#like i know this post is going around because of agatha and uh sorry but. agathario is exactly the kind of thing the hayes code mandated
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well. no. not really. the bury your gays trope has roots in the hayes code which mandated that gay/queer/'deviant' characters be shown as villainous and/or die by the end of the story. (i do think we're past the point where any instance of a dead lgbt+ character counts as byg for the record; i would say now it more has to do with whether the character's death is or appears to be associated with their queerness in the language of film, whether or not they're the only lgbt+ character/half of the only lgbt+ couple, whether the purpose is to create tragedy for their partner if they have one and little else, how violent/shocking the death is, etc. -- metrics like that.) but it's not really about whether or not it serves the journey of the 'straight protagonist'. that's much more akin to how the fridging of female characters works. by this definition cl*xa wouldn't count as byg and i thought that was pretty universally considered a prime example lol
#but also i mean. i think we should move past throwing around terms like this or spending effort defending media from terms like this#and instead just have holistic and nuanced conversations?#like i know this post is going around because of agatha and uh sorry but. agathario is exactly the kind of thing the hayes code mandated#they're both villains and one of them is literally killed by the other's kiss#which may well be why marvel approved it sorry to say#but also like. that's okay? it sounds like it kinda slays as a story and we should be able to tell stories like that#not everything needs to be 'good representation'. we should have messy tragic villainous 'problematic' gay rep too#but we should also be able to be honest about which lgbt+ stories get greenlit by big properties like marvel and disney#and which don't#but most importantly. when we make posts clarifying what a term means.#we should maybe try to get it right !
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trick or treat!
For this writer's ask game
Sorry, it's late!
This is just a snippet that was going through my head! (Started out as post musing on a thought. So this is more concept writing than a story-story!)
----
It occurred to me that Billy’s been uncomfortably witness to Agatha and Rio’s intimate moments two times now.
If it happens a third time, Death will dropkick Billy into a different dimension.
Death will retrieve him because Agatha will demand Rio return Billy to Earth.
(Not that Agatha cares for the Teen or anything).
It isn’t any better on Billy’s end either, it’s not like he asked to be in that situation both times.
The first time Agatha as Agnes tied him up and stashed him in a literal closet.
And then Rio exploded Agatha’s front door, and then Rio proceeded to kick Agatha’s ass and it turned weird. He’d rather forget he ever saw Actual Personification of Death lick Agatha’s hand.
The second time Billy thought he was saving Agatha’s life— and then she double crossed him, and somehow it ended with Agatha making out with Death. And it looked like they forgot he was around, and then Agatha died.
(She got better.
“Can’t keep a good witch down. Especially this Witch.”)
The Third time... well.
It started suddenly when Rio appeared, her face was more skull than flesh.
There was yelling and more yelling,
“You’re a ghost!?”
“Admit it, honey, you’d still hit this!”
Death's growl sounded like a wolf growling in an endless cave. “With a barn door!”
A barn door indeed flew off the hinges and straight for Agatha. If Agatha still had a body, it could have cut off her head. Billy hit the floor. It sailed through Agatha.
"I'm a ghost, honey, nothing you can throw can get me! I'm beyond you now."
"Uh, Agatha, maybe don't irritate, Death!" Billy yelled.
Agatha didn't listen.
"Sweetheart, I'm Death." Suddenly Rio's hand glowed, and she reached out. Billy expected her hand to pass through, instead Rio had a firm grasp on Agatha's ghostly arm. "Nothing is beyond me."
"WHAT!?" Agatha yelped, outraged.
"Just because I hate ghosts, doesn't mean I can't do anything with ghosts."
There were some pointed barbs after and then suddenly they were...
"Why are you guys suddenly kissing!" And how does one even make out with a skull??? Billy didn't know but Agatha sure seemed to successfully kiss a skull.
Suddenly Rio raised a hand and did a flicking gesture, and suddenly he was... in a void.
"Honestly," Billy said, out loud to himself, "this is better."
#-#
#answered#trickofthelights#concept writing#agatha harkness#rio vidal#otp: rio x agatha#otp: agatha x rio#otp: vidarkness#tv: agatha all along#agatha spoilers#agatha all along spoilers#lady death | rio vidal#ask game#writing ask game
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A/N: uh I really hope you enjoy this one, it gets really saucy and I HOPE you’re okay with that haha. It’s been a HOT MINUTE since I’ve written something like this and I’m kind of writing it in a hurry so sorry if it’s not that good okay sorry I’m an insecure writer I hope you enjoy kk :)
Word Count: 2199
Requested: yes “@1erectionaf Hey I saw your post about outer banks Fanfic, do you think you could write one about 82 and 88 for JJ? :)”
#82 "don't ruin my sofa." and #88 "do you think they can hear us?"
Pairing: JJ x Reader
Warnings: lil smut, cursing and drinking. uh shit gets hot and heavy and pretty saucy so hang on ladiez
~Couch Surfing~
(Quick note, holy fuck that gif ^)
It was before Agatha hit the island. Summer had just began and life was good. You had your best friends around you as you all hung out on the hammocks in John B.’s back yard. Pope has been your neighbor since you were kids, and you were in every academic club he was in. If you had to pick one of the other Pogues, you were closest to Pope. Kiara of course was a close second, then John B. That left JJ. The two of you had been secretly...macking on each other despite the rule. The two of you thought it’d be better if no one knew so there was no awkward tension in the group. Yet everyone knew. Everyone in the group could see it, and everyone was cool with it because the two of you hadn’t made a big deal of it. Of course, JJ had ranted to everyone about how much he liked you on a fishing trip you had skipped out on after he’d had too many beers. And equally, one day when JJ was mowing lawns on The Cut, you were hanging at John B’s house and let a few too many hits from Kie’s joint get to you, and spewed all the bottled up emotions you had for your best friend.
So yeah, life was good. But also, incredibly sufferable when they others would tease the two of you, not knowing they knew.
You were laying in one of the hammocks, swinging back and forth as you tried to come up with something to do that day.
“I’m perfectly content with staying right here,” you had said with your eyes closed as you swayed in the hammock.
“I’m with Y/N on this one. Just hope the rain doesn’t come soon,” JJ agreed, which normally doesn’t happen when making plans.
“Fine, Pope and I are gonna head over to The Wreck and see what Kie wants to do,” John B. rolled out of his hammock as a crack of lighting struck over the ocean making JJ flinch, and accidentally roll out of his hammock on to the dirt. Pope, John B. and you erupted into fits of laughter as JJ stood up and brushed the dirt off.
“Alright yeah, very funny. I’m hilarious, I’ll just go home,” JJ was just poking fun at you, hoping you’d said something to get him to stay with you at John B’s. Pope got out of his seat as well and patted John B.’s shoulder.
“No,” you pouted and struggled to get out of your comfortable spot, wiggly your way out of the hammock, your three guy friends not helping but to smile watching you struggle. “Come on it’s raining, we can couch surf and watch a movie or something, JJ, stay,” you giggle while you pleaded out random ideas that popped in your head as you finally stood up from the hammock. JJ brought his hand to his chin, pinching his lip between his thumb and index finger and quickly scanned your body. You felt your heart beat in a different way and quicken when he did, a sudden flutter of butterflies in your stomach.
“Fine, only if your nicer to me though,” JJ nodded for you to follow him to the house as Pope and John B. headed to the Twinkie.
“Don’t ruin my sofa!” John B. called back. The two of you stopped, faces getting hot. Pope and John B. began to chuckle at the flustered expressions the two of you had.
“W-what?” You nearly coughed out thinking your friends were finally going to put the two of you.
“Cause of the couch surfing,” John B. winked as Pope laughed and walked away.
“Right,” you said even though they were already gone.
“Smooth,” JJ teased and wrapped his hand in yours and pulled you into the house.
“You weren’t any help,” you argued but chuckled and walked to John B.’s kitchen, opening the fridge to look for any kind of food you could snack on. You heard JJ mumbling something as he grabbed your backpack and walked to the bedroom. You laughed and shook your head while grabbing two beers from the fridge and following after him. You placed the two beers on the dresser by the door and sat next to JJ on the bed.
“So...what’re we watching?” You asked. You pulled your laptop from your back pack just to have the tan hand stop you.
“You didn’t really think we were gonna watch a movie, did you?” You looked over to catch JJ’s face inches from yours. Even though you’ve done so much with him, your breath still catches when you’re this close.
“I mean...what else are we gonna do?” You asked and felt JJ’s hand push the laptop back in your bag and set it on the ground, all while maintaining eye contact with you. You let out a shaky breath, still not over how much this guy affects you.
He leaned back up and returned to his spot with his face inches from yours.
“Come on Y/N...you’re a smart girl,” JJ lightly pressed his lips on to yours, feeling a tingle go from your mouth, down to your core. He pulled his lips from yours, making you chase after them causing a smirk to form on his face. “What do you want to do?” You weren’t confident enough in your voice, knowing if you’d answer it’d likely crack. So you simply moved your left leg over his lap and straddled his lap. JJ’s eyebrows cocked up as held back a slight chuckle because of the shock you gave him. You started to smile more as well as his hands rested on your thighs as he sat up to bring your lips together again. This time the kiss was deeper, you granting access for him to slip his tongue in. His hands started to slide up from your thighs, now gripping your hips and moving you against him in rhythm, grinding against him as a slight whimper escaped your lips. You felt a smirk tugged on JJ’s lips. Your right hand were playing with fistfuls of his hair, your left on his jaw, feeling it move in rhythm with everything else.
JJ’s hands now started to move quick, tugging at your light, baggy shirt making you pull away from the kiss. You moved your arms across your torso to take the shirt off, JJ putting his hands on the side of the shirt. You both started to giggle at the eagerness you had to have this shirt off. You tossed the shirt, to the side of the messy room, now only covered by shorts and a bathing top, and put you hands on JJ’s shoulders pushing him back on to the bed making him chuckle at the sudden control you had, knowing it would last for long. You tried to seductively take your time as you sat up with JJ watching your every move underneath him. His hands found their spot on your hips again, pressing you against him, trying to cause from friction. You bit your lip as you slowly undid the button on his shirt.
“For fucks sake,” he breathed out and you let out a yelp as the two of you were flipped on the bed and JJ was now on top. He put himself on his knees in between your legs, and nearly tore the black button up he was wearing off. Another giggle left your mouth as JJ scooter down the bed, lips lightly pressing a kiss on your stomach, a giggle leaving your mouth with each kiss as he trailed up. Yet the giggles stopped and turned to deep sighs as his lips worked around your chest and neck, hands doing their best to untie your bathing suit in the back. Once he got it undone, his lips started to attack your neck and collar bone now, his hand wrapping behind your neck and pulling you up with him so he could slip your top over your head. He leaned back and you felt heat rush to your cheeks as he admired your body.
“Fuck...Y/N you’re so gorgeous,” you let another light laugh out, not being able to help the floaty, giddy feeling you get around JJ. You smiled and wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him into another kiss and back down on the bed. He left your lips and trailed down now, his lips leaving little hickies around your breasts, making your back arch once he hit sensitive spots. He skillfully lead his left hand down to your shorts, unbuttoning them and slipping his hand down, feeling how wet you were through your bottoms and pulled his hand out, shifting so he was back on his knees, in between your legs.
“Fuck, JJ,” you breath out and used your hand to grab on to JJ’s hair and tugging at the roots, making him chuckle as you pulled him back to your face, lustfully pressing your lips on to his you started to moan into the kiss more as he grinding himself on to you. JJ let out a small grunt when your hand rugged at his hair more and your lips moved to his neck, bitting slightly to leave a mark. Yet the small moans and breaths were caught when the sound of a door made you freeze.
“Shit,” JJ whispered as you tried to quietly catch your breath. Through the shack walls, you heard more car doors shut and your friends joke and yell through muffled voices. The shark tooth on JJ’s black necklace dangled as his blonde locks fell around his face.
“Fuck,” he breath and moved his hands to your shorts to help you button and zip them. You two moved in a panic as JJ stood up and shut the bedroom door then flopping back on the bed making you giggle.
“Fuck,” you laughed when you couldn’t locate your bathing top. You watched as JJ’s face grew a mischievous smirk. You gave him a questioning look as he held up one finger to his lips, making sure you stayed quiet, slowly moving back over you, you laughed and shook your head, hearing your friends enter the house.
You giggled more once JJ’s lips were back on your neck, hands now pinching the sides of you making you laugh harder.
“Wow! The couch is perfectly fine!” John B.’s voice called making you try to fit JJ off of you. He continued to lick and kiss all over your chest and neck area making you continue to giggle.
“JJ stop,” you breathed out and laughed harder. He shushed you through laughs, knowing the walls were thick enough.
“JJ stop,” John B.’s voice mocked yours from the living room were you heard Kie and Pope laugh. You finally pushed JJ off of you, smiling and shaking your head as you snatched your bathing suit top from the ground and tied it around your back. You started to reach for your shirt, but was pushed back against the bed again, JJ’s bare torso against yours as you let out another breathy laugh. JJ’s lips were back on your neck like a leech making you smiled and peel him off of you.
“JJ, oh my god,” you giggled out, this time,
“JJ, oh my god!” Kiara mimicked your voice
“What?” He whined and handed you his shirt. “Do you think they can hear us?” JJ asked slightly louder, making you roll your eyes. JJ smiled innocently as he handed you his black button up. You smiled and put on the warm shirt, noticing a few buttons were popped off as you buttoned the bottom ones. JJ noticed as well and cocked an eyebrow up, like he was impressed you two did such a thing.
You followed after JJ as he crawled off the bed, running a hand through his hair before opening the door and walking around the corner. He leaned against the wall and looked at his three best friends smirking at him. You walked out after, holding back a slightly embarrassed laugh.
“It’s about damn time,” Pope rose his hand and pointed between the two of you. You smiled over at JJ who did the same to you.
“I have no idea what your talking about,” JJ looked back to his friends quickly before kissing your cheek and linking his fingers with yours.
“Where are you two going?” John B. asked with a smirk on his face, seeing his two best friends so happy. You pulled on JJ’s arm as your stopped in the door way and turned back to John B.
“We’re gonna go couch surf at my house,”
~~~~~~~
AHAHA GOT SAUCIER THAN I EXPECTED AGAIN!
#outer banks#outer banks smut#outer banks netflix#outer banks imagines#rudy pankow#jj maybank#jj x reader#jj maybank x reader#JJ maybank smut#JJ smut#john b#john b x reader#chase stokes#pope#pope x reader#jonathan daviss#kiara#pope x kiara#kiara x jj#kiara x reader#madison bailey#sarah cameron#outer banks prompts#austin north#A’s writing#A’s prompts
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Panic (Agatha Harkness x Fem!Reader)
Summary: Reader suddenly becomes aware of the hex and begins to have a panic attack. She seeks out Agatha for comfort; who is more than willing to help.
Warnings: Description of panic attacks. Other than that just pure fluff.
A/N: This is literally my first tumblr post ever so I might be bad at this lol sorry.
The thoughts had started just as you left your girlfriend Agnes' house to go to work. Fuzzy feelings that something wasn't right peaked out from your subconscious like sand through your fingers. The paranoia followed you into the car and onto your commute to work. You checked over your shoulder as you drove and kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel. The distant panic threatened to bang into the front of your mind like a distorted sort of deja vu.
What was wrong with you? Your morning had been perfectly normal up until this point. You awoke to the tangle of limbs you and Agnes had become throughout the night, ate breakfast, drank coffee, and said goodbye to your girlfriend. All and all, an exceedingly average morning. You have long suffered from anxiety; however, this was different. It felt as if you forgot something... something vital. The thought distracted you so much, in fact, that you missed your turn.
"Shit," you mutter, glancing back at your turn in the rearview mirror. You continued to drive, hoping to take a longer route. However, just as you were about to turn onto Ellis Avenue, everything stopped. Your mind, your car, even your lungs seemed to freeze. Your mind demanded you turn around, go back home, go to work, anywhere but Ellis Avenue. Your body did not comply, nor did the car.
Suddenly, you became vaguely aware of a frazzled-looking man approaching your vehicle. Vision, you realized silently. Through ears of cotton, you heard him try to speak to you. He scrunched his eyes in concern and curiosity as he cautiously reached for you with two fingers.
And, like an electric shock, everything came back to you.
Your body started to quake as the reality of the past few weeks settled over you. Your lungs and mouth seemed to still be frozen as you struggled to suck in air. Vision's concerned voice sounded like it came from a distant planet as you stared down at your lap. Tears spilled over onto your burning cheeks as your shoulders collapsed in on themselves.
"Y/n what's wrong-"
Before Vision could finish his question, you slammed on your gas and slammed into a U-turn. Your unraveling mind grasped onto one thing. Agnes. You had to find Agnes. Blindly, you drove to the address you could find in your sleep. You ignored the car horns and middle fingers you received as a result of your driving.
Tears blurred your vision as you choked out a panicked gasp; your throat was starting to burn from the lack of air. Once I find Agnes, it will all be okay, you assured yourself. Agnes will know what to do; she always does. She'll keep you safe. You don't know how you are so sure of this, but somehow you are 100% certain it is the right thing to do.
You haphazardly parked outside your girlfriend's house, almost taking out several mailboxes in the process. Relief exploded through your ever-tightening chest as you stumbled out of the driver's seat and onto the street. Your knees quaked, making it exceedingly hard to approach her front door. Thankfully, as if by magic, Agnes opened the door and beheld your sorry state. Concern and something akin to guilt filled her eyes as she rushed towards you.
The moment her arms were wrapped around you, the last sliver of composure you possessed shattered. A loud sob ripped through your throat as you collapsed into her arms. You hid your face in the soft material of her purple sweater and let out a series of embarrassing whimpers.
"I-I do-don't know wh-what's h-hap-happening," You gasped much louder than you intended. "Ness," you blurted her nickname, the only coherent thought you could process at the moment. Your clammy hands clutched at the back of her sweater as you attempted to wiggle even closer to her.
Agnes simply shushed you quietly and cradled the back of your head. She wove her fingers through your hair and placed a kiss on your temple.
"Come on, Hun, let's get you inside," she murmured. Her voice was soothing; however, the furious look she threw over her shoulder- at Wanda's house weirdly enough- would have been enough to stop the bravest of hearts. You quickly forgot about that, though, because Agnes was leading you into her home. Your girlfriend had a protective arm wrapped around your waist as you leaned even closer into her. You allowed the shape of your body to meld with hers.
Ever so carefully, as if you were made from tissue paper, Agnes guided you onto the couch. She rested her back against the arm of the sofa and pulled you towards her. You immediately fell into her, allowing your back to meet her front. Tears continued to stream down your cheeks as you let out a painful hiccup. Agnes wrapped her arms around your middle and rested her chin atop your head. You sniffed and turned your face into her hair once more.
She stroked your hair, "Shhh, I know, Darling. It can be scary at first, but I still need you to breathe for me, okay? Can you do that?" You sniffed and gave her an almost imperceptible nod. She turned you slightly so that your side was against her front. You felt Agnes guide your hand to her chest. She inhaled a long breath and exhaled. You attempted to mimic her through your chest-rattling wheezes and sniffles. However, you cut yourself off with a loud, choked cry. "Hey, hey, you're alright. You're safe. I promise no one can hurt you." Your girlfriend rested a hand under your shirt and stroked up and down your back. Her other hand wrapped around your waist and pulled you closer.
You laid your head just above your hand and focused on her steady heartbeat. "Ness?" you whispered, your voice rough and quiet.
"Yes, Sweetie?" she muttered against your hair before pressing another kiss there.
"How did you know what was going on with me?" You asked, muffled against her sweater.
"We can talk about that later," She grabbed a blanket that was hanging over the back of the couch and settled it over you two. She tucked the quilt up to your neck, "For now, just rest. I bet that took a lot out of you," You opened your mouth to protest, "Uh-uh, no arguing, it's time for you to sleep. Your boss already knows you won't be at work today."
You wanted to ask how he knew; however, Agnes started stroking your hair. Her fingers weaved through your tresses as she began to hum—the unfamiliar song mingled with the soft thud of Agnes' heartbeat. As your eyelids slid shut, you knew you would be okay.
#agatha harkness x reader#agatha harkness#wandavision#wlw#marvel#agnes x reader#wandavision spoilers#Vision#wandavision x reader
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rafe angst - downpour
request - heyy, I don’t know if u are taking requests but if u are could u do one where Rafe's girlfriend come back from a trip and finds out by the pogues that Sarah ( her best friend ) is dead and Rafe has something to do with it? @alexoberlinluthor
hey! this is my first time writing an angst piece so i hope you like this!
**************************************
“Ayo it’s the Rafe Cameron. Sorry I missed your ca-” I pulled my phone away from my ear, hung up, then clenched my fist. This was the third time I had called Rafe and it still kept going straight to voice mail.
“Still no response?” Derek asked, his mouth full from the Hershey’s bar he got from Customs. I shook my head and reached my hand out. He obliged and I took a bite from the bar and handed it back to him.
“Nope. I’ll call Scarlet or Topper or something. I’m just annoyed because Rafe and Sarah promised they’d be here. We even brought them snacks!
My brother rolled his eyes and started saying in a high pitched voice: “OH-EM-GEE I AM SO ANNOYED MY SUPER HOT BLONDE BOYFRIEND CAN’T PICK ME UP FROM THE AI-” I clamped my hand over his mouth.
“Shut up,” I told him. “You’re like five-”
He moved my hand. “I’m e-leh-ven!”
“Like five,” I continued. “And Rafe promise he’d be here, too. You’ll understand when you start dating someone.”
Derek mumbled that I couldn’t hear, so I flicked his forehead, and tsked in annoyance when Topper didn’t pick up either. “You try calling one of your friends.” I said to Derek.
He nodded, but then furrowed his eyebrows. “Wait, no I can’t. My phone’s dead...sorry.”
I smacked my hand against my forehead and groaned. “It’s fine. Scarlet isn’t picking up either. Watch the bags, I need to pee.” I pushed my suitcases towards him and shouldered my purse.
While walking towards the bathroom, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through my contacts list. I could call Kiara, because her and I are chill, but she’d probably bring her Pogue friends, and I absolutely do not want to be associated with those freaks. But we’ve been flying for hours, from Korea to Charlotte, and now a domestic flight to the Banks, and I don’t want to have to spend my own pocket money on a taxi when my friends promised they’d pick me up.
I walked into the bathroom, sighed, and dialed her number. After a couple rings I heard a scratchy voice on the other end.
“Hi?”
“Hey, Kiara. It’s Amy. Amy Ahn. I don’t mean to bother you, but what are you doing right now?”
“Um...” her voice went quiet.
“Uh, Kiara?”
“Hi, yeah, I’m here. Sorry. Uh, I’m not doing anything, why?”
“Could you pick my brother and I up from the airport? The one on this island, I mean. My brother and I just flew back from Korea, our cousin was getting married.”
“Oh...that’s where you were.” Kiara mumbled quietly. Something seemed off from her voice. Is she alright?
I decided to press. “Are you good,” I asked. “You sound sick.”
“I’m fine.” She assured quickly. “I’ll pick you and Derek up.” And with that she hung up.
That’s weird. I shrugged it off. Whatever. I sat down to pee, and decided to scroll through Instagram. I frowned. There has barely been any new posts in the past week. I assumed it was the time difference when I boarded my first plane but it looks like no one has posted at all. I searched up Sarah’s spam account. No new posts. I furrowed my eyebrows and searched up Rafe’s. Nothing new either.
Weird, I thought. Rafe and Sarah always post on their spams. I stood up and flushed, then went and washed my hands.
Barely anyone has responded to my texts in the past week. I heard a storm was coming up around that time, so maybe the power had went out? But when Agatha hit, Figure 8 still had power.
I dried my hands, slipped my phone into my pocket, and quickly jogged towards Derek. I was starting to get worried. Did something happen to Sarah? One of the last texts she sent me expressed her desire to break up with Topper, because she had feelings for a new boy. Did Topper go psycho and break her phone or something. Oh my gosh, what if he hurt her.
No, he wouldn’t. That’s literally crazy. I thought. Well, he is super protective of her, but Rafe would’ve killed him if he laid a hand on his sister. Right?
I laughed to myself. Who was I kidding? Rafe and Sarah had a messed up relationship- Rafe would always rant me to about how jealous he is of her and how he sometimes wished his only sibling was Wheezy. I’d try my best to comfort him and tell him that it’s not Sarah’s fault, it’s Mr. Cameron’s for fueling the divide between the two of them, but he’d brush my words off.
I’m just freaking out, I convinced myself. Maybe I’m just super hungry and tired and miss my boyfriend. That’s all.
I sat down next to Derek and waited. When Kiara texted me, I practically teleported outside.
It was cloudy, and it sounded like a rainstorm was coming. I saw the ugliest orangish brown Volkswagen pull up, which I recognized as John B’s van. Of course her Pogue friends are with her.
The doors opened and I recognize two of the boys as Pope and JJ. No John B. Weird. Kiara came out around from the driver’s seat and gave me an awkward smile. “Sorry, my car wouldn’t have fit all the luggage and stuff.”
I waved my hand. “No worries.”
The boys offered to help Derek and I put our bags into the car, and I stepped into the front passenger’s seat of the van. When everyone got situated, Kiara asked for my address and handed me her phone.
