#hair removal products at sally's

[kamaluhkhan]

TIME TO PRETEND

pairing: luke castellan x gn!poseidon!reader word count: 5k chapter summary: you're the eldest child of poseidon and the hero of the last great prophecy. you left your demigod life behind after defeating kronos. now, years later, you find yourself back at camp half blood for the summer.....which means dealing with luke castellan, and all that history (tension?) left unresolved between you. warnings: some nicknames for reader are based on female characters (mermista, sailor neptune) but they're still written as gender neutral. reader has tattoos. mention of alcohol + death (post-titan war). spoilers for the entire pjo (book) series, mostly references to the last olympian. timeline is all over the place but set in the early 2000s for vibes. no betrayal (au where chris was the one who sided w kronos and led the titan army) so slightly ooc luke <3 author's note: welcome to another product of my pjo hyperfixation !!! i wanted to finish the nemesis!reader series first but it's summer and i felt like reworking my tsitp series in a camp half-blood setting with bb luke. so prepare for childhood friends to lovers drama! summertime vibes! nostalgia! angst! would love to know what y'all think about this and if you want a part 2 so feel free to scream at me in the comments. otherwise, enjoy and thanks 4 reading ��

♪: time to pretend by mgmt

YOU’VE GOT MAIL!

1 new message 

from: LukeNotSkywalker

to: Mermista86

subject: you are GETTING that record deal

Hey,

Your demo CD just came in the mail — and, Connor as my witness, I’ve already listened to it five times!!! 

It’s amazing. You’re amazing. The label would totally lose out if they didn’t sign you. 

Things have been pretty chaotic around here, with the summer term happening soon. Speaking of which: are you coming back? Chiron gave me the list of returning campers and counsellors this morning and said he hadn’t heard from you, so I thought I’d ask. I know you’ll be busy with the band, but if you get the chance, it’d be really great to see you.

Anyways, I’m leading the next Shield & Sword session, so I’d better go. Talk soon ;)

- L

FOUR YEARS LATER

TURBULENT WATERS? ALT-ROCK BAND MIDNIGHT SIRENS HIT ROUGH PATCH AFTER LEAD GUITARIST GETS INTO VIOLENT ALTERCATION 

the cover is the nail in the coffin: a blurry picture of you, an electric blue guitar forgotten at your feet, lunging forward into a crowd, with your bandmates on stage behind you in shock. 

you’d gone all this time without any major incidents, and one stupid chimera managed to burn down everything you worked for in one fell swoop.

“that’d be $8.50,” the cashier informs. 

you tear your attention away from the magazine, instead fishing through your pocket for some change. meanwhile, the cashier furrows their brow, leans down slightly to get a better look at you underneath your sunglasses and baseball cap. 

“hey, do i know you?”

“nope,” you say instantly, slapping a $10 bill onto the counter. “keep the change.” you gather your pile of necessary roadtrip supplies (slushies, m&m’s, and goldfish) before rushing out the door, your half-brother trailing behind you.

you slide into the driver’s seat, set each slushie in a cup holder, and hand the rest to percy once he’s slipped into the passenger side. 

“seatbelt,” you remind him. you shake your hair out after removing your baseball cap disguise. “i promised your mom i’d be responsible.” 

percy does as he’s told, though not without mumbling about how he’s practically an adult and a demigod who’s been in much more dangerous situations than a car ride up to long island. you just tell him to put on some music, even though he has a point. he’ll be 18 in august and you’re only five years older, but the fact is that you gave sally jackson your word. 

plus — you’re his older sibling, so gods forbid you let him get hurt. a seatbelt seems like a band-aid solution for one of the most powerful demigods out there, but still.

percy flips through a few radio stations while he sips his blue raspberry slushie. when he doesn’t find anything good, he opens the glove compartment and surveys your music collection before sliding a cd into the stereo. 

instantly, the familiar sound of david bowie’s voice eases the tension in your shoulders.

“good choice?” 

you nod and percy smiles triumphantly. you reach over to steal a few goldfish from the bag he just opened and ruffle his hair playfully, for good measure. 

you’re perfectly happy, driving along a long island highway while getting lost in the glam rock world of ziggy stardust, but it isn’t long until percy interrupts: 

“are you finally gonna tell me what happened, or do i have to read it from some trashy gossip magazine like everyone else?”

“well, your dyslexic ass can barely read so….”

you look over at him briefly, and laugh when you see him stick his slightly-blue tongue out to you. 

“at least my dyslexic ass is actually decent at ancient greek. luke told me you failed the reading test, like, a million times.”

your heart twinges at the mention of your old friend. 

friend.

if you could still call him that. 

thankfully, percy doesn’t give you much room to dwell on the past, too focused on your drama-filled present.

“so, what is it? you got kicked out of the band? lost everything? have nowhere else to go?”

you roll your eyes at his dramatics. “i did not get kicked out.” 

“then, what happened?”

“just the usual.” you shrug. “monster attack, mortals who can’t see through the mist. i tried to explain it away after — something about how i saw someone in the crowd attack another person and i stepped in to help. most people bought it, but the media loves drama and the label’s worried i’m a flight risk now. apparently, everything will blow over if i just keep a low profile for the next few months. so….no. i didn’t lose everything.” you take a deep, like when anyone other than children of poseidon are about to go underwater and they’re not quite sure when they can come up for air. 

“i just don’t really have anywhere else to go,” you finish.

“damn.” percy offers you a blue shark gummy (or whale - you and percy had already debated the shape of the candy that sally packed for the trip, and the jury’s still out). you gratefully accept. “well, i know it’s not the best reason, but i’m excited to spend the summer together.”

despite everything, you find yourself smiling. 

“me too, kid.” 

“it’d give me a chance to kick your ass in sword-fighting.”

“you wish!” you nudge his shoulder, both of you giggling. once the laughter’s died down, you glance at percy once more. “hey – did you tell anyone i was coming?”

percy shakes his head. “why?”

you take a long swig of your drink until you’re on the brink of brain freeze. 

“no reason.”

it’s just after lunch when you arrive at camp half-blood. 

you weren’t sure what you were expecting — maybe not some futuristic technological developments that had been discovered within the years you were gone, but definitely not for camp to look pretty much exactly the same as when you left. 

instantly, you find comfort in the familiar scenes: a dragon, peleus, guarding the magical borders; dryads and satyrs picking strawberries in the fields next to the forest; chiron standing near the central guidepost, greeting and guiding every camper in the right direction.

chiron smiles down at percy and practically does a double take when his eyes land on you.

“mx. l/n! it has been a while. are you here to drop off your brother, or do you plan on staying for the summer?”

before you can answer, someone appears behind him. 

“perce! hey!” 

“hey, luke.”

luke gives him a side hug, and percy shoves him away with a laugh when he ruffles his hair. it’s then that luke acknowledges you, though he looks like that’s the last thing he wants to do.

“i thought i’d never see you again. what are you doing here? ”

chiron turns to you expectedly. “i believe you have yet to answer that question of mine as well.”

“staying for the summer…” you adjust the shoulder strap of your backpack, uneased by luke’s cold demeanor. “i hope that’s okay.”

“of course!” chiron’s smile grows wide, eyes crinkling. “you’ll resume your position as head counsellor of cabin 3.”

“so i’m dethroned? just like that?” percy guffaws.

you nudge percy’s shoulder. “fulfill the next great prophecy, and then we’ll talk.” 

percy rolls his eyes playfully. luke, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to appreciate your tongue-in-cheek remark. his jaw tightens, and he suddenly finds a deep interest in the clipboard he’s holding.

chiron clears his throat, likely sensing the tension. “yes, well, i’m sure you remember how things work around here. if not, mr. castellan has been keeping this ship afloat. he's always here to help.”

“always.” luke smiles, but it’s elastic, threatening to snap at any moment. someone calls his name, and he walks away to deal with whatever chaos is waiting for him.

summer — age 15

you weren’t exactly conscious when you first arrived at camp half-blood. 

apparently, coach hedge, a satyr and protector, found you just in time and had to practically drag you up half-blood hill after a particularly gruesome fury attack. 

when you woke up and saw luke sleeping next to you in a chair, his curls overgrown and falling onto his eyes, you thought you had died and gone to elysium. 

you took in your unfamiliar surroundings. some sort of infirmary, with only your best friend next to you, the one you hadn’t seen in almost a year since you’d parted ways. 

then, you remembered what was happening before you passed out; it was more likely that you were being tricked into a false sense of security by that fury, who definitely planned on devouring you later.

with a newfound sense of urgency, you decided it was time to get out of there before it was too late. you were reaching for your knife when you felt a hand grab your shoulder. without losing a second, you twisted your body around, weapon at the ready.

whoever it was watching over you sure looked like luke. he was wearing a bright orange shirt and leather cord necklace with one clay bead. another point of difference was the jagged scar that cut across his left cheek.

“it’s just me,” he said, gently. “you’re fine here. you’re safe.”

you weren’t convinced, kept your knife in front of you to keep distance. “prove it.” you narrowed your eyes. “tell me something only luke would know.”

“you’re left-handed.”

“that’s a great observation,” you scoff.

“storm is your favourite x-men character.”

“that’s a very popular opinion.”

“your aunt would make us mango lassi after swim camp when she got home from work,” luke tries for the third time. “and, my mom - she used to call you ‘starfish.’”

your heart skipped a beat.

that was the confirmation you needed. 

the knife dropped from your hand, clattered on the wooden floor, as you pulled luke in for a hug. you were greeted by a familiar scent, that pear shampoo luke loved because it made his hair so soft, mixed with the smell of fresh pine trees. 

“it’s really you,” you mumbled into his shoulder.

despite sleeping for gods know how long, you were exhausted. you rested your weight into luke, but he didn’t seem to care.

“it’s really you. i thought i’d never see you again.”

“where are we?” you asked, breaking away to face luke. you ignored the wooziness you felt throughout your body; luke seemed to sense it, his grip around you tightening. “are annabeth and thalia here, too? how’d you get here?” your thumb traced the unfamiliar scar on his face. “what happened? are you okay —”

“i-i’ll answer all your questions, but you lost a lot of blood.” luke guided you to lay back down in bed. “we’ll explain everything. just get some rest.”

a third scenario entered your mind: this was all a dream. you’d close your eyes and when you opened them again, luke would be gone. you’d be alone again.

you couldn’t let go of luke’s hand, even as he tucked you back into bed. you tugged his wrist, silently urging him to join you.

