#never getting the chance to be 17 again?! well good riddance if you ask me

[bypatia]

i can’t believe i’m missing 2015. easily one of the worst years of my life but it was also the last year in school, i used to stay up till 3 am reading dr*rry fanfiction, see all my friends everyday, alessia cara’s here was released, some david was talking about his white vans, the moustache trend was dying, maroon 5 had just released maps and my classmates who used to sneak in phones would play that song on repeat, young adult books were in their golden age (cassandra cl*re, red queen, cinder chronicles, whatnot) demi lovato had released the summer anthem, and i turned 17 that year. turns out i will never get the chance to be 17 again

[purplehairedwonder]

Hearts With(out) Chains Chapter 16

Fandom: One Piece Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Gen (eventual Lawlu) Words: 3,431 Characters: Ikkaku, Jean Bart, Clione, Monkey D. Luffy, Nico Robin, Straw Hats, Violet, Trafalgar Law, Bepo, Doflamingo Notes: I’m taking my turn at the Corazon!Law AU because my brain won’t leave me alone until this is written down. Tags will be updated as the chapters come out.

Summary: Law is reclaimed by the Family when he's 17 and, with Doflamingo holding the lives of his crew as collateral for his good behavior, eventually becomes the third Corazon. Years later, trapped by his impossible situation, Law finds a strange connection to Monkey D. Luffy, which offers a glimpse of something he's repeatedly had ripped away from him: hope.

Previous chapters: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Read also at AO3 / FF.N

For a moment, Ikkaku’s brain struggled to process exactly what she was seeing. Why was Straw Hat Luffy on the Polar Tang? No one had heard from him or his crew in two years—since her own captain had saved his life. Was she hallucinating? Had she hit her head? Had she fallen asleep? Her brain couldn’t find a logical reason for what she was seeing.

“Eh?” Luffy said, tilting his head at Ikkaku. “You’re not Sanji. Who are you?”

“Who am I?” Ikkaku echoed in disbelief. “Why are you on my ship?” she demanded, hands going to her hips.

Luffy frowned at her for a long moment before his expression lit up. “Your ship? You must be one of Torao’s nakama!”

“Torao?” Ikkaku repeated in confusion.

Luffy nodded. “Mhm. Your captain!”

Ikkaku’s eyes narrowed. “My captain is Corazon.”

“That’s what I said. Torao.”

Irritation washing over her, Ikkaku pinched the bridge of her nose. “No, it’s not. I work for Corazon, second in command of the Donquixote Family, not whatever you just said,” she said. (Though whether Law still held that title seemed to be a question up in the air, considering the crew had been attacked, but that wasn’t Straw Hat Luffy’s business.)

“Torao is Corazon,” Luffy said. “He’s Law.”

Ikkaku stiffened. “How do you know that name?”  

“Eh? He told me!” Luffy replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

That she did not believe. Law wouldn’t just tell anyone his name—especially a rival captain. But Luffy didn’t seem inclined to expand on his explanation.

“You still haven’t answered why you’re on our ship,” Ikkaku ground out, deciding to change approaches since she wasn’t getting anywhere.

“Oh, it was Torao’s idea,” Luffy said, scratching his nose absently. “He was supposed to call hours ago, though, so I’m getting worried about him.” His vision narrowed in on her, and Ikkaku had to fight the urge to step back with the sudden intensity of his gaze. “Do you know where Torao is?”

Ikkaku frowned at that. Not only did she have a hard time believing Law had invited a rival pirate crew onto the Tang—never mind the pirate in question was one he’d gone out of his way to save for a reason he hadn’t been able to explain—but she was also struck by the statement that Law seemed to be missing. That wasn’t good.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly.

The atmosphere around them lightened as Luffy crossed his arms and made a thoughtful noise. Ikkaku watched him, unsure of what to do, but she was pulled from her thoughts at the sound of doors busting open behind Luffy in the mess and yelling. Oh boy. She’d completely forgotten about Jean Bart and Clione. Luffy spun around, eyes going wide, and dashed back into the room he’d just come from.

With a sigh, Ikkaku followed a moment later and entered a chaotic scene. Pirate Hunter Zoro had his blades drawn as he stared down Jean Bart, who had… were those hands spouting out of his shoulders? He’d frozen as he eyed the limbs perilously close to his thick neck. Demon Child Nico Robin had her arms crossed in front of her as she stood to the side of Zoro. The long-nosed sniper had a slingshot drawn and pointed in his direction as well.

Meanwhile, Clione was facing off against Black Leg Sanji and a skeleton? Wielding a sword? And a cyborg? What the—?

Ikkaku rubbed her eyes. She’d seen a lot of strange things in the New World, but this was definitely near the top of the list. There was just something about seeing the crazy happening on her own ship, which was supposed to be a safe haven, that caused her brain to short circuit.

“Stop!” Luffy yelled as he barreled into the center of the mess hall.

“Luffy?” Zoro asked, glancing at his captain.

“These guys just burst in and attacked us!” the sniper added.

“Because you’re on our ship,” Jean Bart growled.

“Your ship?” Cat Burglar Nami asked, loosening her grip on the strange baton in her grasp. “Are you—”

“Torao’s nakama!” Luffy interrupted. He turned and pointed at Ikkaku. “Her too.”

The other Straw Hats turned to look at her, and her face warmed at the attention. She awkwardly raised a hand in greeting. After a moment, the Straw Hats stood down. Once the weapons had been lowered, Ikkaku wound her way through the mess to stand next to Jean Bart and Clione.

“Who’s Torao?” Clione asked, confused.

“Not this again,” Luffy grumbled.

“Our captain is referring to Corazon,” Nico Robin jumped in immediately, a spare hand appearing to pat Luffy on the shoulder comfortingly before disappearing in a flurry of petals.

“Straw Hat knew his real name,” Ikkaku murmured to her friends. They gaped back at her, just as surprised as she had been. The only ones to still refer to Law by his given name were the Hearts, and they were careful only to do it when they were safely outside the hearing of any outsiders.

“How do you know our captain?” Jean Bart demanded.

“We… ran into him on Punk Hazard,” Nami said, sliding her baton into a holster at her hip.

“Punk Hazard?” Clione asked, glancing at Jean Bart and Ikkaku. “Was that where he went on his mission?”

“Must be,” Ikkaku agreed. It made sense since Law’s mission had to have been nearby, and Punk Hazard housed a sensitive project, though they didn’t know the details of it.

“Some jerk named Verto showed up and attacked all of us,” Luffy said. Well, that seemed to confirm the story; the only thing the Hearts knew about the trouble Law was in was that it involved Vergo in some way. “He called Torao a traitor and threatened Torao’s nakama.”

Ikkaku traded glances with Jean Bart and Clione.

“What happened?” Clione finally asked.

“We said we’d help,” Luffy said. “Torao saved me two years ago. He’s a good guy. And if you’re his nakama, you must’ve helped me too, so you’re good, too!”

Ikkaku gaped at Luffy. Was he serious? This was not how a pirate was supposed to act.

“Vergo’s dead,” Robin added. “Corazon killed him.”

“Good,” Ikkaku said without thinking. The thought that Law had gotten revenge on that bastard was a good one. They’d all seen how Vergo and Law interacted when Vergo came to the palace, and the malice that existed on both sides had been blistering.

“Good riddance,” Clione added.

“Not a popular guy, I take it,” Nami said, eyebrow raised.

“He hurt our captain,” Clione said. “What’s there to like?”

Zoro hummed in approval as he dropped into a chair and threw his hands behind his head in a more relaxed posture.

“That still doesn’t answer why you’re on the Tang. Our ship,” Jean Bart clarified at some confused glances.

“Torao told us to wait here until he called,” Luffy said. “But it’s boring when you can’t explore a new place.”

“So, you’re here to help us?” Ikkaku asked skeptically. Even if Luffy thought of himself as repaying his debt to Law for Marineford, it was crazy to take on a Warlord in the country he ruled as king. There was no way he had any idea what he was getting himself and his crew into.

“That’s what I said,” Luffy huffed. “Why does no one ever listen to me? That Mingo is a bad guy, so we’re going to help Torao take him down and save his nakama.”

“You didn’t know about this?” the sniper asked, absently fiddling with the handle on the slingshot he’d rested on the table.

“We haven’t seen the captain since he returned,” Jean Bart said. “We were supposed to meet after dinner—”

“But we were attacked by two executives and had to flee the palace before we could see the captain,” Ikkaku said. “We came to the ship, hoping some of the others made it here as well.”

The Straw Hats exchanged concerned looks. “Corazon called us not long after he reached the palace this afternoon,” Robin said. “He’d met with Doflamingo and intended to check in again when he met with you all, but we never got that call.”

“Do you think he’s been captured?” the little tanuki in the corner, Chopper, piped up, concerned.

“Or killed,” Sanji said with a frown.

The Hearts exchanged a look. Years ago, Law had revealed to them the ultimate ability of his Devil Fruit—the true reason Doflamingo had kept him at his side all these years. The true reason he held the Hearts as collateral for Law’s continued cooperation. (“You deserve to know why you’re being held hostage,” he’d told them when they’d asked why he was telling them this.) Doflamingo would not kill Law before he had the chance to perform that operation, but Doflamingo could make even the strongest men beg for death. And he would have no qualms killing some of the collateral if he believed Law was a traitor.

“If Doflamingo found out about Vergo,” Ikkaku began slowly, “he’d be furious.” Furious might be an understatement.

“And if he knew the captain did it…” Clione added, trailing off.

“That would explain why we were attacked,” Jean Bart said, crossing his arms.

“We need to find out what happened to L-er, Corazon,” Ikkaku said, cutting herself off. Luffy might have used Law’s name, but she didn’t know what the others knew. And she would never go behind Law’s back to reveal something like that.

Robin smiled. “Trafalgar Law, right?”

Ikkaku tensed. It was strange hearing her captain’s name out of the mouths of those who were not her nakama. Something about it felt wrong, like they were taking liberties they had not earned. And yet—

It was also a reminder that her captain was his own man, one whose identity did not revolve solely around the man he was forced to serve. Sometimes even he seemed to forget that, and maybe it was time his crew—and, apparently, their allies—helped him remember.

“Torao,” Luffy added with a nod.

So Luffy’s nickname was a butchering of Law’s surname. That made more sense than Ikkaku thought it would when she’d first heard the name.

“So, how do we find out what happened to Law?” Clione asked, looking between his nakama and the Straw Hats.

Ikkaku glanced around the mess. “I have a really bad idea.”

-----

This was definitely a bad idea, Ikkaku thought as the small group approached the palace. If anyone saw them… She shook her head; there was no real way to avoid this if they wanted information.

She and Clione had taken point, Robin and Luffy behind them. Ikkaku thought even four people was too large a group for this task, but she’d been outvoted. Ikkaku was small, stealthy, and knew the city and palace layouts so was a natural choice. Robin had operated as a spy for many years, plus had a handy—no pun intended—Devil Fruit ability. Luffy, while hardly a sneaky presence, had been adamant that he be part of the group that entered the city in search of news of the missing Heart captain. Neither Clione nor Jean Bart wanted Ikkaku to be outnumbered by the Straw Hats, even if they were apparently allied for the moment, and Clione, as the smaller of the two, had won out. Ikkaku led the small group through darkened back streets and alleyways to reach the palace.