While typing it in, I ask, “Could you drop my brother home and me at the Cameron house? Like Rafe and Sarah’s? It should be on the way.”
Kiara turned and looked at me, confused, then turned to face the Pogues.
“What?” I asked, looking between them. “Did something happen?”
After a couple seconds of silence, JJ asked, “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?” I said sharply. “Literally no one has been responding to texts or calls, and social media’s been dead, too. What is going on?”
When Kiara finally managed to get the words out, I couldn’t believe it. I asked her to repeat herself, and then again. It was like my brain went numb, then my body. This couldn’t be real, this couldn’t be happening.
“How?” Was all I managed to say.
Kiara looked back at the Pogues, then at me. “There’s the official story, then there’s what actually happened.”
“How. Did this happen?” I repeated. The words that came out from Kiara’s mouth were barely registered into my brain, but I nodded along. All I could comprehend was Sheriff Peterkin, tropical storm, boat, no bodies recovered, Rafe had a gun.
“Take me to his house.” I croaked out.
By the time we pulled up outside the Cameron resident, the sky was shooting bullets of water onto the ground. The sky, covered with grey clouds, was starting to get dark, but I didn’t care. I stepped out of the car and thanked the Pogues for the ride. Derek gave me a sad smile and said he’d be fine at home for a couple hours. I nodded and Kiara drove away.
I turned around to face the gate outside the Cameron house. I pressed the buzzer on the right-hand pillar and waited. I pressed the button again. Then again.
“Yes?” I heard Mrs. Cameron say through the speaker.
“I-It’s Amy.” The CCTV camera up on the pillar turned and adjusted itself to my view
“Amy, oh my gosh, sweetheart are you standing outside in the rain?!”
“Is Rafe inside?” I asked. I realized I was shaking. Was it from the cold? I had no idea. I didn’t even realize it was cold until I saw my hands. My hair, my clothes, my entire body was drenched in the cold rain, the only warmth being from the tears spilling from my face, masqueraded with the precipitation.
I heard a buzz, and the gate unlatched. I ran to the front door and started pounding on it with my fist. It was like a fire lit inside of me; I was angry. I went from feeling nothing to feeling nothing but pure rage. How could he have done this? How could he have let things go this far?
Mrs. Cameron opened the door, and I shoved past her. “Where is he?” I asked.
“Amy, what are-”
“WHERE IS RAFE?!” I shouted, turning around to look at her.
“His room, bu-” I didn’t let her finish, I ran up the stairs and bursted through the door.
Rafe was laying on his bed, in the dark. He jumped up at the sound of me throwing his door open, and winced at the sudden light that hit his face when I switched the flip. When I finally looked into his eyes, a surge of anger overcame me, and I slapped him across the face.
He held his cheek, and chuckled. “Well, nice to see you, too.”
“Look at me.” My voice quivered when I spoke, but I was determined not to cry right now. I couldn’t.
He clenched his jaw, then turned to look at me. His face was red, and his usually neatly combed blonde hair was a mess. Instead of his usual polo shirt and shorts, he was wearing his college hoodie and jeans. And his eyes...his pupils were huge. He was high off cocaine.
“What. Did you do?” I clenched my fist. The boy I loved, I held, I kissed, just staring at me blankly, with no expression. For the first time since we started dating, I had no idea what he was thinking. I had no idea what he was going to say. That terrified me.
I felt a pit in my stomach, like it was tying my insides together. I just wanted to cry, to wake up in Rafe’s arms and for him to tell me I just had an awful nightmare. But he said nothing. He just stared at me blankly. Finally, he rubbed his eyes with the pads of his fingers and said, “Do you want to dry up? You’re completely drenched.”
“Stop trying to change the topic. Did you shoot Sheriff Peterkins?” I whispered. My eyes went wide when Rafe’s face didn’t even change. “You killed Sheriff Peterkins and blamed it on John B. You’re the reason Sarah and John B are dead.”
Rafe clenched his fist, then sighed and sat back onto his bed. “Who told you this?”
“A-Are you kidding me?” I covered my hands with my face “I tell you that I think you killed a cop and are the reason your sister’s dead, and the only thing you have to say is ‘Who told you this’?! You’re not even phased. You don’t even look upset, you monster. You murdered someone, and you’re just sitting in your room snorting coke.”
He rested his hands on his head. “Can you stop being so fucking loud?!” Rafe stood up quickly. “I don’t have time for this. Just get out.” He pointed towards his door, but I didn’t budge.
“Or what, huh? You’re gonna kill me?” I shoved him. “You pathetic piece of shit-”
“Aren’t you supposed to be smart or something.” He shoved me back. “Provoking a murderer doesn’t seem like such a smart fucking idea, right?”
“You’re not even upset Sarah is dead. You’re not even upset that your own fucking sister is dead. Unbelievable. Who are you?”
Rafe laughed at that comment. He spun around to face me. “Who am I? I’m the same person I’ve always been.”
I shook my head and took a step back. “No. No you’re not. The Rafe I know would never do this; he’s loving and kind and-”
“And apparently you never knew me at all.” He took a step forward, and I took a couple steps backwards. I could feel my eyes beginning to water, and before I could will myself to stop, the warm tears spilled down my cheeks “Because I don’t feel bad for that son of a bitch Pogue and that whore of a sister I had dying. She stole what was mine, my birthright.”
I felt numb. My brain felt fuzzy. I had no idea why this was happening to me. Rafe kept going.
“Everything is always about Sarah. Can’t you be happy for me?” Rafe tried to put his hands on my shoulders, but I maneuvered out of the way.
“You know,” I whispered, “maybe you’re right. Maybe I never knew you at all.”
I walked out of his room. I heard his footsteps, and a part of me, a small, disgusting, guilty part of me hoped he’d grab me and cry and tell me he didn’t mean it, that it was just the drugs talking, but he didn’t. He slammed his door shut. I ran down his stairs, and pushed past Mr. and Mrs. Cameron who seemed very obviously concerned and aware of what was going on. I ran out the house, and onto the street, then down the street. I just ran and ran until I found myself at the beach, caught in the downpour of rain once again.
I collapsed down onto the sand. My brain and body were still numb, and refused to properly register my emotions, yet I was sobbing. My chest was shaking, I was clutching onto myself, just crying my eyes out, and my brain couldn’t process this.
I had lost two of my best friends in one day, two of my soulmates.
How do you recover from this?
#rafe cameron#rafe angst#rafe obx#obx rafe#rafe x oc#sad rafe#rafe one shot#obx kiara#obx jj#obx pope#obx sarah#obx john b#angst#Outer Banks#outer banks angst#obx angst#obx fanfic#obx fanfiction
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Lupercalia // Nicholas Scratch x Male Trans! Witch Reader 1/4
‼️Authors Note‼️ : This along with a few other stories have been saved in my drafts for a few month and I decided to go ahead and upload this so I can have something put out while I finish writing requests.
Warning: None
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
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Lupercalia, a ceremonial holiday that coincides with Valentine’s Day. A lusty pastoral festival started by the Roman witches under the reign of Caligula. Named after the Lupercal, the cave where the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were suckled by the She-Wolf. Originally it was instituted as means to purify the city to increase health and fertility. Nowadays, it’s less about fertility and more about, well.....sex. Every year Lupercalia causes much fanfare at the Academy of Unseen Arts. The festival is separated into three parts, The Matching, The Courting, and The Hunt. Now, enough explaining. Let’s get the ceremony started.
You along with the other warlocks and witches are contained in the great hall at the academy. The men are sitting the the chars that are attached to red and white silk ribbons which are also attached to a giant black pole in the middle of the hall. How come you’re not sitting with the other warlocks you ask? Well that’s because you and Nick decided that he will be sitting while you dance with the ribbon sense this is your first year participating in the Lupercalia. Sabrina would have participated with you, but she wanted to spend ‘Valentines Day’ with her boyfriend, in a non-magical way.
While Father Blackwood gives Ambrose his signal to start, he grabs his violin and begins his speech. “Alright fellas, take your places for The Matching!” He shouts as he gets to his post patiently waiting as everyone gets into position. Getting ready you grab the white ribbon that’s places on Nick’s chair as the two of you lovingly gaze at each other’s eyes, soft smiles filled with love and happiness.
Before you could mouth an ‘I love you’ to him, Dorcas creeps behind you as her shoulder bumps into your arm. “Don’t even think about it (Y/N)-“ she says snobbishly “Two years ago Prudence was paired with Nick for Lupercalia. Last year, Agatha was. This year, it’s my turn.” She lifts her pointer finger and thumb and lightly grabs you chin and she finished her statement, she removes her fingers from you as she smirks and walks away to her spot. Ignoring her, you grab your ribbon as Nick looks at her, cringing at her attempts to get with him.
Ambrose continues his speech “Alright, ladies, and gentleman, you know how this goes-“ He pauses and turns to look at you while respectfully saying the word ‘gentleman’ , you send a toothy grin his way for always using correct pronouns to address you. “-When the music stops, take a seat on the warlock closest to you.” Once Ambrose finishes giving out instructions, Prudence ties a royal blue blindfold around his eyes to blindfold him as he lifts his violin. Placing the bow on the strings of the mahogany wooden instrument he starts playing, who would have known how beautifully he could play. He slowly sways his body with the flow of the folk music while the other witches and I begin to dance.
All of us slowly bow, we stand back up and take off. Your inner circle starts twirling clockwise, whilst the outer circle goes counter clockwise. You all gracefully twirl and spin like ballerinas. Your clothes sway behind you as you move alongside the others. The music stops and you see yourself in front of Nick, following the next step you walk over and get ready to sit in his lap. Before you could even wrap your arms around his neck, you get body slammed to the ground as Dorcas takes your spot on Nick’s lap. “Oh sorry, (Y/N).” She says as she runs her hand through Nicks hair.
You slowly get up from the dark tile floor, dust yourself aching body off, and slowly walk around to find an unclaimed warlock noticing Dorcas’ eyes following you as she basks in her victory. Walking over, you sit at in the closest warlock’s lap and tightly wrap your arms around his neck and roll your hips against his crotch whilst he put a possessive grip on your hips as he groans. You lean in as both of you kiss each other with nothing but love and passion. Once both of you part your lips you turn to look at Dorcas just to see her petrified face.
If Nick was with you, then who was she with?
“Wait, then who? What....Melvin?”
“Uh...Nick gave me 100 bucks to wear a glamour. He thought you might try something like this.” Melvin replies to Dorcas making her contort her face in disgust.
—————-Later That Night————
(Reader’s POV)
Nick and I are standing in the middle of the woods with the others from the academy, quietly listening as Ambrose gives more instructions on re-enacting The Courting. Basically each couple goes into the dark creepy woods, disrobe, and anoint themselves while lying underneath the moon. As instructions are being given, Prudence walks around and gives each of us baskets filled with jars.
“The milk and blood are for the purification. The oysters and figs are for fertility and virility. The cherries, on the other hand, are for popping” She lists off as she leans in close to me and seductively says ‘popping’.
Nick and I look at each other, he knows about me transitioning and how uncomfortable I can feel since I haven’t had my bottom surgery yet. He leans in closely and wraps his arm around my waist. “(Y/N), we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.” I smile and tell him that we’ll just have to see what happens. I send him a quick smile and turn back to look at Father Blackwood. After giving us the Dark Lord’s blessing, Ambrose blows the horn sending us all into the woods.
After running around for a while, Nick and I settle down underneath a dead weeping willow tree and unload our basket.
“Nervous?” Nick asks with a smug smirk on his face.
“Maybe a little bit” I respond as I continue unloading the blood and oils.
Humming response he questions further. “About what in particular?”
Leaning back on the ground with my arms holding me up I continue our conversation. “About everything. We’ve only been boyfriends for a couple months now, and yet tomorrow, we have to take part in some crazy bacchanal.” Nick chuckles and trying to lighten up the mood. “Well, if it makes you feel any better- “ he states“- I’m terrified”.
“Yeah right, as if Nick!” I say sarcastically “Before you and Sabrina were dating we caught you in the attic having an orgy with her cousin.” Nick let’s loose an exaggerated groan, rolling his eyes, embarrassed that I remembered that day. Every time I saw him at the academy after that, I would always picture him in his boxers making out with Prudence and Ambrose. It was an extremely disturbing image that took a while to get over. “Okay that was different. It’s just-“ He says slowly, trying to form the right words. “-I’ve never been with someone I’ve truly loved. I really love you (y/n), and I really don’t wanna mess things up with you”
Nicks word hit me hard causing me to tear up. I look into his eyes to see if I can see if he’s lying, but I can only see honesty. Hot tears roll down my face as he rests his hand on my cheek, leaning in he brings his lips close to mine making them meet. Suddenly things get pretty heated, our tongues begin fighting each other in a sloppy forceful battle for dominance, Nick easily dominates and his tongue explores my mouth as he pulls me closer to him. I wrap my arm around his neck. I run my hands down and stop at his chest, I gently push him back, breaking the kiss.
Both of us with heavy breaths from lack of air pull back, looking into each other’s eyes and let out a breathy laugh. “Nick, we have to finish the ritual before we get too carried away. Grab the blood, I’ll get the knife.” I hop off his lap and we fetch the items we need to help finish off the night.
So far it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
---------------------------------------------
Finish the fic? Leave a comment if you liked it and let me know if you want a part 2!
#Nick Scratch x Male Trans Reader#nicholas scratch x male reader#nicholas#scratch#trans#male reader#trans reader#trans male reader#trans male#nick scratch x male reader#nicholas scratch x trans male reader#caos#caos part 3#caos part 4#caos part 2#Chilling Adventures of Sabrina#witch reader#male witch reader#witch#trans witch#trans male witch
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Fictional double Birds, webcomics edition!
I found/rediscovered some more Bird characters for y'all~
These pals are all webcomic characters, so you can read their stories for free :D the name headers link to the first page of their respective comics!
Just a reminder, clicking the images gives you better quality and can make the text easier to read. I've put alt text on the images with the relevant info--sorry if this still isn't the most accessible post. ^^;
Henry Jekyll (The Glass Scientists)
Thanks to @aubade-things for reminding me this comic exists, and for discussing it with me! I binged the whole thing a few days ago, haha.
The Glass Scientists is a webcomic about a haven society for mad scientists, in a world that does not like them. Jekyll here is trying to keep it from falling apart, but between mad science shenanigans, plain old lack of funding, and a fellow called Hyde who is definitely not the same person, who told you that, he's... uh... struggling.
Jekyll screams Badger secondary at first, his Bird secondary is just VERY burnt.
He idealizes Badger as a huge part of how he thinks a Proper Gentleman should be, and he has this super uptight Badger performance that does noooot actually make him happy.
His primary's shaky, too, but he's working on it. This just about says it all, honestly:
Yes, that is a figment of his own imagination yelling at him for using Bird secondary to sort out a major piece of his system.
Jekyll is peak "person who looks like they have their shit together but is actually a mess underneath" and I'd be okay with him being a little less relatable thank you very much
He is slowly reclaiming his secondary though:
Sidenote: I have had almost that exact experience, about the same topic, during a period where I'd burned Bird secondary.
(Seven year old Paint was obsessed with the idea of plant medicine. You know how some kids mix up "potions" with stuff from their back yard? I wanted mine to work. I had this giant textbook about it and everything.)
Alas, remembering was less useful to me; all it really gave me was an extra uncanny experience reading this webcomic :p
Thistle (Daughter of the Lilies)
Thistle is a cinnamon roll hiding a whoooooole lot of trauma and anxiety. I'll let you find those panels for yourself, though. Instead, here she is entertaining some children with her magic:
Sometimes she sounds like a Badger primary, but she's a full-fledged Bird:
Her secondary is a little singed, too, but hers is WAY better off than Jekyll's. She's doin ok.
Spoiler warning: the current comic arc shows her face, which is a major reveal--so if you want to puzzle out what her deal is on your own, start from the beginning and avoid the front page for now ^^
She's also super relatable, but in a way that doesn't bug me. I'm trying to figure out why Jekyll does... I think it's that he's an example of a very burnt Bird secondary that looks seriously familiar to me, but his primary is unstable too and I find that unnerving--I've never burned mine. To me, he feels deeply unhealthy in a way that Thistle doesn't at all. Thistle's morality is very clear and bright; the parts of her system she struggles with most are about how she sees herself, but I deal with the same thing (it's probably less common for Birds not to) so that's fine.
That does say something about the general tone of the two stories. DotL deals with some heavy topics, but it's a much more optimistic feeling world with a much more stable protagonist.
DotL fights with Girl Genius for rank as my favorite webcomic, period. Everyone should go read it, it's beautiful and funny and relatable and tragic and then it's funny again. Also there are dragons! At least one of them is plot relevant, and several of the pages he's on got turned into posters by popular demand because the art is just that good.
Speaking of Girl Genius:
Gilgamesh Wulfenbach (Girl Genius)
Girl Genius is a gaslamp fantasy comedy adventure romance about mad scientists, and it does all of those things really well at the same time. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's a goldmine for Bird secondaries.
This story has also been adapted into ebook and audiobook versions, so if comics are hard for you to read, that could be a more accessible option!
Snake primary is the most popular (Agatha, Tarvek, Zeetha, Bang, Krosp, Lars, and most of the Jagers) but there are a few Birds hanging around. The Baron is a Bird primary, I think, and Othar is some form of Exploded Idealist (double Lion?) but I'm going to focus on Gil because he's a main character.
The page that cements his primary for me is this one, where he's arguing with Snake primary Zeetha (who is Loyal to Agatha). Agatha's been the victim of some weird mind control stuff by the story's BBEG, but Gil hasn't gotten that context yet and the Baron (his dad) is convinced Agatha IS the BBEG.
And yes, he's technically pantsless in this scene but hasn't realized that yet either. It's not his fault... the "ability to rant" part of a Spark's brain wakes up long before their situational awareness does.
Also lol @ Zeetha's reaction. Gil is one of Agatha's Important People, and Agatha is Zeetha's, so he's safe, for now, if he behaves.
As for his secondary:
And:
Like many of the cast, Gil is a Spark and very vulnerable to nerd sniping. RIP his lost sleep.
Also mine, actually. I'm gonna end this here and try to go back to bed ^^;
Happy reading!
#sortinghatchats#meta#ravenclaw primary#ravenclaw secondary#burned ravenclaw secondary#paint speaks#q
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Love Is The Biggest Spell : Chapter Five
A/N : Chapter five is here. This chapter should have been posted on Halloween lol but never mind. Hope you like this chapter. Feedbacks and suggestions are always welcome.
Pairing : Warlock Tom Holland x half mortal reader
Summary : Witches are forbidden to fall in love with mortals. But what if your long lost love returns to you as a mortal, can you defy your heart? Any spell any magic seems useless in front of the magic of love. Let’s join our lovers in their magical conquest beyond life and death as they fight for their love unravelling dark mysteries of the past along their way.
Warnings : mild language, witchy stuff.
Mini Playlist : Can't help falling in love with you
After you had your breakfast Tom drove you to college. You were walking to your classroom.
"Y/N!" You heard the voice you despise the most right now call out to you. You didn't look back and quickened your pace.
"Y/N, Y/N, Y/N hey wait please." Cole ran to you grasping your wrist.
"Leave my hand, Cole!" You yanked your hand away from him.
"Y/N just listen to me for once I can explain." he pleaded.
"What more do you have to explain, Cole? That you were making out with me but magically it turned out to be someone else."
"Yeah exactly."
"Cole can you just stop now. I'm not going to judge your life choices but I hope you enjoyed sucking her mouth."
"Y/N please you can't do this to me."
"Umm mate I think Y/N made it quite clear that she doesn't want to talk to you." Tom intervened.
"Listen dude let's just not pretend that this isn't the best day of your life. So please stay out of this"
"Cole! You can’t talk to him like that.”
"A guy showed you a little affection for one night and now he is the good guy. So typical of you Y/N." you were literally hurt by his words.
"You know what Cole? I was actually thinking of forgiving your not so sorry ass but now I'm so over that thought, we are done for good Cole!"
"C'mon Tom let's go." You stormed off dragging Tom with you by his wrist to the library.
You slumped down on the seat as Tom took the opposite seat to you
"I can't believe Cole would say that! I'm an attention seeker? Seriously?!" You seethed.
"How did you guys even fall in love?" Tom asked out of courtesy though he had no interest in knowing that.
"You know childhood best friends it was like we owed to date each other." you shrugged.
"Maybe we can do something to divert your attention?"
"And what is that?"
"Finish our assignment I guess that's still pending."
"Seriously?" you gave a disinterested look.
"What? That is much better than talking about your douchebag boyfriend, ex boyfriend"
"Yeah maybe some witchy stuff can help keep me distracted." you walked to the shelves and pulled out some books and placed them on the desk with a loud thud. You picked up a book and were turning over some pages in a book and stumbled upon something as you frowned.
"What’s Dark Baptism?"
"Huh oh it's a sort of ceremony. The Dark Baptism is the most sacred, unholy sacrament the witches practiced for centuries. The oldest of their rites. A novice witch signs his or her name in the Book of the Beast, and gives the Dark Lord dominion over their soul and in exchange he gives them unlimited power and eternal youth." Tom explained.
"Huh what’s the use of such powers if I have to give up my freedom of will?" you scoffed.
"It’s the only one of several possible interpretations, see like all religions have symbolic gestures and demand sacrifices right?"
"Signing the Book of the Beast is more like a pledge to abide by the devil's commandments."
"But the Dark Lord aka Satan is the embodiment of evil." You state. Tom corrects you immediately.
"As per texts he is the embodiment of free will and that he goes beyond the mere concepts of good and evil and the infernal punishment of the "False God"."
"So what about Hell?" you ask.
"If you accept the Dark Lord's gifts, then you won't die for a long time and Hell is for mortals. In exchange for their service and devotion, witches are exempt from the eternal flames of damnation." Tom explains.
"That's some crazy ass bullshit." You laugh it off.
"But you seem to have quite in-depth knowledge about these things. Do you happen to practice witchcraft in secret?" you narrowed your eyes.
"Maybe, who knows" he shrugs." Why are you so invested in knowing all this?" he counter questioned you.
"Nothing just general curiosity that's it." You shrug.
"General curiosity or is it about the visions or nightmares whatever you have." Tom smirked.
"Who-who told you.." You stutter.
"Jane told Harrison and he told me."
"Those are just some stupid dreams that's all."
"Or may be not, maybe you are a psychic or a witch "
“Ha ha very funny.”
"Okay leave all that." Tom cleared his throat.
"Hey I know it would be really inappropriate for me to ask you. You know you can totally say no."
''Hey it's okay we are friends now c'mon spill it out." you held his hand reassuringly.
"Umm my mother seems to have liked you a lot the day you stopped by our house and wants me to invite you to our Halloween party. It's kind of a spooky themed business gala. "
"Your mother likes me or you?" you narrowed your eyes with a sly smirk.
"No I swear my mom told me to invite you." Tom flustered.
"Okay then tell your mom that I would love to go."
"Oh thanks." Tom’s eyes lit up like a child.
"And by the way if you want me to be your date just ask." You winked.
"It's - it's nothing like that." he stuttered.
"Relax anyways I'm single now." you giggled.
"So what are you divs doing?" Harrison dropped in between your conversation.
"Nothing just getting ready for my dark baptism." You chuckled though Harrison gave a mortified look as he exchanged glances with Tom. Who shook his head dismissively to let him know he hasn't said anything.
“Uh okay..have you seen Jane anywhere?"
"Why do you also need some attention?" You joked lazily placing a hand on Harrison's shoulder and instantly backed off with a light gasp.
"You okay?" Harrison asked looking at your horrified expression.
"Yeah, yeah I'm-I’m fine." you stammered blinking your eyes.
"I'll go and find Jane." You walked away huskily.
…….........
Agatha and Zendaya visited a farm to purchase a black goat to be used for sacrifice during your dark baptism in the woods.
"What is on your mind mother? A few days ago you wanted that half breed dead but now you are here arranging for her dark baptism. I don't understand any of this."
"Well you three failed in your task and I'm grateful to Satan for that this time because I recently found out she is the key to perform the spell by which our coven will gain infinite powers."
"What spell?"
"For now you don't need to know more than this. Just remember that girl needs to be protected."
…………..
It's 31st of October and you are officially 25. You were at the cafe as Jane came in all bubbly and chirpy.
“Happy Birthday babe!!!” Jane exclaimed, giving you a tight hug.
“Thank you babe.” Tom and Harrison dropped in after sometime.
“Isn’t it your birthday day? Why the hell are you working today?”.
“Because it’s my birthday.”
"Well somebody has got the whole concept of birthday wrong." tom quipped.
“Here we brought something for you.” He placed a cake box on the table.
“Jane dear can you arrange this for us please.” Harrison asked her sweetly.
“Of Course will.”
“Seriously guys you didn’t have to do this.” Jane was quick to arrange the cake on a tray with some candles and placed it in front of you. You blow out the candles as they sing for you.
“Thank you so much guys.” your heart swelled in happiness.
“We would have loved to stay but we have another party to arrange so see you girls in the evening.” Harrison said.
“I'll pick you up at seven.” Tom informed you softly.
“Will be waiting.” You smiled. After they left you turned to Jane.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah what?"
"What do you know about Harrison? Apart from he's a sex God. His family and life." you snickered.
"Umm they are rich, business partners with the Hollands. Loves his mom and sister a lot. Why?"
