#i could talk about the shining and the lighthouse like for ever

[localratwithcowboyhat]

Actually Ive been thinking I could ask YOU for movie recs recently which sounds wild but it was in reference to the horror genre and I assume you like that stuff. Doesn't have to be horror though, in fact I am 100% down for something lighthearted right now mentally/emotionally lol

Anyways. I was wondering if you have any that aren't super heavy on sexual innuendos or gore/violence because those make me uncomfortable. I think Shaun of the Dead is the most graphic thing I've seen to date and honestly I like that one. it didn't scare me really (makes sense considering it's a comedy, idk if i want to watch something that graphic if it's intended to be like. disturbing and sickening) and I'm considering rewatching it.

:3 (no pressure if you can't think of any)

Eeekkk!!! SPECIAL INTRESST SPECIAL INSREST!! :D

( light spoilers for the lighthouse and the shining)

A few horrors i can think of right now are:

Christine 1883 directed by John Carpenter

The Lighthouse 2019 - there is a slight sexual scene but it isn’t very graphic and doesn’t drag on too long. Also one short scene depicting a dead seagull. This is a very very strange movie tho so keep that in mind.

I wasn’t sure if i should put it in here but The shining 1980 - like the Lighthouse its main focus is isolation and the horror of Cabin fever.

But!!the shining has about 2 scenes where in 1 you can see two girls axe murdered laying on the floor, this only drags on for like 1 second but still. And another scene in wich a slightly decomposed body is shown ( no blood or organs or bones tho )

So again the shining doesn’t utilize gore or jump-scare as the main focus of horror . Once again like to add that the gore isn’t overly graphic. :)

——————————————-

Not onto non horror!!!

Electric Dreams 1984

A space odyssey 2001

The thirteenth Floor 1999

Metropolis 1927

And thats all i can think about as of right now!!! maybe something suits your taste!!!

Thank you so much for the ask and farewell!!!

Ps- i might add on to this is the future >:]

[jenosbliss]

hihi!! i love how u write the dreamies 💝 yk how people talk abt having a third place? could u write about how theyre ur third place please? (if that makes sense!!)

thank u if u do this!

🍯 ⌇nct dream ! being your third place

pairing. gn!reader x nctdream | genre. fluff | wc. 926 | warnings. none

MARK.

Mark wasn't the first boy to make your heart skip a beat, nor the one who ignited the wildfire of first love. He was like the sunrise after a restless night, the warmth of a shared cup of coffee in the morning.

His love wasn't a fireworks display, but a slow burn, a steady support that kept you cosy even on the coldest days. He was the shoulder to cry on, the hand to hold when the world felt like it was spinning too fast.

Mark challenged you, pushed you to be your best self, even when you didn't believe in yourself. But beneath the driven exterior, there was a boy who loved fiercely, who wrote you clumsy poems and tucked wildflowers behind your ear. He was your cheerleader, your rock, your third place that felt a whole lot like first.

RENJUN.

Renjun wasn't the sun that blazed across your sky, but the moon that bathed your world in a soft, ethereal glow. His love was like a whispered melody woven from moonlight and starlight.

Renjun understood your silences, the unspoken worries that danced in your eyes. He could read your every mood in the curve of your smile, the tremor in your fingers. Hewas the confidante you never knew you needed, the one who listened without judgement, who offered solace with a gentle touch and a shared secret.

With Renjun, love wasn't a display, but a whispered promise, a bond of forever. He was the calm after the storm, a simple poem, your third place that felt like a whisper of forever.

JENO.

Jeno wasn't the wind that swept you off your feet, but the steady breeze that kept you grounded. He was the boy who held your hand through the darkness, his quiet strength a beacon in the unknown.

Jeno didn't need grand gestures to express his love. It was in the way he helped you carry groceries, the way he chased away your nightmares with a silent presence, the way he held your gaze. He was the quiet hero, the knight in shining armour who didn't need a parade.

With Jeno, love was a slow, steady burn, a fire that kept you warm from the inside out. He was the rock you could lean on, the lighthouse guiding you home, your third place that felt like an unbreakable promise.

HAECHAN.

Haechan wasn't the star that brightened your universe, but the playful comet that streaked across your sky, leaving a trail of laughter and stardust.

Haechan’s love was like sunshine and confetti, a melody that made you want to dance in the rain. He was the boy who turned every day into an adventure, who chased away your blues with a goofy grin and a contagious giggle.

Haechan taught you how to find joy in the little things, to laugh until your sides ached, to embrace the chaos with open arms. He was the reminder to never lose your inner child, to chase your dreams with reckless abandon, your third place that felt like a never-ending summer.

JAEMIN.

Jaemin wasn't the fairytale prince you swooned over, but the boy next door who held your hand under the streetlights. His love was a slow bloom, a promise written in shy glances and stolen kisses.

Jaemin was the one who made you believe in happily ever afters, who whispered sweet nothings in your ear under the starlit sky.He was the best friend who turned into something more, the shoulder to cry on who became your kiss in the rain.

Jaemin knew your favourite ice cream flavour, your deepest fears, the way your eyes sparkled when you were truly happy. He was the one who saw the beauty in your flaws, who cherished you for who you were, your third place that felt like falling in love all over again.

CHENLE.

Chenle wasn't the one who stole your breath away, but the one who poured you with impromptu tunes, his laughter filling the air like scattered notes. He was the sunshine after a thunderstorm, the sprinkle of sugar on a rainy day.

It was in the way Chenle hummed your favourite song while doing the dishes, the way he taught you silly dance moves in the kitchen, the way his eyes crinkled with mischief when he caught you off guard.

Chenle was the reminder to find joy in the simple things, to laugh until your stomach hurt, to dance like nobody was watching (even when they were). With him, love was like a pop song stuck on repeat, catchy and unforgettable. He was your third place that felt like an endless karaoke night, your heart forever warmed by the echoes of his laughter.

JISUNG.

Jisung’s love was a spark of electric energy, a playful banter that kept you on your toes. He was the one who challenged you to rap battles in the grocery store, who wrote you poems as funny as they were sweet, who could turn any dull moment into a cherished and beautiful one.

Jisung didn't shy away from expressing his feelings, but did it in his own unique way. He wrote you songs, baked you cookies shaped like hearts with funny uneven icing, told you you were beautiful with a smirk and a wink.

With Jisung, love wasn't a slow burn, but a firework display, each moment an explosion of laughter, joy and passion .He was the spark that ignited your own, the energy that propelled you forward, He was your third place that felt like a nonstop roller coaster ride.

a/n. hii anon i hope this is what you expected and Tysm for requesting 💖

navigation.

masterlist. nct dream | nct 127 | wayv

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

lil Whump Ed Wednesday ficlet below the cut! modern AU "Ed shows up on Stede's doorstep unexpectedly" type deal. cw for referenced domestic violence (not between Ed and Stede!)

Stede hadn't been able to stop thinking about Ed since they met.

Of course, a lot of that was down to how they'd been in each other's company for all of ten minutes, and somehow Stede still got the feeling that he'd clicked more with Ed than he ever had with anyone else in his entire life.

They'd met at a small local gallery art showing, and Ed was one of the artists displaying his paintings, right at the very back of the hall so Stede had only met him just before it closed. He was a chef, apparently, just starting to break out into art, and his paintings had been Stede's favorites in the whole gallery. They were of the sun shining through clouds and dandelions growing out of cracks in the sidewalk and rainbow oil spills on pavement, and Ed had seemed so fucking happy to talk about them. They'd started talking up a storm, the pair of them, both of them laughing about what they did, how Stede was doing new things, too, actually just moved in right up the street...

But then Ed's boyfriend had joined them, and Ed's entire personality and demeanor had shifted in a way that had made Stede uneasy ever since. He'd mostly just looked at the floor, only speaking when spoken to, nodding along when his boyfriend said his paintings were "amateurish" and that he shouldn't quit his day job.

When the gallery had started winding down and Stede realized he needed to leave so Ed could pack up his paintings, he couldn't help the feeling that he was abandoning Ed. He wished he could've done something.

Before he left, Stede asked how much Ed wanted for one of the paintings, a lighthouse seen reflected in a car's side mirror. Ed had blinked and told him to just take it, and Stede had left a handful of bills from his wallet on the easel, hoping Ed would find it before his boyfriend did.

It made him wish he'd done more. Maybe he could've left his number somewhere, for Ed to find, to let him know if he was in danger...but, then again, that might've freaked Ed out, or gotten him hurt if his boyfriend had noticed.

Stede didn't know what he could do. He didn't even know Ed's last name until he checked the gallery program and learned he was Edward fucking Teach, a Michelin-starred chef at the famous restaurant downtown. Probably that was why he'd been shoved all the way at the back of the gallery, to reduce the risk of the showing getting swarmed by media people or something.

And when Ed showed up on Stede's doorstep barely a week later, shivering, arms crossed protectively over his chest, in nothing but a t-shirt and pajama pants despite the chill outside...as concerning as it was, it tasted like the sweetest relief.

"Ed!" Stede gasped, just staring open-mouthed at him, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"Hey," Ed mumbled, swallowing visibly, his eyes firmly on the ground. "I'm - I didn't know if you'd remember me."

"Of course I do," Stede started, and then he frowned. "It's - how did you know where I lived?"

"You said at the gallery that you lived up this way." Ed shrugged one shoulder. "So, I - uh. Didn't really seem like anyone else would have a pirate-themed fairy garden display in their front yard, is all."

"Ah," Stede nodded. "Yeah, that's - oh, Ed."

He'd just realized, as Ed shifted slightly and more of his face was lit up by the light streaming out Stede's front door, that Ed had a black eye.

"I'm sorry," Ed whispered, his voice shaking, his eyes shining with tears, "I didn't know where else to go."

It hit Stede like a punch to the chest. If Stede was putting the pieces together correctly, and Ed had just run away from a boyfriend who wasn't just (as Stede had been scared of but hoping for in favor of the alternative) a total controlling asshole but who was physically abusive...

Did he really have no one he could trust more than someone he'd met for ten minutes at an art gallery?

That settled it. Stede was always going to help him, of course he was, but he was going to prove he deserved that trust.

"Come in, Ed, please," he said, holding out a hand to usher him inside. "Let's get you warmed up, yeah?"

Ed looked absolutely shell-shocked as Stede helped him inside into the warmth. Now that he was inside, Stede could see little bruises on his arms, like someone had grabbed at him too roughly. His clothes were soaked through, he was shivering, and Stede realized that he was barefoot, his poor feet scraped to hell and back.

"Did you walk here?" he asked, trying to remember how recently it had rained -

"Only about a two hour walk," Ed mumbled, wiping at his eyes with the heel of his hand. He looked so different from how animated he'd been during their conversation only a week ago, seeming reluctant to move. Stede wondered if he was hurt more seriously than he was letting on. "And it only rained for about half of it."

Ed seemed so surprised when Stede fussed over him, but he let him do it without complaint, even if he looked a bit fearful that it was too good to be true. Stede gave him privacy to get dressed into some warm, dry clothes, and he stuck a soft robe into the dryer to warm it up while he was doing that. He ordered a pizza, and Ed ate like he hadn't had a good meal in months.

He was being so brave, and Stede told him as much when Ed allowed Stede to gently clean his feet and bandage the scrapes from stumbling barefoot for miles. Ed kept apologizing when he flinched.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," Stede told him, over and over, hoping one day he'd believe it.

And he would. One day, not any time soon, maybe, but Stede was nothing if not persistent.

Over stops and starts, Stede got the story. Ed's boyfriend had a bad habit of getting angry and hitting him. That night, Ed had finally snapped, and he'd hit back before he could be hurt any worse, and his boyfriend had threatened to call the cops on him. Terrified, Ed had run away.

The next day, Stede told Ed to wait in the car while he went in to have a chat with Ed's ex-boyfriend. They didn't meet any resistence when Stede made a couple trips to retrieve Ed's things from the apartment.

The only reason it would take them two years to get married was because Ed begrudgingly agreed with his assessment that Ed really needed some time to just learn he deserved to be safe and respected. They'd be dating in a few months, once Ed could accept more easily that he deserved a relationship where he felt safe and respected, and Stede would continually delight in watching Ed blossom, becoming so cheerful and funny and so full of life.

And Ed would never feel unsafe, not ever again.

[boytoyhalo]

Can we have more of the selkie au please?

are there fantasy books in the lighthouse? Did they see seal!Pac after the coat incident? Is Fit hunting an imaginary poachers on the island?

you absolutely can!!

They don't see Pac - human or seal - for a few days after the incident. During those few days, Fit very much notices the absence of his usual evening journaling buddy, and he's very much not happy about it. He scours the island in his free time looking for traces of whatever poacher is squatting there, but he can't find anything. He also notices Pac's absence, and by the 3rd day he's starting to come to an uncomfortable conclusion: the only logical explanation he can think of for his strange behavior, and the lack or evidence for any other people on the island, is that Pac must be the poacher he's looking for. He doesn't want to believe it, because Pac is so nice and he's always seemed to really like the seals (maybe even more so than him or Ramon) when they've been around them together, but he just doesn't know what else it could possibly be. Then right as he's resigned himself to confronting him about it, and begun to prepare for the ordeal of filing a report against his friend, he finds his furry friend waiting for him on it's usual rocks like nothing happened.

Fit spends a good few minutes just gaping at it, completely frozen - the fucking thing has the gall to look confused, tilting it's head at him like his son wasn't sobbing over it's severed skin just a few days ago. Even after the initial shock passes and he manages to drag himself out of his stupor and onto his own rock, he can't find any words to speak or to write; he just keeps staring at it in complete puzzlement. It stares back at him, it's gaze flicking curiously to the blank page in front of him every so often almost. After what feels like an eternity it huffs and flops over on it's side, seemingly having decided that it would rather nap than continue their stare-off. Fit begins his journal entry in uneasy silence, trying his best to let the scratching of the pencil on the page distract him from the anomaly next to him. Unfortunately, said anomaly doesn't tolerate the cold shoulder for long before snorting offendedly at him.

"What?" Fit raises an eyebrow at it. There's a beat before it snorts again, slapping it's front flippers loudly against the wet rocks. "You- oh, what, you want me to talk to you? Is that it?" It grunts softly. Fit blinks, his mouth opening and closing around words that don't come. "I mean I- I don't really uh. I mean, I'm just kinda speechless right now." And ok, that's an understatement - he feels completely disoriented, his entire world having been flipped on its head. This seal was dead, it had to have been, that was the only possible explanation for the way everything had lined up. Except apparently it wasn't, because the seal was alive and it was looking straight into his eyes with that disturbingly human intelligence shining through its own. As the gears in his head start turning, trying valiantly to come up with something to say, some pieces start to fall into place.

