#leggings/tight pants are IN FASHION AGAIN and this exact fit is not only normal but also Approved Of

[leatherbookmark]

insane about horizon on the regular but also i am So fond of the dance practice video... the song is so dramatic and full of Feeling, the choreo is amazing and looks Exactly like you'd imagine it after just hearing the song, and then there's yeosang, cosplaying winnie the pooh cosplaying a minion (or perhaps a minion cosplaying winnie the pooh), and then for hongjoong's rap they just all move aside. so you just have a young n fresh daddy long legs spider bouncing alone in the middle of the practice room. and then yunho does his Thing and they all 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️. poetry in motion (or. not)

[hadestownmodern]

Baseball

Yes, hello. I’m so sorry. I’m disowning myself now.

The doc for this fic is titled “Get it, Eurydice. Home run” and that’s all you need to know.

(thanks for reading every single damn revision to this doc and supporting my wildin’ @dilforpheus you’re the true MVP)

-D ----------------

“I got you a present.” Eurydice’s eyes are glimmering with something that hits Orpheus’s heart head-on. It’s a shimmer that matches the curve of her lips, sly and inviting. 

“Wh-what is it? Why did you get me a present? It’s not my birthday,”

“Just.” She plops a paper grocery bag on the table, and at first he wonders when she’d had time to go to the store without him. He pulls the bag toward him by its handles and pauses; she’s taken the time to draw little white circles-baseballs-all over it. “Open it.” 

The draw of her voice-soft and deep, quiet and enticing, is enough to stop his questioning; Eurydice has sat herself on the corner of the counter, legs open and dangling over the edge. She tilts her head, watching him pull the white linen from the bag and unfurl it. His mouth opens slightly-confusion, she can tell by the way his fingers rub the fabric, his eyes wandering along it before meeting hers. 

“There’s more-open the rest.” She implores, leaning forward and resting on one hand. 

Orpheus nods, still lingering in a state of bewilderment, and pulls another white garment from the bag. That unfolding doesn’t help much either-Eurydice shakes her head as she watches him hold the baseball jersey up, examining it with careful consideration before deciding to crack the code herself. 

“Persephone was showing me pictures from when you did little league-she said you liked it back then. I figured it’d be fun to try your hand at it again.”

She hops from the counter and runs to the drawer of the little desk that sits in the corner of their living space, rifling through papers until she grins wildly. She crosses the distance back to him with the wind on her feet, practically skipping before putting the paper in his hand, running her arm along his bicep. 

“I’m on a team?”

“You’re on a team!” She repeats his words with bubbling excitement, kissing his shoulder. “Once or twice a week, depending on if there’s a game. Nothing serious, just fun! You’re always taking so much on for us, this is something just for you.” Eurydice watches on in adoration as he reads the paper again, lips moving along to the words he’s reading. One corner of his mouth turns up but the smile resides mostly in his eyes, light in color and shining in exuberance as he scoops her into a hug, lifting her feet from the ground.

“Thank you, ‘Rydice-this is so cool!”

“Go try it on!” Eurydice insists, slipping from his arms to push her husband to the bathroom. Her mouth drops when he comes out, long legs adjusting to walking in pants fit right around them. She is speechless as he brushes his hands down his shirt. 

“Do you think this fits right?” He asks, turning his legs and looking down at them curiously. Eurydice can hear his voice, but is unable to make out the words as her eyes fixate on the shape of his legs in the tighter-fitting pants. It isn’t until Orpheus turns around that Eurydice jumps from the counter, crossing her arms and looking him up and down with wide eyes and a smirk on her lips. 

“I don’t know,” she replies, shrugging her shoulders. “Turn around again?” 

He obliges, oblivious to the way she tilts her head, bites her bottom lip. 

He likes to wear his pants looser-with suspenders holding them up around his thinner waist. These pants hug his long legs, lift his butt and define its shape. And although she finds herself missing the shape of his suspenders over his shoulders-the easy pull they give her-she comes to the swift conclusion that she’ll manage without them. 

She doesn’t realize that Orpheus is talking until she looks up momentarily to see him staring back at her, turning his legs again. 

“So?” He asks, bouncing from one foot to the other. Eurydice takes a breath, nods and brings her hands boldly to his butt, drawing the distance between them closed with a powerful sort of haste. 

“They’re perfect.” 

Eurydice cranes her neck to reach the space just on the corner of his jaw, letting out a sigh before kissing it lightly. She uses her hands to keep him close to her, squeezing, unused to the feeling of tight fitting linen-unguarding-showing him off. 

She paints the canvas of his stubble with a line of breathy kisses, feels his hands on her back, holding her. Her tongue brushes along the space between his lips, and a soft whimper leaves his body. She smiles, pushing herself against him until his back hits the counter, small hands working fervently to untuck his shirt. 

“Why the fuck do you have to wear a belt?” It’s more of a curse to herself as she struggles to get her hands underneath his shirt, a gasp of a sentence as Orpheus takes the opportunity of her fumbling to bring his attention to her neck, the skin that makes her shiver whenever she feels his feather-light kisses. His hands find their space right at her lower back, where he can feel the weakness in her knees as she moves forward on her toes, tilting her head in a silent plea for him to continue. She’s found her way under his shirt, made her way about running her small hands along memorized territory with the well-practiced brush of her nails. Orpheus’s involuntary squeak is enough for Eurydice to begin working on his belt; she’s not used to this. Usually, there are only suspenders; those which she can pull demandingly, satisfyingly. This new state of fashion causes frustration. Eurydice nearly buckles under Orpheus’s wandering hands, losing concentration fast. Just as the belt comes apart with a satisfying tug of leather through linen a tiny, innocent whimper comes from the other room.