"Nothing, you are my best friend just don't want you to fall for the wrong guy. I finally learnt my lesson. Heh." You chuckled slowly.
“Don’t worry babe if he does something bad I’ll give you the privilege of kicking his ass.” She laughed and went to the back of the shop.
Now how will you tell her that when you touched him you had one of your stupid visions. You saw blood, pentacles, human skulls, it felt so inauspicious the darkness engulfing you. Your eyes went to the blown out birthday candles and you suddenly remembered about the night where the candle caught fire on it’s own. Then you recalled Tom saying that you may be psychic and you suddenly got the idea of testing the fact.
"This is all a hoax, I'm not psychic nor a witch. I was drunk and was seeing things." you said to yourself and took a deep breath.
"Well here goes to nothing." You focused on them but nothing happened.
"Huh, definitely a hoax" you blew out your cheeks and turned to do your work. But when you turned around again to your surprise each and every candle was lit up magically. You exhaled deeply, frowning.
……………
Reaching home you went to your room and saw a big gift box kept on your bed. You took the lid off the box to find an expensive black dress with a note.
Happy Birthday Y/N. Will be really happy if you wear this tonight. Love T. H
You smiled and held out the dress in front of you admiring it in the full length mirror in your room, it was the most exquisite thing you have ever seen. The soft silky fabric with intricate lace work was literal work of art. You changed into the dress and decided to let your hair down for tonight with minimal jewelry and makeup.
Meanwhile Tom and Harrison were getting ready in their finest tux for the gala and your baptism.
"You really gifted her the wedding dress."
"Well it's an important night for her she will be turning into a complete witch and hopefully her memories will come back after that." Tom said, fixing his cufflinks.
"You ready son?" Nikki walked into his room.
"Yes mother." Nikki could see in his eyes that something was bothering him.
"Don't worry I talked to your father and I will be presenting your dear Y/N for her baptism." Tom's eyes lit up hearing the news. It's usually the mother who presents her child for the baptism but your mother will not be able to attend it so the whole thing of who will be presenting you was bugging him for a while. And hearing that his mother is going to do that relieved him.
"Really mother! Thank you so much."
"I’m really happy that you’re finally going to be happy in your life son."
Tom was there to pick you up sharp at 7. You stepped out of your house as you saw him waiting for you leaning against his car. He couldn't take his eyes off you. You literally looked like an angel he thought.
"You look gorgeous, love."
"Thank you, you look surprisingly dapper too."
"Thank you."
"But you didn't have to buy me such an expensive dress. The whole night now I will be so self conscious of not ruining the dress."
"I will buy you a new one don't worry."
"Ha ha not happening again. Now let’s go"
He opened the door of the car for you as you sat inside the car. You reached his place in an hour and stepped out of the car holding his hand as he led you inside.
You walked into the ballroom and your breath was caught at the grandeur. You’d never been in a space that made you feel so small–or so plain. Crystal chandeliers spiraled down from the arching sky-blue ceiling, illuminating the glimmering golden walls and a floor so polished it looked like an iced-over lake. And it wasn’t just the ballroom–the women sparkled like a box of jewels, shades of emerald and ruby and amethyst swirling before you, their low chatter accompanying wafts of rose and hyacinth and jasmine.
"Whoa dude am I supposed to be a part of this gala? I mean just look at all the people around." you gave out a nervous laugh.
"You were always supposed to be here Y/N."
You are immediately greeted by Jane and Harrison.
“Hey you made it!” Jane hugged you and your dress caught her eyes.
“Damn girl now that’s a one of a kind ball gown.” She giggled as you blushed.
“Only for the one of a kind girl.” Tom snickered.
You, Tom, Harrison and Jane then hit the dance floor, slow music playing.
Wise men say Only fools rush in But I can't help falling in love with you
You clasped on to his hand placing another hand on his shoulder blade as he did the same. You began moving back and forth waltzing around the ballroom. Spinning and circles and shuffling your feet to the slow, rhythmic music. It was paradise, but even more so when your eyes met.
Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you
His eyes were chocolate brown, which made your knees buckle and your lips quiver. He narrowed his eyes slightly and let out a small chuckle. Your dress was getting in the way and your heels were making you clumsy or you were actually clumsy around him. He noticed your discomfort and changed his stance making it easier for you to follow. His grip tightened on your hand giving it a comforting squeeze making your heart skip a beat.
Like a river flows Surely to the sea Darling, so it goes
You swayed to the music, bodies so close, his hand still grasping yours. This was perfect as if time stood still, your gaze filled with burning desires as he looked down to your slightly parted lips. Tom was trying to get a read on you as you looked at you longingly. You could feel your cheeks burning and you knew you're blushing on the outside which only made his smile grow wider.
Some things are meant to be So take my hand Take my whole life, too For I can't help falling in love with you For I can't help falling in love with you
He dropped your hand but before you could frown he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled your body even more closer. His kind, smiling face met yours as you felt his sweet, warm breath fanning your face. Your breath hitched all that brooding, pining and longing stares just for this magical moment. Out of instinct you tilted your face a little, closing your eyes. But instead Tom knelt down to your ear and whispered.
“Parere mandatis meis.” You opened your eyes with a vacant gaze as if someone robbed you of your emotions and reasoning. You stood there like a living statue.
"Y/N now listen to me carefully you are going to do whatever I say okay?"
"Yes." You nodded in a mechanical fashion. Agatha walked towards you.
"Is she ready?"
"Yes Lady Layman”
"Good then bring her to the altar."
“Was the hypnosis necessary?”
“You got a better idea to make your non believer half witch willingly go through her baptism?” Agatha quipped.
“No” He answered lowly.
“Then bring her outside fast midnight is approaching, the blood moon will appear soon.” She ordered.
The party moves outside, where the moon is at its fullest and begins to turn red. With midnight approaching, everyone rushes off into the woods. Tom took you to a gate burning with blue flames, you pass through the blue flames unharmed and arrive at your baptism, where the Holland's, Osterfield's, Layman's, and many other important delegates are in attendance.
"All this grandeur for a half breed's baptism, how pathetic is that?" Zendaya quipped, rolling her eyes.
The priest assigned for your baptism arrived at the altar.
"Welcome daughter of Night"
"Who presents this girl for unholy baptism?" He reckons.
"I do." Nikki states.
"We are gathered here in these woods in the presence of our dark lord, with all the souls, the living and the dead, of our coven
the most unholy church of dark." He addresses.
"Kneel child." You kneel in front of him in your trance.
The priest smears blood over your forehead and read you your rights and demands your loyalty.
"There is no law beyond. Do what thou wilt." He states.
"Our dark lord asks -
" Would you like to be happy child, to be free?"
"Free to love and to hate? To be what nature meant you to be, true to her laws and yourself only?" you stay numb Tom takes the initiation.
"Say yes Y/N."
"Yes, father." You say as you were told.
"Do you believe in Lucifer, the archangel, who preferred the loss of Heaven to that of his pride?"
"Yes, father."
"In exchange for this belief, you shall be granted powers that will enable you to be of service to the dark lord."
"Y/N Warren are you willing to forsake the path of light and follow the path of night wherever it may lead you?"
"I am"
"And are you willing to place our dark lord above all others in your life, be it your loved ones, friends, family." you pause for a moment but under the hypnosis spell even if you wanted to but you couldn't make your own decisions.
"I ...am"
"Then it's time to sign his book." The weather started to deteriorate as strong winds started to blow and thunder rumbling at a distance could be heard.
Meanwhile at your home your mother was turning restless with the sudden change in the weather she ran to your Aunt Rose's room.
"Rose what's happening?"
"It's about time Martha." Rose says coldly.
"What do you mean? Where is Y/N?" Martha panicked.
"Don't worry she will be fine but for some people this is the beginning of their end"
"Mom what's happening?" Erica came running too.
"Oh Erica you are here can you fetch me the ancestral calcified bowl." Erica did as she was told.
"Martha give me the ashes of Amber." She handed over a bottle of ash as Rose poured it in the bowl. She lit the candles around the bowl with her magic and chanted.
"Here and now
I evoke the elemental force of Fire
the flames of creativity and passion
dancing source of heat, light and life.
I seek the flowing forge within
I call you forth to burn away
All that impedes my highest vision
And to enact change in the world
Lightning and hearth
Hearth and forge
Fire, I call thee hence"
Rose focused on the ashes in the bowl as flames erupted in it.
"Y/N wake up, recognize your true self"
“Phasmatos Incendia Ignis absumet Ignarious. Ignarious! Ignarious Ignalusa”
Meanwhile you were standing at the altar and an ancient book was kept open on the flat stone in front of you. The priest took a knife and made an incision on your hand as a drop of blood flowed down from the cut on the page. Tom was behind you as the priest signalled him to proceed; he took your hand with the pen to sign your name in the book. Just when you were about to sign the Dark Lord’s Book of the Beast with your blood, Rose's invocation ritual broke the hypnosis spell on you and you were snapped out of your trance. The fog that clouded your mind got lifted as you felt light headed. It took awhile for you to process what was happening around you.
"You swear to obey without any question any order you may receive from tHe dark lord, or from any figure He placed in authority over you."
"In signing you swear to give your mind, body, and soul unreservedly to the furtherance of the designs of our lord satan." The priest went on.
"No!!" You yanked your hand away from Tom's grasp.
"What do you mean no child?" the priest frowned.
"Who are you? Where the hell am I?!" You looked around in confusion.
"Tom what's going on? Where's Jane?!" you look at him with panic stricken eyes.
"Y/N,love, listen to me this is for your own good just complete the ritual"
"Is this some kind of Halloween prank because it's not funny."
"You think you are sick with some neural disease that is why you can't feel warmth. Y/N don't you understand that you are not human." Tom tried to make you understand.
“Tom why are you so up to prove that I’m some sort of psychic?”
''You are a smart girl Y/N don't tell me the visions you get doesn't seem real? That you didn't light up a candle just by focusing your mind on it." agatha quipped.
"You are a half witch Y/N magic runs in your blood and to reach your full potential you have to submit to our Dark Lord"
"Whatever I maybe there is another path for me. A third way. And even if there isn't, my name is Y/N Warren, and I will not sign it away!" you stated.
"If you don't complete the ritual then you have to face the wrath of the dark lord." Agatha warned.
"The only thing I'm gonna do is to get away from you jackass people."
The coven tries to stop you from escaping as everyone chanted in unison.
“Crescere arbor”
While you attempt to escape you become entangled in magical possessed vines which held you to your place.
"Why can't I move?" you struggled to free yourself.
"You're not leaving unless and until you complete the ritual."
Suddenly the stone of your antique necklace starts glowing, emitting a reddish orange aura which just grew in intensity as time passed blinding your eyes. A sudden rage started to grow inside trying to burst out.
Your body was shaking imminently as the blazing inferno coursing inside you was becoming too much for your body to handle. You forced your eyes open and a chill ran down the spines of everyone present for the ceremony. You irises appeared like burning coals of fire.
They flashed with anger, a burning animosity growing in your amber orbs. Tom couldn't recognize you anymore you appeared to be a totally different person.
Flares started erupting from your hands soon turning into flames ready to engulf anyone that came in your way. The flames spread to the magical vines holding you as they were burned into ashes setting you free. You gasped as you looked at your hands on fire.
"What's happening?! What did you guys do to me?!" You panicked.
"Y/N, love calm down. Just try to control it"
"I can't!!'' You growled
"I can help, just let me help you Y/N"
"No! Don't come near me." You warned with a hoarse voice. A ring of fire formed around you.
"Tom do something or she will burn down the whole forest." Harrison said in panic.
''You've nothing to fear no one will do you any harm."
"Just calm down and everything will be fine. Close your eyes and focus, love"
You closed your eyes taking in measured breaths trying to calm yourself. It worked as the raging inside you dissipated. Your hands were no more on fire.
"Suctus Incendia" everyone chanted in unison and the fire died down.
You on the other hand felt weak and drained out as you collapsed on the ground unconscious.
…………………………………………………………………..
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Muay Thai: 1.13
“I can’t believe you’ve done this,” said Agatha acidly as Nairi held the door to the pizza place open for her.
“I’m sorry,” said Nairi, no longer feeling particularly apologetic after a week of saying nothing but. “We’ll only be here for what, an hour? And then we can go.”
She didn’t love that she was already on edge. It was hardly the first time in her life that she was deliberately sitting down to spend a couple of hours with an unpleasant man, but it was still frustrating. She liked spending time with Agatha and Linden who were only occasionally frustrating, but they tended to get tense and catty with each other, and Nairi’s teeth were aching at the thought of dealing with that on top of Simon.
Well. They were usually catty, but when not talking about relationships they could be relied on to be friendly-catty rather than terse-catty.
Linden was sitting alone at one of the tall tables near the centre of the restaurant, and she waved at them as they approached, her smile wide. “Hey guys!” she said as Nairi sat down across from her, and if her smile was fake then she at least sounded pleased—or, well, relieved, at any rate.
“No boyfriend yet?” asked Agatha archly, sitting next to Nairi with a disapproving curve to her lips as their eyes met.
“He’s running late,” said Linden, clasping her hands together in front of her and making her bracelets jingle. “Promised he’d treat me to a nice big pie and dessert to make it up to me, though!”
“Nice of him,” said Nairi, snagging a complimentary breadstick, more out of habit than hunger.
“Very,” said Agatha, inspecting a menu without looking up.
Linden’s expression faltered. “Yeah,” she said anyway.
Nairi knocked their ankles together under the table in an attempt to reassure, and Linden flashed her a grateful look, the tension across her shoulders loosening a little. “Things are going well then?” she asked, pouring herself a glass of water and pushing the jug towards Agatha, who ignored her.
“As well as they can be,” said Linden, nodding a little too much, her bracelets jingling again. “I mean, things get bumpy occasionally, but we really haven’t known each other for long in like, the grand scheme of things. We already know we like each other, so we’re just feeling everything else out as we go.”
“Oh goodie,” muttered Agatha, pushing her glasses up her nose again before setting the menu down and joining the conversation. “Nick likes this one, then?”
Linden snorted. “Simon’s not that exceptional,” she said dismissively. “Nick thinks he’s too flaky.”
Agatha glanced at her watch conspicuously. “I wonderwhy.”
Linden gave her a sharp curve of a smile, darkly amused. “Look, that might be a dealbreaker for Nick, but he’s not the one dating him. I can handle a little flakiness, and besides, he’s working on it.”
“Is he working on anything else?”
“Yes,” said Linden, looking Agatha right in the eye. “Nick told me—I promise he won’t call you that ever again, I even slapped him around a little to make it stick.”
“Right,” said Agatha, unimpressed in the face of Linden’s humour. “Because if he does then I’m just going to leave. Why does he even talk like that in the first place?”
Linden wrinkled her nose. “It’s his masters, I swear, he spends his entire time with his nose up the ass of these old school poets, and then he like, forgets that language has changed in the last eighty years? It’s really annoying, he literally called me the ‘whore of Babylon’ the other day and then got offended when I told him to fuck off because I ‘didn’t get the compliment’.”
Nairi snorted.
“Oh! Such a catch! I suddenly understand why you’re so determined to make this relationship work,” drawled Agatha.
“It’s a better basis for a relationship than some I could name,” said Linden snidely, narrowing her eyes across the table.
Damn, Agatha’s last boyfriend must have been a real piece of work. “There’s always going to be worse relationships out there,” said Nairi diplomatically. “And I mean, people are even meeting and dating on the internet these days, everything starts somewhere.”
“Exactly,” said Linden, relaxing a little with a grin. “That’s a bad basis, we all know the internet’s for porn and arguing with strangers.”
“And LOLcats, don’t forget those,” said Agatha, nodding at her.
“How could I?” said Linden, her grin widening.
Nairi was saved from having to ask what the fuck a ‘LOLcat’ was by Simon’s arrival. “Hello ladies,” he said breezily, draping his coat over the back of the free chair with a waft of eau-de-cigarette over the table. He leaned in and kissed Linden’s cheek from behind before sitting. “Hello babe, sorry I’m late, transport was a bit of an issue.”
“You’re fine,” said Linden, smiling indulgently at him as he sat. “Just gave us time to work up an appetite.”
Thankfully, the process of deciding on pizzas and drinks, and then the conveying all of that information to the waitress meant that Nairi didn’t have to speak directly to Simon. It also meant that he didn’t try to speak with Agatha, who was coolly ignoring him from across the table with a total lack of eye contact that veered dangerously close to the border between ‘civility’ and ‘rudeness’.
Once the food actually arrived however, she was out of luck.
Pretty much every pizza on the menu that wasn’t explicitly vegetarian had some kind of bacon or ham or pork-based sausage in its toppings, so there wasn’t any quibbling or half-and-halfing on the one Nairi was sharing with Agatha. Simon, however, had ordered without asking Linden, which she’d ignored, much the same way she’d ignored Agatha’s quiet snort at him doing so. Nairi was about ninety percent certain Linden didn’t even like green peppers.
“So,” said Simon brightly, gesturing across the table with his wine glass. “How have you two been this week? Anything exciting?”
Agatha took an enormous bite of pizza and chewed loudly, glancing at Nairi. Nairi sighed internally and lowered her own slice to answer him. “Not terribly exciting. Work, mostly.”
“That’s right,” he said, chewing obnoxiously and giving Nairi a chance to start eating. Next to him, Linden was carefully tugging peppers off the surface of her pizza. “Lindy said you did some kind of fighting thing, right? MMA? Kickboxing? Sweaty punch ups in sports bras?”
“…I teach judo,” said Nairi eventually. “Early days at my dojo, I don’t have a lot of students yet, I’m afraid. Uh, Agatha’s working on a paper at the moment though, that’s a bit more interesting.”
“Really? What’s it about?” asked Simon, turning both his attention and his chewing maw towards Agatha.
“Diatomic elements,” said Agatha shortly. “It’s just about nucleics, I’m not reinventing the wheel or anything.”
Simon stared at her blankly. “Oh, of course. Uh, I’m afraid I’m not familiar, is your field—?”
“Chemistry,” supplied Agatha, turning her attention back to her dinner. “My PhD was on inorganic, but I’m still in the process of post-doc applications so I’m mostly twiddling my thumbs and writing contributions in the meanwhile.”
“Right,” said Simon, his face showing a total lack of comprehension. “Academia’s a lot like that, terribly stiff in the paperwork and appropriateness departments. The right body of work and all that—I know exactly how it feels, I was going to do my thesis on the erotic underpinnings of Virginia Woolf’s work and the reflection of her relationship with her husband, but my advisor was really very pushy about playing it safe and sticking to Eliot’s body of work in the immediate post-war era.”
“Oh yes, much safer,” said Agatha with no inflection in her tone.
Simon laughed loudly, leaning back in his chair and taking another long drink of his wine. “You know, Lindy said you had a sense of humour, and I must confess I didn’t quite believe her at first! Mistakes all around.”
He punctuated this with a conspiratorial wink across the table at her, though Nairi didn’t quite understand what was so funny about it. At a glance, neither did Agatha or Linden. Linden actually looked… embarrassed? It was only for a second, the expression gone almost as soon as Nairi noticed it, Linden covering the bottom half of her face with her glass as she took a sip.
“So how long have you two lovebirds been dating anyway?” Simon continued, not even glancing at Linden next to him with her small pile of peppers or his ignored slice of pizza on the plate in front of him.
“A few months,” said Nairi, her own dinner looking more unappetising by the second. “Since September, I think?”
“That’s about right,” said Agatha, the lines around the corners of her eyes easing as she glanced at Nairi. “Five or six months now.”
“Charming,” said Simon, polishing off his wine, smile bright and enthusiastic as he gestured. “You know I’ve always greatly enjoyed the figure of the lesbian, in real life as well as literature. Excising the men from the bed and the home—it’s always so representative of the purest form of womanhood, really illuminates the truth of femininity. And the politics of it! The ultimate commitment to the feminist ideal, the usurpation of the patriarchy from its most foundational stronghold in the home at the head of the family. Really brilliant stuff!”
Agatha’s eyebrows were somewhere around her hairline.
Linden laughed awkwardly, nudging Simon as she leaned in a little over her plate. “Well, I mean, it’s always gonna be a bit different from books, hun. People are people, real life is always more, uh—”
“Oh yes, yes, of course,” said Simon dismissively, nodding at her. “And writers have a tendency to exaggerate and eroticise that type of relationship as well.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that kind of relationship?” asked Agatha, tone sharp.
Nairi tensed as Simon opened his mouth and started bloviating again. Linden swallowed whatever she was going to say, giving up and quietly eating instead, leaning on one elbow.
Simon’s phone buzzed loudly, and he took a second to check it while Agatha sucked down on the straw in her water glass through her furious, pinched expression.
“Oh, I’m so sorry ladies,” he said, standing up as he punched a few buttons on his phone. “I have to run. I have thoroughlyenjoyed this discussion though, especially with you Miss Davids, we’ll have to do this again sometime—”
“Doctor,” corrected Agatha.
“Oh, that’s right, very good, attagirl!” said Simon breezily as he tugged his coat on, and a muscle in Agatha’s jaw visibly twitched.
“Oh, Si, really?” said Linden, frowning at him anxiously as he kissed her cheek. “But we were gonna go get ice cream af—”
“Really?” said Simon, with a piss-poor attempt at a surprised look. “I didn’t think so, babe, I had plans. There’s no need to end the night just because I’m leaving though! You should all have some fun, I’ll see you later, and I promise I’ll catch the next cheque!”
He was already walking away as he spoke, hand raised in farewell even as Linden opened her mouth in dismay. “Wait, Si, I can’t—and he’s out. Great.” She slumped in her seat as the door swung shut across the room and gave them a glum sort of smile. “Sorry guys, I kind of thought that would go better.”
“Really?” said Agatha under her breath, covering it with the movement of setting her glass down.
Nairi ignored it. “I mean, it’s not exactly your fault—” Agatha snorted “—do you want me to grab you a pizza you actually like?”
Linden gestured at Simon’s largely untouched pizza with an eyeroll. “No, I’ll live. Already gonna have to pay for this one.”
“I’ve got it,” said Nairi, tugging her wallet out. “May as well just pay for everything while I’m up. Do you want something a bit cheesier?”
Linden looked at her for a moment, expression unreadable, and then something in her relaxed and her mouth twitched into a wry smile. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Agatha turned her head as Nairi left the table, saying something she couldn’t quite hear. Her tone sounded dry rather than snappish, so Nairi didn’t think too hard about it. She got them another round of drinks while she was sorting out the extra pizza as well—it would probably go a ways to easing Agatha’s temper and cheering Linden up.
From the looks of things when she returned to the table though, they’d managed to have an argument in the few minutes she’d been gone.
“Better food and new drinks on the way,” she said, sliding into her seat and pretending she couldn’t see the angry twist in Linden’s lips, or the clenched tension in Agatha’s hands.
“Awesome,” said Linden, flashing her a sunny, fake smile as Agatha scoffed. “You know, I was just saying to Aggy that since this turned out to be such a bust that maybe we should try having a girl’s night instead, you know? Just us, maybe with Flo too.”
“Oh yeah,” said Nairi mildly, gently pressing the back of her hand against Agatha’s on the tabletop. “What did you have in mind?”
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Small Time Witch (16)
You had your phone on silent the entire time you were shopping. Once you realized you checked your notifications. You had a text and missed call from Steve a voicemail from your therapist and a text from Tony. You called Steve back. His message seemed to be the most urgent.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Where are you?” He sounded upset.
“In the city shopping. Why? What’s going on?”
“Did you see your doctor today?” Snitch.
“No. Look I know what you are going to say. I think I really have a handle on everything, Steve. I don’t want to see Dr. Calloway anymore.”
“Good. No, baby, that’s good. Don’t take anymore of those pills. Come back to the compound as soon as possible. We need to talk.”
“Steve you are scaring me.”
“Everything is fine, doll. Come on home.” You drove as fast as the law allowed. Steve met you outside of the gate. He stopped you before you could pull in and jumped in the passenger seat. Wanda and Sam got in the back and Bucky followed on the bike. “Just drive.” He pulled the radio out of your dash and told you to kill the navigation.
“We need to get somewhere out of SHIELD and Tony’s reach.” You bit your lip knowing exactly where to go. You started driving towards the freeway to head north.
“I have a place but you have to promise not to lose your shit when we get there. Promise me, Steve.” You tapped your fingers on the wheel and chewed your lip raw.
“I promise. Want to tell me what I’m walking in to?”
“Uh. My house. Not the one that was burned down. The new one.”
“When did you buy a house?” You were silent and started to tear up a little.
“Heimdall! I know you can hear me. Tell Thor to meet us at our house.” You wouldn’t look at Steve. You could feel his anger building. “You promised, Steve.”
“Baby, when you said ‘our house’ what did you mean?” He was gripping the arm rest so tight he almost snapped it off. He knew the answer to the question. He just wanted to hear you say it. You didn’t answer. You were concentrating on keeping the mood from escalating in the car. You were scared and it would be really easy to lose control at this moment. “Y/N I need you to answer me.”
“Loki built a house on the land that my family owns. He may or may not be living there. I don’t know because I haven’t talked to him in almost a year.” You put your hand on his arm and he pulled away.
“Nope. You don’t get to tell me how to feel right now, Y/N. I thought when you took that bracelet off he was out of your life. Out of our lives. That was a big deal for me.”
