#how little we know about old timey clothing

[discountalien-pancake]

I just need everyone to understand that we have hardly any surviving intact garments from before, say, the 1700s. There’s dozens of reasons for this, but one of the big ones is that people reused the materials. Things were cut up and refashioned into new things, over and over, until the fabric was essentially just rags, bc the labor required to weave cloth and stitch up a garment was intense. You would wear and wear and wear things until they were dead. This includes the elaborate garments of the upper classes.

And in the same way that today many people pick apart old things to cannibalize the buttons and trims and other salvageable bits, they did that too! No sense throwing away perfectly good buttons just because the shirt is shredded. Snip those off and sew them onto something new! We have lace cuffs that are incredibly old, but rarely the garments they were worn with, partly because lace was so fucking expensive you’d have to be insane to throw it out. You would save those and refashion them again and again as often as possible.

So what we know of medieval clothing has been learned from writings, often very vague, illustrations (also very vague), and other imagery like statues. We have bits and pieces of garments, often from funerary contexts, but the same context that prevented them from being chopped up and reused also made them susceptible to decomposing.

Which is all to say that we do not know the exact details of garment construction for any given period. We don���t even know all the ins and outs of the clothing of the 1800s, and we have hundreds of surviving pieces from that century!

Do we know how frequently and in which contexts hooks and eyes were used prior to the late 1400s? Not precisely, but we can make some good guesses based on artwork and later usage. But we may never really know, because guess what! Hooks and eyes are reusable. I guarantee they would have been snipped off of unusable clothing and sewn onto new pieces.

[irisinluv]

Yandere x Time Traveler Reader

You could recite the rules by memory if you had to. You were read them before each and every time jump. The most important being- don’t do anything to alter the course of history, don’t let anyone know about time travel, and don’t stay longer than necessary. There’s a slew of other minute details to the rule book, time traveling is a delicate business after all. But you love your job, and you understand how important your work is. You see, history records are often sloppy. We do our best to put things together with old newspapers, books, and the occasional photo, but what if you could go back and meticulously record everything the exact way it was?

Well, historians realized they could utilize time travel to observe and document historic events and time periods. That’s where you come in. You are a field agent- dressed in time appropriate clothes, practiced in period accurate slang and culture, armed with a backstory, and ready to jump back in time to learn the things time has forgot.

You’ve done countless runs before, and this one is no different. Go in. Learn everything you can, and then get the hell out. You don’t stay more than a week, and whatever you do, you stick to your company drafted backstory if anyone ask. So, with this in mind, you wave to your team, and step back in time.

The 1920s proved to be more colorful than you’d imagined. Sure you knew not everything was in black and white… but you expected things to be a bit more drab. The streets were busy with old timey cars in each of the primary colors, women bustled down the streets in loose, boxy dresses with gorgeous patterns. You took note that maybe the 20s were onto something when you noticed the high waisted pants all the men seemed to be wearing. You’d certainly be recommending these slutty little numbers make a comeback.

Taking in all these details, you took a moment to enjoy being a tourist in a new time. This was your favorite part of the job- constantly exploring. You loved the freedom you had. Granted you had your rules, but you could go anywhere. Any time. It was fantastic. Ducking into a cafe, you took a second to inspect the menu before ordering, and taking a seat at a booth. You began people watching as you sipped your drink, taking mental notes of everything and anything that you could jot down later. Suddenly, you’re interrupted from your observations as someone slid into the seat across from you in the booth.

Sawyer saw you order and sit down, and was fascinated by you. You carried yourself differently than anyone he’d seen before, with a natural ease and confidence, yet he could see your eyes assessing everything around you with a slight hint of wonder that made him wonder what those eyes would say if they looked his way. After observing you for several minutes, Sawyer made his move.

You couldn’t help but feel comfortable about the man who slid into your booth and started chatting with you. It wasn’t against the rules to talk with people like this- it was often crucial in fact. As long as you didn’t do anything drastic like save or end their life, convince them of some major course of action, etc…. It often paid to have a friend in an unfamiliar time. So when Sawyer asked you if you had plans this evening…. You had told him you were free.

Now it’s a quarter to 6 and he’s picking you up at the hotel you’d arranged earlier in the day. You had a change of clothes already packed for the occasion, and were buzzing to see inside a real speakeasy during prohibition. Sawyer was prompt in picking you up, and it was only a short walk to a back door of a building. He was ushered inside and soon the two of you were sitting together, leaning close to speak as you sipped (rather horrible) watered down drinks.

You kept to your story- you were traveling from the countryside, and would be in town for the next week. Sawyer noticed, however, how much you steered the conversation away from yourself. You did so skillfully and he had to admire that, but you were secretive none the less. Of course, this only served to further fascinate the man. What was originally just a little crush began to turn into a burning need to know more. What were those calculating eyes of yours thinking? Why did you take everything in with such wonder, like you were committing every detail to memory? He had to know.

For the next several days, Sawyer acted as your guide through the city, showing you clubs and shows and the best places to eat. You found yourself genuinely enjoying his company, and it wasn’t hard to tell he greatly enjoyed yours- showing up first thing each morning to escort you on another adventure. You realized you needed to begin distancing yourself from him, however, as he was pressing you for more details about yourself, and was expertly dodging your attempts at redirection. So, with only a few days left before you had to return, you switched hotels. Went to a different part of town, and began looking into the affairs of a few businesses. You needed to round out your research more anyways.

Sawyer arrived at his usual time, only to find you gone. The hotel attendant explained you’d checked out early, and left no explanation. Sawyers heart stopped. You were the love of his life. He knows it’s sudden, and stupid, he hardly knows you…. But at the same time he feels like he knows you better than anyone else alive. In the few days you’d spent together he’d taken in every little detail about you. He could tell when you were excited or disgusted just by the way your nose twitched. He knew your food preferences, knew how to make you laugh, and just felt like he knew you on a soul deep level…. But you were gone. You’d left him….

You were taking note of the stock in a grocery store a few days later when Sawyer finally saw you. He didn’t approach, instead, followed you back to your hotel. He watched you through a sliver in the curtains as you pulled out a pad of paper and began writing. He watched until you fell asleep, and then slowly crept in through the window. He gently picked up the notepad, only to furrow his brows, confused. You were…. Taking note of the style of labels on soup cans, and the price stickers used? He looked around the room and saw a few other note pads, gently placing the one he’d grabbed back next to your sleeping form, he began snooping through the rest of your notes. You had pages and pages written about what you’d observed, meticulous notes littered with your own commentary and thoughts. And that’s when Sawyer realized the truth. He didn’t have all the details- but he knew you were from the future. You were from the future, and you’d be leaving him in less than 24 hours.

He knew he had to act. He found the small device you would use to return home- it was disguised as a watch, and tucked away inside one of your luggage bags. Holding the small object in his hand, he came up with a plan. Shooting one last look to your sleeping form, he made sure everything was as you left it, aside from your watch, which he slipped in his pocket, and then crept back outside.

The next day, you hustled to finish investigating the last few things your colleagues were interested in. You were walking down the road when you heard a familiar voice call out. Closing your eyes and letting out a soft curse, you turned to see Sawyer racing towards you with a grin.

“Hey! There you are! When they told me you’d checked out a few days ago I’d assumed you left! Glad I found you though! Did you lose a watch by any chance? I found it in the pocket of that coat you borrowed after the theater, it’s small and gold with some swirling patterns carved into it?”

Your eyes widened…. That was your ticket home. How the hell did you not notice it was gone?? You thank him profusely for finding it, and tell him that yes, it’s yours! He clarifies,

“It’s back at my place, I didn’t think I’d run into you so I wasn’t carrying with me. If you’d like, you can swing by my house with me and pick it up?”

Of course you readily agree- after all, you need to leave in a few hours, and seeing inside his house would be great for your research. So, you agree to go home with him. I mean you only had a few hours left. Saying goodbye for real this time wouldn’t hurt.

Sawyers breath catches as you step inside his house. Why does this seem so natural? So perfect? You, fingers lightly tracing the wood banister as you take it all it. You, turning to look where he stands in the entryway - God, he can imagine coming home from work, with you greeting him with a smile just like this. The only thing missing is a kiss. He blinks out of it as he realizes you’re asking about your watch.

“Oh, yes, of course! It’s just down here, follow me!”

He leads you downstairs to a partially finished basement. Partially finished is a loose term. It’s a usable area at least, a workbench in once corner, and minimal boxes cluttering the space. Instead, it’s relatively clean, there’s a few chairs and a couch set up. Far from a living space, but it’s certainly functional. You’re taking all this in when suddenly you’re pulled back wards, stumbling into a chair. Ropes are wound around your midsection, pinning your arms and torso to a chair. You cry out and squirm but he’s surprisingly fast and strong,wrangling your kicking feet until they’re tied to the chair legs. Soon, you’re securely bound to the chair, and he didn’t even have to knock you out. He finds it kind of adorable how easily he overpowered you if he’s being honest.

You cry out and ask him what he’s doing, demand he lets you go! But he only produces your watch from his pocket, and stares at it with curious eyes.

“So, this little thing is your ticket back, hm? I wonder what it’s like- your world. Your time….”

Your eyes grow wide. He knows. He knows you’re not from this time period. That’s breaking one of the most important rules. This in itself could have irreparable consequences to the course of history… what if he decides to use it? Decides to travel through time, un-trained, causing chaos!?

“Please! You have no idea the consequences this will have! You can’t use it! Please- there’s a way things have to be done, you could permanently alter the course of human history with the littlest misstep! The future depends on you letting me go and giving me that watch back!”

He steps closer to you and gently strokes your cheek, realizing you don’t get it. You think you’re tied up because he’s interested in the time traveling. You think he’s going to misuse it. Silly you. He’s not interested in traveling through time.

“Darling… come now. There’s no need to worry. I’m not going to use your watch.”

Your gaze turns confused as you look up at him, and he adores watching your eyes as you try to puzzle your way through this one. He takes pity on you and leans forward to press a kiss to your lips.

And then you watch as he drops and crushes your way home beneath his boot.

“The only future I’m interested in…. Is ours.”

[bunnylove1]

.*•Wished You On A Star•*.

.*•Wished You On A Star•*.

  ~.•Alastor x reader!

