#dress up like a cowboy and listen to western music? yes

[ratstronaut]

“sorry I can’t hang out. yeah I’ve got big plans.”

starts playing dress up alone in my room on a sunday night

[bitter-limelight]

“I had this same one when I was little!” Crowed Daniel with excited delight as he picked up one of the tin horses lined up on top of a glass cabinet, alongside soldiers, carts, and canons. He smiled as he felt the little toy in his hand, remembering the shelf he kept his on, in front of a collage of western pictures he had cut out of magazines.

Marius beside him laughed gently, picking up a tiny soldier. “Very nice,” he appraised, setting it back down in exactly the same spot he had plucked it from. “Did you have this many?”

“Almost! My grandfather bought them for me when I was 6, the Christmas after they found me playing dress up in Mom's house coat, the one with the feathers? I guess they thought it would straighten me out if I had more soldiers and cowboys to play with. Obviously not very effective.”

Daniel looked around this space, in awe of how deep this store ran. Marius had taken him, an evening trip during one of their visits to New York. They had stayed the night before in a little cabin far away from the urban height of the city the night before, and were making an adventure of exploring this town now. As a mortal Daniel hadn't cared much for winter, but now as a vampire he loved it. It was dark by 5 pm, so they were awake in time to see movies, hunt among the crowds, pop into the smaller shops usually long closed by sundown in the summertime.

This one was an antique store, Marius said, but Daniel had marveled first at its size and layout. A three story split level style house has been converted into this space, further divided out into cubbies, corners and little books. Every inch of existing space was used to show wares, and even some space that didn't quite exist, with folding screens and paper barriers being used to create false walls. Here could be a corner showing dinnerware in stacks on buffet tops and carts, then right beside it racks of dresses and doilies. Just walking around was an adventure, and Daniel liked the music playing softly overhead, singing along quietly to a tinny version of Miracle out of Nowhere.

It was 1998, and Daniel was doing very, very good. That's what Marius said at least, on the regular, and it's what Daniel believed. He knew that sometimes he got lost, either for real or just in his own head, but not anymore. He was painting with Marius some nights in their home in Norway, beautiful if messy pieces with rich, touchable textures, all taught by Marius' hand. Sometimes too much by his hand, as Daniel would mutter about his critiques and go paint on something he shouldn't instead. But not here; he would behave here in a shop, and behave very well.

Hand in hand he and Marius walked, Daniel pulling him around a corner to see a Christmas display in a center booth, the highlight of which was a tree. A large, artificial tree bedecked in a mess of silver strand tinsel off each branch.

“Oh man, I remember that stuff. Mom hates it!” Said Daniel as he ran his fingertips over the thin strips, the sparkle of it attractive to him even if it was cheap. “We would fight over who got to put it on every year, and it kept falling all month. Mom said it was gonna ruin her sweeper but she bought more every year!” At his side, Marius listened, and Daniel liked that he listened. Curious after a moment though as he looked at the tree Daniel asked, “is it Christmas?”

“It's December 12th, 1998,” he answered, sounding very matter of fact as though he always had this information on the forefront of his mind, ready to speak. “So very near Christmas yes.”

Daniel thought on this, and frowned. “But we just hunted for shells on the beach,” he protested. “And lit a fire? At low tide?”

Marius' face was ever calm as he told Daniel, “that was in June, my love. Six months ago.”

Daniel didn't like this answer because eir made no sense. He wanted to call Marius a liar but that made even less sense; Marius was kind, and very honest with him. He's never caught him in a lie, and Daniel was quite good about detective deception. So he just sighed, and shrugged, and wandered. Past the Christmas displays he went, down the cluttered makeshift aisles, the floorboards old and freaking underneath his Converse sneakers. Parasols hung from the ceiling along with red lanterns, a folding table held a turn of the century Singer. Then a large cabinet caught his eye, a huge, handsome thing, made of oak, tall as he was. Each door was carved in thick, beautiful designs, inlaid with scrolling geometric metal.

“1922!” He whistled, looking over his shoulder to Marius. “Art nevouz! Isn't it beautiful?”

“It is,” his companion agreed, admiring the piece himself. “Excellent condition. This could be lovely in your room for holding your paints and extra parts, Daniel.”

Daniel was taken with the idea, having such a pretty antique for his things, the sort of thing he might have seen in his grandmother's house, but then Marius opened the doors to check the hinges, and Daniel found himself confused. Inside more items were kept, specifically a set of dishes, beige ones, rimmed in green, with orange, green and brown flowers set into the center.

“Oh…we had these,” he said with hesitation, picking up a small plate. “Only…” only these one's were worn in some spots, the glaze chipping away. Only these had some rougher edges, a hairline crack in one. But he remembered them new when his mother bought them, when he was in high school, and eating inunerable family dinners on them, awkward and stilted conversation. Hardly anything to have good memories about but it made him feel strange all the same.

“...why are these here?” He asked Marius, holding the plate up and looking to him with trust.

Marius let out a slow breath and took the plate, looking it over as though it would help him parse out an answer. “Because Daniel, they're over 30 years old now. That's vintage, more or less. Same with the vinyl records in boxes and the phonographs, same with the pillbox hats and pearls. People like things that are…I think the term they're using now is retro?”

“But this isn't retro!” Daniel protested. “This is just…this is just our stuff. We used this-”

“In the sixties, yes. And it's 1998 now, Daniel.” He handed the plate back to his young one, and Daniel knew he was meant to put it away, but he just held to it, then looked around, seeing all the items that Marius has mentioned. Record players and 8 tracks tapes alongside the housecoats his great aunt would wear, photographs in sepia and black and white, posters from Woodstock.

“...when did this happen?” Asked Daniel, and Marius wrapped his arm around his shoulders, finally easing the plate from his clutch.

“Sometime between now and then. Somewhere along the way they stopped speaking Latin, and then stopped knowing Rome as a place and knew it only as archeology. It happens slowly, slowly, and then all at once.” He kissed Daniels temple, and Daniel found himself leaning in to him, feeling wholly unsteady now. “But you, Daniel, you will never wear or fade or crack. You'll be vibrant and alive forever, now, with our blood. Do you understand?”

Daniel nodded, though he only understood a little. “If it's Christmas then I have presents to buy,” he said into Marius' shoulder, and he was glad Marius didn't press him to name who he could possibly need to buy for. He just let Daniel set the tone of their day, and followed his lead.

[the-witty-pen-name]

Tell Me Your Mine, Darling

Western AU 

18+ ONLY

Lee Bodecker x F!Reader

Warnings: prostitution, mentions of smut, alcohol, cursing, violence, mentions cheating 

Word Count: 3.2k

A/N: Hey! As always, this is unedited! Please let me know if I missed anything to include as a warning. I’m on the fence if I should make this a longer story, I like the idea of this being a stand alone, but let me know what you think! I’d love to hear any feedback cause this is my first attempt at a Western AU :)

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The player piano echoed throughout the whole saloon, bouncing off the walls as patrons moved about the crowded room. The peppy music was perfect for dancing as a few of the men threw back shots of liquid courage and asked some of the women working tonight for a dance. It was a night where the people who came in through the batwing doors could forget about their troubles and the existence of sins, and partake in merry drink and debauchery. The night air hung heavy and the room smelled of sweat, cheap liquor and even cheaper perfume. 

The women were scantily clad in dresses only slightly less revealing than their undergarments, and the men still in their clothes from long days of travel. Cowboy hats, rugged trousers, and boots that lost their shine years ago. Girls carried around large trays of shots and lagers, passing them around to the drunk souls who struck rich for a night and opened tabs at the bar. 

It was a busy night both downstairs in the saloon, but also many of the girls were leading men upstairs to their beds, for a warm place to lay their head and anything else they can afford. That was the secret that kept this dilapidated building up and running. The music and the watered down liquor wasn’t enough to keep the sheriff from closing and condemning the building. 

If the owner was honest, he knew what kept the sheriff from coming and toting him away to rot in one of the two cells down at the jail. Not only was the sheriff partial to a drink or a few each night after the sun goes down, but he was particularly taken with one of the girls who worked there. Sure, the sheriff must’ve had his turn with every girl in the joint, but there was something about you which made the sheriff absolutely smitten. Of course, no one dared admit to seeing his obviously growing affections but the owner knew as long as you were here, and his glass was refilled, he had nothing to worry about. No one quite knows what happened. He went from coming in every Saturday night asking for whichever girl is free and then it went to asking only for you, every week without fail. 

People theorize that maybe it’s your honeyed smile or the sweetness in your voice. The ability to deceive every man into thinking they’re the only one to ever touch you. The ability to put on the act of the farmer’s daughter while having the dirtiest mouth on this side of the Mississippi. No matter what drew him in, the sheriff had declared you his girl and anyone with half a brain knew better than to try to say different. 

Nothing was any different about tonight, you watched from one of the stools at the bar while the other girls worked the room. Sitting with your legs crossed, your dress skirted up high enough to show the tops of your garters, you sip on your drink stealing glances at the doors waiting for him to arrive. You can’t help but let out an impatient sigh, balancing your high heel on your toe as you watch the clock that’s mounted on the wall behind the bar. 

“Slow night?” the bartender asked as she topped off your drink. You smiled, but it fell a little flat, not meeting your eyes. 

“Every man here is scared to come near me,” you chuckle dryly. Not that you were necessarily complaining- but you worried more and more as the savings you kept under your bed dwindled. The sheriff was a regular who paid incredibly well, but he was feared. And no one else would touch what he called his. You wanted to save up to get out of this town, salvage whatever was left of this life and do something. You didn’t want to live cooped up in that room and in this town for the rest of your days. You were luckier than most, that you understood and never tried to forget that, but still you found yourself daydreaming. 

You thought about the men you’ve slept beside and the wild stories they told you. You didn’t want to live a hard life, the tedious and unfulfilling work they told you about. But, oh, you were so envious of how they traveled. Seeing the naked lands of the country and going to different towns. You weren’t even sure what you wanted to do, but you wanted to have the option. So in a little cigar box under your bed. You scrimped and saved what you could from each week. But, being the sheriff’s favorite girl, meant no one else dared touch you, meaning you have been having to open that little box of savings more and more. 

“That ain’t the worst thing in the world,” you heard a voice next to you. Soft, and velvety- you’d recognize the voice anywhere as Dottie, one of the older women who had been working there much longer than you. Middle-aged, but completely sensual in her mannerisms and her voice. She had the ability to captivate an entire room with her prominent curves and everything you know, you learned from her. 

“I know, I know,” you try to explain, but she feels your frustration. She understands it, and she knows it better than you do. She’d been there herself. The restlessness, the feeling of being incomplete, the utter fear of your life being wasted away under men whom you’re never going to fall in love with. She knows.

But she also knows the harsh realities of this world and how it treats lost souls like you, and she doesn’t want to see how it can hurt you like it hurt her. She understood how demeaning this line of work is, and how from here there is no way to move up in the world. It’s a limbo, where you're stuck in this saloon, listening to the complaints of men who despite their hardships will always have it better than you. However, the alternatives for women like you are far less desirable outcomes for your lives. 

“Appreciate the gift you’re being given, sweetness,” she chuckles, watching as the bartender makes her usual. “As long as that sheriff keeps coming around, you’re working less for the same room and board the rest of us pay.” 

You know she’s right. You know there’s so many things wrong about this town you can’t change. You can’t afford to worry about things like that, while so many of the people in this little one room saloon are just trying to survive tomorrow. It’s never going to be an ideal, and the world is much too cruel for miracles to happen for a woman like you who sold their soul. 

Jesus befriended Mary Magdalene, so it never made much sense to you when folks in this town claimed you were damned to spend your own eternity in hell. You weren’t sure if the people in this town actually read the Bible. Granted, you didn’t know much about religion yourself. But long ago you learned religion was a luxury only the wealthy people in this town could afford to follow, and they were the ones who could afford to participate in the sins you peddled. But, that was just one woman’s observation. 

Dottie disappeared back into the crowd as quickly as she arrived, and soon you were back to watching the doors again, waiting for the sheriff to relieve you of your ever growing boredom. The place was in full swing as a posse of men you don’t recognize entered, talking about how they were on their way to the coast, to mine for gold and become millionaires. You can’t help but roll your eyes, and you keep to yourself as they whoop and holler, making demands of the barkeep to send out a round for the whole place on their dime. Their rowdiness makes you flinch, and for the first time tonight, you find yourself anxiously waiting for the appearance of the sheriff so you don’t have to entertain the likes of them. Maybe God does like you, because before one of the men staring at you has an opportunity to saunter over, the saloon doors open suddenly and you can be saved. 

You know you shouldn’t find it thrilling, but there is something about being his favorite that fuels your ego on nights like this. The most commanding man in the town, calling you his- making you have this untouchable status for the night. It was the closest you think you can ever be to royalty. In that bar, on the nights he regulars, you’re a Queen. It’s a rush that's definitely spoiled you and yes, in the moment, you absolutely revel in the power you feel as he changes the atmosphere in the room- with his hardened blue eyes locked right on you. 

“Evening, sheriff,” you coo and shoot him a smile, genuinely happy to see him. 

“How many times do I have to ask you to call me Lee, darling?” He smirks, placing his hands on your knee so you uncross your legs and he can stand between them. The feeling of his hands on the exposed skin of your upper thighs sent a tingle right up your spine. His thumbs slowly rubbed circles on your skin, making you shiver. 

You rest your hands on his chest, rubbing gently, your hands shamelessly feeling the strength of his chest under his shirt. You straighten out the gold sheriff’s badge on his chest, and you can feel him tremble slightly at your touch, which strokes your ego more than it already was. 

“I forget,” you tease, straightening out his tie. He smirks, looking down at you as his hands trail up higher, resting on your hips under the skirt of your dress. “I need you to keep coming back and remind me,” you flirt shamelessly. 

“Your usual, sheriff?” the bartender asks over the loud music, people settling back into their own business after the excitement of the sheriff arriving has died down. Lee replies with a quick thank you but doesn’t take his eyes off of you. 

“Did you miss me, darling?” he quips, rubbing your sides, his thumbs trailing across the waistband of your undergarments. 

“I always do,” you wink, leaning up and pressing a quick kiss to the side of his jaw. “It’s so slow when you aren’t here,” you practically whine, pouting your lips slightly. 

“I’m sorry about that, sugar,” he mumbles, leaning in and trailing kisses down your neck. 

“It’s your fault you know,” you tease, your nails scratching his scalp affectionately. 

“Is it now?” he chuckles, as he nips at your skin. 

“No one else comes near me,” you admit, and you feel him smile against your skin. 

“Good,” he murmurs against your collarbone. 

“Ice is melting,” you chuckle, referring to the drink he’s ignoring on the counter. He just chuckles, pulling away only long enough to finish the drink in one long sip, and you watch as his Adam’s apple moves, and how the condensation of the glass drips onto his knuckles. 

After he places the empty glass on the counter, you pull his arm to lead him upstairs with you. He takes your hand and let’s you lead the way, he knows like the back of his hand, and at this point better than his own house.

“Impatient, darling?” he teases, “Not going to ask me for a dance?”

“You never say yes,” you giggle, “Figured you want to have some privacy.”

“I might’ve said yes,” he retorts and you can’t help but roll your eyes. 

“Would you have?” you counter and he shakes his head no with a devilish grin. 

“One of these days, doll.” 

“I’ll be an old maid,” you joke, continuing up the stairs and down the hallway towards your room. 

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he says. You don’t know exactly what he means, but you don’t push him for an explanation. As soon as the door clicks closed behind you both, Lee’s lips attach to yours like if he waits a second longer he’d evaporate. 

“Been dreaming about this,” he mumbles against your neck, leaving a trail of love bites that send a shiver up your spine. “Think about you every night I can’t visit you.”

You noticed how much more intimate your interactions with the Sheriff were gradually becoming. You weren’t sure how much of it he meant. The way he fawned over you and treated you like something more. Plenty of times, men behaved this way, never admitting except behind closed doors that that craved a much deeper sense of intimacy. You had always assumed the Sheriff was no different.

He’d take care of you, and you saw over time the way he handled you changed. It used to be rough and impersonal, oftentimes as well relying on you to do all the work so to speak. But, overtime, his visits became more of a mutual endeavor, and soon he was kissing you like how he is now, or begging to let him settle his head between your parted thighs, saying he felt good making you feel good. 

“I’m addicted to the feeling of your skin, darling,” he whispers as he lets his fingers linger as he pulls the straps of the dress down your arms. When the dress pools at your feet, he stares in awe like it’s the first time seeing you, and then soon enough his lips are on yours again and his hands are free to wander where they please. 

“Most stunning thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispers as you work on taking off his shirt, teasingly slow at undoing the buttons. 

“You say that everytime,” you point out and he chuckles, running his hands up and down your sides. 

“Cause I mean it everytime,” he smirks, walking you back until the back of your knees hit the back of your bed and you lay down with him on top of you. 

One time a month or so back, you were sitting on top of the bar counter with him settled between your legs. You were using a rag to wipe blood off of his face after a messy fight that happened. Well, a fight that he started. 

“I didn’t like him looking at you like that,” he grumbled, still fuming and he winces slightly as you press the damp cloth to the cut by his brow. “Shouldn’t be touching you like that,” he slurs, and you can smell the whiskey on his breath. 

“Just means I’m doing my job right,” you chuckle, amused at his possessiveness. “It don’t mean nothing,” you say.

“It don’t mean nothing when it’s me either,” he pouts, with his eyes closed like he could fall asleep standing up. You are convinced he’s just drunk and doesn’t know what he’s saying. He leans on you slightly to keep himself upright, and you move to wipe the blood that is smeared by the corner of his lips. 

He’s so handsome, you can’t help but observe. From a distance, sure he’s gruff and rough around the edges but he’s got the most handsome face you think you’ve ever seen pass through. You’ll never admit to yourself that you were taking your time patching him up so you could just look at him like this for a little longer. It’s always nice sometimes to pretend a situation is something that it’s not. 

“Tell me your mine, darling,” he almost whispers when his eyes flutter open again to look at you. His gaze on you felt heavy and you weren’t sure what to make of it. 

“I’m all yours, Sheriff,” you can’t help but chuckle, thinking he’s just fooling. Just trying to tease you. He frowns and looks so  sad, those damn blue eyes more expressive when he’s drunk. 

“Tell me your mine,” he asks again, like a whispered plea as his eyes roam over your face. 

“I’m yours.”

By the morning, he’s always gone. He always leaves more than necessary, insisting to you the night before not to tell the owner. He doesn’t want him taking a bigger percentage. He whispers not to worry, and to let him take care of you. He knows how much he affects your wages and he wants to do the right thing. 

Lee doesn’t like to pay you. It’s a horrible reminder to him that you don’t actually care one way or another if he shows up or not. It’s the terrible wake up call come morning that you aren’t actually his, as much as he asks you to say it. 

You’d just have to say the word and he’d do just about anything to make you love him back for real. But he knows that this can’t ever go further. You deserve to go off and see the places he hears you tell the other girls about. You don’t think he knows about you wanting to leave but of course he does. 

The pictures of far away cities are hung on your mirror held up between the frame and the glass. There’s a picture of New York that sometimes he’ll stay up staring at, knowing your heart ain’t tied down yet to one place like his is tied here. He can’t leave and he knows he can’t in good conscience ask you to stay. He knows you would, but not for the reasons he wants. 

Good god, you’re still young and have a spark in you that he damn well knows he doesn’t want to be the one to put out. He wants nothing more than for you to look at him and see you could be happy and be in love. But what life is that compared to the life you’re dreaming of. You have hopes, dreams, and Lee knows he isn’t at the center of any of them. 

So for now, he settles for the time you share with him when he comes by like tonight. Where he hopes he can silently tell you with his touches how much he feels for you. Where he can carefully tread the waters of sweet sentiments in hopes you’ll return them without him asking. It’s not real, none of it is. 

He can hold you close and touch every part of your body like it’s only his to see and feel. He can hear every noise you make and watch every reaction to his touches and it fuels him for now. It’s enough for now to leave bruises on your skin and pretend it’s enough to keep others from knowing you’re his. It’s not, because the marks won’t matter. 

He can feel himself inside you, and feel how your body reacts to him. The way to him, nothing will ever come close to the feeling of you around him. He’s addicted and he can’t go back. He’s been ruined by you, and no one else will ever come close to adding up to you. 

But it’s not real. He’ll go home in the morning, and lie to his wife one more time, swearing that it’s the last time he goes back. He’ll tell her he worked late and slept in the Sheriff’s office. He’ll make the promise that he’ll be home on the weekend. But it’s not real. Because, he knows that he’s going to find himself going back to you. And he prays to God you won’t be there.

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[hispipsqueak]

Your Cowboy

(Ushijima x F!Reader) NSFW

Summary

Ushijima and you have been happily married for a while and everything is perfect. But sometimes, you just want more.

A/N : Was this written just to satisfy my deep desire to see Ushijima in a cowboy hat? Yes. Am I mad about it? NO! (Also, if you have any Ushi dressed as a cowboy, my inbox is open ;) )

TW: daddy kink, unprotected sex, rougher sex (not BDSM, but rougher than usual), Ushi in a cowboy hat

Ushijima was, in all aspects, an incredible husband. 

He loved you and spoiled you with beautiful gifts, because you were his treasure. He would come home to you cooking dinner and wrap his arms around you, pressing soft kisses to your neck before he would go shower and you never felt neglected. He was devoted, handsome, sweet, loving, the whole nine yards.

There was just one tiny little issue.

Ushijima was a little...vanilla.

The sex was amazing, don’t get it wrong, but it was always too perfect. Too sweet and pure. He would kiss down your body and tell you he loved you while rocking you gently on his cock. Missionary, loving...but always the same.

It was nice, but sometimes you just wanted something a little wilder. Ushijima was a large guy and sometimes you wish he would slam you on the bed, or wrap his large hands around your throat. You wanted him to...well, to put it plainly, to fuck you. 

But you knew Ushi wasn’t really that type of guy, so you decided to meet your needs virtually. He had just left to work and you headed back to bed with your laptop, scrolling through a porn site.

“Why does every girl in these videos look like they are being tortured? Pass...incest? Eughh...pass. No, no, God no, no...wait.” You muttered before finding stopping on a video titled “Back in the Saddle.”

You clicked on it and some cheesy western music started playing before a buxom blonde girl in denim shorts came on screen talking in an overexaggerated southern accent, in an old style saloon. You were about to click away to continue your search when the man walked into the shot.

He was tall, and built like a Greek God. He reminded you a lot of your husband actually. His muscles were on full display in his open flannel shirt, denim jeans that hugged his thighs and on top of his dark hair, he wore a deep brown cowboy hat. He pulled the girl to him like a ragdoll and kissed down her body. She ripped open his shirt and let out an exaggerated moan. As the cowboy lifted her and placed her on the bar. He tipped his hat before tearing open her shirt and ravishing her. You watched in amazement. The acting was terrible, the moans were over the top. But the image of your husband, your Toshi, in a cowboy hat, with sweat glistening down his chest as he slammed into you wouldn’t leave your mind.

You turned the video off as you began to run your fingers down your slit, rubbing at your folds, imagining Ushijima taking you as he wanted. You slipped a finger inside as you thought of him gripping your hips and pounding into you. You wanted him to fuck you sore. Another finger went inside as you grinded against your hand, dreaming of his thick cock. Your thumb grazed your clit in soft circles and you felt yourself come undone. You let out a soft cry as you gushed around your fingers. You sighed, suddenly sleepy and pulled the blanket around you. You wanted him to dominate you and use you for his pleasure, and you wanted him to do it in a goddamn cowboy hat.

-----

Ushijima came home, tired from work, but excited to see you. He walked in the door, expecting to see you in the kitchen or lounging on the couch. 

“Princess?” He called, putting his bag down by the door and slipping off his shoes. He walked around searching for you, and opened the bedroom door. He saw you sleeping under your dark burgundy comforter and smiled at how beautiful you looked. He walked in silently and pulled your laptop from the bed to place it on it’s charger. He gave you a soft kiss on your forehead before walking out and shutting the door.

Ushijima pulled the laptop out and placed it on the desk in your home office. He plugged in the charger and opened the laptop to make sure it was charging. 

What he didn’t expect was to be face to face with a woman orgasming on the screen. He quickly slammed the screen shut. Why was there porn on your computer? His face turned red. Was he not enough for you? Maybe he was spending too much time at work, or not making you feel special. Or maybe you weren’t enjoying sex. He looked around and closed the door, making sure it was shut tight, before opening the laptop again. If he wasn’t pleasing you, he was gonna learn what you liked.

Ushijima watched as the man in the video grabbed the woman by her hips and plowed into her. He cocked his head to the side. Did you like that? Ushijima was never rough with you because he didn’t want to hurt you. But if that’s what you needed, he would do anything to make you happy. He continued watching.

The cowboy in the video tipped his hat before going down on the woman. She gave a long moan begging her “cowboy” to “give it to her”. Ushijima considered taking notes, but decided against it. He put his head in his hand and continued watching, not noticing the door to the office click open.

“Toshi...what are you doing?” You asked, half-asleep and a little confused. The woman on the laptop screen chose that moment to let out an exaggerated moan. “Are...you...are you watching porn?”

Ushijima jumped and quickly closed the laptop. “I…”

His normally stoic face was pink with a heavy blush and he seemed at a loss for words.

“Um…” You started before he interrupted.

“Do I not satisfy your sexual urges?” He asked suddenly. Now it was your turn to blush.

“What, oh my....Toshi! Is that the stupid cowboy video?” You asked, your eyes widening. He nodded, a little ashamed to have been caught snooping.

“I apologize, my love. I did not mean to invade your privacy. But if I am not pleasing you, please tell me.” He said in his normal voice, swallowing hard.

You fought the urge to cradle him in your arms. 

“Toshi...you are the absolute love of my life. Don’t get me wrong, sex with you is AMAZING. Sometimes though...I just wish you might want to be a little rougher with me?” You mumbled the last bit.

He looked up at you. He suddenly stood, and towered over you. You looked up towards him and he pressed you against the wall with a quick kabedon. You shivered, and your mouth dropped in surprise. Ushijima stared at you the way a predator stares at prey. He then pulled away and said “I’ll be right back.”

