#ooh okay we are experiencing much-needed extended hugging

[pulsarsatellite]

Tumblr cut off part of my reacting in the tags. ._.

[artificialqueens]

Revelation Sunshine, Chapter 3 (Courtney/Vixen) - Veronica

A/N: Honestly, thank you so much to anyone who’s reading this very self-indulgent story. I adore all of you, and especially the creator of Galactica, my lovely friend @theartificialdane. Click here for previous chapters. <3

Last chapter: Long distance relationships are tough, but the girls are trying.

This chapter: Vixen joins Courtney in LA for the VMAs, and then Courtney surprises her in Chicago.

***

Vixen wasn’t sure why she agreed to this. She was going to be so far out of her depth. But when she told Courtney about a lecture she was giving at UCLA in August, a lecture that happened to be the same weekend as the VMAs, Courtney somehow convinced her to come to the awards show as her date.

“You have to do it,” Asia had informed her, when she heard the hesitation. When she said that she still didn’t know, Mayhem interrupted to give a slightly more forceful message.

“When the fuck are you gonna have the chance to do something like that again?” she demanded. “Come on, stop overthinking like a little bitch.”

Courtney’s cajoling was more gentle. Logical, even—pointing out that it would be great publicity for her book and her podcast.

“It could open you up to a whole new audience. Think of the people that you could reach!”

It was a good point, Vixen conceded. So she agreed, and they casually discussed the logistics. She didn’t really panic until she was in the uber on the way to Courtney’s house. What was she doing? Who did she think she was, showing up at what she was sure would be a gated mansion, to be professionally styled for a red carpet?

It wasn’t a gated mansion. It was a bungalow tucked into the side of the Hollywood Hills, covered in vines and bursting with plants of every type. After giving her a warm, tight hug, Courtney led her into the living room, where someone (a stylist?) was waiting with racks of clothes.

“I didn’t know exactly what you’d want, so I had Jo bring you lots of options,” Courtney said. “We should choose now so that they have time to tailor it while we’re at the spa. Jo, can you show her your favorites?”

Vixen glanced around the room while Jo presented her with wardrobe options and Courtney poured her a glass of lemonade. Without the explosion of clothes, it would have been a cozy, regular living room. Two sofas, some art on the walls. Nothing remotely ostentatious.

“I like your house,” she told Courtney, accepting the drink gratefully. “It’s...uh...not what I was expecting.”

“No?” Courtney asked, head cocked.

“No. Well, I mean, it’s like...a normal house,” Vixen explained.

“And you were expecting, what? A spaceship?” Courtney giggled.

“No, like...I don’t know. Some baroque mansion with columns and a butler and big chandeliers, I guess.”

“Hmm, yeah, sounds like my style,” Courtney said, making Vixen laugh.

“Shut up. You’re rich and you love glitter, okay? So I just thought it would be more…”

“Tacky?”

“Yes?” Vixen scrunched her face up apologetically.

“I mean, that’s fair. My first house here was a bit of a Swaravski nightmare. Oh, I really like that one!” Courtney exclaimed, looking at the royal blue dress in Vixen’s hands. “Do you want to try it on? You can use the guest room as a dressing room.”

Vixen nodded, relieved that disrobing in front of Courtney and Jo (and a random girl she’d just noticed on the patio, pacing around with a phone to her ear) in the broad daylight wasn’t on the agenda.

After trying on a few choices, Vixen settled on a short, black and turquoise romper - it was fun and sexy, but still classy, and would be comfortable enough to sit around in for hours. Jo was helping her figure out the accessories (with occasional input from Courtney as she pranced around with snacks) when the girl from outside stepped in, carrying Courtney’s fluffy pomeranian under one arm.

“Okay, everything’s all set at the hotel,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Vix, that’s Brianna. Yes, I like those shoes!” She nodded approvingly at the bright yellow pumps Vixen was trying.

“Yeah, hi, sorry. I’m Courtney’s assistant. Brie,” she reached out to give Vixen a firm handshake.

“Ugh, I still hate the word ‘assistant.’ Can’t we come up with a cooler title for you?” Courtney asked.

“Sure, that’ll be my top priority,” Brianna replied sarcastically, then barreled rapidly through the day’s plans. “So, after we wrap up here, we’ll head for the hotel. Massages and manicures at the spa while we set up hair and makeup. We should really start by 2 at the lastest to make sure we can manage something presentable out of...that,” she gestured vaguely in Courtney’s direction with a smirk, everyone laugh, “And then leave at 4 to drive to the theatre and do the red carpet by 4:30 or 5. Then the show, blah blah blah, performance, not my problem, and then we head to Van Nuys for wheels-up at 9. Cool?”

“When do we eat?” Courtney asked.

“You’ll have a meal at the spa. You know, in that area by the dipping pool thing?”

“Oh, okay,” Courtney said.

“And then obviously we’ll have snacks in the room, and we ordered a bunch of stuff for you to have backstage. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of food.”

“Great.”

“Um...I have a question,” Vixen said, pausing her perusal of the jewelry table. “Are the hair people gonna be familiar with Black hair?”

Brie turned toward her with a vague eye roll, asking, “Do I look like a moron to you?”

Vixen leveled her gaze, not backing down, and answered, “You look like someone who has never worn a protective hairstyle before.”

“Fair enough,” Brie conceded with a grin. “And don’t worry. We got you good people who are very experienced with protective styles.”

“Thanks, Brie! Ooh, how about ‘Executive Vice President of Human Logistics’?” Courtney suggested.

“Whatever makes you happy, girl,” Brianna said tiredly, giving Courtney a salute as she deposited Kylie onto his bed. “I’m gonna go check your suitcases. Or, should I call them ‘transport need satisfaction receptacles’?”

“Sounds good,” Courtney giggled, and Vixen couldn’t help laughing either.

“That little cracker is hilarious,” Vixen commented, admiring the row of bangles on her arm.

“I know, right?” Courtney laughed.

“Hey!” Brianna said, poking her head back in the room, deadpanning, “That was my nickname in prison. Lil Miz Cracker.”

She grinned, waiting for them all to crack up before disappearing again.

“Before her,” Courtney confided, “I had this other assistant that my agents found, this nervous kid who told me I was beautiful like 8 thousand times a day, and it was just...excruciating.”

“The things you’ve overcome,” Vixen said, shaking her head with mock sincerity. “It’s so inspirational.”

Courtney laughed gaily, handing her a pair of earrings to try, which Jo immediately snatched out of her hand.

“No! Hideous,” they said, handing Vixen a different pair.

***

In the car to the hotel, Brie asked Vixen if she had a preferred gender for her massage therapist.

“Well, I kind of like a more gentle massage, so…I mean, not to be discriminatory, but…”

“You want someone with soft lady hands?” Courtney asked, a glint in her eye.

“Kind of,” Vixen replied, hanging her head in mock shame.

“Wuss.”

“You don’t like soft lady hands?” Vixen asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Well I mean...there’s a time and place,” Courtney explained.

Vixen looked into her glittering green eyes, head tilted, as she continued.

“For a massage? I like it deep. So as long as they can put some muscle behind it, everything’s good.”

“You’re right, there is a time and a place,” Vixen said lightly, “I occasionally like it deep as well.”

“Good to know,” Courtney said, giggling delightedly.

The whole day was strange, an almost out of body experience for Vixen. At times, she felt like she was hovering overhead and watching herself get rubbed and plucked and fluffed and painted. Pampered and catered to on a level she never had before.

But the red carpet, that was the most surreal experience by far, just a whirlwind of flashes and shouted questions from reporters. Courtney held her hand the entire time, checking in constantly to make sure she was alright, gently directing her where to look and when to pose.

“My first red carpet was terrifying,” she confessed. “So when you’ve had enough, just tell me.”

She was relieved, at first, for her relative anonymity. No entertainment reporters would know the academic world, or a political science professor.

That is, until Courtney put an arm around Vixen’s waist and dragged her right into the spotlight, introducing her to a reporter as “the brilliant author behind the book ‘Beware White Tears.’”

“Oh!” Recognition dawned in the reporter’s eyes as she brushed her bangs away from her face. “This is the unparalleled genius you’ve been tweeting about all year?”

“Yes ma’am,” Courtney said. “Vixen Taylor.”

“A pleasure,” she said, extending her hand to Vixen and offering a dazzling white smile. “Shea Coulée.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vixen said, shaking her hand. She glanced back at Courtney, who was beaming like a sunflower beside her.

“Shea, you should tell everyone to read her book,” Courtney said, smile growing even bigger as she continued to gush, “And listen to her podcast. She’s so incredibly smart, it’s unreal.”

Shea looked from Courtney to Vixen a few times before asking, “So…what’s the story with you two, then? Are you like, an official thing?”

“Shh, I’m working on it!” Courtney said, giggling, pulling Vixen towards the theatre. Startling her a second later with an ecstatic shriek of, “Adore!”

Vixen wasn’t super familiar with Adore’s music, but she did know her from Courtney’s social media. Apparently a big deal now in the punk rock scene, standing there in what appeared to be the same clothes she’d partied in last night, next to a tall, statuesque, impeccably dressed young redheaded woman. They looked to Vixen to be an absolute mis-match of a couple, Adore’s date classy and serene as Adore squealed and threw her arms around Courtney, the two of them clinging to each other and chattering wildly.

“Omigod, I love that dress-”

“You look like a mess. Gigi, why haven’t you-”

“Don’t blame her, I dress myself.”

“How was Prague?”

“Fuckin’ wild, man!”

“Have you met Vixen?”

Courtney turned toward Vixen, who was overwhelmed by the whole exchange, and grabbed her hand once again.

“Vixen, this is Adore, my best friend for life, and her very patient girlfriend, Gigi.”

“Hi, nice to-”

“Augh!” Adore shrieked. “Courtney! Did you see the pictures of Jinkx and Alaska’s new kid?”

“No, what?! When did they...have? Buy? What word are we using?”

“Adopt?”

“Yeah, that-another kid?”

Gigi turned to Vixen, sensing her obvious discomfort, and offered a smile.

“They’re always like this. It’s best just to...ride it out,” Gigi finished with a chuckle. “They’re like toddlers. Eventually they’ll get tired and calm down.”

“Thanks.”

Vixen opted to watch the show from the audience, happy that she had Adore and Gigi to sit with. (Well...Gigi, at least. The jury was still out on Adore.) She knew that Courtney would need to focus on her performance, and sitting alone in her dressing room for large chunks of time seemed nerve-wracking.

But after Courtney’s performance, Brie showed up to escort Vixen backstage. They were only going to have a little time to hang out before Courtney had to leave, getting on a plane to Paris to continue her tour almost immediately after the show.  

Courtney was in the midst of changing when Vixen knocked gently on her door. It was quite a look...track pants and Ugg slippers on the bottom, and a metal corset on top. Brie was helping her out of the corset, and though she didn’t seem remotely self-conscious about being topless, Vixen averted her eyes, waiting until she’d slipped on a t-shirt before addressing her directly.

“You were incredible tonight,” she said honestly.

“Really?” Courtney asked, perching on the arm of the sofa. “I felt like it was a bit of a mess. I could kill Mikey.”

“Who’s Mikey?”

“That dancer who went the wrong way during the second verse? I saw them pounding shots, I think he was hammered. Ugh.”

Vixen smiled softly.

“It’s adorable that you think I was watching the backup dancers.”

In an instant, Courtney’s demeanor changed from professional and annoyed to coy and flirtatious, simpering like a schoolgirl.

“Hmm...who were you watching then?

Brie had slipped away by now, leaving the two of them alone in the dressing room. Vixen stood and walked toward her.

“The camera guys, of course,” Vixen quipped.

Courtney giggled, reaching out for her and pulling her close.

“Oh yeah?” she murmured.

Vixen nodded slowly, then smiled again and shook her head. She slid her hands around Courtney’s waist, gazing unblinking into her hooded green eyes. She leaned in slowly, almost excruciatingly so, pausing for a few moments to enjoy the way her chest rose and fell rapidly, heart pounding in anticipation.

When she finally brushed their lips together, she could feel the hitch in Courtney’s breath, a whimper escaping from the back of her throat. Courtney cupped her cheeks with both hands, pulling her in closer, deepening the kiss, coaxing her mouth open.