“Damnit,” she whispers against his lips as she regrettably lets him go, runs a hand through her hair as she runs to retrieve their crying baby. 

…

The first game goes about as well as it could with a grouping of adults with little to no skill; Orpheus’s team is comprised of a few men from the bar, a bassist from the band, and a couple of business men from downtown looking for a way to let off steam. They were all little leaguers, most of which played more games than Orpheus ever would. He was happy, though, chatting animatedly with his team. He does more socializing than playing, although there were moments where he’d find his sense of rapid, consuming focus. 

Orpheus is good at catching the ball-that much can be said. His hand-eye coordination, well practiced from years of guitar playing, has come in handy although the skills themselves are quite different. Other than that achievement, however, there is not much else going for him. He is clumsy and stumbling when running to get the ball, awkward and fumbling when attempting to bat. Eurydice is proud of him nevertheless, her overwhelming attraction to his uniform and his soft, boyish smile completely blinding her to his lack of skill.

When the first game is over, Eurydice hauls herself over to where the teams are high-fiving, waits impatiently for him at the gate with Melody in tow. He kisses Eurydice with his hand on the small of her back, and Melody reaches her chubby hands up to him. He takes her, greets her with his sing-song voice and glimmering eyes, holds her face up to his and squishes her cheeks as he covers them in kisses. 

“So?” He widens his eyes slightly in question, lifting his shoulders and looking out at the baseball diamond. He waits anxiously for her opinion, his wife, as she looks over his sweaty complexion. He takes his hat off, runs his fingers through his hair and tousles it so that it falls in all directions. 

“So,” Eurydice responds, biting her lip and holding her hands out for their daughter. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

He gives Melody back to her, confused as he watches her walk away again. Eurydice finds her way to Persephone, who is sitting contentedly on a bench, watching Junie play on the playground. She waves as Eurydice approaches, pats the space next to her on the bench. 

“Where’s the baseball superstar?” She teases, clapping affectionately at Junie as she twirls around in the grass. Eurydice bites her lower lip, rocking back and forth on her heels. 

“I was hoping you could do me a favor…”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Just. I have to pee and I don’t want to take her into this bathroom-can you watch her a sec?”

Persephone does not believe her younger counterpart for a second, but nods her head and holds out her hands anyway. Challenging, she looks at Eurydice through lowered eyelids. 

“You have five minutes.”

“Five??”

“Five.” She is firm as Junie scrambles over to her on her little legs, leans forward and kisses Melody’s head affectionately. Eurydice pouts-only slight;y-but just enough for Persephone to catch. “Pout at me and you don’t get anything.”

“Fine.” Eurydice turns on her heel and makes her way back to the gate, walking as fast as she believes can be considered normal. The sight she sees there has her rolling her eyes again, slowing her pace slightly as she throws her arms into the sky.

“Are you kidding me, Orpheus?” He husband turns to wave at her, the grin on his face endearing and innocent. He has a snowcone in his hand-a rainbow one, to be exact-and he holds it out to her excitedly.

“Look what they gave us!” Eurydice is able to make herself seem much taller in stature when she’s upset; she crosses her arms over her chest before gesturing wildly to his snowcone, then looking up at him with disappointment.

“Do you think this is the time for a snowcone? I asked you to wait here, took our daughter away, and you really thought it’d be the best time for some fucking flavored ice.”

“I...what?” 

Eurydice groans, takes two wide steps to close the distance between them. She lifts herself up on her toes, using his shoulders as support as she whispers in his ear.

“I don’t give a damn about your snowcone. Come on, we have four minutes.” Boldly, Eurydice knocks the snowcone from Orpheus’s hand and pulls him, the stark comparison of such a small girl pulling this lanky, beanpole of a man behind her humorous if not for the look of undisturbed focus behind her dark eyes. She brings him to the first spot she can find, instructs him to duck his head down before pulling his arm hard, his body bumping into hers clumsily.

“Sorry,” he squeaks, breathless as her hands have already found the hem of his pants. 

“Don’t apologize,” Eurydice hisses, taking hold of his hands and pressing them hard on her waist. “Just fuck me.” 

Orpheus feels his head begin to spin, the breath knocked out of his body by Eurydice’s fingers dropping under the waistband of his underwear. She moves hastily, clumsily, knowing the time limit as a challenge. She grins at his inability to control himself, his knees buckling and his soft tenor calling her name. He’s in just enough of a cognizant state to attempt a reciprocation, thankful for the ease of access her leggings allow. She sighs, tipping her head back; his name on her lips, attempting to be quiet and discreet, is a sound sweeter to his ears than any of the music he has played, and Orpheus can’t help his own sweet, lopsided smile.

There is a ringing that joins them, then, and Eurydice grabs hold of Orpheus’s cheeks as he begins to pull away from her.

“Fuck it,” she implores, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Let it ring.”

They do; Eurydice turns her attention to him fully, a sequence of unbuttoning and kissing bare skin in a trail down his chest. The ringing stops momentarily, then starts back up again at full volume, just as her lips have come to his hips. She looks up at him, letting out a deeply frustrated sigh before holding up a finger to her lips. 

“Yes, Seph?”

