#maria the lost boys

[them-bo-dacious]

*laddie is asking*

[goblin-iz-whack]

Somebody send me Marizzo asks

[misslavenderlady]

The Boys Who Wouldn’t Grow Up - Chapter 19

Summary: After witnessing the horrors his former friends have committed, David is desperate to be human again and end this nightmare. Thankfully, he has a friend who wants to fix things just as badly as he does.

WARNINGS FOR THIS CHAPTER: There are major plot reveals in this, so please read my previous chapters if you haven't or need a refresher. This has themes of manipulation, use of powers on someone against their will, torture, mental/emotional abuse, talk of murder/killing

Credit to news.com.au and conventionallstars.com for pics

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Getting a proper night's sleep was not working out well for Marko. Not only was he worried about what was going on with his brother and where he was right now, but he couldn't stop thinking about the interaction he had with Lucy before she left for the night. Something about that woman had rubbed him the wrong way and the scary changes David was experiencing made him wonder if this was an entirely new problem he had to be cautious about.    If Lucy truly was a problem in the making, then dealing with her dating his father would have to be dealt with later. A loud thump came from his bedroom window, rattling the glass and startling him into jumping out of his bed. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could finally see what had caused such a noise.    David was staring back at him from the outside, eyes wide and frantic and forehead dripping with sweat. It was an absolute miracle that Marko didn’t scream from the shock of such a sight. Not wasting a second he threw the covers off his body and sprinted over to the window to let his brother inside. He couldn’t risk having him fly off into the sky without any control of his powers again.   “Finally! I’ve been totally freaking out all night. I was hoping you’d get home ASAP,” Marko scolded his older brother while lifting the window open. “Holy shit, you look like you’ve seen a ghost”   David shook his head as he climbed into the bedroom, firmly planting his feet on the ground so he wouldn’t have to do any more flying.

  “No, I saw a vampire,” he clarified, voice shaking. “Four of them, actually”

  Now it was Marko’s turn to look freaked out. He ushered David further into his room, pulling up the chair from his desk so he could sit down. David looked more than grateful for the seat, exhaustion settling in from all of the stress he’d just gone through. He wanted to collapse to the ground and just shut his eyes. Never wake up again.    But he couldn’t. Even if he wanted to every time he shut his eyes he saw those images of death and brutality in his head. All those young faces twisting in looks of utter terror as they were slaughtered left and right. When he didn’t see that, David was taunted by the sinister smiles of Michael and his brothers. Their massive fangs stained with innocent blood.   David didn’t even have to say anything for Marko to understand the gravity of the situation. He’d never seen his brother so broken and scared in his life. It was best to be careful. Patient. Just stay by his side and help to fix this mess.   “David, listen to me,” Marko spoke softly, kneeling down by his brother. “My friends and I can help you. I know you’re scared, but they know what they’re doing. Just tell me who these vampires were and we can take them down. Maybe if we kill the right one you’ll go back to normal and we can put this mess behind us!”   The idea of his little brother going after those bloodsuckers didn’t make David feel any better. Marko was still human and vulnerable. If Michael had been so ruthless with those kids, he’d be even worse with someone David was close to.    Before he could even get a word out there was a third voice. One calling to them from outside. 

  “David! David, are you there?!”

  The two boys shared a glance at one another. Marko looked confused but David made it very clear he knew exactly who that voice belonged to. He pushed himself out of the chair and ran over to the window, sticking his head out to see the person calling him from below.    Maria. Dark curls moved in the wind and a shawl tightly wrapped around her frame.   “Oh thank God! David, please can I come in? I have to talk and I don’t have much time”   David opened his mouth to speak, but a hand quickly slapped in front of it. Marko wasn’t about to let a monster in their house if she was one of the vampires that his brother had interacted with.   “No goddamn way! You’re not hurting my family!” he snapped at her before dragging his brother back into the room. He didn’t get far as David elbowed him in the ribs so he’d let go.    “She’s not like them, Marko! Don’t talk to her that way!” David scolded him. Although he was about to turn around and call out to her again, he got quite the surprise when he saw her in Marko’s room, just standing a few feet away from them. A look of pure guilt was spread across her face, no doubt from entering their home without permission.   Although David looked at her with affection, Marko quite had the opposite expression. He moved in adrenaline-fueled haste, throwing open the drawer of his desk and getting out the gift that his grandmother had been smart to give him the other knife. Pushing David out of the way, he held up the naval dirk, positioning himself in a fight stance just as Dwayne and Paul had shown him before.   “Get away from my brother you she-witch!” he scowled at her. Maria’s eyes widened and her hands lifted in a surrender-like gesture.    “Goddamnit, Marko, calm down!” David snapped. A hand grabbed at the back of Marko’s t-shirt, tugging backward to send the curly-haired boy falling back onto the bed. He still held the knife in his hand but was looking far less confident and brave now.   Seeing David act in her defense put Maria in a far more calm state. She lowered her hands and stayed where she was, not wanting to startle Marko anymore. David kept his eyes on her as he reached out to her, pulling her in close so she knew he still trusted her. Even though things had gone so wrong, he still had his faith in her.

