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whiteqnn · 4 years ago

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Pairing: Corpse Husband x Fem! Reader

Summary: Sean invites one of his good friends - Y/N - to play with him and the group. She has a lot of fun with them, but at the same time is too oblivious, too nice, and too pure to notice that one particular Among Us player has taken a liking to her the moment he heard her voice...

Notes: Hello everyone! This is the very first time I’m publishing something bigger in here, I’m honestly still figuring out how Tumblr works, even though I’ve had this account for quite some time now 😅. That being said, please don’t expect anything super impressive. I tried my best though just so you know. 🥺

A/N- It didn’t turn out as I expected, but I really hope at least some of you find it enjoyable :(

Y/C/N - your channel name

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5

PURE [1]

“Did you guys find anybody?” Felix asked, as the number of players still showed just 7 of them. They could just start now, but the game would be way more fun with a full lobby.

“Yeah, Lily’s joining. I just texted her the code, so she should be here at any moment.” Sykkuno replied after receiving a text message from the said girl. “Oh, and Corpse also said he’d be joining soon.”

“Great. Anyone else?”

“I think Jack was also bringing someone, right?” Dave asked.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I have one coming, she’ll join us in a few” the asked man replied at the same moment Lily’s character appeared in the lobby.

“Who you’re bringing Jack?”

“Y/N” he said, causing Felix to gasp in shock and yell into his mic:

“How the fuck did you manage to convince her? I’ve been bugging her about this game for the past week and she always had some excuse!”

“What can I say, my charm is irresistible” Jack replied nonchalantly, causing everyone in the lobby to laugh at his fake deep voice.

The number of participants changed to 9, as a little black astronaut with horns on his helmet appeared in the lobby.

“Corpse, you’re here!” Rae’s character ran up to the man, circling him excitedly.

“Hey man!”

“What’s up, Corpse?”

“Hello everyone” his deep voice sounded out “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“All good man, we’re still waiting for one person.” Felix reassured him “Sean, why is she not here yet? Are you sure you’ve sent her the right code?”

“Of course I am!” he all but shouted at Felix “And about that, she just texted me to give her a few more minutes and that we should start without her.”

“We can just wait, right?” Lily offered, earning a few hums of approval from the others.

“I think it might take a little longer than a few minutes, she has some problems with her microphone.”

“Who are you guys talking about?” Corpse asked, completely unaware of who Jack was referring to.

“Wait, Jack, you mean Y/N from Y/C/N?” Sykkuno asked suddenly, only then realizing why this name sounded familiar

“Yeah, the one and only” Jack replied, a smile evident in his voice.

“Oh my god, I love her videos!” Rae exclaimed at that “She’s so funny and sweet!”

“Yeah! Her new video is so freaking cute, I wish she’d upload more often.” Poki agreed.

“Right?” Jack said, clearly very proud of his friend. “But don’t let that sweet demeanor fool you guys cause she’s one of the best players I’ve encountered in this game.”

“That’s true, she’s a secret big brain genius” Toast confirmed, making Pewdiepie gasp once again.

“wHAT??YOU TWO PLAYED WITH HER?!” Felix’s offended voice boomed through everyone’s headphones “HOW DARE YOU. HOW COULD YOU NOT INVITE ME?!”

“That’s for not inviting me to your latest Cringe episode!” Jack was quick to respond, making others in the lobby laugh at their mini fight.

“Oh, so that’s where I recognized her from!” Sykkuno nearly shouted when he finally put two and two together. “I can’t wait to meet her, she seems like a really nice person.”

“She is! When she got impostor for the first time she refused to kill me” Toast explained, earning himself a couple of Aww’s from his friends. “So we just ran around the emergency button until I called the meeting and voted her off.”

“Yeah, only to be her first victim in the next game.” Jack all but giggled, clearly very amused at the memory of Y/N going into a full berserk mode. No one except for him and Toast knew how good she really was at this game...

“She’s basically the wolf in sheep’s skin” Felix concluded with a chuckle “Very soft wolf, however.”

“She’s like the complete opposite of Corpse, both in voice and personality” Jack suddenly said, making Felix laugh wholeheartedly at something only two of them understood at the moment.

“I don’t know how should I take that” Corpse admitted with a chuckle. He remained silent for most of the conversation since he didn’t really know who the guys were talking about. But he would lie if he said he wasn’t intrigued by this girl at least in the slightest. Although he heard about her channel, he hasn’t seen any of her videos, so he didn’t really know what to expect. But hearing what gamers like Sean and Felix said about her, he knew he’s not gonna be disappointed once the girl joins them in the game.

“Imagine Corpse and Y/N talking.” Felix said suddenly with a seemingly very amused voice.

“Imagine Corpse and Y/N both being Impostors” Toast said, which resulted in many of them shouting over each other at how crazy that would be.

“Alright, now that you mention this I start fearing the moment two of them meet” Jack confessed with loud laughter following the sentence. Corpse chuckled deeply under his breath, at the same time glancing at the questions his audience was asking him in his stream. He could hardly read any, as there were quite a lot of people asking, so all he saw was just a bunch of comments moving at the speed of light in his chat. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he was slightly nervous, seeing the growing number of people watching his stream. It was still a rather new thing to him, and he feared he'd say something inappropriate, or just make a complete idiot out of himself.

"At least no one can see me..." he mumbled under his breath after muting his microphone.

"Oh! Y/N just texted me! She's joining the call right now!"

"Fuck yeah!" Felix shouted excitedly "Just so you know Jack, I won't forget that you two played without me."

"Uh-oh. Is that a threat? Are you threatening me now?"

"It's a warning" Felix replied, receiving a series of gasps from other players. "If I get impostor, you're the first one on my list."

"Okay, everyone heard that! You know who to vote off when I'm dead!"

"It's so cool to play with someone new, I wonder if she's as good as you guys depict her" Sykkuno spoke up, but before anyone could answer his question, a new character popped up in the lobby.

***

"Hi everyone! I’m sorry I left you just like that, but this stream would be completely useless without me being able to answer your questions. Fortunately it wasn’t anything serious, I just had to readjust my mic and go through the settings to find what was wrong. Took some time, but here I am now!” Y/N chirped into her microphone, smiling apologetically at her webcam. At the moments like this, she really appreciated how supportive her audience was. No one was hating on her when she had to get off the stream for a couple of minutes, and everyone was just so understanding that it made her heart melt. Perhaps her audience wasn’t very big, but it felt almost like a second family to her.

“Anyway, as you already know from my twitter, today I’ll be playing Among Us with my friends and their friends! I can’t wait if I’m being honest, last time I played this game was so much fun, and there was only a few of us.” she admitted with a genuine smile on her face. “Let’s just text Sean now so we can get into the lobby...”

Y/N: Ready to play with you guys ^^

Jackaboy: Great! You got that mic fixed already?

Y/N: Yes, everything is fine. I’m sorry you had to wait so long.

Jackaboy: It’s all good kiddo, no worries. I’ll call you and send you the code in a sec.

Y/N: Perfect, thank you Sean :)

Jackaboy: Btw, everyone can’t wait to meet you ;-)Y/N stared at the screen for a moment, only now, seconds before joining the group, realizing how nervous she felt. From Sean’s tweets she saw earlier, she figured that the lobby was right now full of many famous streamers, those she wouldn’t even compare herself to. It’s not that she thought of herself very low, but... being among such youtube celebrities like them made her panic a little bit. She didn’t want to look like a complete fool amongst them.

Playing or recording with Sean and Felix was something else because she knew those guys for years (and yet still sometimes found herself thinking how lucky she got to be able to call them her friends). She felt good in their company, not worrying about choosing the right words. But amongst the rest of the players, she knew only Toast and talked with Rae maybe once in her life...

What if the rest won’t like her?

Y/N cleared her throat, realizing that she was still staring at her phone like hypnotized and her audience was already asking her what’s going on. She quickly typed in the code Sean had texted her and readjusted her headphones, before joining the discord chat.

“THERE SHE IS” screamed Sean, making her grin from ear to ear, hearing how excited he was “Little wonderchild!”

“I think you meant little TRAITOR” Felix corrected him with a scoff. A silence settled in the lobby as everyone was waiting for Y/N to speak up.

“Um... hello everyone..” she said softly, almost inaudibly, a sudden wave of shyness taking over her. “I’m Y/N”

“Oh, you were right about that Corpse thing!” replied another, also very soft and very sweet voice, and Y/N saw the image of someone named Lily pop up. “It’s like the exact opposite!”

“See? Told ya. Everyone, meet Y/N/N, the little angel from Y/C/N.”

“Hey Y/N!”

“Hi there!”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“H-Hi, so great to meet you, Y/N!” a very friendly sounding voice said, and a little lime astronaut with the name Sykkuno above it started running around her. “Can’t wait to play with you!”

“That’s so nice, thank you” she replied with a wide smile on her face, moving around his character as well. “I can’t wait to play with you too, actually with all you guys. It’s so great to be here with you.”

“Jack I swear she’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever heard. Where the hell did you find her?!” Poki all but yelled at the man, making Y/N giggle to herself and in-process loosen up a little bit. They all seemed like someone she’d happily be friends with.

“Or rather, where do you get one?” someone else commented, making them all burst into laughter, Y/N included.

“Guys, what did I say about that sweet demeanor...” Jack said after calming down from his fit “Don’t put your guard down just because she sounds like that!”

“Wait- what did you tell them about me?” Y/N asked confused, the tone of her voice making him laugh even more “Jack!”

“Don’t worry, only the good stuff” a very deep, low voice spoke up, leaving her taken aback for a moment. Her eyes widened slightly and she glanced at the name of that person, reading out CORPSE. Now that’s something she didn’t expect...

“Corpse, mind your manners! You didn’t even introduce yourself!”

“Oh, shit- yeah, sorry. Um, I’m Corpse, it’s very nice to meet you Y/N” he replied right after, making her lip corners curl up into a smile.

“Nice to meet you too Corpse, you have a really pleasant voice.” she spoke sweetly, completely unaware of the chaos that was taking place in her stream chat. She didn’t even think of it the way her audience did, she just simply spoke up her mind, and being an incredibly nice person - turned it into a compliment.

“Oh- wow. I mean, thank you so much. I love your voice too, it’s really sweet” he replied, nervously chuckling at the end, before muting his mic. It was, however, enough for Felix and Sean to start teasing him, as the two immediately screamed:

“SIIIMP!!!”

“It’s the voice Felix, I told you he’d fall into her trap!”

“Wait- he was just being nice, guys! Stop making fun of him” Y/N immediately defended the man, trying to speak up over the hysterical laughter of the other players.

“Oh my god, but what if they both get impostors and they both pull the voice cards on us?!” Rae managed to yell through all the noise, making Y/N even more confused.

“Wait, what? What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t worry Y/N, that’s how I feel all the time around them.” Sykkuno seemed to be the only one who heard her question, as the rest continued their gabbing without giving her as much as a glance.

“Alright, let’s start the game maybe. I might have a few old scores to settle” Toast cleared his throat theatrically, his astronaut coming face to face with Y/N’s.

“Oh, you mean me? I thought I already apologized!” she replied frantically. “You gave me no choice Toast, I didn’t even want to kill you in the first place...”

“BUT YOU DID. IN THE VERY FIRST ROUND”

“I’m sorry!”

“Alright, enough! Toast, just don’t kill her right away, okay? Let her run around the map, fearing for her life for a moment.” Y/N gasped upon hearing Jack’s words, clearly sensing the smirk behind his voice.

“Wha- Jack?! Since when are you against me?!”

“Don’t worry Y/N, I won’t let them hurt you. You haven’t played with us yet, I’ll protect you.”

“Oh, thank you so much Sykkuno! I’ll protect you too!”

“Great. Another one simping...” was Felix’s last words, before the game began.

Y/N sighed in relief upon seeing the word crewmate forming on her screen, but at the same time feared Toast’s inevitable revenge. She thought they'd already buried the hatchet, but it seemed that he was desperate to make her pay for the last time they played together.

“Aw, Sykkuno was serious” she mumbled with a smile, when his lime astronaut started circling her white one, so she would follow him. “Okay, let’s do some tasks.”

They both made their way towards the medbay, Sykkuno patiently waiting nearby as she did the scan, then Y/N waiting for him to do the same. The moment his little character stepped towards her, a meeting was called by none other than Felix.

“What happened?” Rae asked.

“I called the meeting because I’m afraid of Jack” he responded, causing everyone to laugh. “Seriously though! Dude’s been following me around the whole time.”

“I was just making sure nobody kills you.”

“Yeah don’t go all Sykkuno on me!” Felix screamed, making the call erupt into even more laughter.

“Alright, are we skipping?”

“Yeah.”

“Guys, my life is in danger!” Felix wouldn’t give up. “Come on, show some support! Y/N? You played with him, you know his techniques!”

“Sorry Felix” Y/N giggled, clicking the skip button.

When the next round began, Sykkuno was quick to join Y/N on her way towards admin, where they both found Poki doing the upload. They did the card swipe and left her there, when the lights suddenly went off.

“Uh-oh. Let’s head the opposite direction, Sykkuno” the girl murmured, dancing around his character and heading towards Comms instead of going to Electrical. It was the easiest way to die, after all.

Once they entered the room and waited for someone to fix the lights, Y/N could see another figure appear in the same location. She couldn’t recognize whose character it was, but upon seeing the horns on the helmet she smiled to herself.

“Hey there, Corpse” she said, walking up to the black astronaut, who was standing still in the same place as if he was just watching her and Sykkuno run around Comms instead of doing their tasks.

They stood like that for a couple of seconds until Corpse turned around and ran away, and that’s when the first body was reported.

“Oh no, Jack!”

“Poor guy. He’s gonna haunt us now.”

“Where’s the body?”

“Navigation” replied Rae, who was the one to find Sean’s green astronauts’ body “Didn’t see anyone around, but I’m pretty sure someone just vented right in front of my eyes...”

“Any suspicions?” Toast asked.

“Um, not really sure, it was the exact same moment the lights went off. I was doing tasks with Jack and then he just died. I only saw the vent close, nothing or no one else.”

“Okay, where are you guys right now?”

“I’m in admin with Dave, we only passed Poki when we got there.” Lily’s voice sounded out, quickly being joined by Poki’s explanation.

“Yeah, I was finishing the upload when you guys came in, Y/N and Sykkuno saw it”

“Did you see her?” Toast asked, addressing his question towards the white and lime astronauts.

“Yes, we were doing the card swipe before going to Comms. Corpse joined us for a moment and then left.”

“Yeah, I was on my way to fix the lights when I stumbled upon them in Comms, the body was reported the exact moment I left.”

“Can someone confirm this? I mean, did someone see you besides the two of them?” Toast continued his questioning.

“I think I only saw Felix in Medbay.”

“Hmm, so no one really knows where you were this whole time. You could easily lure Jack into Navigation and kill him there. Is that what you did, Corpse?”

“Woah, that’s some serious accusation” Corpse replied in his usual, low and calm voice. “Where were you Toast? You seem the only one who still doesn’t have an alibi”

“Neither does Felix.” Y/N spoke innocently, and the mentioned man quickly started his explanation.

“Okay, I was with Jack at the beginning but he clearly can’t confirm this since someone snapped his fucking neck. We’ve split up in O2 after doing our tasks and then he must’ve gone with Rae. I just wandered around the map, escaping from the death.”

“Hmm, so not only were you one of the last people to see him alive, but you also admit to not doing your tasks” Y/N said, trying her best to keep her voice steady and stop herself from laughing. She was sure Sykkuno was doing the same thing, they both refused to do any tasks after the lights went off, after all.

“Yeah, but does that already makes me an Imposter? I’m just scared for my life, that’s all.”

“Y/N has some good logic, but I’m not really sure it’s Pewds. I mean, I saw him in Medbay and he really seemed to be just jogging around.” Corpse said, his voice almost immediately doing its magic, as people more or less willingly agreed to skip this round as well.

“I think it’s Felix. I mean, I haven’t played with him yet, but I have this feeling that he’s just acting.” Y/N said to her chat after muting herself. She went towards Weapons to do another task, seeing Sykkuno’s little character follow her once again, but the doors were suddenly locked and his lime astronaut remained in Cafeteria. “Oh no, Sykkuno” she sighed with a pout on her face, deciding against waiting for him and risking getting her neck snapped. She finished her task in Weapons and moved towards another location, when suddenly Corpse appeared in front of her, coming right out of nowhere.

“Oh- Corpse, you scared me to death” Y/N breathed a laugh, watching as his character stood still for a couple of seconds, before circling around her white astronaut. Y/N nodded her head with a smile, even though he couldn’t see her, and followed him in Shields, where they found Poki’s dead body.

“The body is in Shields” Y/N replied right after reporting the body, only to gasp in shock when she realized more than one person was killed. Red crosses decorated not only Poki’s name but were also visible next to Dave and Lily.

“What the hell?!” Felix all but yelled into his mic, obviously shocked just like everyone else who was still alive.

“Now that’s... a lot of bodies” Sykkuno mumbled under his breath.

“Alright, who’s in Shields? Y/N, you said you found the body there, which one?”

“Poki’s, Corpse was there with me” her reply was followed by his short and low hum.

“Sykkuno, where are you? I didn’t see you anywhere since the last round.” Felix asked, clearly accusing the lime astronaut of being a murderer.

“I was... doing the wires in electrical, Toast was there for a moment as well.”

“Yeah but I was only searching for the body, so I saw you maybe for a second” Toast replied, building even more suspicions around Sykkuno.

“But- guys, you know I wouldn’t kill two people in one round, let alone four of them.”

“No one says you did that, I only mentioned that you were nowhere to be seen. You could’ve been sabotaging the map for the other Impostor” Felix said nonchalantly.

“Guys, I-”

“It’s him! It must be him!” Rae shouted through her mic.

“Sykkuno is 100% innocent, I can vouch for him” Y/N’s voice sounded out in everyone’s headphones “We were together since the start of the game and he didn’t kill me, even though he had quite a number of chances to do so.”

“Weren’t you with Corpse this time?” Felix asked suspiciously.

“I was! But at the beginning, I was with Sykkuno, until someone locked him in Cafeteria. That’s when we split up.”

“And you haven’t seen him ever since?”

“Well, no, but-”

“Then I can assure you it was only a matter of time before he’d stab you in the back” Toast concluded, making Sykkuno gasp in confusion.

“Wha- No, I would never do that! Y/N is our guest, I was just making sure she was okay!”

“Sykkuno, simping won’t save your life right now”

“Wha- I- Guys!” he tried to stutter out some logical explanation “Y/N, don’t believe them!”

“I don’t, I know you’re innocent! C’mon guys, he wouldn’t do it!”

“Yeah yeah, let’s kick him out. Corpse, who are you voting?” Toast asked, and Y/N could see the I voted sign next to his character.

“I kinda feel like Felix tries to shift the blame onto Sykkuno. He didn’t even tell his location, and was already throwing accusations on someone else.” Corpse replied after a moment, making the smile widen on Y/N’s face. Someone was finally on her side!

“That’s because he can’t even explain himself!” Felix exclaimed, voting as well.

“Besides, I’m pretty sure if it wasn’t for whoever locked that door, Y/N would be dead as well!”

“No, I told you I-!”

“Guys, we have ten seconds to vote. Rae?”

“I think it’s him as well. He was acting suspiciously since we started this round. I vote Sykkuno”

“But..!”

“No, Sykkuno...” Y/N whispered with a pout on her lips, when she saw the number of people who voted for her lime friend.

Sykkuno was ejected.

“Alright, I’m pretty sure it’s Felix. I saw Rae multiple times and she didn’t kill me, Toast also doesn’t act very Impostor like, but maybe that’s just one of his strategies... Corpse is with me again, I don’t think that’s him, I mean, he followed me around last round, but still didn’t do anything, and even vouched for me and Sykkuno when we were both clearly chilling in comms. It can’t be him... right?”

Dead body reported.

“I just saw Corpse kill Toast, then vent!” Rae’s voice blared through Y/N’s headphones, as she looked in shock at the red cross next to Toast’s name. If not him, then..?

“What?” the accused man asked calmly “That’s a self-report, she’s trying to frame me. You guys can’t possibly believe her.”

“I believe her. I saw you enter the Electrical with Toast, then he’s suddenly dead” Felix said.

“That’s because she vented in there and killed him.”

“No! I swear, Y/N/N you have to believe me!” she directed her words towards the girl who remained silent during their discussion, processing her accusations over and over in her head. “I was fixing the wires, Toast was doing another task, and then boom! I see Corpse snapping his neck!”

“How could you see that if the lights were off?” Y/N suddenly asked, making Rae cut her own sentence off “No one went to fix them, they were off the entire round.”

Silence.

“It’s Rae, it must be her” Corpse couldn’t help but laugh wholeheartedly at how small was the mistake which completely blew Rae’s cover. “We’re voting Rae, right Y/N?”

“No! Guys, I mean, let me explain, I-!”

Rae was ejected.

