#ok i’m done jacking myself off
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fishwikipedia · 3 months ago
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PURPOSE 2
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batmanisagatewaydrug · 23 days ago
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dear ms. sex witch,
i am fairly new to sex! really enjoying what i’ve experiences so far (yippee! wahoo!), except some days i’m just not in the mood or am having a bit of a repulsed moment.
and yet, even if i don’t really want to in the moment, i find myself sending nudes, flirting with my pals, etc. i don’t have any past bad experience with it, nor do i feel that anyone is pressuring me (quite the opposite—my buds are very good about going “hey are u ok with this today?”), so idk why i do this.
happens with solo stuff on occasion, too—i’ll slonk my stuff when i’m not horny and then when i’m done i’m like. aw shucks. that kinda sucked.
do you have a) any idea what could be causing this b) any idea how to stop getting into uncomfy situations?
ty and i hope your bones hatch well :D
hi anon,
so, I want to start by saying that you're totally entitled to feel however you want about any of this stuff, and if you want to change any or all of these behaviors that's completely your prerogative. my goal is not to convince you that you're making too big a deal out of nothing or that you're being silly.
I do just want to offer some context here, and affirm that all of these are like. pretty normal things to do while not especially horny.
lots of people jack off just because and find it underwhelming. there's no harm in that. flirting with your friends is also harmless, as long as everyone involved is okay with it; lots of friends flirt without having any intention of actually having sex with each other all the time. and sending nudes or sexting without being particularly invested is, also, incredibly common. there's a reason this genre of tweet exists, after all
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(apologies for the ifunny grabs I was in a hurry)
none of the things you're describing are completely incongruous with not being interested in engaging in partnered sex at any given time; just because you don't want to do one activity doesn't mean it's wrong or harmful to do other, related but distinct activities - particularly ones that have much lower levels of commitment or potential consequences.
I think what's causing it is probably that flirting with friends or sending nudes or masturbating are all kind of fun and require very little energy.
having said that, if you want to stop doing it then just. I don't know man. stop doing it. if someone wants a nude tell them you're not in the mood. don't jack off. don't flirt with your friends. you're the one in charge of that.
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halfmoondaze · 1 year ago
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That’s amazing I’m proud of you 💗
I’m the same anon talking about how stressed I am about my tough situation. Right now, I’m trying to be patient with myself and be hopeful about things
Tomorrow Will Be Kinder
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Y/n walked through the front door of their shared apartment. She didn’t want to admit it to herself but she was going through it.
For the past couple of days, she had been working on this group project. Everything was running smoothly at first, communication was going smoothly and everyone had agreed to do their part. And in hopes of being able to get it out of the way, managed to complete her part in three days. 
Having less than two weeks until finals week, she moved on to do her finals for her other classes. 
But then she started worrying the next day, after no one responded to her on the group chat, when she asked how the work was going. Things only got worse from there, because after the chat was crickets even after Y/N finished her Human Anatomy class, her efforts to text and call each individual of the group separately, she realized it was no use as no one was answering her calls and ignoring her messages even though they were on read.
The following day was no different, and she found herself starting to spiral, at least on the inside. She had no choice but to pull as many all-nighters as needed to finish completing the group project and the rest of her final projects.
Jack on the other hand, was worried for her. He could tell something was bothering her by how all the sudden she had stopped talking to him unless it was to acknowledge his presence with the occasional “Hi”, “Hey” or “Good morning”. 
One night, Jack got home from the studio. It was around 11:45, and the only light that was still on, was coming from Y/N’s home office. 
Jack quietly opened the door and was met by Y/N’s intense angry glare at him. 
“Hey-”
“No!” she looked down at him. 
Jack turned to look down and realized there was a pile of written papers scattered across the floor and he had accidently stepped on one of them.
“I’m sorry, I-”
“It’s fine.” She said coldly taking the paper from his hand and just carried on working on her project like if nothing happened. 
“I just wanted to see how you were doing” 
“Better than ever” she responded unenthusiastically. 
“Did you eat today?” 
“What?” she turned to him. 
“I asked you if you ate today” 
“Can we not do this right now? I still have so much to get done” She dismissed him and put her focus back on her project.
“I know. I’m sorry” he scratches the back of his head finding the right words. “I’m just worried that……. you’re wearing yourself out. You should take a break” 
“No, I can’t do that. I need to get this done” 
“Y/N” 
“You don’t understand. I’m already behind on a lot of my classes” 
“It’s not up for discussion baby” 
“For fucks sake! Can you get off my ass for two fucking seconds?!” she spat fire from her mouth as she glared at him. 
Jack was taken back but remained calm and unbothered. 
Then she turned away and remained in the same spot, with her back towards Jack. 
Jack pulled her into a hug and she broke crying into him arms. 
“Shhh shhh its ok” he held her and rubbed her back.
It was like all the stress she had accumulated for the past weeks hit her like a truck.
“I’m so sorry” she said with her voice muffled.
“Don’t mention it” he kissed the top of her head.
Eventually, she calmed down and stopped crying. 
“You ok?” he looked at her.
She nodded.
“You want to talk about it?” 
“No” she softly said. 
“Ok. I’m going to run you a bath and then I’m going to order some takeout” he said wiping away her tears. “Does Chinese sound good?”
“Yeah” she softly said. 
“Ok” 
Jack ran her a bath with her favorite body wash and ordered her favorite from their local Chinese restaurant. By the time she exited the bathroom, Jack had laid her favorite sweatpants and one of his oversized t-shirts on the bed for her to get changed.
When she got to the dining room, the food was already served. 
Y/N quietly took a seat. 
“Feeling better?” 
“Yeah, thanks” 
He smiled at her. 
“Got your favorite” 
“Jack” 
“Yes?” 
“I’m sorry….for snapping at you” she said looking down.
Jack gently squeezed her hand.
“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
Y/n hesitated, but ultimately told him everything. 
“I’m so sorry” he paused. “Can you still drop the classes?”
“I can’t. Finals week is just around the corner”
“I understand” he paused. “Maybe we could get you a tutor, so you can manage the workload” 
“A tutor?”
“Yeah. I would tell you to drop the semester, but I suppose it’s too late for that now. But I also wouldn’t want you to see all your efforts and hard work to waste just because some morons didn’t want to put in the effort” 
“Thank you” she was relieved. 
“It’s ok”
“No seriously. You’ve been so kind and helpful to me. And I’ve been nothing but-”
“Great. You’ve been great. You’re just going through a lot right now, and I understand that. Yeah, I was taken back by your reaction. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you angry” he let a small laugh. “But I won’t hold it against you. I just wanna help you”
Y/n got up from her seat, walked over to Jack and hugged him. 
Jack hugged her back. 
“I love you so much” she whispered. 
Jack smiled to himself.
“I love you too bubs” 
Y/N pulled away and smiled at him.
“….but I think I’ll love you even more if you eat” he pointed at her untouched plate of food.
Y/N smiled at him.
That night, Y/N relaxed for once, knowing that with Jack’s help, she would find her way out of this problem. Today was a bad day but tomorrow will be kinder.
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earthtoharlow · 11 months ago
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Faux Love
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This was supposed to be easy, right? Pretending to be in love with my best friend, just to satisfy our families’ constant nagging about us getting together. After all, we know each other inside out, every quirk, every flaw. We could easily slip into the roles of a couple without missing a beat.
But as we share knowing glances and laugh at each other’s jokes, I realize that our friendship has always been the foundation of something deeper. It’s as though the love was already there, quietly simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal itself….
“Hi, can I get a venti, half-caff, non-fat, extra-hot, caramel macchiato with three pumps of vanilla syrup, please?” Jean asked, pulling out her wallet for some cash.
“Name?” The man behind the counter asked.
“Jean Louise.” She replied, handing him her cash.
He shook his head at her before nodding behind her. “It’s already been taken care of.”
She followed his line of…head nodding and saw the gentleman who paid for her drink. The man was tall, hair was cut into a mullet. A curly one at that. He wasn’t looking her way but the way he was smirking and pretending to flip through a magazine, confirmed he was the one who paid for the drink.
“Hi, I’m Jack.” He said, extending his hand for her to shake as she stood by the counter to wait for her drink.
Jean ignored his hand and began texting on her phone. She responded without looking up at him. “Jack? That’s kind of boring, don’t you think”
Jack grinned, feeling a surge of confidence at her comment. “Actually, it’s short for Jackman,” he corrected her with a playful tone.
“Jackman? Now that’s more interesting,” Jean replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“So, Jean Louise… would you like to have dinner with me tonight?” Jack drawled, Kentucky accent coming out full force.
Jean stared at him for a moment, really taking him in. She first noticed his lazy eye that she couldn’t help but find endearing. He stood in front of her nervously running a hand through his interesting looking curly mullet. He was attractive, very attractive.
“The hottest tea we have for Jack!” The man behind the counter yelled out.
Jean couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as he grabbed his tea and took a small sip. Jack smirked before holding the tea out, offering some to her.
“No, thank you.” Jean laughed, pushing his hand away.
“What time should I pick you up tonight?” He asked with a big smile as he leaned against the counter.
That damned smile.
“A very complicated order for Jean Louise!” The man behind the counter yelled out.
“Ok, Jackman.” Jean said, grabbing her drink and a napkin. “If you can find out where I live, then you can take me out at 7pm. Thanks for the drink!”
Was Jean being kinda rude? Probably but she was nowhere near ready to be in a relationship. And she wasn't a big fan of one night stands. She was 26 for crying out loud! She was done with that. Jack was very attractive though…
***
It was around 6:30 when Jean heard her buzzer go off by the front door, she sighed as she had just sat down on her couch, getting ready to rewatch Gossip Girl for the 20th time.
“Yes?” She called out pressing the button.
“Uh, it’s Jack!”
“Jack who?”
“Man? Jackman, I mean. I know I’m a little early but I gave myself extra time just in case I got lost. I’ve actually been driving around since 6:15 but I didn’t want to seem like a weirdo for arriving so early.” He rambled against the speakers.
“How the hell did you find my location?!”
“You were in such a rush to leave that you left your wallet at the cafe, so being a good samaritan I opened it to find your address and return it. Also, are you going to let me in? It’s starting to rain.”
Jean was too shocked to do anything but buzz him in. She then ran down the hall to her bedroom to find something to wear.
She wanted something that said “I’m not a whore, but I’m not a virgin either.” Not that she planned on having sex with Jack. She was actually going to tell him that they should just be friends, after enjoying this free meal.
She threw on a little black dress, because you can never go wrong with that. And began quickly applying on makeup so that she looked alive.
Jean ignored the knock on the door, Jack could wait a few more minutes. It wasn’t until she heard thunder that she decided to go open the door.
When she opened the door, Jack stood there with that damned smile holding out her wallet for her to grab. Jean grabbed her wallet before walking back to her closet to find some heels to wear.
“So, where are you taking me? I’m starving!”
***
As Jean sat across from Jack at a private bistro, she couldn’t help the feeling of skepticism creeping into her mind. Jack was charming, and everything was going too well. He was different, refreshingly so. She felt more comfortable with Jack than she had with any guy before. Jack seemed to genuinely care about what she had to say. It was weird.
“So, your name?” Jack questioned as he offered Jean a helping of his pasta. Jean opened her mouth and let him feed her.
“Yeah, my mom was really big into literature. Her favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. My brother's name is Radley.” Jean explained tracing a finger around her glass.
“I love that, hm I’ve never met a Scout before.”
“Well, Jackman. I can guarantee I’ll be your favorite.”
With each passing moment, Jean found herself slowly lowering her guard, allowing herself to enjoy the conversation and appreciate Jack's genuine interest in getting to know her.
After spending the rest of the night talking, Jack dropped Jean back home, walking her to the front door. What shocked Jean the most was that he didn’t lean in for a kiss or ask to come inside. He just said goodnight with a hug.
Maybe she judged Jack Harlow too soon. Of course she knew who he was. He might as well be the mayor of Kentucky. He was nice and seemed like a genuinely good person.
It was a shame she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend right now.
***
AN: New Series!!!! Let me know your thoughts 💋
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daydreamgoddess14 · 3 months ago
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The Ties that Bind - Chapter 7 - The End
Time to say goodbye to this story. I've had the most fun writing it, I've loved Seren 🥰. I really, truly hope you've liked it too - hugest thank yous to everyone who's read it 😘. Always feel free to comment or message me or drop me an ask - literally I need no excuse whatsoever to go feral over Jack Lowden!
I am terrified about how emotionally traumatic Episode 5 is going to be so I distracted myself by finishing this off.
CH 1 | CH 2 | CH 3 | CH 4 | CH 5 | CH 6
Masterlist
Tagging: @cillmequick & @thomasshelbyswife
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Chapter 7
“Hi.” Seren said quietly, a small smile on her lips. River nodded, his mouth pinched in a tight line. He turned and went straight back into the kitchen. David gave her a push of encouragement towards the door and she followed him. His hands held the edge of the countertop with a white knuckle grip, she could see his back was tense and feared the worst. Confused, she spoke quickly. “You… you don’t want me here.” She concluded. “And I stupidly assumed you knew about this, I’m sorry.” She shook her head and held up her hands. “I’ll go and he can explain to you, we can figure out a rota or something.”
