#ryan's buffet

[wolverinedoctorwho]

Just curious. Reblog after voting. If you've been to a Ryan's before tell me about it in the tags!

[fredmundo]

ryan girles (gn) how are we feeling????

[daffi-990]

Ryan/Eddie fans have been feasting.

[ghostradiodylan]

happy holidays! what do you think is each of the counselors' favorite type of pie? (i say this as i am scarfing down pecan pie like my life depends on it) also! optional -what's your favorite type of pie?

Happy Holidays Mothy! Thanks for the cute ask!

I freaking love pie and this is all going to be me completely grasping at straws to headcanon, but I’m here for it! 😂

Abi is my only fellow southerner in the bunch (Ariel Winter is from Virginia and you can pick up her accent from time to time in the game) and I feel like THE quintessential southern pie is pecan, though it’s eaten all over obviously. I would say Abi is either pecan pie or Derby pie (although your answer about Nick never having sweet potatoes almost made me pick sweet potato pie because that would be funny).

Speaking of Nick, I think he’s maybe not a big sweets guy and if you asked him he’d say his favorite was a traditional Aussie meat pie, but for dessert, maybe an apple tart, or something weird like one of those raisin pies.

Jacob is pumpkin pie. It’s a classic for a reason. But he’s also kind of a basic bitch. 😂 He likes it with a pile of canned whipped cream on top and also squirts a bunch of it directly into his mouth like an animal.

For sweet and tart Kaitlyn, lemon merengue. Graham cracker crust over pastry crust, because I said so.

Emma’s whole vibe is classic with a twist, so I’m guessing a lattice-top apple for her with the surprise twist of a little sharp cheddar cheese in the crust. She’ll tell you all about it on her channel.

Ryan’s grandma makes a mean buttermilk pie in P&W, but I think his favorite might be peanut butter. (This might actually be Jacob’s favorite too given his love for Peanut Butter Butterpops, but I couldn’t resist making him the basic one, and I wanted them all to be different.)

Something about my boy Dylan says cherry pie to me but I couldn’t even begin to tell you what. Preferably hot, with ice cream.

@itscomingupaces pegged Max as a cheesecake man in the baking ask and I agree. New York style, of course. Maybe with strawberry topping. Is that technically a pie or a cake? Well, it has a crust, so I think it counts.

Laura I almost wanted to give Saskatoon Berry because Siobahn is Canadian but Laura doesn’t really give her Canadian-ness away like Abi does Ariel’s southern-ness so let’s meet in the middle and say blueberry.

And I rarely meet a pie I don’t like (though I don’t like pumpkin that much, actually, too squishy) but my favorites are pecan, Derby, peanut butter, coconut cream, cherry, and key lime.

[rainpour-sys]

wait guys did we notice this... SPOILERS FOR ROT IN PARADISE!!!

OKAY we got the main cover for it right?

well fun fact, it's actually.. foreshadowing everything that happens to June's friends before they go into the ocean.

a closer look: Mccoy - drinking a water bottle / when he was chugging water from the water cooler jug

Vonnie - eating something (but what?) / June finding her in the buffet

Carmen - the most noticable.. she's soaked head to toe / when she was laying in the bathtub and outside in the rain.

Ryan - the only one looking directly at June / the last person to be seen by June before being plunged into the water.

we might just be yapping on a lack of sleep but shhh

[hotmusketeerspoll]

Magnificent Musketeer Tournament

King Louis XIII - Final Poll

King Louis XIII - Ryan Gage The Musketeers 2014-2016

they got the curls just right

King Louis XIII - Louis Garrel Les Trois Mousquetaires: D'Artagnan 2023, Les Trois Mousquetaires: Milady 2023

I really appreciated that this was a King Louis who clearly had political acumen and was very aware of the tangled political web that he was trapped in!! Even if he was still pulled along with the whole diamond necklace scheme and eventually declaring war on the Protestants, he KNEW he was being played and he was frustrated by it!! This man is a king who does NOT walk backwards and he WILL make sure you know it!! Also love that the actor's name is also Louis I think that's fun

The complete list of entrants can be found here.

More information & links to the other polls here.

Additional Propaganda under the cut

Ryan Gage:

just look at that hair not a wig btw he has the best hair and the best outfits and was honestly just giving so much and especially giving DEPTH

Louis Garrel:

Every portrayal of King Louis for the last century has played him as a foppish ponce with more authority than sense and effete in the extreme. Which is great and wonderful for clowns. ONLY Garrel has had the courage to ask "What if King Louis were a human person with actual thoughts and feelings?" He is a King with pathos. His performance conveys a man who is overwhelmed by the realities of his station but determined to succeed in spite of his own self doubts. He is a king who is trying to be a good king, but is being buffeted by forces beyond his capacity to influence. He is a man who yearns to be more than he is trapped beneath his own crown. Rather than incompetent, he is merely unfinished. And only Louis Garrel had the vision to bring that to life.

