#i need new sneakers if i dont want my feet to fall off

[coolcoelacanth]

day 3 of my indentured servitude: already getting annoyed at my temporary coworkers and having to stand next to them for 8 hrs a day. theyre both middle aged women, one of which has more attitude than the other. like godddddddd idk why its so normalized for people to be rude for no reason why does nobody have manners. they're not horrible, but its just like little passive aggressive comments all day and im like 😑 girl im not even getting paid and i don't want to be here. im literally so overly polite to them all the time too bc thats just who i am as a person like idk how people can be sassy to people who literally have not wronged them.

[zmayadw]

Hello, hello :)

It's time to continue the story, so here is the next part.

Wish you all a nice evening :)

CALL OF THE RAVEN

PART 21

It was Sunday. The light rain was drizzling from the morning, making the day feel even more lazy, and my mood was the same. Jake was at his laptop, as usual. I didnt feel like working today. I tried reading a book i downloaded months ago, but i wasnt focused enough for it also. I had my headphones on, not to distract Jake with music, and just messed arround on my laptop. As i hummed silently the words of a song that was playing, my headphones wer suddenly thrown from my ears by him. „Get dressed!“ he said to me, walking quickly back to the desk, taking some stuff and throwing them in his backpack. „Jake?“ I was confused, but he just shot me a sideway look and said more fiercly „Maya, get up and get dressed! Now!“ I was dressed already, i just needed to put my sneakers and a jacket on. As i was done, he tossed me my phone „Call Jessy, tell her we'll be there in 10 minutes, and that i need Dans help.“ He said and now i was even more confused. „Jake, whats going on?“ He didnt answer me, just continued taking the stuff, turning to his laptop and typing something on it. „Jake!“ i yelled. He finaly turned to me, throwing his backpack over his shoulder „I got it!“ „You got what?“ i asked now totaly confused, and a bit annoyed with those vague answers. He smirked, some new glow showing in his eyes „Where the calls are coming from.“ His words left me breathless. Can this really be? Are we finaly gonna get to the bottom of this all? My heart was beating like crazy, as Jake words snaped my attention back. He was holding the doors of the room open „Maya, move!“

I called Jessy once we wer in the car, explaining all to her, and she said Dan will wait for us outside. „You do know you're staying with Jessy, right?“ Jake said to me. „Yes, i kinda had a hunch you wont let me come with you.“ i said a bit dissapointed. „Maya, we have no clue what we're gonna find. I just need you to stay with her. I cant worry about you while we're there.“ „I know. Just promise me you'll be careful, too.“ „Ofcourse.“ He said. „Take my backpack.“ He told me „You'll find a white box in it, get it.“ I turned to the back seat taking his backpack and doing as he told me. I took the box out „What is it?“ i asked as i opened it. There was a phone in it, similar to the one he had. „Its my old phone. You're gonna use it. Its encrypted, so you wont recive any strange calls on it.“ „Oh, ok.“ I said. „And, yes, before you ask, im tracking that one, too.“ He said with a grin. „Ofcourse you are.“ I replied with a grin myself. He got serious on me „I just need to know i can find you if something happens. So, please, promise me you will always keep it with you.“ „I promise.“

Dan was waiting outside for us. I started to leave the car, when Jake pulled me back for a kiss „See you soon.“ I smiled, and left the car, letting Dan take my place. Jake raised his eyebrow at him as he sat in, since Dan was holding a baseball bat. „Hey, better be safe then sorry, man.“ Dan told him, closing the doors. „Come, Maya, i'll make us some coffee.“ Jessy said to me, as i watched Jake drive away, feeling of both excitement and fear mixing in me.

Jakes POV

„You all right there, Dan?“ i asked him. He was clenching that bat so hard. „Yeah, man, guess adrenalin is kicking in.“ I could relate to that. „You sure you're going in the right direction?“ he asked. „Yes, why?“ „We're close to leaving Duskwood. I tought you said the calls came from within Duskwood.“ They were. „Are there any buildings in this area?“ „Yeah, man, but it's just an abandoned warehouse. It's huge and been deserted for years.“ Dan said. „Perfect for hiding.“ I told him. „True.“ He said. „See that gravel path there? Take it, it will lead us to the entrance.“ Dan instructed me. After a while, we came at the warehous. There was a fence all over it, but visibly torn at various spots. „At least we wont have problems getting in.“ Dan said as we left the car. I took my backpack from the back seat. Opening it, i took out my knife, Dan eyeing me, but not saying a word about it. I threw my backpack over my shoulders. The rain started falling harder, so I pulled my hood on, turning to Dan „Lets go.“

„How are we gonna know where to go look at?“ Dan asked as we passed the fence. The place was huge, so his question was valid. I took my phone out, tapping on it and showing it to him „With this.“ He looked at it, a red dot blinking on the screen, showing wich direction we should go. „It will get us to the right building.“ „Good“ he siad „I dont want to be roaming here in vain. This place gives me goosebumps, man. You could definitely make a horror movie here.“ He said teasingly, but i could see he was being nervous. And he wasnt wrong, the place did look eerie. It was long deserted. Graffiti on the walls, some half torn from plasters missing, manny windows broken or dirty from the influence of time. Beside our footsteps, the only sound heard was the occasional dripping of water from the rain, falling on some meatl. And the sound of ravens cawing in the distance. How convenient, i tought. My phone beeped „This is it.“ I told Dan, pointing at the building a few feet from us to our right. Dan clenched his bat tighter again, and my hand automatically went for my waist, grabbing the knifes handle tightly, as we neared the building. „Allright“ Dan said „Lets find a way in.“

Mayas POV

I was nervously clicking on the phone Jake gave me, as Jessy settled a coffee cup infront of me. „Maya, the phone works fine. Stop checking it every thirty seconds.“ I smiled at her forcedly „Sorry, i'm just nervous as hell.“ I said, my leg bouncing uncontrollably under the table. „I get it, im nervous , too. But they barely left, it wont be some time till we might hear anything.“ She told me, and i knew she was right. „I know Jessy, but im getting a bad vibe about this.“ I said. „I hope its just my nervousness kicking in, but theres some terrible feeling creeping at me that something bad will happen.“ Jessy looked at me serious, fear creeping to her face now „I hope you're wrong.“ I looked at her, that bad feeling kicking me in the gut „Me too, Jessy.“

Jakes POV

Getting in wasnt a problem. We found a door on the side of the building, with the chain that was suppose to keep it closed, cut. Pushing it open, the sound of old doors creaking filled the place, and I cursed under my breath. There goes the element of surprise. It was quite dark inside, barely any light came in from the windows, full of dust, spiderwebs and old newspapers. Dan took his phone out turning the flashlight on and about to light up they way infront of us, but i stopped his hand. „Better not“ i said with hushed voice„We announced our presence enough allready.“ He looked at me, turning the flashlight off and putting the phone back to his pocket. „Right, sorry, man.“ We continued further slowly, letting our eyes adjust to the increasing darkness. The hallway leading us deeper in had doors appearing on each side every few feet, but all the rooms wer empty. I was getting desperate already, when suddenly Dan stopped me, pointing at the doors further in that i couldnt see good from where i stood. I moved to where Dan was, my heart starting to beat faster. There was a flicker of light coming from the doors that were ajar. We moved towards it, still checking the rest of the rooms on the way. Stopping in front of it, Dan slowly pushed the doors, opening them fully. The room was empty, except for a table at the opposite end of it. We moved towards it, Dan turning to me with eyes open wide „What the hell..“ There was a laptop on the desk, a program running on it, with a phone connected to it. But that wasnt what made Dan shocked. What shocked him, and got me boiling with rage wer the pictures thrown all over the desk. Pictures of Maya. One caught my eye immediately. I picked it up from the desk. It was from the day she got out of hospital. Sitting at the square, carelessly lost in her toughts. I knew the picture well, i had similar on my phone myself. I took it secretly, seeing her that day, before going to talk to her. She looked so beautiful, i just couldnt resist. But the tought of someone else was watching her that day, or any other day got me furious. „What the hell is going on here?“ Dan asked, but i was equally confused as him. I lowered the picture down, looking at the laptop in front of me. „Lets see what i can find.“

Dan was nervously tapping his foot standing next to me. „Can you please stop that?“ i told him, a bit annoyed. „Sorry, man.“ He said, constantly turning his head arround, scaning the room . His gaze stopped on the door leading to another room from this one „I'll go snoop arround.“ He started going for the door. „Be careful.“ I said, and he turned to me with a grin „Aww, you care fore me, man.“ I looked at him with a raised eyebrow „No, but i am scared of what Jessy might do to me if something happens to you.“ He laughed and continued towards the door. I focused back on the laptop. I just needed to find one little thing, anything that might shed some light to all of this, my eyes jumping all over the screen. I got interrupted by the noise coming from the room Dan went in. „Dan, you ok there?“ i yelled, my eyes still glued to the screen, but there was no answer. I straightened and turned towards the door. „Dan?“ i tried again, but nothing. Shit, what was he doing there. I walked towards the room. There was some more light pouring in, so i had no problem seeing Dan sprawled on the floor, unconscious. I started to ran to him, but the moment i stepped in, a blow to the head sent me down on my knees. Fuck, how could i just rush in so stupidly. I leaned on my palms, trying to shake off the dizziness. My sight got blurry, as i tried to move my head to look at the person standing above me. „You cant save her, boy. She will die.“ A sinister voice spat the words in my ear, sending chills through me, before another blow sent me face flat to the ground, all going dark on me.

Opening my eyes, Dan was hovering above me, looking worryingly at me. I was laying on my back and my head was pounding like crazy. „Welcome back.“ He said to me, extending his arm to help me up. Getting up just made my head pound even more and i got dizzy. I leaned on the wall steadying myself, Dan eyeing me. „You all right there, man?“ „Yeah, just give me a minute.“ Every move i made just made my head pound more and more. One blow to the head, i could manage. But two is a bit too much. I moved slowly back to the other room, with my shoulder still leaning on the wall. All was gone, the desk was cleared from everything. „Shit“ Dan cursed at the sight. But It didnt matter, there was nothing important on that laptop eitherway. „This means we can finaly leave this shit place?“ he asked. „Definatly.“ I said, taking the car keys from my pocket. „But i think it will be better if you drive.“

It was dark already when we left the building and headed back to the car. I was still feeling dizzy and with my head pounding so badly I had to focus hard not to loose my footing. „What are we gonna tell the girls, man?“ Dan asked as we finaly came to the car. I sat in, lowering the seat back as much as possible „The truth.“ I told him. „Damn it, this wont go easy on them, especialy on Maya.“ He said, as he started driving. The gravel path we took coming here made the car jumpy, and i felt every little stone, my head wanting to explode. „Indeed.“ I was scared how she will take all this. Last time was already hard on her. And this shit got serious now, i just hope she wont loose it completly this time.

„Come on, man.“ Dan said to me, as i opened my eyes, realizing we came back to his place. I got the seat back up, and left the car slowly. We went inside, heading for the kitchen. I heard Jessys voice as she saw Dan „Finaly!“ Maya was already on her feet running to me. She almost knocked me down, crushing full speed at me hugging me tightly. I smiled and hugged her back as tight as i could. She finaly looked at me, her face terrified. „I'm fine.“ I said to her. „Fine?“ she said worringly „That definatly doesnt look 'fine', Jake.“ Her fingers gently brushed the top right side of my forehead, and i vinced. There was a cut I havent noticed by now, with some dried blood arround it. „What happened?“ Jessy asked worryingly, as Dan settled glasses and a bottle of whiskey on the table. „We wer...surprised.“ he told her, as he opened the fridge, taking a bag of frozen vegetables, putting it at the back of his head. I just wanted to sit down, so i started towards the table, but the dizziness got back again. I leaned against the door frame, and just slid down, sitting on the floor. „Jake!“ Maya exclimed, crouching next to me. „I'm fine.“ I reasured her, but i knew she didnt belive me. And lets face it, i wasnt fine. „He needs to lay down“ Dan said „He looks like he might have concussion.“ „You're staying here tonight.“ Jessy said firmly „I'm not letting you drive to the motel now.“ „Indeed.“ Dan added, walking to us. „Alrigh, man“ he said, grabing me under my arm and getting me up. „ Let's get you to bed.“

„Here, drink this.“ I opened my eyes. She looked so worried, her eyes tired. „Im fine, Maya“ i told her, taking the painkillers and water from her. „Can you please stop saying that. You are not fine!“ „I am, now that im back here with you.“ I said smiling, trying to calm her down. „Jake! Can you be serious for a moment, please.“ I looked at her, barely managing to keep my eyes open. „I am serious.“ I said, and before she could say anything more i added „But, can we please talk about all this tomorrow? I could really use some rest.“ She tensed a bit, guilt showing on her face. „Ofcourse, sorry, i'll let you get some sleep .“ She said, taking the glass from me, and getting up. I stopped her, taking her hand, my eyes closing now on their own. „Stay.“ I said, my hand slipping from hers, I barely had any strenght left in me to stay awake. I felt the bed shift, and her hand gently brushing through my hair. She kissed me softly „Sleep now, i'm right here.“ I smiled, falling asleep in a heartbeat.

[bleepblopbloop56]

100 things to do under the stars

(Analogical, no warnings)

1: stargaze

  Virgil dragged Logan out from the warmth of the truck and into crisp fall air. They were in the middle of nowhere, it was nearly midnight, and the clouds were practically nonexistent. There wasn't a light for miles, aside from the still dimming headlights of Virgil's pickup truck. They had to be in someone's backyard or private property, but with a field so vast and expansive who would know to say anything. 

“Virgil-” Logan started before swiftly getting shushed by Virgil. He jerked open the door to the backseat, pulling out piles of blankets and pillows. 

  “Lo, i'm gonna need you to ignore how sketchy this looks and help me pad the bed of the truck, there's a meteor shower tonight and i want you to see it.” Virgil tossed him some handfuls of quilts and stuffed animals. It seemed as if he found every even remotely soft thing in his apartment and shoved it in the car. They passed the truck bed and Virgil hoisted him into the makeshift bed, before bracing the side of the truck and hoping for himself. 

 They stayed silent as they got comfortable, that was Logan's favorite part about their friendship, they could just exist around each other without any pressure to perform social cues like small talk.. They could just be. Logan reached down and intertwined their hands, making virgil's heart skip a beat. 

“Thank you,” he mumbled, shifting closer to his friend “I needed this” Virgil swallowed roughly, laying his head closer to Logan’s as they watched the stars 

7: contemplate existence + 11: drink coffee

 “Do you think there's something else out there?” Virgil asked after a long stretch of comfortable silence. This time, they sat on the roof of the truck, coffee in hand and feet dangling off the edge of the truck. 

  “Be more specific.” Logan took a sip of his coffee, bringing it to his mouth with both hands. It provided a nice warmth against the chill of the night, something his black wool coat was vaguely failing to provide.

   “Life.. do you think we're alone here?” Logan wanted to say no with a definite certainty that Virgil was looking for, but that would be irresponsible to answer with a certainty he didn't have. 

   “Arthur Clarke once said ‘Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.’” he settled on instead. Virgil grimaced and pulled his legs up to sit cross-legged and turned his body to face Logan. He tried to make eye contact with him, but Logan continued to look up into the abyss.

  “That's not what I asked,” he said “I wanna know what you think.” Logan took another slow sip of his coffee to stall. Eventually, he brought it away from his mouth and turned to face Virgil

   “I dont know..” he admitted “it seems.. impossible that there's an infinite universe beyond our capability of comprehension that is simply empty. I don't believe there will ever be certainty on our end, so,” he put the coffee down and laid down, putting his eyes back on the stars “i'd rather not worry about it.”

32: question your own mortality *

   “What do you suppose the point of it all is Virgil?”  he had become rather acquainted with the empty field he and Virgil spent nearly every clear night in. They hadn't even got out of the car this time before Logan started their nightly talks.

   “I thought it scared you to talk about things like that.” Virgil jokes to mask that he didn't have an answer. He jerked open the door but didn't get out. 

    “Do… Do you ever question why we're here?” Logan knew the answer to that, and Virgil constantly thought about his life and his purposeless existence. Virgil took pity on him when he noticed his big brown eyes sparkling in the light the car turned on. So mundane, and yet Virgil had seemed to romanticize the smallest things around Logan.

    “Get out, I wanna show you something,” Logan followed wordlessly. “I think..” Virgil continued, once they were out of the truck and on top of it “that it's different for everyone. For me, I just want to spend my short existence here experiencing life for what it is. Good and the bad, mostly good.” Virgil smiled softly as he laid down on the roof “ look at that… all the stars feel so close i could touch and yet impossibly far away. I can't see a horizon from here, it feels like I'm in the middle of all of them, here with you.”

    Logan laid on his side beside him, still not fully getting it. “You think you were put into existence to look at stars?”

    Virgil hoisted himself up on his elbows, craning his head back to continue looking at the abyss. “I think that's what i'm choosing to do with my existence, what are you choosing to do with yours?” Logan stayed quiet for a long time, just looking at Virgil and thinking before he jutted his head forward and kissed him. Virgil pulled back, heart beating  a million miles a minute. 

“Logan?” he whispered.

“If we get to choose what we do with our lives then i wanna spend mine like this, with you, and i've wasted too much time thinking.” he almost had tears in his eyes as he leaned forward again, letting Virgil close the gap this time. 

* (+ 53: have your first kiss) 

65: and your second

72: and third

83: and many many more

99: propose

    They continued going to their favorite spot for years, when they got older they bought the plot of land that they called theres and built a tiny cabin on the edge of the field. And one night, after 5 years of dating, virgil pulled logan into the middle of the field, walking this time. Fireflies and the moon are their only real source of light so far out in the field. 

Logan giggled as he attempted to keep balance while Virgil swung him around 

“What's got you in such a good mood?” Logan laughed, getting pulled into a nervous kiss by his boyfriend 

    “Virgil!” he smiled a little wider, “what's the occasion?”

   “Look up, and name all the constellations you can see,” Virgil asked quietly, hands fisted in his jacket pockets. Logan looked suspicious before doing as he was told, listing all he could remember the name of. Just as he was getting to the end of his list, Virgil cut him off. 

