#is this how u do tumblr.com cos i have no idea

[loudsnapdragon]

-- okay, so i've never posted a wip before, but i've been staring at this word doc for three hours and really want to send some of it out into the world without much explanation, so have a wip wednesday without warning. from a robin buckley character study, it's some angsty stobin post-starcourt --

Later, ash and dust settled on the burnt-out shell of the mall, cover-ups plastered all over the newspapers selling slower than the ultra-fast gossip that spreads in the smallest of smalltown suburbia, and her wrist still sore from signing like, a million NDAs, somehow the worst injury she sustained, she returns to her favorite debilitating coping mechanism. She hides.

Her parents are blissfully unaware of the truth, spending the summer digging out the lawn and working on a too-late vegetable patch, picking out weedy carrots and raising them up high so she can admire them from her bedroom window, waiting until she responds with a shaky thumbs up before they chuck them into a wicker basket. She shuffles back under her sheets without showering or brushing her hair. She stays there for seven days.

Her mom drops off mugs of tea, organic chamomile and lavender, kissing her forehead, checking in. Tells her Sarah from band called. Robin won’t remember to call her back. Her parents haven’t given her time limit on the freak out, but they’re expecting it to end soon. Her mom tells her a bedtime story of some folk festival in Nebraska going alight with her dotty friend’s forgotten cigarette. The patchwork tents in flames just another funny anecdote from their previous childless nomad lives. I get it sweetie, it’s scary, mom says, fussing with her hair, dragging the longest strand down her back, clearly reminiscing to the time when Robin was uneducated on The Runaways, before she gained an affinity for cutting her hair short with her dad’s razorblades.

I’m so glad you’re okay. Take all the time you need.

And Robin nods, because she is okay, in the grand scheme of universe shattering things. Her mom hugs her, and like always, she forgets to hug back at first, the motion only kicking in after smelling the arnica medicine rubbed onto her mom’s elbows. The sensory trigger doing the trick. But arnica doesn’t scent her dreams, it’s just sickly-sweet ice cream and tepid water from the nasty mall fountain and the strawberry cleaning chemicals they used to pour down the cinema toilets and oh, Steve’s blood. The dark red drip scabbing at the edge of his mouth, the rancid iron she could smell from even three feet away.

The next day, she finally leaves the house. Takes her bike and cycles adrift through Loch Nora. Like, it has to be one of these rich bitch houses, it has to be. But she doesn’t see a Beamer, even if she did, she probably wouldn’t recognise it, and she doesn’t find a handy mailbox with orange neon light details blaring: STEVE IS HERE.

She does find Carol Perkins, popping gum as she lazily waters her family’s front lawn, the sprinklers broke with the last big power outage, and she says her mom is going to be pissed if the grass is anything less than lime green. She wouldn’t normally talk to Robin this much, but eh, privileges of being a victim of the supposed Starcourt electrical fire must win her some short-lived perks, cos when she asks which direction is it to Steve’s (cos even if they’re not friends since the dingus’s dramatic high school dethroning, Carol always knows what's up) Carol doesn’t even try to be mean, she just pushes her gum to the inside of her cheek, and says that Steve doesn’t live in this neighbourhood. His place is on Elm Street, largest house there, you can’t miss it.

She cycles faster than before, hunting down a desperate unidentifiable need. Knocks on his door as soon as she sees it, sudden dread filling her with the thought that it could be the asshole dad to open, but no, she exhales, it’s just Steve. He smiles, scratches his nose. He didn’t expect her visit, he tells her, needless information considering his current outfit, a pit-stained basketball tee, plaid pyjama pants, and a single greying sock. 

We should do something.

Cool. Sure. Um. Let me get my keys.

He gets changed into jeans and a clean polo first, thankfully, but it’s only a few minutes later that they’re sitting in the Beamer with her bike stashed in the back. He asks her where she wants to go, and her brain empties of all articulate thoughts. In the quiet that follows, peppered with the tinkling of his keys as he fidgets with them in his left hand, she’s flooded with everything she’s tried so hard to not think about.

There’s blood, loads of it. The elevator floor falling beneath her feet. Vomit landing in the water of the toilet bowl. Monsters, real life monsters, squelching with human guts dragging over the mall’s star-patterned tiles. But that’s just the background noise, the slow bass line to the screaming chorus. He knows, not everything, but he knows. She looked it up in her copy of that dumb D.A.R.E. pamphlet, Ketamine can take up to fourteen days to leave the body. It can make you inexplicably happy and numb to external disturbers. It can warp your reactions. Make bad things appear good. And Steve, someone real, knows.

Slowly, so slowly she doesn’t realise it until his big man thumb is digging into her palm. And oh, look at that, they’re holding hands again.

It’s going to be okay. It’ll get easier, I freaked out so bad the first time, but like, you get used to it.

It’s not just that. She admits, but, um, thanks. Thank you.

What’s up?

You really don’t care? She waits, sees his slanted not-so dumb eyes blink as he tries to understand. About me?

Oh. Yeah. No. No. I don’t care. Like, bummed I got rejected by another pretty girl, sure, but also, well… we’re alive? Aren’t we?

He squeezes her hand, and once again, she gets it. Why all the other pretty girls used to fall for him. Fuck. If only she could be normal. But it’s enough. She looks down at her scuffed sneakers, Sharpie-ed Patti Smith lyrics on the rubber dropping into the footwell as the soles peel around her toes. She knows where they need to go.