“Now that was something I didn’t expect. I would’ve never thought it was her, I even suspected that Sykkuno might really have been the other Impostor, but now... It’s just me, Corpse, and Felix. I’m clear, clearly, so it must be one of them. And since Corpse protected me for the past few rounds, there’s no other option than...”

Her eyes suddenly widened when the realization hit her, and she quickly turned around to speed towards the emergency button. Fortunately, no one was around to stop her from calling the meeting.

“Felix.” Y/N started, trying to contain her excitement and sound seriously “Where were you when Sean was killed?”

Neither Corpse of Felix said a word, as it was probably the last question they expected her to ask. Felix cleared his throat, however, and finally replied:

“Y/N, that was literally the beginning of a game. How am I supposed to remember what I did then?”

“Well” she said nonchalantly “I, for example, clearly remember the things you said even when we were in the lobby.”

“What are you implying?”

“Wasn’t it you, who told everyone that Sean was your number one if you get Impostor?” she asked with a wicked smile on her face. Felix was dumbfounded, he obviously didn’t expect her to pull that card on him, hell, he didn’t even know how she knew about it since she wasn’t even in the call at the time.

“FELIX” Corpse suddenly broke the silence, simultaneously breaking the said man from his train of thoughts.

“Okay, first of all- YOU WEREN’T EVEN IN THE CALL WHEN I SAID THAT” he yelled through his mic, making both Y/N and Corpse laugh, as it only confirmed their suspicions.

“See? You only proved my point.”

“Oh, fuck’s sake- I was just joking okay?!” he tried to defend himself, but hearing how he couldn’t even contain his own laughter anymore, it was clear he already accepted the defeat. “It wasn’t serious, god damn it!”

“You know what to do, Y/N” Corpse’s voice asked through her headphones, and surely, she knew exactly what to do.

“C’mon Y/N, that’s not fair! At least let me explain myself!”

“Bye Felix” she said in an overly dramatic tone before Corpse voted as well.

Soon enough, the sign VICTORY could be seen on her screen, which made her squeak and joy. This game was really fun, even though she was so scared of being killed first.

“I knew it! I knew you would figure out it’s him! That son of a bitch who murdered me!” Jack basically yelled out, clearly very happy about the result.

“Y/N, seriously now, how did you know I’ve said that?” Felix asked without even hiding his surprised tone.

“Let’s just say I might’ve stolen some of your viewers, Felix” she admitted, winking at her webcam, a new wave of comments landing on her chat. “Thanks guys!”

“Okay, that is rude and not fair!”

“It helped me win, so I’ve got nothing else to say” Y/N grinned from ear to ear, before muting herself for a moment to finally answer some of the questions from her chat, while the rest took a quick break to eat something or go to the bathroom.

She was halfway through telling the story of how she met Sean when she noticed she got a message from a private discord chat.

CORPSE: That was really impressive :)

Y/N smiled to herself upon seeing his text and quickly typed out the answer.

Y/N: Thanks!! I wouldn’t have done that without you though, you stood up for me and Sykkuno and all

Y/N: Also, thanks for protecting me from being murdered ^^

CORPSE: No problem, I knew you were innocent right away.

CORPSE: Anyway, good game, Sean was right saying that you’re one of the best players

She couldn’t help the blush that arose on her cheeks, it was very sweet of him to say that, even though she didn’t actually do much except for exposing Felix.

Y/N: I wasn’t an Impostor though, so you didn’t really see much :)

She watched the three dots beside his name, that signaled he was still texting. The chat was completely forgotten, but people seemed to quickly notice that small, shy smile on her lips, and the pink tint decoring her cheeks.

CORPSE: Okay, now I’m intrigued...

Y/N: Maybe we’ll both be Impostors one day ^^

CORPSE: Can’t wait for that to happen.

Soon enough, they returned to the lobby to begin another game. Y/N glanced at her chat for a second, and the moment she returned her eyes to the game, her jaw basically dropped.

IMPOSTOR was written in bold letters in the middle of the red screen, right above her name.

Corpse’s little character was standing beside her.

#corpse husband #corpse husband imagines #corpse x reader #corpse husband x reader #corpse imagines #youtubers x reader #fanfiction #writing #imagine

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thefanficmonster · 3 years ago

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Faux Innocence

Corpse Husband x Reader (Female)

Warnings: None

Genre: FLUFF, Humor, RPF (Real Person Fic)

Summary: Having the reputation of the innocent angel in the group, one could never imagine Y/N being such a badass impostor and expert liar but here they have found themselves fooled by the angel who wears that halo just for show.

Requested by @kpopgirlbtssvt Hello hun! Here’s the other request you sent me, I’m really sorry it’s been so long and you’ve had to endure such a long wait until it’s posted but here it finally is and I hope you enjoy the read! Love, Vy ❤

“They’ll be done for in no time! Right, babe?“ I stick my foot out to the side, nudging Corpse’s leg.

There most certainly are pros and cons when it comes to sharing a gaming/streaming/recording room with me, and the whether the constant pestering is a good or a bad thing is still up in the air. I mean, yeah Corpse rolls his eyes every now when I do it, but I’ve also caught him smiling about it out of the corner of my eye. Bottom line, I do it to invite that almost childishly mischievous smirk on his face. That’s the ultimate reward.

And ok, yes, I’m also the one trying to peek over the barrier separating out computers to peek at his screen to see if he’s impostor or not, but he tolerates that bad habit of mine. Well, he sprays water my way or gently whacks me with a pillow, but I consider that toleration. It’s a playful little dynamic we have going on, one we don’t have to perform today since we’re impostors together.

I cannot recall a time that has happened before. In fact, I can say I’ve been paired up as impostors with everyone but Corpse. I personally think it’s a practical joke the game’s algorithm is pulling on us, seeing as how we’ve been dating for quite some time now. I mean, that’s the only way to explain this coincidence of never being impostors together.

Looking at the subject now, it may be hella beneficial for us considering no one would suspect us both to be impostors together. Everyone is in on this ‘misfortune’ of ours and it’s honestly hilarious but Corpse and I are about to rip them a new one, I just know it.

“Oh, definitely! I’m the risky half, but they’ll never suspect you so we’re 100% winning this.“ He replies, sending a wink my way. He’s vaguely surprised when I return it with a narrow-eyed look.

“What’s that supposed to mean ‘they’ll never suspect you‘? I’m a great impostor! Is that you questioning my skills I’m hearing?“ I raise an eyebrow, turning my attention back to the screen which displays Corpse and I alone in Electrical, pretending to be doing tasks and waiting on our first victims.

“No! No, not at all. Far from it. It’s just that you are...well, you know...you are you. No one would think you’re the one dishing out all these tactical kills. You always seem relatively interested in the game only to have fun and not to win and....“

“Look sweet and innocent.“ I cut him off, finishing his sentence, “Yeah, yeah, I get your theory.“ Suddenly, I hear Rae’s chipper voice approaching, talking to her chat, I’m assuming. This gives me a rather...interesting idea. With that in mind, I give Corpse a side-glance and a devilish smirk that’s promising trouble, “Let’s test it out, shall we?“

“Wha-?!“ Before Corpse can even say his question fully, Rae wanders into the room, cutting him off with a question of her own.

“Test what out?“ She asks, coming to stand between us, doing her own task.

I’m so sorry, Rae

Before anyone could fathom it, I swiftly kill Rae and report her body, all seemingly in the blink of an eye. Corpse hasn’t even fathomed half of this insanity when he hears an accusation being thrown right at him.

“Corpse, how could you?!“ I cry out, and damn - not to toot my own horn or anything - but I’m pulling off the ‘distressed friend-witness‘ act quite well. I bet Corpse would give me an impressed look or mouth ‘minx’ at me if he wasn’t staring at his screen with his mouth agape. “You were planning to blame it on me weren’t you?!“

“Wait...no! That’s not-It wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t me!“ He finally finds his voice, croaking out desperate defenses, each cut off by a wheeze of something alike shocked laughter that almost gets me to break out in a fit of my own.

“Very convincing, buddy. He’s definitely innocent, you guys...“ Toast comments just as the ‘VOTED‘ sticker pops up above the icon of his avatar in the meeting.

“Right? How could you even think otherwise?“ Leslie backs him up, the sticker appearing on her icon as well.

“Guys! No, for real, it’s Y/N! I swear on Bingus it’s Y/N!“ He probably should’ve used something more convincing, not that it would’ve worked either way. I’m a ‘trustworthy‘, ‘innocent‘ and ‘honest‘ person, just like Corpse said. Aren’t I?

Mere seconds later, he’s shot off the ship, the screen confirming he indeed was an impostor, automatically getting the blame off me cause no impostor would be dumb enough to out their partner like that, lowering their chances at victory. I don’t consider that a dumb move though - I think it’s rather genius, actually.

“Don’t worry, Corpsie.“ I give him a wink in return to his death glare, his arms crossed over his chest, looking quite unamused. “I’m winning this one for you.“

We both know I can and I will. Of course I can when I’m given the advantage of faux innocence everyone falls for - in more ways than one, if you know what I’m saying *wink* *wink*

@maat-the-prescriptive @simonsbluee @save-the-sky @itsminniekat @hacker-ghost @bi-andready-tocry @imtiredaffff @jazzkaurtheglorious @hereforbeebo @fandomgirl17 @chrysanthykios @maehemscorpyus @loraleiix @letsloveimagines @annshit @i-cant-choose-a-username-help @enigmaticmaze @divine-artemis @waterlilypat @idontknowwhatthisisfam @evi-ka @classyandfabulous00 @redperson58 @lilysdaydreams @solowheein @mythicalamphitrite @axen-gers @luckygirl144 @nj01 @buddyemily @the-albino-lioness @stardream14 @gdhdkfnn @nomadicgypsyy @preciousskye @fluffysuicideunicornsworld @o-kaelin @manacharlotte @awkward-youtube-trash @lolalee24 @bonky-beerns @meme-lord-and-savior-sebastian @strawbrinkofdeath @teenloves @tams0527 @browneyespinkhair @starstruckllamapuppy @daisychains012 @y0ulooked @tinytacosuitcaseflap @supernatural-is-my-only-life @jula-pauline @melodykitty @just-that-bi-girl @crazybutconfidentaf @lowellshade @alphakees @bellero @weallneednamjesus @starryhanji @boiled-onionrings @husherstan @fockingwhore @melaningoddessthings @prettypastelpetals @haleypearce @godwhyamiawkward @y-napotat @daisychainyoonmin @little-miss-rebel3 @free-wheelin-bi-sexual @redmoon261 @darkacademic2 @wiseflamingoqueen @into-the-end @namikhai-i @nastiablr @thelittleplantlover @mirktuan @dont-hyuck @jjk-bunny @vintagegothlover @easygoingtheatre @itsrandombooklover @miiaivi @emmybaybee @befourgolden @jjk-is-my-shit @eternalteaaars @spacebadgerx @princesslunalight @acequinn14 @samm48 @misselsbells06 @simp-lykawa @fo-love @marishimomura-blog @therealglenncoco @cinnamonbun332 @killtherandomness @sanshinexxxsan @fee-btheweeb @press-lay @cathleenpotgieter16 @jazzydoesstuff @moonlxghtbay @forestrain2000 @hyunjinhugs @blood-of-fandoms @lovellylies @ukiyolixx @simpforhpcharacters @chrisdylan17 @parkerjisung @pedernille @theodonyous @wineandionysus @malfoystilinskii05 @morbid-x @coryisagee @jessewa26 @scoobydooluver97 @mindintheskies365 @raeanneinwonderland @indecisive-empanada @gluttonypalace @loriane2503 @btsiguess-kpop @khaoticbunny @lucidlycactus @smiithys @rottenroyalebooks @kpopgirlbtssvt @fangirl-tc27 @fr0z3n-1 @notmesimpingfortechno @shotarosleftpinky @kunoi-chan @idk-whats-wrong-with-me @yikeroonie @goldenstarofthunderclan @poetry-and-tea @ama-do-writing-stuff @wishbonewolf @emeraldxhope @t0xick1tty @kusuinko @speakyourselfloveyourself @sophia902103 @lo-manburg @classsykittykat @dmgama @depressedpuppythatneedscoffee @btsiguess-kpop @akaashi-baby @gun-jong-simp @geschichtenfee @yerapotato-wp @browneyedgirl365 @thysagclub @sparklycloudnight @helloatomicshadow @queentorresstuff @vtte @val-gal @lucy-bunny17 @aaliyahh0 @katluckybear @boyleanti @straybids @franchesca-791 @cosmicstorm19 @averyisbackinthetrashcan @aomi-nabi @xlanawriter @allensimpsforcorpse

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certifiedskywalker · 4 years ago

Text

Night Like This - Sam Wilson

Sam’s freelance work leaves you wondering when you’ll see him again too often for your (and his own) liking. When he is home, you try to make those moments special. Too bad not all things go to plan.

AN: inspired by @agentmalfoy24601 and her message to me about movie nights with Sam

He wasn’t expecting you to be awake when he walked through the door of your shared apartment. It was so late and he was meant to be home hours ago; but Torres insisted on getting a full-length report documented before Sam packed up his gear. The report turned into a discussion about the politics of the week-long mission, as it often did with the young Lieutenant. Sam lost track of time and the flight back to D.C. had lagged. Each glance at his watch seemed to slow the plane in its path.

By the time he landed, Sam was sure that you would be asleep. He never had the heart to wake you, and despite being away for ten, seemingly endless, days, he still wouldn’t. Even though the thought of waiting even a few hours more for a true welcome made his jaw clench tight in exhausted frustration. All he wanted to do was hear your voice, look into your eyes. Then, and only then, would he truly be home.

So, when he saw you awake and traipsing around the small kitchen, Sam was surprised. Though his surprise turned to pure, melting adoration when he noticed you were clad in a pair of his running shorts and one of his sweatshirts. The baggy fabric made you look somehow softer than Sam already knew you to be. It took all he had to not to charge towards you, wrap you up in his arms. No, he wanted to savor you, how simply perfect you looked as you reached up into one of the kitchen cabinets to put a mug away.

Sam savored the sight of you for only a second more as the sound of the door clicking shut behind him made you pause. In a flash, you spun around on your heel and locked eyes with him. Your face was blank, not quite the loving look Sam longed for.

“You’re late,” you stated coldly. Your tone was chilling, freezing your words so they hung in the air between you. Sam nodded as he set his bags on the floor. When he straightened his back and met your gaze again, Sam saw that something had shifted in your expression.

“I know, and I don’t have an excuse. I just-”

Sam stopped when he saw your lips spread into a shy grin.

“Wow, that was good. You really had me.”

“Really?!” As you asked, your eyes and smile widened with pure joy.

“I thought you might try to snap me in half,” Sam assured as he opened his arms for you. “Now, c’mere.”

Wordlessly, you ran into Sam’s embrace. You threw your arms over his shoulders and linked behind his neck to pull his lips to yours. Immediately, Sam reciprocated with his hands going to cup your face before they fell your sides, finger digging into the chunky material of your, his, sweatshirt. Eventually, he wrapped his thick arms snug around your waist before he hoisted you up off the floor and held you flush against him.

Warmth from your body pervaded Sam’s sore muscles and the kiss deepened. Overwhelmed by the feeling of you, his sense of where you began and he ended started to blur. There was just you and him together, not apart. It was only when Sam let you slip back to the ground and you broke away when he felt himself return to his body. You stared up at him, lips kiss-swollen and wearing a lazy smile.

“Welcome home,” you murmured.

Sam brought one his hands to your face and brushed his fingers along the peaks of features. Your brow bone, your cheeks, then your chin. With your jaw held in his hand, he titled your head up towards his to kiss you again. The tip of his nose knocked against your cheek as he pecked the corner of your mouth.

When he pulled away, Sam met your gaze and felt a flood of relief. He was home.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“It’s okay,” you insisted, “I didn’t have much planned. I already ate though. There are leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

“Nah, I’m fine,” Sam dismissed. His hand still rested against your cheek and his thumb brushed lightly under your eye. “I kept you waiting.”

“I wouldn’t have stayed up if I didn’t want to.”

“Still feel bad. I thought you’d be asleep.”

“And miss you? Never,” you teased.

Sam smiled, his dark eyes drinking in your smile. How he had missed your smile, your face, your voice, and your touch. You reached up a hand to grab Sam’s and pull his palm from your face. With fingers intertwined you led him over to the couch. With natural ease, he fell on the cushions at your side. As soon as his body rested against the plush seat, Sam felt just how tired he was; then you squeezed his hand and the feeling dissipated.

“Do you want to talk about the mission?”

Your fingers rubbed gently against his knuckles as if coaxing the story from his skin and bones. Sam glanced up from your joined hands to meet your gaze. He wasn’t sure if it was the dim light of your shared apartment or the late hour, but he swore he saw small shadows under your eyes. The weight of the mission was not something for a night like this one.

“Honestly, I just wanna watch TV with you, baby.”

“Sounds good to me,” you said as you leaned over to him.

You pressed your lips to his and Sam felt another wash of content trickle along his every exhausted nerve. As you pulled away, the feeling dulled. Sam opened his eyes as if to see where you took that light rest. He only saw you as you reached for the remote.

“Here you go.”

You passed the controller to Sam as you settled in against his side. Instinctively, he threw his right arm over your shoulders and pressed you closer. You head rested against his chest and one of your legs laid across his lap. Sam couldn’t help the small chuckle that passed over his lips. He felt your head shift against his pec and, when he looked down at you, he met your slightly squinted gaze.

“What was that for?”

“I missed you,” he admitted, “and your weird ass cuddling habits.”

“You say ‘weird’, but I know you mean to say ‘adorable and amazing’, maybe even ‘endearing’. You’re a softie.” Sam shook his head and pressed the activate button on the TV remote. The screen lit up and you both switched your attention to the strange cartoon that danced in a 2-D style across the display.

“Only for you,” Sam agreed, “don’t tell the rest of the team.”

“Torres would never let you live it down. He’d record it, live stream it....”

“And I’d have to kill him. Poor guy,” Sam laughed as he began to channel surf.

“You’d never,” you drawled softly. Sam glanced down at you and saw how your eyelids started to droop. He smiled at the sight.

“You’re right, as always.”

“Mmhmm,” you hummed, pressing your face closer to his chest.

Eventually, Sam found an old action movie, loosely based off of Steve. References to a nameless ‘Captain’ protagonist stung his heart. When you didn’t comment on it or ask to change the channel, Sam snuck a look at you. Your eyes were closed and your hand, which once tightly gripped the dark material of his shirt, loosened.

He never did have the heart to wake you and on a night like this, where the ache of a week without you still lingered, Sam found himself unwilling to move. So, he stayed still and held you close to his side. A yawn overwhelmed him with the warmth of your skin and his own eyes began to close.

“Good night, baby.” I am home.

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somesillypig · 4 years ago

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meet-cutes are overrated

You can’t have a meet-cute on public transit because everyone on public transit is a jerk. Even Lan Xichen.

Messy, posted previously and deleted, not-quickly written, and much agonized over meet-cute meet an asshole. This is it for now, because I have something else that I want to work on, and it needs a lot of laying out.

I don’t know if I got all the italicized text, either. Wish that copy-pasted better.

Public transportation must be the unmentioned 19th level of hell.

Taking it was a mistake. Even at non-peak hours, there are too many people for comfort. The seemingly endless black tunnel streaming past is the worst visual droning he’s ever experienced, and the jarring stops in bright stations with garish ads flashing on screens isn’t any respite.

The recorded stop-call snaps Lan Xichen’s attention back to the train car, makes him take a deep breath before trying to find something else to focus on.

Most passengers have found seats as far away from each other as they can get, but there are a few standing like him. There’s one other lone figure ignoring poles and straps, balancing himself perfectly on the moving train while his backpack sways with the train.

Lan Xichen frowns. The backpack isn’t just swaying with the train.

An enormous, fluffy head pops out and peers out of the open backpack.

He steps forward before he can stop himself, hand reaching out for sniffs, then gentle scratches on an impossibly soft head while getting licked.

"Hey. Asshole."

Lan Xichen blinks and refocuses. Calloused fingers have his wrist in a painfully tight grip, pulling his hand away from the dog.

"Don't pet my dog without asking."

Asshole. Lan Xichen pulls himself straight, breaks his wrist out with a strong jerk, and tries on his old serene smile. "Does your sect leader know you've modified a qiankun pouch, and should you be using it so publicly?" Asshole.

The other man's scowl shifts to a curled lip as he looks Lan Xichen up and down, his now-empty hand absentmindedly ruffling his (ecstatic, oversized) dog's head until his expression changes into a more neutral frown.

“Zewu-jun.”

Of course he’s recognized, Lan Xichen thinks resignedly. Retreating from the public for years was never going to take him out of public thought. Or opinion. He pulls himself up even straighter and mentally braces himself for unctuous greetings. Prying questions and insincere apologies.

“My sect leader doesn’t care how I use these things. Publicly.” The other man looks at him thoughtfully. “You don't remember who I am, do you.”

