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wewerecore · 1 year

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The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour - 011 07/27/23 Defy TV 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST Filmed at the Good Time Theatre at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania

SEGMENT ONE (EIGHT MINUTES):

- The show opened with Sudu Upadhyay and "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko at the commentary booth, but this week they were joined by former host of The Chew and The Good Dish, Daphne Oz. Daphne brought out the King and Queen of Dorney Park's Grand Carnivale who were flanked by jesters and stilt walkers carrying some of the special dishes available to park goers during this event. Sudu, Larry, and Daphne sampled and gave their thoughts on the sauerbraten sliders, the crepes champignon, and the krapfen di carnevale. They also tried some of the new refreshments including the Carnivale Cocktail and the Triple Glitter Jam.

- The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour opening aired set to "Black Swan Lake" by Janko Nilovic.

Kylie Paige vs. Amaris Blair Kylie Paige defeated Amaris Blair by reversing Cattle Mutilaton into a backslide. (3:40)

SEGMENT TWO (EIGHT MINUTES):

- CORE’s AI Generated ring announcer Good Time Charlie declared that the next contest would be Match 1 in the Trench Trial Series. After Trench made his way to the ring, Good Time Charlie announced this would be a No Disqualifications match and introduced Trench's opponent, Japanese deathmatch legend Shadow WX.

Trench Trial Series - Match 1: Trench vs. Shadow WX Shadow WX defeated Trench after blowing fire. (4:11)

- Daphne Oz welcomed us to a special edition of the Coal Region Roundup live from the commentary booth. - Daphne announced that on August 5th in Scranton, New Japan wrestler Francesco Akira will be joining Lio Rush, Flamita, and seventeen other wrestlers in participating in the Risky Raffle. - Daphne confirmed rumors that Titus Alexander, who has been absent from CORE since losing to Roderick Strong, has been in advanced negotiations about returning to CORE in the near future. - Daphne Oz's final news item was revealing of the next two automatic bids for Trios Kingdom 2023. Making their return to CORE after appearing at the Co-Op 2023, representing Just 5 Guys will be TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Also making their return to CORE for the first time since August of 2016 will be Katsuyori Shibata and Kazunari Murakami. They will be joined by Manabu Hara to form Team Big Mouth LOUD.

SEGMENT THREE (NINE MINUTES):

- As Sudu, Larry, and Daphne welcomed us from commercial they were unexpectedly joined by Utami Hayashishita. Utami said that before she returns to Japan, she wants to challenge the best woman wrestler in CORE. Tessa Blanchard made her way out and said that she already has a match tonight and that Tessa no longer has any interest in wrestling other women. Hayashishita apologized if her English was poor, but she said she wanted to wrestle the best woman wrestler in CORE, not Tessa. Utami called out Giant Baba Yaga. Giant Baba Yaga, puffing on an American Rebel cigar, came to ringside and accepted the challenge for next week on Defy TV. Tessa stormed off as we transitioned back to the action.

MV Young vs. Magnum CK Magnum CK defeated MV Young via countout. (1:05)

- Early in the match Brogan Finlay and Marcus Mathers made their way to ringside and were intercepted by CORE officials Trik Davis and Jigsaw. MV Young left the ring and went after the two. As this was going on, Starboy Charlie attacked Larry Zbyszko at the commentary booth from behind. Starboy began to go after Larry's injured knee, but "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith was fast on the scene and chased after Starboy. Ricky Morton emerged and threw himself between the two, absorbing a Yakuza kick from Bryan Keith as Starboy escaped. As the four interlopers ran out of the building and the locker room emptied, Larry Zbyszko got on the microphone and said he had to know if those vermin were still hiding in the walls; and if so having MV Young leave his side would lure them out into the light. Zbyszko challenged any two of them to take on MV Young and Bryan Keith right here next week. - As some of the wrestlers helped restore order around the ringside area, MV Young grabbed Kylie Paige, rolled her into the ring, and accused her of letting Starboy, Mathers, Finlay, and Morton into the building. Kylie denied it and reiterated earlier claims that she hadn't spoken to any of them since Wilkes-Barre, but MV Young didn't believe it and to a roar of approval from the crowd and the delight of Larry Zbyszko, powerbombed Kylie in the middle of the ring.

SEGMENT FOUR (EIGHT MINUTES):

The New Brain Busters (Brock Anderson and Tessa Blanchard) vs. Something/Nothing (Jake Something and Vincent Nothing) with UltraMantis Black Something/Nothing defeated The New Brain Busters with a black hole slam from Jake Something on Tessa Blanchard. (6:54)

SEGMENT FIVE (NINE MINUTES):

- We return from commercial to a music video montage of Raychell Rose at UltraMantis Black's School of Professional Wrestling Management and Bartending set to "We Hate School" by Jimmy Hart. Footage included Raychell laying out an outfit for a Tuxedo Match when Jimmy Hart pops up offering her a choice between powder blue briefs or boxer shorts with hearts on them. We see Slick shaking his head at Raychell's techniques for massaging her client's shoulders during an interview until she improves and gives her a double thumbs up. And close on Jimmy Hart presenting her with a variety of distinctive foreign objects to carry to the ring including a fishing rod, a pickleball paddle, a field hockey stick, a pool cue, and a pair of drumsticks.

Trios Kingdom 2023 Qualifying Match The Family Tree (Afa Jr., Sean Maluta, and Journey Fatu) vs. The Von Triers (Dale Von Trier, Keith Von Trier, and Kirk Von Trier) The Family Tree defeated The Von Triers after the Savate Kick Shindig from Maluta and Fatu followed by the Black Adam Punch from Afa Jr. on Kirk. (5:40)

SEGMENT SIX (THREE MINUTES):

- Our hosts signed off with a special thanks to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom for sponsoring today's show. Sudu announced the Trios Kingdom qualifying match for next week will see the folkstyle faction of Shaw Mason, Tim Bosby, and Hunter Holdcraft facing off against a team called The Practice consisting of Dr. Redacted, Dr. Cornwallis, and Dr. Daniel C. Rockingham.

Next Week On The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour The Trench Trial Series continues. MV Young and "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith in tag team action against two members of Kerry Morton's stable. Trios Kingdom 2023 Qualifying Match: folkstyle (Shaw Mason, Tim Bosby, and Hunter Holdcraft) vs. The Practice (Dr. Redacted, Dr. Cornwallis, and Dr. Daniel C. Rockingham) Utami Hayashishita vs. Giant Baba Yaga

Upcoming Shows:

The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour Every Thursday from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST on Defy TV

CORE Pro #118 Breaking Training: The Risky Raffle 08/05/23 West Scranton Little League Carnival - Scranton, Pennsylvania Featuring: Lio Rush Flamita Francesco Akira And a Trios Kingdom 2023 qualifying match!

CORE returns to the Good Time Theatre at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania! 08/06/23 Television taping for The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour as seen on Defy TV.

CORE Pro #119 Burning The Tomato Worms 08/21/23 Pittston Tomato Festival - Pittston, Pennsylvania

CORE Pro #120 Trios Kingdom 2023 - Night One 09/01/23 Penn's Peak - Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Featuring: The Calling (AKIRA, Rickey Shane Page, and Delirious) with Raven The 37KAMIINA (MAO, Yuki Ueno, and Toi Kojima) Jake Something, Vincent Nothing, and Giant Baba Yaga with UltraMantis Black Team JTO (Ren Ayabe, Fire Katsumi, and Akira Juumonji) Black Generation International (Kaito Ishida, Flamita, and Yutani) The Production (Derek Dillinger, Magnum CK, and Ziggy Haim) Just 5 Guys (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) Big Mouth LOUD (Katsuyori Shibata, Kazunari Murakami, and Manabu Hara) The Family Tree (Afa Jr., Sean Maluta, and Journey Fatu)

CORE Pro #121 Trios Kingdom 2023 - Night Two 09/02/23 Charles Chrin Community Center - Easton, Pennsylvania

CORE Pro #122 Trios Kingdom 2023 - Night Three 09/03/23 Martz Hall - Pottsville, Pennsylvania

CORE returns to the Good Time Theatre at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania! 09/04/23 Television taping for The Great Pro-Wrestling Adventure Hour as seen on Defy TV.

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charofthestars · 2 years

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Okay, Gunther might not have been the sharpest when it came to feelings, but he has been trying once things had been discussed! Charlie would find that when his shift was finished, Gunther was waiting in the corridor for him, head lowered and lost in thought as he idly chewed on his cigar. However, once the man of the hour appeared, Gunther quickly stood to attention. "I hope you don't mind my request to accompany you tonight?" In a move that Burt assured would 'send hearts fluttering like butterflies eager for the summer sun', Gunther took Charlie's hand and kissed the back of it. (theauthorlives, since Ash misread a meme and though I could send a kiss)

Usually Charlie liked to work late. It was good to have something to occupy his mind with. But Gunther had been paying even more attention lately to when he was due out of the kitchen, since their conversation about possessing one another’s hearts.

Charlie smiles when he sees Gunther out in the main corridor. He was sweet, really. Charlie didn’t always know what to do with how sweet the ADS lead could be. He opens his mouth to answer Gunther, already preparing to roll his eyes and dramatically complain at the mere concept of being accompanied—

But Gunther captures his hand, causing Charlie to pause, somewhat surprised when it isn’t simply clasped as might be usual. No, it’s lifted, brought to Gunther’s mouth, where a gentle kiss is pressed to his knuckles accompanied by the faint brush of short, scratchy stubble. Given the way his cheeks suddenly flare up a warm, soft pink, Burt’s advice doesn’t seem far from the mark.

“ Hah— why, uh, why would I mind it? ”

Charlie keeps their hands together, and rocks forward to return the gesture with a kiss to Gunther’s cheek.

#i hear the universe calling my name (asks);#theauthorlives #( aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! )#( Gunther can come give kisses anytime!!! )

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mascwhump · 3 years

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Chapter 2 - Strike a Deal

Hello everyone! Sorry this took so long, rough times here. It’s pretty short but I hope to have the next chapter out quickly. Lots of dialogue here.

TW: interrogation, injuries, mention of kidnapping

Tag list: @whatwasmyprevioususername @milk-carton-whump @whumpasaurus101 @whatwhumpcomments @mnmlover2002 @ashintheairlikesnow

Charlie awoke to the sound of rattling metal. In the dimly lit room, he could just make out a figure standing opposite of him, dangling something. As his eyes adjusted to the light level, he realized it was a man leaning against the wall.

His head and shoulder ached. Clean bandages were wrapped around his shoulder and chest, a good sign that he had been stitched up at some point. His arms were bound behind the back of a chair, keeping him seated in place.

“Who’s there?” He spoke, voice cracking.

The man approached, stepping into the light. He wore a dark grey suit. His hair was neatly combed, and he was clean shaven. Far different from any of the soldiers he had seen.

“Hello, Charlie,” the man spoke.

“How do you know my name?” Charlie questioned.

“Says it right here on these tags,” he replied.

He had the chain of Charlie’s dog tags wrapped around his hand. He let the tags sway in front of Charlie’s eyes for a moment before putting them in his coat pocket.

“Nasty wound you’ve got there. But don’t worry, we’ve got you all patched up,” he said, starting to pace.

“Who are you?” Charlie asked, cringing as his head began to throb.

“My name is Mallory Jacobs. I’m the CEO of ZETA,” he replied.

Mallory continued to pace for a moment. Charlie observed his face, noticing that he appeared to be in deep thought.

“So, tell me, Charlie. Why did you and your team break into my base and kill my men?”

He turned on his heel suddenly, facing Charlie with his arms folded.

“I’m not telling you anything,” Charlie spat.

“I thought you might say that,” Mallory replied, “so, I’ll make you a deal.”

“I don’t make deals,” Charlie argued.

“That’s a shame, because it involves releasing your team.”

Charlie thought about his next words carefully. He chewed on his lip, trying to focus on the conversation rather than his pain.

“What are you proposing?” He asked.

“You tell me everything I want to know, and I’ll let your team go,” Mallory said.

“I can’t trust you to do that.”

“That’s smart. But you can trust me, Charlie. I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”

“Prove it.”

“I’ll let you watch them depart on the security feed. I’ll have someone fly them out, and you can be sure that they make it to their destination.”

It was too good to be true. Charlie knew that agreeing to this was stupid, but it could be his only chance to get his team out. Something told him that Mallory was telling the truth.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” Charlie said.

“Excellent,” Mallory replied.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He told them to get a helicopter ready to transfer the team, and to keep the security feed on. After he hung up the call, Mallory opened the feed on his phone and showed it to Charlie.

Adrian, Ethan, and Crow were blindfolded and taken out of the cells they were held in. They were escorted down a hallway and outside to be loaded onto a helicopter. Mallory switched the feed to inside of the helicopter, showing the three inside.

