#it’s kind gettin me through a rough patch and I just think I’m in a little bit of oh no what do I do next/panic mode

[raeathnos]

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[metalheadkells]

Can u do the sunday morning walk of shame au drabble thingy.❤️❤️

“We met each other on a Sunday morning, both doing our walk of shame” AU

“Too old for this shit,” Marshall mutters to himself as he gingerly crouches to retrieve his keys from where they’ve fallen to the floor of his car, careful not to exacerbate the soreness in his muscles.

He catches his reflection in his side view mirror when he rises to his feet, and winces anew at how awful he looks, rumpled and unshowered and sallow-skinned. He hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, his brain keeping him up with obsessive playbacks of a hookup that had turned more than a little weird earlier in the night. The worst part is, he can’t blame anyone but himself for it. He had opened the lid on some of his most closely guarded kinks, deciding for some reason that that was a thing he wanted to do with a random call boy about five times bigger than him and a decade his junior.

Marshall shoves away the utterly humiliating scenes that try to creep back into his consciousness and slams an iron door over them, shuddering with the mental effort it takes.

Focus, asshole.

Keys in hand, Marshall locks his car and ensures the brim of his hat and the hood pulled over that are firmly in place before slinking into the convenience store, empty but for the clearly sleep-deprived cashier and someone else perusing the assortment of Hostess snacks.

Marshall keeps his head down and moves quickly, snagging two Red Bulls and a bag of plain pretzels. He’s furiously debating between Cool Ranch Doritos and a Slim Jim, because god damn it he needs a not-depressing snack right now, when someone jostles him, immediately putting Marshall’s body on high alert.

His heart races and his hand goes to his phone in his back pocket as the guy says, “My bad, man,” in a voice that sounds worse than Marshall feels.

Marshall doesn’t respond, and doesn’t look at him, backing up to put a safe distance between them and turning to resume his miserable shopping.

“Hold up,” the guy says, like a realization is dawning on him, which… “Eminem?!"

Fuck.

Marshall whirls around and shushes him aggressively, his temper flaring. “Be cool. What you want, an autograph? If you have a pen on you, I can - ”

“Bruh,” the guy says, and at least he’s lowered his voice so as not to ping the drowsy cashier’s radar, “You don’t even fuckin’ recognize me, do you.” Marshall glances up into his face for the first time, blinking. And…

“Oh.”

“Oh? That’s all you have to say to me? Wow. Nice, dude.” Machine Gun Kelly curls his lip, awe giving way to pure scorn like he’s stepping into a well-worn costume, which isn’t even as ugly as the literal costume he’s wearing - a painfully bright neon green sweater with a transparent panel in the front that exposes a slice of his tattooed chest, ludicrously oversized jeans that appear to be covered in black paint splatters, chunky silver hoop earrings just large enough to be considered effeminate.

“You’re blocking the chips,” Marshall says, keeping his voice perfectly and infuriatingly level.

Kelly’s glare grows even fiercer, somehow. “Fine, whatever. I’m too hungover to fight your old ass anyway.”

Marshall takes a deep breath through his nose. “You don’t wanna antagonize me right now, trust me.” “Ha, sure. You pissed yourself when I touched you just now, but sure. I’m super threatened.”

Don’t explode don’t explode don’t explode don’t explode

“Fuck you, have a nice day,” Marshall manages, gritting his teeth and starting to take his Red Bulls and his depressing pretzels over to the cashier, not even caring to resolve his Doritos vs Slim Jim dilemma anymore.

“Wait, wait,” Kelly blurts, sidling up to block his path once more, big palms open in front of him in apparent surrender. “I’m sorry,” he says, stunning Marshall into stillness. “I had a rough night. Like, a really rough night. But I’ve put so much thought into what I’d say to you if we ever ran into each other like this - which by the way, what the fuck are the odds - and I don’t wanna fuck it up just ‘cause I feel like ass.”

Marshall stares at him for a moment, and then, when he doesn’t elaborate, says, “Well? I don’t got all day.”

Kelly grimaces, and Marshall wonders if he’s already regretting apologizing. “Just, like - I need a minute, alright, my brain ain’t all there.”

“You can’t blame that on the hangover,” Marshall snarks, “It’s the first thing I ever learned about you.”

Unexpectedly, Kelly looks more tired than angry at this comment. “Fuck, man, I’m tryin’ here.” He scrubs a hand over his face, drawing Marshall’s attention to his red-rimmed eyes, to the fresh bruise blooming on his left cheek and the specks of dried blood caught in his wildly tangled hair.

Something catches in the center of Marshall’s chest, and because he’s weak and exhausted and really fucking stupid, he says, “C’mon. We can talk in my car. I’m not tryna hang around here long enough for some other asshole to recognize me.”

Kelly shrinks a bit, fidgeting and casting his eyes around the store skittishly when he says, “Um. A’ight.”

“You’re not gettin’ anything?”

“Nah,” Kelly says, “I’ll just wait for you.”

Marshall buys him a packet of Sour Patch Kids from the checkout counter anyway, and when he quietly hands them to him as they’re walking through the gas station to Marshall’s car, Kelly gives him this look that’s as wide-eyed and grateful as if he saved his fucking life, or something equally significant. It makes electricity shoot up Marshall’s spine, and he instantly thinks, No. Anybody but him.

And yet, he is folded into the passenger seat of Marshall’s car, and he has sugar crystals on his fingertips and the corner of his mouth, and he is confessing dangerous truths as freely as blood pouring from an open wound, and Marshall is maybe kind of fucked.

[fandomficsnstuff]

A love left behind - Part 2

Summary: Your dad owns a ranch in between Thieves Landing and Armadillo, doing business with both Blackwater, Armadillo and Tumbleweed. One day three strange men show up on your land, a man with a scar across his face, an old bearded man whose horse has a literal mustache, and a tall and handsome man, both black and indian you think. What are they doing here and how will you deal with them?

(This is longer than the first part, put your seatbelt on folks!)

Charles Smith x Reader

You sat on a bench outside the stables, looking through an old journal of yours that your mother had given you before she died, it was hers once. You were reading what she wrote down when she was younger, she didn’t write much, so there was still a lot of space left to be filled out. You came upon an entry of your mother meeting your father, and you couldn’t help the small smile that came across your face, the way she described your father wasn’t at all how he was today. You were, however, interrupted by three horses entering the ranch, the three horses from earlier today. The three men had come back from Thieves Landing, surprisingly still alive and seemingly well. You closed the old journal and got up, walking towards them, your father still inside the house, apparently not having heard them.

“Well, you’re alive” you said with a small surprised tone, looking between the three men, your eyes unintentionally lingering on the tall one of the three, his arm was bleeding and you frowned “you’re bleeding, Mr…?”

“Charles Smith, but Charles is just fine” you nodded slowly at his words “well, Charles, my father is inside, why don’t you two go on inside” you nodded to John and the old bearded man, whose name you still didn’t know, and then looked back to Charles “and I’ll patch you up?” you could swear he blushed a bit at your words, but responded nonetheless “thank you, that’s very kind of you miss but-”

“That sounds like a great idea!” John interrupted, both Charles and you looking towards John, and you missed the way Charles looked at John confused. “Come on Uncle, let’s go inside,” John said, walking inside the house with this ‘Uncle’ fella. You looked back up at Charles “come on sir, let’s patch you up” you walked with him towards a small house on the property, walking inside you set him down at the dining table and began to look at his arm. “Who lives here?” he asked after a while, you barely glanced away from his wound “me” you shrugged slightly “I’m going to have to clean it, but other than that it’s not too bad” you got up to get your supplies, mainly bandages and some rubbing alcohol.

“You live here? Why not in the house with your father?” Charles asked casually, you glanced at him and he frowned “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to intrude-”

“My father can be a bit… much, sometimes. Living in this house was my choice, I can still help out on the ranch but I have my own space here” you interrupted him, not wanting him to think he had overstepped a boundary that wasn’t there. You got back to him with your supplies, looking at him before clearing your throat “you’re gonna have to-... uhm… take off your shirt…” you said quietly, and once again, you saw him blush, but he did as told. You looked away as he pulled off his shirt, but once you turned around you’re quite sure your face went red like one of the tomatoes you were growing here. He was built like a brick house, a fact that was a bit easy to miss under his shirt. You cleared your throat once again, distracting yourself in patching him up.

You poured some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth, giving him an apologetic look before gently cleaning his wound, he hissed slightly at the pain but kept quiet otherwise. Once that was done you inspected the wound once again, beginning to take out the bandage, “you’re good at this, who taught you?” Charles asked quietly, studying you as you slowly and carefully bandaged his arm, “well, I have learnt from experience, the Del Lobos did a lot more than steal our cattle or destroy our crops… once or twice, if one of us got too brave, they’d beat my father, so I had to learn in order to patch him up” you shrugged, not noticing the sympathetic look he gave you “did they ever… hurt you?” he asked carefully, not wanting to bother you or make you uncomfortable in any way. You gently shook your head at his question “no, not really, one of them slapped me once or twice, but nothing I couldn’t handle” you said calmly, finishing off his bandage, looking up at him,your hands still resting on his upper arm, over the bandage. You noticed the worried look in his eyes “I always paid them back” you gave him a smirk and a small wink and he smiled slightly, looking down. 

Once Charles had put his shirt back on you both walked outside, just in time to see John and Uncle exit the house with your father, both laughing, though John looked rather uncomfortable. John noticed both Charles and you talking as you headed their way, and couldn’t help but smirk a bit.

“Well as I said you’re welcome any time, Mr. Marston! We could sure use more of ya!” your father laughed, giving John a rough pat on the back, until your father noticed you and Charles standing together “the hell’s going on here?” he asked in a rough voice, you shrugged “Mr. Smith got injured helping us with that gang, so I just patched him up” you glanced up at Charles to find him already looking at you, to which you blushed and looked down, not noticing the way your father glared at Charles, who immediately walked to his horse, his tiny smile gone.

After the men had left you went inside of your own house, sitting down in an armchair and began to read from your mother’s journal again. After a while your father walked in, you glanced at him before going back to reading “hello pa” you said calmly, not noticing the look on his face, at least not until he didn’t respond, causing you to look up at him “pa? What’s wrong?” you put your mother’s journal on a small side table next to you, looking at him with a frown. He didn’t answer you once again, simply just walking to a chair next to the armchair you sat in, just glaring at you, causing you to think for a second, you hadn’t skipped any chores at all, so you couldn’t think of anything he would be mad at you for.

“The hell were you doin’ with that man?” he suddenly said in a cold tone, you looked at him confused for a few seconds, “Charles? I told you, he got injured and I-”

“Yeah, so you say, but what the hell were you doing alone with him?” now you were even more confused, “I was… helping him?” you almost couldn’t help the annoyance in your tone, having no idea what your father was getting at. “Helping him? That’s what you were doing alone?”

“What are you hinting at, pa?”

“You know what. I know you wanna live your own life but you need to focus on other things, (Y/N)” your father sighed, looking to the floor before back up at you “you’re almost thirty, honey, you need to find yourself a husband, have some children” your father shrugged as you rolled your eyes “no, I don’t, and I’m not ‘almost thirty’, pa, I’m twenty five” you countered, giving him a small glare before going back to your mother’s journal, “your mother and I got married when we were a lot younger, we were just nineteen” your father countered back to you, making you sigh, on the verge of ignoring him.

“Listen honey, I know how you felt about Albert, I-”

“Don’t, just don’t” you snapped, closing your mother’s journal and glaring at him “I don’t ever wanna hear about him again. Ever” you snapped at him again, your father sighing, frowning at you concerned “(Y/N), it’s been three years… honey you have got to move on. What about that boy in Armadillo, the one who’s so sweet on ya?” you father tried, he really did, and you knew he only wanted the best for you, but still you couldn’t help but feel as though you were chained and tied down, even though you weren’t. “Hector, pa, his name is Hector, and no” you shut his offer down quickly, ignoring his pleading look, “honey, I’m old, and I ain't gettin’ younger. One day I won’t be here and I want you taken care of by that time” your father’s voice wavered a bit, making you sigh, feeling back about snapping at him “I don’t want to get married, pa… not to anyone” you looked at him, a frown still present on your face, “you did with that Albert fella, he was so sweet on ya darlin’, he was such a good lad-”

“Yes such a very good man that he slept with other women while we were engaged” you snapped, “I don’t wanna hear about him, I don’t wanna hear about any of them! I was stupid enough once to think that there were any good men out there” you looked down, tears burning your eyes “not anymore.” You heard your father sigh “I saw the way you were blushin’ with that black or indian fella… I just don’t think he’s right for you honey, I mean…-”

“Stop. Just stop, pa… I don’t even know him, and I don’t care to” you said coldly, a single tear fell down your cheek, and you felt your father’s hand wipe it away. ''Honey, I hadn't told you before but… I ain’t well” you snapped your head towards your father, waiting for him to explain “I’m sick honey, real sick” your father leant towards you, looking into your eyes with worry, watching the tears silently fall down your cheeks. “I still have a long way to go still, so don’t worry about that, but I want you to be happy, safe, taken care of.” You gently shook your head “you’re sick? How long have you known?” 

“For a little while, but as I said I still got a long way to go, a lot of years that I can spend with you” you nodded slightly at his words, looking down and wiping your eyes. You heard your father get up, extending his hand to yours, helping you to stand up and embracing you. You couldn’t remember the last time your father had hugged you like this. After a while he let go “now, those fellas are gonna be back with some more money, would you mind helping them with the sheep?” he asked with a small smile on his lips, you nodded and sighed, giving him one last hug before wiping your eyes, going outside to wait for the men. Your father stood back in the living room of your house, looking towards a table which had a picture of your mother with you as a small baby in her arms, your father felt tears in his own eyes well up, blinking them away as he looked at the portrait “we raised a good woman, you and I, (Y/M/N). She’s a fine lady” he gently caressed the picture’s face, admiring your mother before going outside himself.

[only-lurkin-dont-mind-me]

A Scarecrow Named Cyrus (Scarecrow Monster x Reader)

With a sigh, you looked over the rolling fields before you. Rows of corn, a small cluster of apple trees, a fine crop of pumpkins, some potatoes, and a small assortment of herbs. All ripe for a good fall harvest. Along with the fall faring flowers growing here and there with a controlled wildness to them. 

You had expanded your efforts in farming this year, and it was certainly paying off. Sure tending to so many good crops was hard work, but nothing you weren't capable of handling. Your little town could thank the roughness of your hands and your gentle nurturing attitude for such fine results. 

With October finally arriving, it would soon be time to harvest and sell off most of your crops. Until then, you had to prepare for the pumpkin patch the town was eagerly anticipating. You had chosen to host the pumpkin patch this year, and you were out to prove yourself to some of the less than pleasant members of the town. 

Did those people who irked you by commenting on your capabilities deserve your attention? Of course not. Did you feel spiteful and eager to prove them wrong to piss them off? More than anything else. 

Looking over your rows of pumpkins, you saw movement that was most definitely not the leaves and vines. With a confused glance, you made your way over. Your footsteps seemed to spook two rabbits that had been gorging themselves on one of the smaller gourds. As soon as they caught sight of you, they turned tail and ran as fast as they could. 

"Damn critters," with a huff of frustration, you kneeled. Turning the pumpkin over in your hands, observing the now broken backside of it. You gave the pumpkin a sad pat, hearing the hollow echo as you plucked it from the vine. "Sorry, buddy, not much left to do now but call you the first Jack 'o' Lantern of the year." 

With that, you wandered inside your small home. Already thinking of what you could do around the decent-sized hole in the side of the pumpkin to make it look intentional. Maybe a sideways face with a big 'o' mouth? That might work. 

As you set the pumpkin down and set to work you pondered over the rabbits. This wasn't the first time you'd caught something in your fields. Even when you were out among your crops, there would be birds, rabbits, foxes, and the occasional curious dog having escaped its yard. 

You couldn't keep watch over all of your crops all the time. Farm dogs were great to have but were mostly used for herding, guarding flocks, or guarding property against predators, not running off birds at the sight of them. Even rat dogs like terriers only caught mice in the barns much as a good mouser cat would. Where did that leave you? 

As you looked around the room for a hint of inspiration, you looked to a little fall card you had been given by one of your lovely neighbors, Ms. Ruby Jane. A darling old lady who had a good herd of sheep and great skill in baking. you would often help her tend to alongside her dog, Russel. 

A cartoon scarecrow stared back at you on the front of the card. 

"Would that work?" pondering aloud, you carried the little pumpkin to your window sill and placed it looking out to the fields. With the thought of a scarecrow in mind, you began wandering the house looking for a few things you could use. 

An old red and black flannel shirt, A pair of work jeans that you hardly used anymore. One of your old sunhats and lastly, gloves that you had stopped using some time ago. All you were missing was some scrap fabric to stitch together it's head, and hay to stuff it. Excited over a new project, you dashed off to Ms. Ruby Jane's farm. You knew she always had scrap fabric and hay bales for her sheep that you could buy.

"Well, ain't this a nice surprise? Good afternoon dear, please come on inside," Ms. Ruby Jane held out an arm, inviting you inside with a warm smile. 

"Thank you, ma'am. I don't mean to barge in out of nowhere," you tried to apologize for the unexpected visit only to have her wave you off.

"Nonsense, I always appreciate the company," she wandered off to the living room, no doubt to her chair settled by the fireplace. You followed suit, finding your usual spot on her couch. Russel, her rottweiler, looked up to you with the same expression that always made him look like he was smiling. 

