. “Thank you.”

Victor leaned closer and whispered in her ear, his breath warm and gentle, “I hope you don’t mind me ordering for you. I figured you’d want to still be coherent while meeting some more of the townspeople.” He let out a small chuckle as he pulled away.

“What,” Bela teased, as her cheeks turned pink. “You think I can’t handle more than a couple glasses of wine?”

Before he could respond, a perky blue-haired woman arrived back with the two glasses of wine in hand. “Here you go!” She gently placed them before the pair. As Victor reached for his wallet, Emily gently shook her head, “This one’s on the house.”

She turned to face Bela, her blue eyes glowing with kindness. “Hello, Bela, I’m Emily!” Ooh, she has a nice aura. I'm sure we'll be good friends.

Bela smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“Well, if it isn’t the new farmer,” came a sultry voice from the right of the bar. A beautiful woman slid onto the barstool next to Bela, while Emily placed a glass of wine in front of her.

“Yeah, I’m Bela,” Bela responded, still taking in the woman’s striking appearance. Her face was like a porcelain doll’s, smooth and pale with only a single mole marking her otherwise unblemished skin. Something about her seems familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.

The woman extended her hand, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Shiko.”

Bela’s eyes widened in partial recognition. “Shiko? Shiko Takahashi?”

Shiko smiled back dryly. “Ah, so you have heard of me. Makes sense since I heard you’re from the city.”

“What's a model doing here?” Bela’s jaw dropped.

“ Former model,” Shiko flipped her dark locks over her shoulder carelessly. “I decided to retire and live the simple life.” She smiled at Bela, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Kind of like you, huh?”

Bela returned the smile. “Something like that.”

Victor raised his glass, taking a careful sip before looking over at Bela. “Well, it’s always a pleasure seeing you, Shiko. If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce Bela to some of my friends.”

The pair got up from their stools, heading over to what appeared to be a game room. Two old school arcade games greeted them at the entrance, where the angsty, purple haired teen was violently shaking the joysticks and shooting out creative combos of curse words.

“Obviously, you’ve already met Abigail.”

The girl shot a dirty look at Bela. “Victor, you done showing the new girl around? I need your help. I can’t get past this damn level.”

Victor rolled his eyes. “I was just bringing BELA over to meet everyone.” Why does Abigail ALWAYS have to be so fucking rude?

Bela gave an awkward smile as Abigail turned her attention back to the game in front of her. What is this girl’s problem with me?

“Bela?” Suddenly, a messy-haired blonde was standing right in front of her, his eyes gleaming with recognition. “Yo, Sebby, it's really her!” His arms quickly enveloped Bela into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground. It took everything in her to not spill any wine as the young man gently rocked her.

When he finally put her down, Bela was overcome with memories of her young self playing at the beach with a pair of blonde and black-haired boys. “Sam?”

His green eyes glowed with happiness. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been, what, like ten years?” He looked over to the pool table where the raven-haired fellow was still poised with a billiards stick. “Fuck the game, Seb, come over here, it’s our Bela!”

Sebastian flinched when Sam said “our Bela”. Abigail’s head whipped over, shooting a venomous glare at Bela. “What do you mean, ‘our Bela’? I thought she just got here.”

Sam shook his head. “Don’t you remember? Bela used to visit every summer when we were kids.” Suddenly, Sam burst out into laughter.

Abigail’s eyes narrowed defensively, “What’s so funny?”

“Of course you don’t remember,” Sam managed to choke out. “You were too busy being besties with Haley.”

Even Sebastian let out a small laugh as Abigail’s pale face turned beet red. “Whatever, that was a long time ago.”

“Well,” Victor smiled, breaking the awkward tension that was beginning to form. “I hadn’t realized that you already knew each other.”

“Oh, yeah,” Sam smirked mischievously. “Bela and Seb knew each other REALLY well.”

Both Bela and Sebastian flushed red, ears burning hot. Abigail looked over in curiosity, annoyance written all over her face. What the fuck does that mean?

Victor raised an eyebrow quizzically, glancing between the two. “Really?”

“Sam,” Sebastian rolled his eyes, the red refusing to leave his face. “Why do you have to be such an ass?” I bet she doesn't even remember.

Bela looked over at Victor sheepishly. “It was just a middle school fling. We were kids.” I doubt Seb even remembers.

Victor burst out into laughter, while Bela and Sebastian bore similar mortified expressions. Sam joined Victor in laughter, with Abigail continuing to shoot death glares at Bela.

"So," Bela said in an attempt to break the awkwardness. "How've you been, Seb?" Yoba, I don't know what to say to him.

Sebastian avoided Bela's gaze, preferring to maintain eye contact with the wooden floors. "Oh, you know, nothing's new." Dammit Sam! Why'd you have to bring THAT up?

"Seems like there's been quite a few changes since I've been here."

"Yeah," Sebastian nodded, stealing a glance at her. "But, most things are still the same." Like how much I've missed you.

[staliasjeronica]

Riverdale S5 Ep11 Thoughts *Spoilers*

thoughts under cut to keep tag from being cluttered :)

- Oh yeah I forgot that Chad was blackmailing Veronica about the dirty dealings in her company even though it’s not her at all (unless it’s just been so long and I’ve forgotten but she’s my baby and I feel like I would’ve remembered but-

- Hiram and this dumb prison is one of the worst things for this show it’s a constant plot of people escaping and it’s so annoying like sure Hiram owns it and he was in the jail but no one has, like, taken him back to jail…??? Hiram is a fucking disease smh

- “back to remote learning” why didn’t you just stay that way though… like even right now in covid schools are opening back up and kids are complaining because it’s still not safe so like… just… go back to it??? I’m so not built for this world fasdhfkahf

- Veronica and Smithers 🥺🥺💞💞

- the way Veronica hugs Archie is so cute bc she’s so tiny but like she always gives her all and Archie is just 😐 never giving anything ahjfsdfsh it’s quite sad you can tell how done KJ is with Varchie lol

- “I really hate that I’m dragging you through this.” … what about constantly pulling him into your mob boss father mess that the writers refuse to allow you to escape from?

- “until you and Chad are officially done, I think we should keep our distance.” Varchie bones!!! you just KNOW that Archie has been looking forward to this because that man is whole heartedly in love with Betty and has been since forever and that while Chad prolongs the divorce papers, Archie will not be waiting for Veronica considering he doesn’t want her. Varchie = bones we love to see it!

- now who tf would join Penelope Blossom’s ministry… no one, realistically.

- can Cheryl stop being given the craziest and usually most boring plots ever please...

- Not someone holding a gun to Tabitha literally don’t hurt Riverdale’s best girl weirdo

- these bitches really haven’t aged huh…. poor Veronica though being robbed but like they stole some watches or something and the opal like that’s all you take..?? okay-

- Fangs 💞💞💞💞💞 also rip to him having to work with his ex tho

- STOP HAVING ARCHIE GO TO HIRAM WE’RE TIRED

- You know considering the whole reason why Hiram is still here as the villain and ruining Veronica’s life/growth to keep her in his plots al because Mark is a big soap opera celeb and apparently brings in money, you’d assume they would give him GOOD shit instead of everything he’s gotten. If they hadn’t of hired Mark can you imagine how much better off the show would be if they didn’t have to keep him around bc of his status????? God why-

- Reggie’s always there for Veronica muah…. oh fuck me I guess fjasjkdf

- “I work for one Lodge and it’s not you.” lmao okay??? you acting like that’s a flex, and that you’re working for the better Lodge who literally left you to die after the Serpents thought you shot Fangs so-

- MARTY BEING WHY REGGIE IS WORKING FOR HIRAM…….. YOUR DAD IS ABUSIVE LET HIM HANDLE HIS OWN DEBT??? God both Veronica and Reggie are always fucked over when it comes to their parents huh

- don’t you just love when they make characters act ooc for a plot ahhhhhh it’s totally fun to watch and totally not frustratingly annoying

- “FOR OLD TIMES SAKE.” 💞💞💞 we love Veggie even though they made Veronica act ooc and hurt him back then and they weren’t given an actual chance.

- “don’t be such a Betty” now why is Betty so surprised she only ever had fun when she was with Archie, when she’s with Jughead all she did was do what she wanted and order him around so likeefjhakdfh

- “he shouldn’t really be my problem anymore.” BUGHEAD BONES YASSSSS

- I know it was just a sound they used but like that squish sound when Darla kicked Tom’s face… did she like smash his face in damn what is this The Walking Dead?

- see the problem with them randomly bringing characters/parents in when they need them is that they’re never around so like no one really cares… like they could have utilized the parents so much (and Skeet and Marisol never would have left) and it would have been so much better than random appearances that make them look incompetent and awful parents because they’re never there during all the other times their kids need them. but we have to see the two toxic parents that won’t go away constantly??? literally what the fuck

- Betty calling Jughead’s writing cringey wbk she’s never liked his writing she was just stroking his ego bc she was his gf and had to be supportive lmaoo

- why are these 60+ year old men beating up Jughead like for why???

- so they just forgot that Tom was checking in on the convict huh gotta love dumbing down characters for plot!

- Fangs with his switchblade muah

- jealous Tabitha muahhh over a password

- “wait THE BETTY?"

- Cheryl looks so good

- Find meaning in his death… girl didn’t you not care that your husband killed your son over the illegal maple stuff I forgot the plot but it was something illegal and dumb

- “drain the vein” …...

- Reggie helping muah

- Why is Archie acting like an ass? like sure he doesn’t know that Chad is abusive and toxic but c’mon fucker you cheated on her and never apologized and you don’t even wanna be with her in the first place so why are you acting like you’re personally hurt sit down

- God Archie really hates Veronica huh… I don’t even blame him considering the shit she’s brought him into time and time again.

- Jughead was kicked like maybe five times yet he was fine falling out of a two story window and the serpent imitation but now he needs antibiotics..? plot convenience!

- literally don’t remember anything about Doc tbh or him talking to Donna and Bret like—

- ever since Negan people are obsessed with bats with barbed wire.

- also! yes please kill Hiram <3 I know they end up saving him bc of the opal but c'mon

- they searched basically nothing for five seconds wow such great detective work you guys!

- we know you just want his manuscript Jessica

- Cheryl with her rainbow skirt how cute!

- “daddykins” girl you’re like 25

- Veronica acting like she cares about Hiram fjsadhkfhas these guys thinking that they’d kill Hiram even though they need him lol

- bad bitch Ronnie we love her even though she’s gonna have to save her father to save others and get her opal </3

- not Veronica calling Archie first and not Kevin considering Kevin’s dad is there…. this is the pandering va fan service bs we have bc it makes no sense and it’s so forced

- Fangs knowing Archie rides with tools in his truck mmhm that’s a little sus idk how but archiefangs agenda coming through!

- no one would actually believe that Jessica ashkjdfsj and they take this bait…??? you gotta be joking lmao

- Jug got to help doc this time 🥺😭

- …. tell me why when he said boyfriend I immediately thought of Reggie I hate myself for wishing fahsdjkfsafj

- okay as cheesy and corny and awful the fight scene is since they posted a clip of it, them working together is so refreshing and nice we love leader!Veronica bc she’s so good at it. but the show only cares for Betty which is funny since she’s an awful detective fbahsdjfj

- my god enough with Jason’s body!!!!!!!!! you burned his body please let him stay dead let his body rest

- okay but the back and forth from Betty and Jessica is so good like I wish we could get that kind of rivalry drama type stuff all the time. too bad they refuse to let Veronica act like a normal person and get angry at being cheated on and such :/ when will Veronica slap the fuck out of Betty

- he’s not a blameless victim but Betty take responsibility for how awful a person you are PLEASE

- THE VOICEMAILLLLLLL Jughead only speaks the truth! it’s weird that he only realized what we all knew about Betty after but whatever, finally he gets upset like damn. also jeronica crumb he’s the only one to ever include Veronica smh ALSO Cole acted the fuck outta this voice mail muah

- the way Betty just sits there uncaring… she really is a freak huh god when will someone punch her in the face and take her ego down a million notches she’s so annoying

- “that’s darkness.” …?? what?

- the way bh’s relationship parallels jughead’s with Jessica though. the unhealthy habits, the bad energy, etc. except Jessica left it and Betty didn’t and it turned Betty into whatever the fuck this is. I miss s1 Betty :/

- so when will they sue Jessica for drugging them? mmhm probably never

- poor Tabitha being the only one who cares about jughead tho

- oh no I forgot there was a random musical number…

- you’re gonna have Betty and Tabitha act like THAT and not put them together so rude

- when will Cheryl be free from her mom. is was like turned on by abuse or something sigh why do the toxic (and most boring!) parents get plots and screen time and everyone else doesn’t...