Eurydice can barely hear anything save the sound of her whimpering baby; it’s her mama cry, she knows it by the way the tears cause a slight hiccup in her voice. Shit, she swears as she picks herself up from the ground, biting hard on her lip.

“I’ll be there soon,” it’s all she can manage to say before she hangs the phone up, pulls up her leggings, and smooths her hair back down again. 

…

They’re sitting in the sun on the night of his fourth game-the team is coming along fantastically, gaining confidence in their abilities and actually racking up some points on the scoreboard. It’s an exciting ritual, attending baseball games once a week, but Eurydice has let herself become fully committed to being as supportive as possible, and that means the outward groan from Persephone when she, Junie, and Hades meet her at the apartment to go to the game.

“You really have to be like this…” It’s half question, half statement. Persephone very outwardly rolls her eyes, looking Eurydice up and down. She’s dressed in Orpheus’s second jersey, one that fits slightly loose and falls to her mid-thigh. She’s paired it with high socks and white sneakers, leaving a fair expanse of her legs exposed. Eurydice grins, turns and looks over her shoulder to see Persephone shake her head, a bemused smile lighting her teasing features. Orpheus’s name is on the back of her jersey, and Eurydice shrugs her shoulders before holding up a finger.

“Mock me all you want, but you won’t be saying anything once you see the baby.” Eurydice turns and moves to the nursery, the sight of her tiny body in the dress-like jersey sauntering around the apartment a sight that has Persephone chuckling to herself. Eurydice emerges with Melody on her hip, cooing as the tiny, chunky baby blinks her sleepy eyes at her mother. She’s in a big red tutu with a matching bow, large on her tiny head of poofy brown hair. Her legs are covered by leg warmers with big baseballs on them, white socks that are a mock-up of Eurydice’s sneakers. Eurydice holds her out to Persephone while covering her with tiny kisses on her chubby cheeks; gesturing to the onesie that reads Daddy’s #1 fan.

“You do know that this is an adult league, right? It’s essentially hometown recreation for bored adults with nothing to do, not for wives who want to lust over their husbands from the stands. Their husbands who-arguably-can’t actually play baseball for shit.”

“He’s getting better!” Eurydice argues, face reddening as she brings Melody back to her chest. 

“Eurydice, seriously….I’m allowed to say it because I raised him, that boy doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree, then.” The younger woman smirks, grabbing her keys from the counter and ushering her family from the apartment, pointedly speaking to her young daughter in a soft, sing-song voice. “Right, Mel? Seph doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Your daddy’s perfectly athletic.” 

“Junie, go see daddy for a minute,” Persephone urges, waiting for her own daughter to skip ahead before tossing a round foil packet at her younger counterpart. Eurydice ducks before the condom can hit her, laughing. 

……

They find a seat in the first row of the stands-not a challenging feat, considering the nature of a recreational adult league playing in the park in the time between toddler little league and preteen boys competing for college-scouting clout. Eurydice scans the mass of players until she sees him; her husband, dressed in the white jersey and pants that fit him just right, leans over the dugout. He smiles at another player’s joke as he bends down to fix his shoes, running a hand through his already sweaty hair. Eurydice finds herself grinning wildly, unable to look away, lost in the way Orpheus’s lanky body seems to move so fluidly.

Persephone, on the other hand, laughs at her son. Orpheus can barely tie his own shoes, fumbling with the laces for a moment before swiftly finishing the job. He follows the team in their warm-up jog and it takes everything within her as the woman who raised him to suppress her laughter as he jogs by, waving and smiling at them. His run is less than graceful, a sort of stumbling movement resembling the last gazelle in a herd who is more than likely to be picked off by the beast chasing them. But he is happy, almost confident in these movements. From beside her, Eurydice cheers loudly, clearly love-blind to her husband’s own awkward stumbling.

She finds it endearing, Eurydice, as her eyes follow her lankily built man. He talks animatedly to the man running beside him, and as he passes their seat he slows down, running a hand along the wired fence as his eyes widen. 

“You can do it, daddy!” Eurydice holds Melody on her leg, which she’s propped up on the bleacher in front of her as a stool. His jersey slides up her thigh just enough to expose most of her skin. A short pair of spandex is her only cover, and even then Persephone had taunted her; are you even wearing pants right now?  Orpheus smiles as he passes them, waving excitedly at Melody. Then his eyes widen and his face grows red. He turns his head long after he’s run by them, looking at Eurydice with the unhidden drop of his jaw, without words. She waves again, with a grin craftily hiding its mischief to the unaware crowd. Persephone, however, sees right through the young mom’s game. She puts her hand on her shoulder, guides her back to her seat.

“So, I had a question,” Eurydice holds Melody close to her chest as they wait for the game to begin, opening her shirt in response to her slight whimpering and waiting patiently for her to latch on.

“What?” 

“Can you watch Melody for a little bit after the game? I have some errands to run, and,”

“Don’t even,” Persephone looks at Eurydice underneath narrowed eyes, shaking her head slightly. “Do you think I was born yesterday? You want me to watch your baby-your very attached to your hip baby-so you can go off and be a dirty milf. How do you know I don’t have plans later?” 

“Because Hades has a meeting tonight downtown-I do pay attention, you know. Also, how the fuck do you know that’s what I’m trying to do? Maybe I just need a minute to get the house clean.”

Persephone laughs, a full and very loud chuckle.

“Eurydice, come on. You’re not even wearing a bra!” 