Ikkaku turned back to the others. “We have to be very careful from here,” she whispered. “The executives have their rooms in the same wing; they’re not particularly close to each other, but if we make too much noise, any of the other three could still hear us.”

“We know,” Luffy grumbled, and Ikkaku found herself suppressing the urge to stick her tongue out at the other pirate—how childish. They’d gone over this when they’d made their hasty plan on the ship, but Ikkaku wasn’t taking any chances.

Robin nodded for Ikkaku to lead on, and she headed for the mostly darkened grounds. There should be guards patrolling, though by this late (or early) hour, they were likely to be tired and less attentive. However, with the Hearts loose, it was entirely possible that the guard numbers had been increased.

At one point, Ikkaku looked back to see Robin lagging slightly behind, her arms crossed in front of her and her eyes closed. A moment later, her eyes opened, and she dropped her arms. She met Ikkaku’s gaze.

“There was a guard approaching,” she explained as she caught up. “He’s no longer a problem.”

Ikkaku nodded and continued toward the wing that housed Law’s chambers. The group hid behind bushes or ducked behind retaining walls to avoid a few guard patrols, but eventually Ikkaku came to a halt. She pointed up to the second story to a dimly lit window overlooking a small balcony.

“That’s Law’s room.”

There was no telling what they’d find in there, if anything. But it was the best place to start.

“It’s empty,” Robin said, eyes shut. She opened them again and nodded to her captain.

Luffy nodded back and wrapped an arm around Ikkaku’s waist. Her demand of what the fuck he thought he was doing died in her throat as she was pulled upwards alongside the Straw Hat captain. She stumbled as her feet hit the tile of the balcony and threw a hand to her mouth as her stomach protested violently.

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled as he turned around and shot his arms over the railing and, moments later, pulled Clione over. He dropped to his knees, face green, as he sought to catch his breath.

“What the fuck,” he hissed. Ikkaku agreed whole-heartedly.

Robin appeared then, calmly pulling herself over the balcony. Ikkaku peered over the railing again, and her eyes widened at the sight of arms sprouting out of the side of the building to make stairs. Creepy as it was, Ikkaku would have preferred Robin’s method of reaching the balcony. She shook her head before turning back to the room.

Clione stepped forward, slid the balcony door open, and stepped inside the room. Ikkaku followed him, peering around for anything out of sight. She inhaled sharply as something immediately caught her attention. Clione followed her gaze and cursed quietly.

“What?” Luffy asked, coming up behind her.

“Kikoku,” Ikkaku said, pointing to the sword partially obscured by the coat on Law’s made bed. “If there was trouble, Law wouldn’t be without his sword.”

“Luffy,” Robin called quietly, standing next to the desk.

Luffy looked up, and Robin nodded to the straw hat sitting on the desk next to Law’s Den Den Mushi. Luffy frowned as he made his way over to the desk and picked the hat up. Ikkaku couldn’t read the expression on his face as he looked at the hat for a long moment before putting it back on his head.

“There are blueprints of the castle here,” Robin added, fingers running over a sheet of paper on the desk. “Was he looking for a way out?”

“Shit. There’s blood over here.”

Ikkaku, Luffy, and Robin turned at Clione’s words.  He stood by the far wall, and his gaze was on the carpet. The first thing Ikkaku noticed was Law’s hat, haphazardly discarded on the floor. Law might not be so attached to his hat as to earn an epithet named after it, but he would never just throw it on the floor. Near it, there was a small, dark stain. Ikkaku’s stomach sank.

“Look at the wall,” Robin said, tracing a cut in the brick. There was blood smeared across the gash.

Violence had been done here.

“Ew, what’s this?” Luffy said, nudging a snot-colored streak next to the blood.

“Trebol,” Ikkaku realized, recognizing the executive’s mucus. The scene she was starting to piece together that had happened in this room was not a pretty one. “He’s an executive.”

“And his Devil Fruit controls mucus,” Clione added.

Luffy pulled a face at the thought. “Gross.”

Ikkaku nodded in fully agreement. “It’s really sticky and strong.”

“Strong enough to hold an adult male to a wall?” Robin asked, still eyeing the bricks.

“Yes,” Ikkaku breathed, realizing what she was implying.

“What are you saying, Robin?” Luffy asked. “What happened to Torao?”

Robin pursed her lips for a moment before speaking. “It seems likely Torao-kun was planning to meet with his crew but first was looking for a way to get you all out,” she added, glancing at Ikkaku and Clione, “and was ambushed.”

“Trebol’s mucus must have trapped him against the wall,” Ikkaku said, eyeing the blood-streaked gash in the brick. “Trebol doesn’t use a blade, though. If Law was stabbed…”

“Diamante,” Clione supplied.

“Another executive,” Ikkaku told Luffy and Robin. “Uses a sword.” She shook her head. “Could have been Doflamingo’s strings, too.” The Warlord was infinitely, after all, creative and cruel with his Devil Fruit abilities.

“But then where is he now?” Luffy asked, looking between the other three.

“Dungeon, probably,” Ikkaku said after exchanging a grim look with Clione. The palace dungeon was rarely used for prisoners, as criminals were typically sentenced to either jail or the colosseum. Prisoners who had earned Doflamingo’s special attention were the ones to be placed in the dungeon.

Law would definitely fit that criteria.

“So, we go to the dungeon,” Luffy said, pounding a fist into his palm decisively. “Get him out.”

“No way,” Ikkaku said, shaking her head.

“Why not?”

“First, we don’t even know if he’s there,” she said, issue after issue running through her mind. “And even if he were, we’d have to sneak through the entire palace to get there without being seen.”

“There are no external doors to the dungeon,” Clione added. “Or windows.”

“To prevent escape attempts,” Robin mused.

“And even if we got to the dungeon and got Law out without being seen—which is unlikely—he’s wounded,” Ikkaku added, gesturing at the blood on the floor. “He won’t be moving well, and we’d need speed to get out.”

“Plus, the rest of our nakama are spread out over the city,” Clione said. “If we got the captain out and back to the Tang, we’d still need to find the others.”

“The sun will be coming up soon,” Robin added, nodding toward the window. Outside, the dark of night was beginning to turn gray in the pre-dawn hours. “We’ll no longer have the cover of darkness.”

Luffy stuck his bottom lip out in a pout but nodded his understanding. “Fine. But we have to do something.”

“What are you doing in here?” a new voice demanded from the doorway.

Ikkaku’s breath caught in her throat—they’d been here too long, they’d been too loud, fuck—as she slowly turned to the door. She hadn’t heard it open.

“Who’re you?” Luffy demanded.

Ikkaku’s eyes widened as she recognized the figure in the doorway. “Violet?”

-----

The sound of multiple sets of footsteps approaching pulled Law into full wakefulness. He’d only managed a light doze since Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had run out of questions for him, considering the uncomfortable position he found himself in. Not only was his strength being leeched from his body by the Seastone shackles, but his shoulders were also starting to ache from the strain of being chained above his head, his head throbbed, and his hand…

Law swallowed and shoved that thought aside. He couldn’t think about that right now.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since there were no windows to let light in. It felt like ages and no time at all at the same time.

“Captain?” Bepo murmured worriedly. With his mink ears, he’d probably heard their guests approaching long before Law had.

Law grunted in acknowledgement of his first mate but didn’t have time to reply. His eyes narrowed as his cell door opened. The guard stepped aside with a bowed head to reveal Doflamingo.

Fear from his vulnerable position warred with rage in Law’s chest as he looked at the taller man. The man who had killed Cora-san, had stolen his freedom, and held his nakama’s lives in the palm of his hand out of a selfish, egomaniacal desire for power. Law clenched his jaw but said nothing, not trusting his voice, as the Warlord regarded him from behind his sunglasses, expression unreadable in the dim light.

Finally, he spoke. “Get him cleaned up then bring him to my office.”

Next chapter

[prorevenge]

Falsely Accused of Cheating, Then Dumped

Date: April 2, 2009, a couple days after I turned 30.

I had been dating a wonderful girl, we’ll call her Ratchet, for almost 3 years. And we were good together, I really did see her as my soul mate. We weren't living together yet, but I was just a few weeks away from popping the question. However, as plans will be plans will go awry.

Enter my friend (we’ll call him Skidmark), who I'd known since freshman year at a well known university, he was also a fraternity brother and someone I'd be proud to call a real brother. This is the guy I would've asked to be my best man, and not as it's often portrayed in cheesy romantic comedies or whatever. That is, until his act of betrayal when he told Ratchet (A LIE) that I cheated on her. Also, he had no evidence of said infidelity.

How did this play out? Ratchet had been staying at my place for the past couple days and I arrived home to find her packing her things. When she saw me, she started shouting at me. A lot of it was hard to make out, other than the profanity but here's what I did remember:

"How could you do this to us"

"I can't believe you"

"Skidmark told me everything"

I attempted to interject a few times, almost in tears in one point when I shouted, "Just listen to me for a second!" but she just got all pissy that I yelled at her, and walked out after telling me to get fucked.

So obviously I called Skidmark a few times, left a voicemail asking WTF he told her and wanting to know why he dragged me through the mud like that. The next morning I went over to his apartment - to find that he moved a couple days ago. How convenient.

The next day, I get a call from another good friend of mine (he was a solid guy, so let’s call him Solid - we met at the same university/fraternity) and it went something like this:

"Um, are you sitting down"

"No, what do you want to tell me"

"When did you break up with Ratchet?"

"I didn't, Skidmark told her that I cheated on her and she walked out on me"

"I just drove past that dive in your old neighborhood, she's with him. They were all smiles, holding hands and everything - I was wondering what was ..."

(I disconnected)

So it doesn’t take the guys from True Detective to figure out that he orchestrated this from beginning to end, and his prize was a new girlfriend – now my ex.

At the time, it felt like this backstabbing bastard destroyed my life.

Fast forward to six weeks later ….

On a Friday night Solid went to a popular bar/club in the area to hang out and throw down a few brews. And who do you think walks in about 15 minutes later.

Why, it was Skidmark!

It was a pretty large bar, and Solid apparently did a pretty good job of not being seen, even though he did see a few things:

Skidmark went in alone, but he's talking to some girl maybe 5 minutes later. A few minutes later, he buys her a drink. A few minutes after that, they're on the dance floor.

A few minutes after that .... let's say Skidmark could have gotten arrested if he didn't have consent to put his hands where they were.

Keep in mind, Solid has already sent me several texts about what's been going on. At one point he included several photos of the handsy dancers. In the last photo Skidmark was kissing the girl.

And now he must be melting his phone with how fast the texts are coming in.

"You gotta nail this guy, Ratchet needs to know what's going on!"

"Shit he almost saw me!"

"I had to skip out of there, but I've done enough damage heh heh"

"He was kissing her in that last one, wanna bet he'll go all the way?"

This is where the plan comes together. I tell him to get in touch with Ratchet, and ask her to meet him (about something urgent) at a coffee shop close to where he lives. Note: his place was over 30 min away from where I lived, so hopefully Ratchet wouldn't be suspicious. I recommended a coffee shop because it's a public place with outdoor seating.

Sunday morning, May 17:

I remember everything about this encounter – what I was wearing, what she was wearing, what it smelled like, it’s permanently etched in my memory. I approached a couple minutes after they sat down. Once Ratchet saw me, her face physically changed, and she immediately got up to leave. Solid reached out and grabbed her arm before saying "You owe me, remember? Sit down and listen!"