“I know what you are, Maria. What I am,” he said. “I saw it for myself. Michael and the others…they….fuck th-they killed a bunch of kids. Barely out of high school…I…”   Maria put a hand on his cheek, letting him soften and relax into her touch. Everything was getting so intense and he had never felt more scared of the future in his entire life. The look in her eyes told him she understood.   “It’s my fault, David,” she whispered. “That night….at the concert…I was supposed to kill you and complete my transformation”   Tears were welling up, glistening over her dark brown eyes. David could see the faded remains of his reflection in them. It was a painful reminder of what was happening to him.   “I couldn’t do it. I was so hungry, yet I knew in my heart I couldn’t kill you. Anyone, really. You were so kind and wonderful, I knew from the moment we danced together I couldn’t let Michael make me into a monster. You gave me hope, David. That meant the world to me”   “Yeah, but you’re still one of them!!” Marko snapped, sitting up on his bed. He shut his mouth again when David looked over his shoulder for a moment to glare at him.   “Later on Michael said the plans changed. He wanted you to join the Lost Boys. That’s why he invited you to hang out on the boardwalk. I know he seemed kind and friendly, but he just wanted to make himself look better…”

  That truly confused David. He had assumed the meetup with the boys was a pure coincidence. He had felt so lucky to see Maria again and when the others met up he assumed it was to see her. That special night was just a way to manipulate him?   “You’re kidding me…”   “I….D-David…it’s not just that…”

  Tears were slipping past her lashes now, falling down her cheeks as the guilt got stronger. It was absolutely breaking David’s heart and lowering Marko’s confidence that she was a monster like the others. Neither one of them had seen someone so vulnerable in their lives.   “Michael…he…he’s starving me…” she explained. “He won’t let me eat any human food. That’s why I had an empty plate at dinner the other night. He’s trying to push me to make my first kill”   That was why Maria felt so frail when he held her in his arms! Why she was so somber during their dinner. What kind of sadistic fuck starved someone so proudly?   “I have to sneak drinks from the bottle he gave you during the daytime when he’s asleep. It’s the only thing keeping me alive. Keeping me half-human like you”

  “The bottle…” he repeated. “So it wasn’t wine I drank. It was-”   “Blood,” Maria finished, confirming his worst fears. “Michael’s blood”

  If David wasn’t already disgusted by Michael’s actions, he certainly was now. It was all making sense to him. He was so sick and tired and turning more and more into a monster with these powers. Seeing the woman he cared about suffer at his hand made it even worse.    “What happens if you try to leave or get actual food?” David asked her. Both of his hands were on each side of her face, gently moving the tears away. He was scared he’d break her with just the wrong touch.   Maria’s frown worsened as she gave her answer.   “He tortures me,” she whimpered.   Now even Marko was concerned about her. The blade slipped out of his hand and he stood up once again to stand by his brother. Right at that moment, David looked like he was preparing to strangle Michael with his bare hands.   “It’s one of h-his powers…he’ll g-get inside your h-head..and…and he’ll say things…m-make you do things…he’ll put your l-life at risk just so you’ll give in…”   Her crying was morphing into sobbing now. Maria moved in closer to David, clutching onto him as tightly as possible as huge drops of tears stained the front of his shirt. It was so clear to him that she had been holding back all of these feelings for far too long now.    He was truly worried about her, but her words made him think about something he had experienced too.   “Maria..” he spoke softly. “When Michael does that to you, does it feel like he’s speaking in your brain? Like you can feel him pulling you in to listen and do something?”   “Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like”

  It felt like a bomb had been dropped on David. A devastating explosion that scattered in his mind as he thought back to every time he felt that pull from the sound of Michael's voice alone.

The alleyway. The backyard. The drop over the ocean. The drink.   The train.

  Michael hadn’t saved him that night. He was the one who pulled him onto the tracks in the first place. Putting him in danger and then swooping in at the last second to play the hero.    Michael manipulated every single experience David had since the moment he arrived in Santa Carla. Making him do things he’d never do. Open up about his pain and struggles only to use them to his advantage. Trying to take him away from his own family. And the worst of all, murdering innocent kids no older than David himself.    All this time he thought he owed Michael as a friend for saving him at his worst moment. Now he truly saw him for what he was.    Evil.    He didn’t have to express his realizations for Maria to understand what pain he was feeling. She simply held him tighter, not daring to let go. Marko added to the comfort, placing a hand on David’s back to show his support.   “That night at dinner I tried to use my own powers,” she explained. “I thought if I scared you away with something horrifying you’d run off and stay away from Michael. But I’m only half a vampire and my hunger is making me weak. I couldn’t keep the illusion for more than a few seconds”   So that’s why he saw all that blood and gore when they all ate together! It wasn’t him going crazy, she had been trying to save him. To see her feel such failure for her attempt only hurt his heart more.   “Maria…fuck, I’m so sorry…” was all David managed to say.    “Me too,” Marko added. He had a look of guilt now, regretting the threats he made earlier. “I shouldn’t have acted like that. I just wanted to help save my brother”   She nodded, a soft, understanding smile on her face. Though her expression was sweet, her eyes still showed a great sense of sadness.    “I do too. Becoming what I am was a big mistake. I want to go back to being human and live my life again. The only problem is that there’s one way we can do that being what we are…”   The brothers gave each other a look. Even if they didn’t have to say the obvious answer, it was David who spoke it out loud.  

