#i'd love to hear your top ten! i think i've asked before but that was before the vengeance saga

[kanerallels]

Apologies if you've been asked this before, but I was curious what your top 10 Epic songs are!

I don't think I have been, and I shall happily share! In no particular order but definitely chronological because I could NEVER rank them properly:

Just A Man (it's sad but weirdly catchy! Plus if you're full of hubris you can associate it with Bode Akuna)

Warrior of the Mind (the VIBES the fact it reminds me a little of The Queen's Thief! Plus also Athena is one of my favorite characters, and this is such a cool intro to her)

My Goodbye (The breakup song of all time, matched only by She's Gone by Hall and Oates. It's so fun to sign your heart out with this one)

Wouldn't You Like (I used to be neutral on this song and then @undying-lilies said it was her favorite and I went hmmm I wonder why and relistened to it. And it was hilarious and I love it so much it's a BANGER. Although I always found "and I call this root HOLY MOLY" so funny)

The Underworld ("ALL I HEAR ARE SCREAMS-") (but really it's a devastating banger. How could I not love it?)

Suffering (which is really fun to say out loud. "Oh yeah I love Suffering it's awesome!" try it lol. But it's such a fun duet!)

Legendary (TELEMACHUS MY SON THE JACEN VIBES I LOVE IT)

We'll Be Fine (it was such a close call between this one and Little Wolf and they should really both be on here but We'll Be Fine is the third in the trilogy of Warrior of the Mind and My Goodbye and it's so upbeat and peaceful and just. AUGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH "you're a good kid" "thanks!")

God Games (it's so VARIED it has like five songs in one (like Band on the Run by Wings!) and I love all of them especially Hera and Hephaestus and Athena going up against all the other gods on Odysseus's behalf? I'm insane about the part where Zeus goes "you're playing with thunder, for a man full of shame, but if he's worth the risk of going under" AND HE IS TO ATHENA IT'S SUCH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE SHUT UP NO ONE TALK TO ME also the end. Words fail me)

Dangerous (LISTEN HERMES IS MY OTHER FAVORITE CHARACTER HE'S SO SILLY and this song is a B A N G E R)

Honorable mentions to Little Wolf, No Longer You, Open Arms, Luck Runs Out, Done For, and Remember Them, all of whom would be on here if this was a top 16 lol! But there are really no bad songs in this musical

[sanguineterrain]

smut 18+ only, fucking jason on the kitchen floor, feral horny afab reader who wants to maul jason, unprotected sex, breeding kink, submissive jaytodd!!! rock on!!!

The first time you go absolutely batshit feral over Jason, he's cleaning the apartment.

He's done nothing to provoke your ferality (he never does), and usually, you keep it to yourself. Thoughts like if I were a vampire I'd suck his blood and I need my boyfriend to hold me down until I orgasm or pass out, whichever comes first, are inside thoughts, and you do a great job at keeping them as such.

So you're not quite sure what compels you to act the way that you do.

First, Jason's in clothes that don't help your insanity. The shirt is Dick's (Jason insists that he did NOT have an emo phase, thank you), so the cropped quality of the My Immortal t-shirt isn't by design. Jason's just big.

Yes, yep, your boyfriend sure is a big boy. That's all you can think about as you watch him over the top of your open book while he attacks the kitchen floor with his Swiffer Jet. He's humming a song you don't recognize.

You love him so much. The thought hits you square in the chest. You love Jason Todd. A lot. A lot a lot a lot.

The next thought that hits you is how soft and squishy your boyfriend is. Jason's sweatpants are baggy, the baggiest he could find, and they still can't hide how humongous his thighs are. His thighs are pure muscle, but when not in the middle of a fight, they are soft. Bitable. Very bitable.

Your gazes moves to the strip of belly that flexes and flutters with every movement. Jason's stomach isn't perfectly flat, a fact that you know sometimes bothers him. You take care to treat it delicately, not wanting him to be self-conscious even though every part of him makes you rabid.

You want to kiss Jason's stomach. Feel it twitch under your hand as you do, uh... other stuff besides kissing. You love watching Jason in action, love watching him wield his powerful body. But you also love him like this: using his body to take care of himself, his space, and you.

Jason's arms. You could write prose poetry on such magnificent creations. More than once you've had the urge to wrap one of Jason's arms around your neck and let him squeeze until you lose consciousness. Another inside thought! Jason would staunchly refuse and probably get you checked for head trauma if you requested such a thing, but you can dream.

Once or twice, Jason's flexed for you, silly and smiley. You've managed to hide just how fucking hot you found it. It's been well over a year and you still want to jump your boyfriend. You try to keep it to a manageable level, not wanting to startle or overwhelm him. You know Jason's complicated relationship with his body. You respect his boundaries.

But still, the thoughts linger...

Your feet carry you to the kitchen before you can think about it. Jason's done with the mop and has moved to wiping the counters. You seize the opportunity to get behind him.

"Hey, baby," Jason says before you reach him. He keeps wiping. And that's another thing: Jason is highly competent. His training makes him hear you before you've reached him. If you were an evil goon, you'd be on the floor before you could inhale. You also find that concerningly hot.

You stick yourself to his back and wrap your arms around his stomach. You grab handfuls of the layer of fat that covers his muscles, brushing your thumbs over where his hair thickens below his bellybutton.

"What's up, hm?" Jason asks, patting your hand.

"You're really hot," you say.

He snorts, glances behind at you. "I'm what now?"

"Hot. Juicy. I wanna maul you."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," you say peacefully, groping his waist. "Soon as possible."

"I'm free for a mauling in ten minutes. That work for you?"

"I don't know if I can wait that long." You slip your hands up his shirt. "Mind if I feel you up while I wait?"

Jason laughs but it comes out a little airy. "You're a menace."

"I'm crazy about you."

"Mm, I've noticed. Feeling's mutual."

"No, no." You move your head so that your mouth is on his exposed bicep. You feel the hot flesh in your mouth, lave your tongue over it for some time. As soon as it flexes, you bite the hard muscle.

Jason drops his dishcloth. You soothe your teeth marks with your tongue.

"You don't understand," you say, shifting so you're pressing Jason against the counter edge. He lets you keep him there. "I'm crazy about you. I wanna eat you, Jay. Let me eat you."

"Jesus, what's gotten into ya?" he asks, turning his head to look at you.

"Hopefully you," you say, unrepentant.

Jason's eyes widen. You adore how squirmy he gets whenever you're bold about wanting him. Despite how long you've known each other, Jason never fails to get flustered. Perhaps that's half the fun.

"C'mon, Jay, let me fuck you. I wanna fuck you on the kitchen floor," you say, past coyness.

He full-body shudders. "I jus' cleaned."

You grin against his arm, pawing at his hip. "I'll help you mop again, honey pie. Deal?" You're eyeing his stomach next, ready to suck his skin there.

Jason can't deny you for long. You both know that.

"You're persuasive," he says, eyelids fluttering.

You hum. "Didn't take much, though, did it? Is your dick hard already?" You squeeze him through his sweats. Jason whines, bracing himself against the counter. "Never takes long, huh? You're always ready for me in no time, stud. Ready to fill me up, right?"

"Oh m'God," he says, looking at you like you're divine. That look swells your ego every time.

"Is that a yes?" You cup his balls like you're choosing a bull for breeding. Jason buckles under your brazenness. "Yes, you want me to let you fuck my pussy? Yes, you want me to fuck you on the floor?"

"Yeah, yeah, please."

So Jason lets you push him down onto the tiles. You yank his sweats down first, then his underwear. He's already leaking onto his stomach.

"Fuck," you say, grabbing and holding Jason's wrists on either side of his head. "You gonna give me what I want, sweetie? Love of my life, handsomest guy I've ever seen?"

Jason nods vigorously. "Yeah, yes, an-anything y'want. Oh my God, I'm s-so hard. I love you. Y'so nice to me."

You smile gently.

"I'm nice for taking you on the kitchen floor, huh?" you ask, bending your knees and lining up his cock to your cunt. "What if I make you wait until I come first?"

Jason nods again, already breathing hard. "I want to, I wanna wait. You should come first. I want you to come first. I don't have ta come at all."

You raise an eyebrow. That's new. New, but not unwelcome.

"So even when I..." You sink down on his cock, just the tip. Jason whimpers in the back of his throat. "Do that? You don't need to come?"

You feel him flex under your hands but he's good and stays put. He doesn't break your hold even though he could. You grin.

"Oh-oh. Sweet boy. My best guy. Look at you, big and hard. You could take me if you wanted, but you don't want that, do you? You want me to take what I want from you. All that muscle and strength, but what d'you need, Jaybee? Hm? Tell me."

"Need you," he says, voice strained. "Need you to do whatever y'want."

You kiss under his jaw and dig your nails into his wrists. Then you sink further onto Jason's cock. His hips twitch but he doesn't thrust like he usually does.

"Will you kiss me?" he asks when he bottoms out, body strung tight like a bow.

"I did kiss you," you say, smiling into his neck.

"On th'lips," Jason says, fingers shaking. "Please? Please."

You thread your fingers with his to steady them. Then you lean in to kiss his mouth. Jason moans, greedily kissing you back. You begin to move. Jason's shoulders tense.

"You're so perfect," you say against his lips. "You'd be so perfect at knocking me up. Any time I wanted, you'd be hard and ready to come in me, right?"

"Ah-ah," Jason says, voice wrecked. "Y-yeah, yeah. As much as y'want. Do anything y'want. I'd do anything."

"Yeah, I know," you say, grunting as you slide back onto him. "I know, sweetheart. Pretty boy. Y'dunno what you got with this fat cock. Can barely speak when your dick's wet."

You do a particularly hard grind and growl against Jason's sweaty throat. You lick the salt from his Adam's apple, feel it bob against your tongue. Then you bite.

"Oh, oh," he whines, and your gut tightens further at his sounds.

"Don't come," you snarl, pussy like a vice. "I come first."

Jason shakes his head, lips parted. His pulse throbs against your mouth. "No, no, won't. I won't. I'm good. I'll be good. 'M I good?"

You pet his hair, voice softening. "You're good, Jason. So good, baby. So good that I gotta take you right here on the floor. You understand, right? I was aching over there, watching you. I had to fuck you. Had to use your big dick for something."

"Uh-huh," he says, voice wet and sticky with pleasure. "Y'had to. I can do it. I wanna be good for you."

He looks up at you, and you're struck again by your difference in size, and how easy Jason gets when he's inside of you. You feel that familiar tightness, the edge of your impending orgasm.

"Rub my clit," you say, letting go of his right hand, and Jason obeys instantly, locating and deftly rubbing your clit.

"Harder," you tell him, and he rubs harder. Your mouth falls open as the pleasure swells. "Yeah. This is what you're made for. Pleasing me."

One of these days, you'll broach the subject of Jason putting those muscles to good use and fucking you doggy-style, whining in your ear as he shoots load after load into you.

"I'm gonna come," you say, cunt tightening. "Are you gonna come?"

Jason shakes his head desperately. "No. No, no, y'said not to. Not gonna come!"

"A-are you sure?" you ask, grinning as Jason makes uh-uh's in the back of his throat.

"Won't come, I promise, won't come," he says, near tears.

You come, tightening hard around Jason's cock. He nearly howls, the corners of his eyes wet, tendons pulled taut in his neck.

But he doesn't come, true to his word.

Sloppily, you kiss him. Jason kisses you back, but it's frenzied. You know his brain must be soup with the effort it's taking to not come.

"Look at you," you say, gaze hungrily roving over Jason's swollen nipples, his red face, his drawn eyebrows. "You listened so well. Y'wanna touch me? Wanna hold me?"

Jason nods frantically. "Yeah, yeah, please, baby, please, can I?"

"Go ahead, sweetheart. Hold me how you want and make yourself come. Don't be gentle."

Jason hesitates at the last direction. "Don't be gentle? Are y'sure?"

You pinch his nipple lightly. Jason bucks his hips. Your eyes narrow.

"I'm sure. Gimme everything you got, big guy."

You bite your lip as Jason's body comes alive, strength kicking in as he draws your thighs up over his hips, plants his feet, and drives into you. He punches the air out of you with each thrust, sobbing as he does. You hold on to his arms as he moves.

It only takes him a few thrusts before hot cum fills your pussy. Your eyes roll back at the feeling, nails scratching Jason's biceps.

"I want more," you say, grinding shallowly against his cock. Jason cries out, and more cum fills you.

"Was that good?" Jason asks, holding you closer.

You grin. "We're definitely doing that again."

Except, maybe not right after Jason's cleaned. You're not that mean.

[bi-bard]

The Simplest and Most Important Morning - Mike Schmidt Imagine [Five Nights at Freddy's (Movie)]

Title: The Simplest and Most Important Morning

Pairing: Mike Schmidt X Reader

Word Count: 1,219 words

Warning(s): mention of events of the first film (no real details), pure fluff really

Summary: A peak into the lives with Mike, (Y/n), and Abby.

Author's Note: Hello! I am celebrating ten years of writing fanfiction today (April 7th)! I'm hosting a Q&A to celebrate and would love for you to join in by sending a question into my inbox!

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I had grown to love waking up in Mike's place.

Maybe it was just because it was so familiar. There was this knowledge that I was getting up to the same walls, the same bedsheet, the same person. Probably mostly because it was the same person.

I grinned a bit as I saw Mike start waking up.

"Morning," I muttered, running my fingers through his hair.

"Morning," he replied. "Watching me sleep?"

"Not by choice."

Not a lie.

Mike had a habit of almost sleeping on top of me and trapping me next to him.

"Yeah, yeah," he pushed himself up so his face was hovering over mine. "I don't work today."

"Neither do I," I said. "A miracle."

"I was about to say the same thing," he leaned down and kissed me gently. I was just letting myself relax into the moment, when there was suddenly a new voice in the room.

"Ew."

Mike jumped at the sound of his sister's voice in the doorway.

"Are you two getting up soon?"

"Abby!" he groaned. I tried to cover up my laughter by putting my hands over my face.

"I'm hungry," she said.

"That's right, it's Saturday," I shot up as I realized, spooking Mike a bit. "I promised you pancakes!"

Abby nodded.

"We'll be out in a minute, okay? Gotta let Mike wake up a bit."

She closed the door on her way out.

"Pancakes," Mike repeated. "Why would you promise her pancakes?"

"Because she deserves pancakes," I shrugged. "She's been doing well in school and eating a lot better after... everything. I wanna treat her."

He nodded slowly.

I adored Abby. She was kind and creative. Quiet, yes, but truly a glowing example of how people should act. I had become quite protective of her, even before the incident with Mike's last job. The incident that I refused to discuss in great detail most of the time.

