#if someone were to flirt with me during work i’d run away but b forced to laugh and continue to take the order

[thelegsofsharks]

anyone else can’t read coffee shop fics, bc of service industry background?

[lassieposting]

💘💘💘💘 + ghasdug

send me 💘 + A SHIP and i’ll tell you—

where they first met and how

So Skug says they stowed away on the same ship, but this is...not exactly true.

He stowed away on that ship, because he was running away from home and he was a snobby little lordling who'd never had to fend for himself a day in his life, so the furthest ahead he'd actually thought to plan was "they won't want to turn around and drop me off once they're underway".

Ghastly was not stowed away at any point during that trip. Ghastly was signed on for the journey as a deckhand, because Ghastly's mother told him he needed to, and it had to be that particular ship. Ghastly gets seasick, and did not want to go to sea in the slightest. But Ghastly's mother has visions and so Ghastly does as he is told. Apparently there was something important waiting for him on that ship.

Anyway Skug pops out once he thinks they're far enough away from shore that they'll leave him be rather than take him back to port, and he is incredibly mistaken. The captain is in favour of turning him around right there and then, because he's clearly some rich lord's brat, and whoever his father is will probably pay handsomely for his safe return. Ghastly manages to talk the ship's crew into letting him stay on, provided he pulls his weight like the rest of them.

Needless to say, even before they're attacked by pirates, that voyage is a rude awakening for poor Skug, and good lord does Ghastly hear all about it. He has blisters. His feet hurt. This shirt was expensive and now it's all sweaty. His hair is in his eyes all the time. He's tired. The guy in the next bunk snores. Some of these people look like they have lice. He didn't realise he'd be doing manual labour, this is servant stuff, how dare they.

Ghastly does. Not realise at that point what he has let himself in for.

how long their ‘flirting’ phase was before feelings got involved

Poor Ghastly gets to pine for years. Baby Skug isn't a great boyfriend. He's less invested - he loves Ghastly, but they have two totally different outlooks.

Ghastly is ugly. He's always been ugly. He's got a face he believes only his mother could love. He's never believed he'd find someone who saw past that or loved him regardless. So as soon as he gets Skug into bed, he's over the moon and ready to commit. He's like 17, and would absolutely settle down there and then given half a chance.

Skug, on the other hand, was a weird-looking child who only recently grew into an attractive adolescent and he is loving it. For the first time in his life, girls are noticing him. He doesn't want to settle down, he wants to play the field and sow some wild oats and have fun. So there are periods of exclusivity with Ghastly, interspersed with periods where Skug basically drops him to chase after the latest pretty bit of skirt.

who fell for who first ( if applicable )

Ghastly's smitten by the time they make it back to Ireland - Skug is a bit soft and allergic to hard work and a pain in the arse, but he's flashy and charismatic and funny and pays attention to him without gawking at his face (past the initial "good god, what happened to you?") - but Skug is well and truly settled into living with Ghastly's family by the time he actually gives Ghas the come-on.

where their first date was and what it was like

They went to the local tavern and got drunk, and then rode home in the pouring rain once it kicked them out at closing time.

When they got home, Ghastly's parents had long since gone to bed, but that wasn't necessarily unusual - once Skug, who has a considerable allowance, is old enough to start drinking, Saoirse institutes a rule that if they're not home by the time she and her husband turn in for the night, she'll leave blankets in the barn and they can sleep there instead. She's not having them barging in, wasted, at all hours of the day and night, waking her up after a hard day's work.

So they put the horses away and give them a quick rub down, and Ghastly is trying to look anywhere but Skug because Skug's shirt has gone kind of see-through and poor Ghastly is an awkward, horny teenage boy, but he keeps shooting him these furtive glances over the horse's back and Skug notices because Skug notices everything and lowkey teases him about it. "Want me to sit for a portrait? It'll last longer," sort of teasing, and Ghastly tries to laugh along but he's also vibrant red because he's been caught staring, so obviously Skug realises something's up

And he's precisely as tactful about it as he ever is about anything, and jokes, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted me," and Ghastly's ears burn and he doesn't deny it quick enough and now Skug's eyebrows are inching towards his hairline and Ghastly panics because like, he's ugly, Skug is going to be disgusted or laugh at him and he can't cope with either, so he just? Freezes?

But like. Skug was a weird-looking, unfortunate child who very recently grew into an attractive adolescent, so he fucking thrives on attention. So his response to this awkward not-quite-a-confession is actually a moment of silence while he mulls this new information over (this feels like an eternity to poor Ghastly) followed by an early attempt at using The Hot Voice and, "If you want me, have me."

So, they end up having sex in the hayloft on the blankets Ghastly's mom left out for them. Ghastly has never even been kissed and doesn't admit that he has no idea what he's doing until he realises Skug is expecting him to take the lead. He also blurts that he loves Skug when he nuts, so like. It's your typical painfully embarrassing virginity loss.

It can't be all bad though, because Skug's up for doing it again.

who asks who out and how ( with a sign? spelled out on a cake? just a simple ‘will you go out with me’? )

So in my endgame-ghasdug AU, they get back together post-TDOTL. Ghastly survives being stabbed, but the blade nicked his spinal cord, so he's in a wheelchair for quite a while, and then has to do A Lot of physical therapy to relearn how to walk. Skug shows up at the hospital/facility where he's recovering every day unless there's an emergency, because Ghastly is very depressed and struggling with survivor's guilt over Anton and doesn't see the point in doing his physio because it hurts and he's exhausted and he shouldn't be alive anyway. And Skug annoys him into doing it, mostly by heckling him from the other side of the room, because he's not great at the whole emotional support thing. Ghastly will mutter, "Christ, I want to hit you," and Skug will tell him, "Well, if you come over here to do it I won't even duck." And if Ghastly gets his ass up and uses the walking frame support thing to cross the room, well, then Skug will take a punch like a man and be happy about it because Ghastly walked.

They also talk a lot during this period. Ghastly feels like shit, and he reminisces a lot about the good old days and how he never saw Ravel's betrayal coming and memories he has of Anton, and sometimes that veers into memories they share from when they were young men. And Skug, at this point, is old enough and has been through enough to admit that he wasn't great to Ghastly when they were boys. He was flighty and selfish and high-maintenance, and he would've hated to be treated the way he treated Ghastly. And he tells him that, at one point - that he's sorry, and if he could go back and do it differently, he would, assuming Ghastly was daft enough to be willing to put up with him a second time.

And Ghastly laughs and tells him, "I'd still have you now, you stupid bastard."

who proposes first

Ghastly. They're 19/20. Skug thinks he's joking.

if they keep / kept their relationship secret or let everyone know right away

Neither - they don't announce it, but it's not exactly a secret either. Ghastly's parents notice pretty much straight away, but other than a few parental pointers on what is and isn't appropriate, it's not really a topic of conversation.

where the proposal happens and how ( kiss cam at a baseball game? on a hillside surrounded by ducks? at a disney park? )

Skug's sister Confelicity accepts the first proposal she gets at the age of 16, because she's desperate to get out of their parents' house and away from their toxic relationship and controlling behaviour. Their father disapproves and refuses to attend the wedding (and, of course, their mother is not allowed her own opinion), and Carver is out of the country, so Skug stands in to a) pay and b) give away the bride. He takes Ghastly for moral support, because he doesn't like most of his relatives and also doesn't like the groom (Thurid Guild - their relationship doesn't improve when Confelicity divorces him a few years later to marry a baronet). While they're watching the couple say their vows, Ghastly murmurs, "We should get married."

Skug is right in the middle of his hoe phase and does not realise Ghastly's serious.

who’s more dominant

Generally, Skug. He is one hell of a force of personality and Ghastly does get steamrollered quite a bit, although he does eventually learn how to say no. Skug always gets things his way, always does whatever he likes and be damned to the consequences, and Ghastly is always there with a handful of the back of his shirt, pulling his ass out of whatever fire he started.

In bed, though, it's Ghastly.

how into pda they are

As teenagers, Ghastly's mother has to reprimand them occasionally for being too all over each other, but teenagers be rabidly horny. As grown men, they're just sort of casually affectionate. Comfortable with each other. When they're relaxing in camp after a day of travelling, Skug will lean against Ghastly to read a book or put his head on Ghastly's leg while they chat. They can have a silent conversation just by reading each other's faces. They'll nudge each other when something reminds them of an in-joke. They have that easy intimacy that comes with having known each other forever.

where their usual ‘date spot’ is ( if applicable )

As boys, Ghastly has a particular flowery meadow he likes to take Skug to for picnics, because he's a romantic. Skug at that age is considerably less so, and more interested in whether they can screw there without getting caught.

In the modern day, they go to see old movies. Ghastly was very into the early films of the late 1910s and the 1920s, after the war finished. He associates them with a time where he finally got to just set up his shop and live the life he always wanted to live. Skug hasn't seen most of Ghastly's favourites, because he spent that period of history fighting the truce and then spiralling into a black hole of trauma and misery, but he got very into the noir detective era to the point that he's still clinging to the aesthetic like 80 years later, so they'll alternate who picks the movies and catch each other up on their favourites.

who’s more protective

They've both spent their fair share of time fretting in the chair beside a hospital bed. After Ravel's betrayal, though, it's Skug. Ghastly retires as soon as he's considered fit to make the decision, and decides he wants to go back to Dublin to reopen his shop and just sort of try and forget Roarhaven exists. And Skug is absolutely adamant that he gets to do it. There's a lot of interest in Ghastly for a while - groundbreaking healing magic was used to fix what should've been a permanent injury, people want to know if he suspected Ravel, they want his advice on how to rebuild after Devastation Day. He's more approachable than China, and a lot more popular. But he can't cope with it all, and anyone who tries to hassle him in Dublin will have Skug to deal with.

how long it is before they sleep together ( can be as in ‘had sex’ or as in ‘shared a bed’ )

The first night Skug stays at Ghastly's family home. Ghastly is an only child, and his family isn't wealthy - their house doesn't have a guest room. It's sleep with Ghastly or sleep on the floor, and Little Lord Priss isn't going to be sleeping on the floor.

Honestly, he's relieved there isn't a spare room for him. He's never really slept alone before. Like most children of very wealthy families back then, he grew up in a nursery with his four oldest brothers and sisters, and when he was too old to live with The Children, he shared a room, first with Carver and then with Francis. The thought of being on his own in a strange house is pretty intimidating.

He moves to his own bed as soon as they get him one, but he stays in Ghastly's room, and he's perfectly happy with that.

(Ghastly is less happy. He's very much crushing on Skug and he's terrified he'll say something incriminating in his sleep.)

who steals whose clothes and how often

Skug gets to steal Ghastly's clothes for a year or two after he moves in with Ghastly's family. After that, they're built too differently. Ghastly is built like a brick shithouse of muscle. Skug is lean and toned and tall. When they're younger, he can more or less wear Ghastly's clothes as a nightshirt, but after Skug's final growth spurt, Ghastly's clothes don't sit right on him at all, and he's gotten too vain and fashion-conscious by that point to just wear them anyway.

what their usual coffee / tea orders are

Ghastly is fussy about his tea. Plenty of milk, two and a half sugars, leave the teabag in.

Skug just inhales it black, which Ghastly thinks is an abomination.

if they ever have any children together

Ghastly thanks his lucky stars every day that they have a 0% chance of accidentally spawning a skuglet. One of him is plenty.

He's very involved with Skugbab when he comes along, though. He's godfather and a very present uncle.

if they have any special pet names for each other

Skug doesn't do nicknames, and would rather not be given them, either. Ghastly gets away with "Skul", primarily because he's the only one who's known Skug since he was all of 16, but also because "Skulduggery" is a mouthful when all your blood is rushing to your downstairs brain and it's his own damn fault that he didn't think of that before he picked it.

if they ever split up and / or get back together

So many times. They're on and off again more frequently than Saracen's clothes. Every time Skug spots someone new, he ends it with Ghastly to pursue them, and then comes back when he loses interest or it doesn't work out.

what their shared living space is like ( messy? clean? what kind of decor? )

Ghastly's family home is an old farmhouse on the outskirts of Dublin. It's simple, but cosy, and Ghastly's dad is incredibly houseproud, so it's very well-looked-after. Skug prefers it by miles to his own palacial, but cold and unwelcoming, family home, and he tries to replicate the vibe later on with Wifey. It's pretty small compared to what he's used to, so it sort of feels like they're all living on top of each other, and he has to get used to not having any servants and drawing his own water to heat his own bath etc, but he's loved there, and that makes all the difference.

what their names are in each other’s phones

They're both old-ass men about some things, and this is one of them. So no emojis or anything - they're "Ghastly Bespoke" and "Skul". How romantic.

who falls asleep first and who wakes up first

Ghastly wakes up first: he's used to rising early to get started on his chores. Skug is absolutely not a morning person at this point in his life and Ghastly frequently has to turf his ass out of bed by pulling his quilt off/dumping water on him/yelling in his ear.

Reversed with modern day ghasdug: Ghastly still wakes at a sensible time, but damn it he left the army a century ago and now he likes a lie in. Skug never really stopped being a soldier and still has most of his military habits, so he's up with the sun.

who’s the big spoon / little spoon

Ghastly is the big spoon. Skug likes to be Held.

who hogs the bathroom

Skug. The boy is vain as all fuck. There is a grand total of one cloudy looking-glass in Ghastly's family's home and Skug spends a good chunk of the morning hogging it to fuss with his hair and peacock at his reflection. Ghastly is under strict orders Never to mention this to Fletcher.

[bookishofalder]

Pretty Girl - Blurb 2

Summary: Pretty Girl can’t get her mind straightened out after meeting Detective Zimmerman.

Warnings: Swearing, spider.

A/N: A blurb I wrote up as a thank you for 200 followers! Love you all!

You were washing your hands under cold water as you stared at your reflection in the mirror above the sink, your eyes wide from embarrassment and nerves. Today, you admitted to yourself, had taken quite a surprising turn.

You had heard all about the surly detective during your first week, as you worked to form a friendly relationship with the staff at the CSPD. You paid just as much attention to those speaking about Detective Zimmerman as you did to everyone else, and found yourself intrigued at the mixture of admiration and humour their words always laced with. He clearly was among the highly respected within the station.

You’d overheard Ron laughing at the pile of paperwork he had stacking up during his vacation. You made a point on Friday afternoon to complete as much of it as you could, organizing each folder as you went. It was only when you finished that you had considered whether he might be someone who didn’t like others touching their paperwork, but it was done. Better to beg for forgiveness.

Today though, you were reeling, and it had nothing to do with the paperwork.

You’d worn your lucky blue dress for work and made two loaves of banana bread, hoping he’d like at least one option, excited to meet him.

Of course, no one had said he had such a presence, both physically and just in his overall persona. No one had bothered to prepare you. It was silly to think that anyone would warn you, it’s not like Donna could have taken you aside and say ‘by the way, you might want to rip your clothes off the moment you lay eyes on him.’ Totally normal reaction.

You scoffed at yourself in the mirror.

But Christ, when those honey-brown eyes found yours, you couldn’t stop the way your eyes widened at the moment. He was breathtaking. You’d hoped he hadn’t noticed, but when he made his inference of your friendliness towards Ron, you instantly began to worry he would think you were a flirt or a ridiculous school girl type. You had seen the regret flash in his eyes when he noticed you flinch at his words. You understood that he didn’t mean anything by it.

He just came across so...gruff, it was hard to read him. And you were usually so good at reading people.

As you dried your hands with a scratchy paper towel, you considered the enigma of Flip Zimmerman. In just a brief introduction, you had turned into jelly and instantly wanted more; more conversation, more facial expressions to study, more handshakes. Was that normal, you wondered? Or was he handsome enough to make you lose your head? It had been a long time since you’d been in any sort of relationship, but that was no excuse for your reaction.

Movement out of the corner of your eye disrupted your thoughts, and you glanced up only to jump back into the wall behind you as a decent-sized spider crawled down the wall.

“Fucking hell.” You muttered, spinning and hightailing it the fuck out of there. You hated spiders. You’d see if you could find a bro-

“Argh,” You gasped, exiting the bathroom and walking straight into a solid wall. Only, the wall reached out and steadied you before you could fall back from the force with large, gentle hands. No way.  

