#mud girl dallas

[brooke-likesmusic]

My outsiders head cannons because idk im bored (warning I’ll prolly misspell things!)

Darry:

1: When he was younger he used to play in the mud with Pony and soda and they would go back into the house and their mom would kick them out and would have to spray them down with a hose

2: (after the book) Darry and pony had gotten into a argument like brothers do and Darry Couldng handle it anymore and broke down in tears in front of both his brothers.

3: he has nightmares sometimes and they cause him to wake up in a panic and he would always have to check up on pony and soda to make sure they were okay

4: idk why some people like make him seem like a Facebook mom who likes minion memes and dad jokes. HES BARELY 20 YEARS OLD. He would probably say the most unfiltered ass shit in a group chat 😭

5: he gets those random urges to like kick or playfully hit pony or soda (I do that 😣)

6: ate rotten food once and work and got sick and his boss had to drive the boy home since he was so sick

7: will probably work himself till he makes himself sick like he Wont stop himself till someone stops him

8: hates seeming like a parent more then a older brother sometimes when the boys need reminders that Darry is still their brother Darry will start a game of tag and all the brothers will run around the house. (When they did that when their parents were alive they knocked down a special vase and they all got whooped)

9 : likes cats. He has a stray cat at work that he shares his lunch with he named it “kitty cat” sooooo creative righttt

10: doesn’t like ham (idk that just randomly appeared in my mind)

Extra: used to bite as a child and gags when those chunks of food in the sink hits his hands

Soda

1: stinks like car oil and pony will not allow him to get into the bed till he showers

2: likes grilled cheeses (me too bro)

3: he once caught Darry having a panic attack and didn’t really know what to do since he’s never really saw his brother like Cry like that so he was awkwardly comforting him😭

4: makes Radom sounds like with his mouth and it’s makes the others tweak

5: gets dates mixed up really easily

6: after Darry slapped pony, soda in a fit of like idk rage punched Darry square in the face.

7: WILL forget to clean under his fingernails.

8: Darry ate his food once and soda ignored him for the rest of the night. Anytime Darry Tried to talk to him soda would give him a snooty face and would cross his arms and say “mhmp”

9: cries when he watches dog movies (like all dogs go to heaven or a dogs purpose or a dogs way home)

10: has the most NASTIEST converse and refuses to clean them

Ponyboy

1: can only cook eggs he cannot cook anything else 😭

2: loves chocolate milk (I think that’s in the book)

3: tried Darry’s coffee once and almost threw up since it was so bitter

4: likes to race Darry since they were both in sports that involved a lot of running

5: stole one of Darry’s old sweatshirts and REFUSES to give it back. He loves that sweatshirt it’s like 2 sizes to big for him

6: (after the book) had a huge growth spurt after the book like it wasn’t even funny😭

7: since Darry and soda are such deep sleepers pony once drew like a “rocketship” and all those other things teenage boys draw he drew it on his brothers faces😣

8: chews his nails

9: has/had a crush on a soc girl and got teased by the gang relentlessly

10: (if it was like modern day idk) he would love headphones/airpods

Dallas

1: got chased by a dog and is forever traumatized from

2: would prolly stink like beer and sweat

3: bro can sleep through a tornado

4: bro prolly has the most greasiest hair

5: bro has a laugh that makes everyone else laugh

6: (before the Curtis parents died) dally finally made Darry sneak out with him and they ended up getting pulled up on by Mr Curtis and they both ended up getting in so much trouble 😭

7: made a your mom joke to the Curtis brothers and ended up getting jumped 😣

8: like those bland ass Cheerios

9: favorite fruit is cherries

10: bro will flip his underwear inside out and backwards since his nasty ass don’t wanna waste the time to wash the clothes

Steve

1: gets mad and when Darry doesn’t make chocolate cake 😣

2: bro will make himself at home at the Curtis house that couch practically as a ass imprint from him

3: likes strawberry shortcake (that’s his favorite dessert)

4: has so much beef with ponyboy they diss eachother anytime they get to

5: bro will HOG the bed if you share it with him

(Sorry his is kinda short 😣)

Two-bit

1: lost his Mickey Mouse shirt in the washer and thought he lost it forever

2: has a younger sister (protective brother)

3: knows how to braid hair

4: tried to recreate Darry’s infamous chocolate cake and he failed miserably 😭

5: he was really mad at Darry when pony ran away. When he found out he said straight in Darry’s face “good brother my ass.”

6: favorite Disney princess is belle (idk why I thought of that)

7: when he’s actually like serious the gang like tenses up a bit

8: knows all the drama from his younger sister he had beef with little kids he’s never even met

His lil sister: “yeah and Shelly and David are dating when she knew David was my crush and I told her too”

Two-bit: “I don’t like Shelly or David 🙄”

Johnny

1: (when the Curtis parents were alive) he once ran to the Curtis house after his father hit him super hard and Mrs Curtis took him in for the night giving him a hot meal and a warm shower and some clean clothes.

2: whenever he needs to crash somewhere he has a designated pallet that he sleeps on in the Curtis house

3: likes m&m popcorn

4: chews the side of his nails

5: can go days without eating

6: bro needs to wash that Jean jacket

(SORRY HIS IS SO SHORT)

[thatsdemko]

dicked down in Dallas - d.ricciardo

masterlist

requested: n

pairings: daniel ricciardo x fem!reader

warnings: + not intended for minors + mentions of oral (m receiving)

a/n: 🤠howdy partners let’s yee our haws together!!! also big shoutout to @diorleclerc for reading some of this xx luv u babes

《 the following content is not intended for minors. 》

She's probably in the Lonestar state

Sucking off ol' what's his name

everything is bigger in texas. whether that be the men, the food, or the cars. everything’s just bigger in the lonestar state.

and you’ve come to realize that, having never crossed the boarder to America until the opportunity to work in formula one, you took the chance having traveled the world twice over now, but texas was new. and boy, it didn’t disappoint to its name.

the cowboy boots and hats were no joke, they were everywhere. from the tiny bars to the gas stations, boots and a cowboy hat seemed to be the perfect attire to conquer the blistering sun.

“what do you reckon I buy one of those?” Daniel jokes pointing to the young boy who’s boots are up to his knees. they were caked in mud and the skin on the toe of the boots seemed to be fading.

“you? in cowboy boots?” you turn to him to see if he’s joking, but his eyes tell you he’s serious.

you’ve always had a little thing for Daniel. he just was so easy and approachable, people loved him and it was obvious why. you just didn’t expect that with more time your heart would grow fonder of his presence.

“why not? I think I’d look sexy.” he shrugs, two of you watch his dad fan himself with the brim of his hat. it seemed to be the texas heat was getting to the fans as well.

you think for a moment, trying to picture him in the boots, but your mind falls short, “I’d like to see it.” you turn back over to him. he just nods running his fingers over his beard.

you watch him for a moment, he’s humming a little country tune to himself he heard from the bars last night, before he struts off with a social media intern ready to take on the stage with Lando.

you’re not sure what you’ve got yourself into, but you know damn well your words got him thinking.

—

you hear the sounds of the horse shoes clicking against the pavement. it’s a bit of a different noise for a formula one circuit, but the laughter and excitement all sound the same. the sound of the horses breathing does make you turn around, and when you do you’re greeted go a big brown horse strut it’s way through the paddock with no one other than Daniel on top.

he’s shaved now, the only thing left is a goatee. he’s sporting a tan colored cowboy hat, a jacket of the American flag, and of course, those cowboy boots.

“you want a ride, baby girl?” he jokes as the horse comes to a halt in front of you. you can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous this is, but ultimately you give in and join him on the saddle.

“you’re ridiculous, Dan.” you laugh, hands gripping his the belt loops of his bell bottom jeans feeling the horse jerk a stop finally reaching its destination and allowing fans to swarm around and help Daniel off.

“you’re the one saying you wanted to see it, so here I am. your sexy cowboy.” he gestures to the outfit not giving you enough time to clap back before turning to sign autographs and take pictures. he’s crazy, always trying to prove a point, but he was right about one thing.

he was a sexy cowboy.

—

your knock is soft against his drivers door. his voice is barely audible, but you still open the door and see his cowboy hat rested on the bench next to his helmet.

the race wasn’t perfect for him. but there was one thing on your mind the whole time you watched him whip around that track. how sexy he looked in those cowboy boots.

“howdy,” you slid into the room, door closing quietly behind you. you move over to the bench and pick up his tan rimmed hat, placing it on his head, “you do make a sexy cowboy.” you admit watching his head lift upwards, eyebrows knitting together.

“I told you so.” he mutters, his hand reaches for the hat on his head, but you stop adjusting it to sit further down on his head.

you slip beside him on the bench, elbow crashing into his bicep, “I don’t know if you know, but I really like cowboys.” you whisper, his eyes watch you lean against the wall of the room, “it’s a shame I never got my texas wish.” you sigh, arms crossing over your chest.

“what texas wish?” he flips to look at you, eyes full of curiosity as he leans a bit closer to your body. you chuckle at how eager he is to know what it is.

“come on, you know every girl wants to ride a cowboy at some point in their life.”

he shakes his head, swallowing the salvia that’s thickening in his mouth, “no I didn’t know that.”

you shrug pulling the brim of his hat, setting it beside him on the bench, “well I’ll just try again next year.” you’re about to get up when he puts the hat back on, lips crashing against yours. he knows there’s no next year for him, it’s not in the books yet, and he wants no one else to take that from you.

“you can ride me.” he grits between his teeth, your hands hold onto his hat, the brim collided with your forehead, it almost fell off.

“you’ll be my cowboy?” you ask in between breaths watching him fall against the bench, his own fingers work quick to pull down his pants and underwear.

you can feel a smirk fall onto your lips as you kick off your own pants as well situating yourself on top of him, “ride me.” he whines, hands on your hips, he’s guiding you the way he likes it.

it doesn’t take long for you to find the grind he likes, moisture thickening in between your inner thighs. he watches your head tilt back, eyes shut as moans escape your lips. it feels good, everything you’re doing for him, and the little he’s providing for you is getting you off.

he juts his hips upwards so you can feel how hard he is beneath you. you work your way down his body, fingers working his shaft before touching his tip. a moan escapes his lips, you can feel him stiffen under your touch. he feels the wetness of your tongue swirl around, sweet moans of your name escape his mouth.

his hands fly into your hair, you can hear his breathing increase, your name is faint against his lips but it sounds so good.

“you really know how to make a cowboy feel good.” he grunts, cum meeting your mouth.

“it’s not my first rodeo, ricciardo.”

She's gettin' dicked down in Dallas

Railed out in Raleigh

Tag teamed up in Tennessee

Analed in Austin

[r0seb100d]

Dallas Winston x reader hiding at the abandoned church ⛪️🤍

Fem reader

Warnings: slight mention of abuse.

When Ponyboy and Johnny carefully nudged the creaky, splintered door of the abandoned church on Jay Mountain, where Dally had instructed them to hide, the last thing either of them could have expected to find was a delicate, feminine body, huddled like a small bunny on one of the pews.

Her lightly curled raven tresses had tumbled past her creamy right shoulder, which poked out from the farm sack she had wrapped around herself, desperately seeking warmth.

The boys' eyes widened as they both took a step back in shock.

"Is she dead?"

Pony asked as both boys backed away in uncertainty. Pony accidentally bashed into the wall, causing a loud thud to echo through the church's almost empty halls. Johnny's head snapped towards his, narrowing his eyes slightly, but soon both of their gazes were averted back to the girl, who was now shifting in her place, clearly waking up.

As she sat up slowly and let out a quiet yawn, the sack had slid off her shoulders, revealing the silky, white lace-trimmed dress she had on, slightly stained with mud and dust. Upon noticing the boys, she scrambled off the bench in haste, panic clearly written upon her flushed face.

"I'm sorry, l'lI be goin', just please leave me alone."

Johnny swiftly interrupted her.

"I-It's okay; we ain't going to hurt ya. I'm Johnny, Johnny Cade and this is Ponyboy Curtis."

Johnny figured there was no danger in telling her their names; there was no way anyone here would have heard of the news yet, especially not alone in this church.

She stopped in her tracks and stared intensely at them both, digging the heels of her mary janes into the blanket of dust and rubble.

Realising that they really weren't going to cause her any harm, she let out a gentle smile framed by the dimples in her cheeks.

Both boys smiled back at her, and the three of them stood somewhat uncomfortably in the decaying church, unsure of what to do next.

"What are you doin' here if you don't mind me asking?" Pony asked, chewing on his bottom lip.

The girl stood still for a few seconds, almost as if she were unsure of what to say, then cleared her throat.

"Um, well, I'm actually hiding. Or just looking for a place to sleep really. It's a long story. Oh, and my name is y/n" She peered down at her shoes.

Johnny smiled warmly at her.

"S'okay y/n. We sort of are too; it's also a long story.

"Well, I suppose we've got hours to kill if you guys are stayin' here."

The boys filled her in on all the chaos that had ensued in the past 24 hours, and though her sweet face twisted into concern for them, she was also slightly grateful that she had found some company that also had some troubles. It made her feel less alone, and maybe, maybe they could even become friends.

 ♱ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

As the evening chill settled in, y/n rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm herself up, feeling the strawberry skin beneath her fingers. Pony noticed her slight shiver and, deciding to be gentlemanly, pulled off Dallas' brown leather jacket from around his waist and held it out to her.

"Here. You must be pretty cold in just that dress."

"Oh, thank you."

She was touched by the kind act and quickly took shelter in the comfort of the jacket that smelt faintly of tobacco and cologne.

"S'alright, it belongs to a friend of mine; he gave it to me right before we ran away. His name is Dallas; he kinda scares me a little, but he's a cool guy really. Tough too. You should meet him."

She smiled meekly at him and nodded.

"Yeah maybe. Then I can thank him for this."

She let out a slight laugh, fiddling with the worn ends of the sleeves that her arms drowned in.

"So what led you here?" Johnny enquired.

