#even though they chose a young picture of Stu

[waugh-bao]

[tothedarkdarkseas]

If you could give a celebrity's closet to each band member, who would you chose for who and why? (Like... Ziggy's wardrobe for Murdoc, etc)

I’m very sorry for the delay on this ask! Truthfully, I just don’t have a very good answer to this! I have strong responses to fashion when I see specific outfits, but I never had what you would call “style icons” or any specific celebrity I followed the fashions from closely. I really tried to muster up a good answer for you here, but I’m afraid I can’t offer much!

Stu’s quite easy for me because he’s just Blur Damon, but I realize that’s a cop-out answer! Funny you mention Ziggy on Murdoc because I’d actually favor the plain 60′s era Bowie on Stu, I think the mod hair and the mod suits would-- well, suit him. Any suited singer with skinny ties and colored blazers, like Ian Svenonius, would work well. But truthfully, when I think of Stu’s style through a celebrity lens, I sort of picture an amalgam of every young breakout actor in the 90′s and their out-on-the-town/less prestigious award show looks from the era (specifically I think young Ewan McGregor and young Dicaprio, as well as the late River Phoenix.) I’d also like the whole band to do a Dexy’s Midnight Runners thing and all wear the same outfit, at least for one album cover. (Stu reckons he pulls it off best; in reality Noodle does.)

Ziggy on Murdoc would be fun to see! I don’t mind Murdoc’s Keith Richards/Lemmy look, but much like with Stu I do think it would be fun to see him go in either one extreme or the other-- by which I mean dialing it back to an even simpler wardrobe of dirty ill-fitting clothes lifted from the donation bin, or turning it up to an extravagant extreme ala Elton John. There’s only one thing I know for sure: he’s short enough to borrow Brian Molko’s infamous Stunt Girl shirt, so why hasn’t he, eh?

Noodle is challenging, as she already has such a varied and experimental style, I don’t feel there’s much she hasn’t covered! I do think more of Noodle in smart-casual suits is a must-- a lot of Stu’s sharper looks would work equally well on Noodle. Beyond that, I really just want her to wear some Vivienne Westwood pieces, though allowing a designer to count as a celebrity is probably cheating. Hmm! I think a few Lady Miss Kier outfits (singer of Deelite) would be a lot of fun on her as well, I’m very fond of those retro patterns and color palettes and just want to see even more Gorillaz art with it.

I fear Chuck Barry is an easy answer for Russel, but I’d like to stipulate not just his slick suits of bygone decades, but his more recent fashion choices of loudly patterned or textured shirts and bolo ties, fun hats, pops of color and whimsy he’s well-earned after being the classiest guy on stage for his entire career (Russel can relate.) Russel would also pull off the trendy and highly-tailored modern cowboy look better than Diplo and Post Malone, let’s be real. (See: X, X-- now imagine them on Russel.)

[emblem-333]

What-If Verne Gagne Made Hulk Hogan Champion?

The Era of The Territories died before I was born. There’s pros and cons to their execution. Up until Vince McMahon gobbled up the industry like Pac-Man devouring dots there were multiple regional territories with their own established stars. The Carolinas has Ric Flair. Tennessee has Jerry “The King” Lawler. Texas featured the Von Erichs. They would run their respective territories, sometimes wander beyond and do inter-promotional programs typically ending in disqualifications to save face. Back in those days, before television really changed the landscape, promoters could getaway with jerking around their fans with constant indecisive finishes. Chances are the people who paid the ticket price to see the action were the only ones who are ever going to see it.

Ever heard of “The Dusty Finish,” well get a load of what Verne Gagne of the American Wrestling Association put his customers through in the early eighties. Gift wrapped Hulk Hogan after Vince Sr canned the star for appearing in the film “Rocky III” Verne took the young Hogan under his wing teaching him almost all of what would make him the monolith he’d become. Gagne told Hogan to not drop down after one drop kick. Telling him it should take three or more to take him off his legs. Gagne molded Hogan into a monster in the ring. Initially, Hulk was supposed to be a featured heel like during his days in the WWF. But his charisma compounded by his cameo in “Rocky III” endeared him to fans of the Minneapolis based wrestling promotion. And in a few short months Hogan found himself in the title picture feuding with the long toothed, well read heel Nick Bockwinkel.

Bockwinkel had entered his fifties earlier in the 1980s, but you couldn’t have guessed his age if you only watched him in the ring. He always kept himself in tip-top shape, didn’t party all night like Ric Flair. He was a clean cut, midwestern man who Verne still entrusted to safeguard his companies most prized possession even late into his career. Bockwinkel before Hogan and after had great matches I highly recommend you check out. Preferably his one-hour marathon against a young, babyface, Curt Hennig. Yeah. Mr. Perfect was once in the AWA. So was “Mean Gene” Okerlund. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Scott Hall. Wendi Richter. Jesse Venture. All would become heavily featured players in the WWF/WCW when NWA fizzled.

