#his badge reel is a coffee cup not because he likes coffee but because he collects mugs. he doesnt drink out of them he just Has Them.

[sparklecare-good-au]

guy who does nothing and never shows up or is mentioned ever and only really exists to answer the question "who owns/runs the hospital if cuddles doesnt exist?"

[ginkgomoon]

I Like You A Latte- Gavin ☕️

Happy blog birthday to @cheri-cheri. Another gift would like to present itself to you! 💙

“The exam is officially over,” you sigh.

All those years of studying and recurring late nights pouring the blood, sweat and tears for you push towards the finish line were all worth it.

You are now free.

Kind of… but not really.

For once, you were outside not catching the train to go university, heading off into another library or exam room. You had thought to savour this rare time to yourself before heading off to find a job. Thankfully, public transport is convenient enough to take you just about anywhere in Loveland City.

With only your phone, wallet and keys in hand, you stroll along the all too familiar building blocks near your home, pondering on where to go for the long awaited first day out by yourself. Should you go for some udon? Bingsoo? Pudding, perhaps?

While breathing in the sweet air of freedom, you admire the city that you grew up in, absorbing the view from down below and up at the infrastructure that the city was so renowned for.

The height, distance and those buildings haven't changed. But you- the stages of your life, experiences and perspectives have. The city almost seemed a little bit more… brighter. More alive. Or maybe… would it be for just this once?

This, you fear.

The glare of the sun continues beating down, its light reflecting off the glass buildings passing its judgement on the entire city. The heat is suffocating and you long for a cool drink or nice air-con to rely on to keep you sane.

A vision suddenly intrudes, presenting the clean pastel coloured store-front of the café that had just opened up nearby. You remember that you had power-walked right past the “WE ARE OPEN” sign on your way home from a past exam to prepare for the final one a few days ago.

You know you rarely enter any cafés at all, but your love for coffee and urge to explore someplace new begin to steer your legs into the walking direction of where you had remembered it to be.

As you soon reach the entrance, the sign you saw from the peripheral of your memory greets you.

“BRUNCH CAFE. WE ARE OPEN.”

You push open the heavy glass door, instantly entering a world of relief. Still in between the two opposing temperatures, you hastily swing the door back and encase yourself in paradise.

You take a moment to briefly scan your surroundings. The café, although it claims to be open, has everything but the barista. It wasn’t as big as the Starbucks down at the shopping centres, but it was humble enough for its size and able to fit all the requirements a café needs.

Soft instrumental music starts to reel you in further, like a siren hypnotising a sailor. You feel... peaceful. Though you wonder if you were hearing the non-diegetic music of the film occurring right in front of your eyes instead of your almost-dream café.

The minimalist designs, the ambience, and the extremely posh and elegant windows that you didn’t admire enough the first time strikes your appeal. You also confirm with yourself that this was the café that you would choose to break the cycle of drinking instant coffees everyday.

Just this once.

On the left side, those posh windows were flaunting on display, and to the right had little cubicles laid out perfect for providing spacious privacy. You marvel at what a genius idea the store owner had to create such a comforting and unique interior for a café. There was not a thing out of place.

Except of course, the barista.

You head over to where the cubicles were waiting and as you turn into the corner, you almost trip over something that looks like… a foot?

Following the coffee-stained sport shoes, your eyes slowly drift up on its owner, locking on a sleeping figure on the seats of the cubicle.

A young man with a soft aura.

You squint in confusion.

The poor cubicle clearly wasn’t big enough to fit his entire body. His hair seems to have fallen into place like dominos having slightly covering his eyelids, and appears to be breathing in a gentle rhythm with his chest following in sync. Your eyes also end up emphasising his jawline as you continue to stare.

His chest- wait.

A little badge on the right corner of his shirt immediately becomes the salient object.

So, he is the barista.

Barista… Gabin?

You lean closer at the words printed out on it.

No, it’s Ga-vin.

Apart from how attractive he looks, you question yourself- why is the barista sleeping during opening hours?

The man’s eyes slowly crack open, like a shell opening to display the pearl from inside, and you finally see his eyes of beautiful amber squinting back at you. Though, you can’t tell if it was because of the bright lights inside the cafe, or if he was solely observing you- and why you were so close to him at this very moment.

“Oh, I am so sorry,” you cry, instantly retracting from your forward-leaning position. Your brain tries to racks up reasons why you two were in this situation incase he asks.

“There was something on your face” or “your foot was in the way” could work. No- “sorry, I’ve never seen another human being before” sounds a lot more believable.

Gavin, the barista, furrows his eyebrows in confusion then seemingly in frustration.

Your body tenses.

It’s coming.

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep…” he sighs softly.

You do another quick scan and take that only the two of you were in the cafe now, unless there was another sleeping barista somewhere else you didn’t notice.

“If you're here for coffee, it’s on the house. An apology for what you saw just now…. Just don’t tell the boss if he’s here,” Gavin lightly coughs.

“Oh okay... Thank you. A latte please,” you say, rather not wanting to question it further. For now. But free coffee made by this gorgeous barista? How could anyone refuse this offer? All you did was stare. In that case, you would gladly do it again.

You settle your belongings on the table and catch Gavin rolling up his sleeves, putting on the display of his toned forearms. Luckily, your cubicle entrance was facing the direction of the workbench allowing yourself to watch him set up.

You start to wish for your coffee to be as hot as him.

Scalding hot.

Gavin steadily handles the jug and effortlessly pours the milk into the latte glass with the espresso already inside. Despite your sight of his expertise, he still can’t hide the subtle droopiness of his eyes and the slight furrow of his eyebrows again.

You figure it would be better if you come up to him instead so he wouldn’t have to travel the whole way to your cubicle with his current state being like this.

You gingerly make your way to his workbench while fumbling for a topic to break the awkward silence in your head.

“Is it just you working here today or…?” you ask.

“Is there another hot sleeping barista I should know about?” you continued in your head.

Gavin hands you the transparent cup accompanied by the saucer, a little spoon, a packet of sugar and a complimentary ginkgo-shaped cookie on the side.

The art displayed formed a symmetrical heart with perfect one centimetre foam to present the perfect latte.

“There’s the chef who’s actually the boss of this place but sometimes he dashes in and out. Especially when there’s no customers as of late. I have no idea where he goes, actually. Right now is no exception,” he replies, sweeping the remains of the coffee grounds into the knock box.

“And you do all the work for him? That doesn’t seem fair. Does he allow you to make your own cup of coffee at least?”

“Well, not exactly. I just work over-time till late. Plus, I think my body is practically immune to caffeine by now,” Gavin laughs.

"Me too," you comment.

As tired as he looks, he still has the energy to light up a smile, even with a stranger. His mouth forms an effortlessly handsome arc and you feel something emerging from within your heart, so subtle that you almost think that you could have mistaken yourself as the protagonist in a romance novel.

Though working overtime till late… at a brunch cafe?

You don’t question him any further. You take a whiff at the single delicate-looking plain ginkgo cookie and have a bite. This moment of peace and serenity was offering the much needed break from all that tension and pressure you were under- apart from Gavin being here, though he didn’t seem to mind your presence.

You lean forward to place your elbows on the counter and stare at the coffee in front, frowning a little at the reality of ruining the beautiful heart. You rip open the sugar and pour in half, then give it a stir with the spoon. The foam is perfectly silky and frothy, fusing with the crema like a starry galaxy.

You remind yourself that "it was okay" because this moment would forever remain in your own heart instead. Delicious, creamy arabica coffee.

Like those ginkgo leaves dancing in the wind that autumn day.

You smile at the memory before multiple begin to overlap with another. Ones where you had passed by the senior classrooms catching a glimpse of a boy staring out of the window or down in a random alleyway on your bicycle.

You didn’t think much of it back then either, but he had always looked familiar and seemed to be everywhere you were too. Crossing paths in hallways and even at the library, reading. That upperclassman boy named-

“-Gavin?”

He looks up.

“From school?”

You wonder why you hadn’t realised.

His facial features are now more defined, sharper, and still a head taller than you. Who would have thought the hot barista was actually an old schoolmate. You put your coffee down and internally scream.

“You remember me?” he softly asks.

“Just a little bit. Wait, do you know who I am?”

“Just a little bit.”

Gavin smiles.

You break eye contact and continue drinking, not wanting the coffee to get cold during this exchange. But even now it tastes different than before.

“So, what brings you here?” he asks.

“Taking a break before I find a job. See if any place will accept me…”

“Of course they will. You’re brilliant at what you do. I have no doubts that you will be successful.”

You smile in response, taking in the last of the remaining coffee.

“How do you know? We haven’t seen each other in so long. And I don’t think we’ve ever interacted this much in the past."

“I just do… Trust me.”

You look back up. His eyes light up with so much sincerity that could power a whole entire city’s electricity.

"I never thought I'd see you again," you say.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. You seemed like... you were just so difficult to figure out, especially for people like me who don't know you that well. So I never gave it a second thought either. And now here you are, making my coffee. Anyway, this is probably not making any sense..."

"No, I understand," Gavin states. "In your opinion... what kind of man am I?"

Before you could formulate a proper response, hot heat suddenly finds its way in, corroding with its cooler counterpart and signalling the entrance of another person.

Your eyes catch sight of a tall and handsome man, his aura so dominating that the heat you feel could just be from him instead.

“That’s the boss,” Gavin whispers.

The boss saunters his way in straight towards you two. His black hair matches his suit and tie, making him appear more like a CEO than of a chef.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to the back to restock some things, I’ll be right back,” Gavin says, shooting you a comforting smile.

While trying to process all of this, your eyebrows are the ones to furrow now instead. How could this boss treat an employee like this? Working overtime without proper breaks? This to you was appalling and certainly see this as an act of injustice. Being the good and lawful citizen that you are, you decide to treat this like one.

“Excuse me.”

Before he enters the kitchen, he turns, offering his full attention to you. You thought you had a good grasp on what you wanted to say, but it seems that your head had disconnected from your voice box.

“Your employee…” you begin, “he seems very fatigued. I think you should be sharing the workload equally instead of leaving the cafe. Haven’t you ever heard of a collegial workplace before?”

His eyebrow lifts- in amusement, mockery or consideration, you don’t know. After all, your words carrying the “sense of justice” did sound a lot better in your head.

“I don’t interfere with anyone’s personal lives,” he said, his deep voice shattering your “prosecution”. But before you could have another go at him, he retreats into the kitchen.

Gavin returns with takeaway cups and lids and sees you standing flabbergasted at your interaction with the boss.

“You okay?”

You reply back with a little “humph” at the direction of the kitchen then turn to Gavin restocking the items on the cup warmer of the coffee machine.

"I-it’s nothing."

After all, this was your first and last time here, and maybe you shouldn't have acted so impulsively on a situation like this. Plus, how would Gavin react if you push the topic further?

You sigh. Hopefully the plan to have a drink and catch up with an old friend later in the night will settle the agitation you feel.

A soft ding is heard from your phone reminding you to get ready to leave.

Perfect timing.

As you reluctantly pack your things, you glance at Gavin’s way, who looks like he’s about to end his shift for the day as well.

You don’t want to be supporting a business owner who treats his employees like this, but yet seeing Gavin this way made you feel helpless. It’s a shame that you won’t see another handsome barista like this again. Or see him again. Or probably enter another cafe at all after this.

“I have to go.”

Your voice interrupts his workflow, and he frowns.

“Now?”

“I have somewhere to be, unfortunately.”

Gavin takes a moment to process this.

“Why don’t you wait till I leave? That way, I can see you off. It will only be a minute.”

More like a minute's time to sob about this man who could have been your boyfriend in a parallel universe. But as long as you won’t be late to meet up with your friend, you agree to wait for Gavin to finish up.

You linger by the entrance, not wanting to intrude his workspace again and steer clear from the awkwardness that could arise from watching him up close.

But after that literal minute, he steps outside with you and the heaviness in your heart starting to simmer back up again. The air already seems to have to cooled down, providing a thankful comfort to your surroundings.

Looking at him now, you almost change your mind. You could maybe see him again when you have time in the future. To... catch up.

Just maybe.

“Thank you for today," you say. You remind yourself to not get too attached, having really not know if you would be ready for all of that, especially for what was to come in the future.

You slowly walk backwards into the direction of your home, back where you need to get ready for the night out again.

“Thanks for coming. It was nice meeting you again,” he replies.

As you turn to leave, in your peripheral vision Gavin tracks forward to cover every step you took away from him, pulling a hesitant arm up to say something more.

But by then, you were already turning the corner and out of sight.

-And after all this time, your thoughts keep returning to those moments.

A couple of hours pass and your mind still orbits Gavin and that café. You wonder if there was something more you could have done or said. Hopefully he didn’t mistake your hurried steps for something else.

You soon arrive at the venue that you and your friend unanimously agreed on, though as you tippy-toe your way through the crowd to spot her, it seems that she hasn't arrived at the agreed time yet.

As you wait, you fiddle with the side of your dress. You decided to go with the classy minimalist look- a black dress and simple ginkgo drop earrings you bought recently. You didn't want to draw any attention to yourself, but you were satisfied that you were well-dressed enough to feel glamorous for the night. However, wanting to avoid the additional heat of the weather sticking on your body like a tattoo, you decide to head in first.

The music gradually becomes clearer and definitely louder as you weave your way through the hallway entrance towards the heart of the club, with the lights dimly lit and its walls enclosed for the darkness to rule.

You haven’t been in a place like this for so long, especially when you got used to the quiet and calm environment of libraries, the home, and the café earlier…

You could feel everyone’s body heat from a good healthy distance away, even at the seat of the bar. You don’t plan on getting drunk tonight, but you know your alcohol tolerance is so low that you figure it would be best if you should order a little fruity mocktail first instead then perhaps have a real drink with your friend when she arrives later.

You give a quick text notifying her of your location and place your phone back into your purse, ready to order.

Darkness continues to stir as you struggle to locate the bartender.

What kind of bartender is this person if they’re not at the bar?

Lights rotate and blind its way in every direction. For a fleeting second, it lands on the person across from you, illuminating those unforgettable eyes and smile of its owner.

His eyes are just as wide as yours.

"It's you."

The barista- no, bartender, was Gavin.

[imaginesbymk]

“Call in Sick Tomorrow.”

Reservoir Dogs One Shot

Summary: During his final moments, Freddy recalls the events from the robbery and the night before, where you find out who he really is, and because of your job as the retail jeweler at the same store the criminals plan the heist at, you showed up at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Pairing: Mr. Orange/Freddy Newandyke x Reader

Tags: swearing, angst + violence, guns/shooting, robbery + blood

Non Requested

Word Count: 2,289

Author’s Note: not me simping for a young tim roth lmfaksmwksksksk ugh</3 hope y’all like it - leave a like/reblog + feedback!!!

THE cop who was covered in his own pool of blood from his gunshot wound, was now practically sticking to the dusty warehouse ramp. He laid there for a good fifteen minutes, maybe more or less, who was there to count? His company wasn’t making things better, either. “Listen to me, Marvin... listen to me, Marvin Nash, I’m a cop.”

“Yeah, I know.” The other bloodied cop, Marvin Nash, was tied up and had his ear cut off by Mr. Blonde, all he could do was bicker and moan in pain and rage. 

“You do?” The first cop asks.

“Yeah, your name’s Freddy something.”

“Newandyke,” he said. “Freddy Newandyke.”

“Frankie Ferchetti introduced us about five months ago.”

Freddy shakes his head. His wound definitely didn’t cause him memory loss. He was just too clueless to acknowledge colleagues, that was something he was aware of and he needed to work on it. “Shit, I don't remember that at all.”

“I do.” Marvin Nash coughs a bit of blood. “Freddy. How do I look?”

Freddy winces out a chuckle. “What? I don't know what to tell you, Marvin.” How do you look? If I told you, I’d be lucky you’re tied up.

“That fuck. That sick fuck! That fuckin' bastard!” 

“Marvin, I need you to hold on. There's cops waiting to move a block away.”

“What the fuck are they waiting for? This fuckin' guy, he slashes my face… and cuts my fuckin' ear off! I'm fuckin' deformed!” Marvin cries out.

Freddy clenches his jaw. How the fuck do you think I feel over here, asshole? “FUCK YOU! Fuck you, my love of my fucking life is gone! I’m fuckin’ dyin’ here! Y/N is gone and I’m fuckin’ dyin’!”

Marvin Nash, a bloodied cop who was now “fucking deformed”, really had no idea how bad the fellow cop’s current state was. Both of them were in pain, but one of them was gonna die first.

Freddy calms down a bit to explain the upcoming events he hopes to happen anytime soon. He was bleeding pretty bad, and it hurt like hell. “They're not to make a move 'til Joe Cabot shows up. I was sent in to get him. Alright? You heard 'em. They said he's on his way.” Marvin lets out a soft breath. Relief was touching a bit of his soul, now all is left is to wait it out, and listen to the sounds of rattling bullets and yells from cops out of one ear. 

“Don't pussy out on me now, Marvin,” Freddy says. “We're just gonna sit here and bleed… 'til Joe Cabot sticks his fuckin' head through that door.”

Marvin whimpers, then takes a long pause. “Freddy?”

Freddy looks up at Marvin Nash once more, lying on his arm for support, his body feeling like a throbbing stubbed toe. “Freddy?” Marvin talks about the giant elephant in the room. “What even fucking happened?”

THE last thing Freddy needed was to end up falling for you while he’s undercover. While he’s good at hiding his true identity from the recruits, he was also good at hiding it from you, but it wasn’t what he wanted in the first place. 

Freddy would never lie to you, but you don’t know that your boyfriend is actually a cop and not a cool bad boy that took care of weed for customers. It pained Freddy to lie to you about who he was. He never even told you that his name was Freddy, only to refer to him as his alias, Mr. Orange, but you paid no mind to it. You loved the mysterious thrill he had, even if that meant calling him a color most commonly known in a fruit.

To this day, he still wonders why you would want to date someone with such a dangerous persona. You made a living working at the same store the recruits were planning the heist at -  Karina’s Wholesale Diamonds, and you were allowed to wear the jewelry that was sold and refined there. You never came to think Mr. Orange was ever gonna steal from you, holding you at gunpoint? Rob your store while his face is covered then he kisses you goodnight hours after?

And so, Freddy’s confession and his first and last fight with you happened the night before the heist. A stressful twelve hours, and it all started with you throwing his police badge on the coffee table, right on top of his Marvel catalog. 

“You’ve been staring at that thing for a whole minute now,” you said, standing stiff as a statue, towering over him on the couch. 

Mr. Orange scrunches his nose. “It was from a cop back in Torrance. The fucker most likely lost his job for carelessly leaving it on a bench.”

“You’ve visited Torrance?”

He nodded. “Y/N, I kept that badge in one of my stashes. You and I agreed to not go through each other’s shit like that - y’know, outta respect?”

“I know that, but you asked me to get your TV guide from one of the drawers. You said you keep it next to your stash, I may not have found pot but I definitely found that.” You nod at the badge. 

Orange shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you, babes, but that ain’t mine. Also I ran outta weed, that’s why I haven’t been making any sales lately.”

“You must suck at reeling customers in,” you took out your other hand hidden behind your back, now throwing four poorly folded sheets of paper stapled together right next to the badge. “Otherwise why the hell would you have this; an annotated script about you delivering weed to people, the same words you told me about how you walked into the men’s room with a big bag of weed in front of a couple of  cops and a dog?”

Orange was silent. You knew he was lying. Silence was as painful as spewing out another lie. Not once has there ever been a close call, but now he was trapped with no words to come out his mouth. Even if he did have something to say, each lie he told you felt like he was throwing daggers at your heart. He couldn’t take it anymore.

“Orange, is there something you’re not telling me?” Orange merely frowned and got up from the couch, eyeing you up and down. He looked tired from whatever he did the whole day and resting on the couch while watching a movie on the TV was well needed. That, but he was tired of sleeping next to you while a police badge was taunting him in one of the drawers.

“I don’t sell weed, y/n. And the police badge wasn’t from Torrance.”

“So all of that... you smuggling weed in a bowling bag?” you scoff, feeling your blood boil. “You just made that up?”

“Y/n- baby” he starts.

“What the hell? Why would you make that up?” you ask.

“It’s what I had to do,” Orange says. 

You scoff. “Right. That was your way of making friends or to get free drinks, or even getting me to sleep with you?”

“It’s not like that, it was never like that.”