Cool. Let’s go shopping.

Nice. He snorts like a boy. Releases her hand to turn the ignition. Fuck yeah, let’s go shopping.

Shopping for designer-clad Steve usually involves a short road trip to Muncie, so she takes a little thrill by squashing that plan, suggesting the thrift with a cheapskate smirk instead. And ah, of course naïve ex-rich boy Steve didn’t even know Hawkins had a Salvation Army, so she has to direct him as he drives. Ah, to be an oblivious member of the upper middle class, ignorant of all the grimy places she considers local landmarks.

Do your parents know? Steve asks from the driver’s seat.

They’re not talking about Russians under Starcourt. But also, they are. The ambiguity frees up a little breath caught in her throat. She's not scared to tell her parents, but she's not ready. Maybe never will be.

No way. Yours?

Nah.

He opens the store’s door for her when they get there, waving her in, like they’re on a date, which makes her laugh, which makes him grin. She can tell he’s putting it on a bit, his general snooty disdain for everything inside, comically put-upon disgust when picking up a pair of grubby cowboy boots from the shelves, which do, to be fair, smell like horseshit, but come on Steve, they’re real cowboy boots, they’re going to have stepped on some horseshit in their previous life.

Eddie Munson is in the corner of the store, picking through the jewellery display before diving headfirst into a box of cassettes. Not an uncommon sight in these parts, but she steers Steve away from that section, not yet sure if she can trust him yet to resist acting cold around the super-senior freak, like he used to when Eddie stumbled into Scoops to buy a butterscotch waffle cone.

Mrs Mulgrew by the cash register never smiles, but she seems quietly tickled by the smartly dressed boy Robin’s dragged in, and she waves them over, showing off a recent donation of genuine silver teaspoons. Robin tries a joke about stealing them to sell on the illicit teaspoon black market, which makes Steve roll his eyes, gently bumping Mrs Mulgrew shoulders, like: God, I can’t take her anywhere. And Mrs Mulgrew’s icy composure cracks, her crinkly wrinkled lips itching at the sides into an almost-smile.

She buys some old black work boots and two oversized man’s shirts, and Steve clearly, really, really doesn’t understand why out of all things, those are her purchases, but he doesn’t say anything. Both of them still figuring out how much they can push the line. The snide remarks stilling on their tongues when the obvious need for something kind is binding them together.

She kicks off her old Converse in the car before they drive home. Shoves on the new boots and wiggles her toes under the steel caps. Counts out the last few dimes left remaining in her wallet and curses under her breath.

We need new jobs.

Yeah, duh. Steve says, and Robin smiles, because they’re finding their line. She grabs at his hand.

We are going to find gainful employment. She swings their hands into the air, like it’s a joke, and he laughs too, but they are a we, now, and she might never let go of this hand ever again.

[odissey061]

Motonari's route

Chapter(s) already posted:

1. This freak won't have me

Chapter 2: Kick him in the teeth

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I and Hideyoshi walk side by side in Azuchi's chaotic streets. It's the first time I have the chance to visit this city, so my eyes try to notice as much as they can about the Sengoku life: I'm going go stay here for three mounths, so I need to adapt quickly. The street are really crowded, is almost impossibile walk without  bumping in someone and around me I hear a lot of voices: some people is complaining about the high prices and the merchants negotiate. But what catches my attention are the different form my time: in this period the air is more clean, without smog and pollution; when I breath I can smell the flavours of this place, but most importantly people watch aroud them, they look interested in what are gazing at. And I see two children smile at me when we pass close to them. And I start to wonder how many episodes like these I had missed looking at my phone and I start to feel inexplicably guilty.

"y/n" Hideyoshi recalls my attention, "I apologize from the bottom of my heart for the cold treatment I gave you in this week: I suspected you were a spy, came here to watch us, but now I understand how I was wrong". His apologize is really unaspected and it takes me by surprise, but I'm glad he doesn't think me ad a Please, forgive me" and he deeply bows. His bows is really unaspected and it takes me by surprise, but now I see how much he's sorry and I'm glad he doesn't think me ad a threat as I accept his apologise.

"Thanks very much for your apology, I gladly accept but you didn't need to bow. I mean, I can understand why you thought I was a spy. I hope we can be friends from now on" I smile at him and he does the same. Hideyoshi shows to me all the concern he usually deserve to the others:"Is everything okay in the castle? I hope you are fine and you aren't overwork yourself: is bad for your health. If Masamune tries do to funny things to you or Mitsuhide gives you trouble, come to me immediatly: I'll manage their misbehave". His worries leaves me a little bit puzzled:"I'm okay Hideyoshi. Thanks for your care, but you don't need to be so concerned about me, after all I just arrived" I reassure him. When I talk he glares at me as I just offended Nobunaga in front of him:"Don't say such a silly things! As long you are in the castle I worry about you as much I do with the others".

I always thought Nobunaga was the master of the castle, the one who commands the others but now I remind some days ago he took Nobunaga's favourite candies and the pouty look he gave to Hideyoshi. Just now it looks to me like Hideyoshi is the mother of all of us, whose cares are above Nobunaga himself.  For a second in my mind flashes the imagine of a hen Hideyoshi walks followed by a bunch of chicks warlords behind him and I start to laugh.

