#never thought that a townie could do that to me

[sanssouci-sims]

johnny zest is a good man (not clickbait i swear)

I never thought a townie would grow on me (I’ve largely ignored them for the most part), but Johnny Zest did. Let me tell you why!

HE’S GOT A LITTLE GIRL, GUYS. //sniff

What’s that? I’m automatically going to call him a good man just because he had a daughter? Why yes, I am. Sure, it seems bland at face value, but with the magic of ✨ 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔 ✨, I’m going to make it better.

You see, I first heard about Johnny Zest through The Sims Freeplay (basically a mobile Sims game and literally the FIRST Sims game I’ve ever played that introduced me to this stupid franchise to begin with), and honestly? He came off as absolute GARBAGE. In that game, he’s meant to (from what I remember) supervise a whole task line in a neighborhood where you’re supposed to complete a series of tasks to like... repair stuff in houses within that neighborhood? I think???? You have to complete them within a specific time limit though, or else you’ll have to shell out virtual money (or use actual money to buy more of said currency) to like, buy extra time, I think. And he’d give you something like an “extra zesty” grand prize if you completed everything in time.  I don’t know about you, but I mean like any mobile game riddled with micro-transactions, the whole thing is awfully cash-grabby (you know, like the Landgraabs). Plus, he generally just comes off as a creep like a few other Freeplay NPCs.

When I started playing TS4, I found out Johnny would also be in this game as a playable townie. And I groaned.

Like many of my other townies, I would ignore him for the most part. He lived in a trailer, wanted to be a stand-up comedian, and had no relationships with anyone (in addition to being disowned by his own family). He was a loser for all I cared.

One day, when I was looking for a household to play in Oasis Springs, and I found that Johnny had a new little face with him.

Meet Isabelle Zest, and here is how I think she came into Johnny’s life.

As mentioned previously, Johnny Zest had no one in his life. His family had long since cut him off ever since he said he wanted to become a comedian, and his parents refused to provide him any financial support to get him started on his feet. Fortunately, he was able to slowly progress in his career in entertainment to the point where he was able to scrounge enough money to upgrade his housing situation from a trailer to a modest one-story home.

Still, Johnny would always come home at the end of his work day to an empty house. He just wanted someone to share some joy with.  He wasn’t sure how this randomly crossed his mind, but one day, he decided he wanted to just... have a child. Obviously, he wasn’t just going to go start one with a random woman. In fact, he always thought he was very awkward with girls. Instead, he searched online for adoption centers near him that were looking to place children in loving homes. After a while of scrolling, he stumbled across a little girl named Isabelle.

Not only was her picture adorable, but she was described as a quiet but sweet girl who liked to smile and learn about new things. She was also almost nearly deaf and needed to wear hearing aids.  Johnny was intrigued and booked an appointment to visit the adoption center. There, he met Isabelle for the first time!

Johnny was a little nervous at first, but seeing Isabelle smiling at him just being himself tugged at his heartstrings. By the end of his visit, all Isabelle wanted to do was to just follow him around and give him hugs.

After a few more meetings, Johnny decided he wanted to adopt Isabelle. He had to fill out what felt like a multitude of paperwork and scrounge up a lot more money, but after a while, he was finally able to finalize everything and take Isabelle home!

There wasn’t really any time to settle down, however, as Johnny still had to work, obviously. But when he does have free time, he makes sure to spend it with Isabelle. In the meantime, though, when he’s assigned work to complete at home, he usually does it in the dining room where he can watch Isabelle, who will usually play with her toys nearby.

When it’s time for him to work away from home though, Johnny usually sends Isabelle to daycare. Obviously, she’s less than pleased.

Once he comes home, though? It’s all worth it when he gets to see that little smile on her face.

Weekends are what Johnny and Isabelle look forward to the most, as he doesn’t have to work and she gets to spend time with her dad all day long! He’ll often take her somewhere fun, and her favorite places to visit are the local playground and pizzeria.

So yeah, Johnny Zest is a good man. All he wants to do is to bring joy to his little girl’s life, and that’s all that matters.

[valley-of-headcanons]

I just stumbled across your blog and I really love your headcanons! If you had the time, I was wondering if you could do the bachelors reacting to a mute farmer?

bachelors with a mute!farmer || headcanons

being mute isn't as hard when you have these considerate men around <3

warning: this is under the assumption that the reader cannot speak at all! all include sign language as a form of communication :) other warnings are that certain townies are VERY SLIGHTLY ableist (jodi, george). take this whole story with a grain of salt, as i am not mute! i tried my hardest, however, please let me know if something is wrong/offensive/just straight up stupid! i'd love to learn where i went wrong :)

requested by: anon, thank you so much for requesting! and i deeply apologize for the fact that this took around a year to come out ... oopsie daisy ... my stardew valley hyperfixation went bye bye but guess who's backkkk?? anyway! here you go, better late than never :)

alex

• Alex honestly had no idea what to do when he realized that you were mute. He had no idea what to do, and you saw it on his face. He wanted to interact with you, you looked pretty interesting, but ... he had no idea where to start. So, you offered to teach him sign. He was surprised to see that you had that much faith in him, and he rejected initially, but ... he really wanted to have a new friend. It seemed like you were a genuine person, and he needed that in his life. So he did.

• You taught him sign, and this was probably one of the hardest things he's done. He believes he's not very bright, so he's incredibly nervous. But he works so hard for you! He didn't really know why he did, as you were just a new neighbor. Maybe you could be more? You could be a true friend! That's what he's looking forward to the most.

• As he began getting fluent and he learned more about you, the more he enjoyed being around you. Someone actively took a chance on him, and he's forever grateful. He opened up a lot to you, and you reassured him through all of it. He was the smartest person you knew because of how well he picked up sign ... he cried a little bit, although he really doesn't want to admit that.

• He realized how close you've gotten, and how his feelings haven't stopped growing for you. So, he had to do something about it! A soft, well-candlelit dinner was prepared for you, and he asked you out fully through sign! He had worked so hard on preparing a fully thought-out speech through sign for you ... it was so incredibly sweet. He really does love you.

• Alex was incredibly defensive of you, and would probably fight anyone who tried him. He even had several arguments with George. He wasn't the most supportive and definitely had some comments, especially since he literally couldn't see the sign ... but through Alex, he was convinced. Everything was fine, especially with Alex doing his best to convince those around him.

• Overall, Alex loves you and it shows. It shows through every piece of sign that he learns, every action that he does for you, and everything that he says to you and others. He adores every aspect of you, and he loves your bravery and your amazing soul. He can't get enough of you.

elliot

• Elliot is definitely a romantic, and when you didn't respond to his minor flirting, he was very confused. But when he realized you were mute, he dramatically gasped and apologized, basically dropping to his knees. He felt horrible, and promised to make it up to you.

• For a while, you talked back and forth through letters, since he was often stuck at home writing. He finds that he can write a lot more through his letters to you than he can his own book. Isn't that strange? He brings it up to you in one of his letters, and he eventually invites you over to his cabin. He bounces ideas for his book off of you, and strangely, it's so much easier to communicate with you ... how strange.

• He ends up learning sign for you in his free time, although it takes a while due to his busy schedule. He still prefers to write letters to you, it seems much more personal and definitely more romantic. He eloquently writes about his life and inquires you about yours.

• Elliot realizes that maybe this situation isn't just romantic to be romantic ... maybe there were feelings underneath, feelings that Elliot had never truly felt before. He ended up writing poetry about you, pages and pages. He can't get you out of his head! He had to let you know. You found out through a book of poetry sitting in your mailbox, and after reading through it, it was undeniable that it was about you. He was infatuated ... and so were you.

• He's incredibly protective of you, making sure to keep you out of harm's way as much as possible. If anyone were to say so much as one hateful word to you, he'd make a scene. With his dramatic flare, he'd declare them an imbecile and swoop you away to a safe place. It's in his nature, did you think anything less?

• Elliot'e romantic side has never been greater than with you. Romance and genuine feelings have always been apart in his mind, but they've both culminated in a beautiful love with you. He doesn't mind your muteness, he finds it beautiful and inspiring. You're his muse, of course.

harvey

• Harvey is incredibly understanding, and he tried his best to understand you as much as possible! He has no problem learning how to communicate with you and how to help you out as much as possible! He's the most understanding of your condition, and asks many questions about how and why you're this way. Not in a hateful way or anything, he just wants to understand you fully!

• As your doctor, he's definitely concerned for your health at first, but his nerves are calmed eventually. He slowly works toward getting to know you despite your condition, and he loosens up a little bit. He's so sweet and kind toward you, and he can't believe he's befriended someone as lovely as you.

• He opens up about his color blindness soon enough, and how debilitating it can seem. You bond over that, and he finds it easy to open up to you. He's used to being the listener, it's literally his profession, but it's nice to be listened to for once.

• Harvey realized this was a lot more than just a friendship, due to his heart racing when he's around you ... wow. He didn't expect this, and he really doesn't know how to act on it. But as you two hang out on the pier of the beach one night, he can't help but admire you instead of the stars. You notice, and he can't hide it anymore. He asks so nervously if you feel the same way he does. You answer with a gentle kiss on his cheek. He melts.

• He is very defensive of your condition, if someone says anything slightly derogatory, he will go off on a medical tangent. He justifies everything with an array of medical terms, enough to put anyone at a loss for words. Once Harvey silences the other person, he apologizes heavily, but still defends his love.

• Harvey loves you, and it shows through his concern for you and his deep affection for you. You're such an amazing and brave person, and he admires every bit of it. He admires you more than anything, and he would reshape the world if it meant to keep you safe.

sam

• Sam, despite his loud and energized nature, doesn't mind the fact that you're mute! He finds interacting with you regulating, in some kind of way. He has to calm down a bit to concentrate on communicating effectively with you. He enjoys talking to someone who has such a different viewpoint on life!

• Sam actually knew sign language before he met you! While in the war, Kent had sent a letter home that he had gone have deaf due to the constant noise of the war. Jodi then forced her family to learn sign language as soon as possible, so communicating with him was incredibly easy!

• Being able to actually use his sign language is actually pretty fun! He's very fluent, and he enjoys seeing your personality through your sign. He also enjoys your personality in general, how you overcome not speaking and your bravery. He finds that you both enjoy music, and it's a major bonding point between the two of you.

• Showing each other different songs that you enjoy was a staple of your hangout sessions. He finds those evenings the ones that he looks forward to the most, watching you smile and bop your head to the music. It's soft, it's sweet, it's ... lovely. As his feelings approach him, he can't get you out of his head ... his writer's block comes to an end. Eventually, he ends up playing a song for you. The love that he has for you is evident through the lyrics. And then ... a soft kiss as the song goes on, you would probably scream in joy if you could.

• His mom is ... not the most fond of you being mute. He doesn't really care, as he mostly just ignores her. He loves her but good god, her views ... so, he chooses your friendship more than anything. And when you two travel to something more, he chooses that over the relationship with his mother. She has a few passive aggressive comments, but she eventually gets over it enough to only give you a few side-eyes.

• Despite every hardship, Sam loves you. Every aspect of you is perfect in his eyes, and he wouldn't change anything about you. Sam adores your wonderful personality, despite not ever really hearing a voice behind your wonderful words. He doesn't care, you're you, and that's what matters.

sebastian

• Sebastian is the most quiet of all of the bachelors, so it makes sense that he would be naturally drawn to someone with a similar vibe. He doesn't mind the fact that you don't speak, and he finds ways to adjust.

• At first, he doesn't put too much effort into learning sign language to communicate. He doesn't see the reason why, you're just another person in town. But after Sam started speaking to you through sign language and you crossed paths more ... he decided to, why not?

• After talking to you, he realized that you have a lot in common. This makes him excited to finally have someone to relate to, and more and more, he asks you to hang out. Most of the time you end up doing things together in silence, but when you do talk, it's deep and personal.

• Falling for you was not his intention and came out of absolutely no where. He thought he was destined to spend the rest of his life shrouded in darkness, but this one quiet beam of light pulled him out of that. Huh. How odd. It took a lot of mutual pining for this to come to the surface, however. You called out that he accidentally used the sign for “I love you” when saying goodbye ... his pale face went bright red. Safe to say, you didn't say goodbye that evening. A long talk and a kiss goodnight, you two ended up together. As you should be.

• He doesn't really give the time of day to the people who don't understand you. A deep side eye and an aggressive sigh usually escape him, but he tells you not to worry about it. He shows you that he loves you no matter what, and “people fucking suck.”

• Sebastian relates heavily to you, and really loves you. He can't believe he's found someone who relates to him so well, but also has such a kind and genuine soul. He loves you more than life itself and enjoys your company more than anything on this planet.

shane

• Shane is probably the most guarded person in Stardew Valley, and it shows when he meets you. He could care less about you at first, pretty much ignoring your every movement. He doesn't really care that you're mute, he just doesn't care about you period. He's not really there yet, mentally.

• However, things change when you offer him a beer. He's confused by your kindness, and you can't really explain yourself because he doesn't understand sign. His curiosity is piqued. So, he asks Marnie if she knows any sign, and she refers him to Jodi, who eventually refers him to Sam. He hates the idea of having to work with Sam, but he can't help himself. He was too curious.

• After picking up a bit, he ends up offering you a beer in solidarity. He then thinks for a moment before showing the sign for beer. Your excitement warms his rather cold heart ... that's new. He just communicates by speaking, but he can read sign, so that seems like enough in his eyes.

• He finds it easy to talk to you, as you're such an interesting and perseverant person. It inspires him to begin working on himself. He pushes himself to work hard ... for you. Huh. Then, as if the sky was falling around him, he realized he was falling for you. He began pushing you away, until you basically cornered him at the bar. You took him to a private room where he rambled on about how perfect you were and how he was just going to ruin you. You eventually just signed “love ?” He looked like a scared child and just nodded. He signed “I love you” with shaking hands. But of course, so did you.