 From her place on the bleachers Junie instinctively turns to her mother, then to Eurydice, looking at her with wide, curious eyes. Her long ringlet curls bounce as she tilts her head slightly, hops between her feet in antsiness. 

“Mama, what’s a milf? Why is ‘Rydice dirty?” 

“Don’t listen to your mom, Junie-she and Eurydice shouldn’t be allowed to sit next to each other anymore.” Hades shoots them both a pointed look, gesturing with his eyes between them and the highly intelligent four year old who worships the ground they walk on. Both stifle a round of guilty giggles before Persephone ushers her daughter to Hades-I brought your coloring-and sits back down next to Eurydice.

“It’s easier for Melody if I don’t wear a bra”

“Yeah, and it’s easier for you to be trashy.”

“I’m not watching her.”

“Please, Seph. I didn’t come here full tits out for nothing.” 

“Nope. Not doing it.” Persephone crosses her arms over her chest indignantly, unmoving in her stance. The game begins, and Orpheus’s team is up to bat first. He stands waiting for his turn. The man next to him, who is slated to bat before him, picks a bat from the grass and begins his practice swings. Orpheus, watching carefully, walks over to the bin of bats and chooses one for himself, stepping a safe distance away before beginning to swing.

He’s not the most graceful; Persephone snorts as she watches him fumble with his grip, turn the opposite leg out. His shoulders are both tense and far too loose-at one moment, it seems as though he may have actually got the hang of the posture. But the moment Orpheus moves, any semblance of grace he’d had is thrown out the window. When it is his turn he stands behind the plate, shuffling his feet on the sand and looking up with careful concentration at the pitcher. His helmet seems to dwarf his head although he is the rightful size to wear it. His lips part slightly, his tongue touching the roof of his mouth as he waits for the ball. 

He hears it hit the catcher’s glove before he can even react. Strike. Orpheus takes a breath, fidgets and sets himself up again, wiggling his body. 

“I bet he doesn’t hit.”

“Seph!” Eurydice hisses just as Orpheus swings far too late, overestimating the strength needed and stumbling forward two steps. Persephone merely shrugs, points back to the diamond. Orpheus has caught her eye, is smiling at her from his place up at bat. He mouths a soft i love you, and that’s when he strikes out.

Eurydice claps for him anyway, watching as he walks, seemingly unbothered, back to the dugout. He still has an innocent sort of smile on as his wife turns to Persephone, who wears a tongue-in-cheek expression as she taps her own white Louboutin sneakers against the bleachers. 

“I bet he doesn’t hit it once.”

“He will! He can-he’s getting so much better than that first game.”

“You want to make me an offer, then?” Persephone raises an eyebrow, eyes sparking with the mere idea of a bet. Eurydice sits up in her seat, shifting Melody’s weight so she can burp her, leaving the three buttons of Orpheus’s jersey undone as they had been unashamedly. 

“An offer?”

“Yeah-a bet. If he hits the ball once, I’ll watch Melody for you.”

“You sure you want it that easy?” Eurydice speaks confidently for her husband, although her confidence is slightly shattered when she looks over to find him on the infield with the same slightly open-mouthed gaze he uses when humming a new tune. With Persephone’s eyes on her, and his enthusiastic wave when he sees her staring, she straightens her posture

“One time,” Persephone repeats, looking on at the game in progress. “That’s all you need for me to watch her.”.

“Fine. It’s a bet.” Eurydice nods in agreement before turning her attention back to the game, keeping a silent pseudo-prayer in her heart. Just one time, Orpheus, that’s all you need.

…

The game is nearly over, and Eurydice is not even close to victory in this bet. She stands now, right in front of the fence, a raucous voice cheering Orpheus on. Persephone sits behind her, bored with the game but bemused by her own heckling.

“He won’t hit it, and neither will you!” She teases while braiding Junie’s long, untamed curls into neat french plaits.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Have you seen your husband?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m asking you to take my daughter!” 

“It’s the eighth inning, Eurydice, it’s not happening and it’s probably better that way!”

“Shut up, Seph, let me have this!” Eurydice whirls her attention back to the fence, where Orpheus is up to bat once more. He looks up at her spot at the fence, smiles his boyish, consuming sort of smile before focusing on the task at hand. The first ball makes it straight into the glove without so much as a hit. Orpheus winces.

“It’s ok, babe, you can do it!” Eurydice cheers, the only voice within the vicinity of the park with such an ample amount of unstrained volume. Her husband straightens himself up, nods and refocuses, the hint of a smile peeking through the visage of concentration. As soon as the ball hits Orpheus’s bat with a smack-as he jolts and runs to first base excitedly. Eurydice jumps too, cheering and dancing with Melody, giving a wildly grinning Orpheus a thumbs up before wheeling around to stare deftly, with a fair amount of cheek, at Persephone.

“I’ll make sure she’s fed before we go, then.” She can feel the surge of confidence course through her body, the way her husband running the bases fills her with instant anticipation and an overridingly pompous sort of posture. There’s one more inning to go-one agonizing inning. Orpheus does not hit the ball again, but it doesn’t matter. Eurydice does not sit-can’t bring herself to sit. Instead, she paces aimlessly in front of the fence-up and down the bleachers-singing quietly to Melody. 

Mama won the bet-mama won the bet-you get to stay with Seph-y-’cause mama won the bet! Over and over she sings this verse, a tune that has Persephone groaning in annoyance and rolling her eyes endearingly. The young mother, in her husband’s jersey and knee-high socks, bounces around with her baby until the end of the game. And then, with a smirk on her face, Eurydice reaches her hand out to Persephone.