Vixen followed her, dazed, onto the sofa, where she dove head-first into the moment, finally able to just enjoy each other for the first time in months. She quickly lost track of time and space, thinking only of the girl in her arms, how soft and delicious she was...how she made Vixen feel so wanted.

She kissed down Courtney’s torso, lifting her t-shirt to trail her lips gently over the angry marks from that horrible corset. She began to pull off her bottoms, pausing just before sliding them over her hips to make sure it was okay. Courtney lifted up slightly, watching Vixen through lidded eyes, legs spreading open once her panties were flung to the side. Vixen paused, breathing her in, making her shiver with anticipation as she spread her thighs even more.

Vixen cleared her throat, fingers dancing up the inside of her thighs.

“Remember, I’m pretty...new at this,” Vixen said, and Courtney nodded vigorously.

“I know, I know. Don’t worry.” Her hand wound its way into Vixen’s hair.

“Okay.” Vixen leaned forward, lips barely brushing against her.

As a soft sigh left Courtney’s lips, Vixen took a deep breath. Her desire to satisfy, to live up to expectations, momentarily overtaken by nerves, until she steeled herself. Just French kiss her pussy, you idiot. Stop freaking out and lick her until she comes.  

Courtney was shockingly easy to please, as it turned out. A hand in Vixen’s hair, guiding her, and breathy, whimpered instructions were all she needed to begin unlocking the mysteries of her body.

“Harder, harder…please…”  

Vixen didn’t know why she was surprised. From that first tweet, Courtney had been utterly direct with her. And even their first time together, she didn’t hold back at all from saying what she wanted. But somehow, the shameless way she buried Vixen’s face into her pussy, rutting against her, moaning out commands...it all just made everything so much hotter.

“What else?” Vixen asked, raising her eyes to take in Courtney’s flushed cheeks, eyes rolled back in her head. “Tell me what else you need…”

“Pinch my nipples,” Courtney gasped, “And...yes, god...suck harder.”

Courtney arched up, thighs now pressing against Vixen’s ears, muffling the sounds when she started to moan. Vixen had a brief concern of “what if someone hears” before deciding that she didn’t fucking care. All she wanted was to make Courtney come—a task that was looking increasingly likely as she writhed and shook in her arms.

She flicked her tongue against Courtney’s clit, shocked at how much she was enjoying the whole experience. Nerves melted away; the only thing on her mind was the girl pressed up against her tongue.

“I love how wet you get,” Vixen said, voice low, moving her mouth to nip lightly at her thigh.

“I love how wet you make me,” Courtney panted, then arched up, whimpering. “Baby...oh, god…”

Something about being called baby in this context gave Vixen a deep, unfeminist thrill; she had to pause and catch her breath, slightly dizzy with the embarrassing, intoxicating thought of being called a good girl. She panted against Courtney’s thigh, felt her quivering on the edge before going back to her clit, tongue circling her gently, coaxing out a broken moan.

God, she was a mess. A beautiful, shuddering mess. Vixen hummed against her, sucking on her clit, soft at first and then harder and harder.

“Fuck, that’s so good, baby, keep going…”

Courtney groaned, hips rolling faster, and Vixen complied, listening to her moans, the best music she’d heard all night. She kept sucking, didn’t stop until Courtney’s muscles went slack, the only sounds coming from her satiated little whimpers.

“Did I do okay?” Vixen asked, looking up at her almost timidly.

“You…” Courtney lifted an arm weakly to caress her cheek. “You are perfect. Come here.”

Vixen crawled forward, squishing herself in beside Courtney on the sofa. And as Courtney wrapped herself around Vixen’s body, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch to cover them both, Vixen found herself buying in completely, at least for the moment, to the delusional fantasy of them. Of what they could be. Of what a shared life would look like.

She was rudely snapped back into reality when Brie opened the door, an uncharacteristically apologetic look on her face. Vixen sprang away from Courtney on the sofa like a guilty teenager, then immediately felt stupid.

“Sorry,” Brie said, “but we gotta get to the plane.”

“Okay. Just give us twenty minutes?” Courtney asked, a resigned note in her voice.

“You can have ten. Setting a timer.” Brie closed the door firmly.

Courtney turned to Vixen, who smiled sheepishly.

“I’m not really sure why I panicked. Lil Cracker just freaks me out.”

“Well…” Courtney appeared to ponder this for a few moments before reaching out, fingers seeking out Vixen’s zipper. “She did give us ten minutes…”

Vixen shook her head, chuckling.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about that. I’m too paranoid about another interruption.”

“But you took care of me. It’s only fair.” Courtney trailed her fingers up Vixen’s arm.

“Yeah, and you worked very hard today,” Vixen said, and off Courtney’s distressed look, wrapped an arm around her again, adding, “You can owe me one.”  

“Well...I guess in that case, I should probably put my knickers back on.”

Vixen laughed, picking her panties up off the floor and handing them over.

“Ugh. It’s so annoying that I have to take off so quickly,” Courtney said. After slipping the panties on, she leaned her head on Vixen’s shoulder. “Do you want me to text Adore? She and Gigi are waiting for you to take you to the after party, so-”

“No, it’s fine,” Vixen said. “I don’t care about the after party.”

“You sure? Because you can totally go. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

“I’d rather just stay with you until you have to leave,” she admitted. “We don’t have much time, so…”  

“Yeah?” The smile that lit up Courtney’s face was enough to make Vixen’s heart burst with joy.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well...you could ride with us to the airport. If you want.”

“Sounds good,” Vixen said, reaching for her hand.

“And don’t worry, I won’t do anything naughty with other people around,” Courtney promised. “We can just...sit in the backseat and hold hands and gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

“That was my whole plan,” Vixen giggled, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Courtney’s cheek.

***

Vixen had to admit that for once, she posted a picture with an understated, tasteful caption. It was just them on the red carpet, which said, “VMAs with my favorite writer.”

VIXEN: Classy caption there

COURTNEY: That’s not what I wanted to say

VIXEN: ?

COURTNEY: Guess ;)

VIXEN: You’re Too Much

COURTNEY: I’m the perfect amount, actually.

VIXEN: Cocky too, huh?

COURTNEY: It’s also possible that I’m delirious after performing and then taking a 10 hour flight.

VIXEN: I read that as “delicious”

COURTNEY: Oh yeah?

VIXEN: You wouldn’t have been wrong...

COURTNEY: So I’ve been told

COURTNEY: (and cocky)

COURTNEY: And I miss you already

VIXEN: <3

COURTNEY: <3 <3 <3

***

As much as Courtney loved performing, there were times when she had to admit how lonely tour life could be. First of all, there wasn’t a single person with her that wasn’t on payroll. And while she liked them all, there was something a little depressing about being surrounded 24/7 by people that were paid to be around you and cater to your whims and humor every single thing you said.

She did a reasonably okay job of keeping in touch with her friends, but with the time differences, it was hard to get on the same page. Except for Vixen, who always made sure she was available at some point in the evening. They’d often just text back and forth, but more and more, Courtney’d been convincing Vixen to FaceTime. And seeing her smile, looking into her eyes, hearing her laugh, just made everything infinitely better.

At first, when she was in Europe, it was late at night, well after Courtney’s show had wrapped for the evening, once she was safely tucked into bed in whatever hotel she was staying. Curled up with her phone or her computer, laughing until her sides hurt at Vixen’s impressions of her grandmother or her crazy cousins. Or, once the tour moved to Asia and Australia, it was in the morning, after she’d finished meditating and before she headed out to meet her trainer. She’d sit on a terrace or in the hotel room with a cup of tea while Vixen sipped an evening glass of wine, head resting on her hands as she listened to Vixen talk about everything from university politics to her chaotic childhood.

Either way, it quickly became her favorite part of the day. It was strange. They’d only met in person three times, but Courtney soon felt like Vixen knew her better than anyone ever had. And as for Vixen—she was admittedly a little guarded most of the time, but Courtney found her to be wonderfully candid. She told stories about her chaotic childhood and her troubled teens. How confused she’d been during most of her college years. Courtney knew all about her large extended family; she was sure she’d be able to recognize them all on sight, based on Vixen’s vivid descriptions and hilarious impersonations.

And then sometimes, when Courtney caught her in a certain mood, or maybe after a second glass of wine, the conversations would turn into something else entirely. Whispered confessions in the dark, voices hoarse, faces flushed with nervous excitement. It never went too far, but it was usually enough to get Courtney good and worked up, close enough that a few seconds with a vibrator after they hung up was enough to finish her off. It was enough that Courtney had lost any desire to be with anyone else, even when she ached with need. She would take a 2D image of Vixen on her screen over a real-life random hookup any day.

Of course, as good as it was, there was always a degree of uncertainty. There were conversations that they probably should be having...what exactly is their relationship, where is it going, are they exclusive? But it had been so long since Courtney liked anyone as much as Vixen, and she had a vague fear that bringing that up too soon would scare her off, so for now, she just dealt with the uncertainty as best she could. After all, the flip side of uncertainly was potential, and that was pretty exciting.

By the time October rolled around, Courtney longed to be home in her own bed, surrounded by her own things. Just the basic familiar comforts of home. When it was time to fly back to the states, she had to stop in New York for some press and a few meetings, and then finally, she was free to return to LA. But at the last minute, on a whim, she decided to make another stop first.  

***

Vixen had been putting the October symposium together for months. She’d reached out far and wide, planning lectures, panels, open forums, and agendas for the break-out groups over two days. There were a million moving parts, and million things on Vixen’s checklist, a million question marks and potential disasters.

But in all of the planning, never in Vixen’s mind did she imagine a scenario where she’d walk out to the podium on Saturday morning and see Courtney fucking Act sitting in the front row. With a pair of reading glasses and a goddamn notebook, rainbow streaks tucked into a librarian-style bun.

Fortunately, after a momentary stumble that she hoped no one besides her noticed, she was able to recover and get on with the agenda. During the first break, she beelined straight for Courtney, whose face lit up as she approached. Courtney jumped from her seat, throwing her arms around Vixen’s shoulders and pulling her in for a tight embrace.

“Hi...this is incredible!”

“I’m glad you...think...sorry, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane to LA right now?”

“LA can wait,” Courtney said, pulling back to look into her eyes. “And I wanted to surprise you. Was that a terrible idea?”

“No, just...unexpected,” Vixen replied with a grin. “You threw me off a little bit.”

“I’m sorry, I should have told you,” Courtney said, chagrined. “I wasn’t actually sure I’d make it in time, my flight from New York was late, and-”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“You are?” Courtney squeezed Vixen’s hands, and Vixen nodded, kissing her softly on the cheek.

“Yeah. But now I have to go back and take care of things, so-”

“Of course! I’ll be invisible, I promise. I just really wanted to hear your lecture,” she said, eyes shining.

“I hope you’re not bored,” Vixen chuckled softly, shaking her head. She still couldn’t quite believe that Courtney would be there listening the whole time. But fortunately, there was no time to stress about it, so she just walked back to the stage to keep the program going.

“Impossible!” Courtney called after her, settling back into her seat.

***

“Go back. Play that part again,” Vixen insisted, tossing Courtney a wicked smirk.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, it’s a really important cinematic moment.”

Courtney giggled, lifting the remote.

Vixen sighed happily, leaning against her shoulder. After Courtney had surprised her at the symposium earlier, they’d discussed a handful of date night possibilities before realizing that all they really wanted was just to curl up in front of a movie in Courtney’s hotel room, basking in the simple pleasure of finally being in the same room with no time pressure, no obligations, nobody standing by to interrupt. So they’d made a quick stop at Vixen’s apartment for a few essentials, and then headed straight to the hotel, getting into comfy clothes and cuddling up in front of the TV.

Partly as a joke, Vixen had selected Glimmer for them to watch, and she was currently making Courtney replay the shot where “Princess Lucie” first took off her helmet. It was an absolute cliché: blonde waves spilling over her shoulders in slow motion in the golden sunset, romantic music soaring on the soundtrack.

“Yeahhh, that’s the stuff,” Vixen leered at the screen as real-life Courtney laughed beside her. “Again!”

“I’ll do you one better,” Courtney giggled, swinging a leg over her to straddle her on the bed. “How about a live show?”

“I’m not gonna say no to that,” Vixen told her, grinning, settling back against the pillows.

Courtney gathered up her hair before slowly releasing it, shaking it out, accompanied by lashes fluttering and lip biting.

Vixen watched the whole over-the-top performance before sighing and shaking her head sadly.

