#sitting in front of the tv wide eyed dead to the world unable to feel hunger thirst heat or cold only able to process the great migration

[shalomniscient]

sevchino req! im in love w how u write sm oml. how does arle spend time w her children? would u say that arle is willing to play tea party w estelle while wearing a tiara/anything of the sort? 🥺 ueueue,,,,father-daughter bonding time please,,,

AAAAAAAA THIS IS SO CUTE LSHHDKSJDS 🥺🥺🥺 papa arle has my whole heart (and daddy arle has my whole pu— *GUNSHOTS*)

ANYWAY arle is so indulgent to the kiddos i feel. estelle was always roping arle into tea parties, though her tea parties weren’t always the most… conventional. arle gets her own tiara ofc but she’s not a princess, no, she’s the royal advisor. estelle has a kingdom of toys and by god will she run it. of course, arle takes her duties as royal advisor very seriously. i could walk in and hear something like, “diplomacy, my lady, is how to be nice to people you actually want to stab” and that will be the most normal thing she’s said all day.

“love, are you teaching our daughter political machinations?”

“it is an essential life skill.”

“she’s three???”

“they are never too young to learn, dearest.”

noé, on the other hand, never really played as much. he had his own interest from the start, which was dance, and all he’d really want to do is watch the dancers perform. so arle takes him out whenever she can to go watch the icewind suite at the opera epiclese. noé is utterly enraptured every time, and could sit on the steps and watch the robots dance for hours until he gets tired. on the way home he’ll ramble to his father about the dance and arle will listen attentively until he falls asleep against her warm shoulder. arle keeps an eye out for any performances at the opera epiclese, specifically dance, and has a private booth claimed for our family every time. and when noé takes the stage himself later on, it’s the same booth we watch from.

[deiitaelric]

just another bkdk idea

where Katsuki went to Izuku’s room to get back his book and Izuku didn't want to open the door.

"Kacchan, just w-wait a minute!"

"Just give me my fucking book, Deku! I need to do my homework and it's your fault for grabbing it in the first place"

"I thought it was mine!" Was heard through the door, followed by some noises.

"Whatever, just give it back! Look, I don't have time to be waiting here for your ass to move, ok?" and he just made his way into the other’s room. "I'm grabbing it myself-"

Katsuki stopped dead at the door frame, hand still on the knob. Izuku looked at him from inside the room; panic visible in his eyes. His green, big eyes... surrounded by... makeup?

Katsuki just kept looking at him, mouth slightly open, unable to say anything.

Izuku didn’t move a single muscle, petrified. The cleansing wipe he was using fell to the ground in what seemed to be an eternity. His tiny mouth was half painted, half smudged, opened in shock.

Katsuki felt impossible to get his eyes out of Izuku. Dark and wide in shock as they were. He moved his mouth to say something, whatever, but nothing came out. Before Katsuki could force himself to do anything, Izuku grabbed the book, placed it over Katsuki’s chest and pushed him out of his room, closing the door and locking it.

___

Katsuki was in the common room. The TV on playing some random show Katsuki wasn’t paying attention to. When he heard someone approaching, his hands started sweating and he hid them in his pockets. He had spent the last two afternoons there to give Deku the chance to go to talk to him.

“What's up?” It wasn’t him. Katsuki released some of the tension of his shoulders but didn’t give an answer. "Hey, you good? You seem grumpier than usual" Ochaco pointed out, sitting on the couch beside him.

“It’s nothing”

“Come on, don’t do this. I’m your bestie, just spill it out”

Katsuki side-eyed her and sighed. “Fine” He moved uncomfortably, feeling the weight of her stare. "I stormed into Deku's room and... Fuck. I think I screwed up"

"You found out about the makeup" Katsuki looked up at her and then took a look around. There wasn't anyone.

"You knew about that?" He whisper-yelled.

"I gave him some products" She shrugged, throwing herself back on the couch, diverting her view towards the TV. Katsuki looked at her with a glare of 'don't make me ask again'. "I was the one who told him to try it because I thought he would look cute. And he does. And he liked it so he borrowed some"

"Are you the only one who knows?"

"I think so"

"And he told you I caught him?" She only nodded. "Was he... Hm. How upset was he?"

"Well..."

"Fuck"

"Hey, but... What do you think about all this?"

"What I-? The fuck is whit that question?"

"I mean, you're upset too. Is because you saw-"

"I don't fucking care about that, okay?" Katsuki ran a hand through his hair and locked it on the back of his neck. "What did he say?"

"He was worried about you telling-"

"I wouldn't to that, what the fuck? I won't tell anyone!"

"Not that, jerk, just listen! He knows you, come on! He was worried about your friendship, about you telling him he disgust you or something"

He shook his head and then dropped it. “Fuck, I always hurt him, huh?"

"What? That's not true. Just talk to him and that's it"

"No. It is true! When I was part of his life, I hurt him. When I tried to stay away from him, I hurt him. And now that I'm trying to be part of his life again... I'm fucking hurting him again!"

"Don’t be so hard on yourself. Look. If you care, and I know you do, just stop complaining and do something about it"

“Easier said than done”

“Come on, just… Talk to him as you’re doing with me. I know he couldn’t disgust you whatever he might do or anything but-”

“Don’t act all smarty, round face, you-”

“I, what, Katsuki? Look, we’re not in first grade anymore, I know you, and… I never wanted to stick my nose in your business but-”

“Then just fucking don’t. Just shut up, will you?” He ran a hand through his hair, looking away. What a fucking smarty-ass of a best friend he had, hah?

“Okay. Just let me say one thing. He’s not gonna take the first step, he thinks he's gonna lose you so… Do something yourself”

“What?! That’s bullshit!” He pushed himself to his feet, feeling really annoyed. Lose him for-? That fucking nerd…

“Hey, where are you going?!” He didn’t answer, because he didn’t know where he was going himself.

___

Katsuki filled his lungs with all the air he could, trying to steady his hands, and knock on the door. Silence. His crimson eyes looked at the floor, where the light of the room picked below the door. He knocked again and sighed at the silence.

“It’s… me. I know you’re there, come on” His eyes caught a movement in the light but the door remained closed. “I fucking get it, I shouldn’t have stormed into your room like that. But… Fuck, I…” He ran a hand through his hair. Fuck, he wasn’t good at talking. And he said so. “Look, you know talking is not my thing, so I just wanted to bring you something to make peace” The light moved again, the shadow closer to the door now. “Can you open the door?”

More silence.

“Okay. I’ll just… let it here. Take it later, okay?” And he was about to drop the bag in front of the door and leave when the door opened slightly. Izuku looked at him with a curious and shy look in his eyes.

“Hi” Katsuki tried to stay soft.

“Hi” Izuku answered in something barely higher than a whisper.

“I bought you something” The blonde raised the bag but didn’t give it to him.

“I know, I heard you. Do you want…?” He asked as he opened the door a little more. Katsuki stepped inside and sat on the edge of the bed. “What is it?” Izuku asked after closing the door. He kept standing a few feet apart, looking at his hands, playing with his fingers in that anxious tic of his.

Katsuki handed the bag towards him and Izuku took it, curiosity filling his eyes.

“Wha-?” He dug a hand inside the bag, moving around the contents to look at all that were in there. “I…” His green eyes watered and he covered his mouth with a hand.

“You hate it that much you're even crying?” Joked Katsuki. And smiled when he saw Izuku shaking his head and smiling shyly at him.

“I just… I don’t know what to say. I like it so much”

“I’m glad I chose it all waterproof, jeez, what a crybaby you are” He teased with a smirk on his face, feeling relieved at the good reaction.

“You chose it yourself?” Izuku asked, ceasing to admire his new eye shadow palette to look at him in disbelief.

“Of course. Round face told me you borrow hers and these things shouldn’t be shared, dumbass. Plus, I bet you didn’t even have the right colors to suit you” Izuku opened his mouth to reply something but the blonde interrupted him. “One more thing,” digging inside his pockets he found what he was looking for and handed it to the other. “This is the best thing you could have” Izuku left the bag with the eyeshadows, lipsticks and brushes over the bed and took the pen. It was a black eyeliner. “It’s waterproof too. It’s the brand I use behind the mask of my hero costume”

Izuku opened it to look at the tiny tip. He made a little line on the back of his hand to try it and smiled. He sat on the edge of the bed and his expression turned more serious. “I-I don’t... Why?”

“I don’t know, I… I wanted to say sorry and… Fuck, I wanted you to know you don’t disgust me or any bullshit you might have thought”

Izuku’s cheeks turned pink and a few tears made their way out of the corner of his eyes. He rubbed them with the back of his hand. “Well, thanks for the gifts and… for telling me. I know it’s not easy for you to… talk”

“It’s not fucking easy, but… Whatever. Look” Katsuki took one of the eyeshadow palettes of the bag. “This shit suits you. I know it’s not easy being oneself in front of the world but fuck them, you know? You shouldn't be feeling bad because you like this” He shook the palette to emphasize. “And… Fuck, it suits you. Round face said she thought you would look cute and, damn it, she was right. Cute and fucking pretty. I just lost my fucking speech when I saw you wearing it” He laughed in a mixed of disbelief and embarrassment for what he just said out loud. It was hard for him to talk, but right there he seemed to feel unable to stop.

“You-You thought I was... pretty?”

Katsuki laughed again and shook his head. “Like it was something new! I mean- Wait!” The panic settled in him for a moment, but seeing the hard blush on Izuku’s face made him laugh again. ”Fuck, I said it, hah?” They shared a silence before erupting into embarrassed laughs.

“Yeah, you said it”

“Well, whatever, you know? You should know you’re always pretty, with or without this” He raised the palette again and then threw it into the bag again. “I was just trying to say that you should wear it if it make you happy”

“It makes me happy, but, you know, I don’t want people making fun of me, not again”

“Fuck. Them. I’ll break the knees of whatever asshole who dare to say something bad about it”

Izuku laughed and brushed his tears once again.

“You can’t do that!”

“Oh, well, I dare them to try” Izuku laughed louder and glanced at him with a tender look.

“Thanks”

“You said that already”

“I know. But I’m really glad you’re supporting me. You know you mean a lot to me”

“We’re being really cheesy today, huh?”

“I’m sorry. But it’s true, so” Izuku shrugged and looked at his feet, starting to bounce them.

“Don’t be. You… too. To me. I mean, you’re… important. To me”

“Are you trying to say something?” Izuku asked, side-eyeing him with a smirk.

“Fucker” Katsuki muttered, feeling his cheeks burning. What a loser, Katsuki, great, he thought. Izuku giggled, looking at his playing feet again. Katsuki cleared his throat. “You good, then?”

“I’m more than good, you know? I think it was worth it, after all. I mean- I never expected that someone caughing me wearing makeup would do my crush to tell me I’m pretty”

Katsuki remained quiet, the words not being caught yet.

“Who!?”

“You, idiot” Laughed Izuku. “I’m just so happy you came to talk to me… and you even brought me makeup. I thought it was a good time to tell you. I was gonna tell you eventually so, why not now?” He shrugged. “And it doesn’t mean anything. I like that we’re friends now and I’m happy with that, I just wanted to be honest, you know?”

The silence was interrupted when Katsuki started to rummage in the bag. He placed a few products on Izuku’s lap and got up, making the other to look up at him with a confused face.

“Put that on,” The blonde pointed at the products, and then at the closet “and change your clothes. I’m going to change too” He marched towards the door without any more explanation.

“Wait! What? For what?”

“I’m taking you out on a date to answer you my way” Katsuki said just before closing the door, leaving a burning-cheek and flustered Izuku behind.

The end.

[milomeepit]

Diamond In The Rough: Chapter Thirteen

Roman has always wanted better. Has always believed that there’s a better life, a better world, just out of reach. Just beyond the veil of shitty teachers who don’t care, angry classmates that scream insults and slurs at each other all day, and drug-hazed parents who are more concerned with their next hit than looking after their ten year old son.

When he runs away after a particularly bad night at home and finds a quiet little cafe/bookstore tucked away in a back alley of the city, the sweet couple who run the joint (an odd pair; a quiet, gloomy man with a wry sense of humour and a cynical gleam in his eye, and a bouncy man who smiles like sunshine and laughs like a storybook king) help show him that maybe- just maybe- he really can have the life he always dreamed of.

