#i forget basically everything else about the dream except our friends were teasing us about how clearly we liked each other

[pagesofkenna]

second night in a row i dreamed about being in love with a girl, only this time she liked me back

[relaxedreptile]

Mend

Pairing: Hyunjin X Reader

Swearing. Jealousy. Mentions of a breakup.

A/N: This idea sort of just... came to me a few days ago and I busted this out. It’s a bit heavier and more angsty than I wanted, but I hope you all like it! 

I’m still working on a very long piece for Hyunjin and a few more requests in my asks, please look forward to what’s coming!

Also, what do you all think of GO LIVE? Personally, I’ve had it on repeat since it came out!

Stay cool.

-

“Hey! I know we planned on hanging out tonight but Changbin and I are kind of on a roll here with this song of ours and the deadline is only in a couple days so we’re really desperate to keep this going and-“

“And you won’t be coming home to watch a horror movie with me?”

“Or a cheesy rom-com, we never really decided.”

You and Chan were best friends. After showing up to your first day at your shared university, Chan was introduced to you as your tour guide during freshman orientation. While everyone else in your group hung back and anxiously glanced around at the foreign environment, you and Chan instantly hit it off and continued a conversation at the front of the crowd for the entire tour. 

He told you about growing up in Australia and his love for music (you tried to hide your giggle when he mentioned him and his friends’ Soundcloud endeavors) whereas you talked about all the classes you were taking and your dream career.

Meeting Chan took a lot of pressure off of your shoulders when it came to starting at a new school and embarking on a new stage of your life. Not only did he restore your faith in nice people still existing, but he gave you advice on teachers, told you the best places to hit up for snacks during a late night study session, and you got to meet all of his friends.

You got to meet Hyunjin.

Hyunjin was your age, two years younger than Chan, and one of Chan’s honorary brothers. They met through Minho, another boy in the group, who was partnering with Hyunjin on choreography and went to Chan for music to use. 

Honestly, you’d be surprised if anyone met your eight stray boys and didn’t want to get close to them; their charm is hard to resist.

And, unfortunately for you, so is Hyunjin’s.

You occasionally saw each other when the nine of you hung out as a group, greeting each other upon arrivals and exits, waving when you saw each other on campus. Soon, that grew into you guys gravitating towards each other at hangouts (sitting next to each other and sharing a bowl of popcorn on movie night, stepping out for fresh air together during one of Jisung’s big parties) and making plans on your own without the rest of the boys. It was no surprise to the rest of the group when Seungmin called you while you were on your first official date with Hyunjin and had to explain what you were doing (and why you would have to hear about how annoying Jisung was being at another time).

You and Hyunjin’s relationship, despite your fears, didn’t disrupt the dynamic of your friend group. Splitting your guys’ time between dates and takeout dinners with the boys was easy and your lives almost barely changed once you became official.

Which was the problem.

While behind closed doors you and Hyunjin were as “lovey-dovey” as they come (“get a room, you two!”), the rest of your college campus just saw you two as the best friends you had been for the months between meeting and getting together.

It left a sour taste in your mouth every time someone asked if you could hook them up with Hyunjin and it was like a punch to Hyunjin’s throat every time someone made a suggestive comment about how you looked that day in front of him.

It was what eventually broke you guys up, all the jealousy and occasional bickering over people who were “just friends”. You two were the only people on each other’s radar through and through, but insecurity is a powerful thing.

It was a rough breakup. You didn’t leave your room for a full 29 hours (Jeongin timed it) and finally walked out with a tear-streaked face and hoodie (that may or may not have been Hyunjin’s). 

Hyunjin poured everything he was feeling into his dancing and his performance at your university’s end-of-year showcase almost had you tearing up all over again; everyone was moved by Hyunjin’s choreography, but you were the only person in the audience who knew the whole story and therefore, felt it the most. 

The slight distance between you and all the boys that summer after your freshman year had ended had worked to ease some of the lingering tension between you and your ex-boyfriend. The two of you were able to grow back into a friendship once the new fall semester reunited the nine of you but things could never really go back to the way they used to be, regardless of the presence or absence of romance.

That didn’t stop either of you from staying close to the other boys and you and Chan were still as inseparable as ever. He was hard at work right now, trying to wrap up his and Changbin’s senior project (Jisung is still pissed that he isn’t allowed to help), but you two had decided to hangout tonight to make up for Chan’s busy schedule.

“Are you sure you won’t be back anytime soon? I can wait,” your tone was pleading.

You could hear Chan talking, but it was too muffled to make out what he was saying; you figured he was speaking to Changbin.

“Tomorrow’s the only day of the week that Changbin doesn’t have an 8-am, so he wants to stay here no matter what but all of our work is on my laptop and I kind of need that tomorrow for my 8-am but he probably won’t be awake early enough to-”

“You owe me, Christopher.” You only ever used his English name to tease him. This way, he would know you weren’t actually mad, even if your disappointment was genuine. 

You hung up while Chan was mid-apology, shooting him a quick test saying you “got it” with a couple of hearts.

Your phone was left discarded on Chan’s kitchen counter as you munched on a piece of pizza; you had made it to Chan’s apartment about fifteen minutes before he called and you weren’t really in a rush to go back to your small stuffy dorm room and loud roommate.

Chan lived in an apartment off-campus with Changbin and Jisung which acted as an unofficial go-to for your friend group; one of you was usually sleeping on the couch, taking advantage of the insanely fast WiFi, or clearing out their fridge regardless of the actual owners were home.

This was the reason why you didn’t look up from your sad dinner when you heard the front door open, assuming it was just a pouty Jisung or hungry Felix.

However, the voice that greeted you was neither as animated as Jisung’s nor deep as Felix’s.

“Y/N?”

The final piece of the crust almost got stuck in your throat.

You hummed a response, still chewing and starting to formulate an escape plan.

“Is Changbin here? He left his notebook at my place and I think there are some lyrics in it, he told me to drop by to give it to him.”

You gaped at Hyunjin, surprised at how similar your situations were. Your explanation of what Chan had said was quick, hoping it would get Hyunjin out of the apartment as soon as possible.

It’s not that you didn’t want to be around Hyunjin, it’s just that you two hadn’t hung out alone since your breakup and the two of you hanging out together in this apartment at this counter was a little too familiar.

“Do you mind if I wait with you, then? I’ve barely eaten all day and this pizza smells a little too good to ignore.”

He was already seated in the stool next to yours before you could get a word out. You nodded anyway, though, and pushed the stack of paper-thin napkins the pizza place had given you between the two of you.

“Have Chan or Changbin showed you the song so far?” Hyunjin said with a mouthful of cheese and tomato sauce.

Even while eating he looked perfect; his lips glistened with the oil from the pizza slice in his hands and anyone could admire his toned forearms thanks to the way he pushed up his sleeves to avoid staining.

“No, but I haven’t even bothered asking,” you told him, “I figured they were keeping everything top-secret until the showcase.”

“I tried bringing them some food the other day before class and Changbin basically shoved me back out the door,” Hyunjin giggled. “The same thing happened to Jeongin, apparently.”

“If they could resist Yang Jeongin what chance do I have?” You joked.

Except, Hyunjin didn’t laugh, he was completely silent; even his chewing had stopped. You couldn’t think much of it, the boy next to you snapped out of it quickly.

“I keep forgetting that they won’t be here next year.”

They, Chan and Changbin and Minho, the three seniors in your friend group. 

“I’ve been avoiding thinking about it,” you admitted. “I’m mostly worried for Jisung, honestly, he’s losing his best friend and his group-mates all in one year.”

This was partly true. Jisung’s best friend, Minho, was indeed graduating along with 2/3 of 3RACHA, but you weren’t worried about Jisung having to adjust to the change. It was actually Hyunjin you worried for the most; he was the most sensitive person in your friend group and tended to be apprehensive towards change. Not seeing three of your favorite boys around campus was going to be hard for all remaining six of you, but Hyunjin was terrified of being left behind or replaced. 

“But… but they’ll still be living here!” You quickly added, gesturing to the apartment the two of you were in. “They’ll still be here with us, really.”

“I’m going to have to find a new partner,” Hyunjin tried masking his sadness with a weak smile.

Your instincts kicked in, making you place a gentle hand on Hyunjin’s arm. You stroked your thumb back and forth along his sweatshirt, hoping he could feel the comforting gesture underneath all the fabric.

“Didn’t Felix tell you? He’s planning on switching his major after this year! He wants to go into dance, too.”

Hyunjin turned his body to face yours, your hand losing its grip and falling back down to your side.

“He’s changing his focus at the end of sophomore year?” 

You shrugged. “It was his last chance to do it. You know how much he hated finance.”

Hyunjin nodded. “He only kept up with that for as long as he did for his parents; I’m glad he finally has the chance to do what he’s always wanted to.”

You were in agreement there; Felix had finally prioritized his own happiness.

“And this way you don’t have to worry about a new partner!” You tried sounding hopeful, knowing that while Felix would be a healthy addition to the dance department at your university, Hyunjin would take losing Minho hard; he was basically his mentor.

“And… and I’ll still be here. When-If you need me.”

The two of you locked eyes. Fear rose up your spine, chilling your skin and leaving a trail of goosebumps.

With a flash of his pretty smile, Hyunjin instantly calmed your nerves.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

You cocked your head to the side, not sure what Hyunjin was getting at. 

He turned away quickly, starting to fidget with the pretty rings on his pretty fingers. 

“With Chan leaving and all.”

“Oh. I mean… I’ll obviously miss him like everyone else, but he won’t be too far away. As long as he gives me my movie nights I’ll manage.” You joked.

Hyunjin glanced back up at you, his eyebrows slightly scrunched in thought.

“Was this a date?”

You visibly jumped back into your seat. “What?”

“For you and Chan.”

“Oh. Wait, what?”

The boy in front of you got up off his stool, walked a few steps away from you, crossed his arms and stopped.

“I thought you two were a thing now. You had always been so close and I thought… since we… after I… I figured you guys would’ve made it official by now.”

“Hyunjin… Chan and I are just friends.” What had gotten into him? “That’s all we’ve ever been.”

“Are you sure?” Hyunjin’s voice was getting louder, his fists getting tighter.

You opened your mouth to respond with a little attitude, but Hyunjin beat you to it.

“I know you weren’t planning on finishing this pizza all by yourself and people don’t usually go on movie dates,” he scowled while saying the words, “alone.”

“I never called it a date, you’re the one who started using that word.”

“Well, what else am I supposed to think? When you and I started spending time together without the other guys we were dating within weeks and you and Chan have always been basically inseparable-”

“Is that what this is actually about?”

“-and it doesn’t help that you always wear his sweatshirts around now or crash at his place all the time. You’re practically throwing it in my face-”

“There’s nothing to throw in your face, Hyunjin.”

“-that I’ve been replaced!”

Hyunjin regretted the word as soon as it left his pretty lips. He started blinking quickly and licking his lips, anything to distract him and keep him from running his mouth again.

“Replaced?” You repeated. “I… I haven’t… I’m not trying to replace you, Hyunjin.”

Silence.

“All eight of you guys have your own place in my life, they can shift and change regardless of what the other ones are doing. And, frankly, you’re making it sound like I’m just trying to check all of you off of a list, as if I’m here solely to get with you guys at one point or another.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Hyunjin said quickly. “It’s just… all I do is think about us and what we had whenever I see you. And right now, I see Chan in the same places that I used to be and it hurts. It really fucking hurts!”

Hyunjin’s eyes were wet, the dim kitchen light reflecting off the trails down his cheeks.

“I thought I would be able to deal with the breakup better if we kept our distance but when summer ended and we came back… all of a sudden, the spots next to you on the couch were always already taken, you were already partnered with someone else in class before I could even get halfway to your seat, I felt… I feel like you don’t need me anymore, that I’m a random leftover piece next to a puzzle that’s already finished.”

You forced yourself not to point out how these fears that both of you shared were what pushed your relationship to its breaking point. Now wasn’t the time.

“I thought that the distance was best for both of us,” you started. “But… I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss you, miss what we had. I miss you, Hyunjin, I miss us. We were friends before we started dating and I thought that that meant it was possible for us to revert back to that stage in our relationship but every joke you made or smile you gave me just kept my feelings for you right where they were.”

You got up slowly, inching towards the sniffling boy.

“Of course I still need you,” you whispered, “I want you in my life.”

Your arms wrapped around the neck of the boy you loved, pulling him close into your body as your shared tears left their mark on your clothes. 

“There’s always a space for you when it comes to me, whether or not that’s a good thing. You don’t have to compete with anyone for my time or love.”

You both knew you weren’t just speaking about Chan or even the rest of your friend group but also the people around campus and in the city who had caused such an insecurity to grow within both of you.

“We have a lot to work on, don’t we? If this is going to work?”

You didn’t answer, you couldn’t, you just squeezed Hyunjin tighter to give yourself the courage you knew you would need in preparation for what would come with the future.

The future with Hyunjin by your side.

[gildedmuse]

How about a Nico Robin x Photographer! Reader where the two of them are searching Poneglyphs and the reader has a camera that he will use to take pictures of the Poneglyphs and mostly Nico Robin

Fair Warning: I've never done a x Reader fix before. I don't know if second person is something I do well. We're about to find out together.

Documents For The Future

"And do you notice how the writing wraps around? Usually, the four sides will carry the same message, as if the creators wished to ensure the entirety of the message remained readae even if the monument itself were damaged in several places. In the few cases where the symbols do not repeat, each of the four faces has it's own message, but here you can see-"

"Actually, I can't." The second the words leave your mouth you feel guilty. In the past four days since the Strawhats landed on your island you have gotten to know a good deal about the crew, so much so you sometimes forget that they are relative strangers - pirates who appeared from nowhere and would surely sail off again soon enough never to return to this little corner of the grand line. And yet, maybe due to all you went through together, or perhaps simply because the crew is so.... Enthused and unrestrained, it feels as though they are old friends. You know their habits, their likes and dislikes, what they sound like when they're arguing and how they sound when they are actually, truly incensed. They are a very outgoing, ridiculous group of characters and you are deeply thankful for each one of them, eccentricities and all. And your grateful to get this chance to know them, though honestly with as wild as they could be it seems it would be more difficult NOT to know them so well.