"Hey, buddy." 

Russel huffed in response and settled back down, not appreciating being woken up from his midday nap. 

Ms. Ruby Jane spoke in her warm voice, calling your attention back to her. "Not that I don't mind the visit, but was there somethin' specific you came lookin' for?" leave it to her to know when you always needed something. 

"Yes, Ma'am actually, I was gonna ask if you had any scrap fabric I could use for a scarecrow? I have needles and thread for patchin' my clothes but nothin' the size I would need for, well, a head. I was also gonna ask if I could buy one of your haybales for stuffin' if that's alright."

Ms. Ruby Jane stood slowly, "Of course, of course, I've always got somethin' in that ol' chest of mine that you could use. You just wait right here and keep Russel company while I find you somethin' you can use to keep those fields of yours in shape," with that she began walking up the stairs behind you, going to rummage around in one of those old rooms that she asked people to stay out of.

  Ms. Ruby Jane was a mysterious person to be sure, but her privacy was hers and not something to question. She had shown up in town one day out of nowhere. Her home seemed to appear overnight, her sheep coming from the woods that surrounded that same little home. She was always kind to you and made sure you were doing well. You tried to do the same, helping her find any missing sheep, shearing them on occasion if she was too busy to manage to wrangle them up. Getting her haybale loads to her barn, anything you could lend a hand with you tried to do. 

It didn't take long for her to return with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a brown piece of fabric, cut clean and sized perfectly for what you needed. As she handed it to you, it felt strange. Warm, most likely from her hands. The fabric seemed nicer than you were anticipating. "Ms. Ruby Jane This is some of your nice fabric, made for dresses and suits. I can't use this; I would feel bad," you tried to explain but quickly realized that she would hear none of it.

As you looked over the pictures on her walls, you never once saw any family photos. Pictures of places she had lived, friends she had made, some of her favorite animal companions, some paintings she especially enjoyed painting. You hadn't asked about any family, she seemed happy just her, Russel, and her flock. Who were you to judge? 

"Dear, I have nothin' left to create with this, I am askin' that you put it to good use and think nothin' of it bein' too much. You do so much for me. Let me pay forward the favor," she stated with a finality in her words that you couldn't find it in you to disagree. 

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll be sure to stop by again soon. I'll bring your apples from the fields. They're gonna be ready for bakin' by then!" You promised as you headed off back home, ready to start stitching your Scarecrow together.

"Of course, now you make sure to stop by mine again and let me know how it goes, alright?" Ms. Ruby Jane questioned as she walked you to the door, sensing your excitement with each step. 

After you got home it took a total hour to stitch up the clothes and stuff them, it took an additional thirty minutes to stuff and attach the gloves, another five minutes rummaging for an old pair of boots that you could put on the scarecrow, and that was it. All that was left was stitching together the face and attaching the pair of large black buttons you had found for eyes. As you went to grab the fabric strip Ms. Ruby Jane had given you though, you couldn't find it. You scoured the house for the next hour, unsure as to where it could have gone and you felt rather upset at that point. 

"Thank you, ma'am, that's real kind of you," the fabric held weight in your hands, more than what it should have. Then again, you weren't much of a tailor. You didn't know much beyond patching a hole in clothes, so what did you know?

'It's gettin' too late to keep this up,' you thought with a disappointed sigh. You looked to the nearly complete Scarecrow laying on your table. Walking over to it and placing a hand on its hay-filled torso, patting it lightly, you spoke, "Don't worry, bud, I'll find your noggin sooner or later, then we'll get you out in the fields. Till then, you just rest up. I'll see you in the mornin'," you began to walk down the hall to your room, bidding the Scarecrow goodnight.

It took three days. Each day you would greet the headless scarecrow laying on your table, waiting to be complete. You would talk to it like it could hear you while cooking, or cleaning, or just in passing. As humans do, you grew attached to an inanimate object and named him, Cyrus. The first day you built his post, a simple thing with strong oak wood to hold him high in the fields, with a prop for both his arms and his legs, to keep him from falling. The second day you worked on picking the pumpkins and laying them out for the pumpkin patch. On the third day, you were picking Ms. Ruby Jane's apples to bring inside and wash off in the kitchen.

"Now where in the world..." Your voice trailed off as you walked over to the Scarecrow. In its gloved hand was the strip of fabric you had been looking for. You cautiously picked up the fabric. Looking it over to check if there was anything wrong. Determining that it was just as you had last seen it. You looked to the Scarecrow in confusion, "Were you the one hidin' this from me, or did you find it for me?" You questioned jokingly, hoping to settle the unease you felt in your gut. 

"I'm tellin' you, Cyrus, the corn maze is going to be great this year, so long as we can keep all those critters from eating it all up before families come to get lost going through it," you jokingly stated. Stealing a glance at the lifeless hay stuffed figure, laying on your table still. That's when you froze up in confusion and set down the last apple you had been cleaning. 

"Well, I suppose it's a good night for some stitchin', full moon's finally out, and I'm done workin' for the day so I've some time to kill," Why you decided to stitch the head together, you still don't know. But, turning down any gift from Ms. Ruby Jane left a bad taste in your mouth, you'd put the Scarecrow together, get it outside come morning time, and if a day went by and all was fine, you'd leave it be. 

As you were cleaning the apples, you were once again talking to the Scarecrow.

It took less than an hour, and only that long because how do you stitch together a circular shape? You were able to figure it out after a quick youtube search and had it done in no time. you even got the buttons eyes on and all even.

Connecting the stitches to the body, however, felt... odd. Like someone was watching you, waiting for something to happen. It wasn't necessarily a bad type of odd just not normal in the way you knew things to be. 

Cradling Cyrus's head in the crook of your elbow. Holding together the head and the collar of the shirt in one hand, and stitching with the other. It was almost peaceful if not for the odd feeling lingering. The same feeling kept you from looking at the scarecrows button eyes as if they were actually watching you.

As soon as you were finished, you took a step back to calm your nerves. Staring at the Scarecrow with unease that soon dissipated. It didn't move. It wasn't like it was anything but a hay-stuffed creation of your own hand, you were just scaring yourself. 

You let yourself laugh at the ridiculousness of your fear. Feeling it melt away bit by bit. "Oh, boy I sure have been workin' too hard or somethin'. Can you believe that little ol' you got me shakin' for a minute there? Cyrus, I tell ya, I'm about a half a step from loosin' it some day's," You looked over the Scarecrow with fondness in your eyes, this was yours, You had made him stitch by stitch, and you scared yourself over your own Scarecrow, irony sure was funny sometimes.

  You stepped forward and reached a hand out to pat the Scarecrows shoulder, feeling the hay rustle underneath the shirt. "Sure hope you don't mind, buddy." With one final pat, you walked off to your room, ready to sleep and give your hands a break. "I'll get you out on your post tomorrow, Cyrus, sleep well," you called out behind you. Hearing no response, just like you had expected.

 Standing on the stepladder and making sure it's settled on its post properly and that the short rope pieces are holding it in place well enough. After deciding that the Scarecrow is good and secure, you place a hand on its shoulder. "Course you can manage this, you'll do just fine. Keep an eye on these fields for me while I'm gone and when I'm here if you could. Thanks, Bud," with a quick 'Goodluck' you climb back down the step ladder and carry it back to the barn before setting out to the daily grind. 

The next morning you did as you promised. Lifting the Scarecrow over your shoulder and carrying him out to the center of the cornfield, right to its post.

First up was watering the herbs and wildflowers; they were smaller plants, so you took care to water them by hand to ensure they didn't get the wrong amount, leaving the bigger crops to the sprinkler system. After that, it was trimming dead leaves off of the corn stalks to make them look more presentable for the pumpkin patch. Lastly, you dove into the corn maze, along the cleared paths you had marked down before planting around them. They needed some clearing out and trail marking, so people knew what path to stay on and didn't try to go through the corn... Again. 

Throughout all of this, you would keep an eye on Cyrus. He seemed to be doing his job fairly well. You hadn't seen a bird land or catch any grounded critters running amock just yet. Hopefully, the new factor of him wouldn't wear off and would continue to keep those pesky animals away from your crops.

"Cyrus, you listen to me now. Your job here is to watch over these here fields for me and, try to keep all those critters and strays out of these crops. Can you manage that?" You ask the Scarecrow with a playful smile as if it would respond.

Over the next three days, your heavy work outside paid off, and come nighttime you were ready to open the pumpkin patch. the sun was just beginning to set as people filtered in through the front garden archway. It was covered in vines from the pumpkins that had already been harvested and displayed in rows close to the entrance. After that, there was the entrance to the corn maze as well as a small stand for hot chocolate to warm up the cold night. Baskets of apples stacked closeby as well. 

There were even multiple wooden tables with pumpkin carving kits for those who wanted to get to carving. Lights strung about here and there lighted the areas as the sun fell further and further, and the many groups of people that had finally arrived seemed to be enjoying their time, talking and laughing. It was just a good night.

Through it all, your scarecrow did a wonderful job of scaring off any unwanted visitors. 

'It really was been a good idea to make him,' you thought to yourself. Enjoying the joyful air surrounding your pumpkin patch. A group of teens caught your eye, they were walking out of the exit of the corn maze, laughing and scaring each other. You didn't think anything of it until you heard their remarks.

"I'm tellin' y'all, that scarecrow came out of nowhere! Damn thing scared the shit outta me." 

"Aw did little baby, Jackson get scared? Poor baby Jackson!"

"Shut up, man. You saw it too."

"And? It was probably just some guy paid to dress up and scare everyone that he wants to. I mean honestly, what a life. Can that be my job?"

That uneasy feeling you had felt when first stitching the Scarecrows head together returned stronger than before. You were quick to make your way through the maze, knowing just how to get to the center where the Scarecrow was. 

Under the full moon, you could see the Scarecrow clearly as its head slowly, uncertainly, lifted, and lolled slightly in your direction. His button eyes somehow seemingly staring directly at you. 

As you reached the center, you realized that you were the only one in the corn maze, you couldn't hear anyone else nearby. Maybe that was for the best.

You jerked your hand away from him as you watched in terror as this hay stuffed inanimate object... moved. His head followed you as you took steps back. He seemed to consider your response before, almost dejectedly, slumping back into its original position. 

Staring in a sense of confusion, trying to convince yourself you were scaring yourself again, you quickly made your way back out of the corn maze. You made it out just in time to see the last small family leaving the pumpkin patch. Fair enough it was getting late, that also meant you were now totally alone. 

You looked up to your Scarecrow, unable to tell if his position had changed. "Cyrus? You're doin' a good job keeping all those critters off the crops, just try to remember that the people here right now are invited here, they're alright to roam around long as they're not breakin' anything', they're welcome here." You walked over to the scarecrow cautiously, patting its lower leg where you could reach. "You doin' good out here, Buddy?" Your voice grew quieter as you asked as if fearing a response. 

You turned back to the scarecrow to see His head facing you once again. You looked between the garden entrance, debating running to Ms. Ruby Jane's, and back to Cyrus. Wondering if you should go figure out just what, why, how, anything was. 

He had been up for days now, and you hadn't heard almost anything about him. If he had bad intentions he could have done something the first night he was complete and still in your home. 

With one final look to the entrance, you made up your mind and rushed out and away from your farm.

Ms. Ruby Jane seemed to expect your arrival as she had two cups of tea set out along with a tray of sweets on her coffee table. Something about her behavior was off, however. Even Russel seemed far more attentive to the conversation at hand. 

"Now what did you say he did, dear one?" She asked in an eerily calm voice, the light from the fireplace giving her dark skin an almost ethereal glow. Her eyes seemed far more focused than you had seen before. 

"He moves, Ms. Ruby June!" You quickly stood up and began to pace the room, fear now evident in your actions and tone. "He moves and has apparently been able to. I ignored those little things like that bit of fabric going missin' only to appear in his hand, his headless bodies hay stuffed hand! He's alive apparently, a scarecrow looking around like he's got eyes to see instead of buttons, movin' like he's got muscle and bone inside of him instead of stuffin', he moves!" You looked directly at her for the first time during your fear-induced raving, and any fear immediately melted away. 

She was smiling, a proud sort of smile a parent would have whenever their child made something new. 

"You. You knew he would, didn't you?" Your question came out more like a statement as you slowly sat back on the couch. Russel walked over slowly and placed one of his paws on your foot in a far too understanding way for your liking. 

"I knew that if you treated that scarecrow like you treat anythin' else, he would more than happily accept his roll on your farm as somethin', someone, to help you. I know that you're a kindhearted person, dear. You've helped out this ol' lady more times than she can count. All I did was give you the materials for him to be a walkin', talkin', creature. It was your heart that gave him that last kick to get his sentience goin'," Ms. Ruby Jane picked up her cup and took a sip of her tea, still as relaxed as ever as you processed her words. 

You looked up at her, with one word on your mind. "Why?" Your voice came out weak, uncertain in the face of powers you didn't understand. 

She looked in her cup for a moment before letting out a sight. 

Russel, immediately sensing the change in mood, moved to her side. She reached her hand out to pat his head as she spoke. "I can't stay here forever, dear. I'll be headed on somewhere new soon, and you have done so much for me over the years I've lived here. I had to find some way to repay you, so when you came here lookin' for somethin' to finish making that scarecrow with? I knew it was the perfect time to give you the chance to create someone who could keep an eye on you, and help you once I'm gone." She looked you in the eye as she finished explaining. "I am paying forward your favor, I couldn't leave until I had and now I have." With those words, something in the air seemed to shift. as if the house itself had let out a breath it had been holding for so long. 

You understood a fraction of the hidden layers to her words. Ms. Ruby Jane was far more than she appeared but didn't seem open to discussing anything further, so you nodded your head in acceptance of her explanation. 

"Thank you, as always Ms. Ruby Jane,"  her words calmed you entirely. There were some things you wouldn't always understand or comprehend, but at the same time, you knew you couldn't turn down this kindness.

She smiled at you once again, "Of course, child. Now you best run along, you shouldn't be out so late for too long," Ms. Ruby Jane stood and guided you to the door. Giving you one last hug. Russel followed beside her and waited for his goodbye pet. As soon as he was satisfied, you began the walk home.

Once you finally made it back home, you looked to the Scarecrows Pole. Only to find it empty. You had to remind yourself that this was a gift from Ms. Ruby June, and she would never gift something she thought would harm you. You didn't have any reason to be afraid. Unfortunately, logic isn't always what your heart listened to. 

Once you reached the center of the cornfield, you found him. Having managed to untie himself and climb down, Cyrus stood, slouched in front of his pole. Staring dead ahead at you. Waiting for your next move.

You took an uncertain breath and stepped forward, "Cyrus?" 

Any words you were going to say next were cut off as the Scarecrow stood up straight, and tilted his head back. A deep throaty gurgling sound rose from inside of his very much hay stuffed neck. 

You stared with a newfound horror as the fabric of his face tore apart in jagged pointed lines, almost like rows of fangs forming where his mouth ought be. As his mouth opened wider and wider, you saw nothing but darkness inside of him.

The very sight had you ready to run right back to Ms. Ruby Jane but you were frozen in place. 

He took a slow step forward, finding his legs and maneuvering in a jerky awkward fashion that grew more steady with each step. " ..My cre..ator" His voice was louder this time, trying to find the right volume, the right way to put together the sounds. 

Cyrus looked back down at you. And he smiled a wide joyful smile that made any thoughts of running stop. You watched as his new-formed mouth moved and shifted as if trying to mimic the way your mouth moved whenever you spoke. A rumbling voice rose from his chest as he tried to speak. "..m...My. cre..a..tor."

The words made any sense of dread vanish. Confusion and awe were all that remained. "What are you trying to say?" you questioned with a gentle tone, encouraging him to try again.

You took a few steps forward, an arm reaching out as he stumbled, ready to catch him. "Try again, Cyrus. You can do it," Your eyes shown with clear excitement and fondness for the creature in front of you. 

He looked to your outstretched hand and reached for it, slowly, cautiously, figuring out the movements as he went. "My," Cyrus managed another step, now only a foot away and having stopped walking. He slowly maneuvered his other arm, reaching out a glove stuffed hand to carefully touch your cheek in wonder. "Creator." Cyrus wore a proud grin over having found the words. 

You, in shared delight quickly wrapped the scarecrow in a tight hug, able to lift him off the ground and spin circles with ease. "Atta boy, Cyrus!" You set him back down and grabbed his hands.

Cyrus seemed to only grow in enthusiasm over your response, grin growing wider as he began repeating the phrase, allowing himself to fall forward into your arms once more. He finally fell silent, wrapping hay stuffed arms around you, completely content to settle into your hug for a good bit.

You couldn't find it in yourself to complain, still beaming, you held him tight, pride welling up in your chest. "Good job, Cyrus."

[thepaperpanda]

In The Haystack || Arthur Morgan x Reader Smut

Summary: When there's storm coming during your trip with Arthur, both of you decide to take a little stop in an old barn. Things get pretty steamy between two of you. 

Warnings: smut

Words: 2969

Authors: Cass & Rouge

There was a steadiness to you, as if all the storms in the world were a whispering breeze if you were there. You were kind and clever, perhaps that's what drew people to you. It was as if you knew you were born to be a queen of the earth, one who helped others, using brain to fix whatever needed fixing. A fierce independence of a woman was shown everytime you were around people and people were respecting you.