Masterpost (to be added soon!)

Word Count: 2645

Chapter Warnings: Yelling, child neglect, abusive parents, fire, basements, darkness, daydreams, crying, panic attacks, starving, running away, punishments, mentioned drug use, arguing, nightmares, sleep deprivation, alcohol mention, cursing

The next few days passed in a noisy haze of yelling, slammed doors, and too-loud TV shows. Roman spent most of his time in either his room, lying on his bed and letting his mind drift to faraway places, or out the backyard, climbing the old oak tree and watching birds fly over the tops of houses. Sometimes, when the wind blew hard, hard enough to shake the smaller branches of the tree, it felt like he could fly, too, if he just opened his arms and stepped out of the tree.

He’d always wanted to fly. It was part of the reason he did love Peter Pan quite so much. It would be so magical, wouldn’t it, to just spread his arms out, think happy thoughts, and soar up into the sky? To trail his hand through the clouds, to follow the sunset and fly somewhere. Somewhere new and exciting, where the rules of real life didn’t follow, where the sun was always shining and rivers ran crystal clear, where people smiled and sang songs, where flowers swayed in the gentle breeze and forests were full of friendly creatures.

Thoughts like that helped pass the hours that dragged by until Dad finally fell asleep on the couch. He’d usually knock out sometimes after 3am, and wake up at midday. It was a welcome reprieve from the usual noise and chaos, but Roman found himself unable to sleep. He would lie in bed, curled up under the fluffy grey blanket that Virgil had given him, arms tightly wound around the monkey- since named Arwen- and plan out elaborate fantasies.

Exploring hidden temples, wandering through magical forests, climbing ancient mountains that reached up into the heavens, he travelled the world in his mind’s eye. Sometimes he was alone, sometimes he had company. Sometimes other kids, friends who he led bravely into the shadows for them to claim a shining prize or battle some great evil. Sometimes a group of knights, pledged to follow his every command, who defended from all who struck against him.

And sometimes, it was Virgil and Patton. Virgil would scale trees and scan for danger, swinging down from the thick, strong branches, and landing with a satisfying crunch on the leaves scattering the forest floor. Patton would hold his hand and help him climb over large tree roots and rocks, his bright laughter spilling through the trees like sunshine. They would pick their way through the forest, searching for a spot to sit down. And then, just as their legs began to tire and their feet started to hurt, there it would be.

A clearing, ringed perfectly by rustling green trees, carpeted with lush grass and bright, sweet-smelling flowers. The stream that cut through the woods rushed nearby, just through the trees on the other side of the clearing, cool and inviting. The three of them would sit down, and Patton would pull containers of sandwiches and bottles of water from his bag, and they would eat and talk and relax together in the warm, golden sunlight. Virgil would tease Roman about going for a dip in the cold water, and Patton would laugh as the two of them raced to the bank and dived in to see who could make the bigger splash.

Roman’s stomach growled as he imagined the soft bread and creamy egg salad of the sandwiches, bringing his attention back to the real world. He grimaced as he sat up, feeling a little light-headed. Mom had been away since the first night he’d gotten home- working, Dad had grunted when Roman had dared to ask him- and, as a result, he hadn’t eaten anything but the half-dozen cookies Virgil had packed for him from the batch they’d made together that afternoon.

He tucked Arwen under his arm and tugged his hoodie around his shoulders, then carefully made his way downstairs. It was late, but the TV was still on, meaning Dad was probably still awake. Roman held his breath as he crept past the living room, trying to make himself as silent as possible.

He made it to the kitchen undisturbed and set Arwen carefully in a clear spot on the counter, her large head listing to the side a little, then began looking through the cupboards to find something to eat. Most of them were jammed full of cracked crockery and broken appliances, and he didn’t bother opening those.

He found a packet of pop tarts in the back of the cupboard above the sink. He carefully climbed down off of the chair he’d dragged over from the table to look in the overhead cabinets and showed off his find to Arwen. Her wide stitched smile mirrored his own grin as he set them on the counter next to her, then turned to paw through another cupboard to find the toaster.

Roman eventually dug it out and plugged it in next to Arwen, shoving dirty cups and plates into the sink to make room for it. He carefully dropped two of the pastries into the toaster and pulled down the lever, then sat down on the chair. He swung his legs back and forth as he looked around the kitchen.

It was as cluttered as ever, broken and dirty dishes and electronic components littered across every available surface. The walls were covered with ripped, stained wallpaper, handprints and food splatters almost completely obscuring the faded floral pattern beneath. The tiles were cracked and uneven, some completely missing by the back door. Roman suddenly noticed the new extra locks on the back door, and his roaring stomach dropped down into his knees. So, they had noticed how he’d gotten out.

It had been a windy night. The house had creaked alarmingly as Mom and Dad screamed at each other. She’d been high off her head on some new batch he’d gotten from one of his friends, and he was screaming at her for cutting into his supply. Roman had sat on his bed, tears in his eyes, a pillow over his head, and something in him had just...

Snapped.

He’d gone downstairs one he was sure Dad was asleep. Mom had already left at the end of their argument, slamming the front door shut hard enough to shake Roman’s schoolbook off of his bedside. He took as much money as he could shove in his pockets from the jar Mom kept on top of the fridge, grabbed his backpack, and slipped down the hallway to the front door. It had been locked, and he hissed softly in frustration. Dad kept his keys in his pocket, and Roman certainly didn’t dare go into the living room, let alone try to pickpocket him.

Instead, he went back to the kitchen, carefully unlatching the creaky back door, and snuck out into the night. It didn’t take long for him to clamber over the back fence, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, he was running. As fast as he could, down the laneway, and to the bus station on the other side of the river. The bus ticket took almost half the money he had, but the dead-eyed teenager in the booth hadn’t questioned him. The bus was big, and the seats were soft, and he was asleep within minutes.

A bump in the road jolted him awake a few hours later, and he’d sat up to see bright lights twinkling along the streets, almost blinding him. He blinked a few times and squinted past them, shielding his eyes, and saw on the GPS display above the aisle that they were in the city, miles and miles and miles west of his hometown. Perfect.

The first night had been scary, but being in the city was oddly comforting after a few days. Anywhere you went on the streets, there were people, playing guitars and walking dogs and talking on phones and drinking coffee and jogging. It was noisy, but not in the same way as home. Home was angry and frightening and chaotic, this was... alive. Alive in a sense Roman had only seen in movies and books. It was beautiful.

A sudden shrieking beep yanked him from his thoughts, and he leaped to his feet. What was- the fire alarm. The fire alarm? He spun around and screamed as he saw bright orange leaping from the toaster, licking up Arwen’s arm. He snatched her from the counter and batted her smoking fur against the tile, trying to beat out the flames.

Footsteps thundered from the living room, and Roman barely had time to shove Arwen into his jacket before Dad crashed into the kitchen with a towel. He shoved Roman aside and unplugged the toasted before throwing the towel over it to smother the flames.

Roman stumbled and fell against the wall, curling up into a ball. He gritted his teeth as Dad cursed loudly. He was mad. Roman hated it when Dad was mad, more so when he was mad at him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder pull him to his feet, and he hesitantly looked up to see Dad scowling at him. “What the hell were you doing?!” He barked, his face bright red. “Since when do you just plug things in without asking?!”

“I... I didn’t know it was broken,” Roman mumbled, his gaze dropping to the floor again. “I’m sorry.”

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “You’re grounded til your fucking Mom gets home. I’ll sort it out with her then.”

A bitter taste rose in the back of his throat, acidic and angry. “What does it matter, anyway? It’s not like you ever let me do anything fun.” He froze as the words left his mouth. He hadn’t actually intended to say them aloud, but they seemed to speak themselves into the thick, smoky air.

There was silence for a beat before Dad growled. “If you’re gonna be a little smartass, you can go down in the basement where I don’t have to hear your bitching.”

Roman’s heart seemed to stutter in his chest, and he jerked away. “No! I don’t want to! It’s dark down there, and I got sick last time!” He clapped a hand over his mouth. Shut up, shut up, shut up, he begged himself. You’re just making it worse!

His feet barely touched the ground as Dad stormed over to the basement door, dragging him along by the hoodie. Roman suddenly remembered Arwen, wrapping his arms around himself so she wasn’t jostled out of his jacket.

Dad opened the door and released his hoodie, glaring at him. “Now.”

Roman shuffled down the stairs, swallowing back tears as he looked around at the cramped, dingy space. Boxes were stacked along the walls, and a ratty couch was dumped in the middle of the room. The cushions were thin and worn, and Roman knew from experience that the wooden frame of the couch dug into anyone unfortunate enough to sit or lie on it.

He jumped as the door slammed shut behind him. He hated it down here, hated it more than anything else in the world. He’d rather be sleeping in the park than be shut up in here. It was dark, and cold, and it smelled like dust and mould and moth balls and old paper.

He pulled Arwen out of his jacket, cuddling her close. “At least I have you,” He mumbled. He buried his face against her stomach again, breathing in the comforting smell that still lingered in her fluffy fur.

He screwed his eyes shut. There had to be something for him to do to escape this nightmare. Think about something else, somewhere else. Anything to get away from here. A cave sprung to life in his mind’s eye. Water dripped from stalactites on the roof, and he shivered, climbing to his feet and wandering through the twisting passages.

He spent what felt like hours exploring the imaginary cave system, climbing and shuffling through the dark, before sunlight nearly blinded him. He emerged out of the mouth of the cave and blinked until his eyes adjusted. A valley was spread out below him, with a wide river cutting through the middle, curving around the bend of the landscape and disappearing from view. Trees blossoming with flowers of every shape and colour carpeted the valley, some bearing large, shiny, colourful fruit.

He wandered through the valley, taking in the sights and smells and sounds. He dipped his feet in the river, watching fish dance through the water, skillfully dodging rocks and currents. He walked through the woods, watching squirrels and rabbits scamper through the undergrowth and duck into tiny hiding places beneath rocks and roots. He climbed trees, watching birds soar through the air, twisting and wheeling up into the sky.

The sun set on the valley, painting it with brilliant reds and golds. The moon rose, bringing stars- brighter than any he’d ever seen, constellations that Virgil had showed him recognizable in the deep black of the night sky. The sun returned, and Roman sat on a patch of grass and watched it cross the blue sky. Sun. Moon. Sun. Moon. The pattern was soothing, a constant as the valley shifted around him, leaves turning crimson and falling from trees, snowflakes fluttering past his face and tickling his nose, flowers blooming between his fingers as he leaned back, warm breezes drifting past him as the sun shone down.

A loud growl from the cave made Roman freeze. The rabbits ducking through the grass nearby scampered off and vanished into the trees. He slowly turned around, looking up the hillside to the mouth of the cave. The valley was deathly still around him, the moon hanging static in the sky. He took a deep breath and got to his feet, then began to climb up the hill.

The creature, whatever it was, growled again as he approached the cave. He stared into the inky blackness, his eyes straining to scan the shadows. “I’m not scared of you,” He whispered aloud. “I can do anything I want to do.”

A sudden wind picked up at his back, a high-pitched howl that made his head throb. He looked over his shoulder to see trees shuddering, smaller plants were ripped out of the ground by the sudden gale. He realised with a sinking sense of horror that the stars were going out, one by one, their comforting, twinkling lights vanishing into thin air.

Please. Please, no. Not here, too.

“I’m not scared of you!” He repeated, his voice hoarse. He wasn’t sure if his eyes were stinging from the wind or tears. “I’m not!”

“.. oman?”

He spun around, eyes flickering frantically over his surroundings, searching for the voice. It almost sounded like Pa-

No. No, if he thought it, then it would be, and he couldn’t stand to see him caught in this maelstrom. Not here in this screaming chaos of wind and rain and fear and panic.

“Roman?” The voice was more panicked now, and he dropped to his knees as he screwed his eyes shut and clapped his hands over his ears. Loud thuds echoed through the valley as trees, tall as skyscrapers, crashed to the ground, tipped by the wind.

The growling was deafening now, and the ground was cold and dark and hard and rough. Everything ached. He bit back a sob as pain shot through his head, sharp as a knife. He curled up into a ball, his arms clamped tight around Arwen.

“Roman?!”

