#sorry for the rant about liams hair

[theninth09]

This isn’t anything deep but I just love that both Liam and Theo know how to fake cry and have utilised. Liam when Scott and Stiles tied him up and Theo in the police station and in Scott’s car.

Also off topic, but is Liam blonde? Cuz I see illustrations and some fics where he is written as a blonde guy. I honestly kinda like the idea of blonde Liam.

omg you're right. liam even went all out with those teary puppy dog eyes and that weird whimper he does... like its not just forcing a little tear, he actually tries to appear as if hes scared with his facial expressions. and i mean, maybe he was a bit scared. just a lil. he doesnt believe that sciles are telling him the truth at that point (obviously) but getting attacked by some creature-person, scott biting him and then kidnapping him? even though liam handles that situation impressively well, i do think there was a little real fear inside of him. so maybe he drew on that as well to be even more convincing.

actually- this would fit thiams conversation in the truck from s6ep16. "people only feel one emotion at a time, liam. which is why you get angry when you're afraid." if we assume that he was afraid because of getting tied up and everything, this would explain his aggressive behavior afterwards. i think he definitely fakes most of it (the crying), but this may be a pattern for liam, as theo points out. instead of demanding an explanation from sciles, he attacks them and runs away. sure, he just thinks they're crazy and wants to get away from them. but its not like scott kidnapped him for no reason. liam saw. he witnessed a "person" not looking or acting like a person. he got attacked by it. he felt scott's fangs, he saw scott. as a human, none of that has a reasonable explanation. so him getting angry and running away... that was probably him actually being scared bc he cant make sense of what happened to him.

regardless, its impressive (and really funny) that he makes himself cry and puts on this "im just a scared boy :(" show. its even more impressive bc stiles seems to fall for it? stiles, famously known for Not falling for anyone's bullshit, stilinski? believing liam? like, okay. this feels like further proof to me that liams fear, at least, was real bc in later seasons hes kinda bad at pretending (that scene in s6a where him and mason show up at the house where sciles were bc of the ghostriders and he goes "h-hey what. what are u doing here" lmao) Anyway. love this instance of his quick thinking skills. hes actually very smart (when he wants to be.)

and theo does it constantly, yeah. those scenes are actually some of my favorites, if not my absolute favorites, from him in s5. its just so good and so hilarious how he makes himself small and makes his voice go all quiet and he literally starts stuttering and stumbling over his words, just for him to do his Evil Grin as soon as no one is looking at him anymore. makes me wonder what watching s5 would've been like if they hadn't shown us who theo actually is. i think that would've been kinda cool, getting manipulated and lied to by him as a viewer, just as he does to the pack. the twist at the end of s5a not only being a surprise to the characters, but the one's watching as well. and then getting shown his evil schemes in flashbacks... idk. could've been fun.

and okay omg. liams hair is so confusing to me. because in s4, he definitely looks blonde to me. look at this.

thats blonde. not the lightest blonde ever, sure, but still. maybe a dirty blonde or whatever term fits here. i personally wouldnt call this brown. right? right. i think we can agree. blonde. in s5 his hair looks much the same, maybe a tiny bit darker but still.

and then. Then. s6ep1. excuse this weird fucking picture, its the only scene where his hair is like this.

like. okay... on top it looks blonde, but it's noticeably darker at his neck. but again, this is the only scene in s6 where his hair is like this. in the same episode, even before this scene, his hair is darker, like its the entire rest of s6. pics for reference:

the first one is the very first scene of s6ep1 and the lighting is shit but its still obviously dark. like that's brown. that is Brown.

so like obviously they filmed that kissing scene before any other scenes. makes sense, since that exact hairstyle is also the hairstyle he has at the very end of s5b. so like. is he blonde??? did they dye his hair??? i have genuinely no idea. if they did dye his hair, why? or did his hair just become darker as he aged? but in some scenes it looks like his roots are lighter than the rest of his hair...

i wish i could tell you what his hair color is. people have their own opinions about this, bc ive seen fanart where hes very blonde but ive also read fics where he gets described as having "raven locks" which?? i think of black when reading that. idk. its whatever. hes a blonde, a brunette, go wild. whatever makes you happy.

[screechingfromthevoid]

@disastertourwaterdeepedition

Sorry for the weird fucking post but like tumblr straight up ate your ask?? I had to search and screenshot from my email??

Its like super fine I love big rants and big feelings (especially about the blorbo of the month).

Whoa buddy if you wanna talk about a rant. This got so long I'm putting it under a read more.

I'm not sure any of this is above board conscious thought process. When he looks to Orym, when he thinks about how he feels about Orym, I think Dorian, king of compartmentalizing, gets a rush of all three of the things in the post. He gets a little too lost in thought looking at the way Orym's hair now tries to curl against his ear or how well tailored the armor is to his body, he first gets hit with the Will guilt. Then he thinks about "ohmygodtheresawaron" and he'd shovel all of that down. Because its not time to think about Orym and him. But he knows by the way Orym watches him "sleep". He knows by the way Orym refused to be princess carried in Aeror. (Seriously dude Dorian princess carries everyone. It would have been less suspicious if you let it happen). He knows because Orym didn't see his husband when they were in Zephrah. But when he dares himself to actually think about a possible future together, he uses the big three to shove it down. And no, he has no clue that Orym thinks he doesn't return his feelings. (Wow you're right. Pronouns are hard)

Lol to finally answer your question: I'm not sure! Because the thing is! Orym has gone down twice in a battle with Dorian there! And honestly if Orym being on death's door doesn't make either of them confess, i'm not sure what will! (thats a lie I do have an idea). But like Orym went to the moon and back and almost died on the moon and all the count communicate to Dorian was "I miss you"!! Orym nearly died twice in one battle and he didn't think to give Dorian a sloppy, "If I die again I want to have kissed you once" kiss before going in for another round of getting hacked on. Dorian watched him go down and had to bring him back from death's door (one failed save scared the shit out of me) and he didn't think to give Orym a "We need you, I need you" kiss.