• His assholery is on full display when someone tries to come at you. He doesn't do it as eloquently or kind as some others, he just curses and insults until they shut their trap. They have no room to talk in his eyes.

• Despite his cold nature, Shane really does love you. He has no problems with your nature and sees it as a contrast to his own nature. He finds that enamoring and beautiful, unlike himself. He's working on himself, for you.

[matchalovertrait]

Me??????

Thank you to everyone who tagged me for the simblr appreciation 💗 That was @bouncytrait, @elderwisp, @catsinmugs, @bloomingkyras, @woohoojuicesimoleons2,

@spotlessssmiind, and @smulie :)

I am so happy you thought of me and I love your blogs too!!

I’d like to tag everyone, but I can’t do that. However, I can acknowledge all of you whose posts I come across every day! I make sure to hit the like button to let you know that there’s someone here waiting for your next post. If I haven’t been liking recent posts, it’s because I’m reading your story from the beginning. I’m an awfully slow reader, so my apologies. I like to take my time and not rush through the stories to ensure I understand everything and take in all the small details.

Also, I know it can be easy to become disillusioned on here but trust me, there are a lot of incredible people. I see them every day on my dash.

I’ll mention some of my friends here who inspire me. Um, it's kinda long:

@changingplumbob: I don’t know how she balances so many projects at once and does it all with love! Each one of her characters is unique and steals the spotlight. When it comes to her posts, I'm either philosophizing or laughing. It's also admirable how much research she puts into the stories she writes. You can definitely tell!

@deardiaryts4: I love people who do extra things for their sims just like me LOL. She doesn’t have to make a music video or album cover CC. Nor does she have to create actual code for us to solve a mystery, but she does it anyway because she's passionate! She gives it 110% every time with her intriguing story and gameplay.

@ruthplaysthesims goes DEEEEPP into the lore! Blink and you'll miss it. She also has an impressive cast of characters. There are many mysteries in her stories that I am itching to have the answers to. I need to see/know!!!

@abbysimsfun OMG I absolutely love her style of writing, which became a recent influence over my own. She's also a fellow fan and user of Chekhov's guns (I know the name of that literary device now because of her hehehe. No, no actual guns here!). I am captivated by the storytelling!

@dreamyyesenia is so incredibly sweet! She also takes her sims' personalities and interests very seriously and creates the perfect homes/wardrobes for them. She's a master at it and I'm taking notes.

@authorspirit: Her builds are absolutely fantastic. Joy is a smart cookie and she does everything with precision. I really like the chic and regal aesthetic in her posts too. Quite demure

@sharona-sims is my slice-of-life queen!!!! She seems apologetic for the "slow pace" of her gameplay, but I don't mind it one bit. I could keep up with Lily and Michael for the rest of my life, idc, I love them.

@teadreamsims is immensely creative and a great storyteller. I always forget they play on console. That just shows how important imagination is. The gameplay with Fern and the rotational gameplay with the townies happened ages ago but they live in my head rentfree.

@aurorangen: Details details details!!!!! I eat it all up and Rory always gives us extra insight and behind-the-scenes stuff. She's talented in both writing and telling her stories through pictures. And her builds are insane.

@cakepoppresent: Nahhhhh cuz the drama and the wholesomeness, omg. I like how we explore different groups of characters at a time and it never seems like too much. And her videos are everything.

@miralure is on hiatus sadly :( But she definitely left her mark, I never forget her. When I came back to Simblr, I had no idea a lot of people saw commenting as an "embarrassing" thing? She was very welcoming and her mindset is the one I've been following ever since. Because of her, I'm often all up in your guys's comments like nothing lmao. Anyway, her lookbooks were perfection as well as her male sims. Amazing.

@windslar also seems to be on hiatus :( I admire the way she composes her dialogue posts through photos and I've been trying to do it as well as she does. The facial expressions, the angles, etc! It's cinematic.

@cinamun: I don't even have to explain, but I will anyway. The drama, the real-life-issues, the gifs, the heartfelt moments, the plot twists, the in-depth characters, the lore, the background, the wardrobes. Phenomenal work!

[simspaghetti]

I always get asks about what mods I use, and as I've been playing World Adventures recently for the Completionist LEPacy challenge, I've been trying to compile some mods specific to that expansion - I thought I'd share all the ones I've found here so anyone else who is new to WA can have some recommendations!

If this ends up being useful to anyone, I'm happy to make one of these mod pack lists for each EP - let me know if that's something you'd like!

Also, if anyone has any more suggestions on mods I should add to this list, please let me know and I'll include them!

Nraas Traveller

This mod overhauls the travel system and allows all types & ages of sims to travel, and also allows travel to any EA or custom world you have installed, not just the 3 standard vacation ones - so your sims could take a vacation in Sunlit Tides or Monte Vista if they want to!

PotatoBalladSims distant terrain fix for France & Qahne's Smaller Eiffel Tower

These mods are both just small aesthetic changes for France, the first one fixes blocky trees in the distance and the second one makes the Eiffel Tower a way more realistic size

TheBleedingWoodland's Shang Simla Icon Fix

This changes Shang Simla's icon to the Forbidden City which is actually located in China

Twinsimming's Take Practice Shots Mod

The photography skill can be so tedious to level up as you have to take photographs manually, this mod makes it much easier as you can leave your sims to idlly practice photography like they can do with any other skill

OutOfIdeas' More Unique Adventures Per Day

I was having a big problem where I would go to a country in search of a specific adventure to unlock a tomb & have to return home 8 days later, having nothing come up on the adventure board during my sims stay - this mod fixes that annoying problem as it allows for more adventures to appear each day, there are several flavours to choose from so it's totally customisable with how 'cheaty' you want to go!

NanaBx3's fishing box chest fix

There used to be a small chance that sims would reel in a treasure box when going fishing, but the feature got borked in one of the patches years ago and was never fixed - this mod makes it more likely you will come across this cool feature, it features additional items to be discovered in treasure boxes if WA is installed

LowMotivesWarning's Not-So-Weak Mummies

This ups the athletic ability of mummies & likelihood of your sim getting cursed to make them much more dangerous & threatening

StrexSims More Townies for Vacation Worlds

This is not technically a mod as it's a pack of sims, but it basically allows for more of the sims walking around town to fit in with the aesthetics of that neighbourhood - if you like this pack I strongly recommend checking out this creator's other townie packs, as they've released them for most EA worlds!

Nectar Combinatorics

Minor improvement to the nectar-making skill that makes it more user-friendly, adds the option to experiment with random fruit until your sim works out some good combinations - then they can just add garuanteed 'good' fruit combinations to the machine rather than endlessly experimenting with fruit to find out what combos work

[Requires Late Night] Default Replacement Nectar Glass

Replaces the nectar tumbler glass with a much nicer looking wine glass, this does require LN to work otherwise the glass will be invisible!

[embarrassedanon]

Ski Bum

As an Aspen local, Chester loathed the hours he spent giving ski lessons to the progeny of America's rich and famous. These spoiled brats were airdropped in on private jets by the dozen from New York or LA and wrought havoc on the slopes each winter. But helping them perfect their form earned him a pretty penny and free season lift pass so it was worth it.

Chester saw rather quickly that no matter how much these rich kids claimed they wanted to improve they weren't used to taking constructive criticism. Chester learned that lesson in a humiliating fashion when Walter, the 20 year old son of an oil magnate, joined him for a private lesson.

Despite a decade and half of winters spent skiing, Walter never managed to conquer anything but the bunny slopes. He was more keen to spend his time reading by the fire in the lodge or ogling the snow boarders in the sauna.

To Chester it was no wonder why Walter's skiing prowess plateaued before he even finished elementary school, Walter was convinced he knew everything.

"Your stance is all wrong dude, there's no way this is how you learned to ski!" Chester said a bit amused.

"It most certainly is not, and you'll call me Walter or Sir, not dude, I'm not one of your townie friends."

Prick, Chester thought, plastering a smile on his face.

Walter, not remotely remorseful, began absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.

"Is there somewhere you'd rather be? Cause if you don't want to do this lesson there's no point in either of us freezing our asses off."

"You seriously ought to rethink your language if you wish to continue working at a resort with high-end clientele. And if you must know all of my friends from University are in St. Barth's. But of course daddy forced us to go to this dreadful mountain hideaway."

"Well if you're such a competent skier and you don't need the lesson you'll have no problem getting your phone back from me.”

With that, Chester lunged for Walter's phone and stuffed in his pocket. In a flash he was off down the slopes. Shakily Walter gave chase.

"Get back here this instant!" Walter yelled.

"You'll have to catch me,” Chester taunted in a singsong voice as he whipped around to face his pursuer before turning around and speeding off.

Propelled by rage rather than any athletic prowess, Walter sped after Chester in a haphazard manner. As he neared the instructor, far faster than Chester could have predicted, Chester began to bob and weave as to avoid Walter's grasp. This only made Walter's attacks more erratic.

In one fell swoop, Walter reached to grab his phone from Chester's back pocket. The speed with which he was hurling down the mountain put an undue amount of force behind his grasp. While Walter was able to secure his phone, he sent Chester flying out of his skis and his pants and long johns tumbling down.

With a thud Chester fell face down ass up in a heap of snow, his pale cheeks looking almost sun-kissed compared to the alabaster snow. Walter gasped and then let out a hearty laugh. Chester shot up and spat snow out of his mouth.

"It's not funny!" Chester pleaded, over his shoulder.

"Oh it certainly is, and this serves you right for taking what's mine!"

Chester struggled to right himself and his he slipped on the packed snow. Bent over with his bare ass facing Walter he tried to pull up his pants when he heard the clicking of sound effect of a phone camera.

"Did you just take a picture of my ass?"

"Language, Chester! And my friends just sent a beautiful picture of the moon over the ocean, figured I'd respond with my own picture of the moon over the mountain. Anywho, thanks for this lesson... it was so very revealing. Ta Ta!"

With that, no less shaky than before, Walter traveled down the mountain alone. Leaving Chester to get laughed by a group of snow boarders before he came to his senses and pulled up his pants.

...

Back at the lodge, Chester was certain that everyone was staring at him as he headed to the locker room. It was clear that word of his embarrassing mishap, and maybe even the picture, traveled fast down the mountain.

In the locker room, guys were in all different states of undress, but the way they all laughed and whispered to one another when Chester walked past made him feel the most naked.

As he sat at a bench in front of his locker and removed his boots, Walter rounded the corner in a white terrycloth robe. He was at a locker just two doors down from Chester. He gave Chester a wicked smile and opened up his locker.

Chester noticed his expensive skin tight ski suits hung up neatly in the locker. Walter made quick work of shucking his robe and donning a crisp white pair of briefs, chinos and a knit sweater. He didn't bother to lock his locker before he once again flashed Chester that devilish grin and exited the locker room.

Still seething from his earlier embarrassment, access to Walter's locker was something Chester couldn't pass up. Working quickly, Chester grabbed a multi-tool from his work bag and deftly weakened the rear seam on all of Walter's ski suits. With any luck Walter would be splitting his pants right down the ass the next time he hit the slopes.

...

The next morning as Chester was getting a few runs in with his coworkers he noticed Walter and a friend walking toward the ski lifts in matching skin tight jumpsuits.

"Isn't that the asshole that pantsed you yesterday?" Chester's buddy Rich asked while laughing.

"Yes, and with any luck he'll be flashing his asshole anytime now."

Chester filled in his buddies on the plan and they were more than happy to let Walter and his friend grab the next lift in hopes of witnessing Chester's plan in action.

As the arrogant douchebag leaned back to sit on the lift, Walter's suit burst open flashing his ass and his black thong. Of course his suit was too tight for his briefs and he wouldn’t be caught doing anything as uncouth as freeballing. His own pompous rules compounded his embarrassment.

Within an instant, his friend was laughing, the lift operator was laughing, and Chester and his friends were in hysterics.

Walter shrieked as the lift scooped him up parading his ripped suit over the mountain top like a Thanksgiving balloon.

"No don't look at me!" Walter plead which only drew more eyes to his unfortuante wardrobe malfunction.

"Hey Walter, you were right! The moon over the mountains is gorgeous." Chester yelled.

[demondeanismybaby]

Kiss With a Fist

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Word count: 1853

Summary: Dean and Reader are out on a hunt, reader has been crushing on Dean for a while and wants it rough

Trigger Warning: Choking, Slapping, rough sex, porn without plot

You and Dean had an interesting dynamic, both of you were hunters of course but there was more there between the two of you. There was the obvious wanting to get the job done but when you looked at him beating down some evil monster you could feel yourself getting wet. It wasn’t very healthy you figured but still it happened. You were out on a hunt with him, and you held back watching him intently and thinking about those hands around your throat. How they would be both firm and gentle in an insane way. It wasn’t a great thing that you never can concentrate with him around. He must have thought you were a lousy hunter since you let him get jumped most times you went out.

“Hey, a little help here!”  Dean was wrestling a vampire to the ground as another one had their hands around his neck from behind.

You ran to his side and grabbed the vampire that was behind him by the back of his jacket you cranked your arm back and punched him square in the face, you could feel the crunch of bones but you knew him being a vampire it did nothing the next step was to inject it with dead man’s blood so you grabbed the syringe out of your pocket and pulled your arm back but the next thing you knew the stupid vampire had knocked it out of your hand and he was wrestling you to the ground.

“Damn it! Dean, the syringe, I can’t grab it.” You screamed.

“Be right there, kind of got my hands full,” he said as he was still struggling with the vampire he had pinned to the ground.

You watched as he injected the vamp with the tainted blood and then the monster went limp.