She reluctantly sits down, and with a very pissy look on her face she asks, "What do YOU want, Parkesc?" ***

I respond, "What he said, sit down and listen" and I ask to borrow his phone so I can call up Skidmark. I hand him mind and tell him to pull up the photos when I give him the signal.

Here’s how the conversation went:

Skidmark answers with "Sup Solid"

I respond, with the speakerphone on, "Well hey buddy!"

There’s a brief pause followed by “uuuh”

“No it’s Parkesc. I hope you don’t mind; I’m using Solid’s phone since mine’s dead.”

(Keep in mind, Skidmark’s voice in the rest of this conversation is pretty sheepish)

“Long time no see man, what’s been going on?”

“A whole lot’s been going on, actually. How was Friday night?”

“How was Friday night?”

“Yeah”

“Why would you ask man … I mean I … I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah I think we both know why you haven’t seen me in a while, but anyway, Solid told me he saw you at the bar the other night, getting down with some hottie.”

“Who said that”

“Solid, you know, our fraternity brother from (that university). And, ummmm, he saw you. With that girl. And he may or may not have taken some pictures.”

“What?”

By the way, Ratchet’s eyes are getting pretty big right now, Solid is motioning her to be quiet. She mouthed the words WHAT THE FUCK as he began to open my phone and go to the pics.

“Yeah I got a LOT of pictures. And you know, I think I can guess who would like to see them.”

“Cmon man, don’t do this man. Why you doin this, man? Why you doin this?”

“What are you kidding me? We haven’t spoken in over a month because you lied to my girlfriend that I was in love with and planning to marry. Now you’re messing around behind HER back.”

“Man it isn’t like I was trying to steal her, man.”

“WELL MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO, because Solid also mentioned he saw you two together. That was TWO DAYS after she walked out on me.”

“It’s not like that man, and you’re not gonna anything. I know you’re mad, but, cmon man.”

There was a brief pause, and my brain almost did a Ctrl-Alt-Delete after that auditory fuckpoop.

“No, you don’t know. And I’m not gonna CMON MAN.”

“Are you kidding me, you’re really gonna …”

“I’m doing this – right now, in fact. You’ve been on speaker the whole time, and Solid isn’t the only person here with me.”

“WHAT?”

And finally Ratchet chimed in.

“I cannot even believe you did this. What the hell? You’ve totally ….totally been lying to me and now you're cheating on me too?"

“No, no, no it wasn’t ��.. FUCK! Really, Parkesc?”

“Basically, they’ve shown me all the pictures, I’ve been looking at them this whole time. What’s wrong with you, Skidmark??”

“I didn’t even know her.”

“What you mean, you didn’t know her??”

“Ok, you know what, fuck you Parkesc!”

And then Solid says his piece:

"WHOA WHOA WHOA, first of all, dude, you stole your best friend's girl with a BS lie, you just admitted it, and you're cheating on her anyhow!"

"Fine, whatever, it didn’t mean anything ….”

Ratchet responds with "Oh Please!” before she hangs up on him and turns toward me. She hands the phone back to Solid and he gives me back my phone with half a smile and a raised eyebrow. He probably expected a gratifying end to this escapade.

“Parkesc I am really sorry, I made a mistake. Is there any way ...."

“Stop right there!” I abruptly interject, with a sharp glare in my eye.

They’re both in shock.

“No, you never believed me, didn’t listen to one word I had to say. And you had no evidence, you just took that fuckhead’s word and walked out on me. Was it worth it?”

Solid was pretty much catatonic, stunned into silence. By the time I was halfway back to my car, I could have sworn I heard Ratchet starting to cry. I wouldn’t know because I refused to look back.

*** By the way, you’re probably wondering what the asterisks were for. Up until that point, there was still a snowflake’s chance in hell that Ratchet and I would get back together. When she didn’t even want to hear me out (yet again), I was done. I just didn’t let her know until I was finished with Skidmark.

I never heard from either of them again. Good riddance.

(source) story by (/u/parkesc)

[moon-beam95]

Two of a kind

By: Moon-Beam95

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy

Pairing: Klaus x Reader

Every child wants to be a hero, to have super-strength or to soar above the clouds, but let’s be real it won’t pay the bills. So when you realised you could see things others could not, you did the only logical thing and kept shtum. Like hell you were going to tell anyone about this freakshow. Thanks, but not thanks. Yet, you found that the older you became the harder it was to ignore them. The dearly departed wanted to talk, pass on message, demand that you help them, as if you owed them something. Fuck that noise! If they wanted your help they could damn well pay like every other fucker.

You started a sort of PI service, think Randall and Hopkirk, helped by the dead who you would then help, a little quid pro quo if you will. You had come to heavily rely on your powers a far cry from the child who was easily traumatised by the admittedly terrifying spectors. How do you tell the police that your sure your uncle murdered his wife when there was no proof, except his wife standing over him screaming obscenities, and gesturing wildly? How do you tell your parents that your not in fact playing make believe but playing with a lost little girl who never made it home? The one time you tried to explain,practically begging for them to say it would all be ok, they looked at you as if you were a monster, terrified beyond relief. So you sucked it up and laughed it off as it was all one big joke and never mentioned it again.

But like you said as you got older your powers grew stronger, which meant that the voices got stronger and you could slowly but surely could touch them, though this took a lot of effort on your part, easier for them to do damage. How do you tell the school nurse who slips you a pamphlet on abuse into your shaking hands, that the bruises littering your hands are from a man shot point blank by his lover in a jealous rage and not from an unfortunate home situation? Again, you don’t.

One of your cases brought you into contact with him. Klaus Hargreeves. At first you dismissed him as nothing more than another druggy, passed out in a literal shitty bin after coming down from a high. Yet, when you questioned the nearby girl, dressed in a ridiculously short dress, blood dripping from her sliced neck, needing to know if she'd seen the girl in the photograph you brandished, he reacted. He stopped whatever he was doing in the bin, peering over the edge and checking that yes you were talking to the dead girl, and clambered out of the bin. You tried to ignore him and the racket he created but he picked you up and swung you around squealing in joy.

“You see them too.”

Startled, you froze. It was then you noticed the ghost following him, oh great. You slapped his arm guestering for him to put you down.

“What the fuck man? Don’t go randomly touching strangers. I’m working for fucks sake,” you swung back around but the girl had gone, “Great and now my lead has gone. Thanks a bunch!”

He laughed, still giddy and clearly not at all repentant. “Klaus.”

“What” you said distractedly, not at all interested, mind already racing through other possible leads. A hand shot out and you took it out of reflex.

“My name, Klaus.”

“Y/N”

You turn around to head out of the alley, waving over your shoulder as he calls out.

“Wait. I’ve never met anyone who can see what I do.” You carry on walking, too far now to hear what his ghost had called out.

The second time you meet, you've managed to get yourself cornered by a thoroughly pissed of spirit. The fight hadn’t been going to badly, until you head a disgustingly cheerful voice shout

“Oi, weird girl its you.”

The spirit takes advantage of your distraction and he dives at you, slamming your head against the wall, hand encircling your neck. Screeching in your face, and let me tell you, ghostly spit, gross as shit. You rear back in what little space you have and slam your head into his, causing him to stumble. Ignoring the pain you start towards him but he fades with a parting -

“Bitch.”

You turn to Klaus head throbbing "You again. Really, what do you get a commission each time you fuck my case up?"

He holds his hands up, the ghost with him smirking. "Nope," popping the p, "But boy am I glad I ran into you. Also the ghost? How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Hurt it."

You quirk an eyebrow "can't you?"

"Nope, just hear them."

You shrug, "dunno always been able to, the more intune I became the easier it was."

His attitude did a 180 and he became quiet, subdued almost. "Can you. Can you make them stop?"

You gave a soft smile, pity blooming, you understood the need to drown everything out .

Feeling sorry you reply. "They don't ever really go but you learn to ignore them, a bit like background noise."

He sighs and the pity surges forth once more. You of all people knew how overwhelming the dead could be.

You reach down and shoulder your fallen bag, extending an olive branch.

"Let me get you a drink."

You look him over, he's still dressed in a long black, fur lined coat that grazed his ankles and trousers that looked painted on. He looks less high this time but the ghost still looks on with a concerned gaze. Your eyes flicker over to the hooded boy "and your friend."

"Brother" He corrects.

You wince, eyes closing briefly, but it does explain his constant hovering and Klaus' lack of concern. In my experience rarely did anything good from them hanging around too long.

The brother warily looks at you before tentatively reaching out a hand.

"Ben"

You smile back in what you hope is a comforting manner and give his hand a soft squeeze.

"Y/N"

His fingers tighten around yours as he looks at where your hands are connected mistified, while Klaus looks on longingly.

The walk to a nearby pub is quiet. The pub itself not so much. You both order and take a quiet booth in the back.

You sit in silence wondering how to broach the subject, him picking at the label on his bottle.

"How did you know you had powers?"

"How did you?" He asks back clearly reluctant but your willing to take a chance. You wished you'd had someone to guide you before you'd found Mildred. Still, you thought rolling your shoulder to relieve tension, better late than never.

So taking a deep breath you began. "It's always been there, figures in the corner of my eye. When I was seven I lost my aunt and police ruled it a home invasion gone wrong. But the next time I went there I saw her. Sat in her usual chair, head caved in. And I could see. I could see it. Shards of bone, brain matter leaking from the crevice." You pause taking a drink, trying to separate yourself from your memories.

"I scared the shit out of everyone when I screamed. She noticed I saw and began to shout, argue, swearing about uncle. I was terrified and begged to leave. They thought I was being a dramatic little shit, but I just couldn't stay there, it happened again and again every time they dragged me there. And each time my aunt got worse, more angry, more vengful and suddenly she wasn't the woman who baked cakes when I slept over or kissed my boo boos, she was this, this wraith."

"Well that sucks."

You snort. " No kidding, I always seem to find the worse ghosts. Wherever I go death follows."

He dropped his eyes and Ben liked on in concern, he was a quiet soul.

He began quietly. "When dad saw what I could do, when I came to him shaking and begging for help, he locked me in a crypt. No light, no nothing. Just voices screaming out." He paused here, taking a breath, giving a worthless chuckle.

"I musta been there hours, bodies screeching at me, all in different states of decay. When the door finally opened I was relieved but he just said, 3 more hours."

You jumped as he slammed his bottle down, cursing out, how could a man do that to his child. Reaching out a hand you caress his. He looked into your eyes and saw understanding.

"What a dick."

"You're not wrong. Then I discovered drugs and the high, the hallucinations drowned them out. So it was Hello drugs bye bye ghosts. And good riddance."

He looked at his brother smiling fondly. "Except Ben, no matter what he always forced himself through the drug filled haze."

"Mildred" you interrupted "I was 17 and my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend died and completely lost it. He wouldn't leave me alone, he seemed determined to destroy my life. It wasn’t what your thinking no big acts of violence or anything, it started as just a few words here and there, constant muttering just at the edge where I had to strain to hear him. And i was just so happy he was there you know? It grew from there, it wasn’t some great battle it was a fucking siege.Then one night terrified and beyond tired I sat in the bath sobbing I just couldn't take it anymore, the constant whispering, I just wanted it all too end. Then she appeared, sat on the toilet, a bullet hole through the brain watching me. She taught me everything."

