#not saying we are friends or anything but we’re cool and still chat once in a while yknow since we’re like friends beforehand lol

[k-illdarlings]

how does one get a boyfriend

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman-Part 82

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe: Military School

Words: 5K

Masterlist

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Friday, April 22nd; 10:30 PM - Porto Beach.

Who would have thought we had a little bit of luck in this life? For our last evening in Portugal, we get to attend a concert on the beach. It's a beautiful way to wrap up our vacation.

“Are you having fun?” my girlfriend asks me at the end of a song.

“Oh yes!”

She laughs as I struggle to catch my breath. I don’t like dancing, and yet, I’m having the time of my life tonight. I’m literally drenched in sweat, and it takes a lot for that to happen.

“I can see that. You should take a break.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Shall we go sit further away?” suggests Alexia, who must have overheard us.

“Yes, good idea. Plus, the later it gets, the more crowded it seems.”

Lucy takes my hand to follow the others and lead us out of the crowd. A few minutes later, we find ourselves sitting on the sand. I settle between Lucy’s legs, and she pulls me close against her. We have a perfect view of the stage. I turn my head towards our friends, who are sitting in the same position. It’s really cool to be with them. Our couples have a perfect harmony, and we enjoy the same things. I don’t have time to think more before I feel Lucy’s lips on my neck. I smile and tilt my head a little more to give her access.

“It’s over,” I whisper.

“What is?”

“These holidays. Our little bubble.”

“Hmm... I’d say you’re wrong. Everything is just beginning.”

“How so?”

I think I can feel her amused breath escaping against my neck.

“Well, everything is just starting. Our bubble won’t disappear as long as we’re together.”

My smile grows wider. Actually, maybe she’s right. When we get back, we’ll finally be at ease. We’ve done a lot of things recently, including meeting her family. Everyone was fantastic. Jenni’s family was invited too, so I had Alexia’s support as I wanted, but I didn’t need it. I was really well received. It was truly a warm celebration. I understood why family is so important to Lucy when I saw her so close with hers. They’re close-knit, unlike mine. However, she still hasn’t talked to me about what she’s hiding. The harmony was so strong that I didn’t dare to spoil anything.

“I’m so thirsty!” Alexia complains. “Would you mind coming with me to the bar?” she asks.

“If you want, sure.”

“I can go if you’d like,” offers Lucy.

“No, don’t worry. We’ll be right back.”

I turn around to peck her lips before getting up. We leave with Alexia, leaving our partners behind us.

“I’m going to miss these holidays so much,” she comments.

“Same here.”

“Leaving here will bring us back to reality with a thud, given what awaits us when we return.”

“Oh no, please! Now’s not the time to think about the exam.”

Alexia laughs.

“Well? Haven’t you studied enough yet?”

“Yes, but it’s stressful.”

“Come on, you still have an entire week to work on the most difficult parts.”

“Hmm. We’re not there yet anyway.”

“You’re right. We have another problem on our hands.”

Indeed. We find ourselves in front of the stand, which is packed with people. I sigh, running my hand through my hair.

“We’re going to be here for a while, I think,” she says.

“Yeah.”

We wait for the line to shorten and keep ourselves busy chatting. We talk about a lot of things, but that’s what’s great about Alexia. We can talk about anything without any limits.

“So, with Lucy? Have you managed to find out what she’s hiding?”

I shake my head but smile, thinking about her. The way she looks at me every time I leave warms my heart. It’s like she’s afraid something might happen to me at any moment.

“No, not yet.”

“And doesn’t it bother you not knowing?”

“A little, but not too much. I kept secrets from her for a long time too.”

“That’s true,” she smiles.

When it’s finally our turn, we order our drinks and get something for Lucy and Jenni as well. We leave the crowded stand to return to our partners. I take a deep breath once we’re free.

“Phew, I thought we’d never get out of there.”

“Me too,” I giggle. “It’s suffocating with so many people.”

I nod. A year ago, I couldn’t even imagine being in such a place. I’ve come a long way since then. We head back to our spot. Unfortunately, two men, barely older than us, block our path. They look around Lucy’s age.

“Hey there, pretty ladies.”

“Oh great,” groans Alexia. “Just what we needed.”

Indeed, this is not good timing. With all these people, anyone could be around. Apparently, our skill with Alexia is attracting jerks who have had enough to drink to approach two girls alone.

“Are you going to join your friends?”

“No, our partners, actually,” Alexia answers, raising her drinks.

“Really? Who’d be dumb enough to leave two beautiful girls alone if that were true?”

I start to feel scared. I don’t like this situation, especially the way they’re being so pushy. Bad memories resurface.

“They’re not alone.”

Relief floods over me as I feel Lucy’s arm wrap around my waist. I look at her over my shoulder. She’s tense. Much more than she’s ever been.

“Lucy the loner,” one of the guys in front of us says in surprise. “That’s a surprise.”

Her grip on my hip tightens. I can feel her boiling beside me. I turn my gaze back to these guys, who suddenly seem less unfamiliar. Lucy the loner... What’s that about? I don’t like seeing Lucy like this. I lean over to kiss her cheek and take the opportunity to whisper in her ear.

“Let it go, baby. They’re not worth it.”

“Well, it seems like you’re not so lonely anymore.”

“Well, well. Jarod and Tom. It seems fate has brought us together again.”

“Of course, where Lucy is, Jenni is never far behind.”

Her presence reassures me.

“Let it go and move on. Neither of these girls are available.”

“Well. It looks like Lucy has finally found someone. That’s quite surprising. We all thought you’d end up alone forever.”

These words make me take a deep breath. I really don’t like the way these guys talk to Lucy. They don’t respect her. They talk about her as if she’s never going to achieve anything in her life, as if... as if she’s worthless. And I know what that feels like. I’ve felt that way enough times in my life to know what it’s like. I look at Lucy, who doesn’t even react. That’s definitely a first. She put me in my place plenty of times when we first met. I can’t let them talk about her like this. I just can’t help myself.

“Can you hold this for me, please?” I ask Lucy calmly, handing her the drinks.

My girlfriend takes them with total disbelief. Once my hands are free, I step forward toward these men who think they can act however they want, and I grab the front of the shirt of the first one I see. Surprise flashes in his eyes.

“Who do you think you are with your big attitude?”

“Ona, stop. You just said yourself they’re not worth it.”

“That was before they disrespected you. They’re judging you without knowing who you are. I’m going to make them eat their words, you’ll see!”

I raise my fist, but it’s intercepted before it can reach its target. It’s Lucy herself who stopped me, even though I put all my strength into it.

“Stop,” she repeats much more sternly. “This isn’t the time to start a fight, and anyway, I’ve moved on.”

“I just wanted to…”

“I know, sweetheart. But I don’t need anyone to defend me anymore.”

I relax, understanding her message. I release the man I had targeted, and it’s Lucy who ends up punching him. I don’t regret letting her handle it. She’s much stronger than I am, and let’s just say she didn’t hold back. She must have put all her anger into that punch, and I understand her.

“I never want to see you again. So stay away from us. Do I make myself clear?”

The other man beside him doesn’t even dare to say a word seeing his friend on the ground. I bet she managed to break his nose, but he deserved it. He ends up nodding when Lucy takes a step closer to him.

“Okay, we can go now.”

Lucy takes back our drinks that Jenni had been holding during this scene.

“We’re going to take a walk,” says Alexia, holding Jenni back.

“What? But…”

“Baby, I want to go back to the stage, please.”

“Fine,” the latter mutters.

I smile at Alexia. It’s indeed the right moment to leave us alone. Lucy is a ticking time bomb about to explode.

“We’ll catch up with you later.”

She winks at me before they leave. As for me, I put my hand around Lucy’s waist and take one of the cups.

“Come on, let’s go sit somewhere.”

She nods without a word. We move further away from the stage until we’re far from the crowd. We can still hear the music in the distance, but that’s it. We’re completely cut off from the world.

“Luce…”

“You understand?”

She’s completely withdrawn. I’ve never seen her like this before. We’re sitting next to each other, facing the sea where the waves are crashing in every direction. Tonight is a bit cooler than the other days, but it’s still bearable.

“Not completely… Just, don’t close yourself off. That’s what you always told me.”

She sighs and takes a sip of her beer. She then puts it down and finally turns to me. I can see her eyes shining in the moonlight.

“Come here.”

I open my arms to her, and she doesn’t hesitate to come into them. I tighten my hold to show her I’m here. On her side, she clings to me but says nothing. I don’t want to force her. It’s up to her if she wants to talk about it. There was a long silence before she found the courage to speak.

“My life here hasn’t been easy. I was first abandoned by my biological parents before being welcomed by a loving family.”

I get a knot in my stomach from the words she uses. Here it comes, she’s going to tell me.

“I learned to love them, and they taught me to feel loved in return... It was when I started school that it all began. I was excited at first. I thought I would make friends other than Jenni, who was my neighbor.”

“What happened…?” I murmur.

“I became a target, like a scapegoat. For them, it wasn’t normal that I had a black mother. That was their excuse to push me aside.”

“No way…” I breathe. “And Jenni…” I leave my sentence hanging.

“She stayed by my side, of course. She always has, even though, on the other hand, she was always popular. She had friends, but as soon as they saw me being attacked, she would defend me. After a while, she didn’t even dare to leave me alone anymore.”

“That’s horrible…”

Lucy takes a deep breath. Her head sinks deeper into my neck.

“That’s how it was…”

“It never stopped?”

“Well… It eased off over the years. It was in middle school that things finally calmed down, but it didn’t last long. That’s when I started to be interested in girls.”

No way. That’s exactly why I could never fully come to terms with myself. I was afraid of that reaction. Why are people so stupid? We’re in an era where they should have a more evolved open-mindedness. What they did was just plain cruelty. I had talked to Lucy about my fears, but I never imagined she could have been a victim of it.

“And those guys then…”

“They were the ones who found out. The one I hit, Tom, had hit on me back then. I had turned him down, but he didn’t take it well. So he tried to tear me down any way he could. He overheard a conversation between Jenni and me about my doubts about my orientation one day, and he used it against me.”

“What a scumbag!”

The only regret I have is not being able to punch him myself. How does she stay so strong after that? I would have completely shut down in her place. It’s not normal.

“It’s okay, baby. Calm down.”

“Calm down!? You know I can’t stand people who judge and put others down just for fun! They don’t realize how much it destroys a person!”

“I know, that’s partly why I love you, but that’s just how it is. Whether we like it or not, there’s hatred everywhere in this world.”

“Stop it. In this case, it’s not hatred. It’s just harassment!”

“Ona.”

I fall silent as she straightens up so our eyes meet. How does she do it? I really don’t understand. Just a moment ago, her eyes were shining, and now they’re filled with determination.

“Tonight, that wasn’t harassment,” she says.

I tilt my head. I have a hard time following her.

“I had grown up in high school. I showed them I could fight. I got into sports and even became top of the class. I earned people’s respect. If I had wanted, I could have had lots of friends, but at that time, I didn’t want to. Hanging out with hypocrites at parties wasn’t my thing. That’s why they called me the loner.”

“But then… why did they respond to you tonight? It makes no sense.”

“Well, I think they were surprised to see me again. It was instinct. Everyone knew I left Portugal after high school. I rarely come back here.”

“I see… And your family? Did they know?”

“Not when it happened. They always found out afterward. I had become very reserved, and I didn’t trust people anymore.”

“Why didn’t you tell them?”

“I didn’t want to worry them. I already owed them so much. They were the reason I held on.”

“You’re the first to tell me it’s important to talk about it!”

“Yes, but you’re also the first to understand that it’s not easy.”

I sigh and nod. I understand better now why she never forced me to open up.

“That’s why you care so much about family…”

“Yes, that’s why. Family is important, even if we’re not connected by blood. Of course, there have to be good relationships, but generally, it’s those we can count on at any moment.”

I smile sadly and nod. She’s probably right. Even if it hasn’t always been smooth with my mom, I’m starting to see everything she did for me in a certain way. Plus, I had my dad too.

“You’re right,” I murmur.

She smiles at me before snuggling back into my arms. I take the opportunity to lie down and hug her. I think she needs it. I needed it after every revelation I made to her. I just didn’t dare ask for it. Now it’s different. We’re together. That’s what makes us stronger. It’s us against the rest of the world.

“Why did you date Keira? Not that I mind, but she seems like the type who could be like those people.”

A long silence follows my question. As she described to me, she could easily be that kind of person.

- Keira, it’s Keira. Yes, she could have been someone I hated, but she also had a difficult childhood.

- Oh... Really?

- Keira came from a tough neighborhood, but she did everything she could not to be associated with it. Proof of that, she made it to university. That’s where we met.

- I thought it was at a party?

- Yes, it was. At the freshman welcome party. Jenni had forced me to go. He wanted me to have fun, so I agreed, but in the end, I ended up alone in a corner... Until Keira. In fact, she was the only one who came to talk to me that day.

- Jenni dared to leave you alone?

- Yes, she chuckles. But I asked her to. She had the right to have fun too.

- What happened with Keira then?

- We talked, and she started flirting with me when she noticed I wasn’t indifferent to her charm.

- Is that how you two started dating?

- I had never been with anyone before, and I didn’t trust people much, so... no.

- So, how did she do it?

- She was persistent. Keira was very determined. The first day of the week after the party, she accompanied me to the café I frequented, and she remembered my order. Then she brought me my drink every day. She was very interested in me, and that’s how I grew fond of her.

- Is that what made you fall in love with her?

- No... I think it was more her personality. She had a big heart. That’s what set her apart from the people who persecuted me. She wanted to make a difference. She had a will of steel. She didn’t hesitate to stand up for the weaker ones, even more so after I told her my story. She helped a lot of associations to support people in need who wanted to change their lives.

My heart races. It’s cruel to say, but I’m quite glad she’s not here anymore. I wouldn’t have stood a chance against her.

- She seemed exceptional...

The tone of my voice makes her look up. She smiles gently, running her hand through my hair.

- Don’t get me wrong. She had her flaws too.

- I’d like to know what they were.

- She was very stubborn. Even more than you. And she had a knack for getting into trouble by challenging people stronger than her. When you come from a certain neighborhood, you can’t erase everything. She wasn’t really well surrounded.

- That doesn’t make her any less remarkable.

- No, for sure, but...

She falls silent and shrugs.

- Keira wasn’t perfect. I couldn’t even tell you why I fell in love with her anymore... Maybe because she never gave up on me.

- I think so too. Since you hadn’t known anyone else before... It makes sense that you got attached to her. But the fact that she wanted to help everyone was very honorable. I just don’t understand why she fell so hard.

- I think her past caught up with her. You must know what that’s like... Keira lost her father during our studies. She was close to him, just like you. He was a drug addict, but she tried to save him more than once. As for her mother... She never knew her. She had already died before she could remember her.

- Oh my God...

- I managed to get her off drugs from my side, but I think the emotions were too strong. She went back to her bad habits after that and never recovered.

It’s truly awful. We are really more alike than I imagined. She didn’t deserve this. She was a good woman trying to do the right thing. I understand better why Lucy says she appreciates my determination and doesn’t want me to lose it. She was afraid I’d end up like her ex.

- Her mind simply gave up. In the end, I didn’t recognize her anymore. I knew something bad was going to happen soon. Yet, I stayed by her side. I couldn’t do otherwise.

Her voice breaks, but who could blame her? If I didn’t have the mental strength she talks about, Lucy would have lost two women for the same reasons. I’m glad I didn’t put her through that.

- You don’t have to blame yourself for her death, Lucy.

- I know, I murmur. Some people simply can’t be saved. I learned that lesson well, but it was hard to swallow.

The information strikes me. I’ve heard those words somewhere before.

- Korbin... I whisper. That’s why you said...

She nods.

- I was thinking about her, yes. Because it’s the truth.

I feel sad.

- It wasn��t the same circumstances, but it comes down to the same thing. Whether the past catches up with us or we’re stuck in the past, it’s the same thing.

- It’s not right. Things shouldn’t be like this. Keira shouldn’t have fallen. And Korbin... She had the potential to get out too...

- But that’s how it is. We can’t save everyone.

Fate didn’t bring us together by chance. I’m sure of that now. For Lucy, I must be her greatest victory. Not only did she manage to save me, but now, here we are together.

- Camp Wiegman has been good therapy for me too, you know, she continues. I’ve learned to change people, just like Keira wanted. Some will continue their studies after school or even get a job thanks to the lessons we gave them.

I smile, because I’m going to be one of those people.

- Others will think about this experience for a long time. They’ll remember how annoying we were to them, but also how we managed to change their perspective. It’s this experience they’ll pass on to their children. Surely not their previous life.

Once again, I feel connected to this statement. It’s true for me too. I no longer see things as dark as I used to. For others, it’s something else. They’ve learned to respect others and to be more open-minded. Some, who must be like Lucy’s bullies, will stop picking on the weaker ones. At least, I hope so.

- That’s why I love my job so much. We change people who want a new life. Of course, not everyone can be saved, as I said. This world is too full of hatred to succeed... But if we manage to help a large number, it’s already a good start.

- You’re so right. I hated this school at first, but now, I think there should be more of them. Of course, it’s no walk in the park, but the results are worth it. You just have to hang on.

- That’s what I liked most about you. You’ve been through a lot too, yet you’ve emerged. You fought to take control of your life. That wasn’t the case with Keira.

- Yet, she had you. For me, it’s you who saved me. I wouldn’t be where I am now without you. You’ve been my rock from the beginning, and I know you will remain so.

- And you’re mine. You don’t realize how much you make me better and stronger.

- You were already strong enough before you met me.

- If you say so...

- I say so.

Lucy takes a deep breath as she sits up on her elbows.

- I think about it often, you know. In fact, if you want to know everything, I’m often afraid of ending up like before... Alone and weak.

I smile gently, stroking her cheek. So that was the missing piece of the puzzle. It was her fears. She always seems so strong, but deep down, she isn’t as strong as she appears. I understand better why she has always been so jealous. She’s afraid of losing me. It’s really sweet.

- You won’t be alone anymore. You have me and our friends.

- I know, Ona... But I can’t help it...

- Lucy, we are soulmates. We were meant to meet. I also felt lonely before us. I understand your fears very well, but you don’t have the right to doubt. You’re the strongest of us. If it helps, be as jealous as you want when someone approaches me. Shut them down even. It doesn’t bother me at all; on the contrary. When you do, it warms my heart because I feel like I’m yours. It helps both of us.