~.•Warnings! Not really any just a good time with people 

~.•Enjoy darlings!<3

  You always wish for an old timey relationship ones were you danced in the kitchen to classic music on Christmas Eve night ones were it was nice sunny strolls with cute little picnics in a garden, being a hopeless romantic didn’t help your mind to stop thinking of a relationship like that, you were in hell all these sinners you’ve seen want sex and murder not classic love and romance, maybe you were to outdated but you wished on one of the hell stars that a lover like that would come, stepping back away from the balcony you got ready to sleep and wait to see what the next day brings. 

The next morning wasn’t eventful you got ready putting a dark red polka dot dress on that rested right above your knees and just a regular pair of chunky black heels, grabbing your bag from off the counter you stepped outside to hells pride ring walking down the street you make it to cannibal town, walking by you stop into Rosie’s store 

“Name!” Rosie shouted and came rushing over to give you a hug like she hasn’t seen you in years “hey Rosie” smiling the woman had asked “what are you doing here darling, I know your not here for any clothes” she chuckled coving her mouth with her hand “oh! I wanted to see if you would like to get tea with me” Rosie smiled “well darlin’ I would love to, but we might have to bring a gentleman along” Rosie said instantly you perked up hearing this “oh~ new boyfriend Rosie you cheeky lady” saying giggling a little while I make a Teasing remake 

“Oh please you knew if I had a new boyfriend I would have scared him away already” she said slapping your back “he’s a good friend of mine, name meet alastor he’s a real gentleman” she said bringing the tall red coded fellow over two the two of us, he was cute, definitely looked like a real gentleman “nice to meet you my dear” he picked up my hand and kissing the top of my hand, I couldn’t help but smile “such a gentleman, it’s nice to meet you alastor” giving a warm smile to the man “you’ll be joining us for tea?” Turing your head to the side

“Yes my dear you lady’s lead the way” he kept his big smile on the whole walk  to your garden where all your tea parties with Rosie had taken place “take a seat anywhere!” The round table sat a total of three people, sitting the tea pot down next to the trays of sweet treats I started pouring the steeping water in everyone’s tea cup, Rosie lifted her tea bag up and down getting all the wonderful flowers taste out, “sugar?” I held the sugar bowl and handed it to Rosie who gestured to give her some, “al? Would you like some sugar” I held a cube of sugar with the utensil, for his tea “no thank you darling it’s just fine how it is” he said taking a sip of his tea

The tea party was going wonderful Rosie and me giggling about what was going on in cannibal town, while Alastor, Rosie and I bitched about Susan, “oh Alastor I heard your working at a hotel? Is it true it’s supposed to redeem hells sinners?” Letting the question fall from my mouth before taking another sip of my tea he chuckled “you could say that dear, I think it’s just as ridiculous as you think too” I set my cup down and looked at him “I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all, I think it’s kinda….sweet” 

my words paused for a minute like a mom pausing the tv when it’s interrupted, a low chuckle could be heard from the smiling man “looks like I should get going it was nice to meet you deer” he gave a short bow as I stood up from my seat “please if your so interested in the hotel why don’t you stop on by sometime” he lowered his eyes kissing my hand once again, I simply blushed at his flirt look “w-well uh look at the time don’t want to keep your staff waiting right” I said looking at my imaginary clock while pushing him out of the garden to the streets of hell “thank you Alastor for the lovely time today” 

“it was my pleasure darling goodnight sweet name and goodnight to you to Rosie” he said before I shut the garden gate 

Slumping down the door of the fence falling onto the garden floor “looks like someone’s in love~” Rosie teased looking at my state….

~.•YES we did it darlings we finally made a alastor fan fic!

[zaine-m]

headcanons for the characters from Bodies going out on halloween except they're all in modern times

Shahara, Iris, Karl, Alfred, and Henry all go along to take Esther and Jawad out trick-or-treating mostly just so Shahara can show them all what Halloween is

Alfred is very happy to be able to wear his whole Victorian suit gettup without being stared at weird (he feels naked in just one layer of clothes)

Him and Henry go as Sherlock and Watson

Henry takes his old-timey camera partially as a prop, partially to take photos of everyone

He loves seeing all the costume, while he's developing them he tells Alfred something about the costumes people choose to dress up as being reflections of their inner selves finally brought out

Esther becomes obsessed with being able to get the most candy possible

She forces Karl to wear a matching costume in hopes it'll get people to give them more

Karl has to stop her from swiping more candy from little kids passing by

She hasn't seen this much candy since the rationing started

Iris isn't as into all the halloween decorating and stuff but she decides it would be fun to dress up like Defoe's body (except clothed of course) so she watched a bunch of sfx makeup tutorials to make it look like her eye was shot out

whenever anyone asks her about her costume she tells them the full ghost story of no exit hole, no bullet found, no one heard a gun go off, "some say the body will keep appearing until his murderer has been brought to justice"

She tells some of the little kids "do you want to know a secret... I shot him"

Shahara always has to calm to the kid down after that but Iris keeps on doing it

Shahara is exhausted by the end of the night taking care of the whole group

Karl lets her go to bed early and babysits Jawad

When Jawad gets upset about how much more candy Esther got than him Karl forces her to share some but it turns into a big argument

"there's not rationing anymore, we can get you more treats later" "but I earned this fair and square"

eventually he gets her to give Jawad some but she steals it back in the middle of the night

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future Part III, The Novel by Craig Shaw Gardner: Thoughts, commentary, and general ramblings

Part 3: Maggie and Seamus experience the most confusing evening of their entire lives

previous posts here

• So, last we left dear Martin, he had just tumbled down the cliffside, bonked his head, and was fantasizing about closing his eyes and never having to walk around in the Old West ever again. Very concerning stuff. But no worries! Not even his third serious concussion of the series can keep Marty down for long.

• He wakes up at the McFly Farm with Maggie speaking to him, and there’s this really sweet moment where it says, “Marty let out a sigh of relief. His mother’s voice made everything seem safe and sound.” He is a little confused about the Irish accent, though, but decides, “It probably had something to do with his fever.”

• That’s another thing. There are two mentions in the opening paragraphs noting Marty has a fever, which isn’t something I ever got a sense of in the movie. I always just assumed the cold cloth was because he’d hit his head and it was all she could think to do to try to help him and wake him up. This is an interesting revelation.

• Maggie hands him a steaming cup of some concoction she says will perk him up and bring down his apparent fever. Marty’s happy to accept what he thinks is an old fashioned herbal tea and takes a sip. “It wasn’t tea. He almost gagged. He felt like his eyes were going to leap out of his head. This stuff must be a hundred proof!” As soon as Maggie leaves the room to tend to William, Marty decides he doesn’t have time to get drunk and abandons the drink.

• Maggie hands William to Marty, and Marty is concerned because he doesn’t know how to hold a baby. Which is another interesting tidbit because we know Marty’s got a big family, at least on Lorraine’s side. I’m sure he's got lots of cousins who are much younger, so it's surprising that he wouldn’t be familiar with handling babies. Curious…

• During dinner, Seamus asks Marty what his “trade” is, and Marty has no clue what that word means. I’m going to blame the head injury for this. Seamus goes on to say, “By the condition of your hands, it’s clear that you ain’t a farmer or a lumberman or a miner. I’ve only seen hands like that on a gambler or a baby, and sure’n you ain’t no baby.”

Obsessed with that entire statement. Marty’s got dainty, delicate little hands and Seamus wants ANSWERS. Has he unknowingly taken a gambler into his home??

• Marty replies by saying he’s still in school, which is not the right thing to say since it was super weird back then for someone as old as Marty to still be getting an education (unless you were very wealthy and could afford college). Maggie and Seamus continue to be baffled.

• Marty changes the topic to asking them about Ireland, and Seamus says they’re from “Ballybowhill,” which I cannot find any evidence of being a real place. I found a Ballyhahill and a Ballyboghil and a Ballyboughal. So, I assume this was a typo? Anyone know? It’s cool to have that detail of exactly where they came from, though.

• Marty desperately has to use the bathroom, and he has SUCH A TIME trying to figure out how to ask where it is. Seamus and Maggie just have no clue what this “bathroom” is that this strange young man is talking about, and Marty doesn’t know any of the terms used at the time. (He doesn’t know the word outhouse?? Has this kid never seen an episode of “Little House on the Prairie??”)

• After some difficulty, they get it sorted and Marty scurries outside. The following text sums up how Seamus and Maggie are feeling nicely.

“Oh, dear. This was troublesome. They were good Christian folk and all, but perhaps, this time, their generosity had gone too far.”

• Maggie then says that it’s obvious Marty is “feeble-minded,” which is the old timey term for someone with an intellectual disability. She’s very concerned about the whole situation and how they’re going to handle it.

Seamus—kind, sweet Seamus—agrees that, yes, Marty is a bit off, but he’s got a feeling about the boy. They have to look after and take care of him, and his words put Maggie at ease. She decides that even though Marty is “simple”, he doesn’t seem like the type to cause any harm to them.

• Meanwhile, Marty runs from the outhouse in a state of horror and returns to the farmhouse to ask for directions into town. After some more confusion and blank stares from Seamus and Maggie, who are very concerned that Marty doesn’t seem to understand the concept of nighttime or danger, they convince him to wait until the morning. Seamus tells him it’s only FOURTEEN MILES to town.

Seamus takes him to the railroad tracks, and Marty has 6 miles to walk from there. Average walking speed is 3-4 miles, but keep in mind this is unpaved, gravelly terrain and under the hot sun, so let’s say Marty managed 2 mph. That’d be a 3 hour walk into town. Which is ridiculous and makes me all the more upset that Marty can’t get his ice water when he arrives at the saloon. Kid needs a Gatorade. That’s it for now. Hope things get better for Marty soon!! (They won’t!!)

[straydogofhv]

I'm not much of a fic writer, it just doesn't come as naturally to me as art or music.

But I did write ONE fic draft for BTTF that I'm pretty proud of, so I'd like to share it. It's from 2022, I'm currently trying to plan out how I want to end it.

It's set in Part III between the "doc saves marty from being hanged" scene and the "marty showing doc the photo of his grave" scene.