I'd like to think that she had grown to like me. The first time that I had been over to meet her, she glared at me from the other side of the table the whole night. I'd say that her waking me up to demand pancakes was better than that.

Mike leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Shouldn't keep her waiting for too long. I don't know if I have everything for pancakes."

"I bought some last night," I waved it off as he got out of bed. "I... I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

He immediately looked worried.

"It's not bad," I explained. "At least, it shouldn't be. Not if this goes to plan."

"Okay..."

"Hear me out," I shifted to sit up a little straighter. "I've spent a lot of time here, right? Even though my place is significantly closer to where I work."

"Right."

"Well, I was very casually looking around the other day and realized that not only is my work closer to my place but so is Abby's school and where you're working right now," I continued.

"Really?"

I nodded. "I also have a bigger bed."

"Holding a grudge because you fell out of mine?"

"Against the mattress, yes," I confirmed. "I have extra room."

"That's your office."

"I have space to move my desk and books and stuff into another room. And taking care of you is more important than having a separate office."

"You don't need to take care of me-"

"Too bad, I want to," I shrugged as I cut him off.

He leaned down so his face was level with mine. "(Y/n), are you asking me to move in with you?"

"You and Abby, yes," I nodded. "It's in great shape and would be really good for us. A fresh start for us, hopefully. You don't have to say yes now or at all, even, but I think we're ready for it."

"I think that's a great idea," he replied. I grinned.

"I was going to ask Abby on her own," I explained. "I don't want to force it on her."

"Good idea."

There were a few moments of silence before I reached out and hugged him quickly, almost pulling him down. He hugged me and chuckled, moving so we were both standing up.

"Okay, we should get out there before Abby barges through the door again."

"Agreed."

Abby was already sitting at the table when we made it to the dining room. I busied myself making pancakes.

It was funny. I had spent so much time thinking about this. Thinking about how to ask and all of the ways that it could've gone wrong. I had planned every moment out perfectly... and now my mind was blank. I had no idea what to say at all.

"Abby," I looked over when Mike spoke up. He sat in the chair next to Abby. I could see his face. "(Y/n) and I have been talking about something, and we want your opinion on it."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when you visited (Y/n)'s a while ago?"

"When (Y/n) babysat me."

"Yeah," Mike nodded. "You liked it there, right?"

"It was nice."

I grinned to myself as I placed a pancake down on the plate.

"Why?"

"Well... how would you feel about living there," he asked. "The two of us with (Y/n)."

There was a long pause. Too long. One that made my heart drop through my stomach and my brain go a little too fast. If she said no, I didn't know what I was going to do. Would I try to get her to trust me? Would I have to hold my hands up and step back? It was awful.

Abby finally spoke up after what felt like forever, "Where would I sleep?"

"Mike, can you come watch these?" I motioned to the pan as I walked over to the table. He nodded. I took his seat. "I have a room for you. You can decorate it however you want. We can paint and put up all your drawings. It'll be completely yours."

There was another pause. "Okay."

"You sure?" I said. "You don't have to say yes."

She nodded. "I'm sure."

I let out a sigh of relief, smiling at her. "Good, good."

"Alright, that's enough talk about moving for now," Mike said as he walked over with a stack of pancakes. "It is time for breakfast."

I let out a pretend groan "Fine!"

I pushed myself up and grabbed the toppings that I had picked up at the store... and a few other plates so we didn't have to all eat off the same one. I jumped a bit when Mike was suddenly standing next to me again.

"That went well," he whispered, taking a few things from me.

"I'd like to think so," I agreed. "I'm really looking forward to this."

"Me too," he replied. "I love you."

"Love you too."

As he walked back to the table, I found myself needing to take a moment to collect myself. It felt like in an instant, things were settling down. Dust was settling. There was a clear image of what was going to happen and what I could expect.

It was nice. Peaceful.

And that was what I had wanted for so long.

I could only hope that it wasn't too good to be true.

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Overall - @geeksareunique

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[lousypotatoes]

And A Filthy Pout

"All the misery was necessary

When we're deep in love

"This I know, this I know

Girl, I know, uh~"

Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd

--

Previous

Next

Warning! This chapter does have mentions of puke, but it doesn't go into detail. If this grosses you out, please read with caution!

Dear Mom and Dad

I'm doing fine

You guys are on my mind

You asked me what I wanted to be

And I think the answer is plain to see

I wanna be famous

I wanna live close to the sun

So pack your bags 'cause I've already won

Nothing to do nothing in my way

I'll get there one day

I wanna be famous

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na

I wanna be

I wanna be

I wanna be famous

I wanna be

I wanna be

I wanna be famous~

"Y/N," said a voice. "Y/N, wake up,"

Y/N groaned and turned the other way, putting her pillow over her face. "Go away, Bridgette! I'm not ready to get up yet!"

"If you don't get up, I'm dragging you out of bed," Bridgette said

"I'd like to see you try," Y/N scoffed. 

With no hesitation, Bridgette grabbed onto Y/N's leg and pulled, not as hard to completely pull her off the top bunk, but to at least move her a little bit. 

"Okay! Okay!" Y/N laughed, climbing down. "I'm getting up."

"Can you guys be quiet?" Courtney scowled, in the middle of doing her hair. "You guys are being really annoying."

"Well sorry for having a bit of fun," Y/N bit back, putting on her shirt. "What do you think the challenge will be today?"

"Well, knowing Chris," Sadie said, putting on some lip gloss. "It's definitely something to torture us."

"Oh yeah, definitely!" Katie echoed. "That guy can never give us a break."

"All right campers!" said Chris' voice from the megaphone outside. "Enough beauty sleep, time to show us what you're made of! Be at the amphitheater in ten minutes or you're not getting any lunch!"

"You go on without me," Bridgette said. "I need to find my hoodie."

"Okay, don't take too long." Y/N said. Walking out the door, she wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into someone's very solid chest.

"How come you're always bumping into me?" a deep voice laughed. 

"Because you're always in the way," Y/N scowled. "Good morning to you too, Duncan."

"Good morning princess," Duncan chuckled, the two of them beginning to walk to the amphitheater. "You sleep good?"

"As good as you can on a crusty ass mattress," Y/N yawned. "You?"

"Had all these springs pushing up into the back," he said. "But I slept pretty nice."

Y/N hummed, the pair of them now approaching the amphitheater. Mostly everyone was already there sitting on the seats in front of the theater. "That's good to hear. You might need the energy for whatever Chris has us do."

They both sat down, Duncan plopping down next to her. "Whatever it is, I just hope I don't really have to do anything."

Y/N smacked him the arm. "You're so lazy," she chuckled. 

"Are we gonna see a musical?" Lindsay said as she sat down. "I love musicals, especially the ones with singing and dancing."

"We better not be watching a musical," Duncan scoffed. "I hate watching those."

"Do you hate everything?"

"Everything except you princess,"

"In your dreams,"

"Welcome to our brand new deluxe state or the art outdoor amphitheater!" Chris announced, walking on stage. "Okay, this week's challenge is a summer camp favorite, a talent contest!

"Yes! Awesome!" Own exclaimed.

"Each team has eight hours to pick their three most talented campers," Chris explained, Y/N getting more and more excited. "These three will represent them in the show tonight! Sing, dance, juggle, anything goes!"

"As long as it's legal," Chris added, pointing his finger to Duncan.

"Damn," Duncan muttered.

"You'll be judged by our resident talent scout, former DJ, VJ, and rap legend, Grand Master Chef! Who will show his approval via the Chef-o-meter. The team that loses will send one camper home tonight! Good luck."

"Okay," Courtney said as soon as Chris walked off stage. "We'll meet back at the cabins to discuss our game plan."

"Before anything though," Y/N said, getting up. "I'm going to get some breakfast. Anyone want anything?"

"No you can't go anywhere!" Courtney whined. "We have to decide who's going to compete!"

"I'll literally be gone for like, ten minutes." Y/N said, exasperated about having another argument with Courtney. "I'm just going to get a muffin and then I'll be right back."

"Fine," Courtney huffed. "But you better be back in ten minutes."

Y/N rolled her eyes, walking off,  "Yeah, yeah, I'm going now,"

"Make sure you grab me some BBQ chips," Duncan yelled.

"Say please next time," Y/N laughed.

"What did I miss?" Y/N said, munching on a muffin, BBQ chips in other hand.

"Nothing at all," Bridgette replied, Sadie and Katie dancing in front of them. "We just now started to show our talents."

"Oh, okay," Y/N hummed, throwing the bag of chips in Duncan's lap.

"You're welcome, ass,"

"Oh yeah, of course," Duncan laughed.

Sadie and Katie's dance finished, the two of them panting.

Putting it blankly, it wasn't very good. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't enough to win them the talent competition.

"Well, um," Courtney struggled to find the words. "It's alright, just...we'll see what everyone else does first."

"Okay!" Sadie and Katie squealed.

"Who's next?" Courtney asked.

"I'll go!" Tyler volunteered. "I can do some wicked tricks with my yo-yo!"

"Whatever, show us what you can do,"

It was worse than Katie and Sadie's dance. Way, way worse. Tyler ended up with the yo-yo tied up all around him.

"Man, that is weak," Chris said, who was passing by.

Y/N facepalmed, "There is no way we're going to win this,"

"Why don't you audition?" Duncan asked.

"Um, 'cause I don't have a talent to compete with?" Y/N answered.

"You can't sing or dance? You're funny, you could tell some jokes,"

"Thanks, but I can't come up with jokes on the spot,"

"Didn't you say you can cook?"

"Yeah, but you don't do that at a talent show,"

"Can you guys keep it down?" Courtney glared.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah,"

Y/N really liked DJ's ribbon dance, she thought it was pretty and very elegant. Everyone else seemed to like it as wall, giving the way they were oohing and ahhing. Even Duncan seemed to like it, and he didn't like anything.

DJ's performance ended with him doing the splits, and well deserved applause.

"Fine, sign him up. Next?" Courtney said.

"Me!" Bridgette exclaimed. "I can stand on my hands for twenty minutes, watch!"

Bridgette got on her hands and did a handstand, beginning to walk around.

"Okay, that'd be cute if you were a monkey," Courtney criticized. "I just don't think it's quite what we're looking for. Next!"

Harold walked forward. He opened up his mouth, but before he could say anything, Courtney interrupted him. 

"Next!"

The acts that came after was doing Geoff doing a routine with his skateboard, and Courtney doing a solo with her violin. Both were very impressive.

"Well, I guess it's Geoff, DJ's ribbon thing, and your solo," Bridgette said to Courtney.

"I'm gonna be on TV, man!" Geoff exclaimed.

"You're already on TV, Geoff," Y/N chuckled.

"Oh yeah!" Geoff said, running up to the camera. "Hello out there dudes!"

Geoff was so funny sometimes. He reminded Y/N of Crush from the movie, Finding Nemo.

"Hey, wanna grab some lunch with me?" Duncan asked.

"Oh, I would but I already promised I'd hang with Bridgette for a little bit," Y/N said. "Sorry."

"No, it's cool," Duncan replied, trying to hide his disappointment. "I'll talk to you later,"

Y/N watched Duncan walk off, going over to talk to Geoff and DJ.

"What's up with him?" Bridgette asked.

"He asked me to hang out,"

"And you didn't say yes because?"

"'Cause me and you already had plans to hang out,"

"I wouldn't of been mad if you hung out with him instead,"

"Yeah, well," Y/N couldn't find the words. "Maybe I wanted to hang out with you instead."

"Awww," Bridgette giggled. "I'm flattered. You wanna get something to eat?"

"Yes please, I'm starving."

The Killer Bass were all over by the stage, DJ, Geoff, and Courtney were all practicing their acts. Y/N was currently debating if she would give herself another nose piercing.

Probably not though because she was a giant crybaby.

"So can you really stand on your hands for twenty minutes?" Geoff asked, fiddling with his skateboard.

"Want to bet that I can't?" Bridgette smirked, pulling out a chocolate bar.

"Oh you're on!"

"I'll take a piece of that action!" Harold said.

"Yeah, that's like virtually impossible," DJ said, in the middle of playing cards with Duncan.

"Auntie up," Bridgette said.

Everybody started betting up various amounts money, and lots of chocolate bars.

"You gonna bet too?" Tyler asked.

"Nah, I already know she can do it."

"Okay, twenty minutes, starting now," Bridgette got onto her hands and started walking.

Courtney, who was practicing her violin, gave Bridgette a weird look, but went back to her practicing.

While she was walking, Bridgette's leg got tangled up in a rope hanging from the top of the theater. Bridgette struggled to get her leg out of the rope.

Turns out, the rope was holding up one of the stage lights, and when Bridgette finally got her leg out, the light came crashing down....onto Courtney's head.

"Holy shit!" Y/N rushed over to Courtney on the floor, her violin in pieces beside her. "Are you okay?"

"My violin!" Courtney sobbed, ignoring Y/N. "It's ruined!"

"I'm gonna get bandages from the first aid station, stay here alright?" Y/N started to walk away.

Courtney continued to sob, grabbing the violin pieces.

"I'll come with you," Duncan said, catching up with her.

"That was cool what you did back there,"

"What do you mean?"

"Courtney's been a massive bitch towards you, and you helped her,"

"Oh, yeah I guess," Y/N fiddled with her skirt. "I don't know, I just felt like just because she's so rude to me doesn't mean that I have to be rude back all the time."

"That's really cool of you," Duncan smiled. "I don't think I could ever do something like that."

"Then that makes you an asshole,"

"Only to people I don't like,"

Y/N laughed, grabbing some bandages from the first aid kit. "You know people will think you're a horrible person, right?"

"I don't care what people think of me," he answered. "People already get the wrong idea of me anyway."

"And what idea is that?"

"That all I do is rob stores and hook up with random ass chicks,"

"Isn't that what you already do?"

Duncan laughed, a loud and deep laugh. "Y'know, you're starting to really grow on me, Y/N,"

"I don't know whether I should be scared or touched,"

"Shut up!"

Courtney sat on the stage, bandages on her head and broken violin pieces in her hand, Sadie and Katie on either side of her, looking at her with sympathy. Y/N was sitting in the grass, watching over Courtney, making sure she was okay and didn't do anything stupid.

Like she and Duncan discussed earlier, even though she strongly disliked Courtney, she didn't want to see her get hurt, she didn't want to see anyone get hurt. Even if Heather was in Courtney's situation, Y/N would of dropped everything to make she was okay and not badly hurt.

Y/N saw Bridgette walking towards Courtney. She knew that Bridgette felt bad, but she also knew that Courtney was never going to let Bridgette live this down.

"You! You killed my violin!" Courtney cried out.

"I didn't mean to!" Bridgette reasoned. "There must be something we can do." Bridgette grabbed Courtney's violin, trying to put it back together. Instead, she broke it into more pieces.