“Hey Logan?” When he looked back, Virgil was kneeling on the ground with a small navy blue box in his hands. “Can I ask you something?” 

Logan did not consider himself overly emotional, he nearly prided himself on it, and yet he couldn't seem to stop the hitch in his breath and rush of tears to his eyes. He wordlessly nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

    Virgil opened the box and revealed a ring with a simple diamond in the middle of a black band with stars engraved into the side. He stayed silent as the tears started cascading down his face. “Do you remember when you said you wanted to spend your life with me under the stars?” Logan  had to pull his hands to his mouth to contain the sob of happiness he couldn't. Virgil was also crying, a wide nervous grin on his face “will you make that official with me?” 

    “Yes!” Logan choked out, nodding profusely and collapsing into Virgil's arms when he stood up to hug him. He pulled back and kissed him, he kissed him for the millionth time with all the passion and love of the first. He pressed his forehead into Virgils, having to bend a little to accommodate for the height difference. 

“I love you” he mumbled, tears starting to end their freefall, even if only for a minute. “So so much”

100: get married.

    Roman bustled around their small cabin with the kind of nervousness more reserved for the grooms than the best man. He had been preparing this day- well, night- for months and had been more of a bridezilla than either of the actual men getting married. Guests were starting to arrive just after the sun went down and the stars were starting to peek through the darkness. Fairy lights shone just enough to allow the guests to find their seats without hassle, but not too much as to outshine the stars. 

    “Are you sure everythings ready?” Roman asked Logan once again, meeting a hard eye roll with an exacerbated grin. 

    “Yes Roman, I'm positive.” He couldn't help the feeling of joy riding in his throat when he checked his watch. He was getting married… to the most beautiful man on earth, under the stars, in his own backyard with all his friends… holy shit

    “Logan!” Patton called from the doorway, excited to be helping even if he'd been there since noon “its time! Come on “ 

    Virgil was…. He couldn't think of the right word.. Gorgeous, ethereal, amazing, perfect, genius, beautiful, unreal, indescribable… Logan felt in his heart as he was walked down the aisle by the designated group dad friend. He wore a velvet deep purple suit with black trims and converse sneakers, hair freshly dyed from a week before, and on top of his head sat a small crown with diamond stars. As much as he despised wedding traditions, this was his “something borrowed” generously lended by Roman to tie in the night theme. The wedding was small, neither of their families even invited to attend, and their friend group tiny but close knit. Patton bounced down the aisle with Virgil's arm intertwined in his, Logan didn't think the concept of “handing off the “bride ``'' was appropriate here, but neither of them could deny Patton's puppy dog eyes. 

The rest of the night went off without a hitch, dancing, kissing, crying, a small potluck with a modest red velvet wedding cake, and in the center of it all was stars. The decorations, the rings, the vows and the night sky, all of it was perfect. When all the guests left, and Virgil and Logan were finally alone, Logan pulled out a wedding present he had gotten for virgil. 

“What's this?” he asked, still riding the high of “Holy shit i'm really married” 

“Open it.” virgil undid the navy wrapping paper, and opened the box. Inside, there was a book titled “100 things to do under the stars, by Logan Cade” 

Virgils heart jumped when he realised logan had used his new last name.  

[oh-theatre]

Livin’ It Up: Chapter 3

Chapter title: Its All Coming Back To Me Now

A/N: New, bad, sorry. Comment? Sorry for short, important.

words: 1340

summary: return 

pairings: Eventual logicality, eventual prinxiety, eventual demus, eventual Moceit (Which then goes back to Logicality and Demus)

warnings: Swearing, alcohol, underage drinking, drinking, parties, kissing, throw up, slight self harm, emotional abuse

Ao3 Link  

“Ugh of course he did” Virgil sighs, throwing his journal across the room. Patton giggles still scribbling away at his homework. Virgil sits up, rubbing the nape of his neck with sympathy in his eyes. “Im sorry Pat, i know you wanted...not that”

“Hey its ok! I gave it a shot, plus the night I had was fun” Patton admits, he shrugs away his thoughts but finds himself doodling in the corner of his calculus work. “This is pointless” He shut his book away, returning it neatly to its spot on his desk. “My brain cant focus” He threw his eraser towards Virgil “Tell me about Roman” He smirks.

“Ok look nothings happened since the party” Virgil tells, and Patton listens, well until Virgil begins to ramble about their theatre project. His mind was in too many places at once, and he loved Virgil but once his gushing ended and his worries set in, Patton couldn't focus. His mind wandered to that fateful night, under the amber lights of a bustling evening.

“But they're so sticky” Logan scrunched his face, watching Patton thank the shop tender for his caramel apple. Patton rolls his eyes with a playful smile.

“Delicious is the word you're looking for” He corrects, Logan still doubtful. “Come on, take a bite” he offers, holding it up. Hesitant at first, Logan eyes it, was he examining the apple? Oh god, the way his glasses sat on his nose practically falling, Patton swears he could hear his heartbeat.

“Alright” He says, he holds his glasses, Patton strengthens his hold as Logan takes a bite out of the delectable treat. Logan's eyes quickly fly open, a surprise as he chews.

“Congrats Moreno! You're one of us common folk now” Patton teases, the wind ruffling both of their hair. Logan nods, taking yet another bite, Patotn didn't mind, he found the small chipmunk like chewing adorable. “Come on Simon, there's more to show you” He jokes, Logan takes his hand allowing the cheerleader to guide him. The apple was gone quickly but neither minded, it made their commute easier.

Patton had to wonder if Logan had ever been outside however, every little new thing sparked him, the bored robotic look in his eyes disappeared with a new flicker of excitement. Patton adored it. He grew fond of how Logan would fiddle with his fingers, it was soft.

“Just ignore them” Logan whispered as the pair walked towards a more quiet spot.

“Hm?” Patton hummed in response, a small skip as the gravel crackled below their feet.

“The girls and guys staring, just ignore them” And Patton had been. It was hard not to notice, each with daggers in their eyes but even if tonight was just a one time thing, or whatnot Patton was here to enjoy himself, enjoy the carnival he had spent weeks preparing and try something new. And it was nice, even if he did notice the winks Logan would throw out, the boredom as Patton chatted with people and the constant phone checking.

Its nice

It was nice

“So now im like i don't know! Should I dye my hair!” Virgil finishes, Patton coughs away his thoughts.

“I might have adhd but you can really go down a rabbit hole” Patton laughs, Virgil chuckles a flash of red on his cheeks. “Not a bad thing, and i think you should dye your hair if you want. No matter what you're gonna look great” Patton compliments. “Crap! We’re gonna be late” He checks his watch, morning homework sessions on monday were a usual. Except when they forget to actually get to school.

“Id say race you there but i dont wanna get there any faster than I have to” Virgil says, and with that they rush out the house.

~~~

“Does he have to looking so fucking cute” Logan spits, Roman stops his words instaly and looks to where an angry Logan glares.

“Uh Im sorry, imma need my friend back” Roman pokes, Logan turns to him, his eyebrows tightened. “Dude, what is going on with you” Roman questions, Logan slams the locker shut trying to distract himself from Patton and Virgil standing just a few steps down the hall at their own lockers. “Just a reminder that you-”

“Roman I am fully aware of what happened, I am also fully aware that the only reason Patton has not spoken to me is my own fault” Logan leans against the locker paralleling Romans pose. “However I am still infuriated that he looks that cute” Logan sighs. He wasn't wrong, even if Roman and Patton had their...issues he still knew his former friend. And Patton had an incredible eye for fashion.

And today was no exception. He wore a dropped shoulder cropped pullover, striped with white, pastel blue and pink, finished with a white collar. His light blue jeans sat comfortably on his legs cuffed at the bottom to show off his white sneakers. His belt was prominent and no mistake and his backpack slung over just one shoulder as he unpacked his belongings into his locker.

Objectively he was cute, but Roman was distracted by Virgil. He stood next to Patton talking away, his outfits always suited him and his defensive look only made Romans face flush more.

“Welp, you win some you lose some” Roman shrugs, patting his friend.

“I so appreciate the sentiment dear friend” Logan's sarcasm was not lost on Roman.

“Come on, you need some sushi in you” Roman takes his friend's shoulders, preparing to guide his friend towards the exit. Each has a free period that bleeds into lunch so why not take advantage?

~~~

“Is it bad that I want to wear Romans varsity jacket?” Virgil whispered as he darted his eyes away from the said jock who only stood a few feet away.

“No, it's adorable” Patton says, he organizes his things in his locker, ignoring as Logan and Roman begin to walk towards them. He knew rationally they were headed towards the exit but the small inkling of fear if they were to come up to him was still present. But quickly his mind was taken elsewhere with an abrupt cheer.

“One! Two! Three!” He hears, why was that voice so familiar? “Who missed me!”

“Janus!” Patton recognizes, he spins with unfiltered excitement rushing through the hall. Janus laughs as he sees his friend racing towards him wasting no time to wrap him in his arms and spin him quickly. Their embrace was pure elation, Virgil caught up to the pair with his own grin. They finally parted ignoring the crowd around them, specifically two boys who had decided sushi could wait.

“Buttercup!” He grins, Patton giggles delighted. He had missed Janus so much, and the sweet way the nickname fell only increased the buzz in his heart.

Someone else in the hall was not feeling the ecstatic energy. Logan glared his shoulders tightening under Romans hold. What was this envious sweat dripping from him as he watched Janus snake a respectful arm around Patton's waist, cupped to keep his gentlemans distance.

But Logan wasn't allowed to be mad

He saw Carly down the hall, she winked at him receiving a disgruntled scowl in return. He watched Brittany and Martin walk by him, each a flustered look.

And why should he care, he had the whole school, why did he need-

His thoughts were interrupted by the most intoxicating, sweetest sound to ever bless his ears. Pattons little giggle as he clutched to Janus for stability. He may have been seventeen but he towered over the boys, including Logan. Virgil seemed happy enough but Logan couldn't get over Patton. Patton stood blushing, his hand never left Janus’s side and he was...flashing the brightest smile.

Why did Logan want to be the one to cause that reaction

“Oh shut up moreno” He whispers to himself, swiping away from Romans grasps he shoots Martin a wink before making his way to lunch, a hesitant Roman followed.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Changes

Summery- Bucky returns home after a mission, and makes some slight changes. Soft, Sweet, Flashbacks in italiacs. Written for @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​ Stars Follower Celebration. The prompt- “Im never letting you leave this bed again” Thank you @curtisbbq​ for letting me borrow your idea. 

Word Count- 2833

Bucky returned to the compound, dirty, rough around the edges, and just fucken damn glad to be home. What an odd thought, he really start to feel like this was home, YOU were home. The first time since he left for the army way back when, now he had a place to settle down, let himself explore something he had yearned for for a lifetime to most.He was home, he had to admit being able to get used to this.

Following Sam to weapons lock up, he just replaced most of his tactical gear, the weapons, well they were his babies, and all needed to be personally attended to, cleaned before he could in good concious put them in the lock up. Sam slammed the cage door after putting away his Falcon Wings when he looked over at Bucky. 

“You know, you might wanna clean up before going up to Y/N, especially your hair man.” 

Bucky really didnt know what he was going on about, but reaching up, he could feel the rats nest of tangles that formed, 2 weeks in some remote bum fuck area being shot at would do that. And honestly he was ripe, it probably wouldnt do well for the upcoming reunion between the two of you. 

“Trust me, your not any better off.” Bucky retorts back, locking his own cage door, and headed towards the showers. 

“The ladies all love me!” Sam called to Buckys retreating back, chuckling in amusement, opting to head back to his own apartment. After the couple weeks they been with each other every waking moment, they both needed a break from one another.

After his shower Bucky stood at the mirror, alone in the facility, and the mess that showed back in his reflection made him wince. Sure the bruises and cuts, not a big deal. He would heal from those fairly quickly. He managed to work out the mess of a knot, It looked just like himself looking back, but he wasnt seeing James “Bucky”  Buchanan Barnes, no, he still saw The Winter Soldier, the man with an unknown number of kills under his belt.  But he knew... He remembered every single one. The knowledge brought him the greatest grief, it was heavy on his shoulders, even with the vibranium arm holding him up. It made his physical aches pale in comparison, 

Nearby his phone gave off your ringtone, and he snapped back out of his thoughts, glancing down to see a picture of you two lighting up the screen,and suddenly that heaviness was gone. 

You were playing music on your phone as the two of you walked the compound grounds after a long exhausting day. Honestly Bucky would have been content to crashing on the couch to reruns of Bobs Burgers, you always would giggle during that dumbass show. But you insisted on this first. “Please Bucky, just a quick walk down to the river” He relented, you did ask so nicely. His arm rested lightly around your hip as you would sweep down to pluck a flower and twirl it in your fingers before twisting it into the crown of your head. 

“Where the brave are free and lovers soar Come ride with me to the distant shore We won't hesitate to break down the garden gate There's not much time left today Life is a highway I want to ride it all night long...”

You phone sang and you plucked it out, opening the camera as you moved behind him, jumping up on his back, catching Bucky by surprise, his arm shoots behind to help hold you up. 

“Smile Barnes!” Resting your chin atop his head, and his eyes rolled up in a exasperated look, the corner of his mouth coming up in a grin at you. You wrapped your legs tighter around his waist and slid down a bit, like a hug from behind, and nuzzled your face against his own. 

God Damn He loved you. 

You gave him joy 

‘Heard your FINALLY are back. See you tonight when I get home. Im gonna blow this popsicle stand early. Picking up chinese. Dont worry, Im going to get that orange chicken extra spicy. Cant wait to see you. Love you Sargent. XOXO’ 

And ahh, there it was, Home. He thought seeing your message, the way you were all about blowing off the rest of your day to come back, taking care of him picking up his favorite guilty pleasure, and the way you insisted on calling him Sargent, even before the two of you started taking your friendship further. Simply setting his phone down, his gaze lifted back to the mirror, and thats when he decided he wanted to bring Sargent Bucky Barnes back. Collecting a hair clipping kit from the shelf, he got to work. 

Waiting for the elevator to bring him up the flights, his hand went to brush through the shortly cropped hair, it was a bit more in style with today, a mess of tufts atop his head, it was different, it would be different for you. You were so used to the longer look and always told him how you loved them. Hell the first time you two started hanging out, you snuck in his room and braided it just for the hell of it much to his horror. How would you react to this? The elevator buzzed open and he went down the hall to your shared apartment, the door locked. 

Digging out his keys, they clink against the vibranium of his hand letting him know he had them in his grasp and pulled them out of his jeans pockets, getting the door unlocked, and stepping inside, its all quiet. Usually you had a bit of music playing of some sort in the background. He never knew what it would be, you were set on giving him an education of lyrics and tunes. So far he had no complaints with your choices. Dropping his keys in the bowl you kept as your “Keep all the shit off my kitchen counter” bowl, he went to go see what you were last playing for music. Picking up the ipod you so lovingly cherished, he pressed play. And guess what the song was. 

Disney. Lion King to be exact. You had just gotten out of the shower and were singing to Hakuna Matata, and Bucky had been stretched out on the end of the bed, watching you in the steamy bathroom, wriggle your hips as you pull your panties up over your ass “When I was a young warthoooog!” Bucky broke out in laughter right here, pushing himself up to sit and you pulled one of his shirts over your head as you left the bathroom, continuing along with your song, and cupping his face, looking down at him. 

“It means no worries For the rest of your days It's our problem-free philosophy Hakuna Matata!”

You wink at him and kiss his forehead, his arm lopes around your hip, drawing you to sit in his lap, kissing in the curve of your shoulder and neck, placing feather light nips and trace of his nose along the softness, inhaling your honeysuckle softness. You trail fingers along his shoulder and nuzzle into him, enjoying the early morning moment, before the day truly started. 

“We should adopt that philosophy you know” You say chuckling as your still humming the tune softly, swinging your legs that dangled over Buckys lap. “Means no worries, no worries about us showing up to work on time.” He chuckles against your shoulder and lifts his head to kiss your lips, playing at nipping between tangling of tongues and pulling away. “And have Sam come barging up here demanding to know where my ass was not down training the new recruits? He wouldnt know where to start with this group.” You scoff with a roll of your eyes, and nudge him to fall back, straddling his hips and running hands up his chest. “You think Im scared of the Falcon, bring it Oversized Pigeon.”

Fuck he loved you.

You gave him so much laughter. 

Turning it up further, he went to go grab a beer from the fridge and with a twist, he flung the cap into the disposal, taking a drag off it. He never knew he would enjoy these craft beers you insisted on buying cause “There seasonal bits of goodness, let me have my weakness... well one of my weakness” A very obvious salacious wink thrown his way. A lick of his lips cleared any residue on the beer and he was about to check his phone to see if you sent him another message, usually you were good about blowing it up when he heard the door handle click open, and with your usual gusto of chaos, swept in. Your keys missed the bowl, of course. You never actually followed your own rules. And a quick kick sent sneakers flying off your feet. “Bucky Baby, that better be you. If it isnt, im about to whoop ass on whomever it is.” 

You come around the corner and dump the bags of chinese on the counter, still not having seen Bucky, but you caught sight of a flash of him over your shoulder, in the living room. You couldnt wait to see your man, it had been so long, and Fuck you just missed him. Tossing everything else down on the counter, hell you were all about breaking rules, especially your own, your turn on the balls of his feet, calling him again “Bucky Barnes, I so- “ Cutting yourself off immediately when you step into the living room and your mouth hangs open a bit in surprise. Self consciously he touches the top of his head. 

“You... You cut your hair!” It was said in surprise, pure surprise. Its not like normally something like this would surprise you with a regular person, this was Bucky Barnes, the man who tried to stay as routine as possible for the simple fact it was that he was in complete control of himself, and that is what he was all about. You had never seen him even have the desire to cut his hair, ever. 

“You like?” His voice is soft, almost a child like softness to it, and a worried look on his face, like maybe he made a mistake? You give a shake of your head, and that surprise looks fades into an excited one, crossing the room to reach him.