- Veronica would be able to do Moree than pepper spray but whatever only Betty is allowed be “badass"

- fangs being fangs ugh so sexy my babyyyyy

- Trevor Stines is so attractive it’s a shame they only bring him back for five seconds to traumatize Cheryl over and over again though </3

- wow varchie in a pop’s booth what season is this again??

- god it’s so upsetting how amazing varchie would have been as just friends…

- the way he smiled at Veronica was so contradicting to the blank, “please don’t” expression when she was telling him she was gonna get divorced as fast as possible. why can’t he just admit he doesn’t want to be with her!!!!!! my god they’ve put off barchie long enough just let them be together so their characters can finally act in character and stop being so awful and annoying

- “this cause” what cause you fucking weirdo

- not Hiram threatening the mayor he could literally be your downfall if we had good writers fjasdkjfasf

- jughead how would you have killed him with a small wooden basket

- I like doc so much but I know we’ll never see him again until we randomly need him seasons from noow

- Betty wasn’t hit by the drugs until after the message though… how would she not remember? it didn’t seem to be doing anything to Betty until the bunker

- hopefully since they’re friends now Tabitha can make Betty act like a decent human being <3

- the way Tabitha looked at Betty please stop doing this to me...

- maybe we can finish that dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jabitha rising bughead dying we love to see it!

wow that episode felt like it was two hours long but thankfully I finally finished it… don’t have many actual thoughts but anyways hope you enjoyed my live blog of my thoughts!

[rosevanhelsing]

Wendigo

Ch. 2

Vic telephoned Maggie at intervals throughout the next day and kept an eye on her cell phone, but Maggie didn't answer. Vic was desperate and called Tabitha, luckily Vic and Maggie had kept in touch with her.

- Tabitha, I'm Vic, Vic Mcqueen

"Hi Vic," Tabitha said with a strange voice.

-The day before yesterday Maggie called me, she seemed very scared. She said we were in danger.

"Well, she's gone ..." Tabiha's voice broke into a sob.

-Tabitha, what the hell happened? Where is Maggie? What has happened to him?

- They have killed her, Vic. In a horrible way…. They have ripped out his heart. I'm sure he was that son of a bitch Charlie Manx ...

- I don't think so, Tabitha. Charlie left us alone. Listen, I'll send you the last video she sent me. We have to talk when  you can. I will come.

- No, I don't want you to see her like that ...

- Fuck you, Tabitha. She was my best friend, like a sister and she helped me a lot. It's the minimum, plus I'll pay for her funeral.

When she hung up the phone, Vic broke down and wept bitterly. She had stoically endured the call, but at that moment she couldn't take it anymore. Lou hugged her and let her cry whatever it took, Vic went to bed crying and fell asleep. When Wayne called from the camp, Lou told him that Maggie had been killed by someone, he knew Wayne would guess if he spoke to Vic and Wayne was direct.

- Was it Mr. Manx?

- Your mother thinks not. Plus Aunt Maggie called us saying she was in danger from someone called the Wendigo.

- Give mom a kiss and tell her to say goodbye to her for me.- He said with a sad tone.

- I will,  champ. Don't worry and enjoy the camp. I love you Batboy.

After a while, Vic woke up screaming. She had had visions, that had not happened to him since he had sensed that Manx was close, but the visions had nothing to do with Charlie or Christmasland but with someone tall and corpulent, who wore animal skin on his shoulders and a kind of deer skull with horns on his head and with people gutted and whose hearts had been ripped

Thousands of miles away, Charlie awoke with a start. He had had the same visions as Vic, and he knew from experience that having visions did not bode well, especially if you saw people, with the same gift as yours, gutted and heartless.

The next day, Vic caught a plane and went to Maggie's funeral, Vic and Tabitha spoke after the funeral:

- I've been investigating - Tabitha said, showing him a folder with photos of other cases- Apparently this type of modus operandi has been going on for some time, but it's very spaced out. Apart from Maggie, this was more recent. Tabitha showed him a photo of John Becker The Hourglass Man, he was also found dead.

"My God, is this the guy Maggie caught?" The one who ran me over and manipulated a doctor to kill me?

"Yes. But there are several more." Tabitha showed her more photos.

- Oh my God. There are children… I think I already know what they have in common. At least Maggie and John. They were just like me. Supercreatives.

-Do you think he's a serial killer of supercreatives?

- Yes I think so.

- You're not going to go after him, are you?

 Vic didn't say anything. Tabitha told her

- I'll be right back. Do not move from here.

Vic opened the folder and began taking photos with her cell phone  to the archives. Tabitha came back and put the folder away.

- Vic, don't do anything stupid. I would not like you to be part of this collection of corpses. And even if Maggie's tiles  were right, which I have no doubt, don't go ask Manx for help. If you meet him again, he will possibly kill you.

- I know. Keep calm. Goodbye Tabitha.

Vic went to a motel and called Lou

- Hello…

- How was the funeral?

Vic told him about it and said:

- I think this Wendigo is a serial killer of super creative

- Shit…

- I want to finish him, Lou. For Maggie, and for the innocent murdered ...

- What innocents?

- Lou, that guy has killed children, he has ripped their hearts out ...

- Holy God….

-I have to find Charlie Manx ... he's the only one who can help me ...

-Vic… he will kill you if he can. He hates you to death. It’s foolish

- Lou, how many superheroes have had to ally with villains against another worse villain?

- Many. But I do not know…

- Goodbye. I will call you back

Vic drove out of the motel into the parking lot and got into his special Triumph. It was time to search again.  It was time to go back to find the Wraith. It was time to meet Charlie Manx again

[steal-yourdadsgender]

Don’t Change, Not Yet

Pairing: Betty Cooper/Jughead Jones

Synopsis: "The calls kept happening again, and again. But the first call was the only time she heard his voice. She usually got a call from him only once a month. They never tried to say anything, tried to make up for anything. Jughead would call when the moon had been up for at least a solid hour, and Betty would answer. She would always answer. Then they would sit, thousands of miles away, yet together."

or- during the time jump, Jughead and Betty call one another until there fateful reunion in Riverdale.

It had been seven years since they had last seen each other. So much had changed. Jughead was a published author, and his beanie was long forgotten. Betty was an FBI agent and no longer wore her hair up in her signature ponytail. It now hung low by her hips. It was longer than Jughead had remembered it.

Jughead saw Betty first. He had gotten off his bus and walked the remainder of the way to town. As Archie had said on the phone, the town was one large dumpster fire. Jughead would be surprised if there was even anything salvageable in this big heap of nothing. But the one thing that managed to stay the same was Pop’s. That was where he saw her. She seemed to be the first one there of the people that Archie called. Jughead distantly wondered if Archie called her first.

She was talking to Pop Tate and she was as gorgeous as ever. In fact, seven years did her unexplainable favors. Even at 25 now, she seemed to radiate a youthful glow that should have been distinguished many years before.

He was walking up the parking lot and couldn’t seem to move his eyes from what he could see of her. But he knew in the back of his head, no matter how much he reached for her, he could never have her. She was always just out of reach. And he didn’t even know if she was reaching for him either.

When he opened the door and the familiar bell rung, that’s when she saw him. She turned, her hair swinging with her body, and her eyes sat on his. He expected something to happen. Like how they describe it in the books. The fireworks or the electricity. But all her saw were her eyes. Even when everything else had changed around them, her eyes stayed the same. The same warm, inviting eyes that he fell in love with ten years ago.

Betty didn’t expect to see Jughead when she turned at the sound of the bell. But there he was. He looked so different, yet exactly the same. His beanie was nowhere in sight and he had light stubble growing just above his lips. Betty feels an involuntary sigh escape her body at the sight. It was still Jughead. He may have different style clothing, and be a published author now, but she also saw the stiff, awkward shoulders and the guarded eyes. She used to see it every time they went out somewhere together. Social anxiety.

“Betty. Hi” he mutters and she nods. Not Betts, or Juliet anymore. Just Betty. She couldn’t say she blamed him. The last time she had even heard his voice was six years ago. It was a year after they had all departed Riverdale and late into the night. She was studying when she got the call.

Assuming something bad had happened, Betty picked up the phone. But all she got on the other end was a drunk Jughead. He rambled to her about god knows what. Betty wasn’t even sure he knew he was talking to her until he said her name. “Betty?”. His voice sounded so broken when so said it, yet so full of hope. Like one large, thousand-piece puzzle. He was shattered, but there was the hope of being put back together again. Only to be broken once again and shoved away to collect dust. It had hurt her to hear him like that.

But she responded. She had said, “Yes, Jug?”. She whispered it, as if scared to loud of a noise would scare him away.

“I love you”.

That was all he said. After he uttered those three forbidden words, the line was silent for a deafening two minutes. Betty didn’t dare hang up the phone, dangling on that last thread of hope that he would say something else. Anything at all.

But he didn’t. The line stayed quiet for two hours before she fell asleep. Even though not a word or noise was heard, Betty knew he was there. Even drunk, Jughead had sat by his phone, listening to her faint breathing, knowing she was there too.

The calls kept happening again, and again. But the first call was the only time she heard his voice. She usually got a call from him only once a month. They never tried to say anything, tried to make up for anything. Jughead would call when the moon had been up for at least a solid hour, and Betty would answer. She would always answer. Then they would sit, thousands of miles away, yet together.

It wasn’t as tensed as the first time, as the numbers of calls slowly grew. Betty would occasionally pick up a book, or she would listen to the soft clicking of Jughead’s typewriter as he wrote. Betty distantly wondered if that was the typewriter that she gifted to him that he was writing with. Jughead would work on his book, knowing his inspiration was so far away from him, yet right there as well. When the time grew on the line, Jughead would occasionally hear Betty humming to herself. It was a beautiful sound, one that would have small colorful birds singing back in some invisible fairy tale land.

There was a soft calm between them during these calls. And yet, even though they didn’t speak a single word into their phones, they would count down the minutes that they could call again, and miss each other when the phone hung up.

Neither directly hung up on one another. Sometimes, Jughead would stay awake longer than Betty and hear the soft sighs of her sleep. Or when Betty stayed awake longer, she could hear Jughead’s incoherent mumbling on the other end. But she could never make out any words. When the calls ended, it was usually because a phone was dead in the morning.

This routine lasted for five years. It started one year after they all left, and ended suddenly one year before they all returned to Riverdale.

Betty never received a reason for the sudden ghosting, if that’s something she could even call whatever’s been going on between her and Jughead, and she felt no need to ask. Maybe it was better that way, she thought, having no idea that was what Jughead had thought to himself before she stopped calling.

Now, here they are. Standing before one another once again, feeling more connected than they should.

“Hey, Jughead”.

Neither one makes any move to say anything else, or more any closer. They simply studied one another.

Finally, it’s Jughead who breaks the silence. He nervously clears his throat and narrow his eyes. “Archie call you?”, he asks. He doesn’t break eye contact with her once as he spoke, and she doesn’t attempt to either.

“Yeah, this was the first time I’ve heard from him since he left for the army” she agrees, and shoves her hands in her pocket nervously.

Jughead felt a small, guilty amount of pride at that. That’s he’s heard from her more than Archie. That maybe, just maybe, she still loved him just as much as he loved her.

Six years ago, may have been the last time betty has heard Jughead’s voice, but it wasn’t the last time Jughead heard Betty’s. About three years into their calls, he heard her voice once again. He was asleep and woke up. It had been late into the night, maybe two in the morning. She must have assumed he was still asleep, because she was talking very fast and very much to him.

“… and I’ve been lying to my therapist, and everyone about it. My own mom doesn’t even know. Does that make me a bad person? Not telling my mother about something like this?” she clearly didn’t expect an answer, as that was the only logical reasoning for why she was talking at all.

Jughead now wished he had answered her. Or said something, anything. He had learnt what she meant a month later in the news. The Trash Bag Killer. From what he read, the guy had her for a few weeks at most. At some point, he had to just stop reading.

Even with the minimal makeup Betty wore now, he could see the bags hidden under her eyes. She could hide anything from anyone, but not from him.

“Me too. It’s been radio silence from everyone. Except, well…” he says. Betty answers quick and sharp, “Yeah, I know”. Her tone clearly conveyed she didn’t want to talk about it. Which was fine with him, because he wasn’t exactly in a Chatty Cathy mood about that particular subject.

“What about Veronica, you heard from her?” Jughead asks, and Betty shakes her head. Unsure of himself, he moves around and pulls himself into a booth. “Can I get you anything?” the waitress, her name tag read Tabitha, asked. Jughead could swear that name sounded familiar.

“No, I’m good. Thanks” Jughead mutters as Betty sits beside him.

“No burger anymore, Jones?” Betty asks and he rolls his eyes. “Things change” he whispers simply.

