#just straight up barbie doll mashing

[siffussy]

in my sloppyfic, which, I am THINKING of remaking... there is a line where Isabeau kisses Siffrin's scars.

[imreadydollparts]

SO.

I’ve heard a lot of complaints about a specific doll’s hair coming out in clumps and, being experienced with doll hair, I’ve been curious.

But I don’t WANT this doll, so I waited to sate that curiosity until she went on sale.

She’s just not my style.

But that HAIR.

Straight out of the package (which has an ungodly number of plastic tabs), her hair looked and felt horrible. A tangled, matted mess.

And yes, hair did come out in alarmingly large clumps.

But, like I said, I’ve been at this for a WHILE and know that often doll hair doesn’t actually get rooted into the head (it’s just stuck in the hair that IS rooted), and that hair comes out the first time you comb or brush the hair. It’s usually not this much.

Even with the loose hairs removed, her hair was unruly and I personally can’t tolerate that. The curls were not even or defined, or even all the same texture.

However, none of the hair that was rooted into her head came out UNTIL I was detangling and popped one plug when a bad tangle was stuck in my comb.

She has the older locked loop method of rooting (like Blythe and 80′s/90′s Barbies) and if one loop comes out, there’s no longer an anchor for the others that were attached to it. More and more will come out the more the hair is handled.

So, despite being boil dunked to help get her hair under control (it wasn’t enough... I hate hair that tangles more while you comb it), she lost another large amount of hair, this time from her scalp.

I did end up straightening and recurling her hair in a more manageable way, but that’s not relevant here.

So, if you want to make sure none of the scalp hair comes out, or is at least more difficult to take out, you need to take her head off. I like to use a mug, a small sandwich bag, and an electric kettle.

The sandwich bag lets you heat the head without getting her hair wet.

When her head is hot and pliable, you yank and hope for the best.

Unsurprisingly, a Bratz style neck knob. They’re not nearly as annoying as Barbie neck knobs.

Next you need some waterproof glue.

You can 100% do this before even touching the hair for the first time as a precaution and on a doll with curly hair, I do recommend it. I wanted to see how Riviera’s hair behaved without any modifications since that’s how most parents or children would encounter this doll.

I like Aleene’s Fabric Fusion over Liquid Stitch because Fabric Fusion is a thicker gel and isn’t likely to wick up through the hair, ruining it. This is also why you want her hair to be dry. Dry hair doesn’t soak up glue through the strands as quickly or as far as wet hair would.

It also WILL cure and won’t become disgusting and ruin your doll or run down her hair or turn her face yellow like whatever Mattel put in G1 Monster High and Barbies from that time.

I did consider plugging in new hair to replace the hair she lost, but decided against it since she still has a ton of hair and I honestly don’t like her that much.

I do have some small bottles of Fabric Fusion that I refill from the large bottle instead of trying to squeeze the big bottle in a doll’s head. The little bottle is easier for me to manage.

Anyway, stick the nozzle in her neck and give it a hardy but not excessive squeeze. You don’t need a ton of glue, just enough to coat the roots of the hair.

Then I will put a cotton swab in there and mash the glue around to help spread it out. A big blob of glue in one spot does you little good.

Then you wait. The glue needs some time to dry. Come back tomorrow, maybe.

I have a small air purifier with a fan that points straight up which is handy for this kind of thing.

Once it is dry I’ll put her head in a baggie in the mug of hot water again and put it back on her body since I didn’t find a suitable replacement body with legs in my stash.

[theboost]

Can’t bring myself to watch the finale of due south, so for the two people who are interested, here are my thoughts from when I was watching through

Due South insanity moment where vecchio gives a long speech to his sister in which he tells her to stay away from fraser because she’ll only get hurt and guys like fraser won’t even notice and then she responds by telling him that he’s afraid to dream. How am I supposed to take this

Obsessed with Fraser having a sleepover with his childhood hockey bestie. I think they should practice kissing with each other. I’m such a gay fraser truther I’m sorry but id take him and random hockey guy over him and Victoria

I think paul gross just has a resting smirk which is something you don’t see too often but it’s really making this funeral scene unintentionally humorous. Buddy you couldn’t muster a frown. I hate you Paul Gross, you live action Disney prince. That is a term that gets thrown around a lot but it’s true for him

100 percent still a gay fraser truther. Why are they having romantical ten- SORRY LIEUTENANT THATCHER JUST HIT HIM WITH A DAMN BITCH YOU LIVE LIKE THIS- romantical tension between fraser and thatcher. I don’t like it. She’s so mean to him all the time. He needs to get with a real man like Ray. I don’t really think you can put a guy like fraser in a relationship with his superior officer the chain of command would fuck him up. But they just keep mashing them together like Barbie dolls. I don’t get it. Also I kind of don’t like Francesca I’m sorry women…

“Ray, get in the closet” “Benny, get out of the closet” real dialogue. I don’t even need to make the joke. “I was in the closet with detective vecchio” I could end it all

Are we really doing another season finale where they’re getting framed by someone who one of them put in prison who recently go out and now seeks revenge. I guess if it ain’t broke. Okay so it’s not a season finale arc but still. It’s weird that it happened twice

CAN WE STOP PUTTING POOR GAY BOY FRASER - henceforth referred to as gayser when he is into situations wherein I want to emphasize his homosexuality - IN FORCED STRAIGHT SITUATIONS LIKE I KNOW THAT HE DOESNT WANT TO PLAY DOMESTICITY WITH FRANNIE. And she really needs to get with a woman

Girl a clip show for the season 2 finale? Come now. Also this is why starsky and hutch will always be a show made to hatecrime the watcher while due south uplifts you, because starsky and hutch did the amnesia plot line but hutch faked it. Because he’s insane.

“Alone we’re incomplete” truly insane thing to say about your best friend. Season 2 has really solidified by theory that ray is an out gay man to himself and no one else and he performs heterosexuality as a cover and gayser is just really truly deeply closeted because there were no gay people in a 100 kilometer radius growing up in the yukon. Also “benny, I could kiss you” “I thought we were just friends, ray” “we are” hello??? Hello???

Okay what the hell is going on with Ray K. You weren’t lying. 2 episodes in and he’s asking if Fraser thinks he’s attractive.

“All women are our sisters” I LOVE YOU FRASER. FEMINIST LEGEND.

I still gayser truth of course but as far as love interests go I don’t mind this bounty hunter milf

I don’t love that ghost dad was made a main character I liked him more when he would randomly pop up and I think they use him too much but I do love his little office set. And I do love that ghost dad is a character that exists

I don’t really care for the fact that one of kowalski’s defining traits is his love of police brutality. Come on due south. You used to understand that police violence is bad

I’ll be honest this is one of the first American based shows I’ve seen that promotes the idea of Canadian exceptionalism. And like it wasn’t initially like this as, see my last point, due South used to know and show that both the Chicago police and the mounties were corrupt, with Fraser being the worlds most special guy, but later seasons are like “all Mounties are inherently virtuous supermen”

Detective Huey and Fraser narrative foils in that both of them lost their first gay partner and then proceeded to get even gayer with their second partner. I do love Huey. And Dewey’s strange ways bewitch me I think he should hook up with turnbull

Women love to ask Fraser if they can trust him and then kiss him. Non_threatening_boys.jpg

Whenever Scott Bakula sings on quantum leap I cheer and clap like a seal and whenever paul gross sings I shriek and cover my eyes and say kill yourself

Every subplot to Mountie Sings the Blues makes me so happy I love huey and deweys stupid ass country song and I actually think Francesca/Turnbull is cute I’ve actually been hoping they would do it

I’m so sad due south got canceled right after the Fraser sister reveal I want so many more episodes with them hanging out

One thing about Fraser is that his love interest will be a brunette woman. Frannie, Victoria, Thatcher, milf bounty hunter and- sorry I looked up the poker episode to remember if the poker chick was brunette and sure enough

[losthomunculus]

What's the instant hit ship that prompted your post and do you hate it?

im spoilering all the ship names so I don't show up in any of their tags but heed my warning for some (polite) criticism

hrmm ok I don't really hate it but I just cannot get into cyn*nari. ships that are created before we even meet a character tend to not land for me cause I dont really care about the character yet and I'm the type who likes to observe and psychoanalyze before I mash my metaphorical barbie doll's faces together.

I do kinda hate y*eyato tho cause when it cropped up it seemed people were using it to intentionally piss off eim*ko fans. which like I dont even have a problem with m/f yae it just seemed weirdly targeted the way some people were talking abt it. also again- we hadn't met ayato at that point. now it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth cuz of the drama.

ch*lumi is another one I really dislike but that's more into why I dislike a lot of m/f ships. I feel like there's an assumption that you can just put a man and woman next to each other and itll imply romance and it makes for very very lazy development. (that's like a big problem in shounen action I've noticed cause like obviously the romance isn't the focus but damn dude if you can develop an emotionally intimate relationship between 2 of the main guys at least give us something between who we're supposed to believe is in love.) also the fanworks I've seen for it seem.. overwhelmingly cishet.

even with my ships that are already gay I'm usually playing 4d interdimensional chess with their gender and whatnot, mostly cause I find my own gender to be something complex that I'm constantly exploring. so my assorted headcanons give me a playground to explore gender expression in a way that mirrors and contrasts to mine.

I think it can be very present when a m/f ship is queer. I've written my own m/f relationships that are palpably queer. Even if both parties are cis. Most ch*lumi content I've seen though? It's not that. which is really a shame cause even though I'm not really a traveler ship person and I really like childe and lumine as a platonic duo and I think I might like them as a ship if people made them gay as fuck. I'm more attached to other ships tho so I don't really care to get any sort of investment in that.