“This is so fucked up!” Hearing you say that made Freddy’s heart fall into a thousand pieces. “Tell me the truth, Orange, if that’s even your fucking name. Who gives birth, looks at their child and goes, ‘Your name is Orange’? As if your kid won’t ever get bullied from that.”

“That’s because that isn’t my fucking name. It’s an alias.”

You shook your head. “Okay, then. Who the fuck are you?”

He clenched his eyes shut, and opened them, wishing you disappeared out of his sight. “Look at my badge.”

You slowly hunched over the table, picking up the badge. You raised a brow at him.

“I want you to hold it while I tell you. My real name is Freddy Newandyke. I’m working undercover for a diamond heist formed by Joe Cabot... the group of criminals he hired are gonna rob your store, stuff a briefcase full of diamonds worth a college tuition, and they’re gonna break it apart, pawn it, whatever fulfills their need.”

“You’re a cop,” you say, confirming what he said was true. Otherwise, that could have been another lie.

He nodded. “I work for the LAPD.”

“What else?”

A pause, then he traces his finger on your hand before curling it with his. “I love you.” His face softens. “My name’s Freddy Newandyke. I’m a cop. The gang I’m undercover for is gonna rob your store tomorrow, and I love you.”

You slowly nodded, looking down at the badge in your other hand. There were no signs of a lie in his tone of voice. His name seems legit, and of course, you loved him, too. “Why didn’t you tell me... Freddy?”

“Because you go after guys that would do the things I told in my story, fellas who you fantasize of having a fucking Bonnie and Clyde ride or die bullshit with, and not me - a cop who geeks out over Marvel.”

“You’re saying my work is being targeted for a heist?” you said. “And you’re part of it?”

Freddy nodded. “You think I’m ever gonna rob you, lie to your face like that? Then walk out of your life, take off just like that - and never see you again?”

“You’ve been lying to me.”

“I’m sorry for lying to you, and whether I told you about who I was or not, I don’t want you involved. Crime gets you in trouble, being undercover puts you in danger,” Freddy kisses your forehead. “You can get caught stealing and smuggling drugs, you can get caught slipping out of character if you’re not careful. You can’t win.”

You tried walking around the couch to disperse into the kitchen, but Freddy stopped in front of you. “I wasn’t born yesterday, asshole. I know what an undercover cop is, if your cover gets blown, you’re fucked.” You crossed your arms. “So what else is gonna happen?”

“We planned this; cops are gonna show up on time, as long as a gun doesn’t go off, we’ll be okay, and the men will be in cuffs as well as Joe Cabot. But listen to me, I don’t want you to show up to work tomorrow, I don’t want you there, I don’t want to have a man in a suit point a gun at your face, and I definitely don’t want you to be a hero,” Freddy says, cupping both your cheeks. “That’s my job.”

“I’m freakin’ pissed at you, but I’m not gonna stay home.” You took his hands off your face.

“I’d rather let myself get caught by a bunch of criminals than have your life threatened by criminals.”

“You’re willing to do that?”

“Anything for you.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Getting hurt is part of the job. Y/n, you can’t be a hero. Not like that.”

“Freddy-”

“Y/n, please.” Freddy begs, his face tightening. “If you can’t forgive me; if you can’t trust me anymore, then you can hate me all you want. But for fuck’s sake, at least call in sick tomorrow.”

Yet, you were so stubborn, that was something you needed to work on. Freddy knew it, too. You didn’t listen. The day came, and you showed up, anyway, not wanting to live knowing the guy you loved no matter who he claimed he was. He was in charge of standing at the door, not allowing anyone access inside or out. But upon seeing you behind the counter through the glass window, you saw Freddy’s face drop. “No…”

The deafening sound of the alarm goes off by one of the retailers, forcing Mr. Blonde to shoot everyone he saw, including you.

Freddy cried out this time, “No!” 

People inside- the employees and customers, all screamed together. Freddy slammed his hands against the display windows, watching you as you fall back onto the floor, bleeding out from your shoulder. Mr. Blonde nearly shot everyone in the room, even almost hitting Mr. White in the process. He spotted your foot sticking out, and you attempted to crawl away, but he pointed his gun at you again. 

Just as planned, the police break in, prompting him to run away. You collapsed in your pool of blood, realizing how this was straight out of a crime movie scene, and the pain of your wound was inexplicable. How could you feel it with every inch in your body and still manage to move ever so slightly?

You looked back, realizing you were all alone, the only one left alive. Freddy didn’t do what a hero would have done, and escaped with the men, holding back his tears with his dear life behind the dark shades of his sunglasses, fighting to stay in character.

He had to assume the more logical conclusion; you were treated at the hospital, or you bleed to death back at that jewelry wholesale, and you died hating him.

Whether you knew him as a criminal or an undercover cop, you were going to show up, anyway, because you want to protect him, like any kind of Bonnie and Clyde you’d expect from movies. Except Bonnie and Clyde were both shot to death. In this world, Clyde escapes - Bonnie was left to bleed out.

FREDDY stared up at Marvin Nash. Does Freddy regret accepting the undercover mission? A brave young man like him took such a dangerous job, but he knew he was better off without it. The last thing he said to you swarmed his mind like bees; “Call in sick tomorrow.”

THE END

_

taglist: @locke-writes​

[stillchaoticlogic]

Stumbling: Chapter 9

Pairing: Raihan X Reader X Leon

Your life hadn’t gone exactly as you planned…

This is why when an old rival walks into the coffee shop you work at he gives you an offer you just can’t refuse. Finally, a chance at the League. Suddenly you are thrust into the spotlight and a world you thought you had left behind. Dreams aren’t always what they are cracked up to be though, especially when you find yourself the tangled up with the champion and a certain gym leader.

Has all your dreams come true?

Or is this your worst nightmare?

Masterlist

Blast from the Past

The next morning is tense as you pop out of your bedroom and into the common area. Leon and Raihan are sitting at the table pointedly ignoring one another, and honestly, you don’t really know why. You sit down in the vacant chair with a coffee cup in front of it and gaze between the two men. After several moments of silence from Leon and Raihan awkwardly avoiding your eyes, you stand up. 

“I’ve got training to do, when you two have dealt with yourselves we’re leaving,” you say in annoyance as you make your way into your room. You emerge about 10 minutes later fully dressed with your pokemon belt stocked with your team. You had sent Queenie, your Vespiquen, to your box and pulled out Arum, your Bounsweet. The Egg is in your backpack nice and snug while both Nile, your Vaporeon and Bastet, your Eevee follow along behind you. You know you are going to have to trade out some pokemon soon, but you wanted to assess your team before you made any decisions. 

Once outside you release your team and introduce them to the new pair or members. They all seem pretty happy with one another. 

“Alright, everyone! Let’s line up and do some assessments! We’ve got the Hulbury gym next. It’s a water type gym so I’ll need Arum and Axel front and center!”

The duo takes a step forward and you chuckle as Axel lays his head on top of Arum causing the berry pokemon to squeak in indignation. 

“Nile, you’re going to be going up against Kabu at the Motostoke Gym in about a week, so we need to get you used to your new form and get some formal training in!”

Nile yips in agreement and you chuckle as he swishes his fin-like tail around. Bastet is standing next to him and you laugh as she scolds him for almost hitting her with his much larger tail. He has the grace to look apologetic at his mate and sits still. 

“Bastet, have you given any thought to your evolution?” The Eevee nods her head decisively and steps up to you. You sit on the ground and pull out your Pokedex with all of her options. When you get to Glaceon she puts her paw on the screen indicating that the ice Pokemon is her choice. 

“So you want to be a Glaceon? What a perfect little pair the two of you make!” She yips happily and jumps around before going to stand back with her mate and new team. 

“Alright, I’ll have to get my hands on an Ice Stone soon!”

Turning your gaze to the last three Pokemon you smiled as Serenity bounds up to you and plops herself onto your head. You had a feeling she would be evolving soon and indulged her whenever she wanted to ride with you now. Davine and Hades lumber over and you regard them critically. Why don’t we see how you two are doing with a battle? Davine pouts up at you while Hades just lets out a little roar of happiness. However, before you could start the battle a commotion in the trees alerts you to some visitors. 

“Or you can hand over that Deino andJangmo-o!” 

You whip your head around and see a Pokemon thief and several men and women standing behind him. 

“What are you doing here?! Did you escape!?”

“Saw your battle on TV. Good job getting your first badge! They never had me! I got away before the cops could show up!”  he says in a baby voice before he burst out laughing. 

You narrow your eyes at the male before you, “What? Do you think just because I’ve only gotten one badge I can’t take you? I beat you before with no badges…”

“Big talk for a little girl… Where’s your knight in shining armor at? The dragon trainer?”

“I don’t need anyone to beat you…”

“Wanna bet?”

The thief and his accomplices release their Pokemon. With a frown, you notice many different types of dark and poison types like Nickit, Purrloin, Stunky, and Croagunk. The leader, that can’t seem to leave you alone, sends out a Drapion. You curse to yourself as you notice your opponents’ Pokemon all take a fighting stance. 

“Well, everyone… This is the real challenge, gyms be damned. Let’s show these thieves what we’re all made of!” A chorus of cries meets your ears as they all get into a fighting stance. Your team leaps into action at the same time your opponents do. Luckily with the training, you’ve done thus far the only ones you really have to coach are Nile and Bastet. 

“Nile! Bastet! Use Water Pulse and Swift!” The duo attacks Croagunk while Hades and Davine work on the Drapion and the rest of your Pokemon take on the remaining three themselves. You aren’t surprised when a bright light glows to your left and notice Arum evolving.

“Arum! You’re a Steenee now!” you exclaim in glee ignoring the rest of the battle so you miss the moment that the Drapion breaks free from its battle with your dragons and charges at you. You go to leap out of the way of the scorpion-like Pokemon as you scream when all of sudden it stops in its tracks its stinger inches from you. The Drapion is thrown away from you and faints upon its impact with the ground. Looking up you see Serenity panting and on the verge of passing out. 

“Serenity!” you yell as the Stunky bares its teeth and bites your unsuspecting antenna pokemon. She lets out a tiny cry and you scream her name in worry. Axel throws its fists down onto the Pokemon making it release its grip. Arum rushes over and you watch in awe as leaves whip up from the ground and assault the Stunky, knocking it out. You’re surprised when Davine, with a battle cry you’ve never heard before rushes the Nickit heading butting it and sending it reeling back before hitting it with a dragon tail. 

“What is going on here!? How is some little girl beating all of us?!” he yells in anger. 

“First off!” you yell as you hold Serenity in your arms, “Don’t call me little girl. I’ve kicked your ass twice now.”

You watch in satisfaction as the other Pokemon fall to your team, “Secondly, I train my own Pokemon, I don’t steal other peoples!”

“You stole my Deino! I want it back!”

“Hades made his choice.” 

You watch in amusement as Hades whips his head towards the voice and a low growl emitted from his throat. The ring leader takes a step back in fear. 

“So you’ve named the traitor.”

“Fitting isn’t it?” you ask with a smirk. 

“You’re such a little bitch!”

“Maybe… but I still beat you.”

“You only think you have.”

Your eyes widen as several more thieves step out of the trees surrounding you. You square your shoulders and begin to call back your team knowing you’re going to have to find another way out of this.

“What? Giving up so soon?”

“Not exactly… but tell me… Why do you care so much about me?”

“Let’s just say you’ve interested someone…”

“Someone?”

“Oh yes… He’s quite interested in you and your Pokemon… And once we hand you over to him and show him what you can do… Well if you’re a good little girl maybe he’ll have a use for you. After all, he did tell us to bring you in alive…”

You let out a smirk, “Is that so?” 

He didn’t notice you switch out the Pokemon in your team, so he’s completely unprepared for the moment you threw a Pokeball into the air. Titan your Corviknight glares down at the unsuspecting group before you. 

“Let’s go Titan!” you yell as you rush to him and leap onto his back. He takes off and you clutch his feathers tightly so you don’t fall off. 

“Gust!” you yell as several of the newly released Pokemon leaps to catch hold of the two of you. The wind knocks them to the ground and you smile as you pat him. 

“Good job, Titan…” 

He cooed back at you happily, a single red eye gleaming at you as he turns to gaze at you. 

“Thank you for being here for me… I promise you I haven’t forgotten you… It’s just… Not time yet… Your new teammates have so much to learn…”

He coos back at you as if he’s saying it’s okay. You just pat his neck and tell him where you need to go. When you arrive back at the Inn you notice Raihan and Leon in the front of the building yelling about something. 

“What are you two going on about?!” you exclaim as you land. 

The duo whipped around to face you with equal looks of shock on their faces. 

“When did you get a Corviknight?! Where do you keep getting all these Pokemon at?!” exclaims Raihan. 

“Wow! So Titan evolved?!” Leon exclaims as he approaches the two of you. 

Titan dips his head down so that Leon can pet him, “Last time I saw you you were a Rookidee!”

Titan straightens up and fluffs up his feathers obviously preening under the attention. 

“I trained Titan when I was younger, I have several Pokemon that I raised when I intended to challenge the League. They mostly hang out at my family’s place, but since starting my adventure I had them put back into my storage box in case I need them for any reason. A good thing to… I needed Titan today or I wouldn’t have made it.”

“What do you mean you wouldn’t have made it?” Asks Leon his voice almost dangerous. 

“The thieves are back… You were right, they wanted revenge and to take back Hades and take Davine. Also… They wanted to take...me…”

“They wanted to kidnap you?!” Raihan exclaims as he rushes up to you his hands clenched into fists.

“That’s what they said… I was able to take out the first wave, but there was a second wave surrounding us. I couldn’t fight them all off so I ran…”

“I’m glad you did if something would have happened to you…” Leon says as he pulls you into a hug holding you close to him. 

You hear Raihan curse from beside you as he looks down the path, “I bet they’ve run by now… Damnit! I can’t believe we let you go off alone…”

“You can’t be there all the time Rai…” you say as you pull away from Leon.

“No, you need protection at all times now. We can’t let them take you, who knows what they intend to do to you…” Raihan argues. 

“I’m not a damsel, guys…”

“No one is saying you are, but you are being targeted by an entire organization of thieves and that’s dangerous,” Leon reasons. 

You heave a sigh of annoyance, “I know… I just… I want to have a normal journey… Not one filled with unnecessary danger and people trying to kidnap me and steal my pokemon.” 

 “Look, we're going to make sure nothing happens to you okay?” asks Raihan as he pulls you towards him. You nod knowing that the two of them will protect you, you just don’t want to need protection. 

“You know… you aren’t weak for needing help… if that’s what you’re worried about,” Says Raihan as he squeezes you a little tighter. You smile to yourself wondering how he could know you so well already. 

“They found me because of the televised battle, so they are going to know what city I’m in all the time.”

“We won’t have your battles televised then, I’ll talk to the League-”

“No that’s too obvious, plus I doubt that would keep them from finding me, they probably have eyes in all the cities anyway…”

“She’s right, they’re probably watching the gyms, so not having her battles televised would just hurt her career,” Raihan reasons. 

The three of you take off down the road to the Pokemon center. You allow Titan some time to stretch his wings as he flies ahead of you all, playing lookout even if you didn’t ask him to. 

“So what we don’t do anything?” Leon argues. 

“We should let the other gym leaders know what’s going on and have them on the lookout for anyone suspicious,” Raihan puts his hands behind his head and you gaze up at the tall male beside you. 

“Besides, I want to be the one to take them out…” Raihan growls, his sharp fang-like teeth showing in a dangerous smirk.

You suddenly know why Raihan is known as the dragon tamer, he may as well be part dragon himself. 

“Well, you’ll have to get in line…” Leon says with an edge to voice and glance to your other side you see the champion radiating with power, not the boy you grew up with. 

“OH! I have some good news!” you exclaim as you pull out Arum’s Pokeball, “Arum evolved! She is now a Steenee!” 

“Sweet!”

“That’s great news!”

“It is! She’s so proud!” you exclaim as you send her out. She blinks up at them with her big eyes before she giggles and begins to dance around on the path before you all. You know you’re trying to keep your mind busy. The return of the thieves is startling and you’re scared. You’re scared for your Pokémon as well as yourself. 

‘I need to get stronger…’ you think as you gaze at Arum. She is getting stronger every day as is your other Pokémon. You know you have to be patient, but you can’t help but feel pressured to be strong now. 

“Hey, nothing is going to happen to you…” Leon says softly. 

“You don’t know that…” you mutter back. 

“You’re right I don’t… but I know that while I’m around I’m not letting someone take you from me okay?”

“Okay…”

The trip to the Pokemon center is relatively quick. You all end up stocking up on supplies and you trade out Titan for Nile once again. Your team now consists of Serenity your Hatenna, Axel your Toxel, Davine your Janmo-o, Hades your Deino, Arum your Steenee, and Nile your Vaporeon. Once you have all finished up at the center you head off down Route 5 in order to get to Hulbury. You don’t like the thought of sleeping in the tent and you can feel your paranoia creeping up. 

“If we end up having to sleep in the tent tonight, we will keep guard,” Leon says with finality.

“When are you two going to sleep then?”

“We can’t not keep watch, you know this,” Raihan interjects.

“But if you’re tired will you be able to battle if something happens?”

“(Name) you need to calm down and trust us,” says Raihan as he drapes an arm around your shoulders. 

“What if they attack us again? What if something happens?”

“We are just going to have to be diligent okay? Just focus on getting stronger for your next gym battle this doesn’t change anything,” Raihan says calmly. 

You spend the rest of the day training your team and despite your best efforts to make it to Hulbury, you have to set up camp. There is a small clearing near a pond that is perfect for camping. You all fall into the same routine as you have for the past few weeks. Raihan sets up the tent, Leon starts the fire and you start dinner. The other two pitch in when needed and feed the Pokemon. Everyone is out and meandering around the clearing and whether or not you want to admit it the sky is gorgeous with its pinks and oranges. You focus your energy on the curry you’re making and Serenity volunteers to be your taste testers especially since she hasn’t left your side for hours. You notice Raihan poking around the tall grass, but you don’t pay much attention to him. Leon is at your side helping you with the vegetables and rice. 

“How are you holding up?” Leon asks as he chops the potato. 

“I’ve been better… Its moments like this that my head just screams at me to go home, but there isn’t anything left for me there…”

“No, you need to get stronger and running from this isn’t going to solve it.”

“I know…” you say softly as you avoid his eyes. 

“Hey…” he says as he comes up behind you and wraps his arms around your frame. He rests his head on your shoulder and you feel his warmth and his strength and you feel secure. You feel yourself lean back into him and you rest your head against his. 

“You did amazing today. You defeated them and you ran when you knew you couldn’t. That’s all you could do and that’s all I could ask you to do. I’m sorry that you were alone when it happened… It’s my fault for jumping to conclusions about you are Raihan…”

“Jumping to conclusions? Leon, Rai and I are friends and what you saw last night wasn’t anything. Nothing happened. Also, what does it matter if something does happen? Aren’t you-”

A loud squawk interrupts you and you look up in just enough time to see Axel jump back in fear. Rushing forward you watch as your baby stumbles away and rushes behind Arum who is just staring in confusion at the overzealous Farfetch’d who is waving his leek stalk wildly in the direction of the baby. 

“Axel… what did you do to it?!” you scold as you watch the bird hop about wielding its leek. 

Axel looks up at you with tear-filled innocent eyes and rubs at its head. 

“I’m sure you’re fine…” You mutter as you pick up the baby Pokemon to examine his head. He pouts at you as the Farfetch’d lunge at the two of you. 

“Oh absolutely not… Not after the day I’ve had… Serenity! Psybeam!”

The angry bird is knocked back a few feet but seems undeterred. Serenity hops to the side and hits Farfetch’d with confusion causing the Pokemon to become disoriented. With one final attack from Serenity, Farfetch’d falls back into the grass and you just chuckle triumphantly.

“Well catch it!” yells Leon from your right. 

“Oh! Right!” You pull a Pokeball out of your bag and throw it at the bird Pokemon. After it shakes a few times it finally signals that Farfetch’d is caught. 

“You caught a Pokemon the normal way for once… Good job!” says Raihan as he walks up to the two of you. 

“THE CURRY!” you yell before you can answer and you rush back over to the pot in just enough time to keep it from boiling over. Raihan picks the Pokemon up from the grass and walks over to you. 

“When he evolves you’re going to have a fighter on your hands,” he says as he hands your new Pokemon over to you. 

“What are you talking about? He’s already a fighter…” you mutter while you stir the pot. 

