#i already did my time in prison(summer school)

[microwavetoaster-selfships]

Send me good wishes yall. I'm going to try and work on some late work when I get home but I'm chronically bad at doing that without an energy drink but I'm not ready for the impending doom of selling my soul to energy drinks so I can function

Uuhhhhhhhhh I accidentally went on a tangent and there's a whole vent in the tags oopsies

[tookthe-405]

VBS

Chapter 2: Damage gets done ~ hozier (MY LOVE)

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LINKS🇵🇸 GOFUND.ME!!

a/n: again, sorry this took so long, life’s been stressful but I hope y’all like it <33 its long af tho

this is honestly just me messing around with happiness and then destroying it soon 😍

c/w: smut in future chaps!!, religious trauma, internalised homophobia, religious manipulation/abuse, implied abuse by parent

summary: you grew up religious without questions and in summer you would get send to vacation bible school. The camp always felt like prison to you, until a very interesting girl appeared.

7/22/2007 (sunday, week 1)

Readers pov:

10:02 a.m

The faces of the others were frozen as you trudged back to the hostel, which you couldn't blame them for. You don't see two girls with wet clothes here every morning, and the fact that you had to walk past the dining room to get to the stairs didn't exactly help you stay inconspicuous.

You and Ellie lost track of time a bit and were already too late when you noticed that breakfast had already started. The dining room doesn't really have a single door, the room was just completely open with no wall or door that could have protected you from being seen.

Giggles and agitated whispers immediately started as Ellie walked past the large room and down the corridor. Pastor Tobias' eyes pierced into back of your head as you walked past the hall.

Ellie found it all very entertaining and waved to a group of people who greeted her back with a laugh.

You, however, couldn't meet anyone's gaze, not your friends and certainly not Pastor Tobi's.

With your head bowed and your wet hair hitting your red cheek, you quickly fidget past all the spectators.

After 2 days, the events came dry from the lips of the people and you and Ellie could walk through the halls with a little less shame.

Or at least you did.

Ellie didn't think the whole thing was so bad. She said she didn't care and that it was worth it. That you hadn't done anything wrong, and she was right, you hadn't done anything bad.

But guilt was beggingly nibbling at your skin, hoping to be let into your brain where you would make up some fucked up mistake.

The singing of the choir and hazel next to you make it a little harder to think about all this, but not impossible. With your luck, you might dream about it. The whole scene in front of you, is so familiar that it feels like you are timely. The many children of different ages who sing their souls out to be enough.

Some of them are also really good, and some are good and love to sing. But they will probably not get any further than your little congregation, because it was explained to you from an early age that those talents you own are there to serve God and only him.

Acting out of free will would make you feel too guilty.

Your gaze rushes behind a shoulder to Ellie, and even she sings with it. Ellie seems to have made friends with a group of boys and girls a few days ago. She fits in pretty well, everyone looks like they don't feel like being here.

The short-haired girl catches your eyes and winks at you slightly, which makes you grin. She's so inserious, it's to laugh sometimes. With the same grin, she makes a small movement with her fingers and hands that looks as if she is composing something on an invisible piano. You understand that she just wants to tease you and show her a guitar-playing gesture.

"Don't do that!"

The hissing in your ear scares you, and you shake together briefly. After you have stretched your body forward again, and your shoulders feel like wooden boards, you give Hazel an apologetic look.

She unobtrusively holds a finger to her lips instead of telling you to shut up.

But her look is not as angry as she sounded, she admonishes you to stay out of trouble and you have to admit, that has often saved your ass.

When you were smaller, you wanted to try out almost everything, whether it was because of your quick trust in other people or because you just hated yourself too much to have any self respect left, no matter what it was, it almost messe up your life. Or rather your social life in church. And Hazel was like a warning hand that pulled you back again and again, saving yiuin the last moment.

When the piano music ends quietly and slowly, everyone sits down again, and a squeak sounds through the room. The piano that is played on every morning is old, but still sounds quite good. You could play all the hillsong songs and the old ones of your grandparents with your eyes closed if you had to, but Tanja does a good alternative job for you.

Your mother liked it so much, when the piano was played in the service that she thought it would be all the more beautiful if her daughter sat up there.

"Good morning everyone"

The older pastor leans against his narrow pedestal with the large cross on front and looks slowly through the rows.

"Personally, I find that 2 days are enough to get used to a life in nature and among themselves with God" he sighs tired for a short time as if he is already disappointed about something.

"Tomorrow you will go to the city with your assigned room partners and grou leaders and spread God's word”

Groaning resounds around in the room, most of pre teens who would rather do anything else than talk to strangers in the summer heat. Your group also has less desire, but this happens here every year like a kind of tradition, so you've been preparing for it.

"Not only that! The kitchen also prepares candied apples, which you can then all hand out nicely together!"

That was new. However, you understand the purpose behind it, you would also like it more to sit and listen here with a candied apple. In recent years, so many people have slammed the door in front of your nose that a few apples can't be bad.

"Hey girls" Louisa's voice makes you all look over your shoulder.

She kneels in front of you to be able to whisper better and more inconspicuously.

"You have kitchen duty this afternoon, please don't forget it and don't plan anything"

you all nod in Union.

"fuck"

"Kate!" Admonished hazel.

"What? It always takes like what? 2 hours?-"

"2 hours and 46 minutes" you improve her.

The four girls look at you confused.

"I stopped time last year out of boredom"

hazel grins at you, you twist your eyes but there is also a soft smile on your lips. You know exactly what's going through her head.

'That's so weird but just too sweet'

"I can't even remember the last time" murmurs naveah dreamy, her gaze rigidly on the ceiling.

"Probably because it was so traumatic that your brain simply deleted it for you" Kate dramatically her index finger against her head.

"It wasn't so bad, Kate exaggerates."

"I don't"

"my legs hurt all day"

Kate's and Mia's voices roll over and you smile. Hazel looks at you questioningly. You gambled with your shoulders.

"2 hours and 46 minutes Hazel..."

the girl shakes her head and her brown curls fall around her face a few times. "I thought it was okay"

Kate snorts. "Haze you would walk around in underwear in the snow if it happened in the name of the church."

"You wouldn’t?

11:38 a.m (sunday, week 1)

Three. You got 3 soccer balls shot in your face within 1 hour. You're not surprised that one of them was from Caleb, but the other two were shot by the same pretty black-haired girl, and it didn't look like she was sorry.

"What the…"

You stare at her and Caleb's backs during the water break and hope that it was just a coincidence, even if deep down you know that it wasn´t.

"Does he still not like you?" Naveah, sweating, picks up her water bottle while her eyes wander from time to time between you and Caleb.

You shrug, now more focused on Caleb fooling around with some guys.

The air in the gym was incredibly thick and almost unbearable, but the leaders still talked you into a soccer match. It was more or less Hazel's decision anyway and you guys do everything she does. The high windows let in the warm sun, whose heat wasn't particularly welcome right now.

The teams are mixed, meaning there are boys and girls on the same teams, aged 16 to 18. There weren't many, but enough to at least form 2 fair groups with even a few substitutions on the bench.

Ellie is nowhere to be seen , which doesn't surprise you, you regret ever saying yes to this, but you miss her in the disgusting, sweaty, narrow air. Her presence and her funny jokes would have been the only thing that could have made this a little less shitty.

"What's the deal with him anyway?" Naveah doesn't seem to let this go.

"We just don't like each other, that's just how it is sometimes."

She frowns.

"I don't think you can hate each other so much without a reason."

"I don't hate Caleb, I don't really care about him"

Naveah lets out a snort.

"Damn didn't know you could be a little bitchy too"

Caleb turns briefly in your direction and you take that as a sign to turn away and finally sit down for the next 8 minutes. Naveah does the same.

“I think everyone can be a little bitchy, you can’t like everyone and everything”

“Jesus could”

“Well im not Jesus”

she stretches her legs out next to you and sighs deeply.

"I know, even if this doesn't sound good, I sometimes find the principle of the church really fucked up. I try to love everyone, even people who do bad things to me, but it doesn't always work."

You're very surprised that she comes to you with this, but now that she did, you want to give her the best comfort you can.

"That's okay, naveah. We're neither God nor Jesus, we can do some things and we can't do some other. And we find a lot of things difficult. So Hate who you want"

naveah laughs and then becomes creepily serious again.

"Thanks, since you became friends with Ellie, you seem more relaxed to me."

Thinking, you try to remember your life before Ellie, but you can't. Before that everything was much more colorless, it didn't make as much sense as it does now.

"yes, I guess"

"no matter what Hazel says, you're right, Ellie isn't bad. How can a bad person make someone else this happy?"

12:24 p.m (sunday, week 1)

You haven't heard from Ellie all morning. It was almost as if she had completely disappeared, and if you're honest, you've had the feeling for a while that one day, she would just run away from here.

You wouldn´t hold it against her, but you would still feel dejected and left behind.

naveah and you talk a lot more after the game, she's more like you than you thought and you think she's good company. She understands your humor and you don't feel stupid or judged after every sentence you say.

It often happens to you that you wish for a world and reality in which it was always so easy to live. Where not every breath you take feels wasted.

You try very hard not to think about Caleb or your siblings back home. Homesickness seemed to catch up with you sooner or later anyway, but you didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

The summer heat was bearable, but it was still uncomfortable, so you spent most of your time indoors. Shortly after 12, Naveah suggested playing a few rounds of Uno with you, and since there was nothing better to do, you agreed.

"My father taught me uno, I can still remember that"

there is a very faint smile in her voice that touches your ears. She sounded a bit sad, as if she´s mourning that time of her life.

"I don't know your father at all"

you put a wish card on top of the pile of other cards. One round probably turned into a few.

"He's not really a christian, sometimes I think that's why he is the way he is"

"What do you mean?"

"He has a lot of emotions, he doesn't know what to do with them."

Christian parents are often very strict, as there are many rules in both parenting and the Bible that you have to follow. But since Naveah is talking about her atheist father, you don't really have a picture of what she really means, both your parents are religious.

"I don't understand exactly what you mean naveah…"

half of your brain is focused on the girl in front of you and the other half on the cards on the floor. Naveah moved around a little to sit down a little more comfortably, but this position didn´t seemed to free her from the emotional discomfort.

"Sometimes he doesn't know where to put all the anger. My mother doesn't help much with that either. Both of them know how to provoke each other, but only one of them knows how to deal with feelings."

"I still don't know what you mean? How does that affect you and your fathers relationship?"

It seems absurd to you how you talk about something like that while you're playing Uno, but if that's what she needs.

"Girls, lunch is ready and then you have to rinse off."

Louisa's voice flashes through the room and everyone moves quickly, but you make a mental note to talk to her about it later. You walk at a slow pace down the hallway and the other girls just rush past you. You remember how easy everything seemed to you at that age.

On the second floor you meet Jonathan.

“Hey you got wash up duity, don’t you?”

A dramatic groan leaves your mouth and you nod.

Joanthan is nice. You know his parents very well and you both grew up together as often as you saw each other at school and he was one of the only boys who wasn't interested in bullying girl for fun.

"Are you in the same room with Samuel?"

“Samuel and Austin, luckily”

You nod in understanding and see your group of girls whizzing past you out of the corner of your eye. Hazel turns to you briefly and gives you that grin and suddenly you know exactly what's going on here. An unpleasant feeling spreads through you and you try hard to ignore it.

"yeah… it's nice that you're still friends"

"I can't believe how long I've been able to put up with these two"

You giggle a little bit uncomfortable and think about the many pranks the three boys have pulled off. Both here in the camp and at school.

“Have you planned any new pranks?”

"hmm I don't know if I can tell you that" Jonathan grins at you.

"Well, if I hear something about a prank, I know who it was."

He shrugs and chuckles softly.

"Do you know what you're planning to do after the summer holidays? Now that we've finished school." you ask him.

He doesn't seem so sure about his answer.

"Not really, I don't know yet whether I want to stay here or go further away. Samuel wants to study in new york, I feel a bit left behind"

left behind. You know the fear of that as well.

"No matter what you decide, you have a future everywhere, time goes by either way"

he smiles at you and combs a few thick curls out of his face. You notice that he's looking at you longer than necessary.

"Hey would you like-" "Jesus where are they?"

You try strenuously to find Hazel's brown curls over the many people's heads, but they are nowhere to be seen.

"Sorry Jonathan, I have to find the others before they can no longer manage to save a seat for me."

you lie coldly to his face.

Without any further words, you quickly march through the many groups. You can feel his confused look burning at your spine, but whatever he wanted wasn't what you wanted.

You notice two things in the dining room.

Luckily Hazel secured a spot for you and Ellie is talking to the girl who shot a fucking ball at you. Twice.

Ellie's face seemed neutral, she was smiling slightly.

Jealousy overcomes you and you´re embarrassed at how quickly and unexpectedly it happens. Your cheeks redden and you feel very immature, like in middle school when you were mad that Hazel had other friends besides you.

You sit down in silence next to Hazel, who has already placed a plate at your place. Some pureed vegetable soup that you have to force down.

"What did Jonathan want?" Kate leans forward eagerly.

Unexpectedly, Jonathan is a good distraction for once.

"You're being so childish"

"Come on, we're just curious"

That's how it was always with the boys. No matter what people say, Christian girls are obsessed with boys, no matter how much the feeling of guilt trys to destroy that. For many, boys even come before God in terms of interest.

Not necessarily boys, but more the romance itself. The acceptance and recognition of being enough for a man.

Your eyes flick to Ellie, who is still talking to her about something seemingly funny. Of course you don't care.

“He didn’t want anything from me and even if he did it i would not care.”

1:14 p.m (sunday, week 1)

You are just waiting to be let into the kitchen. It's nothing unusual to take on kitchen duty in camp. It's a kind of thank you from the church to the kitchen for cooking warm food every day. Every girl's room gets a turn twice a year. After the girls' rooms have all been through to the second time, there are two more boys' rooms so that it doesn't get unfair. Ironic isn´ it?

Every year it's the same, every year you can hear the boys crying and complaining when they're the ones who have to do it this year. Now was your day where you have to wash 200 dishes. The staff and managers involved.

Ellie isn't here yet. She can't really have forgotten it, Louisa reminded her not to do anything between 1 and 3 p.m. this morning.

"Okay girls, then let's get to work."

Lousia opens the door to the kitchen a little too enthusiastically with her key and everyone follows her limply. It's the same place with the same number of dirty dishes.

Washing the dishes yourself isn't that bad for you, it's the fact that this kitchen is so damn dark.

For some reason there are only 3 windows in the white, old room. The tiles on the floor are already old and a few edges have broken off, the potholes were noticeable on the sole of your slippers. It still smells like soup and detergent and you wonder who would want to spend hours doing something like that.

“Here” Hazel hands you gloves and an apron.

"Sorry I'm late" Ellie stands in the doorway, panting, looking for Lousia's gaze, but it still stays on you.

"Hey" she smiles at you… shyly?

You smile back and pull the apron over your head.

"Ellie… please don't let this happen again."

“I promise it won´t”

Hazel also hands her the things and Ellie doesn’t hesitate for a second. You're a little surprised that she showed up at all, but she seems a bit inergic to you.

"Okay, we'll divide into 3 groups and one will rinse while the other dries and puts thw dishes away," you almost order the others.

You grew up with a very tidy mother and a big sister, you know a lot about tidying up and organization. That's why no one hesitates and does what you said.

"I wanted to talk to you all day"

Ellie's rough voice loops into your right ear and you quickly grab the dishes and a sponge as a distraction and start to rinse.

"I'll rinse you dry"

Ellie seems surprised to have to pick up a plate but does as you say.

"Everything okay?"

What bothers you is how easy it is for her to read you.

“Yes, everything is perfect”

“It doesn’t seem like it?”

"That's your self Ellie?"

"Did anything happen?"

"No"

"Did I do something?"

"Ellie!"

You say her name a little loudly and Mia, who is standing across from you, turns to you briefly and smiles encouragingly at you.

No, that is completely wrong. You shouldn't be mad at Ellie, you should stand by her, she could be in distress or something.

You direct your gaze again, an embarrassing blush on your face.

As strange as it sounds, Ellie really looks beautiful in an apron. Her soft curves, her forearms that show off her fair, freckled skin and the black ink of her tattoo. She always has to pull up her sleeves no matter what she does.

"I just had a bad day okay?"

You take the next plate.

"Her name is Ruth"

Ruth. you imagine how the name would feel on your tongue, how it would taste. How it would taste on Ellie's tongue. Shaking, you banish the thought because the thought of a sentence where both Ellie’s tongue and taste appear, seems too dangerous to you.

"I didn't ask that"

"You didn't have to"

Nobody speaks for 10 minutes, there is complete silence. Your thoughts rush from one corner of your brain to the other. You didn't want to argue with her, you didn't want to be anything other than hers.

soon you realize that you have no right to be angry with Ellie. She can talk to whoever she wants. Strangely enough, it also seemed to make a certain amount of sense for Ellie that you were angry.

You Wonder why.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs next to you, a wet glass in her hand.

"You don't have to be, you didn't do anything, Ellie."

Your anger subsided, and your longing for Ellie's soft, warm voice grew.

"I haven't paid any attention to you all day."

"You don't have to-"

"But I want to. As often as I can."

Sometimes you think that she doesn't even notice what she's actually saying to you. That she's in a trance and doesn't even notice what's falling over her lips. How vulgar her allusions are, and how good they feel.

You turn around briefly, but no one seems to have heard.

"It's okay, don't worry about it now."

"I really am sorry though." Her hand rests gently on your back, but doesn't quite touch you. it is the gesture itself that counts here, but you can't help but think of her soft skin, of her many freckles that are certainly not only on her face.

"I know. Me too, I shouldn't have acted around like that"

her face shows how happy she was with the situation and you smiled too.

"I like your hair. It's really pretty braided" she whispers

her hands sadly turn back to the dishes and your gaze remains stuck to her for a while. But how could you not? who would ever want to look away from her?

"what did you want to tell me?" you ask her.

"how do you know that I want to tell you something?"

"you get really fidgety when you want to talk about something"

you notice so many things about her. how her leg fidgets slightly, how she keeps having to change her position and shifts her hips from left to right, how she bites her cheek, sometimes too hard.

"um... I had an idea"

"Ellie, no-"

"I haven't said anything yet"

the running water covers your voices, luckily, and no one notices.

"We're handing out these apples tomorrow and I thought to myself-"

you give her another glass and look into her soul.

"That's stupid and we're not 10 anymore, Ellie, what makes you think of something like that?"

Ellie takes the glass slowly and carefully, not breaking eye contact with you. Her eyes look hurt.

"Please explain it to me" you try to make your voice softer, more trustworthy.

"I don't want to be here. You don't understand, you're here every year and people love you. There's something wrong with me and I'm reminded of it every fucking day, I just want to show him what it's like to be treated like that"

you could hear the tears in her voice. You noticed early on with your brother that some people just don't cry, or at least don't like to. They express their tears differently, with Ellie it's her voice.

Her voice shows how she's feeling just as clearly as tears would have.

The kitchen is divided into two compartments. One is where they cook and the other is where they put the dirty dishes and clean them.