“We have to kill Michael, don’t we?”

  “Yes,” Maria answered. “But I don’t know if I can even ask that of you. Michael is far from innocent, but taking another life is not an easy thing to do. Even with my hunger growing stronger the idea scares me…”   David didn’t have the right words for such a thing. He swore he wouldn’t become like the monster Michael truly was, but there really wasn’t a choice here. They didn’t just have to become human again, they had to save all the other innocent lives of Santa Carla before they became the next meal for the vampire family.    “But maybe it’s for the best that I face my fears and take him on myself. I can’t let Michael manipulate me any longer, and I certainly can’t let him hurt you,” Maria sighed. She slipped out of David’s embrace and put a hand onto the ledge of the window. “David, whatever happens, please know that I care about you. I truly can’t thank you enough for being there for me”   “Maria,” David started. He didn’t get to finish his sentence. She silenced him with a soft kiss, squeezing his hand in comfort as she did so. He remembered how icy her touch was the night they met. Even though he was just as cold now, he longed to make her warm again. Human again.   It wasn’t until the whipping of the winds from outside the window hit his skin that he realized she was gone. Out into the night sky once again. David’s heart hammered in his chest, fearing the worst for her.    “David, listen to me,” Marko said, interrupting his thoughts. “She’s not going to have to do this alone. Tomorrow when the sun’s up I’m gonna get Dwayne and Paul. We’re gonna be the ones to take down this bastard”   “Are you insane?! I saw these guys tear bodies apart like they were tissue paper! I’m not letting you go out there and get yourself killed”   “And I’m not letting you fight this battle on your own!” the younger boy insisted. He grabbed hold of David’s shoulders, holding him in place. “You’re not alone in this, David. You never were alone. Let me help you with this, please. Just get your sleep when the morning comes. My friends and I are going to take care of this vampire problem and save you and Maria”   As much as David hated to admit it, he really couldn’t do this by himself. He truly was terrified of what Michael was and what he himself would become if he gave into the thirst growing within. If Marko truly had a way to help take Michael down, then David would have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. 

  “I’m gonna save you. I promise”   For the first time all night, David was able to smile again. A small, tired smile, but a smile nonetheless. How could he possibly doubt his own family?

[lostbetweenvampiresandmusic]

Changes chapter 45

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The second she had run out of the house, Julie flew up into the sky. She didn't care if she was seen and if some mortal would freak out. She was freaked out.

She had recognised Lucy, vaguely at first, but the more the woman had talked te more familiar she'd seem. And then, of course, there was the boy she had recognised as Sam. Sam, who she remembered, from the summer camp Michael had talked to her about. Sam who seemed to know about vampires and how to recognise them. Sam, who seemed more than ready to reveal their true nature to everyone.

As she landed on the roof of Max' house, she pulled her legs up, leaning her head on her knees. Only then, when she was sitting there alone, thinking about all that had happened the past weeks, did she dare to let the tears flow.

She cried, thick, bloody tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were bloodred as she looked up at the shadow looming over her.

"Dwayne?"

Maria stood in front of the grave, a fresh bouquet of flowers in her hands. "I'm sorry, Shell," she said quietly, placing the flowers on the marble headstone. "It shouldn't have been you. You saved me in there."

She was quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

"I'm going to try and take this company down. They'll burn for what they did to us. You'll be remembered," she added with a soft sigh. "I just hope you find more peace in your next life."

With those words, she left the grave behind, stepping into her car. She had a job to do.

"Is she alright?" Lucy asked as she sent her son and his friends upstairs.

"This was probably a bit much for her," Max said with an apologetic smile. "She's been through a lot, and sometimes that means her instincts will go in over drive."

"I don't know what happened to her, but I am quite certain that she is my niece. I want to make sure she is, before I inform my sister."

Max nodded, wondering quietly whether or not vampire dna would even work in a dna test.

"I'll ask her if she's okay with that." He brought the last plates to the kitchen, opening the tab and getting some dish soap. Lucy was about to protest, but by seeing his determined look, she decided not to. Instead, she grabbed the towel so she could dry the cleaned dishes.

"What was she like before all this?" Max asked, as he placed a soapy cup on the counter.

