#hells bells trudy

[lalalaugenbrot]

Mad Men: without context

[queer-book-character-tournament]

Quality Control Time

okay everyone: realistically despite having read some since last tournament I can't have read all of these books as I am one person running a blog for funnies

so I'm posting a list after I've gone through the submissions and I'm counting on you guys to tell me if any of these submissions don't count (or if someone typoed something in the submission I didn't catch)

that said here are your (tentative) competitors:

Rune Saint-John- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Quinn Saint Nicholas- The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards

Layne Dawncreek- The Hourglass Throne by KD Edwards

Silas Bell- The Spirit Bares it's Teeth by Andrew Joseph White 

Daphne Luckenbill- The Spirit Bares it's Teeth  by Andrew Joseph White 

Benjamin/Benji Woodside- Hell Followed with us by Andrew Joseph White 

Sideways Pike- The Spacegracers by HA Clarke

Tayend of Tremmelin- Magician’s Guild series (The Novice, The High Lord) by Trudi Canavan

Gideon Nav- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Ianthe Tridenarius, Ianthe the First- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Dekka- Gone series by Michael Grant

Therem Harth rem ir Estraven- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Seregil í Korit Solun Meringil Bôkthersa- Luck in the shadows/the nightrunner series by Lynn Fleweling

Victor Vale- Vicious by VE Schwab

Alucard Emery- Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab

Rhy Maresh- Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab

Elliot Schafer- In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Sebastian Black- The Sacred Sins of Father Black by St John Starling

Father Victor Ardelian- What Manner of Man by St John Starling

Wenren È- Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know by Cyan Wings

Zhu Chongba- She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Ouyang- She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Giovanni- Giovanni's room by James Baldwin

David- Giovanni's room by James Baldwin

Danny Tozer- Dreadnought by April Daniels

Magnus Bane- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Alec Lightwood- The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Thomas Lightwood- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Alastair Carstairs- The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare

Alex Fierro-Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan

Nico di Angelo- The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan

Frances Janvier- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Nick Nelson- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie Spring- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Tori Spring- Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Gwen (Princess Gwendoline)- Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Jack Alston/Lord Hawthorn- The Last Binding Trilogy by Freya Marske

Maud Blyth- The Last Binding Trilogy by Freya Marske

Robin Blyth- A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske

Silariathas “Silas”- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Nathaniel Thorn- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Ballister Blackheart- Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

Ambrosius Goldenloin- Nimona by N.D. Stevenson 

Neil Josten- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Andrew Minyard- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Nicky Hemick- All for the game by Nora Sakavic

Xie Lian- Heaven Official's Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx 

San Lang/ Hua Cheng- Heaven Official's Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx 

Luo Binghe- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Shen Qingqiu- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Lan Wangji/ Lan Zhan/ Han Guang Jun- Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Wei WuXian/ Wei Ying/ Yiling Patriarch- Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu / mxtx

Kelly Bennett- Heartsong by TJ Klune

Linus Baker- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Arthur Parnassus- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Laurent- Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Damianos (Damen)- Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Will Kempen- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

Sarcean- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

James St. Clair- Dark Rise Series by C.S. Pacat

Ronan Lynch- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Adam Parrish- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Loki- Loki- Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Theo Bell- Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Daniela- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Carmen- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Seonid Traighan Sedai- Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Siuan Sanche Sedai- Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Shallan Davar- The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson

Jasnah Kholin- The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson 

Jesper Fahey- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Wylan van Eck- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Nina Zenik- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Evelyn Hugo- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Moiraine Damodred Sedai- The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan 

Yan Wushi- 千秋 /Thousand Autumns/Qian Qu by Meng Xi Shi

Shen Qiao- 千秋/Qian Qiu/Thousand Autumn by Meng Xi Shi

Alex Claremont-Diaz- Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor- Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Biyu "Jane" Su- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

August Landry- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Jolene Whitaker- Stars Still Fall by Jules Kelley

Jude St. Francis- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Francis Abernathy- The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Ishita Dey- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Carmilla Karnstein- Carmilla by J Sheridan le Fanu

Murderbot- The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Shuos Jedao- Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

Achilles- Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Patroclus- Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Yin Hanjiang- Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know by Cyan Wings

Daja Kisubo- The Circle of Magic series, The Circle Opens series, The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

Simon Torquill- October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire

Kade Bronson- Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire

Jack Wolcott- Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire

Sundew- Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland

Zanja Na'Tarwein- The Elemental Logic Series by Laurie J. Marks

Karis G'deon- The Elemental Logic series by Laurie J. Marks

Thaniel Steepleton- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley

Raff Barden- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Penn de Foucart- One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Alec Campion- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Richard St Vier- Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Nico Ferrer De Varona- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Parisa Kamali- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Sam Black Crow- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Salim- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Hunter- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Islington- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Tsukiko- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Zachary Ezra Rawlins- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Dorian- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Katrina- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Katherine- The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner

Geraldine- Christabel by Samuel Coleridge 

Priya- The Jasmine Throne/The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Malini- The Jasmine Throne/The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Henry Gaunt- In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Sidney Ellwood - In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Benji Ovich- Beartown by Frederik Backman

Renly Baratheon- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Loras Tyrell- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Oberyn Martell- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Ellaria Sand- A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) by George R.R. Martin

Ead Duryan- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Thara Celehar- The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Iäna Pel-Thenhior- The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Vanyel Ashkevron- The Last Herald-Mage Series (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Price, Magic's Promise) by Mercedes Lackey

Galen- Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher 

Doctor Piper- Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher 

Eliot Waugh- The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Simon Spier- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Bram Greenfield- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Leah Burke- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Abby Suso- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Jay Gatsby- Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie Mclemore

Harold Hutchins- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Eric "Bitty" Bittle- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu 

Jack Zimmermann- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu 

Ollie O'Meara- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Pacer Wicks- Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Maurice Hall- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Alec Scudder- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Clive Durham- Maurice by E.M. Forster 

Cal Stephanides- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Therese Belivet- Carol or The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith 

Carol Aird- Carol or The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith 

Baz Pitch- Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell

Tennalhin (Tennal) Halkana- Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell

Evander (Andy) Mills- Lavendar House by Lev Ac Rosen

Kaiiestron (Kai) l, Prince of the Fourth House of the Underearth- Witch King by Martha Wells

Max Owen- Magical Boy by The Kao

Remy Pendergast- Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

Ben De Backer- I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Nathan Allan- I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

Genevieve Lefoux- The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger

Maddie Morrow- Havenfall by Sara Holland

Catherine St. Day- The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Lucy Muchelney- The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Fetter- The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Leonie Jackman- Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

Red- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone 

Blue- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone 

Rose- Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Li Shimin- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Cliopher Mdang- The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard

Lily Hu- Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Patrick O’Hara- The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Ambrose Cusk- The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Kodiak Celius- The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

[edwardalbee]

HELLS BELLS trudy that is FINAL 

[osirian-rises]

Shadow Of Mine Chapter Four

Jerome extracted some revenge a week later. Once everyone else in the house was asleep, he swiped Christopher’s can of shaving cream out of the boys bathroom, and used it to fill Harry's shoes up halfway, making sure to put them back exactly where they were. Grabbing a permanent marker, he tiptoed up to Brandon and scrawled the word “wanker” on his forehead, as big as he could put it, then left the marker on Matthew's nightstand.

Creeping up the stairs to the girl’s bedroom, he slipped into the room Zoe and Jada shared, finding Zoe's laptop on her charger. He opened it up, quickly turning the brightness down. A bar to enter a password stared out from the screen.

With one look at Zoe, Jerome typed in: BrandonRollins

The laptop unlocked, Jerome giggling to himself as he navigated to Zoe's social medias, and her gallery.

That night, Jerome got the best sleep he'd had in a long time.

Screaming woke him up.

Zoe's screaming, which made all three boys sit up in their beds. Matthew burst out laughing as soon as he saw Brandon, who looked at him in confusion.

“What?” Brandon asked as the three got out of bed, Matthew laughing maniacally. “What?!”

“Look in the mirror dude.” Matthew snorted. Brandon rushed out of the room Jerome and Matthew hot on his trail.

Just in time for Jerome to hear the squishy sound of Harry putting on his shoes.

“Aw what the hell?!” Harry yelled, Jerome turning around to peek into the bedroom.

“What the hell!” Brandon repeated from the bathroom. “Which one of you did this?!”

Zoe turned the corner, storming over to Harry and Christian's bedroom and throwing open the door. “How could you do this Harry, you disgusting pig!”

“Do what?!” Harry yelled as he pulled off his shoes. “Did you do this?”