"How are we even supposed to get into the kitchen? And how do we know that they haven't already put the glaze on the apples? We don't know anything, Ellie-"

"Jesse's mother is volunteering to help in the kitchen. He said that he needs to help his mother to candy the apples this evening. But before that we can make a few changes."

Your mouth is slightly open. She has really thought this through. You hand Ellie another glass and stare at the door at the end of the room. No chance of her just getting in there. Louisa is a very nice manager but even that wouldn't gat an approve of her.

"How are we even supposed to get in there?"

CLINGGG

a high, loud noise bounces around in the air and you flinch so much that it hurts.

"fuck"

"oops" Ellie grins at you slightly after she has dropped the glass, you gave her to dry, on the floor.

"I'm so sorry, god I'm so clumsy"

Ellie gives you a whole scene, in which you don't have to do anything but hold back a laugh.

"Louisa, forgive me, it just fell out of my hand"

the other girls have to hold back a giggle too, even Hazel.

Ellie's high, dramatic voice sounded bad like a dying cat, but once again you were impressed by how daring she is.

"Yeah, yeah Ellie, clean that up. The broom is in the storage room"

Louisa presses the many keys into Ellie's hand and doesn't seem at all surprised.

"Thank you very much sister" for a moment you thought she was bowing.

„we’re not catholic Ellie-“

„But Mrs. I don't know where the storage rooms are"

„And I’m not married“ Louisa sighs

"Shit Ellie, I'm kinda enjoying this"

Kate grins at her and Ellie winks as Louisa gives Kate a warning look.

Ellie puts a strong, secure arm around you.

“Please accompany her”

Louisa waves her hands in the air between you two

“Sure” you reply like a robot

Ellie's arm pulls you towards the exit door and almost slams it behind you.

"first we ruin the glaze, then we can get the broom from wherever that was"

"in the storage room"

"whatever"

There are two doors to the kitchen. One that is in the washing up room and connects the two rooms and another that leads directly to the kitchen. The other entrance can be taken through the dining hall, and that's where you headed.

"if the pastor sees us, we're dead, Ellie"

you walk quickly but are still careful when you go around corners.

"I know, I think he wants to hang me on a scarecrow, I had a dream about that recently-"

you grab her arm and shove her back behind a safe corner.

"phillip"

"who the fuck is Phillip"

you press Ellie lightly against the wall because you are sure that sometimes she can't control her body properly. you peek around the corner slightly and see the orange hair.

"He's like the pastor's right-hand man, his best friend is also his roommate and his assistant."

"Pastors can have roommates?"

The orange spot at the end of the hallway slowly disappears like the light of a car on a dark night. This time you go first and Ellie follows you like a dog, she is also much quieter.

You feel 6 years younger and you like doing something you've never dared to do. Otherwise it was always the boys who played pranks and even though you never admitted it, you were always jealous.

Jealous of the freedom to behave like an asshole and not face any consequences. You wanted to have that laugh, that bond of having done something wrong together and to experience the big drama afterwards. To be praised for having done it.

"Shit, you like this, don't you?"

How can she read you so well?

"No!"

When you get to the door you stare at her knowingly.

"Yes you do, you're not as good as you always act doll. And I mean that in the best way possible"

"You're full of shit Ellie"

you let her pass you and the green eyed girl hastily tries to find the key.

"hey" you calmly touch her quick hands.

"calm down. don't stress Ellie"

her cheeks redden and her hands slow down.

"i really can't find it. fuck do you even have the key to the kitchen as a group leader?"

out of instinct you pull the door handle to use the key and the door opens.

"That was easier than i thought-"

Ellie puts the keys in her back pocket and carefully sticks her head into the kitchen. you keep watch so that no one walks by and tells on you. you quickly scurry after Ellie into the empty, warm room and smell the sweet air of the apples.

"the door has a fucking window" Ellie whispers in your ear and points at the door from where your friends are cleaning dirty dishes, the door that leads to Louisa who Is waiting for her keys.

goosebumps spread across your arms and legs and you are not sure if it is where Ellie is or the chance of being thrown out of the camp.

as you stand in front of the big pot you both breathe in out of reflex.

"It smells good, I even feel a little bad about ruining it"

Ellie watches the bubbling bubbles a little dreamily.

"Isn´t that actually vandalism?"

you ask thoughtfully.

Ellie almost laughs out loud and puts her hand over her mouth. You grab her arm and press even harder against her mouth so that she is really quiet.

"No, that isn't really vandalism oh my god you are innocent"

"Wow thanks Ellie, it was so enlightening"

you spend a while looking in the kitchen for something that might taste good and after a while Ellie finds vinegar that is probably decades old.

"that is so disgusting, remind me not to eat any of it"

Ellie's look confirms that somehow you'll have to eat it anyway.

"it will noticeable if we don't eat anything, just a small bite"

"Ellie what the fuck" you massage your temples with your thumb and watch her open the vinegar.

"not too much, okay?"

"yeah yeah"

In the end she used almost half the bottle to make it really gross. for an "extra reaction" she said. In the end you almost got caught by the pastor's right hand. In the end Ellie held your hand for exactly 4 seconds.

It was impressive how those 4 seconds stayed in your head for hours.

INTERACT WITH ONE OF THE LINKS UP THERE

Please post and repost a lot about Palestine especially right now. The videos shock me to my core and are really disturbing but people live these lives, these are children of someone. Please take your focus on the people in Palestine who are going thru hell. Help where you can

I really hope you liked this chapter, I will upload more after focusing more about palestine so it might take a while! Btw SO SORRY ITS THAT LONG

Taglist: @elliewilliamgfooc @bready101 @a-little-bit-of-everybody @vqxen @hersuniverse @nelzooo @shiimer @bellaramseysgirlfriend @sonthingwithl @vi0lentb3rry @elliewilliamsblunt @be3flow3r @adelaide013 @abbysbraids @mourningdovee

[lil-quinnie]

I know who i want to take me home.

Modern!Rockstar!Eddie x f!bestfriend

part II

warnings: 18+

4k

Summary: That time where Eddie stood up for you and you never left his side again,

You've known Eddie since your 4th grade, when some girls were making fun of you for your dress or something stupid like that. Kids could be mean, that Eddie knew.

He'd been teased ever since he arrived in Hawkins a few years ago. When word got around that the kid's shaved hair was because he had head lice or was arrested, he vowed he'd never take that kind of shit in silence again, and so he did.

Eddie already considered himself the savior of the broken, the beats and the damaged.

From the day he threatened to throw mud on the girls' perfectly pressed clothes, you were never apart, ending that summer afternoon with him pushing you on the swing and you sharing ice cream while Eddie talked about how cool it was to live in a park trailer "There are always kids there to play with, you should go meet more friends" Eddie said in his childish squeal.

You were together when Eddie's father got out of prison and disappeared into the world "he better stay away anyway" Eddie had told you with his eyes on the ground, as he walked you back to your house kicking some rocks by the way. It was the first time you held his hand, giving it some squishes every now and then, you could see Eddie’s dimples every time his eyes landed on your holding hands.

You were together when you got your first guitar, realizing that music wasn't really one of your talents but was certainly one of Eddie's, giving your beloved guitar to your best friend, who trained every day and looked forward every Friday before Hellfire to show you some new music he had taught himself, and it wasn't long before he started showing you the songs he wrote.

“Ok…they are really good men, don’t get me wrong, but you are so in love with her that your song got a little…emotional??” Gareth had told the boy after hearing a new composition, rhythm and lyrics! Eddie froze at his friend's words, as if he had said the most secret words in the world "Dude, relax! It's just a song" he shrugged feigning a normalcy that clearly didn't exist, "yeah, sure...just a song" Gareth was smirking, his tone determined to get under the poor metalhead's skin.Eddie looked at the with no reaction, as if he had been caught doing something illegal, and among all the excuses he came up with at that moment, he said the lyrics weren't all about you, he swore to Gareth. “It’s about Chrissy, you know, the blond unreachable cheerleader who goes to our school?, ring any bell? butthead”. Gareth just rolled his eyes and nodded.

You were together when Eddie decided to grow his hair big! And you always supported him, even when his hair didn't look good at all. "You can wear my bandana if you want, it's very metal" you said and shrugged, handing the bandana to a pre-teen Eddie. You didn't want to admit that those little curls that fell across the boy's face did something to the inside of your stomach, which started to feel tight and hot whenever he was around. You couldn't take the feeling in your chest anymore every time your fingers passed through the boy’s hair, blowing a few strands out of his face whenever he played the guitar or tried unsuccessfully to roll a joint, the feeling was so much so that you decided to give him your bandana, explaining how it would help keep the hair out of his face. Eddie just nodded and listened carefully to everything you said. 

As soon as he dropped you off at home and you said your goodbyes, instead of lighting a cigarette and walking to the trailer like he did every other day, he preferred to take the walk holding the bandana tightly inside his jacket pocket as if it were the most precious treasure.

Eddie opened his front door in a hurry and as soon as he heard the lock click, he brought the bandana up to his nose, feeling the heady peach scent of your shampoo.

Eddie spent the rest of the night looking at himself in the mirror, trying to fix his headband in the most "metal" way possible, but he swore to Wayne it wasn't to impress you.

Now, a few years later, you were still there when they first called him a freak, you couldn't quite tell what was going through your best friend's mind.

Eddie was loud, he never stayed quiet when they made mean comments even less when it was one made by an idiot jock. But nothing came out of your best friend's half-open mouth. Eddie knew he had different tastes than most, pop music didn't suit his ear, he could play any kind of games if he wanted, with balls or not, but sports were only for Sunday afternoons when Wayne was off and they could spend some time together, but freak?! “Does she see me like that too?” Eddie's head was sinking into a spiral of shame and fear and you grew agonized by not being able to do anything, in a weak act he looked towards the back of the classroom, looking for you. 

You never forgot the look he gave you that day, the sad smile printed on his face, making your face burn with anger "Shut your mouth Jason, do n't you have to kiss your teammates ass or something?" you answered back in the middle of class, making everyone laugh. You got a pass straight to detention and a relieved whispered "thank you" from Eddie.

That was your relationship with Eddie, and even after all these years, nothing has changed! well, almost nothing. Eddie kept swearing and playing his undying love for Chrissy in every new song he played to you, always creating imaginary situations and acting out how he would play for her if he had the chance. Despite the bitter taste of jealousy running down your tongue, there's nowhere else in the world you'd rather be.

Sitting on Eddie's bed while he played a few chords and made some silly rhymes to get you a laugh, as the sun went down and you shared a well-rolled joint by Hawkins' newest drug dealer. At that point, you and Eddie were more than friends and the comfortable “family” feeling took over your relationship, even if something always seemed out of place. 

You followed all the corroded coffin shows and saw Eddie flirting with every type of groupie possible, which made you wonder if he had ever thought of you that way.

God! The kid didn't have a specific type, even with the male bartenders at Hideout you'd see him flirt, he flirted with literally anything but you.The boys gathered more and more people to watch their shows, the Hideout got smaller and smaller for their talent and charisma and you couldn't be more proud of your boy's accomplishments. But, "with great talent comes great responsibility", or whatever other nerdy shit you thought Eddie would tell you. That is, if he was on your side in the middle of the crowd of sweaty bodies that swayed in sync with his electric guitar chords. Still, no matter how pretty, nice, hot or smooth-talking the person Eddie was flirting with was, at the end of the night it was you he always took home, in the second-hand van Wayne got Eddie for his 17th birthday .

“Hey trouble” Eddie hugged you from behind as you got you both beer, you could feel his skin still wet with sweat and the smell of his cheap cologne invaded your nose “EDS” you hugged him tight still jumping with excitement “My god, you…you all did so well today, fuck it was amazing I'm so proud of you I mean the whole band, here” you handed over the bottle of beer and took a sip from yours to avoid saying something that would leave you still more like a fool. "Yeah, it was kind of good right?!"

Eddie was smiling proudly and scratching his head awkwardly as he saw your big bright eyes looking at him the way you were, he toasted you before just taking a sip of his beer "Come on, I'll get you home before it gets too late ” he said, putting his arms around your shoulders and walking with you to the exit. The drive to the parking lot was short and you couldn't answer all the good-byes people gave Eddie and Eddie's girl, you.

It was your first and very last senior year of high school, and finally Eddie was free from hell high school, you miss him there though.

You got your college acceptance letter, your family was in an uproar, lots of hugs and laughter but your heart was so tight, and you didn't know why. You could barely sleep at night thinking about what life would be like in another city, far from your family, your friends and him. You tried to disguise the dark circles under your eyes with a little makeup, thinking that drugstore concealer would hide all the dark aura that enveloped you that morning, but you should have known better.

You went downstairs as soon as you heard the noisy van turn off the engine, instead of waiting for Eddie to come in and have the daily cup of coffee with your mother and complain about your morning attitude, you took the snacks lovingly prepared by your mother, one for each of you and ran out the door, pulling Eddie along the way and dragging him back to the van “I'm late, no coffee today Munson”, you said in a dry tone, making the newly awakened boy just nod “yes ma'am ” he said getting behind the wheel.

The driveway was quiet and safe and you were comfortable until Eddie started peppering you with questions, you were overwhelmed and told your best friend about your leaving in a few weeks in the worst possible way. He didn't take it very well. "Are you going to leave me here, alone in this shithole?" your teary eyes irritated Eddie more than brought him to reality, it was your choice to leave for college, wasn't it?

The morning ended with you slamming the van door as hard as you could and Eddie skipping school and heading to the abandoned bank in the middle of the woods behind the football field. That day you chose to walk home alone rather than answer your friend who, even not entering the school, was waiting for you outside.Days passed and nothing from your best friend showed up, answered your calls or stopped running through the school corridors trying to avoid you like the plague. "He needs space now" was what Nancy repeated to you every time that happened. 

The week dragged on without the presence of your best friend. Now on Friday, Nancy and Robin were trying to convince you to go to your last high school party. “Come on baby girl, it's your last high school party! Fuck Eddie if he's such a sucker for not wanting to enjoy every second he has with you” Robin said in a rather mean attempt at convincing you, “not to mention he'll probably be there, parties are always good for…business” Nancy added knowing that this argument would definitely make you go to this party, you needed to see that the metalhead was fine without you, even if it destroyed his soul.

"Fuck it, fuck him! I'm going to that stupid party!" You said in a sigh, Robin threw her arms up as if thanking heaven for your sudden change of decision, and Nancy just chuckled to herself, knowing the real reason for the change. 

You made a point of putting on your nicest black dress, which hugged all of your curves that until now you've never felt the need to show off, a pair of combat boots, and whatever jacket Nancy made you pack just in case.

It was so hot, you didn't know if it was the amount of people dancing to the same rhythm inside Steve's living room or if it was just the cheap beer you weren't used to drinking, pushing the slimy liquid down your throat. You searched the entire party for Eddie with no luck, stopping in the kitchen only to talk to Steve who would pull you out of the crowd making fun of your bothered face. At parties like this you usually stayed outside with Eddie while he went about his business, but the sight of your best friend hitting on a cheerleader forced you to make SUCH a sacrifice as drinking such a horrible warm bear. Of course Eddie had seen you, he saw you as soon as you got out of Nancy's car, walking into Steve's house arm in arm with Robin laughing at some weird thing the blonde had said, of course he noticed the flush in your cheeks and as your eyes wandered over the people passing by, his heart ached to realize that he was the one you were looking for, but he remained professional and ended the transaction with the cheerleader who was so drunk that she didn't show her usual disgust at touching on Eddie, on the contrary, she insisted on keeping her hands on him with every word that came out of her mouth.

It was too much for you, you thought, even though you didn't understand where that sore feeling had come from. Staggering through the halls, you managed to find fresh air and took refuge on the pool deck, the muffled music made your thoughts dance around Eddie, you downed the already warm beer in one go throwing the can across the yard of the Harrington mansion, catching the attention of the school's bad boy, Billy, who was finishing rolling a joint still talking to his drug dealer, Eddie. 

"Isn't this your little friend, Munson?" Billy asked, both watching you drunken antics, “yeah, yeah it's her'' Eddie didn't let on that your friendship was at a low point in no time, but Billy was always good at reading between the lines “She's fucking hot, now I get it because you hid her behind that shit you like” he said with a smirk on his face, “you wanted her all to yourself, freak?” Billy laughed as he grabbed another bottle of beer and walked towards you, leaving Eddie alone with the cheerleader who accompanied the entire interaction glued to the boy's arm.

Even from afar, doing "business" with Billy and the popular crowd, Eddie wouldn't take his eye off you, following your every move with lost puppy eyes, Eddie's sad eyes accompanied your dress getting up on your thighs more and more, Billy's hands finding your soft skin, stroking and squeezing as you shared the joint. Eddie's big brown eyes burned as he watched the whole scene like a masochist, and it didn't go unnoticed. "she's just my best friend" he replied for the 1,000th time to a drunken cheerleader who tried to get the boy out of his temper that night. She twisted the end of Eddie's hair between her fingers, closing any distance he put between them.

Eddie saw when Billy approached you, he saw when you laughed at some really bad joke making the blond boy stick out his chest in pride, he saw his hands on your thighs and just when he thought his heart couldn't take it anymore, Billy kissed you. Billy tucked a lock of your hair behind your ear like Eddie had dreamed of doing for years, he caressed your rosy cheeks from alcohol and you gave that shy smile that was usually kept just for him, just for Eddie.

"I can make you forget about her'' said the cheerleader next to Eddie's ear, in a not at all drunken tone anymore,”wait…what?” He said while she was pulling Eddie by the hand to one of the Harringtons' empty rooms. Climbing the stairs with the girl, the last thing Eddie saw before entering the room was you walking hand in hand with Billy out of the pool's deck. He didn't know what was going on with him, in all of his high school time, he wanted nothing more than to be locked up with a cheerleader in a dark room, but now he doesn't feel it's the right choice for him.

Eddie was practically thrown into the room and before he said anything, the girl was already on top of him, her lips tasted like cherry and some drink he couldn't recognize. He wanted to be enjoying it as much as the girl who attacked his neck fervently, but he wasn't. He walked to the window lighting up a cigarette and looking out to the parking cars until he saw you and Billy share more kisses, Eddie doesn't feel like being in that party anymore.

The cheerleader still hadn't given up on taking a piece of the boy. hands roaming his pale body until they found the belt buckle, while she unbuttoned it, Eddie watched you through the window. The girl's hands found Eddie's almost erect member, making her mouth water at the size, even though he wasn't 100% hard for her, Eddie was big. The not-so-drunk girl knelt down in front of him, pulling down his boxers until his dick was showing. She didn't wait to put Eddie inside her mouth, moaning as she felt the taste of him taking over her tongue, "you're so big Eddie” she said before going back bobbing her head, sucking every part of the boy's already hard cock. He surrendered to the cheerleader, letting his head fall back as she devoured him, his hand went to the back of the girl's head, forcing her more and more against his cock "I want to see you touch yourself while sucking me, pretty girl” he said through the weak moans, and so did she. Eddie admired for a while the scene he had imagined for years, a cheerleader on her knees for him with her mouth full of his cock, his hips began to push on her mouth in sloppy movements, she moaned loudly while abusing her own clits. 