My unfortunate thought process, which I can't decide if I want it to come true or not, is that Dorian has to get hurt. Like when I say hurt I fucking mean it. Taken down in a round or two, two failed death saves, hurt. Because then Orym will have to face losing Dorian again. Face losing the man he loves, again. He pours a healing potion into Dorian's mouth because warlocks don't have a single healing spell. (Just checked). Orym feels so helpless in saving Dorian, because a healing potion isn't nearly enough to keep him up. He starts to cry over Dorian's (now conscious) body. He whispers between sobs "Not again, not again. Dorian you can't leave me. I love you, please, I never got to tell you, please stay alive." and Dorian, having heard all of that, reaches up to cup Orym's cheek and says. "Alright, just for you though."

Or something like that.

As much as I would love for them to be adults and just talk to each other. I know thats not going to happen. (Please, Robbie, Liam, prove me wrong.) So I think major tragedy will be the reason they confess to each other. Because they're idiots in love with a lot of weight on their shoulders.

[hannahssimblr]

“Do you feel weird?” Jen says, the car window rolled down at the wind whipping her new hair back from her forehead to reveal the smear of dye along her hairline. 

“No, it’s just another normal summer,” I reply. The road to Wexford stretches out ahead of us and the sky looks big, vast, flat, like porcelain.

“Without your family.”

“Yeah, it’s a relief. Can you imagine Chris and Colette in close quarters like that? Howling at each other all summer? I think I’d drown myself in the sea.”

“Well, I think you’re a fool to let the Shane and Joe stay.”

I pull a face, “Why?” 

“Because they’ll ruin the place. They won’t clean up after themselves.”

“Neither will I,” I grin at her as she scrunches her face up in disgust, and I mess up her hair, subtly checking my hand in case any of it came off on me, “You chose this, Jenny, a summer with the boys. It's days of playing PlayStation and leaving our dirty dishes in the sink.”

“Wouldn’t you have rather we'd gone to Italy or something?”

“What? No. I love the beach house. It’s going to be fun.”

She eyes me sceptically, and I know that she can tell that I’m putting on this positive attitude to disguise the weird, empty feelings left since the breakup. That version of me, the sad, longing, regretful one, though, is not for Jen, it's for me alone, in the lonely hours when night spills into morning, and my thumb hesitates on Michelle’s number.

I’m always on the brink of calling her and taking it all back, because I miss her, and being with her again is a guaranteed way to make this rotten heartbreak disappear, or even just to postpone it until the last moment, until I really have to leave. 

It’s never felt like this before. I never walked away from a relationship with this cocktail of tumultuous emotion swirling around in me, like anger, sadness, grief, longing, yearning for her and the way it felt to touch her, while at the same time practically shuddering with relief that it’s over. When I think about the bad things, the shouting and ranting and the throwing and the silent treatment, it’s easier for me. Easier than remembering the good things, like right now as I grip the steering wheel and visualise that series of moles on her hip that looks like a constellation of stars. I relive the moment I kissed them one by one, the way that she laughed as squirmed as my lips tickled her skin and I threw my arms around her to hold her captive.

I refocus. Jen is saying something. 

“Kelly?” I repeat, plucking one of her words out of the air, “um, sorry, what did you say again?” 

“Yeah, about Kelly and her friends,” she says, “I said Shane is driving them down tomorrow.”

“Oh, surely they’re not staying with us too, are they?” there’s only so many rooms at the beach house… 

She snorts, “No, they’ll be in the Healy’s mobile. Their parents are letting them use it.”

I pause, “I didn’t know Kelly had friends.”

Jen slaps my leg and I flinch away, cackling. 

“You have to promise me that you’ll be nice this summer,” she warns, still holding up her hand like she’s ready to smack me again, “you have to promise that your days of bullying Kelly are in the past.”

I gasp in mock outrage, “she bullies me!” 

“She clearly has issues. You have to stop provoking her. And Liam too!”

“I do not provoke Liam.”

“No, but you’re… generally not nice to him.”

“Not true.”

“You are! You and the boys, you become this nasty little mob when you’re all together, and you’re not as funny as you think you are.”

“I’ll be perfectly nice to everyone this summer,” I insist. “I won’t put a foot out of line.”

“I don’t believe you,” she says, but I can tell she’s done talking about it. 

She slumps back in her chair and turns the radio on. Again, it’s Jason Derulo. 

“You know this song is growing on me?” She says, and I just groan. 

We let it play. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

[mareposie]

things I think are crazy in yuumori (spoilers)

- The fact William and Albert convinced everyone they were biologically brothers while Louis was the adopted one. If anything Albert was the one who looked adopted

- Moran being older than Mycroft, the Holmes dark circles genes are no joke

- I can understand how William knew that Sherlock was doing crack or whatever drug but that his mama was from the hood ??? Stalker

- Sherlock being surrounded by women during his first encounter with Will

- Sherlock probably used his rant money to go on the Noahtic lmaoooo (best investment ever)

- When you think about it, Irene’s plan of showing herself around with Sherlock was actually making the whole city believe they were fucking and Mycroft fell right for it (”special feelings for this woman”)

- How his noble father chose a commoner, Sherly chose (Redacted) from the slums

- Albert killing his whole family as a teenager and William and Louis sleeping peacefully by his side after that

- Louis still helping William to take baths at his big age

- Sherlock who was doing drugs and bombs and who could not pay his rent, working with Billy to provide for Liam, his new family

- William is from the streets and yet he has no self preservation skills

- No noble offering to adopt William and Louis after seeing how smart they were (not even the Government ????)