I can also tell when queer content is written by straight people sometimes which is just as bad lmfao. not saying straight people cant write gay romance, in fact I know many people find learn about their sexuality through writing so I fully endorse it, but you can usually tell when it's written by someone who is straight in a "I am conceptually okay with gay people but I have done nothing to unpack my beliefs that have occurred as a result of being raised in a cisheteronormative society" way. gay people are also fully capable of writing and thinking like this though so more literally I mean straight in like, a cultural/ideological way. if that makes any sense. Straight™

also definitely have seen the same thing in gender fics but I try not to be too judgemental cause like. I know half of the time their egg isn't cracked yet and they'll figure it out in a year or two. I've read several gender fics that start with the author saying "I'm not trans I just relate to their experiences" and lo and behold pronoun change in bio so like. yeah. let the chick hatch on it's own and all that.

I also dislike je*nluc for the same "people write them too cishet to have any appeal to me" reasons but also I personally headcanon diluc as gay so there's that.

also dont like b*nnett/f*schl/r*zor or any variations cuz I have my silly little siblings razor and fischl hc and then just. idk either of them with bennett doesn't really spark anything in me and it's one of those "I like them as friends so struggling to find platonic content of them has made me mildly annoyed" type deals.

no judgement to anyone who likes any of these ships of course! I think they're all perfectly fine even if they don't resonate with me on a personal level :^] except people who're into y*eyato for spite that's weird <3

I kinda got off track with that but <3 yeah

[resilientdolan]

Drown (G.D) - part 3

Word-count: 1.6k

Summary: Thing’s getting intense between Grayson and Bianca; Grayson didn’t like the idea about Bianca and Declan together, and Bianca hated the fact that Grayson’s activating his protective best-friend mode.

———————————————————————

“So you’ve been talking to the goddamn Declan Hayes all this time?! Behind my back?,” Bianca nearly throws her phone once Hannah screamed at herthrough Facetime.

“Uh, our backs, Hannah,” Tiffany adds to correct her statement.

“Yeah, whatever. You’ve been keeping it as a secret from Tiff and I?!,” again, Hannah yells.

“I swear to God, Hannah, yell one more time and I’m ending this call,” Bianca rolls her eyes back as she switches the call to the speaker mode and place it on her bed. She lazily gets up and makes her way straight to her closet. Honestly, she doesn’t feel like going to the Dolan’s.

“But, Bi, how’s it going? You and Declan?,” Tiffany asks.

Bianca grabs her favorite knitted sweater as she yells, not trying to sound aggressive, but only to make sure the other two girls can hear her.

“Okay, I think? He wanted to get some coffee with me. The other day he asked me if we could get some burgers together. Around 3 days ago, he asked me if i needed a ride home,” She replies.

“Please tell me you said ‘yes’ to the first and the second offer, Reine. Or else I’m going to lose my shit,” Hannah yells.

“Well maybe if the one who asked me was Gray—“

“He got Isla. Get over it,” Hannah quickly cuts her word.

Ouch. That hurts.

Bianca remains silent for a while as she tries to process her words. As she picks up a pair of leggings to match her top, she lets out a soft sigh.

“But Hannah, I love him. So much. I’ve been crushing on him since I was 12–,”

“Yeah, but he chose your bitchy cousin instead of you. He’s blind. Ain’t worth it,” Another knife thrown to her chest.

“Bi, I think it’s worth a try for you to go out with Declan sometimes. I mean, if it doesn’t work, consider it as a childhood-friends-reunion?,” suggests Tiffany.

“Yup. Well, maybe— who knows— he’s much better than Grayson,” Hannah adds.

Doubt that. But maybe Tiff’s right, tho? Worth a try, maybe it’ll help her to get over the fact that the man of her dreams isn’t for her, since he’s snatched by her evil cousin.

“Right, right, I’ll text him,” Bianca mumbles as she puts the knitted sweater on, followed with the leggings right after. Once she’s done with the outfit, she grabs a hair tie from her drawer and ties her hair into a loose braid.

“Looking cute!,” Tiffany squeals as she watches her getting ready for the dinner. Bianca gives her a wink.

“Nah, kinda boring. Why don’t you put on a crop top, and shorts... like— show Grayson what he’s been missing, yanno?,” Hannah disagrees.

“You know, I would go there naked to show him what he’s been missing, but like you two said— he’s taken, maybe I should just give up,” Bianca quickly gives them another wink. They can’t help but laugh at her answer.

“Now, I need to go. For a dinner, and a little tutoring session. I’ll keep you two updated, bye!,” She waves her hand and immediately end the call.

“Bianca, you ready?,” She can hear her mom’s voice echoes.

Bianca quickly grabs her books and shoves them into her backpack before she runs out of her room.

“Yeah, coming!”

———————————————————————

What’s up, Bi?

Bianca’s in the middle of dinner with the Dolans, and her phone beeps. She takes a quick look at it to find out that Declan Hayes sent her a message.

While she’s on her way to the Dolan’s residence, she finally decided to give it a try and texted Declan. Just a simple “hi”. Okay, maybe with a smiley emoji.

She smiles at her phone screen, before she quickly types a message to reply his text, while the others are busy talking. Well, except one.

Grayson.

Grayson has been watching her smiling at her phone for few minutes. And he’s dying to know the reason why she’s smiling at her phone screen. He probably knows, but clearly he doesn’t like it.

Not much, just having dinner. You?

Sent.

As soon as she replies to Declan’s text, she puts her phone down once again. She shifts her gaze from the phone, to everyone in the room to make sure no one’s paying attention to her texting during dinner. And that’s when she finally meets Grayson’s beautiful hazel eyes.

Hold up, is that anger in his eyes—

“What?,” Bianca mouths the word, with her eyes remains locked with his. He remains silent, shaking his head. He sets his fork down on the plate before he opens his mouth.

“I’m so full. I think I’m done. I need to study for tomorrow’s test,” He speaks up.

“Alright, dear. Ethan and Bianca too?,” Lisa responds.

“Yeah, Ethan too. And Bianca— if she’s done with the dinner. She hasn’t touched her food,” Grayson points at her plate, which is still filled with the half-eaten mashed potatoes, along with the roasted chicken breast.

“I’m not really hungry, just... kinda stressed about the test. I think I better study,” Bianca sets her fork down on her plate before she gets up. “But thanks for the dinner, Auntie Lisa,” She adds.

Yes, she calls her ‘Auntie Lisa’ because she’s just like her mother’s sister.

Lisa gives her a smile and a slight nod. Bianca gives her a smile back as she grabs her backpack, following Grayson, who’s already heading upstairs to his room.

As she turns to the living room, she finds Ethan sitting on the couch, busy with his phone. A light chuckle escapes her as she approach him, close enough to ruffle his hair.

“You coming? We’re about to start the studying session,” she asks, inviting him to join her and Grayson. “Besides, you’re supposed to be there to watch me, according to your brother’s girlfriend,” Bianca teases him.

“Fuck Isla,” He laughs, shaking his head as he get up from his seat.

“I thought you two get along well?,” She arches her brow as they head upstairs.

“I’m just trying to be nice, like I don’t wanna be rude. I don’t know what’s going inside Grayson’s head that he chose to ask her to be his girlfriend,” Ethan answers.

“She looks like Barbie doll,” she guesses.

“She’s evil,”

Bianca can’t help but bursts into endless laughter. Well... he’s kinda right, though.

“Don’t tell Grayson I said that,” Ethan shoots her a playful glare as he steps into Grayson’s room. She just shakes her head, finding his antics entertaining as she follows him.

———————————————————————

“So... the cytoplasm is actually surrounded and protected by the cell membrane, right?,” Ethan’s voice echoes.

Bianca gives him a quick nod before she shifts her gaze back to the phone in her hand.

Another text from Declan.

Are you free tomorrow?

Wait, is he going to ask you out once again?

She gently bites her bottom lip as she types the message.

I think. Why?

“Wait, so cytoplasm is part of the protoplasm?,” This time, Grayson asks.

But Bianca’s eyes remain glued onto the phone screen, too busy re-reading the whole conversation with Declan. Suddenly, she gets excited about the thought of going out with him. A smile comes across her lips as she daydreams about the possible thing to happen with her and Declan.

“Bi,”

No answer.

“Bianca,”

Damn, what if Declan’s really into her?

“Jesus Christ, Bianca, I need your help for the Biology test tomorrow,” Grayson groans. She can sense frustration in his tone.

Bianca quickly puts her phone down, and shifts her focus back to the topic discussed. “I’m sorry, can you please repeat the question once again?,” she begs.

“The answer is, yes, bro,” Ethan beats her in answering the question, after he spent nearly five minutes looking for the answer in his book.

“Thanks,” Grayson replies, with his eyes still locked on Bianca’s. “Are you kinda busy, Bi?,” He asks. His gaze moves to the phone that she puts on top of her book.

“It’s nothing important,” She sighs.

“You’re smiling the whole time like a complete idiot, is it Declan?,” He licks his upper lip. Ethan remains silent, but he’s clearly distracted by Grayson’s question.

“Why do you care?,” Bianca scoffs, feeling uncomfortable with him investigating her.

“Answer me, is it Declan?,” He repeats his question once again.

“I thought we’re going to study for the Biology test,” Ethan mumbles.

“Yes, it’s Declan. Why?,” She’s getting pissed with Grayson being nosy that she ignores Ethan.

“You know he ain’t shit, Bianca,” She can feel Grayson’s tone is rising.

“Why do you care?,” She quickly closes her book, not giving a damn anymore about the test since her childhood’s crush is testing her.

“He’s a douche! You deserve someone better! What the fuck is wrong with you?!,” Grayson throws his book onto his bed.

“Oh, and who do you think you are? You think you have the right to control me?!,” Bianca glare sat him.

“I’m your bestfriend!”

“Did I hold you back from dating Isla though I know she’s annoying?!,” She’s completely angry that she yells.

Grayson keeps his mouth shut. He knows that what she said was right. She’s his bestfriend, but she has never tried to control him, unlike what he’s doing now.

“I’m just trying to protect you,” He mumbles.

“I appreciate that, but I’m not a baby. I can make my own decision,” Bianca defends herself.

What the hell, Grayson? Who do you think you are?