The pelt, Pac's freak-out and subsequent disappearance, the seal acting like someone's lost pet and not a wild predator, Pac having no traceable presence on the island but appearing every day, both of them missing a limb - little dots swimming around in his head, moving too quickly for him to connect, forming a fragment of something that Fit doesn't think he could handle knowing in full. He nearly slips and breaks his neck in his mad scramble off of his perch, startling the seal - or whatever this thing was. He ignores it's concerned cry and backs away slowly, a dizzying dread creeping slowly over him as his attempts to think of any logical explanation for the ever-growing pile of mysteries come up completely empty.

Various half-formed theories run through his mind as he speeds through the short walk back to the cabin: Was the seal Pac's pet? Was it some robotic creation of his? Did he kill it and do some fucked up death magic on it? Was he the seal? Was he a shape shifter, or- or some kind of hypnotist? Had the whole thing just been an illusion? A dream? Was Fit finally going insane?

Yeah, that's gotta be it he thought as he made his way through the door, being sure to close it quietly so as to not wake Ramon. I've finally fucking lost it. There was no way Pac was - whatever it was that Fit's psyche was convinced he was. That seal was a normal, if weirdly friendly seal, and there was a completely rational explanation for everything that Fit was just too dumb to catch onto. Pac was probably just freaked out by the implication of the seal's death, and maybe the pelt had just been an incredibly convincing fake. Yeah, that was it, definitely. Fit pointedly ignored the voices in his head that screamed all of the ways that that didn't make any sense as he stumbled his way through his nightly routine and into bed - it made enough sense that he was fine letting it be not his problem anymore. He was much more interested in getting a good night's sleep than in spiraling into a frenzy over something that probably didn't matter in the slightest

.....Or not. Apparently, whatever part of his brain he didn't have control over greatly overpowered the part that was sane and rational, combined with all of the exhaustion in his body. He sighed as he begrudgingly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the shadows that flickered across his wooden ceiling. He could already tell this was gonna give him hell. He had never been someone who could take it easy, not even before the sounds of gunfire and explosions and the heavy stench of blood-soaked dirt had made themselves a permanent part of his world. This certainly wasn't the first time since that he had questioned his perception of reality; in fact, he was quite familiar with being disconnected from it, the way that it could bend around the most damaged parts of him and twist his mind back into a shape that no longer fit in the present. He sometimes heard gunshots when there was no one to fire them, screaming in his ear while he slept at night - It wasn't far-fetched at all to write this off as the conspiratorial delusions of a soldier taken off the battlefield too late. But, something about it just kept nagging at him, urging him to look deeper even if he couldn't handle it. Finally, after what had to be hours of tossing and turning in his sheets, he fell into an uneasy sleep.

The spiral only pulled at him harder the next morning, as he made his early morning rounds and reports, harder still as he made his way back to the house and made breakfast. By the time he woke up Ramon he was wishing he still had hair on his head just so he could pull it out. His boy, of course, noticed his mood immediately.

"...What? What is it?" Fit asked as the kid stared at him flatly over his scrambled eggs and toast.

"Something is bothering you." Ramon pointed his fork at him. "Tell me." Fit sighed; that was his son, blunt as ever. He briefly contemplated spinning a lie to ease his mind, but wrote it off as soon as he remembered that his baby boy was a genius that, unfortunately, knew him far too well.

"It's nothing, Ramon, don't worry about it. Eat your eggs." Ramon dropped his fork loudly onto the table, not breaking eye contact. He looked unimpressed.

"Fit." There was silence as they stared at each other from across the table, both plates forgotten as they engaged in some sort of psychological battle that Fit felt he had a distinct disadvantage in somehow. After a long few minutes he turned his gaze away with a resigned grunt, knowing from an abundance of experience that there was no use in resisting Ramon's questioning - The kid was determined, and he had a way of getting things out of Fit that he sometimes didn't even want to admit to himself. He swallows a mouthful of his suddenly very bland tasting eggs, trying to think of how to start.

"You wouldn't happen to have any books that talk about seals, would you?" Is what he eventually settles on. Ramon blink at him in confusion, seemingly thrown off by the turn of the conversation. "It's- well, it might be nothing. It's probably nothing, But." He takes a deep breath, admitting to weakness is a difficult task that Fit has always had to push himself greatly to accomplish; he's been trying to work through it for his young boy's sake. "There's just been some stuff happening around here that I can't figure out and that's kinda the only place I can think to start looking, you know what I mean? It's nothing you need to worry about though, I promise." Ramon fiddles with the frayed bauble of his favorite red hat as he hums, thinking.

"I think a couple of the animal encyclopedias that you got me mention them, but nothing too detailed. What's been happening with the seals?" Fit takes another nauseating bite to buy himself time to consider his answer.

"I've just... been thinking about the fur we found," he says carefully, praying that It won't be a sensitive topic. Thankfully, Ramon doesn't seem fazed, only raising his eyebrows a bit as he waits for his father to continue. "I was sure it was from one of those ones that like to hang around here, and we were only seeing five of them for the past few days so I thought - someone must have hunted it, you know? But there's been no one here but us and Richas' parents, and then last night the seal that was missing showed back up and." He cuts off his ramble as he notices the strange look Ramon is giving him. "What? Do you think I'm going crazy or something?"

"Pac said he gave the seal it's skin back, remember?" He says plainly, like it makes complete sense. Fit balks at him, mouth open in disbelief. Ramon had.... Ramon believed that? But he was so smart for a kid his age, he had even called Fit out for pretending it wasn't dead! Had he just.... decided to believe Pac? Was this his way of coping?

"You, uh. What?" He responds eloquently. Ramon looks at him like he's grown a second head, and ok, now Fit is definitely going crazy. Since when does his little boy genius believe that one can simply give a dead animal it's skin back and bring it back to life?

"He gave it back." He draws out every word, as if he's the adult explaining a simple concept to a child. "The seal is fine. Richarlyson said it took Pac on adventures with it to thank him." He sniffs petulantly. "Kinda think he should have invited me, but whatever. It's all ok, see! Just like you said." Fit has no idea what to say, completely lost. This conversation had done nothing but add another layer of headache to the already impressive thorn in his side. He nods slowly, deciding to just let it go for the sake of the little sanity he has left.

"Right, ok. That makes sense, I guess." As far as he's concerned, if Ramon is happy there's no issue. That's what he tells himself at least, and to his credit it is mostly true. Ramon knows better though, and he levels Fit with a look that tells him as much. After a moment he returns his attention to his plate, looking bored with the topic of conversation.

"Richas said Pac is gonna be back to see you today. I'm gonna ask him all about it, you can listen if you want to." Fit startles a bit. Pac was coming back? "And if that doesn't answer your questions, maybe you should try checking all those old journals we found to see if they say anything useful?" Right, the archived journals from previous lighthouse attendants - Fit had completely forgotten about them, locked away as mementos in a storage room at the bottom of the lighthouse itself. He hadn't spared them a thought since he and Ramon had been shown them on their first day on the island. That was as good a place to look as any, he supposed. He makes a mental note to do so later tonight, when he's done with his work for the day.

"Yeah that's a good idea actually, thank you Ramon. You're damn smart, you know that?" Ramon nods easily, and Fit cracks a smile for the first time since his worldview had been upturned the night before. "Anyway, you say Pac is coming back today?" He tries not to sound too eager, though he doesn't think he does very well - he's missed his friend, what could he say? The manual labor was much more grueling without company, he had realized. It had been hard doing it alone again after having gotten used to Pac (and on semi-frequent occasion, Mike's) company over the past few months. Even when he had suspected the other man of being the dreaded poacher, a concept he had now completely written off as too out of character to be reliable, he had been more sad about the possibility of having to turn him in than about the actual poaching - although he definitely had been sad about that too. Ramon looks like he's stifling a laugh.

"That's what Richarlyson said. He said his other parents were making him do it today." Fit doesn't have time to question why Pac apparently needed someone to make him come back after his "adventure" before Ramon is getting up from the table with an exclamation of "done!" and running out to the beach, leaving his dirty dishes to Fit and ignoring as he calls after him, of course.

He finishes cleaning up and gets outside to join him just in time to see Richarlyson running eagerly up to the other boy, Pac following behind him at a much more casual pace. He can't help frombreaking into another smile as he draws closer, black waves dripping wet (as always) and a familiar grin lighting up his face.

"Oi!" He calls out across the remaining distance. Pac wastes no time in calling back to him, speeding up his walk a bit as Richarlyson reaches his target and tackles him into a hug. Fit decides to leave them to their own devices for the moment, setting his own pace towards his approaching friend and meeting him in the middle. "Where have you been?" Pac's smile turns sheepish, and Fit's eyes flick to the way his teeth nervously pull at his lip for a moment before he speaks.

"I was feeling really sick, I think I must have caught something from touching that pelt! I was throwing up and having a- a fever, you know how it is," He looks to Fit almost bashfully, like he's fully aware Fit isn't buying it. Fit, for all he's been agonizing over the possibility of Pac being.... something, suddenly finds that he doesn't really care. The seal is alive, Richarlyson is safe - whatever Pac was doing is his business. He's just happy to have some adult company again. Before he can say as much, not that he would have, Ramon comes running up from behind him, stopping short in front of Pac with elation tangible in his demeanor.

"PAC! Richas says you went on an adventure with the seal who's skin we found, what was it like? TELL ME!" Pac laughs, startled, and crouches down to meet the boy's eyes, one hand coming up to ruffle his hair through his hat.

"Yeah, it was amazing! I gave the seal his fur back and he was like 'oh wow thank you so much! come swim with me!' And he took me to his home in the kelp forest and introduced me to all his fish friends! We even saw some- ah, I forget how you say it in English - The big guys with the claws... LOBSTERS! yeah, we saw some lobsters! And they were fighting each other with SWORDS! Oh it was so cool Ramon, I wish you could have seen it. Hey, maybe I can ask him to take you next time!" Ramon's giggles stop abruptly as he gasps in excitement, eyes lighting up as he begins pleading with Pac to do so. Fit shakes his head fondly.

There's a soft look in Pac's eyes as he speaks animatedly to Ramon, recounting his epic underwater adventures with the dramatic flair of a man who's very used to entertaining children. And yeah, Fit decides as brown eyes stray momentarily to share an amused look with him, none of it matters. He'll look at those journals later to see if there's any mention of seal pelts or strange men appearing out of nowhere, but in the meantime he couldn't care less - he has his work buddy back, his son is happy, the weather is nice and no seals have been harmed.

Maybe he can take it easy, just this once. For now.

[penaltyboxboxbox]

If you want to share; do you have any horror movie reccs? I kinda like the less indie ones haha, but anything is nice!! I really enjoyed Talk to Me and Black Phone from some of the recent-ish ones. Looking forward to watching Longlegs!

oh man do i !! ill share some of my favs and this got really long so under the cut lol

i love scifi horror, and prometheus/alien covenant is such a big pick for me, david8 one of my fav horror antagonists ever. Also in the scifi horror genre, i ADORE event horizon, its basically demonic haunted house in space with the best cast ever and you should watch it.

I love Robert Eggers generally (the lighthouse is probably my favorite movie of all time tho i dont really consider it horror) but the witch is definitely horror and if you like historical/period pieces its an absolute must watch.

If we want some more serious veined and disturbing horrors imo- lets go with Dogtooth and The Killing of a Sacred Deer by Lanthimos. Theyre slower and heavy and too bright and too horrible. their strangeness just picks at you, movies that really feel like someone grabbing your face and forcing you to look. in a similar world, i like funny games, both the original and the remake, as well as suspiria, the original and the remake. It's become rather trendy lately, i keep seeing gifs of it around lol, but Possession is also fantastic, another great performance from sam neill.

I love 80s horror, The Thing is probably one of the best horror movies ever made, just a masterclass of tension and effects work. I love the movie CHRISTINE which is about a murderous possessed car. the shining is a fucking classic and still one of the most unsettling movies for me to watch. i also love children of the corn, the strange folk horror of it is really just kind of crazy cool and underrated imo..

back to recent, its very hyped but It Follows definitely lives up to that hype. one of the best film scores in recent memory, insane performances and sense of dread. if you dont mind extreme heavy violence, green room is a fantastic watch. get out is a modern horror classic and another must watch, and i see it talked about less, but i love peele's US even more and find it so so terrifying, lupita nyongos performance in it is beyond haunting.

im a huge huge sucker for a monster movie, i adore monsters, i've already mentioned the thing and alien series which are great examples but here, take some more! i loved crawl, alligator themed florida horror. Underwater, if you like a big monster. del Toro's mimic is crazy and creepy. Annihilation isn't what id call a horror movie, but its quite horrifying, and definitely has some of my favorite movie monsters... same with When Animals Dream its more a coming of an age than a True Horror but its my favorite werewolf movie ive ever watched so i would be remiss to not mention it

i also LOVE found footage, a subgenre only really pursued by horror film, and theres a lot of bad ones but a few good ones lol. The Bay is one i'll always recommend, it uses so many mediums so well to weave this very real and awful tale of ecohorror. the OG, the blair witch project. Hell House LLC is the perfect halloween movie to get freaked out on before you and your friends go to a haunted house...

i could go on and on but this is already a lot lol....but theres so many great horror movies out there!! you need only to watch them 🫶 hope you enjoy if you do check any of these out!!

[willowmaidsworld]

The snake and the stars

I've been writing this rather sad fanfic for a little while. I began before the s3 announcement. While everyone is happy, here I am, spreading depression again! Enjoy! (@macaronicoffee and @suplikdandelion there you have it!)

The balmy night was freckled with stars. Thousands of the shone down on earth, winking and stretching their rays out, the belt of Milky Way laid on the cushion of dark blue sky. Only a dark silhouette of trees and grass obscured the sky.

The angel and a demon laid on a blanket together. The nights in the south were warm these days and it was so tempting to just take a picnic blanket, start the Bentley, drive to the meadows, and lay there. Sometimes they would talk, sometimes they would stay silent.

Tonight, they admired the sky. Crowley’s snake eyes mirrored the stars. When he first watched the stars, he didn't have these eyes. They were a souvenir, a reminder of his Fall. Everyday he would look at the world with his snake eyes and everyday he would remember, what happened and what they took from him. What he went through and what he became.

“Isn't the sky beautiful today?” asked Aziraphale. Crowley nodded. Aziraphale felt the warmth of his body next to him.

“Angel...” Crowley whispered. Aziraphale could feel his hands shifting and shaking.

“Mhm?” smiled Aziraphale.

“Could- could you...” Crowley’s voice was shaking, he was struggling to get the words out. “…tell me what you see?”

Aziraphale looked once at the sky and once at Crowley. He took his cold and sweaty hand into his. Crowley hesitated at first but then he calmed himself down. Everything is fine, everything is alright, he told himself.

“I like nights like these,” said Aziraphale, unsure how to start. “It’s the light breeze, the warm darkness of the night, it embraces you, it cradles you. We could just lay in a night like this, and everything would be perfect. Nothing to worry about. Just us and the present. I like that.

And above us would be the dome of stars. Thousands of them shining down, more than we could ever count! The starry sky would be the roof above our heads, the tall grass our bed. That would be enough for me.