“Damn it, darling,” You met Flip Zimmerman’s eyes, your head having to tilt back because of his height. Jesus Christ, he was fucking tall. “I’m sorry, are you alright?” His brows were furrowed in concern as he steadied you before stepping back. Something about the intensity of his gaze struck you, heat pooling in your stomach.

You suddenly felt entirely too nervous as you stood alone with him, his manner intimidating. Did he realize this about himself, you wondered? “I’m fine, goodness, I should apologize, I ran out of there like a bat out of hell.” Wait, what? When have you ever used that expression before?

Flip raised a brow at your words, “Something scare ya?”

Well, the fucking spider did until I saw you again.

Oh great, you had to tell him you were afraid of a tiny little spider. This was not your day.

“I, um,” Fuck, you thought. You closed your eyes and tried to find the right words, so as not to sound like a complete idiot. “It’s silly, I was washing my hands and noticed a big spider and I really, really hate spiders-I live alone and I can never kill them easily, I always get the broom so I can stay far back, so I thought I’d run out here and find a broom-“ You broke off when a smile split his face. You had to blink a few times to clear your head.

He had the most beautiful smile you had ever seen.

Your grin came in response to his, but words failed you entirely as you looked upon the transformed man before you. You wanted to make him smile like that every day.

“I can kill it for ya’, no need to resort to desperate measures,” He joked, and you giggled because apparently, you had lost the ability to function otherwise. “But do me a favour?” His smile fell into a more serious frown, his eyes flashing with concern. There was that intensity again.

“What’s that, detective?” Ah, there was your voice. About time, you thought.

Flip took a breath before speaking, “Accept my apology, for earlier. I’m a grumpy S-O-B and my words came out harsher than I intended, I only meant to tease. I’m sorry.”

He ran a hand through his hair nervously as he spoke, the action sending warmth shooting straight to your core. You suddenly felt the urge to take his worries away, smooth out his frown. You had to cross your arms to keep yourself from reaching out to hug him, such was the strength of your desire. He was apologizing to you, and all you could think was about how to get him to smile again.

You worded your response carefully, wanting to make light of everything while still conveying that you were a competent human being. “Of course I accept, detective. Jimmy warned me you were a mean lumberjack-his word, not mine. I just-“, You stalled, finding the right words, “Worried I’d given the wrong impression, is all. I’ve got a good work ethic and don’t want anyone thinking I’m silly or chatty over hardworking.”

He looked astonished at your words. His voice was quieter when he replied, a low timbre, “You organized all my files for me, while I was off?”

“Yes-why?” You asked, curious.

Flip laughed, a booming rumble that made you flush.

That smile. Damn, damn, damn.

“Darling, that knocked two hours of painful catch-up off my plate and we hadn’t even met before, I can already tell you’re impressive, so if anyone here ever tries to question that, you send them to me.” His eyes moved to the door behind you, as if just remembering how you both ended up in this conversation in the first place, “I’ll go kill that monster in there for you.”

He began to move away before you had found your voice again, though when his hand pulled the door open you heard yourself say, “Wait!” He looked around at you, and you grinned up at him, saying the only thing that came to mind, “Thank you, Flip.”

When he had disappeared through the door, you let out a breath, your shoulders caving forward in relief.

Well fuck. It was official.  

You were in a world of trouble.

But then, you’d never been afraid of a little trouble, had you?

Tag list: @tashastrange89 @finn-ray-nal-beads @fizzywoohoo @iamnotthecatladynextdoor @morby @pradaxstyles @10blurredsmoke10 💜

[yellowmagicalgirl]

Instead of letting me sleep, my brain decided to come up with a krexie au last night. CW for unethical experimentation, torture, and kidnapping, all of which happen to a pair of teenagers

During the chaos of the Eternal Night, Area 49-B is there. Douxie uses his magic to try to protect himself and others. (And also to gain revenge on the Gumm-Gumms because they killed at least one of his family members.) Area 49-B knows rumors about the existence of wizards, and they’re glad to capture Douxie as a specimen. They tranquilize him and slap a pair of handcuffs with adjustable settings that let them control just how much of his magic he can use. They then force him into a cage and a hospital gown, and begin running tests on him.

Less than 48 hours later, Krel is being reckless and walking around alone without his transduction. Area 49-B captures Krel, strips him of his weapons and clothing, and forces him into a quickly-altered four-armed hospital gown. Due to logistical purposes of having captured two specimens in about as many days, Krel’s cage gets placed right next to Douxie’s. Both of them resist the experimentation, to no one’s surprise. To the surprise of Kubritz, Douxie and Krel try to communicate in a vaguely friendly manner, so she tests a theory.

Douxie’s handcuffs are turned to their lowest setting, and he has to watch Krel get beaten. Douxie then unleashes a powerful storm of magic at the outrage at this, powerful and angry enough that he ends up using a bit of dark magic. Kubritz then turns Douxie’s handcuffs back to their highest setting (so he can’t use any magic) and has him knocked out again.

When Douxie and Krel wake up again, they’re in the same cage. They’re given the verdict: if one of them resists the experimentation, then the other is going to receive punishment for it. They mostly stop resisting, but only mostly because trying to get away from pain is an instinct that wizards and akiridions both share, and not an easy one to shut down even when trying to protect someone else.

Area 49-B keeps the lights on constantly, and constantly makes enough noise that it’s hard for the boys to sleep. Still, they try to sleep in shifts, just so they can try to keep each other slightly safer.

Lots of handholding and cuddling for warmth/comfort happen when the two of them are in the cage together.

Krel: I feel like we may have met before all this. Just briefly, though. Douxie, trying to squash down his burgeoning gay feelings because now is not the time: I think I’d remember meeting someone as amazing as you. Krel: I have a human disguise, I just can’t use it right now. Douxie: Oh, did you attend Arcadia Oaks Academy? Krel: There’s more than one school for people our age in that town? And no, I spent a couple parsons... I think you’d call them weeks? At the High, not the Academy.

Area 49-B installs a device in Krel’s body that allows them to force him to change forms. This is incredibly painful for him, as opposed to normal transduction. Sometimes they do this for the sole purpose of trying to figure out how different substances will affect him in human vs akiridion form. Sometimes they’ll force him to change forms just to punish him and Douxie.

Douxie, stroking Krel’s hair to comfort him after he’s been forced to become human again: I figured it out! I think. Krel: Figured what out? Douxie: Where we might have met before; you were in the Battle of the Bands, right? Krel: I remember now. You were in it, too, right? Douxie: Yeah. I’ll admit, your genre of music isn’t normally my thing, but you were mesmerizing. I remember thinking that you were so beautiful, and that I wanted to get to know you better. Not like this, of course. And not that you’re not beautiful in your true form, but I’ve had other things on my mind.

Despite Douxie basically confessing to having a crush on Krel, and despite Krel being a genius, Krel is oblivious when it comes to feelings.

Sergeant Costas’s heel-face turn starts earlier, because he has a hard time stomaching the torture of two teenage boys who look like humans. This sentiment might also affect some of the other members of Area 49-B, but most of them (try to) stomach it because these kids aren’t human (nevermind that a lot of the evidence points to Douxie being human or human-adjacent), and they’re just following orders.

Douxie and Krel are able to break out of their cage by knocking out a guard. Afterwards, they start running, trying to find a way out, and also a way to get Douxie’s handcuffs off of him. Unfortunately, they are sleep deprived and malnourished.

At the same time, Aja, Stuart, the Blanks, Zadra, and maybe Toby+the Creepslayerz are raiding Area 49-B, trying to find both Stuart’s ship and Krel. Aja and Zadra find Krel’s clothes and serrator, as well as Douxie’s clothing. They then find Krel and Douxie, trying and failing to fight back.

Aja: Aww, Krel made a friend. Zadra: How???

Aja cuts off Douxie’s handcuffs and hands Krel back his serrator. Afterwards, they fight their way back out and to the taco truck, where they drive away. Krel and Douxie end up passing out in the back as they drive back to Arcadia, still holding hands.

When Douxie gets home, Archie has been worried sick about him, fearing the worst, and then he sees how Douxie now has white bangs from using dark magic. Archie starts to lecture Douxie, but almost immediately afterwards Douxie breaks down sobbing due to the whole ordeal, and Archie immediately switches to trying to comfort his wizard. Douxie then finds out that he’s been fired from the restaurant because he didn’t call in for at least two weeks. He’s barely able to keep his job at the magic shop. Stuart ends up hiring him to work part time at Stuart Electronics, half out of pity and half because he needs some extra help now that he’s dealing with bounty hunters.

With the help of Mother and Izita, Zadra takes the device out of Krel. Afterwards, it takes a while for Douxie to be able to watch Krel change forms and not immediately wince despite Krel reassuring him that this form of transduction isn’t painful. (Krel is very nervous before using transduction because he has trauma.)

Douxie ends up joining up with the Meme Team as an ally against Morando and Kubritz. Everyone other than Krel can see that he has a painfully obvious crush on Krel.

There are multiple nights where Douxie and Krel can’t sleep (too dark, too bright, nightmares, too quiet, too loud, etc.) so they end up staying up and texting each other. Archie steals Douxie’s phone at least once in an attempt to get them to sleep.

Krel slowly realizes that he has romantic feelings for Douxie. This realization is impeded because he’s not sure if they’re really romantic or if they’re just a product of just how much he and Douxie depended on each other for a sense of security back in Area 49-B. (They might be both.)

Krel’s crush isn’t as painfully obvious as Douxie’s is, but it’s still rather obvious to everyone other than Douxie.

Eli quietly weighs the horror of Krel dating someone from their rival school against the fact that Krel managed to find happiness despite the horror he went through at Area 49-B and decides that, unlike with Mary, he’s not going to say anything.

Summer school is worse for Krel, and slightly worse for Aja, than it was in canon.

Dealing with the asteroid is more emotionally difficult, because as little as Krel and the others trust Area 49-B, they also don’t want Arcadia Oaks to be destroyed. Douxie stays behind, trying to research a spell to shield the town, but he’s unable to cast it. Costas discretely lets Tronos go, which means that Morando isn’t able to kill him.

Krel: I wish you and Steve would be a little more discreet about being gushy and romantic in front of me. Aja: Those are big words considering that you and Douxie are almost always flirting with each other. Krel: Krel: Wait, what? Krel: You think he might like me back??? Aja: Sometimes I wonder why you’re considered the smart sibling out of the two of us.

When Costas comes to deliver information on Morando, Archie threatens to remove his hand, eyes, and tongue should Costas respectively touch, look at funny, or speak threateningly towards Douxie (and as an afterthought, Archie decides that those threats also apply to if Costas does the same to Krel. And as a secondary afterthought, Archie states that Costas will still lose body parts if he does any of the above to any of the people working against Morando).

[onlyyyariii]

Psychopath

*******

"They're looking at you." Ethan growled, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"I know Ethan. They always do."

"Well I don't like it."

He turns and glares at them. They laugh and look away from us.

"Have you heard about the serial killer that's on the loose? It's terrible, what's happening to these people."

"Yeah it's a real shame."

"Ethan come on I'm serious. Someone is out there killing people. I want you to be safe. I love you so much and I don't want you taken away from me."

I lean over the bar to place a kiss to his lips. He deepens it for a moment before pulling away.

"I wouldn't worry about me, Li."

"All I can do is worry about you."

"Well I'll try to be more careful alright?"

I nod before turning back to make another drink. I've been working at this bar for a few months now. Ethan, my fiance, comes to visit me every now and then during my shift. A lot of my customers being old men, hit on me. I'm perfectly content with how my life is now. I love Ethan with all my heart and nothing will ever change that.

"I'll be back to pick you up after work." Ethan says, stepping down from the stool.

"I'm working til 2, E. That's really early and you have work tomorrow."

"Babe, I love you and I want to bring you home."

"Okay," I laughed.

I kissed him goodbye before returning to the bar.

Ethan's POV:

I watched as the guy who was checking her out before walked up to her now that I'd left.

"Hey sweetheart, how about another drink?"

"Of course. What would you like?"

"Tequila and lime. How bout you come sit with me and the boys when you're on break."

"No I'm fine. I have a fiance and we're perfectly happy together."

I smiled knowing she's mine. But I'm so killing that guy later.

"Come on baby we only want to talk."

"Then you'll start eye-f*****g me. I only want my fiance to eye f**k me so the answer is still no."

He sneered, "You'll regret that, you b***h."

"Here's your drink sir."

She "accidentally" poured the alcohol on him. I smirked, that's my girl.

"Oh I'm so sorry!"

"Shut up. I'll be leaving now."

He walks back over to his boys. My time to shine. I walk out the club and go around the back. They don't have cameras here which is stupid. I open the seat on my bike and grab the switchblade. Nice and shiny, pointed objects are my favorite thing to kill with. A shard of glass to the throat, my switchblade to the chest, maybe a nice pipe to the head. They're all very good methods. All ones that I've performed in the past 3 months. They get the job done quickly. I sit down on the bike and wait for them. When they come walking around the side, they stare at me and laugh.

"You waiting for your little fiance in there?"

"Sure am."

"Well she's a whore," they say, stopping in front of me.

"Oh don't get too close. I bite."

They all get up in my face. Smirking, I push the switchblade into the ones chest. After pushing him off, he falls to the ground choking violently. His friends look at him then back to me.

"You stabbed him!" he screams.

"D**n right I did. Now which one of you, wants to go next?"

I killed them, one by one. After the three of them were dead I get on my bike and drive home. That's three more people who'll stay away from Liana. I change and shower before lying in bed. Liana will call me when she has to be picked up. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against a pillow drifting into a light slumber.

Liana’s POV:

Walking around the back of the club, I come across three bodies. I scream loudly. It was the three guys from the bar. Someone killed them! I rush to grab my phone out of my pocket.

"911 what is your emergency?"

"Three guys have been killed around the back of Fantasia."

"Alright ma'am. I just sent a message to the nearby police. I would like you to stay on the line until they get there."

"Of course."

Looking around the scene, something shiny catches my eye. I know I shouldn't touch anything but I'm curious. I walk over to the object and pick it up. It's a switchblade knife. Looking closer there are letters engraved on it. Perhaps a little message?

'EGD, all my love, LMS.'

Oh my god. This is Ethan's switchblade I bought him for his first birthday we spent together. No. He couldn't possibly be the- I gasp. Flipping open the blade I notice the dried blood. Sobs rack my body. Ethan is the killer. Ethan is the serial killer that's been running rampant for the past three months. I can't let them find this. I quickly hide the blade in my back pocket.

"Ma'am?"

"Oh yes, I'm sorry I zoned out. It's just the bodies I-"

"No, I understand completely. The police should be arriving very shortly."

I step away from the bodies. I check myself from head to toe to see if any blood got on me. Luckily it didn't. Checking the time I see it's around 1:30 in the morning. When did he kill these guys? A police siren blares as many cars pull around the club.

"Oh they're here."

"Of course, you may leave the line at this time."

"Thank you so much." I say, hanging up.

Many officers jump out of their cars and come over to assess the situation at hand. An older police officer walks up to me. He has a notepad and pencil in his hands.

"Hello, my name is Officer Michael Monroe, I'm going to ask you some questions if that's alright with you."

"Of course."

"Alright, when did you find the bodies, Ms...?"

"Liana Summers. I found them just about 15 minutes ago. They were already dead before I got out here. There's so much blood."

"Yes Ms. Summers we understand that. Did you know any of the victims?"

"Yes, but not personally. They have been hitting on me for the past few weeks. I work the bar inside the club. I always rejected them of course."

"Of course. Would you like a ride home?"

"That would be lovely thank you officer Monroe."

I get into the backseat of one of the police cars and wait for an officer to drive me home. One the cars starts up I assume the man will need my address.

"I live at 156 Mason Lane. It's an apartment building."

"We're nearing that building now."