Klaus and Ben stared on in rapt attention, drinking in every word.

"Apparently she'd met someone like me ages ago, he'd helped her and so she swore to help those like him. It was little things, guided meditations. She talked about the veil a sort of in between where they reside. I hadn't really understood that at first, but I learned that the hard way. And above all she said your will had to be stronger than theirs."

"Well" he drawled "that sounds anti-climatic."

You shrugged a shoulder, " It worked, so I ain't complaining."

He took another swig of his beer and Ben latched onto an earlier piece.

"What did you mean you leaned the hard way about the veil."

You breathed out through your nose, "What we can do, walking among the dead, touching souls it leaves a mark. When we spend time convening with the spirits we enter the same state, were neither dead nor alive and that, that's what leaves a mark. "

They both quired a brow and despite the situation you had to stifle a laugh you could see the family resemblance now, they had similar mannerisms.

"When I was 18, I was still learning with Mildred, she had set me a simple task to help a spirit. He seems kind enough, he kept up a stream of chatter had he been alive we might have been friends." You laugh darkly, reaching up to scrub at your now stinging eyes. "He was so kind, and understanding, til one night I was in a motel, we've travelled to find some family of his. We were relaxing on the bed, and just as I was drifting off he climbed on top of me and smothered my face with a pillow. He killed me. I wasn't the first and he was beyond pleased when he heard there was someone who could interact with the dead. It was all kind of a haze what happened next, the was light so pure and happy, then pain and heat. Then a tugging sensation and I was back in body. I woke up in a dingy motel room, and the world was cold and numb."

"Jesus" Klaus breathed out. "What a wanker."

You let out a wet laugh, meeting his eyes you give a sad smile that could only have been gained through experience.

"Our powers, our gifts are in some ways the most dangerous, we walk along the living and the dead, yet we are neither. Unlike others, we can be hurt by the residents of both worlds, we have to be doubly careful."

"So we can't die?" He said, taking her word as gospel. There seemed like too many downsides to developing his powers, but for his brother, who spent his death watching over him there was nothing he wouldn't do. Not to mention that whole bit about light and pain and numbness sounded startlingly familiar, but for now that was going in the nope box.

"It seems so, I don't plan on testing it and I don't recommended you do either." You said tipping your bottle at him narrowing your eyes.

He lifted hand, "scouts honour."

"Please" you said " you weren't ever a scout."

You spent the night chatting, keeping it light hearted. The boys would tell stories of a superhero past and shenanigans they got up to. You shared stories of cases that took funny turns and embarrassing ghost requests. It felt so good to have someone who understood and a ghost who wasn't demanding anything or trying to kill you. But all good things come to an end and the pub began to close.

He stood drawing his cost around him, inclining his head "thank you for this love." Ben smiled. As they turned to leave,you found yourself doing something she never imagined doing.

"I could help. With your powers I mean. It'll be a hella lot cheaper than drugs and you maybe able to connect with Ben here more."

The brothers share a quick glance and both flash you excited grins. Klaus steps forward, slings an arm around your shoulders tugging you between the two brothers.

"Y/N, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

End.

[marvilus-magpie]

Interview with an OC

Charlotte Elizabeth “Charlie” McKay

Tagged by @scarecrow-forest, @andremarshallwhite, @metalforhands, @radioactiveblight, @robobrainmurdermysterytheatre, and @scorpio-skies. Thank you guys so much! <3 Sorry it’s taken me so long!!

Tagging: ^^^ I’d like to start by tagging back everyone who tagged me. I know you all probably have other OCs you could do this for! Also @purple-martin111, @mars-colony, @wastelandwandererstuff, @slothssassin, @maxrev, @sharonaw, @ronqueesha, @val-rampage, @alexaberkeley, @fanthings, @tarberrymentats, @thewookieruns, @beckiboos and anyone else who either hasn’t done this yet or wants to do another OC.

1. What is your name?

Charlotte McKay, but everyone just calls me Charlie. Only my mother and Danse call me Charlotte.

2. Do you know why are you named that?

No idea. Charlotte was probably something my mother thought sounded high society. She hated when people called me Charlie. Come to think of it, that’s probably why I prefer it. *laughs*

3. Are you single or taken?

*Looks down at her hands, twists the ring there and smiles* Taken. Very taken.

4. Have any abilities or powers?

Hmm...does being better than MacCready at every single video game count? *you hear shouting from somewhere off in the distance, “BULLSHI..er CRAP! THAT’S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT CHARLIE!”*

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

*raises one eyebrow* Appearances can be deceiving.

6. What’s your eye color?

Grey. Dull and boring.

7. How about your hair color?

Umm...brown. *gives you a look like “duh”*

8. Have any family members?

Yeah, I have an amazing man and a brilliant little boy. I also have a lot of people that aren’t officially family, but they might as well be. 

9. Oh? How about pets?

Well, there’s Dogmeat, though I don’t know that he’s a pet. He doesn’t really belong to me, he just chooses to hang out with us sometimes. We also have a cat named Tiger and Shaun is trying to convince me that he needs to adopt a molerat. That’s NOT happening though.

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like?

Assholes. Look, I don’t care who or WHAT you are, just don’t be a dick and we’ll get along fine.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

Beating MacCready at video games. *laughs and pauses to see if anyone interjects. Shakes her head.* I don’t really have that much free time, but I love reading when I get a chance, singing I guess and...stargazing. There used to be so much light pollution before the war, now when it’s clear you can so many more stars than before. It’s best done with company. *she winks*

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before?

Yeah. I have. A lot of people probably. Let’s move on.

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

You’re joking, right? Killing is, unfortunately, part of surviving out here.

14. What kind of animal are you?

*she just looks at you and blinks a couple of times* Really?

15. Name your worst habits?

Ummm, yeah. That would be acting before thinking. Also, speaking before thinking. Just not really thinking.

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

A lot of people. Probably Danse most of all. I know he’s had some messed up ideas in the past, but he’s learning, he can admit that he doesn’t know everything. I’ve just never met anyone that selfless before, ya know?. I admire the hell out of him for it, but it also scares me. He needs to take better care of himself.

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

*raises her eyebrows* That’s a bit personal don’t you think? My current partner is a man, draw whatever conclusions you want.

18. Do you go to school?

I did. For a long, loooong time.

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day?

I had a kid. And a Husband. *pauses* I HAVE a kid and as for marriage, I mean I...we haven’t...I’d like t..., look I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m with someone that I’m damned sure I’ll spend the rest of my life with.

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

What? No. *the yelling returns, “Hel...heck yeah she does!”* Shut up Mac!

21. What are you most afraid of?

*she looks noticeably uncomfortable and wraps her arms around herself* I can’t lose...I need to keep my family safe.

22. What do you usually wear?

Something comfortable, practical. I love these, “she gestures to the jumper she’s wearing* One piece, easy to put on, comfortable, can strap armor over the top. It even has a little Minuteman logo. See?

23. What’s one food that tempts you?

Fancy Lads Snack Cakes. I’ve been weak for them my whole life. They aren’t the same as they were before, but whatever chemicals they used to preserve them do their job because that taste is still irresistible. They’re even better when shared. *smiles*

24. Am I annoying to you?

We’re good! As long as you don’t ask me what kind of animal I am again. *rolls eyes*

25. Well, it’s still not over!

Okaaay.

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

Before the bombs? Probably upper middle class? My husband’s family was rich, like stupid rich. We did okay though, probably better than most. 

Now though? Who really cares? Regardless of what certain residents in Diamond City might have you think, the class system is gone and good riddance. Of course, there are always going to be people or groups who think they’re better than others. Let them have their delusions. It doesn’t bother me until they start trying to lord it over others. *shrugs* 

27. How many friends do you have?

*smiles* I’m so lucky. I have a lot of friends. A lot of really great friends.

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

Pie is great! Dierdre over at the Slog makes an absolutely to die for Tarberry pie. It’s tart, with just the right amount of sweet. Mmmmm, so good!

29. Favorite drink?

Whiskey, neat. Nuka Cola if I need a pick me up. I like a good stout too.

30. What’s your favorite place?

Anywhere Danse is. *smiles and blushes just a bit* That’s it.

31. Are you interested in anyone?

Uh, I thought we’d established that. Yes. Interested. Very interested.

32. That was a stupid question…

Kind of. 

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?

What? Now?! Neither unless I want radiation poisoning or to be eaten by mirelurks or whatever other irradiated monstrosities might be lurking.

34. What’s your type?

Oh, ya know. Dark hair and dreamy brown eyes, hardheaded, loyal to a fault, stupidly selfless, has a mild addiction to power armor.

35. Any fetishes?

Okay. Remember when you asked me if you were annoying me? I’m thinking about revising my answer.

36. Camping or outdoors?

Wait. Isn’t camping outdoors? I’m confused. To be honest half the time I’m off on a mission, I’m camping or as Danse calls it, bivouacking. He’s such a dork. Damn, I love him.

So are we done now? Hello?

[the-observant-frisbeetarian]

Chapter 5

We’ll Meet Again by George deValier

Sunday 30 January, 1944

Dear Arthur,

I hope this letter reaches you all right. Just a quick note to let you know that all is well. I can't say much… the censors monitor everything we write, and they might cut it out.

We arrived here the other day. Pretty messed up landing but we are getting on our feet. Hope you are well!

From Alfred.

.

Sunday 6 February, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Things getting better. This place is amazing, but I miss… England. Yeah. I think about England all the time. I can't wait to get back to… England.

Still can't say a lot, but… let's just say the Krauts have good reason to be pretty darn scared now that the Americans are here! Oh, and the Canadian too. Matthew sends his greetings!

From Alfred.

.

Tuesday 15 February, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Sorry these letters are so short - we're not supposed to say much.

The weather is good. Food terrible. Still miss England.

Yesterday was Saint Valentine's Day. Next year I will send a real Valentine. Until then…

Lo... From Alfred.

.

Thursday 17 February, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Getting this sent with the officer's mail so hopefully it gets past the censors.

These Krauts fight pretty damn hard. I've taken down four of em already - that's the most in the whole squad! Their Messerschmitts ain't no match for our Mustangs!

Our song came on the radio this morning. I was singing along until the guys in the squad started throwing empty cans at me for no reason. I guess they're just jealous that I've bagged more Krauts than any of em.

I still miss England. Oh, and in case you're confused, when I say England I mean you.

Love, Alfred.

.

Monday 28 February, 1944

Dear Arthur,

I found out today that the Krauts have a name for me. They call me - you're gonna love this one - the Magician. Because I appear and disappear like magic. Great, isn't it! Lady Beth and I are the terror of the skies! Matt is really jealous, even though he says he isn't. I always said I was the hero of the squad!

I keep your handkerchief close to my heart every day. But I can't say too much. Even though this is sent with the officer's mail there is still a chance it'll be seen by the censors.

Love, Alfred.

P.S. Just to prove I really am a Magician, I'm going to do something AMAZING - add an extra day to the month! That's right! Just you wait, I'm gonna make February twenty-nine days long this year!

.

Tuesday 29 February, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Abracadabra! 29th of February, told you I'd do it!

Love, Alfred.

.

Thursday 9 March, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Things aren't going as well as planned, but we've been told to expect that. Matt and I are fine but some of the squad… well…

I have to be careful of the censors.