- The secret about Louis’s illness (he doesn’t even have a scar of his chest)

- Sherly’s hair being kinda curly when it’s short but straight once it’s long

- Sherly’s tiny ponytail surviving the fall

- Billy having so many names, like who ARE YOU ?

- Sherlock using a violin as a ashtray

- Jack having gray hair at 50, raising those three was that stressful ?

- Patterson being 43

- Moran throwing cigarette butts on the floor when Louis is the one who cleans the house

- The noble ladies openly thirsting on Albert

- Liam not noticing Sherly in his classroom during the exam

- Louis being considered as the most stable brother while he literally burned his face (he is tho)

- Fred and Moran not being related AT ALL, they look like siblings

- Mycroft telling John he is fat on their first encounter

- How Bonde concealed that D cup, we saw the twins, this is an actual skill

- Herder building amazing stuff while being blind (I found out recently I thought it was just chunibyo I'm so sorry)

- Patterson being 43

- Moneypenny’s existence being erased from the anime

[gorgeousklaystels]

All’s well that ends well

A/N: thought i’d finish up this little chapter and post it here. lmk what your thoughts are :D

“Oh… crap.” Louis and Liam said, standing in their spot. 

“Taylor..?” Harry said. 

“We’ll give you guys a minute—”

“—no, hold on.” Harry said, signaling them to step out of the room. 

“What is she doing here?” 

“We were going to tell you…” Niall said, softening the shock. 

“When? She’s already here.” He spoke up, frustrated.

Because he was. He was frustrated. Because how could nobody tell him his ex-girlfriend was going to show up at their doorstep? 

“We’re sorry, Harry, but…”

“Unbelievable, the lot of you.” 

“Alright, we’ll take care of this later, right now, Harry, please talk to Taylor.” Louis interjected. 

“Fine.” He went back into the room. 

—

Harry shut the door behind him. 

Taylor stood there in front of him. In a pencil skirt and a white shirt. And of course, rocking her classic red lipstick. 

She managed to look gorgeous in everything. She had amazing style and a sense of fashion. 

But then again, she could be standing in nothing but a potato sack and still look beautiful to him. 

“Hi.” She greeted, sweetly.

“Hey.” He responded, walking slightly further from the door and towards her. 

“Um, do you… want something to drink, or?” Harry added awkwardly, unsure how to start the conversation. 

“Oh, no. But, thank you.” Taylor said, giving him a smile at the end. 

“Well, um, you wanna sit maybe?” He shrugged, gesturing toward the seats. 

“Yeah, sure.” She replied, sitting down. 

He took a seat right in front of her. 

“So…”

“So…” Taylor responded. 

Harry was still not sure what to say to her. What he wanted was virtually impossible. And this conversation would go nowhere. 

“Listen, Harry, about what happened that night…” She went on, reeling him out of his thoughts. 

“I’m sorry. Not just for that night, but for… blowing you off. For not responding to your texts or… or your calls or anything. You should’ve heard it from me first and foremost and I should’ve told you, I just…” Taylor stopped for a second. 

Harry listened eagerly. He’d been wanting to hear her actually talk about it for so long. And she was. And he just wanted to hear her out. 

“I was scared. I was scared that if I did, I’d end up not moving on… or not getting over you. And I just wanted to get out of this… cycle. The constant circles we’d been going in, Harry. Even if I value your presence in my life in whatever shape or form. Even if we get along really well, that was not healthy. And I wanted to try us. I wanted it to be real. Granted, I should’ve handled that differently.” She finished. 

Harry took in what she said. Processing her words. 

“Tay, we tried. But even before blowing me off, we mutually decided that we couldn’t go through with this. I mean, yeah, none of that was healthy nor was it worth the risk as much as one would like to think it was, but it was what we thought was the only way. Taylor, I tried to get you back. I wanted a real relationship with you. But you were scared. And then, all of a sudden, you’re bringing a date to the BBMAs like it’s nothing. We go through all of that, for you to go and do that. That was what blowed.” Harry ranted, not exactly sure what point he was getting across, but he needed to get things off his chest.

“I know, and I’m sorry, like I said, I was just… scared.”

He went over to the seat next to her. 

“I’m not saying you couldn’t. I’m glad you were happy and you had someone there with you. But I just thought that after all we’d been through, after… after everything that happened, I wouldn’t be on the sidelines watching you be happy, I’d be there. With you.” He brushed a strand of stray hair away from her face. 

“Yeah?” She asked.

“Yeah. It just wasn’t… easy. Watching you with him. It actually kind of sucked.” Harry voiced his feelings.

“Like I was just waiting for you and Kendall to hit it off, right?” Taylor told him. 

“Taylor Swift, do you admit to being jealous? Was that what that was?” He asked, lightening the mood.

Taylor laughed and Harry felt like he could hang the moon for her. 

“Well, what else was I supposed to do? At least I didn’t have my tongue down her throat. You on the other hand.” 

“God, shut up!” She said, hitting his shoulder playfully, while he laughed teasingly. 

Then there was a knock on the door. 

“All good in there?” He heard Louis ask, voice muffled. 

Harry looked at Taylor, giving her a smile. A true one this time. To which she smiled back. 

“You ready to do this then?” Harry asked her for confirmation. 

She took a minute to take in the moment. To really be ready. 

“Yes. Let’s do this.” Taylor replied, enthusiastically yet a sense of calm in her voice. 

He glanced at her for a second before turning to the door. 

“Yep! All good in here, mates! You can come in!” He yelled through the door. 