“will you stay with me?” you finally croaked when he continued standing. 

luke looked at you, and you nodded once as final confirmation. then, he removed his shoes and slipped into the bed next to you. it was luke, all sweet pear and soft curls and strong heartbeat, and you held on to him in fear that he might slip away.

“always,” he whispered.

during the orientation video you were later shown, you learned that camp half-blood’s motto is keeping young heroes safe (mostly) for over three millennia!  

luke had used that word, too. safe.

chiron told you this was to be your new home as he walked you to the poseidon cabin. he told you that you were safe now, though you noticed how the word almost got caught in his throat. he gave you a sad smile you didn’t quite understand.

you did wonder, at first, if those words were true: this place, a home for you and other children of gods. somewhere safe.

and, well.

you came to understand chiron’s general melancholy a few weeks later, and every week after that. he was used to training and sending heroes off to their potential death, and you would be no different. stolen lightning bolts, deadly quests, cryptic prophecies. a pending war between divine forces you had been entangled with long before you knew. heartache and betrayal and loss beyond measure. 

but, there were other things, too. 

annabeth, fitting in perfectly at the athena cabin, continued being her genius self, leading her team to victory every capture the flag game. she was extra patient in helping you with ancient greek, especially after chiron had given up.

chris rodriguez, luke’s half-brother, would tell you jokes from across the dining pavilion, knowing that you hated sitting alone at the poseidon table. michael yew, son of apollo, taught you how to play guitar at the bonfire one week; you’d ask for more and more lessons until you could start playing on your own. charles beckendorf made you a celestial bronze sword that shone like that burst of light when the sun hits the ocean at sunset. it transformed into a ring that you would never take off, unless in battle. you might not have gotten along with mr. d, but you spent free time picking fresh strawberries with his son, castor. you made matching friendship bracelets with silena beauregard, who was really the only person you confided in, about how you maybe possibly felt something other than friendship when it came to luke. she told you about her crush on clarisse larue, the daughter of ares whom you would always partner with during sparring practice. you taught ethan nakamura, who didn’t have his own cabin as the child of nemesis, how to properly hold a sword. thalia’s tree stood tall at the top of the hill where you almost bled to death, protecting you and everyone inside the magical borders. you, annabeth, and luke would share a picnic there every thursday.

you had been on the run for so long, always looking over your shoulder for monsters, sleeping with one eye open to be one step ahead of death, jumping from one place to the next so quickly to avoid danger.

so, yes. 

it was nice to stay in one place, where you knew you were as safe as demigods could be. it was nice to spend your time learning and training and laughing instead of just surviving. 

it was nice to have a place to call home. and people to call it home with.

now 

the first week passes in the blink of an eye, and it’s like you never left.

tie-dye, volleyball, strawberry picking, kitchen duty, and cabin inspection. 

luke has everyone on a tight schedule — one, you notice, conveniently places the two of you at opposite ends of camp at all times.

still, you catch up with clarisse and the stoll brothers, spend time with annabeth and percy, say hi to pollux and katie gardner and others you vaguely recognize as five years older than what you remember. there are also a lot of faces you don’t recognize at all.

of course, you try not to think about the faces you wished you could see: friends you grew up with and would never have a laugh with again, younger campers you had trained who would never grow up. all lost because of the gods and the titans and a prophecy you never asked to be a part of. 

it’s a side effect of being back here; their ghosts are harder to ignore.

again — trying not to think about it.

anyways.

climbing wall, armory, sword-fighting practice, archery field, and free time on the beach.

to conclude: capture-the-flag, a friday night camp-half blood tradition.

you’re praising annabeth for her latest strategy that led to blue team victory when you notice luke. he was also on the blue team, but instead of celebrating with the rest of you, he’s speaking to someone who’s wearing a red helmet. they seem to be in a heated discussion, one that luke is not wanting to continue. his tells are the same, after all these years: the impatient tapping of his foot, his eyes searching for an out.

you give it to him.

“sorry, i need to borrow this guy.” you say, grabbing luke’s wrist. “camp emergency.” 

if the person said anything, you didn’t hear it, because you were already dragging luke away from the crowd, towards the armory shed. 

“what’s the emergency?” luke wonders, brows furrowed in concern. he has deep shadows under his eyes, too. keeping the ship that is camp half-blood afloat has clearly taken a toll on him. 

“you wanting to get out of that conversation. you’re welcome.” you wink at him; luke flushes, and you’re not sure if it’s because he’s annoyed, or if he's just flustered. “so, are you gonna keep ignoring me the whole summer?”

you put your helmet on one of the shelves and turn back to luke. you expected him to start removing his armor as well, but he doesn’t. he just glares at you, arms crossed over his chest.

so, he’s annoyed, then. 

“what do you expect?” luke hisses. “you can’t come back here and pretend that everything can be like it was when we were kids. things are different now, especially between us.”

you decide to take him up on his challenge. 

“oh? tell me, luke, what exactly is different between us?”

luke shakes his head in disbelief. you remove your chest plate, and that’s when the tattoo on your waist becomes visible. it’s a magnolia, like one of the flowers that bloomed on the tree outside may castellan’s house. 

something in luke softens, then. he sighs. 

“you could have at least given me a warning.”

he storms off, and you’re left half-armored, wondering what he meant by that.

you figure it out once a few of you settle down for a late-night, underground poker game, and you’re trying not to stare at luke’s hands.

it starts with you telling yourself that you’re just trying to predict what cards he’s holding, figure out if he’s bluffing, and if he’s about to lose everything he’d so confidently bet on. 

but then you notice the silver thumb ring that thalia got him for his 17th birthday. you notice an array of hair ties and elastic bands he keeps just in case a camper needs them, and woven bracelets given to him by his admirers. you notice how the tattoo on his wrist is covered. (it’s hidden well, but you know it’s there — you’d gotten one of a wing, the kind that might be found on a pair of magical red converse, at the same time)

you also notice the forest green painted on luke’s nails, the same shade worn by the person beside him.

van, the new head counsellor of the hephaestus cabin. you’d seen them at staff meetings, but you somehow did not notice that they were dating luke. 

he moved on — is that why luke needed a warning? is that what's changed between you?

it’s fine. whatever. so what if luke has a new partner? it’s not like the two of you were anything, officially. 

luke has a new partner. they’re wearing matching nail polish. they’re one of those couples.

well, van is also wearing a nickleback shirt and luke hates nickleback, unless that fundamental part of his personality changed, too. 

“yo, sailor neptune. you in or not?” travis brings you out of your daze, by using a nickname luke once called you.

back before becoming heroes, when you and luke were just kids, you’d watch cartoons in his living room on saturday mornings — x-men, she-ra: princess of power, teenage mutant ninja turtles, sailor moon. a lifetime ago.

you look around the table and see that everyone has been waiting for you to take your turn. even luke raises an eyebrow at you.

“yeah.” you clear your throat and throw some chips into the centre. “i’m in.”

you have decent enough cards to keep you in the game, and you’re comfortable that you can play the odds in your favor. the stoll brothers are good liars, you know that, and so is luke. malcolm pace is good at strategy, but thankfully not as good as his half-sister annabeth. pollux, who had invited you to the game, already folded along with butch, the son of iris who has a rainbow tattoo on his bicep to prove it. beside you, lou ellen, daughter of the hecate, contemplates her next move. clovis has fallen asleep, true to their title as head counsellor of the hypnos cabin. you can’t get a read on van, but they keep raising the stakes so confidently, and you’ve always liked a good challenge.

soon enough, it’s only you and van in the bet. when it comes time to reveal your cards, you curse yourself for overplaying your hand.

“good game,” van says to you as they collect their winnings. “you really had me going there.” 

“yeah.” your smile is strained, but it’s there nonetheless. “tried my best.”

“guess the curse of achilles doesn’t help as much in poker as it does in capture the flag.” 

“excuse me?” you raise an eyebrow.

luke, who had one arm casually draped around van’s chair the entire game, pulls away. “van, maybe don’t —”

“it’s not like it’s a secret, luke. they’re the prophecy kid, everyone knows they bathed in the river styx to be able to fight kronos. it’s camp legend.”

other than you, luke, and van, everyone else is occupied with something else. connor busies himself shuffling the cards, while lou ellen, malcolm, and pollux get up for more drinks. it seems like butch and travis have their own bet going to see who can balance the most chips on clovis’ forehead without waking him up. 

van waits for an answer. you’re a little queasy, and it’s not from the wine pollux managed to snag from his dad’s office. you’re suddenly faced with the reality that your life is reduced to a legend. you try your best to swallow that feeling, of being made into a greek tragic hero while your heart is still beating, and your life is still a mess.

“that’s relevant, why?”

“just that some people might consider the invulnerability thing an unfair advantage in physical competitions like capture the flag,” van explains. “increased strength and all that.” 

“that would mean nothing without a good strategy,” you counter.

“that’s what i said,” luke grumbles. 

you recognize van now as the person luke was arguing with earlier. it must have been about this. 

about you. 

“okay, y’all were best friends, so luke is obviously going to take your side.”

you’re not sure what stings more: friends or were. 

“although, he never really talks about you, which is weird because you’re, like, famous in and outside camp.”

ouch. that definitely stings the most. luke winces slightly, almost like he feels it, too.

“alright, alright,” connor interjects, shuffling the cards in his hands. “another round?” 

you’re the only one who decides to call it a night. everyone says goodbye; even van, who’s blissfully unaware of the effect their words had on you. luke avoids your gaze. the game continues without you.

percy’s snoring provides enough cover as you sneak into your shared cabin. you try to sleep, but it doesn’t come easy. 

you feel the spot underneath your rib, the one spot you’re truly vulnerable, ache.

summer — age 17

for the first time in your life, you couldn’t breathe underwater. you were swimming in acid, and your skin was melting away.

at least, that’s what it felt like to bathe in the river styx. achilles could have mentioned that, but all he gave was a cryptic warning about anchoring yourself to what makes you mortal.

you really tried at first. you thought about your friends at camp. you thought about percy, about your aunt back when she was still around. you even thought about may castellan, burnt cookies and saturday mornings.

the pain was too much, though. 

you were forgetting where you were, who you were. with every passing second, you were dissolving into nothing.