“Baby, fuck I LOVE IT”

You two are driving, no where in particular. You were restless, the hot sunshine weather making you itch to go for a drive, Imagine Buckys surprise when you held up a pair of keys to Tonys Acura Nsx, wiggling brows at him. 

“Is that... Starks keys?” Bucky questioned when you tossed them at him, wrapping your arm around his and tugging him along. 

“Yup, ssshh, we will bring it back. Were just borrowing it. For the day.” 

“You know your starting to remind me of Steve.” He accused as you two entered the garage, and he opened the convertibles door for you, slipping inside. 

“Sorry baby, he doesnt borrow rigs this nice. Im a class all my own.” Giving him a smirk, you slammed the door shut and he just shook his head while circling to the drivers side. 

Miles away, Bucky is loosening up to your little trip, your flipping the radio to some random station, singing along in that soft voice of yours. 

“So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover That I know you can't afford Bite that tattoo on your shoulder Pull the sheets right off the corner Of the mattress that you stole...”

Bucky glanced over at you while you were so lost in the moment, your feet were dangling out the door, you yourself were angled to lean into him, the aviator glasses slid down to the tip of your nose, and with a push of the button, you dropped the top down, your long tresses of hair whipping around you, you slid your hand into his and lifted it to your face, brushing his knuckles along the side of your face, your eyes sparking over the glasses at him. His foot pushed onto the gas, and the the Acura sped up, taking you two anywhere and nowhere at the same time, it didnt matter anymore what the plan was. 

Chaos and All, he loved you. 

You gave him adventures.

“Do you?” Relief crossing his face and easing the tension he held, your hands immediately brushing into the soft locks of hair, marveling now at how soft they were, sprigs popping in between fingers and you bit your lip, eyes shinning up at him, in a playful manner, you gave a slight tug and stepped in closer to him. 

“Bucky, absolutely I do, this is the best surprise ever, even better then when you let me call you Bucky Bear in public.” 

He rolled his eyes and snorted, tracing his hand over your hip to grasp your ass. “That was a one time thing, and the barista was clearly uncomfortable writing ‘Y/N’s Bucky Bear; on the cup.” Who is he kidding? He actually loved it and you knew it. You wiggle your nose at him and place a loving kiss on his lips. 

“Yet you still allowed it. But why, tell me why the change?” 

How you managed to drag him to the museum display once again, he didnt know. But this seemed to be something you loved, the two of you walking quietly around the different exhibits. Reading over the information, and your questions would draw stories out of him that others didnt know, short of Rogers. His gaze would lift to the faces of his howling commando brothers, from a life time ago, and you would tumble into a decent part of his past. No, it wasnt perfect. There were hard memories edging the shadows of his mind, but you only encouraged the better parts, the parts he was proud to tell. 

“It was our fifth hydra outpost, and the prisoners they had kept there were the rowdiest bunch. They drank all of us under the table that night in celebration. Short of Steve... poor guy couldnt even catch nothing more then a few minute buzz.” 

You shake your head chuckling and wrinkle your nose at the idea. “Well that would suck, cant even get yourself a proper buzz, let alone drunk. I dont know, maybe the serum wasnt worth it.” Moving the two of you to the next display, and he caught a look on your face, and then turned his attention to what you were staring at. A picture of Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, himself with a piece of his history. “This one here, my favorite display in here. You look so handsome, so proud.” Your head would rest on his shoulder. “But Im gonna be honest, your best picture is the one on my nightstand. They should have that in here.” One of all of you back at the compound, you and Natasha playing video games against him and Steve. in that photo he was laughing at something Natasha had said, a deep laugh, holding onto Steves shoulder as he doubled over.

He looked at the photo, tucking you in close to his side, but remained silent. That one on the wall was a life time ago, but yes, he was proud of who he was before Hydra.

Quietly, He loved you

You gave him Pride.

“It was just time for a change Y/N, time to say goodbye to that part of myself I just... I cant take any of it back, but I can move on from it. Im ready for our memories to be what I see in the mirror.” He confessed, his gaze falling down to look lower then in your eyes, and you, well damned if that man couldnt stir you to your soul. 

Your hands cup his face to bring his gaze back up, kissing him fiercely, no hold back, all of it was just poured into this kiss to your Bucky Barnes, he accepted it. His arms pulled you up to wrap your legs around his hips, and a hand snaked up the back of your shirt, pressing the small of your back in flush against him, your chest crushing against his and your arms loped around his neck. Falling back against the couch, you arch up from where you were sitting low on his stomach, running your arms down his chest. “Get comfy Sergeant, Im never letting you leave this bed again.” 

His brows lifted as his hands moved to lightly grasp your thighs on either side on his waist. “Baby, you know this is the couch....?” 

“Shut up Barnes, we will make it to the bed eventually, now kiss me like you missed me, cause fuck I missed you!” 

Always, He loved you

You gave him his Home.

@p8tn0lish @what-is-your-plan-today @official-and-unstable-satan @jtargaryen18

“

[katsukikitten]

Cremari

Life with a healing quirk was hard on the heart.

Not because of the stress or because of the long shifts. Not even the seemingly endless hours of moaning and groaning from severe patients.

It was because you couldn't save everyone.

Most of your patients fully recovered after you've laid hands on them.

Key word, most.

Only one man proved difficult. He was around your age with black hair and piercing eyes who seemed to show up to your underground hospital weekly since his first burn. A time when you two were so young, too young to be exploited for your quirk no matter how exceptional you two were.

But there he sat in the chair fighting back tears as your hands smoothed over ointment on a deep burn, massaging soothing power into his skin.

At first you could heal it completely. It was easy to coerce his skin to meld back together but soon he would use more and more of his power. Damaging himself and taking longer to come and see you between burns despite your nagging.

Here he was again much older and much more burnt than you remember. His wounds fresh as you can tell from the steam coming from the sutures in his arm. Your heart pounds harshly in your chest, rattling your rib cage as you stare at his charred skin.

Some of it you will not be able to convince to return to its healthy glow as it stares up at you with black angry eyes. Jaded from the repeated trauma, bitter enough to resist your power.

Which is something you've never come across before and you have healed a lot of shit since you were six.

Your fingers work on the newest burn on his shoulder, begging the skin to calm down. To stop being angry blisters. You watch him fight to keep his face from contorting as he sighs deeply. Pushing into your touch, not only can you administer chemicals that act as pain medicine through your finger tips you have this naturally soothing vibe about you.

Something he has come back for time and time again.

"I think you should stop using your quirk." You say quietly, fingers aching from trying and mostly failing. Having only brought his skin to a first degree burn. Those damn blue eyes snap open and give you a rare icy glare before settling to boredom.

"I need to use it to get what I want." He sighs grabbing onto one of your hands, working his thumbs in smalls circles to help with the aching. A gesture he takes after every healing session, he has been the only one to ever think of what the toll of healing can do to you.

"But is it worth permanently disfiguring yourself?" It comes out harsher than you intended but you cannot help it as you stare at his mostly naked body littered with your failure. His hands stop working on yours but he does not drop it.

"You sound disgusted." He says flatly but you see the hurt flash in those blue eyes.

"I..I didn't mean for it to...I'm just...I'm worried...Dabi-kun." Even after all this time you do not know his real name. A secret he has kept and a name he has only recently given himself.

A cruel joke in his name. One that mocks you although he sports it for irony.

He kisses your finger tips one by one before pressing his untouched lips to your palm. You swallow thickly. You know what comes next. He sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the make shift bed motioning for you to stand between them.

You obey, stepping gingerly between his exposed legs. He smiles warmly at you and you cannot find the heart to return it.

Not with what he is doing to himself. Every part of his skin marred in purple is a reminder to you. A reminder that he chooses to do this to himself for whatever seemingly unattainable goal that he has.

And there is no amount of talking, sex or unrequited love that will change his mind.

Still as he grabs onto your face gently pulling you to him to capture your lips you'll still try.

You'll try to convince him as you do his skin with ever open mouthed kiss.

Every swipe of the tongue and thrust that you take.

With every shared earth shattering quake that you're sure to lock eyes with him for.

You just hope you can convince him before he himself becomes too jaded.

He lingers longer than normal this time, pressing agaisnt your body in the much too small cot. He lies on his side facing you as you feign and fight sleep. His fingers pushing back damp hair from fucking for so long. Fingers that slowly trace from your third eye chakra to the bridge of your nose.

Almost instantly putting you to sleep although you fight it hard. You do not like to sleep while he is around.

Because you every time you wake up he's vanished.

And today is no different. You fight back tears as you relive the night before. You regret it.

Not the kissing, the touching and certainly not the fucking. You regret falling asleep.

You regret letting him leave.

Months pass and worry plagues you so deeply it has wrapped its spindly fingers around your bones. Sapping any and all energy from you, keeping you up at night and having your body give up mid healing session on your top paying clients. Something your boss is seething over. The very same boss you sit across now.

He slams his meaty first onto the desk, cracking the lacquered surface with deep fissures. You jump, never getting used to his temper.

"Damn it Y/N." He growls, leaning much to close to you, "Do you even know why you're here ?"

You look down into your lap, knowing exactly where this story is going.

"Your mother had you in my hospital." He pushes his finger into the desk as if pointing out a physical fact, "Do you know what she said when she was discharged?"

You do not answer, wringing your little apron with white knuckles.

"The nurses asked her to wait to take you and she said 'I dont care what happens to *it*.' And then she left!!" He's yelling now, "Out of the kindness of my heart I gave you to my wife and this is how you repay me?!"

Spittle flies into your face and you wipe it away gently. Careful not to move to quickly.

"I'm sorry sir." You bow further and he scoffs, his chair creaking from his weight as he leans back.

"You're God Damn right you're sorry!" He finally looks at you and your downward face before sighing, "Look finish this shift and then take a few days off okay? Stop thinking about whatever the hell you're thinking about so you can heal blokes again. Got it?"

"Yes sir." You say before standing walking back to your working room, grabbing onto a clip board with the next case.

"Ah Y/N. You already have a patient." The charge nurse says, grabbing the clipboard back. You give a puzzled look.

"Who? I don't have an scheduled appointments."

"Oh your usual. Uuuhhh that burnt to fuck dude." Your heart stops in your chest. You turn on your heel before he can finish speaking breaking out into a full sprint to room 405.

Your heart beats faster than your little white sneakers can slap agaisnt the heavily bleached linoleum just before you rip open the door to be met with the rancid smell of burnt flesh.

Oh how you wish you hadn't opened that door.

Dabi lies with fluttering eyelids from the searing pain. Skin beneath his eyes and from his lips down to his collar bone are charred that angry unforgiving purple. Depsite having never had to previously heal those places, whatever he's done there is no going back.

No healing those full lips that speak soft kindness to you. That press soft kisses to your brow bone at least not with out him being in constant pain.

"Y/N." He says softly, letting a smile play on his lips before he audibly winces. Readjusting himself to sit up more properly for you to heal him. You stand stunned in the hallway as you look him over. Heart finally catching up with your feet as it pounds, banging on to your ribs before free falling into your stomach.

Awaking a new and extremely rare emotion in you.

"Get out." You say darkly and he is taken a back. Not quite sure as to what you said considering you spoke so softly.

"What love?" He sits on the side of the jarryrigged bed, hands out reached to you. You're shaking so hard you have to clench your jaw to keep your teeth from chattering.

"I SAID GET OUT! GET OUT GET THE FUCK OUT!!" You find yourself screaming as his eyes widen. Filled to the brim with hurt that threatens to spill over. But he stops it just in time, blinking it away as he stands. He tries to console you, placing his burnt hands into your slender shoulders, rubbing up and down them before he leans in for a kiss.

A kiss that would hurt you more than he could imagine and you cannot help your self as a slap rings out in the quiet hallway.

"I said get the fuck out. Now Dabi." You bite out so harshly that even the passing nurses shrink back. He stares at you stunned a final time before his gaze turns icy cold.

"It was fun while it lasted I guess." He is seemingly apathetic as he looks down at you.

As if you always meant nothing.

And clearly you have, what with the state he has brought himself into. You watch as he walks from the hospital, burning the chairs in the lobby with bright blue flame to spite you.

This was the hardest part you were talking about.

You couldn't save everyone.

@ha-tep per your persuasion/request. Hopefully it lives up to my others. I liked working with his character though I feel I need more exposure/ research to get him right or to write longer fics. ENJOY

[dvp95]

can’t breathe when you touch my sleeve - chapter 4

pairing: dan howell/phil lester

rating: e (eventually)

warnings: none

tags: alternate universe, slow burn, fluff & humour, tiny bit of inner turmoil wrt sexuality but trust me it’s not that deep, eventual smut, idiots in love

word count: 3,122 for this chapter (15,775 total)

summary: Dan keeps making a fool of himself in interviews, to the point where it’s basically a meme. Now he’s got to sit down for the better part of an hour and sell his show to the YouTuber he’d had a massive crush on when he was a teenager.

read from the beginning on ao3 or on tumblr!

read this chapter on ao3 or here!

i want to die

Aw, what happened? Did you give SugarScape spoilers?

Despite Dan's horrible mood, that makes him snort. no you buffoon 1 sugarscape has been dead for yrs, much like how i would like to be 2 i don't say spoilers ever 3 it's WORSE

I may be a little out of the loop. You gonna make me guess? I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think it was.

phil, Dan sends on its own for emphasis. i touched my coworkers tit on live telly and now i can't look her in the fucking eye

Jaime hadn't actually cared much. She'd laughed at him, made some jokes about how Dan's spatial awareness hadn't developed yet, and then moved on with grace. Meanwhile, Dan had been having a mild panic attack on his side of the sofa because all he'd meant to do was brush a distracting piece of lint off Jaime's shoulder and, somehow, drastically missed.

It was all of ten seconds of his life, and Dan is still freaking out about it. He's been pacing his hotel room since they got back, hasn't even bothered changing out of the nice shirt he'd worn for the interview.

Like accidentally? Phil finally replies on Dan's third lap of the room.

no phil i need to grope people on camera to finish. what kind of person do you think i am. YES ACCIDENTALLY.

I dunno what you're into. I'm sure she knew it was an accident?

Yes, Jaime knows it was an accident, but that's not the point. there will be gifs phil

Phil sends him some emojis, only some of which make any sense in context. Dan isn't sure why that calms him down so much. He sits on the edge of his bed and sighs, waiting for Phil to stop typing. It takes a while, but eventually Phil says, Then you'll deal with them. It honestly can't be worse than you falling off the Jimmy Kimmel stage? I swear I saw that gif for months before I knew who you were. And if you're worried about people saying you did it on purpose, tell Jaime. You can talk about it like adults.

It's all laid out very clearly, and while it does make Dan feel better, he doesn't think he's finished being dramatic yet. He checks the time and sighs heavily.

dont suppose you'd be up for a late lunch/early dinner to distract me??

Sure! :), Phil responds immediately. The quickness of his agreement makes that part of Dan's brain start shouting again. I'm actually filming today though. I'll be done in like half an hour if you want to meet me here? Then we can either get takeaway or go out?

It's truly fascinating to Dan how practiced Phil seems to be at giving someone options and pretending like either one is fine rather than just offering his own opinion on the matter.

After assuring Phil that he'll be there, Dan considers getting changed. He's only got fifteen if he wants to get to Phil's place on time, and he isn't exactly known for his quick wardrobe decisions.

In the end, Dan just swaps his nice shoes for some sneakers and rolls his sleeves up. He's a little overdressed still, a McQueen button-down maybe a little too fancy for just hanging out with a new friend, but. He doesn't want to be late. Besides, he looks good. Maybe he likes the idea of Phil being surprised, looking him up and down, having the interview as an excuse to be so dressed up.

The part of Dan's brain that exists to remind him that men are attractive has been so, so loud this week. It's been impossible to ignore.

Dan messes with his straightened fringe until his phone beeps, telling him his Uber is outside. He remembers where Phil lives, in the very vaguest sense, but has to get the exact address from Phil.

He's glad that Phil's front door is painted a specific sort of blue. It would be just Dan's luck to knock on the wrong narrow brick building.

Thor barks, somewhere inside, and Dan shoves his hands in his jean pockets as he waits for Phil to answer the door.

"Hey!" Phil greets him before he's even fully opened the door, beaming. To the great pleasure of Dan's ego, Phil's eyebrows raise as he looks Dan over. "Y'know, you could have changed. I wouldn't have minded waiting a bit."

"Feeling underdressed?" Dan teases.

"A little," says Phil. He pushes his glasses up and gestures at his own graphic tee and slippered feet. "If I'd known there was a dress code, I'd have put on a sports coat."

"You look fine, I was just impatient," says Dan. He waits for another beat. "Uh, can I... come in?"

Phil is giving him a smile, the one with deep eye crinkles and his tongue trapped in his teeth, but it drops as he realises that they've just been standing in his doorway. "Oh! Yeah, sorry, come in. I'm actually not done filming just yet, Thor distracted me. Shouldn't take long."

"What are you filming?" Dan asks curiously, his heart pounding a bit as he follows Phil inside and then, surprisingly, downstairs. "Wait, you're the basement flat? Your video lighting is so good, though!"

"Mostly artificial," says Phil. He sounds wistful. "Someday I'll have a place with a glass window, just you wait."

"What are your windows made of now?"

"What? They're made of glass."

"Then why would you need to wait for one?"

"What did I say?"

"Glass window," says Dan, fighting back giggles. They reach the basement door and Phil lets them in, giving Dan a sheepish sort of smile over his shoulder.

"I meant a glass wall. Like a wall of windows, y'know? That's the dream."

"Yeah, it is," Dan agrees, but he's distracted by the fact that he's in Phil's flat. He kicks his shoes off among the pile next to the door and looks around. "It feels super weird to be seeing this place in 3D."

"Oh, probably," Phil laughs. "You want some slippers? My feet get so cold down here, I've got like a dozen pairs."

"I'm alright."