To which the band came running back in the studio, all smiling faces and playful voices. 

Taylor looked at the scene before her and so did Harry and for the first time in a while, they both thought, maybe, just maybe, this was finally right. A step in the forward direction. No vague plans nor miscommunication. Just in the moment. 

Because after all that had occurred between the two, sitting in the studio ready to write a song together, felt weirdly intimate yet a small gesture. It felt tame. It felt right. 

Truly, all’s well that ends well. (To end up with you).

[callsigndragon]

Okaaay. Buckle up once again, loooong message ahead. I can't help it, you are the one who keeps making me have feelings and melting my heat! (And I love you for it.) So,

"“Fuck, Jake. You need to come back immediately.”" - protective dad Mav is also the best, it's so lovely to see every time

"“I’ll kill that son of a bitch if he tries to touch Liam.”" - I'm sorry, but I can't get past the amazingness that protective dad Jake is, holy moly, I love it and have the urge to comment on it every. single. time.

"Liam is smart, he must have sensed your fear, and he’s now scared, too", "“I want to stay with Mama and Dada.”", "Liam nods softly, sitting down in front of the TV and hugging his new plushie." - MY POOR LITTLE DARLING BABY!!! Holding Red's skirt with white knuckles 🥺 This precious little sunshine personified must be protected at all times and all costs! (and I am so glad it is what happened with him being looked after by the ⭐FAM⭐ instead of daycare, he must be kept happy and care free and safe, I-... sorry for the rant, I just love Liam so much)

"“I’m not going anywhere this time, Red.”", "“Promise?”", "“I promise you.”" - ahhhh, their love!!!! Goals. Just, goals. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Love, love, love it 💗💗💗 

"“Red, would you like to be a full-time instructor at Top Gun? You won’t be taking unnecessary risks, and you won’t be related to the Dagger Squad in any way, but that’ll make possible that yours and Jake’s relationship can be considered legal.”", "“I honestly don’t care about your surname, Jake. I just care about the pilot, and you’re probably the best pilot of your generation.”" - Iceman, my goodness, I could kiss you, honestly, I knew you were a great guy, but you are an actual angel. Love to see supportive superiors (take notes Cycunt) It literally made me tear up, it is so good 🥹

“Well, that’s not going to happen. Because you have me, and you have your family. We’re fighting with you. We're soldiers, Jake. We fight.”", "“I don’t know what I would do without you.”", “You won’t have to find out.”" - ahhhh, AGAIN!!! GOALS!!! Pure beauty and pure, unconditional, stunning LOVE!!! I can't find words that do it justice!!! 💗💗💗

"Turns out that Mav’s friend, the one who had been trying to prove all the crimes that Jake’s father has committed, has disappeared.", "You just hope he's okay, but a little voice inside your head tells you that the man is probably dead." - awww, poor guy. I know he wasn't mentioned much, but you still managed to make me have an emotional reaction to his disappearance. Incredible writing, I say!!!

"He’s being investigated" - yesss!!! That's what you get if you are being a cunt, Cycunt (omg, sorry for the swearing, but he just brings the worst out of me... after the stunt with the picture and all...) I guess he should be thanked for bringing Red back to Jake??? But the man must rethink his later actions.

I love the catch up with everyone. Poor Bob stressing about Doc, the lovely doting husband and dada-to-be he is. And Navy sailing proud and beautiful is just so great to hear, they are so cute, honestly. 💗

"“It might be Jake’s first pregnancy.”", "“How am I supposed to bring another baby into this world when their big brother has to be constantly guarded in case someone tries to take him away from his parents?”", "Nat hugs you tightly, caressing your hair. “You’re not alone. You have this big, crazy family that will help you every step of the way.”" - I honestly cannot wait to see how Jake is during the pregnancy, it is going to be the softest most wholesome thing ever, I know for sure. And Liam finding out he is going to be a big brother!!! I will melt from all the cuteness and sweetness. And I love, love, love, adore the support system that these girls (and the whole fam) have. This moment is so vulnerable and so touching and wholesome and amazing, just warms my heart 💗

"“His aiming skills aren’t legendary only on the air.”" - hahahaha, Amelia keeps being the Legend™ that she is and we love her for it! 💗

"You’re pregnant." - YESSSSS!!!!! BABY SERESIN #2 CONFIRMED AND ON THE WAY!!! YAY!!! Charlotte is going to pop champagne for 9 months straight!!!

Jake's dad should really just go to the first police station he finds and get them to arrest him. Confess all his crimes and plead for a life sentence. Like, I'm sorry, asshole, but how dare you not only keep tabs on your son, his family and everyone he loves but also critique the amount of food he is eating on top of all that?!?!?! I must say tho, love the angst and drama, it is so exciting still. Beautiful work my Lovely, absolutely amazing!!!! 💗

AND! Before I go - MICKEY AND MINNIE?!?!?!?!!!!!🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭 Keep steady my beating heart, that is the cutest ever!!! 💗

Anyways... Incredible and stunning work as always my wonderful, amazing and incredible Beauty, you are one hell of a writer!!! 💗

Lots of love and hugs and all good things to you still!!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗

(italics anon 💚)

My looooooove 💚💚💚💚💚

Let me comment on some things but, thank you for these messages you sent me, they make my day ten times better 💚

"“Fuck, Jake. You need to come back immediately.”" - protective dad Mav is also the best, it's so lovely to see every time

we'll talk about this in the future, okay? now i can't comment on that jsdjkdkjdsjk

"“I’ll kill that son of a bitch if he tries to touch Liam.”" - I'm sorry, but I can't get past the amazingness that protective dad Jake is, holy moly, I love it and have the urge to comment on it every. single. time.

Dad Jake is a whole kink, tbh. It's amazing.