[strawberiteddie]

Here’s the restaurant sign:

I think the majority of them closed down but we would eat there a lot when I was a kid. I miss the pizza and walking in to be immediately met with the rotisserie chicken spinning cooking in a window. I remember the workers would let me sneak out an ice cream cone filled with candy too lmfao

[slafkovskys]

Does Georgia have beef with anyone from the hockey team

john mittlestadt and not because he did anything inherently bad. georgia 9/10 is a good baby and that’s how she gets the okay to tag along on the gophers frozen four run at the ripe age of four months (shoutout to scottie’s mom for being their nanny during their travels.)

they’re at team breakfast and baby georgia (monogrammed bubble and bow intact) has somehow made it to a table with brody, john, and luke. john has somehow gotten ahold of her pacifier which has one of those little critters, obviously a cow, dangling off of it and is trying to make the baby laugh.

instead, her bottom lip starts to wobble and a shrill cry fills the conference room. it goes quiet as both ryan and scottie’s heads snap over to where their baby was making the noise and they quickly abandon the buffet to go and figure out what’s wrong.

georgia no longer wants to be around john henceforth.

[westadventure24]

Day 6 - Old Geysers and the Canyon

Never a dull day here in Yellowstone! Once our breakfast was done, we started our tour for the day. I don’t think I will ever get used to the bison! At times, they are so funny! Take this gal….just walking down the middle of the road, holding up traffic without a care in the world. We thought she wanted to cross so we gave her some space…she just looked tight at us as she went by. And Todd decided upon eye contact it was time to move on. Traffic was backed up behind her for at least a mile, if not two.

Just down the road, we stopped at one of Mom’s favorites so far…the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The roaring, clear water of the falls streaming down into the deep canyon was absolutely breathtaking. Dad wasn’t too interested in looking down into the Canyon as we couldn’t convince him that the rocks creating the barrier weren’t going to move. Who knew he wasn’t a fan of heights???

Have you ever driven the big loop in Yellowstone National Park? Much to marvel at here! You see, the entirety of Yellowstone National Park is considered to be a geothermal caldera, an underground volcano. There are beautiful blue pools that are so hot any living creature daring to enter would be boiled alive. We could feel the heat and mist on our faces as we looked in awe at the pristine color. Then, there are mud pots. I am not even sure how to describe the mud pots, other than the boiling mud seems like it would be sent to a spa you would see on an 80’s tv show with young ladies’ hair wrapped in towel as an attendant spread a mud mask on their face. Really interesting. Mom and Dad neither were too found of these natural wonders thanks to the media coverage of the recent explosion in Biscuit Basin.

We had a late lunch at the Old Faithful Inn. It was constructed in 1903-1904, made out lodge pole pine for the price of $140,000. Old Faithful is called that for a reason…the time of eruption can easily be predicted within a few minutes time. So, at 3:17 pm on the dot, we eagerly awaited for the geyser to erupt as we watched from the 2nd floor terrace of the dear old inn. It was glorious!

On the way back to camp as we drove through Hayden Valley, we saw the biggest herd of bison yet! I personally enjoyed these two lying side-by side close to the road just watching the traffic go by. Somehow I envision their conversation to be that of a Far Side cartoon….”Well, Troy, should we just keep lying here letting them think we are tame or charge and scare the heck out of them-for fun? I don’t know Carl, I find this people zoo very entertaining. Why is the guy in the red hat mooing?!” Anyway, I digress and there is a clear reason I don’t write cartoons for a living.

Later that night, we enjoyed a leftover dinner buffet by the campfire. Todd, Lily and I stayed out to enjoy the forest of pines overlooked by the beautiful starry night before heading off to bed. The last thing we learned yesterday is that Lily is definitely afraid of the outdoor dark…she is likely smarter than all of us!

Also, one correction to yesterday’s post…I had incorrectly identified one of the animals as a mule deer, when upon further inspection by the expert (Ryan), I learned that was actually a female elk! Unusual to see one alone!

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Record-breaking laser demonstration completes mission

NASA's TBIRD (TeraByte InfraRed Delivery) demonstration and its host spacecraft—the PTD-3 (Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-3)—have completed their technology demonstration. The TBIRD payload spent the past two years breaking world records for the fastest satellite downlink from space using laser communications.

NASA's PTD series leverages a common commercial spacecraft to provide a robust platform for effective testing of technologies with minimal redesign in between launches. After launch in May 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter 5 mission, the PTD-3 spacecraft entered low-Earth orbit, and shortly after, TBIRD began sending laser communications signals to an optical ground station in Table Mountain, California.

TBIRD's two-year demonstration showcased the viability of laser communications. Most NASA missions rely on radio frequency communication systems. However, laser communications use infrared light and can pack significantly more data in a single communications link. This technology is ideal for science and exploration missions that need large data transmissions.

In 2023, TBIRD continuously broke its own records, reaching its peak in June when it transmitted 4.8 terabytes of error-free data—equivalent to about 2,400 hours of high-definition video—in five minutes at 200 gigabits per second in a single pass.

The TBIRD payload was one of many laser communications demonstrations. NASA's SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program is maturing this technology to demonstrate the impact laser communications can have on bringing more science and exploration data home. The next demonstration will be on the Artemis II mission.

In addition to breaking a world record, this mission demonstrated cost-effective design and extremely low size, weight, and power requirements—both on the PTD-3 spacecraft and within the TBIRD payload. The tissue-box-sized payload contained two commercial telecommunication modems that the TBIRD team modified for the extreme environment of space.

The PTD-3/TBIRD system also overcame one of the major challenges associated with laser communications: making the narrow beam laser link connection while moving at orbital speeds while being buffeted by atmospheric drag. The PTD-3 spacecraft's precision "body pointing" and stability enabled the TBIRD payload to make its record-breaking achievement while moving as fast as 17,000 mph through space. The spacecraft set a record for the highest accuracy pointing ever achieved by a NASA CubeSat without any moving mechanisms or propulsion systems.