Courtney started sobbing, Katie and Sadie awkwardly trying to comfort her.

It was almost showtime. Both of the teams acts were behind the stage practicing. DJ with his ribbon routine, Trent with his guitar, Justin with his hot guy routine, Heather with her ballet routine, and Geoff with his skateboard. The Killer Bass were still trying to figure out who would take Courtney's spot.

"Okay, I know I'm not as good as you are with you are at the violin," Bridgette started, sharing some of her chips with Y/N. "But I can do this!"

Courtney looked like she was debating letting Bridgette take her place. Before she could say anything though, Heather interrupted, dressed in her ballet attire.

"Too bad about the accident," she said in a very sweet voice that was obviously fake. "I guess you're going to get your fifteen seconds of fame, huh?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Bridgette angrily asked.

"Oh, nothing!" Heather answered. "No one would sabotage their own teammate, unless they felt threatened."

"Hey, maybe that's how you Gophers operate, but the Killer Bass have more class than that!" Bridgette shouted. "We're a team!"

"Well, I guess you'll go down as a team as well," Heather smiled. "Oh, and easy on the chips. You don't want to sink that surfboard of yours do you?"

"Fuck you, Heather!" Y/N snarled. "Why don't you go brush that horse mane that you call hair? I think I'm starting to see some split ends."

"You have no right to talk to me like that!" Heather hissed.

"And you have no right to talk to Bridgette like that!"

"You know what, whatever," Heather said. "I have better things to do than talk to some loser like you."

"At least I don't have to scare everyone on my team to like me,"

"At least I don't have to fake not knowing how to swim to get attention from a guy,"

Bridgette threw her bag of chips, hitting Heather in this face.

Confessionals

"What a bunch of losers!" Heather said. "It's so easy it's almost not fun. Almost. Anyways, Y/N is so going to pay for what she said. I don't know how yet."

--

"I swear I hate her so fucking much!" Y/N seethed. "She must of not gotten hugged enough as a kid. Seriously why does on this everyone on this island have to be so rude."

The challenge was about to start, everyone besides the people doing acts were sitting down on the bleachers in front of the stage. Y/N was still fuming about what Heather said about her and Bridgette.

What did Heather know about Y/N not knowing how to swim? Absolutely nothing, she was just a bitch. She didn't like having all the attention on her when it came to almost drowning two times in one day. It's not her fault that Duncan grabbed her before she could fully sink. Wasn't her fault that Duncan agreed to help her when she jumped off that dumb cliff. It wasn't her fault that her and Duncan had spent almost every minute together since then.

"Yo, you okay?" said a voice next to her. Y/N whipped her head and saw that Duncan was standing next to her. "You look like you're gonna set someone on fire."

"I might, still thinking about it," she muttered. "Something that Heather said really pissed me off."

"What'd she say?"

"Doesn't matter,"

"You sure you don't wanna talk about it?"

"I'm fine, Duncan," she snapped.

Duncan stood there, and unreadable expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," Y/N sighed. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

"It's fine," he murmured. "I shouldn't have pushed you."

"You wanna sit?"

"Sure you're not gonna bite my head off?"

Y/N chuckled, "Only if you want me too,"

She didn't see it, but Duncan's face immediately turned a bright red, him having to cover his face with his face to cover his embarrassed and red face. 

Damn, ever since that last challenge a few days ago, Duncan could not stop thinking about Y/N, and it didn't help that they hung out all the time. He didn't know what, but something about her made Duncan's heart leap into his throat, especially when she said flirty stuff like that.

Was it her style? Maybe, her style was pretty cool.

Her humor? Probably, she always made Duncan laugh.

Her personality? Of course, her personality was like the PG-13 version of Duncan's

Her looks? Definitely, she was by far the prettiest girl on the island.

Did he like her? He didn't know, he definitely felt something for her, but then again he hadn't had it this bad for a girl in a long time.

"You alright there?" Y/N said, breaking him out of his thought. "You look really lost in thought. What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Duncan quickly said. "Just thinking about how the challenge is going to go."

"Sure," Y/N replied, not fully convinced. "The challenge is about to start anyway."

"Awesome,"

Chris came on stage, a giant smile on his face. "It's the TDI Challenge Extravaganza!" he exclaimed. "Welcome to the very first Camp Wawaknawka Talent Contest, where six campers will showcase their mad skills, and desperately try not to humiliate themselves."

 "First up for the Screaming Gophers is Justin!"

Y/N clapped her hands as Justin came onto stage. She didn't even know what he was supposed to be showcasing, but hot damn, he was gorgeous while doing it.

"Woah," she muttered, seeing him dump a bucket of water on himself.

"Bet I could do that," Duncan scoffed.

"Not as good as Justin though,"

"Fair point,"

"Okay, I don't know what that was, but damn, you've got some moves dude," Chris clapped. "First up for the Killer Bass, make some noise for the big guy, DJ!"

The Killer Bass clapped, Y/N whooping and hollering, "Go DJ!"

DJ's routine was going great at first, but at the end, his legs got caught in the ribbon, tripping him. DJ could tell he messed up, smiling weakly as the performance ended.

"Dainty, and yet masculine," Chris walked on stage. "Let's see what Grand Master Chef thinks."

Y/N supposed the audience could see the Chef-o-Meter, sitting in suspense as she waited for Chris to say something.

"Not much," Chris sad, DJ sadly walking off stage. "So, with two down and four acts to go, it's the Screaming Gophers screaming ahead. Next on deck, Trent! Take it away my bro!"

Trent walked on stage, a guitar in hand, and sat down on the stool on stage. "This one goes out to someone special here at camp,"

Y/N looked at Gwen, wiggling her eyebrows, in response Gwen rolled her eyes but had the slightest coat of blush on her face.

Trent began to sing and it was the most romantic thing ever. She thought that Gwen was so lucky to have a guy like that.

After the song was finished, Chris ran on stage. "Nice work!I'm liking your style dude, and so does Grand Master Chef!"

Trent started waving to everyone in the audience, irritating Chris. "All right quit hogging my light, buddy!" Chris said, pushing Trent into the wings. "Three down and three to go and the Killer Bass are totally losing so far. Let's hear it for Bridgette!"

"Bridgette?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah, I guess Courtney let her take her place," Y/N said.

"She's really going to stand on her hands for twenty minutes?"

"Guess so. Yay! Go Bridgette!"

Bridgette walked onto the stage on her hands. Y/N could already could tell something was wrong when she saw the uncomfortable look on her face. Confirming her theory, Bridgette started to burp very loudly.

"Holy shit, she's going to throw up," she muttered.

"What?" Duncan asked.

Right as he said that, Bridgette began to throw up everywhere. All over the floor and even on some of the campers.

"I'm hit!" Owen screamed, getting vomit on him.

Bridgette also got vomited on Leshawna, and Katie and Sadie, making Katie throw up on Sadie.

"Oh my god, I think I'm going to be sick!" Y/N said running away and throwing up into a bush.

"Are you okay?" Duncan called out, his voice coming from not far behind her.

"Go away Duncan!" she moaned, still puking her guts out. "I don't want you to see me throwing up what I had for dinner!"

"Yeah, because that's totally what every guy wants to see," Duncan rolled her eyes. "Do you want me to get you some water?"

"Yes please!" Y/N groaned.

"Okay, I'll meet you back at the theater,"

"Thank you Duncan!"

"Of course sweetheart,"

--

Confessionals

"Despite his tough guy act, Duncan is literally one of the sweetest people here," Y/N sighed. "Don't tell anyone I said that though, he'll kill me

--

After they sprayed down the stage and everyone who got puke on them cleaned themselves up, they started the talent show right back up.

"Thank you for getting me water," Y/N said, drinking from a water bottle.

"No problem," Duncan replied.

"Welcome back to the TDI Talent Extravaganza!" Chris announced from the stage. "Welcome back! Okay, so in a strange turn of events, Bridgette's chunk blowing fest registered two thumbs up by Grand Master Chef."

"Chef is so weird," Y/N muttered.

Duncan hummed in agreement.

"But it's not enough to pull ahead of the Screaming Gophers who hold the lead with Trent's love song," Chris said. "So without further delay, here she is for the leaders, Heather!"

Heather walked on stage, holding something behind her back, and sat on the stool that was previously using, a wicked grin on her face.

"Originally I was going to dance for you, but instead I want to celebrate team spirit, with a collaboration," Heather smirked, revealing a journal from behind her back. "So with words by Gwen, performance by me, enjoy."

Y/N eyes widened and immediately went to Gwen, seeing that her face was absolutely horrified.

Heather really was a bitch.

"'Okay, so I'm trying to ignore him, but he's just so cute,'" Heather read. "'If they had custom ordered a guy to be a distraction for me here, it would have been McHotty.'"

Oh yeah, Heather must have not had a normal childhood. Either that or her parents were just as rude as her.

"'We just totally connect! He's pretty much the only person I can relate to here, and I know it's a cliche, but I love guys who play guitar,'" Heather continued to read.

From the corner of her eye, Y/N saw that Gwen ran off, an embarrassed look on her face.

With no hesitation, Y/N got off the bleachers and followed her.

Y/N had to search for a few minutes, but eventually she found Gwen sitting underneath a tree, her head in her hands.

"Hey," Y/N gently said. "You okay?"

Gwen lifted her head up, tear stains all over her face. "Yeah, I'm fine," she muttered.

"Can I sit with you?" Y/N asked.

Gwen looked surprised but said, "Sure, I guess,"

Y/N sat down next to her in the grass, staying silent. The two of them sat like that for a few minutes, every now and then Y/N would hear Gwen sniffle. The challenge was probably almost over, but right now Y/N didn't care whether the Killer Bass won or lost.

All that mattered is that she helped Gwen feel better, even if it was only a little bit.

"I have an idea," Y/N said.

"What?" Gwen asked. 

"I have an idea how you can back at Heather,"

Gwen's eyes lit up. "How?"

"You remember when Harold said he brought his ant farm with him?" 

Y/N sat on the porch pf the Killer Bass cabin, staring up at the sky, while everyone else was sleeping. She really liked gazing up at the stars when she was thinking. It really helped calm her down.

Bridgette had told her that the Killer Bass had won the challenge thanks to Harold's beat boxing, and that Justin had been voted to go home.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?" a voice asked.

Y/N turned and saw Duncan coming out of his side of the cabin, in his pajamas.

"Hey," Y/N said. "Just out here thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Nothing in particular,"

Duncan stayed silent, walking over and sitting next to Y/N. "Long day, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," Y/N replied.

"How's Gwen?" he asked.

"A bit traumatized but she's fine," she said before smirking. "She'll be even better in a second."

"What do you mean?"

At that moment, Heather ran out the Screaming Gophers cabin, screaming her lungs out. There were red ants crawling all over her, Heather desperately trying to get them off.

Duncan laughed as he watched. "No way, you did that?"

"No, Gwen did that," Y/N laughed. "It was my idea."

"Good shit,"

sorry this chapter is shit

did NOT know how to write this

stay safe and drink lots of water <33

xoxo, Izzy

Taglist :)

@sc4rrc

[666writingcafe]

An Interview With Simeon

Part Six

Question One: How do you feel right now?

A little tired, but otherwise okay.

Question Two: Would you rather live in the city or in the woods?

I find a lot more inspiration in the woods, plus there aren't nearly as many people. MC says that I'm an introvert because I get my energy from being alone, and I think they might be right. Not that there's anything wrong with groups of people; they just can be draining at times.

Question Three: Do you believe in soulmates?

Absolutely. But I don't believe in exclusivity. There are many types of soulmates, not just the romantic kind. Like, Luke and I are familial soulmates. I was meant to be his guardian, and he was meant to be my kid. *pauses* Don't tell Luke I said that. He hates it when I call him that.

Question Four: Who is the first person you call when you are happy or sad?

When I want to express good news, I call Raphael. He and I have grown fairly close since the war. But he's what I would call a fair-weather friend. He's made it clear that he doesn't want to hear about my struggles, and I've made peace with that. (So who do you call when you need to vent about something?) It depends on what it is. If I just want to gossip, then I reach out to Solomon, but if it's deeper and more existential, I call either MC or Mammon. MC is a great listener, and Mammon's been through a lot of the same things I have. Plus, he's actually willing to share his emotions with me, unlike a certain dark-haired demon I know.

Question Five: What makes you smile on bad days?

Luke and MC doing something together. They're quite cute.

Question Six: How would you feel if your daydreams became real?

In some ways, they already have. Unfortunately, I can't reveal much more than that, or I'd be in a lot of trouble.

Question Seven: What are you proud of right now?

I recently overcame a really bad case of writer's block.

Question Eight: What are you scared about not accomplishing in life?

Contentment.

Question Nine: What do you think about casual relationships and long-term relationships?

I think it's important to communicate those kind of boundaries upfront and check back in frequently to see if they need to change. Otherwise, the relationship isn't going to last, and one or both parties are going to be unhappy.

Question Ten: What do people say about you that you like?

Do you mind if I go on a bit of a tangent? (Does it pertain to the question?) Yes. (Then go ahead.) So, MC gives the best compliments. They have a way of looking deep inside someone's soul and saying what they need to hear. It can get very specific. (Give me an example.) MC once told me that the words I write rival the greatest pieces of art in the human world. They were reading a short story I wrote about nature, except nature was a metaphor for something--or rather, someone else. *pauses* Just thinking about it is making it hard for me to focus on this interview, and I'm sure you have more questions to ask, so we should move on.

Question Eleven: How would you define love?

What an...interesting question. *clears throat* I'd say love consumes you. You can feel it from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, but its pull is strongest inside your heart. (Have you felt that way about someone before?) I feel that way about someone now, but to reveal who it is would cause an uproar. (Do they at least know how you feel?) Yes, and they've agreed to keep it private.

Question Twelve: How much value do you place on other people’s appreciation?

A lot more than I should. I'm not supposed to care too much about people's opinion of me, because my relationship with Father is suppose to supersede all of that.

Question Thirteen: Have you broken someone’s heart?

Yes.

Question Fourteen: What do you think about “love at first sight?”

I've seen it happen once. A bunch of us did, actually. (Was it during the initial exchange program?) *smiles* It was.

Question Fifteen: If you woke up tomorrow as a person of the opposite gender, what would you do?

The same stuff that I do now. I know, not very exciting. Technically, I could change my physical form to a person of the opposite gender if I wanted to. We only look this way as to not scare off humans. But I like my current appearance. I feel it matches how I feel on the inside.

Question Sixteen: What is the most ridiculous thing you have ever bought for yourself?

A 200 pack of glitter gel pens.

Question Seventeen: What was your last Doogle search?