“You know what I mean!” he chuckles.

“I do…” 

You send Farfetch’d to your box knowing you will get him out to train later. Raihan hangs out with you while you plate the food and then helps you divvy the food out to everyone. The meal is quiet with everyone lost in their own thoughts about everything that has been going on. After dinner is over and everything is cleaned up you decide to turn in. You know that sleeping will be very difficult tonight. 

You hear the front of the tent unzip as Raihan steps in, “Leon is taking first watch so let’s get some sleep okay? You have a gym badge to win tomorrow!”

You can tell he’s trying to make you feel better about the situation, but what you don’t expect is for him to lay his sleeping bag down right next to you. 

“Rai?”

“Look I’m right here okay? Just go to sleep…”

You nod at him and roll so you are turned away from him, but you’re so restless it isn’t long until you roll to face the top of the tent and then to your side again. After a few more minutes of rolling around and just being restless and annoyed you feel an arm wrap around your waist and a chin rest on your shoulder. 

“I’ve got you…” is the only thing that a sleepy Raihan mutters before he pulls you closer to his body and slowly his warmth and the feeling of security that surrounds you allows you drift off into a fitful sleep.

Notes: Hey guys sorry for the long wait things have crazy lately... Also, if you didn’t see my post earlier about my sweet kitty baby, he’s had some blockage. If you are unfamiliar with kitties and blockage it’s very dangerous and deadly. If left untreated for a day they will die, it’s that serious... So I now have an astronomical animal hospital bill to pay but my baby is alive and recovering so I won’t complain. I think I’m going to open up commissions to help pay for the costs. I’ve set up a Ko-fi and I have no idea how it works... I think the link is hanging out in my description... I think... So look for commission information too! Don’t worry this won’t affect my other stories. Anyway! I hope you all are having a wonderful New Year! As always leave a comment below! Reblog to show some love and send an ask if you want to be tagged! 

Taglist: @Ichigokage @pinktowne @marina-and-the-memes @ssskeletonsoffun @secretly-a-weeb @duizhangdeluxe @swiftly-heart @invaderbekk @crowkie @narees17 @skinklady @nerdyeldritchhorror @wthyuta @serendipityseoul @crescentrax @ninjarose23 @chiizwiz @cherryrocks505 @just-a-dregular @bonniestreet @theofficialkanekibarbie @maryry24 @zea-is-amazing @loch-monsta @artisticchihuahua @hadeselegy @rociomz

[juliettecxi]

Rating : G

Word count : 1.9K

Warnings : None

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Clary was late. Sure, she was never punctual, she was always a few minutes tardy here and there, but today she was late. So late, she walked into her lecture half an hour after it started.

 She snuck in while her professor's back was turned and raced past the rows and sat next to her raven haired friend.

 As Clary collected herself, She felt Izzy’s burning gaze on her profile. Clary turned around and looked at her friend and shot her a sheepish smile. “Good morning!” she said, and Isabelle frowned in response. Clary could feel a lecture coming. “Clary,” Izzy started, “You’re a lot of things, you have many flaws, and I love you regardless,” she smiled. “But if you don’t buy a damn alarm clock and wake up on time I will not cover for you ever again!” she hissed. Clary sighed, “ It’s not my fault alarm clocks have snooze buttons, or off buttons for that matter. But I wasn’t totally late only because of my lack of alarm clocks…” she trailed off. Izzy looked at her. “Then why were you late?” she questioned with a smirk. Clary knew all too well where her adventurous friend's brain was going. “Isabelle. No. It’s just. See, ugh  now I don’t wanna tell you!” Clary whined. “Come on! Please!”  Izzy said with a laugh, making puppy eyes at Clary. She opened her mouth to say more but was interrupted by a booming voice from the front of the lecture hall. “Is there something you two would like to share with the class?” asked their professor, his voice laced with irritation. Clary and Isabelle quickly parted and pretended to take notes. Izzy gave Clary a look that said “Later” but Clary simply smirked. She’d have to catch her first.

Isabelle knew Clary like the back of her hand, and if one thing was clear, Clary was obviously hiding something. She knew it had nothing to do with a late night hook-up, Clary wasn’t like that, but she wildly suspected it had something to do with the opposite sex, and if the scent of coffee and donuts that lingered on Clary was anything to go by, that certain someone was probably from the coffee shop she recently started frequenting.

As it turned out, Clary’s late arrival did not go unnoticed by her professor, “He’s an art professor Clary, he literally lives for detail.” was what her roommate and best friend Simon had told her when Clary entered their apartment in a foul mood after getting a 15 minute lecture from her professor about punctuality. “Hey, you left here on time didn’t you? Why were you late?” he asked, suddenly curious. “Well, ummm I missed the bus?” Clary said, trying to come up with a good enough excuse to cover up for the real  reason she was late, but she obviously failed miserably, for the look on Simon’s face was anything but belief. “Clary…” he said, and gave her a look. “Wow!” Clary suddenly exclaimed.” Would you look at the time! Gotta run! Catch ya later Simon!” she said, grabbed  her jacket and ran for the door.”

“Clary! Get back here!” Simon called after her, but it was too late, for the tiny redhead had already disappeared out of sight

Clary ran down the apartment stairs and onto the street. She would have to answer a lot of questions later on, but she needed to get to the coffee shop, partially for coffee, but mostly to see a certain blond hottie who was the reason she was late today.

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Jace always wondered how he ended up working at the coffee shop. He was a broke college student, but there were so many jobs out there, why a coffee shop of all places? If he didn’t need the money, he would’ve quit a long time ago.The snobby customers and his co-worker Magnus’s Taylor Swift playlist that played on loop was enough to make him consider ending it all. Not to get him wrong, he loved Taylor, but hearing ‘Style’ about ten times everyday was just too much for Jace.

As he was pouring a customer a cup of coffee, another coworker and his best friend Alec came over to him. “Hey bestie!” Jace said, raising his voice a few pitches higher. Alec gave him a disgusted look and said “Your redhead sweetheart is here.” At this Jace’s mood brightened, she’d been coming to the coffee shop for a few days now, and seemed to be a college student, just like him. “You know maybe you should talk to her, she seems kinda into you.” said Alec and gave Jace a suggestive smirk. He frowned. “I would, but I honestly doubt she’s into me, maybe she has a thing for Magnus?” “Magnus!” Alec said,almost choking on his own spit. “You summoned me!’ said a voice from behind them. Alec gave Magnus a loving look and looped his arms around his waist. Jace cringed a little internally. “Couples…” he thought. “Jace-yy..” Magnus drawled, “Your crush is here to see you.” “Can you believe Jace thinks she’s here for you?” Alec said with a laugh and Magnus started laughing with him. This was too much domestic-ness for Jace to handle, so he decided to go see his crush.

According to the badge on his t-shirt, the hottie’s name was Jace. Clary liked that name. It was simple, yet unique, and maybe their ship name could be Clace. It had become a part of the morning routine to go to the coffee shop, order a cup of coffee and a donut, and stare at Jace for 15 minutes. Today she may have gotten a little lost into the staring (which was totally not creepy) and missed her bus.

Oh well, at least it wasn’t a waste of time.

As she was entering the coffee shop after running away from Simon, Clary decided that she was going to talk to Jace. The coffee shop was always a very calming place, and whoever handled the music had excellent taste. Clary made her way to the counter, the cashier was always a black haired boy who scared her a little, but she would always see Jace behind him, like a star working away on making coffee and satisfying customers. As she looked up from the menu card she expected to meet a pair of blue eyes, only to be met with a pair of tawny ones. Jace. Sirens started going off in Clary’s brain. Should she run? Should she pretend to be mute? Should she just risk it all and talk to him? Clary decided to go with option four, which was to stare blankly at Jace and grin. “Um, hi? Can I get you something?” without thinking Clary replied, “Yeah my usual please.”, left the cash on the counter, ran to her seat, put her head on her table and mentally screamed. He probably thought she was an idiot now.

 A few minutes later Jace brought her order to her table, gave her a smile and left. Why was he so perfect? As Clary was adding sugar to her coffee she realized something, how did he know her order?

After the first interaction Jace had with the red head, he was elated, but also kind of bummed because he didn’t catch her name. He smiled to himself remembering  their conversation, when he saw her stalking up to him. Jace smiled. “Do you need any-” he began to ask, only to be cut off when she said “Are you stalking me?” Jace was stunned. “What?!” he asked, unable to believe his own ears. “I said, are you stalking me? You know, I expected more from you blondie. I thought you were an honourable man who respected women and wasn’t a creep.” The lady kept going on and on and all Jace could do was stare open mouthed at her. How could he have been so stupid, he’d memorized her order and he’d never taken it before, naturally, she was bound to think he was a creep. All he could was put his head down in shame. 

Alec heard the commotion, so he came over to see what was going on, only to be met with the sight of his best friend getting yelled at by his crush. “What’s going on here?” he interjected. The red head looked at him with fire in her eyes. “This man,” she said “Has been stalking me! He’s memorized my coffee order. He’s never served me before and when I asked for my usual, he brought me my usual!’ Alec realized what was going on. “He’s not stalking you shorty,” he said tiredly. “This moron has a crush on you!” he said with an exasperated sigh. At this the red head flushed, mumbled a sorry and ran out of the store. Jace glared at Alec. “it had to be done man..” he said, and walked away, while Jace ran after the girl.

“Stupid. stupid . stupid!” Clary thought to herself as she ran out of the shop. How could she just assume like that! Also crush? No way, and definitely not anymore. Her mind was reeling. She could hear the other boy’s voice; “This moron has a crush on you; a crush; on you.” Was it possible to feel so happy you wanted to fly, but also feel like you wanted to bury yourself alive at the same time? Because that was exactly how Clary felt.

She had run quite a distance when she heard a familiar baritone voice call after her. “Clary! Please wait up, I just want to talk!” She stopped in her tracks. As Jace ran up to her started talking. “Look, I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have made such an assumption, I’ll never set foot into the coffee shop again. Once again- Jace put a finger on her lips. “Shoosh…” he said, “I’m the one who should apologize. What I did was kind of creepy and I can understand where you were coming from. Also, ignore what my friend said back there. Clary couldn’t believe it. He had no reason to apologize, yet he came running after her to do just that. Why was he so sweet? Mustering all her boldness, “But I don’t want to ignore it.” she said, a little bashfully. “Huh? what do you mean?” Jace said, but she could see a small smirk on his face. Clary let out a big sigh. “I’ve had a crush on you ever since I walked into that coffee shop.” she said. Jace’s eyes widened “Really? Wow! Same! But in all honesty I didn’t think you liked me like that. I mean a girl like you couldn’t have possibly been single?” Clary looked at him and giggled. “Oh you have no idea. Also, I feel really bad about what I did back there? Is there any way I can make it up to you?” she asked, feeling guilty. Jace looked thoughtful. “Hmm.. How about a cup of coffee, and maybe your number?” he said, with a twinkle in his eyes. “Most certainly blondie! It’s the least I could do after everything!” she said.

“Hey I never learned your name.” Jace said, “Clary.” she replied. “Beautiful.” he said, and they both walked back to the coffee shop arm in arm while giggling as they recounted the events of that day.

“I’m telling you Simon, she’s met someone here!” Izzy said, as she and Simon entered the coffee shop, only to see Clary engaged in a vivacious conversation with an extremely good looking boy with blond hair. Simon was taken back, he definitely did not think something like this would happen. “Well,” Izzy said, with a smirk on her face, “Looks like you owe me a doughnut!” “It looks like I do..” Simoon said, with a resigned sigh and rolled his eyes as he went after Isabelle, who’d already headed off to Clary and the blonde’s table.

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A/N: Hello! Thank you for reading! Feel free to hit me up with feedback!

[dragonnan]

16, 17 and 19 for the most recent ask thingy, should you feel the mood sway you. 😁

The mood will ALWAYS sway me lol!

16. Describe your WIP that currently has the highest word count.

Simon and Simon and Psych (Psych/Simon & Simon) Word count: 24,323

So this one, in spite of not being updated in YEARS, is a story I’m still absolutely on fire to resume because I’m just thrilled af about the concept. It’s a crossover between 2 series I love - Psych and Simon & Simon (an 80s Private Detective series).  What excites me most about it was the reimagining of Simon & Simon for the modern era while still retaining all of the things that made the characters what they were.  

A little back story on Simon & Simon as I feel more people will be less familiar with that series of the two.  The series is about 2 brothers who decided to open a detective agency together after the younger brother, AJ (Andrew Jackson), left the larger detective agency where he had been working for several years.  

AJ is blond, surfed a great deal as a younger man, attended law school, and was considered the “golden child” growing up somewhat sheltered and cherished and maybe a tad innocent of the world.  When his brother went to Viet Nam, AJ took part in the peace protests - primarily because he was terrified for his brother and wanted to do anything he could to make the fighting stop.  AJ tends to be the more mature of the brothers - nearly always wearing a suit and usually takes lead in dealing with clients (assuming Rick doesn’t interrupt him).  

Rick, the older brother, left home after they father died and bounced around from various interests, including being a biker for a time, before going to Viet Nam.  He would come back from the war with a boatload of PTSD and a very fierce drive to protect his younger brother (probably far more so than he’d even felt prior to Viet Nam but to be clear - Rick is VERY protective of AJ).  All of that, however, might take the casual observer by surprise as Rick is incredibly irresponsible (on the surface) and nearly always in a good mood or quick with a joke.  Just don’t threaten baby bro other their mother.  Really, just do not.   

So that’s a bit of backstory so I can mention my changes for the modern era.  Instead of Viet Nam, Rick is now a veteran of Desert Storm.  They now both carry cell phones instead of relying on pay phones or other land lines.  They have a website.  I’ve updated their cars.  Before, AJ drove a red Camaro T Top so I changed that to a 2008 Chevy Corvette.  Rick, in the series, drove a 1979 Dodge Power Wagon so that one... did not change lol!  I seriously cannot picture Rick in any other vehicle. 

So after ALL OF THAT there’s actually a story in progress...

The plot thus far is that the Simon brothers are in Santa Barbara because AJ is running in the annual Half Marathon (an actual one cause I do like to blend some real events with my fiction lol).  While in town, Rick goes to run an errand - picking up an item his buddy Carlos had shipped but wasn’t able to pick up himself because Carlos is... sketchy (an actual character from the series that we hear about anecdotally from Rick).  Meanwhile, Juliet and Lassiter are at the shipyards as well, having set up a sting on suspicion of drug activity.  So, of course, when Rick goes to collect this item for Carlos, he ends up being stopped by the cops who confiscate the item after finding it filled with drugs and they arrest Rick.  THIS, then, is how the crossover comes into play as Shawn, of course, horns in on the investigation and immediately suspects that Rick is being setup so he volunteers to help out the Simons.  Various things happen which ultimately leads Shawn, Gus, and AJ back to the shipyards and a suspicious warehouse (aren’t ALL warehouses suspicious?) where suspicious men are rapidly emptying it of product.  The 3 men get caught and are bundled off in the back of a suspicious vehicle to a suspicious location.  At about this time Rick is let out on bail (thanks moooom....) and in a panic as he hasn’t heard from his brother.  When he realizes AJ must be in trouble, he ends up tentatively joining up with Juliet and Lassiter who are trying to find Shawn. Nobody is entirely thrilled with being teamed up in either group...

And this is roughly where things stand after the last update!     

So after I’ve subjected you to all of the above, how about a snippet from chapter 1?

___

Shawn Spencer spun slowly in his father's chair – maintaining just enough speed to make a full revolution before kicking himself into another circuit.  Typically he enjoyed his time at the station, provided he wasn't behind bars or being subjected to an interrogation.  Okay, scratch that.  He did enjoy an interrogation provided his hot pants girlfriend with a personal pair of handcuffs was the one dressing him down.  He leered. He didn't even have to try to make that sound dirty.  

Right.  Back on the subject at hand. Naughty cop Jules would, sadly, have to wait until they could have some private time.

If they could have some private time.  Of course, the way things were going lately...

And that brought him back full circle to his original beef.

Dad was being cagey. Like, Nick Cagey complete with diminished mane and sneaky covertness. Sure, he pretended he wasn't being covert but his dad sucked almost as bad as Lassie when he tried to fake acting casual. He was way too sour in the shorts to pull off that level of none chalice.

Like now, the old man was going for coffee. Like anybody with half a badge couldn't see right through that act. Shawn pulled together a mild sneer as his dad returned to his desk.

“Really? You put sugar in that too?”

His dad didn't look at him as he set his coffee on the desk. “Stop glaring at me. And get the hell out of my chair!”

Shawn didn't budge. “I am on to you.” He enunciated with immaculate exaggeration.

“The only thing you're on is my chair. And too many Pop Rocks; I thought Gus had cut you back to one pack a day.”

“I'm allowed two packs on the weekend.”

“It's Wednesday, kiddo. Maybe it's time you invested in a calendar.”

“Well maybe it's time you invested in hair plugs!” Shawn paused as his father crossed his arms. The pointing hand dropping back to his lap. “Too Terence Stamp? Sorry, I was caught up in the moment.”

“What do you want, Shawn?”  Giving up on patience, Henry opted for shoving his son until he toppled out of the chair.  Ignoring the yelp when Shawn flopped to the tile, he scooted closer to the desk so he could pull up the report he'd been working on.  Fingers just coming to rest on his keyboard, he scowled at the active game of Pitfall taking up his screen.  He tapped a button but rather than taking him back to the SBPD mainframe, it caused the character to jump into the green shapes he assumed were meant to be alligators.  Behind him, Shawn gasped.

“You just killed my last guy!”

“Be grateful that's all I've killed.” Slapping a few more keys he finally found the right combination to get back to his report.  

Still sitting on the floor, Shawn drew up his knees up and propped his chin on both fists.  Not even managing to type a single word, Henry sighed and swiveled towards his moping son.

“What, Shawn?”

Now that he had the desired attention, Shawn pushed his lower lip out the tiniest bit.  “Jules is busy and she said I can't help with the stakeout cause it's “super stupid important, Shawn” and Gus won't let me borrow the blueberry so I can follow her cause deep down inside I know she wants me to help cause, please, like I don't always make a stakeout better – I mean, who else is going to remember to bring an extra container of cheese dip for the nachos because one cup is just never enough and believe you me you do not want to short cheese a guy packing tear gas...”

Henry held up a hand to cut off the ramble that could easily go on another five minutes.  With his other hand he rubbed at his aching eyes.  Of course Shawn would find out about the sting.  However, Chief Vick had been adamant about keeping him out of it.  Henry had actually lobbied for including his son on the details – the memory of the last big operation that had temporarily cost him his job was not an easily healing wound.  Rather than even attempt reconstructing the word barrage of bitching, Henry latched on to the least pointless detail.

“Where is Gus anyhow?  I thought you two left an hour ago for dinner.”

Shawn shrugged.  “I don't know for certain...  I mean, by now he could be anywhere.  He's always expressed an interest in touring with Alicia Keys...”

“Shawn.”

“We went to Taco Louie's and he insisted on the deep fried beef and bean mini burrito...”

Henry raised his hand again.  Enough said.

“Well whatever you were thinking, I'm still not talking the Chief out of her decision.  You're bored?  How about you work on the burglary case I gave you.”

“Daaaad... the Redbox robberies?” Groaning, Shawn flopped on his back and sprawled dramatically. Officers passing back and forth shot glances at the display and Henry rubbed his face in embarrassment.

“Dammit, Shawn, get off the floor! You look like an idiot!”

Shawn sat up but didn't stand.  Nor was he ready to let go of his latest complaint.

“Come on!  Dad, Redbox?  That is so... not sexy!”

17. Describe a fic that is still in the ‘ideas’ stage.

This one is an Iron Man character exploration regarding Tony’s relationship with Obie and that, with hindsight, he realizes Obie had been grooming him.  It will never cross that crucial line but the potential leaves Tony reeling.  This will be in the same universe as another short fic titled “Simple Math”.  Here’s the bit of writing I’d put together so far:

_____

He'd thought it was bonding; at the time.  His dad had never been one for just hanging out; shooting the shit; telling tales out of school.  No, Pops, when he bothered to interact, led with questions.  “You keeping your grades up?” “You still seeing that floozy?” “When are you going to pull your head out of your ass and grow the hell up?” “You do realize it's my name you're disgracing every time you go on a bender?”

With Obie it was just, easy.  Obie might ask about school but it was always with approval and pride.  He would discuss Tony's conquests as though Tony had climbed Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but underwear and a cape.    