Though Hogan was the star, and his current champ Bockwinkel was nearing fifty, Verne was hesitant - and later would outright say he didn’t see the 29-year-old as championship material or a prop he didn’t even need. Either Verne is lying or he poorly read the changing wrestling with the invention of television. The era of the babyface chasing the dastardly heel forever and ever was over. Promoters needed to shift towards more decisive finishes and book accordingly or face the same consequences Verne swallowed which squashed his once flourishing company. It’s quite the tragedy too. Verne knew his wrestling and could spot talent. Same could be said about Dusty Rhodes. At the end of the day what carries you over in a wrestling war isn’t talent, but business-savvy.

In his better days, McMahon knew sometimes it was better to go with what the fans wanted rather than persist with what he thought was right. He pulled the shoot on The Ultimate Warrior, ultimately giving way to the rise of Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. He later would do the same in the late-90s with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Neither were Vince’s cup of tea in what he perceived as championship material, but what mattered to him most was the all mighty dollar. But old Verne wasn’t as flexible and never really was. Come April 1983 he knew the long-standing Hogan/Bockwinkel had run its course and it was time to bestow the honor of champion to the younger star. Problem was, Verne couldn’t see beyond Hulk was a power wrestler, not too big on finesse and mat-style which was the makeup of the AWA. There’s also elements in this story that make Verne come off as a shitty, grubby businessman, and a downright creep. First, he demanded the bulk of Hogan’s merchandising sales (Hogan was printing his “Hulkamania” shirts and selling them outside of a trunk during House Shows) and his money he made wrestling for Japan; even though Verne had nothing to do with that promotion.

Actually, there might be some logic in Verne wanting a substantial cut in the money Hogan made overseas. See, he wrestled for a promotion called New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Verne had a partnership with a man named Shohei Baba — he would wrestle under the synonym “Giant Baba.” Baba worked as a promoter of All Japan Pro-Wrestling. The chief competitor of NJPW. Verne probably figured if he could squeeze Hogan for his NJPW paycheck he’d kick it to Giant Baba and subsequently AJPW and undercut the other promotion in the process.

The logic in Verne wanting the money though is nonexistent. Like McMahon when The Rock left the WWF to takeover Hollywood, he saw it fit to demand a chunk of his talent’s paycheck. Why? Because Vince McMahon made The Rock. Everyone knows that! Except he didn’t. The Rock made The Rock. In the wrestling world it doesn’t matter whether the boss acknowledged your existence before you made it big. All that mattered was he signed you to your deal and deserves the credit for those long hours you put in to climbing the ladder. Forget the fact that if it were up to Vince The Rock would have never turned heel, join The Nation of Domination and save his fledgling career.

I guess Verne can feel a little more secure in his belief he made Hogan into what he became. After all, he did instill the in-ring tactics that would carry him to superstardom. Regardless, the money Hogan made working NJPW was his, and it wasn’t like the AWA wasn’t doing gangbusters at House Shows and well in the black thanks to him.

The creepy aspect of this story was Verne was trying to set Hogan up with his daughter. Why? Well, he viewed the AWA as a family business and for whatever reason he didn’t trust his son, Greg, to succeed him so to keep the promotion in the family he wanted his champion to marry into it. You don’t believe me? In 1988 Larry Zbyszko marries Verne’s daughter. In February of ‘89 he wins the vacant AWA title in a Battle Royal.

It’s dysfunction like this is how you get an atmosphere like the one in the St. Paul Civic Center, the crowd absolutely becomes unglued as “Eye of the Tiger” roars through the speakers as the beach blonde haired heroine marches down the isle filled with purpose. He wears a black shirt that says “We Want The Belt” and on the back “Now Or Never.” You don’t get more prophetic than that last statement. Now or Never, Verne, and he chose Never. Hogan didn’t win the strap that night in St. Paul, and would soon leave the AWA. While the promotion enjoyed a few successful years before going defunct in 1991, you can trace their fall to “Super Clash” nine-years before.

So what-if Verne wasn’t a character out of a Leon Trotsky Socialist manifesto novel? What-if he just let Hogan keep his money and gave him the belt? Would the AWA still be around today? Hard to say, but I’m going to veer on the side of no. Hogan parading around with the AWA strap isn’t going to deter Vince from courting Hogan. We’re talking about the man who tried to convince Harley Race to no-show Starrcade ‘83 and take the NWA belt to his promotion.