“When they’re getting ready to disembark, I’ll show you,” Mallory said, “now, are you ready to uphold your end of the deal?”

Charlie nodded. Mallory stepped behind him for a moment, and reappeared with a chair of his own. He set it about 2 feet in front of Charlie and sat down. He took a cigar from his coat pocket and lit it.

“Let’s begin,” he said, taking a drag from the cigar, “so, who sent you?”

“Our governments,” Charlie replied.

“How come?”

“We had reason to believe that ZETA was posing a threat to our nations.”

Mallory laughed. “How so?”

“Based on your track record of kidnapping innocent people for ‘experiments’. I think that’s enough to warrant some fear,” Charlie answered.

Mallory didn’t like the shred of sarcasm and Charlie could see it on his face. He exhaled smoke in Charlie’s direction, making his eyes sting.

“We don’t kidnap anybody, Charlie. Everyone was a paid, willing participant,” Mallory said.

“We have intel that says otherwise,” Charlie argued.

“Is that so?” Mallory replied.

Mallory stood and paced around.

“You wouldn’t need an army if you weren’t doing anything wrong,” Charlie said.

“That’s simply not true. You see, Charlie, when the government doesn’t like something, they try to destroy it. What we’re doing here at ZETA will improve the lives of billions. The government doesn’t want that, because with our creations, people won’t need them anymore.”

He tapped the cigar and ash fell to the floor.

“So what is it you’re doing here, then?” Charlie inquired.

“You’ll find out, soon. Because once you’re healed, you’re going to help me, help us, change the world.”

“I want no part in this,” Charlie protested.

“You have no choice.”

The words sent chills down Charlie’s spine. He could feel the color drain from his face, and hoped that the light was dim enough that Mallory didn’t notice. Not another word was spoken between them. Mallory left the room, and Charlie was left to himself. The only thing that provided comfort was the fact that his team would be safe.

#sorry for formatting #I’m trying my best pls #whump #where’s deke?

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chiseler · 3 years

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The Mysterious Death of a Hollywood Director

This is the tale of a very famous Hollywood mogul and a not-so-famous movie director. In May of 1933 they embarked together on a hunting trip to Canada, but only one of them came back alive. It’s an unusual tale with an uncertain ending, and to the best of my knowledge it’s never been told before.

I. The Mogul

When we consider the factors that enabled the Hollywood studio system to work as well as it did during its peak years, circa 1920 to 1950, we begin with the moguls, those larger-than-life studio chieftains who were the true stars on their respective lots. They were tough, shrewd, vital, and hard working men. Most were Jewish, first- or second-generation immigrants from Europe or Russia; physically on the small side but nonetheless formidable and – no small thing – adaptable. Despite constant evolution in popular culture, technology, and political and economic conditions in their industry and the outside world, most of the moguls who made their way to the top during the silent era held onto their power and wielded it for decades. Their names are still familiar: Zukor, Goldwyn, Mayer, Jack Warner and his brothers, and a few more. And of course, Darryl F. Zanuck. In many ways Zanuck personified the common image of the Hollywood mogul. He was an energetic, cigar-chewing, polo mallet-swinging bantam of a man, largely self-educated, with a keen aptitude for screen storytelling and a well-honed sense of what the public wanted to see. Like Charlie Chaplin he was widely assumed to be Jewish, and also like Chaplin he was not, but in every other respect Zanuck was the very embodiment of the dynamic, supremely confident Hollywood showman.

In the mid-1920s he got a job as a screenwriter at Warner Brothers, at a time when that studio was still something of a podunk operation. The young man succeeded on a grand scale, and was head of production before he was 30 years old. Ironically, the classic Warners house style, i.e. clipped, topical, and earthy, often dark and sometimes grimly funny, as in such iconic films as The Public Enemy, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, and 42nd Street, was established not by Jack, Harry, Sam, or Albert Warner, but by Darryl Zanuck, who was the driving force behind those hits and many others from the crucial early talkie period. He played a key role in launching the gangster cycle and a new wave of sassy show biz musicals. At some point during 1932-33, however, Zanuck realized he would never rise above his status as Jack Warner’s right-hand man and run the studio, no matter how successful his projects proved to be, because of two insurmountable obstacles: 1) his name was not Warner, and 2) he was a Gentile. Therefore, in order to achieve complete autonomy, Zanuck concluded that he would have to start his own company.

In mid-April of 1933 he picked a public fight with Jack Warner over a staff salary issue, then abruptly resigned. Next, he turned his attention to setting up a company in partnership with veteran producer Joseph Schenck, who was able to raise sufficient funds to launch the new concern. And then, Zanuck invited several associates from Warner Brothers to accompany him on an extended hunting trip in Canada.

Going into the wilderness and killing wild game, a pastime many Americans still regard as a routine, unremarkable form of recreation, is also of course a conspicuous show of machismo. But in this realm, as with his legendary libido, Zanuck was in a class by himself. He had been an enthusiastic hunter most of his life, dating back to his boyhood in Nebraska. Once he became a big wheel at Warners in the late ’20s he took to organizing high-style duck-hunting expeditions: the young executive and his fellow sportsmen would travel to the appointed location in private railroad cars, staffed by uniformed servants. Heavy drinking on these occasions was not uncommon. (Inevitably, film buffs will recall The Ale & Quail Club from Preston Sturges’ classic comedy The Palm Beach Story, but DFZ and his pals were not cute old character actors, and their bullets were quite real.) Members of Zanuck’s studio entourage were given to understand that participation in these outings was de rigueur if they valued their positions, and expected desirable assignments in the future. Director Michael Curtiz, who had no fondness for hunting, remembered the trips with distaste, and recalled that on one occasion he was nearly shot by a casting director who had no idea how to properly handle a gun.

But ducks were just the beginning. In 1927 Zanuck took his wife Virginia on an African safari. In Kenya Darryl bagged a rhinoceros and posed for a photo with his wife, crouched beside the rhino’s carcass. Virginia, an erstwhile Mack Sennett bathing beauty and former leading lady to Buster Keaton, appears shaken. Her husband looks exhilarated. During this safari Zanuck also killed an elephant. He kept the animal’s four feet in his office on the Warners lot, and used them as ashtrays. If any animal lover dared to express dismay, the Hollywood sportsman would retort: “It was him or me, wasn’t it?” Zanuck made several forays to Canada with his coterie in this period, gunning for grizzly bears. Director William “Wild Bill” Wellman, who was more of an outdoorsman than Curtiz, once went along, but soon became irritated with Zanuck’s bullying. The two men got into a drunken fistfight the night before the hunting had even begun. In the course of the ensuing trip the hunting party was snowbound for three days; Zanuck sprained his ankle while trailing a grizzly; the horse carrying medical supplies vanished; and Wellman got food poisoning. “It was the damnedest trip I’ve ever seen,” the director said later, “but Zanuck loved it.”

Now that Zanuck had severed his ties with the Warner clan and was on the verge of a new professional adventure, a trip to Canada with a few trusted associates would be just the ticket. This time the destination would be a hunting ground on the banks of the Canoe River, a tributary of the Columbia River, 102 miles north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, a city about 400 miles east of Vancouver. There, in a remote scenic area far from any paved roads, telephones, or other niceties of modern life, the men could discuss Zanuck’s new production company and, presumably, their own potential roles in it. Present on the expedition were screenwriter Sam Engel, director Ray Enright, 42nd Street director Lloyd Bacon, producer (and former silent film comedian) Raymond Griffith, and director John G. Adolfi, best known at the time for his work with English actor George Arliss. Adolfi, who was around 50 years old and seemingly in good health, would not return.

II. The Director

Even dedicated film buffs may draw a blank when the name John Adolfi is mentioned. Although he directed more than eighty films over a twenty-year period beginning in 1913, most of those films are now lost. He worked in every genre, with top stars, and made a successful transition from silent cinema to talkies. He seems to have been a well-respected but self-effacing man, seldom profiled in the press.

According to his tombstone Adolfi was born in New York City in 1881, but the exact date of his birth is one of several mysteries about his life. His father, Gustav Adolfi, was a popular stage comedian and singer who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1879. Gustav performed primarily in New York and Philadelphia, and was known for such roles as Frosch the Jailer in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. But he was a troubled man, said to be a compulsive gambler, and after his wife Jennie died (possibly of scarlet fever) it appears his life fell apart. Gustav’s singing voice gave out, and then he died suddenly in Philadelphia in October 1890, leaving John and his siblings orphaned. (An obituary in the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent reported that Gustav suffered a stroke, but family legend suggests he may have committed suicide.) After a difficult period John followed in his father’s footsteps and launched a stage career, and was soon working opposite such luminaries of the day as Ethel Barrymore and Dustin Farnum. Early in the new century the young actor wed Pennsylvania native Florence Crawford; the marriage would last until his death.

When the cinema was still in its infancy stage performers tended to regard movie work as slumming, but for whatever reason John Adolfi took the plunge. He made his debut before the cameras around 1907, probably at the Vitagraph Studio in Brooklyn. There he appeared as Tybalt in J. Stuart Blackton’s 1908 Romeo and Juliet , with Paul Panzer and Florence Lawrence in the title roles. He worked at the Edison Studio for director Edwin S. Porter, and at Biograph in a 1908 short called The Kentuckian which also featured two other stage veterans, D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett. Most of Adolfi’s work as a screen actor was for the Éclair Studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the first film capital. The bulk of this company’s output was destroyed in a vault fire, but a 1912 adaptation of Robin Hood in which Adolfi appeared survives. That same year he also appeared in a famous docu-drama, as we would call it, Saved from the Titanic. This ten-minute short premiered less than a month after the Titanic disaster, and featured actress Dorothy Gibson, who actually survived the voyage, re-enacting her experience while wearing the same clothes she wore in the lifeboat. (This film, unfortunately, is among the missing.) After appearing in dozens of movies Adolfi moved behind the camera.

Much of his early work as a director was for a Los Angeles-based studio called Majestic, where he made crime dramas, Westerns, and comedies, films with titles like Texas Bill’s Last Ride and The Stolen Radium. In 1914 the company had a new supervisor: D. W. Griffith, now the top director in the business, who had just departed Biograph. Adolfi was one of the few Majestic staff directors who kept his job under the new regime. A profile in the February 1915 issue of Photoplay describes him as “a tallish, good-looking man, well-knit and vigorous, dark-haired and determined; his mouth and chin suggest that their owner expects (and intends) to have his own way unless he is convinced that the other fellow’s is better.” It was also reported that Adolfi had developed something of a following as an actor, but that he dropped out of the public eye when he became a director. Presumably, that’s what he wanted.

Adolfi left Majestic after three years, worked at Fox Films for a time as a staff director, then freelanced. During the remainder of the silent era he guided some of the screen’s legendary leading ladies: Annette Kellerman (Queen of the Sea, 1918), Marion Davies (The Burden of Proof, 1918), Mae Marsh (The Little ‘Fraid Lady, 1920), Betty Blythe (The Darling of the Rich, 1922), and Clara Bow (The Scarlet West, 1925). Not one of these films survives. A profile published in the New York World-Telegram during his stint at Fox reported that Adolfi was well-liked by his employees. He was “reticent when the conversation turned toward himself, but frank and outspoken when it concerned his work. Mr. Adolfi is not only a director who is skilled in the technique of his craft; he is also a deep student of human nature.” Asked how he felt about the cinema’s potential, he replied, with unconscious irony, “it is bound to live forever.”

III. The Talkies

In spring of 1927 Adolfi was offered a job at Warner Brothers. His debut feature for the studio What Happened to Father? (now lost) was a success, or enough of one anyway to secure him a professional foothold, and he worked primarily at WB thereafter. Thus he was fortuitously well-positioned for the talkie revolution, for although talking pictures were not invented at the studio it was Sam Warner and his brothers, more than anyone else, who sold an initially skeptical public on the new medium. After Adolfi had proven himself with three talkie features Darryl Zanuck handed him an expensive, prestige assignment, a lavish all-star revue entitled The Show of Shows which featured every Warners star from John Barrymore to Rin-Tin-Tin.

Other important assignments followed. In March of 1930 a crime melodrama called Penny Arcade opened on Broadway. It was not a success, but when Al Jolson saw it he sensed that the story had screen potential. He purchased the film rights at a bargain rate and then re-sold the property to his home studio, Warner Brothers. Adolfi was chosen to direct, but was doubtless surprised to learn that Jolson had insisted that two of the actors from the Broadway production repeat their performances before the cameras. One of the pair, Joan Blondell, had already appeared in three Vitaphone shorts to good effect, but the other, James Cagney, had never acted in a movie. Any doubts about Jolson’s instincts were quickly dispelled. Rushes of the first scenes featuring the newcomers so impressed studio brass that both were signed to five-year contracts. While Adolfi can’t be credited with discovering the duo, the film itself, re-christened Sinners’ Holiday,remains his strongest surviving claim to fame: he guided Jimmy Cagney’s screen debut.