Even in the gang you were having your specific place. And you were feeling like being at home with all them around.

That trip was long and tiring but accompany of Arthur made it a little sweeter, time was passing by faster with familiar person you could have a conversation with.

You stopped your horses in the valley where you found and old barn, desolated and abandoned.

"This looks like a decent place to stay." Arthur said stopping his horse. "I can see the clouds, rain will be here soon."

He slipped off his horse and grabbed the reins to lead it inside. "I will make fire and prepare place to sleep. We will leave tomorrow's morning."

You nodded at his words and led your mare inside as well. "Great. There's a barrel as well. Some refreshing will be provided!," You clapped your hands and threw him a look. "I'll go gather some branches for later, we will be needing them during night."

"We sure will." Arthur simply nodded and went to take care of said things.

You both were hungry and tired after whole day on the horses' backs, night under a real, kinda leaky roof still would be nice.

____________

Fire was cracking when thunder roared not so far away from your hideout. You and Arthur were sitting on the hay pile talking and smoking cigarettes. ".... can you believe it though?!," You laughed loudly, your voice echoed from barn's walls. "This rat is fuckin' everywhere he shouldn't have been showing up."

Morgan laughed and shook his head. "Yea, I know. I never liked him and I still don't. I have a bad feelings about him but well, Dutch have his back." Arthur shrugged taking a drag of his cigarette. "So there is nothing I can do 'bout that. Let's change subject." He patted his knee before laughing a little. "Did I ever tell you how Marston tried to learn swimming?"

"Of course you haven't?!," You blinked and chuckled. "I see that you keep the best parts to yourself, fella," sending him a smile you stretched a little.

It was getting darker and darker outside and you slowly was feeling tired.

"Nah, he didn't really try to learn. I can't even remember when Dutch found this feral kid. One day I saw him standing close to the river, I asked if he knows how to swim and he said he doesn't. So me bein' good, older brother simply trew him into the river." He giggled. "I had to pull him out though, and got scolded by Hosea but what I laugued was mine." He shrugged and nudged you with his elbow. "Hey, maybe ya wanna go to sleep, huh?"

You let out a loud laughter and put hand to your stomach, Morgan was making you laughing like crazy all the time. You raised hand and shook head as "no". "I need a bath. I'm sweaty and I won't go to sleep like this," you informed and got up.

Arthur blinked and laughed. "You can always go and take a bath outside." He pointed at doors with his cigarette.

It was raining really hard outside. "Sorry but I ain't going out there." He added.

You only smiled at him and soon you vanished within the darkness of further part of barn.

As you got to opposite, huge, wooden gate, you peeked out to see a wall of rain.

You started to unbutton your flannel, checkered shirt and you out it on the old box nearby. Then you stripped from your patched pants and panties and simply walked out to stand in cold rain, letting it wash every sin of yours away.

"You will get cold, Y/N! I ain't gonna ralun to town to get meds for ya!" Arthur yelled still sitting in his spot, observing you.

You only waved hand at him as you brushed your wet strands with fingers. It was nice to feel fresh after entire day of the trip.

You slipped hand between your thighs, you felt some instant urge of touching yourself. You turned head to see the light of campfire in the opposite part of barn and figure of Arthur who was still laying comfortable in hay. You smiled to yourself.

Arthur placed the cigarette between his lips and got himself comfortable on the hay. Smiling to himself he watched the show because why the hell not? No man would let such an oppurtinity to slip away. Taking that he was sweet on you made it even more pleasing despite fact that he shouldn't do this.

It was strange yet nice to be thinking about Morgan in THAT exact way. In a way woman thinks of a man when she gets to bed at night. Fact that you and Arthur were close friends wasn't making it easier though.

You slowly played with yourself your head rolled aside, one hand massaging your breasts while other was playing with your sweet spot.

Arthur watched your every move, they were so gentle that they woke something in him. Something he never felt before or simply forgot how it really felt.

Getting up from the hay he slowly walked to the heavy door. He rested his arm on the frame and continued watching the show with arms crossed on his chest.

You looked at him briefly biting your lower lip. "You shouldn't be here, it's rude to be looking at lady in such a situation, ain't it?," You scolded him with a smile and never stopped your actions.

"Yet, the lady ain't afraid and doesn't try to cover herself as the most would do." He said gladly looking up and down at your naked body.

"I'm not like rest of girls you might have known," you smiled at him and moved hand from between your thighs to rested it on your belly.

"You for sure ain't. I knew one real lady, she even didn't let me touch her." He muttered and walked out into the rain."But yea, you are a different story."

"Better go back inside, I ain't going to go to the town to get meds for you when you'll catch a cold!," You tried to imitate his voice.

He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around you. "I am bigger and stronger than you. Cold ain't gonna stick to me." Arthur said easily picking you up.

Not being sure how to behave you wrapped arms around his neck. "Are you going to save me?," You chuckled quietly.

Arthur only chuckled and hummed soft 'yes', then he carried you back inside to the little bonfire.

You nuzzled instinctively to him, soon his shirt was wet as it absorbed wetness from your body.

Arthur placed you gown on the hey and smiled. "Ya know, I made fool out of myself many times in front of the ladies but..." He sighed deeply, rubbing bridge of his nose. "I fancy you, Y/N."

You smiled at h and slipped hands into his hair. "Do you?," You whispered through parted lips. Your eyes were glistening in the dim light of campfire.

"I do."

The answer was followed by a soft kiss full of emotions, showing you just how touch-starved he was and how much he needed you. Arthur's hips gently bucked as his arms wrapped around you.

You couldn't stop yourself from moaning his name softly and directly into his ear. You cupped his face on hands and placed kiss to his nose to attack his rough lips second later. You reached to his shirt and started opening it.

He hummed and quickly started to help you with underssing him, he was more than happy to do that.

Using all of your strength you rolled with him so he was laying on his back in the hey. Slowly yet solemnly you straddled him and ended unbuttoning his shirt. You opened it and tracer hands up and down his broad, hairy chest.

As you were straddling him you could easily feel the bulge growing within his pants.

Arthur looked at you with blush covering his cheek. Despite all of this he felt kinda emberassed by his excitment and eagerness but he bucked his hips a little and smiled. "You ain't fair, girl. On top of me, undressed, while I am still stuck in my clothes?"

You closed his mouth by a tender kiss as your free hand slipped between two of you, right under his pants. Wrapping hand around his half-erected cock you let out a hum of appreciation. "Gettin' harder just for me, fella?," You smirked. "You want me to play with you a little? Do you want me to wrap that skilled mouth around it?," You were whispering into his ear, nibbling onto his earlobe from time to time as your hand pumped around his shaft slowly.

Arthur kissed you back and gasped when your hand wrapped around his cock. "It's kinda hard to... Not get hard when I have such a beautiful lady on top of me..."

You sent him a smile. "Oh, stop with all the bullshit, darlin'. I know you were watching me at least two more times," you told as you kissed his jawline and moved down to suck a mark on his throat. Then, licking a trail, you moved to lick his nipples, one by one, you hand still pumping his cock, your thumb massaging his tip.

Arthur let out moan and wanted to say something but he looked up to see his horse staring right at him.

Animal only huffed and shook its head.

"Y-Y/N. I don't think I can... When it's lookin'." He said slowly.

You stopped within blink of and eye and looked up at man, then moved your glance to the horse. "Shhh! Go away! You have hey there!," You scoffed the animal and slowly kissed your way down Arthur's body.

But the horse didn't move at all it simple looked at both of you, moving its ears in different directions.

Arthur looked at you with mixed face. He didn't felt comfortable when being watched by someone, even if it was only a horse.

You looked up at Arthur again and rolled your eyes. You slipped hand out of his pants and got up. You grabbed horse's rains and slowly led it where your horse was. You tied rains to some old, metal rail and turned head away to look at Arthur. "Is it okay now?"

He sat up and nodded. "Yea, much better. Come here now." Arthur patted his lap.

You walked to him with a swing in your hips, turning head around to make sure horse was tied properly. You didn't want any interruption to happen again. You straddled man's lap again.

Arthur smiled and kissed you as his hands roamed your body. He kissed your neck and shoulder as his hands cupped your breasts.

As quickly as you could you slipped out of his grasp and undone his belt. Moving his fly open you tugged his pants down his legs and got off his lap only to pump your hand around his shaft harder than before. You leant down and wrapped your lips around his tip.

"Fuck..." He breatched out and let out a quiet moan, Arthur gently grabbed your hair so they wouldn't fall on your face. "Good girl."

You looked at him as your hand caressed his base while you slowly slipped his thick length down your throat. You bobbed head a little and gagged yourself with his cock, gasping for air as you pulled his member out of your mouth only to give him a proper strokes before spiting on it and slipping it back into your lips.

"Darlin'... That feels good but I want to fuck you." He almost whimpered.

"C'mon, Arthur. Put more effort in your begs and I'll consider letting you fuck my tight pussy," you teased before massaging his balls slowly.

Suddenly he flipped you both so you were under him. "I ain't gonna beg woman for anything." He growled.

You rubbed your cunt briefly and put your fingers into your mouth sucking on them. "So take it," you whispered looking at him.

Arthur smiled and kissed you, he wrapped your legs around his waist and then slowly guided his member inside of you, letting out a quiet moan.

With a groan you rolled head back, revealing your neck to him. "Oh, yeah...," You mumbled as you wrapped arms around his neck, pulling him into a tender kiss.

You pussy took his cock perfectly, sucking it deeply and covering it with your wetness. Your hand moved down your body to rub your clitoris few times. "You drive me crazy," you whispered.

Arthur started to kiss your neck while his hips moved nice, deeply and slowly into you. He let out a gasp followed by a quiet moan. "Ya are the one that drive me crazy. Everytime by lookong at me, touchomg me, just staying close to me." He groaned as his hips started to move faster, his arm was wrapped tightly around your waist.

You moaned into the kiss and moved hands to his wide back. You scratched him hardly, leaving bloody marks. "Keep on doing this, cowboy, and I'll fuckin' be yours forever."

"I hope so." Arthur growled and nuzzlee to your shoulder, focusing only on his thrusts.

Soon he raised his head only to come face to face with you mare. "Oh you fuckin' kidding me!" He said and grabbed his shirt to throw it on horse's head. "I won't get disturb now, not by ya."

You laughed loudly and smirked at him as you squeezed his buttocks. "Focus on me!"

"I gladly will." He smiled at you before pulling you into another long, needy kiss. "I am close, girl. Gonna fill you up nicely." Arthur hummed against your lips.

You tried to move you hips only to meet man's thrusts. His cock was stretching you oh so nicely. Rolling head back you let out a groan. "Harder," you gasped.

Arthur placed gently kisses on your neck as he gladly fullfilled you wish.

You smacked his buttocks a little and then moved hand back to spat on it. You stated to rub yourself after.

"You are taking me so good, I have no idea what I did to deserve you." Arthur purred into your ear. "C'mon, cum for me, girl."

Arthur didn't have to repeat twice. His voice was enough to send you to the edge. You rolled hips for him and your pussy clenched tightly around his shaft, making it impossible for him to back.

Arthur moaned as your pussy clenched around him. Such a good feeling made him cum right on place, filling you up.

You moaned his name and slipped hands in his hair tugging in them a little, pulling man into a kiss

Arthur smiled tiredly and kissed you back, pulling you even closer. He enjoyed the feeling of you being so close.

The door behind Arthur's back slowly opened. "Arthur? Amigo? Dutch ordered me to find you and miss Y/L/N and bring you back to camp because he..."

It was Javier, he looked insied just to get with a view of both of you being naked. He closed the door with a loud bang. "No tenía que ver esto! No voy a olvidar esto! Avisame la próxima vez!" Javier yelled outside the door.

Arthur looked at you and laughed.

You covered your mouth to muffle your laughter. Even though you were blushing like a teenage girl who was caught by father on something bad, you enjoyed it. "Javier! What the fuck?!," You screamed loudly nuzzling to Arthur. "First horses, now him. Ah!"

"Dutch ordered me to get the two of you! That's all!" Man yelled.

Arthur kissed side of your head. "I guess we have to get dressed. Dutch doesn't like to wait."

"And I don't like to be waiting for you to touch me," you teased stroking his abdomen. "I'm touch-starved.

"I can clearly see that." Arthur kissed you one last time before pulling his flabby cock out from you. He got up and grabbed shirt from your horse's head. "That's mine."

You gasped sadly at emptiness in your pussy but you also for up and looked for your clothes.

After dressing up, Arthur found a little moment to hug you from behind. "Thank you" He whispered before kissing your shoulder.

You enjoyed his touch, so soft and tender and deep inside you knew it was something new happening between two of you. And you were oh so willing to know where it will lead

Javier wasn't happy when the two of you came out. "You two couldn't wait! I will be seeing your naked ass every time I close my eyes, Arthur!"

"And you'll think to yourself what a wonderful butt he has," you patted Javier's shoulder with a smirk.

He laughed and shook his head. "No, thanks. I will think to myself what a wonderful body you have, miss Y/L/N." Javier said, looking at you.

You blushed and pulled hat down to cover your reddish face

Arthur laughed and pulled it back up. "Ya better keep it on your head, not face. It's hard to ride like that, trust me, I tried."

During way back to the camp you were constantly glaring at Arthur. Oh Lord, how much you loved that fella.

Pandies🐼: @imidarogerson @grossograsso @thewildgardensstuff @leven-and-ashley @la-verdura @bearded-steve-rogers @sebbystan-plantlover @atuckyismylife @krispyjellyfishzombie @personality-within @haseki-huricihan  @choppedgardenwhispers @vroobelek @lattimelka @chris-beamz @hidden-secrets69 @purepearls @volcanoxxx @kastrup-sofie @mikkal-akasaki @withoutashadowofhope @radbluebirdeagle @marvel-fan-site @smutloversblog @buquete @super-psycho-love69 @tanglesss @peter-sommer @baysidewest @vegemania @philip-stan @chodiusmmm @subwaystunnel @tykorclint @dagger-dragger @kurant @nothing-can-least-forever @oxfordkipem @deliciousbouquet90 @tuptuptup @hellenna80 @karina-marina9 @latimeriaaa @bratko @wurld89 @scott-evans @kiss-me-rouge @ovonel-espaniol @dancing-tacco @ratugadhi @white-tiger-shangrila  @axn69 @eternal-life-awaits @mrs-laura-harmon @artsy-inside @gleeeeees  @darkllaama @jatut @agawux @fuzzy-tigrrr @jrjohnsson2 @maaargoshaaa @dontgetmewrongman @einexx @nwmtagsb @anini71 @secretlygrantaire @kyloren-supreme-ben @infinity-stones-seeker @thehappyspider @wings4life @huxyluxy @dontbeafraidchild @misafiryanki @electronicpatrolcollective @thisismysecrethappyplace @aulika @hidden-secrets69 @a-happy-wolf @creative-seahorse @biologyforliving @arthurmorgan-bae​

[starshineandbooks]

It’s not much, but it’s a start - Chapter one

summary- The third instalattion in many more of the Sanders sides soulmate AU I have made, This is my house in projectingville,I invite you all over.Virgil has a bad discussion with his just made ex, and his siblings get him out, Logan taking his triplet to a flower shop their sister said to go to.It ends much better than it starts!

Pairings- Romantic Moxiety, Mentioned Logince and Demus

Warnings - implied/refrenced abuse (It’s not there much but it’s there a little), Screaming, think that’s it

Ao3

Virgil has had more than enough, eyes wide as his beloved boyfriend- ex his mind supplies, screams at him.

“You’re crazy! Why would I stay with you?! You make everything harder, and you stifle me! You aren’t even my soulmate! I wasted years on you!” Micheal growls.

“I-”

“Are you raising your voice to my brother?” A woman asks, stepping between Virgil and Micheal, the former barely recognizing her before Logan is gently leading Virgil away from the situation.

“Excuse you? Which freak are-”

“Shut your mouth now, sugar, wouldn’t  want you to lose any more knowledge with that flappin’ hole of yours.”

“Why you little-”

Virgil is out of earshot, and Logan is guiding him into a car, Logan’s car maybe? No, Roman’s then. 

“Virge?”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it isn’t. What happened?”

“I- I don’t know.”

“Okay. Okay, come on, We’ll take you to a safe place, come on.”

“What?”

“Bia’s always praising this place, come on now.”

Virgil stays quiet while Logan starts the car, leaving the parking lot of the restaurant quickly, long-distance might have been a mistake. But he’s here now. Oh who’s he kidding, he deserved this-

Virgil is suddenly walking into the door of a shop, the setting looks familiar, but where is he?

“I’m sorry kiddos, but we’re closed.” A voice calls from somewhere.

“I’m sorry, my sister Bia said if something happened tonight-”

“Hold up, Bia?” A laugh and a small man with wild curls appear from behind a floral display, “Why didn’t you say so? Oh, She’s so sweet, she’s all the time drawing me pretty flowers!”

“She’s what?”

“Yeah, she stacked courses, graduated, changed courses, she’s the lady who runs that tattoo parlor down the street, isn’t she? Bia Storm-Blacke?”

Logan nods, “Yes, you must be Patton then?”

“Logan?”

“Yes.”

“You look just like her. Or she looks just like- Sorry. Oh- honey,” Patton says gently and Virgil chokes a little, it’s too similar to his sister and mom, comforting and gentle, soothing like aloe on a burn, “Are you okay?”