“TOSHI?! What...where…”

He turned back around and pressed a quick kiss to your forehead.

“I’ll be right back, princess. I need you to wait for me in the bedroom.” 

He walked out the door and you could hear the jingling of keys and your front door close. Confused, and flustered, you decided to trust him and headed to the bedroom to wait.

40 minutes later you heard your front door open.

“Princess. You better be in that bedroom.” Ushijima said, his deep voice brimming with authority. You heard him place his stuff down and walk towards the bedroom. You sat up on the edge of the bed and he swung the door open.

Ushijima was standing in the doorway with a red flannel shirt and on his head...was a black cowboy hat.

Your face reddened. 

“Toshi…”

“Listen to me. You are mine. And I’m going to make sure you know it.” He said, his baritone voice causing your stomach to flutter. He pushed you back against the bad and climbed on top of you. 

He whispered in your ear, “If it gets too much, let me know and I’ll stop.” You nodded and gave a small smile. He started leaving hot kisses down your neck, and gripped the front of your shirt. He pulled it, ripping the material in two pieces with his bare hands and you gulped.

This was a new side of him.

He kissed down your chest and cupped your breasts in his hands. He squeezed them roughly leaving small bites on the tops of them as he worked off your bra. He tossed it to the side and began to lick and suck on your nipples, pinching and tugging wherever his mouth wasn’t. You let out a low groan as he sucked dark purple marks onto your skin. He pushed you into the mattress, as his kisses got lower. His hand held your hip down as he licked and nipped at your tummy. You pulled off his hat, and tossed it to the side of the bed.

He pushed your thighs apart and you could feel his breath on your clothed cunt. 

“Fuck, princess. Let me taste you.”

He pulled your panties down your thighs and ran his finger over your folds, collecting the arousal that was dripping from you. He pushed his finger to your lips.

“Taste yourself.”

You obediently opened your mouth and sucked on his thick finger. You could taste the sweet and slight tang of your arousal and he pressed down on your tongue, causing drool to slip out of your mouth.

“Such a messy girl. You’re so wet from this.” Ushijima chuckled. He pulled his finger out of your mouth and brought it back to your pussy. He slowly rubbed up and down before licking a thick stripe across your cunt. You clenched the sheets as he began to lick and suck at your sex. He let out a deep groan and the vibrations caused your head to spin.

“Toshi, that feels so fucking good.” You yelped as he continued to lap up your juices. Your eyes fluttered as he darted his tongue inside. “Fuck...daddy, don’t stop!”

Ushijima could feel his cock grow harder at the sudden nickname. He growled into your tight little hole. 

“Cum for daddy, princess.”

You felt your cunt tighten before releasing all over his tongue. He moaned at the taste and licked you clean.

He sat up and grabbed your face, pushing you on to your knees.

“Show me how much you love daddy’s cock.”

Your fingers fumbled with his belt and you pulled out his thick cock. Ushijima’s cock was massive, thick with two veins running on either side that led to the soft pink tip. You opened your mouth wide in an attempt to fit him in. 

“That’s it. Good job princess. Suck daddy’s cock.” Ushijima gripped your hair, pulling you closer. He could hear you gag on it, but, remembering your words, he continued to force it down your throat.

“This is what you wanted, Y/N? You wanted to feel my dick in your throat. You wanted me to use your body to please me?” Ushijima asked, panting. 

You moaned and tried to nod around his cock. Seeing him so feral and taking complete control was so fucking hot and you could tell he was enjoying it too.

“Fuck that feels good. You are so good for me. Swallow around my cock, princess. Make daddy cum down your throat.” Ushijima grunted, feeling his jaw tighten as he continued to fuck your mouth.

You cupped his balls and gently massaged them in your hand, lightly tugging and he let out a sharp hiss.

“FUCK...you are pleasing me so well, princess. This is incredible.” He pulled you off his cock.

“But I want to cum in that tight pussy. I want to claim what’s mine.” His eyes burned with determination and he lifted you onto the bed on all fours. He slid his cock up your slit and placed one of his strong hands on your lower back, with the other pulling your hair, causing your back to arch.

“Tell me what you want, love.” Ushijima whispered.

You whimpered.

“Please...fuck me daddy.”

He slammed into you and you cried out. His cock was so thick, you could feel your pussy clench around it automatically. He pulled it out and you could feel the veins drag along your walls, before he pumped back into you.

“Who do you belong to, princess?” Ushijima asked as he pounded into your cunt.

“Y-you daddy. I belong to...you.!” You sobbed out as stars danced in front of your eyes.

“That’s right. You...belong...to...me.” He punctuated each word with an even deeper thrust. You felt your body tense up and your eyes rolled back.

“G-gonna cum...so good...ahh.” You moaned, clawing at your bedsheets.

“I’m close as well, princess. Cum with me. Cum with Daddy.” Ushijima growled and you felt yourself combust.

“I - I - I’m CUMMING!” You wailed and Ushijima let out a low moan before you felt his cock twitch inside you. You could feel his searing hot cum pump into you, deeper than ever and your body shivered. He gripped you tight, leaving small finger shaped bruises you knew would show up tomorrow as he unloaded into you.

You both panted, coming down from your respective highs and he slid out of you. He pulled you to his chest and wrapped his biceps around you. You both laid in bed, sweaty and sticky.

“Was that good?” Ushijima asked, brushing a lock of hair from your forehead. You looked up at him with dazed eyes.

“That was amazing, Toshi.”

He had a soft smile on his face. He then suddenly reached over and pulled the cowboy hat from where it laid on the floor.

“So should I keep the hat?”

[thiscastielhasflown]

day three of day two of j&kcreatorfest (with @expectingtofly)— prompts: movie night or baking dean just wants to watch brokeback mountain in peace and cas is there to enjoy the emotional roller coaster ride. (2.1k) [does contain spoilers of the movie's plot, you have been warned]

"Okay choose — Midnight Cowboy or Brokeback Mountain?"

Cas looks directly at Dean who is standing in front of him holding two DVDs and smiling wide with eagerness. To celebrate and commemorate their first Pride Month official out together, both collectively decided to watch a different LGBTQ+ themed movie every night during June (if at all possible).

Rather than the Winchester/Leahy family's normal Tuesday night movie routine, Sam and Eileen were more than willing to change up their usual viewing schedule — even helping to prepare and order movies unavailable to be streamed. But sadly this night coincided with their short weekend getaway trip up to Donna's cabin for a needed change in scenery from the bleak walls of the bunker. No matter how good the movie choice was going to be for those nights, nothing compares to either couple getting some alone time together.

Cas and Dean are left alone to watch a movie in the newly renovated 'Dean Cave' — now including a larger sectional couch (to fit everyone more comfortably), an LED monogrammed neon light of Dean's nickname from Cas, 'Titan', along with new pictures hung up from a recent family photoshoot, and a new stereo sound system all set up by Dean earlier that day.

While Dean was busy with that, Cas was in the kitchen trying out a homemade sourdough pretzel dough recipe — made with his own fermented starter — along with a batch of double-chocolate chunk brownies with lines of caramel crisscrossing across the top as their movie viewing snack for the night.

"I thought we were watching the Trixie Mattel documentary."

"I know we agreed on that, but I'm more into a gay cowboy sort of mood tonight. You feel me?"

Cas blinks, "I haven't felt you yet."

"Cas, it's a figure of speech. Stay on track. Which one do you want to watch?"

"Isn't Trixie a gay Western icon as anyway?"

Dean hesitates, "Well, I would say not exactly. Maybe because of her music style and love for Dolly—"

"Parton, we've listened to her music before," Cas interrupts.

Dean smiles, "Yes we have. We've listened to Trixie too. So I guess it depends on who you ask if they’d categorize her as a modern gay Western icon in the drag business. We're sidetracked, please just pick one."

"Okay, sorry. How about the one with the happier ending."

Dean pauses to think, "I don't think either end up happy."

"Then the one where someone doesn't die."

Dean pauses again, "I...do believe someone dies in both of them."

"Then what are the differences?"

"To be honest, there really aren't that many," Dean laughs it off, "They both take place within the same 1960s setting, even though Brokeback was made in 2004. There are two main male characters in both, who aren't close in the beginning but end up so by the end. Um. The biggest difference is that Brokeback actually takes place in Western-type locations, where Midnight Cowboy setting is in New York. Is any of this helping in your decision process?"

"To be honest, not really," Cas stands up from the couch and adjusts his shirt, "Well, you go ahead and make the final decision, okay? Let me go grab the pretzels and brownies from the kitchen while you get it set up. Want a beer?"

"Yes, please. Can you bring extra cheese sauce too?" Dean answers.

"Of course, nacho or cheddar?"

A sparkle glazes over Dean's eyes as he looks at Cas, a smirk making its way across his lips, "How about both?"

"Sure can," Cas leans in to give Dean a kiss on the cheek, brushing his hand up against the other man's shoulder, "Be right back."

Dean watches Cas walk out of the room with a smug look on his face, admiring his love before bending down in front of the TV console and turning on the DVD player to give it time to boot up. He looks back and forth between either movie case, still unable to pick one over the other. Sighing, he ends up picking Brokeback Mountain, knowing deep down that Cas would most likely end up enjoy watching it more.

As he stands back up holding the DVD player remote in his hand, he hears the sound of Cas walking down in the hallway near the mancave’s door. They've been together so long at this point, but even the slightest presence of Cas will still make a butterfly giddiness erupt inside of Dean.

"Right on time as always," Dean puts down the remote after pushing 'play', grabbing the plate and beer held out to him by Cas.

He holds it up to his nose and breathes in the mingling smells of delicious food, "You really outdid yourself on this one."

Cas blushes from the compliment before pulling his own plate closer to him, breaking off a piece of the brownie and slipping it into his mouth, "Glad to know you approve."

Dean winks and takes a bite of his own, letting out a tiny moan of satisfaction from the taste, "Did you put sea salt in this?"

"I'm surprised you noticed, it was one of my secret ingredients I added in. Thought it would go well with the caramel."

"Your intuition was right, this is delicious," Dean takes another large bite and lets the flavors melt over his tongue.

At this point in the movie, Jack and Ennis sit at the bar drinking together, getting the chance to have the last bit of freedom before heading up to the mountain to work. This reminds Dean of the many times he's shared a drink with Cas before they assumed the worst would happen, losing each other. Yet those moments have now become ones he'll never forget.

The soft touch of a hand against his face pulls Dean's eyeline from the movie, Cas reeling him into a deep kiss, their lips melding into each other creating a familiar yet comfortable feeling.

Before letting anything escalate Dean pulls back and faces his head back towards the TV, reaching up to wipe off his bottom lip softly, "Watch the movie, you're going to miss a good part."

Cas pulls away and pouts, giving him one last peck on the neck before returning fully to the boundaries of his seat.

Dean turns his head back again to Cas and reaches out for his hand, weaving their fingers together, "Hey don't do that, all I wanna do is watch the movie. We can do plenty of that later."

"Fine, fine," Cas mocks, grabbing a piece of the soft pretzel and dips it in the cheese, shoving it in his mouth with a hint of annoyance.

They manage to in silence to watch the movie a little longer before Cas speaks up again, "So...what exactly is going on?"

Dean clears his throat, "Well, Jack and Ennis got their orders to go up to the mountain to go work with the sheep and they're still trying to get used to each other. Testing out the ropes, trying to work together as a team."

"Are you sure they fall in love? They definitely don't very seem into each other at the moment."

Dean takes a sip of his beer, "Love happens in mysterious ways Cas, just like us. It is never as easy as we think, especially when two people don't really get along, to begin with."

"We got along just fine, what are you talking about?"

The only thing Dean does when he hears Cas make that statement is laugh, downing another large gulp of his beer.

Cas tilts his head, "Why are you laughing?"

"Your memory must be skewed now that you're human. Don't you remember threatening my life multiple times? Trust me, you and Uriel were a couple of dicks for the majority of that early time."

"I've changed a lot since then."

Dean smiles and squeezes Cas' hand, "We've both changed a lot. Us, being here like this, is the ending we both deserve. For them, it was much harder of a situation. Their free will isn't as fluid as the ones we take for granted."

"You're not telling me—" Cas sits back with wide eyes, trying to formulate the future plot points in his head.

"I'm not going to spoil anything from the movie, you're going to have to watch it yourself to find out yourself," Dean mimics zipping his lips and turning a key to lock it, "My lips are sealed.”

A sudden vibration erupts from Dean's back, shoving his hand into it and pulling out his phone to see Sam's picture contact picture lit up (from a drunken Halloween night dressed up in a Chewbacca costume, minus the head, with a herbal cigarette dangling between his lips), swiping to answer, "Hey Sammy, what's going on?"

"Hey-uh-hi, are you busy right now?" Sam asks in a mildly frantic tone of voice over the phone.

"Well—" Dean signals to Cas to pause the movie, "It is movie night like you know, but I can talk. Everything going okay?"

"No, yeah, everything is fine. Do you know how to treat a spider bite?"

Dean coughs slightly in surprise, "Are you telling me you already managed to get a spider bite?"

Cas, overhearing the conversation holds a hand up to his mouth to help suppress the giggling he's unable to prevent himself from doing.

"Yeah, um, neither Eileen and I can remember if it's supposed to be a cold or warm compress."

Dean shakes his head and lets out a chuckle, "Did you just drunkenly call me, to ask me, how to treat a spider bite less than 24 hours after leaving here?"

"Yes Dean, do you have the answer or not?"

"Go get some ice and makeshift ice pack. For the swelling. Any other questions?"

Sam pauses not answering right away, Dean hears the sound of rustling and clanking of ice in the background, "No that should be it. Thank you."

"Yep, you're welcome. Bye," Dean hangs up before Sam can say anything else.

"I'm sorry for all of the distractions tonight Dean, I really am. I know how much you wanted to watch this movie," Cas puts a hand on his shoulder, slightly massaging at the tense muscle underneath Dean's favorite Led Zeppelin shirt.

"It's fine Cas, we can stop the movie if you want. Maybe pick it back up tomorrow?"

"Why can't we continue watching it? If we have to pause again, then we pause again. Anyway, you have me interested in learning what will happen.”

“Alright, we’ll continue.”

Thankfully, no one else bothers them for the rest of the movie. Even when Cas was confused in certain sections, he reminded quiet and attentively watched, quickly becoming attached to the characters and the blossoming (and losing) love between them. When the credits begin to roll, Dean looks over to see Cas crying, tears streaming down his face, and biting on his bottom lip to possibly contain his emotions.

"Cas, what's wrong?"

"The jacket...Jack was the one who took the jacket that Ennis thought he forget on the mountain. He took it and kept it for all those years. And now...with Jack gone..." Cas leans in towards Dean, who wraps his arms around his shoulder in comfort, pressing little kisses on the top of his head. He lets Cas cry, holding onto him tight.

When Cas feels ready enough to pull away, Dean reaches up to wipe the tears from his cheeks, "What’s wrong Cas?"

"It just reminds me of us. When you kept my coat, the symbolism of keeping an article of clothing when your loved one is gone. In this case—" Cas sucks in a deep breath, bottom lip quivering, "Ennis lost Jack, his soulmate. But no matter how many times you've lost me, I've always come back. I wish that could have been the same for them."

"Oh, babe..." Dean pulls Cas into a kiss, strong and supportive, "They got to share their love while they could, and even though things could have been different, that was the ending destined for the."

"Why couldn’t they have ended up together?"

"Just how their cards were played, nothing we can change about it.”

Cas sighs, rubbing away his remaining leftover tears, "This really is a goddamn bitch of a unsatisfactory situation."

Dean can't help himself from laugh out of happiness, "That was a pretty good usage of that phrase, glad to know you picked up on it."

"Oh, it's going to be my go-to now, along with 'I wish I knew how to quit you’."

"Sounds to me like you liked the movie. Well, I do have an idea," Dean stands up from the couch and reaches for Cas' hand, pulling him up to a standing position, "How about we go start something? Sound good to you?"

[soundofseventeen]

Play It Again (Lee Chan)

Happy birthday to my (and our) soulmate @peachy-hoon​!!! There aren’t enough words to convey how much we love and adore you and the 3M/Trash Royals wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you for....everything, really! 

Word count: 3065

Inspo: Play It Again

Chan wondered why he was here tonight. He could’ve been at home in his favorite pajamas, stuffing his face with popcorn and shielding his eyes as the next jump scare popped up on the screen. Instead, he was sipping a beer with his friends in a parking lot behind an American themed style restaurant his friend Joshua worked at and in the midst of the conversation between Jeonghan and Seungcheol, he wondered why the Americans were so strange. 

He knew Joshua was born and raised in the famous Los Angeles, California, home of the celebrities, endless beaches and endless beach parties. Chan would’ve understood if he had gotten a job at a surf shop or anywhere that required being outside to remind him of home. But Joshua’s job as a waiter required him to dress like he was going to a rodeo….one that he had only seen in the movies.

Any other time Chan would’ve laughed at him, but tonight they were in the same boat. He looked down at his outfit, feeling too warm in the jeans too heavy for him and the boots that suffocated his feet. He didn’t even wanna think about the ten gallon hat on his head nor the handkerchief around his neck. But it was a party and the only way to get in for free was to look like a cowboy. At least he didn’t stand out, but he felt like a fool nonetheless. Maybe he was at a county fair. He wouldn’t have doubted it with the way the American country songs he couldn’t even understand blared over the speakers, the hay littering the entire place and even the way the vague scent of manure carried around. (Which in his opinion crossed the line a little.) At least the food was good, the barbecued stuff especially and the cold bottle wrapped around his hand wasn’t too bad either.

He couldn’t tell if he was enjoying himself with the way he caught up on his life with his friends or if he was passing time until it was acceptable to go home. He laughed at their jokes, even spitting out some of his beer when Soonyoung gave an accurate impression of Jeonghan, and he had to turn around to compose himself. However, he just wanted the comfort of his couch, swaddled in his favorite blanket and go on about his life until he felt it appropriate to go out again. That is, until he saw you sitting on the tailgate of someone’s pick up (he couldn’t believe how far these owners went to give it the Western country feel but he was impressed), laughing at whatever someone was saying, which he pinpointed as Joshua. Your hand was on his shoulder, clearly amused and Chan wondered if Joshua was there to work or actually flirt with you when he could’ve done so off the clock.

“You wanna go over there?” Vernon motioned when he noticed Chan staring.

“I’m fine here, but you guys can go if you want.” Maybe he wasn’t as subtle as he thought.

“Let’s go,” Seungcheol ushered the small group that had formed. “I have to talk to Joshua about some missing dishes that disappeared last time he was over.”

“Channie, when was the last time you were in a relationship?” Jeonghan asked casually, slinging his arm around the youngest boy’s shoulder.

“The last time was when Hoshi hyung got his ass beat by Woozi hyung in that tournament. I think?” He ran forward a couple of steps when he heard Soonyoung right behind him, hearing the older boy complain about how Chan was never supposed to bring that up ever again and he laughed as loudly as his lungs let him. He honestly felt like he was in high school again; the only difference was that he could legally drink now. He turned around, walking backwards, taking a swig of said alcohol. “Why?”

“I happen to know someone who’s single.”

“I don’t know who you bribed, but I’ll have to decline. Again.” He saw that you were finally alone and you looked up to meet his gaze. He liked the way your face broke out into a wide smile and you waved at him (and them) enthusiastically. If only his heart could calm down a little, that’d be great though. But then Joshua came back with two plates of food and he felt a little disheartened. Which was good in a way. At least he wouldn’t try to steal you away from him.

“Your loss,” Jeonghan shrugged. “I’m hungry. You, come with me.” He grabbed Seungcheol’s wrist and dragged him away from the group, the oldest whining that he could’ve taken someone else because the fine china in question was more important. Soonyoung then excused himself to buy another beer, saying he’d be right back with Seungkwan following behind him, begging him to buy him one. It was just him and Hansol and he wasn’t sure why his nerves were getting the best of him. It’s not like something was gonna happen.

“Are you still interested in buying that guitar we saw the other day?” Hansol asked, making conversation. He took off his own cowboy hat and fanned himself with it, blowing out a huge gust of air.

“I wanna but I keep thinking if it’s worth the money. I dance and create new dances. But I want Joshua hyung to keep teaching me without having to borrow his.” Chan just realized in that moment that he really had no other hobbies. Friends, yes...but things to do? Not really.

Hansol nodded, throwing the hat back on. “I get you. What if I help you find one?” He raised his hand to wave. “Joshua, hey! Hi, Y/N!”

The giggle you let out may have melted Chan’s insides and forgot about the instrument. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He really had to snap out of whatever trance you managed to put him in. Especially with one of his best friends in the picture. “Hey! Nice night, huh?” He figured he could at least afford to sit next to you, right? He handed you the beer bottle, placed his hands on the tailgate and jumped up. 

“It’s too hot,” Vernon whined. “Josh, I don’t know how you do this every night.” He pulled the bandanna around his neck to prove his point.

“I get paid enough to suffer. At least I think I do.”

“Joshua, you’re such a baby about this most days. I tell you not to go all out, but ask him if he listens.”

Joshua stuck his tongue out at you. “Well you never listen to me. But anyways, I need to go find my boss and ask him about my pay. Come on. The inside of the restaurant is a lot cooler than in here.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice!” Without missing a beat, Vernon grabbed the employee by the flannel and dragged him away.

Chan jumped a little when you tapped him on the shoulder. “Want some? If I have any more of these ribs, I’m gonna puke. Joshua swears if I don’t eat every few minutes, I’m gonna yell at him.”

“Maybe he’s just being a good boyfriend,” Chan shrugged, the last word making him internally choke.

“Joshua Hong? My boyfriend? I hope you’re joking.” You threw your head back and laughed. “Oh my god, you’re too funny!”

“Wait, you’re not dating? No way.” He couldn’t stop the giant grin from forming. There’s no way you couldn’t have been dating him.

“Nah, he’s just hoping I can set him up with one of my friends. This is just him trying to bribe me.”

“So you’re not gonna help him out with that?”

“Don’t need to. The feeling’s mutual, but he can’t really see that and I’m not gonna tell him. Anyway, I heard about your new job. Congrats!”

“Ahh yes. It’s every man’s dream to run a cash register and have people threatening me for doing my job.” He downed the last of the drink. Maybe water would be good from here on out. If another bottle didn’t get him buzzing....then surely your laugh would. God, you had such a cute laugh. Chan didn’t know how long he stayed talking to you, nor that his friends had basically ditched him and watched him, but he didn’t care. He felt on top of the world; like he was immortal; like he could take on any challenge possible and he could win blindfolded with one arm behind his back; like-

“Oh my god!” you screamed, jumping off and bringing Chan back to the present moment. “This is my song! I kept bugging Joshua about playing this!” And before Chan could register anything more, you had pulled him off the tailgate. “Come on Chan! I wanna dance!”

Luckily, his reflexes were faster than his current state of mind so he managed to follow directions. Somehow between the spinning around and the music that suddenly seemed too loud, he managed to pull you close (making him more nervous than he already was), and be in the moment. “Wait, how do you know this song?” he asked.

“Joshua and Vernon play it a lot when we hang out. I guess it got stuck in their heads and when I heard it, I fell in love.”

Chan couldn’t understand the words, but he saw your eyes and the faraway, dreamy look they held and maybe it wasn’t too bad. He liked the way you moved easily with him as if you were reading his mind, and he liked that you couldn’t stop singing along and he liked that no matter times you kept looking away every time you looked at him, you couldn’t stop looking at him. Man, he was in trouble. He wasn’t expecting it to end so soon, nor when you suddenly kissed his cheek and pulled back with a smile. God, he just wanted to yell to whoever was in charge of the music to play it one more time. It seemed like his night couldn’t get better. He couldn’t believe that he almost missed this for a scary movie he could watch 100 times.

“Joshua, play it again,” he heard you whine to no one in particular, which he found both endearing and humorous.

Was he falling in love with you? He could feel his heart beating out of his chest because you hadn’t moved away from him nor had you let go of his hands. It felt too warm for him now. He was sweating and he just wanted to fan himself to cool off but he couldn’t move; he didn’t wanna break whatever spell you cast on him. At least, not yet anyway. 

“Hey Chan?”

“Yeah?” He swallowed. Part of him wanted you to confess your feelings for him so he could remind himself to breathe again...but he also wanted to have this moment forever just in case he was misreading the signs. Mostly, he just wanted to kiss you now but he had to hold back.

“I think your friends ditched you.” You let go of his hand to point out the fact that his friends were indeed leaving the parking lot, trying not to look like they left him behind. “Asshole...Joshua did too. There goes his date.”

He snickered. “I didn’t know you could be so petty.”

“He said he wasn’t leaving without me. But joke’s on him; I have his house keys.” Sure enough, you pulled them out of your pocket and laughed. 

Maybe he was going into cardiac arrest. His heart was beating faster than ever. He could feel his cool composure slipping every time you did something he considered cute and even though he liked it, he couldn’t get used to it. “I could...um t-take you home i-if you want-t.” Oh god; he was stammering now. He wasn’t even sure how you managed to make him nervous. Oh my god….what if you rejected the idea. He really just blurted the idea out. Wait, what if you weren’t even ready to go home? Oh my god, you were probably thinking that he couldn’t wait to get rid of you, and that wasn’t even the case! Wow, you really made him nervous.

“I mean, if you don’t mind...I wouldn’t say no. I have an early shift tomorrow and my boss will kill me if I’m late.”

Or maybe he really had to stop overthinking things. “Come on then. Just show me the way.”

*

Okay, maybe he didn’t plan on you living on the outskirts of town or even the way the radio played absolutely nothing that catered to his taste so late in the night. If only his car had the Bluetooth system or even something that could provide an aux cord but nope, he couldn’t afford that yet. He was lucky he even made it this far since the last time he had a job.

And he certainly didn’t anticipate you falling asleep somewhere along the way. But at least it prevented that awkward silence or him oversharing some embarrassing story just because his nerves didn’t let him focus. He probably would’ve blurted out how he couldn’t believe Joshua didn’t have a crush on you, no offense to your friend. Or maybe he would’ve been too forward and asked you to marry him or something. Something told him he would steal all the stars in the sky for you and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Chan continued changing the stations to keep his mind empty with the exception of finding a song or station that would satisfy him. They all played the same tunes, censored the same words, talked about the same topics so it was a lot harder to find something he’d like. He came across a couple of songs in French, one in Spanish, four in English and a shit ton of kpop which made him smile. 