"Did I say something funny?" he asks perplexed and I shake my head in denial: Hideyoshi could never understand the fun thought of a girl from the meme era. We pass in front of a fabric shop and my eyes sparkle with joy. "Hideyoshi, is a problem if I enter in this shop?" I demand exited like a child in a candy shop and he respondes:"No, it's fine. I had no idea you were a girl who love fancy dresses".

"In fact I'm not. The truth is I love make dresses and before I came here, I was going to become a kind of sewer" I correct him and he wonders:"Why do you like so much sew?". "The first time I sewed was for a friend: a long time has passed, but I still remember her joy when I gave her the dress. Since then I sewed to see other's smiles when they wear my clothes. This makes me happy" I explain and he pats my head:"You really have a kind heart y/n". He continues with a kind smile:"If you want you can be a sewer in the castle, you know?", I exclame overjoyed:"Is that really possible? Thanks Hideyoshi!". His face turns serious:"Yes, but at two conditions: the first, you mustn't overwork yourself too much, otherwise sew will be forbidden", and his eyes soften a bit, "and the second is that I'd like your first work is for me". I agree at all the condition as we enter in the shop.

I'm so overjoyed that mayby I buy too much fabric and when we go out I start to feel guilty: after all Hideyoshi bought all with his money. We walk for some minutes, talking about the commission he gave me but then a man approach us and asks to speak alone with Hideyoshi.

He sends me an apologetically look and I smile:"Don't worry Hideyoshi, is fine. I'll go to watch some stalls over there to match with a kimono of mine" and I leave.

My gaze is cought by a jewelry seller's stall a few meter away: on the ground there's a white sheet full of shining jewels.

They are really beautiful and, even if I'm not a craftsman, I can see their valuable workmanship: they are simply perflect.

I gaze at a gem: it's a brilliant blue, probably is a sapphire. It is flawless and shining,  around the jewel there's a gold frame. Is really beautiful, but surely the price is out of my economical possibilities.

A familiar voice says:"You can touch of ya want, princess" and I stare at him: he is the white aired man I saw the night I arrived in Sengoku period. His relaxed back leans on the wooden wall, a leg lays straight on the ground and an arm is on the other knee.

"You are the man from that night" I reconize him, "So we meet again, Princess. I'm glad you remind me" says the man. "So you are a merchant, uh?" is the only thing that pops in my mind after some second of silence and I regret it as soon as I talk. "Nice to meet you, m'lady. I'm Motonari Mori, a humble merchant who travels around the world. And what about you?" he introduces himself. "I'm the Oda Princess, y/n. I'm a distant relative of Nobunaga. My family sent me here to find a husband. I'm glad to meet you" and I do the same, hoping he doesn't ask more about me.

As soon as I say I'm a Nobunaga's relative, it look to me to see a flash of interest in his eyes, but it vanishes too soon and I'm not sure about it. "I know very well the Oda family, but I didn't know Nobunaga had a princess" he says serious and a shiver runs down my back.

Did he notice I was lying? How? I'm sure I acted the most credible as possible.

I'm a bit nervous and I feel my hands sweating under his gaze, but I manage to look relaxed:"I always lived in a isolated country but, as I have alredy told you, I left my family to find a husband". And when I speak, his smile returns to be slightly ironic like before and he chuckles:"I was joking: I trust your words, Princess. But let me advice you since you'll stay with him for a while: Nobunaga may be really different from what you think. You should keep hight your guard around him".

I'm going to ask him what he's talking about, but he glares over my shoulder and says:"Don't worry if ya haven't the money right now: ya can keep the jewel and pay me in other ways. I have to with a colligue of mine". Puzzled I take the sapphire and I leave the stall. A man talks very close to him. I don't know what are they talking about, but they act like they share a dangerous secret. At some point Motonari looks at me with a spooky smile, but I don't see it because I turn to search Hideyoshi. When I find him, he tells me straight:"We have to return at the castle immediatly: a daimyo started a revolt against Lord Nobunaga"

Although all my protests and my escape attempts (failed for Mitsuhide's fault) two days later I'm on a war field with some Oda force members. Nobunaga, judging the rebellion small, sent Masamune, Mitsunari and Ieyasu to take care of the ribellion and he requested my presence as lucky charm. His words were:"You are a lucky charm: you will go with my vassals to bring them luck". And I wanted kick him in the teeth.

I'm in the backways to heal the wounded, but the grief rises in my chest: if the revolt is small, why it still going on?

While the time passes always more injured men come to be healed.

My fingers shake as I'm overhelmed by the fear of not be able to save them all: I know the basics of medicine but if they increase more I won't be able to do anything.

A man walks in the tend and speaks to me:"Lord Ieyasu says you must go to Nobunaga and ask for other troups" and I blink twice to be sure I heard correctly: I have to do what?

"We discovered that the situation is different from what we expected: this is a war not a revolt. He says you are the only one who can go to Azuchi" he continues seeing my puzzled look. I understand why I'm the only one: nobody would send a woman on a battlefield, so if the enemy' d catch me, they'd let me go; but this is still sheer madness. But as I watch around me I understand if I won't go all the wounded men will dies, so I declare with conviction:"Give me a horse!"

When we went on the battlefield, I rode with Ieyasu and I asked him how to ride and he explained it to me, obviously not without his salty tone and sarcastic words. So somehow I arrive safely an unharmed to Azuchi castle. Nobunaga listens my request and immediatly later we ride back to the field followed by twenty five troops.

Nobunaga leads the horse in the middle of the field (with me on) and takes side by side to Ieyasu and he comments:"I suppose the girl is more strong and brave then I thought". Should I take this as a compliment or as insult?