Once we arrive I quickly jump out and thank the man for driving me. I watch as he drives back towards the crime scene. Making my way up to the third floor, all these thoughts force their way into my mind. Why has Ethan been doing this? How did I not know about it? How could he kill people but then act normal the next day? How did I not catch on to his actions? I open the door to my apartment and make my way to the bathroom. I take a nice warm shower then walk into Ethan and I's shared bedroom. He's sleeping peacefully on our bed. He looks so young and innocent as he sleeps. How could he be a murderer? Sudden anger fuels through me. I get dressed in one of his t-shirt's and underwear before grabbing the switchblade out of my pants. I clean it off and wake him up.

"I'm up- Liana how'd you get home?"

"The police brought me," I won't tell him I found the switchblade yet, I want to see if he'll tell me what he's done, "I found the bodies."

He has a look of remorse on his face, not for the men but for me.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that." He pulls me into a hug.

I know he's a murderer and all but he's still my Ethan. I melt into his embrace as tears drip down my face.

"How could you do that to people Ethan?"

He tenses up and then pulls back.

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Ethan I found your switchblade with the blood on it! How could you kill innocent people!?"

A scowl settles on his face, "They weren't innocent."

"Baby you killed them. You murdered them, and for what?"

"For you. I did it for you. They were staring at you. They tried to lie to me and tell me that you wanted them. I was trying to protect you!"

"The only thing I was scared of was the serial killer, and the serial killer is you."

I pull farther away from his body. I love him with all my heart but- he's killed people. Somehow this feels like my fault.

"No no no Liana please. Please don't leave me. I did this for us baby. They wanted you. All of them. All of the people I got rid of wanted to take you away from me."

I stop moving. Of course. This all makes sense now. All the people that have died, somehow or another flirted with me in front of Ethan. He's very possessive. I was warned by his ex girlfriend. I just failed to see it.

"Ethan?" I say, turning toward him.

"Yes?"

"I love you. I love my Ethan. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so- I forgive you. I love you enough to look past these... mistakes. Please tell me you'll stop. You'll stop for me."

He looks at me. Anguish present on his features. He's an addict. He's addicted to the game. His game.

"You can't, can you? It pains me, to realize that I'm in love with a psychopath. But I just can't leave you."

"You can't?"

"No, I've loved you for far to long to give up now."

I rush over to him and he pulls me into his arms. I love him far to much to give up on him now. I pull his lips to mine. We stand by our bed, liplocked and crying all at once. He pulls away and smirks at me.

"Make up s**?" He suggests.

I giggle, "I want you to be rough with me."

"Rough?"

"Very rough."

*******

Moral of the story, Liana liked that he was protecting her. They became Bonnie and Clyde more or less, without the robbing part.

Tag list: @grantzarrr @luxplsr @rhyrhy462 @fangdolan @blindedbythelightt @333dolans

[bisexualfelicity]

Criminal - Olicity Clue Challenge

My entry for Olicity Clue @olicitytropes, prompts at the end of the fic! 

Fic not betaed, so please excuse any mistake!

Oliver has been in police stations many times during his lifetime. He has been arrested and, more recently, stood on the other side of the law, side by side with the police to take down criminals. But never has he been so confused.

When he received a call from a detective, he thought it was something Arrow related. It was not. 

So, instead of going to the bunker and suiting up, he finds himself running to the precinct in his work clothes, unable to believe his ears. Felicity is already there when he arrives, talking to Quentin. 

“Where is he?” He says in place of greeting. 

“We have him in interrogation room B,” Lance answers, and holds his hand up to stop Oliver from interrupting him before he can continue. “Don’t worry, the boy is fine. You’re lucky I was here when they brought him in, we are leaving him with just a verbal warning. I don’t imagine your son being seen doing community service would do well for your rating,” Lance laughs but Oliver fails to find humor in the situation. “You both can see him and I’ll get the release papers.”

Oliver doesn’t grunt. But he definitely wants to. 

“Are we believing this?” Felicity asks as soon as Quentin leaves, “There’s no way William’s done any of that. If he said Mia broke out of daycare and committed a crime, I’d say sure, that sounds like something that could happen. But William? Our William? Nope. There’s got to be an explanation.”

She’s not wrong. Well, maybe about the Mia bit, his three years-old might be a little chaotic, but she’s far from committing crimes. But he would also say the same about his teenager son. Before he can think harder about it, he goes to room B, and finds his son there with his hands in his face and looking more nervous than Oliver has seen in years. 

William is a responsible child. He’s nothing like Oliver was in his age, his grades are great, he’s focusing in applying to college, likes playing video games more than parties and he spends more time with his little sister than with people his own age. He’s a teacher’s pet, for god’s sake. He’s the opposite of a troubled teen. 

But they say the tree doesn’t fall far from the tree and Oliver is about to discover what was it like for his parent’s to pick him up from jail all those times in his youth. 

“Will, honey, what’s going on?” Felicity is already by his side, hugging him, “Did someone force you to do that? Are they bullying you again? Because you could have told us. We will kick their ass, minors or not,” she starts rambling, but William answer is to just get red and Oliver knows without question that no one forced William to do anything.

“Felicity,” he says, touching her shoulders and telling her in silent to let him handle this. “They said you were caught breaking into the Summit Institute and hacked into their files?”

“Yes, but…”

“That’s not even where you go to school!” Felicity interjects. 

“So you admit that, instead of going to a friend’s place to study after classes like you told us you’d do, you went to Summit Institute, got in there without any authorisation, went into the principal’s office, hacked your way into his computer and changed private files?” Oliver asks, pausing, still trying to believe his words. He doesn’t need William to say anything though, his answer is all over his face.

“You’re not allowed to judge me! You guys do crimes all the time!” William yells, his face red, with anger or shame, Oliver doesn’t know. 

“We… don’t do that anymore. You know vigilante work has been legalized,” Oliver argues, even though he knows it’s not all true, “And don’t turn it around to us. Yes, we have broke the law many times, but it was always to help people. We were trying to stop criminals. Were you trying to stop a crime?”

“Maybe!” William says and Oliver only continues to stare at him. If he’s considering a life of crime, he should really learn how to lie better. “Okay, no. I wasn’t stopping any crime. But I was trying to help someone.”

His face goes a whole new fade of red and the situation starts to take shape for Oliver. He looks to his wife, who has seated next to their son and now has a soft look on her face.

“Do you want to tell us what happened?” Felicity asks.

“No, I don’t,” he sighs but Felicity pokes him on the side and he finally smiles, “It was dumb, I’m sorry. I’m not going to do it again, ok?”

“Tell us what happened, Will,” Oliver says again and hopes his use of the nickname shows that he’s not angry at his son. 

“It’s… I met this boy Adam at the college tour last month. And we’ve been talking, you know? And I mentioned I’m good with computers and he got a really bad grade in English and he just wanted that changed. It was no big deal. The school system is not remote, so I needed to be on site to do anything and I told him that, and he said he could get me in and I could change it for him… Because with his grades he would never be accepted in a good college, and if I changed, maybe we could even go to the same college,” William explains everything so fast that, if Oliver wasn’t paying attention closely, he’d lose parts of the story.

Oliver can’t do anything but sigh at the story. It sounds to him like this Adam is just using William, but he doesn’t want to crush his son’s heart. 

“And where is Adam now?”

“I don’t know, he was supposed to guard the door for me, but when he saw a security guard coming, he ran away and I didn’t see him after. The cop confiscated my phone so I couldn’t text him either.”

So this Adam bailed on him. Oliver finds himself anger at this unknown teenager and needs to focus on his son again. Adam doesn’t matter. 

“What were you even thinking when you accepted doing that, Will?”

“I was just doing him a favor, dad. It wasn’t anything terrible! You’ve done a lot of worse when you were young.”

“Your father is not an example to be followed,” Felicity says, “I mean, in his youth. You should follow who he is now. He’s great now. But he used to suck. You don’t want to be like that.”

“You used to hack all the time too!” William answers, getting angry at the judgement, “You’ve told me about it. You were a hacktivist!”

“Yes… But I didn’t get caught, did I?” Felicity says with a smile and Oliver has to roll his eyes, even when his wife just laugh at him, knowing it’s not the point. “Even if the security guard hadn’t seen you there, which, by the way, happened because you didn’t disable any camera, you also left a lot of evidence behind in the computer, making it so easy for them to see what you had altered. Come on, Will. If you don’t know how to clean all evidence, you’re not ready for hacking.”

“No,” Oliver interjects, pointing as his wife, “You’re never ready for hacking.”

“Not while you’re a minor,” Felicity completes.

“Never,” Oliver says but sees in his wife’s face that she’s not agreeing. 

He supposes he has no right to judge any of them.

“You don’t need to hack for someone to be your friend. They should like you without any favor.”

“I know that, I’m not dumb. I was just… trying to impress him, I guess. You fell in love with Felicity like that, I’ve heard the story.”

“It’s… not that simple,” Oliver says but his certainty is starting to falter. 

“Yes, it was a lot more nuanced. A lot more saving the world and flirting through tasks than just committing crimes together.” 

William doesn’t seem so convinced but neither of them say anything else. They’ll have this talk again later. Now, they have to get Mia in daycare and get home. He leaves William and Felicity talking, pretending that he doesn’t hear Felicity scold their son on his hacking abilities and goes find Lance.

“The papers” Quentin tell him as he leaves the room, “Was giving you time to talk to him. Gotta say, Oliver, going back to life has been worth just to see your face seeing your son in jail. That’s payback for all you’ve done when you were young.”

“Yeah, guess I deserve that,” he tells Lance, too stressed to appreciate the irony.

“Boy, you deserved much worse than William. He’s a good boy, you know that. I was hearing your conversation from the double mirror, he’s just trying to recreate what you and Felicity have.” 

“He’s doing that all in the wrong way.”

“Well, you’ll just have to watch him do his mistakes. That’s being a parent. Breathe in, because I’m sure little Mia is going to teach you these lessons even more than William here.”

Finally, Oliver laughs at that and goes back to find Felicity and William out of the room. His son is going to be okay. Even though he hates the idea of seeing William in a police station, evidences against him, knows too well how shameful those experiences were for him, he has to remember that William is not him. 

William is not doing that for lack of attention, because he doesn’t care about others or whatever reasons Oliver told himself he committed stupid crimes. He’s doing it for love. 

Good motive, still a crime. 

But he remembers all the hacking Felicity did for him, and can’t stop himself from smiling. It might not have been that simple, but he’s also not that far off. 

That said, he’s still getting grounded.

prompts: evidence, police station, Quentin Lance

[isabvllas]

         ♡ . *  (   jennie  kim,  cis  female,  she  /  her   )   have  you  heard   ?   it  seems  like  the  heir  of  the  MUN  dynasty  was  very  close  to  liam  yu  too.  they  go  by  ISABELLA  and  they  were  liam’s  FAMILY  FRIEND.  their  networth  is  of  82M  and  they’re  only  TWENTY-THREE  …  what  a  burden  it  must  be.  i  heard  they  can  be  very  COQUETTISH  and  VIVACIOUS.  but  these  last  few  months,  their  DISINGENUOUS  and  VAIN  personality  has  been  showing  more.  the  media  is  sure  having  a  field  day  with  them   !   i  hope  this  road  trip  with  friends  will  help  them.  did  you  know  that  CHEWING  BUBBLEGUM  AFTER  LUNCH,  WHISPERING  SECRETS  TO  A  LOVER,  CANDY  HEARTS  and  PILLOWS  STAINED  WITH  TEARS  really  show  their  true  persona   ?    maybe  liam  was  the  only  one  who  knew  that  ...   

         hi  everyone,  i’m  so  happy  to  be  here   !!!   my  name  is  diana,  i’m  twenty,  go  by  she  /  her  pronouns,  and  reside  in  the  est  timezone.  some  quick  facts  abt  me:  i’m  a  libra  and  girl  group  stan   !!   below  u  can  read  a  bit  abt  my  muse  isabella  hehe  if  u  like  this  post  i’ll  hit  u  up  for  plots   !!!   my  discord  is   missing blackpink hours#5522  if  u  wanna  message  me  there,  but  if  not,  im’s  work  just  fine  <3

♡ . *    𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔    !

full  name :  isabella  grace  mun

nickname(s)  :  bella,  isa  (  by  liam  only  )

age  :  twenty-three

zodiac  :  libra  sun,  scorpio  moon   (  click  )

sexuality  :  bisexual

alignment  :  chaotic  neutral

pinterest  :  click

♡ . *    𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅    !   (   drug  tw   )

keeping  up  appearances  has  always  been  the  mun  family’s  main  focus.  everything  they  do  is  an  attempt  to  better  their  public  image.  her  parents  marriage  was  merely  another  business  agreement  between  two  powerful  families

her  father’s  side  works  in  finance  and  investments,  while  her  mother’s  side  owns  one  of  the  wealthiest  PR  firms  in  the  world

her  parents  got  married  because  there  was  nothing  the  public  loved  more  than  family.  you  could  get  away  with  almost  anything  with  the  illusion  strong  family  values  under  your  belt.  isabella’s  conception  was  just  part  of  the  arrangement

her  mother  was  not  particularly  maternal.  her  husband  was  a  few  years  to  her  senior,  so  she  was  still  fairly  young  when  she  got  pregnant.  however,  they  had  already  been  married  for  two  years  and  a  baby  was  part  of  the  deal

isabella  was  passed  along  through  a  string  of  nannies.  none  of  them  stuck  around  long  enough  to  give  her  the  emotional  support  she  so  desperately  desired.  she  clung  to  adult  figures  throughout  the  majority  of  her  childhood,  from  boarding  school  teachers  to  private  tutors

as  she  grew  older,  however,  she  began  to  understand  the  way  of  things.  she  barely  spent  any  time  with  her  parents,  but  the  one  thing  she  learned  from  her  father  was  how  to  look  out  for  herself.  no  one  else  was  going  to  do  it  for  her

throughout  secondary  school,  she  perfected  the  art  of  getting  what  she  wants.  she’d  put  on  a  sweet,  helpless  act  to  manipulate  those  around  her.  she  became  fluent  in  lying,  and  it  always  worked  to  her  advantage  that  she  had  a  face  people  could  trust

she  spent  her  teen  years  growing  a  social  media  following,  becoming  a  beauty  influencer.  she  was  seen  as  an  it  girl,  credited  for  starting  various  fashion  trends

without  anyone  looking  after  her,  isabella  was  able  to  do  whatever  she  wanted.  however,  she  also  learned  from  her  parents  the  importance  of  maintaining  a  pristine  image.  so,  she  partied  and  had  her  fun  out  of  the  public  eye,  or  so  she  thought

at  seventeen,  isabella  had  her  first  coke  scandal  after  pictures  of  her  were  leaked  to  the  tabloids.  it  was  like  a  rich  kids  right  of  passage.  her  parents  were  furious  with  her.  for  a  moment,  isabella  felt  hopeful.  they  were  furious  because  they  cared,  right  ?  unfortunately  for  her,  it  wasn’t  because  of  what  she  was  doing.  they  were  only  angry  she  was  stupid  enough  to  get  caught

isabella’s  mother  took  care  of  cleaning  up  her  image.  after  all,  damage  control  is  what  she  knew  how  to  do  best.  isabella  was  forced  to  take  a  break  from  social  media.  according  to  the  statement  her  family  put  out,  she  was  under  a  lot  of  stress  from  running  a  social  media  empire  at  such  a  young  age.  as  per  her  mother’s  instructions,  her  social  media  blackout  lasted  a  year.  by  the  time  she  was  back  in  the  public  eye,  she  had  graduated  high  school  and  was  started  the  next  chapter  of  her  life

however,  the  year  she  took  away  from  social  media  was  the  most  time  she  had  ever  spent  with  her  parents.  she  was  forced  to  stay  with  them  so  they  could  keep  her  from  further  tarnishing  the  perfect  image  they  had  created  for  themselves.  during  this  time,  she  found  out  she  hated  her  parents.  they  were  cold,  and  completely  emotionless

she  felt  alone  most  of  the  time.  her  friends  were  almost  always  fake,  and  so  was  she.  she  was  always  putting  on  a  mask  too,  so  it’d  be  unfair  to  even  judge.  but  the  only  person  she  could  ever  trust  was  herself.  except  liam  was  different

she  knew  liam  her  whole  life  through  familial  connections,  but  she  only  got  closer  to  him  over  recent  years.  he  seemed  to  be  the  only  person  who  could  understand  her.  she  started  to  confide  in  him  with  a  lot  of  things.  he  made  her  feel  less  alone,  a  true  friend.  it  was  unlike  anything  she  had  ever  experienced  before  and  she  wasn’t  used  to  anyone  genuinely  caring.  he  would  let  her  sleepover  whenever  she  was  going  through  something

his  loss  hit  her  hard.  even  though  she  tries  to  appear  like  she’s  grieving  his  loss  healthily,  she  isn’t.  isabella  has  convinced  herself  she’s  cursed,  like  his  loss  was  her  fault  just  because  he  was  associated  to  her.  like  everything  she  touches  falls  apart.  she  kinda  started  using  drugs  again  more  heavily  because  of  everything,  where  before  she  mainly  only  used  in  social  settings