How beautiful it would be to have the sky just like this every night! Could you imagine that? I don’t think I would ever get tired of stars. But the stars are different tonight. They seem to shine more brightly, there seems to be more of them. Like white specs drizzled on the sky. Or little silver nails that hold the velvety night fabric in place.” Crowley's hand stopped shaking, he was now holding tightly Aziraphale’s hand.

“Do you know what I always imagined that stars are?” Aziraphale remained silent for a moment. He was saying what came to his mind without a plan, or without any expectations. He was filling in the silence with tender words. “I like to picture stars are the lights on lighthouses, or the lights of far away houses, or lanterns that lead you through the darkness. Stars are guiders, I believe. They guide us home.”

Aziraphale looked at Crowley. He laid there, tears streaming down his cheeks. “What’s wrong?” asked Aziraphale whispering. Had he done something?

“Snakes can’t see stars, angel.”

[venerable-sun]

Mångata (Nuidis Vulko x Reader) Pt. 1

Nuidis Vulko (Aquaman) x reader

TW: mentions of death and funerals

Summary: You never thought you'd return to Amnesty Bay. You definitely never thought you'd find love there.

2128 words

Part One | Part Two

So I know I'm super late to the Aquaman fandom, and to be honest I've never really liked superhero movies but I watched it yesterday and fell in love. In typical me fashion, it's the older mentor type that I'm drawn to and not the actual hero. Imagine my shock when I found out there are virtually no Vulko fics, much less reader inserts. Of course, I had to change that. I plan on this story being about 10 parts so buckle up, buttercups.

Little has changed in Amnesty Bay since you’d left seven years ago. 

The same men sit at their usual spots in the bar, albeit with a little more gray in their hair. The same store-clerks gossip with their customers, the town as close-knit as ever. The same lighthouse sits at the top of the cliff, shining its light out over the sea. 

You’d never meant to return, but as you stand on the porch of your parents’ house and breathed in the salty air, you find it hard to remember why you’d ever even left in the first place. 

The setting sun paints everything a golden yellow as you push open the creaky door and enter into the main foyer. You stifle a sneeze as wafts of dust are kicked up by the breeze, taking in the cobwebs that hang from the ceiling and staircase. You set your bags down with a sigh, the exhaustion of the last day finally catching up with you. 

You’d spent the last three days driving up the East Coast to get here, having packed up your things as quickly as possible after receiving a phone call from your uncle. 

You decide to unload the rest of your things from the car tomorrow, choosing instead to explore the house you’d grown up in. 

Just like the rest of Amnesty Bay, little had changed. 

You pause by the kitchen door, stooping slightly to examine the little lines marking your height as you grew older. The kitchen is the part of the house in the best condition, no doubt thanks to your mother. She’d loved to cook, and even as her and your father’s health waned you knew she’d still have wanted to maintain a good kitchen.

Your eyes trail to a piece of paper sitting on the counter, and you can’t stop the tears that well up when you read your mother’s handwriting. 

So focused on simply getting to Amnesty Bay, you’d left yourself little time to grieve, but standing in your parents’ house that was now yours, and reading something as simple as your mother’s discarded grocery list, the grief finally catches up with you. 

A loud knock startles you out of your stupor, and you hastily wipe the tears away as you go to answer the door. 

A man you’re very familiar with stands there, silhouetted against the growing dusk. There are more wrinkles lining his face than you remember, but his kind smile is the same. 

“Uncle Thomas!” You exclaim, throwing your arms around him. 

He hugs you back tightly, and the two of you embrace on the porch for many minutes before you pull away. 

“Look at you, all grown up.” He says, examining you from head to foot. You laugh, leading him back into the house. “I could say the same, Uncle. The years finally catching up to you?”

“Never,” Thomas says, lowering himself into a chair with a groan. “I’m as young and spry as I was twenty years ago.” 

You shake your head with a chuckle, moving into the kitchen to order a pizza for you to share. When it arrives, the two of you eat and talk about your life away from Amnesty Bay, how going to university went and your old job. 

“Do you know if there are any teaching positions open at the schools up here? I’d love to continue teaching.” You ask. 

“I’m sure I can ask around.” Thomas pauses for a second. “... so you plan on staying, then?”

You glance away, looking out the window at the moon’s reflection off the sea. “I never thought I’d come back,” you say slowly. “Growing up, all I ever wanted was to get away from this sleepy town, to live somewhere as young and vibrant as I was. But now, being back by the sea, here in this house, I don’t know how I stayed away so long. I just wish my return was under better circumstances.” 

Your uncle reaches across the table and lays a comforting hand on your arm. You meet his gaze, the grief in his eyes matching your own. You may have lost your parents, but he’d lost his brother, too. 

Silence reigns for a moment before you clear your throat and stand up. “As much as I’ve appreciated this visit, I’m exhausted.” 

Thomas stands too, and you accompany him to the door. The two of you embrace again before bidding each other farewell. You are left alone once more, the old house creaking as you make your way upstairs to your parents’ old bedroom. 

The room is as dusty as the rest of the house, but you pay it little mind as you unceremoniously drop your bags on the floor and open a window to let the breeze in while you sleep. 

