#i am Maybe beginning to go Feral over these dorks

[sojourner-between-worlds]

Me: you know the Interest is getting Special when you make a playlist

Me, contemplating an l&co playlist: Oh No

[universal-kitty]

hi hello I am casually sliding into ur ask box to seek rambles of your Sun n Moon self-ship 👀 how was your s/i’s first meeting with them? Do they have any habits or methods for comforting your s/i? - @limey-self-inserts

@limey-self-inserts

LIMEYYYY, thank you sm for this ask!! I actually haven't gotten into detail w/ these dorks yet... 😳 Guess the day is today to talk about them!

For reference, there's two versions of this ship now, so I'll go over both of them! Starting with Night Guard SI.

Lowkey inspired by the wonderful fic, Solar Lunacy ( @bamsara ), River is a struggling, would-be artist who needed some cash. Turns out, local Pizzaplex is looking for a nightguard, they pay stupid-well, and the wacky hours... Well, suppose they've done worse than a funky sleep schedule, right?

Turns out, that high price was for a reason. Chaos abound, Sun's odd attitude, Moon's..............himself, and the rest of the crew. It's a lot, but also... Whatever. Local fan/nerd of AI is delighted to be surrounded by such smart machines and treats them as people unthinkingly. (But also a little thinking-ly, because they believe in that kinda thing. Don't think too hard about the times they've talked to themself or inanimate objects, though...)

On a sidenote, they're closest to Freddy. (Perhaps, predictably, given his oddly fatherly nature.) Chica wormed her way in there by force, Roxanne is cool (and she pretends so hard that she isn't touched by that), and Monty... Is Monty; respectable distance given.

To give better details, tho-!!

.: First Meeting :.

River started working in the daytime to first meet Sun. Essentially settling them in with the "better" half to the duo...with the hope of avoiding the other entirely, given how much of a menace [and beyond] he could be.

For better or worse, River and Sun get mutually attached. And it sort of rubs off on Moon, with a pinch of them refusing to simply give up on him or stay afraid. (For their own good, far as he's concerned.) Buuut it helps that they're horribly oblivious- in every way that matters- and stubborn to boot.

Perhaps the only downside to the relationship is Moon pushing them to sleep is...a not unfounded ask; River is terrible at having a consistent bedtime, even with the busywork the Pizzaplex passes down. Even with the drama of the animatronics around them. If anything, the exhaustion goes up, the fussing of the Daycare Attendant rockets up ever skyward. Perhaps, ironically, all things considered.

.: Methods / Habits of Comforting :.

☀️ Sun being the energetic one, his methods of comfort mean rarely slowing down unless the situation truly calls for it. (And even then, bouncing in place enough to count it as stimming behavior.) He likes to tease, play games, and generally try to get River to relax via... I guess you could say "childish" methods, but definitely aren't unfounded ideas, either.

They've started bringing their mobile console (totally not the Switch) to work sometimes- when active service hours are out and the lights will be on for a portion of the night- and Sun LOVES seeing their video game progress! Their village in one game delights him, and the pocket monster game... They both have too much fun with that one. Sun pets the lil guys sometimes, while River watches. (He doesn't wanna play battles, though. The idea of them fainting concerns him. Too much pressure!)

Is also the main 'bot to ensure River eats, and does so in a somewhat healthy way, for what little the Pizzaplex can offer.

🌙 Moon, on the other hand, is a lot more quiet with his comforts. A lot of comforts from his side involve relaxation, sleeping/naps, quiet time, and parallel play (typically with him lurking over River's shoulder in some way).

In the beginning, "parallel play" is a BIG thing for Moon. Kinda like a feral cat, he's content at keeping his distance and assisting where need be. Making sure they don't get hurt on the job. Maybe scurrying off and dropping treats into River's path/on their head. They're vending machine snacks. They can't really complain; food is food. Water or other drinks (commonly Fizzy Faz) are left on any table or flat surface Moon can find.

Later on, after he's able to relax some and become the naptime 'bot again, River starts trusting him more to be asleep around. They take a long time to fall asleep, so Moon immediately started finding ways to aid their naps or sleepovers; finding preferred plushies in the Plex, needling River into bringing/buying blankets to bring over, setting up a hammock, etc.

It's actually this kind of motivation that actually makes their private room get decorated quite a bit before the Pizzaplex goes up in flames... (And yet, he ensures the fires don't get to that stuff. Almost gains extra damage because of it; Sun and Moon are dedicated to protecting it.)

Post-Pizzaplex burning, Moon rebuilds the "cozy nest" in River's apartment. They get put in "time out" there whenever they get overworked, are overly stressed, and so on. Along with the addition of Moon nabbing their candles and comfort items to put in there...if he can get away with it.

...They do have a small, moon phases blanket that's a major comfort item, and that typically stays in the main bedroom. (Secondary room was more of an office/workspace, but Sun/Moon command it later on.) Moon lowkey preens over that information.

Sun, on the other hand, is just glad to be here. However, he does take every opportunity to mother hen all he wants now that he gets to personally see into the life River leads. (Which is about what he expected, if a little worse. Honestly! Why wait so long to throw away trash?! "When I get up next," do it sooner!! Messy, messy!)

And then... There's my animatronic SI! Currently nicknamed "Dancer" for lack of a name idea.

Made for Sun/Moon, it was management's hope that they would be able to keep the two in line. For Sun, less stress and ability to give kids more even attention with a companion. For Moon, to keep him in check and prevent (harm) any danger to the restless kids during naptime.

Their base comes from Ballora; essentially the ballerina has been remade into a playful, breezy assistant! A flowing gown, gentle elf ears, and peaceful, closed eyes. Even their body is padded, to aid in comfort when holding or carrying kids.

Much like Moon, they have a music box in their chest, and often dance while it goes off.

Although they are overall a pleasant addition and Sun adores them (Moon has complicated feelings), Dancer has, occasionally, been a problem for management. Hair sometimes catching on their joints and causing chaos. Paint getting on their hair. The occasional malfunction, as well. (Much to Sun's panic.)

On that note, though, Dancer and Sun/Moon rather balance each other out! Where Sun gets stressed, Dancer is able to soothe him into peace. Even Moon, who has complicated feelings for the assistant (to this assistant), appreciates their company. He's hesitant to ever admit it, but he likes their singing voice. (Sun, however, would admit that in an instant.)

[miutonium]

//cracks finger

God I really spend my time writing my thoughts on Utonium huh??? Its all over the place tbh because I slept for 4 hours today but shhh listen I need everyone to see how feral I am for this man oh my god-

I initially just want to talk about how he looks in each iteration that I know and watched (and for that reason i skipped the dance pantsed one) but i went overboard and talks a bit about his personality too smh

Its undercut because oof its long

Season 1-4 Prof

- He's more mature in the early seasons than later. Imo he acts more fatherly in here too. He gives good pep talks and I think he is more thoughtful and loving towards his kids as oppose to other seasons. If I ever mention I'm rewatching the show, just know that its always the season 1-4 range because a lot of my fav episodes of him are from that.

- Also do you know how much I love his squinty eyes? When his eyes shapes like a D? He looks so cute like that oh my god 😭😭😭💕

- Especially when his eyes squints into a crescent when he smiles? Ugh so precious I want to give him a kiss on the cheek and nose 🥺🥺🥺

- If you ever notice, I mostly draw him with squinty eyes for this reason. Idk I just find him to look adorable and he looks very lovable here.

I rate him 10/10. Everything about him is so perfect. This is totally the man I fell for ;w;

Season 5-6 Prof

- Noticeably dumber. His kids babysits him a lot in this one. He still loves his kids though and a few times I see him asserting his fatherhood here but he doesn't do his pep talk as often and if he does it's not as good as in the earlier seasons.

- Even though he's pretty childish and quirky in this one, I honestly still find him very lovable because I like to think that he's just starting to get the hang of being a dad and loosen up a bit. He's not entirely perfect but he is still the dumb dork I love.

- aww he lost weight :( gives me an impression that he doesnt eat enough or he's too busy to take care of himself :( I am going to fix this man (a snack)

- I personally calls this design pillbox prof because his face is longer and skinnier than early seasons

- Also lowkey a bit upset that they drop his squinty eyes. His eyes is fully circle now. The only time his eyes is squinty when he's mad or upset.

- Also in this one when he smiles, his eyes were half lidded but it's still fully circle

- However shhhh this Prof takes the cake for the majority source of my brainrot. I can't and will not shut tf up about Prof with his sleeve rolled up, Prof with his 5 o'clock shadow on and Prof with his dumb "No Pain No Pain" tshirt.

- He also looks taller here. Maybe its because of how skinny he is but also his proportion is more uniform here as oppose to early seasons where sometimes he looks quite short because the proportion is off.