He struggled to lift his head at last, peering into deep black shadows. It lasted only a moment before the world burst into a dazzling white light, hot and blinding and brighter than anything. He cried out, raising a hand to shield his eyes and squinting out at the world.

And then everything stopped.

[cocomaxley]

Chi-Town Shenanigans

Part 3

This is a part of a TRR A/U called Cordonians Gone Wild, a collaborative effort by @ao719 @leelee10898 @speedyoperarascalparty and yours truly. Catch up HERE.

Summary: The CGW crew heads to Chicago for a fun long weekend.

Rating: NSFW, mature and very bad decisions.

Tag List: @riseandshinelittleblossom @blackwidow2721 @hopefulmoonobject @bobasheebaby @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @fullbeaumonty @brightpinkpeppercorn @katurrade @krsnlove @alj4890 @zaffrenotes @annekebbphotography @carabeth @moneyfordiamonds @give-me-ernest-sinclaire @3pawandme @indiacater @ownworldresident @tornbetween2loves

The next morning, everyone met downstairs for breakfast. Pam and Drake were the last to arrive, Drake unable to meet anyone's eye. “Good meow-ning, Drakey!” Genevieve said giggling. Pam glared at her and mouthed, “Stop!” Anitah perked up when she heard Genevieve teasing Drake, “Let's make this a game. Whoever says ‘meow’ the most today wins.”

Genevieve laughed, “I don't even care what the stakes are, I'm in.” The two women huddled their heads together, Drake eyed them suspiciously. Anitah looked up, “Hey, Drake, can you call my phone? I can't find it.” Drake picked up his phone and dialed her number. The phone started playing the Meow Mix jingle. The group turned to the ringing phone and burst out laughing. “Ha ha, very funny, guys,” Drake said rolling his eyes. Even Pam had to cover her mouth to prevent a laugh from escaping.

The group was going to a cubs game later that day, and they were meeting Julian and Thomas who had box seats for the game. Since it was unseasonably warm, Pam and Genevieve dressed in Cubs tank tops while Anitah came down in wearing a Yankees tank top and baseball hat. Alicia showed up wearing a Phillies jersey which made her three friends boo at her. A short time later, the men came down, Rashad and Drake wearing cubs jerseys, Liam in a Yankees jersey and Leo in a Phillies jersey. Leo looked at the others confused and said, “Wait, who’s playing? Only two teams play right?”

Alicia walked up to him and patted him on the head, “You're so pretty.” He smiled at her. “Our team isn't playing today. But we aren't wearing that garbage,” she added. The three girls rolled their eyes, Anitah smack talked right back, “You know what's garbage? The entire Phillies organization.” Anitah smirked knowing she struck a nerve. Leo looked at the ladies staring dagger at each other and shook his head, “I'm going to get my ass kicked today, aren't I? Maybe I should change.” After seeing the look on Alicia's face, he snapped his mouth shut and stayed quiet.

They arrived at the ballpark, walked up to the Legends suite and were greeted by Thomas and Julian. Once inside, the guys hit the bar for some drinks and the ladies went to the seats at the front of the box. Genevieve felt a tap on her shoulder and a deep voice whispered in her ear, “Hey, beautiful.” She froze and turned around, “Hey, Christian. I…I…I didn't know you'd be here…” She looked past him and saw Rashad glaring at Christian’s back. “When Thomas told me you were here, I wanted to see you…” he leaned down to kiss her, and she stopped him. “I'm sorry, I can't. I have a boyfriend.”

Rashad walked up and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Christian, this is my boyfriend, Rashad. Rashad, this is...erm...Christian.” She couldn't look at either man. “I remember,” Rashad said through gritted teeth. Christian extended his hand, and Rashad reluctantly shook it, “Oh that's right, you came to St. Tropez with the rest of the guys. You slept in the room next to us, didn't you?” Christian said with a smirk. Genevieve closed her eyes and could feel her cheeks burning. After a few awkward moments, Christian said, “Well it's good to see you. You're still as beautiful as the last time we were together in June.” He winked at her and she could feel Rashad tensing up next to her.

Genevieve turned to him, “I didn't know he was going to be here.” He shook his head, “It's fine. It was before we were together. I just don't like how he looks at you, like he's undressing you with his eyes.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, and he deepened it. She whispered in his ear, “I love you, Rashad.” He smiled and relaxed, “I love you too.”

Pam walked up to the buffet and started putting food on her plate. “Pam Malinski? Is that you?” She turned around and her mouth fell open in shock, “Paul, what are you doing here?” She put her plate down and pulled him into a hug. “I work with Julian and he invited me to come to the game. It's great to see you.” She waved Drake over and said, “Drake, this is my friend Paul. Paul, this is my fiancé, Drake.” Drake shook Paul's hand and Paul said, “We were more than friends, wouldn't you say, honey bunny?” Drake arched an eyebrow and looked at Pam. Her face flushed, “Well we dated briefly, but we were friends more than anything.” Julian called Paul over to him. “Well it was nice to meet you, Drake. Pam, keep in touch, ok?”

“Honey bunny?” Drake said eyeing Pam. “He used to call me that after we watched Pulp Fiction a few times. It's a stupid nickname. You're not upset are you, baby?” Drake plastered a fake smile on his face, “Of course not. This was a long time ago, right?” Pam nodded, “It was a really long time ago.” Drake looked over at Paul who was staring at Pam with a wide grin on his face. Drake narrowed his eyes at him, and Paul quickly looked away after he saw the scowl on Drake’s face. “So how long did you two date exactly?” Drake asked. Pam shrugged, “We dated in high school, a little in college and then briefly again after college.” Drake choked on his drink, “You dated him three different times?”

Pam rolled her eyes, “But not very long each time. I really saw him more as a friend. So we decided to just be friends.” Drake looked in Paul’s direction and noticed he was staring again. “Seems like he wants to be more than friends, Pam.” She turned to him, “Are you jealous, Drake?” He quickly fixed his face into a pained smile, “No!”

Drake and Rashad joined Liam and Leo at the bar. They looked back at the girls who were watching the game talking shit to each other. Christian sat in the seat next to Genevieve, and Paul sat in the seat behind Pam. Drake and Rashad seethed watching the two men hitting on their women. Rashad threw back his drink and asked for another, Drake doing the same. Rashad nudged Drake's arm, "Should we go over there?" His jaw clenched. Drake shook his head, “No, I trust Pam. I just don't like that guy.” His eyes never leaving his fiancée. Rashad nodded in agreement, “You’re right…I don't trust him for a second.” Both men throwing back drink after drink watching the other men shamelessly flirting with Pam and Genevieve.

All of a sudden, Christian moved his arm and placed it over the back of Genevieve’s seat. Paul leaned forward close to Pam’s face. Both men slammed down their glasses and stood up walking over to the seats. Rashad tapped Christian on the shoulder, “Excuse me, I’d like to sit next to my girlfriend.” He glared at him, daring Christian to challenge him. Christian smirked, “I don't think she minds sitting next to me though.” Rashad grabbed him by the back of the shirt and lifted him up from his seat, “Well I do.” Christian held up his arms and backed away quickly. Genevieve looked up at Rashad and bit her lip. Once he sat down, she whispered, “That was so sexy.” She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him into a deep kiss.

Drake stood behind Paul and cleared his throat. Paul straightened up in his seat, then turned around looking at him. Drake said in a low tone, “I'm going to ask you nicely, this time, to back away from my fiancée. Next time...there won't be a next time, will there, Paul?” He shot up from his seat and walked back to the bar. Pam stood up and grabbed Drake’s arm pulling him towards the bathroom.

Once Pam and Drake rejoined the group, it was the 6th inning. They had six outs before the ballpark stopped serving alcohol. “Shots!” Alicia yelled. The bartender lined up shots of whiskey, everyone held their glasses up and took their shots. At the bottom of the 9th inning, the girls sat back down in the seats. The game was tied 1-1 and the Cubs were down to their last out. The ladies started volleying insults back and forth.

“You know what Cubs stands for? Completely useless by September,” Anitah said laughing. The guys snickered.

“What's the difference between a cactus and the Yankees dugout?” Genevieve asked Pam who started giggling. “On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.” The boys looked at each other chuckling.

Anitah rolled her eyes, “Hey Alicia, what's the difference between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs? The last Phillies World Series team picture isn't in black and white.”

The men turned their heads towards Pam as she said, “Hey Gen, What do you call 40 millionaires around a TV watching the World Series? The New York Yankees.”

“What is the difference between a bucket of shit and an Chicago Cubs fan? The bucket.” The men now looking at Anitah with concerned faces.

All heads turned towards Genevieve, "What do the New York Yankees and possums have in common? Both play dead at home and get killed on the road!"

Anitah yelled, “Hey Pam, rather than wasting money on that replica hat, just strap a large rubber dildo to your head. EVERYONE will know who you support.”

Alicia stood up and pulled off both Pam’s and Anitah’s hats, “You know what? Both of your teams suck!” She threw the hats out of the box into the crowd below. All of the guys froze with their mouths open looking at each other. The girls burst out laughing. “Dammit, I love that hat!” Anitah said between giggles.

The crowd erupted in cheers at the sound of the bat hitting the ball in its sweet spot. Anthony Rizzo scored the game winning homerun. “In your face, Anitah!” Pam and Genevieve yelled as they stood up and cheered.

After the game ended, they said goodbye to Thomas and Julian. Christian walked up to Genevieve and said, “Hey, if things don't work out with the boyfriend, give me a call.” He tried to pull her into a hug, but Rashad walked up and pulled one of his hands into a bone crushing handshake, “Nice to see you again, Chris. We're leaving now.” He wrapped his arm around Genevieve and they walked out together. She giggled, “I should make you jealous more often.” He smirked, “Oh, you'll pay for that later.” She smiled, “I can't wait.” He stopped walking and pulled her into a heated kiss. Drake looked towards Paul’s direction. He looked like he wanted to talk to Pam, but thought better of it when he met Drake’s eye.

“Let's go to John Barleycorn!” Pam said. They walked the short distance and they all hit the bar, Leo ordering shots. Pam went to the jukebox and picked a few songs, the first one started playing.

Well, I walk into the room

Passing out hundred dollar bills

And it kills, and it thrills, like the horns on my silverado grill

And I buy the bar double round the crown

And everybody's getting down

An' this town, ain't never gonna be the same

“I love this song!” Genevieve yelled, and the ladies started their own dance party singing along, Save a horse, ride a cowboy. The drinks flowed freely and as the night went on, everyone got drunker and drunker. Leo joined Alicia on the dance floor and they immediately started making out. He pinned her up against the wall, dry humping her not caring who was watching. Anitah and Genevieve kept dancing and Anitah yelled, “Why is it so hot in here?” She started lifting her shirt over her head and Liam bolted towards her, “My love, what are you doing? Keep your shirt on.” He pulled her shirt back down and Anitah smacked his hand, “My team lost, they suck! I don't want to wear this stupid shirt!” She tried to pull her shirt over her head again.

Pam sat down next to Drake at the bar and started petting his head, “Baby, I looovvvve you! You're such a good kitty, soft kitty.” Drake’s face turned bright red, “Ok, Pam. I love you too, but shh, ok?” Pam giggled, “But I love you my sweet kitty cat! Mrow, meow. Meeeooowwww.” Drake covered her mouth trying to muffle the noises coming out of it.

Genevieve started walking towards Rashad at the bar and tripped over her own feet. She fell on the floor laughing. While lying on the floor, she could hear Pam’s meows getting louder and louder, Drake desperately trying to quiet her. Finally he yelled, “WE ARE DONE!” He picked Pam up and threw her over his shoulder. Rashad picked Genevieve up from the floor bridal style. Liam pulled Anitah by the arm, Leo and Alicia stumbled out the door, lips still locked together.

Once outside, Genevieve pulled out her phone and called a cab, requesting a vehicle large enough for them to ride together. After they got into the minivan, they realized that there wasn't enough room for everyone, so Anitah sat on Liam's lap in the middle seat next to Leo and Alicia. Pam and Drake were sitting in the far rear seat, and Genevieve sat on Rashad’s lap next to them. Maxwell sat in the front seat trying to change the radio station, the cab driver giving him the side eye. On the ride back to the hotel, Alicia yelled, “I want McDonalds! Stop at McDonald's!” The cabbie groaned and pulled into the drive thru. Alicia tapped the driver on the shoulder, “I want chicken nuggets.” He looked back at her and rolled down the window not saying a word. Anitah hung out of the window, “Hi! I'm the Queen of Gordon and I would like a taco please.”