“Finally, now it’s your turn.” Dean had a manic smile on his face that made you instantly hot.

It didn’t matter that you had sharp teeth and snapping jaws in your face all you saw was a pissed-off Dean ready to make some monsters feel the aggression that he always had pent up. You rubbed your legs together, it wasn’t subtle, but you couldn’t help yourself it felt like a waterfall between your legs. Dean cranked his arm back and punched the vampire on top of you so hard that he flew off you. You jumped up and grabbed the syringe that had fallen and while the monster was dazed you injected him in the neck.

“What the fuck is going on with you,” Dean said in a way that made your skin tingle, it was tight with frustration.

“Nothing just having an off night,” you said, “what were you expecting?”

“That you were ready to fight monsters, not sit back and watch me get beat on.”

You looked into his eyes, studying them. They were so green and deeply entrancing that you were a little lost thinking about what he was thinking about. Maybe he had a point, but you weren’t ready to give in so easily.

“I thought you were the man of the hour, the chosen one, the one who could take any monsters you had to face, without help from any of us lowly townie hunters.” You didn’t really feel that way, but you loved seeing Dean get riled up.

His chest puffed out and his brow crinkled as he looked at you. You could see and feel the anger radiating off him. Again, you felt a throb between your thighs and the heat there was building as he started to huff. You decided to double down, and you pushed him square in the chest hard.

“What are you going to do about it? Dean Winchester, the one that was dragged out of Hell, only to need help fighting two little vampires,” you said.

He pushed you back in the chest, you were starting to feel very excited. You didn’t want to let on though so as he pushed you, you grabbed his wrist and pulled his arm behind him, he was struggling a little but you knew it was mostly for show because he was much stronger than you were. You held him there though and then you whispered into his ear.

“I said,” you repeated, “what are you going to do about it?” There was a maniacal smile on your face.

He spun out of your hold and stared into your face, but the anger was replaced by sheer confusion.

“I don’t get what’s happening right now.”

“Dean I want you to get angry.”

You hated having to walk him through this, you thought he was supposed to be familiar with the strange requests of various women he had been with, but clearly this was beyond even him, you felt a little silly, but you didn’t care. It was time that you told him what you were thinking. Even more so now that your lives weren’t in danger.

“I want you,” you said, while grabbing his shoulders and pulling him roughly towards you.

“Oh fuck,” is all he said before the two of you were kissing each other deeply.

His tongue fought yours for dominance in the kiss, you tried to lead but he had caught on quickly, you felt something pull your head back exposing your neck, it was Dean, hand wound up in your hair yanking you backwards, you reached for his zipper desperately. You wanted to see just how excited he was about this, but he just chuckled and held you at arm’s reach pausing the kiss.

“So needy.” Dean commented, but it wasn’t necessary because you already knew you were.

You pushed your hips towards him, and he humored you by roughly grabbing your pussy through your jeans, rubbing your roughly then once you started to moan softly he stopped, you reached out to shove him for teasing you but he yanked your hair.

“I thought this is what you wanted,” he said, “rough.”

He pushed you back against the wall behind you and started to kiss you again while still holding your hair and he lifted his leg in between yours just to the point where you could lightly grind against his thigh. His hand left your hair, and you figured it was probably going to be a mess when you two got out of here. Suddenly that same hand found its way to your throat. He squeezed gentle pressure, and you heard the noise in the room waver quiet to loud again with the pumping of the blood in your ears. He removed his leg and replaced it with his other hand he was rubbing your pussy over your jeans.

“You want more you little slut?” Dean whispered to you.

You tried to nod against his hand still around your throat. You twisted out of his grip you didn’t want to make it too easy for him. As you pulled away from his strong hands you didn’t realize that he had already planned for your little move and he slapped you across the face, not too hard but it definitely got you riled up. It was your hunters instinct kicking in that made you slap Dean square across the face. A second after your hand went to the crotch of his jeans and you could feel how hard he was and it made you moan the two of you started to wrestle one another hands and legs were everywhere as the two of you slapped, pulled, grabbed and eventually you landed on top of him.

You started to grind your hips against him.

“Let’s get these clothes off,” Dean said pulling at the hem of your now ripped and torn t shirt.

You weren’t even a little nervous as you whipped your shirt over your head and unhooked your bra. It was barely off you when he leaned up and sucked one of your nipples into his mouth. His tongue was working overtime as your nipples hardened. You continued to grind against him, but you wanted his pants off, so you pulled back and unzipped his jeans pulling them roughly down by his ankles, there was no part of you that wanted to wrestle his boots off, there just wasn’t time. You kneeled beside him he was rock hard and ready for you to suck him into your mouth, he was big it was hard not to just gag right away but you wanted it bad. So, you bobbed up and down sucking hard as he moaned, and his hand wound into your hair again. He held you still as he fucked up into your mouth.

“Feels…so…fucking…good.”

He pulled you off his dick by your hair, then he shoved you onto your back on the ground. He kneeled between your legs and started to lick your clit roughly and you gushed into his mouth you couldn’t control yourself. He licked your pussy everywhere paying special attention to your clit and you were so wet. You could feel the cold air against your skin every time he took a gasp of air. And your legs were tingling from curling your toes so hard.

“I need more, now!” You shouted; you didn’t care how needy you sounded.

He complied right away and shoved his hard cock inside of you, you could feel him hitting you so deep as he thrusted into you repeatedly. He was holding you by the neck and using it for leverage as he pounded your pussy. You couldn’t stop yourself from cuming on his dick you felt the contractions of your pussy tightening around him. He clearly felt it from the way his eyes rolled back into his head. He pulled out of you and rubbed his rock-hard dick against your soaking wet pussy rubbing the head of it against your pussy lips and then barely letting it slip inside you. He was moaning loudly, and you could feel your clit throbbing and you were almost ready to cum again.

“Put it inside of me,” you wanted it bad; you wanted him to bust inside of you.

And he obliged. He fucked you in every position imaginable he was behind you fucking you deep in doggy style your knees scraping against the hard floor. He was underneath you as you took control and road him twerking on his dick and giving him a great view of your tits and your hips ground against him and you could feel him deep inside. You were surprised he lasted so long as he finally said the magic words.

“I’m going to cum.”

You felt him bust inside of you and you could feel his dick inside of you throbbing.

Both of you slowly got up, looking a little worse for the wear. Red marks littered your body, your throat, your face, your knees.

“Well,” you said, “I guess Sam is going to give us a lot of shit for letting these vamps get us so good.” You winked.

“Maybe we should let another monster get us good again sometime?” Dean said a little unsure.

“Fuck yes,” you said smiling.    

[bidisaster-peanut-romano]

Throughout the entire game, who do you think are some of the most underrated or under-appreciated characters?

stumbling into the askbox whyyy hello there!!! it had been a while!!

OKAY SO. let's start from one fact: every. single. character has something special about them. so like the easy answer is... anyone, lmao. truth be told we (the whole community) has been around for llke, 18 years (WOAH) and some sides are completely unexplored. even just from the idea that... have you guys ever noticed how little content there is around about nerds and jocks, for exmple? and i don't only mean art but also writing, analysis, metas, thoughts and such. not to mention the townies, the townies, when, having some of them been given some actually adult attributes, there would be a lot to unpack.

i feel like this is a) mostly for the nerds, that the rightful fisgust for the horrible thing they did to mandy discourages a lot from engaging with them as characters too, and b) because they are quite overshadowed by the fan favorite preps and greasers. which, i mean, very legit. but i think that they do have a lot of potential, again, in terms of characterization and themes, and i feel like we are collectively missing out on a lot.

and there's also the fact that, even with the fan-favorites, there is so little tapping into the more serious and sometimes mature aspects. i wouldn't say christy is neglected by the fandom, but it's not often that i read someone talking about her repressed anger that explodes whenever she feels too much, that heirloom of her father that of curse she doesn't have, she isn't a problem boy like her brother, what do you mean with that, i could use this tie to strangle you goddammit! or vance, that we all love as the sunshine jokester of the greaser and heartbreaker queer icon, but how come none of us ever mention him having a canonical addiction, and what if his messy dating habits have to do with that, too? what if he's running from something inside himself, rushing to next best thing just so he can feel something?

but this is just me rambling as an introduction oops. so, just trying to list a couple of my favorites:

thad carlson (& dan wilson) (putting them together bc they're intrinsecally connected and while i do stand by the fact that he's wildly underappreciated in the fandom i would hit dan in the face with a brick): i would lterally give my first born for these two. they are what they actually wanted to write when they wrote about cain and abel. i'm not sure what is the exact reason why they have different last names, and i don't wanna enter headcanon territory here. what it does unavoidably indicate, though, is that they were doomed from the start. like it was written in their names. so, picture this: they were in the nerds together. they suffered the bullying, the abuse together. the humiliation tasted like blood in their mouths and shone like the stars they'd see with their heads smashed in a locker, but at least they knew their brother would've been there to hold them. there's something very visceral about suffering together with a brother. like the blood they share creates somewhat of a shell, one that can protect them from what is outside, that can give them the comfort that they will never be alone. whether they like it or not, their brother will forever be with them; it's inside them. except that thad had the rage of a wounded animal; dan had the fear of a small prey. so, while thad kept standing tall and proud and chin high against his bullies, dan started training and morphing until he could be accepted in the jocks. dan wasn't the bullied anymore. he was the bully. while his brother was still on the other side of the war- the side of the eternal losers, that is. the side that, no matter how many battles they will win, they will always be at a disadvantage. so thad has got all the hurt of having been betrayed by a half of himself, like the phantom pain of a lost limb. and the hurt makes him angrier and angrier and when he wants to take revenge on the jocks his brother is the first target he wants, because, see, he is the victim, his brother is cain who has killed abel. but also dan has got his head on backwards to look out for enemies and for anyone who might uncover him as the fraud he is, the way he just thought- they are just bullying me for what i am, so what if i become someone different? except that it's not like he didn't feel like a loser anymore, he just feels like a loser with a football sweater. so at that point you look at the direction of that violence, at where the anger and the resentment lies, and you stop there and wonder. who's cain there? who's gonna be the victim, who the executioner? like nathaniel orion said, "i want to kill him sometimes. i think sometimes he wants to die". i love them ur honor.

otto tyler: i have no literal idea why there is so so so little about him. admittedly, content about townies is in gnereal harder to track down, since they have... no last names.... for the most part. but the otto tag is absolutely desolated. this boy is what you'd call too angry to be this young. his first response to anything is extreme violence and fantasies of it. playing his audios you will be met with die, kill, die, kill, kill, die, die. and all of his vitriol is poured on the school, like they have all come together specifically to hunt him down. and he's been canonically hospitalized, as well; when you walk in the asylum for the first time (galloway away i believe) he tells you not to "anger the watcher"- but who is this watcher? the composition of the scene seems to implies it is the statue in the courtyard; the most coherent correspondence would be the orderlies you will have to avoid as you walk past them; maybe otto himself has just been told not to anger the watcher by the people who are supposed to take care of him, but that are just playing with his mind to make him too afraid not to behave. which, incidentally, doesn't sound too different from what he might have suffered at school. otto will ask you if you have ever punched a wall. he will swear he hates everyone in the school, that everyone in the school hated him, he will threaten to destroy it. otto is a landmine, he's an unstable kid who just needed some ground to stand on, and instead they placed him all alone on a shaking earth. all is anger is desperation, it's having spent too much time without a support system, too much time bound -to a chair, in a cell, in a straitjacket- surrounded by people who couldn't understand him. who stifled his expression instead of channeling all the feelings he had all the time, exploding and intense in an overwhelming and violent way. i like to think of him as an artist. he mentions tattoos; i like to imagine he's learning to do them himself. that he's finding that as an outlet for his expression. and yeah overall. i am a lot fond of otto, and i think he would have a lot to say.

mr. wiggins: look, this guy is super unlucky. he's the only teacher with no class minigame; he's only ever walking around, and if you saw him you probably mistook him for the more familiar mr. matthews. but believe me when i tell you he's a real one. example 1: when someone snithces to him, he says something along the lines of "thank you, but i will never be able to trust you again". BRO. let me tell you, in 1968 this guy was OUT on his college campus and he was MARCHING and RIOTING with workers and students. he even mentions having spent a night or two in JAIL. he will walk into class and say the nastiest things about reagan while he keeps saying that as a teacher he will have to be politically neutral as if he didn't just have a fight with hattrick about socialism.

[fairsexynasty]

—DIFFICULT THINGS

jamie tartt x lasso!reader

ONE. TOWNIE

summary: lucy moves to richmond with a memory that doesn’t quite forget what her dad did to her. however, ted is as happy as a goldfish.

warnings: cursing, unlikeable female protagonist, father issues, abandonment issues, resentment

a/n: welcome to this very new series i WILL finish. my love for this show has overtaken my time and i am very excited to be writing this. this chapter is set during “two aces.”

——————

Leonard Cohen once said, “There’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” But my world has been infused with the darkest of shadows. Everywhere I search is covered by a dark spot. It seeps into my life from my dreams, nightmares, and memories. I don’t think I was delivered by the hand of God, nor will I be expecting any blessing in the near future. It’s the hope that kills you.

I had that epiphany when I turned seven. No one had ever seen a child so jaded, so self-aware. When I learned that the father I wished for wasn’t that interested in fully being in my life, I accepted it entirely, for what it was worth. He’s popped in and out, coming in as quickly as he leaves, only sticking around for moments he deemed essential to me.

And the worse part is that he’s a good man—a good man with a daughter who felt evil.

I used to wish something terrible would happen to me. A broken collarbone. A car accident. Cancer. If something like that happened to me, I thought he’d return and stay for good.

But those things never happened. I’ve never broken any bones. I’ve never crashed my car into a tree. I’m perfectly healthy. And after all this time, Dad has moved on.