Obie was there when his father wasn't. Which meant that Obie was always there.  The first time he got astoundingly drunk on his father's scotch, Obie was the one to help him hunch over the toilet and vomit expensive, aged booze into the toilet.  Obie was also the one to replace the depleted bottle to keep Howard in the dark.  For a fourteen year old kid still trying to gain his dad's favor, that had meant everything.

He saw his first porn with Obie; sex education ala Traci Lords, three months shy of his fifteenth birthday.  That was the same time he was introduced to weed.  Obie had cautioned him to use it sparingly; didn't want to fry that genius brain, he'd say, and ruffle his hair.  The porn had made him uncomfortable.  Obie had turned it off and told him they could watch whatever Tony wanted.  They'd ended up changing the station to Knight Rider; smoking and munching Cheetos and laughing over their orange fingers.

It was Obie who was there, arm around his shoulders, after his parents died.  He desperately didn't want to sob in front of the man.  Things were so complicated with his dad that all he felt was blinding guilt... as though some part of him had caused this.  But Obie had filled him with bourbon until the emotions got soft around the edges and he'd sat beside the older man, head tipping gradually to the right until he was held up by Obie's bicep. Obie had just slung and arm around him and let Tony pass out while he rubbed a broad hand up and down his arm.

It was strange, now, looking back with adult perspective.  A perspective that included Afghanistan and his intended execution and Obie's arm around his shoulders while he talked about legacy and responsibility while Tony's lungs slowly seized.  He'd taken the time to sit there – arm around Tony's shoulders while one broad hand traveled up and down Tony's bicep – just like when he was a kid and Obie was the whole world.

He'd tried to remember if it had felt so tainted... at the time.  Or if he'd always believed it was love.

Obie had never quite crossed that line. Though hindsight offered a peek into that possibility with enough clarity Tony had fought with his cramping gut for nearly thirty minutes.  He'd staved off vomiting though he was fairly certain his dignity had still been in tatters what with Bruce wandering in on his misery.

19. What’s your favorite character headcanon?

Gosh... It’s funny that when asked the question the first thing that I ponder is “what head canons?? what are characters??? Do I even watch tv???” So I needed to ponder a bit.

As far as it goes my favorite head canons are not typically ones that I myself have come up with.  And going with that maybe the best one I know is for the series, and character, Sherlock.

I’m am 100% all in on Sherlock being on the autism spectrum.  Yes, I know this is attributed to MANY characters but consider the fact that those reasons have a ton of validity.  Sherlock has very strong indications of being on the spectrum and having read quite a number of essays on the subject, many of which were written by people who are also on the spectrum, I’m completely convinced.  It’s to the point I don’t even like calling it a “head canon” as that implies it’s only a fan concept and therefore has less likelihood.  It just feels so deliberate with that character.  

So going off from that I would say, in a more general sense, my favorite head canons are they type where we can discover neurologically atypical traits in characters - especially heroes.  Too long anyone neurologically divergent is portrayed either as a victim or, FAR FAR worse, as the “crazed villain” and frankly that is disgusting.  So it is beyond refreshing to suddenly have this amazing, brilliant, layered person who also displays autistic traits.  In going back over characters that I’ve loved most there are many who have traits of this sort that, only in hindsight, do I recognize.  Just a few off the top of my head; Malcolm Bright, Shawn Spencer (100% ADHD), Rapunzel, Rick Simon (remember him? lol), Adrien Monk (his OCD was very deliberate), as well as characters who’ve developed trauma after horrific events such as, well, most MCU characters but particularly Tony Stark and Stephen Strange.  Malcolm Bright also very much was built from trauma but I also am convinced there are neurologically atypical traits at play.  

Thank you so much for the great ask!!        

[cchellacat]

Destroyer prompt: convincing Chris not to go undercover with Erin. 😘

“Chris, I can’t do this again, last time you were gone for eight months. Don’t take the job, please.”

Her voice shook on the last word. She was begging him. The last undercover mission he took had lasted much longer than it was meant to and in that time Kat had had to bite her lip and lie any time people asked her where he was or if they’d broken up. It had been nerve wracking.

The FBI were never forthcoming with information on ongoing op’s and it seemed girlfriends didn’t rank up as high as agent’s wives, so she had been left in a void. No contact with Chris and no information, not even a confirmation that he was alive. She loved him, she really did, but this was a deal breaker. She couldn’t wait around again, not like this. She needed him here with her, she needed commitment. She needed him to choose her.

Chris looked up at her from his seat at the breakfast bar, a cooling cup of coffee only half drunk at his elbow.

His eyes met hers and she looked back at him helplessly. From the minute they’d met she’d known she might never breakdown the wall around his heart. He’d been hurt before, he kept himself tightly reigned. For Chris it was about control, everything in it’s place, things neatly lined up, all ready to fall where he directed. But she wasn’t a game piece on his chess board. She deserved better than this. Either make the commitment or let each other go, that was the ultimatum she had on the tip of her tongue. Choose me, pick me or don’t come back.

She felt tears prick at her eyes as he continued to look at her, seemingly unmoved by her desperate plea. Kat closed her eyes, the words dying on her lips. That’s not who she was, she wasn’t going to force him into something he didn’t want just to prove he cared about her.

She turned on her heel and grabbed her bag and coat, pocketing the car keys.

“I have to go, or I’ll be late… Just… Chris, please just think about it? You need a break, you’re only just back… Maybe a little more time to decompress between op’s would be good for you…” She trailed off as his eyes drifted down to the coffee mug, bringing it up to sip.

She made her way to the door and let herself out. The truth was that ever since coming back from his last undercover assignment he’d been different. Quiet. The easy smiles, the softness of him, somehow covered in a brittle shell. The man she fell in love with was still there, he was just harder to reach.

Kat tossed her bag in the passenger seat and slid into the car. She braced her hands on the wheel and bit back the tears still threatening to fall. She counted to ten and then did it again and again. She would not cry.

The startling knock on glass jolted her out of her self imposed mediation.

She lowered the window and smiled at her next door neighbour.

“Hi David, what’s up?”

“Hey, Kat, I hate to ask you this, but could you come give me a hand, I’ve dropped my house keys in the storm drain, and you have such small hands, I think you might be able to reach in and get them?”

“Sure, I’ll give it a shot.”

She smiled and got out of the car, intending to go around the back and grab her dad’s fishing pole from the trunk which would be a better bet than her trying to jam her hands between metal grates.

The loud bang echoed out over the street as an oncoming car’s tyer burst. She turned at the noise and froze, unable to move as the car came barrelling towards her. It happened too fast. There was nothing anyone could have done to stop it.

Chris listened as the door closed behind her and let out a sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck tiredly.

If he’s honest he’s been waiting for it to happen for a while. Every day since he got back from assignment months ago, he’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop, for her to leave him.

He wasn’t the same man. The last case had fucked badly with his head. He’d been seeing a therapist on the side, one his bosses didn’t know about. His nightmares so bad he didn’t sleep most nights, just lay in bed watching her sleep.

She was the only thing that seemed real and he knew he was making her miserable, he didn’t understand why she was still here, not with the way he’d been pushing her away and ignoring her. The number of times he just couldn’t seem to find the words because she was the only person he couldn’t bullshit and lie to.

He’d make a promise he wouldn’t ever lie to her, it had meant silence more often than not, partially because the truth hurt to much to speak out loud and partially because he swore to himself that he’d keep that promise if it killed him.

He tossed the mug in the sink and leaned over the to look out the window. He could see her sitting in the truck, hands braced on the wheel.

He hated what he was doing to her, he’d been sure that she’d break up with him before she left this morning. He’d told her last night at dinner about the new assignment. It would have been kinder to just tell her to leave him, but he could’t bring himself to pull the trigger in their relationship. He loved her. God he loved her so much but he didn’t deserve her.

Then the sound of a tyre blowing out had him crossing to the window, he found the car and saw the driver lose control of the wheel. Watched as it swerved, heading straight for Kat’s truck.

Icy dread caught him tight in its grip as he spotted her standing there, right in the path of the car. His shout of warning unheard through the windows. He could only watch as the events unfolded.

——————————————————-

The hospital waiting room was cool. The stale air tinged with the smell of antiseptic and the underlying stench of blood. He stared at his hands, stained brown, the crust of it under his nails.

There had been so much blood. It had pooled around her head and shoulders, he’d ignored every piece of training he knew when he’d run out to the street, the only thing he could think of, to hold her in his arms.

She hadn’t woken, her head had struck the ground hard when David had pushed her out of the way of the car, the poor guy had died a second later after saving her, the car hitting him and crushing him between the hood and the side panel of the truck.

He’d held her till the ambulance had shown up, willing her to live just a little longer, talking to her, saying all the things he should have before, but had been too stubborn to say.

Now all he could do was wait for her to wake up. He paced for a while, thinking of the young woman he’d met the day before, Erin. She was a mystery to him, no formal training for the job, he’d been worried she wouldn’t be able to handle the work, had felt responsible for her. She had surprised him with her grit, he could admire that determination. Whether it would see her through the assignment or not he didn’t know, nor would he.

Chris pulled out his phone. Dialling the number he’d had on speed dial for the last ten years.

“Collins”

Jim Collins barked into the phone, something had already got his temper in a twist but right now Chris didn’t care how tetchy the man was.

“It’s me. I’m off the assignment. I can’t take it.”

Collins voice rose a notch until Chris had listened to his bullshit enough.

“I quit. I’ll hand in my badge ad gun as soon as I can. Kat’s in hospital I need to look after her and I’m not going back undercover again.”

The silence on the line was only slightly unnerving.

“Don’t be so dramatic Chase. I’ll sign you off, two weeks. When you come back you can take the damn promotion McDonald wants you to have and run your own damn division see how you like it.”

The call winds down quickly and Chris is left reeling from the sudden shift in his world. No more undercover.

He slipped back into the hospital room and sat by Kat’s bed, taking her hand in his and watching the monitors as they counted out the beat of her life. This is where he belonged, with her.

Consciousness drifted in slowly accompanied by a slow throbbing pain in the back of her head.

Kat squinted, blinking as she opened her eyes. Her mouth was dry and her whole body felt like a giant bruise. Turning her head she found him, slumped in a chair next to her bed. He looked peaceful, his face relaxed, his mind lost in the depth of dreams. His hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it frequently and his shirt was rumpled to a ridiculous extent. How long had she been here?

“Chris?”

He jerked in place then sat up fast, eyes when he saw her awake.

“Christ, your awake.”

He left the chair settling on the edge of the bed and taking her hand in his.

“You’ve been unconscious for three days. How are you feeling?”

“Parched.”

She answers him, feeling an odd fondness in her chest as he scrambled to get her some water and a straw. She drank slowly and watched as he fiddled with his watch. He was never this unsettled or fidgety. He kept looking at her and smiling too. When was the last time he’d looked so happily at her?

“Okay, I hit my head, right? Isn’t it me that’s meant to be the one not acting like myself…?”

Chris bit his lip, worried at at for a moment before speaking.

“I’m sorry. When I saw you…. Kat, I nearly lost you. You’ve always stood by me, through everything, even when things got bad, you didn’t give up on me. Even when I pushed you away you kept trying to reach me. I’ve not been there for you. Nearly loosing you, fuck… I’m… I need you to know things are going to change, I mean it. No more undercover work. I’ll be on a desk from now on. I hope I haven’t blown it, that we can still-“

She cut him off, one finger pressed to his lips as his eyes filled with unshod tears, hers too, were glassy with emotion.

“I love you. Do you love me?”

His reply came instantly.

“I love you, I am so in love with you it scares me princess.”

“Then that’s enough. Just promise, you won’t stop talking to me again. It hurt, it really hurt.”

“I swear. From now on, no more silence. I never want to miss the chance again to tell you how important you are to me.”

She felt the tears spill down her cheeks at his word, reaching for him. He moved forward, drawing her into his arms and held her close. She still hurt, outside and inside but she felt hopeful. She could see it in his eyes, something had changed.

———————————-

6 Months Later

“Chris? We need you on the Nevada desk, some OP you were involved in way back just blew up. Complete clusterfuck. Collins wants your assessment of a sheriff deputy they had UC. Looks like she went native.”

Chris took the case file and flicked it open. The photo of Erin looked back, she looked bad, strung out. Fuck. He knew she was too green for the OP.

“Tell him I’ll be down in five. Looks like we’re pulling overtime then.”

His colleague nods and leaves the office as Chris picks up the phone.

“Hey baby, gonna be late tonight, I’ll call if I won’t make dinner okay?”

Kat’s sweet voice drifted over the line assuring him it was fine,

“How the bump?”

He chucked as she lectured him in not calling their baby a bump.

“I promise I won’t miss the appointment tomorrow, I’ll be there.”

He could hear the smile in her voice as she said goodbye.

He put the phone down and shook his head sadly as he picked up the file again. Such a waste of a career and a life. He was just thankful he’d stayed where he was and not got mixed up in the whole mess. He briefly touched the wedding photo in his desk as he passed it. He was exactly where he was meant to be.

[smokeandjollyranchers]

This is for @eisschirmchen!! It’s her birthday in her timezone, and almost in mine! So here’s the backstory for Caleb and Nott in the modern AU we’ve talked about!! (Aka therapy exists and Caleb might have a fighting chance.)

Caleb Widogast’s thumb is bleeding.

He wraps the rest of his fingers around his thumb, looking around the rest of the room. This support group he’s part of was “suggested” by one of his favorites nurses from the institution. She told him it would help ease his transition back into the real world, give him something to ground himself with, since they meet twice a week. That way, even if everything else feels like it’s falling down around him, there would always be this.

He’s not participated much, or maybe even at all since he joined about six months ago, but the nurse had been right. It was grounding to come to the same place, with the same people, and usually the same stories. Which is why the new person being dragged in stands out to him so much.

She’s young, or perhaps she’s just small. Caleb figures she can’t be more than five feet tall, and though her eyes are lined in bags, and bloodshot, there’s no way she’s even eighteen yet. A taller individual, with long hair and a stern mouth sits her down in a chair, and Caleb can see a badge on their waist. They go to talk to the woman running the group, and a file is passed over. Caleb figures this must be her parole officer.

The girl slumps down in her seat, a deep scowl on her face. She’s wearing a hoodie that’s possibly two sizes too big for her, and jeans with several holes in them. There’s two different shoes on her feet, one foot with no sock, the other foot with a sock that nearly goes up to her knee. Her long fingernails tap against her elbow as she crosses her arms, and Caleb can see the golden shimmer of a henna design on her fingers. It matches the gold ring in her nose, and the chain leading to what he assumes are her ears. She meets his eyes and he realizes he’s been staring at her. She makes a face at him.

He nearly smiles.

“Okay!” The group leader claps her hands and everyone turns to look at her. “How is everyone going today?”

As always, no one answers her, but she’s anticipating this, and she keeps going anyways. “We have a new member joining us today, would you like to introduce yourself?”

The girl shrugs. “My name is Nott.”

“That’s an interesting name huh?”

“Sure? It’s mine.”

“And what brings you here, Nott?”

“Court obligation. They wanted to put me in AA, but thought I might be too triggering since I’ll remind everyone of their kids blah blah, so I’m here.”

“Well Nott, we’re happy to have you.”

“Sure.”

The group leader moves on, and Caleb goes back to picking at the skin of his nails. He’s only halfway through the meeting and his index finger is bleeding now too. He wonders why he’s so edge, and he meets the girls eyes again. She’s staring at him now, there’s no malice in her eyes. She’s simply observing him, like he does to the rest of them.

He goes back to his nails.

-

After the meeting, the girl comes up to him, reaching into her backpack. She pulls out a few band aids and hands them to him. “Here, it’ll stop the picking too.”

“Thank you.” He takes them, unsure of what else to do.

“What’s your name?”

“Caleb.”

“It’s nice to meet you Caleb. See you around.”

-

Caleb doesn’t talk to her again for a couple weeks, but he always makes sure she’s at the meetings. The next week after her first meeting, she comes in with a busted lip and a deeper scowl than before. The next week her hoodie is gone, replaced poorly with a too-big flannel that goes to her knees. The third week, Caleb catches a wristband on her that he recognizes.

After the meeting is over, he goes over to her. Nott looks up at him and offers him a smile. “Nail picker, whats up?”

“You at the Felderwind shelter?” He asks. Caleb is terrible at small talk, he passes it when he can. Nott lifts an eyebrow up, pulling up a sleeve to hide the wristband.

“So?”

“So the thieving there is really bad. So are the gangs, at least they were about a year ago when I was there. They’ll rough you up good if you try and keep your head down. Hard to stay out of the shit when you live in it.”

Nott looks surprised for a second, then she pulls her confidence back on like a mask. “It’s fine, I can handle it.”

“Ja, I believe it. You’ve got more of your stuff than I did a couple weeks after being there, that’s for sure. I just...want some coffee?”

She eyes him critically, deciding what it is he’s after. Caleb has no idea either, he isn’t sure why he’s doing this, but he is, and he wants to buy her some coffee.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

-

He and Nott go to coffee after meetings now.

Sometimes he buys, sometimes she does. Sometimes they sit there and say nothing. Sometimes Nott pulls out a flask and pours it into her coffee, sometimes she doesn’t. It takes time before they open up a little, but it does happen.

Nott tells him her family is a mess, and she ran away. She’s homelesss now but it’s still infinitely better than living with her family. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do, really, but she’ll figure it out. She’s pretty smart.

Caleb asks her how old she is. She shrugs him off, but eventually tells him she’s sixteen. Caleb remembers being sixteen, and if he thinks about it for too long, the dreams will come back so he doesn’t think about it anymore.

Caleb tells her he used to live at the shelter she’s living at now. He tells her about little spots he’s found to hide his things. He tells her about how to find where the rounds schedule is so she can move freely at night. He tells her to be careful, because it’s easy to get sucked into the darkness in there, and she’s much too smart to get trapped there.

Caleb also tells her he’s gotta a job at the university recently. He’s in the research department, and in exchange, they’re willing to let him take classes. Nott’s eyes sparkle at this, and Caleb realizes she’s genuinely happy for him, and he smiles at her for real.

He’s somehow found himself a friend.

Nott is missing at the next meeting.

Caleb doesn’t want to be worried about her, but he does see the group leader make a note on her pad, a worried draw to her mouth.

-

Nott is at the next meeting, and she looks awful.

Her lip is busted again, and one of her eyes is swollen. She limps on her way to her seat, and winces as she sits down. The group leader looks concerned, but she doesn’t make Nott talk about it. Wise choice, since Nott’s eyes stay on the floor for the whole meeting.

After it’s over Caleb walks over to her and offers her his hand. “Coffee?”

-

Nott curls into her side, looking even smaller in the coffee shop chair.

She won’t meet Caleb’s eyes, but she does finally speak, after he pours a little bit of whiskey into both their cups. “You can’t stay in the shelter during the day, so I usually wander around the city. I’ll steal things when I can, and maybe when I shouldn’t. But today, there were these men out, and they passed me cutting through an alley, and then next thing I knew I was on the ground.

“They mostly just called me names, called me a street rat, and a waste of space and stuff like that, but they wouldn’t stop kicking me. When they finally got bored I just hung out in the library for the rest of the day until the shelter opened. Then I went there, and...one of them is staying at the shelter now. He attacked me there later, when I was stashing my stuff in that place you told me about. Where-“

“Where the cameras can’t see.” Caleb finishes for her, his fist nearly crushing his coffee cup. “Tell me, Nott, you can recognize this guy right?”

“Yeah…” she finally looks at him, a half smile on her face. “Why do you ask.”

“I feel we need to have a talk with him.”

-

Caleb can’t remember the last time he’s felt this anger inside of him. He knows it’s there, and that it’ll never go away, but it’s slept for so long, he’s forgotten how much he’s addicted to it, how the heat from it keeps him alive, keeps him awake. He waits outside of the shelter, a cigarette he’ll never smoke between his fingers. He’s always loved the smell but he’s never loved the taste.

Up on the stairs, he hears the door open, and Nott comes dashing out, running as fast as she can. Behind her is some sort of a brute, chasing her, enraged look on his face. Nott has a look of wild glee on her face as she skids around the corner, the brute following her down the alley. Caleb tosses his smoke to the side and follows them into the alley.

He’s focused on Nott, cowering at the dead end, to notice Caleb coming up behind him. He absolutely didn’t hear Caleb pick up the wine bottle in the alley, and he was dazed and on his knees before he even saw Caleb behind him.