I see her relax before me.

- I love you so much, she murmurs.

She kisses me, and I let her because I know she needs it. We feel the same way. Neither of us thought we would find someone so compatible. Yet, here we are, and I wouldn’t trade my place for anything in the world. We complete each other and make each other stronger.

- You know, I wouldn’t be so quick to rejoice if I were you... I say between kisses.

- Oh? And why is that?

- We’re not going to leave each other now. You’re going to have to put up with me outside of school, and for a good while. Who says I’m not more annoying?

- Hmm... Believe me, if you become annoying, I’ll find ways to bring you back down to earth. Maybe I’ll force you to run... Or maybe I’ll...

I smile as I feel her hand slide under my t-shirt. I let her do as she kisses me until she starts tickling me.

- Ah! No! Not that!

She laughs as I squirm under her.

- What? You don’t like it?

- Definitely not

! Stop!

She bursts out laughing, and I can’t help but laugh too. It feels good. To laugh, but above all to be together. We were two wounded souls, and now we’ve managed to heal and become stronger together.

- I love you so much, my favorite commander.

She laughs softly before burying her head in my neck.

- I love you too, my favorite rebel.

Yeah, definitely, my life has become perfect.

[serafilms]

song 23! try hard (5sos) + park sunghoon (spotify wrapped event)

she’s so out of reach, and i’m finding it hard ‘cause she makes me feel, makes me feel, like i try, like i try, like i’m trying too hard

happy birthday sunghoon! wrote this one especially without being requested because 23 is his jersey number and i wanted to celebrate him today :) hope he has the best day + year

Today starts out just like any other: Sunghoon wakes up thinking of you. Actually, technically his first thought was ‘Wow, I’m one year older today,’ but his next thought was about whether or not you’d wish him a happy birthday, so it still counts.

He checks his phone and fights his disappointment when he doesn’t see a text from you. Instead, he’s flooded both in the group chat and his private messages with well wishes. He sends polite ‘Thank you’s’ to his relatives, tells the guys to ‘fuck off’ in their group chat, and laughs at Jake’s very lengthy and emotional private text, which Sunghoon is sure his friend cried while writing.

Riki facetimes him seconds after seeing that he’s awake and tells him he’d better have his house ready for their joint birthday party tonight.

“Seriously, if your backyard is a mess when I get there, I’m going to clog your toilet so people piss in the yard and then you have to clean everything properly.” Ah, what an angel. “Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Thanks, Riki.”

Then the younger hangs up, leaving a promise that he and the others will arrive before lunch for their planned ‘pre-party group only birthday pizza party’ and to help set up for the ‘real party.’ Sunghoon looks around his bedroom. It’s a little messy, because he lives in it so of course it is, but he knows the rest of his house is in order.

He already obsessively panic cleaned the whole place three days ago, when Jay confirmed that he’d sent you an invite. Man, he hopes you show up tonight. Not that he cares that much, of course (he cares very, very much). Because caring too much is bad, Sunghoon thinks. He can’t show his weakness, even when he is extremely weak. He wonders if he really has gone too far in his delusions and might now be descending into madness.

You care about him, or at least he thinks so, but you always seem so far above him, out of reach (“Is Y/N out of my league?” he asked once, chewing on his burger. “Yes,” chorused his friends. Lovely).

Sunghoon sighs and looks around at his room then begins to clean it up. He can’t have you seeing this mess (not that he’s being presumptuous in assuming you will be in his room or anything! This is Purely Hypothetical).

It’s only after he’s finished, and opened his presents from his family, and received the cake that his mother had delivered for him and the guys to enjoy that he finally opens the door and sees their faces.

Jake immediately tackles him in a hug, and Sunghoon feels like he can’t breathe as he squeezes him and shakes him around. His chest warms with happiness though, and through Jake’s shaking he glimpses Jungwon, Riki and Sunoo in front of him. Jake finally releases him and speaks.

“Sorry we’re late! We stopped for churros.”

Sunghoon furrows his brow. “You brought churros for the party?”

“No, I wanted churros,” Sunoo says, then takes a big bite. “Wan’ some?”

“I’m good,” he replies.

Riki pats Sunghoon on the back, then barges past him into the house and immediately begins examining it like some sort of teenage home inspector.

“Happy birthday,” says Sunoo, then follows Riki inside and immediately throws himself on the couch to finish his churro.

Jungwon repeats the sentiment then adds, “Jay and Heeseung are picking up the drinks and pizzas, they’ll be here soon.”

Thank god I made friends with Jay all those years ago, Sunghoon thinks, feeling very touched, Who else is rich enough to fund their friend’s birthday party?

“Very cool,” he replies, then drags Jungwon and Jake inside.

The other two arrive soon after and they enjoy a nice party without interruption for about 20 minutes until Sunghoon checks his phone and feels himself frown at it being void of notifications.

Are you busy, or did you forget his birthday? Do you just not care about him? If so, you should. He wore ripped jeans to impress you. He bleached his hair in the hopes you’d notice him (though that was also because he lost a bet with Jay). Is he just trying too hard?

“What’s up with you?” Heeseung asks him as he slaps a slice of pizza on top of another to make what is effectively a pizza sandwich.

“Nothing,” he mumbles.

Riki snatches his phone out of his hands and looks at the screen, where Sunghoon’s texts with you are open. “He’s pissy his girlfriend hasn’t texted him yet.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Sunghoon says sadly, and Jake gives him a pat on the back in consolation.

“Don’t even stress,” says Sunoo airily. Sunghoon doesn’t like how unaffected he seems. Shouldn’t everyone wallow in his despair with him since it’s his birthday?

The younger continues, “I asked her yesterday and she said she’ll definitely be here. So we just need to make sure you look super hot tonight.”

He feels a flicker of hope arise in him.

“It’ll probably take a lot of work, but we’ve got time.”

The flicker sizzles and dies. He glowers at Sunoo. “Gee, thanks.”

However, true to his word, Sunoo makes sure that Sunghoon does look super hot. It’s actually insane how hot he looks. He admires himself in the mirror. Maybe being a try hard isn’t such a bad thing if he ends up looking as gorgeous as this.

The party starts without a hitch and is soon in full swing. His friends are all starting to get very drunk (except Jungwon and Riki, because Riki is waiting until midnight for the sake of integrity and Jungwon is a Good friend who is waiting with him) and Sunghoon feels himself getting a little cloudy minded too. But as he stumbles a little through the hall, he still can’t see you.

But there is someone who looks just like you at the end of the hall and in the kitchen right now. He walks towards them, squinting a little and hearing them laugh and say goodbye to someone who’s evidently leaving the kitchen. Wow, they even sound like you. As he enters the room, the person perks up and greets him, and when he blinks the blurriness out of his eyes, you appear in front of him.

Oh. “Hi Y/N,” Sunghoon says, flushing.

“Hey Sunghoon, happy birthday.” God, your smile is pretty. Your outfit is pretty too, and your hair and your face and your hands, where…

There’s a wrapped box in your hands, and you follow his gaze down to it, then start in surprise as if just remembering it. “Oh, yeah, this is for you! Where should I put it?”

Sunghoon is still trying to comprehend that you’re really here and talking to him as he tells you, “Just on the table is fine.”

Okay. This is his chance. Now or never. “Do you want to go to the backyard for a bit? I need some air.”

Maybe he’s hallucinating a little because of the alcohol (or delusion) but he swears you blush. “Sure.”

You follow him out to the back. He’s surprisingly steady for someone who’s had as many drinks as he has, and stops out on the back porch, turning to face you.

You clear your throat as he tries to get his pounding heart under control. “So how’s your day been so far?”

He can hear it beating in his eardrums, and hopes you can’t hear it too. “Yeah, good, good. Um, can’t really complain. I ate pizza.”

Sunghoon is really not sure what to say now. But apparently the alcohol in his system does, as he’s speaking before he’s even processed the words.

“Can I kiss you?” he says at the same time as you say, “I have another present for you.”

The both of you stare at each other for a moment, not having heard the other’s words. “What?” you ask.

Sunghoon feels his stomach churn and hears an alarm go off in his head. “Um, it’s nothing. You go first.”

You look away shyly for a second. Yep, you’re definitely blushing, he thinks. “I said I have another present for you. I was kind of waiting for the right time to give it to you.”

He’s surprised, if nothing else. “You didn’t have to get me two presents.”

He’s also curious. “So what is it?”

“Can you close your eyes?” You’re avidly avoiding his gaze.

Sunghoon obeys, and the darkness behind his eyes makes him all the more aware of the sound of his heart. He’s nervous and scared and anxious and frightened, and then all of it is melting away because your lips press themselves to his and you’re kissing him. You’re kissing him, and he’s kissing you. Sunghoon’s stomach flutters and he brings his hands to your waist. It’s a very good kiss, and he can taste a little bit of cake on your tongue as it deepens.

Then you’re pulling back and Sunghoon is metaphorically and literally breathless. You kissed him. He kissed you.

“Happy birthday, Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon’s face breaks out into a grin and he takes your hand, lacing your fingers together. He tugs you into his chest and looks down at you. “Thanks.”

And he kisses you again.

[ryuichirou]

Thanks for feeding us neigevil fans. I love your art so seeing you drawing this ship makes me happy, may the gods of twst gacha be kind to you 🥰

Idk if anyone has asked but thoughts or headcanons of neigevil? What about Rollo?

(We got this ask after this art)

Thank you so much for showing our stuff so much love, NeigeVil fans <3 It means a lot! And I, once again, am sorry that it took me a long time to reply. Like I’ve probably mentioned before, I want to draw these two again at some point. But today is not the day; instead, today is the day you get your headcanons, Anon!

Also if you haven’t seen these yet, here is the link to our post with Rollo-centric headcanons. We love this boy very much, and we’re super excited that he got himself a pretty-looking card.

Alrighty, so Neige/Vil…

Neige has a crush on Vil, and this crush has been with him ever since their first meeting. But he isn’t really sure about the nature of these feelings. He is very open about them with his dwarf friends though: sometimes he comes back from work happy and singing because he met Vil after his photoshoot and had a chat with him. So they all know that he is either in love or just really really really wants to be Vil’s friend. Neige isn’t sure which one it is either.

Neige remembers how cool and professional Vil looked when they first met, how he shook his hand and stuff. It wasn’t Vil’s first time on set, even though it was his first role, so he really made Neige feel comfortable by just being so confident and relaxed and excited. Neige really treasures this memory, but Vil doesn’t seem to remember much of it.

But what Vil does remember is that he thought they were going to become friends back then. Maybe it was because Neige asked him to be his friend, maybe it was because they had a lot of fun that day, but unfortunately it was one of many potential friendships that got ruined by the adults comparing these two to each other. It was pretty early on when Vil decided that he’d never be Neige’s friend. Neige is kind of oblivious to this whole thing though, he thinks that Vil is his friend, and the main reason he’s so distant is that he is just way too cool and professional and busy to hang out with him.

Vil has influenced Neige’s style a lot. He has no idea just how much time Neige spends looking at his magicam and taking notes and trying very hard to find clothes that would look as if Vil has picked them for him. If you talked to him about it, he would chuckle and say that he is too shy to ask Vil directly.

Which isn’t a complete truth though: he isn’t really shy around Vil. He gets so excited that he forgets about his shyness entirely and starts talking and clinging to Vil and trying to make him pay attention to him. He is completely enamored and he stares a lot at him in general. He really wishes they’d spend more time together…

A lot of times Vil just rolls eyes at Neige (always sneakily though, he knows better than to show a fellow actor his distaste for him), but he does admire his professionalism. And yes, there are moments when he thinks that Neige isn’t just overly cute and sweet, but actually quite a good-looking guy. Not entirely his type, but still handsome nonetheless…. Why is he thinking about it, again?

Vil is, like I mentioned, oblivious about Neige’s feelings. If anything, he believes that Neige is simply being a nice innocent boy and is friendly with everyone, so there isn’t anything special about the way he treats Vil. But jokes on you, Vil, because every single selfie with you that Neige takes instantly become Neige’s phone lock screen for weeks, until his management asks him to change it into something else.

Neige doesn’t have a lot of selfies with Vil though, because Vil always comes up with an excuse to avoid it. He is either in a hurry, or doesn’t feel good, or has a bad hair day, there’s always something that prevents Neige from taking a selfie with Vil. So it’s kind of a personal mission for Neige at this point lol Their fanbases also crave for this selfie… The day NeigeVil finally drop a picture of them together, the internet is going to explode.

A couple of spicy ones; if these two were to find themselves in any kind of intimate situation (even if it’s just a pretend thing for a role or something), Neige would comment about how much more experienced Vil is, and how he’ll work hard to be on his level. This comment sounds horrible to Vil in any context: the idea of Neige working hard to be a perfect lover to him is too cursed to consider. But it’ll still make him blush.

And jokes on Vil once again, because Neige is such a fast learner, that one moment he is a very sloppy kisser, and then suddenly he kisses and touches his body in all the right places because “he just felt like it’d make Vi-kun feel nice there”. Vil is going to both get overwhelmed by how good it feels, and be in agony because fuck you Neige stop being a prodigy at everything.

[maitaitiu]

Above It All OCxCanon week 2024 Day 1: Play Fighting Pairing type: platonic Canon Character: Johanna Mason OC: Marsh Belltide Fandom: THG Wordcount: 1633

AO3 link CWS: underage drinking, mentions of/implied death and injury, swearing, heights

Synopsis: The evening after the 70th annual Reaping, Marsh Belltide and Johanna Mason sit out in the woods to chat, as they do every year.

“You got it?” Johanna asked her friend as they shut the door to their house behind them.

Her friend rolled their eyes, “Obviously. What do you take me for?”

“An idiot,” she smiled, and took the glass bottle her friend was hiding under their sweater and stuffed it into her messenger bag, “Nice. Let’s go.”

And the pair set off, only occasionally glancing over their shoulders to make sure that nobody had spotted them.

In truth, neither of them felt particularly great about sneaking out on the evening after the Reaping; not while they knew there was two families weeping with their shutters closed; not while the both of them had such personal ties to the Games. And yet, it had always been a tradition. Sneak out into the woods after the Reaping, when their families were asleep, and go and chat and sing and laugh in the woods until daybreak.

After a good few miles of walking at a decent pace, the pair found themselves far into the woods, in the same clearing they always used for this night, after finding it the eve of their first Reaping.

It was technically still within the confines of Seven, so it was perfectly legal to be here, but neither was particularly eager to get caught.  

They shimmied their way up on separate sides of an impossibly tall giant sequoia with practiced ease; the general lack of knots or branches barely a passing thought to them- as was the way with most lumberjack kids in Seven.

“Only two more of these things to go. Then we’re home free.” Johanna sighed as she stretched out on one of the branches, some fifty feet off the ground, “Can’t wait.”

“Same,” said her friend, hauling their way onto a branch just below hers and leaning back on the trunk as they sat, “The Games are so stupid.”

“Cheers to that,” Johanna said, pulling the bottle out of her bag, “Aw. Just red wine? Couldn’t have gotten something a bit stronger?”

“We’re higher than the Justice Building, Jo. I think wine is strong enough,” her friend cautioned, and then, after a pause, added, “Gotta make sure my dad still has one son left in the morning.”

“I guess,” Johanna grumbled, and started stabbing at the cork with the switchblade she carried everywhere. She managed to get it hooked in somehow and started to pull. And then stopped.

She glanced down at her friend.

“Son?”

She watched as he picked at a loose thread on his trousers for a moment.

“Yeah.” He replied quietly.

“Cool,” Johanna shrugged, and finally popped the cork from the wine bottle, and with a triumphant laugh, exclaimed, “There we go!”

She took a massive swig, and gagged on it. Too much at once, and it just wasn’t very good. Bitter. But… not in a nice way. She managed to choke down the wine, and then spluttered out, “That tastes like shit!”

Her friend laughed, and he pulled himself up onto the same branch as her, “Sure does.” He paused. “Aren’t you gonna say anything?”

Johanna took another sip of the wine, and let it sit in her mouth for a bit, attempting to get used to it. She swallowed. It wasn’t any better the second time around. In fact, it might have even been worse.

“Like what?” she asked, dramatically wiping her tongue on her sleeve in a poor attempt to rid herself of the bitter taste, “Oh. You got a different name? Is it just as stupid as-”

“It’s Marsh,” he replied, and swiped the bottle right from her hands.

“So that’s a yes.” Johanna smirked, and watched as his face scrunched up as he took a sip of the wine, too.

Marsh cringed, and bent his head all the way down into his chest at the taste, “That is foul.”

She whacked his arm and took the bottle back for herself. He reached over to snatch it, but she held it as far away from him as she could, and even with his absurdly long arms, Marsh was unable to reach it.

“Bitch, I brought it!” he whined, and Johanna used her free hand to push him back, “Joeeeee…”

“Aw, okay…” she snorted, and passed it back to him unceremoniously, “Baby Marshy needs his bottle.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he said as he took it from her and knocked back a swig. And then coughed. A lot, “Ugh.”

“It’s bad.” Johanna laughed, “Can’t believe adults big this stuff up so much.”

“I can’t believe this shit tastes worse than tesserae mush.” Marsh shoved the bottle back at her, “And don’t say nothing about my name being stupid. That is the point.”

“What?” She stared at him, on the verge of laughing again, “Why?!”

He shrugged.

She took another swig of the wine.

“Did your dad make this or something?” she asked, “He’s hardly a great chef. Maybe that’s why it’s so bad.”

“Nah, he bought it. I think it’s generally just… not good. I don’t even think he likes it. It’s just cheaper than hard cider for some fuckin’ reason.”

“Considering we’re the fuckers who grew the apples and make the cider, I’d have thought it’d be cheaper for us. Then again…” Johanna scowled, “Timber’s at a bit of a premium again.”

“So’s firewood. It’s a pain in the ass.” Marsh grumbled, knocking back another gulp of wine miserably, “It’s gonna be so cold when winter rolls around.”

Johanna threw her head back dramatically, “Ugh. Don’t remind me. Lizzie gets so anxious when it’s cold. And then I get anxious by proxy.”

“To be fair… you did break your leg in sixth grade when you slipped on some ice.”

“Yeah. I remember.” Johanna’s mood soured, and she frowned at her reflection on the bottle, when Marsh passed it back, “My parents were shitting themselves when I went to my first Reaping with a limp and six slips.”