I have a half-brother. Thirteen or fourteen years my junior, it’s disgusting how I’m not too sure about the gap. I’ve never met him, nor do I want to meet him. I envy a child who cannot understand the weight of the word ‘father’ because he’ll always take it for granted.

When I crawl through my memories, I can see Dad crystal clear. He showed up to every one of my birthdays until age sixteen. That’s probably because my brother was old enough to ask and understand why Dad was leaving him. Dad came to my first dance, a father-daughter dance. It was one of the nights I honestly felt pretty. He and I danced the night away, stuffing our faces with candy and desserts and drinking our weight’s worth of soda pop. Dad taught me how to ride a bike. Although it ended with scraping my knees, he helped me up, cleaned my knees, and kissed each one. Dad drove me to my first day of high school. The morning went by quickly, but I can still remember the smile on his face as I waved goodbye to him and walked through the school doors.

I want to be thankful for what I’ve gotten from my dad. But he could have done so much more. Am I not worth the effort?

And it hurts to hate my mother as much as I do.

She could clean up her act for Dad, but once he was on his way home, she’d finally ease into consciousness. We would fight. She’d accuse me of not appreciating her. She’d belittle me and never congratulated me on my accomplishments. She’s manipulative. Controlling. Narcissistic. Evil. I know I’m no good, either. But women like that love confrontation. And she got the best of me every single time.

But I’m a grown woman now. I’m twenty. I have a life. A freedom I’ve never known. I’m trying to be honest, to prove I am everything Mom never thought I’d be. I’m trying to make Dad proud of me. Because everyone else is sure as hell proud of him, he’s Ted Lasso: a simple man with a simple plan who was pulled to spread his kindness in Richmond, England, by coaching their god-awful team. I watched the news with a frown as soon as they announced his new endeavor. If he got a new beginning, why can’t I?

And that’s why I decided to pack up my things and move to England.

I’ve been here before. My mother and I moved around due to her line of work. Whether it was Shanghai, Princeton, Kuala Lumpur, or Rome, I could never call those places home. I feel like Richmond is going to be different. I’m not hopeful. Just curious.

——

The park seems comforting. There appears to be a rhythm that compliments the people. Kids playing soccer, and shops opening for the day.

I sit and watch the world awaken. People pass me by as I sit on the bench, not one of them stopping their routine for me, except one.

lHis greetings were met with responses of “Wanker,” a word I found oddly endearing. He continued down the park trail, saying ‘good morning’ to me mindlessly.

I replied with a deadpan “Wanker,” which surprised him, given my American accent. He turned back, his eyes lighting up in recognition.

“Oh, my lordy-lord,” he muttered, smiling as he said my name, “Lucy.” He looks at me as if I’m a fucking unicorn. His eyes soften, and the smile that always reaches his eyes is suddenly on his face. “ Lucy !” he breathes out as if he’s too scared to say it louder like I’ll run away and leave.

“Hi, Dad.” He pulls me from my seat on the bench and envelops me into the biggest bear hug I’ve ever gotten from him. And those hugs are grizzly and unrelenting.

He lifts me off my feet and holds my head to his shoulder. “Oh, how I love you, Lucy girl. I can’t believe it!”

I groan, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Dad, please put me down. I'm not as tiny as Henry is," I say with a laugh. He puts me down with a smile, but there’s a flash of a solemn look on his face. I guess my mention of Henry has filled him with some semblance of guilt. I can’t tell if that satisfies me or not. "I think you're wondering why I'm here," I say, the false smile still on my face. "And the only reason is because I wanted to see you, Dad. I missed you," I add, trying to perfect the role of the doting daughter, even though it doesn't come naturally.

“Oh, I missed you too, Pumpkin. I’m glad you’re here.” He spots my luggage standing against the bench. “Looks like you’re gonna be visiting for a while, huh?”

I nod slowly, my gaze briefly shifting away. "Yeah, I am. Needed a change of scenery for a while," I admit, hoping he won't probe further into my true reasons for being here.

Dad nods, but I spot him scanning my face for any information I won’t outwardly tell him. Perhaps it’s a parently instinct, or maybe it’s just a Ted Lasso thing. The smile on my face doesn’t falter.

“So, how’s your mom?”

The question hangs in the air, and I can sense the curiosity in his eyes. I clench my jaw and roll my eyes in annoyance. "I really don't want to talk about her right now," I say firmly, hoping to steer the conversation away from a topic I'd rather avoid.

Dad gives me one of those fatherly smiles, understanding my need for privacy but also indicating he'll inquire about it later. "Alright then. How about we get you settled into my place? Don't care if you've found one already. I got you here with me, and you're not going anywhere, missy. I hope that's alright with you," he adds, his face hopeful as he waits for my response.

I acquiesce to his requests. It’s the least I can do. “Sure, Dad. I’d love to.”

He cheers with a fist pump, then wrangles me into yet another bear hug before I tell him he’s crushing my ribs, and he dramatically lets me go with a pout on his face.

I follow him down the streets to his apartment door. We enter, and it’s pretty lovely, yet it feels so hollow. There’s an opened jar of peanut butter on the island. I can tell he radiates joy as we unpack my things into an extra bedroom. I wonder how lonely he’s been without his son and wife.

Yeah. This is the least I can do.

——

After unpacking and settling in, Dad practically begs me to come to Nelson Road with him, and since I’m already feeling a bit guilty, I come along with him.

Upon entering, some guy with a full beard and eyebrows that make him look perpetually constipated looks at me. Well, it’s more of a glare. He walks up to Dad and me, not once taking his eyes off me. I narrow my eyes in response, shooting him a cold glare of my own. “Who the fuck is this? Don’t tell me Rebecca hired another fucking American.” His voice is deep and rumbling and full of snark.

"Seriously, do all British guys walk around with a stick up their ass?" I quip, but my remark falls on deaf ears. I catch the man clenching his jaw at my question. Ah, it seems he doesn't take kindly to being disrespected. One jab at his masculinity, and he's ready to go to war without a second thought.

"Roy Kent, meet my daughter, Lucille," Dad introduces, but I quickly interject, "Lucy to you." I emphasize my preference, not one to stand on formality. "Who the fuck are you, Roy Kent?" I ask, gauging his reaction as he looks between me and my dad, clearly trying to figure something out. I decide to clear the air, "Yeah, my mom isn't Michelle," I clarify, hoping to put any confusion to rest.

Roy's response is a simple "Oh," followed by a grunt as he exits the scene. My dad remains unfazed and carries on, guiding me towards the locker room with his arm casually draped around my shoulder.

"Coach Beard! We've got a new cast member!" Dad announces to the room as we walk out together, seemingly excited to introduce me to his colleagues.

A man with a book and a golf hat turns his chair around and observes us. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the fussbudget,” he says. “Hello, Lucy. I’m Coach Beard. I’ve heard all about you.”

I can't help but snort at the situation. "That's impossible," I retort with a snarky tone. Coach Beard finds my reaction amusing, letting out a chuckle, while my dad gives a slight frown, but I know a few jabs won't easily rattle him.

Suddenly, a strong voice breaks the chatter, announcing, "Ayo, the gaffer's got another kid!" The rest of the men turn their attention to me, their eyes filled with wonder and intrigue. They excitedly chat, asking if they saw what they think they did.

Exiting the office, we step into the open room where my dad proudly introduces me to the team. "Fellas, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter. This is Lucy, everyone."

The players greet me with waves and hellos, except for one guy sitting on the bench, engrossed in his phone, occasionally laughing. I point him out, asking, "Who's that?"

"Jamie Tartt. Hey, Beard, what's the deal with Jamie?" my dad inquires, and seemingly out of nowhere, Jamie appears beside us without making a sound.

Beard responds, "Says he can't practice today. Says he's hurt."

I observe my dad's face dropping with disappointment as he turns to walk out the door and over to Jamie, concern etched across his features.

The whole situation was intense, and I couldn't recall ever seeing my father this angry before. It seemed like there had never been an opportunity for him to get this worked up until now. Watching him unleash his frustration on Jamie reminded me of my mom, who had her share of heated moments. While my dad appeared to be justified in his outburst, Jamie's disrespectful behavior only reinforced my 'British men suck shit' theory.

Feeling overwhelmed, a tingling sensation crept into my head, and my heart raced with the familiar signs of an impending panic attack. I needed to escape, so I swiftly turned on my heel and walked out of the office, trying to distract myself by fiddling with the rings on my fingers.

Wandering aimlessly down the halls, I searched for a private space to catch my breath and calm down. Passing a laughing man, a short guy carrying a laundry bag, and a stunning blonde woman who seemed out of place here, I stopped in my tracks when I heard my dad's name mentioned in a hushed conversation.

"Rebecca, I don't think Coach Lasso will be too thrilled about you trading Jamie away.”

“Higgins, listen to me. I don't care if Lasso is trying to get through to Jamie or if he begs him to come back. Jamie is not returning, and that's precisely what I need," she asserts before abruptly changing the subject, "Now, let me go hunt down my biscuits. They're late."

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. Dad is being sabotaged. All this time, I believed he was here to make a positive impact on the team, but it turns out they see him as nothing more than a joke. Stepping away from the door, I attempt to make a quick exit, only to collide with a statuesque woman who towers over me.

She glances down at me, exuding power through her stature and fashion, but I'm not intimidated. "Why, hello there, whoever you are. Are you lost?" she inquires.

Ah, this must be Rebecca. The woman who plans to screw my father over. I can't help but roll my eyes at her. "No. Just looking for the bathroom," I retort.

Rebecca gestures towards the sign, displaying her passive-aggressiveness. "Well, it's just around the corner. Right where the 'bathroom' sign is," she points out.

"Cool," I respond nonchalantly, not letting her faze me. "Oh, and by the way, my name's Lucy. Thanks for hiring my dad to coach!"

I catch a flicker of terror in Rebecca's eyes before I walk away, grinning to myself. Drama seems to follow me wherever I go, even in Richmond. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

——

After my quick trip to the loo, I wander over to the dog track, where Dad and Beard stand, closely observing the team's training session. I can't help but chuckle at Jamie's predicament as he wears a penny and sets up cones.

Dad notices my arrival and playfully calls out, "Oh, there you are, Waldo! What were you doing?"

His attempts at humor fail to catch me off guard. While I understand his references, I refuse to engage in the corniness. "Nothing, just using the bathroom," I reply with a mischievous grin, not willing to spill the beans about Rebecca's scheming ways. "Oh, and I met Rebecca. She seems nice," I lie sarcastically, well aware of her conniving nature.

Before Dad can respond, a rather handsome player approaches us gracefully. "Hello there. Sorry, Coach Lasso, but I couldn't continue practice without introducing myself to our guest," he says with a charming smile. "My name is Sam Obisanya. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. The other players and I were wondering if you'd care to join us on the field for a few minutes. We'd like to have some fun at Jamie's expense. Is that alright?"

I return Sam's smile and reply, "Uh, sure. But I haven't played in years, dude. Not sure I'll be any good among you professionals.”

Sam brushes off my concerns, reassuring me, "Oh, that's alright, Lucy. I'm sure Thierry will let you score a couple of goals. Come on!" With that, he guides me towards the field, announcing to the team, "She said yes, you guys!" Their enthusiastic cheers fill the air.

As we assemble for a quick game, a guy with a buzzed fade named Isaac addresses me, confirming my name, "Alright, Lucy, is it?" I nod, and he explains the teams, "We're gonna split into five and five, and you're gonna play with the lads who ain't got a kit on."

"Sounds good," I respond with enthusiasm. I turn to the guys without kits, and each extends a hand for a handshake. I go down the line, shaking hands with each one. There's a short man with curly hair, Bumbercatch, followed by a tall fellow with a broad smile, Jan Maas. Then, a highly energetic man named Dani Rojas greets me, not wasting any time to exclaim, "Football is life!" right in front of me. The last guy, a mousey brunette named Colin, completes the line-up.

Quickly getting into formation with my newfound teammates, they place me front and center for the play. I'm facing off with Sam, who gives me a friendly smile. At the sound of the whistle, we both dash for the ball, but I swiftly take control and dribble it down the field. Roy Kent charges towards me, determined to tackle the ball away, but I outmaneuver him with a quick juke, causing him to land on his ass. The guys react with astonishment, and suddenly, the game shifts from Sam's gentle start to full intensity.

Isaac rushes towards me, sporting a determined expression, but I pass the ball to Dani Rojas, who's open and ready. Dani drives it down the field, but as soon as he spots an opportunity, he passes it back to me. With precision, I shoot the ball into the goal, leaving the goalkeeper stunned as it whizzes past him.

The entire team stands in complete silence, including my dad and Coach Beard, who are both staring at me with their mouths agape. The momentary hush is broken by Jamie Tartt, who teasingly remarks, "Ay, wanker's kid just got you real good, lads." He winks at me, provoking a gag from me followed by a flip-off.

Isaac can't contain his excitement, exclaiming, "Shit, bruv! You just broke Roy Kent's ankles!"

Roy growls behind me, clearly not pleased with being outplayed. "You got fucking lucky, kid," he grumbles.

I don't back down, confidently replying, "Luck's got nothing to do with it. Either you're cursed or you just ate shit, Kent."

I have to admit, Richmond has exceeded my expectations thus far, but I won't let it get the best of me just yet.

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 141 - Makin' Music

Ophelia has a very important business meeting today, with none other than Thorne Bailey! Her agent didn't give her too many details, but they gave Thorne Ophelia's number, so they arranged to meet at the Orchid A Go Go lounge in Del Sol Valley to talk business.

As Ophelia turns the corner on the sidewalk outside the lounge, she almost bumps right into Thorne.

Thorne: Fashionably late, I like it.

Ophelia: Sorry, my toddler didn't want me to leave so she clung to my leg.