In another lifetime, he figured he could’ve been one of those idols who won fans over with his charming smile and sweet words. He was modest about his dance covers but he effortlessly kept up with even the hardest choreography. Maybe then, he could have your attention but he wasn’t sure that’d work. He’d be busy and he wanted to have all the time in the world for you. Maybe a kpop idol wasn’t his best bet for that. He’d try again in his next lifetime. Right now, he was happy where he was.

When Siri announced he was here, he gently shook your shoulder to wake you up and you swatted him away. “Y/N, you’re home.”

“Two more minutes,” you mumbled and you were lucky he had nowhere else to go the following morning.

He let you be and turned his attention back to the stations, each time more unsatisfied with the last. He needed to be smarter and at least invest in buying some CDs even if they were outdated. The radio, Chan could conclude, sucked more everyday than when he was a kid. And yet he still searched.

 An explicit rap that sounded better when the curse words played...a catchy pop song that he would eventually come to hate because it would be overplayed...he was pretty sure this was a Japanese song he heard at the mall once...a throwback from when his parents were his age...a commercial for tires….more pop songs he could tolerate at the moment….this sounds like Y/N’s favorite song….a jingle that would probably be stuck in his head tom-wait…was it? No it cou-....it was your favorite song.

Chan slowly turned to you, still fast asleep and he tried one more time. “Hey, I found your song.”

“They don’t play it on the radio...” You frowned a little, trying to fall back asleep.

He turned up the volume, patiently watching the way you woke up rather quickly when you finally recognized it. “Oh my god! This is my song! We’re hearing it again! Chan, here it is! It’s playing!”

He couldn’t stop that smile from spreading from the way you moved in your seat. “Let’s go on a date next Friday.” Oh crap...that’s what he was afraid of. The no filter and the way you stopped dancing. Maybe he should just lie down in the middle of the street and pray someone would run him over. If he just got out slowly…

“Sure...I’ll ask my coworker to trade me shifts.” Though you weren’t looking at Chan when you agreed, he could see that smile on your face and how you touched your cheek. 

Oh my god, you were adorable and he was in love with you. “Would I get bonus points if I learn to play this song for you? Joshua hyung has been teaching me how to play the guitar these last few weeks…”

“If you learn to play this song-” That smile on your face that just widened at the thought said it all for him. He was gonna learn it and he was gonna woo you with it and he was gonna make sure you thought of him every time it played.

“We have a deal.” He watched you get out slowly, him turning the volume up as high it could go so you could hear the whole thing and not caring if the neighbors complained about the noise. You were the happiest person in the world right now and he wasn’t gonna take that away from you; not now or ever. 

You were already at the front door when you ran back up to Chan’s window and tapped on the glass. “Yes? Did you forget your keys in here?” He turned on the light and looked at the seat which he didn’t find. “They’re not-” His sentence was cut short with you grabbing his cheeks pressing your lips to his and kissing him giddily and pulling away just as quickly. “Thank you.” 

Despite him fumbling with his seatbelt and nearly falling over on his way out,  he managed to kiss you properly with the dumb song he couldn’t understand a word of still playing and the soft wind blowing, the headlights being the only source of light in the cool night and he wished someone would play it again to keep kissing you.

[blackwatch-gwyn-active]

A Year To Us (Hanzo x Reader / Lucio x Reader / McCree x Reader)

Hanzo-

Dressed in traditional kimono and ceremonial garments, he watched as they walked around with eyes as wide as the moon itself over Hanamura. He decided to bring them to a local festival to show how the New Year was celebrated in Hanamura. He smiled gently as they looked at all the different vendors giving out various treats from fruit filled rice balls to fried balls of dough with miso filling, as if this was the best thing in the world.

He remembered the past year with them and could not help but feel a swell of pride in his heart. They were caught in the crossfire during one of the missions but it went wrong when he was ambushed by a Talon agent. Instead of running from danger, he watched them grab something and tried to save him as he was trying to find a single arrow to launch at the newest target. They got away with a new scar on their hand from the blade but also made away with this serious man's heart.

"(Y/N)-san, are you having fun?" He smiled as he saw them smiling at one of the many puppet shows that was put on during their walk. 

"Oh yes, Shimada-sama" They smiled as he shook his head and walked closer to them. 

"I told you to call me Hanzo, my dearest." He smiles as they blush and nod before looking down at their hands. 

"I guess old habits die hard, I am sorry." Was whispered as he holds their chin gently in his hands and smiles at them. It was true because they were first just colleagues working for Overwatch but after that day and seeing them just a strong as they were quiet, it made him feel like he was not truly alone anymore.

"Do not apologize, I understand how hard it is to change but we will have forever to work on each other. If you will have me?" He questions as they smile and hold his hands gently by laying theirs over his. 

"I would have no other." He smiles at their reply as he watches their eyes and leans in for a kiss just as the New Year rang in.

This was his promise, to love, honor and protect them, all of that was expressed in a kiss that was shared with the one who pierced his heart.

Lucio-

"Let's get this party started!" He would yell as he spun a new song from the DJ booth he had playing at since they started this party about 3 hours ago. Hollywood was hopping and he loved watching the love of his life dance around, glow sticks around their neck and laughing as they drank something that looked like punch from a glass. He smiled as he started to feel the beat get amplified as he remembers that it was a night like this when they first met.

He was DJing a new club not far from here when they bumped into each other last New Year's Eve, spilling drinks and him dropping the mix tape he had made just for the club. He went crazy trying to find it but was surprised when he went to the studio that it was supposed to be at and saw that they were listening to the song as he smiles. 

"Sorry, is this yours?" They say with a smile as he nods and to this day; they have been inseparable. He has took them on a few of his tours and even introduced them to his family, only to be surprised that his family seemed to be attached to them.

He finally told them he was in Overwatch yet they smiled as they held his hand and told him that they are not leaving him alone. He was surprised and told them that he was going to keep them safe, swearing that every single song he writes will be because of their inspiration to him. He as only took them on one mission and seeing that they were as great with music, but for more of an offense and could make any instrument out of air, making it a weapon or beauty, he has decided to make sure that he keep them safe.

He smiles as he walks to them, his music still playing as he pulls them to his arms and then leads them away from some fans that were asking questions. 

"Thanks for the save, DJ" They wink as he smiles and lets them pick the next songs all the way until midnight, happy that he gets to spend the next year with them, just hoping that maybe this year, he is hoping to release more duets than he is singles.

McCree-

All this man wants at this very moment are his whiskey, his cigar and the love of his life (other than his gun and hat) in his arms as they watch some older westerns on the TV in his room. He was invited to a party by Tracer and Mercy but seeing how he just got back from a mission, he wanted a chance to be with them and do something other than train or talk about missions.

"Darlin' just let me say that I love being with you rather than be stuck on some point." He smiles as they laugh and kiss his cheek. 

"I know Jes, you have said that about 10 times tonight." He can't help but smile as he plays with their hair and thinks back over the last year with them. They knew each other during his Deadlock days but he started to really fall for them for right after he joined Blackwatch but only confessed when he joined them on the recall.

"Whatcha thinkin' about cowboy?" They smile at him as he pets their hair again and smiles. 

"Just that a lot has happened in the past year and it has been an amazing year. I mean, we have been friends for so long, I knew I would fall for you but I did not realize I would fall this hard." He says and knows that he has their undivided attention and he holds them with a gentle smile on his face.

"I mean, when we met, I was runnin' from those that wanted the price on my neck yet when you found me, all bloody and near death, you risked your life and saved a total stranger. Hell, I slept in your bed the first night we met." He laughs as they smirk. 

"You got blood on my sheets cowboy and you also were going to bleed to death unless I did something so I just saved ya." They shrugged and he shakes he head before looking at the tv, still talking.

"That's the thing, when you found out about my true past, you didn't run or try to turn me in, you asked me what was more important; our friendship or my past. I knew then that you were going to be an amazing person to have around. You didn't judge me when I was with Blackwatch but always told me to be careful or I would be in more trouble than anything I could be on a mission." He laughs as they smile and nod.

"Then when it was disbanded, you still stayed by my side and loved all of my stupid quirks. I am just sorry it took me until this close to the new year to say this." He stands up and shocks them as he gets down on one knee as the clock tolls Midnight.

"Wanna marry this old cowboy?"

[mrsrcbinscn]

Franny’s 30 Day Cover Challenge

Playlist

Franny’s 30 Day Cover Song Challenge: (categories are mostly from here, and here, with some from here, and a couple I made) in September 2020 one of her musician friends challenged her to do the thing and she was like “It seems like a fun way to show everyone what kind of music has influenced me as a musician, singer, songwriter, and just like, person. So I’m going to do it.”

In reality, she recorded most of them in 1-2 days to distract her from how sad she is because Wilbur hates her and he’s sad lmao

It helped a little.

(If you want me to drop the playlist she mentions in #24 let me know, I have it started I can finish it)

TW: mentions of Franny’s political beliefs so tw: politics, an allusion to suicide though the word isn’t directly used, mention of 9/11 and the subsequent invasions...nothing graphic with any of these triggers but worth a forewarning

Day 01 - A song that makes you happy

Honey Spiders by The Parlotones

“The Parlotones are this fantastic indie rock band out of South Africa. And I actually thought about doing their song, uh, Stars Fall Down for day sixteen, but I’m going with Honey Spiders for day 1. There were lots of Parlotones songs, I mean. Push Me to The Floor, We Call This Dancing, Should We Fight Back...but ah, Honey Spiders always puts me in a good mood.”

Day 02 - A song that helps you clear your head

Light of a Clear Blue Morning by Dolly Parton

“I grew up on Dolly, and it’s funny because for the longest time this song wasn’t really on my radar as much as it is now. But when I was twenty-two I was going through something really difficult, and my then-fiance now husband was abroad for work, so I was alone in our apartment and just. Really, profoundly sad and lonely. So I put on a Dolly Parton record and just laid on the bed and Light Of A Clear Blue Morning played and I had a good long cry and felt so much better after that. When I need to think about how to solve a difficult problem, or I feel overwhelmed, I just listen to that song.”

Day 03 - Song you love from a band/artist you hate

Should’ve Been A Cowboy by Toby Keith

“Honestly, he’s called me a nasty lady to my face and I’ve called him a facist enabling pig to his, so I have no qualms openly saying I hate Toby Keith. That being said, Should’ve Been A Cowboy is one of the best country songs of the 90s, undeniably. I loved that song when it came out when I was thirteen, and I still love it.”

Day 04 - A song about drugs or alcohol

Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss

“This is probably cheating, because my lovely best friend Daniel and I cover this a lot at Dara & Danny shows. But today look who I have! My friend Max from Seoul Hanoi’d! Max the Korean Scot who can’t hide his accent to save his life, so let’s see how it sounds in a Scottish accent.”

Day 05 - A protest song

Talking Vietnam Blues by Phil Ochs /// and Here’s to The State of Mississippi by Phil Ochs

“This one was hard because I. Fucking. Love. Protest music. I could have done a whole 30 days of protest music - wow, let me know if I should do that and give my husband a heart attack with all the twitter threats I’ll invite. Huh. Right, so I was going to do Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven by John Prine. But I decided to do two Phil Ochs songs because I don’t think Phil Ochs is talked about enough. It’s a shame we lost him so young. Ochs’ sardonic humor and honesty in his writing has influenced me as a songwriter deeply. When I write political songs, I don’t hold back, and it’s because of Phil Ochs’ writing that I have that courage. I’ve been singing Love Me, I’m A Liberal since I was in college with constantly updating lyrics. It was so hard to even choose which songs of his to do because for his fairly short career his songbook is lengthy and full of gems. I’m Going to Say It Now, Draft Dodger Rag, Spanish Civil War Song, I Ain’t Marching Anymore...I couldn’t pick one so I’m cheating and recording two.”

Day 06 - A song you wish you wrote

When I Think About Cheatin’ by Gretchen Wilson

“I will forever be pissed off that I didn’t write this song. I’m absolute trash for my husband, so it’s never -- I’ve never had to be in a situation to ever consider -- but this song gets me every time. It feels like I could have written it. Because we do spend a lot of time apart travelling for our work. And the sentiment expressed in the song is a little too real.”

Day 07 - A song in a language you don’t speak

Khattar by Khine Htoo

“This will either be a charming attempt to sing in Burmese or I’m about to offend a lot of people. Which, being a politically outspoken woman on the internet, I’m used to anyway. So. 1, 2, 3, okay here goes.”

Day 08 - A song by an artist no longer living

Phop Samnang by Sinn Sisamouth (inspiration)

“Haha, you thought I’d see the name of this category and not do a Sinn Sisamouth song? You were wrong.”

Day 09 - A song you want to dance to at your wedding

Devoted To You by The Everly Brothers

“I’m already married, so this was actually our first dance song at our wedding. Day three of our wedding, like the more Westernized wedding ceremony day. We had a three day long traditional Cambodian wedding and I felt like a princess. An-y-way!”

Day 10 - A song that makes you cry

Borrowed Rooms and Old Wood Floor by Emily Scott Robinson

“Unfortunately, Emily Scott Robinson and I aren’t related. Sad, I know, because she’s so talented. Almost her entire album Traveling Mercies is...sad as hell. The record reminded me of early Dolly Parton, and my second solo album. You know, all those sad-ass songs. The Dress is honestly the song that makes me the saddest but I can’t even listen to it without crying so.”

Day 11 - A song that you love hearing live

Prove My Love  by Violent Femmes

“There is nobody I have seen in concert more than Dolly Parton, but Violent Femmes and George Strait come incredibly close. The Cranberries, the amount of times I saw them in the 90s and early 2000s...close fourth. Probably. The very first concert I dragged my husband to was a Violent Femmes concert, he was not prepared for how hard college me went.”

Day 12 - A song from before 1960 

There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth The Salt of My Tears by Libby Holman

“This song is from 1928. I came across it when I was in grad school and it’s, as the kids say, a bop.”

Day 13 - A song you think everybody should listen to

White Man’s World by Jason Isbell

“I think perspectives of people of color should of course take precedence in these conversations. But I find this song to be a good faith attempt of a white man coming to terms with the institutional racism and sexism in the world around him. And I think this song can be a useful tool to explain certain concepts of racial justice to ignorant but well-meaning folks. As a woman of color I think Jason Isbell did a great job not centering himself even though it was from his perspective. This song is great musically and necessary socially.”

Day 14 - A song from the 1970s

You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt

“Linda Ronstadt is grossly underrated, that’s all I have to say here.”

 Day 15 - A song people wouldn’t expect you to like

Racists by Anti-flag

“I mean, I’ve talked about how much I like punk in the past, and I remember a video of Seoul Hanoi’d doing Spanish Bombs at a San Antonio show made the rounds, but I don’t think I’ve talked about how much I like Anti-flag. People don’t expect me to like punk for some reason. But I agree with...everything punk music is all about.”

Day 16 - A song that holds a lot of meaning to you

Blue by LeAnn Rimes

“It’s silly, but I won a county fair singing competition with this song in high school and it really fueled my passion for music, that win. It’s also the first song Cornelius heard me go full Georgia on, with the yodels and all, at the little bar in my hometown on his first trip meeting my parents. The song doesn’t cut to my very soul ot anythin’, but it’s special to me.”

Day 17 - A song attached to a memory

Supernova by Liz Phair

“I remember buying Liz Phair’s Whip-smart album when I was eleven. And in college, when I was getting ready for dates with Cornelius in my dorm room, I would dance around to a CD I burned and wrote on it with a sharpie, ‘Pre-date Movie Scene Music.’ God, what was even on there? I’m about to expose myself as the most basic 1999-2001 bitch. I remember Head Over Feet, I mean, Alanis Morisette? I was a young woman in 2000, obviously I loved her. Mm, Dreams by The Cranberries...oh, Kiss Me, Sixpence None The Richer...yeah, anyway, Supernova was on there.”

Day 18 - A song from the year you were born

Call Me by Blondie

“...I can’t believe Call Me is as old as I am.”

Day 19 - A song that reminds you of someone you miss

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (yes, of course she does a cover with banjo)

“This was my late best friend Molly’s favorite hymn. And I sang it at her funeral at her husband’s request. Molly and I grew up together in the small town of Payne Lake, Georgia and Molly was the most devout Christian...but she was also the first person I came out to as bisexual when I was a teenager, and she said that Jesus taught her that love was the greatest commandment and that meant I was automatically twice as good at it as her. Her faith guided her every action but she never talked down on her two best friends - Dan(iel Maitland) and I for not sharing it. Molly was doing the whole emulate Jesus thing beautifully. I miss her every day and it’s been seven years. If you ever think that people won’t miss you...you’re wrong. All right, let’s see if I can get through this without crying.”

Day 20 - A song by an artist you discovered this year

Hello, Anxiety by Phum Viphurit

“I just discovered this quirky Thai-Kiwi singer and not to be dramatic, but he’s my favorite thing in the world right now.”

Day 21 - A song with a city or country in the title

Oh! Phnom Penh (track 20)

“This song was written after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, and after people began to make their way to what was left of their homes, alone, or with what was left of their families. If you want to learn more about what that was like to actually live it, my cousin Reena Boran has a video interviewing her parents and paternal grandfather and uncle about it. Reena is a journalism student currently studying in London but she lives in Cambodia. Her mother is my aunt Malisruot, my mother’s youngest sister. The video is English subtitled on her channel, I’ll link it in the description box below.”

Day 22 - A song from the 1960s

To Sir, With Love by Lulu

“I didn’t actually discover this song until I heard it covered at a 10,000 Maniacs concert in the 90s. My friend Allison was standing next to me and I just started crying and she’s like ‘are you okay?’ and all I just blubbered out ‘My dad!’ For the uninitiated, my dad married my mom, who’d raised me alone until then, when I was six and he adopted me when I was eight. My dad didn’t have to adopt me, he didn’t have to call me his daughter, he could have just been like half of my friends’ stepdads and give me a place to live and nothing else. But my dad was my biggest supporter from day one. He convinced my mom to let me join the dance team and show choir instead of science club, he was the one that talked my mom down from probably killing me when they found out I was only studying music and not music and political science at NYU. I am who I am today because he is my dad. And this song just says everything I’ve always thought about him.”

Day 23 - A song from your childhood

Una Lacrima Sul Viso by Bobby Solo

“But Franny, aren’t you a Cambodian raised in the US? Yes, but you were fooled. My very white father is also an immigrant. He is from Switzerland and while he didn’t teach me to speak Italian and German growing up, he played German, Italian, and French records all the time. My parents often spoke to each other in French and I picked up some French but properly studied it starting in high school, and I didn’t study Italian until college -- and my German is still …. [points to a spot on the screen where she later inserted a card linking to a video on her cousin Köbi Framagucci’s YouTube channel titled ‘Can My American Cousin Speak German?’ where he tests her Standard and Swiss German speaking and comprehension]. But hell if I couldn’t sing every one of the songs from my father’s French, German, and Italian record before I knew what the words even meant.”

Day 24 - A song that gives you chill vibes

Glorify by Ivan & Alyosha

“Dan(iel Maitland) and I actually have an entire playlist on my Spotify accounts of songs to listen to to get us out of writers’ block. And one that I often will put on repeat and just absorb through my headphones with my eyes closed is a song called Glorify by Ivan & Alyosha. I think it touches on a lot of the themes I include in my songwriting. Christian mythology, the darker side of humanity, it often reminds me of what I love about songwriting. If you say please I might drop a link to that playlist.”

Day 25 - A song that’s your signature song

Long Gone Lonesome Blues by Hank Williams“Right, so I chose this instead of a Kitty Wells song or I Get A Kick Out of You (her being

featured on a 2005

recording propelled her career majorly) because if you’re familiar with me you might have seen a video that went around in like….2017? 2016? of Dan(iel Maitland) and I doin’ the song at our hometown bar in 2014. I posted it in response to some tweets because hoes mad when a WOC calls out racism and sexism in the Nashville music industry. ‘Bet she don’t even know Hank’, really? You think I wouldn’t know the history of one of the two music industries I work in? Please. Anyway, she knows Hank and nails the incredibly technical yodel -- the

most difficult

one in Hank’s songbook - in Long Gone Lonesome Blues. Mm...Lovesick Blues though, that also strikes fear into my heart. Anyway stay mad I guess?”

Day 26 - A song by your favorite band

Gun Shy by 10,000 Maniacs

“10,000 Maniacs was one of my favorite bands when I was in like 5th grade through 10th. I listened to them for a little while after Natalie Merchant left for a solo career, but the Natalie Merchant era was really what resonated with me the most. Gun Shy was a bit too advanced for my little 5th, 7th grade ears to really appreciate when I first discovered the album In My Tribe. Merchant’s voice -- because like, I don’t have a very conventional voice either, so her and Dolores O’Riordan really changed my entire perspective on what a woman’s voice can sound like in rock music. Um, yeah, so her voice more than the lyrics just wowed me. And as I got closer to graduating high school and especially in college I actually understood what What’s The Matter Here, Hey Jack Kerouac, and Gun Shy were talking about. Gun Shy...really became a significant song to me because...being born in 1980 I grew up in a relatively peaceful time. The Cold War was all but thawed by my tenth birthday. But I was getting ready to leave my then-boyfriend-now-husband’s apartment for class at NYU on the morning of 9/11. We stood in line for hours to donate blood. And then my government invaded two completely unrelated countries and jingoism and terrifying, fervent nationalism, and xenophobia just smacked me in the face. And friends of mine from high school were convicted to drop out of college and join the Army, and died, for an unjust, imperialist war, and suddenly Phil Ochs, John Prine, and Bob Dylan lyrics hit a lot different, and I understood what Gun Shy was really about.”

Day 27 - A song you hate by an artist you love

Mrs.Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel 

“Paul Simon is one of my favorite songwriters ever, um, and I actually used to like Mrs. Robinson….until I got married and everyone sang it at me. It’s kind of my fault, I did choose to take my husband’s last name. And I leaned into it by making my social media handles all Mrs. Robinson...but still. Only play the song around me if you want to die.”

Day 28 - A song that a younger you would have loved

Mean by Taylor Swift

“I’m so genuinely glad that I am older than Taylor Swift. Middle school Franny did not need Taylor Swift to enable me and fuel my ego. Some of her singles, while not really 35 and 40 year old Franny’s cup of tea, young me would have played until my mother hid the record or cassette from me. Although - fuck if Tim McGraw didn’t immediately give my happily married ass flashbacks to my first love and make me bawl like a baby? Right, so when Speak Now came out and I listened to it, Mean, while not a song that adult me has listened to maybe more like ten times, I immediately thought ‘wow, I needed this song when I was in middle and high school.’ I could literally picture 7th grade me with my little guitar and my little cowboy boots my dad bought for me singing this at the talent show making eye contact with the kids who bullied me as if it was some kind of own when it’s not. I could still, almost thirty years later, name them if I really wanted. So, for 7th grade me, Mean by Taylor Swift.”

Day  29- A song that reminds you of your partner/spouse

ផាត់ជាយបណ្តូលចិត្ / Phat Cheay Bon'dol Chet by Sinn Sisamuth (translation) (female singer covering it) (modern, studio recording of a male and female singer dueting it) (a cool violin cover) (another female singer) (cool guitar cover)

Feat. some members of Seoul Hanoi’d. Andy Chaiyaporn (violin), Max Cho (piano), Jodie Batbayar (cello), Aisulu Niyazova-Li (percussion) and Franny has her guitar

“The song, lyrically, only reminds me of my husband a little bit. But Phat Cheay Bondol Chet has several memories with my husband attached to it. The first time he heard me sing in Khmer was at my mother’s house in Atlanta when I had him visit the first time to meet my parents. My mom had a little dinner party at our house to show him off, like Asian moms do when they think their daughter snags a good one, and I was hand washing the dishes while my mom and the other Cambodian parents were listening to Sinn Sisamuth records. I’ve always loved the song I’ll be showing y’all today, like I’ve always just stopped what I was doing and -- so it came on and I just started singing along without really being aware of it. And then at a different diaspora get together that summer, that song came on and I just kinda. Pulled him aside to the side yard of that person’s house to look at the stars with him and translated the song. It’s one of the Khmer songs he instantly recognizes now, so it’s special.”

Franny did NOT say in the video that college her 100% had him sit in the grass with her outside that person’s house, where nobody could see, so she could makeout with him 

 Day 30- A song by one of your favorite songwriters

Reincarnation by Roger Miller

Feat. Seoul Hanoi’d, done more in the style of the Cake cover 

Also instead of singing the lyric “you’re a girl, I’m a boy” she goes “you’re a girl, so am I” because she doesn’t ever change pronouns, she just makes it gay because she is a bi-con

“Roger Miller, to me, is as important as Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, in the American songbook. He’s not as talked about which is a shame because his discography is iconic. Getting to be a part of King of The Road was one of the highlights of my career.”

[ambssssssssss]

The Music Played, We Held Each Other Close

Juliantina one-shot featuring bartender!Juls and a whole bunch of dancing.

Inspired by ‘We Danced’ by Brad Paisley

Read on AO3

Admittedly, Juliana hadn’t been planning to work at a country themed bar near the heart of the university in Mexico City, but she didn’t mind the job all that much. The pay was great, much better than she had been making when she worked as a waitress on the other side of town, and she got to keep all her tips. Her boss loved her since Juliana didn’t drink, ever, but especially not when on the job. Making mixed drinks was fun once she got the hang of it and the regulars knew Juliana to be a dependable bartender who would make sure they got the right drink, and was always aware enough to warn the patrons about people having too much fun or getting a little too close for comfort. She was required to wear jeans and button up, which she usually wore unbuttoned, and cowboy boots. That wasn’t too far off from her normal attire, Juliana only needed to switch her converse boots and sometimes trade overshirts to a more ‘western’ look before coming in. Even the music they played had started to grow on her, and she sometimes found herself singing along to the red dirt country songs playing over the sound system. All in all, it wasn’t a bad job to have and with it, Juliana was that much closer to being able to pay her way through school.