“He gets forgiven and I don't?” He asked quietly. She stopped in her tracks. 
“I haven't seen or spoken to you? Let's not forget who left me in the middle of the night and no word since?” 
“You didn't want me there.”
“Yeah, at first. I'm pretty sure that changed when-” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “when I let you into my bed! Or did you get what you wanted and that's that?” She hissed. His face fell. 
“Seren, you know that's not it. I left because I didn't want you to think that you had to forgive me. I wanted you to want to.” Seren took a deep breath and rubbed her temples.
“Look this is… I don't know how we've gone wrong here, I'm pretty sure we're agreeing but,” she shrugged, “this has all got fucked up somewhere.”
“Why would you think I don't want you here?”
“I dunno, this is your world, this MI5 bullshit and now I'm here and involved… what if that's what messes everything up?” She asked. 
“No, no, it's not.” He assured her. She could see the hurt in his eyes. She stepped towards him and covered his hand with her own, matching finger to finger. 
“No more cast?” 
“All healed. Well, I need to be careful but, y'know.”
“You're back to throwing fake punches, then?”
“Ahh, no. I gave up on that.” She traced his fingers with her own. 
“Oh?”
“I do spin class now instead.”
“The one on the bike?” She nodded in reply as he turned his hand around so they were palm to palm, and interlocked their fingers. He pulled a face. “Sounds grim.” 
“I needed the distraction.” She mused. “I know you were doing your job.” 
“Yeah.”
“And that job comes with a level of secrecy.”
“Yeah.” She squeezed his hand lightly and let go.
“Ok.”
“Ok?” He looked confused. 
“Ok. I get it.”
“... And?” She smiled at the hopeful look in his eyes, rolling her own in exasperation. 
“Do I need to spell it out?” He shrugged, a smile pulling at his mouth. “You're forgiven.” She told him solemnly. He smiled widely until she held up a hand and it faltered. “But-”
“But?”
“But I have let the entire secret service into my life - they have looked into everything I've ever done. They found out about when I got three speeding tickets in the space of a week fifteen years ago. They know every job I've ever had - including the Anne Summers Saturday job I had when I was seventeen. They know I broke my ankle when I was twenty one, they know how much Netflix I watch. They know more about my life than I can even remember, River. That's… a lot.”
“It is a lot, Seren dear, and I'm eternally grateful to you.” David ambled through, not paying any attention to their proximity. “It's rather a big commitment to make to two men who've mostly pissed you off. What was it you told me before?” He wondered, “Ah yes, we sounded desperate.” 
“You did.” She remembered with a smile. “You still do - I should fill up this fridge. Poor bugger, you've been living on microwave meals.” 
“He brought that on himself.” River pointed out, purposely nudging her. 
“How ever did the Cartwright men survive?” She wondered. 
“We didn't. That's why you're here.” David declared. 
“Hmmm, yes, and I expect you both to grovel for as long as I say so,” she called after him as he went back to the sitting room. She felt River behind her, his warm breath by her ear. 
“On my knees. Every day. If that's what it takes.” He murmured, placing a large palm on her stomach and pulling her body flush with his. She trembled against him as he leaned in to bite her earlobe, unable to stifle the low moan. She quickly clamped her hand over her mouth.
“Seren? Put the kettle on, would you?” David called. River gently pulled her hand from her mouth. 
“Better answer him. He might come looking for you.” 
“You knob,” she scowled. “It's on David, I'll come and get the pot in a minute.”
“Righto,” he said cheerfully, she vaguely heard the rustle of the newspaper over the pounding of her heart. The hand River had on her stomach had slipped under her t-shirt and drew loose patterns on her skin. The front of her thighs pressed against the table and she had visions of being bent over it, lifting her hips to meet his while her fingers gripped the varnished wood and he pounded into her. The thought had her keening against him as his hand moved up to cup her breast over her bra. 
“Something you need?” He asked, his voice low in her ear. She didn't trust herself to speak, instead she arched her back and pushed herself back against his hard cock. He growled against her neck, “I could just bend you over this table?” She whimpered in agreement. “But not now.” Seren twisted in his arms and moved her legs to let him rest between them. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue slid against hers. 
“River-” She whispered as he bit along her jawline. 
“Not here. I want to hear you next time.” He looked at her intently, his eyes bright blue and dancing with mischief. Seren whined in frustration. “I want to see how many times I can get you to make that sound,” he kissed her again. “I want to hear you every time you say my name, and,” he kissed the tip of her nose, “I want to not wake up to an empty bed this time.”
“You and me both,” she breathed. 
“Are we OK?”
“I mean, aside from this still probably completely inappropriate -”
“At least I'm not the one paying you anymore.”
“Fair point, yes, we're OK.” He leaned in to kiss her again, “but-” Seren held up a finger to his lips which he promptly drew into his mouth, making her whimper. “We really should figure out what this is, because I don't want to make my working here awkward or confusing for David.” He released her finger and nodded. 
“You're the boss.” He said with a smirk.
“Not you anymore, is it?” She teased, “no more calling you ‘sir’.”
“Makes sense, I'm the one supposed to be grovelling.” 
“On your knees wasn't it?” She asked curiously, looping her arms around his neck. 
“You got it.”
“My place later?” 
“Fuck yes.” 
“Seren?” David called from the living room. Her head dropped to River's shoulder.
“Later.” He promised. 
“On my way,” she called back to David, pushing River back so she could stand up away from the table. She went to collect the teapot and check what he needed while River put the kettle on. 
*
Seren left the Cartwright’s late afternoon, saying goodbye to both of them. Only a couple of hours later, River knocked on her door. She let him in and had barely closed the door behind her before River had her backed up against it. 
“All day,” he muttered against her collarbone, “been thinking about this all fucking day.” 
“Oh god, River-” She panted as he grasped the soft flesh of her thighs. “Wait, wait, wait, I’ve just come from the gym, I’m disgusting.” She pointed out. He leaned back to look at her, hair piled into a bun on the top of her head wearing a crop top and lycra leggings.
“Don’t care,” he muttered, licking a path down her neck.
“Fuck me,” she gasped as he bit her bare shoulder.
“Yep, that’s what I -” he broke off, listening, “what’s that noise?”
“The shower. I told you, I’ve just got back from the gym.” He took her hand and led her to the bathroom where steam billowed out from the still running shower. He reached out to unzip the front of her crop top and threw it in the vague direction of her washing basket, he pulled off his own t-shirt and added it to the pile. “What are you up to?” She wondered aloud, taking off the rest of her gym kit and stepping into the hot shower. He stepped in behind her and poured vanilla scented body wash into his hands until it frothed. He stood closely behind her so she could lean against him, and rubbed the soapy water from her hands, up to her shoulders and across the other side. He held her against him as he gently washed her stomach, over her breasts and the rest of her body. She sighed contentedly.
“This ok?” He asked, his hands running over and between her thighs. She nodded and reached up to pull the hair tie from her bun. River guided them further under the water stream, his height over her giving him a direct line of sight down her body. Seren took the shampoo from the shelf and he took it from her, gently washing her hair. He took his time, she relaxed against him, his eyes were drawn to the path the droplets of water took over her skin, like memories of where his mouth had been.
“Why’re you doing this?” She questioned as his fingers kneaded through her hair. She moaned at the slight pull, he kissed her neck, acknowledging that he’d heard her response.
“You look after everyone.” He explained simply. He replaced the shampoo and picked up the conditioner, repeating the same process until Seren was dizzy with her need for him. 
They lay nose to nose in Seren’s bed, close to sleep.
“We should be careful, David put himself out there by demanding Taverner employed me. I don’t want to break his trust.”
“I know. This doesn’t have to be complicated, maybe we should just enjoy the distraction. Keep it simple.” He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. He felt her nod in agreement.
“Yeah. Keep it simple.”
“I want you to be able to walk away from this one day. You don’t want MI5 in your life forever.” He reasoned, half asleep. Seren stayed quiet. His breathing evened out and the hand that brushed up and down her bare back fell still.
“What if I do?” She whispered to the darkness.
*
Seren was on her way to David's when the phone rang through the car. 
“Ms Harrison?” Her stomach dropped to her feet, it didn't sound like Taverner fortunately, so her mind immediately went to the next worst case scenario - Mags in the care home. 
“Yes, that's me?”
“I'm calling from Medway hospital, we have David Cartwright here - you're listed as one of his emergency contacts?”
“David? Oh, god. Yes, yes I'm his home help, I'm on my way there now, what's happened?” She came to a set of lights and did a u-turn.
“You're not live in?”
“No, we didn't think he needed that just yet.”
“It's not too serious, he's had a fall and managed to get to his panic button. The ambulance brought him in about half an hour ago.”
“Ok, have you called his other emergency contact?”
“Not yet -”
“I will. I'll do it. I'll be there in five minutes.” Seren hung up and flicked her eyes to her dash display to select River's name.
“I was just thinking about you,” he answered before she could get a word in. 
“He's had a fall. I'm on my way to the hospital,” she interrupted quickly. 
“Shit, ok, I'm on my way.”
“They said it wasn't serious but-” her voice cracked. 
“It’s going to be fine, I'll be there as soon as I can.”
“I'll call you when I know more.” He hung up first, she could hear muttered swearing as the handset moved from his ear so he could end the call. After hastily abandoning her car in the first space she saw, she raced to the reception desk. “David Cartwright, please? Came in an ambulance, I was just speaking with someone?” The computer keyboard clicked as the receptionist tapped her manicured fingers on the keys.
“Ahh yes, he's on the Acute Medical unit, Lister Ward, follow signs for Red 3. You're going behind me, turn left and up the stairs.”
“Thanks!” Seren ran toward the stairs to the next reception desk where she repeated who she was. A nurse led her down the brightly lit corridor to a small ward of 4 beds. In the far corner by the window was David. She rushed for the bed, managing to stop and slow down as she reached the end of the bed. “David,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. She went to his bedside and took his hand carefully, taking note of the cannula in the back. She followed the tubes up to an IV bag. His hand felt small and weightless in hers, the skin paper thin and cool to touch. 
“You've cold hands, dear girl.” He said hoarsely. She closed her eyes in relief at the sound of his voice. 
“Cold hands, warm heart.” She told him, reaching her other hand out to brush his hair from his eyes. “What have you been up to? Silly man.”
“Thought I'd get the kettle on for us, came a cropper on the stairs.” She tsked him lightly with click of her tongue. 
“Shit, I need to tell River you're OK, he's bombing down the motorway,” she picked up her phone and found his number. “He's OK, awake and talking to me. I just need to find a nurse for an update. Lister ward, Red zone 3.” She told him quietly. River arrived as the nurse did. They all listened patiently as she explained that aside from some bruises from the fall, he was perfectly fine but they did want to keep him in for a few days as a precaution. Once the nurse had left, River was able to reach to embrace David. He could only watch Seren but he could see she was itching to be closer to him. 
“You allowed a coffee old man?”
“I bloody better be, I shall discharge myself if not.” He declared. 
“Seren?”
“Yeah, I'll pop to the bathroom and help you bring them back. Won't be long, no causing trouble,” she warned David. In the safety of the corridor, away from the doorway to the ward, River pulled Seren into his arms. 
“You ok?”
“Silly bugger scared the shit out of me, I think I got flashed I got here so fast.” She grumbled, taking a deep inhale of the soap from her bathroom mixed with his own scent. He kissed the top of her head and then lifted her chin to kiss her properly, more intimately than she'd expected in public. The nurse who'd spoken to them blushed as she manned the reception desk. 
“C'mon, let's get his coffee, I only got you out here so I could kiss you.” He reluctantly let her go and went to push coins into the machine.
“You don't have to stick around here all day, you know?” David told her, “someone else is babysitting, go and enjoy yourself.” Seren looked torn. 
“I mean it. And you, shouldn't you be back in London? I certainly don't need both of you here.” He turned his attention to River. 
“I could go and visit Maggie,” Seren wondered aloud.
“Go,” David smiled. “Do go, dear girl. I'm fine, really.” River watched the guilt gnawing at her, that she hadn't been there early enough in the morning to have prevented the fall. Despite what the nurse had said, the worry was still etched in her face. 
“You should go, I'll stay here.”
“No you won't, I already told you, back to work.” River grimaced. “Go on, off you go.”
“Ok, if you insist?” Seren stood up and helped him get more comfortable in the bed, smoothing out the blanket, pouring more water for him and getting the newspaper from her bag along with a pen. “I'll be back later this evening, call me if you want me to bring anything else?” River watched, awed by their bond, the shorthand in their conversation and Seren's clear love for his grandfather. She kissed his forehead and gave him a winning smile, disguising the worry. “Be good for the nurses.” 
“I'll walk out with you, if you're sure grandad?”
“I am indeed, leave me in peace with my crossword.” River gave his hand a squeeze and gestured for Seren to go ahead of him. She turned at the door to wave at David. 
“So… going to work?” She asked once they were in the corridor. 
“No way, I'm going wherever you're going.”
“Oh you are, are you? To visit Maggie then?”
“Lead the way. We can drop your car off at the house and I'll drive?”
“Something wrong with my car?”
“Apart from the music choices?” She arched an eyebrow, 
“Tread carefully, Cartwright.”