Virgil, shaking and realizing he’s crying, shakes his head, no use lying. He’s always hated it anyway.

“Oh- C’mere,- Can I hug you?”

Virgil suspects that this Patton gives very nice hugs, and if his sister really did say to come here Patton can’t mean harm.

So, Virgil nods slowly, holding his arms out slightly, only to be pulled into a tight, oddly comforting hug despite not really knowing Patton.

Logan watches, hands clapped just so, barely fiddling with Roman’s class ring that’s a little too big but sits on Logan’s thumb.

Virgil’s skin tingles where Patton touches him through his clothes, and he jerks away as soon as it registers, eyes wide. 

He did not just lose Micheal to find his soulmate, that can’t be. Virgil loved Micheal, maybe Micheal yelled a lot, and maybe it was a work in progress, And maybe Virgil had or hadn’t deserved it, but he loved Micheal. With everything he’d had. Right?

Except, his mom hadn’t deserved his biological dad. Virgil has some thinking to do, but he can’t have met his soulmate so suddenly.

Patton stares wide-eyed at his arms, the tips of his fingers halfway up his upper arms is splattered like ink stains with purple and sky blue and a gentle gold with bright silver. A mess of colors and Virgil can’t help but know that it’s the right balance of each, can’t help the slight buzz in his mind at the mark claiming this undeniably pretty flower shop worker as his soulmate.

“Oh my goodness,” Patton breathes softly, eyes seeming to well with tears, or maybe that’s Virgil again.

“Fuck me,” Virgil grits, wrapping his arms around himself.

“Oh- I’m sorry,” Patton whispers. 

“What- it’s not your fault you dense bitch.” Virgil rolls his eyes, but flinches at the crumpling of Patton’s face, the face of a stranger that he is supposedly made for.

“I uh- I’d like to get to know you more if you want. But- I can’t offer you a relationship right now... But, I’d like friends, more later if we want it, but I think- friends maybe?”

Logan has his head tilted, one hand on Virgil’s shoulder.

Virgil swallows, at least Patton doesn't seem to want a romantic relationship right now, that’s nice. “I- uh- I’m in town for a bit, visitn’ my sister, wanna grab coffee tomorrow?”

“I know a nice place, it’s just down the road, the owner’s a little- silly, but it’s a good place,” Patton says gently.

“I’d like that,” Virgil says softly.

“I’m glad. Uh- I can open shop later, how eight-thirty tomorrow morning work for you? You can totally bring someone else too! I know- I’ve been told I can be a lot. And-”

“I might bring one of my siblings.” Virgil says then, “But- If Bia trusts you, you’re probably not horrible. Probably.”

“O-oh.”

“Uhm- You Okay Patton?”

“Oh- yeah! I’m okay.”

“Okay,” Virgil says, not believing it, but not pushing. He doesn't have that right yet anyhow.

“Well, congratulations to you two.” Logan says simply, “I wish you both luck.”

“I- thank you?” Patton blinks, looking to Logan as if surprised Logan is there at all.

“You are welcome. Now, I’ve been told if I come, to ask you for roses, lavender, and chamomile?”

“Oh, Bia’s usual order, uh sure. And- It looks like you two have had a rough night, Pick out any dozen flowers you like, for each of you, the order and the dozen flower sets will be on the house tonight.”

“Oh- Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” Patton says softly, “Now, get a wiggle on kiddo, if someone made you cry like that I imagine your sister will be here any minute to coddle you.”

Virgil laughs softly, “You know here pretty well huh?”

“Oh yeah, she talks about you guys a lot actually.”

“Oh?”

“Says she misses you guys.” Patton shrugs, “And that you had decent music taste.”

Vigil laughs softly, a little shaky, but it makes Logan's lips quark, glad to see his triplet happy.

Patton hums, “You’re cuter than she said y’know?”

“What?” Virgil gapes, eyes wide.

“Bia, she tells everyone who’ll listen how cute you are, says you’re like a black kitten trying to scare others.” Patton’s voice is bubbly, and Virgil can’t help the indignant hitch his shoulders take.

“She what?!”

“She has a duo of friends that live up here with her, Jan’s backed her up, and Remus is usually- making food of some kind or other.” Patton shrugs, “I’m not really sure how they could be so vehement you’re adorable, and so under informing me of it too.”

Virgil scoffs, “I’m not cute!”

“You are, Virge,” Logan’s voice is seemingly cold, as usual, but Virgil recognizes the slight teasing lilt to it.

“I am not!”

“Yeah! What he said, probably!” A woman cheer as the door jingles happily, “Hey Patt, I see you’ve met my brothers?”

“Oh, hey B!” Patton calls, “I have, they’re very sweet.”

“Take it back,” Virgil hisses.

“Oh, they’re somethin’ alright,” Bia laughs, walking around the corner and Virgil sobers immediately.

“So, how are you today Patt?”

“Better than whoever got a hold of you three I’d imagine,” Patton goggles, “You want an Ice pack?”

“Nah, Remus and Jan can play patch up, I gotta get these two back to my place so they can sleep.”

Virgil stares at his sister, a bruising cheek and jaw, bloodied nose, a slight limp, another fight. This time with Micheal.

“He- did that?”

Bia turns, then shakes her head, “No, he yelled. His brother showed up and started fighting me because of some stupid, bigot reason or other. Now, you two are doing any better?”

“Oh, yes. Virgil found his soulmate!” Logan chirps, “Isn’t that great?”

Virgil glowers at the ground.

Bia looks between the brothers, then to a wilting Patton, “Lo, I don’t know. They’ve both had a really hard week, just- not every soulmate is romantic, lots are, some aren’t.”

Logan shrinks to himself slightly, “O-oh.”

“Hey, you didn’t do anythin’ wrong baby, come on, chin up or I’ll summon a Roman.”

Logan snorts, “Oh, yes.”

“She’ll do it,” Virgil says simply.

“I might get a duke, but it’s the thought that counts.” Bia nods sagely, turning to Patton, “And if you need me to go fight that- interestin’ lady I’ll do it. I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”

Patton shakes his head, “No, I’m okay. It just- I just need time.”

Bia nods, “Well, we should be gettin’ outta your hair, see you later Patty.”

“Bye hon.” Patton waves, watching as Bia leads her siblings out of the shop with gentle hands and biting remarks of taunting between triplets. 

Bia hums, “So, Patton huh?”

Virgil rolls his eyes, “Is apparently the soulmate that Micheal broke up with me over.”

“I’m sorry honey.”

“It’s-” Virgil sighs, “I don’t wanna talk about it, can we just go?”

“Sure, Ree and Jay will be thrilled to see you. You guys aren’t still fightin’ are ya?” Bia asks.

Virgil grumbles, “Noo… We don’t talk much but- we’re- we made up, we’re friends again.”

“That’s great, now, up the apartment stairs you go!”

“What- where do you- this is your place?!”

Bia nods, stopping in front of the doors to a brick apartment building, “Yep!”

“How? Isn’t it rough, it’s downtown?”

“Not as bad as you'd think, especially livin’ with Jan and Ree.” Bia shrugs.

“Oh god.” Virgil groans, getting into the elevator, “How are you still sane?”

“Bold of you to assume I ever was. Now, showers and to bed.” Bia says simply.

------- Next chapter

Okay, this is a little update/ author’s note feel free to skip!

I am writing the remile wedding fic

I’m editing the demus fic as well

Bia is a recurring character, if you want a fic focused on her, or any other ocs later, let me know, they like attention and keep trying to take over scenes.

I have sevral ideas, but Tumblr is a hell site and school is hitting full force, so I have less time to write.

[maybe-your-left]

Cowboy Blues: Its a Date, Or Is It?

Settling into a new routine has always been hard. You were so happy back in North Carolina. Well, happy was kind of a stretch, but you were comfortable. Everything was familiar and felt like home. Even after the falling out with Josh… boy was he someone you didn’t miss. The long nights of tears and screams followed by hours of pain and suffering. You cried tears of relief and unrelenting joy when the judge granted your restraining order. The next day you packed up all that was left of your life and got a new job at a clinic in West Virginia. 

Your alarm clock woke you from your thoughts, sighing before swinging your legs outta bed and making your way to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror was so different nowadays. No longer did you have to hide your face with layers of concealer to hide the shame from others, your (Y/E/C) eyes weren’t obscured by the burst blood vessels from repeated abuse. You could finally have your hair in whatever style you liked, not having to follow Josh’s rules of how a “lady was supposed to look and act”. Quickly washing your face from all the grime on your pillow you pulled your hair back into a messy braid with a bun atop your head. Throwing on some new scrubs, you grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and rushed out to your car. Earl had gotten it all fixed up in a couple of days and dropped it off so you didn’t have to take the bus to work anymore. It took you all but fifteen minutes to arrive in front of the clinic, the head vet tech was there smiling at you when you walked up. 

“Morning Doctor (Y/L/N)!” 

“Good morning Shelby, you’re here early today. I’m usually the only one who gets in at 7.”

Shelby let out a breath you didn’t know she was holding and opened the door for you. Waltzing in you started flipping on lights to begin opening up. 

“Well, I got a phone call from the emergency pet line while I was getting ready for work so I just let him know to get here at 7 when you showed up” her voice trailed off while she stared out the front windows. You walked over to Shelby and stared out the window to see what she was looking at. Suddenly a car pulled into the parking lot and a man rushed out of the driver’s side. He crossed over the front of the vehicle and picked up something rather large and rushed to the front door. 

“He got here fast didn’t he?” Shelby spoke up. 

Turning towards the back entrance you let Shelby check in the man. You were setting down your bag in your office, getting your supplies ready for whatever emergency he was bringing with him. 

“Sure thing, can you tell me again what happened to him? I need to make sure Dr. (Y/L/N) knows before we take him from you.” Shelby said as calmly as she could. It was clear that the man was panicked, his voice was strained like he had been crying for some time. Walking back into the lobby you stopped dead in your tracks. Before you stood none other than Clyde Logan. Your knight in shining armor, your rescuer from weeks ago.  You cracked a smile, eyes searching his pained expression. He seemed to be at a loss for words, or he didn’t remember who you were. That thought stung since this wasn’t the first time you had thought about him since you departed. You thought about the embarrassing moment where you caught him coming out of the shower. If you were bolder you would’ve ripped that towel right off of him and rode him instead of El Wood. You had spent many nights in bed sweating up a storm thinking about his rough hands massaging and caressing you while whispering in your ear what a pretty cowgirl you were. Imagining how his muscular arms would hold you up against the wall while you chanted his name over and over and over again. You let out an audible whimper when you were shoved back into reality when Shelby spoke up again. 

Like throwing a cold bucket of water over you, you realized he was here for an emergency and the only dog you saw on that property was Leroy. You rushed over to Clyde’s side and peeked under the blanket that was cradling the poor thing. Clyde’s chest rose in shallow breaths as you looked over Leroy. It appeared he was still breathing but like his owner, he was only getting in shallow breaths, his fur was matted and spots of blood were visible through the patches of fur around his neck. 

“H-he got out this mornin’ an I found him fightin’ with a snake… I got it off a him but…” Clyde trailed off and looked at you with tears in his eyes. He choked back what seemed like a sob when you motioned for him to follow you to the back rooms. 

-----

Clyde left the clinic at about 10, the nurses assured him that Leroy was doing okay and that Dr. (Y/N) would make sure to call him when it was time to pick him up. He had spent all morning in the lobby pacing, panicking, dreaming of the worst possible scenario for his lil’ buddy. He had gotten Leroy when he moved out of Jimmy’s place to the family ranch. His sole companion that was with him day and night was now hurt because Clyde hadn’t checked for snakes before lettin’ him out. 

He left his number at the front desk along with the number for Duck Tape in case he didn’t answer at home when they called. He wasn’t sure where he was headed but he mindlessly made it to Mellie’s salon. Maybe a haircut would calm his nerves, after the traumatic moment with Leroy, he also had seen that girl again. He wasn’t sure why he was blessed that day to come upon such a fine young lady but he was thanking his lucky stars every night for the moments they shared. Being a southern gentleman and all he tried to keep his “unsuitable” thoughts outta his mind but there was something about her. 

Walkin’ into the salon Mellie smiled at him and motioned for him to sit in the chair. Draping him in the cloth and brushing his hair Clyde finally started to relax. 

“I didn’t know you were gonna come in today Clyde”

“Wasn’ plannin’ on it Mel,” Clyde said barely above a whisper, “I was in town already and needed a trim.” 

After a long pause, Mellie brought Clyde to the sink to wash his hair. Heatin’ up the water to a warm sudsy temp, using the tea tree shampoo as he likes. 

“Leroy’s at the vet. Got caught by a snake this mornin’.” Clyde finally said, “Got him there until they call n’ say it s’okay to bring him home”. 

Mellie hummed in response, she never pushed Clyde to talk more than he needed to, unlike Jimmy. She was truly just there to listen and support him whenever he needed it. 

Finishing up at the sink he got up and sank back down in front of Mellie’s mirror as she started trimming away. Clyde had finally begun to relax after telling Mellie about Leroy when she piped up. 

“Earl said you had a girl at the house the other day”. 

Clyde's eyes nearly popped outta his head. Earl knew better than to be tellin’ Mellie bout’ girls, Clyde was never one to hold a secret but Mellie always tried to work her “Mellie Magic '', which usually ended in him gettin’ his heartbroken. 

“He said she was quite a looker, want to tell me where you found her? Or should I just keep cutting hair until you talk?” her smirk on her face was evident even if Clyde wasn’t making full eye contact. The scissors she held were dangerously close to his ear, threatening to cut the hair coverin’ em too short. “I don’ know what yer talkin’ bout”. 

“Is that your final answer Clyde?”

Eyes darting between Mellie and her scissors he knew he would have to cave or else he would suffer having a bowl cut for the next few months. “Her car broke down outside the house, I couldn’ jus let her walk off”.

“And what���s her name?”

“(Y/N)”

“That’s a pretty name, never heard of her. Is she new?”

“Not sure, she didn’ say. But she works as a vet where Leroy’s at.”

“Have you made a move on her?”

Clyde pauses before answering, he wasn’t sure he wanted to share with his little sister about how (Y/N) barged in on him naked after a shower. She would get the wrong impression. The last thing Clyde needed was Mellie thinkin’ bout’ him and (Y/N) naked, not that he would mind it.

“Clyde, don’t go all moony-eyed on me, have you asked her out yet?

“O’ course not” Clyde spit out. He couldn’ imagine doin’ that, what if she said no? He wasn’ sure he could take her rejection. 

“Why don’t you ask her to the bar? Get her a couple of drinks so she meets people in town.” 

Clyde swallowed, it did seem like a good idea in theory. Nothin’ could go wrong at his

bar. He would be in control of the situation. Not saying another word Mellie finished his hair cut n’ he left to get the bar ready to open. 

-----

The rest of your morning was uneventful after the Leroy emergency. Taking him from Clyde had been heartbreaking, to say the least. The man looked like he was going to pass out when he told him he couldn’t stay back while you worked on Leroy. Apparently he had been pacing the lobby and wouldn’t sit still for longer than ten minutes. The nurses told you he came up to the counter and asked about Leroy every time he sat back up from his seat. It was cute how much he cared about his dog, not many pet owners stay when they drop off their animals, but Clyde stayed until finally, Shelby convinced him to go stretch his legs. 

At about 3 you checked in on Leroy and he was happy as can be, you could hardly believe he was bitten by a snake near hours ago. He was so glad to see you, he clearly remembered you, unlike his owner. It was time to call Clyde and let him know he could come pick him up. You also got to go home and rest after a long day's work once Leroy was sent on his way. 

Dialing the house number you waited… “This s’ the Logan Ranch leaves a message.” Beep. 

Ugh, you guessed you had to try the second number, whatever Duck Tape was you had heard it many times to know that Clyde was a regular. 

Ring, Ring, Ring… ugh come on pick up. 

“Duck Tape bar, this s’ Clyde.”

Clearing your throat you replied, “Hey Clyde it’s (Y/N) at Community Animal Hospital, I just wanted to let you know Leroy is here and ready to go home.” Smile beaming through the phone you hoped that by saying your first name Clyde would remember you. 

“Thank y’ very much. I’ll be there soon I’m jus’ down the road' ' Clyde blurted out and hung up quickly. 

Sighing you went back and got Leroy ready to be discharged. Letting the nurses and other staff members go home while you waited for Clyde. Sitting behind the front desk you waited with Leroy sitting between your knees while you scratched and pet his head. 

No more than five minutes had passed before Clyde strode through the door. You hadn’t been able to get a good look at him this morning but now here he was in all his glory. A dark-gray button-up smartly tucked into denim wranglers adorned his broad chest. His beard seemed better cleaned up compared to this morning and his hair seemed a little shorter, not that you paid that much attention to his ebony locks. 

“Hi again sunshine”. 

His words melted your bones, the sickly sweet nickname he called you echoed in your ears each time you fell asleep. Shaking yourself out of the trance he put you in you spoke up, “Hey Clyde, I got Leroy right here for you. Let me just walk you through the medicine he will be on for a few days”. You walked your way around the counter and stood to his right. You immediately noticed how much bigger he was up close, your eyes barely reaching to his shoulders. You had to strain your neck to look at his face. And what a face it was, covered in little freckles and moles you resisted the urge to touch them all. His eyes bored holes into your soul, stealing the air out of your lungs. It was like two perfect pools of brown amber were right there for you to dive into. 