He’s not even giving him the benefit of a question with that flat tone of voice that pulls Lan Xichen up short, and he concentrates on the other man’s sharp features, racking his memory for a name. The other man smirks.

“We’re glad to see you come down your mountain,” he says, “But join us in modernity, Zewu-jun.” How does this (inappropriate, rude) man infuse his title with so much, Lan Xichen hysterically thinks. And why does he look vaguely familiar.

The stop is called, and the other man presses his dog’s head back into the backpack. “This is my stop. You have two more to go." He smirks and gives a head bow. "I'll see you soon, Zewu-jun.” That tone. Lan Xichen thinks he should take offense, but he doesn’t and he’s not sure why.

He watches the man exit the car, feeling more off-kilter.

He does have two more stops.

___________

The walk from the train station to his destination soothes him. It’s a pleasant day in a trendy neighborhood, and with the area mostly empty of people, Lan Xichen is enjoying the steady, quiet progress of putting one foot in front of the other.

His destination is an unfamiliar house but thankfully, his brother is sitting outside on a chair when he approaches.

“Wangji.”

“Ge. Glad you came.”

Xichen smiles. “It’s important to you, and so I'm here.”

Lan Wangji hmms. “Small gathering. Good place to meet Wei Ying.”

They walk into the house, slipping their shoes off at the door.

There’s a very familiar bag next to the shoes and a snort makes Xichen whip his head around.

“Welcome to the party, Zewu-jun,” a familiar voice says. “Do you remember me now?”

It’s a Jiang, because of course he would make a bad impression before meeting Wangji’s potential in-laws. And of course, it’s Jiang Wanyin. Sect Leader Jiang.

___________

The Jiang siblings are a well-oiled, dumpling making machine. Everything is made from scratch, and Xichen has already unintentionally offered insult. His contribution of premade dumpling skins was met with the most polite “absolutely not” face he’s ever seen, and the rudest, derisive face he’s ever been given.

Instead, Wei Wuxian is kneading and rolling out dough before cutting precise lumps that he passes to Jiang Yanli, who deftly rolls them into perfect circles with thin edges and places them onto the clean, floured butcher block.

Jiang Wanyin is seated on the far end of the table, accompanied by several large bowls and spoons, expertly filling and pleating dumplings that he places in neat rows on lined baking trays. When he finishes up the latest set of skins, he looks up and crooks an eyebrow.

“Zewu-jun. Hanguang-jun. It’s a dumpling party. That means you have to sit and make dumplings.”

And that is how Xichen and Wangji find themselves learning to fold vegetable dumplings, because Yanli is a gracious and prepared hostess.

__________________________

That’s it. I had plans, like overly ambitious urban fantasy plans with lots of food. But, NO PLOT. Just ideas. Mostly involved with Jiang Cheng feeding Lan Xichen food and forcing him to recover from isolation. Gently forcing him to come out, eat, interact with growing affection and brusqueness.

#xicheng #xicheng fic #xicheng urban fantasy #somesillypig writes #xicheng modern cultivators au

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mulletcal · 5 years ago

Text

behind the scenes - calum hood blurb.

description: you’re helping cal film the wildflower video, but you’re very distracting.

a/n: me? writing smut for the second time? shocking. hopefully it’s alright!!

warnings: smut, oral (female receiving)

word count: 1.5k

--------

The hardest thing for Calum during this lockdown was not having the ability to see his bandmates whenever and wherever he pleased. Sure, he had you, but it wasn’t the same as Ashton showing up upwards of five times a week with some new pastry he learned how to make, or some new vocal group a fan tweeted to him.

It bummed him out more when the shoot for the Wildflower video had been cancelled - he knew it was necessary, but the concept that they had was so fun and nothing was going to top it - that was, until Andy and Sarah informed them that they were learning animation, and they would be sending a sanitized green screen to his house for him to film in front of.

Sheepishly, he asked you to help him film the video - or at least provide some direction while he propped his phone onto a makeshift stand in the living room. You were more than happy to help, making him giggle when you would raise your eyebrows at him suggestively on occasion. After the first few takes, you set his phone down, propping it up just so, just because you wanted to bop along in the background without making the frame shaky.

Calum grew increasingly distracted as you did so, though, because you were doing lewd gestures, continuously mouthing the words ‘cum’ and ‘fuck’ at the appropriate parts - despite Calum’s statement about the song being about “abundance”, you found it hilarious to do so anyways. You were sure he was going to crack soon, seeing the look on his face that was his tell when he was up to something.

“Baby, you gotta stop,” Calum chuckled, running his hands over his face.

“Dunno what you mean darling,” You teased, stepping around the stand and wrapping your arms around his neck. Beginning to trail kisses along his jaw, you felt the muscle tense under your lips.

“Fuck, the camera is still goin’,�� Calum muttered, grabbing his phone, placing it close to his face in what can only be described as his ‘hammerhead’ pose before murmuring, “Andy, I know you know this - but do not put that in.”

After he stopped recording, Calum tossed his phone onto the couch, turning to you with a smirk on his lips.

“We’re not having sex near this green screen it has to go to Ashton after this,” You warned, yelping in surprise when Calum, in one swift motion, wrapped his arms around your thighs and lifted you over his shoulder.

“Don’t you fret, flower, we’re gonna need some space for you to spread out.”

You figured he’d take you to the bedroom, easier access to lay you out completely, but to your surprise you were met with the cold marble of the kitchen island against your thighs. Once you were eye to eye, Calum gave you a wicked grin, his fingers ghosting up your calves, continuing the trail of his fingers until they were at the hem of your - well, his - shirt.

“Couldn’t wait til we reached the bedroom, could you?” You asked, leaning back on your hands.

“Baby, all our best meals are had in the kitchen. This should be no exception,” Calum’s lips worked their way down your jaw, tilting your head to give him better access to your neck.

His fingers met the waistband of your underwear, tugging them down and helping you lift your hips to do so. Rather than just tossing them to the floor, Calum tucked them into his pocket, making you laugh slightly. You knew he’d find them later and you’d be back here tonight. Well, you hoped in the actual bedroom instead - the marble was cold against your bare skin.

Calum definitely took his time working his way down, causing you to squirm as you grew more impatient. His hands were firmly on your thighs, seemingly holding you down so you wouldn’t get any wise ideas.

After what seemed like years, he pushed your legs apart. His lips continued to work your neck, but he brought a hand up to press his fingers against your clit, rubbing small circles causing you to gasp.

“Cal, please,” you whined, hips lurching forwards to get more friction somehow.

“Please what, flower. Tell me what you like,” Calum smirked against your skin, slowing the movement of his fingers.

“Uh-huh, no. You don’t get to use your own lyrics against me. I won’t hesitate to walk away and finish the job myself,” Your words were threatening, which you knew would get him going - but you hoped it would get him going in the direction you wanted him.

Calum pulled back from your lips, and moved his hand away as well, “My baby thinks she can threaten me, huh? Did you forget the last time you tried that?”

You shivered at the memory, but bit your lip as you looked at him through your lashes, “Please baby, I want your mouth.”

His face went from a relatively serious one, to breaking into a cheshire cat like grin before he dropped to his knees, “That’s a good girl.”

Light kisses were pressed up your legs, Calum going back to taking his time - but you were grateful he was getting closer to where you wanted him. Parting your legs even further so he could take all of you in.

“So ready for me, so needy,” He hummed, sucking a mark into your thigh. You chewed on your lower lip, always finding his need to mark you incredibly sexy.

Calum looked up at you one last time, taking your legs and putting them over his shoulders before he dove in, plump lips attaching to your clit, and you felt him flatten his tongue against it. A moan escaped your lips as he worked, alternating between circling his tongue around your clit, and sucking it.

“Baby,” you whispered softly, “More, please. Please,” You begged, entangling your fingers into his blonde locks.

Your legs tightened against his shoulders when you felt his fingers press at your entrance, about to rock your hips to encourage more; but his opposite hand was holding you down, and you let out a frustrated groan. You were rewarded shortly after though when he finally pushed two of his fingers fully inside, curling them slightly as he did.

Calum moaned before he pulled his lips away, his fingers pumping into you while he looked up at you to see your reaction. He loved to watch you, the way your lips would roll between your teeth, or the way you would close your eyes, brows furrowed in concentration as you tried to hold out on your orgasm.

“You’re so stunning baby, love how you look right now. Should eat all my meals here,” He teased, dipping his head down and delivering small kitten licks against you. Adding a third finger, Calum no longer held you back while he worked his fingers into you, reattaching his lips to your clit.

“Fuck Cal,” You moaned, tightening your fingers into his hair which made him moan. His moan sent shocks through your system, goosebumps raising on your skin as you got closer to the edge. “So close baby.” You were gasping for air at this point, hips working on their own accord, rolling up to meet his tongue and fingers.

“C’mon baby, it’s okay,” He encouraged, curling his fingers and applying more pressure against your most sensitive spot. Calum worked his tongue against you with a new fervour, enjoying the soft whines that were emitting from your lips while he did.

You couldn’t hold back any longer, hips stilling as you reached your peak, Calum continuing his motions while you rode out your orgasm. Releasing his hair when you came down finally, he used his tongue to clean you up before standing once again to his full height.

“M’gonna need you finish filming,” You spoke in between pants, tugging the front of his mesh shirt so you could kiss him.

In the heat of the moment, you both hadn’t heard Calum’s phone letting out a continuous stream of vibrations. Furrowing his brows when he realized his phone was going off, he headed back into the living room, picking up his phone to see Ashton’s name flash across the caller I.D.

“Hey Ash, what’s up?” Calum asked when he answered, wiping at his lips and tossing you a wink.

“Wow, fucking finally. Thought you had fallen into your pool or some shit. You almost done with the green screen? Andy said he called you but you didn’t answer.”

“I’m fine! We were just busy filming,” His excuse was met with a sigh on the other line.

“Mate, you’re filming this shit on your phone. You’re gonna have to think of a better excuse next time. Finish up so we can get this shit done. And I mean the video, love you bye.”

Calum returned the sentiment, chuckling as he hung up and turned to you, “So. Next time I’m gonna have to wait till after I finish filming.”

tag list: @haikucal @talkfastromance4 @softbabiestan @boyfriend-cal @calum-uncrowned @wildflowerirwin @irwindoll @gosh-im-short @atlcalm @thesubtweeter @heavenisapeach @ridingcthood @loveroflrh @wokeupinjapanisabop @mantlereid @inlovehoodx

#calum hood #calum hood smut #calum hood blurb #calum hood fanfiction #5 seconds of summer fanfiction

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sneakattxck · 4 years ago

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the Adam Kovic situation ; a “brief” summary

A few things to mention before I start this post:

1) if it comes out that something I have said here is wrong, I will edit it and reblog the new version, because I am still waiting for official statements. i am not doing this to ruin his career, i am simply compiling all the information i have found after scrolling multiple 4chan boards and other forums so you don’t have to.

2) there will be NSFW content in this post, if you are under 18 please do not open the read more, i’m sorry, the tl;dr for you is adam kovic was seemingly catfished by someone (of age, there is no grooming accusations at this point) and a google drive of 4gb of photos/videos (some of which are believed to have been taken at the funhaus office) was released.

3) i will not be linking the google drive in this post as i do not want to risk any minors going to it.

4) i will be making one about the ryan situation too but that situation is still evolving.

okay now onto the actual summary, in which i am assuming you already know who adam kovic is

In the last 36 hours (from writing this post at 1am 6/10/2020) a google drive with 4GB (roughly 400 pics&videos) of adam kovic in various levels of lewdness, and in some cases straight up sex acts, made it’s way to the 4chan /pol/ board. (it is worth mentioning that this post also included two images involving ryan but i will talk about that more in my ryan post).

however, these images actually first made it to the internet on september 7th this year, on a gay male forum in a thread discussing rooster teeth employees. the user who posted released a few images before their account was completely banned by the moderators of the forum. shortly after, another user of the same site found that the entire folder had been uploaded to an invite only gay torrent website. a couple images from the folder made it to a 4chan board for gay men on the same day, and didn’t spread too far after that.

this takes us to the last 36 hours, in which a user on 4chan makes a post on the /pol/ board with links to the entire folder. this folder consists of hundreds of images and videos ranging from workout photos, differing levels of undress, straight up nudes of his whole body, dick and asshole, him using multiple sex toys and also in this folder are a few photos and videos that include his wife during sex. (it is important to note that as of writing this we do not know if his wife consented to this content being shared and i will update as i get a concrete answer, but if she in fact did not consent, then adam has committed a crime.)

in a few of the screen recordings of videos, there is a woman visibile also in some sexual poses. 4chan ended up finding that this woman is actually an adult actress, who goes by the name of Harley Spencer. that fact combined with the fact these originated from a gay male forum i, and many others on the different sites, made the assumption that adam was catfished while sending these images and videos via instagram

it is important to note that the original leaker of these videos never ever claimed to be posing as someone underage, and the actress who was used is very much an adult, any claims of adam grooming minors is absolutely unfounded at this time

other than the chance he may have shared intimate photos of his wife without her consent, one other very large problem with these files is the location. some of these were taken at the funhaus office. below is a pair of photos that, as worked out by people on the kiwifarms forums, were taken in the office. they have obviously been censored because of tumblrs guidelines.

there are more than just these two, with other images including;

- looking down into his pants at his dick, seemingly a very sneaky angle

- him holding his dick in his underwear with text added saying “love reading your dirty talk in public”

- one of a boner through his jeans with text added saying “glad the meeting is over”

there have been no official statements put out yet, anything posted to any rt/fh subreddit is immediately removed by the moderators and 4chan did spam bruce’s twitch chat (he was streaming while this was unfolding) but neither rooster teeth, funhaus or adam have mentioned anything on this matter. the closest we currently have is adam’s wife, jess, replying to an instagram comment about the situation.

i will admit it is hard to tell what she means here, if she is someone who consented to explicit images and videos being shared and saying to enjoy the show of that, or that this is about to be a huge dumpster fire ala projared and to enjoy that show instead. as soon as i am made aware of what she meant, and her status on all of this i will update this post accordingly.

update 1: removed some details about the contents of the google drive given that probably didnt need to be shared and after receiving a couple asks explaining that i should remove them

#funhaus #rooster teeth #adam kovic #inside gaming #roosterteeth #*#any questions/concerns send an ask ill reply in the morning #so if any updates happen in the next 8 hours: im asleep

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capaldifiction · 5 years ago

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Right Now - Lewis Capaldi x Reader

I haven’t written much at all in awhile and this is my first attempt at writing Lewis, so I hope you like it ^_^

Paring: Lewis Capaldi x Reader

Word Count: 3,158

Description: A relationship was the very last thing Lewis needed in his life right now, but a whirlwind romance has him at a crossroads of what to do as new found feelings and a clock counting down force him to make a decision.

Based on the song “First Time” by Plested :)

Warnings: Very brief mention of sexual things that isn’t descriptive at all, so not really much to warn about lol Oh and a bit of swearing, but it’s Lewis so...

Italics are dreams or inner thoughts. Y/H/C = your hair color.

Lewis’ hand drifts slowly across the bare skin on Y/N’s back as the traces of sunshine began to shine into the room. His eyes drift to the alarm clock on the hotel nightstand as he wishes he could turn it back a few hours. He’d barely slept that night, knowing in the morning he’d be on his way home.

What was typically a day to look forward to, had become a ticking clock hanging over his head the past month. He hadn’t expected to find this here. To find her. A whirlwind romance that took him by storm the last month of his two month stay in California for work. What had started as a carefree friendship with a fun girl he met at the record label office, had turned into something they held off on defining.

He’d spent the better part of a month ending his days with take away and Mario Kart in the hotel in the evening, their bodies intertwined at night, and his mornings waking up to her arm across his chest.

It was comfortable, and fun, and easy. She knew how to bring a smile to his face with the simplest things, and she laughed at all his jokes, good or not. It just felt right. But they both knew it couldn’t last.

At the end of the month he had to head home, and she’d be left behind. They’d both avoided that discussion up until the last moment.

Lewis carefully lifted her arm from him as he slipped out of bed. Escaping to the bathroom, his mind raced as he stood under the stream of water in the shower. She’d tried to bring up the ‘what are we’ conversation the night before, but he wasn’t ready. He’d promised her he would wake her in the morning to discuss it before he had to go. A promise he was struggling with whether he should keep or not.

He still didn’t know the answer. He had to leave today. In fourteen hours they’d be over 8,000 kilometers apart for who knows how long. He had no intention of moving there any time soon, she had a job in the city, and he didn’t even know the next time he would make it over to the States. And he certainly wasn’t sure if he was ready to start that kind of long distance right now.

This was the absolute last thing he needed right now in his life. The very last thing his career or emotional wellbeing needed drifting in the back of his mind. Was it better to end it now and deal with getting over it now, or let the missing her drag on through months of trying to make it work.

As he got dressed in the room, his eyes drifted over to her phone screen lighting up on the end table. A silly picture of the two of them stared back at him as the guilt of goodbye hit him again. Moving all his bags toward the door, he’d finally made a decision. Not one he was sure he wouldn’t regret, but it was a decision at least.

He wasn’t going to wake her.

Quietly opening the hotel room door, he ushered his bags out of the room silently. After checking over the room to make sure he’d gotten everything, he grabbed her phone to set an alarm for an hour before the check out time to wake her. Opening her notepad, he typed two words, “I’m sorry,” before setting it back on the nightstand.

Walking back to the doorway, Lewis gazed back at the bed half hoping Y/N would wake up and stop him. Ask him to stay, ask him to be with her, ask him for one last hug. Something. But she slept on peacefully as her phone lit up once again.

He sighed as he looked at the picture one more time, before closing the door behind him and realizing when she woke up, a picture on her phone was all he’d be to her.

The drive to the airport seemed to last forever. As the buildings he’d grown used to seeing every day began to fade into the distance, the sound of the LA traffic and his manager on the phone seemed thousands of kilometers away. A distant blur as he repeated a single silent line in his mind over and over like a prayer, “This is for the best.”

Sitting in the terminal at the airport his thumb hovered over her contact. He’d thought about blocking her. But that red button staring back at him seemed too… final. With a sigh he settled for turning off her notifications. He knew if she asked him to come back, he would.

He posed for several pictures with fans as he watched the the clock countdown on the wall. Forced smiles and laughs as he felt each minute pulling him further away. Soon he’d be gone and she’d be waking up to find he’d left. Soon she’d hate him. Soon he’d hate himself. In twelve hours he’ll be continents away holding onto his regret.

As the plane took off he shut down his phone and watched the city fade into the clouds. With a sigh he pulled out his headphones case, assuring his manager he’s fine, just tired. Unzipping the case and lifting the headphones out, he’s met with a small piece of paper tucked into the one earmuff.

“I miss you already Lew - Y/N,” it read simply with a small heart at the bottom. The message tightening his chest as he held it between his fingers. Shoving the note into his pocket, he slipped the headphones over his ears and settled against the window to let himself drift off to the music.

Y/N was walking away from him. Quickly weaving in and out of people on the bustling street as Lewis chased after her yelling her name. His lungs ached as he sprinted between the endless stream of people in his way, her Y/H/C hair just barely in sight.

As he finally makes it to the end of the crowd, he freezes at the sight in front of him. Y/N wrapped in someone else’s arms. His heart beats wildly in his chest as the man leans down to kiss her, a smile on her lips. The smile that she used to direct at him.

Seemingly finally noticing him, Y/N turns to look at him with a disappointed look, “You missed your chance.”

“Attention passengers, we’re now arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport where the local time is…” Lewis’ eyes fly open as he slips in his seat and shakes his head.

“Are you ok man?”

“Y-yeah I’m fine,” he responds back to his manager quickly as he realizes it was a dream. His stomach churns as it plays in his mind again, and the regret is thicker than ever.

After leaving the plane, they grabbed some food where Lewis sat in silence nodding to the conversation and picking at the food in front of him. The thought of eating unappealing at the moment.

When they reached the seating area for their next flight, he finally allowed himself to turn his phone back on. Going to his messages there are no alerts like he expected, but he can tell she’s messaged him.

He thumb hovers over the conversation as he weighs it out in his mind, finally just tapping her image as he tries to ready himself for the barrage of angry messages he’s expecting.

But there is no anger.

“…Lewis? You said that you’d wake me…” “I wish you would have at least given me the chance to say goodbye, even if you didn’t want to have that talk. I’m sorry if you felt I’d cornered you into it.” “Also… I have to let you know. I’d planned on telling you this morning before you left. I’m not expecting it to be reciprocated, nor am I expecting a response. I love you. I know it’s early to say that, we’ve known each other two months, and only been whatever this has been for a month. But I realized the other day that’s what I’ve been feeling, and I’d been avoiding calling it what it is. I just had to get this off my chest and tell you, so I can know I did everything I could, so I can move on without that regret.” “I’ll leave you be after this message. I hope your trip home goes well, and that you know how much I’ve enjoyed the last two months with you. I’ve been happier than I can remember being for a long time, thank you for all the memories. - Y/N”

Tears prick at Lewis’ eyes as he reads the messages, the lump in his throat growing. Three words standing out on the screen. Everything in his mind slipping into place as his own feelings finally make complete sense. He loved her too.