All except for Nico Robin, who for the most part has seemed more than content to stand off to the side; watching her crewmates antics with a warm smile, offering a small word of advice or an observation, occasionally interjecting to suggest the most morbid of all possible sceneries in such a way that you can't tell if she's teasing or worryingly grim. Just now, examining the Marked Stone (Poneglyph she had called it) is easily the most you have heard her say over the last four days combined. And then you had to go say something stupid and cut her off.

Luckily you have your camera to stare down at, readjusting the lens and fiddling with the knobs. Anything so you can berate yourself with a little more privacy, as you can feel the woman's kind eyes right on you.

"Right, of course," Nico Robin answers in a way you can tell that she is wearing that smile of hers. It is also so unlike the rest of her crew, all of whom have effusive, bright smiles (even, it turns out, the swordsman though it took until enough sake had been poured in his cup at the town festival in their honor for you to catch sight of it). They are as open as their hearts and spirits, utterly unrestrained and boldly on display.

And you respect and admire that about the pirates, you truly do.

Robin's smile is different, though you can tell theirs just as much joy in it as there is the animated, elated smile of their captain. Perhaps her joy is not as flashy, not so wild or unrestrained as that of her crew mates, but it looks honest. And you like to think you have a good eye for such things.

There is plenty of sincere happiness in Robin's soft, gentle smiles, but there's a lot of years of pain there, too. Maybe it's the artist in you, but such a paradox is alluring. You want to be able to capture it and study all it's secrets.

Which you can't do if you insist on staring down at your camera like a fool. So you cautiously, shyly some might say, glance up.

Nico Robin is still standing where you'd last seen her, hand resting against the Marked - the Poneglyph as though she could feel a heart beat in the old piece of rock. Sure enough, she is wearing that smile, smiling for you. "How silly of me. It must be very difficult to take your pictures with me standing here."

"What?" Too loud, too loud! You have never been that good at talking to people, but you at least have the basics down. Or you thought you did. "No, no it's not! Haha well I mean sure but, err, no you can stay it's fine if you want to I mean -" God, how in the last five minutes have you forgotten how language worked? You stop yourself from going on, drawing in a deep, calming breath. It doesn't actually calm you down, but at least you feel ready to try stringing words together again. This time, hopefully, in a way that makes sense. "I just mean, I don't really get what you mean. I can't actually read any of it, you know. As far as everyone here knew, they weren't words at all. So..."

You give the woman a helpless shrug and hope she'll just giggle away your poor explanation. Instead, Nico Robin studies you, not with as much fondness as she does the Poneglyph. Apparently you are more.difficult to understand than an ancient, unreadable rock.

It's not exactly a confidence boost.

"I suppose that's true." She looks back to the Poneglyph, hand running along the lines of some of the markings. You wonder if that particular one says something special, or if they are all special to her regardless of what they say. "I apologize. Sometimes I get carried away-"

"I think it's beautiful!" God, could you let this poor woman finish one thought without awkwardly interrupting to yell in her face? What is wrong with you? This time when she turns back, staring at you in mild surprise (And mild interest which makes it a little better... And a little worse) "I mean... I know I don't understand any of it, but I think... I think it's beautiful, how passionate you are about it all. It may not be as obvious as Fraanky with inventions or Zoro with swords or Nami with money or Luffy with.... Well, with just about everything I guess," you trail off a bit, but in your momentary distraction from the point, you went the smallest of giggles. It's a soft sound, the perfect match for her smile, and it makes you refocus, finding enough strength to power through with your thoughts. "But you have a real, sincere passion that shines through, and even if I don't get it, I think... I think anytime someone can find something they feel that way about, it's a beautiful thing."

You close your mouth, feeling awkward and embarrassed and knowing you sounded like an utter idiot. Anytime someone can find something they feel that way about? Urg, who says such nonsense? And why would you say it now of all possible times in your life?

"I agree." Your neck nearly snaps you stare back at Nico Robin so fast. She is, thankfully, not watching you, but has her eyes back on the stone wall in front of her. She's smiling too, but it's such a private thing you almost feel bad for having looked in the first place, and at the same time it's so hard to take your eyes away. "That is what I love about sailing with Luffy. He could have gone out and found the strongest or the best, men who would have done anything he asked or anything at all if paid enough gold. But he instead he looked for those of us who had little but our passions, our dreams. It is what draws him finds and us to him."

You swallow hard, unsure where to look or what to do. You are sure this moment is meant for Robin herself and your not sure why she's sharing it with you or how to tell her you're grateful that she would.

Luckily, it is Robin who breaks the silence, perhaps to spare you both from more of your inability to speak. "Thank you again, for your time, Recorder-san. It would be very difficult for me to transcribe all this before we leave. Your photographs are sure to be a great assistance."

"I told you you didn't have to call me that," you mutter, buy can't keep from smiling even as you correct her. When you had told the Strawhats you thought of it as your job to keep a record of what was happening on the island, you didn't think it would stick in the way it has. "Besides, it's the least I could do after you - after what all of you did for us... Anyway, we should probably get started, before the light gets too low."

Robin nods, looking back to the Poneglyph before turning to you. "Should I stand back so not to be in your way?"

"No, no, you're just fine!" You might answer a bit too quickly, but the truth is you'd feel like a jerk, making Nico Robin - one if the heroes who saved your family, friends, the entirety of this island - stand back when she obviously wanted to be close, to see and touch the history that is apparently inscribed into the stone's face. "I'll just shot around you. It won't be a problem."

*

It had been a problem.

*

The Strawhats had decided to leave in two days, which gave you more than ample time to probably develope the photographs you'd taken from your trip down to the Marked Stone with Nico Robin. Still, you decide to work on them the next morning, just in case they might still be helpful to her while she's here.

That's when you realize your mistake.

But! It's okay! No need to panic! Which you do do for a couple of hours, sure, but then you realize there is an easy solution.

You grab your camera and run out the door, hardly pausing to give a hurried hello to the always friendly Chopper and Usopp as you dash out of town and all the way to the other side of the island.

The next morning, there's a knock on your door just as you've finished slipping the last of the photographs into an envelope. You start towards the door before pausing and taking another one of those non calling breaths. It's more a delay tactic than anything else. St the very least you have a few seconds to go over what you're going to say in hopes of looking s little less like a fool.

"Oh, Nico Robin, I was just coming to find you," you lie, opening the door with the biggest smile you can manage. A smile that says don't worry I've definitely slept plenty in the last day. "You're here for your photographs, right? Of course! Let me just... I know I out them right here." Literally a second ago, right before you answered the door.

If your acting skills are less than impressive, Robin doesn't comment. She gives you her sweet, soft smile and thanks you sincerely. "I hope it wasn't too much trouble," she says, holding the package to her chest. You keep trying not to stare at them.

"No, of course not. No trouble at all. I certainly hope their helpful! Well, umm... Good luck... At sea? Yes, and tell everyone else goodbye for me!"

You didn't mean to exactly slam the door, but given that you have a physical barrier that can get you out if this conversation, it seems like the best move. For everyone involved.

The second it's shut you very nearly collapse against it, sighing. In relief. In disappointment. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, your not even sure exactly what it is your feeling by this point just -

"Ouch." Well, you felt that. The knock at the door right where your head had been laying. It's not the kindest thing to do to someone nursing a headache.

Without even thinking you yank open the door, ready to return to the daily village business already.

So it takes a moment to process Nico Robin still standing there, still smiling. "Umm..."

"Forgive me, Recorder-san," Robin says, sounding just as kind and casual as could be. But you're still caught off guard, unsure why she's still there at all, and the way she says it all as.of it's so normal isn't helping you process. "I was just curious if I could see the originals?"

"Th-the originals?"

She nods, unaffected by your sudden wide eyes look of shock. "The ones from the other day. These are beautifully shot, I have to say, and I do believe I will find them to be quite helpful in my work. I was just hoping I could see the ones we took together."

"Oh." You suddenly feel your cheeks warming up. You look towards your backdoor and mentally calculate if you'd have time to run from a woman who can grow multiple limbs where ever she wants. You realize you really don't want to even if you did stand a chance.

So with a sigh you open the door wider, waving her in. Robin steps inside and you can see her eyes taking in your entire home. Not judging, not critical just.... Recording it. Documentation. You understand the impulse well.

"They umm..." Walking to your desk, you take out a second envelope. You stare at it for a moment, wondering why you even kept them. Why hadn't you thrown them away once you'd gone and retaken the new ones? "They didn't turn out very well you see..."

You hand them over with a wince, even as Robin takes them with a polite care. As she opens the package you find yourself caught trying to look anywhere but her, finding that you can't help but glance up now and again for the inevitable reaction.

She must think you're an idiot. She must think you're a joke. She must think you're a creepy ass stalker.

She must think your a stupid kid, that swhat she must think.

"I didn't realize," Robin says after she looks through the photographs, examining each one in turn. It's a process that seems to you to take forever, dreading every additional second of her eyes scanning over the prints. "That I made such a fascinating model."

You close your eyes and wonder if their is some sort of god of photography and of so, would he kindly kill you know?

You open your mouth to offer an explanation, any sort of excuse, maybe just a bold face lie of you could actually think of one. But before you can start babbling, you feel a small, warm hand on your shoulder.

You open your eyes to see Robin giving you not just her usual soft smile, but one that is honestly the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. She passes the envelope back to you, where you quickly end up hugging it to your own chest, though it's a little last to protect the secret.

"You're very talented," Robin says, and all you can do is nod your head in recognition of the compliment. Your heart is pounding up into your throat making speaking something of a challenge. "I think it's a beautiful thing," Robin goes on, smiling at you gently, kindly, openly. "When someone is so passionate about something, don't you?"

Before you can get yourself to answer, Robin leans forwards to place a gentle kiss on your cheek.

By the time she pulls back you are already beat red and weak kneed and smiling in a way that might possibly rival Luffy's.

"Thank you again, Recorder-san, for the pictures. All of them. It's important that we have these documents for the future, even just our own." And with that Nico Robin is gone from your home, probably not soon to be gone from the island all together. And what are the chances pirates like those will ever come to this corner of the grand line ever again.

You look down at the package still clenched in your fingers and smile. Maybe you won't throw them away after all. It's not as if they were mistakes. If anything, they're a record of a beautiful person doing what they loved, and how could that be a mistake?

[fizzingwizard]

Tumblr sucks so I had to post this twice but you should still read it because I had a lot of fun writing it xD Yamato is so easy to tease omg

Today’s Digimon Adventure: 2020 episode is entitled, “Time To Bring Back Visual Kei Bands,” because that’s pretty much where WereGarurumon belongs. I know what you’re thinking, he’s a wolf man in jeans with a kind of grungy rock n roll cowboy theme, how is that visual kei?

My friend, it’s all about the NAILS.

Those perfectly manicured, PINK freaking nails.

Tto start I’ll say this episode lowers the tension significantly compared to previous ones. That’s to be expected, and doesn’t mean it’s boring. It does a lot - it lets us confirm some things about Yamato, and a couple things about Sora and Jou in relation to him as well. It is otherwise a carbon copy of episode 8 in terms of story arc. More below as usual

So this ep is Yamato/Sora/Jou main inside a Taichi/Koushirou/Mimi sandwich.

We are starting to see more of Mimi Herself, complaining and whining about the unfairness of it all. Taichi appears to have scaled this wall by himself and Mimi’s like “YOU HAVE TOO MUCH ENERGY, YOU’LL PUT THE ENERGIZER BUNNY OUT OF A JOB, DO YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOMELESS BUNNIES?? HE HAS TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY”

Adding salt to the wound, Koushirou then zips up the wall like this..

zip!

The good thing about Mimi is, though she’s emotional, it’s easy to lift her spirits. She’s very in the moment. And fortunate that she has a partner who is both very patient and useful in these circumstances.

wheeeeee

Meanwhile the slightly-less-energetic group has put their heads together and decided to fly first class to their destination. I would ask where they got the basket but I’m sure I’d get the same answer as Taichi’s raft from episode 4 and Jou’s pergola from episode 7: these kids are extremely good at woodcraft and speedy

(or maybe Sora just had a giant basket in her bag, which we all understand by now is really a Bag of Holding)

While airborne they are Attacked!!! by SandYanmamon and not one but two tornadoes.

Jou: Wonderful!

(for a hot second there I mistook this for Birdramon’s line and was like “??? birdramon’s unusually sarcastic today” but of course it’s the king of morbid humor kido jou)

These Kyaromon appear out of nowhere to show off their dramatic eyeliner. Work it baby

Just when you think SandYanmamon and TWO FREAKING TORNADOES are enough, turns out there’s another threat lurking below the sand for the sole purpose of reminding us yet again “Pokemon this is not!”

SandYanmamon: Aaaaaaahhh nooooooooo i had so much living left to doooo heeeelp mommyyyyyyyyy

NOT IN FRONT OF THE CHILD YOU MONSTER!!!

Cool-headed Yamato figures out that the new monster is able to track their movements under the sand. He sends the others away while he stays behind to hold off the bad guy.

The Kyaromon lead them to a cave where they meet...

ewww uuggghh noooo I hate them aaaahh make it stoppp

and also Neemon! and I’m just going to assume this is a parallel universe version of Frontier’s Neemon because it tickles me to think this is what he actually sounds and acts like and is just riding Bokumon out of pure spite

also Bearmon’s cap says “Bears.” Not bear, bears plural. I believe he’s an outcast former member of the Gummy Bears.

The Labramon look like Rainbow Brite rejects

Pictured above: First lovers’ tiff!

Neemon doesn’t know about the holy Digimon and tells the kids he is leading his group of perfectly helpless Digimon across the monster-infested desert because of the dark forces taking over everywhere. They will seek asylum with Leomon! We got our first mention of Leomon! Quick, cast your bets, how long till he dies? My guess is sooner rather than later because this seems like the kind of show that likes to kill your darlings.

Sora takes one look at this pathetic group and goes “We must go with them to protect them!” conveniently forgetting that she just got her ass kicked, but hey it’s the thought that counts

Yamato is quick to disagree.

Yamato: Did you forget that I stayed behind while you RAN AWAY? When you say let’s protect them, you mean I’M gonna be protecting them, right? RIGHT? That’s what you mean RIGHT??