"My lucky charm did an excellent work, Ieyasu. Where's Masamune right now?" Nobunaga says proudly. I try to find Masamune in the turmoil of war, but all I see is death and devastation around us. I hear the artillery's shoots, men shouting orders to the soldier and the screams of dying man. I don't want be here!

I close my eyes and cover the ear to don't assist to this cruel and horrible show. But Nobunaga whispers in my hear:"y/n, open your eyes and uncover your ear: now we are going in the middle of the battle and you need to hold thight on the reins if you don't want fall" and I do what he suggests, even if the tentation to close the eyes is really strong. Nobunaga leads the army and in a blink of eyes I'm in the middle of the chaos. Some warrior become pale as they see Nobunaga, but the most of them start an assault. "He brought a woman on the field. Let's aim at her: she's is weak point!" screams a man, "You'd like it" I wishper and I kick him on the chin, making him fall by the horse. I can't lean on Nobunaga's protection in this moment, so I must count only to myself. An enemy soldier draws his sword at me, but Nobunaga cuts his hand:"This is my lucky charm and I don't allow someone to hurt her" and he starts a ferocious duel with his opponents. The time looks to quicken, due to adrenaline, as I see a lot of men get killed and I feel their blood on my face, but in some hours we win the war.

Once at Azuchi castle I lock myself in my room to coming to terms with the fact that I went to war and saw people die. The next day I go in Azuchi city, hoping that a bit of shopping will help me. I sit in a restourant and I eat a fish when a cat steals it from my plate. I follow the cat until he enters in a deserted and darker street. My female intuition suggests me to go back, but I'm too hungry to listen it. And I regret it when someone grabs my arms in a strong grip. I understand I'm in big trouble and I start to feel panicated when my mounth and my nose are covered by a tissue. I stop to breath to don't inhale chloroform and I squirm violently as much as I can. "Keep quiet if you don't want be hurted, little girl" says a male voice close my hear. I give him a head butt on his chin to free myself, but the grip on my fists os more thight and painful:"Unlike my captain I'm not a very patient man: if you keep on with your vain and useless resistence I won't so kind like now". I scream, but from the mouth exits only a low, muffled breath. "I told you to behave, little girl" growls the man and my head is crushed violently against the wall until I loose conciousness.

Posted on 8/11/'19

[shadow-light19]

The Wolf of Lilac Lake: Muzzling the Dog

Summary: David has his suspicions about the new counselor they just hired but he decides to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he will be keeping a sharp eye on him. Daniel seems friendly enough, so why are his instincts howling danger?

Notes: I didn't realize just how hard it is to write a cultist. I hope it's okay!

Previous Chapter: https://shadow-light19.tumblr.com/post/173969832217/the-wolf-of-lilac-lake-david-gets-hurt-at-the-end

Next Chapter: https://shadow-light19.tumblr.com/post/174032697582/the-wolf-of-lilac-lake-breaking-free

“Good morning, David!”

“Good morning, Gwen!”

David jumped out of bed and saluted her with the Camp Campbell salute. He knocked his blankets, sleeping cap, and the wooden log squeaky toy he was sleeping with onto the ground.

“Wait, this feels backward.” He pointed at her then to himself.

Gwen strode up to him with a wide grin on her face.

“Yep! But today’s the day!”

David brought his hands up to his cheeks, eyes gleaming and smiling widely.

“You finally realized your love of Camp Campbell and everything it stands for?” Excitement oozed from his voice.

And wait for it...

“Hell no!” She threw a newspaper in his face.

David yelped as he fell backward.

That’s pretty much what I expected.

He picked up the newspaper and read it.

“Help wanted?”

“That’s right. Found a stash of cash Campbell hid in the Quartermaster’s store behind a box of grenades.”

Although Gwen looked proud of herself, David felt a twinge of worry.

“I don’t know, Gwen. Are you sure we need more help?” As he finished his sentence a grenade flew through his window, scattering broken glass on his bed and the wooden floor.

“Sorry! Foul ball!” Nikki hollered from outside.

David whined as Gwen grabbed him by the bandanna.

“Yes.” She growled.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

They both turned to the door of the cabin.

“Hello? I’m here for the job listing?”

Gwen dropped David to the floor.

“Oh my God!” She threw the door open.

“Yes! This is-“

“Good morning! Smell that fresh mountain air. Gosh, now that’s the kind of nature you don’t just find in any ol’ neck of the woods.”

David pushed himself back to his feet.

Why’d she stop talking? Wasn’t she excited a second ago?

“Oh, dear God no.”

That made David a little worried. He peered out of the door from behind Gwen.

“Hello?”

It was a blonde man dressed all in white. It was more of a background thought as David stiffened in fear after meeting his gaze. His instincts were screaming at him to run.

“Oh! Well hello there, friend. Where are my manners? My name is Daniel, your camp counselor applicant. I hope I’m not too late to submit my resume.”

Why does he scare me so much?

“Oh, u-uh. You’re actually the first one.” David plastered a fake smile on his face.

If Gwen noticed he was acting different, she didn’t say anything. Daniel propped his arms on his hips.

“Ha ha! Are you pulling my leg?”

David stopped himself from backing up when Daniel pointed his finger at him.

“No, sir. My name is David and this is my co-counselor Gwen.”