That was a good question. The events that had led here were more than ugly, but if Johnny and Pony could trust her and share what happened to them, she could trust them too. A shaky breath rattled from her chest, and her eyes glazed over slightly.

"My father, he's- he's, um, a pretty shitty person, and he only got worse after my mom died two years ago, beating me around and all that. And about 3 days ago, he just lost it."

Her voice trembled, and she fixated her eyes on the broken window, the jagged glass a painful reminder.

"He threatened to kill me; he had me in one hand and a shard of glass in the other. I escaped obviously, but I had no where to go, and god I'm just so screwed up."

By now, her voice and completely broken and hot tears were streaming down her face. She struggled to swallow the sobs that wracked through her body, and Johnny gently reached for her shoulder.

"It's okay now. We're safe here. Dal said so. And if it makes ya feel any better, my parents are pretty shitty too, and Pony lost his last year; you're not screwed up, just unfortunate. Dally should be up here soon, and if you'd like, I'm sure he'd know what to do."

"Thanks." She sniffled "I'm really lucky it was you guys who came in here and not some psycho. Guess I'm not too unfortunate."

Y/n leaned in and hugged them both, feeling a little bit safer with her newfound friends.

The three of them soon dozed off, all exhausted.

♱ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

When Dallas carefully nudged the creaky, splintered door of the abandoned church on Jay Mountain, where he had instructed Pony and Johnny to hide, the last thing he could have expected to find was the both of his friends laying next to a delicate, feminine body, huddled like a small bunny on one of the pews.

"What the-" He muttered quietly to himself before silently treading over to the trio, wanting to get a closer look while being wary not to wake them up. Where on earth had she come from? Who was she? Why was she here?

Glancing down at her sleeping face, Dallas could have sworn that his heart stopped. She was beautiful, angelic even. With her dark hair and pale skin with a twinge of pink on her cheeks, he couldn't help but stare. He then noticed that she was wrapped up in his jacket, and god did the sight do something to him.

Shaking those thoughts away, Dallas gently smacked the boys on their heads to wake them up.

"Man, you know, I must've really underestimated you guys. You've been here for what? Around 24 hours, and you've already managed to pick yourselves up a broad. Maybe runnin' away was all you needed." He teased with a wide grin plastered on his face. Better to focus on teasing them, or else his mind would surely stray to the third figure on the bench.

"Oh, shut it Dal. She's hidin' here too; we found her here when we first arrived. Her old man is a real asshole, threatened to kill her and everything. We figured you'd know what to do." Johnny rambled, looking to Pony for assurance.

"You guys have got to be shittin' me." Dallas took a deep puff from his cigarette, his brows tightly knit together. Though the thought of her being hurt that way made his stomach twist in a way he didn't want to admit, Dallas wasn't sure if he was willing to help a total stranger.

But god, just one glance back at her peaceful sleeping face already had him whipped. He was just a man after all, and she was a pretty girl.

With the boys deep in discussion, they hadn't noticed that she was now wide awake looking at them. She had realised that there was another guy with them. Another guy who was much taller, older, and rougher looking. He was gorgeous, and she felt nervous just sitting there in an old, soiled dress. When he turned to face her, both of their eyes widened and their hearts raced.

"Hi." The word sounded so silly, spilling out from her mouth. Why was she so nervous? She had only just met him.

"Hey doll." He had a faint New York accent with a husky voice, and the nickname made her head spin.

"Are you Dallas?"

"Yeah, Dallas, Dallas Winston, but call me Dally; Dallas reminds me of what the fuzz calls me."

"Nice to meet you, Dally; I'm y/n. Oh, and thanks for the jacket; Pony lent it to me." She shrugged it off and went to hand it to him, but he waved his ring-clad hand at her.

"Nah, keep it. It looks better on you." Her cheeks flushed at his comment, and he couldn't help but find her flustered state cute.

"So I heard you need a place to stay." He took another drag of his cigarette.

"Yeah, something like that."

Sure, she was shy normally and had never been anything close to a social butterfly, but a two-minute interaction with Dallas had made her feel dizzy.

"I got a place you can stay; nothin fancy, but it's a place."

"I'd appreciate anything; thanks, Dally." His stomach twisted when she said his name.

♱ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

After hugging Johnny and Ponyboy goodbye and wishing them good luck, she followed Dallas out to a cherry-red T-bird parked outside of the church.

"Belongs to a friend of mine." Dallas told her and opened the passenger door to let her in.

“It’s nice.” He hummed in agreement.

The car was soon making its way back to Tulsa, and Dallas would be lying if he said he wasn’t being unusually careful with his driving, mindful of the girl in the passenger seat, not wanting to startle her.

God only knows why he was acting this way—so strangely soft and careful around someone he had just met—it felt so painfully unfamiliar yet natural all at once. It scared him.

She was absentmindedly tapping her fingers on the window sill, matching the tempo of the rock songs that played on the radio, her bare legs tucked underneath her on the leather seats.

What Dallas didn’t know, however, is that she was thinking of him too. Thinking of the way his hands gripped the steering wheel with recklessness yet also calculated precision. The way his hair was blowing with the wind that snuck through the crack of the open window, only a few strands framing his face, which had a gold hue to it from the early morning sun. He was rough. He had sharp edges, and it was obvious he had seen things that most could only dream of ever seeing, but in this moment, in the crimson car, he looked nothing short of angelic.

Wherever he ended up taking her, she hoped to see him again, talk to him, get to know him with all his roughness, and for him to know her with all her gentleness and cruel past. For them to know each other.

♱ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

౨ৎ 1.8k words. Might do a part 2! ౨ৎ

[goldenseresinretriever]

Snitches Get Stitches: Chapter 5

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader

Part of the San Diego Dogfighters universe

Summary: Jake Seresin, golden boy of the NHL and Captain of the Dallas Stars makes headlines when he unexpectedly signs with newly-formed San Diego Dogfighters. When your future seems at the verge of crashing down, you receive the opportunity of a lifetime to become the team physician for the Dogfighters. You never expected to be working directly with your favorite hockey player. Jake has a secret and you have a job to do. Will he be able to trust you enough to help and will you be able to trust him with your heart?

Series CW: 18+ ONLY, swearing, violence, sports violence, medical stuff, blood probably, angst, fluff, (eventual) smut, forbidden romance, sexual harassment, suggestive language, medical inaccuracies, hockey inaccuracies etc. No use of Y/N.

Word Count: 4.7k

A/N: This is a repost of my completed series, Snitches Get Stitches. It was originally posted in October-November 2023, and was lost when my blog was deleted.

Previous Chapter // Series Masterlist // Next Chapter

You glance at the GPS on the screen of your car again as you scan the street ahead of you. It’s situated on a quieter side of town and half the homes have beach access. Not at all where you’d pictured a single star-athlete in his early thirties to be living. It’s not like you expected a seedy bachelor pad riddled with used condoms and syphilis, but this was a neighborhood for the settled. Cookie cutter families walk along the sidewalks pushing strollers and chatting amongst each other. Kids ride their bikes unattended, safe in their suburban utopia. You and the well-loved car that you’ve had since you were sixteen are feeling slightly out of place in this picture-perfect neighborhood as if you’re a hopeless puppy tracking mud on a freshly cleaned kitchen floor.

The GPS chimes, alerting you that you’ve reached your destination. The house on your right looks a lot like the others on the street, a cozy suburban beach house. The driveway is empty so Jake’s truck must be parked in the garage. You pull into the free space, sighing as you scan the home for any clues about its owner. There’s none to be found. Curtains shield the inside of the house from view, and there’s no furniture or decoration on the porch. The only evidence of the house even being lived in is the freshly mowed lawn. You frown hoping that Jake hired someone to do that. The idea of him pushing a mower with his knee in its current state fills you with irritation. The idea of Jake, shirtless and sweaty pushing the mower fills you with more irritation. You shake your head to clear away the image, before getting out of the car, and heading up the short path to the door. You hesitate before knocking, wondering if you should have just stayed in the car and texted him to come out. You decide against it since he has his leg to worry about plus wrangling a dog. Speaking of Pudding, you’re saved the trouble of deciding to knock as a chorus of barking alerts her owner to your presence at the door. You hear a muffled voice amongst the barks as the door swings open to reveal Jake wrestling with the collar of a Tibetan mastiff with a glassy caramel coat who’s doing her best to get away from her owner so she can give you a proper welcome.

“Pud, come on, you need to settle down. Come on girl.” He urges the giant fluffball of joy. You drop to squat in front of her.

“Hey girl, it’s nice to finally meet you.” You reach out a hand for her to sniff only to have her instantly soak it with slobber as she gives it an enthusiastic lick that lets you know that you’ve long since passed the friendship test. You laugh and fish into your purse, pulling out a ziploc bag with a dog treat in it. At the sight of the treat, Pudding begins wagging her tail so hard she almost takes out her owner. You extend it to her and her giant tongue sweeps it up easily, and you watch it disappear into her gaping maw and she looks at you expectantly, her tongue lolling. “Sorry sweet girl, I don’t have anymore.” You say with a chuckle, reaching out to ruffle the fur on her head affectionately. She noses at your hand as if to say that all is forgiven. Finally, you turn to her owner who’s been watching the two of you fondly from where he’s casually leaning on the doorframe. “Hey.” You offer him.

“Hey, Bugs, you sure clean up something pretty.” You can’t help the flush that paints your cheeks at the compliment. You’re not wearing anything fancy by any means but you suppose the t-shirt and dress shorts are a far cry from the scrubs you wear at work.

“Thanks, you too.” He’s wearing a short-sleeve button-down and shorts of his own. The brace on his knee is clearly visible and you like how honesty looks in him.

“I’m glad you like it, I picked this shirt just for you. It really makes my great tits pop, don’t you think?” He puffs out his chest for emphasis and you want to die from mortification.

“Please forget I ever said that.” You plead.

Jake looks at you incredulously. “Of course not, Bugs. I don’t think I’m ever going to forget that.” He’s wearing a shit-eating grin. You scowl.

“Come on, Lola, let’s get going or we’re going to be late.” He laughs behind you as you turn to start heading to the car.

“Hey!” You don’t turn. “Bugs, where are you going?” You turn to see him still standing in the doorway, a confused look on his face.”

“To my car? Since I’m driving us?”

“Bunny you can’t possibly think we’re all gonna fit in there with my leg and Pudding.”

You glance from the pair in the house to your car and frown as you realize he’s right. Jake and Pudding join you and Jake nods at your car. “Pull out and I’ll open the garage and you can park in there. We’ll take the truck.” You look at him, absolutely flabbergasted.

“Jake, I can’t drive your truck!” He arches an eyebrow.

“And why not?”

“Are you kidding? It’s HUGE!” He chuckles, waggling his eyebrows at you.

“I’m sure you can handle it, sweetheart.” You feel your face flush at the innuendo.

“But you told me to remind you…” You try once more even as you feel your resolve slipping and start accepting the reality that you’re going to have to drive Jake’s behemoth of a truck.

He arches an eyebrow. “Remind me of what, Bunny?”

“You told me to remind you to never let me drive your truck.” You grumble as you unlock your car, getting ready to move it into the garage. He laughs at that and you try not to preen at the sound.

“That’s my Bunny, always so responsible.” He teases, patting your head gently. “Well now you’ve reminded me but my mind’s still made up, so hop to it, Bunny, and I’ll grab my keys. He ambles back into the house as you pull back out of the driveway, idling as the garage opens and you pull into the free space next to the truck.

Jake’s waiting for you, and he extends his hand to you, holding his keys. You hide your smile at the faded hockey stick keychain as you take them from him. Then you turn to face the beast, swallowing hard. Jake places a gentle hand between your shoulder blades, guiding you to the driver’s side. He pulls open the door for you and you gape at the distance from the ground to the driver’s seat. You’re about to make a fool of yourself but at least you aren’t wearing a dress. Before you can even attempt the climb, though, Jake puts his hands on your hips and lifts you into the driver’s seat effortlessly. “Oh.” It’s all you can manage as his hands disappear as quickly as they appeared. He helps you adjust your seat and the mirrors and while you still feel overwhelmed by the size of the truck compared to your little car, you start to feel slightly at ease, but that could be the warm smell of leather and the cologne you’ve come to recognize as Jake’s. Jake makes his way around the truck, opening the back door so Pudding can jump in, before getting in himself. You’ve started the car and are familiarizing yourself with the controls. You take a deep breath, sitting back for a second, your hand resting on the gear shift, ready to move it into reverse. Jake’s hand covers yours, squeezing gently.

“You’ve got this, Bunny. I trust you.” It’s those words that give you the courage to shift into reverse and back out of Jake’s driveway as he leans over to hit the garage door control above your head.

***

Thirty minutes later you’re making your way through another suburban neighborhood on the other side of town. While Jake’s neighborhood looked unassumingly middle class, however, this one is clearly home to families in a significantly higher tax bracket. It makes sense, given the fact that Maverick is a multimillionaire but it’s not like he rolls up to work in a limousine every day. Instead, he drives a beat-up Kawasaki and you’re pretty sure you’ve never seen the man wear a tie.

“Are Mav and Penny married?” Jake asks, his knees bouncing into the bottle of wine he has clutched in his left hand. You’d made a pit stop on your way, a tasteful and way too expensive flower bouquet in his other hand.

“No idea.” You say as you continue shamelessly ogling the real estate. “I don’t think I’ve seen a wedding ring, but I’ve never really looked.”

“Google doesn’t say he is.” You peek over to see the bouquet abandoned in Jake’s lap as he types into his phone, brows tight in concentration. “Have you met Penny?”

You shake your head before realizing he’s still looking at this phone. “No, I had planned to meet with her after the physicals were over to draw up individual nutrition plans for each of you. I haven’t run into her at the arena so the opportunity just hasn’t presented itself yet.” Jake nods absently, still scrolling.

“I didn’t even know we had a nutritionist.” He mutters.