“if you wanted to go for a swim, you should have told me. i would have worn my swimsuit.”

luke’s voice echoed across the waves. you tilted your head up to see him sitting on the dock above you, his feet dangling into the water. he had rolled up his jeans to just above his ankles so they didn’t get wet, but his shoes were still on, which was a bit strange. the sun made his eyes look like burnt amber, his teeth sparkling as he smiled at you. 

okay. cool.

you were at camp. it was mid-afternoon, free period. the two of you had been at the edge of the lake, until you became impatient and jumped in, fully clothed. behind him, you could see that annabeth, thalia, and percy were waiting for you on the shore. they were each wearing orange camp shirts, which was also strange; you couldn’t remember a time when you were all there together, as campers.

“we better go, sailor,” luke said, amusement laced throughout his words. “come on. those cabins aren’t gonna inspect themselves.”

luke extended his hand to you. when you hesitated, he added:

“i can’t do this without you. will you stay with me?”

you reached up and grabbed luke’s hand.

always.

you emerged from the water, catching your breath as you collapsed on the sand. 

“oh gods. are you okay?”

your cousin, nico diangelo, son of hades, knelt down next to you. he tried to check your pulse, but you waved him away. your eyes searched for luke, but he wasn’t there, despite feeling the ghost of his hand in your own. 

oh.

you weren’t at camp; you were in the underworld. it was nico’s idea for you to take on the curse of achilles so that you’d be strong enough to face kronos. 

“did it work?”

you got up, a bit uneasy on your feet at first. nico helped steady you, his hands cold on your skin.

you felt….stronger wasn’t the right word. you felt adrenaline coursing through your veins, like you could swim across the biggest ocean without pausing once. like you could defeat an entire army and not break a sweat. maybe even take down a titan or two while you're at it.

you needed to see luke again, to meet him and the others in manhattan before it was too late.

“let’s hope so.”

now

you always loved mornings at camp half-blood. the beach was particularly beautiful at sunrise, the water peaceful.

the morning after that impromptu poker game, you need that peacefulness to wash over you. you’re awake after a rather sleepless night, deciding to go for a quick run before breakfast. you get dressed and grab your mp3 player, as quietly as you can to avoid waking up percy (who, truthfully, could probably sleep through a hurricane anyways). 

you jog from one end of the beach to the other. you set a steady rhythm, somewhere between the beat of your music and the sound of waves gently washing over the shore. when you make your way back down to where you started, you notice someone sitting nearby.

luke doesn’t say anything when you first sit next to him. he’s wearing a dark blue hoodie over his usual orange shirt, a cigarette tucked behind his ear. you imagine that he confiscated it from a camper on the way here. 

“morning,” he finally whispers, eyes fixed towards the ocean. 

you shiver, and not just from the cool morning air. you’re reminded of the last time luke spoke to you so softly, the last time you’d caught an early morning sunrise together. such a contrast to where you are now.

“morning,” you finally reply. 

as the sound of waves fills the silence between you, luke surprises you by taking a lighter out of his pocket. he lights the cigarette and takes a puff. then, he hands it to you. 

it’s such an odd, though not unwelcomed, gesture. a peace offering, you figure, but it’s just so not luke that you can’t help yourself.

“is golden boy luke castellan, offering me contraband? what planet am i on?”

the hint of a smile creeps onto his face. “like i said: things are different now,” he echoes his words from the night before, but this time you don’t sense any hostility.

you take a drag of the cigarette. your fingers brush against his when you return it to him.

you decide to offer a peace offering as well, and present to him one of your earbuds — he accepts. you have to slide across the sand to move closer to him, but he doesn’t seem to mind. 

i’m feelin’ rough, i’m feeling raw / i’m in the prime of my life….

as the song plays, you glance to see luke nodding along, tapping a finger on his knee to the beat. he lets the cigarette smoulder in his other hand.

we’re fated to pretend / to pretend / yeah, yeah, yeah….

when the song is over, luke turns to you. 

“new group?” he brings the cigarette to his lips, then gives it back to you.

“kinda.” you inhale, letting the smoke warm your lungs before explaining. “this is considered they’re breakthrough album. they’re from connecticut, actually.”

“oh, yeah? guess that’s where all the talent is from.”

luke bumps his shoulder against yours knowingly. you feel your cheeks heat up at his praise, his witty sincerity.

this is familiar — you and luke, at the beach, sharing music. it’s familiar, and for a few moments, you can act like there isn’t a wall between you, of unresolved feelings and harsh words. you can pretend that nothing has changed.

“you know, nickleback are from connecticut, too. which means you just called them talented.”

luke coughs on some smoke as he exhales with a laugh. “what? no i didn’t!”

“in a roundabout way. i always knew you were an undercover fan,” you tease.

“i have better taste than that.”

“do you?”

“you’re fucking with me,” luke deadpans.

you crack a smile. “yeah, i’m fucking with you.”

“gods, you scared me for a second,” he laughs, and you can’t help but follow. luke glances at you and the sunshine highlights his smile, his dark brown curls, the ever-changing color of his eyes. golden, radiant. 

you shiver again, looking away. before you know it, you feel something draped across your shoulders.

“i’m not sure van would like it if i was wearing your hoodie.” you joke, but your words are laced with a bitterness you hope luke doesn’t catch. unlucky for you, luke still knows you too well, whether he likes it or not.

“you don’t get to do that.”

“do what?”

luke scoffs. “be jealous.” 

“well, you don’t get to tell me how to feel.”

“so, you are jealous?”

you exhale sharply; you can practically feel the wall between you two reappear.

“it’s too early, lu. and i’m too hungover to deal with this.”

there’s nothing more left to say. you get up, throw his hoodie on the sand, and walk back towards your cabin, the beach and luke further away with every step you take.

it makes sense that way: you were always the one to leave first.

[arikasugar]

beauty on a budget for someone new to the lifestyle?

since you’re only starting out, you’ll probably want to focus on affordable products and diy and at home beauty treatments.

you can get affordable skin care products from brands like cerave, cetaphil, and the ordinary. you’ll find all your essential cleansers, serums, exfoliators and moisturizers. you can order facial sheet masks in bulk cheap from amazon. you can also use aztec secret healing clay as a clay masque. skip the guasha altogether and follow a youtube tutorial for face sculpting massages instead.

good quality affordable makeup brands I used when I was nearly broke included e.l.f., nyx, wet n’ wild, maybelline, and makeup revolution. look into some other drug store brands within your budget and check reviews before you buy anything so you don’t waste your money. get generic beauty blenders and powder puffs, you’ll be replacing them often anyway so it’s best to get them cheap. you can buy cheap big makeup brush sets on amazon that’ll last a long time if you clean them regularly and take care of them.

press on nails and home manicures / pedicures will save you a ton of money and time. find a good manicure kit and pumice stone. buy a dollar store basin and some epsom salts to soak your feet. for press on nails I usually get mine from temu or brands like kiss and impress. if you just want to paint your natural nails, get a gel polish like l.a. colors color craze gel or sally hansen miracle gel. if you want to go the extra mile, invest in the supplies and learn how to do your own acrylics or gel manicures.

learn how to wax, shape, and tint your own eyebrows. you can buy an affordable diy wax kit like this one and use youtube tutorials on how to find the most flattering brow shape. (as a bonus, the hard waxing kit can also be used to remove unwanted hair on the rest of your body.) you can also find cheap brow tinting kits that usually last up to five uses at sally’s beauty supply and various other stores online.

if you want your lashes done, you can either get really, really good at applying a strip lash – my go to affordable brands are ardell and kiss – or you can invest in some bulk lash clusters and the falscara diy eyelash extension kit. figure out what lash placement will best compliment your features, then watch lots and lots of youtube tutorials on how to use it and practice, practice, practice. they take some getting used to.

when it comes to hair care, the very first thing you want to do is figure out your hair type with a quiz like this one and find what it needs to look and feel healthy. I have 2A hair, so I would pretty much always spring for nexxus for something moisturizing and lightweight, but I’ve heard great things about ogx, shea moisture, not your mother’s, maui moisture, l’oreal elvive, and garnier whole blends which are great for other hair types, densities, and textures. all these brands carry a wide variety of products from shampoo, to leave in treatments, to hair masques, to curl cream — you get it. again, read reviews. you can also use a cotton t-shirt to dry and plop your hair instead of spending money on a microfiber towel, and a satin scarf wrapped around your head to protect your hair while sleeping instead of a silk bonnet and pillow case.

if you’re into styling your hair, two of my favorite methods are heatless styling and blowouts. for heatless styling, you may not even need to purchase any new styling tools. I started out using this heatless robe curl method and eventually started doing other heatless styling methods like the ones on this playlist once I started buying more tools, and did styles like these when I didn’t feel like setting my hair at all. for styles that require heat, a highly suggest investing in a dyson airwrap – which can do pretty much everything – so you don’t end up spending even more on an arsenal of hot styling tools.

good luck, sugar

xoxo

[stargirlies]

heyy 🩷🩷🩷

Do you have any fav self care products? 🩷🩷🩷

hey lover yes I do!! and I’ll link them for you 💕

these are my go to products only when I have the budget for them and what works for me may not work for you make sure to check the ingredients! thank you so much for the ask!

moisturizer -

body products -

face products -

shampoo/conditioner -

hair products -

can’t link - but same brand ‘miracle leave in’

[blueweave8]

India Hair Removal Wax Market Analysis, Insight, Report 2023-2030

BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated India Hair Removal Wax Market size by value at USD 801.19 million in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, BlueWeave expects India Hair Removal Wax Market size to expand at a CAGR of 9.9% reaching a value of USD 1,408.42 million by 2030. The Hair Removal Wax Market in India propelled by the increasing advancements in wax products designed to minimize irritation, improve efficacy, and extend results. Hair removal wax, a depilatory method, eliminates unwanted hair through chemical or physical means. These products are typically produced by blending raw materials in large tanks and then packaged, with a focus on reducing irritation and enhancing effectiveness. Common techniques, such as warm waxing, involve applying wax to the skin and removing it with a paper strip. Unlike shaving, which cuts hair at the skin's surface, waxing removes hair from the root, resulting in a smoother and longer-lasting finish. This growing preference for waxing is expected to propel the growth of India Hair Removal Wax Market over the forecast period.