“Yeah, I know” she replies, copying his simple tone. It frustrated him and he didn’t know why. They both equally gave up one each other. Yet there was a nagging feeling in the back of his head asking one question. If they gave up, then why keep calling? Why keep answering?

When night fell and they all went their separate ways, Betty didn’t expect the call from Jughead. After all, they had just seen one another again. It would make no sense for him to call her. Yet, as Betty was dusting off a cup from the kitchen cabinet, her phone rang.

And, without hesitation, she picked it up.

They supposed, the entire world could change, but they wouldn’t.

The End

ao3

[justimagaine]

Michael B. Jordan

I want to tell her that I can't pull her down. I want to tell her that she has to let go of my hand in order to swim. I want to tell her that she must live her own life. But I sense she already knows that these options are open to her. And that she, too, has made her choice. — Tabitha Suzuma

Living a life where you have trouble knowing if the people that come up to you, act nice and smile while looking in your eyes are really being nice or they want something from you. Not being able to know if people like you for you or for what you were doing. Michael had a lot of friends in his life, but those were the friends he had since he was a kid or the friends he made while working. He never randomly met a person at a store, or a party, someone who he could become friends with. So when Michael met you he did his best at first to not get too close to you, but that was impossible. Michael found himself wanting to tell you stories about his life, every time something good or bad happened you were the one person he wanted to tell it to. He trusted you with his life. Some of his friends were surprised to see Michael acting like that, trusting you the way he did.

It didn’t take too long for both, you and Michael to realize that you’ve become more then friends. At first Michael and you would hug each other longer, kisses on cheeks. Soon you’d be staying at each others places. Michael would stay at your place a lot, he loved it there. He felt safe there,  Michael would hid away from paparazzi and fame in general. Sometimes he’d stay more then one night and you loved it, him being there made you feel safe and just happy. Some times you’d see Michael relax just by you giving him a hug hello. When you realized you had feelings for Michael, it was scary at first because you thought he’d never want to be with someone like you. There was a thought in your mind that Michael would only date famous people, but he proved you wrong.

The change from being just friends friends to a being a couple happened at The Golden Globes. Michael had asked you to be his date to the event. You told him you’d go with him only if you didn’t have to walk the carpet. You didn’t want to be in front of so many cameras, you weren’t comfortable with that and he knew it so he didn’t force you to do it, Michael just wanted you to be there with him. He set up everything, he got people to help you find the right dress, then the day of the event he got people to do you make up and hair. He did everything so you’d be comfortable. When he came to pick you up and you walked down the apartment building stairs towards him, Michael smiled big, shook his said and said wow under his breath then when you were in front of him, Michael told you how beautiful you were. Michael always made you feel beautiful eve when you hated how you looked. that night you felt good about yourself but he made you feel even more beautiful. All evening Michael was by your side, he’d have his hand on your waist. He’d whisper to you funny things to help you relax since you weren’t used to situations like that. At the end of the night Michael and you were alone on a balcony at the after party. It felt as if it was a date, the way you two would look at each other the slight awkwardness when he’d hold your hand from time to time. Standing in the dim lights of the balcony Michael couldn’t believe how beautiful you were, how lucky he was to have you in his life, to have you with him that evening. Michael usually was good with his words when trying to talk to girls, when he tried yo impress them but when it came to you and that night he was stumbling over his words. Fearing to say something that would drive you away from him and he didn't want that, but he also didn’t want to hold his feelings in anymore, so he told you how he felt. Michael told you that when he was with you he felt safe and at home. He told you that when you smiled he felt that no matter what was going on he’d be okay because he had you,  Michael told you he’d do that life wasn’t worth living if you weren’t in it.

After his amazing speech you didn’t say anything, but you kissed him. You kissed him with all the passion you had for him because you loved the man. the man that made you feel worth something, the man that made you feel beautiful and wanted. After that night you and Michael were even closer then before. Michael was smiling even brighter, laughed louder. he was so damn happy. People around him noticed that too and loved it. People would say that you were the one, the one he’d marry, the one he’d spend his life with, have kids with. Having you by his side inspired Michael to take on new roles that he’d usually be afraid to take. You were his inspiration.

Life was so damn perfect, but that’s never true. Even though his friends and family loved you, sometimes even more then they loved Michael. There were people who weren’t so happy about your relationship. That person was you own father. It didn’t matter to him what you said. You’d tell him how happy Michael made you, how he treated you like a lady. Michael respected you and your dad had seen it himself but still he didn’t like him. It seemed he hated him and that made you angry. Michael always called him sir, always made sure to be polite, keep is hand off you knowing your dad didn’t like to see you two touching. Even when you told Michael he didn’t have to do that, he still kept a distance hoping that would help in getting you father to like him, but no matter what he did nothing worked. Not even tickets to your dad favorite teams games, or how Michael would stay up late to watch your dad favorite movies so he could reference them in hopes that would help, but nothing worked, It was killing you to see how hard Michael tried but yet your dad was horrible to him. 

So when your family reunion was coming up you told Michael he didn’t have to go, but he said he was going. Every one else in your family wanted to see him and loved him. Michael knew how important family was to you, so he wasn’t going to back down or run away just because your dad hated him. When arriving at the reunion you were a nervous wreck.

“it’s gonna be okay” Michael told you taking your hand and kissing it. You should be doing that to him, but he seemed calm. Like always your family, except your father, welcomed Michael with hugs and kisses. He had made good friends with someone your cousins and soon he was in a football game with them while you helped with the cooking. 

You smiled watching him, Michael was happy and free. No one in your family treated him differently just because he  was famous, no one cared about that. 

“Jackass” you heard a low grunt behind you, like always it was you dad. when looking back you saw he was looking at the field and clearly at Michael.

“Dad” you called out, making your mom sigh in sadness. She as just as upset about your father. 

“What? He is” you shook your head and tried to push down your anger, trying to remained yourself that he was your dad and you loved him, even though it was hard to love him when he was acting like this. being a horrible persona and a bad dad for not being happy for his own daughters happiness “trying to show off. Yeah we get it your famous, you got some one like Tom Brady to teach you how to catch a ball, big deal ” he mumbled turning the meat on the grill. You looked at your mom who gave you a look filled with sorrys. 

“Hun, that’s not nice” you mom said, making you roll your eyes. She did her best but that the extent, and it didn’t stop him. 

“It’s true. The guy pays for everything to be done for him. He probably hasn’t cooked a dish for himself in years. I wouldn’t be surprised is he was  paying someone to clean his ass.” he went on and on insulting  Michael and you just broke. Her was digging in your heart when he was saying horrible tings about the man you loved, he 

“Shut up, for God fucking sake shut the fuck up” you yelled at the top of your lungs “how dare you talk about him like that. You haven’t even given him a chance to show you how amazing he because very time he says sometime you shoot him down. He’s done so many amazing things for you and you’ve never said a simple thank you. That’s fucked up” anger was slowly boiling in your body but before you could finish saying all the thing you been holding in your father started to yell at you 

“HOW DARE YOU?!” he was yelling at the top of his longs. “I’m your father. You do NOT speak to me in that way” he was closing in and you were fearing for your life. You had never yelled at him never raised your voice. Slowly you were stepping back until you hit someones chest with a quick look you saw it was Michael  and he was pissed. He placed a hand on your side 

“You okay baby?” he ask, looking in your eyes, when looking at you he was softer but when you dad spoke up he got angry

“Back way Hollywood. This has nothing to do with you” you dad yelled at Michael

“I’m not talking to you” Michael told your dad not looking away from you, he was till waiting to see if you were okay. With a small nod he relaxed and then turned to your dad. Michael gently pushed you towards your mom and faced your dad. He was filled with rage, he stared at your dad

“You gonna hit me Hollywood” you dad mocked him, all you did was hope Michael  wouldn’t do it and he didn’t

“I’m standing up for the women i love, but I’m not gonna hit you because I’m not that kind of a person. You know what? ”  Michael let out a slight chuckle “you can hate me all you want. You can hit ME if you want. I don’t give a fuck.” he got serous again. Feeling the anger build up in him as he saw the fear filled looking your eyes came back to his mind “if you want beat eat the shit out of me go for it, but don’t you FUCKING dare yell at her, just because (Y/N) stood up for me. She’s tried to get us to be friends or at least two people that could be in the same room without insults. Insults that you say even though I’ve done nothing wrong.” he was moving closer to your father with every word “I love your daughter and I’ll always love her even if you don’t like it. Not only do I love her but I respect the hell out of her. I trust her with my life,” you watched as your dad just listened, for the first time he wasn’t saying anything to Michael , he was listening with pure shock “i’d give my own life up for her. I’d give up everything in my life as long as I had her by my side. So when I see someone yelling at her for no reason, someone being mean to her even if it is her own father I get mad. I get so fucking pissed because someone upsets the love of my life, no one treats her like that. No one” Michael said poking your dad with every word “I don’t care if you don’t like me. i don’t care if you hate me for rest of our lives. Because i’ll be here, I will marry your daughter one day because I love her and I can’t imagine my life without her. I’ll always be there for her and protect her even if it is from her own dad. So STOP” he yelled out and took a pause “yelling at her for being a good person and trying bring peace in this family” they looked at each other for few seconds,  Michael then turned around and went up to you to make sure you really were okay.

Right before you were about to give him a kiss for being so amazing and protective your dad walked up behind Michael, there were so many different scenarios that came to your mind, but none of them were what actually happened. You dad tapped  Michael on the shoulder, he slowly turned around and by the look on his face and how he pushed you away, he was ready to punched by your father,

“No one” you dad started when Michael turned around “has ever talked to me that way” you could tell your whole family were holding their breaths “ no one has ever talked about my daughter that way and no on has ever stood up for her like that” everyone were confused , People couldn't ’understand if he was going to hit Michael or not. You watched as your fathers face relaxed, “I’m sorry  Michael” he said extending his hand for a handshake. For a moment everyone held their breaths seeing what would happen next because no one ever expected for you father to sat he’s sorry, he never did, even when he clearly was in the wrong. Michael shook his hand and that was it. You dad loved Michael, he respected Michael. He trusted him to be with you. 

Michael never let you down, he was always there for you, even when he said he couldn’t he show up as a surprise. Michael didn’t want to miss anything important . There was no doubt that you two loved each other more then you loved yourself, but you the love you shared filed all those insecure whole you had. That was love, being there for each other even if you thought you didn’t deserve each other,  Michael  never gave up and you never gave up in him. When  you father accepted Michael  those two started to go to games together and had the best time. Everyone knew what the future had in store for you both and it was beautiful. 

[saundraswriting]

Hercules Chapter Four

SUMMARY:Spencer takes more responsibility for the case, trying to translate all the pig Latin. Morgan takes care of Reid. And JJ? well she finds out some interesting information.

WARNINGS: None

Previous // Next

Morgan, Gideon Hotch and JJ sat at a table, silent. The food had come and gone. Spencer eating only half and saving the rest. Morgan knew it was a result of too much caffeine-a depressed appetite. Reid having discovered the code to be Pig Latin knew translating by himself was quicker and easier than trying to have a computer translate or Garcia build a program to try.

I can ask him. He won't say no." JJ said.

"He won't say no to anyone. It's not just fair. He hasn't slept in two days." Morgan said.

"I am taking a break right now. And you all should learn to not talk within my earshot if you want to talk about me. I will assume RR numero uno was a bust. Which means the last option right now is me translating pig Latin to understand what these kids all had in common to get murdered.' Reid interjected. "So can I have the materials? and paper?" Reid grabbed his Nth coffee in three days.

Morgan and Hotch began moving things around, making it easier for Reid to dive into his task. He began flipping pages quickly with one hand and speaking into a voice recorder as he did so. The LEO's and BAU watched on in awed silence for a moment or two. Morgan could feel his lips pull down into a frown, noticing the pale color to his friend's face. 'Maybe, it's the lighting. Fluorescents wash everyone out.'

"Okay, lets build a timeline. We need to compare the big things here. The details will fall into placed as we go." Hotch ordered.

The began. The timeline stated who had been killed so far: Leonard was strangled. Ophelia was stabbed in the neck, the wound then cauterized. Tabitha was maimed by arrows and tied up. Everett was shot by poisoned arrows. Each person was found in a different part of Portland. Leonard was found by a school mascot statue, Ophelia was found in a swampy area. Tabitha was found in the woods. Everett was found at the base camp of a shut-down ski resort.

Just as they were finishing, an officer hurried in. "The just found another body. 17 year old male. Wallet says his name is Blaine Robinson. He was found by the office for Majestic Pastures. A business that stables horses for those of the monetary influence."

"Are you kidding me?" Morgan snarled.

Reid poked his head out from his cave. "Give me the coordinates for kill site, dump site, and his home. I will also need the place last seen." Reid retreated into his room to pace.