The heated argument really got her mood dropped. Bianca takes a quick glance at the clock on his wall. 10 pm.

“Now if you excuse me, I need to go back home and get some rest,” She grabs her book, along with her phone before she gets up. “Goodnight,” she add.

Grayson looks away. It seems like he’s still mad. So she gives Ethan a small smile and heads out of his room.

What is going on inside his head? He thinks he can control her?

No, Grayson.

It’s time for Bianca Reine to move on. He’s nothing but her childhood crush.

[numbaoneflaya]

tell us more abt the sano oc....i sorry i cant remember her name ;;;;; what kind of dynamic would she have w sano and akira? how would she react if sano tried to make her a doll?

That is Kilaine!!! beloved kilaine.. she is awful i lovbe her <33 Basic info 5′10 one armed one lady lovely lady w a scowl, two snake tattoos and a scalpel. She is very cool and level headed most of the time and seems very emotionally distant, so she never had many friends growing up besides her sister. Who dies in the same car crash she lost her arm in, burned to death slowly before her eyes but neither of them could move as they were crushed and immoble at the time.

 medical student sadomasochist with an obsession with both finding her sisters killers and bringing her back to life. Shes precise, introverted, keeps to her own best company  most often. Has always considered herself to be different than others and on another level despite being human, possibly stemming from her lonely childhood and damaged upbringing. Dislikes messiness and prefers order, organization.             High pain tolerance herself and has been through hell so has little tolerance for others complaining, though she does like when they scream. Her dynamic with sano is she was made his ‘assistant’, though she wouldnt bear to be called that and would eventually become co-doctor and surgeon. They are both cold surface people  who find they have a lot in common, which is both why they get along so well and the cause of their difficulties. And yeah, she pegs him. hes a sub leaning switch and shes a domme leaning switch. She wasnt afraid of dying or being hurt when he first abducted her, infact the first thing that made him more interested in her was when she informed him that if he did kill her, shed find a way back and give him the same treatment. She was both suicidal and confident enough in her own ability to overcome death in order to come back, as her drive to enact revenge for her sister is that strong. Her and Sano feel like twin souls;

 akira is a little brother to her, a danger to her, an enactment of her dead little sister to her, and an annoyance. Akira is as known protective of sano and doesnt want him to be hurt, but so is she. Hes also posessive and wants to be his brothers number one forever, which she understands as she has the same sentiment for her dead sister, but none the less is competitive about. they become annoying to eachother in a sibling sort of way where she scorns him for being messy or ruining an experiment which he becomes more annoying at in retaliation.          She does know hes volatile, dangerous and violent as shes seen it first hand. she just doesnt particularely care and can find it both bothersome and  endearing like if you found a little brother mashing your barbies together after cutting of their heads. Because she and sano are so alike though and do love eachother, akira has to begrudgingly accept that he now has a new NPR listening killjoy older sibling in the house to yell at him. He can even grow to appreciate it. as for how Kilaine would react to being dolled? she would straight up just tell him that shed prefer if he killed her. Control is major for her as it is for sano, and while shes willing to share it with him, giving up ALL her ability to survive on her own is not something shed ever be willing to do. If he did by force, shed try to kill him and akira out of spite (somehow) and then kill herself. likely shed just manage to force them into killing her which would also be a win.

[nancythebisexualslutwheeler]

Tutor AU Pt 2

Part One Being Richie’s boyfriend is wild. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, but somehow everyone knows him. Triple B- Ben, Bev and Bill have no problem switching lunch tables to sit by  Richie and Richie’s friends Stan and Mike. Though Eddie and Richie don't spend much time at the table, Richie usually sneaks out for a smoke break.

Eddie doesn’t smoke but always accompanies him, mostly because there tends to be a little kissing in between cigarettes. He never thought he’d be okay with that, but Richie makes him question everything.

    ***

Richie gives Eddie his leather jacket after a track meet. Eddie very pointedly doesn’t give it back. He sometimes sits in class with it, or in his bed late at night and tilts his nose into the fabric so he can smell Richie’s cologne. It’s just comforting, okay?

***

Since Richie can never set foot on Eddie’s street, Richie invites Eddie over for dinner. He’s not sure what to expect from Richie’s parents. Maggie is short and wide and wears her hair in a French braid and smiles so hard and so sincerely. Went is tall and thin and claps Eddie on the back at least three times.

She’d made spaghetti. Well, supervised, she said.

“What do you mean?”

“Well Richie’s the best chef in the house. He makes the sauce from scratch.”

“Oh wow! That’s...” he looks over at Richie whose cheeks are red.

His parents go upstairs, and they wash the dishes together and then sit on the couch. Richie turns on Netflix. They’ve barely finished an episode of NCIS when his phone starts ringing.

He pulls it out of his pocket and then walks over to the corner of the room near the patio door and answers it. Eddie hums a song in his head so he doesn’t eavesdrop.

“I’ve gotta go. Um, can you get home alright?” He asks, which is weird, he usually drives Eddie home.

Of course Eddie can take a hint, but Richie doesn’t offer any other information which is weird.

***

It’s not the last time it happens either. He cuts dates short or straight up blows off dates to accommodate whosoever number kept appearing on his phone.

***

Eddie is at the mall with his mom when he sees them. Richie is looking good as always in a Queen shirt and black jeans, even though it’s a warm fall day. He’s holding a toddler in his arms who can’t be more than two years old. Richie says hi, and Eddie’s mom stares.

“Eddie you know this, young man?” She grits out.

Richie’s eyes narrow before his face smoothes into a wide smile and he holds out a hand,

“Hello ma’am, yes Eddie tutors me in math. I’m not so good at it. I’m Richie Tozier.”

She stares at his hand until he retracts it,

“Oh, you’re Maggie’s son.”

His eyes narrow again and Eddie grabs his mom’s arm,

“Mom, let’s go.”

“I just knew-”

“Mom!”

She pulls her arm away,

“Eddie, I’m just saying,”

Richie’s body is pulled like a bow string and his face is daring her to say something.

“We’ve gotta go. Remember? New towels?”

“Fine.”

Eddie leads his mom away, as if if he lets go of her, she’ll go back and curse Richie to hell.

***

He doesn’t even think about the child again until he gets home when he texts Richie,

Eddie: You didn’t tell me you had another sister.  

The response takes longer than normal. Usually Richie texts him back within seconds.

Richie: …. I don’t.

Eddie hesitates. They’ve only been dating about two months, but it feels like a lifetime. For Eddie at least. Well not a lifetime, but Eddie is falling hard. He tries to picture the child, but he had been so worried about his mom talking to Richie that he wasn’t even paying attention. The thing was that he heard about Maggie Tozier all the way home, and he hadn’t wanted that sort of wrath released on Richie.

Eddie: She’s… yours?

He hesitates before sending the message, before he finally does, right after he chooses to dial Richie’s number instead. It goes straight to voicemail.

Eddie: Really?

Richie: Nothing to say champ. We’re done.

Eddie: What? Why? What did I do?

He calls again. It goes to voicemail.

***

He knows it’s lame to ride his bike but his boyfriend, well okay the person he’s been dating, isn’t answering and there’s a whole lot that needs to be discussed. Like nine months worth of a lot.

He doesn’t expect Richie to answer the door with baby food stains on his shirt and arms. He looks just as freaked out to see Eddie. He quickly steps out and shuts the door halfway,

“What?”

“What do you mean what? You’re not answering my calls?”

“I’m a little busy,” he says rudely.

Eddie hesitates, Richie is intimidating, he is. But usually he’s so nice and kind that Eddie kind of forgets that he can come off as cold.

“You are my boyfriend right?” Eddie asks quietly, rocking back and forth on his feet.

Richie’s face softens,

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Then let me in and let’s talk about this.”

Talk about how Richie has a kid. A whole human being. Richie hesitates.

“I’m in the middle of something Eddie.”

Eddie knows he’s being desperate and clingy, but Richie had said they were done and that wasn’t okay with him,

“I’ll wait.”

Richie shifts from foot to foot,

“I don’t introduce people to her.”

Eddie nods, ready to apologize, but then Richie opens the door. Eddie can sense his hesitation, and the baby is crying. Not actively, but little hiccups and Richie strides over to the kitchen and immediately starts feeding her what Eddie assumes are the baby food version of carrots. She’s adorable, even with mashed food in her face and hair. She has dark blonde hair, her ears pierced and Richie’s blue eyes. Richie must be able to feel Eddie’s stare and he blushes,

“Well sit down.”

Eddie sits. Tries to remember any pregnant girls in their grade. Then in their school. There was a freshman, three juniors and a couple senior girls.

“Who?”

“Do you remember Wendy Miller?”

Wendy Miller was a blonde Barbie doll who switched schools at the end of last year, finishing her senior year somewhere else. Eddie feels a sting of jealousy, wondering how he’s supposed to compete with that.

“She’s beautiful,” Eddie offers instead.

“Thank you. Her name is Anastasia.”

“Big name for such a little girl.”

Richie bops her nose,

“She’ll grow into it.”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

Richie shrugs,

“I don’t introduce people to my kid.”

“It’s been two months.”

“Keeping track are we?” he teases.

“Richie, this is serious.”

“That’s why I said we’re done. There’s no,” He hesitates as Anastasia bangs the spoon on the tray of the high chair, flinging carrot residue everywhere, “I’m sorry, I should have told you. I was being selfish. I just wanted this to last.”

“Who says it can’t last?”

“You’re seventeen.”

“You’re nineteen!” he argues back.

“And I had eight months to prepare. I signed up for this. Wendy and I signed up for this. You didn’t.”

Eddie hesitates because Richie isn’t wrong.

“Do you have her full time?”

“We have 50/50 custody.”

“How old is she?”

“She’ll be a year next month.”

“That’s exciting.”

“I know! I can’t believe it. My mom is like, wanting to go to Disney World and I’m like calm down there Mags.”

Eddie laughs,

“Aw, and your sister likes her?”

“More now than when she didn’t sleep through the night.”

“Can’t blame her there.”