(he thinks, but doesn’t say. that wouldn’t be Cool)

Yamato doesn’t want to lose sight of their mission, which is to fix things in their home world. He’s already at his limit hanging out with other human children who don’t know what they’re doing, he doesn’t want to be slowed down by freaking Bearmon. Wishy-washy Jou is like “Eh, either way sounds like death and torment to me, so...”

The interesting thing to me here is that no one’s upset. A bit surprised, I think, but Sora just stands her ground, Jou wibbles but eventually gets pumped up enough by Gomamon to decide to help her. They don’t even try much to stop Yamato from leaving which I think is what surprised me the most. I would have expected at least a vibe more like “We shouldn’t split up!” or something. If Taichi were there, maybe we’d have seen more conflict... but I’m really not sure. So far, conflict among the kids has been very low key. Even last week, the first time we saw Taichi and Yamato butt heads, to the other kids it was shocking but to a 99 Adventurer like me it was barely a kerfluffle xP

Well, anyway, the result is Sora and Jou stay with Neemon, and Yamato goes off on his own, and there is surprisingly little bad blood about any of this. They are all just getting to know each other though, so maybe that loyalty’s not quite expected yet.

Same as episode 8, Gabumon hints that there’s more to Yamato’s behavior than he lets on. He’s not just coldly abandoning his friends... except that he totally is >_> (As an adult, I don’t exactly think Yamato is wrong. I’d be more likely to agree with him than the others probably xP But these are children in a show for children, so Protecting Others and Following Your Feelings get a boost over cool rationale.)

Gabumon says Yamato should open up to the other kids. YEAH RIGHT. Yamato says “You’re all I need.” AWWWWWWWWW this wont backfire on them in a way that will wrench out my heart and tear it to a million pieces in forty episodes or so, no way

Ikkakumon becomes a Sand Boat while Birdramon covers the sky. At first I was like “hey! not a bad plan!” If they can help Neemon’s group get across the desert faster, it will be a big help even if they can’t take them further.

Of course, first they have to deal with the SandYanmamon.

Ikkakumon: Why does everyone go straight for the horn!?!

Oh, and also the two tornadoes.

Sora, standing on Birdramon’s leg: don’t look down don’t look down don’t look down

And now Sora’s on fire! That is it, I’m headcanoning it that the kids are basically invulnerable as long as they are touching their partners. THERE’S JUST NO EXPLAINING THIS

The flaming elementary school child does well until her partner is snared by the same monster from before, who turns out to be Scorpiomon. But this ain’t your momma’s Scorpimon from 99 Adventure, who was really Anomalocarimon but that was too hard to expect kids to say. This is the real Scorpiomon who is much scarier.

All of a sudden, from above!

ACTION LINES!!!

Yamato and Garurumon, both physically incapable of doing anything normally when there is a cooler, more awesome method available, drop into the battle from the air and start burning shit up.

They stand, bodies licked by blue flame, piercing eyes bright with the fever of battle, the sound of swooning fan girls echoing into the night

Garurumon does his best but Scorpiomon is a level higher so, duh, he doesn’t stand much of a chance. WHAT WILL OUR HERO DO.

Well, first, same as in episode 8, he flashes back to each of his newfound friends, gaining strength from their memory. Yamato is so sentimental it Hurts

Then his mind flashes to someone else...

... his favorite bobble head doll. No wait, that’s his round-headed baby brother, Charlie Brown.

he is infused with the power of Friendship!!!!!!!

Garurumon: What... is this feeling... so passionate... so... powerful... FFFRIENDSHIPPPPPP IS MAGIC

He then evolves into a brony into a furry in the coolest freakiest way he knows how.

WereGarurumon is basically everything the creators thought little boys like besides dinosaurs (because Taichi’s got that one covered) thrown together to make the ultimate little boy dream action figure: wolves, leather, hardware, piercings, brass knuckles, belts, skulls, scars, dog tags, and fuchsia stiletto nails

Ikkakumon: Sugoi... so shiny... oooh... blinding me...

WereGarurumon kicks Scorpiomon’s ass, it’s a cool battle scenes complete with kicks so fast his foot appears detached from his body. He then gives Yamato thumbs up.

Yamato: With nails like those the brass knuckles are kind of overkill...

Yamato dodges apologizing for going off on his own like that by saying he only came back because it’d be useful to him to have the others around as a decoy. Jou’s like FRIGGING DECOYS AGAIN??

But his dedication to remaining cool and aloof falters and he ends up telling them he’s just extra pressured to get their mission handled because he has a little brother, Takeru, living in Tokyo who is probably very scared stuck in the blackout. Sora and Jou are like “Oh, that makes sense, that’s why you’re so high strung.” They don’t point out the obvious, which is that they also have families affected by the blackout... >_>

Jou passionately thanks Yamato for being so forthcoming so early in the season and looks forward to telling Yamato about himself in the future.

The others: “But we already know all about you.”

Jou: “But HE doesn’t!”

xD look forward to it, Yamato...

It’s episode 11 and Yamato can already smile like this... I had to cap it.

Yamato: Ahh, I’m finally getting used to wearing this purple shirt. Still can’t get quite suppress the urge to cut off the sleeves though...

The other slice of bread completes our sandwich when we shoot back briefly to Taichi/Koushirou/Mimi’s group.

Taichi gets annoyed with Koushirou for the first time because of how much time Koushirou spends taking pictures of everything. Koushirou is that kid on the museum field trip who holds up the entire class reading every last word on the exhibit plaques while everyone else groans ‘cmon dude I wanna get to the dinosaurs before we go extinct too!!’

fyi I, Fizzing Wizard, was and am that slow ass kid

Mimi’s even more impatient than Taichi and in her boredom she starts touching things, because she’s never seen The Mummy.

IT’S A TRAP!!!

lol

Next ep’s trailer includes:

Andromon!!!

And Lillymon!!!

Oprah voice: You get a Perfect level and you get a Perfect level and you get a Perfect level and you get-

Yeah so, clearly everyone’s gonna get to Perfect level much quicker than in 99 Adventure, which again, it’s good they’re mixing things up. The question is, what’s next? My guess is down the line everyone will get Ultimate levels and of course, at some point we’ll see Omegamon. I wonder if there will be other Jogress possibilities? Just because it’s hard to believe evolution will stop being important, but if they’re going through both Adult and Perfect so fast it doesn’t leave much left for the rest of the season...

I give this ep a 5.5/10 for being basically a remix of episode 8, and I’m looking forward to getting new stuff for Yamato eventually. Next week’s looking to be Mimi-centric if Lillymon’s any indication, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for a few Taishiro moments anyway.

[creepyalienghost]

Orphanage Farm

Warning: gruesome

———-

The orphanage was the home of many happy children from all ages. The land there was big enough for them to play games like hide and seek and there were so many trees around to climb, read under or use a shade. There was Pliny of space to run around and have fun with the family. The one they all call mom runs the orphanage and takes care of all the children there until they get adopted. She also teaches them life skills like cooking and planting. As well as teach the how to read, count and write. And for the 5 older ones Sammy, Tom, Norman, joey and Henry she teaches them stuff algebra and chemistry. There was only one rule mom had. Don’t go near the fence or gate. It could be dangerous.

Tom was a sporty kid and would be running around with the younger kids playing games like tag or soccer. If he wasn’t doing that he would be hanging out with Allison in the game room trying to beat her at there game. Norman was the nosy kid who could sneak around without being heard. He was one of the three kids who got who gets the highest scores on their test. He would also hang out with Joey, Henry and Sammy. They were his best friends. Henry was a bit of a nerd but not as smart as the three. He was the art kid who loved to draw. Mom taught him when he was little the basics and it went from there he would help mom take care of the younger kids as well. Joey was the Fun kid. He would cause trouble and play pranks on everyone. But he was also really intelligent. One of the three highest kids with the highest scores. Last there was Sammy. He use to be a bit of a troublemaker before the accident of falling down the stairs when everyone was asleep he was badly hurt that night but mom came to his need Now he was the mommas boy and he does everything she needed and helped her with the youngest ones. Joey would pick on him a bit for it. He was also one of the three kids with the highest scores and into he was into music. Mom taught him how to play different Instruments since he was young, like the piano or violin and he quickly feel in love with music. He would also read books a lot which Joey also teases him about.

“I wonder what lays on the outside of the orphanage?” Joey, one of the older kids, said. His hands were both wrapped around the poles and he gazes out into the other side of the grate but saw only the darkness of the tunnel.

“What’s out there is family’s” Henry replied coming up next to Joey. He to looked in beyond the gate. “Family that will adopt us one day. Just like all our brothers and sisters that are out there.” He smiled over at Joey.

“Uh. Guys.” Sammy called from behind the three of them. “We shouldn’t be near the gate..mom said it was dangerous...” Sammy glances at the gate then back at Joey and Henry.

Joey turned around to the short boy. “Come on Sammy. Can’t you just break the rules just once!” Joey complained. “Don’t you remember all the fun things we use to do back then?” He ask. “All the pranks and sneaking around at night?”

“Come on Joey. Lighten up on the boy.” Norman replied to him instead. “You know he fell down the stairs from sneaking around and was in the infirmary for nearly a month.” He said while wrapping his arms around him, hugging him.

Joey sighs and nodded to Norman’s statement. It was his fault Sammy had gotten hurt that night. His fault that Sammy was out of bed, running around and his fault he had fallen. “Yea.” He goes to Sammy and gives the small boy a hug.

Sammy knew his friend was feeling guilty again and he wrapped his tiny arms around his waist tightly. “Don’t blame yourself Joey.” He said to him. “It’s not your fault.”

Joey knew Sammy was just lying to try and make him feel better for what happen back then but he nodded just to see Sammy smile. He was such a sweet kid who deserves the wound and a family he calls his own that loves him.

The bell from the orphanage starts to ring, signaling to everyone that playtime was over and it was time for dinner. “Alright. Let’s go back.” Henry said. “Don’t wanna worry mom.” He and the other three started to head back for the orphanage and started talking about buddy’s About to go to his adopted family. “Buddy’s leaving tonight, right?” Joey ask.

Henry nodded at him. “Yes. I’m so happy for him! He deserves a family.” He replied to everyone. But only Joey and Henry were listening. Sammy looked back at the gate for a moment then he turned back to his friends and joined the Conversation.

All four of them walked into to the dinner room where all the young children are running around, playing and laughing. Sammy started to help mom by gathering them up and placing them in seats, Norman helping him. Henry and Joey went to the kitchen and gathered the plates and food with mom and started to give eat kid one. Once everyone was sitting down and had a plate of food in front of them there mom rang a tiny bell and all turned to face her.

“Good evening to you, my darling children.” She spoke with kind gentle words that were loving. “now let us appreciate that all 37 of you are able to live happy lives under this roof” she and the children all places their palms together in prayer. “We are thankful.” She said.

“Thank you for are dinner.” All the children say as together as one.

Mom smiled and looked over all her children there, stopping on buddy. “Let’s not forget our dearest buddy is getting adopted tonight. So makes sure you all show support for him.” She informed them then sat down at her food as everyone began to eat the dinner.

After dinner was finished and cleaned up, they all gathered by the door to to say there goodbyes and give hugs to buddy. He came down stairs with mom, dressed in a nicer outfit then there plain white uniform they were everyday. Mom put a hat on his head and let him say his goodbyes. Buddy hugged dot first, telling her goodbye and that he will write to her. then started to hug everyone else. Tom? Joey, Sammy, Susie. Some of the younger ones started crying, Buddy was a great friend to have around and his new family would definitely be grateful to have him.

Once buddy said his goodbyes to everyone he took moms hand with one hand and picked up his suitcase with the other and followed her outside the Orphanage. Everyone goes to the windows to watch them head over to the gate. They all followed the light from moms lantern as it gets further and farther away from the orphanage.

After a few minutes of watching mom walk buddy to the gate, Joey got bored and turned around to Henry Sammy and Norman “wanna play truth or date?”

Henry looked away from the window to Joey and nodded “sure I love this game!”

Sammy peaks up from his book and closes it after putting his bookmark in. “Sure why not.”

Norman nodded. “Alright.”

They all gathered in a circle in the middle of the room, facing each other. “Ok! I’ll start!” Joey replied then took a moment to decide on who he wanted to ask first, then he picked. “Norman! Truth or dare!”

Norman took no time to think. “Truth”. He smirked.

Joey smirked back as he comes up with a great truth question. “Is it true you and Sammy kissed before?”

Norman’s eyes widen as his cheeks blossom to a pink color. “Uhh..yes. It’s true.” He looked over at Sammy who was hiding his blushing red cheeks from them with his book.

“Awww. That’s so cute!” Joey teases the two boys for a moment. “Alright. Your turn Norman.” He leans back on the his hands.

The smirk returned to Norman’s face as he already has the task. He just needed Joey to chose dear. “Joey. Truth or dare?”

“Hah! Dare!” Joey yelled, getting excited. Norman always makes up the greatest dares.

A smug look came across Normans face. “I dare you..to go on the other side of the gate!” He herd Sammy gasp from beside him.

“But..Norman..” Sammy said looking up

At him. “Mom said to never go near the gate...it’s dangerous..”

Norman looked down at him. “ It will be ok Sammy.” He wraps an arm around him, pulling Sammy into his chest. “Besides moms there, so that’s Joey’s only problem.

“Dare excepting!” Joey announced, jumping up from his spot then looking down at Henry. “You coming?” Henry shrugs and gets up to, following joey. The two of them hurried out of the house then took off towards the gate before mom comes back or it won’t be opened anymore. Sammy and Norman watched them run to the gate from the same window.

The two approached the tall gate and stopped a few feet away from it. The gate was raced open for anyone to walk thought. But it was empty. No sign of mom or buddy around. The boys looked at each other before Joey taking a risk and walking inside the tunnel, passing the Gate entrances. Henry hesitating but soon followed his pale in.

There was doors off to both side of the walls, some long size others normal size and there was only a truck a few feet away that was parked. Henry went to one of the doors and presses his ear to it to see if he could hear something while Joey went for the truck. He peered though the windows to see if he could see something or someone but the front was just as empty as the tunnel. He jumped off and headed for the back of the truck to see what was in there, if anything. What he saw made his blood ran cold. It frightens him so bad that he couldn’t move. “H-Henry..?”