Marsh glanced over at her, guilt creasing his eyebrows together. “Sorry.”

“S’ok.”

The two of them sat in silence for a while, looking out at the darkening woods. Watching as the occasional bird or squirrel or chipmunk scuttled on by in the branches near them. They passed the wine back and forth, both grumbling wordlessly about the taste after every sip, until their minds grew foggy with both tiredness and alcohol.

Johanna was the first to spot the flash of white in the trees, and soon spotted more and more. She nudged Marsh and nodded to the flock of gathering birds. She wondered if they knew; if they knew what day had just passed and what they were about to do.

She was never the first to start, though. A slight stage-fright that she’d carried her whole life.

Marsh’s warm alto voice bled into the night, as tuneful and as sad and alone as ever.

“Come all ye true born shanty-boys, whoe’er ye may be,

Come sit upon the deacon’s seat and listen unto me,

A story’f a young shanty-boy, so tall, genteel and brave,

‘Twas on a jam on Gerry’s rocks he met a wat’ry grave.”

They could pretend all they wanted; they could act as nonchalant as possible; they could drown their sorrows in booze and convince themselves that they were adult enough to deserve to be so tired. But both were just as petrified of the Reaping, and the Games as any other child in Seven. As any other child in Panem. And not just of the Reaping; of the Games, but of the dangers that lurked around every corner in Seven. Both had recently picked up some hours over the weekend at a logging facility. And already had seen and obtained more than their fair share of injuries.

The guard staff- the Peacekeepers- who followed them out and shadowed them in the forest at work- didn’t particularly care about any sprains or broken bones- or even deaths- as long as the work was done. Johanna had- just last week- seen a man be stuck under a felled trunk that slammed him to the floor. She hadn’t been strong enough to move it on her own, though she’d tried desperately. He’d passed out by the time someone else from the team had showed up and managed to help her move it.

He'd never walk again.

“It happened on a Sunday morn as you shall quickly hear.

Our logs were piled up mountain high, there being no one to keep them clear.

Our boss he cried, "Turn out, brave boys. Your hearts are void of fear.

We'll break that jam on Gerry's Rocks, and for the Capitol we'll steer."

Johanna joined Marsh then, their untrained voices wove roughly together as they sang. And soon the mockingjays picked up the song, too. Echoing the haunting, sorrowful melody around the woodland; it would surely reach all the way back to the town.

It wasn’t a cheerful song. But it hadn’t been a cheerful day, so what did it matter?

Death clung to district Seven like a burr, sharp and pinching, and impossible to avoid. The Reaping was a spectacle as much as it was a death sentence, an oddity to the quiet, unnoticed deaths that happened every other day.

Not that the kids who got shipped off to the Capitol were remembered any better than the poor sods who’d get sick, or crushed by felled trees, or torn to bits in the factories, or shot or some other shitty way to kick the bucket. It was hardly a wonder that over eighty percent of Seven’s population was under forty years old.

Johanna wondered if she’d make it that long. Or If Marsh would. Or her little sister.

And then she drowned that thought in another swig of the disgusting wine.

Better not to think about it.

[vlad-theimplier]

WIP Wednesday: Custos Custodium

Have some Jensen-Pritchard snark! I ripped ShadowChild's entrance out of the events of Breach because a) she's cool, and I wanted her to pop up more than once; b) I needed to set up an augmentation trick anyway; c) I was already repurposing Breach; and d) see above Jensen¬Pritchard vibes. (That's the formal-logic NOT operator, FYI--seems more apropos than an ampersand.) Read the whole thing at https://archiveofourown.org/works/55686901/chapters/141357007

“Francis. What’ve I done to deserve this?”

“Good evening, Jensen. How’s Prague? I hope I’m not interrupting your busy schedule of brooding and kicking down doors.”

He took a slug of the new beer before responding. “How’d you know where I am?”

“I know you like to think you’re off the grid these days, but you do realize there’s a record when you use your credit chip or have a package sent to your apartment—nice slippers, I must say—and Interpol’s HR database is not their best-kept secret. Plus, I calibrated your systems. Every time you call or text, your infolink is broadcasting your position as well as your words. To me, at least.”

Jensen felt a muscle jump in his jaw. “So, you call just to chat, or…?”

“Six months ago, when the rest of the world thought you were dead and I helped you get back on your feet, I seemed to recall you saying, and I quote here, ‘I really owe you one, Pritchard.’” He forced his voice low and raspy.

Jensen rolled his eyes at the caricature. “I don’t recall saying it quite like that.” But he couldn’t deny that Pritchard had come through for him in a tight spot—and not just logistically. His chat with Sarif could have gone much worse without Pritchard’s righteous anger backing him up, and he might not have ever gotten mixed up with the Task Force or the Collective without that clearing of the air. Plus, almost anything would be better than stewing in his own aimless misery for a week. So he listened.

“Well, it just so happens there’s something in Prague that I need your help with. Tonight.”

No surprise. He took another swallow of beer. “Kinda busy.”

“Investigating TF29, I know. But if you help me with this, we’re even, I promise.”

“Fascinating. Still busy.”

“Come on, Jensen. You dropped in on me out of the blue with a depressed stranger, and I fed you, clothed you, put you up, patched things up with Sarif—”

“Sort of.”

“Okay, well, he paid you without making you sign anything. How much more did you want? Anyway, then I got you in the Collective’s good graces and helped you save your new cop buddies from a grisly and embarrassing death on that train. And let us not forget that, if not for my wise and thoughtful counsel, Faridah would have found out from someone else that you were back from the dead and promptly re-interred you.”

Jensen grunted.

“And through all of that, did I ever complain?”

“Yes. Loudly, if I recall.”

“Ugh. Well, be that as it may, I really think you’re overlooking a prime opportunity to do your two favorite things.”

He wondered what Pritchard thought those were. He wondered what he thought, himself. “Do tell.”

“Brooding and kicking in doors, of course. You get to brood over my onerous request, clearly so out-of-proportion to helping you extricate yourself from the rubble of your old life and get started on a new one.”

“Hah. What about the doors?”

“To a police station—a satellite location in Ver—uh, Verso-vise.”

Jensen sighed. “It’s pronounced Vr-sho-vi-tse, and we call them ‘precincts.’ You forget I’m a cop myself? I can’t just go busting down the door of the station.”

“I seem to recall you doing exactly that, back in Detroit. And besides, it’s for a good cause.”

Pritchard had him there, damn him. “Christ. Fine. What’s the cause?”

“A friend of mine was helping me with some research when she went dark. Based on what I’ve managed to access of the police files—surprisingly well-encrypted, by the by—they picked her up and took her to this ‘precinct’ of yours. But not officially.”

“No booking records? No charges filed?”

“Yes, those things. None of those. So you see why I’m worried.”

“This friend of yours.” Jensen put his credit chip down on the bar and twitched his head at the bartender. “She Augmented?”

“Precisely.”

“A hacker?”

“One of the best. Not as good as I am, of course, but very much in my league.”

“Of course. She got a name?”

“On the darknet, she goes by ‘ShadowChild.’ I don’t know her real name, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Jensen paid, stood, and collected his coat. “‘ShadowChild’? Jesus. So you want me to cross town, break into a police station, and break out an Augmented woman whose real name I don’t know before she gets disappeared by the PČR into Golem City?”

“Pretty much.”

“You know what she looks like, at least?”

“Um… her avatar is a stylized domino mask. Here.”

An image popped up in Jensen’s link of two blocky chevrons connected at the tips, like a pair of arrowheads. The left was black; the right, white. It didn’t look much like a mask to him. It was captioned “Shadow(hild,” with a parenthesis. Of course. “And this is supposed to help me… how?” he asked. He shouldered his way out the door as Pritchard stammered a non-reply.

Jensen exhaled in frustration and dug out a cigarette, shielding it from the wind that skirled between the old buildings and whipped his coat around his knees. “Fine. Forget it. Who needs intel anyway?” He cut the call on Pritchard’s indignant sputters and stalked into the night, trailing a plume of smoke.

[whatwouldvalerydo]

Finding you - part 8/9

As summer rolls by, Jonathan rejoins the crew for the festival and asks Lachlan to come over the first one. Of course Karl has something to say and things get serious and fast.

How will it all end?

@kc-and-co

In between work the two still managed to find time to see each other more than before, even if it was just for a weekend. With spring making way for summer, the former crew that Jonathan rolled with assembled once more in order to travel to festivals, this time all across the UK because otherwise Jonathan said he couldn’t join them as it would have involved too much money and paper work, fact which appeared to work for the rest as well.

So they got to planning and getting everything ready.

“Karl I need a hand here, this won’t hold.” Even if the following day the weather was said to actually be sunny, they were battling strong winds that weren’t making their jobs any easier with installing the tents.

Running towards him, Karl held onto the metal railing as Jonathan secured it “I swear if this flies by morning I’m going to be so pissed.”

“Tell me about it, I can’t wait to finish it and be done with today.” Jonathan sighed feeling the strain on his arms from keeping them lifted for so many hours. Honestly at that point he could have very well have placed all the curtains back up at the orphanage without the use of magic, it was exactly the same thing. Checking the clock, he sighed once more “I need to go in a couple of hours, make it in time at the train station.”

Aiden’s head popped from behind a table he was assembling “Lachlan coming over again?”

“Yes and this time he’s staying for the entire festival.”

“Could have used an extra pair of hands.” Karl intervened rolling his eyes as he tested if the rails were holding up properly before adding the tent above them.

Jonathan pointed a finger at him “We’re not repeating last year alright?”

Shrugging his shoulders he ignored the mild threat “Not like it matters, he can’t be that interested in you if you’re still not together.”

“Karl.” Aiden warned shaking his head “Not cool.”

Getting up in his face, Jonathan towered over him “It doesn’t concern you. Because even if he’s not, he’s still my friend, far more than you are. And in case I didn’t make it clear by now I’m not interested in you.”

Pushing him, Jonathan barely took a step back to stabilize himself “As if you’re all that grand.” Aiden already getting in between them.

“That’s enough you two. You get a hint” he told Karl “and you calm down.” He mentioned to Jonathan.

“I’m calm. But I’m done. After this festival I’m out.” He told them turning back to unfolding the tent, the girls looking at them, one of them showing Karl the middle finger.

“Great, good job you numpty, you do realize that more than half the money we get here is because of Jonathan right?”

“Whatever.” Karl yelled storming off to cool down.

By the time they finished assembling everything and Jonathan had to leave, he was still pissed off and he knew he couldn’t keep it a secret from Lachlan since he would pick up on the tension in the group in a blink of an eye.

And it took one good look at him to know something was off since the first question out of his mouth was “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, all good but I have to let you know I had a fight with Karl so be careful with him.”

Lachlan immediately touched his arm, eyes taking him in making sure he wasn’t hurt “Did he do anything to you? Because if he did I swear I will…”

Shaking his head, Jonathan smiled “No, he didn’t. Just some words spoken that’s all.”

“Good.” He mentioned taking away his hand.

Luckily Karl was nowhere in sight when Lachlan arrived and greeted the rest because it wasn’t until they got to chatting and Jonathan actually relaxed that he did too. Gathering in a tent they all played some games and drank until later during the night when Karl finally made his appearance, taking a seat next to Jonathan, not even looking at Lachlan.

Aiden gave them all a “don’t do anything stupid” look, especially since he was certain Karl had a few drinks.

“I think it’s best we go to bed soon, we have a big day tomorrow.” Jonathan announced, the group all in agreement, Karl placing his hand on his leg.

“Always the responsible one.” Pushing his hand away with force, Jonathan just nodded to all of them as him and Lachlan took their leave , Karl adding “What’s with that look pretty boy, got something to say?”

“I’ll let you know when you’re sober and can remember everything.”

“Oh really?”

“Come on, he’s not worth it.” Jonathan said pulling Lachlan away while Aiden held Karl back trying to talk some sense into him.

The following morning, contrary to what everyone was used to Aiden was the first to get up. He made the coffee for all of them since none of the stalls were open yet, filling four cups, leaving the rest in the thermos for the girls to drink when they woke up. Getting Karl up, he told him to follow him, both heading over to Jonathan and Lachlan’s tent waking them up as well.

Acting as the mediator Aiden spoke “Alright, one coffee each and we talk and reach a conclusion before the festival properly starts do you understand me? I don’t want to be thrown out because you can’t get along. Now, Karl, anything you want to say?”

“No.” Aiden giving him a hard look “I don’t like him.”

“And no one is asking you to, just don’t come around trying to start a fight every time. He's with me and that's not going to change.” Jonathan mentioned.

“Lachlan? Do you have anything to add?” Aiden asked him.

“Yes.” He said looking at Karl “Don’t touch him. You can say what you want to me but keep your hands off him.”

“You know what, fine, I will. Not like I wanted something serious, I would have dumped his ass after a good fuck.”

“What did you just say?” Lachlan lunged towards Karl, the others barely managing to pull them apart before they got physical. Jonathan held him back, barely managing to calm him down, Aiden pulling Karl even further away before he himself snapped.

“You’re done, you’re out. This is the last straw. Pack your bags and go.”

“What the fuck are you on about?” Karl asked as he finally managed to set himself free from his hold.

“Me and Jonathan do the designs for the tattoos, he does body painting, the girls make the drinks. I don’t need you around not pulling your weight and earning the same money. Lachlan will fill in for you. You’re out. Go now or I’ll get security to escort you out.”

Karl mumbled some more obscenities however even he knew when to put a stop to it and that there was no going back from it no matter what he promised. Turning to apologize to the pair, Aiden went ahead to ensure Karl wouldn’t cause anymore trouble.

Even as he left the tension in Lachlan’s body refused to subside, Jonathan not letting him go just yet, instead turning him around to face him “Ignore him, he’s not even worth it.” Hands going up and down his arms in an attempt to calm him down.

“He doesn’t get to say those things to you.” Pulling away, he ran his hands across his face groaning out of frustration.

“It’s alright, he’s gone. You don’t have to see him anymore.”

“Me?” Lachlan asked looking back at Jonathan “This isn’t about me. I don’t care what he thinks of me, you were the one stuck with him. How many times has he tried something? How many times has he made you uncomfortable?”

“Look” he said taking a step toward him “as sexy as you are when mad, I need you calm right now.”

Lachlan shook his head in confusion, brows furrowing “No, no, don’t try to confuse me right now by saying things like that. I’m mad and I’ll continue to be mad. How many times?”

“Honestly I didn’t count because he didn’t count. I don’t care that he fancies me and then says things like that because he can’t handle rejection. I would never be with him.”

“Good, because he doesn’t deserve you.” Lachlan huffed annoyed.

“Even if he did it still wouldn’t have mattered.” Jonathan waited on Lachlan to say something, but when he didn’t he just went to retrieve the paper cups that they discarded on the ground “I’ll go make us another batch, wait here alright?”

But as he went to see if he knew anyone from the drink stands who could offer him a cup of coffee, Lachlan messaged him to say he was heading to the showers. So Jonathan took his time, walking around, eventually finding some familiar faces from other events, getting the coffees and returning back half an hour later. Seeing how Lachlan wasn’t in yet, he also went to the showers, however when he didn’t find him there, he just went about his business, happy to see him out on the small terrace once he returned.

“I think the coffee is cold by now.”

“It’s fine.” Lachlan answered as Jonathan took a seat next to him on the ground.

Taking a sip from his own cup, he looked at him “I’m sorry for what happened.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry too for how I reacted.”

Shaking his head, he went to touch his shoulder, retracting his hand last minute “I would have reacted the same if the roles were reversed.” Instead nudging him slightly “Now stop making that face, you’re sulking.”

“Still mad I didn’t get to kick him out myself. And now you’re minus one person.”

“He didn’t do much, always helped assemble stuff then went to drink. Plus you’re here for this festival and I know I can count on you.” He said poking him, Lachlan laughing before smacking his hand away acting all serious again “If you want and can you can join us all summer. I said it would be my last festival because of him, but I can carry on until the end of the season. I need to declare you in and get the papers in order, but that won’t take long.”

“Why do you want to quit?” he asked expression turning from serious to worried.

Letting out a sigh, Jonathan just gave up trying to convince him “I need to do something else, get a more permanent job, not one month here, three months there. Trying to save up some money. For what I don’t know yet, but working towards it nonetheless. Would be nice to have my place too.”

“True. But you’re already way ahead, saving money, working. I’m proud of you.” He smiled truthfully.

“Even if I still don’t have my career planned out yet?”

Chuckling, Lachlan said “Even so, we can choose something and it doesn’t work out like with me, or we can be in luck and get it right from the beginning. There’s no clear recipe for success you know.”

Nodding, Jonathan agreed with him, taking his hand into his “So do you still want to stick around?”

“Well that was the plan all along for this week.”

Offering him a small smile, he ran his thumb across his skin “I’m sorry for leaving then, I should have delt with it differently. I’ve never been angry with you before and I didn’t know how to handle myself, that and you at the same time. But I missed you then, I miss you now and I don’t want to anymore. I’m sick of it.”

“Hey, I’m here, I’m right here.” He said giving his hand a squeeze, Jonathan looking into his eyes.

“Do you know why no girl or guy is enough for me?”

“Jonathan…” he uttered his name breathlessly.

“You do don’t you?” Lachlan nodding as he averted his gaze “Then tell me what to do with myself because I don’t know anymore. I’ve been in love with you since we were in school. Tell me you don’t feel the same, tell me something, anything if you don’t want this because I feel like I’m going crazy. Because I want to hold you and kiss you. Screw what people think, I don’t care about that, I care about you. Just that because it’s always been you.” Lachlan bit down on his lower lip, closing his eyes for a few moments, Jonathan growing increasingly worried “Are you alright?”

“Yes.” He said looking at him “Just trying to repeat everything as to not forget those words because they make me so happy. I didn’t actually play fair either, you were right, it wasn't just on you. I always made up excuses, thinking you deserved more, could do…” this time around Jonathan didn’t let him voice out those insecurities, instead pulling him in for a kiss, shutting him up, Lachlan still mumbling the word “better” against his lips.

Pulling away for a moment, Jonathan just hushed him softly before his lips were on his again, demanding, wanting as he tilted his head slightly deepening the kiss, Lachlan arms wrapping around him as they continued kissing. He would have never thought his heart could beat any faster, yet it did, all sounds drowning apart from it as if he was under water and Lachlan was the only breath of air available.