"Gideon, JJ go to the Robinson home. I and Morgan will go to the dump site." Hotchner directed everyone.

Reid paused in his pacing to stare at the map. He could feel it on the tip of his tongue. He knew he knew the answer but the more he stared at it and though about it, the farther away it got. He groaned in frustration and ran the equations again. The image seemed to be four off shoots of a central point. but the offshoots hit a 90 degree angle. Although with out more data, the central point would continue to be evasive. Spencer shook his head and return to the Pig Latin. Everett's letter were almost done, and then he could synthesize everything.

Twenty minutes later, Reid had finished translating, he was going through the recording to get key points to look into later.  He exited his cavern of solitude to breathe when a press conference from earlier came on TV.

"Look! The recluse has come out from his hiding spot. What great genius shall spew from his mouth now?" Thomas sneered. Spencer remembered him from earlier.

"Hello, Thomas. Interesting you compare me to a deadly spider. That means one of two things. Thing the first- you are scared of that which you do not understand, or fear; or thing the second-You destroy that which intimidates you. Neither answer puts you in a good light. Now, if you excuse me. I need a nap. Thank you." Reid sat in one of the empty desks and pillowed his head on his folded arms.

"You just gonna crash? On a desk? at a police station? Maybe you aren't so smart after all." Thomas' insult fell a little flat after the comments Reid made.

"I have slept in way worse places. The noise level here? Better than the silence of being in a cage, blindfolded and starving, hoping your team caught the clues in time before the scumbag you're hunting kills you." Reid said, almost dismissingly.

"Yeah? With as weird as you are, I bet all kinds of people want to lock you up and torture you. I bet your mom even locked you up for being so weird." Thomas's laughter was caught off by a tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw JJ with fire in her eyes. "Why, hello--" He was violently cut off by JJ's fist slamming into his face. He dropped like a rock.

"Asshole!" She muttered, shaking out her hand.

"JJ, that was very unnecessary. It will just egg him on, me needing a girl to fight my battles for me. Not that I don't appreciate it. Cause I do. Very much so." Spencer said as Gideon came over.

"Spence, he had no right to talk to you the way he did. and he certainly had no right bringing your mother into this. He is extremely lucky, I was here and not Morgan. He'd probably kill him." JJ was stilled visibly angry, blue eyes snapping dangerously.

"JJ. I agree, you shouldn't have done that but a bully is a bully." Gideon commented. Spencer groaned, frustration apparent.

"you guys act like I never had to face a bully before. Brains over brawn. He will just use this against me in further altercations. Eventually we would leave and he would be another jerk in a long line of jerks. Now, can we get back to the case? I have something on interest. And we may have the beginnings to a profile." Spencer stood up and swayed right then left before settling. "Are the others back yet? Cause I could do with a quick walk around the block."

"Go ahead. Just come back soon. They should be here any moment." JJ said. She rubbed her eyes as he left, they felt dry and gritty.

"Jennifer, Thank you. We couldn't do this without you. I hope we get another woman on the team. It isn't fair to you." Gideon said. JJ  nodded and left to deal with some stubborn journalists. "Definitely, cause no one could handle my job better than me." she tossed over her shoulder. Gideon smiled at her back.

Gideon stared at the timeline board they were putting together. 'What if his signature, is there isn't one? Obviously the initials are part of it, but what if it went deeper?'

"Hey, gang. we're back? Any progress? let's regroup and maybe we can give something to the press." Hotch and Morgan came in shaking out umbrellas in the entrance. "Hey, it's raining out." Morgan's remark was met with tense chuckles. The duo then noticed the unconscious officer on the floor. "Whoa! what happened here? where is JJ? or Reid for that matter?" Morgan was on edge, something happened-something physical-and he wasn't here to protect Spencer.

"He came out for a nap and then the asshole on the floor was making comments about him and his mom. So I punched him in the jaw. Spencer then left for a walk...in the rain apparently.' JJ said.

"Was it Thomas again? and you knocked him out? Good job." Morgan knew his praise fell short. He was more worried about his best friend. 'Maybe I should have stayed here. this never would have happened if I had stayed'

"Glass jaw, I guess?" JJ said shrugging. "Spence should be back anytime now. He said just around the block." Just then they heard a light commotion at the entrance behind them.

"Hey Morgan, Hotch. It's raining. Pretty hard. Anyone have some spare clothes until mine dry? My go-bag is at the hotel. Last time I underestimate Portland weather." Spencer stood there awkwardly hugging himself. He was drenched to the bone. His clothes sticking to his skin, hair laying thick on his head, water dripping from his face down his neck.

"Come on, Pretty Boy. Or should I call you 'drowned rat'? I have some sweats with me." Morgan grabbed his bag and riffled through it, upon finding the clothes he thrust them at Spencer. He only glanced at his friend-unable to handle his wet lashes or large rain washed brown eyes. Reid flashed a smile and hurried off to go change.

Spencer changed as fast has he could, silently thanking the person who had handed over a towel without question. With one look to the mirror above the sink-felt his heart stop. The concealer on his neck wasn't geared for pacific northwest rains or fabric rubbing on it while wet. It was patchy. Patchy enough to determine what his Soul-mark is. He couldn't breathe.

"Spence? You good?" JJ's voice came through the door.

"JJ! Get in here. Now!" Spencer hissed, panic clear in his voice.

"What's wrong!" JJ hurried into the restroom, paying no attention to the men's sign on the door.

"In my satchel, is some concealer. Can you get it? I don't care how." Spencer was pale and nervous. Opposite of the Spencer that had entered the restroom a few moments ago. He spoke fast and gestured erratically.

"Spence? What in the world do you need-" JJ cut herself off-seeing the swirly sun on the right side of his neck, standing out from his pale skin like a beacon. The same mark Derek Morgan wore with pride. "Doctor Spencer Reid! Why didn't you tell me? Or Penelope? Why are you hiding this?" JJ was furious. Her hands were shaking, her lips quivering. He was hiding his matching Soul-mark from Derek; the only one to ever totally accept Spencer quirks and all.

"I can't explain now. I will later when I have more time. I promise. Just, you can't tell anyone. Please, JJ, I need a little longer." Spencer plead. JJ huffed in anger.

"Fine. But I am still very angry at you. and disappointed. I thought you understood how important soulmates are. I'll go get your concealer." JJ talked off. She returned a ew minutes later with a grocery bag and his satchel. While Spencer reapplied his make-up, JJ stuffed his wet clothes in the plastic bag. Spencer combed his hair into a manageable mane. JJ looked at the young doctor who looked lost and adrift-because of the clothes a few sizes too big or her knowing his secret she didn't know.

"Let me help." She noticed he had tied the drawstring already. She took a hair-tie and tied the waistband off. 

"Thanks, Jen." Spencer walked out trying to hold on to what little dignity he still had. He looked like a boy wearing his dad's clothes.

Morgan looked and saw how his clothes absolutely swallowed the young genius. Morgan felt a strong urge of possessiveness at the sight of his shirt sitting not quite right on Reid's shoulders. Morgan shook himself, trying to bring his focus back on the case.

"Are we ready? Let's go over some new developments. Reid you seemed most eager earlier." Hotch gestured for him to begin." All the correspondence says variations of the same thing: Religious Revolution. The state the day, time, place, some minutes from the previous meeting and the tentative agenda for the next one. I translated everything. The first one to go and die was Leo. They discussed how the universe came about. How it wasn't the work of one God, but deities, and a mix of science and magic. This whole thing seemed to start about two months before Leo's death. That we know of." Spencer stood up. "The map-it has nothing to do with math or numbers or patterns. But based off data, the UnSub is at least in Portland. This is almost like a specific image. He has to be native to know all this locations." Spencer sat back down.

"We know from the timeline he dumps on Sundays, highly considered the day of rest in most religions. Sometimes he dumps Saturdays. He M.O. is the difference in murders. He is trying to achieve something, a mission or task in his fantasy. we have to be aware that he may not be the mind behind all this. He could be the follower. or the coerced, or multiple personality disorder, or schizophrenia, even an inability to cope." Gideon explained.

"So we have a profile?" JJ asked."

"We have a very basic profile. It isn't very complete because we don't have enough data. To make a profile we use evidence that is there and also not there, we use the behaviors of the victims to predict another. we may be right. we may be wrong. we believe thus far the UnSub is a male, 20-35 years of age. He will be charismatic, but solitary. He isn't into parties or large crowds. if you would gather a few people though he would definitely be the leader. He is disconnected with reality somehow. On the surfaced he is a functioning member of society. But below the surface is a list of jobs that he was let go from or quit before the 3 year mark. Most were trivial jobs, nothing to mentally intensive. He is intelligent but not very organized from a psychology aspect. He doesn't follow social cues very well, a conversation may start out being philosophical." Gideon informed the police and press.

"The lack of sexual abuse but extreme damage can help us eliminate family. it is hard for someone to be this violent to their family unless they are like a serial killer trying to kill the same person over and over again." Morgan finished.

"Okay, everyone. Thank you. Now go home, get some sleep." Chief Yates dismissed the bullpen. The uniforms didn't hesitate before scattering.

"I am going to check in with the journalist and then head to the hotel." JJ said. She waved at the others before heading over to the chattering crowd.

"We are off to the hotel now. Early to bed and early to rise and all that." Hotch and Gideon headed out the door

"Come on, Pretty Boy, let us go and get some sleep ourselves." Morgan clapped Spencer on the shoulder.

"No, I am good. I think I will stay here for the night and keep working on this. You go on. I will see you later." Reid shrugged off the contact. "Good night." Reid made to head into the room that had been deemed his. Morgan growled with anger.

"Not. Happening. I will drag your ass to the hotel if I have to." Morgan gathered their stuff by the door. He knew from experience that Reid responded better to demands then requests. In situations like these Reid would push himself to the limit and then push himself more. Any threats made would need to be made with intent to carry them out if needed. Morgan walked into Reid's room and grabbed him by the arms. Spencer froze for an instant and then thawed. Just as Morgan knew he would.

"Come on now. We are heading back to the hotel. We are going to shower, maybe eat and certainly sleep. Don't think I haven't noticed you neglecting yourself. It has been like three days at least." Morgan lead unresisting Spencer to the car and then the hotel.

"Spence. Take first shower, I'll do laundry. I know we are both running low." Morgan left to find the floor's laundry machine. Spencer hopped in the shower, using toiletries he brought but taking the complimentary bottles. When Morgan returned it was a clean, damp and still wearing his clothes Spencer Reid. Morgan felt the familiar surge of possessiveness from earlier. He couldn't help but admire the way his clothes seemed to dwarf Spencer, making him look small and protected. 'Is this a new kink of mine? Clothes sharing? Or is it a Spencer Reid thing? Since he is my best friend?' Spencer yawned and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand. Derek felt a hum of low-level arousal. 'Well, this is a new feeling. Must just be a Spencer Reid thing.'

Spencer got settled on his bed, using low lamp light to read a book. Derek followed his lead and settled down into bed, relaxing in moments, dropping off to a barely awake state in minutes. He could feel his body being manipulated and Reid talking to him but also felt himself losing awareness as well.

"Jeez, Derek. Learn to take better care of yourself. You'll catch a cold, staying on top of the blankets like that." Spencer murmured. Derek wanted to reply, with something like 'Thank you." or 'You know that isn't true.' but nothing came out a Derek succumbed to the heady embrace of sleep.

Spencer stood up and shook his head at his best friend. HE went and finished the laundry. he put it away for them both too, for it seemed that they would be here for a while. Spencer sat on his bed wanting to think over the case but his mind grew hazy, his mouth felt very dry and a headache was building behind his eyes.  'Fine, bed it is then.' That was the last thought Spencer had before tucking himself in and going to bed, falling asleep in seconds.

Previous // Next

*******************************************************************************************

Okay, chapter four is done! Things start moving pretty quickly from here.

[lovevalley45]

If you havent, I wish you would write a fic of Nate's mom finding out zari is pregnant

for one of the earliest drafts of my sp!au i actually did have a scene where dot found out b4 i had her find out off-screen in later versions of the fic

so i did have to pull this out of a draft from all the way back in goddamn july like,,,, i do forget how long i’ve been working on this au lol

That night, they headed to the Heywood residence. “Don’t worry, it’s just my mom. And I also made sure to remind her that you don’t eat pork,” Nate said as they walked up to the door.

“That’ll make one part of this dinner easy,” Zari muttered as he rang the doorbell.

Dot opened the door, smiling. “Nathaniel, I’m so glad you could make it,” she said, hugging Nate. 

She turned to Zari, who panicked when Dot’s eye’s flicked down to her stomach. However, if she noticed anything amiss, she didn’t mention it. “Zari, it’s nice to see you again. Come on in, dinner’s almost ready.”