I decided to play with the fan theory that Marty actually died twice during Part II, and Doc, witnessing the death of his friend, went back in time to save him. Once on top of the roof of Biff's Pleasure Palace, and once during that scene where Biff tries to run down Marty in the tunnel. Both times, Doc's arrival in the DeLorean is strangely convenient and just in the nick of time...almost like Doc knew just when to be there to save Marty's life. And I know the knowledge of these awful alternate timelines just had to kill the man inside, so I really wanted to delve into that in this fic.

Here's the unfinished draft, enjoy the angst!

Third Time's the Charm by straydogofhv

Marty was just dragged through the dirt, flung violently into a pile of wood, and nearly hanged; yet, he could hardly keep a smile from washing over his face.

The time traveler slid the smoking length of rope off his neck and looked up, the edges of his vision clouded in a dark vignette. The town's curious onlookers resumed milling about, paying little mind to the gun-wielding vigilante standing before him.

Marty tossed the rope to the ground. "Doc..."

"Marty," Doc began, with the cadence of a parent scolding their child, "I gave you explicit instructions not to come here, but to go directly back to 1985."

Guilty, Marty averted his gaze, a bit startled by Doc's sudden display of hostility. However, he had neither the desire nor the energy to question it. A sudden dizziness befell him as he stumbled towards the man, dragging each step like a tread through mud. "I know, Doc," Marty wheezed, his throat tightening with every word, "but I had to come-"

He paused as a hand met his shoulder.

"But it's good to see you, Marty." Doc continued, his voice carrying a familiar warmth. Marty laughed and pulled his friend into a hug. Seeing him alive and well almost made the kid forget about the pain shooting through his neck.

Doc's fingers met the leather fringe hanging from Marty's shoulders. He pulled back, eyeing Marty's faux-western ensemble. "Marty, you're going to have to do something about those clothes. You walk around town dressed like that, you're liable to get shot."

"Or hanged," Marty added, rubbing the still-warm rope burns on his neck. "What idiot dressed you in that outfit?" Doc asked. Marty smirked and patted him on the shoulder.

"You did."

Doc's hand met his forehead. "I'm sorry I asked." He gazed ahead at the rows of old-timey storefronts before turning back to Marty.

"I'm assuming you've come back to get me," Doc said, a knowing look on his face.

Marty grinned. "Why else?"

He ran his fingers through his hair, shaking a bit of the dust off. "Sorry for breaking the 'rules,' Doc, but you know I had to---I couldn't just leave you here."

"I know. I'm not mad at you. After all, I figured this would happen. Ever since I wrote that letter, I've kept an eye out around town. Looks like my observations paid off."

Marty looked up at his friend. "You knew I was gonna show up the whole time? But...you warned me not to in the letter."

Doc chuckled and placed his hand on the exhausted teen's shoulder.

"Yes, but I know you, Marty."

》>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<< 《

After a bit of walking, the pair approached an unremarkable, rather closed-off building. It loomed tall and dark amidst dust-coated surroundings, its enclosed front wall juxtaposed by the open porches and windows of neighboring storefronts.

"Before we leave, I've got a few things I need to wrap up. You should probably go ahead and get cleaned up while we're here." Doc said, fiddling with the lock across the doors.

Marty nodded lightly, his neck still strained. "Sounds good, as long as I don't have to shower in murky water."

"You'll have to get all that stuff off of your face somehow. Don't worry, I've constructed a primitive filter that negates most of the health risks."

Marty frowned. "Most? Uh...I guess that's better than none."

Doc finally pushed one of the large, heavy doors open, and Marty stumbled inside.

Before him lied a vast array of fancy, period-appropriate furniture mixed in with various bits of unorganized machinery and trinkets. The workshop was simply littered with the workings of a genius--a sight Marty had grown quite fond of over the years.

However, most intriguing by far was the large, beautifully constructed steam-powered machine that sprawled across half the left wall. Thick metal pipes ran from the main tank of the machine all the way across the walls.

As Marty studied the strange contraption, something clinked on the floor behind him. He glanced over his shoulder.

Doc rushed about the room, pushing clutter off tables, gathering rolled-up schematics, and clearing an armchair and loveseat of loose clothing.

"Y'know, Doc, you don't have to clean the place up just because I'm here. We're gonna leave soon, remember?" Marty said, itching at the red stripe on his neck.

Doc continued the hasty cleaning job, his gaze unmoved.

"I just want you to be comfortable, that's all. With that kind of injury, you'll need to rest for a bit before we hit the road. Or, rather, what will become road in the next 25 years."

Marty nodded and stepped away from the contraption. "That's alright with me. We've got a few days to spare. Oh, I... guess I haven't told you about that yet."

Doc didn't seem to notice the comment, as he was busy digging through a medicine cabinet, pulling out vial after vial of bizarre Victorian-era tonics and cures.

Marty figured it didn't matter if he waited a bit before breaking the terrible news. They had a decent amount of time before Doc's untimely demise, so he could wait to warn him. Perhaps there was no need to worry his friend with his own epitaph at all. Marty knew they'd surely be safely back in 1985 before Buford had the chance to track them down.

Doc continued to hurriedly sort through glass bottles as Marty shifted his gaze back to the massive machine that sprawled across half the wall, adorned with numerous valves and pressure gauges. He stepped towards it, running his fingers along the bumpy, hand-cast metal piping.

"Hey, what's this big machine do? Looks pretty steampunk." Marty asked, gesturing behind him.

Doc finally looked up from his organizational tasks. "It is!" he said, his face aglow with the proud grin of a creator. "Allow me to demonstrate."

With a boyish giddiness, Doc rushed over to the corner of the room, pushing past a mountain of boxes and machine parts, and lifted a large vat of water out of what appeared to be the filtration device. He lugged it over to the machine and emptied it into several deposits along the pipes. Intrigued, Marty watched as Doc lit a fire in the bottom of the machine and hastily turned a few valves. A strong, steady hiss blew through the vents. Doc turned to face his friend with a proud smile.

"It'll take a while for the steam engine to get going. In the meantime, let's get you cleaned up. I don't think your folks would be too pleased if you returned looking like you joined the rodeo," he said, walking past Marty and into the back of the workshop. The shrill sounds of a barely-functioning tap filled the air. Marty tried to peer around the corner, but the piles of storage boxes served as an impenetrable wall.

Doc soon returned. He handed Marty a warm, damp washcloth. The fibers felt strange--likely hand-spun by a textile artist, Marty realized. "Here, you've still got dirt on your face and neck. When the machine's done with its pre-cycle, if you'd like, I can take you to the apparel shop and let you pick out some period-appropriate clothes before we come back to finish its run. Consider it the most historically accurate costume you'll ever own."

"Sweet. Thanks, Doc." Marty replied, scrubbing his face with the cloth. He smiled, his mind filled with images of poncho-clad men with dusty boots and weathered hats. He'd always wanted to dress up as his childhood hero, and now he finally had an excuse to do so.

A glint of silver in the corner of his eye caught his attention. There, on a small table, sat a newly framed wallet picture of him and Doc. He picked up the photograph and snickered.

In the frame sat an image of Marty and Doc standing close, holding a guitar and saxophone respectably. While Marty stood smiling for the camera, blissfully unaware, Doc's face was scrunched into a wince at the impact of a fast-moving guitar neck slamming into him.

Doc peered over Marty's shoulder at the photograph before looking at the fresh marks on his neck.

"You know, Marty, when I first caught sight of you being dragged around by Tannen, I was very worried." Doc said, his voice devoid of its usual enthusiastic cadence. "I know you don't like me to get involved in your spats, but it was clearly necessary this time."

Marty sighed and slumped down in one of the cleared armchairs next to the table.

"I know, Doc, I should've just walked out on him. Believe me, I don't think we're gonna need to have that talk again. But what was I supposed to do? I didn't even mean to-"

"Yes, I'm aware of that." Doc interrupted, moving to sit in the loveseat next to Marty's chair. "There exist some situations where self-reserve can't help you. But it worries me that I barely managed to get to you in time. It's a matter of pure coincidence that you're sitting in front of me right now, fully intact. If I arrived just seconds later, or if I didn't anticipate your visit...I may not have been able to rescue you."

Marty leaned forward, looking down at the pinkish scrapes on his hands.

"Well, I'm alive, aren't I?" Marty said with a small laugh. As his eyes met Doc's, his smile fell.

Doc gazed ahead at the little photo, silent, his features devoid of any discernable emotion. Marty placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Look, Doc, you didn't fail. You got to me at just the right time. And once we head back to the future, we won't have to worry about any of this kinda stuff ever again."

The scientist blinked, nodding slowly as he continued to stare at the photograph. "We can only hope."

Marty grabbed the washcloth from the table in front of them and started wiping the rest of his face clean. "C'mon, be a little more optimistic. We solved all the problems I cau--that book caused. Now all we have to do is go home." he said.

Doc finally met his gaze. "I suppose you're right. Everything will be fine," Doc said, a smile washing over his face--a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm sorry for worrying so much, Marty. I guess my fears are irrational now that we're in the clear." He paused. "Though, for a fleeting moment, when I saw you strung up on the courthouse...I thought I'd lost you again."

"See? We're gonna be just..."

Marty slowly lifted the washcloth from his face, turning his head to face Doc.

"...fine."

Marty remained silent for a moment, his face twisted in contemplation.

"Wait a minute, Doc...what did you just say?"

The man didn't look up from the photograph. "I said, I honestly thought--"

Doc swallowed his words and turned to look at Marty, a look of alarm stamped on his face. He slowly rose to his feet and took a few steps away from the chairs.

He frowned, and his hand met his forehead. "Great Scott, I've let you know too much..."

He slowly shook his head and paced about the room, darting between rows of stacked boxes and furniture. Marty leapt out of his chair and rushed over to Doc, trying and failing to follow his sporadic movements.

"Woah, what do you mean by 'lost you again?' Does something happen to me in the future?" Marty pressed, projecting his hoarse voice to the best of his ability.

Doc held his hand up. "No, no, I only went as far as 2015, and you were doing fine....mostly."

Marty tried to look him in the eyes, but Doc turned away in a hurry to pace the other side of the room. "Then what the hell are you talking about? What happened?! If you think I can't handle it, I can. I survived getting hanged, for god's sakes."