“Ma'am, this is McDonalds.”

“Ok ok, I’d like a McTaco.” Everyone in the car burst out laughing. Liam cracked up saying, “Love, I think you need to switch to water.” The employee and cab driver both sounded equally annoyed, “Ma'am, we don't have tacos. This is McDonalds.” Anitah giggled, “Ok then I'll have chicken nuggets…”

“How many chicken nuggets, ma'am?” The employee could no longer hold back the irritation in his voice.

“I want all of the chicken nuggets…” she started laughing hard. Each person in the car tried to call out their orders and Anitah shook her head, “and ten hamburger happy meals. Oh! And a McWater please. You have that right?”

“They’re going to spit in our food!” Pam said crying from laughing. The relieved cab driver finally dropped them off at the hotel. They filed into Liam and Anitah’s suite happily opening their food. “What the fuck is this, Anitah? We couldn't even get cheese?” Drake said biting into his hamburger. Alicia pulled out the toy from the box, “Hello Kitty! She's so cute!” At the same time everyone looked at each other and yelled, “MEEEOOOWWW!” They doubled over laughing hysterically. Drake grumbled, “Fuck all of you!”

The next morning, everyone woke up severely hungover. Everyone had passed out in Anitah and Liam’s hotel room. Most of them fell asleep on the floor, fully clothed still wearing their shoes. Anitah sat up in bed and started laughing. She grabbed her phone and snapped a picture. In the middle of the bed were the Rhys brothers cuddling each other. Leo's arms wrapped around Liam's waist and Liam's head cuddled into Leo's neck. “Oh this is too good!” Maxwell said giggling. He took his own picture, “it's going into the scrapbook.” Liam and Leo woke up staring at each other with wide eyes. “What the fuck, Liam!” They both scrambled away from each other while everyone laughed at them.

[yourstateofdreaming]

The Favor [Gwilym Lee x Reader] Part VI

Masterlist | Gwilym Lee Masterlist

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Pairing: Gwilym Lee x Reader

Warnings: this one gets angsty.

A/N: I am sorry, I had to write this.

Gwil held the bouquet of flowers with both hands, he and Joe were not sure of how to approach the situation but they did the best they could on this rare day off.

It had all started a few weeks back, (Name) had invited Gwil to her father’s exhibition and the two seemed to get along more than just fine; had it not been that the actor was busy with the project, he would have asked her out but he knew he had to remain focused on his work. She, for once, was content with the friendliness of their relationship. Having ended things with Rufus in an odd place made her feel like working and nothing else, Roger made it easy for her, he was having meetings left and right and soon with the movie going to post-production and premiering he would need her more than ever.

Of course things never worked out how one wanted, and (Name) could not attend to her job properly after her father returned to South Africa; he got ill again, this time for the worst. A couple years back he had been diagnosed with skin cancer, which was taken care of as it was detected early; but this time the cancer was in a different more difficult place to treat. It was in his brain. Everyone thought the same thing, and Roger did not even doubt giving her the time off so she could go and see her father. The journey left her tired and the following weeks tested her like nothing else ever had. Her father’s conditioned worsened with each passing day and although the prognosis was bad, (Name) remained hopeful that she would at least get a few more weeks with her before the inevitable happened. It was a Sunday morning when all hopes she had finally shattered, Peter Y/L/N passed away during the night. At least during his sleep, peacefully in his own bed, surrounded by flowers from his friends all over the world, in the place he loved most and with his only daughter cuddled next to him.

Roger hated to pick up the phone that afternoon, seeing the number and knowing it was from Peter’s home in Johannesburg he thought it would be his assistant with an update on her father’s health, she never told them just how bad it was so the news came without even a warning only the soft voice of this young woman holding back her tears as she spoke on the phone.

“I’m bringing him back to London,” she croaked, a runny nose evident to her boss on the other end of the line, “he wants...wanted to be buried next to his parents. It will take a couple of day, I hope you don’t mind...”

“Of cours not, Kitten,” Roger felt a sting in his eyes, (Name) was an upbeat song with a catchy tune, listening to her like this made him worry. “Do you need anything? Any help?”

Sarina and Lola came into the living room to find Roger talking on the phone, they understood poorly but caught on once they could see the drummer’s expression. Tigs would be fuming when she realized she had been late to the news.

“Thank you,” she sniffed on the other end of the line, he punched by the small gesture, “Dad’s manager is taking care of most of it. Thank you, Roger.”

They could not see each other but they both smiled into th phone at that moment. Silence fell for a second before the old drummer assured (Name) that he and his family were there for her, in case she needed anything.

She traveled back home with a casket, bothered by the media. Paparazzi following her out of the airport and to her old home where she would be staying until the funeral.

And so now, here were Joe and Gwilym standing outside her door, unable to say a word that could console their friend.

“Maybe we should just...” Joe paused, “be here.”

“Yeah...” Gwil nodded in agreement.

The tallest one rang the bell and the two waited in silence until the door was opened by (Name) herself. She looked nothing like they remembered.

She seemed to be paler than ever, her hair usually so carefully styled was now tied back into a dull ponytail. Dark circles surrounded her reddened eyelids and the E/C irises they remembered looked almost dead. Her black sweater matched her black pants.

She stepped to the side to let them in. Gwilym felt stupid giving her the flowers, but still did so in silence. The house was quiet and big enough for a family of six, it only made her loneliness echo and bounce on each wall. The only company she had had since coming back had been Peter’s manager and lawyer; she refused to have the Taylors see her right now even though she knew she needed company. This was a surprise, but she opened the door and held the flowers.

Her eyes fell on the bright blue petals of the fluffy asters.

“From the cast and crew,” Gwil explained in a soft tone.

“Thank you.” She mumbled with a raspy voice, unable to form a smile or look up at her friends.

Joe bent his knees and tilted his body back, pursing his lips before opening his arms and offering (Name) his most sincerest condolences. She gave him a cold hug and did not bother to look at his face at all.

“I appreciate it, Joe.” She recited like a child would in a school play. “Would you like some tea?”

Gwil accepted the offer and started following her through the narrow hall into a large living room, a piano sat closed in the corner and past the double doors they walked into the dining room.

“I’ll take some coffee,” Joe let out, making her stop and look over her shoulder with a frown.

Did she even have coffee in the house? Her father’s manager and his wife had been the ones who brought in the groceries so she would have to find out.

Gwilym turned to Joe, shaking his head. He opened his eyes as wide as they could go and tilted his head to the side with a stern look, to which Joe then added:

“Actually, yes! Tea sounds wonderful, (Name), thanks!”

She kept on walking and they were brought into a large spacious white kitchen.

(Name) pulled one of the tall chairs out and told the men to sit by the kitchen island while she poured some water into a bright yellow kettle that already rested atop the stove empty.

“So how are you holding up?” Joe asked in a discreet manner, leaning forward on the cold marble top of the island.

(Name) reached up and opened one fo the cupboards, finding a package of biscuits she then put on a plate and brought to the guys.

She stared at the sink in front of her and scratched a spot over her left brow. How was she holding up? Was she even holding up? She had been unable to go to her own apartment, the press was already waiting for her there. And the news everywhere spoke of her father, telling tales of his wonderful career, talent, failed marriage and surviving daughter.

She could not sleep, waking up in cold sweats from the nightmares. Consumed by guilt, (Name) was guilty for staying in England while her father followed his heart to another continent, doing what most wouldn’t do. She had been an awful daughter, barely taking the time off from work or school to visit her dad. She owed him the world, the man had raised her on his own, battled through everything to cope with her difficult teenage years and later supported her in whatever she wanted to do when she was off to university. And she could not do much more than stand by when he died.

“Papa...” she started, her lip quivered, “papa is gone.”

She could say it over and over but it did not feel real. It had been so sudden and so painful waking up to his cold hand between hers. All (Name) could think of was that it was a horrible prank, a bad dream.

“Yes.” Joe agreed, trying to show her patience and care, he reached out and put his hand on hers. “But you are still here, how are you?”

Joe’s accent had switched back to American and she examined his hand as she thought of his words.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, “I have lived alone for years, it’s just now...it’s like... there is nobody in the world who I can call.” She explained in a whisper, reasoning out loud. “I think I’m scared.”

Her eyes watered and she hated it, blinking a few times she turned her back on them and brought the cups out, she left them on the counter and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

“How’s shooting going?”

Gwilym answered and gave her a little explanation as to why Rami and Ben were not there.

“I think you should let more people in.” Gwilym gave her a delicate look, keeping his expression soft and warm as she sat the cup of tea in front of him. “Thanks.”

She sighed and wrapped her arms around her body. She nodded, knowing it to be true. Anyone who had seen her since the passing of her father advised the same thing.

“I know you need time.” Joe did not date even touch the hot cup of tea as he spoke to his fragile friend, “but maybe you could find a distraction.”

Joe pointed behind his back with his thumb, referring to the piano in her fabulous living room.

“I don’t play anymore.” She refused, and shook her head no.

“Well, it’s better than turning the tv on.” Gwilym eyed Joe and the two nodded.

The two actors took sips of their tea, she sat across from them with a blank expression while her tea got cold.

Joe has been able to joke around with (Name) before, she was around the set for the first few days of shooting when Roger and Brian were there; and even when they were not, she got along with Ben right away and laughed at him when he first came out of the makeup trailer in costume. Like himself, (Name) had never met John and only knew little of him from what Roger and Brian had told her. Still, (Name) tried to pay equal attention to Joe as she did to Ben, retelling him stories Roger had told her at some point about Deacon. Much like Roger, the young brunette enjoyed having fun with her job.

He and Gwilym looked up in great surprise when out of the blue she started laughing. The two made an effort to look away and hide their concern but she held on to the edge of the kitchen island as the hysteric fits of laughter washed over her entire body. A memory of her father made her laugh this much.

It had been on her sixteenth birthday that he decided his daughter needed a car! He had money now and he could afford it, the only problem was that when he showed her the beautiful and classic blue Mini Cooper she did not jump in excitement or hugged him. (Name) scratched the back of her head and frowned up at her father.

“I can’t drive.” She reminded him in confusion.

She had, in all honesty, never seen her dad get so flustered and confused at the same time. His expression changed from excitement to concern and to embarrassment. Of course, what was he thinking? But (Name) did not take it personally, she took the keys from his hand and grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the car.

“I guess you’ll have to teach me!”

Her father laughed, oblivious as to how scary teaching his daughter how to drive could be.

(Name)’s eyes watered with tears, she could not tell if they were from the laughter or if they were more grieve induced tears. She did not care, as she found out soon enough with the shakes that crept up her spine, the whimpers and sobs she was too weak to keep inside. Papa is gone, she remembered, and her heart struggled to beat as usual.

Gwilym reacted first, rushing to leave his seat and come to her while she covered her face with her hands. Joe felt almost dizzy and uncomfortable, wondering how anything he said would make her feel better. None of it mattered, (Name) was coming undone and needed to be held together. Gwil wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest, shushing her wish soft whispers and promising it would all be okay.

She leaned into him and cried away, accepting at last that she hated being alone, especially in the big house where her father had raised her.

(Name) asked Gwilym to call Roger once she calmed down enough to wipe her face and look up at him. He and Joe stayed with her while the drummer arrived with his wife and daughters Tigs and Lola. They had to go attend other duties as it was their day off, but Joe and Gwil were certain that their friend would be alright once they saw her running up to Roger, who wrapped her in a tight paternal embrace while Sarina and his daughters rubbed the girls’ back. (Name) was not alone, she still had a family.

Next One Soon

Tags: @tv-saved-the-teenage-girl @naturalswifty89 @itsametaphorbriansblog @i-want-to-break-free-39 @stomp-stomp-clap @70srogertaylor @mr-stank-i-dont-feel-so-dank

[klcrisistine]

In Reverse

Lucas exited the office building that evening with a sigh. It hadn’t been a good day. A difficult production issue, countless customer complaints, and several impatient customer success representatives turned his day into a nightmare. 