The end of PTD-3 and TBIRD's mission was expected. The system did not contain a propulsion system, meaning once it was deployed into its low Earth orbit, the mission could only last until its orbit naturally decayed.

While only planned to operate for six months, TBIRD carried out its demonstration for well over two years, enabling NASA to learn more about laser communications operations in low Earth orbit.

The lessons learned during TBIRD will be applied to future implementations of laser communications and minimize downlink constraints for mission designs, enabling future exploration and discoveries.

TOP IMAGE: The benefits of laser communications: more efficient, lighter systems, increased security, and more flexible ground systems. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

LOWER IMAGE: An artist’s concept of the Pathfinder Technology Demonstration -3 carrying the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery payload. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

[doeeyeseddie]

seven sentence sunday

tagged by @rewritetheending (thank you!!) so here’s more of the hsm fic that has its claws in me:

He’s at the finger food buffet trying to decide what to get when Chad steps up to him.

“You missed Jason asking Kelsi if you guys were dating,” he says conversationally, as if they’ve been talking this whole time.

Ryan laughs, startled. “What? I always thought everyone knew I was as gay as the day is long.”

Chad laughs too. (It’s a nice laugh.) “Apparently not everyone.” He grabs a jalapeño popper and tilts his head to look at Ryan. “So, New York?”

“You knew I went to Juilliard there, I just never left,” Ryan says. “But how’d you end up there? I can’t believe we’ve been in the same city this whole time. Or��� since when have you been there?”

“Ten years or so?” Chad shrugs. “It feels really stupid now but I never even thought to try and find you.”

i tag @like-the-rest-of-la @littlespoonevan @nymika-arts @shitouttabuck and @try-set-me-on-fire if you have something to share 💕

[bettyspaghettylegs]

35mm camera - Kodak Ultramax film - May 2024

💚 Dartmouth, MA - Dartmouth Mall Carnival

💚 Fall River, MA - Super Buffet 2000 closing weekend

💚 Fall River, MA - Ryan K. as model

[scarletslippers]

Nace Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

(From this post of OTP prompts) 

Painting each other’s nails

“I can’t believe I got hurt the week of Ryan’s big event,” Nancy complains, shifting her arm uncomfortably. “He’s been working so hard to redeem the Hudson name and get all these donors and now I’m going to ruin all the pictures.”

Ace rubs her shoulder soothingly. “Ryan is glad that you’re okay, and so am I. Plus, it’s only a sprain, and the doctor said as long as you don’t lift anything, you can take the brace off for the party.”

“Which means you’ll be at my beck and call, getting me drinks and carrying my plate through the buffet line?”

“You bet. Your wish is my command. In fact, I’ll start now.” Ace retrieves the bottle of nail polish Nancy had left out, planning to paint her nails that evening. 

“Oh, Ace, you don’t have to. I can ask Bess to do them tomorrow.” 

“Are you suggesting I won’t do a good job?” 

He holds her gaze and Nancy softens the longer she looks at him. His determination to care for her, even in these little ways. She smiles. “I would love to watch the master at work.” 

Ace takes his time, completing one coat, then another, using a tissue to wipe any stray smudges from her skin. He handles her injured wrist carefully, twisting himself to get the proper angle rather than have her move her arm. When he’s finally finished, he caps the bottle with a flourish. “All set. Try not to get chased by any other supernatural entities this week, okay? I will have strong words for any ghosts who ruin this manicure.”

[charonte-simi]

When I was little my dad would take us to this buffet (Ryan's and then later Golden Corral), and I vividly remember making this concoction of slop by mixing a specific combination of foods together.

I'd get steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. I'd put cheese sauce on the broccoli and cut it into pieces, put sour cream on the potatoes, put a fuck ton on black pepper on the mac and cheese, mix it all together and then squeeze a couple lemon wedges over it all.

I remember it tasting incredible. I should try to recreate that and see if it holds up even a little bit

[cookies-and-mirrors]

Prison of Stone and Flesh

Chapter Twenty Six

This is a collaborative fic between @cookiesupplier, @faceless-mirror & @comforting-madness

Dividers by @samspenandsword @cafekitsune @saradika-graphics

Authors Note: Trigger warning for dubcon, non-sexual or violent, but consent issues just the same can still be triggering.

Pairings: Multi-Pairings, Everybody x Everybody.

Triggerlist: transphobia, homophobia, abuse, SA, dubcon, religious trauma, past suicide attempts, mental health issues, grief, death, violence, (To be added to)

Christopher, Justin, and Ryan are members of the Gargoyle Order, soldiers fighting in the angels war against the demonic supernatural evils of the world to protect human kind. Through the years they lost comrades and now just the three of them remain in their little town.

Now, Ricky and Vinny are moving into their church, stirring up old and new feelings, along with the past, posing the challenge of navigating this new chapter in their lives.

Can they all navigate this path successfully and break free of the prisons that is their lives of both stone and flesh, or will they all be trapped forever in a world that could prove to be a constant misery?