The shaken inventor gave no reply to his friend's rapid questioning, instead rushing about the room like a trapped bird looking for a way out. Marty refused to relent, however, and he eventually caught up with the man's hurried pacing.

"Listen, Doc, if you're worried about the space-time continuum--"

"You don't deserve to bear the weight of my mistakes. I've caused you enough hurt already by inventing that damn machine."

Marty looked up at his dear friend with earnest eyes. "It'll hurt more if I don't know what's got you down. Just talk to me."

Doc sighed. He paused and turned around for a moment to face Marty before he shook his head and swiftly paced to the other side of the room. Marty followed suit, attempting to meet the man's gaze.

"Hey, hey--!"

Marty's voice was interrupted by a sharp hiss of steam. He took a step back as the doc hastily twisted a large valve on the steam-powered machine.

Before his pal could slip away again, Marty ran up behind him, hoping to block the man's way. "Just listen to me... please."

Doc reluctantly turned around. Head low, he looked to the table with the photograph sitting on it. "I suppose it would've slipped out sooner or later. I...I just wasn't prepared for it to happen today." Doc explained, a slight break in his voice.

The confusion on Marty's face must have been fairly blatant as Doc placed an arm on his friend's back, nudging him in the direction of the living space. Anxious, Marty took the hint and made his way toward the back of the workshop.

Doc quietly sat down on a bench adjacent to the wooden table, and Marty moved to take a seat next to him.

"So...what's this all about? What happened to me?" Marty questioned.

Doc gazed ahead at nothing in particular. " Marty, I didn't want to do this, but if I must be honest with you, then so be it. I don't know how to begin to tell you this, but..."

The inventor paused, taking a moment to prepare his next words. Marty fidgeted with the fringe on his sleeves, trailing his fingers along the soft, cool leather. Maybe he's just going to tell me about-

"You died twice. And I'm afraid it's my fault."

Tense air followed the man's words. Marty gawked at him.

When his friend's hand met his forehead, Marty frowned, starting to feel a bit uneasy. "Uh, Doc? What are you implying?" he posed, struggling to comprehend the possibility of meeting his demise.

"Exactly what I just said. I failed you, Marty. Twice." Doc said, a quiver subtly breaking up his voice.

"I don't understand," Marty replied.

Doc shifted in his seat. "You shouldn't have to. Neither one of those horrible incidents should have happened. I could've prevented them the first time around if I'd planned better. Instead, I had to go back to save you, in which I succeeded, but now two of you are gone. Does that make sense?"

Marty blinked. "Wait a minute. You're telling me that I'm... dead in other timelines? How? When?"

Doc finally met his friend's eyes again. "Remember when I flew the DeLorean up to the rooftop of Biff's tower to save you?"

Marty slowly nodded.

"That's not how it happened the first time around. The time when the original you--or, I suppose, your counterpart--was up there on that roof, waiting for me. Your--er, his--only hope for rescue. Except..."

Doc leaned back against the bench and gazed at the ceiling, pausing for a moment, his eyes glazed over as if in a trance.

"...I never came."

Marty could hardly think, let alone move a muscle. His features felt heavy, numb. "Doc, I...I think I know what you mean now."

Doc's eyes practically touched the floor.

"So," Marty began, breaking the imposing silence, "you saved me, but not the me that came before?"

Doc gave a grim nod.

"Shit, that means..." Marty said, hesitant, "... that means you saw whatever happened to me, right? You saw me, well...dead."

Doc's emotional barrier seemed to burst at the seams in this moment, crumbling like the walls of a faulty dam as he hid his face behind his hands.

"Twice, Marty. Twice."

Marty wasn't sure how to react. On one hand, he was now certain that his friend cared for him more than he could ever know, but on the other...

He realized that he was so lost in thought that he had neglected to respond. Doc didn't seem to want to say anything more, as he sat there in silence, unmoving.

Marty had never seen his friend so low before. It was strange, almost. Marty was always the one running to Doc with his problems--his mom's addiction, his dad's mistreatment--but now he could see Doc's confident facade faltering, and he knew he had to step in to soothe the poor man.

"Doc... I'm sure it wasn't your fault. It couldn't have been. I mean, how would you know he was gonna pull a gun on me? You would have never made it up there in time." Marty offered, in a weak attempt to reassure him.

Doc shook his head. "You wouldn't know. Unless you remembered anything from the other timelines, which, if my theory is correct, you shouldn't."

"No, I don't think I do," Marty replied, taking a moment to plan out his next move. This was a new situation for him, and it was difficult to find the right way to approach Doc's admission.

'I never thought I'd see him break down like this,' Marty thought, 'I guess he really tried his hardest to keep it together in front of me.'

"Would it, uh... help if you told me what else happened?." Marty proposed, breaking the silence.

Doc finally looked up. "I don't think you understand. I put you in a dangerous position, sending you into Biff's domain alone like that. I should've planned the whole thing better, I should've been there to keep you safe."

"C'mon, neither one of us knew about his plan. I mean, I know Biff's violent, but I never thought he could end up as a murderer."

[just-dino-maggie]

Just Friends Part 3

Part 1 Part 2

Thank you again to both of the people who requested this story! This is the final chapter I hope you enjoy.

After sophomore year of high school my years were measured by summer. I never thought it would be my favorite season. Growing up I hated the heat. Winter was my favorite season by far. Even now I love winter. Hockey season, hot chocolate and winter wonderlands. What isn’t there to love? But it all pales in comparison to the Hughes lake house. The roaring bonfires only eclipsed by the laughter.

Last summer I barely spent any time there. I was avoiding the one and only Trevor Zegras so I stayed away from the lake house. This year we became friends again. We text all the time and I even went to his games when he came to town.

As I walk into the lake house I know it’s going to be the best year yet. I’m the first one the get here because I live so close so I grab my favorite guest room. I run upstairs to put my clothes away in dressers and get the bathroom set up with my things. Suddenly I hear Jack enter the house.

“Honey I’m home.” He calls out in an old timey accent.

I chuckle to myself, “Just a minute sweetheart, I have to get myself all dolled up for the guests!” I yell back trying not to laugh as I finish unpacking.

Right when I’m done I run down the stairs. I practically tackle Quinn in a hug. He’s probably my favorite Hughes brother but I would never say it out loud.

“Hey kiddo.” He says returning my hug. I squeeze him tighter, “Hey quinner.”

“No hug for your husband?” Jack sighs dramatically. I chuckle and give him a hug. He messes up my hair.

I look around for Luke but he’s not here, “Where’s the baby?

“He’s coming up in a few days, apparently he has some obligations.” Jack rolls his eyes as he says the word obligations. It makes me smile, I always forget how sassy he is. “Trevor is coming today but all the other guys are coming in two days, is that okay?”

I smile despite my butterflies, “Yeah it’s fine, I told you that we’re cool.”

“If you say so. We are going to get unpacked then go out on the boat. Do you want us to get you when we’re done?”

I shake my head, “Nah I’m okay for today. I think I’m just going to hang out in the hot tub. Can you get me when you guys get back?”

“No problem Y/n/n” Quinn adds in. The both of them head to their respective rooms to get unpacked.

I run to my room and pull open my drawers. I brought three different bathing suits but my favorite is the white bikini with navy blue trim. I throw it on and grab a towel. I make my way outside and toss the towel next to the hot tub. I don’t have a lot of traditions but my favorite is that I have to jump into the lake first every year.

It used to be a competition between Trevor and I. Whoever got to the lake house and jumped into the lake first won. Sometimes we even did it together. I didn’t ask him about it this year.

I look out on the beautiful lake. It stuns me every year. How can I live near something so beautiful and choose college over this. I get a running start and dive into the water. The cold surrounds me. It’s oddly comforting. I take my time, treading water and enjoying the atmosphere.

After a little while I hear someone call my name. When I turn around it’s a familiar blue eyed boy, “Y/n, I can’t believe you still always beat me!”

I can’t help but smile, “At least you except your defeats with grace.”

“That’s it!” He says in a joking manner. I watch him at he kicks off his shoes and takes off his shirt. My face immediately turns red but I don’t look away. Trevor has always been attractive but shirtless Trevor is something else entirely. His hands go to the waistband of his pants and I turn around immediately. I can feel myself blush even more deeply.

He cries out like crazy person and dives into the water. When he comes up he’s next to me. I turn toward him and chuckle as he wipes his eyes, “You have no shame, do you?”

“What is there to be ashamed of, it’s not like you saw anything.” He wiggles his eyesbrows at me and I can’t help but laugh.

I put my hand on his sholder to steady myself, “Do you want to go to the hot tub?”

He doesn’t even respond he just races out of the lake. He runs to the hot tub before I can even get out of the cold water. His boxer briefs are stuck to him because of the water. I sheild my eyes but I’ve already seen a little too much. His backside is perfect. I’m his friend so I shouldn’t know that. Maybe it okay that I know it but I shouldn’t be this affected by it.

I make my way over to the hot tub and I try to collect myself. It’s not really working. He’s watching me as I walk up like a lion watching its prey. The whole “collecting myself” thing goes out the window. I walk a little faster trying to get under the water, to hide myself again. It does nothing to help my current state. The small hot tub keeps me too close to Trevor for my liking and the heat is making it all more surreal.

“You look really beautiful.” Trevor says leaning closer to me.

I smile despite myself and fidget with my hands. “Thank you Trevor, you don’t have to say that.”

“I’m not saying it because I have to, I’m saying it because it’s true.”

I’m unsure what to say. For years I would have never guessed Trevor would be seriously flirting with me. Now it seems almost commonplace. “Oh, you look pretty too.”

He laughs, I can’t help but look up. He’s stunning when he laughs. “Why thank you Y/n, you sure know how to make a guy feel special.” We sit in silence for a moment and he brings himself closer to me. He places his hands on the edge of the hot tub caging me between his arms. “I think we are finally there.”

“Where?” I ask breathless.

He smiles, “The part where I get to love you.” My breath hitches and I can’t get a single word out no matter how hard I try. “Y/n I want you, do you want me too? Is it too late?”

“You didn’t want me before.” I said, my voice breaking.

He runs his hand through his hair, “I know. I was so stupid back then. I couldn’t see how amazing you are. The year you were gone was torture. Seeing you again at Alex’s, it was like I saw you for the first time. Right then I knew I couldn’t live without you. I want you, not just as a friend… I want everything.”