Parting from each other, Lachlan licked his lips smirking “Screw better, I’m not letting anyone else experience that.”

Laughing, Jonathan asked “So does that mean you want to be with me?”

“Yes.” He answered pulling him back in “Of course it's a yes.”

[dobits]

beach hut confessionals: day thirty (casa day 3)

who did you share a bed with last night ? how did you sleep ?

“i shared with callie.” trying to keep a measured cool and failing, he erupts in a smile. “i slept good, it was good. after the charlene thing, i think we were both... i dunno, trying to be kinda respectful of her. between you and me though? we totally cuddled.” as if it’s the absolute most scandalous thing they could’ve done. far as he’s concerned, it kind of is.

are you getting on with any of the bombshells/originals? who’s at the top of your list?

“oh, dude, all the bombshells are, like, lifelong friends now, for sure. i can’t compare them though, damn dude, i wouldn’t say there’s a list... but, yeah, jude and naomi are my number ones. i know jude’s got a bad rap, but he’s got such a big, soppy heart, man. he really does mean well, i wish people would give the guy half a chance. and naomi, she’s, like, such a little weirdo low key. and she’s a really good friend, y’know, as long as she likes you.” there’s a long pause as angel rubs his chin, works up a begrudging thought. “it kinda sucks because... y’know, me and charlene have been super tight, but now i feel like it’s a little different...” lips purse, he inhales. “we’ll see, i’m sure it’ll be okay.”

do you see yourself starting to focus on one person or are you still exploring ?

“i’m definitely focused on her,” he nods, then his eyes flash to the camera and he smiles sheepishly. “callie, yeah. we’ve spent a lot of time just, y’know, quizzing each other about our lives and who we are and all that stuff,” he explains, talking with his hands. “i feel like we’re just kinda trying to fill each other up with our little trivia things ‘cause we know we don’t got a lotta time ‘til things get all shook up. yeah, it’s fun, i’m just really into our chats.”

how was the beer pong game ? what was most memorable about it ?

“uhhh, probably when jude and jenny cleared a fucking room?” snorted laughter, angel tips his head back. surely they can all joke about it now? “and the fact that we WON! bombshells killed it. see, they be thinkin’ we’re all sweet, but gloves come off and we decimate.” it’s all less intimidating when the words come out of a blushing, boyish smile. “and, yeah, of course my kiss.”

what was it like seeing the postcard ? what was the most shocking part of it ?

“to be honest, the dylan thing. the way naomi and callie talk about him, i really didn’t expect to see him getting cozy with somebody. it’s really lame, but i guess you don’t know the context of those pics, right?” trying his best to be optimistic, he stretches his lips in a cringe. “i dunno, i hope she can graft around and have some fun here, she deserves that.”

did the postcard change anything about your perspective moving forward ?

“nah, i mean,” he shrugs, “way i see it, that stuff is totally separate from me. it’s messy, for sure, i just hope it doesn’t make everybody, like, start acting all crazy now. it’d be kinda lame if the ogs just shamelessly rebounded without a real connection, right?”

who did you vote for the hideaway ? why ?

both palms are set against either cheek, his fingers fencing in his eyes. “i voted char,” he confesses all at once. “dude, i felt bad! what else was i gonna do? i couldn’t give jude another sophie’s choice of who to take with him, that’d scramble his brains for sure. and dante obviously doesn’t need privacy to game out. -- vote for myself? tool behavior, man. look, it was between char and stella and i felt bad, okay?”

if you could have voted for an original to go in the hideaway, who would you have voted for ?

“-- probably callie.” big, silly grin. he shrugs. “it’s not tool behavior if she gets to choose.”

[bunnierps]

~Unnamed Miraculous Fanfiction Pt. 2~

Hi Just wanted to start off with saying this is snippet of chapter 2. As the last one was also a snippet of chapter 1! I had some interest in the last post so if this one gets a little traction as well I'll post this to Ao3 or wattpad or something... Anyways Part 1 if you missed it

Bonjour Violette,

Welcome to Paris! As long as I’m around no harm will come to you here. You have a friend in me

Love, Chat Noir

I feel a slight blush creep onto my cheeks as I bring in the vase and set it on my vanity in the direct sunlight. I remove the bracelet, and clip it around my wrist admiring the silver chain with a single charm hanging from it. A black cat. 

I have a feeling I’m very much going to enjoy my year here in Paris. The city of love, and what is shaping up to be a very interesting after school activity. 

As I’m heading out the door Blanca pokes her head out of the jewelry box. “Violette? Uhm…in order for my magic to work I have to stay close to the miraculous. I have to go to school with you.” 

“Oh…right I guess that would make sense. So…like just tag along in my bag? Do you eat? Or go to the bathroom or?” 

“Oh no I really only need to eat after you’ve used your miraculous in order to recover my abilities. So I’ll be no trouble for you at all. I can easily just hang out in your bag!” Blanca zips away from the jewelry box and appears to use some kind of glittery portal to enter my bag slung over my shoulder. 

The whole thing startles me a little bit and I almost drop my bag with Blanca inside. However before I’m able to even process that my new magical tag along can phase through objects I hear Vincent calling my name from downstairs. 

So I snatch my socks from my dresser and race down the stairs with them in hand. Once I’m at the bottom of the stairs I slip my socks on right as my brother hands me a croissant. 

“Don’t wanna be late on our first day do you slowpoke?” Vin gives me a small nudge with his foot and I jump up off the stairs and step into my shoes as I take a bite of the croissant he had just handed me. It was starting to cool off a bit by now since I had taken so long. 

I was so caught up in day dreaming about what I thought life in Paris would be like I almost made us late to our first day at school. 

Following my brother out the door I catch a glimpse of golden hair on the street across from our host home, but it vanishes into a completely blacked out car before I have the time to analyze it any further. 

My brother taps my elbow to keep me from standing still anyways. “Come on Vi we can check out paris later…I really don’t want to be late on the first day.”

We link arms, mostly so that he can keep me from stopping again. I don’t really mind because it means I don’t fully need to think about walking anymore. Naturally my attention turns back to Chat Noir as I study the bracelet he gave me. There seem to be plenty more loops for other charms. 

I hope this is because he plans on giving me more. That we will spend more time together and I’ll get to know him better. My heart begins beating a little faster, I wonder if even…maybe somehow this chance encounter could become…love? 

“New Jewelry?” Vincent asks also peeking at my bracelet as we walk arm in arm. 

“You could say that I guess,” I try to shrug it off, act like it’s nothing special. Though I wish desperately to tell Vinny everything. There will be time for that but just not yet. “Came in the box mom gave me.”

 “You’re sure that those aren’t important?” Vinny asks 

“Yeah mom said that she couldn’t find anything significant about the box, and when I sent her pictures of the jewelry she said the same. Nothing of significance and it’s okay if I wear it.” 

“Okay, if you say so.” 

Before my brother can ask anymore questions we’re standing at the steps of our new school watching other students pour into the building. I unlink my arm from Vin’s and skip up the steps ahead of him. 

I can’t wait to get my first day done with so I can get home and get to go out with Blanca and getting to see Chat Noir again. 

 “Miss Leblanc, Mr Leblanc. Welcome to our class! We were just about to get started with our seating assignments for the beginning of the year,” Miss Bustier cheers as I enter the classroom. 

I whip my head around confused as to of why she was addressing Vincent as well. Only to see him a few steps behind me. 

The teacher continues listing off names in the order that they’re going to be sitting I try my best to listen to the names but find myself staring at a boy. 

I don’t know him, but something about him feels so familiar. His golden hair swoops just above his eyes, bright green eyes. And the way he smiles as he talks to the boy in the red hat behind him…

Surely it’s just a coincidence. I’m sure Paris has lots of boys with swoopy golden hair, green eyes, and charming smiles. 

Actually now that I think about it yeah, there weren’t any other parallels between this boy and whoever was underneath chat noir’s mask. I fiddled with the bracelet gifted to me by the black cat superhero. The thought that he could be just about any boy in Paris…

I wish we had heroes back home, though based on everything I read about what the heroes in Paris have to deal with I guess it’s good that we don’t have the villains heroes would fight. Hopefully it’s not too dreadfully annoying to deal with villains while going about your normal day. 

“Adrien Agreste? You’ll be sitting here,” Miss Bustier announces. And as she does I notice a girl with dark pigtails giggling and squirming in the spot that she stood she had her fingers crossed and her eyes closed and wasn’t really drawing much attention to herself but the moment had picked my interest away from the blonde boy. 

“Violette Leblanc you’ll be next to him. Adrien is rather good at English, and will make for a good desk neighbor,” Miss bustier announces to the class. 

As I make my way to my seat I notice the girl with the pigtails and pink pants‘ mood change significantly. The excitement and joy I’d seen in her just a moment ago switched to a glare. As if I had purposely taken away from her the one and only thing she had wanted. 

Adrien however offers a gentle smile and a soft hello. His eyes dart to my bracelet then back to my face when I wave back. “Nice bracelet,” he whispers as our teacher continues on with the seating arrangement. 

[kait16xo]

Dance Moms: A New Era Thoughts (Episode 4)

My computer and the website I was watching it on both crashed at least once so I guess my computer REALLY didn’t want me to see this episode.

Anyways, as usual, spoilers under the cut :)

* Ashlan & Leilah playing at the beginning of the episode was cute and kinda restores my faith in the youth :’)

* GLO LIVES IN AUDREY’S BASEMENT?? THE WAY I HAD TO PAUSE THE EPISODE BECAUSE WHAT A BOMBSHELL TO DROP NOT EVEN A MINUTE INTO THE EPISODE??

* Audrey’s in a soft shoe but I literally thought she was in mismatched shoes lol

* Oh fake injury drama where have I seen this before

* Bellatrix being on the bottom after swinging for Audrey is kinda bullshit I’m ngl. I’m kinda with Roxce for getting pissed regardless of her messing up

* Oh shit audrey was in music man? Nice

* Ashlan being above Bellatrix on the pyramid when her behavior was as bad as it was is bullshit. No hate but Abby wouldn’t even do that

* Audrey also being in the middle but not dancing is also fucking wild 💀

* Does Mina really need to wear a crown in pyramid 🤨 at least it’s not a conceited thing ig

* CATS REPRESENTATION LOL I LOVE IT

* “I’m looking for someone to serve” I’m giggling. Also cackling bc they’re voguing??

* This bitch did not just call herself a trophy in response to calling herself a trophy wife 💀

* Idk what happened to Audrey and Tammi but how tf does Glo not know what’s happening? 🤨 interesting reaction

* Why is this grown woman practically sulking over one (1) student not being there 😐 Glo really fuckin irks me

* Explaining a pas de chat in

* Domenica girl…why are you bothering Glo about Tammi mid rehearsal like she knows anything more than what she told you? Nosy ass

* Clock it Min!! And Roxce too actually

* “Well well well if it isn’t the consequences of our own actions yet again!!”

* Are you seriously insinuating that this mom hates you about you having more instagram followers than her rather than the fact you’re clearly still in high school?? Move over “shut up Jill”, now we have “shut up domenica”

* Aww Ashlan’s helping Mina that’s cute

* Glo, haven’t we learned that depending on one person to carry the group and hide their flaws does not work?? 🤨

* “Team Pantyhose!” I almost spit out my water 😭 also this dance looks dangerous as hell but ok

* “After Saturday you can call them team winner” “impossible” MIN IS ON FIRE THIS EPISODE I CANT

* Aww we were so close to having an episode without Ashlan crying. Thanks a lot Glo

* Audrey’s here and all is well or something idek anymore

* “The only one who’s living rent free is Glo in Tammi’s basement” oh these moms are fucking sending me this ep. This might be the only funny thing Lisa will ever say/do

* Someone needs to slip a xanax in Domenica’s drink why is she constantly starting shit

* Oh now it’s Audrey’s turn to throw a tantrum because Glo told her no. Slay :/

* Oh this Cats trio is so cute lol

* Hey editing team! We don’t need to see the turns in slo-mo! It doesn’t work for this format! Fucking stop! :)

* Those must be some big ass panythoes how tf can it fit 3 kids

* I love how the 3 with lesser technique were given a contemporary trio and they bootsed the goddamn HOUSE down

* “That, my friend, is serving” rare footage of me agreeing with Glo

* “Nobody needs to stress we’re having fun” are we?

* “I need to create a freakin’ circus to win without Audrey” or, hear me out, you could have faith in your fucking students and provide them equal opportunity?

* These blacklight/glow in the dark costumes are so cool

* “I think we ate and left no crumbs” it’s so funny hearing modern lingo in Dance Moms of all shows

* Girl why is Audrey on stage if she didn’t dance 😐

* Bound together got 4th? Bitch this competition is rigged

* THE CAT DANCE BEAT BOUND TOGETHER?? It was cute but HOWWWW

* The group got 3rd we really can’t have shit in Philadelphia

* “We all let down miss glo this week” I’m sorry your teacher is a miserable bitch and you think that way

* Oh interesting Gina’s dancing next week too

*I try to not comment on the next episode until I watch it but Audrey’s solo and the group’s costumes are so pretty

[viky2318]

killing cool guys without regret (maybe) :D

The fire man felt the impellent need to take everybody and teleport as far as he could. What was supposed to be a simple "let’s find Muffet and bring her back home safe" was becoming a "let's kill someone we don't even know if we can kill". Yeah, Sam was killable, Grillby knew it, but maybe they didn't have the ability to do it. He didn't forget what happened to Maddy back in Underswap. And what if that was just the tip of the iceberg? A power such as code editing wasn't something to underestimate… He knew that (sadly) he couldn’t change the others’ mind, so he had to make sure they didn’t get too hurt. He was going to keep an eye on everyone (Flowey included) and the moment things take a bad turn he was going to grab them and bring them away. Where though? Their “house”, as they used to call it, was Sam one. He was not gonna bring them back there. The underground of some True Pacifist timeline was an option, at least for a quick safe place. They had been in some-

…

Maddy flinched before suddenly disappearing into thin air, as if she never had been there. Before Grillby could say or do anything, the floor split apart and he fell into a deep blackness. The last thing he saw were their friends, still like statues, apparently not noticing his sudden disappearance.

Grillby kept falling for a while. He tried to teleport, but it simply didn’t work. He looked for a floor, but there was nothing on sight. It seemed like he was stuck in an endless dark pit. If we ignored the fact that he had no idea of what was happening, where the others were, if there was actually an end to the falling and where Sam was (because surely they had something to do with this) he could have almost considered the situation relaxing. There wasn’t acceleration while falling, as if there was no gravity and he was moving only due to his own initial speed. There was air friction, but it somehow didn't slow him down. Truly an interesting situation, but Grillby right now didn't have the will nor the mind to focus on that and notice how unnatural the situation was. What was he supposed to do to get out? Could he actually get out? Where were the others? Were they in his same situation? 

A hand poked him on the arm. The fire man turned his gaze to whoever was there, only to find no one. A chuckle from the opposite side made him turn around once again, finally spotting Sam next to him. “Sorry man, I just- you seemed really in deep thought, I kinda had to”, they commented, smiling. “Can you stop all this?” Grillby asked, taking mental note of Sam’s particularly good mood. He never saw them so cheerful. The human raised a brow, then explained: “well, technically I could, but… why should I? We’re floating in space, but there is air blowing against you as if you were falling! If I have to be honest, it’s the first time I made such a big change on a whole dimension…”. Grillby sighed quietly, then made another few of the many questions he had in mind at the moment. “Where are we? Where are the others?”. Sam moved to a more sitting-like position, crossing their legs. “This is the Void of a specific Undertale timeline. Being unstable and partially undefined, this place is way easier to shape at will than a normal timeline. I’ll fix it back when we finish this little chat of ours. And the others are in the Anti-void. They’re fine, don’t worry. They probably won’t even notice your absence”. “What about Maddy? I saw her disappearing, but she didn’t teleport”. They placed an elbow on their leg, resting their chin on the back of their hand and making a less joyful expression, almost an awkward one. “Eeehhh… she didn’t want to help me, so I sent her to a safe place. There’s no one there so she won’t risk making bad meetings while she's there, and she'll be able to leave when I finish this round of meetings I’m doing”, they explained. “So she's trapped in an empty timeline until you decide to free her” the fire man replied in a more cold tone. “What- no! Well, technically yes but- like this you make it sound as if she's my prisoner or something! She's just safe, in a single timeline. After all the mess I did to have you all in the same place again, I’m not going to let her get lost in the multiverse. She would end up in a really bad mess”. Grillby frowned. “What do you mean?” he asked. Was Sam saying they made Maddy and Grillby find Muffet? The human smiled again, raising a brow. “Grillby, my man… you know perfectly that searching someone in the multiverse without knowing anything about where they are is nearly impossible. When I noticed Muffet got out of the house searching for me I decided to give you a little hand. By the timeline she went to I originally thought she was gonna come accompanied by… another person. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t survive a fight against her… I thought I needed to buy some time, so I handed Maddy the right bucket. I had one hellish time synchronizing the appearance of the paint bucket with Maddy’s quick movements! She was in such a bad mood… and she still is… Anyway, that person isn’t here, so everything’s fine!”. The fire man couldn’t help notice that Sam was different somehow. They normally were quiet, not as Grillby but still pretty chill. The only time he saw them so cheerful was when they first met the guys. Something big must have happened. “What’s going on? Why did you bring me here?” he asked.