Sample Request @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/india-hair-removal-wax-market/report-sample

Organic Ingredient Segment to Hold Major Share in India Wax Market

India Hair Removal Wax Market consists of Organic and Synthetic ingredients segments. Between these major ingredients, the organic wax segment is expected to account for a higher market share in India Hair Removal Wax Market. The organic hair removal wax segment, covering ingredients like sugar, lemon juice, and water, is free from harmful chemicals and artificial fragrances, making it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The organic segment has witnessed substantial growth and is expected to continue expanding due to increasing consumer demand for natural beauty products and awareness about the risks linked to chemical-based options. The rising popularity of waxing among both men and women, known for its longer-lasting results compared to shaving, further drives growth. Additionally, the accessibility of organic wax through online platforms enhances demand, while trends toward diverse formulations, convenient packaging, and advanced technology continue to elevate the organic segment's prominence.

Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions on India Hair Removal Wax Market

Intensifying geopolitical tensions can have a multifaceted impact on India Hair Removal Wax Market. Conflicts between countries disrupt supply chains, impede international collaborations, and heighten regulatory uncertainties, leading to market volatility. Trade restrictions and uncertainty may lead to price fluctuations, impacting consumer purchasing power and demand. Additionally, heightened tensions can shift consumer focus toward essential goods, reducing discretionary spending on beauty products. Brands may face challenges in sourcing quality materials and maintaining consistent pricing, which could hinder market growth. Ultimately, geopolitical instability poses a significant threat to the stability and expansion of the hair removal wax market in India.

Competitive Landscape

India Hair Removal Wax Market is highly fragmented, with numerous players serving the market. The key players dominating the market include Veet (Reckitt Benckiser Group), Rica Wax India, Anne French (Godrej Consumer Products Ltd), Nair (Church & Dwight Co., Inc.), Sally Hansen (Coty Inc.), Parissa Laboratories Inc., Fem (Dabur India Ltd), and Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic. The key marketing strategies adopted by the players are facility expansion, product diversification, alliances, collaborations, partnerships, and acquisitions to expand their customer reach and gain a competitive edge over their competitors in India Hair Removal Wax Market.

Contact Us:

BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd

+1 866 658 6826 | +1 425 320 4776 | +44 1865 60 0662

info@blueweaveconsulting.com

[aryakumari]

Full Body Waxing Kit For All Types Of Skin At Lowest Price In India

If you're looking for a full body waxing kit for normal skin, look no further. We will introduce wax products necessary for full body hair removal. You can choose the best full body waxing kit for your skin from our list of affordable wax product suppliers in Delhi. Get great deals on other beauty products from the list above.

Here are some of the best brands full body waxing kits –

GiGi Student Starter Waxing Kit: This kit is ideal for beginners and includes a wax warmer, waxing strips, applicators, and various types of wax for different parts of the body.

2. Sally Hansen All-Over Body Waxing Kit: This kit is suitable for all skin types and contains microwavable wax, soothing azulene oil, and reusable strips. It's convenient and simple to use at home.

3. Nad's Natural Sugar Wax Kit: This kit contains natural ingredients and is suitable for sensitive skin. It comes with sugar wax, cleansing wipes, and spatulas for application.

4. Veet Ready-to-Use Wax Strips Kit: Veet provides waxing kits for various body parts, including the legs, body, and face. The strips come pre-coated with wax and are simple to use, making them ideal for beginners.

5. Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit: This kit includes a microwave-safe waxing pot, pre- and post-waxing oils, and large and small spatulas for precise application. It's a good choice for those who want a spa-like experience at home.

6. Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Roll-On Wax: This kit contains a roll-on applicator for easy wax application, as well as pre- and post-waxing wipes. The formula, which contains natural clay and mango butter, is suitable for sensitive skin.

7. Waxxxie Aquawax Roll On Kit: This water-soluble waxing kit is appropriate for all skin types and includes a roll-on applicator for hassle-free waxing.

When selecting a waxing kit, consider the ingredients, your skin sensitivity, ease of use, and budget. It's also a good idea to read reviews and try out sample sizes before purchasing a full kit. Choose the right waxing kit for your skin from the list of best wax product suppliers in delhi at affordable price

[glowuphaven]

Veet Gel Hair Removal Cream: Veet is a popular brand known for its hair removal products. Their gel formula is designed to effectively remove hair while leaving the skin feeling smooth. They offer various formulations for different skin types and hair textures.

Nair Hair Remover Cream: Nair is another reputable brand that offers a range of hair removal creams. Their products are formulated to work on various areas of the body, and they also have options for sensitive skin.

Neomen Hair Removal Cream: Neomen is a brand that focuses on natural and gentle ingredients. Their hair removal cream is formulated with aloe vera and Vitamin E, which can be soothing for the skin.

Sally Hansen Hair Remover Cream: Sally Hansen is known for its beauty and skincare products. Their hair remover cream is designed to work quickly and efficiently.

Gigi Hair Removal Cream: Gigi offers a hair removal cream that's often favored by professionals in the beauty industry. It's formulated to be effective on coarse hair and can work on various body areas.

When choosing a hair removal cream, consider the following factors:

Skin Sensitivity: If you have sensitive skin, look for a cream formulated for sensitive skin or those with added soothing ingredients.

Hair Texture: Some creams are designed to work better on coarse or fine hair. Make sure the cream you choose matches your hair type.

Ingredients: Check the ingredient list for any potential allergens or irritants. Conduct a patch test on a small area of skin before applying the cream to a larger area.

Application Area: Some hair removal creams are designed specifically for certain body parts, such as the face, legs, or bikini area. Choose a cream appropriate for the area you want to treat.

Brand Reputation: Research the brand's reputation and read reviews from other users to get an idea of their experiences

[tipsbeautycosmetics]

Shop Hair Removal Cream & Shavers at Ninth Avenue IE

Looking for our hair removal cream online Get the best price at Ninth Avenue CA! Shop for sensitive hair removal products for women and men. Buy a hair shaver set and get clean-looking skin.

[topcosmetics]

Do you want to buy hair removal cream online? You can get top brand Ninth Avenue AU here! Shop for both male and female sensitive hair removal products. Get clean-looking body by purchasing a hair shaver kit.

[the-rachana]

Hair Removal Products Market Size, Analysis, Share, Research, Business Growth and Forecast to 2031

The report extensively examines the global Hair Removal Products market while focusing on the leading companies and their business strategies, geographical growth, market segmentation, competitive environment, production, price, and cost structures. Each section of the research report has been carefully designed to examine important facets of the global market for Hair Removal Products. For instance, the market dynamics section delves deeply into the trends, opportunities, and drivers influencing the global market for Hair Removal Products. We assist you with full and extensive research on the global Hair Removal Products Market using qualitative and quantitative analysis. Additionally, we concentrated on SWOT, PESTLE, and Porter's Five Forces assessments of the worldwide market for Hair Removal Products.

Get Sample Report With Graphs and Table @ https://www.growthplusreports.com/inquiry/request-sample/hair-removal-products-market/8657

Key Players Mentioned in the Global Hair Removal Products Market Research Report:

Reckitt Benckiser Group

Procter & Gamble Company

Revitol

VI-John Group

Braun GmbH

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Sally Hansen

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Softsheen-Carson

Emjoi Inc.

Alma Lasers International

Cynosure Inc.

Candela Medical Corporation

SEGMENTS

 GLOBAL HAIR REMOVAL PRODUCTS MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY PRODUCT TYPE

Devices

Laser-based Devices

Razors & Blades

Epilators

IPL Devices

Trimmers & Shavers

Wax & Wax Strips

Depilatory Creams

Others

GLOBAL HAIR REMOVAL PRODUCTS MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY GENDER

Women

Men

GLOBAL HAIR REMOVAL PRODUCTS MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Beauty Clinics

Supermarkets & Hypermarkets

Dermatology Clinics

Others

Finding dominant companies in a specific Hair Removal Products industry is only one aspect of an analyst's role. To produce a thorough and comprehensive Hair Removal Products research study, analysts put out significant work, invest hours in research and analysis, compile unique information from market specialists, and draw on their own expertise and knowledge of the sector. One of a market research report's most crucial sections is the company profiling section since it offers players essential information they can use to improve their businesses or move them forward. In addition to identifying the leading companies in the global market for Hair Removal Products, this study also examines important facets of each company's operations and presents market growth estimates.

Hair Removal Products Market TOC: https://www.growthplusreports.com/report/toc/hair-removal-products-market/8657

Hair Removal Products Market: Regional analysis includes

 North America

 Europe

 Asia Pacific

 Latin America

 Middle East & Africa

 For More Information or Query or Customization before buying, Visit at: https://www.growthplusreports.com/inquiry/customization/hair-removal-products-market/8657

Reasons to Buy This Report:

This file will help the peruses with appreciation the opposition interior the ventures and structures for the serious local weather to improve the feasible benefit. The document moreover facilities round the cutthroat scene of the market, and provides exhaustively the piece of the pie, industry positioning, contender organic system, market execution, new object advancement, recreation circumstance, development, and securing.

And so forth of the fundamental players, which assists the peruses with distinguishing the indispensable contenders and profoundly know the opposition instance of the market.

This record will help companions with greedy the global enterprise popularity and patterns of Hair Removal Products Administration Frameworks and offers them statistics on key market drivers, restrictions, difficulties, and open doors.

This document will aid companions with grasp contenders higher and collect experiences to reinforce their scenario in their organizations. The serious scene region contains the piece of the pie and rank (in extent and worth), contender environment, new object improvement, development, and obtaining.

This document stays refreshed with novel innovation mix, highlights, and the latest developments on the lookout.

This file assists companions with grasp the Coronavirus and Russia-Ukraine War Impact on the Hair Removal Products Administration Frameworks industry.

This record assists companions with obtaining bits of know-how into what locales to internationally target.

This file assists companions with obtaining experiences into the end-client perception regarding the reception of Hair Removal Products Administration Frameworks.

This document assists companions with distinguishing a component of the central members on the lookout and hold close their essential commitment.

Purchase this report now at 20% flat discount @ https://www.growthplusreports.com/checkout-8657

Visit our report store at - https://www.growthplusreports.com/report-store

Manan Sethi

Director, Market Insights

Email: sales@growthplusreports.com

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STE 105-4, Newark,

New Castle - 19702, USA

Phone no: +1 888 550 5009

Web: https://www.growthplusreports.com/

About US

Growth Plus Reports is part of GRG Health, a global healthcare knowledge service company. We are proud members of EPhMRA (European Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Association).

Growth Plus portfolio of services draws on our core capabilities of secondary & primary research, market modelling & forecasting, benchmarking, analysis and strategy formulation to help clients create scalable, ground-breaking solutions that prepare them for future growth and success.