"She's always been a bit quiet, but she did have a, well, you know, quite a temper, pulling pranks. She knew how to have fun. Oh, and she was such a wonderful singer!"

Max smiled, a hint of sorrow apparent in it. Not once had he heard her sing, not even after returning her voice.

"She also liked cooking. Whenever she stayed with me, she'd always love to help."

"I'm afraid she's not longer like that," Max said honestly, looking at Lucy. "The people who took her, they broke her. They took a lot from her. It's been almost a year now since I fostered her, and she's come very far in that time."

Lucy nodded. "You're a good man, Max. Not many would do what you did."

"I'm certain you'd do the exact same thing, Lucy."

The woman blushed, a shy smile on her face. "Well..."

Max grinned, looking at her. "May I propose that we'll have dinner again, tomorrow. At my place. I believe Sam isn't quite ready yet to see you dating someone."

"I am so sorry about him, I really don't know what has gotten into that boy!"

"He's probably just scared I am going to replace his father," Max shrugged, "It's normal for boys his age to act like that."

"Well, if you're certain. But I would love to have dinner at your place." She gave him a small peck on his cheek. "And please tell Julie that if she wants to join, she absolutely can. I don't want her to feel unwelcome in her -" she paused for a second, realising the truth of her words, "her own home."

Max smiled, nodding. "Will do. I'll see you tomorrow at seven."

Dwayne didn't say anything as he sat down next to the weeping girl, gently pulling her closer. "Just let it all out," he said softly as his hand brushed absentmindedly through her hair. Julie didn't say anything as she cried and cried, and after a good thirty minutes, there was not a single tear left in her body.

"What has gotten you so upset?"

"Everything," Julie looked at him. "Everything is just so - my friend was killed, Maria is leaving town, I haven't seen any of you for ages, Max is dating a woman who happens to be my aunt but I barely remember her and it is so awkward and weird, and then her son seems to know about vampires and seems to be determined that either Max or I are vampires, and then David also acts like an asshole towards me and I just don't know why."

"I didn't think you wanted to see me. You were quite cold yourself when I came to check on you."

Julie nodded quietly, knowing that that was true.

"What scares you most about Max dating this woman?"

"That it's true," she said quietly. "That my mom really is out there, but that I don't remember her correctly or at all. Or that she'll think that Max hurt me, while all he did was safe me."

Dwayne nodded, thinking about an answer. "Sounds to me like you're just scared to see your mum again. I don't think she'd care about Max, I think she'd just be happy to see you again."

David was quiet as he saw Star feed, finally making her first kill. He had given her an ultimatum, and he felt a quiet satisfaction that she had finally agreed to do it. Things had been a mess lately. He had already admitted to himself that even though Star wasn't necessarily his type, there was something about her that made him want to be around her.

And then she brought Michael in. David shook his head, wondering if he ever could manage to get him to feed.

He distanced himself from Star, waiting next to a telephone box. Inside the phone was ringing. David stepped inside, closed the door, and picked up the horn.

"I assume you did as we demanded."

"Yes." Was all he answered, a sense of dread spreading through his bones. This was bad, he knew. Really bad.

When the Frogs got home later that night, leaving Sam behind at his place, they were certain of one thing. That girl had been a vampire, and that man was her protector. And it was their task as junior vampire hunters to do something about it. They grinned as they looked at each other, gathering the stakes they'd made.

Tomorrow, they'd slay a vampire.

Next chapter >

[witchofthemidlands]

THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES || THE LOST BOY

in which the single dad from across the road who, has known about the existence of aliens for less than twenty four hours, is more suss about an alien computer from unknown origin than the woman with decades of experience & who has traveled through space & time

[shima-draws]

So apparently my brain has decided to get back into Sonic again I say already 27 episodes through rewatching Sonic X. Anyway. I love my kids ESPECIALLY Chris to this day I do not understand why people hate on him so much. He’s baby

[legendaryjarcollection]

Blinks awake. The lost boys fake dating au where Michael and Star pretend to be together to keep them both from being outed

[soupforsoup]

My roman empire is that in the lost boy luke is wearing the same shirt over a day after he goes to the "staffords", meaning they didn't bother to have any clothes for him

can you hear the sound of my heart bREAKING

[meatriarchived2]

i just think when it comes to post-house esp hospital moments, how virginia would have been right there for every single one of those kiddos until someone came to be by their bedside. and if no one did? then well she's parking herself with them, then. how she'd take the time to help explain to them, their parents, etc whatever procedures they were about to have done so it wasnt as scary, if they were awake enough prior to getting them. how, sure, she ma not know every little thing about nursing and all but she can sure as hell call the drs or nurses out when they behave dismissively towards them and their pain or injuries. how she goes into mama lioness mode for each of them if theyre being crowded by police or reporters in, or out, of the hospital and scolds the absolute hell out of them all for harassing them when they need to heal. literally like how fucking dare you listen to these kids now, demanding answers now, when all you lost did was brush them off before it came to any of this. where the fuck were you all before?