At this point the director formed a professional relationship that would shape the rest of his career. George Arliss was a veteran stage actor who went into the movies and unexpectedly became a top box office draw. He was, frankly, an unlikely candidate for screen stardom. Already past sixty when talkies arrived, Arliss was a short, dignified man who resembled a benevolent gargoyle. But he was also a journeyman actor, a seasoned professional who knew how to command attention with a sudden sharp word or a raised eyebrow. Like Helen Hayes he was valued in Hollywood as a performer of unblemished reputation who lent the raffish film industry a touch of Class, in every sense of the word.

In 1929 Arliss appeared in a talkie version of Disraeli, a role he had played many times on stage, and became the first Englishman to take home an Academy Award for Best Actor. Thereafter he was known for stately portrayals of History’s Great Men, such as Voltaire and Alexander Hamilton, as well as fictional kings, cardinals, and other official personages. The old gentleman formed a close alliance with Darryl Zanuck, whom he admired, and was in turn granted privileges highly unusual for any actor at the time. Arliss had final approval of his scripts and authority over casting. He was also granted the right to rehearse his selected actors for two weeks before filming began. All that was left for the film’s director to do, it would seem, would be to faithfully record what his star wanted. Not many directors would accept this arrangement, but John Adolfi, who according to Photoplay “was determined to have his own way unless he is convinced that the other fellow’s is better,” clearly had no problem with it. His first film with Arliss was The Millionaire, released in May 1931; and in the two years that followed Adolfi directed eight more features, six of which were Arliss vehicles. He had found his niche in Hollywood.

One of Adolfi’s last jobs sans Arliss was a B-picture called Central Park, which reunited the director with Joan Blondell. It’s a snappy, topical, crazy quilt of a movie that packs a lot of incident into a 58-minute running time. Central Park was something of a sleeper that earned its director positive critical notices, and must have afforded him a lively holiday from those polite period pieces for the exacting Mr. Arliss.

In spring of 1933, after completing work on the Arliss vehicle Voltaire, Adolfi accompanied Darryl Zanuck and his entourage to British Columbia to hunt bears. Arliss intended to follow Zanuck to his new company, while Adolfi in turn surely expected to follow the star and continue their collaboration. Things didn’t work out that way.

IV. The Hunting Trip

It’s unclear how long the men were hunting before tragedy struck. On Sunday, May 14th, newspapers reported that film director John G. Adolfi had died the previous week – either on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on which paper one consults – at a hunting camp near the Canoe River. All accounts give the cause of death as a cerebral hemorrhage. According to the New York Herald-Tribune the news was conveyed in a long-distance phone call from Darryl Zanuck to screenwriter Lucien Hubbard in Los Angeles. Hubbard subsequently informed the press. The N.Y. Times reported that the entire hunting party (Zanuck, Engel, Enright, Bacon, and Griffith) accompanied Adolfi’s remains in a motorboat down the Columbia River to Revelstoke. From there the body was sent to Vancouver, B.C., where it was cremated. Write-ups of Adolfi’s career were brief, and tended to emphasize his work with George Arliss, though his recent success Central Park was widely noted. John’s widow Florence was mentioned in the Philadelphia City News obituary but otherwise seems to have been ignored; the couple had no children.

V. The Aftermath

Darryl F. Zanuck went on to found Twentieth Century Pictures, a name suggested by his hunting companion Sam Engel. One of the company’s biggest hits in its first year of operation was The House of Rothschild, starring George Arliss and directed by Alfred Werker. The venerable actor returned to England not long afterwards and retired from filmmaking in 1937. In his second book of memoirs, published three years later, Arliss devotes several pages of warm praise to Zanuck, but refers only fleetingly to the man who directed seven of his films, John Adolfi, and misspells his name.

In 1935 Zanuck merged his Twentieth Century Pictures with Fox Films, and created one of the most successful companies in Hollywood history. He would go on to produce many award-winning classics, including The Grapes of Wrath, Laura, and All About Eve. Zanuck’s trusted associates at Twentieth-Century Fox in the company’s best years included Sam Engel, Raymond Griffith, and Lloyd Bacon, all survivors of the Revelstoke trip. Personal difficulties and vast changes in the film industry began to affect Zanuck’s career in the 1950s. He left the U.S. for Europe but continued to make films, and sporadically managed to exercise control over the company he founded. He died in 1979.

In 1984 a onetime screenwriter and film critic named Leonard Mosley, who had known Zanuck slightly, published a biography entitled Zanuck: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Last Tycoon. Aside from his movie reviews most of Mosley’s published work concerned military matters, specifically pertaining to the Second War World. His Zanuck bio reveals a grasp of film history that is shaky at times, for the book has a number of obvious errors. Nevertheless, it was written with the cooperation of Darryl’s son Richard, his widow Virginia, and many of the mogul’s close associates, so whatever its errors in chronology or studio data the anecdotes concerning Zanuck’s personal and professional activities are unquestionably well-sourced.

When Mosley’s narrative reaches May 1933, the point when Zanuck is on the verge of founding his new company, we’re told that he and several associates decided to go on a hunting trip to Alaska. The location is not correct, but chronologically – and in one other, unmistakable respect – there can be no doubt that this refers to the Revelstoke trip. From Mosley’s book:

“There is a mystery about this trip, and no perusal of Zanuck’s papers or those of his former associates seems to elucidate it,” he writes. “Something happened that changed his whole attitude towards hunting. All that can be gathered from the thin stories that are still gossiped around was that the hunting party went on the track of a polar bear somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness [sic], and when the vital moment came it was Zanuck who stepped out to shoot down the charging, furious animal. His bullet, it is said, found its mark all right, but it did not kill. The polar bear came on, and Zanuck stood his ground, pumping away with his rifle. Only this time it was not ‘him or me,’ but ‘him’ and someone else. The wounded and enraged bear, still alive and still charging, swerved around Zanuck and swiped with his great paw at one of the men standing behind him – and only after it had killed this other man did it fall at last into the snow, and die itself. That’s the story, and no one seems to be able to confirm it nor remember the name of the man who died. The only certain thing is that when Zanuck came back, he announced to Virginia that he had given up hunting. And he never went out and shot a wild animal again, not even a jackrabbit for his supper.”

VI. The Coda

Was John Adolfi killed by a bear? It certainly seems possible, but if so, why didn’t the men in the hunting party simply report the truth? Even if their boss was indirectly responsible, having fired the shots that caused the bear to charge, he couldn’t be blamed for the actions of a dying animal. But it’s also possible the event unfolded like a recent tragedy on the Montana-Idaho border. There, in September 2011, two men named Ty Bell and Steve Stevenson were on a hunting trip. Bell shot what he believed was a black bear. When the bear, a grizzly, attacked Stevenson, Bell fired again – and killed both the bear and his friend.

That seems to be the more likely scenario. If Zanuck fired at the wounded bear, in an attempt to save Adolfi, and killed both bear and man instead, it would perhaps explain a hastily contrived false story. It would most definitely explain the prompt cremation of Adolfi’s body in Vancouver. Back in Hollywood Joe Schenck was busy raising money, and lots of it, to launch Zanuck’s new company. Any unpleasant information about the new company’s chief – certainly anything suggestive of manslaughter – could jeopardize the deal. A man hit with a cerebral hemorrhage in the prime of life is a tragedy of natural causes, but a man sprayed with bullets in a shooting, accidental or not, is something else again. That goes double if alcohol was involved, as it reportedly was on Zanuck’s earlier hunting trips.

Of course, it’s also possible that Adolfi did indeed suffer a cerebral hemorrhage. Like his father.

John G. Adolfi is a Hollywood ghost. Most of his works are lost, and his name is forgotten. (Even George Arliss couldn’t be bothered to spell it correctly.) Every now and then TCM will program one of the Arliss vehicles, or Sinners’ Holiday. Not long ago they showed Adolfi’s fascinating B-picture Central Park, that slam-bang souvenir of the early Depression years in which several plot strands are deftly inter-twined. One of the subplots involves a mentally ill man, a former zoo-keeper who escapes from an asylum and returns to the place where he used to work, the Central Park Zoo. He has a score to settle with an old nemesis, an ex-colleague who tends the big cats. As the story approaches its climax, the escaped lunatic deliberately drags his enemy into the cage of a dangerous lion and leaves him there. In the subsequent, harrowing scene, difficult to watch, the lion attacks and practically kills the poor bastard.

by William Charles Morrow

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

My sources for this article, in addition to the Mosley biography cited in the text, include Stephen M. Silverman’s The Fox That Got Away: The Last Days of the Zanuck Dynasty at Twentieth-Century Fox (1988), and Marlys J. Harris’s The Zanucks of Hollywood: The Dark Legacy of an American Dynasty (1989). For material on John Adolfi I made extensive use of the files of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Special thanks to James Bigwood for his prodigious research on the Adolfi family genealogy, and to Mary Maler, John Adolfi’s great-niece, for information she provided on her family.

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bubblyani · 5 years

Text

Excuses

(Reggie Kray x Reader)

A Reggie Kray One Shot

Rating: Mature (18+)

Anon Request -Hello! I was wondering if I could request something w/ Reggie Kray. I was hoping you could do something where the reader is basically best friends with Ron but has been secretly dating Reggie for a while and after some time Ron gets curious as to why they both disappear from time to time and kind of walks in on them making out or something then after that day Ron always pokes fun at their relationship whenever he can? You don’t have to write it if you don’t want to but thank you if you do😊💙

Author’s Note: I really hope I did the request justice. Nevertheless, I enjoyed writing it as always. Gave me an excuse to delve into the Legend OST too which was fun. Enjoy!

“So Y/N…”

You stood there before him, nervous yet impatient. Nothing seemed more important than to hear what else he had to say. Involuntarily settling yourself on the chair opposite him, you felt your heart beat out of your chest with such intensity.

Was it possible that you were about to face the ruin of everything?

You wished you knew.

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

(2 days ago)

“ I can see it now. You ...him...with a bunch of rugrats running around the house”

You chuckled, “What have you been smoking Ronnie Kray?”

The E.Pellicci, the pub where the Firm occupied, the place where you worked, and the place where conversations like this was not of the rarity. Chewing down his lunch, Ronnie pointed his jeweled index finger at you.

“I’m telling you...David, he seems right up your fuckin street”

Ronnie Kray may be many things, a Kray twin, a gangster, a possible madman, a loving son and surprisingly your best friend, but a matchmaker? Most definitely not. At least not in your eyes.

With eyebrows furrowed, you had a hard time trying to suppress your amused laughter as he continued to rave about a nice chap he met the night before.

“Well...” you began, with your hands on your hips, “...given how much you’re fond of him, I’d say you’re a lucky lady” you said, ending with giggles before you started to wipe the table next to him.

“I told you I’m a giver, not a receiver” Ronnie said through gritted teeth, “I’m no fuckin faggot” he disliked being teased.

“True...you’re not” you replied, looking at him, “You just like fucking them instead” you added, with a wink. The man behind the bar let out a soft chuckle.

“Getting feisty isn’t she, this one?” He said. Shaking your head, you laughed.

“Hehehe...Thank you, Big Charlie” you said, looking over at your boss.

“The fucking point is, right, is you didn’t show up on Thursday night” Ronnie said, not letting the matter go “Where were you?”

You didn’t know whether he really did hope for your company. Nevertheless, you were touched he cared enough to inquire.

“One of my friends...” you said, leaning against a table “She was...” pausing, you continued, “...in trouble”

“Well, you could’ve just told us...” Ronnie replied, “Big Pat could have taken care of it” he said, indicating the tall, strong man that stood by the door.

“Yeah, well as much as I love Big Pat...” you turned to him whilst wiping your hands with your apron, “ I don’t think this was the kind of help he could give” your voice turned soft as a whisper.

“Message received love” Big Pat smiled as he nodded slightly. You nodded back in kind. “Well I’m sure David will come by tonight to Esmeralda's...Oi Reg!” Ronnie cried out as his brother Reginald Kray entered the pub.

“Yeah well I’m not sure if I’m up for it” you said, “Would you like something Reggie?” You asked, turning to him.

“Just coffee, thanks love” he said, making himself comfortable sitting opposite his brother. Ronnie groaned in disappointment, watching you grab the coffee pot.