Daniel shook David’s hand. David barely hid a flinch at the odd, slightly bitter smell that clung to Daniel. He couldn’t place it but he knew he smelled it before.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, David and Gwen!”

Calm down, David! He’s so friendly. Stop judging him without cause.

David forced himself to relax.

“The pleasure’s all mine, Daniel. So, what sort of experience do you have?”

Daniel frowned.

“Well, sadly, my old camp was recently shut down and ever since I have been searching night and day for a new group of eager young kiddos I can help to educate and reach their full potential.”

See? He wants to help the kids! What a nice guy! My gut feeling hasn’t gone away in the slightest though...

David propped his hands on his hips.

“That sounds wonderful, Daniel! However, I do want to be fair to any other possible applicants that may show up asking about the position. Gwen just put it out so if you want, I can have you start helping around the camp as a temporary counselor. You’ll be paid for your work, of course, and then if we get no other applicants within the week or if you’re the best qualified for the position, I’ll hire you full-time.”

Daniel’s smile got wider.

“That sounds like a great idea! I can’t wait to get to know everyone here at camp and hopefully I am able to prove to you how much I want to be here.”

Gwen placed a hand on David’s arm.

“You know, I think now’s the perfect time for me to use my vacation days…”

David turned to Gwen.

“Aww, Gwen. Are you sure?” “Aww, Gwen. Are you sure?” They said in unison.

Gwen nodded. David watched Gwen walk back to her cabin and pack her things for her break. The entire time he debated asking her to stay but did his best to shake his doubts away.

Daniel seems like the perfect counselor. I don’t know why I can’t get this bad feeling to go away but even if it’s just Daniel and me, I should be capable of watching him. I’m just overreacting. Remeber David, you’re supposed to be the nice one.

David waved to Gwen as she took off in his car. Daniel was standing beside him, still carrying his things.

“Well, more fun for us. Come on, Daniel! I think you’re gonna fit in here just fine!” He gestured to  Daniel and they walked into the cabin.

“I think so too, David! I think so too.”

David steered Daniel to an empty bed and desk. Gwen had either packed her stuff with her or packed it away somewhere for safe-keeping.

“Gwen normally sleeps here. If everything works out, I’ll bring in a mattress into my cabin and we can share. For now, though, please make yourself at home!”

Daniel set his suitcase down on the bed and turned back to David.

“Are all the kids eating breakfast right now? I know it’s pretty early still.”

David held the door open for him and they walked to the Mess Hall.

“Actually, they already ate. They were outside playing earlier but I sent them to wait in here because they were playing with grenades earlier. I try to get them up at 7 in the morning. Their curfew is at 10 pm. Most of the kids are pretty friendly. The only one that will take some time to warm up to you is Max. He can be a bit rude but he’s a good kid at heart.”

They walked in and noted all the kids were still playing with the grenades.

“Alright campers! I’m gonna need those grenades back. They are very dangerous and not meant to be played with.”

“Aww but David, I was so close to getting a home run! Can’t you take them from us after the game is over or they explode?”

David plucked the grenade from her hand.

“Now Nikki, while grenade a circular like baseballs, they are fairly sensitive to movement and pressure. You should also note that they can explode, which can cause a lot of damage to you and to the environment around you as well as the fact that these are made of metal and have a detonator at the top. They’re shaped more like ornaments. Baseballs are white, round and have stitching on them. They are a softer material that bends slightly with the force from being hit by a bat and that concludes my presentation on what is and is not a baseball. So! Any questions?”

He placed all the grenades back in the box they originate from and set it down at his feet. He looked up to see all of the campers hands up.

Max is willingly participating? That’s great! I need to encourage this behavior.

“Yes, Max.”

Max glared off to the side and pointed at Daniel.

“Who the fuck is that?”

“Why what an excellent question! Campbell campers, I’d like you all to give a warm welcome to our new co-counselor candidate, Daniel.”

He gestured their attention to Daniel.

“Howdy, kiddos!”

Space kid waved at him.

“Howdy-do Daniel.”

“You’ve got to be fucking shitting me.” Max turned his suspicious glare to David.

David frowned at the cursing.

“Oh-ho! Watch the language there, little fella.” Daniel wagged his finger at Max.

David wrapped an arm around Daniel’s shoulder.

“Watch the language indeed!”

Oh, it feels nice to have someone else correcting him on his cursing as well.

“Just because Daniel here is new, doesn’t mean you should treat him any different than you treat me.”

“Got it! Gah!” Everyone watched Nikki as she grabbed some mud from her overall pocket and slung it at Daniel’s white clothing.

Max stepped forward aggressively.

“He is you, David! Save for the outfit. Seriously, freakshow, what’s with the cult leader get-up?”

Daniel brushed the dirt off his clothes and smiled at Max.

“You must be Max. I’ve heard all about you.”

David felt a shiver run down his spine at the way Daniel said that.

…Okay, that was a bit odd. I even heard his neck crack. Probably just cracked it to make it feel better! I’ll make sure I don’t leave him alone with any of the kids just in case.

“O-kay?” Max looked disturbed.

Let’s just change the subject.

“I’m sorry about that, Daniel. Kids will be kids, right?” He nervously chuckled.

” I have some activities for today already planned if you want me to go over them with you really fast.”

Daniel clapped a hand on David’s shoulder.

“Don’t you worry co-counselor! They’re just ragging on the new guy. I would love to hear about today’s activities. Maybe tonight, we can go sit down and plan tomorrow’s activities together!”