“Real life just never lives up to the movies, does it?”

“Hey!” Courtney scoffed, feigning offense, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Vixen’s temple, murmuring into her ear. “You sure about that?”

“Ummm…I could probably be persuaded to hear a counterpoint...” Vixen trailed her fingers up Courtney’s thighs, smiling up at her. Feeling almost shy as Courtney toyed with the neckline of her top.

Vixen’s heart fluttered wildly as Courtney pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She sighed into it, savoring the moment as Courtney cradled her face.

“It feels like it’s been forever,” Vixen murmured, warmth spreading through her chest all the way down to her toes, to the tips of her fingers. She tilted her head slightly to give Courtney easier access to her neck, where she began to layer soft kisses.

“Next time won’t be so long,” Courtney whispered into her skin. “I promise.”

“Good…”

A soft whimper left Vixen’s lips as Courtney’s kisses turned from gentle and teasing to deep and hot, tongue trailing across her collarbone, moving to the other side of her neck, sucking on her pulse point. Her fingers dug into Courtney’s hips, arching up against her.

The movie still played in the background, neither of them noticing that Princess Lucie had begun to sing one of her solos until the music swelled for the chorus, startling them both.

“THE LIGHT SHIIIIIIIIINES WITHIN MY HEAAAAAAAAAAART!”

“Omigod,” Courtney breathed, breaking away from Vixen and turning around to switch off the TV, telling her Princess alter ego to, “Shut up!”

Vixen giggled, trying to catch her breath as Courtney turned back to her, face immediately softening into a dreamy expression as she gazed down at her, making her feel improbably special. She placed her wrists gently on Vixen’s shoulders, a smile tugging at her mouth.

“What?” Vixen asked.

“I just can’t believe we’re finally together again.”

“You can’t believe? I’m in bed with a bona fide princess.”

“I’m not a real princess,” Courtney reminded her.

“Could’ve fooled me.”  

Courtney giggled, hips rolling just enough to make her whimper.  

“How about tonight, you’re the princess?” Courtney murmured, and Vixen felt that dizzying thrill again, the one that she barely ever allowed herself to indulge in. At least, not outside the safe space of her own secret dreams.

She tried to come up with an answer, but her mind seemed to go blank, and so Courtney took her face into her hands, thumbs tracing over her cheekbones, whisper-soft.

“What do you say, princess?”

Vixen couldn’t hold back anymore, cheeks blazing hot as she bit back an embarrassing noise. Courtney sat up, looking both a little surprised and incredibly pleased by her enthusiasm.

“You know...have something that I think...you might like...” Courtney began, biting her lip.

“You have a lot of things I like,” Vixen stated hoarsely.  

Courtney’s smile deepened. She pressed a kiss to Vixen’s temple and then rolled away, digging through a suitcase on the floor. Finally, she produced what she was looking for: a pink canvas bag with a zipper down the side. She placed it between them on the bed, encouraging Vixen to look.

“Anything in there...interesting to you?”

Vixen unzipped the bag curiously, then after a glance inside, looked back up at Courtney, scandalized, stomach twisting with excitement.

“No?” Courtney asked.

“No. I mean, yeah,” Vixen said. “I’m...I think it could be fun. I just—”

“It doesn’t have to be today,” Courtney said, reaching for her hand.

“What if I wanted it to be today?” Vixen asked, tilting her head coyly.

“Then I’d say, your wish is my command.” Courtney kissed her softly. “Princess.”

Vixen felt her heart pick up speed as she melted against the kiss, excitement building inside her. Before she lost herself completely, she pulled away, trying to catch her breath.

“I’m gonna go get ready.”

“Okay.” Courtney placed a kiss to the inside of her wrist before releasing her.

[twokinkybeans]

Stark On Ice Chapter 4: Blinding Lights (Starker Figure Skating AU)

Read here on AO3!

-

Chapter 4: Blinding Lights

I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust

Peter sighs quietly when the warmth of Tony’s hand presses into his lower back. He likes it. Likes how the soft touch feels ever so sweet and comforting. Peter’s blades are pressed into the ice as he waits for Tony to circle back in front of him. Once Tony reaches that point, the older man drops onto his knees. Peter smiles. He knows how difficult this move has been for Tony to learn. How the man always complained about those damned toepicks being in the way.  When their eyes meet, Tony looks so undoubtedly in love that it has Peter’s skin tingle. He swallows and panics when he realizes he completely blanked out and no longer knows the next step in their choreo. Fuck, this has never happened to him before. “Peter?” Steve’s voice echoes through the rink after he pauses the song. Peter’s face heats up and he tries not to look at Tony smirking beneath him.  “Yeah?” He squeaks and turns around to meet Steve’s questioning stare. Steve might be a little naive sometimes, but he definitely isn’t blind. So when their gazes meet, he knows that Steve knows what’s going on between him and Tony. The coach sighs.  “Both of you, come here.”

Peter helps Tony to stand up again and together they skate towards the edge of the rink. Peter dreads the conversation already. He knows Steve has a tendency toward a more conservative opinion. Surely, he’s accepted Peter’s sexuality from the moment he knew. But the age difference between him and Tony? Peter isn’t so sure about that. “Look,” Steve starts when both men have come to a halt. The man’s lips turn into a faint smile. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I do see that you two have, eh, found each other. Right?”  Tony hums. “Right. So. That’s… Great. I mean it. I’m happy for you.” Peter has to suppress a little smile at the man stumbling over his words. “You have to be very careful, though. It’s one thing that people think it’s cute to see two male skaters together. If you’d be actually together-” Peter flushes at the assumption and he glances at Tony real quick. The man grins back. “-that could set off a whole different reaction. It’s better to keep that hidden until the show comes to an end.”

Peter nods slowly. He gets what Steve is trying to say, and he agrees. People think they’re cute now, for the sole fact that they’re ‘courageous’ and ‘themselves’. Throw in a relationship, and people would more likely than not start bashing Tony for falling for a 21-year old skater kid. Or, they’d bother Peter with all the personal questions about the already famous CEO. Not good. Not good. “Thank you, Steve,” he nods again. “You’re right. I- We’re still not sure what we are,” he breathes and evades Tony’s gaze here, “but we’ll definitely keep it to ourselves right now. There’s enough pressure already and we wouldn’t want to add to the fire.” Steve hums, happy with the answer, and then Peter dares to look at Tony again. It’s clear that Tony agrees too. “Alright, get your asses back in the center of the rink, and we’ll start over. Focus, boys.” Steve chuckles, and Peter shakes his head. Steve, as always, surprised him with his tolerance seeing his background. 

I been tryna call I been on my own for long enough Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe

Their fingers intertwine as they start off with forward strokes. Speeding up to match the rhythm of the song. 

I’m going through withdrawals You don’t even have to do too much You can turn me on with just a touch, baby

Peter glances sideways at Tony. Concentration is written all over the man’s face. ‘Choctaw’ Tony mouths to himself. Peter feels a rush of pride. He knows how incredibly difficult Tony finds it to remember all the names, especially now that their choreos are becoming more difficult. Peter brings his feet closer together as they switch from forward inside edge to the backward outside edge while remaining in their foxtrot position. Peter loves how Tony seems to get the Choctaw right better than a rocker or counter turn. Maybe it’s because this one is a two-foot equivalent. “Alright boys, that’s good! Prepare for the lutz lift!”

Tony frowns and shakes his head and leans in slightly to Peter. “Wha- I didn’t get that, what are we-” Peter, who’d already been preparing for switching into backward crossovers trips over his skates when Tony isn’t where he expected him to be. With a broken cry, he feels how his skates are no longer under his command as they slide from underneath his legs. His right blade tackles Tony’s left foot and the other man’s eyes grow wide with fear as he too loses his grip on the ice. In a tangled mess, they fall onto the ice together and a sharp pain surges from Peter’s upper arm. He curses under his breath- he knows the searing pain all too well. Slowly, he opens his eyes and stares at his arm in horror as the blood comes seeping out the clear-cut wound. “Steve, first aid kit!” Peter shouts and bites down his lips. His eyes find their way to Tony, and he sees the man staring at him as he sits back up. “Holy shit, Peter…” he breathes quietly. The man looks down at his skates in disgust. “I cut you, didn’t I?” “Sliced right through me,” Peter tries to joke, but he sees Tony’s genuinely worried face. “I’m alright, it doesn’t hurt that bad.”

Steve comes rushing onto the ice, carefully sliding forward on his shoes and sitting next to him. He examines the cut quickly and lets out a tiny breath in relief. “Seems like it’s just skin, it’s not too deep.” The coach grabs the disinfectant and cleans it out. Peter clenches his jaws at the sting but doesn’t make any sound.  “Hmm, bleeding’s already slowing down. Let me get a band-aid and we’ll get you to Dr. Banner to see if everything’s truly alright. Tony, did you hurt yourself in the fall?” “No, no, I’m all good. Eh, should I call for the Zamboni to clean the ice?” “Good call. Peter, you’re with me.”

---

Peter grimaces when he tries to change into his more comfortable sweater. Tony stares at him from the other side of the bench in the locker room.  “Are you alright?” Peter sighs and nods. It hurts like a bitch, but it’s doable. According to Dr. Banner, he should give it proper rest as the blade seems to have scratched the clavicular fibers of the deltoid muscle just slightly. Not enough to worry or refer him to a hospital, so that’s a relief. “It’s okay,” he breathes as he struggles to pull the sweater down over his head. Tony growls lightly, and within just a few steps, he’s right at Peter’s side. His strong, muscular hands help him to tug the fabric all the way down.  “Thanks.” Peter smiles. Tony just nods. His hands linger on Peter’s hips where the man had let go of the sweater. Peter feels his fingers tingle with the need to reach out and let his hands linger on the man’s hips as well. What if he just… does? Peter gulps when he extends his arms and lets his fingers brush past the soft cotton shirt that hugs Tony’s waist quite nicely. He doesn’t dare to look up. Doesn’t dare to imagine how sweet and longing Tony’s gaze would be. But he has to. Has to when Tony’s fingers gently find their way to Peter’s chin and lift his head up.

“Peter,” comes Tony’s rough whisper, and Peter feels how the soft rumble in hearing his name sets off a chain reaction of tingling sensations in his body. Peter can’t help himself when he presses his body a little closer against Tony’s. It’s not like they haven’t been close or intimate before - thanks to skating - but something about this is extremely thrilling.  “Tony,” is all he replies. Apparently, enough for Tony to lose his self-discipline when he crashes his lips onto Peter’s. Peter melts into the man’s embrace instantly. Oh, how he’s been waiting for this to happen.  “God, Peter,” Tony groans in between their kisses. The hot breath tickles Peter’s nose, and he giggles, deepening the kiss by parting his lips. Tony takes the invitation without hesitation and when their tongues touch Peter’s gone.  They stay like this for who knows how long. Bodies pressed close together. Their hungry lips exploring the other for the very first time. It’s nothing like Peter’s ever experienced before. Tony is strong, muscular…  Experienced. He kisses Peter with confidence and skill and all the boy can do is take it. It isn’t until Peter tries to reach for Tony’s shoulder blades that he winces at the sharp pain going through his arm again. 

“Fuckfuckfuck,” he curses and grabs the sore spot to protect it from any further pain.  “Pete,” Tony manages to speak. Peter sends him a supposedly comforting glance.  “It’s alright. I just shouldn’t raise my arm too high.” Tony frowns but doesn’t counter Peter’s answer. It’s clear he’s worried about him.  “Do you think you can skate Saturday?” Peter huffs and nods. “This is just a minor injury, I can handle it.” “But didn’t Dr. Banner say to-” “Dr. Banner isn’t a regular doctor, Tony. He only treats professional ice skaters. When he says that I should take a rest, he means off the ice.”