“3 speeding tickets in one week, you got flashed this morning, it sounds like the wheels are about to drop off… anything else? Is your engine light on this week?” She scowled. 
“Not this week, no. I did do a probably illegal u-turn this morning though.” 
“Probably illegal?” He teased, slinging an arm around her as they left the hospital. 
*
“Seren, darling!” Mags called across the sunroom of the care home the second she came into view. Seren let the older woman pull her into a bear hug deceptively strong for someone in their eighties. 
“Hello Mags. God, I've missed you.” Seren squeezed tighter until Maggie clocked River standing further back. 
“Oh! You've brought your handsome man with you!”
“My friend, Mags. River is my friend.” 
“Well friendship suits you dearie, you certainly never looked this happy when you were my friend.” Maggie said slyly. 
“What's all this ‘was’ your friend, I am your friend you daft old bat.” 
“Cheeky, I can have you kicked out. Leave the man behind though.”
“No chance. How've you been?”
“Sit, sit, both of you. Are the girls getting some tea? I'm not too bad,” she flapped. “Service could be better,” she grumbled, looking around for a member of staff. 
“I'm fine, really good. You look well?” River sat down next to Seren but held back as the women talked, only being drawn when Maggie insisted. Seren's relationship with Maggie was similar to the one she had with David, she loved them and cared for them as if they were her own grandparents. He found himself lost in a near future where David wasn't around any longer. Found himself wondering and then what? It hadn't occurred to him that one day, his only relationship with someone outside of work would no longer be there. He would essentially be alone. He missed what Seren said as she stood up and brushed his shoulder as she left the room, but Maggie soon dragged him back into the conversation. 
“You're very quiet darling. I'm sure he'll be just fine.” River frowned. “Your grandfather? Seren said you've both come from the hospital this morning?”
“Sorry, yes. Yeah I'm sure he'll be OK.”
“But you're not?” She mused. “Out with it, before she gets back?”
“He's all I've got. It just occurred to me that he's all I've got apart from a few colleagues I'm not sure I'd call friends.” His brow furrowed again. 
“You've got her,” she nodded over at Seren who was laughing with one of the staff members. Her smile was radiant. He shook his head. 
“We decided to keep it simple, nothing serious.” Maggie's chuckle turned into a cough. 
“If you say so, love.” Seren came back over and Maggie fell silent.
“Apparently they're about to take you through for afternoon tea, so we'll head out.”
“Wonderful to see you. Bring cake next time, theirs is shite.” 
“Love you, Mags. Be good.” Seren gave her a hug and once she was released, Maggie ordered River over. 
“Don't be a fool, young man,” she muttered quietly. “Lovely to see you both, off you pop now.” As they left the room with Maggie watching, Seren slipped her hand into his and squeezed. 
“Everything alright?” She asked, her voice laced with concern. He nodded. 
“Yeah, yeah fine.” She didn't look entirely convinced, but let it go. “I, uhh, I'm going to head back to London if you don't mind?” Seren shook her head slowly.
“Sure, ok. I'll get my car and go back to the hospital for an hour.” They drove back to David's in near silence with Seren trying to understand what had happened over the previous couple of hours to have caused River to retreat into himself so much. “I'll call you later?” She asked, confused and a little hurt.
“Yeah, let me know if he needs anything. Otherwise I'll be back in a couple of days when he's ready to be discharged.” Seren nodded, her smile tight. She got straight into her car and decided to head straight to the hospital, not wanting to be alone. 
River made it one junction up the motorway back to London before turning around and going to Seren's house. She arrived home to find him sitting on the doorstep. She stopped suddenly, almost falling over him. 
“Oh shit!” She yelped, “you scared me half to death. What are you doing here, I thought you were going home?” He got to his feet and moved aside so she could unlock the door. She pushed it open and let him through first. “River? I thought you were going home?”
“I did. I am.” He said softly. Seren frowned a little, unsure of his meaning. 
“Ok,” she said gently, “ok. Let's get some food, you must be freezing.” He followed her to the kitchen where he sat at the table while she pottered around cooking. “David's doing fine, I think they'll probably let him out tomorrow. There's no reason to keep him in and they need the bed space.” She chatted to him, filling the silence. “I know you must be worried, but he's honestly alright. I'm sure the nurses are sick of him already. He was struggling to remember who I was, but I think it's the unfamiliar surroundings. I spent two hours with him telling me about his wonderful grandson, and then as I was getting ready to leave, he recognised me.” He moved to stand behind her, his chin on her shoulder and arms looped around her waist. She turned a little to offer him a spoonful of the rich tomato sauce she'd made. He nodded his approval and kissed her lightly, feeling her relax in his arms. His silence had made her tense, he realised. “You know you can talk to me about anything?” She hesitated, not wanting to overstep. 
“Yeah.” She didn't push any further but handed him a plate of pasta. “I always thought he was invincible.” He admitted sadly. She held her breath, waiting for him to go on. “Having you here, he was doing so much better. I thought he'd be here forever.”
“He's still here,” she reminded him, taking his hand. 
“And when he's not? Then what?” She shook her head.
“I don't know,” she confessed. She pushed the food around her plate, her appetite gone. “He talks about you constantly,” she started. “All the bloody time, even when he's lost in the past. He loves you so much, River.” 
“I can count on one hand the number of times he’s said it.” He mumbled, trying to recall the last time he heard it from anyone. His grandmother, Rose, before she'd died most likely. When he looked up from the table to see Seren watching him, he expected to see pity in her eyes, but there was none. 
“Earlier,” she took a deep breath, “when I said I thought you were going home? You said you are.” She paused, halfway between wanting and not wanting an answer to the question hanging in the air. “What did you mean?” 
“I love you.” He said softly, realising that he hadn't said the words since his grandmother had died, let alone heard them. “I've spent all day wondering what will happen when he's gone, when I'm alone, where home is. But I shouldn't have, because I'm not alone.” She shook her head, the movement spilling tears down her cheeks.
“No, you're not.” She moved from her seat at the table and onto his lap, holding his face in her hands. “You're not alone, I love you.” She kissed him, her hands leaving his face to run through his hair. “God, you're such a fucking moron.” He laughed into her neck. 
“When I saw how much you care for him, and for Maggie… She told me. She said I'd got you too. I know I said we should just be able to walk away, no hard feelings, but I don't want that.”
“You've always had me, I'm not going anywhere.” She sighed, heavy with relief and finally relaxing into him. “We do need to work out what to tell him though?” He kissed her shoulder. 
“Mmm. Give me tonight, that's tomorrow's problem.”
*
“Watch your step,” Seren warned, holding David's elbow as he lifted himself out of River’s car. River came round from the driver’s side to take his other arm but was swiftly batted away. Seren bit her lip to disguise the smile.
“Watch my bloody step,” he grumbled. “You watch out, I can still tell Taverner I’ve had enough of you too.”
“Ahh but then she’ll send back Pete who can’t play chess.” River told him.
“Is he the one who drank IPA? Disgusting stuff. I couldn’t even get him to fetch me a decent bottle of scotch. Over my dead body will he be back.” David complained.
“I’m sure he wasn’t that bad.” Seren reasoned as River went ahead of them to unlock the door.
“He was.” They stepped over the threshold together, “and he couldn’t make coffee and walnut cake.” David beamed at the sight of the cake in the centre of the table.
“God, what a crime. Looks like you did the right thing getting me back.” Seren guided him to the sitting room. “Are you feeling ok?”
“I’m not breakable, dear. I’m fine. They let me out didn’t they?”
“Yeah cos they were sick of you.” River muttered under his breath so only Seren could hear, disguising her laugh with a cough.
“I heard that young man. Seren, would you cut that cake please?”
“No problem, tea?”
“Excellent.” He settled back in his armchair, making himself comfortable. In the kitchen, Seren set a tray with cake plates and mugs. She drifted towards River as he came in.
“S’good to have him back here.” She smiled. He took her hand and pulled her away from the tray and into his arms. 
“Yeah it is. Means I shouldn’t be kissing you in the kitchen anymore though,” he grumbled. She leaned up on tiptoes and grazed her lips against his.
“As if that stopped you before.” She challenged. 
“Put her down River, goodness me I may as well look after myself if you’re going to distract her constantly.” David chided from the doorway. Seren sprung from River’s arms, blushing furiously.
“Shit, David, I’m so sorry. I-”
“No need to be sorry, dear. Did you really think I didn’t know? I may be losing my mind but I’m certain my eyesight is perfectly fine. I did tell you, he was bound to have his head turned by a pretty girl. I’m just glad it’s you.” Seren’s mouth formed a perfect O shape. “Just getting a pen for the crossword, I’ll leave you both to it.” He wandered back to the sitting room. “Wouldn’t say no to that cake, though?” He shouted.
FIN
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sl-newsie · 1 year ago
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Hat Thief (Jack Kelly x Medda's Daughter)
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Hi!! Idk if you’re taking requests (if you aren’t ignore this, but if you are) could you please write a 92sies Jack Kelly x reader? Perhaps the reader is a year younger than him, she’s quite playful and steals his hat, practically forcing him to chase her. Very very fluffy and sweet! Tyy!!!♥️                 Gotcha!
Friendship is a wonderful thing. When two people’s relationship grows so deep, sometimes it feels as if they’re one and the same person. I met Jack Kelly 5 years ago, when mother and I first traveled to New York. My mother, Medda Larkson, became very busy with her theater and didn’t always have time to entertain me. Jack cured that. The minute he first snuck in backstage we’ve been thick as thieves ever since. He’s got his dream of leaving for Santa Fe, and I have my own dream of becoming an actress like my mother. But for now we’ve let our childhoods prosper with a strong friendship connected by fun memories.
“Hey there, Annie!”
Speak of the devil.
“Heya, Jackie.” I turn away from the costume I’m sewing and face the cowboy himself. He’s been growing more lately, especially since he can afford food better since the strike. “How’s the headline today?”
He leans back against the wall and twirls his cowboy hat in his hand. “Was ok, I guess. It was about the new horse at the track. Race luved it! How’s your day been?”
I shrug and gesture to my project. “Been woiking on this for the past two hours. Mom said I can take a break in ten minutes if you wanna do someth’n.”
Jack gets a devilish glint in his eye. After setting his hat down on the vanity, he slinks over to grab my hand and starts pulling me towards the back door.
“Whaddaya say we skip the wait and you can go on a break now? I hear there’s a few boids at the pond. People’re saying they’s flying south for winter, call’n ‘em swans.”
“Jack, I don’t wanna get anodda tell’n off from- Wait. Swans?” My jaw drops. “I’ve only read about them in books!”
“I thought that’d spark your interest!” Jack grins. “So let’s go!”
He drags me behind him while I try to pull the other way. “No, I can’t! I promised I’d have this dress done by supper.”
“Aw, c’mon.” Jack pouts and sticks his lip out. “Don’t leave me alone.”
I scoff and boop his nose with my finger. “You’ll survive for ten minutes.”
I sit back down and return to sewing the dress, while Jack keeps pacing the room.
“I could ask Medda to let you go early,” he suggests.
I stifle a laugh. “Won’t work. Mom’ll have you scrub’n the stage for say’n that. Just because you’re a year older does not mean you are smarter, Mister Kelly!”
The cowboy makes a mock look of surprise and dramatically clutches his heart. “I thought we were on a foist-name basis! I’m scarred!”
Then an idea flickers on in my head. Carefully, I inch closer to the vanity. “Well, we might not be able to go somewhere else to have fun-” I grip Jack’s hat behind me and hold it up to dangle it in the air. “But who says we can’t have fun here?”
Jack’s eyes widen when he sees the hat. “Now now, Annie. Give it back.”
I think for a second. “Nah. I think I’ll keep it!” And with that, I dash out the door and into the backstage corridor.
“Annabelle Larkson, give that back right now!” I hear Jack shout behind me.
“Come and get it, Jackie boy!”
I snake through the curtains and begin climbing the stairs to the catwalk. I’ve explored every inch-a this place since I was a kid, so I know every hidey-hole there is. There’s a tucked away cupboard near the back that’s poifect for right now. Once I’ve crammed myself in, I wait to see if Jack will continue with the chase. He’s not one to disappoint, because he comes panting up the stairs in a few seconds. 
“Alright, Annabelle. You got me! Come on out now.”
Why is this so fun? I struggle to silence my heavy breathing when I see him getting closer through the crack in the door. My heart’s beating faster and faster! But is it because of the thrill of the chase or something else? Jack walks past, and I swear he can hear my racing heart through the thin wooden door separating us. He passes, and seems to have missed me entirely-
“Gotcha!”
The cupboard door swings open and two strong arms grip my dress to pull me out. My reaction is a goilash squeal that rings throughout the empty theater as I struggle to break free.
“Oh no, you ain’t get’n away that easily!” Jack grumbles as he backs me into a wall and starts tickling me.
“No- No! Not fair! No tickling!” I titter.
After a while I stop fighting and Jack ends his tickle revenge, trying to keep a serious face but it keeps slipping into a smile.
“You give in?”
I roll my eyes and turn to face him while he’s still gripping my arms. “You know I ain’t do’n that, Jack.”
His brow furrows and he nods, seeming to think something over. “Alright, let’s make a deal.”