“Ah, don’t be such a miserable cunt now”

“Easy there, mate” Reggie interrupted him with an extended arm “Don’t need to go that far”

Chuckling, you walked over to them, “And that’s why you need to be more like Reggie here...”you addressed Ronnie, as you placed the cup of coffee in front of Reggie “You’re such a sweetheart Reg, I’m surprised you don’t have anyone”

“Well, who says I don’t, love?” He said with a grin. You raised your eyebrows, “My my...the plot thickens” you scoffed.

“Well isn’t that lovely Reg...” Ronnie said finishing up the remnants in his plate “I hope I like her” he chewed it with sarcasm, making you giggle.

“Right, I’m off” he said, getting up, “Now don’t you dare forget tonight Y/N” he added as you came over to pick up his empty plate.

You shook your head, “Not promising anything Ronald Kray”

“Ah! Stubborn Cunt you are”

“Come on now, mate” Reggie came to your aid once again. Ignoring all that, Ronnie exited the premises.

You turned to the remaining Kray Twin, “Need anything else, Reggie?” You sounded polite.

“All good, thanks”

The next hour passed by with so much to do. At least from your part. Big Charlie might end up conversing with whichever customer that entered, therefore most duties fell on your shoulders, and you did not mind. Your time was spent productively. No matter who came and left, Reggie Kray remained. With a cigarette in hand, he sipped his coffee. Refills were needed, but he minded his own business.

By around 3pm, the place began to slowly grow empty, leaving Reggie looking confused. Especially when he saw the chairs being put up on the tables.

“Finishing up early Charlie?” He asked.

“That’s right, Reggie” Big Charlie replied, putting on his jacket “It’s me Missus’ birthday”

“Go ahead Charlie, I’ll lock up” you said, as you began to mop the floor. Finishing up his coffee, Reggie got up.

“Right, I’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry”

With Reggie’s assurance, Big Charlie exited the pub. Watching him walk out, you hoped all would go well while putting up the closed sign. Before you could even shift your thoughts, you felt the atmosphere in the room change, as you felt Reggie’s hands rest on your waist. Turning you to him in a flash, he pulled you close, forcing the mopping brush to drop hard on the floor, while his hungry lips attacked you with much force.

This sort of surprise, this sort of encounter, was nothing unfamiliar.

Kissing him back with equal need, you wrapped your arms around his neck, savoring his kiss flavored with coffee and tobacco, as he lifted you up to place you on the nearest table.

“Fucking hell...” he breathed into your lips, “...this is getting so hard”

“What?”you said playfully, “You mean this?...” you asked, with your bare knee grazing his clothed manhood.

“Cheeky...” He said, giving you a kiss ,”... I mean, sneaking around like this”

Sighing, you nodded. You did not disagree, for he had point.

The fact that you and Reggie Kray have been secret lovers for almost a month, does not make it easy to find the time to be alone together. That time was scarce, it was limited. Pretense was a default mode. And when you made love, indulgence and appreciation was represented by muffled cries or suppressed moans.

“So…” he said, stroking your cheek, “Esmeralda’s tonight?” He asked.

“Oh…” you began, leaning forward to brush your nose against his neck, “I will be at home” you whispered, “…waiting for you” purring, you looked at him before you bit your lower lip.

“As long as you promise to be quiet” Reggie teased, urging you to scoff softly.

“Shut up and kiss me”

The mopping brush will remain on the floor for a few more minutes, until these secret lovers decide to part their lips from each other.

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

(The next day, 1 day ago)

The snap of Ronnie’s fingers sounded so loud, bringing you back from your trail of thoughts while staring into the distance with a glass of sherry on your hand.

Close friends and members of the Firm gathered for a meeting at Kray’s matriarchal household. Once important matters were discussed, then came drinks and catching up.

“What do I have to fucking do, to get you to come to Esmeralda’s again? Put a red carpet?” Ronnie sounded soft, yet irritated.

“Well...that would be nice actually” you sniggered for a second until Ronnie looked away. “Awww...” you cooed, upon seeing his stubbornly upset face, “I’m sorry darling...” you said , leaning in to peck him on the cheek, “I wanted to but...I wasn’t feeling well”

His grunt of forgiveness saved you in the end.

“But I bet you must have had a smashing time” you said, trying to cheer him up, “Wasn’t Reggie there?” You asked, subtly motioning towards him who conversed with Albie in the far corner.

“No...he wasn’t” Ronnie replied, lighting up his cigar “was probably out with his new missus I’m sure”

“Yeah, probably” you muttered, hopelessly taken by how handsome Reggie looked. Only to realize Ron was sitting next to you.

“Wait a Minute, The the last time you weren’t there, so was Reg...” Ronnie began, suddenly in the midst of realization. You grew nervous.

“Really?” Hurriedly, you got up casually ,”Would you excuse me...” you said, as you left him to this thoughts.

As he watched you walk away, as he took a glance at Reg sneakily peaking at you passing him by, Ronnie couldn’t help but wonder.

“Fascinating..” he muttered.

Walking briskly, you found Mrs. Kray busy in the kitchen.

“Oh let me help with that Mrs.Kray” you said cheerfully as you released Violet Kray from washing the plates.

“Ah…aren’t you such an angel” she said, her tone filled with fondness over you. You beamed.

“Actually, Y/N…” she began, “Would you mind terribly if I ask you for a favor?”

Turning to her, you looked at her with eagerness.

“Anything Mrs.Kray”

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

(This morning)

Shutting the car door, Reggie stood in front of the house, filled with doubt.

“Somethin’ wrong Reg?”

Peeping from the window, Frank Shea asked while sitting on the driver’s seat.

“No...” Reggie replied, with his hands in his overcoat pockets, “Just wondering if mum is alright. She was fine last night”

“Well, all she told me was she wanted to see you...” Frank said, “... maybe you should check on her to make sure”

“Hmmm...right” nodding, Reggie set off towards the house, while Frank watched him with a grin on his face.

Knocking on the door was the only option for him, since he forgot the keys in such a hurry. First knock, no answer. Another attempt made, still nothing. Before he could knock once more with concern, he heard a female voice.

“Who is it?” Oddly sounding familiar.

“It’s Reggie...”

His defenses were torn down the moment your inquisitive head popped out from the door.

“Y/N?” He asked, confused.

“And Good Morning to you too” you replied, your hair tied in a soft high bun. Sighing, Reggie moved forward, “Where’s mum? Frank said she was asking for me” his entrance forced you open the door, backing up, “ Didn’t even have breakfast cause I was worried .Fucking starving st-“

He paused, lips parting with surprise the moment he fully turned to face you, and your eye-opening attire.

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

Loving Reggie Kray was indeed wonderful. But it brought out the adventurous side of you as well. Hence, you did not bat an eyelid to miss a chance to spice up a Sunday morning.

Dressed in nothing but a silk robe and lace panties, you made sure your ensemble seemed complete with garter belts and stockings, along with his favorite pair of heels you owned.

Caressed by the softness of the silk, your skin seemed more alive by his stare, which then had turned more towards lustful than confusion. And though you did not see yourself, you were certain your nipples reacted to his stare in an instant, given the fact it appeared to look like two mountain peaks covered with a veil of silk.

“Mrs Kray asked me to watch the place...” you spoke casually, “while she’s away to meet a friend” you said innocently, “ I was just passing the time and missed you oh so badly...” pouting as you watched him slowly walk towards you “I hope you’re not cros-“

His passionate kiss hushed you in an instant while grabbing you by the arm. “With you...never” he whispered , resuming his kiss and deepening it quickly. You heard yourself moan without shame when you felt his hands hold you by the upper waist, allowing his thumbs to encircle your nipples over the silk robe. Fireworks setting off between your thighs, you held on to him by his belt.

Breaking away, he took his time to undo the knot, opening your robe to find those buds fully erect and receptive. You swore you heard him exhale loudly.

“You still hungry?” You asked, pressing yourself against him. Shaking his head, he looked at you.

“Nah..” breathlessly, he replied.

“Well ...” you began, stroking his visible erection over his pants,

“I am”

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

Worried of his brother’s absence, it was no surprise that Ronnie would stop by the house. Frank’s confused expression did not seem to sit well with him as he entered the house.

“Reg?”

Opening the unlocked door, Ronnie looked around with caution as he entered the house.

Worried of his brother’s absence at E.Pellicci this morning, it was no surprise that Ronnie would stop by. And Frank’s confused expression did not seem to bode well with him either.

“Mum?”

With no sign of his mother, he began to scan for signs of intrusion in the living room and kitchen. The steps he took on the staircase were slow yet careful. The moment he reached the top, he paused by a sudden noise. It was a grunt. And it seemed to be originating from Reggie’s room. Drawing out his gun, he slowly walked towards it. Halting by the closed door, he heard another grunt

“For Fucks sakes…” Reggie mumbled,“Hold still...”

Worried, Ronnie did not wait any longer. With all his strength, he kicked the door to watch it open wide. With his gun pointed, Ronnie entered the room, only to drop his jaw with shock. For he saw it all in an flash.

You and Reggie together. Reggie, his brother, sitting comfortably on his bed, eyes closed in upmost pleasure while you stood on your knees between his thighs. Silk robe absent from your torso, your bare back writhed while you held on to his erect shaft, head bobbing back and forth as you feasted on him.

And he also saw how you both retracted in lightning speed, covering oneself and looking away in sheer embarrassment.

He saw it all indeed, with eyes so wide.

“The fuckin’ hell is this?”

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

(Present)

Heels clicked as you ran, as you ran through the streets with worry. This morning was certainly did not not take the adventurous route you expected. And it certainly proved to be nothing but embarrassing.

You wanted to see Reggie. You did not see him since he quickly persuaded Ronnie out of the house this morning after the reveal. Thank goodness he did, for you were able to dress, all the while gathering all forms of composure.

Hoping he’d be there, you slowed down the moment you saw the pub within your eye-line. You took deep breaths, calming oneself before entering. You longed for answers, you longed for reassurance. But as you entered, and found both brothers there, you weren’t sure what you longed for anymore.

“Right on time Y/N…” Big Charlie called out to you, “Go on and serve this to Ronnie now will ya?” He said, unaware of the situation as he handed you a plate of food. Fully aware of the fact you’re currently on the clock, you nodded curtly.

The incident flashing before your eyes on repeat, you walked over to them with such difficulty.

“Here you go Ronnie” you sounded meek, putting the plate down in front of him.

You stood there before him, nervous yet impatient. Involuntarily settling yourself on the chair opposite him and next to Reggie, you felt your heart beat out of your chest with such intensity. Was it possible that you were about to face the ruin of everything? Your friendship with Ronnie? Your relationship with Reggie?

You wished you knew.

“So Y/N…” he said.

Involuntarily settling yourself on the chair opposite him and next to Reggie, you felt your heart beat out of your chest with such intensity. Especially when Ronnie began to continue:

“How the fuck did my brother taste?”

Your eyes never grew this wide with shock, until today.

“W-What?”

Slamming his fist on the table, Ronnie Kray began to burst out laughing.

Rolling your eyes, you could not help but bow your head down with embarrassment. As you watched him point at the both of you, you knew you will not hear the end of it.

“Oi!! It’s not funny Ron...” Reggie snapped, placing his hand on your shoulder.

“Maybe for you...” Ronnie said, clapping his hands , “but it fuckin is for me” he added with joy.

“Oh my god...” you shook your head.

“Oh my god...??” He repeated, leaning in “Did you shag her up good to make her say that, Reg?”

Face turning tomato red, you were drowning with embarrassment as you put your head on the table, unable to look at your friend.

“Y/N and Reggie! Fuckin brilliant!” Ronnie cried out, stuffing a cigar between his teeth.

Turning your head, you stealthily caught Reggie’s glance. With his hand moving to your back, he winked at you in comfort.And that’s when you finally found your smile. A smile of relief. With a realization.

For the secret was finally out in the open. And thankfully no bridges were burnt down because of it. Nothing was to be sacrificed either. A little embarrassment from Ronnie Kray was worth enough to bring in freedom to this blooming love, and a halt to all those silly excuses.

___________________________________________

A/N: To the Anon who requested to this, I hope you enjoyed it. And to the other readers i hope the same <3

Tagged: @starlightmornings @rogerfxckingtaylor @thisisjeany

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suffering-and-happy-about-it · 5 years

Text

The Girl With A Red Shirt (A Red Shirt, part II.)

A/N: This is for @papisully, bcs I just wanted to, alrite? Also, you, as the reader, are drunk as hell in this, just letting you know. Also, the reader is drunk and cocky as shit, so let me live, pls.

Description: Victor Sullivan, treasure hunter and a businessman in his late thirties. One day, he got back from his gig and met a cute girl in his favorite laundry; just to forget his talisman there. And so, the trouble with the girl starts.

Mood for this one-shot: It just somehow went from Location by Khalid, went through Let’s Get Lost by G-Eazy and Devon Baldwin and somehow ended up at Tumblr Girls by G-Eazy. But you know the drill, listen to what you like to.