She’s the last thing he needs right now at this point in his life, but she’s also the last thing he should let go.

Cursing under his breath he realized how big of a mistake he made. And in that moment the overhead speaker announcing his boarding flight back to the U.K. brought him back to the present.

“I have to go back,” he says immediately, his manager turning to look at him confused.

“We’re heading back now…?”

“No, I have to go back to LA,” Lewis insists, grabbing his bag.

“What!? We just left, we’re supposed to be boarding the flight back home right now, and you want to go back to California?”

“I have to,” he insists.

“Why the hell do you need to go back there? If you forgot something I’m sure we can find someone to ship it.”

“I fucked up with Y/N, and I have to go fix it, now,” Lewis shoulders his backpack and starts heading toward the help desks.

His manager grabs his arm to pull him back and sighs as he pulls his phone out, “We’ll book you a flight back but I can’t give you more than two days, we’re needed back. And your stuff is already on this plane back so I’ll take care of that. You’re going to have to get clothes or something, I can’t believe you’ve waited until now to think of this.”

Lewis nods and watches as he quickly taps through several screens booking a new ticket back to LAX.

“You’re going to have to head out to the entrance, to check back in and print your new ticket and go back through security. Keep me updated on when you’re coming back so I can book your ticket back. But we really need you back by Wednesday, no exceptions.”

“No exceptions,” he repeats uttering a thanks and taking off toward the entrance.

The six hour flight back felt like a lifetime. He couldn’t sleep this time. His thoughts racing more than before, now that he knew what he had to lose. He might be going back, but that doesn’t mean she’ll welcome him back in open arms. He’d lied and skipped out on her without even a goodbye. She had all right to be angry with him.

He’d wanted to message her back, tell her he felt the same, tell her he’d be there as soon as he could. But it didn’t feel right. It had to be in person.

With two six hour flights, waiting around in airports, and LA traffic, it was nearly midnight by the time Lewis found himself standing in front of her apartment building as the taxi sped away behind him. It had technically only been this morning he last saw her, but it felt like an eternity. And he felt like absolute garbage. Not sleeping the night before and twelve hours on a plane hadn’t done him any favors.

Shouldering his bag he takes the stairs up to her floor and counts the apartment numbers as he passes them, each one bringing him closer, and each one making his heart beat faster.

“Maybe this was a bad idea. 208.

What if I’m too late. 207.

What if she slams the door in my face. 206.

Maybe I should just go. 205.

This is fucking stupid what am I doing? 204.

What if someone else is there with her? 203.”

And his thoughts are cut short as he’s met with her apartment door. 202.

Running his fingers through his hair quickly and clearing his throat, he forces himself to knock on the door. The seconds seem to drag on an eternity. The sound of foot steps approaching the door then just silence.

When suddenly the door flies open to reveal Y/N in her pajamas, looking obviously surprised, “Lewis?”

“I- uh, hey there,” he sputters out with an awkward smile, silently cursing himself.

“What are you… why are you… aren’t you supposed to… did you forget something?” she finally settles on as she shifts uneasily in her doorway.

“Yes, you,” he admits immediately, biting his tongue as her eyes widen.

“Excuse me?” she questions, her arms crossing.

“No I mean, I’m making a right fucking mess of this,” he huffs then sighs as he looks back up at her. “Listen I’m shit at this. I came all the way back here without a plan and now I’m standing at your doorstep at fucking midnight looking like an idiot. I love you too, and I’m sorry I left without a goodbye. I’m sorry I avoided saying it before, and avoided taking about it. I didn’t realize it until I was sitting in New York feeling like a complete idiot.”

A soft smile crosses her face as her body relaxes and she looks around the walkway, before backing up, “You should come in before someone recognizes you. And I don’t think the neighbors would appreciate us discussing this in the walkway.”

With a nod he steps through the doorway, and slips past her into her apartment. “Should I say I’m sorry again?” he questions as he takes a seat on the couch.

Sitting down next to him she smirks, “It wouldn’t hurt your case. But I’d like more of an explanation than an apology. I thought you left without waking me because you didn’t feel the same.”

“I panicked this morning,” he admits running his hand through his hair quickly. “I didn’t know what to say or do. I knew if I woke you, if you asked me to stay I would. It was the first time I wasn’t looking forward to heading back. And I’d told myself this isn’t what I need in my life right now. I don’t need a relationship, I don’t even know when I’ll ever be able to see you. But I realized I made a gigantic mistake letting you go without even trying.”

Nodding slowly Y/N reaches out to hold his free hand and squeeze it gently. “I’d been thinking about how it’d all work if you did feel the same, if we gave it a shot. And I’d… asked a few questions toward figuring that out.”

Tilting his head toward her, he finds himself leaning in closer so they’re shoulder to shoulder, “Such as?”

“Well, I mean, you knew I had today off since it was your last day but I’d decided to take all my vacation right now. So I have three weeks off and thought maybe I could come visit you back in Scotland after a few days. Thought it might be good to have some time together official, if that’s what happened,” she shrugged gently against him, her cheeks reddening.

His brow raises as he nods and releases her hand to put his arm around her instead. She leans her head against his chest, and his chin rests on the top of her head, “I really fucked up this morning didn’t I?”

“Just a bit,” she chuckles, a smile forming on her face. “There was something else though, that I had been asking about at work.”

“What would that be?” He asks, his hand slowly rubbing her shoulder.

“I’d talked about the possibility of an office transfer,” she admits.

“To where?”

“London.”

His hand instantly freezes as he feels his heartbeat quickening under her ear, “You’re going to move to London?”

“Well… I thought if they have an opening at the office there, I’d be at least a bit closer than I am now. And we’d be able to see each other more often. It’s the main office you work with, and you’re definitely in London more than you’re in LA.”

“You’d do that… for me?” he asks slowly. “Just uproot your whole life to a whole new country, to be closer to me?”

“If we’re going to be serious about this, I’m going to take it serious,” she nods against him. “I’m not from LA, I moved here for this job and I’ve only been here two years. I don’t have much holding me here. If I can do the same job over there and be closer to you, it seems like the natural choice. I also figured if it didn’t work out, it’s not like we’re living together or I’m your next door neighbor. I’d just be in the position I’m already in now here, but over there. Plus a change of scenery is nice every once in awhile. And I also thought maybe while visiting you I could head down to the office to check it out.”

Lewis sits silently for a few minutes, processing everything discussed in just the last ten minutes alone, then lets out a relieved sigh. “You make my heart want to stick around,” he admits.

“Was that a song lyrics or a romantic line that just came out of your mouth Capaldi?” she teases as she looks up at his own reddening cheeks.

“Don’t ruin the moment,” he chuckles as he pulls back to look at her. “So.. you… me… this thing serious, we fly to Scotland Tuesday?”

“Was that your version of asking me to be your girlfriend?” she questions with a lifted brow.

His hand instantly shoots up to his hair as he clears his throat and turns his head away, “I- well yes, it was.”

“Sounds perfect,” she responds happily, reaching up to turn his face back toward hers. “Thank you for coming back Lewis.”

“I shouldn’t have left like that in the first place,” he adds, standing up and pulling her into his arms. “I won’t let you down again.”

“I trust you,” she says softly, looking up into his eyes.

A smile spreads across his face as he lowers his head toward her, eye flickering to her lips then back to her eyes asking for silent permission. She nods gently, her eyes closing as his lips met hers. “I love you.”

-----

Masterlist

Request List

#lewis capaldi #lewis capaldi x reader #celebrity imagines #fanfiction #divinely uninspired to a hellish extent

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chazz-anova · 5 years ago

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My official Far Cry 5 fanfic!

Alrighty everyone! After a LONG time, I’ve finally finished the first section of this fic and I am so excited to start posting it everywhere lmao, so please feel free to leave your comments in the replies I’d love to hear what people think! Now without further ado; here’s chapter 1!

Veronica glanced lazily at the clock, which read 3:28am. She'd gotten off work about 4 hours earlier, but couldn't seem to lull herself to sleep no matter how many drinks she had or smoke breaks she took. Lately, the young sheriff's deputy had felt unsettled, like she was stuck in a rut. Ice clinked in her Crown Royal glass as she raised it to her lips, finishing it with a swig. "What's wrong with me Olive?" She asked the calico cat that padded silently into the room. The cat replied with a dainty mew and climbed into Veronica's lap. While petting her companion, she glanced around her modest townhome.

It was a tastefully furnished two story home with a balcony and a neighborhood pool. She sat on a powder blue couch that was joined by an armchair off to the side. The TV screen in front of her read 'Are you there? Press X to continue" Answering the question aloud, she muttered "Sometimes I wonder if I am still here" She lifted Olive off her lap and replaced her with an engraved silver tray, a baggie of weed, and a Cherry Dynamite flavoured Swisher. She may be a deputy, but some vices she was reluctant to give up.

A few moments later- Veronica stepped out onto her balcony, blunt in hand. She slowly took in the familiar scenery, living right on the outskirts of Hope County afforded her one of the best views. The Whitetail Mountains towered over the town beyond, the neon lights of various restaurants and gas stations glowing upwards and framing the tall peaks in a surreal glow. Her gaze turned up to the stars, dazzling like diamonds on the velvet black sky. As she lit up and the lighter illuminated her balcony, the atmosphere shifted a degree 'Everything will be different soon.' The thought flew through her mind without warning, and she shivered as though possessed. "Jeez..." She murmured and took a long drag of the sweet smoke, shaking her head and praying for rest to come quickly, after this she’d go and try to lay in her bed until sleep overtook her finally.

Running. Feet pounding the ground. Lungs shriveled and screaming for a full breath. Tears welled up in Veronica's eyes as she wind cut at her skin. In front of her, millions of faceless souls reached their hands out; grasping for her as she ran, seemingly suspended between them and what she ran from. The group was insistently whispering "Help. Help us." Veronica turned around, slowing a fraction. Behind her there was a plume of green smoke billowing out of an unseen source, threatening to take her mind and steal her heart if she got too close. The entities in front of her were murmuring "Please help us" "We need you". With each pleading moan their voices grew; louder and louder until their words were a guttural, rasping cacophony of screams. And just as suddenly as they appeared, they were gone and replaced by deafening silence. The air seemed to be holding its breath, and Veronica turned to see the smoke gone as well, leaving her alone in the blackness.

Upon waking, Veronica gasped and clutched her heart, which was fighting to escape her chest with each beat. “Fuck!” She exclaimed and looked around her room. In the darkness she saw everything was normal, her desk and computer stood in front of her and no one occupied the chair in the corner to her relief. She took her phone from the nightstand and saw that it was only 6:20am. “Man, screw this.” She burrowed back under the black covers and pulled them over her head.

The next time she awoke- gentle sunlight streamed in through the half open curtains and her eyes fluttered open. Checking her phone, it was now 10:42am, and relief filled her. Looking underneath the time she saw a message from her co-worker and good friend, Joey Hudson. It read “Come to your shift ready for some bull today!” Veronica sighed, typing out her response “Always do!”

Soon enough, Olive jumped onto her bed and sat, giving her an impatient look. “Alright you little beast, I’ll get up.” She smiled at her furry friend and swung her feet over the side, striding into the kitchen and grabbing the cat food while also setting her coffee pot to brew.

In about 20 minutes- she was sitting on her balcony with a hot cup of mostly cream and sugar with a little coffee, and a quickly rolled joint. ‘Please let today go by quickly...:’ she prayed to no one in particular. Her work outfit looked creased from not being washed recently, and she knew Sheriff Whitehorse would have something to say about that. ‘After this joint I should probably get going.’ V thought, looking through the balcony windows at the clock.

Veronica stepped into the grey/white walled sheriff’s office; seeing Nancy at the front desk on the phone, examining her long nails disinterestedly. She gave her a quick wave before heading back to Sheriff Earl Whitehorse’s office, where a commotion could be heard.

“I don’t care how scared of him all you backwoods hicks are, where I’m from we get shit done!” An aggressive man declared, venom dripping from his words. ‘This must be the aforementioned bullshit Hudson mentioned.’ Veronica sighed before pasting a professional smile over her frown and stepping into the room. “You’ve got no right to just come in here like-” Hudson’s confident voice was absorbed by the same angry voice that had started the yelling, “Oh I’ve got every right missy. Know why? Because I’m a federal marshal, and what I say goes.” The tension in the air was malleable. Between Hudson glaring daggers at the stranger and Whitehorse’s dejected look, Ronnie knew she had just walked into a shitstorm. “Woah, let’s take it down a notch okay?” She said, directed at the man in front of her. He was of a bulkier build, and his stance said he was used to having things his way or the highway. “Oh great, another dumbass deputy to deal with! Sheriff, get your team and your shit together.” The man pushed past Veronica and Joey, shouldering his way out of the room. “Nice to meet you too!” The youngest deputy called before turning back to Hudson and Whitehorse. “So, who pissed in his cheerios?”

Hudson just shook her head angrily, as Whitehorse replied grimly “Joseph Seed.”

“That pastor who’s been causing trouble in Hope County?”

“That’s the one. He’s formed some kind of militia and is kidnapping folks… I’d get yourselves ready, because as soon as the judge fills that warrant we’re all going to pick him up.”

V met his words with an incredulous look, retorting “He’s bad enough that we all get to join Captain Sunshine there on a simple warrant like that? I mean, every time we’ve had to deal with him and his followers it’s never seemed that severe.” Hudson spoke up, pulling her phone from her pocket and presenting a video “Look for yourself. Someone sent this in a couple days ago.”

Grainy footage showed a tall, shirtless man in aviators preaching to a flock of similarly dressed people. The video zoomed in on the man’s chilling blue eyes; and the camera suddenly fell to the ground, showing the owner of the device being dragged forward and put on his knees before the preacher. In a casual manner he reached forward and placed his thumbs against the man’s eyes, pressing while his victim’s screams grew louder and more pained. Soon the man fell to the ground, and Joseph flicked the blood from his hands as though it were water. Veronica’s eyebrows raised in surprise as the scene was cut off and a new image appeared on the screen.

The recording was now taking place outside. There was a sizable wooden stage and Joseph stood in the center, a large curtain obscuring what was on a stand behind him. “My children, we must repent for our sins!” Joseph called while pulling the curtain down with some flourish. Veronica gasped in shock upon seeing the man from before who’d had his eyes crushed. He was lifted up onto a wooden pole, his eyes had been replaced by a white flower in each eye socket. Looking down his body- it was clear someone had mutilated his chest cavity as well, carving out space for a bouquet of the same flowers. On both sides of his head antlers had been impaled into his skull, where dried blood decorated the base of each antler in grotesque detail.

When the video finally faded to black, Veronica handed the phone back to Joey. “Wow, I’m glad I didn’t have anything heavy for breakfast.” She deadpanned, shaking her head. “This is a mistake, we need more people.” Whitehorse murmured and walked out of the room with an exasperated look. “Old man’s taking this real hard… I think he saw something real messed up on the last call out to Joseph’s compound.” Hudson looked after him with worry clear on her face. The other deputy nodded, unable to clear the images from the video from her mind. “Even though he’s clearly an ass, maybe the Marshal is right and we’ll just go snatch him up real quick.”

“Hopefully..” Hudson murmured and left the office as well, leaving Veronica alone.

The rest of the day- Marshal Cameron Burke holed up in a back office making heated phone calls, trying to find a judge to sign his warrant. V spent most of the day riding with another deputy, Staci Pratt. Veronica couldn’t stand Pratt, so every call they went on was a chore. However, the shift was finally drawing to a close as the pair pulled up once more at the station.

As soon as they walked in the door, Burke was on them. “You two, I suggest getting some rest tonight, because I found a judge. Once I’ve gathered everything I need, we’ll be flying out to Joseph’s compound.” Veronica checked the clock in the lobby, nodding “Well it’s 9 now, when are we leaving?” The Marshal sighed, as though responding was a chore, “We leave when I call and tell you we’re leaving.” V narrowed her eyes while crossing her arms, “You know, I’m not sure what your problem is, but don’t talk to me like that. You’re an adult, not a petty child, act like it.” The federal marshal was shocked someone had stood up to him, and unsure what to say. Seizing the opportunity to make her escape before her mouth got her into more trouble, Ronnie rushed past the man, shaking her head. ‘What an asshole!’ She thought as she punched numbers into the timeclock, hurrying out of the building without further incident.

About 20 minutes later, Veronica was speeding down the winding country roads in her beat up Mazda Miata. The roads were entirely empty, save for a deer she saw on the side of the road while taking the next turn. Upon rounding the corner- a large flare of light and an earth-shaking explosion caused her to slam on the brakes. “What the hell…” She peered out of the window. “Guess I should go check on that.. being an officer of the law and all…” Her murmured words were enveloped by another explosion, causing her to jump. Some days the job of a deputy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

Ronnie had finally reached the area where the explosions had been coming from, after breaking several traffic laws to get there. Stepping out of the car, she drew her gun and took a preliminary look around the clearing. There were almost cartoon-worthy scorch marks on the ground that had wiped away any sense of greenery on the ground, but no one seemed to be around. V kept the gun at her side and started her sweep of the area. Right as she was going to start heading back to her car to report this to the station, she heard someone walking through the woods to her left. “Note to self, don’t light the fuse before you’re ready to have it blow up..” She heard someone mutter to themselves before she yelled “Freeze! Who are you and what’re you doing here?” A man of medium build walked out of the treeline, holding his hands in the classic ‘I surrender’ style. He wore a green sweatshirt, and a matching ballcap. “Charlemange Victor Boshaw at your service ma’am, I apologise for the bother-”

“You describe an explosion as a ‘bother’?” Veronica interrupted, gun staying trained on him.

“Well yeah. It sure bothered me that it exploded.”

“May I ask what you were exploding?”

“So my totally awesome cousin Hurk gave me some dynamite that he made himself, and of course being a good buddy I told him I would try it out! Well, silly me I didn’t realise that Hurk only knows how to make short-fused dynamite! So when I went to light it, it exploded preemptively so that’s why there’s those scorch marks… ma’am.”

Veronica cocked her head to the side, giving the man an incredulous look, “Would you be offended if I said that was the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard?” He thought about it for a moment before responding sincerely “Nope.” The deputy nodded, saying “Well I appreciate the honesty! Unfortunately, I’ve gotta call the station for this one.” She fished her badge from her pocket. The man crossed his arms, asking “Well what exactly are the charges?”

“Uhm… detonation of an explosive device and illegal possession for one.”

“I supposed I can’t argue with that.” He said amiably, watching Veronica reach for her radio off the utility belt she still hadn’t removed after work.

The pair sat on the curb together, one handcuffed one not. “So you’re the Sharky Boshaw?” Ronnie asked, giving him a mischievous smile. Sharky grinned and shrugged modestly “The one and only!”

“You’re a legend around the station, I’m surprised I haven’t seen you before! Out of curiosity… why choose this spot for blowing shit up?”

“Well I was actually on my way to the store when I saw this spot and thought to myself ‘That would be a good field to set off some fireworks’. Then I remembered Hurk had put his stuff in my backseat, and that dynamite is just a less pretty firework, so here we are!”

When his story was finished, V gave him a look that was part amused, part withering glance. “I can’t tell if you’re joking.” He shrugged with a lackadaisical smile. Before either of them could continue the conversation, a light brown Crown Vic pulled up and the sirens on the roof let out a quick whoop before one of the night shift deputies stepped out. “Hey Veronica! Boshaw, the backseat’s ready for you!” He said, helping Sharky stand and turn towards the car. Veronica stood with him, and gave a curt nod to her coworker, “Thanks for coming out, Sam.”

Finally after that detour, V was almost home. It was a relatively long drive back and forth, but she didn’t mind it. Working with Sheriff Whitehorse was worth it since she’d known him almost half of her life. Veronica and her mom had moved to Hope County when she was only 12, her mom found work as an officer and then an office administrator for Earl until Nancy came along and gave her mom the chance to take her pension, and start a new job as a conservation officer at a small national park nearby called Polebridge.

The actual sheriff’s office was in Missoula, about two hours away from Hope County, making Veronica’s drive home take about an hour since she lived practically in between the two.

Keeping her eyes on the road, she dug one-handed through her purse for her phone. Once it was in hand she said “Hey Google, call Mom.” and a soft chirp came from the device, processing the demand before dialing. Three rings in- a cheery voice answered. “Hey sweetie!”

“Hey, mom, I just had a question?”

“Sure what’s up?”

She paused, rethinking her request for a moment. In that second, her nightmare from last night danced through her thoughts and her mind was made up. “Oh um, well I’m going out on a warrant tonight, and I was wondering if you could watch Olive for me? It’s probably nothing, I just had a weird feeling.”

“Of course! I’d love to see my grandkitty! I’m glad you know when to listen to your gut.”

“Well I learned from the best! I just got home now, can I pack her up and head over?”