Thorne: Ha, my little guy Kale's clingy, I get the struggle.

Thorne: As much as I love the paparazzi, let's head inside. We don't need an audience while we talk.

There's a celebrity-exclusive room upstairs, so Thorne leads the way.

Well, he would, if he didn't insist on doing that slow-ass celebrity walk.

The guard at the door to the celebrity-exclusive area drops the stern look when she sees Ophelia and Thorne.

Kaori: Mr. Bailey, Mrs. Lemon. Come on in.

Thorne: Thanks a million, K.

Thorne and Ophelia settle down on the couch, and after some small talk, Ophelia's curiosity gets the best of her.

Ophelia: So tell me, why did you ask my agent specifically for me?

Thorne: Orange told me your band broke up, I thought you might be interested in a new project.

Thorne: Haven't heard much about you in the gossip rags lately. You doing alright?

Ophelia: Yeah, I've had a lot on my plate. Xander and I just had a baby, and we were getting our adopted son settled so I put music on the back burner.

Thorne: Understandable. Family comes first.

Thorne: But you are hoping to get back out there?

Ophelia: Oh, absolutely. What did you have in mind?

Thorne: Well, I've mostly recovered from my song-writing scandal, but my reputation could use a healthy dose of PR. Winterfest is coming up, great time to give back.

Thorne: Octavia wrote a new Winterfest song, but it's a duet. My wife is a star, but she's better with her pen than her voice, and she isn't that keen on singing with me. We tried to think of who would do the female vocals the most justice, and your name kept coming up.

Thorne: Now, all the proceeds would go to charity, so this isn't the most lucrative opportunity, but it's a good chance to get your name back out there. I know Winterfest is in a few days, so we'd need to get recording soon. Is this something you'd be interested in?

Thorne Bailey is the biggest musician out there! Most Sims can only DREAM of interacting with him, let alone working with him!

Ophelia: That's an amazing idea! I'd be honored to work with you, Thorne.

Thorne: That's what I like to hear.

They hash out the details of where she'll go to record her vocals, but this collaboration calls for a toast!

Thorne: May our star power combined get fans to stream this song all Winterfest long and help poor Sims afford packs so they don't have to use base-game clothes!

Ophelia can toast to that!

Ophelia: Uh, what charity exactly is the streaming profits going to?

Thorne: I was just gonna give some checks to townies wearing ugly outfits.

Ophelia: You'll run out of checks. I'll send you a link to the Simoleons for Everyone donation page.

Ophelia: Thank you so much for thinking of me, Thorne. It's an honor.

Thorne: Hey, just because we're doing this for charity doesn't mean you're a charity case, love. You've got talent, I know Tavi's song is in good hands with both of us.

The two stay a little longer than planned, ironing out some details, but also just start talking about their music careers. It's nice to talk to someone about stuff like this. Drew and Moses love music too, but fame never really appealed to either of them. Thorne just gets it.

Luckily, Thorne uses his connections to get them a session in the recording studio the next morning. He's got a special guest with him.

Thorne: There you are! Octavia, darling, you haven't met Ophelia yet, right?

Octavia: No, it's a pleasure. Our Orange is a big fan.

Thorne: I hope you don't mind, Tavi just wanted to hear how the song sounded with your vocals.

Ophelia: Not at all! She wrote the lyrics, least I can do is give her a sneak peek.

A celebrity that's easy to work with. These fellow celebs are bamboozled!

It's a little intimidating singing in front of a huge rockstar and a best selling author/songwriter, but Ophelia's level 10 singing skill can't be shaken!

They're looking so intensely at her, but they seem impressed. Thank goodness, she didn't have much time to rehearse.

Octavia Moon is apparently as hands on with her actual hands as she is with her work. After Ophelia's done, she pulls her in for a big hug.

Octavia: That was astounding! You knocked it out of the park!

Ophelia wasn't expecting the hug, but she quickly returns it.

Octavia: No wonder Orange loves you so much. He cried for days when The Main Squeeze broke up.

Ophelia: Aww.

Octavia: Ooh, don't tell him I told you that.

Octavia: Now, your husband owns that bar your band would perform at in Tartosa, right?

Ophelia: How'd you know that?

Octavia: I'm a writer, I do my research. Any chance he'd want to host an event promoting the song?

Free publicity? Hell yeah! They can hash it out later.

Thorne's vocals and the instrumentals are all recorded, they just need the female vocalist's portion before the song can be fully produced. Thorne and Octavia oversee Ophelia from the other side of the recording booth.

While Ophelia does her thing, Octavia can't get over how well everything has come together.

Octavia: Thank you for making this song a reality, baby. I might sing like a goat but you better be thinking of me when you sing it!

Thorne: Always. You're my number one, turtle dove.

Octavia: I dunno, she's pretty. If you don't go after her, I might!

Thorne laughs. The fact that she's still with him after he took credit for her lyrics shows how amazing she is. Even though she won't be the one singing the song, he'll assure the world knows they're her words.

[wolfxplush]

Embers Of Love

Got really bored and wrote a one shot of the derby and Lovette breakup after math so uh…. Enjoy!

(Warnings: Uhhh Very sad, talks of self hate.)

Lovette stood outside, leaning against the cold metal wall of the old Autoshop, a cigarette dangling from her chilled fingers. The evening air was crisp, biting at her exposed skin, but she welcomed the freeze. It matched the coldness she felt inside her body, a coldness that had settled in her heart since the breakup. She took a drag of the cigarette, letting the smoke fill her lungs before exhaling slowly, watching as it dissipated into the night like a ghost.

She had never been a huge smoker before, Vance having introduced her to the habit one night during a party the greasers threw in the auto-shop for Johnnys birthday. It always left a bad taste in her mouth, she found herself craving one before and after her shifts. But tonight, it felt right. It felt like the kind of thing a girl who didn’t give a shit about herself would do. And right now, she wanted to be that bitch. The one who didn’t care, who wasn’t still reeling from the end of a relationship that had turned out to be nothing more than a mistake.

As she stood there, she could see the lights of the town in the distance, the glow from the street lamps casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets. Townies riding past on their bikes yelling and hollering at each other and a few cops that chased them down. Besides that, It was a peaceful night, the kind that usually made Lovette feel calm, centered even. But tonight, there was no peace to be found, only a deep, simmering anger that had been building inside her all week.

She took another drag from the cigarette, her hand trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips. “Derby Harrington,” she muttered under her breath, the name tasting bitter on her tongue. “What a joke. What a pathetic, spoiled boy.” She scoffed

Lovette’s voice was sharp, each word laced with venom as she let her thoughts spill out into the quiet night. “All he ever cared about was himself. His image, his stupid reputation. He didn’t care about me. I was just another trophy to him, something to show off at his stupid parties and his even stupider friends.” Lovette pushed away from the auto shops wall, taking a glance at a near by crowbar that someone has left out.

She flicked the ash from her cigarette, watching as it fluttered to the ground. Placing it in her mouth to free up her hands, scooping the crow bar up she gave it a few swings. “He’s nothing but a rich, shallow, arrogant bastard. All that money, all that privilege, and he’s still empty inside. He’s just a hollow shell, a pretty face with nothing behind it.” She grumbled, it sounding muffled from the cancer stick in her lips.

The words came easily now, her anger giving them life. It felt good to say them out loud, to let them escape from the prison of her mind where they had been festering, growing more toxic by the day. “And what does he have now?” she continued, her voice rising. She took a few steps back to a nearby barrel of oil. “A bunch of Incest loving friends and an ego already bigger than when we started dating. That’s all he’ll ever have. He’ll never know what it’s like to be loved for who he is because there’s nothing there to love!” She raised the crow bar with a swift *Woosh!* aiming it as she struck it down upon the barrel. A large crack sounded through the air as the black substance inside drained out of the metal container. Lovettes chest heaved with rage as she glared down at the sight in front of her. Her grip on the crowbar turning her knuckles white.

She took another drag, but this time, the smoke burned her throat, making her cough. The anger that had fueled her tirade was starting to wane, leaving behind a hollow emptiness. Lovette’s shoulders slumped as the cigarette slipped from her fingers, falling to the ground and smoldering at her feet. Her shakey hands releasing the crow bar as it slowly sank into the puddle of oil on the ground.

The fight drained out of her, replaced by a heavy sadness that settled over her like a shroud. She had wanted so badly to be strong, to convince herself that she didn’t care, that she was better off without him. But as the night grew darker and the cold air bit deeper, Lovette couldn’t keep up the façade any longer.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stave off the chill, but it wasn’t just the cold that made her shiver. It was the realization that no amount of anger, no amount of bitter words, could change the fact that she was heartbroken.

“It was never going to work..,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “

Her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes, and she blinked furiously, trying to hold them back. But it was no use. The tears came anyway, spilling down her cheeks in hot, stinging streams. She sniffled.

“I thought I loved him,” she said, her voice breaking. “I thought he loved me.”

Lovette’s breath hitched as she sank to the ground, her back pressed against the cold stone wall. The night felt too big, too empty, and she felt so small, so alone. She had spent so much time trying to be perfect for Derby, trying to fit into the mold he had created for her, like a lost lamb and its shepherd, she had lost sight of who she really was.

The sobs came then, tearing through her with a force that left her gasping for air. She hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face in her arms as she cried. The anger was gone, replaced by an overwhelming grief that threatened to consume her.

“I hate him,” she choked out between sobs, but even as she said the words, she knew they weren’t true. She didn’t hate him—not really. What she hated was the way he had made her feel, the way he had made her doubt herself, the way he had made her believe that she was only worth something if she was with him.

The tears flowed freely now, each one a release of the pain she had been holding inside. Lovette cried for the girl she had been before Derby, the girl who had believed she was more than what her mother wished for her to be, who had believed in herself. She cried for the future she had imagined with him, a future that would never be. And she cried for the loneliness that had settled in her heart, a loneliness that felt like it would never go away.

For a long time, Lovette sat there, her body wracked with sobs, her tears soaking the ground beneath her. And as she cried, she let her heart break open completely, knowing that the girl she had once been was gone, and all that remained was a shattered reflection of the love she had lost, flickering like the last ember of her dying cigarette.

((This was not checked over so sorry for any spelling mistakes!))

[sojutrait]

Sorry if this has been asked before (i looked but couldnt find anything) When will you be bringing back the halabis legacy?

just missing them <3

UHHHHHH short answer: never say never

long answer: GUHHHH BUHHH BUHHHH

it’s not really a priority for a myriad of reasons.

this might be a random ass reference but it lowkey started feeling like the netflix show elite where all the main cast is gone and they’re just beating that dead horse till it’s glue. like if the whole save combusted after ollie’s gen i genuinely would’ve been satisfied. i’ve never been one to like to draw something out id rather a piece of media die with dignity rather than fizzle out until it had to be taken out back like old yeller

another reason is gus’ gen was sort of formed around growing together and exploring that but i kinda did that already independently from them? so it would just sort of be redundant. once your sim got pissed on once you’ve seen it a thousand times

third, the save is like. extremely bloated hejrjdkd. a billion townies (i’ve since changed how i deal with npcs so it doesn’t bug me much like in my current household file) that need makeovers and a billion and one cousins i need to keep track of. it’s just a lot of work to even get the save right before i can even play

SO YEAH that’s all sad but tbh, i wuv them so who knows? i’ve turned around ideas in my head for how i could bring them back. maybe a time jump into a new save, maybe something else i haven’t thought of tbh if y’all have an idea i’m all ears. but like i said it’s not really a priority and i don’t wanna force myself into doing anything just for the sake of posting them bc i’m too hedonistic for that. i only do things that give me that sweet sweet dopamine

in the meantime i like how there sort of. canonized? on my blog ehehe. like using nadine and dante for my barbie and ken poses, i wanna keep doing stuff like that! like treating them like little ocs bc i could never just abandon them on the side of the road im not THAT much of an absentee parent

[the-bar-sinister]

A Song for Ragpickers and Urchins (19168 words) by VickytheSnake, Dave Strider Chapters: 5/?

Summary: When a small-time band of young rogues and thieves take in a lost and lonely fallen noble their twisted star finally begins to rise. Urchins, vagabonds and slaves take up a scoundrel's life under a common banner— the jolly roger Donquixote— to claw their way to something like happiness in the miserable, cold-hearted factory towns of the North Blue.

catch up here

-

His father's empty apology rang hollow in Doflamingo's ears. He was sorry. He was sorry they had a father like him? He was sorry?

Doffy was the sorry one. Sorry he hadn't known what to do to protect himself and his brother sooner. Sorry he hadn't been able to save his mother. Sorry he'd had to feed Rosi filth because his father couldn't find a way to feed his children.

Rosi was still clutching at their father as Doffy aimed the gun at his head. 

His fingers were shaking. He'd never fired a gun before. He'd seen it done, in Mary Geoise. He'd seen death and justice come from the barrel. A swell of fear rose up in his belly like bile, along with his hatred. He had to do it now, before he lost his nerve. Before he let everyone down. Before he became a failure and a coward.

Trebol had told him he was a god, and Doffy needed to act like one.

He waved his hand and silvery threads pulled Rosi away– he didn't want to hit him.

He held the jumping, shaking gun and he pulled the trigger.

Hot blood covered Doffy's face, and he felt cold and empty.

That felt better than the gnawing anguished fear that had come before. He felt— not good, but satisfied. In control. Like he had been able to actually do something for once.

Then Rosi started screaming.

-

Vergo found Doffy, blood covered, stumbling down the road with a lantern in one hand. His handsome face was twisted with a mixture of what seemed to be fear and anger. He was limping and there was quite a lot of blood on one of his legs.

“Doffy!!” Vergo hurried forward to loop his arm around his shoulder to take the weight off his leg. “What happened? Y’alright?” 