We were awarded by the prestigious CEO Magazine as "Most Innovative Healthcare Market Research Company in 2020."

[awesomechrisharry]

Hair Removal Products  Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2021 - 2031

The global Hair Removal Products  market is estimated to attain a valuation of US$ 1.8 Bn by the end of 2031, states a study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Besides, the report notes that the market is prognosticated to expand at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period, 2021-2031.

The key objective of the TMR report is to offer a complete assessment of the global market including major leading stakeholders of the Hair Removal Products  industry. The current and historical status of the market together with forecasted market size and trends are demonstrated in the assessment in simple manner. In addition, the report delivers data on the volume, share, revenue, production, and sales in the market.

Request for a sample of this research report at (Use Corporate Mail Id for Quick Response) - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=84637

The report by TMR is the end-product of a study performed using different methodologies including the PESTEL, PORTER, and SWOT analysis. The study with the help of these models shed light on the key financial considerations that players in the Hair Removal Products  market need to focus on identifying competition and formulate their marketing strategies for both consumer and industrial markets. The report leverages a wide spectrum of research methods including surveys, interviews, and social media listening to analyze consumer behaviors in its entirety.

Hair Removal Products  Market: Industry Trends and Value Chain

The study on the Hair Removal Products  market presents a granular assessment of the macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that have shaped the industry dynamics. An in-depth focus on industry value chain help companies find out effective and pertinent trends that define customer value creation in the market. The analysis presents a data-driven and industry-validated frameworks for understanding the role of government regulations and financial and monetary policies. The analysts offer a deep-dive into the how these factors will shape the value delivery network for companies and firms operating in the market.

Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available at - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=84637&ltype=S

Hair Removal Products  Market: Branding Strategies and Competitive Strategies

Some of the key questions scrutinized in the study are:

What are some of the recent brand building activities of key players undertaken to create customer value in the Hair Removal Products  market?

Which companies are expanding litany of products with the aim to diversify product portfolio?

Which companies have drifted away from their core competencies and how have those impacted the strategic landscape of the Hair Removal Products  market?

Which companies have expanded their horizons by engaging in long-term societal considerations?

Which firms have bucked the pandemic trend and what frameworks they adopted to stay resilient?

What are the marketing programs for some of the recent product launches?

The list of key players operating in the Hair Removal Products  market includes following names:

Erikka India,Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC,Procter & Gamble,Sally Hansen,Koninklijke Philips N.V,Church & Dwight Co., Inc.,Naturenation Store,VI-John Group,Softsheen-Carson,Completely Bare

Request for customization of this research report at - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=84637

Hair Removal Products  Market: Assessment of Avenues and Revenue Potential in Key Geographies

Some of the key aspects that the study analyzes and sheds light are:

Which regions are witnessing rise in investments in the supply chain networks?

Which countries seems to have benefitted from recent import and export policies?

Which regions have witnessed decline in consumer demand due to economic and political upheavals?

Which are some the key geographies that are likely to emerge as lucrative markets?

Which regions are expected to lose shares due to pricing pressures?

Which regions leading players are expected to expand their footprints in the near future?

What are some the sustainability trends impacting the logistics and supply chain dynamics in the Hair Removal Products  market?

What are some of the demographic and economic environments that create new demand in developing economies?

How are changing government regulations shaping business strategies and practices?

About Us Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade.

Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

Contact Us

Nikhil Sawlani Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA – Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

[rosewalldecor]

The Ultimate Guide to At-Home Waxing: Save Time and Money

The Ultimate Guide to At-Home Waxing: Save Time and Money

Discover the convenience and cost-effectiveness of waxing at home with our expert tips and tricks. Say goodbye to salon appointments and hello to silky-smooth skin with our comprehensive guide to at-home waxing. Learn about the best products, techniques, and practices for achieving salon-quality results in the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, our tips will help you achieve the perfect wax every time.

Waxing is a popular method of hair removal that has been used for centuries. Traditionally, it was performed at salons or by professional estheticians. However, with the rise of DIY culture, more and more people are turning to at-home waxing as a way to save money and time. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of waxing at home, provide a step-by-step guide on how to wax at home, and provide some tips on where to buy the best products.

1. Why choose waxing at home

2. How to wax at home

Before you start waxing at home, there are a few things you need to consider. First, you need to choose the right wax. There are two types of wax: hard wax and soft wax. Hard wax is applied directly to the skin and removed without the use of a strip, while soft wax is applied to the skin and removed with a strip. Hard wax is better for sensitive areas like the bikini line or face, while soft wax is better for larger areas like the legs or back. Once you have chosen the right wax, you need to prepare your skin. Exfoliate your skin a day or two before waxing to remove dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs. Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser and dry it thoroughly. Apply a pre-wax oil or lotion to protect your skin from the wax.

Next, you need to heat the wax. If you are using hard wax, heat it in a wax warmer until it melts to the consistency of honey. If you are using soft wax, heat it in a microwave or a wax warmer until it is warm but not hot. Test the temperature of the wax on your wrist before applying it to your skin.

Now it’s time to apply the wax. For hard wax, apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of hair growth using a spatula. Wait for the wax to cool and harden, then lift the edge of the wax and pull it off in the opposite direction of hair growth. For soft wax, apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of hair growth using a spatula, then place a strip of cloth or paper over the wax and press down firmly. Wait for a few seconds, then pull the strip off in the opposite direction of hair growth.

3. Where to buy waxing at home products

There are many places to buy waxing products online and in-store. Here are some popular options:

Amazon: Amazon offers a wide variety of waxing kits, waxes, and accessories from different brands.

NanaCorner Store : There are many soft and hard hair removal products, hair removal utensils ,.

Ulta Beauty: Ulta Beauty has a range of waxing products from popular brands like Gigi, Nair, and Sally Hansen.

[butt3rflygrav3yard]

>What The Creepypasta/Marble Hornet Characters Smell like<

(HEADCANNON)

Eyeless Jack:

-Lemon cleaning supplies

-Medical gloves

-Mint

-Musky cologne

-Laundry detergent

Slenderman:

-Cigars

-Old, dusty bookcases

-Expensive Cologne

-Campfire/leaves burning

Sally Williams:

-Fabric softener

-Mud

-Crayons

-Porcelain dolls

-Tea

-Green apple shampoo/detangler

Jeff The Killer:

-Axe body spray

-Blood

-Alcohol

-Musk

BEN Drowned:

-Mountain dew

-Body odor

-Axe body spray

-Doritos

Jane The Killer:

-Expensive rose scented perfume

-The woods

-Synthetic hair/wig

-Nail polish remover

Laughing Jack:

-Popcorn

-Cotton candy

-Summer nights

-Musk

-Halloween Stores

Clockwork/Natalie:

-Cinnamon gum

-Vanilla

-Incense

-Blood

-Dust

Ticci Toby:

-Maple syrup

-Bacon

-Blankets

-Rusted metal

-Burning wolf

-Light cologne

Masky/Tim:

-Cigarettes

-Leather

-Whiskey

-Old spice products

-Autumn leaves

Hoodie/Brian:

-Smoke

-Glue

-Pinecones

-Deodorant

-Some kind of home-cooked meal

Nina The Killer:

-Wolfthorn deodorant

-Skittles

-Monster

-Mildew

-Cheap perfume

If I missed any characters you’d like to see in a future post, please let me know!:) and remember, these are all solely based on my own opinion and hyperfixation lol.

!!! I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS!!!

[winters-tales]

Hunting Party

“Come on rookie, time to go; we’ve got reports of a herd moving in from the breach.”

“A herd? Deer?”

“No, a herd of Elephants. YES, a herd of deer! Grab your chain, and let’s go.”

“If it’s just deer, what do I need chain for?”

“Haven’t you read the manual? The bestiary? Deer are so common they’re the first damned page! Have you seriously not read it?”

“I was planning to- I thought- I didn’t think I’d see action so soon…”

“First mistake there, rookie. Get your chain. Let’s go. We’ll fill you in on the way.”

**

The deer, Vanden explained as the battered Land Rover rumbled along, were one of the more common “leaks” that you’d get from breaches. Something about them was drawn to the volatile energy that left a gap between this world and The Other, and the deer found it easy to slide through before the Veil sealed itself over. They always came in numbers, and the trick was to get to them before they got to any unwary passers-by.

“We tried cordoning off the areas around breaches as unsafe, like minefields,” Owen continued as Vanden leaned forward to speak to the driver. “But you wouldn’t believe how many dog-walkers think we’re exaggerating, or that their little pooches will protect them. Ramblers are the worst; think their right to roam overrides our need to protect them. Idiots.”

Killian nodded, concentrating hard on what she was being told. So, the deer were dangerous; that made sense, she’d come across red deer previously and the size of them had left her very aware of how small and squishy she was. But she didn’t think chain would do much to protect her against the blunt force trauma of a whole herd of deer, surely?

The Land Rover veered off-road suddenly, and Killian grabbed for her chain shirt as it tried to slink and slide out of her hands.

“Rookie!” Vanden barked as she sat back from where she’d been leaning forwards. Killian jumped, nearly losing her grip on the chain for a second time. “Don’t just stare at it, wear it! Preferably over your shirt, but under your jacket; the layers of cloth will dull the sound so we can get the drop on the damn things.”

Killian nodded and shrugged off her jacket, wriggling her way into the heavy chain shirt. Neither Vanden or Owen had explained why she needed a chain shirt to begin with, but they were very keen she wear it; both already had theirs on, the dull steel showing just under their jacket collars.

“They’re not too far from the breach, which means they’ve not long come through and are probably just getting their bearings.” The older woman was gesturing over a map with the broken end of a pencil, and Killian leaned over to watch as she pulled her jacket back on. “We’re going to approach from the west, downwind of them, so they don’t pick us up; reports have them at a herd of 10, maybe 12, so the four of us should be fine to take them on as long as we don’t mess up. Rookie, Darcy, you get the shotguns; rounds are packed with rock salt and iron filings. Make sure the shots are carefully placed – we’re going to try and force them back through, so aim for the ground in front of them. Myself and Owen will run the netting around the outside edge of the herd, we just need the rest of you to help keep them corralled while we push them back through.” Darcy gave a thumbs up signal from the driver’s seat as Owen started passing out guns and shells, and as Killian took the weapon a thought occurred to her.