One of the few ways Verne and the territories could have kept the bad wolf of New York from their doors was if they handed together to take him on. But nobody took the threat seriously until it was too late to sufficiently combat it. Another scenario is Ted Turner up and buys AWA with the NWA to form WCW. Having Turner on the wrestling scene against Vince was like Godzilla vs Mothra. WCW only started turning rotten when the Time Warner/AOL merger pushed Turner out of an influential role with the company. A more feasible scenario is Verne and Greg simply accept Vince’s offer he made at the St. Paul airport before turning around and exclaiming “I don’t negotiate”. But, if they did merge with the WWF the fate of the AWA is probably similar to Stu Hart and his Stampede Wrestling promotion. Their talent pool would be severely depleted and the promotion transforming from something that is on par — if not superior to the WWF to nothing more than a minor league farm system for New York to routinely pluck talent from.

If Hulk Hogan of all people suddenly become the most loyal person in the business and remained a stalwart of the AWA he arguably has a greater cast of heels to run through than he did in his first run as champion in the WWF. Stan Hansen, Leon White (A.K.A Vader), Larry Zbyszko, Curt Hennig, Jerry Lawler. While it’s highly questionable whether Hansen and Lawler would be willing to job to Hogan because of their value to other promotions, their feuds still print money at the gates and perhaps fans are just so happy to see Hogan as champion they don’t mind the constant string of D.Q finishes.

What does McMahon do? Rumor was his second choice was Paul Orndorff. A very good, if not great heel wrestler that is commonly forgotten due to the fact he jobbed to Hogan throughout the eighties. But Vince is more creative than that. He had to have an ace up his sleeve of Hogan alluded his grasps. Ric Flair? The Von Erichs? Maybe he pulls the trigger and makes Roddy Piper or Ricky Steamboat champion? Steamboat was only 31 by the time Iron Sheik beat Bob Backlund for the belt to set the table for Hogan. But Vince didn’t like skinny, short guys as his main champion. It’s why you see wrestlers like Daniel Bryan constantly marginalized despite showing time after time he can main event.

The AWA gave the wrestling world countless stars that would make this article too long if I were to list them all. But, like most promoters in the territory era, Verne had a limited grasp on how to maximize his profits and couldn’t see behind his own biases and greed.

[maetaamong]

ship your mutuals with idols?! 💝

oof this is gonna take me actual yeaRS bless this is so soft tho

Note: I’m not gonna give you your bias just bECAUSE they’re your bias but … you can cross your fingers and hope

Other Note: Everyone gets one gif, my main squad gets a summary, and everyone gets a few sentences saying where you and your idol would most commonly be found.

The Main Squad

@howcaniwait - Day6 Young K

I’ve known you for like what… 4 years now ??? I like to think I know you fairly well. And my guess is that you’d do well with someone who you can joke around with but still occasionally be soft with. You definitely don’t need anyone who would be touchy touchy (PDA is a no for Charlie). SO I chose the one and only Special K himself. You guys would make fun of the other Day6 boys on like a daily basis and I don’t get clingy vibes from him so you wouldn’t have to worry about PDA.

Charlie and Young K would most commonly be found exploring new cities and alternating between taking aesthetically pleasing pics of your surroundings and shitty selfies.

@thedaysix - Day6 Jae 

Boo you’re the resident mom of our lovely little gc and I think you definitely have a good responsibility and motherly streak in you. Despite that you’re still down to steal 18 bananas and scREAM your lungs out at your favourite butter biscuit man. So I think you’d do well with Jae (not just cause you’d eat Texas for him). Jae is a bit of a dork and is more than capable of throwing cares to the wind and having a blast and a half. He can still reel it back and use his brain every once in a while though. 

Boo and Jae would most commonly be found either trying to trick Wonpil into thinking that certain English words have different meanings than they actually do, or running off to some random pet store and pretending to be interested in buying the puppies and kittens but actually just wanting to pet them all.

@undinefin - iKON Chanwoo

Like Charlie I feel like you would do well with someone pretty chill and down to just roll around in bed for hours on end. Chanwoo is a lazy boy who will sit in front of my big ass computer for days. BUT at the same time the boy is willing to go and have a blast and a half somewhere every once in a while. On top of that, the boy is cheeky as fuck. He will not hesitate to roast the other boys and have some fun.

The two of them would most commonly be found sitting at home, complaining about people and showing each other weird music, anime, and video games.

@01yoonjin - Seventeen Jeonghan

Nom you’re such a smart, fun, loving, cheeky, and caring gal. You have the biggest brain and an even bigger heart. You’re gonna go far my friend. You and Jeonghan are both quick witted but also lazy sometimes and would take some of the best naps together.

Nom and Jeonghan would frequently be found cuddling on the sofa at home while watching a Disney movie and trying really hard to stay awake as they eat all the snacks.