Everything was going well, until Eddie heard her laugh outside.

He watched as Billy's hands traveled to your hips than to the fat of your ass, squeezing and pressing his body against yours, you could feel Billy's hard cock rubbing against your waist, causing you to pull away at the same moment.

Billy's lips on your neck as he pressed you against the car, your face in discomfort, you tried to get rid of the boy's grip without success, pushing and trying to create any kind of space between your body and his, that was enough for Eddie. He pulled the girl who was sucking his dick up, who didn't understand anything, just looked at him with hate!

 From the other side Eddie wasn't sure how to get out of this situation so he just said “I'm sorry doll, if it was another time … i'm so sorry” he said pulling up his pants and running down the stairs with his belt still open, straight to your rescue!

Eddie ran outside the house screaming your name, afraid that Billy had already done something to hurt you, Eddie knew how Billy treated his girls, hell! Everyone knew of Billy's fame and yet, he let the situation get to this level.

Seeing you still trying to get out of the blonde's arms "you're hurting me Billy, let go of me!" You said in a voice choked with fear, Eddie's vision went black and his body moved without any direct order from the boy's brain, it was as if he had blacked out for a few moments. When he came back to reality, you were alone leaning against the car and Billy lying on the ground with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go” Eddie grabbed your hand and pulled you out of the party as fast as he could make you walk, escorted by Billy’s menacing screams “Run away Freak, that’s what you’re good at!” or “you can keep that little slut, when you get tired of using her, my turn will come”. Eddie thanked every entity that you were so in shock you couldn't hear the blonde's insults. He helped you into the van and put his jacket around your shoulders “are you ok trouble?” he asked as he put the belt around your body “I missed you” was what came out of your mouth, Eddie chuckled and shook his head in denial “unbelievable” he thought, closing the van door and taking you to the security of your home. It didn't really matter how many people Eddie flirted with or got involved with, at the end of the night, it would always be you he was going to take home, both of you knew that.

The next morning, a big glass of water, some headache pills and a sleeping metalhead were the first things you saw when you opened your eyes, before your head started hurting like a bitch. You took the pill and gently woke your best friend “here, before you get a headache”, Eddie thought it was cute that you thought he needed the same minimum amount of alcohol as you to get sick, but how could he say no if you were standing there in front of him, looking so pretty and trying to take care of him? “Thanks, my head it’s killing me.” He said, taking the pill. Eddie could see Billy's finger prints on his biceps, making his stomach roll in anticipation.

Leading him to bed and closing the curtains, making almost nothing in the room visible. 

You laid your aching body next to your best friend, the familiar smell of weed and cigarettes made you feel at home, Eddie feeling your body relax pulled you close to him, finally laying spoon with you, after all those years laying together, this was the first he spooning you and the feeling was so warm and comfortable…

"I'm sorry trouble" "shh eddie, it's too early for this" turning over in bed, coming face to face with your best friend, you could feel Eddie's uneven breathing on your cheeks. You buried your face in your best friend's chest, closing your eyes as he pressed you against his body "I love you eddie" you whispered almost inaudibly, not for him.

Eddie paid attention to every word that came out of his mouth and this time was no different. The difference came in how the heat rose through his body, he could hear his heart beating so hard against his ribcage that he was afraid to wake you up. He didn't go back to sleep that morning, nor did he move until you woke up. He also didn't say he heard you or that he loved you too, he just lay there enjoying every second he had before you left.

-

Now, 5 years later, many corroded coffin tours and phone conversations, here was Eddie again, where all his paths always led, you. Eddie got a few days off before the new tour started, in 5 years the band did great, opening shows for bands that Eddie dreamed of one day watching the show from the front row, but at that time, he opened the show for his favorite bands. They were destined for success, he was and you always knew it. Now with an audience of their own, Corroded Coffin were one of the most prestigious metal bands in the scene, traveling on extensive tours around the world and always returning to the warmth of their embrace.

"Did you really like it Eddie? I mean, it's no palace but" you shrugged, holding the contract in both hands as the late afternoon light streamed in through the apartment's large windows.

Eddie had never seen you look so beautiful, he thought ."I love it" he said with that crooked smile that has affected you since... forever,

"it suits you dear and it's close to the school where you work, I mean, having the best of both worlds, right?" you bit your bottom lip trying to contain the happiness. The contract was duly signed and delivered to the real estate agent on the same day. The apartment was perfect, just a little chilly at night, "my feet are cold" you texted Eddie every night before you fell asleep, the lack of your response didn't make Eddie mad or worried, he knew you just passed out in the warm of your bed with furry socks trying to keep your feet warm. The mental image Eddie created in his head of you in your hibernating state made him smile every time.

In the middle of winter Eddie came to visit you, with a big box in his hands, you could see that the man was exhausted from all the shows an shit. You never imagined that he would visit you! Your plush pajamas and your fluffy socks say so...for Eddie, your prettier version.

Sitting on the couch, Eddie opened the box and took out a black kitten "It's Sir Bartlomeow" he said with a trembling voice trying to contain his laughter "Since I'm going to be away all winter, this little guy here” bart meowed in response, as if agreeing with the man's statement, making you both laugh “will be the new one in charge of keeping the helpless damsel's feet warmed" you chuckled and thanked him for the unusual gift, instantly falling in love with the kitten and more and more with your best friend.

Two weeks, it had been two weeks since Eddie had gone on his European tour, texting between shows and the countless parties a rockstar needed to attend. Eddie loved the star life, the craziness of the roads and the crowds of people screaming his name, waiting for him, but nights like this, all he could do was miss you. "Hey trouble, I hope you’re ok, is Sir Bart treating you well? I hope so…, I miss you, you know... I can't wait to watch shrek 2 with my favorite person, I have to go , see you in two weeks...yeah?!, bye sweetheart" said the message that lit up your cell phone screen as you laughed at your kitty vet's unfunny jokes, making your heart hurt a little.

It was the first Friday since he'd been away and the usual movie night with his girlfriends turned into a conversation about his frustrated love life.

"I know Nance, I should have replied to Eddie's damn text but what was I going to say?" you said to Nancy over a glass of your favorite rose wine "I miss you too, in fact I miss you every time you haven't been around me since... forever" you downed the glass in agony as Nancy laughed along with Robin. "I mean" Robin began, causing you to roll your eyes in displeasure. "It’s  Eddie!, Rockstar or not, he's been in love with you since high school, come on!" earning an elbow from Nancy "ouch babe" Robin whispered.

"It's not like he's not in the arms of some super model right now" your tone was low as you took in every detail of that magazine cover, throwing it on the coffee table allowing the girls to see the gigantic picture of YOUR best friend almost swallowing the face of a very beautiful woman. "But what about the vet, he seemed nice" Nancy offered with an empathetic smile on her lips.Turning the cover of the magazine over, you shrugged “yeah, maybe I'll accept his invitation to dinner, who knows?”.

A/N: Thank you so much @squidscottjeans for all the patience and tips &lt;3

[separatist-apologist]

I just read an article in that guy who murdered two women. Absolutely horrifying. All the booktok crazies fawning over him reminds me of the women that would write letters to Ted Bundy while he was in prison.

I wasn't gonna answer this because I felt like I said what I needed to say and like, I was just preaching to preach but THEN while I was asleep, an anon came into my askbox to accuse me of not being a girls girl while intentionally missing my point. I blocked them before I thought of a good comeback (tragic) but like fellas is it anti-feminist not to stan a man who killed two women because (and this is so important to me) he hates women?

I'm gonna put the rest of this under a cut with a heavy trigger warning for domestic violence, I just want to say it and then I think I'm done talking about it because it's genuinely so disheartening.

Anyway, I think sometimes I get nervous to answer these kinds of asks because as a therapist I should know better than to speculate on people and what they're going through and whatever else, but as a person, its like...do you want to be picked that badly?

I think we all know by now that I work in DV and all the people fascinated with men like this fuck me up because like..."oooh what makes him tick, I want to talk to him, why did he do it-" and for me, I sit on the opposite end talking to survivors of violence asking the same questions with hollow eyes, with shaking hands, with safety plans meant to buy them just enough time to get out of their house so they aren't killed. I still think about some of the people I spoke with who didn't survive it.

When I was in grad school, I took a summer internship at the local DV court helping survivors with orders of protection. The system was set up better than a lot of other courts, but its still the legal system, you know? With all its flaws. My job was to flag for lethality based on what I was reading in the OPs and then reach out directly to survivors to help them navigate the process, connect them with resources, and sit with them in court. And I still remember this one particular woman who's situation was so desperately dangerous. We did a safety plan- and at that level, a safety plan isn't like, "remember to take your keys and wallet with you when you go", its "don't go into the basement or bathroom if he's in the house with you because there are too many hard surfaces, exposed pipes, and basins of water that making killing you easier. Go to a bedroom or closet because strangling a person is really hard and takes time," like THAT kind of safety plan. Anyway she thanked me, I remember this so well, she said thank you and I told her I'd call her the next week with an update and over the weekend he bludgeoned her to death.

And I guess I just don't think there is anything fascinating, interesting, or otherwise unique to men like this (obligatory yes I know women kill/abuse too). They're everywhere. I saw another post about how some podcaster is trying to get him on to talk to that guy and its like, why don't you just call up one of your friends' exes. Like. If you've got more than one female friend, you've probably got a friend who has experienced violence at the hand of a male partner, call him. Talk to him. Ask him why he did it, let him give you his made up story about trauma and sadness and oh life is hard because whatever whatever.

That's my thing. Books, movies, tv- they're not making people like this, and I'm not condemning people for what they enjoy in fantasy spaces. I am condemning it when you bring it out of those spaces and side against the women who were violently murdered because, and this is so important to me (did I say this already??), he HATES women. You are not special. You cannot fix him. He's not smart, or interesting, or fascinating and the having an attractive face is literally just chance and not something inherently moral.

And like, lastly, when you prop these men up and give them a platform, you signal to EVERY man just like him that there is something special and tragic about him. You let him play the victim, you let him rewrite the narrative, you shift the blame of his actions off of him and onto the people he hurt. Like with this particular man, you also side with a white supremacist so what are you saying to all your BIPOC/Jewish friends/mutuals, you know?

Anyway. That's my self-righteous rant, I guess.

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 38 (Running Into Fate in San Myshuno?)

When Heather delivered her son to San Myshuno for time with his father a few weeks later, she decided to stay in town until Sunday to spend time with her loved ones. While visiting the Casbah Gallery so Kris could review a new art show, she found herself a third wheel to her loved up sister and brother-in-law.

Stepping into the muggy summer air, she spotted a familiar dog bounding toward her across the plaza.

She grinned as Gord jumped into her open arms, laughing as he happily tried to bowl her over. Conrad raced up behind his dog dressed casually in blue, which brought out his eyes.

"Sorry! He's been cooped up all day. I thought I could trust him without a leash but I should know better by now."

"Never apologize for a happy pet. I told you at the clinic, it's the best feeling in the world!"

Gord entertained himself sniffing around the plaza. "He's been in great shape since his check up, thanks to you."

Heather's cheeks flushed, disguised by the neon lights of the city. "There was nothing wrong with him when you came in. I just gave him a preventative shot and a wellness treat. And a bottle of shampoo."

"He knocked it right out of my hand when I gave him a bath later that night. Spilled all over the bathroom tiles." He groaned at the memory. "But hey, they've never been cleaner and now the tiles won't get fleas."

She laughed, searching for something to say that didn't make her sound like an idiot. "There go your dreams of running a flea circus!" Watcher, that wasn't it.

Conrad smiled. "What brings you to San Myshuno?"

She sighed, trying not to speak of Malcolm with too much venom in her voice. "My son's with his father this weekend and I'm spending time with some family in town," she explained.

"Sounds like cooler heads might be prevailing between you two," he said. "That's a good thing."

Heather raised an eyebrow. "Malcolm said someone convinced his family to let cooler heads prevail. You didn't..."

"My dad worked Landgraab security for decades," said Conrad. "He retired after Nancy took over the company from her father, but I used to know Malcolm pretty well when we were kids, before he left for boarding school. He's not the nicest guy in the world, but the Landgraabs love money and reputation too much to be completely unreasonable."

"Why get involved at all? I'm not saying I didn't need an advocate after what I did, but what do you owe me, really?"

"Nothing. But Landgraab Corp. was ready to spit you out and send you to prison for the hack, and when I saw you with your son, I...the Landgraabs lost more in pride than market share and I'd already been asked to deal with the case under the table."

Heather scoffed. "Nancy Landgraab doesn't like to do anything legally. I heard she stole the company from her father."

"It wasn't exactly like that. Chester Landgraab was getting older, and Nancy did what she did because he was too ill to realize he couldn't run the company anymore. My dad said he was close to gambling away the business to build a spaceport on Sixam!"

"Doing what?!"

"He wouldn't even say! My dad was ready for retirement and relieved when Nancy told him to collect his pension. Her father stayed in Ciudad Enamorada after the vote and she cleaned house. Even fired her own brother." Heather inhaled. No wonder Johnny hated his sister. "I don't mean to say that makes Landgraab Corp. a shining example of the right way to do business, but..."

"But thank you," she said. "It's no small thing what you did."

Conrad's cheeks flushed. "So, are you in town all weekend?"

"Until Sunday."

A nervous silence passed between them. Heather's gregarious younger sister, Holly, had been curiously spying from a distance, waiting for her husband to finish networking before she dragged him toward Heather and the handsome man in blue.

She greeted him with a wide smile. "Hi there! My name's Holly and this is my husband Kris. We were just wondering what you and my sister were talking about."

He greeted them respectfully. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Conrad, and I got to know your sister through a recent investigation. We were just getting caught up."

Holly's eyes bulged. "Is this him?!"

Heather blushed and Kris shook Conrad's hand. "My wife's just wondering if you're the detective who visited Heather about her recent felony."

Heather wanted to crawl into the sewers and hide from the creeping embarrassment, but Conrad couldn't pull his gaze. He smiled as she fiddled awkwardly with a ball of clay she'd grabbed from the gallery. "That would be the investigation, but the Landgraabs never charged anyone."

"Apparently, Conrad knew Malcolm when they were kids and convinced the Landgraabs not to press charges."

Holly looked at Conrad with an impressed grin. "Are you a cop or my sister's knight in shining armour?"

"Holly, don't," Heather pleaded, but she couldn't wipe the stupid grin from her face.

"Come out with us tomorrow night," Holly suggested, because she knew her unflirty sister needed a push. "A bunch of us are going to the Romance Festival. We were going to bring my sister along to try to find her a date, but I think she's already found one."

Conrad blushed, and Kris again stepped forward. "It's a bit over the top and everyone always gets too flirty on Sakura tea, but if you're not doing anything, the more the merrier."

Heather was afraid to speak, trying not to stare at his gorgeous blue eyes, but she wanted him to say yes.

"I'd love to." Conrad grinned, but they were interrupted when Gord sped across the plaza to chase a raccoon. "Damn, and he's off. Gotta go!" He called after her while trying to catch up with his dog. "I'll meet you at the festival tomorrow. Four o'clock?"

"Four's great. See you then!" Heather smiled to herself. She couldn't wipe the blush from her cheeks and turned to her sister and brother-in-law. "Let's go inside where there's air con. It's hot out here."

"He's so hot!" Holly cried. "No wonder you're sweating."

Heather worried she’d make the same mistakes again, afraid to trust her instincts. But at least she wouldn't be alone tomorrow, if it was horrible... ->

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[lichmyass]

Yautja WIP - 18+ / Trigger warning

Will eventually be a romance...maybe. again, super long. NOT FOR MINORS. TRIGGER WARNINGS- ALL OF THEM. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRESION.

Flies buzz among the hides left to tan under the baking sun, drawn by minuscule fragments of fat. My mind lazily floats in a haze of childhood memories as my eyes stare at nothing.

Acrid air thick with cigarette smoke, the smell of overflowing trash bins, cicadas screaming en masse, and the summer heat distorting the air outside the dingy window visible beyond the nails driven into its rotting wooden frame. Muffled screaming from another room as my mother fights with one of the many men she dubs 'boyfriend.' Anxiety pulses through my body, matching the dull aches left from bruises and broken bones.

The throbbing pain from my early memories isn't too different from the numb pain radiating through me now. I shift slightly, and the heavy chain tethering me to the ground by the ankle clinks, drawing me from my thoughts. Sweat drips down from my hairline, dampening my brows. The heat from the cracked, baked earth rises, fading into my sore body.

I’m unsure what to feel in this situation. Initially, there was panic, fear, and icy horror at the surety of imminent death. I witnessed men torn apart in ways that made reality itself quake and tremble. These men, who seemed to be made of diamond and steel, violently broke my body as if it were made of paper.

The men shattered bloodily, as if by the air itself, until waves of their blood bathed the forms of invisible monsters before my eyes. It was over in less than a minute. When I blinked, the monsters became real, and I was circled by three titans.

I held my breath, awaiting the verdict of their silent judgment.

A full night and half a day passed. Now, I sit chained to the ground where they had deposited me before shimmering away into the ether. If they don't unmake me like they did the others, the sun will surely burn away what little life I have left. I’ll be little more than a dried-out corpse in no time, like a worm on a sidewalk.

Living in a rural township in Oklahoma, I was already secluded. Now, I've been carted off further into sprawling, long-abandoned farmland withering in the record-breaking summer heat. The only ones likely to find my body will be buzzards and coyotes.

My skin stings, and I know the burns will blister and scar. My throat feels as dry as the dirt I sit on. Wasps rise and buzz away intermittently from the cracking brown stalks of prairie grass around me. I hope to pass out soon, letting death overtake me as painlessly as possible.

I let my body slowly fall from my sitting position to lay belly-down, relieving my strained back muscles and letting blood circulate through my legs and rear. The dirt itself somehow smells like heat. I cast my eyes to the only shade around, the small puddles under the hides stretched over makeshift racks of bramble. I envy the insects that seek refuge there.

The hides, remnants of men who are now little more than muffled memories. I hadn't really known them, scarcely able to summon names to their faces. Only a familiarity from living in a small town, seeing the same faces from the other side of the register during my shifts at the local food mart. One might have been in my graduating high school class, but nearly two decades and evident drug habits had made that idea more a suggestion. Another wore the uniform of the local prison staff—the prison being the county’s only notable feature.

Their looks made me uncomfortable as I scanned their beer and cigarettes, but I maintained my standard retail employee fake smile and wished them a good day. Not long after, the store manager announced a prison break over the speaker, advising everyone to return home.

Prison inmates escaping wasn’t unusual. One or two managed every year. The news was more an annoyance. As I shut down my register and counted my till, I noticed more police officers on the streets than usual, several from other counties. That wasn't unexpected either.

What struck me as odd, as I walked through the store to the office and past the front windows, was the strained expressions and tense body language of the officers in the parking lot. They gathered and discussed something urgently. Typically, they got excited, even giddy, at such events. It was usually the most activity they got all year.

I clocked out and exited through the side door into the alley beside the train tracks, which I always followed for about a quarter of a mile home. I never made it that far. The men had been waiting behind an abandoned auto-shop, a blanket of empty beer cans and cigarette butts littering the eroded cement around them.