Now, Lucas had a terrible headache and slightly trembling hands. But he felt relieved to be finally out of the suffocating office building. Unfortunately, it seemed that rotten luck wasn’t ready to leave him. Heavy rain pounded on the roof of the building porch and of course, everything that lay beyond it. He rummaged in his old navy blue knapsack for his umbrella but he seemed unable to find it. He must have forgotten it at home. The first time in a while. Great, just great.

Sighing again, he walked down a narrow gravel path toward an old shed where he could find a jeepney to take him home. The path was roofed. But the rain was so harsh and the winds so frighteningly strong that the absence of the roof would not have made much of a difference.  Cold water sprinkled Lucas’ face and drenched his white polo shirt and brown trousers. He wanted to walk more briskly but the path was wet and slippery. Left and right, people pushed past him, some on their way towards the clutches of the ferocious rain to get home, others about to clock in at work to begin their shift. Lucas didn’t know who he pitied more.

Lucas was freezing by the time the path had ended. Clutching his shivering arms, he ran as quickly and carefully as he could in the rain toward the nearest opened establishment: a bright and crowded KFC restaurant. He pushed the door open and immediately tried to dry his shoes on a mat by the entrance. Using a handkerchief he kept inside his pants pocket, he wiped his face and arms. 

Lucas heaved a sigh and looked outside through the glass entrance. He could barely see a thing through the pounding rain. Unwilling to take an evening shower in the rain in his office clothes, he decided to join the line of people in front of the counter to order a modest dinner: fried chicken, white rice, and a bowl of mushroom soup. He might as well eat a good meal while waiting for the rain to stop pouring.

After thanking the petite young lady at the counter, Lucas took the tray containing his orders, and searched for a seat. It seemed as though many people were doing what Lucas had planned to do. All of the tables seemed occupied. Still, he walked around the restaurant, looking for someone who seemed willing to share a table with him.

Near the back of the establishment, by the waste bins and the restrooms, was a table with benches, occupied by a young man who didn’t seem to be eating. His table was clear. Perhaps he was waiting for someone? Lucas eyed him curiously. He seemed to be deep in thought, staring at the ceiling, his chin resting on hands clasped together. He looked strangely familiar.

Lucas abruptly stopped in his tracks. Only when he stood right by the table where the young man sat did he recognize who he was. He blinked hard several times, unable to believe his eyes. It couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t be. Was he hallucinating? Perhaps the young man just looked very much like the person he knew...

Lucas! the young man said suddenly, very pleasantly surprised. I can’t believe I ran into you!

Lucas didn’t know what to say. He stood rooted to the spot, trying to comprehend what was happening. The young man in front of him had died, he was absolutely sure of it. He was sure of it because he had been the one to lay him to rest.

There actually wasn’t much to it. No, it didn’t happen instantaneously. But the young man’s death wasn’t the result of an elaborate scheme. Lucas didn’t even need a weapon. He didn’t have to tell any lies or secretly purchase any poisonous substances. He had simply stopped paying the young man any attention. He had simply refused to acknowledge the young man’s existence. Until he no longer existed.

Nobody noticed the young man’s death. Nobody but Lucas actually knew him. The young man only appeared to Lucas, after all. He lived in Lucas’ room, slept in Lucas’ bed, and never felt the need to eat. The young man would only go out of Lucas’ room to watch Lucas sing and play his old steel-stringed guitar onstage every once in a while at a local bar or coffee shop. He was Lucas’ only real fan. He kept Lucas calm and increased by one the number of members in the audience who actually paid Lucas any attention. 

When the young man died, nobody noticed that anything was wrong. Nobody could tell that deep inside, Lucas was mourning. Yes, though it was Lucas who had decided to end the young man’s life, Lucas was deeply saddened by what had happened. The young man, after all, had once been one of Lucas’ best friends. The young man was more than a friend, as a matter of fact -- he was a part of Lucas’ person. He dreamed big dreams for Lucas, created a wonderful future for him in his mind, and counted on endless possibilities, giving Lucas the will to overcome all the frustrating obstacles that came his way. 

But the young man was never realistic. He never saw what Lucas had seen when barely anyone in the audience clapped for him. Or when he failed an audition for the umpteenth time. 

“I don’t think I’m good enough for this,” Lucas had admitted to the young man once.

Yes, you are. You just have to keep trying. It’s not exactly an easy industry to get into, the young man had said, so sure of himself. But you’re very talented.

Yes, Lucas was skilled at the guitar. He had, after all, started playing very young. It all began when, at eight years old, Lucas had grown fond of a musical TV show about a young singer-songwriter who wrote and performed the soundtrack to his own life as he lived an ordinary adolescent life. The protagonist would strum his guitar and sing, miraculously transforming his experiences and emotions into beautiful, heartfelt music.

Lucas was mesmerized. He didn’t know why but he was all of a sudden compelled to follow the young songwriter’s footsteps, create the soundtrack to his life, and share it with the world. And so on one historical afternoon, more than two decades ago, Lucas had picked up his father’s guitar and taught himself to play. He began to read his father’s old books on guitar playing and would play the instrument every night after school until his fingers would tremble in pain. He would even play for hours on the weekends, looking for new pieces to learn, watching and listening to his heroes play over and over so that he could imitate them perfectly. It didn’t take too long until his fingers could fly gracefully over the guitar strings on the fretboard. He would effortlessly strum the strings of his old guitar magically, producing unbelievable melodies and harmonies.

But Lucas hadn’t just dreamed of becoming a guitarist. He had wanted to be a singer-songwriter. The problem was, he wasn’t an amazing singer. Yes, he could sing songs in tune. But his voice didn’t stand out. And his face wasn’t what record labels could call the face of a celebrity.

“I think it’s time for me to stop, man,” Lucas had said to the young man. “I’m just...not going anywhere.”

But you could be so close, the young man replied, refusing to allow Lucas to give up. You can’t stop now.

You can’t stop now. Those were the words the young man kept repeating to Lucas. It was like he was at a casino, playing an addicting game of roulette. He’d place his bets every round, hoping and hoping that this time, he would finally be victorious. But he always lost. And he would always continue to lose. Lucas was sure of that. 

And hearing the young man go on and on about perseverance and Lucas’ supposed inevitable success hurt him very much. The best is yet to come. Keep practicing, keep making music. Try to audition for this. Sign up to perform at this event. You’ll get better. You’ll start getting good gigs...

Lucas was sick of it all. He knew what he needed to do and he had done it successfully.

Or so he thought.

The young man wasn’t dead. He stood in front of Lucas at this very moment, looking exactly like he did when Lucas had last seen him. He was even wearing the same clothes: a pair of maong pants, a plain white shirt, and a black leather jacket. The young man was smiling widely, almost mockingly saying: Did you actually think you could get rid of me so easily?

Hello? Earth to Lucas! the young man said loudly, snapping his fingers inches from Lucas’ face. Sit down, sit down.

Lucas didn’t know what else to do. He sat in front of his old friend, mortified, almost certain he was seeing a ghost.

Come on Lucas, say something, the young man prompted him. Aren’t you glad to see me?

Lucas  swallowed. “I don’t know.” He closed his eyes tightly and slapped each of his cheeks. He opened his eyes. The young man still sat in front of him.

“I don’t understand. I thought you were...”

Dead? The young man laughed out loud. To be honest, I thought so too.

“So...what happened?”

That’s what I’d like to know, the young man replied, shrugging innocently.

“You think I could tell you what happened?” Lucas asked, extremely perplexed.

I think you could clear out some things for me. And I could do the same for you. Hopefully, together, we would make sense of the whole thing.

Lucas heaved another sigh. He had already sighed so many times today. “Fine,” Lucas said. 

The young man grinned. Great!

“Why do you keep smiling?”

The young man laughed. He threw his arms into the air and cheered: It just feels so good to be alive again!

Lucas looked around consciously. The young man’s mannerisms had always been loud. Everything about him, in fact, was loud: his rockstar getup, his voice, his annoying smile. Fortunately, no one in the restaurant seemed to be paying them any mind.

“Keep your voice down,” Lucas hushed him.

What’s wrong? No one else can hear me. You know that. I can be as loud as I want to be.

“Aren’t you mad at me?”

For what? For trying to kill me?

Lucas nodded, feeling remorseful.

The young man cackled in laughter again. I didn’t have the time to be angry, did I? I was gone before I knew exactly what was happening to me. And when I regained consciousness, how could I be angry? Of course, I was absolutely overjoyed!

“But you knew that I once tried to get rid of you,” Lucas protested.

Yes, but you brought me back. And that’s what really matters. the young man explained. You realized that what you did was wrong. And that’s good enough for me.

“Brought you back? I didn’t bring you back.”

Who else could have?

Lucas didn’t reply. He was still so confused. How could he have brought the young man he loathed so much back to life, back into his life? Could the incident a couple of days ago have something to do with what was happening? 

Do you want to know how it feels like to die? The young man suddenly broke the silence and Lucas’ train of thought. The young man had always been very loquacious. He seemed to hate silence.

“Sure, why not?” Lucas groaned, rolling his eyes.

Actually, I don’t know if I really died. Maybe I did. But only for a little while. It was like falling asleep. At first, I could only see darkness, the kind that you see when you close your eyes at night before really falling asleep. Then I lost consciousness. I didn’t know it at the time, of course. I was in the middle of deep, dreamless sleep. I couldn’t think or feel anything. I didn’t even know whether I was breathing or not.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I just found that once again, I was alive. I didn’t know how much time had passed. Not until, I saw the month and year on the calendar your parents hung over a hook on the front door.

“You woke up in my old bedroom,” Lucas noted, staring blankly in the distance.

Yes. I did. But you were no longer there. Figured you must have decided to live on your own. You’ve always said you wanted to do that when you were still living with your family.

“How did you find where I live?”

The young man chuckled. I didn’t. But I remembered the name and the approximate location of the place where you worked. It took some time for me to find it, of course. And it took even more time to actually chance upon you. I guess I got...lucky. Because you didn’t think to switch jobs and because I ran into you today.

“Have you just been loitering around here, waiting for me to run into you?” Lucas asked, unable to believe the lengths at which the young man had gone to find him.

Yeah! the young man replied proudly. I was actually a little upset when the rain started pouring because I thought I had less chances of running into you. But lo and behold, here we are!

“Great,” Lucas said sarcastically.

Oh come on, Lucas. Can’t you at least pretend you’re happy we’ve been reunited? the young man said, pouting.

“I’ll try,” Lucas lied.

Good! the young man exclaimed, a grin returning to his face. Anyway, how are you? Doing pretty well for yourself, eh?

Lucas bit the corner of his lip and looked up. “I guess...I mean I am paying for all of my own expenses now. And I do at least have some money saved up.”

Are you happy?

“What do you think?”

Probably not.

“Why do you say so?”

The young man smiled wider than ever before before responding: Because I’m suddenly not dead.

Lucas clenched a fist beneath the table. The young man was right.

Anyway, since we already brought up the subject of my returning to life all of a sudden, something must have happened, right? Something important? the young man said with confidence. Want to tell me what it is?

Lucas clicked his tongue and slapped his forehead. Suddenly, he saw things clearly. There was no doubt about it. The young man had returned because...

“I started playing again.”

The young man raised his arms and looked up, as though he were thanking a higher being. Amazing! Just, amazing! he exclaimed. Tell me what happened! Tell me everything! he excitedly demanded, leaning forward in his seat.

“I don’t know...I mean I don’t understand what happened...” Lucas uselessly replied.

What happened!

Lucas recounted the events of an evening not unlike those that came before it. He had arrived in his apartment at around 7:30, ate leftover spaghetti from the fridge and took a hot shower. 

Lucas had once again brought home his laptop from work so that he could finish the task that was assigned to him -- a script to execute a database migration. The task wasn’t too difficult. But it did take some time to accomplish and since he’d had to attend many meetings during the day, he hadn’t had the time to make any progress on it. 

He didn’t know what else to do at home so he decided to do some work. But while reading through a long document about database user roles, he dozed off. And he dreamt a beautiful, vivid dream.

In the dream, he sat on a stool and held his beloved old guitar. A spotlight shone over him. Only him. A few feet from where he sat, there was nothing but darkness. Nothing but pure silence waiting to be broken. Without a single thought or hesitation, Lucas placed one hand on the fretboard skillfully and plucked the strings of the guitar. Sweet, gentle music filled the vast nothingness. It made his heart sing. In that one beautiful moment, nothing but the music and his continuous playing seemed to matter.