Phil's flat has less natural light than Dan had expected - or, evidently, than Phil would prefer - but the sheer number of lamps, string lights, and scented candles scattered around the place give it a soft glow that Dan is a big fan of. There are bright colours on every surface and every wall, and the overall effect isn't as overwhelming as it could be. Dan still thinks it could be edited down, but. It's very Phil.

To his vague surprise, he sees Phil's bed pushed against the far wall, a backless bookshelf the only divider from the open living space. Box lights and camera are all set up at the side of his bed.

"If I didn't know what you did for a living," says Dan, gesturing at the setup.

Phil grins at him. "Yeah. My landlord still doesn't believe that I don't make porn. You want a drink?"

"Sure, whatever you're having," says Dan. He spots Thor, curled up on a fluffy dog bed in the corner, and immediately starts cooing. "Oh, there you are! Hello!"

Thor perks up, cocking his head to the side, and Dan gets on the floor to call him over. Within seconds, he ends up on his back with an armful of happy puppy, and he giggles helplessly as Thor licks all over his face.

"Thor, down," Phil says from somewhere above them, sounding amused. Thor backs off, winding through Phil's legs a couple of times before he trots back to his bed.

"I love him," Dan informs Phil, still flat on his back. It's not the most flattering angle to look up at Phil, but he can deal.

"So do I," says Phil. He holds up a glass. "Ribena?"

"Please," says Dan, standing back up to accept the drink. He suddenly feels very weird, standing in the middle of Phil's lounge slash dining area slash kitchen slash bedroom. "Er, you've still got to finish filming, yeah? I can just... sit."

With a small grin, Phil waves at his sofa. "Make yourself at home. Just try not to rile Thor up too much? He's already made my blooper reel longer than the video itself."

"I think I can handle that."

Dan cannot, in fact, handle it. He brings his Ribena to the floor so he can sit next to the dog bed and scratch all of Thor's favourite spots. He finds one of Thor's toys as he listens to Phil wrap up a story that sounds maybe ten percent true, and then - well. It progresses to a tug of war before Dan can even entertain the idea that this might be distracting to Phil.

"Dan," Phil says, in this tone like he's trying to sound stern but can't stop smiling. "Are you growling at Thor?"

Yes. "Maybe."

"Maybe? I'm literally filming right now."

"He's just so cute," Dan whines.

"I know he is," says Phil. "I deal with this struggle every day of my life."

Dan sighs and lets Thor have the rope, watching wistfully as he zooms off with it. "Sorry, I'm really not trying to be a dick. I know this is your job."

"Hey, no," says Phil, suddenly sounding much closer. Dan looks up from corgi-watching to see Phil leaning against one side of his shelves, hands in his pockets and a soft smile playing around his lips. Butterflies erupt somewhere in Dan's belly. "I'm not bothered, really. I think it's cute. I just also, y'know, would like to eat sometime today."

"Why don't I just order something?" Dan suggests.

"Alright," Phil hums. "I'm lactose intolerant and hate mushrooms, but the intolerance can be ignored for pizza if that's what you want."

If that's what Dan wants. "What do you want?"

Phil blinks. "Oh, whatever."

"No," Dan presses. He knows it isn't very good manners, but he wants to see if Phil will actually offer an opinion of his own instead of walking that thin line of indifference. "I will quite literally eat anything. You pick."

It's quiet for a moment while Phil thinks it over, only the hum of the refrigerator and Thor's little huffs of breath for background noise. Dan has to admit that the small basement windows have an upside - less traffic din is able to get through. Coupled with the way Phil has lit his flat, the atmosphere makes Dan feel comfortable, like he could curl up here and just stay.

The rug under Dan is soft, the Ribena is perfectly watered down, and he's got a cute dog and a cute boy to stare at. He really could sit here forever and be content.

"I feel like Chinese," Phil says eventually. He's chewing on his lip, and Dan realises he hasn't seen Phil look so... anxious.

"Chinese sounds great," says Dan. "I'll order."

Phil seems relieved that he hasn't accidentally made a horrible choice or something, and he goes back to filming while Dan fucks around on different apps to find the best Chinese place in Phil's area.

--

"You never actually told me how you managed to grope someone."

Dan, who had gotten all wrapped up in chow mein and MasterChef and had forgotten his hellish morning by this point, chokes on air.

"Oh my god, nooooo," he groans, covering his face with both hands and sinking further into the sofa. He hears Phil laugh. "She just! Had some fucking, like, fluff on her shoulder. Like lint. I was gonna brush it off."

"How did you fuck that up so hard?" Phil asks. He sounds so amused that Dan wants to keep hiding, but the curse has him peeking out between his fingers curiously.

"I've never heard you swear," says Dan.

"I don't," says Phil, "on YouTube."

Unfortunately for Dan, the sound of Phil swearing is very hot. He groans again, overdramatic to cover up his very real blush, and gesticulates wildly. "My limbs are not friends with my brain, okay, I've got very big hands and I misjudged where I was putting one of them."

"Yeah, you do." Phil's eyes track Dan's hands with an intensity that makes Dan's gut constrict. Then he blinks, meets Dan's eye again, and the look is gone. "That sucks. I get it, though, my body and brain are not on the same frequency at all."

Dan thinks, a little hysterically, that this is a very good reason not to try and have sex with AmazingPhil - he doesn't want to end up in A&E.

There are roughly a hundred other reasons, too. Dan's uncertainty about his own identity, the fact that he's only in the UK for another two weeks, and the very real bond that they've been forming as friends are all at the forefront of his mind. Even so, it helps to make a joke to himself about it.

"Have you ever touched a tit accidentally?" Dan asks dryly.

"I've never touched a tit at all," says Phil. He's drinking coffee despite the hour hurtling into evening quickly, and Dan has to wonder if he ever sleeps. "Not really my wheelhouse."

"They're fine," Dan says, with much less enthusiasm than he normally would. He can't sit here and talk about his boob opinions with Phil, though, because that way lies madness. So he changes the subject, talks loudly about the episode of MasterChef they're on.

He's not ready to come out properly to himself, let alone to someone he barely knows.

Well, okay. It would be more accurate to say 'just met', because Dan feels like he does know Phil fairly well at this point. At least as well as he knows Jaime or Patrick. And maybe that's more of a commentary on how shit a coworker he is, how bad at making friends he is, but whatever. The point is that he likes spending time with Phil a lot, and he wants to do it more, but he can't have that conversation yet.

Dan knows he's attracted to guys. When he was younger and had an even worse handle on himself, that attraction would either lead to fumbling, fearing for his safety, or both.

Right now, specifically, he is attracted to Phil. This feels different, because he's got no reason to fear Phil or to immediately jump him, he's just comfortable sitting next to Phil in the dim light and letting the warmth of the feelings settle in his chest.

Maybe someday he'll be ready to tell Phil that he likes guys. Maybe that'll even go somewhere. For now, Dan is going to trash talk the chefs like he knows what he's talking about and settle into Phil's sofa and laugh like he belongs there.

Dan gets a little too comfortable. He has no idea what time it is when his eyes start to droop, but he's sure it's unreasonably early for someone who goes to sleep in the wee hours of morning most of the time.

A hand on his shoulder jerks him back into full awareness, and Dan blinks over at Phil. "Whuh?"

"Hey," says Phil. He's smiling and his voice is low. Dan can feel the slight chill of Phil's palm through the thin material of his dress shirt.

It's overwhelming, suddenly, how much Dan wants to lean in to Phil. The itch under his skin that he would feel ten years or so ago, the restless, guilty want that had him falling into bed with whatever bloke would let him, is thrumming through him with an intensity he hasn't prepared for. Dan's tongue feels heavy, and his gaze drops to Phil's mouth before he can stop it.

"Hey," echoes Dan, a beat or two late.

"You're falling asleep," Phil says. There's something about his tone that Dan can't quite place, so focused on his own emotions as he is. "You wanna stay over?"

Dan really, really does. But he really, really, really shouldn't.

"I can't," he says, not bothering to hide how regretful it makes him to turn the offer down. "Breakfast telly or whatever in the morning."

The loss of Phil's hand on Dan is one that he thinks he'll be feeling until Phil touches him again. "Of course. You probably have to wake up ridiculously early for that, huh?"

"Unfortunately."

Dan orders himself an Uber and slides to the floor with Thor in order to stop himself from giving his body what it wants in the short amount of time before it arrives. Thor likes the attention, and when Dan glances up to see the soft, unguarded look in Phil's eye, he thinks that Phil probably doesn't mind being ditched for his dog.

They chat about MasterChef and Dan's upcoming interview for a few minutes, safe topics, and Dan is disappointed when his phone beeps with the notification that his driver is close. He doesn't actually want to leave, he just knows he has to.

"We have to do this again before you head up to Edinburgh," says Phil. He walks Dan to the door, which is a little pointless - it's a total of eight steps away.

"How'd you know we're going to Edinburgh this weekend?" Dan asks, distracted from the process of getting his shoes on.

"Been in the business a while, lucky guess."

"Right. Well, then, I'll have to see what I'm doing on Friday."

"Yeah, just message me," says Phil.

There's a moment after Dan gets his shoes on where they're both just standing there looking at each other, and Dan's heart starts pounding like he's getting chased.

"I'll see you Friday," Dan says quietly, even though he isn't sure that he's free. He just needs to say something. His phone beeps again, probably telling him the driver is outside, and Dan is both relieved and annoyed.

Phil opens his mouth to say something, but Dan's racing heart and anxious mind doesn't want to hear whatever it is. He steps forward and wraps his arms around Phil's waist in a tight goodbye hug. It's the sort of embrace he'd give any of his friends, nothing overly intimate, but he knows he'll be thinking about it later anyway.

When Phil's arms drape over Dan's shoulders and his thumb brushes deliberate circles over the back of Dan's neck, it hits Dan very suddenly that if he were to try and kiss Phil right now, Phil would let him. That kind of knowledge is intoxicating, the surety of it making Dan's head swim.

But. He still doesn't know for sure what he wants, and his Uber is waiting. So he just pulls away, says goodnight, leaves.

[idreamofhazel]

All Work, No Play

Requested by @murielthemagicalgirl​: Reader crushes hard on Sam and works from time to time together with the boys. And she's introverted and a usually mature and serious person. But when she accidentally sees Sam without his shirt she gets hella flustered and awkward and Dean grins from ear to ear and teases her because of it until she confesses maybe that she indeed likes his brother, not knowing that said is standing behind her

Pairing: Sam x Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: just fluff

Your machete sliced cleanly through the neck of a falling vampire. As the body thumped to the floor, you drug the blade across your jacket with two quick swipes.

“You’re going to need some tide pens for that.” Dean Winchester stood behind you, chuckling to himself.

A quick glance around the room showed you that the last of the nest was fallen. The bloody mess had splattered and pooled on the victorian rug beneath your feet. There might have been some pieces of salvageable furniture elsewhere in the house but none in this room. Four dead vampires had stained the parlor with red. It was very Addam’s Family meets The Walking Dead. You picked up the arms of a vampire who fell across the velvet footrest and drug it across the floor. You dropped her on top of the one you just killed and headed for another one.

“What’s up with the pile? Or vamp-ile, if you will.” Dean couldn’t contain the pleasure he derived from coming up with that joke.

You dumped another body in your pile. Out of the corner of your eye, Sam knudged Dean with his shoulder and began to help you with the clean up task. When you thought no one could see your face, you smiled to yourself. You appreciated the help.

“I never knew a hunter that could smile about their work like that.” Dean was suddenly beside you, his voice in your ear.

“I never knew a hunter that cracked so many jokes on the job,” you said.

“Jokes keep the sanity alive, sweetheart.”

“Dean,” Sam chided from across the room.

“She’s worked with us enough times to know my style,” Dean said.

“And you’ve worked with me enough to know mine,” you shot back.

That elicited a smug smile from Sam.

Your cheeks grew hot as Sam looked at you with pride. Your cleverness was instantly cut back. No matter how confident you were, one look from Sam turned you into a stuttering mess.

“I know you won’t come celebrate with us,” Dean said, “All work, no play. It’s really sad.”

“I’ll go.” You faced the opposite direction of the Winchesters, bagging a vampire head. You could feel their wide eyes on the back of your head.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to take your notes or, or clean your knives?” Sam didn’t mean his question as a jab.

You smiled at his memory of your habits before turning around. “No. I’ll just do it tomorrow. Come on,” you said, slipping your knife into your boot and throwing the garbage bag full of heads over your shoulder, “It’s time to have some fun. Let’s party. Or whatever you do.”

Sam and Dean exchanged a glance as you walked out the stained glass door. The tattered blanket covering the glass gave up and fell to the floor as the lock clicked into place. Dean mouthed Fun?; Sam shrugged. Sam had never seen you with a drink in your hand, let alone in a bar. The thought of it made him worry that something else was going on. He’d have to ask you when Dean wasn’t around.

Being in a bar was an uncomfortable experience. You could handle hunting challenges with tact and grace but the dynamics of the drinking scene disoriented you. You alternated your attention between the stray threads on your shirt and taking sips of your jack and coke. Dean played pool for gas money while Sam sat next to you, finishing his second beer.

“So, honestly,” Sam said, “What made you decide to come out here? You trying to prove something to Dean?”

His smile was teasing and overwhelming.

“Uh, no. I,” you began, your cheeks growing hot, “I guess I-”

“Hey Sam!” Dean called out. You both turned your heads to the sound. Dean motioned Sam over from across the bar, “New game! Teams!”

“Hold that thought,” Sam said apologetically.

He took off towards the pool table, leaving you with the rest of your answer hanging on the tip of your tongue. The Winchester Pool Games lasted as long as Dean felt a winning streak. You’d have to explain another night, whenever you ran into Sam and Dean again.

You sucked your jack and coke dry, staring down the barrel of the straw until the last drop was gone. Dean whooped behind you. Maybe it was time to join the fun.

You grabbed a handful of peanuts, swung around on your stool, and hopped off. Sam was leaning over the pool table, the arch of his back displayed gracefully. He adjusted his pool stick with deliberation, his shirt hovering over the edge of the table, his hair falling over his cheek. He hit the cue ball with accuracy, sinking in two of the opponent’s with one strike, then stood proudly.

The other two men grimaced, unaware that Sam had such precision. There was a fair amount of money on the line.

You wandered over to a table with a satisfactory view of the game. Sam winked at you as one of their opponents tried to sink a ball but grumbled when he missed. The alcohol in your system gave you the sense to smile back with a laugh.

The stolen glances continued and ended when Dean declared victory with a sunken eight ball. They had played four games and won each of them. Sam bought three victory beers and handed one to you. Your eyes fell to the floor as the confidence you had wore off.

By the end of the beers, exhaustion had creeped up on all of you. You unanimously declared the night over, getting up to leave the bar in unison. Dean grabbed your shoulder from behind before you reached the door. Sam kept walking.

“Hey, you’re staying at the same motel as us, right?” he said, glancing over as Sam walked out the door.

“Yeah, why?”

“Can you come to our room? I wanna talk to you about something. I’ll send you a text when we’re decent.” He added a smirk but his request seemed off.

“Uhh, sure.”

“Cool.” Dean patted your shoulder then let his hand fall as he took off after Sam.

He left you standing in the middle of the bar without an explanation but with a hoard of questions. A deep voice slurred from across the bar. “You all alone now?”

There could only be about two reasons why Dean would ask you to his room. One, he was going to play a prank, or two, he or both Winchesters had been keeping a secret from you that had life-or-death ramifications.

The voice called out again. “He-eey you wanna drank I sayd?”

You were in the mood for none of it. You stalked out the door, letting it bang loudly behind you. Dean, or both, would hear it from you if one of them had decided to do something stupid again like sell their souls.

The text came shortly after you brushed your teeth and changed into sweats. You knocked four times on the thin, wooden door and waited. Dean took a long time to answer for someone who was expecting a guest.

The door flew open and instead of Dean’s face, Sam’s bare chest greeted you.

“Hey Y/N, what’s up?” Sam said.

“I, uh, Dean said he’d be here, but I guess I, I heard wrong. Sorry.” You kept your eyes anywhere but on his freshly showered six-pack. You noticed his pajama pants were plaid but you had to be careful where you looked there, too. You looked up but darted when you met his eyes. Then you moved down to his feet. They were bare.

“You can come in and wait for him if you want.” Sam was acting nonchalant. Way too nonchalant.

“No that’s ok.” You turned on your heels and fled.

Well that was stupid! Could you have handled that situation any more poorly!

“Hey Y/N!” Dean.

You stopped next to a row of vending machines, the light from their displays revealing Dean’s smug face.

“You said to meet you in your room. I went to your room. You were not there.”

“Well I’m here.”

You glowered at him. “I think you know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do.”

You threw back your head and sighed. “You knew Sam would be there by himself.”

“Why is that a problem?”

“Because he was shirtless when he opened the door!”

Dean chuckled to himself. “I can’t say anything about what Sam chooses to do when I’m not there.”

Your cheeks grew hot again. “That’s not the point!” you sighed, “I can tell by the look on your face that you orchestrated this whole set up.”

“Set up for what?”

“You know exactly what.”

“Ooh, because you have a massive crush on my little brother?”

“Yes! Fine! Ok? And you knew he’d be there, probably shirtless, and you knew I’d answer the door completely unprepared and make myself look like an idiot!”

“You didn’t look like an idiot, Y/N,” Sam said.

Sam.

You spun around. Now he wore a gray t-shirt paired with his sneakers and a facetious grin.

“Why are you here!” you cried.

He chuckled. “I wanted to get a snack.” He gestured towards the machines.

“I’m sorry.” You shook your head. “I didn’t really know what was going on.”

“So you don’t actually have a massive crush on me?”

“Well I-”

“Because that would be disappointing,” Sam said. His eyes never wavered from your face.

Your heart picked up speed as if it were going to fly out of your throat and the butterflies in your stomach felt more like a flock of hummingbirds.

Sam reached his hand for your elbow and pulled you close. You didn’t protest.

“I’ve actually waited a long time to do this,” he whispered to you.  

“Me too,” you breathed out.

Sam responded with a beaming smile before his lips met yours. The kiss wasn’t perfect; there were nose bumps, but it was everything you imagined it would be. You melted. Sam was a great kisser.