“Holy shit.” He finally looks up as you murmur the words. The house ahead of you is gorgeous. It sits on top of a hill, nestled into a private culdesac. A massive yard wraps around the circular street, dotted with trees. A wide driveway leads up to what has to be a four-car garage. The house itself is a sprawling modern Victorian style complete with a circular pointed tower. It’s a house that looks both like it’s been transplanted from the northeast and right at home in Southern California. You’re both awestruck as you pull the car up the driveway and shift into park. You suddenly feel extremely underdressed as you take the bouquet from Jake’s lap and follow him up the pristinely paved walkway. As you climb up to the excessively large porch, you feel yourself relax. Up close the house is well-loved, with chipping paint and mud streaks far too old to scrub out. You smile softly at the thought of all the memories it must hold as Jake rings the doorbell.

A beautiful brunette woman answers the door, a big smile wide on her face. “Hey there! You must be Bugs and Jake. I’m Penny, it’s so nice to meet you both!” You go to shake her hand but she opts for a hug instead and she smells warm and homey in a way you can’t place. She leads the two of you through the house, taking the wine and flowers from each of you. The kitchen is a myriad of bright dishes and rich smells and you catch sight of Mav manning a grill through gorgeous wide windows overlooking a sprawling deck.

“Is there anything I can help with?” You ask as you watch Jake beeline for the back door to offer the same assistance to Maverick. Penny waves you off.

“No no, I’m pretty much done here, just getting things to the table. It’s so good to finally get to meet you, Bugs. I’ve been busy helping Ice with the administrative side of things so I haven’t been at the arena since you started. I look forward to working together.” She flashes you a motherly smile and you’re reminded of home.

“I’ve been meaning to reach out and introduce myself since I was hoping we could collaborate on getting the boys set up with individual nutrition plans but I figured it would be better to get their initial physicals out of the way so we had the most up to date information to work with. As a physician, I’m strongly against restrictive diets, especially for athletes, but so I think a more general nutrition plan would be a better approach.” Penny nods.

“Pete mentioned you’re extremely dedicated to your patients.” She gives you a conspiratorial smile as she directs her gaze out the window to where Jake and Mav are and you feel yourself flush even as your heart aches as your eyes latch on the knee brace.

“My first priority as a physician is always my patients and making sure they get the best possible care. The fact that there are physicians out there who put their own selfishness ahead of their patients kills me. Jake’s been hurt in a way that the Hippocratic oath should never have allowed.” You shake your head, your hands clenching on the chair you’re holding onto. “He put his trust in the people hired to prioritize his care and they betrayed him. I refuse to let that happen again.” Penny sets a gentle hand on your clenched one.

“He’s in good hands now.” You try to believe her, but the events from Cyclone’s office yesterday make that hard. A wet nose nudges against your hand and Pudding gazes up at you with worry in her eyes and you stroke her head softly. You’re saved from responding by Jake and Mav coming into the kitchen, arms laden with plates of meat. You dash to help them, taking a plate from Jake and giving him your best scolding look.

“SIT.” You pull out a chair, setting your hands on your hips. A thump across the room draws both your attention as Pudding sits. You snort a laugh before going back to glaring at Jake who’s still standing. “Pudding has been kind enough to prepare a visual aid, now if you don’t mind.” Jake rolls his eyes but sits all the same. “No unnecessary strain until we have a treatment plan in place, mister.” You give him a sympathetic look. You know how hard it is for athletes to give up control, this isn’t your first rodeo. “You’ll be back up and running in no time.” You say gently. “Baby steps, right?” He nods and you notice a softness in his eyes that you try not to think about any longer than you have to. You head back out with Mav to grab the last of the plates, while Jake chats with Penny as she brings dishes from the kitchen to the table.

As you’re all getting settled and starting to eat, Jake pipes up. “So how long have you two been married?” You fight the urge to snack him with the rib you’re holding. After the conversation in the car, you thought it had been evident that Penny and Mav are NOT married.

Maverick chokes on his wine and Penny laughs. “Oh, we’re not married.” Jake looks genuinely confused and you wonder if he’s maybe missing a screw.

“But all the family pictures in the hallway…” He trails off sheepishly. You’d barely been in the hallway for a minute or two, how did he notice family pictures, and get enough time to stare at them to conclude that Mav and Penny were married?

“Oh, that’s my daughter, Amelia, she’s from my first marriage,” Penny says with a chuckle. “We divorced a long while ago, before Pete and I got together.”

“And you two never got married?” Jake pushes and you wonder why he’s so curious.

“Well, that’s because, technically speaking, I’m still married.” Mav joins the conversation and Jake’s jaw drops so hard you’re surprised it doesn’t hit the table.

“You’re MARRIED?”

Maverick chuckles at Jake’s reaction. “Yup, a long time ago and we separated on good terms, but never finalized the divorce. There was never a reason to, so yeah I guess I’m still married.” He rubs the back of his neck, sheepishly.

“Who is she?” The question is out of your mouth before you can stop it. “Sorry, that was so intrusive you don’t have to answer that.”

Mav waves you off. “You probably know of her, actually. She’s an NHL coach too.” The pieces fall into place all too quickly and you find yourself blurting out.

“Dare Mitchell is your WIFE?” It’s not rocket science. There are hardly any female coaches in the NHL, and there’s only one with the last name, Mitchell.

It’s Jake’s turn to choke on his wine. “Dare Mitchell? You’re married to THE Dare Mitchell?” His eyes are wide.

Maverick chuckles.“The one and only.”

“Holy SHIT.” Jake sits back in his chair, shocked into silence. You don’t blame him. Dare Mitchell is the best of the best. She’s been coaching for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last 30-some years and is responsible for leading them to nothing short of five Stanley Cup wins. Her nickname, Dare, stands for Definitive Authority on Rink Education, or Referee Ejection depending on who you ask. She’s a force to be reckoned with and one of your personal heroes. Sure you were a Stars fan but every self-respecting hockey feminist worshiped the ground she walked on. She’d been the first female NHL coach when she started as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers and she’d not only broken the glass ceiling but now even the most misogynistic cynic puts respect on her name.

It shouldn’t have been such a shock that she was married to Pete Mitchell. Their careers had overlapped during his brief time with the Flyers before transferring to Anaheim but most people tended to forget that part of Maverick’s career. With the exception of the event that led to his move to Anaheim in the first place. If anything had ever been public about his relationship with or marriage to his coach, that had probably been buried by the tragedy that occurred shortly after. And now they were separated apparently. You wonder when that happened. Dare Mitchell was infamous for the lack of information on her personal life. Plenty of men had jumped to labeling her as undesirable and “impossible to deal with” due to her lack of a partner and seemingly single status. When asked about it in interviews, while she typically ignored such blatantly sexist questions, she occasionally responded along the lines of placing her career first, but now you know otherwise.

“I can’t believe Dare Mitchell is your WIFE.” Jake has come back to the conversation. Mav looks mildly uncomfortable at all the attention and you feel the need to change the subject for his sake.

“So, Maverick you mentioned wanting to talk about our game plan going forward?”

“Right, yes.” He claps his hands, sitting forward and you all return to your food. “Bugs, first I want your personal assessment of Jake’s condition. I know you mentioned some of that in Cyclone’s office earlier, but I think we should go over it with Jake present.” You nod in agreement, wiping your mouth and taking a sip of wine to clear your throat.

“Jake, we talked about this briefly this morning but you need to stay off your leg as much as possible at least until we’ve gotten all the necessary scans and tests done. I’m in the process of contacting some colleagues to get those scheduled as soon as I can.” You had a sneaking suspicion of how well that was going to go but you didn’t have much time to dwell on it now, there was a bigger issue at hand. You hesitate, wondering if now is the best time to bring this up. “I wanted to ask whether you’d be comfortable with me reaching out to your former physician on the Stars to get your initial test results. I just want to see them so we can compare them and get a better picture of your situation and how it's progressed. I don’t expect them to be particularly compliant, but I’m planning to ask Zam for guidance on getting the files without having to get lawyers involved. That’s only if you’re comfortable with me doing that.” You swallow. You know Jake’s had a long day and you can’t imagine how tired he must be, you know how exhausted you feel.

He nods slowly. “Do whatever you need to do, Bugs. Like I said, I’m in your hands now. If you think it’s necessary, do it.” You give him a small smile as your heart squeezes at the faith he’s putting in you.

“Are you actually planning to sue your former physician and coach?” Mav interrupts.

“WHAT?” This is news to you.

Mav puts his hands up in surrender. “He mentioned it in Cyclone’s office when he threatened to sue you for negligence.” Jake makes a low noise that sounds like a growl at the reminder of the events earlier in the day and you flush slightly at the memory.

“Honestly, I think I kind of checked out during all that…” you say, averting your eyes to your hands where they're fiddling with a rib bone on your plate. Jake’s hand comes into view as he takes one of yours and gives it a gentle squeeze and your eyes almost pop out of your head as your brain short circuits. You’re frozen, mortified at his audacity to do that in front of two of your colleagues let alone HIS COACH. You pull your hand from his grip, in what you hope is at least a slightly dignified way, depositing both hands in your lap, clasping them tightly.

“I don’t know.” He admits. “I think it’s definitely something to consider. It depends on how much of a case I have. We’ll probably have to get that comparison between my records to know for sure. Legal stuff isn’t really my strong suit.” He shrugs.

“You should talk to Zam about it, she’ll be the best person to ask,” Mav suggests, a fond smile crossing his face at the mention of the team’s PR rep. Jake nods in agreement. “Bugs you were saying?”

“Oh right, well that means no practice for Jake. You can do upper body work but no leg stuff period. I also think we could talk to Cyclone about hiring you a driver for the foreseeable future-“

“Or you could just drive me.” Jake interrupts nonchalantly.

“What?”

He shrugs. “You drove me here tonight, why not? I don’t want you having to deal with Cyclone any more than you have to, and suggesting hiring another employee will probably piss him off.”

“What doesn’t?” Maverick mutters under his breath. “It’s not such a bad idea, though. You’ll both be working together almost exclusively since Jake can’t practice so this way you’ll always get in at the same time.” You consider throwing the rib bone at Maverick.

“See, Bugs, we’ve got Coach’s blessing, what do you say? I’ll throw in breakfast on me.” He waggles his eyebrows like he’s just made an irrefutable offer. You sigh, realizing this isn’t really up for debate anymore, and Mav has a point.

“As long as you’re ready on time. Three strikes and you’re out.” You give him a pointed look. Jake breaks into a huge grin, offering you a mock salute.

“Aye aye, cap’n.” You roll your eyes.

***

The sun has long since disappeared from the sky as you, Jake, and Pudding make your way back to the truck. You’re walking slightly behind him so you can observe his movement as he awkwardly shuffle-hops with the brace keeping his knee stiff. You have a good feeling about his scans. For an untreated grade three tear, he doesn’t seem to have too much of a problem getting around. Today was an overall success but it’s created a brand new problem. Jake may trust you now but now he’s crossing professionalism lines left and right and you can’t help the way your anxiety threatens to choke you at the idea of Cyclone getting the wrong idea. Not to mention the fact that your body seemed to have a mind of its own when it came to him. You’ve been out of the game for too long. So much so that your body reacts naturally to his touch. You’d thought you’d have no problem avoiding his advances given the precarious nature of your situation but here you were being betrayed by your own body and mind. And now he had talked you into spending even more one-on-one time together OUTSIDE of work. You needed to lay down some ground rules.

You approach the truck where Jake’s patiently waiting by the driver’s side door, holding it open for you. Your cheeks flush as he scoops you up and deposits you in the seat without a moment’s hesitation before handing you the keys and hobbling around the other side of the truck and letting Pudding into the back while you start the engine. You swallow hard, drumming your fingers on the wheel nervously as you back out of the driveway. The two of you wave to Maverick and Penny on the porch as you drive away. Not even five minutes pass when Jake breaks the silence.

“What is it?”

“What’s what?” You don’t take your eyes off the road, your fingers drumming harder.

“You’re nervous.” You finally turn to glance at him and he gives a pointed glance in the direction of your drumming fingers. You stop the motion immediately, hesitating before you say.

“We need to talk.” He nods, encouraging you to continue. “I appreciate you trusting me, Jake, I really do, but if we’re going to be spending this much time together especially with me driving you now, I need to set some ground rules.”

“What kind of rules, Bugs?” His expression is guarded when you glance at him. You sigh.

“Jake I realize things are going to be complicated because we’re simultaneously coworkers and you’re also my patient, but like I’ve told you, my first duty is always to my patients. That being said, I need you to understand that you’re my patient first and my coworker second. That relationship takes precedence for me, at least while you’re injured.”

“And what about our friendship?”

“What?” You’re caught off guard by his question.

“Where does our friendship fall into your list of priorities? I’m your coworker, I’m your patient, and I was starting to think I was your friend too.” He pauses. “Or was that an incorrect assumption?” Your heart skips and your breath catches.

“No, uh, I mean yes Jake I would say we’re friends… or at least on our way there.” You trip over your words as you struggle to focus on the road and Jake’s brazen words. “I want to be your friend.” The words escape against your better judgment and you see the faint smile that ghosts Jake’s lips. “But that’s going to have to be strictly outside of work. Look, I’m pretty sure Cyclone thinks we’re dating or halfway there because he’s kind of a paranoid control freak in case you haven’t noticed.” You give a nervous laugh. He doesn’t know the half of it. “And if he's convinced? That breaks my oath as a doctor, Jake. I won’t just lose my job, I could lose my license.” You swallow hard. “So if you could just…” you trail off, not knowing how to phrase it.

“Keep my distance.” He finishes.

“More like just keep things professional.” He chuckles at that.

“Bugs, all my previous physicians were old men. That’s never been a problem before.”

“Then pretend I’m an old man.” He barks a surprised laugh.

“Bugs.”

“Lola.” You turn to look at him as he grins and winks.

“You’re one smoking hot old man.” Your face flushes beet red and you whip your head back to the road, unable to look at him.

“Relax, Bunny, you did say you thought I had great tits this morning so I figured I’d even up the score before we go full professional mode.” You can hear his grin. You roll your eyes, your face still blazing.

You’re quiet for a while before you interrupt the silence “Thank you, Jake.” He waits so long to answer you start to wonder if he heard you.