“It was a big deal for me too. I only found out about the house a couple of months ago. It’s a gift.”
“That’s a pretty big fucking gift. I can’t fucking believe you right now.” The rest of the ride was silent. Sam and Wanda looked out the window. The only sound you heard was the growl of Steve’s bike behind you.
The road went from paved to gravel to forest floor. You traveled far off the main drive. You arrived at the glen that was hidden in the shadows of a the mountains save for the beam of sunshine that shone down like a spotlight. There was a patch of grass that was singed where Thor likely landed.
You were trying so hard to hide your emotions but it was so beautiful. You took a deep breath getting a nose full of the mimosa that was now in full bloom. Wanda held your hand. “It’s stunning. I can’t believe he did all of this.”
The five of you walked into the gate. Loki was waiting in the doorway. “This is not exactly how I envisioned you seeing the place.”
“Thought she’d be alone?” Steve said blowing past him.
“Nice to see you too, Captain Rogers.”
“Don’t. Please” you begged. “Steve, honey. Can we have a seat and talk about why we’re here?” You gathered in the kitchen so Steve could explain. He confessed to knowing about the medication but not exactly what it was. He said he knew that Dr. Calloway worked for Fury and that the operation in Alaska was a rescue mission. He still hadn’t figured out the rest.
“I promise you I had no idea what that medication was not until I spoke to Agatha and Professor Xavier. Tony does and that’s why we’re here.”
“Steve, you should have come to me. The good news is I know what Aconite is. It’s been used for centuries as a poison and, in some varieties to help with anxiety. It slows the heart rate. Luckily I know an antidote. Plus I minored in chemistry and I’ve been working with Stephen Strange a literal medical doctor who helped me compound a quick dissolving tablet to neutralize the Aconite.”
“I’m sorry. I thought I was protecting you. I should have talked to you. I would never willingly hurt you. Do you understand that?” He hugged you tight and kissed you. You nodded your head and hugged him back but you were still hurt.
Loki beamed with pride. You were always one step ahead of these idiots. What a clever little witch. It irritated him to his core that you met Steve with understanding and compassion rather than blind rage when he lied to you. You were clouded by your feelings for him.
“So what’s the plan, Cap? Do we go on this mission?” Sam asked. While they discussed a plan and you excused yourself to explore. Every detail was as you imagined right down to the door knobs and drawer pulls. Loki left a clone of himself in the kitchen so he could join you.
“What do you think? Did I get it right?” he whispered. You slipped your hand in his and squeezed.
“It’s perfect. Thank you, Loki. I love it so much here. I’m sorry I’m seeing it this way.” He didn’t let go of your hand right away.
“I’m just glad you’re here. I do admit I thought it would be just the two of us. But, there’s plenty of room. I’d better get back.” He pressed his lips hard to the back of your hand. You heard Steve calling from the kitchen.
“We’re going to stay the night here and go back to the compound in the morning. Until we figure all of this out you stay and we’ll come back to get you. I trust you’re safe here.” Steve explained. You went back to the bedroom to try to get some rest. Loki took the couch. He grabbed some blankets from the linen closet and winked at you as he went down the hall.
“Baby, I’m gonna check on everyone to make sure they’re set for the night. Why don’t you go take a bath? I’ll be back in a sec.” Steve checked on Bucky and Sam who were sharing a room. The bed was large enough for the two of them to fit comfortably. Wanda was already in bed so was Thor. Loki was sitting up on the couch reading.
“Can I talk to you?” Steve asked. Loki looked around to see who else was in the room. He gestured towards the big chair across from him. Steve sat down and stared around the room trying to collect his thoughts. Everywhere he looked he saw you. Everything was soft and inviting. There was a spice to the air warm and aromatic. He wanted to curl up in this place. Get lost in here. This wasn’t his place though. Loki built it with the intention of living out your days here. There were flashes of him too. No. There was no place here for Steve.
“Can I trust you with her?” His voice was low and gritty like it was worked over with sandpaper.
“You know she’s safe with me.”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking. Can I trust you to keep your hands off of her?”
“I won’t touch her. You have my word.”
“Your word. That’s cute. You see here I was thinking you were gone. Out of our lives. It took her six months to take that damned bracelet off which means it took her six months to get over you. And here you are back in our lives again. What possessed you to build this house?” he put his hand up to stop him, “No. Don’t tell me. I already know. It’s the same reason I went out to Westchester today. The same reason I’m ready to go ape shit on Tony fucking Stark and all of SHIELD. Because you are in love with her just like I’m in love with her. The difference is she chose me. She chose to have me in her life. You just keep showing up.” Steve buried his face in his hands. He wasn’t sure if he was coming or going.
Loki was deep in thought dissecting what Steve said but also trying to figure out Tony’s play. “I’m trying to understand what binding her will do. It won’t change the fact that she’s a conduit. It will only leave her defenseless. Unless that’s what they are trying to do.” Loki’s eyes were wide thinking of the possibility that you would be able to absorb all of the powers of the people Hydra kidnapped. You’d be a nuclear bomb indeed. That’s only if you were powerless to stop it. As it were, you cast a spell on yourself that had a fail safe built in. If you kept training with Strange and Wong, you would be able to stop the lot of them. “Captain. That’s it. They are using her to steal powers. What is in Alaska?”
“Fuck. That’s it. Fuck! Alaska is a giant Hydra base housing mutants. I’m leaving Wanda with you. I’ll call Stephen Strange in the morning. Don’t tell her anything. She’ll want to confront Tony. I won’t let her. I can’t let Tony know she hasn’t been taking her meds.” Loki nodded in agreement.
Steve stood up to go to bed. He was bone tired. All he wanted was to crawl into your bed and wrap his body around yours like a cocoon.
“Steve,” Loki called after him. Steve stopped in the doorway his shoulders slumped down in defeat. “I’ll keep her safe for you. When all of this is over, the place yours. Just promise me you’ll let her be herself out here. She hides a lot from you because she’s afraid she’ll scare you if you really saw her. You really love her? Get to know the real Y/N.” Steve responded with a weak smile.
The master bedroom was painted a deep green and had warm wood trim. A large vanity was situated in the corner with perfume bottles a comb and a brush neatly arranged on top. A massive four poster bed was dead center. The posts were ornate and winding like a tree the legs like roots. The Yggdrasil tree. A big round window sat high on the wall letting the moonlight stream in. He could smell the oils you used in the tub. Warm spice notes and deep florals. That’s what your skin would smell like. He wanted to burn it into his nose.
Off in the corner there was a small winding staircase that lead to a loft. He climbed it to find a reading nook with a small table for snacks. He smiled thinking about how much you would love it up there.
On the other side of the room was a wardrobe. Inside there were dresses that you’d no doubt wear barefoot and blouses and trousers for you to wear to work. Off to the side were three little drawers. The top was for bras the middle for panties and the bottom larger drawer for sweats leggings socks and T-shirts. The bottom was neatly lined with heels strappy sandals and a pair of boots that made his cock twitch. He imagined you wearing them with the leather dress that would barely cover your thighs.
In the chest of drawers there were sweaters jeans that looked worn in and a whole drawer for tac gear in case you went on missions with them. This fucker thought of everything.
He wanted to go out there and punch him in his smug little face but stopped when he heard you sloshing around in the water. He cracked the door open so he wouldn’t startle you. “Sweetheart? Can I come in?”
“Hey. Yeah. There is plenty of room for you.” Steve stripped and eased in to the too hot water. You grabbed the big sponge hanging over the faucet and got it sudsy enough to wash him. He let you though he felt like it was somehow wrong. Like he shouldn’t be this intimate with you in another man’s home.
The bathroom was just as glamorous as the bedroom. A small gas fireplace sat perfectly positioned to warm the whole bathroom. A chandelier hung from the ceiling. The shower was also large enough for two people. There were so many spouts it looked like a car wash. There were candles placed on every and any flat surface. The place was fit for a queen. Loki’s queen.
Funnily enough you didn’t seem to care. You rinsed off the soap and kissed your way up to his neck. You used a small pitcher set on a step stool to wet his hair. When you massaged his scalp you kissed him deeply. “Close your eyes and hold your breath” you said in that low tone that made him crazy.
He shook off like a dog making you giggle. His favorite sound. He lifted you enough to sink you down onto him. He will never get enough of how you felt. The water lapped around your body as you moved. You both came quick and hard collapsing your body down around him. “I love you, Steve” you whispered as you caught your breath.
“I love you, Y/N. So much.”
You got out of the tub feeling like your limbs were made of jelly. You dried off braided your hair and slicked your skin with more oil. The one you chose was warm and slightly citrusy. Vetiver. It made your heartbeat quicken knowing that Loki remembered your mother’s fragrance. The two of you crawled into bed and slept like you’ve been sleeping in this room for ages. You weren’t sure if it was being back on your land or something else but you felt like you were finally home.
#steve rogers fanfic#captain america x reader#marvel witches#mcu x reader#loki laufeyson#loki x reader#marvel#steve rogers x reader#captain america smut
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auggie & esther (OC screenplay) Part 1
*GIF BY @tana-the-dreamchaser *
Summary: Auggie’s life turns around when a baby is dropped off at his doorstep.
Category: OC screenplay
Couple: Auggie (Masc!) x Esther (FilipinoFem!)
Content Warning: Profanity, mentions of alcohol, reference to pregnancy
A/N: I wrote this screenplay months ago during the summer with the intentions of Auggie being portrayed by MGG, but you can depict Auggie however you’d like.
I wanted to post pictures of my screenplay so that you could read it in the way it’s intended to be read, but Tumblr only allows for 10 pictures to be posted at a time, so I had to format the screenplay differently than how a screenplay should be formatted so that you could read it more clearly here on Tumblr.
Note:
Where there is simultaneous or quick dialogue in the script, there is a SLASH “/” in the middle of the speaker's dialogue, representing where the next actor should begin. The following actor's line will be started with a SLASH “/” to indicate that it is interrupting another line.
Brackets “[ ]” around words represent the english translation for the Tagalog words that were previously spoken.
✧・゚: *✧・゚:*
INT. AUGGIE’S APARTMENT - LATE SUMMERTIME
The birds are chirping. The sun is out. It’s practically a perfect morning, but AUGGIE, our protagonist, is clearly miserable nonetheless. The twenty something, disheveled mess nurses a beer while staring into nothingness.
A knock on the door snaps Auggie out of his trance. He sets down his beer on the coffee table and groans as he exerts effort to get up. The mirror that’s placed right next to the front door reveals his appearance to himself. Even he’s shocked by how gross he looks. The bags under his eyes are heavy and dark, his bed head mixed with his scruff is remarkably unattractive, and his eclectic robe isn’t even tied properly enough to hide his childish superhero boxers. He’s utterly disgusted by himself.
With what little dignity he has left, he opens the door. Thankfully, but also strangely, no one’s there. He peers out further into the hallway and towards the elevator landing, but still nothing.
That is until he looks down.
A newborn baby sleeps peacefully inside its infant car seat. Auggie’s eyes enlarge.
AUGGIE: What . . . the . . . fuck.
INT. AUGGIE'S APARTMENT - LATE MORNING
TOBIN, Auggie’s roommate, and Auggie are huddled around the child, peering down in awe. The baby is like an exhibition in a museum. While Auggie and Tobin are onlookers.
TOBIN: Don’t worry, dude. I’m sure it’s not yours. Someone probably left it here on accident.
AUGGIE: (in denial) Yeah, yeah, I bet this happens all the time.
Suddenly, a voice from behind them speaks. It’s RENE, the final branch of the triad that is their friend group. In his hand, he holds a folded sheet of notebook paper.
RENE: Someone leaving their child on accident with a relinquishment deed and a note saying specifically it’s Auggie’s? (cackles at their stupidity) Yeah, okay sureee. Just listen to this. (reading the note aloud, imitating a valley girl’s voice poorly) Dear August, I thought I could handle being a mom, but now I realize she’s better off in your care.
Both Auggie and Tobin tilt their heads as they look at the baby closer, as if to say, “Huh, I guess it is a girl.” To be fair, the baby’s dressed in unisex clothing, so it’s hard to tell.
RENE (CONT’D): (continuing to read letter) I’m sorry to spring this on you, but I’ve decided to relinquish my rights in case you want someone to adopt her. Otherwise, I grant you full custody, because of that, I thought that you should be the one to name her. I wish you both well. Take care, Jackie.
AUGGIE AND TOBIN: (gasp and look at each other) Jackie?!
RENE: Damn! She broke your heart and had your kid.
Auggie’s mind swirls. He collapses onto the couch, but this only puts him closer to the baby. Seeing her up close and being able to distinguish his own features in her freaks him out and he spirals a little more.
AUGGIE: GOD, she doesn’t even have a name yet. FUCK! /Shit!
RENE: /You can’t cuss anymore.
RENE: What about Marlene? She was a fan of mine back in my drag queen days. Lovely girl. Miss her to death.
TOBIN: Marlene? Hell no, she looks more like a . . . Agatha. Yeah, Agatha. That’s perfect!
RENE: Agatha? Are you fucking serious?
Rene and Tobin continue to argue in the background, while Auggie is still fixated on the child.
AUGGIE: Wait, shut up. Shut up! I know what to do.
INT. PRIMROSE BOUTIQUE - EARLY AFTERNOON
Auggie, Tobin, and Rene wander around the Primrose Boutique - the store ESTHER works at. Esther is Auggie’s childhood best friend, and secretly, his first (unrequited) love. Tobin and Rene mess around in the store, while Auggie trails behind Esther and waits for the right moment. As the visual merchandiser of Primrose, she’s busy dressing a mannequin and later, she finishes cashing out a customer, until finally, Auggie sees his window of opportunity.
AUGGIE: Jeez, I didn’t realize I had to schedule an appointment to talk to you.
ESTHER: (curtly, stoic) Are you bleeding, burning, or on the verge of death?
AUGGIE: (uncertain) Uh . . . no?
ESTHER: Then can you come back in an hour? My shift will be over then.
Auggie lifts the baby carrier and sets it on the counter. Esther was so busy she didn’t even notice it earlier.
AUGGIE: Granted, neither one of us is burning or bleeding, but I’d consider this urgent.
Suddenly, Esther’s attention is undivided. She begins to unbuckle the baby and hold her - something Auggie has yet to do.
ESTHER : (to the baby, in a baby voice) Oh my goodness, aren’t you just the cutest little thing? Hi, princess.
Notably, the baby nibbles on the tip of Esther’s finger. This small connection is already far stronger than the one Auggie has with the baby, or rather the lack thereof.
AUGGIE: I got Three men and a Baby’d by Jackie this morning. Remember her? Guess it wasn’t enough to dump me on my birthday, so she decided to drop off an extra gift for good measure.
ESTHER: And you came to me why?
AUGGIE: I need your help.
Esther carefully places the baby back into the carseat.
ESTHER: Like I said, I still have an hour before my shift ends. I can’t help you right now.
Auggie groans in frustration.
ESTHER (CONT’D): In the meantime, you should probably go to a store. There’s a Target just a block away. I can meet you there when I’m done.
Auggie knits his brows together in confusion.
ESTHER (CONT'D): Unless, of course, along with that baby, Jackie left you clothes, a crib, food, a stroller, bottles -
Auggie throws his head back and sulks. It never dawned on him that he wasn’t properly equipped to take care of her.
Esther sees her exasperated friend and summons a coworker to cover for her. As Esther collects her things and prepares to leave early, a loud clutter erupts. All eyes turn to Tobin and Rene. They managed to knock down a jewelry display while walking mindlessly around the store, using sequin scarves as blindfolds. Esther shoots a deadpan stare at Auggie for the actions of his friends.
ESTHER (CONT'D): (facetiously) How can I ever repay you for bringing Dumb and Dumber into my life?
INT. TARGET - NOON
Tobin and Rene mess around with a breast-feeding system, which earns a judgmental side glance from the worker Auggie and Esther are speaking with.
STORE WORKER: (asking Esther) So, Mom, are we looking for a new breast pump? We have a portable -
ESTHER: (interrupting) Oh, no, no no. I’m not the mother, just helping out a friend.
The worker nods, pretending to understand.
STORE WORKER: (asking Auggie) Oh wondeful. So, Dad, is this little angel’s mommy breastfeeding?
AUGGIE: (bashfully) Actually - funny story. (beat) Um, have you heard of the movie “Three Men and a Baby?”
Esther hides her face under her hand in embarrassment. The store clerk nods slowly.
AUGGIE (CONT'D): Well that’s exactly what happened to me this morning. Yeah, I kinda just found her on my doormat. But um, the note didn’t really have information regarding (coughs) breasts, so yeah, I, I know virtually nothing.
STORE WORKER: (unsure of how to react) . . . Oh, congrats. I’ll get you guys a registry list. It has everything you need on it. (just politely asking) So does she have a name?
Auggie nervously laughs.
STORE WORKER: Sir, does she have a name?
AUGGIE: Yeah, yeah. It’s . . .
He panics and his eyes wander. He scans the entire baby section. His eyes land on an entire shelf of baby soap.
AUGGIE: (uncertain and quietly) . . . soap? Soap?
STORE WORKER: Sorry, I’m not sure if I heard you correctly. Did you say Soph?
AUGGIE: (blurting out) Yes YES, a nickname. Short for Sophie. (actually realizing he likes the name) Yeah, Sophie.
Auggie smiles down at the baby with satisfaction. SOPHIE is perfect for her.
INT. AUGGIE’S APARTMENT - LATER
While Esther changes Sophie’s diaper, Auggie, Rene, and Tobin watch from a comically far away distance - grimacing each time they see something gross.
ESTHER: (baby voice) There you go, princess! Does that feel better? New clothes and a fresh diaper!
Auggie approaches Esther and Sophie with caution.
At this point, it’s undeniable that Esther has made a significantly larger amount of physical connection with Sophie in comparison to Auggie.
AUGGIE: Thank you by the way.
ESTHER: Oh yeah, it’s no problem. I’m happy to help.
Esther sets the peaceful baby inside a crib that she not only bought but assembled, too.
ESTHER: I should get going now, so -
AUGGIE: (interrupting her): Whoa, whoa, whoa you can’t leave. We need you.
ESTHER: I have to take the opening shift tomorrow morning because I left an hour earlier today. And I’m not always gonna be around. You need to learn how to do this on your own. You’re her dad. It’s time you start acting like it.
With a heavy heart, Esther leaves, but not before planting a kiss on Auggie’s cheek.
ESTHER: (whispering in his ear) I believe in you. (pulling away) And if you really need me, you can call me.
As Esther leaves the apartment, Auggie stands completely still as if he’s been paralyzed with fear.
RENE: Toby, did you see that? (singing) Auggie and Esther sitting in a tree -
TOBIN: (mocking Auggie) Oh, my dearest Esther! I beg of you, darling, do not leave me!
Tobin and Rene crack a few more jokes about what just happened, until they realize Auggie has yet to laugh or defend himself. He’s still staring at the door that Esther just left from.
TOBIN: Hey man, we were just kidding.
Auggie fully turns around to his buddies. His face has visibly gone pale.
AUGGIE: What am I gonna do?
Sophie starts to wail.
INT. AUGGIE’S KITCHEN - EVENING
Rene and Tobin munch on Chinese takeout, looking at something on Tobin’s phone and making calm conversation. On the contrary, Auggie paces around the room holding Sophie as she cries uncontrollably. He’s a mess.
TOBIN: Rene and I found Jackie’s insta. She’s pretty hot for a new mom. Lucky bastard.
Auggie gives a “really?” look. Tobin immediately puts his phone away apologetically.
AUGGIE: Yeah, I’m definitely feeling lucky right about now. Sophie’s been crying for two hours and nothing is working. I tried feeding her, changing her, I even tried reading to her. (frustrated groan) I’m gonna call Esther.
Objections from Tobin and Rene fade into the background as Auggie calls Esther.
INT. AUGGIE’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Rene and Tobin are seated at Auggie’s desk with his computer, looking up ways to get a baby to stop crying. They recite them to him as Auggie tries each recommendation in his living room.
AUGGIE: (checking his watch) Where is Esther? I called her like fifteen minutes ago.
Immediately, the door opens. Esther barges in with a large bag on her back. It’s a guitar case.
ESTHER: Sorry I’m late, I had to dig through the storage unit for this. (pushing Rene out of the desk chair) Move.
Esther takes the desk chair and places it right across from the rocking chair that Auggie and Sophie are in. She pulls out a dusty vintage acoustic guitar from its case. Frantically, she tunes it.
ESTHER: (with the guitar pick between her teeth) By the way, there’s like three noise complaint papers taped to your door. Gotta hand it to you, Auggie, kid’s got some lungs. I could hear her all the way from the lobby.
Esther strums a chord and with satisfaction, she takes the pick out of her mouth and starts to play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac.
ESTHER: (singing) I took my love, I took it down.
Her voice not only captivates Sophie, but it’s so beautiful that even Auggie, Tobin, and Rene are caught off guard. Not even Auggie, the closest friend she has, knew she sang so well.
A calm settles over the room. The atmosphere’s changed. Sophie coos. She likes it. She’s already calmer.
ESTHER (CONT’D): Climbed a mountain and I turned around. And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills. ’Til the landslide brought me down.
As Auggie rocks Sophie back and forth, his attention diverts to Esther. Auggie looks at her, really looks at her. As if for the first time, he’s truly seeing her.
Tobin and Rene are in the back, hugging each other like they’re proud parents watching their son and the love of his life interact.
ESTHER (CONT’D): Oh, mirror in the sky. What is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Sophie’s almost fast asleep. Esther can’t help but smile.
ESTHER (CONT’D): Well, I've been afraid of changing. Cause I've built my life around you. But time makes you bolder. Even children get older. And I'm getting older too.
Sophie finally smiles as she drifts asleep. Esther laughs in awe. Her singing almost stops, before she notices that Auggie is tearing up.
ESTHER (CONT’D): Take my love, take it down. Climb a mountain and you turn around. And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills. Well the landslide will bring it down. And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills. Well the landslide will bring it down. The landslide will bring it down.
As the song comes to a close and Esther let’s the guitar fade, Sophie is fully asleep and peaceful again. Esther places her guitar back in its case and Auggie sets Sophie into her crib. As he does, Esther takes a deep breath and wipes the sweat of her palms on the sides of her leggings. She looks like she’s got to get something big off her chest.
AUGGIE: You are awesome. I can’t believe how fast that worked. You should record an album and -
ESTHER: (interrupting him) I think we should talk.
Auggie is confused at first, but the fact that her voice yields no sarcasm, he knows she’s serious. He takes a seat on the couch, while Tobin, Rene, and Esther sit across from him on top of the coffee table.
ESTHER (CONT’D): Look, I know you wanna do the right thing here, but just because Jackie gave her to you, doesn’t mean you have to keep her. And you are not any less of a good person if you let someone else take care of Sophie.
AUGGIE: Jesus, what is this? A fucking intervention? I’ve only had her for less than a day and you guys are already saying I can’t do it?
TOBIN: Augs, it’s not that - we just think you’re way in over your head.
Auggie is completely stunned by what he's hearing.
RENE: There’s no shame in giving her up for adoption. I know so many couples who haven’t had luck with a surrogate. So if you do give her up for adoption, maybe one of my friends could adopt her. She’d be going to a really good home- I’d make sure of it. I’m sure they’d even let you co-parent.
ESTHER : Auggie, we aren’t trying to be pessimistic, but the reality of it is, you aren’t ready to be a parent yet. Much less a single parent.
Auggie zones out a little. Sophie catches his eyes. He looks at her pensively.
EXT. A PARK - 5:00 a.m. NEXT day
Auggie’s jogging through a path in a park. Not many people are around considering it’s so early in the morning. A nearby car chirps and unlocks. It’s Esther. She looks up for a quick second, only to realize the jogger is Auggie.
ESTHER: (calling out to him) Hey, Auggie! Wait up!
Auggie notices and jogs back to see her.
ESTHER: What are you doing up so early?
AUGGIE: I could ask you the same thing.
ESTHER: I’m going to an earlier spin class so I can get a workout in before I have to open the store. Your turn.
AUGGIE: I find that in times of distress, running clears the mind. And after last night, consider me very distressed.
ESTHER: Well, there’s also the saying “Sleep on it.” But from the looks of you, I don’t think you’ve tried that approach. (caresses his face and sees the exhaustion) Did you sleep at all last night?
AUGGIE: (passive aggressively) Well I couldn’t get my own daughter to go to bed last night, so how could I get myself to?
ESTHER: August, I was just trying/ to help
AUGGIE: /That was out of line. I apologize.
ESTHER: I was going to meet you after my shift to tell you how sorry I was about what happened last night. I know it seemed like we were ganging up on you, but I promise it was out of love.
AUGGIE : No, I get that, but the only reason I was mad was because it was true. I know I’m not prepared to raise Sophie, but my pride is telling me I can’t let her go. If Jackie never gave her to me and let another family adopt her, I’d be okay with that, but knowing about her - knowing I am a dad - that makes all the difference. The unfairness of it all is holding me back, too.
ESTHER: What’s unfair?
AUGGIE: She’s already been abandoned by her mother. And if I do this, I’m abandoning her too. Only because I don’t think I can handle it. Isn’t that just selfish? There isn’t even a guarantee that she’s better off in the system. What if she’s never adopted and is forced to move from foster home to foster home? Each one being worse than the last. I know what that’s like.