“I’m listening.”
He releases my arms and points to his hat I’m holding. “You give back my hat, but can keep my heart.”
His what? I frown. “Your heart? What’re you-? Oh!”
Jack leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead, causing me to strain against the wall in surprise. My hands press against the brick, unsure what to do. I’m speechless.
"You stole my heart too, Annie." When he pulls away and sees my shocked face, Jack starts panicking. “Did I mess up? Are you mad?”
I slowly come to my senses and shake my head. “No, no! You- you read me just fine, Jack. I’s just surprised it took you this long.”
He mirrors my surprise and playfully swats my shoulder. “You luv me too? You mean all this time I could’ve been kiss’n you? I thought you just thought of us as friends!”
I smirk. “So what’s stopping you now?”
He grins and leans in closer. “Not a thing, Annie.”
Friendship is a wonderful thing. When two people’s relationship grows so deep, sometimes it feels as if they’re one and the same person. And that’s exactly how it feels when Jack closes the gap to mesh our lips togedda. A million emotions race through me, and all in all I could never think of any odda guy I’d want to kiss me. It feels right. 
“Just curious,” Jack mumbles through the kiss. “Your mom ain’t gonna kill me for this, right?”
“Hm. No. Then she’d have to hear me complain the rest-a my life. By the way, this is yours.” I flop the cowboy hat on Jack’s head.
He chuckles. “I dunno. I think it looks bedda on you.” Jack brushes his nose against mine and wraps an arm around my waist. 
“Aw, I’m flattered. But what kinda cowboy would you be without your hat, hm?”
@amoreenaflower
Hope this is the fluff you were looking for! ;) 
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star-dust-stuf · 1 year ago
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Jack Torrance x period!reader
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title: how can I face you
warnings: mentions of blood, pain, a little angst
a/n: ok, I watched the shining for the first time and I have a new obsession with a psychopath. I can barely find fluff for this character so I made this cause I’m me, what did you expect? sorry for typos.
-
When we drove to the hotel it was going to take almost two hours to get there and we were only one hour in and I knew it would happen! I was so stupid. All month I was trying to get my period early so I didn’t have to deal with it, I tried about everything like eating things to induce my period but it just kicked in now! Now?!
I twitched in my seat, putting my legs up, crossing them, anything to help the pain, I could care less if I got blood everywhere. Jack didn’t really find it bothering considering he thought I had restless legs. But hiding the pain was just as hard than to hold still, or making any real hints I was in pain. I leaned forward at times, I tried eating something to distract me but all it did was make me nauseous.
“Jack?” I asked, my voice a little shaky.
“Can I roll down the window?” I only asked because I didn’t want the cold to bother him.
He looked over at me then back to the road. “Yes, you ok?”
“Nauseous that all.” I let the wind clear my sinuses.
“Car sick? Have you drank any water?” He asked, his hand reaching for a water bottle behind his seat but his eyes still on the road.
I shook my head, “it’s not that.”
He grabbed the water bottle and gave it to me, “then what’s the matter?” He sounded concerned.
When i tried to tell him he put his hand on my knee, it made me frozen in my seat. I gave up, i cant hold out for another hour! “I think I got my period.” I whispered the last part for I was absolutely embarrassed and angry at myself.
“Ohhh.” I heard him say, his voice softer. “Did you get it this morning?”
My eyes widened, “no, I sort of started it- in the car.”
He looked at me, “you started it now? Why didn’t you say!” He wasn’t shouting at me, he wasn’t angry but I felt so much tension.
“I’m sorry- I.”
“Don’t be sorry babe, things happen sometimes.” He had his eyes on the road.
It was a moment of silence, till he spoke again. “Think you can hold out for a half an hour? We don’t have stops but I’m sure-.” He cut off, reaching his hand back behind his seat again.
He grabbed my purse, “did you pack anything?” He meant if I packed sanitary items.
“Yeah-.”
He multitasked, one hand on the wheel and the other slipping his coat off, then switching. He gave me his coat, “put it over your legs and do what you need to do.”
His eyes back on the road I was stuttering for a minute but did it, not waisting time. I did what i needed to do, it was less embarrassing since he gave me his coat to cover up and he knew that, he knew I was a little embarrassed by it and he understood but he never made me feel like I should be.
It took a minute considering I couldn’t stand up but when I was done I handed his coat back in which he placed in his own lap. “Better, at least a little?”
I nodded, “thank you, Jack.”
He smiled sweetly. “When we get to the hotel I’ll tell them to get us to our room so you can change.”
It was just me holding out my pain now, but I didn’t have to hide it. He helped me though, he never asked me to hold still he just let me do what I needed to do, if I need my chair leaned back, I needed to roll down my window, anything.
“Almost there,” he told me. He was going a little faster on the road, he was ridden to see me in pain. I was patient, never asked him to hurry, he was trying his best.
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landwriter · 2 years ago
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WIP Game 📝
Tagged by @im-not-corrupted and @that-banhus. Thank you pals!
rules: list your WIPs and describe them
Because I do not hate myself and also am on mobile I will only list the WIPs I am actively working on! Have only been able to write for the first time this month like, this past weekend, but here’s the three I went to immediately:
Lighthouses - the seventies san francisco humans AU! 20K from a Spotify wrapped prompt and still not done! the timeless tale of an oblivious homosexual moving to The Big City and falling in love with his new (off limits) best friend that he’s in a writing course with. ft. near misses, attempted feelings confessions via Literary Reference, falling in love over landline, the chest hair agenda, furtive jacking off, cigarettes, and a surprise virginity kink. Guest starring all the historical queer ephemera I can squeeze into it! which is. a lot
Oaths - my ongoing longfic (ok it’s longfic for ME, just bog-standard novella length for fandom at large) about bandit Hob and cursed elphin twink Dream, aka Gloam’s Excuse To Go On About Landscape, set in 1539 in Selkirkshire. Now with trochaic tetrameter! THANKS, Banhus (but really.) A historic AU based on the ballad Tam Lin with a historically & regionally accurate amount of belief in the existence of fairies and the supernatural. May seem like a love story or adventure. Is actually just 50k+ on the concept of going home. Currently working on trying to make people cry buckets at the last chapter
Shaper of Forms - haven’t talked about this one yet anywhere (incredibly) but @softest-punk caused it back in January and if I ever finish this and publish it you can forward your complaints directly to them. Part paean to queer sex and part uncomfortably personal dissertation on the enormous joy and persistent devastation of being human and existing in an imperfect body. Bones and blood and grieving and envying flowers and all that. Horribly earnest.
I hope this whets y’all’s appetite because knowing something I’m working on is at all anticipated is such an enormous motivation!!!
tagging @moorishflower @delta-pavonis @teejaystumbles @hardly-an-escape and anyone who wants to share!!
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mikaela-granger · 2 months ago
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The Long Wait (Season 4) Chapter 17
You Don’t Know Jack
Fandom: Grimm
Pairing: Sean Renard/OFC
The Long Wait Masterlist
A/N: Half the group works on the suppressant for Juliette, while the other half work on catching a serial killer copying Jack the Ripper.
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It was getting late, and Lorelei knew she should be heading home but she was a bit cautious about leaving Rosalee alone with Adalind. Pregnant or not, Adalind was still a hexenbiest with a bone to pick with the people responsible for kidnapping her daughter. Thankfully, Olivia had seemed content to sit in her stroller and watch them work. The older she got, the less she liked being stuck in one place for long. However, the spice shop wasn’t a good place to let her roam around free.  There wasn’t much conversation going on, they were working in relative silence. Olivia having drifted off to sleep on her own, for which Lorelei was grateful. The past week or so, it had been difficult to get the almost nine-month-old to have any sort of sleep.
“You don’t trust me.” Adalind said, Lorelei looked up to see her looking at Rosalee who was working opposite her.
“Why should I?” Rosalee retorted.
“Because I’m just trying to protect myself and my baby from being killed by Juliette.” Adalind replied. “You’ve seen what she is now.”
“I have.”
Adalind looked between Rosalee and Lorelei. “You think I planned all of this?”
“I don’t.” Rosalee told her before changing the subject. “Now, how is the suppressant supposed to work?”
“I don’t know how it works; I just know that it should.”
Lorelei looked at her, so there was no guarantee that this potion would work. Rosalee seemed to be thinking the same thing. “I wish it was a little more sure, than should.” She said angrily.
“It’s not like I do this kind of stuff every day.” Adalind fired back. “You know I was a perfectly happy lawyer, just minding my own business before Nick’s aunt came to town.”
“I really doubt his aunt is responsible for everything you’ve done.” Rosalee scoffed.
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Adalind said before sighing and looking down. “What’s the point? You all hate me anyway.” Lorelei didn’t say anything. It’s not that she hated Adalind, even after what she did to her brother. She just, thought she was a horrible person. Who she was going to have play nice with if she wanted to relationship with her nephew. “You know, I did side with the Resistance and came here with Nick’s mom and Diana. And I trusted you, Rosalee. Remember, when I was staying at your house. I thought that you were trying to help me.”  Out of the corner of her eye, Lorelei saw guilt on Rosalee’s face.
“I don’t feel good about what we did.” Rosalee admitted. “But it was necessary to protect your child.”
“I guess where all the villains in somebody’s story.” Lorelei commented as she finished grinding up what she had to.
Adalind looked at her, a small smile on her face. “I find it hard to believe that you are the villain in anybody’s story Lorelei. You are the best person I know, and coming from me, that is saying a lot.”
Rosalee smiled as well. “I agree with you on that. Now, what’s left?” Rosalee asked, adding the ingredient she was grinding in the mixing bowl.
“Just my mother.”
“Ok.” Rosalee said, as Lorelei walked over to place the ingredient she was grinding into the bowl. “When do we get her?”
“We dig her up tomorrow.”
Before Rosalee or Lorelei could say anything, the front door opened. The guys entered looking sombre, carrying a bunch of books and what looked like weapons. “What’s all that?” Rosalee asked, as the three women joined them in the front room.
“Stuff from the trailer.” Monroe said.
“The stuff that wasn’t destroyed.” Hank added.
“Yeah, we’re lucky there’s anything left.” Wu told them.
“What? What happened?” Lorelei asked.
Nick looked at her. “Juliette.”
“She torched it.” Wu added.
No. Not the trailer. That was centuries of history and knowledge, passed down through their family. Lorelei had been looking forward to the day she would show the items in the trailer to her daughters. And now, it was gone.
“Oh my god.” Rosalee said, looking shocked.
“We’re moving everything that survived into the basement.” Monroe advised them, bringing another load in.
Adalind’s eyes were wide. “She did that to the trailer, what’s she gonna do to me?”
Hank looked at her. “You mean, besides kill you?”
Adalind sighed as Rosalee looked around at the group. “Does anybody know where Juliette is?”
Nick walked back into the shop. “No.” He said, putting the books he was carrying down before looking at Adalind. “And we need to get you someplace safe. You can’t stay here tonight.” He addressed the rest of the group. “And I can’t take her to my house, that’s the first place Juliette will look.”
“She’d probably check mine and Sean’s next. Plus, I am not sure Sean would want Adalind at our place.” Lorelei said, giving Adalind an apologetic look.
“Well, my place would be the second.” Hank said.
“There’s no way she’s staying at our place.” Monroe added, glancing at Rosalee. He shrugged. “Sorry, I mean, same problem.”
They looked at Wu. “Ah, after eating one of Adalind’s cookies and devouring half my carpet, I’m not all that keen but whatever you guys need.” Wu said.
Rosalee glanced around at them. “Where’s the last place Juliette would look?”
A thought came to Lorelei’s mind. “Bud and Phoebe’s. Phoebe and the kids are away for the next week or so.” Lorelei suggested.
Nick nodded. “That might be our best bet.” He admitted.
Adalind looked a little sceptical, as Nick pulled out his phone and stepped away to call Bud.
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Less than 30 minutes later, Nick, Adalind, Hank, Lorelei, and Olivia arrived at Bud and Phoebe’s house. They made their way towards the front door and Nick knocked.
“I got the blinds down, curtains drawn, backdoor double locked.” Bud said, as they entered before closing the door behind them.
Nick looked at Bud. “Bud, this is Adalind Schade.” Nick said, introducing Adalind and Bud, as Hank went to go check the house.
Bud stepped forward and shook Adalind’s hand. “Adalind, very nice to meet you. Any friend of Nick’s is a friend of mine.”
“Now listen. This is very important.” Nick said, turning to Bud. “Nobody can know that she is here.”
“Gotcha.” Bud said, nodding seriously.
“Not even your wife.” Hank said, returning to the living room.
“Of course not.” Bud agreed.
“When does she get back?” Hank asked him.
“A week from Thursday.” Bud replied. “She and the kids are visiting her sister Louise in Ann Arbor, so, we’re good.” It was then that Bud seemed to notice that Adalind was heavily pregnant. And Bud, being Bud, pointed that out. “And you’re, very pregnant. W-which is ok, ‘cause, you know, I’ve been there done that.” He thought about what he had just said. “Not that I’ve been pregnant but –well…that was a stupid thing to say.” He turned to Nick. “So, what do you need me to do here?”
“Just keep her inside.” Nick answered. “Don’t answer the phone or the door.”