As a woman, I was aware of the statistics. But a tiny part of my brain had always assumed I wouldn’t contribute to them. Boys in school wouldn’t have touched me with a ten-foot pole and were vocal about it. A tiny reassuring voice always piped up, ‘oh, you won’t have to worry about all that,’ whenever a newscaster reported an attack on some poor woman. The photos always showed pretty little things a quarter my weight.

I thought I’d be safe from that particular danger, more likely to get bitten by a copperhead on my way home late at night than singled out by men with ill intent. I was wrong. It took me a shameful amount of time to recognize the threat as I walked past them with barely a second thought.

They followed me almost the whole way home. I didn’t notice until I smelled cheap beer on their breath and felt a grimy hand clamp down on my shoulder. One grabbed a handful of my hair at the base of my skull as another punched me so hard in the gut I threw up. I was dragged through a vacant lot into what had once been an RV park, where they started beating me.

Beatings weren’t new to me. Strangely, a part of me was resigned to lay there and let it pass. A morbid feeling of familiarity rustled inside my skull. It wasn’t until belt buckles clicked and wheezing chuckles filled the humid air that panic pricked at my skin. Two of them held me down, pressing my arms into the ground as gravel embedded itself into my belly. I began kicking furiously and screaming, my voice a death-rattle. The back of my head was struck, and I saw stars as my mouth opened and closed like a fish in desperation. I felt dirty fingers tugging at my waistband, and then everything stopped.

For a moment, the world froze around me. Then came the screaming and the blood.

And here I am, wondering if this situation is any better than the fate I would have had. I know I won’t last much longer, and every second I do will be hell.

Fractional relief comes once the sun sets, though the slightly decreased temperature and lack of sun exposure come at the cost of swarms of mosquitoes descending upon me, irritating my already blistered flesh. I close my eyes lightly, to avoid stretching my stinging skin. My head swims as pain throbs in my bones.

The insects abruptly silence around me. I crack my eyes open and stiffen. Somewhere to my right, something emits an ear-piercing scream that makes my hearing fuzz out. Suddenly, I’m on my feet quicker than I thought possible, crouched low and heart pounding. It’s not the sound of any animal I know, though it resembles a coyote’s scream. There's a quality about it that---

struck me as inherently wrong. Thankful for the small amount of light from the nearly full moon, I scanned my surroundings for something, anything, to defend myself with as the tall grass rustled before me. Gritting my teeth, I slowly crouched lower and began to wind the chain tethering me in my hands, stopping when it grew taut.

The grass stilled, and there was a low hiss, akin to a cat’s. I could just make out the moonlight glinting off something dark and smooth, coiling as if about to strike.

With strength I didn’t know I had, I strained my muscles to the breaking point and ripped the long metal spike pinning the chain into the ground free. No sooner had it come loose than the creature launched itself at me. Its body struck, and I hit the hard ground with a thud, the air forced from my lungs.

Sharp claws tore at my shoulders. Instinctively, my hand found the metal spike, and I drove it as hard as I could into the creature’s head—elongated and slightly curved, with no visible eyes. I wasn’t strong enough, a part of me noted grimly, as the creature screamed and flailed in rage.

Scrambling frantically, I managed to push myself out from under it as its long tail slashed through the air and its maw snapped shut. I rose to my feet as it hissed again. The bottom of my shoe found the head of the spike. With a scream of desperation, I put all my strength into it, dropping my body weight onto it. Relief flooded me as I felt, rather than heard, a sickening pop and crunch as the creature fell limp.

My brief victory was cut short when the bottom of my foot began to burn. I ripped my shoe off quicker than lightning, watching it melt away on the ground where I’d dropped it. Plopping down on my butt, I gathered my foot to inspect it, wincing when I ghosted my fingertips over the sole. Luckily, it didn’t feel worse than a slight burn.

I realized I was breathing hard, practically panting, my veins buzzing. I eyed the creature for a long, hard minute before letting myself fall backward with an exhale, satisfied it was truly dead.

I breathed in and out, closing my eyes for a moment. When I rose and pulled the chain, I found most of it dissolved like my shoe. The remaining length was awkward—too short to carry but long enough to trip me up or catch on brambles. With a huff, I removed my other shoe and pulled the laces free, wrapping the chain around my ankle and securing it with the laces. I didn’t want the chain making any unnecessary noise; not if I was going to try to make it back home without another one of those things finding me.

The terrain would be hard on my bare feet, but it wouldn’t be any worse than what I’d already suffered.

Taking a deep breath, I took a few steps in the direction of home, promptly hitting the ground as my overly strained muscles turned to jelly. My brain filled with curses as I balled my fist and hit the ground, letting out a growl of frustration. I got on my hands and knees and began to crawl. I didn’t care how long it took; I just wanted to get home.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t made it more than a few hundred feet—my knees already raw and bloodied—when rapid clicking sounded around me. I froze. I knew this sound. Them.

My eyes frantically darted around, but I saw nothing through the dry blades of grass I was hidden in. If I was lucky, maybe I could stay hidden and wait them out. I tensed and held my breath, heart pounding in my ears. The grass around me rustled softly. I felt like a fox surrounded by hounds, fighting the urge to bolt. I knew I wouldn’t make it far. I doubted I’d even get to my feet, let alone run. Even if I could, I wasn’t a fast runner by any means.

Abruptly, I was pulled backwards. I found myself huffing out and blinking skyward, my brain stuttering.

A large, masked form stood over me, chittering like an insect. In the moonlight, his mesh-covered scaly skin looked almost iridescent, like an oil-slick. His hair-like tresses, not dissimilar to dreadlocks, swayed slightly as he cocked his head. I tensed as he suddenly crouched, massive claw-tipped fingers reaching up to pull small hoses from his mask with a hiss before he removed it. My eyes widened.

Glowing orange eyes set deep within their sockets above a quartet of long digits growing from each cheekbone and either side of his jaw, connected by a thin membrane like a bat's wing over a wickedly sharp fanged maw. No discernable nose or nostrils. A large sloping forehead ending in a fanned crest tipped in subtle spikes. His mandibles spread slowly, only to close just as slowly as my eyes numbly took his visage in.

I emitted a sound, low and scratchy, like a brooding hen. He blinked.

Shimmering into my vision, his two companions stared down at me, their own steely masks affixed as the trio exchanged what I assumed must be words of some kind—a series of clicks and vowel sounds. The individual before me rose, addressing the one to his left and my right, moving his large hands expressly as he seemed to speak. I flinched as he gestured to my ankle, then back toward where I had been. The one to my left spoke, and silence fell as three sets of eyes focused on me.

I tried, and failed, to sit up. The trio cocked their heads. I sighed and closed my eyes. I didn’t have any strength left. None at all. Silently, I hoped they’d just leave and let me die in peace. No such luck. The unmasked one crouched again, grasping my upper arm and simply pulling me to my feet like a ragdoll. Once I was standing, he released my arm, and I gasped, clutching his hip—just under chest height for me—to stop myself from falling.

The creature hissed and swatted my hand away. I fell back to the ground with a hard thud and a groan before another repeated the first's action, keeping a firm grip on my arm to keep me steady. When it became evident I could only move at a slow hobble at best, I gasped again as I was swept up into giant arms, carried like a child, over-tired from play.

The rough texture of scales rubbed painfully against the burnt skin on my shoulder as I was awkwardly carried back to the site with the tanning racks. The one carrying me obviously wanted to minimize physical contact, one hand spanning my right shoulder and the other bracing my lower back from the left.

Back where I had been tethered, another interacted with a gauntlet on his right forearm. A structure shimmered into view—a large ramp descending silently. I distantly realized it was some sort of aircraft as I was carried inside and deposited roughly onto a large stone platform covered in animal pelts.

My eyes roamed over strange carvings on the metal walls, pausing on the far wall which displayed an armory of strange weapons—spears, knives, whips, and other sharp metallic objects. The trio exchanged more words as one rummaged through large metal crates and another exited briefly, returning with the head of the creature I’d encountered earlier. He strode across the room and behind a large partition made of hide. The unmasked one regarded me from where he stood before me, clawed hands on his hips.

The one searching a crate paused and lifted something out, showing it to the unmasked one, who simply nodded and stalked over to me, large hands pinning me down by the shoulders. I frowned and clenched my teeth as the other appeared to my left, brandishing what looked like the world’s biggest needle before jabbing it into my side without ceremony.

Pain unlike anything I’d ever known seared through my body. All I could do was gasp like a fish as my vision went white, too overwhelmed to even scream as massive hands kept me firmly pinned down. I wasn’t sure how long it lasted. Feeling nauseous sometime later as the white-hot waves of pain began to ebb, sweat slicked my skin.

I blinked rapidly up at the alien face regarding me stoically. Its molten gaze seemed almost…curious.

“Ouch,” I croaked out, surprising myself as much as the alien above me. I hadn’t meant to speak, but maybe the look he’d had inspired me to provide an unasked-for response.

The one who’d injected me made a sound then—a low, rasping series of growls that sounded like laughter. I glared at him for his audacity. Returning my gaze to the unmasked one, I lifted my brows at the mirth I found there as he slowly released my shoulders and took a single step back.

I sat up, mouth parting as I felt my strength returning. Slowly, I raised my hands to run my fingers carefully over my face, finding that my skin was smooth and unburnt. I turned my head to scowl at the one who had injected me, who only laughed more.

The unmasked one had scales composed of shades of black and gray, reflecting light and reminding me of a mythical dragon. The one who had healed me looked more crocodilian with dark green scales mingling with lighter green and pale yellow on his palms and exposed belly. The third one, who had disappeared across the room, had similar coloration but with more earthy brown mingling with his green, and the paler parts were more tan.

Faster than I could process, I was jabbed again, this time behind the ear. I squawked and clapped my hand over the newest injection site. My tormentor held his hands up in peace, what appeared to be a piercing gun dangling from one large finger as he continued to chuckle at me.

My ears rang, and I clenched my eyelids shut, letting out a hiss as the ringing slowly faded. I reopened my eyes to glare daggers at the needle-happy sadist as the unmasked one leaned forward with interest. Both he and the masked one stared at me, unblinking. I blinked back at them.

“Did it work?” asked the one who had injected me, in perfect English. I gasped, looking at him with my mouth open. “Ah! It seems to have worked,” he added, stepping back and tilting his massive head. The unmasked one crossed his muscled arms over his chest, fixing me with a slight glare of his own.

“Why doesn’t it speak?” he asked, his coquelicot eyes narrowing at the other, who merely shrugged. “Perhaps it is defective?”

At this, the other placed his talon-tipped hands on his hips indignantly. “Veidei, you of all should know that my technology is without fault, and I—”

Veidei silenced him by raising a hand. “No, you fool. I refer to the ooman. Perhaps it is defective,” he spoke, scrutinizing me.

I frowned as they stared at me, mirroring them as I crossed my own arms over my chest. “Maybe so, but I can speak,” I managed, my voice rough. “Why did y’all save me?”

They regarded me silently. The dark one—Veidei—inhaled deeply, casting a knowing glance toward the other.

“Routine planetary scans alerted us to the presence of Kainde Amedha here, and they are not permitted to be on this planet outside of a sanctioned Chiva. So we were dispatched to eliminate them and investigate the nature of their presence here. It seems that your governing body purposefully introduced them to your ‘prison’ in what we can only assume was some form of idiotic experiment,” the green one stated matter-of-factly. “We destroyed them, the site, and all involved. Except for the singular one that you yourself seem to have dispatched, somehow.”

I let this information sink in. The ‘Kainde Amedha’ wasn’t something the apparent translator implanted behind my ear could parse. Given what he’d said, it was obviously the thing I’d killed. The concept of more of those running rampant inside the prison made me feel queasy. I shook my head to rid the image of the creature from my mind.

"That's all fine and good," I began, leveling my gaze at him as best I could despite the metal mask he wore. "But that didn’t answer my question."

He cocked his head, and his mandibles clicked behind his mask.

“I will elaborate, Tho’ka. It was on my orders that we acted,” spoke Veidei, leaning down a bit to better catch my gaze. “We were scouting the area and noticed one of the males exiting the site. We followed him, thinking he might reveal more information. He did not. We watched as he and the two other males became intoxicated and were about to return to the site when they acted dishonorably. So we dealt with them.”

I furrowed my brow and shifted uncomfortably where I sat, my fingers finding a loose thread at the hem of my shirt and worrying it. “Dishonorably? So you killed them because they tried to rape me?”

Veidei and Tho’ka cocked their heads in tandem. “Of course. It was dishonorable,” stated Tho’ka, as if confused that I didn’t grasp the concept.

“But...you don’t even know me. You’re not even human,” I replied numbly. “Why? Why bother?”

Veidei reared back as if he’d been slapped and let out a rumbling growl. “We are Yautja. We have Honor. Do not think we are like oomans who would permit such acts to go unpunished. When you stand by and allow dishonorable acts to happen, you may as well be committing them yourself. We honor Paya by remembering this, as we honor ourselves by remembering the codes of our people,” he spoke, eyes burning with passion as he stood tall.

I blinked as Tho’ka nodded in agreement.

“So then you tied me up and left me to die of exposure,” I deadpanned. Just like that, Veidei looked like a kicked puppy so quickly that I might’ve laughed if my mood had allowed for it.

Tho’ka strode around the platform I sat on to reassuringly touch Veidei’s shoulder briefly before he turned slightly to face me. “We might’ve underestimated how long our hunt would take, a little,” he spoke, having the courtesy to sound a bit regretful.

“Fine,” I said with an exhale. “So, now what?” I added, brow raised.

Tho’ka removed his mask and clipped it to his belt, stretching his mandibles slightly and leveling a citrine gaze at me. I braced myself for what instinct told me would be bad news as he took a small step closer.

“Our laws prohibit us from leaving witnesses,” he began steadily, raising his large hands slowly in a demonstration of peace. “But you were unworthy prey—killing you would have been against our laws as well.”

I stiffened, my eyes darting around, looking for exits as Veidei shifted to block me in from the right and Tho’ka blocked me in from the left. My hackles rose as I realized that, at some point, the other one—whose name I hadn’t heard yet—had come to stand behind me without making a single sound.

“So...” I stalled, gulping.

“You dispatched one of the Kainde Amedha. Which means you now qualify as worthy prey,” spoke Veidei, his voice low. “However,” he added when my panic spiked, “if you were Yautja, it would mean you were now a blooded warrior.”

Silence fell heavily as my heart pounded in my ears, the air thick with tension.

“We can either hunt you, or...” spoke Tho’ka, casting his gaze to Veidei curiously, as if he himself were unsure what the final decision would be.

From what I could gather so far, Veidei seemed to be the de facto leader of the trio. My eyes scoured his for any indication of his intent.

“Clearly, it is ill-suited to be a sain’ja,” spoke the one behind me.

“Perhaps an ‘aseigan,’” he added.

“Nah’kou offers a viable option, Veidei,” mused Tho’ka, as Veidei tilted his head in consideration.

I had no idea what an ‘aseigan’ was, but it sounded better than dead. I bit the tip of my tongue between my teeth and awaited Veidei’s decision.

Veidei's eyes, a fiery coquelicot hue, studied me intently. His mandibles twitched slightly, indicating deep thought. Tho’ka and Nah’kou, the one behind me, watched their leader, waiting for his judgment.

After what felt like an eternity, Veidei spoke. “An ‘aseigan’ is one who serves the Yautja, often a mark of great dishonor or redemption. It is not a role given lightly.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “You have proven yourself resilient, if nothing else.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “What does being an ‘aseigan’ entail?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Tho’ka stepped closer, his mandibles clicking softly. “It means you will serve us, follow our commands, and prove your worth over time. You will not be hunted, but you will not be free.”

Veidei nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. “Your life will be spared, but it will be a hard one. You will earn your place among us, or you will die trying.”

The reality of my situation sank in. Serving these alien hunters, living by their rules, was far from ideal, but it was survival. I nodded slowly, meeting Veidei’s intense gaze. “I understand,” I said. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Nah’kou let out a low, approving growl, while Tho’ka’s eyes glinted with something akin to respect. Veidei, satisfied with my response, straightened to his full height.

“Very well,” Veidei declared. “You will be our aseigan. Prove yourself, and you may find a place among us.”

With that, the tension in the room shifted. The immediate threat of death was replaced by the daunting challenge ahead. I knew my journey was far from over, but at least I had a chance to fight for my survival.

Tho’ka and Nah’kou began to converse in their native tongue, their voices a mix of clicks and growls. Veidei motioned for me to follow him. As I stood, I realized the gravity of my new reality. I was now part of their world, bound by their laws and expectations.

We moved through the ship’s corridors, the alien technology both fascinating and intimidating. Veidei led me to a small chamber, sparsely furnished but functional. “This will be your quarters,” he said. “Rest now. Your training begins tomorrow.”

I nodded, stepping into the room. As the door closed behind me, I felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension. I had survived the immediate danger, but my new life as an aseigan would be a constant test of my endurance and willpower.

I sank onto the small cot, exhaustion washing over me. The events of the past days played through my mind, a whirlwind of fear, pain, and unexpected allies. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a moment of respite, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges and unknown trials.

For now, I was alive. And that was enough.

But as I lay there, the enormity of my situation loomed. What would this new life demand of me? Could I rise to the challenge and find a place among these alien warriors? The questions swirled in my mind, refusing to let me rest.

A soft hum emanated from the walls, a reminder of the ship's vastness and the world beyond this small chamber. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead. This was not the end of my story—only the beginning of a new chapter.

Whether my future held redemption or further trials, only time would tell. But one thing was certain: I would face it head-on, with the same resilience that had brought me this far. As sleep finally claimed me, I made a silent vow to survive, to fight, and to find my place in this strange new world.

Whatever it takes.

[lemmetreatya]

Hey, love love ur work! I was wondering if you could write a clingy, horny Jotaro begging his black girlfriend for sex like it's just been a hot day and all that he have been thinking about is her and how he wants to lick the sweat off of her back and inhale the stench in the air from their two bodies like I just wanna see a clingy, whinny Jotaro beg...

ARSENIC - Jotaro x Black!gf fem reader

contains: NSFW, male masturbation, descriptions of sex, horny!jotaro

GOSH YOURE SO GOATED FOR THIS REQUEST HONESTLY?? like as soon as it dropped into my inbox i literally evil laughed omlll. hope i did your vision justice!! enjoy <3

Drip.

Even towards the end of the year, the dry season of Japan’s summers were excruciatingly hot; The blossom petals that decorated most of the ground were starting to malt, the joyous bellows of school children still sounded in the air as they attempted to achieve their Coming of Age: 1000 Days of Summer activities and the skies still omitted every sighting of a swollen bellied cloud.

Drip, drip.

For Jotaro however, Japanese summers weren’t always the best. Coming home to a house that now seemed unfamiliar, he found it harder each time to settle well within the first week.

Ever since he’s been doing the whole ‘living in two countries’ thing — spending term times abroad but holidays at home here in Japan — Jotaro found it extremely difficult to get any proper enjoyment out of the constant moving around.