The two of them followed her inside to the living room. The last time Zari had been here, the house was brimming with mourners, but now it was empty. Dot left the two of them alone as she finished up in the kitchen, giving them time to talk.

“What’s our story?” Nate asked, keeping his voice down. 

“I thought you were going to come up with one,” Zari replied, grabbing a cracker from the tray Dot had set out.

“I- I blanked,” he said. 

“Then we’ll just have to tell her the truth.”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“I know.”

Still, despite it being a bad idea, they didn’t have time to come up with anything better before they were sitting down to eat. Food was a good distraction from conversation, especially when it was delicious.

“So,” Dot asked as they were finishing up their meal. “What have you two been up to lately?”

“We’ve been looking for a new apartment,” Nate said, looking over at Zari. 

Guess it was time to drop the other shoe. “Yeah, we’ll need a bigger place in a few months.”

Dot smiled. “Oh?”

Under the table, Zari grabbed his hand as she said, “We’re going to have a baby.”

Dot’s smile turned into a grin. “Finally!”

“Mom, we’ve only been dating for six months,” Nate said.

“No, not like that. As much as I would have liked that you got married first-” he and Zari shared a quick look of dread before turning back towards Dot, “-I was waiting for you two to tell me since you walked in.”

“We wanted it to be a surprise?” Zari said, shrugging. 

“At first, I was confused, but then I realized - it must have been magic. What with all those magical creatures and such,” Dot said.

Both of them remembered Neron and realized that it made a great cover - even if Dot hadn’t been there, the existence of magical creatures wasn’t something you could quite avoid.

Besides, she wasn’t exactly wrong.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what happened,” Nate said. 

“Completely, yeah,” Zari added. 

“Damn Tabitha,” he said.

Zari raised her eyebrows at him, and he gave her a weak shrug. 

“Yeah. There was a witch, it was an accident.” She shook her head. “Unfortunate.”

“Not for me. I thought I’d never get grandkids,” Dot said, sighing. “Especially with Nathaniel’s condition, they said it’d be too dangerous for him to have kids.”

Nate squeezed her hand, and Zari let out an awkward laugh. “Good thing I’m the one having the baby then, right?” She cleared her throat. “The doctor said the baby’s due in early November.”

“We’re hoping it’s a Halloween baby,” he added.

“I’m not.” 

Dot just smiled at the two of them. “I think this calls for some celebratory dessert.” She got up. “I made blueberry cobbler.”

As she left, Nate and Zari turned to each other. “Well, that went better than expected,” he said.

“How surprised do you think she’s going to be when the baby looks nothing like you?”

“Pretty damn surprised.”

[gh0stlyfixation]

Godmother Part two

Requested: i!! May i request a Klaus x reader? I was thinking it could take place after he escaped marcel after the 5 years and when he comes back he falls in love with hopes godmother? She met haley while klaus was away and is a witch or werewolf you decide😁. She immediately bonded with hope and became close with haley and is super nice. He falls for her kind heart blah blah blah 😂 Maybe she even helps train hope and helps her bond with klaus idk you can mix it up Thanks so much love 💖💖💖 

Part one

When you were young you had five siblings. Tabitha, Roman, Elizabeth, Henry, and Julius. You were the second oldest in between Tabitha and Roman. Your family lived liked the Mikaelsons. Your father was like Mikael but he was much worse than Mikael.

As much as your father loved his two oldest girls, he was set on punishing anyone who crossed him or misbehaved. He was known to kill. He was known to beat. Even his own kids. You never witnessed any of it for yourself as you behaved and did anything told.

People would pay him to kill anyone they wanted. He was a powerful man. A warlock. You were the only child to inherit the power of a witch. Your siblings were more of a nonsense to him.

He chose you to perform spells. You believed the balance of nature shouldn't be tampered with, but your father had his own plans. Your father was using you. With his powers and yours, you two were unstoppable.

He wanted to be immortal and the only way was to kill his own. He chose the weakest one, Julius. The youngest and you're favorite.

Your father had him in chains against the wall and with a knife against your throat, you had no choice but to kill him, silently wish a terrible death on your father. Since that night you never saw him again until just recently, outside a shop in the city you lived in.

In sighed loudly at the thought as you sat down in the chair next to the bed you and Klaus shared.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Asked Klaus

"Just reminiscing on memories." You said with a frown.

"I assume it's not good. Darling, what is troubling you?" He asked

"Father is back in town. I don't know his motive or if he even has one." You said throwing your hands in the air.

Klaus smiled at your dramatics, "maybe he doesn't. You haven't seen any suspicious activities, have you? We live in a small town in Kansas. What would he do?" Klaus asked.

Just then you heard the doorbell ring and by the powerful magic, you sensed you knew. "We're gonna find out. No one opens that door!" You yelled at the family.

You ran down the stairs to the front room to open the door. You looked up to see you father standing there. Nothing about his look changed but you hope his views have.

"Daddy." You quietly said. You were excited yet terrified and you knew he could sense it. He was family and the only other with powers.

"Y/N." he said as well.

Al the Mikaelsons stood behind you carefully watching his moves. You looked behind you, slightly annoyed at there overprotection.

"Let's speak outside." You said hastily pushing your father out the door.

"It's been a while, don't you say." He says.

"Over 1500 years." You said crossing your arms.

"I came to tell you your mother is sick. She is dying. There is a curse on her. A hex. I heard you are the only one with the cure." He said.

"How do I know that you're not lying? You killed Julius. You're heartless. Why would you care about mom?" You asked.

"Because I've changed." He said. He sounded sincere.

You looked at him blankety before sighing and letting your arms unfold, "I'm making dinner tonight for them. You may come, bring mom and if my siblings are still alive, bring them I guess. I only talk to Tabitha but lost connection a few years ago." You told him.

"I'll be there and I'll try to gather them up." He said, he sounded hopeful.

You walked back in the house as the Mikaelsons stood where you left them, "I hope I don't regret this." You said walking to the kitchen to find something.

later that evening you had everything set on the table ready for them to come inside. But you waited for what seemed like hours.

"Relax, your gonna create wrinkles on you," Klaus stated, knowing full well you cant age.

"Funny." You said with a frown.

The doorbell rang and you froze in your spot.

"Calm, deep breathes," Klaus said rubbing your back.

"This man is literally THE oldest vampire in the world. Not you and your family or your father. My father, Alexandros Rada, is here." You stated.

"Why are you afraid? You live with vampires that kill. What did he do?" Klaus asked

you looked at him then back at the door. You walked away. You didn't want to talk about it.

The first person you saw was your mom. She looked drained of energy, clearly, something was wrong. Maybe your father was telling the truth. She smiled slightly at you. then you noticed your father was holding onto her arm, she need support to walk.

"Mom?" You asked.

she nodded, o weak to talk.

"I figured if you saw, you could decide for yourself. I changed many centuries ago." He told you as he let your mom sit down at the table. Then the idea comes to you. You knew a spell to see if he was lying. Your mother wasn't, you could sense her pain.

"Sit down." You demanded to your father. He looked confused but he listens and sat down in the chair you had pulled out.

"Hands."You said holding you out so he could place them on them. You said the spell.

"what is she doing?" Elijah asked Freya.

"It's called lying spell. She is seeing if he is telling the truth. Another spell Y/N had made." Freya told them.

"You're not lying about needing my help, but you're lying about something else," you stated slightly annoyed.

"And what would that be?" He still had the sad look on his face.

"You haven't changed a bit and I bet my lovely siblings could tell us that. I know you guys can hear me, come on out." You yelled.

"You found me out," he said with a smirk.

"Ill help mom but she isn't going anywhere. I have been sure that someday you'd come back. Once an evil person always an evil person. Do you think I'm dumb? Your no longer a witch. You may be old but you certainly are not strong. You lost it all the moment you killed Julius." You yelled in anger.

You heard your siblings gasp and saw your mom look up at your father. "Oh, you didn't tell them? I'm sure they also know you stripped away their chance of having powers." You said as you circled your father. You were still fearful, after all, you were taunting him.

"What do you think this is doing?" Asked Alexandros.

"Absolutely nothing. Let's have dinner shall we." You asked.

"Why is her family just like ours?" Kol asked.

"The fight started before dinner, not during." Stated Klaus

"Impressive," Rebekah said.

"Shut up." You glared.

As the dinner went on, it was silent to your surprise. Your siblings didn't let a word slip out.

"It's a lovely place you have." Your mother said quietly.

"Thank you, we built this ourselves," Klaus said.

"Reminds me of our mansion." Your father said.

"Ah yes, the mansion of fears." You grumbled as Klaus put his hand on your leg.

"How long have you and Klaus been together?" Asked your sister. You were surprised to hear her speak.

"Uh, about a year?" You said, looking and asking Klaus. Klaus nodded with a smile.

"How sweet." Your father said.

"You are the same person. After thousands of years, you are the same. I'm glad I left when I had the chance because of look at them." You stood up motioning your hand towards your mother and siblings. Klaus put a hand on your back to sit you back down but you weren't having it.

"No, this is ridiculous. They are staying with me. You may think you are strong and powerful but honestly father, you lost that when you wanted to be a vampire. All your power is in me, combined with mine I am the strong person in this world. You idiot." You said slamming your hands down on the table making your power come out and shatter the chandelier.

Your father's eyes darkened and the Mikaelsons became fearful of what was to happen and tried to intervene, until you said "don't, you don't know what he's capable of. But go ahead father suck the blood out of me. You'll only regret it." You stated.

Klaus and Elijah eyed each other not knowing what she meant. "Do it!" You yelled.

He did it not thinking twice and has you heard the yells of your sisters and mother, you just smirked. You had created a poison which can kill your father and had drink it. You slowly felt his teeth loosen there grip and soon he dropped.

"I have no remorse over this. You killed Julius. You deserve the worse death ever." You stated.

That night you checked on your sisters and mother. They slept in yours and Klaus master bedroom. "I should've taken you guys with me. But just know I didn't leave you behind. I followed you guys, as creepy as that is." You stated.

"So that's who my shadow was? It was you?" Stated Elizabeth. You nodded with a smile as you sat down on the bed with them.

"What happens to Rome and Henry?" You asked.

"They left went father tried to kill Henry. He wanted to test his new vampire skills." Said your mother.

"He wanted to end us one by one." Said Tabitha.

You heard a faint knock at the door and saw Klaus standing there holding a bottle of wine with five glasses. "When Y/N is upset she drinks a lot. We have plenty more to go." Klaus Said.

"You found a keeper," Elizabeth said with a smile.

[yoongspd]

Pillowtalk; knj

Genre: friends with benefits au, angst

Word Count:3k words

Warnings: implied sex

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader

Author’s Note: Hi, Tabitha @ga1axydefender! Thank you for helping me improve my work. I’d realized the dull spots of this fic through your comments. Also, credits to @pjmnnie for the raw image of this header.

If you think it’s good or bad, I’d appreciate if you tell me as I’m quite new to writing Creative Fiction. Enjoy!

___________

“Uhh, Joon?”

“Hmm?” he mumbles, slightly-built arms still wrapped around you.

You bite your lower lip out of habit. It was either you piecing your thoughts together or you trying to find the courage to utter your words. “Can I crash on your sofa? I don’t want to walk home alone tonight.”

“Goodness, ____!” He chuckles as he turns and leans on his side to face you. “News flash, ____, we just had sex. What’s wrong with you staying over? Especially on my bed where, well, we’ve fucked? Quit your couch bullshit. You’re always welcome here, sex or none.” His eyes are fixed on you. His mind flashes him a supercut of yours and his casual trysts together over the past weeks, but his lust-strained thoughts are overpowered by a curious amusement of your mind’s workings.

You cover your face with your left hand, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. You hated what this all implied. “God, this will sound pathetic and paranoid,” you mumble with a certain hint of annoyance.

Namjoon snickers. “I’ve known you for some time, I wouldn’t be surprised anymore. Well, because you kind of are paranoid.” This earns him your infamous death glare.

“Ugh, nevermind. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Shut up. I’m sure you do. Go hand me a serving of your daily introspection.” He says all this with genuine encouragement. He shifts on the bed once again to make himself more comfortable.

Despite your annoyance, you fight off the small smile trying to tug at your lips. He noticed. And he was right. You liked talking. Not to everyone, that is, but Namjoon became one of the few exceptions. He listened, and he always made it seem like he wanted to hear everything you had to say.

You exhale a shaky breath. “This. Our arrangement, I mean,” You pause to lower your gaze from his pale ceiling to his eyes. You are quick to hide the sudden halt in your chest as you see him engrossed. Cliché enough, you felt as if your lungs were gripped on a chokehold. The atmosphere was in a tight pause for a few seconds. He was paying attention.