“Okay.” I say softly. I can barely even hear myself. I waited years for something like this and it’s happening. My body is is reacting to him being so close and my heart is bursting from his confession. It’s taking everything in me not to reach out and grab him.

It’s him who grabs me by the hips, pulling back so that I’m straddling him. “Okay?” He searches my eyes, “You want this?”

“Yes.” I say breathlessly, “Please. I’ve only ever wanted you.”

His lips collide with mine. He’s griping my hips so hard I’m sure it will leave a mark. My hands are tangling themselves in his hair. I’ve been waiting for years for this moment and the anticipation was nothing compared to the feeling of his lips on mine. All the tension has lead to this moment and we are taking it out on each other.

Soon enough we are consumed by one another. I’m realizing that we are simultaneously wearing too much and not nearly enough. I’m entranced by him. But I’m quickly pulled out of the trance by the sounds of a boat pulling up to the house.

I pull back and put myself across from him. It puts some much needed space between us before Jack and Quinn see us. I look at Trevor and he’s flushed, his lips are slightly swollen, and his hair is a mess. By the way he looks I’m sure I’m probably a mess as well.

“I don’t think I want them to know yet. I want this to be something that just ours for a little bit.” Trevor nods in agreement so I continue, “maybe I should get out of here, if they see us both like this they’ll know for sure.”

Trevor smirks, “that’s true.” He looks toward my towel. “I should probably be the one who goes inside.”

“Why?” I furrow my eyebrows. Deep down I’m afraid he’s regretting it.

He blushes, genuinely blushes. “Um I’m in my boxers, my clothes are scattered everywhere, and I have a hard on. I should probably take the towel and grab my clothes.”

I’m not sure how to respond to something like that so I just nod. After that blunt observation I avert my eyes. He jumps out of the hot tub. I can hear him grab the towel and quickly grab his clothes before the Hughes’ get off the boat.

When I look up he’s running back over to me with his clothes under his arm and the towel wrapped around his waist. I turn to face him. He stops in front of me and places a soft kiss on my lips. “Meet me in my room tonight?”

“Okay” I say with a smile. I watch him as a he runs off into the house. Suddenly, everything feels perfect.

[empressofmankind]

Indirectly, this post is about how we mis-remember things from our childhood, simply because we remember a child's impression. You'll have to bear with me for a little, though.

I started a re-watch of the One Piece anime after... I don't know, two decades? I last watched it in my tweens, or something. It was hard to come by. My dad downloaded it bit by bit for me because dial-up and I had to watch it on his PC. It was that long ago.

The reason for the rewatch is this post that I made earlier, regarding Netflix' month-long spamming me until I caved to watching the live action, early last week.

You see, the live action be all:

...and Netflix wasn't wrong, in that post I made earlier. It was objectively funny, because it felt so painfully true, which is why I made the post. They just went and dunked a sizable chunk of my childhood into a can of sexy sauce and called it a day. Its short of a miracle that it worked (for me, personally), because it usually doesn't (for me, personally). Famously: Euron Greyjoy in the series. I want to forget that exists.

And I am not even mad at Netflix, because everyone who's been here longer than this week knows this is my type. Psychotic delusions of grandeur and questionable clothing choices included.

I did, however, feel that sort of slightly self-righteous huff of (you may imagine an old-timey tone here, if you like): 'but that is not the canon, I remember clearly how it was~~'

And so, I started rewatching the anime.

Me, re-watching this in the year of our lord 2023 while it's still airing new gdamn episodes like the digital clap, faux-complaining as one does: 'life was so much easier being ten, and the cartoon clown just being funny and stupid, and not a sexy disaster boyfriend'

The cartoon clown:

Me: ...shit.

So, anyway. My whole life is a lie now, and I thought you should know.

[ask-carmenpondiego]

Chapter 6: Two Pones walk into a bar and end up at the Black Market

When Carmen caught up with Marehem, he was pressing buttons on an old timey cigarette vending machine, seeing if there were any left. He jostles it a moment as she stammers gingerly, “H-Heeey. Um. L-Look, I’m sorry. I know how it looks and I realize I was in the wrong back there. I wasn’t in my right mind. I did get most of the information I needed to possibly figure out the next step-“ her eyes went wide as he glared at her darkly and effortlessly tore open the machine like a cardboard pasta box with his tentacles, metal screeching and creaking. He procured about two packs, leaving the menthols. She cleared her throat and tried to speak, but he continued to stare at her, noisily crinkling the wrapper open and placing the other pack in his jacket pocket, “As I was saying.. I could still use your help. And I could still help you. We can head to the medical examiner office or something next if you want. How does that sound?” He stalks close to her enough to make her back up against a shadowed wall, she shakily hold out her hand “D-deal?” He grips hers tightly enough she yelped out, he leaned close to her ear and growled, “If I even catch you with that fucking drug again, the deal is off and I will devour your bones in the most painful way and will keep you alive enough to watch.” She steeled herself and gulped, “Fair. But if you work for me, there will be no more killing or slaughter while on my jobs. Got it? Slight dismemberment, ok, but not life threatening.” He leans back still holding her hand, snarling, “What? Thats like limiting me to breaking fingers! Fuck off.” She frowned at him, squeezing his hand this time, “If you dont, I walk away with the closest lead you have on getting the closure you want.” He growls in frustration and slams his fist against the wall by her head.

Carmen yelped as they both fall through the shadow, she falls onto wet asphalt as he casually strides towards a bar across the city street, his wings and tentacles tucked back in unseen. Her hat had fallen beside her as she got up, wiping off the dirt and wetness, she picked up her hat and hurried to follow him, rolling it up and storing it in her pack. M was already at the bar, shooting back a couple shots as she peeked into the door. She sat next to him and ordered a glass of moscato. “I didn’t think you were a shots kind of guy.” She quipped, sipping her wine. “I ain’t. This shits water to me. I’d like to think it does somethin but it never does.” He gruffly slams down the shotglass upside down. “So you can’t get drunk? Are all changelings like that?-ow!” He shushed her and kicked her leg. He looked her in the eye and showed he had normal looking bright green eyes and the lack of any horn or antler at all. Even his tail was looking like a short tuft of orange. His clothes had changed to more of a pale navy business suit. He still had the bandages, she noticed. “You got yourself a ladyfriend finally, M?” The bartender chuckled, polishing a glass with a towel. “Neh, just the bro’s ball and chain. You know, family affairs.” He knocked back another shot, as Carmen waved shyly. Bartender looked at her, “You look familiar, have you been on the news?” She laughed nervously, “Me? Psh! No. I..just got back from a costume party, villain themed! I’m just a little housewife, taking care of two little youngsters. They.. are with a foalsitter right now.” The bartender nodded, “Yeah, that alone time is pretty scarce with kids. Let me know if you need a refill.” She smiled and sipped more wine. She leans closer to M, “They know you here?” He swishes a shotglass a moment, “Yeah the guys from the office come here after work, I moonlight as an insurance agent for AllStable, but to be honest, I’m the breadwinner. I make them the most profit by making accidents happen. Hence all the plasters.” He motions to his face. “They don’t ask how I do it, and I don’t disclose trade secrets to them. But it helps keep cash in my pocket because without a body, neither of us can claim fuckin any inheritance from Wally.” She stops mid sip, “They what? Can they do that? Not that I’m interested in it but I still have bills to pay.” M shakes his head. “Not with Wally’s will. Theres an airtight clause where a body needs to be produced in order for the will to be released. Its a Wander Society thing. And your bills got covered automatically when they took you away. You literally have nothing in your name anymore. That will and the law screwed us both over.” Her shoulder sank a little as she finishes her glass, ordering another. She truly didnt care about the money but the fact she had lost their home and any other possessions they owned. She didn’t even get to keep her wallet with the family pictures inside. “Wally didnt send you any pictures of us, did he?” M raised an eyebrow, “Actually he sent several. Literal perfect dad bragging about his family. Why?” Carmen thanked the bartender for the refill and traced her finger along the top. “I don’t have any photos of them anymore. I need to get a new phone first but if you’d be so kind as to share those pictures with me, I’d be eternally grateful.” He sighed and rummaged through his pockets for his phone with a cracked screen. He pulled up the pictures and slid the phone over the bartop to her. “Here, we’ll get you a phone in the mornin. But at least you can go through the pictures.” She picks up the phone and chuckles, tears welling up in her eyes. For a few moments it felt like everything was how it was before, reliving every moment she saw captured. She sniffled and closed the screen, she set the phone down and took her glasses off to wipe her eyes. “Thank you, Marehem. I really needed that.” He sighed and wrapped an arm around her quivering shoulders. “No prob. As insufferable as he was to me, I miss him too.”

He slapped down a couple bills on the counter and stood up, finishing the last shot and the last bit of her wine. “Come on, we need to get shit done tomorrow and we need some shut-eye.”

They exit the bar and start walking down the sidewalk, for a while they were both silent. “M, if you’re a changeling, where are your…holes? If you don’t mind me asking.” M chuckled and pushed up a sleeve, showing the changeling holes and fills them in again making his arm look whole. “They’re there, I just don’t like the look of them. Too much debris gets in them. So I got rid of them.” She adjusts her pack and puts her hands in her pants pockets. “Did Wally look like you without his Earth pony guise?” He scoffed, “Naw, he looked like that Thorax guy, only pastel blues and greens.” He flipped through his phone and pulled up some really old looking photos, showing Carmen. “Oh wow, he looks so different.” He shrugged, putting his phone away, “He never liked it. Thats why he shifted to the Earth pony shape. He felt more like himself like that.” She nodded, “I can see that, I’m glad I knew him as the form he felt more comfortable in.” They fell silent once again as they walked.

There was some muffled pulsing music coming from an upcoming candy shop and Carmen perked up. “Oh hey, Its the Sweet Spot. I know this place. My sister owns it.” M grimaces, “The candy store? Ugh. Too much sugar, makes my teeth hurt from here.” She playfully punches his arm, “No, she owns the candy shop during the day, but the rave club is open right now. Plus if she’s there tonight, we can ask her for a new phone, she has special ones that are undetectable by law enforcement… she runs a black market enterprise behind the rave club. I say check it out. I could get most of my personal documents copied too.”