That night, the bar was reasonably crowded. It was Friday night, bordering on Saturday morning, and the college were celebrating the weekend with some well-deserved relaxation time. The dance floor was lively, half drunk young adults stumbled through various line dances and two-steps in the rhythmic un-rhythm of friends having a great time together. Juliana surveyed the crowed from her spot behind the bar and hummed along to the music playing under the breath. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, or anything that would make her want to call security, Juliana pulled the white towel off her shoulder and wiped down the remnants of a few spilled drinks on the bar top before moving to serve the group that had just walked up. Six double shots of tequila later, the group of college girls walked away from the bar and onto the dancefloor. Juliana watched as they each found someone to dance with easily and started cleaning up the shot glasses.

“Excuse me,” Juliana turned at the sound of a male voice, throwing her towel over her shoulder and getting ready to make another drink. The man surprised her by declining a drink and holding up a sparkly, silver purse.

“That’s a lovely bag, but I don’t think it goes with your outfit.” Juliana joked and crossed her arms over her chest. The man laughed.

“Someone left this at one of the tables near the back. I think the group might have left already.” He explained. “You guys have a lost and found right?”

“Yeah,” Juliana took the bag and thanked the man for turning it in. He declined the free shot Juliana offered and simply wished her a good evening before stepping away from the bar. Juliana nodded at the man and then moved to put the apparently abandoned purse in the back, away from any would be thieves. That done, Juliana returned to the bar proper and continued to survey the crowd when not busy serving the patrons.

It was a few minutes later when Juliana noticed her. The woman was tall, wearing a skin tight black dress and silver high heels, and beautiful. She stood at the edge of the dancefloor, her head moving to the beat of the music but otherwise she remained still. It was her smile that Juliana noticed, bright and warm even from Juliana’s limited vantage point. That smile was directed towards the dancefloor and Juliana figured she must have been looking at someone she loved very much. There was a certain glow about it, and this woman, that made Juliana inexplicably happy. She wanted to go over and introduce herself to the woman, maybe ask her to dance, but then the woman was pulled onto the dancefloor by someone Juliana couldn’t see and the urge faded. Juliana shook her head to clear it from the sudden wave of disappointment that overcame her before getting back to work.

The night wore on and the crowd began to thin as the time for las call approached. The woman with the beautiful smile faded to the back of Juliana’s mind but she couldn’t quite let the image go completely. Finally, as Juliana finished wiping down the bar, security ushered the last few bar goers out and Juliana started going through the closing time routine. She and the other bartenders stored the drinks away and loaded the dishwasher in the kitchen while the owner and manager counted out the register. The cooks and waitresses were the first to leave, since the kitchen had the most workers it was always cleaned up just a little bit faster. The other bartenders headed out soon after until it was only Juliana and her boss.

“Head home Julio,” Juliana said once the cash register was closed and locked for the night. Julio looked at her with tired eyes. He’d had a busy week, Juliana, since his wife was out of town and he’d been wrangling their three kids on his own for the majority of the week. He had only been able to come in to work that night because his wife’s parents were watching the kids. “I’ll sweep up and lock the door behind me.”

“Remind me to give you a raise.” Julio said and grabbed his coat. Juliana laughed and wished her boss a good night. The door closed softly behind him and Juliana finished stacking the last chair on its corresponding table and then headed to the back to grab the broom. On the way back to the front, Juliana pressed play on the music queued up so she’d having something to listen to while she finished up.

Juliana swept behind the bar first and then moved to front of the building to work backwards from there. She was almost to the dancefloor, about half way across the room, when she heard the door opening. She nearly froze when she looked up and saw the woman with the beautiful smile standing just inside the doorway.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” Juliana called out after a moment that she hoped wasn’t as awkward as she felt it was.

“I know. I’m sorry to come in so late but I was here earlier and I think I left my purse.” The woman’s voice was musical, light, almost like she was trying to laugh at her own idiocy.

“I put one behind the bar earlier, I’ll go grab it.” Juliana gestured for the woman to move further into the room and propped the broom against the bar before heading to the back. She returned a few moments later to find the woman standing by the bar, one hand resting on the bar top in the space left between two of the bar stools that sat on the surface. “Is this it?”

“Yes,” her voice was relieved. “Gosh, I can’t believe I left it here. My sister’s always telling me I’m too airheaded. Thank you for keeping it…” the woman trailed off questioningly.

“Juliana.”

“Valentina.” The woman introduced herself and shook Juliana’s hand. She had yet to reach for the purse that Juliana still held in her left hand. “Seriosuly, thank you. My sister would have killed me if I’d lost another one.”

“It’s not a problem.” Juliana shrugged slightly. “I saw you by the dancefloor earlier, looked like you were having a good time.” Despite knowing she should simply hand the purse over and say goodbye to Valentina, Juliana wanted to keep their conversation going. Something about Valentina drew her in, Juliana wasn’t sure what it was but she didn’t want Valentina to leave yet.

“My brother told me and my sister that he’s planning to propose to his girlfriend soon. We came here to celebrate.” Valentina looked down at her dress. “I guess I didn’t get the memo about the theme.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Juliana returned Valentina’s chuckle. “You look much better than the cowboys that normally come in here.”

Juliana thought that the blush that rose on Valentina’s cheeks was nothing short of adorable.

“I’m sure those cowboys dance better than I can,” Valentina leaned further onto the bar. “That’s why I was by the dancefloor earlier and not on it. I’m afraid my brother was the only one to get a good sense of rhythm in my family.”

“I’m sure it can’t be that bad.” Juliana chuckled and slid one of the stools back so she and Valentina wouldn’t have it between them when Juliana leaned against the bar top as well.

“No seriously, two left feet doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Valentina laughed. Juliana thought Valentina’s smile was no less bright than it had been before, even with the lights turned low now.

“Prove it.” Juliana said suddenly, pushing off from the bar.

“What?” Valentina asked, surprised.

“Dance with me.” Juliana saw the clear hesitance in Valentina’s eyes and acted before she thought about. She grabbed Valentina’s purse and leant over the bar to set it on the counter behind it. “I’ll give you your purse back, after you dance with me. Just one song?”

Valentina looked at Juliana in consideration for a moment and just when Juliana was sure she was going to be turned down, Valentina smiled.

“Okay, but only for one song.”

“Promise.” Juliana held out her hand.

Valentina accepted the hand and let Juliana pull her towards the dancefloor just as a new song began to play. It was slow and steady, and completely different from the tempo of Juliana’s racing heart. She wondered if Valentina felt the same warmth that she did when their hands met. Taking a deep breath, Juliana felt suddenly nervous. Her bravado from before faded and she wondered if maybe she should have just given Valentina her purse and then let her go. Then, Valentina smiled at her again and Juliana found that she couldn’t regret anything that had lead her to having this chance to dance with Valentina.

Juliana took the lead, directing Valentina to place her hand on Juliana’s shoulder as Juliana herself gripped Valentina’s waist. They stood close together for a moment, a moment that felt warm and soft in the same way that sitting in front of a warm fire did on a cold night. Juliana lead Valentina through a simple two-step dance, guiding her back and then forward again. For someone who claimed to be a bad dancer, Valentina slipped into the rhythm of the steps easily and soon they were spinning around the empty dancefloor. Neither of them noticed when the song changed, they were too lost in the motion of their bodies moving together across the floor.

They stopped suddenly sometime later after the loud clang of the broom slipping from it’s perch against the bar reminded both of them that they were dancing in a closed bar when they both should have probably been in bed. Juliana cleared her throat as she stepped away from Valentina and over to the bar. Valentina followed her and finally took hold of her purse after Juliana had retrieved it from behind the bar again.

“You’re a great dancer.” Valentina said, almost shyly. She brushed a strand of long brown hair behind her ear, biting her lip slightly.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Juliana remarked with a warm smile. “I’d love to dance with you again sometime.”

“How about next Saturday?” Valentina’s smile grew slightly, though she seemed slightly hesitant. “If you’re not working, that is.”

“Saturday is perfect.” Juliana fished her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Valentina. “I’ll call you and we can figure out the details later.”

Valentina took Juliana’s phone and added herself to Juliana’s contacts before sending herself a text message. Her phone beeped from within her purse and Valentina handed Juliana her phone back. “I’ll see you Saturday, then.”

“Can’t wait.” Juliana smiled and walked Valentina to the door. Before leaving, Valentina leaned over and kissed Juliana on the cheek and then ducked out the door before Juliana could respond. Smiling dumbly,  Juliana pulled the door closed and checked the new contact in her phone. Valentina had saved her name under ‘Val’ with a pink heart emoji next to it. Juliana’s smile grew, and that smile stayed in place long after she had finished closing up and made her way to her apartment, only fading slightly when Juliana closed her eyes to get some much needed sleep.

~

They went out dancing for their date, and spent most of the evening moving together in a sea of bodies on a moderately crowded dancefloor. The temp was faster than when they had danced after hours the week before, Juliana could feel the beat pounding in her chest but it was nothing compared to the way her heart raced when Valentina took her hand and asked if she wanted to get some air. Juliana agreed and soon they were settling their tab and walking out onto the near deserted street. Music poured from every direction in a mash up that made no sense but neither of them paid it any mind.

“I knew you’d be a better dancer than you gave yourself credit for.” Juliana said teasingly as she and Valentina walked around a nearby park, hand in hand.

“Maybe that’s just because I had such a great partner.” Valentina flirted back. She smiled as Juliana blushed slightly at the compliment. “I’ve a great time tonight.”

“I have, too.” Juliana agreed. They paused their walk, looking out over a pavilion where a band played for a small gathering of people. They stood close together and listened as the music changed, the tempo slowed and the people below them listening started to pair off. Juliana smiled over at Valentina. “How about one more dance?”

Valentina agreed with a smile and they turned to one another. This time, Valentina draped both arms across Juliana’s shoulders and held her close. Juliana curled her arms around Valentina’s waist in an embrace equal to Juliana’s and they danced slowly. Their foreheads rested together, they’d both opted for shorter heels so Valentina wasn’t towering over Juliana this time. Juliana could feel Valentina’s soft breath against her lips and it made her head spin. Valentina was so close, so warm, as she had been all night. The urge to close the distance between their lips was strong but Juliana held off for just a moment.

“Val,” Juliana said softly. Valentina hummed in response. “Can I kiss you?”

“Please do,” Valentina’s answer was just as soft, Juliana could hear the smile in her voice. The distance between their lips closed and then the only thing Juliana could think was that she should have done that last week.

Valentina’s lips were soft and she tasted faintly of strawberries from her chap stick. There was something else there too, a flavor that Juliana couldn’t name but knew was something beautiful and pure. Just like Valentina. They parted a few moments later, both smiling widely. Valentina curled one hand around Juliana’s neck and drew her in again. This kiss was longer, a little more exploratory, but no less soft. They were both breathing a little harder when they parted.

“Can I walk you home?” Valentina asked.

“Please do.” Juliana smiled as Valentina kissed her again. They started walking towards Juliana’s apartment when they parted, Valentina’s arm wrapped around Juliana’s shoulders. Juliana held Valentina’s waist and they talked softly as they walked, laughing together the whole way to Juliana’s apartment.

“Do you want to go out with me again sometime?” Valentina asked once they stood outside Juliana’s building. “Maybe dinner this time?”

“I’d love too.” Juliana leaned in and kissed Valentina softly. “Thank you for tonight. I can’t wait for our next date.”

“Same here,” Valentina smiled and claimed Juliana’s lips in one last kiss. “Goodnight, Juliana.”

“Goodnight, Val. Text me when you get home.” Juliana walked into her apartment complex, pausing to wave at Valentina once she was safely inside. Valentina waved back and then walked off to the corner of the street where she waited for a few minutes before a black SVU pulled over and her driver got out of the car to open the door for her.

Juliana waited until Valentina had let her know that she had gotten home safely before changing into her sleep clothes and crawling into bed. She fell asleep thinking about Valentina’s smile and dreamed of dancing with her until the sun came up.

~

One dinner date turned to two, then three, then four, then far too many for Juliana to count. Juliana fell in love with Valentina easily, despite the differences in their background. Valentina came from a wealthy family but that didn’t make her life any easier. She’d lost her mother at a young age and her father took to spoiling her as a way to help her cope with that loss. Her relationship with her sister was strenuous at times but Valentina always stuck up for her family. The only time she hadn’t was when she’d introduced Juliana to Eva, who had promptly decided that Juliana was nothing more than a gold-digger before Juliana had even finished saying hello. If Juliana hadn’t already been in love with Valentina by then, the impassioned speech Valentina had given would have tipped her over the cliff.

Her childhood was different from Valentina’s. Juliana had grown up dirt poor in a trailer park in San Antonio before her dad skipped town and she and her mom moved to Mexico to live with family. Juliana had worked for everything she owned, and Valentina fell in love with her determination and perseverance. She often swore that she’d never met anyone as strong as Juliana and Valentina loved her inner strength. Really, there wasn’t anything about Juliana that Valentina didn’t love.

Weeks turned to months and months turned to years as Valentina and Juliana grew together. Juliana was there when Valentina’s father remarried a lovely woman named Maria, and when Eva introduced the family to her girlfriend Lucia. (She and Val had traded glances at that and promptly burst into laughter as soon as Eva was out of the room.) Juliana watched Valentina graduate with a degree in journalism and begin working her way up the corporate ladder in her family’s company. Valentina was there when Juliana’s father showed up again out of the blue demanding money from his estranged wife and daughter. Valentina had fought off Chino’s advances with such fierce protectiveness and held Juliana so tightly when she cried, Juliana couldn’t help but fall even further for her. Valentina stood proudly in the crowd when Juliana finally graduated with her own degree in business, and spent one evening dancing the night away on the dancefloor of an empty bar that Juliana had earned enough money to start up. They were both there when Renata, Valentina’s sister in law, gave birth to a little boy and Juliana almost cried when she was introduced to the boy as his Auntie Juls.

In a way, it felt like no time had passed at all. Juliana knew that she had grown and changed as the years had passed, but every night still felt like that first time she danced with Valentina. Now, five years after that night, Juliana stood behind the counter at her own bar. The lighting was soft, the theme a modern black and silver with a few pops of color. Juliana, like her employees, was dressed in a black button up that was left unbuttoned to expose the white emblem of her business that stood out in the strategically placed black lights around the room, with dark wash jeans and black converse. In her front pocket, a small velvet pouch contained the most important purchase Juliana had made since she bought the building she was standing in.

The crowd moved to the beat of the music under Juliana’s watchful eye. It would start to thin out soon, most of the people dancing were regulars and knew that Juliana wouldn’t let them linger past last call for too long. There was still a steady stream of patrons requesting drinks, but not so much that Juliana felt she needed to jump in. She had full confidence in her servers and knew that one of the them would ask her for help if they needed it. She was glad they didn’t, since that meant she was able to see right when Valentina arrived. Juliana smiled as her girlfriend walked in the door, having changed out of her work clothes into a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt that Juliana was pretty sure was actually hers. Valentina spotted Juliana behind the bar and made her way over to her.

“Hey, mi amor,” Juliana greeted as Val approached, leaning over the bar top to steal a kiss. When she pulled back, Juliana slid a club soda over to Valentina who took it gratefully.

“Hey,” Valentina smiled, propping her chin on her hand. “Good night?”

“So far so good.” Juliana stole another kiss. “Should be wrapping up pretty soon. Alexa had to leave early so I’ll have to close up tonight.”

“I don’t mind waiting.” Valentina smiled and took a sip of her drink. Juliana watched her for a moment, smiling, until a voice called her to the other side of the bar. “Go, be the awesome boss you are.”

“Don’t have too much fun without me,” Juliana teased, trading the dirty towel on her shoulder for a clean one.

“Never.” Valentina promised and made a shooing motion with her hands. Juliana obeyed and got back to work.

The last few hours passed quickly enough, Juliana occasionally stopping by Val’s area of the bar to check on her. Last call came and the last few patrons staggered out, some drunkenly singing and others laughing at their off-key friends. Valentina helped stack the chairs on the tables so the staff could get home that much earlier and soon it was just her and Juliana in the building. Valentina finished wiping down the bar as Juliana closed and locked the cash register. They turned the barstools upside down and set them along the surface of the bar top together before Juliana went to retrieve the broom. Valentina smiled slightly when the music coming from the speakers changed from the upbeat pop song playing to a soft country song. She knew Juliana’s remaining fondness for country music annoyed her, but Valentina loved it. It reminded her of the night they met.

“I can’t believe it’s been almost five years since the night we met.” Valentina said conversationally as Juliana began to sweep the floor.

“Best five years of my life.” Juliana looked up and smiled at Valentina.

“You’re such a sap.” Valentina laughed lightly, watching fondly at Juliana moved around the bar.

“Yeah, but you love me.” Juliana propped the broom against the bar for a moment and moved closer to Valentina.

“I do, very much.” Valentina wrapped her arms around Juliana’s waist when she got close enough and pulled her in for a much longer, deeper kiss than the one they had shared when she arrived.

“I love you, too.” Juliana said once they parted. She squeezed Valentina’s waist once before turning around like she was reaching for the broom again. Instead, Juliana reached into her breast pocket and pulled out the velvet pouch, emptying it’s contents onto her hand. “I think I’ve loved you since that night. I remember when I saw you across the room. Your smile was the first thing I’d noticed. I remember wanting to see what made you smile like that, so bright and full. I’d have given anything to see that smile aimed at me.”

Juliana took a deep steadying breath and began to turn back to Valentina, still speaking conversationally.

“I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing for a second when you came back to get your purse. And when you agreed to dance with me. I knew right then, when it was just the two of us in that bar, I knew that I had found the perfect dance partner.” Juliana steeled her nerves and got down on one knee. Valentina’s eyes grew wide for a moment, and filled with tears as Juliana began to speak again. “I knew then that I would never want to dance with anyone else ever again. I fell in love with you that night, and I’ve fallen in love with you more and more each night since then. I never want to stop falling in love with you, Val. I never want to find another partner to dance with. You’re the best partner I could have asked for and so much more than I deserve. I love you, Valentina Carvajal, more than anything or anyone else in the world. Will you marry me?”

Tears fell from Valentina’s eyes and she held out a shaking hand. Juliana gently slipped the ring onto her finger. “Of course, I’ll marry you.” Valentina said joyously once she hand finally found her voice. Juliana released a triumphant sounding laugh and shot to her feet to wrap her arms around Valentina. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?” Juliana asked, threading their fingers together. Valentina’s smile was wide and brighter than Juliana had ever seen.

“Dance with me.”

Juliana leaned in and kissed Valentina before leading her to the empty dancefloor. They held each other close, more swaying than dancing to the soft music drifting around them. Valentina kissed every part of Juliana she could reach, laughing and smiling the whole time. They danced for hours, spinning and twirling across the floor together just as they had done that night so many years ago. They moved in perfect synch, with a practiced ease. Perfect partners, just as they had always been.

Valentina couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with Juliana, dancing together without a care in the world.

[wyrdautumn]

The Apothetry Ithnomik

So, now that me and Jacqueline were officially a team, I wanted her help with something that’d been bothering me for a while. Given that I am a hacker of dubious moral character, I like to make a habit of breaking into any encrypted linkservs I happen to find myself in range of, just for funsies, and on the off chance I might learn something interesting, or have a chance to quietly beef up some nice person’s network so they’ll be safer from unscrupulous actors such as myself. A few months before everything started I ran into some nodes around the city that had some weird stuff floating around them, and I mean weird, at least by my standards at the time. For a while I was convinced I was looking at some kind of dog fighting ring, but, the stuff I was seeing didn’t seem much like dogs, if you follow my meaning. I had kind of decided to let it go, wrote it off as some hoax, or at least above my pay grade. None of it was cropping up near my neighborhood--and you’d best believe I was checking--so I could let it be somebody else's problem and hope I would find out it was just some kind of ARG someday.

But once I had Jacqueline on my side, I thought it would be worth another look. I took her to the last place I had picked up some suspect LMs and asked her to look around a bit, do her arcana check thing. I was kind of hoping she'd put my mind at ease, tell me I hadn’t stumbled onto some dangerous magical shenanigans, but if I had that kind of luck I wouldn’t be telling you about it. No, once we started digging, we pretty much found what you’d expect--somebody in the city was summoning monsters from demonworld and making them fight each other for sport. Even putting aside the ethical concerns--Jacqueline had a whole thing trying to explain the nature of all this, all I really got out of it was that people expect the monsters to feel pain so they do, which seems like a shitty deal if you ask me--this whole thing was obviously obscenely dangerous and was only going to end with a lot of people dead, and we were gonna have to make it our problem before it became everybody’s.

Once you knew what you were looking for, these guys weren’t too hard to track down. They were setting up this whole big arena, converting an old warehouse into a more permanent establishment for their bloodsport. Aethersport? Hard to say if those things bleed.

Anyway, we knew where they were going to be, so all we needed was a plan. Jacqueline really didn’t like the idea of going somewhere with, like, people. She was wary, didn’t want anybody seeing her, being able to track her down. Fair enough, right? Easy fix: she lives in shadows, she can hitch a ride in mine. She keeps hidden and when she does her thing we just pretend it’s my thing. All we had to do was arrange a meeting with the boss, talk him down or scare him straight, and send anything he already summoned back where it came from. So, I tracked down the ringleader on the underweb, hacked into his deck, and wrote us an invitation in the form of some malware.

It was a harmless little thing, just locked up his deck for a bit, played some spooky music, showed him this magicky sigil Jacqueline helped me design like something he might have seen before, then deleted itself and left him a spoofed “let’s talk” message with no sender. Pretty basic trickery, easy stuff once you have access to the deck, but all the effort went into presentation. Everything we had on this guy told us he didn’t really know what he was doing, and if we made it look like this was a supernatural attack and not just some copy-paste warrior level bullshit hacking he’d probably buy it. If it worked--which, of course, it did--all we'd have to do was show up for the next fight and he’d have to bring us right to him.

They built their arena out where the factories used to be, did up the interior nice and classy like some upscale nightclub from the 20s. They kept the place admirably discrete for how much they put into it, but even if we hadn't stepped in, there was no way they were gonna keep their secret for long. Maybe they thought they could pass it off as a regular speakeasy and buy their way out of prosecution when the time came. But then they probably woulda left a bunch of angry fuck off monsters rampaging through the city before it got to that point, so maybe foresight just wasn’t their thing.

I wanted to look the part, so I borrowed a few fashion pointers from Jacqueline and ran with them. I got this flowy gothy dress and witchy black jewelry, and then I threw on combat boots and a studded jacket to add a little punk touch for me. It was a sick look, honestly, and it did the trick, ‘cause I was barely there two minutes before a few burly-ass toughs dressed up like they thought they were Secret Service came around and brought me to their boss.

They called him Cowboy, on account of his whole affectation. Wide brimmed hat, southern twang, low-key aggro with a genteel frontier greed. We’re talking a guy who missed the point of a lot of spaghetti westerns. He didn’t waste any time once his goons deposited me at his table overlooking the pit. “You’re the one who sent me that message,” he said.

Obviously I was going to play it a little coy. “Maybe. I haven’t seen your messages.” That was a lie. “How should I know which one you mean?”

“The one that damn near broke my deck, of course.” It hadn’t done anything of the sort, but I put a lot of work into making him think otherwise. “You know, I figured this’d happen eventually.” He was sitting almost sideways on his booth chair, holding the neck of his whiskey with the tips of the fingers, and all I could think about was how he would seem even less cool once he inevitably dropped the thing. “Gotta be other folks in on this shit. Somebody had to write the book, after all. I knew I’d wind up catching y’all’s eye eventually.”

“Is that what this is?” I asked him in my best husky witch voice. “A cry for attention?”

“Please, darlin’, I’m not so pathetic as that. This here is just good old fashioned capitalism. Man takin’ his advantages and turnin’ them to cash, like nature intended.”

I couldn’t resist. “So you’re using the powers of the arcane to get rich quick. I suppose it’s less pathetic.”

“Heh. Had a feeling you folks’d be like that.” Cowboy grinned like a jackal. A really smug jackal you wanna punch in the face. “Cuz I’m a businessman, and I knew if y’all were businessmen--or ladies, ‘course”--yes he did say that--”and you had the kind of power I got at my hands now, let alone whatever other crazy shit I can only imagine, the world’d be run by folks like us.”

What a fucking idiot. But I needed to keep him talking. “So you’re going to offer me your business acumen.”

“Don’t get ahead of me now,” he said. He sat up for once and leaned in. He really thought he was a viper. “I still don’t know who you are. Or why you wanted to meet me in the first place. I got my ideas, but I know you have your own agenda. So tell me what you’re here for and let’s see what deal we can cut.”

The thing about knowing you’ve got all the cards is there’s not much point in lying. So I was straight with him, which, believe me, that’s not something I can say often. “I’m sure you realize I’m here to stop this.”

He just shrugged. “I figured it might be something like that.” Then he leaned back with that same punchable look. “So what will it take to change your mind? I know I can. Otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered talking to me.”

This guy thought he was so clever, and he was just ludicrously wrong about absolutely everything. I needed to make him see it. “Think about this,” I told him. “That book of yours, do you even know how old it is? How many hundreds of years, do you think?”

“19th century,” he said. “Had a dealer date it for me, before I figured out what it was.”

“19th century,” I repeated. Jacqueline whispered in my ear. I followed her lead. “Been around a while, then. And you’re right, that’s just the tip of it. Knowledge you can’t fathom, back to the dawn of civilization. Old, old, old secrets. Don’t you think that’s odd?”

“Not especially. Everybody knows magic’s out there now, it only stands to reason there’s people who always did.”

“That’s the point. Some people did always know. And all that time, the entire history of the human race, not one person ever had the bright idea to use that knowledge for personal gain. Nobody ever thought they could take that power and run the world with it. That’s what you believe, right?”

“Well, no, when you put it that way, I’m sure somebody tried. Maybe they just weren’t any good at it.”

He really didn’t get it. “Listen to me.” I looked him dead in the eyes. “It's not gonna work. Whatever you think is different about you, you’re wrong. What you’re meddling with here is dangerous, ‘Cowboy.’” I added the sneer. Couldn’t help it. “You’re playing with fire and when you lose control it’s going to burn a lot more than just you.”