As soon as I say it, you'll know exactly why I searched for it: "how to put out a magically-induced fire".

Question Eighteen: What do you think attracts people to you?

I'm able to appear calm and peaceful. It doesn't always reflect what I'm feeling, but that's a whole other story.

Question Nineteen: What color is your aura?

A light shade of baby blue.

Question Twenty: If the world ended tomorrow, would you survive?

With help, yes. If I was by myself, however...I don't think I'd last very long.

Question Twenty-One: If your house was on fire, what is the first thing you're grabbing?

Luke. Objects can be replaced. He can't.

Question Twenty-Two: If you could take your favorite celebrity on a date, where would you go?

They enjoy late-night picnics at the park. (You say that as though you've already been on a date with your favorite celebrity.) That's because I have. Several times, as a matter of fact. Although, their fame is subjective. They're not nearly as famous where they come from as they are here in the Devildom.

Question Twenty-Three: If you could shapeshift into an animal, which one would you be?

A human world Arctic fox.

Question Twenty-Four: If you could do anything without any judgment, what would you do right now?

It would require a hotel room with a magical lock on it, soundproof walls, and lots of...shall we say, supplies.

Question Twenty-Five: Do you easily get scared?

Not anymore. I used to, and then the war happened.

Question Twenty-Six: Can you keep a secret?

Can you? *awkward silence* (We should wrap this up.) Good idea.

Question Twenty-Seven: Have you ever felt tongue-tied on a date?

Yes.

Question Twenty-Eight: Can you spend a whole night awake?

I have many times before, and I probably will do many more times in the future.

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf, @thunderlightning351, @l3v1chan, @anxious-chick, @5mary5, @expressionless-fr, @tenkobitch, @budbuddnbuddy

[laurfilijames]

Out of Jax, Will and Pete, who’d take better care of their girlfriend while she sick? 🤧

Hiya anon!! Thank you for sending in this ask and I'm sorry for taking a bit to get to it! I love answering questions like this, though I'm hoping you're not sick, and if you are I'm sending you all the love and strength to feel better soon!! 💗

I'll start by saying that all of these beautiful men would look after their sick partner so well, and all in their own ways, so I don't think that any would necessarily be better than the others at caring for their love.

Jax

You told him you weren't feeling well and insisted he didn't come over in fear of spreading your germs to him. In true Jax fashion, he ignored your request and not an hour later do you hear the rumble of his Harley rolling up to your place, making you smile as you lay curled up in bed.

He lets himself in and you hear the familiar swagger of his footsteps come toward your bedroom.

The bed sinks as he sits on it, and you hear the creak of his kutte as he leans over and wraps his arm around you, placing a kiss on your forehead.

“My mom made you soup,” he offers, feeling helpless in making you feel better and praying it'll offer you some comfort.

You glance at him weakly and he smiles and says through a chuckle, “It’s not poisoned, don't worry.”

You croak out a scratchy 'thank you’, your throat feeling like there's razor blades in it every time you speak or swallow.

“I've got some medicine that'll make your throat feel better, darlin’,” he laughs again, sending you a wink.

Shoving him on the arm, but half tempted to accept his offer, you scooch over while he sneaks in beside you, enveloping you in his arms and pulling you into his warm chest where you breathe him in before drifting off back to sleep.

Will

He noticed you coming down with something before you were even aware of it, and despite encouraging you to amp up your vitamins and drink lots of water and get some extra sleep, you still managed to get a full-fledged head cold.

You heard him sigh as you laid on the couch with your eyes closed, knowing he was picking up the tissues you'd left on the coffee table and floor beside you, collecting them to put them in the garbage.

“I'm sorry, I'll clean it up,” you muttered, feeling guilty on top of feeling like you were dying.

“I’m not worried about that, sweetheart. I'm just sorry you're this sick.”

You hummed and buried your face in the blanket that was wrapped around you even more.

“Can I get you anything?”

You shook your head, knowing nothing would make you feel better at this point, and not wanting to request the one thing you really wanted due to him already looking after you so well.

“Babe,” he urged, seeing through your facade.

You opened your eyes to peek at him standing tall beside you, his expression a mix of worry and understanding, knowing he wouldn't settle until he knew he did everything he could to help.

“I'd love a bath,” you began, and as he turned to make his way to the bathroom, he stopped when you continued.

“With you.”

He smiled and nodded, “Coming right up.”

Within ten minutes Will was scooping you off the couch and carrying you through to the bathroom, the tub full of steamy water and fresh towels sitting on the vanity beside, the lights off aside from some candles so as not to have your head hurt even more.

He undressed first and then helped you with your clothes, not wanting you to get cold before getting in, and sank down into the water where you settled between his legs, your back resting against his broad chest with his arms wrapped securely around you.

“Thank you,” you whispered, feeling better already.

“Anything for you, sweetheart,” he answered, pressing a kiss to your temple.

Pete

I've already written a two-part fic about Pete looking after you while sick, but let's indulge a little more because I love this so much and can't help myself.

Pete had it first, no doubt bringing the germs home from his class, complaining about all the kids coughing and sneezing all over his classroom the week prior.

Now it was your turn. Despite doing everything you could to avoid it, your nose was congested and yet running all at the same time, your cough making your whole body lurch.

“I'm so sorry, babe,” he sympathized, knowing just how awful it was.

“It's fine,” you stressed, having listened to him apologize for spreading it to you a million times since you first started sniffling. “It was bound to happen!”

“Yeah, but you were being so careful. I know how busy you are and not able to miss work.”

His beautiful face looked so defeated, his blue eyes filled with guilt that made your heart ache. Pete had even gone as far as not to kiss you since he caught his cold, and if you were honest, that was the worst part of it all.

You walked over to where he sat on the edge of the bed, cupping his face in your hands, your thumb brushing over his full, pink lips.

“Well, I guess there's no point in avoiding kissing you now, is there?” you whispered, your words fading out as you lost yourself in the thought of feeling his lips on yours again.

Pete smiled and nodded, his hands that were wrapped around your waist dropping down to your bum where he gave it a squeeze before pulling you down on the bed with him, rolling over until you were pinned beneath his body.

“Let's have a snog then, eh?” he breathed, his voice rougher with lust before he crashed against you, his tongue delving into your mouth without hesitation.

[enigmawriteswhump]

Short drabble!

Tw: non-con, smoking, implied kidnapping/hostage

It's just a cigarette, but I can see how the smoke winds around their fingers. Viscous, white smog disperses over the balcony. Distant honks of cars interrupts the static of the radio I'm fiddling with.

I stare at the puff of sparks at the end of his cigarette. I only had the rest of breakfast before I was going back up. If I fixed the radio, maybe I'd be allowed to hear the tinny music while I could feel the sheets shift underneath me. Something to listen to other than the distant creak of the neighbours. Something other than the smack of his lips. What else was there to replace the discordant jazz which bounced through the rafters from a neighbour who played an arthritic trumpet?

I wanted to hear the radio and people chatting nonsense about Bruno Mars and top hits and who'd called out the President on something especially inane.

I wanted the stray cat who I'd once picked up to creep through my window and curl up at my feet. Now, I am the one curled up - but being at his feet would be an easier place to be.

The bed shifts, and the rough-shaven face whispers down my back. I grit my teeth as a feel a new stain grow on the back of my legs. I need to piss. Fingers like to sneak around my neck, touching my pulse liberally like a meandering spectator, finding an erotic fizzle of interest he thinks I have.

I've learned to moan for him. To find the beats where he wants the noises ensure him of dominance. Such prowess! When he squeezes me, like a wet, eager dog nosing my hips, my shudders are a beautiful mistake.

I forget to ask for water.

And he doesn't offer.

I am shocked when he presses the cigarette to my lips, a hand over my eyes like a mimicry of romance. The laugh is gutteral, and drags out like a bark when his fingers wipe away more than just sweat.

I never wanted to smoke. I'd always been told to avoid it. Asthma was bad enough without coating my lungs in more ways to asphixiate, but I can already feel the craving begin.

It's dirty, finding the tip just-damp with his saliva, the soft press of his fingers curling it just-so and I'm gasping. Trying to breathe. Such tears are a reaction that I'm too pained to feel.

Why I can't name the agony in my chest when I'm relieved to find it there again the next day?

___

Inspired by a song aptly called 'The Cigarette Duet'!

'It's just a cigarette and it cannot be that bad

Honey, don't you love me? And you know it makes me sad

It's just a cigarette like you always used to do

I was different then, I don't need them to be cool

It's just a cigarette and it harms your pretty lungs

Well, it's only twice a week so there's not much of a chance

It's just a cigarette, it'll soon be only ten

Honey, can't you trust me? When I want to stop, I can'

(it's such a good song and I was really inspired by @sowhumpshaped 's bad caretaker/ carewhumper pieces! Especially the one where Whumpee is staring dazedly and thought they'd seen their Whumper who was out of prison! I felt shook!

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Inside Man: Final Part

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~3.1k

Warnings: canon angst and violence, extra angst

Summary: The gang is split into two. Sam and Cas continue to look for the cure for the Mark with the help of someone who will do anything to bring you back. You and Dean face off with Rowena but this time, you're going to show her that you're the most powerful witch there is, and damn her if she thinks she can beat you.

Season Ten Masterlist

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. I love seeing any and all comments <3

x

You and Dean walk into a nearby bar since Sam took the Impala to Wichita. You fix your bra when you walk in and smooth down the ends of your hair. Fucking makes you thirsty. You turn around and walk backward toward the bar counter, your eyes on Dean.

"Can you get pregnant while being soulless?"

"God, I hope not."

"You should have pulled out."

You smirk and turn back toward the bar. The place is busy with people who are playing pool, throwing darts, eating good food, and enjoying each other's company. You order a double for yourself while Dean orders a plate of nachos. It's amusing how hard he's trying to stay away from alcohol as if he doesn't already have anger issues. You down the drink in one gulp when you hear the obnoxious boys over at the pool table shout in victory over their win.

"Boom! Money. Now. Loser!" one of them shouts. "Give me your cash. Now. Right now."

"What's up with the Abercrombie rejects?" Dean asks the bartender when he passes.

"College kids 'slumming it'. His name is Ty. He always comes in here and does this shit."

"Slumming? What are you talking about? This is a nice joint, huh? You got those custom urinal pucks."

"Come on, bitches. Who's next? twenty bucks a game. Twenty bucks," the same man announces to the entire bar.

You and Dean look at each other and you smirk.

"I'd love nothing more than to show those dicks who's really boss."

"You know, for once, I agree with you."

Dean messes his hair to look spiker than it is while you pull down your shirt slightly to make your breasts stand out more. The bartender shakes his head but doesn't do anything to stop you from going over there.

"Yo! We'll play," Dean says in his douchebag voice.

Ty looks at you up and down before looking at Dean.

"Seriously?"

"What, I've seen enough to know how to play. I'm real good at holding the stick thingy," you say as if you're a dumb bitch who doesn't know shit.

"Dude, he's blitzed," Ty's friend says.

"No, no, no, I'm good. Let me play," Dean says.

"He's fine. Grab a stick," Ty says.

Dean is the one who plays a few rounds with Ty and his friends, bad you might add. He wants them to let their guard down. You play the dumb bitch who cheers for her husband while Ty and his friends rack in the money you're so willing to give them. After Dean loses the game, he looks at you and you smirk knowing he is about to hand them their asses.

"Okay, alright. Again?" Dean says.

"Sure. Make it a hundred this time."

Dean nods and you reach into his back pocket for his wallet. He doesn't stop you when you place three one hundred dollar bills onto the side of the table.

"Make it three hundred." Both men look at each other with wide eyes. "What do you say?"

"Give me your cash," Ty says to his friend.

He puts the cash down on top of yours and Dean tsks as he shakes his head.

"I think you're a little short there. Why don't you toss in the watch?"

"My dad gave me this watch," Ty says.

"I'm sure it's a very touching story. Got a little tear in my eye," you say with a fake pout. "Come on. Are we gonna play or not?"

"Fine," Ty takes off his watch and adds it to the pile, "but don't come crying to me when you've lost all your drug money." Ty smirks and leans in a bit toward you. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll make your time worthwhile."

It takes everything in you not to slap him. You want to see his face when Dean beats them.

"You're gonna regret saying that my friend," Dean chuckles and picks up the triangle to rack the balls.

This time, Dean doesn't let them get a shot in. He immediately "sobers up" and sinks in every single striped ball until all that's left is every single solid and the eight ball. If Ty was in a cartoon, smoke would be coming out of his ears.

"That one," Dean indicates to a corner pocket before shooting the eight ball into it.

"You hustled me," Ty says angrily.

"Well, you're pretty quick for a guy who's all hair gel and body spray." Dean picks up all the cash and Ty's father's watch. "Thanks, fellas." He looks at you. "I'll be right back."

Ty is about to go over to Dean to hurt him but his friend holds him back from doing so.

"Forget it, dude. He's an ass."

"Yeah, but my ass," you smirk and trail a finger across Ty's collarbone. "Don't beat yourself up too much, Ty. Now I don't have to cry about losing my drug money." Ty glares down at you. "Awh, don't worry, sweetheart, you definitely made my time worthwhile."

You walk away from the duo and head back to the bar. You're about to order another double when the front doors open. You look to see a very small redhead walk in. Rowena. She is definitely up to no good. The last time you saw her, you didn't have any magic. Oh yes, this will be so much fun. You side off the bar stool and hide behind one of the big wooden pillars by the bar. She doesn't seem to notice you as she walks over to the two men you just hustled. She clears everyone out of the bar but Ty and his friend. Dean comes out of the bathroom but you stop him when you see Rowena whisper something to the two men.

"Witch is here. Should you take this or shall I?"

"You already know the answer to that," he whispers back.

"I won't go easy."

"No one is saying you should."

Once Rowena is done doing her thing on the two men, she sits down at the bar and grabs someone's leftover glass of wine. You two walk into the main room and she smirks at you.

"Dean. Y/N."

"Rowena. What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" You smirk. "I'm sorry. Did I say 'nice girl'? I meant 'evil skank'."

"You say that like it's an insult," she smiles, "but nice girls, they're pathetic. Here's to evil skanks."

Ty and his friend come out of the shadows with blood streaking out of their eyes. They look like the girl Rowena spelled when you first encountered her. No matter. They won't have a chance to hurt you. Dean steps away to let you handle witch business, and you turn to Rowena with an amused smile.

"Is this meant to scare me?"

"It should considering you don't have any magic."

You look at your hands and red magic pours from your palms.

"Wanna rethink that?"