“That’s fine! I’ll be here for a bit. Can I plan on you staying for dinner?”

“Uh… yeah that’ll work, I don’t have any plans. I’ll see you soon, love you!”

“Love you too!”

The line disconnected with a click as Veronica pulled into her driveway and stepped out of the car, fetching her keys from the caribinger she kept it on. As she approached the door, she heard insistent meowing on the other side. “I’m comin’…” She chuckled and pushed the door open to reveal Olive, who immediately rushed to hug her legs as she stepped over the threshold. “Hey monster, ready to see grandma?” She asked in a baby voice and grinned at her, reaching down to pick her up. As soon as she did- the cat clambered up to her shoulder and balanced precariously “Why are you like this?” She joked, removing her before making her way to the hallway closet and pulling out the cat carrier and a half-full bag of cat food.

Once she’d put a few more odds and ends into an overnight bag, she took out her decorative, pink bong and loaded a bowl. The water bubbled and pure white smoke filled the center chamber as she lit the greenery in the bowl. After coughing her lungs up for a few moments she set the glass piece on the table and stood up, “Okay, now we can go!” She declared and bundled Olive and all her things into the Miata.

In a quick 15 minutes- the two of them pulled up in front of her mom’s. It was a tidy ranch style home, painted robin’s egg blue with crisp white shutters. V knocked on the door, Olive’s carrier in one hand.

Her mom answered the door with a sweet smile on her features, immediately wrapping the deputy in a tight hug, “Hi Ronnie!” She exclaimed before pulling back. “Hi mom!” She responded and stepped through the door, setting Olive down. Sarah Rook looked like an older version of Veronica except her hair was a chestnut brown as opposed to V’s dirty blonde; they shared aquamarine eyes and a light spattering of freckles.

The younger woman pulled the zipped and freed the hyper cat, who immediately jumped from containment to survey her surroundings. “Someone’s impatient!” Her mom chuckled and watched the cat sprint off into the hallway. “She takes after me I guess.” Veronica smiled and inhaled deeply, “Is that steaks and mac and cheese I smell?”

“Well I thought I’d at least fatten you up before you leave tonight.” Her mom said and ushered her into the dining room. There was a round white table there that was joined by a tall china cabinet filled with memorabilia. The places had already been set, two red and white checkered table mats sat across from each other at the corresponding seats and the silverware was laid out neatly. “Sounds good to me, I’m starving!” Veronica took a seat and watched her mom buzzing about the kitchen as she put the finishing touches on their meals.

Once everything was done, the table was filled with food. A bowl of salad in the middle, with a basket of rolls to the side. Their plates were adorned with juicy t-bone steaks, mac and cheese, and potato salad. “I knew there was a reason I hadn’t put you in a nursing home…” V joked as she savored a bite of the rare steak, just how she liked it. Her mother scoffed, and took a sip of water, “As if you could.” They both shared a smile and then turned to see Olive padding into the room, her head in the air as she scented the air. “What a brat.” Veronica said as she jumped up on the table expectantly. “You did say she took after you!” Her mom retorted, picking up the naughty cat and setting her on the floor. “So, what’s this warrant you’re going on?”

“Mom, you know I’m not supposed to divulge any details...”

“Oh please, I used to be in the game, and still kind of am. I worked for Whitehorse long before you did, I don’t think I need to be counted as a citizen.” She said, rolling her eyes. Veronica looked uneasy as she considered it for a moment, then relented; “It’s some doomsday cult leader… Joseph Seed. Something about him really freaked me out.” She confessed, almost hanging her head. Being freaked out was not the norm for this deputy. “Why’s that?”

“I think it’s just his ability to brainwash all of these people… anyone who can do that has too much power. Also Earl is scared of him, which is weird. He’s usually so gungho about catching the bad guys, but he doesn’t even want to go on this warrant.”

“That’s certainly odd. I’ve never seen that man back down, there must be something seriously bad going on.” Her mom looked off, her brow furrowed in deep thought. “Hopefully this mission will just be in and out. That way I can get back to my baby!” She said the last part in a higher pitch, directing it at the cat, who was sitting in the window behind them. “I hope so too sweetie. People like him are the reason I’ve got a bunker.” Ronnie smirked, saying “Yeah you and everyone else in Hope County, it seems like.”

“It never hurts to be prepared!”

“I guess so.” She relented, standing and grabbing their dirty dishes.

After all the dishes were cleaned and hugs were shared, Veronica stretched and glanced at the clock which showed 10:45pm. “Man how’d it get so late so fast?” She mused and stroked Olive’s soft little head. “Hopefully a late dinner won’t give you any nightmares.” Her mother thought out loud and wrapped Veronica in another suffocating hug. “It was nice having dinner with you baby, I love you!” She smooched Ronnie on the cheek before pulling away and giving her a loving grin. “I had a good time, and the steaks were amazing. Thanks for having me over, I love you too!” She returned the kiss on the cheek and put her hand on the doorknob. As she stepped out her mother wished her luck on the warrant later, and then she was in her car once more.

20 minutes later, V was brushing her teeth, staring at herself in the mirror wearing a simple black night dress that fell to her thighs and was fringed with lace at the bottom. Long day… who knows when that asshole Burke is gonna call me.’ She thought, spitting out the toothpaste and wiping her mouth with the back of her arm. As she flopped into bed, the black sheets felt cold without Olive’s presence, but she felt it was for the best. It was 11:11pm as she glanced at the clock. “Make a wish…” She murmured while her eyes shut, the feeling of a full stomach lulling her to sleep.

A blaring ringing tore through the dark silence in Veronica’s bedroom. It was her phone, blasing her generic android ringtone. Her eyes snapped open and she grasped for her phone, having to blink the bleariness away before seeing that it was Hudson calling her. She looked at the clock for the second time that night to see only two hours had passed, making it around 1am. She slid the green answer icon across the screen and answered, her voice thick with annoyance, “Hello?” Instead of Joey’s pleasant voice, she was met with Marshal Cameron Burke’s gruff one, “Rook, get your ass up and get dressed. We’re executing this warrant now.”

“Do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Yeah, time to arrest that asshole Joseph Seed.” Burke practically shouted, and then Veronica was met with a dial tone. She scoffed, pulling the phone from her ear to look at it and see only her lock screen, a photo of Olive in a taco costume. “Guess I’m getting ready.” She grumbled and turned on the lamp sitting on her nightstand. The light flooded every corner of the room, forcing V to squint as she flipped the covers off and walked over to a chair in the corner of the room that was covered with clothes and blankets. She snatched her green work button up before finding a tank top and some jeans. On top of her dresser, she eyed her jewelry box and plucked out a rose gold heart-shaped locket with a matching chain. It was engraved ‘To Veronica, Love nana’ Once she was dressed, she buckled her utility belt and hurried down the stairs to the front door.

Something forced her to stop and take a look at the open plan townhome. All was calm and nothing stirred in the living room, yet she felt eerie as she left. Almost like she was abandoning her castle. She shook her head, shaking the thought off and stepping through the door to lock it. As she was walking to the car she pulled out her wallet from her back pocket, it was a replica of the one used in Pulp Fiction that said ‘BAD MOTHERFUCKER’ on the side. She opened the zippered secret pocket, pulling out a faded scrap of paper. On it was written ‘Good luck on your first day! -Mom’. She’d slipped her that on her first day at the sheriff’s department. At the time, V had laughed and said “I’m not a kid!” But stowed it away nonetheless as a good luck charm. A sudden, bone-chilling breeze whipped across the land, forcing a shiver to wrack her body. Veronica stepped into her car, feeling like this was going to be a long night.

The deputy’s hands clenched the steering wheel- frustration written all over her features. She’d already been to the station only to get redirected to some field by Nancy, who was the only one not joining this adventure. Apparently the sheriff had asked her to come in and man the scanner, just in case things got out of hand and they needed to call reinforcements. Ronnie shook her head as she saw Hudson, Whitehorse, Pratt, and Burke standing in front of a matte black helicopter that had a badge on the side. Upon walking up to join them, Veronica called “Well this is fancy!” Staci stepped up next to the marshal, exclaiming “Yeah, the feds decided to help us out on this one!” He clapped Burke on the shoulder- earning him a heated glare. “Anyways… everyone pile in. Hudson, you’re flying us.” The grumpy man got to the point, motioning everyone into the copter.

In no time they were in the air, flying to Joseph’s Compound on an island in the middle of Hope County. Veronica looked at the screen of the gps in the front, searching for the time. She found that it was 2:37am, and asked “So what exactly is the benefit of going to get him so late?” Cameron replied- his voice dripping with unearned confidence “The benefit, Rook, is catching him by surprise.” As Ronnie was about to speak up, Pratt cut in with, “You don’t catch men like Joseph Seed off guard.”

At that moment Joey spoke up, “Crossing the Henbane now.” Everyone looked out of the wide windows, only to catch sight of a perfect rendition of Joseph Seed’s face captured forever in stone in way of a towering monolith. “Crazy motherfucker…” Burke murmured, his gaze held by the monument. “Jesus Christ.. we’re officially in peggie country.” Hudson shook her head before looking back to the skies. “You know, they call this Angel’s Peak. It’s a holy place for them.” Pratt said, sounding almost wistful.

“How much longer?” Cameron asked.

“Just long enough for you to change your mind so we can turn this bird around.” Whitehorse insisted. “You want me to ignore a federal warrant, sheriff?” Burke scoffed.

“No sir, I want you to understand the reality of this situation. Joseph Seed… he’s not a man to be fucked with. We’ve had a few run ins with him before and it hasn’t always gone our way. Sometimes.. sometimes it’s better to just leave well enough alone.”

Burke scoffed, lifting up the warrant. “Yeah, well we have laws for a reason; and Joseph Seed’s gonna learn that.” Instead of replying to that, the sheriff radioed Nancy to make sure she was still there, and told her that if she didn’t hear from them in 15 minutes to call backup. V looked down and saw a white church surrounded by other smaller buildings, she was mystified. The whole situation didn’t even seem real. ‘Maybe it’s just because it’s late and I haven’t gotten any good rest lately.’ She thought, trying to comfort herself. Somehow it didn’t help.

“So what’s with calling them ‘peggies’? I’ve never heard anyone at the station call them that.” Veronica asked, hoping to lighten the mood. “Project Eden’s Gate. P. E. G. It’s what the locals call them.” Earl explained. Somehow she knew he was trying to distract himself as well.

As they got closer, it was obvious there were people everywhere. “So much for taking him by surprise.” She muttered, shaking her head and thinking ‘I could be asleep right now.’ The helicopter jerked slightly as it landed on the ground, the blades whirling to a stop. All of them exited the bird, taking in their surroundings. Peggies surrounded them on all sides and the compound had as many as 12 buildings; dorms, a barn, and various other houses. The cult members regarded them suspiciously, casting daggers their ways and muttering insults. Ronnie looked to her left as they walked down the main path, there was a man wielding a flamethrower and keeping a pire of fire sufficiently lit. “They don’t fuck around…” V commented, her brow furrowed.

The group made their way into a fenced corridor topped with an arch that said ‘Church of Eden’s Gate’ with the cross adorning the center. As they walked, a creaking then metal clanging could be heard behind them, causing Veronica to whip around only to witness them closing the gate behind them. “Why are they closing the gate?” Joey asked, looking to her partners for answers but receiving nothing. They approached the door to the church and could hear a choir of members singing a hymn as Whitehorse motioned for them to hold up. “Going in there, we do this my way, quietly.” He said sternly, mainly for Burke’s benefit. Cameron smirked and put a hand on Earl’s shoulder, “Relax sheriff. You’re about to get your name in the papers.” Veronica couldn’t help but shake her head, something was wrong here.

As the white double doors swung inward, V took in the scene and was enthralled. Joseph was standing at the front of the church delivering a sermon, “Something is coming… you can feel it can’t you? We are creeping towards the edge, and there will be a reckoning. Because we know what happens next; they will come for us… to take from us. Take our guns, take our freedom, take our faith. We will not let them!” The church patrons were captured by his presence, hanging on every word.

The deputy, marshal, and sheriff made their way to the platform Joseph stood on. White candles surrounded him, casting a holy glow on his features. “We will not let their greed, their morality, or their depravity hurt us anymore!” The preacher’s voice grew as Marshal Burke reached him and held the paper warrant aloft. Whitehorse murmured “Goddammit…” and Cameron said forcefully “Joseph Seed, we have here a warrant for your arrest, under suspicion of kidnapping with intent to harm. I’m gonna need you to step down with your hands where I can see them, and come with us.” Veronica noticed three figures she hadn’t seen practically melting out of the shadows to stand behind The Father.

“Here they are, the locusts in our garden. They’ve come to take me from you, to destroy all we’ve built!” The peggies started to converge around Joseph, their voices joining together as they objected. He parted through them, his calm demeanor quieting their shouts. “We knew they would come. This is what we’ve prepared for. Go…” He sent them off and came to stand in front of the pews, raising his hands up. “I saw the lamb of the first seal and I heard the noise as if of thunder as one of four beasts sang ‘Come, see’-”

Cameron cut him off, “Step forward!” Joseph stepped closer- undertered from preaching, “And I saw and behold, it was a white horse... and Hell followed with him.” He finished while looking from Earl to Ronnie and finally holding out his hands, a worn brown rosary dangled from his wrist. “Rook, cuff this son of a bitch.” Burke growled.

V stepped forward, about to pull out her cuffs when the people behind him caught her eye once more. She recognised them to be his family. From right to left; there was a gruff looking man with scar tissue climbing up his side, next to him a beautiful young woman wearing no shoes and a lacey, floral dress. Veronica’s gaze lingered on her a moment before she took in the last figure- a tall man wearing an expensive looking duster. His piercing stare found hers and she felt as though he was seeing straight into her soul. Ice filled her veins and she froze in place, suddenly feeling like a gazelle who had just realised the lion was upon her but only when it was already too late. There was so much animosity in the man’s eyes, like he hated her for even thinking of taking his brother.

“Earth to Veronica.” Burke’s annoyed voice snapped her from the trance she was in, causing her to shiver before finally producing the cuffs. The metal clinked around Joseph’s small wrists, and right as she was about to secure the second ring, he turned his hand to grip her wrist tightly and V looked into his eyes. “God will not let you take me.” He said calmly without an ounce of doubt. “Good thing God doesn’t get to decide in the end.” She retorted before shaking off his hand and slapping the final cuff on with a resounding click.

As they walked out the church doors with Joseph in cuffs, armed peggies started to surround them. “Back up!” Hudson yelled, taking lead. Burke pushed a woman down when she got too close, and the crowd became more riled up, closing in as they walked to the helicopter. Soon, they started throwing rocks at the group and screaming, trying to defend their Father. The whole time Joseph stayed eerily silent, even as they were getting into the copter. Pratt fired off a few warning shots to the cultists that were trying to mob the vehicle, Veronica and Burke pushed a few of them from the copter as they gained height, yet the peggies continued trying to swarm them.

One of the cultists did something, because the helicopter went into a tailspin, and the engine sputtered. Joseph looked skyward and began singing Amazing Grace, his tone calm despite the chaos. They made impact with a tree, then another and everyone but Joseph was screaming, their lives flashing before their eyes. Upon impact, the whole world cut out and everything was black.

Veronica’s eyes opened, and the world spun in streamers of color. Nancy’s frantic voice could be heard over the ringing in her ears, she was yelling into the helicopter’s headphones. She looked around and saw Burke across from her, dangling by his seatbelt, Earl was next to him, doubled over; and Joey was to her right. She tried to take in a deep breath and sputtered on thick smoke that was no doubt coming from the engine. Before V could swing forward and grab the headset to alert Nancy, she was pushed lightly back into her seat by a battered Joseph Seed. He smiled at her softly, grabbing the headset on his own while maintaining eye contact. “I told you that God wouldn’t let you take me…” He murmured soothingly. “We’ll see about that…” Veronica persisted. He shook his head and spoke into the headset mic, “Dispatch? Everything is just fine here. Call no one.” Veronica scoffed, ‘Surely Nancy will know something is wrong-’ The thought began to cross her mind before she heard her last hope’s response: “Yes, Father. Praise be to you.” Her mouth dropped open in shock and horror, watching the man she came to apprehend smirk before whispering “No one is coming to save you.”

He climbed from the wreckage and met a handful of his flock, reassuring them in a hushed tone. V started to struggle against her seatbelt, which was stuck fast. “Fuck, fuck, fuck..” She muttered and beat at the clip. Her companions began to wake and she turned to see Joseph standing on the hood of a car, his hands raised as he delivered an impromptu sermon, “The first seal is broken… now we must take what we need, for this world will be no more. We must stop all those that stand in our way- including these harbingers of doom. Begin the reaping!” He screamed the last sentence into the night air, his followers cheering.

They swarmed the copter for the second time that night, Veronica, Joey, and the others squirmed trying to get free. Hudson freed herself finally, only to be savagely pulled from the wreckage kicking and screaming. “Joey!” Veronica yelled, reaching after her only to just miss her hand. More peggies ran over and were about to reach in, when a ring of flames surrounded them instead. “Fuck!” V exclaimed, pulling frantically at her seatbelt. Burke was able to free himself and dash out of the small opening in the wall of fire. Heat was searing her skin and desperation made her claw at the restraint harder and harder, finally the belt snapped and she tumbled forward to what used to be the roof of the vehicle. Ronnie caught herself just barely and found herself sprinting away into the foreboding woods.

Branches whipped at her face, scratching her cheeks and forcing her to hold her hands out in front of her. Not far behind, the men who hunted her yelled, “She’s escaping! Grab her!” Emotions overwhelmed her; panic, fear, anger, confusion. “Goddammit give me a break!” She huffed, breath ragged from sprinting. She spotted a soft light in the distance, a campfire. V ducked behind a thick tree trunk- whipping her head around in both directions wildly, adrenaline and fear coursing through her. The angry voices were distant enough for her to turn and survey the campsite.

There were two lawn chairs on either side of the fire, and a cabin beyond that. One of the cultists patrolled the perimeter, both hands on his handgun. She caught sight of a sizable branch in front of the fire, and knew what she had to do. Ronnie crept forward on the balls of her feet, trying to avoid any stray twigs as she made her way to the branch. Finally she was there, taking the worn wood in her hands and feeling the weight of it. ‘This should do..’ She thought with a grim look. The deputy continued forward, waiting for just the right moment to slip behind the guard. Veronica gripped the bat harder and was about to swing when the guard turned around, surprise on his features. She wasted no time slamming the branch down on his head with a crack as he turned his gun towards her. The first blow slowed him- and for good measure she delivered the finishing blow. Through the branch, she could feel his skull give and an initial spray of blood shot from the wound, flecking V’s face in red freckles. She gasped and looked down to see his body twitch twice more before stilling, his heart steadily pumping out his life force.

Veronica felt cold as she watched the light drain from his eyes, shock starting to take over. She’d never actually killed anyone before. The world faded back piece by piece as she grabbed the man’s gun, and more screams came from the woods. She had to keep moving. A small drop off into the woods was her escape, and she crouched in the ferns on the woodland floor. There was another fire in the distance, and her enemies were scouring the area for her and Burke.

Suddenly- her radio crackled, causing her to jump and grab it from her belt to muffle the speaker. “Hello? Hello.. it’s Burke… I think I lost them.. I see a trailer ahead across a bridge and I’m going to try to get inside. If anyone is still alive, if anyone is out there...” The signal was lost and it cut out. “Well I guess that’s where I’m going.” V sighed, and started slowly making her way through the woods. She passed the second fire, narrowly avoiding detection by two guards standing there. From there, she ascended a small hill that led to the bridge the marshal had mentioned. It creaked as she took to the wooden planks, practically crawling her way to the other end. When she got there, a white trailer with a green roof stoof in front of her. There were steps leading up to the back door which she pushed open cautiously, eyes darting side to side straining to catch any movement in the darkened abode.

As soon as she cleared the door Burke was to her left, hands out and ready to attack. Veronica grabbed his arms, stopping him in midair before he regonised her. “Oh my god, Rook… you’re alive!” He cried with relief. “Yeah, no thanks to you, asshole. You left me to die back there!” She scoffed, glaring daggers at him. “I… It was just fight or flight, I was-” He struggled to defend himself.

“It doesn’t matter. Whitehorse told you this was a bad idea, this is your fault no matter what you have to say.” Ronnie cut him off, pointing an accusatory finger at him. When he had no retort she continued, “Now we have to find a way out of this shit show, and to rescue the others. Did you have a plan?” Burke sighed, walking further into the trailer, motioning for her to follow. The walls were wood panelled, and words were scratched into most of the walls; ‘The Father’, ‘Walk the path’, along with other mantras and bible verses. Pictures were also posted all over the spots that had no words. They all depicted the members of the Seed family in various poses and situations. One such picture was a framed portrait of all of them, Cameron grabbed this and stared into their eyes. He looked haunted.