Warnings: I might get too carried away by smut. I did an oopsie.

“Don’t ask me why,” Sully said to the cell phone he had pinned to his shoulder with his head. He was smoking a cigar, calling someone and shaving at the same time. His mind was blown away not even a half an hour ago and he was actually curious about how many things he can multitask at once. “But Imma not gonna come tonite.”

“But we’re finishing the last pieces of the gig!” A woman with an Australian accent shouted back. She seemed to be mad at him and Sully couldn't say even a word back. They were almost done, after all, and he will be missing during the most important meeting of all. “You know how useless can you be when you get the intel on paper and not personally!”

“I just can't come to see ya tonite, Chloe. I have some different things planned.” Except his planes came to the sight before twenty minutes, maybe even less. He wasn’t sure about that.

Victor just needed his red shirt back, because he didn't feel complete without it. It was his talisman, after all, wasn't it? And a ridiculously hot girl who chewed bubblegum all the time had it on and she asked him to take it off.

Was he actually mad to miss this opportunity? Bet your best cowboy hat that he wasn't.

“You suck my blood so much it isn't healthy, Sullivan. You’ll have to count on Nathan to give you the intel. But I'm genuinely scared of the idea, God knows what would he tell you,” Chloe answered in a seriously irritated tone.

She and Charlie Cutter were usually the brains of the operation, Sullivan was the money giver and transport reinsurer and Nate was used to be the dumb monkey and muscle.

“Why couldn't you choose any other day?” She asked when Sully shouted a curse word out loud. He cut his chin on a place where it seriously hurt and he almost killed himself, when he jumped over a stool in his bathroom while he searched for a piece of toilet paper to stuck on the wound.

“Some plans just come without expectation, love.” He answered when he saved himself from bleeding out.

“Okay. But you'll need to study OUR plan then, don't forget about that.” She finally gave up and hung the phone. Sully finally got the time for himself to have a quick shower, put some cologne on and to choose clothes to not look like an old archeologic discovery.

He settled down on a plain white t-shirt, his bomber which he wore while he was driving on a motorcycle and some old pair of jeans. He looked like a man close to his forties, he couldn't lie to himself. But at least he had some personal style.

And Y/N looked like she was into him, so he wasn't worrying as much as he would normally do. Having a woman of her age showing him some affection gave him boost on his pride and gave him some sort of confidence.

Okay then, he answered her text finally. He was smiling wickedly to the screen of his phone while his tongue was stuck out a bit. Just tell me the place where we'll meet. I'll be there.

Again, he wasn't waiting too long for a response. She just shared her location with him and he was more than kindly willing to see her. So Victor took his car and went on a short drive to see her.

He came on the address that she sent to him after not even twenty minutes, looking at a house, there was a seriously loud party on. He had to say that he was disappointed. He looked forward to being alone with her; he really did.

Not to mention countless scenarios brushing over his head. His imagination was more than kind when it came to those things. Which things, you might ask?

Things like having that girl sitting on his lap in that shirt which was his, slowly taking it off while her smile became larger because she could see the things she caused him, that beautiful pain in his lap. The slow blinking of her eyes while they became darker with lust while she took the jeans off her body, throwing them far, far away. Victor closed his eyes as he inhaled slowly, crawling off his car after that.

There was a house full of people. Full of young chicks who were smiling at him while they sipped their beer with devils in their eyes. Some pop song was on and there were a few couples dancing, making out in a wild pace; everyone could see that they'll be in the bedsheets together in the next twenty minutes.

Victor was never actually fond of parties. Yet he didn't seem to be the man, he liked to be with a woman in private, just him and her, not on a loud place, maybe on a walk or on a dinner. Not even at his marina days, which happened twenty years ago, he wasn't actually a party animal.

The guys seemed to be amused by him; he was at least twenty years older after all. They were all buffed, all young and they seemed to be the funny ones, the cleverest in the whole world and the perfect lovers for someone like Y/N. And he was just there, an old man trying to look cool.

Maybe he was reading to her in a bad way after all? Maybe he heard what he wanted to hear? Maybe she wasn’t into that idea?

He almost turned around and walked off the house, letting her to keep his favorite shirt. But then he saw her.

Well, at first he saw that shit which belonged to him. The shirt showed more and more as she jumped during the dance. Y/N was dancing on the table with another girl, in short, denim shorts and his shirt on, her ponytail was swinging from side to side and her eyes were partially closed as she sang the lyrics.

He leaned onto a wall, smiling lightly as he watched her. She was smiling, dancing on the table and the youth was dripping from the tips of her fingers. Sometimes, she grabbed that second girl, pushed her body onto hers and put her hands onto the girl’s ass, sliding them into her back pockets.

“You're her dad or what?” A girl leaned next to him and offered him a cup of beer, watching Y/N on the table, putting the show-off.

“Do I look like her dad?” Sullivan asked with amusement, taking the offered cup and smiled at the girl. She was a redhead with huge glasses on, yet she didn't look like a nerd. It made her round face cute and it just got along with her personal style.

“If you are, she has an incredibly handsome dad, I must say,” redhead took a sip from her cup and then she trailed her look back to Y/N. “She’s always like that.”

“Seems to be funny enough to me,” Victor answered as he took another sip. He was becoming more and more thirsty as Y/N took the other girl’s to face into her hand, motioning that she might kiss her, yet she didn't.

“If you like her, you better stop and you should find someone different. She’s almost unreachable for most of the guys out here. And, no offense, old pal, but you're definitely far after zenith for a girl like Y/N.” The girl patted his shoulder as she left him standing there.

The song finally stopped and Y/N threw her hands into the thin air as the people around them started to clap. Then she high-fived the girl and accepted one boy's hand as he helped her to get off the table. Then she noticed him standing next to the door. Y/N felt as her smile grew a bit larger. She was drunk at that point; she always was when she was on a party of this type.

Normally, she wouldn't be able to even foreshadow having something with a girl, but when she was drinking, she didn't care. When she was this level drunk, she was able to kiss literally anyone.

Or at least before. Now, she has one particular person on her mind. She wasn't truly believing that Victor will come there to see her. She thought he might not have the balls to strip the shirt off her. But she smiled when he truly came.

“Hey there, washing lady,” Victor offered her his cup of beer because she seemed to be thirsty as hell. She didn't hesitate at all, drinking almost all of that beer. Y/N seemed to be really gentle, small and cute next to him. He was a giant next to her and that caught the attention of a few girls, including the redhead, and a lot of boys. Nobody actually believed that she would be into that guy, but these things happen.

“I'm glad ya here,” she threw her hands over the back of his neck, looking him to the eyes. Victor leaned in, forgetting all about him being a gentleman, putting his fingers into the back pocket of her denim shorts, bringing her lap closer to his.

“Well, you told me to take the shirt off. Who am I to not to listen to a lady's wish?” Victor looked into her eyes as she smirked. He felt the redhead just focusing her stares in his direction and he was really proud to prove her wrong.

Without any foreshadowing, she just leaned in and kissed him. Their lips crushed hard and he could feel her heat just slowly trailing his body as well. She was definitely drunk as hell, but Victor wasn’t complaining. It gave her the courage he liked and pushed him further as well.

“Come then. I’m not able to wait for you any longer. You let me hang on for almost a week and you didn't come to wash your clothes in the meantime,” Y/N whispered with her eyes pinned to Sullivan’s, taking the cup out of his hand.

She tugged his hand as she navigated them through the house. Victor felt the stares surrounding them and yet he wasn't more proud until that day.

They took a short hike on the stairs and Victor let her take the lead. She was looking around, changing short looks with other people. Every second she checked Victor. She was afraid that he would leave even tho he was holding her hand in a tight grip. He wasn't planning on leaving her there at any circumstances.

Finally, she found a bedroom without anyone inside and she let out an animalish growl as she turned around and slammed the door shut, locking them. The music was loud so much Victor couldn't even hear his own thoughts which was actually a good thing. He didn't want to be bothered with his own thoughts. There was no space for rationality at the moment.

It all happened so fast. Heated kisses stopped only when there was a need to breathe, fingers circled in his air and a smell of desire and passion in the air. Only growls mixed with the music could be heard in the thin air. His bomber flew off his body in an instance, just laying down on the ground just so he could feel her hands roaming his body.

Then the shoes and socks left their bodies at an equally fast pace, disappearing into the unknown. There was no need for words, no need for anything. There was only her and him alone in a room and desire was burning on each of them.

"What the hell are you doing to me? Just rip the shirt off, stop teasing me, Victor." She begged into his lips and tried to take the shirt and take it off by her own force. Victor immediately stopped her, holding her wrist in a tight grip.

“You're so impatient, young lady,” Victor whispered as he pushed her and let her fall directly on the bed. “You need to learn some patience,” Sully whispered with a voice sounding more like an animal than himself. He had to say that he really adored that a young girl of her nature was able to do that to him.

He learned how to have his own nature under control while he was in the marina. It looked like if it happened a hundred years ago, it was more than ten years ago and even now, sometimes the man who was working as a marina soldier showed up in him. Especially in times like this.

Victor wouldn't describe this part of himself like a dominant or selfish part, not at all. He just became sure in everything he has done, he was direct and he knew a few ways how to make her scream under his touch. All it took for her was a will to listen.

“And if I don't want to be patient and I'll be a naughty girl?” Y/N asked as she swung on her knees, taking his belt to her small soft hands, trying to undo it with the grace of a horny beast.

Victor held her wrists with a small effort to that touch, only a little push was needed to knock her off on her back, pushing his body directly on hers and letting his face rest in front of hers. He stayed in that position a while, he listened to her heartbeat and the rhythm of how she breathed.

Y/N looked like a painting with her face full of the sweet expectations, she had rosy cheeks and a naughty light in her eyes. Her lips were swollen because of the urgency of the way he kissed her and he felt how much was her body trembling under his weight.

She was sweet like honey and intoxicating like a shot of alcohol. His head was spinning a bit and if he couldn't feel the heat in between her legs, which was burning through their pants, he would stay in this position for forever.

“Then I would have to use some methods which are used when I'm taming a little baby girl like you are,” Victor answered in a low, perfectly husky tone even though the voice was raspy and it was stuck inside of his throat.

He lowered his hands after he made himself sure that she would stay in a position with her hands above her head, kissing her throat hungrily as he made a few of love marks and bites here and there. Victor couldn't help himself, some urge inside of him directly needed to mark her as his, for everyone to see when they left the room. He also expected her to stop him, but when she closed her eyes and panted in a sweet high tone, he knew that he's doing the right thing.

His hands slowly lured over her, unfortunately, still clothed, body, caressing it through the fabric of his most beloved shirt. With a quick movement, he took off his white shirt and threw it all over the small bedroom. Y/N didn't even give him a quick look, because she used her own hands to unbutton the shirt. She slipped out of it, standing on her elbows and finally watched, how handsome he was.

He was in good shape, without a doubt. His shoulders were really wide as the muscles were appearing perfectly clearly under his suntanned skin. He was scared and bruised in many places; her favorite was a light, yellow bruise under his left armpit. His body was through a lot and she knew it; he told her about what he does for a living. It wasn't a thing to wonder about.

“You are like some fucked up fantasy,” she whispered under breath when she touched Victor's chin while he unbuttoned her shorts. “Can I be your little dirty kink?”

“Let me taste and then we'll see, baby girl,” the shorts and panties were far gone now, as she lay in front of him with her legs opened to show him everything Y/N got. She was basically sinking into the mattress, even the little valley dividing her sweet fanny was wet. She was breathing heavily as he watched her, almost waiting for permission.

Without any other things popping up in his head, he just leaned forward, showing his head directly to the place she was dripping from. His tongue was fast, rough and that's what she needed so badly. She screamed to the roof and leaned from him in a wave of pleasure; so his forearms circulated around the top of her thighs, holding her directly on his face. Victor wanted this girl to be his death and that was a thing he never wanted before.

He wished to slowly drown in her dripping pussy, he wanted to close his eyes and slowly fall into the warmth of her lap, letting the tightness slowly choke him. Victor would accept all of that with a graceful smile. None of this was forced. He couldn't even remember a single time when he was kneeling in front of a woman, licking and sucking her like he was about to die and her pussy was the last thing that could save him. He growled into the sweetness as he was trying to get more of that juice.

After a while, her body found its rhythm, slowly moving in the tempo of his tongue as her hand slowly risen up and twirled in his hair, tucking it gently. Her sweet pitches were the thing that was heating up to go further and further, even though his tongue and jaws were hurting.