“Uh guys, I’m still here,” Dean said.

Sam didn’t stop so neither did you. You wiggled your arm out of his hold and waved Dean off. This is what he wanted after all, for you and Sam to finally admit your feelings for one another. How it was happening was all his fault really. You felt Sam smile against your lips and you mirrored him, putting your arms around his neck and pulling him closer, basking in the glow of an off-brand soda machine and a blinking vacancy sign. Having fun was the best decision you ever made.

Tags:

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[cryingbilldenbrough]

hi i want to request some ryers from you. idc what it is, i just want to read something about that beautiful ship written by you. literally. you can write about anything you want. please and thank you. (i deserve this for the number of times you’ve made me cry thanks)

ok so just remember that u asked for this

i feel like a lot of ryers stuff has the idea that richie moves to hawkins so let’s switch that

will byers moves across the country to derry, maine and the fresh start isn’t quite what he thought it would be

johnathan isn’t with them, having graduated high school and gone off to college 

joyce rents a two bedroom house and there’s no Johnathan’s Room anymore, no place for will to go and lay on the floor and turn on the boombox and let The Shins drown out the biting wind in his ears

it’s two stories, with stairs that creak under his feet and the basement isn’t like theirs was back home, solely for storm shelter. there’s shelves all along the walls for canning and storage and will spends a whole day down there exploring

anyway he rolls up to derry high school on the first day of sophomore year, his mom sitting in their idling car near the buses, and shoulders his backpack

he keeps his head up

because this is the first time he’s been able to restart and no one in derry knows, man. he’s got the chance to reinvent himself which is every teenagers dream!! 

he slides into his first period homeroom class and there’s a kid in the back who looks as apprehensive as will feels and the boy introduces himself as ben hanscom after class, offering to show will around

“ive been the new kid before” he says, warm and with a smile and will gets a big lump in his throat because he misses dustin SO BAD

ben hanscom invites him to sit with his friends at lunch and will stands through the lunchline for what feels like forever, anxiety swimming in his stomach

but the Party (not a party, will, they’re not the same try not to think of that) is so welcoming and kind? 

eddie kaspbrak is a small boy who pauses mid-rant about the disgusting boys bathroom on the third floor to offer his hand out for will to shake

beverly marsh has max’s firey hair and el’s powerful nature and she winks at will and says something about his haircut and will blushes and ducks his head because while he’s not really interested in women, beverly marsh is everyone’s weak spot/exception

stan uris is quiet and will almost glosses right over him until stan says something wry out of the corner out of his mouth, stopping the entire group in their laughing and joking and they’re deathly still until stan’s facade cracks and he grins at them, all dimples

will notices the air of tension during the pause wasn’t apprehension, more like the group was simply Waiting for stan to give in and accept that he’s told a joke

mike hanlon is quiet with an air of serious consideration, like he’s cataloging everything they do and say to save for later

he looks a little haunted, a little fucked up, and will thinks he recognizes the dead look in the boy’s eyes

mike reminds will of sheriff hopper, kind and haunted and sad

bill denbrough is will’s favorite right away. his eyes are alight and he smiles out of the side of his mouth, guarded, and he makes will feel kind of like the only person in the world when he talks to him

he compliments will’s notebook which is covered in little doodles and will has a weird moment when he’s like Wow i would do anything for bill denbrough? whom i have just met?

basically bill denbrough has +20 charisma and will saves that thought in his back pocket to revisit later

and finally

there’s richie

richie laughs while eating and sprays milk all over the table and has coke bottle glasses and a dumb goofy grin 

he ruffles will’s hair when bev compliments it, sticking his hand across the table and rubbing down just a little too hard

will slaps his hand away, so used to johnathan doing it, and richie laughs and laughs

stan explains richie to him while the other boy is turning his attention to eddie kaspbrak who swears at him, saying “whenever richie needs to shut up, we just say beep beep richie and that does the trick”

will doesn’t get the chance to try out the trick until lunch is almost over, warning bell ringing and everyone scrambling to wrap up the rest of their lunches for later or to throw away

and as will stands up, a book falls out of his backpack

it’s a Dungeons and Dragons guide, the one mike used to map out their campaign  

(”take this with you,” mike says, thrusting the book into will’s hands. they’re standing in the bare byers living room, hands stuffed in pockets and surrounded by cardboard boxes. 

“no, you need it,” will argues “you gotta finish the campaign” and man this hurts really fucking bad

“i bought a new one,” mike says quickly, making will take the book and wrap his fingers around it “besides, we all signed this one”

will opens the front cover and there’s writing all along the inside, little notes and drawings from the Party to him

will holds it to his chest and then brings mike into a hug, the last one before he leaves hawkins for probably forever)

“what’s this?” richie says, holding it out and will tries to snatch it back but richie’s fast “this is some next level nerd shit” he says 

and will knows he’s kidding but years of being called freak dont do well for self esteem and will is blinking back tears before he can stop himself 

“beep beep richie” he says in a choked voice and nobody else but them is paying attention which will is thankful for because crying in front of his new friends is NOT COOL

and as soon as he says it, richie’s fingers go lax. he gives the book back without a second more of fight and will blinks and tries to calm down and richie’s just looking at him

“it’s from my friends” will explains and richie nods, little and thoughtful. there’s a beat, a moment of peace and silence, and then richie’s throwing his arm over will’s shoulders

“welcome to the losers club,” he says, warm and understanding

and will byers has a new party, a club full of laughter and love and a power he doesn’t yet understand

for the first time in a long time, will belongs again

but this is derry and in derry the dead don’t stay dead and that includes dead pasts

will opens his locker one day and a balloon floats out

it’s red, almost transparent from how overblown it is, and it drifts at exactly his height out into the hallway

will reaches a hand out, to touch and figure out who the fuck put that in his locker and what the fuck it is

and the balloon spins

ZOMBIE BOY it says in happy white letters

and will blinks and he’s in the Upside Down

it’s not real it cant be real but the cold is biting and the wind is chilling him to the bone and derry is covered in vines but it’s different this time? theres a smell of decay in the air that hawkins didnt have, the scent of actual real death and it smells like brick and concrete and a sewer and the bodies of hundreds of dead kids

will’s hyperventilating, crying and stuck frozen and the balloon is still there and it drifts towards him and it’s getting closer and the demogorgon isnt there but there’s something else, a presence of evil he can FEEL and it sounds like dripping water and fingernails on steel and breaking bones and wheezing breath

there’s lights in the distance, three of them swirling together in a drifting dance

just when will thinks it’s real, just when he’s giving into the swirling lights and blowing wind and the shiny red balloon

the balloon pops

the sound is a gunshot, shocking him out of the trance and will blinks and he’s back

he’s in the hallway and the balloon is gone and the Upside Down is gone and richie tozier is there

he’s got his hand outstretched towards will and he’s saying something that will cant hear over the rushing wind in his ears

“are you okay?” he thinks he sees richie mouth and he forces himself to nod

later, after he’s explained it all, richie tells will he found him staring at the wall, catatonic and crying

will wants to be embarrassed but he’s only grateful for richie for bringing him back

“it was a balloon?” richie says, voice hushed. they’re in the boys bathroom, crowded together in the furthest stall while they skip class

richie had stuck his sneakered foot on the toilet and hoisted himself up to open the window

he pulls a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket and offers one to will, which he declines, before lighting up and taking a drag

“yeah” will responds

“fuck” he breathes out, smoke leaving his lungs and it smells strong enough that it erases the scent of this new Upside Down from will’s nostrils, replacing it with menthol and richie

“did you see…. a clown….” richie says and will wants to laugh but he looks serious

not just serious

richie looks downright scared

he’s shaking a little, the cherry of his smoke bobbing in the air and will knows that kind of fear, the primal urge to fight or flight and richie looks kind of tired and weary too

“no” will says and richie sighs, relieved

he doesnt want to tell richie he saw the past and the future at the same time, an alternate and adjacent universe far beyond anything either of them could comprehend

richie takes another drag off his cigarette and sets his jaw and will thinks he’s making a decision

“meet us at the clubhouse after school” he throws the cig out the open window and leaves will, the bell ringing in the distance

when will shows up in the barrens, backpack over his shoulders, they’re waiting for him

the clubhouse is hidden and will has been to it a few times and still sometimes has trouble picking it out, camoflauged with brush and leaves

he drops down into the ground and the whole Club is there 

he draws his knees up to his chest as richie tells them all of how he found will, explaining the dead look in his eyes 

(”they almost looked…. grey” he says and all the blood drains out of bill’s face in the light of a few candles)

richie hands it over to will to explain what he saw and will struggles through his explanation, trying not to let onto the fact that he’s some freak with Now Memories and a haunted fucked up past

but the Club doesn’t look… surprised? scared?

they look frightened and tired and weary and sympathetic

stan uris has his knees drawn to his chest and is running his fingers over the sides of his face, over faint scars will never noticed before

“sounds like…” eddie trails off

“i k-know what it s-s-sounds like,” bill says 

“sounds like what?” will asks and hes kind of pissed off because they all look shifty

they’re hiding something, some secret related to balloons and death and fucking clowns and will byers is so FUCKING SICK of being out of the loop

of being left out of the plans because he’s weak and people are afraid of him getting hurt

“sounds like what?” he repeats and the group collectively flinches

“look, we don’t know exactly” ben starts

“it’s hard to pinpoint exact memories,” bev finishes for him and they share a look “we can’t keep track of all of it,” 

“they c-c-come and go” bill says and eddie nods and richie looks sick and angry

“what happened here?” will asks, voice low

the group look at each other, the lucky seven sharing their cosmic energy and deciding to pull another into their chess game with death

they make a decision, an election, to tell the story, the history of their haunted town and the fog that covers it, the story of a manifestation of Evil and their ever-tiring fight against It

will feels richie’s hand slip into his, sweaty and shaking but grounding

he turns to look at richie and the boy is smiling at him, soft and guarded and will thinks he’s very lucky to have met this group, haunted pasts be damned

“derry,” mike hanlon starts, licking his lips, “is not like other towns”

send me headcanons/prompts/requests!

[artcryptid-blog]

tagged by @hey-laura​ (thank!!!!!!!) and i haven’t done a tag game in a while so!

— what was your last…

1. drink: water 2. phone call: my mom 3. text message: my best friend 4. song you listened to: Rollercoaster by Bleacers 5. time you cried: the other night

— have you ever…

6. dated someone twice: no 7. kissed someone and regretted it:nope  8. been cheated on: no 9. lost someone special: yeah 10. been depressed: lmao!!!!! yup! haha :’) 11. gotten drunk and thrown up: yeah rip

— fave colours

12. red 13. black 14. grey

— in the last year have you…

15. made new friends: absolutely! 16. fallen out of love: kinda finally stopped thinking abt someone i spent last year getting over i guess 17. laughed until you cried: so many times 18. found out someone was talking about you: nope! 19. met someone who changed you: idk, not really? 20. found out who your friends are: ya it was a big deal for me 21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list: noot

— general

22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl: like. most of them probs? dont know if ‘we’re family but you live in a different country and i’ve seen you like twice ever at the most’ counts as knowing people irl so maybe like half??? idk  23. do you have any pets: yup! lizard boyo (radagast) and a snake (merle) 24. do you want to change your name: not really. i wouldn’t mind getting it legally changed to kai or kaiya for convenience but it’s not a huge concern 25. what did you do for your last birthday: hung out with my family & my friend’s family! 26. what time did you wake up today: about 8:30am 27. what were you doing at midnight last night: was en route to town for a late night maccas run w/ the bestie 28. what is something you can’t wait for: i’m getting a proper gaming laptop for my birthday this month! 30. what are you listening to right now: old jenna & julien podcasts 31. have you ever talked to a person named tom: yes

32. something that’s getting on your nerves: living with my parents sdhjkdfsd

33. most visited website: youtube & nexus 34. hair colour: purple  35. long or short hair: super short! i got it cut & coloured last week in a julien-esque style and i LOVE it

36. do you have a crush on someone: yep yep yep yep yep yep yep oh god

37. what do you like about yourself: i mean??? other than the debilitating depression what is there that’s NOT to like?? i’m fucking iconic nicknames: kai, kaiya  41. relationship status: completely in love and have not told her anything beyond ‘i would 100% date you if you were up for it lol’ so sfhujksdfs prayer circle for me to get my shit together and come clean 42. sign: aries 43. pronouns: eh (they/them mostly. she is alright? idk i dont really care) 44. fave tv show: of all time, bbc merlin. right now, queer eye  45. tattoos: one so far 46. right or left handed: right 47: ever had surgery: nah 48. piercings: three, all in my ears 49. sport: i used to play netball and i miss it a lot but it’s not fun anymore so no thank 50. vacation: probably europe idk 51. trainers: what about them??? i rly just wear the same pair of ratty sneakers every time i leave the house

— more general

52. eating: nothing but last thing i ate was a potato 53. drinking: water 54. i’m about to watch: just finished up watching some jenna & julien podcasts and now im going to bed 55. waiting for: being asleep im so keen 56. want: to move out and live w/ my friends 57. get married: maybe? i’d do it as long as i didn’t have to say vows in front of a crowd or anything. no thanks. cryptid wedding pls, sweep me off my feet and marry me deep in a forest somewhere where nobody can be aware of us 58. career: i dont know! bye!

— which is better

59. hugs or kisses: both 60. lips or eyes: eyes 61. shorter or taller: literally do not care 62. older or younger: not too far in either direction 63. nice arms or stomach: Arm Muscles™ 64. hookup or relationships: either. both. open relationships. 65. troublemaker or hesitant: u mean: big anxiety vs uncontrollable need to be insufferable

— have you ever

66. kissed a stranger: no 67. drank hard liquor: yup 68. turned someone down: don’t remember 69. sex on first date: nope 70: broken someone’s heart: not that i know of 71. had your heart broken: yeah 72. been arrested: no 73. cried when someone died: yes 74. fallen for a friend: :’)))))))))))))))))

— do you believe in

75. yourself: yeppity yep 76. miracles: eh. kind of. im pretentious and fake deep but i like to believe in people and choices more than Miracles™ 77. love at first sight: not really but my track record is exclusively falling for best friends so who knows, maybe some people do have love at first sight 78. santa claus: nah 79. angels: no.

— misc

80. eye colour: blue 81. best friend’s name: krista 82. favourite movie: return of the king 83. favourite actor: god idk. katie mcgrath maybe

84. favourite cartoon: avatar last airbender yes laura!! 85. favourite teacher’s name: kim, she was the teacher librarian at my primary school and she used to pull me out of class to show me the newest harry potter movie trailers and news and stuff sdjfksfgfj

uhhh im gonna tag @stvles-stilinski, @softdario @etherealswan @risingbarnes and then @phantasizeit @phanarchy @phloridas ok u know what im not tagging every single member of the duck demons individually if y’all see this i tagged u. consider urself tagged. im going to bed, love u xx

[deadlylampshades]

so megan @wormbebe forgot the rules so uh this is a tag game jklhfsad tagging: @changhyuk​ @softlovs​ @softki​ @4uta​ @taelights​ @daehyuns-lip-ring​ @jooheonies and @kihyunsvalentine  aaaaand @jongups-scronch​

last:

drink: berry juice….it was……berry nice

phone call: my pal, her nickname is hoops and it was this morning and it was her yelling “WHERE ARE YOU” and me saying “i have earphones in shut the fuck up also im upstairs”

text message: uhh last twitter dm is ‘ i thought it would be Fun ‘ last text is ‘Not going home with you guys’

song you listened to: i’ll be your man by btob!!! gave me some solid depression and beats!!! thanks ilhoon!!!

time you cried: uhh djksflhasd god i dont even remember it was probably for some dumb reason tho i cry a lot

have you ever:

dated someone twice: the same person? no.

been cheated on: no

kissed someone and regretted it: no

lost someone special: mmm yes i guess

been depressed: lol everyday of my life it’s chill tho sometimes brains dont work and that’s valid

been drunk and thrown up: YES AND IT WAS EMBARRASSING AF

in the past year have you:

made a new friend: yes so much ://

fallen out of love: uhh….. no, it was just like a crush and then he did something really bad and it was just like “mayhaps, die?”

laughed until you cried: i distinctly remember crying after discovering this video

met someone who changed you: oh yeah of course, my friend circle greatly determines who i am i think

found out who your true friends are: real shampoo for my friends….fake….sham for my poo friends??? i lost the gist of the saying but yes

found out someone was talking about you: yeah bitches better be talking about me im a hot topic lmao

general:

how many people on tumblr do you know in real life?: my friends vaguely know im on tumblr but i never answer any direct questions, tho i maintain my one friend would have so many followers if she’s on tumblr she’s got that peak wit

do you have any pets?: i have two kitties!

do you want to change your name?: i would but im too indecisive to change it so i’ll just stick to ayesha lmao

what time did you wake up this morning: 5:55am lol i hate my life

what were you doing last night: i think i was on a call with (other)steph and just dicking around on facebook tbh

name something you cannot wait for: hmm. idk i’m just kind of content to see life go as is- wait nvm lol CLC COMEBACK CAN’T WAIT

have you ever talked to a person named tom?: sadly no, i knew a cat named tom

what’s getting on your nerves right now: the HEAT it’s like 34 degrees

blood type: O, and i can give all ur oppas blood transfusions no one can stop me

nickname: OMFG SO MANY the main ones are ash and yeshy tho

relationship status: one whole single pringle

zodiac sign: scorpio sun, pisces moon, aqua asc that’s why i cant shut up

pronouns: she/her

favorite show: fjsdkfahsd i really like arrested development, bojack horseman….. also kuroshitsuji….my SHIT

college: biodiversity and conservation biology, final year

hair color: black

do you have a crush on someone: i better not or i’ll beat my own ass but there’s this one guy at uni who’s got me doing the eye emojis and i dont trust myself

what do you like about yourself: i can take selfies with my feet

firsts:

first surgery: none

first piercing: ears

first sport you joined: tennis fjsakldfsd

first vacation: mauritius i think

first pair of sneakers: i mean they were Definitely shoes

right now:

eating: nothing but i might have popcorn

drinking: water

i’m about to: check my twitter dm’s fkjsadfds

listening to: remember - 9muses, they went off!!!!