MASTERLIST HERE

Taglist: @miamore0570 @21-century-tae @dragon-chica @shilohrosechicken @comforting-madness

@missduffsblog @witchyweeb34 @spicywhenspeaking @lacktoesandtoddlerants @blackveilomens

@bngurngheart @dominuslunae @collapsedglasshouses @emmmm127 @sunsshinesunny

@latenightmusiclover @dontdiganothergravetoday @high-wire @awkwardalex

(please comment/like/reblog/message to be added to taglist)

Chapter Twenty Six

Chris was on the rooftop not far from the Chinese buffet, Justin and Ryan were patrolling. They did not patrol during the day. Well, usually they didn’t, but they were using stealth runes to try to remain as undetected as possible. There was no choice after Atsuko had heard them and gone completely feral, slipping away, his time in the catacombs had extreme effects on his senses obviously, heightening them beyond what Chris had expected. Now, Chris wasn’t sure what to expect from Atsuko. This could go a multitude of ways. Either way, that werewolf could well be in for a shock soon enough.

Presently, Chris was eagle trained on the building the werewolf was inside, he was working his busboy shift right beside Noah in the buffet. As much as Chris would like to be inside watching directly, he watched from outside. While he doubted Atsuko would come at him during the day, he had learned not to underestimate anything a feral gargoyle might do.

Ricky was inside, sighing softly as he and Gwynn awkwardly got a table. As soon as they sat they spotted Noah and Ricky locked eyes with him. Did his nervousness show? He was shaking. Seeing Atsuko earlier going feral to get out to find his mate- he was scared Noah wouldn't talk to them or hell… listen. “Noah,” he whispered, “It's urgent.” He hoped the whisper would be enough.

Noah was cleaning off another table when Ricky caught his line of sight, he’d barely slept the night before, for a multitude of reasons, much more than just what he’d learned from the other man’s companions when they’d been here. Tearing his eyes away from the smaller man, he continued furiously cleaning the table as he heard his rushed whispered words. He would rather not talk to him, Noah was scared okay, while he was curious with everything he’d learned yesterday, he’d admit it, he was also scared too… But what could have brought them here to him, over something urgent? … Where even had Folio disappeared too, dammit. He’d probably taken one look at these two and gone searching for that cute one again. Traitor. 

He had a job to do either way, Noah made his way over to the table, raising an eyebrow at the fact it was just the two of them this time, “None of the gargoyles this time?”

At the mention of the gargoyles Ricky’s eyes watered, “N…no that's… why I- we came to talk to you- well partially- it's hard to explain, where's your friend? He- he should stay by you right now-” Ricky rambled, feeling sick before Gwynn held his shaking hand. 

“It's okay, Ricky… Noah… where is your friend…? This is serious…” Gwynn said firmly, “We need to make sure he's safe.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed at this Ricky, at the way he was rambling on, and then at the mention of the having to make sure that Folio was safe. What the hell were these two going on about? “I don’t have any clue what you two are talking about. Folio is fine, He is probably off somewhere from the moment you two walked in… He deserted me to look for your cute friend… He gets the itch whenever the full moon is right around the corner, happens every time… I mean… This time it's a little early, being a week away, but it's also the first time he’s zeroed on someone quite this intensely, so I’m not surprised.” He hadn’t stopped talking about that guy all night, despite Noah’s identity crisis.

“That's the problem-” Ricky started, voice cracking.

“Ricky… deep breaths… Noah… can we talk in private, please? Too many listening ears.” Gwynn pointed out. “If Folio isn't here… he might be in trouble. Please.”

Noah wouldn't want to talk to them. Why would he? This was such a long shot and Noah was going to hate them and leave and blame them- Ricky covered his face with tattooed hands. Where was Noah's mom? Had she died giving birth to him? Was he going to die?

“Look, he’d gone missing before near the full moon, he’ll be fine, he always comes back.” Just the same, there was something poking at Noah, the way that Ricky was fretting like that, and he just wanted to pull away, to call Folio, to call Shade… But would Shade even talk to him again after what had happened last night? He had not been happy with him, even if it had been an accident, Noah hadn’t even known how it had happened.

Taking in a breath… “What makes you think he would be in trouble anyway?”

Gwynn sighed and stood up, silver eyes flashing. “Because he's got a gargoyle that's feral looking for him.” They said softly, leaning in to whisper it. “That's the priority right now. His safety. Feral gargoyles are unpredictable. Do you understand? We need to find him and keep him safe. Then I'll answer anything your heart desires- and Ricky can have some answers. But first. We need to find him. Understood?” Gwynn was done tiptoeing around everything. 

As Ricky had said, it was urgent.

“Atsuko got loose before we could reign him in.” Gwynn added, “We're doing damage control now… but we must locate him.”

Noah standing there as Gwynn stood before him, he wasn’t nearly standing at his full height and yet, still felt a bit guilty that he was dwarfing both the others as they were before him. Feral gargoyles? He wondered how they would compare to feral strigori because he’d had to deal with those, and they were not something you’d want to come across in a blind alley. Noah was just lucky he’d never inadvertently gotten bitten while he’d fought them, Nick and Jolly had made sure, none of them wanted him to become a vampire accidentally.

“Anything?” Though he glanced dubiously hearing the part about Ricky having some answers, wondering what kind of answers Ricky could possibly want… “I- yeah, yeah, okay. I can call my friends. Some of them can’t really help until tonight, but others can… either way, we can keep a look-out.” Noah took out his phone to shoot a group text, to Nick, Jolly, Shade, and Riyah.

911 Folio Missing - Feral Gargoyle

“Anything I have knowledge of.” Gwynn relaxed, leaning on their cane, sighing softly. “Thank you, Noah.” they whispered, easing back down slowly, aching. 