Rowena sets the glass of wine on the bar counter and stands up in fear. Ty runs at Dean but you thrust your outstretched hand at him without looking away from Rowena. Ty stops in his tracks and looks confused as to why he can't move. His friend charges at you but you thrust your other hand at him, causing him to stop in his tracks. Your magic shoots at them and encases their bodies. You pull your magic back, pulling the spell from their bodies. You move your hands toward Rowena, use the spell along with your magic, and blast her back. She topples over a table and some chairs, falling on her ass on the floor.

"Come here, boys," you say. Ty and his friend are compelled to listen to you. You stand in between them and place your hands on both of their shoulders. Your eyes shine red as do theirs so you know they're under your command. "Listen here, pets, she's your target now. Go fetch."

Both men run at Rowena quickly but she has tricks up her sleeves that prevent them from hurting her. She chants something in Latin and blasts them back into the bar counter. Both men hit their heads so hard that it severs your connection to them, and they pass out immediately. Dean takes another step back, fearful of what might happen between two powerful witches. Rowena takes off her coat to reveal symbols she has painted red on her skin. She rolls up her sleeves to reveal more symbols.

"You're no match for me," you laugh.

"We'll see about that."

She yells something in Irish this time and the symbols on her body start to glow purple. Purple magic shoots out of her body and into yours but it doesn't hurt. No, it sends you on a high like never before. You gasp and tilt your head abc as you absorb her power. When she's done, she looks confused as to why you're either not dead or on the floor crying.

"Not possible," she whispers.

"That," you moan. "I want more of that."

You blast her with her magic but instead of hurting her, you pull your magic back like what you did with Ty and his friend. Rowena's magic starts being pulled from her body and she gasps in pain. She can't stop it even if she wants to. You're too powerful for anyone to stop. She doubles over in pain the more you stay high. She chants something in Latin which forms a protective bubble around her, severing the connection. You stumble back into another wooden pillar and look at Dean with hooded eyes.

"Better do something now."

He marches over to her and pins her to the bar counter with a knife to her throat. She knows if she tries anything, he will kill her. The high you're on is already fading but the Mark on your collarbone burns with intensity. It's satisfied... for now.

"If you try anything, I will unleash all of Y/N onto you." Rowena looks at you and you wave with a smirk. "Do you understand me?"

"Fine. You win this one," she glares.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Saving my son."

"Your son?"

"Crowley," she rolls her eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me," you laugh.

"My son is a king, a God, or he would be if you didn't snap your fingers, and he comes running like a wee lapdog."

"Lady, your son is a coward at best," you roll your eyes.

"You two are a good influence on him. That's why you two need to die."

"How's that working out for you? You're no match for Y/N," Dean whispers lowly.

"Oh, I'll try again," she smirks.

"What, you think I'm just gonna let you walk out of here now?"

"I think you two are heroes." She looks at you. "You could have killed those men, but you didn't because they're innocent. Because you're the good girl and you want them to live."

"Really? That's what you think?" you smirk. Before Dean can stop you, you raise your hand and twist your wrist, causing both men's necks to snap. Rowena's eyes widen at their dead bodies. "They mean nothing to me, Rowena. You mean nothing to me." You walk closer to her and Dean and shove Dean to the side. You grip her neck and squeeze tightly, and she claws at your hand fearfully. "If you don't want to leave here in a body bag, I suggest you stay the hell away from me. I have no problem ending your sad and pathetic little life." You drop your words to a whisper and lean in closer. "You are nothing compared to me. Understand?"

You let go of her neck and she coughs violently. She does the smart thing and leaves while she still can. You look at Dean to see him looking at the two men you just killed. You roll your eyes and walk past him to get to the bar.

"Save me the waterworks, Dean. They were collateral damage."

Dean doesn't say a word as he picks up one of the men. He needs to get rid of them before the public comes back. When Dean comes back from burying two bodies, you're behind the bar fixing him a drink. You slide it on the counter and he takes it without a single word to you. He takes a sip and looks at you knowing that Mam snitched to the King. You look behind him to see Crowley standing there with an angry look on his face.

"Been waiting on you."

Dean turns to face Crowley.

"Squirrel. Witch."

"Bitch," you say. "Where's Mommy Dearest?"

"Would it make a difference?"

"Not really," you shrug. "So, are you two going to do this or are you just going to stare at each other like star-crossed lovers?"

Crowley wants to kill you and Dean for what you did to Rowena but after hearing what you had to say, that all changed. Turns out when Rowena went back to Hell to snitch, she banged herself up pretty good so it looks like you beat her ass. She wanted Crowley to kill you and Dean because she failed herself. By the end of this, you're behind the bar making drinks while Crowley and Dean sit on the other side drinking what you serve them.

"She wishes I did more to her," you laugh. "All I did was steal a little magic."

"So, she's a liar."

"What did you expect? She's the mother of a demon. She's not exactly sprouting white wings and a halo."

Crowley looks over and sees the Mark peeking out from your shirt.

"Mother says that Mark is just a curse and can be removed. Of course, she doesn't know how."

You slam the glass in your hand so hard onto the bar counter that it shatters. Blood trickles down your hand but you ignore it. Both men jump from shock and stare at you with wide eyes, Dean more so than Crowley.

"If you so much as search for a cure, I'm going to punish him," you point to Dean while looking at Crowley, "and he knows exactly what I'll do."

Dean and Crowley look at each other, and there is fear in Dean's eyes.

"Don't look for it."

Crowley takes a sip of his alcohol and decides to change the subject before someone dies.

"Mother says I've gone soft."

Dean relaxes knowing he's on safe ground now.

"You have. Yeah, maybe it's all the human blood that Sammy pumped into you, but the old Crowley would have come in here with hellhounds and demons, and he would have blown the roof off the joint. Now? You didn't want to fight. You wanted to talk. Maybe I've changed, too. Here I am playing Dr. Phil to the King of Hell. Never saw that coming," Dean scoffs.

"Maybe we're getting old."

"Never saw that coming, either. What is it, huh? Why are you letting Mommy Dearest tie you into knots?"

"Because we're family. Blood."

"That's not the same thing. A wise man once told me, 'Family don't end in blood.'," you chuckle at the memory of your father, "but doesn't start there, either. Family cares about you, not what you can do for them. Family's there through the good and bad. They got your back," Dean looks at you, "even when it hurts. That's family. Does that sound like your mother?"

"Take it from Dean to talk about family," you say. "He's sticking with me even after all I've done to try and prove him otherwise."

"I'm not giving up on you no matter what you say or do."

"You see?" You smirk. "Blind loyalty. Would your mother do that for you?"

Crowley leaves the bar soon after, and you and Dean leave the bar after him. It's time to go home anyway. You don't want to stay in your room for the rest of the night so you drop Dean off at home and take the car to be anywhere but here. Dean doesn't mind since Sam is back. He wants to talk to him without the fear of you overhearing them.

"What happened? Where's Cas?"

"Where's Y/N?"

"Out. I don't know when she'll be back so talk."

"Metatron knows more than what he was letting on. He has to know about the cure. Cas and I broke him out of Heaven."

"Broke him out? How?"

"Bobby. We needed someone on the inside and he's just as good as any to do it."

Dean nods in agreement. He wishes he could have been there to talk to Bobby but in a way, he's glad he wasn't.

"He's not going to talk," Dean sighs.

"He will now. He's human. Cas stole his Grace."

"Wow, a human Metatron. I would have loved to see that. Don't tell Y/N that or she will kill him."

"I know. We were going to kill him but he knows where Cas' grace is. He said he'd take him to it. What about you? What did you two do?"

"Went to a bar. Played some pool. Got ambushed by Crowley's mother. Rowena."

"Are you kidding me?" Sam gasps.

"I wish. Y/N killed two innocent people and almost killed Rowena. Crowley came, we talked, and now we're all best friends," Dean says sarcastically. "To be honest, I don't know if there is anything left of her to save."

"We're not giving up, Dean. We'll find this cure. You'll get her back." Dean nods but doesn't say anything about it. "I have something for you. I already read ours." Sam takes out the two envelopes from his jacket pocket One sealed. One opened. "Bobby wrote one for us and one for Y/N."

Dean takes the letters and stares at your name written in Bobby's scrawly handwriting.

"Don't give this to her."

"I know. Cas told me not to."

"No, I mean it, Sam. She'll burn it."

"I know," Sam says softly. "Put it away until she's ready to read it. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."

Sam leaves Dean alone in the war room. He opens his letter with shaky hands and begins reading it.

Sam and Dean, So... this is weird, huh? Look, I just wanted to say that I know what you two are trying to do for each other. Cas told me everything. I'm not asking you to stop because it breaks my heart to know my daughter is a shell of who she used to be. I know about my grandbabies and I want you two to do whatever it takes to protect them. My daughter loves them with all her heart and I don't want to see them in Heaven a moment before they're supposed to be here. I'm not there to tell you what to do or to guide you, but I know you two will make the right choice. Sam, you're a good man. One of the best. I'm damn proud of you, son. I was content up here but getting the call from you has made me the happiest I've been in forever, no matter what it costs. Dean, I can't imagine what you're going through right now. I'm damn proud of you, too. I wish I could have heard your voice but I know you've got your hands full at the moment. When you feel like giving up, just remember that it won't last forever. You'll get Y/N back and your children. Anyway, I can't wait to hear what you three have done in your life when you finally do get to Heaven. Make it a long one. Stay safe, keep fighting, and kick it in the ass. Bobby

Dean lets the letter flutter to the table as tears stream down his face.

x

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[pynkhues]

I recently read an article in which Quentin Tarantino stated that fewer movie stars exist as a result of "Marvel movies in Hollywood." I think Jennifer Aniston made a similar argument before saying that there are no longer any movie stars. I'm not sure what that means. I can think of a lot of movie stars right now, such as Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, and Zoey Deutch etc. what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and Quentin's comments.

QuillBot's

Months ago, when you sent me this ask, anon, I wrote out a really long reply and as soon as I hit post, my laptop crashed and ate the answer, and I was so annoyed at myself for not saving my reply, that I couldn't bring myself to try and re-write an answer. I'm really sorry for that, especially because I think this is such an interesting ask (or well, two asks, because I think the death of the movie star and the impact Marvel's had on the broader concept of a movie star, are kinda two different things).

I've been thinking about it a bit again recently though, particularly as the Oscar race gears up, and Jacob Elordi and Charles Melton''s respective stars are rising in an industry currently desperate to find the new young Hollywood male 'talent', and I've been thinking about it again because honestly?

I agree with Jennifer Aniston, I think the movie star is dead.

We are a long, long way from Golden Age Hollywood where actors like Cary Grant and Marilyn Monroe could captivate a public imagination in a way that translated to big box office effect, after all. Hell, we're even out of New Hollywood, an era dominated by names like Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, and Jane Fonda, and the Blockbuster era with Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford.

My original reply went into a lot of the different reasoning as to why this is (like with many things, I don't think there's any one reason for it), in particular how the advent of streaming has changed our relationship with films and TV shows, how the saturation of the market has diluted the staying power of celebrities, how social media and the perceived accessibility of celebrities removes personal mystique which in turn removes intrigue and increases a sense of entitlement, and the fact that so many people having stopped going to the cinema means that the experiential element of seeing a film in a setting larger than life has been diminished.

I think call out culture plays a role too, with any actor on the rise being torn down by tweets they made eight, nine or ten years ago impacting how their star rises, I think the dismantling of the studio system (which is a good thing!) also harmed actors in the long run as studios stopped investing the same resources into making and training stars (they used to be able to sing, dance and act! Now some can barely even act!), and I think, of course, the rise of prestige TV changed the industry substantially (after all, movie stars were movie stars - they traditionally did not, and would not, do TV, which created a clear class structure in terms of screen-based storytelling).

And yeah, I think the language shift from film and TV to content has done irrepairable damage to the artistry of filmmaking and the consideration of a movie star as an actor at the top of their field instead of an actor with the most Insta followers or YouTube subscribers (after all, if everything's content, isn't it the same thing? [no lol]).

Which I guess is kind of where Quentin Tarantino's argument comes in, right? What he's saying is that Marvel's made it so that the IP - the content itself - is the star, not the actor, and I'd say he's probably right with that.

Think of it this way - back in the New Hollywood/Blockbuster era, Harrison Ford was the movie star - he was leading new franchises left-right-and-centre between Star Wars and Indiana Jones, sci fi epics like Blade Runner, leading action thrillers like Patriot Games, The Fugitive and Clear and Present Danger and getting nominated for Oscars for Witness.

He was a movie star in every sense of the word because you could hinge a film - one with a new concept, not just remakes or sequels - on him and be virtually guaranteed a success. He was what sold the tickets, the director just hopefully had to make something good enough people would leave the cinema glad they saw.

Tarantino's argument is the Marvel model - - hell, even the new Star Wars properties, turned the franchise into the star, for better or worse, which means original films can't compete because nobody knows the IP. Back when Harrison Ford was at the top of his game, his name was what helped original films including smaller, standalone works like Witness find an audience, but the studios have changed that. Capitalism has changed that.

Properties with existing audiences and deep pockets for merch were prioritised, only now those franchises are faltering and you've got a generation trained that 'cinematic events' are reserved for blockbusters in established universes, instead of taking a risk on a new film because you know you love an actor who's in it.

Do I think we could go back?

Maybe, but probably not.

I think the place we are now in the history of cinema / TV / 'content' means you can't make a movie star anymore because I think the industry is simply so different that no actor can break through in the same way that even Leonardo DiCaprio could 30 years ago. That industry doesn't exist anymore, actors aren't guaranteed draws (Bones and All proved that for Timothee Chalamet, and Wonka I think could go a similar way), or they have to heavily rely on other industries to become household names which I think dilutes them as a pure 'movie star' (Zendaya's a great example of this - I like her a lot, but how many movies has she even been in? They built her career up in peripheral industries long before they tried to sell her as a movie star, and frankly, I'd question her even as a leading actress yet given she's typically only either been in ensemble casts or clear supporting).

It's a whole new world, and yeah, I think the movie star is dead.

[starlightkun]

sorry if you've gotten this ask before aljrksjd

you don't have to answer this, but I just wanted to know how you write longform fics or just long pieces in general. it's one of the things I've struggled with as a writer, and I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how I could go about it or do it.