Caleb stares down at him, feeling steel run through his veins. The brute glares at him, trying to stand up. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Whoever I need to be.” Caleb answers, kicking him in the side, so he falls back down. He lifts his foot, bringing it down on his ribs until he hears a crack under his boot. Good. That should be enough. He needs to reel himself I before this fucker ends up dead.

Nott stands now, walking over to him. She pulls her foot back and kicks him straight in the teeth with the foot that has a boot. He groans, and Nott jumps over him, coming to stand next to Caleb.

Caleb looks down at her, and exhales. “I have a couch, it’s not much but it’s yours if you want it.”

“That would be great.”

-

It isn’t actually even a couch. It’s Caleb’s old easy chair and he can’t believe she’s small enough to sleep in it.

She lays in the chair, a blanket wrapped around her, and she looks calm. She looks like she’s at peace, she looks like he’s never seen her before. Caleb can’t help but be relieved. He didn’t realize how deep under his skin Nott’s gotten, but she’s here now, and he admits he’s happy to not be alone in his small little apartment.

His cat jumps up on the chair, sniffing at their newest addition.

“Be nice,” Caleb tells Frumpkin, a small smile on his face. “She’s our’s now.”

Frumpkin blinks and sinks his teeth in Nott’s leg.

The scream and howl that follows fills his apartment, and Caleb can’t help but think how happy he is to not be in silence.

[anonymouswriter2311]

Badge’s and Barmaid’s, Chapter 3

One large cup of coffee, and a brainstorming session in the back of a taxi, later, the two Dingle woman found themselves abandoned in a hallway, with no clue as to what was going to happen to them. They had both kept their cool, to begin with. Played nice with the Officer at the reception, smiled at the clueless newbies who walked by, but enough was finally enough. Three hours they’ve been kept waiting, three hours of wondering and praying that they’ll get to say goodbye to their kids before being sent down again. Charity was hard as nails, never great at showing emotions, but Debbie on the other hand, when it came to her kids she was a nervous wreck and it was starting to show.

“We’ve been sitting here for ages!” Debbie moaned for the tenth time in the last half an hour. She needed to know what was happening, she needed to call her Dad to check on the kids, but most importantly she needed to get out of this place.

“They’re trying to sweat us out! Trying to get us to roll over.” Charity responded quietly, her head leaned back against the wall and eyes closed. She had been there and done that so many times by now, that sitting in a police station, almost felt like a second nature to her.  

“Or DI Woodfield is more clueless than I thought.” The younger woman muttered, noting how her Mother seemed to suddenly spring back to life at the mere mention of the DI’s name.

“Nah, she’s smart. She’s trying to ware us down.” Charity mumbled, sounding like a crazy conspiracy theory person. “Fear not Debs! I’ve come prepared.” She threw her daughter a cheeky wink, before lifting her large handbag off the ground.

“What are you babbling on about?” Debbie snapped, convinced that her Mother had finally lost the plot.

“There’s a reason I carry this big thing with me, and it ain’t because it’s a great knockoff!” The pub own smirked, signalling for Debbie to come closer with her finger. “It’s got everything we need for a few nights stuck in here. Change of underwear, deodorant, a couple bottles of water and my favourite breakfast bar.” She whispered, catching her daughter off guard and thoroughly surprising her at the same time.

“That’s actually quite impressive.” The brunette smiled proudly, at the now smug blonde. “I might have to get myself one of these.”

“I’m a step ahead of your babe. Already got one partially made for your birthday.” She winked, nudging her in the hips, in a way that Debbie didn’t know if she was being serious or not.

“Aww, thanks Mum,” Debbie replied sarcastically before the two burst out laughing. Their relationship might be strained at times, but the one thing Debbie can always count on with her Mother is her ability to make even the darkest of situations a barrel of laughs.

“Hello again, Miss Dingle.” Charity’s head whipped around as soon as the thick Yorkshire accent reached her ears. Smirking slightly as the Detective approached with two coffee cups in hand. Charity’s breathing hitched as their eyes met, she couldn’t explain what had suddenly come over her, and she didn’t care. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time, and it felt good.

“DI Woodfield.” She nodded smugly as she subtly gave the woman the once over, the barmaid slightly disappointed that she wasn’t in her little pants suit like the day before, but also really enjoying how good yellow seemed to look on her.

“And you must be the other Miss Dingle.” Vanessa smiled brightly at Debbie, who had been thoroughly confused by her Mother’s sudden demeanour change.

“Debbie is fine.”

“Milk, three sugars.” The DI smirked as she handed one of the cups over to Charity, brushing their fingers together slightly as Charity accepted the cup, with a small nod and shy smile playing on her lips. “And I didn’t know how you took yours, so I brought some milk and sugar to be on the safe side.” She handed the other cup over to Debbie, before reaching into her pocket to pull out a handful of sugar and milk packets.

“Thanks.” Debbie gave the Detective a small smile, before nudging her Mother in the side slightly. Silently reminding her that it was best to stay on DI Woodfield’s good side.

“Yeah, glad you remembered.” Charity spoke up, a hint of sarcasm laced in her voice.

“Hard to forget when it’s being shouted at you.” Vanessa shot back, the small smile on her face not shifting, as Charity’s eye’s burrowed into her own. The two stayed like that, neither speaking, just staring waiting for the other to back down.

“Look, is this going to take much longer? We were kind of in the middle of something when you summoned.” Debbie spoke up, interrupting the weird encounter that was happening between her Mother and the Detective, and making the brunette wonder about what happened the previous day between the two.

“Ah, yes. Family party, sorry to have interrupted.” Vanessa quickly averted her attention onto the younger Dingle woman, utterly confused as to why she had been distracted by the blonde in the first place. “Mr Tate is still meeting with his lawyer. I thought he would have been done by now, but…” She rolled her eyes, sparking Charity’s interested once again.

“Is he pressing charges?” Debbie asked frowning with worry, while all her Mother could do was gawk at the blonde woman.

“That’s what they’re discussing. I wish I had more to tell you.” The DI nodded knowingly, before quickly excusing herself. Her head was reeling, and she had no idea why. There was just something about the way Charity looked at her, it sent her heart racing and made her palms sweat. She was no stranger to being with women, but she never found herself attracted to someone like Charity Dingle. She was the kind of person Vanessa put away every day, but she had suddenly felt herself feeling something more, something undeniable, indescribable.

“Hey,” Vanessa jumped slightly as she felt a soft hand wrap around her wrist, turning sharply the hand fell, afraid that it would make things worse.

“Can I help you, Miss Dingle?” Vanessa’s voice was stern, any sign of the easy-going Detective gone.

“What are we looking at here?” Charity smiled softly, regretting the fact that seemed to have wiped the cute smile from Vanessa’s lips. “Three, four years?”

“Five.” The DI frowned, noting how the blonde’s eyes flashed with worry for a millisecond.

“Is there any way you could leave Debs out of all this?” The pub owner whispered, knowing all too well that Debbie was staring intensely at the talking pair.

“I’m sorry?”

“Like shift the blame onto just me?” Charity explained, sparing Debbie a quick glance before turning attention back to the blonde woman. “Her daughter, my granddaughter...she’s got health problems, has done since she was little.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Vanessa nodded, feeling the strong urge to reach out and comfort the blonde, but fighting it at all costs.

“She needs her Mum around.”

“Woodfield.” Both women jumped, as Matthew’s bellowed down the hallway. Vanessa turned and waved down to him, extremely frustrated that her conversation with Charity was being cut short.

“I have to go.” She smiled sadly, regretting it as soon as she saw a wicked smirk appear on the blonde’s lips.

“Course. Wouldn’t want to keep you.” Charity bit her lip and threw a playful wink Vanessa’s way before strutting back over to Debbie.

“What the hell is up with you?” Debbie whisper-shouted as soon as Charity sat down and plucked the coffee from her hand.

“What? I was just chatting.” Charity flipped the question off like it was nothing, hiding her smirk behind the coffee cup.

“You were practically undressing her with your eyes Mother!” The younger Dingle exclaimed, her eyes lighting up slightly. She had never seen her Mother drool over someone before, not Cain, not any of her ex-husband’s.

“Give over!” The blonde woman pushed her away slightly, begging her cheeks to stop burning. “In case you haven’t noticed, she’s a cop, Debs!”

“A cute cop.” Debbie pointed out, enjoying seeing her Mother all defensive about someone. Charity huffed in her seat, of course, she thought DI Woodfield was cute, she was gorgeous and tiny and absolutely adorable in that yellow sweater...but at the end of the day, she was still a cop. She’s one of them, she can’t be trusted.

“She’s alright.” Charity shrugged.

“She remembered your coffee order.”

“Can you just drop it okay!” The barmaid finally snapped, making Debbie jump away slightly. She didn’t mean to snap, she didn’t want to either. She just wanted to get the blonde Detective out of her head. “If I wanted anything - which I don’t - it would never be more than a bit of fun. A hot fumble in her squad car.”

“Gross Mother.” She fake gagged, before letting her head rest on Charity’s shoulder.

“Don’t even get me started about handcuffs.” The blonde mumbled, earning a sharp elbow to the hips.

“Ignoring you,” Debbie replied in a sing-song tone, before lifting her head to look at her Mother properly. “It looked like she was into you too, just in case you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t!” She let out a shaky sigh, begging Debbie to give it a rest already. “And she was just being nice Debs, they’re always trying to be nice.”

“Hey…” The brunette placed her hand gently on top of her Mother’s and squeezed hard. She had a fairly decent idea what Charity was talking about, and she wished that she couldn’t have been there for her all those years ago, instead of trying to frame her.

 Vanessa stood watching the interaction, she knew the history, knew the circumstances, but she would never have guessed it. They were close, that was obvious. She hadn’t expected Charity to want to take the blame, it was admirable, surprising. Vanessa didn’t know why she had this sudden interest in the Pub owner. She was brash, sarcastic, snarky and rude. But that only made the blonde want to know more. She wanted to see the woman behind the defensive smirk, and callous comments and she almost did. There was a moment, a small twinkle that caught Vanessa eye as Debbie grabbed her hand. She saw her vulnerability shine through and it intrigued her. This was more than just an attraction, she wanted to know the real Charity Dingle, the woman behind the police file.

“Hello, sorry to interrupt again.” Vanessa smiled apologetically, noting how quickly the two women jumped away from each other. “Mr Tate is finished meeting with his lawyer.” She added with a sharp nod.

“And this is the part where you handcuff us again.” Charity smirked, defensively crossing her arms over her chest. Silently she prayed that DI Woodfield had done as she asked and that Debbie would be free to go.

“Nope,” Vanessa smirked back with a slight pop in her voice. “He has decided to drop all the charges.”

“He what?” Debbie’s mouth hung over, as she reached over to gently touch her Mother’s leg.

“Surprising, I know.” The DI said, mostly to herself but she could tell that Charity had heard. “All he wants is an apology, and then you’re both free to go.”

“Ha! There it is!” Charity stood, startling both Debbie and Vanessa. “There is no way we are apologising to him, Debs!” She exclaimed.

“If it means getting back to my kids, I don’t care!” Debbie mimicked her actions.

“My partner can take you to meet with him,” Vanessa interjected, fascinated by the women’s behaviours. Debbie nodded thankfully and began to walk, stopping after a few steps when she noticed her Mother wasn’t following.

“Mother!” She shouted, a pleading tone in her voice.

“I can’t Debs.” The blonde shook her head, before reclaiming her seat.

“Suit yourself.” The brunette threw over her shoulder as she followed Matthew’s down the hallway, leaving Vanessa and Charity alone.

Vanessa looked around her to make sure that they were somewhat alone before she sat next to the woman and whispered. “Are you seriously going to go down for five years, when all you have to do is say sorry?”

“Look, don’t try and understand things you know absolutely nothing about!” Charity snapped, but Vanessa could tell that she wasn’t really angry. She was scared, and she was doing a crap job of hiding it.

“Right…” Vanessa sighed as she leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs ready to wait out the blonde.

“Sorry.” The blonde whispered after a few deafening minutes.

“See, it’s not so hard.” Vanessa lightheartedly laughed, trying to make the blonde feel more comfortable.

“Well, it’s easy when you mean it.” The barmaid huffed out, a cheeky smirk plastered on her face. For the first time that day she finally felt like she could breathe, that she wasn’t going to be judged or analysed for her actions. It felt nice.

“Charity, you don’t deserve to end up in jail.” The smaller blonde spoke softly, surprising the barmaid. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, not even her own family. “Not because of a man like Joseph Tate.”

“You don’t know me, DI Woodfield.” Charity responded, clicking her tongue against her teeth as she drew out Vanessa’s name.

“No, but I’ve read your file.” The DI quickly counterattacked. “And it’s my professional opinion, that you deserve to be with your kids, and your grandkids. Not in a jail cell.” Vanessa watched carefully as the scowl on the blonde’s face softened, and in its place appeared a genuine smile, a sight that was utterly breathtaking to the DI.

“You’re definitely a newbie.” Charity shook her head playfully, a small laugh escaping from her lips.

“That obvious?” Vanessa let out a matching laugh, as Charity turned in her seat to fully face her.

“You’re too nice to have been at this long.” She muttered, a small twinkle visible as their eyes met.

“I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.” The DI swallowed nervously, suddenly very hyper-aware of their surroundings.

“Good.” Charity whispered, leaning in slightly before she stopped herself. What was she doing? Was she seriously about to make a move on a cop, in the middle of a police station? “Right, I better get down there before you get the handcuffs out.”

“Good choice.” Vanessa smiled shyly, before standing and straightening her sweater. She quickly began to walk down the hallway, in the opposite direction of where Charity was meant to go, until suddenly she stopped and turned slightly, “Oh and Charity.” She called out.

“Yes DI Sunshine?” The blonde winked, still trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with her for wanting to flirt with a copper, while at the same time not being able to stop herself.

Vanessa smirked annoyingly at the nickname, before shaking her head and saying. “Happy birthday, by the way.”

Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

AO3 Link 

[gigslist]

24 Film Jobs and Casting Calls - SF and Worldwide

Paid and unpaid. The unpaid gigs looked interesting.

Casting Two Female Actresses For A Short

Location New York City, New York

Genre Action / Adventure

 Deadline Aug 14, 2021

Casting two female actresses (height 5'2 to 5'8) race is unimportant, age range 18 to 35 to play leading actor's girlfriend.  Script is already written, second half has been shot and edited. This is a pay job. Contact: GiovanniMota@msn.com  Please only serious inquiries.

==================================

Wanted: 2 Female Actors For Lgbtq Short

 Seeking Actor

 Location Los Angeles, California and Hollywood, California

 Status Development

 Type Short film

 Genre Female-driven • Romance

Deadline Oct 23, 2021

 About the job

WANTED: Two female Actors for LGBTQ Short “My Gabrielle.” Where SAMI (25) shy, poet, androgynous, falls in love with GABRIELLE (23) who is tall, thin, mocha skinned African American beauty. Her hair in long ringlets, (or braids) cascades down her back.  Gabrielle is a Las Vegas showgirl and dances in a chorus line. Sami got her MFA in creative writing, is a poet, and drives a motorcycle.

“My Gabrielle” is a 10-page short to be filmed in Hollywood. Two locations. Two actors. Would like to film as soon as possible, but willing to wait to find the perfect actors.

Please email Melissa at: melissa@melissalwhite.com with your resume, headshots, and link to your reel.

============================================

Office Assistant

 Seeking Assistant Production Office Coordinator

 Location Studio City, Los Angeles County, California

 Status Post-production

 Type Episodic

 Genre All genres of TV • Television

 Deadline Jan 29, 2022

 About the job

DigitalFilm Tree, a post and production veteran

facility in Los Angeles, is a leader in cloud based dailies, remote editorial and finishing, VFX, archival services and on site/in house needs. We are an authority in cyber security for media & entertainment with ongoing R&D efforts that have contributed meaningful software applications to our community. As a multi talented collective of thought leaders, DigitalFilm Tree is hoping to add another super hero to our team - the glue of our team, the Office Assistant!

The role of DFT's Office Assistant encompasses a myriad of duties, from keeping phones, deliveries and pick ups covered, to keeping the facility sanitized every hour for the health and safety of our minimal on site staff, while pivoting quickly when one of those staff members has an urgent or client facing need. This role will also directly support and be an extension of our Chief Operations Officer who supports and serves every single department - flexibility, fast on your feet, clear and concise communication are critical to this role. If you love ''The West Wing,'' you're going to love working with our COO. Seriously, don't be shy about sending your long winded essays about the critical role Charlie played in the Bartlet Administration.

Soft Skills we seek:

• Interdisciplinary: meaning we all possess more than one strength across the scope of facility needs (i.e. our CTO is also our Senior Colorist, our Director of Content is also an authority in billing and data security, our Online Editor is also one of our content producers, etc.)

• Clear Communicator: Context is incredibly important to us. Because of the large scope of innovation we put forward, teams could easily lose track of what hand is doing that impacts the other. We prioritize efficiency, but never at the cost of leaving anyone in the dark.

• Endlessly Curious: While we respect the advancement being made outside of DFT, we know we have an incredibly gifted team of people in house who are and have built some of the most progressive M&E platforms in use on cutting edge shows. So we're constantly learning, building, breaking, battle testing and imagining new solutions for our client partners and do our best to remain brand and workflow agnostic.

What we're looking for in this role (in addition to comfort with the above):

Working in a fast-paced and busy facility, the Office Assistant is responsible for managing the heavy rotation of calls, deliveries, upkeep of common areas, ordering lunches, planning office events (on site and remote) to honor staff birthdays, holidays, etc. They also manage supplies for facilities management like kitchen, bathroom and printing needs.

Responsibilities Include:

• Significant project management in keeping track of receipts, office supplies, team preferences, birthdays, in bound deliveries (like media drives and machinery) and ensuring we never run out of supplies for the kitchen, bathroom, printers, and basic office supplies (i.e. pens, paper, post its, etc.)

• Phones - you are both a gate keeper, protecting the time of all those on site, as well as the very first or only touch point someone may have with our company. How you speak to people matters and we need to know we can trust you with our people and how we're being represented to anyone turning to us for support.

• Security Cameras and property awareness falls to the Office Assistant who is one set of eyes on our cameras. You'll alert various team members should their be an issue on property, you'll issue guests security badges (when we actually have guests again), and you'll be mindful of our neighborhood to ensure we're being a good member of our tiny Cahuenga community.

• Learn. Yep, that's a responsibility. We cannot teach ambition. Most folks at DFT have grown immensely from their first day to where they are now, with a large number of our team having been with us for over a decade. The number one responsibility of any DFT'er is to stay curious. Every single job here matters. Every single job here supports someone else on the team. We are interdependent and interdisciplinary.

• Covid Safety Protocols: You temperature check every employee and guest to DFT as well as sanitize surfaces and door handles every hour. You handle and sanitize inbound packages (packages are placed on the floor inside our door by vendors and you use a sanitizing spray gun to disinfect before touching with gloves). You ensure that everyone in office is wearing a mask at all times unless alone behind a closed door (most folks have a door at DFT).

• Billing Support: the Office Assistant provides a necessary hand to our accounting department, by facilitating weekly scanning and filing of financial documents, managing and filing receipts, and copying/scanning any additional financial documentation required.

• Honoring and supporting team members. Their birthdays should matter to you deeply. This is a hard enough time to try and connect, we want to make sure that our people know they're seen, valued and cared for - not everyone loves a big hulabaloo, but everyone does appreciate knowing they matter.

• Coffee. We cannot stress this enough. You're going to need to make a mean cup of coffee. This office is full of admitted coffee snobs with a borderline consumption problem.

• Lunches, Dinners, Catering - you'll be responsible for our twice weekly on site lunches (which may increase to 3x during busier seasons) and dinners for those working late - both lunches and dinners are also often extended to our team working from home, so you'll place orders you never see, but also need to check in with staff after delivery to ensure all went well and they're not left to solve for issues with their meals. Catering and holiday meals are generally organized through a vendor for us to offer as a pick up and re/heat at home (i.e. Thanksgiving were meals from Gelson's catering, Christmas we offered Whole Foods meals and ensure GF, Vegan, Allergies are accounted for with each person). Food is a love language we take seriously.

Experience & Education:

• High end hospitality background preferred.

• Media & Entertainment background a strong plus.

• Billing or accounting strengths are helpful.

• Direct support of a management role - having to anticipate needs - very helpful.