“No, no, no,” Y/N said in a shaky voice. She tugged his lips from the hottest spot on her body and Victor looked at her with confusion. Was he too rough? Why didn't she tell him that he's not doing her good? What could be done better? “I want to come on ya, Texas. Take those fucking jeans off and just do me good with that dick you're hiding down there.” Y/N leaned in for a short kiss, tasting her own flavor from his lips.

“I don't believe ya that ya haven't fucked woman in the woods. I mean, look at ya.” She said as she sat down on her ass and started to take her bra off, taking it with the shirt and throwing it on the ground.

“Look at me?”

“You look like a playboy, Texas. Your body just screams that you just lean woman on a tree and fuck the soul out of her body.” She smirked as she lied on her back, circling her fingers around the top of the bed.

“I mean, I haven't tried it yet,” Victor smiled when he kicked his jeans on a nearby bookcase. He climbed on the bed in between her legs, watching as her breasts moved up and down. “But if you're up to this sort of things, you can teach me.”

“Fuck me hard, mister Sullivan and then well see,” she whispered in a quiet tone. He mumbled shirt curse word under his breath; he hadn't think about condoms until this minute.

“Just do it, Texas,” she wiggled her hips from side to side with a smirk of a naughty girl. “I'm on my pills.”

He didn't need any other words. This was everything he needed to hear. He wanted to fuck the words out of her mouth and the teasing out of her head. Victor took her left hand in his right, entwining their fingers together and crashing his lips into hers as he slowly buried himself inside of her. No words were needed at that moment. It was just the two of them, breathing, sighing of a high woman and animal man growls and the song downstairs just slowing down and thrifting into another one.

He wasn't gentle with her at all. He was bouncing into her in a rough, quick tempo, he wasn't holding back anything. She was moaning his name with grace and gratefulness, being completely full of his dick. One of their hand was entwined with each other, holding each other in a tight grip, the second one was holding on the headboard od the bed, trying to hold it tightly from moving.

They were already heard all over the second floor and they knew that, but nothing could stop them at that point.

Her little valley was burning hot and wetter than Niagaras, her boobs were jumping in the tempo which their bodies were moving in. She tilted her head backward, closing her eyes with a sweet symphony out of her mouth. Victor leaned into her throat and started to bite into the tight, firm skin she got there.

They weren't too far from achieving the heights of orgasm. At one point it seemed that she wasn’t able to even breathe as she whined and shaken bit, holding him close by putting her leg on his waist. He could feel her little sanctuary where he was buried tightening in light vibrations at first, just as those words escaped her mouth.

“I'm about to come, Texas.”

And that's what made the bomb inside Sullivan just wildly go off. He wasn't gentle with her until that point, but now he went fully in, fucking her into the mattress like a machine. Her body just moved into his as she arched her back and shook her head as the sounds were just escaping her mouth. They went higher and higher as the closed her eyes firmly and all of a sudden...

“Oh my fucking God, Victor!” Y/N screamed loudly out of pure extasy as her body shaken firmly, she held him in her arms as he continued on fucking her to release himself; now holding the head of the bed in his arms as the sweat was pouring from him onto her skin.

Y/N was lucky enough to find a new level of ecstasy with him. Normally, the guys stopped when she was done, just handling their boners on their own; but Victor wasn't that kind of guy. He wanted to mark even on the place where no-one could see it. Her pussy was wet and handling him so good that he hadn't got any reason to stop until he felt, how the energy is released from him.

Then, after all of that, he slowly put his forehead on hers, trying to catch his breath. He didn't even notice how wet both of them are because of the sweat and how red her cheeks were. She was still holding his back, trembling a bit, her eyes were closed. She held herself close to him, her pussy was holding his dick, her thighs were holding his waist and her hands were on his back.

He could finally see what he caused to her - the left side of her neck was practically violet, full of bloody love marks and bites; there were a few on the other side of her neck as well, but not as much as on the other side.

“Are you alright, baby girl?” His palm slowly smoothed her wet hair, definitely released from the ponytail.

“I've never experienced anything as good as this, Texas,” Y/N said quietly as she kissed him slowly, with that tender, post-sex passion. Sully slowly crawled out of her body, lying next to her, watching her slowly turning to lay on her belly.

“So you asked if you could be my kink, did you?” Sully trailed his hand from her shoulder to her waist, gently caressing the skin of per perfectly shaped bum. She nodded, smiling into her forearms. “I'm sure you can. But what now?”

“What about just take the clothes on and leaving this place together? Take me wherever ya want, Texas.” She sat, searching for her panties and denim shorts.

“God. I want to fuck you again as soon as I can.” Sully whispered as she slowly put her bra on, hiding it underneath his white t-shirt and that motorcycle bomber. Her hair was all around her face in long waves and she was smiling, still having rosy cheeks and sweaty forehead.

“So come on, we’ll see what we can do about that.” She tried to speed him up while he was taking his boxers and jeans on. When he was all tidily done, she took his hand in hers, taking him out of the house. Sullivan couldn't describe the pride when she moved her hair so every single person could see her marks. She showed them as war scars, she wore them proudly.

So they left together that day. And the days after as well.

#victor sullivan #Victor goddamn Sullivan #young victor sullivan #uncharted fandom #one shot #smut as hell #lemons #sully x reader #hell yeah #i love him #ok #let me live #have a nice day #uncharted fanfiction

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purkinje-effect · 6 years

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The Purkinje Effect, 27

Table of Contents

A few days later, for most of the afternoon Geek toiled over KL-E-O’s workbench, with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. With the belt sander, he sharpened his latest project. His wrench-shiv served as a reverse tang of sorts, atop which he practiced controlling his metallic sweat, building up its blade with whatever his palms would excrete. Occasionally, he would lick his fingers, or the knife directly, to slick down the material into curves. What flowed readily seemed mostly lead and tin, and the approximation of his sweeping, jagged work of art to solder was not lost to his amusement, as he smoothed and added, smoothed and added, time and again picking at it until he felt less dissatisfied than before. The piece ended up something between a machete and a karambit, but both the heft and functional shapes pleased him. A series of stylized keyholes trailed the center, and a pair of exaggerated false edges swept both the tip and base of the spine of the blade. He wondered whether he could control the concentrations of the alloys that his pores eliminated, by means besides mitigating his diet.

The sickle-like curvature of the false edges evoked the notion of Cronus. Lead was associated with Saturn, wasn’t it? Classical mythology had filled one of the books in his collection at the vault. It was decorum, to name a blade such as this, a testament that he could weaponize the trauma and from it forge constructive artifacts. Alchemy, he mused to himself. He’d have to futz with his knuckles, if Cronus could prove itself.

Kill or Be Killed had an open store front right on the plaza. As the pink ghoul honed the forming weapon, he noticed across the way in his peripheral, someone come through the one entry into Goodneighbor: a Mister Handy with a ton of wrong parts. He stopped working to watch, absently intrigued as the pale blue hovering mishmash of robotics paused in the plaza, only to zip down the alley.

“That--”

Geek wrapped up his mostly-finished project in a piece of canvas and tucked it in a thigh pocket, to sprint out after the robot. Somebody had been riding on the domed back of that robot. He hadn’t gotten a good look at the dreg, but he didn’t have to, to know they fit the description.

Did he really manage it? Geek thought to himself, scanning the once Scollay Square to tail the robot-riding idiot. Anybody smart enough would’a taken the chance to skip town without wearin’ Hancock’s crosshairs. Why the hell would he come back?

The Neighborhood Watch ghouls on duty at the front face of the Third Rail noticed Geek’s demeanor and gestured at the double doors with their rifles. He nodded with a slouch and jogged in. Ham, the ghoul bouncer in a black pinstripe suit, started to say something to him, but he patted Ham on the shoulder without stopping on his way down the stairs to the subway loading platform that had transformed into the settlement’s illustrious bar. Now that he knew what Jet smelled like, he recognized the previous elusive sweet-stink to the humid atmosphere down here.

A quick skim of the main hall yielded nothing. Losing interest, he approached Charlie for a drink.

“Ah, it’s you again. Gotta thank you again for taking care of that rat problem before. Sure you’re interested t’hear I’ve added the mineral variety to the spirits I pour out.”

“Very.” He doused a few caps on the counter while the Handy reached under the counter to produce the requested tin of turpentine.

“You might also like t’hear the mayor’s in the VIP Lounge at the moment. Something about a private meetin’.” Charlie began to polish at a glass with its pincer-tipped tentacle-limbs. “Seemed like you were followin’ somebody when you first came in, and the timing suggests to me he’s your man.”

Geek sprinkled a few more caps where the first dozen or so had been, as gratuity, and patted at the counter with endearment.

“Exactly what I needed, Charlie. Thanks.”

He took the tin with him to the back room, strung with cage lights, and eavesdropped on the meeting from the corridor that led into the lounge itself. The pale blue Handy idled at one end of the room, while the vault dweller sat on a couch at the far wall, fidgeting with a cane in his lap. Though he couldn’t see around the corner, he could hear that Hancock and Fahrenheit sat opposite the dweller. Yeah, he had a Pipboy, too--but was it his? This frail guy looked in his forties, huge round white-rim glasses, had an undershaven black ponytail that had half-fallen into his face, and wore a tailored single-breasted off-white suit. There seemed to be a high white leather gorget with dark seams beneath the cream dress shirt--no, it was medical gear. It all made sense now. The braces, the cane... and his Frankenstein of a Handy. It doubled as a wheelchair, didn’t it?

“--And you’re lucky I didn’t die,” Fahrenheit seethed. “Still stiff as fuck.”

“I-- I am,” the dreg stuttered out. “I panicked. When I came to town, I didn’t know who to trust, and when it came out Bobbi had played me an’ Mel. I couldn’t make sense of the situation in the moment. Makin’ it look like I’d greased you an’ your guards was the only way I thought I could get away with not killing anybody.” He bit at his lower lip and stared at his Handy as it floated there. “I don’t regret having to take care of Bobbi like that, but I sure am glad I didn’t have to get rid of Mel. He didn’t know who he was working a job on any more than I did.”

Listening to the guy nagged at Geek. It had been carefully groomed over time, but that was unmistakably a Russian accent.

“And what of the caps we negotiated, hm?”

The guy flinched at Hancock’s threat-loaded question.

“Can’t we-- work something else out?”

“Reading my mind. Finn in the dirt, and Bobbi written off, I’m lacking brawn and brains. You were crafty enough to swindle me, and resourceful enough to adjust the playing field in real time--quickly--to compensate for... mistakes. That sounds like the makings of an idea man. Definitely the kind of Nimrod I want even closer, if you catch my meaning.”

Geek spat out a mouthful of spirits. Knowing he’d given himself away, he walked in. Hancock patted at the free spot of the couch beside him opposite Fahr, both of whom were relieved to see it was just him. The mayor threw his arms around both of them once Geek sat.

“Just the ghoul I wanted to see.”

“You gotta be kidding me, Hancock,” he started, taking a fresh swig of turpentine as he gawked back and forth between the dreg and his boyfriend. “This guy blew up your strongroom and drained it dry, and he damn near killed Fahr. An’ ain’t it his fault Finn’s dead?”

Shaken beyond composure, the dreg produced a flask from his waistcoat pocket, and took after Geek. Though the jamjar lenses obscured the exact way he was looking at the pink ghoul, he was sure he could tell exactly what the dreg was thinking. Everyone always reacted badly to his complexion.

“Melancholy, this is Geek. Geek, Melancholy.”

Hancock stopped picking at his fingernails with his hunting knife and pulled out two cigarettes. The ghoul briefly borrowed Fahr’s cigar to stoke them off the cherry before handing it back, then offered Geek one while he took the other for himself. Geek stared, displeased, at this Melancholy dreg and, without breaking eye contact, swallowed his turpentine cap before taking the smoke from Hancock. ‘Choly straightened and tried to stifle an awkward chuckle, the corner of his mouth twitching.

“The pleasure’s all his, I’m sure,” Geek said.

“Oh. Ohh, it is.” ‘Choly sniffed, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I assure you, it is.” Geek’s face soured at this.

“...Ain’t about t’tell you how t’run y’town, but you trust this loon after what he did?”

“I trust the Mayor’s judgment on this, long as 'Choly keeps that damn bloatfly gun holstered in town.” Fahr snarled in disgust, and put out her well-chewed cigar on the arm of the couch before flicking the butt across the room into the cardboard box in the corner. “Never want to see anything like that again in my life. Still having nightmares. Gonna have nightmares for weeks.”

‘Choly couldn’t help but smile and murmur in sly reminiscent pride.

“I-- am not gonna ask.” Geek rubbed at his forehead a minute with his smoke hand, already wearing conversational exhaustion on his face. “Y’wanted t’see me, though?”

“Sure you heard most of our conversation up to now,” Hancock mumbled warmly, pulling him closer by the shoulder. “I’m filling recently... vacated positions. If he’s the brains, you’d certainly make great brawn, love.”