Esther nods understandingly and holds her head low in guilt.
AUGGIE (CONT’D): My parents, now they - they are prime examples of people who should never raise kids, but I’m not them. I’m not perfect, but at least, I’m not bipolar. Or addicted to methamphetamines. I am nothing like them. And I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove that, but if I just gave up on Sophie, and she suffered the consequences, I don’t know how I’d live with myself. I’d be perpetuating the cycle. (beat) I was doomed from the start. But Sophie - I’m gonna get better for her.
Esther sighs and smiles. She takes her free arm and puts it around Auggie, embracing him in a tight hug.
ESTHER: I support you. (on the verge of tears but still cracking jokes) You know, Landslide isn’t the only song I can sing. I can play Fast Car, too.
Auggie laughs as a tear falls down his cheek. To suppress his sobs, he lets his lips press on Esther’s shoulder. She feels this and rubs her hand up and down his back - still hugging him.
ESTHER (CONT’D): I’m proud of you.
Auggie’s finally grown up.
EXT. A PARK - EARLY NOON
Esther and Auggie are sitting on a big comforter with little fixings laid out. Their conversations are tranquil as they nibble on some of the food. They even make a toast using champagne glasses filled with sparkling cider. In the distance, Tobin, who’s wearing Sophie in a baby carrier, and Rene are throwing around a frisbee.
AUGGIE: By the way, you’re not a very good liar. Was I that bad of a teacher? I mean, really, spin class was the best you could come up with? Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s not ideal to go to Soul Cycle in a tank top and jeans.
ESTHER: Okay, well, telling the guy who runs for leisure that I’m going to a spin class speaks more highly of my character than admitting that I had an urge to completely rearrange the store and redress mannequins.
AUGGIE: I wouldn’t judge you for doing your job. I might’ve even applauded you for waking up that early to execute a plan that you could’ve done during your shift. I wish I had a job I was that passionate about.
ESTHER: I like it, but it’s not my passion. I’ve only been working there for as long as I have because I needed a stable job while I searched for my true calling. And now it’s been a few years, but my vocation has yet to call me back.
AUGGIE: Why don’t you pursue a music career? (Esther shakes her head and laughs) No, I’m being serious. You’re talented, E. I’m sure you could make a career out of it.
Esther’s smile fades. With a sigh, she changes from sitting on the blanket, to laying her back completely flat on top of it. She stares up at the cloudy blue sky.
ESTHER: I always thought about it, but I just think my window of opportunity closed. I’m what, 25 almost 26 now? And doing something as impractical as trying to be a singer - it takes years for people to build up their music careers. So I’d be nearly 30 when mine would presumably take off, and by that time, I’ll want to settle down, be married, live in a cozy home and start a family. All of the things my friends already have or are going to have soon. I mean, Francine’s engaged, Clara has twins on the way, and Julie’s living somewhere in a little European villa. (sigh) I realize that I can’t have it all, but right now, I don’t even have any of it. I feel like I’m waiting around for my life to finally begin, while it’s simultaneously passing me by.
Auggie’s face softens as he listens to Esther. He knows exactly what she’s feeling.
AUGGIE: For as long as I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you lose hope before. It’s what I envy about you most. I used to think the way you viewed the world was so naive, but now I’m jealous. I wanna believe in what’s to come as strongly as you do.
Esther’s moved. Her eyes cut away from the sky to look at Auggie, really look at him.
Esther rolls onto her side and shifts closer to Auggie. He imitates her actions, and soon enough, he presses his forehead against hers - their purest exchange of love.
Auggie’s so tempted to kiss her, but he wills himself not to. Before he truly loses his control, he pulls away and sits up.
AUGGIE: (clears throat) So, how’s Lola? [Filipino word for Grandmother. Esther is Filpino.]
ESTHER: She still asks about you. Except now with her alzheimer’s, she refers to you as “my skinny boyfriend.” (laughing) She’s good though. My aunt and I both agreed she’s better off with people that can actually help her. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel less guilty that I can’t do more for her. I owe her so much. Like she took me in, no hesitation, and raised me all on her own. And I’m biased, but I think she did a really good job.
AUGGIE: (smiling) I definitely think so. Anytime I walked you home, she’d always come outside and offer me food, or welcome me to stay in the guest room when I didn’t feel like going back to my foster home at the time. I probably felt more at home at Lola’s than anywhere else.
ESTHER: (beat) You don’t have to say yes, but would you maybe want to visit her with me? She really misses you and I’d think it’d be good to see another familiar face.
AUGGIE: (nodding rapidly) Yeah, yes, yes, of course.
INT. NURSING & CONVALESCENT HOME - A WEEK LATER
Auggie and Esther are seated beside Lola. She’s weak and slow, but she’s still got quick wit and a smile that never seems to fade. Esther and Lola are holding hands, while Auggie catches Lola up in his life.
LOLA: So, August, do you have a girlfriend yet?
AUGGIE: (blushing)Ah, not yet, Lola.
LOLA: Maybe then you should date her. (pointing to Esther) She's always complaining to me about how she is single.
ESTHER: (embarrassed) Lola!
Auggie laughs and blushes.
He wants to date her. He’s always wanted to date her.
LOLA: I’m not joking, ah! You two will get married and you can move into a nice neighborhood and raise Serena.
Auggie and Esther look at each other. They notice how Lola got Sophie’s name wrong. It could just be an easy mistake, but it’s not - they both know it.
ESTHER: (planting a kiss on Lola’s forehead) We’ll think about it, Lola, but you should get some rest. I’ll be back tomorrow, okay? Do you want me to bring you anything?
LOLA: August, are you going to come visit me tomorrow, too?
AUGGIE: I’ll be here, Lola. I promise.
Lola settles into her bed and smiles.
EXT./ INT. OUTSIDE THE HOME AND IN AUGGIE'S CAR - AFTER VISIT
ESTHER: You don’t have to come back tomorrow. She won’t remember anyway.
AUGGIE: No, no I wanna come. She was the closest thing I had to a mother figure and I want to be there. For you and her.
Esther smiles to herself. When they reach Auggie’s car, he opens her door first.
AUGGIE: So did you mean what you said back there? About thinking about us?
ESTHER: I kinda just said that in the moment to get her to stop. But I do think about us a lot, just not romantically.
AUGGIE: (slightly disappointed) Oh, okay.
ESTHER: Why do you ask?
AUGGIE: (shaking his head and driving out of the parking space) Oh no reason.
INT. AUGGIE'S APARTMENT - LATER
Auggie and Tobin are sitting at their dining table with Sophie in her high chair beside Auggie. Tobin and Auggie are nursing beers.
TOBIN: Yeah, she’s definitely lying. Girls always say the exact opposite of what they mean.
AUGGIE: But that’s just it - I’ve liked her for so long, how could she not know? (beat) You know, when Lola was talking about living together and raising Sophie, I started to picture that future, and call me crazy, but I think Esther could see it, too.
TOBIN: What’d Esther say?
AUGGIE Nothing really, because Lola forgot Sophie’s name so/ Yeah, I know.
TOBIN: /(winces) Oh.
TOBIN: Maybe that’s why she’s hiding how she feels. She’s got a lot to lose and she’s already losing some of it. Her grandma, who is really the only family she has, has Alzheimers. And if she confesses she likes you, but you don’t feel the same way, she loses you, too. I think maybe you should take the first step here. Put yourself out there and let her know that you want the same thing she does.
AUGGIE: But how do I do that without putting my neck on the line?
The apartment door swings wide open as an excited Rene comes running through. Behind him follows his other half, GIOVANNI. Auggie and Tobin see him and give him a small wave and an acknowledging nod. It’s obvious they’ve known each other for a while.
RENE: Gio and I are engaged bitches!
Rene waves his hand around and shows off his ring. Tobin and Auggie are quick to stand up and rush to Rene to embrace him. They congratulate Gio, too.
AUGGIE: So when’s the wedding?
GIO: Well, this one has been waiting for three years to get hitched, so now that we’re engaged, the wedding’s in six months.
TOBIN: Wow, so soon?
Rene snuggles up in Gio’s arms.
RENE: I’ve been waiting my entire life for a wedding, and I don’t plan on waiting another year. And six months from now is our four year anniversary.
A lightbulb goes off in Tobin’s mind.
TOBIN: Can people bring plus ones?
RENE: Well, we haven’t gotten there yet, but yeah I/ guess
TOBIN: /(turns to Auggie) Dude. That’s it.
AUGGIE: Wh/at?
RENE: /Why? What’s going on?
TOBIN: I’m like 99% sure Esther likes Auggie, but she’s just too scared to admit it. So if Auggie grows some balls and makes the first move, he shouldn’t have to risk it all in case she doesn't actually like him back. Asking Esther to be his date to your wedding is a perfect way to test the waters. Plus, if Auggie’s feelings for her are real, they’ll still be there in six months.
GIO: Are you sure you wanna ask her to the wedding? Six months is a long time to wait for a first date.
TOBIN: Like I said, he still needs to grow the balls to ask her. I’d argue six months isn’t long enough.
Auggie glares at him.
INT. AUGGIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Esther, Rene, and Tobin are lounging on the couch. They’re watching a horror film while Auggie is alone at the dining table with a lamp specifically placed on the table for light. Sophie’s in her high chair beside him as he drafts a list.
AUGGIE: (speaking loudly over the movie) What about a dog walker? I could use the baby carrier and then use both my hands for the leashes.
TOBIN: (speaking to Auggie, but staying focused on the movie) You’d have to scout out people so rich that they can’t be bothered to pick up their dog’s shit. Not a stable job if you ask me. (beat) I still say just go back to Elements with me. For just being a waiter, it has pretty decent pay. And we can coordinate our shifts so that one of us will always be home with Sophie.
Auggie nods to agree politely, but he’s clearly still conflicted. Glancing at a view of his list, there’s nearly three pages worth, but the first two pages have jobs that have already been crossed out.
Esther notices the stress that’s manifested within Auggie. She gets up from the couch to hold Sophie and sit beside him. Tobin lowers the volume on the TV, while Rene turns his upper body around to fold his arms on the top of the couch.
ESTHER : Don’t think about what pays well or what works for the schedule. You know I’ll babysit if you need me too.
RENE: (raising his hand) Me and Gio really want to babysit, too. It’d be good practice for when we have our own kids.
ESTHER : See, everyone’s here for you and Sophie. And if it's the salary you’re worried about, don’t be. You know, I’ve got you. But don’t choose a job you feel like you need to take but a job you want to. If you’re going to be spending hours at a time away from your daughter, and coming home to the job of being a dad, your work should be well worth the time you spend away and it should be something that doesn’t add to the stress you already deal with.
AUGGIE: Yeah, you’re right. (sets aside his list and actually thinks) Well, I’m addicted to coffee, so I wouldn’t mind working in a cafe. And I like to read, so working at a bookstore would be kinda fun.
ESTHER: Okay, good, that’s a start. Lemme think, right across from Primrose is this cafe called The Last Drop. We’d be working right next to each other so I’m always close by if you need me.
AUGGIE: Yeah, I think I’ve been there once or twice before.
ESTHER: Sweet, I’ll check in with the place tomorrow and ask if they’re hiring.(adjusts watch to check the time) But I should probably get home now.
Esther places Sophie back in her high chair and kisses Auggie’s cheek. She grabs her purse and waves goodbye to Rene and Tobin.
As soon as the door shuts, Rene and Tobin rush over to sit by an oblivious Auggie.
TOBIN: Du/de!
RENE: /Oh my god!
AUGGIE: What?
RENE: What do you mean “what?!” She’s literally in love with you- I’m calling it.
AUGGIE: Okay, you need to calm down/ I don’t even know what you’re talking about.
RENE: /She likes you!
TOBIN: She kisses you but Rene and I get a distant wave? Rene’s gay! She could’ve kissed him goodbye if it was just a friendly gesture, but she didn’t! Because a kiss like that is to show affection.
RENE: Not that I know anything about women and affection, but Tobin’s right. I’m not saying I want a goodbye kiss, but it definitely means something that you’re constantly getting one. And not to mention the whole sentimental speech about doing what you love and saying she’s got you if you have financial problems. She’s literally going to The Last Drop tomorrow to ask if they’re hiring for you.
AUGGIE: You guys don’t get it. Esther is just caring like that. And the kiss thing, doesn’t even -
The front door cracks open just a bit.
ESTHER: Hi, sorry to barge in again, but I was in the lobby when I realized I forgot to ask if you still want to go visit Lola tomorrow?
Tobin and Rene immediately hear this and they exchange subtle smirks and glances.
AUGGIE: Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it for the/ world.
TOBIN: /(whispering to Auggie) Ask if she needs a ride there.
AUGGIE: Do you need a ride there? I can pick you up from work.
ESTHER: Yes, that would be great. Thank you!
Esther shuts the door behind her, and chaos erupts. Rene and Tobin’s voices overlap as they each go off on Auggie.
INT. PRIMROSE BOUTIQUE - AFTERNOON
In a remote breakroom, Esther packs her things and prepares to leave. FRANCINE, Esther’s coworker and friend, scrolls through her phone while eating a snack.
FRANCINE: You’re leaving already?
ESTHER: No, I just have to stop by The Last Drop and see if they’re hiring before I visit my grandma.
FRANCINE: OMG, are you quitting?
ESTHER: No, no, I’m just asking for a friend.
FRANCINE: Is it for that guy that came in with the baby a couple days ago? Do you like him?
ESTHER: (blushing and uncomfortably laughing) I- I don’t really know. We’ve been friends for so long that a part of me just can’t picture dating him. But yesterday, my grandma was talking about what our future could look like if we were together, and you know that I’ve been struggling for so long with my life plan. But hearing her say that, it felt like everything was falling into place. Like that’s the life I want to live.
FRANCINE: If it’s any consolation, it’s obvious to me that he likes you.
Esther finally makes her way out of the breakroom to officially leave.
ESTHER: Well, I have yet to see any proof of that being true, but I’ll keep you posted.
Esther is about to walk out fully, when Francine catches her before she really leaves.
FRANCINE: Is he going with you to visit your grandma?!
Esther doesn’t respond, but her body language says it all. She smiles to herself and shakes her head.
INT. THE LAST DROP
Esther makes her way to the counter. No one’s there to help. Most workers are in the back making drinks, but some are waitering.
She taps on her watch and glances out the open windows to check if Auggie’s outside yet. When she turns her head, there’s a waiter making his way around the corner to help. He twirls a toothpick in his mouth and wipes his hands on his apron while Esther reads his nametag. His name is ROMEO.
ROMEO: Sorry about the wait, we’re understaffed today. What can I get for you?
ESTHER: Actually, I’m not ordering anything, but I might have a solution to your problem. Are you guys hiring?
There’s something in the air. The way that Romeo’s looking at Esther and the way they’re leaning in.
ROMEO: (with particular charm) Depends who’s asking.
ESTHER:(weak laugh) Ha, I would apply, but I’ve got a job just across the street.
ROMEO: No kidding. You work at Primrose? All this time I’ve been working across a beautiful girl and I’ve never known.
Esther smiles and her cheeks flush, but this flirtatiousness is foreign to her, so she isn’t sure how to react. So rather than play along or address it, she brushes it off.
ESTHER: Yes or no?
ROMEO: Yes, I will have lunch with you sometime.
ESTHER: (slaps his arm playfully) Hey I’m being serious, yes or no?
ROMEO: I’ll answer you when you answer me.
ESTHER: I asked you first.
ROMEO: I’ll think about it. Now you.
ESTHER: Ditto.
Romeo’s even more interested. He raises his eyebrow. Esther slides him Auggie’s resume and in this moment, there’s clear tension and chemistry. Suddenly, their moment is interrupted by the tap on Esther’s shoulder. It’s Auggie.
AUGGIE: Hey, I’ve been outside, but you weren’t answering my calls. You ready?
Romeo pushes himself away from the counter, while Auggie puts his hand on her back to guide her outside and away from Romeo. There’s something subtly territorial about this interaction.
ESTHER: Yeah, yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.
Esther and Auggie leave The Last Drop, with Romeo in the background following Esther with his eyes.
As Auggie opens the door for Esther, he can’t help but ask.
AUGGIE: Who was that?
ESTHER: No one.
EXT. A BENCH UNDER A TREE - LATER
Lola, Auggie, and Esther are seated on a bench underneath a cherry blossom tree. Auggie’s fixated on Esther, Esther’s fixated on Lola, and Lola is looking out into the distance.
LOLA: August, do you have a girlfriend yet?
Lola’s already forgotten that she asked him this yesterday. Esther gives Auggie a look of “just go with it.” But Auggie already understands.
AUGGIE: Not yet, Lola, but I’m open to it. A mother figure for Sophie would be great.
A shift in Esther occurs. She’s listening more intently. This wasn’t the answer he gave Lola yesterday.
LOLA: You know who would be a good mother. Esther. She was always offered babysitting jobs because people thought she was so good at taking care of their children. Maybe you should date her.
Yet again, Lola leads Auggie and Esther down a path that they’re too scared to admit they both want to explore.
ESTHER: That’s not true. The kids would always ask me to come babysit them because I’d sing to them. Other than that I wouldn’t say I’m very maternal.
Auggie interjects.
AUGGIE: She’s just being modest. I’d love it if Esther helped me raise Sophie. My only hope is that Sophie grows up to be just like her.
Auggie looks over at Esther and exchanges a soulful glance. Esther smiles back.
LOLA: (to Esther) Anak [child], can you bring me my sweater from my room? It’s getting a bit chilly outside.
Esther obeys and leaves Auggie and Lola on the bench. Lola watches Esther go inside the home and places her hand on Auggie.
LOLA: August, I am not what I used to be, but I’m sharper than you think. (beat) Esther and I spend hours just talking about you. To me, it is obvious that she wonders about your relationship, but she’s too scared to ask. So I ask for her, even though I already know the answer. I know you’ll never say you have a girlfriend until it’s her you’re dating.
AUGGIE: Tama, po. [You’re right.]
LOLA: I always knew you two would end up marrying each other. Ever since you came to the house with a suit on to take Esther to the dance. I only remember it so vividly because she didn’t eat dinner that night she was so sad. I regret not telling her you came by. I think it would’ve made her very happy.
Auggie laughs, not only because food is attached to the memory (something very Filipino of Lola) but because he remembers that day too.
AUGGIE: Lola, does she love me?
LOLA: Do you even need to ask?
EXT/INT. OUTSIDE OF ESTHER’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Auggie opens Esther’s car door and walks her to her apartment.
ESTHER: You don’t have to walk me to my door. I’ll be fine.
AUGGIE: No, no I want to make sure you get there safely.
Esther smiles gratefully at him and mentally notes his chivalry.
There’s a comfortable silence that falls upon them. As they climb Esther’s staircase, very few words are shared, but it’s okay.
ESTHER: So I’ll see you tomorrow then.
AUGGIE: (cheekily) Tomorrow.
Esther begins to unlock her door, but when the key turns, she hesitates.
Esther and Auggie share a brief hug before she goes inside. After locking the door behind her, she lingers for a moment. As she presses her back against the door pensively, Auggie does the same on the other side.
Another missed opportunity.
EXT./INT. PRIMROSE BOUTIQUE - NEXT MORNING
Esther makes her way from the parking lot into Primrose. As soon as she walks through the door, she can hear a crowd in the backroom. When she finally gets there, she sees Francine handing out papers.
FRANCINE: (handing her the card) Oh good, you’re here. These are my official save the date cards!
The card reads “Save the Date for the Wedding of Francine and Alonzo”
ESTHER: Wow, I can’t believe you’re getting married in six months. That’s crazy! I swear it was just yesterday that you were engaged.
FRANCINE: I know right!
ESTHER: Are Julie and Clara coming?
FRANCINE: I tried phoning Julie, but no response. Probably with some Italian hunk on his yacht where there’s no reception, so I won’t be counting on her to make an appearance. And Clara wants to come, but it’s just too close to her expected delivery date for her to tell.
Instantly, Esther shuts down. As if she didn’t need another reminder that she was far from experiencing the milestones her friends were lucky enough to be experiencing now.
Esther fakes a polite smile and thanks her. She puts the invitation in her purse and walks to her locker. A bouquet falls out.
FRANCINE: Oh yeah, some guy came by earlier asking about you. He gave me those roses to put in your locker. That’s not the same guy with the baby, was it?
Esther reads the card. “I guess finding out your name was Esther was worth the hassle. -R”
ESTHER: No, he’s this guy that works at The Last Drop.
FRANCINE: Ooh, playing the field now are we? Go you.
ESTHER: No, no it’s not like that.
FRANCINE: So which one are you gonna invite to the wedding? Baby guy or coffee guy?
Esther stops in her tracks when she realizes the opportunity that lies ahead.
✧・゚: *✧・゚:*
#screenplay#screenwriting#writing#scenarios#oc#original character#original fiction#original writing#original content#juniorgman187#Matthew Gray Gubler#mgg oneshot#mgg imagine#mgg fanfic#mgg fanfiction#mgg#Criminal Minds#Criminal Minds Fanfiction#criminal minds fanfic#spencer reid#spencer reid fanfic#spencer reid fanfiction
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Being Simon
Chapter 1: The Past
Chapter 1/2 (All chapters)
Rating: T
Genre: Fluff/Angst
Word Count: 8493
Summary: Simon's type of therapy is...unusual to say the least. He has the incredible chance to go back in time to fix what he regrets. However, things get more complicated when Simon meets someone very interesting in the past.
Read on AO3
AN: Ahahahaha I did it!!! I finished a fic! That's a big achievement for me nowadays tbh. This has taken forever because stupid fucking health, but I did it! Of course I'm not 100% good with it but I'm still proud. Being Erica is one of my fave shows ever and is severely underrated imo. Then I saw this post and was like "oh damn that would be great for snowbaz." Now like three-four months late, here we are! Big thank you to @carryonmylovelies as always. She has been a big support for me through this writing slump. I couldn't be more grateful for her <3
World basics: time travel therapy is a thing, no further explanation given, and going back in time to fix past regrets teaches patients how to live better in the present. Patients take over their past selves' bodies for a bit. Patients can return from the past either suddenly or by stepping through doors. So just imagine Simon doing that. Saying much more is spoilers.
I’m gonna post chapter 1 today, then chapter 2 sometime within the next week. Hopefully y'all like it!
———————————————
You know that guy who’s got it all? A perfect job, a perfect partner, wonderful family, a life that people are secretly jealous of? You know that guy, everyone knows that guy. Unfortunately, I am not that guy.
My name is Simon Snow, and I’m a fuck up. But I’m getting better.
“Mr. Snow, Mr. Snow!” Cassidy shouts, waving her hand, “I know the answer!”
“Cass,” I say, “what did we say about inside voices?”
She pouts and crosses her arms. “Keep the volume down for all those around.”
“Exactly. Now, try again.” Cassidy raises her arm with no added sound effects. I point my chalk at her. “Cassidy, what’s the answer?”
She puts her hand down, grinning wide. “It’s 42.”
I hold my hand out to her. “Nice job, Cassy, right on the money.”
She gives me a big high five. The feeling of accomplishment surges through me. God, I love this job. My old customer service work made me feel dead inside. Day in, day out, same old fucking garbage from garbage customers. It was just never something I wanted to do. Now I get to see a little girl smile, and I helped her smile. Yeah, little self centred, but I’ll take it.
“Patrick,” I say, “can you tell me how we can find 8 times 4?”
Patrick nods and starts rattling off the technique he’s come up with. It’s a bit odd and round about but all his. That’s what I love about kids, the strange and unique things their little minds come up with. It’s why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place, before I lost my way.
The bell rings and everyone's on their feet immediately. “Alright everyone,” I shout over the clamour, “make sure to finish chapter three for tonight. And get your worksheets done! We’re going to go over them with a fine toothed comb. Have a good weekend, kids.”
“Bye, Mr. Snow,” they all parrot back. I wave them off, then start on my laptop. Being a teacher means having a lot of paperwork. (Or Google Doc work, I guess.) Everything is in mismatched folders and I have to scour them for my lesson plan draft. Unfortunately, I’m still not great at organization, but I’m working on it. I’m working on a lot in my life.
My phone rings. I look up from my screen, and notice there’s no sunlight from the windows. Holy shit, how long have I been sitting here? I quickly grab my phone. “Hello?”
“Simon!” Todd shouts. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Oh, uh, hi Todd.” Fuck, what did I do this time? “I-I’m still at work...”
He scoffs. “Of course you are. Shit, Simon, I’ve been sitting at Casper’s for an hour!”
My heart drops. I look down at my watch. It’s 6:34. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, love, I just totally lost track of time-”
“Yeah, I guessed that. I should expect that of you now.”
Well, that stings. A lot. I’ve felt like a screw up my whole life, so much so even my parents didn’t want me. Like they had some prophetic vision that their kid would be a no good moron. Therapy has started to rid me of those thoughts, but they still creep up every once in a while. Like now.
“I’m sorry, darling, I’m really sorry. We can go to my place, have take away-”
“No, Simon,” he sighs. “I just...I picked the day, the time, and the restaurant. All you had to do was bloody show up, and you couldn’t even do that. I mean...do you even care, Simon?”