I rate him 7/10. Half of it because he has his sleeves rolled up.

Reboot Prof

- Aww fuck where the fuck do I begin?

- Who is this man? I do not know him, I am not engaged to this idiot. He died in a freak lab accident ?? years ago. This man is an impostor, lock him up

- You know how I mentioned that later season Prof in the OG series is dumb but still a loveable dork? Reboot Prof should go to jail. I hate how fucking dumb he is holy fuck and he doesnt even look attractive being dumb. Stop it. Get help.

- I only watch 3 episodes of the reboot and a handful of clips and I already know how dumb this man is. Where is his phD?? Did he use his cert to roll up burritos??? Dumbass

- I truly believe the writer really thinks his dumb. He is not dumb, he is quirky. You can't tell me he doesnt know what the fuck soccer is and doesn't know how to pronounce soccer AND wave? Wa vey?????Fakoffffff 😭😭😭😭

- I also don't like how he babied his kids so fuckin much to the point they all took advantage of him? The dynamics in the OG show was that he created his girls because he wanted to become a father and he taught his kids whats good and bad and be firm, stern yet loving to them? I feel that reboot Prof fears them. He doesnt want them to grow up resenting him and realize they actually have power against him and it just rubbed me the wrong way.

- Okay shh this is controversial, I actually don't mind him being curvy at all. Sure the overall style of reboot is so unappealing to me but he would look out of place if he has edges if i were to be honest. As much as I love OG design Prof, he would stick out like a sore thumb have they make him sharp and edgy.

- They make him have squinty eyes again RUHROHH?????? Byeee im just gonna ignore how fuckin dumb he is and like tell him to stfu while I just stare at him and kiss him the whole day

- Also I actually love his streaks of gray hair? He actually ages and I go feral for it holy fuc-

- I hate to admit this but when I sleep at night, I stare at reboot Prof. This is so scandalous. I will not disclose which picture it is. Good night

God this is so hard to rate uhhh his personality is 0, but his looks is a 6 to me. Im down bad.

Okay now that I rate him, I need people to tell me how they feel about how I draw Prof. I can't rate mine because now that just makes me looks very self-centered lol im going back to sleep now byeee

[skinsharpenedteeth]

Coming Up Easy - First Sightings

I am *SO* sorry this is so hella late this week. It's been... a fucking week. CW: One mention of a homophobic slur.

You can also read this on AO3!

CUE - First Sightings

Unpacking boxes was not one of Alex’s favorite activities. He hadn’t had many when he’d moved because he hadn’t wanted to rent a truck or deal with shipping things, so the twelve boxes he’d been able to load into the late nineties Ford Explorer encompassed all his worldly possessions. He’d finally gotten a chance to start unpacking the miscellaneous boxes after a trip to Ikea for bookshelves, a bed, and a couch. Furthermore, he’d promised himself he’d explore his new city more and find second-hand shops for other household furniture and accessories, but the bookshelves would be enough to finally clear away the last of his unpacked boxes.

Alex opened the last box and looked inside. His heart softened a little as he saw the small shoebox of photographs he kept. Promising himself he’d look through it later, he unpacked the few other knick-knacks out of the box and took them to the bookshelves to start placing them. The box didn’t reenter his mind until after dinner when he found himself lounging across his new sofa with a cold beer in his hand. The box stared at him from the floor where he’d left it. Setting down his beer on the floor, he quickly got up and grabbed the box, and brought it back over to the couch. He flipped open the top and gingerly picked up the pile closest to him.

Michael and him in the desert with guitars. Liz, Max, Michael, and him at a church car wash. Michael, Kyle, and him all leaning against a bathroom wall in various stages of being phenomenally sick from drinking too much. Him and Michael hanging out at the UFO Emporium. Him and Michael eating pizza and playing video games at Max and Isobel’s. Him and Michael in college at a frat party. Him and Michael. Him and Michael. Him and Michael…

It hit Alex quite suddenly that basically since he and Michael had become friends they’d been fairly inseparable. They’d dated other people and had friends that the other didn’t like, but as a rule, it was always the two of them against the world and it had been since they were fifteen. He picked up his phone and snapped a photo of the photograph he held in his hand where they were sixteen, pimply, awkward, and bent over laughing outside the high school band room.

Me 8:46 p.m.>> Who the fuck are these dorks? <<Picture sent at 8:46 p.m.>> <<Michael 8:50 p.m.>> Holy shit, look at those nerds!! <<Michael 8:51 p.m.>> Though I gotta say, the emo one is pretty hot. If I were sixteen, I’d definitely have a crush on him. Me 8:52 p.m.>> You did not have a crush on me at 16! I was so tragic! <<Michael 8:53 p.m.>> You were not. You were fucking feral. You took exactly zero percent shit from anyone. It was hot as fuck. Me 8:55 p.m.>> You are definitely misremembering the amount of bullshit I put up with. <<Michael 9:00 p.m.>> Do you know what you were doing the first time I saw you?

Alex cast back in his memory. He remembered the first time he was aware of Michael, but not necessarily the first time Michael was aware of him. He always assumed it was at the same time.

Me 9:02 p.m.>> Uh? Scribbling emo song lyrics on my bio lab notebook? <<Michael 9:03 p.m.>> Nope. <<Michael 9:03 p.m.>> You were having a fight with Kyle during gym because he tagged your gym shirt with the word “faggot” in pink sharpie.

“Mr. Manes, you cannot wear shirts with inappropriate text on them. This is the gym. White shirts only,” Coach Heim called at Alex as soon as he walked out of the locker room and started towards where the rest of the class was lounging in the middle of the basketball court. Alex could see Kyle elbowing his football buddies and smirking, barely containing their laughter. Alex felt his face grow hot with embarrassment and fury. He kept walking towards the group.

“MR. MANES! GO CHANGE YOUR SHIRT!” the coach yelled, putting more authority into his deep baritone. He was a fit, balding adult who generally was an alright guy, but Alex was swelling with indignation. He stopped a few feet away from the group so he didn’t have to yell to be heard.

“I don’t have another shirt, sir. This is my gym shirt,” Alex explained through clenched teeth. As the rest of the class got a good look at the words emblazoned across his chest and stomach, he heard them begin to snicker and giggle quietly.

“Well, you can’t wear that one. You’re smarter than this, Alex, why would you wear this out of the locker room?” the coach asked, not sounding unkind. He shot the gathered students a dirty look and they quieted their laughter.

“Because it’s all I had to wear and it’s not my fault it was defaced. Some pink-fingered fucking COWARD of a football player must’ve thought it’d be REAL FUNNY to break into my locker and--” Alex started, voice growing louder as he let the heat behind his cheeks infuse his voice.

“I did no such thing!” Kyle yelled, cutting in on Alex. Coach Heim looked over at him, eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to say something, maybe to tell Kyle to sit down, but as soon as Kyle stepped forward away from his buddies, Alex pounced. He landed the first hit on Kyle’s cheek, the meaty smack of their skin satisfying to him. Kyle shook it off and came at him. Before he knew it, they were rolling on the ground hitting each other as hard as they could in anyplace visible. The pain was nothing new for Alex and he kept his head clear as he tried to aim for spots that would hurt long after he was pulled off.

Too soon, arms were wrapped around his chest and a much bigger body than his was pulling him back and off of where he’d pinned Valenti to the ground. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, his ears still ringing with rage, but he could see the thin trickle of blood from Kyle’s split lip and he felt himself smile at the shock on everyone else’s face as they watched him get dragged back. He would not take Kyle’s shit this year. He would not take anyone’s shit.

Alex rubbed his fingers across his eyebrows and sighed deeply. He had been so ready to cause someone else pain by then. His dad had only gotten worse towards him when Kyle started to pull away because it meant that his “unnaturalness” was evident to everyone. His fight then and the fights in the following year always had more to do with his dad than with him being ashamed of being gay. He put the photos down in the box and went to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. His phone chimed as he unscrewed the top and after a deep drink, he checked the message.

<<Michael 9:13 p.m.>> Uh oh, you’ve left me on read. You okay? Me 9:14 p.m.>> I’m fine. Sorry. Just got wrapped up in my head for a minute. Me 9:15 p.m.>> How did you see that? You weren’t in my gym class? <<Michael 9:16 p.m.>> I was hiding under the bleachers skipping english. Me 9:17 p.m.>> THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY! <<Michael 9:17 p.m.>> Right? Nothing to do anyway. It was fine. It’s in the past. I graduated high school, didn’t I? No harm, no foul.

Alex laughed quietly to himself, staring at the message screen. He went back to the couch and flopped back down across the cushions with a sigh.