The human’s face lit up. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot! While I was around, I did a little research about you and the others. To understand you all better, and not make the same mistakes twice”. Sam moved a hand in the air, and the two softly landed on a floor. “You see, your timeline was particular. IS particular, it still exists. When I originally went around searching for someone who would help me with all the killing-thing, I noticed something different in your timeline. I couldn’t figure out what at the beginning, ‘cause I didn’t search too deep, and I ended up taking you all from there because if something went wrong and I decided to send you back, it was easier to remember a weird-looking timeline than a normal one. Aaaaand no, you’re not from Dusttale. I wouldn’t take anything from there. It is an Undertale timeline. At least, it once was. When I took a more careful look at the timeline… man, you have no idea what I discovered!”. Sam opened a portal. On the other side, there was visible the bridge that brought to the MTT resort in any Undertale timeline. Sam got in the portal, and Grillby hesitantly followed them. He noticed that even now that he was in another place he couldn’t teleport. “This timeline probably is a discarded idea for an alternative universe, but the creator didn’t make many important changes. They just gave some characters a background and played a bit with a few personalities. Nothing that would influence the course of events when the human fell down- the universe was probably supposed to focus on some things that happened before the came of Frisk or way later, when the human got out of the Underground. I discovered that here Muffet had an incredible mother, dead when she was 37, and 9 loving siblings that helped her through her worst days. That Maddy has always been shy and their anger isn’t just a feeling they used to fuse with their body. That you had a brother that died when you two were around 40. But not only that! You lived in Hotland. You knew Papyrus and Sans when they were children and lived in New Home! And your father had a restaurant!”. Sam was rambling about the fire man’s life as if they were talking about the plot of a book. And he didn’t like that. “But wait, there’s more! Let me just… bring the timeline a few decades back…” Sam added, laying a hand on Grillby’s shoulder in a friendly way. He then did something with their hand, a slow movement with the wrist as if he was turning something around. Grillby saw things starting to go backwards, always more and more quickly. People walking, lava flowing, the MTT resort being built in place of a square, again people walking, hanging out in the old square, then rocks going up the bridge again from the lava, people running and getting up from under those as the rocks moved up again and blocked against the ceiling, then again people walking, and then…

Time stopped moving backwards. Now there was a small group of monsters walking on the bridge. They were around 35 years old, which are more or less the equivalent of 17-18 human years in age. Two of them were skeletons, a pretty short one and a taller one, and the other two were fire guys of practically the same height, slightly shorter than the taller skeleton, distinguishable only by the fact that one of them wore a pair of rectangular glasses. And in the middle of all these monsters… A human. They looked around the same age as the monsters, or at least the human correspondent of it. They were next to the taller skeleton, listening to him with a shine of marvel in their eyes. The two fire guys were on the human’s other side, the one wearing glasses more external and a bit behind the other, holding his hand tightly. He didn’t look shy or insecure. He was more… untrustful. The shorter skeleton was walking behind the group, a more mature- almost adult look in his eye sockets as he listened to the taller skeleton. “That human… you see them? That’s me! A few years younger, but still me! It was really hard to bring the timeline back like this, you know? I fell in the CORE with an earthquake, so I got erased from this timeline. From what I discovered, I hit my head hard in the rush of searching for a shelter before falling in. That’s why I found myself in the Void with no past memories! Absurd, right? This creator probably had no idea of how memory loss works” the human commented. Grillby had hard times believing what he was seeing, yet it wasn’t wrong. He remembered this moment, but it was different. The human was missing from his memories. But the more he looked at the scene, the more what he remembered felt like an odd version of the facts. What he was looking at wasn't what he remembered, yet it was correct. And the simple fact that the version with Sam in it felt more realistic than his own memories was making Grillby… unsettled, to say at least. There was no way this was his real past, yet it was perfectly fitting. “And you know what else I discovered?” Sam then asked. They almost sounded like a child in a dinosaur museum. Before the fire man could react, the two of them were again in the Void, but this time they were in front of some sort of text box.

*Title: [NONE];

*Owner: [REDACTED];

*BaseSource: Undertale;

*tLines: 234;

-21 Pacifist;

-186 Neutral;

-27 Genocide;

*Created: [ERROR.404:DATA_NOT_FOUND]

*Last_edited: 1/3/202X (tLine.1)

Grillby read the content a few times, recognizing it as some sort of description of a universe. In a moment, he realized what he was looking at. Sam spoke again. “This is the base data of the timeline. It apparently became officially a universe apart when I took you and your friends out of it. In fact, after a certain while you disappear from the timeline and the whole universe, and a bit of mess starts. Sans takes hold of your bar, Muffet’s siblings administer the spiders of her clan while searching for her, and Maddy’s cousin in the Ruin dummy gets worried and leaves the ruins to search for them. It started ramificating into different timelines, as the Flowey and the Frisk of this timeline made different choices. And all of this because of something I did! This is practically my universe! I can do anything I want in this universe! I can decide who dies and who lives, how everyone acts, thinks, anything! The only thing I can't change is what the old creator already did, which is almost nothing. They just wrote until my arrival, a few details here and there, and then left. Everything that happened later can be changed at my will! the only thing I can't change are you, Muffet and Maddy, but because you became outcodes and so you aren't part of the timeline anymore”. Grillby thought about it for a while. “What are you gonna do about it?” he then asked, a bit skeptical. Sam raised a brow, looking at him in confusion. “Uh… what do you mean?” they asked back. Grillby gave them a cold look, then explained: “you apparently have the power of a creator over a universe. What are you gonna do now? Create something new? Fix it? Or just… break it more, as every creator does?”. Sam’s smile faded a bit, concern appearing on his face. “... You really think I would do such a thing? Grillby… after all I did- or tried to do- to avoid those kinds of stories, you really think I would try creating one? That would make me a hypocrite, don’t you think? I want to make everything better. Starting from here and going ahead, fixing this universe first and then trying to do the same with the others. I’ll find a way to surpass the creators’ powers and erase all those stories filled with pain, giving them a better ending! Let’s just say- _Tale! Ink could have a happy family and a world for himself! Or- Dreamtale! Gosh, Nightmare and Dream could have a happy life and friends, or maybe I could even stop the murder of the original Guardian of the Tree! I could make everyone happy!”. Grillby couldn’t help feeling more and more concerned. “... This isn’t right. You’re talking about something you don’t even know if it’s possible. And if it was… Even if those stories are painful, many characters grew up from their struggles. You would end up with many people not being what they are now. Not only that, but by doing this you’re taking control of the whole multiverse, limiting the creators to your own rules. That’s not what we wanted to do. We wanted them to create happiness again. By doing what you want to do they will end up losing motivation due to the fact that they are limited and the multiverse will die, forgotten”. Sam frowned. Their smile quickly faded, replaced by a more serious look. “... you can’t know how good or bad it will be until you feel it on your skin".

"… let me help you understand”. 

They were again on the bridge. That horrible feeling of dread you feel when something real bad is about to happen filled Grillby’s head in an instant. He knew in which moment they were. He couldn’t move a muscle, not even if he tried hard.

Now on the bridge there were only the human and the two fire guys. 

“It’ll be fine, I swear! I’ll make sure we don’t get hurt. We’ll avoid the oldest buildings, so that we won’t risk too much!” the human was saying. The younger version of Grillby shook his head. “Not even thinking about it. Buddy, I understand you’re curious, but… the older areas of New Home are dangerous! Too dangerous! We’ll kill ourselves! And you have way more chances to die because of your lack of magic”. Sam looked away, a bit sad. “... are you refusing just because I’m a human?” they commented, a bit of coldness in their tone. Grillby made a surprised look. “What- no! How would you ever think of such a dumb thing?! I would refuse even if it was Ezra to ask me to” he stated. Ezra, the other fire guy, shrugged. “Well… I don’t see the problem as long as we don’t get in any building”. Grillby looked at the brother in surprise, furrowing a bit. “What? Not also you, brother… It’s dangerous! And what dad will do if he finds out we sneaked around in a place where we shouldn’t be, risking our lives for nothing?”. Ezra smiled quietly at the younger brother, then patted him on the shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry! We always do that, right? Remember the time we went looking around in Waterfall? We risked getting wet several times” he commented reassuringly. Grillby gave him a severe glare. Even if he was the younger, he felt like he had to be the responsible one sometimes. “It’s different. In Waterfall we had tracks to follow so we didn’t end up in the water. There we won’t have safe streets to walk on to make sure a piece of concrete doesn’t fall on our heads!”. Ezra rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Oh c’mon! Now you’re making it overdramatic. It’s not that old. And we’ll take only a quick look, ok?”. Grillby took a step away from him, glaring at the two severely. “If no one goes there in ten years and the Dreemurr family blocked the access to the area, there must be a good reason! Why won’t you listen to me…”. Ezra huffed in annoyance, then said: “If you’re too scared to come, you can always stay home. It’s not a problem, you know?”. Grillby remained silent for a while, his expression changing into a more concerned one. It was the first time his brother told him so directly to not go around with them. He wasn’t sounding like a jerk, he was simply serious, but it still hurt. Sam, who remained silent until then, spoke. “Uh- I’ll go in the meanwhile. If you want I'll stay around the entrance for a while to wait for you. Ok?” they said, a bit unsure for the moment. Ezra shook his head. “No no, don’t worry. I’ll come. If Grillby wants to join us later, he can always call me” he said, smiling quietly at Grillby. He then started walking towards New Home, Sam quickly reaching him and walking next to him, leaving Grillby alone.

“You remember what happened next, right?”, the present Sam asked. Grillby remained silent, watching his past self slowly turning around and starting to walk home. “The earthquake. Ezra and I were still on our way when it started. He died under a rock, and I disappeared. Right?”. The fire man didn’t answer, so Sam kept going. “You could have changed it. You know it. You and Ezra always stay together for a good reason. He is the sword, and you are the shield. Without you he’s vulnerable, and without him you stop acting. But not only that! He physically can’t summon a shield, and you physically can’t summon a weapon. Your attacks are precise, but we all know they aren’t all that powerful. And he cannot protect himself from a 300 kilogram rock with a blade. He needed you. And you weren’t there".

"But you can be now”.

Suddenly, Grillby was able to move. Completely not caring about anything in the world, he started running towards New Home. At the time there wasn’t an elevator, so he had to take a longer road. He still was in time, he knew that. He remembered a lot of time passed before the earthquake started… or maybe it just felt like a long time? He kept going, hoping for the best. Grillby soon reached the old part of New City. Where were Ezra and Sam? They weren’t supposed to go too far from there…

…

Everything started shaking. Rocks started falling from the ceiling and pieces of the bridge started breaking. Grillby spotted Ezra after some time, helping Sans and Papyrus to get away. What were they doing here? Oh right, they lived in New Home. Probably they came with Sam and Ezra when they discovered they were around. The wall of a building started cracking, and a big chunk of it fell apart. Grillby sprinted as fast as his legs could afford, grabbed the young monsters and summoned a fire shield on their heads. The rock slammed against the shield, shattering into melting shards. After some time, the earthquake finished. The little group stood there for a moment, petrified by the fear and the sudden adrenaline. Grillby looked at the three monsters. "You ok there?" he asked worriedly before releasing them. "Sure thing sir-..." Papyrus started, but then looked at him. "... Oh man, you look exactly like our friend, but older! Hey Ezra, is he an uncle of yours?" he asked the fire guy next to him. Ezra remained silent for a moment, confused at the sight of an older version of his brother, but before he could say anything Grillby spoke. "Not now, kid. I have to bring you all safe". Grillby decided to act as if he didn't know them. He had to. There was another Grillby waiting for his brother and friends. And the younger him will surely be filled with concern and guilt. It wasn't wise to give them all another weird thing. The fire man got up, and told the younger monsters to follow him. "What were you all doing here? This area is under maintenance. Imagine what would have happened if I didn't see you in time…". Grillby kept them near, quickly getting out of the city and heading towards Hotland. Then he remembered something. When his brother died, the letter that was sent to him said that his dust wasn't found in New Home… it was on a bridge in Hotland.

Almost the same moment the realization hit him, a second, stronger earthquake hit. Grillby didn't remember a second wave… or maybe was too scared to notice the interruption at the time. Grillby grabbed them all and runned as fast as he could to reach a safe place. In the blink of an eye rocks started falling from the ceiling, and almost killed them several times. Suddenly an enormous rock blocked the path, trapping them… on a bridge in Hotland. Grillby was about to turn around and try from another way, when Papyrus had an idea. "Let's move the rock! We can do this together!" He exclaimed, freeing himself from the fire man's grasp. Grillby had no time to try to stop him as the other two reached the young skeleton guy. Those young men… Papyrus summoned some attacks and Ezra held in hand a fire sword. They planted them under the rock using them as levers while Sans tried to move it with his blue magic. The rock moved by an inch, but it wasn't enough and they didn't have all that time. Grillby spotted a crack in the rock, but before he could stop the young monsters, it broke. Grillby instinctively went to his brother and pushed him away, taking the hit for him.

Ezra looked horrified at the man, half his body completely stuck under the rock as he slowly started dusting. “Oh shoot- no no no no no, please sir don’t die, I-I’ll help you! I-” he started, crouching and trying to pull him out. The fire man though gently laid a hand on his shoulder and looked at him, a small smile on his face. “It’s fine, Ezra. You’re fine, and that’s enough” he murmured before turning completely into dust. Ezra was terrified. He never saw someone dying, and this man resembled his brother too much. He looked at his friends and saw Papyrus stuck under the rock as well. Differently from the man though, he was still alive. He had to focus on who he could still save. He got up, the earthquake finally coming to an end, and helped Sans freeing his brother.

... I can't believe you really did this just because he made you face reality.

START PREVIOUS NEXT

[byuqi]

hihi! dw about late responses its alright <33 everyone has lives outside of social media and i completely get it!

also omg i have an online bestie too and i literally love her so much 😭🫶 i met her almost 4 years ago! i’ve only met her once tho 🧍

ALSO OMG I CANT BELIEVE I DIDNT SAY THIS BEFORE BUT IM GOING TO A TWICE CONCERT AJDJSKANSJSN! i’ve known this for months now BUT STILL WKDJAKESHKWS— i paid $1000 FOR MY TICKET AND IM BROKE NOW BUT THATS NOT THE POINT

OH MY GOD ALSO FUCK TIGER ATP BC HIS FRIEND (W) IS SO CUTE OH MY GOD 😭😭 (A) is literally so sweet and kind to me i cannot handle it. anyway lemme tell you abt (W) rq! so basically i’ve thought (W) was cute ever since the beginning of last year but never said anything abt it bc then tiger caught my eye (ew)but then like(W) started hella nice to me like once in English i needed help but everyone else was busy so (W) sat down next to me and helped me 😭 he was literally so nice i cant 😭 he also took our friend bananas phone so that he could call me one time bc banana and i are in the school band gc (yes we have a band group chat because we’re just so cool like that) and basically i was on the bus on my way home and then i get a call from his friend and i pick up and im like “banana? why are you calling me?” AND THEN (W) IS JS LIKE “hi bambi!” HE SOUNDED SO CUTE WIDKWJDKWBSKA! ALSO WE WENT TO A PARK FOR LIKE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CELEBRATION AND WHEN WE WERE WALKING HE WAS NEXT TO ME AND HES SO TALL LIKE?? okay well im only 5’3 BUT STILL HES LIKE 5’8 AND THATS RLLY TALL FOR ME!! like i have to look up to look at him 😭 OH MY GOD AND WHEN WE WERE WALKING WE SAW A PUPPY AND HE KNOWS I LOVE DOGS SO HE GRABBED MY HAND AND TOOK ME TO SAY HI TO THE PUPPY 😭 OUR FRIEND BANANA (the one who has my phone number) SAID (W) WAS WATCHING ME WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE THE WHOLE TIME 😭

anyway thats all! how’s life been going for you? i hope you have fun at your dance comp and have even more fun with your internet bestie!

-🦌

HI BAMBI!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

omg i met my online bestie and i miss them already! they literally give the best hugs ever😓idek when im gonna see them again too:((

HOW WAS THE TWICE CONCERT OMG??? awww W seems like hes good for you, FUCK TIGER🤗

dance comp was super fun! like theres so many memories that happened. i went to watch my coach dance friday night for a different show and then saturday night me n my bestie were crying reminiscing on all the old times yk? so it was rlly good’

[or-something-better]

August 29, 2022

(Nightly RP      Sam & Ruby wrote)

Dean

at the bunker I grab a beer and sit at the map table I’m still really concerned about Sam its bot like him to leave like that and not acknowledge us

Ellen

at the bunker with the team you guys that is not like Sam to just ignore us that way.

Jo

I agree. He’s been acting very off.

Eileen

+even after we all were hollering for his attention… I agree with you all. this is not normal behavior for Sam+

Dean

I still blame Ruby! She’s done something or played some part in it. That bitch acts like his friend then drags him into this kinda bullshit it’s not the first time!

Mary

It is very strange behavior for him.

Jo

He’s never acted this way before. I know that for sure.

Ellen

Maybe he had ear buds in and really didn't hear us.  thinking maybe not at the same time

Mary

Has he ever acted like this

Dean

Bullshit there was something wrong with him something bad like before

Ellen

Or maybe he had a lot on his mind and wasn't thinking clearly.. he did just have a huge ordeal and woke up grumpy thinking of how snappy he was before he left

Mary

What about the mark on his arm? What is it?

Dean

I’m telling you something happened to him and she’s involved

Eileen

+Mary, do you clearly remember that tattoo? clearly enough that you could draw it?+

Ellen

very stern and direct dean just cool it. Ruby has done alot for this team.

Mary

nods. Gets a piece of paper and draws the mark

Eileen

I take the paper from Mary and open my laptop to see if I can find anything similar on the hunters web.

Eileen

+well, I’m coming up with nothing here guys. I have no idea what this mark is. I’ve never seen it before+

Dean

watching DAMNIT! there’s gotta be something on it somewhere

Ellen

Well shit. Where else do you think he would have gone?

Ellen

can't believe there's nothing on this mark, wonder if it's in any lore books

Dean

Wherever the hell ruby is!

Ellen

shoots a glare at dean as to say stfu!

Lucifer

I grin widely at everyone as I appear in the middle of the Bunker and interrupt them  Guess who's baaaaack! Back, large, and in charge. Oh have I got some fun plans in store for everyone... We're gonna have a blast guys!

Dean

jump then rush and get in your face what the FUCK are you doing here?!? You aren’t in charge of a DAMN thing!

Lucifer

Ooh Deano- cool it huh? snap my fingers and offer him a small tin breath mints?

Mary

You are never in charge. No way would anyone let you be in charge

Dean

Fuck off bitch! knocking it out of your hand funny you being here all things considered but Gabe won’t allow you to have power dumbass!

Lucifer

Tch, maybe I should have offered soap instead, for that nasty mouth. snaps my fingers and offers a bar of soap

Dean

kicks it out of your hand why the fuck are you even here?

Lucifer

No one has to let me do anything sweetheart.  I take what I want.

Dean

Gabe will have a hell of a lot to say about that and cut your ass down to size AGAIN

Lucifer

Dean, dean- why are you so spicy today. Though kudos. Didn't know you could get your leg up that high.

Dean

YOU WANNA FIND OUT WHERE ELSE MY FOOT CAN GO?

Ellen

Well stop you, and so will Gabe!

Jo

There’s no way we’re gonna let you take over, Luci!