Even now that he finally chose to keep the citizenship passport of where he resided with you (much to Sadao’s dissatisfaction, but it’s not his fault that Japan doesn’t allow dual citizenships), coming home to his parent’s house always felt like a chore, like a restrictive prison.

And you never helped with that.

Drip, drip. Drip.

Swallowing a stiff gulp, Jotaro watched the ice lolly that you sported secret it’s syrup all over the garden ground as you currently hovered it in your hands over the deck chair’s arm rests.

At the lucrative sight, he couldn’t help but to turn towards you with a fresh whine already beckoning from the back of his throat.

“Babe…”

“Nope.” You popped the ‘p’.

Lapping your tongue across your dripping rocket shaped ice lolly, the sticky juices coated your hands as you ate the melting sugary snack with juvenile spirit.

“Oh, come on.” He groaned.

Right now, the both of you were 6 days into your two weeks holiday in Japan but Jotaro was having his concupiscence’s fine edged to the max by you.

You have this thing, that when the both of you came to stay in Japan, and specifically when you stayed at Jotaro’s childhood home, you wouldn’t sleep with each other the whole time you were there.

Obviously to Jotaro, this was a ridiculous oath because ‘what do you mean we can’t fuck just because it’s my “family home”? Just shut the doors and shut up when we do it — its not that hard’. But you had been brought up within very different circumstances and applied respect in contrasting ways to how Jotaro did. One of those things was that you respected who’s roof you were under and acted accordingly to the respect you bestowed upon them.

And because you deeply respected his parents, you wouldn’t disregard their hospitality and engage in such acts with their son under their roof, despite your big ages.

Jotaro’s eyes watched in wanton with how you ate the snack before making a face of disappointment. You took one long swooping suck of the lolly, beckoning the whole lolly into your mouth and essentially soaking up all of the excess liquid with a slurp before pulling it out excruciatingly slow.

You could see your boyfriend opening his mouth within your peripheral, clearly wanting to try his luck again, but you didn’t even let him finish.

“I said no—”

“I promise I won’t ask again this whole holiday but can we please just do it this one time?!” He begged.

You shrugged as you made a single dry laugh.

“I’ve already told you my answer.”

“But no ones home and no one will be home until several hours from now. It’ll be the perfect opportunity and we won’t have to be discreet and you can be as loud as you want.” Jotaro’s voice turned into a low whisper as he tried to entice you with the dangling carrot of ‘messy, loud and robustious sex’.

Scoffing, you couldn’t help but to turn your head away from your boyfriend. It didn’t help much concerning you were semi lying down on a deck chair, but it didn’t have to help because you knew where you stood on this opinion.

“But I don’t wanna be loud or obscene or non-discreet, Jotaro. The stakes are different than they are back home. You know the oath I made and you even agreed to stick by it with me, remember?”

Jotaro ran his hand down his face. Even after all these years, Japanese summers still soaked his tanned skin in buckets full of sweat.

“Yes! Yes, of course I fucking remember! There isn’t a fucking second where you let me forget.” He stressed.

“So you know what my answers gonna be.”

A long and tedious whine left the man’s throat. He began to continuously jolt his legs, bouncing it on the tip of his toes. You noticed that as one of the stim habits he had once he was frustrated. After a few seconds of contemplating, Jotaro turned to you again as he invaded your space, leaning over onto your deck chair as he tried to look you in the face.

“Why have you got to be like this?! Why are you denying me this one thi—Baby, please!” The last part of Jotaro’s statement came out high pitched as he almost capsized your deck chair considering you had just moved out of it.

Seeing you walk inside wordlessly but still sucking on your lolly, Jotaro tried calling out to you in desperate succession for just a small piece of something.

“Baby, please, pleaaaseee.”

“Goodbye, Jotaro.” You deadpanned.

Once you had disappeared, Jotaro flopped back onto his own deckchair in a show of huffy attitude. Another elongated whine left his throat but this time he couldn’t contain the physical effect it had on him.

God, his cock was always so hard nowadays.

From the minute he woke up to the second he finally put himself to rest, he was encompassed in constant lustful peril. There was no amounts of cold showers or jerking off that could satisfy what he needed from you and it was so bleak how you had yourself under so much constraint compared to him.

Jotaro wasn’t a sex addict.

Well, he doesn’t think he is. Even though he’s currently in the back garden of his family home, rubbing his legs together like a pathetic loser (He and the crying summer crickets were two of the same) — trying to subside just the mere thought of your body under his — he had long realised that sex wasn’t the issue.

He could get sex anywhere. In his home town, that wouldn’t even be a challenge, concerning how so many of his old flames from school would drop the pride of their stale marriages at the mere opportunity to get in close contact of his low hanging fat cock. But this wasn’t about sex, this was about you.

It was about how you called his name like a saccharine prayer once he got his rhythm right and plunged passionately in and out of your warm cunt, a song so strong it’d be enough to call the sailors home. It was how palatably soft you became once taken care of, how your eyes would look up at him with that licit doeness as your lips stretched around his length.

The taste, fuck the taste of your sweet pussy as he found himself doused within your abundance of honey that just never seemed to know any end. He doubts it had a telos but if it did, he had an aim to get there himself.

Don’t even remind him of that cloy smell of sex that perfumed the room once he was done fucking that sirenlike cunt of yours — the way he could even smell it once you were done playing with yourself and he happened to have followed into the room after you — that shit was what drove him insane.

Just by the sheer memories of you, Jotaro was able to tug himself to completion right there in the garden, cock out in the wide open as he woefully spilled his seed onto the ground.

He didn’t even feel any shame at what he had done because it still wasn’t enough and didn’t help with how hot and itchy he felt or how much he yearned for the real thing of what the two of you usually shared.

In a spur of the moment decision, Jotaro haphazardly pulled his shorts over his flaccid length before scurrying into the house to try and find where you were situated. Once he found you in the living room, he called out your name and stood in front of the TV, the pleas starting all over again.

“I am begging you. You’ve literally got me at my breaking point, it isn’t fair. I just wanna fuck real quick one time and then I won’t pester you for the rest of the trip.”

With a face of annoyance, you tried to look past your boyfriend’s obstructing figure, the show on the TV just about getting good. It however seemed a lot harder to tolerate his behaviour with no benefactor of a lolly to keep you calm.

“How is it my fault you can’t control yourself for just two weeks? Sounds like a you problem…” You muttered.

Practically stamping his foot, Jotaro jolted his body in frustration.

“But this isn’t about that—I’m not—If this were anywhere else at any other time, I’d understand but… It’s a lot more than just…Shit.”

With crude intention, your eyes glanced up at the whining man. Jotaro would class the smirk that decorated your face as borderline sadistic.

“Understand what, Jotaro? That you’re in heat or something? Like, please.”

“With how bad it is I might as well be!” He exclaimed. His glassy eyes were a testament to how worked up he was getting.

With a tired sigh, you rolled your head backwards onto the sofa back, a sign of your patience for the man’s rampant libido running thin.

“Okay, Jotaro, enough playing around now. It’s getting annoying.”

“But I’m being serious.”

“Serious enough that you can’t just jerk it off until we get back home?!” You chided.

“I’ve tried that! Trust me, I’ve tried every way I can think to get off by myself but nothing works.”

The black haired man waved his hands in front of you but all it did was annoy you even more than he originally was. Pushing yourself off of the sofa you waved your hand in Jotaro’s direction in a dismissive gesture.

“Oh, this is just getting stupid.”

But before you could get anywhere far, the large figure of a man scurried in front of you before getting down onto both of his knees, his hands resting on top of his thighs whilst his head dipped in shame.

Jotaro’s words came out in a jumbled off-the-dome mess of impulsive thought.

“Okay, okay. Look, look, look look. I’m on my knees. You’ve got me on my knees and I’m begging and I never ever beg but I am because I just really need to have you one time, like I’m so horny it hurts. It fucking hurts and I just…I really need to be inside you just once this whole trip. It’s all I ask.”

Astonished at his act of shameless pleads, you’d be lying if you said that it didn’t move you to some extent.

“J-jotaro, get up. You don’t need to be doing all of that.” You said as you raised your hand out to pull him up but the man stayed put, determined in his stature.

“But I do. I do need to do all of this because I need you to see how serious I am and how much I need this from you. I am begging and I am desperate.”

In all retrospect, you were speechless.

Even speechless was an understatement because the sheer lengths Jotaro seemed to be going for this couldn’t simply be brushed off as horny and it quite genuinely rendered you with no words else to say.

What was currently happening in front of you was the complete humbling of a man, who would never do else wise, under any other circumstance, but had to do so under the pure submission to one’s carnal desires.

With how many stripes he was pulling off of his pride right now, who were you to deny him off his simple ask?

Mentally you had to apologise to Holly and Sadao. Maybe the respect you had for them could be found in another way.

“Fuck.”

At the sound of your soft curse, Jotaro looked up at you in expectation. However he didn’t utter a single word. One, because he didn’t want to try digging up anymore dirt than he already had done, but also because there was nothing more that he could say.

Looking down at your boyfriend, you could only sigh in deep anguish, albeit you couldn’t deny that it was also dressed with the petticoats of adoration.

“You’re so lucky.” You mumbled.

Perplexity softly worked it’s way onto Jotaro’s face, his position on the floor making him look all the more pathetic.

“Why?”

With a lick of your lips, you could only dryly let out an answer of true defeat.

“Coz’ it seems like I’ve given into you.”

[hook-on-fandoms]

Bruce gets adopted by a Wednesday

I love the idea that the Addams are related to Bruce on his mother's side but I was thinking one day that honestly a sleep deprived enough Bruce could have a kid show up to his house and he'd just go yeah I guess that's my kid without realizing he got another one just like the Addams family have people show up in their family and say they are family and it is just accepted as true.

So now I'm imagining that instead of the Wayne's being related to the Addam's on Bruce's mother's side it goes more like this.

Wednesday happens to go to the same prep school as Damian. She wanted to see what the child prison was like. Of course as another child with murder instincts they become close real quick.

She then finds out that it is typical for one to rebel against their parents so she decides to run away from home and live with Damian's family. OBVIOUSLY they are compatible so Bruce is the logical one to go to. She goes home with Damian and just keeps claiming to be Bruce's kid. Alfred is happy Damian is making friends even ones with similar habits and plans to use this as an argument of Bruce needing to sleep more so he doesn't counter her.

Bruce has been going on 2 hours of sleep every few days for weeks and doesn't realize anything is amiss. Small child. Dark hair. Likes to threaten people with weapons. Okay I adopted another murder child must talk them out of murder.

Time is also sleep deprived so doesn't clock it either. Everyone else just thinks Bruce DID adopt another child or that Talia made another one and dropped her off.

Wednesday did NOT know about the Batman thing. Bruce thought he forgot the beginning of her training but that she already had it to her skills. He just walks her in and start asking what costume design she wants and who she wants her moniker to be.

Wednesday is very disappointed when she finds out murder is not on the table but enjoys stretching her mind for more creative ways to be.

After the summer is over her parents show up about the same time Bruce finally started getting some sleep. Wednesday says that as much as she enjoyed going on a rebelious phase she doesn't want to leave her parents forever. Bruce is confused cause he didn't realize he had to share custody on this kid. Bruce is confused AND EXTREMELY FREAKED OUT when he realizes the Addams consider both families united now and consider all of Bruce's kids shared custody.

Everyone else laughs and is loving this.

Alfred brings this up everytime Bruce is up for 3 days with less hours of sleep.

[greenlightbulbonawire]

Misfits (yeah like the Arcane song)

XVI.

___________________________________________________

Author's note: Just three more days till school ends! I can't wait for summer break honestly :] xoxo

Fifteenth chapter

Masterlist

___________________________________________________

"I didn't know if I could trust you!"

"So you just come out swinging?"

"Gee, I wonder where I leaned that from."

Vi and Ekko were having a fiery conversation, you and Scar were sitting outside, waiting for the leader to come out. Scar's kid was flying around on a hoverboard with other children, and you got to hand it to them, they were really good at it.

"Aren't you scared they'll fall and get hurt?"

You asked Scar. The two of you didn't get to speak much. The purple skinned man laughed quietly and shook his head.

"No, they've been flying for most of their lives. My little girl is better at it then I'll ever be."

One of the kids turned upside down in a loop. You were genuinely amazed at the extend of their skills.

The doors of the interrogation room were flung open and Vi and Ekko exited, Vi was looking around, amazed at the sight, you understood how she felt, and even though you were getting used to the view, from time to time you found yourself sitting on a bench at night, looking up at the tree and the firelights' neon green flickers. You diverted your gaze from Vi and looked at Ekko, he wasn't wearing his mask anymore and he wiped his left eye. Did he cry? You tried to make eye contact with him, but he kept looking at Vi.

You snickered a little and watched them walk away, talking. Seems like you weren't needed.

"I'll go do something at least a little more usefull."

You told Scar and he gave you an approving nod.

You had your mind already set on what you wanted to do. On one of the trees lower branches hung a makeshift punching bag, it's shape looked a little like an enforcer, and if you couldn't land a hit on Ekko, you'd at least punch something. You thought of Vi and her never-ending wallpunching and tried to copy her moves.

You only concentrated on landing a punch after punch, everything else faded into the background. You hit it, again and again. God knows how long you were there actually, the skin on your knuckles started to tear and bleed, yet you still continued. You didn't even notice. You genuinely felt like Vi back in the prison, although your target was a little more soft. The thing that finally snapped you back to reality, was a well aimed flying rock that landed on the top of your head. You turned to see who was the author of that and saw three figures looking your way.

"How long have yall been there?"

You yelled at them and came closer. Vi was pointing at you with an opened mouth.

"[Reader]! What the fuck are you doing here?"

You grinned at her and offered her a hand so she could do your handshake again. But instead Vi pulled you closer by it, embracing you in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"Me too?"

You never expected Vi to be a hugger, but after a bit you returner it. Ekko was lookin at you two with a little smile and the piltie stood by with her face portraying suprise.

[yuriko-mukami]

Her Calamity Dark 01

Beta reader: @ruki-mukami-dl

Chapter Selection

The cafe was cozy and offered a wide selection of different types of sweets. So, the place couldn’t have been more perfect for Yuriko to meet up with Elizabeth who had been sneaked out of the Sakamaki mansion. Well, perhaps “sneaked out” wasn’t quite putting it correctly, since the zombie girl wasn’t a prisoner. She was still allowed to come and go as she wished most of the time. Though Yuriko wondered if the Sakamakis truly let her Elizabeth see Tsukinami Shin, a Founder whom the girl had taken a liking to. It seemed rather unlikely. Hence it could be that Elizabeth had to do a little creeping around after all.

Yuriko bit into a cupcake filled with cream and dark chocolate. The soft and bitter tastes exploded on her tongue, tingling her senses perfectly, but her thoughts traveled back to the moment she had seen her friends last time. Right after the escape from the Kitsune village.

I wonder if they’ll come after Yuuto and me. Yuriko sighed and tried to focus on the cupcake. But maybe Shin made sure they would leave us alone. It seemed he has a special connection with the Kitsune.

Yuriko had already known that the Kitsune had made some kind of deal with the Founders. Before the summer vacation, she had found a book in the school’s library, and she had been reading it more and more. While most of the content didn’t say anything about the Kitsune, there were several tiny hints that the foxes in the Demon World were tied to the Founders.

“Are you going to stare into the void for this whole time, Yuri-Yuri?” Elizabeth’s voice sailed into Yuriko’s ears. “Do you already miss Ruki so much?”

Blinking, Yuriko lifted her gaze. “Eh? But… he only left yesterday.” She shook her head so fast that her light curls danced around her face and tickled her cheeks. “I mean… Of course, I would prefer him to be here with me, but I’m not worried. He has visited Eden before. He’ll come back soon.”

“I’m only teasing you~” Elizabeth took a huge bite from her pie. “Mhh, thiz iz perfect!”

“Umh…” Yuriko smiled, her cheeks getting hot, and whirled ice cubes in her glass of iced tea. “Anyway, how have you been? Anything new?” 

“Nothing much…” Elizabeth stopped, pondering. Her tiny fingers patted her porcelain white cheek before starting to play with her ebony strands. “Things have been a bit calmer after Yui came back. It’s good that Shu went to get her… Though, I’m sorry about Yuma’s bedroom.”

“Well, from my understanding, he burned it on his own…” Yuriko still wondered what had been going on with Yuma. Oh, how she wished that he could be happier. “But I’m glad that Komori-san is back with Shu-san. It was terrible to listen to her pleading…”

“I believe you. Now, she is spending most of her time taking care of Shu while all he does is laze around…” Suddenly, a light sparkled in Elizabeth’s eyes. “Actually, did you know that Shu left for Eden as well?” 

“Eh? Really?” Yuriko blinked. Ruki hadn’t mentioned that the eldest Sakamaki had also been invited into the meeting with Karlheinz, who was both the Vampire king and Shu’s father, but also Ruki’s… great benefactor as he expressed the matter. Yuriko liked to think that this intimidating man was Ruki’s adoptive father, and while she was a bit afraid of the said king, she was still happy that Ruki had at least one parent who cared about him.

Still, it was a bit odd that Ruki hadn’t mentioned anything that Shu was going with him. Hadn’t he known about it? Yuriko shifted in her chair. She had other things to worry about. It was possible that Karlheinz simply wanted his eldest sons to pay a visit and nothing more.

“Yes, it’s true. Yui was a bit taken aback because of that… and I suggested that she should have come with us here. But then Reiji said she doesn’t have the same kind of arrangements as I do. So, she had to stay in the mansion.”

Pressing her lips, Yuriko sighed. “Maybe it’s because she is Eve. They have to keep a close eye on her. She is the most important woman in the world.”

“It’s stupid. She should be allowed to live her life as she wishes. If she is that important, they should treat her like a queen, not like… hmph.”

“Mhh… but we can’t do much about it. I guess it’s her destiny or something.” Yuriko couldn’t say she completely understood the whole Eve and Adam thing. Even after the explanation from Ruki, she still couldn’t put her finger into it. Why there was a need for Eve and Adam? Why the new species were such an important matter? In the end, both Komori Yui and Sakamaki Shu were two people in love, and that was all that mattered. 

Sipping her tea, Yuriko listened as Elizabeth went on about how she had tried to convince Sakamaki Reiji to let the Komori girl come with her. Yet, Reiji had been as strict as ever, not minding at all Elizabeth’s reasoning.

While the girl was talking, something hit Yuriko’s nose. She took a deep breath, glancing around. Yuuto? But no, she couldn’t locate her brother. Instead, she saw two males who stepped into the cafe and stood out with their ivory-shaded hair, almost like Yuriko’s but they had no blueish tips. Two pair of amber-yellow eyes locked with hers, making her stomach churl. 

The Kitsune from the Demon World!? Yuriko was about to choke on her iced tea. Her heart took a leap. But… but… they can’t do a thing! This is a public place… And wait? Didn’t Yuuto say that he was the only one with white hair there? Then… I’m imagining things. That must be. They are just foreigners…

“But that’s enough of that… I want to know about you and that handsome man you brought from the Demon World!” Elizabeth suddenly giggled.