“What’ll I be givin’ him now?” Clyde’s voice jerked you from his face back to the paperwork in front of you. 

“Oh yeah, he just will be taking a couple of these” you lifted the green pill bottle towards Clyde “Twice a day for 3 days until the swelling goes down. After that just use sparingly if he starts itching at it. There is also some gel to put on the sores that need to be done every night before he goes to sleep and that won’t stop until they go away”. Clyde nodding in response to your instructions. A smile pulled at his lips when you finished. 

“I can’t thank y’ enough fer helpin’ Leroy. I don’ know how I can repay y’.” 

“Well I’m a doctor, it’s in my job description” you smiled up at him. After what felt like hours he spoke again. 

“Well’m a bartender so why don’ I get you a couple a rounds on the house tonight?” 

You were intrigued, you hadn’t planned on going out but it was a Friday and all you were going to do at home was watch Netflix and possibly touch yourself to the thought of Clyde. Now you had the chance to, maybe, touch him for real. 

“Uh sure, I’d love to come by”. 

“See y’ at 10?” 

“It’s a date” you blurted out without realizing what you said, not wanting to take it back you just gave him a nervous smile. He said nothing as he gathered up Leroy’s supplies and called him out to his car. 

TAGLIST: @finn-ray-nal-beads @morby @kirah36

authors note: I am having so much fun writing this you guys have no idea. Also be ready for smut *saddles up* 

[ufonaut]

Sportsmaster/Icicle + ISA - OBLIVIOUS -"What does Crusher have to do to make Jordan understand what he wants? After dropping numerous hints, Crusher decides that subtlety is not his style." [BONUS POINTS: The other ISA members thoughts during Crusher's prowl. Amused Paula, Haughty Henry (He's been dropping hints for YEARS and all this blonde lunk has to do is flex, dafuq!?!?!?!! and a reluctant Ito who unwittingly gets caught up in it all]

i (unfortunately) present sportcicle: origins. takes place somewhere early on

---

“I’m just saying, babe, if I died I’d want you to be gettin’ it on, y’know?” Larry says, momentarily muffled underneath the resounding crack of the nose he’s just broken. Councilman Spencer’s face, meet bat.

Guaranteeing William Zarick’s reelection is the work of minutes, playing with the would-be candidates-- well, Larry can go all night. Steven’s even agreed to watch the kid, on the one condition that Artemis refrains from pulling on Juniper’s tail. Repeating last time’s unpleasantness, and both cat and girl had been firmly at odds with each other then, would supposedly result in a lifetime ban from the Sharpe household. It’s hard to tell whether Larry minds.

“Yeah but you’re... you,” Paula helpfully offers, hypnotising in full Tigress regalia, as she delivers a roundhouse kick to the councilman’s gut. It’s their third in two nights and particularly pathetic, if the whimpering’s anything to go by. “It’s been, what, three years? Jordan’s probably still moping around. He’s one of those.”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Someone’s gotta step up and--” Their target’s started sniffling through the usual promises of please, I’ll do anything and other sob stories. Larry’s heard it all before. “Do you mind? I’m trying to have a conversation here, pal!” He nods to Paula and finds that the crossbow does a more than sufficient job of shutting up the councilman.

Playtime’s over sooner than intended.

“God, that always gets me going,” Larry laughs and wraps an arm around Paula while he’s at it, relishing in her answering smile.

---

For the most part, he lets it simmer. There’s missed opportunities every now and again, vague frustration when lingering hands and obvious glances lead nowhere but, ultimately, fact of the matter is that Larry always gets what he’s gunning for. It’s that simple.

Couple weeks after Paula encourages him to keep at it, not that he’s in dire need of the reassurance, Larry finds his footing.

He’s been patient enough, he thinks, well accustomed to stalking his prey.

“Larry, you’re-- very early,” Jordan remarks, shuffling whatever paperwork he’d been working on a couple more times than would be deemed strictly necessary. He’s looking right at home in the here and now, all immaculate in his suit and tie, sat at the table that takes up the vast majority of the ISA meeting room. Very little of the damp and drafty tunnels reaches them.

“You know me, love them meetings.” Larry’s grinning wide, shark-like and nearly giddy with a manic sense of victory. “And hey, call me Crusher.”

“Right.” Jordan nods. “Crusher.”

Dissatisfied with the art of subtlety, Larry helps himself to a seat right next to Jordan, dragging the chair along until there’s barely any space left between them. That’s more like it. “Listen, Icy, I think you know we gotta talk,” he says, amicably sing-song.

Perplexingly, Jordan stiffens, rigid like he’s bracing himself for a blow. Something to look into, then. Larry keeps on smiling. “If this is about Cameron drawing Artemis with horns, I don’t know what that’s about and I had a talk with him but, Lar-- Crusher, they’re in the second grade and it’s hard to explain these--”

“What? No!” Larry chuckles, shaking his head as he places a firm hand on Jordan’s knee. “Slow down there, bud,” he adds, bizarrely fascinated by the sting of ice underneath his palm.

“Oh.”

The cold, against reason, faintly recedes. If it’s emotion that gets Jordan freezing up, he’s willing to see what else he can inspire in him. “You know ol’ Crusher’s here for ya, right?” He rubs at Jordan’s knee as he meets his eyes -- blue on blue, though Larry’s bright with glee. “Say, if you’ve been feeling lonely lately, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”

Jordan, carrying all the allure of a cornered animal, looks down at Larry’s hand like he’s seeing it for the first time. He tries for a smile, though the act’s always looked painful on him. “I guess--”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh, listen, buddy, I just gotta tell you,” Larry starts, exceedingly indulgent in the way he’s managed to scoot even closer, “you don’t look good. I’m thinkin’ a trip to Ripped City would really work wonders on you. Get those muscles moving, right? I know a good workout always cheers me up.”

And maybe Larry’s got a different kind of workout in mind but he doesn’t let the thought deter him. The gym’s win is his, too. Then again, he’s sure he’s got Jordan all the same.

“I’ll, um, think about it,” Jordan allows and as he makes to stand up, Larry grabs his wrist. It’s a loose hold, functionally mild in the grand scheme of things. The glint in Larry’s eyes is anything but. There’s more Sportsmaster than Larry Crock in the way he’s holding himself, the predatory quirk of his smile -- rarely glimpsed beneath the mask.

“Or, and here’s an idea, I could make your mind up for you.” Out in the field, it might very well be a threat. Here, Larry merely tilts his head, perfectly genuine.

---

Jordan’s sitting on the table right in the middle of the ISA headquarters, legs spread wide to accommodate Larry standing between them. His hair’s a mess. “The meeting’s gonna start soon,” Jordan whispers, visibly breathless as he grips at Larry’s shoulder, fingers digging in when he’s rewarded with a kiss high up on his neck.

“C’mon, bud, we’re all friends here,” says Larry, grinning wide, as he steps back just enough to get a good look at Jordan and whistles. “Whoa, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

There’s patches of ice here and there, skin curiously gone crystalline where -- Larry assumes -- Jordan might ordinarily be flushed. If he’s finding it difficult to maintain eye contact, Larry’s got no such problems. He pulls him by his undone tie into a rough kiss, breathes some life into the frozen landscape of Jordan. It’s not too long until they part, Jordan’s lips gone all red. A moan escapes him when Larry offers a hand to grind into where he’s straining against the fabric of his pants. “Just what you needed, huh?” Larry asks, though he’s got an inkling of the answer already.

It’s then Jordan flinches at the not-so-distant conversation drifting through the tunnels. “Crusher, we need to-- stop. We need to stop,” he gasps out and he certainly reaches for Larry’s hand, a valiant effort when he’s sounding like it’s taken everything he’s got to give, but merely holds it in place, unwilling to let go.

Larry laughs, gleefully manic, and lets Jordan rock against him for a moment longer, considers unzipping him just as Dr. Ito steps through the door.

“Spoilsport,” he remarks, thoroughly amused.

Feeling especially generous, Larry even helps Jordan off the table, stealing one last kiss in the process. “You should come over! My turn to cook tonight and Paula says I do a mean grilled salmon,” Larry adds, perfectly casual.

There’s little Jordan can do but nod, eyes fixed on their arriving teammates.

[storytell]

twain - the river

“I’m bored.”

Said by the fourteen year old with messy hair and a sour expression as he lays down on the raft that seems to be on its last legs. It’s not surprising that it’s falling apart so quickly (how good can a fourteen year old really be at raft construction?) so much as it’s surprising that it hadn’t fallen apart sooner, and if the kid were smart, he’d really be setting aside some time to fix it. But he’s really, honestly, not the type of kid with common sense.

This is Mark Twain. Or, this will be Mark Twain, eventually. Right now, a new name like that is still just a passing thought in his mind. So, it’d be more fitting to say that this is Samuel Clemens, but his friends call him Sam. Or, they did. See, he’s in a little bit of a situation right now.

“That’s just your fault for not thinkin’ this kind of adventure is fun!” The floating doll-like thing who says that is Tom, and he very much doesn’t appreciate being referred to as a thing. Tom wears a smile like you’d wear your favorite outfit; with the express intention of showing it off to people. With pride. Feeling so absolutely in-your-element that other people can’t help be brought up with you. “Just think about it, Sam! We’ve got the whole wide world ahead of us! We can do anythin’ we want, like becomin’ bandits. You could be the best outlaw in the whole world.”

“Ain’t there only outlaws in the west?” Asks another floating doll-like thing. Huck, much like Tom, doesn’t really like being referred to as a thing either, but he’s not really the type to protest against stuff like that. He’s always been the quietest of the three. 

“No, you’ve got it wrong. Outlaws can be anywhere, long as you’re good an’ dressed up like one!” Tom again, always sure of himself and his own perspectives.

“Alright then, Tom, if you say so...”

Of course, Sam stops listening around here, so there’s no point in carrying on with their conversation. He’s always had a bad attention span, see--it’s half the reason he kept getting kicked out of the schools his Pa tried to send him to. And, well, the other half...

“Would’ja just be quiet already? I wanna take a damn nap.” Huck and Tom, expectedly, stop their conversation for a second. Sam is sure they’re saying something to eachother, but even though he’s able to talk to ‘em through his head, they’ve always been able to talk to eachother without him. “Can ‘ya cut that out?”

Also as expected, it’s Tom who first takes an issue with this, putting a hand on his hip and gesturing wildly as he speaks: “Hey, what’s all that for? We’re just as bored as you are out here an’ you don’t see us gettin’ all pissy about it, do ‘ya? What, you wanna go back there or somethin’?”

Sam, sitting up now, draws his legs into his chest and locks his arms around them, burying the lower half of his face in his knees.

“No,” he says, in the way a child would after being admonished by their parents. But there’s something else behind his movements--such a reserved position is unusual for Sam on the best of days. It’s really only mentions of that goddamn house that make him want to curl up and die like he does right now. No matter how bored he is--and he hates being bored--there’s nothing anyone could do or say to get him back there. “We coulda done somethin’ better, though. Maybe if we’d taken the train--”

“--It’s safer this way.” Huck has always been the most rational of the three of them, along with the most quiet. So he takes his turn to speak up. “You saw how hard he was tryin’ to getcha to come back, Sam. He had your face plastered up on every signpost nearby ‘cause a missin’ child would look too bad for him. I’m sure there’s somethin’ out there on the internet, even.”

Sam doubts that. His Pa doesn’t know how to use the internet.

“If we took the train, we’dve gotten spotted in no time.” Huck is right, of course. Sam knows that. They’d been spotted early on, when they were still in Missouri, and while the person had been plenty nice, they’d have forced Sam to go home if he hadn’t screamed and cried to the streets that he was being kidnapped, forcing them to let him go and get out of there. 

“I know,” is all Sam says, defeated. And he knew that when he’d suggested it, too, but something in him thinks wholeheartedly that he would have had a much more fun time on the train.

The raft shifts uncomfortably under him as it hits a rough patch of water. Goddamn thing.

“We just gotta make it to Mississippi. Then we can get off this stupid raft an’ take a bus to Texas or somethin’.” Although Sam is the one speaking, he’s not really responding to Huck’s concern, or Tom’s admonitions. He’s talking to himself, a reassurance that things aren’t always going to be this droll. “We’ll... We’ll get the money somehow.”

Two days ago, they’d lost the ziploc bag Sam had hastily shoved hundreds of dollars in cash stolen from his Pa in. No matter who the blame ended up being placed on, the fault lay mostly with Tom, but Sam has already let go of the grudge he said he would hold forever.

“That’s what I’m sayin’, you’ve really gotta be an outlaw! That way you’ll make tons ‘a money!” Tom’s words are earnest; he really believes what he’s saying. A week ago, Sam might have, too. “There’s nothin’ better than robbin’ a bank. Me an’ Huck are gonna be your accomplices!”

He nudges Huck, who nods seriously. Sam almost wants to laugh.

“Yeah, alright, then. Let’s plan a heist.” 

He’s not serious. But Tom’s eyes light up and he starts excitedly talking about how he’s planned for this day his whole life, Huck hanging on to his every word. The raft threatens to break once more as Sam lays back down on it, arms and legs spread out. He decides not to tell them he wasn’t serious, for now.

[thatssonanii]

Just the Two of Us (16)

HAHN AU

Charles had given Lainey and her brothers a short tour of the governor's mansion before they settled in the living room. The conversation seemed to be going well which Lainey was glad for.

"Aye, don't you need to call your friends." Zion suggested nudging his sister's leg.

Lainey looked at him then her other brothers who were watching her. Grabbing her phone, she got up and kissed Charles cheek before leaving the room. She went upstairs to the room she'd picked and called Melissa.

"I'm so damn mad at you," Melissa said as soon as she answered.

"I aint did shit to you, girl." Lainey laughed.

Melissa mimicked her laugh. "You on speaker, Marcie's right here and yes you did. While you gettin some, me and Marcie gon be at this boring ass dinner party."

"I'm not getting anything, I'm just spending time with Charles."

Marcie sucked her teeth, "Girl, please. As soon as your brothers leave its gonna be showtime. Get some for the two of us too."

Lainey laid back on the bed laughing loudly. "Marcie, you got turbo and Mel, you got the bitch. Yall will live."

Marcie laughed and whispered into the phone, "Mel doesn't want the bitch, she wants your brother. Bad."

"Too damn bad," Lainey responded playfully. "My brothers have morals. They're not side pieces."

"Did you hear that, Marcie? Brothers ... plural ... Cam included."

"Yall better stop looking at my brothers," she laughed, "Anyway, so he gave me my own room down the hall from him. Do yall think he did that cause my brothers here or he really wants me to sleep in a different room?"

"I think that he's being a gentleman. He's letting you know that if you're not comfortable sleeping in the bed with him, you can have your own space." Marcie explained.

"Uhuh and he's also leaving the door open for you. If you wanna go crawl into his bed then you can," Melissa added, "So you do just that. Crawl into that bed and onto him."

While they laughed and joke around on the phone, the men were having a serious conversation about Lainey.

"We not tryna be in yall business or nothing, we just care about our sister's well being and her safety," Cam explained calmly. "She's our biggest concern."

Charles nodded, he genuinely cared about their feelings. "And that's understandable. I assure you that your sister is safe with me. Whenever she's here, she may not like it but you're all welcome to come too."

Benny's mind went to the questions his sister asked him and he frowned. "I think you a good dude and all that but don't take advantage of my sister. Aight? Don't break her heart."

"Look, I have a little sister so I get it, I understand. I haven't and won't make your sister do anything she doesn't want to do. At this point in life, I'm not looking for short term, I'm looking at this relationship to be long term. Alaina is," Charles paused to smiled. He wiped his hand over his face trying to wash the blush away. "She special."

Zion, who had been sitting quietly with a slight mug in his face, cracked a smile. He was more about vibes, energy and listening rather than talking. He was not a man of many words.

"Grown ass man like you and she make ya ass blush like that? I trust you man. But don't fuck this up," Zion said quietly leaving the threat hanging in the air.

Charles nodded, "I got it. So ... we all good here?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lainey and Charles walked her brothers to the door together. Benny pulled her to the side to talk to her.

"Aye, you got what I gave you?" He said in a low tone.

"Ummm," she paused trying to think, "Oh the condoms? Yeah, they're in my bag."

Benny nodded letting their brothers know he was coming. "Aight. They're only for just in case, you don't gotta use em."

Lainey nodded and hugged her brother one more time. Once they were gone, Charles led her back to the living room and pulled her onto the sofa with him. He brought her hand to his lips.

"Happy you came?"

"Very. Thank you for putting up with my brothers, I know they're a lot and they're not the nicest."

Charles laughed, "We actually had a nice conversation. They were just worried about you and I cant say that I blame them."

Lainey eyed him carefully. "They threatened you, didn't they?"

"No, silly. The four of us have an understanding. I don't hurt you and they let you be. Hungry?"

"I ... how did you do that?"

Charles kissed her hand again still laughing. "I didn't do anything but talk to them. Now yes or no? Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. Want me to cook? I don't mind." She said about to get up.

Charles pulled her closer to him, nuzzling her neck before kissing her there. "No, I didn't ask you here to do that. This weekend is about us spending time together and me spoiling you. I'm taking you out."

"Out? Like out, out?"

"Yeah, beautiful. We're gonna go out to dinner and see where that takes us. Sound good?" He asked kissing her again.

"Uuumm...uhuh. Yeah it does," Lainey said slowly.