“For what, Bunny?”

“For all of it.” You pause. “Especially for respecting my boundaries.”

“You heard me earlier. We’re a team. If you go, I go, so I can’t let you leave that easily, Bunny.” He pauses. “After all, I’m a fighter.” You smile at that.

“Yeah? Me too.” You give him a shy look and he returns it with one of pure warmth and the silence is comfortable as you drive him home.

[lonewolflink]

hey author! really liking WSC. I was wondering how did you get into itzy? there doesn't seem to be a lot of midzy writers, we need more like you!

hi anon! glad you're enjoying wsc :)

tbh i got into itzy sort of by chance/randomly? bit of a long/weird story lol...

i've listened to kpop on and off for a long time but never really Got Into It in a stan way (when i was in college i definitely had (and still have) a ton of blackpink on my gym playlist, and i always really liked mamamoo, but i wasn't really paying attention to kpop culture at all or any content beyond the music itself). probably the closest i ever got was bigbang, and that was only because of my massive crush on taeyang :P

i'm in the last year of my phd program right now (if i'm able to finish my dissertation by the end of june, i'll defend and graduate in july! dr. link!!), and from what i saw in my time in grad school i knew the last year basically drove every phd student completely insane.

instead of trying to curb that insanity by becoming a mildly functional alcoholic or smoking too much weed i basically decided i'd funnel that insanity into FINALLY trying to understand kpop beyond casually listening to it, like understand the culture and the standom and the whole thing.

i knew i needed to pick a group to stan in order to do that, and i didn't want it to be blackpink even though i like them, since they release music so rarely (lol). so i was like ok you know what i haven't really listened to any kpop after 3rd gen. lemme see what 4th gen has to offer!

none of the 4th gen boy groups really caught my interest in a serious way (though i do really like some songs by stray kids and enhypen), so i turned to 4th gen gg. and like. holy shit 4th gen is literally the girl group golden age???

i was sort of listening around to some of the different 4th gen gg and really enjoying them, trying to find the right one for me, and then itzy's none of my business mv came up on my recommended on youtube, and i'd seen their name around. i clicked and...well. i was hooked.

i watched a bunch of the classic mvs (dalla dalla, wannabe, mafia), that one clip of lia singing can't take my eyes off of you, and like one compilation of OT5 being silly and chaotic. after that it was game over, i knew i'd found my group.

(and also i kinda love an underdog story; i think itzy's supposed "fall off" has been greatly exaggerated and with the overhaul of div 2 employees (...hopefully the marketing team) i am curious to see if they can recapture the 4th gen gg crown)

i wasn't at all expecting to write fic, tbh, especially not for a kpop group! i've actually never done it before, except maybe once when i was 13 and then immediately regretted it because i was bad at it lol. but in one of the most stressful years of my life, it became a really nice creative outlet for me, especially because i don't really have anyone irl to talk to when it comes to kpop and itzy.

in general, i've found midzys to be such a warm, welcoming group, at least here on tumblr and in the comment section on AO3 (i try to stay off twitter as much as possible).

and i didn't realize initially when i first stanned itzy, but turns out the whole jyp fam is really awesome! obviously the company has its issues, like any kpop company, but in general the jyp Vibes are really fun, and i've enjoyed listening more and learning about twice, skz, nmixx, etc.!

since my original goal (i guess?) was to understand the world of kpop, itzy ended up being the perfect group because, well. they have done almost every sub-genre of kpop at some point. they really can do it all! and as a group they've been on top, they've had their name raked through the mud, they've had a member on hiatus (...literally announced right after i decided to stan, RIP), been in a big transition period...

yeah man idk. it's been so interesting and fun to follow their journey, learn a lot about the kpop machine, do some really fun creative writing, give in to the insanity of being a stan, and listen to some really great music along the way. :)

anyway that's how we got here! sorry for the long-winded answer hahaha i guess i could've just said "last year of my phd program, went insane, instead of becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol i decided to become a kpop addict and my drug of choice is itzy" :P

[tvguidancecounselor]

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 572: Ashley Ray

November 24-30, 1990

This week Ken welcomes the hilarious, smart and fantastic writer, comedian and host of "TV, I Say with Ashley Ray", Ashley Ray.

Ken and Ashley discuss being in Columbia, lack of Spanish language skills, watching foreign TV vs keeping up with American shows, Good Day LA, CTV, Canadians getting shows before the US, Ashley's birthday, growing up in Central Time, being born in Dallas, Rockford IL,  revisiting stuff from the 1990s, TVLand, Nick at Nite, Designing Women, Golden Girls, Network family sitcoms, The Goldbergs, Abbot Elementary, single cam vs multi cam sitcoms, Wonder Years, Growing Pains, non-people who have had TV credits before Ken, Malibu cigarettes, Linda Evans, Dynasty, made for TV movies, Tricks of the Trade, Your Mother Wears Army Boots, the legacy of The Cosby Show, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Lisa Bonet's eternal ultra fame, A Different World,  Kindergarten Cop, Chic Jeans, K-Mart ads, back to school shopping, the debut of Law and Order, Carol and Company, comedy anthologies, Kroll Show, The Wonder Years neighborhood in Burbank, In Living Color, seeing only the highs and now the lows of a sketch comedy show, the greatness of Nora Dunn, The Motown 30 What's Going On special, when Damon Wayans got himself fired from SNL, Ken's excited tangents, Ashley's favorite sketch show of all time, The Tracy Ullman Show, Rags to Riches, Big Brother Jake, Descending Angel, Jean Smart, George Carlin, The Ben Stiller Show, Charles and Diana, 52 Pick-Up, the teen suicide episode of Growing Pains, A My Name is Alex, the sad evolution of Ricky Schroeder, stand up specials, Def Comedy Jam, Pulp Comics, Shop Til You Drop, Premium Blend, Six Ladies Laughing, Andrea Martin, Lifetime Television for Women, TV trivia hosted by Alan Thicke, Arsenio Hall replacing Mud Wrestling, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, watching TV shows with your friends in them, Babes, making fun of your stars in the title of your show, thirtysomething, not revisiting shows you hated, Quantum Leap, Jack Kerouac, historical figures from your own lifetime being depicted by actors on fictional TV shows, "Obama" on Legends of Tomorrow, how beatniks are just hippies, Family Matters, watching all of Sex in the City for the first time during the pandemic, making sure you do the reading so you know all the cultural references and having heavy reality TV as your comfort shows. 

Check out this episode!

[greyscine]

You cant prank me

#You cant prank me full

#You cant prank me free

"The court ruling should be viewed as a warning that such behavior won't be tolerated by these or any other individuals. "T-he court's order granting a temporary restraining order underscores the need to provide a sense of stability and comfort in an in-person learning environment and in light of campus safety concerns nationally on college campuses," USC said in a statement Monday. USC's lawsuit also demands financial compensation for damages and seeks to ban the pair from making more content about the university. Kanevsky and Bai did not respond to requests for comment about previous incidents on other campuses. UCLA, Santiago Canyon College and UT Dallas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a YouTube video posted last year, the University of Texas, Dallas police appeared to issue Kanevsky a criminal trespass warning after he interrupted a lecture.

#You cant prank me full

This is a full crafting project, though, so only. It will make them think their home is infested with bugs, which is not a good thing to think. What appeared to be campus security removed Bai from Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California, after he interrupted students during a test to give "motivational speeches" in a video posted this month. The do the meanest DIY project possible prank. Last year, Kanevsky and another person boasted about a classroom evacuation at UCLA in a YouTube video. Sometimes pranks can backfire badly folks, so PLEASE read this before carrying one out.Kanevsky and Bai have executed similar stunts at others college campuses, together and separately. Ric was stood on the other side of the window pane watching what he had done. When he got there, he found Mr Hopkinson and Miss Wade still having sex, even though the fire bell was ringing. Brave Mr Chapman decided to investigate, and knowing a new teacher and a married man had been showering, he knew he had to look. On the field, the teachers saw the blood coming out the drain and flowing over the paving. They escaped before the two teachers saw them, and, with blood all over the shower, they left the scene and reported to fire positions on the field. In fright, Eddy went for the door, but put his hand through the glass on the emergency fire button. When they opened the door, they found Mr Hopkinson and Miss Wade naked and having sex in the shower. An innocent prank becomes a nightmare for the pranksters when an old legend proves to be true. Though in year 10, they did not know what was down there, so went in the door at the end of the corridor. Teddy Margulies, Peter Mitchell (Based on Teleplay By), R.L. People won’t be able to tell the difference until they take a bite. students may enter when required.' Reading this, Eddy and Kate went down the corridor. Leave it in the fridge and wait until someone pours themselves a drink. But when it finally happens, it involves actual mud monsters that nearly kill. Be Careful What You Wish For: He is beyond desperate to scare Courtney for one. He and his friend, Hat, want to pull a prank on Courtney. At break both Eddy and Kate turn up at the staffroom, to find a sign reading: 'staff meeting down the corridor this break. Portrayed By: Kiel Campbell ( TV) The main protagonist. You know why? Ric: Summit to do with when you was throwing pens at Noko's head in History on Tuesday. Ric: Y'alright Kate? Kate: Um.yeah? Ric: Right, you gotta go ter staffroom see teachers at break. you cant scare me I Have two Sisters gift for family Kids T-Shirt. In the next lesson, English, Ric decides to tell a mostly innocent girl, Kate, that she too has to go to the staffroom at break. High quality Prank inspired kids t-shirts by independent artists and designers from.

#You cant prank me free

You know why? Ric: Summit to do with when you broke that chair in maths. free fire ffprankvideo noobprank ffshortsvideoshort b2mgytThanks for watching keep support Follow me on Instagram. Portrayed By: Kiel Campbell ( TV) The main protagonist. You gotta go ter staffroom see teachers at break. Follow Characters / You Can't Scare Me Characters Funny Literature YMMV Create New Eddie Eddie and Hat. He waits until Mr Price arrives with the register, and then deliberately starts talking to Eddy. your phone company cannot be forced to share the details of who is calling you. genuinely thinking that was enough to get a pizza delivered to me. In the morning, he walks in to his classroom as casually as possible. We explain what a prank call is, whether they are illegal in Western. But pranks that go way out of line could be one that lands you in jail. What he doesn't know is that things aren't quite what they seem. It is April Fool's Day, and to Ric's delight, he has yet another prank set up.

[concreteprints]

OUTSIDERS HCs

not sure how much i rlly like this but oh well i can edit it later Ponyboy - sometimes while reading books he'll imagine himself as a character in them and daydream about it - he has anxiety because why not - he's always wanted a better relationship with Darry but since they were further apart in age he never really saw much of him growing up - even when he hasn't had nightmares for months he's still glad that Sodapop is next to him because the thought alone makes him feel safe - when he thinks he's alone he'll sometimes hum his favorite songs but the second he hears something he'll stop and pretend it never happened - if he's really anxious he'll bite/pick at his lips to the point of bleeding even though Darry always scolds him for it - blushes/gets flustered really easily and the gang always enjoys teasing him about it - loves to write letters even if he knows that no one will ever read them - has really nice handwriting but he sometimes makes it seem messier to look more "tough"

Sodapop

- sometimes when it looks like Pony isn't doing too well with homework he'll try and help 'cause he wants to be a good brother but he never does anything but get annoyed at it

- teases Ponyboy about any girl he glances at

- sometimes he "steals" (borrows, he always gives them back before Pony notices) Ponyboy's favorite books because he actually sometimes likes reading but he's too indicisive to choose books and never finishes books often enough to get them for himself

- was one of those kids that mixed up "potions" with things like bleach and shampoo and also enjoyed making mud pies

- considers dating another girl after Sandy but he doesn't want to ask out a soc and hes afraid that any greaser girl he dates wouldn't be nearly as he thought Sandy was

- he's absolutely awful at reading social ques and has a tendency to run his mouth until he realizes that everyone else feelss awkward

Darrel

- he hasn't dated since their parents died because he always tells himself he doesn't have enough time

- used to want to get a dog for his little brothers but quickly realized that realistically he'd be the only one taking care of it

- calls everyone in the gang his kid brother just because

- sometimes he daydreams about having a wife who'd help him with money and taking care of his younger brothers but he knows he'd be too scared to actually trust her around them

- he acts a little cold towards Pony solely because he's afraid that he'll mess something up and fail at giving him the childhood he deserves

- gets all dressed up for parent teacher conferences and is always so proud of everything they say about Pony

- sometimes on his breaks he goes and visits Soda's work when he gets longer breaks because he takes any chance he can to try to act like a good father figure towards Soda

- loves cooking for other people sometimes scolds his brothers if they aren't eating enough but also constantly forgets to feed himself

- enjoys gardening because his mother used to garden with him

Dallas

- he's always so cold around everyone but in turn he feels every emotion 10x worse when they do end up getting to him

- stops by the Curtis' house even when he knows no one is home because it feels more like his home than anything else ever has

- sometimes he cleans but he always lies about it being someone else because he's known as being careless and messy

- anytime he sees Johnny with a new bruise or cut he immedietly goes into guard dog mode and threatens his parents

- he's basically just the scary dog people take on walks

- he likes messing around with knifes and flipping them but always stops when he cuts himself

- whenever he's caught in the rain, just got out of the shower, or anything else that makes his hair wet, he likes to walk up to his friends and shake his hair like a wet dog because he finds it absolutely hilarious

Johnny

- has always been tempted to hug Dally but doesn't want to weird him out

- stray cats absolutely love him and sometimes they'll follow him around just to cuddle him

- usually only ever wears baggy clothes (because that's all he really owns) but gets annoyed at the fact that they only ever make him look more small, young and weak

- the gang usually avoids touching him because he always flinches at it but he actually does enjoy when people hug him or mess with his hair or even just brush against him (as long as they're someone he knows and trusts)

Keith "Two-Bit" Matthews

- never tells anyone about his troubles because he's always such a "happy" guy and a jokester that he thinks that no one will take him seriously

- has a nervous laugh

- says ow or ouch constantly when he brushes against something or accidentally falls down into a seat but stays practically completely silent when he's actually in pain

- has made jokes about turning tables and having greasers jump socs instead but he geniuinely thinks it might work and everyone just laughs because they take nothing he says seriously

- hears people joking about him being such a drunk even when he's stone cold sober because no one believes him

[huggybug]

number one - nathan mackinnon

word count: 1.5k words

You're the number one regret on my list

Number one bad taste on my lips

Of all my favorite things I wish I hadn't done

Baby, you're number one

You should’ve thought twice before dating Denver royalty. There wasn’t anywhere you could go without seeing or hearing about Nate. As a hockey fan, people thought you were delusional when you claimed to not like Nathan MacKinnon.