He can’t imagine Richie with a baby any smaller than this. The thought is almost incomprehensible. This is Richie. Who smokes cigarettes and is at every one of Eddie’s meets and didn’t graduate the first time. And he’s in charge of a whole human. Eddie isn’t trying to be judgemental but he doesn’t get why people aren’t more careful. Richie must see the judgment on his face because the smile disappears.

“You don’t have to be here,” he says harshly.

“No, I want to, I do. It’s just a lot.”

Richie shakes his head,

“Maybe you should go.”

“No, Richie please, I’m sorry,”

Richie stands up, and unstraps Anastasia before pulling her out,

“I need to give her a bath anyway. I’ll try to call you later.”

***

He doesn’t call. He doesn’t call Sunday, and he’s not in school on Monday.

***

Eddie doesn’t eat dinner on Saturday or Sunday, and his mom fawns after him the entire day, she doesn’t even go to church. Monday drags by and he calls Richie again, and it goes to voicemail, again.

***

He doesn’t even know if it’s worth it to go to by his house, so he invites Bev over instead. They’re sitting on Eddie’s bed eating pizza and ice cream with music playing in the background. His mom is at her book club, so as long as he hides the receipt and they eat on his freshly stripped bed, they should be okay.

“Richie wasn’t at school,” she points out. Like it’s just a random observation.

“Yeah I don’t know what that’s about,” he shrugs.

“But you do know something. Eddie what’s up?”

He takes a deep breath.

“Richie has a daughter. Her name is Anastasia. She’s really cute actually,”

“What the hell? A kid? Eddie, that's a huge deal.”

“I know,” Eddie moans.

“A whole kid?”

“No half a kid,” he rolls his eyes, “I think I upset him.”

“Upset him?” She screeches, “it’s been months! Did he even tell you? Eddie, this isn’t okay.”

“I know, I know, but I think I love him.”

“Oh honey.”

They don’t really talk about it after that.

***

If he’d thought Bev reacted badly, then Bill’s was terrible. They go for burgers on Wednesday after school. Richie still hasn’t been in school or answered his phone.

He’s just getting ready to drown himself in his brownie sundae when his phone dings.

Richie: hey can u come over

Eddie pauses and it sings again.

Richie: plz

Eddie quickly types out a response and Bill is like “Be careful Ed.”

***

Richie looks like shit. He smells like beer. He looks wrecked and Eddie’s defenses are up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Stasia’s been sick. It was just a cold and then she got a fever and it spiked. We were in the hospital last night- she, she’s fine, sorry I should have led with that. But I haven’t slept and I’m so tired and my heart hurts,” he’s breathing heavy and Eddie walks him to the couch.

***

After Richie says Anastasia is safe at home with her mom, and he eats a piece of peanut butter toast and drinks a glass of juice, he reaches for Eddie. He can tell Richie wants to cuddle, but he doesn’t know where they stand and he hesitates. But then Richie stares at him with his big old eyes and asks him if he will nap with him.

“I’m just so tired, but I can’t sleep. It was so scary Eds.”

Eddie pats his back,

“I’m sure it was. But she’s okay, yeah? It’ll be alright.”

So they go lay down and Richie is under the blanket and Eddie is over the blanket and Eddie kisses Richie’s forehead and holds his hand as he falls asleep. Richie looks like an angel when he’s asleep. His hair is a mess, he has freckles on his nose and he hasn’t shaved in a few days. Eddie plays on his phone for a while until Richie curls himself around him. Then he shuts off his phone and lays down. They find themselves tangled up together when Maggie knocks on the door a few hours later.

***

Eddie quickly leaves and Richie promises to call him. Eddie actually has to talk to his mother when he gets home and they eat another hotdish and spend another night talking about nothing. He showers and lays down, prepared to turn on the tv. Richie calls and they talk about Maggie freaking out about him sleeping over, and how Anastasia is doing. Eddie convinces Richie to come to school the next day and hang out with him after school. Which results in Eddie skipping a track meet.

***

Bill flips out and goes off on Richie at lunch. Eddie has never missed a track meet. Ever. He was extremely dedicated and needed a scholarship to get away from his mom.

“All I know is that he’s never missed a track meet before you. And he hasn’t been hanging out with us as much. You just want him at your beck and call while you use him for a notch in your belt!”

They haven’t even done more than makeout so he’s shocked that Bill has jumped to that conclusion. Eddie blushes, feeling embarrassed that his friends are making him seem like a child.

“He’s not just a warm body to me!”

Bill’s mouth twists,

“Is that what you tell them all? Is that what you told Wendy?”

Richie is out of his seat in a second, Mike jumps up and grabs his arm and Eddie is scared he’s going to start swinging. Ben is strong enough to hold Bill back but the two boys struggle. Tears spring to Eddie’s eyes and he pushes himself up from the table. He’s blinded by tears and he doesn’t know where he’s going, he just knows he has to get away from the yelling and fighting and suddenly he can’t breathe and he pulls his inhaler out of his pocket and sinks down against a locker.

Surprisingly it’s Mike who sinks down next to him. He can’t stop crying. Everyone’s right about him, he is a little, sick baby. Mike doesn’t touch him, just sits close to him.

“It’s okay.”

“No it’s not, this is my fault!” he wails.

Mike shakes his head,

“No, Richie should have been upfront.”

“You knew?”

Mike looks at him confused,

“Yes. Richie has been my friend since we were in diapers. I’m Anastasia’s godfather.”

Eddie looks at him wide eyed,

“That’s a big responsibility.”

“Richie is like my brother.”

They sit quietly for a few minutes.

“He really likes you. I know he does.”

Eddie’s mouth twists to the side,

“If you say so.”

Mike looks up at him. He has such a serious face,

        “I do. And if you like him, at all, I think you should give him a chance.”

        “I know nothing about kids. I’m an only child and I have no cousins or anything.”

          “He’ll teach you. And it’s not like he’s gonna throw you in to step-daddy, or even make you watch her. He will respect your boundaries.”

        “We talking about the same Richie?”

Mike’s eyebrows raise, and that seems to be as much of a facial expression as he can muster.

       “Sorry, I’m joking.”

        “Does he not treat you well?”

Eddie starts shaking his head immediately,

          “Of course he does!”

Mike gives him an exactly look.

***

Bill and Bev apologize but Richie still won’t answer his calls. He supposes it’s his turn again to show up unannounced.

Richie looks wrecked, again. He assumes Anastasia is still sick, but Richie looks happy to see him, even if it’s just a little. Eddie pulls Richie in for a hug and he buries his face in his neck. It’s been too long.

“Surprised to see you here,” Richie says, running a hand over his face.

“One day you’re gonna stop being surprised. I want to date you, stop trying to get rid of me.”

“Even with Anastasia? Because it’s going to be really hard,”

“If I start quoting The Notebook right now, will you punch me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well I want to try. More than try. Richie, I’m in love with you.”

He beams behind his glasses,

“I’m in love with you, Eddie spaghetti.”

“Oh god, is that a dad joke? It is, isn’t it?”

Richie just laughs harder and pulls Eddie against his chest in a hug, and Eddie tips his head up to kiss him softly.

[aion-rsa]

Feminist Science Fiction Novels to Read After The Handmaid's Tale

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Enjoy an feminist dystopian yarn a la The Handmaid's Tale? These science fiction titles need to be next on your reading list...

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With the ever-growing success of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale since its debut in 1985, both the book and its subsequent TV adaptation, you may find you're after something similar to read when you need your next lit fix. There’s no doubt that its relevance and its cultural impact is heavily felt today, after all these years, especially during the #MeToo era.

It has now spawned a whole new sci-fi subgenre of dystopian feminist fiction, which has grown hugely popular, especially over the last few years, and has also helped elevate and amplify the voices of lots of female writers as well as shine a light on many important women's issues. Some have even already been lined up for TV and movie adaptations. And we can only hope others do too.

Here are some picks of the best feminist dystopian science fiction novels out there at the moment that need to be added to your reading list pronto…

Margaret Atwood - The Testaments (2019)

In what has been deemed the literary event of this year, this compelling story of The Handmaid’s Tale continues in this long-awaited sequel that has been 35 years in the making, bringing everything full circle. The sequel picks up straight from where its predecessor left off and continues the events in the totalitarian state of Gilead from the last book fifteen years later with an explosive conclusion. Its screen adaptation is already in the works at Hulu.

read more: How Margaret Atwood's The Testaments Will Affect The Handmaid's Tale

Stephen and Owen King - Sleeping Beauties (2017)

One of his more recent works, the feminist dystopian novel receives the Stephen King treatment. Written with his son Owen, Sleeping Beauties is set in a women’s prison in the small town of Dooling, West Virginia and dares to ask what would happen if women disappeared from the world of men? While it might not be the most notable King novel, it’s still definitely worth a read.

Leni Zumas - Red Clocks (2018)

An extremely timely book, Red Clocks is a fascinating and intriguing novel which explores the lives of five very different women who are navigating their way in a society in which abortion has been made illegal in every state. The novel takes us through various issues that bears so much relevance within today’s current societal climate with its compelling narrative and its nuanced characters.

read more: Handmaid's Tale Season 4 Confirmed

Naomi Alderman - The Power (2016)

Soon to be adapted into a TV series by Amazon Studios, which has already cast Leslie Mann in a role, The Power tells the thought-provoking story of what would happen if women had all the power. In The Power, women discover that they are able to electrocute through their fingers and inflict devastating pain and sometimes even death, overpowering men.

Kim Liggett - The Grace Year (2019)

The Grace Year is a must-read YA novel which could be envisioned as The Handmaid’s Tale for a whole new generation, mixed in with a bit of Lord of The Flies. It has already been lined up for a movie adaptation from Universal to be directed by Elizabeth Banks. The story follows a 16-year-old girl named Tierney, who is sent off along with a group of teenage girls to an isolated forest to rid themselves of magic and become purified for a year.