“Copy that.” Bud said, as Adalind nodded understandingly. “Is, uh, her husband, or you know, significant other in trouble too? ‘Cause, I have enough room. The fridge is stocked.” He looked back at Adalind. “Does he like pie?”
Adalind looked at Nick. “Do you like pie?” She asked him pointedly.
Bud looked confused. “Nick?” Bud laughed, patting Nick on the chest. “Oh, he loves pies. We’re always bringing pies to him and Ju –.” Bud trailed off as he looked between Nick and Adalind. “H-hold on a second.  I think you misunderstood me.”
“She knows what you meant.” Nick told him.
Bud looked between the expectant parents again. “But h-h-how—what do you mean?”
“Juliette’s gone Bud.”
Bud looked sad, along with confused. “Whoa. I can’t believe that.”
“It’s complicated.” Nick told him sadly.
Bud glanced back at Adalind. “Oh.” He said. “I can see that.”
“Right now, you just need to make sure that she’s safe.”
Bud nodded. “Yeah. Sure. Right. Whatever you need.” Bud told him.
“And if Juliette tries to contact you, don’t tell her anything.”
“She wants Adalind dead.” Hank added.
Bud looked at Hank in surprise, before his head swivelled to Nick and Adalind again. “Well, yeah. Ok. Ok. I mean, you know, these things happen.”
Nick patted Bud on the shoulder. “Thanks Bud.” Before he and Hank headed towards the door and left.
Lorelei also patted Bud on the shoulder. “Don’t worry Bud. I’ll fill you in. Are you right if Liv and I stay here tonight as well?”
“Yeah, of course. Uh, do you have the porta cot?”
Lorelei nodded. “If you don’t mind keeping an eye on Olivia, I will go and get it from the car.”
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Lorelei returned to the house with the porta cot and the bags she kept in the car of spare clothes for herself and Olivia. Bud directed her to one of the kids’ rooms, letting her know that they could stay in there. Once the porta cot was set up, Lorelei placed a sleeping Olivia in it. It seems all the stimulation from the afternoon had tired her out and she went to sleep with no problems.
Lorelei returned to the kitchen, where Bud was heating up some food for the three of them. Adalind was awkwardly sitting at the kitchen table as Bud tried to make conversation. “How does Sean feel about you and Liv staying here tonight?” Adalind asked as Lorelei joined her at the table.
“Ah, he wasn’t too keen on it, but he understood why I felt the need too.” Was Lorelei’s reply. Part of her reason was because she didn’t trust Adalind, the other was because she knew that Adalind trusted her and would feel more comfortable not being alone with a strange man. “I didn’t tell him where we were staying, just that I was with you.”
Adalind nodded understandingly, as Bud started dishing up the food. There wasn’t much conversation. They ate their food before heading off to bed.
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“Ma ma ma. Mama.”
Lorelei sat up, feeling disorientated. It took her a moment to remember where she was. Right. Bud and Phoebe’s. Helping to protect Adalind and her unborn nephew. She glanced over at the porta cot, seeing Olivia’s tiny head peering out over the top. Lorelei smiled lovingly at her as she got up. “Good morning sweetheart.” Lorelei cooed approaching her daughter, who seemed to have figured out how to stand overnight. At least, stand while holding onto something.
“Mama.” Lorelei gasped in surprise. Although Olivia was pretty vocal, Lorelei had read it would be a while before she started talking. But did she really hear her say Mama? Lorelei picked her up, putting Olivia on her hip.
“That’s right. I’m Mama. Daddy is going to be jealous that your first word is Mama.” Lorelei cooed, returning to the bed so that she could give Olivia her morning feed. Eventually, she was going to have to complete wean Olivia off the breast, but for now, she would continue. She relished the privilege of being able to bond with her baby this way.
When Olivia was finished, Lorelei headed out to the kitchen with her. She found Bud in the kitchen, getting ready for work. Adalind was still asleep. After discussing what was happening today, Bud handed over the spare key and told Lorelei to make themselves at home before he left for work. Checking the time, Lorelei decided to have a quick shower. She placed Olivia in the porta cot with some toys, hoping they would keep her content long enough. Lorelei was just getting out of the shower when she heard Olivia start to cry. Unfortunately, at the same time, Lorelei felt a wave of nausea hit her and she made it to the toilet just in time. Once she was done, she heard a knock on the door. “Lorelei, are you alright?” Came Adalind’s voice from the other side.
Wiping her mouth, Lorelei replied. “Uh, yeah. Sorry if Livy woke you.”
“It’s fine. I was awake anyway. I can keep an eye on her, if you want, while you finishing getting dressed.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
“No worries.”
Grabbing one of the spare toothbrushes, Lorelei quickly brushed her teeth before drying herself off and slipping into the spare clothes she had. When she returned to the bedroom, she found Adalind entertaining Olivia on the bed. “Thanks for that. Showers all yours if you want it.”
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Once they had eaten breakfast, it was time to set off for the cemetery.  The car ride was a little awkward. Lorelei was pissed at the woman for what she had done, not only to her brother, but Hank and Juliette as well. Not to mention the cascading effect it had on their group. However, she could empathise with her as a mother. Lorelei couldn’t imagine what it would like to have your child stolen away from you. And she knew that she would do whatever it took to get her children back. But she did find herself wondering if there wasn’t another way to strip Nick of his powers without the assault.
Following Adalind’s directions, Lorelei parked as close to the gravesite as possible. Looking out, Lorelei could see that Monroe and Rosalee, and Sean were already there. Beside her, Adalind sighed. “Let’s get this over with.” She said, unbuckling her seat belt.
Lorelei followed suit, as Sean approached her, greeting her with a quick kiss before he moved to get Olivia out of her car seat. The odd group headed towards where Adalind’s mother was buried. They stood in silence as Catherine Schade’s casket was removed from its final resting place. To be cut up and used in a potion. It was pretty morbid. But clearly, Adalind’s sense of self-preservation outweighed any notion she had of leaving the dead at peace. Still, Lorelei couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Adalind. Clearly, Sean did as well, as he asked Adalind if she needed a minute to…who knows…make peace with her mother. Rosalee looked past Monroe and Lorelei towards Sean. “You knew her?” She asked him.
“I did.” Sean replied.
Lorelei leant closer to Monroe and Rosalee. “He slept with both of them.” Lorelei whispered.
Monroe and Rosalee looked at Sean in surprise. “Dude. Really?” Monroe said.
 Meanwhile, Sean was giving Lorelei a similarly surprised look. “How do you know?” Lorelei nodded toward Adalind and Sean rolled his eyes.
Lorelei turned her attention back to Adalind, who had started speaking to her mother’s casket. Lorelei wasn’t sure about the others, but she could hear every word of Adalind’s one-sided conversation.
“Hi Mom. It’s me. I know we never had a chance to say goodbye…after you kicked me out. So…goodbye. And there are probably a few things you should know. I had a baby…with Sean. Can’t imagine what you’d think of that…I named her Diana. But that didn’t work out so well…because she was stolen, by the Grimm and his friends including Sean. And the Grimm’s mother who, by the way, killed you which, I guess, you do know. Anyway, uh, now…I’m gonna have another baby. You’ll never guess who the father of that one is. It’s Nick. The Grimm…So the only reason you’re not rolling over in your grave is…because you’re here. You weren’t the greatest mother. And I’m sure I wasn’t the greatest daughter…But I loved you. And now, I need you. You are gonna help me stop Juliette from killing me and my baby. And then I’m gonna get Diana back…and then I’m gonna raise both my children the right way…So, thanks Mom, for being dead when I needed you the most.”
Adalind let out a breath and turned to face them. “Let’s get her out of here.”
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Lorelei drove Adalind over to the spice shop, where they would be joining Monroe and Rosalee to extract the final ingredients for the potion to help Juliette. As the four of them gathered around Catherine Schade’s decaying body, Lorelei found herself wondering if this was poor parenting. Allowing her daughter to be in the room as they cut up Adalind’s mother. Olivia had been feed and was strapped in her stroller, starting to drift off to sleep.
Adalind stood over her mother’s body, scalpel in hand. “I can’t do it.” Adalind said, looking up at them. She shook her head. “I know I need to…but…” She shook her head again, looking a little sick.
“Monroe?” Rosalee asked, looking at him.
Monroe looked at her in surprise. “Me? I’m vegan”
Rosalee rolled her eyes. “I’ll do it.” She said, moving to take Adalind’s place.
“Thank you.” Adalind said, handing Rosalee the scalpel.
Lorelei was grateful she hadn’t been asked. There was no way she could have. Lorelei’s nausea had returned, and she was standing back, afraid she may throw up on the corpse. Adalind came to stand beside her. The three of them watched as Rosalee started cutting into the chest cavity. Monroe gagged at the sound, causing Lorelei to gag as well. She turned away, focusing on the wall behind Adalind.
“How much of her do we need?” Rosalee asked Adalind.
“Tongue, liver, gallbladder, and four ribs.” Adalind replied, looking as sickened as Lorelei, and no doubt, Monroe, felt.
“Right.” Rosalee said. Lorelei made of the mistake of looking at her as she started pushing her hand into the chest cavity.
Fuck, I’m gonna be sick. Lorelei thought to herself as she contemplated whether she would make it to the nearby bathroom. It seemed so far away. There was a bin by the door.
“Here’s the liver…and the gallbladder.” Rosalee said as Monroe let out a small whimper. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rosalee hand them to Monroe.
Lorelei glanced at Adalind, who wasn’t looking too good. “Maybe you should sit down.” Lorelei told her. “You don’t need to –.”
Adalind held up her hand. “I’m fine.” She said, closing her eyes briefly, no doubt fighting off nausea.
“Now for the tongue.” Rosalee said as Monroe let out a breath, preparing himself to help Rosalee with that process. Lorelei heard a sickening sound, probably Monroe opening the mouth.
Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look. Lorelei told herself, as she focused her attention on Adalind. Probably not the best idea, she looked as sick as Lorelei felt.
“Ah, so, how long does Mom have to cook?” Monroe asked Adalind.
“Uh…not really sure, but I’ll think we’ll know when its done.” Adalind told him.
“Cool.” Monroe replied.
Lorelei really should have taken Sean’s advice and gone home. But after months of being disconnected from wesen related stuff, she was finally well enough to be involved again. At least in some capacity. Lorelei winced slightly as another sickening sound came from where Rosalee was working on the body. A moment later, Lorelei heard a plop as what she assumed was the tongue went into the cauldron.
“Now for the ribs.” Rosalee commented, turning to grab a mallet and some kind of stake. She handed them to Monroe.
Concentrating on Monroe’s face, Lorelei could see him preparing himself. “Here goes.” He said. Just as he was about to get started there was a knock from the door. Adalind tensed up and he looked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll check and see who it is before I let them in.” He assured Adalind.
Monroe handed the stake and mallet back to Rosalee before walking off. Rosalee looked at Adalind. “You ok?”
Adalind nodded. “Yeah.” She sighed. “It’s just not that easy being pregnant, cutting up your mom, and waiting for someone to kill you.”
“Honey, it’s Nick and Hank.” Monroe called from the front room. “We’ll, be in the basement.”
Lorelei looked at Rosalee, who rolled her eyes. Lorelei sighed before extending her hand. “Give me the mallet. I’ll do it.”
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Lorelei managed to get the four ribs before dashing to the bin and blowing her cookies. “You ok?” Rosalee asked her, looking a little amused.
Lorelei nodded. “Yeah. Probably a good thing I went into public health instead of medicine.” Lorelei commented as she grabbed a bottle of water from the diaper bag. She used some to try and wash the taste of vomit from her mouth.
“Probably.” Rosalee agreed as she started setting up an ancient looking grinder.
“I have some gum in my purse, if you want something to get the taste out of your mouth.” Adalind offered, moving to where her purse was sitting.
“Yes please.”
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The afternoon turned to evening. After feeding Olivia, Lorelei stepped out to grab some food for the group, using the opportunity to give Olivia a change of scenery. Lorelei delivered the food to the men in the basement, while the women took a break from their work to eat. Once they were feed, they started the process of grinding Catherine Schade’s ribs. Lorelei was worried Olivia would be scared by the noise, but she didn’t seem to have a problem with it, having drifted off to sleep again. Feeling the fatigue starting to catch up with her, Lorelei had sat down on the sofa towards the back of the side room. She tried to convince Adalind to sit down as well, but the blonde insisted she was fine.
“That’s the last rib.” Adalind commented.
Rosalee hummed in agreement. “Ok.” Rosalee said, as she collected the ground up remains of the ribs and added them to the cauldron.
“Perfect.” Adalind said faintly, as the guys returned from the basement.
“Find anything?” Lorelei asked them.
“Yeah.” Hank said. “And, it’s a little unnerving.”
“Nick thinks the killer who did the killing, wasn’t actually the killer who did the killing because the killing was done by a killer who’d been dead a long time.” Monroe said.
Lorelei stared at him. “Say what now?”
“Seriously?” Rosalee asked.
“According to the books, Jack the Ripper might have been around a hell of a lot longer than anybody thought.” Nick told them.
“So, like a spirit?” Lorelei asked.
Nick shrugged. “Maybe. Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve dealt with one.”