You remind yourself that this was Namjoon, he was a good person – scratch that, he was better than majority of the human species – he is always like this. “I know this trope from movies and fiction. We’re obviously friends with benefits, fuck buddies, whatever you call it. And we both know this is platonic,” you ease into the context of what you plan to say.

He interjects, “So? What’s your point?”

You take a deep breath and say in one go, “I hope I don’t scare you away, but like there’s this thing where somehow this sort of thing would lead us towards feelings because of like couple-y gestures. Sorry, I mean, like acts beyond the fucking. For example, sleeping over and… your arms around me.” However, Namjoon seems to have his mind elsewhere now.

“I fucking doubt we’d become that, but I’d like to avoid all possible hazards,” you wrap up, but your words weaken their resolve with every uttered word.

“I get what you mean. I can stay on the couch if you’re uncomfortable.”

“No, no. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t want to put you in much trouble. So sorry. Uhh, is it fine if I sleep here beside you then?” You fidget with your hands, avoiding looking at Namjoon directly. “Of course.” Remembering what you’d said earlier, Namjoon releases his arms draped around you much to his regret. But as he sees you loosen up, he kicks at his previous thoughts and longing of having you in his arms. Platonically, of course.

He lies on his back again, staring at the ceiling like you were. It seems the temptation of sleep has abandoned the both of you.

Namjoon gathers the courage to ask, “Why do you say sorry too much?”

The sudden invitation to converse doesn’t surprise you. Namjoon liked to speak of the stars, philosophy, and whatever an aesthetic angsty romance blog dreamt of.

Yours and Namjoon’s eyes solely wander the ceiling, but you talk, “Good question. But do you really want me to start a sob story right now?”

“I’m all ears.”

“Well, I’ve actually had some introspection regarding this.”

“Of course you have.”

You snicker at his comment. “You know me so well.” And you send him a huge grin, because well, you love talking about yourself, and he seems to love listening to you. “Uhm, okay. So I think I say sorry a lot because I know I only have myself to blame every time.”

“That’s ridiculous,” despite the interjection, you hear the smile in his voice.

“Maybe for you, but… I guess, this is negatively Nihilistic, all things happening to me are consequences of what I have done,” you defend.

Your words trouble him. To him, it seems you are carrying the weight of the world if you think like this. Now, he sees where your apparent self-hatred sourced its fuel. “Not always. You didn’t choose to be here.”

“Well, not at the start. But there’s always something I can do about things. Had I really not wanted to exist, I’d have killed myself. However, as much as this life is a tragedy, things aren’t always bad.”

“You know what?” You prompt.

You don’t get an answer from him. Nonetheless, you continue, “Whenever I failed something, you know –not do what my mom wants me to have done, she’d find the fault in me. And maybe that was a bit too harsh, but it was logical. I guess there’s always something I could’ve done whenever things went wrong.”

He quotes, “When you’re the leader, everything’s your fault.’ That’s from A Bug’s Life. If everyone thought like that, there wouldn’t be wars.”

“Thanks.”

“But ____, not everything is your fault,” He repeats.

“I know, but I think bad things don’t happen to people if they are cautious enough.”

A brief pause hangs in the air. But you surprisingly don’t feel uncomfortable.

“So when I stood you up at that ball when we were fourteen, did you blame yourself?” He tries to argue. But he also wanted to indulge in your thoughts about him.

“Partly. Had I been prettier or more interesting, maybe—“ “No! No! You’ve got it all wrong. Nobody deserves to be treated the way I did you!”

“You were also fourteen, Namjoon. And you were an immature dimwit. Really, if you’d liked me, you would’ve gone with me rather than pick up another girl when we already had plans.”

“I. was. the. asshole. Okay?”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. But face it, these things do not happen to pretty people.”

He punches himself mentally for he was already void of a response. “I’m sorry.”

“Too late. It haunted my self-esteem for the entirety of my adolescence.” You laugh, and he only cringes. It was a total dick move.

“Would you have said yes if I asked you to be my girlfriend back then?” He wonders.

“You never would have. But you know the answer to that if you had asked that girl I killed. Now, good night, Namjoon. Thanks for letting me stay in your bed. Shut up already.”

“Good night, ____.” There was a slight ache in his chest. He knew you liked him so much when you were younger and immature. Would you have been childhood sweethearts if he had kept his promise that night? Maybe, if he weren’t an asshole. You weren’t on the boys’ stupid date list. You kept to your circle of friends and didn’t initiate conversation outside of it. Nevertheless, you caught Namjoon’s eye. Quite a looker, if you look closely. He noted in his head before. Namjoon frowned.

But had you two been together back then, he doubted it would last. Then you wouldn’t speak to him ever again and wouldn’t have what you two had today. He falls asleep contented with his reasoning. He liked this, what you two have now.

–

“Why doesn’t she like me back?” He voices faintly. His words mimic a whisper, but you hear them as they are one of the few things that maintain a presence of life in his room. You are both staring at his ceiling again.

You know he is talking about Carmen from one of his Engineering classes. The kind of girl that never gets caught in trouble. Partly because she would hardly risk herself in those, and partly because she was still careful when she got into them. She was kind, smart and pretty. Average. But the only interaction you’ve ever had with her were your eyes meeting at the corridors, so you couldn’t tell.

“Tell me what she’s like,” You ask instead.

“She never fails to make me laugh. She’s really witty. And— And she has dreams. Like, real dreams and goals for her future.” You can tell he was carefully choosing his words, but despite that, it was clear for you that Namjoon was whipped.

“Wait. How would you know she doesn’t like you?”

He hesitates. “I told her two days ago.”

You laugh at that, “Goodness, Joon, you’re such a sap!”

“And she told me she could never feel the same.” The embarrassment creeps up on him. He felt so mushy sharing a heartache with you. Now, you’re the one embarrassed.

“Okay. That’s it. Goodnight, _____.”

“You can’t escape from me, Joon,” You tease. “What are you, twelve? Confessing feelings and shit like that?”

“This is why I should’ve never told you,” He groans.

“Sorry, Namnam. But, honestly, I can’t see why she doesn’t. Anyone would be lucky to have you.” You turn to face him, offering a kind smile.

He shifts too, the both of you now facing each other. The close proximity charges you with a static you choose to ignore. This was Namjoon.

“So, you’re saying you’re lucky to have me?” He grins.

“It’s an honor,” you jokingly correct, “But I’m only saying that because baby Joon had his heart broken.”

“Nah, you can’t take that back anymore. It’s an honor for me too.” His smile never leaves him. Then, without much thinking, he kisses your cheek for extra assurance.

The move surprises you, and you want to punch yourself in the gut for feeling something you can’t quite identify.

–

“You keep on hating society and its structures, but we make up society, Joon.” You say after you’ve tucked yourself beneath his sheets. Sleeping over after cleaning yourself off had become a shared habit for you and Namjoon. And the pillowtalk was a necessary bonus.

“Yet you still follow the structures as if you don’t have a choice.” He debates.

You glare at him. He was right, but it took him so much ease to judge– as if he already knows all of you. You sigh. “I don’t have the luxury to deviate, you know that.”

“And I do?” He points, quite dumbly in your opinion.

“Haha. I’m not going to stroke your ego.”

“Really, tell me.” He says with a grin stretching across his face, eyes encouragingly squinting from his smile.

“You got that merit scholarship without reviewing for the CETs, right?”

He nods cautiously. He knew this was going to be thrown against him.

“Well, I studied so so hard for that same scholarship. But I received one for financial need rather than intellectual prowess.”

“Hey, hey, that doesn’t invalidate your intelligence.”

“Maybe. But my point here is you don’t have to make much of an effort anymore. You’re literally a genius. So please don’t hate on me when I say you have it easier. Me? I have everything at stake.”

Another pang of ache in his chest. His ego, maybe. “Only in the case of academics. Life is difficult for me too.”

“Maybe.” You respond, though unconvinced.

He nudges your shoulder after absorbing what you replied. “Now you’re invalidating my pain.”

“Yes. I’m aware I’m an insensitive bitch.”

“Why did you want that scholarship so bad? Most of who we know stayed.”

You take a while to respond. This… was personal.

“I wanted to get away. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. But often I couldn’t bear living with them. It’s difficult to explain.”

“Once again, do tell me. If you feel like it of course.”

You exhale a bit.

“Well, my mother always made me pretend I was bubbly and an overachiever and that this family was picture perfect when we all knew it was fucking dysfunctional. It was fucking exhausting. She even lies about my achievements. No, she didn’t exaggerate. She lied. She’d say I’d competed in a Math Olympiad in High School. You know I didn’t. And I had to live up to that lie and when I reflected on that, I guessed who I am and was is someone my mother isn’t proud of. Imagine feeling not enough as a child. Then she asks me why I “act” all depressed.”

“I thought she loved you.”

“She does. I think she does. On some days, she supports me. But most of the time, she asks, why didn’t you get that? Like the Merit Scholarship, for example. All my achievements are nothing because they aren’t the best.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Nobody does.”

“You never shared.” He quickly interjects.

“Nobody asked.”

“We were always willing to listen.”

“Namjoon, If I don’t have my family, who do I have?”

You are surprised to feel his hand over yours. You are both connected once again in his bed, but this time it was different. As the warmth of his hand seeps through your skin, you tense up in alarm. This was against the rules.

“The answer is nobody, Namjoon.” You lightly chew on your bottom lip. Regardless of your words, you don’t exert effort to remove your hand under his. His grip only tightens on yours.

“I’m here for you, alright.”

“You don’t know that.” You finally remove your hand from his, and proceed to lift yourself off of his bed to dress up. “I can’t stay the night,” you explain.

“It’s late, I’ll walk you home.”

You don’t refuse, there was no way to change his mind.

–

The both of you pause to look at the river. Calm and serene, wrapped under the subtle radiance of the dawn’s moon. Unknowingly, you and Namjoon share the exact same comfort the river offers.

Staring straight ahead, he says, “____, I need to tell you something.”

Not looking at each other has become a habit. You don’t give him an answer, and only continue to stare at the river. However, you feel him take a long look at you, and you remind yourself that this was Namjoon.

“_____, I think I like you. Beyond friends. I like you beyond what we have right now.”

His words register and you feel as if something has lodged itself in your throat. “Are you messing with me?” You finally croak out, you have decided all of it was bullshit.

“Why would you think that? Of course I’m not.”

“Okay. You’re just saying this because you’re trying to move on from Carmen,” the panic evident in your voice.

He groans at your reply. “I’m not, okay. Seriously.”

All of it still sounds surreal to you. This was Namjoon, and he never before liked you back when you did, back when you still felt. This was Namjoon and if he did have feelings, they should be reserved for people who were still whole.

“I don’t think you’ve thought this through,” you frantically piece together, “If you need a casual fuck, you know I can offer you that.”

“Listen,” He grips your arm. You freeze in response, completely taken aback. “I’ve been starting to long for our conversations more than whatever happens before those. And Carmen was almost a month ago, _____. I like you. It’s that simple.”

His grip on you finally loosens and the silence that remains decides to engulf the both of you. Your mind files all his recent words under the same folder labelled bullshit. Namjoon would never lie, but sometimes he could have errors in judgment. You walk ahead, and he only looks at your frame trying to understand what was going on in your head before he finally matches up with your strides.

–

Before you close the door between the two of you, you extend your “good night” and “thank you”s through, “If what you were saying was not made up fiction, you had easily moved on from Carmen after a month. I can’t be any different.”

Before he can retort, you tersely cut him off, “It’s not simple. And you don’t know that.” You shut your door.

After minutes of the guilt and self-hatred gnawing at you, dreamless sleep finally overcomes you.

Namjoon only picks up on what you meant as he meets the river on his way back. Momentary anger looms over him and he kicks a stray rock into the waters.

–

Kim Namjoon: I’ll stop disturbing you now. Please, let’s talk.

You: 4pm. cafe near east wing.

When he receives your reply, he doesn’t feel the relief he was hoping for. He was muddled again. You had ghosted him for a week after that night he walked you home. And he thought you two were friends already. You’d already known him so well. Even on things he never said out loud.

Frustration is evident on his face when you take the seat across his.

“You know what I think?” He didn’t even bother with a greeting.

You look at him sullenly, you don’t have to put yourself in pain by giving him answers.

“You stick to this notion that if someone actually loves you, they should be sure of it the instant they say it. That they should be absolutely fucking sure that you are all they want. No baggages left. And unless that’s what’s happening, they don’t love you at all. Well, truth is, you are so fucking difficult to love, __!”

Tears spill angrily from your eyes. You weren’t one to cry in front of others, you were always the tough one, always resolute on what you believed in. But this time, he was right. Bull’s Eye. He had laid it in front of you. One of the nightmares which had always haunted you: nobody will ever love you.