While they had been talking, Ricky had been chewing on his nails, shaking slightly from stress. He wanted his mate. He wanted to have him close- but Justin was working. He didn't even want to eat the small portion he got, even though he was starving again…

Noah was nervous, now sure if he’d hear back from any of them, at most he’d maybe, he’d hear from Riyah. Even if he might hear from the vampires, they’d not be able to come out during the day anyway. If this was as dangerous as they seemed to think this was, they’d have to wait and see. As it was, he was looking over at these two, the blonde one, he remembered the name from the card, Gwynn, and the other, Ricky. Gwynn had mentioned Ricky wanted answers, and he looked stressed. 

Swallowing… he couldn’t do anything about Folio until he heard back from the others…

“What… what, what is it you want to know, then? I’m probably useless against some feral gargoyle, so… What?”

Ricky looked up with wide blue eyes, watery and red. “… Are you okay? Will… will my babies be okay? Was your mom's labor hard? Did you have a twin? What about wings when do I expect those? How much do you eat? What about sickness, did you get sick as a kid-” All the questions came out at once.

The giant busboy twitched a little at the flow of questions, holy shit, he was pregnant, “I- you know what, I’m going to go take these dishes back to the kitchen, go on break and come back, and start answering your questions, one at a time.” Oh boy. It wouldn’t take him long, but really, he just needed time to think after that onslaught of questions.

The nephilim whined softly but nodded, laying his head down on the table. It would be a… interesting conversation… hopefully. Informative. Answers were desperately needed in the man’s mind.

Gwynn sighed and patted Ricky's shoulder as they moved to sit beside him.

By the time Noah came back to the table, he was coming back with two plates loaded with food. Sitting down with a sigh, arching his aching back and picking up a sugar roll from one of his plates to take a bite, before he did, however, he looked at the other two. “What, it’s my lunch break?” Yes, his brother was awol, but Folio understood better than anyone, he was starving, he went missing his brother would be the same way. Though, his brother would have the skills to track him, Noah didn’t have the same nose he did. His senses might be heightened, but he was no werewolf.

“So,” After munching on his sugar roll. “Am I okay? I would ask you to define okay, but that is a really broad definition so, I’ve made it four hundred years with people that care about me, so I’m going to go with yes on that one. I am alive, and doing pretty good. My mom’s labor? … Well, the only person I think was there was,” Taking another bite… “Not sure, a three-year-old werewolf’s opinion can help you there.” Another mouthful of food was washed down with some water as he looked between the two…

“I, I did have a twin, for a few months, he-” Noah paused, not liking thinking about what had happened to his brother, it was a night he could never forget, despite barely being six months old, laying next to his brother in his crib when he was murdered. So, he rushed onwards with his answer, “He was killed, why are you asking me all these questions anyway. From the way these sound, surely there is someone else you can talk to? Sure I’m only part, but I can’t be the first gargoyle that's been born, not even the last one… right?” Shade had said their species was doing poorly, how bad could it be if there had been four giants in the restaurant yesterday? Didn’t they know anyone else?

Ricky was listening closely- intently. “... You're uh… part angel like me… but I'm… I'm Nephilim…” he said softly, putting a hand on his belly, looking down. “They… they won't be. My… my babies won't be.” He said, looking up. “They'll be tribrids too.”

Tribrids, Noah hadn’t thought of himself like that, but he supposed he was one, part human, part gargoyle, part angel, if his father was a gargoyle, his mother must have been a nephilim, or angel. He wondered if she knew, he wondered if that was why she died. If that was why his brother and him were hunted. Why she told Folio to take him and run, to run and keep him away from all of them. Noah remembered how long it had taken Nick and Joakim to get Folio to trust them because, it had been the two of them against everyone else. 

“Actually, I kind of figured the angel part out.”

Noah just looked over the table at them as he kept eating.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Noah was looking down at his phone, standing on the roof of the apartment building waiting for Shade. It wasn’t the first time they had met up here, it really depended on what they were meeting for, to be honest. Then again, it wasn’t like hooking up on the rooftop hadn’t happened before other times… So… he supposed anything could happen… But considering his texts earlier about his brother, and the others turning up at lunch… This wasn’t that.

Still, he hoped it wouldn’t take him long to get here. 

It was as if Shade had sensed his worry, the gargoyle had arrived silently and the only telltale sign of his arrival was the almost silent flap of his wings once he landed. He had gotten a message from Noah and figured that he had to go since it seemed very urgent. So Shade made it his business to go without a word. 

Their meeting on the apartment's roof wasn't unfamiliar, and it was where they had all their meetups. Yet as soon as he was there, the vampire felt something was off, and he was about to not like what's going to happen. 

“Noah,” he greets with a small pat to his arm. “I got your message. What's wrong?”

Noah’s eyes were wide as he lifted them to look at Shade, messaging him earlier about the other gargoyles at the buffet, and he’s asking him what was wrong? How his brother just turns up, and he’s asking him what was wrong? His brother that he’d never mentioned before. Oh, he has a twin apparently, according to his texts. Noah just… he didn’t know what to think of Shade’s brother, he would admit to that, whether he had abandoned Shade when he turned, or… but…

“So, your brother, his friends, they, they apparently knew my dad.”