“Who did this?” Brandon demanded again as he pushed his way into the bedroom. Christian started laughing at his face, Jerome looking between the teenagers in silent glee.

“What is all this yelling?” Victor demanded from the hallway. Everyone started yelling over each other all at once. “Enough! All of you to school now!  You, boy, wash that filth off you face, everything else can be settled after school!”

The students all reluctantly left, throwing accusations back and forth the entire walk to school. The news of Zoe’s apparent breakup with Brandon, cheating with Harry of all students, had spread through the school like wildfire. She’d done her best to dispel the rumours all day, but it was hard with the picture Jerome had posted of her kissing Harry being passed around, even though she deleted the post.

Harry and Matthew suffered just as much, though their pranks were simpler. They added fuel to the fire, everyone pointing the finger at someone else. Brandon accused Matthew of writing the word on his head, the marker had been found on his nightstand after all. Harry was just as insistent that Brandon had been the one to put shaving cream in his shoes, since Zoe had cheated on Brandon with him.

The entire day lead to an utterly glorious fight just before final bell, that got all three boys sent to Mr. Sweet’s office, the party they’d been planning swiftly cancelled.

And as the final bell rang, Jada caught Jerome on her way out of the school, and gave him a knowingly, and approving, nod. “Nice job kid.” She said under her breath. “You’re impressive.”

Jerome didn't go back to Anubis house when classes were done for the day. He doubted he'd be missed by anyone, except maybe Trudy. He watched as the day students left, watched as they walked off with their friends, or waited for their parents to pick them up. He surveyed each car that parked and sent a new kid running to it. Did the parents get out and hug them? Did the kid sit in the front or back? Was there music playing in the car that spilled out as the door was opened? It was like a personal TV show to Jerome.

He made up stories about the day students based on what he saw. The two girls going home in one car were having a sleepover with each other. They’d stay up way too late eating sweets, and be utterly exhausted in classes tomorrow. The boy with the giant duffel bag was being driven to a sports match, but based off of the nervous look on his face, Jerome imagined he’d get too nervous and miss the winning goal. Another student was off to a horseback riding lesson. Another was going out to dinner for their birthday. 

The house was in chaos still when he got back, Victor was in the living room, tiredly listening to the teens all trying to explain their sides of the story.

“Jerome.” Trudy beckoned, holding out a plate with some raspberry scones. “Someone called for you while you were out. A little one, what was her name again…?” She hummed in thought.

Jerome looked back at the teens, still too busy with their own drama to overhear him. “Poppy?” He asked as he turned to Trudy. “Was her name Poppy?”

“That’s it!” Trudy nodded decidedly. “Poppy. Pretty name.”

“Poppy.” Joan’s voice was an awed whisper. “My perfect, precious Poppy. My little flower, aren’t you just perfect? Yes you are.” She cooed.

Jerome sat boredly on the chair and stared at his mom. She’d never had such kind words for him. She never whispered or cooed at him, she barely talked to him at a normal volume, since there was seemingly always something to yell at him for. He’d been there for hours in the hospital, his dad nowhere to be found. Jerome didn’t really know what his father looked like. He’d never picked Jerome up, at least not that he remembered, and Jerome was too tall to see his face unless he stood farther back. All he saw of his dad was the bottom of his jaw when looking up at him, and his calloused hands as he opened a beer.

Jerome sat down in the chair in the entryway and nervously dialled his home number on the brown phone next to it. He held the receiver to his ear and held his breath. His mother couldn’t pick up, if she picked up she’d be so mad he was calling-

“Hello?” A tiny voice said through the phone. “My mom doesn’t need new appliances or makeup.

“Poppy it’s me. Why’d you call?” Jerome asked.

“Jerome!” The six year old squealed. “It worked, it worked! I found the school number on the letter that mom got, and I called and this lady picked up and she said you weren’t there but-”

“Poppy, why did you want to call me?” Jerome repeated. “Did something happen?”

“I just wanted to call.” His little sister said. “And you called me!” She squealed again. “I can’t believe you’re allowed to make calls now! Does this mean you can call me whenever?”

“Poppy I can call whoever I want, okay? It’s a school, not jail.” Jerome snapped. “And you can’t call while I’m in school and bother me.”

“...Sorry.” Poppy said quietly. “I was just excited. I…I didn’t want it to be like your last school, where we could only call you once a month. Half the time you couldn’t even pick up because you were in trouble.”

“I’m sorry, Poppy. I didn’t mean to get mad at you.” Jerome said, looking over his shoulder again to make sure no one could overhear. “Just, this isn’t like Pine Hills, okay? I’m not going to get in trouble here, but that doesn’t mean you can call whenever.”

“But, when can I call you then?” Poppy asked.

“Saturday and Sunday, okay?” Jerome decided. “That’s enough. You’ll just have to remember everything you did during the week that you want to tell me.”

“Will mom and I still be able to come up and visit you?” Poppy requested.

“No, Poppy, this isn’t that kind of school.” Jerome reiterated. “Those weren’t really visits, they were five month updates from my teachers. They don’t do that here. But…I can come and visit you sometimes, maybe.”

“Really?” Poppy said happily. “You can come to my school for recitals and parent’s night?”

It’s not as if Joan would show up with Poppy for his parent’s nights or school events. “I’ll do my best.” He half promised. “I’m old enough to ride the train on my own now. I can save up my money and get train fare and taxis there, just sometimes.”

“Thank you!” Poppy said. “I can’t believe you’re going to come visit me, I’ve told my whole class about you!”

Jerome internally groaned. “Remember, just sometimes.” He repeated. “Only when I can. And I need time to get some money, so it won’t be for a while yet.”

He listened to his sister ramble on for a while more, then went back to his room to scheme up how he was going to get some cash.

Words: 1,514

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS:

Chapter One ​Chapter Two Chapter Three

[fagrackham]

Hell’s bells trudy!

[shrekyourself]

[skottandbehr]

pete campbell you are my most special boy <3

[airandangels]

I’ve never watched Mad Men and will probably never get around to it now, but I admit an idle curiosity: is this a parody like the ones that paste in subtitles from another show (eg @douxreviews’ excellent Deep Space Nine-Nine) and I don’t recognise the source, or is this literally actually how Don Draper got his job?

[walkiingcandle]

Till Death Do Us Part. / Bo sinclair x Gender Neutral Reader

please read ! -> this was an original upload to my wattpad but decided to upload here since it would probably get more views, reads, and whatnot! any suggestions and constructive criticism is welcome <3!

Warnings (future chapters): Violence, character death mention, arguments, screaming, cursing, suggestive comments, mention of past relationships.

Y/Ns Pov

My neck was cramped, like it's been in an awkward position for too long. The sound of light bickering and music filled my ears first, then the smell which could only be described as the country filled my nostrils, the last being the bright light that came through my closed eyelids, resulting in me reluctantly opening them. The sense of my surroundings slowly coming back, feeling the road beneath the car go from rough gravel to smooth pavement, realizing that we were at a diner. I could feel my stomach rumble thinking about fries, or some coffee, just something hot not cold. 

  Getting out of the car after Wade and Carly, Nick after me. Me, Carly, and Wade are walking into the diner Paige and Blake are already there since we saw Blake in the driver of his blue truck, and Paige inside at a table. Opening the door, the tiny gold bell above the door rings in the process. Wade looked at Carly and said "I'm gonna go use the restroom so meet you at the table." Carly smiled and nodded. The both of us walked to Paige "Hey you guys. I found some apartments in New York if you wanna take a look at it Carly." Sitting beside her, taking a few fries and eating them "Thanks for the fries Paige." she gave me a playful glare, the both of us laughing. 

  A few minutes, fifteen at most, had passed. Carly and Paige looking at apartment ads for New York, me eating fries and looking for cheap places to live in both New York and different states and cities. "Sorry, two rednecks were fighting in the bathroom" Carly rolled her eyes and laughed, Paige let out a small laugh and looked at him going "There aren't rednecks in New York Wade." He shook his head "Yeah, you're right" all of us laughing. I looked up as Paige said she was heading to the car with Blake, I grabbed my coffee cup and walked out with her walking towards the blue truck. "I think I found a shortcut, probably saves us an hour" turning around at Blake's sentence "I doubt it, Louisiana really?" shaking my head and looking at the sound of Nick laughing with a beer in his hand, Wade and Carly walking out of the Diner and towards Wade's car. 