The higher ups tell us that things will get better once reinforcements arrive. Guess we just have to hold out 'til then.

On a brighter note, bagged me another Kraut today, which makes me officially a fighter ace. They say I might get a medal. Funny… I thought I would be happier about that.

But if I fight and defeat them here, that means they won't get to England. That's what I think about every time I go up.

Love, Alfred.

.

Wednesday 15 March, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Two of my squad were captured yesterday. No sign of those reinforcements we were promised. We've been told we might be moving out soon but no word on when.

Knowing that you are safe and waiting for me gets me through each mission. Right now it's the only thing that does.

Love, Alfred.

.

Sunday 19 March, 1944

Dear Arthur,

Well, we were told we'd be heading to France but no sign of that… just stuck here day after day going nowhere. The countryside would be pretty if it weren't for the burnt out tanks and flattened barns everywhere. And the villagers are friendly enough but they seem so damn scared... and I don't blame em. And the assaults keep coming, and we go up and do our job, but it don't seem to do nothing.

Getting sick and tired of this place. God knows how long we'll be here.

Lost three more of my squad this morning. Three in one morning… Damn sick and tired.

There's nothing I wouldn't do right now to hold you for just one minute. I want it so much it hurts. Damn the censors, I don't give a damn anymore. If you're getting these letters it means they got through. I pray you're getting these letters.

All my love, Alfred.

.

Thursday 23 March 1944

Dear Arthur,

It's funny. I've shot down more of the enemy than anyone out here and yet… it doesn't feel like I thought it would.

We bagged this German pilot today. Flew like an eagle, all power and strength and grace, you know. Took a pack of us to bring him down and he still survived. He told us his name - Ludwig something or other - his rank and his number, and that was it. We bring him into the base and one of the guys takes the German's wallet. He pulls out this photograph and starts laughing, showing it to all the guys… and the German just stares at them with this look that is both the most terrifying and the saddest thing I ever saw. I didn't think it was right, so I take it off the guy, thinking it's a picture of Ludwig's wife or something. It's not. It's this young guy, smiling this bright laughing smile, this young guy with dark eyes and dark hair that sticks up in this one wild curl. And he don't look like no relation to this blond haired blue eyed German. It's strange. I didn't think that I would have anything in common with the Krauts. Seems I was wrong.

The special forces arrived soon after and took the German away. Before they left I put the photograph in his pocket when no one was looking. He didn't say nothing, but I ain't never seen someone look so grateful. And I thought how strange it was… that it was people like this that I'm shooting down. Just ordinary people with dreams and hopes and photographs.

There were two words written on the back of the picture… "Bella Ciao." It means "Goodbye, Beautiful."

Love always, Alfred.

.

Arthur held the latest letter to his chest and let out a deep, yearning sigh. He had already read it eight times. He was not sure whether the letters helped or made things worse. Of course he devoured every word, but being left with no way to respond was almost unbearable. Each sentence stabbed at his heart. With every letter Alfred seemed to lose a little more of that naivety and wide eyed optimism that had made him so endearing and so exasperating at the same time. But it seemed the reality that had been thrust upon Alfred had also made him more open, more understanding. While sometimes painful, each letter also left Arthur a little more in love than he had been before.

It had been hard to get back to normal life after Alfred had gone. Arthur was completely unprepared for how much he would miss the bloody Yank. After the life and joy and, well, sheer bloody frustration that Alfred had brought into his life, the days without him now felt flat and empty.

Arthur waited anxiously every day to see if a letter would be delivered. The postman was slowly getting used to being practically accosted when he came to the door. And Arthur was almost obsessed with reading every newspaper he could get his hands on, talking to every returning soldier, listening to radio broadcasts day and night, desperate for any news he could possibly get on the war in Europe. Gathering information on the war had become his life, to the extent that he wondered what he ever had to do with himself before Alfred had appeared and turned everything upside down.

Arthur took one last look at the letter, folded it, and placed it carefully in a locked drawer behind the counter. He looked around to see if he was needed, but the evening was fairly slow. The evenings generally were these days, now that the Americans had disappeared. Only a few regulars remained in the pub, clustering around the far end of the bar and making small talk about the war. A few months earlier Arthur would have been bored stiff with the conversation. Now, he hung on every word.

"They say the landings in Italy went appallingly," said one of the men, a gentleman in a suit who tapped his pipe against the bar and sent ash flying everywhere. Arthur barely noticed, too focused on the man's words.

"Of course the Americans would make an awful great mess of it," agreed an elderly regular, who looked disapprovingly at the pipe ash settling on the bar.

"I heard the Germans were tipped off somehow," added another patron, tapping his glass to be heard. "Seems someone was in on it."

"Well I hear the Germans are about ready to pull out of there. Just about had enough," said Arthur. Well, an English soldier had mentioned something to him along those lines earlier in the week. Arthur wasn't sure how reliable the information was, but he wanted to believe it.

"Smartest thing they've done in the whole bloody war, I say," said the regular. "Although certain sources of information would have us believe otherwise."

"Oh! That reminds me." Arthur reached for the wireless and fiddled with the dial. He smiled wryly to himself, remembering how only several weeks ago he had told Alfred that he couldn't stand the radio. Now he was practically glued to the thing. He scrolled through the endless static until he found what he was looking for.

"Germany calling, Germany calling…"

The grating voice was met by a chorus of groans. "Why are you listening to that traitor, Arthur?" asked the pipe smoking gentleman.

"At least we get some information from him," said the elderly patron.

"Bah! All lies, you all know that. He'll be hanged, that Lord Haw Haw, you wait and see."

"And good riddance to him! Doesn't mean we can't hear what he has to say right now."

Arthur ignored the men. He listened to Lord Haw Haw's every radio broadcast. As difficult as it was to listen to the traitor's posh, smarmy voice night after night telling the English nation they were fighting a losing battle, talking about the superiority of the German nation and spinning obvious lies about the war, occasional truths got through and Lord Haw Haw's broadcast was one of the only places to get information on the fate of Allied troops.

A heated debate quickly sprung up among the pub patrons, but Arthur was too busy trying to hear the radio to get involved. Most of the time the broadcast held nothing of interest, but over the din Arthur managed to hear a few words which caught his attention. Italy… American… pilot… "Ssh," said Arthur, holding up his hand. "What's that he's saying?" He turned up the radio and the men fell quiet as Haw Haw's jarring voice filled the room.

"The New York Times reported today that an American fighter ace over Italy has shot down nine German planes single-handedly in the midst of an ambush. This is, of course, an absurdity. The pilot, whose name was not released but who is referred to as 'The Magician,' was unable to take down a single Messerschmitt before his plane, a P-51 Mustang named the 'Lady Beth,' was shot down over the Italo-Austrian border…"

Arthur ceased to hear anything. The radio faded to a distant hum as black waves pounded through his head. The phrase repeated in his head over and over… a P-51 Mustang named the 'Lady Beth' was shot down… Arthur looked around for a chair but, not finding one, sank to the ground. Alfred's plane shot down over enemy territory… Alfred's plane… Alfred…

Arthur couldn't breathe. This wasn't real. He had imagined it… surely he had imagined it… The distant hum snapped back into focus and that awful voice droned on above him, cutting into him, slicing his heart and his sanity into pieces. The cruel words refused to stop.

"The pilot was captured barely alive by German forces soon after being shot down. He is believed to be a valuable officer in the American Army Air Force and thus in possession of a vast amount of important information. He has been taken into official custody by the SS and will be questioned extensively before he…"

The radio faded into pounding black waves once again. SS… questioned extensively… before he... oh God before he what… "I can't breathe…"

Unrecognisable voices thrummed through the thick air around him.

"Get some water."

"Someone call a doctor!"

The room tilted dangerously. Arthur didn't even notice he was screaming until someone appeared before him, taking his hands and trying to calm him. Arthur couldn't hear anything clearly but those terrible words. Lady Beth… shot down… barely alive... questioned extensively… SS…

Arthur tried to nod. He tried to say he was all right. But he wasn't. Of course he wasn't. Alfred was captured and soon to be interrogated. And after that… the SS weren't exactly known for letting prisoners go free. Arthur swallowed a wave of nausea and fought to stay conscious. He barely noticed the people around him.

Of course Arthur wasn't all right. How could anything ever be all right now?

.

Next Chapter

Disclaimer: This story belongs to George deValier. Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya. I own nothing.

[therandomfics]

AMA Pt5

“Hey doll, what are you doing out here?” Sonny called out as he approached you. Thirty minutes had passed and everyone was back inside, something about dirty Santa. The knot in your stomach only served to tighten as you tried to look at Sonny without showing him your disappointment. “You’re gonna catch your death. Come inside. We’re about to play Dirty Santa. I don’t wanna get stuck with socks again.” 

“Of course, sorry. My mother texted me. I didn’t want to be rude and on my phone in front of everyone,” you lied, standing up and allowing Sonny to guide you back inside. 

Dirty Santa was a game you had played often in college among your friends. Pick a number, hope you’re the last one, and pray that if you’re first your gift doesn’t suck. One time, you remembered fondly, you went home with three bottles of wine. On the flip side, you’d also gone home with a toilet seat once. It was a fun game to play and you usually enjoyed it, so you tried your best to be enthusiastic especially since you were with his family for the first time. You had chosen number 10, out of 18 options. When it was your turn, you picked a small bag and opened it, revealing a pair of leather driving gloves. They were very beautiful, and though you seldom drove, you knew they’d prove useful. Sonny was number 12, and took your gloves, leaving you to pick again. This time, you picked the largest box left and unwrapped a wine carafe with a bottle of vintage Merlot. 

“This is pretty amazing,” you commented as you sat down next to Sonny. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders and you leaned into his warmth. Surely he had a good explanation, and you wanted to have a good night, so you let it slide. 

Mrs. Carisi was 17, and she took Sonny’s gloves - no, your gloves - and waved them in his face. “Serves you right!” she chirped and sat back down. Sonny, having to pick again, got up and picked a package at random, selecting a Barnes and Noble gift card. Solid choice. 

Finally, at number 18, Nicole stood up and sauntered over to the table. You couldn’t help but notice that she seemed to be dressed for warmer weather - or, her cleavage was at least. She scanned the table and then turned back, walking right up to you and stepping on your toes with her heeled boots. You winced and pulled your feet away as she snatched the box from your lap. “Thanks Amanda,” she said loudly, flashing you a smile that could only be described as ridiculous. The room fell silent, eyes of the guests trained on the trio that somehow had unknown history. 

“Fuck you, Nicole,” Sonny spat, a flash of frustration on his normally pleasant features. 

“Again?” Her sickly sweet voice made your stomach turn. “All you hav’ta do is ask, Dominick.” 

“What?” you whispered, mostly to yourself, though Sonny heard you and turned in his seat to face you. Before he was given a chance to speak, you shook your head and murmured, “Please, don’t.” 

You didn’t know how, but you ended up outside, pulling your hat on and buttoning your pea coat. Sonny, inside arguing with Nicole, didn’t even realize you had slipped away. Several blocks later, your phone vibrated in your pocket. 

“Hello?”

“Y/N, where did you go?” Sonny demanded. 

You sighed and looked around. “This was a terrible idea, Sonny. I’m going to catch the Ferry and go home. Thank you for inviting me, but, I just.. I think it’s best I leave.” 