“Well, that’s not going to happen. Because you have me, and you have your family. We’re fighting with you. We're soldiers, Jake. We fight.”", "“I don’t know what I would do without you.”", “You won’t have to find out.”" - ahhhh, AGAIN!!! GOALS!!! Pure beauty and pure, unconditional, stunning LOVE!!! I can't find words that do it justice!!! 💗💗💗

I love the catch up with everyone. Poor Bob stressing about Doc, the lovely doting husband and dada-to-be he is. And Navy sailing proud and beautiful is just so great to hear, they are so cute, honestly. 💗

We all wanted to know more about Navy and soon-to-be-dad Bob so i gave you all a little update hehehhe

AND! Before I go - MICKEY AND MINNIE?!?!?!?!!!!!🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭 Keep steady my beating heart, that is the cutest ever!!! 💗

MICKEY AND MINNIE ARE MY OTP ALREADY AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEE THEM YET AKSJDHFKJAFDHKA

[cringelordofchaos]

SHIT I FORGOT ABOUT FREAKBLR MONTH SORRY

OK OK I'll just do both days I missed and today's prompt as wlel

Day 13 - a headcanon I have about a member of the jomies

I'm not sure what this exactly entails? Do I just go off and start ranting about each of the jomies or only one??? Ermmm idk I'll just do a bit for all of them (I'll save the sexuality and gender hcs for day 30 ofc)

Drew - Filipino (since his VA is as well), gift giving is his love language and others appreciating his money and gifts make him feel needed cuz his parents always showed him love with money but we're neglectful otherwise yada yada ya get the gist. has an expansive watch but not to check the time (he has his phone for that, which he's on 24/7) but just to show off and also appreciate what his parents give him cuz otherwise he doesn't feel wanted or maybe he feels like a drag idk I'm.spouting random shit rn.. had major depressive disorder. and possibly borderline personality disorder? not diagnosed w anything ofc. He loves feeling needed so when Jake found the music club who he obviously got along w better and that maybe appreciated him and accepted him more for who he is and when he realized Zoey's been cheating on him w someone that provided him w money and other stuff... yeah. loves raspberries. And also loves a bit of rap and maybe some video game music. He flexes his money for status and also bc that might make him feel like he needs them and loves them and they love him. ODFKKD FIFKFKKF. IDFK. it's canon in my head. she head on my canon till I uhh I forgot the meme. he loves zoey, jake, henry, liam all so fucking much, whyd they have to lie to him? make him feel like he could trust them only for them to turn their backs on him?

Jake - half french 🥖 🍟. Has ADHD - inattentive type. Is he diagnosed ? Idfk. Also might have some form of depression as well. He wears a star earring on his right ear along w the silver earrings he's shown wearing all the time. before the finale he mostly has a mindset of "oh, if you just don't expose the unwanted truth, the relationship can work out" which is why he lied and stayed w drew and also didn't tell him abt Zoey cheating on him. like yeah ahaha it can all work out it's fine. Sonic fan bc I'm a sonic fan and I want him to be one as well . He listens to Believe In Myself (Tails theme) all the time like shut up. he HATES horror movies and games - he gets so easily startled. Jomies is his fav band.

Lia - She (and Hailey) is an Olivia Rodrigo MEGA-STAN. I'm sorry how do i.explain. her songs are way too relatable for her and are a way she kind of in secret romanticizes her lfie ???? idfk. She has a crush on Jake bc maybe she could sense he was different from the rest of the jomies...?? like that they were maybe similar (whciht they are..). Idk. Doesn't think highly of herself, is actually pretty insecure and in middle school, despite hating Zoey she felt so oddly envious of her. Everything she had. Which is why she slowly started turning herself into her. Adopting a new style. Straightening her hair. Changing her behaviour. She knew it was wrong and at first just watched by the sidelines as Zoey would torture yet another innocent soul but yeah. Hailey and her are such petty exes shut up. That's what I think anyway. also she listens to lana del rey. i have actually only listened to one lana song but is that her vibe??? idk u tell me cuz i dont. her favorite colour is purple. also she has an awesome mom and at one point vents abt hailey to her and how shes messed up so bad and how she feels guilty. and her parents are pretty rich - idk maybe theyre lawyers or smth. ever since she started faking who she is for popularity, it fucking worked. but shes willing to give up on that in s2. also god let her make up w hailey pls.

Zoey - she also got into Olivia rodrigo lately and constantly talk abt how raw,real and girlbossy her music is while also kindaaa missing the point and emotional meaning of some of her songs. her family always make her feel extremely out of control and hopeless and theyre pretty abusive but zoey doesnt have the right language to explain it and she calls herself girlboss, puts herself above everyone else, cares a ton about her status and wants to be both loves and feared and even goes so far as to cheat on her cuz she has a messed up idea of what actual love is - and that is the way she gains control and the feeling of love, which she has a superficial idea of. and she feels Lesser at home but makes up for it at school. shes obviously popular but most people are just genuinely afraid of what shed do if they opposed her or if she didnt like them. though she still upholds a pretty great reputation and has many friends that love her and treat her like a goddess, at least thats what she thinks. might have NPD? but she aint diagnosed w anything. genuinely cares abt people and loves them but doesnt really Know.? She tries impressing the people she cares about so thatd they have a high opinion of her cuz shes SO fucking desparate for that kind of attention and praise, especially from the people shes closer to, cuz she doesnt get that at home. she also puts unrealistic beauty standards on herself. she loves drew. she loves lia. them? being absent from her life in s2 onward? haha what what do you mean she doesnt care. she didnt need them anyway. cuz shes such an independent girlboss an all yknow. haha. totally. she cheats on tests and otherwise doesnt pay attention to anything. she puts others down to feel above them. her favorite season is summer and she loves boba tea. anyway shell def go insane ik it. also for all the reasons ive given she DESPISES being genuinely vulnerable - it makes her feel lesser and weaker and like anyone cuold take adventage of her. but she will ACT cute and vulnerable and hurt to get what she wants, especially outta drew.