Yuriko blinked, coughing the tea when she heard Elizabeth mentioning the place she had just been thinking about. It took a while for her to understand who her friend had asked about. “Yuuto?” 

“Yes, yes. I want to meet him soon again. He seemed cool and he looks so much like you, Yuri-Yuri. He has the same fluffy hair as you.”

“True… not even our mother had the same fluffiness in her hair. It was always long and straight.” Now, that Yuriko stopped thinking about that fact, she realized it was true. Her father, Keisuke, had much fluffier hair than her mother. Perhaps, Yuriko and Yuuto had inherited this one trait from their father. Of course, Yuriko also had his eyes… but she knew that it was possible to bring out her amber-yellow fox eyes too. 

“Oh… your mother…” Elizabeth swallowed. “I’m so sorry about her. Did you… have… a funeral?”

Shaking her head, Yuriko felt how a tight ring squeezed her heart. She had only said her personal prayers and talked with Yuuto a bit, but that was all. In the eyes of the world, Tsukino Hisoka was still missing, and there was nothing Yuriko could do about it. She couldn’t go to tell the officials that Hisoka was dead, killed by the Kitsune tribe in the Demon World. Probably, Keisuke hadn’t done that either… wherever he was right now.

“It’s okay, Eli-chan. I’m okay… She has been gone for years now. This changes nothing.” Of course, that wasn’t completely true, but it was all Yuriko could say at that moment. She didn’t want to think about how Hisoka had been distant for most of her childhood and then finally left for Yuuto. Perhaps, Yuriko’s mother had always been mentally with her brother. Just like her father’s heart too.

I wasn’t wanted…

“Oh no… Now, I made you feel bad. I’m sorry, Yuri-Yuri. I didn’t want to ruin our moment!” Elizabeth darted up from her chair. The feet of the seat screeched against the floor as she pushed it back and hurried to Yuriko, wrapping her arms around the Kitsune woman. 

Yuriko shoved her glass aside, enveloping her friend’s tiny body as well. She pressed her face into the silky hair even though the stink of death tickled her nostrils the second she did so. She would never complain about it.

“Eli-chan… don’t worry so much…” Yuriko placed her palms on Elizabeth’s shoulders, nudging her friend into an arm's length. “Everything will be fine. And I’m happy with Ruki. Now, I have a future and a new life. I don’t need to look at what has been left behind.”

Curling her lips up, Yuriko traced Elizabeth’s upper arms, reaching for her forearms and finally hands. She laced their fingers, clenching hers slightly. As she lifted their hands, Elizabeth’s sleeves slid down, revealing her skin.

Yuriko blinked. 

Punctual marks. But they were singular and in Elizabeth’s crook of the arm. As Yuriko looked more carefully, she realized that both of Elizabeth’s arms were like that. And there were faded bruises too. 

“Eli-chan…? What is this?” Yuriko raised her friend’s arm more, staring at the marks. Those didn’t look like Vampire bites unless the said Vampire was missing a fang.

“Nothing, nothing!” Elizabeth yanked her hands from Yuriko’s grip. She hurried back to her seat, slipping in it and pulling her tea closer. “Absolutely nothing.” She tugged her sleeves down.

“That didn’t look like nothing. What happened?” Yuriko gave her friend a sharp glance. “You can tell me, Eli-chan.”

“It’s just…” Elizabeth started to squirm. Her gaze turned inwards just before she let it sink into the void of her tea. “My aunt… You remember that she made a deal with the Vampire king?”

“Yes, with Karlheinz-sama.”

“Right. Well… the deal was that…” Elizabeth swallowed. “I must give my blood to Reiji. I’m not quite sure what he is doing but I think it’s some kind of research for Karlheinz.”

Yuriko frowned. Why would the Vampire king want to study the zombie blood? And it didn’t seem that Elizabeth was willingly participating in all this.

“That’s why… I must stay with them. They will keep me safe. No one is allowed to come after me or they will get rid of the chaser. And I’m paying with my blood.” Elizabeth smiled, yet Yuriko was sure that the gesture was forced. “It’s a bit like Ruki and you. I know you’re giving your blood to him, and he gives you protection.”

“Eli-chan, that’s completely different. I love Ruki… and he loves me.” Yuriko sighed. “Or… or have you fallen for Reiji-san?”

“What?! No, no, no! I have no such feelings! Don’t say such things, Yuri-Yuri! Someone could hear us and misunderstand! Then we would be in a deep mess!” Elizabeth’s eyes turned into wide pools as she shook her head. “It’s just an arrangement and I’m okay. There is nothing bad about wanting protection. And that way I can spend time with you too.”

“I… I believe you…” But Yuriko truly didn’t. She had no idea why Karlheinz would want the zombie blood, but it sounded ominous. If Elizabeth had told that she was giving her blood out of love, Yuriko would have accepted that without doubts. But this was something else.

Can we truly trust in Karlheinz-sama? I know, I shouldn’t think like that since he is so important to Ruki but… I can’t help it…

“You better.” Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest and glanced at Yuriko. Then suddenly her face lit up. “Yuri-Yuri! Did you hear the news? The shooting star during the day?”

Yuriko blinked. “Eh? I… haven’t watched or read any news recently.” She couldn’t recall any mention of such an incident. But she had been busy with her own matters, so it wasn’t that odd.

“Yui actually saw it! She was looking out of a window and then she saw the star falling. She thought it was near to the Mukami manor but perhaps she was wrong since you don’t know about it…” Elizabeth tilted her head to the side and took a sip from her tea. “It must have been bright since it was visible during the day. I read the news, and they said that the officials couldn’t locate it later. Such a mystery!”

“Yes, sounds like it. Maybe we should become detectives and solve it~” Yuriko giggled, grabbing her glass again and relaxing. Elizabeth almost jumped up and down in her chair. “Yes, yes! You know, I read this detective story…”

The minute Elizabeth disappeared around the corner, Yuriko pulled out her phone and started texting. 

Shin, did you know that Reiji-san is taking Eli-chan’s blood? He’s not biting her but using instruments and the blood is used for research. I can’t do anything about it… but I thought you should be aware…

Pressing the send button, Yuriko sighed. Had she just done something bad? She probably shouldn’t mess with her friend’s relationship, but she couldn’t help being worried about what she had just learned.

“Yu-ri-ko-chan~ Already texting Ruki-kun? You know he can’t read those messages before he is back in the Human World.” A whisper with a teasing note on it almost made Yuriko jump. “Also, I’m offended. You should have texted me that you’re already free. Now, I had to hear that from a familiar. Rude, Yuriko-chan!”

Pushing her phone into her bag, Yuriko arranged her face and turned around. Yet, she couldn’t hide the heat that coursed up her cheeks when she met the eyes that reminded her of the sky on heated days like this. “I… I’m sorry, Kou-kun… I was going to text you next.”

“Next? That won’t do. I should be your first priority now that Ruki-kun has gone to Eden.” Kou leaned in, staring directly into Yuriko’s eyes. “I brought you here and I let you hang out with M-zombie-chan. It’s give and take but it seems you are only taking, Yuriko-chan. I can’t have that.”

Shifting, Yuriko took a step back, but Kou grabbed her wrist, not letting her wander any further away. She swallowed, trying to gather her thoughts. She had to admit that Ruki’s brothers were still a bit terrifying at times… and Kou especially was tough to read. “I… I can cook for you when we go back home…”

“Tempting~ But no, that’s not what I want…” Kou yanked Yuriko’s arm, making her stumble so badly that she hit her body against his. Hastily, she pressed her palm on his chest, straightening up. 

“Then… then what…?”

Kou tilted his head, chuckling while showing the tips of his fangs. “What do you think, Yuriko-chan~? Ruki-kun isn’t here now, so I think we should have fun of our own. You know how he is… always so strict and telling us what we can do and what we can’t do. But now, he can’t say anything if… I’ll have my way with you~”

“Oh my gosh!” Yuriko clapped her free hand over her mouth, gazing around. A couple of people glanced at them while walking past, some of them shaking their heads. She even noticed the foreigners from the cafe standing close by, glaring at Kou and her. An unbearable hotness washed over Yuriko. This was so embarrassing. They were being a bother to everyone else but not only that. She absolutely wouldn’t give Kou what he wanted from her. Yet she didn’t know how to get out of this situation. Kou was almost acting like… like Sakamaki Laito back when he… But of course, this was different. Right? “Kou-kun… I… I…”

“You can’t say no, Yuriko-chan. You are in debt to me and now it’s time for the payment~” Kou smirked. “Your face is telling me that you can’t wait for it either. Come on, let’s go.”

“No! I’m not coming.” Yuriko pressed her heels on the street with all the strength she could gather. “Ruki… Ruki is the only one… who can do that.”

“Eh? Are you serious, Yuriko-chan? That’s so boring! That way you’ll never get the true experience…” 

“I… I don’t need it. I only need Ruki.”

“You don’t know it if you don’t try it out~” Kou winked. 

“But —”

“Come on, I’ll even buy you a dress that will impress him~”

“I can’t —” Yuriko blinked. A dress? “Are… are you talking about… shopping?”

“Of course, I am. Just what were you thinking, Yuriko-chan?” Kou let go of her wrist, still chuckling. “Now, I get it. Ruki-kun must like that dirty mind of yours. Come on, let’s go get you a dress to match it~”

When Kou moved toward the mall, Yuriko couldn’t do anything else than follow him, for Ruki had directly told her to listen to his brothers and always stay with either them or their familiars. Kou had left one to monitor the meeting between Yuriko and Elizabeth while he had… Actually, Yuriko didn’t know what Kou had been up to in between but she decided it was better not to figure that out.

“So, have you visited any shops with, Ruki-kun?” Kou stepped in from the sliding doors, and Yuriko hurried after him. Refreshing coolness swiped her skin in the instant, making her inhale deeply.

“Mhm! Yes, he took me shopping for some spring and summer clothes earlier.”

Kou stopped, glancing at Yuriko from head to toe several times until not even the air conditioning in the mall could help her. The Vampire shook his head and clicked his tongue. “That skirt is way too long for your legs. You should show more of your skin. And that T-shirt… Haa… We’ll be here for a long time. You better hope I won’t get thirsty.”

“I’ll buy you a melon soda!” Yuriko gazed down at her skirt. Too long? But Ruki had said the length was perfect. And what was wrong with her T-shirt?

“Seriously, Yuriko-chan?” Kou sighed as Yuriko voiced out her thoughts. “You have some good assets there. You should use them to your advantage.”

“Advantage?”

“Yes. To get what you want from Ruki-kun.”

“And what’s that?”

“Am I supposed to know that?” Kou shook his head again. “So dirty mind, yet so innocent. I can’t believe it. Come on!”

Grabbing Yuriko’s wrist again, Kou walked her through the entrance hall and to the escalator until they reached the fifth floor filled with brand shops and lingerie stores Yuriko had never visited, for she knew perfectly well she couldn’t afford anything from those. With Ruki, she had gone for better and more expensive shops than she had used before… but Kou’s choices were the next level. And Yuriko didn’t want even to think about how much she would owe Kou if she allowed him to buy anything for her from these boutiques.

“Look at these, Yuriko-chan~” Kou continued in a small store with dresses Yuriko hadn’t even dared to glance at before. Such short hems and much lace, almost see-through material with revealing necklines.

“I… I… I can’t wear those!” She tried to take a step back.

“Oh, you can… Just pick up your favorite and see if it fits.” Kou started to go through the racks, hoisting clothes from here and there, giving Yuriko a glance in between. “You want to seduce Ruki-kun or not? Hurry up!”

“I… never said I wished to do… such a thing…” Yuriko took a short yellow garment but pushed it right back to its place when she saw it was open from behind leaving the carrier’s butt bare.

“Don’t think we don’t know what goes on behind those closed doors. You should show your master how much a good girl you are~”Oh – my – gosh! Yuriko wanted to sink through the floor. Yet she couldn’t escape this abyss. Somehow, she needed to survive it, and it was becoming clear that if she didn’t choose something, Kou would do that in her stead. And there was no way she could wear something he had decided for her.

[canaidliafail]

untitled

streamer ellie Williams x dancer reader 🌿

Id call this an excessively long shitpost. It is in the same timeline with staygrounded but I wrote it down for self indulgent reasons such as -to no ones surprise- venting. It ain’t good btw but its getting better I think.

CW: first of all, reader is a dancer/ dance teacher || short mention of self harm || MDI: there are sexual themes if I remember correctly || Ellie being very gay

If you by any chance do enjoy this concept I don’t mind writing a part 2 tho. Requests are open ✨

“you blame it on the drugs I dont give a fuck cause the damage is done,

and you talk about suicide, its the way you manipulate”

1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47 ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

gossip, rumors, spreading a false narrative and falling in love with being a victim of life and most importantly a victim of you.

So many things that could have been said about her. So many and yet all sat stale at the tip of your tongue. You wanted to rip her to shreds, put a curse on her and considered spending life in prison for premeditated murder. Then you cried and just prayed she would leave you alone and that she would find happiness and that you would never hear anything about it. You scratched your arms, the stitches holding your flesh together getting irritably itchier day by day. flesh that you so willingly sliced a week ago and regretted right after.

It was fucking embarrassing to fall to such depths of despair and misery cause of love. In life we allow things to happen to us. Saying that was comfort of some sorts. It gave you control over a situation that you were dragged around like a puppet.

Could truly another person's venom poison you this irreversibly?

And while you did crave love and attention you refused to humiliate yourself by asking for it,let alone admit to it.

“she didn’t love you, she loved the idea of being with you. You have to realize it baby, You are a known figure now…People will do that to you. This is a whole new world you just entered”

You shook your head and dully stared at the screen playing lo-fi on loop

“New world ? Feels like I'm back in high school”

You sat on the other end of the couch numb and mute. It had been a week since you spoke to your roommate and two since you last saw your whole friend group. You warned them

“I can’t talk but I really need you”

and they came and would chime in to whatever little but you were willing to share that night.

You all woke up around the same time the next day, exam season not really willing to cooperate with your mental breakdown and started getting ready. You had already failed 2 subjects. shit was not going your way so on the fourth day you just gave up and decided to go with the flow

“how bad can it get”

bit of advice fellas, never fucking say that cause it CAN get worse.

While initially you were well prepared for exams, You mixed up the days when you were supposed to submit assignments and the days when you were taking a written exam.

2 failed subjects, 4 more to go.

4 failed subjects… 2 more to go

Hot girl summer just doesn’t feel the same once you hit your 20s it seems.

_________________ 𓆩♡𓆪 _________________

You were aimlessly watching one story after the other,barely there and hardly caring what exactly you were looking at. Abby had just posted one cryptic photo with a girl you saw around in the community and smiled. You could tell something was going on with her and that other streamer girl and you smiled. You thought they were a good match and quite frankly you were just glad to see that some people were doing better in their love life than you ever could. It gave you hope that things like that still existed even if you weren't meant to experience them. Ellie had also just posted and you took a minute longer to appreciate her slender form dressed in tights and a top while horse riding. She was hot and she knew it and you liked that attitude of hers. You checked the next story which was a black screen with a text

*I fell off my horse two minutes after taking that pic*

And chuckled. Your eyes drifted off to the green square mark and cocked a brow

Oh?

So you were in her close friends ?

You sat up

“Wait since when has she-” You asked yourself out loud and noticed that indeed she was following you. In the midst of working on new content and getting out of your depressive slump you started checking your social less and less too busy with dance practice and trying to enjoy life and it seemed like in the middle of your subtle break things…. Happened

Maybe a few months ago when you were down bad for her this would’ve affected you but now you just shrugged and closed your phone. You need to get back to practicing a new dance combo for a video and you couldn’t be bothered. Your ex had scared you off from dating public figures for good. Dating was a strong word…You hardly wanted even a fling at this point.

You got dressed up and put on a wig, fixing your makeup in place and making a movement test before you went to the studio to record the new choreo so that you could only worry about the variation and not have any unnecessary technical issues. The studio was a few minutes away from your place by bus and you put on the songs you planned on rehearsing to get in the mood on your way there humming softly and tuning out any other thought polluting your mind.

There's was a text notification from the user

Elliefuckingwilliams

Which you forced yourself to ignore refusing to entertain whatever she could have texted you. If this was a month ago maybe you would have but now you didnt want to.

_________________ 𓆩♡𓆪 _________________

Ignoring her was your plan until you posted the new video of your dance which admittedly you did look good and may have been one of your best videos up to date. Ellie Was the third like on that post and she had shamelessly double texted you. You chewed on your lip nervous and uncertain

“She texted me again”

Ophelia, your roommate, peeked her head from her iPad and looked at you curious

“Who?”

“Ellie”

“ELLIE?! WAIT THE ELLIE?!” She jumped up and for a moment you for sure she came for your throat but instead clutched the blankets on your couch

“And what do you mean again ?! When did all of this happen ?”

“Relax it all started today and you know I wanted to tell you once we had time to properly hang out” You said fighting back a smile knowing that this was a victory. Ophelia had suffered you for months crying over your ex, then thirsting over Ellie and then back to square one. You owed her an update on your emotional affairs which you swore that they would stay stagnant.

“So what did she say ?”

You opened the Direct messages

Elliefuckingwilliams: Hey I have a question

Elliefuckingwilliams: Is your studio in Seattle ?

Elliefuckingwilliams: I have a project and am looking for a dance instructor. Let me know if you would be interested in a collab

“Ah. Just work stuff it seems”

“EXCUSES SHE JUST WANTS TO EAT YOU OUT AND IS LOOKING FOR A EXCUSE”

“You are shameless”

You stared at each other with a smirk fighting to break through, wanting to seem equally serious despite the ridiculous situation.

“She does not”

“She does. I’m betting 50 dollars”

Oh fuck off ill just roll you a blunt”

“A WIN IS A WIN” she said with her hands in the air “No come on! Respond already you are driving me crazy”

You rolled your eyes and considered her offer. You were taken aback cause Ellie didn’t seem like she would do anything with…dancing. However you weren’t new to influencers trying new things to get back on the algorithms favor so you brushed it off as her chasing new heights to her already growing fame.

-Hey, I’m not sure where you are exactly and it isn’t my studio. I am just renting the space but I could give you a lesson or two

Elliefuckingwilliams: Sweet! When are you available ? I have a gap next week otherwise it can be next month

You stared at her immediate response and quirked your brow in approval. Professional and straight to the point. You could respect that. Not what you were aiming for. You tried to ignore the previous conversations you two had that showed above her new messages. Your fruitless attempts at getting her attention in the most stupid of ways. Can’t blame a girl for trying. Shoot for the stars they say. You’ll land on dirt but hey, at least you gave it a fair shot and therefore no one could blame you for trying.

-This week is good. Say Friday ?