“Yeah, well fuck the idea that there actually is somebody out there who is meant to love you. That we were all born in pairs. That’s just another bedtime story mommy told you to rid your mind off the monsters under your bed. Fact is, love isn’t for everyone. I thought you –of all people, what with your screw society’s expectations maxim—would fucking know that! I don’t need a goddamned pep talk on: oh, Susan you are not worthy of love. Because. I. Of all people. Fucking. Know.”

He closes his eyes in frustration. Inhales a deep breath to calm his thoughts. And he meets your eyes again, yours always seemingly unfazed from criticism—always stoic. “You’re wrong,” he finally says.

“And I’m staying to have this forsaken conversation with you. That’s the only wrong thing I said because I am leaving,” you say as you wipe off your tears and put down the money to pitch in for what you ordered earlier.

He sighs again. Repeating the same short ritual of getting his aggravated thoughts in place. And before you push back your seat to cue another unsaid good bye, he once again speaks up. All this, he’s said with eyes downcast.

“You’re wrong because, yes you are such a pain in the ass, but that doesn’t fucking stop me from feeling this way. No, not just feel. I’d fucking choose you today over any perfectly binded fairytale, over and over again, ____.”

You were already halfway towards the café’s exit. But with what he’s said, your feet remain frozen on the floor. You look at his slumped figure, and everything inside you is drowning into a riot. You’ve been through this before. For most parts of you, this was bullshit. Wordlessly, you head quickly to make the leave you promised.

When your room’s door behind you shuts, hot tears silently rage down your face. You’ve never forgotten how it felt when that clenching heaviness tore away on the edges of the void, the center of your chest. But now that you feel it again, the sobs escape louder this time.

You hold a hand over your mouth, struggling to breathe properly. This and the void were all that you knew. You hunch over yourself, and bask in self-hatred. Why were you crafted this way? Why can’t you just love and be loved like others do?

–

Four days after, and your scent still lightly clutched on Namjoon’s unwashed sheets. Its lingering presence serving as a vague reminder of one of his favorite things in the world—his face between your legs. Unintentionally, every breath he takes under his blankets as he lulls himself to sleep only reminds him of what wasn’t there anymore. And as he recognizes you at the seams of his consciousness, he couldn’t help but loathe the world even more.

You didn’t have a clue on what he was going through. Well, maybe you did, but you had invalidated all he felt –all he feels—right in front of his face without even uttering a single word.

That was Namjoon’s truth: maybe he loves you. Because he liked how your mind works. He wanted to hear about your everydays. He wanted to learn the bits of you he couldn’t reach. The sides of you you had closed off. But it wasn’t just about you, for you had listened to him and had understood. You also made him question where he stood, and affirmed him when he’d been too confused. You’d made him feel comfortable around you. He was most of himself. And he’d felt that you liked him most as he was himself, too. Wasn’t this what it felt like to be loved? Now, it was only the end of what could have begun.

Three knocks on his door bolts him up from his thoughts.

It looked like a storm had hit him. Heck, he seemed to be brewing the storm itself for the past eleven days. And so far, he had no plans of rehabilitating. It wasn’t too obvious, but behind his eyeglasses and face mask were bloodshot eyes and a neglected skin routine.

“You look… great,” were his first words.

You were there, and you looked just the same. The same probably unbrushed hair, your mild milky soap scent, usual sneakers, a sweater he already knows, jeans he had preferred off you and actually slid them off of you several times. You were the same, as if it were just another of those casual visits you always made. You were the same, and he had slowly deteriorated as he had spent his time staring at the jagged pieces of himself.

You finally muster the courage to speak. “I don’t want you to stop disturbing me.”

He is now the one without the words. What you said hardly made sense in his head. This was not part of the pattern.

You continue, “I’m still the same, and I don’t want any fixing. But if you want to, maybe we can talk properly this time.”

“Then, come in,” were his second.

[wanderingtrash]

Unfair Affair- Part 10

A/N: Not much of Ben on this chapter as a change of plans made it’s way, But Happy 2018!

Feedback is always appericiated (:

* *

It had been a day since (Y/N)’s whole ordeal with Harry. They hadn’t done much taking since then. A few messages here and there to ask how she was feeling.

But nothing more.

The media has calmed down with their claims as there was no direct evidence that Harry had an affair. And no one had gotten their hands on a picture of (Y/N). All they really knew about her was her name. Which wasn’t really a big deal.

Her relationship with Ben never seemed so smooth. He had offered to take the day off to go to her first ultrasound; where she was headed to. But (Y/N) had refused. Part of the reason was because she knew Harry wouldn’t appreciate another man going to see the baby fetus first than on the screen. But also because she felt Ben needed a bit of time away from her. He had been so much help and so supportive that she felt guilty of not letting him have some time with his friends or to himself.

She had told Harry about her appointment thinking that maybe he wanted to come with her. Subconsciously she hoped he would. But of course he said it wouldn’t be the best idea to be seen with her. Especially with all the rumors. She understood and replies with simple ‘okay’.

Walking in the warm building (Y/N) fixed her bag in her shoulder and huffed. Her cheeks were red, as it was cold outside and she rushed out the door forgetting to put on a thicker coat.

She greeted the elderly lady behind the counter who was sipping on a coffee from Starbucks.

Walking into the elevator she pressed the 3rd floor button. To where her OB/GYN was at.

Once she walked through the door after getting out of the elevator her heart stopped at the sight.

She was thinking about what she could make for dinner but that that was put to an end.

There sat Harry.

With Gwen.

(Y/N) felt her cheeks heat up and her head felt light. The room was big, sure. But there was still a way Harry could see her. He was looking at a magazine with Gwen. A baby magazine. The ones with tips on how to maintain the perfect shape after pregnancy. The ones that promise tips to keep your baby eating good, with a list of pricey recipes.

(Y/N) swiftly walked to th front desk to sign in. She knew that as soon as she started talking Harry would recognize her voice. So she prepared for the worst.

“Name please?” The young receptionist asked her with a forced smile. Her brunette hair was up in a messy bun. She looked tired. Possibly not wanting to be there (Y/N) guessed.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N).” She responded with the quitest voice she could. The receptionist typed on her lap top in front of her. (Y/N) had time to look behind her shoulder to see Gwen standing up. Her bump more prominent than hers. She whispered some words to Harry that (Y/N) couldn’t quite here. To which Harry nodded. His hand going up to rub her bump.

A loving gesture in which (Y/N) felt a heaviness on her chest from witnessing.

“Ms. (Y/LN)?.” The receptionist asked her. Ending her train of thought. “Dr. Florez is currently getting ready for a patient. So if you please have a seat and he will call you when he’s done.”

(Y/N) nodded and offered a smile. “No problem. Thank you.” She said and let out a shaky sigh. She decided it was best to sit in the back for the risk of not getting seen by Harry.

She had set her eyes on the she could. That was until she felt a hand grip her arm.

Turning around she saw the man she dreaded getting caught by.

“(Y/N)?” Harry asked in his perfect voice. That as much as (Y/N) hated to admit it was music to her ears.

“What Harry?” She said with a sigh.

“What are you doing here by yourself?” He whispered to her. There weren’t many people around. And the people that were, were occupied in their phones or with the out dated magazines provided on the coffee tables.

“I didn’t have much of a choice did I? I don’t have a boyfriend that is obligated to come with me to these things.” (Y/N) hissed pulling her arm back.

Harry was taken aback. What she said was true. But the way she said it hurt him.

“You know I would if I could. Don’t say such nonsense.” Harry softly told her. He didn’t want to be an asshole. He had done enough of that in the nearly 8 months they were seeing eachother.

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and took a seat on the uncomfortable looking chair. Her back was killing her from the position she had slept in the night before.

“The rumors caught up to wifey’s ears yet?” (Y/N) asked picking at the nail polish nude colored nail polish on her nails.

“She’s read the articles. Thinks it’s just another rumor that will eventually die down once people see It’s not true.” Harry responded. Playing with his bottom lip with his fingers. Something (Y/N) had learned he had a habit of doing when he was nervous.

(Y/N) let out a dry laugh. “She’s in for a rude awakening when you tell her.”

Harry stayed quiet for a short minute.

“About that…” Harry started. “About what I told you yesterday.”

(Y/N) looked up from her nails. A confused look on her face at what he was about to tell her.

“About what?”

“ I meant it. I want you to be happy. Even though I hope to God that along the line it’s me that you chose. I hope you’re happy with…Ben.” He said sincerely. “You deserve happiness and I’m selfish I know, but with you I can’t help it.”

But (Y/N) wasn’t going to fall for his usual charm. No matter how sincere he was being.

“You can’t tell me that you hope to be with me someday yet you still have another woman; your wife warming your bed and getting to touch you and kiss you. It’s not fair to her. Or me for that matter. You are a walking contradiction.”

“You don’t understand (Y/N) I’m doing this for my kid. I need time to tell her all of this. About this relationship we shared. She’s pregnant. Too much stress isn’t good for her.” Harry scolded. He didn’t mean to. But she wasn’t getting it.

“Oh yeah? Well have you forgot that I’m pregnant too? Have you forgot that the same way she doesn’t need stress I don’t either? No. Of course you don’t Harry. Because the child of the wife will always come first. The other woman’s child will come second. But I’ll be damned if you think that’s the way things are going to be.” (Y/N) retaliated. She was hurt. The only way she knew how to deal with the emotions was with anger.

“I never said our child was going to come second. Don’t put words in my mouth (Y/N).” Harry clenched his jaw. “Send me a text when you’re out of the appointment. Because I do care about our child. Despite what you want to believe.” With a roll of (Y/N)’s eyes and a shake from Harry’s head. Harry walked back to his and Gwen’s seat. Looking over his shoulder to see (Y/N) pull out her phone.

She was something else.

* *

Gwen laid on the clinic bed. A smile on her face a she looked at Harry with the purest admiration. Dr. Florenz had her shirt lifted up. A screen on the side where it was visible to both her and Harry. And the cold gel on her tummy as the wand moved on her skin. Harry having a tight grip on her hand.

“And there is your baby.” Dr. Florenz said pointing to a black dot on the screen. “You’re roughly 2 months pregnant Mrs. Styles. It’s about one inch big from what I can see.”

Gwen smiled at Harry. “Look it my love.” She said in happiness.

Harry kissed her head and smiled. “Already so strong huh?”

“At this point in your pregnancy I advise little exercise. As this is your first child and you body is not used to the changes it is enduring. Miscarriage is a risk if you don’t take care of yourself.” Dr. Florenz said with a serious tone.

Gwen nodded her head. Her blonde hair coming in the way of her eyes but she pusjed her locks back. “No, I understand. I’ve been taking some vitamin shakes to help with things like heart burn and growth of the embryo.” Gwen added.

Harry nodded along with her. “She’s been very much watching what she eats.”

Dr. Florenz nodded. “Lots of water and rest goes a long way.” Typing on his lap top he turned to both of them once again.

“Would you like pictures?” He asked already knowing the answer.

Gwen giggled and nodded as Dr. Florenz handed her a paper towel to wipe the gel off of ger stomach. “If we could have 3 copies, that would be wonderful. One for each of our mom’s and on for us.” She said as Harry helped her up.

“Of course. Nurse Tabitha will bring them out to you while you are setting up the next appointment. I would like to see you next month to check the growth rate of the baby.” He said standing up and collecting his things. “See you next month.” He said excusing himself.

Gwen held her bag as she took out a piece of gum popping it in her mouth, standing up on the floor from the hand sanitizer smelling bed. “I’m craving some tacos.” Gwen told Harry scrunching her nose as Harry opened the door for her. “Think we can get some on the way home?”

“Of course, whatever little bean is craving.” Harry laughed putting his arm around Gwen’s slim waist.

Harry’s eyes widened as he saw (Y/N) walking down the hallway in the opposite direction. Her head down and her bag slung around her shoulder. A frown evident in her perfect features. His heart heart at the sight. Removing his arm from Gwen’s waist out of guilt. Gwen didn’t take notice in his sudden change in mood.

She glanced at (Y/N) as the pasted her. Then whispered to Harry something that angered him internally.

“Poor woman. You think the dad of the baby is like a dead beat or something? Maybe not even involved at all? She looked sad.”

Harry clenched his fists. Mostly because of her comment about (Y/N). Not because of the comment made about the father. Which unknown to her was him. “I don’t think that’s any of our business love. I doubt it, but it doesn’t concern us.” He said as the walked to the receptionists office.

A frown now on his face.

* *

(Y/N) tried not to let the sight of Harry showing Gwen affection get to her. She really didn’t. But something about her mood that day prevented her from feeling it.