♡ . *    𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚    !

isabella  appears  to  be  an  extrovert  on  the  surface.  even  though  most  of  it  is  an  act,  she  has  a  lively  presence.  she  likes  to  be  the  life  of  the  party  and  the  center  of  attention,  but  when  it  comes  down  to  it,  it’s  just  part  of  the  persona  she  puts  on  for  others

she’s  playfully  flirty  with  almost  everyone.  it  started  as  a  way  to  manipulate  people,  but  she  also  finds  amusement  in  it  now.  to  her,  everything  life  is  a  game  and  she  wants  to  win

she  is  always  trying  to  manipulate  people  for  her  own  selfish  gain,  however,  she’s  extremely  careful  to  be  lowkey  about  it  so  no  one  really  knows.  she  appears  to  be  very  sincere  and  considerate  of  others.  most  people  view  her  as  harmless,  which  is  exactly  what  she  wants.  she  wants  people  to  underestimate  her

isabella  can  be  quite  full  of  herself.  she  obsesses  over  her  appearance  like  24/7  partially  due  to  her  social  media  presence.  she  won’t  leave  the  house  without  looking presentable  because  she  refuses  to  be  spotted  looking  bad

but  aside  from  obsessing  over  her  looks,  she  also  has  a  superiority  complex.  she  thinks  she’s  better  and  smarter  than  most  people,  but  she  doesn’t  show  this  side  of  herself  too  often

she  loves  to  go  out  and  be  in  the  presence  of  strangers.  she  feels  closer  to  them  than  to  the  people  she  actually  knows.  but  it’s  one  of  the  reasons  she  loves  parties  so  much.  asksjhkjsh  like  that  part  in  great  gatsby  where  that  girl  was  like  large  parties  are  much  more  intimate  !!!  that’s  bella 

her  life  is  ultimately  unfulfilling  tho,  because  the  way  she  masquerades  around  pretending  to  be  one  way  just  to  use  people  for  her  own  benefit  has  left  her  completely  alone.  she  seeks  real  friendships  and  relationships  deep  down,  but  she  does  everything  in  her  power  to  bury  this  side  of  herself.  she  also  seeks  validation  but  doesnt  care  enough  about  anyone’s  opinions  to  ever  receive  it

♡ . *    𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅  𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔    !

partner  in  crime  -  someone  who  she  can  scheme  with,  someone  who  will  play  these  little  games  with  her,  someone  she  has  fun  with

ex-lover  -  there  could  b  more  than  one  of  these   !!!    they  could  have  ended  on  bad  terms  or  good  terms,  still  have  lingering  feels  or  tension  maybe  they’re  friends  or  maybe  they  just  try  to  stay  away  from  each  other 

unrequited  crush  -�� ur  muse  could  have  a  crush  on  her  and  maybe  she’s  oblivious  or  maybe  she  uses  it  to  her  advantage.  OR  we’d  have  to  plot  this  out  well  but  maybe  she  has  genuine  feelings  for  your  muse  and  doesn’t  know  what  to  do  about  it  because  this  never  really  happens

requited  feelings  -  speaks  for  itself,  but  our  muses  have  feelings  for  each  other.  ik  isabella  would  make  things  complicated  just  because  it  would  be  hard  for  her  to  accept  that  she  actually  cares  about  someone  that  isn’t  herself

will they,  won’t  they  -  there’s  tension  between  them,  but  nothing  has  ever  come  out  of  it  yet.  maybe  something  has  almost  happened,  maybe  they’ve  kissed  once,  but  either  way  the  tension  lingers  in  the  air  whenever  they’re  together

flirtationship  -  they  flirt  with  each  other  constantly,  but  nothing  has  ever  come  from  their  flirting.  maybe  they  have  good  chemistry,  but  haven't  done  anything  about  it  and  maybe  they  don’t  want  to.  maybe  they  don’t  want  to  ruin  a  good  thing 

current fling/friends  w  benefits -  someone  she  is  currently  seeing.  it’s  most  likely  no  strings  attached,  but  maybe  it’s  someone  she  genuinely  cares  about  as  a friend

enemies  w  benefits  -  imagine  the  tension   !!!   they  started  out  hating  each  other  but  ended  up  hooking  up.  maybe  it  was  a  one  time  thing,  or  maybe  they  can’t  stop  going  back  to  each  other.  maybe  they  keep  it  a  secret  and  don’t  want  anyone  else  to  know.  this  could  develop  in  soooo  many  ways  pls  this  is  so  sexy  !!!!

party  buddies  -  they  always  go  to  parties  together.  maybe  they  don’t  see  each  other  outside  of  parties,  maybe  they  met  at  a  party  and  started  hanging  out  more  afterwards

drug  /  alcohol  buddies  -  someone  she  gets  fucked  up  with.  maybe  they’re  not  that  close  when  they’re  sober,  but  are  way  closer  when  under  the  influence

ex-friends  -  someone  she  used  to  consider  a  close  friend,  but  they  had  a  falling  out  for  whatever  reason  n  maybe  they  strongly  dislike  each  other  now,  which  means  isabella  is  probably  trying  to  plot  their  down  fall

sibling-like friendship  -  someone  she  sees  like  a  sibling.  since  she’s  an  only  child,  i’d  love  a  friendship  that  feels  like  family

unlikely  friends  -  a  pair  you  wouldn't  imagine  would  be  friends,  but  for  whatever  reason,  they  get  along  well

cousins  -  they  could  get  along  well,  or  maybe  there’s  family  drama  that  makes  them  hate  each  other

take  care  -  someone  who  looks  after  her  when  she  drinks  to  much   !!!   someone  who  keeps  her  out  of  trouble  when  she’s  under  the  influence.  she  would  probably  feel  extremely  weird  like  when  she’s  sober  bc  someone  taking  care  of  her  ???  feels  fake  2  her

confidant  -  someone  who  confides  in  her  or  someone  she  confides  in,  or  they  confide  in  each  other.  they  don’t  necessarily  have  to  be  the  closest  friends  ever,  but  they  get  along  and  maybe  they  talk  more  in  private

rivals  -  they  don’t  like  each  other  for  whatever  reason,  which  we  can  plot. maybe  it’s  jealousy  or  their  personalities  just  clash,  but  for  whatever  reason  they  do  not  get  along

frenemies  -  they’re  great  friends  to  each  other’s  faces,  but  when  they’re  not  around  each  other,  they  act  questionably

bad  influence  -  someone  she  is  a  bad  influence  on.  maybe  she’s  manipulating  them,  or  just  encourages  them  to  do  bad  things  and  they  listen  to  her  for  whatever  reason

that’s  everything  !!!  i’m  soooo  sorry  this  got  a  lil  lengthy,  it  wasn’t  my  intention  but  also  idk  how  2  shut  up  AJKDSHDJH  anyway  i’m  so  excited  to  plot  with  u  all  and  start  interacting,  so  hit  me  up  on  discord  or  im’s  or  i’ll  come  to  u  <3

[leggigoesabroad]

skipping down sixteenth avenue

We woke up the next morning honestly fuggin AMPED because it was a full day at sea.  We had big plans to get some work done, explore the ship, day drink, revel in it all, etc.  But immediately we all felt so seasick that mid-meeting in Brooke’s room she just said “this isn’t happening. Let’s all go back to bed.” And we snorted lines of Dramamine and napped (essentially.)  We got an invitation that morning for dinner with the captain that night, which just so happened to be the ship’s formal night that we didn’t know existed.  Cue PANIC as I accused them all of trying to haze me by not telling me I needed to bring anything other than athleisure.  The nicest thing I brought with me was a floral jumpsuit so I tried my best to blend in but goddamn it these women were wearing like, sparkly evening gowns, strapless bodycon dresses, etc.   Couldn’t even go shopping anywhere since we were at sea all day.  Brooke says it was Nick’s fault, Nick and I secretly remember it was Brooke’s fault as she was the one who told us that Alaskan cruises don’t have formal nights…. Sigh. I’ve only just now started to get over it.  Combined with feeling like death all day and then having to be on good behavior for the very peculiar captain, things were dire.  The lack of formalwear also of course meant that I felt the need to get ahead of it to everyone I encountered the entire night.  “Just so you know I was told there wasn’t a formal night!!” **manic laughter drawing attention to myself** “I would never think this was appropriate for a formal night or dinner with the captain, we didn’t know! We’re here for work! It was a miscommunication!” **more manic laughter and essentially forcing people to say I look nice** “I dress way better at home, had I known I would have fit right in!! You can imagine.  I compensated by getting rip-roaring drunk and OD’ing on Dramamine which led me to a coma-like state I tried to Adderall-away the rest of the cruise.  Hate me cuz u ain’t me.  

The captain was ssssssooo strange – pleasant, but just on a different level of awareness than most normal people.  Lived in his own little captain world.  Old and British and told stories that made no sense and weren’t really relevant. Overly polite but also we felt like he didn’t want to be there.  By the way, I saw captain multiple times a day and at EVERY meal.  I swear he’s just a figurehead who never drives the boat himself. We did a bridge tour later in the week and he made a point to roll on through and look like he was “captain-ing” at one point when we all know he just chills and makes his officers do it. Towards the end of the trip we were talking to him one day and asked how his day was, and he said he had to get up at 4 am to dock and was exhausted and slept all day afterwards.  First of all, 4 am isn’t that much earlier than a normal early wake-up time.  Second of all, docking start to finish only takes like 45 minutes MAX.  Third of all, it’s your job!!!!!!!

We finally pulled into our first port in Ketchikan on Thursday morning.  The boys each had a fun shore excursion to do (bear sanctuary, ziplining) but Brooke, Yolanda and I had a day of running from vendor to vendor to spend about 15 minutes each just learning what they offered and asking questions.  Yolanda used to travel in Alaska with Seabourn back in 2013, so she greeted every tour operator in every town as if they were her long-lost brother or sister and reunited after being away at war for six years. You’ll hear more about it as these blogs go on but lord she is the most dramatic person I have ever met and also not self-aware whatsoever but it’s fucking hysterical.  Today when we said goodbye I said, “honestly, Yolanda, I can’t remember a time before I knew you.” And that’s about how I can sum up our relationship.  

The bopping around was not as fun because we didn’t actually participate in any of the activities, and it was pouring rain.  But all things considered, not as bad as I expected it would be.  We met two super-hot fishermen (each of whom had a baby with their wives in the last week smh where do I get one) and heard all about their different excursions.  They sounded dope but there was freshly caught fish all around us on the docks and their eyes stared at me during the whole spiel and I couldn’t focus.  Why are fish eyes SO CREEPY? After a few more stops around town, our local tour operator Kari drove us to the end of the island to George Inlet Lodge and met one of the owner/operators, CANDI, who gave me a real “mom in Justified /Aunt Lydia in Handmaid’s Tale / whatever her real name is who just won an Emmy” vibe, except less cold blooded murder-y. They showed us their boats and excursions and then fed us an authentic meal just like the members would get, which included Dungeness crab legs.  I told myself before the trip started that I’d HAVE to try and eat more seafood because a) it’s fresh AF in Alaska so this is the place b) my excuse of “but it’s too expensive at restaurants” can’t apply here #freeunlimitedfood and c) I should try to immerse myself in the culture. If Kitty ever reads this she’ll die, also Kitty you should never go to Alaska.  We’re going to keep a running tab on all the seafood, I tried, okay?!  First: the “dungie” crabs.  Learned how to crack them open and everything.  They were relatively tasty, but I still don’t get why people lose their shit over crab legs, especially because it’s soooooo much work for so little payout.  I’m more of a low investment, high reward type.

After the lodge we drove to the opposite end of the island and got on a boat to drive out to Hump Island (lol) Oyster Farm, where a 20-year-old kid named Sean showed us around his dad’s operation.  He was the epitome of what I imagine an Alaskan braaaaaaaah to be and he was cracking me up. All self-deprecating humor about how no 20-year-old should know as much about oysters as him and all he wants to do is chill with his friends in the summer, not tumble oysters 12 hours a day. There were tons of pots all around the little floating island and he explained it takes an oyster about 3 years to grow to maturity and be ready to be eaten/sold, so I asked him if the pots were organized by relative age so you know which ones are new and which need more time, etc.  He said, “honestly we’re just oyster farmers we’re not the brightest most organized guys in the world but that would make sense, wouldn’t it” but all with a sweet douchey little smile only a college kid could get away with.  The thing that struck me most was just how different “summer jobs” in Alaska are for kids than in say, DC.  They don’t work at fast food restaurants or for their dad’s law firm or at daycare blah blah blah, they work on boats or on oyster farms or fishing or logging or giving tours to cruise passengers.  Builds character! And calluses!  They fed us fresh oysters after that which I really didn’t want because I had an oyster one time and I thought it was gross, but again, had to.  And it tasted better than I remember probably because I was literally on the farm where it was grown, kinda like how beer tastes better at a brewery because it never has to travel. 

Back on the ship that night, we ate at what is literally called The Restaurant.  The ship only has a few dining options – The Restaurant, which is pretty shmancy and requires a reservation (but not for us VIPs of course who had the same table reserved for us every night), the Colonnade (buffet-style, ate all of our breakfasts and lunches there) and the Grill, which is a VERY SHMANCY Thomas Keller restaurant that has cut-throat competition for reservations and apparently our members lose their minds over.  We ate there a few nights later and I accidentally got hammered on my new favorite drink, Old Cubans, and had to be essentially rolled out of there in front of the Super Hot Waiter I’m in Love With, Thomas from Belgium. Literally just conjured his face in my mind when typing this and felt an internal swoon.  I miss him so much.  ANYWAY we ate at the Restaurant each night, which had fixed menu options on the right hand side and a rotating left menu.  I tried to be ~adventurous but mostly ate a lot of steak.  Had a black truffle risotto one night and literally loved it so much asked for a second portion.  Going to the lake this weekend and stuffing myself in a bikini is going to be like, a three-person job. We had the same two servers each night – Anastasiia, a 25-year-old Russian girl who love/hated us and today tried to do a bike excursion after never having ridden a bike before and eventually gave up because she crashed too much (I said, “Anastasiia! You can’t just try and ride a bike and hope it goes well, you need someone to guide/teach you until you’re comfortable!” Smh) and Simba, a South African angel who had a crush on me and calmly put up with all of my Lion King jokes.  Listen, other than Super Hot Waiter Thomas, they all had a crush on me.  Maybe they found my complete lack of adherence to their dress code sexy in a “fuck the rules” kind of way?? (How is one supposed to dress for “elegant casual” nightly anyway…) Maybe it was how I insisted night over night that I was “one of them” and not a client because I was here for a site visit and begged them to let me hang out with them?  (The assistant Maitre’D Marius tried to pull so many strings to allow us to be invited to crew Bingo night but alas, we were rejected.) Or maybe it was because I was one of the only people on the ship under the age of 60 and I shamelessly chatted and flirted with everyone I saw, at every meal… It’s hard to say. Simba even publicly sang me a love song at the last night at dinner.  

Slept that night and woke up to the most magical, mystical, ethereal scenery of the Misty Fjords surrounding us.  I’ll post a picture so you can truly understand how magical these were.  Pouring rain but gorgeous and foggy and tranquil. TO BE CONTINUED!