Elliefuckingwilliams: Yeah yeah cool! I'll text you the day before so that you can tell me your location and everything

You pursed your lips and turned to look at Ophelia who was on all fours on your couch desperately trying to steal a glance at your phone screen. You tossed it on one of the floor cushions

“Not a date. I’m just gonna be her dance instructor so looks like you owe me that blunt”

“Nu-uh. Bet you’ll be raw dogging in the studio. We will see who wins on Friday”

_________________ 𓆩♡𓆪 _________________

“And the dance floor is filling up with blood, But oh, Lord you’ve never been so in love”

ELLIE’s POV

Ellie was convinced that God had specifically hand crafted her body to be incapable of dancing. She had no coordination and perhaps was even tone deaf which was ridiculous for someone who played the guitar and sang. Not that she was a pro at that either but who creates a musician who doesn’t understand how to step on notes in any way other than with an instrument ? So now that she had texted you she was frantic, bouncing her leg up and down and chewing on the flesh around her fingernails.

“What's gotten into you?”

Dina asked while folding clothes. She was at her and Jesse's apartment for the night and she had yet to tell them about her new crush and her impatient attempt at getting to see you as soon as possible. Ellie was aware of you as a creator. Be it from a post-share on her friends stories or you falling on her timeline she would see you here and there. She vividly remembered a month where you peaked and she went from seeing you once every two months at best to seeing you every week. And she was curious as to why was everyone going crazy over you and your content. You seemed to interact mostly with Abby’s girl.

That’s how Ellie referred to the girl Abby seemed to be crushing on. In a game of broken telephone and who told what, Ellie planned on seeing how close Abby was with her girl and if that was close enough for her to ask if she could…well ask her about you and then somehow for that information to get back to you.

But all that plan failed the second Ellie asked

“So is Cotton dating anyone?”

And Abby took that horribly wrong and now was set on gatekeeping her. Ellie was awkward and a mess and couldn’t communicate properly what she wanted because to her, what she asked was obvious and had no hidden meaning or intention but the world around her didn’t work like that and she struggled so fucking hard with it.

Ellie’s second grant failure was when she followed you back. She was sure that you wouldn’t have missed it. But the silence was so loud it was deafening. You were still posting but you were otherwise quiet everywhere else. You rarely even watched her stories at this point so Ellie decided to grow a backbone and some balls and directly message you.

She flinched at the dry responses she gave you to your previous interactions which back then seemed professional but now they seemed…So distant.

Finally, she texted you.

and you responded.

“Dina I did a stupid thing”

Dina tossed the clothes in the wardrobe and kicked close giving up on tidying Jesse’s shit

“Ok, stupid how? Like speaking money or-”

“I texted my crush-”

“You have a crush?”

“Yes and so I texted her and-”

“Who is she ?”

“A content creator, anyways so I texted her”

“WHo?”

“Dina can you let me talk?!” she said frustrated and Dina grinned. She went to the kitchen aisle to grab a bottle of water and tossed another one Ellie’s way. She leaned against the counter listening to her friend endless yawping about this new crush. she called her twice a day until Friday, and would recite every move and gesture she planned on using to seduce you. Dina would turn each one down by saying

“You do realize that when you see her you will just shit your pants from excitement and won't say anything right?”

So ellie would hang up and call a few hours later with a new plan that aligned more with how she typically acted.

When Friday came she showered twice and changed outfits over and over again, as a result she was late. She was proud of her fit since the sleeveless turtleneck did a nice job at hugging her slim, well built frame and showed off her toned arms that took years of calisthenics to build and paired with a baggy pair of sweatpants she felt like she had the biggest dick in the city.

But once she parked outside of the studio you mentioned cold sweat ran down her spine and her hands felt clammy and sticky from anxiety.

what the hell am I doing

she questioned and rested her head against the steering wheel. She drummed her fingers on the soft leather and hummed a melody to ease her nerves till she heard light tapping on the window. She lifted her head and looked up and there you were. hair loose, shorts and a baggy graphic T that had a faded graffiti-like artwork of spiderman.

She hated how much she loved the sight in front of her.

she opened her door and slid out trying to gather her stuff in a hurry

“Hi sorry, were you waiting long? I missed the bus and had to wait a bit until the next one came…”

“no no! Its cool I was just, ugh trying to calm down cause I'm nervous”

you smiled and lowered your brows in empathy

“I assumed you would. You don't have experience in dancing right? Or at least you haven’t mentioned it anywhere”

She winced at how obvious her lie was and she didn’t know how to answer to that

I don’t dance but If that’s what it takes to fuck you then sure I can learn how to do a Ronde de Jambe

“ah yeah you got me there, I’ve never danced before”

“That’s cool with me. Just curious on what piqued your interest to start now. New hobby or…?”

“yeah new hobby!” she hurried to answer, glad that you inspired her on what lie to use for the day.

You nodded while checking her out head to toe and before she had time to boost her ego and assume that you did because you found her hot you said-

“Hm. I will need you to wear tighter pants next time so that I can see what you are doing with your legs. But for today it's fine”

and took the keys out of your duffel bag

“Well. Ellie williams. Ready to start?”

“ah yeah just, be gentle…? I've never done anything remotely close to dancing with my body and I might be pretty stiff”

“Don’t worry about it. I've had every type of student and all of them managed to pull a few cool moves in their second month. If there’s a will there’s a way”

she smiled more nervous than before. You were formal and professional leaving little close to no space for her to get flirty and she was at a loss. She should’ve done more research on dancer etiquette so that she wouldn’t have looked like such an uneducated swine but there was no point in getting angry over that now.

“We will start with basic breathing exercises and a warm up just to get you in the swing of things. We will start with body isolations”

Ellie stared at you from the mirror as you showed her the first few basic motions

“Alright so for the warmup just follow my lead”

you grabbed the remote and put on “never ending song” by Conan Grey which had a pretty standard rhythm and was easy to dance along to. Ellie was in awe with the plasticity of your body, every move being a continuation of the previous one all like a rolling tide of emotions complimenting the beat and the beat complimenting you.

On the other end, Ellie was too embarrassed to look at her own reflection

“alright so first to isolate your hips from your chest” you said and let the next song play. You laid your palm flat on her back and pointed a bit below her collarbones holding your fist in the air

“move with me, breathe in” you said and she tried to copy your move watching your chest rise. You shook your head

“no, I need only your chest to move. Relax your shoulders love” you teased with an easy smile and Ellie by now was a mess, from the proximity and from the simple exercise of trying to move your breathing pattern

You were oblivious to it all going from one body part to another occasionally fixing up her posture and tapping the part that she had to focus on, but all hell broke loose in your brain when you laid your hand on her stomach asking her to clench and unclench her core hunching within herself.

“You were so dramatic before, look at you Els. You just needed a little basic guidance “ you encouraged and she smiled and looked at you in excitement, oblivious to the fact that when she turned her head she was a breath away from accidentally kissing you

“ah! I-“

you smirked and pulled away

“I've been rehearsing this one choreo, best way to understand these exercises is through a dance routine. How do you feel about that?”

Ellie agreed and while dancing she kept being thrown off balance at the sharp turns that she had to take which in return slowed her down and she would miss a few steps. You let the music play in the background and let out an awkward chuckle

“Fuck ok this is my fault see I forgot to tell you about spotting”

“Spotting?”

You nodded and you pushed her back by her shoulder freeing up a line for you

“See when we turn, we always have a spot” You said and stepped into the appropriate preparation to do 8 simple turns, your head always snapping the back to the invisible mark you held with your eyes

Ellie pursed her lips. Seemed like such an obvious trick but one that went completely over her head

“Now I see that you struggle to look at yourself in the mirror, Which is fine. I’m sure you'll get used to it eventually, so instead try taking a few turns while holding eye contact with me, yeah ?”

You offered and she took a couple steps back

“Ugh…what were all those moves you made before spinning?”

“Oh don’t worry about that,thats ballet stuff. Just spin. Bent your elbows and hold your arms against your chest if it helps”

Ellie started off slow, picking up the pace as she neared you, eventually losing sight of what was in front of her

“Wow-wow-wowwww I got you” you said and steadied her by her shoulders and held her in place. She looked up at you taking in deep breaths, cheeks flushed and eyes wide open with her lips parted in a soft smile

“That went well, How do you feel?”

You said and you gently rubbed your thumb against the naked skin of her biceps.

“Great, I… I liked this it makes more sense now”

She said filled with excitement

_________________ 𓆩♡𓆪 _________________

Every time Ellie liked your story you felt your heart skip a few beats. You were in the studio for your solo dancing practice and kept bouncing from one leg to the other to keep your muscles warm while you scrolled through your phone to find some inspiration or a pic that you could post and in return give Ellie an opening to respond to. The image of her timidly trying to follow along through your every move, her flushed cheeks and her voice shaking did things to your brain chemistry, re-wiring its entire structure and flow. Every time she posted a story with a smug smile and pants lower than her boxer briefs you just laughed remembering what a shy and soft mess of words the girl was and felt an unhealthy amount of endearment. A spark re-ignited in your dead heart and you liked it. You liked ellie when you didn’t know her, and you liked her even more now that you did.

By now it had been…a good two weeks that consisted of 4 dance practices that you had with her. The first time you saw her up close all you thought was a “huh”

And then a “she is shorter than me-“ which for you was dangerous. You had an incredibly soft spot for masc lesbians who were shorter than you. Unfortunately they were never attracted to you though. You had always attracted the exact opposite of what you wanted and you blamed that on your overly dominant attitude.

On the second day you both had the same idea of treating each other to a coffee and so you ended up with 4 paper cups of iced almond milk lattes which you laughed about for a good 10 minutes

“We are so in sync!” You commented and she nodded excitedly, blushing all the way to her ears.

On the third dance practice you purposely pretended to assist her and correct her to find an excuse to touch her and when you saw how positively she reacted to it you pushed on the advantage that you had, heavily , which made you believe that maybe there really was some kind of ulterior motive as to why Ellie was so set on having you as a dancing coach.

On the fourth day there was a shift in the tide and something was in the waters. Ellie had her hair gathered and decided to wear the sluttiest outfit on earth ( aka a white top and grey sweatpants )

She went to greet you with a hug and you noticed her perfume, subtle but there to make you lust after it. She asked if she could record the Dance you were rehearsing for a post and you felt alright with that. And she excelled. She was a fast learner and her body had a good flow. It did need polishing but she wasn’t half as bad as she claimed to be. The fifth video take was close to perfection and in her excitement she yanked you towards her and wrapped you in a tight hug which you immediately reciprocated eager for the contact with the sex God standing before you. You took in the blended smell of her perfume and her sweat which had you feel insufferable discomfort with how tight your pants were. Something about her raw scent had you horny like a dog and you had to clench your jaw in patience not to act out of instinct and try to get closer than needed.

You both laughed and she yelled in excitement “I fucking did it”

And then your voice followed, a bit quieter “I told you, you could do it” she pulled back her arm still on your waist, her thumb caressing the skin as she watched the video a second time in excitement. You took the chance to stand a bit closer to her while she in sync wrapped her whole arm around you and leaned her head against your chest enjoying the dance and pointing out things that you could do differently next time, all in the comfort of each other’s embrace.

She posted the video and in the daze of the excitement of seeing what you two looked like next to each other you forgot to worry about the fact that you were yet again getting entangled with a public figure. An actually big one. While your previous relationship was just your ex leeching off of you and your success, this one…it had to be different. Ellie had nothing to gain from you and you put your trust in that and in the fact that the two of you seemed to genuinely get along

You decided to text her first

“You impatient fuck. We could’ve filmed a better take tomorrow”

“You are such an ass, let me enjoy my accomplishments”

You started tidying up the studio and decided to leave your bag with your ballet clothes and pointe there since you would come tomorrow for Ellie’s lessons anyways. You chatted back and forth all the way back and you almost tripped on your staircase too busy typing a response. You banged your head against your door though thinking you had unlocked it to find that you didn’t. Ophelia opened it for you

“Girl?”

You looked at each other and you immediately broke into a smile the split your lips

“Ellie posted our video. And she left in the part where she hugged me”

“Oh-hooooo” she exclaimed and rushed you in. She tossed the mop on the side of the wall and nudged you to the couch abandoning whatever housework she was in the middle of to listen to you

“Aaaand we are still talking” You said smiling and Ophelia clapped cheering for you while you swung your way inside the house and fell dramatically on the couch.

“Oh my, I’m so glad the Gods heard our prayers cause I was sure I was about to send you off to priesthood”

“It wasn’t that bad”

You said with an offended gasp and she scoffed

“Honey, one more month and you were about to grow back your virginity. I’m just happy to see you back out there and not just with anyone but with The Ellie fucking williams!” She said getting louder with every word. You joined her cheerful demeanor hopping on the couch and you both started bouncing on it like kids in a playground

“I can’t believe this. I wanna wear something good for our practice tomorrow”

“Shorts and that nice red bodysuit!”

“But-“

“No buts! I know it’s uncomfortable but she will see you and rip it off right away so how much will you really suffer, you know?”

Ophelia coming through with the obvious answer to any and every world known issue was exactly what you needed to finish off your day. Though to be fair, if there was anything you should have listened to regarding -making a move on your crush- that would have to be her. She had a banging record of pulling every single guy she set her eyes on and one night standing them for her own satisfaction. Of course now she had her sights on someone specific but that didn’t change or erase all previously acquired skills in the flirting department. Despite all of that, You ended up rejecting the bodysuit idea because that would be a hassle to actually get off if things would go anywhere and even if they wouldn't, anything that tight during summer was a nightmare in general.

“Hey can I borrow that white top you have?”

“Borrow whatever you want and do whatever you want just never let me know about it”

_________________ 𓆩♡𓆪 _________________

on the day that you fully planned on making a move a couple things went wrong. First and foremost well, It decided to rain down which meant you had to run all the way from the bus stop to the studio in a hopeless attempt to preserve your hair and outfit. It didn’t do much since you ended up like a drenched cat either way but you refused to let your mood falter.

You tried texting Ellie to ask if she could bring coffee for you two.

Few minutes later she came in with two iced coffees, not a drop of rain on her which you were awfully jealous of. Her cropped hair was once again all gathered in a short ponytail and she wore two sports wristbands around her arms which did unimaginable things to you. It was good sight with her sleeveless baggy tshirt. Ellie just knew how to dress plain and attractive.

“Looking good” she teased when she found you furiously trying to dry the ends of your hair with a towel

“Shut up. Please shut up”

“So sensitive” she said and rolled her eyes making her way to you and taking the towel from your hands

“Let me help” it wasn’t so much of a request as it was a demand when she pulled the towel out of your hands and moved behind you, wrapping your hair in it and squeezing it to get most of the water out. You felt your body temperature rise at the awfully tender gesture and unsure of what to do you just fidgeted with your hands looking at the floor

“ I can drive you back to your place if you want”

“No, it's fine. Ill wait it out”

“No no, I insist. Let me drive you back and look cool while doing so”

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as she rounded you up to give you the towel with a small shy smile, her cheeks a shade of pink now.

Practice was good if you were to ignore that Ellie seemed a lot more focused on your assets rather than the moves you were showing. You knew the biker shorts you were gave her a 4K view of your ass but you didn't expect her to be this obvious about it. You stepped back after a moment and just watched as she rehearsed the dance on her own and you were in awe on how much more comfortable she seemed with her body now

“Good. This one was very good. Want me to film you so that you look at yourself?”

you asked and she shook her head satisfied with the progress. You slouched on the ground, legs spread and ankles on your knees wiping the sweat of your brow carefully as not wipe your brow completely off with it and looked at the time

“Well we are pretty much done then for today. Unless there’s anything you wanted to ask me or anything else you wanna try doing?” you asked and Ellie followed your lead walking over to you across the room and crouching down on her knees in front of you

“Oh yeah I did wanna ask something”

“go ahead then” you said dreading having to get up. You didn’t have to though

“Can I take you out on a date ? for coffee perhaps?”

[jon-withnoh]

heyy responding to the top 100 post, how about Danbecca and Nr. 69, I'd love to read it :)))))

There was a smudge of lipstick on her sleeve. It was Rebecca’s lipstick, a dull red against the black of her dress. She had not noticed it when dressing Rebecca. It was only now that she had been relegated to this quiet room while Rebecca dutifully sat through her engagement dinner that she had had a moment to think. She had sat in the window seat for almost an hour now, pondering everything that this dinner would mean. An early summer wedding, surely, and a honeymoon that stretched into September. And then… what? 

Danny’s mouth twitched. She knew what would happen then. Married life. Children. Rebecca’s glow fading with every passing year. Rebecca did not take well to being contained, she never had, no matter how grand her prison had been. First boarding school, from which Danny had heard impassioned accounts when Rebecca was home for the holidays. Then a few more years at her childhood home. Presiding over her father’s dinners, running the household in her late mother’s stead. Stolen days here and there. Attending parties with school friends — two words only Danny knew to be code for something else entirely — a weekend in the country to go riding, summer by the coast in her sailing gear. 

How would Rebecca live without her little freedoms? Danny could not imagine that any husband of Rebecca’s would allow her to continue as she had. 

There was a small commotion in the hallway. A moment later, Rebecca slipped into the room. 

“You need to hem this before I wear it again, Danny,” Rebecca said at once. “It caught in my shoe. I nearly knocked over a very expensive vase.” 

“This type of skirt is meant to be long,” Danny said patiently. “You’re supposed to lift it while you walk.” 

“I know, I know.” Rebecca rolled her eyes. She took a few more steps into the room, lifting her skirt almost above her knees. “Something like this, no?”

Danny could not help but smile. Her gaze flitted down Rebecca’s leg, the silky fabric of her stocking, the silver buckle of her shoe. “Why aren’t you at dinner?”

“Oh, I said I needed to powder my nose.” Rebecca shrugged. “I was dying to hear your opinion.”

“My opinion on what, madam?” It was easiest to feign innocence. Rebecca need not know how much her impending nuptials had occupied Danny’s thoughts. 

“You opinion on Max, silly. You know my assessment of him won’t be complete until you’ve told me what you think.” 

And yet, Danny thought, you are already engaged. 

“Well?” Rebecca had squeezed into the window seat next to Danny, one hand coming to rest on Danny’s thigh. “Tell me.” 

“He is very handsome, madam.” A glimpse of him in the foyer had been sufficient to ascertain that.

“I know that. What else?”  

Danny sighed. “He appears to be very well-bred. He certainly has money.”

“And?”

“There’s not much else for me to observe from a distance, madam.” 

“I suppose not.” Rebecca pursed her lips. “Father approves.”

“He would be a fool not to. Mr de Winter is more than able to provide for you.”

“Still, it’s dreadfully rural, isn’t it? Cornwall. I’ll spend most of my time paying calls and receiving dreary people for tea.” 

“You’d be calling on people in London too. It’s not so different.” 

Rebecca shrugged her shoulders again and leaned back against the window frame. “I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad if you were there.” 

“Pardon?”

“I want you to come with me to Manderley. Father can talk all he wants about hiring a new maid once I’m married, but I don’t want any of them. I won’t have anyone but you. Please Danny, say you’ll come with me? I couldn’t bear to go if you weren’t with me.” Rebecca’s eyes were wide, her face earnest. She reached out her hand. 

Danny took it without hesitation, even though her heart was racing. Go with Rebecca to Manderley. Spend each day with her there, dressing her, observing her, enduring each change in her as long as it meant Danny never had to leave her. A future full of Rebecca morning, noon and night. Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca. 