Cowboy almost seemed like he was listening, which surprised me. “Let me show you something,” he said, and he waved his hand to pull up two screens for me, one for each of the monsters he had locked up in the pit that night. There was a mean-looking two-legged coyote thing--I figured it was supposed to be El Chupacabra--and some sort of freaky lion bear snake chimera creature that, I’m gonna be honest, looked a lot grosser in real life than it would have on an album cover.

But the weird thing about them was, they were just kinda… standing there. They were moving back and forth a little bit, but their motions were repetitive, like they were stuck in some sort of idle loop. “That’s always what they do,” Cowboy said, “least til we open their cage and let ‘em at each other. They’re dumb sons of bitches, ma’am, ain’t inclined to go huntin’ for nothin’ that ain’t directly in front of their face. We let ‘em kill each other, then we shut the winner in for a few days ‘til he fades away an’ goes back wherever he came from. Any poor bastard you put in front of ‘em is gonna get ripped to shreds, sure, but it ain’t a problem so long as you don’t let any poor bastard put himself in front of ‘em.”

I’m not kidding you, that was his grand fuckin’ scheme. That was his defense! ‘This is totally safe because everything about it is the exact opposite of safe!’ It really threw me for a god damn loop. I had no clue how to respond to that. So I looked back at the screens, and I almost forgot about all the bullshit I just heard, cuz El Chupacabra was looking back at me.

I guess Cowboy saw it on my face, cuz he glanced at the screen too. “Oh, huh,” he said. “Yeah they do that sometimes. Nothin’ ever comes of it though, it’s just kinda creepy. They forget all about the camera once they catch sight of each other.”

A jingle played over the building’s speakers and an announcer told us bets were closing in 60 seconds. The lights dimmed around the room and a spotlight came on over the pit. At this point I was genuinely pretty spooked, and I looked at Cowboy and told him, “you have to call this off.”

“Relax, darlin’,” he said, and he took a big swig of whiskey. “Why don’t you just enjoy the show?”

It was hard to keep my cool, but I thought freaking out then would ruin all that effort I put into building the facade. We always thought we were gonna have to drop in on the fight and let Jacquline take care of the monsters anyway, so I figured, okay, I guess we can just stick to the plan, why not?

But it didn’t feel right. Somehow I knew we had miscalculated. I looked back at the screens, and El Chupacabra was staring back at me, I swear looking right into my eyes. Like, right into them. Almost like--well. I guess I had a hunch. So I got up. I moved away from my seat. And its eyes followed me.

“Shit,” I said.

Cowboy turned to see what I was looking at. After a few seconds, it clicked. “Shit,” he said, and I didn’t hear what he said next, because the announcer came on again and said there were ten seconds left. Cowboy held a hand up to his ear, looking concerned, and started talking to his staff, but it was too late for them to do anything I guess, because the countdown kept ticking, down to 3 seconds, to 2, to 1…

There was a loud siren. I saw the cell doors open on the monitor and both monsters charged out of the gates. I whipped around, leaned over the balcony Cowboy was using as his perch, and watched with what I would say was an appropriate amount of terror as the monsters leaped straight out of the pit onto the floor below us.

So right away there’s pandemonium, people screaming and yelling and running, tables getting bowled over by the people and by the monsters, Cowboy spilling his whiskey all over the floor. About half of the guards ran for their lives, the other half drew their guns and started firing like that was gonna fuckin’ do anything, but luckily for them El Chupacabra and his buddy weren’t interested in the bystanders. They were coming for me. Or, more likely, for Jacqueline.

Less intelligent demons don’t really know how to deal with Jackie, is the thing. Most of the time they know she’s a threat to them, and some of ‘em try to run away or give her the slip, but you’d be surprised how often they just pick the biggest threat in the room and run straight for it. Normally that suits us just fine, but Cowboy picked the exact wrong time to show some common sense. He jumped right into action, to his credit, running off to help evacuate his customers and barking orders to the staff, and the first thing he did was make sure they threw on the lights. And they had gone all out with them, like full on covering the room with floodlights, I guess for specifically this kind of situation, which is almost an admirable precaution except for how utterly futile it is. But more importantly it just really fucked us over, because a room that bright ain’t got no shadows.

Jacqueline was wavering beneath me, the faint shadow I was casting barely enough to hold her. The monsters were skidding up the stairs, El Chupacabra leaped forward and smashed the seat Cowboy had been using, everything was going wrong and I realized I was going to die. I didn’t have very many options. And I wound up doing the thing I always do when things go sideways, like seriously you’d be surprised how much this comes up--I threw myself off the balcony and hoped for the best.

Bad plan. It’s always a bad plan. I took a hard fall and smashed into the ground. I was lucky I hadn’t broken anything, but I was bruised and hurting and winded. I could feel Jacqueline’s weight shifting around in my shadow. She didn’t have much to work with, to fight the monsters or to keep me safe. I felt paralyzed. I think she did too. And I didn’t… I didn’t like what I was doing to her. I didn’t want her to have to watch me…

Well, I didn’t want to die either. And the monsters had already leaped down. They were closing in on me, cautious, afraid of whatever scent they had picked up from Jacqueline. So I spun up my deck and beamed the worm I prepared to every device I could reach. I’d hoped to do it properly, have time to slip it by anything using more than basic security, leave my fingerprints off of it, but I didn’t have much choice. All I could do was brute force it and hope it got where it needed to.

I crawled backwards as best I could, my deck vibrating madly in my pocket, worried that if I tried to scramble to my feet one of them would take the chance to pounce. The ominous tone I cooked up started playing from somewhere in the distance, then it spread across the room, one device at a time. Then I heard it coming loud, from the monitors above the pit, and the house lights blinked out all at once. I felt a lurch in my stomach and I was gone.

Before I knew it I was back on my feet, somewhere else, still in the building but I couldn’t tell where. I was disoriented, the lights were all off save for a few bright floodlights casting long dark shadows all over the room, and the red glow from the monitors I hacked gave everything this super menacing vibe. Before I could get my bearings I heard a roar and felt something coming up behind me, and I dropped to the ground.

The chimera barreled past me and tried to swerve back around. It skidded into the wall, but that didn’t slow it down. It came crashing back toward me, but I saw the shadows swirling around me and I knew I didn’t have to be afraid of it. We had already won. So I charged right back at it. It swung its paw at my head but I ducked below it, sliding beneath its underside, and I gave it a hard uppercut in its soft underbelly that did absolutely jack shit. But then a thick lance of shadow shot out from beneath me, piercing the thing straight through its middle. It writhed and roared in pain, or whatever living aether feels, and the pillar of shadow lanced out again, stabbing it from the inside with a bunch of big nasty fuck-off shadow spikes, and then the thing just… wasn’t, anymore, and the shadows receded, and the chimera was gone.

Before I knew what was happening, I felt something swinging at my head, and then I was gone too. My stomach lurched and I was somewhere else again, but El Chupacabra must have been catching on, because I barely had time to register it barreling towards me, claws ready to rip my stomach out of my gut, before I was nowhere once more.

You have to understand, Jacqueline does the shadow thing easy. It’s second nature to her, like she knows the dance so well she doesn’t even realize she’s dancing anymore. She’ll shift and shape and reform however she wants and it doesn’t phase her in the slightest. But I can’t do any of that, and I definitely couldn’t do it back then, and being shoved in and out of your entire reality like that really fucks you up when you’re not used to it. So when I tell you I was doubled over on the ground sick to my stomach in just the grossest most pathetic seasick haze, I just want to make sure you know, for the record, that I’d like to see you take it any better, all right?

But, so, okay, yes, I spent the next minute or so shaking on my knees trying not to retch, so I kind of missed the next little bit after that. But I imagine a bystander would have just seen me grappling with my super anime inner demons and exploding in a big jaggy ball of shadow rage that eradicated El Chupacabra before it could try to get another hit off, so that’s the reality I’m gonna choose to live in.

Once I managed to gather my bearings, I took off to track down our friend Cowboy and finally finish the job. Luckily I didn’t have to go far. He was very courteously waiting for me by the bar, surveying his mostly-destroyed club. As far as I could tell everybody else made a break for it. But I guess he realized we still had business.

He tried to keep himself together, but he was fidgeting nervously and avoiding my eyes. “Well. It’s fair to say a lot went wrong here. But, I will point out, those things only had eyes for you, and clearly you had ‘em licked, so frankly I don’t know who you have to blame ‘cept yourself.” I think he could tell I was stabbing his head in my mind. “But I’m not a fool, no, and you’ve made your point, so, maybe it’d be best if we worked something out. I’m not adverse to bringing in an expert when the situation calls, and havin’ somebody who can keep the beasts in check is only a fair precaution, I would think. Obviously you can’t be in the room with ‘em, but--”

“Stop talking,” I told him. I stepped forward. He flinched. He was scared of me. That was Jackie’s cue. The shadows started swirling around me again, and Jacqueline rose from my shadow, half-formed in shadowstuff, shaping herself as a demonic figure towering behind me. We advanced on Cowboy. He staggered back, swearing under his breath.

Jacqueline took over from there. “You don’t understand anything.” She made her voice raspy and deep, a slight echo of Harvey’s cocky drawl underneath it. “This, all of this, this is the misguided workings of a neophyte, dog-paddling in water deeper than the deepest ocean, arrogant and ignorant of how small he is, how dark the waves below.” Cowboy had his back against the wall. “I could unmake you with a thought, and I am a shadow of the beasts you fail to see rising up to swallow you whole.” The shadows swirled and formed into a great scythe that she held in her towering shadowy hands, perched above Cowboy’s head, ready to strike. “This is a mercy.”

The scythe came down and passed through Cowboy. He gasped and shuddered and almost fell over, but I grabbed him by the neck and stared into his eyes. “You won’t be summoning anything again. You can try, but it won’t work. It never will. Let it go and live your life, Cowboy.”

I let him drop to the ground. I’m pretty sure he passed out. So we just left him there, and hoped he learned his lesson. If not, well, at least his next scam couldn’t be any more dangerous.

...

Nah. It doesn’t work that way. But what Jacqueline keeps telling me is magic shit’s all about, like, faith. And then she walks that back because that makes it sound like she means religious faith, and it’s not that, or like it can be, but it doesn’t have to, or something. I’m not gonna pretend I get it. But I think what it’s really about is, like… the belief that things should work the way you expect them to? You gotta have confidence in what you’re doing, and that’s what she took from him. Lot of work to make a white guy feel insecure, but I guess you can’t argue with results.

[sake-and-whiskey]

‘Til We Meet Again’

My part in the ‘To Ashes McHanzo Fan Zine.’ Originally, I wrote three chapters for the zine, but due to space issues only the first one ended up being publishes. So now I’m sharing all three chapters on Ao3 for you all to enjoy! Check it out on Ao3 HERE and let me know what you think! Below I’ll be posting the first chapter, which was shared in the Zine, but all three chapters are in the Ao3 link above!  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hanamura was a beautiful city, a perfect median of traditional Japan and the infrastructure of the modern era. Bustling streets and neon lights lived alongside ancient fences and hand-carved architecture, cherry blossom trees showering onto loose cobblestone paths that met up with busy highways. Massive skyscrapers glittered immaculately  just beyond scenic mountain views, neighbored by classic castles, the apex of old meets new.

Japan had been successful as omnics had joined the workforce, workers that required no sleep and were easily exploitable with little to no legal rights, and funded a massive metropolis. The money that flooded into the country’s economy had begun to run dry as omnics began to fight for their rights, and in recent years the populus had struggled to find alternative means of income, turning to the black market in order to survive. In the wake of the depression, gangs had sprung up, old nobility dipping their hands into illegal dealings where money was mad, and building up massive empires that spread not only through Japan, but across the globe.

It was this underground economy that brought Jesse McCree, along with a select group of other Deadlock rebels, to the historic city. They had flown for eight hours on an economy-class hyperplane only to be immediately ushered into a car by a representative of their contact and delivered at a hotel that was far nicer than any Jesse had ever set foot in. There they had changed from their leathers and gang colors into finely pressed, though still cheap suits, to wait for the sleek black car that picked them up. An omnic driver with a faceplate like an ancient Japanese warrior’s mask opened and closed their doors for them before he pulled away towards Shimada Castle, a clear display of hospitality as much as dominance. The Deadlocks were a big name in New Mexico and the southwestern United States, but they had yet to go global. The higher ups were hoping that a business agreement with the lofty Shimada Clan in Hanamura would be what they needed to become an international powerhouse in the illegal arms dealing market. The negotiations had been set to take place in Hanamura, the base of the Shimada Clan’s operations, with a small group of Deadlock representatives assigned to complete negotiations in a week’s time.

McCree wasn’t a fan of the theatrics that big trade deals required. He would have much preferred to simply schedule a face-to-face meeting, power through negotiations, shake on it, and be on his way. The man had great disdain for the false smiles and compliments, the suits and ties and big-wig dinner meetings, the fancy cars picking them up to usher them about like school children. It was maddening, irritating, and downright showboating. Jesse was sure he would have liked the scenic views of the lofty castles and beautiful cherry blossom covered roads that passed by the car window under any other circumstance. Yet now the beauty was soiled, ruined by the fact he’d been forced to take off his hat, earrings, belt buckle, and all other personal effects, leather chaps discarded on the floor of the hotel room to be replaced by black dress pants that were far too constricting. He had barely managed to convince Tex, the leader of their small party, to let him wear his cowboy boots, which he had agreed upon so long as he took off the spurs - a compromise McCree had only begrudgingly agreed to. His bandana had been folded neatly and stuffed into his suit pocket, a flash of color on the otherwise unicolored outfit.

He listened to the chatter of his teammates, some gruff and irritated, others more cheery, excited at the prospect of this exotic and foreign new land. McCree wasn’t big on leaving the States. He was content in his small corner off the Southwest; the familiarity of the Santa Fe sun and soil was all he needed. A simple life for a simple man. Jesse was young, only seventeen years old, but gang life had forced his maturity, shedding his adolescence for the spoils that came from a life of crime. He’d always seen the Deadlocks ride past the trailer park like a pack of wolves, steel horses thundering as they rode glittering motorcycles, hooting and hollering, the epitome of cool. The Deadlocks were the closest to the old western movies his grandfather had played on the holovid, all sex appeal and grisly badassery.  They were real badass motherfuckers, every boys dream. Bikes, guns, booze and money are very appealing to a poor boy living in a trailer park in the New Mexico desert. He had dropped his old life at the age of fourteen to run with the Deadlocks. The glamor had started to fade as he’d moved up in the ranks, but he was addicted to it at this point. Jesse McCree was a young punk trying to make a name for himself in a world that found him useful yet expendable, nothing more.

He didn’t bother to join the small talk, tuning out the low conversations in favor of taking in the scenery. The city was beautiful, certainly, seemingly lost in time, a bygone era living peacefully onward. A woman and an omnic dressed in long pastel kimono chattered happily on the cobblestone sidewalk, twirling umbrellas in their hands. Shops glittered with neon lights, street peddlers selling their wares. The air was crisp and the cherry blossom trees swayed in the wind, ever weeping their soft pink petals onto the ground. “Genetically enhanced,” the representative at the airport had told him with a fake smile, “bred to bloom year-round.” A beautiful lie, just like the rest of the city, he mused to himself. It tried its best to maintain an air of unassuming grace, but McCree saw right through the façade. He could make out the familiar shape of people in the alleyways, making exchanges, then parting as though nothing had happened, fish venders with long tattoos peeking from the wrists of their sleeves, a dirt covered boy in tattered clothes holding a cup, quietly begging for change. Some things were the same in every part of the world, he thought passively, poor people everywhere just trying to get by.

His silent ponderings came to an end when the car rolled to a stop in a dead end, suddenly aware of the massive wooden walls that had replaced the nearby buildings. A welcome party seemed to be set out, a beautiful well-dressed woman in a long dress stood as still as stone with a group of men in suits standing on either side, smile painted on her lips. The Deadlocks straightened at once, Tex whispering words of encouragement as they attempted to be presentable. Once again, the omnic driver stepped out and opened the door for them, and again Jesse resented it, but tipped his hat good-naturedly. If the omnic appreciated it, he gave no sign.

Once they stepped out of the car, McCree was painfully aware of how small they were, boxed in by the high walls. Two dragons were carved into the walls behind the welcome party, chasing after each other in a perfect circle. More theatrics. “Pretentious bullshit,” Jesse muttered to himself before the woman stepped towards them and he quickly plastered on his most charming smile.

“Gentlemen,” the woman said in a voice that was soft and warm as she gave a gentle bow, “Welcome to Hanamura. I hope your trip was a comfortable one.”

“Reckon it was, sweetheart,” Tex spoke up, stepping forward and returning the bow. Jesse was glad he was the leader on this trip. He didn’t know if he could stomach this level of horseshit and backhanded compliments. But the way Tex handled it all, cool cowboy saddling up with a smile and a wink, made it seem all too easy. It was inspirational. “Y’all made the trip mighty nice for us.”

The woman nodded quickly. “Of course. It is simply the courteous thing to do. You are our guests after all.”

“Yes indeed,” Tex agreed, “We got here fast as we could. We’re eager to start trade negotiations as soon as possible-”

“There is time for that,” the woman interrupted, smiling apologetically though her smile did not reach her eyes, “For now, we would like to give you a tour of the grounds, and then later the master of the grounds will meet with your main spokesman to discuss business. I hope that is acceptable.”

A murmur went up between the other Deadlock members, eyeing each other up incredulously. The man in charge wasn’t even there to greet them. A ballsy move, another display of dominance with a clear message. They were on Shimada time, not the other way around.

But Tex only nodded, smiling graciously. “Well then, we’ll gladly accept your hospitality. Lead the way, ma’am.”

Tex’s answer seemed to be the right one, because the woman’s smile grew, and she gave a sweeping gesture to the huge wooden gate behind her. “Gentlemen,” she said, bowing low once more, “Welcome to Shimada Castle.”

The great door gave a loud groan of protest as it was opened, massive walls sliding to  reveal what they hid from prying eyes. Jesse felt his eyes widen in spite of himself, lips parting in surprise as Shimada Castle came into view. If Hanamura was the median of past and present, the castle was like stepping back in time. Cherry blossom trees hung low around ancient architecture, sand gardens bridging the gap between buildings with large stones strategically placed. Music played softly in the distance, though he couldn’t see where it came from, some twangy strings that whispered familiarity of home but still foreign as the rest of this land. Yet another welcoming party stood in the center of one of the nearby buildings, unfazed by the fantasy in which they stood.

One of his teammates whistled low and appreciatively, and Jesse agreed wholeheartedly as they all made their way inside the gates. One of the suited men in the first welcoming party ushered them along the path to the next building, and McCree absently nodded his thanks, still eyeing up the amazing scenery, catching a glimpse of even more castles in the distance. They were led through a beautiful courtyard into a huge hall, sweeping ceilings dimly lit. A lone scroll of calligraphy sat in the center, and Jesse looked up to see a massive mural of two dragons, one green, one blue, locked in a swirling embrace. The whole thing felt like a scene from a movie, a perfect fantasy hidden away behind closed doors. It was surreal, unlike anything he had ever seen.

“The meeting room is just past here.” Their guide’s voice brought Jesse back down to earth, ripping him from the fantasy with a soft yet firm tone. He glanced over to see her gesturing to a doorway past the scroll, ushering along Tex. “My superior has requested that only your top man be involved in the negotiations for privacy reasons, is that correct?”

Tex nodded assuredly, stepping forward. “That’s mighty fine. But what exactly are my companions here meant to do while we discuss?”

The woman offered a tight lipped smile, gesturing to the entrance whence they’d come. “They are free to wander the courtyard and surrounding gardens as they see fit. Shimada Castle is under constant surveillance, so they will be escorted from any private areas and returned back here once the negotiations are complete.”

A murmur passed through the Deadlock members as they glanced at each other. To let them wander around the castle unattended was a bold move, but a show of power all the same. ‘Constant surveillance,’ Jesse mused. There were men in suits stationed periodically around the complex, and no telling how many cameras were hidden, recording their every move. It was a polite way of telling them they were being watched, a gentle threat to dare to try something.

But Tex only nodded again, running a hand through his greasy hair. “You heard the lady, gents. Take a gander around, enjoy the sites. I’ll see y’all in a bit.”

The woman bowed to the group once more before turning, Tex following close behind up a small flight of stairs until the two rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

The remaining gang members exchanged small talk and basic conversation before deciding it really would be best to split up and explore. It was the chance of a lifetime, and they could potentially gather valuable intel. Plus, after being openly invited to enjoy the complex, it would be extremely disrespectful not to. So after a few minutes of deliberation they broke up and Jesse McCree wandered off on his own.

He took the route to the east of the great hall, wandering across bridges and beneath ancient pathways, through cobblestone twists and turns. Occasionally he would pass someone, like a group of servants or one of the many suited men. They would bow politely in passing, and he would reach to tip his hat, only to realise it wasn’t there and card his hand through his hair instead, nodding quickly.

He lost himself in thought as he walked, cherry blossom petals falling and getting trapped in the wiry locks of his dark hair, a splash of color like the bandana stuffed in his pocket. Up, up, up he went, taking flight after flight of stone steps, from one level, across platforms, to the next level, mindlessly wandering. It was rare he was given the opportunity to simply explore. Despite the promise of freedom he had joined for, Deadlock kept its members on tight leashes. Time fell away as he walked, mind on nothing and everything at once. His drifter blood kept him going, wandering without a care until he reached the final steps, stopping short when he realized he had made it to the top of a tower, and could see the entire expanse of Shimada Castle and the surrounding city.

It was as breathtaking as it had been when the gates had opened, but magnified by a thousand. The castle was bright, pinks and greens a stark contrast from the urbanization of the city just outside its walls. It was as beautiful as the sunrise in the desert, the view of New Mexico that had made him fall for the drifter’s life in the first place, he thought with a smile. So different from where he was from, and yet, just the same. Little similarities drawing him in and making him fall in love with the sight.

“Just like home.” He sighed contentedly, drinking in the view.

“Is that so?” A voice came from behind him, ripping him from his revelry. He whipped around, instinctively reaching towards his belt for a pistol that wasn’t there, flustered, before stopping short.

The man who stood there put the view to shame, and Jesse burned the sight into his mind. His dark eyes bored into McCree’s, striking as his proud features. Strong jaw, sharp nose, amused smirk, brow cocked in amusement. Long hair that spilled over his shoulders, framing his regal face. Arms folded over his chest, loose clothing hanging in beautiful blues from his arms and down his body. Masculine, powerful, radiating strength. In his short life, McCree had never seen any real person so stunning, and he doubted he ever would again.

A beat passed, and the man chuckled, cocking his head. “Do you not speak English? I had thought that was the language of America.”

Again McCree was ripped back to reality, but this time he was prepared, regaining his composure quickly. “Oh I speak English fine, thank ya kindly.”

The beautiful stranger smiled approvingly, though it looked more coy than anything else. “Well isn’t that fortunate. You are a member of the Deadlock negotiations party, are you not?”

McCree nodded, shooting back a grin of his own. “Sure am. What gave it away?”

The man chuckled, eyes warming. The sound was beautiful, rolling like brass, and sent chills down McCree’s spine. “I have been summoned to return you to the hall. Negotiations have been completed, so your visit to Shimada Castle is coming to an end.”

At this Jesse straightened, face screwing up in confusion. “Already? They finished negotiations that fast?”

A hesitation as the man raised an eyebrow, measuring his words before responding. “It has been well over two hours. There was not much to discuss. Agreements have been made, and it is time for you to return to America.”

McCree recoiled in surprise. Over two hours? He really had lost track of time. But he didn’t have long to muse over it, as the stranger began to turn away, motioning for him to follow. “Shall we go? It is best we don’t leave your companions waiting.”

“Ah, right,” Jesse said quickly, and gave one last look out over the city, the castle, the perfect fantasy of Hanamura, before following behind the stranger.

The two walked in silence for a good part of the journey back to the gate, though Jesse was consumed by his thought. Specifically on the beautiful stranger, the way he walked like a god among men, the way his hair fluttered softly in the gentle breeze. Every time they passed someone, they would bow deeply, much more than they had when McCree had been on his own, and the man would wave them off politely but dismissively. Jesse wanted to ask why, but was in no rush to cause an issue on his way out of the palace. So instead he decided silence was best and walked quietly, enjoying the scenery and the sway of the perfect stranger’s hips.

The silence was broken just as the top of the great hall came into view, the stranger turning to him with a look of serious concentration on his face. “You never gave me an answer,” he said sharply.

McCree cocked a brow, tilting his head in confusion. “Uh. Come again?”

“I asked you how Hanamura was just like your home, like you said up on the tower.”

Realization hit him and he laughed, nodding. “Oh yeah, suppose you did, huh? Well, it ain’t anything serious. Just…”

“Tell me,” the man asked, voice softer this time.

“Well,” McCree hesitated a moment before locking eyes with the man, “It’s just a feeling. A feeling of lookin’ around and seein’ what true beauty is. Bein’ alone, hidden away from all life’s problems, and just enjoying what you see. It feels like you got the whole world at your fingertips, like nothin’ matters but you and the view. I’ve only ever felt like that in two places, and that’s Hanamura and back home.”

The man seemed to consider his words before offering up a warm smile. “That sounds like a wonderful feeling. To know true beauty.”

McCree saw the opportunity and took it, smiling slyly. “Well I coulda told you a thing or two about true beauty after seein’ your face, darlin’.”

The man scoffed, then snorted, then broke out into a laugh once more, that same brassy sound that had given Jesse chills earlier, and did so again. He wanted to say something more, to hear that rich voice and that ringing laugh, but the two had reached the entrance to the hall. He could see his teammates gathered in the center and felt his heart grow heavy, disappointed he didn’t have more time. When his eyes met the strangers, he could see a disappointment reflecting his own painted on his features.

“Here you are. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Shimada Castle, Mister…” His voice trailed off.

“McCree. Jesse McCree.” He smiled weakly.

“Jesse McCree,” the man repeated, and Jesse felt a spark shoot down his spine at the sound of his name on the other’s voice.

“Aye Jesse! You ready yet?” a voice called, breaking the two from the other’s gaze.

“You should be going,” the man said quickly, turning away. “I hope you have a safe journey home.” He quickly moved to walk past Jesse, but the gunslinger moved, grabbing his arm gently. Their eyes locked, burning for a moment where time stopped and all that existed was the two of them.