They’re silent for a moment. It’s clear Tony doesn’t quite agree, but then, Peter knows Tony wouldn’t skip out of the next show if he’d have the same injury.  “Well then,” Tony clears his throat and grabs Peter’s clean sweater. “Allow me to help you.” His voice is so dead-serious, yet the playful twinkle in the man’s eyes causes Peter to laugh. He lets Tony change his clothes, the entire thing is both strangely comical and intimate. Tony insists on carrying Peter’s bag. Insists on driving him home, too. Peter isn’t too sure about it. He lives in a little flat with his bestie Ned, and it’s… Nothing very spectacular. Definitely nothing like the Stark Tower. He can’t say no, though, so before he knows what’s going on, he’s seated in one of Tony’s incredibly luxurious cars.  Apparently, Tony has a chauffeur that goes by the name of Happy, so both Peter and Tony are in the back of the car. Peter fiddles with his fingers. It’s not quite common for him to show someone his place. Mostly because his busy life simply doesn’t allow much time for visitors. Outside of the figure skating world, Ned, and May; he doesn’t know anyone really. It’s not until he realizes that someone is driving him home that he realizes that he actually kissed Tony Stark. He doesn’t know how he feels about it. God, the kiss had been perfect. Absolutely perfect. Peter still feels ecstatic just remembering the soft lips on his own.

An unpleasant feeling settles under his skin, though. What if… What if all of this doesn’t mean anything? There’s lots of tension in pair skating; that’s for sure. What if Tony mistakes it for a crush? What will happen after the last show? Tony is a busy CEO, Peter has a filled up schedule as well. They’ve got such different backgrounds, such different lives, and then Peter hasn’t even really considered the consequences of their age difference yet. It makes him nauseous to doubt this. Makes him feel sad and frustrated and angry because he should be happy. He should be enjoying this moment and he isn’t. Not fully.

Happy parks the car in front of the complex and turns around in his seat to announce they’ve arrived. Tony stares out the window. He’s studying the area and hums to himself. “Nice, Parker.” Peter huffs at that and gets out of the car- still feeling conflicted. He figures he just needs some time to process all of this. He proceeds to grab his bag, but before he even properly lifts it from the trunk, Tony takes it into his own hands and smiles. Peter rolls his eyes. “I can carry it, Tony.” “I know, but I want to help. It’s my fault you got injured after all.” “Occupational hazard.” “Still.”

They’re quiet again. Tony clears his throat and tilts his head. “You okay, Pete?” Peter swallows. He didn’t mean to show his emotions, but then, May often tells him he can’t hide them the slightest bit. He’s an open book. So, better to open up about it too, then. “Just… Some worries. About us.” Tony’s eyes widen slightly, but he quickly regains his composure. “Worries or doubts?” “Worries.” “Like what?” Peter sighs and shakes his head. He doesn’t know how to explain it simply. However, when he starts talking, the words flow out rather naturally. “How different we are. How we met, too. I don’t want to dive headfirst into something that might be nothing more than a fling.”

More silence.

In the end, Tony puts the bag down on the ground and takes a step closer towards Peter until they’re mere inches away. His hands linger on Peter’s waist. “I can’t promise you what’ll happen. I can, however, tell you that I’m very certain about you, Pete. I want this to be much, much, much more than a fling.” Peter’s breathing stops for a good second until he lunges forward and presses his lips onto Tony’s passionately. His worries are still there, but he knows that Tony wants to make this work, and that’s all Peter needed to hear.

-

Masterpost Next Chapter

[mainmuses]

F2F Para Interaction: Discord Upload

Who: Rose McCoy & Dani Harper ( @daniharperdominant ) Where: Dani’s suite When: 13/10/20 Why: Rose escaped an uncomfortable interaction by climbing in Dani’s bathroom window, friendship ensues.  What: Natural ending to the thread

Rose 13/10/2020

Rose & Dani: F2F @Rei || Dani & Marley 

 Rose walked with her book bag slung over one shoulder and absently sucking on a lollipop. It was a ball-gag cherry pop but she was enjoying it all the same, she hadn't been allowed one in so long. Rose caught a flash of red hair out the corner of her eye and tossed herself quickly and smoothly through the closest open window. It was a bathroom and she shoved the blind down after her, crouched and peeking through the crack to check if the coast is clear. Rose tensed all over when the door opened behind her and she didn't turn around, hoping maybe they would just go away?

dani harper

There were a lot of things that Dani expected at Devereux.  Accidentally walking into a room where people were having sex, the occasional public scene, all of that.  One thing she'd never experienced, in her entire first year and the few weeks of her second, was someone in her bathroom.  In fact it took her a moment to be sure of what she was actually seeing.  "Uh...are you lost, or do you just get off on sneaking into people's rooms?"

dani harper

That at least made some kind of sense, and Dani relaxed a little.  "Oh - yeah, sure, but if you're going to hang out why don't you come into my room?  Be a little more comfortable."  She chuckled a little at the compliment, extending her hand as well.  "Dani Harper, Dominant.  It's a pleasure to meet you, Rose.  Can I get you a drink or anything?"

rose mccoy-schuester

She turned slowly, grimacing. "I'm avoiding someone." Rose explained, figuring this person deserved some clue as to why she'd suddenly entered a poorly executed action movie. "Can I hang out for a sec?" She asked then paused "... Nice bathroom... very clean" Rose sat down out of her crouch and offered her hand "Rose McCoy, Switch."

rose mccoy-schuesterBOT13/10/2020

Rose smiled at the friendly interaction and shook hands enthusiastically. Ross's jaw twitched when she realised she was speaking to a Dominant and took her hand back, lowering her eyes in submission. "Sorry Miss, do you have a title you like used?" This was her first interaction outside the control of her ex with a Dominant peer. She wasn't fully sure how to act. "Do you have orange juice", she asked hopefully peaking up at Dani .

dani harper

"Miss is fine," Dani promised.  "And please take a breath - I can just about see the tension vibrating off of you.  This isn't a scene, you used a title, everything's okay.  You can look at me, I won't turn you to stone or anything," she chuckled.  "And yes, I've got some orange juice.  Just grab a seat on the couch, and I'll be right there with it."

rose mccoy-schuester

Rose attempted to do as instructed and artificially lowered her shoulders in a show of attempting to relax. She glanced up at Dani a couple of times as if getting used to staring into the sun. "Thanks" she said and unfolded herself from the floor, instead taking up space on the couch. She was glad about the orange juice. " Are we pulp or no pulp people? It's an important personality test." Rose quickly got comfortable and took a decorative pillow to hug to her abdomen.

dani harper

"You're welcome," Dani smiled.  As she headed for the fridge she looked back over her shoulder at her mysterious intruder.  "We are definitely pulp people, so hopefully that passes the test."  She'd never really cared much one way or the other, truthfully, but it was what she had in the fridge and so that's what they'd drink.  Pouring each of them a small glass, she headed back to the couch to deliver one to Rose.  Taking a seat at the other end of the couch, she raised her glass.  "To new friends who sneak in through windows."14 October 2020

Amlee ~ Rose

Rose bobbed her head "Pulp is superior" she agreed "Thanks" she took the juice and raised it to the cheers "You say that as if you're supposed to make friends any other way" she smiled into her glass. "You are very chill about this which makes me wonder if this is a common occurance either for this college or for you personally". Rose took great care with the tassels on the decorative pillow "Where's this pillow from?"

dani harper

"Oh good.  I'd have hated to fail my very first test," she laughed.  "I mean usually I meet them when they haven't snuck into my room, but this works just as well."  Dani shrugged.  "I'm just fairly chill in general - this isn't the first time I've had strangers wander into wherever I lived.  And that pillow...I think was a gift from someone whose couch I lived on for a while."

rose mccoy-schuester

"I would have forgiven you angway" she assured her brand new friend. "I actually think this is the superior way, it cuts down on the awkward small talk portion where you don't know if you should hang out. If someone is chill with surprise window guests then you know." She deduced. "I like it, it doesn't look like it's mass manufactured, someone made it. And that's pretty cool."15 October 2020

dani harper

"Well, I appreciate that," Dani chuckled.  "It's  nice to meet someone so forgiving of my stance on pulp."  She had to admit that Rose did have a point, it was easier to get to know someone when you knew if you were comfortable with them sneaking in your window.  "I suppose that's true, although in the future if you wanted you could just knock on my door."  A smile tugged at her lips.  "Yeah, she was super crafty.  Did all kinds of things with her hands."  Dani hesitated for a moment.  "Want to talk about why you're hiding in my room?"16 October 2020

rose mccoy-schuester

Rose nodded her head and grinned "Noted, I suppose I can knock on a door" Rose looked down at the pillow and fiddled with it. "Is it... important?" She asked cautiously. Dani had asked, not demanded the truth from her.... yet. "What were you getting up to today? Am I getting in the way of plans?" She fretted. "Please go about your usual day, I'll climb back out the way I came in a minute." She assured the resident of the room.

dani harper

"It's worth a try, anyway.  If I'm in I'll usually answer and let you in, and if not then my roomie can always let you into my room."  There was nothing in it worth stealing except her guitar, so she didn't much care if Rose was in by herself.  "It's not, no.  I just thought I'd offer if you wanted to talk about it, but if not that's fine too."  Dani smiled.  "No plans.  I was just going to sit and play a few songs while I gathered my thoughts."17 October 2020

rose mccoy-schuester

"Who is it you share with?" Rose asked, she knew very few people in this place so it wasn't likely that she knew them. "I promise to try the door next time but I make no promises that the door will be a habit, I'm quite fond of the window" She teased. Rose breezed straight through acknowledging what brought her through the window in the first place, and ignored the topic completely. It had been working for her so far. "Play songs? Do you play an instrument? What music do you like?"

dani harper

"Zoe Rose.  She's gorgeous, so I'm sure you're going to notice if you see her."  Dani wasn't being falsely modest comparing herself to the other Domme, because she really was beautiful.  "Fair enough, just try not to use it when I'm...you know, actually in the bathroom."  When Rose didn't stop to explain what had brought her there, Dani stopped pushing - she didn't need to know.  "I do indeed - my guitar is in the bedroom.  Indigo Girls, Imogen Heap, Sarah Mclachlan, things like that."

rose mccoy-schuester

"I'll look out for her." Rose agreed. "Yeah, that would be a bit awkward. We could install a doorbell? Or a smoke signal system? Do you know morse code?" Rose thought outloud, with no real intention on busting in on Dani in the bathroom but it was fun to imagine scenarios like she was a little girl and they were going to build a tin can telephone to communicate. "Amazing, I played the flute for a minute when I was 12 but then everyone realised that it was either I gave it up or everyone go deaf. It was an obvious choice." She laughed. "Can I hear you play?"

dani harper

Dani snorted.  "Doorbell, maybe.  Smoke in the bathroom's just set off my smoke detector.  And I definitely don't know morse code."  That wasn't completely true, she thought she remembered how to do SOS, but that wasn't really helpful and didn't even really count.  "Ooh, nice - I love the flute but I never had any talent for it.  It would have been kind of impressive if you deafened a whole town though," she laughed.  "Yeah, of course - hang out, I'm just going to get my guitar from the bedroom."18 October 2020

rose mccoy-schuester

"I'll look into the doorbell idea." Rose promised "The flute is very hard." She agreed and watched Demi leave to grab the guitar. As a creative, Rose had always wanted to find an instrument that she could play and become good at. However, despite the lengthy practice she hadn't found herself improving enough to justify the effort.

dani harper

"I appreciate that.  And it's much tougher than people give it credit for, that's for damn sure."  She grabbed her guitar from where it was sitting in its case and brought it back out to the couch to sit on the arm.  It was tuned, so she launched into something old but recognizable.  "...but there ain't no way I'm ever going to love you, now don't be sad.  Baby, don't be sad, 'cause two out of three ain't bad..."

[crappierpasta]

Hollow

She was beautiful.

She and I would sit with my laptop for hours on end, looking for the scariest things we could find. It was an odd relationship, but it worked. Something just clicked when I was with her. She was the love of my life and my best friend. Nowadays, I would give anything to have her back.

She knew of the things I had seen. She dismissed it. Ah, Jordan, it's just your mind playing tricks on you. I wonder if she still thinks it was just my mind.

Really, she was always worried about me. I suppose that when you look at it from her perspective - the perspective of one who hadn't lived the way I had, who hadn't seen what I had seen - it would rationalize her train of thought. Sometimes, I wonder if she thought me insane. I know there were some times she did. The love in her eyes when we lay together, when we made love, and when we scared ourselves silly... I kjust knew that it was because of that love I would never lose her. She was mine 'til death did us part.

I really don't know how to describe the things I see. Beautiful, lumbering, graceful, damned, hateful, loving... I wouldn't be wrong in saying slender, and that's no allusion. Just as damned as the drunk that walks down the street from the bar each night, scratching his sickly face and adjusting the worn hat on his head, only to have it fall on its slant once more moments later. Just as loving as a mother to her kin.