@astrayminho - Stray Kids Jeongin

Soft, pure sometimes, and ready to make some friends. Fath you’re so loving and fun, you always manage to bring a smile to my face. Your spelling can be atrocious sometimes but we all know its just cause you can’t get your words out fast enough. 

Fath and Jeongin would be the pair to spontaneously go to an arcade and have a pinball battle or try and prank Chan by changing all of the clocks in the house behind 6 hours.

@chuuyo - BTS Suga

Pretty laid back and almost intimidating initially, both Nic and Yoongs can seem a lil bit scary at first (at least in my opinion) bUT in reality they’re both excitable nutbars. With so much energy and love to share. (I’m calling you out on being an actual softie™, Nic)

Nic and Yoongi would be the couple to make each other spir of the moment gifts that they then try to play off as not soft when they give them to each other.

@sambashua - Monsta X’s Minhyuk

“because they’d be that punk couple who beats others up” - Sheep

Mir you’re… hard to pin down, my friend. You’re a bit enigmatic sometimes but overall are just the sweetest and most loving gal. You carry a cloud of happiness with you everywhere you go. Which is why I chose Minhyukkie for you. He’s a little strange but is so very loving and happy and beautiful.

Mir and Minhyuk would most commonly be found sprinting around public parks to pet dogs and escape birds all while having the best of fun and taking some of the cutest selfies.

The Squid Squad

@chipsandwaffles - NCT Doyoung

the second I saw that gif I was like aha thats it, thats the one for sheep

You’re just about the most devoted Doyoung stan I’ve yet to meet. You’re undyingly loyal, my friend.

Regardless of all of that, you and Dodo are both a complex mix of lazy and hardworking. Idc what you say, you work hard on you writing and create actual masterpieces. 

Sheep and Doyoung would just sleep from 4am-Noon on a daily basis and spend another couple hours just rolling around in a half asleep state. They’d also be that weird couple who would wake up at like 5am to go on a spontaneous drive to who the fuck knows where just cause they can.

@hyuckkks​ - NCT Haechan

Keet and Hyuck would most commonly be found scrEAMING over sth or someone. Maybe it’s a bug, maybe it’s cake, maybe it’s Jisung. Who knows tbh. They’d be that couple who were the best of friends before anything else and made fun of each other and their friends on an hourly basis.

@savvysayyss ​- NCT Taeil

I almost put in a gif of him in a vneck but decided to spare you

Sophie and Taeil would most commonly be found complaining about how “old” they are and referring to themselves as fossils. When in reality these two are soft and sweet as can be and can be found sitting side by side during car rides and giggling while showing each other photos of various sleeping animals.

@softperson ​- NCT Yuta

oof where do I even begin You are so whipped for Yuta, it’s almost ridiculous (I understand tho) You’re the best aunt and occasionally (I’m kidding ily) are responsible and honestly do give great advice. Yuta …. probably isn’t the most responsible bUT I feel like you could keep him from accidentally running off a cliff or sth (if you can control an all boys high school class I think you can deal with 1 Yuta). 

Shan and Yuta would be that weird couple who would drink wine with each other and complain about puzzles while simultaneously doing a puzzle at like midnight.

Also y’all are both nasty and dtf

@jaemms​ - NCT Jeno

San and Jeno can be commonly found curled up in the dream dorms sitting side by side while battling it out in Mario Kart or yelling at each other over what is the “right” way to play Zelda. Whether they’re exploring new places inside of a game, their own imaginations, or real life, the pair would be all smiles. 

@gijeon ​- Block B Kyung

Both Nana and Kyung are the type of people to glove up and fight the whole world for the people they hold dear to themselves. They would most commonly be found in the museums near their area. Whether or not they actually know anything about what the museum is talking about the two would have a blast. An art museum? They’re playing ”come up with a story behind every painting.” A history museum? They’re playing “pick your favourite time period to live in.”

@frosttyong - EXO’s Baekhyun

don’t punch me for not giving you Taeyong I had to give him to someone else

Baekhyun and Nat are both sinful as fuck, soft as fuck, and psycho as fuck. These nutbars would be commonly found trying to bargain their way out of having to pay $12 for a crappy band tee at a yard sale they stumbled upon. Neither of them have heard of the band and neither of them fit the shirt, they just want it for the giant unicorn on the front.

Den - BTS’ Jungkook

These two cheeky geniuses can be found at your local arcade somehow outsmarting and beating every game and challenge the place holds. The two would look like they were in the middle of a business negotiation while playing skeeball, while in all seriousness Jungkook just said that she could have his Twix if she beat him. She’s gonna win.