At that moment, a bluey greeny cloud of smoke wafted up from the cauldron that Rosalee was stirring. She leant back to avoid it, as it emitted a horrible smell. Lorelei felt another wave of nausea hit her.
“That really does not smell very good.” Rosalee commented. “I think it…has got to be almost ready, don’t you? Oh Nick, she’s gonna faint”
Lorelei looked up in time to see Adalind starting to sway. Nick shot forward to grab her. “Whoa! Adalind!” Nick started to lead her over to the bed near the front window.
“I need to finish reducing the potion.” Adalind argued.
“No.” Nick told her, helping her lay on the bed. “You need to stay right here.”
“Adalind, I’ve got this.” Rosalee told her.
Lorelei slowly stood up. “You need to rest Adalind. You’ve been on your feet all day. We don’t need you going into premature labour.” She said as she came to stand beside Rosalee.
Adalind seemed to give in, laying back and allowing Nick to pull the blanket up over her. “Thanks.”
As Nick went to get Adalind a glass of water, Monroe and Lorelei watched on as Rosalee continued to work on reducing the potion. Lorelei was grateful that the horrible smell was starting to die off. There were only so many times she could go to the bathroom to cover up vomiting before people would become suspicious.
“I think it’s boiled down by now.” Rosalee commented. Monroe and Lorelei agreed with her. The three of them backed away slightly when a skull appeared within potion.
“Woah.” Monroe uttered quietly, looking up at Rosalee.
“Do you think that means it’s done?” Lorelei asked.
Adalind looked over at them. “Did you see the skull?”
Rosalee nodded. “Yes.”
“Then all we need to do is strain it.” Adalind instructed as Nick came over and peered in the cauldron as his phone rang.
“Wu. I’m putting you on speaker.” Nick said, before doing so and holding the phone out so they could all hear him.
“Nick, we got another body, same M.O.” Wu advised Nick.
Nick looked concerned. “Where?”
“Under the Broadway Bridge, across from Union Station. We’re sealing off the area. It’s the roommate. The one we talked to.”
Nick looked at Hank. “We’re on our way.” He told Wu before hanging up. “You good here?” He asked the rest of them.
“Loosely speaking.” Rosalee replied, an odd look on her face. Monroe stepped closer to her.
“What?”
“Nick has got to be going crazy right now.” Rosalee whispered. “Maybe we should contact Trubel.”
“That’s probably not a bad idea.” Lorelei said quietly.
“You got a way to contact her?”
Lorelei nodded. “I do.” She said, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “I’ll do it now.”
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Monroe and Rosalee were finishing up with straining the potion through the hat as Adalind and Lorelei watched. “That’s all of it.” Monroe told them.
“It looks like water.” Lorelei commented.
“Won’t taste like it.” Adalind said, holding the jar up as she examined the potion. She smelt it tentatively as the bell from the front door jingled.
Nick and Hank walked in. “How’d it go?”
“It’s done.” Adalind replied.
The two men looked at the jar Adalind was holding. “That’s it?” Hank asked.
“Yeah. It’s pure now.”
“Now all we have to do is get Juliette to take it.” Rosalee said.
“Oh, that’ll be a snap, ‘cause, you know, the last time she took something we gave her, boy, that worked out like gangbusters.” Monroe said sarcastically, looking around at the group.
Nick nodded. “And if she thinks Adalind had anything to do with it, she’ll never take it.” He pointed out.
“Unless she knows it works.” Adalind said.
“How are we gonna know that?” Hank asked her. “It only works on a hexenbiest.”
“That’s why I’m gonna take it first.” Adalind said. “If it works on me, it’ll work on her.”
“You can’t.”
“Yeah. I don’t have a choice. If she stays a hexenbiest, I’m dead.”
“If it works and Juliette doesn’t take it, you’re a sitting duck without your powers.” Lorelei pointed out to her. Lorelei looked around at the others. “Look, we’re all assuming that Juliette still doesn’t want to be a hexenbiest. But it sounds like she is enjoying the power being a hexenbiest gives her.”
“That’s just the hexenbiest talking. I’m sure once Juliette sees there is a way to return to normal, she’ll want to take the potion.” Rosalee said.
“I appreciate your concern Lorelei, but I have to do this.” Adalind said. “I don’t know exactly what is about to happen, but it might be a good idea if you moved Olivia out into the main area of the shop.”
Lorelei sighed, but didn’t argue any further. Instead, she went over to her daughter’s stroller and moved it into the main shop. Once she had done that, Adalind started drinking from the glass.
Lorelei could see the others were wincing, with looks of mild disgust on their faces. After all, Adalind was essentially drinking her dead mother’s body. After drinking half the glass, Adalind put it down, her face screwed up at the taste.
“How do you feel?” Nick asked her.
“Like I just drank my mother.”
“How long before we know if this stuff is, you know, doing anything?” Monroe asked.
“Ah, not too long.” Adalind replied, not looking too good. “I think I want to sit down.”
Adalind walked back over to the bed. “Why? What’s going on?” Nick asked, helping her onto the bed.
“It’s happening fast. You better hold me down.” Adalind instructed.
“What?” Nick asked, sounding confused.
“All of you, just hold me down.”
Lorelei stood back as Nick, Hank, Rosalee and Monroe each took a limb, pressing them down to the bed. “Oh god, here it comes.” Adalind cried out, as she woged. “Don’t let go.” She started shaking with increasing intensity. A scream erupted from her as a grey like mist started covering her body. No, it was more like it was rising up out of her body.
The grey mist started to take somewhat of a spiritual form, resembling Adalind’s woge. It was almost as if it was fighting to remain in Adalind’s body. The shaking continued, starting to affect the area around it. Bottles and jars were shaking on the shelves.
“Monroe, the jar.” Rosalee shouted, pointing at the jar that was starting to shift to the edge of the table.
“Oh my god.” Monroe said, diving across the floor, catching the jar just before it hit the floor.
The skylight in the side room started cracking. “Monroe, look out.” Lorelei shouted as the glass started to break apart, showering down.
Eventually Adalind and the room stopped shaking, Adalind’s face returning to its unwoged state. Lorelei tentatively stepped forward, as Hank indicated he had a pulse and Rosalee stated she was warm. A moment later, Adalind started to stir, her eyes flicking open as she looked around at everyone.
“What happened?”
There were sighs of relief. “Well, things got a little intense.” Nick told her.
“Mmm. Yeah, they did.” Adalind agreed. “Did I hear somebody scream?”
“Yeah, that would be you.” Monroe told her.
“Oh. That’s why it sounded so close.”
Adalind went to sit up, but everyone jumped in, speaking over the top of each other, trying to dissuade her from getting up. “I need to sit up.” Adalind told them. Once she was in an upright position, she sighed. “Well, I guess we should see if it worked.”
“I think you should just lie down.” Nick said, sounding concerned.
Adalind looked at him. “No, Nick. I need to know if this made a difference.” Adalind said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. After sighing, she looked around at the group hovering around her. “You all better stand back. Just in case.”
Once everyone had cleared the immediate area around Adalind, she tried to woge. Lorelei saw the skin on her face shift a little. She tried again, with no change. After gently touching her face, she turned her attention to a nearby potion bottle, trying to move it telekinetically. It did shift a little, but not much. It clearly took Adalind a lot of effort to move it even a little. Adalind tried one more time, however this time, it didn’t even move. She looked both relieved but also saddened.
“Well…I guess I’m good.” She said, not sounding good. After all the trouble Adalind went through to get her hexenbiest back, it was gone again. Or suppressed, at least.
Adalind looked up at Nick. “Now all you need is Juliette.”
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Lorelei made the decision to return home for the evening. She was absolutely exhausted, and she knew Sean would not be too happy if she were to continue pushing herself. Adalind had seemed a little disappointed that Lorelei would not be returning to Bud’s with her but was understanding. Lorelei provided Adalind with her phone number and told her she could call her if need be.
Sean was not yet home when Lorelei and Olivia arrived back. After getting Olivia settled, Lorelei changed into her pyjamas and slipped into bed, falling asleep almost instantly. She was awoken when Sean joined her in bed. “How are you feeling? Did you eat enough?” Sean asked, pulling her closer to him.
“I’m just tired. It’s been a long couple of days.” Lorelei admitted. “And yes, I ate enough. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“Good.” He said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Did they finish the suppressant?”
Lorelei nodded. “They did. Now we just need Juliette. That’ll be the hardest part. She’s not answering any calls. Personally, I don’t see her having any interest in taking the suppressant. From what I’ve heard, she likes what she is now.”
“I hope for everyone’s sake, she does take it.” Sean commented. He kissed her one last time, before reaching over to the light off.
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The next day, Lorelei certainly felt the effects of pushing herself over the previous days. She was exhausted. Once Olivia was changed, dressed and fed, Lorelei set her up in the playpen in the living room and spent most of the day on the couch. Between taking care of her daughter and morning sickness, Lorelei just slept, trying to stay hydrated and eating when she could. Around lunch, she did get a call from Adalind, who was still at Bud’s, waiting to find out whether Juliette would take the suppressant potion.
“I’m sorry I can’t come over. I’m just not feeling well today.” Lorelei told her.
“It’s fine. You gotta take care of yourself. Have you heard from Nick or the others?”
Lorelei sighed. “No. Last I heard, Juliette still isn’t taking anyone’s calls. All we can do is wait.”
“Yeah.” Adalind sighed. She paused. “Can I ask you something?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Are you pregnant again?”
Lorelei was silent for a moment. How could she have figured that out? “What makes you think that?”
“All those trips to the bathroom over the past couple of days. I doubt you had to pee that much.”
“I could have a UTI.”
“But you don’t.” Adalind said, sounding confident.
Lorelei sighed again. “You are correct. I am pregnant. But please don’t tell anyone. We are keeping things quiet until after 12 weeks. You know, just in case…something happens.”
“I understand. Don’t worry, no one will hear about it from me.” Adalind assured her. “Congratulations though.”
“Thanks.”
Eventually, it was the evening and a socially acceptable time for Lorelei to head to bed. Thankfully, Olivia went down without a fuss. Lorelei changed back into her pyjamas and settled in bed. As she was drifting off to sleep, she couldn’t help but get a bad feeling. She wasn’t sure about what. It was just a bad feeling.
Next Part
Taglist: @zoexme, @nu1freakshow, @star-yawnznn, @bella250
Banner by @cafekitsune
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nikadd · 2 months ago
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rewatching 15x18 for the first time in a year to distract myself from what’s going on so here are my thoughts under the cut
god i hate that they made billie into a villain
jp is such a bad actor i keep forgetting abt it
BUT ALSO they really shafted sam. i need to finish my sam essay
WHY BLOW UP JACK IN THE EMPTY WHY THE EMPTY IN THE TITLE CARD WHY ANYTHING WHATSOEVER
ok so charlie lost her love interest then sam lost his love interest then dean lost h- [i am Shot]
“but billie? she left her blade” dean nodding in cas’s direction “her i can kill.” insane. insane. insane. i’m gonna make a separate post abt it later
ugh they could have really done something w sam being both a leader of the hunters and a witch but no they gotta half ass everything
jack’s power vacuum thing was so underdeveloped…..
death!dean…. death!cas….. need to finish my dean & death essay too
“my heart”……. oh we’re in the endgame now
it’s you, dean!!!!! it’s always been you!!!!!!
the moment cas realizes that he can use the deal. god. i remember sliding off my chair in my college dorm and watching the rest of the episode through my fucking hands
ppl being like “dean wasn’t reacting” DEAN WAS LETTING HIM SPEAK!!!!
i’m sorry but jensen’s “why does it sound like a goodbye” KILLS me like why is it so soft
my bf after watching the confession: you’re telling me there are destiel deniers???
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peapodsinspace · 7 months ago
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oooookkk so uhhhhhj
List of f/os that I can name off the top of my head
These are characters that I have ocs that are shipped with them AND/OR personally find attractive btw
Also this will only include TWO of the slasher f/os I have, but do know that I don't find the murder icky parts of those f/os attractive, murder bad its the other stuff about them I like, and I like making more villainous ocs
This also is only including ONE puppet f/o because my puppet f/os in general are kinda embarrassing (especially two of them fucking christ)
Jjba (with ocs):
N'doul
Gappy
Oingo
Axel Ro (still on the fence about him tho so don't judge me)
Akira Otoishi
Jjba (without ocs):
Gwess
Rykiel (no oc yet)
Thunder Mcqueen
Other (with ocs):
George (mfn)
Finnegan Rider Wake (mh g1)
Jackson Jekyll/Holt Hyde (still on the fence about oc)
Mr. Where (mh g1)
Kinger (tadc)
Caine (tadc)
Howdy Pillar (Welcome Home)
Billy Lenz (Black Christmas 1974) [pleasepleasepleasePLEASE don't judge me super hard for this]
Gabriel May (Malignant 2021) [I honestly don't know what to say about this one just don't kill me for it ALSO HE HAS THE SAME VOICE ACTOR AS DUB BUCCIARATI]
Other (no oc):
Jack Skelington (tnbc)
Hoodude Voodoo (mh g1) [don't judge me ok he's adorable]
Ryuk (Death Note) [DON'T JUDGE ME OK-]
Discord (mlp fim)
Idk why I felt like sharing lmao
Axel ro is so real tho!!!!