• Project management experience a strong plus.

If the above sounds like you and you're looking to join one of the strongest and most innovative teams in town, we'd love to hear from you!

Compensation: Range and categorization (salary versus hourly) DOE Dog friendly office / Fully or mostly paid

health insurance (depends on your choice of plan) / PTO One Medical service for ongoing Covid tests as well as virtual care and dedicated, on time visits with on site labs / Parking / Twice a week fitness sessions (virtual w/ trainer) / WFH often possible / Lunch provided 2-3x per week.

Contact Us: dftjobs@digitalfilmtree.com

Please attach your resume and tell us a bit about yourself in the email. It would help us to know:

1) What is the most effective way you've found to show people you care and are genuinely interested in supporting their goals?

2) Are you comfortable working on site, regularly sanitizing surfaces, providing your Covid vaccination card and taking Covid tests?

3) What is one movie you think best represents what it means to be a great team player and/or assistant?

======================================

Actor

 Seeking Actor

 Location San Antonio, Texas

 Status Production

 Type Episodic

 Genre Comedy

 Deadline Aug 6, 2021

 About the job

Casting call. Unpaid but will get IMDB credit. Looking for a real-life acting couple to play these parts below.

Filming in San Antonio, TX but you can be located in any city as filming will be done remotely.

Mr. Campbell-30s to 40s. Socially awkward. He is trying to be more confident in the bedroom with his wife but he’s a little frightened by her.

Mrs. Campbell-30s to 40s. Bubbly and very outgoing. Loves her husband but annoyed he doesn’t want to indulge in her solicitous bedroom antics.

Email your headshot, reel and resume to lynette@chevalnoirfilms.com and kitina@chevalnoirfilms.com

===========================================

Videographer

 Seeking Videographer

 Location Montréal, Canada

 Status Production

 Type Internet project

 Genre Documentary / Docuseries

 Deadline Sep 7, 2021

 About the job

Looking for a videographer with equipment for a web docuseries. The details are:

Estimated shooting days: 5.

Estimated schedule: September 3rd to September 7th.

Location: Montréal, Canada

Task: Filming and derush of minor corrections of files if necessary.

Includes: Rental, installation, and handling of equipment.

Please send portfolio and cv at dickinson.seb@gmail.com

==========================================

Crew Up And Create A New Entertainment Source

 Seeking Crew, Actor, Editor and Director of Marketing & Distribution

 Location Washington, D. C., Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California and New York City, New York

 Status Development

 Type Internet project

 Genre News

 Deadline Jan 28, 2022

 About the job

Hey Everyone, 

I am looking to build an Entertainment News source with a hungry team that wants to create something that would be also theirs. I am looking for Anchors, writers, editors, and more to help create this vision. With 20 years of working with networks, I have access to footage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content that will make our channel unique and stand out. I would love to set up a small crew for a meeting and talk about what we can build together. 

This position isn't paid but all would have equal rights to the project and as the project grows and creates monetization, we'd all share equally. 

I am doing this because I love storytelling and would like to have a channel that would focus more on the art and not on the "Jen and Ben are back together!" moments. 

I've done a soft launch test on Facebook: https://fb.watch/715u4FsSDu/

========================================

Vfx-Artists For Star Wars Fan Film In Denmark

 Seeking Compositor, Concept Artist, Storyboard Artist and Visual Effects Artist

 Location Copenhagen, Denmark

 Status Post-production

 Type Pilot

 Genre Action / Adventure • Drama • Fantasy • Sci-Fi • Indie • Independent

Deadline Sep 8, 2021

 About the job

SHROUDED DESTINY: A STAR WARS LONG TALE - FAN PRODUCTION IS LOOKING FOR VFX-ARTISTS, CONCEPT ARTISTS AND MORE! (PRO BONO):

What is this?

"Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale" is the world's biggest independent fan film made in Denmark!

With more than 350 volunteers having lent their talents to the making of this 70 minutes pilot episode, this is an unsolicited pitch to Lucasfilm and Disney in the effort to get a meeting with the topfolks at Lucasfilm to meet myself and the producers to create an entirely original story in the Star Wars Universe!

Starring actors like International Emmy-Award winner, Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards, Sherlock Holmes, Ride Upon The Storm); stunt performer Laûren Okadigbo (Justice Leauge, Wonder Woman, Krypton, Ready Player One); Magnus Bruun (The Last Kingdom, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla) and others, the fan film is a "pilot" aimed at showing the visual style and storyline in a small part of the planned 8-season storyline that takes place in the years 550-510 BBY. Imagine the scale of Game of Thrones; the meticulousness of The Wire, and the dysfunctional family relations of Breaking Bad spiced with the violence of The Raid, and you have an idea of what this film is all about. 

What do you need?

We've finished filming and are currently looking to recruit people in two areas: Immediate post production and creating illustrations for a Virtual Production Pitch Presentation. 

The post work includes things like: 

Keying

Matchmoving / camera tracking

Houdini DOPs

All-round compositors

If you have skills in these departments, why not send our VFX-supervisor, Peter Rongsted, an e-mail at pr@divopost.dk with an application?

We really want to engage people who are ambitious about their lives and their careers and are willing to set the time matching said ambitions to come work with us. This is a stepping stone for so many of us on this production and we're eager to make it a stepping stone for as many people as possible! Like every single soul working on this production, it is an unpaid assignment.

If you don't fit into the post-production categories we're looking for right now, send an email anyway. We're sure we'll be able to find something for you anyway.

For the Virtual Production Pitch, we're looking to emulate the style of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj", where illustrations of characters and environments are playing in the back, as we present the story of the film. 

It's an insanely ambitious endeavor and we hope that you as an illustrator, concept artist or Storyboard Artist can see the logic of being attached to a project, where the end goal is to have your work seen by the biggest folks in the film industry.

If you feel like this could be something down your alley, send an email to: mail@shahbaz.dk and we'll continue the conversation there. :-)

What do I get out of this?

Since a paycheck currently isn't in play, this project has to make sense to you on a different scale. 

We want to put this film out this year (Covid has already post-poned it more than a year) and this will offer you credits on a film that will most likely be viewed by millions of people via YouTube, since we're not selling this film, but merely working on a very over-zealous proof of concept. 

So you're in that point of your career, where you have the talent and time, but don't have the jobs right now and are looking to add things to your portfolio and you're not afraid to put forth ideas that you believe will strengthen the final product. 

Whatever time you have to offer, we'll gladly take, whether it's a few hours a day, a week or full-time commitment, we appreciate you. :-) 

You might just also be a really huge Star Wars fan and are ambitious of one day working for Disney or Lucasfilm and want to be able to get an in somehow. This project might be it, if you're not in the near vicinity of getting hired by a company working for them. :-)

=========================================

Actors, Sound

 Seeking Actor, Boom Operator and Makeup Artist

 Location Anchorage, Alaska

 Status Pre-production

 Type Episodic

 Genre Horror

 Deadline Jan 19, 2022

 About the job

Hi, this is strictly for fun. Just throwing this out there to see if anyone's interested with date TBA. We've just finished a fun, short horror film that we're proud of & would like to shoot a web series from it. We've already got quite a few eps written. Think Supernatural meets Stranger Things. *Actors need comic timing. This is not a paid job, but food will be provided. You must be in the  area, have training at least. We prefer experienced actors. We have an experienced crew & equipment. The set will be 100% safe. Please tell anyone you think might be interested! Thanks.

Contact me at: newsongmedia2@gmail.com - Kym

=====================================

Screenwriter Looking For Fellow Screenwriter

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Wheaton, Illinois and Downers Grove, Illinois

 Status

 Genre Thriller / Suspense / Mystery

 Deadline Jan 23, 2022

 About the job

Screenwriter available with whom I can collaboratewith Seeking to team up with someone to come up with new ideas, Putting strong hook in five pages.of the script looking for a fresh perspective for my ideas

50/50 split. writing new Movie Script. I have allots of new ideas for that.

If interested you can massage me here or Email me screenwriter892v3@yahoo.com or any other location you are at.

======================================

Texas Snowstorm Victims

 Seeking Actor and Crew

 Location San Antonio, Texas, Austin, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas

 Status Pre-production

 Type Documentary

 Genre Historical / Biopic / True-stories

 Deadline Sep 1, 2021

 About the job

Looking for REAL PEOPLE who were impacted by the Texas Snowstorm 2021 for documentary to be shot in early September. 

AND CREW.

Message pkfilmsent@gmail.com

=====================================

Writer For Science Fiction Tv Show For Stream

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location Brooklyn, New York

 Status Development

 Type Television

 Genre Drama • Sci-Fi • Television

Deadline Aug 15, 2021

 About the job

New York Production Company is seeking an experienced TELEVISION writer that writes Dramatic Science Fiction and who can think outside of the box. . This is NOT A REMOTE JOB. We are located in Brooklyn, NY and you will be required to report to location for the writer's room/ work each day.  For this job, there is no zoom interview and it is not a zoom job, you would have to come in person for the interview.  On-site Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-7pm This project lasts for 1 month. Compensation: $660 per week We cannot stress enough that this is NOT a remote job. We need someone as soon as possible, ready to work, with open availability. If you have any doubts, please do not apply. Qualifications: - Must have at least 5-6 years experience writing drama and SciFi - Must have at least 5 years of experience writing for SERIES! as member of the writing team, you will be working to complete the entire first season of a SciFi television show for online streaming.  This means you MUST: -Be able to write, organize, and intertwine multiple plot lines and character arcs in a way that is real, appealing, and that does not create plot holes. -Be fantastic at scene creation. -Be meticulous with taking notes. We depend on our writers to accurately follow and update series bibles. Whatever is verbally created in writer's room meetings MUST make it onto paper! -Be punctual! Arrive on time for work each day and meet all deadlines. -Be creative, openminded, and a team player. -All writing, but especially something as fantastical as science fiction, works best when the writer is able to open their mind to all possibilities. - You must be ego-free, and be able to throw an idea out completely in order to facilitate a better one. Please submit Cover Letter, Resume, Samples of your EPISODIC work to wholepicassistant@gmail.com

=================================================

Screenwriter

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location East Lansing, Michigan

 Status Development

 Type Short film

 Genre All genres, all formats.

 Deadline Sep 17, 2021

 About the job

OVERVIEW: The Department of Theatre is looking for original short film script submissions for consideration of production in May of 2022. This is an annual film production opportunity in collaboration with the students and faculty of the Department of Theatre. If selected, your script will go through the entire production process: Development, Pre-Production, Principle Photography, Post-Production, and Distribution (submitted for film festivals in the professional category.) 

You are expected to be available (either in person or via video conference) for two development meetings in Fall Semester 2021, and one in early Spring Semester 2022. These are primarily for script notes, which are also expected to be addressed. 

Submissions will be accepted now through September 15th, 2021. 

SCRIPT GUIDELINES: Scripts should be between 10 - 20 pages in standard screenplay format.  There must be 7-10 roles in the film (think ensemble pieces). The characters should be aged between 16 - 30 years old.  No driving with dialogue scenes. Some stunts are okay, but should be relatively limited.  Limited special effects requirements. Limited visual effects requirements. No period pieces at this time. Open to a variety of genres or styles as long as it adheres to the guidelines above. 

SELECTION PROCESS: Each script will be read by the Film Initiative Selection Panel. Final notifications will be made by October 15th 2021. 

COMPENSATION: The writer of the selected script will receive a $500 honorarium. 

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete the Form Submission (https://forms.gle/koH25cp6BkA7...) and attach your screenplay with no identifying information. These are blind submissions, meaning, the pdf of your script should not have your name on the cover sheet or any other part of the document. Make sure your script includes a title page with the title of the film only. Global majority, female, and LGBTQI+ strongly encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions, please email Ryan: welshry2@msu.edu

================= ========================

Voice Over Artists And Actors

 Seeking Voice Artist

 Location Paris, France

 Status Post-production

 Type Feature film

 Genre Drama • Female-driven • Horror

 Deadline Sep 1, 2021

 About the job

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for V.O artists, actors or anyone willing to help me out on my first feature "CONFINED" (you can check out the movie on my page for more infos), entirely funded with personal funds. 

- I have 9 positions to fill (male or female) for American-English V.O: Journalist 1 (3 Lines) / Journalist 2 (3 Lines) / Journalist 3 (5 Lines) / Paranoid Dude (4 Lines) / US Official (4 Lines) / Journalist 4 (6 Lines) / Journalist 5 (5 Lines) / Evangelist ( 6 Lines) / Journalist 6 (4 Lines)

- I have 2 positions to fill (male or female) for Asian (can be any Asian language) V.O: Journalist 1 (2 Lines) / Asian Official (1 Line).

If you're interested by the roles, please contact me on here or at louis.tete@nyfa.edu

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

Louis.   

========================

Development And/Or Creative Executives - Pane

 Seeking Director of Marketing & Distribution

 Location Miami, Florida

 Status Development

 Genre All genres, all formats.

 Deadline Aug 30, 2021

 About the job

FILMSTOCK EVENTS "where talent meets opportunity"

 FILMSTOCK is the first of it's kind as the only industry expo offering in person meetings with agents, casting directors, film distributors, show runners and vendors and other industry professionals. Our date for the first annual FILMSTOCK is set for November 13th 2021 right in the middle of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF). 

Our vision is not a Sundance or a Tribecca Film Festival but a Business Industry Expo which I know is the first of it's kind. I am not talking about a networking event where everyone there is simply talking nonsense claiming to be in the business.

I am talking about professional and industry leaders from Photographers, Videographers, Industry Organizations, Graphic Artists, Make-up, Wardrobe, Set Design, Casting Directors, Soundstage Production House owner / operators, Kraft food services, executive transportation services, etc. These individuals / vendors will all be in the main lobby area where they have each purchased a table for the day at a cost of $79. Tables are standard six foot table with access to power, where they will display a banner ad or backdrop. 

 SPEEDCASTING -We are the first to offer a face to face live in person slate where Actors pay a fee to do a 10 minute monologue or just who they are to a panel (2 to 4) of Casting Directors and Agents. 3 hours 1pm to 4pm allows us 18 Actors to do their thing in front of the pros to hopefully get picked up. When an Actor registers he / she must upload a media bin, headshots, resume and if they plan on performing a monologue it cannot exceed 5 minutes. 

PITCHFEST - Same as above only now we have independent film makers pitching their project. They have already registered with a Treatment, Teaser, etc and they get 10 minutes to tell their story in hopes that a panel (2 to 4) of Distributors / Investor Producers may just give them a shot. Same time slots of 10 minutes each over 3 hours same = 18 pitches. 

We have broken down the above with a general admission day ticket $25.  All Access VIP ticket for $199 and in between for those interested in only the Pitchfest or Speedcasting a lower priced ticket. Door Prizes / raffle of high end electronics already in house donated from industry related companies such as Lume Cube. 

 NOTE - we are compensating the above professionals each $100.00 for their time on site open to close 12 noon to 4 pm paid at days end and they must be on site before 12 noon call time to set up . 

 Between social media, the coordination and support from FLIFF we expect a few hundred in attendance between 11 am and 4 pm that day.

 Sara Rogers is our CEO and has a huge following in the industry with over 40 years experience. Also included in this email is Rion Heldibridle our CFO and actively involved with Artserve in Sunrise Florida where the event will take place on Saturday November 13, 2021 along with Lou Silver, the COO with over 30 years experience in marketing and promotion and business development.

  Lou Silver, COO (954) 895-5801

Sara Roger, CE0 (786) 247-7761

FILMSTOCK EVENTS 

==================

Help With Writing Script

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location Mission Viejo, California and Los Angeles, California

 Status Development

 Type Television

 Genre Drama

Deadline Dec 17, 2021

 About the job

I need help writing my script. If you know anyone who can help me out, I’d appreciate it. You can reach me at +13108632713 or ashleyadams531@gmail.com

===================

Cast, Crew and Admin Wanted 

 LocationLos Angeles, California StatusDevelopment TypeFeature film GenreSci-Fi • Action • Romance

The storyline

One day a young man discovered the meaning of Kleroterion, the ancient Greek model of elections of the rulers.  From that point on, he tries to rearm “The Kleroterion” based on an Artificial Intelligence. 

Actors

Development department

Production management department

Craft department

Technical department

Post-production department

Sales and distribution department

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXOGVN93x60UHa-GSxV1-T58blaHT1QaSA_EApyGLtl_BdjA/viewform

=================

Dop And Editor (Collaboration Only)

 Seeking Director of Photography

 Location Guwāhāti, India

 Status Development

 Type Feature film

 Genre Drama • Female-driven • Independent • Romance

Deadline Aug 31, 2021

 About the job

Hi, I am all set to shoot my second feature film "MINI" by second half this year . Looking for DOP and editor who can come as   collaborators only . I can give rights accordingly . Feel free to write to me at arunjit.borah@gmail.com for more details .

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7961313/

========================

Nonbinary Social Media Take On Romeo & Juliet

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location Los Gatos, California, New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California

 Status Development

 Type Episodic

 Genre Drama • Romance

Deadline Nov 25, 2021

 About the job

SEARCHING FOR WRITER TO TACKLE NON-TRADITIONAL TAKE ON ROMEO & JULIET

I’m the Director of Content Development for Sideway - an innovative new streaming service that uses the mechanics of social media to tell fictional stories - and we are looking for a writer to develop a new, gender nonconforming version of Romeo and Juliet for our platform. If you have any kind of direct, personal connection to nonconforming gender praxis, or fall anywhere on the LGBTIAQ+ spectrum, this is the gig for you. If you are a straight white guy, probably not.

A little more about the platform itself: Sideway is a mobile-only app that resembles a social media app in how it’s navigated, but populated by fictional characters rather than real people. Each show on Sideway takes place within an entirely simulated social world, complete with video chats, DMs, posts, likes, comments, all of which make up the stories told.

In bringing this new version of Romeo & Juliet to life, we are hoping to retain as much of the original text as possible, while at the same time not being sacred about prudent dramatic changes. That said, the framework of the story - the setting, character relationships, world and texture - are entirely up to you. It needs to be set in the present day, given the nature of the app itself, but all other aspects of the story are open to creative interpretation. 

Please submit resume and a brief pitch to brian@sideway.com. Am happy to discuss the concept, platform, compensation and expectations further, and answer any and all questions.

Happy writing!

==================

Open Theatre Auditions: Ben Hur (Brixham, Dev

 Seeking Actor

 Location Brixham, United Kingdom

 Status Production

 Type Theatre

 Genre Action / Adventure • History • Faith-based / Inspirational • Drama

Deadline Aug 29, 2021

 About the job

OPEN THEATRE AUDITIONS We are casting all roles in a regionally touring, plus globally streamed production of Ben Hur Auditions for all roles on Sunday August 29th 2021, at 1pm onwards at our home rehearsal base of Chestnut Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA (this is as long as Covid restrictons allow. If they do not, we will be conducting alternative auditions online using Zoom) * Actors must be based in/ near Devon, UK. (Rehearsals - as long as Covid allows - are in Brixham, Devon), * All roles open for casting. * Paid profitshare as minimum (funding for higher cast/crew payments actively being sought) plus portfolio material. * Many roles being cast "genderblind". * All ethnicities needed and welcomed. *We do not charge you anything to audition or work with us. Download the full audition information pack from https://www.southdevonplayers.com/auditions.html SYNOPSIS: Based on the famous novel by Lew Wallace, and brought to life by strong, memorable characters, both male and female, Ben Hur is set in the first century AD. Judah Ben Hur, a young nobleman of Jerusalem, a city under the occupation of the Roman Empire, is framed for the attempted murder of the Roman governor, by his erstwhile closest boyhood friend, Massala, now a Roman commander. Sentenced to life as a galley slave; a sentence which usually led to death within months, Judah survives, and after a pirate attack on the Roman navy in the Agean sea, travels to Rome a hero, having saved the life of the Roman commander in his escape. He once more returns to Jerusalem, seeking his mother and sister, who were imprisoned for the same attack, and finds no trace of them. He does however, find Massala, and blinded by rage, challenges Massala at the annual Roman “games”. Massala is killed in the Games, with his dying breath, reveals to Judah that his mother and sister were in fact released and driven from the city as lepers. With all hope, and all lust for revenge, gone, Judah is lost, but fate is not finished with him. He eventually finds his mother and sister, who are miraculously healed by a preacher, who has recently come to the city. A historical action drama set in Biblical times, interwoven with the life and death of Jesus Christ, who appears twice in the drama, this is ultimately a powerful tale of hope and love, set within the dramatic and often brutal times of the Roman Empire. We are a female-led theatre company based in the beautiful fishing port of Brixham, in Southwest England, to create top quality local opportunities for local creatives to create work in theatre, and to bring new productions to audiences across the South of England. Founded in 2005. Creating internationally awardwinning theatre based on historical events (including new writing) and stage adaptations of classical literature. Breaking down barriers to participating in theatre for actors, crew, and audiences alike. We love to hear from new prospective actors, creatives and audiences at any time, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or experience. www.southdevonplayers.com www.facebook.com/sdevonplayers www.twitter.com/sdevonplayers email: southdevonplayers@gmail.com

================

Actors: Act From Home - Online Table Reads

 Seeking Actor

 Location Los Angeles, California, New York City, New York, Chicago, Illinois and London, England

 Status Development

 Type Live event

Deadline Sep 12, 2021

 About the job

ONLINE TABLE READS - We pay actors to bring scripts to life! Your voice can help a writer experience their work in a different way. Does the dialogue work? Do the twists and turns actual twist and turn?