They are us, essentially, with long, cracked-looking limbs and expressions that can be both grotesque and beautiful. They are young and old, just as we are, and they are all greatly varied. They are the walking souls that never lived, not unborn and not undead. I've been seeing them for three years now, in numbers just as great as humans. They are their own society, treating us as though we do not exist. They do not behave as we do, however. I told her and saw fear in my eyes - not of the beings of which I spoke, but for myself and my mental state of being. She loved me, but... alas, she couldn't see. Seeing was believing.

There was a day, about two months ago, when I walked with her. The same walk we'd walked a thousand times before. We lived on a circular road and often made the loop together while talking. I'd noted that, although the loop was our usual route, there'd only been one route we'd completely avoided in all those months we were lovers. It was the road the mayor lived on. Bowater. This particular day, I suggested to her we walk up through Bowater. I'd never gone far enough to reach the end of the street in question. She devoutly refused and explained that there was a night long ago when she was followed down that road by a large, black, burly figure of insurmountable height. Knowing what I've seen, she also dismissed anything of paranormality. I was unconvinced, but I left well enough alone and we continued on our usual treck.

I really should have seen it coming, but we were so vulnerable.

Julia called me one night... or, rather, morning. Around 3AM, to be precise. She told me she was scared. She was seeing and hearing things. She needed to talk. I stayed on the phone with her for two hours, trying to calm her down as much as possible. I did my best. It almost worked. She was dozing off and I was happy to hear it. I was tired, too. Then... a thump. It was almost a footstep, but not quite. I couldn't hear it well over the phone, but I could tell it wasn't a footstep. Okay so... Julia. Back to her.

After the thump, I heard her stop breathing. I panicked and called her name twice. She cut me off the third time with a scream. I heard a commotion. I heard her running. I heard a door slam and lock, then more running and moving curtains. I spoke her name a couple of times more.

"Julia?" I asked. "Julia?" "Jordan, don't go," came the reply. "Please don't go." "It's okay. What's wrong?" "She's out there. In the hallway." "Who's in the hallway, Julia?" "I don't know who's in the hallway, Jordan. It's just a she. It's white. It smiles with its eyes. She smiles. She." "Julia, calm down. Calm down. What is she?" "I don't want to talk about it, Jordan. I can't describe it. I just want to forget. Talk to me, Jordan. Talk to me, please. About anything. Just not that."

There was a reason I wanted to know. I wanted to know because I've never ever seen one in a house... until the night before that. What I'd seen was unlike everything else.

Everything else had remained very humanoid to an extent. This was... like a mafia murder gone wrong. Like someone had stuffed her body in a suitcase and left her alive to grow that way. Her face... Her face was smiling. It was a sickly black, toothless grin with wide, white bloodshot eyes. A black object that looked to be a horn with a ball end extended slightly from where her nose would have been.

What sickened me was that her face was hanging - literally - from this ball-ended horn. It was like a child's halloween mask. The gap between her face and head was held together loosely by blood-soaked skin, stretched to purple like tiny little slimy rope ligaments. Her face wriggled and spun loosely, hanging by the ball end and ligaments. It made small squelching noises as she moved. Her arms stretched under her legs and bent with four joints each, to become hind legs of some sort. It was like some kind of sick, disfigured child was trying to play leap frog. Her legs were relatively normal, though I couldn't see them well under the pure white dress she wore. The last defining feature of this thing were the three grotesque humps protruding from her back.

It was on my porch. I'd gone to use the washroom and decided to use the kitchen light on so I could find the bathroom light switch (our bathroom connects to the kitchen for some reason). I turned on the light. Everything was fine. I went to the bathroom, finished my business, and walked over to turn the kitchen light off. I was greeted by the sight of that thing as I neared the porch. It looked up, its head lulled sickly to the side, and it smiled at me. I was used to seeing things, but the sight of this creature sickened me so badly. I felt that instead of hitting the switch and making a run for it, I'd have to run to the toilet to puke. I followed through with the former, however, and kept my door locked for the rest of the night. I did eventually fall asleep, but it was light and restless.

I was sure Julia was seeing exactly what I had the night before. I couldn't pressure her about it, however, or I'd scare her even more. I spoke gently to her and calmed her down. Soon, she drifted off to sleep, allowing me to finally sleep myself.

The days went by. Julia still refused to go near Bowater. There was a new path she was trying to stay clear of, too: a trail we always used to cut through to the park. She was hiding something. I resolved to find out what. I spent most of the days with her. The sweet summer air was a welcome change from the rain we'd been experiencing. I tried to ask her about that night, but she refused to talk. She wouldn't say a word about it. We went to my place. She wasn't excited about our scary hour anymore, so we just cuddled. I swear to God there was never a moment that day that I doubted she was the love of my life.

We went our separate ways that night, parting with a long, lingering kiss. It was another reminder of our promise to one another. I told her to tell me if anything happened. I'd be over in a second if she needed me. She did. After all, I only live across the street. That night, she didn't say a lot online. I tried to elicit conversation, but was met with nondescriped ooh and ahs. Around 1:30AM, she went offline. At 2AM, I got a text. I sighed with relief that it was her. The content of the text, however, made me uneasy.

"Im going for a walk, sorry"

I looked out the window, toward her house, and saw not a single light on. Not even in her room. I noticed her front door was open and watched as she walked - or at least stumbled - out, cloaked in her long, pink jacket. It was far too large and hot to be wearing on a summer's night. I couldn't see her face very well. I tossed on some shoes and ran outside just in time to see her nearly disappear on the loop of that circular road. I walked fast, keeping my distance and keeping quiet. When she stopped, I felt fear.

She was standing in front of the trail. The one she'd avoided so heavily. She stood there for a good five minutes and almost moved to go with her before noticing she was no longer alone.

One of the things walked out of the trail. This one was different as well, but nowhere near as grotesque as the one I'd seen before. This one wore a wooden mask. It was what I would have called a plague doctor mask. The long "nose" of the mask descended to its chest and it was, otherwise, cloaked in black. A long, skinny arm reached out of the cloak and Julia reached toward it, holding something in her hand.

No.

No no no.

It wasn't a hand she held out.

It was a foot.

My heart stopped. I knew. I just knew. I'd never bothered to question the way she walked, as though drunken. I never bothered to look at her feet or her hands. I looked down and, sure enough, there were two hands with spindly, long fingers stretched over the road in the streetlight's midst. My heart stopped and broke at the same time, for I knew that the face I looked at was that of my beloved. My beloved. My Julia. I yelled. I yelled with so much force and anger that the plague doctor himself flinched. Julia turned and I got my first clear look at her face.

Scared.

Regretful.

Dead.

The plague doctor walked up behind her, grabbing the jacket from the front, as if hugging her, and tore it open. I was greeted by the girl-thing from the night before, her body cozily hugged by my Julia's ribcage.. for a spine, neck, and head were all that was left of my beloved. I cried. I cried out, to myself and to the things that killed her. I cried with rage and heartbreak - loudly and angrily - and began to run. I ran toward them, glaring at that detached face and waiting for its stupid fucking grin to fade. I glared, waiting for the satisfaction I'd get at seeing the fear in its bloodshot eyes before I bashed its fucking skull in.

It smiled widely.

I made it under the streetlight, merely ten feet away from the thing sickeningly cradled by Julia's body, when I was grabbed. I spun around to see nothing, but when I looked to my side there was a bony, blue hand holding onto my shoulder. I looked up and there was another of them. It was hanging from the streetlight, a noose tightened around its neck. Its face was blue and cold, like the rest of it, and it was smiling. Unlike the girl-thing, this being had no eyes. Rather, it had a crazy, wise glint in its empty sockets. Its feet were suspended feet above my head, but its arms were disgustingly long. Long enough to grab me.

I tried to run, to continue towards the killer, but those fragile-looking limbs held me in place. I looked up again and cursed that stupid fucking thing for keeping me from killing the killer. It merely smiled and smile that would have looked encouraging on a normal old man and, for the first time, I heard the voice of one of them. It spoke as it smiled, in an old man's soft voice. It spoke but one word before tossing me a good five feet back. I landed on my side and a sharp pain shot through my body, temporarily paralyzing me. I got up and they were gone. All that was left was the hollow body of my beloved, on the ground and staring up at me sadly.

I ran. By God, I ran. I ran home, snuck inside, and went straight to my room. I soberly reflected on everything I'd ever done with Julia. I reflected on all of it and smiled. That morning, I awoke with the firm belief that my beloved was alive and all of it was a bad dream. I phoned her, to let her know how much I loved her and how thankful I was that I'd met her in the first place. Her father picked up. He told me her body was found two hours ago by the park trail. I hung up and proceeded to break down. It's been a month since she died and I still think of what the hanged creature told me that night.

One word.

Samhain.

Written by Jordan.

[maxattack-powell]

Winter Break - Moving On

*This is an original fic that fits in between Winter Break - Going Home and Book 2/Chapter 1 (1-17d in my masterlist)***

Masterlist - go here for other chapters and related original fics

Disclaimer: The following are fics (adaptations from actual game chapters AND original works) to Choices: The Freshman and The Sophomore stories. It is a fictional adaptation. I do not work for Pixelberry Studios, the game developer or own the rights to the characters Chris Powell, Nicole or any other IN GAME character. All of the ORIGINAL characters, story-lines and events were developed for my adaptation of The Freshman story.

Comments: I enjoyed playing Choices The Freshman… and then I found this awesome group of people and their works - I’ve loved it all, very much so. Deciding that I wanted more interaction than the options allowed, I’ve gone through the first book, chapter by chapter (omg painfully slow) to follow the story (95-99% I’d say) and add to it as I felt would benefit. Now I am doing the same to Book 2 as well.

Basically, I wanted to include certain things that weren’t really full fic worthy, adding more substance to the story. However, I did add some full size fic moments also… some are included in cannon chapters and some are their own full chapters in between. I wanted to see MC and Chris through their freshman year… with more angst, fluff, sweetness, real life and overall detail. So, if you like that pairing then you’ll be satisfied, otherwise sorry James & Kaitlyn fans lol. I even added some parts from Chris’s POV, so that we have a chance to see what he’s thinking, knowing what she experienced.

There will be ADULT and/or NSFW moments in certain chapters - this is a warning lol. I will try my best to make it obvious as it occurs…

Paring: MC x Chris

POV: ~MC~ or ~Chris~

~MC~

MC has been at home for a few days now, and she’s enjoyed just about every minute of it. She’s been spending time with her parents, her lovely dog Max and her extended family such as her crazy Uncle Mike and his family. She loves her cousins. The oldest is 8 years younger than her, and the rest taper down from there. This means they tend to follow her around with wide eyes of adoration. What she loves about them is how much fun they are, how she can lose herself while she plays with them, once again experiencing her childhood through their eyes.

Today is Christmas Eve Eve and her uncles bookstore is actually quite busy for once. She spends most of the day running around pulling books for customers who can’t find it themselves or are in too much of a hurry to attempt it. The typical panicked holiday shopping customer.

In her limited moments of peace she can’t help but think of Chris. They have been in contact everyday since they parted ways at Hartfeld. Some days the interactions were brief, each having limited time to send a text or pic of some kind. Other days they spent hours together, either on a normal phone call or through FaceTime. They did it all, whatever style fit their situation best at the time.

One thing was always the same though. Every day, every single day, they sent or said to each other the same good-morning and goodnight messages. Chris had started calling her ‘beautiful’ in these messages too, increasing the butterflies in her stomach with each one. He had mentioned before, much earlier in the fall quarter, that he was falling for her. She still tries to push the memories away of that time in between, but he had come back in the end. Telling her the same thing again. Now she was wondering if she was falling hard for him in return.

MC had always felt a certain connection with him, she never denied that. But it was something new and much stronger than anything she had experienced before, even with Peter. She thought at one time that Peter was the one for her, but one day something just felt off. Even though he was the most attentive and loving person she had ever met. He had never done anything to make her feel otherwise, but it happened anyway.

Sure, she still found him attractive, but who wouldn’t. His looks rivaled Chris’s in almost every way though unique in his own. He was as tall, muscular and fit. Peter had a very handsome face with a strong jaw. It was just different. Most importantly, being with him never give her the same feelings that she has experienced with Chris. The electricity that is always pulsing between the two of them, in every touch, in every look. It was addictive, and she was starting to miss it during the long break.