You go through your bedtime routine in a fog of tiredness and grief, not bearing to look at the pictures lining the walls or your parents’ belongings still strewn about. When you finally collapse into bed, sleep takes you immediately. 

~~~

You rise with the sun the next morning, enjoying a mug of tea on the back porch while you plan on what to do with your day. 

You decide to unload your car first, making a quick call to your friends from your old home to make sure they would be sending the rest of your things in the next few days. You spend the rest of the day cleaning the first floor, sorting your parents’ things into “keep” and “give away” piles. You stop at about midday, covered in sweat and dust as you look over your work. 

You’d started with the living room first, and were quite proud of what you’d accomplished to say the least. You’d rearranged the furniture to your liking, swept and mopped the hardwood floors, and cleaned out your father’s old bookcases to make room for your own books that would be coming. Most importantly of all, you’d vigorously cleaned the grande piano sitting in the window, its ivory keys now gleaming. 

You sat on the bench, pressing down on a random note and wincing at the out-of-tune pitch that filled the room. You would definitely need to call someone about getting it tuned. 

The antique grandfather clock in the hall chimes noon, and you jump up, having forgotten about the plans you’d made with Thomas to meet him for lunch. 

After a quick shower you dash out the front door, hopping onto your bike and pedaling into town. Your uncle is already at the restaurant, the only one in town, when you get there, and you apologize profusely for keeping him waiting. 

“It’s no problem,” He smiles easily. “An old man knows how to wait.” 

You scoff before biting your lip as a thought occurred to you. “Where’s Arthur? You didn’t mention him yesterday and I’d really like to see him.” 

Thomas sighs, suddenly looking his age as his shoulders sag. “You know he’s always been surly and moody. He’s been away the past few years now, but he calls every once in a while. He’s coming back for the funeral.”

You nod, swallowing the sudden lump in your throat as the waitress comes by and takes your orders. 

“Oh, I asked around like I said I would, and I think I found something you’ll be really happy about,” Thomas says conspiratorially. “The high school has an open spot for a music teacher, and they want you to take it.” 

You raise an eyebrow in suspicion. “There was no music teacher when I went there. How can there be an open spot for a job that’s never existed before?” 

Your uncle simply shrugs with a twinkle in his eye and mimes zipping his lips. You shake your head in amusement at his antics. “Thank you, uncle, for abusing your power as an eligible bachelor and convincing the principal to create a job for me,” you say teasingly. 

The rest of the meal passes lightheartedly, and he accompanies you to the market afterwards for groceries before giving you a ride back. 

“Make sure to board everything up tonight,” he warns as he helps you gather your bags. “There’s supposed to be a really bad storm blowing in. I’ll swing by in the morning to check on you, but call me if anything happens.” 

The two of you part ways once more, and you pass the afternoon on your hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. The wind picks up outside as dark clouds begin to creep over the horizon, hiding the beginning of the sunset from view, and you decide to stop cleaning for the evening to watch the storm. 

You’d forgotten how the ocean can be both beautiful and terrifying, and you watch in awe as large waves crest and crash against the beach. Lightning flashes brilliantly through the sky, illuminating the bay as thunder rolls in the background. 

You gasp suddenly, spotting a shape crashing onto the shore as waves pounded relentlessly. You press yourself against the window, trying desperately to see what it is. Lightning flashes again, the unmistakable shape of a man struggling to stand sending you dashing out into the storm. 

You’re soaked almost instantly you race down the cliff stairs as quickly as you dare, rain whipping into your eyes making it hard to see. Your feet sink into wet sand as you descend onto the beach, pushing wet hair from your eyes as you frantically search for the man. 

You hear a low groan between peals of thunder, spotting a dark shape laying on top of the sand. You run over to him and fall to your knees, turning him over to rest on his back. You barely register his handsomeness as you feel for his pulse, faint but still there. You look over the rest of his body, pushing away your curiosity at his strange attire when you see the chain twisted around his ankle and the metal lobster trap dragging at the end of it. The skin around his ankle is rubbed raw and bleeding, and you struggle with the chain as you try to remove it. 

“I’m sorry, but this is going to hurt,” you say through gritted teeth, giving the chain a harsh tug that frees it from the man’s leg. He groans in pain as you toss it away, the rain beginning to fall even harder. 

You somehow manage to get him sitting up, wrapping his arm over your shoulder as you prepare to stand. “If you can hear me, I’m going to need you to help me get you standing.” 

He doesn’t reply, but you feel his fingers grip your shoulder for a moment before his hand falls limp again. 

You take in a deep breath before pushing yourself to your feet, your legs shaking under you as you shoulder most of the man’s weight. You begin walking one step at a time through the rain, exhaustion and cold starting to sap you of your strength. 

You push yourself to continue though, knowing that if you stop even once you might not be able to start again. After what feels like hours, you finally make it off the beach and up the cliff to your house. 

Water streams off your forms as you awkwardly maneuver your way into the living room, plopping the man unceremoniously onto the couch as the last of your strength leaves you. You collapse onto a chair, panting hard and shivering violently as the storm continues to rage outside. 

As you catch your breath, you take the opportunity to finally fully examine the stranger you just saved. Dark hair streaked with gray falls across his shoulders, and while he isn’t brawny, you can see the outline of muscle on his body. His face is peaceful as he sleeps, but you can see the fine lines from worry and stress that he must carry during his waking hours. Despite being on the older side, you can’t help but find him incredibly handsome. 

It’s then that you remember his ankle, your legs screaming in protest as you stand once more to fetch the first aid kit. You clean and bandage the wound as best you can and place a pillow underneath his foot to elevate and stop the bleeding. You run your fingers tentatively over the material of his clothes, pulling away at the almost scaly feeling. Leaving that mystery for when he wakes up, you drape a blanket over him and place a glass of water on the table before heading upstairs to change into dry clothes. 

After a hot shower, you can barely keep your eyes open, and stumble into bed where dreams of crashing waves and ocean blue eyes plague you all night long.

Don't forget to like and reblog! My requests are open, check my pinned post for more details. If you'd like to be tagged for this story, please message me or leave a comment.

[penguin--person]

It’s my ship bingo so I get to ask for three ships if I want too! (You can do any of them that you want or all of them, whatever you like.)

Vastgiver!

The princess x the princess killer from Slay the Princess (it’s my understanding that there are multiple aspects of both of these characters, so please pick your favorites)

and! Beastnoch

i answered this w vastgiver last time i did this bingo i think, and im afriad my thoughts on them havent changed at all since then... only now i am slightly more mortfied to be reminded of them (i love lifey w my life (hehe), but tva.. stomping on it until its nothing but a small purpe stain) so ill do beastnoch and LQ x the den BEAST IMEANT BEAST!!!:3 stp spoilers for the latter one - stp seems like smth you'd enjoy!! :) its a rlly good game

as you can see um i think that theyre uh um i think that. um . i think that. uh um. i think um. i think that. Runs into heavy traffic i think that its very cool when (spoilers warning, again, and talking/gushing about gore) the BEAST eats you like GOD its awesome!! ok so ive already went crazy about this before, but the gore in this game is INSANE!!! its so well drawn!!!! and it perfectly shines in the BEAST chapter - she eats you Alive and you can see her gut n shit !! and you can (try to) claw your way out of her stomach, but at best, you stab her heart just in time before she finishes devouring you. this leads to like, my 2nd favorite princess, the wild:) my 3rd would be the spectre or prisoner i think (spectre was my first ever princess, and i like her a lot, but the prisoner intrigues me a bunchies).. tbh the wild would be my fav if she had gore. but she doesnt:( BEAST has her themes AND gore!!! so like :3 hehe the BEASTSdeal is that she wants to have you in her belly so that she can leve the cabin (cant leave it without you), but like, she needs to hunt you down first. her cabin is sooo cool and i like the voice of the hunted:) shes just like hunting you !!! pouncing on you !!! shes a BEAST dude shes an ANIMAL!!!!! like shes just so cool!!! the wilds sooo. what if i ate u and then we were fused and we could never be 2 people again bc we're forever 1 person, and what if maybe that wasnt such a bad thing what if it was awesome what if we had the time of our lives chilling as one being. its Awesome!!!! consumed by devotion vs devoted to consumption fr...

first of all i admire your dedication youve been these guys' number one soldier ever since i met you, most likely even before, so i want to give you a shoutout‼️🔥💯 they intrigue me !! like, how there can be multiple readings of them, yknow??? multiple interpretations, n they can all be interesting!!! yknow?? to me theyre like, a lighthouse ... if u get what i mean.. goddd i havent watched otgw in SO long it would literally not even take me a day, i should do it again. and then i can think about beastnoch!!! shamefully enough i dont have any big thoughts on them... or any tbh... i think they're cool, and i wouldnt have thought to put them together on my own, but i can def see the appeal!!! :) theyre aweosme... theyre like a cousin ship to me tbh.. my friend beastnoch:) the body horror potential is awesome i think - like, both their relationships to their bodies must be at least Kinda fucked up, right? likei said, awesome!!!

[marrenseve]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ IS THAT FEYRE ARCHERON ( A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES ) THAT I SEE ? welcome to marren's eve, ari, we hope you enjoy your stay ! please check your tumblr ims now for the invite to the server & don't forget to look over your checklist to make sure you have everything you need to settle in.

◜✦  a court of thorns & roses.  spanish.  22  [  canon  adult  ]  cis woman.  she/her.  —  CHILDHOOD HOME   —   A PLACE OF BROKEN WISHES : MOTHER, DON'T CALL ME SORROW BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CONTROL ME. A FACADE CRACKED IN TWO : SHE IS HOME .. SHE IS COMFORT .. SHE IS WARMTH   —   SHE BURNS AS EASILY AS SHE DOES SHINE. & THE CHAOS THAT IS THE NIGHT SKY   —   STARS AND PLANET STREWN ABOUT REFLECTED IN SAPPHIRE ORBS …  you  know  what  that  all  reminds  me  of  ? FEYRE  ARCHERON.  i  see  them  around  town  sometimes,  usually  at  PAN'S  LIGHTHOUSE  or  even  at  their  job  at  MARREN'S  EVE  ART  MUSEUM  as  CURATOR.  every  time  i've  talked  to  them,  they've  seemed  a  bit  QUICK  TEMPERED,  but  some  people  swear  they're  not  all  bad.  then  again,  have  you  ever  seen  them  act  METICULOUS?  you  know,  it's  so  weird  …  they've  been  in  marren's  eve  for  FOUR  YEARS,  but  it  feels  like  they're  missing  something  …  maybe  like  THE LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE ONLY A FOUND FAMILY CAN GIVE YOU.  i  could  be  looking  into  it  a  little  too  much,  though  the  last  time  i  saw  them,  they  were  mumbling  about  AMETHYST EYES FULL OF LOVE AND SMALL HANDS REACHING FOR THEM  under  their  breath.  wonder  what  that's  all  about  ?  —  ari.  27.  she/her.  gmt+2.  ✦◞

[notoriousdks]

Memento Vivere

The spaces in between Never Again & Memento Mori.

Originally posted on AO3

It had been a two days since they had left their partnership hanging on an awkward note. Both too afraid of letting the other see what thoughts and feelings lurk beneath the surface. Neither having the courage to face the truth about how they feel. Mulder knew Scully hadn’t been herself since the Leonard Bets case. The look on her face when they left the hospital, after she had been attacked, had a level of sadness he wasn’t expecting — more anguish than he expected after being attacked by a suspect. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he also couldn’t bring himself to ask her what was truly troubling her. Their recent argument in the office seemed to be about more than a desk. He could have sworn he saw that same look from the hospital on her face in the office. Instead of trying to get to the bottom of Scully’s recent funk, he did his best to act normal, afraid that if he pried, she would pull the curtains to the backstage of her heart even tighter. He quietly watched her suffer, secretly hoping that she would eventually tell him what had been on her mind. Unfortunately, the opposite had happened; she recklessly put herself in danger rather than talking through what was tormenting her.

Mulder spent the past two nights mentally incapable of focusing on anything other than his last genuine interaction with Scully, before complete avoidance of anything real became their modus opporoindi. He found himself recounting the events over and over and over again. The look on her face as she ran the wilted rose petal through her fingers. The sadness in her voice. Her declaration of her life being hers felt like a knife to his heart every time he replayed it in his head. While her guarded behavior wounded him to his core, it didn’t give him license to be cruel. His fear of losing her coming out as a disgusting display of narcissism and nonchalance. He was down right vicious and he hated himself for it.

Seeing Scully seemingly more withdrawn every day since felt like absolute torture — he added to that pain. It was always worse at night, when he didn’t have other distractions to keep his mind from spiraling down a deep, dark well he had no hope of escaping. He felt like he was drowning and didn’t care if he ever came up from the abyss.

"But it’s my..." ' Why couldn’t I finish my thought, ' he quietly scolded, 'How could she not know that I’m beside her in everything — that no matter what her fight was, it was my fight too? How could she not know that I would fight along side her no matter the what? No matter the cost? How could she not know just how much I love her?'

His life had become so desperately intertwined with hers, he couldn’t imagine a world without her in it. She was the lighthouse that always guided him safely to shore and he felt as though he was vandalizing her to the point she would never shine through the darkness again.

'You're pathetic' he thought to himself. 'You're become so dependent on another that you're no longer a whole person on your own. You're codependent. You're useless. Scully deserves so much better than a narcissist like you. You're incapable of making your feelings known and instead of telling the person you love how you truly feel about them, you make inappropriate commentary about their lives all while making it about yourself. You expect honesty and truth, but you can't seem to reciprocate.'

While Mulder considered his work important, he knew, deep down, that he would trade all of it, everything, including his own life, just to keep her safe from harm. 'For someone who values "The Truth" you sure have an odd way of showing it to those you care about most...'

Before Mulder could continue admonishing himself, he heard a soft knock at the door. Startled, he slowly made his way to the door. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see a bare-faced Scully who looked as though she had only just stopped crying.

"Scully, it's 1 a.m. ... is everything okay?" His voice filled with genuine concern and worry.

Before he could catch himself, he reached out to cup her cheek and run his thumb sweetly across her cheek bone. Mulder felt Scully lean into his touch, then tense with an even more melancholic expression than before.

"Yeah... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come... I'll see you later," slowly turning to walk down the hall.

Mulder gently grabbed her right wrist. His eyes looked longingly at her. "Don’t go" came tumbling out of his mouth in a small, hurt voice. The look on Scully’s face was unreadable but she didn’t protest. Mulder slowly pulled her into his apartment, gently closing the door behind her. With a small tug, Mulder guided Scully towards him. His arms snaked around her waist and Scully rose up onto her tip toes to more easily wrap her arms around Mulder’s neck. She felt his face in the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry, Scully. I didn’t mean to…" Scully pulled back briefly and placed her fingers on his mouth, quieting him almost immediately.

"I’m sorry, too " she quietly responded on the verge of tears.

He took her hand in his, gently running his lips along her fingers while keeping the other draped around her waist. He whispered his confession, almost like a prayer, "Dana, I didn’t mean to make you feel insignificant. Your life is my life too because I’m with you in all things… Your fight is my fight too… Anything to make you see that you never have to fight the darkness alone, I'll do it... Anything..." He stared into her eyes for a brief moment before pulling her back into a warm embrace. He planted a few small kisses her neck, burying his face deeper and deeper into her.

Mulder felt Scully cling tighter to him. He couldn't say for certain, but he was sure she was softly crying. His heart broke a little more. Mulder just wanted to hold her and make the hurt she was clearly feeling melt away.

After several minutes, Scully pulled away. She grabbed Mulder’s hand, leading them both into the living room. She sat down on the couch, pulling him down with her. She turned in her seat and began to spread out unfolded the Navajo blanket Mulder always kept on the couch. Mulder tried to get up to give her space, but her hand reached out to him.

“Will you hold me?”

Without another word, Mulder gave a slight nod and moved to lay out on his side. Scully briefly stood up, allowing him up being his legs up, before positioning herself up next him so her back was tightly pressed to his chest, bringing the blanket over them in the process. Mulder pulled her close. Within a few minutes, he could feel Scully’s breathing even out and her body relax. She was fast asleep, nestled into him, her body perfectly cocooned by his own. Mulder felt a small smile forming on his face. He whispered, “I love you…” into the dark void as he felt himself drift off to sleep.

When Mulder woke several hours later, he was alone. At first, he thought last night had been a very vivid dream, but the smell of Scully's perfume radiating around him was too strong to be a figment of his imagination. Out of the corner of his eye, Mulder noticed a small note left on his coffee table.

Mulder -

Had to leave early for a doctor's appointment. I’ll call later.

- D

'So it wasn't a dream', Mulder smiled to himself. He felt a slight blush forming on his face.

He was pulled from his reverie by the sound of his phone ringing. Jumping from the couch, Mulder answered, hoping it would be Scully.