Go to https://onlinetableread.com/ to apply for ongoing positions.

=============

Screenwriter Writing Partner

 Seeking Screenwriter

 Location Chicago, Illinois and Wheaton, Illinois

 Status

 Genre Thriller / Suspense / Mystery

Deadline Sep 11, 2021

 About the job

Someone I know seeking Writing Partner is asking to bonce ideas back and fourth. Make script workable putting strong hook in 5 pages. Make script vary intresting.

If intrested send me email screemwriting892v3@yaoo.com ty

==============

Dancer And Performer

 Seeking Dancer

 Location San Francisco, California

 Status Pre-production

 Type Music video

 Genre Music • Musical • Indie • Experimental • Fantasy • Mystery

Deadline Sep 11, 2021

 About the job

Hi everyone,

I am directing and producing a music video for an indie singer and songwriter. I am looking to find female and male dancers (ballet or modern dance).

If you are interested in collaborating, please contact me. 

asadi.designer@gmail.com 

Niloo Asadi

================

Editor For A Short Teaser

 Seeking Editor

 Location Stockholm, Sweden

 Status Pre-production

 Type Promo

 Genre Crime

Deadline Sep 10, 2021

 About the job

Looking for an editor with great skills and has significant experience. 

We will be shooting a promo of 1-2 min length ( Max ) If you have a editing reel please send it. 

Open to worldwide applicants. 

Send to houseofredproductions@gmail.com

===================

Actors

 Seeking Actor

 Location Denver, Colorado

 Status Pre-production

 Type Short film

 Genre Horror

Deadline Oct 31, 2021

 About the job

Dark Park Films Presents: Reign of Vibrant Screams: Tales of Cosmic Horror Director- Gino Alfonso Ginome Films Fresh Cola Four preteen friends go out in search for a new hot soda, called Fresh Cola with some bizarre side effects Short - Unpaid This is for an anthology series that will be released in January filming for 2 days sometime in Nov - (masks will be worn on set when not shooting and six feet apart and temperatures will be taken upon arrival on set) Need - kids ages 12 Mia - Hispanic - 12 Chris - African-American - 12 Jake - Caucasian - 12 (sandy blond hair) Katie (Jake’s sister) 12 (sandy blonde hair) Mom (30’s) of Jake and Katie Dad (30’s) of Jake and Katie Curtis - Store clerk any age adult any ethnicity Please email headshot/resume and if you have a reel - to Ginomefilms@gmail.com

==============

[wonderfulworldofwinchester]

Father Time Pt.4

Dean x Reader, Sam, Cas(mentioned) 

Request By Anon: hello~ can you do an update to father time? Like their daughter came back to their present again somehow as a 16 years old teen and she is a hunter? Meanwhile of thinking a way to get her back to her time they do a hunt together even tho Dean refused to let her join but she was too stubborn? Some protective!dean+reader and desperate Dean because he never wanted his kids live this life but their daughter says it was her decision and he and the reader are great parents, fluffy end pls? 😍

Word Count: 2122

Warnings: Language, Daddy!Dean, you know the drill, let me know if I need to add something. 

A/N: This is set about 1 year after the last part. 

Y/D/N= Your Daughter’s Name

              MASTERLIST      Series Masterpost    Ask Me Anything 

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3              Tag Lists 

Complicated. It’s a word hunters know all too well. That much is true on it’s own, but when you take two hunters who have not yet gotten together, and hand them a 4 year old daughter from the future, life is bound to get a little messy.

Hunts have become even more stressful. You guys no longer only have each other to worry about. She is constantly on your minds when you walk into even the simplest of hunts. Nothing is as easy, or as black and white as it once was. 

On nights like tonight, when neither of you could sleep, you often find yourselves talking about all the what ifs of the future. Not necessarily the bad ones, but also laughing and teasing about all the things that will be funny trying to learn how to deal with. Many nights you tease him about what he is going to do when she decides she is taking an interest in boys. To which he always replies ‘Remember, I have lots of guns and fake badges. Also, it wouldn’t be the first body I’ve made disappear.’ 

Tonight the conversation was a little weightier than usual, however. You confronted what you had both been avoiding for some time now. You were both hunters, and you knew the price you paid in this life. The thought of that precious little girl growing up in this life was enough to make you both want to hurl. She doesn’t deserve to be brought up like this.  Dean’s head is resting on your stomach, your hands mindlessly carding through the soft stands that are still slightly damp from his shower earlier. “Babe, what are we going to do?” 

Your brows furrow in confusion, “What are we going to do about what, honey?” 

He turns his head over to meet your gaze, “You know what I’m talking about. I know you had to have been thinking about it too. How do we get her out of this life? It’s damn near impossible to get out, and even if you do, are you ever really out?, you know?” He looks down, fiddling with a loose string on the pajama pants you’re sporting. 

Your heart breaks. He is so concerned, and every inch of him of crying out. He is so worried he won’t be able to do right by her, and get her out. Just as you open your mouth to say something, he starts speaking again. “I can’t lose her. I just can’t. We have to get her out. We have to get out. I won’t allow her to be raised in this life. I don’t want her to fall into the trap of it being a family business.”  You know nothing is going to console him at the moment, and that he just needs to let it all out, to you just sit there with him, letting him vent and get it out of his system, all the while your hands never stop running through his hair and over his back. 

The next morning begins as any other would. You wake up next to the man you love, spend a few moments just relaxing and enjoying the quiet moments with one another before the chaos of the day begins. Eventually, you make your way into the kitchen only to be startled by a young woman. Not able to stop yourself, you jump slightly and yelp. The bunker was the one place you are never expecting someone to just randomly appear.

Your response of course produces a holler from Dean, “Y/N!?” His quick footsteps pound down the hallway towards the kitchen. 

Sam chimes in before you can answer. “It’s okay. She’s not a monster or an intruder.” He hands you a much needed cup of coffee before making his way past you and towards the library.

You clear your throat, “Samuel Winchester, you did not bring a hookup back to the bunker.” 

The girl finally speaks up as she turns around, “Ew, gross.” 

As soon as her eyes meet yours, the mug you are holding crashes to the ground with a loud thud, shattering into a mess of hot coffee and ceramic bits all over the floor. “Holy Shit...” 

She chuckles lightly, and looks down towards her feet and back up towards you in a shy manor, “Hey, mom.” 

Dean heard the crash, and once again comes running towards the kitchen. “Y/N, baby , what happened?” Your face is so pale with shock, he knows something had to have happened. All you can do is gesture over towards where she is standing. 

“Hey, Dad.”

“Y/D/N...” 

The rest of the morning is spent in the library, Y/D/N explaining that she got a hold of this thing that allowed her to travel though time, and she was just curious what you guys were like before she came into the picture. 

“How do we know this is legit?” Dean asks, the pain of doubting her evident in his features.

“Come on, Dad. We both know that if I were some demon or shapeshifter that wanted to kill you, you’d be dead by now.” She offers a smirk that could perfectly mimic the one he gives when he’s being a little smartass. “If you really don’t believe me, here.” She put her foot up on the table, and lifts her pant leg, to retrieve a silver knife out of her boot. Next she walks over to a secret stash place you all had in the library, that hold all the essentials in case of emergencies, and grabs a bottle of holy water. You exchange a look with Dean that seems to say ‘how does she know that’s there?’ She nicks forearm with the silver blade, and dumps holy water on her hand. “See. One hundred percent human.” 

Dean’s head is still too busy reeling from the sound of her calling him dad to even register that she passed the usual tests. 

You look up at her smiling face, “Y/D/N, we are very much glad to know that you’re okay, but you know you shouldn’t be here. Who knows what could be messed up if you remain out of your time. Not to mention,-” You point your thumb over towards Dean, who is still trying to process it all, “Someone is probably pissed right now, so you should probably get back.” 

She looks down, fiddling with the ends of her long sleeves just as Dean had been doing with the strand on your pants last night, and twist the toe of her shoes back and forth, “About that....” 

Dean must have been more with it now, becuase he beat you to the punch. “Y/D/N.. What?” 

“I... I don’t know what happened, but it broke. I can’t get it to work.” 

“What do you mean it won’t work!?” 

“I’m kinda stuck here.” 

Dean walks back into the library and settles into a chair, with a frustrated sigh, rubbing his face as he spoke, “Well, Cas is MIA. I can’t get a hold of him, so there goes that option.”

You scoot closer to him, rubbing soothing circles across his shoulder, “We’ll find a way.” 

“You saw that she knew where that stuff was, she carries a knife, and she ‘found’ a trinket that allows for time travel. We obviously didn’t keep our promise to get her out.” The only thing you are able to offer is a weak smile. He’s right, something didn’t go as planned. 

Just then, she comes bounding into the library once more, stammering on about god knows what. Her mouth’s moving so fast you two had trouble keeping up. She all the sudden stops mid sentence as she sees a stack of files and printouts that are residing on the far end table of the library. “You found a case?” She squeals. 

“Uh no not really. I mean we did before, but we have bigger fish to fry right now.” Dean says, desperately trying to avert her attention. 

“Let’s work it. Come on. I mean we have no leads on how to get me back. Cas’ feathered ass has more important things to do apparently.”

Deans makes a face, “Language.” 

She just chuckles, “Really? Come on, Really? You, Language? You’re lucky my first words weren’t son of a bitch.” 

You can’t help the snicker that made it’s way past your lips, which earns you a glare from Dean. “What? She has a point, you know.” 

“Please Dad! Let me hunt with you guys once while you’re still young enough to keep up.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“What? You do know that I’m sixteen ,right? Put it together. Think how old you’ll be. Oh and that’s sixteen years starting two years from now, so really eighteen years from now.”

“Absolutely not!” 

“Ugh Dad. I can handle it. I’m not a child.” 

“I beg to differ. One, you are still a minor. Two, you are my child, which makes you my responsibility. I can’t risk losing you. I love you too much!” That last part slips out before he could stop it. 

She just smiles, and hugs him tight, “I love you too, Daddy.” Your heart practically melts to the floor right then, and there, and you both can’t help but to give in to her. It was a relatively easy hunt anyway. 

“Fine...” he grumbles. “But don’t come crying to me-” 

“Get over yourself already, Dad.”

During the hunt you found yourself backed into a corner, a demon trying to get to your daughter. Your gun was yanked from your hands, leaving you with only your body to call a weapon. Adrenaline. Some freak thing. Call it what ever you want. You go into complete mama bear mode. You put up a hell of a fight any other day, but with her in the line of fire, you could make even the biggest, baddest monster shake in his boots. You go to town, and just start wailing on the thing. You know it won’t do much to the demon, but it was all you can do at the moment. It buys enough time to for Dean to burst through the door, and douse it in holy water, and knife it with the demon blade. 

He quickly come over, wrapping you and Y/D/N in a bone crushing hug. “Thank god, you’re okay.” 

She grins, “Of course we’re okay. Mom’s a badass. Seriously, I can’t believe I would have had to miss that in my life.”

“What do you mean?” You ask. 

“You don’t hunt anymore, mom.” 

“Huh.” 

Cas finally appears, and prepares to help get Y/D/N back to her time once more. You say your goodbyes, and hug her one last time , before Dean asks if she will take a walk with him. 

Once outside he begins the speech he has rehearsed since the hunt. “Sweetheart, I never wanted this for you. I didn’t want you raised in this life. You deserve so much more. I can’t believe that I ever put you in that position. I am so sorry-”

“Dad, You didn’t do anything wrong. I chose this. You and mom are great parents. Yeah we have an interesting family, and you guys have job histories that you really couldn’t talk about for career day at school, but you know what? I wouldn’t trade a single day in this life, for a thousand in the so called perfect life, if it meant I didn’t have you guys as parents.”

Dean can’t stop the tears running down his face, “I love you so much.” 

“I know. I love you too, daddy.” She says resting her head against his chest. “Oh and by the way, you aren’t wasting your time on those letters. Please don’t stop writing them.” She leans back, pulls out her phone, and when she removes the case, a folded up piece of paper is revealed. she unfolds it and hands it to him. “It’s the first letter you ever wrote. I carry it with me as a little reminder.” 

You, Cas, and Sam join them outside. She walks up to give you one more hug, before taking Cas’ hand. “I’m ready now. Let’s go.” 

Later that night, you find yourself once again in that same position with Dean, this time in a much more lighthearted conversation. He smirks, “You know she gets the attitude from you.”

You try your best to be all fake offended, “Yeah well, she is as stubborn as her daddy, so I guess we’re even.” 

A few moments pass before he speaks again, “She’s going to be okay you know.... Well after I tear her a new one for running off to another time period, but you know what I mean. We did good.” 

“Yeah we did.” 

If you would like to be added to one of my tag lists, just ask :)  The Anything and Everything bunch:  @tillielynn16 @fandomaskedstuff @naruko88558855 @saltysamgirls@hillface89@unusualcorn@trilloku-blog @perpetualabsurdity @ria132love @emoryhemsworth@mogaruke@dramaqueenrolf @ghost–facers @herbologystudent252

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Father Time series specific Tag List: @awesomestperson22 

[brian-enthusiast]

and it’s enough just to make you go crazy.

the title of this fic is a lana del rey lyric because it’s my fic fuck you. here’s around 2000 words of dadsona being in denial about being in love with brian.

contains an angery twink named harper and a soft boy named brian being in love with eachother.

1. everything he does is endearing.

Harper doesn’t think he’s ever really going to fall in love with Brian. It’ll be more of a slow dip into those familiar waters. Love is a term that was very much reserved for Alex―and therefore, a little bit of a bittersweet thing to return to.

So he figures it’ll be a bit like going to the pool when the water is too cool―only the brave and foolish jump straight in, so Harper figures he’ll dip a toe in before slowly submerging himself in the water. Except instead of water it’s romantic commitment and love, or something like that.

Or, maybe he’ll just be grateful that he’s finally back in the dating game and stop coming up with dumb metaphors to explain to himself why he’s so hesitant to use the word “love” in situations where it might be fitting. Whatever, he’s happy with Brian, and as far as he knows, Brian is happy with him. It’s a symbiotic relationship, though Harper supposes all romantic relationships should be.

Harper snaps out of his thoughts when he comes across a post on Dadbook. There’s a picture of Daisy receiving a badge from an older, sinewy girl, supposedly her scout troop leader. In the caption, Brian has written sentence upon sentence about how proud he is of her. A smile crosses Harper’s face as he reads through it.

“What’s got you all happy?” Amanda is standing in front of Harper, and he comes to realize that he’s kind of just been sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone with a dopey expression while an episode of Long Haul Paranormal Ice Road Ghost Truckers played in the background. “You’ve been smiling at your phone for, like, a full minute.”

“Nothing.” Harper presses the power button on the side of his phone, “Daisy got a new Girl Scout badge, and I was reading the post Brian made about it.” Simple question, simple explanation.

“I thought you hated it when Brian bragged about Daisy.” Amanda says, raising an eyebrow, “Something about him being your mortal enemy and a reminder that you aren’t as great a dad, despite the fact that you’re both great dads?”

Harper waves a dismissive hand. “Amanda! That was the me of the past. Now, after our time at the carnival, inevitable team-up for the benefit of our children, and my overwhelming guilt for being a competitive asshole, Brian and I are unlikely friends.” And unlikely people who are dating, but whatever.

“Uh-huh. Well, you have me and Daisy to thank for that.” She says, a sly smile on her face, like she knows something. “And Brian the Goldfish. May he rest in peace.”

“Why did we go through all that trouble for a carnival goldfish, anyway?” Harper asks, “Just so we could be that much more attached when we inevitably flushed him?”

“That, and because we’re ridiculous and over the top.” Amanda shrugs, taking a seat beside Harper. “I’m glad you could get over your petty rivalry, though. And, as an unexpected bonus, you got over your fear of rollercoasters.”

“‘Got over’ is a strong way to put it. I’m still horrified of roller coasters, and now I have that memory to prove to myself that they are just as horrifying as I thought they were.” Just thinking about heights, and dropping down from heights, and dropping down from heights at a fast speed is making him a bit queasy.

“Still, progress.” Amanda says.

Harper rolls his eyes and turns on his phone again, immediately being greeted by another Dadbook post with a picture of Maxwell wearing a trucker hat, and if that wasn’t adorable enough, Harper remembers being in the mall when Brian bought that stupid hat, and he smiles fondly upon thinking about it.

Then he scrolls down and sees another picture from Brian, one where standing by his car, smiling brightly at the camera and celebrating his new proud parent of an honors student bumper sticker.

Okay, maybe Harper’s just a little bit in love with Brian. Just a touch in love.

2. you see him in everything.

Lately, Harper’s been exhibiting worrisome behavior for someone who’s just a little bit in love.

It’s just little things. Recognizing things like “oh, this is Brian’s favorite song!” when a certain Jimmy Buffett song plays over the radio or, “this picture of a dog is so cute! I should send it to Brian!” when faced with… really any picture of any dog. Damien’s Dadbook page is full of pictures of dogs.

It’s starting to get bad when it becomes subconscious, because Harper is sure that he’s never heard what Brian’s usual Coffee Spoon order is, but he definitely knew it when he was standing at the counter, asking for an Iced T with extra sweetener by default.

(“How’d you know I love these?” Brian said when presented with the sweetened ice tea, “You’re so sweet. Kind of like this tea.” At that point he was laughing and Harper was laughing and everything was fine―except that Harper was internally panicking because how did he know Brian loved those.)

Of course, none of that is a really big deal. Harper is a chronic overreactor and has a tendency to exaggerate problems in order to fit his own narrative, but he’s still kind of panicking because even his friends are starting to pick up on his infatuated behavior.

He’d been hanging out with Robert and Mary a few weeks ago. The usual stuff, a couple drinks before Harper inevitably went home to cuddle with his pillow and have dreams about his life with far more money and far less back pain.

“I’ll get a whiskey.” Robert said, and Neil turned to Harper.

“Oh. Uh. I’ll just get a beer, thanks.” To be honest, whenever Harper hangs out with Robert and Mary he feels severely outclassed. He’s not exactly a lightweight―ok, that’s a lie, he’s the lightest weight. The last time he got drunk he was found crying about how the Skammunist Manifesto was never as appreciated as it should have been―but Robert and Mary literally bring glasses of whiskey and wine almost everywhere. And they’re also much more attractive and much better friends than Harper could hope to be, and hanging out with them sort of digs up some deeply repressed inferiority issues that Harper struggles with on a daily basis, but whatever. One time he got drunk and explained this to them and they gave him a pat on the shoulder and told him that if they didn’t like him they wouldn’t hang out with him.

“So.” Harper said, swirling the beer in his cup. “You know, I was―”

“Hanging out with Brian?” Robert said, resting his chin in the palm of his hand.

“Uh… yes, actually. How did you know?”

“Wild guess. Also you talk about him a lot.” Robert shrugged, “Not that that’s a bad thing. He is the closest you’ll get to dating Mario Batali, after all―”

“Ok, one, when did I tell you about my celebrity crush on Mario Batali?”

“Same day you told me about your repressed issues with your dad, and your repressed memories of killing a man in cold blood.” Robert waited a few seconds before adding, “Kidding, of course.”

“And two, I don’t talk about Brian a lot. I talk about him a reasonable amount. Because we’re friends.” Harper said.

“Friends who have sex with each other?” Robert raised an eyebrow. “Not to say I’m against that kind of arrangement, though I have to say Brian isn’t exactly the friends with benefits type. I don’t really know him well enough to say that, but you know. I just kinda see it in his face. Kinda like I see the empty eyes of a killer in yours, you know?”