Me 9:20 p.m.>> You did. Even graduated college. I guess you’re right. <<Michael 9:21 p.m.>> When do you remember seeing me for the first time? Me 9: 23 p.m.>> I feel like it was biology when we were lab partners. I was supposed to be with Max, remember? <<Michael 9:24 p.m.>> Yeah, I was with Liz. Max had no chill back then. How the fuck did it take Liz until senior year to notice that he liked her? Me 9:35 p.m.>> Had no chill? *Has* no chill.

“Michael! MI-CHAEL!” Max hissed loudly from his seat next to Alex two rows behind where Liz was sitting. The class period was just getting started and everyone was still milling around trying to find their assigned seats. Michael looked over his shoulder at Max who was looking desperately at him. Michael mouthed ‘what?!’ and gave Max an irritated glare.

“Switch with me!” Max whisper screamed. Alex was smirking into his notebook as he watched the exchange through the side of his eye. He hadn’t really noticed the curly-haired boy before, but the eye roll he gave Max was epic. He started to turn back to the front when Max whispered again. “I’ll pay you!”

Michael turned back around abruptly and narrowed his eyes.

“How much?” Michael asked, not whispering but keeping his voice low enough not to carry to the teacher who was about to start taking roll. Max looked desperately towards the front of the class at Liz’s back where she was ignoring what was happening beside her in favor of actually paying attention. She was about the only one.

“Fifty,” Max called out.

“Seventy-five and you buy my lunch for a week,” Michael countered. Alex was highly amused. Max darted his eyes over to Liz’s back again and nodded. Michael grabbed his stuff and moved quickly towards the back of the classroom while Max grabbed his stuff to go forward.

“Sorry!” Max called out to Alex softly before he left. Alex watched him slide into the seat next to Liz smoothly and take out his notebook. She looked over and smiled at him in confusion, turning to look back at where Michael was now taking his seat next to Alex. Alex looked over at him and was struck full in the face with his mischievous grin.

“That sucker, I would’ve done it for twenty-five,” Michael shared with Alex conspiratorially, leaning closer to him while he spoke so his voice wouldn’t reach Max’s ears. Alex felt himself blushing a little at the somewhat flirtatious smirk Michael was giving him. He’d been aware of Michael, but hadn’t really ever paid him any mind. Now he was near him, he could see the interesting light brown of his eyes somewhere between gold and green. He also smelled a little like lake water and the woodsy, spicy deodorant Alex had smelled on Mr. Valenti. It was weirdly comforting.

“So he has a thing for Liz or is he that afraid of failing bio that badly? I’m not stupid,” Alex asked, clearing his throat and trying not to seem offended by Max’s desperation to switch partners.

“Oh, he has a major thing for Liz. It’s gross. Like, she’s pretty, don’t get me wrong. But he’s been writing Mr. and Mrs. Ortecho-Evans in his notebook since third grade or some shit like that,” Michael revealed, taking out his own bio notebook from his bag and setting in on the lab table in front of him. Alex took in what he was saying and nodded.

“So it’s not cause everyone says I’m gay?” Alex asked, voice low and a little nervous to see Michael’s reaction. Michael looked over at him, eyebrows drawn together and something like sympathy passing over his expression before he responded.

“No, man. Max doesn’t give a shit about that and neither do I. You weren’t planning on trying to date him, were you?” Michael asked, shooting him a grin. Alex grinned back, relieved to hear that someone in the school who was so upstanding and obviously straight like Max wasn’t a complete jerk. Michael didn’t seem too bad either.

“Nah. He’s not my type. I like musicians,” Alex joked, shooting Michael a side-grin.

“You don’t say? Do you play?” Michael asked, eyes forward now in a semblance of paying attention to the teacher. Alex glanced up towards the board, but continued slouching over his lyrics notebook.

“Guitar,” he replied shortly as the teacher started explaining their first lab assignment.

“Cool. Me too,” Michael said. Alex could see him studying him out of the corner of his eye. “We should jam sometime.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

And they did jam together eventually. A week later they’d gotten together and Alex had learned that Michael did not know one end of a guitar from the other. He’d let Michael borrow his brother Greg’s guitar and then taught him everything he knew over the course of the next three months.

Me 9:40 p.m.>> Man. Who knew we’d still be friends this long after. <<Michael 9:45 p.m.>> I did. Once you taught me to play guitar, you were stuck with me for life. There’s an unbreakable bond built when one dude teaches another dude how to finger... Me 9:46 p.m.>> Jesus Christ. That was terrible. <<Michael 9:47 p.m.>> Bet you’re laughing though. Me 9:48 p.m.>> I plead the fifth. Also, I gotta get to bed. Early day tomorrow. <<Michael 9:50 p.m.>> That’s some responsible adult behavior right there. Gross. Me 9:51 p.m.>> You’re gross. <<Michael 9:52 p.m.>> I am gross. I’m going to take a shower and change that, however. When will you be young and fun again? Me 9:53 p.m. >> Shut up. Go take your shower. <<Michael 9:53 p.m.>> Fine. Go to bed. Think about me in bed. Me 9:54 p.m.>> *You* think about me in bed. <<Michael 9:55 p.m.>> Always do. Night Me 9:56 p.m.>> Night.

Alex heaved himself off the couch and went to his room. The apartment always seemed so dark and lonely when he finished talking with Michael. He needed to work on making friends. That would help him not miss him so much.

[prophxtslash]

Hi there! New here, and I love everything!! Long scenario, hope ya don’t mind! Right before Jason drowns, he has a best friend: you. Then, after several years, you somehow find yourself at Camp Crystal Lake. All the while, both dorks have had childhood crushes this entire time! Reaction to their reuniting? :3

Anon, how the fuck did you know that childhood friends to lovers is my shit??? I go fucking feral over this trope, thank you so much for your service!! Also, I tweaked it a little so the reader did go to Camp with Jason, in a modern-ish setting as well, so I have altered the year Jason drowned.

Also, I am so sorry this has taken so long. Please forgive me.

Under a read more cause this shit’s over 1000 words fucking christ. 

Redamancy

Standing before the abandoned camp, you realize that maybe you have made a mistake. Sure, the locals had warned you insistently that it was dangerous and those who ventured into the campground never returned and yet, despite their tales of sorrow and horror that surrounded the camp, you still persisted and made way toward the infamous Camp Blood.

Carefully avoiding a bear trap set at the  entrance, you wonder how long it had been since someone had last been here. Moss hangs over the sides of some of the cabins and wild flowers have grown and overwhelmed the remaining picnic tables. A doe pauses her lunch to curiously watch you traverse the grounds, her fawn wobbling on unstable legs to get a better look. 

You notice a stray canoe on its side, forgotten and crumbling as you brush away the dirt, revealing the engraving “101”. You frown at the number, memories creeping back in like tendrils from a fog.

This had been yours and Jason’s canoe. You remember pushing it out into the lake with Jason inside, happily cheering you on. You rowed around the lake, chatting amongst yourselves and enjoying the scenery and all it had to offer. It was just the two of you.

Then, you’re standing alone outside of the cabin, blanket wrapped around you and eyes hollow, unseeing, as Mrs.Voorhees sobs and crumbles against the officer, the police car’s lights dancing across the camp as the lake stood still, unaware of the tragedy it had brought.

You shake your head, willing yourself to return to the present and you step away from the canoe. Sparing it one final glance, you head towards the Head Counselor’s cabin. Gingerly opening the rotten door, you peek your head into the room, quietly closing the door behind you. Despite the grime and debris that has befallen it, the cabin still retains some sense of familiarity, with its colorful banners and bunk beds which the spiders have clearly made their home.

You wrinkle your nose in disgust at the dust and ash that has littered the place, a slight shiver coursing along your body. You remind yourself of your reason for being here and begin to head towards the filing cabinet. Skimming your fingers along the spines, you read aloud the names, furrowing your brows in concentration. You pause at one of the files, fingertips grazing the faded ink.

Voorhees, Jason (‘96).

Carefully removing the folder, you sit on the floor, paying no mind to the dust and dirt as you open the file. Jason’s ten year old self smiles up at you, with a younger version of you grinning as well, your pudgy arms wrapped tightly around the boy’s torso. The picture alone is enough to bring tears to your eyes and you quickly wipe them away, stifling a sniffle.

This picture had been the last evidence of a time before tragedy; a time where two friends had not a care in the world save for what was for dinner and if it was going to rain that day. 

A loud snap echoes in the cabin and you whirl around, dropping the picture in surprise. Before you can get away, you’re forced to the ground, effectively knocking the wind out of your lungs. You wheeze, punching weakly at your assilaint’s arm, voice hoarse and laden with terror. Your vision blurs, but from what you can tell, the man is wearing a hockey mask, and a weapon draws closer towards your heaving chest. Shutting your eyes, you scold yourself for not listening to those who had warned you and now, you are going to die.