“The plan is to put all of these fuckers in jail. No matter what it takes.” He gathered himself before tossing it on the table and going to point out of one of the front windows. “To get out of here, I was thinking I could try to hotwire that truck, unless the keys are in it. It’s probably only a couple hours back to Missoula, then we’re gonna come back here with the National fucking Guard, and take care of these lunatics.”

“Fine, let’s just get out of here before-” Veronica was cut off by a shot ringing out, and one of the windows behind her shattering into a spray of glass. “They’re in there!” Screamed a man, and more shots were fired at the trailer. “These guys just don’t give up!” She exclaimed, exasperated. Burke took shelter against one of the walls, pulling out his gun to fend off the attackers. V scanned the room and found a gun mounted on the wall, she grabbed it and cocked it before crouching under the shattered window, sitting up to aim outside. There were four peggies firing at them. She took aim at the first, shooting him square in the chest and knocking him to the ground. Burke took out one on the other side then turned to say “Cover me! I’m gonna go get that truck started!” Veronica nodded curtly before turning to shoot out the window twice more.

Even more cultists were arriving at the scene and taking up arms, it seemed almost hopeless. V fired shot after shot, taking out as many as she could until she finally heard the sweet roar of an engine, and Cameron shouted for her to join him in the truck. “Finally, fuck!” She gasped, dashing from the trailer and ripping open the door to the vehicle. “Let’s fucking go!” He yelled while she slammed the door and immediately leaned out of the window to shoot at the peggies behind them. Burke careened down the simple dirt road, Veronica shooting at their enemies as they approached a chain link fence and busted through the gate with no problem, then they were crossing a bridge to the main road.

Burke was gasping, close to panic, while V just felt numb. ‘Shock must be setting in, great.’ She thought distantly. “God, I had no idea Rook. I didn’t know how bad it was, how right Whitehorse was… I wish we’d never served that warrant.” He rambled, glancing between the deputy and the road. “It’s too late for wishes, Burke… they’ve got the road blocked!” She exclaimed at the sight before her; peggies had their trucks and sawhorses blocking off the next section of street. She lifted her gun once more, shooting at them while Cameron swerved wildly to avoid the obstacles. One of the cultists to their right set off a flare, letting the rest of them know where they were.

The pair crashed through another barricade, and Ronnie kept shooting at the people pursuing them that were in an identical looking truck. “We aren’t losing them marshal!” She shouted. “Alright, I guess we gotta try something else.” He huffed before taking the truck off road, almost going airborne as they crashed through a wooden fence. Blinding headlights were blazing behind them as more and more peggies joined the chase. Veronica happened to glance in the bed, and spotted some red sticks. “Oh fuck yeah.” She chuckled, reaching out of the window and grabbing a stick before producing her simple purple lighter that had miraculously stayed in her pocket. She lit the fuse on the dynamite, squinting her eyes as the cord came to life and the flame hissed. V chucked it at one of the trucks behind them, causing a loud boom and fire bloomed from the wreckage. “Shit! That’s pretty satisfying.” She commented, turning to Burke who still looked too scared to be impressed.

After lighting a couple more sticks and tossing them out, causing some major chaos, they found themselves about to go under an overpass. Right before they passed underneath, a sleek white plane flew out of the clouds and began shooting at them, hitting some green crates on the side of the road only for them to explode. Keying into this as they finally passed under the bridge, she fired quickly at the crates scattered around an upcoming roadblock, sending people flying in every direction. “A plane, are you kidding me?” Burke yelled and pounded a fist against the wheel.

A gargantuan bridge waited on the other side of the roadblock, there was a sign mounted near the top that read ‘Henbane River Bridge’. As they raced across, Cameron took a deep breath before saying “Home free, after this we are home free!” Veronica wasn’t so sure as more planes swooped overhead, and suddenly a high-pitched whistling could be heard getting closer and closer, before V yelled “Bomb!!” and orange flames whooshed across the bridge, enveloping their truck and sending them tumbling into the river below.

The vehicle was in a freefall with chunks of concrete, the river’s waters rushing up to meet them. Neither of them had time to say anything before they made impact. Veronica was incapacitated for a moment and when her eyes opened they were underwater, trapped once again. She saw Burke across from her pounding on the window, shattering it on his third try and swimming up to the top, leaving her to drown. Ronnie gathered together her last bits of energy, slamming her elbow into the passenger side window until it finally broke, and she maneuvered her way from the descending car. Her arms flailed as her lungs screamed, daring her to take a breath before breaching the surface, and then it went black.

Not too long later, her eyes snapped open and she grasped at the wet silt underneath her, she was on the shore. On the bridge there were countless flashlights casted down upon the water, looking for her. She heard Marshal Burke yelling off in the distance, and saw a group of peggies pulling him away as he shouted “I am a federal marshal! You can’t do this!” Veronica tried to get the will to get up and run, knowing she was next; but her muscles screamed with exhaustion and wouldn’t cooperate. She was able to lift herself to crawl maybe a foot before collapsing once more, staring up at the sky and trying to accept that this was the end.

A figure came into her field of vision and the barrel of a shotgun was dangerously close to her head, she didn’t even have the energy to protest as the person lifted her over their shoulder with a grunt, and began carrying her through the woods. Her vision faded in and out, allowing her to see them pass by a radio tower and then a cabin, only to walk down some metal stairs. Then she could fight no more; and everything went black.

#my writing #veronica rook #john seed #joseph seed #faith seed #jacob seed #earl whitehorse #staci pratt #joey hudson #cameron burke #sharky boshaw #fc5 #far cry 5 #...and hell followed with him #ahfwh

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alienheartattack · 5 years ago

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In the Spider’s Web (NSFW)

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. After literal years of feeling uninspired by ship stuff (the manga is so far beyond shipping at this point that I now ship Mikasa with years of therapy), I went through my drafts and found a few attempts at the prequel to Things That Go Bump in the Night. To catch you up: modern AU, Levi is a vampire, Mikasa has been hunting him since he murdered Eren, then boners occur. And this time, thanks to the Comic Sans trick, I was able to bang out just under 5000 words of Rivamika vampire/hunter fun.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve written smut or even prose in general (I’ve been writing exclusively for stage and screen for the last 3 years) so I’m feeling kinda self-conscious that I may have lost my fanfic mojo or whatever. I usually don’t press for feedback but I would really love some this time around if you have the time. I hope you enjoy the story!

CW: death, gory injuries, getting drunk on blood, and straight up fuckin’.

Mikasa has to stifle a wild howl of laughter when she finally picks the lock on the blacked-out skylight atop the vampire's lair. This is it, she thinks, the culmination of her hard work to kill the man — No, not the man, the monster — who killed her brother. A flash of memory quickly stifles her silent celebration: the now-familiar sight of the shell that used to be Eren. The seemingly fathomless well of her sorrow threatens to overflow as she remembers the details she has tried so hard to forget: his golden skin turned to ash; his dimmed green eyes wide with surprise, staring infinitely into the void. Mikasa takes a few long, deep breaths, sucking in lungfuls of chilly October air until the image fades from her mind and she can devote herself entirely to her task.

The vampire's name is Levi, and even the most debased and inhuman Kindred speak of him in awed tones. Through her work with the Hunter Corps, Mikasa has learned of his legend: that he can puncture a mortal's throat and have the poor sack of meat half-drained before they realize they’ve been bitten. That he is faster, stronger, more cunning, and more ruthless than any of his kind. That he will not hesitate to display his physical and mental superiority to anyone, be they human, Kindred, or Hunter.

Tonight, Mikasa plans to drive a stake through the heart of the legend. She has followed him for over a year, tracking his movements and shadowing him as he prowled the streets of the City, hunting for prey. She has tried to kill him twice before, and twice he has held her off — but not hurt or killed her. Mikasa finds it peculiar that she has not yet met her fate at the end of his fangs, but has never considered why. The motivations of a monster are of no interest to her.

It has taken her far too long, by her estimation, to come up with this plan. She will hide on his roof at night while he finds his next meal, then wait for sunrise and sneak into his lair to kill him while he sleeps. She prefers to dispatch her quarries in a fair fight, pitting her impressive speed and skill against supernatural ability, but with Levi, her need for revenge outweighs her honorable convictions.

Mikasa watches the first rays of dawn creep over the horizon, chasing away the cerulean darkness with streaks of crimson. She takes the bloody sky as a good omen. According to her watch, it is 6:37 AM, just a few minutes before sunrise. Levi should be at his most vulnerable after falling into his daily slumber.

Time to go, she thinks, steeling herself for her mission.

She smiles a rictus grin as she slowly opens the skylight, careful not to let its hinges creak. Holding her breath, she climbs inside the building, finding a series of metal rungs to guide her down fifty feet into Levi's lair, and closes the skylight behind her. Her boot-clad toes seek soft contact with the next rung as she climbs down silently, languorously, like a stalking cat. Every few moments she stops to listen for his movements, to look down and see whether he is lying in wait for her. She hears nothing and sees nothing, so she continues.

The room below serves as some sort of ceremonial dining hall, with a long wooden table stretching across most of the room. Ornately carved wooden chairs sit around it, with the largest and most intricate chair at the far end: Levi's seat, undoubtedly. The table is set for a banquet with a multitude of plates, wine glasses, and silverware at each seat; empty silver candlesticks and candelabras run down the length of the highly polished oak. The hall is lit with hundreds of flickering candles in sconces and chandeliers, providing a dramatic backdrop to the priceless works of art contained within: painted portraits in gilt frames, marble sculptures, antiquities on pedestals and in glass cases. It is a museum of opulence, of corruption. Mikasa's stomach turns as she surveys the scene, imagining the countless people who gave their blood and their lives for Levi to amass a collection to rival the world's greatest museums.

And then, while she is deep in thought and dangling ten feet above the heavy wooden table, one of the metal rungs comes loose from its moorings — and Mikasa falls.

She has the forethought not to yelp in surprise as she pitches away from the wall, but cannot help herself from crying out as she lands on her side on top of the table, ceramic plates and crystal goblets shattering beneath her weight. Mikasa lies there, the wind knocked out of her, unable to take a breath from pain and shock. After a few moments, she regains her senses and groans as she registers a new pain; no, two of them, a dull ache in her ribs and a sharpness in her thigh. She feels around her thigh with shaking hands until agony surges through her and she finds the source of the pain: one of the silver candlesticks has pierced clean through her leg, its heavy base embedded in her hamstring muscles and its fluted tip sticking out through her toned quadriceps.

"Noooo," she moans. Even if Levi is not there, he will return any moment to see her served to him on his dining room table, bleeding and ready to be devoured. Mikasa attempts to sit up but finds that the slightest motion hurts so much that her vision starts to go white around the edges and hot tears stream down her cheeks. Even breathing hurts, sending stabbing pains through her side as she tries to catch her breath.

"So that's what you've been scheming, little fly," comes Levi's disembodied voice, slithering out from the room’s flickering dimness. Mikasa tries to summon the last of her strength to move, to do anything but lie there and suffer, but she can only raise herself a few inches before she lets out a tortured, feral scream, a wild animal cornered at last.

"Surely your feeble human brain can still form words. You're badly injured, but you're not dead yet," he says in a sharp, mocking tone, materializing seemingly from thin air next to her. "Emphasis on 'yet.'"

Mikasa takes in a shaky breath, rage and agony coursing through her in equal measure. "Fuck… you… Levi," she spits.

"For the record, that's not a sufficient apology for smashing my property and getting your blood all over my table." He goes to speak but pauses when he registers the scent of her blood, meaty and potent and alive, more delicious than anything he's ever smelled before.

"Your blood," he repeats, softer this time. "Oh, god." He groans under his breath, suddenly feeling weak in the knees as a potent hunger unfurls in his belly. Levi's expression starts to shift: his eyes widen and his mouth goes slack, exposing the tips of his fangs. His pupils dilate, inky black overtaking the otherworldly silver hue of his irises. He approaches her slowly, seemingly floating towards her, his eyes locked on her impaled thigh.

"Kill me," she grunts. "Just get it over with."

"No," Levi says, his voice hushed, almost reverent. "I don't want to kill you like this." He reaches one pale hand toward Mikasa and she attempts to roll away from him, crying out wordlessly at the waves of torment wracking her broken body. But he does not touch her: instead, his finger finds a spatter of her blood on the wooden tabletop and wipes it away, placing his finger between his parted lips.

The sensation that hits him is so unexpected and overwhelming that it nearly brings him to his knees. He almost comes in his pants just from anticipation; the fraction of a second it takes for his finger to enter his mouth feels like ten lifetimes, and he groans in ecstasy as he finally tastes her, all iron and heat. Mikasa's blood sings on his tongue, burning down his throat like the finest whiskey, filling his belly like a sumptuous meal and paradoxically making him even more ravenous for her. He is surprised to find that he does not want to drain her dry; he wants to savor her, coaxing a few drops of blood from her at a time, enrapturing her with the power of his fanged kisses.

Once the intense sensation fades enough that he can think somewhat clearly again, Levi realizes that Mikasa has been watching him the entire time. He meets her gaze, hoping he doesn't look as wild-eyed and utterly undone as he feels. If she notices, then he cannot tell, her face still distorted into a tortured grimace.

"Don't toy with me," Mikasa grinds out from between clenched teeth. Her breath hisses shallowly in and out of her mouth, occasionally punctuated by low moans.

"I'm not," Levi replies coolly. "I want to heal you, and I want you to come back and try to kill me in a fair fight. This..." he motions vaguely towards her curled body, "this isn't fun for me."

Mikasa lets out a guffaw despite herself, then howls as pain radiates through her broken ribs. "Fun? You find this fun?"

"I do," he says. He smiles wide, letting his razor-sharp fangs peek out from between his lips. "Your pathetic attempts to kill me have been fairly humorous, but the irony of you ending up in a bloody heap on my dining table, of all places, is too satisfying to put into words." Levi sucks in a shaky breath, inhaling more of her blood's heady perfume, then leans close to her, his mouth inches from her ear. "I should eat you up," he all but purrs. "But I won't."

With that, he disappears, leaving Mikasa alone in the great hall. She drags her arms, covered in her protective leather jacket, across the tabletop to sweep the shattered plates and glasses onto the floor, sending silverware clattering against the hardwood. She then feels around the tabletop for any other blood she has spilled, wiping it off with her hands before he can drink any more of it. Even if he swears he will not kill her, she does not trust him, especially if he becomes intoxicated on the heady, rich blood of a Hunter.

He reappears a few minutes later, bearing a lacquered wooden tray. On it rests a delicate bone china teapot and two matching teacups and saucers, each painted with a pattern of vines and red roses. The roses look almost obscene to Mikasa, plump and splayed open, ready to be plucked.

"You're bringing me tea?" she sneers as Levi pours a measure of steaming amber brew into each cup. "That's really going to help get this candlestick out of my leg."

"No, but this will," Levi says, raising his wrist to his mouth and slashing it open against his fangs. He positions his hand over the tray as his blood washes over his alabaster skin and into one of the cups, darkening the tea until it looks like wine. He then licks his wrist clean, sealing the gash. Within seconds, his wrist is pale and pristine once more.

Mikasa goggles with disbelief at Levi, who places the cup of blood-tea near her hand. "You want me to drink your blood?"

"Are you just going to state the obvious over and over?" he snaps, earning himself a murderous glare.

"Pardon me for being a bit perplexed at my current situation. I don't usually make a habit of taking tea with the monster I'm trying to kill." Mikasa wrinkles her nose at him, thankful that she’s found one expression of contempt that doesn’t make her entire body ache.

Levi picks up his cup of tea, lifting it by the rim with his slim fingertips, and takes a sip. "Perhaps you should."

"Don't humor me."

"Look. I'm offering you a gift, in exchange for a promise."

"Then it's not a gift," Mikasa grumbles. Levi slams his teacup against the saucer but doesn’t spill a drop. The rattle of china on china echoes throughout the hall.

"Will you shut up? You’re really making me regret not killing you." Mikasa lets out an angry sigh. As much as she doesn’t want to make a deal with Levi, she can see no other way off the table without further injuring or killing herself in the process.

"Fine! Tell me your terms!" she grinds out.

Levi takes a long, slow drink from his cup before he answers. "You drink the tea and walk out of here healed and whole. In exchange, we call a truce. From now until the next sunrise, I don't try to kill you, and you don't try to kill me."

Mikasa considers his proposition, trying to find some flaw or catch. "Why should I believe that you'll honor this agreement?"

"Because if I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead by now," he says, his voice low and raspy, seductive yet poisonous. Levi puts down his teacup and reaches over to her, placing the pad of his index finger on her pulse point just beneath her ear. He feels her heart fluttering, the pulse of her blood through her veins, then traces his finger down the path of her jugular. Mikasa's breath quickens beneath his hand. His caress blazes a path of heat down her neck, into her breasts and belly, and lower.

"Or I can toss you out into the night to defend yourself. I can think of a few Kindred who'd love to get their hands on you." Suddenly he removes his finger from her skin and uses it to push the wine-dark teacup toward her. His gaze bores into her, evoking the same peculiar heated sensation as his touch. "Drink."

She doesn't want his help, doesn't want his blood flowing through her body. She’s read that drinking a vampire’s blood causes a bond between them, albeit an ephemeral one, and she does not want to test this theory for herself. In this moment everything feels too intimate and too perverse to her, the vampire who drained her brother dry offering her tea and sympathy instead of a swift death. But the pain in her body grows with each breath, and she knows that she cannot leave here under her own power. At best she will have months of recovery, at worst she will be permanently unable to continue her hunt. Mikasa reaches out a bloody hand toward the porcelain teacup, but before she can grasp its delicate handle, Levi stops her, capturing her wrist in his grasp.

"You're not touching eighteenth-century bone china with your hands caked in—" he swallows thickly— "filth."

"I can't exactly wash my hands—" Mikasa says, but is cut off by Levi running his tongue over her hand, licking her skin clean. He sucks on each of her fingers in turn, rubbing his lips over her fingertips, lapping at the semi-congealed blood pooled in the hollow of her palm. He lets out a ragged sigh and braces himself against the table with one hand as his cock grows hard again and his knees tremble at the taste of her.

Mikasa is transfixed by the sight before her, Levi's eyelids fluttering closed as he lavishes attention on her skin. She has been this close to him before but has never noticed the length of his eyelashes, the soft pout of his lips, or the raw male power emanating from him. She has been nearly nose to nose with him in a fight, but now, lying battered and bleeding in his lair, she has never felt more wetness or more warmth between her legs.

"God, you're delicious," he moans, licking the last of the blood away, and Mikasa has to fight herself not to mimic the low, rough sound. Her chest rises and falls heavily as she contemplates the tainted cup of tea before her, wisps of white steam swirling above deep garnet.

"I have to avenge Eren," she tells him, her tone steady and resolute, yet mournful. "No amount of kindness from you will change that."

"I know." Silence stretches out between them for a few moments. Levi looks as though he wants to tell her something, conflicting emotions warring on his face until he lets out an annoyed grunt and decides to speak.

"You should know that I did him a kindness as well. He was wanted by forces much more monstrous and evil than even me. The Strigoi," he says in a hushed voice, seemingly too afraid to speak the name of the vampire elders’ council at full volume. "A quick death was the best I could do for him. That is all I can say on the matter."

Mikasa stares at him, her eyes shining, then gives him a small nod. "Thank you," she whispers, then reaches for the china teacup. Her eyes do not leave his as she lifts its delicate rim to her lips and drinks the entire thing in one swallow.

She can feel the potency of the drink as soon as it hits her tongue, the grassiness of tea leaves mixed with the smoke and steel taste of his blood. It swirls around her mouth and warms her, trickling down her throat and into her stomach. Without realizing she is moving, she lifts her other hand to his mouth, smearing blood across his lips until he grasps her wrist with both hands and hungrily laps at her crimson-stained skin.

Her breath quickens as she feels his blood doing its work, suffusing itself into her cells, making her insides roil as bruised organs repair themselves, fractured bones knit together. Mikasa reaches for the candlestick in her leg, wincing as she wraps her fingers around one end and prepares to yank it out.

"No!" Levi cries. "Not yet. You’ll bleed out and I... I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself." His voice is husky, thick with what Mikasa realizes is barely-contained desire. He runs his tongue across her thumb, capturing one last droplet of blood lodged in the corner of the nail, then lets her hand go.

If he wasn’t dead, he’d be blushing, Mikasa thinks, a similar flush blooming across her cheeks.

"Can you help me, then? I think you know your blood better than I do," she says with a knowing smile. Levi returns the smile and nods, climbing up on the table and kneeling beside her. He rests his palms against each side of her calf and runs his hands up her leg, stopping near the wound on her thigh. Mikasa shivers beneath his touch; the contact sends bolts of arousal throughout her body, overriding the last few threads of lingering pain. The only sound in the room is her labored breathing becoming more regular as her ribs heal, then the sound of fabric tearing as Levi rips her pant leg off from around her injury, leaving most of her leg bare.

"What are you—?" she blurts.