“Please, Danny.” Rebecca squeezed her hand. “I’ll beg father to pay for one of the London courses for you if you’re worried about your duties. Not that I think you should be. I’ll do anything. Please just let me keep you.” 

“Of course, madam.” Danny’s mouth was dry. “Of course I’ll come. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you.” 

So, song number 69 was wildly unsuited for Rebecca fic (I don’t remember what song it was, but believe me it did not work). I went with the next song instead which was “When the Chips are down” from Hadestown. I hope you enjoyed!

[battorlstuff]

"The menu"

The menu will be a section where I list the stories and concepts I am working on and a future index for all my stories.

​I will accept suggestions and if possible I will try to give priority to the stories of your choice.

1. A Real Dad

The city's dads usually meet once a month to have a drink and talk about life. Everyone seemed to have a belly, more or less big, but there was someone who made them roll their eyes, Carlos. Why did he have a body like that? Carlos's comments didn't help either, but maybe during the next summer trip the other men will help Carlos become a real dad.

2. At the Mercey of the Envy

Matt was willing to become a model, he already had several proposals and with his good looks and statuesque body, no one doubted that he would be a super model, that is until his mother died. Being left in the care of his stepfather and his envious stepbrother was the worst thing that could have happened to Matt.

3. A Cow to Fill and Drain

James shouldn't have bothered the campus nerds, specifically the university's science champions. Well, when the group of nerds gets a million-dollar deal with a dietary supplement company, they make sure James is their test subject.

4. Expanding Kingdoms

A young and attractive prince named Aiden, possessed of a statuesque body, is at the mercy of a king and his son, being reduced to an obese jester.

King Cyrus and his son Danus are extremely obese but control most of the kingdoms, between negotiations at court the gallant prince ends up insulting the king and his son, mocking their weight and fat body. So when the war breaks out and the prince's kingdom falls, the gallant remains in the hands and as a prisoner of the king and his son.

The king leaves the arrogant prince at the mercy of his son Danus, who takes it upon himself to fatten and humiliate him. Danus enjoys watching the hot prince grow fat and lose his wonderful muscles.

5. Extra Credits, Extra Pounds

Logan is both intelligent and attractive, and he went to one of the best high schools in London.

As the son of farmers he has developed an exceptional physique due to all the work on the farm, but his parents did not take kindly to him not wanting to dedicate himself to the fields, he practically had to run away from home. Now he was one of the most popular and handsome guys in the place.

Most of his teachers adore Logan, he is the perfect student, although there may be some who have certain resentment towards the boy. Algebra Professor Harries hates Logan, the boy was not only brilliant but also too attractive.

Professor Harries couldn't help but be consumed by envy, because every time Logan showed off his good body the professor remembered how he tried to look better and exercise at that age. Teacher's pet Ethan also seems jealous, Etahn is a nerd but unlike Logan, Ethan is overweight and basically ugly.

When Logan wins a scholarship to a prestigious university, Ethan is frustrated. Logan is not only attractive but smarter. Maybe his favorite teacher has a plan, between the two of them will blackmail the handsome boy into doing whatever they want, putting his scholarship in the way.

6. Stuffed Deal

Jason has been a bully all his life, when he finished college things seemed to be going great, he had a good job and his body looked better than ever, but when the company where he works declares bankruptcy things get complicated for Jason.

The stud finds a new world online and with his good looks he does not hesitate to make videos and lives, satisfying others for money. However, without knowing it, Jason ends up at the mercy of some guys who have a certain grudge against him.

I will also continue working on Fall of the Jock and maybe another chapter for Rival Treatment 😏

[ouellette]

not even being emo but these last 2 years have been so genuinely excruciating that idek how i've managed to make it this far if i'm being honest. in february will be the 2 yr anniv since the ex that i'm still not over broke up with me (& then got with someone new 5 months later after saying how much he wouldn't be able to do that......lol), my grandma passed after a slow and agonizing fight with kidney + liver disease and i had to drive myself to my final week of senior year while my mom was on hospice with her (& to this day have to deal with the guilt that because of speaking out abt what my uncle did i created a rift in our family for years that we will never be able to get back with her. all he got was a slap on the wrist so i really shouldve just kept my mouth shut. her illness is actually what brought us all back together), my best friend since middle school decided that communication was too much work and that oh well i'm taking up too much time she could be spending with her bf anyways and ended up ghosting me for an entire summer just to be like oopsie! i didnt mean to! then not talk to me for an entire year only to come back crying that she misses me so much after i've already come to terms with everything and completely detached myself from her, ummmm i graduated and immediately started working this fuckass job (men's medium prison) that makes me want to kms every day just because of the sheer amount of stress it is not knowing if you're going in for an 8 hour shift or a 16 hour shift and the pressure of adulthood is really making me start to lose it i think. But im so so so so normal about it i swear <3

[crvstybowlofcereal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RCXqnmN3yQ

Study, study, study again

We were driven into the head did not have time to be born We did not choose an institution We were sent to school like prisoners And we will be there for ten years to beg for grades For five we can play - for a deuce they beat with a ruler I teach lessons, but in the head there is only one word And any of your schools is associated with it Chorus verse 2 I spend all my free time And in the summer I go to the country I'd rather play games You look - I would become an e-sportsman But there’s nothing I’ll turn off and so in twenty years I'll go to school with that booze and I'll scoff Over those who go to get smelly knowledge And in the minds of only one word I want to scream Chorus verse 3 I don’t need to drive here about nostalgia about school I know that in old age she is a nightmare For the fact that something was forgotten there - to wash the floor after school And you're like "WHAT THE FUCK I'M FORTY ALREADY" Chorus

^^^lyrics google translated from a comment written by Fan Toca∆

School Is Shit

[misslisamiray]

Took a little longer than I thought to get this chapter posted, but here's Chapter 11 of Down With the Rickness!

Time to check back in with Summer and Space Beth, and for the first time since she got sent to work before the sun came up, Earth Beth! Jerry is still too busy sulking to be in this chapter. We'll see him again later, but it's going to be a while.

Please note: this chapter features some spoilery dialogue about the events of S7 ep. 7, "Wet Kuat Amortican Summer" I debated on putting that part in due to the fact I know not everyone's seen the latest season, and this fic otherwise has no S7 spoilers. But I needed something for Summer and Space Beth to talk about other than Rick's stupid errand list, and that is where their conversation led. If you want to skip that part, scroll to the picture and you're safe. Any other S7 references in the fic will be of the vague, non-spoiler, blink and you'll miss 'em variety. New chapter below the cut!

Summer and Space Beth’s next several errands were far less eventful than the first few. Having both made a considerable dent in their lists, they decided to take a break and meet for lunch. The two were sitting in a booth inside a small café on an asteroid at the edge of the solar system.

“Thanks again for helping out today, Space Mom. We’ve already got, like at least half of Grandpa’s stupid list done.” Summer said, taking a sip of her milkshake.

“No problem. Barring any further worker uprisings at greedy megastores or having to negotiate with more of Dad’s asshole “friends” until they see reason, we’re on track to be home tonight. Tomorrow morning at the latest.” Space Beth replied, sipping her wine.

“Cool. Morty texted me something about Grandpa being crazy and Dad being an idiot, but eh, what else is new? It doesn’t sound like anything’s on fire, at least not literally. They’re fine. It’s been a while since we got to hang out like this, huh?” Summer glanced at her phone briefly before putting it back in her pocket. Beth nodded in agreement.

“I got one from Jerry asking me, ‘If the Sailor Scouts were real, do you think they would be able to cure Glopydropian Mimicking Disease?’ With the follow-up question, ‘Is there a dimension where they are real?’ Oh, God. He sent that to me individually, and to our group chat with your Earth mom. I… How am I supposed to answer… What the fuck am I even supposed to do with that?!” Space Beth said, slapping her forehead as she put her own phone away. Summer giggled. A waiter placed two plates on their table.

After taking a few bites of her food, Summer asked, “So, what’s new with you?”

“Oh, you know. Took down a New Federation base last week. Freed some wrongly imprisoned inmates from a maximum-security prison on Jupiter. The usual.” Space Beth replied casually.

“Cool. I, ummm… got an A on my science test. And me and some friends almost got caught smoking weed under the bleachers, but then we didn’t. God, school is so boring compared to your life.” Summer replied. She sounded excited at first, but her enthusiasm quickly faded.

“Hey, that stuff counts, too. I realize it probably sounds sarcastic and condescending coming from me, but look at it this way. You’re 17 and have already seen and done more than everyone else in your lameass school put together likely will in their entire lives. It’s okay to be happy about the more mundane parts of your life, too.” Space Beth told her.

“Huh. I never thought about it that way. Thanks, Mom.”  Summer’s smile returned, and she went back to eating.

After a moment, Space Beth said, “So you’re really gonna hold out on me and not tell me the biggest thing?”

“What do you mean?” Summer asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just that I heard you met someone.” Summer’s face turned red, and she dropped her silverware to the floor.

“I’m gonna kill him! Why did I ever think Grandpa Rick could keep a fucking secret?!” Summer exclaimed, covering her face with her hands.

Space Beth laughed and said, “Calm down. I’m normally the last person to defend anything Dad does, but he only blabbed to me because he’s happy for you and wanted to tell someone. He figured you’d want to tell Earth Me and Jerry yourself when you’re ready, and that Morty would be jealous over you getting a girlfriend before he did. So that left me.”

“Oh.” was all Summer could manage as an answer. She was still blushing a little, but no longer furious.

“Morty already knows, or at least suspects. And I was planning to tell you all soon. It’s just…”

“You weren’t worried about telling us you’re dating a girl, were you?” Space Beth asked hesitantly, half joking but half genuinely concerned that was the issue.

“As if anyone in this family only swings one way. I mean, mayyybe Morty, but eh, jury’s still out on that.” Summer scoffed, rolling her eyes. Beth visibly relaxed and nodded in agreement, while Summer continued, “It’s still a really new relationship is all. And yeah, I’ve hooked up with people off-planet before, but I’ve never actually been, like, involved with anyone who doesn’t live on Earth. Before now, I’d never even dated someone who went to a different school. We don’t see each other as much as we’d like to, and it’s hard sometimes, y’know?” As she spoke, Summer went from grinning ear to ear to looking sad.

Space Beth placed a hand over hers and said softly, “Yeah, I get it. Look, I’m not exactly the hands-on mothering type, but if you ever need someone to talk to… Someone who might understand better than your other parental units… But who can also keep their damn mouth shut better than your grandfather…”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“God, I’m going soft. First helping Dad, and now this Lifetime original movie mother daughter bonding mush. What next? You and Morty are both too old to need, like cookies baked for some dumb school thing, right? That’s not a thing in high school, is it? Because if you do, that shit is strictly Jerry’s department.”

Laughing again and glad for having the moment lightened, Summer agreed, “Totes. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your soft side. I can keep a secret better than Grandpa, too.”

“Good.”

“So, he told you because he’s happy for me? You sure he wasn’t just bored and trying to gossip?”

“Mmmm-hmmm. But I do think he was proud of you and looking to brag a little, too. Apparently, you met this girl when you saved her from being trafficked by illegal Kuato dealers?” Summer just nodded.

“Damn, you really were holding out on me. So spill. I’m not gonna pester you with questions like ‘When do I get to meet her?’ – trust me, that will also be Jerry's department like, the second he finds out – but I want all the details on this, got it?”

“Sure. It all started with this party…”

Meanwhile, Morty had quickly discovered that Rick wasn’t lying or even exaggerating about not sleeping well when he was sick. One minute, he’d be sound asleep, snoring loudly. The next, he’d wake himself up coughing or sneezing. Sometimes, he’d just blow his nose and mutter a complaint or two, then change positions and go back to sleep. Other times, he’d be awake for a while, drinking and watching whatever boring thing had come on the TV next.

“Fuck, isn’t this shit over yet?” was a frequent question, asked in a whinier tone of voice each time.

“*SIGH!* Not yet, Rick. Try and go back to sleep.” Morty would tell him, usually while looking at something on his phone and looking increasingly concerned by it.

Beth was having an ordinary, and honestly slow day at the horse hospital. Having some downtime between patients, she decided to check her phone, and discovered a number of texts from her family.

Summer: Pictures of some of the nonsense she’d had to get for Rick. A lot of it was gadgets and parts that Beth couldn’t identify, and a few that she could. Crystals of many different colors, sizes and shapes. The rest looked to be a variety of alien junk food and liquor.

“Yep, nothing surprising here.” Beth murmured to herself.

Space Beth: Mostly photos similar to Summer’s. Then there was one of her making some friend of Rick’s – Beth had met him briefly before – was his name Gear Man? – pose for the camera with her. There was a frightened look on his face, and a huge grin on SB’s.

“I’m sure there’s a story behind this picture. What I’m not sure is if I want to know what it is.” Beth sighed.

Rick: Several paragraphs worth of random letters, symbols and emojis. A few blurry photos of the living room ceiling and floor.

“Are these drunk texts or ‘Dad fell asleep on his phone’ texts? I’m guessing the latter, since his drunk texts usually have at least a few actual words. Unless this is in an alien language, and these are words?” Beth puzzled, looking at the messages from a few different angles, including upside down. Determining that Rick’s texts were gibberish, she moved onto Jerry. There were so many messages from Jerry.

“I have a great idea, and you’re going to be so proud of me!”

“Let’s never fight while we’re trying to organize old VHS tapes again.”

“Beth, Morty’s being mean to me!”

“Do you know if Morgluxian measles are real? What about Venutian varicella or Floopfloopian ass fever? Your father won’t tell me which one he made up.”

“You know how I said I had a great idea earlier? Yeah, forget you ever saw that.”

And of course, there were the bizarre Sailor Moon questions. Beth couldn’t help noticing most of the messages had been sent both to her individually, and to their group chat with Space Beth. Not knowing how to respond to any of her family’s texts, Beth was about to put her phone away, when she saw the one text from Morty.

It read, “Hey Mom, since you’re sort of a doctor, I figured you were the best person to ask. Can someone actually cough up a lung? That’s just a saying, right? Rick’s got a nasty cough and I’ve seen him spit out some gnarly looking stuff a few times, but I don’t think any of it was like, an organ. I just wanted to check.” Beth’s brow furrowed.

“Aww, poor Dad. Maybe I should go home.” she worried, deciding to call Morty back instead of replying to the text.

Morty was staring at a screen that read, in increasingly ominous looking letters, “Is it a cold, The Flu, or SOMETHING WORSE?” when his phone rang. Startled by the unexpected noise, he dropped the device – directly on Rick’s head, which of course woke him up.

“Oww! What the *COUGH!* fuck, Morty?! What was that for?!” he asked groggily.

“Sorry! Sorry. That was an accident. Hang on a second.” Morty apologized, scrambling to grab his phone, which was now slipping between the couch cushions. Rick sat up, rubbing his forehead and throwing the blankets and his labcoat on the floor again.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Morty. I saw your text, and yes that’s just an expression. Human anatomy doesn’t work that way. Well, for most people, at least. I guess for your grandfather it might be possible? But unlike the average person, he’d also be able to put it right back in. So I wouldn’t worry. Much. How’s he doing, anyway?” Morty looked over at Rick, who was clinging to his trash can and tissue box again, while staring blankly in the general direction of the TV without really looking at it.

“Not great. You want to talk to him?”

“Yes, please.”

“Here. Mom wants to talk to you.”

“Huh? Oh, sure.” Rick was initially confused by what Morty was saying, but grabbed the phone once his sleep and germ-addled brain caught up to what was happening.

“Hi, Dad. How are you feeling?” Beth asked worriedly.

“Eh, I’ve been better. But I’ve also been a lot *COUGH!* *COUGH!* worse. I’m okay, Beth. It’s just uhhh, been a long time since I last had Mimicking Disease. Turns out it hits harder when you’re a little older.” Rick said, forcing a laugh and trying to make himself sound normal. Morty picked up on that immediately.

“Dad, drop the act. I talked to Space Beth, so I know that it is at least two kinds of impossible for you to have Glopydropian Mimicking Disease.” Beth told him, her voice quickly going from concerned to annoyed and impatient.

“Shit. I forgot that.” Rick admitted.

“Uh-huh. I also know that you just have a cold, which is normally not something worth worrying about. But my son texted me because he’s concerned you might actually cough up one of your lungs. And frankly, you sound like you could. So without any further bullshitting, how are you, really? Do you need me to come home?” Rick winced at how badly he was failing at convincing Beth he was alright.

He finished off the contents of his flask for the second time that day, then, putting even more effort into trying to sound normal, said, “No, Beth. I sent you off to work at the asscrack of dawn specifically because I didn’t want you around to worry over this nuisance virus and get yourself sick trying to take care of me. It’s not necessary.” He forced back a sneeze – fuck, that hurt.

“I guess, but what Morty said…”

“Beth, come on. You know the kid’s a worrywart. You’ve spent 99% of your life on Earth – you’ve had colds before. You feel like shit, but there’s nothing that wrong with you, then you’re fine. *SNIFF!* I know you know this.”

“*SIGH!* You do have a point. But please take it easy. Lots of rest and fluids. And do we even have any medicine for this sort of thing?"

“Um, no. Morty checked and we don’t.” Rick lied quickly.

“Well, I doubt you included anything that practical on the massive list you threw at Summer, so I’ll get you something on my way home. You sure you’re okay until then?”

“Yes, sweetie. I’m *COUGH!* fine. Or going to be, at least. Here. Talk, talk to Morty again.” Rick said, tossing Morty’s phone back to him. He sneezed twice in a row and started coughing immediately after.

“Morty, keep an eye on your grandfather, okay? I’m sure he’s going to be alright, but just do that until I get home.” Beth instructed, listening to the sound of Rick’s harsh coughing in the background.

“Yeah, that’s the plan, Mom.”

“I do think he probably sounds worse off than he really is, so I’m not rushing home right now. But it’s slow today, and I have been here since the asscrack of dawn. So I should be able to leave a few hours early. Okay, honey?”

“Yeah, I can handle things til then. Thanks, Mom.”

Beth was about to say something else, when an alarm went off at St. Equis.

“Now what?” she sighed.

The doors burst open, and a man in blue scrubs charged in yelling, “We’ve got 10 patients incoming! We need all hands on deck!”

“10?! What the fuck happened?” Beth asked incredulously.

Before the other doctor could answer, a man in an old-fashioned circus ringmaster costume ran in, wailing, “Who would have thought that Horses On Ice: The Musical could end in disaster like this?! That is, besides all those protesters and the actors who walked out so I had to replace them with people I found at the bus station.”

Beth glared at him, then turned back to the other doctor and asked, “Do you mind if I?...”

“Go for it. The only reason I didn’t is because I knew you’d go harder.” he replied, grabbing up supplies from behind a counter.

Beth promptly slapped the ringmaster across the face, then without missing a beat, told Morty, “Sorry, looks like I’ll be home late. Take care of Rick, and if you get a chance, try to help your dad with whatever the hell he keeps texting me about. Or maybe just hide his phone. Love you!” “Right. Love you, too. Good luck with your horse crisis.” Morty sighed, shoving his phone back in his pocket. So much for having help soon.