Christina Dalcher – VOX (2018)

This award-winning, best-selling novel, tells the story of what happens when women do not have a voice and are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. Also, there is a word counter which gives the jolt of electricity if the word count is exceeded at any point. This is a well-written thriller with a very chilling premise - an intriguing read.

read more: VOX by Christina Dalcher Review

Octavia Butler - Parable of The Sower (1993)

Part of a series, Parable of The Sower is a dystopian novel, sharing similarities to Stephen King’s The Stand and Cormac McCarthy’s On The Road, which explores race, sex and power. This is the first novel in a series of books which follows the protagonist Lauren Olamina as she develops her own religious system in the form of Earthseed.

Sophie Mackintosh - The Water Cure (2018)

The short but sinister debut novel from Sophie Mackintosh is a beautifully written, chilling masterpiece which follows three sisters, Grace, Lia and Sky. The girls live on an island with their parents, who are trying to keep them safe from the contaminated water that surrounds the island, until men one day start being washed ashore and, you guessed it, trouble ensues.

Jenny Melamed - Gather The Daughters (2017)

If you love The Handmaid’s Tale, then you’ll definitely be compelled to read this gem. Gather The Daughters is a very dark, dystopian tale set on an isolated island (starting to notice a bit of a theme here). The story has a lot of depth regarding its story and its characters and also covers so many important themes and issues.

read more: Watching Handmaid's Tale in The Age of Trump

Kristen Simmons - The Glass Arrow (2015)

This YA fantasy story follows Aya, who lives with a small group of women who are hunted down by men who wish to auction off their breeding rights to the highest bidder. It acts as an important commentary on female rights and fertility. A terrifying concept where women have no say, just like in many of the aforementioned titles.

Virginia Bergin - Who Runs The World? (2017)

A world without men? Have you ever wondered what that would be like? Then you should wonder no more. This novel is a gripping read in which it takes place in a world where men have been completely wiped out and are extinct and thus provides us with an interesting piece of speculative fiction. A very unusual but engaging concept.

Louise O’Neill - Only Ever Yours (2014)

This novel takes an interesting look at beauty and body image where baby girls are no longer conceived but instead are engineered in labs, designed to be perfect for men. This is a very bleak read and something that gives quite a lot of food for thought. Women are basically treated and seen as Barbie dolls which, as this novel demonstrates, is a terrifying prospect rather than an idealistic one.

read more: Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — Books For Geeks

Louise Erdrich - Future Home Of The Living God (2017)

This provocative, dystopian novel from best-selling American author Louise Erdrich tells the story of a young woman who fights for the life of both herself and her unborn child. It is set within a futuristic America in which there is a major biological shift and everything has changed, this is a very harrowing read and shows the ultimate fight for freedom.

Charlotte Nicole Davis - The Good Luck Girls (2019)

The Good Luck Girls is an action-packed story which follows five girls who are sold into slavery and consequently fight for their freedom. This is a truly unique Wild Western fantasy mashed together with a dystopian feminist tale. It explores friendship, family and romance and holds a powerful message of course. It is also a great introduction into the Western genre with lots of supernatural elements involved.

Chelsea Cain – Maneaters (2018)

A very divisive comic/graphic novel series, to say the least, written by Chelsea Cain, who wrote Marvel’s groundbreaking Mockingbird series. Maneaters tells the story of teenage girls who begin to transform into flesh-eating monsters when they first get their period. What more could you want?

It has faced lots of criticism for many reasons but has great art. Nevertheless, if you love dystopian fiction then this is worth your time.

read more: City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders Review

Kelly Sue DeConnick - Bitch Planet (2015)

Bitch Planet is a visually stunning and unique graphic novel from publisher Image Comics, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, who wrote graphic novels including Captain Marvel and Pretty Deadly. The story sees non-compliant women incarcerated and held in a facility run by men where they are kept under constant surveillance. With brightly, coloured, gorgeous vivid artwork to accompany the tale, along with propaganda, Bitch Planet is a must-read.

Joanna Russ - The Female Man (1975)

Long before The Handmaid's Tale took the world by storm, The Female Man offered an insightful look at science fiction and feminism as it explores four women living in parallel worlds, each with a different gender landscape. This story offers a very powerful insight into gender roles in society and also is a landmark within the science fiction genre.

Carmen Maria Machado - Her Body And Other Parties (2013)

A collection of short stories heavily reminiscent of the likes of Angela Carter, Her Body And Other Parties provides a very interesting exploration into womanhood. From a woman who recounts sexual encounters as she sweeps the earth to a woman who refuses to remove a mysterious green ribbon around her neck, each story is very distinctive in its own way and is a very enjoyable read.

read more: Read an Excerpt From Brandon Sanderson's New Book

Joanne Ramos - The Farm (2019)

Being heralded as The Handmaid’s Tale for 2019 by some literary critics, The Farm is a refreshing addition to the feminist dystopian genre, showing the impact of colonisation. In The Farm, a luxury retreat in Hudson Valley transforms the fertility industry - women get special retreatment but have to produce a baby for someone else in return. The novel follows the main protagonist Jane, a Filipino immigrant and single mother who wants a better life for herself.

Marge Piercy - Woman On The Edge Of Time (1976)

Another piece of feminist dystopian fiction which was making waves long before The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power, is Woman On The Edge Of Time. This is definitely worth a read and a landmark title within the feminist dystopian sci-fi genre. This time-travelling story follows a woman named Connie Ramos who is unfairly incarcerated in a mental institution, communicates with the year 2137, and envisions a utopian future of sexual and racial equality.

Read and download the Den of Geek NYCC 2019 Special Edition Magazine right here!

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Feature Laura Francis

Nov 29, 2019

The Handmaid's Tale

Science Fiction Books

Margaret Atwood

from Books https://ift.tt/2Dw88me

[artificialqueens]

Virgo Barbie (Trixya) - Juniper

Summary: Trixie meets the cute toy store employee that leads to the best summer of her life. Cis Girl AU.

Trixie squinted and looked up, making sure she was in the right place. Though not typically one for downtown shopping, her brother had told her of a discount toy store worth checking out. She pushed the door open and stepped into the shop, letting the conditioned air cool her from the unforgiving summer sun. The store was quaint and small, with lots of character. At least, that’s how Trixie’s mother had always taught her to describe something kind of shabby.

 At the entrance was a large wooden desk with nobody behind it. There was a cash register perched on top with a few plastic containers next to it, filled to the brim with buttons, rubber balls, and various knick knacks, all guarded by a set of those wooden Russian dolls. A well-used alphabet rug was home to a large plush lion, with a look in his eye that gave Trixie the creeps.

 Taking the opportunity to explore, the only sound in the room was the squeak of her sandals against the floors. She had to appreciate the wonder, even if there was chipping paint. Various shelves lined the cream walls, housing a variety of Dr. Seuss books and button-eyed teddy bears. Greetings come from wooden carousel horses and collector convertibles. Her heart bubbles when she sees Raggedy Ann, a familiar face, sporting some suspicious stains. She approached a display of a doll in a great pink coat secured over a lacy dress. Pristine blonde curls tumbled out from beneath her feathered hat, with eyes the most beautiful shade of blue.

 “Her name’s Elizabeth.”

 Trixie gasped and spun around, finding a beautiful blonde woman smiling at her. How long had she been there, watching? She was clearly an employee; a nametag with KATYA written on it hung from a lanyard around her neck. Judging from her scent, she suspected the girl had been out back having a quick cigarette break on the clock.

 “An American Girl doll. One of our nicer pieces of merchandise. Did you ever have one?”

Trixie snorted. “Not a chance. Those things cost a fortune, and my family wasn’t exactly wealthy when I was growing up.” Was that too much information?

“Since everything here is either used or off-brand, she’d be at a discount, of course,” Katya explained. Trixie picked up on the hint of an accent. “She kind of looks like you, yeah? Missing the freckles, though.”

“I love the flattery, but, um, I’m actually here to pick up something for my nephew. Got a birthday coming up.” She explained. “I’m much more of a Barbie girl, anyway.”

 Katya laughed and nodded. Though she was a good few inches shorter, her presence radiated off of her. She motioned for Trixie to follow her, leading her to a table where a battery-operated train set was making its way along a track. The train was blue and red, and the track had cheesy plastic trees lining either side. A very obvious Thomas the Tank Engine knockoff, it would be just the right amount of fun for her nephew, while still leaving room for imagination.

 “It’s perfect!” Trixie said. “First guess. How’d you know?”

 The employee shrugged and revealed a bright set of pearly whites. “I have a gift, what can I say?”

 After packing the set up into a box and peeling up the price sticker, Katya worked on ringing up the set. “Do you want me to wrap it? Slight extra charge.”

Trixie shook her head with a soft smile, and watched Katya input the amount into the register. She couldn’t have been more than a couple of years older than Trixie, making her somewhere in her early twenties. Her pursed, red lips matched the lanyard, covered in buttons making several pop culture references.  Trixie’s favorites were an alien head and a circular one with PRIDE printed across it in rainbow letters.

 “You know, I’m also-“

“Thirty-six dollars and fifty cents,” Katya interrupted, handing back the change. Trixie laughed shyly, figuring she must have gone unheard. Something about Katya told her that she’d be wholly interested in anything Trixie had to say.

She met her intense eyes, lined so heavily, and Trixie felt her mouth go dry. She was always a sucker for pretty eyes. Mumbling out a quick thank you, she picked up the package, and gasped loudly when her arms buckled under the weight, letting it crash down on her toes.

“Shit!”

 Still reeling, she felt the blood rush to her face, and she looked up at Katya with wide eyes. She was laughing wildly, nose scrunched up, hands waving in front of her in apology. Trixie wondered why bad things happened to good people.

 Stifling her giggles, Katya emerged from behind the desk and bent down to pick up the set. Her arms were surprisingly defined. “Get the door, Matryoshka. I’ll help you take it to your car.” That explained the accent, probably. Russian?

“It’s Trixie, actually. Trixie Mattel,” she said as the opened up the trunk. Why was she even bothering to tell her name to a random toy store worker?