"Mulder."

"Mulder, it's me. I need you to come down to Holy Cross Memorial Hospital," Scully's voice was filled with concern, “…and I need you keep this between us…”

Scully's voice was a splash of cold water. In no reality could this be good news. His heart sank. "I'm on my way."

As Mulder quickly put himself together, he mentally mapped out a route to the hospital that would include a flower shop along the way.

[alphareleasemedia]

Daily Drabble Project May 1-10

5/1/23 Great waves crashed upon the shore in the dimming light of the day's end. In the distance the great lighthouse towered over the sea, its shining light spilling out over the dark and troubled water. Mitsy stumbled towards it as quickly as her tired and soaked body could take her. She was caught between the fierce waves and the jagged rocks that lined the beach, ever aware that one strong wave could end it all. At the bottom of a cliff, atop which the lighthouse stood, Mitsy paused for a moment to catch her breath. Then she began to climb.

5/2/23 Zuzu drifted sleepily down the dark hallways of her home and into the kitchen. The fridge blinded her with its heavenly light as she swung open the door. As her vision slowly returned to her Zuzu scanned the fridge for easy targets. Easy targets like the blackberries she finished off, or the honey baked ham lunch meat that she scarfed down one slice after another till she'd finished that too. Zuzu's 2 a.m. cravings still not satisfied she searched fervently for what else she could feast on with no effort. At last, Zuzu reached for the bag of shredded cheese.

5/3/23 I thought about calling up Dimple to ask him if he wanted to come over that evening and hangout. We could play video games or watch a movie or just sit on the porch and talk about nothing for hours like we could do sometimes. Ultimately, I decided not to. As much as I enjoyed hanging out with Dimple, I didn't think it was company, his or anyone's, that I was craving. I was quite excited to have the house to myself for the evening actually. But still a certain restlessness itched in my mind. A need I couldn't name.

5/4/23 Hara wasn't sure what she wanted for her birthday. Like, sure, she could ask for a bunch of stuff, but then she'd have a bunch of stuff. And then what would she do with it? She already had a bunch of stuff. Did she really need more? But she couldn't just tell people not to get her anything for her birthday. Even if she really didn't want anything and everyone knew that they'd probably still feel weird about not getting her anything. Which was dumb but true. And besides, some people just loved giving presents. It was a whole thing.

5/5/23 Pepper came by today to check on me. I told her I was fine and managing well enough on my own. She seemed skeptical but she didn't visit for too long. At the very least she was convinced that I had more than enough food to keep me fed for a while. Thankfully she didn't bring more to add to the growing pile. While I'm grateful for everyone's concern I feel like I'm starting to drown in it. Everyone is so eager to be helpful, I have no time to myself. What I wouldn't give for just a little quiet.

5/6/23 Simpkey had to consider his options carefully. For as much as everyone assured him there was no wrong choice, he knew there decidedly was. Several, in fact. He just didn't know what they were. The main problem, ultimately, was that there were far too many options. Simpkey had tried to narrow the field, but his companions gave him no additional information to aid in that endeavor. Save for what he already knew of their own personal tastes to eliminate the obvious. There was nothing for it. Simpkey would just have to pick a bad movie and face his friends' displeasure.

5/7/23 Yossy, Hossy, and Lossy set out from home one fine morning to go visit their Aunt. The sky was blue, the trees were green, and birds sang merrily as the three sisters walked along. Yossy loved birds and stopped to listen to their song. Hossy loved trees and as she walked beneath their branches she was overcome with a desire to climb up into them. Lossy hated being outside in the sun for too long, and so she hurried along to her Aunt's as quickly as possible and never noticed that she had lost her sisters somewhere along the way.

5/8/23 Deedle chewed on his fingernails as he watched the race. Not from nerves though. Nail biting was just a bad habit of his that Deedle had never been able to break. He was actually very calm about the race, giving way to his gross habit more from boredom than anything. The problem was that Deedle just couldn't get excited about watching a bunch of cars going round and round in their little circle. It wasn't half as interesting as the movies had promised him it would be. He really couldn't understand all the people watching with great excitement and energy.

5/9/23 The mountain loomed majestically in the background. Looking so much like it was doing its best to mimic a postcard or perhaps a travel brochure. Yes, the landscape was amazing and beautiful to look at, but that was just appearances. The reality of it all was much less picturesque. The delightful greenery was home to about a million and one mosquitos all ready to suck a man dry. But there were much larger terrors looming in the trees. Hungry beasts with razor teeth and giant claws. To say nothing of the vicious prehistoric behemoths that roamed fearlessly wherever they pleased.

5/10/23 The little bird hopped around in the grass. He was looking for worms. The sun had barely risen and the air was still gray and full of mist. The dirt was damp and cool beneath the little bird's feet. The soil was soft and loose and easy for him to thrust in his beak to retrieve his breakfast. The little bird was not alone in his early morning endeavor. Other little birds flitted about nearby, also looking for breakfast. Up above them in the trees the doves cooed sleepily to each other and the song birds heralded the new day.

[mi4012dilumwarakagoda]

The Script I Made for the Shutter Island Acting Assignment

(The Scene sets in a lighthouse with raging tides pushing against its rocky shoreline. The Storm was on its way, and inside the lighthouse, inside a room, sitting at a table was a middle-aged man, smiling at the three-armed guards watching him.) 

Teddy: Hola (Teddy continued smoking his cigar, waiting for the interrogation to start) 

(Meanwhile, down at the bottom first steps of the lighthouse, stood a man in uniform along with a doctor shivering in his coat) 

Ethan: You alright, doc? 

Dr. Cawley: Barely... I don’t know if I could survive this bloody stormy night... (His teeth chattering) And, oh goodness, here he comes. 

(Dr. Sheehan approached them, drenched in sea water) 

Dr. Sheehan: Detective, here it is. All the reports and charges following up on our dear patient- 

Ethan: Prisoner, Doc, not a patient. You don’t put your patients in chains, do yah? 

Dr. Sheehan: Well, with this one we had to consider it. And how is he, anyway? 

Dr. Cawley: Giving an uneasy vibe as always. Please do come, before you must carry my frosted corpse. 

(All three of them made their way up the stair and along the way,) 

Dr. Sheehan: Are you sure this is your man, Detective, if I may so inclined to ask? 

Ethan: A maniac comes into a home, beat up the family, then drown them in their own bath tub and then arrange them as if they are having a wonderful tea party. Then leaves without a trace. Does that sound familiar to you, doc? 

Dr. Cawley: Yes, but he’s been here for the last two years. He doesn’t leave his cell without anyone’s supervision, the guards here are vigilant and, on their toes when they’re around him, and that’s not all, the security on Shutter Island is one of the best in the entire world. There is no humanly possible way for him to escape. 

Ethan: I know, doc. My guess is a copycat, and this man in that room might know who it is. There must be some small chance that he might. There’s gotta... 

(They finally made it to the room, where the three guards greeted them. And in the middle of this room, sitting at a table, chained to the concrete floor was Teddy Daniels smoking his cigar with a menacing smile on his face. The detective came closer while the doctors remained their distance.) 

Ethan: So, uh, Mr. Daniels... 

Teddy: Oh, Teddy is just fine. Why don’t you grab a seat, while we can have this little chat? 

Ethan: Oh no, Mr- Teddy, I’ll do just fine standing.  

Teddy: Suit yourself... 

Ethan: Now, I understand that you had a- uh- tragic incident at your house, two years ago. Care to remind me all the details? 

(The two doctors looked uneasy and looked at each other. Teddy made his smile wider, showing his surprisingly white teeth shine in the light.) 

Teddy: Alright, I’ll enlighten you... So, one day after a day full of work, I come home, ready to embrace the love of my family. The moment I got in, I killed them, and made a fine art. I arranged them like dolls for the best tea party I’ve ever had but blood for tea and hearts for biscuits. (Teddy leaned forward) And you know the best part? They were quiet.  

(Ethan smiled back) 

Ethan: Yeah, yeah, and I can tell you had fun... What about the other murders? 

Teddy: A man is always born with a hunger, detective, a hunger for a certain thing. Those others just happen to be in my range. And I had a hunger for the pleasure of tearing one’s heart out again.  

Ethan: Yeah, and you satisfied that hunger or could you go for more? 

Teddy: I had enough of my share of it, but thank you. But let’s talk about what you’re really here for. 

Ethan: Alright, alright... I don’t know if you do, but you heard anything? 

Teddy: If this is about a peculiar serial killer, then yes. Although I would like to think of him as an artist, following his predecessor's footsteps. 

Ethan: Then you do know him... 

(Teddy took a long breath and gave a long sigh) 

Teddy: Let me tell you something, detective, the world is weak, soft, and yet the society is as cruel as God. They blame people like us but they never get the full picture or the full scope of the art we do. You should see the people I live here with: they’re like broken records, skipping endlessly until the very last second of their life. Who do you think reached out and scratched that record? 

Ethan: So, you’re blaming society. Come up with something original here, Teddy. The world is cruel: I get that- 

Teddy: Oh, you do understand, detective. No question about that. I knew the type of person you are, the moment you walked in. To people outside of this room, what I did deemed immoral. But for people like us, it’s art. Why do you think that the world thinks that serial killers are ‘cool’? Because we are the type of people who have broken out of our cowardly shells and show our true colors. We are not afraid anymore, detective, we are ready to face the terrors that the night will offer. 

Ethan: Wow, wonderful speech, Hermano. (Ethan started clapping his hands sarcastically, and stopped after a brief moment) But what does all this have to do with our copycat, Teddy? 

Teddy: Consider and take what I said as a lesson of free education, and- Oh god, forgive me, I do not know your name detective... 

Ethan: Ethan... Ethan Winters. 

Teddy: Ahh, Ethan Winters. Beautiful name. You know, my first-born son was also Ethan. 

Ethan: Hmm, touching- The same one you also killed, right?..  

Teddy: Did I offended you in anyway? Sorry, it’s just that I still remember those frightful eyes my son had,.. when I killed his sister. What a sight? (Teddy’s smile never did fade) Kids, am I right?  

(Ethan looked at the two doctors, still standing at a distance. Ethan nodded and the doctors quickly understood. Dr. Sheehan whispered something into one of the guards’ ears and the guard disappeared and after a moment, two nurses came with a plastic bag, tagged ‘Evidence #23’. The nurse gave the bag to the detective and left, while one of them stayed to witness the interrogation.) 

Ethan: You know what this is? (Ethan turned to Teddy) 

Teddy: I might have an idea. 

(Ethan reached into the bag slowly, keeping his eyes on Teddy. He removed a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin and then put it on the table within Teddy’s reach. Teddy reached out and, in his palm, he analyzed it, curious and not smiling any longer. Then his eyes met Ethan’s, then resumed his smile.) 

Teddy: This is a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin. They stopped making these in 1933. You definitely knew I gave one to my son. This isn’t the same coin though. My son’s had two large scratches across its surface. And this one here, it’s stained in blood. Did you know this is one of the rarest coins. I found my son’s one during my time in cold war on a dead man’s hanging corpse.  

Ethan: That peculiar copycat of yours, Teddy, left this on one of his victims’ eyes like the ancient Greeks did. I knew the message immediately, since I’ve read your files: You shoved yours into your own son’s eyes... He really does admire yah... And knows awful a lot of yah.  

Teddy: Yeah, he does. 

Ethan: So, do you know the bastard, or are you just wasting my time? 

(Teddy stared at the ceiling, thinking) 

Teddy: No, Mr. Winters, no. I am simply taking my time in knowing you. And I might say I am impressed. 

(Ethan looked confused for a while but continued ignoring what he just said) 

Teddy: Mr. Winter, what- I dare say- would you feel when you kill a certain person, with fear and terror in their eyes? 

Ethan: I am nothing like that- I am nothing like you. (Ethan was frustrated, offended) Even if I did anything like that, I would turn myself in- 

Teddy: But, would you though? Don’t you know the pleasure of taking one’s life? You and I are the same. Both of us are violent people. I was trained and send to war, while you’re trained and sent to hunt down maniacs haunting the streets at the night.  

Ethan: What do you mean? Huh? What do you mean by that?  

Teddy: People always pretend, they always do. But you can stop pretending, Mr. Winters.  

(Ethan was on edge. He turned to the others who were keeping their distance. Then he turned to Teddy once more.) 

Ethan: What? You saying I killed those people? 

Teddy: You don’t do well in hiding it... Out of everyone here, you are different. I can see it in you, Mr. Winters. It’s like staring at a mirror. 

(Ethan smiled) 

Ethan: I suppose it is, huh. 

(The two doctors signaled the guards, scared and on edge) 

Dr. Cawley: Get the back up now! 

Teddy: So tell me: How does it feel, Mr. Winters? How does it feel to take one’s life mercilessly?  

(Ethan gave a menacing smile) 

Ethan: It feels like hunting a delicate deer, but way more fun and bloodier. 

Teddy: It is, isn’t it? And I suspect that you’re gonna kill me. But I want you to know: It feels nice to meet a person who appreciates my artwork. 

Ethan: Nothing personal...Teddy. 

(The lights turned off, before the sound of slashing and blood splattering was heard from the room.) 

(Now few days later, in Dr. Cawley’s office, Dr Sheehan comes in with a file,) 

Dr. Sheehan: I have finally done the paper work, John. 

Dr. Cawley: Good, with Daniels dead, we can just give his old cell to our dear Mr. Winters.  

Dr. Sheehan: So, uh, listen to this, John: Ethan was assigned to a case, few months back. He was never the same after that. According to some ongoing investigations...he was accused of killing more than 1 100 people. They suspected that he found files on Teddy Daniels and considered followed his methods.  

Dr. Cawley: All good men fall, I guess. But why coming all the way here, only to end up imprisoned? 

Dr. Sheehan: Minds of such ill men are mysterious, John. Best not to question them. 

(Dr. Sheehan passes the file to Dr. Cawley, and then he stores it among the 1000 files he had in his tall file cabinet.) 

THE END 

[nuvomica]

fae!stede who is trying out the real world bc he has a fascination for humans, especially pirates, and nobody actually knows he’s anything except a very fancy, wordy posh guy. some real serious violence going down when oh wow suddenly there is some seriously fucking spooky shit happenin and everyone is like ‘wahhh the kraken, it’s blackbeard and the kraken uwahh’ but ed is on the deck just as confused as everyone else and it’s actually just stede bringin a lil fog and whispers on the wind nd shit

[sseastar]

✑ STRAY KIDS REACTION !

— THE ONE WHERE THEY TAKE YOU ON CUTE DATES IN SAN FRANCSICO

pairing: stray kids ot8 x reader genre: fluff, established relationship warnings: none, me living vicariously in my fics as usual, not proofread listen to: (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco by Tony Bennett

방찬  、BANG CHAN !

chan was determined to see the painted ladies from full house because he wanted to see what they looked like in person. the two of you packed a bunch of sandwiches and fruit into a little wicker basket for a picnic in the park across the famous houses! the sun was shining but it wasn’t too hot, and he gladly took pictures of you as you playfully posed in your straight jeans and bright red crewneck sweater that you had put on to match the vibe of the sitcom. he kissed the pout on your lips until he finally agreed to you taking pictures in your vintage outfits together. you and chan found yourselves wandering towards the cable cars, and though the line was long, chan didn’t hesitate to buy tickets when he saw your eyes shine with interest towards the ride. he was glad to offer you the only seat left and ended up in the standing area, one hand holding onto the railing, and the other playing with your fingers throughout the ride. the tour of the city ended near ghiradelli square, where he bought a bag of chocolate to take home to his members and ice cream for you to share at the shore nearby.

민호  、LEE MINHO !

i had too many ideas for minho but i got soft for going on an evening date at fisherman’s wharf! imagine when it’s sunset and you guys are walking by all the stores and restaurants and seafood vendors hand in hand. it’s getting chilly so you guys buy these touristy half zips with little embroidered golden gate bridges. he’d have you pulled close to his body since there’s a lot of families out, and he’ll pull your hand wordlessly into his pocket while rubbing soft circles into your palm as you walk towards the beach with a folded blanket tucked to your chest. when you set up your area, minho pulls you between his legs for you to lean against his chest as you sit and watch the sun set, talking mindlessly and teasing each other as you usually do. your boyfriend doesn’t forget to steal a few kisses here and there to make you giggle, and when you get hungry, he pulls you up to your feet so you can grab some seafood at the restaurant overlooking the bay.

창빈  、SEO CHANGBIN !

changbin, ever the active boy, would have woken you up early so that you could hike up at land’s end early enough to see the sunrise. it’s romantic (after you get over the fact that he had woken you up at the buttcrack of dawn) and he doesn’t hesitate to wait for you if you ever needed a little snack or water break. changbin takes photos of you when you’re not looking, then pockets his phone to bathe in the early morning light with his arm wrapped around your shoulders. somehow, you end up at the point bonita lighthouse and he’s clinging on to you as you cross the bridge to get to the scenic area. changbin expresses how proud he is of you as you go on your little adventure, not forgetting to pinch your cheeks whenever he feels suddenly affectionate for you. the two of you get takeout (of your choice, of course) and he drives the two of you to treasure island to eat in the car, overlooking the city’s skyline.

현진  、HWANG HYUNJIN !