Lucas awoke from the dream in tears. He wept louder than he ever had in a long time. He was practically wailing. Never in his life had he felt so empty, so hungry. Without really thinking, he quickly stood from his seat, desperately grabbed his old guitar from a large, dusty wooden cabinet, and began to tune it. Once he was satisfied, he turned off the ceiling light, turned on a small lamp and began to play...

Hmm...so a dream made you do it, the young man commented after hearing the story. I’m not surprised.

"Why not?" Lucas asked, curious.

Dreams have the capability to reveal what has been hidden in the very back of people's minds. You chose to forget something very important to you. Did you actually think you could get rid of it completely?

Lucas frowned in response. The young man made a fair point.

It all makes sense now! This is wonderful! the young man said all of a sudden, clapping his hands. We're back in business then.

"Wait a minute!" Lucas protested. "Back in business? What exactly do you mean?"

You know what I mean. It's time to pick up where we left off, the young man explained, beaming at Lucas.

"I completely disagree! Yes, I started playing again. It doesn't mean I want to go back to the way things were!"

Well, that's a problem. Because I'm back and you don't have a choice, the young man said matter-of-factly.

"Yes, I do. I do have a choice," Lucas said. "I can choose to get rid of you like I did before."

The young man cackled, clutching his stomach. Like you did before? Did you really do it? If you did, then how come I can laugh in front of you like this?

Lucas grunted in response.

My dear, dear, Lucas, if there is one thing I have become sure of after everything I have been through, it's that you can never ever really get rid of me. I will just keep coming back. Stronger than ever before, the young man said, sitting straighter and taller.

“Just because you came back once, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do it again,” Lucas reasoned out. “Besides, what makes you so sure I’m willing to do what you tell me?”

Who said I was sure? the young man replied, shrugging. In all honesty, you’re the most difficult part of this whole situation. I don’t understand why you’re getting in the way of your own happiness.

Lucas shook his head. “You’re assuming you know what will make me happy--”

I do know. I believe it’s you who don’t.

“I know!” Lucas bellowed, slamming his fists against the table. Silence immediately followed. Several heads turned. A number of conversations turned to whispers.

Now, look what you’ve done, the young man said, sneering.

Lucas no longer said another word. He slung his knapsack over his shoulder and quickly left the restaurant. His head was bowed in shame. And his fists were clenched in anger. He didn’t dare look back. He kept walking on, even when heavy rain began to pour over his head and down his body.

What are you doing? the young man called out. He seemed to be not too far behind Lucas.

“Taking a walk!” Lucas replied furiously, not turning to look at the young man.

In this storm?

“Yes!”

Do you do this often? the young man asked, the sound of his voice much louder. Lucas walked on as fast as he could, not saying a word.

Where are you going? the young man bellowed, frustrated.

Where was he going? Lucas wasn’t sure. He didn’t want to go home. The young man would just keep following him. And he didn’t want him to know where he lived. 

So Lucas kept walking, letting his feet lead the way. Not much later, he had found himself walking down the narrow, shaded, pathway that he had traversed earlier in the evening. This time, however, he was going in the reverse direction. He was heading back towards his office. Unlike before, the path was nearly deserted.

You’re going back to work? the young man asked, still tailing him.

“None of your business. Leave me alone,” Lucas said through gritted teeth. His office was only a few feet away now. But he rushed past it, remembering the terrible day he had had to endure.

Are you trying to tire me out so I would stop following you? the young man asked yet another question.

Lucas didn’t respond.

Unlucky for you, I don’t get tired, the young man bragged. The rain can’t make me sick, either. Just saying, in case you’ve forgotten.

Lucas continued to stay silent, walking down the wet and muddy gravel path that cut through acres of trimmed grasses. It was starting to get even more difficult to see where he was going. The rain continued to blur his surroundings. And now he had strayed too far from where the office buildings stood. There were barely any street lamps around. 

Still, Lucas kept walking. He walked and walked until he stood at the edge of a lake. The wind blew more icily cold here. Just a few feet away, the dark water rose rapidly as the rain continued to pour. He took a deep breath and clutched his arms, taking in his new surroundings.

I’m gonna be honest, the young man spoke all of a sudden. I don’t know why we’re here. 

Lucas tried to catch his breath before responding. The young man’s voice had startled him. He had nearly forgotten that he was not alone. He just wanted to get away from everything. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t.

“Why don’t you ever get tired of following me?” Lucas groaned.

I already told you I don’t get tired, the young man replied.

“Don’t you have other things to do?”

Nope, the young man said.

“Ugh!” Lucas screamed in frustration, turning to the young man. “How will I ever get rid of you?”

I told you, you can’t.

Lucas crossed his arms and gazed at the dark lake. The sky continued to pelt cats and dogs into the mysterious waters. Lucas wondered how deep the lake really was. Even in the day, it had always been difficult to tell. Could the rising, troubled waters kill someone who didn’t know how to swim? 

“Won’t pushing you into this lake kill you?” Lucas thought aloud.

The young man laughed cacophonously. Why don’t you try?

Lucas darted toward the young man and grabbed his arms. He attempted to pull him towards the edge of the lake but the young man skillfully stood his ground. Lucas was barely able to move him an inch.

Didn’t I tell you? the young man said coldly. I grew stronger. You can’t beat me. You have nothing. The young man broke free from Lucas’ grip with a big tug and pushed Lucas down. Lucas painfully landed on his back with a thud. The stone floor beneath him was wet and cold and unbreakable. He tried to stand but he couldn’t. So he just dangerously lay there, near the mouth of a hungry, black lake.

You have nothing...Lucas repeated the young man’s words in his head. Tears began to cloud Lucas’ vision. The young man was right.

The young man looked down at him, beaming. I could easily kick you into the lake, he threatened. I could replace you completely. No one would suspect a thing. I could live your life better than you can--

“You can’t do that! You’re bluffing!” Lucas retorted, his voice trembling. But even he wasn’t so sure of his own words.

I haven’t lied to you about anything yet, the young man menacingly said in reply. Why would I do so now? I’ve prepared for this. I knew there was a chance you would push away.

There was silence.

Lucas gazed at the young man through tears. The young man had grown stronger. Lucas had once tried to kill him but he only grew stronger. He grew stronger because Lucas couldn’t live without him. Lucas had once breathed so much life and soul into him that he seemed to have nothing left. Whether he kept pushing the young man away or let him dictate the direction of his life, he would always be miserable. He could never be happy.

“Kill me,” Lucas finally said. “What are you waiting for?”

Y-you’re not even going to fight? the young man asked, taken aback.

“I don’t see the point...”

The young man punched Lucas’ right cheek. Fight me!

Lucas said and did nothing. The young man punched the same cheek once again. Why won’t you fight back? Fight me or beg me to come back!

No response.

Do something! the young man cried.

“I don’t see the point,” Lucas whispered, his sobs growing louder. “Just...kill me. Like you said.”

The young man fell to his knees. Covering his face with his hands, he wept, the rain pouring endlessly on.

[askmicrowaveayem]

MAYEM: The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place Pt. 4

[Previous]

[Archive] [Cast]

Goop frowned and stepped forward, child in his arms.

“Not the one you’re thinking of, I’m afraid.”

…

“Just a friend of his.”

--

“What--?” Asgore said, wide eyed, staring at Goop’s face and down at the child in his arms.

…

Toriel’s eyes lingered longer, her shock fading faster.

She took a small step forward, eyes going from Chara and back up to Goop.

“...What is this?”

--

“A human child. They fell in from a hole in the mountainside.”

He shifted his arms so they could see Chara better.

“They’re cold and hurt.”

--

Several guards stood sharply, barking.

“Kill it!”

“How dare you--”

“A human!”

Asgore turned to them, trying to quiet them down as Chara began to shake again at the voices.

...while her husband spoke to the guards, Toriel frowned and stepped forward, holding out her arms to take the child.

“...and what were you thinking we would do to them?”

She wanted to know this stranger’s intentions.

A skeletal-looking stranger who claimed to know Gaster, who had died many, many years ago.

--

Goop hesitated on handing Chara over, not while the guards seemed adamant to kill them.

Do it for Kid.

“I would think you would take care of them.” He said, looking up at Toriel, staring her in the eyes with his own.

--

Toriel stared right back.

“Well, good. Because we will.”

Her husband would deal with the guards.

Toriel was not about to let a child be torn apart just because of what they were.

They should have learned that lesson long ago.

--

Goop nodded and shifted his arms to hand Chara over.

Toriel would be much softer and warmer than he could ever be.

--

Chara held their breath as they were handed over, stiff and uneasy as they found themselves cradled in Toriel’s arms.

...but she was warm and soft, and held Chara carefully against her chest, and once again, Chara began to relax, even with the quiet arguments still going on in the background.

…

They turned and looked up at Gaster one last time through their bloody and mud-stuck bangs.

“...thanks,” they mumbled.

--

… Goop nodded to Chara, then looked at Toriel and nodded to her as well.

Then he turned to leave as he had came.

--

….

They didn’t ask any questions.

They just let him go.

Their world would be dark and their kingdom was cold and small, and there would be no Grillby’s or Core to light and heat it, but the castle would be warm and the monsters would be forgiving.

That was all they could be, anymore.

…

When Goop came out of the room again, Kid and VK went to him quickly, and held onto him, and waited to be teleported away.

--

Goop left and couldn’t help but smile as the two came to him, even if he looked exhausted.

He teleported them back to the ship, but that’s where he stopped.

“... Where should we go…?”

--

Kid stopped for a moment and stared at him.

“Are you fucking insane?” Kid asked. “We’re going to your fucking house and telling the kids it’s over!”

He glanced over at the memorial, thankfully intact despite the battle in the room and the smoldering and obviously disturbed patches of rock and moss around. He thrust a finger towards it.

“Go say goodbye to your friend and that we’ll be back and let’s tell the kids it’s over!!”

--

Goop blinked like he had been in a daze.

It didn’t feel real.

“... Right. Yeah.”

He turned to head back to the grave one more time before they left.

--

VK moved to follow him again, but this time, Kid made him stay.

--

He didn’t spend long there this time.

He touched the memorial.

Gave it a pat.

Promised he would come back with some of his own Grillby’s cooking.

Then came back to the two waiting for him.

--

Kid grinned at him, it becoming a little bit more real. Maybe the whole thing wouldn’t hit him until later, but--

Goop had visited his friend. Goop had made a memorial. Goop had gotten rid of the anomaly. Goop had Spared Chara. Goop was right in front of him.

Goop was getting a hug.

Goop was getting the kind of hug that, if he’d still had bones, they would’ve been bending into very uncomfortable positions.

--

He didn’t have bones to bend into uncomfortable positions, but his body wasn’t exactly solid either.

A surprised noise came out of him and his void squished around where Kid was hugging him, and he finally managed a bit of a smile.

A disbelieving laugh.

His arms wrapped around Kid and he hugged him back.

--

Kid made a small noise into the return hug.

It took him a while to want to pull away at all.

Even then, it was more the budding excitement of going home that made him let go.

“Come on, come on,” he said after a moment, leading Goop back to the machine.

--

Kid’s excitement was contagious at least.

He smiled and let himself be lead into the machine, pausing only to look at VK and hug him too.

“Thank you.”

--

VK’s face flickered a moment in confusion, but he quickly smiled back, hugging Goop too.

He lifted his feet off the ground during the hug as if he were still a lot smaller than he really was.

--

Goop laughed a little, lifting VK up entirely like he was still a little kid, squeezing him.

“Come on. Lets go home.”

He headed into the machine.

--

VK grinned and laughed in his silent way, and let himself be led into the machine, where Kid was already putting in coordinates and preparing for the jump.

--

Goop closed the door behind himself and let out a breath.

“... It doesn’t seem real.”

--

Kid hesitated.

Nodded.

“...Yeah, it doesn’t. But it’ll feel more real once you’re home with them and telling them.”

--

“... Yeah. Hope so.”

…

He was starting to realize he didn’t have that itching fear in the back of his mind anymore. That tiny little voice that was screaming about how his kids were in danger.

…

His kids were safe.

His kids were safe.

Goop laughed a little again and rubbed his face.

--

Kid met Goop’s eyes just before the laugh.

…

He laughed too. A little quiet and giddy.

“You ready?”

They jumped.

--

He honestly wasn’t sure if he was ready, but he nodded all the same.

When they landed he opened the door and stepped out.

Looked around at his lab like it was the first time he was seeing it, then back at Kid. “... Did you wanna contact your kids first or should we just… go to yours with mine as soon as they know or…?”

He was having a hard time thinking straight honestly.

--

“I don’t know,” Kid said, having a hard time thinking straight himself. “I mean--what if they’re busy? I don’t know what they’re doing right now, and yours have been worried this whole time, I mean--?”

He definitely definitely was going to tell his kids and give them hugs too, but Goop’s kids had to know now.

--

“Busy? Now who’s sounding insane.” Goop laughed and held out his hands to take them both down to his house.

“They need to know soon too, this is something we should celebrate.”

No more chasing monsters.

No more fear of complete annihilation.

No more time crunch or panic.

They still had the multiverse study to look forward to. And with that they didn’t have to do anything they didn’t want. If a world looked depressing or dangerous they didn’t have to stay.

They were free to do things that made them happy.

Finally.

--

“I know!” Kid said, fully aware how much of a crazy person he sounded like, “But your kids have been waiting for you!”

Kid’s children had mourned and moved on, as glad as they were to have their dad back--but Goop’s kids had rebuilt their life around him, had traveled to other worlds with him, had spent months and years trying to get him back, had been so against Goop going off on his own--

They had to know it was over as soon as possible.

(Over. Over.

He’d never thought it could be such a magical word.)

--

“Right, yeah, I know.” Goop said, his own voice becoming giddy as Kid’s excitement rubbed more and more off him.

When they both had a hold of him he teleported them down to his house, just outside the door so he didn’t spook his kids if they happened to be sitting on the living room. He knocked before stepping inside.

“Kids…?”

The TV was on and Sans was dozing on the couch while Papyrus clattered around in the kitchen. The eldest mumbled and slowly started to sit up.

“Mmm?”

--

Aside from there being one more Gaster in the room than usual, with VK still lurking shyly by the doorframe, the biggest tip-off Sans probably had that something was up?

Was Kid’s enormous shit-eating grin, and how he looked like he was waiting for the cushion Sans was sleeping on to suddenly be spring-loaded.

--

“IS THAT DAD? IS DAD BACK?” Papyrus yelled from the kitchen.

“yeah. dad’s home. uh…” Sans mumbled, looking at them oddly before managing a little bit more of his own smile. “something up? you guys look happy. hey vk.”

Goop had a hard time actually saying it. He opened his mouth a few times before actual words managed to come out, waiting for Papyrus to walk in too.

“... It’s over.” He choked out.

--

Kid nodded rapidly and then did something he’d never really done in his current droopier form.

He started to jump up and down Jumping, and the whole time grinning widely and trying to not make squeaking noises, but failing anyway.

He ran to the kitchen to get Papyrus and pull him into the living room while VK just stood by the door, smiling.

--

“... over?” Sans blinked and watched Kid rush past him to tug Papyrus into the living room.

“HELLO KID! YOU SEEM VERY HAPPY. WHAT’S ‘OVER’?”

“The… the hunting. The anomaly. It’s done. It’s over. We did it.” Goop said again, feeling like he had to push out each word by force.

--

It was impressive, honestly, because Kid had no fucking words at all about it.

He just kept grinning and nodding his head each time Goop said it.

“It’s done!!”

Stared up at Papyrus who was worried he’d lose his father.

At Sans who’d suffered through it firsthand.

--

The boys didn’t seem to know how to react. Not even Papyrus knew what to say.

“... what…?” Sans said, eyes wide.

Papyrus’ jaw hung open.

Goop laughed awkwardly.

Giddy.

Unable to think of anything more to say either.

Papyrus looked down at Kid after a moment. “WHAT HAPPENED?!”

--

Having a direct question asked seemed for finally break the dam.

Kid immediately started stumbling over words. “We were following these two who were destroying things and we got into a world with five Gasters at the same time and the anomaly showed up because it was tracking Gasters and I guess we were the most Gasters but we ran and went to Twitchy’s grave and the anomaly followed us and VK showed up and caught it and it’s GONE!”

(VK looked a little uncomfortable about talking about how a part of him had died, but he wasn’t nearly about to interrupt their joy.)

--

Hopefully that would be something Goop could address with Voidkid later, but right now they needed to celebrate.

Sans twisted around on the couch to watch Kid as he stumbled over words and filled them in with a very abridged version of what had happened.

“gone? gone gone? like… dead?” Sans asked, looking at his dad.

Goop nodded, grinning.

“... holy shit.” Sans choked out, getting to his feet faster than he had in years. “holy shit.”

He ran to his dad and hugged him tighter than he ever remembered.

Papyrus’ eye sockets welled up.

--

Yeah.

This was it.

This was why they had to go to Goop’s kids first.

Kid, all repressed motion bounding up at once, started clapping excitedly too, grinning hard enough that even his muscleless face was starting to hurt.

When Papyrus didn’t go to Goop right away, Kid turned and hugged him tightly instead.

--

Goop leaned downward, hugging his son tightly and shoving his face into his shoulder while Papyrus clung to Kid just to have someone nearby to cling to.

“i can’t believe it…” Sans said, voice shaking.

“IS EVERYONE SAFE NOW…?”

--

Kid nodded, still grinning and holding Papyrus tight.

“Yeah! It’s all over! No more worrying about it!”

--

Papyrus smiled and squeezed Kid tightly. “THANK YOU…”

Goop and Sans didn’t say anything for a few moments, just holding each other tightly until finally they let go and Goop moved over to hug Papyrus.

… Sans stood where he was, looking at Voidkid.

“thank you. that’s the second time you’ve saved us.”

--

While Kid tried to move away so Goop could have Papyrus all to himself, Voidkid stood in the door and tilted his head, startled and a little confused by Sans’ thanks.

But he smiled all the same, and brought his hands up to sign a response.

‘Am glad to be helpful,’ he said, like it was something like picking up a fallen dish from the floor.

--

Goop wrapped his arms around Papyrus when he got to them, his son shoving his face against the blackness of his dad’s shoulder.

“I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE SAFE…”

“it’s more than helpful.” Sans said, “you kept us safe. you kept our dad safe.”

…

“you’ve saved countless people.”

--

VK clearly didn’t know how to respond, so he just kept smiling and bobbed his head a little, looking embarrassed.

--

Sans looked a little sad that his thanks only seemed to confuse Voidkid, like it hadn’t sunk in just exactly what the guy had done for them, for everyone in their dimension and countless others.

“SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?” Papyrus asked, a suitable distraction for Sans to turn and head back to his family.

--

(VK comprised multitudes)

(VK had a hard time thinking that big.)

(VK did best with what he saw right in front of him.)

“Tell my kids,” Kid said quickly, “And then.”

He locked eyes with Goop.

“Have a fucking wedding.”

--

“Fucking yes.” Goop grinned, then spun around to point at Voidkid.

“RINGBEARER.”

--

VK blinked.

He raised two thumbs up.

--

It was finally starting to sink in.

Goop looked at his kids, smiling, happy, and safe.

He looked at Kid, who had stuck with him through the absolute mess their journey had become.

…

Goop grabbed his friend by the shoulders and screamed like a happy idiot.

--

Kid screamed too, mostly because he was really, really surprised, and kind of went along with it.

He definitely wouldn’t blame their neighbors if someone came to make sure they weren’t getting murdered.

--

After Goop finished his short little yelling spurt he wrapped his arms around Kid and hugged him tight.

Just… held him.

He didn’t need to say anything. He was confident Kid already knew.

Thank you for sticking with me.

--

Kid hugged back.

Shoved his face into Goop’s shoulder and stayed there, content, responding in his own way.

Same to you.

--

Goop hugged him for a while before peeling himself away, grinning.

“Ready to go tell your kids?”

--

Kid nodded.

Looked over at Sans and Papyrus.

“You two coming, too?”

--

They grinned, nodding.

“yeah.”

“OF COURSE!”

Goop turned to look at VK.

The poor guy seemed so awkward even though he had saved the day.

--

He really was. He wasn’t used to this level of celebration whenever he did something. He understood it was important to them, what he’d done, and even some of his pieces had been gathered from worlds the anomaly had been through, but still--

It just wasn’t something he was really prepared for at all.

So he just looked embarrassed and signed, ‘I should go keep looking for my S, P. Let me know when to come back?’

--

… Goop nodded, a little sad that Voidkid didn’t seem capable of celebrating with them or comfortable enough to stick around.

He moved over to him and wrapped the little void in a hug again, holding him tight.

“Thank you, VK. If you ever get lonely, just come find me. I’ll call you again once things calm down, okay? We’ll do something fun.”

--

...VK’s smile returned a little more gently, and he hugged back.

He couldn’t quite feel the same way as the others--he just couldn’t--but that didn’t mean he wasn’t happy that he’d made them happy.

He nodded and would’ve sent a little spark of affection towards Goop if he could’ve through their souls, but for right now, the hug was enough.

‘Ok,’ he said. ‘I will see you later!’

He’d wait until Goop pulled away, and then wave one more time to the rest; then, he’d go.

--

Goop pulled away and waved to him, watching him leave before he took a breath and turned to the rest.

“Ready?”

--

Kid nodded, giving his hand to Papyrus to help hold each other secure since they were doing an even bigger teleport than usual.

--

Goop took a breath and held onto them all, teleporting them back up to the lab, wobbling a little afterwards.

He had been through a lot.

Papyrus stared at the mass of extra void sitting inside the machine. “UH…”

--

Kid needed a minute to figure out what Papyrus was staring at.

“Oh! Uh. ….we uh, picked up some spare….” he said.

--

“Emergency… rations…” Goop added dumbly, shifting it out of the ship and onto a pile on the floor. Now that he had enough to keep himself stable he could keep the rest from piling onto him unintentionally.

“WELL ALRIGHT.” Papyrus said, accepting that as he stepped into the machine.

… They hadn’t been in it much since Kid decided to join in their stead.

He looked around at all of the pictures of them and Kid’s Sans and Papyrus and the extra bits of comfort they had tried to give themselves on the run.

…

He sat down in what was his old seat and Sans took his own.

“... crazy to think it’s over.” He said, voice still a bit disbelieving.

--

Kid sat down too in his corner in the back, nodding slowly.

“...I don’t think it’s sunk in yet really,” he admitted. He was still excited and eager to tell the news, but…

But it still almost didn’t feel real, like it was all a funny, nice dream.

--

“I don’t think it will until things settle into a sort of routine.” Goop said, speaking from his own experience when things in his life had taken a sudden, drastic change.

He waited until everyone was settled to close the door and input the familiar coordinates of Kid’s world.

Then they jumped.

--

Kid nodded.

Settled in.

It was strange to jump with Sans and Papyrus here again. There were so many bodies more likely to tumble. But the coordinates set them down easily behind Kid’s children’s house, in a familiar mess of snow.

--

It was always a little strange to open up the door without any fear of what might be behind it.

But thats what he did.

Opened the door and pushed away the snow from around it, stepping out before his kids.

--

Kid got out last, but he was across the lawn first, coming in through the back door and checking the house for his kids.

He could’ve used his ability to search for souls, but…

…

Sometimes you just did the old ways when it was what you’d always done.

This search hadn’t absorbed Sans and Papyrus’ lives the way it had absorbed Goop’s kids’ lives, and they’d rarely ever thought they were really never going to see their father again when he left, but Goop and his family would still walk in on Kid hugging both his children tight in the living room.

--

Goop often wished his own kids had this kind of life with him. He wished they had been able to move on, even if it meant he had been forever trapped in the void. At least then they wouldn’t have been exposed to the horrors of the anomaly. Of spending so much time trying to save him, hopping around worlds, worrying if he would ever come back when Kid had taken up the responsibility of being his traveling companion.

… But, he supposed, none of that mattered now.

They were safe.

Goop and his boys stood in the doorway, giving Kid some time with his kids.

All of them were smiling.

--

Yeah.

This was definitely some sort of weird fever dream, and would go away eventually.

But for now, they huddled in the kids’ living room, and Papyrus bustled away to prepare something to eat, and they fell on each other getting places on the couch.

It was all going to be alright.

--

It was over.

It was finally over.

They spent awhile with Kid and his sons, just… enjoying being a strange extended family without the fear that they were wasting time.

Goop would fall asleep on his own, curled up against his friend sometime during the conversation.

He was finally able to rest.

…

They could go back and forth as much as they wanted, but would spend a lot of time in Goop’s world over the next few weeks planning their wedding. Making invitations, jumping to different worlds with Gasters they wanted to invite.

They invited the two Gasters who had fell in love even though they didn’t think they would want to come.

They invited the strange Gaster who’s kids had been Goop’s parents and his grandkids Sans and Papyrus, the dogster and his skeleton Gaster friend (and giving him a decent supply of allergy medication), the version of himself that Kid had saved…

Goop invited Alphys too.

She seemed very excited about it over the phone.

“Actually, I, uh, I think I have a working prototype of that sensor we were working on if you’d like to come by and try it out…”

Goop’s eyes widened and he looked over at Kid.

--

Kid stopped dead, blinking.

He’d completely forgotten about the censor once the task of making it had fallen to Alphys.

‘She has one working?’ he signed to Goop.

--

He nodded at Kid.

“Oh. Uh. Yeah. We can stop by in a few minutes.”

“Great! I really think it’s going to work. It can read temperature and pressure so far, but we can add more to it if it’s comfortable. But I thought those two were pretty good starting points!” Alphys said through the phone.

“Yeah.” Goop said, smiling a little. “Yeah that sounds like a safe starting point. We’ll be over soon.”

He looked nervous, but excited.

--

Kid looked over, grinning a bit too as Goop hung up the phone.

“...walk or teleport?” he asked.

He was all ready to go as soon as he’d heard the news.

--

“Brrrrrhhhhhh.” Goop whined as he set down the phone, face melting and mouth turning into a wobbling line as he slumped in his seat.

“Don’t give me the option to put it off because I’m really fucking nervous and kind of want to hide forever.”

--

Kid nodded, marching over to him and wrapping his arms around Goop.

“Okay. Being carried there like a baby it is.”

--

“Ah! No!” Goop protested, but didn’t struggle as Kid lifted him up.

He actually wasn’t very heavy at all despite his size. His body drooped around Kid’s arms and he started making bubbling, gurgling noises out of his mouth.

--

Kid scooped him up with his own meager strength--which was a lot more strength when your friend hardly weighed anything--and started walking to the door, ready to carry him all the way to Alphys’ lab. Or at least until Goop got embarrassed and started moving on his own, too.

--

Goop made a number of gurgly, grumbly noises as he was carried along, but fell silent as they started to exit the lab.

“... Is this what our honeymoon is going to be like? Can I be the wife for the honeymoon?”

--

Kid snorted.

“Uh, yeah I guess, if you want. When do I get to be the wife, though?”

[lots-of-tfw-blog]

We Meet Again

Summary: Reader has an encounter with a vamp, leading her to meet an old friend of Dean’s

Dean x Reader x Sam friendship

Warnings: None i don’t think? 

a/n: Sorry this fic is short and doesn't have a reader insert for you to add your own name! I actually wrote this small story for an assessment in school. How ‘bout that?

The floorboards moaned as you moved one foot after the other over them. The house looked like it was slowly collapsing brick by brick.

“Dean why aren’t they here? We found the right place, they just aren’t here?” You questioned. Still getting your footing over the floorboards.

“Y/N, like I said before, I cant tell I cant tell if they are going to be here or not. They will have to turn up sometime, they are due to feed”

Sam kept sharing worried looks with you as time moved on. The last time you went on a hunt with the brothers, things went pear shaped. Dean loosing control with the mark. Took a wile for all three of you to recover, and this was the first hunt since the big problem.

“Why did you guys have to drag me along anyway? Could have been happy at the bunker watching some good old TV in Sam’s room?”  You complained making Sam turn around in confusion.

“Hey!” he joked but still angry about you being in his room.

“Whoops you didn’t know that did you” and that’s when Dean caught both of your attention. You looked up to see where he was, in which he pointed to what you guys had come here for.

Right there, almost in front of you was the nest of vampires. Or as you three liked to call them vamps.

“Why are there only two? There was meant to be three?” You were all at this point sharing confused looks. That’s when Sam and Dean’s eyes widened, which made you turn around in shock.

The vamp appeared right behind you; taking you in its arms and giving you a big throw across the room as if you were just a rag doll. Sending you right into the brick wall. The last thing you heard was Dean screaming you’re name before you blacked out.

Waking up you were quite surprised where you were. In the hospital standing outside a patients room. Still unaware that you were that patient.

“What the hell?” You frantically wondered and forced yourself up to the window of the room and seeing yourself inside, lifeless on the bed, cords running to and from you which were attached to machines that you never have, nor wanted to see.

Feeling a tap on your shoulder alerted you, making you spin around in fright.

A lady was standing only a few feet away from you. You had never seen her in your life.

“Who the hell are you!” Where am I!” Tears began streaming out and you couldn’t stop them.

“I’m your reaper, Tessa” she started.

“You’re friends with the Winchesters aren’t you? I have had an encounter with dean before, but I never thought I would have a moment like this with you” she finished.

“But I’m not dead? Am I?” you started to worry. Were you dead? Or was there a small chance to still be alive.

“I am giving you the chance to come with me”

“Now why would I?”

“Do you want to spend the rest of your life on earth as a menacing spirit? Unable to connect with the real world?” “I’d rather do that then go with you thanks?” once those words slipped out of your mouth, the ground began to shake.

“I said I don’t want to go with you” you grumbled at the reaper.

“That is not me”

Sam and dean had exited the room quite some time ago, and were just outside the room, acting normal as if you were the only one experiencing this small earthquake that was yet to show you what it’s really got.

Having your vision go completely black again. You couldn’t feel anything, nor see. When you tired opening your eyes, there was nothing. Hell, you couldn’t even feel your eyes. But that changed when you managed to see your feet at the end of the bed.

Sitting up in shock you looked over your arms, seeing those cords and what not taped to you. Ripping them out you winced in pain. You slid your legs to the side of the bed, having a moment of relief when you could feel the floor.

That’s when the door flung open. Two very familiar faces filling the doorway, staring wide eyed at you like they hadn’t seen you before.

“Y/N!” Dean yelled running to you, keeling in front of you so you could slide into his arms off the bed, feeling his strong warm arms wrap around you giving you a sense of comfort.

“What the hell happened?” Sam came over and asked, Dean glanced at his brother and then back to you. Looking at his face, or both of their faces, you could tell they had had an emotional roller-coaster waiting. Waiting for you to recover, which they didn’t even think would be possible. Expecting the worse.

“I don’t know?’ You looked down at your hands, they were shaking quite badly. Dean grabbed then and held them tight with one of this hands whilst his other hand was keeping you standing and wrapped around your waist.

“Hey, hey. Listen. Don’t worry about it, don’t think about it, its okay. You’re here now and that’s all that matters” He smiled. Pulling you into a hug. The feeling that you thought you would never feel again. Tag List! @teamfreewilllovesyou @seraphofthelord

[0nho]

onho; pg; “dress up”

note: one more for the “onho secret santa” because though the wish was submitted after the deadline and i had already begun filling the other wish, @withloveshinee filled out the form and offered to fulfill someone else’s onho wish. again, i had wanted it to be fun for everyone. sorry about the delay.

jinki/minho // pg // angst, fluff // drabble

--

“You saved my life…”

Lee Jinki looks up from browsing on his cellphone, glasses pressed back up the bridge of his nose, finding his younger friend Choi Minho beside him on the floor cushions of Jinki's small apartment.

The mood has been quiet, often the air thick, but not between the two. It's the weight of the world that Minho brings in on shoulders.

“What?” Jinki asks, unsure if he heard right or if it was the tv at its low volumes in front of them playing weekly sports highlights. Minho's choice to watch.

Minho's eyes stay fixed to the television screen. Long, bare legs with fuzz of hair are tucked beneath the flowy fabrics of a sundress; a look most people would point and laugh at. The reason for the dress and subject behind it isn't one easy to express in words. It defies and boggles the mind.

Jinki has known Minho since the younger was in middle school. Jinki remembers Minho as a loud, bright-eyed boy growing up.

“This, what I do,” Minho's voice is barely above a whisper, “Coming here where I can be what I am-- who.. who I am?” the younger snorts, leg kicking out and tipping over a glass bottle of alcohol; the younger drinks so much these days. “Because.. because I can't out there.. ya know.”

Jinki's heart falls heavy. There is regret it took him so long to not only see it, but to believe what Minho told him. The younger had confided in Jinki, as a trusted senior, and back then Jinki had laughed. He had thought it was a joke, and Minho hasn't been known for amazing jokes.

Minho hadn't shown hurt with tears or anger, instead it was then Jinki who was avoided, and if they did meet it was superficial. Jinki hadn't wanted to admit he missed the younger; it would be better they didn't meet.

Jinki took what Minho had said and searched for anything that would make sense of it; how could he have missed all the signs. He had to find some understanding. So countless hours were spent reading, until he could face Minho again, to answer “I believe you”.

Minho isn't the boy Jinki watched and admired growing up, Minho is a girl - that of one trapped in a man's body and a society that will always see a man.

“Even if it's just to sit here in dress up and nothing more,” Minho stifles a laugh and glances at Jinki, big eyes unable to hide the sadness behind self-deprecating humor.

Jinki has come to understand it isn't so much the clothing, which now fills half of Jinki's closet, as it something that allows Minho to feel like she doesn't have to pretend she's something she isn't.

“I couldn't keep lying to everyone--to myself,” Minho's head shakes, “I would be dead if it weren't for you, you are a good friend.”

“It's not really..” Jinki trails off at Minho's tensing. Jinki doesn't look at himself as the heroic one here; that's Minho, who shows a strength and bravery Jinki can only dream of. But sometimes it's better to keep it simple. “You're welcome.”

Minho smiles wide at that, teeth flashing and eyes crinkling; she looks sober. Jinki's heart thumps to an alarming throb. In more ways than one, Jinki's life has been turned upside down. At first, Jinki convinced himself it was Minho in clothing like dresses or face in practicing makeup.

Then the past reminded Jinki, he always had an unusual soft spot for Minho in their youth, but didn't know how to interpret it at the time, in fact, he put distance between them once Minho entered the same high school as Jinki, as his thoughts grew more unsettling with Minho's daily presence.

Even as a grown man, Jinki finds it hard to face his emotions. He pushes glasses up his face, always hiding himself behind them. Facing insecurity is such an ugly thing. Jinki admires how brave Minho truly is. He came to understand Minho, to some degree, because they both have to pretend. Just, in Minho's case, there doesn't have to be anymore pretending with Jinki.

“Ah, someday I'll be as pretty as her,” Minho exclaims, pointing to an ad on the tv starring a well-known actress, who is acclaimed for her beauty.

“But you're already pretty,” Jinki says, comparing the two in his mind, and though the actress is a beauty, Minho is already beautiful with those rivaling large eyes, full lips, and soft features.

The younger stares at Jinki agape. Jinki cringes, having spoken more than he should. He takes a bottle from the floor to gulp down, wanting the alcohol to sooth his anxieties. Minho leans sideways, falling her head right into Jinki's lap in a trusting motion. A bright smile beams up at Jinki's wide stare.

Minho takes Jinki's hand, pressing a kiss to it, then drops it on his head. Jinki realizes late what is wanted, slow on his skinship queues.

Minho settles in for a gentle rubbing of her head. “You really don't mind if I call you oppa, while we're like this?”

In this safe place, goes unsaid.

“I don't mind,” Jinki assures like the time before, “You are a girl, it's only natural a guy would like it.” He grins to himself.

“Oppa,” even in the deep of Minho's male voice, the girlish charm is natural. “Keep rubbing my head please.”

Jinki laughs and settles himself more comfortably with a small head resting upon his lap. The thickened air of the room thins out, and warms over peacefully.

“Can I stay the night?” Minho requests, as college classes are out for the weekend. “I can't go home yet..”

“Usually when a woman stays the night with me..”

Minho slaps at Jinki's knee, shaking with sudden snorting. “Oppa!” she whines and wiggles with a sour face.

Jinki hides his laughter behind a palm, only teasing. “Stay as long as you need.”