The release you expect never comes, and both curiosity as well as utter fear force you to open your eyes. 

The man is staring at the picture, a gentle stillness to his form that shouldn’t be possible given both his stature and hostility. Yet, the more you observe, the sense of somehow knowing this man grows stronger, and you’re not sure whether that is good or not.

He turns his attention back towards you, and back to the picture again, as if comparing the two things before him. Something seems to click and he is off of you, back pressed against the wall as he stares, appearing to be in dismay. Confused, you slowly sit up on your elbows, returning the man’s gaze. You glance at the picture besides you, scanning the polaroid for any indication as to why it has altered his behavior. You return your eyes to the man, furrowing your brows.

Despite how crazy the connection sounds to you, it never hurts to try.

“Jason?”

He nods his head slowly, tucking his chin onto his knees as he curls into himself, suddenly shy at the sudden reveal. He waits for your reaction, pointedly keeping his face towards the ground as you process the situation at hand. 

“Well, it’s been quite some time, hasn’t it? It’s…It’s good to see you again.” You finally say, attempting to smile as a grimace takes hold instead.

This doesn’t seem to matter to Jason, as his demeanor shifts and he sits up straight, excitedly scooting towards you in an attempt to draw closer to you. A part of your heart aches for him, thinking of how long he must have been here alone, especially after the horrible fate that had befallen his mother. Yet, another part rears back, both frightened and repulsed by what your once childhood friend has become.

Despite these two reactions fighting for control over your response, one wins out, and once you look up at him, you manage to smile, for real this time.

“Would you mind showing me around? It’s been quite some time since I’ve been here and I believe we have a lot to catch up on.”

Jason hurriedly rises to his feet, swiftly dusting the dirt off of himself. Once satisfied he is decent enough, he offers a hand to you, a slight waver to his movements, as if he’s afraid you’re going to reject him.

You beam up at him, and accept his hand graciously, keeping a warm hold on it as he leads you outside, a bounce to his step and a sweeping relief in your mind.

[inkedmyths]

Evening Breeze

Here it is!! After so long! More Feral!

This one's pretty soft ngl

---

Night had long since settled. The skies were clear, giving Twilight a perfect view of the stars. It was fascinating, really. He didn’t think he recognized any of the constellations. Was this Hyrule the same one he’d walked across, just countless years in the future? Or was it some sort of parallel plane of existence? He had no idea, and perhaps was putting too much thought into it. Did it really matter, in the end?

Wild had drifted off to sleep moments before. He wasn’t sure exactly how comfortable the boy was in the position he’d fallen asleep in, legs tucked close and body curled at an odd angle, but he wasn’t about to question it as it seemed it worked well enough for the younger Hero. Perhaps, he decided, the less he questioned about Wild, the better.

He couldn't see Feral nearby, and glanced around momentarily. Had he wandered off somewhere? He was still concerned about the outcome of the earlier conversation. A quiet sound met his ears, and he whipped his head towards the source in surprise.

Feral was leaning against a tree nearby. That wasn't necessarily odd, but Twilight was surprised to see he had a ukulele in his hands and was quietly strumming it. With a glance at Wild's sleeping form, he pushed himself to his feet and quietly made his way to where the shadow was sitting.

He paused midstrum, looking up. "What's up?"

"Nothing, really," Twilight said, shrugging. "Came to see what you were doing. Where'd you get the ukulele?"

"I carry it around." That answered exactly nothing, but Twilight decided it wasn't important. Though it did raise the question of if Feral had his own storage. He obviously didn't have his own slate, so…

He shook the thought away. Not important, and he suspected the answer would give him a headache. "Didn't think you were the musical type," he said instead, sitting beside him.

Feral shrugged. "Fair enough, but I'm far more musical than Blondie Bumble-fingers over there," he said, nodding at Wild's sleeping form.

"That so?"

"Oh yeah. He couldn't play three notes in tune if his life depended on it." He strummed a chord. "Not a bad singer, though. It's pretty funny actually. Can sing, can dance, but hand him an ocarina and you're treated to the most offkey playing of a nursery rhyme you've ever heard."

Twilight snorted. "But you can?"

"Sure thing." Feral grinned. "I've used this here instrument to annoy the hell out of many an enemy. The banana fuckers give the best reactions, but it's fun to lead lynels on a wild chase while improvising a song on exactly how ugly they are."

"So it's a tool of chaos?"

"Of course!" Feral paused a moment. "Well, part of the time, anyway. I do actually play. Like, real songs, I mean."

Twilight nodded thoughtfully. They sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "So… how'd you pick it up in the first place?"

Another pause. "It's been a while. But… it was the first time we visited Lurelin Village. It's a little place on the coast, a fishing town. Nice place, good people. We go down there when we're in the area, sometimes take a raft out to sea and hang out, look for treasure."

An image flashed to Twilight's mind of another Hero, younger than them, with a freckled face kissed by the island sun, hair swept by the ocean breeze, and sea green eyes. Wind would love Wild when they met, he was sure of it. "Sounds nice."

"It is. So, anyway, one day we were wandering around, doing our normal thing. And we passed by this dude with a group of kids at his feet, and he had a ukulele and was strumming a song and singing with them." Feral strummed the instrument in his lap, replaying the chords in his mind. He was silent again.

"What song?" Twilight asked after a moment.

"Well, I think he played a few. The one I really remember…" He played a few chords, and a familiar tune stood out, and now Twilight was reminded of a different Hero.

"Zelda's Lullaby," he said, reminded of a quiet night where the eldest Hero had taken first watch, playing the tune on his beloved ocarina.

Feral nodded. "You know, I'm not sure why I stopped. It's not like I had any reason to when there were other things to do. I guess I was curious about it, so I stayed and listened for a little while." He fingered the strings, more fidgety than actually playing. "The guy, Cloyne, noticed me, and beckoned me over. Asked me if I knew any songs or knew how to play. I said no, of course. Asked if I wanted to learn how to play something. I said sure. Maybe it's just another quirk of mine or something, but I caught onto the simple chords pretty quickly. It was actually pretty fun, and I liked it, so I stuck around a little while."

It was an odd mental image, Feral among ordinary Hylians, singing and playing a song, but perhaps not an overly outlandish one. If you didn't pick up on his too-bright eyes and cold skin, it was easy to pass the shadow off as one of the Sheikah. Perhaps that's what they did. He'd have to ask about that at some point.

"Of course I left a little later with Link, but before we left the village path, he stopped me and asked about the playing. I shrugged and said it was just kind of something that happened on a whim. Link being the way he is pressed further, asking if I enjoyed it and had fun. I said sure, because it was, and then…" Feral smiled down at the instrument, shaking his head. "That blond idiot ran all the way back to the village to run around and ask anyone if they had an extra he could buy."

Twilight laughed. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, he did, and ran around from building to building until he found someone with one they were willing to sell. Proudly marched back up the path and presented it to me, telling me to learn how to play whatever I wanted. So here I am, playing whatever I feel like."

"That's a little ridiculous, but from what I've seen of Wild, completely believable."

"Yeah," Feral laughed. "He's a dork like that. It wasn't the first or the last time he did something like that, too."

"Some sort of compulsive gift giver?"

"A little, yeah. It's more like he goes out of his way to help people and show them he cares, y'know?"

Twilight hummed, smiling. Yeah, he could easily picture that being a trait of the younger Hero. All of the Heroes had something like that, in a sense. A drive to help others. An inherent kindness. He himself traveled cross-continent to help others.

They said nothing for a while, the only sounds being the faint rustling of leaves and the soft plinks of the strings as Feral brushed his fingers across them. Twilight found himself beginning to grow tired, the day's traveling and the incident with the Lynel catching up with him. He rubbed his face in an attempt to stay present.

"You can sleep, you know." Twilight glanced over as Feral spoke. "It's been a long day. I can keep watch."

"You sure?"

"Of course. Besides, I'll probably do a better job of it than you." The shadow grinned. "Perks of being nonmortal: I don't need to sleep."

That was certainly a perk. "Can't argue with that. Wake me up if there's trouble, though?"

Feral shrugged. "No worries. If anything worth knowing immediately happens, expect a face full of Energizing Elixir."

Twilight made a face. "On second thought, I'll stay awake."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Feral snickered.

He frowned. After the frog incident, he wasn't so sure. Though, speaking about nonmortal… "Are you doing alright? After earlier, I mean. I know it was… a lot."

Feral quieted. "Yeah, I'm okay. Like, it doesn't surprise me, I mean. I told you before, I'm well aware I'm the exception to the rule." There was a weight to his words, something being implied there, though Twilight couldn't be sure what. "I guess I'm just… on edge."

"How so?"