I'd be so grateful if you could provide some advice or suggestions 🥹🥹

i want u to know that i saw this ask when u sent it, but i had a 5hr drive today and wanted to make sure i had time to answer this!! it's under the cut bc i yapped a bit <33

so one thing that i feel the need to say up top is that i never go into pieces with a "goal" length/word count (often times my fics end up being longer than i expected/intended). because i never really write with the goal of a specific length in mind, these are things that i think have helped me write more cohesive and narratively fulfilling pieces in general, which tends to make my fics longer

my first thing is planning/outlining!! i used to just write my fics start to finish in one go with little to no planning, and since i've started slowing down and taking my time outlining/planning beforehand (and even during the drafting process i continue adding to my outline), i've seen the average lengths of my fics go up a lot. you don't have to have every single scene, moment, and piece of dialogue planned out before start writing (lord knows i never do), but you should have a pretty good idea of the major story beats, character dynamics, and any important conflicts, and make sure it's written down in a way that's easy for you to refer back to while you write. never think you're gonna keep it all in your head

build out your characters' lives!! i love introducing a good b-plot involving the main character's friends (see: strawberry sunday) that doesn't take too much attention away from the main plot that it seems out of place, but instead complements the main plot and allows there to be space in between those major plot beats for the readers and the characters to breathe. it also helps make your characters feel more well-rounded and real to the readers if you throw in a scene of their daily life at school or work or with their friends/family both to add texture to them but also to your world. it can also be good to use an establishing scene towards the beginning of their daily life, then a similar one towards to the end that shows any character development, or some other impactful change that happened during your story. instead of just telling us that everything in your character's life changed, show us how it did (or didn't! or maybe it only changed a little, but the little change was important, too)

in a similar vein, build out your world!! im not saying to spend ten pages describing an intricate magic system to us that has little bearing on the plot itself, but feel free to weave in extra details about where/when we are and how the characters interact (or dont!) with the world around them (even if its our normal old world in the modern day)

and i mean i guess my last thing that's really helped me is just sort of getting out my head when it comes to writing? like, not forcing myself to write everyday, not having any sort of word count goals, no posting schedule, etc. just letting myself sit with my ideas for a while and really play around and have fun with them. it's made writing fic something that i look forward to doing when i come from work, or when the weekend is approaching, and i genuinely am making probably my favorite things that i've ever made right now. and they happen to be pretty long!!

i've talked some more about my writing process in some other asks (x, x, x, x, x, x) and i have a writing tag where i post about more general writing stuff if you want to hear me yap some more

[alarrytale]

Hi Marte! Hope you’re having a lovely day. I had a thought about something you said and would love to hear more about it (in bold):

“But that's the consistent thing with Louis though. So much effort for little output, because he doesn’t understand how to capitalise and when to capitalise on positive attention and fandom engagement. I've given up trying to understand it. At this point i suspect he doesn’t really want it.”

So often I think the same thing and try to come up with scenarios or reasons he wouldn’t want the positive attention or why he’s unable to keep building on the momentum of that attention that the PR and marketing is trying to afford to him. Is he over it? Feels entitled to it (unlikely)? Bored? Possibly not what he wants (again unlikely I think some of the attention he gets is from things he enjoys like very sporting events, fashion music)? I’d Love to hear more about what your thoughts are.thanks!! 🎈

Hi, anon!

My day was good (for a Monday)! Hope yours are as well! 💙

You're asking the million dollar question. The one mystery of this fandom that i can't figure out. What are Louis' career goals?

I have about ten working theories, and five of them are things i'd rather not consider. My top theory at the moment is that Louis is tired of being controlled, not having freedom and choices from his time in 1D (and from the lingering contracts). So he's said, i'm going to to exactly what i want to do, on my terms (within the boundaries of his contract of course). He doesn’t want to stunt with women, he wants to make the music he wants to make, do the ventures he wants to do, do festivals, and have as much time away from the spotlight as he likes for his mental wellbeing.

He had hopes that his fandom would let him do what he wanted, without regard for fandom's wants, and respond positively to it. It has to some degree, but also not as well as expected and hoped. He tried to poke the bear by doing larry denials to sell his tour, but it didn’t work. So now he's trying to compromise a bit. He's doing events, getting himself out there and into the press, doing a launch event for his fashion brand etc. He's becoming more visible to get fandom engaged. But he isn't all in, he's doing it because he feels like he needs to in order to get to keep doing what he wants to do. Fandom doesn’t even get time to wake up from the lull and engage in the content he gives us, before he dips out again. It's a lot of effort to start the engine back up, instead of keeping it going steady for a while and gain momentum. Maybe that's what Louis wants to do, maybe they don't know how to keep going once they've got the engine started, or maybe Louis doesn’t want to have to keep fandom fed with content, because he doesn’t have the energy, confidence, execution plans, or mental strength it takes to have his solo breakthrough.

I feel like we're in a limbo, does he want the fame, attention and the solo breakthrough? Or is he content and happiest getting to do what he wants to do for a change, and doesn’t care about success and career progression.

If anyone have an answer to what Louis' career goals are, please let me know. Fandom desperatly needs to adjust our expectations to his ambition level, and to the level of effort and content he's willing to give the fandom. If he keeps not capitalising on opportunities he gets, half assing it, and not rolling with the momentum, fandom is going to be frustrated and give up on him.

What we see right now, i don't think is working for neither fandom nor Louis.

[snzysimper]

Short word vomit Bacon//Cola fic off the top of my head

I'm in the process of writing the neutral/"good" ending to All Good Things Come to an End so ig consider this a taste of what's to come in the neutral one?? Does anyone ask for E//W sneeze content? No. Do I care? No. Am I gonna make it anyway? Yes. Hopefully someone enjoys it and if not I rly dc ||I am allowed to write what I want and I would appreciate you keeping whatever rude comments you may have to yourself||

Nothing out of the ordinary is going on at the army base. Well, at least as far as the day to day routine goes: killing zombehs, crashing planes into cloudbergs etc. At the head of the base; however, things are a bit...surreal?

"W...why are you being nice to me?" The Red Leader sits on the moth-eaten sofa with his knees to his chest, resting his head on his legs. "My soldiers captured you, and yet, after all I've done you're staying." He can't even bear to look his former friend in the eyes. "You could've left at any point. I wouldn't have tried to stop you. Why are you still here?" Despite his hoarse, congested voice, his accent and melancholy tone is still noticeable. Edd exhales, taking a sip from the cola can he was given. "As much as I despise you, I'm not a complete arsehole. As much as I hate to admit it, I still care about you deep down. If I had just left you here knowing damn well you wouldn't bother to try and care for yourself I'd feel guilty. " He looks at the one eyed Norski. "I don't want you being completely miserable. Besides," Edd takes another sip. "if I had left you there's the chance that those two would've just thrown me back in here with you anyway."

Right. Paul and Patryk had tracked down and captured Edd, wanting their Red Leader to be reunited with his former friend. The Red Leader smirks half-heartedly. "Heh, that's why you're sticking around, is it?" Edd rolls his eyes. "I'd rather not push my luck."

The two sit in silence for what feels like an eternity. Despite the heater running, the Red Leader shivers. "Fuck it's cold..." The green hooded man sighs, removing his black trench coat. He drapes it over his friend before returning to his side of the sofa. The Red Leader blushes. His pale complexion now has a touch of color to it. "...takk."

Edd stares at the cola can, not bothering to look up. "It's yours anyway. You left that thing at the house when you first moved out ten years ago."

Prior to the red hoodie Edd had given him, the Red Leader wore a black trench coat. His hair was a much darker shade of brown back then too. "Right...thanks." They sit silently once again as the heater quietly hums. Meanwhile the Red Leader is struggling to ignore the insistent tickle in the back of his sinuses. He tries to breathe as quietly as possible so as not to make it worse and so that he doesn't embarrass himself in front of his former roommate.

"Just let it happen." The Red Leader looks up. "What-?" "Don't you 'what' me. You're a terrible liar. You know what I'm talking about. And you're even worse at hiding your symptoms." Edd glances at him. "So just get it over with." "I don't know what you're-"

"Don't bullshit me, Tord." Even still, hearing his own name sends a chill down his spine. The Red Leader looks at the floor. "You'll feel better." Tord rubs his face with the back of his hand. "I fucking...ugh," he groans, putting his head down. "I wish I could just...h-hold on..." He tilts his head back slightly before pinching his nose with his thumb and index finger.

"And don't even think about-" "HiET'KkTCH!! eH'kTTCH!! hA'KG'TKKCH! hD'KKTtcH!!" Tord lowers his head and covers his ears. "Helvete!!"

Edd scoffs. "You never learn your lesson, do you?" A cheeky smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

"Fucgg g'you Edward."

"Love you too, Smeghead."

[thefoxtrot008]

Dialogue Prompts

Alright, here we go! Here is part 17 of the dialogue prompts. As usual, we're winging it! Enjoy! :)

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞

"Can I give you a tip? How about you just try to be nice? Would that be so hard?"

"Pft. That wasn't a threat. This is a threat: do as you're told or you will go home in a bodybag. Am I clear?"

"You're getting paid to kick the ball around, not to miss it!" "We're doing these drills until we get them right. Now, start from the top. Let's go, ladies!" "Every goal you miss, you all are doing ten laps. No, I don't want to hear any groaning. You don't want to do laps? Then I'd suggest you don't miss anymore goals!" "My grandmother could do these drills in her sleep. You're falling behind. Come on, pump it up!"

"You don't get to judge what is stupid in this situation."

"Is the grumpiness genetic? I wonder."

"That's a lot of baggage." "Depends on who you ask."

"Really? Because those are the basic requirements of your job and yet you've failed to do them at every turn."

"Seems like you already have your answer."

"You and what army princess?" "Don't call me princess."

"Someone help me. My brain is not braining."

"I see you've risen from the grave."

"Fuuuuuuuck... I hate it when you're right."

"He has to hear this from you! Not some newspaper."

"I will come back when it is necessary, not because someone tells me to."

"Alright. You've made it pretty clear on where you stand. How about we make this bet a bit more interesting, shall we?" "I'm listening."

"You sure you want to go through with this? I mean, giving your injury and all... Yep, I'll shut up now."

"Why are you staring at me like that?" "I need you to do me a favor." "Fuck no." "You haven't even heard what it is yet!"

"Word got out, and I'm afraid I need you to do a press conference." "Do I have to?"

"Tell us the truth! What happened?!"

"Yea, but only if he wins that is."

"You were a bit... harsh on them today. Is there any particular reason for that?"

"I... uh... I got lost for a bit. For a while, actually. But then they uh, found me. And brought me back home."

"That's not what you want us to think thought right?"

"Oh, leave them alone. They're in love." "You know who he is, don't you? He's the son of a mobster!" "And I don't care, you can't tell me not to see him."

"Let you live? Of course not! It would ruin everything if I did."

"I just wish people would stop asking me every five minutes if I'm okay!"

"Sweetheart, I know you're mad at me." "Mad does not even begin to cover what I'm feeling."

"And what? Was everything that happened between us... was that fake? Was it all just a lie, so you could get paid?" "No, it wasn't like that." "Then what was it like?"

"I really do like you." "I like you too... but this does not mean that I forgive you." "Oh, come on. That's not fair. What can I do to make it up to you?"

"You really should get that dress. You look beautiful."

"There is method to the madness, believe me."

"I know that look. That look is not your friend. Run."

"I guess I have to do everything myself."

"I don't like it either, but we have to."

"Have you uh... ever done this before?" "Nope. But there's always a first time for everything, isn't there?"

"They're coming down the hallway." "Yep." "They are at the door." "Yes." "They're breaking through the window." "Pressuring me is not going to help us in this situation, darling!" "What do you want me to do?! Not say anything?!" "I've got it!"

"You are just too cute. I swear."

"I've been thinking about doing that for a long ass time."

_____________________________________________________________

And that's a wrap! :)

[justapanda]

Rewriting Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 236

Needless to say, chapter 236 has sparked a lot of criticism. So, to keep a long story short, I've rewritten chapter 236 to try minimise some of the common issues people have with the chapter, issues that I also personally share.

I've kept a lot of the dialogue the same, but I've added some major tweaks that I believe would drastically improve the execution of this chapter. So if you're one of the ones who are disappointed with chapter 236, I hope you also find this rewrite to be an improvement.

Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 236: Go South

-- Page one --

[Narration text: Gojo stands victorious?!]

Gojo: Well, it's time to get this over with, any last words?

Sukuna faces Gojo with a serious demeanour, struggling to stand upright.

Sukuna: Hmph.

Sukuna: Just one.

Sukuna aims his only remaining arm directly towards Gojo, gesturing his hand in the shape of a knife.

Sukuna: Dismantle.

Gojo smiles arrogantly as Sukuna, in an act of desperation, resorts to using to his default technique in an attempt to harm him.

However, as Sukuna releases his attack, Gojo's smile immediately vanishes, now replaced by a bewildered expression.

-- Page two --

The scene transitions to Gojo's imagination, where a younger Gojo is seen sitting at an airport, wearing the same bewildered expression.

Geto: Yo, Satoru.

Gojo: Blegh!

Gojo: You're kidding me. This sucks.

Gojo sulks, leaning back on an airport chair.

Geto: Pretty rude thing to say after seeing someone's face.

-- Page three --

Gojo: I've always told my students, "when you die, you die alone", so please tell me this is just some stupid dream.

Geto: Does it matter?

Gojo scratches the back of his head in irritation.

Gojo: *Sigh* And I was gonna tell Megumi about his dad too...

Gojo: But I guess I asked Shoko to handle that.

Geto: So, how was the king of curses?

Gojo: Man, he was pretty damn strong. I got the feeling that he had more tricks up his sleeve too.

-- Page four --

Gojo: I wonder how different the outcome would've been if Sukuna didn't have the ten shadows technique.

Geto: It's weird to hear you talking like this, he must've been really strong, huh?

Gojo: Still, I kinda feel sorry for him.

Geto: ?

Gojo: I know all too well, the loneliness that comes with being at the top. There was always a gulf between me and everyone else, even if they adored me.

Gojo: You can admire a blooming flower, but you can't ask it to understand you.

-- Page five --

Gojo looks down at his clenched fist.

Gojo: I really gave it my all to beat him. All my physical training, the techniques I'd mastered. My explosiveness, quick thinking and attempts at humour. I put everything into it, but it still wasn't enough.

An image of Sukuna's cold gaze is shown, surrounded by shadows.

"The loneliness that comes with unrivalled strength. The one who will teach you about love is-"

Gojo is shown with a melancholic smile, still looking at his fist.

Gojo: I had fun.

-- Page six --

Gojo: I couldn't push Sukuna to his limit though, and I think that's sad.

Geto rests his head on his hand.

Geto: I'm jealous. You at least had the satisfaction of going out with a bang.

Gojo: Satisfaction, huh?

An image of an older Geto stands smiling amongst Gojo's friends as they see him off before his final battle.

Gojo: Maybe I would have been satisfied, if you were there to give me a slap on the back as well.

Geto faces down with his eyes shut, still resting his head against his hand, he smiles.

Geto: Heh heh.

-- Page seven --

Gojo: At least I got to die against someone as strong as me, instead of being stuck in that stupid box forever.

Unknown voice: What are you, a samurai?

Gojo is surprised by a familiar voice and looks behind him to see a younger Nanami and Haibara sitting right behind him.

Nanami: Seriously. You should know it's in poor taste to think like that in the present.

Gojo: Huuuh?

Nanami: Then again, that mindset of yours is probably why you outlived me.

Haibara: You and Gojo-san just miscalculated a little bit.

Gojo reaches behind to annoy Nanami by grabbing his head. Nanami tries to wave Gojo's hand off him.

Nanami: I remember once asking Geto why we couldn't just leave everything to you.

Nanami: After all, you didn't care much for jujutsu sorcery, or for protecting people, it was mostly just a game for you.

Gojo appears to be mildly offended by Nanami's blunt criticism.

-- Page eight --

Haibara: Truth is, we all thought that about Gojo-san! But we couldn't bring ourselves to say it out loud.

Nanami: Why are you bringing it up now then...

Haibara: Sooorry!

Nanami: Well, that feeling about you...

Geto: Was just proven right by your actions a second ago.

Gojo looks unnerved.

Gojo: ...

Nanami: Can't say I approve, but I do sympathize.

Gojo: Yeah, yeah, thanks. And how do you feel about your demise?

-- Page nine --

Haibara: Ahhh, I kinda butted in back then...

Nanami: Curses can bring people back to life. The same way sorcery can.

Nanami: I once asked Mei-san about where I should go to live.

Nanami: She said if you'd like to become someone new, go north. If you'd like to return to who you once were, go south.

-- Page ten --

Nanami: Back then, I didn't hesitate on choosing south. I've always looked at the past, so I found it ironic when I died betting on the future.

Nanami: As final moments go, it wasn't bad. I'm grateful to you as well, Haibara.

Haibara awkwardly scratches the back of his head.

Haibara: You're too kind!

Gojo looks down again with a faint smile.

Gojo: I see.

-- Page eleven --

Gojo looks up and spots principal Yaga nearby.

Gojo: Hey, principaaal! 'Thought ya said no jujutsu sorcerer dies without regrets!

Yaga: *Sigh* Even in death, you're too loud.

Gojo laughs with everyone, including Riko and Kuroi who are also shown nearby, and Toji can be seen walking by in the distance.

-- Page twelve --

Gojo walks over to the airport window and looks up at the clear blue sky.

Gojo: I do have one regret though. All you guys will have to take over for me now. Sorry Megumi, it'll be in their hands now to get you back.

Images of Gojo's students are shown as he thinks about each of them, causing him to smile with hope.

Gojo: That's okay though, after all... I have faith in everyone.

Gojo continues to stare at the sky before he closes his eyes.

-- Page thirteen/fourteen --

The scene transitions back to reality. A double page spread shows Gojo's upper body, lying on the ground, staring at the same clear blue sky with lifeless, half-open eyes. Blood can be seen flowing from his mouth as well as being splattered below the upper half of his body.

-- Page fifteen --

Everyone who was spectating the battle is shocked and speechless at what has occurred. Yuji and Yuta are seen particularly distraught. Maki places her arm on Yuta's shoulder as she looks on with a serious expression.

Yuji: Gojo Sensei!!!

Shoko's unfinished cigarette falls from her mouth.

Shoko: How...

Kusakabe: That shouldn't be possible!

Kashimo: It's time.

Kashimo is seen turning away and walking briefly before disappearing from the room at lightning speed.

-- Page sixteen --

Sukuna: Mahoraga's adaptation begins after the first attack. Then it takes time to analyse. Completing adaptation is only a matter of time.

Sukuna: If it receives another identical attack during that calculation period, the adaptation will accelerate.

Sukuna: Once a technique has been adapted to, the analysis doesn't stop there. It continues to adapt further.

Sukuna: What I wanted from Mahoraga was a "model". A model of how to cut through your infinity.

-- Page seventeen --

Sukuna: At first, Mahoraga was altering the nature of its own cursed energy in order to neutralise and nullify your infinity.

Everyone who was watching the battle from the room stands up, still watching, unsure of what to do next.

Sukuna: That was something I was unable to do, so I waited. I waited for Mahoraga to discover another adaptation to counter your infinity, one that I would be able to imitate.

Sukuna: The second adaptation was exactly what I was looking for. Mahoraga was sending slashes like my own, but these slashes could bypass your infinity.

Sukuna: I theorized that Mahoraga was expanding the technique's target. That the target of these slashes wasn't Gojo Satoru, but space itself. Therefore, it could cut everything within those slashes.

-- Page eighteen --

Gojo's entire body is revealed, showing his upper body lying on the floor while his lower half remains standing. It becomes clear that Gojo was cut in half from Sukuna's attack. Gojo's body is covered in blood.

Sukuna remains standing, facing Gojo as he continues his explanation.

Sukuna: As long as you existed within space like everything else, your infinity was powerless to stop my attack.

Sukuna: Even after being shown how it was done, I wasn't sure if I could replicate it myself, so I had to make a gamble.

Sukuna: After being backed into a corner, I waited for you to drop your guard and give me an opportunity. Then, I put all my focus into recreating that attack.

Sukuna: It proved to be an effective model after all.

-- Page nineteen --

Sukuna smiles with satisfaction.

Sukuna: But I have to admit, this is truly the furthest I've ever been pushed. Well done, Gojo Satoru, you have my respect. I won't forget you for as long as I live.

Hearing these words, a faint smile can be seen from Gojo's bloodied mouth. Sukuna turns away.

Sukuna: Now then...

Kashimo can be seen rushing towards to the battlefield from the distance.

Sukuna: I'm in a good mood. So you better entertain me.

[Narration text: Kashimo, the thunder God, dashes toward near-certain death.]

-- Chapter end --

[nyxxlikeskpop]

TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE KPOP SONGS OF 2024

((Now it is time to share my least favorites. Of course this is all my personal opinion, you can have your own opinions on these songs, I just ask that you respect mine.))

10. Touch - Katseye

I'm not as mad at it as I am with other songs on this list. I just find it kind of boring and feel like it doesn't fit Katseye's overall image. But that's just me.

9. XXL - YOUNGPOSSE

I just think their vibes and overall style just isn't my taste in music. Which is fine, I do hope they continue to have success as they deserve it.

8. Done - Naevis

This was just completely unnecessary. But SM have not been the greatest with decisions for a long while now. The song is fine..just wish an actual human Idol could have sang it..

7. Supernova Love - IVE ft. David Guetta

We found IVE's weakness, English tracks. Although with this one I blame The collaborator, the original sample is so much better than this bland, boring song. I recommend listening to the original song over this.

6. Tap - Taeyong

I just...I don't know..I appreciate the quirkiness, seems to be a rarity nowadays among Male Idols but...something about this song just does not work for me whatsoever..

5. King Kong - TREASURE

I've said it before and I'll say it again. YG music ((except for 2NE1)) is just not for me. It all sound the same, very braggy and flashy with little substance. Also I just prefer Godzilla to King Kong anyways

4. Meow - Meovv

This was just unbelievably boring and dull.

Please give these girls a different concept Teddy. They have the potential to go far. They shouldn't be just known as another Blackpink clone.

3. Clik Clak - Baby Monster

Originally I had Sheesh in this spot..but Clik Clak irritates me more. It is the worst version of the YG formula. Like I'm sorry but these girls do not have the swagger or finesse to pull this off. I could say more but I'd be here all day.

2. Lose My Breath - Stray Kids (Ft. Puth)

...It pains me to put this so high only because Stray Kids are literally the reason I got really invested in KPOP..but this song is incredibly disappointing. Fuck Charlie Puth, I hope he can fade into obscurity soon so I never have to hear him again.

1. Ice Cream - Somi

I still stand by the fact that this is Somi's worst release ever. The horns in the chorus alone make me want to turn it off. I refuse to believe this took a year to make. She needs better shit next year.

[runningfrom2am]

the sea around us; chapter ten

In which Rafe Cameron has to choose between his dad and a pogue who's changing his outlook on life more and more every day.

(rafe cameron x f!oc)

(eventual!jj maybank x f!oc)

warnings/tags: violence, drug/alcohol use, smoking, sexual content (if you squint), slowburn, older brother’s best friend, (these tags are obv not exhaustive but regardless it’s pretty PG13)

wc: 4.4k

my masterlist

series masterlist

requests

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

When I wake up, I have a rather foggy recollection of the night before, which is pretty standard after I get home from a party. I quickly realize though, when I try and open my eyes, that I'm not back at the chateau at all. I blink a few times as I process my surroundings. The Fast posters, trophies, the body under the covers next to me. Rafe, right. He's sitting up against the headboard, looking at his phone in his lap. He's not wearing a shirt, and my cheeks burn red. I don't think we slept together, but I don't put it past the girl I was last night.

I rub my eyes a little and pull the covers up over my shoulder, looking under the covers to make sure I'm dressed. I have a shirt on, so check, and some boxers that obviously aren't mine. I'll take that as a win.

"Hey, are you awake?" He whispers, his voice still raspy from sleep.

I hum a little in response, still mostly trying to wake up, but I don't think I've ever slept in a bed this comfortable. I never want to leave.

"Not yet?" Rafe laughs slightly, and I hear his phone click off as he places it on top of the blanket.

"How are you alive?" I grumble, pulling the blanket tight under my chin.

"I could ask you the same thing." I can hear the smile on his voice. I open my eyes slightly, squinting from the sunlight coming into his room from the big window. He's reaching out towards me, and hesitates for a second before he settles his hand in my hair, pushing a few strands out of my face.

"Please, please don't tell me I puked in your bathtub." I say, feeling a smile pull at my cheeks and he shakes his head, laughing slightly.

"No, no you're good. You can handle your liquor better than any other girl I've brought back here."

"Wow, thank you." I laugh softly. I can already feel my hangover kicking in. "I'm also probably the only one who only asked to have a bath."

Rafe nods a little, his hand still in my hair. "Yeah, it's refreshing, honestly. Did, uh, did you at least have fun? Like at the party, I mean." He asks, nervousness evident in his tone.

"Mhm." I hum, nodding slightly. "Pretty sure Kie is gonna kick my ass but it was worth it."

"So like.. you remember everything, right?"

"Yep." I reply, closing my eyes again. I don't want look at him, I just know he's about to bring up how we kissed. Not because I regret it, I truly don't, I'm just more embarrassed because he's probably about to kick me out and now that's just another person I have a weird history with.

"So like.. maybe, would you still want to go out sometime?" That question catches me off guard. Apparently I did forget something, but now the conversation we had while I was in the bath comes rushing back to me.

"If you still want to, then of course." I reply, opening my eyes again and smiling up at him.

"Of course I still want to, why wouldn't I?" Rafe looks confused as he slightly laughs. He seemed so nervous a minute ago, but every ounce of that seems to be gone now.

"Guilt, embarrassment, regret, maybe, I don't know." I shrug.

"No, no way. Oh my god, I meant all that stuff I said." He shakes his head. "I'd love to hangout more. At least until your friends rip my head off, anyways. But like, I thought we just got along so well so like, why not, right?"

I smile at that, and I know my face is so red but he doesn't comment on it. "I meant it too." I reply.

"Sweet." He grins, then it's quiet for a second. "Uh, I'm gonna hop in the shower, just shout if you need anything." Rafe says, getting up from the bed and making sure I'm still covered by the blanket.

"Sounds good." I say, giving him a thumbs up as he walks into the bathroom and closes the door. I sit up and grab my head as the hangover headache instantly begins. I groan and throw the blanket off, pulling my legs up and crossing them as I look at his bedside table. I'm so thirsty I feel like I'll faint at any second, but luckily he has painkillers and a water bottle already there.

I lay back down after taking a few, and I think I fall back asleep because I don't hear him turning off the shower or coming back into the room.

"Hey, Snowy?" His arm is on my shoulder and when I open my eyes, he's got sweats on and his hair is still damp.

"I'm up." I respond groggily, sitting up again.

"Nice hair." Rafe chuckles and I reach up to try and smooth it down.

"Thank you, you should see it when I brush it." I say, climbing out of bed carefully so I don't fall. "Give me like five and I'll be ready to go."

"Are you hungry? What do you want for breakfast?" Rafe asks. "I'll go make something if you're hungry."

I didn't realize I was starving until he said that, but now that I'm thinking of it I realize I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday.

"Oh my god, I am starving. Can I have like, some toast maybe?" I ask and he nods. "Can I be picky and ask for cream cheese and jam on it?"

"Cream cheese and jam?" He asks, looking at me confused and a little grossed out.

"Okay- don't knock it until you try it. It's so good." I laugh.

"No way- I'm knocking it now. But of course, I'll make it. Just come down when you're ready." He smiles, pulling on a shirt off the floor and closing the door behind him as he leaves.

I stand there in a state of shock for a moment. He's so nice. I really wouldn't have expected this from him, but I guess I just didn't know him before.

I go into the bathroom and quickly change back into my shorts from yesterday, deciding to leave the t-shirt he leant me on. I brush my teeth with the brush he grabbed for me the night before, and find a hairbrush in the drawer. As usual, my hair is so big after I brush it through that I look like an eighties yearbook photo, I can't ever unsee that after I saw my mothers grad photos a few years ago. I look just like her.

After washing my face, I grab my backpack and force myself to leave his room. I quietly close the door, and tiptoe down the hall towards the stairs. It's almost ten, but I don't know if anyone is still sleeping.

Just my luck, right then a door opens in the hall in front of me and I freeze.

"Snowy?" Sarah yawns, still in her pyjamas. "What are you- oh." She says as she looks at me and realizes where I came from.

"Hi Sarah." I say, trying not to sound awkward about it.

"Have a good night?" She chuckles.

"Yeah. Not in the way you think, though." I quickly clarify and she nods, but looks at me skeptically.

"Rafe is just making breakfast, if you want to join us?" I suggest, not sure what to say.

"Ugh, pass." She laughs. "Enjoy though, I'll see you when I see you." Sarah says, going back into her room and closing the door.

I cringe a little internally as I walk past her closed door and down two sets of stairs, then find my way to the kitchen.

"Woah, shit you were not kidding." Rafe laughs, sitting at the kitchen island.

"Oh, this?" I giggle, gesturing to my hair. "Yeah it's pretty bad."

"Nah, it looks fine." He grins as I put my backpack on the floor. "Come sit." He pats the stool next to him.

"Thanks for making breakfast." I say as I sit down, instantly grabbing a piece of the toast he made and taking a bite.

"Of course." He nods, resuming eating his as well.

"So, what do you want to do?" I ask after we sit in silence for a few moments.

"Like, today?"

"No, no. I mean like, later this week. Should we do lunch or coffee or maybe go for a walk or something?" I suggest, smiling at him.