When Noah had mentioned his brother and friends, Shade just pursed his lips while he went to sit on the ledge of the roof. He should've mentioned having a twin, but after everything, he wasn’t even sure that he was alive. Nor did he think he himself was going to live as long as he did. 

Everyone else too.

Now, once the other brought up his father— Shade shuts down immediately and just looked at him. “Now, what makes you think I know anything about him?”

Noah had moved to sit with Shade on the edge of the roof, he honestly figured that Shade hadn’t mentioned his brother because of some form of betrayal. If his family had betrayed him, he wouldn’t want to talk about them either. Riyah, that was family, and that was all that mattered… Though, that did bring up the question, “I didn’t know gargoyles could be as small as humans though, but that is an entirely different subject. Riyah might be shorter than both of us, but his sister is just, tiny compared.” 

Shaking his head, it was when Shade shut down that Noah sat up straighter, oh, that, there, that had his attention, looking at him closer in the dark. Nothing but the moon, and the eerie street lights below, to illuminate him. “Well, I wasn’t going to ask about my dad, I was going to ask about being a gargoyle, but the way you just shut down like that… What the fuck, Shade?”

Silence. All Noah got was silence as he thought about what else he had said. He wanted to know more about gargoyles and that was fine but oh. Oh, did his body tense more at the mention of Riyah and his sister. “Chenza is dead,” he finally said, albeit quietly, and there was a hint of pain there. Having witnessed his friend spiral into the pit of despair he's buried himself in, all he could do was do his best to drag him out of it.

He still wasn't answering about his father, Tadashi. Not his place to. Glancing to Noah, his face stoic as he spoke.

“Your father's a topic I can’t speak on. Not my place to tell. But what do you want to know about gargoyles?”

Noah scoffed, “I’m not an idiot, if that woman today was not the female version of Riyah than I’ll forfeit my dick, and you of all people know how much I like my dick.” Even if Shade was one of the few people that had ever technically had the pleasure of it. Everyone else just took one look, and weren’t even size queens enough, come on…

“Besides, why not my dad, wh-” he sighed, “Not your place, what does that even mean Shade?”

Shade sat there and snorted. Not many can make him laugh, and Noah does at the best of times. He's usually just quiet and blank. “I know,” he mused and sighs after, “But even if it were true, and I'm sure you'll argue it is… If you tell Riyah, he won't believe you and say you're lying. He's too out of it to know what's real and isn't at times.”

But that was a thought; if Temperance was back, though he still isn't sure about that— it could mean that it could be possible that Chenza is too. 

Now, once the conversation turns back to Tadashi; Shade just ran a hand over his face. “It's exactly what I mean, No— it also means that I have no say in telling anyone. Plus, I don't know exactly what even happened.”

Noah couldn’t help but growl at him, and after living with his brother, a werewolf for four hundred years, and he had a pretty damn good approximation of a wolf growl despite his human vocal cords. “It’s not about what happened, it’s about who he was, what he was like, anything. Besides, I’m not asking you to tell just anyone Shade, I’m asking you to tell me!” Unintentionally, those last two words were laced with a power that Noah had no clue he had ever had. He was so close to finding out something, anything about his father, and he trusted Shade. He had trusted him for decades, so much more than these gargoyles he didn’t know anything about, even if Folio had latched right onto one of them. He’d been talking about that cute one ever since they’d left, it was annoying.

When Shade heard the growl, he just gave him the side eye because he knew that meant that Noah was agitated. But as soon as he demanded, it felt as though the wind had been swept right out of him. A strangled sound left him before growling low when he realised what it was and glares as he spoke.

“Tadashi Cerulli, who also went by Perseverance, is the son of Christopher; Responsibility,” he hissed. It was hurting him to try to resist what he immediately figured out was a  command, staring at Noah. 

This not so little bastard was an angel—

“Fuck.”

Noah’s eyes went slightly wide when Shade groaned and the next thing he knew, the words were flying out of his mouth, Tadashi, that, was that his dad, Tadashi Cerulli, Perseverance, he… Wasn’t sure what that meant, son of Christopher, Responsibility, that sounded all kinds of official, and it made him feel kind of weird. Then however Shade, the way he hissed, and was holding himself, made Noah feel, oh, oh, that wasn’t good, shit, fuck, shit, damn. 

Quickly, as he heard the other man swear, Noah reached for him and clamped his hand over his mouth, “Stop, stop! I’m sorry, sorry! I- what, why, why does it seem like you’re in pain?” Or that he was about to keep going, his words muffled under Noah’s hands until he told him to stop.

There were mixed feelings about this, and all Shade could feel was anger. As soon as Noah clamped a hand over his mouth, he snarled and swats it away, but is grateful that he no-longer had to speak under a command. Averting his gaze from the younger male, the elder just bristled as he tried to calm down while staring at nothing.

“I was resisting,” he answered with a scowl, “If a gargoyle resists a command it'll cause strain.” He then pulls a knee close to his chest and rests his chin over it. “You fucking… no. You are an angel…” Shade isn't even sure if he wanted to dwell on that right now but alas. “A command is what an angel does to get us to obey under certain circumstances.”

Swallowing, Noah shuddered, his anxiety skyrocketing as he pulled back when Shade pushed his hand away, making sure to keep his distance. Something, something didn’t feel right anymore, and he, he felt wrong in his own skin. He hadn’t felt like this in so long, warm tears prickled his eyes, and he felt, why did he feel like this time he was the one who needed to be punished? That Shade deserved to curve one of those massive hands into a fist and slam it into him. They joked about breaking him like a twig, but maybe he should.