Henry picked up on the fear in joeys voice when he called his name. It was weird to Henry because Joey was never afraid of anything. He turned around to him and saw him behind the truth with fear in his eyes. He quickly went to Joey to see what was wrong and pulled the curtain back,making him afraid now as well! Buday was...dead.

It didn’t looked peaceful ether. It looked like he suffered a whole bunch before death with wide terrifying eyes and a weird flower stabbed into him. This was fucked up so many levels. He was just a kid so full of life and wonder His only dream was to have a family he could call his own. How had this happen? Why could this happen?

They both were frozen staring at the body of buddy, that was until they herd loud voices coming from one of the door. “Hey did you hear something out here?” Someone said as they walked out with someone following them. Both Henry and Joey quickly and quietly crawled underneath the truck before they were seen.

“No I didn’t hear anything?” Said another voice, the one following him. “Might be just a cat?”

“Whatever, lets just get this get this package shipped.” Said the first guy. “We must prepare for the one” The two boy decided to unnoticeably peaked out to see who it was and what they saw terrified them both. These won’t humans like them...these were... creatures. Sick twisted creatures that only there nightmares could make something like this up. Joey covered his mouth to keep from screaming and blowing there cover. Henry states frozen at what he was witnessing.

One of the creatures dragged out buddy’s bloody body from the truth with two long nails as the other creature slammed down a tube tank In front of them to. “ I really wanna taste these humans.” Said the creature who was holding buddy’s body.

“Don’t joke!” The other creature snapped. “These humans are valuable merchandise and definitely isn’t something we aren’t meant to enjoy. The human flesh from this farm is the highest quality and only the rich can afford it!” The boys was shaking as they listened to what was being said around them. Highest quality?Human flesh? Farm? ...?

They watched the creature dropped buddy’s body into the blue liquid of the tube. Just as two news sets of foot steps approach the others. “Hows the packaging?” Said a new darker voice.

“It’s mostly done, sir.” One of the creatures replied to him.

The new creature looked down at a list in his boney Hand. “Another average six year old? We only been Shipping out average ones lately. But we’re be harvesting some of the high grade stocks soon enough, right Isabella?”

“Yes.” A female voice replied. It was moms voice. Which made the boys shocked.

“These three with full marks are to be prepared for plucking.” The darker voice creature ordered.

“Yes sir. I understand.” Mom replied to it.

The creature raised its head up. “Hold on. I smell something..” He sniffed the air around then glances at the bottom of the truck beside them. He steps up to it and bend down quickly, looking at whoever was underneath it! But there was no one underneath the truck.

Henry and Joey ran as fast as they could back to the orphanage. But Joey collapsed on his knees half way there, panting hard. Henry stoped and watched him for a second before he herd Joey started to panic and cry. “This place...is a farm! ..and we’re all just..food?!” He sobs. “It can’t be! Didn’t everyone go to Foster homes?! Mom is..a Normal loving mother, Right?!” Joey looked up at Henry with tears in his eyes. “This has to be a mistake right?! That couldn’t have been buddy right?!”

Henry walked up to him and knelt down after calming him self down some. “I’m afraid it was buddy...but we can’t panic Joey...we can’t tell anyone...”

Joey snaps at him. “We can’t just keep this from everyone! They all deserve to know the truth! Especially Sammy!” Everyone knew how much Sammy loves mom. Who was the mamas boy after all. “And we can’t stay hear and let them eat us!”

Henry shook his head. “Were not going to stay hear, Joey. I’ll think of a plan to get us out ok? All of us!” Henry places his hand on Joey’s shoulder to reassure him. “But right now we can’t tell anyone. Especially Sammy.” He told him in a clam voice. “Right now we have to pretend that everything is normal, alright?” He holds his hand out to Joey.

Joey slowly takes it after a moment to clear his thoughts and nodded. Together they went inside the house, passing everyone. “Me and Joey are a little tired from all that running.” Henry told Norman. “Were just going to go to bed now.”

Norman watches them both dragged them selves up the stairs, Worryingly. Just five minutes ago they were both jumping around and full of Energy now there drained and quiet. This was odd about the two of them. It was how there Normally acted. Norman glances at Sammy who only shrugged at him and went back to reading his book.

——-

What do you thinks going to happen next? All I can say is things are not as it seems with some characters. ;)

[xsecretblastsx]

2x01 Summer Kind of Wonderful

SEASON TWO HERE WE GO.

I was dying to get here, this is one of my favorite episodes in the whole show. It’s also the episode were I really turned into a Chair shipper, so there’s that too, also The Hamptons!! Honestly was not to love about this episode.

I think this is the longest recap I’ve done in a while. As usaul recap under the cut.

Thoughts I had while watching:

I’ve watched this before and yet I’m still surprised our first taste of S2 is Nate going at it

After the super promising tease on Nate and Serena on the S1 turns out... she’s covering for him while he sleeps around... 😒

Chuck being Chuck, still a womanizer, still obsessed with Blair and as always ignoring Serena’s disgusted face. Also hilarious his enormous basket with cuttlery and such.

Look Joe Goldberg!!! Or is it Dan Humphrey? This bookstore setting is making it even more confusing.

Hi Jenny! And her never ending disatisfaction with her place at whatever she’s trying.

This scene between Chuck and Serena is so underrated. Her mocking face is hilarious. Pimp all you want Chuck it’s useless. Good luck in your suicide mission indeed.

What’s a Jitney? 😆How about where Blair returns to the Hamptons with a new beau. On your face Chuck Bass! On the words of GG: ain’t karma a bitch? We know Blair Waldorf is.

“A hot lifeguard is like Kleenex: use once and then throw away, you couldn’t ask for a better rebound” so says Blair 🤔

“The only thing lamer than dating Dan Humphrey is mourning Dan Humphrey” speaking words of wisdom Blair Waldorf

Of course all the wisdom goes out the window when Chuck appears. With the most extra polo ever and the shortest shorts in the history of menswear

Not that Blair wasn’t transparent with all her talk about James but oh my god Serena’s is so bad a going along with it.

“You’re lying. Your eyes are doing that thing were they don’t match your mouth” Chuck Bass: a walking manual on Blairisms

“I bet you’ll like him as much as I do” “If by that you mean I won’t like him at all then you’re right” meanwhile Serena is trying to pretend she’s anywhere else and not there silent witness to that verball pin pong

I always wonder how Jenny and Dan end up being like that with a Dad like Rufus

So this is “Jenny admitting she was a bitch and that Eric didn’t deserve it” first season.

“A honk instead of a knock? Did someone order a townie?" Blair’sn lines this episode are hilarious

I feel bad thinking that Nate’s main contribution so far is looking really good without a shirt.

Chuck Bass: a walking encyclopedia on everything Blair Waldorf.

If only the show had given us more Chuck and Cece interactions.

I feel I should have kept a score for all the Chuck and Blair jibes to each. That pin play on Blair’s part was check mate though. Auch. I almost feel bad for Chuck. Almost

In terms of cinematography that scene were they talk about the pin is gorgeous probably my fave in the show only behind that scene in Paris in S4. The matching outfits, the colors and the scenery are sooo good. Also the acting.

Knowing her like he does it’s interesting Chuck doesn’t realize Blair only gave that pin to James to hurt him. But the fact that it works is very telling on Chuck’s insecurities and feelings.

Nate being kicked out so the husband won’t catch him wouldn’t be half as hilarious if it wasn’t for Serena’s “no effing way face”

“Damn that Motherchucker” a novel by Blair Waldorf

I love Blair’s summer dress by the way

“All I could see was that Chuck Basstard” the sequel novel, also by Blair Waldorf

What a difference a summer makes: Nate and Chuck talking about Blair. I do feel Nate’s like “thank god it ain’t me anymore”

“And unlike you I don’t lose something if I let it out of my sight” Blair strikes again, this girl is on fire.

This episode is kind of proving that I barely care for any other storyline that doesn’t have the original four. After those two side by side arguments, getting back to Dan is really annoying

I kind of love it when Rufus points out to Dan how he never stops talking and doesn’t let anyone else said anything. Is kind of boring already how he only seems to write about Serena and the UES.

Chuck’s cricket outfit reminds me of how I should enjoy the crazy outfits while they last.

Ofc Chuck’s has a PI on speed dial Eric, duh. Gotta love him though: “i know that face, that face is not your friend” sorry Nate

I’m still trying to come up with the reason why the show let the fake dating storyline between Nate and Serena be such a waste. Whyyyy????

Just in case I forget: this white party was sponsored by Vitamin Water. For real there’s product placement and then there’s this.

The constrast between Serena looking like a greek goddess next to Nate’s I didn’t bother of an outfit is making me dizzy.

Chuck’s outfit for the white party kind of deserves a post of his own. Then again is probably my fave outfit of his on the whole show.

James calling out Blair for using him, while mentioning charade feels kind of overplayed now. Anyway he’s already pointing out how Blair and Chuck are the same and that’s why they deserve each other.

“Don’t you see? We’re the same? Stop trying to fight it” “I will fight it to my last dying breath because any resemblance to you is something I would hate about myself” this whole dialogue feels like a premonition.

Serena and Nate kissing and being totally into it while paparazzi plays is the background is just one of those moments. This is the kind of content I’m here for. Only to be ruined by Dan Humphrey.

And here we are again Dan getting mad when he doesn’t have a right to, thankfully karma is a thing in the form of drinks poured all over him

And somehow is Serena the one busy cleaning that suit, useless Dan is useless

Chuck’s “I’m so screwed” face when his PI tells him Blair’s guy is actually a british Lord is priceless.

THREE WORDS EIGHT LETTERS SAY IT AND IM YOURS.

Epic scene aside they both look so good here. This episode is gift in matching outfits.

Dan, Serena and fireworks. 😪 here we go again

I loved this episod the first time I watched it and I think I love it even more so now. It’s really good, full of funny lines, great outfits and epic moments. Season two is as of now my fave season (i think this is also true for many people) and it starts with a bang. Quite literally actually with the opening scene being Nate going at it with an “older” woman, which I guess was meant to be shocking in part because we ended last season wondering if something was going to happen between Nate and Serena.

Sadly it didn’t and that’s my biggest complain for this episode because how on earth did they thought it was ok to waste all that set up, and to add insult to the injury they are like so Serena and Nate are secretly dating... but it is just like a throway line because except for that amazing kiss at the white party we never see them fakee dating and I honestly want to pull my hair out of frustration. Just imagine the possibilities that weren’t, granted fake dating is one of my favorite tropes but it could have been quite the storyline imagine: Serenate fake dates and that sparks the feelings that were pushed aside on S1 but that were always there, and now there’s nothing that can stop them to act on it, except Serena has feelings for Dan too, and she struggles because of it all the first half of S1 until eventually she picks Dan and breaks Nate’s heart, combined with all the other pressures in his life, he wants something easy and this happens to coincide with Blair’s downright spiral and that’s how Nair happens again in the second half of S2.

My point being you could add so many more moments in the Serenate saga, also give more force to the idea the show always tried to do: that Serena can’t really let go of Dan, because Nate and her are quite something and yet... and still have almost the same story on the second half which was important because it gave closure to Nair and also had both Chuck and Blair realizing a couple of things. Alas one can only dream and be happy that at least we got that kiss at the white party

So back to the episode, we learn that Nate is having and affair with a married woman, Serena misses Dan a lot and basically mourned him the whole summer meanwhile he was being an asshole in the City fooling girls he met at his intership and Jenny is working and trying to stand out in her own internship at Waldorf desings. Which reminds me Eric is such a gem of a character, he’s always have good one liners but whe’s also a nice counter balance to all the manipulation and bitchery going around him. Anyway all of these storylines are barely a tease of what’s coming, and they really take off in the next episode, so I’ll get into them then, so at the end of the episode Nate manages to keep the affair goin into the city, Jenny earns a bit of respect from her boss and Serena and Dan see each other again (thanks to Cece which is another character I wish we had see a bit more) they meet at the beach ready to see if there’s something to salvage between them. We’ll see.

The real star of this episode are Chuck and Blair. This episode belongs to them. I’ve seen comments that claim this is the season that made them epic and really take off and I quite agree, and this episode in particular sets up the stage for it, touching on a lot of the aspects that are going to be their arc for this season and even beyond. So at the end of S1 Chuck stands up Blair and she goes alone to Tuscany and he doesn’t goes after her the whole summer. Instead he spends the summer in The Hamptons being Chuck Bass, she ends up in France. We soon learn that while Chuck  enjoyed himself during the summer Blair wasn’t far off in his mind:, the minute she’s back he goes aftet her, roses in hand only to find out she came back with a new guy, and she does everything in her power to rub that fact in his face which Chuck should have expected, it obviously bothers him but truth is they both know this is just Blair trying to get back at him for abandoning her, he hurt her, she obviously doesn’t tell him but he ruined his summer and she couldn’t stop thinking about the motherchucker

Shenanigans ensue but there are bits that really stand out: first of them the heart pinn. That's a telling bit about Chuck’s feelings, when that pin make its first appearance on S1 it was the beginning of the end for Chuck, the meaning of it was what got her to accept going to Cotillion with Nate  and now she has gave it to James and Chuck buys it because I guess part of him couldn’t believe she would go as far as to use that to hurt him, that’s a low blow and she also didn’t gave it to him that week they were going out after the wedding, even though it went really well but most importantly he believes she can’t really feel that way about him because he’s just not the kind of guy someone can feel something for, but specially someone  like Blair Waldorf, who dreams of finding her prince charming and such, and to his utter horror it’s revealed that Blair’s new guy is actually a british lord. Just his luck.

He’s anything but that, therefore not for Blair. He tells her as a much later in the episode when he let’s her know that he basically stood her up because he was afraid of her getting to really know him and see he was not good enough nor someone she could be with. And this is something that’s going to be quite the struggle for him for a long time, more than once during the show he’s going to remove himself from the picture because he believes she deserves someone better who can actually make her happy, and this season this happens quite a few times.

Thing is nothing is ever that simple, and this is the other bit that really stands out for me: when James calls her out on how she just use him to make Chuck jealous she justifies herself by pointing out Chuck’s an awful person, who lies and deceives so he kinds of deserve it, and James points out the fact that well she’s sort of the same, and they deserve each other. She lashes out at Chuck because of this and blames him for her argument with James, it’s his fault she played with James, and Chuck’s point out that no one force her to do anything she did it because they’re the same, meaning they scheme and manipulate to get what they want, so she should just stop fighting this thing between them, she rejects him claiming she would hate any resamblance to him. This whole argument is honestly quite interesting, because variations of it are going to keep popping up the rest of the show, and depending on who you ship you either take literally as if  Chuck is the root of Blair worst tendencies or rather see this argument as representation of Blair struggles not with Chuck, but with herself.