hyunjin seems like the type of guy to want to have those cute date photos on his instagram, so there is no doubt in my mind he would take you somewhere where you can take cute couple photos in front of a nice scene. so, he takes you to the conservatory of flowers in golden gate park (early in the morning so that you can get parking) and immediately whip out his phone as you wander ahead of him through the greenhouse. you visit the japanese tea garden after, taking even more photos together then grabbing a snack and some tea before heading to japantown for lunch. you walk by the waterfront near ghiradelli square and wander about until it’s night time, and he takes you to the palace of fine arts. hyunjin has your hand in his coat pocket as the two of you take a stroll through the large structure, taking photos near the water and basically in all the spots where there’s any light shining.

지성  、HAN JISUNG !

inspired by real life events (aka my parents), han jisung would take you on your first date to alcatraz and the exploratorium. these two places (both historical and scientific) would be perfect to fuel this boy’s curiosity all the while being something pretty engaging so as to lessen the possible awkwardness that might come up between the two of you (the awkwardness never happened, the two of you were too busy having fun with the displays at both museums and flirting with each other to let any silence fall between the two of you). jisung would be initiating the most flustering skinship with you, his hand on your waist when you were taking photos on the ferry, brushing your hair behind your ear when you took off the tour guide audio headphones at alcatraz, or his chest being right at your back as you looked at all the displays in the exploratorium. the two of you would go to the ferry building to grab something to eat for lunch. he’d pay for dessert as well, then take you by the hand to pull you towards the salesforce tower with a big smile on his face. jisung would take you to the rooftop garden to walk off all the food you eat. it’s really sweet because he keeps his fingers entwined with yours as the two of you walk slowly on the path through the trees (and maybe he even stops and turns to face you to press a kiss to your lips).

빌릭스  、LEE FELIX !

idk why felix gives me the total disney lover kind of guy. over the years that i have ulted skz, felix has made so many pop culture references that involve things from my childhood, disney being one of them. so correct me if i’m wrong, but felix would totally take you to the walt disney family museum. the two of you would have so much fun dragging each other to all the different displays in each of the rooms, getting extra excited when you see the giant disneyland model replica room. you’d be totally engrossed in seeing all the old sketches and drafts of some of the most well known characters in the world, and felix would be totally engrossed in taking photos of you in your element. my guy would totally buy the two of you matching enamel pins from the gift shop and after, you would take the (long) trek to the areas overlooking the golden gate bridge. did he expect the two of you to end up hiking? nope, but he makes it up to you when you both reach the view overlooking the bay - not that it mattered because he distracts you with the most knee-weakening kisses anyway.

승민  、KIM SEUNGMIN !

i was torn with a sightseeing trip so he could take pictures or him taking you to a giants game but the giants fan in me took over. he’d pick you up in the afternoon on a friday night, and you guys would drive to the city a few hours before the game actually starts to find parking and grab some dinner at amici’s across the ballpark. he’d be holding your hand tightly as you walk through the crowds of giants fans after you eat, passing time as you buy matching giants baseball caps and walk by mccovey cove. when the line starts to form, seungmin excitedly leads you to the end and wraps you in his arms to warm you up as you wait your turn, and when you reach your seats, he immediately starts to take pictures of you. the two of you are totally engrossed in the game, and when the kiss cam fails to reach you, seungmin kisses you anyway. the two of you share garlic fries and a ghiradelli hot fudge sundae, and when your favorite player happens to hit the walk-off home run, you jump up to cheer with him and hug him tight before you leave the stadium. you hear the sounds of a saxophone softly playing covers of songs as you head towards the car, but not before grabbing a dirty dog from one of the vendors outside. 

정인  、YANG JEONGIN !

for your date, jeongin took you on a morning to afternoon date at pier 39. jeongin’s growing up so well and he’s looking and getting more and more mature, but i can’t say that he’s not a kid at heart! he’d be so excited to see all the quirky stores and he’d want to do the laser maze and 7d experience shooting games and want to buy candy from the store near the heart statue. bonus points if you eat at bubba gumps and go to the aquarium!! can you imagine how excited he would be spots the sea lions on their little platform? “look at those two,” he would say, leaning in towards your head to talk to you over the loud noise of the excited little kids next to you. his hand is holding yours, warming them up from the cold of the slight breeze of the water. “they’re kissing so we should too.”

⌕.  author’s note ;     yes, this was completely self indulgent because 1) i miss san francisco so much even though i go there very often and 2) i’d love to go on a date there. so here’s an impulse stray kids reaction because i suddenly thought about how cute it would be to do some touristy things with them. did i get carried away with min because i’ve thought about this happening too much?? that’s for you to decide LOL.  update: i went to san francisco today T-T i was so happy hhh omg but i want to go back already shfalchsaj i kept thinking about this and i was like i want to be here on date with them too. update 2: i’ve had this in my draft since the summer after senior year…i’m in my third year of college now but i have yet to go on these dates. 

⌕. taglist ; @enhacolor @soobin-chois @koishua @iwonzzi

[classic80sand90smovieloves2]

Meeting and Dating Casper McFadden

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

- Moving into a new home was never easy. Oftentimes, it meant packing up everything you owned, leaving a bunch of good memories behind, and traveling across the country to a new town where you’d have to make all new friends and renovate old fixtures.

- But there was something about your new house that made it both easier and harder to live in: the fact that it was haunted.

- Obviously your family didn’t find out about the ghosts until after they’d signed the papers and even if they were warned about it, they probably wouldn’t have believed the realtor, but none of that mattered now. Now you were stuck in a old house with a bunch of spirits, stuck until your parents save up enough money to move again.

- So what made the manor easier to live in, you may ask. Well, the fact that it came with a friend….

- You and Casper meet the day you move into the Whipstaff Manor. You’re wandering around, exploring the home and trying to figure out which room you want to live in, unaware that there’s a specter following you.

- The minute Casper sees you, he’s head over tail. You make his undead little heart race and have him second guessing his every action. Which is the main reason it makes him a while to formally introduce himself, he’s too scared that he’ll ruin his first impression.

- Sadly for him, his first impression still doesn’t go over well, regardless of how much he practiced.

- In his defense, it wasn’t anything that he did, it was more the fact that you were suddenly face to face with a phantom. Anyone would have freaked out in response to that, and they would have freaked out to any ghost as well; no matter how friendly.

- So, like the rational young woman that you are, you scream and take off like a rocket, dashing out of the room and down the hall to find a more secure and safe looking room to hide in until your parents get back from the store.

- He follows behind, attempting to calm you down and feeling downright awful for scaring you. Once you’ve locked yourself away into a broom closet, he gives you a minute to breathe before he calls out to you, telling you that he’s sorry and trying to coax you out so that you can talk.

- It takes you another minute to be convinced and to trust him when he says he isn’t gonna hurt you, but eventually, you do brace yourself and open the door.

- Once you do, you find that he really isn’t as scary as you’d originally though he was. In fact, he was actually sort of cute; in a cartoony sort of way, and he’s friendly to boot; so you wind up feeling a bit silly for being so frightened of him. And after you begin to think like that, the two of you begin to develop a close friendship.

- While his uncles might be incredibly obnoxious and annoying, you can’t deny that you enjoy having the ghostly presences in your home; especially when school roles around and you find yourself feeling like an alien with no one to turn to. You might not have any living friends in your town but you at least have a few see through ones at home that ensure you’re not completely alone.

- But, compared to your primarily platonic feelings, Caspers feelings for you were a lot more complicated. He valued your friendship and enjoyed having you as a pal, but he also had more romantic feelings towards you. In simpler terms: he’d had a massive crush on you from the moment you walked in.

- And though he’d have loved to confess his feelings and see if you felt the same, he knew that it was practically impossible for the two of you to be together; at least until you’d died …or until he was alive again!

- The minute he remembers the Lazurus he immediately erupts into a fit of excitement and joy. If you could get it to work, he could be alive again and the two of you could be together for the rest of your lives, either as friends or as something more, he honestly didn’t care which; though he hoped it was the second one.

- So he tells you about the invention and the two of you get to work. You take the wild trip down to his fathers lab, search around until you find what you’re looking for, load the contraption up with it’s necessary elixir, and pull the levers with bated breath.

- You don’t know what you’d expected to walk out of the machine but it certainly wasn’t this. Perfectly done blond hair, shining blue eyes, and a face that made you suddenly flustered to be in your best friends presence. He looked like a Disney prince and you were captivated.

“How do I look?” He asked nervously.

“Perfect,” you responded a little too quickly. “I mean, human, normal …living.”

- His face broke out into a smile and he threw his arms around you, pulling you into a tight hug. The action caught you off guard and made your heart race but you didn’t mind in the slightest.

- Once you’d finished hugging, he pulled away slowly and you found yourselves locking eyes. His gaze flickered to your lips and before you knew it, the two of you were leaning forward and sharing a kiss.

- His uncles may or may not have interrupted you but the “damage” was already done. You were just as hooked on him as he was on you and neither of you could be happier.

- Casper loves pda. He loves being able to actually touch you and be out in public and show the whole town that the two of you are together; even though half of them are confused as to who he is. 

- He touches you and holds you close whenever he can. He’s waited to do it since the moment he met you and now that you’re together; and he isn’t ice cold and only semi-solid, he enjoys every little ounce of affection he can provide and obtain.

- Handholding.

- Cheek kisses. 

- Long, soft kisses. They’re sort of a contrast to his usual hyper behavior, which is why, if you ever need him to calm him down and focus, all you have to do is ask for a kiss or make it obvious that that’s what you’re going to do. He skids to a stop and happily complies as he gives you an adorable little smile.

- Pet names aren’t really his thing but he does call you by fun nicknames that he’s come up with; usually a shorter or longer version of your name.

- Cuddling is a must with Casper. He absolutely loves it, no matter how the two of you do it. Sometimes you’ll lay on his chest, other times you’ll spoon, and other times you’ll face each other on the bed and talk until one of you dozes off.

- Speaking of: he definitely watches you sleep every now and again, which sounds far more creepy than it actually is. Like, you’ll be talking late at night and you’ll fall asleep and he’ll just look at your peaceful face for a while.

- If we’re going with the assumption that Casper maintains some of the aspects of being a ghost, I think it’s safe to say that he’s occasionally at least a little cooler than a normal human, which makes him the perfect companion for hot days.

- Being carried and flown around.

- Sometimes; especially prior to him being in the Lazurus, he forgets that you’re not a ghost and gets you into some uncomfortable situations. And after he turns human again, he definitely has to get used to not being able to go through walls and have things go through him when they’re thrown or fall.

- Testing out exactly what he’s still capable of doing and if there’s any limits to his new life. Is he perfectly normal? Does he have ghostly powers? Do the effects occasionally wear off during certain times or seasons? It’s all stuff you have to figure out.

- For a while after he’s brought back to life, he spends all day experiencing everything he missed when he was still alive. All the smells, sights, and touches; he runs around like Jack Skellington while you sit back and watch with a smile.

- Going to the mall. It’s one of his favorite places to visit, he just loves the entire atmosphere of the place; especially since he wasn’t really able to go and enjoy everything about it before he turned human again.

- Tv dates.

- Playing different games with each other. Board games, pirates, video games, you name it, he’ll do it.

- Sitting on top of the lighthouse with him.

- Enjoying the view from outside of the manor. You have the perfect view of the ocean from your garden so the two of you can always throw a blanket down and stare out at the sea together.

- Just goofing off with each other. Running around the house together, sliding down the stairwell, having him push you in a chair down the halls, etc. You’ve got a huge house to mess around in, why not take advantage of it?

- Dancing together. He told you he was a good dancer.

- Late night conversations. You can always talk to him about anything you want or need to.

- Catching him watching you a lot. He always has such a loving gaze when he’s looking at you, just seeing his face when he’s watching you do something or speak is reassurance that he really cares about you.

- Always having a warm and excited greeting when you return home from school. He also probably occasionally goes with you or at least walks you there or visits during lunch.

- He loves making surprises for you. Throwing you little parties or coming up with different ways to make you smile or cheer you up after school or whenever he can see that you’re feeling down is one of his favorite hobbies.

- He wants to be with you like 25/7 so don’t be surprised if he’s constantly bothering you with his presence. It’s a good thing you love him because if you didn’t he’d become very annoying, very quickly.

- Him just appearing at random is commonplace so your parents and you definitely have to take some time to get used to it. I mean he lives in your house and now that he’s human again, it’s definitely a bit easier than when he was a ghost, but still.

- Getting chairs pulled out and doors opened for you. He likes being a gentleman.

- Him cooking for you. He definitely tries to impress you with his skills and all the inventions he uses; and he just likes doing something nice like that for you.

- Discovering all his dads inventions and letting him tell you about them. It’s really quite fascinating to see how they all work and how excited he gets while showing you how to use them.

- I have a feeling that he doesn’t like winter; for obvious reasons, and whenever it comes around, all he wants to do is stay inside with you and do indoor activities. If you were to want to go out, it’d take you a while to persuade him and even if you did; or were only going out by yourself, he’d spend forever bundling you up and making up a bunch of rules to keep you safe.

- Probably dealing with his ghostly self every now and again. I have a feeling that the Lazurus machines effects occasionally wear off for a little while from time to time so while he’s alive most of the time, you do have moments of spooky transparency as well.

- Pranking each other and other people. He might be a sweetheart but he also has a bit of a mischievous streak.

- Him always wanting to show you whatever cool thing he sees, does, finds, or hears about. Just being able to share things with you makes him happy.

- Listening to his stories from when he was alive or the decades he wasn’t.

- Fixing up his room for him and hanging out up there with all his toys.

- Being gifted some of his mothers things. Dresses, jewelry, stuff like that.

- His uncles bothering the two of you. They’re constantly harassing and teasing you; just try to pay them no mind.

- Standing up for him when his uncles are being more awful than usual.

- He might be the only person you can really bond with in your town, considering the fact that whenever you have anybody over, they’re almost always harassed by his uncles and scared away. Which Casper may or may not be sort of happy about.

- Casper gets jealous pretty easily. Anytime another guy takes interest in you, he always feels the need to mock them behind their backs or be passive aggressively not so friendly whenever they approach you when you’re out with him. It’s best to not bring up guys in your class unless it’s obvious that they only like you as a friend; but even then he’d wonder why you need friends (even if they’re girls) other than him.

- He’s sort of overprotective of you. He just got his life back so he certainly doesn’t want anything bad happening and putting yours in danger.

- He absolutely hates fighting so whenever the two of you have an argument, he’s always quick to try and settle it and apologize; even if he doesn’t really think he’s done anything wrong.

- Saying “I love you” isn’t really his forte. He prefers saying and doing other things to show you that he does.

- The two of you sort of just have to go with the flow and see where your relationship takes you. You don’t know how exactly the rest of his “life” will go so you just try to enjoy the present and what you have right now.

[pogueszn]

you got my devotion, but man i can hate you somtimes

summary: jj’s gets wrapped up in a relationship with the cool girl who works the front desk.

warnings: a  bit of angst, drug use, a lil steamy at some points, and some tooth rotting fluff

word count: 7.8k

JJ HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS AT WORK

JJ had a lot of friends wherever he went, he was just that type of person. He drew people in like a lighthouse - he was an enigma that most people couldn’t stand not talking to him at least once.  He made friends easily. There wasn’t anyone at work who truly disliked him. Some of the adults may have thought of him as a pesky teenager but they still cared for him nonetheless. He had a lot of friends at work but Y/n was his best friend there.