He stayed silent, though you could hear his heavy breathing. He was angry. At you? Maybe. “No. I’m gonna come get you. Where are you?” he asked again. 

“I think you’ve got your hands full with two women already. You don’t need to worry about me, too,” you chided and hung up the phone. The port was only a few minutes away, and the schedule online said the next boat left in ten minutes. So long, Staten Island, you thought to yourself. Good riddance and may we never meet again. Sadly, you didn’t know if you meant the island, or Sonny. 

When you got home that night, you were exhausted. Mentally and emotionally, not to mention physically. It had been hell to get home from the ferry. Traffic was insane - Christmas shoppers - and you were on the verge of tears the entire time you trekked home. You must have looked like a mess, but it was New York. No one really paid any mind to the crazy people.

As you curled up in your bed, you tried not to let the situation get the best of you. Though you tried, it was pointless. You broke down, shaking and crying into your pillow. It wasn’t just Sonny, or the fact that he’d hidden parts of his life from you. It was how unwanted, unneeded, misplaced, and tossed out you felt. You knew it stemmed from your childhood, and if you knew anything it was how impossible it was to get over childhood trauma. It was hard to feel loved and wanted being passed from home to home, and it was even harder to feel loved and wanted when you became part of a family where only a handful of them appreciated your existence. You didn’t fit their mold of sharp bone structure and dark features. No, you were soft, rosy, nothing like them. And though your mother and father had always done well to provide for all of your needs, it was hard to believe them. That’s why now, it was hard to trust Sonny. Not only was it hard to trust him, it was hard to understand why he’d hide Amanda, why he’d allow himself to be seen so close to Nicole, why he’d bring you to meet his family if he knew she would be there. Nothing made sense, and you had no one to turn to in your time of need. 

For several hours you’d lied in wait, hoping sleep would grace your mind. When the clock finally read 1:00AM, you realized the fight was useless and got up, padding into the kitchen. You struggled in your sad state to pop the cork on a bottle of white wine, but rejoiced quietly and threw the corkscrew and cork into the sink. The bottle didn’t last long, less than thirty minutes, and before you knew it, you were drunk. The wine took over and had a mind of its own, ensuring that you picked your phone up and called Sonny. Two in the morning, but the wine didn’t care. It rang twice. 

“Hello?” Sonny answered. Wherever he was, it was noisy. 

“Where are you?” 

Background noise, shuffling, a door opening and closing, and then silence. “Where are you?” he countered. 

You sighed and fell back onto your bed. “In my fucking bed.” 

“I’m at O’Malleys,” he finally answered. You sat up. That was the bar two blocks from your apartment. A female voice in the background caught your attention, causing your ugly jealousy to peek through. 

“Who’s that?” you demanded. 

You could hear the strain in his voice when he answered, as if he thought answering slowly would prevent you from getting mad. “Amanda.” The line went dead, leaving Sonny standing outside in the cold, with no one on the phone. 

You were three days out from Christmas, and six days past the last time you’d spoken to Sonny. Unfortunately you were no where closer to understanding who Amanda was, or if he’d really had a relationship with Nicole, or if anything he’d ever told you was true. The hardest part, though, wasn’t figuring out the truth from the lies. It was trying to fill time in your schedule that you’d once spent with him. Eating lunch alone, spending evenings alone watching television, falling asleep without having anyone to bid farewell.. it wasn’t easy. It had felt like ages, though it had barely been a week. Your only consolation was that you’d taken three weeks off, starting the day before Christmas and into the second week of January, and had high hopes of finding something to occupy yourself during those weeks. 

A faked illness got you through Christmas - meaning Chinese delivery and all of the Die Hard movies. Your parents were disappointed but wished you well, offering to send over food if you’d wanted it, but you declined. What a depressing way to spend your second favorite holiday, you thought. But, how much worse would it have been to spend it with someone who didn’t care for you the same way you’d cared for them? Sonny hadn’t tried to reach out in a few days, but you didn’t blame him. You didn’t give him a chance to explain himself, and he hadn’t tried after the night you caught him with Amanda at 2AM. It seemed like a big waste of time, time you couldn’t get back, but that you could learn from at the very least. 

New Year’s Eve finally arrived. You had no plans, no glittery dress and heels to wear, no one to kiss at midnight. It was no different than the past 29 years, but for some reason it seemed morose this year. For a while you contemplating calling Sonny, but he was probably with Amanda. You were too embarrassed to update your relationship status back to single on Facebook, but not proud enough to stop stalking Amanda’s page, grimacing each time you saw her name. Stop torturing yourself, you thought, you’re not making anything better. As you closed out of the app, your phone vibrated and Sonny’s name appeared at the top of the screen. 

Sonny: I just wanna make sure you’re okay. 

You: How “okay” am I supposed to be? 

Sonny: I know. I want you to let me explain everything. No bullshit. 

You: Let me guess. You slept with Nicole when you were a teenager. It was a passing fancy. Now you just enjoy seeing her, reminding yourself that you fucked a guinea. And as for Amanda, you guys slept together a few times, decided to stop and keep it professional, but the kid’s yours? Now you just spend time together because it’s convenient when you’re lonely at 2AM the same night you get into a massive fight with your girlfriend over the very girl you’re with. Why’d she call me Amanda? 

Three dots in a thought bubble popped up and disappeared off and on for ten minutes. 

You: That’s what I thought. Fuck you, Sonny. 

[neither-rat-nor-human]

@thxvoidwalker​ liked the post and thus twisted my arm. 

Used the heart’s quotes for Sam a lot as inspiration. the first bit is literally when he’s pretty young, 19-20 something or other. I wanted to kinda chronicle his life a little? IDK but yeah.

Things to remember: 

"Samuel Beechworth went to sea to forget a hopeless love. He succeeded."

Samuel talking about his wife, whose moods were akin to that of the temperament of the Wrenhaven River

Here you go:

Earth 1, 1791

          The Fugue Feast finally ended, it's about damn time too. The people running around naked, some people spilling guts on the cobblestones more than normal--I'm just glad that that Abbey finally called it off. Never did like the Abbey much but they're better than just chaos. Anyways it's the start of a new year I suppose and Ma got me this book to write in for when I go out to sea or out on the river. "Bring back good stories" she tells me, but there's hardly anything to tell about. Not really.           Cassie came around this morning after the Abbey was done with its prayers and songs and the like. Asked me to dinner, which I of course accepted. Family and folks I work with are expecting us to wed, which I honestly wouldn't mind one bit. Cassie is a sweet woman, only a little younger than myself. Don't mind that, hate the idea of marrying a 16 year old girl anyways like what's sometimes expected. The only complaint I have is that Cassie is like the sea; sometimes she tossing and wailing and having a temper that would make a storm shy away. Most days she's sweet as honey, so I can't complain.

          Speaking of women, my brother Vernon found a woman while he was running around with the other Feasters or whatever you can call them. I've seen her in the market a few times while bringing in a haul for Old Man Jones. She's a sallow looking creature with a dark look in her eye. Like she knows too much about something. Sells charms and spells and the like. She might be a wicked thing but I can swear by what she sells. One of the other men, he's got one of her charms. Says he bought it last Clans and I'll be damned if he hasn't brought in some of the best haul in the last few months.

          Maybe I'll look into one?

Earth 4, 1791

          Ma says I need to write every day, keep myself well-read if I've ever going to get anywhere. Well at least she's not disappointed that I wasn't chosen to be an Overseer. Pa wanted me to be one so damn bad and I know it shamed him that I ain't one. But being a fisherman ain't half-bad either. It's good honest work, get to spend time to myself a lot and thing. Mind the river and such. Old Man Jones is thinking about putting me on a charter soon, go out on a big ol' boat and bring in a massive haul. Him and a few other market folk are talking about going in together. The further out the bigger the fish they say. Stars know how big.

          The dinner with Cassie went without incident. She made a pheasant, which is out of season so who knows how much that set her back. But it was damn good. A stick-to-your-ribs sort of good. I'm proud of myself I guess, not being boastful or anything, but to have a lady like Cassie wanting me for her husband? Well I guess I'm a better man than I thought I was.

          Dinner's nearly finished. A Hagfish Casserole. Most folk would turn their noses at the thought, but Ma always did know how to make 'em. 

          Maybe I'll tease Vern about his crazy lady-love later.

Earth 5, 1791

          Jotting this down--teased Vern about "Mag" last night after dinner. Nothing bad, No names. Nothing like that.

          He called Cass a crazy, two-bit cunt. We both got black-eyes but only he ended up in the river.

Earth 6, 1791

          Was too tired and too pissed to elaborate yesterday after fishing for Jones but all I know is that for now I'm sleeping in my damn boat and ain't no one can stop me from it neither. I only said she was a funny, wild bird that was all. And that I hoped she wouldn't get caught with all that occult business. I earnestly meant it too. Jackass caught me right in the eye. Called Cassie what he did and now I'm so pissed I could spit all the bile out of my damn belly. I don't want to look at his sorry ass when I get up to head out to bring in fish for Jones. I'd probably wring his blasted throat.

          Good riddance

          Cassie came to the docks today, to talk before I shipped off. Not used to that but I should be, we're talking about maybe Month of Seeds, haven't talked to anyone yet about it, just her folks but we told them to keep it hush. For the best honestly until we really get to it and start trying to get things prepared. I wish I could say Pa or Vern could be the best man but neither is looking like too good of a chance.

          Maybe Bernie or maybe Old Man Jones, he's always done right by me, even in the lean times. Gave me work when other places said they didn't need none. "I knows a sailor when I sees one" he told me. Always did have a thing for boats and the sea and learning about it. I'm getting ahead of myself now, just getting lost in thought. Anyways should dim the lantern and get some shut eye. 

          Thankfully it's still warm out.

Earth 7, 1791

          It fucking rained.

Earth 10, 1791

          Cassidy found me huddled under my boat in a makeshift hut, writing from her house still trying to shake the chill from my bones, might catch ill considering it's been a cold rain that last few days. She asked "why is my husband sleeping outside like some homeless fuddy when I know damn well he's got himself a Ma, a Pa, a Brother, and a good warm cot to sleep on every night?". Told her what happened with Vernon, but left the words out. Said it came to blows and that was that. She understood, but from the look in her eye she knew I was holding something back from her. I don't want to repeat those words that Vernon spoke to her. I love her too much to put her into one of her dark, melancholies.

          I really do love her don't I?

Earth 14, 1791

          Been sicker than I thought I would be. Cass first went to Jones, told him the news but thankfully he says that I still got a job once I'm back on my feet. Then she got Ma. And Ma came today, didn't question why I wasn't home, I guess anymore I'm the good son but she wants me to come home as soon as I'm well again. That's fine. I want an apology from Vernon first, don't care if I have to get him sticking drunk to do it either, I'll beat it out of him if I have to. 

          Cassidy is a good woman, not some wanton thing who hunts in the bars for something to take home with her.

          Told Ma what Vernon did when I don't think Cass was in ear shot, after telling her my side of it, still remember to a T what I said and I hid none of it. She turned red as a Morley Apple. Pretty sure she'll rip his ears off dragging him here to share his apologies.