Lucifer

Awww... see this I motion at all of them, cooing like they're fussy children This is just so adorable. You're all so cute in your ignorance. I'll leave you all to wallow in it some more. Toodles I wink and vanish

Ruby

Once I finished making our sandwiches and put them on a plate.

Lucifer

I reach out to Ruby telepathically Ruby. Little chat? Meet with me..  the hillside we spoke of earlier...

Ruby

I start for the bedroom when I get a mental message from Lucifer telling me to meet him at the hillside. I hand Sam the plate with both sandwiches while letting him know Lucifer just told me to meet him at the hillside.

Sam

Sits up straighter on the bed and looks up from the manuscript I’m reading He just told you? What… you’ve got an angel-radio kinda thing going on with Lucifer now?

Ruby

“It’s a little different than angel radio because I can actually see him as well as hear him.”

Sam

Even more concerned now Does it work both ways? Does he see you?

Ruby

“I can project an image to him. He can’t just see me in the shower if that’s what you mean.”

Sam

Files that information away for later to ask Able about Where are you meeting Lucifer?

Ruby

“The hillside.”

Sam

Be careful. Don’t take any chances Ruby. I’ll be here where you get back.

Ruby

Once at the hilltop, I call Lucifer, and wait for him to appear.

Sam

Starts on the sandwiches.

Lucifer

About damn time you showed up. I appear behind her from the shadows

Ruby

"Got somewhere to go?"

Lucifer

Ah, ah, ah, dont start with attitude nowshhh.. You've been such a good little demon. No no, I really mean it..

Ruby

"Get to the point"

Lucifer

A few chuckles escape me Why is everyone so spicy today? Sheesh... Anyways, cheer up some. You're gonna be rewarded handsomely. Especially since you got my vessel. And to think.. Tch- I tried so damn hard! A flicker of anger and annoyance behind my eyes There was just something about Sammy.... But ah well, this one does well enough for me in the meantime.

Ruby

At his words, it feels like ice is in my veins. Have we been set up?

Lucifer

Oh don't look at me that way! Relax. I'm not taking Sam's meatsuit. I snort I couldn't even if I wanted to. No, no.. you bringing him on board this little 'team' of ours? Yeah, next best thing... That new little tattoo, is going to make sure of that. One more thing I picked up from dear old Dad. My nose wrinkles a little at the mention of him

Ruby

“Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to make Sam a Knight of Hell. You’re still thinking about them as mere humans. They’ve stopped the apocalypse more than once!” I place my hand on his arm “You used to rely on my advice.  He’ll be like a dog with a bone.  You’ve seen the Winchesters in action!”

Lucifer

I pause and glance at her, tiny little frown on my lips as I step back a bit. Considering what was said. ... I'll call you when I need you again, my dear. I vanish into thin air

Dean

I serious think all of this is fucked up. Luci....amara.....theres bigger things here than you guys realize! Somewhere now Sam’s involved too He shouldnt be back! Not like this!

Mary

I agree that something is going on. But Cain is also back. And if he's the father of evil. What could it mean? Not just for us but the world

Eileen

+you don’t suppose… do you think Lucifer and Amara are building armies to help them take over?!+

Ellen

listening carefully to everyone's opinions and doing some thinking look we have no idea what Lucifer and Amaras relationship was like before they both got locked away. sighing maybe they were one big happy family rolling my eyes at that thought maybe they're not here against each other but to stand together against Gabe. can't believe that just came out of my mouth you know joining forces..

Mary

And if Cain is joining the mix who knows

Eileen

I cover my mouth in shock +no… that just couldn’t be!+

Mary

We'll have to find out more if we could find clues

Ellen

Well we gotta think of something here.

Mary

I agree

Dean

If that’s true the we are gonna have to figure out how to stop the damn apocalypse yet again! thinking to myself but not sharing what if Luci has something to so with whatever is going on with Sammy

Ruby

Another message from Lucifer comes through. Standing at the counter I let Sam know the latest. Lucifer wants me back at the hill and wants me to bring you with me.

Sam

So what, you’re just at Lucifer’s beck and call now?

Ruby

Don’t shoot the messenger Sam!

Sam

I know she’s right and try to dial my attitude back a bit. Any idea what this is about?

Ruby

No idea, but what choice do we have? Reaching over and wrapping my arm around Sam’s arm “3-2-1” and pop us to the hillside.

Lucifer

I spot the both of them appear, my grin as unsettling as ever- it’s never a happy one but definitely unsettles people Well hello dynamic duo... Need the two of you to go play errand boy-- I glance at Ruby and hold my hands up - and errand girl, and go pick something up for me. Here. I hand her a paper with the address and description

Ruby

Puts the paper in my pocket

Sam

I slide up my jacket sleeve showing Lucifer my new inking. We might have a little bit of a problem. The orders I signed on to follow were those of Able, not yours. I’d like to speak to him about this… if you don’t mind.

Lucifer

I feign a huge pout Oh come on Sammy. Why ya gotta be that way? There's supposed to be trust between us old pals, huh? We can be friends at least.

Sam

I stiffen at the word friends We aren’t friends, and in truth… not sure that I ever see that happening.

Lucifer

Ouchie. That stung. I wave my hands hurriedly, dismissively at them Fine fine fine... Just deliver to Abel when you get it. It was for him anyways. I roll my eyes and vanish again

Sam

I look back over at Ruby, since what I do here is surely to affect her too. That’s acceptable to me…

Ruby

I read Sam the address, telling him where we need to go, and pop us over.

Sam

Once my feet are on solid ground again, I look across the street and see that we are at a Storage Facility, much like the one my Dad has stashed stuff in for years. Looks like someone’s got important things stashed for safe keeping, like Dad.

Ruby

Catching sight of two guards, I can’t believe it. “Shit! Of course they are…I recognize them. They belong to Crowley.”

Sam

Also sees the two guards come around the side of the unit. Of course they are, why is nothing ever simple? Okay. I wonder if this whole place belongs to Crowley, or if he’s just hiding his shit in plain sight.

Ruby

“It doesn’t matter to us. We just want the one item. In and out.”

Sam

Points to the hedge along the south side of the building Pop us over there and we can bring them to us. Slips the demon blade from pocket.

Ruby

Touches his shoulder and pops us over there.

Sam

Solid once again, I reach over and surprise tickle Ruby, causing her to laugh out loud and alert the demons to our presence.

Ruby

I unexpectedly burst out laughing. If you’d have told me 10 minutes ago I’d be laughing during any of this I’d have thought you were nuts.

Sam

Both demons approach the side of the building and as they turn, before either expect it, the first one finds my demon blade deep in his middle. Sending him back to Hell.

Ruby

The second one’s face meets my knee and Sam tosses me the blade which I catch and I finish him off. I pull the keys off his belt and take them with me, pulling out the paper Lucifer gave me, and begin looking for G47. At the unit, I unlock and pull off the padlock.

Sam

I reach down and grab the bottom of the rolling door and shove it open. With my hand on the blade in my pocket, I pull my flashlight and step inside.

Ruby

Follows Sam in. “Mahogany box with Angel warding sigils on it.”

Sam

Got it I turn to the left and begin looking. Be careful of trip wires. Dad always used them, I could see Crowley setting traps too, don’t touch anything you don’t have to.

Ruby

Cautiously watching my step I search on the right. After searching for less than five minutes I find the box behind a mill press. “Sam, this is it!”

Sam

You sure? Walks over to Ruby

Ruby

“Yes. Mahogany box, angel warding sigils.”

Sam

Let’s get out of here. I close the unit and put the lock back in place. As we walk to the street, I toss the keys onto the body of the guard, just before Ruby pops us back to the apartment.

Ruby

Back at the apartment I place the box on the coffee table. Going to the fridge, and grabbing us both a beer, I sit on the sofa, looking at the box. Curiosity gets the better of me and I set the beer down, picking it up.

Sam

I start to chuckle You know, I thought you’d last at least 15 minutes…

Ruby

I punch his shoulder “You know you want to know just as much as I do jerk.”

Sam

Open it

Ruby

Carefully opening it, I peek inside. I feel let down. Looking disappointedly at Sam. “It’s a cremated body. But I’ve never seen one this color before.”

Sam

Drinking my beer, while Ruby investigates the box. What color? Reaching for the box to see for self.

Ruby

“Whitish blue.”

Sam

My heart starts to race a little and I look inside. Shake it a little bit will ya?

Ruby

Carefully, I do just that. As I do, I see a chain sift to the top and show Sam.

Sam

I see the chain as well and reach down to get a pen off my journal by the sofa. Using the tip of the pen, I pull the medallion out of the cremains and my heart drops. Ruby, this is really bad.

Ruby

“ ‘Have a bad day’ bad or ‘apocalyptic’ bad?”

Sam

I’m pretty positive these are the last remains of Chuck…. I’m also positive that we really shouldn’t be handing them over to Abel without more information as to their use.

Ruby

“Better Abel than Crowley, Sam. We don’t have the luxury of not doing this. It’s too dangerous.”

Dean

getting frustrated You know what? I can’t sit here anymore and not doing anything I’m out with it without you all! heading to the stairs

Ellen

Just STOP Dean. shooting daggers at him

Dean

No! You all can fucking stand here if you want to I’m done! grab my keys running up the stairs and open the door....

Lucifer

standing right there in the doorway I laugh and casually prop a hand up against it blocking the entrance What? Can't a guy check in on his pals? Been a minute since I dropped by the Bunker now.

Eileen

I can’t let Dean go at this alone, so I follow him

Ellen

What the hell?

Mary

follows you and Dean to the door.

Dean

What the fuck man no what the hell you  doing. Here? I’m so sick of this bullshit!

Lucifer

Just doing house calls, what's wrong with that? Can't visit old friends now?

Dean

Fuck off since when would you call us friends!

Mary

What friends? I wasn't aware of a friendship

Jo

After plowing Dean and see Luci standing there the doorway shocked me.

Jo

That’s for good reason you haven’t been here in awhile!

Lucifer

I snap my fingers and silence her voice, dark look in my eyes

Ellen

I step in front of jo trying to protect her

Lucifer

I fling my wrist and slam Ellen against the wall to pin her there Honestly! What is it with you pesky humans-- it's like you never learn! I eye Mary and slowly start to approach her next

Ellen

trying to protect jo, I feel myself hitting the wall  watching lucifer as he holds me against the wall trying everything to be released from grasp

Mary

backs up silently. Not sure what to say at all

Eileen

seeing Lucifer approaching Mary, I step in front of her. +back off, bitch+

Lucifer

What gives? I'm smiling evilly Everybody's so jumpy lately.

Sam

Jo, Seeing the dead rise will do that to someone.

Lucifer

I start laughing Seriously? You all should be used to that by now.

Dean

Not when a mother fucker been killed with the first blade jackass!

Lucifer

I roll my eyes Well you saw Cain. Also seems you forgot he was a twin...

Lucifer

Whatever... Hasta la Vista. I'll be back. I wink then vanish again

Ruby

Getting back to the apartment with the groceries, I notice a note stuck to the door, and grab it.

Sam

Follows behind I’m carrying the supplies for tonight’s dinner and a six pack. See’s Ruby find a note attached to the door. Oh no, Come on! It’s another one, isn’t it?

Ruby

Sighing “Sam, this is what we signed up for.” I set a bag of groceries on the counter and say out loud, “Don’t get your panties in a wad.”

Sam

Steps inside and closes and locks the door Oh this is what we signed up for? I don’t remember anything being said about a gopher job for monsters.

Ruby

“It’s an address to take the ashes to. It’s Abel’s address.”

Sam

That is at least a piece of information that I’d been wanting to get my hand on.  Well, then, let go do it. The sooner I finish all my fetch and carry responsibilities, maybe I can sit down a minute and try to put these pieces together. Does it happen to say what Able wants the ashes for?

Ruby

“I agree with you. I know it’s frustrating, but I’m sure when we need to know, they’ll tell us what we need to know. Right now it must not be our concern. It’s just got to get done. You want something to eat before we go?”

Sam

No I’m good, I had a couple of late sandwiches…

Ruby

I roll my eyes and mumble, “I’m sure you did.”

Eileen

after Dean and I tell the others to get searching to find anything we possibly can on Abel, I pull out my laptop again and do my own research

[10:09 PM, 8/29/2022] Ellen SPN: finding books and books and reading on everything we can in the lore.

Jo

Trying to read everything

Mary

tries to find anything useful in the books. Looking up everything

Ellen

everything om finding just talks about Abel’s death and then Cain dam I'm not seeing anything here.

Mary

I'm not finding anything at here either. Are we missing something

Ellen

You know what? I wonder if killing Cain brought on another prophecy, or something else sharing my thoughts with the team

Jo

So far, it hasn’t been in anything I’ve read.

Ellen

phone starts going off. As I pull it out I see that it's Ash Hey Ash what's up?

ASH

Hey Ellen, how’s it goin’? Listen, something suspicious is happening near the old moldavite mine on the outskirts.

Ellen

Well Ash.. I’m a little busy at the moment

ASH

It’s important, Ellen! Lucifer has been seen up there and we needed to know what he wanted.

Ellen

All right well be there. Thanks Ash hangs up the phone

Ellen

putting my phone away, I fill the team in hey guys, Ash just called and apparently lucifer has been seen up over at Moldavite mine. We need to gear up and go now!

Mary

gets my gear together and waits for the others

Ellen

grabbing my gear I head for my truck who's riding with?

Jo

I am mom!

Dean

Damnit lets go! Who riding with me in baby?

Mary

I will Dean

Eileen

+eh I don’t particularly care but sure I’ll ride Dean+

Ellen

after everyone piles in. I push the clutch in and the start the truck. Drop it in first, then second, the truck starts sliding sideways, and hitting third hard we straighten out as we speed towards Moldavite Mine.

Dean

grab my duffle bags and head to my car and wait for those riding with me to get in I start it up

Ruby

I pop us to the mine.

Sam

At the entrance to the Moldavite Hollow mine, I turn on the lights at the side of my helmet and pull the smaller helmet out of my bag and hand it over for Ruby. It doesn’t look like the ground has much moisture, so as long as we avoid loose rocks might not be hard going. You ready?

Ruby

“Right behind you, boss.”

Dean

we pull up outside and I park

Ruby

Looking out the opening to the mine, I catch sight of the team from the bunker, hurrying Sam forward. “We’ve got company.”

Sam

Looks back at her Good kind or bad kind?

Ruby

“Brother kind.”

Ellen

we pull up to the Mine and park the cars

Sam

Making our way inside the mine, we search as we walk. What kind of idol could be hidden in a mine anyway? I brush my hand across a smooth rock surface and feel an almost tingle of electricity. Hold on Ruby. I pick up the rock, it feel different than an ordinary rock, and almost appears to glow.

Ruby

Watching Sam hold the rock up, I see his eyes change. “Sam, the longer you hold that your eyes are turning darker.”

Sam

I think we’ve found what we were looking for. I can feel the energy starting to move up my arms.

Jo

I catch Ruby out the corner of my eye walking into the mine.

Eileen

I catch sight of the mine entrance, which, conveniently, was covered in “KEEP OUT! DANGER” signs +dammit. it just HADDDD to be a mine. couldn’t have been.. oh I DONT KNOW, a wide open PRAIRIE?!+

Jo

Eli, stick with me and Mary and we’ll keep you calm.

Dean

completely pissed off about the entire situation i told you! I fucking KNEW that bitch was in on it!

Ellen

taking in what Dean just said. Hoping he's not right about this, but he just might be

Eileen

+yeah thanks Jo, but I’m not sure you quite get how the whole claustrophobia thing works. just having other people generally doesn’t make the problem go away+

Ruby

Watching Sam hold the rock up, I see his eyes change. “Sam, the longer you hold that your eyes are turning darker.”

Dean

I bust into the place grabbing at the idol Give me that Sammy!

Sam

Dean! Tries to hold to the rock and moves back away from him

Dean

I tackle you to the ground and take it and get back up no you dont need this crap Sammy come on get your damn head on straight!

Sam

As Dean grabs for the idol, I haul back my fist and smash it straight into his nose as I fall. Back off Dean! You don’t know what you’re getting yourself and everybody else into here…

Dean

I grab my face but still keeping the rock in my hands DAMNIT Sammy! We're brothers! Stop this shit man! This isn’t you!

Ellen

coming up on Dean and Sammy fighting please Sam just come home with us. We can work all this out later! I try to plead to Sam

Sam

Climbs back to my feet breathing hard Look, Dean we are brothers... we are of course.…I just know a little bit more about that idol than you all know. Hand it back to me and I’ll show you… and if you still think that it should go with you. I won’t try and stop you. I swear.

Ruby

I slowly make my way closer to Sam.

Mary

runs into the room Sam, please think about this. You're better than this. Please come home with us m

Dean

Dude, this isn’t you talking man come on we need you to come home.... What do you mean you know about it? Besides its part of the reason you aren’t you.

Eileen

+Sam. please come home with us… this isn’t you! we’re your family. whatever your going thru, let us help! please Sam+

Sam

Steps closer and holds out my hands Please, trust me..

Dean

Yeah because you ignoring us and just disappearing is so natural and everything start to hand it over how can I be sure?

Sam

Course... I take the Idol back Now, everyone… watch my face and my eyes… I hold tight to the idol with both hands

Ruby

When Dean hands over the idol, I rush over, grabbing Sam around the waist and pop us back to the apartment.

Dean

Damnit Sammy! Maybe DAD WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU!

Ellen

I grab Dean by the shoulders, standing in front of him look at me boy, look at me. making eye contact with dean you don't mean any of what you said. Your just upset, we will work this out. You know your family wouldn't do anything like this unless it was to protect us! trying my best to comfort this poor boys heart. I hate seeing Dean so hurt and upset

Dean

No! I mean every damn word! Dad was fucking right!

Mary

I can tell you right now Dean. I'm always going to be here for you. Now let's try to figure out how to help your brother.

Ruby

Back at the apartment, I lay my head back on the couch and send a message telepathically to Lucifer letting him know that our mission was accomplished.

Lucifer

I respond telepathically, praising them Very well done. But… tomorrow is going to be the real test. Wait for my message and I'll set up the meeting with Abel.

Ruby

“What is all of this for?”

Lucifer

Every knight needs his weapon... and Abel? He was an incredible blacksmith in his day. He wants to make his own, and you and Sam are going to help him.

Ruby

Eyes still shut, I’m not sure what he means by that and I just nod my head, showing him I’m paying attention. Worry begins to creep in.