“What happens if the net breaks?” Owen rolled their eyes at their question - that was probably mentioned in the manual as well, Killian thought to herself - but Vanden grinned viciously, the scar on her lip pulling her mouth into a snarl.

“If the net breaks, it’s open season. Empty your gun into their faces, and if you run out of shells, use your pistol. I’ve got Sally here,” and she patted the butt of the hunting rifle slung over her shoulder, “so if any of them make a run for it, I’ll be able to pick them off with this.” Her smile dropped abruptly as she fixed Killian with serious eyes. “But if they knock you over, there’s only so much that chain of yours will do. Don’t fall over, rookie.”

Killian swallowed nervously, and accepted her weapon, trying not to let the others see how much her hands were shaking. All this for deer…? What had she missed by not reading the bestiary? Too late to dwell on it now, as the Land Rover was skidding to a halt in the dirt, and the others were piling out.

Vanden was clearly the veteran of the group, with her scarred face and greying flyaway hair. She shook out a length of silvered cord that seemed to refract the light in odd ways that hurt Killian’s eyes, and rolled it up loosely in a practiced motion that spoke of years of experience.

Owen was the right-hand; they obviously knew what they were doing and deferred to the older woman, although they didn’t seem to have as much patience as she did. They also had their fair share of scars, the most obvious being an ugly twisted length visible on their neck that vanished below their collar; Killian couldn’t decide if she wanted to see the full extent of the injury.

Darcy was perhaps another recent addition to the team; she hadn’t said anything on the drive up, concentrating on Vanden’s shouted directions, but she seemed a bit more fresh-faced than Vanden and Owen. Her dark skin didn’t show any visible scars, and she smiled easily when she met Killian’s eyes.

“Are they always this intense?” Killian asked her as they readied their shotguns together. Darcy smiled and shook her head, then leaned her weapon against the Land Rover carefully, and made a series of gestures with her hands. Killian’s heart sank slightly; she got the sense Darcy was signing slower than usual in case the rookie needed help keeping up, but Killian couldn’t understand sign language at all. She shook her head, and watched an unmistakable look of disappointment come over Darcy’s face.

“I’m sorry, I- I don’t speak- uh, I mean, I don’t use?- I don’t-”

“She says we’re nice when we’re not on a hunt.” Vanden said at Killian’s shoulder causing the younger woman to jump and nearly drop her gun.

“Are you Deaf, or- or just- ” Killian trailed off as she tried to think of the best way to phrase the question delicately, but the look on Darcy’s face told her she’d probably got that wrong, too. What a great first impression you’re making, she thought bitterly. From behind her, Vanden sighed.

“I take it you didn’t look through any of the company materials we emailed? There’s a video course for basic BSL. Watch it, learn it. You’ll need it.” Vanden turned to move away, but paused. “Oh, and to answer your question: Darcy can hear better than anyone on this team, and I’m including me in that; she just doesn’t talk.”

“Can I ask why? Did something happen?” Vanden, Owen and Darcy were striding away towards the treeline now, and Killian scrambled to keep up. Darcy shot her a flat, sideways look that Killian couldn’t quite decipher, and her hands moved again, this time clearly aimed at Vanden and Owen. Owen barked a humourless laugh, and Vanden smiled again.

“Learn to sign, and maybe she’ll tell you. For now, hush, or you’ll give away our position.”

The four of them settled into an easy pace, making sure their footfalls landed softly. Here, Killian was glad she could hold her own; she’d always been a quiet child, ghosting around her house as she grew up, and when the recruiters came to town they’d been impressed with her easy stealth during their aptitude tests. She could learn everything else, but she had nothing else to learn about being quiet. Even her chain shirt under her jacket was silent, and she saw Vanden nod approvingly at the wraith-like way the rookie was able to move through the forest.

The older hunter finally signalled them to a stop, and Killian saw their prey.

The deer were a couple of hundred metres downwind of them in a small clearing, and the breach they’d come through could be seen flickering and pulsing another hundred metres beyond them at the edge of the treeline. As Killian watched, she realised there was something off about the deer. Sure, the numbers were relatively small – deer in this area usually travelled in numbers upwards of 30 – but it wasn’t the number that was bothering her. As a bird flew up from the grass near the creatures, she realised what the problem was.

They were too still. None of them seemed to be grazing, and as the bird flew up, every single antlered head turned to watch it go with an intensity deer didn’t usually have. Not a single one of them spooked, or jumped, or twitched - they all just watched it fly away, as if they’d never seen a bird before.

The heads turning in such an uncanny way highlighted another thing: they were all the same. The more Killian looked, the more she realised they all looked like they’d come off the same production line. Markings on their coats were all the same colour, in the same place; every set of antlers twisted at the same angles and came to the same number of points; she’d be willing to bet that even the most subtle variations in the coat were all identical as well.

Killian turned to remark on this to the others but Darcy was already there, planting a hand firmly over the rookie’s mouth. Her easy going expression had vanished, and there was a sense of urgency in the young woman’s eyes as she slowly shook her head. The meaning was plain: not a sound. Killian nodded slowly, and the hand was removed from her mouth. She turned back to watch the deer, just in time to see why the chain was needed.

A squirrel had opted to run along the forest floor, and clearly hadn’t picked up on the aura of wrongness these deer had, as it scurried ever-closer to them. As with the bird, every cervine head swivelled to observe the newcomer, until with blinding speed one swooped its head down and seized the creature in its mouth.

Killian nearly broke the silence again, and again Darcy was ready, clapping a hand over Killian’s mouth to choke the scream of horror back down.

The deer had teeth. Sharp teeth, too many teeth, and a mouth too big and all wrong for the shape of the head. It now seemed to be happily swallowing the unlucky squirrel whole. Darcy waved her hand in front of Killian’s face to get her attention, and then gestured towards the creature’s feet.

At first glance, they seemed like normal cloven hooves, but as Killian looked she realised that these, too, were wrong. As she focused, she saw that the hooves were, in fact, made up of claws that sat together so tightly you didn’t realise how sharp they were, until a foot was lifted and the furrows left in the ground were revealed.

Well. That explains the chain. No protection from blunt force trauma but it would definitely stop her getting disembowelled if she goes down. She remembered Vanden’s words: Don’t fall over, rookie, and decided she didn’t want to test what the chain could hold up against.

At some point, Darcy had removed her hand from over Killian’s mouth, and was looking at her. Killian didn’t need to know sign to know what the other hunter was asking with that look: do you have your shit together now, rookie? She nodded, and tightened her grip on her gun.

Vanden motioned to the two girls, and pointed slowly. These gestures Killian did know; me, Owen, flank. You two, head on. Await signal.

Killian and Darcy nodded, staying put as Owen and Vanden split off, each taking a flank. They’d moved well out of sightlines before Killian thought to wonder what the signal would be, and hoped Darcy knew what to expect.

Killian counted her heartbeats as she waited, watching the unnerving herd. No, she thought. Not a herd. This is a pack. These are sharks in deer’s clothing.

Silvery thread flashed out between the trees as Vanden threw one end of the netting to Owen, who caught it deftly, and suddenly the deer were all on their feet, up, and staring hard at the silver, before looking past it to stare straight at Killian.

Their eyes, she realised, their eyes are forward-facing. That’s a predator looking at me.

The not-deer nearest to her peeled back its lips from sharp, sharp teeth, and screamed; an ungodly cry of bestial rage and horror layered over itself that rooted Killian to the ground in primal, instinctual fear.

The pack charged. The net pulled tight. And the sharp retort of Darcy’s shotgun next to her brought Killian to bear as she began firing her own shells into the ground at the creature's feet.

Rock salt and iron filings erupted from the barrel of her gun, scattering across the pack leaders who screamed again and shied back, retreating from salt and iron and cold, unforgiving silver. Reluctantly they moved back, and as Darcy and Killian moved forwards, firing rhythmically, they saw Owen and Vanden weaving through the trees, nets in hand, creating a tunnel that would leave only the breach as a way out.

The not-deer seemed to realise this, seemed to know that they were being forced back to wherever they had come from, and rebelled, circling around the ever-decreasing space, looking for a gap to push through. But Vanden and Owen had done this too many times before, and there were no gaps, and slowly but surely the not-deer were herded back towards the breach.

The pack were perhaps 50 metres away from the breach when one of the not-deer stopped and looked up, with what seemed a calculating expression on its face. Where the rest of the pack continued the frantic circling of predators within a too-small cage, this one creature took a couple of steps back, muscles coiling, and leapt.

It cleared the top of the silver netting, just about; one clawed foot caught the edge, and the smell of burning (hair? Bone? Sinew?) matter reached Killian’s nose. It screamed again, an awful sound equal parts pain and rage that could never be mistaken for something a real deer would ever make in this world, set its sights on Killian and Darcy - and charged.

This thing didn’t put its head down, like a stag would in rutting season; the antlered head stretched out before it like a dog stretches out for a dead sprint, and the claws where its hooves should be seemed to loosen from the cloven shape, gripping the sod to pull it over the ground faster and faster.

For a moment, Killian found herself almost outside her own body, watching herself fire into the earth at the thing’s feet, eject the shells, rack the next lot of shells, fire again.

The not-deer was bearing down on her now, getting closer, and with a start it occurred to her that it hadn’t been put off by the spray of salt and iron at the ground, that it had tracked where she was aiming and swerved to avoid the worst of the spray.

Now, deeply intent on her, it had almost reached her, and it was hard to work out what to be most alarmed about. This close, it didn’t look much like a deer any more, the sweeping crown of twisted antlers being the one stark reminder of the disguise this creature tried to wear.

Vanden’s voice cracked out like a whip.

“Open season, rookie!” And Killian was back in herself, gun heavy in her hands. A quick calculation told her she just had two shells left; one shot, so she’d need to make it a good one or risk being taken to the ground by that thing. Her eyes measured the distance between her and the creature, watching it shrink, working out the best time to rack her shotgun one last time -

With one and a half lengths between them, she racked the gun as the creature bunched its powerful hind legs and leapt towards her. She watched its arc, saw the trajectory in the air, and as it came down she took a step back, angling the shotgun so it pointed upwards into the thing’s open, horrifying maw.

It’s front legs touched the dirt, and in the seconds before her finger tightened on the trigger, she saw it staring at her with a hatred unmatched by anything she’d seen before.

It knew it was finished.

The trigger pulled all the way back, and the not-deer’s head vanished in an explosion of salt and gore that coated the unfortunate hunter. The body slumped before Killian, and she stood, fingers already mechanically slotting new shells into the shotgun.