----

          Evening now. Ma dragged Vernon here and he apologized to not only me but to Cassie as well. Not surprised that when I explained to her what he said it put her in a right foul mood. Thankfully she couldn't stay too mad for long, least I don't think she did at any rate. I'm still weak from hacking so much, was worried I would bring up blood but none came. Just a horrible cold that will go away eventually. I'll be better in a few days’ time with all the care that Cassie is giving me. The Sea-Woman is a gentle tide these past few weeks.

Earth 16, 1791

          Was finally able to return to work today, though Jones had me working at the market. "You just got well!" he says to me, "best to let yourself recover out of the Wrenhaven's air!" I don't think he understands that the river is my blood. It's always been good to me. But I won't go and step on toes. I don't like working with people too much, not in this kind of business. But I'll do as Old Man Jones asks and do the bargaining side of things for a while. It didn't go too bad today. The Day before the Abbey Sermons is always quiet. Seems as if people tend to fast on these days, heard a passing Overseer say once that it was to "hunger all the more for the words of truth the abbey can provide". Bunch of piss if you ask me, not that I would ever say it out loud.

          Cassie asked last night when I was gonna get a ring for that lovely hand. I told her it was a surprise, a bride ought not know when she'll be getting her promise ring just like a groom ought not see his bride's gown. Bad luck and all that. Really it's more of the fact I want to save up for a pretty thing for her. Something she'll be proud to look at and wear. She would probably marvel at a plain iron band but I want Sweet Cassidy to wear something silver or gold. She deserves that, my dear storm of a woman.

Earth 17, 1791

          No work today on account of it being a Sermon Day. Pa dragged me to it this time since I missed the last few ("on yer boat or with yer head in the clouds! They could see it in your eyes that you were just a fool from birth!" then ain't he a fool too for putting me in Ma's belly?). I'm glad that it's over and I'm out on the dock now at the pier. It's a good day and the water of the Wrenhaven is warm to the skin. It's like the water itself missed me as much as I missed it. Will go to see Cassie tonight, see if she might want to come to dinner next Sermon Day. Ma always tries her best to make a good meal and she'll appreciate Cassie's help in the kitchen to I'm sure of it.

-----

          Cassie wouldn't see me, her mood's gone sour. Mrs. Bould told me she had been fine this morning and then around lunch she turned on a coin, threw a fit, and took to bed. My poor girl, I know she'll give me grief eventually but I'll deal with it best I know how.

[hellosunglow]

# 7

College Roommate

2/25/17

My roommate turned out to have a secret vendetta against me and seemed to want to ruin not only my college experience, but my entire fucking life.

     First semester, she and the rest of the high school girls decided they were done with hanging out with me, and stopped inviting me places and just didn’t hang out with me anymore. So I started hanging out with this group of guys that CJ (the bonfire guy) hung out with, and we became quick friends. The guys were your typical jocks that came off as douchey, but they were real sweet. My roommate warned me that they probably had other motives for the friendship, but I didn’t really want to listen to her because 1) fuck you, what do you know about them? and 2) you stopped talking to me??? Why are you suddenly interested in my life again??? 

     So fast forward about a week, I’m hanging in their dorm, and one of the guys asks if I would be interested in a FWB type of things. Now, keep in mind, all these guys are in relationships, one of them is engaged. They know I’m in a relationship, but I guess men are forever trash and they didn’t care. I reject the idea and then later head back to my dorm. My roommate was getting out of the shower so I say “Hey, you were right about the guys btw.” and she looks at me then goes to her room, nothing said. 

     Fast forward about another three days, I’m hanging with the guys again, and my mom sends me a message, panicking because she thinks I’m in danger. I’m obviously confused and scared, because what is she talking about? She sends me screenshots of some account on Facebook telling her that they think I’ve been raped. My blood ran so cold. I notice that I’ve got a school email from the counselor, which is weird considering I hadn’t gone to the counselors. I open it and it read something like “we got an anonymous tip that something might have happened to you, please come talk to us.” At this point, I can feel my heart starting to pound against my chest. My mom calls me, she’s crying, begging me to tell her the truth, to confide in her and to tell her if I've been hurt, and i kept denying it, because that didn’t fucking happen! How do I convince my mom that I’m okay and that whoever this person on Facebook is is lying? I somehow manage, and she says “You better be telling the truth, and I want you transferred back home.” There’s no arguing with her, so I just say yes.

     The next morning I go to the counselors and talk to the lady who sent the email (and since the school is so small it turned out to be my psychology teacher :^) how great) and she asks to know the truth. But no matter how hard I tried telling her the truth, she thought I was denying what had happened because I was actually a victim. She tells me I’ve got mandatory sessions every other day for three weeks. GREAT. Oh, and not only did I have mandatory counseling sessions, I also had mandatory meeting with UDPS, the sergeant to be exact. The meeting with him actually helped. I told him that nothing had happened, that I wasn’t a victim in denial, and that I thought the anonymous tip was a misunderstanding from my roommate. So he calls her in. Immediately, she’s crying. She says she was just trying to help. BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT. is what I wanted to scream. I tell the sergeant that not a single time did she ever talk to me privately to ask if I was okay, not once did she ask me if it had actually happened, not a single time did she ever approach me at all before blowing it all out of proportion and putting me in such a difficult situation. Not. A. Single. Fucking. Time. He thinks it best if we move rooms, but housing wouldn’t do it because they still had too many kids to fit them all into their correct dorms, so I can’t get away from this girl until next semester, when they might have extra space.

     She avoided me at all costs after that, locked herself in her room, and hardly ever came into the dorm, which I thought was great because I didn’t have to have her all up in my business for a while. She did however, tell my boyfriend, at the time, that I was hanging with other guys because when he broke up with me he mentioned that I always got back to my dorm late, and how would he know that 1) I was hanging with these guys and 2) What time I got home if he lived three hours away?? So her fucking nosy ass wasn’t quite done ruining my life, especially not after the next stunt she pulled.

     Fast forward to next semester, it’s early February and I’ve got a new boyfriend (That’s journal #8 if you’re interested) and I decide that you know what, new year, I’m gonna put the past behind us, and give her another chance. It’s around Valentine’s Day and my boyfriend got me a gift: a puppy. It’s the most adorable Italian Greyhound I’ve ever seen and he’s only two weeks old. I immediately fall in love with this tiny dog, but the only problem was that to have a dog on campus it needs to be a service dog, and this puppy isn’t.  So for about two weeks, while his papers came in, we had to hide him in my boyfriend’s dorm. I was living with him at the time because fuck my roommate. I only ever took the dog to my dorm when my boyfriend was in class and when I had to shower and get dressed, so the dog wouldn’t be alone in the dorm. So I kept him in a giant box from Amazon in my dorm, just for about 15 minutes while I got ready. 

      The dog was eating solid food when we got him since his mom abandoned him, but they never told us what food they fed him, so the change of diet made him sick, and for about a week he was shitting like crazy. Not to mention the fact that he’s a puppy so he shits a lot anyway. The box he was in eventually started smelling bad, so I threw it out and one day I had to go to work while my boyfriend was at band practice, so I asked my roommate if I could leave the dog in the bathtub while I went shopping for food (because her fat ass never bought food, since she didn’t have a job, but that didn’t stop her from eating like she bought it all.) She said sure. I come back and the pup has shit like crazy and rolled around in it. The tub is a poopy mess, but I’ve gotta get to work. I tell her I’d clean it when I come back, which was about three hours. When I came back she had cleaned it and I apologized again and thanked her for cleaning, since she didn’t have to. She said it wasn’t a problem and locked herself in her room again. Cool. 

    Well one day, my boyfriend suggest the three of us should go to lunch. So we have to leave the dog alone in the dorm. My roommate decided she doesn’t want to go, and she says she’ll take care of the dog while we’re gone. We leave him in the bathroom, and head out. About 20 minutes later, I get a call. “This is [whatever] from Animal Services, we confiscated the puppy you had in your dorm.” FUCK. We leave the restaurant and go get the dog, which was a fucking hassle since the lady didn’t want to give him back because we were students. We eventually got him and went back to the dorms. We go inside and my roommate is asleep in her room, but there is no note that anyone had been in our room. If no one is in the room, they have to leave a note explaining why they were in there, and there was no note. My boyfriend suggests going to the housing office and asking what happened, so we do.

     We tell the office that a friend was visiting town and left her dog in the dorm while caught up over lunch, they buy the lie and explain that the dog was called in. Are you fucking kidding me... We go back to my dorm and wake her dumb ass up. 

“Where is the dog?”

“Oh, I came back to the dorm and he was gone.”

“Really? So where’s the note?”

“I threw it away. Shredded it”

Of course she fucking did, sure you did....

“Right, well the office told us we were here when they came.”

“Oh they told you that? Well, yeah I was here.”

“How did they know about the dog? They never check the bathroom, why did they check it this time?”

“They told me it was a scheduled room check, had to check everything.”

“Cut the shit, you called it in.”

“They told you that too? Well yeah. I was mad that he shit everywhere and that he ruined the shower curtain.”

ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!!!!!!!!! She was mad that her $1 plastic curtain got ruined... I told her I would clean it once I got back from work. I can’t not go to work. Especially not at the rate she was eating in the dorm. She was eating everything in the fucking pantry, because her “anxiety” wouldn’t let her go eat if it was too crowded... okay so go when it isn’t crowded???? ANYWAY. She reported my dog and then shut down and just kept saying “okay” for anything we said. Well that was the last fucking straw. I reported her ass to the sergeant, told him I didn’t feel safe with her in my dorm because she reported me AGAIN and obviously can’t mind her own fucking business. 

     Next day, she was gone. And I was so fucking glad that she was gone. Goodbye to the petty reports and bye to her nosy ass. I cannot even begin to describe how much I fucking hated her for doing that to me. I never did anything to her. I was such a good friend to her, and she just decided she was gonna report everything I did over the smallest things. Good fucking riddance, good luck to her next roommates.