Wait- wait- what?! Command… Angel… the fuck… 

Angels could command…

“Angels can, just, command anyone to do whatever they want? That’s bullshit! I swear to god I did not mean to do that, Shade, I am so sorry!” 

The anxiety was rolling from Noah in waves, causing Shade to shift a bit in discomfort where he sat but remained silent. He took a chance to look at him and saw his eyes water, it made the gargoyle sigh. Regardless of how pissed he may be with what was done, it was an unknown accident on the younger's part. 

Being commanded had always pissed him off because he never liked being out of control of his actions. It had been centuries since he's been commanded, and it hurt. A lot. Yet, the reason he lashed out was because of his hand. Noah’s hand over his mouth pulled him back into a place he would rather not be.

Hearing the panicked voice from Noah, he reaches over to lightly pat his cheek while he stares at the ground below them. 

“You didn't mean to do it,” he agreed, “But yes. Angels command gargoyles. It's what we're made for. To be their weapons.”

Basically, expendable.

That left a sour taste in Noah’s mouth, and an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. He was not sure if he wanted to know anything else about gargoyles, or angels, angels making gargoyles to be weapons, and could command them at will? He was both? What did that say about what he was supposed to be? What do they expect him to be?

“I’m going to go downstairs, if you want to come with… I, I’ll understand if you don’t.” Noah would understand if he didn’t actually want to talk to him right now, or even ever again, he wasn’t sure if he would either. Riyah, damn, if he told Riyah he was part angel, what was he going to say? Fuck. Still, Noah still up from the roof to stand, to head in.

Shade can tell that Noah was having an internal struggle after what had been revealed about him, and the gargoyle just sat there. He was unsure of what to do because this was different in comparison to Riyah. Hearing that he was going downstairs, he stood with him and slipped his hands into his pockets. 

Following him in, Shade was keeping an eye on him now. Not because of distrust but out of concern. Plus— he was hungry.

THE PRESENT

Almost as soon as Noah kept eating, his phone was ringing on the table, and he dropped his fork to reach for the device, picking it up quickly. When he did, the name on the screen had him answering immediately, he figured it would be him. Shade, Nick and Jolly, odds were they could, probably, were sleeping… And Shade, he could potentially be upset with him still after last night. Then again, if Shade had told Riyah… Would Riyah help, then again, this was for Folio, not him? “Riyah? Thank fuck, so, um, Folio might be being hunted by a feral gargoyle, and he isn’t here, so we have to find him.”

As soon as Gwynn heard Riyah's name, they jumped and sat alert. “Riyah- my Riyah? Uwriyah?” they gasped with wide eyes, they covered their mouth, eyes watering.

Uwriyah had just gotten up from a long nap. If left unattended, he tends to sleep longer than he should, despite being one of the more elder gargoyles left in the world, that he knew of. When he saw Noah’s message about Folio, he frowned before calling him. It was very concerning with how urgent that text was if Noah had started it with ‘911’. Something he's learned over the years to know it's an emergency. 

“Noah, I got your message as well as the others I'm sure but what—” as soon as Noah began speaking, he listened to him. He isn't sure how to feel about this call. Folio having been hunted by a feral gargoyle— that didn't usually end well and the victim being their friend? 

Fucking hell.

Furrowing his brow, he cursed under his breath before pausing when he heard another voice in the midst of Noah talking.

“Who was that?” 

Noah’s attention, despite being on the phone, snapped to the blonde, what, their Riyah? Wha? He, that, he blinked at this person across the table, until Riyah’s very question cut, though… “Um, one of the people I mentioned that was here yesterday.” It took everything in him not to say, with your sister, but after Shade’s warning last night he held his tongue. Riyah was going to have to see her for himself, he was going to let him see her for himself. “That told me that Folio is in danger, they claimed that the gargoyle that Folio has been obsessed with since, well, yesterday, has gone feral. Atsuko, I think Folio also called him Honesty?”

He sat in silence, trying to process what he was told, and furrowed his brow while he listened. “Okay,” Riyah uttered as he listened to Noah explain before sitting up straight when he said either name of the feral gargoyle. 

“Wait—” he said softly, “Honesty? He's alive…? No, no… never mind that– who is with you? I know you told me, but I need to know their name.” But then again, there was Temperance. He was alive when he thought that he was dead. Both he and Shade thought he was. Even though they have their doubts, it's still something that he can't seem to wrap his head around.

But was it really him? Could it be? The more he thought about it, the more worried he was.

Ahhh, did Riyah really want to be asking about whether someone was alive? Noah wasn’t sure about that considering some of their personal companions were sorta, well, half alive themselves? Come on Riyah, alive and dead, serious here! 

Pausing when Riyah insisted on a name, he wondered why, was there something wrong? “Okay, um, Gwynn, Gwynn Haven, did you want to talk to them?”

Waiting. He was waiting for Noah to speak, and once the other finally answered, the gargoyle froze before letting out a quiet whine. Gwynn? No. It can't be the same Gwynn—.

“No. I'll be there to help,” was all he said before hanging up. That can't be because Gwynn was dead. There was no way. But overall, he's more worried about Folio. His friend who he and Shade had just gotten back after so many years, having an inkling he's died… But if he came back… then that could mean—

That could mean his sister… no. 