“Well, nice to meet you. Come back anytime, I mean it.”

                                                                ————-

Trixie had it bad, and she knew it. She tried to deny it when she popped up in a dream, brushed it off when she thought she saw her out in public. Twice. But when she caught herself scribbling Katya’s name all over her summer homework, there was no avoiding it. Trixie had to see her again.

The heat of late June was beating down on her bare shoulders, and she’d been forced to tie her thick curls up in a high ponytail to give her sweating neck some relief. Checking her face in the visor mirror, Trixie sighed. What was she doing? What if Katya had never even thought about her since that first day? She was probably just another customer, and she was going to make a fool of herself by strutting in there in her new pink gingham dress. But she was already here, and knew she’d kick herself if she didn’t just go in for a second.

The bell chimed as she timidly crept in, and she immediately saw Katya cataloguing something behind the desk. She had a pair of glasses sliding down her nose, framed in black plastic. She raised her head and smiled after a second.

Trixie wanted to scream and run. 20 was too old to be having crushes like this on someone you barely knew.

“Hi! Tracy, right?” Her heart sank, and she almost moved to back out of the store before Katya started wheezing with laughter.

“You should see your face! You look like you just lost your last friend,” she said. “I’m just kidding. How can I help you, Trixie?”

Trixie’s brain felt like mashed potatoes. For the first time in her life, she was at a loss for a witty response. She managed to walk over to the desk and force out a shaky laugh.

What a strange girl.

“My nephew’s birthday party is tomorrow.”

“Mmhm, I remember. Train set.”

“Right,” Trixie smiled.  “Um, so the set is, like, battery powered, right? I was wondering if I could get those here.”

Katya raised an eyebrow. She opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a pack of AA’s. Scooting over to the register, she asked Trixie if she lived downtown.

“Me? Oh, no. I actually live on the outside of town.”

Katya rested her chin on the palm of her hand and looked at her intently. “So, tell me, Matryoshka, why would you come all the way down to this little shop for a pack of batteries you could get at any convenience store?”

Shit. She’d been caught. Once again, she could feel herself blushing.

“I didn’t know what type to get. I figured you’d know?”

“And if I hadn’t been working?”

Was she flirting?

“Well…” Trixie mused. “Then I’d just come back until you were.”

Katya’s lips broke into a smile. She pulled out a paper bag and slid the batteries inside. Trixie felt weak in the knees as she reached into her purse.

“On the house. Since you came all this way.”

Trixie bit her lip to keep from smiling too wickedly. Did she look crazy? She must’ve looked crazy.

Their eyes met and she would have been content with standing there for the rest of the day. Then the silence hit her, and Trixie realized it was on her. Her business was finished, and now she didn’t have any reason left to come back and visit Katya again. She offered a small wave, and as she was almost out the door, she heard Katya call out.

“Hey, Barbie. I’m sure you’re busy next week…but if you’re not, the shop is a great place to watch the fireworks.”

                                                        —————

The evening of the Fourth of July brought a cool breeze, and Trixie was starting to rethink her romper. Did she have time to go home and change before the show started? Deciding against it, she parked outside the toy shop just before sunset, and was confused to find the door locked. The lights were down, and she felt a little dumb. Of course they’d be closed. But…Katya did tell her to come, didn’t she?

“Sorry, hey!”

Trixie turned to see a head pop out of the tiny alleyway between the toy shop and the loan place next door. Katya stomped her cigarette out as Trixie approached, and pulled a new one out to hand to her.

“Oh, no, I don’t smoke,” Trixie frowned awkwardly.

“Take a closer look, Matryoshka!”

Taking it from Katya’s hand, she immediately noticed the smell of something sweet. She quickly unwrapped the paper and laughed loudly.

“Some bubblegum for a bubblegum princess.”

“I didn’t even know they still made these!” Trixie laughed. “What a horrible marketing ploy. I hate cigarettes. No offense.”

Katya shrugged. “You’re right, they’re disgusting. I’d kick them if I could.”

Once inside the shop, Trixie couldn’t help but notice that the atmosphere seemed so much more romantic at night. Katya looked like a beautiful rose in a form-fitting red jumpsuit…not that she was staring. Trixie wanted this to be a date so badly, but was too afraid to ask.

“Are you sure we’re allowed to be in here so late?”

“Well, this is my family’s store. So, if we’re not allowed, I’m not sure who is,” Katya said. She winked and Trixie had to pinch herself.

They sat on the alphabet rug, and Trixie barked out a laugh as Katya limberly crossed her legs over and over, kicking them straight up into the air.

Everything this girl did was a pleasant surprise for Trixie.

“Look,” she whispered. “This is one of my favorites.” She grabbed a small wind-up toy from behind the lion. It was a little steel blue robot with a coil on his head and large feet. Katya twisted the orange dial on his side and set him on the ground, and he shuffled around in circles.

“His name is Nikolai, and he’s been in the shop since it opened. We’re best friends, so I hide him away. He’s got plenty of heart but just can’t seem to figure out where he’s going.”

There was something sad in her eyes, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Trixie.

“Where do you find all of these trinkets?”

“Most are used and get sold to us, and the defunct products get sent to us for next to nothing,” Katya said. “I’m not afraid of rummaging around at a garage sale, either.”

“Well, I like him,” Trixie said, placing a hand on Katya’s knee. “Especially if he’s your favorite.”

The spark was back in her smile.

“So what was your favorite as a kid? What did you always write to Santa for?”

“Well…and don’t laugh okay? Do you remember the birthday Barbie line? There was a collection, based on the zodiac signs. All of my cousins had one, and sharing a connection with the doll seemed special. I don’t know, I sound dumb.”

Katya just shook her head and smiled tenderly.

“It was always the same, though. Candy in the stocking, and two, maybe three presents under the tree, max. Hand-me-downs and socks, or as many sets of paper dolls my mom could fit in an old shoe box.”

“I was always the more creative type, myself,” Katya teased. “Things that tested my brain, like puzzles and big books.”

Trixie’s eyebrows shot up in offense. “Dolls are creative, you cretin! Fashion and styling are very delicate arts, not to mention the amount of imagination it takes to create a whole world for a sock with old shirt buttons for eyes!”

“Maybe you’re right,” Katya said.

“As always.”

“Snarky, too!”

A half hour later, they made their way into the street, surrounded by couples and children wearing a variety of flag-related apparel. The scent of grilled hot dogs and burgers still hung in the air from early afternoon. Young girls spelled their names out with sparklers, and mischievous boys threw snappers at people’s feet. At the end of the block, they could just make out a man proposing to his girlfriend under a series of red fireworks, and they gladly joined in with the resounding applause. They sat on the hood of Trixie’s car, and she allowed herself to rest her head on Katya’s shoulder.

                                                       —————

It’s the middle of July, and Trixie visits Katya a few times a week. The spirit of the shop truly grows on her, and despite Katya’s protests, she even takes to dusting and tidying up occasionally. Her favorite day comes when she helps a little girl named Amara pick out a stuffed rabbit for her baby sister. She gets paid in hugs while her mother gets charged up front. Katya tells her she’s lucky she doesn’t get paid on commission, but knows that her agitated look isn’t real.

She comes in one day and is sad to see that Elizabeth is missing. A father purchased her that morning, Katya said, and Trixie can’t help but feel that a special memory is gone. She suddenly understands why Katya hides Nikolai away.

It’s a Wednesday, and Trixie sneaks in with something behind her back. Katya’s busy with a customer, but shoots her a curious glance. She approaches a set of twins constructing a tower out of building blocks on the alphabet rug and produces her guitar from behind her. She begins to strum and sing nursery rhymes, and Katya smiles at her.

Later that evening, once they’re all closed up, Trixie watches as Katya counts the money in the register. She notices something on Katya’s lanyard that makes her float. It’s a new pin, featuring the head of a smiling blonde Barbie doll. She reaches out and grabs Trixie’s hand.

“Let me take you somewhere, Matryoshka.”

 Katya manages to get them into the ice cream parlor a few doors down, despite it being close to ten o’clock. The owner is clearly fond of her, and knows to bring her two scoops of cookies n’ cream in a bowl. Trixie orders a strawberry shake.

 “I didn’t know you were a musician,” Katya comments as she crunches on a cookie.  

 Trixie nodded excitedly. “I’m actually studying music at University. If I didn’t get my choir scholarship, I wouldn’t be going at all.”

 She went on about how college in a big city is like a different world. She talks about how it was being raised by a single mother, coming out, her relationship with her brother. They both coo over pictures of her nephew playing with the train set. One photo showing him with one of the plastic trees up his nose almost causes Katya to choke on her ice cream.

Katya listens intently, absorbing every word like it’s the most interesting story she’s ever heard.

“So, what made you wanna work in the store?”

 “Nothing,” Katya laughs. “Not a thing.”

Her real name was Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova, and she had moved here when she was twelve.

“My papa was a toy maker, and mama was a seamstress back in Russia. They opened up a shop here because they thought I would have better opportunities in America. I was…a sort of gymnastics prodigy, and they had their minds set on seeing me in the Olympics. Six hours of intense rehearsals every day since before I can remember. I never fit in with any of the other girls. They were all rich, and had undying passion. But…I hated it.”

Trixie’s heart felt heavy. She could see that sadness come back into the girl’s eyes.

“It stopped being fun for me. I would start to panic before a meet. Vomiting, hair falling out, you name it. I’d cry in the bathroom while all of the other girls stretched. The fear of humiliation was holding me hostage. If I didn’t care as much as everyone else, I couldn’t possibly be as good. I’d make a fool of myself and let down Russia. I’d never get to the Olympics or make a name for my family here in America. How can you let your family uproot their whole life for you and then give up on their dreams?”

Trying not to cry, Trixie grabbed her hand tightly. “What did you do?”