Late afternoon, her uncle told her that she could go home, noticing that the activity was starting to slow around the store. She gave him a hug and said goodbye and climbed in her little truck and to go home. It was sometime after 3 p.m. and she didn’t have any plans until later so she decided to send Chris a quick message.

‘Hey, cannon. Not killing the fresh meat are you?’

It didn’t take long for her to receive a response. ‘Cannon? And no, not yet. Some are acting like it though.’

She laughs and sends him one back. ‘Yeah, isn’t that what they installed when they removed your right arm when you were a kid?’

‘Lol. Riiiiight.’

‘What, you don’t like that one? Hmm. I’ll have to think up a better nickname…’

‘we’re doing nicknames now?’

‘Yeah, you started it.’

‘I did?’

‘Yep. You say it at least twice a day.’

‘I do? ooh you mean beautiful?’

‘Uh, yeah… that wasn’t a nickname?’

‘I was just stating a fact but I’ll gladly make it more permanent ;)’

She drops her phone into her lap and covers her face, feeling the embarrassment creep up her neck. “Oh my god. What did I just do…”

When she doesn’t reply, she receives another message. ‘or… not?’

She quickly scrambles to reply, ‘No, wait.’

She takes a deep breath and sends another, ‘Sorry, you just made my face very red.’

‘really? I wanna see’

‘What! Why?’ She looks at her phone incredulously as she sends the text.

‘I’m not there to see it myself’

She sighs, then grins, before covering her eyes with her arm and taking a picture. She sends it without even looking at it.

~Chris~

Chris glances away from his phone while he waits. Looking at the activity nearby, he watches as the players run their drills up and down the field. He glances towards Ryan and Ethan, nodding to them so they can stop the guys and give them a break. When coach told him how many new players he had this year, Chris insisted his friends help. Easier to divide and conquer the large number of bodies on the field. His friends didn’t object when Chris asked for their help, both okay with the idea of hanging out more over break as well.

He turns and takes a few steps away, pulling up the text he receives. When he looks at the picture he can’t help but smile. Her cheeks are red and she’s biting her bottom lip, clearly embarrassed while her eyes are covered with her arm. Her hair is pulled into a loose bun on top of her head, some strands falling around her face haphazardly.

He chuckles and sends her a text back. ‘Where are my beautiful eyes…’

‘Hiding.’

He laughs and glances at the group a few feet away, knowing he needs to get back to work. ‘Can I see them later?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Maybe? Don’t tease me’

‘What if I want to…’

He laughs out loud. ‘Wait until I can do something about it. Play fair.’ He sends the text, knowing that he’s now the one teasing her, but he can’t resist.

~MC~

Her face is still hot when his next text comes through. “Oh my god…” She immediately blushes a deeper red as she reads it. She starts laughing and shakes her head as she types a response. ‘Okay. FaceTime me before bed?’

‘Can’t wait.’

She grins and puts down her phone before starting her truck and heading home. Halfway there, she decides to stop at her friend Gina’s house to see what she’s doing. MC pulls up to the house and shoots her a quick text, confirming that she was home. Gina replies, telling her that she and B are both there, and she should hurry up and join them.

When she gets inside, MC waves to Gina’s parents. They smile and her mother runs over to give her a hug. The pair feels more like an aunt and uncle than her friends parents. Even though they only met in high-school, MC and Gina had become close friends, like sisters. The same goes for B, the three of them have been very close since she moved to town. She really did miss them during the quarter, but was also happy for their wonderful luck getting into good schools.

Gina had been accepted to Harvard University and was doing extremely well there. MC knew she was going to become a doctor in no time. B had a more artistic side and applied to NYU. She was easily accepted after they saw the talent in her portfolio. She’s happy for them both, and now that they had started adjusting to their new worlds, the three were making plans to see each other as much as possible. Thankfully their colleges were all fairly close to each other, unlike some of their other friends who were scattered all over the south and some as far as out west. Each were close enough to drive within a few hours. MC just needs to figure out how to get some wheels to Hartfeld.

She hugs them both when she makes it down the basement stairs. They trio hang out together for a while, catching up on just about everything. There was so much to share between the three of them and they were having fun doing it.

At one point B looks at MC and raises her eyebrow. “So… Peter seemed interested in you the other night.”

MC glances between them both, noticing their curious stares. “Uh, yeah. He asked me out… actually.”

“Really?” Gina leans closer. MC knew she had always thought Peter was a good match for her. “What did you say?”

“I told him I was seeing someone…” MC makes a face at her sentence, again feeling like she didn’t really have the right to say that.

“What?!” Both Gina and B say in unison.

“Yeah, there’s this guy from Hartfeld…” She looks at them, and they just stare back, eyes wide, waiting. “He’s a quarterback. The quarterback, actually.”

B’s face lights up and she sits up straighter. “And..?!”

“Um, his name is Chris.” She looks down and picks at the hem of her shirt.

“Aaaand…?” Gina joins the interrogation.

“And…” She keeps her gaze on her shirt. “I like him. A lot.”

“More than you did with Peter?” Gina questions.

“Yeah, way… way more.” She looks at them both. “Remember how I thought Peter was the one junior year?” Her friends nod. “I had no idea how it could really be.”

Her two friends smile and give matching blissful sighs.

MC snorts out a laugh and shakes her head. “Oh come on guys…”

“What? This is amazing… I thought after you split from Peter that it would be years before you found someone. Like maybe even after college.” B exclaims.

“We’re not actually, uh, together though. I don’t think…” She grimaces at her own statement.

Gina frowns. “What do you mean?”

“Well, we went to formal together… but there was a lot of stuff before that. I mean, he says he’s falling for me, but I just don’t know…” MC fades.

B shakes her head and grabs MCs hand. “You’re a smart one. Your heart knows what’s real and what isn’t. Just listen to it.”

Gina smiles next to her, nodding her head enthusiastically.

MC can’t help but smile at them both. “Funny, my friend Zack says the same thing.”

They become curious at her mention of Zack, so she tells them about her roommates. MC describes them in detail, telling them she wishes they can meet someday because she knows Gina and B would love them too. She gushes about Zack and Kaitlyn, her two best friends at Hartfeld. She complains about Professor Vasquez and her financial restrictions that are holding her hostage. And lastly, she babbles about Chris… how he makes her feel, the things he’s been saying and sending over the last few days of break, almost everything.

Her friends tell her more about their experiences as well, everyone becoming slightly wistful as they realize how different their lives are becoming. The three eventually make plans to go out later to meet some friends at a local pool hall they used to sneak to when they were younger.

~Chris~

Chris swings by and picks up Ryan and Ethan before heading out to their friend’s house for the night. Everyone had gone home earlier to get cleaned up after their long day with the fresh batch of football players. Now they were ready to spend the evening at their friend Alex’s house. He was throwing a party as his parents were visiting some family out of state for the holidays, and he had the house to himself.

They pull up and notice quite a lot of cars already there, more than likely all of their friends from the small town. As they go inside, the infamous trio are immediately bombarded by all their old friends and teammates. Some had come home from the holidays, others had never left, but all were glad to be back together again, even if it was just for one night.

The three friends mix and mingle throughout the house. Sometimes one would split off and go talk to another friend for a few minutes, but they always gravitate back together. This is partially because they are inseparable and enjoyed each other’s company above all others. But it is also a matter of safety in numbers.

Ethan has a girlfriend, so he is not at all interested in any of the girls near Cherryfield, even though many had expressed obvious interest in him. Ryan is single but he has no desire to hook up with any of his ex’s or their friends, and being a small town, that’s just about all there is at this point for him. While Chris and Ethan have been joking on Ryan about that exact thing, Chris honestly can’t agree with him more.

He now knows Nicole is in town, as she had found him the other night when they were at the pub. Ryan and Ethan did now too of course, and being the good brothers that they are, they have been keeping an eye out for her whenever the three are together. The trio wants nothing to do with her. What she did to Chris not only tore him apart, but it threatened his future. It threatened all of their futures actually.

Chris breaks from his friends and heads to the kitchen to grab a few beers from the fridge. Alex’s house has a huge living room and den, so most of their friends are in there, leaving the kitchen empty at the moment. He reaches in and grabs a few requested bottles and turns to head back. He doesn’t take a second step though, freezing in place as his eyes fall on the brunette in front of him. He quickly closes his eyes and clenches his jaw, this being the one thing he was trying to avoid.

“Chris?” She tilts her head and waits for him to acknowledge her.

He takes in a deep breath and opens his eyes, looking into her bright blue ones. “Hey, Nicole. What up?”

Chris tries to step past her and head back to the group, but she shifts in front of him, blocking his easy way out. He clenches his jaw again, this time breathing out of his nose forcefully. “What are you doing Nicole?”

She gives him a sweet smile, a smile that used to warm him throughout. “I just wanted to talk. You didn’t give me a chance the other night…”

He sets the bottles down on the counter, realizing she’s not going to let him pass anytime soon. “That’s because there is nothing to talk about. You made your decision back then, and things changed. It’s in the past and I don’t want to talk about it.”

She takes a step closer, forcing him to take a step back to avoid her. “I made a mistake.” She tries to reach for him, but he shifts so her hand falls off his chest. “I’ve missed you, Chris.”

Chris shakes his head, his expression turning dark, angry. “No, Nicole. You don’t get to do this.” He looks into her eyes with intense fire. “You crushed me. You dropped a bomb on me and watched for months as my world imploded.”

She reaches for him. “I’m sorry, I can make it better. Just let me–”

He moves out of her reach again, his eyes angry as he stares through her. “No. I told you the other night to leave me alone.” He shakes his head at her. “I’m finally happy, Nicole. Like really happy. It took me a while, but I found my place and I found someone amazing to spend my time with.”

Nicole frowns as he speaks, finally getting the point. “But you said you loved me…”

Chris lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, so did you, to me. And at the time I believed you. I thought that’s what it was.”

He looks up at her and shakes his head. “But I was wrong. In these last few months I’ve felt something about someone. It’s something that I’ve never felt before, and I like it. I’m going to do whatever I have to in order to keep it.”

He reaches past her and grabs the bottles off the counter. “And that means never speaking to you again. I won’t risk it, I’m sorry.” He looks at her with a sad expression, seeing her face fall with his words.

Chris moves around her and cuts through the living room to join his friends in the den. Ryan and Ethan immediately pick up on his mood and walk over, taking the bottles when he offers, his expression still somewhat dark and brooding.

Ryan studies Chris’s face as Ethan looks past him, towards the kitchen where Chris just came from. It doesn’t take long for the redhead to see Nicole. “Hell.”

Ryan then leans to peer around Chris as well. “When the hell did she get here? I’ve been watching the door all night.” His face contorts into an ugly scowl, shooting Nicole a deadly glare.

Chris lets out a strained laugh and pats Ryan on the shoulder, trying to reel him in. “It’s okay you guys. She cornered me but I took care of it.”

Ethan looks at him for a moment, then glances back over to Nicole, seeing her try not to be obvious as she watches them. “Hey, let’s go outside for a few. It’s not in the negatives yet, so we should be able to last a few minutes.”

Ryan nods and turns towards the door. “Yeah, we could use some fresh air.”

Chris smiles and looks down as he starts walking behind Ryan, Ethan pulling up the rear. The three grab their jackets and slip out onto the back deck. A few others were outside already, but they quickly head back in, unable to handle the cold any longer.

Ryan paces back and forth slowly in front of Chris and Ethan as they lean against the railing, facing towards the house. Occasionally Ryan looks inside, keeping tabs on Nicole's location.

Chris knows what he’s doing and lets out a light chuckle. “Ryan, chill man. It’s fine.”

He stops pacing and crosses his arms as he snorts in disagreement. “Oh it will be.”

Ethan shakes his head with a slight smirk on his lips. “Seriously Ryan, he said he took care of it.”

Ryan looks back and forth between the two for a moment, then sighs. His tense shoulders finally relaxing a little. “Okay, okay.”

Chris shifts uncomfortably, suddenly realizing how much Nicole affected them as well. “I’m really sorry you guys. I almost let everything crash and burn last year. I never really apologized for it.”

Ethan and Ryan shake their heads simultaneously as Ethan speaks. “You don’t have to say anything man. We understand, and it all worked out fine.”

Chris nods and remains silent as he clasps Ethan on the shoulder, giving him a firm squeeze. Ethan raises his opposite hand and pats Chris’s hand as it rests on his shoulder.