Charles nodded letting her go. "Alright ima give you some time to get ready. I'll be in my office when you're done, beautiful."

In Maxine, Melissa was standing off in the corner of the Montgomery living room sipping her drink and watching the people around her. Prior to this, her and Lainey had already had a conversation about Marcie's neighbors and they didn't like nor trust them. They felt that way about Randall as well.

"You came with Marcie, didn't you?"

Melissa stared at the two women that approached her. "Yup, I did."

"You live around here or you work with her?"

Melissa had to fight the frown that wanted to show. "Who are you two?"

"I'm Esperanza and this is Natalie. What's your name?"

After being around the Herrington family, Melissa figured out real quick how to read people. And in the little interaction, she didn't like what she got from Esperanza and Natalie.

"Its Melissa. I don't live around here and I don't work with Marcie. She's my friend."

Natalie looked her up and down, "So where you from?"

Melissa didn't fight the frown this time. When she got ready to tell them, she saw Marcie rushing out the door. She gave them a less than pleasant smile and followed her friend. Following Marcie across the lawn and into the house, Melissa grabbed her friend's wrist as soon as they were in the house.

"Girl, you almost made me fall. Where's the fire?"

"I just had to get out of there before I slapped Randall's ass." She complained kicking off her heels. "I swear he almost makes the prison time worth it."

Melissa sat her glass down and approached her friend. "Hey, what's wrong? Seriously. You're never this angry, you're usually happy."

"We're in the kitchen talking about some damn trip Brad and Alex went on with Brad and he takes out his phone so I peek over and he's texting that bitch he's been cheating with. In front of my damn face!"

"Wait .. he what? He's been cheating? And you're still here?"

Marcie nodded pushing her hair behind her ears. "Yeah because we talked about it and he agreed that it was done."

Constant binging started to irritate Marcie, she grabbed Melissa's hand and pulled her along to the office space she shared with her husband and sat at the computer. Melissa leaned onto the desk watching her.

"What're you doing?"

"His messages. He has them hooked up to his computer still." Marcie pulled them up so they could read them. "Wait ... wait .... that bitch is at the party?"

Melissa scoffed, "Thats why his ass was so eager to go. Who is it? See if she sent him any pictures."

Marcie scrolled through the text thread but didn't see any pictures.

"What kind of name is 'Pepa' anyway? Sounds stupid."

"That's what he calls her," Marcie explained rolling her eyes. "You know what? Come on. We're going back."

"Yes! Let's go beat her ass!"

Marcie laughed getting up out of the chair. "No, girl. We're going back to see if we can figure it out who the bitch is."

"And then beat her ass?" Melissa asked following her out of the office.

Marcie slipped into a pair of flats shaking her head at her friend. "You have been around Lainey's little feisty ass too long. We are not beating anybody's ass."

Melissa rolled her eyes but agreed.

While the women looked around the dinner party, Lainey was laughing at the story Charles was telling her. He took her to a nice restaurant and made sure they were seated away from others but she was still able to see the restaurant.

"I swear thats how it happened. I got the scar on my back to prove it." Charles laughed picking up his glass to take a sip.

"A scar," she repeated trying to contain her laughter, "I bet you never jumped another fence."

Charles shrugged playfully sitting his glass back down. "I could say that but it would be a lie. I was rough as hell when I was younger, my mama got tired of having to patch me up."

"I bet she was. I wouldve been too, hell."

Charles licked his lips watching her. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt for her and how happy he was that she didn't turn him down. When she spoke to him, he could tell that she felt free and comfortable like she didnt have to hide and he could appreciate that.

"Are you listening to me?" She asked laughing.

"Honestly? No, I was just staring at you. I'm just happy you're here."

"I told you I was gonna come and I meant it. I wouldn't leave you hanging."

The smile on Charles' face grew as he leaned over to pull her chair next to his. She laughed and leaned against him. When Lainey went to say something, Charles cut her off with a kiss. The thought now long gone, Lainey kissed him back allowing him to push his tongue into her mouth. He put his hand on her thigh, squeezing it.

"Governor, I wasn't aware you were here with company. I guess I should've asked."

Pulling away with a groan, Charles turned his attention to his associate that stood at his table. His smile had turned into glare.

"What can I do for you, Jim?" He asked completely unenthused.

Jim gave a tight smile then looked at Lainey. "Well, well, you are that pretty little hair stylist. Lainey, right?"

Charles held his hand up when he heard Lainey start to say something not taking his eyes off Jim.

"This is Lainey, yes. And she's here with me. What can I do for you? I'm in the middle of dinner right now."

"Me and my ... companion were heading to our table and I just wanted to come and speak. Are uh you two a thing," Jim asked with a sly smile.

Charles chuckled to himself and stood, "Jim, we're cordial and associates through David. What I do in my personal life is none of your concern or business. Go on and have your dinner."

Charles held his hand out for Lainey and helped her out of her chair. He guided her in front of him and brushed past Jim.

"Keep that mansion warm for me, will ya?" Jim threw over his shoulder.

Charles didn't respond just continued to follow Lainey through the restaurant and Jim went to the table he planned on sharing with Candace. Charles helped her into the back of the black SUV before getting in beside her. He was only ever around Jim because of David, other than that he couldn't stand him. Lainey moved closer to him putting her legs in his lap.

"You okay? I thought yall were friends?"

"Him and I are not friends and never have been. He and I are associates through David."

"Oooh. Yeah David seems nice. Jim and the president were every bit as sleazy as I heard they are. They make me uncomfortable."

Charles looked over at her and kissed her.

"That's noted. Jim is a piece of entitled shit." Charles explained. "He can't even respect his wife enough to try to hide the shit he does. And thinks just because his wife comes from old money that he's gonna be elected governor."

"Kayheryn seems nice. Is she as bad as him?"

Charles shook his head rubbing his hand up and down her leg. "No, she's pretty much the sweetest woman you'll meet in her status. Now Veronica, she's worse than him but I'm sure you knew that already."

Lainey nodded, "Yeah, she was nice to me but listening to the way she talked that day I did their hair was a no and how she treats my Melissa. I dont like it."

"That's another thing. She knows her son is gay but is blackmailing Melissa into being with him. David tried to help her, hell I had tried to but Veronica is convincing as hell."

Lainey frowned reaching to turn on the courtesy light so she could see his face. "Blackmail? Melissa did not tell me that."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcie and Melissa were unsuccessful in finding the other woman at the party. Kelly ended up inviting the two of them over to her house as well as Natalie and Esperanza, once the party started to die down.

"Yall seem to know a lot about what goes on," Melissa said after listening to the women talk.

Esperanza nodded, "I mean pretty much. Nothing gets past us."

Melissa glanced at Marcie to see if she wanted her to stop. When Marcie nodded she took the green light.

"I heard a few people saying the name Pepa at the party but I don't know if I saw her. She sounds cool. Who is that?"

Natalie and Esperanza shrugged clearly clueless.

"How did you even find out about Pepa?"

Melissa smiled at Kelly, "I just told you I heard people saying the name. You must know who it is. So who is it? I wanna meet her."

Natalie looked between them confused. "Who the hell is Pepa?"

"Yeah," Marcie nodded, "Who is that? I've never met her."

"Pepa is one of our neighbors, Marcie. I dont know how you don't know."

Marcie laughed trying to maintain her cover. She hadn't felt close enough to her neighborhood friends to share the cheating thing with them. And this moment made her proud of that decision.

Kelly sighed, "She's a neighbor. You can't miss her."

Melissa hummed.

"Marce, it's getting late. I need to get home. You ready?"

Marcie almost corrected her to remind her that she was spending the night but she caught herself. Saying goodnight to her friends, Melissa started their walk back down to Marcie's house until something caught Marcie's eye.

"Oh hell no," she growled under her breath.

"What? What's wrong?" Melissa asked grabbing her friend's hand so she wouldn't take off as she did earlier.

Marcie pointed to the sticker on the back of the SUV.

"Its Alex. Thats why his ass is always so fucking happy to go over there. Cause he's fucking her!"

"Hey ... Hey ... calm down. We're not gonna make a scene out here, we're not gonna go after her yet." Melissa reasoned sofly. "We're gonna wait for him to bring his ass home and take care of him first and then we'll handle her. Yes?"

Marcie nodded waiting for Melissa to let her go. She thought about it for a second trying to make her choice. "Let's go back in there. I wanna see what they're doing."

Even though she knew she shouldn't, Melissa agreed and went back into the house with her. Brad was talking to a few people in the living room while Randall and Alex stood in the kitchen talking to a different group of people. Marcie's blood boiled seeing Randall try to slyly put his hand on the other woman's ass.

Walking at a normal pace as not to alarm her friend, Marcie approached Brad and dug a folded stack of papers from her purse. She handed it to him and told him to have fun then walked over to the door a bright smile on her face. Melissa was cursing Lainey out in her head for not being there. When they got into the house, they went up to the guest bedroom.

"What did you just do, Marcie?"

"I told you that we weren't going to beat her ass but I didn't say that I wouldn't ruin her marriage like she ruined mine. I gave Brad copies of the messages."

Melissa laughed scratching her head, "See, I shouldve stayed my ass home. So what now? Cause they're gonna come over here."

"Well," Marcie shrugged sitting on the bed, "We wait for shit to hit the fan."

As they waited, Lainey laid in the bedroom Charles set up for her. Her and Charles had gotten ice cream before coming back to his place and going their separate ways. Charles let her know that he would leave his door unlocked if she wanted to come in and he was down the hall to yell if she needed him. It was weird for her being away from home and her brothers especially Benny. Figuring hearing his voice would make her feel better and maybe even sleepy, she called her big brother. He answered on the third ring.

"Miss me already, big head?" He laughed into the phone.

Lainey laughed softly, "A little bit. Feels weird not being home."

"Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad you called me but you know it's okay to tell him that you need to be comforted. Right?"

"Is it? Should I tell him that?"

"Yeah, you gotta be honest and open in relationships," Benny explained, "If you don't communicate the relationship won't go anywhere and he sees a future with you."

"You lie."

Benny laughed, "I'm not, I wouldn't lie about that. He told us himself. So go on and talk to him."

"He's probably sleep."

"And he won't mind if you wake him up but I honestly doubt he's sleepin. Get up and get in there, my future wife callin me."

Lainey sucked her teeth, "Your what? Who is that?"

"Melissa, duh. I love you, be safe and good night."

Lainey said it back and hung up. She waited a few minutes before getting out of her bed. She fixed her fitted cami dress as she walked down the hallway to his room. Easing the door open and closing it behind herself, Lainey tipped over to his bed and put her phone on the nightstand before touching his arm.

"Charles."

Opening his eyes, he stretched for a moment and smiled at her. "Yes ma'am?"

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said quietly, "I can't sleep, it's been a long time since I've been away from my family."

Scooting over, Charles lifted his covers slightly for her to climb in. When she did, he put the covers down and got comfortable on the other side of the bed.

"Why you over there?" She asked staring at him under the moonlight coming from his windows.

Charles smiled sleepily. "If you want me to come closer I will."

"Come closer."

Moving to the middle of the bed, Charles pulled her into him, her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her kissing her shoulder.

"Comfortable?" He asked in her ear.

Lainey nodded slowly. "Is that your dick?"

Charles chuckled in her ear, "Did you think I was playing when I told you I sleep naked?"

"I ... yes. I feel overdressed," she joked.

Charles kissed her neck and rubbed the inside of her thigh. "If it makes you uncomfortable I'll put shorts on."

Turning in his arms, Lainey moved to kiss him hard. Charles moved his hands up her dress, deepening the kiss. Her phone lighting up on the dresser was being ignored by the both of them as they focused on each other.

[transcendragon]

Bar Scene

I take a sip of my drink and close my eyes. As if closing my eyes could close out the world. The world. My relationships, my past, my job, the whole busted world. It all weighs down on me. 

I hear the creak of someone sitting in the stool next to me, but I don’t look over. I just blink my eyes open enough to take a sip on my drink. The dull lights of the bar flicker as I open my eyes. I ignore whoever it is just like I ignore everyone else in this godforsaken place until I hear them speak: 

“You have a lovely neck. Like a sexy goose.”

His voice was odd, surprisingly loud and harsh, but it’s the words that really have me confused. I look over to stare unabashedly at the strange man sitting next to me. He was wearing big sunglasses and a hat, and underneath that a wide trench coat. I couldn’t tell anything about him except for the fact that he was on the chubby side. 

“What?” I ask bluntly, having no idea what else to say. 

“It’s a good neck,” he confirms. “Wasted in a place like this.”

“Are you… hitting on me?” I ask, dumbfounded. I mean, I wasn’t going to go for it no matter what, my boyfriend and I might be having a rough patch, but I’m just not the cheating type. Still, as far as pick-up lines go that’s one of the weirdest I’ve gotten. 

The man shuffled, shifting awkwardly. One pale-white finger stuck out of the sleeve of his coat. 

“Just saying,” he said. “Don’t mean to come off too strong. Trying to make you feel comfortable, sorry, bad at this.”

“Going right for the neck isn't exactly the best way to make someone feel comfortable,” I point out. I squint at him. I can make out the barest profile. “What’re you going for, anyway?”

“Trying to find out if you’re my type,” the hat nods surreptitiously from the strange man’s head, “if you know what I mean.”

“Seems like you’re pretty clear what type I am,” I say, “but I think I’m the type that wants to be left alone.”

“Sorry, sorry, I was mistaken about you,” the man, well, I presume they’re a man, but actually I can’t get a good look. The profile visible under the wide-brimmed hat is odd. Really odd. The nose seems especially large and pointed. “But maybe you can help me? I’m looking for a certain kind of friend.”

I shake my head. With a couple beers in me I can be pretty chill, but this creep’s really gettin on my nerves. “Yeah, perv, it’s pretty clear the kind of friend you’re looking for. Clear off.”

The figure slumps. “Sure. I just… you haven’t seen anyone else with a long neck, have you? Someone pale white, maybe. A- a free spirit type?”

“Have you been drinking too much?” I ask. “What are you talking about?”

“You know,” the fellow speaks with a lowered voice, “the kind of menace who will take and run, but in the best way? Good with flying, walking, and getting wet?”

“Dude,” I shake my head. “Dude. Just leave me alone.” Apparently my body language is pretty clear, because a bartender comes over. 

Leaning across the barrier the bartender addresses me. “This guy giving you any trouble?”

“I just don’t know what he’s on about,” I complain. “I’m just trying to drown my troubles in peace.”

“Don't drown,” the odd fellow moves his arms in a flapping motion. “Swim!” The bartenders eyes widen. “Oh no, you again! I told you, this bar doesn’t serve your kind!” I blink at him. Did he mean that this dude really was a creep? Or was it something else?

“Just trying to find a lady goose at a nice place!” The figure honks out. He flaps out his arms again and the “fingers” I saw peeking out the end of his sleeves in the low light turn out to be feathers. The ends of winds. 

“I’m getting the broom!” The bartender yells. 

Quick as a snack, the man, the goose’s beak darps forward and he grabs the bartender’s hat. The jacket disguise falls away, revealing the largest goose I’ve ever seen. 

“Hey!” The man yells, lurching forward. But he’s too late. The goose flaps away. 

“Peace was never an option!” The goose honks, words muffled through the hat. He runs, waddles, coat dragging behind him. The bartender has to run around the bar to get after him. 

As they leave my sight the bar goes quiet again. 

Huh. 

I smile to myself. The weight of the world doesn’t seem quite so heavy anymore. I think a goose may have stolen it. 

[savage-rhi]

i’m trying to stop the bleeding so hold still. JoelxHiggs - themechaneer

@themechaneer Here you are my dear💙

“Damn it,” Higgs exclaimed through gritted teeth, trying to avoid Joel’s touch. The mechanic was growing frustrated with him by the second. A gruff noise escaped Joel’s lips as he shot a brief glare at Higgs, and forcibly grabbed a hold of his arm and held it down on the table.

“Look, I’m nice but you’re starting to piss me off. I’m trying to stop the bleeding, so hold still.” Joel was professional despite being irritated. Higgs had to give credit where it was due. Most folks would have decked his ass by now with how he refused to be compliant. 

“I don’t like people gettin’ all up in my space.” Higgs spat, tensing under Joel’s touch. He subconsciously shirked back a bit, and this little nuance was something that didn’t go undetected by Joel. His expression somewhat softened, eyeing the goosebumps going up Higgs’s arm before he made contact with Higgs’s eyes. For a moment, Joel thought he was looking at the eyes of a kid. Too scared to stand up for himself.

Joel gave a half-smile then started cleaning up the large gash on Higgs’s lower arm, a token of him not being careful with the tools Joel had. Truth be told, Joel thought he deserved it and then some. Nonetheless, he did feel empathy towards the former terrorist, just not in the way one would think.

Higgs grumbled to himself while Joel cleaned up the injury, leaning on his free hand as he glanced about the garage. He tried not to look Joel in the eye, but occasionally he could feel Joel’s gaze upon him. Higgs didn’t like that. Not one bit, but the last thing he needed was a fight. He wasn’t in the mood.

“I take it you don’t like people helping you out much,” Joel said bluntly, getting Higgs’s attention in full. He shrugged. 

“Can’t trust most folks,” Higgs said as a matter of fact. “What’s it to you?”

“Nothing of importance. Just an observation.” Joel said with a small huff, smirking a little. 