David relaxed again.

“Sounds wonderful! Now let’s get started!”

While the day passed on without any problems, David could not shake away the awful feeling he had in his gut about Daniel. It felt like several times to him that the other counselor had tried to be alone with some of the kids. He would start to talk about negative emotions but David would quickly appear at his side and Daniel would cease all talk about it.

I don’t understand why he keeps trying to talk to the kids about their emotions. Normally, I’d be all for it but he’s hiding something from me. I’m just glad I have advanced hearing.

Since it was night now, David and Daniel were seated in the Mess Hall. The kids had all been sent to bed already and the two were discussing plans for the next day.

“I thought it would be nice to change some of the meals. I know you probably serve them a variety of different foods, but at my old camp, we had this detoxification diet that the kids really liked. I think it would be nice for them to try to experience a healthier diet.”

David looked at the meal plan that Daniel had handed over.

Most of the food on this plan isn’t actually cooked. Nothing is store-bought or even processed except for Kool-Aid.

“I don’t mind incorporating some of this but I feel like this would be unfair to spring on the campers so suddenly. They’re not used to eating like this and it will be hard to get used to.”

David could’ve sworn he saw Daniel’s eye twitch.

“Okay, I understand. For tomorrow activity, I thought we could work on purifying ourselves of our negative emotions. These children are so pure and innocent. I think they could benefit from cleansing themselves from the negative-rich environment around us.”

David cocked his head in confusion.

“So, like meditating and yoga?”

Daniel’s eye twitched again. He bent his neck to the side.

“Yes, but I was also hoping I could talk to them about it as well. I know you still have to complete my paperwork even as a potential counselor so I would like to take them for a bit so you can have some time to get your own work done. After all, that’s why I’m here right?”

David rubbed his neck with his hand.

“I actually don’t have a lot of paperwork at all. I’m going to stay up tonight to get it done so don’t worry about me. Thank you for the kind offer though!”

David stood up and stretched.

“So tomorrow we’ll have yoga and meditation in the morning, and then arts and crafts in the afternoon. Thank you for the suggestion, Daniel! I’m sure the kids will love tomorrow. Goodnight!”

David headed back to the cabin. Once he was behind closed doors, David hugged himself and shivered.

All that stuff about negative emotions was really creepy. I guess that’s why he stops talking about it when I get close. I don’t have a good reason to fire him yet though, so I guess I’ll just continue to keep an eye on him.

He sighed and sat down at his desk.

Now to get this paperwork out of the way.

The next day went similarly. David was surprised when Max came pounding on his door in the morning, with Nikki and Neil in tow, going on about Daniel being a cultist.

“I know Daniel is a bit odd, Max, but unless he’s done something wrong, I can’t fire him. I want you to know though that I will keep your concerns in mind. Now come on! It’s time for breakfast!”

David had paid even more attention to Daniel because of it and he could tell that Daniel had noticed that something was off. Right after dinner, he had asked to be excused for not feeling well. David had sent him off with a glass of water but otherwise had heard nothing from him for several hours.

Oh well. I hope he feels better soon. Let me make sure everyone is in their tents first before I go.

David visited every tent and listened carefully to make sure they were all asleep. He made his way over Daniel’s cabin and knocked softly on the door.

“Daniel? Are you feeling better?”

“David.”

David jumped in surprise. He turned around and saw Daniel standing behind him.

“Oh, you scared me, Daniel! I didn’t expect you to be outside your cabin.  Are you feeling better?”

How did I not hear you?

Daniel smiled.

“Last night I built a purification sauna on the edge of the campgrounds. Since I wasn’t feeling well, I went and completed it so that I could relax and enjoy the hot steam. I feel so much better now.”

David grabbed Daniel’s hand.

“You built a sauna? That’s amazing!” Daniel scratched his chin in thought.

“Do you want to use it? It certainly made me feel better and now that the kids are asleep, you have some time to yourself.”

David jumped up and down in excitement.

“That sounds great! It’s been so long since I’ve been in a sauna and it sounds so relaxing.”

Daniel put an arm around David’s shoulder and led him away.

“What are we waiting for? Come on!”

They walked over the sauna. It was bigger than David thought it would be.

That door reminds me a lot of the kind used for safes. Why does it seem kinda like a prison?

David could feel his stomach churn at the thought.

“Hey, Daniel? Why does it look so… secure?”

Daniel stopped in front of the sauna and spun the handle of the door.

“Oh, that’s to hold the steam in. If it leaked out really easily, I would take more energy to heat the sauna and that’s a waste of resources.”

Daniel pulled the door open and instantly, David covered his ears in pain. The sound of a robotic voice talking emanated loudly from the sauna.

“Wait, Dani-ahh!”

Daniel shoved David inside the sauna. The grating of the robotic voice assaulted his sensitive ears at full blast.

“OBEY YOUR LEADER. GIVE YOURSELF TO ZEMOOG. OBEY YOUR LEADER. BECOME PURIFIED FOR HIS BLESSING. OBEY YOUR LEADER. ZEMOOG IS LIFE. OBEY-”

David slammed his body against the metal door but it didn’t budge. He looked at the small window to see Daniel smiling evilly at him.

“Daniel! What are you doing? Let me out!”

Daniel laughed at him.

“Sorry, David! I normally don’t purify adults but you were getting in my way. I just want to purify the children so that they can ascend to heaven where the great Lord Xemoog can protect them from the negative backlash that they are constantly bathing in here on earth. They are still pure and innocent! They can be saved!”