want kids: lol id rather die

get married: uhhh. a solid shrug emoji

career: evolutionary biologist or idk maybe a stone i could be a good rock

which is better:

lips or eyes: eyesssss

hugs or kisses: both are excellent

shorter or taller: depends tho if ur my friend you need to be shorter than me because i’ve got a complex but i like Tall Romantic Interests

older or younger: my cap venus would like to assure you it’s always older

romantic or spontaneous: romantic, i need a five month warning in advance for anything

sensitive or loud: this is pisces moon aqua asc erasure which is loudly sensitive

hookup or relationship: relationship dkjsfasd

troublemaker or hesitant: yes

have you ever:

kissed a stranger: no

drank hard liquor: yes fhadsfdas

lost contacts/glasses: no i would be Too Blind to See

sex on first date: noo

broken someone’s heart: uhhh i think it was sort of mutual lmao

been arrested: no but uhh sdjklfhs i did break one or Two laws in my Youth djksfahlf

turned someone down: yes i went on  a date with a guy and it was so bad and he asked for a second one and i was like…. Honey…. No……

fallen for a friend: I ONLY FALL FOR FRIENDS IT’S HORRIBLE

do you believe:

in yourself: depends on the day right now it’s gonna be a solid Sort Of

miracles: uhhh i guess not?

love at first sight: there’s like. deeper shit than we can comprehend you feel. connections are real.

wow this was a MESS LMAO SJKDFHLASKDJF

[ashiesmashie123]

Sorry this is a bit late😅😁~ Shana Tova, Happy Jewish New Year to all my lovely awesome friends & followers wherever you might be!🙌🌸🌺🌸🌺✨✨✨ May Gd bless us all with health, love, peace, success, progress, security & stability. May we start off on the right foot and remain surefooted.🙌🙌I simply HAD to add that in, shush😘😂😂 Needless to say, I freekin love my new bianka shoes :3 Got em as a New years gift for meself just mere days before the 2nd nationwide lockdown... (Yes. I know. Dont even get me started on the blithering topic. Xc Its flippin frustrating & pissing me off too.😤😤) And 2ndly cuz I really needed them. Bad. o.o The 2 pairs of work/wandering about sneakers I had before were hella falling apart haha xD Yes granted, Ill admit they may lack some color & design, but they make up for it big time in total comfort~ Its like walking on heavenly divine soft fluffy cushy clouds.😍😊My feet are so very happy, I swear theyre throwin a party in the shoes lol :p😂😂 Plus as a sweet bonus, this way I can design them however I want ;3👍✨ #ashie7 #happynewyear #roshhashanah2020 #blessings #newshoes #comfy #heavenly #divine #loveem #gifttomyself #finally #bianka #simpleisalsobeautiful #treatingmyself #Ideserveit #happyfeet #netanya #israel https://www.instagram.com/p/CFYzBjkFZJd/?igshid=16e8egmnqw9p9

[angies-team]

92 Questions Tag!

TAGGED BY:  @hello-em75 (who is in every way awesome) 

last:

drink: A wierd grape juice fruit blend thingy. I don’t really know but it was good.

phone call: my mother

text message: ditto ^^^^

song you listened to: Two Feet- I feel like i’m drowning.

time you cried: This morning I was watching Stranger Things okay 

have you:

dated someone twice: neyooo

kissed someone and regretted it: yeah. Every night i put my younger brother to bed and regret giving him a kiss of the cheek when he makes some sort of annoying comment.

been cheated on: sorry that role goes to my tests.

lost someone special: yeah, family, I’ve had a few friends who have passed away for multiple different reasons, some more painful than others. Uhhh... I’ve lost a few fictional characters close to my heart.

been depressed: oh look it’s the title of my autobiography.

gotten drunk and thrown up: nopers

list three favorite colors:

blue

blue  aquamarine

also blue multiple other colours that are also cool

in the last year have you:

made new friends: I HAvE. I sweaarrr. I have friends! It’s hard to sit alone ever though, but I wouldn’t change things even if i had the chance.

fallen out of love: nah, my heart still belongs to my one true love, Hayden Christensen. 

laughed until i cried: did that yesterday, actually. 

found out someone was talking about you: probably, but i don’t remember.

found out who your friends are: Iii’mmm not exactly sure what this means but one of my friends did turn out to be Batman soooo...yeah. no i didn’t i’m kidding i swear

kissed someone on your facebook list: nope

general:

how many of your facebook friends do you know in real life: probably most if not all of them

do you have any pets: we have two turtles: Spock and Chopper. (Chopper is the biggest lil shit too it’s perfect)

do you want to change your name: i mean not really. If i were going to i’d just make my nickname my legal name since it’s what everyone calls me already anyway.

what did you do for your last birthday: Which was TODAY WUT. uhhh idk played a little BATTLEFRONT 2 (IT’S AMAZING GAH), 

what time do you wake up: well i should wake up by at least 7 to get to school on time but lately I've been sick and i’m always sleeping in and late for school. Usually ranges from 8-8:30 on schooldays and i have no idea for weekends. 

what were you doing at midnight last night: uh i was totally sleeping. I wasn’t watching stranger things at all. nope. nuh uh. not a chance.

name something you can’t wait for: The last JEDI. gah just give it to me now i’m already dead you can’t kill me any more.

when was the last time you saw your mom: today

what is one thing you wish you could change in your life: my math and Physics mark. that or get rid of my stupid concussion so i can do things again.

what are you listening to right now: 

have you ever talked to a person named tom: yeah, my late grandfather. There have probably been other Tom’s in my life but i can’t think of one off the top of my head. 

something that is getting on your nerves: MATH. and this guy who keeps following me around and WROTE ME A FRIKIN POEM nopenopenope abort.

most visited website: youtube honest

mole/s: i don’t think i have any?

mark/s: freckles (if that counts, but i have like five and they’re practically invisible when it’s not summer), the large scar that appeared on my cheek this week, cuts, scrapes and bruises here or there.

childhood dream: teacher *shudders* glad i gave that one a rest.

hair color: dirty-ish light blond sort of thing i have no clue what my hair is. My eyebrows are black though and no i haven’t ever dyed my hair, except for that one time this year i went as sabine for Halloween

long or short hair: short. my hair was halfway down my back in around March and i chopped it all off for star wars.

do you have a crush on someone: sort of? I mean i don’t think it really counts as a crush i just think this guy is kind of cute but he also looks IDENTICAL TO EZRA I KID YOU NOT i swear on my life it’s crazy. but yeah that’s kind of the only reason i’m sort of obsessed with him i guess? But yeah I honestly dont even know who he is and I’ve only talked to him like three times and two were like “oh hey sorry is someone sitting here?” “oh no. sorry i’ll move my bag because its on your chair.” so yeahh. fun stuff.

what do you like about yourself: ummmmm... things? I love that i can find beauty in music and the world in ways alot of people can’t and i feel lucky because of that. My artistic personality is realy what defines me other than my constant use of sarcasm and dry humor, as well as terrible jokes and combacks that aren’t even comebacks and it’s helped me become who i am and will be fore the rest of my life. i love that i can use not only pictures but song, as well as words to express myself and other things to the world. I’m also terrible with words when i’m speaking so being able to write down what i mean with the detail needed to paint the picture into your mind is great. i also make no sense. like all the time.

piercings: one simple hole in each ear is enough for me

blood type: I....don’t actually know.

nicknames: Angie, Ange, Angeasaurus, tangeriene, angerine, Rey (it’s a long story), Bob, Frank, Joe (i am being serious, actually) 

relationship status: single not like a pringle because pringles come on tins which hold alot more than a single pringle (heh) soooo what am i even sayig

zodiac: scorpio

pronouns: she/her

favorite tv show: ooohhh that’s an unfair question. 

right or left hand: right

surgery: i don’t think so?

hair dyed in different colour: oh look i just talked about this. uh yeah, but temporarily for halloween

sport: ice hockey, water polo, tennis, swimming, baseball, something else i’m 100 percent forgetting.

vacation: i legit just went somewhere and i kid you not i cannot remember where it was. my memory is actually really bad.

pair of trainers: either my white sneakers or, if it’s winter or fall i’m always wearing my boots.

more general:

eating: a lolipop :)

drinking: lemonade

i’m about to: draw something stupid (probably)

want: to just feel like I’ve made a difference. To be happy. 

get married: one day. but i’m like 17 so...

career: broke student(?)

hugs or kisses: hugssss

lips or eyes: eyes mostly, but both

shorter or taller: taller

older or younger: older

nice arms or nice stomachs: both is the way to gooo

sensitive or loud: really depends on the time, place, and people

hookup or relationship: relationship

troublemaker or hesitant: troublemaker

have you ever:

kissed a stranger: nopers

drank hard liquor: uh yeah. i accidentally downed my mom’s vodka when i was like 11 because i thought it was water. heh mistakes.

lost glasses/contacts: i’m using my mom’s glasses actually right now because i lost mine

turned someone down: all the time tbh. just the other day actually (in my defense he was stalking me and it was getting creppy)

sex on the first date: uh nooooooooooo

personal:

broken someone’s heart: yeah (i feel like a terrible person saying yeah, but the things this guy did to me to try and get me to like him back were ridiculous)

had your heart broken: everytime my favorite fictional characters die okay in all seriousness, nope. I’ve never really liked someone that way. except for that one time when i was 12 but that’s a story for another time

been arrested: nope

cried when someone died: yeah. my grandfather earlier this year, a friend of mine commited suicide last year, and another one just died this yeah in a hit and run accident. so. other than that... *glares at stoick*

fallen for a friend: not as of current date

do you believe in:

yourself: sometimes 

miracles: yeah.

love at first sight: nah. romeo and Julliet is a LIE. sort of.

santa claus: nope. (i blame my mother for not being more stealthy when i was 11)

kisses on the first date: i guess it would depend

other:

current best friend: doesn’t have tumblr and would rather i didn’t say his name.

eye color: blue (except when it’s really bright outside they turn almost white. it’s creepy)

favorite movie: The Empire Strikes Back

TAGGING: @twiggy242 @tarched @leffie-draws-fanart @jeditimelordinthetardis @fanwriter02 @fangirling1998 and anyone else who feels like doing this!

[murdered-with-daisies]

An Iron Grip- Chapter 1

I posted about having this Gajevy fic that’s been sitting in my computer for a few years and thanks to all the encouragement I’ve decided to finally start posting it- all in all its about 40 chapters long give or take a bit; I’m going to update about 3 times a week with a new chapter so you guys dont have to wait too long :) This is my first fic so i’d appreciate some constructive criticism <3

Pairing: Gajevy

Words: 3,045

Will update every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday :)

Summary: There is no magic. There is no wizards or dragons, that was all just make believe- or so Levy had been told. Her world is turned upside down when a dark guild comes after her, searching for a rare book, and everything she thinks she knows turns out to be wrong. Unwillingly thrust into a dark hidden underbelly of Magnolia city she must trust an unlikely band of misfits, a magic guild called Fairy Tail. Will Levy cave under the pressure or will she grow to be more than she every thought she would be and make some new friends along the way?

Chapter 2. Chapter 3. 

_______________________________________________________________________

         The world swirled around Levy, black and white flashing ever faster. She was falling and falling fast. There wasn’t even enough time for her to scream; the air was sucked out of her lungs as the air cut past her. The fall seemed like forever even though she was sure realistically it was only a few seconds. But everything slowed. She’d hit the ground soon, she was sure of that too. The ground was hard concrete, unforgiving and cold. And she was just so so small. She wouldn’t stand a chance in hell against it. Levy squeezed her eyes shut and let herself fall. There was nothing she could do but wait for the floor to meet her. This was it. This was how she was going to go- alone and weak. This was it.

   'I’m so sorry Gajeel, I’m sorry I couldn’t help you’ she thought to herself.

   And then everything stopped.

   The sun was shining as Levy woke up. 9:03 her alarm clock that failed to ring read. She had slept in and the light yellow glow that filtered through her windows and curtains welcomed her to the day. Birds were passing by, hopping and foraging in the window box on the outside of her home, and soaring through the sky, not a care in the world.

    Levy stretched, her hands in fists that stretched to the ceiling. She rolled out of her bed, rubbing her eyes and yawning. The girl swung her legs off the bed, her light blanket wrapped around her ankles as it fell with them, a book tumbling down to her wood floors. She picked it up and smiled- Fair Tail. 

    A classic in every sense of the word at least in her eyes. It was a childish story really, about dragons and princesses and love, but god if it wasn’t her favorite. There was a whole other world in those pages, where magic was real and friendships were made of family instead of strangers. It was a landscape she had always dreamed of as a child. A story about a warrior guild called Fairy Tail. It was everything she had ever wanted. Gingerly she touched the cover, it was rough and peeling. Years of love and reading had done its toll, she knew she should get a new copy but she couldn’t bring herself to retire it and besides, she’d never seen another one on any shelf . Levy placed the book on her nightstand gingerly and threw on a clean dress. The orange fabric was light and airy, perfect for the hot summer weather they were having in Magnolia right now.

      She let her feet take her out of her bedroom, past the small living room of her apartment and into the white kitchen that she loved. It was rustic and small, the cream tile accented the worn white cabinets. There wasn’t much in them though, since it was just her. A few dishes, bowls, and mugs for her tea was all she really needed. She didn’t even have a dishwasher. Less plates and silverware means less mess right? she tried to reason when anyone told her to get one. She put her kettle on the stove and padded to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

She let the cold water run through her fingers for a moment and looked in the mirror. Her grey eyes were large and wide, and her blue hair was wild, as it usually was. There was just no taming it- no matter what she did it was wild and had a mind of its own. She pulled an orange headband on, at least trying to keep the most rebellious strands out of her face. She smiled at herself, happy with what she saw. She wasn’t tall like her best friend Lucy was, she wasn’t busty like her either, but she didn’t mind. Her short stature was fine with her most days and she had curves of her own, though not as pronounced as most of her friend group. Lucy would tease her saying she should have drank her milk when she was young, Levy in turn would tell Lucy she must have drank too much. It was fine though, it kept her out of the spotlight, she wasn’t beautiful like Lucy or Juvia or Mira, but she was cute and that was alright too. Less attention meant more time for reading she supposed.

     A loud whistle sounded from across the house signaling that her tea water was ready. She ran to it and poured it into a thermos, and grabbed her purse from next to the door. She slipped her blue sneakers on, locked her door and headed to town.

     The walk through Magnolia city was peaceful. The city was a merchant town. She had read once that it was dead set in the middle between two harbor towns hundreds of years ago and was the go between for the two town’s residences. The towns didn’t much like each other but each had something the other needed so they made it work. It was like Magnolia was their DMZ; no fighting allowed in the city limits, though that didn’t stop many people. The folks in town were a breed of their own having come from all across the world to the trading hub. There were people selling their furs from up north, though this time of year they mainly sold leather goods since there was no need for such heavy furs in the middle of June. There were fishermen from the west selling their fresh morning catches, calling out prices to those walking past and there were crafters from the east, all brash and odd in their own way. And then there were the tourists from the South, they came to Magnolia from the lowest points of Fiore to catch glimpses of the scenery and tour the city. The city had its own flavor to it and of all the places that Levy had been it had always been her favorite, no other place could compare.

    She walked with a pep in her step, waving to the merchants as they called to her from their booths and shops. Everyone knew the bookworm and in turn she knew everyone. Though the city was large and vast she was sure she’d visited every shop to find rare books. She had leather-bound ones from a kind fisherman, she had seal-bound ones from a one eye’d trapper in the north, and she had a great collection of fairy tails from a sweet old grandmother who she was sure thought she was a child instead of a young woman.

    Levy stopped before a green shop, its old carved sign read “McGarden Books”, and unlocked the door. It had been her father’s shop before he had passed away. It was her pride and joy and though it didn’t make much money it made her happy to have a purpose- regulars to the shop kept it going and well stocked. She put her stuff down and pulled the curtains to the large front bay windows open, letting the light come through the shop, illuminating the ever present book dust. No matter how much time she spent cleaning, there was just some things that you couldn’t get rid of all the way. She had a beautiful view of the canal from her shop and often she didn’t mind spending hours sitting at her front desk, a book in her hand, a mug of tea on the dark maple desk, and watching as the small boats went past.

     As the day rolled on and the morning grew to afternoon people filtered in and out of the shop, books leaving with them, others being put on the shelf to take their new home. Levy looked up as the bell above the door dinged, a man in a tailored suit wandered in, his hands in his pockets. He was tall and lanky a mop of brown hair on his head. His eyes were sharp and met hers for a moment before moving away as he took in the shop. Something about him put Levy on edge- maybe it was the way he was slouching, like he was better than everything, or maybe it was the was picking things up and flinging them down without so much as a care. Levy put the pile of books she was categorizing down and went to the new comer, she had never seen him around before.

     “Can I help you find anything sir?” she called to him as she made her way behind her desk, putting it between them.

     His eyes took her in, roaming down his body, his gaze leering, and then back to her face. “Actually, Sweetheart, I’m in the rare book business, maybe you have what I’m looking for- I’ve heard you had quite the collection here. I’m looking for Fairy Tail, rumor has it you know where to find it.” He leaned his arm on the counter. Levy knew it was supposed to come off as relaxed but she also saw it as the calculated move it was. Something wasn’t right about him. And she sure wasn’t going to part with her favorite book.

    “I’m sorry sir, none of the older copies are for sale. We categorize them for preservation, they’re not for sale” she told him matter of factly. Truth is, all the books in the store were for sale, she just didn’t like him.

     He made a tsk noise and stood from his relaxed pose, hands making their way back to his pant pockets and then back to the counter. A wad of money was curled in one of them, a rubber band keeping it tight. “Oh come on, for the right price everything is for sale. I’ve got the cash for it I assure you.”

     Levy rolled her eyes. “Incase you missed what I said, they’re not for sale. I can’t help you. Have a good day, sir.” She took a book from her pile and started sticking it again, hoping he would take the hint. He stood there watching her for a moment before putting the money back into his pocket.