“Wait, what about you? What’s your name?” he asked in a low voice, heart beating wildly in his chest.

There was a moment of silence before the stranger pulled himself from McCree’s grip, taking a step back, steadying himself. He opened his mouth, thought better of it, hesitated, before finally he spoke.

“Hanzo,” he said, voice barely above a low whisper. His eyes lost their fire, and for a moment he looked pained before turning away, muttering, “Remember this moment, Jesse McCree. Do not forget the beauty you found here.”

And with that, Hanzo darted off.

“I won’t,” Jesse whispered roughly, heart full of longing as he stood for a moment, head a whirlwind of emotion, before he shook his head, sighed, and headed back towards his companions in the center of the great hall to begin the journey home.

[m-i-y-o-k-i]

Idk if this is an actual high school stereotype, but Ed could be that one kid who used to live deep into the countryside but his family moved to the city. He always drives his father's old pick-up truck to the school. Always wears his cowboy hat even though there's probably a dress code rule against hats.

YES TEEN EDWARDhe use to live in the countryside of texas. accent thick and manners like that of an old western movie. having long hair pulled back in a ponytail and a hunter's jacket (camouflage pattern) on no matter how cold or hot it is.he moved out here after "his daddy got a fancy new job with the oil companies out here." driving the old beat up pick up and chewing gum in class. ed tipping his hat to the teachers, and cursing "like momma wouldn't believe" at jackie or silver if they write him up for a dresscode violation. he's apart of the nature club with king and angus. he and angus get along pretty well! they go hunting and fishing at the school's owned lake by the football field. listening to country music and talking about "these damned city kids wont know a thing about this!"hes not popular or unpopular, just another student in the huge sea at Lakeview High

[pika-ace]

Broadway Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team: The Witch of Mt. Steel

Haaaaaah I’ve had this half-done for FOREVER and I finally got it! This is a little fic of myself in the Red/Blue version of BMD. My partner is Veronica here and this is basically the equivalent of the Skarmory mission in that game. Also quick AU changes for those who actually know the Little Jo musical, Jo is a child here and Jordan and Sarah are her adoptive parents. It’s a change I wanted to here it is. Enjoy!

I stretched and yawned as the sun shone through the window, gently waking me up. Another day in this world. It still felt surreal even though it's been a good while. 

I got up, got dressed and headed out the door to check the mail, only to find the mailbox empty. No rescue requests today, it looked like. 

“Excuse me?” I turned away from my mailbox to see a young lady walking towards me. She had blonde hair tied up in a ponytail and wore a grey dress with a blue apron; she looked like she had come right out of the 1800s. I looked down and spied what looked like a little boy walking behind her, head down and his cowboy hat casting a shadow onto his face as he held the woman’s skirt. 

“Is this where Rescue Team Crystalline is?” The woman asked with a western twang in her voice. I blinked; this was the first time someone had come up asking for us in person instead of through a letter or a request. 

“Uh, yes, this is the place,” I said. “Um, can I help you?”

“We need your help,” The woman said; that’s when I noticed that she looked pretty worse for wear. Her eyes were slightly red, like she’d been crying, and she had slight bags under her eyes like he hadn’t slept. 

“Kirsty!” I turned to see Veronica coming towards me. 

“Hey, Veronica,” I greeted before glancing back at the woman and the kid, “Uh, good timing; these two are asking for us.” 

“Oh yeah?” Veronica asked. 

The woman nodded, “My name is Sarah Ellis, and this is little Jo,” She said. “We need your help; my husband, Jordan...he’s in real trouble.” 

“What kind of trouble?” Veronica asked. 

“He was kidnapped,” Sarah said, her voice shaking with rage. “The Witch took him.”

“The Witch?” I asked. 

“You mean The Witch from Mt. Steel?” Veronica asked in surprise. “That Witch?” 

“Yes,” Sarah nodded. “Not nearly a day ago, Jo here came running back to me, almost in tears, blubbering about how that devil woman came down and took Jordan away.” 

“Who is this Witch?” I asked. 

“Well, she’s a witch, obviously,” Veronica said. “She lives on Mt. Steel; she usually just minds her own business and doesn’t really magic anybody unless they trespass on her territory.” 

“Yeah, but Papa didn’t!” Jo suddenly stepped out from behind Sarah. “That witch took her, and Papa didn’t do anything wrong!” The boy was clearly upset. 

“What happened?” I asked gently. “Did you really see this witch take your dad?” 

Jo nodded, his eyes glassing over slightly. “It...it happened when Papa and I were out mining…”

Little Jo dragged his hammer behind them, huffing and puffing as he tried to keep up with his father. Jordan was a few feet away from him, hammering away at a large boulder like it was the easiest thing in the world, sweat staining his clothes from a long day’s work. 

Jo was sweaty too, but not because he had been hammering away like Jordan. Jo could barely lift the thing above his head! Jo found a rock of his own and raised the hammer with a large breath before letting it drop on the rock. Barely a dent was made. 

“Havin’ trouble there, kiddo?” Jordan asked, wiping his forehead. 

“I can’t do it, Papa,” Jo whined. “It’s always too heavy and I can’t make it light up either!” 

Jordan chuckled, “Jo, you’re tryin’ to take on more than you can handle; work on getting a good swing behind that hammer before you worry about using any powers.” 

“But it’s hard!” Jo protested. 

“Try to watch me,” Jordan said, lifting his hammer. “Watch how I stand, how I move my shoulders; you gotta position yourself if you wanna even move that hammer.” 

Jo nodded and watched as his father began to swing his hammer again. Jo had always admired how Jordan could easily take charge. Everything he did felt certain, powerful, and large. Jo altered their position and tried again, slowly raising the hammer, trying to mimic Jordan. Jo swung the hammer and it hit the ground, but the sudden shift in weight all but threw Jo off his feet. Jo toppled over, their hammer harmlessly falling to the ground. 

Jordan laughed while Jo pouted in frustration, crossing their arms. “That was a pretty good start,” Jordan said. “Keep that up, and I’m sure you’ll get a good strike in someday, now let’s try again.” Jo didn’t respond and turned up his nose. 

“Oh come now, you’re not givin’ up before I do, are you?” Jordan asked with a smirk. 

Jo’s eyes suddenly blazed with determination and they got to their feet, “No way!” He exclaimed, grabbing their hammer once more. But before either of them could get back to work, the ground began to shake. Another earthquake! Jo yelped as he barely kept his balance, but Jordan quickly steadied him, 

“Outside, quick!” Jordan took his hand, picking up Jo’s hammer along with his own and they hurried towards the exit. They ran outside the cave and gazed up at the mountain just as the shaking died down. 

Jordan sighed in relief, “You alright, kiddo?” He asked. 

“Yeah,” Jo nodded. 

“They’re getting worse,” Jordan said, looking back at the mountain. “If these tremors keep up the whole mountain might cave in at this rate.” Jo swallowed as they gazed at the entrance to the mine that standing on its last legs. If they couldn’t get back into the mines, how would they find silver and minerals to live? So many other miners were already too scared to  go back into the mountains out of fear that they would collapse on them. Would they end up doing the same thing? 

Jordan put his hand on Jo’s shoulder, “Well, I think we’ve done enough work for today,” He said. “Let’s head home; I’m sure your mother will appreciate some extra hands around the house for dinner.” 

Jo nodded and Jordan handed him back his hammer and they started heading home. They had only walked a little ways away from the mountain when a shadow glossed over him. Jordan stopped, making Jo stop in confusion. “Papa?” He asked. 

Jordan turned and gazed at the sky, his eyes becoming hard as the clouds covered the blue sky. Jo swallowed as everything seemed to fall silent. He looked up at the sky with Jordan, hoping to see whatever his Papa was seeing, and figure appeared for a brief moment. A second later, a black mass was zooming towards Jo. 

“JO!” Jordan tackled the small child, rolling out of the way as something huge zoomed right past where Jo was standing. They both looked up to see a giant black bird flying around them, circling around for another blow. 

“What is that?!” Jo cried. 

“Stay down, Jo!” Jordan got to his feet, hammer in hand as the bird swooped back down towards them. The head of Jordan’s hammer lit up silver and Jordan stomped on the ground, making small chunks of earth fly out of the ground. With quick strikes, Jordan whacked each of the piece with his hammer. 

The bird managed to dodge them, but one piece grazed the bird’s wing, forcing it to land. The bird screeched and moved it’s massive beak to peck Jordan, but the miner caught its beak. 

Jordan grunted as he held the bird at bay, a tight grip on his beak; as he did, he glanced at the bird’s eyes and something reflected in it that he recognized. “The Witch…!” Jordan almost let go of the bird, but kept it up. 

Meanwhile, Jo slowly got up, watching Jordan struggle with the bird. That was a witch? Could it be the witch that Mama always told Jo stories about? The one who lived in the mountains and could be a force of terror? But why was she here?! Jo picked up his hammer and watched the bird push against Jordan, slowly overcoming his strength; Jo had to help! 

Jo raised their hammer and tried to concentrate, “C’mon…!” He grunted, squeezed his eyes shut. “C’mon, light up!” 

The head of his hammer hummed slightly; even just a little would be enough! Jo swung back and made to hit the ground, but the weight of the hammer, along with the vibrating traveling along the handle made his hands slip. Jo slipped and the hammer hit the ground, sending a visible crack along the ground. The crack headed right for Jordan and the bird, causing Jordan to lose his grip and the bird to toss him away. 

“Papa!” Jo cried. The bird then looked right at the child and began moving towards him. “No!” Jo screamed, trying to get up, “Get away!” 

The bird was then stopped in its tracks and it turned around to see Jordan holding onto its tail. Jordan grunted and dragged the bird back a foot before managing to toss it aside. Jordan then ran towards Jo, scooping him off the ground, leaving their hammers behind. Jordan spied a small cave, hidden away in a nearby wall of stone and all but shoved Jo inside before following. 

“Papa?” 

“You listen to me, Jo,” Jordan said seriously. “You stay in here and don’t you move, ” “What?” “You stay put; if I tell you to run, you run, understand me?” 

“But Papa-” 

“You understand me?” Jordan repeated dangerously. 

Jo blinked and scooted further inside, “Yes sir,” He said softly. 

“Good, I-” 

The ground shook as a shadow appeared at the mouth of the cave. A large beak entered the opening and Jordan shoved Jo as far back as he could go before the beak clamped down on Jordan’s legs. 

“Papa!” Jo scrambled towards him, but Jordan was dragged quickly out of his reach. The bird dragged Jordan back out into the open and immediately began to pummel him. 

Jordan yelled out and tried to defend himself as the bird’s claws, wings, and beak hit him like multiple bullets while Jo watched and listened in horror. Jo wanted to scream, wanted to yell for the bird to stop hurting his Papa, but it was like he was frozen in fear. 

Finally, the bird stopped, and Jordan groaned. Jo lit up as Jordan managed to get on all fours despite his injuries, but it was quickly dashed when the bird’s foot reached out and stomped onto Jordan. The claws closed around him, making the man yelp in pain. The bird screeched and spread its wings, Jordan secure in its talons. He was taking him away! 

“Papa!” Jo abandoned hiding and ran towards the bird, but as he neared it, the bird took off. 

“No!” Jo screamed and reached towards the sky as the bird and Jordan vanished into the clouds. “Papa! PAPA!” Jo kept screaming at the sky until his voice disappeared, Jordan’s hammer sitting alone on the ground.

“After that, I ran home and told Mama what happened, and then we came here,” Jo finished. 

“We heard that you two were a reliable Rescue Team,” Sarah said. “And while the two of you are nothing but children that I don’t want to send after that devil woman, no one else wants to risk going up to face her; I’ve got no one else to turn to.” Her eyes seemed to fill with desperation. “Please, will you bring my husband back?” 

Veronica and I exchanged a glance; honestly, after hearing that story, how could we say no? And besides, we had never turned down a plea for help before. 

“We’ll do it,” I said. 

Sarah seemed to light up with relief, “Thank you...I can’t offer you much, but-” 

“Hey, it’s no problem,” Veronica said with a hand wave. “We make a point to not turn down requests, no matter what we’re asked.” 

Sarah nodded, tears gathering in her eyes, “Thank you...thank you so much.”

Mt. Steel was definitely named literally. The whole place was smooth, grey, and harder than anything, like the whole place was made of steel. Luckily, the travel wasn’t too treacherous and the Shadowlings were sparse. 

“Probably because of The Witch,” Veronica had said. “Even those assholes know not to mess with her.” 

But after a while, I stopped and looked behind us. “What’s up?” Veronica asked. 

“I feel like we’re being followed,” I said. I moved back the way we came just as I heard some shuffling from behind a boulder. Covering my hand with electricity, I looked behind the coulder to find-

“Jo?!” The little boy looked up at me like a deer in the headlights. 

I pulled him out of his hiding place and Veronica came over, “What the hell are you doing here?” She demanded. 

“I followed you,” Jo said in defeat. 

“You’ve been following us this whole time?” I exclaimed.

 “Wait, does your mom know you’re here?” Veronica asked. Jo shook his head and Veronica and I exchanged terrified glances.

“Jo, what were you thinking?!” I demanded. “Your mom’s probably worried sick about you! You think she wants her kid in the same place as the Witch that took your dad?” 

“I know but I…” Jo looked away, rubbing his arm, “I...I wanna come with you.” His hands them moved to fidget on the handle of his hammer. “Maybe if I was braver, she wouldn’t have taken Papa; Papa never left me so...I don’t wanna leave him either.” 

I sighed as tears seem to be brewing in his eyes, “Okay, you can come with us.” 

“What?!” Veronica exclaimed. 

I took her aside and spoke softly, “Look, we can’t send him back down through the mountain alone,” I pointed out. “He’ll be safer with us.”

 Veronica looked like she wanted to protest, but deflated, “Good point,” We turned back to Jo, “Let’s go, kid,” Veronica said. “Stay close to us, okay?” 

Jo seemed to light up, “Okay!” I let Veronica lead the way so I could hang back and keep an eye on Jo. The kid carried his hammer with a slightly frightened but determined look on his face; he really wanted to save his dad. It was super sweet. 

We hiked onwards, Veronica shooting down any Shadowlings that came our way. At long last, the path came to an end, and we found ourselves in a large clearing. 

“Is this the summit?” I asked. 

“It should be,” Veronica said. We moved forward, seeing and hearing nobody, until something up ahead caught our eye. A man was tied tightly to a boulder, sitting in the middle of an alcove of sorts. His posture was slumped and his head was low; it looked like he had all the energy sucked out of him. 

“Is that Jordan?” I wondered out loud. 

“Papa!” Jo cried, hurrying forward; well, that answered that. 

“Jo, wait!” Veronica called frantically and we ran after. 

Jordan lifted his head, revealing a few cuts and bruises on his face and his eyes widened, “Jo?!” He exclaimed. “What the hell are you doin’ here?!” 

“We came to rescue you!” Jo said as Veronica caught up and grabbed his shoulders. “Mama and I asked a Rescue Team for help and we-” 

“Jo Monaghan Ellis, you turn around and get out of here right now!” Jordan yelled, fear in his eyes. 

Jo blinked, “Huh?” 

“This place is dangerous, you need to leave, right now, all three of you!” Jordan yelled. 

“We’re here to get you out!” I called towards him. “Veronica and I are a Rescue Team, we can-” The area suddenly became dark and Jordan softly swore. 

“Papa?” Jo squeaked. 

“She’s comin’!” Jordan cried. “Please Jo, run, now!” 

We looked up to see a giant black bird appear in the sky. Veronica scooped up Jo and we ran back to safety as it landed between us and Jordan. Veronica and I pushed Jo behind us, making a protective wall as the bird folded its wings and shrunk, forming a woman with long brown curly hair and black flowing robes. 

The Witch in all her glory. “Who are you, and what do you mean by trespassing here?” She demanded. She was definitely more intimidating in person; even Jordan seemed a shade paler as he watched with wide eyes. 

“We’re a Rescue Team; we came for Jordan!” Veronica said loudly. “Let him go, now!”

“You dare make demands of me?!” The Witch exclaimed. “Especially when they brought this on themselves; both him and that brat!” Her eyes fell on Jo who squeaked and hid further. 

“What are you talking about?” I asked. “They didn’t do anything to you!” 

“They most certainly did! I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks because these damned earthquakes!” The Witch ranted. “And it’s all because these miners keep hammering away under the mountains! I can’t take it anymore!” 

Veronica and I blinked, “What?” I asked flatly. 

“That makes no sense,” Veronica said dryly. “It would take a lot more than a few miners to-” 

“Silence!” The Witch roared. 

I chuckle uneasily, “I guess that means you won’t give Jordan back, even if we ask nicely?” I try. 

“Keeping Jordan here won’t solve anything!” Veronica tried. 

“Is that so?” The Witch asked. “In that case, perhaps I’ll also take that brat you’re protecting!” Veronica and I tensed, suddenly on alert and I felt Jo cling to the back of my shirt. 

“No!” Jordan nearly screamed. “Please, do what you want with me, but leave Jo outta this!” 

“Silence, or I’ll shut you up myself!” The Witch snapped. 

“You’ll have to get through us if you want the kid,” Veronica said dangerously, icy mist surrounding her hands. 

I nod, electricity starting to surround me. “You want a fight? We’ll give it to you!” 

The Witch laughed, “You really think two children can defeat me? I’d like to see you try!” 

“Jo, stay back and hide,” Veronica said firmly, “We won’t let her take you and we’ll get your dad back.” 

Jo nodded, “O-Okay!” He quickly scurried behind a boulder and Veronica and I prepared to fight.

 Jo watched as the fight commenced. The Witch wasted no time, shooting black shadow magic at Kirsty and Veronica, while the two girls tried their hardest to land a hit. But with how much magic she was throwing out, and with most of her magic being able to attack and block any incoming attacks, it wasn’t long before Kirsty and Veronica started to tire. 

Jo bit his lip and his eyes fell on his hammer; this was just like when the Witch attacked him and Papa. He had to hide while those bigger than him fought, because he was too small and weak. He looked past the fight to see his Papa, completely helpless. 

Jo looked back at his hammer and slowly frowned as he picked it up; he was tired of being a helpless little kid! He wanted to help, but if he messed up again...no! He wouldn’t mess up again! He couldn’t! Jo moved out into the open, hammer in hand. 

Jo squeezed his eyes shut and his mind went straight to Jordan back in the mines; they remembered how he moved his shoulders and how he stood. Jo’s feet unconsciously moved, mimicking how he remembered Jordan did it. 

He focused on how he held his hands on the hammer and Jo spread his hands, tightly gripping the handle on the top and bottom of the hammer. He remembered Jordan holding the hammer with his large and powerful hands, taking charge the moment he entered the area. 

‘Think like Papa…!’ Jo grit his teeth. ‘Hear him…’ He tightened his grip. ‘See him…!’ The hammer’s head began to glow silver as they reared back. ‘Be him!’ With a cry, Jo swung his hammer onto the ground as hard as he could.

A rumbling sound suddenly filled my ears and we all stopped as the ground started to shake. We turned around to see none other than Little Jo, hammer on the ground, shining a bright silver. 

A giant fissure appeared in the ground and traveled from Jo’s hammer, right between Veronica and I, silver energy shining from within. The fissure ended right under the Witch and she screamed as the silver light seemed to burn her, along with her head hurting from the shaking. 

“Now’s our chance!” I yelled. Veronica and I immediately began powering up, forming a beam between our hands. “Now!” I yelled. 

I shot a beam of electricity from my hands, and Veronica shot a beam of ice. Both attacks hit the Witch, her screams nearly shattering the our eardrums. All three of our attacks eventually ended, and the Witch collapsed in a heap on the ground. 

“They did it…” Jordan said softly, a disbelieving smile appearing on his face. The Witch slowly began to get up on all fours and glared at us, breathing heavily. 

Veronica and I got ready to attack, just in case, but the Witch growled. “This isn’t over…” She hissed, before shooting into the air as a stream of shadows, lightning and thunder signaling her exit. Veronica and I watched the sky for a minute, just in case she was coming back, but everything was quiet. 

“Oh my god, we just chased away the Witch of Mt. Steel,” Veronica said with a dumbfounded smile on her face. 

“Yeah we did!” I cheered. We then hurried up towards Jordan, who seemed both shocked and relieved. 

“Are you okay?” Veronica asked. 

“Yeah, I’ll live,” Jordan said. 

“Awesome, let’s get you out of here.” I said. We both worked the knots and finally, the ropes fell away. Jordan sighed in relief and rubbed his wrists and a small child ran up to him before we could even help him up.

“Papa!” Jo threw himself at Jordan, wrapping his arms around his neck. “Papa, I’m so glad you’re okay!” 

Jordan wrapped his arms tightly around the child, “I’m alright, Jo, I’m alright, thanks to you all,” He said, glancing at the two of us as well. Tears appeared in the corner of his eyes as he seemed to squeeze the child tighter. “Jo...my little Jo...god almighty, I thought I’d never see you again…” He said softly.

“I missed you, Papa…” Jo sniffed. 

“I missed you too, kiddo,” Jordan said, before pulling away. “And god damn, that was one mighty hammer swing!” 

“R-Really?” Jo asked, his eyes lighting up. 

“He’s right,” Veronica said. “You nailed her.” 

“I can’t remember the last time I saw a blow that powerful,” Jordan agreed. “I always knew you had it in ya.” He nudged Jo’s chin, making him blush slightly. 

“Well, how about we get off this mountain?” I suggested. “Can you stand, Jordan?” 

“I think so,” Jordan said, with a slight wince. Jo moved off him, letting Jordan use the boulder to help himself up. “That devil woman really got me good; I tried to put up a fight when she brought me here, but she was just too much.” 

“You were really hurt, Papa,” Jo said softly, gripping his hand. “It was so scary…” 

Jordan’s face fell as he probably realized the impact of what had happened, “It’s alright kiddo,” He said softly. “I’m alright now, ain’t I? Thanks to you and this Rescue Team here.” He looked back at us. “Although I have to ask, what on earth were you thinking, bringing Jo to this dangerous place.” 

“We didn’t bring him,” Veronica said, her eyes narrowing. “He followed us.” 

“What?” Jordan looked at Jo in shock. 

“You were in trouble Papa!” Jo protested. “I wanted to help save you!”

“Yeah, but don’t forget, you didn’t even tell your mom that were coming up here, bucko,” I scolded. 

Jordan took a deep breath, probably trying to calm the anger brewing inside him, “You little…” He muttered. “We’ll deal with this when we get home.” 

“Yes sir,” Jo said guiltily. Jordan sighed and picked Jo up, “Now c’mon; let’s alleviate your mother of all the worry she’s probably got stewed up.”

The journey back was easy, and by sunset, we were arriving back at our Team Base. Pacing around in front of the entrance was none other than Sarah, looking more worried and stressed than ever. Luckily, any worry I had was crushed by the fact that she would be relieved of it soon. 

“Mama!” Jo called and waved. 

Sarah looked up and deflated in relief, a hand on her chest. “Jo!” She started towards us, but stopped once she realized who else was with us. Tears came to Sarah’s eyes and she covered her mouth her one hand, “Jordan?!” She began running towards us. 

“Sarah!” Jordan exclaimed, his face drawn with joy. He ran towards her and she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Jordan lifted Sarah and spun her around before hugging her close, the two of them coming together for a deep kiss. 

They pulled apart just as Jo hurried up to them and Sarah scooped him into her arms before the couple hugged again, sandwiching their child between them. I smiled at the sight, almost melting at how cute a family they were. 

Eventually, they turned back to us, Sarah still holding Jo. “Thank you so much, Team Crystalline,” Sarah said gratefully. “For bringing back Jordan and Jo.” 

“It was nothing,” I said with a smile. 

“It wasn’t nothing,” Jordan said. “I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done; I don’t know how to thank you.” 

“Just doing our job,” Veronica said smoothly, and thank goodness; I’ve never been good with taking praise. Sarah and Jordan insisted on giving us something for our efforts, though we tried to take the humble route, but we ended up with some silver. 

“Now then, I think it’s time we head home and discuss a certain someone’s punishment,” Jordan said, glaring at Jo. “You may have been brave and put up a good fight up there, but you ain’t off the hook.” 

“You fought?” Sarah asked, almost in horror. “My baby fought that devil woman?!” 

“To be fair, we did most of the fighting,” I piped up. 

“I finally swung my hammer, Mama!” Jo said. “I finally used my powers and made a strike, just like Papa!” 

Sarah blinked, an impressed look coming to her face. “Oh, well, that’s all well and good, but you’re still in big trouble, Josephine Ellis,” She said firmly. “You scared me half to death, running off like that!” 

“Scared me too,” Jordan agreed. 

Veronica blinked, “...Josephine?” 

“Wait!” I exploded, pointing at Jo, “You’re a girl?!” 

“Yeah, duh,” Jo answered simply. 

“You ain’t the first folks she’s fooled,” Jordan said. “She just likes dressing this way.” 

“I can’t help Papa mine in a dress!” Jo protested. “I can’t swing my hammer like that!”

“Well then, maybe your punishment should be not only no mining for a week, but also wearing dresses,” Sarah remarked. 

“What?! No, Mama, please not that!” Jo cried. 

“We’ll see,” Jordan said. “Besides, you know they don’t allow girls in the mines; when you get older I won’t be able to let you in with me.” 

Jo frowned and looked at us, “Then when I get bigger, I’ll join Rescue Team Crystalline!” She proclaimed. “Then I can be strong and not have to wear dresses neither!” 

I smiled at how adorable she was, exchanging a look of adoration with Veronica. “If that’s what you want, we won’t stop you,” I said. 

“Well, I say that out of all those Rescue Teams, Team Crystalline is a fine choice,” Jordan said. 

“I’d say so too,” Sarah said with a smile. 

“Thank you for saving my Papa,” Jo said to us softly. “And for letting me come with you.” 

“No problem, kid,” Veronica said with a smile.

“We look forward to you joining us when you’re older,” I added. 

“It’s a promise!” Jo said with a nod. 

“We won’t ever forget what you did for us today,” Sarah said. 

“Not a chance,” Jordan said. “Thank you.” 