The shadow looked him in the eye, growing unusually serious. "Look, I may not know everything about what's happening, but I do know this: other things like me out there? Things that have ill intent? That are completely unchecked, unbound, with no thought to anyone else's well being? That's bad. Really bad."

His throat tightened. "It is."

"I don't like that situation with the Lynel. If what you said is true, and there are more monsters out there that are affected like that, then that puts a lot of people in danger." He glanced towards where Wild lay sleeping. "People here are just beginning to get out and explore, see the world, rest easy. If they get hurt or worse by this…"

"I know. Believe me, I know." Twilight thought of Ordon village, surrounded by forest. Forest that could all too easily hide infected monsters. "That's why we're here. Why we're looking. It's a Hero's job to protect people, and that's what we're going to do."

"Of course. I'll be there too." His signature grin returned to his face. "I want to find out what it's like to punch another shadow in the nose."

Twilight snorted. "Maybe you'll just pass through each other."

"Or maybe his face will explode."

Groaning, he covered his eyes. "That is not a mental image I needed. Now I'm more tired than before."

Laughing, Feral waved him off. "Go to sleep then, Frog Foot. I'll let you know if I punch anything."

Rolling his eyes, Twilight stood up and returned to where he'd set out his stuff for the night. He glanced at Wild, who was still fast asleep, and now in a somehow more uncomfortable looking position. What a pair these two were. He settled down, giving the tree where Feral was sitting one last look before he closed his eyes.

Just in case, though, he slept face down.

[alj4890]

Prompt Request/Rachel Green Quotes Prompt

(Jax Matsuo x MC*Amy) with the prompt "I will kill you." As requested by @krsnlove​

(Jax x Amy) A Choices Bloodbound fan fiction.

A/N Going all the way back to book 1 once again for these two. I decided to start with the scene where they have narrowly escaped with Adrian after the betrayal over the serum in his office. The group is in one of Jax's safe houses.

Masterlist

@krsnlove​ @desireepow-1986​

That's It?

I sit down against the cold concrete wall and try to get my heart to resume it's normal rhythm. After bursting through a window and dropping from one building to another in my employer's arms, I'm surprised I haven't gone into cardiac arrest.

Perhaps I have had a heart attack and this is simply my brain's last bursts of images showing me the impossible.

My eyes dart from one vampire to another.

At least these are my friends.

I need to seriously reevaluate my choices in life.

If I survive.

"Amy?"

I look up as Jax sits down beside me. He drapes his arm around my shoulders and tugs me close to his side.

"You're safe now." He whispers.

I snort and let out a slightly hysterical laugh. If he could read minds, he would know that there is no such thing as safe anymore.

How could I be safe after angering the other clans of vampires.

Dead girl walking, people. Right here, is a juice box to the first vampire that catches me.

My sense of humor leaves much to be desired.

Jax's warm fingers rub up and down my arm, trying to soothe the tension thrumming through my body. My skin tingles with the memories of being alone with him in the Shadow Den. Every moment seemed like a dream. Every touch. Every kiss. Every caress.

Why did that mind blowingly incredible time have to end so quickly?

Adrian clears his throat and struggles to stand up. All eyes go to him.

"Rest." Kamilah urges. "You're not strong enough yet."

"I might never be." He tells her. "Taking all the serum has," he struggles to concentrate. "It's going to be in my system for days. We have to keep moving."

"Where?" She asked. "Vega and the others know all our--"

"I have a place." He interrupted, running a hand down his clammy skin. "Upstate. A cabin in the woods."

"You have a cabin?" She exclaims. "A place I don't know about!?"

He shrugs and turns toward the rest of us. "We need to leave."

Jax stands up beside me. He tosses a set of car keys toward Kamilah. "It's all gassed up with provisions."

I jerk my head around. "You're not coming with us?"

"I have to stay and protect the clanless." His intense eyes soften as he gazes down at me. "With a war between the clans, my people will be cannon fodder."

"But--" I can't seem to get the words out.

As if knowing what I'm about to ask, he steps closer and caresses my cheek. "You could--" he swallows nervously. "You could come with me."

My heart swells. He does want me. I bite down on my lip. "I can't." I reach out and grip his jacket. "I owe it to Adrian after all he did for me to see this through."

Jax nods and takes a step back. The distance feels like a canyon. His sad smile makes me long to tell Adrian to fight his own battles without me.

"We have to stop parting like this." He says, grasping my hand.

"I'm coming back." I vow. Though, honestly, I'm probably going to die. "I'm going to return to the Shadow Den and you."

His grip tightens and he pulls me into a fierce hug. "Stay safe."

"You too." I notice his smirk and shake him. "I mean it, Jax! You better be alive when I return or I will kill you myself."

He chuckles. "Good luck with that."

I press a quick kiss to his lips, wishing we didn't have three other people watching us.

"I'm going to stay behind too." Lily says.

Seriously?! My own best friend newly turned vampire is going to let me, a mere wimpy human, go fight God knows what on my own?

"And if it's okay with Jax, I'm going to join the clanless." Lily adds. "Adrian, I can never thank you enough for giving me this life, but I fit in better with those in the Shadow Den."

Oh well this is just the icing on the freaking cake. She gets to go off with my--argh!

Adrian smiles in understanding. "Whatever you wish." He struggles to the door and motions for me and Kamilah to follow. "I hope everything works out." He pauses midstep and focuses on Jax. "Once this is over, Kamilah and I will make certain the clanless have a place on the council."

Jax's body tenses. "I'm holding you to that Raines."

Lily gives me a hug and makes me promise to be safe.

Backstabbing traitor, who I unfortunately adore and understand. Lily's only a fighter on video games. Still though. Something's wrong with this situation.

I step out into the night and get into the backseat of the car. I turn my head and catch what might be my one last glance of the man I fell so hard for.

I still can't believe this is goodbye. I feel everything for him. I think he might feel the same about me. Who knows?

Will I ever find out?

I lay down and try to sleep as Kamilah drives. Exhaustion of the mental, physical, and heart variety have taken its toll.

I am only human after all.

I awaken to the car bumping through a heavily wooded area. We weren't even on a dirt road.

"Adrian?" Kamilah's tone is laced heavy in doubt. "Are you certain this is--"

"It's just up ahead." His voice sounds a little stronger.

Then we see it. A rough three room cabin sits nestled in the deep forest.

Come to find out, it's the cabin Adrian had built for his wife and child when he was human. Built in the late 1700s, before the American Revolution began.

Yeah, I'm still wrapping my mind around it too. Don't even get me started on Kamilah and her ancient Egyptian ruling days. Some things were best left unquestioned.

After food and brief discussions about Adrian's family, I curl up in a sleeping bag in front of the fireplace.

I can't stop thinking of Jax. Was this it? Would I ever see him again? Even if I do survive, will he be upset I chose to help Adrian over staying with him?

Too many questions that I don’t have any answers for. No use dwelling on it now. I close my eyes and dream of being with him. Hearing his voice. Seeing that smile appear before he rolls his eyes at my corny sense of humor. Feeling his arms around me. His lips on my skin.

Needless to say, I don't awaken well rested.

Night has fallen once more. As we sit around a table drinking coffee, we hear it.

Vega and Nicole have found us.

And for some reason they are in a semi truck.

I turn toward the other two and see the perplexed expressions on their faces. Adrian breaks a chair and hands me a splintered leg.

A stake. Great.

We step outside, do a little prefight trash talking, and then Nicole hits a button.

The growls. The snarls. Oh my--

"Get in the cabin!" Kamilah yells at me as a horde of ferals come tumbling out the back of the truck.

Don't have to tell me twice. I run inside and try to keep from hyperventilating. Ferals. Why did it have to be ferals?

Glass explodes into the room. A gray, snarling feral rises up and eyes me.

"Oh sh--" I dodge him and somehow find an opening. I drive my stake so far into his chest that I have him pinned to the wall.

Our eyes meet, and I see the mindless rage turn to shock right before he turns to ashes.

"Amy! Are you--" Kamilah comes bursting through the door. She sees the blackened stake in the wall and the pile of ashes at my feet. Her smile of approval forms for a split second.

"We have to do something or we aren't going to make it. There's too many of those creatures." She grips her twin daggers and glares out the window.

We see Adrian struggling as he fights. Ferals begin to surround him.

"We need a distraction to divide the horde." Kamilah focuses on me. "If you would be willing."

Willing? Crap. "I'll be live bait." Did that seriously just come out of my mouth? Since when did I become so self sacrificing?

Kamilah promises to take out the ones that chase me.

Ha. Great.

Before I have time to think of the numerous ways this plan could go wrong, I run out and wave my arms in the air. "HEY! TASTY HUMAN OVER HERE!"

Too many of them turn toward me. Adrian stares, dumbfounded at what I'm doing.

Yeah Adrian, I know it's stupid too.

"Amy, NO!" He shouts.

Too late, I turn around and slide a few steps in the mud before sprinting further into the dark woods.

I can hear the blood pounding in my ears followed by an orchestra of growls and numerous feet crunching through the leaves.

"Don't look back. Don't look back." I chant, trying to psych myself up. If I can’t see them, then maybe I can pretend I’m not about to die.

I then hear the snarls cease one by one.

I peek behind me and see Kamilah take out the last few that had followed me.

Adrian brings up the rear, crushing a feral's skull between his hands.

We look back at the remaining ferals, charging toward us. We all know there is no hope we will survive.

Kamilah reaches a hand out to Adrian. "It's been an honor to fight with you, brother."

He smiles at the endearment she only used on him.

I ignore their tender goodbye. So that’s it? This is how my story is going to end? Ripped apart by monsters? I know I should be grateful for the time I have spent with my friends. But Jax! I was supposed to be with him. Should be with him. If I have to die, why couldn't it had been with one last look at his rugged handsomeness? One last kiss? 

This royally sucks.

I lower my head and spot a broken tree branch. I bend down and grasp it firmly in my hands.

"KILL THEM ALL!" I yell.

Kamilah and Adrian stare at me with mouths agape.

"Ride or Die people!" I'm such a dork for saying that outloud.

A feral comes charging at me then freezes. We both look down at the arrow buried in his chest. He bursts into ashes.

"BOOM! Kill shot!" Lily shouts from her perch in a tree.

If she's here, then maybe--

"Jax!" I run into his arms.

"I saw Vega leaving in a semi and knew something was up." He cups my face. "I couldn't let you face this alone."

Lily jumps down. "We're not the only ones."

I look behind them and see numerous clanless vampires coming out of the darkness. Along with them are the prisoners that Jax, Adrian, and I freed from the Baron's dungeons.

"You," Jax says proudly, "have made a lot of friends."

Tears prick my eyes. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.

Wow, that man knows how to take a tense life or death moment and sear into my skin the feel of his lips. He lets me go, hands me a crossbow, and winks.

"When this fight is over, you and I are going back to my place." His seductive smile forms as he pulls his katana free. "Alone."

I have never been more motivated to fight.

With such enticing motivation, is it any wonder that we won?

And I definitely won, once I was back in those snug quarters with my shadow warrior.

Safe at last in his embrace: the very spot that would now forever be mine and mine alone.

[1-800-seo]

— 1-800-SEO'𝗌 ᪥ '𝖲𝗈𝗅𝗈 𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗀𝖾' — \ 1 | 2 /

— 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀: 𝗃𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

— 𝗀𝖾𝗇𝗋𝖾: 𝖿𝗅𝗎𝖿𝖿 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝗇, 𝗀𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾!𝖺𝗎, 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗋!𝖺𝗎, 90'𝗌,

— 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌: 2569

— 𝗌𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒: 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 90'𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖩𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗀𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐

Your fingers stick together as you apply some facial glitter to your cheek bones. “Yo, I think this face glitter is off, y’know” you say to your best friend Taehyung who is on the other side of the room, staring into the mirror, attempting to smoke out his eyeliner.

“Didn’t you get it off Kami? It was probably bought like a decade ago, and it’s only just resurfaced from her neon coloured makeup collection. ‘83 through ‘87 were wild, can’t believe people used to wear all that colourful crap.” He said, trying his best not to smudge his handy work, his face showing amusement.

“Ok, mister punk rocker, don’t go all cynical on me. You forget that I still have your baby pics with you and all your neon sportswear on, thinking you look so fly. Oh, and and don’t let me forget about your bright pink sweatbands! They were abominable.” You break out into laughter remembering all of his cute little baby jump suits. He looked like he was going skiing because they were all so padded.

“Oh eat my shorts, you know I’m a changed man now, grunge has taken ahold and I am never going back to” he dramatically shivers “bright colours. Never again.” He feigns a retch and turns back to the mirror to adjust his hair.

You were both in your bedroom, getting ready for hopefully the best concert of your life. You were going to see one of the best vocalists of the generation, in your opinion. Jeon Jungkook, also known as Jeon JK, is a tall, dark haired, leather clad, heartthrob that had weaselled his way into your heart, and pretty much held it tight. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t want to do him. Amongst having a rocking bod, he also is an amazing song writer, total cutie/dork, and most likely a general nice dude with a good personality. What wasn’t their to like?

So this is how you found yourself, and your best friend Taehyung, in your most grungy outfits you could make under a budget and about to go to a hopefully life changing concert.

Tae turned around from the mirror, “Tada! Do I look okay?” His eyes were gently smudged with not over the top eyeliner and his hair was slightly tousled. It had begun to grow over his eyes so he kept on sweeping the dark locks behind his ears. It matched well with his slightly too large black overalls and light grey tshirt. Over the tshirt he wore a checkered short sleeve shirt with black thick piping on the edge, a detail he’d added himself. All in all he looked like a grunge dream, he’d totally mastered the look.

Unlike your self ripped denim, stolen-from-Tae pearl jam shirt, and leather jacket, you didn’t really look very appealing in your own head but you figured it that was the best you could do so you’d just have to rock it.

“You look ravishing, my dude. King Kurt would say you look bangin’ and that’s honestly all you ever need in life, right?” You laugh at your own joke but it’s less awkward because Tae joins in too.

“Thank you! Right, come on Joan Jett 2.0 shall we hit the road? We don’t want to miss the opening act, do we?” He pulled on his doc martens and soon you were off.

☆:.｡.🥀.｡.:☆

As soon as you saw his face you had to pinch yourself. He looked so good it had to be surreal, it had to be a dream. His boyish long curly hair fell into his dark eyes, his cuffed baggy T-shirt, his ripped jeans, the sweat dripping down his neck, he was a heavenly vision. He looked like some type of Greek god among mortals. His smooth voice crooning out rich and melodiously. It was dulcet and velvety, yet full and powerful too. This man was, quite simply, enchanting.

You break out of the spell this magical pied piper put you under and lock eyes with Taehyung. He’s singing along to the words, eyes wide and full of awe. He’s putting his height to his advantage, he can see much better than you. “Oh so kind Tae Tae?” You shout over the guitars and drums blasting ahead of you. “Yeah?” “Can I please sit on your shoulders?” You say as cutely as possible whilst shouting over a live band. “I don’t know, we might block others view though.” He says eyes still locked on the brown haired boy ahead.

“Never mind them, I can’t see, I’m short!” You put your hand to your forehead and pull it upwards to make the point. “Fine...but you owe me big time.” He says rolling his eyes but a smile on his lips.

He pulls you up just as Jungkook throws his head back to the beat of the song. Damn, that was hot. A wave of heat flows up your body and you feel your blood run straight to your cheeks.

Thank goodness you got on Tae’s shoulders; you can see so much easier now, you can see well over everyone else, the slight swaying of Taehyung balancing himself is a small price to pay for getting to see the one and only specimen ahead.

Suddenly the song shifts, the guitars and drums crescendo and JK’s voice goes from velvety smooth, to something alike ice. Laced with something that can only grab your attention, sharp yet still smooth at the same time. The music was unfamiliar, the drummer begun a solo and JK swayed his hips. Then the drummer stopped and the guitarist started the opening chords to their latest single... so that’s why the sudden shift, it’s a mashup.

“That’s so cool!” You shout to Tae and then scream to show your approval.

Swiftly, the crowd surges forward and because of this so does Taehyung. You try your best to hold on to his shoulders, you’re approaching the barrier, much closer than earlier. All of a sudden Tae jerks forward, having reached the barrier and no more room to go, his body lurches and along with him, you. You tumble over the railings, legs hitting the metal as you go head first.

Head aching with pain and dust on your hands, you look up. You find yourself in the “no man’s land”, the small space between the barriers and fans, and the stage and the artist. You hold your head as you cautiously stand up and a familiar face turns in surprise. He spots you and perfectly ends his note as he powerfully walks over. Luckily it’s the instrumental outro so it doesn’t seem to alert anyone things are wrong; he crouches down to you, the stage separates you both but he makes the gap smaller.

“You ok, doll? That looked like quite a tumble you had there.” He soothed as he gently placed his hand over yours, resting it on where you bumped yourself. He stroked your cheek softly, consoling you. “I’m ok, I think, just a little dizzy.” Shooting pains were stinging your temple but like hell were you gonna show your true pain. “Let me help you.” He takes your hand in his and plants a gentle kiss on your forehead. “All better?” He asked.

“I think so. Although my elbows kinda hurt from the impact.” Your brain registers you’re actually holding hands with THE Jeon Jungkook and you feel your heart just about burst from your chest.