“Since we’re making small talk, what do you think you know about me?” Higgs asked, curious even though he wanted to call Joel a smartass for his remark. 

Joel was quiet, taking out some bandages as he got the sewing kit ready to make a few stitches. There were sections on Higgs’s arm where the wound was too deep to simply patch up. 

“I think you had a rough upbringing. Someone close to you had hurt you growing up. You don’t like looking weak in front of others. You’re also kind of an asshole, but that’s just your general persona.” Joel smirked at that last part as Higgs rolled his eyes. Nonetheless, he chuckled.

“Maybe you should’ve been a shrink instead of a mechanic,” Higgs muttered. 

“I’m a man of many talents, but listening to others' misery isn’t my idea of a good time.” Joel said.

“Could have fooled me with how you read me like a book.” Higgs said, for once not sounding sarcastic.

“You want to talk about it?” Joel asked, watching for Higgs’s reaction. He sighed and shook his head. 

“Not really. I don’t like thinking about it.” Higgs said. “I thought you said you didn’t like hearing people bitchin’?”

Joel chuckled. “For someone like you, I’m kind of interested. Don’t get the wrong idea though.”

Higgs smirked, shaking his head. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. It was a shame they never met until this point. 

**A link to my ko-fi account. If you enjoy my content and want to support me getting my monthly medication for fibromyalgia and arthritis, I would be eternally grateful. It is NOT a requirement however! All my work is free to read!**

[cephalo-trio]

Deepsea Escape Part 7

A Splatoon 2 Story written by Splat-Tendency

Starring: Lexi Camellia (POV)

((Lexi was on her way to deliver the last mail at first, and then she wakes up in the underground subway station. She has no clue where she is or how is she going to get back to the surface. She has no choice, but to venture through this abandoned station alone.))

"FO REALSIES?! YOU HAVE ALL 3 THANGS, ALREADY?!" The telephone is overjoyed that I brought over the 3rd thang. If only he had the decency to use his inside voice. Then again, this station is more vast. "ONE MORE THANG AND YOUR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND AWAITS! TIME TO BIGGITY BOUNCE, APPLICANT 10,008!" The telephone remained silent after that.

I was covering my ears from the loud talking. "My eardrums..." I winced as I stopped covering my ears. I stared at the missing poster and sighed. "I know, I shouldn't be worried about Agent 3 but... I wonder how he's doing.."

I started to think about Agent 3. He has fed me some snacks and took care of me once I regained conciousness. He is.. a very nice guy, despite him trying to kill me.

The train ride to the lines between G and I is gonna take a while. So, I felt like scrolling through the images I've taken the last two Octoboss encounters. Firstly, I encountered the sanitized clone of the Octo Samurai in Lines J and F. I had to take him down in a Baller without getting knocked off the arena. Secondly, my quarrel with the Octo Shower Supreme didn't take long while my Inkjet was active. It was located near the Break n' Bounce, where I woke up at with Agent 3.

The images of the cloned tentacles that Cuttlefish had called out are too good to be true. "Who could've cloned Octavio's troops..? It wasn't just a coincidence.." I mumbled. After several hours of fighting through numbers of sanitized troops, it feels like I've seen them before when I used to work for the Octarian Army. How strange.

Several minutes has passed and C.Q Cumber begins speaking through the intercom. "We are now arriving between Lines G and I. I repeat, we are now arriving between Lines G and I." This was addressed to me, since I'm the only applicant on board.

Before I got off the train, I decided to talk to Cuttlefish. "Um... Captain..?" I approached to him.

He turned to look at me. It seems, he was a bit lonesome about something. "Yes, Agent 8? Shouldn't you be gettin' off?"

I rubbed my left arm that was patched up. "It won't take long.. I just wanted to say... I'm sorry for being reckless, earlier.. I've been trying my best to get us out of here.. I just miss my friends and family.. They must be really worried.." I bowed to him in apology. "I kinda was like this when I used to be an elite.. I'm a wreck.."

Cuttlefish seemed a bit surprised. "Agent 8, it's alright.. When I was a young'un like you, I used to be reckless and carefree myself. It's not somethin' to be ashamed of." He cheered me up, a bit. "I'm worried about my friends and family, too.. My granddaughters, Callie and Marie haven't heard from me also.."

I didn't know he was related to the Squid Sisters. The same duo who made me wake up and realize that I was a mere puppet to Octavio. "...I actually met the Squid Sisters. It happened a year ago after Agents 4 and 5 returned the Great Zapfish.." I explained the whole story. Callie was brainwashed, Marie and the recent agents rescued her. My closest friend, Fynn was involved with this incident as well.

Shocked, Cuttlefish listened to my story. "Callie... If only I was there to save her... I'm glad, she okay thanks to the recruits.." Cuttlefish felt relieved. "You said, Fynn was also brainwashed..?"

I nodded honestly. "We were on pursuit of an elite who went AWOL and we happened... to capture Fynn... After all that, I felt really awful to him.. And then, he forgave me after all I've done.." I sat down with him. "The reason I wanna open up to Inkling society is redemption.. I wanted to turn over a new leaf after all I've done.. Thanks to Fynn's guidance, I feel confident of starting a new life.." Here I am, pouring my hearts out to someone I just met 3 hours ago. Then again, I can sympathize with Cuttlefish worrying about his granddaughters for a long time.

I see... Well, I'm sure Fynn really misses ya! The same way my granddaughters misses me!" He gave me a kind smile. "Now then, let's continue to work together to get out of here! To see our loved ones again!" He's back to his demanding self.

My eyes were filled with determination when he said it. It pains me to say this, but I'll stop searching my father's whereabouts for now. Our lives are still on the line. If we don't make it out of here, we won't see the light of day again. Literally, speaking.

After speaking with Cuttlefish, I stepped into the arena of the last sanitized boss. If I proceed, then I'll claim my last thang. Upon arrival, the huge object rose from the tainted ink. In front of me was a huge industrial toaster oven. The first Octo-Boss in the Canyon was named the Octo-Oven.

"Toastie..." That's the nickname, I gave him back in the Canyon. But that was not my Toastie. I shook my head in disbelief and took caution. If it's just a copy, I'll have no problems beating this one. "Sorry, but you're in my way.." I readied my Blaster and charged at the fake Octo-Oven.

3 minutes have passed and the oven's multiple faces started popping out at me. As I recall, Agents 4 and 5 - Dawn and Sage have fought the real one before. I wonder how they're doing since Marie recently recruited them.

I immediately climbed to the top where a large tentacle is exposed, but it's guarded with sanitized troops. I swiftly blasted every last one of them in order to finish it off for good. Those damn spreaders are persistant enough.

As the large tentacle grows larger and larger as I shot it many times, it bursts into a huge gyser of ink. It must be my que to turn tail and flee. I superjumped as fast as I could and stared at the enemy in despair.

The cloned Octo-Oven was nothing but a pile of my own ink. I managed to take a breather and sat down on the floor. I was obviously drenched in sweat. "Haa... haa... Damn, that was rough.." I wiped the sweat off of my forehead. Once the test is over, I recieved yet another Mem Cake. It's one of the Squid Sisters - Marie Cuttlefish. Thinking back to when I first met Marie in the Canyon, Marie was hesitant at first but she had gained my trust after atoning for my past. She is the one who changed my life, after all with her music with Callie.

Once all the sanitized bosses are taken care of, I arrived at my destination on Station E-02: Bust & Run Station. My long journey through the metro will soon end. I can finally go home. "I've came a long way for this... Time to gather the last thang." I took aim at the barrier. As I pulled the trigger, the barrier is already broken. I quickly snagged the 4th thang and left. "Now, what do I do with these things..? They kinda look odd, though." Once the 4 thangs are collected, maybe I have to make some kind of spaceship to fly out of here? "Whatever works, works.." I shrugged.

Back in the main station, Cuttlefish and I spoke with the talking phone. "Way to go, bucko! We can finally bust outta here! Sweet freedom at last!" Cuttlefish gently gave me a pat on the back due to my injury. It didn't hurt that much.

"Alright, Phone.. We got the 4 thangs. Now, take us to this.. 'Promised Land'. I wanna go home.." I crossed my arms, awaiting for his response.

"I... I CAN'T BELIEVE IT..!! YOU HAVE DONE IT, APPLICANT 10,008!! THE PROMISED LAND HAS ARRIVED AT LAST! NOW, LET'S MAKE LIKE A TREE AND BRANCH OUT!" Suddenly, there was an electric reaction from the phone. As it screamed an eerie tone, all of the four thangs started to form into one object. The phone is already on top of it. It must be flying us out of here.

"So, it is a spaceship..!! Just like in those sci-fi movies..!" I watched in awe as the strange spaceship opened the hatch for me and Cuttlefish.

Outisde, Marina seemed a bit skeptical about this strange object. "This can't be right.... Doesn't this look like a blender to you, Pearlie..?!" Marina sounded doubtful.

Pearl gasped and realized what was going on. "This ain't good... Eight!! Cap!! Don't go in there!!" She cried out through the intercom, but it was already too late.

Me and Cuttlfish were already inside the spaceship. I turned to look at Cuttlefish with a smile on my face. "Inkopolis, I'm coming home..!!" I grinned happily, preparing for lift off.

As the hatch closed, I couldn't wait to ride out of here to see the sun again. Suddenly, I heard one last thing from the phone before just about ready to leave this place.

"INGREDIENT AXQUISITION COMPLETE... REFORMATTING MATTER..."

To Be Continued...

[vilikinsally]

Spike & Illyria

“I want to have sex.”

Spike glanced up from his crude drawing of Angel, the blunted red pencil pausing mid-scratch by the teeth. He cocked his scarred brow at the image before him: the tall, slender woman was bared naked to his eye with strands of blue hair hanging just above her breasts. Her entire body was covered in vivid blue veins and colouring, catching the vampire’s gaze efficiently as he studied her form in completion. He met her stare once again.

“Wha’?”

“I want to have sex,” she repeated. “Humans have such pitiful desires, I am curious to know why sex is desired above all of the other pathetic wishes.”

He closed his eyes for a pause, “Blue… put yer clothes on and go to bed.”

“No. I want to have sex,” she repeated once again, this time entering further into the office Angel had set up for Spike (“Go to your office, Spike.”), approaching the vampire behind the desk with a graceful stride. “I want to understand.”

“Then go an’ find Percy, whatcha ‘ere for?” He asked exasperatedly, growing uneasy the closer she came. Nothing seemed to slip past the hard skull part of her head and get into that brain of hers; she pushed forward until she came to the edge of his desk and there was where she stayed while she read him.

“You’re afraid of me. Is that why you will not consummate with me?”

Spike scoffed, his stomach clenching. “Afraid? Of you? What for? I’ve died before, it’ll be like another vacation… or not.”

Illyria guided herself around the desk, making her way closer to him. Spike stood hastily from his chair, backing away from the advancing woman and creating some distance. He didn’t know what to think so he turned to his gut but that was no good; poor guy had been rid of sex since getting his soul back and Illyria’s movements were hypnotic and strangely pleasing to watch. He shook his head violently, raising his hands to his head as if a terrible migraine had abruptly hit him. He continued to watch her as he was backed into the wall, gazing down (by not much) and letting his arms fall.

“Look,” he began, his eyes focused on the alien blue ones staring back, “I get it. You’re curious; but I’m not goin’ to be a soddin’ guinea pig for you, a’right? Fuck off.”

“I don’t understand that expression,” Illyria spoke monotonously, “and I don’t care to. I want to have sex.”

Spike pointed at the door. “Go shag Angel, then. Sure ‘e needs it more than I do…”

He trailed off as he watched the dark pastel blue fade into a nice brown shade, the intensely blue eyes darkening a shifting, and the blue veins and patches fading enough to be less noticeable. Not completely gone, but less noticeable. Less… alien.

“Is this better?” Her voice was smooth, gentle, like butter. “Am I more desirable?”

Spike sighed deeply, touching the side of her face lightly with the tips of his fingers. Illyria leaned into his touch, her gaze soft and hooded and failing to break away from his own. Spike didn’t need to breathe, but it felt as if any air that came into his lungs by habit had been sucked out of him. He felt a surge cut through him as if he had been electrocuted. He hadn’t had this kind of tender intimacy ever since—

No. No, we’re not going to think in that direction, right now, are we?

“I’m already naked,” she whispered, pushing hair over her shoulder to expose her chest to his gaze. “You’d be the only obstacle.”

He chuckled, grazing his fingers along the line of her jaw, across her lips, and then down the line of her nose before tapping the pointed tip. “You need to work on your bedroom talk.”

“Rough or gentle?” She asked, teasing the hem of his shirt up his muscled abdomen, feeling the bumps and crevices with her fingertips. “Sweet or harsh?”

“Neither,” Spike stated firmly, but whatever adamancy in his voice wasn’t quite there in his gut. “This—” he directed a finger between the two of them, “—isn’t gonna ‘appen. Find someone else to shag, ‘cause I’m not gettin’ staked for touchin’ Fred.”

Illyria stuck out her bottom lip in an enticing and surprisingly playful pout. Spike cursed under his breath, slouching against the wall almost in defeat. She was relentless, determined, absolutely mental for pushing him so far but eventually Spike felt his knees turn to soup, his blood to water and every part of him feel like it was going to collapse into a puddle on the floor. All because of a little pout and those soft brown eyes staring up at him with such a gentle plea, making his daft arse feel even more stupid for giving in to such a simple thing.

A silly little pout she was still wearing.

“You’re a wicked thing, ain’t ya?” He muttered low, closing off a little of the small space between them to his eyes remained focused on that little lip sticking out. He was tempted to take it between his own and nibble on it with his teeth. Tempted, but not stupid.

Illyria struggled not to smirk, causing her to purse her lips while the corners of her mouth quivered in the conflict not to show her triumphant amusement. “Take it.”

“Stop readin’ my soddin’ mind…” he muttered, his own lips parting in response to the feeling stirring in his trousers. His gaze met hers as his hold on the last thread of sanity seemed to be slipping from him.

“It’s not your mind I’m reading,” she whispered, stepping into him and pressing her slender figure against his. “Your body is a ruthless traitor.”

“You don’t bloody say?”

But the electricity conjuring between them had reached its peak and as he had pictured only moments ago, Spike gave into his desire and took Illyria’s mouth with his own, sucking her bottom lip. Tempted and bloody stupid, he thought, but still he wrapped his leather-clad arms around her slim figure and brought her tight against his hard body. Illyria snaked her arms around his shoulders, accepting his attention greedily and smoothing her hands beneath his shirt to feel his skin and the muscles twitching and moving in response to her touch. Spike, his mouth still on hers in a heated kiss, pushing her toward the desk that was scarcely illuminated by the lights of Los Angeles piercing through the window.

He wanted to stop (that’s a lie). Okay, so he felt like he should want to stop, but what good was it going to do? Her determined exterior was going to keep coming back to him—and if not him, she was going to circle every man in Wolfram & Hart trying to find someone willing to risk their careers or their lives for a bit of nookie. No, Spike was only going to maybe play with her for a bit and then stop when they reached the serious stuff. He didn’t want to turn to nothing again because Angel thought he had taken advantage of her (he bloody wasn’t; if anything, she seemed to be taking advantage of him). On a more impressed note, he was amazed at how he was still able to think while the tightness in his erection got ever more painful with each second he attempted to ignore it.

Illyria’s voice cut through his fogging train of thought, having broken their kiss most likely when she felt his enthusiasm dwindling.

“You’re thinking. Stop it.”

Spike was startled to find she had managed to rip his shirt from his body while he had been kept away in his reverie, staring down at the hands that touched his abdomen like a blind person reading brail. He shrugged his ever-permanent leather duster from his shoulders, chucking it onto the carpeted flooring to reveal more of his lean figure to her. The absolute delight that crossed her pretty features—Christ, she was practically beaming—was enough to egg him on to continue. Spike fondled at his belt buckle, unhooking the leather and tugging it from the loops of his trousers, allowing Illyria’s excited hands to undo the rest and finally even the playing field for the both of them. As soon as they were off, Spike kicked his pants to the side.

“So,” he started, smoothing his palms along her thighs. “Where do you want to do this?”

“You’ve conceded very quickly,” she observed, her tone picking up to an almost sing-song way. “Here. In the room. On the floor.”

“On the floor?” Spike parroted, arching a brow. He turned his down toward the floor, half-heartedly studying the dark carpet. “Not sure if that’s a good idea, luv…”

“Are you afraid of dirt?” Illyria said incredulously, “Women and dirt.”

“Oi!” He stuck a warning finger in front of her smug expression, “Watch it. I’ll leave you empty—God-demon-thing or not.”

“Then I will just break your legs and ride you to completion,” her lips curled at the corners but any kind of smile definitely did not extinguish the fire in her stare. “You are not leaving me in pain like this.”

Spike’s brow furrowed, his eyes meeting her own. There was a pause as his mind processed and finally came to the comprehension of what she meant, the realisation dawning on his chiseled face. Illyria glared at him.

“That was far too much time wasted on you trying to understand my meaning, you…”

She drifted off from her reprimanding sentence when Spike’s fingers dipped between her legs, stroking the silky folds and lightly teasing the swollen nub. She pursed her lips in response and attempts to keep her eyelids open, but inevitably failing and closing them. He continued to circle her clit with the pad of his thumb, his head cocking unconsciously to the side while he studied her suppressed reactions. There was a soft chomp from where her hands gripped his desk and his eyes snapped to see she had broken finger-sized pieces of his oak desk off; he had to admit to himself, it was getting to him. In a good way, of course.