Punwiz - NCT’s Ten

PunBun and Ten would most commonly be found bouncing around an amusement park. In between walking to rides the two would be creating the worst puns inspired by their surroundings and telling each other weird jokes that only these two nutbars would understand.

Lin - Monsta X’s Kihyun

Kihyun and Lin both take some of the most aesthetically pleasing photos I’ve yet to see sO I think these two would go out on photography dates. They’d wander around in new cities, old cities, favourite cities, home cities, and more and just take pictures of anything interesting or funny or pretty they find.

That means Kihyun would be taking lot’s of pics of Lin.

@the-perfect-red-velvet - Stray Kids’ Bang Chan

My gal Sandra and my man Chan would be that constantly happy couple. You can either find Sandra being piggybacked around by Chan while he sprints up and down the halls of the JYP building or the two of them would be hidden away in their makeshift art studio (aka Chan’s studio) while Chan ruins the walls with paint and Sandra laughs and perfects her masterpiece.

@kpop-oppas-dream - NCT’s Jungwoo

Caite and Junguwu are a little shy sometimes but are amazingly hardworking. These two would be found, hand-in-hand, in cute little libraries. They’d be tucked away in a corner either reading, writing, or whispering happily amongst themselves. 

My Tumblr Gals

@smittenbyschmidt - NCT’s Taeyong

Aly and Tae would be most commonly found strolling around through parks and cafés looking like the most elegant couple ever while actuLLY they’re whispering about the cute dogs they’ve seen.

@cinnagyeom-roll - Got7′s Yugyeom

Gyeom and Yugyeom would most commonly be found getting kicked out of cute cafés as Gyeom tries to draw her boy but Yugyeom, being the crackhead he is, starts yeLLING about pigeons or sth and get’s them kicked out. 

@blushyhoonie - Seventeen’s Woozi

Ash and Jihoon would most commonly be found curled up in the boy’s studio. He would be writing lyrics and she would be writing stories. Neither would be talking but both are calm and happy. Later they would attempt to get the other to show off their creation whilst simultaneously trying to hide their own creation.

@hanniebear ​- iKON’s Ju-ne

Baz and Junhoe would most commonly be found touring around the popular restaurants in whatever area they’re in. Taking photos of the food and each other, with Junhoe yeLLING and Baz being her soft perfect self, they’d have a blast and a half together.

[stunudo]

...when you're attracted to someone, it just means that your subconscious is attracted to their subconscious, subconsciously. So what we think of as fate is just two neuroses knowing that they are a perfect match.

Dennis Reed from “Sleepless in Seattle”

Going Down With The Ship

One of the Six: A Criminal Minds Fan-fiction

Featuring: Bethany Devereaux x Gideon

A/N: Okay, here is the Trope List challenge for @reiding-and-writing. I chose #9 Sleepless in Seattle Moment. This fits into my OC Series “One of the Six.” The trope scene takes place during the original investigation of Season 3 Episode 19 “Tabula Rasa”.  So it seems like 99.7% of the fandom does NOT like Gideon. Therefore the title fits the expected disinterest/ loathing of this, plus- well Bets was in the Navy people. Also you may have a reason to hate him more... xoxo Stu

I cannot tell you the moment it happened. I wasn’t paying attention. I am unable to pinpoint even the day it happened. It was a slow realization, but a quick shame. Hotch knew. He never said so, but Hotch knew. Damn it I wonder who else knew? Oh well, can’t do anything about it now. I was never a romantic person. If someone gave me the warm fuzzies, I would probably make out with them though.

This wasn’t the puppy love I had with T.J. Stevens my sophomore year at the academy. It wasn’t even what the few months I dated Janet Hyde before she left me for a rookie cop she met at the gym were. This was something else entirely and that is why I never saw it coming. After four years working together I woke up to the unfathomable revelation that I was in love with Jason. What the hell was this?

185 Days Remain

We were still working through the case files when Haley popped in with some take out. I don’t know what Aaron did to win this woman over, but it was not enough. She tried to swing by when we weren’t busy, feeding the wayward profilers or just checking in on us. She was extremely good at her job, but I knew she was only a little blue line away from dropping it all. The way Lover Boy and her looked at each other it was a surprise they didn’t have a litter already.

“Hey H-2, how are you?!” I called, tossing the folder back on to my inspection worthy desk. Her big grin greeted me, I rushed over to help with the bags of Chinese. The Crab Rangoon was calling to me, it had only been 9 hours since breakfast after all.

“Bets, thank you. I thought I was going to lose a quart of Kung Pao Chicken to the carpet!” We wound around the matrix of desks and dropped everything on the break room table. Finally Hotch realized his wife had arrived so I left them alone and headed back with my stash of fried goodness. As Jason walked past me the sparkle in his eye caused a rush to my cheeks. I was confused so I just shoved a piece of food in my mouth and grinned like a goofball.