I will say usually when you’re like “DONT JUDGE THO” it’s always a character I don’t know
So I am not judging you ;]
Also discord……….. yeah
I guess I don’t really have any f/os i ship myself with but as far as oc x canon I have like. Mostly one
Mainly:
-Tonio!!!
And then I also have:
-polnareff
-pocoloco
For the last two, pol was originally for a gag, but it’s mostly just that I haven’t done much on their dynamic yet. And I have an oc I made to ship with pocoloco, but I’m still a little on the fence? I dunno heheh
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onboardsorasora · 1 year ago
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2, 4, 16, 22, 56, 58, 70 & 74 😊
hey Bestie!! it took me a minute lmao but here we go!
2. Do you plan each chapter ahead or write as you go?
Short answer: I try to. Long answer: I try to have an outline where I might jot down ideas in the spaces I think they can go and then I just write and see what happens. That's why I don’t like posting my big fics til theyre done because I add a lot of stuff after the fact.
4. Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?
😂😂😂 I know a lot of my ideas are very… out there and wonky. And truly it could be a random thought or a conversation/media– anything and if it snags then I try to think ‘ok [idea] what comes next’ and if its something I get excited about, i have a whole lot of moments where I’m audibly going ‘ooh but what if…’ and then I take up my phone and make a note in a doc. Some ideas get chosen, some don’t.
16. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Share one of them?
So I’ll answer this in two ways: how many fic ideas do I have written down right that havent been fleshed out or posted: 9
How many of these ideas have more than just ‘idea au?’: 4
One of them is a music teacher au, where Daniel is a private music tutor and he’s supposed to be teaching Max how to play piano/cello (i haven't committed to any yet) and Max spends their tutoring time watching Daniel’s hands/fingers and how he feels the music and jacks off about it
22. Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)
I currently don’t have any because I’m willing to get out of my comfort zone to try new things (for example my new Dewis fic– terrified of doing a poor Lewis characterization)
56. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?
I think I have to give myself some props on my ideas and being able to actually flesh them out into interesting stories. And my comedy. (and my ability to put angst in everything lmao)
58. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? (Brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc)
I do love outlining. And then I procrastinate starting, because I find writing to be all encompassing, like I will ignore life if I’m trying to get an idea out. Editing is the part I like least, but it makes me giddy because that means I’m almost ready to share my idea
70. When asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?
I actually don’t tell people anymore. Because then they think it means I can write anything and that’s just not true. But I used to be embarrassed to tell people  when I wrote Inuyasha fanfiction haha so there are people that know and more than likely have forgotten. I don’t hesitate to tell people i read fic though, so idk 
74. You’ve posted a fic anonymously. How would someone be able to guess that you’d written it?
Oh this is hard because I truly don’t know if theres anything I that I do across fic. If there is, please lemme know!! I’ve managed to shoehorn a twilight (movie) reference in 2 of my big fics tho so that makes me giggle
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a-calico-rabbit · 2 months ago
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…apparently, disturbingly similar to þe llama. I can’t feel my blood flowing (usually, and þat’s by choice—it hurts like hell), but i have great night vision, am fairly silent in my steps when I try (odd, given i’m 6’4 and 245 lbs) and can move many muscles individually—at random. I just occasionally remember how and suddenly i’m in absolute control, and þen it goes away after like a minute.
I am almost identical to my faþer and grandfaþer (we do not speak of him (grandfaþer). Please pretend he does not exist) in þat I can visualize anyþing, to þe point þat I can imagine myself doing someþing after having done it once, feel how it works, and develop þe skill by imagining myself doing it, which is how I practice most þings. Also, we’re all ADHD, Autistic, dyslexic, dyscalculic, hypersensitive to pain, have clicky joints (i.e. all our joints catch when moving, and can dislocate at random), and are inherently smartasses wiþ a penchant for crafting. We also all have chronic occular migraines, delt wiþ horrible growing pains, and a hell of a lot of oþer shit I can’t remember (oh! Bad memory) þat makes me þink my bloodline is cursed. We also all (all family sons) have þe middle name “keith”.
I am addicted to finding random muscles þat I don’t know how to move and repeatedly trying out different visualizations until I can get myself to move one. It’s fun.
I have a near encyclopedic knowledge of minecraft and can tell you almost anyþing, as long as it doesn’t have to do wiþ numbers þat aren’t obvious powers of two.
I can see in extremely fine detail up close, to þe point þat I can distinguish þings on þe edge of microscopic scale. But I can’t see jack shit at a distance.
I am hypersensitive to light, and color blind. I see very well in low light.
I’ve been playing minecraft since I was 5, and almost noþing else.
I love fermented foods, and have yet to find one I didn’t like. Except for alcoholic beverages, of which I only like ciders and sours (bitters are ok, but need sour). And I can’t stand sweets, to þe point þat glazes and frosting make me puke if I taste þem too long. I am hyposensitive to flavor and smell, but my hypersensitivity to touch means I have a great sense of texture, so most of þe food I make is spiced to þe nines and has unique and strange textures.
I love writing, but am absolutely terrified of it. Þis does not extend to drawing landscapes, but absolutely does wiþ animals.
I can speak in a robot voice by inhaling as I talk and modulating þe trill.
I speak and write wiþ my signature weird combo of sophistication and crass ass wording because I am very, very dyslexic, and forget half of my vocabulary at any given moment, so I have to change it on þe fly to come across at all. I also stutter and halt often. I also cannot memorize text. If i try to say someþing verbatim it will come out wrong, and I will stutter a lot. I can spell mostly correctly because when I was little I was obsessed wiþ doing so, and practiced a metric fuck-ton to get it right. I also didn’t understand academic writing rules because I couldn’t (and still can’t) remember þe words þat refer to þe parts of þe stuff, so I just read myself to an elevenþ grade reading level at fourþ grade and figured out þe rules þey used to sound good. To þis day I can’t write an essay for shit, because everyþing comes out like a story.
I love cheese.
For some reason, no matter where I go, nor when, lights seem to flicker and burn out faster around me. Especially strange, given I usually keep þem off.
I have a gameboy, which I only use to play tetris.
I have a commodore 64 and SX-64 in my room—þe SX is my dad’s, but þe basic bitch is mine.
I, and my faþer, like many autists, can hear electricity running þrough shit, which is annoying as fuck.
I like oranges, and generally dislike beetles. Unless þey’re rolly-pollies. Love þose dudes.
Light makes me tired, but gives me bad sleep, and for good sleep I need absolute darkness, as a tiny bit of light will keep me up for hours. I also need enough noise to drown out my þoughts.
I love golf, but haven’t played in years—since my grandpa (þe good one) died, really.
I am sensitive to emotion, and can usually tell if someone is a good person or not based on vibe. Þis was best used when þe image of þe guy who was used as þe stereotypical discord mod/subredditer/neckbeard was going around. I just got þe impression he was nice, and was having fun being a dude in a suit in þose photos. Fuck all ya’ll þat gave him hate. Also, linus and mr. beast give similar, bad vibes.
I quadrice (at least) downed a þing of salt for a joke. I don’t know why I keep doing it. I hate it and it lingers but when I see a nearly-empty container of salt I judt get þis urge-
I like meat fermented and well done, or fresh and rare as þe day it was born. Þere is no inbetween.
I am in constant pain from my skin, joints, muscles, bones, eyes, head (have had one, long headache for þe past decade) etc.
I have an uncanny ability to find shit out about shit, and am very good at navigating caves. Þat comes from minecraft.
My hair color changes wiþ þe seasons, but is always some form of brown wiþ gold-red highlights, and silver strands (only ever one at a time þo).
Þat’s enough for now.
it's so weird to me that everyone on this website is a human person outside of their weird internet niche so rb this with a random bit of your lore
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gymbrogaymersadfag · 3 months ago
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The way I stopped caring some gays treat me different now I’ve had a colossal “glow-up.” Like, you wanna party with me now? Oh you party with ppl u wanna fuck? We can play this game. I’ll let u snort my blow if u suck my dick, is that how you want things to be?? Get on your knees 😭😭😭
For context I think I was always so cute. Hair used to be thinner and I had a slight chubbiness that went nicely over my muscles and sometimes I looked like a borderline bara hunk. Super innocent face with amazing smile and luckily some really nice teeth. I could get laid with other cute guys pretty often, but when I’d go clubbing, the rudeness came out of no where for no reason from some gay ringleaders of various friend groups who didn’t want to be seen with me or in some cases for their friends to be seen with me.
I’ve worked on my hair for a couple years with finasteride and minoxidil and as long as it’s done nicely after a shower, it’s now as thick as it was when I was 15 - I’m 28. When I was 23, it was thin enough to see right to my scalp all over on a sunny day. For two years now I’ve been taking human growth hormone and a topical testosterone cream.
3 months ago, I started ozempic. Literally off the black market, but from a source I’ve trusted for other medications. I also cycle in some other peptides, similar meds to ozempic which all do various things as they target the pituitary gland to release different stuff in the body. (Melanotan 2, for example, makes me more tan and increases my libido. That one is illegal in the US and has random side effects on random people, so be careful before trying that one out.) Only two of my friends know I’m on ozempic. The fat has come off my body and the muscle I’ve been building with very regular gym workouts for 6+ years, 4-6x/week, is suddenly so obvious on me. I was soft all over but now I’ve got two bouncy pecs and a 6 pack I’ve never seen on myself even in my brief college twinky phase.
I might also add that I’ve been doing full service sex work since 2018, so like also 6 years. I’m just used to middle aged guys trading head with me, handing me a couple benjamins, and me driving home for the night. Sex is something I always just felt so natural partaking in, and I’ve enjoyed being a sex worker more than any other job, since my first full-time at 14 detassling in corn fields.
Going into gay raves the last month and a half, I can make out with pretty much any guy. It’s weird. I thought maybe I would feel more confident but it’s something else. Not confidence, not insecurity, but a secret third thing. I feel like some of these hot guys are like, just other clients. Like, ok you wanna fuck me?? Sure let’s do it. I’m just there. Yeah, I’m still enjoying myself. I’m being treated like I won something but I don’t feel like I’ve won something. And a lot of these guys didn’t give me the time of day 6 months ago. I remember which ones too, but they literally don’t remember me. Should I care??? It’s not even painful, it’s more just like “oh this whole game really is skin deep. I knew it all along, but didn’t realize the magnitude.”
The biggest crush I ever had has crippling self confidence issues that impacted the chance we had with each other even before this glow up of mine. Like I said I was always cute. I feel like I have less than zero chance with him now. He gets so anxious and nervous around me when we’re alone. He sometimes responds to my compliments of him with expressions of self hatred. He responds to my little flirts with great discomfort, so I stopped trying and made it clear I still enjoy him as a friend in the group and want him around in any context. This was months ago. I know he likes me. I know he jacks off at night thinking about me, a year and a half after the one passionate night we had. Sometimes I’ve gotten the impression that he doesn’t like standing next to me in pictures because he doesn’t like seeing our faces next to each other bc he doesn’t like his own face.
He’s gorgeous. I know I’m not the only one who thinks so. I think girls like his looks more than gay boys, I’ve had multiple instances where a girlfriend of mine hopefully asked me if he was straight. Loves his junk food and couch rotting and maybe oughtta start working out more just for his mental health, but physically I wouldn’t change a thing. He was a college athlete and I think he feels bad bc he was college-athlete-hot 5 years ago and had the opposite trajectory as me when it comes to technically-hot-body. He pushed me away so many times I’m at peace with the thought nothing may ever work out. But I still yearn to be his little spoon every night.
I blame these other skin-deep muscle gays
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psychoticwillgraham · 11 months ago
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it’s already the 8th and my show is the 24th and I haven’t done jack diddly squat to prepare and now I’m stressing like crazy bc I at least need to practice my numbers (bc I just changed my closer AGAIN) since they’re both fairly high energy and I haven’t done an actual full show in a year so I have to quickly build up my stamina AND do pre practice workouts to prevent my back from giving out on me during the show and my makeup needs to practiced REALLY badly and I don’t even have my outfits picked out and just AUGH!!!!
I’m giving myself a headache and making myself depressed about it even tho it’s something I enjoy and want to do for the rest of my life but since a booking is on the line (money is great but it’s not the reason I’m doing it since a booking is way more coveted) I’m over complicating it and making it a stressor when it doesn’t need to be but I just can’t physically force myself to get OFF MY ASS to even do anything!!!! bc it’s my competition to lose according to a co host, but you CAN’T go in expecting to win, even if you end up winning anyway. hope for the best, prepare for the worst. which is the most accurate saying about drag.
i need to just. fucking Chill. but every moment i do nothing i just get more frustrated and depressed and it becomes a chore and is no longer something i enjoy doing (which is already take a year off before bc of that) and yeah i need to work on it but what i rlly need to do is work for a few hours then have an hour or two of hobby/leisure stuff (art, writing, finally finish my rewatch of hannibal, reading, yknow, fun stuff) but my brain JUST won’t let me!!!!
ok I’m gonna rb some stuff real quick then take my med and let it knock me out
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sl-newsie · 2 years ago
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Chapter Seventeen: Worlds Apart (Spot Colon x Female Newsie)
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For tonight’s foist performance I’m wear’n a cotton blue dress, with my curled hair pulled up in a ribbon. When I get done in my room, Medda meets me backstage. I haven’t seen Spot yet.