A horrible, familiar pain goes through my heart. I can still hear Agatha’s voice all these years later. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. My thoughts get all muddled up, mixing up old fears and trauma with today.
“I do care, Todd, I really do. I just- I didn’t- I was- We can-”
“Please stop..” He sighs again. I can almost see him rubbing his pretty black eyebrows together. “Don’t stress stutter, it’s alright. Enjoy your work and takeaway.”
“Uh, could we reschedule?”
“No, we can’t.”
I gulp. I hate that I know what’s coming. “Are...are you too busy?”
“No, I’m just...I’m done. I can’t do this anymore, Simon. Hope you do well. I mean that.”
I slump in my chair. “Okay. You too. Bye, Todd.”
“Goodbye, Simon.”
He hangs up, but I keep the phone by my ear. My body feels too heavy to move and get out of this fucking chair. Once again, I screwed up my relationship. And the fact that it’s too familiar is even worse. This is what, the third partner I’ve lost in the last year? An abysmal track record. Before that I had been alone since uni, yeah, but I think it was better than feeling like this.
Slowly, I pack up all my stuff. Everything is quiet, like the world is in mourning for my latest lost relationship. Self centered as fuck but a nice thought. I sling my book bag over my shoulder and walk towards the door. It’s not even a shock when I don’t enter the foyer, but step through and end up in Dr. Margaret’s stony yet brightly lit office instead, complete with torches and pristine furniture. It’s like some medieval version of an IKEA showroom. Dr. Margaret is sitting in her chair with a book in hand, obviously waiting for me. Just another day with a super powered therapist who has her office in a pocket dimension outside of our reality. (That’s my theory anyway).
I speed walk forward and flop down face first on her white couch. “Hi to you too, Simon,” she says. I groan into the cushions. “Good day, huh?” I groan louder. “Tell me what happened or get off my couch.”
I move my face to the side, glaring at Dr. Margaret. She just keeps looking at me blankly from her large leather chair. Dr. Margaret has little time for my whining, something I usually appreciate. “Todd broke up with me.”
“You poor baby.”
I narrow my eyes even more. “Aren’t therapists supposed to be all sympathetic and shit?”
She scoffs. “Sympathetic when you’re not being pathetic.”
“My boyfriend just broke up with me, I’m allowed to be a bit pathetic.” I rub my very strained forehead. “I always get dumped.”
“Mhm.” Dr. Margaret picks up the notepad, the one I filled with my regrets the first day we met. It’s embarrassingly long, but a lot are crossed off too. “Tell me about ‘breakup with Agatha.’”
I groan, head falling back against the couch. “God, that’s one I’ve been waiting for.”
“Stop groaning and tell me.”
“Okay, okay, gimme a sec.” I sit up and put my elbows on my knees, rubbing my temple. Headache is coming. Though I’ve started to actually pay attention to my health and take care of myself now (thanks to Dr. Margaret), the headaches still happen sometimes. Especially when I think about this.
“It was 2003,” I sigh. “Agatha and I had been together for six years. Just before third year finals, Agatha broke up with me. I got really pissed at her. Turned into a huge screaming match. She said I didn’t care, and I called her an arsehole that never loved me.” I run a hand through my hair. Old stress habit. “I’ll never forget the look on her face. She was so unbelievably hurt. I knew it was wrong the moment after I said it, but I was too angry and proud to apologize. Agatha walked out. And that was the last time I ever saw her.” The words piece my heart like a knife. I feel like I'm about to shatter into pieces “We avoided each other all through finals. Right after graduation, Agatha moved to California for her masters. She wouldn’t take my calls, then she changed her number. So I gave up. Haven’t talked to her in twelve years. No idea where she is now and what she’s doing.”
Dr. Margaret nods thoughtfully, placing the notebook down. “What would you do differently? Try to fix things? Stay together?”
I shake my head vigorously. “No, god no. We weren’t good as a couple. But Agatha was one of my closest friends way before she was my girlfriend. I just, I want the breakup to not be so awful. That way we can stay friends. I want to keep her in my life. If I wasn’t such an arse, she would be.”
“Sounds reasonable. Let’s see if you can do it.”
A familiar chill hits me. At first it was terrifying but now I expect it. “Alright.”
Dr. Margaret nods, and the world spins.
———————————————
“You’re not hearing me, Simon!” Agatha screams. “I’m trying to tell you that it’s over!”
I stumble, blinking at Agatha and trying to focus on what’s around me. Dirty walls, Lady Gaga posters, a shitty desk I picked up off the curb. Yeah, this is definitely my uni apartment. And this is definitely Agatha screaming at me, trying to break things off and I’ve just been yelling. She’s so mad but I can’t help but smile. God, I’ve missed her.
“What are you smiling about?! Are you listening to me?!” She groans and shakes her head. “We’re done, Si. I can’t do this anymore. Goodbye.”
She turns around to leave and my pulse skyrockets. No no, not again. “Ags, wait! I-I am listening. Please, don’t leave!”
Agatha freezes, hand on the knob. She glares at me over her shoulder. “What?”
“I-I’m sorry for yelling, that was awful. Can we just sit down and talk this out? Please?”
She looks me over, probably trying to figure out if I’m being sincere. I know I am, but as far as she's concerned I was screaming my bloody lungs out a minute ago. Must be weird for her. Thankfully, she lets go of the knob. “Fine.”
I sigh in utter relief. I sit down on my shitty mattress (pretty sure I got this off the curb too) and Agatha follows. She’s tense, arms crossed. I fiddle with my fingers. The nail beds are all chewed up, hangnails surrounded by dark dried blood. Glad I broke that habit, but right now I sort of wish I still did it. It made me feel better.
“Are you going to say something?” Agatha asks, voice biting.
“Yeah, yeah, just, uh...” I rub the back of my neck. Words are getting fucked up again.
“You’re not going to change my mind, Simon. We’re through.”
“I know, Ags, I know. I don’t want us to stay together.”
Her eyebrows furrow. It’s really cute. I miss when she did that. “You don’t?”
“No, no, we’re not good as a couple. We don’t work well.”
“Oh.” Her arms fall into her lap. “Okay. Yeah, I think the same.”
“Awesome.” I turn towards her with a big grin. “But, uh, could we still be friends though? You’ve always been one of my best friends, Agatha. I-I don’t want to lose you after this.”
Agatha rubs her lips together, But slowly, she nods. “Okay, yeah.”
A huge weight lifts off my shoulders. I grin so wide it hurts. “That’s great! That’s so great. I-I just, I don’t want to lose you just cause our relationship didn’t work out.”
She looks even more confused, and I’m not sure why. “What do you mean ‘didn’t work out?’”
“Well, I-I mean, y’know, we just don’t work as a couple. We haven’t been happy for awhile because things have kind of...fizzled out, right?”
Suddenly, that infuriated expression comes back. She groans and stands up. “I can’t believe you, Si! You really haven’t been listening to anything I’ve said, have you?!”
I stand up too. “No, no, I have! You want to break up, and I get why, we’re not happy together. We’re not a good couple-”
“Because of you!” she screams. I stumble back slightly from the force of her words. “You fucked up!”
A horrible, upset, disgusted feeling takes over my whole body. Like my very soul is sicking up. I step towards her, reaching out. “Ags, I don’t know what you mean. H-How did I ruin things? Tell me what I did wrong!”
She shakes her head and backs away. “I’ve told you a hundred times, Si. If you don’t know by now, I don’t think you ever will.”
Agatha starts to stomp away. I chase after her. “Agatha! Ags, please, don’t-”
She slams the door so hard all my knick knacks rattle. I’m left in silence, except for the thoughts rattling around in my head. Fuck, what did I say? What did I do? I can’t think of anything I’ve done horrible enough to warrant such a response from Agatha. I pull at my hair and gnaw at my nail beds. I mean, this me already does it, so where’s the harm? Fuck, I don’t know what I did. I can’t remember!
Penny. I gotta go find Penny. She always has the answers. She’ll remember why I fucked up. I rush out the door and swing my way down the shitty stairs, careful to avoid the usual vomit puddles. I’m speed walking across the lawn towards Pen’s TA building when I spot familiar frizzy white hair.
“That was fast,” Dr. Margaret says, looking down at her book with a Starbucks drink in hand. She’s dressed in a horribly ugly orange tank top and boho skirt. Perfect for 2003. She needs to blend in with the time period, or at least that’s what she says. I think she just likes to dress up. “Saw her storm out. Looked really mad.”
“What the fuck was the point of this?!” I yell. I’m so angry, I can’t help it. My temper is something I need to work on but I really don’t care right now. “I still cocked things up with Agatha, so she still hates me, and all I’ve learned is that I apparently did something horrible that I don’t even remember because it’s been twelve bloody years!”
She takes a long drink from her large Starbucks cup. “Hm. Quite difficult. What’re you going to do?”
“Find Penny, I guess, She’ll know, right?”
Dr. Margaret shrugs. “Don’t know. You have a phone. Call her.”
Oh, right, phones are a thing. I dig around in my cargo shorts (god, I can’t believe, I used to wear these things) and pull out my old Nokia slide phone. I sneer at the thing. It was my first and shittiest cell phone. I thought I was so cool because my mobile slid out. I was such a prat.
I go to my contacts, and Penny is one of five. That makes me a little sad. I always liked people, but I was always bad at making real friends. I’ve gotten better now but past me barely had anyone. I click her number, and she picks up after two rings.
“Hey, Simon, what’s up?” she asks.
“Um, not much,” I respond automatically. Dr. Margaret glares at me. Right, I don’t need to push down my problems and pretend everything is okay. Penny’s my friend, she’ll want to help. “Actually, there’s a lot. Aggie and I just broke up.”
“Oh Si, I’m so sorry. How’re you feeling?”
“Not too bad. I guess it was inevitable. I’m more confused than anything. Ags said I ruined it by doing something, but I’m not sure what I did. Do you have any idea what she meant?”
“Uh...I really don’t know. She hasn’t told me anything. She doesn’t usually tell me things anyway.”
I sigh and rub my face. “Yeah, true. I’ll figure it out. Thanks, Pen.”
“Welcome, Simon. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” I hang up and shove my phone back in my massive pocket. Dr. Margaret is back to reading. “Well, that was no help.”
“Too bad. Maybe going to the source would be better.”
I frown in utter confusion. “You want me to go talk to Agatha again?”
“She knows what’s wrong. You don’t. Ask her.”
I put my hands on my hips. “You’re never this direct. What’s going on?”
She flicks her eyes to me, smiling slyly. “Don’t trust me, Simon?”
“No! I just know you always have something else going on. Nothing in therapy is ever easy or simple.”
“Know that. Taught you that.” She snaps the book closed. “Do what you think is best, Simon. Then live with choices.”
She stands up, book tucked into her hippie purse, and walks down the lawn. I huff, blowing a piece of stray hair out of my face. “You know I hate when you say that! It’s just pointing out the obvious! That’s lazy therapy!”
Dr. Margaret, the woman who has changed my life in so many ways, makes the “whatever” W sign at me. I chuckle and shake my head. Okay, well, this is probably some weird test (again), but Dr. Margaret has a point. Best to be direct. Maybe Agatha will have cooled down by the time I get there. I should do something nice. Bring her flowers, yeah, that’s a good idea. I look down at my cargo shorts, baggy Eminem shirt, and filthy knock off converse. Definitely need to change too.
I rush back to my apartment. It’s dingy and gross, but there’s a weird nostalgia to it. I should’ve put up more posters. (Why can’t that be a regret? That would be so much easier.) My dresser is bursting at the seams as usual. I throw my t-shirts around looking for something passable, but everything is dirty, tacky, smells like weed, or all of the above.
“Christ, how did I live like this?” I grumble, as if I wasn’t pretty much still living like this a year ago. (Minus the weed. Kicked that after uni, thankfully.)
Eventually I find a plain brown shirt and a pair of jeans with only one tomato sauce stain. Alright, I’m passable now at least. That’ll get Agatha’s attention just because it’s so out of character for who I am in this time. I open the old pickle jar where I keep all my change and scrounge together about 20 quid. Should be enough for flowers, especially before the 2008 crash. The exchange rate is the only thing I miss about the past, honestly.
“Alright,” I mutter to myself, slinging my bookbag over my shoulder, “decent clothes, okay hair, pocket change, bag to hold flowers. Let’s do this.”
I walk out my front door feeling confident, hopefully not too much. Can’t get a big head. Need to focus on Agatha.
“Simon, mate.” I turn around to see Rhys wheeling out of his flat. “What’s up? Heard a lot of shouting earlier, you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m cool, man. Agatha and I broke up and things got messy.”
He inhales sharply between his teeth. “Yikes. Sorry to hear that. Can’t believe she dumped you for that snotty prep.”
I stand ramrod straight, then spin around on my heels to face him properly. “What snotty prep?”
“Oh you didn’t know?”
“Didn’t know what?!”
Rhys raises his hands in surrender. “Whoa, take it easy, man.”
Shit. Reel in your temper, Simon, don’t explode. “Sorry, sorry, mate. Just, what are you talking about with this prep?”
“Yeah, this preppy pretty boy Agatha sits next to in our romantic literature and creative writing classes. They’ve always got their heads together. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t my business, but then you said you two broke up, so...”
“So you thought she told me, got it.” I rub my temples. Headache is coming back. “Do you know who he is?”
Rhys scratches the side of his head. “Yeah, think so. Tall, dark-ish skin, grey eyes, posh accent, even more posh clothes. Name starts with a T. Terrence, Terry, Tyler-” He snaps his fingers and points at me. “Ty! That’s it!”
My face scrunches up. “Ty? Ty what?”
“Dunno. Just Ty, I guess. Like Madonna. Dude thinks he’s better than fucking everyone just because he’s rich or something.”
My blood boils to a fever pitch. So Agatha broke up with me for someone prettier and richer. She said it was my fault because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. Mission failed, because I am fucking gutted.
“Thanks for telling me, mate,” I say, holding out my fist to him. He bumps his own against mine. “Really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing, mate. Come have a beer with us to commiserate?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, but you may have to remind me later. Brain like sieve.”
“Gotchu. See ya.”
“See ya.”
Rhys rolls down the hall towards Gareth’s. Right, it’s their weekly beer and footie night. I would hang out with them sometimes. I miss that. I should call them when I’m back in 2015. Right now though, I have a mission.
———————————————
Finding Ty will be pretty easy. I know when Agatha and Rhys’ creative writing class is, which is in a couple of minutes. (Rhys skipped a lot of class. Luckily he was a genius so he graduated at the top of our year. And Agatha never went to class when she was upset, so I know I won’t see her.) I run over to the building I know it’s in, a massive hall made from dingy grey stone and filled with caffeine addicted twenty somethings. Then I sit by a tree, waiting to see someone like Rhys described. Oh and when I find him I’ll- Well, I’ll do something. Not sure yet but it’ll be something!
Droves of zombified uni students pass me by. None of them look posh and preppy enough to be like this Ty dude. He sounds like such a twat. What the fuck does Agatha see in him? (Or did see in him, I guess. Time travel is weird.) Maybe Agatha is still with him. Maybe they went to California together. She talked about me going with her for a bit, but I was scared to leave England. I don’t regret staying, but I do regret the crushed look on her face.
The guy passes by me. He looks ridiculous, wearing oxfords, black slacks, and a goddamn tweed jacket with leather patches on the sleeves. It’s the preppiest posh shit I’ve ever seen. I can see his hands, curled around his textbook, and his slicked back hair. Dark-ish skin and ear length black hair. I’m on my feet in an instant.
“Hey!” I shout. He doesn’t move. “Hey, Ty! I’m talking to you!”
He finally turns around, and my heart stops for a second. Holy shit. This guy is beautiful. Like, super model on the cover of a high end fashion magazine gorgeous. He’s got cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass and his eyes aren’t just grey, they’re green and blue mixed together. Like deep ocean water. And right now they’re staring at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind.
“Yes?” he says. His voice is smooth, strong, really pretty. “You called my name?”
I shake off my small gay panic (technically pansexual panic) and my anger returns. I glare hard at him. “Yeah, I did. My name is Simon Snow, Agatha’s boyfriend.”
His confusion quickly switches to stone faced boredom. “Oh you’re the boyfriend. Well, the ex-boyfriend now, according to the text Agatha sent me.” He tilts his head to the side, ocean eyes scanning me over. “I thought you’d be taller.”
My body feels like it’s on fire. This guy may be hot but he’s a total prick. How could Agatha dump me for him?! “Who do you think you are, huh? Flirting with someone’s girlfriend? That’s fucking low, you pathetic shit!”
He scoffs, putting on hand on his hip. “Very well spoken. If you’re done with your little alpha male display, I have a class to get to.”
Ty turns away. I’m ready to explode. I haven’t felt this angry in years but this guy is getting so under my skin. I grab his shoulder and force him to look at me.
“You don’t get to walk away, dick!” I roar. “Do you think you’re better than me?! Well you’re not!”
“I’m not the one shouting at a random stranger on the quad.”
“I’m shouting because you stole my girlfriend!”
“I didn’t steal her, you sexist shit,” he hisses. “She’s my friend. Are you the kind of arse to not allow his girlfriend to have friends?”
“No! And I’m not sexist! I just don’t like someone flirting with the girl I was with when I was with her, especially when you’re all...posh and shit!”
Ty scoffs again and leans forward. “Well, at least I don’t wear dirty jeans out in public. I have more self respect than that.”
My entire body explodes in a way it hasn’t in ages. My vision goes completely fucking red. I shove Ty, hard. Way harder than I mean to. He stumbles backwards, dropping his books on the grass. He looks at me in utter shock.
“What the fuck?!” Ty shouts. He then shoves my shoulders, and I stumble five steps back. Holy shit, he’s strong.
“Fuck you!” I shout back. I charge forward with all my might. Ty blocks me but that doesn’t stop me. I claw and push and pull at him, no clue what I’m doing at all. I’m just so angry and pushing it all at him. He pushes back just as hard. Neither of us will give an inch. We scrabble like a pair of cats. I can’t think, I just feel. I'm so angry and sad and worthless because...because....
Because I’m losing my friend again. And I don’t know what to do.
My hits get weaker and weaker. All the energy dribbles out like a melting ice cream in July. As I slow down, Ty stops pushing back. My arms fall down at my sides. His hands rest awkwardly on my shoulders.
“Uh,” he says, “are you alright?”
“No,” I choke out. Tears fill my eyes and cloud my vision. “No, I’m not.”
I break down, crying with heavy, ugly sobs. Everything is just collapsing in and around me. I really am losing Agatha all over again. It hurts even more this time. I’ve never fallen apart this badly on a regret. But everything from the past and present, losing all my partners in the past year then Agatha again, is just hitting me in one terrible mental blow.
“Oh shit,” he says. “Um...” I feel his hand move off my shoulder and slowly pat my head. “There, there?”
I snort like one of the kids I teach. I pull back, wiping the still flowing tears under my eye. “Seriously? That’s the best you can do?”
Though it’s a bit hard to tell, I think Ty’s face flushes. He crosses his arms defiantly. “Well, what the fuck are you supposed to do when a stranger attacks you then breaks down crying?”
I shrug. “Dunno, really. This is new for me too.”
Ty rubs the back of his neck, shuffling his polished oxfords in the dirt. I’m still sniffling like a child. “You want to go somewhere private? Where no one can see you?”
My eyes catch a couple of people glancing and outright staring at us. Or just at me. I nod vigorously. “Yeah, that would be good.”
Ty collects up the books I knocked out of his hands. He jerks his head to the side, and I follow behind him. Tears are still streaming down my face. They won’t stop no matter how hard I try. Ty leads us through a secluded area, past large trees and bushes, until we reach a completely hidden, beautiful ravine. Holy shit. Was this always here? I went to this uni for three years and I have no memory of this place. Either I’m super oblivious or getting old. (Probably both.)
We go past a couple more bushes until we come upon a ramshackle rainbow coloured bench against some trees. It looks handmade by some stoned out art major. The mess of cigarette and joint butts on the ground only reinforces that theory. Ty sits on one end of the bench. I take the other, but we’re still pretty close. It’s not very big. We sit in silence for a bit, save for my continued sniffling. Something bumps my arm. I look down to see Ty’s long fingered hand holding out a cigarette pack.
“Want one?” he asks.
“Smoking is bad for you,” I say automatically.
“Like you’re one to talk. You reek of marijuana”
“Fuck, really?” I sniff my shirt collar and get a whiff of weed. I groan, letting my head fall back against the tree. “Dammit. Thought this one was clean.”
“Unfortunately not.” He shakes the box. “You want one or no?”
I sigh and pluck a stick out of the box. Ty takes one as well, then pulls out a pristine silver Zippo lighter. He lights us both with one flame. I watch the paper crinkle and shrivel away into ash. I’m a bit nervous. Technically, I haven’t smoked anything in over a decade. Hopefully I can depend on past me’s muscle memory.
Ty takes a long, deep draft and breathes out a long puff of smoke. I try to mimic him. My lungs burn with the heat of twin suns. I wheeze out, thumping my chest. Ty throws his head back laughing, hair touching his neck.
“You must be a shitty stoner,” he chuckles.
“Yeah,” I cough, “never been great at inhaling.”
“Bring it into your mouth, then your lungs. Don’t do it all once.”
I nod, even though I kind of knew that. Just been awhile. I smoked a few joints but I preferred my old bong. But I try again, doing what Ty said. This time I only cough a little instead of wheezing like the world’s most pathetic dragon.
“There you go,” Ty drawls. He’s definitely mocking me a little.
“Fuck off.”
“Christ, what bug crawled up your arse?”
I glare at him, and his face is completely unaffected. “The bug that Agatha broke up with me for you.”
He scoffs, flicking cigarette ash on the ground. “Your ex- girlfriend did not break up with you to be with me. We’re only friends. I’d never date her.”
“That’s mean, Agatha is amazing.”
Ty rolls his eyes dramatically. “It has nothing to do with Agatha. She’s wonderful. I just don’t like women.”
My eyes grow wider than saucer plates “You’re gay?”
He cocks an eyebrow. How did he get so good at that? Does he practice in the mirror? “You have a problem with that, Snow?”
“No, no, of course not. Just didn’t realise...”
“It’s not like I’m hiding it.” He gestures to his perfectly pressed button down, spotless navy slacks, and polished Oxfords. Okay, he has a point, most straight men don’t take such meticulous care of their clothes. 2003 closeted me had the excuse of being heteronormative as fuck, but 2015 pansexual me needs to work on his gaydar.
“I, uh, didn’t want to assume...” Usually a safe answer in my experience.
“How noble.” Ty takes a long drag. I still hate cigarettes, but the way his lips fit around the smoke plume is kind of attractive. “Agatha knows I’m gay. I told her after she almost kissed me.”
“What?!” I throw down the cigarette and shoot to my feet. The fire in my gut is back, along with the sense of utter worthlessness. I fucked up so badly, made Agatha so miserable, that she nearly kissed a gay bloke. I feel so awful and confused and I don’t know what I'm supposed to do, I’m just mad.
He rolls his eyes, again. “Sit down, alpha male, I said ‘almost.’ I’m not even sure she realised what she was doing, we were both completely pissed. She leaned forward slightly and I blurted out that I was gay. Then she promptly burst into tears.”
My heart feels like someone has reached inside and twisted every vein. My arms relax at my sides. “She...she was crying?”
“Yes, quite heavily.” He taps the cig with one long, graceful finger. (Does he play piano? He should.) “She said she was sorry, then blubbered for an hour about how conflicted she felt about wanting to break up with you.”
The impact of those words send me back down onto the bench. My whole body feels heavier than lead. “She felt conflicted?”
“Of course she did.”
“I-I thought this was easy for her. That our relationship was already going downhill, then I did something so bad she decided to end it. And then I thought it was because she found you, someone better than me.”
Ty scoffs. “My god, she was right, you are completely oblivious.”
I scowl at him. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said. You’re so blind to what you’ve been doing.”
“What’ve I been doing?!”
“You’ve been a terrible boyfriend!” he yells. “You’re forgetful, you miss things, you don’t pay attention to Agatha, and most of all you take her for granted!” He sighs, rolling the half finished cig between his fingers. “Ags says you don’t mean to do it, you’re just oblivious, but she’s still hurt. There isn’t one bad thing you did, Snow. You’ve been hurting her for awhile.”
Every word is slap to the face. My body literally aches with all the guilt I feel. Ty is right. I was an awful, awful boyfriend. Every missed date, every burnt meal, every stupid thing I’ve ever said, they all rush into me. Fucking hell. How could I have not seen it? I always had reasons, and they were always small things. But I guess a lot of small things pile up.
“Fuck,” I choke out. Tears make little wet spots on the dirt floor. I don’t know when I started crying again. God, I’m a mess.
“Please don’t cry,” Ty says, sounding almost sympathetic. “I only have so many cigarettes.”
That makes a laugh surprisingly fly out of my mouth. Yet I’m still picking at my nails, flicking away bits of my cuticle like I want to get rid of my pain. I’m nervously babbling before I even realise it. “My brain’s always filled with...stuff. Keeping my scholarship, keeping my job, working towards my future. E-Everything’s always been about my future, what I’ll do eventually, even with Agatha. She was supposed to be my happy ending after all the shit I’ve been through.”
“She’s a person,” he mutters, “not your goal.”