  As Wade and Carly got closer I could hear him ask her "Why did we have to bring your brother?" putting my headphones on and turning on the tape in my Walkman, I opened the passenger side door and lifted the seat climbing into the back, while Carly fixed the seat and got in the front, closing the door behind her. Nick and Wade getting In afterwards.

  We've been driving, the tape I had started at the diner already played through. We came upon some sort of road construction, "So much for Blake's shortcut" Carly had said, all of us laughing and agreeing, getting beside Blake's truck and seeing Paige giving Blake a blowjob going down the road all of us burst into laughter, Wade honked and Carly rolled down her window yelling at them, then her phone rang, it was Paige. "What the hell?" I heard Carly ask, the response was muffled Carly going "She said she dropped her chapstick." we all laughed, no way she just dropped it. Then there was the sign, "Trudy's House Of Wax. Interesting, I heard those are horrifying." Carly shook at the thought, "Yeah real looking wax figures, no thank you." 

  We followed Blake into a private area in the woods, a perfect place to camp for the night and continue the drive in the morning. It took us almost an hour for us all to unload and set up the campsite with tents and the cooler, and also get a fire started. Sitting in a lawn car, staring into the fire while Wade and Blake threw a football, Paige and Carly talking somewhere. 

  Then the headlights came, right after Wade had thrown the football by Nick's foot and Carly had to stop Nick and Wade getting into an argument. Everyone had gotten up, starting with Wade and Blake, Then Paige, Carly, and Myself, Wade had yelled out "Hey man! What do you want?" then Blake, "Nothing to see here pal." then Nick had gotten up, with a beer bottle in hand, throwing it. A few minutes later the truck left. All of us went back to what we were doing. Then the smell. The God awful smell, like something dead. "God what the fuck is that smell?" I asked the group, "It smells like something died out there." Wade said, putting his hand over his nose, "Nah man it smells like something died right here." yelled Blake doing the same as Wade and the rest of us with our hand over our nose.

  20 minutes. That's what it took to kill the fire, get into our tents with the belongings, and settle for the night. An hour later, a loud noise, an audible noise was outside, maybe an animal, but still good to investigate. Unzipping the flap to my tent and stepping outside the breeze being felt through the fabric of my plaid pajama pants. Looking around for the source of the noise, Carly must've heard it too since she was out investigating as well, then Wade came out to collect Carly "Probably just an animal come on." they left back to their tent, I went back to my own as well, except after zipping back up the tent and getting comfortable I could not fall asleep. 

  The next morning after getting changed and ready for the day we got all packed and loaded into the cars, but when Wade went to start it, Nothing. Same with Blake. Absolutely nothing, both fan belts have been cut. great. "It was brand new!" Wade groaned in frustration. Then the smell again, and the sound of a truck. An Orange pickup pulling up and a man getting out, the best way to describe him as redneck looking. Wade and Carly told him the issue, "Well there's a town, not too far a man named Bo works there. A mechanic. He can help, downfall only two can fit and be taken to town." Carly looked at us then at the man "I'll go." She got into the truck, Wade following behind her Me, Paige, Blake, and Nick waiting for them to come back.

[ace-of-clubs-and-diamonds]

Alright, next chapter is finally here! I wrote this pretty soon after the last chapter, but it took me a while to get around to editing it. But that’s okay. I’m here now, and I’m excited for this story again. And I hope you all are too! Let’s get into it.

Waking Nightmares masterlist here.

 ~

Waking Nightmares: Chapter 9

Rating: Mature, SFW

Word count: 4,571

Content warnings: Discussions of death and murder, brief mentions of child abuse and suicide

POV: Roxanne Love

The college-aged cashier glanced up from his phone as I shoved the door open and immediately stopped in my tracks. The little bell attached to the doorframe jingled as the door swung back shut. “Hey there, welcome to Trash to Treasure. Can I help you?” the cashier said in a flat, I’ve-rehearsed-this-a-thousand-times kind of way.

He must’ve been new here. I didn’t recognize him – he wasn’t one of the usual cash register operators or other staff members.

“No, thanks. I’m just looking.” A lie. I knew exactly what I was here for.

He nodded. “Lemme know if you need anything.”

“Right.”

I cast a glace around the place. There was nobody else here today. The thrift store usually had at least a couple customers wandering around and eying the racks of donated clothing and assorted items. Although Trash to Treasure had something for everyone, its repeat customers were more of the goth, punk, and horror fanatic variety. Which wasn’t a surprise, considering the owner Trudy was a 50-something punk rocker themselves. And I supposed like attracted like. It’s why I’d started coming here, after all.

A lot of what was sold here was either alt, old-fashioned, or both. Music and clothes and movies and baubles – vinyls to cassettes to CDs, VHS and DVDs and Blu-rays. It was a store that had been around for a while. And it felt like it, with the paint done over multiple times, dark grey carpeting that smelled of dust and age, and yellow-tinged lights that buzzed if left on long enough.

It felt like it had been plucked out of time and dropped into the modern day. An anachronism, almost.

I knew they had a generous few shelves worth of movies. Most of which were horror.

Which was exactly what I needed.

I forced myself to seem unhurried and at ease as I made my way through the store, even if I ached to throw myself into the movie section and claw through the rows of DVDs and Blu-rays. I was so fucking tired of acting okay, of acting like everything was fine when it wasn’t.

But acting desperate hadn’t gotten me anywhere today. So I swallowed my own bitterness as I passed the music aisle.

The movie aisle wasn’t far beyond it. On one of the shelves was a small retro TV, chunky and silver and with a VHS slot. It was playing some kind of horror movie. The audio was so low that it was little more than faint static and white noise. I frowned at the screen. Some guy in a leather jacket was drilling a hole through a man’s chest. A woman started screaming. The killer laughed at the candy-red blood and waved a floppy dismembered arm around.

…Was this what I was getting myself into? This sort of… senseless fervor of blood and bodies and screaming? A world of red-splattered walls and laughing madmen?

Was this my reality now?

I sighed.

Fucking wonderful.

But it wasn’t like I could do anything about it. It hadn’t even been in my control in the first place. I was just the unlucky bystander caught in between whatever the hell this insanity was, just like the screaming girl on the TV.

I skimmed through the titles on the DVD sleeves. They were arranged in alphabetical order, so finding the N’s was pretty easy. To my dismay, though, there were only three DVDs that held the titled I was looking for. One of the second movie and two of the fourth.

Not ideal.

Shit.

I didn’t even know how many movies there were in this franchise. Were there four? Were there more than four? I was way out of my league. Horror may have been my genre of choice for novels, but slasher movies were not my thing. They were all the same – copy-and-paste flicks devoid of creativity and stuffed with predictable clichés.

Ironic, I supposed.

I glanced at the cashier. Smudgy eyeliner, tousled black hair, lip ring, red-and-black flannel over a graphic t-shirt. He absently fiddled with the rosary beads wrapped around his wrist, even as his gaze was locked onto his phone screen.

Talking to him was the last thing I wanted to do. Talking to anyone was the last thing I wanted to do today. But I didn’t want to walk another how many blocks, hoping to find another store that still sold DVDs.

Another sigh left me. I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and sauntered up to the front counter. The cashier immediately stood to attention. And by that, I mean he put his phone away and straightened fractionally, dark eyes flaring nervously. As if he wasn’t exactly eager to talk to me, either.

Fair enough.

He gave me an uncertain smile. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the counter. “I was wondering if you could help me out.”

“Uh, I can try.”

I couldn’t help but smile a bit at that. “I appreciate the honesty. I’m looking for the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. All of them. Preferably on DVD. I only saw a couple on the shelves, and I was wondering if you had any in the back.”

The cashier – his nametag read “Kyle” – nodded. “Maybe. We have some drop offs that I haven’t gone through yet. A lot of them were horror movies. I can check if you want.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

He disappeared into the backroom, the chain looping from his belt swinging as he went. As I waited, I watched the people pass by the windows. My mind wandered.

Wandered to the nightmare. To the oppressive heat, to the fear that had spiked through my body and clung to every nerve, to the sting of a blade cutting my skin open. The rasp of a voice like bone scraping against bone and his accompanying sneer. My skin had crawled as he’d leaned in close, far too close, and promised to hurt me. And not only to hurt me, but to take pleasure in doing so.

I hadn’t been expected my sleep paralysis demon to become my knight in shining armor.

He’d been… possessive.

Possessive in a way that sent dread dripping into my blood.

I hadn’t understood half of what they’d said to each other. My head had been swimming, heartbeat thundering in my ears and the panicked need to escape overriding any rational thought. But I’d heard enough to be unsettled. Unsettled by how they’d talked about people like they were chattel, unsettled by how they acted like the world was a sandbox of theirs to play in, unsettled by the apparent enormity of a situation I didn’t fully understand. Unsettled by the fact that they looked like fucking movie characters.