“We should really bring her along on cases, she always finds the best egg rolls.” Jason explained, rubbing his hands as he headed to the waiting meal. It had been a few weeks of odd nerves and slight blushes up until that point. I now only associate Crab (or what passes for it) with my embarrassment, needless to say I no longer eat it.

I was working late, not that that was odd. What was off about it was that I didn’t need to be. Morgan had left, the SAs had left, even the Bird had left. I headed up to the offices because I wanted to say goodnight. Jason was at his desk with a projector watching film strips. It brought back memories of the awful stuffy afternoons in the science classroom when we were forced to watch an un-medicated birth or terrible animations of sperm swimming.

But there he was laughing. It was a silent film but it was clearly the grandfather to modern physical comedies. I pictured a young Jim Carey attempting the same bits. It was so raw and silly. I got lost in the story. I didn’t see when he came over to lean on the door jam with me. We stood there for the rest of the reel, enjoying the gags. It was a comfortable quiet.

When the tell tale clicking of the end of the film had reached an awkward rhythm I finally looked at him. He was smiling warmly at me, nothing new. “Have a good night, Bethany.” I smiled shyly. “You too, sir.”

I was frozen for a moment in his dark eyes, but then the moment passed and I went home.

“You don’t have the capacity to love these women!” Jason spat at the unsub as he held the victim by the hair, a machete in the other hand. “Put down the knife, Reynolds. Tell me your story, but let her go.”

The unsub was a certifiable idiot. He threw the victim at me, I caught her in my free arm, keeping my gun locked on his head. I tried to reassure her, but I just held on until Hotch had sent Morgan in with the cuffs. After I holstered my weapon, I really hugged her. I shushed her as she fell apart. She had been held for four days, she smelled and could barely stand.

Watching her be loaded on to the back of the ambulance was like watching Vaughn’s isolated cot in the infirmary. I had been a witness to the end of the pain, but couldn’t fathom what these women had endured. We had to do better. Jason had stood next to me while the boxy vehicle pulled away.

“These are the days that I take out that projector. To remember to laugh. Someday soon, she’ll remember how to laugh. You did good today, Bethany.”

I nodded, watching the night descend on the crime scene. It was then I knew that I didn’t want to keep doing this alone.

“Where are you heading this time?” Hotch asked Jason as he locked his office for a week off.

“Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”

“You like the Outerbanks?” I asked.

“Piping Plovers, I’m going birding.” Jason kept it short, he was in a hurry to enjoy his vacation.

“Enjoy the lighthouse if you get the chance!” I called to him as he waved to us behind his back. It actually hurt to see him walk away so brusquely.

“The Bodie Island Lighthouse was erected in 1872.” The baby bird squawked.

“I know, I’ve been there.” I shrugged off the annoyance at the new kid. “I kind of have a thing for lighthouses.” I don’t know why I was admitting that, but it just came out. I shoved a hard candy into my mouth to stop myself from being too chatty.

“Does he take vacations a lot?” His meager voice was trying to be casual.

“Not really.” I thought about it. “But more often than Hotch.”

The next morning we got a case and they were letting the string bean into the field for it. It wasn’t far, just over to Roanoke. They had dubbed him the “Blue Ridge Strangler.” I said a silent prayer of gratitude that Jason was out of town for this one, he hated when they gave the unsubs catchy names.

I woke up a little out of sorts. I don’t know why I was being emotional, but it was frustrating. Going over the crime scene photos with Morgan was nauseating. They looked like me. Dark hair and eyes. Sure they were prettier, but I couldn’t help but feel even more “off”.

I let Hotch and the boys head to the active body retrieval. I stayed behind to start piecing together a profile. When I dug in my purse I found a new key chain in the shape of a lighthouse. There was no note. I jumped at the chance to escape. To run. I picked up my cell.

“Hotch, I am using that IOU from Haley’s last birthday. I will meet up with you back in Quantico.”

“Is everything alright?” He was concerned.

“Everything is fine, besides you have the genius on hand now. It will only be a couple days.”

“Okay, but Bets, call me, when you get there?”

“Deal. Square?”

“Square.”

I hung up and called for a rental car. I wasn’t stopping back home. The drive to North Carolina was a blur.

I knew that Jason hadn’t left me that key chain, but I wanted it to be from him so badly that I tricked myself into hoping. There is nothing more cruel than hope. I don’t even know what I was expecting to find when I arrived at the National Seashore. I walked the beach and trails for hours. After not finding him among the protected coves, I made my way to the lighthouse.