Blair struggles in accepting herself, at her core she’s an insecure person, and the fact that she has a dark side that she can’t exactly change because it’s so deep roothed in her bothers her even before she and Chuck were anything, to me it bothers her not because she really wishes she was nice & good person, but rather because Serena is  nice person, who’s regarded as literal ray of sunshine at times, and Serena got two things she wanted for the longest time: positive atention from Eleanor and Nate’s interest.So that fight within herself was always there, it didn’t appear the day she started dating Chuck, is just that in the same way they brought out the best in each other, when things go bad between them the opposite sometimes happened, and even then when they blame each other for something half the time it was to share some of the hurt and to avoid dealing with their own shortcomings and mistakes. Truthfully Chuck and Blair did something for each other no one had really done for them they accept each other fully, Blair’s able to accept and love his darkness, and for Chuck there’s no darkness in Blair she’s the way she is and that’s what makes her wonderful. It was easier for them to love each other than to love themselves. 

Finally the biggest stand out of the episode is that iconic scene, the one that really puts into place the dynamic they will have for the rest of the season: Three words, eight letters are brought to the table, and they won’t move forward until the words have been said. It makes sense, because they tried this twice before, the first one came out of nowhere and it ended with Chuck getting dumped in favor of Nate, and that burned him badly, the second one Blair was the one who got hurt, and both times this pretty much happened because they aren’t able of telling each other how they feel, particularly Chuck. The first time he didn’t let her know he actually cared and wanted to be with her, the second one he didn’t tell her he was afraid, and all of this was too much too soon. So Blair wants, needs some kind of reassurance, and it makes me wonder how that week after the wedding really went, what happened? how wonderful it must have been that even though he abandoned her a that helipad she still had hope in the fact that he may love her. He doesn’t say it, and yet I still love this moment so much for  because jus by asking him to say it is in some way an admittance on her own feellings, and he fails to saythe words  but he did try, and the fact that he did try is also a form of admittance and as such  from here on no matter what happens, how much they fight and toy with each other there’s always an undercurrent of love behind their actions,and this is (borrowing a phrase from a certain popstar) the most amazing unspoken dialogue ever. 

Random bits I’ve noticed

Chuck has a bouquet of yellow roses for his intent on getting Blair back. If my memory serves right, those were his mom favorites

I’m such a sucker for the little backdrop details like the Van der Bass house having all these background pictures of the wedding

Thanks to Chuck for giving us the rank on Blair’s favorite films: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday & Funny Face (even if he said Charades to prove a point)

I’ve read somewhere I think it was on twitter that Blair’s crying in the garden scene was unscripted, Leighton did because she got really caught up in the scene particularly by Ed’s acting. I’ve looked it up but so far I haven’t found anything on this.

There’s a bunch of miniature cyclists under the mirror where Cece’s doing the final touches to her hair, looks sort of weird.

that vitamin water is even on the invitation, agust 30, 2008.

[iconicstyles]

Moving In

A little background. I based this story in the Chicago PD universe so I used some of their characters, I don’t own them. This first part is short but please let me know ❤️

All Melissa ever wanted was to move to a big city, get her dream job, fall in love and live happily ever after. Well two years after med school she was halfway there. She moved to Chicago on a whim, one of her good friends from college was from the windy city and after listening to her stories Melissa was intrigued. It didn’t take long for her to find a job, even if she worked well over her normal hours. When she first moved to the city she desperately needed an apartment, she didn’t have time to really search and ended up moving in with someone she knew from Facebook much to her mother’s dismay. Since she worked so much the arrangement was amazing. Melissa thought about moving out and getting an apartment of her own but she quite liked having a roommate, she hated coming home to an empty home and her roommate was kind enough to always have leftovers in the evening and a fresh cup of coffee in the morning for her. It all was going great until she found a post-it note hanging on the fridge one morning. ‘The rent is going up and I want to move in with my boyfriend. We have one month. Sorry.’ One hot pink note changed Melissa’s life.

Thankfully everything seemed to be in her favor with one fateful encounter during her shift. Harry Styles was a detective with the Chicago police department. During her time at Chicago Med she came in contact with Harry quite a lot. Whether he was interviewing a suspect or bringing someone in for treatment she always seemed to run into him and his partner, Max. They were the direct opposite, Harry was incredibly charming while Max seemed shy and reserved. For as long as Melissa has known him she was sure she only heard him speak maybe once or twice. All Melissa knew he was in a relationship with a girl that Harry didn’t like. “She calls every time we’re on our way to something. And she always stresses him out even more than he already is. With this job we can’t afford to get distracted.”

After Melissa found out she was basically gonna be homeless she had tuned out during her shift. As terrible as it sounded but she couldn’t focus on anything except the fact she needed to find another place to live. During her break she tried to look up apartments but was called in to help with a little boy with an intense nosebleed. After that her day just continued to grow busier until she noticed Harry and Max walk in. “Let me guess you need to speak to a patient that was just brought in with the gunshot wound?” Melissa asked.

“Actually it was a stab wound.” Harry countered, tilting his head to tease her.

“My apologies, he’s in exam room four but I already know he’s not gonna talk.” Melissa almost had to strap the young man up just to look at his wound.

“Let me at him first.” Max said, stepping away from them to head towards the suspect.

Once he was gone Harry mumbled. “He’s been in a mood all day.”

“What’s going on?” She asked, going over patient charts so she appeared to be busy.

“He and his girlfriend broke up, he’s better off if you ask me but I can tell he’s a bit upset over it. They lived together too is the worst part.”

“So what’s he gonna do?”

“It turns out I just moved into a house and needed a roommate, well I need multiple roommates to be able to afford the house if I’m being honest.”

A light bulb appeared over Melissa’s head. “Have you found anyone else?”

“Not really, no, not anyone I trust to open my home to.”

Taking a quick look around to make sure no one was eavesdropping Melissa said. “Ok, I wouldn’t admit this but I’m a bit desperate at the moment. My roommate just let me know the rent is going up in our building and I’m gonna be out on the street if I don’t find a place to live.”

She noticed Harry’s eyebrows furrow a bit but he was smiling nonetheless. “You think you want to live with me?”

“Well you’re a cop, there are worse options for roommates.”

“It’s gonna be me and Max, you know that right? You know anyone else that needs an apartment?”

“I’ll ask around but I’m being serious. I really need a place to stay.”

Her heart began pounding against her chest when he placed his hand on her shoulder. “No, no, I get it. I wouldn’t mind having you as a roommate.” He started. “I just worry we all might not get along.”

“At this point it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Chicago winters are cold and I don’t want to live in my car.”

“Tell you what, how about you come by whenever you’re free and see the house for yourself and make sure it’s for you.”

Melissa nodded, picking up her pen from her scrubs pocket and writing down her phone number on a post it note. “Just text me the address.”

“I will.” He agreed.

Before they could say anything else Max rejoined them. “He’s not talking but turns out he’s got warrants so he won’t be going anywhere. When he heals and is released he’ll be coming straight to the precinct.”

“Great in that case we’re out of here.” Harry nodded. “I’ll see you later Melissa.”

“Bye, Harry.” She smiled.

Even before she saw the house Melissa knew she wanted to move in. Harry giving her a tour was just a formality. The house was normal for Chicago, a brownstone with several stairs leading up to a small porch. The front door was a nice blue color which Melissa enjoyed picturing Harry picking out. He was the type to grab several shades of the same color before finally deciding on one. When she hurried up the stairs, eager to get away from the winter chill she was surprised to see the door open before she even had a chance to ring the bell. “‘Ello.” Harry grinned.

She had seen him in jeans and a T-shirt, it was his standard outfit when he was working but this was the first time she ever saw him in anything this casual. He wore black baggy sweatpants and a grey long sleeve hoodie that just appeared so soft. “Hi, I hope you have the heat on.” She shivered.

Stepping aside Harry allowed her to walk in. The first thing she saw was the white walls, completely bare. A coat rack was beside the front door with this normal leather jacket hanging up along with his badge on a long chain. “It’s so I don’t forget it when I’m walking out the door.” He explained when he noticed her look over his Chicago PD badge.

“Smart.” She nodded. “Surprised your gun is there too.”

“That stays in the bedroom in a safe location where no one can find it.” He promised as if this was an interview.

Melissa nodded once, as she continued her walk through the house. The kitchen was clean with only two bowls, plates, cups. Harry seemed to notice her peeking through the cabinets. “Sorry, uh, I sort of eat out a lot.”

“Oh, I get it, my kitchen would look the same if my roommate didn’t have a Target gift-card to stock our entire kitchen.”

She heard Harry laugh but then went to the stairs to lead her up to the bedrooms. “So there’s two down here, I took one but the other is open. I’m letting you and Max choose your rooms and then whoever the last roommate is can have whatever’s left.”

“Sounds like a good system.”

After taking a look around the entire house, looking at each bedroom and the closet space she decided to take the bedroom downstairs closest to the kitchen. In her mind she decided it would be easier if she ever got called into work to just grab her coffee or whatever she had time to fix and head out. “So you like the house?”

“I do.” Melissa smiled. “When would be a good time for me to move in?”

“Whenever you want.”

“I’m off this weekend will that be ok?”

“Yeah, I’ll be sure to get extra keys made. Do you have any idea of anyone else who needs a new place?”

Melissa was about to say no when she felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. Pulling it out she noticed one of her good friends calling. “Hang on a sec.” She told him before answering. “Abby?”

“So guess what? I’m moving to Chicago.”

The timing was just too perfect. Melissa had known Abby since they were in high school. She was two years older and moved away right after graduation. They always kept in touch but when their schedules got busier they weren’t surprised when they didn’t talk as much. From what Melissa saw Abby graduated culinary school and began working at a bakery in South Carolina. “What? Since when?” Melissa asked.

“It’s a long story, I’m coming into town this weekend to visit some apartment buildings. I was wondering if you knew any affordable places.”

Melissa glanced towards Harry. “Actually I was about to move into a new house with a friend and turns out we need another roommate.”

They hung up but quickly called back to FaceTime so Abby could see the house. She instantly fell in love with it. Instead of coming to Chicago to check out other options Abby decided she would move in at the same time as Melissa. According to Harry Max still didn’t have a timetable as to when he would be moving in. He was still going through the motions with his girlfriend. Whenever he would try to move on and pack up his stuff she would suddenly change her mind and say they could work it out. When he would feel comfortable enough she would start the same arguments all over again. Max didn’t know what to do. Harry, however, had enough. “Just leave her already!” Harry exclaimed. “She’s fuckng with your head at this point.”

Melissa arrived early Saturday morning with a rented Uhaul full of her stuff. With Harry’s help, along with his friend and fellow cop Liam, they were able to get all of her furniture in her room by mid-afternoon. Later on that day Abby arrived with her car full to the brim with everything she could fit from her South Carolina apartment. She could barely see out of her rear view mirror but she just wanted to leave and start fresh. She could find furniture when she arrived.

Before she moved Melissa had told Abby about their upcoming situation. “So his name is Harry and his partner Max.”

“Partner? They’re gay?”

“No! They work for the same police department. They’re detectives.”

“Oh ok, that’s fine. How do you know them?”

“They come to the hospital a lot. I’ve known him for almost a year now.”

“And he just asked you to move in with him?”

She heard Melissa chuckle. “In all honesty I sort of jumped at the chance to move in with him. I was desperate and he said he had three extra bedrooms.”

“I mean, as long as you trust him.”

“They’re cops, I think we could do a lot worse.”

When Abby met Harry she knew why Melissa was so adamant about moving in with him. He was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. His brown hair was cut short, pushed off of his forehead in a quiff. His piercing green eyes met hers with his mouth breaking out in a genuine smile. He opened his arms to hug her, to welcome her to her new home. “Nice to meet you!” He greeted.

“Nice to meet you too.” Abby wished he was the cop she met during her road trip to Illinois.

Later on that night Harry volunteered to go get pizza while the girls began unpacking. Melissa had gone through a few boxes before she grew sick of it. As she ran upstairs she found Abby just sorting what she should hang up or just keep where it's at. She needed a dresser, a lot of unpacking would have to wait. At the moment she didn’t even have a bed, she would have to sleep on the couch until she found something. She had been good about saving her money, she had enough for a new bed and some furniture, it was just going out and finding something she liked. “Hey, you busy?” Melissa asked, dropping down to the floor beside Abby.

“Just sorting, you done unpacking already?”

“God no, I just hate it so I’m putting it off for as long as possible.” Melissa sighed. “I have a question and it’s alright if you don’t want to answer it.”

“What’s up?”

“This move seemed like a real...rash decision...like you had to get out of South Carolina as fast as possible.” Melissa gestured to the clothes littering around the room. “I mean...you don’t even have a dresser.”

Abby released a breathy laugh but Melissa could tell there was no humor in it. “I knew I couldn’t avoid it but maybe I’ll feel better if I tell someone.”

Melissa saw a flash of pain in Abby’s eyes but didn’t push it until she began talking. “You know I worked in a bakery, right? The owner was this lady named Julie Burrow, her husband bought the bakery for her. They were well known in the town, well connected so even though she was a horrible baker the place wouldn’t get shut down. They even knew someone in the health department who wouldn’t fail her in fear of losing his job. Anyway since I was new to town I didn’t know the history of these people, I didn’t know how powerful they were.” Abby took a deep breath. “I got a job and basically saved the food. I began making everything and for the first time there were happy customers without the threat of food poisoning.”

“Yeah, I saw those cakes you decorated on Facebook.”

“It was great,” It was the first time Melissa saw joy in Abby’s eyes but it was quick and faded away with the new admission. “Well I thought everything was going good but turns out Julie grew jealous I was the one to turn business around. Soon she started rumors about me, how I would steal from her, how I flirted with her husband, anything you could imagine to make me look awful. Since she was so well known in the community, it didn’t take long for everyone to believe them. Then she announced she would be closing the bakery because she ‘couldn’t handle working with someone who was trying to tear down her business.’”

“You were run out of town.”