They head in and asked the bouncer for entry, Carmen shifted her hip and flashed her cutiemark. The bouncer opened the rope for them and the descended down to the basement which opened up to a huge room with neon lasers, smoke machines and booming electro music, filled with all sorts of beings dancing and enjoying themselves. There was a short bright teal pony with neon pink, purple and yellow cyberdreads, dressed in an orange and black cyber punk skirt complete with spiked goggles and gasmask, gloves, fuzzy leg-warmers and glow bracelets adorned her limbs. As they approached, the short mare squealed in delight and ran over, hugging Carmen with the biggest bearhug the little pony could muster.

“Oh my stars!! Bella!! You came back! Ohmahgah, you need to tell me where you went!! Wait! Not here, lets go to a booth!” The hyperactive mare pulled them over to a much quieter corner of the club. “Bella?” M raised an eyebrow. “Its part of my middle name, Isabella. She’s the only one to call me that other than if I make reservations incognito.” Carmen explained. The cyberpunk mare reached for Carmen hands excitedly, “Bella I was so worried when I saw the news of the museum! And then the social medias were all over your arrest! I’m glad to see you havent changed! No one can hold you down, you’re like a slippery eel!” Carmen chuckled, “Well thats why I’m here. Sugar, Wally’s gone and I need my papers and a new phone. I need to go back to before I hung up my hat.” The mare, Sugar Pop, gasped, “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry, he was so good for you, I cant believe it. Was he one of the missing from the fire?? Oh gosh.. he was such a nice fella.. total opposite of tall dark and buggy over here. Whats your name?”

M, who had not changed from his earth pony shape at all, looked at her with surprise, “Wha-me?” Sugar crossed her arms, “No, the teddy bear behind you. Yes you! You’re the only changeling in the booth here. Whats ya name?” M let slip his eye shift and growled, “First of all, how did you-“ He stopped mid sentence when he heard the loud clacking sound of an aerosol can being shaken up. Sugar had a rather large can of bug spray in her hand, not looking amused. “Marehem. Brother of Wally.” He watched her put away the can as he answered. “Now, was that so hard? Your brother would have been the first to introduce himself. Such a charmer! You could’ve learned a lot from him.” She called over one of the waiters and whispered something to him. “Your papers and phone will be up shortly, as always its on the house!”

The two mares spent the next ten minutes catching up on what happened after the fire. M sulked and browsed on his phone in a bored manner. Soon a waiter came around with a tray with a big yellow document envelope, a new unopened cellphone and a small sleek metal case. Sugar Pop took these from the tray and placed them on the table, sliding each over one at a time. “Alright, here’s your papers, phone and a gift from me. Two matching mini pistols, copper and gold inlay, I call these the pennies, so if you ever need to, you can give someone your two cents.. if you catch my drift.” She opens the case to show off a small pair of beautiful and shiny pistols with a line of twelve bullets lined in the case. Carmen smiled and gave a small uneasy face, gingerly closing the case and pushing it back. “I can’t accept this, I’m not a gun person. They make me very uneasy.” Sugar Pop shushes her and pushes it back to Carmen, “Bella, just take the guns. You dont have to use them. Just keep them in a safe or lockbox. Its for a little backup if nothing else. I need you to be safe.” Carmen sighs, nodding her head towards M, “Technically I have back-up. He has a penchant for dismemberment.” M looks up, “I’m what now?” Sugar Pop scoffs, “And if he’s out takin a piss and leaves you alone, then what? You need a back up. Trust me. The world isnt like it used to be back in your big heisting days. You gotta be more careful.”

Carmen rolls her eyes, “You’re like Ma, I get it. I promise I’ll be safe. If you want, I’ll do tiny heists like no returning library books.” Sugar Pop nodded, “Those fees can get pretty pricey.. but no, that isnt any fun! Go out, live a little!! You got a chance to do it again! You did get the kids set up at a safe house, right?”

Carmen nodded, “Yes, I made sure that Adora is being looked after by the Warehouse Curators and Blendin is being looked after by the Great Library. Those are the safest places I know where they can grow up and learn the right things.” M tilts his head, “You put them there? I mean, I never took them as the babysitter types.” Carmen shrugged, “They owed us a favor. And Wally and I agreed that if need be, that would be the favor we would request. No conditions nor questions asked. I promised I would come back for them.” Her sister nodded, “As any parent would. But right now you can afford to take some time for yourself. For a thief, you aren’t very selfish of your own self care.” Carmen looked at Marehem and they both shrugged, “I suppose we can postpone plans for a little bit, get things back up and running. Say.. you don’t happen to have any spare beachfront properties, do you?”

The neon raverpunk mare smiled.

[galaxyedging]

Javi Gutierrez x f!reader

New Year' Eve Drabbles

Warnings: Smut. P in V sex. Mentions of drugs.

The sun shone through the window. That was new? Wasn't it usually night? The statue glinted in the sun. It was a small old timey movie camera. There was a small but insistent knock on the door. Since when did they knock? Dressing in the robe from the foot of the bed, you quickly moved to the door, the insistent knocking hurrying you.

"Hello." You were greeted politely by the warmest smile you had ever seen. The energy from it lit up the wearer's whole face. His eyes sparkled with it. There was an incredible softness that reached out to you. It pushed you back into the room as your visitor excitedly swept passed you.

"Er, hi." You offered to the curls at the back of his head as he crossed the room to close the curtains.

"Better. We must be able to see properly." His curls bounced as he nodded in satisfaction.

"See better in the dark?" Of course. Javi. "What are we watching Javi?" You asked slipping over the arm onto the sofa.

"I thought 'National Treasure' then 'The Rock'." He busied himself with setting up the conveniently appearing TV.

"Sure, Javi." You lifted your legs into his lap when he sat next to you.

Javi remained silent and thoughtful throughout the movie. Maybe he should step out of his family's shadow. Have more of his own adventures. Be the star of his own movie.

The two of you slowly melted into each other as the movie played. By the time 'The Rock' started you were pressed into his side. Your breath tickled his bare neck. He turned his head towards you, your breath now fanned his lips until he closed the gap between you. The two of you made out like teenagers in the back row of the movies. It was all pretty innocent until the moans from Carla and Stanley filled the room.

Javi's bright eyes searched yours until you swung your leg over his lap. Mimicking the scene in the movie you writhed in his lap both fully clothed. Unlike the movie they were no interruption. The slow, steady rhythm of you hips rolling together carried on even when Javi asked you a question. "Is this what you asked him for?"

"Who for, Javi?"

"The Thief?"

"Thief?"

"The well dressed man. I was told he was a thief. I was also told he was a magician. Which makes more sense now."

"It does?"

Javi groaned as he pulled you closer on his lap, slipping deeper inside you.

"Well, yes. How else would I have got here? I asked for new experiences for my writing. Now a beautiful woman is making love to me just like in one of my favourite movies. A little on the nose but it is what I asked for."

"I didn't...oh god...I didn't ask him for anything. He offered me my desires." Your legs shook with your impeding orgasm.

"This is what you...d-desire?" Javi seemed to be close too.

"Yes. Kind of. I don't know. Oh, Javi!" Soon the two of you lay spent in each other's arms.

"Maybe you need to speak to him. You should find out what the price you are to pay is. I have given him a priceless work of art. It was worth it. This is surely worth writing about. The mystery. The intrigue. The sex. Although that was very similar to Mr Cage's work. Maybe I could not write about that but I enjoyed it all the same. Thank you."

"Thank you Javi. For the sex and the information. I think I knew more but I can't seem to remember."

"Neither did I. Until I took some inspiration." He patted his jacket pocket.

Before you could ask you were absorbed in the movie again. By the time it ended you and Javi were fast asleep. It was dark when you awoke alone. The bottle was sat on the table. With no sign of The Magician or The Thief or whatever he was. It was odd, he always came to you. He always cleaned you with his tongue, drinking down every drop of your release like it sustained him. Huffing in frustration you span the bottle. It swirled around again and again. It was hypnotic. You were so engrossed you didn't see them arrive as the bottle landed on the cowboy hat. Their present was of much of a shock as the lasso that landed around you and cinched tight.

[heavensbeehall]

"Catching Fire", Chapter 6

Part 1: The Spark

Chapter 6: Welp, Katniss thinks she's going to die so it's time to eat EVERYthing. As I would. The Preps arrive when Katniss is full and tell her to purge in the bathroom. Peeta is disgusted and wonders if they were wrong to subdue things in the Districts. Katniss is then introduced to Plutarch Heavensbee. Of the Capitol Heavensbees! He has a mockingjay on his watch and Katniss doesn't understand his meaning. They leave on the train toward 12. Katniss sleeps one whole night without nightmares. Once they reach the Mayor's house, Katniss sees a report on an uprising in District 8.

Thoughts:

-- You should NOT read these books on an empty stomach. Because I find myself thinking things like, "Have I ever had pumpkin soup? Should I get some? Can I order it online? I think one of the only similarities between Katniss' inner monologue and Snow's is that they are both obsessed with food.

-- It's odd. For a district that seems so important (Paylor, Bonnie and Twill all come from there), I don't really know much about 8. In my head I am picture Triangle Shirtwaist-type conditions since all the districts feel vaguely old timey.

Quotes:

Oh, the fun we two have together.

Katniss' inner monologue is snarky and that's why I love her.

One day when I dropped by to give Hazelle the game, Vick was home sick with a bad cough. Being part of Gale's family, the kid has to eat better than ninety percent of the rest of District 12. But he still spent about fifteen minutes talking about how they'd opened a can of corn syrup from Parcel Day and each had a spoonful on bread and were going to maybe have more later in the week. How Hazelle had said he could have a bit in a cup of tea to soothe his cough, but he wouldn't feel right unless the others had some, too. If it's like that at Gale's, what's it like in the other houses?

Aww Vick. The littlest Hawthornes are cuties. Posy is the STAR of Mockingjay as far as I am concerned.

I find Peeta admiring a table of elaborately decorated cakes. Bakers have come in from the kitchen especially to talk frosting with him, and you can see them tripping over one another to answer his questions. At his request, they assemble an assortment of little cakes for him to take back to District 12, where he can examine their work in quiet.