While you didn’t exactly trash his name or run him through the mud, you also weren’t going around singing his praises. Nate was a good hockey player, probably more than good actually but to you, all he ever would be is the man that ruined your life.

Maybe that was a bit dramatic but the point was, Nathan MacKinnon was your biggest mistake. You thought that you’d be strong enough to go through a public relationship but you were no where near prepared for what came with it. People speculated and examined every aspect of your relationship and if either of you ever made a mistake, it was spread across social media within a day. Nate tried to keep your relationship private but you two also weren’t going to hide away, you went out together frequently and it did not go unnoticed. 

Although really, you should thank those who were insanely invested in your relationship as they were the ones who shed the light on the incident that ended it all. It’s still fresh in your mind, the tweets and messages that flooded your notifications when Nate was spotted with another woman. 

There's your name right at the top of the page

You make me wanna pull you up on my stage

Put a gold medal 'round your neck and say

You're the number one regret on my list

You managed to avoid Nate for the most part, your long term relationship did mean that you’d become friends with most of the team and their significant others so as much as you wanted to completely leave that part of life behind you, it was practically impossible. Luckily, when it was time for Mikko’s wedding, you were past the point of sulking over your break up.

You weren’t going to miss your best friend’s wedding. You wouldn’t let it be another thing that Nate ruined for you. So you showed up, dressed to kill, and ready to mingle with your friends who you had missed over the past few months.

“You made it!” Mikko found you quickly at the reception and you grinned, sharing your congratulations when he hugged you. “You okay?” 

“Feeling amazing” You said quietly. You had been avoiding half of the team because instead of tracking Nate, you kept tabs of the most likely to be with him. You always were watching EJ, Gabe, or Cale as they moved around the room; your eyes found Nate at one point but you passed over him just as quickly as JT came up to you. 

JT and Andre were your safety post throughout the night, bouncing between the two of them as they moved around the room. You managed to avoid Nate until EJ found you and demanded that you join him on the dance floor, clearly drunk out of his mind. You could feel Nate’s eyes on you and as EJ spun you around, you made the mistake of meeting his gaze.

Number one bad taste on my lips

Number one reason my heart broke

It was a shock that your heart didn’t hurt and feel like it was drowning but instead, you were angry. The rage that had built over time was surfacing and you couldn’t stop it. You froze, moving away from the dance floor and making your escape. 

“Where’re you goin’?” JT stops you before you can reach the door that leads to an outdoor balcony. You look from him to where you had just seen Nate and your blood boils when you see the newest sight. There, sitting on Nate’s lap is the girl. The beautiful blonde girl that he was with in Dallas. She was here, at Mikko’s wedding, looking like it was right where she belonged. 

I might be somehow worse than her

But I guess I'll never know

“I just need some air” You choked out as you pushed past JT. The cool air flooded your lungs yet it felt almost impossible to breathe it in. The feeling was overwhelming and you felt yourself sliding down the wall before you were even aware of it happening.

And baby you're the best

At making me a mess

“Y/n?” Your eyes snapped open at the voice. It was one that used to make you feel the safest but now it made all of your guards rise. It’s funny how something like that can change so quickly.

“You shouldn’t be out here” You mumble led, still not looking up at him.

“I just saw you come out here and I wanted to see if you were okay”

“You don’t get to do this. You can’t just be the stupid nice guy who comes to check on me, it’s not fair” 

“I’m sorry-” You scoffed.

“For what? Me feeling like shit or how you ended our relationship?”

“All of it, fuck if I could take it back-” You watched as he ran a hand through his hair, messing it up from how it was styled before.

“You’re not sorry Nathan. If you were, you wouldn’t be here with her” Nate paused. He hadn’t expected you to recognize her, it was actually probably a bad idea to bring her since he knew you would be here but he did anyways because what’s one more bad decision on top of all the others?

I ain't even sure who's the second place

If you got that far it don't matter anyway

Had to break a heart, had to leave a scar

Every sad song, baby, you're the star

“I don’t need your apology, it’s too late” He could have reached out at any point over the past few months. You never blocked him, you thought you were too mature to be blocking your ex on all forms of communication.

“I know it is” Nate was quiet, it was almost calming to see how small he seemed right now. After all the time together, Nate was a big guy and seeing him like this made you feel more vindicated over the whole thing.

There's a lot of broken hearts

At the bottom of the charts

One by one they're dropping off

Ooh, while you'd stay right on top

“Nate…” You took a deep breath as you locked eyes with him. “I’ve been through a lot but I can honestly say, you’re the one who absolutely broke me. I hated myself because of you. I didn’t know what I did or didn’t do I guess to deserve what you did to me. I thought I was a good girlfriend, I went to your games, I tried to keep you happy but I guess it wasn’t enough. I don’t know when I stopped being enough for you Nathan but it obviously happened” You were holding back some tears but you weren’t sad or upset, saying the words that had been circling your head for months felt so freeing, it was a huge weight being lifted off your shoulders.

“Y/n?” JT comes out from inside with wider than usual eyes, taking in the sight of you and Nate standing alone together, both with glassy eyes.

You sigh, wiping the stray tear that had rolled down your cheek and take one last look at Nate before you feel JT’s hand lightly touch your back.

“Come on, let’s go inside” You let JT guide you away from the balcony and although it hadn’t been a big blowout, you’re glad he got you away from the situation. You didn’t want to cause a scene on Mikko’s day and you were grateful JT got to you before you could.

The rest of your night was, for the most part, Nate free. You exchanged glances a few times from across the room but he knew better than to try and talk to you again, especially since JT hadn’t moved from your side since he caught you outside.

That was another thing Nate hated. How JT’s hands were always on you. It wasn’t anything other than a friendly hand on your waist or around your shoulder but it made Nate’s blood boil. And he knew he didn’t have any right to think that after what he did but still. However, the thing he hated most was what he did to you and how no matter what he did, there was a slim chance you’d ever forgive him. But then again, slim didn’t mean none.

Of all my favorite things I wish I hadn't done

Baby, you're number one

[cupidsbower]

Venom: Let There Be Chocolate! is now open for prompts

As promised, I am running a mid-year Venom fest in the lead up to World Chocolate Day, July 7 2022.

This is a Harlequin challenge

That is, you must riff on a blurb from a Harlequin (or similar) romance. You can interpret the blurb you've chosen any way you like, from a straight re-write of the story with Venom characters, through to the wildest thing you can think of. Set it in space. Set it in the past. Make them pirates. Make them space pirates! As long as it has Venom and/or Eddie Brock as a main character (but they don't have to be in the romantic scenario), you're good to go.

Any type of fanworks are welcome.

You can post your Harlequin (or similar) prompts:

On the AO3 community: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Venom_Let_There_Be_Chocolate_2022/profile

Or on the main V:LTBC post on the Sybrock Dreamwidth community: https://symbrock.dreamwidth.org/32076.html

Or you can use the tag Venom: Let There Be Chocolate here on Tumblr, and I’ll periodically check and add any prompts to Dreamwidth.

The timeline:

Saturday 21 May to Sunday 26 June - prompts can be posted to the AO3 V:LTBC community, or to the Symbrock Dreamwidth community, or using the Tumblr Venom: Let There Be Chocolate tag.

Wednesday 6 July - submissions are due.

Thursday 7 July - works in the AO3 collection are opened for viewing.

Thursday 14 July - creators are revealed and works can be crossposted anywhere else you like.  

Below the cut are a bunch of prompts to get things started. If you want to use one, you can post it over on AO3 and claim it.

Reclaiming the Prince's Heart

by Rebecca Winters

Luna can’t believe it. Her husband, Prince Rini—the same man who had been reported dead after an earthquake—is alive…and standing right in front of her! Yet his return isn’t the fairy-tale reunion that Luna always dreamed of. Why? Rini has amnesia and can’t remember Luna—or their marriage! Will their still-powerful connection be strong enough to bring back the memory of their once-perfect love…?

Prince Of Scandal - Annie West

Raul, Prince of Maritz, is furious that an archaic law is forcing him to wed. But scandal and unrest has dogged this prince for years, and a marriage to recently discovered princess Luisa Hardwicke will help bring stability to the monarchy.

Only, Luisa is an outspoken, mud-splattered farm girl, who isn’t going to come quietly! Even as she’s reluctantly transformed into polished perfection, Luisa challenges Raul at every turn — and he finds himself anticipating their wedding night with an excitement he never imagined he’d feel...

Texas Glory

Lorraine Heath

She was given to a stranger...

Cordelia McQueen was a virtual prisoner in her father's house. Until everything changed when she was shamelessly traded in a battle for land and water rights, and thrust into an unfamiliar world as the bride of Dallas Leigh.

He belonged to the land...

Dallas had given his life to the land. Now he aimed to put West Texas on the map. But as he gazed into the eyes of the lovely stranger who belonged to him, he caught a glimpse of another ambition—a warm, radiant desire of the heart. Was this the woman who would walk beside him as, together, they carved out a rich future with all the promise of love?

Morning Comes Softly

Debbie Macomber

A shy Louisiana librarian, Mary Warner fears she'll always be alone—so she answers a personals ad from a rancher in Montana. Never before has she done anything so reckless, casting the only life she knows aside to travel to a strange place and marry a man she's never met. But something about this man calls to her—and she knows this may be her very last chance at happiness.

Tragedy made Travis Thompson the guardian of three orphaned children—and determination leads him to do whatever it takes to keep the kids out of foster homes. When he decides to take a long shot on a personals ad, the results are surprising, and before he knows it, he has agreed to marry a mysterious Southern woman sight unseen.

It could be the mistake of a lifetime. But Mary Warner may be exactly what this broken family needs. And with a little faith, a little trust, and a lot of love, two lonely hearts might just discover the true meaning of miracles.

Finding Forever on Their Island Paradise

by Therese Beharrie

Saving their home…Healing their hearts! Morgan’s mission to save Penguin Island, her South African paradise, is personal. She just wasn’t prepared for how personal it would be when striking a deal with tycoon Elliott! Both have something to lose if they fail, so putting the island back on the map is their number one priority. But working together has Morgan’s head and heart racing because with every accidental touch, keeping things professional becomes more challenging…and walking away feels impossible!

Falling for Her Convenient Groom

by Jennifer Faye

To appease her overbearing father, Carla told him that she’s engaged. She doesn’t, however, have a fiancé…yet! That’s where Franco comes in—if they marry temporarily, she’ll ensure that both of their companies will mutually benefit. Since neither wants a relationship, saying “I do” is strictly for business. But with their undeniable chemistry, can they keep it that way?

Most Eligible Sheriff - Cathy McDavid

Las Vegas casino manager Ruby McPhee needs to lay low while the police deal with a stalker at work. So she’s trading in her high heels for cowboy boots and assuming her twin sister’s identity at the Gold Nugget Ranch. Ruby only plans on staying in Sweetheart, Nevada until the threat back home has passed. But then she discovers a detail her sister forgot to mention — the handsome sheriff she’s dating.

It only takes a single kiss for Cliff Dempsey to realise the woman in his arms is someone entirely different...and completely irresistible. To protect Ruby’s secret, Cliff maintains her ruse, but soon the lines between duty and desire begin to blur. Ruby and Cliff know they have a once-in-a-lifetime connection, but will they have a chance to let their love grow?

Star Witness

By Lisa Phillips

After years in witness protection, Mackenzie Winters fears her cover has been blown when someone shoots at her. Could the brother of the drug lord she put away be here for revenge? Mackenzie must rely on Delta Force soldier Aaron Hanning to protect her. Aaron doesn’t want to be anyone’s hero, but with danger stalking them, they’ll both have to make a daring choice.

Silver Lining

Maggie Osborne

As scruffy and rootless as the other prospectors searching for gold in the Rockies, Low Down wanted nothing in return for nursing a raggedy bunch through the pox. But when pressed to reveal her heart's wish, she admits, "I want a baby." Not a husband, not a forced marriage to the proud man who drew the scratched marble and became honor bound to marry her. To be sure, Max McCord was easy on the eyes, but he loved another woman and dreamed of a different life. Yet they agreed to a temporary marriage that could end only in disaster. But can this strange twist of fate lead to the silver lining that both have been searching for?

The Gift

Julie Garwood

A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her heart at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided Nathan's family from her own...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now stood before her was perplexing, arrogant and powerfully handsome...a warrior-gentleman whose gentle touch aroused her to the wildest, deepest pleasures of love.

Nathan had never bared his soul to any woman, but he was soon utterly beguiled and exasperated by Sara's sweet, defiant ways. Aboard his ship, the Seahawk, she was brave, imperious and determined to win his heart completely—yet upon their return to England, her love would be sorely tested as a vile conspiracy tried to tear them apart. With their future at stake, they would discover the true destiny of their passion...for all time!

A Taste Of Heaven

Alexis Harrington

Libby Ross fled betrayal and heartbreak in Chicago when she headed to Montana expecting a new start, children, and a good place to raise them. Instead she learned that she has been duped again by the cowboy who made her his mail-order bride. He died, leaving her with no money, nowhere to go, and no resources but her own ingenuity. Then she learned about the Lodestar Ranch and its owner, Tyler Hollins.

Besides a lifetime of painful memories, Tyler had his hands full with immediate problems. Half his cattle were lost during the worst winter on record and his cowhands were about to quit if he couldn’t find a decent cook. Libby Ross fit the bill. She had never seen a man so attractive with such a sour disposition. But she sensed desire behind the wall Ty erected to keep everyone at a distance . . . a wanting so fierce it nearly broke her heart.