“Good game,” she mocks before covering Melody in kisses, touching their foreheads together before handing her to Persephone. “I’ll come and get you soon, sweet girl.” She promises as she runs to meet Orpheus at the gate.

He’s blindsided as Eurydice runs to him, dodges the crowd of players leaving the dugout and jumps eagerly into his arms. She wraps her legs around his waist, nearly knocking him over. He laughs and holds her there as she holds the back of his neck with gentle hands, pushes her lips against his fervently and needily, sighing at the contact. 

“Where’s the fry?” He asks, and Eurydice can only let out a breathless sort of laughter as she holds him tighter, resting her head on his chest as she thinks about the bet she’d just won.

“Seph has her. She’s going to watch her for a little while.” 

Orpheus, typically oblivious, can easily decipher Eurydice’s intent as she unwravels herself from his arms only to press herself against him, her hands on his chest, busy with dusting his bicep with slow, careful kisses. He finds himself nervously clamoring for her hand, backing up.

“We’re in public, ‘Rydice.”

“Ok, so let’s go somewhere private.” 

She grins wickedly, with the corner of her lip but mostly with her wild eyes, dark and searching. Eurydice pulls his hand, feels him follow behind her as she ducks into the corner of the dugout.

“Here?” Orpheus squeaks, looking around cautiously. Eurydice doesn’t seem to care-she’s already put her hands back on him, tossing his baseball cap to the floor and running her fingers through his hair, then down his cheeks. Her lips find his jawline, her hands to his belt. She loops her thumbs through it and pulls his body flush to hers, where a groan of satisfaction escapes him as he dips his head to her chest and his hands to her exposed thighs, Where she’s left three buttons undone on this jersey she’s been crafty-purposeful. Orpheus takes his time here, nuzzling himself into the space of her neck with both lips and tongue. He feels her breath hitch as he sucks on the skin underneath her collarbone, leaves a trail of this reddened skin down to her exposed breasts and lets his fingers find their way to the hem of her tiny spandex shorts.

Eurydice makes quick work of his belt this time, hasty and newly skilled, tossing it to the sand as her eager hands move back to the defined shape of his butt. She moves her lower body against him skillfully, smiling in satisfaction at his soft, cracking, contented sighs. Eurydice leans up, words on the tip of her tongue just waiting to be whispered, when she makes out the tiny figure standing silently at the entrance of the dugout.

“‘’Rydice? Ophie?” 

“Bug!” Eurydice pulls back from Orpheus swiftly, both hands pulling her shirt closed as Orpheus clamors for a moment of composure. “What do you need, sweetheart? Where’s your mama?”

“Mama asked me to come and ask where baby’s blanket is.”

“Oh…” Eurydice pauses for a moment before shaking her head, sighing. “Tell your mama it’s in the big pocket of her bag.”

Junie nods, still standing in the doorway, looking between Orpheus and Eurydice in curiosity. She walks slowly up to Eurydice, stands on her toes with one hand out, and touches the space of her neck that she can see. It’s riddled with red marks, in an uneven trail that has Junie staring with her eyes scrunched. 

“‘Rydice, do you have chicken pox?”

Orpheus sputters. Eurydice’s hand flies to her neck, attempting to cover a large enough expanse of the skin there to erase whatever the tiny girl in her cream-colored romper and long french braids has already seen.

“No, honey, I don’t have chicken pox.” 

“Are you hurt?”

Eurydice shakes her head, unable to help the smile over the very blatant, unfiltered curiosity. Orpheus is still at a loss for words, busing himself with finding his belt and keeping his eyes as far away from Junie as possible. Eurydice is about to do the same when she hears a familiar voice calling for the girl, switching between her name and her nickname.

“There you are, honeybee. Did you get the,” Persephone stops in her tracks and takes in the scene before her; Orpheus has frozen in the middle of tucking his shirt back in, looking down at the ground sheepishly. His wife has one hand on her neck, the other moving to give her a cautious sort of wave and a nod. There is a moment of silence, suspended in the air of the older of the women deciphering what has happened. She then grabs Junie’s hand and looks between the guilty parties teasingly, rolling her eyes.

“The dugout? Really? Are we in high school?” 

“Oh come on, Seph,”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of me taking my poor four year old daughter home from this teen-whose-parents-are-home makeout session.”

“Hey, I still won the bet!”

“Use a condom, please. Melody’s cute but you do not need another one right now.”

Persephone is about to turn on her heels when her head dips, her eyes narrowing at the haphazard conglomeration of redness along her neck. She lets a sly smile take over, placing her hand on Eurydice’s shoulder lovingly, yet pointedly.

“Lipstick and concealer,” She gestures to Eurydice’s neck with an all-knowing gaze. “Y,know, before you show up in my class tomorrow looking like he tried to take your whole neck right off.”

Eurydice nods, bites her lip and lets herself be playfully scolded as Persephone gathers Junie’s hand in hers, taking one last glance at the young couple, now back in each other’s arms, to signify that the conversation is over.

“Oh, also? You’re paying for Junie’s therapy.”