“I know that!” I rub away more tears. “Well, I’m learning. I dunno. I-I had a shitty childhood, okay? So I’m always waiting for things to get better. And I thought if I did well at school and found a nice girl, things would just fall into place. Turns out shit is more complicated than that.”
I laugh to try to break the tension, but Ty stays silent. I cautiously flick my eyes over to him. He’s still holding his cigarette. It’s burnt down to the filter. His face is stone again, yet I can see the slight tremor in his fingers. It’s miniscule but it’s there. I don’t think he’s okay, but I barely know this guy, I’m scared to ask.
“I don’t know how to fix things with Agatha,” I sigh. “I’m bad at talking, bad at relationships, sometimes bad at friendships. It’s not like I want her back. I...I just want her in life. She’s amazing. I don’t- I can’t lose her again.”
“Again?” he says. My face goes bright red and my breath hitches. Fuck. Stupid time travel, screwing things up.
“Y-Yeah, we’ve had fights before, stopped talking for a while. I know this feeling, I hate it. I want her to be in my life and be happy and I don’t know how to do that!”
“Tell her that.”
I face him, blinking in confusion. “What?”
Ty sighs and flicks the butt onto the ground, crushing it beneath the toe of his utterly perfect oxford. “Tell her that. Say you’re scared and clueless but you want to still be friends, so you want to figure out how to do that. Be honest. What else are you going to do?”
My mouth flaps up and down. Fuck. It’s so damn obvious yet it never came to mind. I thought I needed something big and smart so Agatha would understand. But... “All I need to do is be honest with her.”
“Exactly.”
I smile for the first time since I got here. “Wow, can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”
“You do seem to be a bit thick.” His slight smirk and teasing lilt save me from getting angry. I scoff and shake my head.
“Yeah, well, you seem like a bit of a prick.” He scoffs too, but he’s still smiling.
We sit there in silence for a little. All I can hear is birds chirping and students in the distance. I feel calm. So calm I don’t want to get up for a while. I just want to catch my breath. Ty slowly tilts his head back over the bench.
“I haven’t sat down in awhile,” he says quietly, almost as if to himself, but too loud for me not to hear. “I’m always at class or studying. I don’t sit down and just...sit.”
“Well you haven’t really been only sitting,” I chuckle. “You’ve been helping me.”
“Would it be sad that this has actually been the most relaxing time I’ve had in months?”
“Uh, yeah, and a bit concerning.”
Ty laughs a little louder this time. His smile seems a bit more genuine, but his pretty eyes are a bit sad. It may just be his face. It looks like it’s designed for pouting. “I’m a political science and English double major getting ready for law school. My whole life is stress.”
I chuckle sadly. “Sounds like a nightmare.”
“It is. A nightmare I chose...” He spins the cigarette pack between two fingers. I know he’s just fiddling but it looks so damn cool when he does it.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re happy about that choice.”
His eyes shift over to me without moving his head. “Since when do you know anything about my feelings?”
I shrug, crossing my arms. “I usually know what sadness looks like.”
Ty sighs. He rubs his temple slowly with his elegant ring finger. (What is with my finger fetish today?) “Ever since I was little, it was expected that I follow in the family tradition. Get perfect grades, go to a good university, go to an even better law school, become a lawyer, then finally take over the family practice. It’s what my mother did. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Doesn’t matter what I want,” he scoffs.
I tilt my head towards him, but not too close to scare him away. “Well, if you could do what you want, what would you do?”
“I told you, it doesn’t mat-”
“Then pretend it does matter. What would you do for the rest of your life?”
Ty sinks further into the bench. It makes his stupid tweed jacket bunch up slightly, and he almost looks like a normal young adult. “Honestly, I just want to read books forever.”
I giggle quietly, and Ty glares at me with a now obvious flush in his cheeks. “Fuck off,” he snarls.
“I’m not laughing at you!” He doesn’t look convinced. “It’s just, when I first saw you, I never expected you to be a total bookworm. You seem too posh for that.” Ty snorts, keeping his arms crossed. He won’t meet my eyes. I lean closer, and he doesn’t back away. “Reading books forever sounds hellish to me, but it sounds like heaven for you. It’s a great idea. Why not do it?”
Ty’s glare somehow gets even more intense. His eyes are just slivers of beautiful grey. “Because I’m a responsible person, unlike you.”
The words hit me right in the gut. I scowl deeply at him. “That is beyond not okay. You don’t know me, you don’t know my life. So you don’t get to spew shit like that just because you’re pissed off. Got it?”
Honestly, I’m surprised how clear and articulate I’m being. A year with Dr. Margaret has made it a lot easier for me to stand up for myself in a meaningful way, not just with growls and punching. But still, it’s hard, and I did this so easily. I’ve really made progress.
Ty scowls back, but I don’t back down. I’ve always been good at standing my ground, thankfully. Slowly, Ty’s face falls and gets less angry. In fact, he looks a bit regretful. We slowly move apart again. He takes a few deep breaths before he finally speaks again.
“You’re right,” he says, “I’m sorry.”
“Good, apology accepted.” I lean my cheek onto my fist. “Seems both of us are having trouble with our futures.”
“Mine is secure.”
“But not happy.”
He rubs his lips together, like he’s chewing his words. “That doesn’t matter.”
“Why not? Why not do what you want instead?”
“Because I’ve already applied to law school!”
“Okay.” I put my back to the bench again, staring up at the sky through the trees. “Well, I’m nearly done with my maths and am about to start my teaching degrees. Then I've got a private school job lined up, but who knows? Maybe I’ll hate the job and quit and work at shitty customer service jobs for years until I decide to get my shit together and find an actually good teaching gig at a school I like.”
Ty’s dark brows furrow together. “That is extremely specific.”
I shrug, hoping my smirk doesn't say too much. “I don’t know, just a possibility.”
“Alright,” he snorts. “My life will be fine, it won’t go off the rails.”
He looks so sure and resolute. I don’t think I’m going to change his mind, and I don’t think it’s my job to. I can’t save everyone, something Dr. Margaret taught me. Plus I just met this guy. No matter how pretty he is, I don’t know him. (Wish I did.) Hopefully he can figure out his own shit.
“Okay. Your life, you can figure it all out.” I put my hands behind my head, leaning back, staring at the sky.
“Your life is going to be fine,” Ty says. “Agatha says that despite what you think, you’re smart. And I’m partial to agree. You have trouble with relationships, but who doesn’t? You’ve still got a good head on your shoulders. You’ll figure everything out too.”
I can feel my face turns bright red, and from the smirk on Ty’s face he can see it. I rub the back of my neck, trying to use my arm to hide my blush. “Y’know, I get why Agatha liked you. You’re weirdly nice and, well, really hot.”
Now it’s Ty’s turn to have his eyes go wide. He looks very cute. “Wow, you’re pretty forward for a straight guy.”
“Whoever said I was straight?” I smirk at him with one eyebrow raised. I hope I look confident and sexy and not just fucking weird.
“Oh.” His voice is almost a squeak. “I’m sorry I assumed.”
“S’alright, common mistake.” I look down at my stupid Nokia. “Wow, you’re beyond late for your class.”
Ty scoffs. “And who’s fault is that?”
“Okay, yeah, guilty as charged. You should probably get to it though. Need good grades for law school and all.”
“Yes, good point.” He stands up, and I follow, hands in my pockets. I both hate and love that Ty is a little taller than me. “But...it was nice to talk to you, Snow.”
“Feeling’s mutual, Ty. So, uh, see you around.”
I grin brightly, then turn around before I say something really stupid. I usually do in front of pretty people. Plus I need to see Agatha. That’s why I’m here, back in 2003. I’m not supposed to be chasing after a pretty guy who went to my uni ages ago. Even if he is like, really pretty.
“Simon.” His voice makes me stop in my tracks and turn back.
“Yeah?”
Ty steps forward and holds out a scrap of lined paper. “Since you’re newly single, and now I know you’re not straight, give me a call sometime? If you’re up to it, that is.”
My brain completely short circuits. Blows a fuse. Maybe every fuse. I just stare at Ty with my mouth hanging open for a bit too long. Ty starts to look genuinely concerned. But thankfully the synapses start firing again and I shake it off.
“Um, y-yeah,” I say. “Yeah, I would like that.” I take the paper. “Uh, thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. I hope to see you around as well.”
I watch as he walks away, and I’m mesmerised by the way his hips swing. Fuck, he is so hot. And he likes me. I honestly have no clue why but I’m not going to question it. I have to make sure to call him before I go back to 2020. But right now I have to find Agatha, so I carefully put the paper in the smallest pocket of my bag, then dash off towards Aggie’s dorm.
———————————————
I knock on the door softly, and there’s no answer at first. “Aggie?” I say. “I came here to say I’m sorry. I won’t yell, I promise.”
Still silence at first. I nearly leave, but then the sound of soft footsteps comes from under the door. The doorknob slowly turns and my pulse increases every second. Agatha is wearing her purple Watford lacrosse sweater, a pair of my trackies that I left behind last week, and blonde hair piled up in a bun. Her eyes are puffy and her cheeks are red. My stomach drops at the sight.
“What are you sorry for?” she asks, voice low and flat. She sounds more tired than angry. For some reason that hurts even more.
I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry for how I treated you, Ags. Our relationship didn’t fall apart for no reason. I didn’t pay attention to what you wanted and took you for granted. I was a terrible boyfriend. And I’m really, really sorry.” I start nervously pulling at my hair. “I-I’m not saying we should get back together. We weren’t happy, and you deserve someone who will put you first. But I still want to be your friend. You’re one of my first and best friends. I’m not sure how to do that, considering I was such an shit boyfriend, but can we figure it out? Together?”
Agatha rubs her lips together, taking slow deep breaths. Her fingers tap against the door one by one. I don’t know if I’m going to throw up or run or both. All are possible. But then Agatha nods slowly.
“Okay,” she sighs.
“Okay?”
“Let’s try to be friends again. I don’t want to lose you either.”
I grin ear to ear. “Okay, awesome, that’s great. I’m so glad you want to as well. I do love you, Ags, and I’m sorry I hurt you so much.”
“Apology accepted, Si, so you don’t need to do it anymore. Let’s just move forward, alright?”
“Alright, yeah, I’d like that.” I rub my neck and nervously gnaw at my lip. “Um, could I hug you? As a friend?”
She smiles softly. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her smile. Not just because I’m from the future, but I can’t remember the last time she smiled back when we were together. I hope I can make her smile more now.
“Yeah,” she says, “that would be nice.”
We both step forward and throw our arms around each other. I haven’t hugged Agatha in a long time either. Sure, we snogged and had sex, (though not very often honestly), but this is so much better. There’s no pressure or nerves. It feels normal. The most normal I’ve ever felt with her.
As we slowly part, we’re still smiling. “You,” Agatha pokes my chest, “need to study for your exam on Monday.”
I chuckle and nod, being silently thankful I’m not doing that exam again. Once was more than enough. “Yeah, I know. This felt more important though. You’re more important.”
She blinks in confusion. I can’t blame her. Past me was always too focused on my work so that I could reach the happy ending I always wanted. Future me is figuring out that there is no happy ending. There’s just life, and I have to make it what I want, not just wait for happiness to fall into my lap. I haven’t got it down pat but I’m getting there. That’s more than good enough.
“Well, I’m definitely glad to hear that,” Agatha says. “Call me tomorrow. We’ll go get brunch, okay?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Sounds great.” The voice in the back of my head reminds me about the small fact of time travel, and that when I go back to 2015, past me is only going to remember bits and pieces of this day. “But, uh, studying may fry my brain. So could you maybe call instead? And I’ll call next time?”
Agatha sighs with exasperation, but she’s still smiling. “Alright, that’s a valid excuse.” She presses a small kiss to my cheek. It’s completely platonic, and it feels great. “See you later, Simon.”
“Yeah, definitely.” I hug her tight one more time before I go. She gives me a kind wave before closing her door. I’m grinning like a mad man as I walk down the hell. I did it, I saved my friendship with Agatha. I’m so damn happy. Plus I met Ty.
Oh right. I reach into my bookbag, feeling around for my notebook. My hand curls over the rings of the spine as I push open the stairwell door. And I instantly fall face first onto the dirty public school floor.
“Mr, Snow!” Ms. Petty, the nicest janitor in the entire school, possibly in the whole world, rushes to me. “Are you alright?”
“Uh, yeah, yeah,” I say. “I’m fine. Just clumsy.”
“Here, let me help.”
I take her hand and she hoists me to my feet. I still feel a bit dizzy, a small side effect of time travel I know all too well now. Ms. Petty keeps a hand on my back until I regain my bearings. “Alright, I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll be alright.”
“Okay, dearie.” She pats my shoulder. “Go get some rest, get your mind off work.”
“Right, yeah, work...”
Ebb gives me one last comforting pat and goes back to sweeping the hallway floor. I wave at her as I leave, hoping she doesn’t see the distress in my face.
Fuck.
———————————————
AN: Chapter 2 will be posted within the next week, i.e whenever I'm well enough to edit it lol. See you all next time!
#carry on#snowbaz#simon snow#baz pitch#carry on fanfiction#being erica au#time travel#time travel therapy#fluff#angst#first meeting#mysnowbazfic
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Hi, Ben! I hope your day is going well so far! Are you still getting snow, or has the storm calmed a bit? We’re supposed to be getting a potentially severe ice storm over the course of today. There’s already a thin layer this morning, we’ll see how the rest of the day goes. And temperatures are supposed to stay in about the -4 to -6C range the rest of the week. I’m very glad that I’m off the next couple of days, and managed to get by the grocery last night after work.
I saw your post about writing and writing styles! It was helpful because I’ve not really seen the different styles written out and explained before. I’m still not 100% which I am, but probably either an intuitive plotter or a methodological pantser. Usually there’s a scene or a line or two that I’m like “this needs to happen in this story” and everything else is fairly free-form. I did try actually writing down an outline for IYWTD, but even then it’s more a list of beats/tropes and the order I want to include them in. (And I’ve only just made it past halfway through, although a couple may need to be altered a bit, oh god, how did this get so long…)
It’s also always kinda of amusing to me how many of those writing advice lists are like “Don’t do this”, “Stop doing this”, “Never do that”, and then they’ll encourage you to find your own voice and style. Like, bitch, you just told me not to ever do half the shit that makes up my style. Which am I supposed to do? Damn. XD (You will seriously pry adverbs and similar descriptors from my cold, dead, grasping hands. Also the occasional epithet. No, I’m not using a character’s name nine times in one paragraph, sorry, and pronouns don’t always help if the characters are the same gender. The reader can deal. ;D )
And I feel ya on the tall, skinny, blue-eyed boys thing. It doesn’t have to be just a white boy, but if he’s taller than me, slender, and has a pretty pair of baby blues, my higher brain functions tend to go into insta-lag. I ain’t particularly proud, but I’ve long accepted this about myself (there are many reasons Luke became my forever BAE.) That’s not to say a lack of any of those is a deal-breaker in the slightest, but it’s definitely going to immediately get my attention.
Speaking (vaguely) of Luke, I had a thought the other day of him and Din being off on some planet together (Grogu is staying with Aunt Leia and Uncle Han for a few days), and there’s a noise in the middle of the night, and Din refuses to accept Luke’s assurance that there’s nothing out there, and in true himbo fashion insists on going out to investigate having grabbed only the darksaber and his helmet to cover his face -but nothing else. Luke just finds it a combo of hysterical and adorable (and kinda hot.)
I hope your novel is going well (whatever stage you happen to be at), and I’m always up for hearing whatever you feel like sharing about it.
I hope you’re still doing well with the whole eating and hydrating regularly thing (it’s also totally okay if you aren’t!), and I’m super proud of you for sticking to it as much as you can anyway. That shit is hard. (Also, ignore the 1500 calories thing, I swear that shit is designed for 130lb women trying to shed a few pounds, not people who need to safely and steadily lose larger amounts of weight. But then I’ve also never fully understood making someone lose weight before surgery, either. “We need you to get rid of some excess weight before we’ll okay this surgery to *checks notes* get rid of some excess weight." Like, weird flex, but okay.)
Anyway, I’m rambling again, and should really eat some breakfast and try to write a little myself today, maybe. Hope you’re feeling okay, and that things are going well overall. I hope Mo is doing well, and enjoying his best cuddle buddy life. Take care! *Hugs!*
Okay, gonna try this this way so that I can refer back to the links on my phone if need be. I couldn’t quite see the full entries for the physical descriptions, and when I tried clicking on them it kept asking for a login, but I think I saw enough to get the gist. I’m not sure exactly what sort of feedback you’re interested in, if any, so this will mainly be my usual sort of rambling stream-of-consciousness type thoughts and questions. Hope that’s okay. Feel free to ignore if it’s not what you’re after right now! :D
I think one of the first questions that popped to mind was where is/what happened to Ellie’s mom, and is that something that’s going to cause problems later in some way? (I.e.- was she killed on a hunt, are they divorced, was it bitter or amicable [would she come after her daughter if she heard about his relationship?]) I guess technically similar questions could also apply to Nate (late husband, ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, one night stand, sperm donor?) it was just more noticeable with Ellie being so young still. Although that could also be part of why he’s ended up in Wyoming, which was another question I had, although there I assume it’s hunt-related.
I also anticipate quite a bit of tension of all kinds when he and Nate first meet, because Faron strikes me from his descriptions as someone rather used to being able to get his own way either through the influence of who he is, or through his size (not necessarily in any kind of intentional or aggressive way, more in an unconscious privilege kind of way, if that makes sense?), and I don’t think Nate sounds like the type to give two shits about either of those things, and it would probably drive Faron up the proverbial wall that Nate isn’t intimidated by him in the slightest. (I could be entirely wrong about all this, this is just the impression I get so far. :D ) And I think Nate being noticeably older than him would just make it that much more irritating at first, too. Now, how long these impressions last will just depend on how quickly they get to know each other, and whether Bachelor #3 is helping or hindering things. XD The potential for just sitting back and watching the fireworks as “laid-back dad jokes with a quick temper” clashes with “quiet, reserved, and possibly takes themselves slightly too seriously” might prove too much for our last contestant for a while, depending on where his personality falls. ;D (Especially since Faron coming in and starting shit will likely come off as a direct threat to people and places Nate considers under his protection.)
Also, are any of these three going to have met before? Will Nate already have some sort of relationship with the werewolf (Does he already know about the supernatural at all?) Did he and Faron encounter each other on the trip to Europe you mentioned in the Life Highlights? If he and the wolf already know each other, how does he get along with Cas, or Nate’s pets? Is the werewolf also going to be native to the region? Does he know anything about Faron’s family? Does Faron already know he’s a werewolf, or is that going to be a bit of a crisis for him later? A test of how well he’s learned not to judge? If Nate doesn’t already know, how will he deal with both their secrets? Do you plan for full-shift only wolves, partial-shift only wolves, or a mix of the two like TW? Are there other supes in the area?
I think you mentioned maybe having him be of Native American descent? I think that could be very interesting, but would require a LOT of research into which tribes are active in the Yellowstone area, and what their individual mythologies say about things like shapeshifters, and LGTBQ+ issues, etc., because there can be a fair amount of variance, I’m sure. Also, I’m just overall curious how he’ll fit in with the other two size wise (get your mind out of the gutter, you know what I mean. XD ) Also curious if any o them are going to have the slightest clue on the feelings front, or are they all going to be just absolute disasters? Will the kids figure it out before they do? Will the kids get along? (Will BachelorWolf have any kids of his own, or just Nate and Faron?) Will Nate’s coworkers have any clue about either the supernatural, or what’s going on with those three? Because I suspect at least some of them will be way more obvious than they think they’re being. XD
Uh… I think that was all that’s occured to me right now?… I’m sorry you’re having a yucky day overall, and I hope tomorrow’s a bit better! The ice storm has finally moved in here, and I can feel the temperature drop radiating off of the front door and windows. It went from rain to freezing rain/hail and I’m not sure how long it’s supposed to last. Hopefully only a little while. Also, sorry your book was terrible. I haven’t seen too many recent recommendations from friends, and I’ve been mostly reading “cozy” mysteries (Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters, etc) as my comfort reading myself, lately, so I can’t really suggest anything in particular, unfortunately. At least, nothing I think you wouldn’t already know. Anyway, hope you’re getting some decent rest, and hope you have a better day tomorrow! Take care! *Hugs!*
Alright since this is going to be like a very long one, I’m break it down into a few things.
First full physical descriptions, cause I didn’t know Milanote would be a bitch about it.
Nate:
164 cm (5'4), 75 kg (166 lbs), Short slightly overweight trans man in his middle age. Nearly always the shortest man in the room, only standing around 5'4 and weighing in around 166 lbs. With kind moss green eyes that have permanent crow's feet in their corners and a polite but reserved smile always on his face.
A face that's framed by faint freckles that are only visible in the sunlight. A neatly trimmed beard spices up his features and frames his pink lips. His thick but short eyebrows frame his eyes and create a short arc to his slim nose.
A high forehead separates his brows from his wavy dark blond hair that's always tucked behind his ears.
He generally wears the Superintendents' Park Ranger uniform while on duty. When he's not he wears comfortable jeans and t-shirts, usually a mono color like green, white, or black, plaid flannel shirts, socks with the weirdest patterns and colors, and hiking boots. He wears a steel ring on his right index finger and has a little steel Mjolnir on a necklace around his neck.
He's missing two fingers (his ring and little finger) on his left hand due to a childhood accident.
Faron:
185 cm (6'1 ft), 93 kg (205 lbs), Faron is a tall man with plenty of muscle from his time hunting. He can seem daunting and intimidating when you first meet him but there is a kinder, softer side to him. He has a warm light brown skin color, blue eyes, and black natural tight curly hair that he keeps very short. His full dark beard decorates his cheeks and chin, connects to his upper lip, and all the way up to his sideburns.
He tends to wear dark clothing, leather jackets, no jewelry that could identify him, jeans, henley shirts, or V-neck shirts, and black, brown, or red jackets. He usually wears black combat boots or dark brown hiking boots. He's got knives and other weapons hidden all over his body and pockets and it might take him a good few minutes to unload every single knife from his body when he was to disarm.
There are also scars all over his body, including some scars on his neck that are visible from day to day life. He had the bad luck of being struck down by a vicious Wendigo but managed to escape. He survived thanks to his sister's quick thinking and first aid.
He covers some of those scars up with tattoos; he has one tattoo of a dragon laying down on his shoulder, with its head on his chest and its body curling over his shoulder and ending just below his shoulder blades. And one tattoo covers up some scars on his lower arm, it's a tattoo of a wolf's head that covers up a bite mark.
Dichali:
He’s 37 and has 4 siblings, and two children, Kajika & Kaniya (Jika & Niya, identical twins, but one of them identifies as male, he’s trans. Kajika is his chosen/reassigned name. They are 10.) Dichali grew up in Riverton, WY, which is the largest town of 10,000 in the largest Native Reservation in Wyoming. He’s also a dear friend to our Nate (who is also his boss technically) and has slowly been falling in love with him for the last few years. (Although he still hasn’t realized that he loves his friend.)
Yena, his coworker and friend, who’s much younger at 25 has been watching her coworker and her boss joke and dance around each other. She has a betting pool with her girlfriend on who snaps first.
Not sure how I’ll connect him to Faron if it’s more fun/better to have him find out later or to already know him and keep it quiet.
I’m still working on him, so I don’t have much of personality and other things written down yet. But I have made his physical description:
At 178 cm (5'8) and 83 kilos (182 lbs) Dichali probably isn't the tallest man you've met, he's also not the shortest. And while he's got some good muscle on him from working as a Park Ranger, and being a werewolf, he also has some softer sides. All the better to cuddle with. He has long straight brown hair that falls to his mid-back and deep brown eyes and a long nose that ends prominently. His eyebrows are thin and he has a high forehead. His skin is a light Tawny color, there's a hint of an orange brown with a cool undertone.
His skin is also relatively clear and youthful looking because of his lycanthropy.
He tends to wear pants and jackets made by native designers and always incorporates native fashion into his outfits. He has jackets of mostly gray, blue, brown, and black colors made of denim, cotton, wool, or brass that are lined with more traditional cloths and patterns like the designer brand Ginew. Usually he pairs them with dark jeans, either black, gray, or dark blue. He pairs it with white, blue, red, black, or printed band t-shirts (Metallica, Green Day, Marianas Trench).
For shoes he has brown hiking boots that are part of the Ranger uniform, more western styled boots like black cowboy boots, and a pair of sneakers.He also wears a copper bracelet with lighting bolts etched into it.
-
Now this whole story got started because I had the question what if we had a DILF romance going on while/because the following happened?
What if a YouTube video that accidentally got uploaded shows the existence of a werewolf in Yellowstone park? Threatening to expose the entire supernatural world.
The werewolves right now are a mix, so half shift is like the classical half shift of a wolf head on a man’s body, but the full shift is more like a larger wolf. Almost the size of a black bear. Though I might change those ideas as the story progresses.
But that is how the Cryptid of Yellowstone is brought into the world. And that brings problems. Big problems.
Wendigos, vampires, djins, I plan to create a world where a lot of supernatural creates exist. From all sorts of cultures. I’m also toying with the idea of Kelpies and Griffins. That kind of stuff.