“I heard about Jack. Is he okay?”
I narrow my gaze at tha wall. “He’s fine,” I say, try’n not to say it resentfully.
“Good luck tonight, dear!”
“Thanks.”
( Seaside Rendezvous by Queen)
“Seaside.
Whenever you stroll along with me I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside.
Meanwhile,
I ask you to be my Clementine!
You say you will if you could but you can't.
I luuve you maaadly!
Let my imagination run away with you gladly!
A brand new angle,
Highly commendable,
Seaside rendezvous!
I feel so romantic. Can we do it again?
Can we do it again sometime? 
Fantastic, c'est la vie mesdames et messieurs!
And at the peak of the season, the Mediterranean-
This time of year- it's so fashionable!”
I go inta  a little jig, tapp’n my feet on tha stage and act’n all perky and gushy. By now I see Spot’s taken a seat near tha front. I don’t know whedda that’s good news, or bad news consider’n tha fact that I’s dressed like a sunshine lollipop!
“I feel like dancing- in the rain!
Can I have a volunteer?”
“Just keep right on dancing!” Medda sings from backstage.
I fake-smile. “What a damn jolly good idea!
It's such a jollification as a matter of fact, so très charmant, my dear!
Underneath the moonlight,
Together we'll sail across the sea,
 reminiscing every night 
Meantime, 
I ask you to be my Valentine!
You say you'd have to tell your modda if you can
I'll be your Valentino,
We'll ride upon an omnibus and then the casino!
Get a new facial,
Start a sensational,
Seaside rendezvous — so adorable!” I grasp my hands dramatically ova my heart.
“Seaside rendezvous — ooh hoo!” I throw my arms up.
“Seaside rendezvous — give us a kiss!” I blow a kiss at Spot and wink.
I trot off, and immediately take off tha goilish dress- but tha next one’s no bedda. It’s a dark purple one that’s way to north of tha knee- but I know Spot’s already seen me in worse dresses, so I don’t feel so bad.
I prepare for tha next song and walk onstage to tha music-
(Big Spender from Sweet Charity)
“The minute you walked in the joint,” I sing, immediately notic’n that Spot perks up a bit at tha different song.
“I could tell you were a man of distinction-
A real big spender.”
Spot’s POV
She’s so beautiful. But no dress could eva compare to that voice, and those eyes match it all. 
“The minute you walked in the joint,
I could tell you were a man of distinction-
A real big spender.”
I smile, let’n her eyes find mine and give’n her a wink- which makes her blush and makes me grin wider.
“That’s my goil...” I whispa.
“What?”
I turn to look, and see a scrawny guy with a liquor bottle star’n at me with red eyes. “Um, you’s ok pal-?”
“Ya think you’s could ever stand a chance with her? She’s way outta yer limit! I hear she takes on a new guy every week!” Tha bum slurs.
My eyes narrow. “I’ll have ya know she is my goil. And she ain’t no hussy. So take a hike, will ya?”
But he don’t. Instead, tha guy tries to take a swing me! 
“Ok, pal. Let’s go outside-” I begin to steer him out, hope’n I can apologize to Becca later for miss’n tha show. In the ally, I give tha guy a stiff pound on tha head- noth’n too damag’n, but he’ll wake up with a split’n headache. Nobody talks ‘bout my goil like that.
Rebecca’s POV
“... a real big spender.”
Then I see Spot and anadda guy talk’n, and I can tell it’s an argument. What now? Spot leads tha guy out, and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. 
“Hey big spender. Hey big spender! Hey big spender!” “Speeeend a little time with me…” I finish, walk’n off and ignor’n tha whistles behind me.
I get oudda my costume, and I feel like myself again. When I come out, I see Spot’s wait’n for me near tha door lead’n to tha ally.
“Hiya, Beauty. Sorry I’s couldn’t stay, but I had a good reason not to.”
I grin and shake my head. “Spot, you’s at a theatre. You’s here to be entertained. If anyth’n, tha performer is usually tha one apologiz’n! So forghedaboudit.”
“I will anyway. Some guy was talk’n mean ‘bout ya.”
I shut my eyes. “Spot, that’s sweet and all, but ya can’t just go beat’n up any guy here who looks at me funny,” I say try’n to hide a smile.
“Why not?” he pushes.
“‘Cause you’d be beat’n up every guy in this theatre!” I laugh.
“So I’s can punch myself?” Spot’s eyebrows raise.
I scowl. “Just don’t, please.”
“Alright, alright. Now-” Spot grabs my hand and leads me outside. It’s really dark, and I can hardly see his face. “Will ya sing for me?”
I blink. Really? He still wants ta hear tha stupid song?
“I don’t have my costume-” I start.
“I didn’t come to see the costume. I came to hear you.” Spot sits down on a bin, wait’n expectantly.
“Um, ok. Even with tha hand gestures?” I ask jokingly.
He nods. “Even with tha hand gestures.” This makes me smile more.
So I lean back on tha brick wall. Deep breath, and:
“The minute you walked in the joint,” I sing airly and jerk my head fac’n forward, and Spot’s eyes widden.
“I could tell you were a man of distinction-
A real big spender.” I pull my arms away dramatically.
“Good lookin', so refined.” I then mimic tighten’n a tie around my neck.
“Say, wouldn't you like to know what's goin' on in my mind?” I tap my head.
“So let me get right to the point-” I stiffly point side ta side.
I don't pop my cork for every man I see…” I bring my arms down, roll’n my wrists and snapp’n my fingas.
“Hey big spender!” I jerk my hips and arms side ta side.
“Speeeend a little time with me…” I roll my hips. Spot don’t move.
“Do ya wanna have fun, fun, fun?” I jerk my head side ta side.
“How's about a few laughs, laughs?” I shrug my shouldas with my hands raised in question.
“I could show you a good time…” I pivot around myself.
“Let me show you a good time!” I put my hands on my hips, then I jerk them down, star’n straight ahead.
“The minute you walked in the joint,” I repeat tha motions again.
“I could see you were a man of distinction-
A real big spender.
Good lookin' so refined.
Say, wouldn't you like to know what's goin' on in my mind?
So let me get right to the point-
I don't pop my cork for every guy I see….
Hey big spender.
Hey big spender!
Hey big spender!”
“Speeeend a little time with-” 
Spot abruptly stands up, walks ova and slowly leans in close, make’n me nervous- but I don’t let him know it. 
“-me…” I finish, star’n straight at him. I keep my breath’n steady, but I can already feel my heart rac’n. Spot gives me a smug look, then slowly put his hands on my hips. But I don’t feel threatened, I feel… good?
“That,” he pauses and smiles. “Was wonderful.”
I smile back and blush. “Ya think so?”
“I knows so. And…” he leans in even closer, almost make’n our noses touch. “I ain’t no big splender, but I do likes to spend some time with ya.”
My eyes widen a fraction. Is he just jok’n along with tha song, or is he serious? 
Play’n along, I put both my hands on Spot’s shouldas, still unsure about what’s happen’n. Also my hips feel like they’re stiff as a board and my face is ‘bout to melt-
“Hello, punk.”
My body stiffens tighter, and my head jerks toward tha end of tha ally. It’s Benny! I look up at Spot in fear, unsure of what to do. Then I realise that I’ve been caught alone, with my arms wrapped around a guy, and him hold’n my hips. Oh God, everyone’s gonna know...
Get’n a hold on my fear, I let go of Spot and step towards Benny intimidatingly with my hands in fists. “Whadda ya want, Benny?” 
“Francis sent for ya, so I’s here to deliver ya to him.” Benny strides forward, make’n me back up.
Jack… is in kahoots with Benny?
“I ain’t go’n nowhere- ya can tell Jack he can come find me hiself,” I say sternly.
“That’s too bad for you, ‘cause his new boss said that if such a situation as this occurred to make you’s come anyway. Now say g’night to yer boyfriend and c’mon.”
I know he’s too big for me- I can’t take him on-
“She’s stay’n.” Spot steps between me and Benny. Oh God.
Benny sneers. “That so, Colon? Why are you’s protect’n this harlot anyways? She’s- ugh!”
Spot socks him right in tha stomach, his face full of venom.
“You son of a-!” Benny swings and hits Spot in tha cheek.
“No!” I scream and try to throw a punch, but Benny sees this comm’n and gives me a black eye foist.
While I’m holdn’n my face, I can still see oudda my good eye. It’s Benny, stand’n in front of Spot, who’s still out of it- then he pulls out a knife. 
My eyes widen.
“No-!” I shriek.
Tha sound. Tha sound I hear once and neva wanna hear again. Like a blade stabb’n a melon.
Just once, but to me it seems like it rings out fereva. 
Spot’s bleed’n, hold’n his side, his eyes star’n up in shock at Benny.
“Spot! No, no! Spot, no!” I crumple to tha ground next to him. He only looks at me with wide eyes. “Stay with me- stay with me, Spot! Don’t-”
“Come on, you bitch! Leave tha bastard to die!” Benny growls. I feel my arm be’n pulled, but I still cling ta Spot.
“No! No!”
Benny yanks me firmly and I lose my grip. Then I’m pulled away, leav’n Spot Colon a dreadful, bloody mess in the alley.
“No! No! No…” I sob and moan for what feels like forever. I keep my head down and let tears stream down my face, unable ta look up. My cap falls off and my hair sticks ta my face. I don’t even notice my surround’ns ‘til I get a slap in tha face.
“Quiet!” A new voice yells.
I weakly lift my head up. “J-Jack?”
“Quit your cry’n, Becca!”
It is Jack. Or Francis, but I’ll neva call him that. At first I can’t believe what I’m see’n- I’s in a fancy room, full of fancy people. Jack, Benny, Snyder, tha Denalcies, and… Pulitzer? Wha…? 
But then I’m filled with boil’n rage.
“You…” I sneer at Benny, find’n strength ta stand. “You bastard! You killed Spot! Ya killed him, killed him in cold blood! I’ll murder you, son of a-!”
Slap!
My face is on fire.
“A lady does not raise her voice to her superiors,” Pulitzer speaks calmly.
“Jack, please! Ya must still have half a conscience! They’s killed Spot-!”
Slap!
“A lady uses proper grammar when speaking.”
“I ain’t no ‘lady-’ augh!” Anodda slap.
“Becca, Spot wasn’t gonna get you anywhere. He’s a bad influence-” Jack starts.
“He’s my friend! But you’s wouldn’t know anyth’n ‘bout that, ‘cause you ain’t got no friends!”
“Quiet her,” Pulitzer requests. Benny shoves a cloth in my mouth. “This gentleman here informed us of your whereabouts,” Thanks, Benny! “so your brother went and found you performing at a theatre as, what was it…? A showgirl.”
I stiffen. They know.
“How could ya, Becca? How could ya do that to yourself?” Jack asks, horrified and disgusted.
“‘Cause I needed money! C’ause people see goil newsie and think I’s a freak! Don’t pretend Jack, ‘cause it’s someth’n you’s will never undastand!”
Jack looks surprised at my outburst, but doesn’t say anything. 
“Even so, you have been brought here to be taught how to be a proper young lady,” Pulitzer informs me.
I spit. “I’d ratha die than bow to your wishes!”
He ignores me. “Perhaps a more permanent foundation should be established. Would any of you capable gentlemen,” he looks at Benny and tha Delancies, “have an interest in wedding this young lady?”
My heart literally stops. M-Marriage? 
“What?” I choke. “No, no! No no no! I ain’t marry’n nobody!” 
Even Jack makes a disagreeable face, but remains silent.
“In order to enter society properly, a young lady must have an escort, and you are in need of one.”
“I’ll take her,” Benny says smugly, give’n me a wicked smile. I grit my teeth.
“No, I will!” Oscar shouts. I don’t follow tha argument, I just glare at Jack and Pulitzer.
“If you’s think I’s go’n through with this, you’re insane,” I sneer.
Pulitzer then turns to Jack. “Mr. Sullivan, I will have you pick the gentleman who will wed your sister.”
Jack gives a faint repulsed look, but then looks back and fourth between tha three guys. How can he expect me ta go through with this? How can he choose so easily?
“MMhhmmmmhh…” Is all I hear. I can’t hear, and I won’t. No madda who, my life’ll be a live’n Hell all tha same.
I just sit there helpless on tha floor, then I’m dragged away by someone and thrown into a big, fancy bedroom. Tha door closes, most likely locked, and I’m left alone. 
Alone until Jack comes in and says: “You’ll be married in three days. For now, get some sleep. Tomorrow the maids are gonna help ya get dressed. Put this on.” He walks ova and thrusts someth’n on my left ring finger- a wedding band. My stomach churns.
I don’t speak, I can’t even meet his eyes.
That night, it rains. That night, I cry. I stand out on tha room’s balcony and I cry and cry and cry until I can’t tell tha difference between tears and raindrops. Poor Spot, left alone in tha ally, in tha pour’n rain. To die! And it’s all my fault… If I’d have just gone with Benny, Spot wouldn’t be… dead. As a reminder of my mistake, I keep tha ring on and let its weight prod my mind with tha guilt I’ll neva escape...
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