"I need to seal the wound," Levi interrupts, his tone brusque. "It’s easier this way." He waits a few moments, watching intently as the ragged flesh and muscle starts to join together. When it is sufficiently closed for him, he pushes Mikasa’s knee to her chest and grasps the base of the candlestick protruding from the underside of her thigh. He then yanks the candlestick out, sending it flying across the room, and attaches his lips around the open wound, drinking the residual blood and licking at her skin. Deep muffled moans escape from between her flesh and his mouth. When he is finished he gingerly puts her leg down and does the same to the other side of the wound, burying his face in her thigh. He uses one hand to steady himself and the other to rub his painfully hard cock through his pants, hoping to relieve some of the tension there. Mikasa writhes beneath him, though whether it is in pain or pleasure he cannot tell until he looks up from the now-healed wound to see her gazing down at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, her mouth set in a pouty O.

In response Levi leaps on top of her faster than the human eye can discern, pressing her against the tabletop with his heavy, muscled body. Although he is shorter than her, a fact she never hesitates to point out, every inch of his body is toned and taut and imbued with superhuman strength, giving him the presence of a man twice his size. Mikasa gasps with the dueling emotions of fear and arousal when she feels him atop her, unsure of his intentions.

"You promised," she says softly, surprised that she feels wounded at the thought of his betrayal.

"I did," he answers in a low, breathy tone, then lowers his mouth to hers and takes her mouth in a fierce kiss. Mikasa immediately responds, her arms crushing him to her, her hips arching up to meet the rigid bulge in his pants, her tongue flicking against his as she opens her mouth to him. Levi presses himself against Mikasa, grinding his cock against the now-damp juncture of her thighs. She moans wordlessly as his zipper grazes her clit, marveling how she can feel such a thing through layers of fabric. Levi seems to share her thoughts, momentarily pulling away from her so he can unbutton his shirt and pants. Mikasa does the same, undoing the zipper of her jacket before Levi presses his hands to hers, stopping her.

"Let me," he rasps, his voice rough with need. He finishes undressing, throwing his crisp white shirt to the floor, kicking off his shoes, pushing down the waistband of his trousers. Mikasa mentally notes with a smirk that he does not wear any underwear and that his noted penchant for cleanliness seems to have disappeared under the influence of potent blood and sensuality. When he is finally naked, his muscled frame looking like sharply chiseled marble in the candlelight, his cock swollen and thick and ready for her, he pulls her up to a seated position and slips off her leather jacket, pushing his hands down her arms until it drops off of her body and falls to the table. The jacket hangs there for a moment and then drops to the floor. Her shirt soon follows, his fingers undoing each button with agonizing deliberation, tracing each inch of exposed flesh with his hands and lips; then her bra, which he flings in some random direction. He doesn’t know where; instead he is gazing deep into her eyes, seeing his hunger reflected in her dilated pupils and parted lips. His movements are soft and sure, dragging out the process of undressing her until they are both trembling and frenzied, ready to pounce on each other with barely-controlled lust.

He is the first to move, grasping her by the hips and yanking her pants and underwear off in one fluid motion and pressing his mouth to her pussy, inhaling the scent of her before finally, blissfully tasting her.

"Fuck!" Mikasa moans as Levi drags his tongue in leisurely circles around her clit, each circuit coaxing more noises out of her, breathy little gasps and sighs that only serve to drive Levi wild. His cock throbs in response and he groans, aching to be buried deep inside her. Mikasa rests on her elbows and watches him, looking down the flat plane of her belly at the top of his head as he licks and sucks at her most tender flesh. She flexes her hips and opens herself even wider to his touch; he responds by gripping and massaging her inner thighs as he devours her, the taste of her sex as intoxicating as that of her blood. He is firm and confident against her most sensitive parts, each motion pushing her closer and closer to an explosive peak. Within minutes she is shrieking and thrashing beneath him, orgasm tearing through her body with a force that only Levi possesses.

Before Mikasa can fully come back down to earth, he reaches his hands beneath her body and flips her over, depositing her on her hands and knees, sending silverware skittering, plates and glasses crashing to the floor. He barely registers the wanton destruction, focused only on the needs of his body, the desperate desire to plunge himself into her. Mikasa pushes her ass against the stiff length of his cock, silently begging him to ravish her, to give her pleasure by mercilessly taking his. Levi chooses not to indulge her just yet, grasping his shaft and rubbing his head against her folds a few times before he can no longer take it. He growls as she takes him inside her, her cunt hot and tight and slick with shameless need.

"Yessss," she hisses, overwhelmed with the delicious sensation of herself stretching around his cock, feeling herself adjust to his thickness. Levi tries to savor the moment but cannot resist the frantic urge to slam his cock into her over and over again, her ass slapping against his hips with each frenzied stroke. Mikasa starts to keen, her pussy clenching around his cock, sending electric currents of pleasure through both of them with every motion.

Levi loops one arm around her waist and pulls her upright against him, molding her back to his chest as he still maintains his furious rhythm inside of her. Mikasa leans against him, arching her back to give him access to her bared neck. His features briefly take on a look of disbelief at her actions, but the look in her eyes says Come, taste me.

"So fucking hot," he cries. He grips her tighter around her waist, using his grasp as leverage to fuck her harder. His free hand finds her clit, teasing it with his fingertips until she twitches and shudders against him, primed for another orgasm. Levi increases the tempo of his thrusts and swipes at her clit roughly, building a furious rhythm that will soon leave her limp and exhausted, if her frantic moans are any indication. His ministrations increase in speed, building to a fever pitch as he feels his orgasm start to build in his thighs and his balls. Mikasa’s eyes clench shut in concentration; an iridescent sheen of sweat appears on her forehead and neck, and blazing spots of color burn in her cheeks. Just before he comes, just as Mikasa’s cunt starts to flutter around him, he sinks his fangs into her neck and takes a long drink, the familiar but still somehow unexpected taste of her blood pushing him headlong into an orgasm that feels as though he is the one being drained. In that moment there is no Levi and no Mikasa, only two beings of pure pleasure, screaming their release as one.

Mikasa is the first to regain her senses, collapsing forward onto the table, sending another plate and glass to the floor as she catches herself on unsteady arms. Levi’s cock slides out of her pussy, glistening with her wetness. She makes a disappointed noise, feeling keenly the loss of him inside of her, a sensation of emptiness without his cock filling her. She lies on her stomach atop the table and lets out a long, sated sigh.

"Holy shit," she rasps, her voice hoarse and her throat dry from her heavy breaths and screams. She looks over her shoulder at Levi, her hair damp and matted to her forehead in dark tendrils, her countenance disheveled and gleaming. If he still breathed, the sight of her would take his breath away.

"Yeah," he murmurs in agreement, reaching out one hand to stroke her lightly sweating back, his mind utterly blank. Physically he remains pristine, not even a hair out of place; mentally, emotionally, he feels as confused as he does satisfied, as though he has been broken apart and rearranged in a foreign configuration. In due time he will register the magnitude of this encounter, will rage and seethe at the destruction they’ve both wrought in his lair, will scrutinize what the hell he just did with the woman who’s been trying to kill him, but for now all he wants to do is gather her in his arms and take her to his bed. He does so, moving with such speed that Mikasa barely registers what has happened until Levi is propping her up against a mountain of pillows, her skin glowing against his crimson silk sheets. He settles himself next to her, his body curling around hers as she does the same to him. Mikasa reaches over and brushes a strand of dark hair out of his face, then presses her lips to his gently, almost chastely.

"What just happened kind of makes me wish I’d asked for a longer truce,” he says after a few minutes of intimate silence.

Mikasa giggles softly, then sighs. "Me too." Neither of them suggests one, though, because that is not the way of the world. He is a vampire and she is a Hunter. They fight on opposite sides of an eternal war; they are not supposed to be lovers and bedfellows. After tonight they must return to their roles and forget about the passion between them and how they gave in to it, although they both know that they never will.

"You do know I'm going to try to kill you tomorrow night, right?" she asks him.

"I know," he replies, his lips curving into a wry smile before he can think to hide it. "I'm looking forward to it."

#rivamika #levi ackerman #mikasa ackerman #attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #alienheartattack writes #i swear to god if tumblr gives me another error when i try to post this i will burn this website to the ground and salt the earth

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mattsammonsez · 4 years ago

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Hockey’s Voice

Sometimes you meet people who embody everything you believe makes a good person. Mike “Doc” Emrick is one of those people, and I enjoyed the few times we interacted in the past 13 years.

Mike “Doc” Emrick in his second home.

When you work in sports broadcasting, your path crosses with the paths of a lot of prominent people, including athletes, coaches, and executives. It’s all part of the job, and admittedly one of the many perks that comes with the territory. While it’s fun to cross paths with these people, there are a select few where you feel blessed that your paths crossed. Mike “Doc” Emrick is one of those people, and you always felt like you knew him and he knew you all your life even if your real life interaction was only 5 minutes. With the announcement from Emrick earlier this week that he is retiring from calling NHL games, I wanted to share a few stories about the times my path fortunately and blessedly crossed with Doc’s.

Like many people my age, we got to know Doc on a regular basis on national television. For me, it was his weekly appearances on the NHL on Fox game of the week in the mid 90’s, as well as numerous New Jersey Devils highlights earlier in the decade as that team was building into a dominant team. In 2005, Doc became the primary voice on the NHL on OLN broadcasts (later Versus, then NBC Sports Network). In 2006, I became the pregame host of Tampa Bay Lightning radio broadcasts, and as I started to settle into my role that season I started gaining new job duties. One of those duties was to pull together guest interviews for our weekly radio show Lightning Hockey Night. In the 2007 playoffs, the Lightning drew the Devils in the first round, and thus my first interaction with Doc would happen as I was trying to get a guest for the program.

We weren’t looking to get Doc on the show as a live guest, but with Doc at the time still calling Devils games I figured he’d be the perfect guest for the show as he was a well-known voice and face even to hockey fans in Florida. Before the morning skate of game 4 with the Lightning up 2-1 in the series, I introduced myself to Doc and asked him if I could get him for just a few minutes to talk about the series. He said he could, and we continued with our usual morning skate routine for the next couple of hours. I hung around the rink until the Devils were done with their skate, and after the locker rooms were closed to the media I approached Doc again to see if he was still able to do a quick interview. This was close to 1 p.m., and with a game starting at 7 or 7:30 that night Doc had plenty of prep to do. Plus his color analyst, the humorous Glenn “Chico” Resch was hungry and wanted lunch. Yet when I politely asked, Doc without hesitation obliged and we sat down in the stands for a few minutes to discuss the series. It was such a special moment, and such a fun interview, I’ve saved it 13 years and counting.

Emrick yucking it up as Jim Carr, the carpet-coiffed play-by-play announcer for the Johnstown Jets in the cult classic film Slap Shot, at Hockeyville USA, 2015.

Fast forward to September 2015. I’m now the Director of Broadcasting & Programming for the Lightning, and I’m on the team plane to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as the Lightning and Penguins will be squaring off in the first Kraft Hockeyville USA preseason game. Game day was hectic, as the NHL and NBC rolled out the red carpet not only for both teams but for as much Slap Shot as possible since Johnstown was the location of the film shoot 40 years earlier. Along with being that night’s radio engineer for our broadcast, my mission was to pull together as many interviews as possible for a podcast on the event. Knowing the legendary Hanson Brothers would be there, I targeted an interview with them which I was able to score.

The Cambria County War Memorial Arena was opened in 1950, when comforts such as being able to stretch your legs were not baked into many civic building blueprints. In a tiny locker room I waited for the Hansons to come in, and I did so next to Doc who agreed to also do an interview with me once I was done with the Hansons. The Hansons came in, and not only played the part of their characters well for my interview, but they too were incredibly friendly and great to talk to. While the interview went on, there was that brief fleeting moment in my head; “I’m interviewing three of the greatest hockey movie characters while one of the greatest hockey announcers is sitting in the background watching this.” Quite the moment to say the least. After my conversation with the Hansons, I sat down with Doc to talk to him about what the game meant to him, a former college teacher and newspaper writer in Western Pennsylvania 45 years earlier. You could sense in Doc’s eyes and voice this Hockeyville experience in his old backyard with all the Slap Shot fun and frivolity mixed in was quite the moment for him. The Hanson Brothers and Doc interviews were the cornerstone of my podcast, and all these years later it’s still one of my favorite podcasts of more than 100 I did.

Emrick could make any broadcast better, including a Morning Skate Show in desperate need of some good news in 2018.

Fast forward to May 2018. We’re not in the preseason, we’re in the thick of the postseason, and the Lightning are about to battle the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Final. Prior to game one at the morning skate, Doc and I are two of seemingly 200 people gathering around Alex Ovechkin for pregame interviews. We looked on from a distance, laughing more at the spectacle then actually listening to anything Ovechkin was saying. When the scrum was done, I casually asked Doc if we could have him as a guest on our streaming video program The Morning Skate Show when the series shifted to Washington D.C. for game 3. Doc said he wanted to, we just needed to route the request through NBC public relations, which is always a coin flip on if your wish gets granted. Thankfully for us, it was.

Never before did we need a personality like Doc Emrick like we did then. The Caps humiliated the Lightning for two easy wins in Tampa before the series went to our nation’s capital. In planning for the show, we decided to talk as little as possible about the first two games, and simply turn the show into the Doc Emrick talent show. For almost 45 minutes, Doc talked about everything from the NHL playoffs to memories of AHL games in Halifax 40 years ago when birds in the rafters of the old Halifax Forum pooped on the ice during games. At the end of the show he very quietly but confidently reminded our viewers that if any team was able to get out of 0-2 hole to the Caps, it was the Lightning. It was the reassurance and the fun story telling we all needed, and low and behold the Lightning rallied for three-straight wins before the Caps pulled it together and won the series in seven games on their way to their first Stanley Cup championship. As of 2019, it was still one of the most-watched episodes of the show.

Finally, fast forward to October 2019. Two months earlier, I was informed my position was being “eliminated” at the Lightning, but I refused to be eliminated from the scene. Newly hired to provide a weekly Metro Express podcast to the Philadelphia Flyers (and later the Capitals), I arrived at Amalie Arena for a morning skate prior to a Lightning and Penguins game that was being aired nationally on NBC that night. Once I found out Doc was on the call, I knew I needed to get him for a few minutes to talk Metropolitan Division hockey. I saw Doc sitting in the first couple of rows of seats when I arrived, and I quickly slipped in next to him and asked if I could get his thoughts real quickly. Doc was there to study lines and defensive pairings of both teams, and now at the age of 74 had to double-check all players and facts before putting on another flawless broadcast that night. I was very respectful of his time, and as always he was respectful enough to grant me a few minutes of his busy day.

While there were many similarities to that first interview with Doc in 2007, this time around technology would come back to bite me. Feeling satisfied my iPhone would work as a microphone just fine, I started the interview. Midway through Doc’s first answer, my phone started ringing, cutting off the voice memo app I was using. Thankfully I silenced my phone so it merely buzzed, but in my head I was cursing while Doc was talking. There was no way I was going to ask him to start over again, I was just going to have to eat the moment as I feverishly hung up on the call and pressed record on the voice memo again. While I did this without interrupting Doc’s thoughts, I still got a good 7-8 minutes from him and used it in that week’s show. It was special to connect with Doc again, and I was reminded even as a veteran hockey broadcaster at this time to never ever again do an important interview on my iPhone.

Doc’s retirement announcement didn’t come totally as a surprise to me. I figured with COVID-19 still a factor in our lives for at least the next year or two, the last place a 75-year-old cancer survivor needs to be is in a pressurized airplane cabin or travelling from one cold city to another in the winter. And even though Doc is a pro’s pro, it’s extremely difficult to call a game from a television screen. Whoever is named his successor at NBC has some very big shoes to fill.

As for me, my career has moved forward from my exit with the Lightning, and while potentially great things await I don’t know if I’ll be able to cover a daily beat in an NHL arena anytime soon. That’s perfectly fine with me, as I’m always looking for a new challenge and can’t wait to see what is ahead for me and my family. That also adds even more emotional value to the times my path crossed with Doc’s path. Hockey fans have been blessed to have him as a prime voice for decades, and I was blessed to interact with him several times in my career. A visit from this doctor was always welcome in the homes and hearts of hockey fans.

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letterboxd · 5 years ago

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Human Resources.

Kitty Green talks to our London correspondent Ella Kemp about “putting the audience in the shoes of the youngest woman in a toxic work environment” in her new film, The Assistant.

The long-undervalued job of a Hollywood assistant has come into stark relief thanks to recent events, and the stories that are being told of assistants’ experiences, working conditions and pay rates are jaw-dropping. (Episode 422 of the Scriptnotes podcast is well worth a listen.)

Filmmaker Kitty Green was well ahead of the conversation; her first narrative feature, The Assistant, quietly premiered at the Telluride Film Festival last August (and the Berlinale in February). Dubbed by many as ‘the first post-#MeToo movie’, it is a remarkable portrait of a young woman navigating just another day in the office. Except this is not just another office, and so many things are wrong about this day.

Starring Julia Garner (Grandma, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Electrick Children) as Jane, the assistant to the predatory head of a New York-based film studio, the story zooms in on the details of her routine—the tedious tasks, the belittlement from her colleagues, the oppression from her mostly faceless boss—with such laser-sharp vision that by the end we feel we know Jane deep in our bones.

Green has previously directed the documentary features Ukraine is Not a Brothel (2013) and Casting JonBenét (2017), the latter a meta-documentary that also hones in on the neglect and exploitation of young women, albeit under a different light (it is now streaming on Netflix). While Green’s documentary experience bears fruit in her attention to detail, the narrative form of The Assistant allows for a focus on mundane tasks and micro-reactions that documentary might not have access to.

Various Letterboxd reviews mention the anxiety-inducing way The Assistant allows us to watch Jane “probe her place in the established, tacit system of complacency… knowing that everyone around her is motivated by self-interest to pretend it doesn’t exist” (Josh Lewis). “Green encourages her viewers to pay close attention to what’s really going on beneath the surface,” (KristineJean) in “a horror movie of soul-sickening ambience” (Scott Tobias).

Though The Assistant’s film festival run was cut short, and the closure of cinemas around the world hurts for a lot of us, there’s something about the claustrophobia of social distancing and the intimacy of the small screen that maybe suits this picture. Nevertheless, seeing the film in a cinema in ‘the before time’ highlighted for Alyssa Heflin the ocean of different opinions that can come from misunderstood subtext: “Watching this in a room where you can hear people snickering at the girl and asking what the point of all this is adds a certain extra… incendiary level to an already deeply angry viewing experience.” Indeed, discomfort and crossed wires seem to define the messages at the core of The Assistant.

Kitty Green talks to Ella Kemp about the influence of Chantal Akerman, the infinite watchability of Julia Garner, and the oddness of growing up with a Nazi-free edit of The Sound of Music.

Jane (Julia Garner) takes another call from the boss in ‘The Assistant’.

The Assistant is your first fiction feature. The subject matter feels so immediate—what made you choose to not make a documentary of this, given your track record in that realm? Kitty Green: I went to fiction film school, and I made fiction short films. I then found work in documentary, so I made two feature-length docs. With this one, I was looking at exploring the micro-aggressions, the tiny moments, gestures, looks, glances, behaviors that often go overlooked when covering the #MeToo movement. We often talk about the bad men and the misconduct, but this is more about a cultural, structural problem. So I was hoping to amplify the more quietly insidious behavior that we need to address if we really want things to improve. A fiction film allowed me to hone in on details—close up—and the way you can take an annoyance through the emotional experience, putting the audience in the shoes of the youngest woman in a toxic work environment.

How did you decide to keep the timeframe to just one day in Jane’s life rather than fleshing it out over a longer period? The lead character is in such a complicated position. It’s such a difficult set of circumstances, the machinery that this predator has created around himself. I wanted to untick that, to discuss how difficult it is to be a young woman in that environment. So the day, the routine, was really important. What she was experiencing, how she was experiencing it; every task she did I gave equal weight to. Whether she was photocopying, binding something suspicious, you experience it as you would if you were in her shoes. That was important to me.

I had my fists clenched the whole time, when she’d be eating cereal, or washing up mugs, waiting for something awful to happen. Totally. It’s exploring misconduct, but it’s also looking at a whole spectrum, from gendered work environments, toxic work environments, through all these environments that support predatory behavior. I was interested in what the entry points are, without conflating those issues and being able to explore all the cultural systemic things we need to unpick to move forward.

The film is so focused on Jane, played by Julia Garner. How did you choose her? The script is pretty bare when it describes who she is, she’s just Jane. I didn’t have anyone in mind, really. I told my casting agent that we’re watching this character do the most mundane tasks, so it was important that she was striking. I said I needed someone infinitely watchable. I had seen Julia in The Americans and I remembered being struck by her, so I immediately wanted to meet her. She really understood the script, it worked out beautifully. We got to create the character together, we had a month of rehearsals where we really went through where she was emotionally at any given point, and Julia is wonderful so it was great.