Doffy winced as he rested his weight on Vergo's shoulders. 

"Rosi ran off. I- I was cutting fa– I was cutting the head off and he took off. I ran after him, but I slipped on a rock. I don't know where he went!"

Vergo looked out into the brush with a low hiss of breath. “...shit…he could have gone anywhere.” 

"Will you help me look for him?" Doffy asked plaintively.

Even people like them could get in trouble running around the woods at night. Kids at the orphanage had— Vergo thought he had better get Trebol and the others for this.

“Yeah, I’ll help” he said breathlessly. “But we gotta get the gang first. Trebol…Diamante…Pica they’ll help you too.” 

-

Diamante didn't like that Trebol had insisted on just giving Doffy the precious devil fruit. But he found he had trouble complaining, because Trebol was right. There was something kingly– no, something entirely unearthly– about Doflamingo. Beaten and starved and wounded, his grace and poise were unmatched and fierce and every time Diamante looked at him he felt like he'd rather be on the boy's side than against him.

He had rendered a hundred people unconscious with a thought. With his will. Without a devil fruit power. Diamante was not nearly as superstitious as Trebol but even he had to be impressed. Even he had to feel like that meant something. Maybe the boy really was destined for greatness.

Maybe that was why he forgave him when he and Vergo came back in a twist that same night, waking him out of the dead sleep of a catnap. Maybe that was why he let himself get caught up with it all, out in the dark with thieves lanterns, hunting for Doffy's brother who had gone haring off somewhere.

They never found him.

Not in hours of searching. Not in the woods. Thankfully, not in the town. They all knew they'd know if the townies had found the kid. None of them had forgotten about the mob.

The first grey fingers of dawn were peeking over the sea when Doffy finally burned through the last reserves of his fearsome energy, and Dia watched Trebol carry him into the shack, muttering promises that they'd keep searching when it was light, and they'd gotten some rest.

Dia got the feeling that they wouldn't see the kid's brother again, though. He figured if he wanted to be found, he would be.

Diamante sat outside the shack and lit a cigarette. He offered one over to Vergo, who was outside too. Darger was still fiercely tracking back and forth across the treeline– stubborn as ever.

Vergo took the cigarette without hesitation. It’d been one of the first vices he’d picked up, right next to the hunger for knowledge and violence. He lit up with a frown and took a long drag.

“...I should have gone in with him.”

"Gone with him?" Dia's brow furrowed. "I thought you did go with him. You lose track again?"

Vergo was smart. Dia knew he was smart because Trebol was teaching him to read, and more. His thoughts just got a little lost sometimes. Had to be redirected.

Vergo shook his head.

“No…no… all the way, to where he went to kill his old man.” He put the cigarette to his lips and took a long pull, eyes unreadable behind his glasses. “He wanted to do it alone… but I promised I’d be there waiting but I still somehow missed his brother.” 

Dia sucked on his own cigarette and shook his head. "And? So his brother took off in the other direction. Not something you could prevent you know. Besides…"

Vergo huffed quietly. “I could if my observation haki was better…besides what?” 

"I like Doffy," Diamante said, blowing a long stream of smoke out from his pursed lips. "And he seems to like us, yeah? He seems a lot like us. But I didn't exactly get that same feeling from his brother."

The night they'd pulled Doffy and his family down off the wall, the kid brother had seemed as afraid of them as he was of everything else. Not like Doffy at all.

“He was jittery.” Vergo’s eyes closed behind his glasses. “...he acted like we were monsters or somethin’.”

"Like a rabbit," Dia nodded. "So I ain't exactly surprised that he went haring off at the first sign of something hard. No constitution for it. Not like us."

“Not like us,” Vergo agreed with a nod. “and not like Doffy. He saw how hard that was gonna be and he did it anyway.”

"Damn right." The more Dia thought about it, the more he suspected that Trebol was right, on some level. "Probably gonna be a great man someday. And I'm sure he'd love to protect his brother. But there are some people you can't always protect."

“I wouldn’t know…you guys are the closest thing to anything I’ve ever had.” Vergo took a long pull off the cigarette. 

He sighed. "Yeah, me too, Corazon." 

Dia chuckled ruefully and shook his head. It sure wasn't what he pictured when he'd set out on his own.

“I’ll make sure I can always protect you guys, okay?” the young boy murmured around his cigarette.

"We take care of each other," Dia nodded. "That's the whole point, right?"

“That’s what a gang is…yeah?” Virgo looked up at him as if he legitimately forgot the definition. 

He put his arm around the kid's shoulders. "Yeah, that's what a gang is. Least that's what this gang is."

Vergo grinned widely with a nod “No matter what. Think Doffy’s gonna join us?” 

Dia glanced at the door. "I donno. Guess we're gonna find out."

-

Trebol dampened the cloth in the basin and wrung it out again before laying it once more gently over the forehead of the fitfully sleeping boy. Doffy's face was twisted with pain and sorrow even as he slept. 

He had used up every ounce of his fire and energy, and then some, blazing through the night trying to find his brother. And that was after he'd already killed his father. It was after a long and surely miserable day of hiding in the woods. Chronically starved. Still severely injured.

It was some kind of miracle that had kept the boy going like that. Truly, it could only be explained by the fury of a destined king– a god.

A poor, little lost god thrown out of heaven. A god who knew suffering like a man knew suffering. But still one who refused to bow.

How could Trebol not admire him? How could he not want to worship at his feet?

If Trebol had had half the regal fire in him that Doffy had at his age, he would never have been a slave so long. Never have had to cringe and cower and wait for his opportunity. He would have made one.

He imagined all the opportunities that Doffy could make, if he had someone to guide him. To show him his strength and opportunity. Doffy hadn't hesitated for one moment when Trebol had suggested he kill his father. He had simply done what needed to be done.

Trebol stroked his fingers over the sleeping boy's cheek as exhaustion started to overtake him too. It would be wonderful, a miracle, if Doffy could stay with them. But one couldn't ask a god to turn away from heaven. Trebol wasn't stupid. If there was a paradise waiting for him, he wouldn't linger on the filthy earth either.

-

Doffy didn't join them. Not right then, anyway. He stayed a few days with them, hoping for his brother to come back. But after it became clear it was hopeless? 

Doffy had already killed his father, and he said he wasn't' going to let that be for nothing. He'd go to Mary Geoise with the head and deliver the Celestial Dragons' justice. Regain his rightful place. He'd force a ship bearing celestial tribute to take him there.

He told him he'd be back– to find his brother, and to thank them.

 "I don't forget my friends."

Trebol of course had lavished him with praise over it, and he wasn't the only one. Pica had been difficult to disengage from the lingering hug, and Diamante had seen the way that Vergo looked at him.

Even Diamante had to admit that he didn't like saying goodbye. There was just something compelling about Doffy. Something that made you want to be near him.

Diamante hated to admit it but the longer the kid was gone, the more that Diamante missed him. It was ridiculous. He'd known him for what? A week?

But there was something unfinished between them. Like Trebol had said— a red string of fate.

Diamante wondered if Doffy had made it to the sacred land alright. He wondered if they would ever hear from him again. He knew that Trebol was delaying their departure from the island— moving from city to city and town to town instead— in the hope that Doffy or his messenger from heaven would be able to find them.

Diamante couldn't complain. He was hoping for that, too.

-

Unlike his trip from the North Blue to the Sacred Land— which had, thanks to his power impressing on the captain that he really was a Celestial Dragon, been a comfortable one as an honored guest— when Doffy fled Mary Geoise his trip began as a stow away. There had been no other option.

Only his haki and his devil fruit powers had allowed him to survive his flight from Mary Geoise. The blood drops along his strings, the way the guards fell to his waves of haki– he'd always remember those things. And every use of his powers sharpened them. He'd hidden on one of the huge tribute ships leaving the sacred land, and fled that ship too as soon as it had made landfall..

Running through the alleyways of the unfamiliar island he found himself on, Doflamingo knocked out some men, and stole the coin in their pockets. He spent it on a nervous meal, and passage on a merchant ship back to the North Blue.

There was nowhere else for him to go.

Doflamingo had stayed with Trebol, Diamante, Pica and Corazon for three days while they looked for his brother. Searching and waiting and hoping for his return. Even sick with worry for Rosi, those three days had been the happiest he remembered since being pulled from Mary Geoise. It wasn't only the good food, and the comfortable bed, and care for his wounds, though all of those would still have been enough to make it so.

It was the way they treated him; enjoyed his company, praised him, seemed to actually like having him around. After so long being told that everything he did was wrong– when he stole food for Rosi it was 'wrong to steal', when he tried to defend them it was 'wrong to hurt others'-- it was a sharp relief to feel understood. To feel accepted.

Bold, flamboyant Diamante talked to him like an adult and had shown him a better way to hold a knife. Friendly, forthright Corazon had shared his cigarettes– though Doffy quickly learned he didn't like the way too much made his head spin– and talked with him all the time. Quiet, determined Pica never stopped looking for Doffy's brother. And soft, crafty Trebol lavished him with attention and praise,listening to all his thoughts and troubles and giving his advice while brushing his hair, taking care of his wounds, even bathing him.

If Doffy could never go home– if he had lost everything, miserable, and cast out— he wanted to go back to that. He wanted to go back to them, where he was loved and accepted and treated like a person, instead of like a demon or a naughty child.

It was all he wanted, and the thought that he could have it— the hope that they would still be there when he arrived— was the first thing that sustained him from despair on his lonely voyage.

The second thing was his burning, ceaseless rage.

-

When Doflamingo returned it was in almost as shabby a state as Vergo had seen him depart. It certainly suited the place of their meeting. They were still on Downs, and operating for the moment out of a ramshackle series of rooms in the bad district, where Trebol was running a supposed 'scrivener's service' as front for their activities. 

Vergo had started coming into his own, he’d started to nail down the ability to read— he didn’t even forget it during his lapses in memory. He learned the art of blending in, of getting information without being noticed, and used it to further their criminal activities.

Theft. Ransom. The occasional bone-breaking violence. It was all part of their trade as they waited. It wasn’t the greatest place they had ever lived, but Vergo would have refused to leave even if he was asked.

He had to wait on a sign from the ‘holy land’ of Mary Jane, or whatever it was called. The home of the Celestial Dragons where Doffy had vanished to. He had to know he was at least alright, even if he wasn’t ever coming to the gang again.

He’d almost given up hope when he felt a sudden rush of it well up inside. 

It must have been his haki that told him– Vergo had just known to come outside. He'd urged the others to follow, and sure enough, there was Doffy, looking exhausted and windswept on their doorstep.

“...Doffy,” Vergo said, pushing up his glasses to make sure he was seeing it right. “You’re back.” 

Miserable and begraggled as he was, he still didn't look as bad as he had the last time they had seen one another. His wounds were healed; there were no more bandages. He was in a shirt and pants that were dirty and roughly worn but not torn to shreds. But, aside from the expression on his face, nothing about him looked like one of the rulers of the world.

He tilted his head up toward Vergo and the others.

"They tried to kill me." There was anger and resentment thick in his voice. "I brought them the head of my father, and they turned me away. They laughed at me."

Vergo felt a sick turn in his stomach as he frowned. “...they didn’t accept you, Doffy? Even after all that?”

He’d heard… some… about the way the Celestial Dragons had separated themselves from the ‘rabble’ of the world. Could it have been that they saw Doffy that way too? Rabble, to be discarded even after he did so much to be one of them again. 

"Even though you brought them your father's head?" Dia growled from behind him, as incredulous as Vergo.

"And they tried to kill you?" Trebol stepped forward. "It's a miracle that you're still alive."

"I don't know if I'd call it a miracle," Doffy said, taking a step toward them. "If it wasn't for my power– and the power that you gave me– I would have died. There were so many of them…"

"But you didn't die," Pica said quietly.

Vergo clasped his hand near his heart with a firm nod. “You survived. You fought back against the people everyone says are gods and you survived. I’m glad, Doffy. We were worried about you.”

"Terribly, terribly worried," Trebol murmured, putting a hand on Doffy's shoulder. "We were waiting to hear from you. We had no idea that it would be so dire."

"It looks like nobody wants me," Doflamingo's voice was cold and hard as he shrugged. "Not the Celestial Dragons. Not the people here. Not my brother."

Vergo hesitated only a moment before stepping forward. “...we’d like you, Doffy. Before you left , I’d hoped that you would stay.” 

Pica stepped forward too. "We all hoped."

Even Diamante stepped forward too. "It's true. You have something great in you, Doffy. Like the bearing of a king. If nobody else can see it, we can."

"Guys," Doflamingo murmured.He rubbed his cheek under his good eye. "Do you really mean that?"

Trebol squeezed his shoulder. "Of course, of course we mean it, Doffy. Hey, hey, stay with us, we'll support you! Help you become the great man you could be."

Doffy looked around at all of them through the dark lensed glasses. Even without seeing his eyes, Vergo understood his expression.

Vergo gave him his smile, reaching out his hand to him like he had months ago, this time without the armament in the way. “A gang looks out for one another, like a family. Heh…you’re gonna be a great man? Then we all wanna help you get there. I know I do.” 

Doffy took his hand, and a moment later, they all put their hands together. 

Years later it was easy to look back on that moment as if swearing fealty to a king– though Doflamingo's true kingship wouldn't come until much later. But there was a feeling in the air at that moment, and Vergo was sure the others had felt it too. Something had changed. Something important.

-

Doffy let them bring him into what Trebol called 'the offices', all fussing over him and asking about his journey. He was nervous to talk about it at first, but Diamante's (and the rest's!) excitement to hear him recount the bloodbath and escape in Mary Geoise pushed through his humiliation. For the first time since it had happened, he felt like a hero, a champion, instead of a coward and a fool on the run.