“I’m a tad concerned you may have a concussion darling, so I’ll take you back stage in a hot minute and I’ll get you some help. Just hold on here for me.” His dark eyes had a gentle expression, something new than what he usually has on stage. They sometimes look almost feral; like he’s going to jump someone’s bones. Not that you mind, however this was new and made your heart beat just the same, especially because you were the one who made him look so soft and fond.

The tall fellow rose and strode over to the centre stage. He languidly grasped the mic stand and began to sway to the rhythm. The guitars and drums began to fade out and the middle of the stage slowly started descending until his tousled hair was out of sight. You now realised this was the beginning of a ‘halftime’ break.

Soon enough Jungkook came running round the side of the stage and he bent down to where you were sat.

“Right, let’s get you sorted doll.” He grabbed both hands in his and gently and hesitantly helped you stand up. Once you were stood he put his arm around your waist and wrapped yours around his.

No way were you so close to your giant crush, never mind in an intimate embrace. Your brain struggled to process the whole thing and tried it’s best to act normal. Your brain was short circuiting and your heart pounding away; if you don’t die of a concussion, you’ll certainly die of a heart attack.

He quickly and fluidly moved you to the back stage area, escaping the roar and hungry eyes of the fans.

Once you were sat down on a plastic chair and he left to alert the medical staff, you began to shiver. Mainly out of nervousness and excitedness but quite possibly because you miss the warmth of his arm around you too. However as soon as he was gone he returned and had his arm tucked neatly around you again.

Why was he being so touchy? Was this just fan-service? Or maybe he is just like this when he is worried? Either way, it doesn’t stop the chill his warm touch sends up your side as his fingers brush against your hipbone.

All this time waiting for medical staff gives you a great opportunity to admire him. His visuals were so much more than stunning, they were quite simply unfathomable at times. A bead of sweat dripped down his temple and your mind can’t help but spin. His plain black T-shirt sticks to his stomach and you can see the faint outline of muscle. You look down to the hand around your waist. It’s broad and sinewy, a large vein running down the centre. His touch is gentle and caring, something you never expected from a stranger, never mind someone as famous as him.

You want to stay in this sticky plastic chair forever. “How are you feeling?” He asks, breaking you from your wild thoughts. “Not too bad, thank you for helping me, you really didn’t need to do this.” You reply, cheeks turning rose red.

“No, really, don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do, you take your time to come here and support me, and for me to not help you up? That would hurt me inside. I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better though, that was a nasty tumble you took there doll, I hope your boyfriend is ok too?” He stiffens beside you, it’s as if as soon as he says it he realises what he said. “Oh no no, Tae’s not my boyfriend.” You run your hands across your thighs, a nervous reaction.

“Oh thank goodness, I only just realised how it could’ve looked, and I know I’d be ragin’ if some meathead like me touched my girl.” His body relaxes, and his hand grazes your hipbone for the second time. It feels like internal static electricity at his sudden touch, you hold in from jumping at it. “Do you have a girl?” You query, thoughts tripping over themselves to catch up. His ‘thank goodness’ reaction was certainly unexpected.

Was he relieved because he didn’t want you to look like you were cheating? Or because he could freely make advances without another guy in the picture? Or both? Either way your mind raced trying to keep up with everything, forehead still stinging in the background.

Eventually the medical staff turn up and sort you out, check you over to see if you have any insurance claimable injuries and bid your adieu with two tiny butterfly stitches over a cut you never knew you had.

JK walks you back to the stage floor, pulling you by the hand. He stops right before the last set of doors. “I’m sorry this happened, I’ll try and get health and safety sorted, but I’m not sorry we met, I’d love to say sorry to you in anyway possible though, so would I be able to get your number? I’d love to spend a good time with you, darling, some time when you aren’t in physical pain.” He jokingly adds in. The hazed over eyes that were once under the bright lights are now clear and genuine. You don’t even know how to feel anymore, everything is so much for you. You’d be stupid not to give your biggest most unlikely-to-reciprocate-crush your number, however it takes a moment to even register what to do. After what feels like forever, your body finally registers and you tell him your digits, as well as your email because your overwhelmed brain spills everything out by accident.

“Thank you for not reacting like a crazy screaming fan, this has been the best interaction I’ve ever had because you’ve treated me like a normal human.” He stammered. You look up to meet his eyes, they look intrigued, like he’s working out a puzzle. You’ve never seen him like this. Not performing. You guess you’ve never really contemplated how he is when he’s not performing, because you’ve never truly seen it. “I think I didn’t react like that because my head is about to explode at the moment, however you are still human, so we all deserve to be treated like humans.” You declare. You don’t know how you speak so frankly, it’s a miracle you haven’t passed out. “Very wise words.” He nods in approval,

“I’m sorry but I’m going to have to leave now doll, but it was lovely meeting you and I hope you enjoy the rest of the show!” He kisses your cheek like a date leaving for the night and jogs off down the maze-like alleys of the under-stage area.

What just happened? You stand in the hall in shock. Did Jeon JK actually just hold your hand, kiss your cheek, put his arm around your waist, AND take care of you? This was all too much. You decided to ponder it all later before you had an aneurysm and enjoy what was left of the night.

You walk through the doors and find your best friend in the sea of people. He wears a worried look and is right by the railing where you fell. “What the hell just happened? Are you okay?!” He barked. His hair was pushed back like he’d been running his hand through it, a nervous habit you knew he had.

You reach up your arms to him like a toddler and he pulls you up and over the barricade as easy as if you weighed nothing. He sets you down and looks at you, worried.

“As much as I want to tell you now I think my brain might explode so as curious as you are I’m going to tell you this all at home. However I assure you, I am fine.” You giggle at how absurd this all is, pulling Tae into a hug. It stabilises you and helps you know that you are real and you’re ok. This isn’t a dream and no matter how bad your head is banging it’ll all be clear soon.

The rest of the night passes by in a hazy euphoric blur.

[pen-masta]

Paradise’s Plight Part 8[End]

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8[End]

Martha calls and tells him to be at her room at four o’clock and he agrees, Castel showers and changes into the nicest dress clothes he can find in his suitcase. With their plan in his mind he walks down to the Bates Hotel with his head high. As he rides the elevator to the top floor his heart doesn’t pound, he feels no fear for what is about to happen. He knows he has the upper hand.

He knocks on the door of room 1001 and he is greeted by a smiling Martha.

“Castel!” She grins, “So glad you could make it darling. Please come in.”

Castel smiles and walks in. He is a little taken back by the magnitude of the room, it is absolutely enormous. High ceiling with beautiful crafted crown molding, sparkling chandelier, and decorated with magnificent paintings. His eyes travel back to Martha who is decked out just as much as the room. A luxurious purple gown with pink accent, that floats down to her knees. The top is cut to show more cleavage than necessary and there is only one strap on her right shoulder. It looks like she’s curled her hair as it hangs down brushing her shoulders. She smiles sweetly at him from across the room and motions for him to sit down.

“Please have a seat Cas,” she says and walks over to a small drink table. “You’re still a Scotch man yes?”

“Yes,” he nods and slowly sits down on the blue couch.

“I’m so glad you came,” she says and walks back with two glasses.

“Happy to be here,” he smiles.

She looks a little surprised, “You are?”

He nods as she sits next to him, “Yes very much so.”

“Wow, honestly I’m quite surprised,” she smiles and sips her liquor. “You seemed so apt to leave during our last meeting, I was sure you’d be dreading this.”

“Well I was,” he sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “But then you sent those beautiful flowers,” he smiles lustfully at her. “And that wonderful assortment and that sweet card...and something changed within me.”

She blinks and sets her glass down on the coffee table, “Oh...really?”

“Yes,” he nods and knocks back his glass of Scotch. He sets his empty glass next to hers, “I realized that I have been rather unkind to you Martha dear.”

She smiles more thinking to herself about how her game is panning out wonderfully.

“What ever do you mean?” She asks and even she’s is sickened by the sweetness of her tone.

“I mean that I’ve been ignoring you,” he says and moves closer to her on the couch. “I know we had our troubles, everyone makes mistakes.” He shrugs, “But since then I’ve not giving you the time of day and for that I am sorry.”

“That is alright Castel no one is perfect,” she smiles.

“I think it’s because I have been trying hard to ignore the real issue,” he says and puts his hand on hers.

“And what’s the real issue Cas?” She asks somewhat genuinely curious as to where he’s going.

He smiles and cups her cheek with his other hand, “That I still have feelings for you too.”

She blinks taken back by his words. She didn’t expect him to say such an absurd thing, she had expected him to fight back and agree to whatever she wanted to protect him and Joy. She knows he’s in love with Joy why would he say he has feelings for her!? He doesn’t! Or does he? She was his first girlfriend...his first love...his first fiance....he was very much in love with her once upon a time. Could it have been an underlying passion for all these years? She stares at him at a complete lose, she’s had the upper hand this whole time and now he’s thrown her for a loop.