Sam

Today was one of those days when it felt good to be getting back home all in one piece. Looking at the cloth wrapped idol and the mahogany box of ashes, it sure felt like an unreal day. If we just hadn’t unexpectedly been thrust head to head with my brother and the Team, I’d have considered it a success all round. Okay, do you think it’s safe to assume we’re off the clock. I look over at Ruby and see her eyes closed. I know she had to have been under even more pressure today than I’d been. Hey Ruby… let’s call it an early night, sound good to you? I cross to the sofa and hold out my hand.

Ruby

Opening my eyes, I smile at him. You know what Sam, that sounds good to me. We had a successful day. Taking his hand, I let him pull me up.

Sam

Pulling Ruby up in to my arms I give her a kiss on the top of the head

Ruby

After he scoops me up, I wrap my legs around his waist and hold him tight, laying my head on his chest.

Sam

I hold her tight and walk us back to the bedroom

To Be Continued

…………………………………………………………………..

1. At the bunker, Dean, Eileen, Ellen, Mary and Jo talk about Sam’s odd behavior yesterday and not being able to catch up to him even after they called out to him. They discuss why he might be acting this way. Dean still blames Ruby and Ellen tells him to cool it. Mary asks if they’d ever seen this before. Jo tells her no.

Mary remembers the tattoo she saw on Sam’s arm and brings it up. Eileen asks Mary if she can draw it from memory, which she does and then Eileen does an image search on the hunter’s web to see if she finds anything. She doesn’t and they all react, and start brainstorming where to look next.

Lucifer shows up  in the middle of the bunker and tells them he’s back and in charge. He hints of great things to come. Dean gets in his face and they argue back and forth. The other’s also say that there is no way Gabe or the Team are going to let him regain power. There isn’t anything any of them can say that spoils Lucifer’s fun. Lucifer thinks they are all just ‘so cute in their ignorance’ and leaves.

2. Sam and Ruby are at the apartment and Lucifer mentally tells Ruby to come meet him at the hillside they spoke of earlier. Sam tells her to be careful and not take any chances. Ruby makes her way to the hilltop and calls to Lucifer. Lucifer appears with a smirk and smart remark. Ruby responds with one of her own and Lucifer shushes her, telling her what a good little demon she’s been. Ruby’s attitude shows, but she says nothing, for now.

He tells her she will be rewarded, especially since she got his vessel! He had tried so hard, but he was satisfied with the one he had now. He muses that there was just something about Sam.

Ruby looks alarmed and Lucifer assures her that he wasn’t taking Sam’s meatsuit - he couldn’t anyway. But felt bringing him onto the …

3. Dean and the Team discuss the seriousness of Lucifer being back. No one is sure if this is becoming a War between the big powers, Lucifer & Amara. Mary speaks up and reminds them that Cain is also back from the dead, maybe he’s involved too. Eileen says that maybe Lucifer and Amara are each trying to build an army to help them take over. Ellen considers the ideas everyone is throwing around and suggests that no one really knows what kind of relationship Lucifer and Amara had before they were both locked away. What if they had been really close and were now not coming to fight against each other, but joining forces to knock Gabe from his spot as God. Everyone is shaken by her suggestion and Dean says that if it's true then they are going to have to figure out how to stop the apocalypse one more time.  

Dean also worries to himself that maybe Lucifer being back has something to do with Sam’s recent odd behavior. But he doesn’t share this with the others.

4. Lucifer sends another mental message to Ruby to return to the hill, this time with Sam. Sam and Ruby discuss what they’re getting into, and Ruby says all they can do now is wait for more instructions. Ruby pops them to the hillside and Lucifer is already there. Lucifer tells them that he needs them to go and pick up something for him and hands Ruby a paper with an address and description. Sam tells Lucifer he signed up to follow orders from Abel and he’d rather speak to him. Lucifer questions why he’s being that way, there should be trust between them and they could be friends. Sam retorts and Lucifer relents, telling them fine, they can deliver this item to Abel themselves once they get it, it was for Abel anyway. Sam says that is acceptable to him and Lucifer vanishes. Ruby shows Sam the address and item they are to pick up, then pops them to the address.

5. At the storage facility. Ruby recognizes the two demons out front guarding it and realize they belong to Crowley. We pop into the side of the unit and call them over. They kill both and get the keyring off one of them. They carefully make their way inside, find the correct unit, but Ruby can’t pop in. They use the key to open it and once inside, thankfully the locker is well organized, and it doesn’t take long for them to find what they are looking for. We look for the mahogany box with Angel warding sigils on it. Once back out of the unit, Ruby pops them back to the apartment to safety. Ruby can’t help herself and has to look at the contents. They’re both a little shocked. Sam begins to have second thoughts. Ruby says it's too dangerous, they can’t.

6. Dean says he can’t sit idly by anymore and gets up to get his keys. Ellen tells him to stop and dean argues and heads to the door. Jo, Mary and Eileen follow and are shocked when dean opens the door and Luci is standing here. Ellen swears and dean takes a step back, asking what he is doing here. Luci laughs and says he was just checking up on his friends, it has been a while since he had been at the bunker. Jo says that’s for good reason and Luci silences her. Ellen tries to protect jo and Luci holds her against a wall with his powers asking if any of these pesky humans would ever learn.  Mary stays back and doesn’t know what to say as Luci approaches her, Eileen gets protective. Luci asks why they’re all so jumpy and jo says seeing the dead rise will do that to someone. Luci laughs saying they should be used to that, and Dean says not when they were killed with the first blade. Luci makes a remark about them seeing Cain, and how they forgot Cain was a twin. He cracks another joke and vanishes.

7. Upon arriving at the apartment, there is a note on the door from Luci- saying he has one more job for them today.  Sam curses, and Ruby reminds him that this is what they had signed up for. She continues reading to find out this, along with the ashes needed to be delivered to Abel. Sam questions what Abel needed the ashes for, and Ruby tells him it’s not their concern-for now, this mission needed to be completed. She was going to make them both some lunch and then they would go. Sam grumbles a bit but agrees.

8. Back at the bunker Eileen and dean have told the others to see if they can find any information about Abel. Mary and Ellen are reading everything they can find along with jo Eileen and dean. Most everything about Abel talks about his death, and then Cain. Ellen wonders if Cain's death brought on another prophecy of some sort. Jo speaks up and tells her it wasn’t in anything she had read so far.  Just then Ellen gets a call from ash, telling him something suspicious is happening near the old moldavite mine on the outskirts. Ellen tells him she’s a little busy, and ash says it’s important, lucifer had been seen up there and they needed to know what he wanted. Not needing to hear any more Ellen tells the team to gear up, they’re going for a drive. They all get ready and go in baby and Ellen’s truck.

9. Ruby and Sam have made their way to the mines, just as the others pull in. They hurry inside hoping they hadn’t been seen. Dean and Ellen park their cars, and jo catches a glimpse of ruby as she enters the mine. (Which is covered in keep out signs) Eileen swears, then explains she does not like confined spaces. Jo tells Eileen to stick with her and Mary, they’ll help keep her calm. Dean just looks angered and tells Ellen he knew Ruby was in on it. Inside the mine Sam and Ruby are looking for the idol that lucifer sent them for. Sam asks what kind of an idol is hidden in a mine. Suddenly Sam touches a rock, that feels a bit different than the other stones in the room and he picks it up, it seems to have an otherworldly glow to it, and ruby watches Sam’s eyes grow darker as he holds it. Dean busts in and tries to take the idol. Sam fights him telling him to back off, he didn’t know what he was getting into. Dean argues that they’re brothers, and they’re soon joined by the rest of the team. They all try to talk Sam into coming home with them, Sam argues, but then has an idea, telling the team he knew something about what Dean had taken from him, and he’d share…but he needed it back. Giving ruby a knowing look at the same time. Dean hands over the idol, ruby rushes over and grabs Sam’s shoulder, popping them both out of there. Dean rages and says maybe his dad was right all along. Ellen tells him he doesn’t mean that and tries to comfort him

10. Back at the apartment, Sam and Ruby examine what they’ve managed to gather, and ruby sends a telepathic message to lucifer telling him it is done. Lucifer tells her well done, but tomorrow was the real test. She needed to wait for his message, and he’d set up the meeting with Abel. Ruby asks what all of this is for, and Luci tells her every knight needs his weapon, Abel was an amazing blacksmith in his day—-he wanted to make his own. Ruby and Sam were going to help him. Ruby doesn’t know what to do with this information so she just nods. When she opens her eyes, she tells Sam that so far, they’re succeeding. But who knew what tomorrow held

[odessastone]

You are soo right tbh, and I’m glad to hear someone say it.

As much as I miss SOME things about OW’s heyday, it was like, 98% garbage you just had to sift through. Hon hon Widowmaker baguette!! Gremlin DVa eat Doritos nomnomnom!! I NEED HEALING!!! got old real quick. Not to mention all the absolutely stupid discourse. I should be entitled to some kind of compensation for having to witness so many slapfights to the death over whether or not Pharah was butch (and then 90% of them dropped her like a hot potato once OW wasn’t “cool” anymore, anyway)

And don’t even get me started on the awful art hfjg like we got more art but at what cost. I remember walking away from a con table in 2017 because I saw they had OW prints, but the Symmetra print literally had her entire ass out. Being a DVa fan was like navigating a minefield of ass dimples and camel toe.

The other good thing about OW’s fanbase dwindling to a more manageable size is that you can dunk on know-it-all former fans lol. I recently hung out with some friends-of-friends, and when one of them found out I still like OW they started in with the “HOW’S THAT PVE COMING ALONG HYUCK HYUCK”, and it was funny as fuck to be like Actually I’m really enjoying it so far! I think Ramattra is an excellent villain and it’s great to see the characters all coming together to stop him. I also love that we’re getting to see more of all the characters’ thoughts via their journals and chat logs. And they were like “…I thought the PVE got canceled” and then didn’t say anything else about it lmao

Being an OW fan is so funny cuz like we’re just going about our business. Having fun with the game discussing characters getting hyped for future story content. Then every so often someone will come barging into the tag like “omg guys remember people ACTUALLY LIKED OVERWATCH” with 50 billion notes from randos you’ve never seen before and never will again. And nobody in the OW fandom engages. We just skip right over it and continue with our fanart and discussions lol

[whatsnewalycat]

Just Dumb Enough to Try

Chapter 10: Take Me to Church

Word Count: 3.6k

Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader

Rating: Explicit (18+ only)

Content Tags / CW: swearing, smoking, pining, mental health spiral, cheating/infidelity, lying, catholic church, oral sex (m receiving), church sex, bathroom sex, dirty talk, making shit up about Javi's origin story, parent death, car accident death, establishing relationship expectations

Chapter Summary: Our heroes have a fun time at church.

Notes: Chapter title from "Take Me to Church" by Hozier. We've officially made it into the second act of this story- yay! I'm going to take the series summary off of these posts going forward, but if you'd like a series summary, click first chapter. Comments, questions, concerns? Let me know :) I like receiving feedback. OK, THAT'S ALL, THANK YOU FOR READING!

[ First Chapter ] [ Previous Chapter ] [ Spotify Playlist ] [ AO3 ]

St. Mary’s Church, Laredo, TX

June 21, 1998

The pew creaks beneath your weight as you shift in your seat between Dan and Cheryl. As far as Baker family outings, going to church is both your least favorite and the most frequent. They’re Catholic, and mass lasts almost an hour and a half most Sundays. This gives you ample time to daydream about anything, as long as you stand, sing, and sit when everyone else does. Overall, you’re there because it makes Dan and his family happy, and (ever the people pleaser) you want to stay on everyone’s good side.

It’s almost always incredibly boring (hence the daydreaming). Today though… you and Javier are stealing glances at each other. Each small glimpse makes your heart skip and cheeks blush. A fluttering feeling creeps across your chest, then liquefies into heat that pools in your center.

You just saw him yesterday afternoon up at the Pour House, but you were there with Dan and his friend, Greg. When Javi entered the bar, he came over to say hello to everyone, then sat down next to you and chatted with you while Dan talked with Greg. Dan didn’t pay the interaction much mind, but on the way home he asked what you two had discussed, to which you answered vaguely, “We were just catching up. You know, wedding planning, how the ranch is going, movies, all that.”

“He hasn’t been trying anything with you, right?”

“Javi? No,” you grimaced, “He’s never been inappropriate with me. We’re just friends.”

“Better not,” he said sternly.

Never mind the fact that his hand was resting on my bare leg the whole time, fingers drawing sweet nothings onto my skin.

You’re in this now. Actively lying, sneaking, cheating.

“Doesn’t he have a thing with Kim, anyway?” you asked, looking out the window. You didn’t think that was still happening, but the question (which you only asked to cause misdirection) churned your stomach with anxiety. Even if they were still seeing each other, it’s not like you’ve established exclusivity with Javi. You’ve barely established a romantic relationship with him.

“Yeah, but you never know with guys like that,” Dan squinted over at you, curling his lip.

The word yeah dug into your skin like a sliver.

What does he mean yeah? Is there something I don’t know? Not that I'm the boss of Javier or anything. He’s free to do what he wants. I'm cool with whatever. I'm cool as a cucumber.

You shrugged, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

So why do I feel like this is my circus and my goddamn monkey?

You’re jostled out of your thoughts as you realize the people in the row in front of you are rising to go get communion. Once they file out and start towards the sanctuary, everyone in your row rises. You excuse yourself to go to the bathroom.

When you flush the toilet, you hear the heavy bathroom door open and close as someone enters, but doesn’t go into the other stall. You pull up your underwear and straighten your turquoise dress before emerging, the click clack of your heels echoing around the room. You jump when you look up and see Javi is leaning up against the tile wall, looking up at you, arms crossed expectantly.

“What are you doing?” you ask in a hushed tone, whipping your head around to make sure there’s no one else in here.

He pushes himself off the wall and advances towards you- eyebrows drawn together, lips parted, gaze hot. He’s on you at once, hands cupping your face, guiding you back into the stall, locking the door behind him.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he breathes onto your mouth. A grin spreads across your face and heartbeats like a bass drum start thumping in your chest. You run your fingernails through his hair, gazing up into those mischievous dark brown eyes. He keeps eye contact with you, running his hands up and down your waist affectionately. His whispers continue, “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, I… I need to touch you, I couldn’t stop myself from following you.”

“You’re such a trouble maker,” you tease, then raise yourself up onto the balls of your feet and brush your lips against his, back and forth. He inhales sharply and mimics your motions. The feather light touch sends shivers up your spine. His mouth curls into a smile and you can’t resist any longer. When your lips meet his, he savors the feeling for just a moment before running his tongue along yours. A small gasp escapes you when he bites your bottom lip, then starts trailing kisses down to your neck. You tilt your head back and thrust your hips into his. He runs his tongue in circles down your throat. Your knees go weak and you involuntarily let out a moan.

“I th-thought public bathrooms were o-off limits?” you pant, untucking and unbuttoning his dress shirt until you can reach up and splay your fingers across the tender warm skin of his abdomen. A shudder racks his body, then he presses his lips back to yours.

“I can’t wait any longer. Look at you- fuck ,” he pushes you up against the wall and starts pawing at your dress, trying to get his hands underneath without moving his lips from yours. You shake your head at him coyly, then swap positions with him so he’s the one against the wall. Your hands travel down to his belt buckle, undoing it with a deafening jingle that ricochets off the bathroom walls.

“Must be a special day if you’re wearing underwear,” you tease, tugging at the tight material of his boxer briefs until they’re down to his ankles. Pointing a finger at his mouth, you instruct him to suck. He grabs your wrist as he gladly accepts the digit into his mouth, enthusiastically rolling his tongue around it.

All the air whooshes from his lungs as you crouch down to look at him. His cock is engorged and thick; he is deliciously well-endowed. You look up into his wild eyes as you place your wet finger tip onto the thick bead of pre-cum hanging off of his cock, then drag it down his length. He looks down at you, pleading, desperate for more stimulation.

Javier lets out a small cry when you follow the same path with your tongue, then back up again. You slide the head into your mouth and swirl your tongue around it, then seal your lips around his girth, bobbing back and forth, taking a bit more of him each time. He holds himself back from interfering with your process, watching you graduate his cock to a deeper level with each thrust. Hushed grunts and whines fall from his mouth, seeming so much louder than they actually are as they reverberate off the empty walls.

When the head hits your gag reflex, it gets triggered, and you let out a choking noise. You take it out and catch your breath, stroking him attentively as you try to relax your throat. The sound of you jerking him off is obscenely loud. He groans, “That’s so good baby, h-holy shit yes , you’re such a good girl.”

Sinking down from your crouch onto your knees, you adjust so you can get a better view of him coming undone. Your lips wrap around his cock and you start working faster, relishing the feeling of him rubbing against your lips, your tongue, the roof of your mouth, dipping into your throat when you can handle it. You bring a hand to his balls and cup them, rubbing your thumb across the sensitive sack gently. He shudders under your touch and it only makes you more ravenous.

“Look at me,” he rasps, and your gaze shoots up to him as he chokes out, “That’s perfect, baby. Can you take more?”

Your eyes water when you try, but you’re able to relax enough to start taking him deeper. He nods in approval and you continue working enthusiastically, finding a steady rhythm that makes his eyes flutter. His hands grab onto your hair and you moan, taking him in as deep as you can. “H-holy shit. Can- can I fuck your face?”

You pull off of him, saliva stringing from his cock to your face as you gasp for air, “Fuck- fuck yes, you can do anything to me.”

You take him into your mouth again and look up at him. His lips are puckered, brow furrowed, sweating through his nice dress shirt. He puts a hand on either side of your head and slowly thrusts forward, testing the waters. You relax your throat and jaw enough that on his next thrust, his cock slides deeper into throat. He starts to go faster, at which point you’re sure you could fucking drown someone in your panties with how wet you are. He’s using your mouth as his fuck toy and it’s everything you could ask for in this moment. He whispers sweet affirmations, telling you how good you’re taking him, how fucking sexy you are, how crazy you make him, how you’ve been making a home in his brain, living there, nesting.

The squelching and moaning coming from your mouth is echoing off the walls of this church bathroom, but it’s like you’re the only two people on earth. His lip curls up and his rhythm starts to grow more frenzied. He whimpers, “I’m- I’m gonna cum, baby. In your mouth?” You nod and bat your eyelashes up at him.