The man hummed a response and turned towards the exit. He opened the door and paused, looking back at the blue haired girl. “Nice talking to you Levy, I’ll be seeing you.” And with that he left, the door shutting with a clatter behind him.

    Levy looked up from her books, her eyebrows scrunched. She looked down at her shirt. ‘I’m not wearing my name tag, how did he know my name? Gosh I sure hope he doesn’t come back. No means no, jeez. she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, she wouldn’t let it bother her too much. Magnolia was filled with oddities and even odder people, one more was just another piece of the collection.

    Night fell slowly, so slow that Levy barely noticed it was dark until the dim streetlights outside hummed on. She was so engrossed in her book that she hadn’t even registered the sky was now a dark shade of blue. Her last customer had left hours ago, leaving her alone in the old shop. Her clock’s minute hand clicked closer to the 10pm mark. She stretched and put her book back on its shelf, saving her place with a folded corner. Levy grabbed her bag and keys and locked the store

    The trek back home wasn’t long, maybe a 15 minute walk, but the dark made it seem longer. There were very few people on the streets this time of night, and the water of the canal lapped at the stone edges. Levy scuffed her foot against the cobblestone street. She moved to the side as a man tall man trudged past her, their gazes met as they passed. His eyes were red, he had metal piercings above them. A gasp escaped her as their eyes met and it took all her being not to shrink back away from the man. She heard him chuckle but he didn’t stop. Levy glanced back after him, she watched his long black hair swayed in the night wind, the light of the streetlights bounced off his tanned muscles. A black tattoo on his shoulder ate the light as it went over him- there was something familiar about it, but she didn’t get a great look as he had passed. She shook her head and kept walking. Looks like Magnolia has gained two weirdos.

    Her feet carried her around the corner, her usual way home. A man was lounging against the brick wall, light from his cigarette illuminating in the night. The red embers fell from it as he huffed at the end. Levy crossed the street from the man, Magnolia was a kind town but she knew not to be naive enough to trust a lone man at night. She sped up her walk as she passed him, keeping a tab on him as she went. When she got a feet from him she could have sworn she heard footsteps follow, she turned to find the man gone, she was alone in the sidewalk, it was like the cigarette smoking man had disappeared into thin air.

       Levy turned back towards home, a gust of wind blowing past her and suddenly she was on the ground. Pain laced her head as she fell, she opened her eyes, not even realizing she had shut them and suddenly the man was back. He was standing a few feet from her, his burning embers falling to the cobblestone. They died as they hit the ground. Levy’s mind was spinning. She hadn’t even seen where he had come from, hadn’t even seen where he had gone. He stalked forward, she tried to get up but her head throbbed and her knee hurt, she was no longer in the middle of the sidewalk but now was laying toward the mouth of the street.

    The man walked into the light, she could see his face, her eyes widening. “I did say I’d come by again, didn’t I, Levy? It’s so lovely to see you.” It was the same man from earlier in the shop. The one who had tried to buy her favorite book. But he looked different now, his before narrow eyes were now wide and bloodshot and his stance was no longer a facade of relaxness, it was rigid and taut.

    Levy again tried to get up, she managed to get to her feet, shakily. The man was watching her, a ghastly smile on his face, it revealed spiked teeth that she was sure weren’t there when he was in the shop. She huffed, holding her side, it hurt from her landing. Levy blinked and suddenly he was there, right in front of her, he struck her with the back of her hand, sending her flying again with a force that she could barely process. She tasted blood. She tried to look for her bag. My mace, i have to get my mace! Lucy had jokingly given her a spray can of the potent stuff for her birthday saying she’d have to beat those boys off with how pretty she was turning out to be. Levy doubted she’d ever have to use it but put it in her bag anyway. That had been three years ago. Her bag laid a few feet from her, the contents falling across the street, she could spot the little red can closer than the rest of the items, the silver of the cap shining, but if only she could reach it.

    Everything hurt, and the man was in front of her again, pushing her to the ground, he grabbed the front of her shirt as she scrambled away, scraping her arms and hands on the stone. “Now, where’s the book, little girl? I won’t hurt you if you just hand the fucking thing over” he snarled, his teeth really were pointed. He was a terrifying monster, totally inhuman, Levy barely had time to process what was happening. He held her there, his eyes boring into hers, her hands still scrambling as his fingers laced into the front of her dress, it was starting to tear, his fingers were turning to claws right before her eyes. She screamed at the sight. What were once normal human hands were now slowly covering in hunter green scales, flickering in the light.

   Suddenly her hand grabbed something cylindrical and cold. The mace! she wound her fingers around it and quick as she could sprayed the man, he fell back coughing and holding his face. He screamed, and so did she, as she ran away, tears streaming down her face

   She scrambled, running for the mouth of the street, back the way she had come. Her legs pumped but she faltered, her foot catching an uneven stone. she fell, sliding and scraping to the ground, there was blood on the side of her face, blood on her arms, blood on her knees. Levy huffed but the world was going fuzzy, everything was turning black around the edges of her vision.

   The man was up again, claws sticking out of his once normal hands and ripping through his black leather shoes “YOU BITCH!!” he seethed as he came closer to her, as he neared he shouted something that Levy couldn’t make out. Her senses were lapsing, failing her right when she needed them the most. She watched in horror as he charged at her, his bulging eyes rilled with rage. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact but it never came. Instead she heard a loud crack like metal buckling.

   She cracked her eyes open, her eyes going wide. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was the man she had passed on the street. He was standing in front of her, protecting her. He had the man- thing, levy corrected herself, in a headlock. His arms were no longer tanned muscle but a dark grey color, they shone like metal.

   He glanced back at her, their eyes met. His red to her grey. And then the world closed in around her and she fell into the void.

________________________

Hope you guys liked the first chapter, I know its probably rough and a little disjointed but i’d love to hear some feedback :) 

[onesp1cyboi]

ahem ok i said 10 notes but i actually rly like my writing so chapter 1 of my book (”Parasite” altho thts a working title tbh)

little bit of background, i’m calling it an anti-romance rn tbh bc it takes romance tropes and then goes “fuck u” n is basically a call out for abusive actions tht rnt always seen as abusive ft. flower meanings, magic and stuff

um also it’s based in shanghai, which is where i grew up, so. if any references go over people’s heads, pls pls pLS dont hesitate to ask about them!! i’ll edit those in later if needed, and i’m 110% open to any criticism

Most people describe it as falling. I more or less walked backwards into it.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s this glorified train wreck of emotions known as love. Oh Chris, you might be thinking, don’t be so cynical about it! To which my only reply is: wait and see! I think my general feelings toward romance are totally understandable.

It started at the beginning of the summer holidays. XinTianDi was packed with people from all over, tourists and locals alike swarming in and out of malls, onto small side streets and tight alleys. It all brushed past me, sitting at a small table a few textbooks strewn around me, half-filled cup of coffee balanced on the opened pages of an outdated science book, an empty plate decorated with cake crumbs lying haphazardly on top of my half-open pencil case.

I wasn’t studying. I told my mom I would when I left my apartment (dad was already at work), although she wouldn’t have cared if I told her I’d gone out to drink myself half to death and run away to some exotic land halfway across the planet. I don’t know why I bothered to lie to her, considering she didn’t care for anything I said anyways. She’d probably appreciate it if I did run away from home, because that would mean one less mouth to feed, and an extra room in the apartment she could convert into something new.

Mom always liked new things.

I sighed, picking up my cold cup of coffee and knocking it back, letting the gritty contents slither down my throat to an uncomfortable stop in my stomach. I put the cheap porcelain cup back on its tiny useless plate, gathering up my books. It was the summer holidays, I had better things to do than pretending to be productive.

I fished my phone out of my pocket, checking for texts. Nothing. I didn’t let it disappoint me; most of my friends had gone overseas for the holidays, to timezones totally out of sync with my own. The few friends who were also stuck in Shanghai for the summer break tended to sleep in past lunch as well. I was alone until noon.

Stuffing my backpack with my books, I stood up slowly, letting my legs stretch out. It was only 10 in the morning, but I’d been sitting in the coffee shop forcing bitter caffeine down my throat for the better part of 3 hours. I swung around, stepping into the foot traffic surging around the soft oases of the restaurants and cafes dotted here and there throughout the entire downtown area. I remembered the first time I’d gone out without my parents or friends, the crowd had thrown me this way and that, forcing me in and out of the tide of people. Now, however, I was able to stick to the border, never touching or interacting with anyone else, besides a few bumps against my shoulders. My friends told me it was because I tended to look like I was on the warpath when walking alone, brows narrowed in a threatening glare, lips curled up in a near permanent scowl. I always thought it was a good thing.

I broke out of the stream near the entrances to one of the malls, joining the slow and steady trickle of people coming in and out of it, marching up the stairs. I didn’t look up, staring at my feet, glare heavy. Step after step, slow and tortured. I was tired. I didn’t want to go home. I didn’t know where I wanted to go.

A cold rush of wind blew over me as I stepped through the glass doors into the mall. I untied my hoodie, blood red, from around my waist, pulling it on as I walked, pointlessly, aimlessly. I felt like it too; pointless and aimless. I was tired. It wasn’t unusual for me to feel awful when I was like this. I found myself making my way out of the back of the mall, feet stomping hard against the ground, the shock almost painful through the soft soled sneakers I was wearing.

I came back outside, flipping my hood up to hide my face, slinging my backpack in front of me. I took off into a smaller alley, unzipping the small pocket in front of my bag and curling my fingers around that sleek cardboard box of self-destructive relaxation. I breathed out a sigh through my lips, allowing myself a small, quirked smile as I opened the box, hidden safely in the space between two buildings. I leaned against the wall, sliding a cigarette between my lips, pulling my lighter out of the box and lighting the cancer stick quickly.

I didn’t do this often, but the feeling of smoke in my lungs was comforting, warm. I breathed out, watching the smoke fly into the air in front of me like a thin, grey ghost, a vision of my own soul flitting into the wind, fading into nothingness.

I took another drag.

The end of the cigarette glowed a soft orange. For a second, I was tempted to snuff it out into my skin, but the moment passed, another ghost lost in the wind, and I filled my lungs with smoke again.

I moved to step out of the shade of the buildings, out onto the streets again, when I spotted her. She was chattering in quick Chinese to the vendor of a small street side flower shop, a bouquet of roses in one pale, soft hand. She wasn’t small, probably about my height, but the way she held herself made her seem placid. It was weird compared to the way she spoke, confident and sharp. The shopkeeper looked amused, his attempts at bargaining with her more playful than anything. My eyes flitted quickly across her body, from the way her dark, nearly black hair hung over her round shoulders to her to the narrow curve of her waist. She was wearing a pastel blue summer dress, a tan bag hanging off her shoulder matching the roman sandals on her feet. There were flowers printed on her dress, the impression of roses in pink and yellow floating over the fabric.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder, turning her head to the side, and my breath caught in my throat. Like me, she was an expat, but she looked mixed, maybe part Chinese? Her narrow eyes were dark, but warm, inviting. Her cheeks were dusted a light pink, lips painted glossy red. I felt my own cheeks darken as she turned away to face the vendor, the cigarette between my fingers all but forgotten, the light on the end already expired.

She was beautiful.

I turned away, determined to hide in the alley again, but then again…

It was summer. Summer meant change, adventure, something different and new. Maybe this could be a change for me.

I crossed the street.

She didn’t notice me, still arguing with the flower vendor, but I figured I’d try. I dropped my cig onto the pavement, kicking it subtly into the road. I wished my breath didn’t smell of smoke, either, but maybe she’d overlook it.

The vendor noticed me. He quickly turned away from her, trying to speak in slow, broken English.

“Buy flower?” he asked, English accented and barely understandable. I nodded.

“I’ll buy her the roses if the price is really that…” I started to reply in Chinese, pausing to glance over at the girl. She was giving me a flat, unimpressed glare, nose puckering as the smell of the smoke flew over her. I turned away quickly. “Difficult.”

The vendor beamed, nodding ecstatically. “Very difficult! Women, you know.”

“Excuse me? These flowers are incredibly overpriced,” she spat out, shaking her head. Well. My entrance obviously wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be.

“How much is he selling them for?” I asked, in English this time. She sighed, running her fingers through her long, thick hair, slightly wavy, curled around her face like a picture frame.

“Too much. I’m not paying 120 yuan for a couple of flowers off the side of the road,” she replied. “And I don’t need you buying them for me either.”

I huffed a slight laugh, scratching at the back of my head. Well. Guess I should’ve expected that. “Sorry, I guess?”

She smiled at me, sighing in what seemed to be frustrated adoration. “You really wanna pay for them?”

“Uh,” I muttered. 120 yuan. For a girl I’d never met before. Christ. “Sure? But, can I know your name? Since I’m gonna be buying flowers for you and all.”

“Wynona Lynn,” she replied. “You?”

“Chris.”

“Just Chris?”

“Christopher?” I answered, shrugging.

“Last name, stupid.” Ouch. She obviously didn’t like me.

“Lee.”

“Was that so hard?” she quipped with a smirk, grinning at me. The vender coughed, giving the two of us a pointed look. I pulled the 120 out of my wallet, handing it over in defeat. The girl, Wynona, smiled at me.

“Thanks for the flowers,” she said, fingers wrapping around the stem of one, gently tugging it out of the arrangement. She held it out to me. I took it from her, the thorns digging into my fingers when I wrapped them around it. I didn’t wince.

“Thanks?” I muttered, confused.

“I should buy you lunch,” she remarked. “You free today?”

“Is this a date?” I shot back, not wanting to be one-upped by some random girl I just met.

“If you want it to be.” She punctuated it with a wink. I felt my cheeks grow warm, fingers tightening around the stem of the rose.

“Uh…” Shoot. I couldn’t think straight. “Ok?”

“Date then?”

“Please?” I winced at the high, desperate pitch of my voice. Thanks a lot, puberty. She probably felt sorry for me. I couldn’t imagine what else she’d find attractive about me; I wasn’t tall, or handsome. Maybe she thought I was cute, in a kind of pathetic way. That had to be it.

She hummed, smiling at me. “Meet me at Starbucks at 12, then?” she asked. “I gotta go home and drop these off, so I can’t stick around for now.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure,” I stuttered. Ugh. Her smile made my brain stop working. It was frustrating. “Starbucks. Yeah. I’ll see you then.”

“See you,” she said. She sounded like she was trying not to laugh. I couldn’t blame her. I’d laugh at me too. She turned away from me, beginning to walk away, but paused. “Oh, and one more thing,” she started, turning to face me again. She walked up to me quickly and pressed a kiss against my cheek, before taking off again, blending quickly in with the crowd. My hand moved up to my cheek, fingers brushing over where she kissed me. The vendor wolf-whistled, cackling. I stared after her, even when her flower print dress vanished from sight.

~*~

I hunched over in my seat, letting my phone drop into my lap. I’d sat back down in Starbucks, forking over more of my money to fuel my growing caffeine addiction and the power-hungry capitalist society that caused it. I took another sip of my quickly cooling cappuccino, tongue already sensitive from the first burning taste I’d had of it. The rose Wynona had given me was lying on the table in front of me, bright red petals looking out of place against the dusty, dirty green-tinged grain of the table I was sat at. The dark stem was still brighter and more alive that the wooden table it was lying on, green leaves shuddering in the slight wind offered by the whirring fans above me.

My phone buzzed in my lap, snapping me out of my daze. I picked it up, glancing at the message.

bae😩 💦  said: have fun!!~~ <33

Jerk.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly. I glanced up quickly, catching a glimpse of her pale face before her dark hair covered it again and she breezed in front of me, sliding into the seat across from me.

“Did I keep you waiting?” she asked, smiling. I could feel my cheeks heating again, the dimples at the corners of her lips causing me to feel things I never thought possible.

“Uh, no. Nah. I had nothing to do anyways, so. No.” I smiled at the end, awkward and too wide, but I wasn’t really sure what else to do. She grinned.

“You’re such a dork,” she laughed. “Ok! C’mon, there’s no way I’d take you on a date to Starbucks. I’m not a cheapskate.”

“Wow, we’re going on a proper date?”

“It’s only because I’m craving good food. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Too late.”

She snorted, reaching over the table to grab my arm. “Are we going then?”

I knocked back my coffee as I stood. It still burned a little going down, and I choked on it as it went, but we were already out of the cafe, despite my spluttered attempts to tell her to slow down. I chucked my coffee cup in a bin as we ran, shoving my phone back in my pocket and attempting to make sure I had all my stuff on me.

We slowed down in front of a large shopping mall, Wynona’s cheeks a little pink with exertion. She was panting lightly, breaths passing in bursts through her plump red lips, quirked at the ends in a sly little smile.

“Why did we run?” I huffed, doubled over and clutching my stomach. I was pathetically horrible at sports. My everything was aching from the mild bit of exercise, and I was starting to hate my decision of going on a date with Wynona.

“Why not?” she replied. I realized she was holding the rose she gifted me, twirling it between her fingers. She seemed to be whispering something to it, pressing a quick kiss against the petals. The red of her lips matched the red of the flower, and she looked like she was glowing when she turned back around to face me. I straightened, standing up stiffly in front of her, trying not to let it bother me that she was almost taller than me. She tucked the flower behind my ear, brushing my hair away with her hand. My face felt hot again.

“If you keep blushing like that, the rose’ll match your face like it matches your hoodie,” she quipped. I scowled, reaching up to take the flower out of my hair. She batted my hand away, grinning. “I’m kidding! You look cute with it, ok? Just keep it there.”

“Thanks. Really wanted to look cute today,” I grumbled, pouting. She pinched my cheek.

“Keep pouting like that and you will,” she replied. I sighed, shoving my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. I forced a smile, trying as hard as possible to make it look uncomfortable. She rolled her eyes. “Perfect.”