And with that, we went our separate ways, Jo waving at us  as she walked alongside her parents. 

I can’t help but smile and wave back; it feels like every day we make the world just a little better for those around us. That’s a feeling I could definitely get used to.

[artificialqueens]

Love Shack, 6 (Trixya) - mallstars

AN: hi, hello! after dropping the first five chapters of love shack on you about a week ago, here’s Chapter Six: In Which Katya Gets Hot and Sweaty.

prepare to feel things and please remember that feedback is important! <3

Chapter 6

In Which Katya Gets Hot and Sweaty

Trixie is slowly getting the hang of things at Smiles for Miles. She knows which kids can’t have dairy, she knows which kids are prone to anger, and when there’s a single tiny shoe lying around in a corner, she knows who that belongs to as well. Today is one of the harder days though. It has been stormy all day, meaning they can’t go outside and the kids don’t know what to do with their built-up energy. This means it is loud, louder even than usually, and there is more complaining than Trixie can listen to.

“So this sucks,” she comments quietly when Shangela flops down next to her on a bean bag, her hair in even more disarray than usual, and stretches her neck, which pops audibly.

“Ya. Kids,” she sighs in mock exasperation. ��It’s like this a lot when the weather is shit - Shift! I said Shift!” she quickly adds when two boys stare at her and giggle.

“So what now?” Trixie asks. She has already tried pretty much everything today. She tried reading out a book, but nobody was willing to listen. She tried getting the kids to draw mandalas, or fire trucks, or even mermaids, but nobody stayed at the table for longer than two minutes at a time. She tried building Legos, she tried playing dress up, and had to give up every time. As a last resort she tried yelling at the kids, which helped for all of two minutes and also made her feel bad about herself. At least Latrice is out today and will only come by shortly before closing. That way, she doesn’t see the mess they are right now.

“Ugh, don’t ask me. They don’t even wanna dance with me today. Right, Emma? You don’t wanna dance with me?”

Emma doesn’t answer and instead goes on with her game that seems to be: take random objects in the room and place them somewhere else where nobody would suspect them. Trixie spotted her favourite mug in a box of cowboy dolls a little earlier.

“Gotta miss Ginger on days like this. If she were here right now, she would just get out the guitar and make some noise, that always helped. Well, mostly. Why are you not Ginger?”

Trixie hesitates for a moment. She hasn’t played the guitar in a while, having slowly lost interest in the past couple years. When she moved here, it had been so long since she picked it up that she didn’t even bother to bring it. Besides, her guitar at home is complete trash. But she does know how to play. She’s not great with playing in front of people; she can count the times she’s played for her friends on one hand; but these are just a bunch of kids, and what do they know about music anyway, and she would do pretty much anything to make them quiet down a little.

“I’m better than Ginger. You have the guitar here?”

Shangela beams at her.

Half an hour later Trixie is sitting on the window still, cross-legged, playing a guitar that has clearly seen better days, but that sounds fairly okay. The kids have gathered around her, and, low and behold! quieted down. There’s still the occasional kid running around the room, there’s shuffling, and talking, and a ridiculous amount of coughing, but most of the kids look at her with gleaming eyes. She’s wrecking her brain for every kid’s song she knows. Most of the songs she knows from her childhood the kids don’t know, but Shangela seems to be a walking book of modern children’s songs, never running out of new song ideas the kids can sing along to.

Trixie feels the tension she has felt all day slowly leave her body. She likes kids, she likes music, and she is not sure why she never thought about combining these two things before. There’s something incredibly validating about having all of them look up at her and screech delightedly whenever she starts a new song they like. And her voice sounds nice, she thinks, even when she’s stumbling over the words of verses she barely knows, going after Shangela’s lead.

When Latrice walks in towards closing time they are singing the theme of Sofia the First for the fourth time – back by popular demand – and by now even Trixie knows the lyrics:

I was a girl in the village doing alright Then I became a princess overnight Now I gotta figure out how to do it right So much to learn and see

Latrice sits down on the carpet with the kids, gives Trixie and Shangela an encouraging smile, and starts singing along, her deep raspy voice drowning out most of the kids.

After all the kids have been picked up, Latrice comes up to her. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Yeah, me either. I mean, I knew I could play the guitar of course, but.”

“Yeah. Yeah, so I thought this wasn’t going to happen this year, with Ginger leaving and all, but listen: The last couple years we put on a little musical for the holidays. Just for the parents and siblings, a small thing. Is this something you can imagine doing?”

“Oh. Yes, sure, why not!” Trixie likes that idea. She still has the guitar wrapped around her shoulder, not quite ready to put it away yet.

“Excellent.”

“So, what kind of musical? Do you have the sheet music?”

Latrice thinks for a second. “Ginger always wrote the musicals. I don’t know, I think she took all that stuff with her. But I can call her and get her to send some stuff over.”

Shangela, who is busy getting the room back in order after their turbulent day suddenly chimes in: “We can write a musical ourselves, can’t we, Trix?”

“We can?” Trixie doesn’t think they can.

“Sure. I never liked Ginger’s stuff that much anyway, it’s so – I don’t know, we can top that. I can write some lyrics, and earlier you said you used to write music! Come on, it’s a challenge!”

“Uh, I guess.” A challenge for sure.

Latrice laughs. “That’s the spirit. No, really, just try it out, and if it doesn’t work, we can always still call Ginger.”

♥♥♥

This is how, the next day, Trixie comes back to Shangela’s straight after work. They have a musical to write, apparently. With Latrice’s permission, Trixie has taken the guitar from the day care with her. There’s no guitar case, and she carries it wrapped in a blanket to protect it from the drizzle outside. At the house, Shangela leads her into the living room where Adore is napping on the couch and Chi Chi is doing some course work on the floor. Shangela kicks close Chi Chi’s book as she passes him and plops down on Adore’s feet on the couch, waking them up. “It’s musical writing time!” she announces, “be helpful or get lost.”

It is at least another forty-five minutes before they even start trying to write. Juju comes home right after them and squeezes into the space between Shangela and the back of the couch, holding her from behind and distracting her from getting anything done. They are kissing way too much, Trixie thinks. Chi Chi for his part doesn’t seem to be musically gifted, or at least he isn’t interested in being helpful, but is happy to stay in the room and side-track Shangela with dumb jokes whenever Trixie gets her to give her any attention. Trixie half wants to give up and tell Latrice to call Ginger after all, but she remembers the excitement she felt last night before she went to bed, when she fantasized about putting her own musical together. She wants to at least try now. She picks up the guitar and pulls on the strings thoughtfully, deciding that she would just start writing on her own, the others be damned.

Of course, this is the moment Katya walks in and simultaneously the moment Trixie stops trying to write. Katya enters the kitchen from upstairs and she looks like she’s been asleep until moments ago. She is wearing an oversized black shirt that says SAD GOTH and glasses with black rims; hair legs are naked and fuzzy and there is no makeup on her face. She looks tired. Trixie has to fight two opposing urges: the urge to get up and hug her, and the urge to make fun of her outfit. She sits tight and shuts up.

“What’s going on here?” Katya asks and yawns openly, joining Chi Chi on the floor and stretching her arms over her head. She looks so different without makeup. “Are we making music?”

“We” Trixie answers, shooting Shangela a pointed look “are trying to write a musical for the kids. You’re welcome to be helpful.”

“I’m afraid this isn’t one of my myriad of talents but sure. What do we have so far?”

To Trixie’s surprise Katya ends up being actually helpful. Her biggest contribution consists in making the others focus, not yell over one another, and reel in some of their ideas. Trixie didn’t know Katya had it in her.

Trixie herself doesn’t get too involved in planning the plot and is already trying to come up with little melodies, only half listening to their ideas. Adore insists on an underwater holiday fantasy, an idea Chi Chi enthusiastically seconds. (“Come on, are you sure you can’t have the show at the pool?” he asks for the third time, despite Shangela’s note that most of the kids probably can’t swim yet). Katya and Juju love the idea of an outer space adventure and start coming up with a plot that doesn’t involve Christmas or any other holiday in the slightest (“But making a holiday musical for the holidays is so expected, let’s do something else instead”). After almost an hour of this, Shangela comes through and pieces together a short plot around an elf who is swamped with his job as a first-time helper of Santa and gets help from various magical characters. It’s predictable, but cute. Trixie, who likes to have things perfect, takes a little convincing from the others.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter that much.” Shangela insists when Trixie circles back to an earlier Christmas Western idea. “The kids are damn cute, they are cute when they try to act and sing, and you know damn well they are going to mess up half of their lines anyway. And the parents are going to love it, like they do every year.” She is right, probably.

Apparently, this is enough work for today for the others. Chi Chi turns on the TV and they decide to order in pizza. Trixie, however, doesn’t put down the guitar, keeps trying out melodies, and after a while Adore goes to get their own guitar and together the two of them come up with the first song. It’s far from being a good song and Trixie knows she’ll change most things about it in a couple of days, but it’s the first song she has written in years and it makes her happy just to sit here and play and sing quietly.

Katya has traded in her place on the floor for a place on a big arm chair next to the couch. She is surprisingly calm today, no jumping around the room, no pulling Shangela’s hair, nothing. Instead, she’s playing around on her phone, constantly texting, but every now and then she looks up to smile at Trixie, who feels particularly self-conscious about her voice in those moments.

When Trixie gets home just before midnight she gets a notification from Instagram and clicks to see Katya uploaded a picture of her and Adore. She’s sitting on the couch, guitar in hand, looking down and smiling slightly, Adore next to her. The only caption there is is a pink flower emoji.

♥♥♥

The next day, Trixie wakes up with the itch to do something monumental. She can’t, however, figure out what exactly she wants to do, so she spends most of the day doing her homework and preparing a presentation she has to give the next day. She feels unsatisfied all day and apparently spends quite a bit of time sighing and huffing because finally Kim asks her, in an exasperated voice: “What is going on with you today?”

“Ugh, I don’t know. I want to do something.”

“Okay? Let’s do something then.”

“Like what?” Trixie whines.

“We could go out? We could go to the milkshake bar you like? To the park? The movies? Throw stones into the river? Feed a duck? I’m down for whatever.” Kim shuts her book with a loud thud. She has spent all day on her homework as well and must be pretty annoyed with it if she’s so ready to go out. Kim likes staying in.

“I don’t know. Gimme more options!” Trixie turns fully towards Kim so Kim can get a good look at her pout.

Kim rolls her eyes and thinks for a moment. “Okay, so, uh, I didn’t know if I should bring this up because Shangela told me you said no, but Juju gave me something to give you.” She gets up and pulls her purse out of her bag. Inside, there’s a yellow post it note she hands to Trixie. There’s a phone number on it. Trixie raises her eyebrows in question.

“Shangela said Juju told you about this girl who’s interested in you. That’s her number.”

“Oh.” Trixie had completely forgotten about that. A couple of months ago, the idea of a girl being interested in her would have excited her to no end, but she can’t evoke that feeling right now. She lets herself fall down on her bed and hugs a pillow to her stomach. “What’s her name?”

“Pearl. Her name is Pearl.”

Pearl. “Like Pearl Slackhoople,” Trixie notes.

“Who?”

“Pearl Slackhoople. She’s Fred Flintstone’s mother in law.”

“Uh huh.”

“She doesn’t approve of him.”

“This Pearl is nobody’s mother in law. Do you wanna text her maybe?”

Trixie groans. “I don’t know. Do you think I should text her?”

“I can’t make that decision for you. But, umm. No, never mind.”

“Come on. You can’t do that.”

“Okay. It’s just, I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while. Uh, when we were at Juju’s party in the kitchen and you met Violet…I don’t know – what’s going on between you and Katya?”

Trixie throws her arms over her face and sighs loud and dramatically. “Do you want me to tell you more about the Flintstones? I have some opinions I’d like to share. Like, about their fashion? You like talking about fashion.” Trixie thinks she could pull some opinions on this out of her ass, probably.

“So I’m not wrong. I’ve seen the way you look at her, Trixie.”

“Oh god? How do I look at her?”

“Like you want to walk over and sit in her lap, basically.”

“Shit.”

“So do you? Want that, I mean?”

“Kim! Kim, I don’t know! She has a girlfriend.” This conversation is a lot to handle for Trixie. She feels blood rushing to her cheeks and hides her face in her pillow. She should have taken the chance to go out and feed ducks instead of having this conversation.

“I know she has a girlfriend. I love Violet. She doesn’t get along too well with some of the others, or maybe just Juju mostly, but I think she’s great.”

“Ugh.” Trixie doesn’t need to hear this. Trixie wants to hear how Violet does arson in her free time and steals from the poor.

“You know they have an open relationship, right? Violet definitely wouldn’t mind you sitting on Katya’s lap a little.”

Yes. Trixie does know this. Has known this for a little over a week now and has spent entirely too much time thinking about it. “Yeah I know.”

“And you like her?”

“What is this, high school?” Trixie throws her pillow at Kim and immediately misses its protecting warmth on her face. “God, yes, I like her.”

“Do you…not want to go for her because of Violet?”

Here are the reasons why Trixie does not want to go for Katya. 1) Katya herself said that she thinks mostly about Violet when she hooks up with somebody else and Trixie just isn’t able to handle that knowledge. 2) Trixie feels like she should not take advantage of Katya’s state. Katya trusted her with her feelings, was open with her when Trixie wasn’t open with Katya, and it wouldn’t feel right to enter into something with Katya without Katya knowing about Trixie’s feelings. Whatever these feelings were. 3) Trixie is scared of getting rejected. She is nothing, absolutely nothing like Violet, and therefore probably not Katya’s type. The thought of her coming on to Katya and Katya just not being interested at all is mortifying. 4) Thinking a couple of steps ahead, Trixie is also scared Katya would hook up with her once and then never again. She can’t imagine what it would be like to know how it feels to kiss and hold Katya, to maybe even fuck Katya (this is a thought Trixie has managed to almost not indulge in at all so far, and she’s glad about that), and then never getting to do it again. 5) Going for a girl, any girl, even the most single girl, is terrifying.

“Yeah,” is the answer Trixie finally settles on. She buries her face in her hands and groans. “This sucksss. I just need to get over this.”

“Maybe, yes. So, uh, do you think maybe it’s a good idea to text Pearl? And go out with her tomorrow? Not today. You need to entertain me today.”

Okay, Trixie decides. This is happening. She has no idea who Pearl is, what she likes, what she looks like – and realizes that her lack of curiosity is probably a bad sign – but she enters her number into her phone anyway. Once Pearl’s number is in her phone, Trixie can see her profile picture in her messenger’s contacts. She zooms in. Pearl is hot. She’s either giving the camera bedroom eyes, or was caught halfway through blinking. She has a septum piercing, which Trixie loves. Her hair is short and curly, shaved off at the sides. Not at all like Katya’s hair, in her messy braids and buns, that Trixie feels the itch to smooth down all the time. Her hair looked so beautiful in the light of the rising sun that morning in the garden.

“Don’t know what to text her?” Kim prompts her. Trixie realises she has been looking at her phone, doing nothing, for a too long time.

“No. Let’s go out.”

They head out not knowing where they want to go and walk around the neighbourhood for a while. Trixie suggests going into the opposite direction of Katya’s, half because she doesn’t feel like ending up there right now, and half because she realizes she barely knows any other part of the neighbourhood. They get some coffee to go and do window shopping when Trixie is struck by an idea. There’s a tattoo and piercing studio on the other side of the road. It’s painted an obnoxious red, the tattoos in the front window are unnecessarily ugly, and it is the key to the monumental thing Trixie needs to do today.

“Kim. Think about if you want any tattoos or piercings, because we are going in there.”

Turns out, you need an appointment for a tattoo, but Trixie didn’t want a tattoo anyway. When they walk out of the shop forty-five minutes later, Trixie is the proud owner of a septum piercing (and a very achy nose). It’s dark golden and ornate and Trixie is thrilled.

She tried to talk Kim into getting a matching one, but there was no way. Kim is more than happy, however, to indulge Trixie and take a bunch of pictures of her with her new piercing. She wants to upload one to her Instagram, showing her new self off to as many people as possible.

Once they are home, Trixie spends a whooping fifteen minutes to decide which picture looks the best, puts a filter on it, and uploads. Her first post in months. She’s a little excited about some of the people back home to see her, with all that heavy makeup and the septum. It’s a change for sure.

After uploading the picture, she spends some more time on her presentation, finally able to focus now that she has done something with her day. When she looks at her phone again, almost three hours have passed, and sure enough she got some likes and comments – the first one from Kim, of course, even though she took the picture and is sitting opposite her right this moment. She can count on Kim.

She scrolls through the comments, one from a co-worker back at the hotel, one from Sasha, one from Adore, one from Juju, three from former friends of hers that she hasn’t spoken to in years, and, finally, one from Katya. It just says yes bitch!!

The next day is a Sunday and Trixie spends the morning sitting in bed wrapped in a blanket and playing the guitar. Kim is out with Shangela. She asked Trixie to come, but Trixie felt like getting some song-writing done today. And she actually did. It’s only just past noon and she has already smoothed out the first song she wrote with Adore at their house, and she has a second song halfway done. She doesn’t need more than three or four songs for this musical, because the kids would never be able to learn more than that, so she’s already finished with a big chunk off the work. She feels more accomplished than she can remember feeling at any point in the last couple of years. Why did she ever stop writing music? It makes her feel so good.

Deciding she’s done with the musical for today, she keeps playing the guitar strings absentmindedly, lying on her back in bed. After a while she gets out her notebook that she hasn’t written in anything since her plane ride here and begins scribbling down lyrics.

When Kim comes back, a little wet from the rain and with an early dinner for both of them, Trixie has outlined her first non-muscial song in years. There are lyrics missing every here and there, and she’s only written the music for the chorus, not the verses, but the knowledge that she actually got something written has Trixie in such a good mood she decides to text Katya for no other reason than she feels like it in that moment.

Trixie

hey, hope youre doing okay :)  

Katya must have had her phone in her hand (texting Violet, maybe?) because she replies almost immediately.

Katya

doing okay, thank you for asking.

Trixie thinks a moment about a reply to that, but before she starts typing, there’s another message from Katya.

Katya

Milkshakes?

Trixie lets out a suffering sigh at that. Hanging out with Katya never helps. Of course it doesn’t.

Trixie

Milkshakes.

Trixie is at the milkshake bar a little early, freezing in the early winter air. The wind is particularly harsh on her newly-pierced nose, and Trixie makes sure to hide half her face behind her fluffy scarf. By now most of the trees around her are bare and she can see her breath against the dim yellow light of the bar in front of her. She scrolls through her phone for a while, but has to put it away because the cold wind bites into her hands. She misses summer already.

When Katya shows up a couple of minutes later she is wearing one of the ugliest dresses Trixie has ever seen under her open coat. It’s made of a rough awkward knit, in a bright yellow and has big turquoise buttons. As if this wasn’t enough, she’s wearing suede heels with yellow fringe on them. Trixie wonders if Katya dressed this terribly on purpose and somehow her mouth decides this is an okay thing to ask Katya:

“Do you do this on purpose? Dress like this, I mean?”

This sends Katya in one of her laughing fits; there’s a split second where she looks at Trixie in disbelief, then she starts laughing without a sound, flailing her arms around.

“You cunt!” is the only answer Trixie gets.

Once they’ve settled into a booth as far away from the door as possible – Katya barely seems to mind the cold air, but Trixie minds enough for both of them – Trixie gets a strawberry milkshake like the last time they were here, because why change a good thing. Katya gets one with caramel corn that’s a special offer for the week. She picks out the popcorn with her fingers and chews it slowly, looking satisfied with her choice.

“So how are things going with the musical?” she asks through a mouth full of popcorn. One piece of popcorn falls out of her mouth and onto the plastic table.

“Good. Surprisingly good. I mean, I could strangle Shangela for telling Latrice we could write a musical and then doing basically fuck-all, but I’m coming through, so.”

“Haha, Shangie. She’s the worst.” Now Katya is sucking her index finger, getting a coat of sugar off it. Trixie focusses on the piece of popcorn on the table.

Trixie takes Katya’s comment as an opener to ask a question that has been on her mind for a while. “What’s it like living with this many people?” Trixie has only ever lived with her family, and now Kim. She can’t quite imagine being in a house with so much…going on all the time.

Katya grins. “It’s pretty great, mostly. There’s never enough room because Bob has trouble saying no to people, but Yara and Alexis moved out the end of last year, and now Violet’s gone, so it’s chill for now. I’m sharing my room with Sasha, but I love her, so that’s good. Did I ever tell you she’s my favourite person? If I would have to share a room with any of the others it would drive me up the walls, probably. Up the walls! But not Sasha. I don’t know, maybe Jinkx would be okay, or Chi Chi, but that’s it. But Jinkx listens to a lot of opera. I like opera, but it makes me antsy, kind of. Did you know Sasha is a real Russian? Did Kim make your nails, or did you do them yourself? I like your septum.”

“Thanks. And I made them myself, but I used Kim’s stuff. Kim’s so good at sharing.”

“Kim is the best.”

“She is. So, uh.” Trixie decides now is as good a time as any to ask that next question. “How did you, err, come to Bob’s house?”

Katya laughs lightly. “What did Kim tell you?”

“Nothing! Nothing. But when I first came over Chi Chi said something about you guys being Bob’s…” she trails of, knowing she can’t finish this sentence.

“Charity?” She pronounces the word in Chi Chi’s southern drawl and snorts. “Yeah, Chi Chi likes to say that.” She leans back in her chair and looks at Trixie critically. “Okay. Okay. So you want to have the story?”

Trixie nods, straightening her back and leaning forward slightly, propping her chin on her hands.

Katya takes a deep breath. “Okay. I don’t have the classic got-kicked-out-of-my-house-for-being-queer-story. Some of the others have, but those aren’t stories for me to tell. My parents are actually so wonderful. Always supported me, gave me all the opportunities, you know. But I ended up really anxious and fucked up anyway and dropped out of college and it all went downhill from there. Drugs mostly, I did them all, and some fucked up things to pay for them. I did rehab once, started using again, and now I’m sober again. But it’s a constant thing, it never ends. Sobriety, I mean. One day at a time, every day. I’m never going to be okay. Or, I’m going to be okay, I’m okay right now, I’ve been okay for a while, but, y’know.” All of this comes out of Katya in a fast pace, while she fiddles with her napkin. Trixie gets the impression this isn’t the first time Katya has told this story. She doesn’t have too much experience with drug addiction, but she thinks she understands, mostly.

“Oh wow,” she says, trying to look at Katya with a look that shows compassion, but not pity. That’s a hard look to achieve. She obviously fails because Katya says:

“Don’t look at me like this. I’m fine. Fineee. Bob even helped me pay back some of the money I owe. He’s incredible. And we don’t pay more rent than we can. Some of us barely pay at all most months. At least I don’t, I’m still paying off some debts, and I don’t think I’m the only one. Bob owns the house, you know. He lives in an apartment with his husband and kid, and it’s really nice, but of course the house would be nicer. But he keeps it for us.”

“That’s pretty incredible.”

“It really is. It really is!” she hits her fist to her thigh at that. “I’m just so lucky. And I haven’t lost too much time before I got my shit halfway together, which is great. So I’m twenty-seven and I’m only now finishing a three year University program but, like, I’m finishing a three year University program. Can you believe that. I can’t, sometimes.”

Twenty-seven. Trixie didn’t know this. She had just assumed that Katya was her age, or a little younger maybe. She looks younger.

Katya picks the last bit of popcorn out of her milkshake and looks at Trixie thoughtfully. Trixie has trouble holding Katya’s gaze. “Could you maybe tell me about you?” Katya asks when Trixie fails to pick up the conversation.

“What do you mean?” Trixie isn’t quite ready to close the conversation on Katya’s drug use. She has a million questions.

“I don’t know that much about you. I know that you’re very pretty, and you’re good at the music, and you’ve told me about where you’re from a bit, and those are good things to know, great things to know, but it’s also not much.”

Oh god. Katya thinks Trixie is very pretty. Trixie is having a hard time not to grin from ear to ear. She is going to ride that compliment till the end of time. “So what do you wanna know?”

Katya gives her a challenging grin. “We talked about my scary love life, so I guess it’s only fair we talk about yours.”

Oh shit. Trixie’s heart skips a beat at that and she focusses her gaze on a figurine of a woman in 50s clothing, carrying a tray of milkshakes. Trixie had put on an ensemble very much like this before she got here, liking the idea of matching the bar. She wonders if Katya noticed. She hadn’t said anything, but then it was probably hard to compliment Trixie’s outfit when Trixie had lost no time insulting hers.

“Umm. There’s nothing to talk about, really.”

“Why’s that, Barbra?”

“I don’t know I’m just not, uh, looking to date right now.” Well, that was a blatant lie. Even if Trixie hadn’t met Katya, she was very much in the mood to date when she moved here, and she knows this damn well. She regrets her lie immediately, but it’s too late to take it back now. She hopes Katya can see through it.

“Yeah, I get that.” Katya says, taking off her glasses for a moment to rub her eyes. “It’s, uh, a lot. Dating is a lot.”

“Do you want to talk some more about Violet?” Trixie asks and thinks she deserves a medal for best friend here. But then again, she knows she secretly wishes for Katya to say things have turned from bad to worse. So maybe no medal for her after all.

Katya crushes the ice in her glass with vigour. “No, we’re talking about you here, Trixie. If you don’t wanna talk about dating and shit, then something else. Like, what’s your favourite movie? What’s your opinion on our foreign politics? Do you like the smell of lemon grass? Something.”

“The last time I dated someone I cared about was in high school.”

“And what happened?”

“I don’t know. I was scared pretty much the whole time. Like, of people judging us. Of fucking up in general. I have a hard time remembering what exactly the problem was, but I know I felt like shit most of the time, and so did she.”

At the end of that sentence, Katya shoots her a curious look that Trixie doesn’t know how to place. Katya doesn’t comment, so Trixie goes on: “It’s just the worst, you know, when you love someone, and they love you, and you still can’t make it work. It’s the worst. And then, years later, you’re left with this vague feeling of failure and regret, and you can’t even remember the details of what really went wrong.” She sighs loudly, realizing this is the most she has spoken about Shea to anyone, ever. “You love someone, and they love you, and you still can’t make it work.” she repeats, because this sentence feels important in that moment.