They locked horns from the outset, but they could fight each other, or fight together to see their dreams come true . . .

Texas Destiny

Lorraine Heath

She was his brother's wife...

Arriving on the Fort Worth train, Miss Amelia Carson, mail-order bride, had never met Dallas Leigh, the Texan she promised to marry. The tall cowboy at the station wasn't Dallas. He was Houston, Dallas's brother, sent to escort her on the rugged three-week trek to the ranch where Dallas waited. Brought up in war-ravaged Georgia, Amelia thought Dallas's letters made Texas sound like heaven, a place for her dreams to grow with the right man beside her.

And his only love...

By all appearances, Houston Leigh would hardly be considered the "right man." The war he survived had scarred him inside and out, and he was little competition for his handsome brother. But from the moment Houston met Amelia, he knew she possessed the courage this wild land needed. She had eyes that could see past his wounded face to his soul. And he would fight any man—except his brother—for her heart. Now he and Amelia were riding down dangerous trails, sleeping under the stars, and God help them, they were falling in love.

Eye of the Beholder

Ruth Ann Nordin

Mary Peters despairs that she will never marry. At nineteen, she has no prospects of finding a husband, so she takes matters into her own hands and becomes a mail-order bride. When she arrives to Omaha, Nebraska to meet the man she's due to marry, he takes one look at her homely appearance and rejects her.

But fate has other plans for Mary. Dave Larson happens to be nearby and thinks she will make a good wife. Though she is stunned that someone as handsome and as kind as Dave would ask her to marry him, she accepts. She knows that this marriage will not bear the fruits of love. Love, after all, is for beautiful women. Isn't it?

His Accidental Countess

By Annie Burrows

From abducted…

…to betrothed!

To stop an unsuitable elopement, Tobias Spenlow bundles his ward’s intended bride into his carriage – only to discover he’s made a terrible mistake. The woman is actually innocent governess Miss Dorothy Phillips – whose reputation he’s unintentionally ruined! The only way to right this wrong is for the Earl to wed her. She might have accidentally become his Countess, but their consuming attraction has him courting her in earnest…!

[breakfast-cereal]

I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame

pairing: Dallas Winston X Reader

pronouns: they/them

word count: 4.2k

description: A pretty guitarist catches your eye at a small music festival, and you can’t forget him.

warnings: underage drinking and smoking

cross posted on AO3

It had poured the whole time you were at the festival (if you could even call it that.) The rain beaded on your leather jacket, leaving streaks as the droplets descended. Your hair clung to the sides of your face. It was not only slick with rain, but also sweat. Your jeans hugged your hips; a thick layer of mud coated the bell bottoms. The wetness of the ground had slinked up your jeans and left an unfortunate wet patch that ended just below your kneecap. Your shirt somehow got mud on it. The dried mud on your shirt reminded you of when children would have food halfway up their faces or on their backs; it seemed so out of place. You were having fun.

The crowd was small but energetic. Most people were too drunk to notice the way microphones would squeal or how the amps crackled. They would jump and scream with every repeated Elvis cover and howl with laughter when people would stumble off stage to do god-knows-what. Once the fourth Elvis impersonator showed up, you’d began counting. There’d been around seven in only five hours. At one point, there was a Zombies cover band. You thought they were good, even if the lead singer fell off the stage nearing the end of their performance. It was refreshing to have people be so careless. You were in bum-fuck Oklahoma. Everyone knew everyone’s business, but this was a break. It was a break from the high tensions between the socs and greasers, the roles you had to play, everything. No one cared who you were or what you’d done. You were whoever you wanted to be. Right now, you were the crowd, the energy, the erraticness. You were back to being a greaser, a hood, a delinquent tomorrow.

The next band took the stage. They were greasers; with cheap booze and even cheaper guitars. The frontman was tall, bright-eyed, and slightly tanned. His hair was heavy with grease. It looked like he’d dipped his head into an oil rig. A few loose strands hung over his forehead, and he’d occasionally blow them out of his view. The drummer had crooked teeth and less grease. His worn jean jacket had the sleeves slashed off. The bass player was young, younger than the rest. He had a boyish look but not innocent. He had lived far too much for someone of his age. His hair was back so tightly that not a strand was out of place. He’d probably greased it before the show. The guitarist was further back, but owned the show. He had high cheekbones and wore a silver pendant that shone.

“We’ll start y’all off today with an Elvis favourite.” The microphone screeched. Great, another Elvis. The last Elvis mumbled half the words and told some girls in the crowd to ‘show him something great.’ He had a coke bottle thrown at him and limped off stage.

The guitarist started with the riff for Jailhouse Rock. You’d heard it enough today to memorize it, but the crowd went crazy. Clearly, it was popular. The bassist followed, and the frontman began singing. Oil Rig glared at the drummer, who played lazily and out of tune. The drummer straightened right up. The crowd treated it like this was the next Bob Dylan Newport incident.

You glimpsed at the many silver rings the guitarist was sporting as his nimble fingers slid along the guitar’s neck. His first and second knuckle had bruises. You understood why he wore the rings now. They weren’t just for style; they were for safety. The guitarist made an exceptional movement with his fingers, and the muscles in his hands flexed. You had the urge to reach out and hold his hand like one of the rabid fans at an Elvis concert. You instead screamed with the rest of the crowd. He was pretty, you’d admit, with a mild amount of shame.

The drummer blew a kiss to the crowd, and you swore someone dropped. Someone shouted for him to give them his shirt. His face contorted with laughter at the person. A sweat-slicked bra landed right in front of the singer. He visibly recoiled as if he hadn’t seen the panties on stage at earlier Elvis’.

“Gee, I don’t know how happy my girl would be about that.” The singer nervously laughed as he kicked the bra off the janky stage. The guitarist grinned wolfishly, and the bassist said something you couldn’t quite catch. The drummer seemed mildly annoyed; maybe at the fact the bra thrown wasn’t at him or that there had been a sweaty bra on set.

“First bra!” Some guy, probably a friend of theirs, cheered from your right.

“Oi, shuddup Two-Bit. Was probably yours,” the drummer shouted through the noise. The guy, Two-Bit, snorted at the comment. This sure was the most interesting Elvis set you’d gotten.

The frontman took the show must go on to the heart and ignored the bra incident. He began with the first few words of Hound Dog. The crowd was wild again. They’d all heard that song in at least every Elvis set and many more. You moved along with the rest of the crowd, anyway. Hound Dog was a favourite of yours. People’s boots sloshed in the mud and bounced dirt into the air. A piece of grass, hopefully, entered your mouth. You spat it out and spit a few extra times for good measure.

The guitarist was energetic on stage. He bounced and jumped while running his hands along the fretboard. He had lovely hands. His pendant moved with him and created a contrast to the dark material of his shirt. The guitarist came closer to the edge of the stage. Close enough that you thought it would be Zombies cover band all over again. He played effortlessly while beaming down at the crowd. You hated you found him pretty. You hated you wanted to run your hands through his, admittedly, stunning hair.

He stood right on the edge of the stage; the toes of his boots dangled off. What did he think he was doing? He made a vague gesture to your area. You glanced around to see if anyone had started a fight. There were no fights, no nothing. He pointed once again, this time directly at you. You nearly screamed.

“You got a little somethin’ there,” he motioned towards the left side of your head, and you copied. You found a clump of grass.

“Thanks.”

You don’t think you’ve ever been so embarrassed. Not even when your fifth-grade teacher read your incorrect answer aloud. The guitarist continued on with the set as if he hadn’t made you want to crumple into yourself.

They neared the end of their set. The crowd kept their energy, except for a few who had passed out on some metal picnic tables in the back.

“I wanna end with somethin’ I really like. Play this one for my girl sometimes.” The frontman had a dazzling smile as he began singing. You didn’t quite recognize the tune.

“You’re real cheesy, Soda. Trying to get some chicks to swoon?” Two-Bit, from earlier, cackled. Two-Bit was greasy as well. You thought you’d seen him around school before. Soda smiled back at Two-Bit’s and insinuated the talkin’ ‘bout my girl to prove a point.

The song was pretty. It reminded you of those movies with the pretty girls going to prom with their pretty boyfriends and sleek cars. It made you feel less like a greaser, even for just a moment. You felt like you could go to prom in a pretty outfit with a pretty guitarist and a sleek car. There was no more mud and grime around you. You were at prom. In that pretty outfit with the guitarist that told you about the grass in your hair. There was no squeal of the microphone feedback, only a soft whisper of a speaker and the sound of shoes on the hardwood. You could see why his girlfriend liked this song. You liked it too. You liked it a lot.

Their set had ended, and bands had come on and off. You’d tuned out for most of the other bands. It seemed like nothing could be as good as the energetic guitarist. You felt like the people passed out on the tables, lost. You craved to see that guitarist again, or at least know his name. His friend, Two-Bit, had disappeared, and you felt even if he were there, it would be strange to ask his friend’s name. You’d feel like a real cop.

A hand tapped your shoulder, “ Real strange band, ain’t it?” You spun to face the voice to see the frontman. He sported a grin. He had nice teeth.

“Yeah, never met anyone so into The Beach Boys.”

“I only really liked Surfin’ USA. They ain’t even close to Elvis.” He pulled a lighter and cigarette out of his jacket pocket.

You stared at him and thought of the song. You needed to know what it was called. It would eat away at your mind for days if you didn’t find out.

“The song you sang at the end of your set, what was it?”

He gave you a curious glance and took a puff of his cigarette. “‘Ya like it? It’s My Girl by The Temptations.”

“It’s real pretty. Feels straight out of a movie.” It made you feel like you were in the movie. Like you had a role as the main character and not an antagonist.

“Yeah, that’s why I like it too.” He paused briefly, “I’m Sodapop, by the way. Soda for short.”

“I thought your friend there called you that as a joke. Like a nickname or somethin’” Sodapop was a strange name, but you still liked it better than something generic like Tim.

“Naw, Soda’s my real name. Got a brother named Ponyboy. My dad was creative.” Sodapop’s hand twitched as he took another drag from his cigarette.

There was a silence between you two as you stood. The music pounded in your ears, and you could feel the beginnings of a headache. Cigarettes usually got rid of headaches. You wondered what cigarettes Sodapop smoked. Hopefully not Kent; you’d never met a Kent smoker who wasn’t pretentious. You personally preferred Lucky Strike. The other ones were too strong and left a foul taste in your mouth.

“Oi, Soda,” a voice shouted from your left. It was the same guy from earlier. “We’re going to the lot.” Two-Bit walked up to both of you, “you can bring your friend here too. I won’t tell Sandy, I promise.” He winked, and his face cracked out into a smile.

“It ain’t like that, you know that,” Soda huffed.

Two-Bit pulled Soda into a noogie. Soda grimaced and tried to escape his grip. “Dally’s bringing booze.”

“Alright, alright, I’m comin’. I was already in the first place. You comin’ too?”

You barely knew them. This could be risky. The night either ends with you meeting that guitarist or dead in a ditch. You had to consider the risks. They were greasers, so were you, and they didn’t seem as greasy as Tim Shepard’s gang. They were probably safe, but you could still see the blades they carried. You’d seen no heaters, though. You weighed your options.

“Yeah, if it’s no big deal,” you pulled at the threads on your shirt. This could be the best or the worst decision you’d ever made.

Two-Bit grinned. “This’ll be a load of fun; pinky swear we aren’t gonna kidnap you or anything.” Two-Bit slung his arms over Sodapop and your shoulders. His statement didn’t help you feel any better. “Never caught your name. Wanna remember it when I see it in the papers.”

“Two-Bit!” Sodapop hissed.

“It’s Y/n, and I thought you promised not to kidnap me. Wouldn’t be noble of you to break a pinky promise?”

“Naw, I would never; breaking a pinky promise would be bad for my image.” You sure hoped he wouldn’t break that promise. It would be nice to have your name in the papers, but not on a milk carton as well.

The lot was just as muddy as the festival, if not more. The leaves on the trees sagged because of the amount of water that dripped down them. Clouds of smoke rose from a fire that burned bright red. The fire cracked, and embers danced along the edges of the pit. There was laughter coming from around the fire; it was sweet and enticing. If this laughter was the sound sirens made, you couldn't blame sailors for being lured in.

“You find Soda?” a voice around the fire questioned.

“Don’t’cha worry ‘bout it, Darry. Soda and his little friend are all fine and dandy, thanks to me.” Two-Bit pulled you and Soda along to the fire. Five people were seated around the fire with jackets beneath them to avoid getting mud on their jeans.

Two-Bit stood next to a small, brown-skinned boy with dark hair and darker eyes. The boy flinched slightly. Soda slid in between the people you could recognize as the bassist and the drummer. A few curious eyes peered at you, and you slunk back.

“That Soda’s friend?” The man who asked seemed older than the rest. He had lines by his eyes, but you could tell he was too young to have them.

Two-Bit beamed and playfully slapped your back. “They were really hitting it off. I’d say best friends, even.” Two-Bit doubled over and grabbed at his knees, puffing like a fish out of water.

“You ain’t that funny, Two-Bit,” the bassist piped up.

“Sure, I’m that funny, you just don’t get comedy.”

The older man joined the conversation again, “You sure they aren’t a spy or anything? Socs’ve been getting close to us lately.”

“What soc would party in mud? Look at ‘em, Darry, that look like a soc to you?”

You looked at your beat-up leather jacket and dirty jeans and felt shame for a moment. You felt greasier than ever.

Darry nodded, seeming more comfortable with your placement at the fire. You glanced around the fire for an area to sit and noticed an empty seat next to the guitarist. He was here, and you wouldn’t pass up the chance to stare at him.

The sky grew darker, and stars started to peak out. Beer cans, along with cigarette butts, were tossed haphazardly on the grubby soil. You’d learnt the names of all the people here. The young boy was Ponyboy, Sodapop’s brother. The drummer was Steve, Sodapop’s best friend The skittish one next to Two-Bit was Johnny, and the guitarist was Dallas, but they called him Dally. You also learnt that Sodapop smoked Marlboros when he’d given back the cigarettes to Steve. It was possible he didn’t always smoke Marlboro, but you doubt he smoked much in general.