[lovedinapastlife]

Riverdale 3x16 - BIG FUN

BUGHEAD IS BEAUTIFUL~

Oh damn this episode is surreal in a way I’m not entirely comfortable with. But it’s exciting! Everyone’s looking forward to moving on from the craziness of dead bodies, breakups, and…drug trades. Amidst college and running businesses and stuff. Obviously. Normal high school stuff. Kinda reminds me of the nostalgia for season one.

Was the opening Mr. Musical Theater’s big number? Shucks, I wanted more of a sampling. This was mostly talk-singing, which…I’ll take. Kinda like the awkward rocking in the hallway haha.

Lili wearing green makes her eyes pop and my heart go poof. Similarly to Jughead’s adoring fuzzy feelings, I’m sure. DANG. They’re in HIS room now. Are they staying together?! Yay!

Aw I kinda like the idea that Betty and V would help Cheryl look and feel her best after being tossed over (ish)

I love the intros. “Bro it up. Two single straight dudes” like wow.

Chainsaw line is iconic, especially when moving to cut to the title. You think Kevin was subtly trying to dig at Cheryl for forcing him to cater to her?

LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR - another theme of this season

Betty rolling her eyes is amazing.

I love that the girls choreo’d their own fanciness. I liked Cheryl’s batch better but tbh I didn’t enjoy the dance-off and it’s hair-whip noises. Maybe it was so hyped in the behind-the-scenes videos that I found myself cringing at the octopus moves? And Toni’s batch wasn’t in sync so it was that much more awkward to watch. But I did love the “SHUT UP, TONI!” and look B+V exchanged afterwards. Yeah just gonna say up front this episode react is probably not gonna sit well with Toni stans.

Hiram dropping dramatic family stuff and racking up a bill at the Five Seasons. Who would’ve thought he’d be the one to instigate that divorce, right? Veronica cries almost disturbingly well. I’m not sure why she’d want them to be together after the assassination attempts and affairs and general shenanigans, but hey—it’s Riverdale.

Oh god is Betty the only one who notices the death-blue drinks and scary Gargoyle Pig person? These kids are stupid. I did catch Sweet Pea/JD with his slurpee which made me happy. FREEZE YOUR BRAAAAAIN~ Judge away the whole party, Betty. They tend not to be great luck in this town.

“Brainiac?!” Did she just call Reggie that?! HA. Oh geez I hate Evelyn (but I love her flouncy scrunchie and graphic shirts) and I hate Kevin and their stupid cult and drugs. Why can’t brownies ever be normal on a teen show?! Also, HI MIDGE!

I do love the idea of throwing a party to take ownership of Sisters of Quiet Mercy. If only it wasn’t so cult-y. Why are there people in swimsuits in the drowning tub while Archie jumps over them? Also, drugged-up dancing got some good Kevin hip waggles and some yikes s1 arrogant Reggie vibes. But Veggie is on again for 30 seconds? Okay then.

Jughead eating in the background as Betty side-eyes the circle share is such a glorious mood. Aw and then hugs for V. I am LOVING this side-eye mood. How did people not know Archosie was happening when they were always in the practice room, at each other’s houses, and walking in the halls together? So much awkward is happening that the cringe levels are through the roof. Kevin’s hand on his heart was so over-the-top. I kinda loved it? And I’m surprised V didn’t have more of a reaction to the Archie stuff, tbh, even if she’s got bigger things on her mind.

Oh no Toni’s got a solo and it’s here for the color of blood. Literally. Is she pointing at their crotches? Ugh her stripping musical threesome was so insulting it made my stomach churn. They just tried to make it seem like Sweet Pea wants something deep and yet he’s ready for a random hookup again? Peaches hasn’t even had any lines or anything to do but stand around looking smug. They’re trying so hard to make Toni sexy and it’s just feeding the lesbian/bisexual slutty stereotype. Can this show do hookups? Ever? There’s been no sexual/attraction buildup to this “threesome” (honestly Toni hasn’t even been a good friend to SP lately) and there was no fallout afterwards either! She was just like, “COME STRIP ONSTAGE WITH ME and this other person you’ve never talked to but beat the shit out of you one time. Oh wait no I’m good with my clingy yet complimentary ghost gf, you two have fun byeeeee”

Jughead and Betty flirting makes me feel slightly better

OH GOD NO KANGS. At this point the bile I’d been suppressing was legit in my throat. Like, why does attraction/love have to be tied to something awful 90% of the time in this show? Kevin and Fangs could’ve been a cute couple if they built up their connection beyond two lines over the course of two seasons. But no. Cult psychedelic weirdness over Midge, just like Moose and Kevin. Maybe even over Joaquin. DO WE NOT LEARN? I’m not even gonna start with the Farmies.

Archosie scene. Fun spin dance, but I still think they’re cute paper cutouts of nothingness at this stage.

Oh, of COURSE Weatherbee joined a cult. Loser.

I love Cheryl’s Heather Chandler vibe and scrunchie. Good call about making Toni test the tea for poison. Aw, I kinda wanted to see Ghost!JJ.

I have basically a folder full of stills of this scene and narrowed it down to these. Aw baby Jug, Betty understands better than anyone what he’s going through. When Betty was trying to get Jughead to look at her I legit felt emotional. And then they were beautiful. Forever. WE FINALLY GOT THEM DANCING! Oh and on his knees! Proposal vibes! I might’ve watched this scene EIGHT BILLION times for the eyes and hands and general endless soulmate love vibes. Like, this scene made the episode for me. They were so emotional and invested and harmonized like angels and I needed that in my life so thank you, universe. I hope Cole and Lili get to do amazing scenes like this together in the future because it was beautiful.

Ch*ni kinda interrupted my mains with their totally different vibe and zero choreography, even though they did sound lovely. Neither of them have changed their behavior to make their relationship work internally, whereas Bughead are sick of the external forces of the town trying to destroy their childhood icons/innocence and bonding over their love for each other despite their familial madness. I need a Bughead exclusive soulmates cut. Thank you.

Haha um...I think closing the drug lab in general would be good? Maybe not during the musical when Betty might be vulnerable again (and the rest of Riverdale) but hey...it’s entirely possible it’s emotional and not logical of me to say that ;) Sheriff FP seems extremely unbothered by mobile drug labs in town so why should we be, right?

HIRAM! SAY IT LIKE IT IS! I love that he called out Veronica’s shock over Hermione trying to have him killed. Twice. How rude.

I actually really liked Cami’s interpretation of “Lifeboat.” It’s pretty, but I’m not sure it added much to her story? Same with her attempt to have her parents go to opening night together. Maybe that song is more of an overarching theme for her story this season. Ish? But she also distances herself from people? Mehhhh overanalyzing Riverdale hurts my brain. And then her ploy to have one last happy memory is just them not looking or talking at each other and she feels worse. Ouch.

Why is there so much old stereo equipment in their house? I know they worked at a garage/scrapyard, but I didn’t see any speakers? I care too much about set dressings but whatever. Poor FP is dealing with hazards of being on the job. Gladys had hilarious delivery like, “Oh nooooo. Drugs. That’s terrible.” Also, she’s totally drinking beer in front of him, a recovering alcoholic. Classy. And also telling. Jughead and Betty are just side-eyeing in the background.

Did Cheryl send herself all those roses?! XD I did think the “blot” moment was cute but I still don’t understand what’s changed. I don’t even know if Veggie is a thing. Probably not. Okay then. Did love Reggie looking in the handheld mirror totally in-character though.

I KNEW THEY’D BURN THE PLACE DOWN ONE DAY! Omg the puns. The fire extinguisher. The kiss—oh oh my. Arson and tender body touching. All right. I’m down. Do they have a car now? Is Bughead gonna live in it? I cannot handle their passion in the best way possible.

The finale choreography was terrible. Oh my god was that cringe. I mean, couldn’t we at least get them looking at each other for a sec like the adorable Bughead moment of holding hands? Or someone helping V when looking at her parents? I get that they’re entreating the audience to be better (like Betty’s speech a billion years ago), but it didn’t hit the mark with me for some reason. My expression was mostly a mix of the Jones’. Was it just me, or did everyone onstage look like they were in some range of pretending really hard not to feel uncomfortable?

HI CHAD! The cult is terrifying. Also, if all the psychos are there, why aren’t Alice and Polly in attendance? The woooooorst. Was no one else inclined to clap like a normal person? Evelyn in general was interesting, trying to earn her father’s approval and everyone’s trust, but it’s usually so messed up on drugs and stuff that I don’t quite enjoy her scenes. Everything with the Farm is usually deferred, which annoys me, but we’ll get our answers soon, I’m sure. I want more Chad. I’m curious if the buildup is gonna pay off ^-^

And people are going through windows next time?

I really wanted the “hell” line from Heathers when Bughead came back from burning stuff down but I will live. Okay. Put our bids in for next season’s musical now and how long it’s gonna take us to get a promise/engagement ring on Bughead. Thank you.

[grayisholi]

@ the DND ask game: ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS, I CAN'T CHOOSE!! XD (or if not that, the ones you rlly wanna do!!

BOY OH BOY OH BOYIve been answering these throughout the day and I’m too lazy to reread the full document so sorry if I’ve left gaps or whatever but here it is! All 35 questions about dnd! Matt you unstoppable Madman.

1. A favorite character you have played.

You can’t just make me pick between my children!!! I think I might have to say Atticus Sallow, my faeborn bloodhunter, partially because he’s like 100% homebrew content which I LIVE for, but also because he’s probably the most kinda self-insert character I’ve ever played? Almost became the kinda angsty, brooding asshole character before he was like “get your shit together” and learned that loving people isn’t so bad.

2. Your favorite character that someone else has played.

I almost, ALMOST had the pleasure of DMing for @no-more-good-omens and their character was gonna be SO RAD and I’m a little heartbroken he never came to be. A half-drow paladin of Vecna, pretending to be your typical good and wholesome paladin? Dude, I love that kinda two faced backstabbing in a player. It’s such a shame it never came to anything (although if yall still wanna play hmu ;))

3. Your favorite side quest.

Ooh, there’s been so many good ones. Probably when i was playing as Adrian Smirks and went off on a tangent to rescue his brother ? That was the first time I ever got to see Adrian’s more raw and emotional side beneath the suave mask he wears and it was fun to explore his character in that way ^.^

4. Your current campaign.

That I’m DMing? It started inspired by Guy Fawkes and was gonna be “your party blows up parliament” but I got bored of following historical accuracy so it ended up being “blow up the palace in a magical city that just happens to be called London”. I accidentally wrote myself into a hole with this campaign tho, so once they’ve finished this arc I’m handing over the DM hat to my sister @philosophical-wanton because she seems to love it and I kinda miss being a player lmao. I can’t wait for it.

5. Favorite NPC.That I’ve written? Probably Hai Shen, the youngest son of a group of circus performers who were killed and the party got blamed for their murder. He had such a great attitude and his dynamics with the party kicked ass. And the twist that he was actually dead the whole time and it was his soul that had stayed behind to help solve his family’s murder? ICONIC.

6. Favorite death (monster, player character, NPC, etc).

NPC death would probably be Hai Shen, actually. After the party had brought the real killers (A cult to the demon Prince Orcus) to justice, Hai’s time on earth had come to an end. He had really beautiful moment with the party before being reunited with his family. Alternatively, the time I broke my entire party’s hearts? “Artagan’s staff comes cracking into Ellios’ chest, forcing him onto the ground. Artagan raises his sceptre in hand, pointing it menacingly at the young prince. And for the first time, you see him. Like, REALLY see him. He’s not the strong and powerful leader you’ve all come to know him as, he’s not Prince Ellios of the Four Realms. He’s just a boy. A boy who is much too young to be involved in such a grand scheme. And the fear in his eyes. You see the fear he’s managed to keep buried for so long, finally coming to the surface. And then? You don’t see anything, aside from his cold body hitting the ground.” I got punched three times for that moment, but GOD was it worth it.

7. Your favorite downtime activity.

Like in game? A healthy lil bit of vandalising the local law enforcement buildings is always a good time.

8. Your favorite fight/encounter.

Aw man, how can I pick ? I gotta say, that one time we, a level 6 party, managed to take down two earth elementals was pretty rad. The DM kind of expected it to be one of those encounters that we saw and immediately tried to run from, but what she didn’t take into account was that ALL of us had chaotic alignments so we just went crazy. The DM was rolling really badly (thank God) and we were getting really creative (“I use the produce flame centripetal to light my bottle of ale on fire and create a molotov cocktail” “you do WHAT”) and after like an HOUR we won and it was amazing. The rush I got from that victory was better than any drug my dood.

9. Your favorite thing about D&D.

I know I say it a lot, but I legit can’t choose. There’s so many great things about ttrpgs that a lot of people don’t really think of. The creative fulfilment I get from a session is incomparable, the friendships you can build that you couldn’t form in any other way. And like, not to get too real for a sec here, but I grew up with undiagnosed autism and didn’t understand how a lot of social situations worked, and DnD was such a good mechanic for me to try communicating with people without many real world consequences, and I appreciate that experience so much. It’s just such a great thing my dood.

10. Your favorite enemy and the enemy you hate the most.

Can they be the same thing lmao? I mean, I’m obviously partial to Count Cassius, the vampire lord that Adrian slept with lmao. I also always appreciate a good beholder, until I get hit with three disintegration rays IN A ROW.

11. How often do you play and how often would you ideally like to play?

We’ve got kind of a monthly schedule with my main campaign, and I manage to get a couple online games in-between them, but honestly I’d kill to be the kind of group that got together every weekend.

12. Your in game inside jokes/memes/catchphrases and where they came from.

Oh MAN. “I say we do this.” “Yeah, but that’s coming from the guy who decided to tie 3 50ft ropes together to escape the palace.” “iT wOrKeD dIdN’t iT ???” i.e that time I forgot I gave the gnome rogue flying boots so when I planned for them to get arrested at the palace, they managed to escape by tying their ropes together, sending the gnome with it to the top and climbing the wall. I had to improvise the rest of the session. Also “FLINTON BELINDA SKINTON” bc as a role-play exercise I got my party to come up with rumours about their characters and the gnome rogue called Flint AKA Flinton B Skinton decided that one of their rumours was that the B stood for Belinda, and it was GLORIOUS.

13. Introduce your current party.

My current group consists of Flinton B Skinton, gnome rogue. He’s a quick-fingered, silver-tongued gay disaster who can sell anything to anyone. He’s a charming flirt, and a veritable genius in his own right. Kava Daardendrian, dragonborn ranger who loves nothing in life more than her animal companion - her pig Snortin Norton. She’s fun and sassy and shameless, she’s great. There’s Sparks, the fire Genasi Monk, and full embodiment of a disaster lesbian. She drinks, fights, and gets laid, and doesn’t deal with her problems in healthy ways. An icon. And finally Milo, the halfling Bard who falls in love at the drop of a hat and just wants everyone to get along. I call them “The Shenanigang” and I love them.

14. Introduce any other parties you have played in or DM-ed.

A party I joined late? We had Sylvia Moondrop, the half elf sorcerer who was just trying to get along with everyone despite what the world seemed to want. Orland the half orc bard who was just trying to shake off the Barbarian stereotype his family left him with. Rose Morleen, air Genasi fighter who was literally born to kick ass and take names. I joined as Mason Terrai, the Earth Genasi Alchemist with a perchance for explosives. The very definition of chaotic neutral.

15. Do you have snacks during game times?

Of COURSE. What manic wouldn’t ?

16. Do you play online or in person? Which do you prefer?

I used to play online a LOT back before I had friends who were into dnd, but I VASTLY prefer playing in person. The chemistry that’s built not only amongst the players, but also the actual characters themselves is unparalleled. It’s just such a great experience.

17. What are some house rules that your group has?

Anyone can attempt anything, the only restriction is the dice. Don’t question the DM unless it’s out of session, then bully the dm on the groupchat until he’s so pissed off he gives you inspiration just to get you to shut up. And also canon lore and canon rules are bullshit when it’s convenient. That’s about it

18. Does your party keep any pets?

Our ranger, God bless her, has her pack pig Snortin Norton, sold to her by one Flinton B Skinton. And Flint really wants a monkey, he’s been trying to find one for ages.

19. Do you or your party have any dice superstitions?

Not really ? I’m the kind guy that if my dice rolls a 1 I will bench it for a bit, but tbh all my dice are cursed af and I’ve kinda just learned to roll with it by making my characters canonically terrible at everything lmao.

20. How did you get into D&D? How long have you been playing?

Aw man I can’t remember when or how, it’s been so long. I had a couple friends who were kinda into it, but all the games they tried to run were complete disasters. I only really started playing I’m the past year or so? Maybe a little more ? Adrian was my first character, and he was a very RP heavy character in a party of tanks and they all hated him but MAN was it fun.

21. Have you ever regretted something your character has done?

Oh all the time. One time my character was careless and didn’t check for traps on a legendary artefact and it lead to the death of a party member. One time my character got angry at his party and walked out. My characters don’t make good decisions, but that’s part of the fun.

22. What color was your first dragon?

White! I thought it was silver at first and went to go say hi, and it clawed me within half my HP straight away lmao.

23. Do you use premade modules or original campaigns?

Oh dude, original all the way. I live for that shit.

24. How much planning/preparation do you do for a game?

Depends on the session, but usually a good few hours, couple of days if I’m DMing.

25. What have your players done that you never could have planned for?

“You wake up in a mysterious forest. The strained autumn sun shines through the trees. The only thing you can see it each other, the trees, and an old sign post leading to a path that says "Myrrill” on it. What do you do?“ "We walk in the opposite direction of the sign deeper into the forest.” “…of course you do.”

26. What was your favorite scene to write and show your characters.

I wrote a full carnival show one time for them to watch, and then it got derailed when a horrific monster attacked. But writing all the characters and their acts, and watching my players get entranced as I described it ? Magical, my dood.

27. Do you allow homebrew content?

I live and breathe homebrew content. I don’t know what my games would be without it. I LOVE homebrew.

28. How often do you use NPCs in a party?

I make some pretty sick characters if I do say so myself, so I throw them in a LOT.

29. Do you prefer RP heavy sessions or combat sessions?

Oh dude, role play all the way. Fighting and killing stuff is great, but role-play is just so good. We can go from laughing with a bartender to crying over a backstory reveal and it’s just beautiful.

30. Are your players diplomatic or murder hobos?

Depends on the party, but i find the best players are a little bit of both XD

31. What is your favorite class? Favorite race?

Official ? I’m a fan of the hexblade warlock? Bards are always a good call, and to be real playing monks make me feel like an absolute badass. Race wise, there are just so many. If we’re only talking players handbook stuff, half elf is always rad. Outside of that? I’ve been researching the Shadar-Kai lately and I’m LIVING. They’re so rad.

32. What role do you like to play the most? (Tank/healer/etc?)

What would you call the disaster gay? I don’t really gear my characters towards usefulness in combat, so it’s just whatever the class happens to lend itself to.

33. How do you write your backstory, or do you even write a backstory?

I usually write my character, personality, backstory, alignment etc, before I even pick a class or even a race. I basically just make OCs and apply them to dnd rules, and it’s SO much fun. 10/10, would recommend.34. Do you tend pick weapons/spells for being useful or for flavor?

FLAVOUR. My party usually hates me, but what I lack in combat utility I more than make up for in creative out of combat skill checks XD.

35. How much roleplay do you like to do?

Boi, I even RP my combat, and the great thing is it rubs off on my party too. I’ll have a really low initiative and everyone else will be like “I attack and do 10 points of damage” but then on my round I’m like “I use my staff to leap across the battlefield towards the opponent and launch out with a spinning kick to their jaw” and everyone else is like “oh, okay, that’s what we’re doing.” and the battle becomes so much more dynamic and cinematic, it’s amazing !

[aghostpost]

Nut pls do a frank imagine were he's teaching the reader self defense

“No, like this-”

“-That’s what I’m doing!”

“No, you’re doing this when I said do it this way,” he ordered, the gesture of his hand barely changing as he tried to explain to me what I was doing wrong. “You punch like this an’ you wind up with a broken thumb.”

“Alright, whatever-”

“-Thumb outside the fist, Y/N-”

“-Okay, I got it!”

“Alri- Here, hit me.”

“What??”

“Just hit me, hard as you can.” He tapped his upper arm. “Right here.”

“… Are you sure?”

He chuckled to himself. “Yes, Rocky, I’m sure.”

I rolled my eyes before I threw my right fist as hard as I could.

It felt like I was punching a boulder.

He didn’t even budge. I looked up at him and he was shaking his head. “See, you’re swingin’ from the side, when you need to be hittin’ straight forward.”

I shrugged. “I thought that’s how girls punch.”

He scoffed. “How girls punch,” he mumbled to himself mockingly. “There’s a reason people say ‘you hit like a girl’. Now you wanna hit like a lil’ girl? Think that’s gonna keep you safe, huh? Runnin’ ‘round hittin’ like someone stole your candy- Cuz I can’t exactly teach you that…”

“Such a smartass.”

“Again. This time drive your fist forward, not from the side like you’re swingin’ a bat.”

I sighed and walked away to his kitchen for a drink of water. “I don’t know why we’re bothering, not like I plan on fighting anyone ever. I see trouble, I’m running the oppos- Shit!” I was disrupted as Frank laid me flat on my ass on the floor, arms pinned to my sides as he straddled me. Max ran over on high alert at the altercation and I struggled to free myself as Frank shooed him away, telling him everything was alright.

“It won’t be alright the second I get up, I promise you.”

He nodded. “Good, go ahead. Try to get up.”

“Is this supposed to be in any way helpful?!”

“You think everyone’s gonna make it easy for you to fight back?”

“I mean, you aren’t making it easy for me to fight at all!”

“Which is exactly the point. Now how do you plan on gettin’ free?”

“If I could I’d knee you in the balls.”

“Well you can’t, so what’s plan B?”

I huffed and rolled my eyes before they landed at the center of his hard chest. As annoyed as I was with him, I couldn’t deny how attracted I was to him in this moment. Then again, I’d be attracted to a cucumber if it looked at me the right way with the day I had. I had one of those movie moments where a car passed and splashed filthy street water all over me. And I was already running late for work so it wasn’t like I could even run back to my place to change clothes. Luckily my pants were black and hid the majority of the grime; that is, until one of the new servers tripped on their own feet and spilled a bowl of clam chowder on me. After that I was forced to wear an apron to cover the filthy, slimy pants I had to deal with during an eight hour work shift. No to mention getting my ass grabbed by two guys at work and some creep on the subway.

I didn’t think I’d finally get home to shower the day off of me just to roll around on Frank’s floor next to his dog. “You know I planned on havin’ a hot date with my showerhead tonight, right?”

“Now isn’t this more fun?”

“Depends: is all this gonna end in an orgasm?”

“You tryna distract me, Y/N?”

“Do you feel distracted?” I asked with the raise of a brow.

“No. Now focus.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Y/N…”

“What?” I raised one of my knees slowly and rubbed it against his inner thigh; he didn’t flinch a muscle. “Let me up.”

“Get up on your own.”

I scoffed. “Meet me halfway, this is my first time at the rodeo.” He chuckled to himself and rose up, extending his hand to help me from the floor. Just as the smile appeared on my face it disappeared when he turned me and pushed me against the wall, my arms now pinned behind my back instead. “Damn it-”

“-Did you think I’d make it easy for you?”

“This isn’t really makin’ me eager to have more of these little training sessions, I have to admit.”

“If you can’t get outta this there won’t be any more.”

“Oh gee, ya promise?” I responded dryly. “How about if I get outta this I get a prize.”

“I’m not gonna reward you for practicing self defense correctly.”

“You’re no fun.” With a roll of the eyes I lifted my left leg and used it to push his legs further apart, causing his knees to buckle and his grip on my arms to loosen. I used that window of opportunity to jab my elbow into his side as hard as I could and free myself entirely. I turned around with a grin on my face and watched as he rose to his full height again, an arm resting on the side of his abdomen. “Don’t be dramatic, I let you off easy.”

“Now how in the hell didja do that?”

“If you were some guy in the street I woulda kicked your knee in, waited for you to fall then elbowed you right in the nose.”

“So what, you were fakin’ it?”

I shook my head. “I really do hit like a girl. But I kick like a damn kangaroo.”

“So next time I don’t let you use your legs.”

“That’s cheating-”

“-Well ya never shoulda told me your weakness.”

“Whatever. Are we done here or what, sore loser?”

“You think this was some kinda competition or somethin’?”

“It’s always a competition ‘til you lose, then all of a sudden it wasn’t,” I snarked.

“An’ how do you know I didn’t let you do that?”

I laughed to myself. “You didn’t let me do shit, Frank.” I gave Max a rub on the head before he followed me as I began my walk towards the bedroom. “But if you meet me in the room I might let you do some things…”

“S’at right?”

I shrugged. “I mean, ya kinda owe it to me after making miss my date with the showerhead.” I backed away to the bedroom as he followed me, pulling the dark grey henley over his head.

“You keep bringin’ up that showerhead and I’ma hafta rip it from the damn wall,” he said with a grin.

“Make me not have to use it then,” I flirted as I unzipped the hoodie I wore over here, revealing I had on nothing but a bra. “Come on…”

[onadacora]

WTMYH’s Ending

So I said I’d do this ages ago, but never quite got around to it, so here we go.

Disclaimer: This was just how I mapped it out in my notes. The big strokes probably wouldn’t have changed, but some of the in-between stuff always ends up tweaked in the process. It also wasn’t 100% figured out how we got from certain points A to B so forgive any missing bits.

UNDER THE CUT FOR THOSE WHO’D RATHER NOT KNOW

Okay so. Here we go. 

Chapter 209

Supposed to be Morwenna POV, big talk between her and Gaster about their argument that drove Frisk away, them reaching a mutual agreement about their admittedly-childish behavior. This was meant to be build up for their dynamic moving forward. @mod2amaryllis You had totally convinced me to do more with Gaster/Morwenna thanks to your wonderful art of the two of them. <3

The two of them were going to preemptively apologize to Hope for what happened, and then she was going to ask Frisk exactly what happened, and there was a possible subplot planned where she was going to get Gaster a pet or something to distract him and keep him occupied aside from pestering people.

Chapter 210

Fatima POV! A nightmare about her time with the Vigilum, focusing on emotional manipulation/deception by Avery Fletcher (the big bad from ACT Two, if you forgot) to highlight the source of her trust issues.

After she wakes up, she decides to text Chris to see if he’s awake so she can talk, he asks if he can call her, she realizes he actually WAS asleep but they’re all cute and this was more setup for their relationship. After Chapter 210

Those were the only two specific chapters I had planned out. So after that...

There were certain setup things I needed to do:

More monsters being killed by the Anathema, possibly even secondary/tertiary characters with recognizable names such as the Nice Cream Guy, Leveretta, or Bonnet. 

Deacon was going to spend more time with Howard (you know, the mage cop) talking about his concerns about having kids.

We were going to see more of a mage girl named Valerie Bowman, who had been introduced once before in an earlier chapter. She was going to befriend Fatima after a few failed attempts at flirting with Rashid.

Sans was going to start having flashbacks of his forgotten memories, mostly the ones with Gaster as he spends more time with his dad.

More moments with Morwenna/Grant/Gaster.

Bonding between Morwenna and the twins.

The kids were then going to get back to school as the summer ended, and after a few more people went ‘missing’. Enough that the monsters were starting to notice.

Frisk and Deacon were going to have some bonding over Frisk talking to him about using their magic, nudging Deacon a bit in the direction of giving having kids a chance (he eventually does decide to say yes to Bo, they eventually have a little sandy-colored wolf girl that @mod2amaryllis guessed correctly ages ago).

The timing of things are a little wobbly here but bear with me.

Fatima was going to start realizing her feelings for Chris, things there were going to develop.

Deacon, forever a grudge-holder, tries to warn her away from him, citing his flakiness with being there for Hope a million years ago as signs of his un-trustworthiness (and knowing playing into her own trust issues). He was also specifically supposed to drop the line, “He’s beneath you.” in reference to Chris as a callback to what the Busperson told Fatima before.

Hope would find out by accident from Gaster about the Geno runs. There would of course be some drama and fallout, and mostly tie in with some Themes of closure for Sans that we’ll get to in a little bit.

As more of the monsters started to go missing, the monsters start to cast suspicion on the mages. They’d spent years trying to get over their deeply-ingrained divide, but this new, subversive threat is starting to wear down that peace. 

In response to that, the Literatum decides to take it upon themselves to look into what’s happening to prove that it isn’t them. However, Fatima and Rashid are excluded from these ‘team meetings’ because Grant still doesn’t trust the twins, thinking that they’re still brainwashed by Avery and the Vigilum. They, of course, resent this.

Frisk and Asriel, who are also worried about what’s going on, also want to look into the disappearances. The two of them, the twins, and a hesitant and worried Chris form a ‘scooby gang’ to work on their own. (Chris is very worried, but wants to spend time with Fatima and Frisk, but also thinks that Hope is going to kill him if she finds out. He also feels kind of like the ‘idiot without magic’ in the party.)

Morwenna breaks things off with Grant again, frustrated with his stubborn refusal to believe Gaster and the hostility forming between Grant and Gaster. Morwenna has been spending more time with Gaster by this point. The very beginnings of a maybe-relationship start to form.

Then shit starts to get real.

Frisk and the scooby gang witness the Anathema killing someone, and specifically see it using Cyan Magic. Chris drags them away and they rush over to the Literatum who are currently having a meeting.

But when they get there, they discover that Howard is missing.

A little bit of time passes here, and it is believed that Howard is dead.

However, Howard had just been kidnapped by the Anathema and was feeding off of him because unlike monsters, it could drain some of the magic out of a mage without taking all of it, kind of like a vampire reusing a victim over and over again. Howard eventually found a way to reach out to the others while the Anathema was gone before getting re-captured. He is being kept in the Underground.

The Literatum stage a rescue mission. This culminates with Morwenna and Deacon getting separated from the party, but finding Howard and then getting cornered by the Anathema. Morwenna tells Deacon to take Howard and run, that she’ll keep it distracted so that they can escape. (The Anathema constantly fights with itself, between the multiple personalities of the primary Souls that comprise it, so she had a plan to manipulate that to her advantage.)

Morwenna ultimately sacrifices herself to save Deacon and Howard, citing the fact that they both have families who need them. (Bo, at this point, is pregnant. Howard has his wife and daughters.)

The aftermath of Morwenna’s death is explosive.

Grant, in particular, is devastated, and takes his grief out on the people around him. Primarily Deacon, who he blames for her death, and goes so far as to try and punch him when the news breaks. Grant and Gaster also get into a heated argument because Grant wants to start an all-out offensive against the Anathema, against better judgement.

Speaking of Gaster, he becomes very withdrawn and throws himself into his research into how to combat the Anathema. He and Morwenna had never began a relationship, but he’d been holding out hope of it.

Deacon, Fatima, and Rashid are all very much in mourning. They all saw her, in different ways, as a surrogate maternal figure.

The rescue of Howard and the discovery of the Anathema fully puts everyone into crunch time. 

This is where my notes start to get a little foggy.

Sans and Gaster come up with a plan to use The Machine to get the Anathema back into the Font. They do their best to keep Frisk and Asriel in particular uninvolved in this plan, since they’re children. Hope agrees. 

They get The Machine up and running again. This is particularly troubling for Sans, who has been using The Machine as a safety net in case of another Reset. This goes back to those themes of closure for Sans in having to relinquish this last piece of ‘safety’ from his past.

However, before they can execute the plan. Valerie Bowman (you know that girl from before) reveals herself as Avery Fletcher’s niece, there to exact some kind of revenge for her family (who are sort of on the outs with the rest of the Vigilum). She and her family don’t want the Anathema gotten rid of, instead wanting to use it for themselves (or something). So Valerie sabotages the machine.

This results in Frisk and Asriel ultimately having to open up another tear into the Font like before. However, this time Hope refuses to let the kids do this alone, and her presence and the way her Soul resonates with Frisk’s helps ground them and prevents the kids from getting sucked inside like last time (because of Chara’s Soul and its connection to the Font). This was meant to be a sort of echo back to the end of ACT One.

The end. Sort of.