She led me to a small restaurant, one of Shanghai’s many attempts at being trendy, with rustic wooden furniture and dark but warm lighting. She looked like she belonged there, under the gentle glow. She led me inside, guiding me to a secluded seat in a brighter corner of the room. The dark felt a little claustrophobic for me, but I didn’t want to say anything, seated here across from her, watching the yellow light bring a strange glow to her eyes, exposing freckles and lines of gold that were shot through the brown.

“You’re pretty,” I mumbled, staring into her eyes. She blushed, coughing lightly, hands immediately shooting to her lap as she searched for something to toy around with, avoiding my gaze. I smirked, leaning back. “You’re prettier when you blush.” She kicked me under the table.

She opened her mouth to say something back when the waitress came over, asking us if we were ready to order drinks in slightly accented English, handing us menus. Wynona glared at me, taking one of the menus and quickly flipping it open. She scanned the drinks quickly while I ordered a soda, settling on a rose tea.

“Rose tea?” I commented.

“I like flowers,” she replied, smiling.

“Evidently.”

She hummed in response, shutting her eyes as her ankles tapped lightly against mine. “What about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you like?”

“Oh.” I shrugged, thinking about it. “Music, maybe?”

“Music, maybe. That sounds like a fascinating interest. You’ve really got me on the edge of my seat here.”

“Shut up, ok. I just. Never thought about it before, I guess. I like reading? And music.”

“You play any instruments?”

“Piano and guitar. I’d love to learn drums but my mom would never let me. At least with piano and guitar she can have me play songs at whatever get-togethers she’s having with her friends without me being a pain in the backside or anything.”

She was staring at me.

“Uh. Um. Sorry,” I stuttered. “I tend to ramble.”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s cute,” she giggled, reaching over to snatch at my fingers. “You know, you could go on,” she mumbled, playing with my fingers.

“Uh. What? About music?”

“Uh huh.”

“Oh. Uh. I sing sometimes? I used to write songs and stuff, but I guess I don’t really have time anymore, and I never really liked the songs I was writing either.”

“Why not?” she asked, lacing her own fingers through mine, glancing up at me. She looked genuinely interested.

“The lyrics never sounded right. I always felt like I was faking it, like I was being fake deep, and it never really reflected the points I actually wanted to get across. Like, sometimes I wrote love songs? But they just had cliched metaphors and were never really personal to the people I was writing them about.”

She looked surprised. “You’ve dated before?”

“Uh, yes? Should I… not have?”

“You struck me as a sweet innocent bean, new to the ideas of dating and relationships,” she quipped, pulling her hands away from mine to clasp them at her chest, cocking her head and sighing. “You would be my conquest, and I would show you how relationships work, and we could become the power couple of the century. You’d be the Anthony to my Cleopatra.”

“What.” I’ll admit, I was offended. “I’ve dated before! I didn’t walk up to you and start flirting without any idea of how to flirt at all.”

“A kid can know how to flirt without actually having flirted with someone. You ever watched movies?”

“I hate movies.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Really? Wow, never knew I was getting with Holden Caulfield reincarnate.”

I scoffed. “Rude. I’m way cooler than Holden Caulfield.”

“I’m surprised you picked up on that reference.”

“I’m surprised you made it.”

She blinked in surprise before grinning. “I had to read it for school.”

My face fell. “It’s one of my favorite books.”

“I knew you were a nerd! I knew it!”

“I already told you I like reading,” I retorted. “And I play piano. Of course I’m a nerd.”

Wynona was laughing, her hands reaching for mine again. She laced her fingers with mine, eyes squinted shut, wrinkling at the edges, her nose scrunched as her lips parted to let a small sound fall out. My heart melted.

“You’re really pretty. Please stop. It’s rude.”

She huffed, still laughing.

“It makes you flustered, so no,” she replied, grinning. She reached over to me with her free hand, snatching the flower from behind my ear. I’d forgotten it was there. “You know what roses symbolize?”

“Oh no, you’re one of those people who speaks ‘flower.’”

“Red roses symbolize love and passion, but in a bouquet the meaning can change. One rose means love, 12 shows gratitude, 50 shows unconditional love.”

“50? Who the hell is buying 50 roses?”

“Romantic couples.”

“Oh.” I paused for a second. “Wait a second, you gave me one rose-”

“I don’t love you. We just met, that would be ridiculous.”

“Uh-huh.” I cocked an eyebrow at her, fighting down the blush that was threatening to bloom across my cheeks.

“I would’ve given you an iris or something, it’s more appropriate, but I didn’t want to buy you a flower out of nowhere when you wouldn’t understand it,” she sighed, propping her head on the hand with the flower, the rose hanging limply out between her fingers.  

“What does an iris mean?”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, smiling at me. “I mean, since you payed for my roses and all.”

“Heh, yeah.” An awkward kind of silence built between us, Wynona still playing with my fingers. The waitress came over, placing our drinks in front of us. Wynona shifted, sitting up again, her hand leaving mine, the rose dropped onto the table. She picked up her cup instead, blowing lightly over the steam wafting off the rosey pink drink, her lips resting on the edge of the cup.

For a second, I wished I had a camera. I wasn’t much of an artist, but she looked beautiful. She smirked at me, and I knew I was blushing, but at that moment, I didn’t care.

[hedgewolf-hunters]

First meeting.

Infernia: EEEHHHHEHEHEHEHEHE IM SO EXCITED! OVER THE WEEK BREAK MOM FINALLY LET ME TAKE THE CALIBUR TRIALS! If you want to know what it is listen in and i will tell you.

In the mansion besides Castle Blackstone the Darkos family is relaxing. Drake is playing cards with Scarlet, a female wolf with shoulder length hair done up in a ponytail and two small quills, a swirling galaxy left eye and burning Amber right eye. Shes wearing a short sleeve hoodie with jeans and a half skirt in a pair of sneakers. Shes looking up at her twin from her cards who has a solid poker face holding his cards in front of his eyes. She goes back to looking at her hand as Sky walks by with a arm full of groceries.

"Ok kids me and Aura are gonna be running the shop today. Theirs food in the fridge, Bane is out with Sodina enjoying the first real vacation in forever so try not to bother them. And what am i forgetting?" Sky says tapping your chin.

"Mom can i-" Infernia starts.

"No. Thats what it was. Im sorry Infernia but you know i want you to focus on your studies before your physical abilities." Sky says.

"But MOM, dad and Aunt Aura took the test at 15. Im here now two years older and still dont have a calibur weapon. Come on its just not fair." Inferna whines.

"Sweetie do you know what it means to have a Calibur weapon? Have you ever wondered who you would get to be bound to you for the rest of your immortal souls existence?" Sky asks her youngest daughter.

"Yes mom i know. To be bound to a calibur is a union more permanent than any other. You will have a friend through all your lives from the time you bond till the end of time. Every reincarnation will receive a gift of your memories from each incarnation. Sometimes it drives the users wild in some lives and causes them to rampage in a melded form till they are put down." Infernia says pouting.

"You still want to form a bond with a Calibur?" Sky asks

"Yes. I want to be able to know that i am not alone in my next life. That even if my life is one of torment that i will always have another with me to pull me from my dark life." Infernia says with pleading eyes. Sky sighs and pets her daughters head.

"Fine but if you fail this trial you will never ask me for this again, am i understood?" Skay asks. Infernia smiles and hugs her mother tight.

"Oooohhhh thank you thank you thank you! I promise mom." Infernia says. Sky sighs smiling and kissing her daughters head.

"Alright Scarlet, Drake, put down the cards. You two need to take your sister to her trial while the sun is still up." Sky says. Drake smirks and puts his cards down face first before standing and turning to his mother and baby sister.

"Done deal. I was getting tired of playing Scarlet for her money anyway." Drake says.

"Oh my god your hand was complete trash! How are you able to keep up a poker face with a hand like this!" Scarlet exclaims throwing his cards face up. A king a two a four a eight and an ace are his hand. Her own hand slighty scattered was two aces and three fives.

"Years of practice my dear twin." Drake says.

"Ugh that smug look says it all. Fine lets take the squirt to the cave. I need some fresh air and sometime to relax." Scarlet says as she gets up. Drake follows suit as Infernia kisses her mothers cheek.

"We'll be back before night fall. Love you!" Infernia says as she follows her siblings out the front door. Sky smiles softly than frowns as she rubs her cheeks.

"You should have told her the other trait of bonding with a Calibur." A feminine buzzing voice says.

"I know swarm. That as you bond with it it absorbs a part of your soul to conect back to you with each new incarnation." Sky says rubbing her chest over her heart.

"As i have done with your love for your family in every rebirth." Swarm says.

"I know! I know. Look its time i headed back in before Aura starts hula dancing." Sky says as she heads out the door locking up behind her.

Scarlet and Infernia are giggling as they leave pink and red streaks while they run through the forest. A rift appears right in front of a large tree as the girls both touch it. Drake pops through the rift and digs his fingers into the tree to hold himself up. Than he climbs down quickly grumbling as he does.

"Aster please tell me thats interference from the trials and not that you just thought it would be funny to turn me into a cat." Drake says as the rift closes. A few seconds of silence and he sighs grinding his teeth.

"Oh is he having a chat with Aster now?" Infernia asks. Scarlet nods and pulls out her bow from under her skirt.

"One of the things about a Calibur is that the user can always have a chat with the weapon in private. The only ones able to have a conversation with any other is Bane's Hyleia as the first Calibur, and Sraya who now belongs to Sodina." Scarlet says Keilisa glows in Scarlets hand.

"Yes yes Keilisa. Alright Infernia its time for you to take your test." Scarlet says leading Infernia behind the tree to a dugout hill leading down. Infernia shivers and squeezes her arms in self assurance.

"Its ok Infernia youve practiced on Aunt Aura's demo trial. You know whats waiting for you down there. You got this." Scarlet says to give her reassurance on top of her self assurance. Infernia nods and breathes out slowly.

"Wish me luck guys." Infernia says.

"You dont need luck sister. You got skill, youll get yourself a lifetime partner and we'll be waiting here to see her." Drake says. Infernia smiles a little as she starts going down the stairs that were carved into the dugout. The last step collapses into a slide. Infernia gives a small shriek as she falls down tumbling head first.

A few seconds later she calms her nerves and curls up into a ball and spindashes the rest of the way down to a landing. Infernia uncurls and stands up patting herself down. She looks around at the dark cavern she ended up in. Slowly she starts forward into the cave system keeping her senses about her. Within a minute of walking whispers begin passing her ears.

"Tell us your fears. Tell us your dreams. Tell us your story. Tell us why." Are most of what she hears as she moves forward. Suddenly the cave lights up and shes in a desolate city, building have been toppled, bodies line the streets and the world seems to be on fire. Over head a dragon flies by and perches on several buildings its body weight causing the building to crumble with ease.

"No dad stopped this. He stopped you from changing." She whispers to herself a flash of her father pushing her out of the fat foxes hands and skewering him seconds before a giant maw snaps shut around them. The dragon glares at Infernia and growls. It climbs down from the perch made of rubble and starts heading towards her. She backs up as it picks up pace slolwy while it moves towards her. She starts full on sprinting when it is charging at her.

Five minutes of the chase and a building collapses infront of her blocking her. She stops in her tracks and dives into an alley as the dragon crashes through it in front of her. She pants as she tries to catch her breath. She gets up trying to tip toe away from the dragon while it searches through the rubble. A small whimper to her right stops her. Infernia looks over and sees a small hedgehog cowering in the corner behind a half crushed dumpster. Infernia moves behind the dumpster with her and she clamps onto her arm.

"Its ok shhhh. Dont cry little one. It can't get back here." Infernia whispers to the crying girl. They both hear the dragon sniffing at the entrance to the alley and its claw digging into the walls trying to dig them out. The girl starts to cry as Infernia looks back at the dragon than at her. Biting her lip Infernia picks up the girl and stares at the only way in or out of the alley which the dragon has blocked. It growls at them as it claws the walls away faster. The childs head is buried in Infernia shoulder shivering as Infernia herself stands on nervous limbs. Taking slow deep breaths Infernia moves forward towards the claws. She watches as the clawing becomes more frantic as she does.

Infernia runs at the claws as the little girl screams in terror. She jumps through a gap in the claws and continues towards the dragon. It swipes at her again and she sidesteps the attack continuing forward. The tail comes from above and makes to stab her, she jumps back quickly and ducks down as a claw follows. She runs again and jumps on falling rubble. Using it as steps up to the dragons head she mentally marks the spot for her attack. She side jumps from another tail strike and plants her feet firmly on the dragons pad in its calw as it swips up at her. She sprints down its arm before it can close its claw on them and jumps off its elbow. The dragon opens its maw as she jumps and makes to swallow them both whole. Infernia clutches the child tighter and before they fall into its maw she grabs a tooth and flings herself up out of its maw and at its nose. She forces its maw closed with an axe kick to the bridge of its nose hard enough to create a shock of wind. Before her foot can leave the grip of the dragons skin she shifts her momentum from forward, to down.

The dragons eye glares at her, red swirling down into a sky blue. Infernia smiles sweetly as she uses her free hand to throw a punch with all her weight and momentum into its center between its eyes. The sound of cracking can be heard as the dragon rears its head back its eyes going blank as it falls over. Infernia lands sliding back from the falling dragon. She breaths a sigh of relief as she flexes her hand.

"You really do have a hard head big brother. Sorry i had to crack it for now but you should heal soon enough." Infernia says. She pats his snout and the girl pats her cheeks. She turns to look and the girl is like her except a wolf. With a smile the girl and the entire scene fades.

Infernia finds herself in a slightly well lit cavern. Behind her are traps that look to have done similar to the dragons attacks. She sighs in relief as she continues forward into the cavern. The deeper she goes the more omonious light fills the space of the cavern.

Without warning the cavern turns into the city she has known for her entire life. But its different from the city she knows. Turning around to look she notices the Castle Blackstone in the center of the city. Along with that the city seems too...calm compared to its normal subtle edge state of mind.

Infernia sees the wolf girl look alike running with some other little kids. She stops and waves Infernia to follow them. Seeing as how the little girl is the only thing from the last vision she sees she decides to follow her. The kids run through alleys and backstreets heading towards the castle. The closer they get the bigger the houses get with familiar crests inside she could see through windows. Once they reach the castle the little wolf tugs on Infernia skirt some to get her attention. Looking down the girl points at the gate and the guards stationed at it.

"You guys want to see the inside of the castle?" She asks, to which all the kids nod. She smiles as she heads towards the castle gate that the girl pointed out. The guards put up their spears in a x formation blocking the passage.

"Oh come now gentlemen. Surely you can let me and a couple of kids in." She says.

"Sorry but our orders are to keep all interruptions out while the council of houses is in service." A guard says.

"On who's command?" She asks.

"By the order of the high alpha my lady." The guard replies.

"Im just gonna give the kids a tour nothing to bother them in the conference room." Infernia says.

"We're sorry ma'am but orders are orders." The guard says keeping firm.

"Alright than. You now have two options. Let me through or I blow the doors of their hinges. Your call." Infernia says. The guards stand firm.

"Alright but remember you are the ones who took this path." Infernia says stepping back and tackling a guard in the stomach. She activates her alpha mark at the last second and on impact an explosion sends the guard through the door. She grins and grabs his shield and ushers the kids behind her as guards come to see the commotion. They see the passed out guard and the other trying to hold back Infernia. Soon they move in to join him in holding her back and she backs up some as she prepares another explosion.

"To your left." The little girl whispers. Infernia turns and blocks an incoming strike and pushes back sending the guard back into the others. She grabs the little girl in her arm and charges forward igniting again and causing another explosion sending a collection of guards flying away. The kids keeping close to her follow as she creates a path to the castle. The little girl is watching around them giving Infernia warnings of attackers behind, ahead, left, and right. She doesnt think twice about each direction as she blocks and pushes them back and uses explosions to send some guards flying. The closer to the castle they get the more guards keep blocking them. The last line of defense being a sheild wall around them.

"Overhead." The little girl says giving Infernia an idea. She pulls all the kids onto her back as she charges up another explosion. But instead of charging forward she slams the sheild down and focuses the blast underneath. With the recoil from the explosion she and all the kids rocket up and over the shield wall and on the front door of the castle gates. With a grin Infernia kicks open the door and shes back in the cavern. But its alight with rainbow colors flowing up from a mountain of material in the center of the current large cavern. She looks at her arm and notices the battered warrior shield is still there. Loosening her grip the shield activates a function and collapses into a half shield with a short sword like extension on her forearm.

"Congratulations young Hedgehog. You've made it to the inner sanctum and collected a Calibur. But let me ask you young miss, why?" A voice like the little wolf girls asks. Infernia looks around and looks at the stone before her and than down at her forearm.

"My name is Infernia Luna Darkos, please don't call me young miss or young Hedgehog. And I have more than one reason for coming to partner with you." Infernia says bringing up the shield that is now in pristine condition.

"Hehe. Smart one you are. My name is Gradia and I still need your answer." The shield says as a pink orb flies up from the center to circle her.

"Well im sure you know that I was looking for a partner so not to be alone in my lives. Selfish but considering the wolrd we live in, its normal for someone who has lost alot to want that. But i also want to be able to protect my family, present and future. I don't want to be a bother to them on hunts, like when i let a target get away because Drake had to free me from some speed trap. I dont want to always be protected by them like with dad and that fat fox. I want to fight with them as equals, not handicapped thanks to their specialties." Infernia says. The orb continues to circle her as she speaks and flies through her a few times.

"Would you be willing to let me bond to your familial piety Infernia?" Gradia asks.

"If you are willing to accept me from now till the end of time. I will give you the piece you require." Infernia says. The orb lets out a snort.

"You dont have to be so formal about it. Ah than it is a deal my master Infernia. I Gradia do swear to serve you in this life and every life after." Gradia says after a small fit of giggles. With that the light slams into Infernia chest.

Infernia: Hehe gradia and i have been training for the past couple of days learning about eachother. We know that we still arent ready for a mission, we cant even preform a soul meld yet so we'll keep practicing. But i feel like we could take on an army or two ourselves. How about you Gradia?" I ask the shield on my forearm.

Gradia: I think we could do a few more than two thats for sure. After all we have been making explosive results. Who knows what the future holds for us.