The salt in the air and the sting on my skin brought my Navy brain back to me. I wasn’t this pathetic love-struck girl who chases her crush by crossing state lines. But I was. Visitor hours were drawing to a close at the summit and yet I stared off as the sun set behind me.

“If I had been a younger man, I might have assumed you were here for me. But not after this, this view is the real heart-breaker, eh?” Jason’s voice brought the delusion crashing down around me.

“Some people don’t see age as a barrier, but as experience to cherish.” I called over the wind, defending my recklessness. He walked over to me, his face that of a concerned teacher. I had made an ass of myself. “But you don’t have to say it, I get it.”

“I’m sorry, Bethany. I am not someone you should be wasting your youth on.” He stood there, his hands moving constantly. “Honestly I am flattered and a little frustrated.” He smiled.

I laughed through my tears. He was being charming and it added to the bitter-sweetness. “What is frustrating you?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I had profiled you as a lesbian.” Admitting he had been half-wrong about me was probably the humblest thing he could have said in the moment. This esteemed mind acknowledging he didn’t know something, was as genuine an offering as I could have hoped for.

I shook my head, laughing again. “If only it was that easy.”

I dragged myself off the lighthouse and into the rental car. I found a run down motel and crashed for two days. I slept off the embarrassment and the disappointment. When I got back to headquarters I was recognizable again.

“Row? Where did you skip off to?” Morgan teased, ruffling my hair.

“Nun-ya. Nice work messing up your ankle though.”

“Right, right. But you left me with the kid. I mean he talked to the victim’s parents and everything!”

“Wow! Looks like he can ditch those water wings after all.” I teased.

“I can hear you.” Baby bird chirped.

“We know.” Morgan and I said in unison. I high fived him and he low fived me. Turns out, I was okay after all. I had my team. Who needed love anyway?

Next Chapter: The Last Case

@criminalwriting @dontshootmespence @cherry-loves-fanfic @imagicana @hotchnerfuckmeup @teatimewithtiya @dontcallmedad

[awesomedigityx]

Charity Event gone wrong,

Glancing at herself in the mirror, the woman sighed. She had decided to go to an event, a charity event for a Children’s hospital. Xandra was still very active in many charities. The blonde always tried to give money to them as she could. Although, she knew that she could easily send out more than what she was. After all, she was living off the interest on the money her parents had left her after their death. Then she had a great job, and her side business helped a lot with her financial situation. Which was good for her and the baby that she was carrying. She would be able to support the baby easily. Xandra was pretty well off in those standards. Not that she went and flaunted it. It’s not like she went around flashing money, she hardly bought herself things. Most of the time any extra money she had, she sent to a charity of her choice. She pushed the thoughts from her mind as she looked at her attire for the night. Xandra had chosen to wear a beautiful black cocktail dress, one that hugged her curves nicely, even though she was pregnant. The woman felt nice dressed up like this, although she would have normally wore high heels with a dress like this, but with how her body was currently she wouldn’t be able to wear the heels. She stuck with a pair of black flats to go with her black dress that had a bit of silver scattered in the fabric. Brushing a small piece of her blonde locks from her face, she took another glance at herself in the mirror. She looked beautiful, she just hoped that she didn’t end up having an emotional break down like she had before-- when she had felt beautiful and then all of a sudden the thought of her not looking beautiful dressed up and showing her stomach off would destroy that self confidence she had in that moment.

Xandra went and grabbed her clutch, smiling at Jamison as she seen him. He had decided to come with her for the night’s charity event for the Children’s hospital. His mother had taken Gavin for a few hours while the two of them attended the event. Xandra knew that she would end up seeing James Wren there at the event. He had always made a habit of attending the events. Not that she had any issues with the man that had pretty much raised her after her parents had been killed before she went to foster care. Once again pushing the thoughts from her mind, she looked over at Jamison who was fixing up his tie before they would head to the event. “Ready babe?” she asked him as she went over and helped him with his tie for a moment before going and grabbing her jacket and pulling it on. It was now or never, she thought as she headed towards the door. Time to make her appearance and give some money to the Children’s Hospital. She had been giving them pretty large sums of money for a few years now. Although, she was hardly the largest donations that were given-- the fact was she still gave and that is all that matter. In her opinion at least that was all that matter. Once Jamison was ready the two of them made their way out to the vehicle that they were driving to the event. Xandra went and got into the passenger side while Jamison chose to drive them to the event.