Henry - weeb since early childhood, MHA ultimate fan, chronig gamer (bad at it), masks his negative emotions by just playing the role of the "funny guy". i saw someone hc he has a lettuce fetish and that makes me wanna kill m- the world.

Liam - Mom is usamerican, dad is Serbian (why serbian? cuz hes so vampire coded (his fav colour is canoncally blood red and his fav drink is canonically red blood) and the word vampire comes from the serbian word vampir, and also the mythology kinda comes from around here too. idk) only knows a couple swear words in serbian though and thats it. hes horrible at serbian pronounciationn though cuz he grew up in usa his whole life. Aspec w internalized aphobia.aroflux? idk. chronic gamer (not THAT bad at it). actually more intelligent and emotionally mature than others give him credit for (THOUGH dont get mme wrong he still is pretty reckless). might have adhd? idk. but has horrible grades cuz he doesnt really pay attention to school. giant (tall). reddit user.

IM SO SORRY IF THATS NOW WHAT U MEANT BY THIS DAY. BC IT PROBABLY ISNT. i dont really care

THERES MORE but I don't have time I gotta catch up !!!

anyway I think I accidentally swallowed a bit of dust + dirt. again. throat.not feel good

@31days-of-freakblr

[story-told]

@cherry-sorry here's my tribute to you and your heart-stealing, fluff-writing ways. Hope you like it!

Friday, I'm in love

Okay, so Billy hadn't really moved to New York expecting to be the next Big Thing in the culinary world. No, sir. But did he really deserve to be chewed out by his head chef, while sweating over a massive batch of croissant dough and living on peanuts and prayers?

No. No he did not.

See, Billy had always loved baking. He cherished the memories he had of his mother teaching him to mix cookie dough, giggling gently at the 4 year old towhead smeared with chocolate and smelling of sugar. And after- when Saoirse gathers her courage, her luggage and her baby boy and leaves behind his abusive asshole of a father, it becomes the thing that keeps them going from paycheck to paycheck. Not that it makes either of them stop loving the warmth of the oven. And with his ma's "Liam, baby- you always remember this, as long as you love the food you're making, you'll never be unhappy in this world.", William Aidan Hargrove had himself shaped up and shipped out to New York City to become the pâtissier he knew he could be.

Until he landed in the now, a busy Friday with his hands stuck in sticky, buttery dough (begging and pleading with all the Gods he knows to please keep it cool, I need this job) his ruddy-faced behemoth of a boss yelling in his face because "We've never fucking had a patron call any of us on the fucking floor, Hargrove!" and "If I hear one, just one complaint out of their mouth, you're done for!". Rant over, Chef sort of just,,.. shoves a petrified Billy out the kitchen under the watcful eyes of his coworkers, some concerned and some Tommy fuckin' rat bastarding Hagan vindictively gleeful.

He's peripherally aware of being led to The Table, hoping that if this truly is his end, it's a merciful blow. And..

It's here.

He looks up, ready with apologies at the tip of his tongue,,

Which promptly forgets all notion of language. Because

Because he's never seen the angels ma prayed to, but he's pretty sure the man before him is one. With his couverture-dark hair and large, praline-bright eyes accenting chantilly soft, cinnamon-speckled skin. And he's-

Smiling. He's fucking beaming. Straight at Billy.

"You're the pastry chef??" asks the seraph man with a slight accent, almost vibrating in his seat. (Billy's a romantic, all right? But even he couldn't have dreamt up a voice like that, like afternoons in the fall, like California beaches in May)

Somehow, Billy manages to unstick his tongue long enough to stutter out a meek "Uh..y-yes, sir?"

"So you made the Zeppole on the menu, yes?" Jesus, no words should have the right to sound that goddamn pretty. Fuck his miserable life.

"...yes?" And...

Even years later, Billy still grumbles about how you almost fucking gave me a heart attack and scoliosis all at once, pretty boy.

Because the man just,, flings himself at Billy, arms around his neck and lips at the corner of his mouth- still tasting of hazelnuts and chocolate and Billy put it there oh Lord have mercy

"Those were the best Zeppole I have ever tasted outside my mama's kitchen!" says the man, his voice breaking on a barely restrained sob as his eyes swim with some pain Billy doesn't know- pain he wants to gently kiss away from the corners of those princess browns that should always be crinkled over a smile.

"I'm glad they made you happy, sir." A whisper between them, soft enough to not break their little bubble. A whisper that has the pretty boy melting against Billy, his arms still clutching at the latter's chef whites.

"Steve."

"Sir?"

"My name. It's Steve." A pause "Unless you really wanna call me sir." A wink and-

Even years later, Billy insists that that was when he really knew.

That it was a busy Friday night in his miserable, student loan-ridden, lousily paid life, and he was in love.

[unsupervisedpanda]

After school hours

Void! Stiles x Reader

You huffed as you walked down the hallway back bag slung over your shoulder. Your brother Liam had run off again to meet with a bunch of older kids. Something about a friend needing help.

You however had gotten stuck in after school detention to cover for him. As long as they had a Dunbar they could care less. It was about 5 now. Somehow your brother scored himself like 2 hours of detention. Groaning you turned left so you could get to the stair well.

  Skipping down the stairs quickly your hair flew up behind you as you bounced. You just wanted to hop into your car and go home. Dealing with Coach for 2 hours was a pain in the ass. Who makes a kid recite a locrosse game they didn't even go to? Either way you just wanted to leave and go to sleep.

  Walking toward the school doors your phone began to go off. Liam.

"Hello?" You questioned slightly annoyed.

"Y/n? Where are you?!" He sounded relieved but slightly panicked and you could feel your heart rate increasing.

"I- I'm at the school. Y'know to make up for your detentions? I'm just leaving."

You could hear a scuffle on the other side of the line before Liam spoke again.

  "Y/n I need you to hide until I get there okay? Promise me you'll hide." He begged and you just gaped.

  "Hide? What the hell am I hiding from? Seriously, because I've already been here for two hours Liam!" You groaned. Before he could answer you though a loud bang was heard. Yelping you whipped around dropping the phone.

  Empty. The stairwell and both hallways were empty. Sighing you pushed your hair behind your ear before bending down to grab your phone.

  "Liam? Hey I'm sorry I dropped my phone." You huffed holding your face in one of your hands still crouched down. Silence.

  "Liam?" You asked again but the line was dead.

Fuck. You slowly stood up looking around carefully. Liam told you to hide, but why?

Breathing in and out you slowly changed direction and went towards the classrooms.

  "God I hope someone left theirs unlocked." You huffed running a hand through your hair.

Quietly you began to try and enter the classrooms one by one.

Locked.

Locked.

Locked.

Oh guess what!

Locked.

Slamming your head into the most recent door you huffed.

  "Son of a .... Mother..... Bull sh..." you muttered under your breath before pulling out your phone.

Stiles

Scott

Lydia

Issac

Liam

Clicking on Liam's name you hit the little phone next to it.

Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzz- Y/n! Are you okay? I heard you scream and then the line went dead. I've been calling you for 15 minutes damn it!" You heard Liam rant and you just slid down the door.

"Shut up. I could be home right now but you sent me on a wild goose chase. There is nothing here and I'm just inside of a locked school. So if you'd kindly let me go home it'd be appreciated."

You heard him mutter under his breath before a huffed whatever came through.

Rolling your eyes you hung up. Your brother could deal with his own detentions next time. Pushing yourself up your began your way to the doors. Pulling out your headphones and pushing the cord into the phone you went to your music. You were tired and ready to just flop into your bed.

   Strutting to the door you pushed it to open. However what you weren't expecting was for it to open slightly and then jolt, not going any further. Letting go and pushing again you heard a rattling. Someone chained the doors? It was 5, not even dark.

Shaking your head you pushed the power button on your phone and then clicked it off again. There was a back door and a side door you didn't need Liam's help.

  Walking quickly you went to the side door in the lunch room first. It was glass so if it was locked you'd know. As you went to push the lunch doors open you heard someone muttering on the other side.

  "Stupid mutts always ruining all my fun." The voice sounded familiar.

  Pushing the door open you saw Stiles, or someone who looked like him. You knew that it wasn't Stiles though.

"Uh hi? Do you know why the doors are all locked?" You asked approaching softly.

The boy whipped around quickly staring at you. He had a flick of recognition before smirking.

"Y/n I presume? Now why would they lock you in here with me?" He asked, more to himself then you.

Honestly if you knew you'd tell him.

"They?" You asked tilting your head slightly. He snickered at you slightly before you started to giggle.

"The mutts. Scott's pack? Your brother is with em." That caught your attention alone.

  "Liam? Is a mutt? Honestly I see it. Fucking dog." you cursed before laughing slightly.

  "Anyway what do you mean? Pack? Like wolves?" You continued.

"Beautiful and smart. What a deal, but yeah you could say that. They decided the school was the best place to 'trap' me. I'm the Nogitsune so it would be pointless really. " He smirked.

  "As in the Void they keep mentioning when they think I'm not listening? Clearly they didn't think this through then. How'd they trap you exactly anyway?" You knew about the chains but those are measly comparatively, at least from what you've over heard.

  "They made this stuff called 'wolf lichen' and smeared it on every door and put bits of broken glass in it so if I touch it it'll cut my hands. That stuff enters my blood stream I'm screwed."

You laughed slightly before putting your bag down with your other stuff.

"Lead the way, Nogitsune." You laughed walking towards him.

  He smiled before holding his arm out. Grabbing it he showed you to the door. The handles were covered in what you assumed was the 'wolf lichen'. 

  Shaking your head you shrugged off your jacket.

  "Did they lock the door?" You asked looking back at him. He shrugged so you just assumed he hadn't checked.

"Okie dokie let's do this then. If it's locked I smash a window out and they pay for it." You laughed before wrapping your jacket around your hands and pushing on the door.

Surprisingly enough it opened but a bucket of ' wolf lichen' fell all over your arms as you backed away yelping.

  "Ow and groooss." You whined. "I'd say 1. Don't touch me it's all over me now and 2. They thought this over pretty well." You huffed dropping the soggy jacket.

Void snickered at you slightly before shrugging his own jacket off.

  "Glass shards are a bitch so this may hurt and little." He warned before wiping your arms down.

Wincing every once in a while your arms were finally wiped off.

  "Thanks. I'm going to kill them." You groaned.

Void laughed at you before looking at your exit suddenly glaring. You turned slightly in Voids hold and there you saw Liam and his friends. Before you could react though you were turned back to Void and then pushed flush against his chest.

  "Hello pups." His voice was cold now, just like before, but it wasnt towards you. Liam snarled and Scott stepped forward, still behind the 'wolf lichen'.

  "Let her go, Fox." He growled out, his eyes flashing.

  You felt Voids hold tighten slightly before he leaned down towards your ear.

  "When I give you the signal, run. Run towards the gym, hide, and I'll find you. Okay?" He asked and you nodded ever so slightly, just enough for him to see and feel. You could feel him loosen up before he straighted his posture.