Dally pulled a beer can out of the package. It was Schlitz, you hated the taste of Schlitz. You and your friends would call it the shits because of an unfortunate mishap. Ponyboy reached for a drink as well, but Darry glared at him, causing him to retreat his hand.

“C’mon, Darry, why not? Everyone else is drinkin’,” Ponyboy grumbled.

“I won’t be having my kid brother get drunk.”

Ponyboy seemed annoyed but accepted the answer and went to pull the cigarettes from his jean pocket instead. Two-Bit sprawled across the legs of Johnny and Darry to reach Ponyboy’s cigarettes. He yanked a cigarette out of the package and frowned.

“Hey!” Ponyboy leaned back over and attempted to yank the cigarette out of Two-Bit’s hand. But only succeeded in ripping it in two and sending tobacco all over Two-Bit’s pants.

“So selfish,” Two-Bit tutted.

“I’ve got some left if you want.” You fished your cigarettes out of your leather jacket and handed them down to Dally so he could pass them to Two-Bit.

“You’re a blessing.” Two-Bit took one and threw the package at you. It hit you square in the face and he chuckled.

“You have a habit of having things hit you,” Dally commented.

“Now, that ain’t fair! It’s not my fault I’m a target.”

Dally rested his arms over his Strat, “You’ve got the face for it.” He put his hands up like he was framing your face.

“You calling me ugly?”

“Naw, you’re just easy to look at,” Dally laughed as if he hadn’t made your face heat up to the boiling point.

There was laughter around you, but you settled into a comfortable silence. These people were nice to be around. They made you feel okay, like being a greaser wasn’t so bad. You stayed quiet for a while. It was always interesting to observe, you could learn a lot about people. When you observed, you got a glimpse into people when they thought no one was looking. You noticed Ponyboy shivering. He pulled his arms tightly into himself and pretended he wasn’t cold. Johnny tapped him lightly on the shoulder and offered him his coat. You liked Johnny. He had a good soul. It was hard to come across that nowadays. It was even harder to find people who stayed that way. You were young, but you’d seen so many people become something else in your seventeen years of life. You could tell Johnny was on the brink of being hardened. It felt impossible to survive as a greaser without being hard. Maybe you couldn’t survive. You hoped Johnny stayed this way, same with Ponyboy. They were both the youngest, and they could have so much more. You would’ve prayed that they didn’t end up hard.

You kept your silence and looked around more. The glow of the fire illuminated Dally’s face. The breathtaking sky paled in comparison to him. He was stunning; with sharp lines and deep-set eyes. You wanted to reach out and run your fingers along the areas the fire cast its glow. You’d seen no one so beautiful. Even in natural light, he looked like he should be in a copy of GQ.

“You’re staring,” Dally poked at you with his guitar pick.

You rubbed the back of your neck. “Sorry.”

“I’m used to it. Lots of people stare when you look this good,” Dally grinned and took a swig of the shits.

“Good? Who said I was staring because you looked good? Maybe I thought you looked funny.” Good was an understatement, and you wanted to tell him. You desperately craved to pull him in and kiss that stupid mouth of his.

“You haven’t played any music yet. C’mon, time with a band and no music?” Two-Bit interrupted

“My musical genius is resting,” Dally replied.

“Musical genius, my ass. You can barely hold a bar chord.”

“Aw, you can’t even play, Two, so don’t you go speaking on musical genius.” Sodapop chucked a small rock in Two-Bit’s direction.

“You can’t either!”

“Voice is an instrument. How’d you get past music class without knowing that?”

“At least I didn't drop out.” Sodapop stilled. His face fell, and he stared down at his feet. “Aw, man, Soda, you know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“T’s fine.”

Two-Bit downed the rest of his beer. “So, ‘bout music, anyone gonna play?” He seemed anxious. It was obvious he felt bad. Clearly, it was a sensitive subject for Soda, and he crossed the line.

“Soda was telling me ‘bout a song he likes,” Steve smiled.

“Yeah, I was thinkin’ we could do You Really Got Me. It’s a real tuff song.”

Dally laughed and pulled a guitar pick out of his pant pocket.

“Steve doesn’t have drums,” Ponyboy commented.

Steve picked up a twig and snapped it in two. He drummed wildly in the air. “Who says I need drums?”

Dally squinted at the fretboard on his guitar. “I can barely see in this light.”

You looked at the trees surrounding the lot. It would be an easy way to get out and think if you offered to collect some firewood. Maybe it’d allow you to get the guitarist off your mind, even for a few seconds.

“I can go get some firewood,” you offered.

You pushed yourself off the dirt and grabbed your jacket. Your jacket had leaves and dirt crusted on the back. You ignored it and shrugged it on. You could live with a little dirt. It was already all over your pants.

"Thanks, Y/n," Darry grunted his approval.

You stalked off towards the tree line. The night was calm, with only a soft rustling of the trees in the breeze. The rain had stopped, and it left an earthy smell in the air. A singular leaf curled over your shoe and stuck to the white bit at your toes. You heard heavy footsteps behind you. You bristled, not from cold air, but from the sheer panic that you may really end up dead in a ditch. You should’ve listened to your mother when she told you not to hang out with strange boys.

A hand clapped your back, “aw, c’mon now, thought we were friends.”

“Don’t go sneaking up on me like that! You’ll give me a heart attack,” you hissed, slapping his arm.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like me.” You gave him a quizzical glance. “I’ve got good enough eyes to see the way you’ve been looking at me.”

“Like you? Your ego’s too big for your own good. I couldn’t give you a second thought.” You walked faster to avoid speaking to him. You’ve never been around anyone who was so forward.

“I know you’ve given me more than just two thoughts.” He grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“I don’t know why you came here just to bother me.” You felt like you worked against yourself when you spoke to him. Part of you craved to grab him and tell him how stupidly hot he is, and the other part wanted to deck him; you weren't sure which one would come first.

“Thought it would be kind to let you look at me a little more. I’m trying to be nice, and this is the thanks I get?”

“Gee, you’re insufferable.” You picked a twig up, “I’ll throw this twig at you if you don’t shut up.”

“Oh dear, I’m scared now. I’m shaking in my boots.” The twig hit his forehead. “You’ve got good aim.”

“Shuddup,”

“Oh, why don’t you make me.” He rolled his eyes. You wanted to take up his offer but instead hunted for sticks.

“C’mon, I’m offering here.”

“And what if I want to?” You countered. He pushed all of your buttons. He knew exactly what would drive you insane, and you loved it.

“Then do it.” It was a dare. You were going head to head with him, and you would win.

You grabbed him by the collar of his jean jacket and kissed him. He tasted of the shits and cigarettes. It wasn’t a pleasant mix, but the fact that you were kissing him outweighed it all. You brought your hands up to his face and pulled him in closer. You wanted to kiss him until you run out of breath. You wanted to win. His lips were cold and firm. His teeth bumped against yours as you pulled him even closer. There was burning anger, but it fizzled out when you pulled away. He was gorgeous up close. The sharp lines were just as sharp, but his blue eyes were gentle and inviting. His eyelashes fluttered. He had lovely eyes. He seemed so hard on the outside, but at this moment, you felt as if you could see cracks in the walls. Under all the sharpness, he had soft lines.

You wiped your lips, “We still need to get wood.”

“I can give you some wood.” Dally reached his hand down and hovered above his crotch.

“You’re disgusting.”

“And you just kissed me. Can’t be that disgusting.”

You chuckled heartily and inhaled sharply. “Maybe.”

You had a bundle of twigs for the fire. The fire would probably have difficulty as the wood was wet, but it should still work.

“That’s a load of twigs,” Johnny said.

“No sweat, we found ‘em pretty easily.” You tossed a twig into the fire.

Dally didn’t grasp the concept of patience and tossed a whole arm full of twigs into the fire. The fire crackled and sputtered. It lit up in a massive ball of fire. The smoke came off in thick, grey clouds.

“Now I can see. Let’s get this rollin’.”

Steve thwacked his twigs against each other. Dally joined in after four beats, and Soda began soon after. Ponyboy occasionally added in the bass. Darry beamed with pride at his two brothers. Johnny tapped his foot along with the music, and Two-Bit mimicked the guitar riff.

Dally’s hands moved seamlessly along the fretboard. He was still wearing the rings. He turned and gave you a knowing glance.

“I’ve got good enough eyes to see the way you’ve been looking at me,” he whispered.

Instead of the boiling anger, you laughed. You’d laughed with these greasers a lot tonight. They were greasers, hoods, delinquents, but that didn’t matter. They were fun; lively. Laughter sounded off into the night, along with the smoke of the bonfire. You felt the life of the festival again. You didn’t care how the cheap amps used by Ponyboy and Dally would squeal. You didn’t care how Two-Bit would interrupt to add his commentary or how Soda’s voice cracked when he tried to reach high notes. It all felt so natural, so there. It made you feel real. It made you feel alive.

[sophie-i-guess13]

Hound Dog

|Words: 1872|

|Characters: Sylvia, Tim Shepard, Dallas Winston|

|Genre: Teenage Dumbasses, Fluff near the end|

|TW: Mention of a gun, animal neglect, implied underage drinking|

Tag! @mjmacchio1991 @apricot-colored-feathers @pepsi-and-cigarettes @the-kneesbees @ralphmaccchiato 

I had a few ideas of what Sylvia wanted from me when she came through the door of her cousin’s bar. Like a drink or two, maybe a dance. Maybe she wanted to spend the night. But, in her typical fashion, she just had to prove me wrong. That’s the only reason I’d be sitting in the passenger seat of Tim Shepard’s t-bird and squinting through the rain-splattered windshield.

We move along down the road, the only sound being that of the rain beating against the car and Elvis’s voice coming from the radio. Tim’s headlights reflect off the streetlamps we pass, even the occasional broken bottle tossed in the middle of the road. Each time the light shot back at us, it got caught in his eyes and hair, the vibrant contrast of black wild curls and clear blue eyes, all tied together with a jagged pink scar running from temple to chin. “Likin’ the new tires?” he asks, lips still twisted into a scowl so it would look like an insult to anyone else.

It still hurts to breathe too deep, but that’s the least of my worries. That wasn’t the first time Tim had taken a cheap shot at my ribs, but I knew it wouldn’t be the last, either. “You should be thankin’ me, Shepard,” I say casually, “told ya’ you were due for an upgrade.”

“Just admit you slashed my tires ‘cause you were jealous,” he mutters without even a hint of sincerity. It took me a while to figure out when he was bluffing- the last time I fucked up we both ended up in the Curtises kitchen and bandaging our wounds. My eyes dart up to his rearview mirror before I respond. For a girl who always seemed so cold and cool, Syl’s pressed against his window like a little kid at a toy store. “An’ what do I have to be jealous for, your fat head?”

“How ‘bout the fact that I have a car, and you’re a fuckin’ freeloader-”

“Pull over!” Sylvia cries out suddenly, already pulling at the handle of her door, “That’s the house!”

The street is still dark but through the occasional crack of lightning, I can make sense of where we are. “Your house is three up, doll,” I mumble. It must have been soft enough for her to have not heard me because she pushes the door open and trudges through the rain. “She ain’t headed home,” Tim tells me as he turns the key and lets the engine die. “Sylvia’s been obsessed with the dog in that yard ever since I met her.”

She’s teetering back and forth in her high-heels as she leans over the metal fence, running her hands over the slim, grey body beneath her. I can’t make out her words- since they’re all slurred together with cold and liquor, but they don’t hold the same edge I’m always used to hearing from her. “So you drove her to visit a mutt?”

There’s a second icy gust of wind when Tim forces his door open and pops the collar of his leather jacket. “Get your head outta your ass, Winston,” he groans, just loud enough to be heard over the clap of thunder, “we’re helping her take him!” Before I can get any more clarification, Syl’s voice cuts through the rain once more. “Hurry up,” she calls, “the thunder’s freaking him out! You’ve got the thing?”

I don’t know what thing she’s talking about. I don’t know why I’m spending my night out in the rain while Sylvia crouches in the mud, trying to soothe some mangy old dog that’s probably older than we are, but here I am. The rain beats down on us, even going as far as to wind down my back and under my t-shirt like a serpent. “You got a plan or anything?” I shout to Tim when he slams the trunk closed and heads towards the rickety old house, bolt cutters hanging in one hand. “Not really. Just cut the chain and get ‘im to Buck’s, I guess.”

In all honesty, stealing a dog doesn’t sound like the worst way I could spend my time. But, there is no way in hell that thing is coming anywhere near my bedroom. The street stays dark for the most part, except for the occasional shot of lightning through the clouds like the cracks through Buck’s drywall. The thunder’s got the dog on edge as he paces back and forth against the fence, sometimes even raking his paws against it. He doesn’t bark though, which means his owners inside have no reason to look outside when Tim and Sylvia hop over the chain link.

Blue jeans turn muddy and hair is plastered flat against their foreheads. Watching Sylvia drop to the ground and not caring for the grime caked under her nails as she pulls at the thick leather collar pushed against his throat. “You’ve gotta hold ‘im still,” Tim orders rough grit teeth and a white-knuckle grip on his bold cutters, “I can’t cut the chain if he keeps moving!”

Years ago, he might have been a good looking dog. Now, with ribs sticking out far enough to count, white and cloudy eyes, and a torn ear, he was everything but pretty. His thin fur was grey and matted, yet somehow still thin enough to see the bald patches on his chest and stomach. If it were any lighter, we probably could’ve seen the ticks and fleas crawling all over him, too. “I’m trying,” Syl huffs in response, “it ain’t my fault the thunder’s freaking him out! Dal, get down here an’ hold him!”