The supernatural world is hidden from ours, hidden in plain sight if you will. Most encounters are written off as really strange, sometimes a picture pops up, but with the coming of the internet, things have gotten more complicated. Also with deforestation and competition with regular wildlife has made some bigger supernatural creatures either extinct or thought to be extinct. They’re not sure what still lives in Australia, though.
Nate or his son don’t know about the supernatural world. Neither does Yena. Or much of the world. Dichali, his children (to some extent), Faron, and Faron’s family do know about this world.
-
Alright, as for your other post XD
Right now it’s no longer storming but due to the freezing temperatures the snow’s not going away and all public transport and delivery services are still not driving/delivering/running. So that’s neat. Not.
I swear we get some snow and the country is just down. Upside, ain’t nobody going outside and this helps with lockdown.
I hope your snowstorm won’t be too bad and everything thaws down soon. Snow’s fun for a day but after that...
Make sure you stay warm alright? And bundle up.
Yes dad... alright XD
Honestly, I’m glad to hear you liked my advice too. I’m getting quite a bit of positive feedback on it and that just makes me really happy ^^. I’m definitely writing more writing advice from everything I’ve learned so far.
There’s honestly so many contradicting ones out there, it’s a matter of picking and choosing which ones work best for you and applying those. And that’s the real trick of advice.
Fun fact, a lot of famous writers are also pantsers. Steven King, Neil Gaiman, George RR Martin are examples of famous pantsers or gardeners as they are also called.
John Grisham, JK Rowling, RL Stein fall into the plotter or architect category.
Writers like Hank Green seem to fall in the in-between category of plantser (somewhere between a plotter and a pantser. Or the Intuitive plotter.)
Okay but the DinLuke things is really really kinda hot and cute and adorable and has me smiling <3
And I can’t remember what else I wanted to say since it is like 2 am and my meds are seriously kicking in now.
But I hope you’re doing alright and that the snowstorm isn’t too bad where you’re at.
I’ll be alright, my diet hasn’t been going so well the last few days and I can’t really exercise, but I did mostly get healthy groceries that will be delivered friday so there’s that.
Fingers crossed I can pick it back up.
Okay I’m heading to bed XD
I’ll talk to you later, B <3
Hugs from me and Mo <3
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atwq book four thoughts
guess who somehow got a lot of free time yesterday and made the bold decision to finish reading the last atwq book? me!
guees who feels like they jinxed qwerty’s fate from the previous book of being arrested, but alive, even though i bet daniel handler planned it from the start? still me!
guess who is rather upset netflix accidentally gave a clue/spoiler on the identity of hangfire?
also me.
okay, so first off, to get something out of the way. i love this book. i really do. it had me on suspense every chapter.
theodora figured out qwerty was in vfd (...when did she figure out? not long after sharon reveal herself as a fake vfd member? or during the period she and lemony weren’t speaking to each other?), and god she really was willing to take the blame on being qwerty’s killer. did she think maybe she once again screw up, but this time there was no going back because the screw up got someone killed? after all she seem to selfishly went to break qwerty out for a good evaluation. maybe she thought if things went different, he would still be alive. and given the schism happened, vfd while not divided yet, this is like a sign on how another librarian’s death in the long, long future, will be blame on an innocent party and things go to hell again in the pursuit of justice and truth.
also, ghede and gifford also knew of the coup as well? or at least knew the sbg was doing something and they’re like let them do this shit and we can watch it’s gonna benefit us in the long run’. also, holy shit olaf name drop take two with beatrice herself! i didn’t think while knowing each other young mean they actually hanged out with one another to think they’re possibility friends. this puts the opera night even worse. beatrice must have knew olaf’s parents. with my headcanon of olaf parents being caring parents to olaf and used their connections to get their son back earlier than others, this is just awful.
getting back on track from the mess that is vfd there’s a murder on a train (agatha christie ahoy!). i admit several weeks ago i made the decision to watch snowpiercer and train to busan so i couldn’t really take the murder on the orient express shout out clearly and kept on thinking of the wild willy wonka and the chocolate factory/snow piercer theory. and zombies in south korea.
all the damn sbts kids just thought it great to share the one brain cell to be on the same train (pip and squeak just follow in their taxi; cleo and jake had to travel through time in the dilemma to catch up with them). ornette got her time to shine with her artistic/sculpting skills and there’s some light on the subject of the lost family (of course it’s a fire that took ornette’s mom life. fires seems to be a way to kill a lot of parents). i was right to call her gung-ho working with lemony, she just agreed to make fake bb statues for moxie and kellar and was like ‘oh shit the two are sharing a brain cell. hangfire could figure something is up what have i done’ and had to make something else to give to lemony. i uh..wonder if seth has a reason to draw her baseball cap all...fuzzy. just a weird question.
kellar’s sister lizzie shows up. i’m going to be honest. she has the bad luck of appearing last and under two disguises that went over my head (she sure fooled me!). i do have some thoughts that surround her and the haines family, but that needs me to re-read the last two books to make sure i’m not imagining something . will say lizzie is much younger and shorter than i thought given her first illustration. i hope maybe a re-read will make me get some new insight on her. also, hi sally murphy. i’m glad lizzie got out with maybe your help (i mean, why else would she want to high tail it out of there).
the identity of qwerty’s killer was something i should have seen coming due to how the mitchum parents are more subdue. i want to slap stew’s parents. they spend all their time bickering they only got their shit together to see how their ‘precious’ son is really a bully and killer and working with the villian under their damn noses. i almost feel sorry for them because shit stew more or less blackmail his parents into covering the crime but at the same time...this call could have been avoid if you pay attention to how your son isn’t the angel you think he is..and you two are still fighting with one another please get your priorities straight i beg you. i admit i almost want to slap stew but i don’t slap kids, and i think if i exist in the snicket world i would get murder first by him.
qwerty’s death and the fact he’s a vfd member just hurt me so bad and i’m still kind of grieving over him. for one, i felt like i should have seen qwerty being part of vfd coming. he’s a sub-librarian. while not a sub-sub-librarian, the fact is qwerty is such so damn helpful to lemony i should have seen he was just doing his best to help lemony because theodora wasn’t honestly...wasn’t doing a good job at a chaperone. but he couldn’t blow away his cover because he wasn’t supposed to interfere in the apprenticeship and honestly he was just happy to be a sub-librarian helping children find what they would love reading.
but qwerty isn’t the only death in this book. i got to copy-paste something from an old atwq post in feburary 8, something i made as a joke, because oh boy, this part is the one negative i have honestly.
he tried to pretend to be her father! i know his voice mimicry is basically akin to juni cortez’s mimicry, but this is just cruel had ellington been there.
about a week later, i made the decision to rewatch netflix asoue. now, the first time i watch season two [edit lmao i actually don’t remember if it was season two i think i hated season two so much i could have blur two and three together i got to rewatch the show again definitely. edit two: okay, i’m certain it was season two i’m 98% certain it was was a pause and read easter egg that’s why i couldn’t remember what season exactly damn easter eggs] i honestly was like ‘so they gave nero a last name. coolio. feint isn’t a surname i was expecting but this is the netflix show this probably isn’t canon to the books’.
on the rewatch, after the austere academy part two ended, i realized something is...off, with nero now. he’s mocking people. and his voice, while not mimicking them, is like...it’s like nero could have inherit mimicry from someone but it never went through. or maybe he did got it but it’s not at its full potential without the proper teaching of someone with the skill...like a father, perhaps?
so the kronk meme is playing in my mind, but it’s the edit of him saying ‘oh no, it’s all coming together’. and given patrick warburton also voice kronk, it felt more like lemony snicket decided to materialize right behind me, be an asshole, and thought it funny to do a commentary on my possible realization hangfire, in the netflix show at least, couldn’t keep his dick in his pants and bore a bastard son in an adulterous affair and ellington has a half brother in the world she doesn’t know about and i hope she never learns about.
(given barrymore feint is just a cameo of barry sonnenfeld, i guess the bullshit gene i talked about in another post regarding a theory who netflix!h is should be renamed the feint gene.)
so reading the third book, and especially this book, i kept a close eye on any mentions to ellington’s dad and hangfire’s behavior. i kept on saying in my mind ‘please don’t be who i think you are’. and bam. armstrong feint is hangfire. i feel like if netflix didn’t have the need to make an atwq reference in nero’s surname, and if i was smart enough to have the book clues smack me in the face (i feel there are clues somewhere, and hangfire dropped all pretenses and just being ‘himself’ in book two was one), i wouldn’t be so angry and upset by this reveal. i more or less got spoil and put the pieces together due to an adaptation, and i should have known better than to do a re-watch while reading atwq. i should have consider the possibility of easter eggs to atwq.
anyway, lemony snicket thought it great to kill hangfire by feeding him to a copy bombinating beast (the tadpoles!!). with ellington right freaking there. with most of his sbts friends there to witness. moxie can’t even look lemony in the eye anymore (no more best friends anymore). everything happened just like that and after finishing the book and taking a walk around the living room, i have to say hangfire is a good villain. he achieved his goal of getting the bombinating beast, even if it’s a copy. he’s a very competent villain who succeed in almost every book in some way or form. he played everyone like a puppet and was a threat that is more akin to tmwabbnh and twwhbnb’s level of villainy. kudos to you hangfire i’m impressed.
hangfire totally got it coming too. however, i do feel...hurt in his death, if only for ellington’s sake. during the walk because i realize ellington reminded me of a character from a different fandom i’m in. there’s some differences that i won’t get into (it’s...complicated for the other fandom), but they’re cut from almost the same cloth: teenage girls with shitty fathers who are using them for their own selfish goals. thoughts for ellington and her future formed faster for me than for the other atwq kids as a result:
post-canon!ellington (a few days later when she finally gets her stuff figure out), has a simple list. 1: avoiding anyone with a vfd tattoo or give shady lemon vibes -ellington split asap after she and kit broke out and have 100% certainly no one is after them, but not before stealing some things from kit, one being notes of vfd volunteers (she thinks). 2: find a new place to live. 3: figure out a new name that isn’t an anagram, because the inhumane society once they heard the news, is probably going to try to get her if they get wind she is hangfire’s daughter and possible ‘successor’. ellington wants nothing to do with the bombinating beast. she never wants to see the statue or anything similar, or hear the words again.
adult!ellington (under a fake name of course), while accepting all that happened, hasn’t forgive lemony snicket. yes, her dad was a villain. yes, she finally understand her dad isn’t the kind naturalist and man, and used her for the biggest ‘what’ event of her life that is also a very selfish goal. many times in the past though, ellington wonders if she missed any signs of her dad’s descend to who he eventually became, or if he hid it very well to where he was wearing two masks all this time, one hiding his true nature. ellington even wonders at one point, dad was going convince her to willingly work with him without the fake kidnapping and had to change his plans to something crueler.
ellington will never know for sure. this is why ellington can’t forgive lemony and will say it to face if they ever meet again. what ellington hates the most out of her father’s death is that she can never tell dad all of her feelings about his wrong doings. she can ask all the questions burning at the back of her mind, or yell her frustrations how terrible a father he is for faking his kidnapping and getting her to do his dirty work, getting her to use her loyalty of family to do things she would never do under normal circumstances. she ask questions and yells at the only photo left of armstrong feint...
and in the end, she knows he’ll never answer, and it hurts to deal with the unknown. adult!ellington doesn’t do the yelling and questioning to the photo as much. partly because she did ‘settle’ on what might be an possible answer, but mostly because the photo is pretty faded to where it’s less ‘armstrong feint’ and more ‘hangfire’. once in awhile though, she slips up like old times.
adult!ellington with her new life (she travels a lot, pays in cash most of the time, and has no set resident; she still love coffee) tends to think of the past, especially when it came to what she had with lemony snicket. did lemony like her? was she just a question in need of solving? ellington admits to possibly liking him, but it was so long ago maybe she just thinks she liked him to have a ‘positive’ memory of the boy she haven’t seen in years that she kind of wants to see again, if only to yell at him for robbing her of something important. his name lands on her radar a lot, twice from the daily punctilio. the first one was learning of lemony snicket’s crimes, and it was an accident.
the second time, she learn of his death, though she read the daily punctilio on purpose in hopes of a name drop. adult!ellington ended up finding some children’s book, and made the mistake of going to the back of it and find a photo of lemony snicket. not really though. lemony is hiding his face (ellington hates it) and she buys it to know what it’s about. it spiral to where she bought the next two books because she wants to know if the baudelaires orphans are real (and because lemony doesn’t seem the same anymore from his writings). ellington settles on real when she pulls out kit snicket’s notes she stolen and cross references names, and even travels to the locations to them to make sure. after the third book publication, the series goes on ‘hiatus’ due to the daily punctilio and their announcement. ellington doubts he’s dead, but couldn’t help attend the funeral. ellington is certain lemony snicket is alive, because she convinced she saw him at his own funeral.
#atwq#all the wrong questions#why is this night different from all other nights#ellington feint#hangfire#asoue#a series of unfortunate events#netflix asoue#asoue netflix#lemony snicket#spoilers#this is a text post
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Carry On Secret Santa 2k19
Baz
You always look so happy when you are with Wellbelove. You both shine bright like suns, the perfect match for each other. Your light blinds everyone but her.
"Your light even blinds vampires, Simon Snow," I whisper to myself as I watch Simon shove a sour cherry scone into his face. Even from the Slytherin table, I can see the crumbs coating the sides of his mouth and sticking to his red and gold tie. He always seems to be eating. Simon's stomach is a bottomless pit. Simon is what I call him in my head. It's my own secret pleasure, something that I can't say aloud.
“What was that?” Dev mumbles around a mouthful of food. If I had fed recently I would be blushing. Everyone around me is eating breakfast and I’m staring down at an empty plate.
“Nothing.” I sigh and move my eyes away from Simon to look at Dev. My cousin is sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Niall, the two pressed close together. They haven’t come out to me yet, but I can tell that something is going on between them. Salazar, they must think that I have no brain. Of course, I’ve seen the longing glances between them. I’m not going to force Dev to talk to me. I know how it feels to be keeping a part of yourself a secret and I would hate for someone to forcibly out me, whether for being gay or for being a vampire.
I’m shaken out of my thoughts by the sudden movement of Niall. He and Dev are standing up to go to class, along with the majority of the student body at Hogwarts. I stand up and follow them out of the double doors that open up into the Great Hall. I don’t look back at Simon Snow beaming at a girl with beautiful blonde hair who sits where I want to be.
———
Simon
I walk into Potions next to Penny and stop suddenly in the doorway. She gives me an annoyed look but keeps walking, nodding to Professor Zabini before going to sit in our usual seats.
The reason I stopped was because of the smell in the room. It smells just like Baz, cedar, and bergamot filling the air, but Baz isn’t here. I saw him leave the Great Hall with Dev and Niall before I did, but he must have stopped somewhere along the way to class. Probably at the library. Whenever I go looking for him, eight times out of ten Baz will be at the library.
I shake my head and go sit next to Penny. “Why does it smell like Baz in here?” I whisper to her.
She looks at me strangely, up to the chalkboard at the front of the classroom, and then back to me. “Simon, do you know what is in that cauldron?” Penny asks me, pointing to the cast-iron cauldron at the front of the room.
“Uh, no?” I answer. It still smells like Baz, but he hasn’t shown up for class yet. Penny has insisted upon being early to every class that we take together this year.
Penny laughs at the expression on my face. “Simon, our lesson today is about Amortentia. It’s a love potion that causes you to smell what attracts you.”
“But that would mean... no, I don’t have a crush on Baz. Just because Agatha and I decided that we were better off as friends... no, I don’t have a crush on Baz.” I shake my head. I just know that my face is bright red. Unlike Baz, his face never turns bright red unless he’s just fed.
Penny laughs again. “Whatever you say, Simon.” As I turn back to the door, I hear her mutter to herself, “That makes a lot more sense.”
I see Dev and Niall come through the doorway but Baz stops short just as I did. If it was even possible, he became even paler. Then he bolts away, not even acknowledging Professor Zabini.
“I’m going to go after him.” I stand up and run after Baz, not caring what other people think. Maybe the reason that I’ve been so obsessed with Baz isn’t because I think that he’s my enemy or that he’s plotting.
I find Baz in a corridor that’s practically hidden. He’s curled up into a ball, arms wrapped around his legs.
“Baz,” I breath out, his name pretty from my lips.
Baz
Simon says my name and I fall a little bit more impossibly in love with him.
But it will never work.
“Go away! Go away, Snow!” I yell at him and I watch his retreating back.
If he is the sun, then I am a black hole. I pull everything and everyone close to me down, down into my darkness. It will never work, and I will live forever loving the sun that will never love me.
Author’s Note: This is a Secret Santa gift for @the-clueless-philosopher ! I really hope that you like it! I’m sick and that’s the reason that it’s so short, but I managed to write and post this on time. I’m sorry that I didn’t follow your request exactly, but I hope that you like it!
#snowbaz fanfiction#tyrannus basilton grimm pitch#carry on secret santa 2019#carry on#snowbaz#simon snow
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Fantastic Four Vol 1 #196
Sun Aug 25 2019 [01:53 PM] Wack'd: Normally I don't post covers but there's a lot going on here
[01:53 PM] Bocaj: A lot to unpack [01:54 PM] Wack'd: So for the record [01:55 PM] Wack'd: What actually happened was that Skrulls abducted Franklin Storm out of prison, replaced him with a Skrull. Skrull Storm then broke out of prison and claimed he'd given himself superpowers and was now a supervillain [01:55 PM] Wack'd: "The Invincible Man" [01:56 PM] Wack'd: When the Four figured out the truth, the Skrulls send Franklin Storm back with a gun strapped to his chest, but rather than murder his kids he dropped to the floor so the gunshot would rebound on him [01:56 PM] Wack'd: So, uh, no. By no metric did Sue and Johnny "murder" him [01:57 PM] Wack'd: This was all back in the 60s which I read a fucktillion years ago in 2016 so I hope that recap helped [01:57 PM] Bocaj: That sure is nonsense [01:58 PM] Wack'd: In fairness. Not bad revenge for being tricked by a comic book and having your soldiers turned into cows [01:58 PM] Bocaj: Fair [01:59 PM] Wack'd: So anyway Reed is in a hypnosis chamber to have his will broken so he'll kill his friends [01:59 PM] Wack'd: When his new bosses said that there was free mental health treatment I don't think this is what Reed had in mind [02:01 PM] Bocaj: Truly businesses supporting mental health hasn't gotten any better since the 70s... [02:01 PM] Wack'd: This mystery man who may or may not be Franklin Storm somehow has cannibalized Psycho-Man's suit for more effective hypnosis. You might remember him from the Four 1967 annual [02:01 PM] Wack'd: Also other stuff [02:03 PM] Wack'd: Also his assistant is Hauptmann, from the 85-87 arc where Doom tries to trap the Four in Latveria forever [02:03 PM] Wack'd: I really should be keeping a running list of who's been doing the most cannibalizing from the 60s [02:03 PM] Wack'd: Because jesus fuck have we been on a continuity kick lately [02:04 PM] Wack'd: BACK TO HOLLYWOOD [02:05 PM] Wack'd: Sue tries desperately to pretend she's had a single meaningful conversation with Johnny since 1964
[02:06 PM] Bocaj:
"Hey.... you" "Its me, Johnny! The loveable rascal! Your brother!" "Right right right of course!" -to Reed- "I have no idea who that is"
[02:06 PM] Wack'd: I'd like to nominate Keith Pollard for worst-ever drawing of any child, ever
[02:06 PM] Bocaj: Kill it with fire [02:07 PM] Wack'd: Maybe Pollard is just...bad at art?
[02:08 PM] Wack'd: The coloring isn't helping though [02:08 PM] Umbramatic: oh god [02:08 PM] maxwellelvis: I was about to say [02:08 PM] maxwellelvis: Good lord! First-phase Liefeld's Syndrome! [02:10 PM] Wack'd: Something I haven't mentioned is that Agatha is now Franklin Richards' live-in nanny which, I think, would probably have been a smarter writing choice from the beginning [02:10 PM] Bocaj: Oh so she returned to the job? [02:10 PM] Wack'd: It was always kinda weird that Reed and Sue had to shlep out to Agatha's house to see their kid [02:10 PM] Bocaj: This must have been around the time she told Wanda 'I've taught you all I can, laters' [02:10 PM] Wack'd: Yeah since New Salem and also her house got got she's been following around Sue and Franklin, including to Hollywood [02:12 PM] Wack'd: So Sue, Ben, and Johnny go sightseeing, and talk about reforming the team. Only problem is convincing Reed [02:12 PM] Wack'd: They arrive on the Walk of Fame, and--
[02:12 PM] Wack'd: I am officially declaring Pollard the worst [02:13 PM] maxwellelvis: AHH! ART ATTACK! [02:13 PM] Umbramatic: my eyes [02:13 PM] maxwellelvis: THE ART IS COMING RIGHT AT US! [02:14 PM] Wack'd: Ben tries to get an autograph but is shoed away by cops [02:14 PM] Wack'd: Who think he's a guy in a costume because Let's Make Another Deal™ is shooting across the street [02:15 PM] Wack'd: Okay, I laughed
[02:16 PM] Bocaj: Hah [02:16 PM] Wack'd: *Alex Ross goes on to use this panel as the basis for his drawings of Sue and Johnny* [02:16 PM] Bocaj: To choose which celebrities they look like? [02:16 PM] Wack'd: Yes [02:16 PM] Wack'd: Dats da joke [02:17 PM] Bocaj: Is it a joke? I thought you were seriously imparting trivia [02:18 PM] Wack'd: It was a joke, I can't actually name the celebrities off the top of my head that Alex Ross picks, sorry [02:18 PM] Wack'd: So the scenes from the cover happen but they're hallucinated in the middle of this lovely restaurant [02:19 PM] Wack'd: Also, this
[02:20 PM] Wack'd: So apparently this was all a battle in the center of the mind not in physical space. Sue, Johnny, and Ben lose, allowing Invincible Man to extract them from the restaurant [02:21 PM] Wack'd: Just another day in Hollyweird, lol
[02:22 PM] Wack'd: So back at Reed's new job, it turns out Invisible Man was--REED! [02:22 PM] Wack'd: He was hypnotized [02:23 PM] Bocaj: 😐 [02:23 PM] Bocaj: Another Evil Reed? [02:23 PM] Wack'd: But then he snaps out of it and gets angry so they're all thrown in a dungeon [02:23 PM] Bocaj: Another Evil But Its Not His Fault Honest Reed?? [02:23 PM] Wack'd: YEP [02:23 PM] Bocaj: Weird trend lately [02:23 PM] Wack'd: I know, right? [02:25 PM] Wack'd: I maintain that Wein was throwing a hissy fit over the idea of Reed having character flaws. But Wein is gone, and it's a weird grudge for two consecutive writers to hold, especially when the divorce arc has been over for like 45 issues [02:26 PM] Bocaj: Maybe the current writer is just copying Wein [02:26 PM] Wack'd: Maybe [02:27 PM] ThreeOfFour: someone tell The Maker he isn't special [02:27 PM] Wack'd: So anyway Reed agrees to go back to work because otherwise his friends die I guess [02:28 PM] Bocaj: Hey, the Maker. You're not special [02:29 PM] Wack'd: ...this guy hasn't appeared before this issue so I'm not sure why I'm supposed to care here
[02:30 PM] Wack'd: I actually went back and checked just now to see if this guy was in other issues at Reed's new job and no, he's not, Wolfman introduced to this supposedly important character just to make a joke about the fact that he's not important [02:31 PM] Wack'd: The beginning of the issue kind of implies that he's the mysterious man in chair? But there's a panel later on that implies it's Doom, so [02:32 PM] Wack'd: So this is what Reed's been working on
[02:32 PM] Bocaj: The set of a high budget fantasy movie? [02:32 PM] Wack'd: These mirrors are so powerful that they will drive you insane if you look at them with your eyes open, and even with your eyes closed it's not great [02:32 PM] Bocaj: why [02:33 PM] Wack'd: I guess this is what they thought solar power would be like in 1978 [02:34 PM] Wack'd: The Red-Haired Man is also planning on getting Reed his stretching back for some reason [02:35 PM] Wack'd: Back in the dungeon, Sue uses her force fields to break the team's shackle and the--okay
[02:35 PM] Wack'd: I know Janet has that whole speech about how when you focus on power sets and not what each personality brings to the team, you don't build something that lasts as long as the Avengers do [02:36 PM] Wack'd: That said I'm kinda feeling like Sue can do everything Reed could with far less threat of bodily harm [02:36 PM] Bocaj: But can she be a giant asshole who tells the others what to do all the time? [02:36 PM] Wack'd: Fair [02:37 PM] Wack'd: Also why are so many artists convinced Sue's powers come from her forehead [02:37 PM] Bocaj: That’s where psychic powers come from [02:39 PM] Wack'd: I should probably take a moment to point out the interior blue highlights on Sue's powers, an embellishment that will gradually lead to more dynamic illustrations and the eventual obsolescence of the classic dotted-line look
[02:40 PM] Umbramatic: Sue's slow evolution into one of the most powerful people in Marvel pleases me [02:41 PM] Wack'd: Anyway no sooner do they escape then they are immediately re-captured by Doom, who let them escape because they are powerless and he is great and yada yada yada [02:42 PM] Umbramatic: DOOOOOOM [02:43 PM] Bocaj: "There would be no plot if DOOM did not allow you fools to escape"
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