Christ.

Who and what the fuck were they?

“I guess you’re in luck.”

I snapped out of my own head, twisting back around to find Kyle back at the counter and placing a box set of DVDs on the countertop. I eyed it. It was in pretty good shape, though the banged-up edges suggested it had been well-loved. The sleeve was a dark glossy red, with a dark silhouette of a man with a fedora and talons emblazoned on the front.

Unease curled inside of me.

Kyle braced his hands against the edge of the counter and tilted his head at me. “Anything else you’re looking for?”

I shoved the unease back down. “No. That’s all.”

He nodded. “Kay. That should be…” He pursed his lips slightly as he tapped something into the cash register. “…Fifteen dollars.”

“How many movies are there?” I asked, curious.

“Six.”

“Six? There are six of these fuckers?” I stared at the box set. How were there fucking six? How many permutations of the exact same story could they tell?

“Yeah.” He shrugged, but the casual gesture was belied by his constant fidgeting of the rosary beads. He eyed me as I ruffled through my wallet. “You new to these movies?”

“Mostly.” If my run in with Freddy Krueger him-fucking-self didn’t count. “Slashers aren’t really my thing. They’re cheap.”

Kyle took the cash I handed him. “The cheapness helps, I think. Sometimes a small budget forces people to be creative. It lets them think outta the box, you know?” He started punching something into the cash register again, avoiding eye contact and keeping his hands busy. “Surprised you’re getting the Nightmare series if you’re not into slashers.”

“I’m trying to branch out.” Another lie. “Figured I’d give them a chance.” Only because I had to.

“Not a bad place to start. The Nightmare series is pretty solid. Scared the crap outta me as a kid. Freddy used to give me nightmares. I always had a crush on Nancy though – the final girl.” He handed me my change. “You want a receipt?” I shook my head. “A bag?”

I paused. “Sure. Why not.”

He bent over and snatched a brown paper bag from under the counter. “The last couple movies did kinda get worse, though. Freddy’s Dead, the last one, was pretty disappointing. Kind of a weak way to end it all. Shame they never made the seventh movie.”

I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the sheer insanity of the past weeks. The impossibility of last night. But something about his words made me pause.

And made me ask, “What do you mean? What seventh movie?”

“Well.” Kyle crossed his arms and leaned across the counter like I was, hunching in as if to share a secret. “Back in 90’s – 1994, I think – they were gonna make a seventh Nightmare movie. It was a big deal. The OG director Wes Craven was coming back, and so was Heather Langenkamp. She played Nancy. It was their first time back since the third movie. Everyone was really excited about it. It was gonna be a huge deal, it was gonna be unlike any other Nightmare movie we’d seen before.”

He paused to lean in a little closer, and I couldn’t help but lean in a little more too. It was silly. There was no one else in the shop and no one to hear what we were saying.

And yet I couldn’t ignore the growing unease inside of me.

“But then… weird stuff started happening. Heather’s husband died while working on the movie. Freak accident, a car crash. Wes Craven started losing it. Robert Englund and his wife just… vanished outta thin air.”

I frowned. “Who’s that? Who’s Robert Englund?”

“He’s the guy who plays – played – Freddy.”

I stared at him.

The original actor for Freddy Krueger? Had just… disappeared?

I did not have a good feeling about this.

“Eventually the movie was scrapped. Wes Craven finished the script, but no one ever made the movie. So Freddy’s Dead was the last one.” He shrugged again. “Kind of a bummer.”

It was a hell of a lot more than a bummer. People dying and disappearing, the original director “losing it”, whatever that meant. It sounded just a little too familiar for comfort.

And apparently Kyle could tell. He frowned at me. “You okay? You look kinda…” He made a vague gesture with his hand. I didn’t know what exactly that was supposed to mean, but I got the basic message.

“Yeah, of course. I’m fine.” I didn’t like how uncertain I sounded. I sucked in a breath, straightening and trying to look more confident than I felt. “Thanks for your help.”

Kyle didn’t look like he believed me, but he nodded anyway. “Yeah, sure. Have a nice day.”

“You too.” I swept out of the shop. Probably too quickly to seem casual, but at this point I really shouldn’t have been bothering. The faint hum of static from the TV was devoured by the sounds of the city. But the thoughts in my head remained loud and overbearing as I power-walked my way back home. My feet moved on instinct, leading me down the well-worn route of the city sidewalk and eastward back home. It was a circuit I knew well enough that I could let my attention go elsewhere.

There was so much I didn’t know. I only had a few little parts, a few little jigsaw pieces of something that had been going on for decades. Something I didn’t understand, something I had never entertained or thought possible. Something much bigger and much worse. Something that could potentially put my entire worldview and everything I thought I knew at risk. Something…

…Something there really wasn’t a rational explanation for.

Dread gnawed at my insides, and I cast a glance behind me every now and then as I walked. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

Or maybe I was just being paranoid.

At this point, I didn’t fucking know.

And I’m not sure I wanted to know.

But… I had to.

I didn’t really have any other choice.

When I finally got home, finally stopped on the sidewalk in front of the house’s façade… I paused. It was utterly quiet, as if the entire neighborhood had been paused. But otherwise completely normal looking. An unremarkable, average looking little suburban house, in an unremarkable, average looking little suburban neighborhood.

Nothing strange in sight.

It was just like weeks ago – months ago? I’d lost track – when Mel had driven me home on that rainy night, when the publisher I was supposed to meet hadn’t shown up. When he’d been killed and I hadn’t known.

When I’d heard the scrape of metal and a whisper directly in my ear with no source in sight.

The following night I’d had had that first nightmare.

That had been the start of it all.

I walked up to the house.

My hand was unsteady as it hovered over the doorknob, keys jangling slightly with the movement. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I was half afraid to unlock the door and step inside. What would I find if I did? A hellscape? A nightmare? Red and green walls melting to reveal the skeleton of an old industrial plant? Endless fire and heat and rusted metal pipes?

Burnt men with sneering faces and grabbing hands and blood-stained claws?

I grit my teeth. Clenched them so hard I thought my jaw might pop.

No.

No.

I refused to be run out of my own house by a figment, or by a dream, or by the fucking boogieman, or by whatever the hell they were.

This was my fucking house, and this was my fucking life, and I was not going to fucking give in so easily.

I jammed the key into the lock, twisted it, and yanked the door open, taking the keys and shoving them between my fingers as if they were claws of my own. I was instantly hit by suffocating, stagnant heat, as if the air conditioning had been shut off. The house was otherwise dark and silent.

A careful look at my surroundings revealed nothing. Nothing out of place. Nothing strange.

Everything in view was how I’d left it.

I slowly stepped forward. The runner along the wooden floor softened the sound of my boots as I crept down the hall, eyes darting from corner to corner and from edge to edge. Looking for the slightest hint of something being off. I paused where the hall opened into the living room. Open space. Nothing. The only sound was of my own breathing.

I ducked into the kitchen to the right. Shoved the keys into my pocket. And grabbed a knife from the knife block, the steel hiss cutting through the air as I unsheathed it. Its weight in my palm was comforting.

Armed and ready, I crept through the rest of the house. Checked every room, every closet and cupboard and crevice. Kept the knife clutched tightly in my hand as if my life depended on it. Just like weeks ago, when the kitchen clock had fallen and broken, and the front door had locked and unlocked. Looking back now, it was clear that someone had been messing with me. Which of the two I didn’t know. It didn’t matter.

I checked every inch of downstairs, and then every inch of upstairs. I even ripped the shower curtain back, knife pulled up and ready to strike just in case. But again. Nothing.

There was no one else here.

The house was empty.

I double-checked all the locks on the windows and doors – again, just in case. It’s not like it would help. If the problems were coming from anywhere, they were coming from inside the house. But still. It was a compulsion that gave me some sense of control, even if it was just an illusion.

When I was done, I clicked the AC back on and dropped down onto the sofa. And just… let myself breathe for a moment. It was so fucking hard to catch my breath these past few weeks. It was as if permanent claws had wrapped around my chest and were slowly squeezing my ribcage, making it harder and harder to breathe. It was only a matter of time until I wasn’t able to breathe at all. Or until my ribs would crack from the pressure.

I eyed the brown bag I’d brought home with me.

They’re just movies, Rox.

They didn’t feel like “just movies”.

They’re not going to bite you.

Maybe not. But they might do something far worse. Though what, I wasn’t quite sure.