Diamante– Dia, they all called him, and Doffy was starting to think of him that way too— draped his coat over Doffy's shoulders and set him down at the table, fetching him something to eat and crowing about his success in escaping the sacred land.

"What can I say, Tre," Dia said, popping a bottle of wine and pouring it into thick metal cups. "You were right. Doffy's destined for greatness. How many of them did you say it was, again?"

"At least a dozen," Doffy repeated in all seriousness, taking the cup he was offered and taking a long drink. "A dozen guards in armor. They were ordered to kill me."

Pica stood at his shoulder looking at him with large eyes. "You said your string cut so far through one of their necks their head almost came off? I want to see you do that."

"I'll show you some time," Doffy promised, feeling a smile work its way to his lips. The blood and gore had made him sick at the time, but looking back on it— it had been cool, hadn't it? Something only someone powerful could do.

"You've already come so far with your power, young master," Trebol cooed. He wiped his face and hands with a handkerchief before sitting down beside him and petting his hair. "Hey, hey it's a pity we couldn't see you in action then, eh?"

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone’ll give us trouble and we’ll get to see it!” Corazon leaned on the table near Doffy with a wide grin. “You were like something out of the newspaper comics, Doffy! I bet you looked amazing.” 

Doffy preened a little. "I guess I'll have to show off a bit when I can," he said, smiling over at Corazon. "Did I miss anything around here?"

"Marines showed up a couple times," Dia said. "Damn strange, but they didn't make any trouble we noticed."

"What's it mean that the marines were here?" Doffy asked. He got the sense he wouldn't like the answer.

"Nothing good," Pica murmured.

"This island is unaffiliated with the world government," Trebol explained."So whatever the marines are here, is unofficial. They don't have authority, but that doesn't mean they don't have power." 

Corazon huffed.

“They got power wherever they go. I hear that if they don’t like an island they just blow it up with the push of a button.” He leaned closer to Doffy. “...honestly they’re probably just scoping out the locals for tributes or something.” 

Doffy leaned closer to him in return, their shoulders touching. Being around Corazon, Vergo, felt comforting. Familiar, even though they'd known one another for such a short time.

"Slaves, maybe, too," Diamante nodded. "Now that you're back, we're probably gonna be picking up from here fast and moving on just in case, right, Tre?"

"Right, right," Trebol murmured, still toying with Doffy's hair. "I'll get started disentangling us in the morning, and we can be on our merry way in less than a week. Sooner, if we happen to need to."

The idea of leaving tugged a question Doflamingo had been avoiding asking from his lips. "Rosi— you never found him, did you?"

"I kept looking, Doffy," Pica said quietly.

Corazon rested shoulder-to-shoulder with him, and huffed softly and sadly. “Pica was lookin’ every day…I helped look too. We never saw a trace of him. I’m sorry, Doffy.” 

"None of the locals saw him either," Diamante added, "I kept an ear out."

Doffy put on a brave face, fighting the urge to sink down in his chair. The truth was, he didn't even know if Rosi could have fed himself without him. The thought of his brother dying– alone and frightened without him— flashed through his mind and he fought down a whining noise. But rage followed despair like thunder follows lightning. If Rosi had died, it wasn't Doffy's fault. Doffy had done everything he could have for him.

Even his new friends had done everything they could, it seemed.

"It's alright," Doffy said, trying not to let his voice shake. "I lost my whole family, I guess. But I found all of you."

He looked around the table at them, remembering the warmth of their hands on his as they stood together outside.

Vergo’s hand patted against his back, and the young man was giving him his best smile , his glasses tipped down his nose. 

“I’m glad you did, Doffy. We never met someone half as amazin’ as you…I kept hopin’ we might see you again. Remember guys? I kept asking if he was gonna join the gang..”

"He did, he did," Trebol nodded. "And I would have never wished you bad luck on your journey but I'm glad you came back here, Doffy. You belong with us."

"Sure seems like," Diamante added. "Cheer up, Doffy. None of us here have anybody but each other. And you're an amazing addition to our 'family'."

"It's true," Pica said, softly.

Doflamingo smiled, basking in the attention, and the praise, and the feeling of warmth and acceptance. It was exactly what he'd been longing for on the endless nights on his flight from Mary Geoise.

"I'm glad then," Doffy said. He lifted his chin. "We can leave whenever it suits you all. There's no use waiting up for my brother any longer."

Vergo rubbed his back with a small nod. “Getting excited for our next destination? Next stop… wherever it is…we can pull a job together.” 

A flash of excitement shot through Doffy at the thought, eager to show the others what he could do since they'd seemed so impressed. And if they were criminals, and if he was becoming a criminal, so what?

Doflamingo's father had been wrong about everything he'd ever said, as far as Doffy was concerned. If he thought that criminals were the bad sort of people, Doffy thought that it was obvious that he was wrong about that, too.

He smiled brightly. "I can't wait!"

[writergirl3]

'Please Don't Be In Love With Someone Else' - Tae Young x Reader

Tae's part from the 'Songs That Describe Your Relationship With 4 Town' series. Enjoy! 🧡

---

‘Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you.’ - ‘Enchanted’, Taylor Swift.

The search for a soulmate is one that never stops for Tae Young. In his younger years, everyday events would be punctuated with longingly looking at strangers. Bus rides, school projects, family gatherings; Tae lost count of his crushes after a while.

After joining 4 Town, his searching never ceased. Scanning every crowd full of 4 Townies, he would hope to lock eyes with the one. He even got bashful around interviewers and employees at the record label. He’s always longed for one special person to call his.

It’s a usual Saturday afternoon on the 2002 tour. An afternoon show followed by a meet-and-greet, then another show in the evening. Tae, and the other boys, always relish the relief after a busy Saturday. Not that they don’t love performing, it’s just… a lot.

You’d never know it, though, with the sweetness that Tae musters up for his young fans. Out of all the boys, Z is usually the groggiest, followed by Jesse. Still, they manage to work their usual charm and help make the 4 Townies feel special and appreciated.

And Tae is just the same. Countless autographs are signed in his signature pink sharpie, his smile as sweet and sincere as ever. It’s not a chore for him- how could it be? The way each and every 4 Townie’s eyes light up when they see him, the excited squeals and rose-dusted cheeks. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“Have a good day, now- peace!” 

Sending another young fan over to his neighbouring bandmate, T, Tae turns back to the line with a smile.

And that’s when his eyes land on you.

His grin falters, mouth falling slightly agape. The tips of his ears grow hot when you smile as you step forward, and he just can’t seem to stop blinking like an idiot.

“Hi! I’m Y/N.”

He’s grateful that you took the initiative to lead the interaction. Noticing your outstretched hand, he comes back to his senses. Almost.

“Oh, h-hello! I’m Tae Young.”

“I know…” you giggle, charmed by the South Korean boy’s innocence.

“Right,” Tae shakes your hand gently, mentally reprimanding himself. Judging by the light snicker from beside him, he can safely assume that T clocked the awkward moment in its entirety. 

“I really enjoyed the show! You’re awesome.” 

The compliment catches Tae off-guard, and he looks at you bambi-eyed. He wishes he could think of some charming response, something that would show you how interested he is in you. As if the awestruck expression lacing his features isn’t enough. It’s obvious to everyone in the room that he’s taken with you. 

“Thanks, Y/N…that’s very sweet.” His eyes lock with yours, and in that moment, it seems that neither of you remember the basic conventions of conversation. Feeling as though you’ve both stepped out of a classic rom-com movie scene, you can’t quite look away from one another.

That is, until a vivacious voice cuts through the shared moment;

“Ayo! Tae, you look like you seen a ghost!”

Tae scrunches his face up, cringing at T’s mocking. Looking over to the brunette and catching his mischievous grin, Tae sends him a death glare that makes you giggle. Upon hearing it, he turns back to you with a softened expression.

“You got anything you want me to sign?” Tae musters up a degree of confidence, and somehow, it works. As you excitedly search through your bag for the poster you brought along, Tae takes a moment to collect himself.

Thoughts about you bubble up in the young man’s mind and he doesn’t know how to stop them. Is he your favourite member of the group? Do you already have a boyfriend? How much more time will he have with you in the line? And, most importantly, how can he make the most of it?

Maybe coming up with an elaborate plan to make you his is futile.Someone as perfect as you has to have a boyfriend waiting outside, ready to take you home. It’s only logical right?

Yet, Tae can’t stop himself from hoping the opposite is true;

‘Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you.’

“Ah, here it is!”

The sound of your heavenly voice brings Tae back to reality. Or at least, the wonderful new reality that began the moment you stepped into the room.

Taking the printout from you with shaky hands, he quickly swirls his signature over the picture of himself. Usually, he’d hand the poster right back, but he gets an idea.

Scrawling the digits of his number messily beneath his name, he quickly folds up the poster before he can overthink the action and, most importantly, before you can see it.

“Here you go, Y/N.” Tae smiles at you, and gets that same fluttering of butterflies when you beam up at him. Before you can open it, he quickly puts his hand on top of yours, “Thanks for coming to the show.”

He gives you a look, a look that lets the both of you know that your meeting is unlike any other. With a shy smile, you give him a little nod and step over to T. In return, Tae waves wistfully.

He tries to get his mind off of you as he signs the next 4 Townie’s poster and makes conversation. Like some sort of magnetic force, though, his eyes keep getting pulled back over to you. And each time they do, yours are already clocked on him.

In fact, neither of you notice the loud gasp that comes from T as he unrolls your poster. Everyone else in the room seems to, especially as T starts screeching excitably. “YO! TAE-TAE, YOU GAVE Y/N YOUR NUMBER?!?!”

Tae’s face quickly turns the exact shade of Kool Aid, although his face is scorching hot under your gaze. He’s relieved to see you giggle a bit at the whole thing, especially when the other 4 Town boys crowd around to check out the poster.

Somehow, Tae doesn’t care about all the attention. He doesn’t hear the inquisitions from his bandmates, nor sense the camera lenses zoomed in on his face from the line of fans. 

All he notices is the bashful look you send his way, accompanied by a small smile that tells him the risk was worth it. It seems, his search for a soulmate is complete.

---

Musing Meaninglessly Masterlist

[anxiouspotatorants]

Hey I am trying to write a fanfic right now and I saw you had some Dave Rygalski headcanons before so... do you have any Dave headcanons about his home life and like him outside of the characters we see on the show?

Hey, I am so sorry for not replying sooner but how sweet of you to think of my headcanons! It really warms my heart to see people still actually interacting with those Dave posts. I’m guessing my input will be irrelevant for your fic by now but I still love this as a prompt so I figure it would be fun to still write and post a reply. Also if/when the fic is up and running please send me a link so I may devour it!!

I never thought all that much about Dave’s homelife. I assume he’s in a two-parent household, but unsure about siblings pets and general family dynamics. Now that I’m thinking about it Dave does seem like the type to have sisters, maybe two or three. He doesn’t strike me as someone with active drama going on with his family during the show (which would be a rare sight on Gilmore Girls), but then again that’s just my take. If I remember correctly he is canonically Jewish, but as a European gentile I don’t exactly find myself informed enough to make religious or too culturally specific headcanons for a Jewish US American boy in 2000s New England.

What I do headcanon is that Dave, Zack and possibly Brian all come from a neighbouring town instead of Stars Hollow. I know US small towns can be a lot bigger than what we define as small towns where I’m from, but Lane’s never met Dave before the band and Stars Hollow is a tiny town with presumably only one high school. They should’ve met by season 3 if Dave was a townie.

I also headcanon that he can’t wait to get out of small town life, which is why he applies to study in California. I don’t think he hates small towns (if he did he would spend a lot less time in ST and a lot more doing daytrips to NY) but he’s probably never truly felt at home and hopes to find that sense of belonging in a physically bigger place. Whether he’s right about that assessment or not is a whole ‘nother case though. I think he has a really tough first year in college getting used to a far noisier and busier city and not having that safe group to constantly fall back on like he would back in New England.

Another headcanon specifically about everyday homelife is that Dave is the technician of the family. Because of his audio-tech passion his parents and potential siblings just assume he’s great at all tech and electricity, forcing him to be the one who has to figure out how to fix a faulty satellite and learn the fuse box, and at some point just switch out all the lightbulbs in the house.

Other headcanons I have which have little to do with homelife include:

Dave’s more of a sci fi geek than fantasy geek (not that all fantasy fanboys know Tolkien inside out but in GG he would’ve picked up on Mrs Kim’s quote… also he’s big into sound tech and I headcanon him as eventually getting into tech period). The boy knows his Asimov, his Analog, his Star Trek, his battlestar Galactica and most definitely keeps tabs on the Syfy Channel.

Sci fi preference be damned that boy is doing something tabletop related and my money is on either Dungeons & Dragons (the guys is studious af and has Brian and Zach as friends) or Magic the Gathering (and yes he would spend all his lunch money and then his student loans on the damn cards)

He might have anxiety (not to do armchair psychology but there’s a vibe. The ones who know, know)

He could become a little tech broish while studying in California (I mean Silicon Valley is right there) but I think it would just be a phase and that he’s more obsessed with nerding out over how things work than spreading the Web3 gospel. And I still stand by my headcanon that he goes into sound engineering or sound related tech for work after college.

Tardiness be damned I hope this was a fun and somewhat insightful read, if only on how I tend to headcanon these folk!