So obviously there’s some holes in there. There was also a lot of debate on my end over how exactly the Anathema was going to be dealt with. I had a lot of stuff in my notes about the different Souls of the mages who comprised the core of the Anathema, in particular the Red Soul, who was a mage who was actually on the side of the monsters, who had married and had children with a monster and whose family was among those trapped behind the Barrier. 

She, along with a couple other mages on the monster side, were forced to help create the Barrier in exchange for the surviving monsters being spared instead of massacred. This was a big cause for the huge conflict among the parts of the Anathema, because they were enemies. The Red Soul in particular had held onto scraps of her sanity after becoming the Anathema, which is why we would never see the Anathema use Red magic against anyone. The Anathema’s central eye color would change based on which Soul was most in control, and she was basically never in control.

We were going to find out that the Red Soul’s family was actually Undyne’s family line. That one of her ancestors was a mage. Asgore was meant to later reveal this to her when, during an encounter with the Anathema, it refused to attack Undyne after the Red Soul took over and called Undyne by a different name before retreating.

There was also some uncertainty over what exactly was going to become of the Anathema itself. The groups within the story were going to argue over this as well because there were a few different ways to go:

They could try to destroy the Anathema. It would release, theoretically, every single mage Soul that they had absorbed, releasing all the contained magic. This would mean that mages would go back to their pre-war power, which has it’s own risks.

They could simply send the Anathema back. Let it continue to weaken mages as it removed mage Souls from returning properly to the Font and the cycle of human magic.

Or, what I think I was ultimately going to go with, they were (somehow) going to be able to alter the Anathema somewhat. Put the Red Soul in primary control of the Anathema through some method I was going to worry about later so that the Anathema still existed, but didn’t continue to capture Souls going forward. 

The ending was still giving me some trouble, as you can see, and there was lots of character-development planned between lots of different groups of people. (I have a LOT of notes!) 

But, well, this was basically how WTMYH was supposed to go!

If you have any questions about it, feel free to send me any asks or even a direct message, I’m more than happy to fill in whatever blanks I can. <3

[lance-brady]

shut the front door she finally wrote an intro in a timely fashion

the paparazzi have spotted lawrence brady, the twenty-eight year old actor who’s currently working as dr. jake bishop on paloma general. the tabloids have called them formidable and ambitious, but also calculating and stoic. during their time in the spotlight, they’ve been dubbed the tempest.

(tw: death, violence, gambling addiction, guns, general assholery)

i need to stop winging these but whatevs

okey dokey so this time we have lawrence james brady

he was born in bel-air, california, to super rich parents arthur and helen brady

probably won’t realise you’re talking to him if you call him lawrence – lance or brady is probs your best bet

he’s the oldest of three kids, with a younger brother and sister (who he’s super protective over)

okay now for the fun part (or not so fun?? depends whose side you look at it from)

so the brady bunch are absolutely nothing like the brady bunch. think more the peaky blinders

the brady family are incredibly well-off, but they didn’t exactly come about their money in the most legitimate fashion. there’s a more in-depth backstory at the bottom of lance’s bio page here but tldr:

papa arthur was involved in gambling and owed a lot of money to the wrong people. by dealing with the issue and disposing of the problem, he gained a reputation for himself. there was one incident after the birth of his 3 kids, when his wife was shot and killed by a bullet intended for him, leaving the kids without a mother.

his youngest son is serving a stretch in prison for multiple counts of grand larceny, extortion and assault. whilst arthur’s daughter remains on the right side of the law, for the most part, lawrence has had more than a few run-ins.

frequently through school, he was involved in fights and was suspended on more than one occasion.

as he got older, lawrence learned to deal with matters while keeping his own hands clean. he’s the literal definition of ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. dirty cops, drug dealers, contract killers – you name it, lance probably knows a guy. that way, he keeps his hands – and more importantly, his reputation – clean, but still gets the job done. it’s a side to him that almost nobody knows, except for his family.

the side of him that everybody knows, however, is the rugged, stoic actor.

acting for lawrence began when he was essentially forced into being a stage-hand for a school production as punishment after being suspended – a sort of community service, if you will.

he found that he actually enjoyed it, but was more intrigued by what was happening on the stage than backstage. the next time around, he auditioned and surprised everybody with his talent. drama was his outlet in a way. it was a place that he could express himself and forget about his own life for a moment. towards the end of school, he used it as an escape from confrontational situations, knowing that he needed to pass and couldn’t afford to keep being suspended. he kept his head down and kept himself to himself.

choosing to forgo college, he headed straight for an acting career. like most, it began with minor roles as extras, and then secondary characters in tv shows and movies, but it didn’t take long for his career to kick off. he was starring in commercials, music videos, tv shows and movies left right and centre.

between (roughly) 2009-2014, lance found himself working as drew erickson on a show called afterlife. the attentive ones of you will recognise this as the same show that our very own addie was also in. the pair were (and still are) super super close, having been in a pr relationship for multiple years during filming.

fast-forward to now and lance finds himself working with addie once again, this time as dr jake bishop on paloma general.

for the perfect idea of lance’s personality, just think of tommy shelby from peaky blinders. that’s literally lance.

he’s stoic, calculating, and super ambitious.

super selective about who he chooses to let into his circle. like, you should be honoured if he actually attempts to make conversation with you

famous for his signature eyebrow raise and frosty glare that he gives when a) he thinks you’re talking bullshit or b) he couldn’t care less about what you’re saying and is asking whether you’re done

he’s secretive and seems quiet – it’s only because he knows that the less people know about him, the better strategic advantage he has over them

despite all of this, he’s incredibly loyal and would literally take a bullet for his closest friends

intimidating, powerful, assertive and domineering are the most appropriate words to use to describe lance

he’s the kind of guy who you could hold a gun to his head and he’d be like ‘i’d take off that jacket, if i were you. my blood will stain the fabric, and it looks expensive’.

he def has this silent look (probs accompanied by the eyebrow raise) that basically means ‘i could crush you like a bug’.

he does actually smile sometimes? if he doesn’t hate you, you might actually get a smile

also a flirt. he’s a flirt #confirmed. except he doesn’t like, smile and wink, he just drops some dry, flirty comment and you’ll have no idea if he’s joking or not because he doesn’t smile, or laugh, he just says it and walks away

the press are always surprised bc he’s super grumpy with them but quite nice to fans and will 99% of the time take a picture or sign something for them

probs has dozens of articles written about how he can make people go weak in the knees or how he’s a lovable bad boy or some shit, idk

kids love him. idk why, idk how, but they do. he’s just surprisingly good with kids

can play the guitar!! rly well!! he frequently takes himself off somewhere to play but like. not many people know that side of him??

despite being this super badass guy he’s terrified of flying and needles. will probs pass out if he has to have a blood test (but he’s mostly okay with tattoos)

couple of connections that are definitely the same as always because i’m uncreative as hell:

enemies. probably a fair few of them

exes left right and centre. definitely broke a few hearts

all of the one night stands

someone who knows about his mad guitar skillage and has heard him strumming some sad melody or something idk

that one person who doesn’t stop making an effort with him and being nice to him, despite the fact that he’s a massive arsehole to them

the honorary younger sibling who he takes under his wing and doesn’t hate entirely

current pr relationship to try and make him look less like a heartless fucker

flirtationships!!

neighbours! def rich enough to afford to live on his own but maybe someone lives rly near to him?

idk just come love us and we can brainstorm!!

this got so long im so sorry but there’s a bio page here and i havent done a connections page yet because i’m a loser but hit me up xoxo

[ijuswannawriteright]

Excerpt from a short story I’m working on

THE NIGEL ROTHMOORE ACCOUNTS                            

Today is a good day. Tonight, is going to be better. Jen from accounting agreed to go out with me. Pulling open a desk drawer, I take out my cell phone to read Jen’s reply one last time before I pick her up. We’ll be going to The Brass Tap, a local bar not far from headquarters, where more than a few of us have drinks after work. This is the first time I’ll be taking a date.

I’m a field agent at the Miami branch of the F.B.I. When I tell people what I do for a living, the first thing they think of is shows like 24, Quantico, or the blacklist. I want to punch dumbasses in the mouth when they make the comparison. There is a lot of legwork involved, but just as much paperwork, and I’d rather have a cold beer in my hand versus a ballpoint.

Yes, Nigel, I’d love to go out for drinks. Pick me up in front of the building after work. See ya soon. J. 😊

Butterflies flutter in my stomach when I think of her. She’s a sexy, intelligent, five-foot-nine, thick in all the right places, brown-skinned beauty, with legs for days. I watched her for about three months before I made my first introduction. She’s the life of the party, and a beast on Karaoke night, but I wanted to know if she was more than that. I feel the electricity from our first handshake even now. Over the last few months, we’ve talked while hanging out with the group, even flirting a little. Still, it took me all this time to ask her out. Tonight, I’ll need my A, B, and C game.

I rock from a swoon. Yes, I know it’s not a masculine gesture, but I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to ask Jen out for so long, I was beginning to think I never would. She has turned down every guy in my division, and a couple of unstable relationships in my past had me a little gun shy.

Why am I surprised she said yes? I have a great deal to offer. I’m employed, I have a master’s in business, did six years in the military, and have no kids. I own five condos downtown, so I have a fallback plan when I’m done at the agency, and I work out two hours every morning before work. I’m six-foot-six, clean shaven, even on my head, and I practice a Vegan lifestyle. I am literally the poster child for tall, dark, and handsome, I just hope Jen thinks so.

Stirring with imaginings of this evening’s possibilities, my mind wanders. Jen’s closed The Tap down a few times, but she always left alone. I never knew if I should feel sorry for her, or jealous of who she might be going home to. If all goes well, the future might have her coming to my place for a nightcap, and then who knows.

I slide my phone back into the drawer and close it. We’re allowed to have cell phones, but we can’t use them during business hours, so I keep it on silent. I work in a high-security branch of the building, and it has its own encrypted satellite phones and intranet. We are told it’s to keep the temptation for espionage to a minimum, but we all text back and forth anyway.

Trying to remember the last date I’d gone on; eight years comes to mind. I prickle a little. One, because it’s been that long, and two because the date had been a disaster. A flash of heat warms me. I’ve gone out in groups during these last few years, yeah, and I’ve socialized with ladies in a workplace setting, but no more one-on-ones since Taliyah.

I’d thought office romance was a bad Idea before I did it, now I know it is. Taliyah and I were getting to be good friends when we went out eight years ago. I made my intentions clear in the beginning, but she wanted more. I didn’t, and I slept with her anyway. It was a terrible mistake, looking back, and I’ve regretted it since. The few times I’ve run into her in the halls or got trapped with her on the elevator have been awkward, but with all my efforts to apologize, she still won’t talk to me.

I swore I’d never go out with anyone from the workplace again, and I haven’t wanted to until now. A chill spiked in my bones. The thought of getting hurt unsettles me, but the dread of hurting someone else scares me more. I don’t want to over analyze it, but it did feel good to be attracted to a fantastic woman like Jen. I can only hope she’ll come to feel the same about me.

Being on my own for so long, I’ve gotten used to it. I find comfort in late work days and solitary nights. Somehow, not wanting to date at work trickled into me not dating at all.

So off in my head, I don’t hear anyone enter my office.

“What a day, huh?" A low voice wafts just inside my doorway.

My eyes bobble. It’s John Chambers, the agency’s top interrogator. He’s the guy that gets viable intel from detainees. He has an impressive 100% success record and is known for using his methods of persuasion on his peers. Getting a confession from a detainee was one thing, using them to take a man’s paycheck in our weekly poker games was another.

I hate him and am taken aback by his stature every time I see him. Wafer thin, his pasty white skin is a contrast to his black, stringy hair. You’d think, for what he does, he’d be larger. With a 197 I.Q., I guess you don’t have to be.

I pick up my pen and begin to sign the last of my documents, not acknowledging John, in hopes he’ll go away. No such luck. John looms, his presence sucking the life from the room. In a contest of strength, John would be no match for me, but he knows how to get into your head. In that aspect, he’s formidable.

I shuffle papers around, fighting the urge to bang my fist on the desk and shoo him like the pest he is. It isn’t only me. John’s ruffled a lot of feathers around here. To make matters worse, he’s our boss.

“Niiiiigel.” John sing-songs.

I ignore him, electing to count the seconds ticking off the clock on my desk. My shift is almost over, and the sound of John’s voice can’t mean good news. The ire in me brews. He wants a favor, I can feel it, and John doesn’t take no for an answer.

“Niiiiigel.” John sing-songs again, this time his voice an octave higher.

I look over at him, now plopped comfortably in the chair on the other side of my desk.

“Jeez, how do you find anything in this swamp?” He asks, lifting corners of file folders with a pen. “Am I safe? Do I need a hazmat suit?”

My organizational skills might be haphazard, but every “i” was dotted, and every “t” was crossed. Not even John’s snide remark can ruin my mood, but a sudden stone sinking feeling says otherwise. Please, don’t let this be some last-minute bullshit assignment. If I say yes, I’ll miss my chance with Jen, If I say no, I’ll be in John’s cross-hairs—more than I already am.

"What do you want?" I ask, signing the last form of the evening.

"Is it that obvious?" John says, looking disappointed.

I pretend to search for some papers so I can get another peek at my cell tucked away in the drawer. I’d left the text open. Jen’s message is still there.

"Hell yeah,” I say, trying to hide the blush of excitement that has nothing to do with John. “I've known you for ten years, worked for you for seven. Every time you want me to do something you don't want to do, you open with a random question followed by huh. What a day huh? How about that weather huh? That was a close one huh?" I mock.

John laughs, "ya got me. Guilty as charged." He makes frantic waving motions with his hands. "I didn't know I had a tell. Thanks for the heads-up, buddy."

Opting not to react to his “buddy” crack, I look at my clock instead. One minute more, and I’m free to leave. Each click of the second hand is like a step closer to the exit door—closer to Jen. I’m no fool, John wants something, and I can’t help the curiosity building in me. Still, no matter what he says, I’m not breaking this date.

The final minute clicked into place, the clock hands pointing the way to freedom.

“Six o’clock, time to go.”

Snatching up my phone, I amble to a coat rack by the door. I slip on my jacket, slide my phone in one pocket, and pull my keys out of another.

"Since you asked,” John says.

“I didn’t ask you anything.”

“Yes, you did,” John playfully spun the chair around, revolving three times before stopping to face me. "When I sat down, you asked what I wanted.”

“I was being polite.”

“Nevertheless, you asked.”

My shoulders slump. Go’dammit! He’s about to pull rank.

“What I want… What I need—" John corrected, "—is for you to go down to interrogation and re-read those witness statements from the bombing this morning."

That’s part of your job ass hat, I screamed, but only in my head. John isn’t the kind of man you want for an enemy. But I can’t bite back the disgusted sigh forcing its way up my throat. Breaking his jaw was my first impulse, but I go with diplomacy instead.

"I'd love to boss, but I'm off as of right now," I check my watch. Shit, five minutes late. “I’d be happy to do it tomorrow.”

"I see," John says, a malevolent note in his tone, "so then I can assume the After-Action Report on today's events is finished? You are the lead investigator...riiight?"

When John feels the need to exert his control, he cuts into you with his beady, bloodshot eyes, and gives a long drawn out, “riiight” at the end of his sentence. As tall as I am, I feel four-and-half feet shorter. There’s no way I’m getting out of this but seeing Jen this evening is enough to make me try.

"I’ll do it in the morning, just like I have for the last seven years."

"Not tonight," John's bouncy demeanor turns professional, "Top brass wants it done before we leave."

“You know I hate writing After Action Reports at the end of my shift. I like to step away, go home, have a drink, relax, and do it the following day.”

A sinister grin blossoms on John’s face.

"I could do it for you,” John says, “if…"

"If I read the witness statements.”

“That’s riiight.”

Spinning my keys around on my finger, I consider his offer. I need a way out—one that doesn’t have me here longer than necessary. I must stay calm, but damn it, if he says that riiight crap one more time... It wrenches me like a wrung-out rag. My face scrunches every time he does it. He must know it bothers me—I guess I have a tell too.

“How about this, let me go, and I’ll do’em both in the morning?”