David tried to kick the door open.

“You really are a cultist! What are you gonna do to the kids?!”

“I’m going to sacrifice them to our savior. They will ascend and be free of all impurities and then I will move on to the next camp.” Daniel pulled out his sacrificial knife and a box of rat poison.

He’s never left the camp though! How’d he managed to sneak- That’s what the odd smell was! He had the rat poison on him the whole time! I knew something was off about him! He’s gonna kill the campers and it’ll be all my fault!

David felt terror course through him. He didn’t want to reveal his secret but he couldn’t let the campers get hurt. He changed into a wolf and started ramming the door. He clawed at the door and the walls but he couldn’t escape. Finally, David collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.

“Wow! I didn’t realize werewolves existed! What a wonderful gift Zemoog has given me. With a werewolf on my side, it’ll be so much easier to help children ascend. Now you enjoy yourself in there! I’ve got an ascension to plan.”

Daniel walked away from the sauna.

Okay David, think! You can’t break out, maybe you can get someone to let you out!

David took a deep breath and let out his loudest howl. He barked and howled for several minutes and then put his ear to the door. He couldn’t hear anything but the robotic voice playing on the speakers.

No! I have to get out!

“-IS SAFETY. OBEY YOUR LEADER. ZEMOOG GIVES PURPOSE. OBEY YOUR-“

Max! Nikki! Neil! Nerf! Harrison! Someone let me out! Please!

[stydiamccall]

What do u think Is going to happened next episode

Judging from the promos shown it's all over the place but I agree with what @deathcabjenny http://deathcabjenny.tumblr.com/post/156347818754/the-train-tracks-are-all-over-beacon-hills go check out her predicition it's fucking amazing. I got some ideas from what she said:The shadow figure at the end of the tunnel does not look like stiles, it's more likely Mr. Douglas. And I understand Lydia remembered stiles and it was strong enough to re open the rift. But something with that big, with that amount of strong force, something that insanely bright. It's looks like more of Mr. Douglas' work. I think Mr. Douglas is literally trying to erase the entire towns existence. Not like caanon where the town still exists just abandoned, but all of Beacon Hills. This explains why there are train tracks found everywhere through out Beacon Hills. I believe they are all trapped now, this train station just extended to a larger maze. And when this happens it's opens up more doors in the train station for everyone forgotten is able to "leave". That's why there are people found in the library. Lydia and Malia will be able to enter the train station now that their town is captured. Scott will probably go off with Liam to find Douglas. We will probably get a reunion between everyone and I know stydia won't kiss right when she sees him again... I'm getting there. But my guess is Stiles and Malia will hug first. Then Lydia behind her looks at him with these desperate eyes. She's finally reunited with him and no words come out of her mouth. She just runs to stiles and we get a really cute stydia hug. (Wish for Stiles to pick her up and spin her)In the train station; Stiles, the sheriff, peter chris, melissa, Mason, hayden and Corey (theo is probably down there with them too) joined with Lydia and Malia.  they will have come up with some sort of plan where they will all split into pairs and explore the different tracks leading out. I think the parents will be one group, Malia theo and Peter,  hayden Corey and mason and finally stiles and lydia will all separate into different directions. These are more of my wants then predictions but: Stiles and Lydia are holding hands walking through the dark tunnels. They don't really get a chance to talk about anything personal because the situation is too intense. So stiles asks her about any supernatural updates he should be aware of. The tracks eventually lead them to stiles' house. He runs up to his room, all the furniture is back and everything and he grabs his baseball bat he keeps beside his desk. Stiles runs out and says he needs to go find Scott and while Lydia says she'll meet up with the sheriff. She watches stiles prance out of his house and she stares at him from afar through his door way with this look of regret once again. Because she just got him back and he still doesn't know and heaven forbid anything happens to him. But she eventually runs off to find the sheriff. There are tracks leading everywhere. And inside buildings as well. There are tracks on the hospital floor, probably the sheriff's station and Scott's house as well. That's what it looks like to me in the very short amount of promo we got. Mr. Douglas will have found Scott, Liam and Parrish at the hospital. He's ready to fight them the music goes all dramatic (because Teen wolf) and then there's a little ding and that's when stiles is introduced to Scott again, with his little witty comment. And Scott just smiles at his best friend with so much love because he's been missing his little witty, sarcastic partner by his side. And that's when I believe the sciles reunion will happen.Then after a long super emotional hug they'll both turn around to face Parrish and liam who looks down to the ground saying "he's gone". Stiles says he has a plan and that they all need to go to the high school now. At the High school we find the sheriff and lydia fighting off ghost riders in the hallway. They win because Lydia's banshee screams are so powerful it either scares them off or kills them.Peter, Malia and theo will probably be fighting ghost riders in the forest. I think melissa and Chris will go back to the actual train station they were in. And Chris will probably force melissa to hide behind a bench or find safety while he fights a ghost rider with a gun.Scott, Stiles and liam will meet lydia and sheriff at the high school. My guess is Mr. Douglas will still be able to manipulate parrish' mind and he will go out to the rest of the ghost riders. From the high school the sheriff will go find chris and melissa. Scott and liam will split to find malia,theo and Peter while stiles and lydia are left at the school. (Okay this is probably unlikely but I'm still emotionally unstable to come up with something creative)Stiles and Lydia hear a noise and they both turn around in sync. They think it's another ghost rider and they think it's coming from the locker room. Lydia walks in first being very protective over stiles because she already knows they are scared of her. But they find no one there. They search behind the lockers and showers but still nothing. Stiles is about to leave until he sees Lydia staring down to the floor with a very guilty expression on her face. And this is where my headcanon comes to play: http://loverxo1234.tumblr.com/post/156364606515/stydia-headcanon-for-6x10Lydia's banshee senses will probably figure out that there's something wrong and they'll have to come up with a plan to save Scott and Co. I made this prediction before and I think it's still possible: http://loverxo1234.tumblr.com/post/156108479410/tw-predictionMaybe lydia will hear noise at the library (this taking place when the wild hunt turns the people hanging at the library into ghost riders) and she'll run with stiles to there but when they open it, it's absolutely silent and no one's there.I don't know how they will figure out the sword thing but I still really do believe it will be a key to defeating the ghost riders. And especially if stiles isn't in 6B that much I can see the writers using him to save everyone's life one last time.@slowburnotptrash has told me she wants to see the pack fighting for Scott.  And I believe this will happen. There will be a huge showdown at Beacon Hills reserve or the forest but something big will happen. But I think the pack will eventually get tangled up and are unable to help Scott any longer.And what I want to see:Before Douglas does whatever to make Scott a ghost rider he says something along the lines of "your little plan didn't work..." and stiles and lydia show up behind him saying "are you sure?" And I imagine him pushing the sword into the grown and it dissipates the wild hunt and Mr. Douglas and turns the innocent people back to humans. Or stiles could stab him with the sword... but I have no idea.Okay so this predicition is a mix of actual predicition and headcanons because i have a wild imagination and this will all probably be 0.01% correct. But it's fun to guess so thank you for asking :)