Ryan walks over and leans against the railing on Chris’s other side, giving him a playful elbow to the ribs, catching him off guard and causing him to gasp. “Ooof!”

When Chris turns to look at Ryan he sees his friend smirking back. As he stands from his spot on the railing, he lightly backhands his friend in the crotch as if it was nothing. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Ethan and Chris walk forward, laughing as Ryan folds over in mild pain. “I should have seen that coming…” He groans and sucks in a few breaths, forcing himself to stand up straight.

He lets out a strained chuckle as he takes a few awkward steps, eventually joining the other two. “Let’s not start that game again. I just realized that I’m too old to play.”

The trio laughs and heads around the side of the house, avoiding going inside all together. They drive around for a while before Chris drops them off and heads home himself. When he gets there he finds his mother, brother and sister in the living room watching the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer special on TV. He smiles and checks the time before hanging his jacket up. It isn’t too late, which means there is time to join them before he calls MC. It didn’t take long for his siblings to fall asleep, his brother leaning on his right side and his sister curled up against his left.

His mother gets up and turns the TV off before she helps him escape both of his guards. He easily picks up his brother and carries him to his room, a little surprised at how big and heavy he is becoming. Chris smiles, realizing that his brother is growing up and he too would soon be in college and finding his own way. He goes back to pickup his sister, receiving a thank you from his mother as she kisses him on the cheek before she checks all the doors and heads to her own room.

Chris walks down the hall quietly and places his sister in bed, tucking her in and laying her hat on the nightstand. He looks at her for a moment, noticing how much more mature she looks since he was here last. A sad smile crosses his face for a moment as he thinks about his family. He realizes that life will never be the same, that they will only become more distant as they grow, each going their own way as they make choices for their own lives. His sad smile turns a little more positive as he thinks about all the things they will do, or that he will make sure they get to do. He brushes a strand of hair out of her face and quietly leaves for his own room.

Once inside his room, Chris locks the door and begins to change, stripping off the layers of clothing needed to stay warm in Maine. Once he gets to his boxer briefs he stops and stretches. He hasn’t worked out much since he’s been home, which makes him worry that he’s getting soft, knowing that he’s had a few too many MoonPies. He decides to do a few hundred push-ups, crunches and squats before laying in bed and contacting MC. He quickly decides that tomorrow morning he needs to go for a run before work.

He’s about to send a text when he remembers that he’s shirtless, and the last time he was, MC appeared to enjoy it. He smirks and takes a comical Snap of himself pouting as he lays on his bed with the caption ‘I’ve been stood up.’

Chris’s phone instantly lights up with a FaceTime call, making him grin. He does his best attempt at looking upset when he answers.

He clearly doesn’t fool her as the first thing he nears is a sarcastic snort. “Really?”

Chris laughs and looks at the screen, finding her eyes and that smirk he loves so much. “Ah, there they are.”

MC blushes and looks away for a moment, but he waits patiently for her gaze to return, eager to see her eyes.

When she does look back she laughs at his silly expression. “What’s that look for?”

He shrugs. “I guess I’m just happy to talk to you, to see your face again.”

“Is that what it is?” She gives him a questioning look.

“Yeah. It’s been a long day…” His smile wavers for a moment, but he hopes she doesn’t notice.

She frowns as she sees it, his hope instantly disappearing. “What happened? Is everyone okay?”

Chris picks up on her concern and feels a little guilty as he quickly reassures her. “Oh yeah, everyones fine. I just uh…” He pauses and looks away from the screen, trying to decide if he should bring up Nichole.

She senses his hesitation and speaks softly. “Chris..?”

He looks up and sees her eyes, beautiful hazel chocked full of concern. It makes him feel warm and secure. He immediately knows the answer. He’s going to tell her. He knows now, that no matter what, he will always tell her. “Yeah, sorry. I just… ran into Nicole again tonight.”

He sees MC tense a little on the other side, her expression cloudy. “Oh?”

He gives her a warm smile. “Don’t worry. Nothing happened.”

“I’m not–” She begins, but he cuts her off.

“I know. I just wanted to say it. For both of us.” He gives her a soft smile, making her relax and smile back. Just what he wanted to see.

“The guys and I were at a friends house party and she just… showed up. She wanted to talk to me, tried to tell me that she still loved me and wanted to be with me or something… I’m not exactly sure.” He shakes his head as he tries to recall her words.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to hear any of it and cut her off by saying a few choice words.” He grimaces as he remembers some of the blunt things he said. He searches MC’s face, trying to gauge her reaction.

She chews on her bottom lip for a moment, also searching his face. “But you’re okay?”

He lets out a sigh of relief, glad she believes him and isn’t concerned with Nicole. “Yeah. I’m good.”

Chris rolls onto his side and props his head up on his arm, leaning his phone against his blanket so he can get comfortable. “I feel like I should tell you what happened, my senior year I mean. So you know why I behaved the way I did.”

She searches his face again before she answers. “Okay, but you don’t have to Chris. I know it was rough on you. You don’t have to tell me anything else.” Her voice becomes softer and quieter as she watches his face.

He smiles at her again. “I know, but I want to. I’m not going to hide anything from you MC. I never will.” He clears his throat and takes a deep breath. “Oh man, where to start. Uh, you already know that we were together three years.”

MC nods and stays quiet so he can continue. “The summer before our senior year, Nicole decided to go to a different college. We had talked about it before, that no matter where we went, we would figure it out. We would make it work.”

He swallows hard as he remembers that night. “So she told me where she was going and I told her how happy I was for her, because it was a good school and it wasn’t too far from Hartfeld where I had received a football scholarship.”

He shifts on the bed, rolling onto his back and no longer looking at the phone, but he continues. “She waited until the middle of our football season to tell me that she wanted to be free when she got there. That she was no longer interested in a long distance relationship. It broke me. We had said ‘I love you’ to each other, and that there would never be anyone else.”

He turns his head slightly to look into MC’s eyes. She gives him a sweet smile in return, her eyes also covered with a layer of sadness. “But she left me hanging, in the middle of football season, during senior year. The fallout was bad. I almost lost my scholarship, and just about took my team down with me. Including Ryan and Ethan. We were the only three to receive scholarships for football, and I almost ruined it because I had lost focus and had just about given up.”

He laughs and turns away from the phone, looking up at his ceiling. “I know, I shouldn’t have let a stupid highschool relationship affect me that badly, but at the time it felt like the end of the world.”

Chris turns over and looks into the phone again, finding MC smiling gently at him. “It’s okay. You loved her. It’s understandable.”

He shakes his head. “That’s the thing. When I look back on those memories now, it’s different. It doesn’t hurt like it did before. Now everything is just… awkward when I see her or talk to her. I mean, I’m angry yes. But only because the whole thing almost ruined my friends future. My own future. I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself if they got stuck here because of my actions.”

He sits up and leans against his headboard, holding his phone in front of him as he continues. “I don’t feel the same way about her, at all. Actually, I’ve realized that what I thought I was feeling, what I thought was love… it wasn’t even close.”

MC frowns with confusion. “What do you mean? You said you loved her…”

He smiles. “Yeah well, I thought I did, until recently.” He quickly glances at her and then looks away, not ready to see her reaction if she picked up on it. “For the rest of our senior year, I was in hell. My family was worried, Ryan and Ethan were worried, my coach was worried. It was bad… I was always looking for some type of distraction. Did whatever it took to feel again.”

He shakes his head. “Ryan and Ethan made sure I didn’t go too far off the edge. But I just felt…numb. They helped me focus on football and my scholarship so I wouldn’t ruin everything. I spent a lot of time with my family, which of course made my mom happy from the sudden increase of time spent at home.”

He laughs when he remembers how ecstatic she had been, but he knew she was watching him too. “Luckily my brother and sister didn’t notice my erratic behavior too much.”

“Sounds like you have great family and friends.” MC gives him a warm smile.

He nods and grins back. “Yeah, they even liked me when I was a shell of a person.” His eyes become intense as he looks at hers. “And so did you, MC. When we met, I was still just a Chris shell…” He laughs quietly, almost sad.

She wrinkles her nose in the cutest way, making his smile grow. “You weren’t a shell. I could see you the whole time.”

He grins, his cheeks feeling warm. “You waited for me to come back. I know I almost made you wait too long, and I’m sorry… but you didn’t give up on me.” His brows clench together as he thinks back over the quarter. “Thank you for that.”

She nods at him, unable to speak at the moment. He notices that she looks torn, like she wants to say something but can’t. He quickly decides to change the subject, to focus on something a little more uplifting.

“So, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Are you excited?” He grins at her.

She rolls with it and laughs. “Yes, but I don’t think nearly as much as you are.”

He makes a humorous frown and nods. “You’re probably right. I uh, I had this idea but I haven’t had much practice yet so it’s probably going to be… bad.” He laughs at himself, obviously agreeing with his own statement.

“What is it?” She perks up, interested in the surprise.

“Ah, you’ll have to wait until Christmas. I need to make sure you’ll still want to talk to me, so maybe the anticipation will bring you back.” He lets out a soft chuckle.

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” She shrugs nonchalantly.

“Why’s that?” He looks at her curiously, one eyebrow raised.

“You have to say good morning and goodnight to me anyway. You started this, and I’m used to it now, so you can’t quit.” She smirks at him, making his chest swell.

‘My smirk.’ He just smiles and stares at her for a minute, trying to make sense of the feelings he is having as he memorizes her face.

MC laughs after a moment, realizing he was just gawking at her now. “Okay, I think maybe we should get some sleep. You look like you’re checking out on me already.”

He shakes his head and grins. “Not possible.”

She snorts. “Okay, fine. Then I’m getting tired, so…“ She looks at him expectantly.

His eyes crinkle with happiness as he laughs. “Goodnight, beautiful.”

He watches as MC bites her bottom lip, trying not to smile. She fails miserably, making herself blush and laugh. “Goodnight, cannon.”

Chris gives a hearty laugh and runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah, we’re going to have to fix that…”

They both laugh and say goodnight again, this time for real, before they end the call. Chris turns off his light and stretches across his bed, taking a long deep breath. He holds it for a moment, placing his hands flat against his taut abdomen. Slowly he begins to breathe out, feeling the tension of the day leaving him as his thoughts drift to MC. A pleased smile crosses his lips as he closes his eyes and falls into a deep sleep.

[movienotesbyzawmer]

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

December 9: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

(previous notes: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

Source: Blu-ray release, the box set with all six Lucas-era movies (2D)

I feel like in recent years I've seen a lot of rhetoric claiming that this is the worst of all the Star Wars movies. But I've always felt like the prequels improve as they go, at least a little. Like, Hayden Christiensen might not be especially good, but he's an improvement on Jake Lloyd. Is there less of the childish stuff in this movie? Let's press play and find out.

Opening crawl is first mention of Count Dooku; seems like the previous stuff was resolved and a new story is beginning. Maybe that's why it's common for people to recommend skipping Episode I, like it's not actually necessary.

We also at this point in the natural chronology don't know anything about clones. Just the title here.

Another decoy-Amidala, but this one gets blowed up right away. And that's Rose Byrne, right?

0:07:30 - Obi-wan does a "oh… oh yes…. Mm mm mm mm mm mm" thing which is stupid and I don't like it.

Wait, no Rose Byrne is a silent handmaiden lady I guess. Unless they're clonesies. Are they clonesies?

Hey, a glimpse of Coruscant's colorful nightlife scene! Or at least some commercial advertisements. Feels like we don't see much of the lives of regular folk of Coruscant much.

Super pretty imagery of this city at night with its traffic and lights and I know I say that every time but it's great.

0:14:30 - Obi-wan shooting himself through a hole in the window in pursuit of that flying robot villain is exciting! And then he just hangs onto it, and then the sniper snipes him off it and he just falls and falls! This is a good action scene.

Then later, Anakin just jumps and falls and falls on purpose like and it's fun to watch.

0:20:00 - Does the sniper have a weird disguise that goes away when she turns her head? Is that what I saw?

"This weapon is your life" says Ewan McGregor doing his best impression of Alec Guinness. I think it was supposed to be funny. And I think it succeeds. Helps to remember that EG's natural accent is Scottish. And you know what? Maybe a little bit ago when I didn't like EG's hammy delivery, I should respect that he's embracing the need for him to embody a young version of Alec Guiness's character, figuring out what that would look like while honoring the director's vision.