Y/n had moved to the OBX about three months ago and had been working at the hotel ever since. JJ was drawn to her the second she walked in asking about job openings. She had the best sense of style he’d seen. Everyone on the island either lived in bathing suits or polos- she walked in with beige slacks, an oversized graphic tee, complemented by her choice of jewelry, and the cleanest pair of shoes he’d ever seen. Y/n had an aura about her that JJ couldn’t have been able to ignore even if he wanted to. He realized quickly that they shared the same humor and had some of the same personality traits. They’ve never hung out outside of work but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she was fun. JJ had always thought she was gorgeous - his mouth ran dry the first time he saw her - and he flirted with her constantly. He was pleasantly surprised when she started flirting back with him.  It was almost like she knew that he thought she was one of the most - if not the most - beautiful girl he’d ever seen and lived to tease him about it. But neither of them ventured further than that. They both knew there was a spark but they never mentioned it. Instead, they both lived in their bubble, where they flirted with each other and pretended that was where it stopped.

JJ walked into work, a smile pulling at his cheeks when he saw her at the front desk. She nods at him, her own smile slipping onto her lips.

“Maybaaaannkkk!” She greeted.

He stepped up to the counter, greeting her with the handshake they had made up almost two months ago.

“How’s your morning going?”

He shrugged, leaning on his elbows on the counter, mirroring her stance,

“Eh, could be better.” He replied.

“How so?”

“I could be smoking a joint on the beach.”

She groaned, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she rolled her head. He looked her up and down. This girl was a trip. He doesn’t know if she’s oblivious to the power she has over him or if she knows and just loved to get him worked up- he leaned more towards the latter more and more each day.

“God, I would kill for a backwood right now.”

JJ rolled his shoulders, shifting his feet,

“I’ve never smoked a backwood before.”

Y/n’s mouth fell open. He almost laughed but the look in her eye stops him. There’s something about it that made his stomach flip - he couldn’t remember the last time a girl made him feel like that.

“You’ve never smoked a backwood?” She questioned.

He shook his head.

She tapped the counter, her rings clattering against it. She shifted to grab her phone, unlocking it before looking back at him.

“Welp, that’s changing, immediately. I’m gonna hit up my guy and then I’ll get back to you on a day - whenever this motherfucker texts me back.” She laughed.

He laughed with her.

“I thought I was your plug?” He asked.

“Yeah, that was before I knew my way around.”

He let out a small chuckle before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his Juul and looked around, scanning the area for the few uptight workers before taking a hit.

“I can’t believe this is gonna be the first time we hung out outside of work.” He stated.

“I know,” she replied, “what were we thinking?”

“No clue.”

He offered his Juul to her with an outstretched hand. There was a light shine in her eyes when he turned it towards her. Her hand reached for it but he pulled it back. Her eyebrows furrowed before he offered it again. She scoffed at him but she still leaned across the counter to take a hit. Her eyes stayed on his when she took her hit. He swallowed, a tingle going up his spine. She pulled away after a moment, leaning back and letting the smoke come out in a cloud before sucking it back in. She blew the vape back out after a second. Their eyes were still locked, the tension in the room thicker than either of them were willing to admit. She licked her lips, a smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth.

“Get to work, Maybank.”

He smirked back at her,

“Yes, ma’am.”

THE SUN HAD ALMOST SET.

The sky painted with mellow colors as the sun sat low in the sky. The pogues laughed in John B’s yard, all sat around the fire even though the air was still too warm for any of them to find any comfort in the heat. John B threw another piece of wood in the fire before he dusted his hands off and sat back down in his seat. JJ was caught up in telling the pogues another funny story about what Y/n had done at work earlier that day.

“I still can’t believe we haven’t met this girl yet,” Kiara said.

The other boys nodded in agreement. With the number of stories JJ’s told them, and the amount of time Y/n’s name left his mouth daily they felt like they already knew her.

“Dude, she’s so dope,” JJ stated, “she’s like, the coolest girl I’ve ever met.”

Kie gasped in faux offense, her hand coming to rest over her heart as John B wiggled in his seat across the fire, a teasing smile appearing on his lips,

“Ooooh, JJ has a crush!” he sang.

JJ scoffed, throwing his empty beer can at him, feeling proud when JB groaned as the can bounced off his head.

“I don’t have a crush, alright,” JJ responded, “I mean, she’s hot or whatever and if she wanted to bone, I’d be totally down but she’s just cool, man. You guys would like her.”

John B pursed his lips at him, nodding - though he was unconvinced. John B had known JJ since third grade, he’d only seen him talk about a girl like this a total of three times in his life. The first was Ellie Thrasher, a blonde girl whose hair stayed in messy braids all year long in fourth grade. Then there was River in eighth, she had a chip on her shoulder the size of South America and despised JJ with her entire being. John B never figured out what he saw in her. Then there was Kie - until he realized that the door was locked and settled on being her friend. John B knew JJ and he knew there was more to Y/n than JJ was letting on.

“Okay, bud.”

The talk of Y/n dwindled out, their conversations drifting from far and wide. Kie and Pope bickered off to the side of which Mario Kart character was the best while John B and JJ sat quietly, laughing at the occasional dig the other two would throw at each other. JJ broke off another piece of chocolate from the bar he nabbed at work and tossed it in his mouth. He jumped slightly when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He struggled to get it out in the position he was in, groaning as he dug through his pant pockets.

Y/n/n

You up for a smoke sesh tomorrow after your shift?  

JJ HAD BEEN WATCHING THE CLOCK ALL DAY.

The hand taunted him every time he looked up and barely a minute had passed from the last he checked. He tried keeping himself preoccupied as he could, challenging himself to not look at the clock for as long as he could. The shifts JJ didn’t share with Y/n were always slow. He spent his breaks texting her, he’d even text her during work even though he knew Andrew would be on his ass if he found him on his phone rather than bussing tables.

When his shift was finally over he bounded to the locker room, shedding himself of his clothes and jumping into some fresh ones. JJ had dashed out of the hotel, sparing a few quick goodbyes to the coworkers he passed, and begun scanning the parking lot for Y/n’s car. Y/n had spotted him first though and quickly put her car in drive and drove the short distance to pick him up. She came to a slow stop in front of him, music swept outside of the car as she rolled down her window, a disposable vape in between her lips. She hung her hand outside the window, flicking her lighter on,

“You ready to get fucked up, Maybank?” the devilish smirk on her face made his stomach tighten.

“Fuck yeah,” he replied, before jogging in front of her car and slipping into the passenger seat.

Y/n smiled at him, reminding him to buckle his seat belt before peeling out of the hotel parking lot. They laughed together, sharing stories about their day, cracking jokes, and dancing to the music before Y/n decided she found the perfect spot. She all but kicked him out of the car, demanding he help her put down the seats in the back so they could hotbox her car.

“God,” he sighed, “I think I might be in love with you.”

She chuckled and rolled her eyes,

“Just help me get these down will, ya?”

He did just that, sliding in through her trunk once all the seats were put down. Y/n grabbed her backpack, pulling out her baggie, along with two bottles of juice and some snacks. She opened the baggie, the aroma filling up the car immediately.

“Ooh! That’s some strong shit right there,” he commented.

Y/n chuckled and nodded her head. She offered the backwood and the lighter to him, bowing her head.

“You may do the honors,” she said, her posh accent made JJ chuckle.

“Why thank you, m’lady,”

He placed it in his mouth, taking a puff as the lighter sparked the top. The smoke was hot as it hit his lungs, he winced as he pulled it back. He coughed, blowing the smoke out through his mouth.

“Oh, yeah,” he said in between a few coughs, “that’s it.”

Y/n laughed at him, taking the blunt back from him,

“I told you,” she said, “this shits the best.”

They passed the backwood back and forth for a while, talking about whatever came to their mind as the car filled with the smoke. JJ couldn’t keep the smile off his face at the sound of her laugh. Her head is thrown back against the cup holder, a few wheezes making their way out of her mouth before she calmed herself. She leaned up slightly to pass it back, dabbing a few tears that had tried to slip from her eyes with her free hand.

“Oh, you’re gone,” their fingers grazed each other when he took the backwood from her, “no more for you.”

She gasped, sitting up straighter,

“No!” she whined.

JJ laughed at her, tapping the ash off in Y/n’s empty juice bottle. They both fell silent, the only sound was the music flowing from the stereo. She nudged his knee with her foot. He nudged her back. He licked his lips before he took another hit, not catching the way Y/n’s gaze slips to his mouth. She caught herself quickly though, occupying herself with switching the song.

“Okay,” he spoke, “tell me about your first kiss.”

That made her laugh. She shook her head and wiggled her fingers at him, silently asking him to pass it back.

“Nothing to tell,” she replied.

JJ pulled it further from her grasp,

“No, no, no,” he said, “I know there’s a story there and I want to hear it.”

Y/n said nothing as she shifted up on her knees, leaning over him to grab it back. JJ’s mouth went dry as he stared up at her. But it was totally just the weed. Cottonmouth was a bitch.

“I’ll compromise,” she replied, leaning back to her respective side of the car, placing the blunt back in her mouth, “when it happens I’ll tell you.”

JJ shot up, his eyebrows furrowed,

“Wait, are you saying that you haven’t had your first kiss yet?”

“Yep,” she answered, “I’m completely kiss-less.”

The look on JJ’s face sent her into a fit of giggles. He had a deep crease in between his eyebrows; they were furrowed so hard, his mouth was slightly agape as his eyes bounced all over the car like he was scanning for the answer.

“But - like how? How the fuck have you not had your first kiss yet? You’re hot as shit! That makes like...zero sense, dude!”

Y/n smirked from across the car,

“You think I’m hot?”

The look on her face made him freeze. Her mouth was upturned, her eyes glassy and red as she raised her eyebrows at him. He cleared his throat, his body ticking upwards, he moved as if he was trying to get comfortable.

“I mean…” he started, “yeah. I flirt with you all the time.”

She let the smoke roll out of her mouth before pulling it back through her nose - fuck that was hot - she held it in her lungs for a few seconds then she blew it back out.

“You flirt with everyone, JJ,” she said, “I didn’t take it personally.”

He loved the way his name sounded coming from her mouth. Y/n stuck to calling him Maybank most of the time - which used to bother him because it reminded him of his dad, but he didn’t mind it from her after a while. She held his name so safely in her mouth and never let it come out harsh, only kindly. But hearing his name - not his last name but his name - roll off her tongue just sounded so heavenly.

She was still smiling at him, her eyes twinkled with something JJ - in his compromised mind - couldn’t put his finger on. A smile formed his lips, he shook his head and looked away from her.

“You’ve gotta stop looking at me like that,” he said.

“Why? Does it make you uncomfy?” she questioned.

JJ shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, glancing up at her through his lashes. She started to laugh again.

“What?” he asked.

Y/n wiggled her shoulders in a little dance,

“You think I’m hot,” she teased.

JJ shook his head at her, trying to keep the smile off of his face, he threw his empty bag of chips at her.

“Oh, shut up, man!”

The car fell silent again before Y/n balanced the backwood on their makeshift ashtray and shifted back onto her knees. She tugged her bottom lip into her mouth and shuffled over to him. His eyes are glued to her as she sits on her thighs in between his widely spread legs. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it was beating out of his chest. That couldn’t be normal. JJ swallowed thickly, licking his lips in a nervous tick. She scooted an inch closer to him.

“You wanna take my first kiss, Maybank?”

JJ nearly choked on his own spit. He was looking up at her, his wide-eyed expression made a burst of confidence course through her body. And he knew it too. He cleared his throat again, pressing his shoulders into the side of her car, sitting up straighter.

“Dunno,” he replied, “I’ll have to think about it.”

“Ooohh,” she was calling his bluff, “I get it.”

She leaned back, turning to go back to the other side of the car. JJ’s hands shot out and made themselves at home on her cheeks. He surged forward, pressed his lips against hers. She made a noise against his lips as her hands hesitantly came to rest on his wrists. JJ’s lips moved at a leisurely pace against hers, taking his time getting to know his way around. She was in his lap now, her legs thrown on either side of his, one of his hands slid down to rest above her hip. He pulled away after a few moments. She breathed heavily, her forehead resting against his own. JJ was the first to speak.

“You sure you’ve never done that before?”

“Positive,” she replied.

She shifted backward, moving the ashtray off to the side before laying on the back of the seats, pulling him on top of her by his forearm. Her hands glided up his arms and over his shoulders and settled on cradling the back of his head, her thumbs resting on his cheeks. She pulled him toward her, bumping his nose with hers before she covered his lips with hers.

HE ENDED UP TAKING MORE THAN HER FIRST KISS THAT NIGHT.

The events of Friday night still replayed in his mind, coming and going in flashes. He could be talking with Pope, then he’d remember the song that was playing, her hand in his hair. The pogues could be in the middle of the marsh just goofing off, being rowdy teenagers and then he’d remember the way her skin felt and the way she sounded. They laid in the parking lot for hours, Y/n laying on his chest as he caressed her bare back. She drew shapes on him as they talked about anything from pop culture to philosophy. She told him about her best friend Maddy, her situation and that her parents adopted her almost a year ago and JJ told her that his relationship with his father wasn’t great. They went on for hours and it wasn’t until the sun had gone down and the sky had turned black did they decide it was time to go home.

Y/n dropped him off at John B’s, JJ lingered in her car, a smile on his face as she fiddled with his fingers. It was only after she yawned for the second time did JJ decide to let her go home. He left her with not one but two goodnight kisses. She waited for him to get inside before she left. They hadn’t seen each other since Friday but they’d been texting each other nonstop over the weekend. Both Y/n and JJ’s friends had grown tired of the constant buzzing of their phones but neither of them cared.  They were too caught up with themselves to care about their teasing. For the most part, they had decided to keep what happened to themselves - Maddy who basically extracted it from her after finding the few hickies JJ had left on her - they were in their own little bubble, and when they were together it was like they were the only people on earth. It was just JJ, Y/n, and a playlist filled with all their favorite songs.

Mondays were usually the worst day of the week for JJ, after a fun weekend JJ always dreaded going to sleep on Sunday nights. But this time around, JJ woke up before his phone could wake him. John B was shocked to find him in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in his hand rather than slumped over a lumpy pillow in his room.

“Why’re you up so early?”

JJ shrugged his shoulders, taking another sip of the coffee he didn’t like,

“Couldn’t sleep.”

John B all but kicked JJ out of the van when they got to the hotel, tired of his nagging for him to hurry and get ready because “didn’t want to be late for work.” When JJ started caring about being late for work was beyond him.

“Hey,” John B called, “you need me to pick you up?”

JJ shook his head, throwing his backpack over his shoulder,

“Nah, Y/n’ll give me a ride.”

John B tried to hide the smirk threatened to appear on his face. John B suspicious that something had happened between the pair on Friday night. JB had happened to be in the kitchen when JJ came back, he had a smile he couldn’t keep off his face and he stood a little taller, prouder than he did when he left. But he kept it to himself. The two boys bid their goodbyes and JJ made his way inside.

Y/n is making her way out the back door when JJ walks through the front. She gripped the bag of trash tightly in her fist to keep it from slipping. Taking out the trash wasn’t in her job description as a receptionist but who cared, she was getting paid. She threw the bag into the dumpster, dusting her hands for good measure. Before she had a chance to turn around, she felt a pair of sturdy arms wrap around her middle, lifting her off the ground. She let out a squeal, ready to shout for help before she heard a familiar laugh. She gasped as JJ moved her away from the door and pressed her against the wall.

“Shit, JJ!” she exclaimed, slapping his arm, “you scared the hell out of me!”

He spared her a quick sorry and leaned in, pressing his mouth against hers. She smiled into his lips as her fingers slipped into his hair. She pulled back when she felt his tongue run across his bottom lip. She laughed when he chased after her, he got one short kiss in before she pushed him back by the shoulders

“I missed you,” she said.

She felt her heart flutter when he smiled at her, her hands coming to rest on his forearms as his hands danced dangerously close to the hem of her pleated skirt.

“I missed you too,” he replied, “we were having a nice conversation last night until you ghosted me.”

She laughed at him,

“I didn’t ghost you, I just clunked out.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, teasingly.

“Hey!” her hands rose in surrender, “I was a tired girl, bud!”

“Oh, my God!” he laughed, “do not call me bud!”

“Why? Does it get you going?” she teased.

“Oh, yeah, bud, really does it for me.”

They fall into a comfortable silence, their eyes locked on each other. JJ’s thumbs caressed the top of her thighs before he pulled one hand back, rubbing his nose.

“Hey, there’s this new ice cream place that just opened up the other day,” he said, “I was thinking of checking it out this Saturday. You tryna come?”

“I’m down for ice cream,” she replied with a nod.

“Okay. I’ll meet you at your place -”

“Y/n! What’d you do? Fall in the dumpster?”

Y/n place her finger over JJ’s mouth, her eyes wide as she held back a laugh,

“Coming, Mama L!”

“I’ll text you later,” she said, giving him a fast kiss on the corner of his mouth and speed walking back inside.

“THIS IS TOTALLY A DATE.”

Y/n rolled her eyes at her dark-haired friend, adjusting her dress in the mirror.

“It’s not a date.”

Maddy rolled her eyes from Y/n’s bed, tossing her phone to the other side and leaning on her elbows to look at her properly.

“Bitch, he asked you to get ice cream after he fucked you in the back of your car,” she stated, “it’s a date.”

“It’s not a date, Mads!” She laughed.