and how, flip-side, mama flores is so heartbroken for them all. she barely has the strength to have gotten herself to the hospital and the stress of seeing them all in those states does Nothing Good for her but by god is she so furiously upset with the adults around them all. catch her a sobbing mess near-screaming at the officers for doing absolutely fuck all this entire time, cursing them for not looking for her little girl so that these kids didnt feel like they werent being listened to and take off to do their jobs themselves. her daughter is dead or missing, she almost lost another - and both bc the fucking sheriffs reporters etc didnt do their jobs properly to find maria. and now look? these poor kids are all in absolute messes, on deaths door, and you're in there harassing them and dismissing what they went through as some wild party in the desert gone wrong or something? her heart is an open wound for each of them and theres so much love in her that they had cared for maria so dearly to have gone looking for her but shes so torn apart at the states they returned home in.

[people-are-strange-87]

Pride

[thingsasbarcodes]

The Sarah Jane Adventures - The Lost Boy: Part 2

[them-bo-dacious]

i said what i said

[goblin-iz-whack]

Ask and you shall receive! 👀

🦇 : how did they meet?

🏹 : what is oc’s relationship with the other canon characters?

🍷: favorite thing about your oc?

💋: what motifs/symbols do you associate with your ship?

🫀 : is there anything your oc and canon character don’t like about each other?

🌹: is their relationship healthy, or more unhealthy/complicated?

🥀: favorite thing about your ship?

�� : how did they meet?

Well, Rizzo ended up as part of David's gang after a lot of weed and a lot of partying. My headcanons for Maria differs from whats canon by the way: Maria was already part of the group, but she preferred to live more domestically. You know, like with an actual house- Of course, she also has a job and generally likes to be around actual people, unlike the others. Rizzo met her and she fell in love at first sight lol. The boys were tormenting Max and she caught her eye and immediately said some stupid pickup line ("I seem to have lost my number, can I borrow yours?") Maria took a little longer to fall for her but Rizzo lives up to her name (Haha...Rizz) and she charmed her. Their first date was at the drive-in theater.

🏹 : what is oc’s relationship with the other canon characters?

That's a loaded question but some simplification:

She respects David, he likes her usefulness, what with the premonitions and all.

Her and Dwayne like to skate together (he skateboards and she rollerblades), they take Laddie with them.

She's besties with Marko, they wreak havoc together. They have a kind of yin and yang design thing going on? Marko's jacket is detailed and his pants are kind of plain while Rizzo's pants are detailed and her jacket is plain.

Her and Paul like to party and vandalize public property together, but they're less actual friends and more like "If you threw a party I'd go to it but I wouldn't go to your funeral" friends, like idk situational friends? However you'd describe it.

She loves Laddie. Everybody loves Laddie.

Max is basically her Dad, Max is everybody's dad-

She likes Star, they're kind of opposites but they get along pretty good. Girls gotta stick together (and maybe briefly dated in the past 👀).

Michael didn't take much notice of her because bro was out of his mind the whole time he was in Hudson's Bluff- But they probably get along, I doubt they're that close though.

Since everybody lives in my headcanons, I think she gets along well with Lucy and Sam. She'd love a mom figure like Lucy and she'd approve of Sam's bold style.

The Frogs hate her because she's a vampire lol

🍷: favorite thing about your oc?

I don't wanna toot my own horn but I think I'm one of the firsts (if not the first) to make a girl member of the gang that dates Maria so yippie.

💋: what motifs/symbols do you associate with your ship?

The color plum? Rizzo's main color is red and I view Maria as very purple for some reason, so mix them colors up and boom! Marizzo. Also roses, because those are Maria's favorite and Rizzo gets them for her often.

🫀 : is there anything your oc and canon character don’t like about each other?

I think Rizzo wishes that Maria would just move into the cave already- she respects Maria's choice to live like a human, but at the end of the day, they're monsters. She gave up on her own humanity a while ago and thinks Maria would struggle less if she did the same.

Maria just thinks Rizzo should shower more- Vampires don't sweat but with all the weed and the general grime of the cave, she probably smells (they all do tbh) and her cherry perfume won't fix that.

🌹: is their relationship healthy, or more unhealthy/complicated?

Probably one of the healthiest in the group. I mean, Paul and Marko are pretty healthy, but they both have some extra bloodthirst that is concerning, and (This is my one kind of rarepair) Star and Dwayne have some pretty clear power imbalances and Dwayne hides his feelings...and you don't even wanna know about Michael and David-

🥀: favorite thing about your ship?

That Maria has no personality so I can do whatevs :D

[ria-coolgirl]

Awesome work 🤩 @misslavenderlady

The Boys Who Wouldn’t Grow Up - Chapter 15

Summary: David's desperate for answers about what's happening to him. But maybe what he really needs is some companionship from the woman he's grown so close to.