"Oh, yeah. Uh, up to you. I don't mind." He shrugs.

I think for a second. "Okay, well I'll think on it and send a postcard once I decide." I joke.

He looks at me confused. "Oh shit, right. You don't have a phone." He laughs once he gets it.

"I'll give you one of mine." Rafe says casually.

"You have more than one phone?" I raise my eyebrow at him.

"Well, yeah, I just got a new one in the fall so you can take my old one." He says, covering his mouth while he talks since he's still chewing.

"You don't have to do that." I shake my head. "I'll borrow JJ's or something."

"That's stupid, I've got one sitting in a drawer that I don't use. I want you to take it." He insists.

"Kook life goes crazy." I tease and he laughs, shrugging a little.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

About an hour later, I find myself still incredibly hungover, wearing Rafe's t-shirt, and with a new(ish) phone in my pocket as I walk back into the chateau after Rafe drops me off.

"Wow, morning sunshine." John B greets me as I enter, and I throw my bag on the ground and instantly flip face down the couch as he's in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Morning," I mumble, feeling the pounding in my head subside a little as I have my eyes covered.

"Hangover smoothie?" He asks and I give him a thumbs up without removing my head from the cushion.

I hear John B laugh and pull the blender out of a cupboard. "So, Snowy, we made a group chat without you since the twins have your phone."

"Rafe gave me a new one, I can add the new number," I reply, assuming that would be relevant.

"He got you a new phone?" He asks, shocked. "Wow. Anyways," he continues. "We got an interesting update from Kie last night.." He says, pausing to give me time to plead my case.

I sit up with a groan, holding my head. "Listen, John B, don't even worry about it. It's... yeah, don't worry." I don't really want to unload the whole story on him, especially about how we have a date set for a few days from now when I recover from this hangover.

John B laughs. "I'm not worried, I just want to know what happened." He asks. "And by the way, JJ wasn't in it. She just texted me and Pope."

"I, yeah. We, uhm.. don't worry about it." I say again, with a slight chuckle. Laughing makes my head hurt more.

"You didn't, Snowy-" John B asks, sounding more shocked than he was about the phone.

"No! no, no we didn't. Not, yeah, not that." I'm quick to clarify this time. "We just made out, and then I crashed at his place. That's all."

"That's not nothing." John B says, "Blender warning-" He adds, giving me a chance to cover my ears before he turns it on.

Once my hangover smoothie is done, he brings it to the couch for me and sits beside me. "Was it like, just a hookup situation? Or are their feelings involved?" He asks and I take the glass from him, taking a sip. It's so gross, but it almost instantly helps.

"Uh.. feelings," I mumble. "We have a date this week." I blush, hiding it in another drink from my smoothie.

"Shit, man.." John B says, leaning back and putting his arms across the back of the couch.

"Yep.." I nod. Neither of us says anything for a minute.

"Well, once JJ gets out of bed, we have an idea what Redfield is." John B tells me and I turn to look at him, surprised.

"No way!" I smile. "I'll get some painkillers in me and we'll do this."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

"So, where are we off to?" I ask John B, as we all climb into the Twinkie. JJ hasn't said a word to me today- not directly, anyway.

"Redfield Lighthouse. My dad's favorite place." He answers, a smile pulling at his lips as he starts the Twinkie.

We pull up near the lighthouse, and all pile out of the vehicle. "Right, JJ, you're gonna post up and keep an eye out for Bogeys, alright?"

"What? Why me?" JJ responds.

"Because you're not coming," Pope says.

"Why?"

"Because there are independent and dependant variables," He explains. "You, are an independent variable, we don't know what you'll do."

"You're a tad unpredictable, JJ," I respond, sitting half inside and half outside the Twinkie.

"You both shut up!" JJ says, and I roll my eyes.

"Listen. Pope, Snowy, you stay here with JJ. See? You've got company." John B suggests and I nod a little. This will be interesting. "If we get split up, we meet back at JJ's house."

"Sounds good." I agree, giving them a thumbs up, and John B and Kie say their goodbyes, starting to head toward the entrance of the lighthouse.

I stay in my spot, grabbing my vape from my pocket as JJ starts playing hacky sack with a rock. I can tell he starts to get frustrated, and then he kicks it up into the air, hard.

"You know what, Snowy? I can't take this. Let's talk, alright?" He turns to me. I raise my hands in surrender and nod.

"Yeah, I'll be, uh, over here if you guys need me.." Pope says, wandering off. He doesn't want to get involved and I wouldn't either.

"JJ, come sit," I say, exhaling the smoke from my lungs and patting the spot next to me as I move over a little.

He sighs and sits next to me.

"I really, really don't want to fight.." I tell him quietly, looking at the ground in front of us.

"Let's just talk then."

"Okay." I smile a little and decide to look up at him.

"JJ, I feel like you don't care about me sometimes when you do things like hold a gun to my brother's head." I giggle a little, trying to set this up like we're in couples therapy or something.

JJ nods. "Yeah, okay, that's fair. However, that had nothing to do with you. I would have done the same thing if it was anybody else." He explains

"I would expect nothing less. But you didn't let me finish," I smile, poking his chest. "Then you immediately went and slept with some random girl, while I was throwing up on the side of the road, walking home alone. After witnessing my brother, and best friend almost die. I was alone." I started with a sort of laugh, but by the time I finished talking, I was almost in tears. I look back up at JJ and he nods, running his hand through his hair.

"Yeah, Snowy, I'm sorry." He apologizes, rubbing my back. "I was drunk, I was reckless, I was an independent variable, or whatever Pope said. "But, you can't be mad at me for sleeping with 'some random girl' when you went to mack on Rafe Cameron last night."

I bite my lip. "I wasn't mad about that," I lie. "I felt like you didn't care that I was hurting, and that made me sad."

"You told me you weren't mackin' on him," JJ said, smiling a little and nudging me with his elbow. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

I roll my eyes playfully. "Okay well, when I told you that, it wasn't the plan. Ask Kie, she'd never seen me that drunk. Maybe she has a couple times, actually. But it's going in the highlights reel for sure." I laugh.

JJ nods. "Regardless, I do care about you. And that's why I was mad about you hanging out with that Kook. He's bad news. And that's coming from me."

"I see that now." I agree. "Just... don't take it out on him. I had a great time. He was so... kind, to me..." I trail off. Something doesn't feel right about raving to JJ the way I did to Kie.

"That's great, and all, but for how long, you know, Snowy? How long is he nice to you before he sees that we will always hold you back and he ditches you?"

"Don't say that. You guys don't hold me back from shit. Also, he won't do that. But, if he does, I know I have my crew." I smile, nudging him back.

JJ goes to respond just as we hear Pope's feet hitting the ground coming towards us.

"Cops- guys, cops!" He says, jumping in the driver's seat and turning on the engine.

"Are we just gonna leave them?" I ask as Pope peels us out and I close the sliding door. "I can't see them."

"They'll be fine- we planned for this," Pope says as JJ climbs into the passenger seat.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

We make it back to JJ's house, and I decide to lie down on the dock while JJ and Pope work on a bike in the garage just behind the house.

I take off my shirt and lay it down as a cushion, so my back doesn't hit the warm and broken wood. I pull out my new phone and decide now is a good time to reach out to the twins. I text them, tell them I've got a hold of a new phone, and they are happy to hear from me. Then, I open my text from Rafe.

R: hey, new phone treating you alright?

S: yeah, i love it! thanks again :)

He texts back almost immediately.

R: what are you up to?

S: i'm at jj's with him and pope. what about you? golfing with kegs?

R: pretty much, yeah

S: sounds like fun. kegs took me once, i blacked out and did donuts in the golf cart. they banned me :(

R: lol

R: i'm sure they'll make an exception when i take you, my dad practically owns the club

S: what doesn't he own? lol

R: true

It's been so long since I laid down, that I fall asleep, phone in hand, and don't notice I did until I am woken up. "Hey, Snowy." It's Pope. "Snowy, hey, we got John B. They got pulled to the sheriff's office, we've got to go get Kie."

I open my eyes and sit up, stretching as I stand up. I put my phone and my vape back in my pocket and pull my shirt, which is actually rafe's shirt back on, getting up and following Pope up to where the Twinkie was parked in front of the house. I climb in the back, and JJ is in the passenger seat with John B behind the wheel.

"What happened" I ask him? leaning up between the two seats.

"I kinda broke the guys arm and he said we were tweaked, called the cops."

"Ah, yes. Of course." I chuckle, sitting back down. "So what's the move now?"

"I have another idea."

We get Kie, and head into the old graveyard. It's pitch black by the time we get there, so we break out the flashlights as we trudge into the woods. "Does anyone know how to use the flashlight on an iphone?" I ask, following closely behind Pope.

"Here." Kie laughs and I hand her my phone. I watch her as she turns it on, then hands it back.

"Ah, I got it. Thanks." I laugh with her, lifting it up so I can see where I'm going.

"Olivia Redfield. My great, great, great grandmother." John B says, stopping in front of a enclosed grave.

"Woah.." I say, stealing closer and wiping off the front where the inscription is.

"Let's get this door open." JJ says, and I step out of the way so the boys can try and get it open. I know I wouldn't be much help, especially since JJ and I smoked up a bit on the drive there.

Kie and are are watching them push, when suddenly we hear a hissing sound, looking at each other, and then around on the ground. "Whoa!" Pope says when he spots it, a snake on the ground. I let out a small scream and step back.

"A snake?!" JJ says, "That's a moccasin alright- ye olde Dr. Cottonmouth. Death in the tall grass."

"Oh my god-" I say, grabbing Kie's arm as JJ promptly starts to bark at it, taking all seriousness out of the situation and I giggle.

"JJ, shut up! Shut up!" Kie shouts.

"You're gonna wake the dead, man." Pope says, tapping his shoulder and giving him a light shove.

"Dude, everyone knows they're afraid of dogs." He says, continuing to bark at it.

"Look, John B, listen, we're not gonna get in there. It's not budging. Let's just get out of here." Pope says, keeping an eye on the snake.

"What if someone goes through?" Kie asks. I think Snowy and I could fit." She explains.

"What?" JJ turns to face us. "Snowy, no, no way. Y'all are not going in there."

"You think you'll fit in there?" John B asks.

"Look, this is about your dad." Kie says.

"You deserve to know the truth, John B." I say, looking at Kie and nodding.

We walk over to the spot where we see a hole up where we can climb in, and JJ holds he hands together so he can boost us up.

We both climb in, and begin looking around.

"Y'all okay?" One of the boys calls into us.

"Yeah, still alive." Kie replies. "Woah, Snowy, look at this." She picks up a dusty orange envelope.

"Guys, we got something!" I say, picking up the envelope that clearly was thrown in the same way we entered, some months ago.

My phone starts ringing, right as I hear the boys asking what it is. I hand the envelope off to Kie, and picking it up.

"Hello?" I ask, hearing a distinct "Is she on the phone right now?" On the outside of the tomb.

"Hey, Snowy."

"Oh, hi Rafe."

"There it is." I hear from outside.

"Guys, here." Kie throws it out the hole we climbed in as I cover my other ear so I can hear over my friends talking.

"Where are you right now?" He asks.

"Uh, the graveyard?" I answer and hear him laugh.

"What?"

"Yeah, just for funzies." I shrug.

"Uh, alright, I always wondered what you pogues did with your free time."

"Now you know." I giggle, shaking my head as I pace inside the tomb.

"I just wanted to check up on you, also see if you maybe wanted to do lunch or coffee tomorrow?" Rafe asks and I smile, looking at Kie, who's busy talking to the boys through the hole in the wall.

"Yeah, I'd love that. Making Waves?" I ask.

"Would you really want to go to your place of work on a day off?" I put the phone between my ear and tilt my head to hold it on my shoulder while I climb out behind Kie.

"It'll be a nice change of scenery, being there as a customer." I say, hopping down.

"Shit, square groupers!" JJ says suddenly, and I look back as I grab the phone before being pulled behind the tomb to hide.

"Turn off the flashlights!" Kie whispers.

"Okay, I've got to go." I whisper into the phone. "Coffee sounds great. Bye."

"Wait, wait, Snowy what's happening?" I can hear him ask, just before I hang up and a shot rings out.

"Shit!" I say, hanging up the phone just before we take off running towards the fence out of the graveyard. I can feel my phone buzzing in my hand as we sprint to the fence, and JJ helps push me up as the gunshots continue.

We hop over and keep running for our lives towards the Twinkie, stopping when we hear Pope calling for help. I turn and see his shorts are caught on the fence. "Shit.." John B says, and we all start running back.

JJ stops and pushes me back towards the van. "Go to the Twinkie. Snowy- run!" He says, pushing me again gently. I turn back and keep running, grabbing Kie's hand and pulling her with me. We get to the Twinkie and hide inside, peeking out the window and opening the door when we see the boys running towards us, Pope now missing his shorts. Kie and I can't help but laugh, despite having just been shot at.

"Don't you say a fucking word." He says, covering his crotch and adjusting his boxers as he sits down and John B starts the car and we take off.

We're all talking over each other as we drive, trying to comprehend what just happened. I glance out the window as we see an approaching light, and then as a red dirt bike flies past us heading towards the cemetery.

"Guys, guys! John B, stop! Stop the car!" I shout over everyone, and John be slams on the breaks.

"Guys that was Rafe, hold on-" I say, jumping out of the van before it's fully stopped and running back towards the way that Rafe went, waving my arms in the air hoping he sees me in his rear view mirror.

I keep waving until I see him slow to a stop and turn around. When he gets closer, I wave for him to follow us and I jump in the van.

"Drive." I tell John B, as everyone is asking me what I'm doing. "Just drive!" I shout. "The groupers are probably following us we have to get out of here."

"Where am I supposed to go?" John B says as he starts driving.

"Anywhere, hide us! Something!" I say frantically.

I watch Rafe following behind us, hoping the groupers don'r catch up to us, until we turn off on a side street and into some bushes, turning off the lights.

I jump out of the car as soon as we stop, and run up to the road where Rafe is getting off his bike.

"Snowy, what the fuck is going on? I heard gunshots are the phone are you okay?" Rafe asks, rushing over to me.

"I'm fine- we're fine." I explain and he nods, running his hand through his hair and turning around, pacing before turning back to me and giving me a hug, placing his hand on the back of my head.

"You scared the shit out of me. Who was shooting at you?" He asked, moving his head back and holding the sides of my head to look at me.

"They- uhm... it's complicated." I sigh. "Don't worry. We're fine."

He sighs and pulls me closer, hugging me again and stroking my hair.

"Thank you.. for coming to help." I say quietly. I feel him nod, and then rest his chin on my head.

"Any time."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

A/N; Long ass chapter today- sorry lol -R