Geek slipped out of the mayor’s arm and sat next to ‘Choly, and squeezed his knee with sustained eye contact. He noted that he could feel the hinges of leg braces, as he’d suspected, beneath the slacks. Up close, he could see white splotches mottled the right side of the dreg’s face, and a scar slashed his lower lip.

“What vault you say you was from again?”

‘Choly pushed Geek’s hand off his knee with both hands, squirming in discomfort, then looked back up at him and clasped his cane firmly.

“I-- I’m from Concord. One-eleven. Why?”

The cigarette twitched in Geek’s lips.

“It’s just I don’t get it. Who fucked up and let a Commie in a vault?” ‘Choly wrung at his cane, put on the spot. “Who’d you kill for that Pipboy, mh?”

‘Choly stared at him from over the top of his glasses, cataracted eyes glazed and jaundiced.

“--I could ask you the same thing, you... you pink Plymouth. You’re from a functional vault, I’m guessing?”

Geek swallowed his lit cigarette, incredulous, and barely kept himself from decking the dreg.

“Gentlemen!” the Handy interjected, unnerved. “There’s no use in being contrary. Isn’t that right, Sir?”

“It’s all right, Angel.” Indignity softening, he looked Geek up and down as he adjusted his glasses again, more for emphasis than need. “He’s easy on the eyes, even if his belfry’s not all in order.”

“Now--” Hancock bolted up before he crossed his arms and cooled himself into a chuckle. “Geek’s one thing you aren’t gonna get away with stealing from me.”

Geek sputtered a laugh and leaned onto his knees, cradling his face into one hand. ‘Choly glanced between them, overtaken by a deep flush. Fahr rolled her eyes, and decided to kick her feet up across the couch since Hancock had begun to pace.

“If you’re interested in sticking around town, you might do well to go speak to Clair in the Rexford,” the mayor urged. “All I’m asking is you think about my proposition, ‘Choly.”

“Oh, he’ll proposition you,” Fahr grunted. “Damn sleaze.”

‘Choly ignored her and looked expectantly to Hancock.

“So you’re... you’re not running me out of town, then?”

“Long as you’re good for business, rather than disrupting it.” The mayor grinned. “Fred tells me you make some mean Mentats. Gonna have to prove it.”

“I, yes. Definitely. Definitely!” ‘Choly put up his flask and patted his chest where he’d put it, then leveraged his cane to stand. Approaching Hancock, he offered a gloved handshake and took the mayor’s in both of his. “Let me sleep on it, Mayor. I’ll... I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“All right, now.” Hancock grinned and patted him on the shoulder with his free hand. “Shoo. Mingle. And try not to put both feet in your mouth?”

As 'Choly and his Handy exited shrewdly, the sound of his cane-gait shadowed their departure. Hancock walked over to Geek, who’d stood with the transparent intent to follow the newcomer again.

“Y’really trust a Red to finance Goodneighbor?” Geek asked him, the three of them leaving the lounge as well. “A Red who ripped you off?”

“It’s been two centuries since one’s nationality was a reliable measure of their credibility, Geek. My sources tell me that lil’ Ruski dismantled an entire raider operation just a few months back. The survivors aren’t even confident they’ve got an accurate account of what happened, it happened so fast. He might not look like anything, but he’s a whip.” Hancock glanced to him with a stern pleasantry. “Nobody’s stoppin’ ya from keeping an eye on him, if your gut feeling is strong. But try not to run him off before he gives me his answer, okay?”

The pink ghoul finished off his turpentine, and watched as ‘Choly mounted the cloth stirrups of his Handy, and the two scaled the stairs and vanished rounding up to street level.

“You bet your ass I’m keepin’ my eye on him.”

#fallout 4 #fallout 4 fanfic #fo4 fanfic #fo4 oc #fallout 4 oc #the purkinje effect #purkinje effect #geek #hancock #sole survivor #melancholy #fahrenheit #cronus is in between a disciples cutlass and kremvh's tooth. it adds lead poison damage for its legendary #with all this talk of lead and saturnism we're gonna lampshade that geek's real name is galen

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kpop-ruins-our-lives · 8 years

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Faded - Jungkook scenario (Mafia AU, angst, slight fluff)

A/N: I had this idea and imagination for a while now, thought I should write and post it! Inspired by movie “Legend” Hope you like it :) Tell me your thoughts on it if you want to ^^

Members: Jungkook x You, ft. Jimin Genre: angst/ slight fluff Word count: 3760 Warnings: cursing, fighting etc..

It's funny how person can have such an affect on you, change you. He was my guy, my man who I loved. It took a lot of love for me to hate him the way I do. His name was Jungkook. A guy who loved money, didn’t love to be lied or played, because it will end awful for you. His best friend Jimin, liked being a gangster too. Money, luxury, loved good looking women. If anyone messed with them, it would end up ugly. You could have an agreement with them to do something, but with no money there is no game to play. Jimin was older than Jungkook. He owned few clubs in the city. Biggest ones, most popular ones. They loved being the center of everything. They met a lot of famous people during the years of owning their clubs. They had anything that you wish for in your life. ------------------

“Where is Aden?” Jungkook turns towards his daily guard Frank, who is with him or near him each day, 24/7. “He can’t get up. Probably still sleeping Jungkook” he looks at him leaning against the car “Let’s go visit him.” Jungkook said and got in the back of the car.

Driving for 20 minutes, Frank stops at Aden’s house. Jungkook gets out and walks to the front door of his house, knocking few times. - That is where I come in. From that moment it all started to change. -

You had a small smile on your lips as you looked at Jungkook. He tilts his head, looking at you. “Who are you?” “Y/N.” you smiled “Aden’s sister” you added “Your brother was supposed to be at work hour or two ago. Is he home?” You call out for Aden. And look back at Jungkook. “How come I never saw you?” he spoke, putting his hands in his pockets “Probably we never came across each other.” Jungkook smiled at your response and nodded his head “What you have there?” he points at the counter, at big bowl with candy Aden quickly opens his bedroom window. “Sir I WILL BE RIGHT DOWN!” he shouted and hurried to get dressed in his white shirt and grey suit Jungkook looks down from the window at you. “Those are hard candy? Want one? I am chewing on one now” you said and walked to the bowl “What kind you eating?” “Lemon and strawberry in the middle?” “That one sounds good” he smiled You gave him the candy and he puts it his mouth. Few seconds later he would chew it. “You’re not supposed to chew it right away, you know?” you look at him, leaning against the door frame “Well, I need to get to that strawberry. It’s too much of a wait” “You are supposed to be patient” you smile “By being so patient, doesn’t get you what you want, does it?” he looked away and then slowly back at your eyes again “I’ll tell you what” he steps a bit away “You go out with me, and you brother doesn’t get into trouble, he is in” You stop for a moment, look around and nod your head. “Okay, I’ll go out with you, but not for that reason” you smile “Y/N get back in here, you need to clean the kitchen!” you hear your mom shouting, turning your head “Saturday, 8PM?” Jungkook raised his eyebrows “Sure” you smiled and Aden walks down the hall in hurry and you walk away Aden and Jungkook walked together down the path. Jungkook slaps lightly across back of Aden’s head. “Ouch!” Aden puts his hand behind his head, looking at Jungkook “You’re lucky you didn’t get anything more painful” Jungook smiled and sat in the car with Frank in front and Aden driving.

Jungkook looked through the window, watching the city, people. “Aden, how come you never told me about your sister” “Ah she’s just very shy, fragile in a away.” “Oh… She’s a nice girl you know?” “Yes, she’s a beautiful person inside and out” Aden nods his head, driving

--- Jimin was sitting down with his guards and friends Tommy, Ron. He watched the people in the club, listened to singers singing live on stage. Walks over Patrick, also the guy in their crew. “Charlie is drunk and waving with a gun in his hand, in front of the club.” He said to Jimin “Always ruins such an amazing evening” Jimin said and got up being followed behind with his guys. He walks outside, throwing his cigarette away, and look at Charlie. Charlie noticed Jimin, and stops fulling around and keeps looking at him. “What are you doing mate?” Jimin asked putting one hand in his pocket, getting closer to Charlie “I got drunk a bit” he looked down “You’re waving around with a fucking gun, you know that? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Jimin points at him “I’m sorry Jimin.” “Go on, hand the gun to Ron.” Jimin said and Charlie gives the gun to Ron “Here” Jimin takes out the pack od cigars and hands one to Charlie, he puts it in his mouth, and Jimin gets the lighter and lights up the cigarette. Soon as he inhales, Jimin punches Charlie in the face. “Don’t you EVER walk around my club drunk. Waving a fucking gun. Little slut” Jimin grabbed Charlie’s face and pushes him away. “Get some tissues” Tommy said and Ron ran inside Jimin runs his fingers through his hair and walks back into the club.

--- “He is a criminal Y/N. A gangster! He doesn’t give a damn about you” Jungkook was leaning against his car, waiting for you, with him cigarette in his mouth. “You know what?! He seems nice! Just so you know I will kiss him!” he smiled and saw you walking outside, throwing his cigarette away. You walked towards Jungkook. You stop in front of him. “You look lovely” he smiled “So do you” you smiled looking at his black suit and tie. Jungkook opens the car door and you get inside. Arriving at the club, Jungkook greeted a lot of people. “Everyone knows you here” you said “My best friend owns the club, so do I, but not fully” Jungkook looks down at you “Jungkook” Jimin shouted “That is him.” Jungkook smiled and two of them hugged each other “Who you have here?” Jimin looks at you smiling “This is Y/N. Y/N this is Jimin” “Nice to meet you” Jimin smiles and shakes your hand “I’ll leave you two to have alone time… Enjoy” Jimin pats Jungkooks’ back and walks through the crowd

Jungkook and you sit down. Soon after the drinks come. People kept greeting Jungkook. “Fuck off” Jungkook didn’t make any sound and looked at his guard. “It’s important” they were communicating “Are you talking to someone?” you laugh a bit “Sorry, they want to talk to me, but they don’t understand I have a nice lady with me” Jungkook apologizes “It’s okay, if it’s important. I will wait” you look at his eyes “Are you sure?” “Yes” you nod your head “Hey Ron!” Jungkook waves him to come here “Stay with her, till I come back” Ron nods his head and sits down next to you

Jungkook walks over to Tommy, who was standing in the corner. “I have a lady there.” Jungkook said being annoyed “I know, but it’s important Jungkook” Tommy said as two of them walked Standing in the corner of crowded room was Charlie again and Alec. “Jungkook. Charlie has something to say. Come on spill It out” Alec looks at Charlie “Go on” Jungkook said taking out an cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it up “There is something…” Charlie said “Are you gonna take whole damn night? I don’t have fucking time” Jungkook looks down his watch “I took some money, off the bank account. I just wanted to make my girlfriend happy. And it was tight situation..” Charlie said Jungkook looks at him and then at two of them. “Is that it? That is so important?” he raised his eyebrows “You will just pay every dollar you took. Did you hear me?” Jungkook points at him and inhales “I thought about suggesting that” Charlie slowly nods his head. Jungkook hands him a cigarette and goes to light it up for Charlie but punches him in the face like Jimin did. Alec tells Tommy to get some tissues, because he was bleeding out of his nose again. “Don’t you ever steal our money again you prick” Jungkook whispers to Charlie and start to walk away “Fucking hell” he hears Charlie said “Oh what did you say?!” Jungkook turns around, Tommy holds him by his arms “Let him go” he said “Get him out right now. I don’t want to see him again. No one is gonna curse in this club” Jungkook and Tommy walk together “There is something else Jungkook” “No, I am not dealing with anything else no more. I have a beautiful girl there, I want to have a nice evening. SO leave me out of this. Get Jimin” Jungkook hands the cigarette to Tommy and walks away, towards your table. Ron stands up and walks away and Jungkook sits down. “I’m sorry for that… Did I miss anything?” “No, just me” “Now that is important” he smiled and took a sip of his drink You look down. “Do you like being a gangster?” you look up at him. Jungkook stares back at you, acting like he doesn’t know what you’re talking about. He slowly shakes his head no “I am not…A gangster” he said and you smiled looking at him “I like the money, the luxury… But I am not a gangster” he said You nod your head. “Fuck off” you could read from his lips and laugh a bit “What?” he looks back at you “I find it funny when you don’t want anyone to interrupt you, so you like fuck off” you laugh and he smiles “I want this night to be good, great. Just because I am spending it with you” he stared at your eyes. You smiled a bit and looked down his lips and just lean in. pressing your lips against his. Two of you kissed. And Jimin watched with a smile on his face. He was happy, but didn’t know how will everything work out between you two.