“Y-you do?” She stutters

“Yes I do,” he says and moves closer to her so his legs are touching hers. “I have for a long time.”

She swallows trying hard to gather herself, “I-I broke your heart.”

“You did,” he sighs. “And it hurt, but that doesn’t mean I ever stopped loving you.” He says and brushes a lose hair behind her ear.

She scoots back away from him, running into the arm of the couch.

“Castel you...you said you were happily married...t-to Joy.”

“I did say that back when I was young and stupid,” he says in a way that makes it sound like he hates himself. “But you’ve made me realize that I am far from happy,” he smiles darkly at her and moves closer to her on the couch.

She yelps and jumps to her feet, “Castel I don’t think you understood my intentions.” She says trying to backtrack.

She didn’t actually love him, she didn’t want him, she just wanted to toy with him. And as much as she’d love to play along and pretend like she does...something has changed in him. He doesn’t seem to be the same dork she was dating, no he seems very serious...so serious it’s beginning to scare her.

“You said it yourself that you had feelings for me Martha darling,” he says and stands to his feet. “That you cared for how I felt and how happy I was.” He looks confused for a moment, “How could I have misunderstood?”

She takes a breath gathering herself, “Castel I...I really don’t think I have the same feelings for you as I thought I did.”

“That much has changed in a day?” He asks taking a step closer to her.

“Yes,” she says taking a step back.

“That’s alright,” he shrugs and smiles sweetly. “I still love you.”

She blinks, “Y-you do?”

“Yes,” he nods. “And I’m not going to leave until you love me as well.”

“Huh?” She gaps as he steps closer to you.

“I want to be in your life Martha,” he says as she backs away from him. “I want it to be just you and me.”

“What about Joy?” She asks feeling her back run into the bookcase.

“Who’s Joy?” He chuckles

“Your wife!”

“She was nothing more than a distraction from my true feelings,” he shrugs and leans into her. “I don’t want to cut you out again. I don’t care how long it takes, I know you will love me.” He says deeply.

She stares back into his eyes searching for some kind of clue that this wasn’t real, that he was playing a joke on her. No way he could be serious! But she hasn’t seen him in so many years...she doesn’t truly know how he felt about her, how lovesick he was, how hurt he was when she left him. Her heart is pounding in her chest.

“Castel you’re not thinking clearly,” she tries.

“I am thinking very clearly,” he says and leans so his arm rests above her head. “I have already made up my mind, I will be as persistent as I possible can. I will follow you everywhere, I will give you the love you want, the love you need. And sooner or later you will want me back.” He smiles and his eyes seem to darken in color.

Her heart leaps into her throat. The thought of never getting away from him, her own personal persistent love driven stalker!? He’d annoy the heck out of her! She left him for a reason! Oh and she knows the connections he has, how intelligent he is, he’s probably already mapping out plans in his mind. He could bring his words to life, he alone could do it. No law could stop him! She’d never get a moments rest! It’d be worse than being married to him! All she wanted to was to stir up some turmoil with him and Joy, she didn’t want him to come crawling--NO! Barreling to her! Forget the blackmail, forget the money, forget the game! She can’t do this anymore!

“Castel,” she laughs nervously. “I think this has gone too far.”

“What do you mean darling?” He asks playing with one of her curls.

The way his says darling makes her skin crawl, but she manages to steel herself.

“I was really just playing with you,” she says. “It was a cruel game of mine I admit it, but I really didn’t mean a word of what I said.”

He blinks and stares at her for a moment, “A game?”

“Yes!” She says desperately, “A game just a mean sick game for my own pleasure.”

He’s quiet for a moment staring at her before his face softens into a grin.

“Very funny Martha,” he says.

Her eyes widen, “I’m not kidding Castel!”

“Ok, ok,” he chuckles, “let’s say you’re not. Why would you want to do something like that?”

“Because I was just trying to get back at Joy for telling you that I was cheating on you!”

He blinks staring at her, “So this was just...revenge?”

She nods frantically, “Yes Castel!”

He sighs before he smiles, “Well revenge or not I still want you.”

“No you don’t!” She closes her eyes, “You and I both know you don’t! You’ve wanted Joy since you met her, you two have such a strong bond that I’m jealous that I can’t have that!”

“But I don’t want her anymore I want you,” he says places his hands on the bookcase so her head is in between his arms.

“Cas please!” She huffs and looks at him. “I’m sorry I did this, it was cruel and selfish and really messed up. But I don’t want this either. I don’t really want you and I know you don’t really want me.”

“That’s a lie,” he says lowering his voice.

“Castel I will give you anything you if you will just stop!” She yelps, “To make this go away, please Castel!”

He looks down then back up at her, “Anything?”

“Yes, yes anything! You name it I’ll make it happen.”

He smiles and leans in very close to her, his lips nearly against her ear. She wants to move but he’s got her trapped in between his arms, all she can do is stand there. She holds her breath as he speaks.

“I want you to leave Joy and I alone,” he says slowly. “I want you to disappear, I don’t want to hear your name, see your face, I want you to fade into the background.” His eyes darken in a very feral menacing way. “I want Joy and I to have our peace without you looming in the background to play your sick twisted games. And if you’re willing to bury the hatchet with me and Joy then maybe we can work on repairing our friendships. But until that day I never, and I mean never Martha, want to see you again.”

She blinks staring at him as he moves closer to her.

“Do I make myself clear?” He nearly growls

She finds herself nodding in agreement.

“So was it true? Do you have photos of us?” He asks.

She stiffly shakes her head.

“Good, keep it that way.” He says and leans back away from her. He takes her glass off the table and downs her Scotch. He wipes his mouth, straightens his blazer, and combs his fingers through his hair. “Thanks for the drink. I’m going to go back to my dear, wonderful, loving wife.”

With his hands in his pockets he strolls back to the door, smiling at her over his shoulder, “Great talk Martha darling, so long and farewell.”

As he closes the door he catches a glimpse of her and locks it in his memory. The mixed look of defeat and confusion displaying on her face was too good to be true. She was dumbfounded that he just played her. He beat her at her own game. Using her own tactics.

“Castel wait!” She yelps and runs to the door. She reaches through the opening and grips his sleeve.

He looks at her his nerves starting to ripple through his body as his legs tremble slightly. He’s gotta hold out just a little longer he’s almost done.

Her eyes are wide, she looks so distressed. She needs answers from him. She has to know. Just one question. “How?...How did you know?”

He can’t help the smug smirk that tugs at his lips, “Martha. You may have thought you were coming after me, but that just wasn’t true. I’m part of a team now.” He says pointing to his wedding ring, “And when you mess with a single player, you get the wrath of the whole team.”

He loves the way her mouth falls open just ever so slightly. He relishes in the astonished expression, the lost look in her eyes, the way he can literally see her brain exploding at how Joy didn’t blame him. No, Joy was his partner and came to fight not with him, but by his side.

He gently pushes her hand from his sleeve, “Good day Martha darling.” He says and pats her cheek before heading to the elevator.

He leaves her feeling empty, and confused, and completely vanquished. As he rides the elevator he can feel his body trembling from the built of nerves he was hiding, and his smile grows. He does feel somewhat bad for her, the fact that she couldn’t understand that when you agree to be someone’s partner for life, for better or for worse you truly mean that. You mean that no matter what comes you both will fight for each other, hang on to one another, and never just quit. He hopes someday she will understand that you don’t just marry someone for what you can gain, but because you love them. You want to grow with them. Become a better person with them.

...but at the same time the majority of his mind doubts she will ever truly understand that.

As he walks out the hotel doors into the bright shinning day, he feels like a weight has been lifted off of him. The doors swing close, leaving his past truly once and for all behind him. He walks up behind her wrapping his arm around her waist. She jumps a little, but relaxes when she sees his smiling eyes.

“So how’d it go?” Joy asks as they walk down the road

“I don’t think we’ll ever hear from Martha again,” he smiles and kisses her. “You’re a brilliant woman.”

She giggles, “I can’t take all the credit Cassierole. After all you are the one who knew her best, you knew what would shake her.”

He nods thoughtfully, “I guess so.” He smiles lovingly at her, “I think we just make a great team Cubs.”

She blushes and kisses him again, “I’d have to agree with you on that one Cubs.”

He chuckles as the hotel disappears behind them, “Now if you don’t mind teammate. I’d like to go back to enjoying our anniversary.”

Taking his hand she smiles, “I’d want nothing more.”

They both smile and laugh as they chase each other back to their bungalow, knowing the waters of turmoil have come and gone and they can now enjoy each other in peace. No matter what comes their way they will always be there to fight for each other.

They were a team.

And you don’t just quit the team.