…But I hadn’t gone out and bought them for nothing.

So I slid the DVD holder out of its glossy paper cover and popped it open. Flipped through the six silver disks, eying each of them in turn. The first of them – simply titled A Nightmare on Elm Street – seemed to glare back at me.

There was really no point in avoiding it.

I turned on the TV, slipped the disk into the DVD player, and hit play.

It was nearly ten p.m. by the time I finished my first run through of the movies. I’d watched them back to back, had barely stopped to do the bare necessities throughout the day when needed. I could see the TV from the kitchen, so I hadn’t needed to take food or coffee breaks either. Just hour upon hour of slasher movies – screaming and spraying blood and practical SFX mixed with camp and dark humor and bright colors to create a whirlwind of a nightmare experience. 80s hair and fashion and characters who felt far more tangible and real than I’d expected.

Even as I’d rolled my eyes at the clichés – the sex and the corny dialogue and the stupid decisions that only a horror movie character would make – I’d found myself drawn in. Nancy – Heather – had felt so… genuine. I couldn’t put my finger on why. But it was as if I was waiting for her to turn to the screen, meet my gaze, give a rueful but warm smile, and say, “He’s back again, isn’t he?”

It was… odd.

Disorienting.

And then there was him.

The sneering, self-satisfied snaggletooth grin. The cruel laughter and mocking, purring voice. The bones-and-sinew build, the self-assured stroll and tilted shoulders, as if the glove was that much heavier. The fucking glove itself.

Every time he’d appeared onscreen, I couldn’t help but tense. Couldn’t help but cast a glace around the room, as if I expected to find him watching me as I watched him.

He was different. The scars were different. The eyes were different. The clothes were different, no coat or leather pants or knee-high boots. The glove was a glove, rather than actual claws. And overall, the man onscreen felt less, somehow. Muted. Less intense. But he was unmistakably the man – or whatever the hell he was – who had been haunting me, hunting me, and had saved me at the last minute in my nightmare.

It was unmistakably him.

It was unmistakably Freddy Krueger.

As fucking insane as that was.

But what about the other one? The one who had started that nightmare and chased me and tried to kill me? He had the striped sweater and the claws and the hat, and he was covered in burn scars too.

What the hell was that about?

I pushed my fingers against my aching eyes. I was missing so much here. Even with my mind whirling with dialogue and scenes and characters from the movies, there was still so much I didn’t fucking understand.

My body was tired. My mind was tired. My soul was tired.

I was just tired.

But I couldn’t fucking stop.

I forced myself to get up from the couch. Forced myself to walk to the kitchen and refill the kettle and prepare another cup of coffee. How much caffeine could a human consume before they poisoned themselves? Guess we’d find out.

Where did I go from here? What was I supposed to do with what I’d learned from these movies? I’d bought them with the intent of learning from them, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to pay attention to. I knew who and what Freddy Krueger was. But how was that supposed to help? I shoved my fingers into my hair, and they got caught on twisted curls and unbrushed knots.

What was I supposed to do?

I sighed for perhaps the hundredth time that day.

The house was silent aside from the faint hum of the air conditioning unit.

…The cashier, Kyle, had mentioned a seventh movie.

I grabbed my phone and opened a search engine. My fingers flew across the screen as I typed in “nightmare on elm street 7”. I tapped on the first article to pop up, skimmed through the beginning blahblahblah bit, and stopped when it finally got to the meat of the topic.

“In 1994, New Line Cinema had Wes Craven brought back onto the Nightmare series for a third movie. Heather Langenkamp was also in talks to return to the role of final girl Nancy Thompson, reprising the iconic role for the first time since Dream Warriors. However, production of this seventh movie – reportedly titled ‘A New Nightmare’ – was troubled.

“Several cast and crew members died or disappeared during pre-production. Chase Porter, Langekamp’s husband and a VFX artist working on the movie, was killed in a car accident, having reportedly fallen asleep at the wheel. Two other VFX artists, Charles Wilson and Terrance Feinstein, were found dead in a field not long after, having been brutally slashed to death.

“Alongside this, Englund and his wife Nancy disappeared and were reported as missing persons, and many suspected foul play. Langenkamp also fell under suspicion of child abuse of her six year old son Dylan Porter. This suspicion was further fueled when Julie Middendorf, a close friend of Langenkamp’s, was also found slashed to death in a hospital room with Dylan. However, after investigation, officials found little evidence of any wrongdoing on Heather’s part. Each of these murders and disappearances remains unsolved today.

“Although Craven reportedly finished the script, and Heather has confessed to having read it, the movie itself was cancelled. Since then, the Nightmare series has gained a reputation for being ‘cursed’, alongside movies such as The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Omen. Craven went on to create the Scream film series, which he worked on until his death, and Langenkamp has since retired from acting and now heads the make-up FX firm AFX Studio.

“There are many theories surrounding the troubled production of the seventh Nightmare movie. Some believe that Englund was responsible for the murders, and that he killed the crew members and his wife before killing himself as well. Others believe that Langenkamp or Craven were responsible, while still others have theorized that a crazed fan was responsible for the killings. Many dismiss it just as ‘bad luck’. But even still, the Nightmare series has been unable to recover from its reputation of being cursed.”

I set my phone down and rubbed my eyes again. My insides felt hollow from the constant gnawing dread and worry.

Two special effects artists, Heather’s husband, her friend, Robert Englund himself and his wife… all in the span of what? A few weeks? Unsolved murders and disappearances? A scrapped movie? A curse?

…Just how likely was it that I wasn’t the first person to experience this?

How likely was it that Freddy Krueger… the one from my dreams… had had something to do with the movie’s “troubled production”?

It was insane.

But so was all of this.

I scrolled down, skimming the rest of the article. The rest of it just talked about unmade movies in the franchise, including a crossover where Freddy was supposed to fight Jason Voorhees. But apparently nobody had wanted to touch the series with its reputation, and nobody wanted to try and measure up to Robert Englund’s performance.

Understandable. It was certainly… unique.

But it was the next movie it discussed that gave me pause.

“With the New Line Cinema/Warner Bros merge in 2008, a reboot of the franchise was planned. A script was reportedly made and a new cast of actors was in talks. However, due to controversy, the ‘bad luck’ of the Nightmare franchise, and vehement opposition from both Craven and Langenkamp, the movie was ultimately shelved.”

Opposition? From Craven and Langenkamp?

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but…

…Did they know?

Langenkamp was still alive, right? A quick search confirmed that, while another confirmed that Wes Craven had died in 2015 from natural causes.

Which meant there was maybe exactly one other person in the entire world who knew what I was going through. Who knew that I wasn’t insane, that I wasn’t just some sleep-deprived, paranoid freak who’d lost touch with reality.

Should I go find her?

I dismissed the thought as quickly as it had taken form. It was a ridiculous idea. I didn’t know her fucking address, only that she lived in California. And Cali was a big fucking state an entire country away from me. I didn’t have the time to go look for her. And even if I was able to find her, what the hell was I supposed to do then? Knock on her door and say… what?

What if she thought I was fucking insane? What if I was wrong about all this, and there was some normal explanation that I’d missed?

What if she confirmed that I was just crazy?

This was all so nonsensical and unbelievable that I wouldn’t even be able to blame her. Freddy Krueger somehow being real? Somehow walking around dreams and murdering people in real life? Laughable. I would’ve laughed.

If not for the bandages still wrapped around my forearm.

The kettle had stopped boiling a while ago. I poured the water.

So what now?

I needed to get rid of him. Both of them. I needed to defend myself. I needed to be able to fight back.

How was I supposed to do that?

I finished making my coffee and grabbed a packet of crackers from the cupboard. I also grabbed a notebook and pencil before sitting back down. No computer. That hadn’t worked very well last time.

Then I put the first movie back in the player. I started my second run through of the movies.

But this time I took notes.

And this time, I started to make a plan.

[shelby-love]

HANK VOIGHT

Dating the Big Boss.

Requested: yes

Prompts: none

Warning(s): mentions of r*pe and p*dophilia (it's a tough case)

Author's note: I had a lot of fun writing this one. Especially since everyone is a lot older so I could play with maturity a little. Hope you enjoyed and sorry for the long wait! I'm just starting to get back to writing.

~

"What's up with him?" Erin whispered when she saw Voight barge into the unit's personal quarters. Hank didn't look at any of them as he strode into his office with a frown on his face.

He was angry, that's for sure.

Still hot on his tail, your senior detective self arrived right on que with him. Every pair of eyes was on you, knowing that you were the only one who had magic to calm him. You waved your hands, dismissing their burning questions all at once. You just crossed your fingers for them all to see and walked into your lover's office without knocking.