[allthosegoodbooks]

4⭐️ JUST LIKE AN EPISODE OF SUPERGIRL... and I really, really like Supergirl. The first thing that struck me when reading this book was how casual living with superheroes was. Unlike other novels or movies where the "talented" ones form a secret society, superheroes and humans (whether that be baselines, or in language that everyone understands, "muggles," or metahumans) exist together. I loved the concept that just because Danny - our wonderful protagonist - had superpowers, passed on to her by the most famous of superheroes, she had friends pulling her in all sorts of directions. Always such an emphasis on how young she is (which is refreshing, rather than a 17 year old being trusted to save the world, when I can't even budget my Christmas money... I have 44p and it is FEBRUARY), Danny assumes she should be a superhero just as her predecessor was, but she has the vigilante, Latina, friend Calamity who shows her the instant impact and lack of politics - almost reminds me of Pretty Woman; "we say who, we say when, we say how much." And then there is Doc Impossible (A GIRL SCIENTIST HELL YES) who, although part of the Superhero Legion herself, tries to dissuade Danny from becoming a "Cape," offering many different alternatives & practical uses for her superpowers... which really sets the precedent for this book, it's always so refreshingly REAL, like how Calamity and Danny have to put off "saving the world" because they are "swamped" with homework, and how in a world of "hypertech," wizardry and magic don't escape this - like in Charmed, when they dangle a charmed pendant over a map to locate something, but what 15 year old really carries a map around them? So instead, Calamity pulls out her tablet and gets up google maps or something and I'm like YES that is totally what I would do!! Also, during a massive superhero fight, the "news choppers" show up which of course, would not be contained in the real world. I just want to talk about my girl Calamity some more, because I really really love her. The perfect companion for Danny who needs to adjust to who she is very rapidly, Calamity is steadfast, the literal definition of a "Rock." She robs drug dealers for money - a win win - and their friendship is so pure & innocent... there is no gap in gender, or the perceived gender, there are bigger things than that, like there are bigger things than what coloured cape they wear. How do I put this eloquently... Dreadnought just deals with MEN so well. I don't think many women could put into words how it is that men expect something, in return for nothing...BUT HERE WE GO, perfect example: "I’ve been your friend for, like, ever. You know I’m a nice guy, but I never get a fair chance." THIS IS SO DISRESPECTFUL TO ALL WOMEN... and then we have THIS bombshell "you look good enough that I don’t even really care that you’re kind of a dude inside.” The first thing that crossed my mind when reading this was "God, I really hope the author/ any other Trans woman/man has never been spoken to like this," but I know that that isn't the truth. More than illustrating the "everyday sexism" and objectification of women, Danny shuts him down so well - “I am not, and I never have been, a ‘dude inside.’" (SO IMPORTANT) and even though everybody is trying to drag her down, she knows who she is and what she stands for: "If I did like boys, I wouldn’t like boys who talk to me like you just did.” After this, Danny completely shuts offensive boy out of her life and we never hear about him again... GOOD RIDDANCE. Similarly, the poisoned and unfortunately widespread perception of Feminism and day-to-day transphobia is portrayed through Graywytch, who instantly rejects Danny as a fellow woman. I'm sorta hoping that she learns the error of her ways and in the sequel partners up with Danny and accepts that she is a real woman, which I think would help Danny too, but in the meantime I'll leave you with this "You reify the holocaust of gender, you invade my sex, and you poison my sisters by your simple presence." This is very cis-only feminism because although Graywytch thinks she is standing up and standing with her "sisters," she's pushing down the one right next to her! Despite the sexism and Nazi Feminism and of course the blundering, passive-aggressive or just plain violent Transphobia throughout, Danny finds a way to flourish. Here may be a good point to add: As I am not Trans, I can't say whether or not this book will be harmful to you, if you are Trans or sensitive to Transphobia. What I can say is Danny's parents are both in denial about her gender, Danny's Dad to the point that he is abusive trying to make her "more manly," as well as the rejection from some members of the superhero Legion - mainly Graywytch - and of course David, Danny's ex-best friend, who asked her to go out with him because he deserves it. This is the only transphobia I can recall... correct me if I missed anything out. We meet Danny in the beginning of the novel anxiously buying a bottle of nail varnish and hiding behind a pillar in the Mall to paint her toenails, just to feel normal. Physically turned into a woman in a flash, she has never told her parents who she is on the inside, and now has to face their wrath and endless efforts to "fix" her. Danny finds it very hard to tell them that this is who she wants to be. At the same time as being outed to the whole world, she has to deal with the fact that she now has these great superpowers and even greater decisions to make... Danny accepting her colours of her cape and referring to herself as Dreadnought solidified the character development in terms of becoming a superhero, but even more than that is how she comes to accept herself in front of the whole world... I'll let you read to find that out ;-) *Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[aud-one-out]

i asked @advicefromanobody to do all of them, so i thought it was only fair to answer them too! it looks fun!

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?

My bf

2. Are you outgoing or shy?

I’m shy as hell around people i’m uncomfortable with. but if i know you i’m fairly outgoing

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?

my mom, my dad, my bf

4. Are you easy to get along with?

i think i am? idk i have some traits that make me seem a bit stand-offish in my opinion, but that might just be me

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?

yep :)

6. What kind of people are you attracted to?

people who aren’t afraid to voice their opinions, and are their own selves. 7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

yes!

8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?

my bf

9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

not if it’s with someone i trust. 10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

either my bf or my roommate

11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?

“gross”

12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

Drops of Jupiter by Train, Love on the Weekend by John Mayer, Beautiful Girl by Sara Bareilles, Light the Sky by Grace Vanderwaal, and Step by Vampire Weekend

13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?

yes

14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?

um kinda?

15. What good thing happened this summer?

i travelled, i learned to contradance, i explored

16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

yes! 10/10 face would kiss again

17. Do you think there is life on other planets?

yes, probably, because science

18. Do you still talk to your first crush?

um kinda, i keep up with him on social media, we go to different schools

19. Do you like bubble baths?

yes, but seeing as my knee is kinda out of order and i don’t have a bathtub at school, i can’t have one at the moment 20. Do you like your neighbors?

neighbors? i have neighbors?

21. What are you bad habits?

nail biting, procrastination, not washing dishes

22. Where would you like to travel?

i went to prague this summer but i would love to go back and experience it during the colder months.

23. Do you have trust issues?

kind of, but mainly with trusting myself

24. Favorite part of your daily routine?

going to bed

25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?

my feet.

26. What do you do when you wake up?

groan and check my phone

27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?

i’m happy with how it is 28. Who are you most comfortable around?

my bf, my roommates, most of my sisters

29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?

lol no, good riddance

30. Do you ever want to get married?

yes! but no rush

31. Is your hair long enough for a pony tail?

yes but my bangs sometimes fall out and its annoying

32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?

Andrew Garfield and John Mayer

33. Spell your name with your chin.

jmozzsl.yn

34. Do you play sports? What sports?

LMAO

35. Would you rather live without TV or music?

TV

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?

yes, and tbh it was probably for the best

37. What do you say during awkward silences?

i’m usually why the silence is awkward tbh 38. Describe your dream girl/guy?

supportive, passionate, not afraid to be themselves, but really i’m not picky as long as there’s a good balance of similarities and differences 39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?

old navy, H&M, amazon

40. What do you want to do after high school?

well, i’m in college now, getting my degree in music therapy, so...that. 41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

it depends on what they did.

42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?

i’m either really tired or feeling uncomfortable 43. Do you smile at strangers?

i try to!

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?

outer space

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?

seeing my music friends

46. What are you paranoid about?

death and sticky hands

47. Have you ever been high?

yep!

48. Have you ever been drunk?

yep!

49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?

no

50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?

i’m wearing a green one right now :) 51. Ever wished you were someone else?

only mentally, and only to escape situations i was in

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?

my ridiculously flat feet

53. Favourite makeup brand?

don’t wear makeup 54. Favourite store?

didn’t i already answer this 55. Favourite blog?

my friend’s blogs 56. Favourite colour?

purple/turquoise

57. Favourite food?

too...many...to...choose

58. Last thing you ate?

a chocolate croissant

59. First thing you ate this morning?

yogurt

60. Ever won a competition? For what?

yes, it was a freshwater fishing tournament in my dad’s neighborhood and i won most fish caught lol 61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?

no

62. Been arrested? For what?

no

63. Ever been in love?

yep!

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?

i don’t really like thinking about it, but i was at a hockey game 65. Are you hungry right now?

tbh when am i not hungry?

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?

okay, i really only mainly interact with the people i know that follow me on tumblr (which apparently isn’t normal but who fucking cares)...so tumblr actually helps me get to know them better? 67. Facebook or Twitter?

facebook

68. Twitter or Tumblr?

tumblr

69. Are you watching tv right now?

no

70. Names of your bestfriends?

Emma, Sarah, Delaney, Erin, Richard

71. Craving something? What?

sleep (soon, thank goodness)

72. What colour are your towels?

striped blues and greens

72. How many pillows do you sleep with?

3

73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

yes, lol

74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?

at school i have 5, at home i have many more

75. Favourite animal?

dogs, especially corgis

76. What colour is your underwear?

teal

77. Chocolate or Vanilla?

chocolate

78. Favourite ice cream flavour?

chocolate chip cookie dough

79. What colour shirt are you wearing?

pink!

80. What colour pants?

they’re patterned navy blue, teal, and pink 81. Favourite tv show?

Friends

82. Favourite movie?

The Age of Adeline, Interstellar, Mary Poppins, Singing in the Rain

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?

Mean Girls

84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?

Mean Girls

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?

Cadi (is that how you spell it?)

86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?

Dory, hands down

87. First person you talked to today?

the bf

88. Last person you talked to today?

my roommate

89. Name a person you hate?

Hate is a strong word, but i don’t care because this woman literally fucked my life over in more ways than one. Karen C.

90. Name a person you love?

My mother

91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?

Nazis

92. In a fight with someone?

the united states government

93. How many sweatpants do you have?

a lot

94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?

a lot

95. Last movie you watched?

“Other People” its so good and really sad

96. Favourite actress?

Bellamy Young, Kerri Washington, honestly too many to name

97. Favourite actor?

too many

98. Do you tan a lot?

i don’t tan, i burn 99. Have any pets?

no, i don’t 100. How are you feeling?

101. Do you type fast?

i think so

102. Do you regret anything from your past?

yes, but the past is the past

103. Can you spell well?

supercalifragilisticexpealidocious

104. Do you miss anyone from your past?

kinda? idek?

105. Ever been to a bonfire party?

no, but i wanna

106. Ever broken someone’s heart?

yeah, i have

107. Have you ever been on a horse?

lol i was that girl obsessed with horses in your fourth grade class

108. What should you be doing?

sleeping

109. Is something irritating you right now?

my knee brace

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

yes, and it lead to an obsession, and a heartbreak

111. Do you have trust issues?

didn’t i already answer this 112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?

my mom, due to frustration over my recovery from surgery

113. What was your childhood nickname?

jossy

114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?

out of the country!

115. Do you play the Wii?

i have

116. Are you listening to music right now?

John Mayer

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?

not the biggest fan, i like tomato better

118. Do you like Chinese food?

Yes!

119. Favourite book?

“Sing You Home” by Jodi Picoult

120. Are you afraid of the dark?

for a while i was

121. Are you mean?

if you piss me off

122. Is cheating ever okay?

No.

123. Can you keep white shoes clean?

lol, this is me you’re talking to 124. Do you believe in love at first sight?

no, that’s infatuation. 125. Do you believe in true love?

this is a strange question. yes? no? idk?

126. Are you currently bored?

no, just tired

127. What makes you happy?

my bf, music, my bf playing music, seeing my friends succeed and do good things

128. Would you change your name?

uh no, unless it’s like my last name through marriage and then i’ll probably have a hyphenated last name 129. What your zodiac sign?

Pisces

130. Do you like subway?

yes

131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

well, i’m dating him, so i’d kiss him, duh 132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?

p sure i answered this already and i can’t remember what i said bc fatigue 133. Favourite lyrics right now?

so many lyrics....

134. Can you count to one million?

i’d lose my patience 135. Dumbest lie you ever told?

i’ve told a bunch tbh 136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?

closed

137. How tall are you?

5′5″ 138. Curly or Straight hair?

wavy

139. Brunette or Blonde?

don’t care 140. Summer or Winter?

neither. fall.

141. Night or Day?

is it fair to say both?

142. Favourite month?

april/october

143. Are you a vegetarian?

definitely fucking not

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?

dark, milk in some circumstances

145. Tea or Coffee?

tea

146. Was today a good day?

today was a long day, that’s what it was. 147. Mars or Snickers?

3 musketeers, bitches

148. What’s your favourite quote?

i probably have one, i’m just too tired to think of it rn 149. Do you believe in ghosts?

not really

150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page?

“It took five Greyhound rides and four days” -Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng