#something something do you ever just decide to turn events from an rp that happened over half a year ago and turn them into a fairy tale

[boom-fanfic-a-latta]

The Reaper's Twin

The Reaper did not always have a twin; in fact, she was without one for the longest time. But, on the day she first met Judgement and was claimed as her daughter, her shadow fell upon a world in a dark mirror and took physical form. This reflection was her opposite in every way--where The Reaper showed kindness, her twin cruelty; where she was as fire, so was her twin as ice.

The Reaper had no knowledge of her twin's newfound existence, and so when one day, her reflection spoke and acted of its own accord, she could only find herself agape with shock. The memory of the dark mirror she had once entered did not even begin to cross her mind, and so, she approached in curiosity. She gave no notice to the strange blue scar running behind the left eye of the figure in the mirror.

The Reaper was thus unprepared as this strange doppelganger reached outside the confines of the glass, seizing her by the wrist and drawing her through into the reflection. The next she knew, she was bound, gazing at the true form of her captor--in appearance, now revealed to be a dark copy of herself.

The Reaper had fallen snare to a ruse, this other her chided with a sneer, and was not left to her mercy--or rather, lack thereof. But though one would assume the shadow meant the threat of death by these words, you would be mistaken--as The Reaper's twin knew her original was beyond her ability to destroy. Instead, she explained with a cruel smile, she had decided in all her cunning to take control of The Reaper, so as to claim her power under her own rule.

The Reaper refused this claim, swearing that her mother, Judgement, would still be want to cast vengeance upon the twin for this offence. But she only laughed at this, slyly explaining that she had considered this as well--but it would not be an issue, for when Judgement was to come, she would be forced to face her own daughter in battle. And with that, the twin cast her spell over The Reaper, ensnaring both her mind and body with a deep-rooted frost.

But soon, as The Reaper had sworn, Judgement arrived in fury, armed with gavel and sword as she sought the one who had stolen away her daughter. When she came across the twin, she demanded the safe return of The Reaper, or else she would bring down her wrath. In response, the twin obliged, and with a grin revealed The Reaper was now under her command.

A fierce battle ensued between Judgement and her corrupted child, but in the end, the former was victorious and cast off the spell the later had been placed under. The twin was angered by this, her plan having been undone, and so she in vain spat curses at Judgement. Judgement, in return, replied with this: that The Reaper should be left in charge of her twin's punishment, free to do whatever she deemed fit. The Reaper, wishing to repay what had been done to her with a similar irony, declared that she would seal the twin within a broken mirror, always to be kept on her person. So as her twin had sought dominion over her, would she be confined to a similar state of helplessness.

The twin, once she was such confined, responded by swearing with a cold fury that she would not take this peacefully--instead, assuring that she would find a way to hone her craft with mirror and ice, to be able to reach out and pose as the reflections of others, as she had posed as that of her origin prior. There, she vowed, she would do all that was in her power to turn others to do her own will, contrary to that of The Reaper.

So be wary, all, of your reflection, if it ever may have a blue crack behind its eye--for it may be that The Reaper's twin has come, in attempt to trick you into fulfilling her own desires. And perchance, if one is unlucky, try and use you to escape her fate.

[milykins]

Sunshine

This is based on an AU where the turtles eventually did decide to take Chief Vincent's advice and go public. This also ties into my headcanon where they all have jobs and own their own businesses. This particular scene was actually from an RP with the lovely @danceingfae it was just begging to be written.

Michelangelo × female reader

No warnings - just Mikey being a sweetheart when his girlfriend is feeling insecure.

Aged up characters of course

It’s no secret that ever since the turtles had decided to come out of hiding and join common society that Mikey had become something of a celebrity. He attended parties and charity events. Hosted his own events at his comic book shops and flirted and met up with girls from time to time. This was his lifestyle for a while. He’d initially thought it was the best thing ever. He got to have his fun, finally have the life he’d dreamed of, meeting girls, having relationships, one-night-stands, whatever he liked.

This all changed when he met you, of course. He’d had a couple failed relationships under his belt that hadn’t lasted long. One crazy girl had cornered him in his shop after hours, stripped off all her clothes, and begged him to put a baby in her. That was kind of the turning point where he realized that maybe being a celebrity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Meeting you and falling in love with you brought the realization that this was all he needed and all he’d ever wanted.

He still had fans, of course, still had girls coming up in restaurants and coffee shops asking for a picture and his autograph, but it had slowed down considerably after the internet had found out he was taken. Mikey hadn’t minded that at all. It gave him more space to breathe and more time to spend spoiling and loving on his girlfriend.

On this particular day he’d taken you to a Panera Bread. He knew you were craving their signature broccoli soup in a bread bowl combo and had decided to treat you to lunch.

The two of you had been chatting, and you had been just about to steal one of his muffin tops when a gaggle of teen and older girls rushed their table asking for their usual pictures and autographs. Mikey was happy to oblige but did tell them to make it quick because he was having lunch with his girl, sending a flirty wink your way.

You blushed, giggling softly. He always made a point of making you feel special in situations like these.

One girl in particular wasn’t satisfied with just a picture and an autograph. She’d been giving you the side-eye during the entire interaction and blatantly slipped him her number right in front of you.

Now, this did sometimes happen, but Mikey was always quick to rebuff it. As the girl turned to leave, he had gotten up from the table to follow her.

Initially, the girl looked pleased, but her expression quickly turned sour when she found he was handing it back to her.

Mikey was unendingly kind about it. “Hey, thanks, but I’ve already found someone who has my heart. Here’s your number. You should save it for the right guy for you.”

Her face reddened in embarrassment as she snatched the number from him. Anger bubbling into rage she decided to be nasty. “You’re kidding, right? That’s your girlfriend?”

The unkind words were heard by everyone, especially you. You shrank in your seat, wishing you could disappear and wanted to forget about eating altogether and run.

Your boyfriend is stunned a moment at the venomous words but he is ever the gentleman as he answers. “Yes, she is my girlfriend, and I’m very proud that she chooses to be with me. Have a good day.”

Tears were threatening to spill over when he came to collect you, taking you out of the restaurant for a breather. “I am so sorry…” He softly spoke as you both sat on a bench nearby.

The words still stung as you clung to his orange hoodie and buried your face in his chest. You couldn't help but cry softly into him, feeling ugly and stupid. It seemed he knew exactly what to do to counter this, and it didn’t take long for you to realize you were being rocked. Mikey was singing to you.

“You are my sunshine… my only sunshine…”

The soft singing broke you out of your reverie as you wiped your eyes while simultaneously craning your neck to look at him.

Mikey actually was pretty good at singing, his voice was smooth, melodic and comforting as he continued.

“You make me happy… when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

A shaky breath is exhaled as tears threatened to overtake you once again.

“You okay, babycakes?” He whispered, caressing your face.

You answered, “Yes…” but it doesn’t sound at all convincing and he knows it. You can see him quietly asking you to be honest with him and find yourself confessing how you really feel. “I was just… feeling like I’m not… not good enough…”

Mikey calmly tucks your hair behind your ears so he can see your face. “Tell me why you feel that way.”

You’re unable to stop these feelings of shame and insecurity as you get all choked up again. “Why me? You… you could have anyone you want… but you chose me, why?”

His response is automatic like he’d been waiting for you to ask him this.

“Babe… you’re not just anyone. You’re mine. You’re all I want, and I think about you, like, all the time. Any other girl pales in comparison to you. Heck, they could be a playboy pinup, and I still would pick you. You are all I need.”

You can’t help but giggle as more tears spring to your eyes, the good kind this time and you have to kiss him because if you don’t in this moment, you’ll feel like you regret it.

The kiss is slow, sweet and passionate and you parted breathlessly, gazing at each other.

“I love you…” The confession catches him by surprise because neither of you had been the first to say it… until now.

Now, it’s Mikey’s turn to feel emotional. His voice is quiet and a little unsure as he asks for confirmation. “You love me?”

“Yes.” You answered without hesitation. “I love you, Michelangelo.”

Strong arms banded around you as he kissed you with even more fervor, before pulling back just as suddenly. “I love you too!” He’d been so caught up with kissing you that he’d forgotten to say it back.

You giggled and kissed his beak. “Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way, all it took was… a crazy fan.” She can’t help but laugh.

He laughed, too. “Just know, babe, that I’m proud to be with you, I’ll shout it from the rooftops if I have to… want me to? I’ll do it right now!” his smile and enthusiasm are infectious, and you are giggling as you shake your head.

“This is enough, I’m just glad you’re with me.” You had just snuggled into his embrace again when your stomach growled, reminding you both you still hadn’t eaten.

Mikey kissed your nose and stood, bringing you to your feet. “Let’s finish our lunch, babe.”

“That sounds perfect.”

From that moment on, nothing could shake your confidence in your relationship with Mikey. Nothing. He was there to stay, and so were you.

The End

@danceingfae @thelaundrybitch @iridescentflamingo @redsrooftopprincess @ninnosaurus @the-cauldron-witch @thepinkpanther83 @avery73 @adebauchedsloth @sophiacloud28 @definitely-canon @scholastic-dragon @truffle-reblogs

[grcetxt]

HEY GANG!! So general update and explanation of a lot of stuff cuz WWOO

I have. Not been doing so hot. Went into a bit of a depressive slump: staying inside, doing nothing all day, procrastinating ect

I've been putting off a bunch of stuff that sort of all came to a head yesterday, considering a lot of my deadlines and stuff are for this week. (By "deadlines" I mean points that I assumed I would have everything done by, y'know? Like "oh by my birthday I'll have a clean room" or "oh by results day I will have sorted out xyz") I had a teeny weeny worst meltdown I've ever had which was a bit of a wake-up call, y'know? I can't keep going like I have been.

SO I've actually decided to take a bit of a mental health break. A lot of big stuff is happening in my life and I need the space to sort everything out + take care of myself.

I'm gonna take a step back from rp for about a week, I might update one account, but I won't be engaging in any major events, y'know? I just don't really have the mental space to deal with it all. If I rp I wanna keep it light, no pressure. Just like- answering silly asks or something.

ALSO these next few days I am gonna be offline a lot more. That was gonna happen anyway tbh cuz GANG!! I'M TURNING 16 ON MONDAY!! AAAAAAA!!!!

But yeah tomorrow mum's taking me out again, Monday I'm seeing family, Tuesday I'm out with friends, ect.

I'm still gonna be on to talk to everyone and stuff don't worry! Just less than normal- because before I was literally online from the second I woke up (noon) to the second I went to bed (8 am sometimes. Remember when we did that for like a week straight Marv? Fucking insane what is up with us (depression))

SO!!! TLDR: Your girls taking a break from being active on tumblr, will still be on discord just not 24/7, and I'm taking a brief roleplay hiatus

Reblogging this to all my rp accs :3

Love you all! <3

[captivatingmushrooms]

Yes I’m breaking ‘Don’t talk about twt’ taboo. Sorry not sorry. And I don’t even main Philza but it’s. Actually insane to me that some fans would go out of their way to insist that their team was cursed to the point that they essentially put some blame on Philza for how Purgatory ended. Some basically saying that Philza made the admins scrabble to retcon the cursed team and therefore rewrite the now unsatisfying ending. Just because he didn’t bend to Tubbo’s every whim and didn't say ‘your logic that Blue is cursed is 100% sound and definitely doesn’t have holes that would make trusting your logic risky when it comes to the safety of the eggs, we’ll just let Blue win which therefore makes all of our struggles these past two weeks in absolute vain, no further discussion on any evidence we may have, nope.’ Yeah, no, because he didn’t do this, the cursed team thing and part of what made Purgatory's ending unsatisfying is his fault, guys.

(and no you can't even try to excuse this as a character thing or say it's about the character. Given that Phil himself said that the way Bolas acted in Purgatory had some sense of genuine reactions from the cc’s, the choices they made were strongly based on the content creators’ feelings/actions. That, and talking about someone’s choices making the admins ‘retcon’ the cursed team is meta discussion, because that's talking about something a content creator does with his character that would make admins change the narrative. So surprise, you can only use the ‘/rp no hate to the creator’ so much before it starts to feel like total bullshit)

It’s the most conspiracy sorta thinking I have ever heard in this fandom, which is saying something. Because perhaps the blame should be more solely focused on the fucking people who constructed the narrative of purgatory in the first place. Looking back, given what we've learned behind the scenes, you're really telling me that the qsmp team decided at the last minute to do a whole entire rewrite of the ending because of the actions of a content creator?? Given the fact that the players' choices in past events have hardly ever actually made a severe impact for these events in the long run (i.e. the prison event), yeah, I very much doubt that (if an admin comes out and tells us otherwise, I am totally okay with being wrong, but that's not what I have seen as of yet). Some fans refuse to accept the concept that the higher up admins absolutely only had one narrative ending in mind that could not be changed or effected by any regular player choices, that the players' choices, as usual, did not matter. That there was never a cursed team because the ending was always going to be what it was no matter what team won. A single outcome, regardless of what happens? Is that so ludicrous to believe?

But no let’s blame a single cc for how this event turned out just because he didn’t do what you guys wanted. Let’s imply a cc made the admins work even more than usual just to write/work on a new ending because of a retcon. Let’s imply a cc did something wrong when it comes to how he played Purgatory, which Quackity himself, when players were receiving massive hate, said is fucking bullshit because Purgatory is about doing whatever you can to win and that there is no wrong way to go about it (nothing about teaming up or finding out the cursed team, it’s almost like this is an event that is meant to be actually played with one team winning in mind and that the cursed team thing was meant as a diversion/a way to sew discord hmmmmm).

Absolutely insane behavior like PLEASE, can we not blame the content creators for the qsmp's narrative changes, god, I hate twitter so much.

[or-something-better]

August 16, 2022

(Nightly RP   Lucifer Rising    Part 2  Gabe wrote)

Sam:

Do you ever remember where you were when major events in history happen? Well, this moment right here and now was going to be one of those events moments for me. I could feel my heart rate escalate and my breathing slow down and my brain almost going out the window. Gabe… what the hell does that mean?

Gabe

Listen Sam . I killed Lucifer. Right here in this very bunker, but he went to the empty. Did you really think that you flannel jockeys were the only ones that could be brought back the “Holy Winchesters“? Quite the ego Sam. We’ve brought Cass back from the empty. You don’t think Lucifer can be brought back?

Patience

still feeling uneasy about what's about to happen time is coming and soon

Sam

Feeling like unreality had settled over the whole damn Bunker, I begin to pace. Don’t you think we should have been told us about this little cosmic loophole before now?

Gabe

Did you miss the part where we brought Cass back? Did you cheat your way into Stanford?

Henry

What do you mean?  really confused and trying to understand

Gabe

Apparently talk dark and brain dead only thinks he and his brother can escape death.

Gabe

Cass. Angel. Trench coat. Was dead makes dead face then we pointing at everyone bring him back mimes angel Rising from the dead   Lucifer making horns with my fingers  more powerful flexing  he. Come back too from big bad empty

Henry

Then this is a hands on situation. We need to stop Lucifer from coming back

Crowley

I appear holding a bottle of Whiskey, taking a drink from it before speaking The pup is always full of wisdom, but I don't think I've ever heard him say something quite so brilliant.

Sam

Still pacing Ruby could probably tell us something about all this, one of the first things we need to do is find a way to get Ruby back here from Hell because someone decided to make a point and leave her there. I stop suddenly, seeing Crowley What the hell are you doing here?

Crowley

I'm here because someone is trying do hit restart on apocalypse round 13 or whatever number we're on. I'm here to stop Lucifer from pulling a Winchester and resurrecting. It's really in My best interests, so I'm here to help.

Henry

I didn’t call you? Where you listening to my thoughts?

Crowley

I turn to Henry looking sad No pup, I wasn't listening to your thoughts.

Gabe

Looking at Sam  listening Samsquatch I told you your more than welcome to put on your big Hunter flannel panties and go get her yourself. Now if this is what’s happening we’re going to need every weapon we got. Henry, Crowley, Sam, Patience why don’t you guys ready the weapons and I’ll bring the cavalry?

Patience

getting my arsenal ready this is going to be one hell of a fight

Crowley

I check the bullets in my pistol and sharpen my knife

Ruby

“Sure, I’ll help. Just how do you expect to get him out of the empty? You can’t just stroll in and ask for an all day pass you know.”

Abbadon

Ruby, dear, thanks well how do you want to go about it. lucifer needs to run hell

Ruby

"I get that, but how do you know he'll be able to?"

Abbadon

he's the King of Hell. It's his job he's been talking to me

Ruby

"How?"

Abbadon

Closes my eyes listening for Lucifer's orders

Lucifer

I reach out with a deceptively quiet voice, detailing the way to my private library There's a book you need... Of spells. Find it and use it. And I can promise you I'll make it worth your while.

Abbadon

where is it?

Ruby

Wonders if Abby has losing her mind

Lucifer

Buried, In my library. Fetch it, and I'll make sure you'll both be rewarded. Gives directions to the library telepathically.

Abbadon

well, apparently we need a book of spells that is hidden in the library of Hell

Ruby

"Great. Let's go find it." Oh, shit. This is really happening. I have to find a way to tell Sam! I try to see if I can contact his mind, but it’s like I’m getting jammed with static.

Abbadon

smiles at her follow me. the library is down the hall

Ruby

Following along behind, I hope I can do something.

Abbadon

Hey Ruby did you know that Lucifer has made promises to reward us when we get him back from The Empty

Ruby

"Great!"

Sam

In my room, I grab my usual Go bag and start adding things to the kit. Forcing myself to keep all of my attention on the simple acts of checking gun loads and counting knives adding amulets and hex bags just for good measure; anything to keep my mind off the idea of Lucifer returning.

Crowley

I load my lugar and stash some bullets before raiding the Bunker to make a couple quick hex bags

Gabe

reaching out to the rest of the team Claire, Charlie, Donna, Ellen, Meg GUYS ALL HANDS ON DECK WERE LOOKING AT A LUCIFER RISING RED ALERT WE NEED YOU AT THE BUNKER, NOW

Patience

getting my guns and archangel blade I'm ready

Charlie

sitting with Claire, sharpening blades and polishing barrels I hear Gabe’s call loud and clear. My eyes go wide and I look at Claire did you hear that too?

Henry

gets whatever I can find in the weapon room not sure what can harm an archangel. Not sure what to think of Lucifer yet but I know he’s the devil  I think that’s all I can grab and have room for.  thinking out loud and count*

Claire

Looks at Charlie I most definitely heard that it’s not mistaken that sounded like something bad

Charlie

nodding as I grab my keys let’s head to home base I head out to my car and get in the drivers seat

Claire

follows Charlie out to her car well lets get back to the others

Charlie

I start the car and we drive to the bunker to meet with the rest of the team

Donna

hearing the my archangel, I nod! 10-4 coming! I close my eyes and call out to the clones… they pop in around. hey guys kids are getting ready for lunch. Please help them! they nod! I go to each Nephilim and give them a quick kiss…  I love you all my angels! I close my eyes a vanish too the bunker! (I’m pregnant with Nephilim and after so many, I have learned how to use some of their powers!) 💛

Jo

serving up a couple draft beers to some fellow hunters when the blast goes off inside my brain, I run into moms office did you hear that too or am I crazy?

Ellen

shaking my head yes to jo while sipping my whiskey at the same time asking of I heard the message Aaasssshhh get your ass out here and cover the bar!! I get my gear together and keys ready jo we head for the truck

Ash

I swagger out of my room flipping the sign to say The Badass is: Out and Head behind the bar That's cool. Call if you need anything.

Ellen

yelling back sure will

Jo

I follow mom and get in fastening my seatbelt, ready for a merry ride let’s go

Ash

I salute and grab a bear while smoothing back my mullet Be cool guys

Ellen

pushing the clutch in and start the truck let's go hun

Ruby

Searching through the volumes on the shelves, I find the book first. Thinking quickly, I use a quick transference spell, sending a copy of the book to a blank journal in my cupboard at the apartment. And just in time!

Abbadon

looks through the library smiling at all the books Ruby, you find anything

Ruby

Closing the book, I hand it over to Abby

“Things will be so much better when Lucifer’s back on the throne. That ass Crowley needs to go.”

Abbadon

takes the book and looks through it I couldn't agree more prays Lucifer, we need certain ingredients before I can get you back to ruling hell

Ruby

Looking over the list in the spell, I notice one that stands out.

“Shanthimalai Incense. It isn’t that easy to come by. It’s handmade by village women at the foot of the sacred mountain Arunachala in India.

Abbadon

maybe but the others, Moonstone, Sage, those aren't easy to come by

Ruby

I smile at her lack of knowledge

Abbadon

maybe its in another room

Ruby

Looking around, I appear to help Abby

Lucifer

I hear the prayer and notice the ingredients sound rare, but no one knows Hell better than I do. I reach out to Abby telepathically I know where you can find most of these easily enough- in your own backyard. I give her separate directions for each ingredient in different parts of Hell- then I feel the need to warn her   .... something doesn't feel quite right about this though. It's too easy.

Abbadon

What do you mean? too easy?

Lucifer

It's... Someone is trying to stop us. I growl, annoyed You need more demons- more backup. Summon them. You need to finish this spell. I can count on you, right?

Abbadon

will do Lucifer looks at Ruby So Shanthimalai Incense is in the file room of hell. Moonstone is in my old room and the Sage is in the kitchen

Ruby

"Sounds easy enough to get"

Abbadon

smiles Also, Lucifer said that we need to call more demons to protect us since this is all too easy. summon those loyal to Lucifer

Ruby

"Yes indeed."

Abbadon

ruby, call them

Ruby

Turning to the lead demon, I tell him to bring more demons to beef up the security in Hell and to keep their eyes open for the humans. "And be extra careful with the incense! I'll kill anyone that loses it!"

Abbadon

demon is this for Lord Lucifer to come home?

Ruby

"He seems to know what he's doing."

Abbadon

smiles evilly yes it is. we need those ingredients and you need to be back here as soon as possible. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?! all demons yes ma'am turns to Ruby with a wicked smile This is going to be so much fun

Ruby

There has GOT to be a way to stop this!

Sam

Setting the last gun from my armload onto the table, I had to admit that it looked like overkill. Probably none of these would do anything against Lucifer, if that was really who they were going to be up against, anyway.

Charlie

getting to the bunker I park the car and head inside

Donna

pops in looks around!

Ellen

pulling up to the bunker with jo, we see all the others there too wonder what's happening now.. I say under my breath

Donna

What the heck is going on????

Gabe

Hey gorgeous

Henry

sets my bag on the table  it looks like we are getting ready for war. Are we going to be able to stop Lucifer?  not sure about all of this

Donna

beaming I walk over you and kiss you softly! hi sexy!

Sam

In a way we are Henry, you remember how things went down before Gabe took Lucifer out. We just can’t go back to that.

Gabe

grabbing you I pull you to me kissing you deeply

Claire SPN

gets out of Charlie's car and walks to the bunker doors and heads inside

Ellen

walking into the bunker with the others

Donna

my heart skips the most incredible beat!!!!! And I melt into your kiss mmmmm HI!!!

Charlie

Hey guys… I think we all want to know the same thing….

Ellen

Hey Charlie! Good to see you.

Gabe

Take a seat looking around  take a seat all of you and I’ll explain

Patience

making my way to the table

Henry

Yes I remember that really well. We don’t need another world ending moment

Charlie

You too Ellen, and jo … I have a feeling it won’t stay good…

Donna

I obey and look up at you curious as hell

Ellen

pulling a chair out. I sit and listen

Crowley

I head to the table after raiding the pantry gazing at everyone and winks teasingly at Dean

Claire

there has got to be something going on when we are all called here

Sam

I pull out a chair near the end of the table and sit down. Looking around it really was heartwarming to see how fast everyone had come together when the proverbial bat-signal had been sounded.

Charlie

heading to the map table, I grab a seat

Claire

walks over to the table and sits down

Jo

walks to the table and grabs a chair.

Patience

pulling a chair out I sit and listen

Crowley

As far as my sources are aware Ruby and dear sweet Abaddon have joined forces to resurrect our new God's fiery, prideful brother.

Charlie

That’s not possible! Is it? Gabe killer him.., I watched!

Sam

I can’t stop the snorting noise No way Ruby is a part of anything like that… Leans around to look down at Charlie And I thought like you did Charlie, but according to Gabe just today… there seems to be a cosmic loophole that Lucifer’s supporters might be able to exploit. A loud knock bangs on the Bunker door. I get up to answer it, before I say something else that might really get my ass in trouble with Gabe. I was going over in my head who wasn’t already here that might still be coming, Garth maybe? Pulling open the door, I couldn’t have been more surprised if Lucifer himself had been standing there? Dean?

Gabe

Lyy it stem stunt double for Harry and the Henderson's

Claire

Those two always up to something can't be trusted especially wanting to bring him back

Listen

Dean

Sammy! Hey bro

Sam

I just stand with my mouth open

Dean

Yes Sammy it’s really me goes through the routine holy water blade can ya shut your cakehole already

Henry

What? But you left to have a normal life

Dean

I pull you in wrapping my arms around you squeezing you tight

Donna

Deano????

Ruby

Watching the demons scurry at Abby’s commands, I smile at her. “Isn’t this the life? Let the lesser do our bidding. No more menial work for us. Maybe we should just take the throne for ourselves. What do you think?”

Abbadon

True smiles but then I would have to kill you and where is the fun in that demons return here are the ingredients thanks guys

Ruby

I nod my head “Hmmm”

Abbadon

so now that we have all the ingredients where to do the spell

Lucifer

I can sense they're close and reach back out Well done. But we're not finished yet. I'm going to need both of you to pull this off and open a portal to free me. We're close... But not here! You need to be somewhere neutral.

Abbadon

Ruby, Lucifer says we need to be somewhere neutral to do the spell where is the nearest neutral spot

Ruby

Thinking, I remember “I know just the place! There’s a cemetery in Kansas!”

Abbadon

Lets go then

Ruby

We head for Hope Cemetery

Abbadon

looks around so dreary here

Ruby

"Isn't that the point?"

Abbadon

ok demons keep a look out. team free will should be coming any moment. don't let them interfere

Abbadon

the demons leave to make a perimeter around the cemetery

Ruby

Gathering the ingredients, we place them in the conjuring bowl and begin the spell.

[9:53 PM, 8/16/2022] Abbadon SPN: recites the spell with Ruby

Sam

After finally letting go of the crushing hug, I slap him in the arm Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Turning, I lead down the stairs to where everyone else is till sitting. Look what the cat dragged back in… Turning back to Dean Seriously, Dude what are you doing back here? I read the note you left about trying things one more time with Lisa and Ben and followed the no contact instructions to the letter.

Dean

following you down the stairs Lisa and I talked and we decided we knew I will always be a hunter. This is just who I am and we knew I needed to come back...she...um insisted......but anyway ...  What’s going on? I heard Gabe’s call and came running?

Sam

That’s it? You came running because Gabe called?

Dean

Did you miss EVERYTHING before that Sam? I mean she i never stopped worrying about you and everyone here she insisted i come back hearing Gabe made her basically push me out the door

Patience

happy to see Dean I grab a hug from him

Jo

Dean?! but.. you left! I mean, we’re all happy to see you but.. you got out. why are you back again? I go give him a hug

Ellen

Oh hey Dean. Good to see ya.. I think

Dean

hug you back I. It my heart was there but was still kinda this is me this is where i belong. Lisa insisted I come back

Dean

Can we just drop it now please? walks over to the table so what’s going on?

Crowley

I smirk and saunter over, hands in my coat pocket Squirrel, nice to see you haven't forgotten us. How are the suburbs?

Henry

looks at dean in shock. Stops munching on my cookie Dean?

Dean

Still snacking away I see what’s up kiddo. Miss me? Loud

Crowley

Really? Then I'm sure you were well equipped for it from the Hunting like. Or Hell.

Henry

Hi  attack hugs him please don’t leave again

Charlie

walks over to dean I knew you couldn’t stay away hugs

Dean

hugs back almost falling over hey no chick flick moments kiddo you know the rule hugs Charlie hey not all by choice really but that’s kinda touchy

Charlie

Wont ask. Glad you’re here

Henry

I’m sorry I just wanted a hug  let’s go and grabs Dean a beer. Glad he’s back

Claire

sup Hasselhoff

Gabe

Welcome back Deano glad you could make it grab a seat Listen guys as we speak the demons are trying to resurrect Lucifer from the dead yeah yeah as the pouty one on the end with the man hun likes pointing out I killed him , but like with Cass he can be brought back it’s not easy but he’s in the empty not the void

Dean

Claire

Patience

screaming in pain from a vision just like before

Dean

takes a beer steps over the chair sitting missed you too gabe listens

Sam

Patience?!

Dean

Patience! You ok? The demons are trying to open the portal to Free Luci

Claire

Looks over at Patience What are the demons your seeing

Patience

I'm not sure what demons but I see Ruby and Abby

Ellen

Where are they patience? with a wtf look on my face

Sam

I retake my seat, just shaking my head, not being able to believe that what they are saying could be in any way true.

Patience

They are at Hope cemetery

Charlie

grabbing my laptop I quickly search the address and send it to everyone  let’s move

Henry

Who’s car are we taking?  getting up and grabbing my go bag

Sam

Checks my phone when it pings, address received.

Claire

so whose vehicles are taking

Dean

my phone pings with the address

Sam

Loading the guns from the table into the second open duffle bag.

[10:17 PM, 8/16/2022] Donna SPN: standing with a spark in my eye! Let’s gear everyone!! We got this!!!!

Crowley

Alright everyone. Hurry up. Time's a wasting. If Lucifer gets back out we're all screwed. You think he's not pissed at the amount of time's we've locked him up or killed him? If you all think I'm pain in the ass on the throne, do you really want to fnd out what it's like with Lucifer back in charge?

Ruby

As we chant, the ingredients burst into flames and I can see as the portal starts to open.

Lucifer

I can feel how close I'm getting to being back Hurry up- c'mon, keep going!

Abbadon

pulls out a knife and makes a cut Ruby, cut your hand. Demon blood is the last ingredient to make sure Lucifer gets here

Ruby

I watch as the portal continues to grow. I see Abby holding the blade out to me. Taking it, I add my blood to hers.

Abbadon

looks at the portal as it gets larger allowing us to see inside

Lucifer

I can feel the demon blood start to work, and I'm so damn close. I step forward a little bit, grinning because I'm almost free. And then... I don't know what happens but I howl in rage and confusion as chains shoot forward and wrap back around me, even though I struggle against them

Abbadon

Hello, Lucifer King of Hell. Ruby, help me get him out of the portal

Ruby

“ABBY!!” Instinctively I follow blindly behind Abby through the portal, thinking too late, I should just leave him.

Abbadon

goes through the portal

Dean

grab my duffle getting ready to go

Sam

I start for the garage. Hey Dean, why don’t you come with me…

Dean

Sure thing Sammy taking my duffle I follow you to the garage

Patience

Can I go with you I'm dying to see Luci so I can punch him in the face?

Henry

May I please come along with you guys?

Crowley

I hold my hand up smirking I call shotgun!

Sam

Sure Patience you and Henry, come on. Stopping at Crowley’s absurd claim of shot gun, I don’t have to say anything at all, just give him the Winchester Stare.

Patience

Thank you I'll try not to let you down

Dean

turn looking at you with a smug look like your on crack

Crowley

I slowly lower my hand and chuckle awkwardly. Just kidding. I can take my usual seat in the back.

Sam

That’s what I thought you said Crowley

Dean

You're damn straight.

Henry

Thank you sets my bag in the trunk and gets in the back

Patience

getting in the back seat after throwing my bag in the trunk

Dean

run to the impala oh my baby I’m so sorry I ever left you. Did Sammy play nice with you?

Crowley

I duck into the car settling in the middle well isn't this just like old times. All we're missing is the baby in the trench coat.

Charlie

I grab my keys and head to my car, ready to follow the team

Sam

Smiling, because it felt already like no time had gone on between them. Pulling the Impala keys from my front pocket. Here Dean I toss them over to their rightful owner

Gabe

We’ll vanish in a second belle one thing o want to do first searching for one of Claire‘s extra swords I grab it in both hands power surging forth the weapons start to glow power crackling through it as I turn it into a hand of god weapon *

Claire

follows Charlie with my swords to ride with her and the others

Charlie

Works for me. I get in the truck and hold on*

Claire

walks over to Ellen’s vehicle and hops in well lets get this done

Dean

I catch the keys midair kissing them lets ride get in the drivers seat shutting the door i start the car still purring that’s my good girl

Ellen

heading out the door Charlie you guys can ride with us. We can meet them there. the girls hop in, and I start the truck. Popping it in 1st gear I hit the gas. I hit 2nd gear and we start drifting turning sideways out of the driveway

Donna

What?? … blinks! what are you doing my sweets??! watching you closely!

Gabe

I’m not taking any chances and a hand of Gabe weapon will kill anything

Donna

my eyes get big as I step next to you looking from you to the sword and back! I nod! okay my sweets! Let’s do this thing!

Gabe

WE’LL MEET YOU GUYS  THERE! pulling belle to me I kiss you deeply abracadabra we vanish

Dean

I look around the car looking at everything in the interior of the car seeing everything in tip top shape and in place thanks for not douche up the car this time Sammy checking the tape deck and no Taylor swift thank Gabe!

Sam

Gotta stop living in the past dude, music’s moved on with the changing times, you need to go along for the ride.

Crowley

As touching as all of this is can we hurry the bromance up? It's not like Lucifer is trying to claw his way back to life and crack open Hell itself and invade the bloody planet!

Dean

Hell to the no anything after 79 still sucks Sammy!

Henry

I agree we don’t have the time right now to chat. We need to hit the road  pulling out a book for the ride there

Dean

throw baby into drive we take off down the road as i push the tape in blaring highway to hell

Crowley

I groan How painfully appropriate.

Abbadon

rushes through the portal and sees Lucifer EMPTY!!!!!!!!!! Release him

Ruby

Wondering if being more diplomatic might help, I try.. “Look, we promise we won’t bother you again. Just let him out and the problem is solved.”

Abbadon

empty you keep promising things you can't finish

Lucifer

I keep struggling, angry now  If you know what's good for you... let me go!

Abbadon

rushes to him and takes the chains off him holding him up as best as I can we need to leave

Lucifer

I try not to lean too much on Abby, but I can't help it. I hate how weakened I feel We have to go...

Ruby

“Run Abby!” I put Lucifer’s arm around my neck, using all the strength I have to pull him toward the portal.

Abbadon

lets get you home. starts for the exit of the porta

empty

letting out an ear shattering scream I shoot out some hooked chains striking each of the demons and knocking them down

Ruby

Hooked chains hit us from behind, grabbing and gouging skin and nearly knocking us down. I scream out in intense pain, but we manage to keep upright, still heading for the portal opening.

Abbadon

screams lucifer we need to get out of here

Lucifer

I risk another glance at them and try to keep moving Get up! Come on- keep moving!

Abbadon

groans in pain Ruby!

Ruby

"Lets get the hell out of here!!'

Abbadon

I agree, lets go

Lucifer

Now- we don't have time to waste!

Abbadon

Lucifer, lets go, we need you back

Ruby

Wrapping my arm around his waist, I search for what little strength I have left

Abbadon

continues to the portal groaning in pain

Lucifer

I tighten my grip on Abby, leaning on Ruby- smirking at her Don't slow down now.

Ruby

I take a quick glance at him and smile "No chance of that"

Abbadon

smiles back at him

Gabe

appearing with Mia Bella were jumped as soon as we appear

Donna

the hell!!!! I cry out as my eyes light up protecting my babies and my love, pushing back a bunch of demons! Sending them back from where they came! BACK DEMON SPAWN!!

Charlie

anxiously waiting for the truck to stop I watch the road ahead

Gabe

letting my blades out o move next to my belle good lord your hot when you’re pissed winking I slash my way through demons as the swarm is sending them back to hell

Claire

waits for the vehicle to stop

Crowley

I warp out of the Impala and start stabbing demons with one hand and shooting demons with my Lugar using the other

Dean

keep driving till we arrive slamming the car into park sliding to a stop i jump out grabbing my gun and running towards Gabe and donna

Sam

Grabbing for my weapons, I'm loading ammo into my pockets, demon blade and guns in both hands, ready to go even before Dean stops the car.

Sam

Fully loaded with Devil’s Trap bullets, I stand side by side with my brother once again and shoot at everything that moves our way. If this is how things end for me, I know that I’m alright with that, at least I’m right where I believe I’m meant to be.

Ellen

Pulling up to see demons everywhere. We all hop out

Donna

blushes red! thanks baby!!

Gabe

You got it darlin winking

Dean

start shooting at demons as I running looking over at Sammy next to me as I continue shooting right alongside my brother. Thinking This is my life. This is who I am.

Donna

I watch as you move on the attack thinking how hot you are too!!! 🔥

Claire

Gets out of the vehicle

Jo

I grab Moms and my shotgun and toss Moms over to her. “Mom, catch.” I begin shooting demons as fast as I can reload my shotgun

Ellen

catching the shotgun from jo we start shooting at as many demons as we can

Claire

starts swinging my sword at all of the demons that i can manage to strike down

Patience

with my gun pulled I head for Gabe to help

Dean

continue shooting FUCK THERES TOO MANY OF THESE DAMN BASTARDS!

Sam

Seems like there always is!

Henry

jumps out of the car and starts throwing demons with telekinesis. Hitting the demons on the ground. How many are there? There's a lot

Donna

Agreed!!!! Sweet F!!!! killing one after the other, with my archangel blade and some powers!

Charlie

jumping out of the truck I grab my angel blade and start taking out demons as Henry throws them to the ground I start moving closer to Gabe, Henry and patience

Sam

Trying to cover Dean, I keep sliding us in the direct of where Henry and Gabe are near the hydrant.

Dean

SON OF A BITCH! shooting my gun in every damn direction but up hitting demons trying to pick them off as we draw in on the team FUCK YOU LUCIFER YOU SON OF A BITCH WE KILLED YOUR SORRY ASS FOR A REASON!

Claire

continues killing demons that are stilling standing  

Patience

seeing a fire hydrant I get a idea Henry use your telekinesis

Crowley

I put my gun in my coat to throw some hex bags watching them blow up

Dean

Seeing henry and patience I keep shooting beside Sammy towards them and towards the hydrant

Henry

keeps moving towards dad. “On the fire hydrant? “ wanting to make sure I heard her right

Patience

When I say now open the fire hydrant

Ellen

headed towards Gabe, and patience and the others

Henry

Ok  drops the demons to get ready the hydrant I'm ready when you are

Donna

I move towards my love with the team! Taunting the demons here demons  demons demons!

Gabe

😂

Patience

Gabe bless the water coming from the hydrant

Gabe

Gazoontite

Crowley

I notice what's about to happen and warp far away from the blast

Jo

I begin moving towards the fire hydrant and the rest of the team

Patience

Everyone get the demons over here

Gabe

rushing over cutting demons down I put my hands on the hydrant speaking in rapid fir enochian blessing the water from the hydrant

Henry

opens the hydrant and watches it as it comes out like a geyser* watch out everyone!

Sam

Diving to the left to escape the water, I hit some loose gravel and slip down onto one knee. Shit!

Patience

stepping away from the hydrant and yelling now Henry NOW

Dean

got to run to dodge the water and trip over sam going ass over heels fuck! Ow!

Donna

as the water blasts from the hydrant, I dive to floor on my side!!!

Gabe

the water turns to holy water hitting the demons in every direction full force. The demons scream as they are forced from their vessels the sounds of screams, sizzling skin and the rush of smoke leaving the vessels nearly deafening around us

Charlie

I jump out of the way of the water and watch as the smoke rises from The meatsuits

Ellen

watching as the demons get hit with the holy water and start smoking

Ruby

Screaming from the pain of the hooks hitting us, I help Lucifer head for the portal

Sam

When the water hits Ruby, I can hear her screams above all the rest. RUBY! Jumping back to my feet, I run full out for Ruby and the portal.

Dean

SAMMY!!! run after you towards the portal

Gabe

Shit ! Sam ! Guys ! snapping the hydrant back together

Donna

Guys!!! Guys!!!!

Gabe

Let’s go save him from himself

Donna

We really need to close the portal!!!! We don’t need any more demons getting through!!!!

Charlie

I nod agreeing with donna

Henry

How do we close i?

To Be Continued...

………………………………

1. Looking at Gabe Sam asks point blank what he means by about that. Gabe explains that even though he killed Lucifer he can be brought back from the empty. Henry asks what he means. Gabe asks if he thinks that only humans can be brought back. Gabe reminds them they’ve brought Cass back before. Patience tells them that the time is coming and soon. Henry tells them that this is an all-hands situation they need to stop Lucifer from being brought back. Crowley appears in the bunker saying he’s never heard the pup say anything quite so brilliant. Sam pipes in that they need to get Ruby back to since someone left her in hell. Shocked to see Crowley, Sam asks what he’s doing there. Crowley tells him trying to make sure Lucifer doesn’t come back is in his best interest and he wants to help. Gabe Retorts, then tells Sam, Henry, Crowley and patience to get the weapons ready he’ll reach out to everyone.

2. In hell Ruby has agreed to help Abby fetch Lucifer from the empty but wants to know how. Abby says Has been talking with her explaining how to do it. Just then Abby’s eyes close and Lucifer so wake into her mind telling Abby that the book of spells she needs is buried in the library in hell. Lucifer promises both Abby and Ruby rewards beyond their wildest dreams for their help. Coming out of her trance Abby tells Ruby they need to head to the library in hell, Lucifer has told her where to find the book and tells her of the promises Lucifer has made. Ruby attempts to reach out to Sam and let him know what’s going on but finds that something is blocking her ability to do so. Reluctantly she follows Abby as she starts to lead the way through hell to Lucifer’s private library.

3. Sam, Patience, Crowley and Henry start to grab all the weapons as Gabe uses angel radio to send a message out to the team. Behind the bar serving drinks when she hears Gabe’s message. Jo runs out asking if Ellen heard it. Ellen nods and yells for ash to take over the bar. Jo and Ellen grab their gear jumping in Ellen’s truck. Charlie and Claire working on weapons training gear Gabe Charlie saying they need to go Claire agrees. Putting their blades away, hey hop in Charlie car heading for the bunker. Donna hearing Gabe’s call creates clones. Saying goodbye to the tinies she vanishes.

4. Ruby finds the book in Lucifer’s library as Abby browses the shelf. Using quick thinking she whispers a spell to copy all of the spells into a book back in her apartment. Abby yells out asking if she’s found anything as Ruby finishes the spell. Closing the book Ruby brings it over, telling Abby how it’ll be so much better to have a Lucifer back on the throne rather than Crowley. Abby couldn’t agree more. Skimming through the book Abby finds the spell then prays to lord Lucifer to help them find the ingredients they need to release him. (make them up, they should be very scarce) Lucifer answers her prayers telling Abby where to find them scattered throughout hell. Lucifer tells them it shouldn’t be this easy and he can sense team free will trying to stop them. Lucifer tells Ruby to summon more demons to protect them. Abby realty’s the message to Ruby as they start to walk through hell finding the ingredients. Ruby summons the demons. With so many demons Still loyal to Lucifer many of them appear. Wondering why they should do the work themselves; Ruby and Abby send the demons to gather the ingredients. Abby smirks watching them go as Ruby tries to think of a way to stop Abby.

5. As Sam sets the last of the guns on the table Henry says it looks like they are getting ready for war. Sam tells them that in a way they are. Donna appears wanting to know what’s going on. Claire, Charlie, Ellen and jo walk through the door together greeting everyone, Charlie says they all want to know the same thing. Gabe tells them to sit around the table and he’ll fill them in. Jo, Donna, Ellen, Sam, Patience, Henry, Claire, Charlie and Crowley make their way to the table, Crowley saying that Ruby and Abby are trying to bring Lucifer back, Charlie says that’s not possible Gabe killed him she thought. Sam snarks saying there’s no way Ruby would help, and that he thought Luci was dead too, but according to Gabe, there’s a loophole. Gabe’s about to respond when there’s a knock on the door. Sam heads up to answer, opening the door he sees Dean. Dean greets Sam hugging him.

6. The Demons hurry around hell grabbing the ingredients and bringing them back to Abby and Ruby. Ruby, trying to think of a way to stop it tries to play to Abby’s monstrous ego, commenting how this is the life. Demons doing their bidding. No real work. Maybe they should just take the thrones themselves. Abby smirks saying it would be fun but eventually she’d just have to kill Ruby and then where would they be? Besides the throne rightfully belongs to their lord Lucifer. Ruby nods noncommittally. The demons drop the last ingredients in front of them and Lucifer, from the empty, reaches out telling them it will take the power of both of them to release him from the empty, to do the spell that will open a portal into the empty. That they can’t do it in hell they need to be somewhere that’s neutral ground as the empty is neutral. Abby relays the message. Ruby says she knows just the place, a cemetery in Kansas. Abby agrees and she, Ruby and the demons vanish appearing in Hope cemetery. Abby tells the demons to keep watch team free will be coming. The demons rush off. Combing the ingredients Abby and Ruby start to recite the spell.

7. Sam leads Dean down into the bunker and the team welcomes him back warmly. Sam asks what he’s doing there he thought he was done with hunting he found deans note about starting a life with Lisa. Dean says that he and Lisa both knew he’d always be a hunter and that he needed to go back. He heard Gabe’s call and came running. Sam pushes for more but Dean tells him to drop it, then grins asking what’s going on. Dean gets his hugs from the family and joins the others at the table. Welcoming dean back, Gabe fills the team in on the situation when Patience yells out in pain, jo asks what’s wrong and Patience says she can see the demons trying to open the portal to the empty. Claire asks what demons and Patience says she can see Abby and Ruby. Ellen asks where they are as Sam sits in shaking his head saying it can’t be true. Patience assured him it is and tells the team they are at hope century. Charlie hope on her laptop sending the address to everyone’s phone. Donna tells the team to gear up. Crowley telling them all they need to hurry times wasting and if they open the portal Lucifer will be released and that’s far worse than him being on the throne. The TEAM gears up and starts to head to the vehicles.

8. As Ruby and Abby chant the ingredients burst into flames and the portal starts to open. They can hear Lucifer urging them on to hurry, their rewards will be plentiful once he’s back in the throne and in power. The portal continues to grow Abby pulling a blade from her pocket Abby cuts her arm telling Ruby to do the same as demon blood is the last ingredient the portal opens wider, and Lucifer stands there grinning about to step out when chains shoot out wrapping around his wrists pulling him back in. Abby screams for Abby to help her and the two demons rush through the portal.

9. Sam heads out to the garage telling dean to follow him. Henry and patience asking if they can go with them. Crowley claims shot gun and Sam and Dean turn staring at him, and Crowley says he’ll ride in the back. Claire and Charlie head out and Ellen tells them they can ride with her and jo and that they’ll meet the boys there. Charlie and Claire quickly agree hopping in the truck and Ellen speeds off. Gabe says he wants to do one last thing just in case. Grabbing one of Claire’s extra swords he uses his power to create a hand of God weapon. Donna asks what he’s doing, and he says he’s not taking any chances. Yelling they’ll meet them there Gabe and donna vanish. As Sam and Dean arrive at the Impala, Dean gushes over the car. Grinning Sam pulls the keys from his pockets tossing them to Dean. Catching them dean tells the others to hop in. Patience, Crowley and Henry hop in the back. Sam and Dean get in and dean starts the car loving the sound of the engine. Looking around the car dean looks to Sam and thanks him for not douching up his baby this time. Sam makes a smart-ass remark and Crowley tells them to hurry it’s not like all hell is about break out on earth or anything. Henry and patience agree. Dean kicking the car into drive speeds off.

10. Rushing through the portal Abby screams for Lucifer only to find him being held by the empty. Abby demands he let him go and Ruby tries a more diplomatic approach promising the empty they won’t bother him again. The empty tells them they keep promising that and yet here they are disturbing him. Lucifer demands to be let go. Abby rushes to him piling the chains off a now weakens and bloody Lucifer. The empty screams at them shooting hooked chains at them as Ruby Luci and Abby try to make it to the portals entrance. Narrowly avoiding the clutches Ruby Lucifer and Abby get hit hard by the hooks crying out as they are tripped up. Lucifer tells for them to keep going.

11. Donna and Gabe appear at the cemetery and nearly upon appearing they are attacked by demons. Donna uses her powers to send a few of them back to hell. Gabe letting his blades out starts to take out demons as the others pull up in their vehicles. Jumping out the team joins in the fight. Crowley pulling starts to cut them down, Claire using her sword starts to take down demons left and tight Jo, grabbing her and Ellen’s shot guns toss Ellen hers as they join in the fray shooting down demons. Sam and Dean pull their guns side by side and start to shoot down as many demons as they can dean yelling that there’s too many. Charlie and donna agree.  Henry, using his telekinesis starts to throw demons Charlie stabbing them with her angel blade as they hit the ground. Patience pulls out her gun when she sees a fire hydrant getting an idea. Yelling for Henry and Gabe she rubs towards it motioning for them to follow. Henry and Gabe catch up. Patience tells Henry to use his powers to open the hydrant and for Gabe to bless the water on her mark. Patience tells for everyone to lead the demons over. Jo, Ellen, Sam, Dean, Charlie and donna start to head towards where Gabe Henry and Patience are, the hydrant behind them. Patience stepping away yells NOW ! Henry, using his powers opens the hydrant the water shooting out as Gabe blesses the water. The team seeing what’s happening dives out of the way as the rush of water hits the demons. The demons start to scream as the smoke out heading back to hell. Hearing Ruby scream Sam yells her name and runs for the portal. Dean screams for Sam but the team follow. Donna telling them they need to close the portal.

[atthebell]

here's the thing, to me, which is something cellbit talks a lot about as something he really appreciates about the qsmp: the admins really, really care about player styles and making things work for them, rather than forcing them into things they're not comfortable with. this has been consistent throughout the server's existence, and i'm confident it will turn out to be the case here.

i think, in part, the purgatory event is meant to be part of that method, to cater to the pvpers and the strategists and the people less interested in rp (perhaps to entice some inactive members back, although again, i think there is a certain extent to which we just have to give up on some people ever coming back, or at least not with any frequency), and in part is meant to allow players who aren't interested in these things to find workarounds (although the balancing does need serious work).

i think red team deciding that they're not even going to play the game (as in the team quests game, not qsmp itself) and are going to find another route is actually something the admins may have expected and wanted-- obviously the eye person and the forces of this new island are not telling the truth, so why not disobey and see what you can figure out in the process? same thing as insaneduo's plan to build the iron farm to see what cucurucho would do when someone broke the rules-- they wanted to test the limits of the game mechanics and rules themselves and find out more information. i can see a path forward for red where they insist that fighting each other isn't what will get them the eggs back, and that finding out more about the island is a necessary part of this whole thing.

i do think that it's very strange to take an incredibly rp & investigation heavy server and suddenly turn it into a minecraft pvp questing event, aside from even the team balancing issues. it makes me think there really must be something else going on, because otherwise admins have suddenly forgotten their focus on catering to each player's wants in terms of playstyle, which i cannot see happening. they know what they're doing, even if stuff doesn't always work out perfectly at first, so i think this will make sense eventually.

once again, i want to be positive about all this and have faith that it will work out, and i want to remind people NOT to be toxic to anyone about this event, including creators, admins, and other fans.

okay after i eat dinner and feel like a human person for a bit ill post more thoughts but i think things could balance out and i think red focusing on their rp skill genuinely could go in such an interesting direction

[ninjakasuga]

Sonally Celebration, Year 3, Day Seven & Eight.

Sonally Celebration Week, Year Three, Day Seven & Eight: Slip & Rest.

Due to work wearing me down some I took day seven off and combined both prompts together since they can work nicely together. I had a blast again this year, and maybe I can muster the drive to get my solo-writing back on track, as well as get back to some hiatus’d RP’s I owe people.

Slip & Rest:

Setting her stylus pen down, Sally’s eyes glanced over the proposal she had finished penning on her tablet device. Once she was satisfied with the outline, and it’s concise word usage, she manually saved the document, and then had it sent to each of the Acorn Council members to go over, and give their input before they agreed on a finalized draft to implement. “Done, and done! Nicole, what's next on the docket for today?”

Materializing from one of the many holographic emitters through the castle, Nicole the Lynx appeared. Sporting a rather nice looking lavender, women's business suit. With the dress shirt under the suit jacket a lovely cream-pink. Hands folded, she smiled at Sally as her eyes closed briefly. “Absolutely nothing else! You’re finished for the day!”

Sally blinked, and looked at the clock at her desk, “How can that be? It’s only two o’clock, I should have more work until four or four-thirty. I could have sworn I had a remaining proposal to look over-.”

With a simple wave of her hand in a dismissive gesture, Nicole interjected politely. “You did, but I delegated it, as I did the rest of your itinerary.”

Flabbergasted, Sally pushed back from her desk, but remained sitting. “W-why?! Why did you do that Nicole? Some of those documents could use my oversight!”

“Yes, but also no. None of them were documents that couldn’t be looked over by the right delegate who is knowledgeable of the topic. They will have to cross your desk again, but for today others can do your work.” Hands now behind her back, Nicole’s smile faded, her expression now mild disappointment, and also full of concern. “You’re starting to overwork yourself again, and above all else, you’re still recovering from your ‘slip’.”

Grimacing, Sally looked down at her right leg, which was in a cast. “I’m sitting down, and off of it-.” “Doctor’s orders were to elevate it as much as possible. You can’t do that at a desk.” The Lynx stated in a firm, chiding manner as she moved closer and eyed the leg in question. “Why aren’t you doing this from bed or a couch at least?”

Sighing, Sally dragged a hand over her face. “Because, I get comfy, and I want to rest, I start to let my mind wander, or get nap-craven…”

An amused expression crossed the cyber-lynx’s face as she steps closer and places a hand on Sally’s shoulder. The nanites in her hologram made her body solid so she could do so. “That’s what you get when you don’t get enough rest. Your body will eventually start to remind you it has needs.”

Whining a little, a rarity from Sally unless she was ‘tired’. “I just have so much to do-.” “You have people to delegate your workload, myself included.” Reminded Nicole with an all-too-familiar tone of playful snark. “Sally this isn’t the war, you don’t need to take the world on your shoulders.”

Running a hand through her hand, Sally sighed again. Deep down she knew Nicole was right, but she had her reasons for being hyper-focused on certain aspects of work. “I know, I know, but after what happened in Spagonia last year, I wanted to hit hard on stemming any further diplomatic issues that have cropped up since-.”

The hand on her shoulder softly squeezed, empathy deep in Nicole’s voice. “I know you’re worried about a repeat of the kidnapping. Nor have any relations with other countries soured over bad diplomacy; but the whole incident was staged by a handful of greedy jerks.”

 “Greedy jerks, with a lot of pull, and a decent sized following of morons who bought their spiel, hook, line and sinker.” Sally reminded Nicole, shuddering as the memory of the whole incident made her heart clench in terror. The fear of someone wanting to hurt her babies to get back at her never truly left her. “I can’t let that happen again, ever.”

“None of us want it to happen again. That’s why we made those bracelet watches with two of my A.I.’s to be with them at all times. Whisper and Tangle are their new bodyguards and they’re among the best, and you and Sonic have been teaching them to defend themselves. In fact…” Nicole gestured to Sally’s leg. “That’s how you got that, you got over-zealous showing them some of your moves.”

A blush formed on Sally’s cheeks, going up to the tips of her ears. After the kidnapping incident, both Sonic and she wanted to start the children learning some basic self-defense. They made it a full family event with all four of them practicing, and the kids were really receptive. Then again, they always liked to see their parents show off for them, and neither Sonic nor she could resist those eyes, and pouty lips for too long.

So Sally decided last week to really show off some of her acrobatics. Even after all these years, a lot of it just came back to her, even the skills she rarely used since the war (she did keep up some of her training as an exercise regime) she found herself slipping back into use without too much catch-up practice. However, Sally was now over thirty, and was a bit more… ‘filled-out’ since her teen years. So during one wall-flip and somersault onto another surface maneuver, she miscalculated and ended up landing on her one leg, the wrong kind of way.

Luckily the break wasn’t bad, but of course Dr. Jolene had insisted on bed-rest for the majority of the next month, and to stay off the leg as much as possible. For the first two weeks, Sally obliged the order; until the itch to crack at her work got the better of her. Deep down Sally knew she was being somewhat unreasonable, but she couldn’t just be lazy all day when things had to be done!

Realizing she’d been silent for a time, and Nicole was looking at her with curious concern. Sally shook her head. “I'm well aware of how my leg got injured.” Hands on her desk, she stood up, making sure to lean on her good leg, and not let go of the desk. Reaching for her crutches, she managed to slip them under her arms and eased from the desk. In such a quick motion, Nicole didn’t have a chance to offer to help her with them. “In anycase, even if my other tasks have been delegated, I can still stop by the Council Chamber to-.”

Having had her fill of indulging the notion Sally might listen to reason and ‘rest’, Nicole decided to act and clapped her hands. Instantly she was connected to the intercom of the library. “Sonic, your lovely wife is trying to hobble out to the Council to work when she should be resting.

Eyes wide, and panic setting in, Sally glared at the Lynx who just smiled widely. “Nicole you traitor!” She turned to try and ‘hobble off’, but she could already hear not one, but three ‘booms’, followed by the sound of fast footsteps. Sally could only make a ‘meep’ sound as the door to her office flew open, and there stood her husband and children. “H-hey you three, you didn’t need to interrupt afternoon reading time. I was just seeing myself-.”

Sonic didn’t say a word, he simply crossed the distance, and instantly scooped Sally into his arms. Carrying her just like he always did. “Save the excuses for the Doc, you’re going back to bed. No work, at all. Nicole hun, can I count on you to do your thing?”

“Always my main Hog.” She smiled ever widely, nodding and with a bow, her physical form dissolved as she rejoined the castle’s nanite-network to go about her duties.

Wiggling in Sonic’s grasp, Sally puffed her cheeks, trying to look miffed, but only made herself look like a petulant child. “I can move on my own! I have crutches!” “Denied babe, kids, can you pick up the crutches for me?”

“Yes Dad!” The two seven year olds each grab and crutch and heft the item. The two lay their gazes upon their mother, practically mimicking their Father’s disappointment.

“Mama…” Kathleen puffed her cheeks, and attempted to intensify her glare. “You’re supposed to be resting!”

 As they followed their Father into the hallway, J.C. began to count off as he joined his sister in roasting their mother. “Doctor’s orders, Dad’s orders, Auntie Nicole’s orders, Aunt Bunnie and Uncle Twan’s orders-.”

“I know, I know!” Sally threw up her arms, admitting defeat, if not entirely in a graceful manner. Arms crossed she grumbled as Sonic carried her, she looked to her husband. “Isn’t carrying me a bit much?” She seemed to get more antsy about this fact, than her family putting her in the spotlight.

“Nope.” With a foot he kicked the door open softly, yet swiftly.

“...Aren’t I heavy?”

“Still nope.” Sonic eyed his wife, taking notice of his wife’s look of self-consciousness about the weight comment. “Hey kids, can you do me a solid?” He turned his head to regard the apples of his eye, smiling all the while.

“What can we do for you Dad?” Asked J.C. as he set the crutch he had carried against the wall. Something his sister mimicked as they both gave Sonic their full attention.

“Zip to the kitchen, and if Miss Cream’s there, ask her to whip up some pasta, garlic bread for dinner, and whatever else you two want. After you’re done, go and play, I got Mama from here.”

“Are you sure Daddy?” Kathleen raised an eyebrow. “Mama can be wily.”

He chuckled, gosh the kids were picking up those fancy words their Mama liked to use. “She can, but I can be more, that word you used. I got this.” He smiled and winked at the two children.

After a beat, the two children shared a look. “They’re gonna be gross.” Kathleen surmised after a moment. “Probably.” Her twin nodded, and the two rushed out of the room, making sure to close the door behind them. “Sheesh, us gross?” He grinned at Sally as he brought her to the bed, carefully settling her into her side. “How slander’in can you get? By our own kids!”

Unable to help herself, Sally giggled, lifting her leg as Sonic fit a pillow under her cast-laden limb. “Well to them, us kissing and being cuddly can be seen as gross.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged, gazing at his beautiful wife for a moment. Soaking in the view before taking her hand into his. “Something up Sal? I mean besides you not taking bed-rest orders, why’re you so touchy about me picking you up? Do you really think you’re heavy or something?”

“W-well…” The blush returned, from her neck to her ears. As those emerald eyes gazed upon her she looked away. “W-well I am, thicker than before-.” “Sal, it’s called having kids. Even I know most women have some ‘thicc’ added afterward. You’re still gorgeous as ever, plus you still work out, and keep in shape.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re the last person I’d consider fat hun. Why did someone accuse you of such?”

“No, no this is entirely on me. I’ve just noticed it more, at how ‘thicc’ I am as you’ve put it. Plus without being able to work out due to my leg, it’s like...I just notice so easily when I’ve gained weight.” She rubbed her arms, feeling so vain about being worried over her figure or weight. “I just, wonder if I was off my jump that messed up my leg because of all this extra weight on me…”

“Ahh, I see…” Sonic still felt she was being silly, but he knew he shouldn’t dismiss her concerns either. Kicking his shoes off, he rounded the bed and climbed on from his side so he could sit next to her. Slipping his arm around her waist he leaned in and rested his cheek to hers. “Sally, sweetie, trust me you’re still fine as ever. That said, I could ask the Doc if there’s some exercises you can do without your legs, and we can ask the cook staff to give ya’ mostly light meals until you’re well enough to exercise properly again.”

“I think I would like that…” She murmured, leaning into him and enjoying the contact.

“As for your weight being why you got hurt… We’re both getting older, but Sal, babe, lookit me.” Once she did he leaned in, kissing her softly. “Just cuz’ your hips, boobs and thighs are a li’ thicker than before. Doesn’t mean you still aren’t looking after yourself, you keep in shape, and well… babe, last year you tore through a buncha armed idiots with just a sword, boots and fists. None of em’ laid a hand on you. You are not losing your touch.”

“I guess, I am being a bit silly…” Sally was still not entirely convinced, but it was nice to hear Sonic’s words. Sure he could charm and butter up anyone if he tried; but she knew him well enough when he was BS’ing. Now wasn’t the case. “Although I could argue you are biased.”

He merely grinned. “So I’m biased, I happen to enjoy being biased toward the woman I married.”

“Good to know, though truth be told.” Nuzzling his cheek, Sally peppered him with soft kisses. “I’m rather biased toward the wonderful man I married.”

After the two embraced again, Sonic leaned back and gently booped her nose. “Now if you’ll just relax and get some rest…”

“I get it, I get it, I know when I’m licked Sonic.”

His eyebrows waggle, “I haven’t done any of that… yet.” A laugh tore from her throat as she lightly smacked his arm. “Sonic!! Hahaha, oh you’re terrible!” “I dunno, you didn’t complain last time.” Arms reclining behind his head, the hedgehog clearly enjoyed his wife’s laughter at his admittedly naughty commentary.

“N-no, I didn’t…” Snerking, Sally shook her head, fighting another blush on her cheeks. “I’m sorry I’ve been difficult, I just… I feel compelled to see things through myself.”

“I get’cha Sal, still, relax, rest.” He insisted as he eased her against her pillows. “I’ll rest with ya’.”

“Going to keep an eye on me, huh warden?”

“If the shoe fits.” He shrugged, his infuriating smile remaining on his face. 

With a dramatic sigh, Sally reclined against the pillows, arms up as if she expected to be cuffed and hauled away. “I submit myself to the court.” “Just be sure to repeat that, as the kids are just as concerned as I am.” He stated playfully, going for one last dig. A bit low, but he wanted her to contemplate on that.

“Ouch… right, ughh.” She dragged a hand over her face. “I probably haven’t been setting a good example for them…” Knowing her children, they would milk that for all they could.

“Eh, I can’t be the only one giving em’ bad habits.” Sonic conceded with a mild shrug, before wrapping his hand over hers. “Now, how about we just lie here and chill here until supper is ready?”

Smiling softly, Sally squeezed his hand. “It’s a date, Sonic.”

[mikaze-discord]

Love letter project ♡

Sooo to celebrate the 4th anniversary of Shining live, I put together a project! I basically got a bunch of people to write a love letter for their favourite boy. Things like, why they like them, how they got to like them and what they like about them were all accepted!

The event was supposed to have 2 fans for each boy but unfortunately I was unable to get two for some of the boys. 

Under the cut will be the love letters for all of Class A!!! Please enjoy~ And thank you for all the people who participated in the event and taking the time to write the love letters out. 

CLASS A

OTOYA ITTOKI

From @ponzu-penzui:

Hello world! My nickname is Yuki, and I’m here to tell you about the sunshine boy that is Otoya Ittoki. The redhead of the series, Otoya is your seemingly a-typical sunshine in a mascot boy character. But, as we all know with these types, the sunshine isn’t as, well, sunshine as they seem. Or, if you didn’t know, well… spoiler alert I guess. Go watch the anime, or play the otome games, then come back here. Anyways, let’s get started on our journey, shall we? Through the rabbithole that got me here in the first place!

Otoya immediately became my best boy the second I saw him. I’m not quite sure what immediately got me at first, whether it be his red hair and eyes, his voice, or his immediate friendliness, but here we are. I should also mention that UtaPri was my first idol anime, so I was completely unaware what was going to hit me later. And, if you’ve watched the entire anime, you know where I’m going.

Season 4 was an emotional wreck. I cried at least twice. Did I have a newfound appreciation for Otoya after all that heartache? Definitely. Without spoilers, it was incredibly painful for me to watch, but I don’t regret it.

After watching the anime, I soon found out about the existence of Shining Live. So, with no other UtaPri content to binge, I started to play SL in late 2018. After playing for a little more than a year, I tiered in my first Otoya event (Heartwarming Snow Festival), and achieved my first top 200. Ever since then, I’ve tiered in every Otoya event, getting top 200, then top 100.

But, why do I like Otoya Ittoki even to this day? Well, I guess this is the time where I say that, after a certain point, I started to see bits of myself in Otoya. This led me to start to RP him, and, as you probably know if you’ve ever roleplayed a character before, I started to look at the miniscule amount of translated game content (many thanks to the Ohayaho Translation Team) for, well, more content. And content I did receive. Long story short, this only served to solidify Otoya as my favorite boy of not only UtaPri, but from all anime/manga/game content I’ve ever seen/watched. His cheerfulness may have been the first thing that got me in this rabbithole, but his backstory and how he managed to grow up pulled me in even further. And, I don’t think I will or want to get out anytime soon.

Next one from; Anon

As much as we all know our Otoya for how sweet and kind he is, there is so much more to him than just a precious smile. He is uplifting, cheerful towards everyone he meets. He has empathy and goes out of his way to make sure his friends are happy. Even so, Otoya has feelings that aren’t always happiness and smiles. He can feel sad and angry just like anyone else.

The reason I care and love Otoya so much is because he has shown me that I don’t have to always put on a smile. It’s nice to show off your pearly whites, but sometimes, it’s okay to be sad too. There are times in everyone’s life when they feel out of place and that they don’t belong. Otoya also felt this way and that’s perfectly okay. He’s still being the best idol he can be: The idol that Otoya loves the most.

MASATO HIJIRIKAWA

From Anon: 

Masato Hijirikawa. Why do I like Masato Hijirikawa? I like him to the point that it feels weird for me to even question why I do. He's just- a good boy. A great boy. I love him. As a joke, I'd usually say that it was his weirdly pretty, bowl-cut hairstyle that drew me to him, or I'd say that he caught my interest when I read that he was "very good with his hands" (wink wonk) in his Shining Live description, and while both of these reasons are still true, it wasn't until I started role playing him in an old server that I really started to appreciate his character more.

Masato, despite his aloof and almost "perfect" initial image, is a very relatable character. When he first arrived at Saotome (in-game) he wasn't necessarily seen as someone with a lot of talent to become an idol, which he acknowledged with grace and worked hard to make up for. He's humble despite his privileged upbringing and is incredibly self-aware of his flaws, which are sources of insecurity for him sometimes (a lot of times). Though it should be said that most of this insecurity stems from not having a lot of control over his early life, which is why it felt so gratifying to see him break free of his metaphorical chains to pursue his happiness without any doubts. He's a hard worker and is willing to accept criticism with open arms, not only for himself but for the people around him. Despite his traditional upbringing and nature, he's very receptive to change as long as it benefits both him and STARISH. He values the people he cares about more than anything, which is why he constantly strives to be a better version of himself every day, not only for himself but for the people around him.

Though his stoicism sometimes makes him seem plain or even "boring" to some people, he hides a warm, hidden passion within that's just as bright as everyone else's. Like the springtime bloom of cherry blossoms after winter, Masato shows his passion and love with no restraint to anyone who takes the time to understand him, and I can very much attest to this. I love him a lot and I hope to see more content of him, STARISH, and the others for more years to come.

NATSUKI SHINOMIYA

From uh....me:

HELLO I’m Z~ also known as the mod of the mikaze-discord/utapri-hcs tumblrs, as well as the organiser for the event! But enough about myself, let's talk about Natsuki Shinomiya.

When I first watched the anime as a youngin, I had already known about the games and their plots but had decided to try out the anime as well since I had nothing better to do.

Natsuki was actually one of my least favourite characters in the anime just because of how they presented him. I just...didn't care for him at all. He was just some random tall guy who loved hugs and almost murder…. Yeah.

I’m sure like most, I had a changing point. Originally, I was a Tokiya rper but...I was just unhappy with how my Tokiya was, I wasn't as experienced in rping with that server being my first rp server i was ever in. I didn't feel like I matched up with the others. I felt my Tokiya was just lacking something, substance maybe. Another person actually had a similar feeling and had changed their character from Camus to Syo and since we already had an Ai, I had just decided to go with the flow and complete the rest of the cute team. Best decision of my life. I’m so grateful for Natsuki and everything I associate him with. Without him, I probably wouldn't have made my tumblrs, I wouldn't have stayed in that server, I wouldn't have gone looking for other servers to rp in. I don't think I would be the same without Natsuki. I just find him so endearing now, he is just a lovable giant who happens to be able to be a disney princess. He is just so darn cute damn it. , just look at his Christmas card, his King card, quite literally just half his Shining live URs. Also, just like his songs just slap. Natsuki to me, is just serotonin. He gave me so many opportunities that I could have missed. I don't even think I would have started this love letter project without him if I’m being completely honest. I genuinely enjoyed all the memories I made as Natsuki. Thank you to Natsuki and to the Mikaze-discord for basically starting me off.

From Luke:

Natsuki was actually the very first character I encountered before I got into utapri. A friend showed a photo of him and told me that I'd probably be into this guy. She sure was right! After installing shining live for the first time and having a familiar face on the screen, I grew curious of him each day and just had to find out why was so attracted to him. The fact that I've seen him so many times in the past was haunting me, telling me that this man actually watched me grow up from a distance without even knowing his name. It sounds weird but I find it rather comforting for someone who doesn't want to be protected but isn't strong enough to defend myself alone.

The thought of having him there was enough to get me through the day and gave me enough reason to wake up to the next. I admit I may have adapted some of his habits after looking after his account for a year but that isn't a bad thing if it means that it would turn me into a much better person than I am now. I guess you could say we've grown together now in a sense, preserving the feelings and just living through the moment no matter how happy or sad it is. What's important is that we're not alone in all things we do and in everything we feel, there will always be someone there to keep us moving when we feel like giving up.

[appleflavoredkitkats]

Do you have any more info on the fiance situation in Las Nevadas au? :-D or just anything in that au in general (only if you want tho sbajjdkfL) since its vv cool <3 /p

▪︎Beep

i've talked about the fiances before but i'm down to expound on it a little further :DDD this is kinda half assed but still long so MSJDJD

tw: self-destructive behavior, memory loss, breakups (not too horrible i promise)

/dsmp /rp

quackity is definitely immensely hurt by his loved ones leaving him. it ruins him. he feels like his heart is left to bleed out every single day he sees that no one from the south is coming over. he has a telescope atop his hotel, the tallest building, which he uses to look closely at the south (where kinoko kingdom lies). on his free days, or sometimes in the afternoon when he doesn't attend the events, he sits on the roof and looks out at a distance.

i think the longest he's been out on the roof was when karl messaged their chat through the communicator. it was a simple “where am i”, and quackity was quick to respond. he instructs karl to go to las nevadas, assuming he was lost, so he basically cancelled every gig he had to observe his surroundings.

(turns out, he never came. quackity sat on that roof for 15 hours before he was pulled away by fundy.)

but their abandonment was never intentional. quackity knows there has to be something more to it, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

he at least also got word from sapnap. after much encouragement from schlatt, quackity finally was brave enough to send him a message. first, he sent a simple “sapnap? where have you been”, then a more desperate “what happened to us?”.

sapnap replies almost immediately that it threw quackity off, “been around, adventuring, getting away from things.” then the second one took a bit longer, “not gonna lie, i thought our engagement was off ever since we kinda. stopped talking to one another. you kind of left us, didn't you?”

and quackity is hurt. he's baffled, he's irritated, but he's fucking livid. schlatt has told him multiple times that he needs to control his anger a little bit better, but in times like this, no matter how petty it may be, he wanted to fucking wreck his room. and so he did— first he threw his communicator against the wall. it was still salvageable, so quackity decided to grab his glowstone lamp and toss it against the communicator. he flips his dresser, throwing it against his bed, and it bounces off and destroys his cabinet. when he looks at his right, he sees a window, and he raises his fist to punch—

and someone is grabbing back. “q, quackity, alex, please,” schlatt pleads. when did schlatt get to his room? “come on, self-destruction is my kind of thing,” schlatt adds, and it summons a smile from quackity's lips before a sob tears out. and it doesn't stop. quackity cries— and he doesn't cry often, especially in front of his coworkers or family or whatever they are. he hates it, he hates emotions— he tried to fucking suppress it all in las nevadas because all of this, all of these casinos and hotels and bars are meant to be his coping mechanism, his distraction. the tears always finds a way to seep through, though.

eventually, they do crumble to the ground, and they sit like that for a while. quackity crying against schlatt's blazer as schlatt merely rubs comforting circles on his back. eventually, fundy does come in with some snacks and a deck of cards, and it was enough for quackity to at least feel better for the rest of the day.

on another day, where quackity was supposed to have fun partying around and doing the same old shit he does every other day, a mysterious green, whorled portal appears in the middle of his casino. most of the staff and the customers stand back, but from the portal, a white-clad brunette falls from it. he doesn't look all to phased by his fall, but when he stands, he realizes the predicament he's in and immediately stiffens awkwardly.

quackity knows him. that's karl— the karl who somehow disappeared from the server for so long that quackity forgot he even fucking existed. what happened to him? why is he all white? why have his eyes become spirals? what's going on?

“hi,” karl greets casually, but his eyebrows are furrowed awkwardly, “uhm, where am i?”

“karl?” quackity says immediately. he stands in uncertainty before fundy nudges at him to go closer whispering “talk to karl, i'll be in charge of the event.” fundy claps twice and immediately announces that their slot machines will double in payout for the next hour, and the crowd immediately goes wild. karl seems a bit lost by the noise, but quackity quickly grabs him away from the crowds and out to the streets.

“gee, those people were. eager to waste their money. gosh darn rich people,” karl says, and quackity laughs, but his smile immediately drops when karl adds,” nevermind them, i guess, but uh, who are you, exactly?"

and quackity's heart churns. he's heard of a few memory loss cases in their server—it's quite scary to hear how common it's become to just lose yourself entirely—but he didn't think it'd apply to karl. he doesn't even know where karl has BEEN all this time. what happened? why does karl not remember? does sapnap know about this?

quackity decides to not reveal much immediately, so he puts on his typical charming façade and replies, “i'm quackity, or alex, any will do. i'm the owner of this place— las nevadas. it's a place for gambling, drinking, and well, fun! do you, uh, do you remember me?"

quackity sees karl visibly shift awkwardly, and it does summon a sigh out of quackity. “guess you don't, huh?” he says sardonically.

“time travelling kinda... ruins you, sometimes,” karl replies

time travelling...? is... is that what made karl leave? not make karl remember? when in the ever living hell did karl, the nicest, sweetest man he knows, ever been allowed to time travel?

“oh,” he just says instead, “well, uh, i was a close friend of yours."

"oh?" karl replies, “kinda like uhm, uh, do you know sapnap? or george."

damn. quackity's façade immediately melts— how does he know about them and not HIM? why did karl remember them and not quackity? why was he forgotten? quackity immediately hisses, turns away and responds, “i'm giving you a free hotel room for the night and i'm calling sap to pick you up. just walk seventy blocks to your right and talk to manifold, or something, christ you fucking irritate me.” he knows karl probably won't understand, and he knows he's breaking this already broken relationship even more, but he can't... he can't look at them the same way anymore.

karl does get to a hotel room, and quackity does visit him just to make sure everything is alright. thankfully, fundy did repair his communicator after his last tantrum, and he uses it to tell sapnap to pick karl up from las nevadas. sapnap doesn't ask where it is— he simply tells him “ok” and goes offline.

when sapnap arrives, he doesn't look as miffed as quackity expected him to be. he looks... well, definitely more composed than him and karl, but he still looked a bit tired. he has some new scars, but quackity guesses sapnap probably wasn't lying when he said he was out adventuring. before quackity could greet sap, sapnap enters the room abruptly and karl practically throws himself at sapnap.

and jealousy is a fickle thing, isn't it? quackity's heart is still torn, it's still bleeding, and it continues to do so the longer he stares at the sight of the other two. he withholds a scowl, mostly because he knows he might go on another temper tantrum if he doesn't, and he also knows he can't... he can't get mad at them. he's waited forever for this moment.

“wow,” quackity murmurs, and sap turns to him, “things really have changed."

sapnap sighs, “we built you a house in kinoko, but you never came."

"and i made las nevadas entirely for you as well." quackity responds, “i guess it's just... unfortunate timing, and all." it's silent for a few moments until, “i'm sorry”.

sapnap's look softens, “i'm— i'm sorry too.”

there's so much more words to say, things to clarify, stories to catch up on, but quackity wonders how worth it it is to cling onto his past. karl and sap's visit is quite... underwhelming, to say the least. but maybe it isn't underwhelming at all— maybe he just found a new purpose outside of them, and he's just... moved on. it hurt, obviously, but when he looks out of karl's hotel room window, he sees las nevadas. he sees the casinos he's designed for schlatt and fundy, and the bars he's designed for jack and sam, and the stages he's designed for charlie— it's just... different now. he loves karl and sapnap still, of course, but he's also been hurt by them, and he's grown into a different person from that hurt. he thinks sapnap has grown the same way as well.

but still, “you know you're invited to las nevadas if you ever want to visit again,” quackity offers with a melancholic smile.

sapnap sighs, but he mimics quackity's smile and nods, “i'll consider it.” sapnap pauses for a bit, then, “thank you for everything, quackity— i really do mean it. i hope... i hope you enjoy the life you've made for yourself here, kinda looks cool,” sapnap says, and his words were very soft and genuine— something quackity needed to end this chapter of his life with them.

“thank you too, i hope you guys do well too. take care,” quackity says, and sapnap and karl take their leave with simple goodbyes.

it isn't exactly forgiveness or getting back together but it's... closure. quackity's journey up to this point isn't exactly all smiles and rainbows, but he's happy where he is now. he just hopes sapnap, karl, and george are feeling the same as well.

[drowningbydegrees]

Fanfic Tag Game

Thanks for the tag @lokibus! <3 <3 <3

How many works do you have on Ao3?

54. I've written quite a bit more, but I just can't be bothered to carry over most of the fics from my LJ days. Also, once upon a time I had a super insecure streak and I went on an orphaning spree, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What’s your total Ao3 word count?

Apparently 457,241! Kinda same as above.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Though I Try Not To (The Witcher)

I'm so weirdly pleased about this. I fell into Witcher fandom totally by accident. I don't usually do fixit fics, but I couldn't help myself. This is, I think, the only fic to date where I've started posting as a WIP and actually followed through and finished.

Where All Roads Lead (MCU)

If there is one plot device I'm just eternally a sucker for, it's time travel shenanigans. This was one of the two time travely fics I wrote for Stucky fandom.

For The Space of a Heartbeat (The Witcher)

I'm honestly really surprised by this? This was totally just a self indulgent spur of the moment kinda thing, and it's only a couple thousand words.

Even in the Dark I Know You (The Witcher)

Okay, I lied. There were two WIPs I actually followed through and finished. This started as a random oneshot for a whump week thing, and then the prompt for the next day fit so well with a follow up chapter that this just turned into a whole story. I really enjoy subverting tropes and with witcher biology I see a lot of sensory overload kinds of fics, so I decided to play with the idea in reverse.

Even if it Hurts (Even if it Makes Me Bleed) (The Witcher)

So, most of the time when I settle into a fandom, there's one fic idea that I feel like I cannot leave without writing. For Witcher fandom, this was that fic. I have a lot of complicated thoughts about soulmates as a romantic concept, even more so when you're involving characters like Geralt, for whom fate is so often a double edged sword. This story was very much an excuse to dig into what soulmates mean for personal agency under the guise of a narrative. XD

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Admittedly, I do this with embarrassing inconsistency. Basically, what happens is: * Something gets a good response. * I respond to a few comments and then find myself overwhelmed (mentally, not as in there are a truly overwhelming number of comments). * I step away for a bit. * A month later I realize I still haven't replied. Cue paralyzing indecision about whether it's too late to reply. * Rinse and repeat.

I do want to! And I'm working on it. I've gotten a little better about it, but my apologies to anyone who I haven't responded to. Please know I'm not intentionally ignoring you. ;_;

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Oh hmm. I had a reputation for a really long time as primarily an angst writer, but pretty much all my stories have a happy ending for some given quantity of happy. I guess it kind of depends on how one qualifies that.

Noonwraiths and Other Woodland Forest Creatures maybe. It's got a got a pretty fluffy ending.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

It's a tossup.

I, The Paradox, which is my other time travel fic from my Stucky fandom days, with a paradox (shocking) that lands Steve with two versions of Bucky. For plot purposes even! It's not a particularly smutty story. It ends sort of ambiguously. There's a sequel outlined that was meant to resolve said ambiguity, but alas, it's still sitting in my WIP folder.

Truth in the Periphery. It's a psychological horror story I wrote for an event. I think it's the only fanfic I've ever written that was really intended as a hurt/no comfort kind of story.

Do you write crossovers?

I haven't, but not because I specifically don't. I've just never had an idea that felt compelling enough to follow through on.

have you ever received hate on a fic?

Maaaaybe once or twice a long, long, long time ago, back when FFN was still the best option for posting outside of LiveJournal. I don't think it was even about the writing. I think it was someone was mad that my much younger self tried to sneak smut onto FFN.

Do you write smut? if so, what kind?

I have such a love/hate relationship with smut in my own work. I used to write it a lot because I felt like I had to. It was until I came to terms with being more or less ace irl that it occurred to me why I didn't enjoy writing it. Weirdly, I like reading it just fine.

The thing is, while I don't really care for the physical aspect of it, I like the emotional touchpoints of it, so I do still write smut sometimes. It just tends to be a little cursory in terms of action details and heavy on character dynamics.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No. But I used to RP a lot, and it's always been a lot of fun, so I wouldn't be opposed to the idea!

What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Oh shoot. From a romantic standpoint that varies so much depending on what fandom I'm currently feeling enthusiastic about. It's pretty much always a specific character that draws me to a fandom, so I think the most consistent ship I have is favorite character/unconditional love and support. XD

What’s a wip that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

The sequel to I, The Paradox I mentioned earlier.

What are your writing strengths?

If there's one thing I feel like I have a consistently good handle on, it's emotional impact. I put a lot of thought into why people make the choices they do and how they relate to each other, and I would like to think I'm reasonably adept at leading readers to the emotional response I'm going for.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Descriptions. I'm just forever in awe of people who can just write settings/action naturally. It's a constant effort for me, and it's the thing I always feel like I fall short on. I can write navel gazing in my sleep, but an action scene? Pfftttt.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Very situational. Kind of like in movies and television. I don't have any kind of always x or y opinion on it though.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Inuyasha. It was back when I didn't have a computer of my own and would write at the library, so the only record of it was the site I used to draft and post to that is now defunct. No one is happier about this than I am. 😂

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

I think I'm genuinely pretty proud of everything I've written in the last couple of years, but if I had to pick right now, it'd be It Doesn't Break But it Bends. It's a time loop fic. Someone left "Recommended but you will sob." as their bookmark note for it and I think that might be my crowning achievement in fandom.

Tagging (if you want!): @mikkeneko @goodheavensgwen @writinglizards @plotdesigner And anyone else who wants to <3

[lavender-hemlock]

Clearing the Air

Good morning darlings, I hope you’ve had a delightful year thus far. 

Honestly no one is, we’re all suffering. The next episode release of 2020 is coming out soon, my bet is on aliens. 

As much as I would like to joke my way through this to make it easier, this won’t be. I have very recently had very serious issues be brought to my attention as to how someone in this community behaves. At first I was going to keep quiet because in the end- this was my friend. I care so much about the sake of others, when really I was letting behaviors go that are unacceptable. 

I believe the power of a callout post should be used seriously, and never be used for personal abuse of power. A lot of the examples I use will be from my point, and it is personal. He is very aware how stressed and tired I have been, so to treat me this way was unwarranted. 

I have only decided to step forward due to more than one girl stepping forward about these behaviors that are detailed in the list below. This post is for awareness of his behaviors, and his ideals on rape. 

I also do not appreciate being spoken badly of RECENTLY only to have a heart to heart with another girl on the lies being told so that we would not speak to each other (This is referenced below under the list of points.) 

-- The accused is Kazex Voss. Every line in this post has screens embedded for evidence and clarity.

_______________________________________________________________

Here is the list of what he is being held accountable of. I am not the sole subject of the below, and I am also not the subject of one or two of them: Screens are linked for evidence, if a screen is more important to note- it is bolded or posted. Screens are `mostly` in order under their number for subject. 

*The way I have used male and female is how he kept describing gender. 

1. Using personal trauma as a plot device. 

Ex. rape. Writing rape plot to someone who is confirmed to be a victim of traumatic events pertaining to rape and abuse [Scrn Link]. 

- Excusing using rape as a plot device to have “females” overcome their trauma [Scrn Link].

- Another screen of him describing his point of view as a “male” compared to “females.” In here, he addresses my question head on by describing he does not understand because he is “male.” [Scrn Link].

- Another screen of the problem of his “rape therapy” villain. Me asking him directly if he does this to other girls. 1st opportunity to be honest because I already knew the truth. [Scrn Link] (related to the below)

- (related to the above) Next day where I confronted him 1 more time to be honest with me if he does this to other women. Evidence of him doing this to other women, lying, and then agreeing [Scrn Link]. 

- Him saying, “In real life rape is wrong, but are you going to tell me what to write? [Scrn Link]

- More context.

2.  Manipulation.  

 Lying to two people and turning them against one another to hide his secrets and lies so that neither question the other about the subject’s habits.

- Claiming I’m perfect in order to switch blame despite me addressing him on the subject of his rape RP and his bias against how fast I respond to him. 

[Scrn Link]

-  Abusing guilt tactics to encourage more for what he wants out of a “friendship”. You don’t treat friends like this. There are "standards” you can have for a friend, but you don’t use it like this. [Scrn Link.]

- Justification as if I am the one who has let him down for him writing a book. Addressing past issues I kept personal because it did not merit a callout. 

[Scrn Link.]

- how the fight started, more behaviors. To which this inspired my main issue (Point 1, and Point 4.) Notice how this went from me bringing up an issue of rape, and behaviors, to suddenly I’m in the wrong. [Scrn Link].

- Justification for belittling someone, plus context of “he knows what kind of person he is” so he didn’t need to claim anything I questioned or accused him on. [Scrn Link]. 

-- Acknowledged he was gas lighting throughout our argument. Dismissive.

[Scrn Link].

3. Belitting someone over their content, ideas, or writing to make them feel inadequate. 

-- From the other girl who addressed me today, the same that told me I “disliked her” as addressed below. 

2 & 3: have been used to isolate another girl and keep her from approaching others, or myself. Either because I am one way or the other. It has also been confirmed by both girls (the one experiencing rape plot as well), and then the other girl that was isolated have both expressed they were told to keep their ships secret. Even as far as telling one of the girls to take down their screens they took together with the excuse that she could “post them later at the right time.” 

4.  Taking IC to OOC and blurring the two together. 

5. Encouraging poor behavior to pander to his wants by comforting, nurturing depression/discouraging any “toxic” behavior such as boldness or growth of a spine to tell him when something is not okay. 

-- One of the latter screens: probably an important summary of my entire issue that me doing this post, or even making an issue with him was never about just ME. Posted as an image since I feel it expresses the ENTIRE post.

----- To end this discussion of points and evidence, I will address that he did apologize, but evidently this is not being taken seriously since as of last week to today, I am being lied about by him. I will refuse to accept that treatment in case there is anymore confusion of my character. 

_____________________________________________________________

This is an awareness that no matter how much you can know about someone- you don’t. Lies are just pretty words to be used to get their way, and when questioned, this subject will ask that you don’t ask why they lied in the first place. 

I am by no means a perfect person. I have been depressing, stressed, or confused when told that everything is fine- and its not. Nothing he ever told me was ok, or just a mistake and he’s “sorry”.

Why did I come forward now? Why not when I found out another girl like the dates of the screens? 

This is an open inquiry that if you have been told that I dislike you without a probable cause for me to dislike you, please reach out to me. I have recently been confronted by one of the girls in an open discussion that she was informed that I did not like her by Kazex. 

I was confused by this, because while I was adverse to talking to her because of the things he told me- I didn’t hate her like she thought I did. 

We talked and lined up our facts- and we were both told things to make the other question ever speaking to each other. He told her to secretly ship, and he told me that she was this flaky person so we both wouldn’t question the other or speak.

Let this not happen again. 

Love your fellow gamer. Please take other’s judgement as a grain of salt rather than fact (unless proven otherwise based on your own judgement), because everyone has an opinion. We’re all one community, and it is people like this that seek to isolate you or keep ships “secret” so that their target does not think there is competition. 

I was led to believe that no matter what, he would always try to ship with Haine because she was the only ship he wanted. This was not what I wanted or the case, and neither did it work to flatter me. I don’t understand everything that was shown to me, but I refuse to be held accountable for not saving someone else the trouble when this is actively happening. 

I hate doing this. I hate that among everything I ever stood for, stood with others for, that I have to call out someone I used to think the world of with many of our adventures for the eyes to see. 

Let this be the wake up call he desperately needed. It’s not okay to treat women like this. It’s not okay to turn people against each other because females “can’t co-exist.” This is not RP, this is not art, and this is harmful. I’m sorry to anyone else who may be keeping quiet, among those who have come towards me to talk it out. 

There are many more screens, much more context, and evidence. I tried to keep this as un-biased and relevant as possible to keep the points clear with context to support so that others are aware that this is how he is. 

Let this post be an awareness that this behavior is not okay. Let it be a warning and a consideration on how you treat others. Let others see how you can be, and change. You’re capable of being better, as I can also improve, because I am in no way a perfect person. 

Thank you to those that have come forward and spoken to me. 

[yourehomesickiunderstand]

About/Rules/Verses

Hello, and welcome to my Bofur RP blog. This post is a HUGE wall of text, if you are on desktop and would like to see it a little tidier, please see the separate pages in the sidebar to the right. 

Promo Post Found Here

About the Mun

1. Firstly I am over 30, own a house, have a husband, 1 baby, 2 cats, and a wealth of commitments and responsibilities. I will do my best to reply in a timely manner, but will state up front that sometimes life gets in the way.

2. I am in EST and work M-F from 9-5, plus a half hour commute. Please understand that I can not post from work, and will not be posting during those times.

3. In addition, I am Mom to a very active toddler who is my priority over writing and who’s nap schedule tends to dictate when I can post.

4. My native language is English, though I can understand French, and a little bit of Spanish and Japanese. Don’t bank on me carrying on a decent conversation in any of those languages though.

About the Blog

1. When I first set up this blog I didn’t realize that secondary blogs can’t follow back, ask, or submit. My main blog name is Saffity, so if you see that blog follow you, it’s me. If I send an ask or submit, I will mention this blog name so you don’t get confused.

2. My inbox, ask, etc. is open. Please feel free to write me any starters, questions, or whatever.

3. Please send any critiques or suggestions to me. I’ve been on Tumblr forever, but have never really been a poster. If you see me doing basic noob mistakes with my posts that can be easily fixed, please let me know.

4. I will be tracking #yourehomesickiunderstand so please use that tag with our threads.

Mun’s Playing Style

1. I prefer my Bofur straight. I understand Boffins and other ships and have no qualms with them, I’ve been known to enjoy a good fluff fic once in a while, but this Bofur is straight.

2. Please send me an ask or fan mail if you would like our characters to have an already established relationship, I’m totally cool with it. I respond to all cannon characters as known as it shows in the books or movies, but if you are an OC and want something other than a “Nice to meet you” please let me know first.

3. I’m willing to do some fluffies, but not full on smut, if the thread calls for smut (which will often happen), I’ll fade to black when I’ve gone as far as I feel comfortable with. (Don’t worry, I’ll fade when I’m ready, you’ll never get any angry messages from me about going too far.)

4. Bofur here is multiverse, au, indie, whatever you want to call it. I’m sure he’ll fit into whatever crossover or world you decide to drop him in, he’s very easy going after all.

5. I tend to write in the past tense, third person. If you’d prefer a different style, just let me know and I’ll try to accommodate.

6. I’m bad with my images, so bad! I’m still figuring everything out, so if I’ve royally screwed something up, please let me know and I will delete and repost correctly.

7. I am super okay with editing anything I write if it doesn’t jive with your character or where you want the plot to go, please just let me know.

8. I mainly play on mobile, as such, I’m not able to cut my posts down. Please do so whenever you feel the need/want, I won’t be upset.

Head Cannons that go across all verses

1. Bofur has a Northern Irish accent and his hat, always his hat.

2. Bofur has named his hat Bundushathur, which in Khuzdul means “Cloudyhead” and will sometimes refer to his hat as a sleeping rabbit. If Khuzdul does not exist in the verse (like Modern) then the hat is called Cloudyhead and still referred to as a rabbit.

3. Bofur is the everyman, he isn’t special or high born. He is good natured, friendly, and the world’s best wingman, even if it means connecting someone he pines after with someone else. He would rather see them happy and keep their friendship than try to force his feelings on them or lose their friendship because of his pride.

4. The main characteristic about Bofur is that he is unimportant in the hierarchy of society.

Main Verse - The Hobbit/LOTR

Bofur is 4'6" but fairly thin for a dwarf.

Bofur is a dwarf who’s family line comes from Moria. He is of the mining class. He was born and raised in Ered Luin with his brother. Shortly after Bofur became an adult, his parents died, leaving him to raise his brother. Shortly after that, Bifur was injured in an orc attack. Bofur and Bombur took Bifur in, however there were a number of difficult years as they all got used to Bifur’s new personality.

Once Bifur was stable enough, the brothers decided it would be a good idea to head out and find new customers for their skills. They ended up at Bree, opening up a shop to sell Bifur’s fabulous toys, and offer tinkering services.

During their stay in Bree, Bombur got married to a passing female dwarf and moved his overly large family near the shop. Bifur and Bofur live together in living quarters at the back of the shop, Bombur lived with them until he got married.

Bofur travels around Middle Earth, usually west of the Misty Mountains, and most often between Bree and Ered Luin by way of the Shire. He collects supplies, sells wares, and visits many friends and family that are about the lands.

When Thorin calls for assistance in taking back Erebor, Bofur and his kin lock up their shop and head for the Shire.

After the quest they settle in Erebor, though Bofur heads back to Bree to close up their shop and settle accounts prior to settling in for a long life of enjoying his 14th share of the treasure.

Head Cannons that can totally change if my partner is a Bifur or Bombur

1. Bofur’s father was killed in Moria at the battle of Azanulbizar, his Mother died in an Orc attack when Bofur was in his 40s. He has taken care of his brother ever since.

2. Bofur took Bifur in after Bifur was orphaned as well, the three are like brothers, having shared the experience of loss and growing up together.

3. Bombur stopped speaking after their mother died. Bofur’s tried to get him to speak, and has managed to get him to speak sometimes, but usually just small replies and often with much prodding. Bifur and Bombur use the same sign language to speak to each other and those who don’t speak Khuzdul. Bofur takes care of both of them and is the one who speaks to customers.

Modern Verse

High School

Bofur is not popular, though he’s friendly and basically knows everyone. He enjoys shop class, classical music, and historical literature.

Studious and hard working, Bofur can often be found with his nose in a book, when not sitting on the bleachers playing the tin flute he always has on him.

College Student

Bofur is a TA in college. His major is historical literature, and his goal is to eventually become a professor. His passion is delving into historical fanatasy from cultures other than England and Western Europe.

He enjoys learning languages in order to read what he is researching in its original state.

General Modern Adult

In most modern adult verses Bofur is a general labourer, most often a janitor. If he is a teacher, he teaches music and drama.

Ice Cream Shop

Bofur runs a small home made ice cream shop that is part of a coffee shop run with a companion or family member (his partner can be any member of the company). He makes a variety of flavours, and offers lactose and gluten free varieties.

He prides himself on being able to guess his customers’ favourites on sight (like the movie Chocolat).

Marvel

Bofur is a janitor within shield. He can be found on the helicarrier, within the Avengers training base, or basically anywhere the heroes may be destroying things that need to be cleaned up.

While he is quiet and without powers, he has wisdom and a patient ear to lend to those supers who require a moment to vent.

Star Trek

This is the only verse where Bofur stands out. Bofur is a red shirt, but by some miraculous turn of events, he has gone on a number of away missions and made it back alive. Poor Bofur would love to get off the enterprise with his life, and shirt, in tact, but it appears some of the higher officers like to see him lose his mind and suggest him for more away missions, even if only in jest.

Head cannons that exist in all modern verses

1. Bofur and his family are from Northern Ireland, though Bofur travels around, goes to school abroad, and in general can pop up anywhere in the world.

2. Bofur is short for a male - 5'6", with a stocky build, and fairly strong.

3. Bofur’s younger brother Bombur is still at home (or married with kids depending on their age).

4. Bofur’s parents took Bifur in after he got injured during Armed Forces training, as Bofur’s family lives closer to the rehab resources that Bifur requires.

[dramatical-gatsbytalia]

A Messy Love Through the Ages - A SidLink AOC fic (Chapter One)

Well. Turns out you have to be invited to AO3. So I guess this is going up on Tumblr until I get my invitation. What a way to come out of fanfiction writer retirement. 

Bit of warning; I have yet to play Age of Calamity yet. I traded in two of my unwanted games and had just enough to get a copy of the game, but it sits on my shelf waiting. Calling to me.

However, this RP was done with someone who has played Age of Calamity in all of its entirety; @wilclhero and I have our second RP that I’ve decided to flesh out because there are few AOC SidLink fics out there. So thank you @wilclhero for your permission and so many great ideas when developing this with me. :)

And I also sat through the 2-ish hours of cutscenes strung together on YouTube to make a film. So like…it’s fanfiction. No one is expecting 100% accuracy. And since this game throws out any time things that make sense in regards to the timeline in Breath of the Wild, I can do it too. Because Jeremy Bearimy said I could.

Chapter 1

It had been a long and treacherous battle. Mipha had been holding off Ganon’s Water Blight for as long as she could, but she had exhausted most of her powers. And as the monstrous beast loomed overhead she had thought for a moment this was the end.

But she would live to see another day. For out of nowhere a trident shot catapulted through the air, destroying what she had been expecting as the final blow that would end her life. And as she looked up at the Zora in front of her she gasped. His deep red scales that matched her own, that charisma in his grin, only a twinkle in his youth, fully realized from the shy boy she had known in this timeline. That voice calling out towards the scourge. “I will not let you take her again!”

“Sidon?”

And just in time too. Joining her side was the courageous hero, Champion Link of the Hylians. And just like that, the tides turned, and Ganon’s Blight was defeated. From the jaws of defeat, they emerged victorious.

But Link’s footsteps were heavy as he, Mipha, and Prince Sidon emerged from Vah Ruta. His mind was still spinning, utterly exhausted from the hours of nonstop battle leading up to this moment. Things had moved so quickly he barely had time to reflect; the Calamity was here, King Rhoam of Hyrule was dead, and he had only barely managed to drag his screaming daughter, Princess Zelda, from Calamity Ganon’s clutches.

It had been King Rhoam’s command. But he didn’t feel any less a coward as he pulled her away to safety instead of aiding him. Sure, he was Zelda’s personal knight, but this was the ruler of his Kingdom. What hero was he to leave the king for dead? And after all of their preparations, things seemed so hopeless. All of the other Champions were still trapped inside their assigned Divine Beasts.

All of their hard work, those sleepless nights, hours training and hardening themselves for battle…all for nothing. In that moment, even the Hero felt doubtful.

Hyrule was going to fall. And it would be all his fault.

His gaze ended up locked on the tall figure in front of him. This wasn’t the little prince he knew. The Sidon he, only knee-high to a grasshopper, was always so shy and so quiet. Where had this prince come from?

And why had he saved them—saved Link? No one had ever saved the Hero before. He was always the one doing the rescuing. He was supposed to risk his life for royalty, not the other way around.

What was this feeling?

As he trailed behind the siblings he slouched. He couldn’t remember a moment in his life he had felt so tired and hopeless. But there was still so much to do. Three more Divine Beasts. The Yiga Clan. Ganon.

“I…I can’t keep going…” he whispered, though apparently loud enough, as the siblings stopped in their tracks to face him. He was going to die, he knew it. He couldn’t protect everyone, and Ganon was going to win because of it.

Mipha approached Link, searching for the calming words that could pull Link from the depths of his hopelessness. Something to give him home. But she was still searching, mind still reeling from the recent events, pulling herself from despair and her resignation that she was going to die.

It was Sidon who spoke first and broke the silence. Sidon approached them both, crouched down to their level—when had the two of them gotten so small? He towered over the two of them. He took Link’s hands in his, a sun-kissed tan swallowed in a sea of red scales. Had things always been this small?

Sidon didn’t know the reason for what he said next. He remembered looking up to Link, literally and figuratively, but it hadn’t ever gone past gazing up to his elders and seeing greatness. And perhaps the tiniest boyhood crush. But he wouldn’t let the other know that. In that moment there was something else…he couldn’t put his fin on it.

He squeezed Link’s hands ever so slightly, the other looking him straight on before he spoke. “You can do it. I believe in you.”

Mipha nodded in encouragement. “That’s right. You can do it. I know it seems like all hope is lost, but we must believe. We survived this. Who isn’t to say we’ll survive even more?”

Link looked wide-eyed to Sidon and Mipha. He was already so spent; what if the other Champions were already dead? But…but he knew that he had to try. He had people believing in him.

With a nod, they set off. One down. Three more to go.

---

It was hours before they were able to meet up again. But by the Goddess, that small amount of hope had been enough to get them all through. Everyone had now regrouped, and now with three additional party members from the future by their sides, they were triumphant in each and every battle against Ganon’s Blights.

But their most recent battle against the Thunder Blight had done a number on Link. It had been so fast, and seemed to land several blows on him despite the blond constantly adjusting his strategy to keep up with the blasted thing. And now, run ragged from exerting his energy in multiple battles, he needed Mipha’s help badly to recover.

Even with her healing powers being pushed to the limit that day, the Princess of the Zora still had room for her favourite Hylian. His skin practically sewed itself up again with her help, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious despite Mipha having done this countless times before. He had always hated being the centre of attention, that feeling of constantly being watched.

What didn’t help was that it was the eyes of not one, not two, but three members of royalty keeping a close watch on his healing process. With his role keeping watch over Zelda and Mipha doing the healing, he hadn’t thought that her brother would be getting a front row seat to his broken and bruised body stitching itself back together again. For some reason, his gaze felt the most intimidating.

When their eyes met he looked away. The prince had saved him, and it was impossible to wipe that from his mind. If it hadn’t been for that first battle, for the prince quite literally dropping in from nowhere, and his words of encouragement, he would not have made it through the day.

Link was just a lowly knight. Why did they all care so much? Especially Sidon.

As the last of his wounds were treated he ended up looking over again, their eyes meeting once more. Once again, he quickly looked away, willing away the redness that threatened to spread across his cheeks. Goddess, what was wrong with him?

Sidon couldn’t see it, but he could feel something there as well. He had always been enamoured by the other as a child. He was tall (or at least back then he was), brave and…handsome? Yes, that was it. He couldn’t place that feeling in his youth, and had been unable to pursue any feelings he had as a hatchling. After this was all over perhaps he could--

“There,” Mipha said as she was all finished. Link went to get his tunic, letting it fall back over his torso before going to pick up his sword. Even in the safety of their small, fortified camp, he could never let his guard down.

And it was then it hit Sidon. Yes, of course. Mipha was alive. His sister was alive! Those feelings he had had needed to be pushed aside; she had never been able to pursue her own happy ending in his timeline.  It seemed a shame, but it felt like the right thing to do. He wouldn’t get in the way of his sister’s affections for Link. He would see to it that she had her chance.

“Are you alright? Feeling better?”

Link nodded despite feeling like shit. While fantastic at fixing wounds, her healing powers could do nothing when it came to the exhaustion washing over him like a tidal wave. He tried to hide it, but it was obvious in the way he wobbled. Sidon, not wanting to interrupt but noticing the uneven sway in his step, put his hand to his back to even out his footing.

When Link looked to him in thanks he knew in that moment suppressing any burgeoning feelings was going to be a difficult task indeed. His balance restored, Sidon removed his hand, offering a charismatic smile to those in the tent with him. “You’ve all done well today, I knew we could do it!”

Ah, but it seemed perhaps he was just a bit too energetic for the mood in the room. It was late. Any leftover troops were gathered outside making quick meals to regain their strength. Perhaps it was time to eat and sleep. No doubt it would be a busy day tomorrow.

“It’s imperative we all rest. I’ll take my leave, I hope you all get an opportunity to get a good night’s rest.”

Mipha nodded and stood up. “Yes, I think that’s the best option.” Zelda only nodded in agreement, the weight of the day now resting heavily on her shoulders and rendering her silent.

But Link shook his head in protest. Not so much because he didn’t want to sleep; his body begged him for rest. But he had a job to do. How could he sleep with all that had happened today, with all that could still happen that evening? What happened if he wasn’t there, alert and ready to defend what was left of their small army.

Sidon seemed a bit shocked by Link’s answer, so he shook his head resolutely once again.

“…right…then I wish you all a lovely evening and a safe watch over us all tonight.”

With that, Mipha and Sidon exited the Zelda’s tent, Link following shortly after to keep guard outside. It wasn’t until they walked closer towards their own tents that Sidon really let his opinions be known.

“Does Champion Link really need permission to sleep at a time like this? Dear sister, this is ludicrous! We can’t just let that poor man stay up, it’s clear as day how exhausted he is!”

Mipha let out a small laugh, though it was mainly at her brother’s reaction rather than Link remaining awake. “I’m serious!” he continued. Didn’t you see the way he shook when he stood up and walked? Surely we won’t be able to put a dent in the Calamity if he’s in a similar state!”

She shook her head. “I was laughing at the way you’re so adamantly coming to his defense. It’s good to see that you’re still the hatchling I remember. Always kicking a fuss when he couldn’t get his way.” She meant no offense to her brother, and was quick to put his shock at her words to rest. “But you’ve grown…and it’s nice that your stubbornness for someone else’s sake rather than your own.”

She gave a heavy sigh though as she changed the topic. “I wish it were so easy to tell him to get some rest, believe me, I’ve tried. But it’s complicated. He takes his job as Zelda’s personal knight almost too seriously…”

Sidon huffed in response, crossing his arms, and then quickly uncrossing them as he saw his sister already laughing once more. Though as he passed a small faction of Hylian guards left over from King Rhoam’s army the wheels in his head began to turn. As he turned from his sister she looked on as he approached them, all smiles as he propositioned them for the chance that, as he would phrase it, could make or break their career as a knight and a hero.

“Gentlemen! I hope you are in high spirits after today’s grueling yet victorious fight! Say, are any of you lot on night watch? I was hoping we might have a moment to talk.”

---

As Link stood outside the tent, soon taking a sitting position as his legs were too tired to continue standing, he was quickly met with a problem. While there was nothing going on around him that put them all in any heightened state of alertness, that meant his mind had nothing to occupy itself. And with nothing to stimulate his mind, he quickly found himself succumbing to sleep.

He tightened his grip on his sword to try and force himself to stay awake, but as he rolled his head to stretch his shoulders he felt his eyes becoming heavy. And then shaking his head awake only worked in the beginning. Frustrated, he finally rested his chin against his chest. Perhaps if he let himself relax, just a small bit, it would be enough to keep him going.

It wasn’t long until he dozed off, lucky that his sword didn’t go clattering onto the ground.

Nearby, Sidon was leading the guard brave enough to volunteer his services towards Princess Zelda’s tent. “I don’t know if this will work, your highness. Master Link is very particular and doesn’t appreciate others meddling in how he keeps watch over the princess.”

Sidon waved that concern away. “Oh no, no, no, don’t think of it as meddling! Think of it as…” he paused for a moment, he needed to really sell this, “training! Yes, her personal knight is the Hero of Hyrule after all, perhaps you could learn some useful tips from him! Consider this akin to an apprenticeship!”

As they got closer he raised his hand to wave to Link, fully committed to convincing the other that he ought to really show this eager guard the ropes of what it took to be a true hero. Though upon closer inspection, and thankfully before his boisterous voice said anything to disturb him, he noticed Link had fallen asleep. Aha. He knew the other had been tired.

“Hmm…” he said, pausing for one moment to think. It occurred to him moments later what he could do. "Wait right here," Sidon said, and quickly retreated to his tent, where he took one of the blankets that had been given to him to use off the mattress. It wasn’t in the best shape and was far too small for himself, but was the perfect size to cover Link’s small frame and provide him some form of warmth while he got some much-needed rest.

He made haste in going back towards Zelda's tent where the Hero sat sleeping and the other guard stood waiting nervously. When he returned he carefully draped it over Link’s body, careful as he got closer so he didn’t wake him.

Much better. He stood up and pat the other guard on the back. “You can put your best foot forward to stay on guard. Wake him in case anything happens, but I have the utmost faith you will rise to the occasion.”

Giving the guard a thumbs up and whispering his thanks, Sidon moved to return to his own tent.

TBC

Do I know the order of events in the game? No. Do I care? Maybe a little. But this game doesn’t care about continuity, so why should I?

This is my first time writing fanfiction in…uh…ten years? Okay well not my first time in ten years. My first time in ten years was a few weeks ago for the SidLink gift exchange. That said, it’s my first multi-chapter fic in ten years.

I’ll do my best to keep updates…somewhat regular. If I can crank out 2-3 chapters a month that would be awesome. But I’m busy as hell 80% of the time. And the 15% I’m not busy I tend to spend on a nap. Constitution Day is coming up though so I’ll have some free time at the end of April and beginning of May.

Fingers crossed. I desperately want to get into writing again. That gift exchange fic was a good kick in the pants and I hope it lasts.

Thanks. And see you.

[rmg91]

Meant To Be (In Any Form)-7

Heeeey...So yeah...muses were being finicky as they always are and I just couldn't seem to focus on anything! Those are the main reasons why I just haven't been able to get myself to write. Seriously, I know I can write a oneshot fairly quickly so it shouldn't take almost 3 weeks to do so and yet! Also as always I've been distracted my RP with Autumn and some RL crud so yeah. Anyway, please enjoy some domestic fluff!

Chapter Summary: Poppy comes home to a delightful surprise.

Also found on: AO3/FF.Net

@hayleysstark LOOK! I WROTE SOME DOMESTIC FLUFF!

~*~*~*~*~*~

The day had started as usual for the trolls of Pop Village, sunshine beaming down through the trees as they went about their daily business of singing, dancing and hugging led by their darling Queen Poppy. Even when it got a little cloudy it didn't deter them in the slightest, their fun continuing up until the sky opened up and rain began to fall. Some families rushed their kids inside, not wanting the trollings to get sick, others stayed and danced in the falling water until it started to really pour. While they all made a mad dash for some cover, Poppy laughed joyously as she ran through the rain, the water soaking her through as she made her way to the large tree her home was built in. Thankfully she knew her scrapbook supplies would be safe, having long since taken the advice of Branch to keep it contained in plastic in case her hair got too wet. Carefully running up the stairs, she didn't want Branch to scold her for not being careful, she made it under their porch awning, dripping wet and giggling breathlessly.

Taking a moment to squeeze some water from her dress and hair, the least she could do so she didn't make a huge puddle inside, the pink troll slipped inside the tree-house her loving husband had made them. Stepping inside, she shivered at the sudden temperature difference, goosebumps raising on her pink skin as she dripped all over the foyer. She wasn't greeted by the usual warm glow of the glowshrooms however, which made her pause and tilt her head, because instead there was a fainter glow flickering beyond the corner. Alongside one of her favorite sounds in the world, Branch's humming. She stood there, curious as the what he was up to but also just wanting to enjoy the soft music he made. Maybe if she stood here long enough he'd start singing~ However that wasn't to be as she shivered again just as he spoke up.

“You can come around the corner, you know. Don't have to hide to listen to me hum.”

Poppy giggled and replied, “I would but I don't want to drip too much on the carpet~!”

She could just feel him pausing before he padded around the corner of the living room to spot her in all her wet, dripping glory. Dress plastered to her and hair dropping over her eyes. She grinned at him as he sighed, exasperated, before shaking his head. Then she noticed he wasn't wearing his usual vest and shorts combo. No, her hunk of a husband was all dressed up; white dress-shirt, the top few buttons undone, and dark blue, almost blank slacks with his indigo hair combed and swept back. Taking a moment to appreciate the look, Gumdrops was he delicious, the queen asked, “What's the occasion? Not meeting anyone behind my back are you~?”

Rolling his blue eyes, Branch approached his soaking wife with a shake of head, “Only the queen herself. Who apparently decided to not even try to avoid the rain.”

“Aww, come on~ You know as well as I do how fun it is to run in the rain!” She grinned as he rolled his eyes once more before saying, “Soooo? You never answered by question. What's the occasion, my man~?”

He gestured with his head, stepping back lightly, “Look for yourself.”

Peeking around the corner, careful not to drip too much on the soft felt and moss carpet, Poppy gasped in delight as she spotted a small round table set up for a romantic dinner for two, candles burning in the center beside a small mound of flowers. “Awww~” She cooed, looking back to Branch with a grin, “And whatever brought this on?”

“What?” He shrugged, “Can't a husband treat his wife to a romantic dinner date at home? To thank her for everything she's ever done and for choosing him to spend the rest of her fun, loud and crazy life with?”

“You've been thinking about things again.” It wasn't a question that needed an answer, she already knew it.

He shrugged a little bashfully, “Maybe just a little.” It wasn't like he ever hid the fact that he would always be grateful that she had taken a chance on him, helped to turn his gray and lonely life around to something he could now say he loved just as much as he loved her. Crazy, glitter filled parties and all.

Smiling softly at him, the pink troll bounced over, cooing, “You are adorable~” She quickly kissed his cheek before stating, “And I'd choose you every time~ Be right back~!” And then she was quickly racing up the stairs to change out of her wet clothes.

~*~*~*~

Bouncing back downstairs, her hair only slightly frizzy from her rush towel drying, Poppy found Branch pouring them a glass of stoutberry wine, a delicious smell wafting through the covered dishes now on the table. She grinned at him once he noticed her and sashayed over when he held his arms out for her.

“Smells great~ What'cha make?” She asked, happily returning his hug.

He chuckled, warm and fond, as he brush some of her hair back behind an ear, “You'll see~” He then, like the gentletroll he was, pulled her chair out for her.

Once they were both settled, the survivalist gestured for her to take the covering off her plate and as she did so, she got the best whiff of their meal. Looking down, she grinned and bounced a little in her seat, seeing her favorite dish ever! Rice and mixed vegetables, extra mushrooms! And there was even a little bowl of spicy pepper flakes if she so desired to add some heat to it! She squealed happily, thanking Branch profusely, and then gave a little happy dance as he revealed he also whipped up some twisty garlic and cheese bread-sticks!

“Ooh-hohoho!! You love me~!” She sang, digging right into her food.

“That's not exactly a secret anymore.” He chuckled, taking his own calmer bite of food.

Soon enough, Poppy calmed down and they enjoyed the quiet ambiance of falling rain and the soft crackle of the fireplace. They shared their days from when they had separated after the morning song, Branch telling her he had finally worked out what had happened to the waterslide. The pipes had somehow been clogged by some of Sky's prototype water beads. They were suppose to be soft enough to squeeze through most things, being mostly made of water, but the formula wasn't right yet and so they had grown too large inside the pipe. Sky's assistant had admitted to accidentally spilling some in the pool, hoping to come and fish them out once they had grown large enough to see but not knowing some had been swept up into the pipe. Thankfully it had been an easy enough fix and with a new even tighter mesh insert hopefully nothing would get through again. Branch admitted that had the weather not changed so quickly, the slide would have been fully functional that day but instead trolls would have to wait a little longer.

Poppy had filled him in on all the fun he had missed during an impromptu dance party and the then resulting game of hide and seek. Before all that she had gone to three different birthday parties and a muffin tasting at the muffin stand. After being found, she had stopped by Ginger's baby shower before hanging around the market with some of the Snack Pack, trading ideas for the upcoming Prank Day. There had been a brief search for Mr. Dinkles but thankfully the glowworm hadn't been missing for long. And then a flash mob had taken over the market place! It was just after everyone was taking a breather from that bit of fun that the storm had hit and Poppy had made her mad dash home.

After that their conversation moved to other things, mostly ranging from any day to day activities to any upcoming holiday's and events, Poppy focusing on the fun and Branch on making sure everything she wanted to do would be safe. But that was what made them work so well together, in official royal business and personal life, they'd do their respective specialties and meet in the middle. Of course they still had moments where they were unwilling to compromise but in the end they always worked it out and everyone winded up having more fun for it.

Dinner ended soon enough without fan fair, Poppy leaning back in her chair with a sigh of satisfaction as she patted her stomach, “That was delicious~ As always~”

Branch snickered lightly but smirked at her, “You always say that.” He leaned his head on his hand, watching Poppy through hooded eyes past the candlelight, smirk turning into something soft as he gazed at her. “Sorry there's no dessert. There wasn't any time to go pick something up. Your stuff's better anyway.”

Poppy grinned at him, “Flattery will get you everywhere and that's okay,” She shrugged one shoulder before giving him a sassy smirk, “You're all the dessert I need~”

“Pffft!” Branch snickered, getting up and coming around the back of her chair to nuzzle under her ear as he replied to her flirt, “You're impossible~”

“You love me~!”

“Mmm, I do...I really, really do~” He kissed her cheek softly before leaning back, “And I do have a little after dinner surprise for you. But you have to keep eyes closed.”

“Awww!” The pink queen whined lightly, “Do I have too?”

“Yes.”

Poppy sighed, more dramatically than upset, “Fiiiiine.” And then did as her husband asked, sitting and waiting for him to tell her to open them. She knew he hadn't gone to far, listening to him shuffle around somewhere in their living room but she couldn't figure out what he could be doing.

Meanwhile, after making sure she wasn't peeking, Branch set up the surprise he knew she'd love, tossing and arranging an array of their softest and fluffiest blankets down the perfect distance away from the fire. They'd be warm, but not too much, and comfortable without having to worry about anything catching on fire. After arranging the pillows just right, he went over and gently pulled Poppy out of her chair, telling her to open her eyes. “I figured you wouldn't mind a cuddle session since it's rainy.” He smirked, gesturing to the pile.

“You bet I don't!” Poppy cried happily before pulling Branch over with her usual exuberance, pushing him gentle down upon the pillows before joining him. Cuddling up close, she listened as he chuckled at her antics, smiling at the fond sound. But as she laid her head on his chest, she realized something was missing. Sitting up with a slight frown, she ignored Branch questioning look as she quickly undid the top few buttons of his shirt. Nodding with delight, she laid back down, hand slipping under the now semi-opened shirt to feel his skin. She hummed happily as she held it above his heart, feeling the comforting pulse of it beating and sighed, “Much better~”

Branch merely chuckled some more at his wife's antics, laying his hand over hers to hold it as he used his other arm to hold her close. Reaching with his hair, he draped one last blanket over them as they relaxed, unconsciously beginning to hum as he held her hand above his heart. It wasn't long there after that between the full bellies, crackling fire and the heavy rainfall crashing outside found the royal couple drifting off to sleep, wrapped up in their embrace.

~*~*~*~*~*~

And there you have it! Some, hopefully, tooth rotting fluff! And yes, Poppy enjoys feeling her man up whenever she can XD Anyway, hope you enjoyed and maybe one day I'll be able to focus again on something for more than 3 seconds Lol! I have things I want to write I tell ya!

[second-chance-stray]

RP Log: (Bucket List) Cravs and Lin go looking for a Pineapple.

Cravendy Hound - Circling steps can be heard upstairs. Thump, thump, thump, pause. Thump, thump thump. Finally, with a bucket full of papers in her arms, Cravs steps down the stairs looking bothered...her mind lost in who knows where. And what happens next is completely out of character for her - she trips! The notes scatter into the air.

Aislinn North ask anyone who knew her and most would tell you that Aislinn was a patient person. But everyone has their limits. She sat in the library pushing her notes around on the wide table. There was nothing for her to do but wait. Wait for Atreus to return from Ishgard with some news. Any news. Her utter lack of doing anything productive was interrupted by Cravendy's tumble down the stairs. She looks up sharply from her notes at the clattering noise and watches the pages waft....

Aislinn North gently down around the Seawolf like oversized confetti. She's quiet as they settle. Then, she's prodded into action, getting to her feet and making her way to the woman. "Are you alright?" she asks as she kneels down and starts collecting the papers.

Cravendy Hound: "Goddamn, 'alf broken buncha wooden...L-LIN?!" Cravs blusters. She forces the next string of swears back down with a pained swallow. Lin was just the person she was looking for, but she wasn't ready. The entirety of her morning had been spent procrastinating, organizing and reorganizing the notes that were now lay dispersed across the floor.

Cravendy Hound hurriedly begins to gather the papers in sloppy handfuls while her mind races to come up with a plan. A set of words to respectfully ask - do you want to work on Wyda's bucket list? Not to take anything away from what you two had, but she's gone, and she wanted to do a lot with you...maybe it'd be a nice thing to do anyway? Without realizing it, Cravs mutters those two questions out loud.

Aislinn North gives Cravendy a sidelong glance, a short huff of amusement issuing from her chest as she continues collecting the papers. "You sound surprised." she said, her quiet voice dry as usual. As she's depositing a handful of pages in Cravendy's bucket and concentrating on -NOT- asking Cravendy why she's carrying about papers in a bucket, the Seawolf's blurted words fill the space between them. Aislinn's hand stills at the pail's rim, pages in hand. She stares at Cravendy, her face carefully blank..

Aislinn North Looking down at the pages, she can now make out Wyda's scrawled handwriting. "These are Wyda's papers?"

(Aislinn North) ((OMG....a literal bucket list XD)) (Cravendy Hound) gotta do it xD ))

Cravendy Hound: "Blood 'ell. Bloody seven 'ells. Did I? I did, didn't I? I bloody did, didn't I?" Cravs stammers, heat rising into her already flushed face. She can't bear to get up and look at Lin's face, instead just sort of...sinks deeper towards the ground, trying and failing to hide how red she is. "A-aye. She left 'em on the floor and walls of our room like a crazy person, shite like 'go sleddin' and 'go sleddin' backwards.' And a lotta them call ye out. Like, erm."

Cravendy Hound feels around and grabs a random paper. "Eat pineapples. With...Lin. So do you maybe want to...find one and...eat one.." Her voice gets very small.

Aislinn North She sits down on the floor next to Cravendy and sifts through a few of the pages. She was right. All of them an unfinished list of things Wyda had wanted to do but never had the opportunity. Several of them remind her of the last conversation she had with Wyda. Where they had talked about what they would do after returning from the Red Argos job. Looking back it struck Aislinn that Wyda had to have some inkling. Some idea that she probably wasn't coming back. ...

Aislinn North Wordlessly, she lets the pages slip through her fingers into the bucket and glances over at Cravendy. The Seawolf is hunched over, as if afraid to even look at her. If she didn't already feel like a timebomb with all this aether business, Cravendy's look would have done it. "Hey." she says quietly, stopping short of nudging the woman's shoulder. "I like this idea. Can't say I've ever eaten a pineapple. Know where we can get one?"

Cravendy Hound blinks. Lin likes the idea? Though it wasn't outside the realm of possibility, Cravs had a habit of overthinking things until it felt like fantasy. She wipes her face with both her hands and tries to 'reset' herself. It works for the most part. She looks normal...if you ignore all the redness.

Cravendy Hound: "They're a rare find in Eastern La Noscea. Even seasoned botanists 'ave trouble locatin' them, so no ones sellin'. But maybe if we go lookin' ourselves, we'll be lucky?" Cravs shrugs.

Aislinn North nods thoughtfully. "Well," she glances over her shoulder back to library where she had been keeping an anxious, fruitless vigil. Pineapple hunting was clearly the better option by far. "No time like the present, aye? We could both use some time away from the house, in any event. We're due some leave time." she decided. "Let's grab some things and head out."

Cravendy Hound panics just slightly. Everything’s happening so fast, she didn’t expect this! And now?! She doesn’t know what to do with herself. Prepare? Right, right. Cravs entrusts the bucket of crumpled notes with the front desk worker and then just stands there, waiting. Oh wait, shoes? Check. She is /golden/.

(Cravendy Hound) what could even be 'pineappling equipment' XD ))

Aislinn North Aislinn, meanwhile, turns and heads back to her study. If she was heading out to hunt pineapples in La Noscea she certainly wasn't going in a casual dress and lacking the usual firearm. She returns a few ticks later, much better prepared for this sort of excursion and seemingly undaunted by Cravendy's sparse preparation. "Right, then. Ready?"

(Aislinn North) ((comfortable shoes? I think Cravs gots it!)) (Cravendy Hound) ehehhe lins coming prepared with GUN )) (Aislinn North) ((She never leaves home without it!)) (Aislinn North) ((THose pineapples could be dangerous!)) (Cravendy Hound) two extremes, I love it >:D )) (Cravendy Hound) *gruff protagonist voice* You can never be too prepared... ))

Cravendy Hound - Thank the twelve for aetheryte travel! Though the moment Cravs appears by the Costa del Sol crystal, she covers her face and quickly hands payment to the crystal's guard. Without letting anyone get a good look at her face, she makes a beeline to the cliffs waits for Lin in the brush.

(Aislinn North) arrives a moment later, a hand to her chest as though bracing for something. After a few beats she relaxes. Gods, that was beyond foolish. Looking around she just catches sight of a flash of red as Cravendy disappears into the brush. Shaken, Aislinn hurries to catch up. "In a real rush about these pineapples." she jests as she falls in step alongside Cravendy.

Cravendy Hound: “Let’s just say the locals ain’t a fan of me.” Cravs takes a look around, exuding the aura of a person who knows what they’re doing. Until she turns around, still just as confident, and says this. “Why do they call ‘em pineapples if they don’t look like pine trees? Or do they grow on somethin’ that looks like a pine tree?”

Cravendy Hound knows these three facts about Pineapples. They’re found in Eastern La Noscea (though she doesn’t know exactly where). They’re fruit. They’re yellow.

(Cravendy Hound) oops I guess she's talking about Pineapples the proper noun )) (Aislinn North) ((Pineapple the pineapple))

Aislinn North Glances back at Costa del Sol, imagining all the things Cravendy could have done to make her less than welcome. With Cravs temper, Aislinn can imagine a few. "Hmm...maybe because they're prickly up top?" she says, turning back to the Seawolf. "Maybe it's a derivation of 'spine apple' and just became 'pineapple' somewhere along the way." she looks out over the land. "But I'm just guessing. And they'd probably need soil. So I'm thinking the more inland, the better." ...

Aislinn North she nods and points up towards the direction of Wineport.

Aislinn North And just like that, the skies above open and a steady rain begins to fall. "Tch." Aislinn stares unimpressed up at the sky and then turns a flat look on Cravendy. "Every. Time." she observes. It seems she and Cravendy could do nothing without the rain following the Seawolf wherever she went.

(Aislinn North) ((Of course it's raining)) (Cravendy Hound) I can't remember the last time it wasn't raining when I came here )) (Aislinn North) ((Me either! I'm telling you! The game -knows-))

Cravendy Hound: "Augh, didn't ye 'ave to say it? Spine apple? Now I'm thinkin' of an apple made of spine meat...though that could be good in soup," Cravs grumbles. She gives it real thought. "Needin' soil doesn't exactly narrow down our search, but I'm always a fan of goin' to Wineport. Come on, this way."

Cravendy Hound heads north, in the direction of the ferry that must be crossed to get to Wineport. She makes idle chit chat as she walks. "Of course it's rainin'...Oi! Whoever's up there, aren't ye gettin' bored usin' the same weather over and over?"

Aislinn North As they walk, Aislinn keeps a steady eye on the ground, kicking aside the brush as they go. On the lookout for this elusive pineapple. "Sledding down a hill backwards." she suddenly says with a low burble of laughter. Clearly, her mind was still on what Cravendy had told her of Wyda's notes. "Because why sled down a hill the normal way when you could do something else. Something more." there's a fondness in her voice as she spoke.

Cravendy Hound: "Sounds dumb and dangerous. She 'ad 'er screws too loose..." Cravs lets out a low sigh. And yet that was one of the reasons why she was interested in doing these bucket list items, wasn't it? To learn how to let go after a lifetime of being on edge. "...but I...and maybe, we, are wound too tight. Need to find a middle ground."

Cravendy Hound observes the plain bush in front of her. Pineapple bush? She lifts its leaves, noses deep into the plant, then suddenly pulls back. BUGS? YUP. BUGS.

Aislinn North "Maybe there's good reason we're wound tight." Aislinn counters, without rancor, as though she's merely making an observation. She watches Cravendy, knowing now to steer clear of that particular kind of plant. She turns away and heads deeper into the brush. "But I'm not saying you're wrong. It's...exhausting sometimes." she admits quietly.

Aislinn North Leans down and pulls at the stout, sword leafed plant before her. The crown breaks from the root and a foul smell permeates the air. Definitely not a pineapple. She backs swiftly away and coughs.

Cravendy Hound 's frown deepens. The two of them were like two yangs without a yin to balance them out, and the fact that she understood the exhaustion Lin was talking about...well, she was tired of it. The sun is shining and danger is malms away - they deserved to relax once in a while. They did! But why was it so hard?

Cravendy Hound: "We'll feel better once we find that spineapple! COME ON." Cravs is determined to fight against her own nature and have a 'good time.'

Cravendy Hound doesn't know the first thing about plants though. She uproots what looks to be a mini-palm tree and holds it up to Lin. "What the 'ell is this? Can we eat it?"

Aislinn North laughs lowly as she doggedly continues her search. "I don't think Wyda considered the work in gathering a pineapple." she kneels down, rooting through the vegetation. "-That's- why we worked. One of us was wound tight, the other looser than a ribbon on the wind. We didn't try to be any other way. And together we balanced out to middle ground." She looks up as Cravs produces a small tree. "I think...well, technically yes. But I don't think it'd taste good."

Cravendy Hound: "Yeah...but it's okay. We can be uptight together. Like two 'ammers without any nails." Cravs smiles. Though she's determined to grow and free herself of her constant anxiety, she understands that no one changes overnight. It'll be a long journey.

Cravendy Hound notices a bug crawling from the uprooted tree onto her hand. Wordlessly, Cravs chucks the tree into the sky, where it disappears into the distance. WHOOSH.

(Cravendy Hound) LOL I wonder how these two will stumble onto one....so far they're hopeless ahah )) (Cravendy Hound) *stabs random tree* hmmm )) (Aislinn North) ((*holds up a rock* )) (Cravendy Hound) LOL pretty much )) (Cravendy Hound) at least they're getting some sun now :D )) (Aislinn North) ((And away from the fish)) (Cravendy Hound) LOL NOoo the fish ))

Aislinn North gaze flicks to the small tree in surprise as it goes sailing off. It's probably a good thing there aren't too many people around. Just to be sure, she pauses, listening for any yell of alarm or indignation. After a moment, she shrugs and goes back to wandering and searching. "What's with this fixation?" she asks as she moves along but then stops and looks at Cravendy over her shoulder with a dawning realization. "Twelve. You're wound up tight about being wound up tight." ...

Aislinn North a smile threading through her words.

Cravendy Hound: "What fixation. What." She claps her hands, brushing them free of dirt and anything else that might remain. "...Pff, I'm not uptight about nothin'. Now less talkin' and let's go find this goddamn fruit."

Cravendy Hound stomps ahead, slightly embarrassed by the exchange. "Is this the way to the docks? Seems like we keep climbin' up."

(Aislinn North) She merely shakes her head, a soft huff of amusement leaving her. But Lin knew when to leave well enough alone. "Docks are back that way." she calls out to Cravendy and jerks a thumb over her shoulder. "Let's see if we have better luck on the other side."

Cravendy Hound: "Ah right, right." She turns heel and dashes back in the direction Lin's pointing in. Stupid-stupid-stupid, how many times had she been here? How could she get lost? Cravs sighs...her mind was truly in the gutter.

Aislinn North Steps out of the ferry into the humid shade of the jungle. Almost immediately she can feel her shirt start to stick to her skin. Nevertheless she doggedly makes her way up the stairs. "Right then...gotta be better on this side. Pineapples like the humidity, right?" She really had no idea.

Aislinn North turns around in a slow circle at the bridge, taking in the three directions they could go. "What do you think?" she asks Cravendy and points out all the ways they could go.

Cravendy Hound always appreciates how fresh and floral the rainforest smells. On the ferry ride over, she dips her hand into the water and splashes some of it over her arms. And she would've tried to splash Lin if she hadn't left so quickly. Cravs releases water between her fingers and hurries up the stairs.

Cravendy Hound: "Uhhh, pineapples like...water. So." A pause. "Yeah."

Cravendy Hound: "But not as much as watermelon. Anyway! I've got a good feelin' about goin' south. Even 'eard that's where a cuttin' of bacchus grape was found, so who knows what else might be over yonder."

(Cravendy Hound) cravs: very few points in INT )) (Aislinn North) ((Aww come on! She knew about the Bacchus grape though! :D)) (Cravendy Hound) some points in WIS! :D )) (Aislinn North) ((hehe!))

Aislinn North Turns about and looks down the path to the south. It seemed as good a place to choose as any. She nods "That's as much of an endorsement as we need, I think." she says and starts off. "You ever wander out this way before? Can't say I've had a reason to see this part of the island. Suppose that's another good thing to come out of this pineapple hunt. Sightseeing."

Cravendy Hound: "Yeah, been 'ere afore. Not often, but sometimes...when we were moored out 'ere for a couple of suns. Mostly we'd go collect coconuts, wood, anythin' else that could come in 'andy for the long 'aul." She pauses a few steps onto the bridge to peer over the planks, holding precariously on the rope supports. "View's nice too."

Cravendy Hound glances over to Lin with a cheeky grin. "Ye scared of 'eights?"

Aislinn North "But not pineapples?" Lin's voice takes on a teasing lilt. She leans out, not quite as far as Cravendy, and looks below them at the lazy river far below. At the Seawolf's question she lets out a small snort. "Not really. Not anymore." she pauses, a flicker of some subdued emotion crossing her expression. There and then gone again. Smiling again, she continues. "Bertram used to climb....every thing when he got upset as a child. Walls. Buildings. Ren could never figure out where he had gone...

Aislinn North "I started to learn to look up. Then I learned to climb after him. Otherwise he'd be gone for suns." she looks up at Cravendy with a wry twist of her lips. "And I take it, from the way you're just hanging over the ropes there, you're not afraid of them either."

Cravendy Hound: "Never a pineapple. Though I was never lookin' for one so..." She shrugs. "Maybe we'll find one. Maybe we won't."

Cravendy Hound: "Where the 'ell would 'e climb to? Rooftops? And just for fun?" Cravs ponders a moment. Windy didn't strike her as the type to take a risk for the hell of it, but then again, he ran faster than a chocobo. A possible sign of madness.

Aislinn North "Well not with that attitude, we won't." she said, light and teasing. But next she nods. "Aye, rooftops. Parapets. Any place high above the noise. Likely still does it." she shakes her head as though trying to shake off a bad memory. She nods the rest of the way  across the bridge. "The place they found that special grape over there? Or do you know?"

Cravendy Hound: "Ye don't think 'e loiters on 'eartwood's roof, do ye? I mean, that'll keep the pigeons from roostin' up there but it's a bit...odd." She turns to point down the bridge with a confident nod. "Aye, somewhere on the other side. But actually, I want to show ye somethin'. Stand in the center with me for a second."

Aislinn North Decides Cravendy's question is more rhetorical than anything. Mainly because she simply didn't want to answer. Instead she follows the Seawolf out the center of the bridge but halts suddenly. "Wait." she stares down at the slapdash haphazard collection of worn planks that was supposed to be a patch job of some sort. "Really?" she next throws Cravendy an incredulous look. And yet, as piecemeal as the patch seems to be, it *is* holding the Roegadyn's weight. "Nymeia's breath." ...

Aislinn North she mutters a few other choice words as she wraps a hand around the railing and edges her way out to Cravendy. "I said I wasn't scared of heights. I didn't say I was stupid."

(Aislinn North) ((This is a testament as to how much she trusts Cravendy. I have a feeling that's about to be tested. XD)) (Cravendy Hound) oh no xD ))

Cravendy Hound: "Well, since yer not scared of 'eights and all...HAH!" Without warning, she gives the ropes a violent shake, sending a turbulent vibration throughout the bridge's deck. The motion is magnified at the center, which, coincidentally, is also the most shoddily built part of the bridge. Planks of wood twist at the nail; a few even teeter off and fall into the ravine!

Cravendy Hound: "AAAaAhaHAhAAaaa!" Cravs howls with a yell that's most parts laughter. She hangs on for dear life and glances over to catch Lin's reaction.

Aislinn North Like a cat suddenly faced with the prospect of falling into water, Aislinn all but attaches herself to the shaking ropes as if they were literal lifelines. "Seven burning hells, Cravendy!" she yells over the Seawolf's howls of laughter. Several obscenities follow. The litany goes on but as the bridge sways and creaks, she hears herself and the ridiculousness of it all. A laugh creeps into her voice even as she keeps shouting. ...

Aislinn North "And Nymeia so help me, if I die, I'm haunting you until the end of your days. Forever!" But they both know by now it's an idle threat. The patch job is clearly holding.

Cravendy Hound has to catch her breath in between cackling. As the bridge steadily stabilizes, she puts a hand on Lin's shoulder to help the other woman find her balance. "Bloody 'ells, the...the look on yer face at first, pffhahah! Like ye were gonna bloody murder me, ye were!"

Cravendy Hound: "Hehe, it's. It's somethin' the locals do. Why d'ye think there are so many planks at the center? People've been chasin' stupid fun since the dawn of this bridge." She stomps on the planks for good measure.

Aislinn North Breathless, Aislinn cautiously unwraps her arms from around the ropes and stops hugging the side. "Not gonna lie, the idea may have crossed my mind." she huffed at the Seawolf. But there's a look of exhiliration in the depths of her eye. "And for some poor fools the bridge *did* crack" she waves a hand at the collection of worn planks with one hand as the other rubs absently at her chest. She's silent a moment and then "Gods above, Cravendy!" ...

Aislinn North she yells all over again but this time with the laughter that comes with the relief of being alive.

Cravendy Hound: "Don't worry, if ye fell I'd catch ye. And it wouldn't be the first time it 'appened." She pats Lin twice on the shoulder and then turns to finally (thank god) FINALLY step onto the other side.

Aislinn North pauses at Cravendy's words and peers down to the long drop below. She hurries to catch up, glad to once again be on solid ground. "What do you mean it wouldn't be the *first* time?!"

(Cravendy Hound) kdjfls at some point these two dorks have got to find a pineapple xD )) (Aislinn North) ((The pineapple is a metaphor xD They're destined to never find it.))

Cravendy Hound: "People 'ave fell! And I caught most of 'em. Cept that one time...Hm...Don't worry. There's water at the bottom anyway." Cravs waves off Lin's questioning.

Aislinn North narrows her eyes, almost sure Cravendy was pulling her leg

Cravendy Hound: "They lived! It was fine!" Cravs says with a laugh. "Nothin' a little conjury can't fix."

(Cravendy Hound) kjdflsj dahahah )) (Cravendy Hound) the true treasure was the friends we made on the way )) (Aislinn North) ((*rainbows*)) (Cravendy Hound) but for my own IRL love of pineapples, I do hope they find one....and yet. And yet, why not roll? Why not roll )) (Cravendy Hound) Random! 906 (Cravendy Hound) ohhh that's actually pretty good. sometimes I hope for the low rolls because I'm just like that xD ))

Aislinn North "Hmm" a doubtful noise from the back of her throat. "Just makes me glad to be in one piece." she turns to survey the land again. "This pineapple...almost cost me my life." she says, purposefully melodramatic

(Aislinn North) ((That's a good roll!)) (Aislinn North) Random! 97 (Aislinn North) ((That....is a garbage roll)) (Cravendy Hound) ahhahah the two sides of the spectrum )) (Cravendy Hound) we can take the middle ground - there is pineapple, but not served on a silver platter...? XD )) (Aislinn North) ((Schrodinger's pineapple.))

Cravendy Hound: "Imagine gettin' that written on yer gravestone. Died lookin' for pineapple." Cravs chuckles, but then...looks like she's seriously considering her own question. "Ye know, it's not the worst way to bite the bullet."

Aislinn North now that her breathing has *almost* returned to normal, she begins poking at vegetation again. "Falling to your death?" she asks, just to be sure that's what Cravendy is indeed talking about. "I suppose...I mean, wouldn't be my *choice* but there are definitely worse ways to go."

Cravendy Hound: "If ye could choose, 'ow would ye 'ave it? I think most would answer slippin' away from old age, surrounded by loved ones. But I...I can't see myself fadin' away like that. If I go defendin' something worthwhile, that'll be good enough."

Cravendy Hound - A particularly honey-sweet scent cuts through the general musk of the rainforest. The good news is that the source is a pineapple! And the bad news is that said pineapple is growing out from the side of the cliff, out of reach.

Aislinn North like some sort of morbid vertigo, Aislinn can't help picturing it. "It'd be quick, at least. Smack. Done." she claps her hands for emphasis. She considers Cravendy's question. "Suppose if it's not going to be quiet like, in my bed, defending someone I cared about wouldn't be half bad. Quick would still be nice." she frowns a bit as she eyes the pineapple high above them. ...

Aislinn North "Seriously? They grow out of the cliffsides?" With a sigh she gauges the height and then eyes Cravendy, then herself. "Well...think if you lifted me, we could get that?

Cravendy Hound is just as morbid. "I agree. Quick and clean, if possible." She then peers up at the pineapple with a sigh. She was learning that when it came to death and pineapples, beggars can't be choosers.

Cravendy Hound: "Ye really think? Maybe ye got on me, and then I jumped and ye jumped at the same time for a bit of extra 'eight...ehh. That's a long shot too."

Aislinn North laughs low, shaking her head. "That's a bit too much coordination." she starts to look for a foothold in the cliffside. "Right. Well, then climbing is probably the best bet. See? All that scurrying up buildings is coming in handy." she finds a grip in the rock and begins to climb upwards.

Cravendy Hound is taken aback by how quick Lin is to hit the rocks and begin her ascent. She shakes her shock away and nods, equally determined to climb for the pineapple...and get to it, first. She doesn't say anything, doesn't make a bet. Just silently starts to climb without a word.

(Cravendy Hound) shall we have one final roll? xD )) (Aislinn North) ((Most definitely!)) (Aislinn North) Random! 490 (Cravendy Hound) Random! 943 (Aislinn North) ((NIce!)) (Cravendy Hound) my rolls are strangely??? on fire )) (Cravendy Hound) quit flexing cravs! )) (Aislinn North) ((But that just means we'll finally get that pineapple!))

Aislinn North Climbing rugged  rockface wasn't quite the same as climbing brick and mortar. Aislinn's progress is steady but slow. She's perhaps a bit too cautious, the talk before of falling down the gully may or may not have had an effect on her.

Cravendy Hound puts in extra effort and, through some miracle, none of the rockholds crumble away as she -powers- her way to the top. She makes it a few seconds before Lin and, with a triumphant yell, grabs the pineapple with her hand and tears it from its stalk. "Ach! This shite's spiny as all 'ell!"

Aislinn North glances up and laughs as Cravendy takes hold of the pineapple and immediately curses it out. "One pineapple. Obtained!" she starts to work her way back down. "Just be careful on the way down, aye?"

Cravendy Hound now has to climb down while holding a pineapple. She hadn't thought this far. ".......Maybe when ye get down, ye can catch it?"

Aislinn North nods and then realizes Cravendy wouldn't have seen her gesture of agreement. "Aye." she calls up. A few moments later she drops to the jungle floor and lets go a sigh. Brushing her hands off on her pants, she turns her head up to Cravendy. "Alright, drop it down!" she yells, holding her hands out at the ready.

Cravendy Hound: "Or I can drop down. Probably safe from this 'eight, right?" Cravs looks down. It felt like a 50/50 chance of going terribly, the worst case scenario being a sprained ankle and the near fatal blow to her pride if/when people asked how she got it.

Cravendy Hound won't risk it. She hucks the pineapple down to Lin.

Aislinn North "No!" she calls out with urgency but it seems Cravendy also thought better of that plan. Aislinn hurries to get beneath the pineapple and catches the spiny fruit with a grunt. "Guh. You were serious about the spines." she shakes one hand out and then the other, glad for her gloves. "I really hope this tastes good."

Cravendy Hound climbs down, huffing and puffing. So much work for a pineapple. "Feels like the backside of a cactaur...but 'opefully it tastes as sweet as it smells."

Aislinn North nods and hands the pineapple back to Cravendy as she hits solid ground. It's only right, seeing as how the Seawolf managed to reach it first. "Right! Now, let's head out of here and get to eating this. Let's head to the Mists. We've earned a bit of relaxation, I think." she smiles a broad, unhooked smile up at Cravendy.

Cravendy Hound: "Ye think it could regrow like 'ow a carrot can grow from a carrot top? Since we put in all this effort, it feels like a waste to -just- eat it." Cravs says with a tired sigh. "But aye, let's 'ead back. Can ask Haila about that later."

Aislinn North nods in agreement as she turns back the way the came. She pauses. "No shaking the bridge." she says turning to point accusingly at Cravendy.

Cravendy Hound: "I won't." And then, once Lin's back is turned, she mutters something under her breath through a grin. "Maybe."

[project-rosewood-476]

Every Rose Has Its Thorns Chapter 1

So I’ve finally decided to post the first chapter of my creepypasta fanfic Every Rose Has It’s Thorns. This is based on an RP that I’m doing with @creepypasta-shtick so this takes place in their universe that they created so a lot of this were their ideas too just as much as mine. You should go check them out!. Maplehood creek, Rosewood Prep, and Tabby Anderson belongs to me.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Chapter 1

Tabby Anderson laid awake staring blankly up at the ceiling. She was replaying the last months worth of events that happened in her life over and over again in her head. Like a broken record. Over the course of a month she watched the ones she held close all jump to their deaths one by one while everyone’s cheering drowned out her own screams of terror. She could still hear the breaking of the glass window as Horatio, the guy who made all of her friends jump to their deaths, forcefully shoved her fist through the window. It was an unforgettable sound as it would be one that would haunt the rest of her life. She let out a silent gasp as she clenched her bandaged left hand from the phantom pain. She no longer had any use of her left hand as that was gone forever now. Living as a constant reminder of what she failed to do.

She winced from the fresh bruises and scars that never healed as she turned over to her side as she looked at the alarm clock. It read 2am in big red numbers. She let out an audible sigh and she squeezed her eyes shut as she banged her head over and over again on her pillow. Insomnias a bitch as it was but it was even more of a bitch to deal with when your stomach is empty and your mind is full. She realized that she had school in a couple of hours with the strict regimen that her stepdad had her on.

“On top of no sleep for tonight I also have to deal with another day of hell at Rosewood Prep and another day of hell at home too. All by myself”, She said in thought.

She looked around at her surroundings in her room. It was pretty minimalist for the most part. She looked at her dresser with the lopsided mirror that made the shadows in the room dance. She had her Rosewood Prep uniform laid out for the next day. She had her stack of unfinished homework that she didn’t finish on top of the school textbooks. She would scramble at breakfast tomorrow before she went to class to finish the homework. Laid on the side of her school books and homework was her black bag that she’s had since forever. She then looked at her closet door that was slightly ajar. There was nothing in it except for a few nice shirts and a lacey pale blue flower dress that hung up in there.

Tabby flopped back onto her pillow as her eyes made their way back up to the ceiling. She wasn’t sure just how long she could make it at Rosewood and at home since it was just her now. I mean her only motivation for living was taken from her and Rosewood wasn’t a place you could survive on your own. She didn’t know if she could make it to graduation. She then came up with the dawning realization. One that made her bolt up straight in her bed with her unnaturally wide eyes growing wider. If she stayed any longer she would be killed for sure, whether it was by Horatio, her step dad or herself. Either way one of those three would get her it was only a matter of time. Tabby couldn’t die not yet at least. Not until she fulfilled her promises of avenging her friends and killing Horatio once and for all. She got up and winced at her bruises that were still tender. She got dressed in a white tee shirt and black jeans with faded dirty pink converse. She got her black bag and began to pack. She packed a couple of photos, one of her mom, stepdad, herself, her older and younger brothers, one class photo in the 8th grade that was just her and her now deceased friends, a picture of her little brother, and a couple of sketches of her that her best friend Autumn made. She then packed some clothes, hair brush and toothbrush. She was about to sneak out when she realized she forgot the most important thing. Tabby ran back to her dresser and took out the money she’s been saving for the last two years from her job at the This or That restaurant and her red plaid jacket that shes had since the 6th grade. It was enough money to buy a bus ticket and have a little leftover to live until she found a job and got a stable income. After she pocketed the money safely away and tied her jacket around her waist, she snuck out through her window.

Tabby landed with a soft thud on to the ground she laid there for a bit and groaned. She got back up and brushed herself off and picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulders. Tabby took a few moments to appreciate the peacefulness of the night. For it being in the middle of November it was surprisingly warm. Must be one of those freak mother nature weeks or something. She could hear the few cars going by occasionally and there was no sound of people. She could hear the wind rustling through the trees that were the woods surrounding her town. Tabby knew that there were shortcuts in her section of the woods that led to the next town of HolyAnn. That was where the bus stop was and where she could buy a bus ticket and get out of Maplehood Creek for good. Tabby kept her back to her apartment complex and ran straight into the woods and never looked back. Ever.

Meanwhile deep in the heart of the woods, the whimpering of the woman before them was not stirring Hoodie’s sympathies. She could shake and cry all she wanted, about how she needed to get home to her children and husband. Hoodie didn’t particularly care all that much. Masky turned to look at Hoodie.

“Hm, do you think we should let her go?”, he asked in a taunting voice clearly mocking the poor woman’s pleads.

Hoodie and Masky loved to toy with their victims. In Toby’s opinion, it made them take too long to get the job done. However, the creativity and cruelty the two of them displayed were why they were some of the Slenderman’s favorites. Toby noted that they were only violent with victims around each other. Solo missions and missions with only one or the other resulted in the two being much less brutal. Though, Toby noted, Jeff was much more crazed and violent than these two. Toby’s head snapped up when he heard the woman scream in pain. He did not turn to see what one of the men had done to her. Someone in the woman’s family was trying to get information about the Slenderman. Killing her would be sending a message. Toby continued to stare off into the woods, knowing the direction he was staring into was where several houses were.

Tabby continued to curse herself as she got deeper and deeper into the woods. She was clearly lost but she refused to admit it to herself. She then heard a woman’s scream. Tabby’s fight or flight instinct kicked in and she was on high alert as always. She thought she was running away from the danger only to stumble upon a masked man, a man with a frowning mask, and a man with orange goggles and the corpse of the dead woman. She locked eyes with the orange goggled man. She unfortunately has the freeze response so she couldn’t run or fight even if she wanted to at this minute. Tabby was a pitiful sight to see. All covered in various bruises and scars of different colors and sizes, unnaturally wide, haunted hazel eyes that were colored underneath from lack of sleep and were slightly sunken back due to malnourishment. Her cheeks were slightly hollow also due to malnourishment and she stood in a potential fighting stance that exposed her bandaged left hand. She quickly realized that running would ensure her getting killed. If she was going to die she was going to die with what little dignity she had left and face death face on, She wasn’t going down without a fight.

“Oh fuck…”, she let out quietly.

Like with everything else in her life she had the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was having a flashback to when she was 12 with a similar situation with her step dad happened. Death was not new to her; she was the least fazed by that. She was more worried about her own survival at the moment. She shook her head to get rid of the flashbacks and to focus more on the situation at hand. Should she go with the situation or fight?

It did not matter how quiet the girl was. Hoodie and Masky have been doing this line of work for a long time. They were also blessed by the Slenderman with practically supernatural senses. Hoodie stared coldly at the girl. Masky chuckled.

“Well, well, well what do we have here?”, he said looking at the frail stranger in front of them.

Toby continued to make eye contact with the girl. He recognized the signs of abuse and neglect and had a flashback of his own. He had been hiding in a closet with his older sister. He couldn’t have been more than eight or so at the time. He remembered his father yelling and screeching at his mother. The sounds of a fight and his mother screaming. He remembered footsteps stomping up the stairs and his father calling for his sister and him to come out. He remembered his sister covering him in towels and blankets to hide him just before his father opened the closet. His sister had saved him from a beating that night.

He snapped back to the present when he heard Hoodie speak, in his raspy quiet voice.

“Let’s just kill her there’s no point in leaving her alive”

Masky seemed to be considering that.

“Alright, Hoodie, you-”

“No”, stated Toby abruptly.

“I’m sorry what?”, asked Tabby surprised.

The two men stopped and stared at the newer proxy.

“Don’t be ridiculous”, Tim began to lecture Toby.

Toby, however, stood his ground.

“No let’s just let her go”, he stated

“Are you fucking stupid”, Masky stated coldly, “That is a major breech of conduct”

Toby shook his head, ”There’s really no point in killing her”.

Hoodie just listened as the two men began to debate. He personally figured that killing the girl was unnecessary as they were not ordered to do so. However, he realized that they just couldn’t let her go either.

Tabby rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in defense. Although she looked like a mixture of ready to either bolt or fight.

“Oh please killing me would be a sweet blessing compared to the 17 years that I had and specifically with this month in general”. She stated.

She didn’t dare look at Toby for too long as she quickly learned growing up that if she looked at someone directly in the eyes for too long, it meant a challenge and resulted in a sure beating.

“If I do get let go I’m going back to where I live, clearly I picked a bad night for this and didn’t think this through enough. I’m going to find that bottle of whiskey in the cabinets that I know damn well my parents have hidden somewhere and I’m going to drink myself to oblivion and forget this encounter ever happened”, Tabby added out loud talking more to herself than to the others. She hasn’t been killed yet so staying and going with the situation was her best option.

Hoodie spoke up.

“Are you sure you’d go back home?”, he asked bluntly.

Masky glanced at him. It was like he could sense that Hoodie was analyzing the kid.

“I mean you’ve just gotten away from em, hm?”, Hoodie prodded as he gestured to her black backpack.

Hoodie was known for being scarily perceptive. Even Masky was staring at him.

Tabby huffed and pushed her hair back.

“I…have nowhere else to go but if I stayed I would be dead in the very near future. So I was running away. But obviously this is a bad night to do so, clearly I didn’t think this through enough and I have one other to protect…”, she said defensively.

Masky hummed.

“I think that if living is such a hassle to you then-”, he was cleaning the bloody blade off his jacket.

“No! Lets not kill her-!”, Toby intervened again.

“Why?”, asked Tabby quietly.

Toby looked at the girl and then looked down.

“Because I understand what you’re going through”, Toby whispered.

Hoodie pretended that he hadn’t heard what he said while Masky scoffed and was about to argue again when Hoodie spoke up.

“Let’s take her to our boss. Let him decide”

“Hoodie! He has to ask to see a human. Just simply bringing one to him-”, Toby protested.

“It’s better than letting her go”, said Hoodie with a shrug.

Everyone looked back at Tabby for her decision. It was either this or death. Her options were limited.

“Alrighty lets see here….I can’t run….That would ensure my death and I’d be hunted down for sure…I can’t fight all three of you at once….I really have nothing to lose anymore….so going with you guys seems like the best course of options to ensure my survival for now…I really don’t have much of a choice now do I?”, she took a deep breath, stood up straight and looked at them with an emotionless expression, “Lead the way I guess. The sooner I know me fate the sooner I can carry on with my life dead or alive”

Hoodie nodded, ”You’re right. Even if you ran or even if we let you go our boss would have us hunt you down”

Masky nodded and perked up.

“I’m impressed with your ability to make a rational decision in a life or death situation”, he mused, “Toby. You walk with her and make sure that she doesn’t try anything”

They were going to break the rules just this once. Maybe the boss would take pity on the girl. After all, he’d done the same with Toby. Toby went to stand next to the girl as Masky and Hoodie led the way deeper into the woods.

Tabby moved a couple of steps from Toby to give him space. She just looked at the ground praying that he wouldn’t beat her or kill her. Not yet. She walked with Toby not daring to speak. Being used to sneaking around she was quite stealthy. She made very little noise to where you would almost forget that she was walking with you. She was fidgeting with the hem of her white shirt like she was wringing someone’s neck. Even though she showed no emotion. She was anxious. Her anxiety was skyrocketing. She had to fight the urge to run every time she heard a noise. Her eye twitches occasionally. That was due to her being taken off meds that she didn’t need because doctors refused to do diagnosis correctly.

Toby had no intention of harming her. He could tell that she wasn’t doing too well, and he couldn’t really blame her. They passed the corpse of the dead woman as he followed the two older proxies. Hoodie and Masky were having their own conversation ahead of them. Toby decided to try to chat.

“Er..I’m Toby”, he stated, “What’s your name?”

He really didn’t expect a positive response from her. Why should he? He knew that she was probably freaking out. He did too when he was put in this situation.

“My name is Tabby”, she replied looking at Toby for a quick moment.

She looked wary and cautious but decided to show no fear. Hoodie and Masky paused in front of a haggard old tree with the boss’ symbol carved into it. Masky pulled off his glove and pressed the symbol with his bare hand. It began to glow faintly. It seemed like the woods grew darker, as if shadows were melting and joining together in some kind of macabre dance. Toby remembered being absolutely terrified of the opening of a portal when he was new. Especially a portal that led right into the heart of the Slenderman’s domain.

Tabby kinda looked up and around her in a mixture of awe and mortification. She stopped fidgeting slightly occasionally wringing her shirt before catching herself and smoothening out. She was desperately trying to show no signs of weakness despite how she looked.

Toby understood. Hoodie went through the shadows first and just seemed to vanish. Masky nodded to Toby and Tabby.

“You two are next Toby will lead the way”, he said.

Toby smiled at Tabby reassuringly.

"It-It’s just cold”, He assured her. His face twitched a bit. Damn it he had been doing so well so far, "It won’t hurt or anything.”

Tabby gave him a hint of a small smile although she was still suspicious and didn’t trust him or any of them for that matter one bit. Her eye twitched again. But she didn’t raise herself to be a little bitch so she jumped through the portal after Toby. She hid her left arm behind her back to avoid any questions about her hand.

It was cold and dark. Toby felt his feet hit something soft and cold. The ground always felt off. He heard the sound of a lighter clicking, and turned and saw Masky behind them with a lit lighter. The small flame wasn’t nearly enough to fully illuminate the entrance, but it was enough. Hoodie was waiting for them near what looked like a thick wall of foliage. Hoodie had his arms crossed and looked a little impatient. They had to take a walk through the Pocket to even get to the boss’ place, which would be dangerous for the human, as she was, well, a human that wasn’t a pet in a haven of killers.

“We don’t have all day.” Hoodie said firmly.

“I’m here” she said rather defensively.

“Good”, Hoodie stated.

Now he took off his glove. Masky protested a bit.

“I can do it, my glove is already off-”

Hoodie ignored him and sliced his palm slightly. He waved his hand in a way that would splatter the blood on the plants. Just like that, they slithered back, creating a doorway that seemed to lead into a huge town. Hoodie walked resolutely forward. Masky sighed and put his glove back on.

"You two go after him.” He said.

Tabby nodded not looking at him. She quickly walked a little ahead of Toby but she wasn’t more than an arms length away from him. She looked around at her surroundings. It was very different from her hometown where the only sinister thing was Rosewood Prep where she goes to school. She was used to the feeling of darkness making observations to herself.

Toby offered her a small smile.

“Make sure you stay close…” he warned her quietly.

Tabby nodded slowly, slowing down her pace to be evenly matched with Toby. She was careful to avoid eye contact with everyone.

The town was bustling. Toby saw some people he knew outside. Clockwork’s bar was bustling with activity. He could see EJ perched on a bench, eating…something. Judging from the blood splatters on his hands and clothes, Toby figured he knew what it was. The sky was clear and very dark. There were a bunch of plants and trees that Toby knew no human would have ever seen before. It was a very colorful place surprisingly, save for the pitch black sky and dark ground. But it was always cold. And it always felt a little off. Lights floated against the sky, giving the illusion of some sort of stars. The town was also illuminated by lamps and the lights from the buildings.

"It’s…different….definitely not like Rosewood Prep" she said quietly more to herself.

Toby nodded.

“Yeah. That’s the school in the town right?” He asked.

He was homeschooled so he wasn’t too sure. Masky walked behind them and Hoodie walked in front. A woman in a tight black dress and a wig stopped Masky temporarily and handed him a file. He seemed to thank her and continued to follow them.

Tabby nodded politely as she walked by the woman.

“it’s one of them unfortunately. There’s also Maplehood Creek elementary school. I went there for the first 4 years then I got transferred over Rosewood” she gave him a bitter smile and a bitter laugh “In Rosewood you’d either have to be very rich, mentally disturbed or very intelligent to get in. And I’m two out of the three” her eyes showed a dark, pained haunted expression.

Toby nodded. He understood.

“Yeah, I’ve heard that about that school.”

He looked around, then whispered.

"That woman that gave Masky the file used to go there too. You probably didn’t know her or anything but she did go there.“ He stated earnestly.

It was true. Jane had gone there. Toby knew several others who had gone there too.

"I never went to school so…well I did for elementary but that didn’t go too well for me.” Toby said.

Masky was glancing through the files.

She showed an expression of understanding and relief, “so they’ve probably have horror stories of their own about that place”.

She looked at Toby “don’t worry it didn’t go too well for me either that’s why I got transferred”

She remembered her first day at that sinister place. Meeting her first real friend and making her first sworn enemy and accidentally witnessed Horacio physically torture some poor kid. All at the ripe old age of 9 years old.

Toby nodded.

“Yeah. That school is absolutely ripe for producing people like, well…” He gestured around at the people in the town, “It’s why where you live is such a hotspot for, well, paranormal activity as well as people like me.” He explained.

He didn’t want to go into detail about his hellish elementary school days. He knew proxies who would watch that school day in and day out because of all the people that would just snap there.

She looked at him. “I now see why you guys didn’t decide to kill me… Makes sense I’ve always been able to see paranormal shit all my life from the time I could remember…I guess that I’ve always had some sort of potential”

she gave a bitter laugh.

“Who knew that my step dad would be proven wrong about me. The shit I saw and went through made me the survivor that I am today and I don’t mean to undermine your hellish experience but to me that sounds like heaven compared to Rosewood. I wish I had your elementary experience”

She hesitated for a minute before her expression turned dark, fearful and pained.

“Are you aware of anyone named Horatio Galloway?” She asked quietly

She held her bandaged left hand close to her.

“Ha, well I mean if you define "heaven” as being relentlessly tormented by all your peers, having a hate club made about you, and being put in the hospital twice by kids older then you then I suppose so.“ Toby smiled.

"Also, usually we kill people who are sensitive to the paranormal. Well, the people who work for my boss do.”

Toby was silent after being asked about the stranger.

“I’m not, I’m sorry. Though someone else here might be aware of who he is.”

“I had all of that and more. I’ve been put in the hospital more times then I care to remember”, she physically flinched as she felt the phantom pain of her hand and the beatings of her step dad.

"At least you didn’t watch the only people who were the closest thing you had to a real family jump to their deaths one by one at the hands of Horatio. And there was nothing I could do about it”, she went quiet.

“I-I said too much. It’s not really anyone else’s business”, she tilted her head to the side thoughtfully, “hm…if I die I at least will be with my friends again…hopefully” she sighed “that’s fine…I’ll get my revenge eventually…if I live long enough…”

Toby nodded. He understood. He spoke.

“My father liked to say that my sister died in a car crash. She was in one, that was true, but the reason it killed her was because of a head wound my father had given her. The car cr-a-ash-”, he stopped and cleared his throat, “was simply just an excuse.”

“Dads aren’t shit”, she said as she playfully punched his arm gently with her right hand with a small smile.

Toby understood what it was like to lose people. So did a lot of the folks here. They soon were heading up a steep hill towards a monolith of a mansion. It was beautiful, with sprawling gardens and marble columns. All three of the men quickened their steps towards the metal gate, which swung open to let the group in. It seemed that whoever or whatever was inside was expecting him. Toby figured Masky had let the boss know. All proxies could communicate telepathically with their boss. But only their boss.

She almost forgot about her anxiety as she was talking to Toby. Her anxiety spiked up as she was about to receive her fate. She went back to wringing her shirt.

“Its so strange…I might die at any minute now and I’m strangely okay with this. You know death was very real to be growing up. I knew I’ll die any day now whether I’ll do it myself or someone else would”, she shook her head, “I just never expected my death to be like this. This turned out to be a longer night then expected”

Toby patted her shoulder.

She dodged his touch and then offered him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry instincts”

“I’ll vouch for you.” He said simply.

“What if that’s not enough? What if I have to die anyways regardless?”, stated Tabby.

Hoodie led them up the stairs to a huge door, that also creaked open invitingly. The inside of the mansion was beautiful, with golden curtails, matching rugs, and wooden floors. Two people in matching masks and uniforms closed the door when Masky had stepped through. Without a word, they both gestured, at the same time, for the group to follow them.

Tabby whistled and was impressed at her surroundings.

“This is so much better than my apartment…”

Toby glanced at Tabby.

“Disgraced proxies.” He explained, then mentioned he would explain everything later to her after the conversation with his boss.

“Oh…”, she nodded an okay as he said that he’ll explain later. She sincerely hoped that she would be alive for the explanation.

She made the sign of the cross and put her hands together in a silent prayer and followed them. She stood up straight with her hands to her sides and kept a neutral emotionless expression for first impressions.

Toby understood. There wasn’t much he could do for her except put in a good word for her. Masky looked like he had a bit of a headache. The two people in the pearly colored masks eventually led them to a heavy door. One of them pushed it open. This room was darker than the rest of the mansion. It was cold. Painting of landscapes hung on the walls. It seemed to be some sort of sitting room. In the corner, on a plush armchair, rested a tall imposing figure. As soon as Hoodie, Masky, and Toby entered the room, they approached the chair and kneeled. The proxies in the pearly masks kneeled right next to the door, allowing Tabby to go in. Tabby entered the room cautiously and looked around. Tabby didn’t know what to do. She saw everyone else kneeling so she did the same too. Wincing at her bruises as she did. She looked down, not daring to speak or look up until she was spoken too.

The room seemed to rumble as the figure in the chair spoke.

“Masky…why have you brought this human here?”, It was a smooth, but chilling voice.

Masky remained kneeling, and addressed his creator.

“Conflict in the group as to what to do with her, sir.”, Masky said.

The being chuckled coldly.

“How silly. Why did you not just do away with her?” The being asked.

Masky sighed, and responded.

“Some in the group believe there is no purpose in killing her.” He stated firmly.

Toby was muttering something under his breath, over and over. “Cruel but fair, cruel but fair, cruel but fair-”

There was only one thought in her mind, "is this really going to be the end of me?”

That was when Toby stepped in.

“Sir! Don’t punish my teammates for what I did. They both wanted to kill her but I suggested bringing her to you! I figured she…that she could be useful, maybe. Even if you just let her go, sir.”

That’s when Tabby stepped in.

“Now wait a minute! If anyone should be killed it’s me!”

She quickly turned to the being.

“Sir with all due respect, I should be killed. I was the one who made the stupid decision to run away from home. I was stupid enough to stumble upon them doing their job. I never should have ran away in the first place. I was stupid enough to not run away from what I stumbled upon when I had the chance”

she said more quietly, “sir please don’t punish them for my own stupidity. It should be me and me alone. I’ll take the full blow if I must and even if it includes death”, she looked down.

Toby looked at her in shock, hoodie sucked in a breath, and Masky sighed, facepalmed and shook his head.

She realized her mistake but it was too late to take it back. The damage was done. She was sure for certain now that she’ll definitely be killed now. She waited for the consequence.

“Silence.”, The figure said, waving his tentacles threateningly.

"I hold these men to a higher standard than mere humans. However…“, The being cocked his head. "I’ll admit that usually the humans brought before me simply beg for their life. You did not, which…amuses me.”

“Oh…yeah I forgot about my own life for a minute there…uh….spare me? Please?”, she said awkwardly not really putting much effort into it.

Toby perked up. She might just be spared.

“You simply were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Normally, I would have you slaughtered anyways.”, the being paused.

The proxies remained kneeling. The Slenderman seemed to settle.

“Since you have amused me, I’ll put your fate in your own hands. You can choose to die, in which case I shall send you out with either Knot or Paene.”, he gestured to the two proxies in the pearly masks, “Or, you could stay here, and see what we can make of you.”

“You mean if I choose to stay I can live and eventually get my revenge and a new life?”, she asked in disbelief.

She thought about it, “but if I stay I’ll never see my mother or little brother again…” she then remembered that her mother and little brother were treated better than her. He would never beat them, only her.

"They don’t really need me…and I have nothing else to lose… and I have been asking for a second chance at life since I was 12…“

She looked at the being making her final decision. As she said something that she didn’t believe, "I want to stay”. Meaning that she wants to live.

"Very well.“, the powerful being said, and offered her his hand to shake. He could sense something in her that was…darker.

Tabby gave him a firm handshake with her right hand to seal the deal.

"You may stay with either Masky, Hoodie, or Toby.”, the being said.

"I’ll stay with Toby", she quickly looked down. Her chances of surviving would greatly increase if she stuck to him for now. Besides he was nice to her and spared her life so she kinda owes him.

Once she proved herself useful, she could have her own home. Until then, she needed a mentor and someone who could explain the new life she was given. The being nodded to Knot and Paene to show the group out. He actually had some business to attend to with Masky and Masky only, and it involved the files he had brought to him. The Slenderman nodded, and sent her, Hoodie, and Toby out while he spoke with Masky privately. Toby was happy to at least be able to help her adjust. He hoped she’d be able to make the cut. Even though he was new, he was still a decent proxy meaning the apartment he had had two rooms and enough space for them to live comfortably. Jane was their neighbor along with a few others Toby had never met. Tabby followed Toby closely; she was careful not to stare as she was Generally polite for the most part. She saw a doctor with stitches going across her. She made damn sure to avoid her since she didn’t like doctors. She saw an eccentric child playing with LJ, the Doll maker and Jason the toy maker. She saw two boys arguing with each other that reminded her of an old married couple.

Toby was thinking.

“We can get Jane to make you a mask.”, he said, “I think you might like her."

Tabby looked offended, "what’s wrong with my face? Is it because of my eyes?”.

She did have unnaturally wide eyes. She often got picked on for them. People called her wide-eyed, bugsy, googly eyes ect…

“No, no it’s nothing to do with your face!”, Toby assured her, “It’s just that people like us wear masks. It’s kind of like our new identity. But any face covering works, really.”

They passed a haggard, tall, skeletal thing with long tangled black hair. The creature’s limbs were covered with dirt, mud, blood, and other…things. It watched Toby and Tabby continue on, mouth ripped open and hanging near its collar bone. It stared with its yellow blank stare. They passed a tall man with broad shoulders, very attractive and charming-looking. He was holding a cat in his arms. He looked relatively normal. They finally made it to Toby’s apartment building.

She looked at the apartment complex, “it’s a lot nicer than my old apartment…”

She didn’t look at the other people as she didn’t want others to kill her. He led her into the lobby. The lobby was empty, save for a lady at the front desk. She looked normal, save for the fact she had no eyes and her mouth was stitched shut. She was doing paperwork. Toby didn’t seem to mind.

“Come on!”, He said, a little excited to show her where she’d be staying.

Tabby gave him a small smile and let him lead the way. Toby let her into his apartment. It was oddly clean despite being lived in by an 18 year old boy. The blinds were open. There were a few dishes on the sink but nothing too unclean. The walls were a light green with dark brown trim. It was a decent place. A little cat slept peacefully on the couch. It was quiet besides the humming.

“Your room will be the door right next to the hall closet.”, he stated, “My room is locked, so don’t worry about getting into the wrong room.”

She nodded in understanding as she took in her surroundings. She dropped her backpack in a corner and slowly walked up to the cat cooing at it. Not daring to touch it until she gained its trust but it’s evident that she has a soft spot for cats.

“Your apartment is nice and it’s relatively clean…I always had to play Cinderella at my old apartment”, said Tabby.

Toby smiled.

“I just like being in clean spaces.”, he said, not wanting to get into the reasons for that.

He introduced the cat to her. The cat’s name was Nugget.

“She was a stray. I found her beating the crap out of some raccoon so I took her in. She’s a real big baby.”

Nugget remained asleep, obviously unbothered by Tabby’s presence.

She nodded, “so do I. I have Bad OCD”, she left it at that not wanting to get into the reasons for that.

"Nugget is really cute. I love cats"

“Well, lucky for you, Nugget loves sleeping in your room so you may wake up and find her next to you.”, Toby said with a smile, “I’ll give you some time to settle in.”.

“Okay” she picked her back pack up and went to her room.

It looked the same as the rest of the place with the same colors just smaller. There was already another bed with a small bedside table and a small dresser with a mirror on it. She unpacked. She only had a week’s worth of clothes for summer and winter and like 3 pairs of pjs. She put socks and underwear in one drawer, shirts in the next, pants in the next and then pjs in the next. She hung up the plain pale blue long sleeved dress that she had in the closet. She put her hygiene products and feminine products in her closet. Lastly she took out the two pictures that she had and put them on the nightstand. And she took out a couple of sketches that her best friend Autumn made for her. They were both of Tabby in different poses. She laid them on the bed. The bed was bare as there was no bedding on it. She’ll buy frames for her pictures and bedding for her bed once she got money. She’ll ask later if she could hang stuff up on the wall.

Toby busied himself while she got settled into her new room. He had done the dishes from what he had managed to eat that day and checked on the food he had. He was running low, but thankfully he’d soon be paid for the mission with a bonus, as he was now training someone. Proxies got paid per mission, though it was always possible to get money on the side. The longer and more complex the mission, the more pay you’d get for it. Toby had finished cleaning up his mess in the kitchen and was looking over his mission schedule for that week. He had given Jane a call to let her know her services would soon be needed. He figured that a friendly female presence would help Tabby adjust to this place, and he knew the moment she had her mask was the moment she could go around The Pocket safely. Jane would make it to her liking. Toby knew that while he’d be the primary mentor, there were things he could not teach her and would need help with. He also knew that he needed to explain the rules.

She sat on the bed and looked into the mirror and took a good long look at her reflection and took the time to process tonight’s events. How fucking quickly her life changed from running away to becoming a proxy.

“Wtf actually happened? How did I survive this?”, she said out loud to herself.

Toby knew his schedule was clear the next day. That would be good. He figured that they soon would need to get something to eat but Toby didn’t feel it was a good idea for Tabby to go out too far without a mask. Not wearing a mask made you a target for the malus population, or even sometimes higher ranked monsters or other proxies. It was deemed unacceptable to not wear one unless on a stealth mission. Thankfully Tabby has bad social anxiety so it’s unlikely that she’ll ever venture out by herself. If anything she’ll venture out if she had too only with another person with her. Toby knew that she would have to make friends to survive for long here. It was always best to have someone in your corner unless things went to crap. Thankfully Toby knew some decent people who could definitely help her out of her shell a tad and also would be loyal. She decided to leave Toby alone for now since she didn’t want to get in his way and bother him. He knew where to get her if he needed her. She just flopped on the bed staring up at the ceiling. It’s insomnia week so she’s not going to sleep for a couple of days. Her anxiety died down and the adrenaline wore off.

She talked quietly out loud to herself, “Alrighty ground rules. Don’t speak unless spoken too. Only make eye contact for a little bit when someone is talking to you. Always be polite and respectful, fight if you have too, just keep your head low, stay out of the way and if someone asks you to do something quickly, quietly and efficiently”.

She nodded as she agreed with the rules that she made for herself. She gave herself a little pep talk.

“I survived Rosewood for the last 8 years. I can survive here. This is no different from Rosewood only the steaks are higher. I can live with that. I’m sure there’s a weapon store somewhere here. I can buy some weapons to defend myself with when I absolutely have to go alone”. She took a deep breath “I’m finally going to do it Autumn…I’m going to avenge you and the others….just hold on”

Toby knocked on her door, and let her know he was going out for groceries. He told her Jane would be over in about fifteen minutes to start working on a mask with her and asked her if she needed anything. He was planning on just making some simple food for dinner. Jane was a very talented mask maker, and Toby knew that she would do a good job with Tabby’s. Toby had a bit of a flashback. When he was new, still slightly burned and bruised from the fire, he was sitting down on some stone steps outside a building and he was crying. He remembered feeling a tap on his shoulder and seeing Jane sitting next to him. She was ranked lower than he was, she had explained, so he could feel assured she wouldn’t hurt him. He remembered her taking him back to her apartment and making him some food before showing him where he was supposed to go. Jane was an incredibly sweet person and was able to make people just open up to her. She did a lot of espionage missions and did a lot of work with stealth.

Tabby opened up the door and nodded.

“Do you think you can buy my two frames? About an 8 x 9? And at least two knives for me to defend myself when I absolutely have to go alone? And some bedding too?”, she added quickly, “if you don’t want too that’s fine! I can wait until I get my own money! I don’t need anything fancy! Just something sturdy and simple. And something warm. I don’t want to be a burden on you. I can take care of myself! I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of you! I’m actually really grateful!”, she babbled on as she fidgeted with the bottom of her shirt and looked down prepared for the harsh comeback.

“It’s okay! I can get that for you. Any specific colors you want for the bedding and the frames or should I just get stuff that matches the room?”, Toby asked.

He had no problem providing her with stuff. She was a guest in his home and he would be a bad host if he didn’t help her out. Plus she was in a new world with new rules that probably seemed a bit hellish. If he could help in any way he would be happy to.

“Oh, and I’m grilling some chicken and making some salad for dinner. Is that okay or do you want me to bring you back something?”, he asked.

“Teal…I like the color teal…it’s my favorite… as for the frames just simple black ones will do. No need to be fancy.”, she added quietly.

She listened to him when he said what he was making for dinner, “That’s fine I’m not a picky eater. but I have to watch you make it because I don’t trust anyone to make my food unless I’m watching or if I’m making it myself. It could be poisoned. No offense to you".

It was common knowledge at Rosewood that you don’t eat the school food as everyone’s caught Horatio poisoning the food more times than not. So everyone brought their own lunch and the kitchen shut down.

“Okay, that’s fine with me.”, Toby assured her, “You can even help me cook it if you want.”.

He understood. When he first got to the Pocket he was given to an older proxy to be trained to who called himself Demitrius. Toby had been training with a girl named Farrah. Demitrius despised them. He was so awful to them, which they both had to take as they were new. Then they had both started getting sicker and sicker. Farrah had found out that they were slowly being poisoned so they were both moved to different mentors. He didn’t feel like explaining that however.

“I’ll make sure I’ll get you what you need, okay?”, said Toby.

She nodded as she sounded relieved, "Okay. I’m pretty good in the kitchen myself”.

As she’s always had to cook dinner for the 5 of them, the people she lived with. On top of her working at the This or That restaurant.

“Okay thank you”, she ventured out to the living room as she sat down on the edge of the couch since he mentioned that a girl named Jane was coming over soon.

“Okay, I’ll see you.”, Toby said with a smile. He turned and left the apartment with a list.

Soon enough, the door slid open. The woman from earlier came into the apartment. She was tall, and wearing a very pretty painted mask and a wig. She had changed from the dress from earlier into a long sleeved t shirt and jeans.

“Hey hon! I’m Jane.”, the woman said with a kind voice.

She quickly looked up at her, “hello my name is Tabby”, she quickly looked back down again as she was fidgeting with her shirt again. She was covered in bruises and scars old and new. And her bandaged left hand was obvious.

She stood up trying to be a good hostess, “would you like anything to drink? I’m sure we only have water here for now”.

Jane smiled and shook her head.

“No thank you, I’m good.”, she said.

Jane noted her bruises, scars, and her hand. She gave her a smile.

“I was asked to come here to discuss the type of mask you would like.”, she said tentatively.

“Hmm…I don’t want anything too fancy as I don’t want to drag attention to myself more than I already will since I’m fresh meat…and something of a teal color”, she was thinking as she made room for Jane to sit if she wanted to.

Jane sat next to her with a smile, “Hm, teal, that would look nice. You won’t be fresh meat for long, but I understand wanting a plain mask. Maybe a golden design over the teal? That could look very pretty.”

Tabby nodded excitedly, “yeah! Like golden spirals in different directions”

Jane nodded, “That could be pretty.”, she sketched out a tentative design and showed it to her.

“Yeah…”, she just stared for a couple of minutes as she was having a flashback to when Autumn was alive. She was the artistic one in the group. And was also her best friend/big sister. She was always showing Tabby her sketches.

She shook her head to clear away the memories.

“Like that”, she confirmed.

“Okay! Anything else? Would you like me to paint the lips, add any engravings, stuff like that?”, Jane asked.

She remembered one older proxy, about 40, who had lost his entire group in one mission. He had come to her and had her engrave their names on one side of his mask.

She hesitated for a minute, “could you engrave 14 names in the inside of the mask? And paint the lips black please?”.

“Okay, lips black. Can you write out the names please?”, Jane asked, handing her the sketchbook and a pencil. She would be more than happy to.

Tabby took her sketch book and wrote down the names ‘autumn, ora, Emma, heath, Gavin, Donny, Rebecca, Mitchell, Morgan, jewel, Julie, Caleb, Riley, Emmy, and Daniel’. She handed back the sketch book.

“Okay. I’ll carve them on the inside of the mask.”, She said.

She figured those names carried sentimental value to Tabby.

Tabby looked up, “thank you”, and she looked down.

Jane nodded, “I’ll have it done by either tomorrow or the next day, okay?”.

Tabby nodded, “yes that’s fine. Take all the time you need. I don’t plan on going out anytime soon”.

“Of course. I’ll get it ready.”.

“Okay then”, Tabby wasn’t really good at holding up conversations as she never really got too much socializing. Especially if it’s a stranger.

Jane smiled.

“Would you like me to leave, or would you feel more comfortable with someone else in the apartment?”, Jane asked with a smile.

“Oh you can stay if you want if you’re not busy”, she won’t admit it but she didn’t want to be alone in this strange new world just yet.

"I’m not all that busy. If I could bring some of my mask making stuff over here that would be great.“, Jane said. She understood

"Yeah that’s fine. I’m sure Toby won’t mind as long as there’s no mess afterwards”.

"Oh I won’t make a mess.“, Jane said peacefully. She said she would be very fast.

”Unbelievable“, she said in thought, ”I’m talking to a killer…I’m having an ally ship with two of them so far“, she shook her head, "my life really did take a drastic change”

Jane went to her apartment and soon came back with all her supplies. She could get three of her orders done if she worked fast. Jane began to chat with Tabby as she set up.

“So Tabby, you’re very new, hm?”.

“Yeah my life turned into this in one night. I was honestly not expecting this to happen. Originally I was running away”, admitted Tabby.

Jane nodded. She understood. She began making the mold for one of the masks.

“I understand. But this will be a pleasant change, you’ll see.”, Jane promised, “Revenge and whatnot is quite exhilarating”.

She shook her head slowly, "I hope so. I’m just doing it because I know I can’t die and go with my friends without avenging them while he is still out on the streets and in school. Someone else will suffer at his hands and I’ll be damned if someone else has to suffer by the hands of him like I did”, she said quietly.

“I think I know who you’re talking about.”, Jane said, “And…if it’s any consolation at all, ghosts do exist and several of them have contact with other dead folks. There may be a way to talk to your friends, albeit temporarily.”, She set the mask cast to dry and made another one.

“There’s only one I would like to talk to one last time. I owe her everything after all she did for me”, she said quietly. She then changed the subject.

“Toby said that you also went to Rosewood Prep”.

“He’s right. I used to. I still have human contacts in there.”, Jane said. She set a fan on the first mask as she finished the second one.

“So how long ago was that? What was it like? Was it still the same students who were just as corrupt as the teachers? Was it like the hunger games where you had to be on guard and fight every day to survive only with more rules and regulations? What horror stories do you have of that place?”, she asked excitedly. She never met anyone who lived long enough to get out of Rosewood. Normally the people who do got the fuck out the first chance they got and were never really heard from ever again.

“I was there two years ago, actually. I’m still pretty new here myself. I…I have a lot of stories.”, Jane said.

She shifted anxiously, “I once got caught stealing food from the kitchen, and they locked me in the sports shed for almost a week. They poured water on the ground for me every day and I had to lick it up from the ground. Teachers would have favorite kids and that would keep them out of trouble. Rich kids were treated much better. Anyone who made lower than a C on anything was punished. Sometimes they would lock kids who were hallucinating in the upstairs bathroom and just leave them there. I have so many.”

“Horatio Galloway” Tabby’s face paled and her eyes were wide in fear, “most of my horror stories had to do with him” “rarely did I ever get into trouble with the teachers. I was always a straight A student. It’s only when I got into trouble for skipping classes because of Horatio”.

“I think I remember him.”, Jane said, “I didn’t get in as much trouble with him ever. I did okay in my schooling but I was rebellious.”. Jane set the second mask to the side, and started on another.

“It was probably a good thing that you’ve gotten punished for stealing the food. It was probably poisoned by him. I’d rather be locked in the sports shed than have a slow death”, pointed out Tabby.

“It was before the food was prepared. I wasn’t stupid. I took fruits and veggies and unopened pre packaged things. They were denying a friend of mine food. I got caught after she got to eat.”, Jane spoke with some pride.

“Good for you”, Tabby said proudly.

Tabby then looked down and her voice quivered, “then you must be aware of the Rosewood massacre that happened a month back”, She rubbed her left hand.

Jane’s eyes darkened, “I heard rumors about the massacre but don’t know the details. Several of my friends are still there…”.

“I can tell you the real full story. The massacre as they called it really did happen. I saw it with my own eyes but being the person that Horatio is he made damn sure that I couldn’t do a damn thing about it”, she gave a bitter laugh, ”always had it out for me since day 1".

Jane looked sadly at her.

“I’m so sorry you had to be there.”, Jane said softly she began to paint the first mask, a pretty lavender mask, “Talk about it only if you would like to.”

She sighed and thought about it for a while. She’s never talked to anyone about this.

“It…was homecoming…you know at Rosewood how each homecoming is a different theme every year. This year was carnival themed. Which I don’t like as it is because I have a severe distrust of clowns. Too many horror movies growing up you know? Anyways my mom decided to let me go to the event and she and my grandmother came with me. That was the catch. Horacio was standing at the entrance dressed as the ringleader handing out pink candies that were laced with LSD to everyone. You should know at Rosewood it is common knowledge that you do not take anything that Horacio gives you. Whatever it may be. I didn’t take the candy because I knew better. I tried warning my mom and grandmother about it but they wouldn’t listen. I was too smart for his bullshit but not smart enough. I couldn’t find my friend group anywhere. But I knew that they were here so I didn’t worry about it too much and I’ll find them later. So I got to the seats and watched the show which was quite boring since I wasn’t hallucinating from the candy. But the last act though. It was outside. I saw all my friends lined up on the rooftop of the school and it’s a fucking tall building. while everyone was thinking that they were doing some acrobatic tricks i watched them jump to their deaths one by one….i was screaming and crying begging someone to help but all ignored me and i couldn’t shout because they were too far up hear me and I couldn’t break into the school either. i couldn’t do anything. later on the LSD wore off and they were mortified to find the 14 dead bodies. all confused on how it happened. So they deemed it the Rosewood Massacre. After the show was over I confronted Horacio about what he did. I attacked him to strangle him. My goal was to kill him. but the problem was that we’re too evenly matched with each other. in strength and intelligence so it turned out to be a fist fight. we did a good amount of damage to each other. until he caught one of my punches and shoved my fist through a closed window shattering the window and every bone in my hand. i had to get the glass surgically removed as it was deep in the tissue so i can’t feel a thing in my hand anymore and they had to set my hand for the broken bones to heal. But since doctors refused to do their jobs correctly they set it wrong so it healed wrong and now my hand is paralyzed. he took everything away from me! My family! My home! My motivation to live then! and my hand!”, she was more hurt than angry.

Tabby quickly looked away to recompose herself, “I’m sorry for the sudden outburst. I never talked about that day since to anyone before”.

“I understand.” ,Jane said softly. She had been letting the lavender mask dry so she could paint flowers on it and had been working on the second one, listening to the subject.

“I’m so sorry.”, Jane said softly, “I understand what it’s like to lose everyone. A lot of the teachers at that school were just plain cruel, and I still don’t know how and why the human government hasn’t shut down that institution or why parents won’t stop sending their children there. No one deserves to lose people the way you did."

"That’s because the shit they do there is unbelievable. No one would believe them if others heard their stories. I don’t know about your parents but mine didn’t believe me either and neither did my therapists”, explained Tabby.

The second mask was a half white and half black one.

“We can get you an appointment with the Puppeteer perhaps. He can just drain your sadness away.” The Puppeteer was highly sought after for his empath abilities. It comes back after a while unless he numbs your memory, but it’s nice to feel peace just for a little while.“

She shook her no.

"No thank you. I don’t like my mind being tampered with. I’ve been through 7 psychologists. I don’t need anyone else. My sadness, anger and grief is my motivation to put Horacio Down once and for all. I can have peace of mind after that”, said Tabby.

“I understand. He doesn’t tamper with your mind though. He feeds in negative emotions so you can at least get a bit of sleep and have a moment where everything feels okay. And you’re right. My parents didn’t believe me either. All my letters were monitored as I lived in the boarding section.”, Jane said, “My parents didn’t believe in therapy, so.”

She finished up the first mask. It looked lovely and glossy.

“As much as that sounds nice. I can’t sleep even if I wanted too. I have insomnia and narcolepsy. So it’s a hit or miss”, explained Tabby. “I’ve heard horror stories about the boarding section. I guess I was considered lucky enough to be able to go back to the place where I lived”.

“Oh, he can deal with that too.”, Jane said, “He’s honestly a blessing. And yeah. The boarding rooms were awful.”, She didn’t want to go into too much detail.

"Maybe I’ll think about it" , she nodded in understanding. She learned in order to keep a friend you don’t push boundaries and you don’t ask too many questions.

“So Tabby. What do you do for fun?”, asked Jane, changing the subject.

“Fun?” she asked, confused. She had to sneak around after school or at night in order to have some fun as her step dad was a cruel and strict man.

“I normally like to read and write, have time to myself to philosophize. I liked to hang out with my friends whenever I could. Listen to music”, Tabby finally said.

"Ah, I see.” Jane said. “Those are fun hobbies. What do you like to write?” She asked. She had stenciled out a white design for the black side of the mask and mirrored that design in black for the white side. The third mask was hardening.

“I like to write fiction. Darkly realistic fiction. Sometimes free verse poetry”, Tabby said.

“Oh, that seems fun.” Jane said, continuing her work on the masks. She checked the little black clock up on the wall. “Toby will be home soon.”

“Yeah. Although I left all my written works back at Rosewood. I didn’t think to bring them back to the place where I lived. I didn’t exactly plan on running away. It was a spur of the moment type thing you know?”, she nodded, “I’m not too worried about him. He seems like he’s the type that can handle himself”

“Ah, I understand. Maybe you could get Toby to get you some notebooks or something to write in.” Jane said. “And you’re right, he most definitely can. He’s pretty strong.”

“Maybe and that’s good I guess”

Jane finished up the second mask and began working on the third. She looked like she was thinking.

“Has Toby told you the rules yet?”, Jane asked.

She shook her head no, “I know that there are rules and guidelines. I figured I would ask him later when he got back”

"Ah. Well, if you’d like, I could start filling you in.” Jane offered.

“That would help out a lot. The more I know the less of a chance I have of being killed”, said Tabby.

“Okay. I’ll tell you a few of the official rules then.” Jane said, adjusting her position and making sure her mask was secure. “First of all, there is a hierarchy here that is absolutely set in stone. Since you’re a proxy, you’re lower in the hierarchy, but you are not the lowest of the low.”

“Sounds like my position in any life in general but okay what else?” She asked.

“It’s best to try to consort with your rank and above. So for you, that would be other proxies and monsters. The higher beings are not likely to befriend you so I wouldn’t bother.” Jane explained.

“So like you and Toby for example?”, asked Tabby.

"Not me, actually. Toby flaunts a few of the rules because he’s popular. I am actually one of the lowest in the hierarchy.” Jane said with an awkward nod. “It’s not like you’d be punished for speaking with me or anything like that. People would just look down their noses a bit at you.”

“That’s nothing new to me. I can live with that. Who would be my best chance to make an ally with, the higher proxies I mean?”

“Hm. If you want high-ranking proxies that are pretty friendly, then believe it or not, Masky would be your go to guy. If he’s not trying to kill you, he’s very pleasant. Clockwork is another proxy I would chat with if I were you. She runs that little bar a couple minutes from here. Kate’s not high ranking, but she can pull you a lot of favors because she knows people. There are a few monsters who don’t care too much about the hierarchy either.”

"He was trying to earlier. If it wasn’t for Toby I would mostly likely be dead in the woods. I’m avoiding him for a while. I could give Clockwork and Kate a chance once my social anxiety dies down and when I get the courage to go out on my own willingly. Anything else that I need to know?”

Jane nodded. “Yes. Relationships with humans that aren’t mission-related or cleared by your boss as allies is VERY against the rules. It will get you put down to my level.”

Tabby nodded slowly “well I’m too fucked up for a relationship. I’m sure no one would want me anyways…The man I loved is dead now. No one will replace him. So I can have allies but it has to be cleared by the boss first?”

“Yes. By allies I mean humans who are aware of our world and have chosen to side with us.” She was painting what looked like a galaxy on the third mask. And I would be careful. You may find someone and it may shock you. I didn’t expect-“ Jane stopped then continued painting in silence.

"You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. I’m not the one to push boundaries. And that makes sense. What else do I need to know?”, asked Tabby.

"Treat all gifts with suspicion. Even if they’re from people you know. There are a lot of backstabbers here.”

“I’m highly intuitive and I have serious trust issues. I don’t trust anybody or anything. Unless I see them making it or doing something with my own eyes. I’ve already came up with the conclusion that this is no different from Rosewood. Except the stakes are higher and I have more freedom for the most part. If we survived Rosewood for that long we can survive here”. What else?“

"You’ll find that this may be a bit tougher than Rosewood, mainly due to the missions. This is a very high stakes job. Many proxies die young. But it is also so rewarding too, really. Cause once you root yourself here, you’ve got some people that have your back.”

"Well then I guess I’ll have to do my best not to die. I’ll try to keep myself alive for as long as possible. Is there anyone I I shook steer clear away from? Like a red flag warning?”

“Jeff.” Jane said firmly. “Ignore him. Don’t do favors for him and don’t let him do favors for you. Ever.” Her hands remained steady even if she was freaking out.

“Is Jeff to you like Horacio was for me?” She asked quietly. “I’m good at ignoring people. I ignore people like they are the plague. I’m antisocial af”

“Well, he set me on fire and murdered my family in front of me, so yeah, I’d say so.” Jane said. She said it in a way to make it seem like it didn’t hurt her but it was easy to tell that it did.

“Horatio can’t get me here…can he?” Her voice quivered and her eyes were wide with fear.

“Horatio is just a measly little human.” Jane said. “After you’re trained and fully transformed, he won’t really be able to harm you on his own. You could absolutely humiliate him.

"But he’s always been 10 steps ahead of me…I couldn’t even get close enough to kill him and believe me I’ve tried countless times…what if he’s still 10 steps ahead of me after I transformed? All my efforts would be in vain”

“He won’t be. Like I said. He’s just a stupid human. You will be able to get rid of him with no sweat.”

She sighed the problem with Horatio was that she and him were too evenly matched. In intelligence and strength. She just uses her intelligence differently than he did.

“I’m sorry for what you went through…including the stuff with Rosewood. I really am. What else do I need to know?”, asked Tabby, changing the subject.

“It’s fine. I’m coping okay. You should probably know that the ghost community is a great community to be friends with.“ Jane admitted. "They’re everywhere and they can get into places for you.”

She nodded “I’ll try talking to them at some point”

"I can easily introduce you to almost anyone you’ll need to know. When you finish training, you’ll be put into a group.”

“What do you mean?”

“Proxies work in groups. Usually. You’ll be given missions to do either solo, with some members of your group, or your whole group. They will be the people you can trust most.”

She nodded in understanding “Toby said something earlier about disgraced proxies. What are those?”

"People like me. Other people call us honorary humans, or just disgraces. They are proxies or monsters who have broken some of the cardinal rules and were caught and punished for them.”

She nodded in understanding, taking in the information “is there anything else I should know?”

. “Not really much that I can think of right now.”

“Okay thank you for taking the time and effort to explain things to me. I’ll take your advice. I’ll ask Toby if there’s anything else I should know when he gets here and see what advice he has. I’d like to hear what he has to say”

"You should. I’m just telling you things I know from experience.“ Jane said. She heard footsteps outside the room.

Tabby froze as her ears picked up on the noise. She got defensive ready to attack or bolt. Toby, carrying everything he had bought at the grocery store in his arms and a basket. Jane got up to help him unload it all. Tabby sighed in relief and she got up to help too. Her mom made her carry 4-5 heavy bags in each hand every time they went grocery shopping. She may be small but she definitely has some lean muscle to her. She’s still useful despite her left hand. Toby thanked both of them. He set down the bags of food on the counter and handed the things that Tabby had specifically requested to her. Jane had gone to start packing up her stuff after putting some things away. She knew that she probably needed to go now. Tabby went to her room to put down the bags. She’ll take them out later once everything settles down. She went back out to help.

Jane pack up.

Jane pretty much had everything packed up and ready to go.

"I’ll swing by tomorrow with your mask.” She assured Tabby

“Okay. It was nice meeting you and having you here. It’s nice to know I’m not alone with Rosewood”

“You’re definitely not alone. If you need someone to talk with who’s not, well, a man-” Jane smiled a bit. “Then just give me a call or drop by. I literally live next door.”

She laughed. She gave herself a weird look. It was a sound that she hadn’t heard in a long time. She only reserved it for Adam or her friends. “Well that’s convenient then!”

Jane nodded and smiled. It was nice to hear her laugh. Toby’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Thanks for coming, Jane!” Jane smiled at Tabby and waved goodbye

Tabby gave a small wave goodbye. Jane left the apartment. Toby poked his head in and let Tabby know he was going to start cooking now if she felt she needed to make sure her food was safe. Tabby nodded and she went in to help cook the food while keeping a close eye on Toby to make sure he didn’t try anything with the food. Despite her hand she was actually very handy with a knife (cooking wise and also fighting wise). She was very fast and efficient in the kitchen. She was using her wrist to hold some of the vegetables in place as she cut them. On top of always cooking dinner at home for 5 people she also worked in a kitchen at a small restaurant afterschool. It got her out of the house for a while since she never wanted to go home. She only quit last month due to her hand. Honestly she would have become a chef if she never made the choice to come here. Toby made sure she saw and knew what was going on with the chicken he was cooking. If he added a spice, he told her what it was. He admired how skilled she was with a knife even though one of her hands was essentially crippled. He could tell she had experience. That was good to know. Most of the killers couldn’t cook. Jane always ended up burning everything so he always offered her food. The neighbors next door, however, were excellent cooks but since they were literally a family unit, Toby never really spoke to them. He knew that monsters and proxies would sometimes settle down and start families but he never really met them. Most families got moved to another part of town. But she was the type of person to go through with her choice when she made one whether it was good or bad. She would see it through to the bitter end crash and burn. That was the most dangerous thing about Tabby.

She liked how Toby respected her wishes and went out of his way to tell her what the spices were. She never really had a lot of respect in her life so it was a nice change. She liked how the moved well together in the kitchen. It almost reminded her of those types of families she saw on tv that the husband and wife would help each other in the kitchen. The thought made her look down and blush a little.

Moving on. She was thinking about the irony of her situation. She hated all adults she didn’t know in general specifically males in particular. And here she was living with an adult serial killer and a Male nevertheless. The situation made her burst out laughing out of nowhere.

"Jesus…unbelievable…“, she said, wheezing for breath.

Toby glanced over at her.

"Hey, you okay?” He asked.

He had ticked a bit in the middle of the “okay” but it hadn’t really affected his speech. He figured she might have gotten herself with the knife a bit. But then why would she be laughing? Hm. The chicken was almost done. After dinner he would go out to check his mail to make absolutely sure he had no bills to pay or no missions he had neglected to see. He could hear faintly next door a baby crying. He heard footsteps, a small creaking sound, and some shushing. Soon the baby quieted. Toby smiled to himself. The people next door never let their baby cry for too long. They were very considerate neighbors.

She calmed down a little bit, wiping her tears away from laughing as she was still giggling.

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt. Even if I did get myself with the knife I wouldn’t feel it because I used to work in a kitchen so my hands are pretty calloused”.

She showed him her left arm that had a crescent shaped burn mark on her bicep.

“That’s from work. I didn’t realize it until two hours later when my arm was feeling irritated. So I looked down and saw a burn mark about 2 inches and a half in diameter. It eventually died down and became this. I was laughing because I realized the irony of my situation. You see I never really trusted adults in general. They don’t do their jobs protecting their own kids. But if you’re male you have a higher chance of me not trusting you. And here I am living with a technical adult male serial killer! I don’t think you understand. I went against everything I knew and believed in one night. I took a leap of faith and I don’t do that for just anyone so you better feel special”, Tabby explained.

She smiled and shook her head, "my life really did take a drastic turn of events”.

Toby nodded. He understood. He offered her a small smile.

“Well, I’m glad you did decide to take a leap of faith.” He said earnestly.

He plated up the chicken, then asked if she needed help with finishing up the salads. He heard faint music from Jane’s apartment. The baby next door didn’t start crying again. It was, for once, pretty peaceful. It was impossible to hear outside while the windows were closed, but if they were open it would be highly probable they would hear screaming.

She shook her head no, “the salad will be done in a few minutes. I just needed to put the vegetables in and toss it” she did that and tossed it using a chef’s flip without utensils mixing it good. The salad is done”.

She plated the salad on both of their plates. She sat down and waited for him to sit to begin eating. Toby sat across from her with his plate. He was starving. He had gotten himself a knife and fork, and had gotten some for Tabby as well. He asked her if she wanted anything to drink. He had water, soda, and juice. No milk. He was lactose intolerant.

“I would like some water please”

Her expression changed to a more serious one as she was going to get down to serious business.

“So Jane told me the basics of the rules. Like how there is a hierarchy. We’re proxies so we’re low but not the lowest of the low. How ally ships between us and humans and humans not from here are strictly prohibited. It’s best to have a few higher up proxies as allies. And that I should stay away from Jeff” “but I want to hear what you have to say. Like anything else I should really know? Anyone I should stay clear away from?”

Toby went up to get them both some water.

“She’s right. She covered almost everything. Especially about Jeff, though if you get on his good side he can teach you some pretty cool stuff. I think it’s important to know higher being politics as well. Proxies have a specific boss. Monsters can serve whoever they want and do jobs for whoever. But it’s important to know which higher being hates who, because sometimes they will act out against the proxies that serve that higher being.”

She nodded slowly in understanding “I’m fairly observant so I’m sure I’ll pick up a few things on higher being politics here”.

“Is there anyone who you think I should stay away from personally?” She said in between bites. She was scarfing down her food like she wouldn’t see food again. She didn’t eat much in general for the last 8 years due to Rosewood. You had to bring your own lunch and her family was too poor to buy extra food. So she ate dinner at home and that was the only meal she would eat. They barely had enough food for the month while struggling for rent. Although when she was very young she could eat like a champ. For the last 3 months when her step dad came up with the cruel and unusual punishment for her to eat nothing but rice. But she got sick of it and she either stole a little bit of food from the stores when her mom used to send her out or Autumn was very generous and brought her some food for her own house.

"I’m also not too fond of Jeff. But I also wouldn’t trust LJ either. But he’s friends with BEN and The Puppeteer so you can’t really avoid him.“ The ghost community was super tight.

"Is there enough for seconds?”, she asked.

"Yeah. There’s enough for seconds if you’d like.“

"I don’t trust clowns either. I watched too many horror movies as a child you know? But I’ll be wary and cautious like I usually am with everyone and everything else” she got up for seconds and scarfed down her second and third plate. It wasn’t until her fourth plate when she stopped.

By then the entire thing of food Toby had cooked was gone. He didn’t mind one bit however. He got up to do the dishes.

“Yeah, don’t trust clowns. They aren’t…they aren’t all that great. Especially here.”

“They’re never in general”. She went to help with the dishes while drying them.

“Thank you” she said quietly after a period of silence.

“No problem.” Toby said with a smile. He helped put the dishes away after they were finished. He heard a meow and saw Nugget plodding towards them.

Tabby’s face lit up as she started cooing at the cat and kneeled down to pet Nugget. She sucked in a breath at the pain of her bruises. She started petting the cat affectionately.

Nugget purred and pressed her body up against Tabby, her tail indicating that she was pleased with this. Toby smiled.

“I think there’s a scrap of chicken on the table. Hold on.”

“I mean if you give it food you have a higher chance of befriending the animal. It works with me”

Toby laughed and picked up some scraps of chicken from the counter. He offered them to Tabby so she could feed the cat. Tabby took some. She ate a piece herself and feed the rest of the scraps to Nugget one by one. Nugget seemed to enjoy the chicken. Her purring was very loud as she ate it. Toby watched from afar with a smile.

"Is there a library around here?”

“Yeah, there is. I could take you there.” Toby offered.

“Good. If you’re not busy tomorrow that is. I would much rather have someone to come with me to show me around and I’m not taking the chance of dying on my first day out since I’m fresh meat as it is so curious about the new girl that it is inevitable to say the least. Two is better than one. "I would also like to get books on this place and plants and stuff so I can have a lesser chance of dying and not being afraid. A wise man once told me that you can’t be afraid of something that you understand. Like being afraid of the dark for example” she babbled.

“Sure thing.” Toby said, “I don’t have any missions tomorrow and your training schedule hasn’t been sent yet. Books will be good and all but talking to other people about stuff here will make it much easier to learn. Like, you can read all you’d like about the poison daisy, but field experience with someone who knows much more about it will be helpful. Also, we still have to teach you how to fight properly and other things that will make you more successful. It will come much easier to you once you fully transform though.”

"Okay. And I know that there’s only something you can learn from experience. I just want to learn all I can from books first. The rest I’ll ask around and experience for myself and what do you mean “properly”? Are you saying I can’t fight. I may be crippled but that doesn’t mean I can’t kick some ass one handedly! I’ll have you know I’ve gotten into a lot of fights and I’ve won the majority of them. Well despite getting my ass kicked many times before…“

"I understand.” Toby said to her first comment. He wanted her to learn as much as she could from books first too, it would keep her from being gullible and from getting hurt badly.

“I’m not saying you can’t fight, I’m saying that you’re living with people who fight and hurt for a living. You’ve won fights, sure, but that’s against humans.” Toby finished cleaning up the rest of the kitchen. “It isn’t a smart idea to overestimate your own abilities here. Really. The people here are stronger than humans, are faster than humans, can take more damage than humans, some have literal magic powers, or extra limbs, or whatever. ”

She sighed in defeat.

“That’s true. This isn’t Rosewood. I’m not up against people my own age who are equal in intelligence and strength and skills. This isn’t my territory. But I’ll adapt and overcome like everything else in my life so far. I’m a quick learner. Just one day at a time that’s all”, said Tabby tiredly.

“I know. That will help you live.” Toby said. He sighed, then smiled.

"Don’t worry. We can train you. We can also get the WPA to train you so you’re specialized if you want.“ Toby said.

"What’s WPA?” She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"The Women’s Proxy Association.“ Toby said. "They’re a group of specialized fighters that ensure the training of female proxies. They’re bad asses. They’re kind of like Amazons, if you want the human equivalent.”

"Oh…that sounds like something I’d be interested in…” she was still tilting her head but smiled up at him.

“Oh and another thing. If we’re going to be living together for a while we need to establish ground rules. I only have two. One, please don’t lie to me. I give you the common courtesy to give honest information. I would also like to be hurt with the truth instead of living a lie. If we’re going to be working together in some way we’re going to need some form of honest communication. Two, please don’t fight my battles for me. I don’t like other people suffering from my own stupidity and I know in this society that’s just the way shit goes around here but I’ll do my best to minimize that when someone’s with me. I can and will take care of myself. If someone has a problem with me it’s with me alone and nobody else okay? Does that sound reasonable to you?”.

Toby nodded. “Yeah. That sounds good. I don’t really have any ground rules for myself at the moment, but I’ll let you know.

He was pretty honest for a proxy, and while he wasn’t the type to let people he cared for get beat up, he understood how she would want to stand up for herself. It was good she had that drive to stick up for herself. Proxies who didn’t have that usually ended up dead.

"So what do you want to do now?”, Tabby asked.

"Well, seeing is it’s kinda late, we should probably get some sleep.“ Toby said. "Well, you should. I have another small mission tonight but it shouldn’t take too long.”

"Ah well you see I have insomnia…and narcolepsy so I don’t ever get enough sleep. This is a week and a half of no sleep. But I’ll be here when you get back. Try not to die okay?“ She gave him a small smile. Which was code for 'be careful I care somewhat’.

"I won’t, it’s a fairly riskless mission.” Toby assured her. It really wasn’t too bad of a mission. “It’s just a delivery.” Toby got up to leave. “There’s sleeping pills in the hall closet if you’d like. They’ve got the power of like, horse tranquilizers.”

“Alright I’ll think about it and I’ll see you later”

“Alright, I’ll see you.” Toby soon left.

Tabby went to her room to unpack the bags that Toby had bought her. She took out the frames and gently slid both pictures into their frames and set them on her night stand. She took out the two knives and positioned them like she was about to get into a fight. They were good for defense. Tabby took out the bedding; it was a soft patchwork blanket with a teal color scheme and pillows to match. She positioned them just how she liked them. She decided to not hang up Autumn’s artwork so she put them in her nightstand and deemed that it would be private and personal.

Toby slipped through the shadows, the package in hand. He realized the quickest route would be through monster’s only territory, but as long as he wasn’t caught he would be fine. He darted through the trees, paying close attention to any noise he would hear. He eventually managed to pass through it unharmed, which made the bulk of his journey a lot easier.

She stepped back until she was near the door to take a look at her room. It was simple and basic but you could tell that it was her room. Then she came across the dawning realization “like it or not this is home now”. Home. That was a place she hasn’t had in a long time. Sure she lived with her mother and two brothers and her step dad. But it wasn’t considered home or a family. Tabby knew that a home is where you feel safe and you belong and a family accepts you for you broken or not. Tabby shook her head.

“This isn’t home. I mean I’m living in this world now so I guess this world is my home now but this place isn’t. It’s not my territory and I barely even know him” she talked out loud to herself.

Toby walked down streets that were covered in multicolor slick, which was essentially the water in this dimension. He carried the package in his gloved hands. Even through his mask, he could smell something cooking. He knocked on a heavy dark door. It swung open almost immediately. He gritted his teeth as cigarette smoke permeated the air. It reeked. The man standing before him was tall, and horrendously burned. The tales told about him said that his skin had been bleached, and that was partially the case. However most of his skin was mottled and scarred with varying shades of red. His face was barely distinguishable as a face. The eyes were sunken and shriveled. The nose was covered in scars. His mouth was clumsily cut into a wide, oozing grin. The man seemed to sniff the air. He clicked his tongue.

“Ah. Twinkle Toes. Nice to…hehe… see you."

"Hey Jeff.” Toby said uncomfortably. “Is Barb here? She told me to bring her this.” He held up the small package. Jeff clicked his tongue again. He felt the package with his marred hand while seeming to stare directly at Toby.

“Yeah, Barb’s here. You can come in.”

Her eyes widened in paranoia as that was kicking in now ”how much did I tell him really? He isn’t stupid so I’m sure he picked up on more than what I told him…wait let’s see…I told him about my insomnia, narcolepsy, anxiety and OCD, I told him about Rosewood, I told him about Horacio, he already figured out I came from an abusive home…“, she counted on her fingers. Several things. Not bad. Nothing too personal, just observations and bare basic surface. She sighed in relief. But her paranoia was still there ”why did he spare my life? Me out of everyone else that could have stumbled across tonight? On top of that, why is he so nice? I mean I appreciate it but No one is this nice for free. Accept for Autumn but we were kids then and we didn’t really know anything. What if he’s trying to gain my trust just to catch me off guard to kill me later? Especially in my sleep…what if he has other motives? I can’t trust him nor am I going too. I’ll work well with him and I’ll be nice and kind back because it’s right. But trust seems to be a long shot…“, she rubbed the bridge of her nose like she had a headache. She hated when her paranoia showed up. "Goddamn Rosewood” she muttered to herself. She got out of her room to pace around the apartment to think out loud.

“However he did save my life…if it wasn’t for him I would have probably gotten my death wish early…and he did take me in for now…so like with Autumn I kinda owe him everything"

She shook her head "I am thankful for all he’s done for me so far…but I can not and will not care too much. It’s like Jane said a proxies life isn’t that long on average….I don’t want to hurt him and have his efforts of keeping me alive to be in vain…that’s not fair to him. I’ll have allies but no friends. All my friends are dead and they can not and will not be replaced. Moving on means forgetting and I promised myself that I wouldn’t forget them” but she knew that deep down inside that wasn’t the real reason.

“I can’t have what happened at Rosewood happen to anyone else that I’ve become allies with…I don’t want to get attached and go through that heartache again…while I’m still going through it…” she admitted quietly to herself.

Toby didn’t have much of a choice as Jeff pulled him into the building. The cigarette smoke only got stronger. But thankfully, he heard Barb’s laugh from the upstairs, so he made his way up the creaky staircase. That’s where he found her. Barb was around eight feet tall, and had four muscular arms. She had a sharp jaw and broad shoulders as well as long dark blue hair. She had fur the same shade as her hair coating her arms and legs. She had a tattoo gun, and was tattooing another monster. It was a pretty large and complex tattoo, but Barb had a lot of the skill to make it look nice. She turned when she heard Toby.

“Hey Tobes!” She said in her loud, booming voice. She extended a hand that wasn’t being used. “You brought the pills?”

“Yeah, EJ gave them to me earlier.” Toby said, passing them to her. Barb smiled, showing sharp teeth.

“Thank you!” She boomed jovially. The monster getting tattooed, a tiny wisp of a woman with eyes all over her face and arms had all her eyes trained on Toby. It made him very uncomfortable.

“Well, I should probably go-” Toby said.

She looked around and it was too quiet to her liking.

“On second thought those sleeping pills sound nice right about now” she mused to herself.

She went to the closet and grabbed the bottle and read it carefully to make sure they were sleeping pills. She opened up the bottle and only took one since Toby said that they have the power of a horse tranquilizer and she’s…well…small. She popped the pill dry and took some clean bandages that she found and a hand towel. She would clean her crippled hand and dress it in new bandages so it doesn’t get infected since the surgical incisions were still fairly new. She went to the bathroom to wash her hands with soap and water and patted her crippled hand dry and wrapped it in new bandages.

After she was done she could feel the pill kicking in. So she went back to her room. She locked her door and was debating on whether or not to move her dresser to barricade the door just in case he or someone else were to break in and attempt to kill her in her sleep. Since when she actually goes to sleep she’s a deep sleeper. But she decided against it since she was too lazy and it would be a hassle to move it out of the way if she needed to escape immediately. She took her two knives and curled up laying down on her bed with her back facing the corner. She normally didn’t sleep with covers on as they were a hassle to get off is someone were to attack her. She had her knees pulled up to her stomach for protection and her arms crossed to protect her chest and neck. She had both knives in each hand that laid against the back of her neck too for protection. No one was going to attack her easily. It was the only way she could feel safe while sleeping. And pretty soon she was out like a light.

Toby eventually got back to the apartment. Jeff had wanted to show him something, which he knew wouldn’t have ended well. He made sure to lock the apartment door behind him. It was quiet. Nugget was probably in Tabby’s room. Toby peeked in her room to check on her and saw that she was asleep. Nugget was on her bed. After making sure she was okay, he closed the door and went to go take a shower and get ready for bed. He was pretty tired. He had run into Masky on his way back who managed to get him to share a drink and talk for a bit, which Toby found nice. Masky was in a much better mood today than other days. His shower and clothes change was quick. He put his dirty clothes into the hamper. He took it down to wash his clothes twice a week. The apartment had a shared laundromat.

Tabby stirred awake as Toby closed the door

“son of a bitch” she thought to herself.

She wasn’t protected enough. But even in her sleepy state she could recognize that it’s Toby so she had nothing to worry about that much but for once in her life she was just too damn tired to do or say anything about it.

“I’ll deal with it in the morning” she grumbled to herself and went back to being dead asleep in her protective position.

Toby was in his pjs. He went to the kitchen and got a glass of ice water before heading back into his room. He closed his door behind him. He sat on his own bed and turned on a fan. He liked it cold in his room. He had a small little radio next to his bed that he used to play soothing music or sometimes just audiobooks or things like that. Soon he managed to sink off into a deep sleep.