He’s looking down at you, tears brimming your lust-blown eyes, cheeks hollowed out, lips swollen and wet as his cock thrusts in and out of your pretty face-

A series of small moans leave his lips. His hips reach a fever pitch, then jerk forward a few times as cum spills into your mouth. You swallow the load while his cock is still submerged. His chest is still heaving when the death grip he has on your head softens and he pulls himself out with a pop . He pulls his boxer briefs up before helping you rise from your knees. Once upright, his thumb runs along your tingling, swollen lips, then he kisses you, coaxing your mouth open with his tongue so he can be inside you one more time before parting.

He pulls himself together and re-enters the chapel while you review the damage in the bathroom mirror. You look… like you just sucked someone off, honestly. Hair mussed, red puffy lips, mascara transferred onto your cheeks… and is that a fucking hickey ??

I’m going to murder him.

Once you fix yourself up the best you can and exit the bathroom, you realize the recessional hymn is playing, and decide that there’s really no point in going back into the chapel.

So, you grab your sketchbook and cigarettes out of your car, then open the hatchback so you can sit in the cargo area. Thankfully, your dress is long enough that you can cross your legs and prop the book up onto your thigh without the world seeing your soaked underwear. Cigarette in one hand, pencil in the other, you look around for inspiration; an out of place willow tree catches your eye, so you start to draw it. You hear a familiar gait approach and peak up from your paper to confirm it’s Javi. He lights up and sits next to you, observing your work in progress.

“Hello there,” you grin.

“Long time no see,” he winks.

A hum buzzes off your lips, then you point to the new marking on your skin with your pencil and scold him, “You gave me a hickey.”

His eyebrows raise and eyes widen; he winces as he inspects the enflamed skin, “ Shit . I got a little too carried away, I’m sorry.”

You look over at his apologetic face and wave it off, “I’ll just say I burned myself with my curling iron or something,” then continue sketching. Truth be told, you like the marking because it’s from him. If it weren’t for your scandalous predicament you’d wear it like a badge of honor. He leans back onto his elbows and casually watches you work, puffing away like a chimney. The silence that settles is comfortable. It’s so easy to spend time with him.

The other day, the two of you laid in the bed of his truck, bodies tangled in some configuration or another until the sun set. You exchanged ghost stories and urban legends. He told you that he believes in ghosts, which is shocking, but forbade you from telling a soul. Even after the cold set in until it made your fingertips numb and your bodies ached from laying against the hard metal ridges of truck bed, you were playing chicken, seeing which of you would say they have to leave first.

His presence is like a blanket, warm and comforting. But you sense that you have barely skimmed the surface of this man. You suppose he could say the same about you, too, and he’d be right. It seems that both of you have built a fortress around your hearts. With each talk, laugh, kiss, touch, comfortable silence… you allow yourselves to disarm it a little more.

Javi sits up and reviews at your progress. You tell him, “Did you know that if you plant a willow branch, a new tree will grow from it?”

He turns to look at you, raising his eyebrows, smiling at this fun fact, “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Probably not this one, though,” he bites the inside of his cheek for a beat, then continues, gesturing to the huge shaggy tree, “It’s completely illogical that this tree is growing here. Weeping willows don’t grow in Texas.”

Your face screws up in confusion, “They don’t? Then how…?”

He looks as bewildered as you, “I have no idea. It’s why my abuela chose this church, though, because it’s a miracle that it exists here,” his gaze drops to his fidgeting hands, “Funny enough, my parents ended up meeting here when they were kids. Pop was homeschooled, so I don’t even know if they would have met otherwise.”

You set down your pencil and turn to him, “That’s how your parents ended up meeting? A freak willow tree brought them to the same place?”

“It sounds ridiculous when you say it like that,” he laughs.

“It’s like a fairy tale,” you giggle, placing your hand on his arm, “So, yes, it is ridiculous. But also… romantic. I love it.”

You rub your thumb affectionately against his arm through his suit jacket, hesitating to ask the question on the tip of your tongue. Speaking softly, you ask, “I’m sorry if this is out of line, but… is your mom…?”

“She died in 1982,” his gaze flicks to yours, you suppose he’s gauging whether or not to continue, “in a car accident,” he takes a deep breath and looks off at nothing in particular, “I uh… I was the Sheriff’s Deputy here at the time and first responder on the scene.”

“ Fuck , Javi,” you whisper, limbs falling limp at the implication.

He doesn’t say anything for a while, just stares into the distance with that haunted look upon his face. When he opens his mouth to continue, his voice is raspy, “Seeing her… that’ll stick with me forever. She was already dead, couldn’t do anything, but I tried. My dad hasn’t been the same since then, you know. We uh… we miss her a lot.”

“Javi-“ you squeeze his arm and he turns towards you, eyes somber and watery. You pull him in for an embrace, cradling his head on your chest. It doesn’t matter who sees or what they think about this moment, that’s not what’s important. You brush your fingers through his locks, holding him close, breathing in the scent that’s so perfectly him. You wish you could take away all the pain, but know you can’t. His body becomes less rigid as he melts into you and wraps his arms around your torso. Quietly, you tell him, “I’m sorry that happened to you. And… thank you for trusting me with your story.”

“Thank you for listening, cariño.” he mumbles into your chest. You release him. The pet name he’s given you tightens your chest and makes you blush every time it rolls off his lips.

“Anytime,” you try to wink. It doesn’t work.

“You ok?” he raises an eyebrow at you while leaning back onto his elbows.

“Yeah I was um… winking at you,” you hide your reddened face.

He snorts, amused smile breaking out on his face, “Oh yeah?”

“Mhmm,” you clamp your lips together, stifling laughter. Then look back up at him to demonstrate your wink again, which is more like one eye clenching shut while the other twitches uncontrollably.

Laughter erupts out of both of you. He asks between breaths, “You- you know what a wink is, right?”

“Oh my god shut the fuck up,” you cackle, smacking his chest, “I was just trying to be charming, like you!”

“You’re plenty charming. Maybe not good at winking, but you are charming,” he grins over at you and winks perfectly.

“You’re lucky I like you so much or I’d kick your ass,” you tease. Your heart lurches in your chest when you see the endearing way he’s looking at you.

He mumbles, “I’d like to see you try.”

You roll your eyes at him playfully and turn your attention back to drawing the freak of nature willow tree. Javier observes you occasionally while watching people, particularly keeping an eye out for either of your families. Eventually, you start thinking about Javier and Kim again, and curiosity gets the best of you. It just keeps gnawing at your mind and you can’t stop yourself from asking.

“I- I have a question,” you squeak.

He furrows his brow and looks over at you expectantly.

“Are you… seeing Kim?” you stumble, “Like, too? - I mean- obviously I have no say in that or whatever but-“ you clear your throat, “just, like, so I know.. you know?”

He seems to freeze up as he’s processing this. Your heart beats faster, tension builds in your shoulders, and you literally cannot stop yourself from continuing, “Because I know you two had uhm… kissed, or whatever, and you were her date last weekend…”

His expression doesn’t change, his eyes just search your face. You wriggle in your seat nervously.

“But we started uhh,” you swallow hard, trying to pantomime, “I guess, this… thing. And I just want to know.”

At this point, your heart is pounding so hard, you feel dizzy and you’re practically panting.

Am I sweating? Am I having a panic attack?

“No, I’m not involved with Kim. Or anyone else. Just you,” h e looks down at his hands, “I actually talked to her- Kimmy- after last weekend. We both agreed it would be better if we’re friends.”

The festering bundle of anxiety in your chest dissipates with a heavy exhale, immediately replaced by embarrassment and relief, “Why did you let me keep rambling like that? Jesus Christ.”

He raises his hands in the air defensively, “I was waiting for you to finish talking!” Then chuckles and smiles at you, “Besides, you were pretty cute, getting all flustered like that.”

Your face burns scarlet and you try to hide it by looking down at your paper and letting your hair cover your face. You feel him watching you.

“Hey, look at me,” he says softly. You sigh as you look up and let him see your beet red face. He tucks the hair in your face behind your ear, “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

You bite the inside of your cheek, then look down, “It’s just so silly because, you know, I’m fucking engaged. Why do I care if you see someone else? How is that even fair?” you confide, then throw your head back and groan, “It’s not. It’s not fair. But I think of you with someone else and, fuck , it tears me up. But what if you’re holding off on pursuing someone because of me? What if that person is the one you’re supposed to be with? What happens when I-” you stop and shake your head.

What happens when I fall in love and you leave for someone better?

He takes this opportunity to cut in and stop you from rambling into oblivion, “I’m pursuing you because I want you. I wouldn’t normally entertain the idea of being a paramour, trust me. It wouldn’t be worth the hassle,” your eyebrows draw together, you look over at him. He meets your gaze and smirks, “For anyone else, it wouldn’t be worth it. But you are.”

You realize you haven’t been breathing, so take a sharp inhale. Your heart hammers in your chest and you can feel heat rising in your face again. Every part of you feels a magnetic pull to him, aching for his touch.

“Why would you say something like that to me when we’re in public and I can’t kiss you?” you chide.

He grins at you so wide you can see his dimples and goddamn him .

“Can you wait until tomorrow?”

“If I have to.”

“I’ll pick you up around 3?”

You nod, biting your bottom lip.

You look down at the willow tree doodle, tear its page out, and hand it to him before you scoot out of the car, “I should go see what’s taking them so long. Bye, Javi.”

“See you tomorrow, beautiful.”

You don’t look back as you make your way back into the church, but by the time you and Dan come back out to leave, the trunk is closed and his red truck is gone from the lot.

[ Next Chapter ]

[julietaswifey]

A square spouse to a round one

Pepa and Agustín hang out in the kitchen while the people they love most in the whole wide world make dinner

I felt that the world needed more Pepa/Agustín friendship, so I threw this little thing together. They should be allowed to be dramatic together and love their significant others :) can also be read on ao3 where I’m TheNightInMidWinter

This was inspired by a fic by @includeangieinthesequel and @lariskapargitay

Pepa could hear both Félix and Julieta before she even entered the kitchen. She also heard piano music, which told her that Agustín was there, as well. Why he was playing in the kitchen she didn’t understand though. Of course it was no problem for Luisa to carry the piano around the house, but shy would he even want to have it in there?

When she reached the kitchen she found both Julieta and Félix in full work with getting dinner ready, chatting to each other about something Pepa didn’t really understand. It had to do with the usage of herbs in food, incredibly boring. Still it was entertaining enough for them not to notice her when she entered the room.

The piano stood in a corner of the room, and by it sat Agustín. He looked a little lonely compared to the other two. Pepa knew how it could be, once Julieta and Félix got really into something it was hard to stop them. And while she was glad for that her sister and her husband were good friends with common interests she wished their common interests had been a little more exciting.

“We married a pair of dorks” she said as she walked over to the piano.

“Unbearable, the two of them” Agustín said.

He stopped his playing and looked across the room at Julieta and Félix.

“And we love them so much.”

“We love them really much.”

She loved her husband with all her heart and she loved her sister. They were the least cool people she knew and she wouldn’t have it any other way. People often believed Félix to be cooler than he actually was, he had a bit of a reputation and he worked to uphold it. Once Pepa had also believed that, but then she had got to know him and fallen head over heels for him. And between those events she had realised that he was the sort of man who could nerd out about herbs with Julieta. Which had definitely contributed to the falling thing.

“How long have they been going on about this?” Pepa asked, nodding towards Félix and Julieta.

“I don’t know, I stopped listening after a while. I can’t really join in on the conversation, I’m just here to provide entertainment.”

Pepa laughed.

“Isn’t that what we are, you and I? Entertainment for our spouses?”

In truth it had always been Félix who had been the showy one. He could make entertainment out of anything, really. But it sounded fun to say.

“Pepa and Agustín Madrigal, the unnecessary entertainers” Agustín chuckled.

Pepa had to admit she hadn’t always been very fond of Agustín. Because who was he to come from the outside and sweep her sister off her feet? But he had grown on her, to say the least. And they did make quite the duo, if she could say so herself.

“Move over, we’re in this together.”

He did as she said, moved to one side of the small wooden bench he sat on in order to make room for her to sit next to him.

“They’re really sweet, but sometimes I worry for them” she said as the conversation stopped abruptly only for both of them to start humming the same melody at the same time.

“I believe they think the same of us.”

“Those bastards, there’s nothing wrong with us.”

“Exactly!”

She sighed before moving to rest her head against her brother-in-law’s shoulder. Only to immediately regret that, and raise her head again.

“I keep forgetting how bony you are” she told him.

Félix wasn’t bony, Félix was soft and nice to rest against. And he gave the best hugs, like a teddy bear. A warm, nice, teddy bear. Agustín was the opposite of that, he wasn’t really cuddle material. Sometimes Pepa wondered how Julieta could want to be married to him. She loved Agustín as if he was her own brother, but how could Julieta want to love him in a romantic way? How could she want to cuddle with him when there wasn’t much to cuddle with? But then Félix cuddled with her, and she was definitely built more like Agustín.

“Hermana, you have the sharpest elbows ever, you don’t get to complain about me being bony” he fired back.

Well, she couldn’t argue with that, she did have sharp elbows. And she did make good use of them.

“We need them to balance us out” she then said, glancing over her shoulder at Julieta and Félix, both of whom were still humming in perfect tune with each other.

Maybe she could get them to sing together some day, that would probably sound even better. But Julieta never sang.

“What?”

“We’re bony spouses, we need a soft spouse each to balance us out.”

Agustín also looked at his wife, and Pepa watched him don a very dreamy expression. He always got that look on his face whenever he saw Julieta. And she had to admit it was kinda cute.

“Yeah. I need her to balance me out” he agreed.

Pepa took his distraction as a chance to direct her attention towards Félix for a moment. He was wearing one of Julieta’s aprons, it was way too small for him. Good in length, they were about the same height, but his chest was much broader, so he couldn’t tie it in the back. His chest was so nice to use as a pillow. She couldn’t wait until it was time for bed and she got to rest against him, that was her favourite time of the day. When she could feel whatever she wanted because their bed was protected from the weather in the rest of the room.

“Have you done the reading for this week?” Agustín asked when he had snapped out of it.

He turned back to the piano and once more began letting his fingers flow over the keys. He had large hands, perfect for piano playing.

“No, I was saving it for tonight so that I’ll have it fresh in mind for tomorrow. I take it you have done the reading.”

“I have, I can’t wait to talk about it” he smiled. “The last chapter, Dios, it was hard to stop reading.”

“Don’t spoil anything!”

That was the bad thing about reading together with Agustín. Pepa read that chapters they were supposed to read the night before so that she would remember all the details, while he did it as soon as possible. Therefore he had a whole week to accidentally spoil things to her before they had their official meeting. He didn’t mean to, but he wasn’t the best at keeping it to himself.

“I won’t, I’m just saying you’re in for a real treat.”

“I look forward to it, then.”

The hard part was doing the reading without Félix knowing what she was reading. She knew Agustín struggled with keeping Julieta out of it, as well. They always had to come and put their noses where they didn’t belong. They weren’t allowed to join the book club, that was for Pepa and Agustín only. It was their thing they did together.

“Mi vida, would you come taste the soup?”

Agustín’s head snapped up immediately at the sound of Julieta’s voice. Pepa could only laugh, he was like a puppy. A really excited puppy.

Immediately he left their seat and was standing next to his wife in the matter of a second.

“And why don’t I get to taste the soup?” Pepa asked, looking at her husband.

Félix opened his arms.

“Come here, Pepita.”

Maybe she hadn’t been right to laugh at Agustín considering how fast she made her way across the kitchen and into Félix arms.

When she reached him she wrapped her arms around him and pressed a kiss to his forehead. She had barely seen him all day as she had been busy out in town while he had been at home. And she had missed him.

He raised a spoon with soup to her lips and she carefully took a sip so that she wouldn’t burn her tongue.

“That’s really good soup” she smiled.

It tasted like heaven, all different ingredients went perfectly together.

“You know just what a man wants to hear” Félix chuckled.

“Had you not liked it I would have been angry” Julieta said, leaning back against Agustín’s chest. “We worked hard on this.”

“You know I love everything you make, mi amor” Agustín mumbled into her hair, kissing the top of her head.

They stood in silence for a bit before Julieta clapped her hands together.

“Muy bien, now you can leave so that we can finish up here.”

“What?” Pepa and Agustín asked at the same time, frowning. “We’re not leaving!”

Félix just laughed.

“Well, how are we supposed to finish cooking if you’re here distracting us?”

“Are you telling me I’m second to soup?” Pepa asked, raising her eyebrows.

“You’re my whole life, mi amor, but I also think it’s important that our niños get dinner.”

Pepa saw how Félix then glanced at Julieta and she nodded. What did that mean?

“Casita, a little help, please” Julieta said casually.

The next moment both Pepa and Agustín were stumbling away from their spouses on a wave of tiles. Before they knew it they were standing outside the kitchen and the door opening had turned into a solid wall, forbidding the two of them from going back inside the room.

Or, well, Pepa was standing. Agustín had lost his balance and was flat on the floor, limbs all over the place. How could there be so much leg on one man?

“How could they do this to us?” she exclaimed, throwing her arms out to her sides.

She felt the cloud forming above her head before she could actually see it.

“I’m not sure they love us in return” Agustín sighed dramatically as he began untangling himself and sat up.

“I can’t believe we’ve wasted almost thirty years on those two” Pepa continued.

Agustín stopped what he was doing and stared out into empty air, his eyes wide as plates.

“Ay Dios mío, has it been that long?” he asked.

“Not quite for you and Julieta, but for me and Félix, yeah.”

“How old am I?” Agustín said, seemingly horrified.

They had celebrated his 46th birthday just a few weeks prior.

“Younger than I am.”

48, she was ancient. But she could always comfort herself with that she was at least ten whole minutes younger than Julieta. It was usually just Julieta who brought that up to prove how she was the eldest and therefore the best and most mature of them.

“But anyway, I’ll die before I give up on this, so let’s get our spouses back” Pepa said, offering him a hand to get up.

“And how are we supposed to do that?”

“Unclear, but we’ll come up with something. We can’t let those two win, they have five feet between them and no bones.”

“True, it would be embarrassing, we would–“

Part of the wall disappeared into the floor again, opening the kitchen up for them. Julieta poked her head out, smiling.

“Would you get Mamá y los niños? Dinner’s ready.”

And so no grand plan was necessary.