My elevated voice spills out into the hallway, momentarily pausing a few passer-byes. That was not my intention, but the idea of missing my chance with Jen has me wound up.

John looks at me—calm, sitting one leg crossed over the other.

“I kinda need it done tonight though.” He says, with his eyes drooped and his mouth pouted.

I drop my head, defeated. Being late is bad enough, now I’m going to have to cancel. My brow furrows and lips purse. He has me on the ropes, with my hands down at my sides. I’ll call Jen and see if she is open to a late dinner afterward. Maybe I can spin it on some romantic, moonlight rendezvous, something or another. She should like that.

"Fine John, I'll read the freakin' statements," I jerk my jacket from my body, almost stabbing the hook through the collar as I hung it back on the coat rack. Rumbling to my seat, I flop down hard, with a huff. "But if I do this for you,” I continue, “you're doing that damned A. A. R. for me."

"Deal," John says, voice full of excitement as he catapults from the chair. Scurrying out of my office, he finishes with, "there's only about ninety, to 100 statements."

"Ninety, to 100?" I say, my voice echoing back at me,” that’s going to take all night.”

"Nah… shouldn’t take you more than seven or eight hours tops," John says, his voice trailing off as he makes his way down the hallway, "I’m out of here, see you in the morning."

"Out of here?" Damn near climbing over my desk to get to my office threshold, I topple file folders and knick-knacks to the floor. “You said you needed everything done tonight?” Confusion mixes with my already boiling blood. "What about the A. A. R.?"

"Already done it," John says behind a wave, skipping down the corridor, his back still turned, humming aloud.

That dirty mother—he played me. I step back into my office and begin to pick up the scattered items from the floor. As I do, I try to find the best way to apologize to Jen. A good five minutes passed before I had the perfect plan. It’s worth a shot, I’ll give her a call.

[howardlinkedin]

Group Project: Part 6

Running Title: Group Project. Part 6 Part 5: Here Part 7: Here (End) Sequel to Shelter Summary: Homecoming! (And Komui is a lovable mess, please keep him well fed). 

“Sometimes,” said Pooh, “the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

The brother would read to the sister, tucked away at his chest. She would yawn, signaling that she was halfway to dreamland, and the brother couldn’t help but agree.

---

Let it be known, to all who walk this earth, that Allen Walker is a troll.

His family, his friends, and even his fans; no one is spared. Especially his fans, whom the majority follow his instagram page.

The most recent? A photo of the family’s luggage being unloaded at Barcelona’s El Prat airport. Instead of three (Allen’s, Link’s and Lenalee’s), adult sized suitcases, there was another set of smaller, children’s sized cases as well.

“On our way home!” the tagline read.

Within the hour, multiple sources had the image posted on their networks, demanding to know all about the picture and its details.

---

“You really shouldn’t tease like that.” Link admonished, as his husband switched his phone to airplane mode. Said husband shrugged and grinned. “Everyone’s going to know eventually. I’d rather it be on my terms.”

“Know what?” Timothy demanded, more than ask, as he leeched himself at his dad’s side. Lala looked from over their Papa’s shoulder in curiosity.

Allen squeezed his son. “That I have the cutest kids in the entire universe!”

Lala rolled her eyes, while Tim preened. “Yeah, I am really adorable.”

The boy got embarrassing smooches all over his face in public for his ego.

“Blarg! Dad, stoppit!”

---

At 7AM, Cross knocked the alarm off his bedside table and burrowed deeper into the sheets. Atuuda, having become Allen’s small-white-haired substitute, leaped onto his back and began to kneed at it.

The Colonel cursed the creature to hell, but in his half awake state, it was more like his voice became a garbage disposal of words.

A tap sounded off his table, and Cross could smell the familiar aroma of black coffee. “It’s time for all old men to wake up.” Flirted a voice. Cross cracked open an eye.

Anita stood over him, already dressed for the day, a wheezing small dog at her feet. It took the man exactly eighteen blinks before his brain came back on, and he could actually focus on that beautiful smile of hers.

“I am not old.” He groused.

“Keep telling yourself that.” Anita tweaked his nose, then turned heel out of his room, Timcampy following with pattering feet. “Breakfast is ready, by the way.”

After glaring at his doorway with a very wrinkled and offended nose, Marian finally managed to get up and out of bed. Why was he always surrounded by morning people? It was a curse.

Sipping away at the perfectly brewed coffee (a perk of dating a cafe owner), he plopped himself down at the table, not before giving Anita’s crown a morning kiss and a very bleary thank you for cooking.

---

The first morning Anita stayed over at his, she laid down two ground rules:

After every meal she cooks, she is to be given a thank you. No gratitude meant all of said food will end up on your face, your ass on the floor, and the dog trying to eat the mess up.

Cross was not allowed to kiss her mouth until after he’s brushed his teeth.

Cross wondered if his morning breath was truly that bad, or if he just always ended up falling for people who were particular about dental hygiene.

---

Komui Lee was a prodigy. At fourteen he graduated high school, and soon after began taking college level courses online. By the time he was 17 (going on 18), he had gained three science degrees, (pre-med, microbiology, and biochemistry) and a sister.

Just after submitting his application for the forensic science track, Komui Lee held little newborn Lenalee Lee in his long awkward arms, and fell in love.

This was the moment he became a brother.

“As soon as I saw you,” he would read to her at bedtime. “I knew a grand adventure was going to happen.”

---

Making his way to his car, to hassle himself to work, Colonel Marian Cross stopped short to observe the moving trucks just across the street.

“Huh. Someone’s moving in.”

---

“Sir, you need to get off the floor.” Assistant Forensics Chief Reever nudged his boss with a foot. Said boss was laying face down on the tiled floor, spreadeagle.

“What if the plane crashes?” Komui asks, voice deadly serious, but its effect diminished due to his current, physical state.

Actually, it was always hard to take the man seriously, what with the pink bunny slippers and constant state of emotional disarray.

The Assistant Chief rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, as though asking for strength to handle the drama Komui would bring in this morning. “Okay, I’ll bite.” He crouched down in an attempt to look at his boss in the eyes. “What plane?”

Glasses flashing, Komui frowned something fierce. “Lenalee is coming home!” Reever felt a headache coming on, because this was the smartest man he knew, yet Komui insisted on sounding like a pouting child.

In an attempt to defuse the oncoming storm, Reever attempted a cheerful, “That’s great! We’ve really missed her!” Which was the truth. The science hub of the Precinct, and those affiliated with them were liken to a mishmash of family, Lenalee included.

“But!” The Lead Forensics Chief whined. “Thirty-six hours is sooooo looong!” The man squirmed on the floor. Reever wondered when it was last mopped.

“And what if the PLANE CRASHES?!” Komui bellowed.

“It won’t.” Deadpanned the other man.

This is when Komui grabbed his friend’s face with both hands and forced the man to lean down, nose to nose. “But what if it does?”

Reever deduced it was going to be a long thirty-six hours in both the Forensics Department and the Lee household.

---

“Komui, it’s my lunch break.”

“But Bak-”

“No.”

“BUTWHATIFTHEPLANE-”

Bak Chang turned off his cellphone.

Only for his classroom phone to begin ringing.

---

The second image Allen posted to his account was that of the back of Link’s dozing head. Another set of blond and a smaller blue-fading back into brunett heads pillowed on his shoulders. Allen’s own head peaked in the corner of the image, mirth in his eyes.

“Sleepy family waiting 4 our luggage!!!!!!!” said the tagline, followed by a string of emojis.

Later Allen would insist that, yes, that many exclamation points were necessary.

---

Lenalee was five and she couldn’t stop crying. Komui feels their world crash around them as he signs for full custody, and his heart mourns for them both.

Komui is 22 when he and Lenalee are orphaned, and suddenly simply being alive was a lot more dangerous than previously believed. He had just entered into his internship through the college.

Over the course of mere hours, he had become not just a brother, but mother and father as well.

His sister cried for the both of them.

Haggard and broken hearted, Komui read Lenalee to sleep- because even when distraught, the little sister always, always fell away to sleep at the sound of her brother’s reading.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”

Only after Lenalee fell asleep, did he let his tears fall.

---

Chaoji served his ten-o’clock her mocha and cookies, and watched as she seated herself across from a very engrossed Kanda. Besides him, which was a rarity during his studies, was Alma.

At any given moment, whenever it looked like Kanda was about to bolt, scowl set across his mouth, Alma would yank their husband back. They would give him A Look, and Kanda would very wisely sit back down and continue working.

“Fucking hate math, why do I need this shit for this degree.” The man would grumble and curse, complaining that he was never going to use it.

Or less of a complaint, and more of a vow to never touch the math ever again.

Apparently, Chaoji deduced, Kanda Yuu hated math.

Miranda hesitantly slid her cookies over to the younger man, serious set in her shoulders. “W-work hard Kanda!” She stuttered and encouraged.

Kanda looked from the cookies, to his computer screen, to Alma’s unflappable gaze and let out a noise that Chaoji could only describe as a very angry cat. He watched as Kanda stuffed a cookie in his mouth (Kanda! Of all people! The man who hates anything sweet!) and continued to attack his computer with fever.

---

Staring at the armful of streamers that had been thrust into his arms, Bak arched his full eyebrows at his boyfriend.

“What, no welcome home kiss?” Bak asked, part sarcasm, other part insulted.

Komui pranced by the smaller male, kissed his forehead and flounced away, a long banner following after his tall form. “Welcome home boo-bear! Now put the streamers up in the hallway!”

For the boo-bear comment, Bak Chang dropped said streamers on the ground, because no. He crossed his arms and waited.

It wasn’t as though Komui needed his help anyway, what with the entire forensics hub crawling around his house, decorating the place from the ground, up.

Around the hall’s corner, Komui slowly slithered around, looking for all the world like a wounded child. “Baaaak.”

The middle school chemistry teacher stared the taller man down, waiting.  

“The most wonderful and brilliant Bak Chang, please use your amazing and magnificent knowledge and skill to help me prepare my humble home for precious Lenalee’s return.”

Reever, who was dutifully tying ribbons around balloons, snorted.

Suddenly becoming decidedly altruistic, Bak sniffed. “I guess I can help. You’ll be useless without me anyway.” “Yes!” Komui was practically sparkling.

---

At first, Reever just thought the greenhorn Forensics Chief was actually an idiot who got lucky.

The man always scrambled in through the elevator doors, just two second shy of being late to work. His hair was in a constant state of distress, and it seemed that he owned no shoes except pink, rabbit eared slippers.

When Chief Komui Lee wasn’t inhaling mug after mug of coffee, he was working. If he wasn’t doing either of those things, he was falling asleep at his desk, paperwork piled about.

If Assistant Chief Reever Wenham hadn’t witnessed his boss’ skill first hand, he would believe Komui only got this job through connections.

The rest of the forensics hub was of the same belief. Until they weren’t.

On one such day, when Komui had face planted at his desk, dead to the world until the next investigation, the elevator doors opened and closed. From his desk, Reever saw no one, and wondered if Cross was playing prank on them again. (Last time had resulted in the sprinkler system giving off orange spray)

Instead of Cross and his shenanigans, Reever heard the pitter-patter of little feet. Johnny, who was on the other side of the desk, looked downright delighted. “How cute!” his assistant whispered.

Peering over, Reever laid witness to a little girl, no older than seven, make her way to his boss’ prone form. She had a serious pout on her small face, and a determination in her gait. She was pretty adorable, Reever conceded.

But also. Why was there a little girl in their labs?

This was probably unsafe.

Said little girl had an equally little backpack over little her shoulders, and when she reached the slumbering man’s desk, she whipped it around and pulled out a lunch bag. Dutifully, but quietly, she slid it atop a stack of papers. Nodding, as if satisfied, she put her little hands on her hips and spun around to march back to the elevators.

Stunned, and unable to make heads or tales of what was happened, Reever made a move to follow the little girl. “Um.” He started.

Gasping, the girl jumped, and stared at the man, her dark eyes wide.

Huh. Thought Reever. She looks a lot like the boss.

After an awkward staring match, the little girl bowed. “Please make sure he eats thank you bye bye!” She gave in one breath.

And zoom! Out she went.

---

After that, Reever and the rest of the forensics hub made sure their floundering boss was well fed.

The second time they all were graced with the little one’s presence, her nose was red. Komui, who refused to look embarrassed, announced matter-of-fact, “This is my precious sister princess Lenalee and she has a cold.”

And that was how Lenalee Lee was formally introduced to the Forensics Department, and everyone began to understand why their boss was the way he was.

Apparently babysitters were hard to find on such short notice, and raising a little girl on your own was more than enough of an excuse to be Komui’s particular brand of loopy.

“We didn’t know we were making memories,” their boss had read, stuffed in his office chair, towers of files pushed off to the side, book and sister in hand. “We just knew we were having fun.”

And, okay. Reever decided they made a cute picture. Neglected paperwork notwithstanding.

---

Kanda stared at his computer, expressionless. Which, as far as Chaoji knew, was par for course for the other man.

“I’m done.” He announced.

Kanda Yuu, on this day in history, passed his final math exam. 

Ever.

Miranda clapped her hands, while Alma peppered kisses all over the man’s face. “I’m proud of you.” Another kiss. “So,” they punctuated with another kiss. “Proud of you.”

Kanda took each and everyone one of them like a man receiving a badge of honor.

“Goodness!” Anita rounded the cafe bar to the group. “Wasn’t that you’re last course?” The man grunted in assertion.

Clapping her own hands, the cafe owner looked pleased for Kanda. “Congratulations!”

“Wow!” Explained Chaoji. “You’re graduating college!” After watching the young man come in and out of the cafe, studying away, it was kind of a moving experience to know he had accomplished his goal. “What were you studying for, anyway?” Asked the barista.

With Alma practically in his lap, Kanda looked Chaoji dead in the eye and answered. “Special Education.”

That. Was unexpected. But also cool, in a totally Kanda kind of way. When Chaoji got to thinking about it, Kanda working with children, and helping them, well.

It made sense.

Miranda looked as though she were to cry. Kanda began to look horrified. “Don’t cry damnit!”

“I-I’m sorry. It’s j-just. This is a very happy day!” She wiped her almost-tears away. “Kanda is graduating after working so hard, and I just found ou-out this morning that I’m pregnant.”

Silence.

Then.

“WHAT THE FUCK.”

Alma let out a squeal. “I’m going to have a nibling!”

---

When Noise Marie got the news, he passed out on the lawn.

Daisya laughed at him for hours, while Tiedoll weeped for joy at his growing family.

---

The third picture Allen, singer/songwriter, posted on instagram, was of two little feet sticking out from under a pile of blankets.

“Little guy is all tuckered out. Can’t wait for our new home!”

Explain! The world demanded. We want to know! Blogs posted.

Link watched the internet virtually explode over his phone and harrumphed. His husband really knew how to cause a stir.

On the mattress stacked on their loft floor (a makeshift bed for all four of them until they could get settled in their new house) said husband was cuddled between their two kids, beaming. “A dream is a wish, your heart makes.” He lullabyed.

Crawling under the blankets, Link hoped and promised to make the dreams of  their children come true.

“When you’re fast asleep.”

---

Have faith in your dreams and someday Your rainbow will come smiling through No matter how your heart is grieving If you keep on believing The dream that you wish will come true.

---

“Welcome home Lenalee!” Everyone chorused.

Confetti popped into the air, and Johnny may have accidentally stepped on a balloon, and in the center of the commotion Komui held his arms out, looking as expectant and jovial as ever.

Lenalee laughed, heart happy. “I’m home!”

---

Timothy yelled in excitement at the sight of his new home. There was a yard!

And windows! Was it normal to be excited over windows? The boy decided it didn’t matter. They were HIS windows now.

He was going to have his own room!

“AAAH!!! This is AMAZING!” Timothy ran inside, eager to investigate.

Already inside, Lala avidly began to inspect every corner.

Across the street, Colonel Marian Cross gaped, shellshocked.

Link took pictures with his phone, while Allen waved. “Hello neighbor!” He sang and mocked, like the troll he was.

Seething, the officer demanded that the brat had better take the piano this time!

---

“ ‘How do you spell love?’ ” read the brother.

“ ‘You don’t spell it...you feel it.’ ” concluded the sister.