They're in a nightclub, and I think there's some genuinely imaginative vision around what people are doing in there.

Ooh! The sniper got sniped by someone else, and the shot of that second sniper zipping away on a jetpack is I like it.

Senator Amidala gives Jar Jar the important job of substitute senator while she goes and hides. Yeah right. Not very credible.

Now Anakin is venting to Amidala in a way that shows how cocky he is. He does the flirtation stuff so that we'll think he's sexy like Han Solo, but also visibly flawed with impatience. Meh. Okay.

Whoa, Rose Byrne just did some acting! She spontaneously shed a tear in a way that looked authentic! Acting… in a Star Wars prequel!

0:31:50 - A greasy spoon diner! I don't remember this. Obi Wan is doing some intel gathering and George Lucas decided to go all in on having this be a 50's-style neon urban railcar slop counter!

The romance. Anakin and Amidala. GL is also going all in on the overtness of that plot. Maybe it's fine? Anakin seems like a horny and awkward teen with a huge crush on someone out of his league but he's going for it anyway. Maybe we'll be convinced that she'd succumb to his charms?

0:39:00 - We're back on Naboo… this scene is oddly non-CGI-looking. Did they film this in a real place with that actual architecture?

The tension they're setting up between Anakin and Amidala is moving in a direction of NOT growing fonder of each other. She looks irritated, and rightly so. This is a move that experienced romance plot makers make, but will GL pull it off?

Meanwhile Obi-Wan is doing spycraft, going to the clone planet place and pretending he's the one who ordered the whatever. "That's why I'm here!" Kinda funny.

0:44:45 - Okay, another A&A scene. He has that line about sand getting everywhere. She looks really damn fly. They kiss a bit and then she changes her mind. See, this is a weak link in the romance plot. We don't buy it. She's not such a sucker that she'd want to kiss him now. She didn't go, "oh he was so charming when he talked about where sand goes that now I'm not only less annoyed by his churlishness but I'm actually turned on". Or did she.

There's something about Obi-Wan's intel gathering, realizing that this huge army of clones is being put together, that's very James Bond-y. I mean that in a good way.

Naboo countryside is hella pretty.

Oh ick. A very very stupid romance scene just happened. See, Anakin fell off a blob creature and it looked like he was hurt! This worried Amidala! She ran to him but it turned out he was okay! They laughed and laughed at this merry misunderstanding and rolled around together! Oh merry! And…. SCENE.

Now Obi-Wan and Jango Fett are having a fight on a platform place and it's pretty exciting and still kind of like a Bond movie. Even more so because of "gadgets" like the devices on JF's outfit. And a dippy little "this is not good" comment from Obi-Wan that would fit in okay coming out of 007.

A&A go to Tatooine and talk to the salvage dealer who used to own Anakin. I like where that CGI character visibly starts to recognize the grown-up Anakin.

Obi-Wan followed JF & Son to a pretty red planet with an asteroid field and it's fucking beautiful and they do this wicked sound effect with bombs and it looks and sounds mother fucking amazing. Seriously god damn. The SOUND.

1:11:40 - They're at what will be the moisture farm of Luke, et al. "I'm Owen Lars and this is my GIRLFRIEND Beru." See, because this is BEFORE they're married. She's JUST his GIRLFRIEND.

1:14:20 - Okay, they just did a weird thing where A&A have an exchange, then hug. But the camera just shows their SHADOWS. And Anakin's shadow looks like he maybe kind of has some semblance of a VADER HELMET. I'm not even that convinced that that's what they were going for. If it actually conveyed that, it'd be cooler. As is, it's a little awkward. But I wouldn't discourage a director from going for this kind of thing.

Anakin found the Tusken Raider camp where they'd brought his mom and he found her just in time for her to die. Like she was just hanging on long enough for him to witness her death. Melodramatic. Then he goes and slaughters everyone… this turns out to be important because it's the catalyst for him turning dark, but it's sort of a weak explanation for something so important.

So HC just did a rage monologue about how he killed everyone, and okay it's not good, but I really don't think it's HC that isn't good. I think he did his very best with really dumb writing.

1:34:30 - Ooh, we're back in that neat senate hall. Jar Jar was suckered into proposing that Palpatine be given special powers, and it's super easy and it just works, and the Jedi are like "oh, hm, bummer". I'm just not impressed with the story.

A&A have arrived on Geonosis and it's quickly quite actiony and rather like a video game where they have to fight robots and hop on platforms at just the right time. I dig it.

It's a little odd now… so I already forgot how A&A got captured in the video game factory place, but they're quickly hustled to an execution arena to be munched to death by monsters before a delighted audience. With Obi-Wan. Just a little odd, but now it's pretty fun action.

Oh yeah, Mace Windu cut Jango Fett's right head off! Forgot that. Another case of an interesting villain ending disappointingly. Except that it's important because his "son" witnesses it and looks vengeance-y.

1:56:40 - Yoda heroically shows up to save the good guys with a force of soldiers that look kind of like Stormtroopers. Those are clones, right? I guess so, but the movie didn't quite ensure we know that. I mean, if they're going to treat the audience like children with their jokes, maybe they could extend that same expectation to plot explanations.

Okay, so now they're in a much bigger battle. I like the flying thing that delivers a walking tank thing! Lots of exciting things to look at. It's not that clear which side is which, not by looking at the battle, but maybe that doesn’t matter too much.

They shoot down a globe-shaped ship as it's taking off and it's pretty. So is lots of this battle stuff.

How does Anakin have a lightsaber now? His was broken earlier. I'm probably not the first to ask that. I probably overlooked the explanation. Seems like they trimmed stuff out of this part of the movie to improve the pacing.

2:07:50 - This is the part that worked well enough that it's probably the main factor in holding this movie's reputation above that of Episode I: the light saber duel with Yoda! Those of us who had played the Dark Forces PC games were already familiar with how it would look to see a Yoda-type wailing on someone with a light saber, but it was a pleasant surprise for many, and it definitely worked.

Then Dooku escapes on a ship that does a really sweet-looking panel-unfurling thing. Love it. And then he goes to Coruscant. Very visibly. Which is for me to love some more.

The movie ends right after that, with Yoda observing that it's dumb to think of this as a victory because now the Clone War has started. Then we get suitably disturbing imagery of the Clone Army being imposing with, significantly, the Imperial March in the background. It's okay. Then a shot of A&A getting hitched. With, a little less significantly, the new tragic-love theme in the background which John Williams was probably pretty pleased with. And over. Okay.

Yeah, better than Episode I. Less childish. Although it's harder to point to a climax, it somehow seems less anti-climactic than Ep1. No less impressive visually, but with new locales compared with the first one. And it's true that you can get all the information you need by starting here instead of with the first one.

(next: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith)

[animalsoffarmsanctuary]

Jordan: Learning to Love Again

[Missed Part 1 of Jordan’s story? Catch up here.]  

Of course, we each have a past, and often that past — no matter how hard it may have been — makes us the amazing being we are right now. That is what happened to Jordan.

Jordan is known now for his big happy smile!  

Because even though his life was very hard before he was even a year old, who he has become and the life he has now make all of that a distant memory.

Jordan loves his life and has moved on from his horrible past. 

Like all animals at Farm Sanctuary, Jordan had the chance to start over and learn to love again. So in this week before Valentine’s Day, we are celebrating love. We can all learn from Jordan and our other animal friends: Even after horrific tragedy, you can learn to love again.

Jordan has also forgiven, which allows you to heal. People are great!

Jordan has had many loves, and he continues to have more.

Many goats like Jordan are raised by kids in FFA or 4-H and sold at auction.  

His first love was likely a person — a kid raising him to show at a local fair through a 4-H program. Likely, Jordan had no idea that there was any reason to doubt the trust he placed in his guardian. Through 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and other programs, children — who naturally love animals — raise them to be shown. Through this process, a young person develops a relationship with a baby animal — one that includes trust. But in most cases, that young person is then obligated to sell at auction the animal he or she has raised.

To love and trust a human, only to be betrayed, is the norm for these very young beings.  

After being sold, a very young and very confused Jordan was then transported into New York City — a far cry from where he would have been raised. He suddenly found himself being treated in a very different way than he was used to being treated. And then there was the physical abuse he was subjected to — which, thankfully, led him to his next life and his new loves.

A sad, sick, weak, and in shock Jordan arrives at Farm Sanctuary.

That new life was with Farm Sanctuary and a whole lot of humans who instantly fell in love with this amazing, brave, and very confused boy. From the moment he was picked up at the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), he knew that he was in a safe place — but I am sure it was hard to completely trust that things were going to be okay. 

From the moment he was picked up, everyone looked worried, but was hopeful that this sweet boy would pull through. It was love at first sight!

You see, Jordan is always smiling now because he found love. After meeting a whole host of human loves, he then met his next love — who arrived in a cute, woolly package and became his very best friend, a relationship that has not wavered, even years later. Mandy sheep, also from a New York City live market and likely another child of 4-H, immediately fell for this weak and sickly boy. With all this love Jordan was experiencing, combined with all the treatments he needed physically, the real character of this wondrous goat came shining through.

Jill showing the immediate love for her new pal Jordan upon his arrival. 

And after years of a weakened immunity and constant illness, now Jordan is known for his smile — not for any weakness — and for his strength. But most of all, he is known for his love of life and his ability to let everyone around him feel that love. He is pretty incredible. 

Two babies making their life together. 

From his first love Mandy...

Two cute babies loving their life together (note their roommates in the background).

...to the love of many of his feathered friends...

Jordan lived in our onsite hospital when the “Frozen” turkeys (as in, named for characters in the movie) arrived. Here he is being cleaned by Elsa (of Elsa and Anna fame).

As the baby turkeys grew, they loved nothing more than to take a break on their boy Jordan before going to bed.  

Monet and Matisse were Jordan’s roommates for a while, when he and Mandy were looking for more permanent housing. 

...to a cat named Felix...

Hello, Felix — nice to meet you!

...to an elderly sheep, Liam, who attempted to take away his gal pal Mandy...

“Hey — stop butting my sheep!” Jordan trying to defend his friend Liam (who does not need any backup)!

...to this guy — more than a ton of fun...

“This is one crazy-looking goat.” Jordan meets the giant steer Twister (and of course, he is not a goat).

...to around 100 sheep and a group of super-friendly goats...

“Kiss me, Francis — just kiss me.” Scott, Hazelton, and his other sheep friends look on! 

...Jordan has found nothing but an endless stream of beings who adore him for just being Jordan. And that smiling goat is also quite the clown!

Jordan having a great time rolling in the pasture.

And although everyone he meets seems to be completely enamored of our beautiful boy, he is finally starting to decide whom he loves the most in return.

Although he loves Coco Van — one of his all-time favorite Canadians — that is not his new, true love. You must be on the edge of your seat waiting to know who it is! 

Of course, he still loves his best friend Mandy.

Even though these two have grown and are now adults, they remain the best of friends! Jordan and Mandy love each other so very much!

And he is a huge fan of the human ladies and picks them out of crowds all the time — rubbing his face on their faces and listening to them ooh and aah over his adorableness.

“Stop the presses! I’m a what????”

But just recently, he seems to have come to the realization that he is not a human, a sheep, or a turkey. Jordan figured out that he is indeed a goat. And though Mandy is still his best best pal, he seems to have fallen quickly in love with a recent addition to the flock: Dana goat.

Boom — Dana and Hope got a bit too rough, and since their friends are so much smaller then them, they needed to hang with the bigger goats!

Dana had been living with her best pal Hope in New Jersey, but Hope became a bit of a bully to the other goats and sheep living there, so she needed an extended time out. So back to Watkins Glen they came.  

Hello! Jordan in his new home — the Watkins Glen sheep barn!

And Dana, the more shy of the two, seemed to capture the heart of our sweet boy Jordan — who is quite smitten! Is it that he saw in her a need to be loved for the special girl she is?

Telling the love secrets.

Was it love at first sight? I think so! Big kisses for his new gal Dana.

Must be chemistry.  

Jordan is thriving with his new love Dana, best friend Mandy, and other friends (human and nonhuman) at Farm Sanctuary.

And what is the moral of this amazing story of resilience?  

All smiles, even in the cold — Jordan loves his life!

That no matter how bad life treats you — there is always the chance to love again if you just let it happen. Take it from smiley Jordan! Happy Valentine’s week!