It shouldn't be possible, but could it?

Gwynn’s eyes dropped, and they looked down, “I should have expected that.”

“Riyah- I-” But he’d already hung up and Noah was looking at the phone, he wasn’t sure what had just had happened, “Well, okay, so, that’s one more gargoyle helping us, at least.” And the other one he wasn’t sure was quite talking to him. Setting his phone down. 

“As for the rest of your questions, um,” Noah wasn’t really sure how to answer them, “I don’t, I don’t know if I have wings. I’ve never, I’ve never had wings before. I guess I should, gargoyle and angel, two-fold, right? Never tried though.” Looking down at his plates, most of it gone, and he was still hungry. “I eat, a lot, I will eat anything, everything, I’m always hungry, I can never eat enough, and it’s just, I never feel full.” He wasn’t touching what was left of the food because he felt… he felt… “I feel everything just burns through my body the moment I eat it.” Sighing, “That’s, I suppose, other than chronic back problems I can’t put on any muscle, I’ve never been sick in my life.”

Ricky relaxed slowly, and pushed his plate to him, “Thank you… and… If you ever want or need, just call the club or café- we’ll help you anyway we can, regardless of the gargoyles… sorry, my mood swings… have been intense. I found out yesterday I was pregnant after a visit from… my father.” he explained softly, offering up more information to the Tribrid. “I shouldn’t have rushed you.”

Noah made a strangled noise before reaching for the plate of food, he, he shouldn’t, glancing at Ricky, he was pregnant, “Are you sure?” Yes, he’d just said he was just about starving all the time, but he was pregnant, it felt wrong to take food, even offered food, from a pregnant person. 

“I’m sure. I wasn’t sure how much I could eat, and I think if I tried right now, it wouldn’t go well. Anxiety is still a bit high for me.” he explained gently, “I know it’s hard to trust people… but I really want you to know the gargoyles are kind… and Gwynn was working yesterday to make neutral beings able to enter the café and club, so it could be a safe haven.”

Vinny was even getting a level in the alcoves ready for him and his family, in case they needed housing… The only ones who were apprehensive were the gargoyles.

While Noah picked his fork back up when Ricky encouraged him, he did understand anxiety, no question, his had been skyrocketing since the moment those gargoyles had walked in yesterday. He was actually thankfully none were here now, it meant his head was clear, that it wasn’t aching, at all. As he ate, he said nothing about them being kind, nothing whatsoever, he was sure that Ricky believed that, even the comment about neutral beings, the side eye that Gwynn got then was distinct. Noah couldn’t help but think about Shade, that one of the gargoyles could well have shunned his own brother and yet were willing to welcome others? Noah was sceptical, sceptical.

Though, “I have a question,” he was glad the gargoyles weren’t here, right then, personally, not about Shade, or the others. “The tattoos, the marks, on their skin, they keep moving, and it gives me such a headache. Even Riyah, I know his is different because of all the black, but, but what does it mean?”

Gwynn blinked for a moment before they smiled gently, “That eye strain should get better now, you were seeing both Angel Runes and their masking, and they disguise themselves to mortals or other non angel - related beings. Most gargoyles have them to help with different ailments, and conditions, they can only be applied and activated safely by an angel, such as myself, or a rune caster who is gifted in such work. I had to remove a few yesterday… I can help you learn more about your angel side, like I’m hoping to do with Ricky if you would like-”

The smile was interesting, but the kicker was the moment, the moment that Gwynn said that they were an angel, Noah just completely tensed up staring at them. Oh, god. They were an angel. Ricky’s anxiety was for crap now, Noah’s just took yet another hit considering last night he’d caused Shade pain last night because of finding out he had angel blood. “You, you are an… Angel?”

“I am… I was part of the troupe when I was younger… I was forced to heaven and I got to return recently-” they explained softly, “That’s why I was surprised when you said Riyah, is Nightshade okay? Do you know? Ryan hasn’t told me much-” they covered their mouth, “Wait. No. I’m sorry that wasn’t our agreement, I apologize.”

Noah’s expression darkened, only, it wasn’t the agreement that had affected his mood, “Fuck the agreement. Ryan, so that Shade’s brother’s name. I did wonder what that, that,” Noah took in a deep, slow breath to stop himself from going completely off. He’d had to learn over the years how to temper himself, but he’d had the luxury of never had to hide who he was with his family. “How about you go back and ask fucking Ryan how Nightshade is. Make him admit to fucking shit. I’m out. We can find Folio on our own, angel.”

Noah didn’t even finish what was left on Ricky’s plate, and got up from the table to leave, he needed to get out of there. He was freaking out… Gwynn was an angel, and angels had created gargoyles to be controlled, as weapons. It wasn’t right. He didn’t like it, so he was getting out of there and going to find Folio with his family, on his own. Riyah would help him, he was sure he would.

Gwynn, upon hearing Ryan’s name spoken as if it were the most disgusting thing on the planet, their eyes dilated. They pressed back as far away as they could, a tremor ran through them, and they almost flew out of there. Wings sprouted from their back, and they dashed, not feeling chained down as they once were, watching stiff as a board as Noah left.

[xxxhoekage]

Man I miss buffets though, there's like none left. I remember going to Ponderosa steak house with my friends after graduation. Also Old Country Buffet with my grandparents growing up.

Yeah I hardly see them now! I think the only exception I ever made for buffets was Ryan’s and they closed a while ago :(