"Hank let's talk about this," You approached him carefully.

"There's nothing to talk about here Y/N."

"Yes, there is." You sat at the edge of his desk casually, although your heart was still racing upon hearing the news delivered to you this morning. "We have a serial rapist and pedophile out there. It's okay to be affected by it honey."

"Well I don't have any leads on this case," He told you strictly, although the anxiety was visible on his shoulders. He had his back turned to you and face focused on the city in front of him. The wheels turning and working in his brain were practically visible for the whole world to see.

"Then maybe we should look into our contacts and see who can help us," You proposed quietly. "This is far from over Hank. We can still turn this around."

You could see him nod, which instantly calmed you down. "Come here."

He, as surprising as it may sound, listened to your words, and walked over to your arms.

He placed his rough hands on your thighs while you ran your hands over his arms soothingly. Eventually your cold hands grasped his face as you gave him a soft look, "Do you want me to brief the team?"

"Thank you," You giggled, still not used to those words leaving his mouth.

The two of you shared a kiss before you left him alone with his thoughts to brief the team. Upon joining them you felt tension rise again, it made you remember what you were meant to do at that moment. "Is he alright?" Erin asked you quietly. You only managed to nod your head before ushering her to her seat.

Then you took a stand in front of them, a file filled with gore pictures secure in your hand. "A few days ago we found a female that was beaten, raped and murdered just outside the Riverwalk area. She was found in a dumpster just outside the Belle Hotel. Roughly 9 years old and unfortunately not the only case."

You spoke with authority that matched Voight's to a certain level. As a senior to all of them it was your job to deliver the details loud and clear. "There have been a few more cases similar to this one. Brody Thompson declared as missing just over a week ago was found two days ago in an area like this one. His left pinky was cut of just like the first victim's..." You placed a picture of a little boy on the board.

"Same MO?" Erin asked, scribbling things vigorously into her notepad. You nodded sadly.

"Are all of the victims children?" Burgess asked from the other side of the room. When you bobbed your head to her in confirmation you could practically see the heartbreak that struck her.

"We believe that we're dealing with a serial rapist and pedophile." You sighed.

"The MO is unique, and it doesn't look like he's been very careful with where he dumps the bodies," Jay notes. "It should be easy to find him since he's bound to make a mistake."

"That's where it gets tricky," You tell him, appreciating his quickness in noticing the details. "These are only cases reported in Chicago within the last few weeks. If we expand the search, which we did, there are dozens of other reported cases all around Ohio, Virginia, Rhode Island and lastly… New York."

A cool cloak of silence fell over the room once you've finished marking the spots. "Some date back to 10 years so we're looking for someone in his early to mid-forties. Maybe even older. Virginia State Police was only able to give us cases within the last 5 years, and we've hit four matches so far."

"Why are they handing the case to us? NYPD should be able to handle this." It was Alvin who had asked that question to which you opened your mouth to answer immediately.

But Hank, your boyfriend and partner, was quicker.

"Because we're the most qualified to do it," He explained, voice booming across the room. He joined your side and placed his hand on your hip; it was that after all, only the members of this very unit knew about you two. "Now, I've pulled out some old contacts from New York. They should be arriving here on the first jet they get their hands on. Until then I want you guys everywhere."

When his gaze slid to yours a twinkle of determination shone within his irises, "Let's get this son of a bitch."

***

"Sargent Benson," you greet the woman that just descended the stairs of the jet. The only people on the tarmac are the two of you and the officers you brought here. "Thank you for coming on a such short notice."

"Voight sounded stressed when he called. Is he alright?" She asked you quietly, matching your footing and walking toward the black SUV next to you.

You shook your head, "This case has been really hard on us is all. It's not every day we have cases like this one."

"Well, our job isn't pretty." She agreed. "Rape cases are already hard on their own."

"But when it's kids…"

"Do you have kids, detective?"

"None that are my own."

"Then I guess you're lucky."

"I suppose so."

***

The drive back to the district wasn't all that comfortable. Benson carried an air of importance around her that would get some rookies sweating with nerves.

Decades in this line of work showed just how good of a match you were for her.

"Hey Trudy," You greeted your friend in passing. Benson was hot on your heels as you lead her upstairs.

Upon reaching your destination you felt her walk straight pass you into Hank's arms. She brushed her hand against the lapels of his jackets when she asked him how he was doing. You felt your chest rise with jealousy but that diminished quickly when you saw him lead her to his office.

"You're not seeing that?"

"Seeing what Jay?"

The younger man narrowed his eyes at you, "She's obviously into him."

You sent him a glare. "We're not kids Jay, we're adults that lived long enough to see what's worthy being petty about and what's not."

"If you say so."

You rolled your eyes, but still went to retrieve your man, nevertheless.

***

You knocked twice before Voight let you in. "Sorry detective, this is a private conversation."

It was Benson who had told you this. You fought an eyebrow that wanted to rise.

"Y/N runs this unit as much as I do," Your boyfriend interfered. "She can stay."

You smiled, that not being able to suppress. "What do you have?"

"A possible location," She told you, still eerie about you being there.

You perked your eyes at that, taking your usual seat in Voight's office. Hank came to stand behind your chair, hands on the back of it. Olivia eyed you quietly and came to retrieve some papers. With her back turned to you both you turned your head, eyes travelling to Voight. Silently, you asked about what was going on. He only shook his head and pressed his hand against your shoulder, rubbing it in comfort.

Olivia saw the interaction and raised her brow.

***

You held your M16 in your hands securely. Officers were bustling all around you, greeting you in passing. The house in front of you looked like a fortress having god knows what protecting it. "We don't go in by force. There are still kids inside."

While the members of your unit nodded in agreement, a few voiced their distaste.

"We go in now. Cut off his ability to retaliate."

"I understand Olivia, but-"

"Sergeant."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm your sergeant. Let's keep it that way."

You gritted your teeth, seemingly offended by the fact that she had used the chain of command to put you in your place.

"My sergeant is Voight. I answer only to him," You corrected her. "I just want those kids to come out of there alive, and that's not going to be possible if we barge in. He'll panic. Kill them instantly."

"Why don't you go in then?" She proposed. "Scope and give us inside information so we can work our way around it. You find the kids and let us do the rest."

You thought about it. "I need –"

"Nothing." Your sergeant appeared by your side, eyes hard and body as still as a rock. Unlike Benson, you could see his anger. You almost reached out to calm him. "You're not doing it."

"This could be our shot." You told him.

He only shook his head, "Trust me it's not. A word, sergeant?"

She nodded and followed him.

You watched as the distance became bigger.

Jay and Adam came to stand next to you, Adam at your right side and Jay at your left.

"Holy hell." Adam muttered.

"She almost got you killed." Jay commented after him.

"Holy hell indeed guys."

***

"Hank I'm trying to do right by these kids!"

"The hell you are," Hank outright yelled at her. As the only person at the scene that had guts to stand up to her, he took the chance to put her in her place. "The way I see it you want Y/N in direct danger with no back up."

She stayed silent.

"You don't get to boss around my unit. Especially not my most trusted detective."

"Oh, come on Hank." She sighed, not quite believing what she was hearing.

"You're here to assist. The case is still mine so don't get ahead of yourself."

And with that, he left her to be.

"We're waiting for him. SWAT is on standby."

You smiled gratefully at him before mouthing a thank you.

***

"You did great today," You complimented him, smiling from ear to ear. All the children that went missing within the last few weeks have been found alive. Wounded yes, but alive. And the man was, much to your satisfaction, shot dead when he tried to run. By none other than yourself. Being able to put down a monster like him brought you satisfaction.

It brought Hank pride too.

He pulled you in by the hip and rested your back against the wall. Chicago was lightly lit up outside, bringing peaceful atmosphere to the district. Your fingers brushed against his rigid jawline; eyes locked with his.

Kisses between you two were shared ever so often at work. While you would both usually leave to the privacy of your home, today was a day you both needed reassurances immediately.

Your lips were pressed together and moving in a way possible for only people with experience.

When someone opened the door without knocking, you pushed him away in fright. Hank didn't even stumble as he narrowed his eyes at the person who had intruded.

"Sergeant Benson?!" You shrieked, cheeks flushing a bright red.

"It all makes sense now." She mused.

MASTERLIST

[cavarage]

I'm rewatching Mad Men and I had completely forgotten about the episode in which Pete screams "Hell's bells Trudy!" and throws the chicken out the window, my Lord, how could I ever forget about that

[julieloveupstead]

"So Happy and So Grateful and in Love" - Part 2

Decription: The best day in their lifes.