“Every time you  make these jokes about me being a murderer I get more and more convinced that I am, you know that? Anyway,” Harper said, “Okay, so Brian and I are dating, but I’m not always talking about him or anything.”

“Of course not. I’d say Brian takes up a good eighty percent of subjects that you talk about, the other twenty percent being your own emotional issues and talks you’ve had with your daughter about how cool she is.” Robert said, “But it’s fine, no one’s blaming you. You’re practically in love with the guy, so―”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that―” Harper interjected, before Mary walked up from behind them, draping her arms over their shoulders.

“You guys talking about Brian?”

So, yeah, Harper’s a little on edge about… everything. He still doesn’t think he talks about Brian that much, but sometimes in idle moments he thinks about Brian’s stupid smile and it’s kind of a really nice thought so it is a topic that’s often on the brain.

He considers all of this while walking down the street, and then he sees a colorful Hawaiian shirt in the window of a store that he knows Brian would love, and he doesn’t really think about how he’s doing it again until after he buys the shirt for him.

(For the record, Brian does love the shirt. Harper is fucking reeling at how absolutely transparent he is even to himself, and also at how nice Brian looks in that shirt.)

3. you’re in denial about it. sweet, sweet denial.

It’s hard to convince himself he isn’t in love when he looks at Brian.

Because there’s just so many feelings―there’s giddiness and admiration and something very genuine that Harper can’t quite put a finger on―that it’s hard to pinpoint all of them, and he’s not sure love is a part of any of them.

(Because love is complicated and love is weird and love is so far away from him at this point that the idea of being faced with it now is kind of scary.

But it’s hard to deny that looking at Brian now―at his smiling face while he regales Harper with some story about fishing for rainbow trout or some shit―makes Harper feel a certain lightness in his chest.

“What’re you smiling about?” Brian says, “I know I’m not that entertaining.”

“Nothin.” Harper is still smiling dreamily, like he’s in fucking love, but he isn’t. Not yet. “Just listening to you talk.” Listening to him talk and thinking about how cute he is and being just steps away from falling in love with him.

“You’re adorable.” Brian says, and then he continues. And Harper listens, and maybe (just maybe) gets a little more comfortable with the idea of being in love with Brian. “I love you.” Brian says.

Oh, shit.

4. you accept it.

Harper doesn’t say I love you to Brian that night―but he does stand on his toes to press a kiss to Brian’s lips when they’re standing by the front door of his house.

Harper doesn’t say I love you to Brian that night―but he giggles like a child when they make their way to Brian’s room. He doesn’t say I love you―but he feels giddy beyond belief when tangled in Brian’s sheets.

Harper doesn’t say I love you to Brian that night―but in the morning, when he’s looking at Brian through sleepy eyes, he has a sort of lopsided smile on his face and this feeling like his heart is caught in his throat.

“Okay, fuck it.” He says, to a Brian who is clearly still unconscious on this fine morning. This’ll be a practice round, he supposes. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Brian says, eyes still closed, and Harper realizes with little uncertainty that he professed his aggressively denied feelings to a Brian who was pretending to be asleep, and he’s not sure if the red on his face is from embarrassment or frustration.

“Aw, babe. ‘S nothing to be embarrassed about. I love you, too.” Brian says, and Harper squints.

“I said it first.” He says.

“Actually, I said it first. About a day before you did, so.” Brian stretches and yawns. “But nice try.” He grins, playfully.

“Goddamit. Okay. You win this time, I guess.” Harper rolls his eyes, “But listen, I think we can both agree that I―” Harper loses track of what he was arguing about when he catches sight of Brian and his stupid, soft, adorable face. “Oh, fuck it. I love you.”

They kiss and normally Harper would have a billion gripes about their morning breath, but this is a nice moment and he doesn’t wanna ruin it.

Okay. He’s in love with Brian. And that’s fine, and good, and fun, and Harper doesn’t exactly know what that means for them or the future, but he’s willing to find out.

[devereauxsdisease]

A Very Darko Sequel, Pt. 14

As always @wrathofthestag​ and @chronicopheliac​ are the best friends/quality control managers a person could ask for. If you’re reading this fic, thank them, it could be SO much worse...

Catch Up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13

Chapter 14: I Just Wanted to See a Fucking Nebula

         Bev rolled her hips as she rode Darko. He ran a hand up the base of her skull, nestling his fingers in her hair and tugging so Bev’s back arched deeply. She let out a small cry as the new angle made her see stars.

         “Phil…Phil…Phil...” Bev raked her nails over Darko’s chest, mindlessly seeking something to ground her as she approached the precipice.

         Darko let his head thump back against the headboard, working a hand between them to gently rub her clit. The added friction made Bev wail, clenching around him. He watched her fall apart in the hazy seconds before his own release, shouting a thick-tongued declaration of love as he came.

         Bev fell forward, panting against his neck, hair matted to her forehead and cheeks. Darko had never seen anyone so beautiful.

         “Please tell me we have time before we have to meet Adam and Nigel.” Bev moved so Darko could get rid of the condom. He turned to her, naked, rumpled and with a sheen of sweat that made her want to melt into the sheets and blow off any and all plans for a double date.

         “We should get going in like 15 minutes.”

         “Ten, actually,” called a monotone voice.  

         Bev and Darko both cocked their heads, mouths falling open.

         “Cosmo?”

         “In the living room.”

         When no further information was offered, Bev furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Darko, who shrugged.

         After a round of silent, emphatic charades, Bev snatched the duvet from the bed, crafting a makeshift toga, while Darko snagged his boxers off the lamp in the corner. Together, they quietly shuffled to Darko’s living room, where Adam perched on the couch, reading a biography of Kepler.  

         Adam looked up at the bedraggled duo. “You should really get ready, we’ll be late.”

         “Cosmo, when the fuck did you get here?”

         “About 9 minutes ago. I would have said something, but it sounded like you were almost done.”

         Bev made a series of choking noises before laughing hysterically, her cheeks flushing. Darko just blinked at Adam. He vaguely registered Bev patting his shoulder as she shuffled back into the bedroom.

         “Why are you here, man?”

         “You were probably having sex when I texted you,” Adam said with a small nod. “Nigel couldn’t pick me up, so I decided to catch a ride from you and Beverly. Mrs. Keller gave me a ride here on her way to mahjong. She’s not a very good driver, but she got upset when I told her. I think maybe Nigel should talk to her about stopping before there’s an accident. She likes Nigel. He always carries her groceries for her.”

         Darko looked pained. “Cosmo? WHY couldn’t Nigel pick you up?”

         “He texted me an hour ago and said he would meet us at Mt. Wilson.” Adam said with a small frown. “Was there a problem at work?”

         “Well, Nigel was there, so probably.” Darko deadpanned, earning a sniff from Adam and snort from Bev, who emerged from the bedroom looking for all the world like she hadn’t just been rolling around on Darko’s sheets with her hair in a wild tangle.

         “You, stop starting shit and go get dressed, Adam’s been waiting long enough.” Darko smirked at Bev’s dry tone.

         “Don’t forget to disinfect the scratches on your chest! Nigel forgot to once and he got an infection on his back. I had to put cream on it for two weeks and he had to sleep on his stomach, which always makes him grumpy.”

         Darko closed his eyes trying desperately not to picture Adam scratching the hell out of Nigel. His unhelpful mind supplied a memory of Nigel last September, refusing to sit at his desk chair and instead angrily pacing around their office like a wild man. When Darko had asked, Nigel had muttered something about blue eyes and sharp claws, causing Darko to flee for coffee with Ralph.

         With a mild frown, Darko retreated to the bedroom.

                                          -XXX-

         Darko parked in the employee lot as instructed and smiled as Adam leaped from the car, craning around the lot.

         “There’s Nigel’s car! He’s here!”

         “Well he should be, we’re running late.” Bev smiled at Adam, throwing an arm around his back to encourage him toward the museum.

         “That’s because you two were having sex,” Adam admonished before pausing and turning to Darko. “I see now why you get frustrated when Nigel and I are having sex, it throws off the schedule.”

         “Yeah, that’s why it’s upsetting.”

         “I’ve told you repeatedly that I disinfect the table after. And it’s imperative we use it because the angle is good for both Nigel and myself. You of all people should know that Nigel has a trick knee.”

         “Yeah, but why does it always have to be over my place at the fucking table?”

         “Nigel thinks it’s funny.”

         “Of fucking course.” Darko would not hit Nigel during the double date. He wouldn’t. Not until Bev was distracted, at least.

         Adam led Bev into the museum, searching the lobby for Nigel. Darko followed, moving past a group of tourists who were there for a night tour.

         “Cosmo, is this your group?”

         “No, I’m not giving a tour tonight.”

         “Wait, then why the fuck are we here?”

         “Luiz said we could look at the Infrared Spatial Interferometer tonight,” Adam said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

         Darko looked at Bev, who shrugged.

         “Ok, using the smallest words you can think of, tell me what the fuck that is.”

         “It’s a way of seeing variable stars using starlight and lasers. The Infrared Spatial Interferometer is actually three separate 65-foot telescopes that-NIGEL!” Adam waved then, froze, face scrunching when he saw the blonde strolling with his boyfriend. “Amy?”

         “Nice talking to you gorgeous,” Nigel shook Amy’s hand and offered her a wink. “He’ll have his application in soon.”

         Amy waved shyly at Adam before retreating back to offices. Adam tensed, his hands started tapping on his thighs. Nigel nodded toward Darko and Bev before approaching Adam.

         Nigel looked hurt when he finally reached Adam, cupping the younger man’s cheek with one hand and studying him with sad eyes. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”

         “Because I don’t want to.”

         “Adam.”

         “No. I said no and she had no right to call you. I want to go home!”

         “Amy didn’t call me, she left a message on our machine after you blew her off!” Nigel reeled Adam closer, but Adam struggled against the hold. “So I decided I’d talk to her and I’m glad I fucking did.”

         “NO! GO AWAY. I WISH YOU NEVER CAME HOME!”

         Bev turned to look askance at Darko, who looked pained.

         “I just wanted to see a fucking nebula,” he muttered.

         The tourists were taking an interest, their murmurs dying down as they watched the two men grapple. Nigel had his arms around Adam, gently rocking the boy as he murmured into his ear. Adam shoved at Nigel, fussing and proclaiming his hate. A few of the tourists moved closer. One boy pulled out a phone, pointing it toward Nigel and Adam.

         “Space shit is that way, fucker.” Darko took a menacing step toward the kid who immediately pocketed his phone. A woman glared, putting her arm around the boy.

         “How dare you-”

         “Turn the fuck around, lady!” Bev flashed her badge. The woman and boy moved deeper into the lobby, muttering. The tour guide cleared his throat and led the group away.

         “What’s happening?” Darko moved closer to Cosmo, who was still upset, but at least breathing normally. “Do we need to go?”

         “YES.” Adam pulled halfheartedly at the hands around his waist.  

         “No.” Nigel pressed his mouth to the back of Adam’s neck, nuzzling softly as he rocked. “Cosmo just needs to reconsider Amy’s offer.”

         “I don’t want to go to graduate school. I can’t.”

         “Of fucking course you can, darling.” Nigel’s grip loosened, but Adam remained in his arms.

         “Graduate school?” Bev moved closer, careful not to make Adam feel boxed in as she approached.

         “Amy is the new liaison to the UCLA Astronomy program. She talked to the university director about Adam, and how he’d be a strong fucking candidate for the program.”

         “Adam that’s fantastic!”

         “Way to fucking go, Cosmo!”

         Adam stiffened again. “NO! I’m happy now.”

         “Come on, Cosmo,” Nigel soothed, lips still running along the column of Adam’s neck as they rocked. “Why not? I’m making enough money for both of us, gorgeous. In a few years, you could be the fucker on the telescope instead of the fucker giving the tour.”

         “I like our schedule.” Adam’s voice was reedy. “I-I have a job, and I have y-you. I don’t want that to change. I-f I went to school we’d have to reorganize. Everything will change.”

         “Everything changed when you came here, Adam. Everything fucking changed when you met me. You’re a lot fucking tougher than you think.” Nigel let his arms go slack. Adam turned and buried his face in Nigel’s shirt. “We’ll go to bed together and wake up together no matter what, we can figure everything else out as long as we have that, right, gorgeous?”

         Adam looked up, face still fraught. “I don’t do well with other students, I don’t want them to call me Raki the Retard again. What if I can’t-”

         “You’ve reformed half of the LA drug scene inside of two years, Cosmo. How hard could this be?” Nigel smiled and pecked a small kiss on Adam’s nose. Adam’s lips twitched into a small smile, but his fingers were still drumming odd little patterns on Nigel’s chest.

         “Fuck it man, I do the work schedules,” Darko said with a shrug. “I can fix it so Nigel’s free for all your classes. He can sit there with you, scaring the shit out of everyone if you want.”

         “But my job-”

         “Will be here if you decide you don’t like school.” Nigel ran a hand through Adam’s hair, tugging lightly. “Amy said she wanted you to go, but she’d take you back here in a heartbeat.”

         “I’m just not-”

         “No one says you’ve got to do it, but why not apply?” The three men turned to look at Bev in confusion.  

         “What?”

         “If they accept you, then you’ll know you’re meant to be in the program, if they don’t, you can reapply or not,” Bev shrugged. “This whole decision is moot unless you apply. So why not apply? I’ll help you study for the GREs and you can write and submit a paper...you’ll know if you can handle the work after that.”

         Adam studied his drumming fingers for a moment. “I’ll apply. But that doesn’t mean I’m going. I don’t want to decide yet.”

         Nigel whooped, sweeping Adam backward into a deep kiss. Adam returned it sweetly, fingers relaxing enough to push Nigel’s bangs away from his face.

         “I’m sorry I yelled.” Adam pecked little kisses along Nigel’s chin. “I’m very happy you came home.”

         “I deserved it, pushy fuck, talking to people behind your back.” He caught Adam’s lips, a soft press. “Ought to spank me for that shit, Cosmo.”

         Adam laughed, Darko groaned.

         “Can we see the space shit before you two whip your dicks out and we get us banned from yet another fucking building?”

         Adam gently pushed Nigel away before taking Darko’s arm.

         “The Infrared Spatial Interferometer imaging room is over here.”

“Lead the way, Dr. Cosmo.” Darko stopped and looked at Adam. “Hey, can we see more of those nebulas?”

         “Sure! I know Lucy could help us find some…”

         Nigel moved to follow Darko and Adam as they disappeared down the hall. Bev stepped in his path. Nigel watched her carefully, jaw tensed.

         “I, uh, just wanted a quick word with you.”

         Nigel nodded.

         “Darko told me about Bucharest.” Bev pitched her voice lower, leaning close. “About what you did, the men you killed.”

         Nigel blinked, something cold settled into his stomach.

         “You want me to stay the fuck away, is that it? Don’t want your precious fucking Darko to be tempted, right?” Nigel sneered at her.

         “SHUT UP.” Nigel took an involuntary step back. She followed him. “Darko was right, you are an asshole when you get cornered, aren’t you?”

         Nigel glared at her, but confusion was clearly written on his features. Bev rolled her eyes and grabbed Nigel, pulling him into a hug.

         “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “Thank you for saving him.”

         Nigel pulled back, hands still limp at his sides. He looked like he’d been slapped.

         “What?”

“Thank you.” She repeated, hugging him one more time. She smiled when she felt hands tentatively rest on the small of her back.

         “I was just looking after him.”

         “You don’t have to look after him anymore.” Bev pulled back and smiled. “Not by yourself, anyway.”

         “Good.” Nigel smiled, wrapping an arm around Bev’s shoulders as they started walking after Darko and Adam. “You tell him he doesn’t have to look after me anymore, either.”

                                                -XXX-

         “I can feel you fucking pouting.” Nigel didn’t bother to open his eyes.

         A huff from Adam sent warm wet air over Nigel’s shoulder. A hand found its way to Nigel’s thatch of chest hair, nimble fingers plucking softly.

         “My father said he went to college as much as I did. He was always there, arguing with the dean when I upset someone or did something weird. Calming me down when I had a fit during a class discussion. Helping me rewrite my schedule every single week because the work kept changing.” Blue eyes peered at Nigel in the darkness. “He hated it. I hated that he hated it.”

         “Maybe he did,” Nigel ran a hand through Adam’s mussed hair. “But you both made it through. So will we.”

         “But-”

         Nigel sighed, sitting up. He moved around the room picking up his jeans and a pair of soft cotton pajamas that Adam liked to read in. He tossed them at Cosmo, snorting when they hit him square in the head and draped over his face.

         “Put those on and follow me,” Nigel instructed, pulling on his pants and a soft navy henley.

         “Where?” Adam frowned as he buttoned up the pajamas. “Nigel, it’s 2:13, we should be sleeping.”

         “Are you fucking sleeping?”

         “Obviously not.”

         “You going to fall asleep in the next 15 minutes?”

         “No.”

         “Then shut the fuck up and follow me.” Nigel grabbed three spare blankets from the closet and left the apartment, trusting Adam to follow. He packed Adam into the car with the blankets and started the silent drive into the hills. When the streetlights stopped and the night became encompassing, Nigel pulled off the road, heading for Adam’s favorite clearing, the one that afforded the best view of the sky with the least light pollution.

         Adam smiled, taking Nigel’s hand and squeezing it when he recognized the area. Once Nigel found their spot, he parked, bustling about the old Ford. Laying one blanket on the ground next to the front tire, Nigel wrapped another around his shoulders. He opened his arms and Adam sank into them immediately, pressing his back to Nigel’s chest and sighing happily when Nigel wound his arms and the blanket around Adam’s middle.

         Nigel rested his chin on Adam’s shoulder, helping the boy arrange the final blanket around their tangled legs. They sat, staring at the infinite universe before them, a content little bundle bearing witness to the galaxy.

         “Do you want me to tell you a story?” Adam asked as Nigel pressed his nose into the delicate curls at the base of Adam’s skull.

         “No, Cosmo, I want to tell you one.” Nigel lipped at the join of Adam’s neck and jaw, enjoying the shiver he elicited. “Once upon a time there was a boy named Adam, who was the smartest fucking boy in the universe.”

         “Nigel, there’s no way I’m the smartest person in the universe. I’m probably smarter than you and Darko, but there are still people like Stephen Hawk-”

         Nigel dug his fingers into Adam’s stomach, making the smaller man squirm and huff. “No interrupting my fucking stories Cosmo.”

         The probing, tickling fingers began to stroke soothingly over Adam’s cotton covered stomach. Nigel felt his chest burn when the kid collapsed, boneless, against him.

         “Anyway, this Cosmo was so smart, it was a fucking crime that he was wasting his time giving tours to dumb Americans when he should be mapping the universe or some shit. Luckily, this kid was dating an old, broken down fucking gangster, who knew his Cosmo deserved more. They worked together, and soon Cosmo became a doctor. Every night, Cosmo got up when the sun went down. He spent all night staring up at space, discovering shit no one knew was there. His fucking gangster switched to working nights, so he could spend his days in bed with Cosmo. And they fucked and looked at the stars for the rest of their lives.” Nigel rubbed his scruffy chin along the tender skin of Adam’s neck. “Oh, and Cosmo won the Nobel prize for space shit and Nigel was so proud of him, he blew him under the table at the ceremony.”

         Adam snorted, turning until he was straddling Nigel, nose to nose.

         “I’ll have to study more, and you know I get upset easily when I don’t have a good schedule. We’ll have less sex, because I’ll have work to do. You’ll get mad and horny. We’ll have sex and then I’ll have a meltdown because I have to stay up later to study. Things will change.”

         Nigel thought about slipping a simple band on Adam’s finger, Constanța crying in a church pew, and Darko giving him shit when Nigel inevitably teared up. “Not all change is bad, gorgeous.”

         “I know, but it’s hard. It’s always hard for me.”

         “Adam, you can do this. I’m not saying it won’t be fucking hard, but we can do this.” Nigel’s mouth curled into a smirk. “Besides, as you fucking love to point out, I’m getting old. I probably won’t be interested in sex that much longer.”

         Adam glanced down.

         “Your hand is on my cock right now.”

         Nigel’s grin spread as he felt Adam swell in his palm. He ran his fingertip over Adam’s growing length twice before slipping his hand into Adam’s pants with a wink.

         “Well, I’m not that fucking old yet, gorgeous.”