“Pretty much. It was probably for the best though, after a while I hated going to work. I hated being the one doing all the work while she reaped the benefits. I was lead baker and decorator and she refused to give me a raise. She was never even there.”

“At least you’re out of there now.”

“Yeah, I guess.” She sighed sadly. “I just hated everywhere I went it felt like people were watching me and judging. They thought I was a thief, a homewrecker, pretty much the devil. I decided to come here because I figured it was a big enough city where no one will know me. Plus I knew you were here, I hoped having a friend in my corner would feel better after feeling so alone for the past year.”

“Well now you got me and Harry and maybe his partner if he ever decides to leave his girlfriend.”

“Yeah, what’s up with that?”

“She’s awful, that’s what’s up with it.” Harry announced. “Sorry, I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just wanted to see if you two were allergic to anything. I was gonna go grocery shopping for the house.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. We can go shopping later.” Melissa told him but Harry waved her off.

“I’m just getting some basic stuff and I wanted to cook dinner this weekend. Like a welcome home meal, I hope you ladies like enchiladas.”

“I like any food.” Abby promised.

“I’m with her.” Melissa agreed.

“All right, I’ll be back later. Max should be here soon.”

“Is he officially moving in?” Melissa asked.

“Looks like it. He’s just bringing some clothes so he may be sleeping on the couch for a little while.”

“So don’t walk around naked, got it.” Melissa noticed the way Harry’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. “It was a joke!”

Harry chuckled. “Well I wouldn’t stop you. It’s your house now too.”

The room fell into an awkward silence while Harry took the time to fully realize what he said. “Gotcha, let me go to the store before I cause you to move out.”

Abby waited until the front door closed before saying. “God you two are so into each other.”

“We’re roommates, Abby.”

“Roommates that are gonna hook up within the first week of us living together.” Abby sang, earning a thrown shirt at her face.

An hour later Max arrived at the house with a few boxes full of clothes and pairs of shoes. Like Abby he was moving in with no furniture and no real plan. “Harry?” He called through the house.

“Hey mate, I’m here.” Harry hollered, he was half hidden by the fridge door.

Dropping the box by the front door Max joined his partner in the kitchen. “What are you doing?”

“I went grocery shopping. Probably my first proper shop since I moved in.” Harry sounded truly proud of himself.

“You already trying to impress Melissa?”

“Melissa and Abby.”

At the mention of a new girl Max appeared confused. “There’s another girl?”

“Yeah she just moved in today. She and Melissa were friends in college and she needed to start fresh.”

“You’re a cop and you just let a complete stranger move into your house?”

“You’ve been my partner for over a year and I’m letting you move in.” Harry snapped, earning a glare from Max. “I trust Melissa. If she knows the girl and trusts her that’s all I need to know.”

“If you say so.”

The sound of their phones ringing caught their attention. With a grim look they grabbed their phones and read the message. “Gotta go.” Max sighed.

“Let me tell Melissa real quick. Warm the car up.”

Max agreed and headed outside to start the car. Upstairs Harry found the girls in Melissa’s room. “Hey, we got a call. I don’t know when we’ll be back. Lock the doors, got it?”

“Yeah, is everything all right?” Melissa asked.

“Don’t know yet but don’t wait up.” Harry told her. “Lock the door.”

Melissa nodded and just watched as Harry went back downstairs grabbing his gun on the way out. Even though she knew this was his job, she’s been around him questioning suspects before but now she was living with him. She would be seeing more every day, seeing the effects of his job first hand. She just hoped this wasn’t a mistake.

Late night calls were never a good thing. For as long as they had been a part of Intelligence they could always expect the worst when they were called out after sunset. They could see blue lights as soon as they turned on the street. Max parked the car a few blocks away avoiding news vans trying their best to catch a peak of the body under the sheet. “What do we got?” Harry asked as they approached the scene.

“Small town dealer.” Liam explained. “Neighbors heard gunshots and loud squealing but no witnesses saw the shooter.”

“Or they saw him and they don’t want to talk.” Mike said.

“Any security cameras?” Max questioned.

“Only one down the street in that pawn shop. The owner has shut down for the night so we won’t be able to check them out until the morning.”

“Then let’s check his identity and find out if he has any gang affiliations.” Harry said.

It was around three in the morning when Max and Harry got back home. The house was dark from the outside. “I just remembered I don’t have a bed.” Max frowned.

“Yeah, we got some furniture here soon. In the meantime I just need some sleep.”

Melissa had the house locked up tight just like Harry told her. When they stepped into the living room a single light above the stove was on letting them see enough. Max was ready to fall onto the couch but stopped when he saw it was already occupied. “Shit, I forgot to tell you Abby didn’t have a bed either.”

The sound of the door closing stirred her awake. She appeared nervous until she recognized Harry in the dim light. “You’re back.” She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

“Yeah, we just got home. Go back to sleep.” Harry told her, clapping Max on the shoulder. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Normally Harry would stick around to help Max feel more comfortable in the situation. Max didn’t know this girl and now she was taking where he was supposed to be sleeping. However Harry would barely keep his eyes open. He’ll apologize for the awkwardness in the morning but it could wait until he got a few hours of sleep.

Sitting up on the couch Abby stared at Max. “Uh...you going to bed?”

“You’re kind of on it.” Max coughed.

The realization hit her. “Oh...you didn’t have a bed either did you? I’m sorry, here you take it. I have enough clothes to sleep on upstairs.”

Max held up a hand to stop her. “No, you stay there. I’ll sleep in the recliner.”

Slowly Abby laid back down, watching as Max took off his leather jacket and his boots. Without a word he sat down in the black leather recliner, pulling the lever so the footrest came up. “You cold?” Abby asked, noticing him stuff his hands in his hoodie pockets.

“No, I’ll be fine.” He mumbled, closing his eyes and willing himself off to sleep.

He was almost out when he heard movement on the couch. Keeping his eyes closed he felt a soft weight being placed over him. Peaking his eyes open, he noticed a blanket she had been using on the couch. It was still warm from her body heat. He was too tired to fight her besides he could smell her perfume on the fabric comforting him as he fell asleep.

[xxisxxisxxis]

Gateway Drug | Part Six

Part Five

Pairing: Douglas Booth!Nikki Sixx X OC

Warnings: Language, sexual situations

Tag List: @fandomshit6000 @lilmou5ie @tamedhearts @divaanya @allieburakovsky @kingbouji3 @evrsncnewyork  @6ixx6ixx@ratedrkohardychick91 @floregrohlssard  @oldschoolimagineblog@thanks2pete @abaldboi @swoopygorl @justjodeye @liith-ium @caos18blog@ytwahsog @shamlessobsessions @scarecrowmax

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“Idle hands are the Devil’s handiwork.” It was a warning my mother instilled in to me for as long as I can remember. I never quite understood the extent of what the saying meant until I had gotten older.

Being a toddler and scribbling on the wall with a marker out of boredom is far different than getting high and hammered on everything in sight out of boredom. Of course, I never did any of the things people always suspected I did. I’ll never forget seeing my face on a trashy tabloid with the title “Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Handiwork” with an article plastered inside about me basically saying that since I ran with rockstars, I became friends and acquaintances with plenty of them through Mötley Crüe, I wasn’t as pure and Godly as the boys, and myself, made me out to be. They even went as far as blatantly claiming I was snorting, injecting and drinking as much as those idiots were behind the scenes, and then accused me of being the group’s sexcapade.