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

Prov Hailey:

We decided to get married on the Greek island of Zakynthos because of my background. Jay is very interested in Greek history and even asks me to learn the language, which is sweet of him. This is one of the many reasons why I fell in love with him. The fact that he wanted to learn every little detail about me and now the place where I was born is amazing. Even just thinking about those tiny details in which pure love from his side spoke, tears come to my eyes. I closed my eyes for the hundredth time not to spoil the makeup that Stella put on me a few minutes ago and breathed in the fresh Mediterranean air. I was thankful that we weren't getting married in a church in Chicago with lots of guests, but with some of the closest people in our lives in Greece outside in front of such a beautiful view of the sea. I can't believe this is actually happening, that in a few minutes I will stand in front of the man who is my everything, my anchor, my rock, my peace and my soulmate and vow to love him to the grave.

- Are you all right Goldilocks? - I heard the question, so I opened my eyes and met the brown eyes of desk Serge

desk who has always been a role model for me for so many years and was like a mom to me. I owed so many things to Trudy Platt and I could not even imagine missing her on the most important day of my life. I gave her a sincere and grateful smile and she returned the favor which is something very special about her and something that doesn't happen very often which makes me feel even more special that I am one of the few who can see the other side of her.

- It's all right Serge - I wiped a tear that ran down my cheek. - Stella is going to murder me, this is the fourth time she has to fix my make up. - I joked and we both laughed.

- It's true - admitted Platt. We stood in silence for a moment, staring at the view in front of us. - Hailey, I know I'm not always nice and pleasant, and I'm not often complimentary, but I'm very proud of you as a beautiful, confident woman. I am happy to be a part of your transformation. - She looked at me with tear-stained eyes. Damn, this is the first time I've seen our sergeant like this. - Hailey you know I never had the chance to have a child, but I wish I had a daughter like you - unfortunately Kidd is going to kill me because I cried again, damn. I didn't know what to say to those words so I just decided to give a big hug to the woman who saved my life many years ago, who gave me purpose in life.

- Serge, you don't even know how much your words mean to me," my voice was breaking, but I kept talking. - I love my mother, but many events in the past have made my relationship with her far from a mother-daughter relationship and I have come to terms with that, but then you came along and you are not very patient - I prefer not to risk her anger even on my wedding day. - but I feel like I have a better relationship with you than I did with my birth mother. I am grateful to you for so many things. I wish my mother was like you, Trudy, and you don't know how much it means to me that you're here. Platt pulled me close, and I snuggled into her. I don't know how long we stood there, but we only pulled away when we heard a quiet grunt from somewhere on the side. I looked in that direction and saw Will standing there with a big smile and Vi standing to the side of him with a bouquet of flowers for me.

- Hailey remember that if you tell anyone about this I will deny everything - I looked at the Sergeant, who was deadly serious.

- Copy you - I nodded, and in a moment she was no longer with me.

- Are you ready? - asked Vi coming up to me together with Will. I nodded as a sign that I was ready. - Here - she handed me a bouquet of white and pale pink roses. I took it and leaned over to smell it.

- Well good, because I can hear the bells starting to ring already - Vanessa said with a smile, gave me a kiss on the cheek and walked away leaving me with Jay's brother.

- Hailey

- Will

we said at the same time and burst out laughing.

- Speak first - he showed me to start.

- Okay, so I wanted to thank you for trusting me with Jay, I promise I'll never hurt him and thank you for accepting me into your family - I wanted to say something else but my voice started to break again. Damn this was supposed to be my happiest day ever and I wasn't supposed to cry and today I'm doing nothing but crying. Ehh.

- Oh Hailey it is my honor to have you become a member of our family of two. - He laughed confidently at the memory - For many years me and Jay didn't have a good relationship. We both did a lot of stupid things. Jay changed completely after his mom died, he and his dad got along badly, I left them both, and most of all what happened in Afghanistan, the thing with Erin and everything else caused Jay to come to darkness. I was afraid of losing him, another family member, my only family - I could see how much it was costing Will to revisit those bad memories. I didn't feel any better. Every time I recall the moment I meet his little brother. I realize how little we would have missed having Jay with us. - Ehh - Will wiped a quick tear running down his cheek. My eyes welled up with tears too, once again. Damn, how much can you cry? - And then you showed up and everything changed. My brother finally saw that there was something to fight for. I got my brother back. Smiling, full of life, and it's all because of you, Hailey. - I tried really hard to keep the tears from flowing, but I couldn't. All I could do was hug Will tightly. - We have to go now," I pulled away from him when I heard the wedding music play. I hurriedly wiped away the tears that were streaming down my cheeks and nodded because that was all I could say. Will gave me his arm, which I accepted, and we both walked slowly down the aisle.

As I walked I loved the smiling faces of not friends, but family. And never before have I been so grateful for them as I am now. Being here I realized how lucky I was and that after all the years of hell I had been through fate was finally smiling down on me and something inside me told me that this was just the beginning. When I stood next to Jay and looked into his eyes I saw glassy green eyes and in them was infinite love.

- Are you okay? - I read the question from his gaze and nodded in response. Even after six years, I can't get over how much he cares about my well-being, my opinion. I'm not exaggerating here to say that he treats me like a princess. How did I ever deserve this man?

- Well," began the priest, to whom I turned my attention. - We have come here to witness these two people in love pledging their love to each other until the grave. Looking at them, I don't need to know them personally to know that the feeling they have for each other is unique and unprecedented. You, since you are here, probably feel the same way, and since you know them better than I do, you will agree that they love each other very much, and today's ceremony is just the icing on the cake of their relationship. - He paused so the guests could nod their heads in agreement. - Now it was time for the bride and groom to take the floor. Hailey will you begin?

Oh my gosh, I can feel my throat tightening and now all the guests have gone quiet, even though the ceremony is outdoors, I can't hear anything but the sound of the sea behind me. I breathed deeply a few times to calm down my thoughts and to be able to form coherent sentences. I would like to say so much to him, to express how much I love him, but I am afraid that I will not find the words to express how much I love him and how much he means to me. I hope that what I say now will be enough.

- Where do I begin here? Ehh. When we first met in that bank we were at a completely different stage of life, but by some miracle we caught a connection. I immediately noticed that underneath the mask of a closed off, uncompromising, former wtereran, cold and withdrawn was hiding a kind-hearted, sparring and sensitive man who had lost his way a bit and was broken by demons from his past. It was hard to get through your barriers and get you to trust me, but when it finally happened I was overjoyed. There were times I was scared for you and then my heart would break into little pieces because for some reason you were already close to me then. I, on the other hand, was no better. I didn't tell you much of my demons, but I always knew that if I had to share my story with anyone it would be you and only you. Because there's no one I trust more than you. From the first day I met you. And maybe it took four years, two gunshots, a kidnapping and my move to New York for us to understand, for me to understand that you are more than a work partner to me, more than a friend. So that I would have the courage to be in tune with my feelings, because our job really, I don't know when it could be our last day. When you met me I was, in fact I tried to be tough, strong, withdrawn and above it all. Life has thwarted me many times, since I was a child I had to learn to hold my head high and fight, I was broken, I healed many wounds, some new ones appeared but in the end thanks to your help I got back on my feet, wounds heal, although I still have a lot of work to do to fully recover but with you all the stages, this war for myself is easier. For years I did not allow myself to think that I could fall in love, that I would be standing in a wedding dress in front of a man whom I love, with whom I want to live my life and the thought of starting a family will germinate in my head. And this prospect, which only 6 years ago scared me, now I look forward to what the future will bring with you. - I finished. I let out a breath that I didn't even know I had been holding in. I was so offered by my monologue that I forgot about the presence of those gathered. I wiped away the tears streaming down my cheeks and looked at Jay, who had a look of boundless love in his eyes, and the tears streaming down his cheeks were going into oblivion. I can't ever get over how much love this boy has for me. It's impossible to comprehend how special it makes me feel.