“Long story short? I broke their hearts and quit. Nothing quite like seeing your father cry to go with your morning toast,” Katya laughed somberly. “Now I’m a 23 year old failure with an Associate’s in avoiding my problems, and I spend my time selling discounted toys and chain smoking, all the while panicking about the fact that I’m wasting away my life. You should have seen their faces, Trixie. I didn’t even have a back-up plan.” The tears are flowing freely now, and Trixie rushes to her side, pressing a kiss to her temple.

                                                        —————                                     

 On the first day of August, Katya kisses Trixie, long and deep, and she swears she knows what true happiness feels like. She might even be in love.

                                                        ————–                                                            August 6th, they close the shop early and spend the night together. They stay up until sunrise, just talking and kissing in their underwear. Trixie has never been so sure of anything.

                                                       —————                                      

 It’s August 15th, and Trixie only has a couple of weeks left before she has to return to University. She’s scared, doesn’t know what distance means for them. But she convinces herself to be strong. Today she’s going to tell Katya that she loves her.

She walks into the shop and immediately knows something is wrong. The door is open, but the lights are low, and it takes her a second to find Katya.

 She’s crumpled on the floor on the carpet, hugging her knees, hair covering her face. Papers are strewn all over the place, and Trixie almost steps on the glasses in front of her.

“Katya,” she spoke. “Katya, baby. What is it?”

 She hears a rough sniff and sees Katya’s shoulders subtly start to tremble. She kneels down next to her and picks at her peeling polish until Katya’s ready to talk. From a crack in her fist, Trixie can tell she’s clutching onto Nikolai as hard as she can.

“Sales are down, and the rent is going up,” she whispers. “This old, bald, realtor man wants a downtown office, and he’s willing to pay twice what my parents and I do.”

 Trixie frowns. “There has to be some way to make ends meet. Maybe a bake sale, or…um, I could play a concert! We can-“

 “There is no we, Trixie!” She flinched at the use of her real name. “This is my family’s problem. My parents are old, they have medical issues…I have bills coming out of my ears, and all our income comes from the same place! I haven’t had a day off in almost two years. I’m so tired!”

“I know, please just-“

“I can’t breathe! The fucking walls are closing in, everything is staring! Make it stop!” She flings Nikolai across the room, and Trixie’s heart hurts when she hears something break.

“Let’s go outside, we can get some fresh air,” Trixie tried to keep her voice steady. Her eyes were brimming with tears and her stomach ached.

“I’m so scared,” Katya cried, voice breaking. She fell into Trixie’s arms and sobbed loudly. “If I lose the shop, I have nothing left.”

“That’s not true, baby. It’s not. You have your crazy brain, you have all of your endless potential,” she whispered. “You have me.”

 “Sing for me, Matryoshka.”

And so she did, until Katya fell asleep in her arms, tears drying on both of their faces.

                                                      —————                                    

Trixie turns 21 on August 23, and it’s her last day in town. Her suitcases are packed, homework triple checked, and she packs some cake into a Tupperware container to take on the road. She’s spent the whole day with her family, letting her nephew help her blow out the candles, and cheering when she finally gets to take a (legal) shot with her brother. Her mother gets emotional, like she does every year, and they hug until they can’t anymore.

After dark, she drives to the toy store. She has to say goodbye to Katya, and she’s been avoiding it all day.

She’s waiting for her in the doorway, hair in two marled braids, a sneaky look in her eye.

“Oh, God. I swear, if you have anything pop out at me, I’m leaving!” She tosses her hair over her shoulder dramatically, and they both laugh. Why can’t it always be this easy?

Katya makes Trixie cover her eyes and presents her with her gift, despite all of her protests to save money.

She opens her eyes, and her mouth parts slightly, her heart so heavy in her chest. She can’t form words.

Katya’s holding up the Virgo Barbie, the one from the zodiac collection in the original box. It’s beautiful, in a sparkling blue gown, and she has flowing, blonde hair. Just like Trixie.

“I love it,” she finally managed. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They lay tangled up together for hours, and Trixie knows she’ll be exhausted in the morning, but she doesn’t care.

“Maybe you could come with me,” she accidentally says out loud. “I mean, if things don’t work out here…”

She’s afraid of the reaction, but Katya simply scratches her scalp gently.

“No, that’s your path, Matryoshka. I have to find my own. I’ll be alright.”

Trixie snuggled closer, and said, “I’m gonna miss you, you smelly, sweaty idiot.”

                                                    —————                        Trixie sighs heavily, full of relief as she finally kicks her last empty suitcase under her dorm bed. Her room is completely arranged; it’s minimal, but it’s pink. She has some of her nephew’s macaroni art up on the wall, next to her framed picture of them with the rest of the family. A string of lights gives off a glow she feels relaxed in, and though her desk already looks like a disaster, it’s her favorite part of the whole place. On the shelf above it stands her Virgo Barbie, hands in the air.

Trixie squinted and looked up, making sure she was in the right place. Yep. And she couldn’t wait to go home again, to find her place next to Katya.

[templeofgeek]

We spoke with Joshua Schneider from Fett.up Toys.  He’s been making amazing mash up toys and figures, take a look!

Q: Where did you learn to do what you do?

A: I learned tips and tricks from other artist I found on Instagram but for the most part I usually just pick something up and put in tons of hours of practice until I find a way to make it work.

Q: I don’t think everyone understands how much work goes into each design, can you take us over your process and how long it takes to come up with each toy?

A: Its kinda hard to to take someone through the steps seems like each project has a different starting point but all have the same goal in the end. Some of the figures or toys I have made have been straight forward and others I will have a plan and it goes of track and another figure or Toy comes to life.

Q: Did you always have an interest in combining different toys?  Like were you the kid that took the head off a barbie doll and put it on GI Joe?

A: Growing up in the 80’s I had so many bad ass toys to play with I never took them apart and mashed anything together but I always felt that they could all belong to the same universe so my Toys would battle each other growing up now I can make them look like they belong like my versions of my pet Wookiee, mr boom Bosskstak and the He-man/Star Wars mashups.

Q: You already have a heavy dose of Star Wars and Horror toys… whats next for you?

A: I would really like to start doing my own characters and  original sculpts I’m working on an original toy line geared more for the 21 and over age range I also have my first release for 2018 coming up as well it will be a 6” Original sculpt of Iron Man from Tales of Suspense.

Q: Is it hard for you to sell your work that you put so much work into?

A: Yes it is, but with making toys that I can reproduce it’s been easy to keep one of each I think where it hurts the most is when I do a painting or one off of a figure for a client I always say in the end that I can always make another sadly I never do.

Q: Who or what inspires you the most?

A: My Mother is one of my biggest inspirations as far back as I could remember I have always loved to watch her paint I still have 3 of her paintings hanging in my room whenever I need inspiration all I have to do is look around.

Q: What’s next for you, any cons? Where can our readers find you?

A: Next convention will be Long Beach Comic Expo in February then later in the year I’ll be doing LA Comic Con, Dcon, Long Beach Comic Con and a few smaller shows plus I’ll have my online store open and my Instagram.

Artist Spotlight with… Joshua Schneider We spoke with Joshua Schneider from Fett.up Toys.  He's been making amazing mash up toys and figures, take a look!

[dracox-serdriel]

Last Men of Letters - 10x02 Bad Rain - Part 3: In the Madness

Title: Bad Rain (Supernatural) Subtitle: In the Madness Episode: Episode 2 of Untitled, or Season 10 Fan Fiction [LJ] Author: Dracox Serdriel Word count: 2,467 Spoilers: Through episode 08x20 “Pac-man Fever.” Rating: PG-13/Teen Warnings: language, violence, graphic descriptions, forensics, serial killings, monster mash

Summary: Castiel and Dean run into trouble while searching for Sam and Dodge, namely her partner, FBI Special Agent Marie Acevedo. The members of the EDA use Sam and Dodge in their tug-o-war over The Purge with disastrous results.

Part of the Last Men of Letters series. Season 10 Fan Fiction is a fan-fiction version of Season 10 and the sequel to Another Chance at the Brass Ring, or Season 9 Fan Fiction [LJ], which is a fan-fiction version of Season 9 of Supernatural.

Read Bad Rain on AO3. See full series detail on Tumblr for Season 10 Fan Fiction.

Episode 10x02 Bad Rain Part 3: In the Madness

Sam didn't know what to make of Sliver. He seemed genuinely scared and confused about what was happening to him, but on the other hand, he was a shifter with fangs and claws that wouldn't recede. If a naga and a werewolf thought it safest to chain him, who was he to argue?

He pulled Sliver into the main room while Dodge bleached the bathroom to remove any sign of the supernatural, like sloughed shifter skin and blue-and-black blood. Since it was the only room without windows, they opted to keep Sliver there after covering the floor with towels.

"I can tell you don't want to kill me," Sliver said suddenly. "If you were the kind of hunters to kill any monster you'd meet, you would've put a silver bullet in my heart already."

"Would that even work on you anymore?" Sam asked.

"I don't know," Sliver replied.

"You want us to help you? Then help us," Dodge said. "Start by telling us why your own people chained you up."

"Everyone on The Serum goes through a period of transition. Depends on what you are and how long you've been that way, but it's a pretty rough six weeks, especially the last week. At that point, everyone needs to be chained up."

"Or what?" Sam asked.

"One of the side effects is acute transformation attacks," Sliver replied. "They're random and unpredictable and... they're bad."

"Elaborate on 'bad,'" Dodge ordered.

"It's a combination of your first full moon as a werewolf and the transition period of a vampire," he replied.

"So you have an insatiable bloodlust, amplified senses, and no control over who you attack or how much you feed," Sam summarized.

Sliver seemed surprised that the hunter knew what being a monster felt like.

"Let me guess, you black out and can't remember it," Sam added.

"Yes and no. Yes, I blacked out during, no conscious choice in what I was doing, but I remembered everything later," he replied. "But it's like an out-of-body experience, like you're watching yourself do all these things. They chained me up because there wasn't anyone around to watch me, and one of the rules is no violence, no turning, no media."

Dodge asked, "Rules? Rules for what?"

Sliver bit his lip and shook his head.