Credit to onventionallstars.com and fanpop.com for the pictures

WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER: Implied Sex

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

As hard as it was to see Max leave while the night was still young, Lucy ultimately understood why he had to go. The look of dread on his face when he answered the phone call at the restaurant made it very clear that something was wrong and he needed to take care of whatever problem had arisen immediately. If it was her son calling about an emergency, she’d run out of the restaurant too. Max truly was a caring father.

She had left not too long after Max did, as there were no more plans for her evening off of work. Once the bill was taken care of, she headed straight home, ultimately deciding to just have a peaceful night in. Perhaps she’d give Max a call later and check to see if he and his sons were alright. It was the least she could do. 

It was never really a pleasant experience going home. She had a beautiful house with a scenic view, but there was nobody to share it with. The silence was dreadful whenever it greeted her. She longed for someone to welcome her how with open, loving arms. All she really had for company was her dog, Nanook. Part of the reason he was trained to be her service dog was to help with the anxieties that came with being so alone.

After parking her car in her driveway, Lucy walked up the stone path to the front porch, happy to see Nanook sitting patiently where she left him. Normal dogs preferred to be put inside where they’d be safe and warm, but her dog was special. He preferred to guard the outside of her house, keeping a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity. She couldn’t ask for a better companion to keep her safe.

“Hello, Nanook!” she smiled warmly at her pup. He stood up from the step he had been sitting on to properly greet her and stand by her side in order to help her out. The clever dog could tell she was in need of some company and was ready to help care for her in the way he was trained.

“Did you have an eventful night, buddy?” Lucy cooed, kneeling down to scratch his ears and give the top of his head a kiss. His soft, fluffy fur always helped soothe her nerves. To her surprise, he wasn’t in his usual goofy mood. He was staring off behind her, eyes focused and ears tilted back as he gazed into the darkness of her yard. 

She followed her dog’s line of gaze, trying to find what he was alerting her to. When she saw the shadowy shapes not too far away, she rolled her eyes and stood back up. Not this again, she thought to herself.

“So, you’re back,” she spoke out to the figures in her yard. They remained silent. Any other person would be fearful, but not Lucy. She was much tougher than she looked. 

“Have you come to apologize? I think I deserve that after all the trouble you caused,” she said. 

“...”

“Ugh…I am not in the mood for this. Not tonight. Just do as you’re told and we won’t have this problem anymore. Understood?”

A moment passed. The silence was still hanging thick in the air. Finally, the tallest figure nodded. That was all Lucy need to hear. Her stern expression softened and a gentle smile replaced her frown. She knew they could see her just fine, even in the low light of her porch lamp. 

“Good. Now run along and play. Be good for me, okay?”

The figure nodded again before taking off with the others. Lucy was left alone yet again now. Just a dog and an empty house. All she could think about was how frustrating it all was. Why couldn’t this just be easier? Maybe she just needed to be more patient. To hope for the very best. It was all going to be okay in the end. 

She was sure of it.

By some miraculous twist of fate, David’s motorcycle had been returned, along with David himself last night. It had been tucked away in the corner of the garage, safe and sound. He snatched a rag off the workbench next to it in order to wrap up the bloody bite in his hand before moving the bike out of the space.

Wanting to sneak out before his dad showed up to give him hell for the scare Marko definitely caused, he pushed the bike through the darkness and down a side path that led away from the driveway. If he went the usual way and his father’s car pulled up with the headlights on, it would be game over.

Thankfully, he had put enough distance between himself and the house before it was safe to start the engine and ride off into the night. There was really one place he could go right now to figure this whole thing out.

The cave.

This entire whirlwind of events had started right after that dinner he had with Michael and his Lost Boys. How had things gone wrong so fast? He felt safe when they were having fun together. They had bonded, making promises to keep him safe from the terrifying aspects of the world that awaited him with time and aging.

Even when he was scared and confused hanging from the cliff, Michael kept his word and kept him from dying in the endless depth of the ocean. Michael wanted to protect him from awful things like this, so surely he could help with this mess.

The only detail that was nagging David in the back of his mind was the drink they shared. After everything that happened, he still didn’t know for sure what it was. He trusted his friends enough not to poison him, so surely it wasn’t something dangerous…right?

David hadn’t expected to get to the cave as fast as he did. His mind was so hyper-focused on getting answers and fixing this scary situation that he hadn’t really been paying attention to where he was going. Yet somehow, he found the place without any issue. That was rather odd considering he had only traveled here once, and it was with Michael’s directions, starting at an entirely different location.

So why did he get drawn to this place so naturally?

He didn’t have time to think about that right now. All he focused on was hiding his bike and getting inside. Someone had to be in the cave right now, and even if they weren’t, the boys had to come back at some point. As far as David knew, this was their only place to call home. After following the path that Michael showed him before, David found the entrance to the hotel lobby inside. Thankfully, a torch was propped up on the wall and he still had his trusty lighter in his pocket to ignite a flame to guide his way. 