This also adorable. I think one thing Collins does that a lot of other authors don't is include these smale kindnesses from everyday Capitol citizens. It'd be very easy to make every one of them evil or stupid. These things remind you that they are human.

... and now I want cake.

Madge and I aren't gossipy and clothes bore me to tears. But after a few false starts, I realized she was dying to go into the woods, so I've taken her a couple of times and showed her how to shoot. She's trying to teach me the piano, but mostly I like to listen to her play.

I wish we got to know more about Madge. I feel like there is some story there.

[frecklenog]

finally watching house of wax 1953 ,, thots under tha cut

YAYYY WAX WOMAN W KNIFE

HI MR PRICE HIII HIIIII

the subtitles dont work o no :(

“that should be they now” pronoun user ..

soo curios whether these r real wax sculptures.. some of them are. obvious. but others i straight up expect to move. the craftsmanship is incredible

HI JOANIE !!!!!!!!

also curious about the clothes. are they real cloth or are there sculpted parts too. is it just a full body underneath or is it just the skin that’s visible. tho admittedly i don’t know much abt wax sculptures despite having the ‘05 movie as a longstanding hyperfixation 🥴

HIS NAME IS FUCKING JARED????

oh okay he just turned booth’s head. so that’s probably not connected to like. more wax skin.

if jared is the one doing the killing i support him. jared did nothing wrong this mf is setting his art on fire for insurance fraud. he should murder

marie :(

ok the burning clothes r answering my questions LMAO

JARED GET UPPPP

JARED

jared you fucking suck at fighting. knock it off w the water bucket and KILL THIS FOOL

ono. explodegeon.

OLD TIMEY FIRE DEPARTMENT YAYYYYYYYY HORSES YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY 🐴🐴🐴

OH THIS BITCH.

“had i been there i might have saved him” kys you fuck

“they always want a corpse :)” i love this strange woman

ohhhh all these mary poppins ass dresses J’ADORE

i hope jared is waiting in this fucker’s house with a club

OH MY GOD YAYYYYYYYY

he’s got a little bit of a “freddy kreuger cosplaying nosferatu” thing goin on. tbh

hiding..

someone get this man a cane or smth. my god. SOMETHING

LMFAOOOOO GOODBYE BITCH

“yes. but he hung himself instead 🥰” SHE IS SO BIZZARE

“you got all the brains and all i got is the boobs!”

CATHY’S SO SWEET 🥺🥺🥺

her laugh is. a little much. cute here and there but with the amount she does it it gets grating. but it’s very much of the time ain’t it. cinderella and snow white and alice in wonderland ass giggle

oh hey jared i almost forgot this was house of wax

SUE ???????

i mean tbf. what on EARTH is jared doing here. but maybe he would explain if he could get some dialogue

not that i don’t love silly chase scenes. i just wanna know Why yfeel

jared please leave sue alone

SUE YOUR SHOES?

oh weaponshoes. punch shoes.

ok i was here for killing matt or whatever his name was but cathy didn’t deserve that :/// cmon jared

I DIDNT THINK THOSE AUTOMOBILES WENT FAST ENOUGH TO HURT ANYBODY AHSJSGSJGXJAGSJSBAN

dont call dead women “honey” like that that’s weird.

I DONT THINK EMBALMING FLUID MAKES PEOPLE SIT UP LIKE THAT.

someone sit up again that was funny

YAYYYYY HI JARED

he is just scrimbling around……..

boy what on earth are you doing

is he going to defenestrate her bo- HE IS OH MY GODDDD

who is helping him. what

JARED DONT STEAL BODIES?????

“no human being can look like that” you wouldn’t say that about a scarred vet you chunk of shit i oughta kick you in the both of your balls

who is this very attractive man in the apron……….

JARED OH MY GOD. HI JARED !!!!!!!! how.

igor is so pretty and so fucking talented. would. in a heartbeat i would.

jared’s wheelchair fucking rules. vincent should’ve used a wheelchair i think.

i wonder if this is really how any of this process goes. it makes more sense than vinnie’s godawful shower

MATT FALLING OUT OF THE BOX AJSHSJHSNZHSJSB

daaamn this movie has an intermission. not even an hour in

HELLO PADDLEBALL MAN

OH MY GOD IT MOOOOOOOOVESSSSSSSSS

the 3d nonsense is so funny omg

THE LADIES PEEKING THE WAX DICK SKDHJDBSNDB

WAX CHOPPPPP

oh millie :(

WHY DO YOU CARRY SMELLING SALTS. JARED. IS THAT TYPICAL 50S BEHAVIOR. (genuinely unsure)

just a dead ass body on display lmao get fucked matt

the chamber of what.

OH MY GOD CATHY.

jared this is why we don’t just put wax on human bodies. you get found out by the friends of the deceased. also the rotting

jared please dont kill sue i like sue. i liked cathy :((

jared seems like a chill dude. aside from the.

waves my hand vaguely. You Know

please got JUST SCULPT HER. JARED. JUST SCULPT HER. STOP CHEATING

something is deeply wrong w the paddleball man. sir this is post-hayes code why do you have balls in your mouth

JARED. JUST ASK HER TO MODEL. CHRIST.

honestly tho WHAT is the explanation for his face. please. pl

THOSE DRESSES LOOK SOOOOO FUN TO SPIN AROUND IN !!!!!!!! 🥰🕯️

“you never saw a show like this in provincetown” MASSACHUSETTS MENTIONED 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞 (there r no chickadee/elm/mass flag emojis)

PTOWN ALSO MENTIONED 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

girl put your ass away i’m here to watch vincent price be Odd and Peculiar

“cathy had the habit of wearing an earring in her right ear. she had the lobe of her right ear only pierced for that” cathy was out there in 1953 using flags for gay men to spot each other not established for another two decades

sometimes i watch dancers in old movies like this and i try to spot my grandma maggiepat. that’s not really related to the movie but i do wonder. i know she was in the red shoes…

“why should joan of arc have her right ear pierced?” “why not? they wore them then.” “two, not one.” WHY DID CATHY ONLY WEAR ONE THEN !!!!!! someone who knows about 50s culture help me

ohh his name is henry jared. whatever.

the long highwaisted skirts….. :)) 🕯️

sue. sue get down from there

igor is SOOO HANDSOME god okay i’ll be normal sorry 😔

jared. no. bad. knock that off. spraying him with a squirt bottle

god he’s INCREDIBLY charming tho. mad props to mr price

oh my god LEON..

sue should Not be in here alone at night. girl this is a horror movie and you are TRESPASSING

oh hello skeleton

unidentified fucking thing just drifting creepily around the room 🆗🆒

WIG…………….

hiiii mr price

ok jared can walk like. fine. who ACTUALLY fucking killed cathy whose physicality was that

HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE A WAX FACE …….

JARED SHES STILL ALIVE. JARED. JARED.

why was leon convinced by that guy pouring liquor djgsjdbs

idc what happens i could fix igor. me and him and vincent sinclair. fuck timelines

hdkdhjdgd THIS FUCKING GUYY

i’d let igor do this to me. who said that.

HES SO RESOURCEFUL AND INTELLIGENT

girl what is scratching the wax gonna do. be serious

LET IGOR BEHEAD THIS GUY

HE IS DEAF AND MUTE LEAVE HIM ALONE STOP SLAPPING HIM I WILL BECOME VIOLENCE

why are you using the pointy end of that thing to bust thru this door. surely there are more effective ways to go about this

goodbye pig

“every time i shave i can still feel that guillotine blade” it never made contact with you. or you would be dead. dont try to be funny

why did shane sneeze.

NOOOOOOO IGOR :((((((((

[gyubby99]

@disneyanddisneyships WHAT IF: Alastor found Aponi first before Angel Dust

Lilly fluttered her eyes open, and she was met by such a sight. It was all dark and terror, people screaming and blood seemingly splattering all over the place.

When consiousness came over her, her first instinct was to get a hold of her neck, and like flashes her life before she woke up started running through her thoughts. The final words of the monster who dared try to get his hands on her.

Telling her how beautiful she was

How precious that her poor tormented hole was clutching around him in fear

Lilly ran her fingers through her hair, tearsbrimming her eyes as she curled up into a ball, and the people screaming in terror did not ease her problem.

And she had two extra arms?

She had two extra arms!

Lilly blinked twice to make sure this was a dream, but to no avail, it was not.

"Shhh.." Lilly tried soothing herself. "Pull yourself together. He can't hurt you. He's gone. He's gone.."

"He's gone.." Lilly repeated to herself, like some mantra. She soothed herself all over, by herself. No one was around to even care about her and so she knew she has got to get it together or she'll never get anywhere.

She had to do it. If she must.

"Are you done?"

Lilly jumped, hearing an old-timey staticky voice from not so far beside her.

Looking up, she was met by the sight of a yellow-toothed man in all red, grinning from ear to ear with eyes so wide the whole earth population could fit in it.

Was she still on earth, even? He didn't look human.

Still shaking, she responded. "What.. who are you?"

The red man chuckled, like some sort of broken radio. "Oh, you're new!" He exclaimed, and as he tilted his head a static noise could be heard from him. "Allow me to offer you some insight, my friend!"

Lilly sat there and hugged her knees. "Friend? You call everyone your friend?"

He laughed, "Why, ofcourse dear! Look around here! Desperate people finding the closest table scraps they could find, and surely, they would cling to the nearest hope they can find.."

"Wh.. I don't understand.." Lilly muttered under her breath.

The red man then opened his arms wide as he exclaimed, as though he was broadcasting, "Then let me help you understand!"

Lilly furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, and before she could speak, she was interrupted, ending it before she could start.

"Alastor, pleasure to be meeting you.." And up Aponi went, and the next thing she knew, the proximity between her and the red man grew closer, "..we have quite a pleasure!"

"Excuse my sudden intrusion and interest in your despair, but may I offer a little help? I'm sure you can use a little helping hand considering you've just arrived here in hell!" The man, known as Alastor, rambled rather enthusiastically.

"Hell? I'm in hell?" Lilly asks.

That made so much more sense.

Alastor laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to him. "Ofcourse, dearie! Now, onto the chit-chat, how about you get to know me a little? Then we can venture on our little deal as good friends do!"

Lilly furrowed her brows once more. "Deal? What deal?"