[arturoortizus]

Sam Creighton – After Midnight Music Video

The Appeal of the Song

Do you ever hear a song and immediately feel the need to hit “repeat” as soon as it’s over? The first time we at Spirinity heard Sam Creighton‘s dance-beat single, “After Midnight,” we had to do just that! Not only were we excited to make the video for this single, but we were all the more thrilled to be the ones to debut Sam’s first music video ever! And it wasn’t only “After Midnight’s” catchy musicality or Sam’s songbird vocals that triggered our enthusiasm, but the all-too-familiar story and ultimately empowering message of the song that struck us so compellingly—and we knew that we needed to capture both that as well as the visceral emotions of the song in actions and arc the music video!

The Lyrics

The song begins: “I did it again. My loneliness took over me…” Many of us can immediately relate to the feelings of loss and regret we feels when we open again to a person we know we just can’t trust. And when romance is involved, the stakes can be all the more high! Loneliness is a powerful thing when it haunts the human heart. So many have received that not so subtle text before: “U up?” We know it’s wrong. We know there’s no way this goes anywhere we hope it might. We know the pain it leads to? But, sometimes, right now, you just don’t care. Of course there is no REAL or lasting satisfaction or love that can be found when we use one another just to alleviate loneliness. We yearn for—we need—more meaningful connection and relationship than that. But it’s so easy to fall into cycles repeating destructive behaviors, and sometimes—for some strange reason—the risk even sounds like… fun. And sometimes anything sounds better than that aching loneliness. The heart knows it needs more, but sometimes we just don’t want it to be true.

The Video

As the video opens, Sam is awakened by a call in the middle of the night and immediately responds with glee. When she arrives at the house, a push-pull dance begins with her love interest (played by the co-writer of the song and a talented singer himself, Will Jay). We hired one of our favorite choreographers, Kedua, to help show the dynamic struggle of simply wanting to be wanted by another, while also longing something more. Reset. New night. Sam gets another late night call, and while she does answer, she’s notably less eager and excited this time around. As she heads over to the lover’s house, she plays a bit hard to get, but ultimately she gives in. Repeat. Reset. On the final night in the video, again the phone rings. Sam awakens… Will she answer? You may have an inkling, but you’ll have to watch to find out exactly how the dramatic denouement plays out!

For this project, we worked closely with Sam’s own ideas to bring the personal resonance of this story to life. She actually wrote the song after receiving one of those texts herself! With the goal of empowering viewers to reevaluate themselves, to be reminded of their real value and their real power to love themselves and view themselves as worthy of far more than the empty promises of some one night stand. We were impressed with Sam’s commitment to this message and to empowering her viewers and fans. She was willing to be shot in representations and visualizations that she’s not used to, and she even fully stripped off her makeup at one point, perhaps communicating a truth that words alone could not.

Final Thoughts…

Visually, we enjoyed playing with symmetry, color, contrast and patterns, paying some homage to a director we all hold in high esteem—Wes Anderson. With slow movements, stylized sets, eclectic wardrobes, and a dramatic color palette, we were more than happy with the final product!

Overall, we loved collaborating with Sam and can’t wait to do so again soon! To be sure, the calls between us have much more love and endurance than those in this video! Be sure to check it out!

We’re really passionate about creating music videos. If you enjoyed this video, we invite you to check out some of our other projects we’re really proud of: Jasmine Kara’s Music Video for “Fade to Black (Official Video)  Dylan Bernard’s Music Video for “Forever for Now” Alexa Friedman’s Music Video for “Enraptured”

If you’re curious about our process, we take a deeper dive into the process on this page.

The post Sam Creighton – After Midnight Music Video appeared first on Spirinity Productions.

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