The rest of the pack let out screams of their own, turned tail, and fled back towards the breach, no longer needing the net or the shotgun blasts at their heels for encouragement.

The breach flickered as each not-deer passed through it, and as the last of them squeezed their way through – and it must have been a trick of the light, the way their bodies shivered and stretched almost liquid-like as they reached the entry point – the breach shuddered, pulsed, and grew still.

“Closed.” Vanden said, satisfied, reeling the netting up into an easy loop over her shoulder. “Good shot there, rookie; not seen them try to jump it before. You doing ok?”

Killian, covered in drying gore, nodded dumbly, and watched Darcy double over in silent laughter at what must have been a truly shell-shocked expression on her face. Owen was surprisingly gentle as they took the shotgun out of Killian’s trembling hands and made it safe.

“Calm as you please taking that thing’s head off, shaking like a leaf after.” Their voice was gruff, but they were smiling as they looked at Killian, who felt like she was about to start crying. “You’ve got a good one here, Vanden. But I think she’ll have read the bestiary before her next shift.” Vanden laughed then, the sound rough but warm.

“Have I been wrong yet, Owen?” She slung her arm around Killian’s shoulders, seemingly unbothered by the viscera coating the rookie, and steered her towards where they’d left the Land Rover. “None of us took the books seriously until we came face to face with a live one.”

Darcy snapped her fingers in front of Killian’s face to get her attention, and made a gesture with both hands, curling the crook of one index finger against the inside flat of the index finger on the other hand, then jerking it backwards in a motion that made Killian think of cocking a gun.

“Well, check that,” Vanden said, her low voice amused. “Darcy’s given you a name already.” Catching the confused look on Killian’s face, Vanden elaborated: “rather than spell your name every time she wants to talk to you or about you, she’ll come up with a sign that’s yours. That one was yours, the sign for K turned into something that makes Darcy think of you. Feel proud, rookie: last new hire we had, it took 5 weeks for Darcy to name him. Safe to say, I think she likes you.”

The crude gesture from Darcy in response to that was one that Killian didn’t need translating, and even Owen joined in the laughter.

And just like that, Killian started to relax. She was alive. She’d helped. And she could probably fit in here, in this peculiar job. She’d be ok. She shrugged off Vanden’s arm and moved to walk next to Darcy.

“Hold on, show me how to do that again; which bit is the K…?”

Up through the woods they trudged, arms around one another, laughter bouncing off the surrounding trees at them as squirrels and birds returned to the branches, taking comfort in the return to normalcy.

Behind them, the breach began to flicker again.

[aryakumari]

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[emy-loves-you]

Accessories and Crushes

This is Day 1 of the TSUS Challenge: Dukexiety!

Summary: Remus buys some jewelry to make himself look good and impress his crush, Virgil. But why does he look so upset by that?

Pairings: Dukexiety, background Roceit

Word Count: 3769

Warnings: Bullying, stealing, miscommunication, implied violence, blood

"C'mon boys! You need to leave now or you'll be late!"

"Coming Mom!" Both boys called out, Roman from the bathroom and Remus from his bedroom. The green-clad twin had finished putting on his makeup and was now frowning at his reflection. Something was missing. There was some part of his style that was incomplete. It had been missing for a while now, and because of it Remus looked incomplete. Bland. Boring. And he couldn't tell what was missing. He'd tried switching out his makeup palette (Roman had so many leftover, since he liked to do his own makeup in theater. He wouldn't miss this one), he tried different outfit styles, he even tried things that he never imagined wearing like skirts and high heels, but nothing felt right. Maybe I need new accessories?

There was a knock on his door and Roman poked his head in, a lopsided grin on his face. "C'mon, we gotta go before mom kills us."

Remus scoffed, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Psh, I've been ready. I was waiting for you, prettyboy. How many hours did you spend in the bathroom this time?"

Roman made a sound that their mutual friend (and Roman's crush) Janus dubbed an 'offended Princey noise' as they walked out of their house. "First of all, low blow. You can't just use that nickname-"

Remus snorted. "Of course I can. Just not in front of Janny.” Janus had made up the nickname years ago, and Remus constantly teased Roman with it. (Honestly, Remus was halfway tempted to lock the two of them in a closet and leave them there until they either made out or beat each other up)

Roman continued as they approached the school. “Secondly, I’ll have you know that every moment I spend in that bathroom is absolutely vital to my daily routine.”

Remus smirked. “Yeah? Even the 20 minutes you spend just belting out romantic Disney songs to your reflection?”

Roman blushed but didn’t back down. “Yes.”

“Hmm, a blushing Roman. The perfect way to start my morning.” Janus suddenly slinked up behind them, throwing his arm up over Roman’s shoulder.

Roman groaned, blushing harder. “I can never tell when you’re being sarcastic and when you’re being genuine.”

Janus chuckled softly. “If you knew, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun to do.”

The bell rang and Remus groaned. “Gotta go. Catch ya later.” He quickly made his way to his first class, silently glad to be rid of the two hopeless lovebirds. He got to his class with 5 minutes to spare and was going to play on his phone and ignore everyone like he usually did when he saw a flash of green out of the corner of his eye.

On one of the student’s desk was an ornate wooden box, filled to the brim with hand-crafted jewelry. The student in question, Jacob Smith, was currently counting a large stack of cash as he waited for the bell to ring. Remus got up to look at the jewelry and he smirked. “Hey, Prince. I’m selling my sister’s hand-made jewelry. Like anything you see?”

Remus glanced down at the jewelry. There were dozens of accessories in a ton of different colors, but there were a few that caught Remus’ eye. There was a matching set of 2 bracelets, a ring, a chain necklace, a choker, and a pair of earrings. They were all a metallic dark green with black and dark purple accents. Remus looked at the prices Jacob had given the jewelry and winced. They were all super expensive, but they were also high quality and hand-crafted, so Remus wasn’t going to complain.

Jacob smirked as Remus paid for the jewelry, about to say something when the bell ringed. Remus sighed and put the jewelry away, grabbing his notebook to take notes. Even though Remus was the school’s resident ‘bad boy,’ he still liked to keep his grades up. Remus hated that he was always stereotyped as lazy and dumb. Yes, he regularly punched homophobes and transphobes. Yes, he tended to struggle in English because metaphors were bullshit. But that wasn’t his fault! There were only a handful of people that Remus wouldn’t immediately punch their teeth in for calling him dumb, and only three of them went to this school. Of course, there was Roman and Janus, but there was another person who was allowed to insult Remus, even if he never did.

Eventually, lunchtime rolled around, and Remus ignored his usual routine of vandalizing homophobic lockers to instead go put on his jewelry in the bathroom. He spent the whole 15 minutes making sure that the jewelry looked perfect and his make up was flawless. He had someone to impress, after all.

A few more hours passed and Remus was finally in his last class of the day, impatiently waiting to see his crush walk through the door. Virgil Storm, resident emo and snarky introvert. He and Remus were forced to work on an English paper together last year, and now he liked to sit next to Remus during class. Remus knew this was only so they could work together on creative writing assignments, but a part of Remus dreamed that Virgil sat next to Remus because liked Remus, not just tolerated him.

When Virgil finally walked through the door, seconds before the bell was supposed to ring, Remus barely resisted the urge to grin and wave frantically like an overexcited puppy. Instead, he gave his meat flirtatious smirk, angling his body to show off as much of his new jewelry as possible. Instead of smiling (or blushing like Remus fantasized), Virgil froze in place. He gave Remus a look that made his heart sink. He looked… betrayed? That didn’t make sense. But before Remus could get up and ask what was wrong, the bell rang and Virgil took a seat in the front of the classroom, away from Remus.

Now, most people would be able to see that Virgil was upset before he even walked into the room. They would realize that Virgil isn’t having a good day, and would give him some space until he was ready to talk to them.

Remus is not most people.

He spent the entire class staring at Virgil, several pencils snapping as he pretended to take notes. Virgil slouched forward, ignoring Remus’s gaze burning holes in his hoodie. When the class ended, Virgil practically ran out the door. Remus growled and stuffed his things into his bag, shooting a quick text to Roman.

Re- (2:21 PM) Staying after, go on without me

He turned off his phone, not waiting for a response as he stalked out the door. He knew that Virgil didn’t take the bus, and Remus had a feeling that the emo hadn’t left the school yet. He probably didn’t go to his locker, and he hated all of the teachers, which left-

Remus slammed the bathroom door open, Virgil jumping from the sudden sound. He was hovering over the sink, his face red and puffy from crying. His shock quickly morphed into anger as he glared at Remus. “What do you want? Here to rub it all in my face?”

Remus growled, ready to rip his own hair out. Or Virgil’s. He hadn’t decided yet. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Virgil barked out a laugh, and Remus ignored how beautiful Virgil looked, even when angry. “Wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?! I thought you were my friend!”

A part of Remus’ heart broke at his crush calling him just a ‘friend,’ but the rest of his heart shattered as he processed what the emo said. “Of fucking course I’m your friend!”

Virgil glared at Remus, pointing at him accusingly. “Then why the hell are you wearing those?!”

Remus looked down at his jewelry, which he had bought and put on just to impress Virgil. They had to be what he was talking about, since it was the only significant change to Remus’s normal outfit. He actually liked this jewelry a whole lot. And now his asshole crush was getting pissy about it. “What’s wrong with me wearing jewelry, huh? You got a fucking problem with it?”

Virgil growled, slamming his fist onto the countertop. “That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it, dumbass! I’m not stupid, I know where you got those!”

Remus huffed. “You got something against Jacob? I know the guy’s an asshole, but are you seriously gonna hate me for buying his little sister’s jewelry?”

Virgil froze, his hands gripping the bathroom counter like a death grip. “Little sister? So you didn’t know?”

Remus was confused, but he was still more irritated than anything. “Didn’t know what? What the fuck are you talking about?!”

Virgil stayed quiet for a moment before he started screaming. “THAT SON OF A BITCH!” He slammed his fists back on the counter, fresh tears rolling down his face.

Remus rushed forward, pinning Virgil’s wrists down so he couldn’t hurt himself. No matter how pissed he was, Remus couldn’t see his crush get hurt. “What the fuck is going on, Virgil?”

Virgil froze again, looking away. “It’s none of your business. Just leave me alone.”