[thebarkingraccoon]

“Extremely detailed character sheet template”

Character Chart 

Character’s full name: Laura Lee Sadow

Reason or meaning of name: Laura- Origin: Multiple from English, Swedish, Croatian, etc. Meaning: "Feminine form of the Late Latin name Laurus, which meant "laurel." Sadow- Origin: Japanese. Meaning: Alternate spelling of "Sato" which is another spelling of "Satou." From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" and 藤 (tou) meaning "wisteria". The final character might indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan. This is the most common surname in Japan. Character’s nickname: Loolie, Lollipop, Lulu, Lale: (Law-lee) Reason for nickname: Loolie, Lollipop, Lale, Lolli, and Lulu are both nicknames her mother gave her. Lulu stuck with friends in high school and through medical school. Birth date: September, 30th 1985 Physical appearance

Age: At the time of the initial outbreak Laura was 25 and just beginning to finish medical school and starting her internship. By the time she returned to the West Georiga Penitentary she was almost 27. How old does he/she appear: Due to her unusual appearance it can be difficult to guesstimate her age. Looking passed that she might appear between 22-26. Weight: Emaciated weight after outbreak: 119. Weight gained after Woodbury: 146. Height: 5' 8" Body build: Athletic, slim. Shape of face: Square. Eye color: Black scleras, white iris. Glasses or contacts: Wore glasses before cure. Skin tone: Aegean, or near aegean. (similar to a soft slate shade of blue) Distinguishing marks: Bite scars on shoulder and back. Scars from Woodbury including: Branded marks on abdomen, shoulder blade, and collar bone. Small scars on face, pinpoint scars from muzzle across middle of face and bottom of jaw. Nail scars from gauntlets on forearms, hands, and wrists. Predominant features: Unique blue skin. Long wirey thick black hair. Black eyes with white iris. Collection of scars almost like stripes on her skin. Hair color: Black. Type of hair: Type 1C (straight)

Hairstyle: Wild.

Voice: After outbreak it was lighter with a stutter. After Woodbury her throat had healed and her voice deepened, sounds serious with some grit to it.

Overall attractiveness: Definitely attractive, soft, some curve but not "voluptuous." She's fit, above average height, with smooth skin. Carries herself well, could be considered beautiful if she was still living. She appears inhuman now after being given the cure.

Physical disabilities: Slow healing, finally healed from broken leg leaving a slight weakness behind.

Usual fashion of dress: Before being found out she wore full clothes, jeans, sneakers, and hoodie. After revealing herself and after Woodbury she wore the clothes given to her, but she would prefer any scraps. Finding herself - Laura will wear anything that shows plenty of skin. She wants to display her abnormality and undead-state like a badge. Cropped shirts, shorts or skirts.

Favorite outfit: Black sports bra, baggy utility pants, and combat boots.

Jewelry or accessories: Makeshift muzzle and metal gauntlets. At times she will decorate these and herself with “warpaint” and light jewelry.

Personality: Pre-Outbreak - Laura was shy, definition of a wall flower. Her empathy for others motivated her amition to become a doctor. Post-Outbreak - Laura become reclusive, closed off from the world. Growing aggressive and vengeful.

Good personality traits: Pre-Outbreak to early Post-Outbreak - Empathic, considerate, and critical. She cares about anyone and everyone around her and finds mercy more important in the world now more than ever. Post-Outbreak and around Woodbury (before and after) - Brave, fearless, and fiercely protective and loyal to her fellows.

Bad personality traits: Pre-Outbreak to early Post-Outbreak - Laura was cowardly, scared of her surroundings and anyone occupying them. She would not risk herself for others and often felt guilty for that, knowing well beforehand she was not brave enough to take a bullet for someone she cared about. To avoid this guilt she focused on helping people through her medical training. Post-Outbreak and around Woodbury (before and after) - Though developing bravery and fearlessness, Laura is also incredibly vicious and using her infection and the instincts that come along with it to exact a kind of vengence against people she believes has wronged her or her people.

Mood character is most often in: Post-Woodbury - Somber, grave, serious.

Sense of humor: Awkward at best. Her introverted personality does not really affect her communication as she is very conversational, but she does find making others laugh a bit of a challenge.

Character’s greatest joy in life: Pre-Outbreak - Her medical career, her intelligence, and diligence to excell in her classes. Post-Woodbury - Pride and an inflated ego from her unique appearance and undead condition.

Character’s greatest fear: Being truly alone.

Why?: Feeling disconnected from others socially pre-outbreak always made her feel abnormal or unwelcome. Her mother abandoning her and her father's coldness towards her made her desperate for company, friends, relationships; anything that made her less alone. Post-Outbreak being alone put her at risk, opening her up to unsavory groups. She was weak when alone, but in a horde she was safe. Unfortunately, this also meant while she could be safe in an undead horde she would still be alone. Safety was only a small part of her desire to be with others. Laura feared losing her mind to the infection and felt a strong pull towards other living people.

What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil? All the worst that could happen, has happened. Neglect from her father, abandonment by her mother, dying of the infection from the undead, being cured of said infection, being assaulted by survivors, being betrayed by other survivors, losing her mind to the infection, overwhelming need to feed, being captured and tortured by another group, and finally being chained, experimented on, and tested at her expense.

Character is most at ease when: Inside a horde.

Most ill at ease when: With a living group.

Enraged when: Any of her companions or their livelihoods are attacked or threatened.

Depressed or sad when: When facing her trauma and that of others, losing the companions she strives to protect.

Priorities: Safety and well being of her family and friends > Security of their homes > Providing for the people > Her identity > Her own safety.