"The deal was you talk and we help you," Sam said. "What rules?"

"I can't... I can tell you all about me and The Serum, but I can't talk about the EDA. It's... we can't do it."

The shifter closed his eyes and shook his head. Then he started rocking back and forth, as if the movement could prevent the conversation from continuing.

Sam wanted to escalate to less polite means of acquiring information, but Dodge pulled him into the next room.

"We gotta move this guy," she said.

"What?"

"He just told us he can turn into a vamp-wolf-shifter at any moment with a guarantee of him being violent."

"I've got silver bullets."

Dodge shook her head. "Maybe that's what Crosby wanted. He wanted to stick us with this guy because he's gonna be just like the other five victims."

"Dead?" Sam asked.

"If we shoot him, we've got a body on our hands that just happens to share similarities with the other homicide victims. Crosby wants to keep hunters away from the EDA. Tell me a better plan than implicating us in the serial homicides."

"Or maybe he left Sliver with us so we'd think he was another hunter. We unchain him, and the guy kills us both when he... transforms, or whatever."

"I think it's safe to say that whatever is going on is bigger than one shifter, and if we're forced to kill him, we may never get another chance to figure this out," she replied.

"Dodge, this guy basically told us he's a frenzied killing machine. If putting him down is the only way to stop him, we put him down."

"I'm not disagreeing. I'm saying we to get him away from innocent people, so if he does get out, there's no one to hurt. That, and my partner keeps calling me. If she hasn't already started looking for me, she will soon. It won't take her long to find this place."

Sam considered the situation. Dodge was right, there was no arguing with that, but where could they take him? Best case scenario would be somewhere with medical or veterinary resources. Then they might be able to put him down with heavy-duty tranquilizers instead of a bullet.

"Okay, you're right," he said. "I'm gonna call Dr. Robert. He's one of my dad's old hunter contacts. He might know a doctor or someone who can help us. We should take my truck... plenty of room for Sliver under the cap."

Dean didn't believe that monsters could become human again, and he certainly didn't believe that The Serum could do it. Dean didn't even believe that that monsters wanted to be cured, yet Cas insisted that a faction of Eve's descendants had been after a cure for thousands of years.

These thoughts ran through Dean's head as he and Cas strolled into the FBI morgue with stolen ID cards and uniforms. The security guard waved them in, but she gawked as they passed by her desk.

"Hang on, you're not Steve," she said to Dean.

Cas touched her forehead, and she immediately fell asleep. They carried her back to her post and continued into the building, straight into the morgue proper.

"I don't hear anyone else nearby, but we don't have more than an hour," the angel said.

They moved quickly and quietly, taking samples from each victim, including blood, hair, skin, and one tooth. Cas insisted on a bit of muscle tissue, which Dean harvested using a method he learned on YouTube.

It certainly took longer than an hour. They had just finished with Simon Berkowitz, the third victim, when an older man pushed into the lab.

"You can't be in here," Dean said with the air of authority.

"This is my morgue!" the man protested.

"It's your morgue at six a.m. Is it six a.m.?" Dean asked.

"No, it's five-oh-six, but - "

Dean interrupted, "No buts. This morgue is mine for another fifty-four minutes!"

The old man stared at Dean for a solid minute before turning around and marching out the door. "You have until I finish my coffee!" he shouted over his shoulder.

"Impressive," Cas said. "We need to leave."

They boxed up everything and proceeded to the back exit. When a lab tech spotted them, he followed, as if they didn't have enough annoying crap to deal with right now.

"Hey! You two! You can't take materials without the right paperwork!" the lab tech barked.

Dean didn't know what the best move was here. Should he hand off the bag and let Cas take it out while he held the prying co-worker up? Or should Cas touch his forehead and put him to sleep?

Before he could decide, the angel dragged him out the door by his collar and pulled him into kiss. Dean reciprocated, and soon the two men were making out heavily in the alley that ran behind the building.

When the nosy co-worker burst into the alley, indignant and angry, he didn't shout or scream. Instead, he stood inside, flabbergasted and, frankly, shocked at what he saw.

"I, uh, you... just give me your paperwork when you're done!" he said before slamming the door shut.

"Quick thinking," Dean said when Cas stepped away.

"I saw it in various movies. It's always highly effective," Cas replied.

The two circled back to the Impala with their spoils.

"I know Sam texted me last night," Dean said, "but he hasn't replied or picked up since. We should really check on him. You still have the address for that motel?"

Castiel nodded.

Dr. Roberts had come through with a name: Natalie Young. She worked as a veterinarian for money, but she had a supernatural practice on the side.

The downside was that her practice was nearly six hours away. They left immediately, thankful that it was the dead of night, but it was almost seven now. The sun was coming out.

Sam had taken a minor detour and stolen animal tranquilizers from a vet clinic so that they could keep Sliver out cold for the ride. Unfortunately, he doled out the last dose over an hour ago, and from the sound of it, the shifter was waking up.

"Hey, chill out," Dodge said through the cap's window. "Sliver, calm down!"

"Where are you taking me?"

"To a doctor," Dodge replied. "A woman who might be able to help you."

Sliver stopped moving around so much.

"You mean it? You're really trying to help me?" he asked.

"Yeah, we are. Even though you're not telling us anything," Sam replied.

"I can't tell you about the EDA," Sliver said. "But I can tell you about The Serum."

"Go on," Dodge said.

The shifter moved so he was sitting right behind the window.

"My sister took The Serum about a year ago," he began. "She was cured."

"Cured?" Sam asked. "Of what?"

"Of our heritage. Of being a monster. I thought she was nuts, and I was there with her through six weeks of hell, but after that, she was so... human."

"Human?" Dodge repeated. "You want to become human?"

Sliver said, "You don't get it. You can't get it. Being a shifter doesn't mean you can transform into other people, it means you have to transform into other people. If we don't imitate other people, we look like melted Barbie dolls. No features, no scars, no characteristics of our own. If you want to be a person, to look human, you have to constantly be aware of your skin. All I want is an identity, a face of my own. With my own scars and sun damage and every other little thing that you guys get just for being born right. You know what happens to shifters like me and my sister who try to stay in one shape for more than a few days? We shed in our sleep. For no reason! It's like our bodies are designed to keep us as nobody. Try keeping your 'ability' secret after waking up with no face and your bed covered in sloughed skin."

"When you say your sister was cured, you mean she's human now?" Sam asked.

"Not completely," Sliver replied. "She's still got some supernatural in her, but she hasn't shed her skin all year. No violent outbursts, no blood lust. Nothing."

"But not really cured," Sam said.

"Cured enough," Sliver said.

"Why did you wait so long to take it yourself if you sister was cured a year ago?" Dodge asked.

"It was expensive. Most people couldn't afford it. I started saving up, but it would've taken me years to get that kind of money. Then this program started, they said that they'd supplement payment for The Serum if you'd do these extra medical tests. Said they were refining the formula, trying to cut back on the transition period. All I needed to do was once daily medical testing, and I got the cure for less than a thousand dollars."

He took a moment before continuing. "Everything seemed fine. I went through all the same things my sister did, anyway. Then I caught wind of people dying. I heard that this serum we got was different from the original, that this whole thing was an experiment for a new formula. I don't know if it's true, but everyone that I knew who took this new formula is dead. That's why we call it The Purge."

"If this serum worked, why bother with a new formula?" Dodge asked. "Seems risky."

"Nobody knows. Some say this new serum isn't even from the same guy, that a hunter or witch with a vendetta hijacked the whole operation for revenge. Other people think that the serum is only marketed as a cure, but it's actually some kind of mad scientist trying to make a super race. What can I say? Paranoia is easy when everyone you know is dying."

The drive continued in silence for another hour. Dodge flipped through the radio stations, but they were all shoddy. She switched to her phone, but even the wireless and cell signals were spotty in this area.

Finally, they arrived at a converted farmhouse that served as Young's Animal Clinic. Natalie had instructed them to park behind the extension.

For the umpteenth time, Sam tried to call Dean to update him, but the call wouldn't go through.

"I should've called him at our last pit stop," he griped.

"No phones," a young woman said abruptly.

Sam nearly jumped out of his skin. He hadn't noticed anyone approach the car.

"I'm Natalie Young," she continued. "Where is the patient?"

"In the back," Dodge replied.

Sliver cooperated, willingly following Natalie into the clinic with the two hunters bringing up the rear. They were led into a loft-like room with a high ceiling and an eclectic collection of occult and medical equipment. Natalie directed Sliver to a cot.

"You've taken The Purge?" Natalie asked abruptly.

"Yeah, I am," Sliver replied.

"How long?" she followed up.

"Six weeks."

"When did you discontinue it?"

Sliver shook his head when he said, "Six days ago."

Natalie looked impressed. "How did you survive so long? Most I've seen died one or two days after their last dose."

"Guess I'm just lucky."

Then he screamed, and his body began to writhe.

"You two, hold him down!" Natalie yelled.

After several uncomfortable minutes, Sliver became still and silent. Soon after, he closed his eyes and drifted off to unconsciousness.

"You are Sam?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, thank you for helping us," he replied. "This is Dodge."

"It's good you brought him. He's not the first I've seen, but I must tell you, the others that were brought to me all died. Nothing I did seemed to help."

"Have you learned anything about what's happening to him?" Sam asked. "Anything at all?"

"I know that The Purge only took individuals in the prime of health. They were all forced to go off the grid, if they weren't already, which isolated anyone who had a support system. By the time they realized they were in trouble, they had nowhere to turn. As far as I can tell, all the victims lived in New Jersey. And they all died the same exact way."

"So, you know what we know," Dodge said.

"I also know several treatments that failed," Natalie said. "Your friend will be out for at least an hour. That should give us time to discuss the options, providing he lives that long."

Bad Rain, Episode 10x02 of Untitled, or Season 10 Fan Fiction Part One: New Moon Part Two: Veins Part Four: Streaming Life Part Five: Lost to Wait

See Season 10 Fan Fiction series page for more details.