Remus growled, adding pressure to Virgil’s wrists, ignoring the way he winced. “Not this time, emo. You can’t just accuse me and say we aren’t friends, then tell me to fuck off when I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” He stepped closer, not giving him any room to squirm away. “So we’re not going anywhere until you’ve told me what’s going on.” Virgil looked away, and Remus growled. “You said that we’re friends, right? Then fucking treat me like one.”

There were a few moments of silence between them before Virgil sighed looking away, mumbling. “My name’s on ‘em.”

Remus’s grip loosened, confused. “Huh?”

Virgil groaned, pulling himself out of Remus’ hold and grabbing him by the wrist, removing his bracelet with practiced ease. He showed Remus the inside of the bracelet, where V.S. was stitched into the fabric. “Jacob’s little sister’s name is Sally. That’s my name. I sewed and etched it into every product.”

Remus stared for a minute until it hit him. “Did you make these?”

Virgil blushed and nodded. “Yeah, I sell them online. They take forever to make but it’s fun and I make a good amount of money off of it.” He huffed. “I shouldn’t of brought them to school. Yesterday Jacob had found me and was be-” he coughed “was talking to me, and he found them in my backpack. Said he would sell them for me, and in exchange I wouldn’t leave with a broken nose. All of the popular kids knew that I made them, because they bought a ton and flashed it off in front of me in the hallways.” He sniffled and wiped his tears away with his hoodie sleeve. “I… I thought you knew too. I thought you were like them.”

Remus stared for a few minutes before getting out his wallet. “How much do you normally charge for these?”

Virgil sputtered. “W-what? You don’t-”

Remus growled. “I know I don’t have to. Now. How. Much. Do. You. Charge?”

Virgil rambled off the price and Remus frowned. That wasn’t even half of what Jacob had charged for them. Still, he paid the price that Virgil listed before opening a backpack and grabbing a notebook and pen. “Do you know everything that he took? And how much you usually charge for them?” Virgil nodded softly, still a little mystified. “Can you write them down? Or if you have a picture it would be helpful.”

Virgil carefully wrote them all down, giving descriptions of each piece of jewelry and their worth. Remus nearly growled when he read the list. Virgil was missing almost $200 worth of jewelry, and based on Jacob’s prices, the asshole was going to make at least a $500 profit from all of this.

Remus took back his notebook and put it away, giving his crush one last look. “I promise I didn’t know about any of this, but now I’m going to fix it. Here,” he grabbed Virgil’s wrist and scribbled something on the back of his hand “here’s my number. If those assholes try something like this again, give me a call and I’ll go punch their teeth in.”

Virgil looked away. “You don’t have to…”

Remus chuckled. “Punch their teeth in? It’s kind of my signature move by this point. It would be a shame if I didn’t.”

The emo blushed, finding his shoelaces to be more interesting than looking Remus in the eye. “You don’t have to be so nice to me.”

Remus shook his head. “You earned my niceness, fair and square. You’re my friend, Emo. Do you know how many people get to call me that and mean it?” He snorted. “Do you know how many people get to call me a dumbass without immediately getting their bones broken? It’s a very short list.” He sauntered out of the bathroom, stopping as he reached the door. “You mean a lot to me V. And I’m gonna make these assholes pay.” He didn’t look to see Virgil’s reaction as he walked away, one goal in mind: make Jacob Smith’s life a living hell.

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

Virgil went to class the next day, still in a slight state of shock. He felt numb all over, like he’d been drenched in ice water and was still dealing with the aftershocks. A lot had happened in the past 2 days, and he wanted nothing more than to lay down for a nap and not wake up until it all blew over.

Yesterday was awful. Usually Jacob just beat him up and went along his merry way, but instead he decided to ruin one of the few things that made Virgil happy. Jewelry making had been his passion for years, and seeing dozens of bullies showing him their new jewelry with a vindictive smirk, and knowing they were his but he wasn’t making a single penny, hurt him more than any punch or kick ever could.

But what hurt was seeing his only friend (and crush) sitting in the back of the room, showing off the jewelry that Virgil had specifically made with him in mind. Remus had been smirking, just like the bullies had as they flaunted off their jewelry, and Virgil had felt his heart break into a million pieces.

But that was yesterday. Today was a new day, and Virgil was wanting to crawl into a whole and never come out. Everyone would still be buying and showing off Virgil’s jewelry, some knowing where it came from, others having no idea. Jacob would probably come to beat Virgil up when he ran out of jewelry to sell, demanding more products that Virgil refused to make. He wasn’t going to spend all of his time on these products just to put money in Jacob’s pockets. And to top it all off, his friendship with Remus was probably ruined. Judging by how he acted yesterday, Remus would probably get upset if Virgil tried to distance himself again. But he was dreading the day where Remus would realize that Virgil wasn’t worth a decent English grade and tell him to fuck off.

Virgil was late to school today, so he didn’t actually realize that something was amiss until around lunch. No one had come up to Virgil to show off their jewelry, and a lot of students were staring at the emo as he walked by. When he took a closer look, he realized that the kids who had shown off their jewelry to him yesterday weren’t wearing them anymore, and some of them were sporting some nasty bruises. The ones who were wearing them were constantly staring at Virgil and… smiling? That was weird. But as Virgil sat down to eat his food another, more important question arose.

Where’s Jacob? And Remus?

His questions were answered in English class, where he overheard two students chatting as Virgil stepped in. Apparently Jacob and Remus had gotten into a fight and were now suspended. Virgil sat back in his normal spot, ignoring how the room went quiet as the ice water feeling returned with a vengeance. Remus got into a fight? Over him? That didn’t make any sense. Just the fact that Remus apologized and paid Virgil his debt for the jewelry was more than Virgil deserved. But the fact that Remus got into a fight with Jacob, because Jacob stole from Virgil, made something in his chest stutter. It made his heart race and his breath stop for a minute. Keep it cool Virgil, it’s not like someone as cool as Remus would ACTUALLY like you. His fight probably had nothing to do with me.

“Um, Virgil?” Virgil looked up at the random student next to him. Bethany, his brain half-heartedly supplied, still in a half state of shock. She was fiddling with the bracelets on her wrist, and it took Virgil a moment to realize they were his bracelets. “I-uh… I wanted to say sorry for what happened. Jacob told us he had brought those bracelets from home. We had no idea they were yours.” She pulled out her wallet. “Can I repay you for it? Or maybe buy more to make up for it?”

Virgil shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything. You already had to pay a stupidly high amount to Jacob, you shouldn’t have to waste more on me. I’ll be behind for a while on money, but I’ll get back up there eventually.” He blushed. “But if you want to buy more…” He scribbled down a url on his notebook paper and handed it to Bethany. “I have a website where you can customize your jewelry. It’ll take around a month or two depending on what it is, but I’ll have it done and shipped to your address as soon as it’s done.”

She took the paper and smiled gratefully. “Thank you so much! See you later Virgil!” She went back to her gaggle of friends, showing them the website url as they took pictures and typed it into their phones. Virgil smiled softly, glad to have at least a few potential customers after this.

When class was over, Virgil quickly grabbed his stuff from his locker and walked out the door. He was making his usual journey across the football field and towards the neighborhood when a familiar figure waved in the distance. Remus was underneath one of the bleachers, a familiar box in one hand and his backpack on the ground. Virgil ran over and hissed. “What are you doing here? You’re suspended right now! If they catch you on school grounds you’ll be expelled!”

Remus chuckled. “As if that would stop me from visiting my favorite emo.” Virgil flushed and looked at the wooden box. Remus suddenly perked up as he held out the box. “I got you your stuff back!” He sounded like an overexcited puppy and Virgil bit back a giggle, instead taking the box. He frowned when his hand came back wet.

“Uh, Remus?” He looked at his hand and cringed.

Remus tilted his head to the side, still resembling a puppy as he excitedly spoke. “Yeah?”

Virgil showed Remus the box. “This box is wet.”

“Yeah?”

“...With blood.”

“Yeah?”

“...Is it your blood?”

“I don’t think so!”

Virgil nodded, wiping his hand on his black skinny jeans. “Okay… thank you. It-” he looked away, blushing. “It means a lot to me.” He opened the box, looking at the contents. Around a third of the original jewelry was in the box, most of it he vaguely remembered the bullies wearing yesterday.

Remus smiled brightly, bouncing slightly as he grabbed his backpack. “That’s not even the best part! Look what I found while beating that asshole up!” Virgil hesitated before opening the bag, the not-so-nice part of him imagining Jacob himself shoved into the bag. Instead, the bag was filled to the brim with cash. Virgil stared at the money in shock while Remus explained. “That’s everything that he earned for selling your jewelry. He charged for a lot more than you did, but now you’ve made all of your money back and then some!”

Virgil tried to count the money at a glance, but his head started to spin after a minute. “Remus. How much money is in here?”

He giggled. “Almost $600. Jacob got a lot of money selling your stuff. He also had an extra 50 bucks that I added to the pot as compensation.”

Virgil nearly dropped the backpack in shock. He’d never had that much money before. This is it. I can actually start a business with this money. I can throw it into my bank account and actually have a chance at making jewelry after high school. At least as a side-job. He looked up at his crush, who was still bouncing slightly as he waited for praise. He did this for me. Remus gave me this chance. He did this because he cares. No one’s ever cared about me this much before.

Virgil didn’t realize what he was going to say until it was already out of his mouth. “Do you like coffee? With me?” He realized how jumbled his words were and he blushed. “I mean, would you like to go get some coffee with me? I know a good caffe a few blocks away. I know we aren’t too close, but maybe we could get to know each other better?”

Remus froze for a few seconds before he chuckled. “I don’t actually like coffee.” Virgil almost felt his heart drop, but his crush smirked at him. “But I know I’ll enjoy anything with you.” Virgil squeaked with a blush, and Remus chuckled. “Let’s go! We’ll get you some coffee, and we can talk about the inspiration behind your jewelry. Especially these.” He held out his wrist, showing off the dark green bracelet, a small purple heart sewn on the inside. Virgil blushed again. They both knew what inspired it. They both knew that Remus had inspired it. Or rather, Virgil’s feelings towards Remus. And Remus seemed okay with it, judging by his flirtatious chuckle and teasing grin.

Virgil eventually grabbed the resident bad boy’s hand, dragging him out from under the bleachers and towards the nearest cafe. He never thought he’d have a chance, but Remus gave it to him. And there was no way in hell that Virgil wasn’t going to take it.

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