Life philosophy: Laura believes she feared change and found she was terrified stiff of nothing. Fearing the change she faced, fear of her condition, fear of the dead and the living. Changing her perspective on the world, Laura has found confidence, perhaps arrogance in personal change and accepting the events that brought her to this point in her life. Now that she has and is using it to her advantage she has discovered being fearless, diving head first and trusting her instincts is a critical personal philosophy for her life.

If granted one wish, it would be: Though she would never say it aloud she would say her wish is to build a place where the living could be safe, protected by people like herself until the day came to rebuild civilization. Her secret and more selfish desire is that, if she could make a wish come true, that she would be living again. But she would give up her personal wish for the first one.

Why? She is secretive, protective, and wants the best for her fellow living and undead. While she has her own selfish desires, her fierce loyalty to others she considers trustworthy will always overpower her selfish side.

Character’s soft spot: Her significant other, the people closest to her, and especially other people like her. (like Sophia)

Is this soft spot obvious to others? Her SO and others of her kin are a clear soft spot, but she keeps her loyalty to both the living and undead under tight wraps.

Greatest strength: Immunity to any illness, infection, or normally fatal injuries. Laura is in a way almost invulnerable not by resistance to injury but by immunity to fatal wounds with the exception of a headshot like any other walker. She is not limited by natural restrictions like stamina, need to sleep, food, water, or other human requirements. She can outperform any other living creature, able to keep moving so long as her body is still physically intact. She is also more resistant to physically damaging activities and trauma.

Greatest vulnerability or weakness: Her condition as a walker puts her weakness on display for anyone who understands what her condition is. To combat this Laura wears crafted or found warpaint, making it appear that her skin is just paint. Pre-Outbreak Laura's greatest vulnerability and weakness was her delicate situation, depression, and troubled childhood. Post-Outbreak Laura's condition makes any severe injury last longer than average, at times even twice as long. Any injury to the brain severe enough can risk the loss of her sentience, losing control to the infection, or immediate death. A profound change in her perception of the world around her and her own situation has given her an ego, displaying confidence perhaps more arrogant than anything else. She is strong, smart, and unmatched physically, but her mental state can be remarkably unstable. Laura's dietary requirements can hinder her. Like any walker she hunts and eats human meat, without it for long periods of time she can and will begin to revert to the pure instincts just like a walker does. A window between being well fed and feral gives her a considerable amount of time where the aware infection inside her brain is at its peak and becomes extremely volatile. It will be in control, almost like a second personality taking over. It is a capable hunter, intelligent, and remorseless.

Biggest regret: Leaving the group back at the farm and staying behind at the farmhouse.

Minor regret: Not being with the group to help protect them from Woodbury and the trails they faced on the roads. She knows it was unavoidable so she does not consider it a great mistake.

Biggest accomplishment: Saving Sophia. To a lesser extent -  Surviving Woodbury, turning on them and being a large part of Woodbury's destruction. Surviving the infection even after succumbing to it twice.

Minor accomplishment: Reuniting two brothers from Woodbury to the Prison. Helping maintain and defend the Prison as a critical asset.

Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about: Laura struggled through high school and college. Due to her neglect and moderate abuse as a child while studying alone she had failed many basic classes until she buckled down to teach herself. It resulted in embarrassment when she struggled to answer basic questions and she developed a stammer.

Why? It hindered her for a while in her life. She was teased almost endlessly for it, she brought from it anxiety and social awkwardness.

Character’s darkest secret: The infection inside her mind drives her to hunt and eat anyone nearby her including her closest friends. It compells her to be just like any other walker and roam, hunting for the living. It can often remove her capability for remorse, mercy, compassion, and at its worst it can blur the lines of right and wrong. It can remove Laura's awareness entirely, reducing her to nothing more than a walker with enough intelligence to survive, hunt, and fight.

Does anyone else know? As of Chapter 60 the only person who knows or has a detailed understanding of Laura is her father.

Goals

Drives and motivations: Survival and the survival of her friends.

Immediate goals: Helping build a safe community, protecting the people, and using her abilities to help the community prosper.

Long term goals: Being able to leave the group in peace, without being concerned about walkers or living threats like Woodbury. Leaving the group would be beneficial only if the dead aren't a problem and the living don't attack.

How the character plans to accomplish these goals: Through force, overwhelming force.

How other characters will be affected: She aims for her goals to sustain, protect, and serve the living survivors trying to make lives for themselves without fear or war. Her methods may impact her companions and others in more ways than the good.

Past

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia.

Type of childhood: Laura's early childhood was troubled. Abandoned by her mother at a young age with a neglecting father. When she had tantrums like any child she was met with abuse.

Pets: One dog, adopted mutt. Passed two years before the outbreak.

First memory: The earliest memory Laura can recall is the day after her mother left. Due to distortion by the infection Laura's current "first" memory is what she can pull through the infection. By a short time Post-Woodbury Laura can only remember small parts of her life with her father and a clearer memory of the day she fell into the creek searching for Sophia.

Most important childhood memory: Any memory she can even barely view of her mother.

Why: Separation at a young age and facing a neglectful father she developed a kind of separation anxiety and need to be connected to someone. Laura becomes attached quickly, but her mother has always been the target of her fondest memories.

Childhood hero: Laura enjoyed comic books at a young age, finding femme fatales from MARVEL comics ideal. A hero she related with most was the Scarlet Witch.

Dream job: Doctor, with her own practice.

Education: Laura completed every stage of her education, only struggling during her earliest years. She kept high grades through college and graduated High School, College, and her final medical training near the top of her class.

Religion: Atheist.