[pxnsneverland]

Beauty and the Boss | austin!elvis x oc (part 7)

plot summary: Laura Jean Walker is the daughter to Louisiana’s most powerful mafia boss, but to her, he’s just her jail warden. When she sneaks out to the Louisiana Hayride with her friend she sees Elvis Presley perform and instantly knows something is special about this boy. Especially when he saves her from being assaulted by a townie. She thinks she’s on cloud 9 until she gets kidnapped in the middle of the night by the Memphis Mafia led by Elvis himself. Will Laura Jean try to free herself or will something hold her back from finding her way home?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

pairings: austin!elvis x oc

word count: 1938

warnings/notes: N/A

Chapter 7

               As our escape car made its way to the police station where Elvis was being held, minutes felt like hours. It was ridiculous. He had committed no wrongdoing. The riot had been sparked by the cops, not Elvis. The vehicle arrived at the police station, which was already encircled by protesters demanding Elvis' release. We were brought inside the station through the mob. Colonel left Gladys and me alone to speak with the officer in command. For once, I was relieved to have a smooth-talking conman among us. Ms. Gladys seemed beside herself, pale with a worried expression. I put a soothing touch on her shoulder.

              “It’ll be fine, Ms. Gladys,” I reassured her as much as I could, “They can’t hold Elvis in here. They can’t even charge him with anythin’.”

              Gladys sighed loudly, her hand over her heart. “I promised myself that after Vernon went to jail, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to Elvis, no matter what. Then he wanted to do this music thing and I thought it was harmless and…” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

              “It is harmless. Elvis isn’t the problem. It’s those bigots and prudes in society that are the problem. They’d rather have things stay exactly the same than even think about change.”

              Colonel approached us. “They will let us see him. They are holding him but nothing to worry about. The police want to make an example out of him, scare the kids, you know? Ah, they will send him home with a fine and nothing more.”

              My chest tension began to relax slightly. I'd feel better once this was all over and we were all secure back in Graceland. Until then, no matter how frightened I was, I would put on a brave face. “We want to see him.”

              Colonel turned and nodded to the officer who signaled for us to follow him. He took us down a poorly lit corridor before entering a code to unlock a door at the far end. It opened to reveal an interrogation room with two chairs, one long desk, and a lamp hanging overhead, much like on those cop dramas on television. Elvis sat in one of the seats, exactly as untidy as when they took him away. Gladys immediately hugged him, kissing his face and clutching him closely as if he would vanish.

She finished by hitting him in the arm. “What were you thinkin’?!”

Elvis touched the spot on his arm where she had struck him. “I was thinkin’ that I didn’t get this far by being a musician who wears tails and sings to dogs. You’ve always approved of what I done, Mama, and all my fans do too. That’s all that matters.”

Gladys shook her head as she sat down in one of the seats to rest, as if all her energy had vanished. Elvis shifted his gaze to me, encircling me and putting his cheek on the top of my head. “I am sorry for getting you involved in this, Darlin’. I never wanted you to get hurt.”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. I’m just glad you’re okay. It could have been so much worse.” And, to be honest, I wouldn't have known what to do.

“Worse? Quite an understatement,” Colonel replied from his corner seat, “My boy, I told you simple. We play this show as family style and then we go back to our show business. You just had to get through one performance.”

Elvis glared, but he wouldn't release my arms. “And I did, as myself. I’m sorry, Colonel. You done so much for me, but I just couldn’t do it. I can’t be somethin’ I ain’t no matter what happens to me. Not when it comes to music.”

Colonel shook his head, clearly agitated. “You are just lucky I snowed them. You will have to pay a fine, a hefty one, but it is better than jail. I don’t know where you get these ideas from, but they are going to have to stop.”

“Why?” I cocked my brow. “This is what his fans want. It’s what sells all that merchandise you make and pays for whatever it is you’re doin’ when you’re not at Graceland. Sounds like Elvis’s ideas are workin’ better for everyone than yours.”

Colonel grinned evilly. “Ah, I see. So, this is where you are getting these silly ideas. The pretty girl with the big mouth.”

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Elvis exploded.

“You’re smarter than this. Smarter than letting a little skirt distract you from the career you have worked so hard to achieve, the family you’ve worked to protect.”

“Laura Jean is my family now which means she’s in this just as much as you are. And ain’t no one distractin’ me from nothin’. What I did tonight was my choice! And I ain’t goin’ back to that family style Elvis you keep talkin’ about so hush up about it! I can’t sing if I can’t move!”

Colonel leaned back and nodded, but he still didn't seem persuaded. He had that dreadful look on his face again, this time directed at me. I didn't give him a second thought. Elvis knew music better than anyone. Being himself and singing his heart out was precisely what he needed to do. It's what made him so famous and endearing to his fans. It's what made me care so much for him.

Elvis smiled sheepishly as he peered down at me. “How did you like the show?”

“Besides the riot of teenagers, it was amazing.” I laughed as he kissed my cheek.

Then two cops entered the room. The expressions on their faces indicated that they were not there to accompany us home. Gladys rose from her seat, as did the rest of us, to see what was going on. One officer signaled to his comrade, and the other took out handcuffs, seizing Elvis and putting his hands behind his back.

“What the hell are you doin’? Let go of my son!” Gladys screamed.

Colonel approached the officers. “Officers, w-what is going on? I talked to the chief. He said we were all good to go as long as we paid for all the commotion caused tonight.”

“Change of plans, Parker.” The officer tightened the shackles around Elvis' wrists. “Looks like your boy here has been doin’ much more than causing riots and inciting violence.”

Elvis battled his bindings half-heartedly. “What are you talkin’ about? I ain’t done nothin’!” That wasn't totally correct, but he hadn't done anything that they were able to figure out about him in two hours.

Suddenly, the other cop grabbed my arm. I was struggling. “Hey, let me go!”

“This girl is all the proof we need. Elvis Presley, your being charged with the kidnapping and abduction of Laura Jean Walker.”

My eyes grew wide. What? How did they find out about that? Except for me, Elvis, and the Memphis Mafia, no one knew, and none of them would have informed anyone, especially a cop. But none of that mattered. Whatever had brought me to Elvis, I didn't want to go, and I wasn't a kidnapping victim. I fought harder against the cop's grip. “What?! No, he didn’t! Let him go! He didn’t do nothin’!”

I could still hear Elvis yelling down the hall as they dragged him out the door. The Colonel followed as taken aback as the rest of us. Gladys' expression had changed from worried to outraged. She raised her finger at the officer.  “Now, you tell me who is out here spreading these vicious lies about my son! He’s good boy! He didn’t kidnap Laura Jean! She’s his girl, simple as that! Ain’t no crime here!”

The officer softened as he spoke to Gladys, clearly recalling his manners. “With all due respect ma’am, the girl’s father has given us a completely different story. Until we get to the bottom of it, we have to hold your son and her as well.”

My mouth became parched. “Daddy? Daddy told you this?!” I should have known better. Instead of returning the money, this was his answer. In this manner, he might win the fight while also eliminating the leader of a competing gang in a single strike. I never imagined he'd descend so low. For good reason, the mafia avoided the police for the most part. I was curious as to who he had hired to back up his story. It didn't make a difference. He should have realized by now that I wasn't scared to fight him. “Is he still here? I want to see him.”

The officer nodded. “We’ll take you to him. Mrs. Presley, will you please wait out in the lobby?

              I was escorted into another room, away from the individuals I had considered family for the last month. When the door reopened, Daddy strolled in, cocky and unconcerned about what he had just done. I felt a strong urge to hit him in the face. I would have if I hadn't known he'd instantly block it.

              Daddy extended his arms to me. “Oh, my little girl…”

              Instead of hugging him, as I'm sure he expected, I began banging on his chest with all my might. It had no effect on him, but it made me satisfied. “You damned bastard! How could you do this?!”

              Daddy appeared to be perplexed. “How could I save you from the man who kidnapped you? The man who’s been…God, who knows what he’s been doing to you.”

              “He hasn’t done anything to me except treat me better than you ever have!”

              “So, he’s got you under his spell just like he’s deceived the whole world? Somehow, I figured you would be smarter than everyone else.”

              “And I thought you would at least be decent enough to give back what you stole instead of involving the police. You know how the law feels about Elvis. They want any excuse to throw him away!”

              “He should be thrown away! He kidnapped my daughter for ransom!”

              “Ransom you owed him anyway! And I wasn’t kidnapped! I was treated like family, like my own person. I was more of a prisoner at home with you than I ever was at Graceland. And let’s face it, Daddy, you don’t care one lick about me. You just don’t want to get bested by another mafia family, much less one headed by someone much younger than you.”

              When Daddy's cheeks became crimson, I realized I'd touched a nerve. He snatched my arm violently. His fingers were pressing into my skin. “You’re damn right! You belong to me! You hear me?! And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some little punk take you from me and give me the run around!” He drew me in closer. “Now, be a good girl and you tell the police that he abducted you and held you against your will or I really will give you somethin’ to be afraid of.”

              I was familiar with this speech and its intimidating air. He handled his employees who went out of line the same way he treated anyone who had slighted him. It was the mask of the murderer I suspected him to be. I almost thought he'd do something to me if I didn't cooperate, but even if he did, I didn't care. I couldn't care less about him or the authority he wielded. I was concerned about Elvis, Gladys, the boys, and Graceland. They were now my family, and I would go to any extent to keep them safe, just like Elvis. I would even defy my own father.

            “No,” I calmly answered, looking him down, I’m going to tell them that I left home to go live with my boyfriend and his family, and you didn’t approve so you lied to them and said he kidnapped me.”

             I struggled to stop myself from cringing as his grasp on me tightened. “You wouldn’t dare.”

             “Try me, Daddy. Elvis isn’t the only one the police would love to lock up.”

             Something about the way I appeared apparently made him hesitate. He seemed to be seeing someone else instead of me. He let go of my arm long enough for me to draw it back. He shook his head, but not in defeat. I couldn't quite put something in his gaze, but I didn't like it. “Your mother would be so disappointed.”

             “Thanks to you she’s not around to care.” It was a stomach hit, but he had gone too far, so I had to go just as far. I was, after all, my father's daughter.

             As he put his hands in his pockets, his jaw clenched in the corner. “I’ll see to it that the charges are dropped for the kidnapping and abduction.” He took a step closer to me, his finger in my face. I smelled cigarettes on his breath. “But just remember, Laura Jean…you wanted to play with the big dogs. I hope you’re ready for what that means.” He grinned slightly and kissed my brow like an adoring father. He moved carefully towards the door. He walked away, giving me one final glance.

             I knelt on my knees, panting heavily. I'd challenged one of the South's most feared men, and it wasn't some juvenile rebellious challenge. I had approached him as if I were a genuine candidate, which I knew I wasn't. But I'd have to be. Daddy didn't enjoy losing, and he'd already lost twice. This wasn't over, and unexpectedly, I wasn't afraid that I would be the one paying the price.

Stay tuned for part 8!! Click HERE to view!

[invisiblequeen]

Noe Bodi Gameplay: Day 22, Part 2

As the sun went down and the nightlights went on, Noemy (@beebeesiims) was feeling more alive than usual. She ordered herself some delicious street food and got to mingling with the other festival-goers.

First up was our Himbo, THUNDER! (@occultradio) They got along pretty well, chatting at the table while Noemy finished refueling with food.

And if you're wondering who Wolfgang Wilder is taking pictures of, it was this base game townie whose name I can't be bothered to remember. (the one in the yellow shirt). Also, I tried to introduce Noemy to Jeremiah (@seulvgi) at one point, but he left the premises before I could even do it. Don't worry, he comes back later. 🙃

Next, in quick succession, she rubbed shoulders with Himbo Ivey (@saruin), whose crop top was POPPIN', Maike (@fl0pera) who was lowkey on the lookout for a rumored monster in the area but didn't tell anyone, and Himbo Claudio (@plumbewb FREE THE HOMIE), whose eyes were definitely just on Noemy's face, yessir, not a single inch further down at all. 👀

At one point, Noemy met back up with Kash (@saruin) to take a hit of that hookah.

The way their eyes went bloodshot instantly still makes me laugh. Some good shit obviously.

So now, on this new high, Noemy was even more fascinated by the fireworks someone set off in the middle of the space!

But guess who was instead fascinated with her?

Oh, Khalil (@fl0pera). They caught eyes over the sparks and introduced themselves once everything died down.

Be careful, Noemy, he's a menace, too!

(in the back of that first picture is Donna (@elysiantrait) who also mysteriously left before I could introduce her to Noemy. Well, you can't get em all in one night. But what is that damn mermaid townie glaring at Noemy for?? You mad cause she fine?)

And then Kleo (@lotusplum) passed through the festivities, clearly on her way somewhere else, but she stopped to smile at Noemy's faded "HEY GIRL I LOVE YOUR BRAIDS" comment.

Hell, even Luco (@tr-angyo) came out of hiding for a hot minute and got to chat with her for a while! Glad he wasn't thirsty.

So while Noemy and Kash didn't do anything related to the Pranksters vs Jokesters Event, and the Jokesters eventually did win (as evidenced by the yellow fireworks below), they gained something much more valuable: connections.

Noemy in particular had a thought: Maybe these are my people. Maybe they've been waiting for me.

When the festival finally ended and everything slowly disappeared as they do in the game, She noticed a barely-started ground mural, and had the random but bright idea to finish it herself. For the rest of the night.

She was on such a roll that I didn't have the heart to send her home, so I let her graffiti spray all night long.

But while this exciting development was occurring outside...something rather traumatizing was happening INSIDE the Arts Center...

Why they were doing that, I'll never know. I don't even know when Noe Bodi showed up! She was NOWHERE near the festival!

And that's not all! They were doing this on the top floor, right on the bench behind a WHOLE NOTHER SIM!

"Poor Jeremiah" was my initial reaction. I thought he was purposefully averting his eyes while standing so still because he didn't know what else to do, and I was going to force this tryst to cease at once!

Little did I know, something even crazier was about to happen...

WHAT THE FUCK--

I could take NO SFW screenshots of this without getting this post banned, so this post-sex glow is all I've got.

(smug little shit)

Well at least they all seem to get along, I guess...

And that's the end of that day 😳

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