Being in the cave without the others felt a lot spookier. Everything was so dark and empty and each small footstep projected in higher volume throughout the massive space. He hated feeling so frightened and weak by himself, but he had to find someone. ANYONE.

“Michael? Are you here? Hello!” David called out, not even needing to shout for his voice to travel. The deeper he went in, the more candles he was able to light. Soon, there was enough illumination for him to safely put the torch aside. He looked around the room, hoping for a sign that his friends were there.

“Michael! It’s David! Can y-”

“David! ”

The blond quickly turned in the direction of the second voice. It wasn’t Michael that answered him, but Maria. Relief washed over him as he ran over to her. She was hidden in the shadows by an alcove. There was a bed and a variety of colorful blankets and pillows scattered about it. He would have guessed it was her room, but surely with a former hotel, she’d have something bigger with more privacy, especially with four boys living here too.

“Maria! God, I’m so glad to see you,” he exclaimed, running over to her. She timidly stretched out her arms and he was more than happy to rush into them, wrapping his own around her in a hug. He was quite shocked to find that she was a lot thinner under her clothes. He knew she was slender, but he could feel her ribs under her blouse as he held her. That didn’t matter, though. It felt right to hold her like this. 

He could have held her all night if she didn’t move away to look him in the eyes. David had anticipated the same joy or relief, but that wasn’t what he was met with at all. He only saw a frightened look in her brown eyes and cheeks stained with fresh tears.

“Maria? What’s the matter? Are y-”

“Why are you here, David??” she asked, voice shaking from the threat of crying. He hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this.

“I-I’m so sorry…I…something’s happening to me…I-I came to find Michael to help me!” David explained. He was concerned now that he had been interfering in the space or her privacy, but that wasn’t what upset her. It was the mention of their dear pal Michael.

“David…you can’t be here…it’s…it’s not…safe,” Maria urged him. Her arms were no longer wrapped around his body. She had placed each hand on the side of his face, rubbing her thumbs against his scruffy cheeks. They were shaking terribly against him.

“Maria, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand…” 

She didn’t say anything for a moment. He was certain there was something crucial she had to tell him, but it was like an invisible force was silencing her. Like a hand over her mouth that he couldn’t see. All she did was grab his hand and lead him into the alcove. He didn’t question it, just followed as she guided him to sit on the bed with her. 

“I…I’m so sorry…this is all my fault…if I hadn’t talked to you at the concert….if I hadn’t…liked you so much…” 

Her thoughts were jumbled, and so were her words as a result. She clasped her hands together, fingers entwined, as she bounced her leg nervously. All David could think to do was wrap an arm around her and keep her close in a hug. If he couldn’t do anything else, he could at least be there for her.

“D-David…I was…I was supposed to do something…horrible…b-but I couldn’t…” she stuttered. More tears were flowing down her cheek. Even as he tried to wipe them away, they just kept coming. “Now Michael…he…he’s gonna keep you….and you’ll be in…d-danger…”

“Maria. Whatever you think you did that was so bad, I’m sure it’s not your fault,” he whispered to her. His other arm held her figure too, now helping him pull her closer. She was so frail and so scared. He knew what that was like, and if he knew anything about helping in a situation like this, the best thing he could do was assure her he was there for her.

“If it’s any consolation…I like you too, Maria. I…actually like you a lot…” David’s cheeks felt warmer as the sweet words came from his mouth. Maria had been so wonderful. In his eyes, she lit up the room like the sun, washing away all the dark, scary thoughts in the world. All he wanted was to keep her just as safe as she made him feel. It was the least he could do.

“You’re too kind to become one of them, David…” Maria sighed, finally looking up to meet his gaze.

“What do you mean by th-”

The words were cut off by her lips on his. Even within the first second of kissing her, David felt his heart ramp up as fast as it could possibly go. His stomach felt like it was full of butterflies and his face felt a lot warmer as he practically melted in her arms. All he wanted at that moment was to kiss her back and make her feel the exact same way.

He eagerly kissed her back, wrapping his hands over her hips and moving her to straddle his lap. Even with skin that was cool to the touch, she ignited a fire within; the temperature climbing higher and higher as their kisses got deeper and more passionate.

“David…” she whimpered, pulling away for just a moment. “I want to help you, I really do…but…please…let’s just forget everything for now…”

David understood completely. He gave her a soft smile and a nod before bringing them both down on the bed.

Even after a rather eventful night and some peaceful rest afterward, David’s head ached terribly when he awoke. It reminded him of how he felt yesterday with the sliver of sunlight causing him to feel utterly exhausted. He squinted as he forced himself to look up towards one of the holes in the cave. The sky was growing lighter as the dawn crept closer and closer. It only made him groan and put his head back against the pillow. 