- Okay, now it's my turn," he grunted, his smile always reserved for me, full of love and something I couldn't name until now. - I've never been good at saying what I feel, but I'll try now - he joked - You came into my life unexpectedly, at the worst time of my life, when I didn't care about anything. I was falling into a black abyss, but every day I came out of it. At first I didn't know why your opinion mattered the most to me, why every thought was about you, why everything I did was with you in mind. I'm a veteran of the military for me jumping into the fire of bullets, entering into different dangerous situations was not a problem before, I did it with my eyes closed, but since the battle in that tunnel those 4 years ago after my death, when I saw your face, scared and broken, something changed in me. I wasn't so willing to risk anymore, in some strange way you made me want to be more careful, but then this thing with Angela came up and then I realized I had to fight just for you, I wanted so much to see your beautiful ocean blue eyes, a smile that is the most beautiful and wonderful I have ever seen and heard. You are the first thought and the last. I'm in love with you like crazy, I can't think, sleep, eat and function normally and only when you left for New York it came to me that I can't and don't want to lose you. Everyone but you. You don't even know how much it means to me and maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm overjoyed that you chose me, that you honored me with the chance to get close to you and I promise that you will never regret it. I will spend every hour, minute and second to bring a smile to your face, tears, but only those of happiness and I will do everything to make you happy, because only you matter to me. I love no one more in my life than I love you and our baby - his gaze fell on my belly. That's how I took the test yesterday and it turned out that under my heart is the fruit of our, my and Jay's love. He was by my side every step of the way from buying the test to the result. He was so happy and I was with him. Now we are going to be a real family. The three of us. - The two of you are my world and will be my world to the end of my life," he finished.

My heart stopped with love, I've never heard such beautiful words and every time I think I can't love him more it always turns out how wrong I was. Jay let go of my hand that he had been holding and used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears from my cheek. At this gesture I closed my eyes to completely surrender to the feel of his warm skin on my cheek.

- Now it's time for the bride and groom to exchange their wedding rings," said the priest, who I had forgotten about a few minutes before, just like the rest of the people in the church. - I'll ask the best man to give them to me. - Mouse took a small maroon square box from his jacket pocket and handed it to the clergyman, who took it. - Please - he opened the item and waited for us to take one each. I turned the ring over and noticed that they were engraved with "I'll folow you anywhere" our password in Jay's handwriting. I looked at Jay' who just smiled widely at me which I reciprocated. I shook Jay's hand, he caught it gently as if I was made of the most fragile piece of glass. Little gestures like that make me smile all the time.

- I'll folow you anywhere - he said, slipping the ring onto my ring finger.

- I'll folow you anywhere - I repeated after him.

- Now the bride and groom can kiss each other - and without any delay we both joined our lips in a kiss and even though we have exchanged these kisses from millions each one was special and so is this time.

- I love you Jay - I said as I pulled away from him.

- I love you Hailey - he said and kissed me again.

Nothing else mattered, just him, me, and this little life that was beginning to grow inside me. Whatever the future held for us it would always be me, him and our baby until the end of the world and one day more.

[levinson-mannion]

Currently watching Call the Midwife Series 6 Episode 1 and ruining commentary will probably be added.

Under cut and for the first point calling all CTM Turnadette writers XD

1. Omg can you imagine if Sister Bernadette was still in the order and Sister Ursula was put in charge, even before her questioning. Can you imagine her questioning as well??? Please can someone write this as a fic.

2. On the subject of Sister Ursula the way she told Sister MJ hurt and I despise her.

3. SISTER URSULA KNEW THAT SHELAGH WAS PREGNANT. Or at least had strong suspicion, the comment on eating for two, she can’t if not meant any thing but a jab by it.

4. Sister Monica Joans little hitting of the duster on to the chair is both heartbreaking and sweet because of how much she cares at the same time.

5. Little Mickey is so cute.

6. From the first time I watched this I knew Leister was trouble.

7. SISTER URSULA TOOK THE TV AWAY I HATE HER MORE!!!!

8. Love Delia and the radio.

9. Ugh the party.

10. The worry when the lady seen Phyllis.

11. Tom is so enamoured.

12. The fact that CTM show a domestic abuse couple to me is perfect- showing what happens in real life and how anything can happen to anyone.

13. Also I will throw Leister in prison with ‘Dock road’ up where the sun don’t shine.

14. Mickey 🥺.

15. Favouritism shown by Phyllis to Sister Julienne, not that I am complaining- I would as well.

16. Sister Winifred and Shelagh’s conversation sends me into a fit of giggles every time 😂

17. And the face expressions from the two 😂

18. Not bloody boxing mate.

19. Not everything fine Barbra

20. You can not call yourself a father mate.

21. The panic in her eyes 🥺

22. Well he can't throw a good punch if he can't see and is scared.

23. Peter!!!!! :)

24. I mean, what Peter said is not helping but I still like him, he is just doing his job.

25. No Sister Ursula, you are killing the conversation not the television love.

26. Everyone's expressions says it all.

27. The company will never be enjoyed when you are around Sister Ursula.

28. The police really messed up their.

29. She stood up! Not the best decision but I love her for it.

30. Playing a game 😭

31. DON’T YOU DARE TALK TO SISTER MARY-CYNTHIA.

32. She's out!

33. Sister Juliennes ‘Hurry’.

34. Shut up Sister Ursula.

35. They seen the burns. The look of worry on Sister Mary-Cynthia's face in particular.

36. Dr Turner!!!! THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT HIS KIDS LITTLE DOES HE KNOW HE IS GETTING ANOTHER I’M SQUEALING!!!

37. When she said church bells I thought of Carrie Underwood’s song Church Bells, which fits situation

38. Yet again, SHUT UP SISTER URSULA!!!

39. You go Sister Julienne! You go girl! She is an icon.

40. What the hell is Leister doing here. He can go to hell.

41. Shelagh 🥺 nothing else to say.

42. Tom marks everything.

43. Little insensitive Barbra.

44. Trudy is amazing- she is so brave!

45. You can see Dr Turner really wanted to kill Leister then

46. Sister Mary-Cynthia 🥺🥺 the PTSD is showing so badly 😭😭

47. The hug.

48. Shulienne moment 🥺 it's so serious BUT I WILL LOVE IT IN TWO SECONDS.

49. The sickness!!!!!

50. ‘Breakfasts have been impossible’ EKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!! I am grinning ear to ear.

51. The way the two understand each other and how happy Sister Julienne is for her- I mean the little ‘Breakfasts?’ I'm dying eeek!

52. She's the first to know 😭

53. Sister Julienne is so not afraid 😭 she is to happy.

54. She never stopped praying!

55. I KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO TELL HIM!!!

56. You tell her Phyllis!

57. That mother is a pig.

58. Dr Turner and Sister Mary-Cynthia 🥺

59. Patsy’s letter omg.

60. Phyllis said that so aggressively I laughed but I shouldn't 😂

61. Oh no Patsy.

62. She is brave, so so brave.

63. I yet again say shut your mouth Sister Ursula!

64. North field! I mean it works.

65. IDIOT SISTER URSULA! You sent her away and I promise that won't help.

66. Unscheduled is one word for it.

67. Patsy and Delia is so cute.

68. Phyllis and Trudy!

69. A ring! 

70. The voice over!

71. Almost time for telling Patrick!

72. Angela watched Shelagh!!!!!!!!!! Also, if Laura can draw in real life I want to see

73. Special is the understatement if the century.

74. Yay for Trudy!

75. AHHHHH SHELAGH US ARRIVING I’M DYING

76. THEIR LOVE LANGUGE IS LETTERS AND NOTES

77. From me and someone else.

78. He opens it so fast 🥺

79. Please will you be/marry my day I'm crying 😭😭 their relationship is so pure

80. The smile and nod!!!!! 🥰

81. The spin and holding each other!!

82. The way she is wearing her Nurses uniform shows so much development. (I mean if you want to go further she was in her postulant clothes when she probably first read anything of his) She first read the letters in her Habit, she read the proposal in her new lay clothes, she did not really have a place at that point, then she signed Angels adoption papers in her housewife clothes, kind of stuck between jobs, and know she has a husband, a family at Nonnatus and a family which is expanding and a job- as in a nurse with full character development (well there is still more to come but whatever)

83. Phyllis wave is everything 😂

[spockvarietyhour]

HELL’S BELLS TRUDY!

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

You said all the future Sanders we’ve met have had Logan as their ‘fairy godparent’. Does Linda ever wind up giving out Gifts and being a godparent? Does Virgil give any of their other friends’ kids Gifts, like Elliot or Kai, or has he only been Trudi’s godparent? From some of the extras it seems like Remy and Bell get close so does she give out any Gifts to those ‘hell on wheels or sweet as sugar no in between’ kids?

I haven’t actually decided if Elliot has children or not, or if they do who those children might be, but if they do, those kids do get godparent gifts from Virgil

As for Bell giving gifts to the Adams-Picani kids, that is a take i had not considered but absolutely LOVE so expect Dean to turn up with one in the near future alskjakl