"You see, I have a small proposal for you if you'll hear me out. I've been known to feed off some of the sinners' appetite, if you will. I can see right through your facade and poor scar hiding tactics that you seem to be troubled?" Alastor lead her onto a small bar, doing the talking.

Lilly touched her neck once more, not saying a word.

Alastor chuckled. "Now, what is it that you want? Your deepest, darkest, desires.."

Lilly, though seemed to be weaker in strangth than he is, was emotionally strong enough not to let a stranger persuade her. "You expect me to tell you what I want without knowing who you are?"

Alastor gritted his teeth, chuckling. "Right, the insight."

Alastor snapped his fingers, and her whole reality seemed to warp, everything was on lights, and suddenly, he was dancing with his.. is that a staff?

And her clothes seemed to change, and with a choker on her neck!

And the music.

I'm just a phantom in your room

With no intent on leaving soon

And you're still not even sure just how I got here

Another ghost that's in your bed

That you wish you could leave for dead

Ain't no magic word can make me disappear

Alastor held Lilly's hand, twirling her around the whole place, before the lights dimmed and his eyes glowed bright red.

Now that room, it starts to dim

Set the mood for onset sin

And now we're passed out on the floor of your apartment

With every single warning sign

It passed you up and slipped you by

But we're all bound to end up back to where we started

Lilly couldn't quite put the pieces together as to why she's even dancing with this man,

But maybe he's more than just a happy face.

Make no mistake

I'll break you down

Then few shadows sang with him in delight, or is it?

(Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh)

Shout it around town

Then closer to Alastor Lilly went. With their faces leaning towards each other and his arm wrapping around her waist gently whilst he holds her hand, her cheeks turned slightly red.

He looked good!

I'm not what you want

But I'm exactly what you need

Take a bite and feed

Your satisfaction guaranteed

Alastor spun her around, dancing with her without a care of the fact that they're in hell.

I'm your sunshine, whoa

I'm gonna burn down your parade

I'm a shooting star

That wish you wished you never made

"Now, the deal, Aponi?" Alastor asks to the lady in front of him, who was reluctant and unsure.

"Aponi?" Lilly asks in confusion.

"I thought it would be a lovely name for you, my darling Aponi!" Alastor squished her cheeks playfully before laughing in a sinister tone.

Alastor noticed Aponi's uncertainty.

Don't wanna take a leap of faith

You wanna do this face to face

And like an animal the instincts taken over

There ain't nothing to debate

Blow this purgatory state

The city lights will drown you out in the exposure

Lilly was taken by the waist, and the shadows summoned after Alastor casted a familiar image.

A woman, getting hurt by a bigger man.

And the next image, was when Alastor showed up in the picture and sliced the man open in his quote-un-quote, 'demon form' with larger antlers and he was fairly bigger than the man he'd just slaughtered.

And the shadow woman got up and shook Alastor's hand.

Now that room, it starts to dim

Set the mood for onset sin

And now we're passed out on the floor of your apartment

With every single warning sign

It passed you up and slipped you by

But we're all bound to end up back to where we started

Lilly felt her stomach twist at the shadow image, and so in an attempt to ease her, Alastor lifted her chin up with his finger to look up at him.

Make no mistake

I'll break you down

(Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh)

Darlin' Shout it around town

And Lilly felt her spirit lift back up when he started dancing with her again.

I'm not what you want

But I'm exactly what you need

Take a bite and feed

Your satisfaction guaranteed

I'm your sunshine, whoa

I'm gonna burn down your parade

I'm a shooting star

That wish you wished you never made

The shadow woman then reached out for Lilly, seemingly asking her to join Alastor and take the quill.

Lilly hesitated, and with her reluctance perceptible, Alastor held onto her shoulders as though he was trying to soothe her.

This world is what you need

Where the monsters roam and the demons all feed

Relax don't you look so wary

It's all only temporary

Lilly took the quill that had appeared within the shadow, and a scrolled popped out of nowhere with a blank space for her to sign her name.

We roam and sing along

While the choir joins in sing an abhorrent song

We bite, it's a little bit scary

The pain's only temporary

Lilly, with little to nothing to lose, had subconsiously signed the blank space with her signature.

Alastor's laugh rung all through out the small bar, and the quill and scroll disappeared, as if to tell her that the deal was sealed.

I'm not what you want

But I'm exactly what you need

Take a bite and feed

Your satisfaction guaranteed

Alastor reached out his hand for her to shake,

And she took it, she took it with such courage.

If he can make the pain go away then she is willing to sell her soul.

I'm not what you want

But I'm exactly what you need

Take a bite and feed

Your satisfaction guaranteed

I'm your sunshine, whoa

I'm gonna burn down your parade

I'm a shooting star

That wish you wished you never made

Wish you wish you never made

"Splendid! It is a deal, then!" Alastor exclaimed, an arm around Aponi's waist.

In hell, she was no longer Lilly.

[oozmart]

3, 8, 19, 23, 35, 36, 42

If I already answered it I'm just gonna leave it out 😚 but I appreciate you all sending so many asks!!!

19. Do they wear each other’s clothes/jewelry?

No, they aren't really that kind of couple. Either of them might keep something of the others on them, like a handkerchief or a scarf, so they can smell each other's cologne/perfume when they miss them.

23. What are the defining characteristics of their relationship?

This is a tough question, but I guess I would say that they are both caring and doting, but still fun and even naughty on occasion. Naughty is such a funny fucking word bruh, like its so old-timey.

35. Is their relationship a secret? If so, why?

.......... HERES THE THING.

When they first meet Tallulah has two jobs. She works at a department store selling jewelry in the day, and at night she sings with a band at a night club. Jiminy knows she works at a club, but she doesn't want him to come around there because her performances are a little risqué. She wears skimpy little outfits and sings about promiscuous stuff. No one at the club (besides her band friends) knows she has a boyfriend, because she is trying to keep up a reputation. That whole mess is a plot all it's own, but we don't have time to unpack all of that.

36. How do they feel about having kids? Are they in agreement?

Oh they are in agreement. They do NOT want kids. Marriage is one thing, but having children is a whole other ballpark. Tallulah is the main instigator, as she does not like kids. She can barely stand her little niece and nephew. But she does like babies!!! Cause they're so cute and adorable. Until they throw up, then she's done with them.

42. What’s their relationship like with each other’s friends/families?

Well Jiminy doesn't have much family so jot that down. I feel like there is some kind of family tree for him out there from the comics or something, but that sign won't stop me because I can't read. Tallulah doesn't have a huge family, but she is from a small town in the Louisiana bayou where everyone knows everyone. Jiminy doesn't even meet them until they get engaged, but they all love him because he's such a nice guy.

Thanks for the ask friend! 🥰

[stealth-liberal]

Story Time!

So I was OBSESSED with Barbies when I was a little girl, and we used to go to this place called Seaport Village in Mystic, Connecticut (it was really close to Rhode Island). It was this old fashioned looking shopping village not too far from the aquarium and historic seaport in Mystic. And in this old timey village was a doll museum, we would go there twice a year and I would ALWAYS go to this doll museum.

Well, one year, they had this book all about Barbies, and there were a ton of colour photos in it. I begged my mother and aunt with what I can only assume were puppy dog eyes to buy it for me, and they did. I dog eared this book. I was always looking at the pictures and reading it. Thus, I learned a lot about Barbie. Information that has never once in my life been useful. Until now that is.

So yes, Allan is Ken's "best buddy" and he came out the same year that Midge came out. Midge is Barbie's best friend. Her and Barbie's clothes were interchangeable as well. It was part of how they marketed these dolls to parents: "Hey Don't Worry! You Won't Go Broke On Doll Clothes! They're Interchangeable!"

A year or two after Allan and Midge came out, Mattel came out with Skipper, Barbie's little sister. Allan also was given a brother that same year that was named Who The Fuck Knows, because no one cared, no bought him and he didn't last very long.

Like everyone who had Barbie dolls knows, no one really gives a fuck about Ken and likewise, no really gave a fuck about Allan either. Allan lasted longer than his nameless little brother, but he too was discontinued because no one really wanted him. If you look at any child's collection of Barbie dolls, you will find a TON of Barbie and any other female dolls Mattel comes out with. You will probably find one entire Ken doll, just in case a male doll is needed for whatever imagination games said child will be acting out with her dolls.

Midge, and other female Barbie friends have come in and out of production over the years. Though none have ever equaled Barbie in popularity.

My inner child, the one who begged all those years ago for that huge book, is jumping up and down and yelling "I TOLD YOU THAT BOOK WOULD COME IN USEFUL ONE DAY!"

The Kens (and Allan) of Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023)

[catgirl-catboy]

On the topic of Sherlock... I went to see the museum on Bakers Street earlier this year!

It was awfully well done, cramped in just that way you'd expect an inner city house to be, with all the little things and nick nacks you'd expect a great detective to own! A few of my friends live in older houses so the rickety stairs were less a concern and more a source of accuracy. There were only a scant few areas that were cordoned off (mostly the main study area, I can guess why) but otherwise after a short introduction we were let loose to do as we pleased.

There was also a little book one could write their name in, plus all the staff were wearing more old timey suits to fit the theme. There were also guides in a nice selection of languages, I never really realised how much of an international phenomenon Holmes was until then I supposed - though my penchant for mystery VNs has led me to seeing all sorts of references in Japanese games so it should've really set in sooner.

There were a whole bunch of Victorian antiques, which I thought had lost their charm since living here means you see a ton, but they were all rather nice and placed just so they seem to have gotten a little of that spark back! Plus there were paintings and pictures that were all fairly pretty, though a few were in various states of sunbleached.

While it was short, it was indeed rather fun and I wish I had money enough for some of the gift shop items - they even had mini violins and music boxes in accordance to standard gift shop fare like rubber ducks and clothes - but even the guide is kept rather firmly in my drawer for safekeeping and I have plenty of photos to share the memory!

NICE! But missed opportunity for them to only sell traditional gift shop stuff- if I were in charge, I'd have an isle of mystery books + games.

I haven't been anywhere on vacation for a bit, but a moot posted about THE vacation spot where I live, and it honestly felt like being doxxed. Like, no! you don't know where that famous thing is, you live in a parallel universe from me.