He was holding Maria to his chest, their bodies only covered by one of the many blankets she owned. Even though the morning light frustrated him and his senses, David couldn’t deny that she looked positively stunning. He had only ever spent time with her at night, so this was his first chance to see her in a new light. She was the embodiment of warmth. Glowing and full of life as she slumbered next to him. It reminded him of how beautiful she was last night~

Maybe this was a sign that everything would be okay. She certainly made him feel that way. The blond held her close as he peppered kisses in her hair, on her cheek and over her neck. He was incredibly tempted to stay here all morning and sleep with her in his arms. That would have been enough for him to doze off completely all over again, if there hadn’t been a distinct sound to wake him up.

There was a fluttering sound echoing throughout the cave. He could have sworn he recognized it from somewhere. In between the noises, he also recognized the sound of…giggling. Mischievous laughter at barely a whisper in between the other, very distinct noise. If he hadn’t been confused before, he certainly was now.  

“David…?” Maria groaned, interrupting his thoughts. David smiled down at her, continuing the kisses he had begun before. She looked relaxed by them, but he recognized she was feeling just as exhausted as he was. “You…need to…go home, honey…”

It hurt hearing her say that. He was so sure things had been going well, but now she was sending him away. Even if his feelings weren’t hurt, there was also the physical pain the rising sun was causing him. Why did he feel like absolute garbage whenever the morning came? This wasn’t right…

“But…I had such a good time with you, Maria…~” he cooed. He couldn’t stop himself from nuzzling her neck some more. Maybe if he sweetened her up enough, she’d let him stay. “Besides, I came here to get some answers about what’s going on with me”

At that point, Maria finally managed to open her eyes enough to properly look into his own. He’d happily gaze into them as long as she’d let him. 

“Aww hon, please…I’m not doing this…because I want you to go…” she grumbled, lacking the energy to speak at a regular pace. “You…you’re not safe here…need to be….home…”

“That place doesn’t feel like home if I’m not with you,” he sighed. All he wanted now was her embrace and the mesmerizing scent of her lilac perfume. She seemed concerned by that answer. Still, she managed to give him a small smile before bringing her hand up to his cheek. He happily nuzzled against it. 

“I promise…I’ll come to see you tonight…but you need to get home and sleep…this place…it’s dangerous.”

David wasn’t even more confused as to what she meant, but the feeling in his gut told him to listen to her warning. She had been so kind and caring to him so far. Surely she was looking out for him right now. Not to mention she looked far less stressed when he nodded his head in agreement with her request. 

“Okay. But when the night comes, I really do want to talk,” he said. Maria seemed to be satisfied with that answer. She watched him carefully as he reluctantly got out of her bed and slipped his clothes back on. It was draining getting up right now, but he was true to his word. When he was ready, David leaned down to kiss her forehead before letting her sleep. One last thing came from her lips before she finally dozed off.

“David…?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Whatever you do…please…don’t trust Michael”

[loveofcharacters]

starter for @writermuses plot in source

The night shift was exactly what Jamie had expected for a weekend. He'd had four guys kicked out and a handful of far too drunk people sent home already and it was only eleven. He had another 4 hours until he closed, though he wasn't really thinking of that. He'd just finished pouring a drink, and his eyes met the woman he'd just been thinking of. He looked to his co-bartender to cover and he walked through the crowd. Even from far away, he could tell something was off. Not a single one of her friends had walked in behind her, so was she really here alone? "María? What are you doing here?"

[witchofthemidlands]

will be honest, only reason i ended up a whovian was because i used to come home from primary & watch the sarah jane adventures when i was 7 & it led me to doctor who & i have grown up watching & rewatching the sarah jane adventures, which out of the three main shows is meant to be the one for kids, but i've been rewatching it recently & some of the things that happen in the sarah jane adventures is arguably darker than events that occur in doctor who & even torchwood. the character of the trickster for starters is an entirely separate post but something else that stuck out to me, the episodes revenge of the slitheen & the lost boy. similarly to doctor who, the actual eldritch horror which is the slitheen is played off for laughs. they're amusing, big green creatures who are constantly farting in the human skin suits they wear to disguise themselves. the most horrifying thing about the slitheen is that after these creatures kill people they wear their bodies as suits. the horror of that situation was occasionally put into words in doctor who, like in boom town where nine says ‘you've been in that skin suit too long. ‘you've forgotten. there used to be a real margaret blaine. you killed her and stripped her and used the skin. you're pleading for mercy out of a dead woman's lips.’ but in the sarah jane adventures, of course they never really mention how horrific it is because it's a kids show & yet, their main slitheen is a child & at face value, the kid slitheen is quite funny, but then again, the kid slitheen is shown wearing the skin of the two human children that they have killed twice in the show. literally, one of the disguises is a young school kid that hides in maria, luke & clyde's school, so, i would say that the slitheen are depicted as more terrifying in children's show, the sarah jane adventures, then they are in doctor who because little kids are being killed & used as skin suits.