He whimpers and cries, straining against Sylvia’s arms as she tries to hold him still and Tim grabs hold of the rusted chain in one hand. “Syl didn’t invite you to just stand there,” Tim spits, rainwater and a few choice words falling from his lips when the chain slips from his hands and the dog jerks back further into Sylvia’s arms. In all honesty, she didn’t invite me at all. She walked into the bar, dark lips twisted into a smile and flipped some bleached hair over her shoulder.

That’s all it took before I was following her out into the night and the passenger side of Tim’s t-bird like a- well, like a dog.

“Shut up an’ give the chain.” I grumble, narrowly avoiding the dog’s tail when he whimpers again. The metal is cold and slick with rain, but still rough with years worth of rust. It pushes into my palms, nearly deep enough to slice the skin while Tim runs his fingers back and forth searching for the weakest link. “I keep tellin’ you, Syl, you need to find a guy who’s willin’ to steal a dog. Not the kinda guy you’ve got to lie to-”

“Just cut the chain, Tim-”

The metal goes slack before my hands drop to my sides. “Makin’ a move on my girl, Shepard?” I’ve always had a temper. It’s gotten me in trouble before, and that’s all it was getting us in now. Too many things happen at once. Thunder rolls overhead, Sylvia groans, and Tim laughs. Lightening cuts across the sky, like a knife slashing through fabric. “Shut up, Dal,” Tim snarls, “I wouldn’t get with Syl if she was the last chick this side of the equator.”

I see her lips move, even see the initial shock cross her dark eyes, but no sound comes out. All I hear is the incessant ringing in my ears and the smell of gun powder. I can see it now, the steel chain resting at my feet, cut short to a jagged end, illuminated by the hazy yellow glow of a porch light. Tim already has a hand on Sylvia’s arm, hauling her to her feet and dragging her in the direction of the road.

I follow in a blind panic, adrenaline burning under my skin just as it had all those nights before I showed up in Tulsa. At least back in New York people wouldn’t justify your murder saying you were on their property. I can hear the man of the house hollering after us, he’s got a deep voice, but the words all slur together. Exactly how you’d expect some asshole who leaves his dog out in the rain to sound.

That fucking dog.

I never should have looked back, but I did, anyway. I was supposed to gauge how far away he was, maybe if he planned on re-loading and taking another shot at the three kids running out of his yard, but I see the dog instead. His belly is against the soaking grass, tail and ears gone limp. In an instant, I freeze. The man lumbers down his stairs, shotgun hanging over his thick shoulder.

He growls another insult my way, fist waving in the air as he talks. The dog tries to sink lower into the mud as if it would be able to swallow him whole. Behind me, an engine roars back to life and tires squeal on wet cement. I should’ve gotten in the car. We should’ve counted our losses and realized that we’re greasers, not heroes.

But that motherfucker never should’ve kicked his dog.

“Thanks for this,” Sylvia hums in the early hours of the morning with her head on my chest and my arm wrapped around her shoulder. It hurts to breathe and every inch of my body aches, but all of that seems worth it now. She’s still trembling, despite being wrapped under all the blankets I could find in my room and Buck’s sweatshirt from last year’s rodeo season. We’re all freezing, but that meant Buck was willing to share his moonshine. It burned on the way down, but at least I could feel my fingertips again as they traced her shoulder.

“God, can y’all knock this shit off? You’re making me sick.”

Tim’s standing at the foot of the bed, greasy black curls still pressed to his forehead and one bloody fist wrapped in an old t-shirt. “Nah, this is what you get for makin’ me run in the rain with a dog and batshit old man chasing me,” I spit back. Sylvia smiles against my chest before sitting up and pushing her hair back from her face. “And for implying you’d have a shot with me, you arrogant prick.”

He leaves not long after that, drenched in rainwater and defeat. No sooner had Tim Shepard closed the door and wandered back down the hall, had the dog- Bruce, wiggled out from under my bed and stared at us.

“Hey, Dally-”

“He isn’t sleeping on my bed, babe.”

“C’mon, Dal, it’s just for one night, babe.”

I’m a greaser. The kind of guy known for getting into drunken fights in bars and empty parking lots. I steal, I lie, I cheat. I’m not a good person, nor have I ever claimed to be one. Hell, I fight guys twice my age and weigh more than two of me, and win.

But sometimes, when a hood is left to face his girlfriend and her dog, you just have to accept defeat and move over.

[pop-pop-pop-popculture]

ONLY WHAT YOU SEEN... What are the best--er...your favourite films of 2010s?

Oh God... lol, okay.

Black Swan (2010)

The A-Team (2010)

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

The Other Guys (2010)

The Switch (2010)

When In Rome (2010)

Valentine’s Day (2010)

Bridesmaids (2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

The Hangover II (2011)

Soul Surfer (2011)

Horrible Bosses (2011)

Limitless (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

The Hunger Games (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Impossible (2012)

Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (2012)

The Campaign (2012)

Pitch Perfect (2012)

Brave (2012)

Ted (2012)

Prisoners (2013)

We’re the Millers (2013)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Monster’s University (2013)

The Book Thief (2013)

Gone Girl (2014)

The Guest (2014)

Still Alice (2014)

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

The Gift (2015)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Split (2016)

Moana (2016)

Logan (2017)

The Florida Project (2017)

Lady Bird (2017)

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

IT (2017)

Coco (2017)

The Greatest Showman (2017)

Beauty and the Beast (2017 - except Emma Watson and her subpar “acting” and “singing”)

At Eternity’s Gate (2018)

Doctor Sleep (2019)

IT Chapter Two (2019)

Joker (2019)

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

🎬 Not a Favorite, but Great Film! 🎬

Buried (2010)

127 Hours (2010)

Remember Me (2010)

Les Misérables (2012)

Mud (2012)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

The Big Short (2015)

Don’t Breathe (2016)

I, Tonya (2017)

Get Out (2017)

The Lighthouse (2019)

I didn’t watch many films in 2018 and 2019...

[the-outsiders-blogg]

Playing football with the gang and the shepard outfit? And you're like a slim girl who doesn't look like she can tackle someone twice her height and weight but fuck you can and almost take down darry bc you can fight god! lmaoo dallas almost whooped your ass like he did johnny at the drive in before darry had to remind him that you're like a girl?? dal is all like "A GIRLLLLLLL SHE'S THE HULK!" two thought it was funny you almost took down dar and no one let's the man live it downnnn

AHAHAHA I LOVE THIS fun fact I played football in high school ;)

SO the gang and the Shepard outfit get together to play football sometimes just for shits and giggles

You usually just sit on the sidelines with Angela but this time you decided to play

(Angela just watches cuz she don’t wanna break a nail 💁‍♀️ plus she wrestles with her brothers at home so she doesn’t rly see a reason to do it with them in the mud)

At first you’re just messing around, sort of just running and covering and not touching the ball that much

Until you’re running the ball and Dallas fucking TRIPS you!! The audacity of that whore

You get up all mad and stuff but you just brush yourself off silently

So on the turnover when Dal gets the ball you fucking FLOOR him, cuz he’s a disrespectful slut!!

Angela is like *pulls down sunglasses*

And even tho it’s a fumble everyone stops and stares all like “😧what😧the😧fuck😧”

Ur just like “what? so I can play ball so what?”

Dallas was so. damn. mad. he got up and Johnny and Curly had to physically restrain him from fighting you

Dar is like “Dal don’t you can’t beat her up” and it makes Dallas so mad ahahaha

“Shit she’s stronger than you” -Steve, to Sodapop

Soda finds it amusing, he has a newfound respect for you

Two Bit is laughing his ass of omgg he thinks it’s the funniest shit he’s like “someone get me a camera I wanna remember this forever 💀💀”

Two NEVER lets Dal forget that moment

“Heh. Would you look at that” - Tim, kinda turned on

After that Pony is literally scared to go one on one with you he chickens out every single time after that

[party-of-rpg-muses]

A Look At Stuff You Probably Never Heard Of: 101 Dalmatian Street

We’re doing something a little different this month. Rather than look at something Christmas-related, we’re just not. Instead, we’re taking a looking a normal TV series. Today, we’re taking a look at... 101 Dalmatian Street!

101 Dalmatian Street is a British-Canadian animated series produced by Passion Animation Studios and Atomic Cartoons and aired on Disney Channel and Disney +, with the first episode airing March 18th, 2019 and continuing to this very day. It serves as somewhat of a sequel to the original 101 Dalmatians book by Dodie Smith/the Disney movie.

Set about 60 years after the events of the movie, Pongo and Perdita have long since passed away. The parents of the dalmatians are Doug, an American firefighter dalmatian, and Delilah, the great-great granddaughter of Pongo and Perdita who works as a nursing dog, assisting a human doctor. Each parent had 15 pups from a previous relationship before getting together and having another liter of 15 with the other 54 being adopted from rescue shelters or from the streets.

However, the show mainly focuses of Doug and Delilah’s oldest pups; Dylan (Delilah’s son), the pedantic and neurotic control freak who obsesses over safety, cleanliness, and is basically your typical nerd, and Dolly (Doug’s daughter), who is a rebellious tomboy who is more carefree than Dylan, but also irresponsible and often performs tricks on her skateboard. And her catchphrase is “Bow-Waka-Wow”. Since their parents are often away, it falls to them to look after the pups while also getting into mishaps and adventures around Camden Town.

Other pups include the twins Dizzy and Dee Dee, who are essentially Dolly’s sidekicks and often imitate or listen/copy what she says or does, Dawkins who is a science nerd and Dylan’s sidekick who created most of the inventions around the house, Triple D (Destiny, Dallas, and Déjà Vu) who are triplets who act like valley girls/divas who often act in commercials, Dante who is a goth with black fur with white spots and usually spouts doomsday prophecies that no one believes, and Desiel who is obsessed with digging and has an amazing sense of smell, but isn’t all that bright. And that’s simply naming a few. And as one can guess, all their names start with “D”.

The show was animated in Toon Boom with each episode being 11 minutes long and the episodes are largely disconnected with each having its own self-contained adventure. However, there is a plot bubbling beneath the surface. And there are some two-part episodes with the season 1 final being about an hour long. It’s also worth noting that the show has a few recognizable voice actors. Perhaps most notably Michaela Dietz as the voice of Dolly (most recognizable as the voice of Amethyst from Steven Universe).

And now, the time has come for my Final Recommendation Never Let Go Of It||Get It||Hold Onto It||Try It||Consider It||Stay Away From It

No lie, it’s a cute and fairly enjoyable series. Comedy is at the forefront of the series (at least, for the time being). My personal favorite joke in the entire episode is when the weather forecast predicts snow, which gets Dolly excited, wanting to introduce the pups to snowboarding, but when going outside, she ends up falling in mud after rain, to which Dylan reminds her that they live in London, a joke about the UK’s weather.

However, some of the comedy can be rather cringy and even go into low-brow gross-out like farting. And Dylan has a severe cat allergy, so it’s not uncommon to see Dylan with puffy eyes and a runny nose when a cat is nearby.

Although, despite the show being mostly comedy, there is a bit more to it. A common theme in this show is family. Many of the pups are fully aware they’re not actually related by blood, but they still refer to each other as siblings; most notably with Dolly and Dylan. They’re polar opposites of each other and get on each other’s nerves, but they happily refer to each other as siblings with Dolly often referring to Dylan as “bro”. And a common thing in the episodes is either Dolly or Dylan swallowing their pride or realizing their mistakes to help out their family or fix a mistake. The concept of family is big in this show much like how Steven Universe revolves around love.

But as stated, there’s more of a plot as the show goes on. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just that an old face has returned; the dalmatians’ ancestral enemy. And they have an ally.

And so, another year draws to a close. I’ll see you again at the start of the next year with a new entry. But before I go, I would like to share the intro with you. Until next time.

[tvguidancecounselor]

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 572: Ashley Ray

November 24-30, 1990

This week Ken welcomes the hilarious, smart and fantastic writer, comedian and host of "TV, I Say with Ashley Ray", Ashley Ray.

Ken and Ashley discuss being in Columbia, lack of Spanish language skills, watching foreign TV vs keeping up with American shows, Good Day LA, CTV, Canadians getting shows before the US, Ashley's birthday, growing up in Central Time, being born in Dallas, Rockford IL,  revisiting stuff from the 1990s, TVLand, Nick at Nite, Designing Women, Golden Girls, Network family sitcoms, The Goldbergs, Abbot Elementary, single cam vs multi cam sitcoms, Wonder Years, Growing Pains, non-people who have had TV credits before Ken, Malibu cigarettes, Linda Evans, Dynasty, made for TV movies, Tricks of the Trade, Your Mother Wears Army Boots, the legacy of The Cosby Show, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Lisa Bonet's eternal ultra fame, A Different World,  Kindergarten Cop, Chic Jeans, K-Mart ads, back to school shopping, the debut of Law and Order, Carol and Company, comedy anthologies, Kroll Show, The Wonder Years neighborhood in Burbank, In Living Color, seeing only the highs and now the lows of a sketch comedy show, the greatness of Nora Dunn, The Motown 30 What's Going On special, when Damon Wayans got himself fired from SNL, Ken's excited tangents, Ashley's favorite sketch show of all time, The Tracy Ullman Show, Rags to Riches, Big Brother Jake, Descending Angel, Jean Smart, George Carlin, The Ben Stiller Show, Charles and Diana, 52 Pick-Up, the teen suicide episode of Growing Pains, A My Name is Alex, the sad evolution of Ricky Schroeder, stand up specials, Def Comedy Jam, Pulp Comics, Shop Til You Drop, Premium Blend, Six Ladies Laughing, Andrea Martin, Lifetime Television for Women, TV trivia hosted by Alan Thicke, Arsenio Hall replacing Mud Wrestling, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, watching TV shows with your friends in them, Babes, making fun of your stars in the title of your show, thirtysomething, not revisiting shows you hated, Quantum Leap, Jack Kerouac, historical figures from your own lifetime being depicted by actors on fictional TV shows, "Obama" on Legends of Tomorrow, how beatniks are just hippies, Family Matters, watching all of Sex in the City for the first time during the pandemic, making sure you do the reading so you know all the cultural references and having heavy reality TV as your comfort shows.