Matthew Macfadyen and Kitty Green discuss a scene in ‘The Assistant’. / Photo: Ty Johnson

And Matthew Macfadyen—his character feels so crucial and his performance so pivotal, even in just one scene. What were you looking for when casting him? I’ve been a fan of his for forever, but I hadn’t seen Succession. Apparently the character has some similarities? I’ve only watched Succession in the past week… Somebody had to send me a clip to prove he could do an American accent! Matthew really brought something to that character and took it to another level. It’s so insidious what he does. He and Julia worked so beautifully together, it just got better and better every time.

How did you feel watching Succession now and seeing Matthew as Tom Wambsgans? Tom still feels different somehow. But I’ve had a good time watching it, he’s so great. There are parallels for sure!

The language you use in the film is so careful, so much is in the subtext. How do you build tension from these empty spaces? We had a great visual team who were lighting it in an interesting way. There was a lot of oppressive fluorescent lights. The sound was also very important—we had an amazing sound designer, Leslie Schatz, who does a lot of Todd Haynes’ stuff and Gus Van Sant’s. He’d done Elephant, which I thought was phenomenally sound designed. He sent out a team to record every kind of buzz, hum, whir, and we created a lot of tension in that soundscape. It heightens these moments when you can really feel the hum of the fluorescent lights or the alarm of the copier. Things like that are authentic to the world, so it doesn’t feel like you’re manipulating an audience, but they do add a dramatic tension.

During The Assistant’s various film festival screenings so far, audience reactions have been quite varied. Some people find it uncomfortable, some have found it funny. What would you hope an audience member would take from it? Who found it funny…? That’s a strange reaction, and a little terrifying. I think it makes some men uncomfortable and maybe their reaction is to laugh as a way to hide that discomfort. I get a lot of men come up to me afterwards and say, “There are things in that film that maybe I have done.” Those conversations are really important. There’s a scene where the men lean over Jane’s chair and correct her email, little things like that which can be quite patronising even if a lot of men think are helpful. But there’s a point where they cross a line, where maybe it isn’t helpful anymore and it’s a little insulting. I’ve had a few people who are bosses with their own assistants who have watched the film and have said they’re going to treat them a little better, and that maybe they’re wrestling with their own guilt. I think those conversations are great.

Julia Garner prepares for a take on the set of ‘The Assistant’. / Photo: Ty Johnson

What is your favorite one-woman-show performance, where one female actor entirely carries the film? A big influence on The Assistant was Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. It’s just one woman going about her housework. I remember seeing that in film school and being bowled over by it, I’d never seen anything like it.

Do you have a favorite scene that has ever taken place in an office environment? Offices… I mean, I love The Office? I watched it in preparation for this, even though there’s seemingly nothing in common except for the ways of the photocopier…

It’s important to inhale that kind of comedy while working on something more intense, right? For sure, that helps.

What is your favorite on-screen argument? I watched a lot of them to prepare for the HR scene, as it’s a confrontation between two characters. There’s a scene in Steve McQueen’s Hunger, which is a seventeen-minute dialogue. It’s an incredible scene. It’s not an argument but still some sort of confrontation. I was interested in scenes like that which are really long and stand out from the rest of the movie. James Schamus, one of my producers, made a film called Indignation, which has a confrontation between two characters, which also influenced the structure of what I was doing. I also just watched the latest episode of Better Call Saul in which there’s a sixteen-minute confrontation, which I thought was pretty remarkable.

What was the first film that made you want to be a filmmaker? To be honest I’m not sure. I got a video camera when I was eleven, and I started playing with it in our backyard, making little movies. It wasn’t that I saw a film and tried to replicate it necessarily. But I do have a strange story…

I had a copy of The Sound of Music in which my father had edited out the Nazis, because he was worried I’d be scared of them as a kid. So I have this strange 40-minute version of the film that ends at the wedding scene… And I always thought that was The Sound of Music, and then in high school I figured out there’s this whole other storyline I never knew existed. I guess that taught me the power of editing! I had to go back and rewatch what I’d seen, and it definitely made me think of the craft more as a viewer.

‘The Assistant’ is available to watch on VOD platforms (including Hulu) as of late July.

#kitty green #the assistant #directed by women #female director #independent film #telluride film festival #virtual screening #virtual release #metoo #payuphollywood #hollywood assistant #timesup #juliagarner #matthewmacfadyen #patrickwilson #succession #bettercallsaul #chantel akerman #letterboxd

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niqhtlord01 · 5 years ago

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“The Gamer”

SCP-6767, also known as “The Gamer” or “Markiplier”, has been an unusual subject for the foundation.

The foundation became aware of SCP-6767 shortly after the creation of the online video sharing service known as “Youtube”. SCP-6767 identified itself as “markiplier” and ran a channel on youtube which included playing video games, both recent and vintage, and giving commentary as well as humorous reactions.

At first the foundation did not consider SCP-6767 to be an SCP but an average human, but as the years began passing by this line of thinking became more difficult to maintain as SCP-6767 began rapidly growing a sizable following of loyal followers that followed his every word.

Concerns quickly began rising as whenever SCP-6767 would ask their followers to support a cause the overflow of support was of such staggering vastness that it shattered records leading several members in the foundation to believe SCP-6767 had some sort of mind controlling ability. The board began wondering what would happen if SCP-6767 asked their followers, now some 24 million people around the globe, to perform more nefarious acts such as robbing banks or overthrowing a country’s government.

As SCP-6767 began emerging as a leading figure for Youtube and was receiving considerable sponsorship the foundation decided it was time to act. In the dead of night a strike team was sent to apprehend SCP-6767. The team easily swarmed the current residence of SCP-6767 and were able to sedate the SCP before they awoke. The team then bagged and tagged SCP-6767 and returned with him to the foundation.

SCP-6767 was believed to lack any supernatural strength and was placed inside a class D containment cell. The following day SCP-6767 began recovering and began reacting to their new surroundings with surprising calmness and believed this to be some sort of joke. When questioned by foundation staff SCP-6767 would only remark how humorous the situation was and that they needed to get home for a charity event he was hosting.

Things did not escalate until shortly before reaching the 24hr mark of the containment of SCP-6767. SCP-6767 began to act increasingly frustrated and aggravated as they continued to state that they needed to get home for a charity stream and that people were counting on him. There were no clocks present in the cell and yet somehow SCP-6767 was still able to know the exact time. Foundation staff were sent in to calm the subject down and continue questioning and it was at exactly 24 hours after the initial team had obtained SCP-6767 that things went out of hand.

As foundation researchers along with a pair of security personnel entered SCP-6767′s cell SCP-6767 rushed the three of them. SCP-6767 was quickly able to grab the level 2 key card from the researcher as well as a baton from one of the security personnel before escaping into the hallway. SCP-6767 then used the newly acquired key card and sealed the three personnel inside the cell and began making their way to the exit.

At this time it is still unknown how SCP-6767 knew where the exit was located in the facility as they were fully sedated when they were brought in, but upon observing the footage of the event it appears as if SCP-6767 was following some sort of predetermined way points only they could see and that were leading them.

Additional security personnel were sent to secure SCP-6767 and as if sensing the additional threats SCP-6767 quickly hid inside a nearby office and locked themselves in. Several security personnel assembled outside the door and attempted to force the door open. Two of the guards smash into the door together and open it shortly followed by the rest of the guards.

Shortly after they storm in the room only one security personnel stumbles back into the hallway as the sounds of intense screams can be heard from inside the room.

It appears that SCP-6767 had found the room which held SCP-330 and SCP-1499 and again somehow was able to understand the significance of them. SCP-6767 positioned the table holding 330 to be just in front of the door into the office so as soon as the guards stormed in they knocked over the table causing them all to instantly die. Before the remaining guard could react SCP-6767 rushed them and put SCP-1499 on them sending them to another dimension before continuing towards the exit. Despite several more attempts by security personnel authorized to kill on sight, SCP-6767 was still able to either bypass, defeat, or neutralize everything in their path. Higher level staff were beginning to consider the self destruct option for the base as SCP-6767 neared ever closer to the exit when the strangest thing happened. SCP-6767 entered a cafeteria and began rummaging through all the contents present in the room as if searching for something when they noticed a researcher cowering in the corner. This level 2 researcher had not been able to reach a secure room when the lock down was initiated and had been hiding in the cafeteria. SCP-6767 approached the researcher when they spied something on the ground and stopped. They reached down and picked up a gameboy classic which with a copy of the original red version of Pokemon. The device was owned by the researcher who had been playing it during her lunch break. SCP-6767 commented how they loved the game and that it was a classic to the female researcher who was still frozen in fear and could only nod. SCP-6767 asked if they could take a turn playing it to which the researcher agreed, SCP-6767 then calmly sat down at a cafeteria table and began playing it, fully entranced by the game. During this time the researcher worked up the courage to sit at the same table and begin asking SCP-6767 several questions. “How are you able to know where the exit is?” “Oh, that’s easy. I got a nav point directing me to the exit. Personally I’d like it turned off for more realism but sometimes you just don’t care and roll with it.” “How did you know what the SCP’s you found could do?” “You didn’t see the info screen that popped up next to them when you look at them?” “Why are you not afraid of the armed guards?” “Please lady, I’ve beaten dark souls. Some goons with guns are hardly scary.” Her final question was with regards to why SCP-6767 enjoyed gaming so much to which they replied that gaming has immense power that the world is only now coming to realize. Power to help not only individuals going through tough times but also bring people together for a common goal. He explained he was in a rush to get home because he had a charity stream he was hosting that he could not miss. It was at this point the researcher made a deal with SCP-6767. In exchange for returning to their cell, the foundation would provide SCP-6767 with any game or gaming system they required along with recording equipment and near flawless internet speed. SCP-6767 paused and then agreed to the deal. They then stood up and returned to their original cell and released the previously trapped staff. Final Analysis: It is well believed that SCP-6767 has some form of heightened cognitive abilities that far surpass the average human. Additionally, it is frustratingly obvious that SCP-6767 is fully capable of leaving the facility at anytime they choose and only remain so long as they are provided with games to play. Security Personnel: When handling SCP-6767 all security staff are required to keep at least one copy of a game on their person. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to contain SCP-6767 via force if they should enter into an enraged state. SCP-6767 will consider you a hostile threat and deal with you appropriately. In such an event security personnel are ordered to present SCP-6767 with their game copy and calmly ask them to return to their cell. In the event staff do not have a game to offer staff is instructed to step out of the way of SCP-6767. SCP-6767 will not attack those it does not register as a threat and will ignore you as it makes its way to the exit of the facility. Supernatural analysis: It appears that there is some force, either generated by SCP-6767 itself or by some other unknown entity, that creates situations for SCP-6767 to navigate seemingly impossible circumstances. After being locked in a room for 24 hours without a new game SCP-6767 became enraged and began their escape. Despite the door to the cell being three inches of reinforced steel, the hinges of the cell door suddenly began loosening as SCP-6767 continually rammed the door until the door fell off completely. When a d class test subject was instructed to attempt to stab SCP-6767 while they were playing a indie game, SCP-106 appeared out of thin air and grabbed hold of the test subject and then vanished with them. Some have considered that the other SCP’s are somehow drawn to protect SCP-6767 against their free will, but when SCP-6767 is asked to navigate around other SCP’s the other SCP’s show no signs of loyalty to SCP-6767 and will actively attempt to murder him. The current theory is that the protection around SCP-6767 only activates when placed in unfair and unwinnable situations. When there is even the smallest chance of SCP-6767 being able to complete a task without help this protection remains off, no matter how small the chance is. (Note from writer: I wrote this because I am a fan of Markiplier and get a kick out of him when he’s playing games and the effort he puts in to use his fame to help other people. I work in the gaming industry myself to a degree and it always brings a smile to my face seeing gamers smile and react happily to games. Also, I can’t help but laugh when he’s running for his life during SCP games XD I don’t know Mariplier personally and just made this as a fan tribute to the man. If he doesn’t approve of how I depicted him and wants this post taken down I will respect his wishes and remove the post entirely.)

#SCP Foundation #markiplier #youtube #video games

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jellydes · 4 years ago

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Our Long, Arduous Attempt To Watch 'Case,' And Why Some Classic Movies Seemingly Just Vanish

"It is all that you longed for. It is nothing you'd anticipate." That's the slogan that graced cinema banners in 1985 for the film Cocoon, the Ron Howard film that would proceed to turn into the fifth most noteworthy earning film of that year and win two Oscars (Best Supporting Actor and Best Visual Effects). That banner slogan is, maybe, fitting in that in case you're dreaming about watching Cocoon at the present time, not exclusively is it all that you longed for, you're simply must continue dreaming – in light of the fact that Cocoon isn't accessible for you to watch. Anyplace. One of the most pervasive motion pictures of the '80s is simply gone. Evaporated. Mysteriously absent on any stage in the time of streaming, a second in time where apparently everything is accessible inside seconds by means of the press of a couple of catches.

It was abnormal planning, in light of the fact that the day I chose I needed to rewatch Cocoon without precedent for I can't recall how long was the day preceding Wilford Brimley passed on. Thus, my worthless endeavors to watch this film were met, the following day, with taking off accolades highlighting film cuts from a film that is difficult to track down – including one from Ron Howard himself* – for a film I needed to observe considerably more at this point.

*What's extraordinary about the scene that Howard tweeted is, in setting to Brimley's genuine age at that point, it's really interesting. Brimley's Ben Luckett is telling his grandson, David, who is 11, that they plan on leaving with the outsiders to go to a world with no demise, yet not seeing David any longer is providing Ben opportunity to stop and think. Presently, in the watcher's psyche, we are thinking, admirably, what amount time do they have left together in any case? Be that as it may, as a general rule, Brimley experienced an additional 35 years after this film, so the line to this 11-year-old child truly could have been, "Look, David, I'd just be around until no doubt about it."

So how about we back up for a moment. Since the pandemic hit the United States in full power back in March, I've been on, what currently appears as though, a ceaseless film long distance race. A great deal of the films I haven't seen previously. A great deal of them, similar to Cocoon, are films I haven't found in a very long time. Occasionally, I'll go over a film that isn't promptly accessible by means of a real time feature and each time I end up astonished in light of the fact that, generally, these aren't dark titles. Be that as it may, I'm much more shocked when a film isn't on those real time features, nor is it accessible to lease on iTunes or Amazon. That is the point at which I end up very confused.

Also, this has happened a couple of times throughout the most recent couple of months. I took a stab at watching Mannequin, which is mysteriously absent, despite the fact that Mannequin 2: On The Move is in that spot on iTunes fit to be leased whenever. In spite of the fact that the first Mannequin is by all accounts accessible on-request to DirecTV clients, and if that is a type of select arrangement, it at any rate kind of clarifies its nonattendance. Notwithstanding, I comprehended this by simply purchasing a cheap Blu-beam. This situation rehashed itself when I attempted to observe Less Than Zero and Johnny Dangerously. The main contrast being neither of those motion pictures have been delivered on Blu-beam, so I needed to depend on purchasing genuinely economical DVD duplicates.

In any case, the thing pretty much all the motion pictures I just referenced, none of them were top-five earning films of the year as was Cocoon. This would resemble Fast and Furious 7 being difficult to track down later on.

From the outset, I did what I generally do: I checked the web to check whether Cocoon was on any of the streaming stages. It was most certainly not. At that point I went to iTunes and, abnormally, Cocoon: The Return sprung up, yet not the first. I attempted Amazon, no karma. I even attempted YouTube, which at times has motion pictures in full that the studios only sort of abandoned, however no. And furthermore, it wouldn't bode well to dump a major film like Cocoon onto YouTube. (However, in the event that you need to watch the Kenny Rogers vehicle Six Pack, well, you're in karma).

I scoured the web for anything about this and went over a GQ piece from December about outstanding motion pictures that aren't accessible on streaming, and it makes reference to how Cocoon is difficult to track down, so in any event it lightened my feelings of trepidation that I was simply by one way or another missing something.

From that point I simply figured I'd simply do my helpful stunt of requesting the Blu-beam and it'd before long be on its way and I'd without further ado be watching Cocoon in excellent HD. All things considered, actually no, not all that snappy. It turns out Cocoon's 2010 Blu-beam is currently no longer available. Also, since Cocoon is as yet a genuinely well known film, it's not modest, drifting around $100. (On the off chance that you go looking through yourself, don't be tricked by the tolerably valued Blu-beams, those are all locale 2 and you'll require a Blu-beam player from that district to watch it. There are many negative Amazon surveys from irate Cocoon fans grumbling their circles don't chip away at their players.) As much as I needed to see Cocoon, I would not like to burn through $100. At last – at long last – I found a Cocoon DVD from 2004 on eBay and purchased that for $25. At the point when it showed up, it was one of those DVDs that has the full-screen variant on the other side of the plate. It's 2020 and this is the means by which I watched Cocoon.

Anyway, this all look bad to me and I needed a clarification. For what reason was it so difficult for me to discover Cocoon?

Rewatching Cocoon on my tragic 2004 DVD with a full-screen form promptly open, I thought that it was more enthusiastic as a grown-up. There are a ton of subjects about misfortune that I missed as a child when everybody in my family was all still alive and sound. In those days, I thought it was a pleasant film about outsiders. (What's more, in those days, I had no clue Wilford Brimley was just 49 when he recorded the film.) Yes, there are outsiders, driven by Brian Dennehy set for salvage their companions who had been abandoned hundreds of years prior, all encased in covers at the base of the sea off the bank of Tampa. The cases are brought to a pool to gestate, with a symptom being that people who enter the pool are given recuperating powers – as a couple of individuals from a retirement home nearby before long acknowledge in the wake of sneaking in and utilizing the pool.

The scene that truly got me was — after various inhabitants of the retirement home were welcomed by the outsiders to leave with them, promising a universe of no sickness or passing (sounds truly great!) — youthful David sees his grandparents (Brimley and Maureen Stapleton) leaving by vessel (driven by Steve Guttenberg) to meet the outsider shuttle. David bounces on board the pontoon ultimately. Afterward, as they are being pursued by the Coast Guard, David bounces in the water so the specialists should protect him and not pursue his grandparents. Brimley's Ben is going to hop in after him, however David tells his granddad, seeing him for apparently once and for all (we will overlook the continuation, which, once more, you can watch), to go and that he's not apprehensive. It's a great, contacting second about bidding farewell to friends and family. I will concede, watching Cocoon just because subsequent to losing my grandparents and my dad, the waterworks hit me. What's more, it's considerably more ridiculous this film isn't accessible for more youthful watchers who have never observed it and who won't buy a 16-year-old DVD off of eBay. I speculate that if Cocoon were on Netflix, or whatever, it would be really well known.

In this way, I began making a few inquiries. I messaged the delegate of Lili Fini Zanuck, a maker on Cocoon. As of this composition, my messages have been not returned. (However, on the off chance that Lili Fini Zanuck has a Google alert on her name set, it would be ideal if you realize that I'd love to converse with you.) I messaged the screenwriter (Tom Benedek), who additionally hasn't yet restored my email. I messaged Ron Howard's marketing expert, who advised me to contact his specialist. sO I messaged Howard's operator, who presently can't seem to restore my email. (I knew this was a longshot in light of the fact that, in the previously mentioned GQ piece from December, it incorporates a tale about somebody who knew Ron Howard by and by who messaged Howard for the appropriate response and he didn't react.) I messaged the delegate for the impacts director, who won an Oscar for this film, and got no reaction. I even messaged somebody who worked in circulation at Fox and, you got it, no answer. Truly, in the entirety of my long periods of expounding on motion pictures I've never been disregarded by this numerous individuals.

At that point I messaged Steve Guttenberg. Through his rep he said he would not like to examine Cocoon, yet inquired as to whether I'd read a content he just expounded on Hurricane Katrina. (As I am composing this piece, he sent me the content. I still can't seem to understand it.)

I likewise addressed agents at Disney. See, there are a great deal of inquiries still about Fox's inventory of movies after the Disney buy. What's more, indeed, Cocoon is a Fox title, however from what I do accumulate this is not the slightest bit identified with Disney. Cover has been lost without a trace some time before the Disney deal was finished. Likewise, if this was Disney keeping down Fox titles (which truly doesn't appear to be the situation, in any event carefully), that wouldn't clarify why Cocoon: The Return can be observed right now as you are understanding this.

Amazingly, the exact opposite thing I heard was an update that they were all the while investigating it. Furthermore, look, I get it. Envision working distantly throughout the previous five months and having somebody come all of a sudden to ask, "Hello, you realize that entire studio you just purchased? For what reason did they not have Cocoon, this one explicit film from 35 years prior, accessible?" Though, I liked that he would state, "Gracious, better believe it, that is only an oversight," at that point hit a catch and Cocoon would be accessible for all of us to lease or purchase right away. (Things being what they are, indeed, in my psyche at Disney home office there's only a catch that says "Casing" and, when squeezed, it appears on all the web-based features.) Though, if another Ron Howard film, Splash, can be on Disney+, I don't see an explanation Cocoon can't be?

(On the off chance that I get notification from any of these individuals, I will refresh thi

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