Katya looks at her with wistful eyes. “Tell me about it.” she says, and she smiles, but it’s a sad smile, and Trixie wants nothing more than to reach a couple of inches over the table and put Katya’s hand in hers. Instead, she knots her hands in her lap, and makes sure to change the subject to something lighter, something that isn’t Shea, or Violet, or failure.

♥♥♥

Trixie spends the next two weeks focussing on her classes, and, more importantly, her musical. She loves what she’s creating, and is more proud of the musical than anything else she’s ever written – even though it just a bunch of bullshit about a Christmas elf.

Her second date – well, friend date – with Katya at the milkshake bar is the last time they spend time alone together for a while. They see each other a bit here and there, but there’s always somebody else there with them. Trixie starts coming regularly by their house to talk to Jinkx about her studies and Jinkx turns out to be wonderful at making Trixie go from anxious to calm in record time. Sometimes the whole group do things together, there’s a movie night, and one time they go watch Chi Chi’s soccer game. Katya seems to be in a great mood most of the times Trixie sees her, but she’s also quiet. She doesn’t work well in big groups, Trixie notices, and itches to spend some alone time with her again. She never asks Katya to hang out, however, always talks herself out of it. It wouldn’t go anywhere and can only do harm.

By now, Trixie has gotten used to their relationship. Sure, she still thinks Katya is the prettiest, funniest, most fascinating person she’s ever met. Sure, she still sometimes catches herself dressing up for her, and even once wearing a dark red lipstick because she thought Katya might like that (she did). But she has also accepted the way things are. A couple of weeks have passed since their conversation in the garden, and things with Katya and Violet seem to look up a bit. Violet texts Katya sometimes when Trixie is present, Violet likes all of Katya’s dumb Instagram posts, even the ones that are too stupid for even Trixie to like, and a week ago they met up in New York for a couple of days, and Katya seemed happy when she got back to Boston.

As much as Trixie is convinced she’s fine with the situation, she still hasn’t texted Pearl. She opens the messaging window sometimes, one time even gets as far as to type “hi, it’s trixie”, but she never contacts her.

♥♥♥

It’s 8pm on a Wednesday and she’s watching Netflix with Kim when Trixie gets a message from Adore.

Adore

Gig at the club tonight. Wanna come?

Trixie hasn’t been to the club since that first time – when she swore herself to go every week from now on. She has work tomorrow, and some homework she still hasn’t started, but things like this don’t stop Trixie.

Trixie

Yes!

I’ll be there

Adore

Party.

Adore sends the same invitation to Kim, too, but Kim can’t be bothered tonight. She’s already in her pyjamas, eating pickles again, and refusing to get out of bed. “Suit yourself.” Trixie gives up on trying to convince her, and pulls one of her dresses out of their closet. When she’s doing her makeup, she decides she needs to know if Katya will be there. She has to mentally prepare. A little.

Trixie

hey! you coming to adores’s thing tonight?

Katya

Don’t think so.

I’m painting.

And moody.

Moody painting.

Looks pretty bad.

And sad.

Sad and bad.

Me time!

Trixie

So what you’re saying is you’re not coming out because you’re making bad art?

Katya

Yes.

But also

I think I am coming out

I just remembered your dancing at the club last time

Wouldn’t wanna miss that

Trixie must have smiled like an idiot at this, because Kim looks at her with raised eyebrows.

“Katya?” she asks.

“Katya.” Trixie says.

When she comes to the club, Katya, Sasha, and Jinkx are already there. She hugs all of them, and is reminded of the last time she was here, how new they all had felt to her, and how much has changed since then. Here is what hasn’t changed: When she hugs Katya, she lingers and breathes in her flowery perfume. Katya hugs her back tightly and when she lets go Trixie feels cold. Tonight, Trixie is wearing a hot pink dress that by far isn’t the prettiest dress in their closet, but is the first dress she has finished herself, with only a bit of Kim’s help. She clashes beautifully with Katya, who is once again wearing bright red. As usual, Katya’s dress is tight and has a confusing geometrical pattern on it. Around her neck is a necklace made of cigarettes and her hair is up in a messy ponytail. Trixie tries to come up with a comment for the cigarette necklace, but has nothing.

The rest of the group isn’t coming. It’s a Wednesday, after all, and some of them have things to do. The club is filled to the brim either way. Apparently, Adore has quite a fanbase. At the bar, there’s a group of three wearing self-made Adore shirts, and Adore is signing a guy’s biceps in a corner. The people Adore – or maybe this club in general – attracts fascinate Trixie. Again, even with their fashion choices, their group doesn’t stand out in the club. This makes Trixie frown a little. What does a girl have to do to stand out around here?

When Adore and their band start playing, Trixie knows immediately why people are excited to see them. Adore is great, their energy, their looks, their voice, their lyrics, everything is just right. Katya gets all of them beers and herself lemonade and they drink, jump, and dance till they’re sweaty and out of breath. Katya sweats a lot, Trixie notices. Katya is jumping up and down right in front of her, yelling Adore’s lyrics, that Trixie has never heard before, at full volume, spilling her drink quite a bit. She’s so close Trixie can see the individual beads of sweat on her neck and her hair sticking to her skin. Trixie isn’t drunk, or at least she doesn’t think so, not after two beers, but looking at Katya she feels a little buzzed. She wants nothing more than to reach out and touch Katya, snake her arms around her waist from behind and –

“You wanna go outside, catch some fresh air?” Sasha yells into her ear suddenly, interrupting her rudely. Trixie doesn’t really feel like going outside, but with the way she just fixated on Katya it is probably just what she needs. The last thing she wants to do is accidentally acting on her fantasies and freaking everybody out, including herself. So she nods. Fresh air would do her good.

She goes outside with Sasha and Jinkx, leaving Katya – who claims to be having too much fun to go – behind. It’s cold outside, and they checked in their jackets so they’re freezing. The cold clear air is a welcome change, however, so they stay outside for a bit. Trixie moves to the sound of the music from inside, still impressed with what Adore does. She barely contributes to the conversation Sasha and Jinkx are having, instead walks up and down on the sidewalk, humming quietly. At one point she hugs Jinkx closely from behind, half because she likes them, and half because she just really wants to hug somebody right now. Jinkx puts their hands over Trixie’s and gives her a big smile. Trixie loves their chipped front tooth. “I love your dumb teeth,” she informs Jinkx. “I love your dumb teeth as well,” Jinkx answers, and tightens her hands around Trixie’s. When Trixie finally feels her hands go numb and it gets too cold to stay outside any longer, they make their way back on the dance floor, and Trixie immediately notices that Katya has left her spot. She looks around, suddenly worried, but finds her quickly.

Katya is standing by the bar, talking to an extraordinarily beautiful person. They are tall, slim, and androgynous – Katya’s type, Trixie thinks with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Their skin is dark, and their hair, long and grey, tied in a knot in their neck. They are covered in tattoos, completely flat-chested, and wearing a black glittery jump suit. And they have their hand on Katya’s, lying on the bar.

Too late Trixie notices that she’s following Sasha, who’s walking up to Katya, and introduces herself to the stranger as if that is something you do.

“Hi, I’m Sasha. This is Jinkx, and Trixie. We’re with Katya,” she says loudly over the music.

The beautiful stranger takes their hand off Katya’s – so at least this problem is solved – and gives them a small wave. “Raja,” they say in a deep voice. They are quite a bit older than Trixie and Katya, close to forty, Trixie guesses. Their tattoos aren’t the ugly kind Trixie saw in the tattoo studio’s window a couple of days ago, they look fascinating and Trixie finds herself trying to get a closer look when out of the corner of her eyes she notices Katya giving Sasha a look that pretty much says: Go away, I’m busy.

To Trixie’s dismay, Sasha seems to get the message immediately, and returns to their previous spot on the dance floor, with Trixie following behind like a lost puppy.

Adore’s concert continues, the crowd is as enthusiastic as ever, but Trixie barely takes any of that in anymore. She keeps stealing glances at Katya and Raja out of the corner of her eye, and what she sees makes her lose all motivation to dance. Not only is Raja’s hand back on Katya’s, worse: Katya is standing very close now, her other hand on Raja’s naked biceps. They are talking, and Katya does her laugh thing, leaning her head into Raja’s chest with it. Trixie forces herself to look away for a minute, focusses on Adore’s blue fingernails on the microphone for a whole minute, but breaks down and looks again. Katya is standing even closer now, her hand tracing Raja’s tattoos on their arms. They are not talking anymore, just looking at each other with expressions Trixie can’t figure out from where she stands across the room, and as Trixie watches Raja’s hands go to cup Katya’s ass.

This is when Katya leans in. She gets on her tip toes, Raja is so much taller than her, and kisses Raja, once, softly. Then Raja pulls her in closer, their body’s now flush together and starts kissing her fervidly. Katya’s hands start roaming, go from Raja’s arms over their chest, to their face, their hair, and back, Raja mirroring her movements. Trixie wants to do nothing more than to look away, but can’t get her eyes off the scene. In a fleeting attempt to look at something else, she lets her eyes drift over the other people at the bar and notices at least two strangers who seem quite caught up with the scene in front of them. One of them licks his lips and blatantly looks at Katya’s ass. Trixie feels sick.

So this is happening. Of course it is. Katya is in an open relationship after all. She had told Trixie that she wasn’t interested in hooking up with anyone, but apparently this has changed, or Raja is just too hot to resist, she doesn’t know. All Trixie knows is that Katya is kissing somebody that is not her girlfriend, and it isn’t even her. For some reason Trixie had the fact that Katya has a girlfriend pinned into her head as the one and only reason she’s not with Trixie. But of course this isn’t true. Of course not. Instead, somebody Katya just met gets to kiss her and touch her the ways Trixie wants to, needs to, when Trixie has been there all along. She feels tears well up in her eyes and does her best to swallow them down. If Katya saw her cry now that would be mortifying. She quickly checks for Sasha and Jinkx, neither of whom seem to pay her any attention. Good. Trixie decides to leave the club, go home, and cry a little in her bed. Her feet, however, seem stuck to the ground, and so she stays, watching Katya and Raja go on and on and on. Adore is holding a particularly high note when Katya shifts their positions and presses Raja against the bar, with their hands pinned against the counter.

Trixie watches, transfixed. Somewhere in her stomach a feeling besides hurt begins to rise and she swallows hard. Her eyes flutter close, blocking the scene in front of her and she replaces it with a similar scene. She’s in Raja’s position, one side pressed against the bar, one against Katya, held tightly in place, Katya’s body against hers, her lips on her skin. She is breathing harder, happy to indulge in order to chase the sadness away. She feels a tingling in her hands, slowly spreading over her body, and lets out a soft moan, inaudible over the music.

She opens her eyes just in time to see Katya taking Raja by the hand and leading them towards the restrooms.

This is happening.

Trixie is going home.

[imagines-never-die]

Date Headcanons- Gentlemen

Genji

He most likely hasn’t been on a date since before his cybernization. So when he suddenly has to plan a date for you, he’s gonna pull out all his old notes

He may have to tweak these notes a bit since they include sexual teasing throughout the date and end with an invitation back to his place

He’ll cross out those bits and try to replace them with more gentlemanly things

There are a few potential places he might take you--the arcade, the aquarium, the mall, his place (whoops forgot to cross that off his old list)

But at some point, he’ll take you for some ramen. Assuming he can’t eat in his new body, he may have a bit of wistful aura about him, but he’ll just be happy if you enjoy his favorite food.

No matter where he takes you, he’s going to buy you something to remember the date by (so make sure to make little remarks of things you might want him to get ^.-)

Overall, his dates are the classic shoujo high school boyfriend date. He takes to dates like a fish to the ocean.

McCree

If Jesse gets to plan the date, he’s going to have some ideas in mind

And ideal spot for him would be one of the campy shooting galleries where all those cut-out animals pop out. It’s a good chance for him to show off to his date and get real close to them as he shows them how to aim properly

Do you like horsies? McCree’s ridden a few in his life, and he’d love a day where he can teach you to ride western style. The two of you could go on a nice trail ride~

Every date with him will end with him offering to buy you two drinks. It’s kind of a cowboy courtesy

If you want to impress him, here, try out-drinking him! But be careful because that can be very difficult

Reaper

Date? When was the last time this man went on a date? He hardly ever had time for that back in his Overwatch days, and he hardly has time now that he’s a deadly assassin. Besides, Death doesn’t do dates...

But not even this guy can deny wanting to spend more time with his significant other, and whether he wants to admit it or not, that’s called a “date”

He’d say something along the lines of “So...you wanna go...kill some stuff?”

Lol yes dates for him are just missions where you two work together. He’s not very creative.

Maybe once you two start getting closer, he’ll ask to hang out with you a bit after the mission. Do some weapon maintenance back in his quarters, do some talking, take off his mask...

But if you really want a more formal courtship with him, you’ll have to try suggesting some more acceptable dates. Even just taking him to the practice shooting range and swapping combat techniques!

Once he gets used to spending time with you without murdering other people, you can move on to sharing meals together

He’ll want your undivided attention on these dates. Don’t look at other guys, and he better not catch any guys looking at you.

Soldier: 76

Jack also hasn’t been on the date scene in a while, but he’s more accustomed to being a charming young man than Gabe is. He had to do a bit of posing as the Strike Commander, and I’m positive he had a few admirers.

So I’d like to think he knows the basics of a classic, old fashioned date: dress nice, maybe bring some flowers, give some complements, take them out for dinner. That sort of thing

Even though he knows the basics, good luck getting him to following them now. 76 will be caught up in the fact that he’s too old to be dating or that he’s got no time for courtship now that he’s a vigilante.

But if somehow you’ve got him arranging to take you out for a night on the town, good on you!

He’ll be much more awkward than he used to be, blushing, stumbling over his words, rubbing his neck

He’s just very nervous that he’s so old yet out on a date of all things!

Nevertheless, he’ll try to be the gentlest, sweetest date he can be. Though there may be some places he can’t go or he may be recognized...

After your night out, he’ll insist on walking you home so that you’re safe, and give you a quick kiss before saying goodbye

Hanzo

Uuuuuhh.....What? A date? What’s he supposed to do for one of those?

You can bet that the first time you ask for a date with Hanzo, it’ll be his first date ever.

Now don’t get me wrong, he had a lot of admirers growing up who asked him out, but he shot them all down simply because he didn’t think the heir of his clan should be going around and wasting his time with girls

But now he’s kind of regretting turning those dates down because now he has no idea what to do...

He tries to remember what Genji used to do for his dates, but he quickly remembers how short-lived Genji’s relationships were, and quickly dismisses that idea

Hanzo’s probably written down a list of ideas, all of which he’s crossed out. Oh dear, this is really stressing him out

In the end, he’ll decide to take you out for tea in a nice, zen garden (even better if the cherry blossoms are in bloom!). At first, things will be very stiff and awkward, but just try to get him to talk a bit, and the ice will quickly break

Junkrat

Ooh! Shopping! If you know Junkrat’s definition of shopping is, though...

Blowing up a mall and stealing everything in the process, starting with the milk tea shop!

He just wants to show his partner his favorite things in life: explosions, mayhem, and boba!

But he gets it if his s/o isn’t into really loud explosions and arson...I guess he could steal some milk tea prior to the date and bring it over to your place. He’ll bring over some (stolen) action movies, too.

Don’t be surprised if he tries to start a tickle fight

The first few dates he plans might involve Roadhog, and you may have to teach him that your later dates don’t need a third wheel. Roadie is a good third wheel, though-- very quiet and unobtrusive.

Do you like drag racing? Motorcycles? He’d love to try that with you sometime!

Once you start going on more frequent dates, you’ll suddenly notice that they’re not always dates...but heists...

“Jamison.” Roadhog grunts, “Why did you bring your date?”

“Wot? Why not? Kill two birds with one stone: bonding time and crime! Y’know, mate?”

Torbjorn

He’s already dating his turrets and his wife.

Reinhardt

This old man would be so excited to be going on a date at his age. He always assumed those days were over for him, but he looks so happy and bashful now that he’s out with his s/o~

He’s the kind of guy who will be happy with anything that his partner wants to do. As his date talks, he’ll sit there happily, taking every word they speak

A total hand-holder, he’ll want your little hand in his as often as possible

He’s a bit like Soldier in that he prefers more old fashioned dates

Take you out for dinner, maybe see a play/movie before

If you really want to impress him, suggest an old fashioned movie like “M” or “Treasures of the Sierra Madre.”

When he drops you off at home for the night, he’s going to be a little hesitant to give you a good night kiss...he’s still a little hung-up on being too old to do this again...I mean does he kiss them or not? What if they pull back?

So you may need to stand on your tippy-toes and give him a peck yourself~

Roadhog

Unlike Junkrat, he’d be more understanding of what a date is. He won’t take you on any arson missions or heists...unless you want to of course!

He’ll take you to the arcade and show you how good he as the crane game and win all the Pachimarus!

He never loses because he just smashes the glass...sorry. So, he’s still going to commit a bit of felony on your dates.

If you want to avoid crime with him, do the same as Junkrat, invite him over and watch some action movies!

He’ll want you to sit on his lap. Bonus points if you make a big bowl of popcorn for him!

During your first few dates, Mako will keep the mask on. But eventually he’ll start lifting it up just enough to eat that popcorn you made for him.

Then one day, out of nowhere, he’ll just take off his mask and set it on the coffee table without any warning. It’s ok if you need to stare for a bit.

Lucio

A fun date for Lucio would be some good old fashioned clubbing! He’ll try to pick a night when he isn’t the DJ so that he can be dancing in the crowd with you!

If clubbing isn’t really your thing, he’s ok with that. He’ll take you to an album store (yes, they have those in 2077) and browse the stacks with you, swapping music tastes

Then you can take the albums you guys bought (and by that I mean he paid for them) back to his place or your place and listen to them. He might even share some of his works in progress songs

Who knows, your music taste may just inspire his next song~

Zenyatta

I doubt this monk has ever been on a date in his life. Maybe he’s a little nervous, but more confused than anything else...

So the point is to show the one you’re infatuated with a good time? But what if he doesn’t know everything about them? How will he know any specific things that they dislike?

He’ll definitely ask Genji for help

In the end, the two will devise a lovely date consisting of a nice nature walk ending with a peaceful picnic

You may find that dates with Zen can go from nice and talkative to quiet and enjoying each other’s presence. He’s the type that can just sit there and take in the calmness and serenity of the situation

He might even teach you some meditation while you’re out!

[oldmaidwhovian]

100 question meme---cos’ I’m bored

1. What board game do you like the most?

sequence dice

2. If you could rid the world of one disease what would it be?

diabetes

3. If you were offered the position of mayor of your city, would you take it?

No

4. Favorite day of the week?

none---all the same to me

5. If you inherited or won a million dollars, what’s the very first thing you would do with the money

pat off debts

6. Give me the names of 3 objects or things you love most

my Georg Hoose cowboy painting that my late aunt gave me for my 7th birthday

my home library

the ceramic cat I gifted to my mom her final Christmas

7. Did you grow up here?

No, 50 miles south

8. Which are your top bands or singers?

The Proclaimers, The Beach Boys, John Denver, The Takeover UK, Chicago, too many to list....

9. What school activities do you or did you participate in?

Not many in elementry school...high school riding club and glee club....college i did theater, radio broadcasting (briefly), anthropology club, international studies.

10. Do you have any siblings

one

11. Where did your family go on vacations in the summer?

Haven’t been on vacation since 2005

12. What jobs do your parents do?

Nothing, they’re both deceased

13. What is the best job you ever had?

Groom at a dressage stable

14. What time do you normally go to bed?

no specific time

15. Have you ever been in a car accident or seen one?

yes to both

16. What’s the biggest personal change you’ve ever made?

Living on my own

17. What’s the size of your shoes?

varies due to an old injury leading to a misshapen foot--but generally woman’s 8.5 US

18. Name 3 things in nature you find most beautiful?

sunsets, soaring hawks, the sighing of pine trees (namely the Eastern White Pine) in the wind

19. What would you do if you were the lone survivor of a plane crash?

ummm-try and continue surviving?

20. What do you do in your free time?

Read, pet the cat, watch youtube videos, listen to music, play cribbage or whist online, take naps, go for walks if I’m able, ride the bus somtimes.

21. What were your childhood pets?

Cats, guinea pig, dogs, chameleons, turtles, mouse, goldfish, pigeon.,

22. Do your pets do any good tricks?

My lovely Shamrock was just like Lassie, and did a regular routine of tricks

23. How old is your current pet?

Maisie I think is around 2

24. What two languages would you like to be fluent in?

French-Canadian and Friesian

25. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had

housekeeping at a casino-racing complex

26 How often do you brush your teeth?

depends on my level of manual dexterity on any given day

27. If you were in a witness protection program, what would be your new name and where would you go?

Sarah Jane Smith....Friesland, cos’ the people are nice and the land is flat

28. Do you have any relatives in jail?

Not at present

29. If it were possible, would you live on the moon?

No

30. Do you find these questions funny?

meh

31. Define a really funny question?

makes me grin

32. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

no

33. What is your favorite smell?

horse

34. Do you believe in Bigfoot?

UM--it’s always possible, I guess

35. When did you learn how to drive?

in my early 20′s

36.   If you could go back in time 1,000 years, what year would you visit?

Hadrian’s Rome

37. What’s the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?

Can’t remember

38. Would you let me slap you for a hundred dollars?

sure, why not?

39. Who would you hate to see naked?

Donald Trump---bleurgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

40. Would you dress in drag for $25?

Sure, it’d be a hoot

41. How old is the oldest cell in your body?

59 years, 22 days...I think?

42. If you could start a collection of one kind of item, what would it be?

antique custom made cowboy chaps

43. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Boring As Hell

44. What’s the meaning of life?

Try not to die too soon

45. Do frogs have ears?

beats me

46. If you could study anything, regardless of your aptitude for it, what would it be?

saddle making

47. Whats your favorite season?

autumn

48. Have you ever seen an actual ghost?

yes

49. What was the first thing you ever collected?

Antique bottles

50. In a scale from 1-5, how afraid of dark are you?

1

51. Who was your first celebrity crush?

David Cassidy

52. Date someone older or younger?

Neither, ceased dating decades ago

53. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

stinging nettle cheese

54. If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would it be and why?

Anyone but a Republican, a pedophile or a drug addict

55. What famous artist, dead or alive, would you want to paint your portrait?

Vermeer

56. What’s something you always wanted to do as a child but never got to do it?

live on a farm or a log cabin in the woods

57. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever cried about?

can’t recall, I’m too old

58. What did you eat for dinner last night?

mac and cheese, creamed spinach

59. Would you rather play basketball or hockey?

basketball...I’m s__t on skates

60. If you could be on the cover of any magazine which one would you choose?

Western Horseman

61. Last thing you bought?

used sweatshirts at the charity shop

62. What is the funniest movie you have ever seen?

Arsenic and Old Lace

63. What scene from a film made you cry as a child?

When Ginger died in Black Beauty

64. What fashion trend do you wish would come back?

bell bottoms, haha

65. What fashion trend do you wish would go away

wearing pajama bottoms in public---crackhead fashion!

66. If you don’t know the words to a song do you improvise?

no

67. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?

I don’t own a TV

68. If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be?

The Doctor

69. One of your stuffed animals’ names as a kid?

I didn’t like stuffed animals

70. Do you butter the bread before putting the peanut butter on a sandwich?

My school caf and my late mom used to, but not me

71. Do you use perfume or aftershave before going out?

sometimes

72. Whats your favorite thing to do?

Before my stroke it was being around horses--now it’s reading

73. Do you watch cartoons?

seldom

74. Do you cook?

I was a cook when I was younger, now I only cook from scratch if I don’t need a lot of manual dexterity

75. Last dessert you had?

last of my ice cream

76. Describe the worst haircut you’ve ever had.

Did it myself and still ended up looking like an uncurried shetland pony--in fact, i called it the Thelwell cut, haha

77. What are two things you would do if you woke up to find yourself completely invisible?

ummm---not a clue

78. What was one of the happiest days of your life?

My college graduation

79. One really happy, hilarious moment in your life?

Being surrounded by, and getting licked by cows

80. What is one thing you refuse to share?

A Big Mac

81. If you could get away with a crime, would you? If yes, what would it be?

No

82. If you were about to be executed what five foods would have as your last meal?

pizza, Big Mac, prime rib, Ted’s fish fry, Hot Dog Charlies

83. Did you ever own a bare naked Ladies Cd?

no

84. What’s the furthest you’ve traveled?

Egypt

85.Have you ever grown your own tomatoes?

yes

86. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Dr zahi Hawass the Egyptologist

87. How many slices of pizza are you capable of eating in one sitting?

When I was younger and fatter about 4-6, now 2-3

88. Do you play a musical instrument?

I tried the cello, the piano, the flute and the guitar, but I’m afraid it’s hopeless...tho’ I can play a few tunes by ear.

89. Three favorite TV shows from your early teen?

Emergency! The Partridge Family, The Streets Of San Francisco

90. Radio or CD’s

Radio

91. Do you have posters up on your room walls and what are they?

A couple of western-themed posters, 2 travel posters and 1 Tiffany window poster

92. What is on your bedside table?

a lamp, a sound/sleep machine, and my alarm clock...and frequently a book

93. What is the thing you love most about mornings?

waking up and realizing that I’m not dead

94. What are your major goals in life?

Finding a place to live so I’m not homeless, cat-less and possession-less...and then working to improve my declining health, if only just a bit

95. On a scale from 1-10 what’s the highest level of pain you’ve ever been in?

10 when the horse ran over me at work and messed up my back, back in ‘91

96. What kind of phone do you use most often?

I can only use a landline since my stroke---just replaced my 1980′s novelty train phone which broke, with a modern 1960′s style teal colored ‘princess’ phone

97. The person you would never want to meet?

Donald J. Trump

98. What were your three favorite childhood toys?

Marx’s Fort Apache, Johnny West action figures, Matel’s ‘Drowsy’ doll

99. What is your favorite spectator sports?

Polo / show jumping / western reining / harness racing / basketball

100. What’s  your idea of a dream home?

A cottage or cabin not too far from a town or village,not big, with a screen porch to sit and chill