Maddy sighed through her nose, waving her hand in a shooing motion. She muttered a ‘whatever’ before turning the speaker up.  While Y/n finished getting ready - another argument Maddy used in her favor. “If this isn’t a date, why are you getting so dolled up? Hm?” Maddy grabbed Y/n’s phone to change the song, while she was doing so, the text banner fell down.

J dog I’m outside :)

“Lover boy’s here,” Maddy said, offering Y/n her phone. Maddy pursed her lips as Y/n  jogged to retrieve her phone. Maddy had a comment about her being so excited but she held back. Y/n hurried to grab her speaker and shove it in her bag, pressing a fast kiss on Maddy’s cheek and bidding her goodbye.

“Don’t get pregnant!”

Y/n flipped her off and said a quick goodbye to her parents and grabbed her keys. JJ lingered by the big tree in her front yard, turning around quickly when he heard the door open. Y/n felt her cheeks heat up when his eyes widened slightly. He walked to meet her halfway.

“I feel like I’m under dressed,” he said.

Y/n took her last few steps,

“Nah,” she said, looking him over.  She leaned onto her toes, pretending she was going in for a kiss only to pull away just as JJ’s lips brushed hers, twirling around him and walking backwards towards her car while she laughed at his reaction.

“That was wrong on so many levels,” he said, still standing in the same place.

“Come on, Maybank! We got ice cream to eat!”

The ice cream parlor was quaint. It was a small shop that was run by an elderly woman who finally gained the courage to open this place up just recently. Y/n and the woman - who’s name was Petunia - had a long conversation about this place while JJ chimed in here and there but mostly just watched with a small smile on his face. Y/n ordered french vanilla - which JJ teased her for being so plain, which in return earned a sweet “there’s nothin’ wrong with a little vanilla!” from Ms. Petunia, making Y/n raise her eyebrows with a proud look on her face - while JJ ordered himself a rocky road. Y/n paid for both - much to JJ’s dismay. Ms. Petunia laughed while they wrestled in her lobby to give her the money.

“The two of you make a very cute couple,” she told them as she shoved the money in the register.

The pair didn’t say a word, both avoiding eye contact with each other and Ms. Petunia. But she didn’t miss JJ’s reddening cheeks and the little grins on both of their faces. She handed them their ice cream cones and waved goodbye. Y/n promised she would come back soon and bring more of her friends.

JJ and Y/n ate their ice cream as they walked down the street falling into conversation easily before JJ stuck a finger into Y/n’s vanilla cone and swiped it on her nose. She gasped, scrunching her nose - he was happy he had his phone out and managed to record her cute face.

“Why did you have to stick your finger in mine?” she laughed, wiping the ice cream off on her napkin, “now it’s contaminated!”

He laughed loudly,

“Contaminated?!”

“Yes!”

They ended up driving to the beach, staying in the parking lot. Their feet rocked back and forth as they sat in the trunk, music filling the air from the speaker that was sat in the cup holder.

“So, you just keep these in your car at, like, all times?” JJ questioned, fiddling with Y/n’s pair of roller skates.

Y/n nodded quickly,

“Yep,” she answered, “never know when you’re gonna wanna skate.”

JJ chuckled.

“Is it bad I wanna see you totally wipe out on these things?”

She let out a laugh, tossing her head back before she turned to look at him.

“I wouldn’t wipe out.”

JJ hummed before he hopped out of the trunk, crouching down and pulling her shoes off.

“What’re you doing?” she laughed.

“You’re gonna show me that you won’t wipe out.”

“Oh, I am?”

JJ hummed in response. He grabbed the skates out of the trunk, easing her foot inside and tying them up. The ties were wonky but Y/n didn’t mind. JJ leaned into the trunk, his hands on either side of her. She had the overwhelming urge to kiss him but she held back. She didn’t know why.  

“You ready, champ?”

“Born ready, bud.”

JJ shook his head before he plopped back down in the trunk. As she pushed herself out of the car she gasped as the song switched,

“I love this song!”

JJ tapped her phone to turn it on. Sunflower Vol. 6.  He looked back up at her quickly, watching her as she rolled around the empty parking lot. Her dress swayed as she danced, her eyes closed - confident enough in her skills to know she wouldn’t crash. The wind blew her hair and she didn’t bother to fix it. JJ’s eyes were fixed on her, he swallowed hard.  JJ always knew she was beautiful but there was something about her right now that took his breath away. She was in her element, uncaring of the world around her as she did something she loved listening to one of her favorite songs. He opened his phone and added the song to his own playlist.

After a while of skating they decide to go down to the beach and watch the ocean. Y/n listened intently while JJ rambled on about surfing, he talked with such animation and passion it brought a smile to her face. She couldn’t surf and wasn’t very fond of the idea of venturing that deep in the ocean but JJ enjoyed it, so she’d enjoy listening to him talking about it.

“I wanna see you surf.”

He smiled,

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!” she laughed, “I showed you my hobby, now you gotta show me yours.”

“Okay,” he nodded, “I’ll pick you up bright and early and you can sit on the beach because you’re a scaredy-cat.”

“Oh, no, Maybank, that’s not gonna work on me. You’re not gonna get me in the ocean.”

“I think you underestimate my abilities.”

“I think you underestimate my stubbornness.”

Y/n was laying down on the blanket she brought from the car, looking up at him with a sparkle in her eye. JJ leaned down, grabbing her smaller hand in his and placing her limp palm on his cheek.

“You’re telling me you’re gonna say no to this face?” he questioned, poking his bottom lip out in a pout.

JJ felt butterflies swarm in his stomach when her thumb caressed his cheekbone. She flips her hand, letting the back of her fingers run down his face before squishing his cheeks.

“I’m telling you I’m gonna say no to this face.”

He pulled his face from her hands, plopping down, resting his full weight on her. She groaned, she tried to push him off but it was no use.

“Oh, Jesus, JJ! Get off of me!” she exclaimed, “I can’t breathe!”

JJ laughed into her neck, resting on her for a few seconds longer before he pushed up on his arm. His eyes glanced down to her mouth that was pulled into a perfect smile. Y/n reached her hand up, snatching his hat off of his head and flipping it around so that the bill was backwards. He can’t fight off the urge to kiss her any longer. His hand slid to cradle her face before slipping into her hair. JJ’s heart skipped a beat from the sound she made against his lips. She still tasted faintly of her vanilla ice cream, her lips were soft - so much softer than his own. The hand in her hair moved down her body, giving her thigh a squeeze before slipping under her dress. She gasped and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. He smirked into the kiss when he felt goosebumps rise on her skin. He slipped his first three fingers under the hemline of her underwear as his lips drifted from her mouth down to her neck.

Suddenly, Y/n pushed him back- and if it wasn’t for the mischievous grin on her face he would’ve thought he’d done something wrong. His kiss swollen lips were agape as he watched her pick herself up off the sand and start walking up the beach. Just as he went to ask her where she was going she called out to him,

“You comin’ or am I gonna have to take care of myself, Maybank?”

His lips spread into a smile as he nearly tripped over his feet trying to get up. He gets about three feet from their spot before she called out again.

“Don’t forget the blanket!”

IT HAD BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST TIME THEY KISSED.

It had been nine weeks of sneaking around, sneaking out to meet, sneaking into houses. It had been sixty days of sneaking. The ‘keep it between us’ thing was fun at first - even though JJ had run into Maddy a few times in the hallway when he’d have to go to the bathroom, so keeping it between them and Maddy - there was something exciting about being the only people who knew.  But now, things were more tiring than fun. It didn’t take Y/n long to realize how she felt about him. She’d always had a little crush on him but had seen the way JJ had acted around other girls and took it with a grain of salt. Until that day in the back of her car, Y/n had settled for just being JJ’s friend and nothing more. But now she had him - sort of.

They laid in JJ’s bed at John B’s, the fan whirling in the corner of his room was the only sound besides their soft breathing. Y/n had her head resting on his chest, her fingers drawing shapes on his side, tickling him ever so often, as JJ hand played with her hair. She chewed on her lip, thinking quickly of what she wanted to say. She drew one last star on his side before she spoke,

“Hey, JJ?” she whispered.

“Hmm?”

“What’re we doing?”

A laughed vibrated through his chest, his fingers still scratching at her scalp.

“We’re laying in bed.”

“No, JJ,” she replied, “what are we doing? Are we dating?”

Y/n felt JJ stiffen underneath her, his heart rate started to pick up - the sound was deafening. His hand stilled in her hair and Y/n looked up at him, trying to read his expression the best she could in the dark.

“I - um, I,” he cleared his throat, “I don’t really date.”

JJ’s heart clenched when he felt her deflate against him. She pulled off of him, holding the sheet to her chest.

“Oh.”

“But that doesn’t change anything!” he said, his hand resting on her elbow, “nothing has to change.”

Y/n sighed, tossing the sheet to the side and blindly looking for her discarded clothes.

“Y/n...” he trailed.

“No, it’s whatever, J,” she said as she tugged on her t-shirt, “I know how it goes, okay? You want the girlfriend treatment but you don’t want the girlfriend.”

“Y/n, would you just wait? Just listen -”

“No, JJ, I’ve heard this story a million fucking times, okay? If that’s what you want to do then fine but it’s not gonna be me. I’m not the girl you sleep with and-and do all the coupley shit with and then say we’re not together. That’s not me.”

JJ was out of the bed, desperately trying to get her to stop, to listen to his proposition but Y/n always stood her ground. It was something he always liked about her. He liked a lot of things about her but fuck did she scare him. He’d never felt like this about anyone before - anytime he’d thought in the past that he liked a girl, he hadn’t. Being with Y/n was like being in the ocean after years of only having puddles. But he liked things the way they were. Where he could pretend that it was just good fun, that Y/n didn’t have the power to crush his heart if she wanted to.

“Dating just - “ he’s struggling to find the words but Y/n has one foot out of the window, quite literally, “it’s just not for me. But I like you, I really, really fucking do.”

The moon was shining in through his window, her eyes were almost glowing. And he could see it - his words weren’t enough. Both of them felt like there were thousands of miles between them, each wanting to grab the other in their arms and take back everything they said and tell them they could do whatever they wanted as long as it meant they’d stay. Neither of them move. Y/n held down a growl as she felt tears prick her eyes, she rolled her lips.

“I’ll see you at work on Monday.”

And she was gone.

JJ tugged at the roots of his hair, knotty blonde clumps clenched tightly in his fists. He huffed before he turned, kicking his bed with the bottom of his foot, throwing his blankets off of his bed and kicking them into the wall. It took him awhile but he finally settled back down on his bare bed, his face still red with anger as he rested his head on his pillow. He cursed as he felt a tear slip down his face, the tear settling on the pillow case in a small wet spot, a constant reminder that once again he messed things up.

“ARE YOU SURE YOU WANNA GO TONIGHT?”

Maddy stood in her closet, searching through the racks of clothes to find an outfit while Y/n sat at her vanity.

“Why wouldn’t I go?” Y/n replied.

Maddy rolled her eyes. She wished Y/n would stop playing the tough girl act - like she didn’t hear her cry every night through her bedroom walls. She’d known Y/n since they were nine years old, she knew all of her tells and knew more than Y/n thought she did - She knew she was hurting. She just wished she didn’t feel like she had to pretend she wasn’t.

“Why? Because JJ is most definitely going to be there.”

“I don’t care.”

Maddy bit her tongue and took a deep breath.

“I know we always talk about how men are shit and we don’t need them, but it’s okay if you’re upset about what happened with JJ.” she said.

Y/n shook her head, looking at Maddy over her shoulder, her eyeliner in hand.

“I’m okay, Mads, promise.”

“You’re not,” Maddy replied, “you can lie to yourself all you want but I know the truth, babe. And it’s okay.”

Maddy walked over to her, her hands cupped her head as she kissed her hair.

“I got you.”

Maddy turned around to get changed, leaving Y/n to fight her tears off by herself.

JJ wasn’t doing any better. It didn’t take long for the pogues to realize something was wrong but one thing Y/n and JJ had in common was that they felt as if they needed to fight their battles by themselves. So JJ kept his hardships to himself, attempting to drown his thoughts with weed - though every time he took a hit of his joint he was reminded of the day in the back of Y/n’s car. When the pogues suggested a kegger at the Boneyard he jumped at the opportunity to get his mind off of things.

JJ had been doing an okay job if you asked him until he saw Maddy and Y/n by the keg.  John B chatted with them, unaware that the girl who held JJ’s heart in her hand was standing in front of him. He felt his heart pound in his chest. He hadn’t seen her since that night in his bedroom. He still had the pictures and the videos he took of her, that he spent much more time looking at than he’d care to admit, but there was nothing like seeing her in person. His gaze was so fixed on her that he hadn’t even noticed Pope was standing next to him.

“That’s her, isn’t it?”

JJ jumped, glaring at Pope once he slowed his heart rate.

“Jesus!” he groaned, “don’t sneak up on me like that, man.”

“I’ve been standing here for like two minutes,” Pope replied, “but that’s her, right? Y/n?”

JJ nodded, taking another sip of his beer,

“Yep,” he sighed, pointing her out for him,  “a real looker, huh, Pope?”

The two boys fell silent before JJ took a deep breath, Pope looked over at him.

“I messed things up, man,” he said, “I don’t know how to fix it.”

Pope pondered for a moment before he spoke,

“You should talk to her.”

“It’s not that easy,” JJ replied, scratching the back of his neck, “I wouldn’t even know what to say to her.”

“Just be honest,” Pope suggested, “tell her how you feel.”

“Easier said than done,” JJ stated.

Pope rolled his eyes at him.

“So, you’re just gonna not talk to her and mope around for the rest of your life instead of telling her how you feel? That’s bullshit,” Pope took him by the shoulder, “what’s the worst she’s gonna say? You guys aren’t talking already so either things are gonna stay the same or you can go back to the way things were.”

JJ stared at him. He had a point - and a good one too, the look on his face said that he knew it too. JJ handed him his drink before he kissed his cheek,

“Thanks, man.”

Pope tipped both cups at him as he watched JJ walk across the beach to get to her.

“In coming,” Maddy said, pointing at JJ over Y/n’s shoulder.

“Shit,” she cursed.

Y/n gulpped as JJ stood in front of her, hands in his pockets, head bowed.

“Can we talk?”

Y/n rolled her lips together, looking to Maddy, who shrugged shoulders - silently telling her it was her decision. Her shoulders twitched as anxiety washed over her.

“I don’t know, JJ..” the look on his face was almost enough to make her swallow her words, “I think we want different things. I think it’s best if we just stay clear of each other for a while.”

She grabbed Maddy by the arm quickly, dragging her away before she had a chance to change her mind. Maddy followed her wordlessly, taking her arm from her hand to wrap her arms around her.

JJ’s heart pounded in his ears. She was walking away from him - again. JJ’s body jittered as he licked his lips. He didn’t want things to end like this. His eyes glanced around the Boneyard before they settled on the table where two groups were playing beer pong. He looked back at Y/n, she was getting further away from him. He let her walk away once. He couldn’t do it again.

JJ jumped onto the cheap table, both groups yelling profanities at him trying to get him to move.

“Man, what the fuck? Move!”

Beer coated his boots but he didn’t care.

“Y/n!” his shout captured the attention of nearly the whole beach, nerves set in almost immediately.

Y/n turned around with wide eyes while Maddy raised her eyebrows, her head twitching to the side,

“Bold move.” she said.

“I’ve realized some things, Y/n,” he started, “you’re, like, the coolest fucking girl to ever walk the earth and I was an idiot because we don’t want different things, okay? I wanna be with you, I wanna be your boyfriend, and I wanna take you on dates and shit because you deserve it! You deserve the world, okay, and if you’re still willing to have me I wanna be the one to give it to you.”

They stared at each other for a few moments. JJ had a pit in his stomach as he tried to read her expression. He saw Maddy say something to her and then nudge her in his direction. He jumped off of the table, much to the teams relief, when she started walking over to him. He met her in the middle, nerves still flowing through him.

“You’re an idiot, you know that?”

JJ nodded,

“Yes - very aware.”

Y/n laughed at him. Her hand came up to his neck, pulling him to her lips. JJ melted into her immediately, his hands coming to cradle the back of her head, ignoring the few hoots and hollers he heard. There were countless people on the beach but to them it felt like it was only the two of them. Cliche, they knew. But it had always felt that way and it always felt right.

Y/N FIT IN THE GROUP PERFECTLY.

Just like JJ thought she would. All five of them laughed together like they’d been friends there whole life. Like Y/n had been a missing puzzle piece to all of them - not just JJ. She had her head in his lap, engaged in a conversation with Kie as JJ fiddled with her hair absentmindedly. Things went back to the way they were after the beach, it was like nothing had changed. The pogues had commented on how well they fit together and neither of them could disagree.

A smile pulled at JJ’s mouth as Y/n laughed at something Pope had said, causing Kie to slap his arm. She looked up at him to see if he was laughing too, her smile grew wider when she found him already looking at him.

“What?”

JJ shook his head, pursing him lips,

“Nothin’.”

Y/n grabbed his hand and kissed his fingers before she looked back at the group, continuing her conversation. JJ hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. Before his happiness came and went in waves and he always had an unsettling feeling that his happiness would never last forever. That is was just a fleeting moment before he hit the bottom again. He had no doubt that he would still have his lows but Y/n had become a ray of light in his life, a beacon that would call out to him so he could find his way back. Y/n had come into his life randomly - she used to just be the hot girl who worked with him but she had changed his was of thinking. JJ used to think that dating wasn’t for him. But it was - as long as it was with Y/n.

He leaned back into his seat, cradling her hand to his chest as he listened to everyone laugh and joke like it was his favorite melody. JJ felt peace wash over him and for the first time since he was a little boy he wasn’t worried about it fading away.