It hurt to see him like that with her. As selfish as it sounded. Especially after he confessed to her that he was no longer in love with Gwen.

As she laid on the clinic bed. In the same position Gwen was in. Minus the supporting father holding her hand of course. She felt tears prickle her eyes as Dr. Florenz pointed to the screen. Offering her a small smile. Something he rarley did to his patients. Mostly because he thought (Y/N) was a single mother. With the father of the kid no longer in it’s just starting life.

“It’s so small.” (Y/N) chuckled through tears. Her baby was in the screen. Barley the size of a pea.

“Indeed, but trust me Ms. (Y/L/N) it’ll get bigger.” He chuckled too.

He removed the cold wand from her belly and handed her a paper towel. To which (Y/N) responded with a whispered “Thank you.”

“Growing very healthy. Expect a bump to appear any time soon now.” He told her nodding. “Try and stay off spicy foods or heavily spiced foods as they cause heart burn. It’s not dangerous to the baby, but it will be wildy uncomfortable for you.” He said typing in his lap top. “I assume you wamt pictures yes?” The elderly man asked (Y/N). Fixing his glasses.

“Yes, 2 copies please.” (Y/N) said with a smile. She wanted to give one to her parents. Not much Harry because she knew he wouldn’t want to keep one with him. Risking Gwen finding it and questioning him. She would just send him a picture.

Getting up and throwing the paper towel on the trash. Her back aching. A small whimper leaving her lips.

Dr. Florenz got up as well. “I’ll see you in a month Ms. (Y/N), take care.” He added with a nod. “A nurse will bring your pictures out in the waiting room.” He said shaking her hand and exiting the room.

(Y/N) sighed with a smile. Pressing a hand as she gathered her things. Grabbing her phone as a notification alerted her of a new message. Ben’s name appearing on her home screen.

Pressing on the contact she was taken to the numerous number of text messages exchanged between them. Her face showed pure confusion as she read the newest one.

I need to tell you something. It’s about Harry

I don’t want to tell you over text so I’ll see you at your place later tonight?

I’ll bring some take out

(Y/N) was left with an strange feeling of anguish in the pit of her stomach in the cleaning product smelling room.

[staliasjeronica]

Riverdale S5 Ep15 Thoughts *Spoilers*

Thoughts under cut to keep tag clean!

- I’m so fucking excited and hyped for this ep. I saw my entire tl on twitter SCREAMING so I can tell I’m going to love this ep. I mean, why wouldn’t I, focused eps are *chef’s kiss*

- THE OPENING OMG ALREADY PERFECTION! I’ve missed Valerie and Melody 🥺🥺

- “babe” SCREAMING BYE “MY LOVE” “BABY” I CANNOTTTT

- When Riverdale is able to write relationships within two minutes, just not for bhva asdfghjkl; its so funny to me tbh anyways they’re so cute pls

- JOSIE 💞💞💞 TABITHA BEING A FANGIRL DAHFKJADSGF we love “in the flesh, in the faux fur"

- the song, the flashbacks… I’m gonna be dead by the end of this oMG CHUCK AND JOSIE </3 they deserved a chance. Archosie, another couple who deserved more AND SWOSIE!!!

- Omg Val and Mel joining in the song FUCK this is why they should leave the actual singers to the songs/musicals because when they force it, it’s all cringe.

- MS. NEWMAR? “No live music”… okay sure like it’s happened before lol. The ONLY people we know who live in the Pembrooke are Hiram and Veronica, and everyone else don't seem rich enough to live there (but again they never show anything to explain so we wouldn’t know) so like… suffer Hiram <3 Josie is more important

- “Nice to know you’re still a little bitch.” GO OFF JOSIE!

- TABITHARONNIE!!!!!!!!!!!! If only you didn’t buy a football team or a firetruck, but at least she didn’t do it anyways to fuck Tabitha’s idea up. But then again she’s not Betty lol

- Teaching a music class at Riverdale 🥺🥺🥺

- Alexandra Cabet?? Oh that’s the girl from the stills I was wondering who the hell that was lfajsdkf VERONICA HELPING FIND SOMEONE TO INVEST IN POP’S/TABITHA AWW we love our good girl Veronica Lodge

- JOSIE’S OUTFIT FUCKKKK and them singing broooooo

- Josie seeing Archie 🥺🥺🥺

- nO NOT THAT BEING MY RINGTONE NOO

- Jeronica sitting together muah

- JOSIE CALLING OUT JUGHEAD AND BETTY AND CHERYL we love that for her! But yeah guys chill tf out with making plans that involve her… without asking her

- SWEET PEA OMG “WELL YOU WANT A RIDE” I’M GONAN FUCKING FAINT

- THE MAKEOUT SESSION FIASUDJKHFBDSJKHFUGDBJNSDFIHKJ THE HAIR THAT’S DANGLING

- SP sleeping bby and him being soft UGH BABYYYYYY. HIM NOOT WANTING HER TO LEAVE FUCK MEEEEEEE god they’re so cute they deserved so much betttter

- OMG SP BEING A LITTLE LOVESICK PUPPY I’M GONNA BE SICKKKKK HOW CUTE the second I can make gifs of this ep……

- Josie being gobsmacked at their performance ahhhhhhh!!!

- VALERIE EATING UP THE STAGEE OKAY GIRL I SEE YOU

- OH HELLO TONI! Omg little shop of horrors!

- THOSE BLUE POP JACKETS…. I WANT!

- it was so weird that Kevin was just… there and then he disappears like what was the point of him being there?

- TWENTY YEARS? girl what—why so long?

- Josie’s dad died huh :(

- She knew Josie would go to Riverdale 😭😭

- Considering my mom died like last month this hits so fucking hard right now FUCK

- All of her dad’s songs 🥺😭����

- Melody having Valerie’s back 😭😭

- NO WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE MILKSHAKES BITCH! First black owned business in town, a LEGACY! Go Tabitha 🥺🥺

- no but I’m crying. “I just wanna sing with you one more time.” STOP

- Josie and the Pussycats deciding to help save Riverdale 🥺🥺🥺

- Veronica next to Fangs my besties! Also of course curdle is a Josie fan fadsfjksdfhajs

- God their voices are just so good together

- That little Archosie moment BRUH

- ARCHIE?!?!?!? KISSING KEVIN!?!?!? BRO BRO BRO

- “There is no better spot to play music than here.” Yeah Alexandra or whatever your name is mmhm

- Josie singing a song for her dad 🥺😭💔❤️

- FANGS AND CHERYL HELPING TONI HAVE THE EBABY BRUHHHH also Sweet Pea in the back muah also also BARCHIE SITTING IN A BOOTH BY THEMSELVES!

- “Typical Riverdale, the Pussycats getting upstaged by something.” “Better a baby than a dead body."

- It’s a boy 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 also we see that foreshadowing for Freddie Andrews! Barpregnancy here we come!!

- Veronica in leather muah

- That fake baby love it. wasn’t her grandfather awful to her? But anyways Anthony <3

- I’M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL, MARRIED OR NOT <3

- Sweet Pea in plaid muahhhh Sweet Pea wanting to leave with her I COULD BE YOUR ANYTHING FUCKKKK I hope this isn’t a send off for Sweet Pea (but also that means they can’t fuck with his character, and if there IS a pussycats spin off as there should be, he might show up there because Swosie endgame!) this definitely gives off pilot vibes “You’re gonna be hearing from us again” THE OUTRO? Nah there HAS to be a spin off

- and back to the crazy for next week

[anythingstephenking]

Full Darkity, No Doubt

Jesus Christ Stephen King, who hurt you? I say this very lovingly because I worry about him, but man, Full Dark, No Stars is a really kind way to title a collection of novellas that should be called “Don’t Read If You Have Any Trauma At All”.

King begins with a dedication of “For Tabby - Still” and I’m all “awwwww” because fuck every celebrity couple, and I’mma let you finish but Steve and Tabitha are THE BEST pairing of all time. I think I’ve posted this before, but I would so very love to have a cup of coffee in the kitchen with this family.

So I hopefully wander into a book I know nothing about, other than the dedication to Tabitha, ready for some nice little novellas. The first story, 1922, wasn’t all that triggering and honestly pretty entertaining. Sure it starts with some scumbag dillhole (Wilfred) convincing his son to help murder his mom. She’s a nag and a vulgar drunk. Remind me not to time travel back to live in 1922 Oklahoma, cause this guy would NOT care for me much I don’t think.

But after being unceremoniously tossed down a well, Wildfred’s wife, Arlette, haunts them as a corpse that has been reanimated by rats. It’s like real gross, but she gets her revenge, and honestly, good for her. Wilfred and Arlette’s son breaks away into his own mini Bonnie & Clyde storyline that gets a little lost behind the darkest version of Ratatouille the mind can imagine.

So that’s 1922. Reanimated corpses and nagging wives are really nothing new in my King journey. Onto Big Driver.

Jesus Christ (my second time taking the lord’s name in vain in this post, sorry grandma). This story. Here’s the jist. Tess, a writer, takes on a speaking engagement. After getting directions home from a friendly (female) local, she pops a tire on a deserted road, and things go real bad for her. This is where the trauma nightmares start. It’s a tough read when the main character gets raped and left for dead, then won’t tell anyone or go to the hospital. I struggled so hard with judging Tess for her poor decision making, knowing that victim blaming is the literal worst, but she’s a fictional character so whatever. She goes home and takes a shower and I scream “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??” into the pages.

Tess instead chooses her own Sherlock Holmes path, hunting down her rapist, finding out that the kind woman who gave her directions was actually the rapists mother (good god) who sent her off to be murdered and stuffed in a drainage pipe. Tess murders everyone and covers her tracks appropriately so we’re left to assume she “gets away with it” - term used lightly since those fuckers definitely deserve to die but the journey is just so very very painful. I hate reading about rape. This revenge story did not serve to make me feel any better about it, in the same way as Last House on the Left conducts its revenge tale. No thanks. Next.

A Good Marriage. A hypothetical look into what it would be like to be married to a serial killer that lives a “normal” life. I immediately drew a parallel to BTK Dennis Raider, who lived a standard middle class life in middle America, while murdering people and taunting the police in his downtime. Turns out that BTK inspired this story, according to King’s afterward. Ding ding ding, I got it.

Anywho, Darcy and Bob and boring people, they collect coins together (the yawn-iest of all hobbies), their kids are upstanding citizens and they do things like wear housecoats. Seriously, there’s a lot of talk of Darcy’s housecoat in this story.

Turns out Bob is actually masquerading as the serial killer “Beadie”. LOL. Beadie. He sends notes to the police like “I’M BACK! BEADIE!” If you didn’t know, BTK was also a total turd. He would eat and leave bowls of cereal at his crime scenes. Cause he was a serial killer. Cereal. Serial. Get it? God BTK is the literal worst.

Darcy discovers Bob’s secret and wrestles with what to do for a while, before pushing him over the second floor balcony of their middle class middle America home. Bye bye Beadie.

Seriously this book has so many bad men getting their cumuppins but in a way that is totally unsatisfactory. Let me grumble my way through the last story.

A Fair Extension. Probably the worst of all of them? This one is men-on-men shittiness and thankfully the shortest of all 4 stories. A dude dying from cancer comes across a traveling salesman (def from the Dark Tower somewhere, is he Randall Flag, I dunno, don’t care) who offers him an extension on his lifespan for 15% of his take-home pay. Seems like a decent deal, but we learn he has to pass his own bad fortune onto someone else. Because this guy is a total DOUCHECANOE, he chooses his best friend, Tom. He doesn’t like Tom because he has a hotter wife, cooler kids and a successful business. Cool bro.

He takes the deal and over the course of a couple years Tom’s life falls to pieces, basically everyone he loves dies, while our deal-getter prospers and NEVER ONCE FEELS BAD ABOUT WHAT HE DID. This guy suuuuuuuuuuucks. That’s all I have to say about this.

At the end of the day I read through this one quick; mostly because I knew my last Dark Tower was next and also that if I didn’t plow through the pain in these pages I’d be back bumbling around without reading anything for another year.

3/10

Adaptations:

Three out of four of these stories have become movies (WHY?) and I watched two of them. I hard passed on the adaptation of Big Driver because I respect myself enough not to subject myself to a film version of this story.

1922 was made by Netflix, and dear god, it was dreadful. Film snobs seemed to enjoy it, but why? Why Why Why I asked again and again. Why is there no reanimated rat-corpse? Why is Tom Jane digging a random hole in the middle of a fully grown corn field? Why is he talking like an old-timey mobster?

I JUST WANT MY KIDS BACK! (Token Tom Jane Arrested Development joke.)

A Good Marriage was released theatrically and also was not very good but in a less offensive, more forgettable way.

Onto my last palaver with Roland!