The media was full of it when it came to their explanation of the phrase, but my mother wasn’t. “This is not what we do, Vivian.” I can hear my mother’s voice in my head as I assess the damage that consist of my own form of track marks. Faint bruises that are lightly dusted over my hips, dark hickeys splotch the skin of my neck, collarbones, chest, and inside of my thighs. My eyes drift to the bite mark on my rib cage, and I flinch when I run my fingers over it, the tender flesh aching slightly. My curly hair is furthermore tangled from our binger, my lips swollen from crooked teeth sinking in to them through the night. I shift in my place in front of the bathroom mirror, the junction of my thighs sore and my legs shaking like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time. Grabbing the sink to support myself, I feel what’s left of him leaking down my thighs and I close my eyes, trying to decide if I’m remorseful or not. The running water of the shower is starting to create steam over the mirror, pushing me out of my daze, and I lick my lips, tasting the ghost of cigarettes and Jack as I step to the shower to scrub away my sin. By the time I’m baptized, I turn the water off and wrap the stained towel around myself, and step to Nikki’s room to get my clothes on so I can crawl back in to bed with Tommy and pretend I didn’t just screw his friend. He’d kill the Devil if he knew half of what he had just done to me. The door creaks as I slip inside, trying to remember what direction they were tossed after being torn off. I see the T-shirt Tommy let me borrow, laying on the floor beside Nikki’s side of the bed. I tip-toe to snag it, crouching to pick it up. As soon as I grab it, familiar fingers are wrapping around my wrist loosely, Nikki’s solemn expression meeting my eyes when I look at him and I give him a tiny smile. “Go back to sleep.” I whisper, getting out of his grip to pull my shirt on. He doesn’t say anything, he just looks at me as if he’s lost, his hand returning to me to run up my arm. I let him have his moment of touching me with the rough palm of his hand as he moves cross my collar bone and gently grasps at my throat. I don’t resist him when he pulls me to him and I lean forward, his lips catching mine. I don’t know if it’s because he’s half asleep, or the both of us are exhausted and still dazed, but this is surprisingly gentle, as if he’s silently apologizing in advance for everything he knows he’ll inevitably put me through eventually. I pull away first, my hand gently rubbing at his jaw until his eyes close again, peacefully. I pull my panties back on and leave him to himself, sneaking back in to bed with Tommy, praying silently that neither him nor Vince have woken up and noticed my absence. The days to follow are like one big withdraw laced with the paranoia of people finding out and the discomfort of my recovering body. Nikki and I won’t even look at each other if he’s hanging around with Tommy when we go somewhere. Tansy somehow knew the moment she saw me for the first time since it had happened. She saw through the façade entirely the second she got in to my car to head to the Rainbow with me after a show. She had a gift of just knowing. She could pick out truth from lies in a heartbeat and could call out professional liars on their bluff. If someone ever got away with lying to her, it’s because she kept her mouth shut and let them, which happened a lot, but I was always an exception to that. “Did you want to?” She asks me after I explain how it happened and I think a moment. “I don’t know.” It’s an honest answer, that probably paints Nikki out to be the actual Devil. “I kind of blacked out between him making a move on me and then realizing what we’d done when we were finished.” “He didn’t…” She starts, trying to think of how to phrase it. “…force anything or–” “No.” I know that much and she nods slowly. “I don’t even know if he wanted to, really.” I add. “We were both just being stupid.” “Well, you used protection right?” She asks next and I stay quiet. “Oh, Viv.” “Neither of us were really worried about it in the midst of tearing clothes off and trying to make it to his bed.” “Do you think you might be pregnant?” “I don’t want to think about it.” I say dismissively. “You two made a decision that could have consequences. It would be smart to talk about the possibility of it.” “We haven’t talked since I told him to go back to sleep when I was getting my clothes back on. The last thing I want to say to him now is, ‘hey, I know you’re just starting to get a taste of the Rockstar life you’ve always dreamed of, but I might be knocked up which means you can’t enjoy that life because you’re a dad now. Congrats.’” I argue and she sighs out heavily. “I’m the idiot that should be worried about stuff like this. Not you. You’re the responsible one out of the bunch. If you sink, we all sink.” She motions to me and I try to laugh the best I can. “You need to give me a little wiggle room to mess up.” I explain lowly after a few moments of silence. “Because I’m not always going to be Saint Vivian 24/7.” “And that’s okay.” She assures me. “But you always tell us 'be dumb, but be smart about it’ and, Viv…of all the guys to give something incredibly important to you to, you give it to him? It’s Nikki.” She offers me a tiny, sympathetic smile. “What the hell are you doing?” “I have absolutely no idea.” I close my eyes, refusing to cry but I feel the burn of oncoming tears and she grabs my hand. “Welcome to my world of getting with men who I know will wreck my life but allow them to anyway.” She offers up enthusiastically and I genuinely laugh, holding her hand tightly By the time we get the Rainbow and walk inside to see the four guys at their normal booth, laughing and drinking as usual. They see Tansy first, greeting her with “Hey, Tans,” then Mick, Vince and Tommy say “hey” to me like they always do, but Nikki seems to be hiding in his teased, black ball of hair, cigarette hanging from his lips as he avoids making eye contact with me. “Hey,” I reply to the three of them, sliding in behind Tansy to sit directly across the table from Mick, who looks as if he’s narrowing his eyes at me from behind his sunglasses. “So, we’ve been workin’ on some new music and we need you to listen to some of it.” Tommy tells me. “Why me?” “Because I trust your judgement.” Tommy replies with a shrug and Mick lets out a blatant “HA”, chuckling a little to himself and I glare between him and Nikki, who’s looking a little guilty. “Her judgement is just as shitty as anyone else’s at this table.” Mick comments, and I realize he knows. “What are some of the names?” I ask to change the topic of my judgement. “Title track is 'Shout With the Devil’.” Vince says nonchalantly. “You’re kidding.” Tansy sounds off, scrunching her face a little. “Nope.” He grins, taking a swig of his beer. “Nikki came up with it.” Tommy informs me and it doesn’t surprise me. “Yeah, he’s dabbling in Satanism, incase you and your good, Christianly, God-fearing, judgement wanted to know.” Mick adds and my blood runs cold. “You what?” I snap at Nikki and his heavily lined eyes stay to the table. “Hey, don’t you believe in soul tying?” Mick asks me randomly and I tense up, knowing where he’s going with this. The last thing I needed to do was intertwine my soul with one as twisted as Nikki’s. “The fuck is that?” Vince scoffs and I exhale. “You have sex with someone and a part of you is with them and a part of them is with you, which is why God tells his children not to just sleep with anyone.” I tell him. “And that is why religion is no fucking fun.” Vince points at me. “You can’t drink, or fuck, all you can do is pray and harass people about whether they’ve accepted Christ as their Lord and savior and shit.” “He doesn’t prohibit pre-marital sex to be a buzz-kill, Vince, he prohibits it because it can be more painful if a person leaves you because a part of you is going with them. He tells us not to do it to protect us from heartbreak and confusion and pain. If you don’t want to believe that then that’s fine. But don’t sit here and talk down on me just because I don’t drink, or fuck, and no, not every Christian is harassing people about getting saved. Some of us simply pray for people we think might be lost and keep it pushing.” I argue. “Is that why you’re here?” Nikki asks me suddenly, the first words he’s spoken to me in the last week. “To save our souls from the Devil?” “I’m here because Tommy happens to be in your band.” I chuckle out. “I pray for you idiots but I certainly don’t have high expectations at the moment.” “I’m glad.” Nikki says, licking the inside of his bottom lip, leaning back in his seat to stare at me before he lights another cigarette. “You guys are comin’ to graduation right?” Tansy cuts in to change the subject, raising her brows hopefully at and they fumble around, pretending to be occupied with whatever they can find on the table. “Oh, c'mon.” She complains, shoving at Vince’s arm and he starts chuckling with Tommy. “We’ve worked our asses off, you guys. You need to be there to support us, especially since one of us,” She looks at me. “Is risking death every time she steps within a ten foot radius of any of you.” “Fine.” Vince gives up, holding his hands up. “As long as we get to have a graduation party with all your hot friends, and lots of booze.” Tansy and I look at each other, trying not to burst in to laughter before breaking the bad news to them. “Um,” I start. “You guys are our hot friends.” “We don’t talk to anyone else.” Tansy backs me up. “If we’re just having a party with you two, you both gotta get naked and nasty or it ain’t happening.” Vince states sternly. “I will never get naked and nasty with you in the mix.” I reply, matter of fact. “Give it a few years.” Vince tells me. “You’ll give in eventually.” “Yeah, give in to the deep rooted desire to neuter you.” I shoot back. “There’s not a blade sharp enough to do the job.” He smirks, causing Tommy and Nikki to snort. “End of discussion.” “I’m takin’ a piss,” Mick sighs out, standing carefully before he heads to the bathroom. I watch after him, oblivious to the conversation the other four are having. “I’ll be right back.” I announce, sliding out of the booth to follow Mick. He’s at a urinal when I walk in, and he glances at me and lets out a heavy breath, seemingly exasperated. “Don’t tell me I’m next on your hit list.” He tells me fatly and I lean against the door with my arms crossed. “How did you know?” I ask him and he zips his pants and flushes, finally looking at me. “You left your crucifix on his floor. I got there after you left while they were still asleep. When I went to wake him up, I almost stepped on it.” “Well, he could’ve stolen it.” I point out. “Without me knowing.” “Except you never take it off, so he would’ve had to snatch it off of you without you knowing. Look, it’s not the end of the world. He got home with the boys late at night, you were available, you were willing, and you had enough decency to take off your proof of religion before doing something that would piss God off. Shit happens, Viv. It’s not that big of a deal.” I’m quiet for a moment, looking at the floor and he sighs. “Or it is a big deal because you’ve never done that before.” He thinks aloud and I finally look at him again. “All the best Christians are sinners like everyone else. If you think you made a mistake, then learn from it and don’t let it happen again. This doesn’t damn you.” It’s like he’s read my mind and I nod, stepping aside to let him out. The first half of the night is spent at the Rainbow before Tommy and Vince put in to going to the Cathouse. I, expectedly, denied the invitation, but Tansy was down to go so Mick said he would take her home when they were done. “Hey, I need the key to your apartment.” I tell Tommy as I’m getting my jacket on. “Why?” He asks. “I left something there on accident.” I say and before he can answer, Nikki speaks up. “I’m about to head back anyway, I’ll go with you.” He offers and I raise my brows, Tansy and Mick simultaneously looking at me knowingly. “Dude, it’s like eleven. We still got eight good hours ahead of us.” Vince tries to tell him. “Not feeling to well.” Nikki lies, patting his shoulder. “C'mon.” He motions to me. “O-Okay,” I stammer a little. “I’ll see you guys later.” The very short drive in my car to their apartment is silent, but the tension speaks loud enough for the both of us. Once I park and the two of us get out, stepping up the stairs to get to the door. “What’d you need to get?” He asks as I walk in first just to get away from his suffocating presence. “I left my cross necklace.” I tell him and he shuts the door, stepping to me while pulling something from the collar of his shirt. He tugs off one of the a necklaces around his neck, and holds out my crucifix. “Here.” I take it, mumbling “thanks” before I turn to leave, putting it back on as I go. “So are we gonna pretend I didn’t screw your soul out or…? I mean if you don’t want to acknowledge it that’s perfectly fine with me, but most chicks get all emotional and have expectations and if you think this means we’re dating or something–” “I don’t think that.” I tell him, shaking my head. “We haven’t talked since it happened so no, I wasn’t under the impression you wanted me to be anything more than a cum rag you screwed the soul out of while being too messed up to remember more than half of it.” I smile as I speak but my tone is anything but sweet. “Goodnight, Nikki.” I head for the door again but he stops me. “I remember all of it, actually.” He argues. “That’s surprising being you tasted like straight liquor, among other things.” I turn to face him with my arms crossed and he steps closer to me. “I sobered up pretty fuckin’ fast when you kissed me.” He teases and I scoff. “You kissed me.” I argue. “You made the first move. Out of nowhere.” He’s inches in front of me now, giving me the same, devious, smirk he was giving me that night. “I know,” He whispers, his hand moving to my lower back, pulling me closer to him, causing heat to swelter through my blood and I take quick, uneasy breaths as he leans in closer, his lips nearly touching mine. I pull away a little, trying to hide the shaking of my voice. “We can’t do this.” I tell him weakly, his hand on my back pulling me even closer so he can wrap his arm around my waist. “You said the exact same thing last time.” He reminds me and I nod, trying to keep my thoughts together, but when presses his lips to mine the same way he did the first time, I feel all common sense and consciousness leave me as I kiss him back, my hands holding his arms tightly. We pull away to catch our breaths, and go back for more. My hands eagerly push off his leather jacket and once it’s off, he’s pulling mine off of me and tossing it off to the side. I’m tugging my necklace off and letting it hit the carpeted floor within seconds. Like the first time, I shut my mind off and black out, willing to let my own form of heroin destroy me. I get his shirt off as his tongue meets mine, eliciting a moan from me, and he pulls at the laces of his pants, getting them loose before pulling me up to wrap my legs around his waist. I comply, wrapping my arms around his neck to get as close as I can to him as he steps to his room and drops me on the mattress, getting his pants off. Lips return to my mouth briefly before leaving to add to the healing bruises on my neck, and I sit up to yank my skin-tight dress off, practically attacking him when it’s off, the both of us ending up on the foot of the bed as I straddle him. He sits up to take off my bra and allows his lips to explore my collar bones, traveling towards my chest. Within a second he’s gotten me underneath him, pinning my wrists as his tongue and teeth assault my breasts, my legs wrapping around his waist to create some kind of friction just to relieve the ache between my legs. His mouth moves down my abdomen, teeth sinking into one of my top ribs when I arch my back under his touch and I whimper, wanting desperately to tangle my fingers in to his hair. I feel my soul leave my body when he gets to what he was wanting, his hands letting go of my wrists so his arms can wrap around my thighs and pin me under him as he laps at my flesh. My hands move to his hair, my calves rub against the smooth skin of his back and his name falls from my lips in a broken prayer. I squeeze my eyes closed, panting as I feel myself about to release, and then he’s stopping. He doesn’t give me anytime to whine before he’s coming back up to kiss me, grabbing at my hip with one hand while the other presses into the mattress beside my head. There’s no “are you sure” or “I’ll be gentle”, just like there wasn’t the first time we did this. His entry is rough, he doesn’t give me time to adjust and he doesn’t start off slow. I accept whatever he’s willing to give me, whatever way I can get it, and let out a high pitched sigh when he pulls out of my and slams back in. My already sore flesh is once more abused, and the sting of his thrusts is probably causing a little bleeding like before. “Fuck,” He groans out, one hand on my throat as the other palms at my chest. My hand grabs at the back if his neck, pulling his lips to mine, and he eagerly accepts my attention, his lips tugging at my bottom lip before his tongue traces mine. Nails dig in to his back, probably drawing blood in their wake, and he picks up his rough pace, actually screwing me in to the mattress. He pulls me on top of him and I let out a gasp mixed with a moan as I sink onto him completely, feeling full, and his hands have my hips in a death grip as he guides my movements. My hands rest on his chest, balancing myself as I throw my head back. “Nikki,” I moan out, looking down at him and he takes my left hand from his chest and presses a single kiss to it, the action contradicting his rough thrusting in to me but I don’t complain, feeling myself come apart above him. My fingers of my left hand lace through his as I fall forward, my chest pressing to his as he holds my hips with one hand while moving in to me. “Oh, fuck, Viv,” He grunts out and I feel heat fill me as he finishes in me before the both of us are collapsing. History had repeated itself, step for step, and I laid there and tried to let that sink in, just waiting to be remorseful. But I felt no shame about what happened between the two of us. If I had felt shame or regret, I wouldn’t have let it keep happening. I would’ve distance myself from him and that temptation.  If something makes you feel bad for doing it, you stop. And because I didn’t feel bad about it, it continued. I thought my punishment for sinning would be regret or overbearing shame. I didn’t realize my punishment was going to span out over the years to come in the form of multiple children created, but most of them never making it to see the light of day, and not being able to tell Nikki because God knew he didn’t need anymore reasons to stick a needle in his deteriorated veins. Not to mention infidelity on both of our parts and everything else in between. Yeah, idle hands cause us to do incredibly stupid things, and the Devil gets to pick out our consequences for the mess he enticed us in to making.

[ostrich-on-a-rampage-blog]

Crutchie, Cursed: Chapter 1

So, here’s the first chapter of an Ella Enchanted AU that I accidentally fell in love with. A couple people seemed interested, so here’s the start of it. Basically, what happened is I started rewatching that movie last night and kept thinking how Newsies characters could fit in here. And then I texted my roommate and she just said, “Go for it, Ostrich.” I went for it. 

Also, as a side note, I have read the book, but back when I was in elementary school or junior high, so I have no memory of it. In other words, this will mostly be based around the movie. Which, also means that there will be some movie quotes in here because some of that dialogue is just too perfect to neglect. Plus, I have changed a couple of the scenes, settings, etc. It will all make sense, trust me. Do tell me how you like it, though! Reblogs and comments will encourage me to finish the next chapter sooner!

It wasn’t as if Crutchie hated his life. No, that wouldn’t be fair to say. There were lots of aspects of his life that he absolutely loved. His godmother, Medda, for one. His best friend, Katherine, of course. The fact that he was passing all his community college classes and had even managed to be recognized in his speech and debate class—although that was probably due to all of Katherine’s help—were definite pluses. Really, everything made his life just fine, all added together.

“Hey, crip! Get down here!”

Except, no, his life was not all that great, despite the smiles he faked. Years ago, Crutchie’s father died and his mother, a rather forgetful, hapless woman, never seemed to truly understand the impact of his death on her son. Sure, she had held him close and promised that everything would be okay. Crutchie wondered if she ever meant the promise, or if it had just been something nice to say to her hurting son. Only a couple months ago, she had remarried to a small, shriveled man by the name of Wiesel. She had explained that he had the money that their family needed, and, as much as Crutchie appreciated the full cupboards and the warm, plentiful meals, he almost wished they could go back to the time when he had gone to bed hungry, but had been happy. When it was just the two of them. Or, rather, when it was the three of them, and Crutchie had never foreseen the dark storms and heavy grief ahead of him.

“Move slower, ya stupid crip, I dare you!”

Wiesel had brought his two sons along with him: Oscar and Morris. While Morris tended to be quiet and brood in the corner of the room, a small black book in hand—Crutchie suspected it to be a collection of Poe’s poems, after he heard Morris mutter something about a sepulchre by the sea—and a quick frown for Crutchie whenever he entered the room, Oscar was more vocal with his dislike towards his new stepbrother. Both stepbrothers looked remarkably similar. They had dark brown hair and sported twin sneers, especially whenever Crutchie was present.

“I’m coming,” Crutchie said, trying to force his suddenly leaden limbs to move faster.

That was the other problem. Upon his birth, a benevolent—though, Crutchie wasn’t sure he quite agreed with that terminology—fairy granted him the gift of obedience. Which meant that Crutchie was stuck obeying every small command uttered around him. It had led to all sorts of unfortunate experiences, including, but not limited to, the time he punched a bully, the time he ate a worm, and the time he couldn’t tell anyone about the mean kids that teased and bullied Katherine for her big books and owlish glasses.

“Took you long enough,” Oscar remarked once Crutchie entered the living room. “Today we’re going to the rally for the Prince. I do not want to see your ugly mug there. Got it?”

Crutchie nodded, muttering under his breath, “Won’t be that hard with your eyesight.”

“What did you say?” Oscar challenged.

“Nothing. Have fun supporting a politician that has managed to destroy over a century’s peace. And all because he thought free labor would have no consequences, even though if he had ever taken the time to study a history book, he would see—“

“Shut up,” Oscar snapped.

Crutchie’s rant immediately stopped, all words dying in the back of his throat. His silence didn’t keep him from glaring at Oscar and Morris, as they headed out of the door, chattering eagerly about the Prince’s new hair style and how it compared to how he had worn it the previous spring.

Prince Jack was the talk among every citizen of marriageable age. The rumor was that the Prince would need to marry someone before he could actually be officially coronated and named King of New York, great land that it was. Men and women, alike, fawned over his deep, chocolate eyes and his wavy, brunette hair. Oscar had even been elected president of the Jack Fan Club that had been organized in Manhattan. Crutchie still scoffed whenever he entered his step-brother’s shared room and noticed the many posters of the Prince on the walls. Really, it was all a publicity stunt to distract the idiot townspeople from the atrocities being committed around them. And, much to Crutchie’s dismay, it was working.

A knock on the door interrupted Crutchie’s thoughts and he grinned when he saw his best friend waving through the window. “Hey, Kath,” he said, letting her bounce through the door.

“Okay, I painted all these great posters for the rally,” Katherine said, unrolling a poster that called for the end of ogrecide and equality among all. “I tried to see if Specs could come, but Romeo got sick, so it’s just going to be the two of us. Is that okay?” she asked, her eyes crinkling with worry behind the clear frames.

“Of course, Kath. And these look great.”