“Still in pain, pet?” He whispered near her ear, probing a finger into the heated wetness.

Illyria still tried to conceal her moans and responses—what bloody for, Spike couldn’t pick it—but when he crooked his long, nimble finger and brushed against the spongy surface of the woman’s holy grail, he was met with the most glorious sight: she arched her back, almost curling it, thrusting her pelvis and his hand against his own hard erection. She released a lewd, strangled groan from deep in her throat followed by the softest but most delicate gasps. He smirked wickedly and with unmistakable amusement.

“Bloody ‘ell, woman…”

With no warning, Spike was shoved by Illyria—pushed so violently, in fact, that he landed back against the floor, his hand briefly detached from his present lover’s sopping warmth. The naked woman followed him down, her shins on either side of his hips, hovering inches above his weeping cock. She stroked her fingers along its length, touching at the pre-cum seeping from the tip with a gentle curiosity.

“Is it crying?” She inquired, tilting her head. Spike stared into her brown eyes to truly see if she was being serious and found something mischievous glinting in the corner. His lips cocked into a knowing grin.

“Yeah. It needs a hug.”

Illyria lowered her upper body, displaying her core’s strength, resting the weight on her forearms on the carpet bracketing his head. Her face hovered a mere inch or two away from Spike’s face, the tip of her nose brushing gently against his, coyly poking her tongue from her lips to taste his lips. Spike greeted her with his own tongue, his hands lifting to smooth along the curves of her thighs, reaching between her legs to tease the sweet spot once again.

“Then I shall put it out of its misery.”

[eye-of-enigmatic-thought]

2019, a retrospective to this year and decade

Long post in-comin’

I’m gonna be honest, I’m not really sure how to describe this year and by extension, this decade, I guess that’s to be expected in a way, so many things can happen in 365 or more days to the point of a information overload, but I suppose the best way to describe this year was ‘complicated yet also stale’. Not much happened in the beginning aside from therapy and support group appointments, which were pleasant albeit I don’t remember much from them aside from drawings I’ve done that I showed to the other members, nothing of significance happened that I can recall during the middle of the year, and around near the end I took part in art therapy groups that I managed to make a few friends out of (though I sadly don’t chat with them often), at September I was beginning to try and get into college after being out of education for a year and managed to enrol (though court issues made me miss the first five weeks that I had to quickly catch up to), most of my memories of this year actually came from college.

College has been going good, so far! I have been learning a lot and my tutors are very kind, of course it can get stressful due to the long days I have and also due to some of my more rowdier peers, but I’ve managed to also befriend a few others that I am very happy to have met. Currently I’m in my break and I will use it to advantage as much as I can to post as much art as I can.

Also, I’ve just recently been exploring my gender, and well, I’m now transmasc rather than a demigirl, I still go by whatever pronoun and still see myself as nonbinary, but I am more masculine leaning now? I guess I might be a ‘demiboy’ but I still feel a bit more ‘fluid’ than that, sooo... masculine leaning demifluid? I dunno, but overall I’m not a girl anymore! :D

Rebirth is still being rewritten, admittedly I haven’t been focusing entirely on it due to some things in the way, but some of that is now gone so really my only enemy is my lack of motivation and poor time management, but even times where I’m not writing and/or editing the rewrite I’m still thinking of how I want certain scenes to go or what things I want the characters to say, so it’s still being worked on! I do feel incredibly bad that I haven’t been doing a lot of my Undertale-related stuff lately or even attempting to at least finish off the HS’ blog’s first arc (I at LEAST wanna finish that arc before I go on a official hiatus to fully know what to do with it), but you can rest assured that I have NOT forgotten about it and I do want to continue on with it, I guess that’s probably one of my goals for 2020, ‘more Undertale fanart’, yes, good, very good, mwahahahaha.

And now, a little something more personal, mostly in regards to this decade as a whole. Warning for mentions and discussions of pedophilia, bullying, suicide, and trauma for the next three or so paragraphs.

(Warning starts here)

My memories from around the beginning of this decade are hazy, but very notable, I’m not going to sugarcoat it by saying that from 2010-2013 were some of my worst years of my life, I was only 11-14 around this time, but when I wasn’t going through awful bullying at school that the teachers did nothing about, I would come back home to a toxic friend circle on DeviantArt that was filled with constant irrelevant drama and some REALLY creepy adults that would do smut rps with the minors in our group. Thankfully I never was a victim of this due to mostly staying in my corner and didn’t interact with others much, but I saw it happen to many of the other minors in said group, it left me disturbed but I rationalised it by thinking it was just some ‘teenager thing’ that I was too young for (because I was a little cretin that lied about my age and said I was 13 when I was really 11 when I first signed up haha), it was only when I was late into being 17 I realised ‘Oh my god the people who I called my friends and RP’d with were pedophiles and groomed the other minors what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck’. 

This whole shitty ordeal with that dA friend circle and the constant bullying I went through in secondary school were so bad that it literally led me to have a suicide attempt at the age of 13, I survived of course, and I’m really glad I did, because I wouldn’t have met friends that through them I would manage to get away and abandon the old dA group because ‘fuck you guys I have BETTER FRIENDS NOW!’ Unfortunately all of that dA friend circle are now deactivated or are no longer active with all the evidence deleted so there’s no use making a callout or name dropping any of them or even searching for the other minors in attempt to rekindle with them (and I don’t think my heart would be able to handle it in that regard...), but I did find out that one of them who was a pedophile apologist at one point commissioned a ton of Darkrai pregnancy porn with one of it being fucking mpreg, so I can at least get a laugh from that shit, doubt she’s reading this but if you are... 

You may be gone, but your darkrai mpreg porn will live on FOREVER... Forever for ME to laugh at!!! >8DDD  So anyway get rekt and suck my non-existent dick you fucking creep.

(Warning ends here)

Phew alright, all that nasty stuff out of the way...   2014 was where things began to improve, I had moved secondary schools and I switched from a mainstream to a specialist school for other autistic children and I found the people who would become my closest friends, through one of them I also got a tumblr blog, and when Undertale came around (so late 2015 to around 2016 when the fandom was most active), through it’s fandom I managed to gain really kind and lovely friends that I love dearly, it’s somewhat strange to me, in the beginning since childhood I never had any close friends and the only ‘close’ ones I had were ones that either kept me around out of pity (because I was a awkward autistic kid), kept me around to constantly bully and push my buttons, or (in this case with the dA friend circle) were potential predators that I thankfully was never THAT close to, and actual close ones I lost contact with too quickly, to this day I’m so thankful for these friends and I dunno if they’d be comfortable with me namedropping them here, but if you’re reading this, you know who you are <333.

I of course had rough patches throughout the years, recovery from my traumas wasn’t easy and I was constantly having issues with pretty much everything from my mental health problems to environmental factors that were out of my control, I’m not going to go into detail on this one because this post is long enough already, but I am much better now than how I was when I was younger, I still have a long way to go, but I have definitely improved and I hope I can still improve, hell, I’ve even improved my art! Wanna see an example?

I drew this back in 2011 on mspaint on a mouse! Yeah! Can you believe that? Whilst to me my art right now isn’t exactly ‘artist goals’ I have definitely improved a lot since!! And I’ll keep on improving forever because that’s what this decade was like anyway! I’m not sure what the future holds, but I want to set these goals for next year:

Create more digital art Finish my unfinished short comic ideas and parodies Continue to chip away at Rebirth’s rewrite and finish Hissterical Scientist’s first arc. Work on my original stuff Continue to improve my mental health Get proper time management skills Learn to do commissions (I be gettin munz lol) Thank you to all my friends and family who have helped support me and stuck by me throughout all these years, I am so happy I get to spend a life with you and I hope we’ll continue to go through the future together, you mean so much to me and I can’t say thank you enough. Thank you to any followers who have sticked by me for so long and if you’re new, I hope we’ll make memories together! 

Onward and upward, and leave behind the pain! <3

[purplexflamingo]

 Selma hummed pressing her ear very close to the phone to block out the hustle and bustle of the dinner. This was her only chance to hear his voice after several weeks. Having no phone she resorted to begging her boss to use the dinner’s. 

“ Ma, I did it!”

“ Did what, hun?”

 Using her spare hand she cupped her other ear. Growing slightly nervous as she was timed with this phone call as to not tie up the lines. This was in exchange for her break. 

“ I shot it! That deer that was eatin’ outta our garden, I GOT ‘EM GOOD! Just like granpaw showed me. Memaw said he’d be proud of me saving the garden. I also got bit by a snake!” 

“ Are you alright?!”

 The child’s words alarmed her greatly. Eyes scanning the floors waiting for a response.

“ Yeah! Memaw patched me up and she showed me how to drain the bite.”

 A wave of jealousy washed over her, she felt awful that she wasn’t able to be there to do that. Now she worried for more accidents. But she was grateful for her mother.

“ I also got burned on my arm ‘cause I tried to help in the kitchen. Memaw said she’d spank me for bein’ impatient, but said I was punished enough.---”

 She shook her head, but soon was alerted by her boss bellowing and shooting a sharp glare toward her.

“ Selma get back to work now. You’re tyin’ up the line.”

 Biting her bottom lip she listened to the child’s babble and rambles, then she forced herself to speak.

“ Mama has to go now, baby. I love yo---”

“ When will I see you again? And papa? When can I come home?”

The stress began to build up every time he inquired about the situation. There was no way this would happen anytime soon. Much to her despair things weren’t looking to well for the future right now. 

“ I don’t know yet, baby. I’ll call you first thing when mama finds out.”

“ Can he call me?”

...

“ Baby, he ain’t got no phone and no matter how many times I tell him he won’t be gettin’ one. He’s a stubborn man.”

“ Bring him to the one you use!”

 Closing her eyes she felt frustrated, the child meant well, but she couldn’t stand to break his heart. The excitement in his voice made matters worse.

“ I-I really gotta go-- I love you, hun.”

Hanging up the phone, she inhaled sharply and tried to leave all of her problems outside of the door to focus on work. Another waitress noticed Selma struggling and pipped up. “ Doll, why don’t you call it a night? I’ll take your last hour....go home and rest. You look stressed.”

She felt it...

“ R-really? Thank you.”

 As much as she should’ve stayed she couldn’t stand it. She was barely maintaining herself at this point. Leaving was such a huge relief. 

----

Huffing she began counting the small amount of money in her grasp. Payment from last weeks wages was less than before. It was heart breaking. She couldn’t find another job, due to her location and she couldn’t afford to lose her job at the diner. Irritated she wept, hands covering her face. She was drowning in her father’s father’s debts and needed to repair her inherited home before her son could come up. It’s been two months since she seen him. If she didn’t call him today, it would’ve been two weeks since she heard his voice.

She had no phones, couldn’t afford it. So she worked out a deal with her boss at the diner. Who would let her make a call every couple of weeks. Though the phone lines were terrible, always dropping calls. 

Dallas, a large dog lied at her feet. Concerning brown hues locked on Selma. Soon she began nudging her head at her owner’s knee to be pet. With the notion she gently rubbed the puppy dog’s head. It was soothing and actually distracted her from sobbing.

Dumping the small amount of funds into a jar to collect with the rest. Slowly she was on the path, but she keeps finding road blocks along the way. Reaching into her apron pocket she pulled out a folded image. In sloppy hand writing it read “Jesse 4/5/73 - age 10″. Fingers traced the child’s face. This served as a reminder and aided her in achieving his return. 

Eventually rising from her chair, she made Dallas and herself food. With what she had and the best that she could do. During doing so she remembered Drayton’s offer. Checking the clock she hoped he’d stay after six, assuming that was the time she’d reach that destination. 

So she set out after dinner, leaving Dallas at home. By the time she reached Last Chance Gas Station it was pouring down hard. She was soaked instantly. The building awning gave her shelter. Knocking repeatedly she desperately hoped he’d be inside. After moments of waiting she nearly gave up till the door clicked and the handle turned. 

“ W-we’re closed can’t ya read the----”

 Drayton warned, until he noticed just who was standing before him. Thick brows rose, blinking for a moment, his eyes felt strange. To her it felt like he was looking right past her. As if he wasn’t mentally there. 

“ I apologize for disturbin’ you, but I needed to speak with you.”

 “ C-come come, come in. You’re all wet-- git outta this weather your gotta wind up catchin’ a damn cold out there. Have you lost your mind?”

Letting her inside, he was quick on his feet to obtain a towel. Shaking it off violently before wrapping it around her person. 

“ T-thank you...”

 Quietly she voiced and used the towel to rub against herself. Guiding her to the small bathroom, he expressed. 

“ You can freshen up in the restroom if you need. I-I don’t have any clean clothes to offer. Not here.“

 Nodding she went right inside where she began to ring out her dress and try to dry herself off. Getting ready to turn on his heel, Drayton noticed a piece of paper on the ground just before the door she entered. Bending over he snatched it up with two fingers. Waving the picture to air it off. It was slightly wet. Making his way to the front counter where he picked up his reading glasses and wore them. Reading the back before flipping it over to examine the photo itself. Thinking nothing much of the image, it must of belonged to her. No one else was in here expect her. 

Noticing the door open he went to mention the photo, but she interrupted him.

“ You remember what we talked ‘bout last week. H-how you’d let me work here? Can I accept your offer now?”

“ I....’Course you can. I can’t pay ya too much, I’m strugglin’ here myself. The least I can do is give you little pay and provide you food.”

 Nodding, she wanted to make it clear she was willing to take little instead of nothing and his kindness of offering food was a nice touch. She almost forgot to even go down to the market to shop. 

“ I-I’ll take it! I’ll do anythin’!”

“ Money troubles?”

 Hesitant to ask at first, but he came to that conclusion. Selma plopped down at the nearest booth. Seeming almost defeated. 

“ Yes, ever since my pops passed away I’ve been left with family debts. I know you weren’t fond of Henry...but it’s been rough.”

 Just mentioning her own father’s name, she recalled the exact day her father succumbed to a heart attack before her own child’s eyes.Jesse was so scared, she had to comfort the child while dealing with her father’s situation. It was too overwhelming.

“ Losin’ a family member is always hard. I....I am sorry for your loss.”

 His words were comforting and the fact he refrained from any vulgar words about Henry meant a lot. Given how tough their past was. Drayton always seemed so collected. Resting her elbows on the table top she planted her chin on the palms of her hands. Across from her he decided to it. Letting out a sigh to follow.

“ You dropped this here photograph-- of Jesse. It must be yours I haven’t seen this photograph before.”

 Hearing the child’s name escape his lips triggered her. Eyes widened in panic and her heart rate increased. There was this lump in her throat that made it difficult for her to swallow. As he extended the image she snatched it. Taken back by her actions he stared in confusion.

“ Who is Jesse?”

He curiously asked. Selma was entirely quick to dismiss the topic as she was not ready to talk about Jesse as her plans have fallen through. And to possibly jeopardize everything was frightening. The pressure just kept stacking on that she wouldn’t be able to take anymore of it. Noticing how tense she was Drayton tried to lighten the mood.

“ Heh, well he is a cute kid-- whoever he is. I am sorry I didn’t mean to intrude on your personal life.” 

 Reacting so coldly left a bitter taste in her mouth, she hated this. Though he responded rather calmly and apologized even. It was tearing her apart. But now was not the time to talk about it.

“ When can I start?”

 The cook was studying her closely, squinting even. It was obvious he was picking up on her strange behavior and mannerisms. Usually she was easy to read, but tonight she seemed off. 

“ Tomorrow, Noon-ish? Hows that sound?”

“ G-great! I might get here a little earlier. Thank you so much.”

 Excusing herself from the booth she began to gather her things. Slipping the image back into her pocket. Now she’ll worry about it escaping on her walk. 

“ You ain’t thinkin’ ‘bout goin’ back out there in that rain are ya?”

“ That’s how I got here.”

 Waving his hands he refused to let her do so. 

“ No, no, no you wait right here. Let me get my truck and I’ll take ya home.”

“ Oh, Drayton, you really don’t have to.”

 Hanging up his apron he grabbed his keys and went out back to start his truck to pull up to the front of the building. From there he did in fact get his way as she climbed into the truck. On the drive to her home she was silent and severely conflicted. She wanted to confess, but she feared the outcome. She feared change and destruction of what small relationship she saved. Periodically he’d glance over towards her noticing her dejected expression. He wanted to speak, but all that could come out was nervous chuckles.

 The trucks motion was very relaxing, she felt herself sway and become extremely tired. Fighting the urges to rest the whole ride was difficult. Finally she gave in and drifted to sleep leaning on the side of Drayton, he didn’t seem to pry her off him and she stayed that way the entire ride. Though he woke her once they arrived at her home. Drayton was unable to carry her, but he did make sure she made it into her house. Dallas eagerly awaited their entrance and she pranced. Hopping up onto Drayton causing him to get annoyed and tell her to get down. Selma sleepily followed his guidance, his hand wrapped around her arm bringing her to her bedroom. From there he pulled down her covers. Made her sit down on the bed before removing her shoes. Then he had her lie down on the bed, covering her up with the thicker blanket.

“ Get some rest.”

 Calmly he whispered and she finally responded while under her sleepy haze. 

“ G’night-- I love you Drayton.”

Then she was out like a light. Glancing back one last time before Drayton locked up and left.