Being with Jungkook was everything you wanted. You didn’t expect him to be such a sweetheart, even if he was bad, you would like it anyway. There was something about him that you just couldn’t let go. -03/09/2017- We spent hours on his bed, in his bedroom, laying down. Our lips being connected for hours. His body on mine. He made me feel safe, made me feel good. He was everything I wanted. A lot of me was lost in him. He knew me better than ever. He was there for me. My mother didn’t like him. Kept saying he is the mistake I made. I don’t feel that way.

Jungkook heard the same stories over and over that your mother was telling you before you leave the house to go with him. His half smoked cigarette is thrown away each time he waited for you. It’s a waste for a cigarette but you’re more important than that. “Yup, each time you take my breath away Y/N” Jungkook smiled and took your hand pulling you closer to him. He leans down kissing your lips, you deepen the kiss and then pull away, smiling. “Such a tease… Go on get in the car” he laughs shaking his head

Two of you walked down the park. You look up at him, he looks down at you. “What is it? I bet you have something on your mind” he spoke “I never thought that I’ll be with a man like you” you look around the park, looking at all the flowers, trees. Everything felt relaxing and you loved it. Loved to be with Jungkook in such moments, places.

Jungkook looked down at you, with a small smile on his lips. He admired how beautiful you look, are. How he found himself in you. You were like a missing puzzle he couldn’t find. You were a beautiful red rose, who he took care of, so the petals won’t and don’t fall down to the ground. He kept you growing, helped you finding yourself. Wanted you to know that you matter, that you deserve him. That you believe him in every and each way possible. That you’re safe with him, in his arms, that no one can’t hurt you. He knew you trusted him. He can’t break it. Doesn’t want to break the trust you have. Watching you speaking, he couldn’t hear you from all the thoughts that were going through his head. “Why you looking at me like that?” you smiled “I love you.” He spoke and two of you stop walking You kept looking at him, just to process what he said. A smile grew on face. “I love you too.” You said softly Cherry blossoms start to fall on two of you and the ground as the wind blows. Both of you smiled looking at each other. Jungkook reaches to your hair and pulls out one cherry blossom out of your hair. You step on your toes and kiss him, holding your hands on his chest. Soon the stone cold winter started to pass and spring was already here.

--- -04/30/2017- It’s about to be May soon. Crazy how times fly’s. I am feeling, bit empty. I miss Jungkook. I miss his hugs, kisses, sound of his laugh, his beautiful eyes that would look at me for hours. He got caught up in so work lately that I don’t know if he’s even okay. I got my driver’s license finally, I waited for it so long. Jungkook bought me a car on my birthday. White Aston Martin DB9 Carbon… It’s funny how he bought me such an expensive car, he didn’t want me to ask about the price. It was a birthday gift. I asked him “Do you want to take a drive with me?” and his smile faded from his face. “I can’t” he rubbed back of his neck. “Oh It’s okay” I just spoke and looked away, looking at the car. “I can’t today, but some other time” he said and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I thought how is always the same thing. Business. I understand. But when will I matter again like he cares so much about his business shit. I get mad sometimes at him. I don’t answer his calls or text messages. But he always comes to my place as the situation is like that, because he’s worried. AT least he’s worried. I wonder does he love me like he used to do? That question will be answered sooner or later.

You decided that night to get dressed up, and go to Jimin’s and Jungkook’s favorite club they own. They spend most of their time in that club. Since Jungkook said he doesn’t have time not even tonight, you just wanted to see what is actually happening. “Ahh miss Y/N. Good evening” John smiled as he was guarding the pass to the club “Good evening John. Let me in?” you smiled looking up at him “Of course. Have a good night” he smiled and let you inside

Most of people working for them two knew you, because of Jungkook. Everyone greeted you and kept smiling at you. “Can I get you anything?” Ron walks up to you “I’m good Ron… Is Jungkook anywhere near?” you look around, but don’t seem to notice him “Oh yeah, boss is sitting there, near the stage with Jimin” he points “Thank you” you smiled

As you kept walking towards. Two of them were laughing their asses off. Holding drinks in their hands. By Jungkook’s face you could tell he was drunk. Both of them were. As you approached them, Jimin noticed you first and stopped to laugh and got serious, Jungkook looked over at Jimin, not getting what’s wrong. He turns his head in direction he’s looking and sees you. You stop at their desk. Looking at Jungkook. “Babe” “Your “I can’t tonight” is this huh?” you laugh and shake your head walking away. Jungkook stood up and followed you, so did Jimin.

“Y/N please stop” he threw his cigarette away. “No, leave me alone” you said, walking straight “Y/N fucking stop” he grabs your arm tightly. You look up at him. He let’s slowly let’s go. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to curse in front of you.” “You were lying whole damn time!” you push him lightly Jimin stops near the door and lights up a cigarette, just waiting. “Y/N I am sorry.” “You’re even drunk. Is that what you do every night?” you asked “We got some business that mattered done and we are celebrating” he smiled widely, his eyes being sparkly “When will I matter like that fucking business?” you asked and Jungkook stared at you, not saying a word. You slap him across his face and tear up, walking away.

Jimin watched the show, watched you leave. Jungkook turned round and walked towards him. “Give me that” he spoke and took his cigarette “Let’s get even fucking drunk” Jungkook added “I think you shouldn’t let her go away” Jimin points, sliding one of his hands into his pocket Jungkook looks down, inhales and turns his head, looking at the street where you walked down to. He nods his head and hands the cigarette to Jimin and starts walking towards you.

You cried, even when you got back home. You threw all your stuff away, sitting down in the living room. You hear knocks on your front door. You quickly wipe off the tears and walks towards the door, knowing Jungkook will be standing there. You slowly open the door and look at his eyes. “I’m sorry Y/N.” he said “You know couples fight, but they make up, just because love keeps them together” he looks down at you “Love keeps them strong” he added “I know I messed up, I was caught up in everything. Jimin now told me you shouldn’t let her go away like that. Kept telling me how beautiful girl you are and that I should go after you. So here I am. I know I made a mistake. I’m sorry” he kept talking and all you could is have a small smile on your face, you thought he really cares. He actually looks like it and his words sound true. You put your hand on his neck and pull him down towards your face. “It’s okay” you kiss his lips “I’m sorry” he said between the kisses “It’s okay.” You said gain and kissed him more

-05/20/2017-

Yes it was okay. Okay again. But it started to get worse. I knew the answer to my question. No, he doesn’t love me anymore. My eyes are tired from crying, my body and mind tired of trying. We fight a lot now. He doesn’t chase after me as he did the first time. Now he gets even more drunk, so he forgets. In the morning he would visit me and say sorry, I, like a fool would fall for him over and over again and tell him sorry. You know not every “Sorry” deserves an “It’s okay” in return. I learned that. I saw this quote the other day. It says: “ “just tired” she muttered but you could tell it was not just a lack of sleep, but lack of hope and happiness that made her act the way she did” I felt connected with it. He was my happiness, my everything. I started not get no sleep because of all the worries and just all the hoping for him to change.

I always thought if the hurt or sadness comes, so will the happiness. I know it will be hard for me to let go. All I ever wanted was him. He was the shadow to my light. He fade away. “Hey” he was sitting on the bench in the park. Park where two of you confessed love to each other. It was a beautiful day. Beautiful day for a walk, for thinking, relaxing. “Hey” you said and sat next to him. “You told me you wanted to talk” Jungkook turns his head towards you, observing your face “You know it’s been rough time. Between us.” “Oh come on Y/N. We’re just fine” “Fine you say? What about all the things you’re putting me through? I’d never do this to you.” You look at his eyes “Y/N..-“ he tries to take your hands in his, but you move it away slowly. “I’m in pain” you tear up Jungkook stares at you, and quickly pulls you in a hug. His chin rests on your head. You could smell his perfume he always wears. You’ll miss it. “I’m sorry.” He spoke softly “I know you are.” You move away and wipe off the tears “But I think perhaps we’ll meet again when we’re better for each other” you look at his one last time before leaving He bit on his lip, holding it between his teeth. Looking down at his hands. You knew he’ll shed a tear. He cares about you. -06/05/2017-

“It’s okay to still think about him. If he’s still all you can talk about, it’s okay. If you still can’t fall asleep because of the thought of him on your mind, it’s okay. It’s okay, because all of these things will slowly fade. It’s okay, because one day you’ll wake up and realize you’re over him. You won’t forget him, but you will see that being without him will make you a little less sad every day. So don’t give up and believe in yourself, because it will all be okay in the end.” I smiled and learned that is okay. That truly is okay. Maybe Jungkook and I just fell in love at the wrong time. Wrong place. If I could send Jungkook a letter. There would be three words and his favorite line he loved to say. “Don’t forget me. Until the flowers bloom again, please stay there a little longer” Before I stop writing in this notebook of mine. Where I will let all the memories stay and be. You need to learn to let go of everything that doesn’t want to stay.

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itsfinancethings · 5 years

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November 27, 2019 at 09:13PM

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts became the first state to ban flavored tobacco and nicotine vaping products, including menthol cigarettes, after Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law on Wednesday a bill that’s meant to reduce the appeal of the products to young people amid a rash of illnesses and deaths linked to vaping.

Anti-smoking groups hailed the ban, which restricts sale and consumption of flavored vaping products immediately and does the same for menthol cigarettes starting June 1, 2020.

“The Massachusetts law is a major milestone in the fight to reverse the worsening e-cigarette epidemic and stop tobacco companies from targeting and addicting kids with flavored products,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

But the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, which opposed the legislation, said it’s exploring challenging the new law in court, or seeking other ways to change it.

“Public health and safety has been dealt a blow by anti-tobacco crusaders exploiting a youth vaping crisis, and by lawmakers bypassing prudent policy-making,” the group said in a statement.

In recent months, Massachusetts and other states, including Michigan, Montana, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington, have temporarily banned or restricted the sale of vaping products. But Massachusetts is now the first with a broad, permanent ban in place on all flavored tobacco or nicotine vaping products, anti-smoking groups say.

The new law specifically restricts sale of the products to licensed smoking bars such as cigar bars and hookah lounges, where they’ll only be allowed to be consumed on-site. The restriction extends to menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco.

It also places a 75% excise tax on nicotine vaping products, gives public health officials new authority to regulate the products and requires health insurers cover tobacco cessation counseling.

Baker said he hopes other states adopt similar restrictions but argued that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are the only ones that can address the issue comprehensively for the nation.

“Sometimes someone has to go first,” he said. “It’s pretty clear there isn’t going to be a federal policy on this anytime soon. So, in the absence of that, we had to act.”

President Donald Trump has promised for months to approve a national ban on most flavored e-cigarettes. But in recent weeks his administration has walked back that promise, cancelling a planned announcement of a ban in favor of private meetings with the vaping industry and medical professionals.

Massachusetts’ decision to extend the ban to menthols is unique. The mint flavor has typically been exempt from such restrictions because it’s long been one of the most popular flavors.

Menthols were omitted from legislation passed by the New York City Council on Tuesday after advocates, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, argued their inclusion could lead to harsh police enforcement in the black community.

Studies have shown menthol cigarettes are consumed disproportionately by young people and minorities, and anti-tobacco groups and health experts have argued menthol has been marketed to African Americans.

But there have been recent signs that reluctance to address menthols is waning.

Boston health officials earlier this week prohibited the sale of menthols in convenience stores, and dozens of other communities in Massachusetts and California have taken steps to restrict menthols and other flavored cigarettes.

State Attorney General Maura Healey and other supporters said that restricting menthols and other flavored tobacco products is critical because they’ve contributed to growth in the traditional smoking market, which in turn prompted the creation of flavored vaping products targeted at youths.

The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network said it hoped the new law sends a message to the industry.

“More than 80% of teens who have ever used a tobacco product started with a flavored product, and the tobacco industry knows this,” the organization said in an emailed statement.

The legislation responds to growing concern about the health effects of vaping products, including deaths whose exact cause is still being investigated.

Massachusetts health officials say there have been more than 200 suspected cases of vaping-related lung injury and three confirmed deaths in the state.

In September, Baker declared a public health emergency and ordered a temporary ban on the sale of all vaping products — flavored and unflavored.

Baker said Wednesday he’ll lift that ban a few weeks early on Dec. 11, when state health officials are expected to roll out additional regulations.

The Tobacco Merchants Association, an industry group, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

But the Vapor Technology Association, which has challenged Massachusetts’ temporary vaping ban in state court, said a better strategy than the ban would be raising the age to purchase tobacco and nicotine vapor products to 21 and to impose stricter marketing standards on companies.

“A ban will drive people back to combustible cigarettes, the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., or lead to illegal sales with a new and larger black market,” the organization said in a statement.

Associated Press editor William J. Kole contributed to this report.

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newstechreviews · 5 years