Katherine smiled. “Thanks, Crutch. Now we better get there before the mob of our great Prince’s fans manages to bring the rally to an end.”

King Snyder—for only a few short days more, until Prince Jack would be crowned the rightful King—stepped out into the bright sunshine. He blinked at the sudden sunlight, waving cheerfully to the crowd of people who had shown up to the rally for their King and Prince. He started speaking, but Crutchie wasn’t paying attention. He noticed that Oscar and Morris were at the front of the group of Jack’s fans, homemade hearts pinned to their chests. Oscar’s head started to turn and Crutchie reacted instinctively. Crutchie immediately ducked behind a pillar, his body acting on its own. He couldn’t be seen by Oscar, he couldn’t be seen by—

“What’s wrong?” Katherine asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Crutchie said, playing it off with a laugh. “Just, uh, like the shade, is all.”

“Well, we’ve got to be out in the open, where the King and the Prince can actually see the posters, or else all this work will have been for nothing.”

“Um, yeah, of course,” Crutchie said, peering around the pillar. Oscar wasn’t looking his way. He stepped out around the pillar, lofting the poster into the air. “Let’s do this, Kath. Show ‘em what’s what.”

As soon as Prince Jack stepped out onto the stage, the crowd burst into cheers and screams and catcalls. The Prince smiled weakly, waving to his adoring fans. He opened his mouth to say something, but Katherine began shouting, “Say no to ogrecide! Say no to ogrecide!” Her voice carried loud and clear over the rally’s crowd, catching the attention of the King, the Prince, and everyone in the square.

Normally, Crutchie would be proud of his friend taking a stand for her beliefs, but not when Oscar’s scowl deepened at the sight of his step-brother. Oscar shoved a couple of the rally-goers aside, stomping angrily towards Crutchie. A slightly-confused Morris followed along, glancing back at Jack longingly. “What are you doing here?” Oscar demanded, ripping the poster from Crutchie’s shaking hands. “I told you not to show your face here. Go home,” he commanded.

Crutchie winced, before muttering softly, “I gotta go, Kath. I’ll see you around.”

“Crutch, wait!” Katherine tried, but Crutchie was already limping out of the square, ignoring the stares from all of the citizens.

“That was a waste,” Crutchie muttered, wiping angrily at his nose. All Crutchie had ever dreamed of, since he was young, was making a difference in the world. But, how could he ever do that, if he continually was forced into following others commands. It wasn’t fair. No one else had been cursed at birth. Only Crutchie seemed lucky enough to have been blessed with some fairy that apparently had decided his life wouldn’t be crappy enough between his twisted leg and his father’s sudden death, and had “gifted” him with obedience.

Crutchie barely had time to notice the sound of screams echoing throughout the forest, before someone grabbed him, dragging him to the ground. He immediately elbowed his assailant in the stomach, but that only managed to trigger a small grunt of pain. A soft hand was clamped over his mouth, while his attacker hissed, “Shh.”

A crowd of men and women, all wearing those tacky “I Heart Jack” pins, ran past them, screaming excitedly. Once they had passed them, Crutchie’s assailant let him go, muttering a small apology. Crutchie turned, surprised to discover that assailant was, in fact, Prince Jack. “That’s a fine way to treat your citizens, shoving them to the ground,” Crutchie muttered, standing up and brushing the dirt from his pants.

“I’m Jack,” Jack introduced himself, handing the other man his crutch.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Oh,” Jack said, running his hand through his brown locks. Crutchie started away, but Jack caught up. “Hey, I never got your name.”

“They call me Crutchie.”

“Do you like the name Crutchie?”

“It’s a far cry better than ‘crip,’ or whatever semi-clever insults the kids on the playground could think of,” Crutchie remarked.

“I’m sorry,” Jack said, but Crutchie shrugged his concern off, continuing on his way home. “You know,” Jack continued, “you’re the first person who hasn’t swooned at the sight of me.”

Crutchie snorted. “Then maybe I’ve done you some good.”

“No, I meant—“ Jack fell silent, as a strange sound emanated from the forest on the side of the road. “I’ll go investigate,” he explained, pulling his sword out of its sheath. “Stay here.”

At the command, Crutchie’s feet seemed to freeze in the center of the dirt road. “Jack!” he tried to call, but the Prince either ignored him, or didn’t hear. “Great,” he muttered, tugging uselessly on his legs and trying to will them to move, even though he knew none of his efforts would be successful. Eventually, Crutchie simply gave up, scanning the forest and waiting for his prince to come—Crutchie rolled his eyes at that particular thought—and free him from his temporary stasis.

A quiet rumbling surprised Crutchie. He hadn’t expected any sort of storm, especially with the sky so clear of clouds. As the rumbling grew louder, he glanced behind him, immediately discovering the source of the noise. Some madly drunk man had whipped the horses driving his carriage into a frenzy, and the carriage barreled towards Crutchie, with no sign of slowing. “Jack!” Crutchie shouted again, annoyed at the note of desperation that colored the name. He wasn’t desperate, he wasn’t—only, he was, because his feet still would not move and the carriage was getting closer and—

“Move!”

Crutchie immediately obeyed, leaping out of the way of the carriage and the cackling drunkard. For a moment, Crutchie merely laid on the ground, breathing deeply and thanking everything that he was still alive. His fingers shook, but he quickly fisted his hands to hide the trembling. Ignoring the slight tremor in his voice, Crutchie shouted, “What the hell was that?”

Jack blinked in surprise. “What was what? You weren’t moving; you were just standing there!”

“Clearly, I moved out of the way in time,” Crutchie said, levering himself up with the aid of his crutch. “No thanks to you. How was your little romp into the woods?”

“It wasn’t an ogre.”

“You find a scawy wabbit?” Crutchie teased, focusing on annoying the Prince instead of the way his knees still shook after that near-death experience. He could’ve died, he could’ve died.

“Oh, shut up.”

Crutchie’s mouth snapped shut, but the Prince didn’t seem to notice, as Oscar and Morris ran up to the pair. “Jack!” Oscar called out, taken aback by the appearance of the Prince with his step-brother. “H-how are you? You’re looking,” Oscar paused, examining the Prince’s body, “swell.”

Crutchie snorted, catching Oscar’s attention. “And, Crutchie, take Morris home.”

“Oh, come on,” Morris complained, pouting. But, he listened to his older brother and motioned for Crutchie to come home with him.

“Watch out for rabbits,” Crutchie told Jack, a farewell, of sorts.

“And you stay away from carriages,” Jack told him, a soft smile at his lips.

Crutchie nodded his good-bye, before joining Morris on the road home. “I don’t see why you get to meet Jack,” Morris complained. “Sometimes, Crutchie, I think you’re the luckiest guy alive.” And while Crutchie had never been inclined to agree to a statement such as that, he found himself wondering if this was a start of a new, luckier chapter in his life.

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Doug Rinaldi has an amazing sense of humor and boy can he write a story. I recently read  A Different Kind of Slumber and let me say….WOW! I highly recommend it. He Is engaged to be married and he loves to tease her. Their messages on Facebook always make me giggle. Please if you don’t know Doug yet make sure to meet him and check out his books you won’t be sorry. I promise. Also, don’t forget to leave him a review! Please welcome Doug Rinaldi to Roadie Notes…….

  1. How old were you when you first wrote your first story?

I was in the 6th or 7th grade, so that would’ve made me… Hang on. I gotta take off my shoes. And… I was thirteen. My friend Thaddeus and I wrote a couple short stories together. One was about the cafeteria lunch ladies killing and feeding other students to us for lunch, succinctly called “The Lunch Ladies.” And the other one was called “One Dark Night.” No. For real. I have no recollection of what it was about. I think we drew up book covers in our notebooks for them as well. I’d kill to get a glimpse of those “masterpieces” again.

2. How many books have you written?

Currently under my belt, I have one short story collection called Purgatory Behind These Eyes. It contains sixteen short stories that I’ve written between 1997 and 2015. I have one novelette out, a ghost story with serial killer elements called A Different Kind of Slumber. Lately, I’ve been releasing short story chapbooks, 2-3 shorts per publication. Right now I have a two-story release titled With Great Vehemence: Two Tales of Vengeance. The other, Forever, Cried the Abyss, contains three more tales.

3. Anything you won’t write about?

I have no desire to write anything political or have any overt political leanings/opinions in my stories. None of that stuff really holds any interest for me. Everything else is fair game as long as it adds to the story and I can do the idea(s) justice with my words.

4. Tell me about you. Age (if you don’t mind answering), married, kids, do you have another job etc…

I am a 42 year-old man trapped in an 82 year-old’s body. Due to multiple issues with my back, I’m always in one sort of pain or another. Makes me walk like a pimp. No kids that I know of, but I have two fur babies.

At the moment, I make a living as a cubicle jockey doing inventory management for a medical supply company. It’s very low-key but it does occasionally afford me the opportunity to positively affect someone’s life. When they have an urgent medical need, I can assist by getting them the necessary product. I’d like to think I’ve managed to help a few people stay healthy. It also affords me the opportunity to get fatter. Sitting a desk 40+ hours a week isn’t very labor intensive. I wish I got those work out endorphin rushes people brag about; I’d might actually exercise more. But I don’t, so I don’t.

I am also a divorcee and, finally, after all these years since, I’m currently working on how to ruin my current fiancé’s life. I’m playing the long game. She’s a tough one, though… she digs me for some reason.

5. What’s your favorite book you have written?

I have a soft spot for all my releases and I am very proud overall of my short story collection. But my favorite things written to date are perhaps “Sybarites or Enmity of Perverse Existence” which is in Forever, Cried the Abyss and “City Morgue Blues” which is in my collection. Another fave would have to be my hitman story gone terribly wrong, “And the Hits Just Keep on Comin’.” That particular yarn was published in Smart Rhino Press’ Insidious Assassins anthology. It’s now featured in my revenge themed chapbook With Great Vehemence.

6. Who or what inspired you to write?

I had a friend back when I lived in Connecticut. We both worked for Barnes & Noble at the time. When we found out that we both liked to write, we started bouncing ideas off of each other and even started a writing group. He was as much a mentor as he was a collaborator. And that lit the spark and the hunger to write and create.

Besides him, I believe the stories in my noggin need to be told, the ideas need life. I write to free those ideas and to hopefully elicit emotions and responses from the reader. If the reader enjoys what I put down on paper, that’s great. But additionally it’s the catharsis of making the worlds and situations my characters experience become a reality.

7. What do you like to do for fun?

Generally, I’m a boring person to the naked eye. I call it being low-key… or lazy. I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, going to horror conventions, lounging with my cats. Every once in a while, my fiancé and I pretend Kung Fu fight with each other. More times than not, it ends with me getting hurt. So that’s always a fun way to pass the time. Other than that, I’m a big fan of sleeping and beer.

8. Any traditions you do when you finish a book?

I’ll have to get back to you on this one after I finish my actual novel. When I finished my first screenplay, I think I may have wept a few tears of joy. So, I can’t rightly imagine at this point how I’ll react once I finish the stupid thing.

9. Where do you write? Quite or music?

I tend to write mostly in my office at home. I prefer my desktop to a laptop. On the 3rd floor, it’s nice and quiet—except when Hicks won’t stop meowing. Other times, I’ll try to punch out a hundred words or so during lulls at work or on breaks. When at home though, sometimes I’ll listen to the silence (or Hicks), but mostly I prefer dark ambient music—stuff that just sounds like soundtracks to dreams. Not only is it soothing, there are no pesky lyrics to steal my attention away from the writing.

10. Anything you would change about your writing?

Perhaps the biggest change I would make is taking writing more seriously sooner. I had a rough time hurdling the basic grammar issues that I had failed to retain from school. I went to an art college, so there were no extra English classes for this guy. If I had started this journey earlier with a point to make it a profession, I might’ve been further along in that career… and more confident and disciplined.

11. What is your dream? Famous writer?

I’d be fine with making a modest living writing full-time. Or even if I was just supplementing my current income with word-monies, I’d be happy—happier than I am now for sure. I’ve always had a dream of seeing one of my stories on the screen. TV screen or Silver Screen, it doesn’t matter. It would just be an amazing feeling (as long as I stay off of the IMDb message boards). Another daydream of mine is owning and operating my own movie theater. Very expensive daydream…

12. Where do you live?

I live in an interesting little city north of Boston, on the border of Salem, NH. We just bought our first home together. There was just a huge Fentanyl bust here a few weeks ago. Very classy.

13. Pets?

I adopted two sibling kittens in 2010 and I love their stupid faces off. Ripley is a calico and sounds like a velociraptor when she purrs. And Hicks is a mutt who meows all the time for no reason. It’s nerve-racking, really. But I couldn’t see my life without them. When they die, I’m having them stuffed. Or have their skin boiled off and keep them as poseable skeletons.

14. What’s your favorite thing about writing?

The sense of not being alone even when you are. I may be sitting there by my lonesome (or with the mutant kitties), but my characters and plots are on the screen in front of me keeping me company. Writing is tough. Even without anxiety or depression, it’s an arduous, solitary, and sometimes thankless craft. But when the words flow from page to page and create a grand picture of what I see in my head and how I see it, it can’t be beat. After all the first and second drafts, after the edits and the beta readers, when you’ve sculpted the story down to its most straightforward, yet poetic and engaging, form, that’s where the joy lies for me. Regardless if I’m able to sell it or publish it somewhere, if I end up happy with it then that’s all that matters in the long run.

15. What is coming next for you?

Grim Death, probably…

But in all seriousness, I am working on finishing my first full-length novel. Tentatively titled White Island, it’s in the middle of its second draft. I’m hoping to get it done by summer the latest, then find it a good home.

Aside from that, I’m working on a short story for an anthology invite and I just had one short, “End Game,” accepted for the third book in an anthology series with a very reputable small press publisher. I’m hoping to make 2017 bend to my will on all fronts.

  You can connect with Doug Rinaldi here:

Website http://dougrinaldi.com

Amazon amazon.com/author/dougrinaldi

Facebook facebook.com/deviatedtruths

Blog dougrinaldiwriter.wordpress.com

Deviant Art Page goat-head.deviantart.com

  Some of Doug Rinaldi’s books:

Getting personal with Doug Rinaldi Doug Rinaldi has an amazing sense of humor and boy can he write a story. I recently read  A Different Kind of Slumber and let me say....WOW!