Finances: Medical practice was not started yet, freshly out of medical school. Just beginning her intership Laura was a bit tight on money refusing outright financial aid from her father after graduation.

Present 

Current location: West Georgia Penitentiary.

Currently living with: The Atlanta and Red Atlanta group.

Pets: None.

Religion: Atheist.

Occupation: Full time guard, scavenger, and lookout for the group.

Family

Mother: Naomi Sadow

Relationship with her: Laura never had a relationship with her mother.

Father: Richard Vaughn

Relationship with him: As a child she considered him the villian when she play with her toys.

Siblings: Only child.

Favorites 

Color: Ocean Blue.

Least favorite color: Neon green.

Music: Laura enjoys a deep beat, soft tones. Anything from the most obvious of classics like Bethoven to more modern musis by artists like Rihanna or P!nk.

Food: She adores spicy foods, curries, and seafood gumbo.

Literature: Laura's favorite books were between MARVEL comics and her medical studies. Almost no inbetween for famous authors or classical works.

Form of entertainment: Like anyone Laura loves a good movie, enjoys sci-fi and fantasy films the most.

Mode of transportation: Car or bicycle. Most prized possession:Laura collects local pieces from art festivals like the Piedmont Park art gallery or smaller events designed to help promote local artists.

Habits

Hobbies: She finds her studies as a hobby and as her career, loving her work as much as she loves anything in her spare time. Reading comic books is still somewhat of a passed time for her. She enjoys biking and binge watching shows on Netflix. Generally she is average.

Plays a musical instrument? Laura could play a violin.

Plays a sport? Preferred to focus on her studies.

How he/she would spend a rainy day: With a heavy preference for rainy weather, Laura would rather spend her day sitting on her balcony while reading or watching a show.

Spending habits: Laura's finances were largely dedicated to her college and now supporting herself comfortably during her intership.

Smokes: No.

Drinks: No. 

Other drugs: None.

What does he/she do too much of? Laura often commits too much of her time to her studies and now to her work. Finding her medical work far more interesting and worthy of her time than much else. She also had a thing for velvet bunt cakes. What does he/she do too little of? Since she spends so much of her time working Laura had little to no social life. Most of the time she was alone. Laura lived alone, did not associate with anymore more than general acquaintances, and neglected her personal life consistently.

Extremely skilled at: She was incredibly emphatic. Laura also happened to be rather persuasive when she made a point of it. She is above average intelligence with her father's only approval on her studies and successes in her career choice.

Extremely unskilled at: Gardening/farming, use of long range weaponry like rifles or snipers. Laura is quick to anger, making any task that requires a lot of patience very frustrating, often hindering her ability to focus and complete that task.

Nervous tics: Laura will tap her fingers together when anxious or tense, a tic that appeared after her gauntlets were made. A purposeful tic she started doing was to pick her teeth with the sharp end of one of her gauntlet fingers, a sign of intimidation.

Usual body posture: Pre-Outbreak Laura was shy, often hurrying away from crowds. She had a slightly hunched over posture. Post-Woodbury Laura developed confidence in her position and now stands straight with near perfect posture.

Traits 

Optimist or pessimist? She views herself as a realist, but is in truth more of a pessimist after Woodbury.

Introvert or extrovert? Heavily introverted.

Daredevil or cautious? Post-Woodbury Laura definitely became a daredevil.

Logical or emotional? She is smart, but can grow emotional quickly.

Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? Methodical, though can appear all over the place.

Prefers working or relaxing? Working.

Confident or unsure of himself/herself? Extremely confidence, bordering on outright arrogance.

Animal lover? Definitely, considers any pets like dogs that her people keep as important as any other person.

Self-perception 

How he/she feels about himself/herself: Laura is headstrong, wild, and violent. She has not realized how much she changed, still viewing herself as a strong leader. If she was honest, deeply honest with herself she considers her current state and what she's become to be nothing short of a monster.

One word the character would use to describe self: Monstrous. One paragraph description of how the character would describe self: "I am not what I was before the Wildfire, before I met the others. One day she was alive, heart pounding, blood rushing, and she never saw it coming. That person died and in her place was a cold blooded monster, not yet aware of her strengths. She was so scared of people, of what they're capable of. Serial killers, rapists, muggers, robbers, and rioters. This time around she gets to be the one that goes bump in the night."

What does the character consider his/her best personality trait? Her viciousness.

What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait? Her moral sense.

What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic? Her undead condition that brings with it near invulnerability.

What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic? The side effect of her condition, the blue skin, dead eyes, and scars.

How does the character think others perceive him/her: She portrays herself as a great leader, hoping to persuade others to believe it as well. Deep down, she believes they all think of her as one of the walkers - a mindless creature that destroys everything it touches.

What would the character most like to change about himself/herself: She wants to have her normal, human appearance back. Most of all she wants to feel like herself again.

Relationships with others

Opinion of other people in general: Negative at best, to those she does not know and especially living strangers. Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others? She will conceal whatever she wants if it gets her what she wants.

Person character most hates: The Governor.

Best friend(s): Rick, Daryl, Merle, and Carol.

Love interest(s): Daryl.

Person character goes to for advice: Rick and Merle.

Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: Sophia.

Person character feels shy or awkward around: Carol.

Person character openly admires: Maggie, Carol, Daryl, Rick, Merle, and Glenn.

Person character secretly admires: Red and Daisy.

Most important person in character’s life before story starts: Her father.

After story starts: Daryl.