The drive to the Children’s hospital didn’t take the couple long. Traffic seemed to be rather slow on that day. Which had surprised Xandra. Not that it was an issue, it was a rare and great event that the traffic in New York wasn’t terrible. It meant that people were busy doing other things rather than driving around the city. Maybe those people were still at work, already at an event, at a friend's house, or just simply having a great time at home with their family. Something that Xandra had never figured that she wanted. Since she was young she had always thought that she would never be one to want a family, no kids would be in the picture for her, just her. That wasn’t the case anymore. Xandra wouldn’t imagine her life without her close friends and family in her life, the baby growing inside of her included as well as Gavin. Her life had changed much in the past few months-- for the better. She had never been happier. She knew that she had a lot of people to thank for helping her get back to her normal self. Hearing Jamison speak, she turned her attention to the man and smiled brightly. This man had made her more happy than she even knew was possible. “Of course this will be fun Jamie.” she assured him. There was always some pretty interesting stuff that happened at these events. At least, the ones that she had been too always had a few crazy things had happened. The last event that she had been too, she had watched as someone had drank too much champagne and made a complete fool of themselves. “We don’t have to stay long babe.” she told him. Xandra wasn’t sure she would be able to handle staying there for a long period of time. Her body would start to get too tired, and she would then in turn start to get cranky. Plus, she was sure at some point she would want to get out of the dress that hugged her curves.

A few minutes later, the couple found themselves at the event. She got out of the vehicle once he had parked the car and went and helped her out of the vehicle. “Thanks babe” she said with a smile as he made she that she got out of the vehicle alright with no issue. Even though she wouldn’t have a lot of issues. It was still such a gentlemanly act that brought a smile to her lips. “I’d kiss you, but we need to get in there. Plus, it would give you red lipstick on your lips” she teased the man. Who just laughed at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The couple walked into the event venue together. Upon walking in, Xandra glanced around and seen a few people that she knew. “Jamie, I am going to head over there.” she pointed. “Can you go grab us something to drink? Water is fine for me if they don’t have lemonade.” she told him with a smile before she pressed a light kiss to his lips and quickly wiped his lips to make sure that she didn’t leave any red on his lips. The red stain, lip-stick seemed to be holding up quite well but she knew how make-up worked it could be good for a bit and then fail. Turning away from her boyfriend she went towards the people that she knew. It was a small group. One that held a few friends from college and then her ex, Stu’s, best friend. Xandra hadn’t seen the man, Stephen in years. Not since her and Stu broke it off. She didn’t want to catch up with him but she did want to check up with him and make sure that Stu wasn’t there. The last few times she had seen Stu she had been shot at, and that was not something that she wanted to deal with while at a charity event.

As she walked towards the group she had went to college with, she tried to keep her emotions in check. Seeing the group of guys that she had known in time period where she had been a different person made her a bit nervous. Xandra was no longer the woman that she had been when she had first met these guys. Things had became much different since then. No longer was she the fighting woman that enjoyed the crunch of another's bones under her fist. No longer was the pain of someone on the other side of her in a ring the only emotion that she needed to feel alive. Those men, they represented a time in her life where fighting had been the only thing that she had known-- a time that she didn’t talk about much and a time that she had yet to fill Jamison in on. Sure, the couple had known each other in college but she had never allowed him to see the bruises that she would have on her body due to the fighting and carrying on that she would do.

Coming to a stop by the men, she smiled at them. “Well, look what the cat drug in.” she stated as she placed her hand on the table that was beside her as she stopped to look at each man and greet them. “Drew, Stephen, Fergal, and Becky” she nodded at each of them. Becky gave her a smile. Becky had been the only one in that group that she had kept in contact with. The woman had told her that she and Fergal had finally tied the knot and were married. Before the group could really get much else said, the lights in the entire event venue shut off. She could hear chatter. The blonde’s first instinct was to grab the only object that she could feel on the table. It was a blunt object. She was ready for anything in that moment. Held tightly in her hands, the cool metal of the object made a shiver run down her spine. This was not happening. This was a charity event. Stu couldn’t be here, right? The woman could feel panic coming through her body at the thought of the man. The British man had a hold on her, one that made fear course through her body at just the mention of his name. How she had thought she loved this man was beyond her. 

The object in her hands she wasn’t sure what it was, all she knew was that it was metal. A decoration maybe? Her thoughts halted at the blood curdling scream that came from a voice that was all too familiar to her. Stephen. Not even a few seconds after his scream, she could smell blood due to her being right next to him. The lights flashed on and she glanced around the object in her hand held up as she was prepared to deal with whatever was to come. Hearing a few screams she looked down and seen that Stephen was un-moving, face first on the ground. She took another look around and looked at her object. It didn’t have blood on it, but that always didn’t happen. She knew how this looked to everyone. This was terrible. Xandra thought as she placed the object that had turned out to be a decoration, a mother holding a child, metal figurine. The blonde stood there, her eyes on Stephen as he laid lifeless next to her. Not sure what to do. She froze. Nothing came to mind-- her mind was blank.