  "You see mutt, with your plan you trapped yourself outside and us on the inside. The way I see it you've made my job easier." He laughed coldly before tapping your wrist 3 times. Your signal. Quickly you broke away sprinting towards the gym.

  However when you went to push the doors open  three things happened. 1) Liam screaming for you. 2) A tall masked thing was stood there with a katana held firm. 3) It raised it's katana it swung down on you and unknowingly to you or anyone else stabbing through your side ever so slightly.

  Screeching you fell backwards, quickly crawling back towards Void.

  When he saw your predicament he ran towards you grabbing your arm and picking you up.

  "Well they weren't part of the plan were they?" He said smirking down at you before dodging another swing. You nodded holding on to him tightly. As he held you around the waist you looked over his shoulder and saw not only Liam but the rest of his 'pack' fighting off the creatures and avoiding the 'wolf lichen'. You decided now would be the best time to ditch these freaks.

  "N-nogitsune... We can get out of here.... They're distracted." You whispered still holding him tightly. He nodded before setting your feet fully on the ground.

  "Alright love. Let's go." He said before taking a step towards the creature who attacked you.

Quickly the once murderous being backed down and went after the others. Reaching back for you, you took Voids hand.

  He led you down the halls and you heard Liam shout something about the Void Kitsune being gone and "kidnapping" you. Speeding up to stand next to Void you held his hand tighter, suddenly feeling faint.

  "V-void? Something is wr-wrong." You stuttered before stumbling.

He quickly turned catching you before he brought his hand back, bloody.

  "Oh, oh no. Y/n love I'm going to pick you up and get us out of here okay?"

You nodded slightly your head feeling foggy and heavy. You could feel his hands resting themselves, one underneath your knees and the other on your back, before you felt the ground leave your touch. Your head lolled into his chest your eyes fluttering. You couldn't have lost that much blood right? No, it had to be something else. Something like... Poison?

  Your mind was flitting back and forth as you felt the slight bounce of Void running. Whimpering you suddenly felt cold. So, so cold. You gasped as you heard Void swear.

"Sorry love. More 'wolf lichen'. I'm going to set you down alright. I'm going to get us out of here." You nodded before you felt him leave.

You breathed in and out, in and out trying to calm down. Something was wrong. So wrong.

  Suddenly you heard glass shattering and Void running back to you. Or so you thought. Opening your eyes you saw Liam. Screaming you pushed yourself up running away from him. This was his fault. All his fault.

  You didn't get far before you felt his arms wrap themselves around you, one pressing into your wound causing you to scream louder.

  "Let me go! Damn it! Let goooo!" You screamed before Liam growled at you his anger consuming him, his nails digging into your skin.

"Aghhhh!" You screeched your eyes watering.

Your legs gave out from underneath you and you felt Liam let you go.

Oh no.

Your head collided with the cemented floor, the thud sounding throughout the hallway. You didn't pass out though. Not immediately. You heard Liam swear before gripping you up. Then you heard Void.

  "What the fuck did you do?" He snarled at your brother storming towards him.

You felt warmth on your forehead, a sticky, wet warmth. Blood.

Groaning you lolled your head to look at him. He looked angry, pissed, ready to kill.

"Nothing! She did it to herself." Liam growled.

"I'll tell you once. Let. Her. Go." Void seethed.

Something felt off. Suddenly you heard the others. Scott. Lydia. Allison. Issac. Derek.

"What happened?"

"What'd he do?!"

"Is she alright!?"

Questions...

                 Questions...

                                    Answers.

Liam hurt me.

Nothing.

No.

Suddenly you were angry. So angry. Your eyes opened wide a blood red tint to their usual e/c. Screams filled your head. Agony. Chaos. Fear. Screaming.

Suddenly you were the one screaming. Liam loosened his grip and then dropped you. Everyone was covering their ears. You scrambled up your screaming done. The voices were still there, still harsh. Void. You needed Void.

  As you ran for Void you felt someone grab your hair.

Backing up you felt Void wrap his arms around you. You instantly felt your body relax and then the pain all rushed back, your body slumping.

"Let me go damn it!" You yelled turning around and punching whoever it was in the nose. You saw Derek fly back his grip loosening.

  "Shush princess it's almost over." He hushed pulling you flush into his body. Then in a puff of black smoke you were both gone.

Part 2!

[axwalker]

Creep 2: I don’t care if it hurts

HIGH SCHOOL AU

Pairing: Drake Walker x MC  (Lexie O’Brien) Book TRR

MASTERLIST HERE

Synopsis: Drake and Lexie are star-crossed lovers. Her father hates him and forces Lexie to stop any contact with Drake. Lost and heartbroken, he “bullies” her for two years until he discovers the truth of Lexie’s behavior.

A/N 1 This came up to me after I got an ask from @nestledonthaveone​ to write a fic based on the song CREEP.

I used to hear this song when I was a teenager, so when I read this ask, I immediately wanted to write something angsty but situated in high school.

A/N 2: Because they’re younger than usual, I decided to change my  FC. 

Words: 4,110 

WARNINGS: Parental abuse, domestic violence, toxic love.

THIS IS NOT YOUR USUAL MARSHMALLOW DRAKE. He was abandoned as a boy, he’s tortured and he doesn’t know how to express his love. His behavior is not excusable.

This is a dark love story. If you’re not comfortable with it, PLEASE do not read it.  

ALL MY FICS ARE 18+

TAGS ON THE COMMENTS

As this is darker than usual; I’m only tagging the people who commented in the previous chapter. If you want to get on or off the list for this fic, please do not hesitate to ask!! 

DRAKE

Even if she never looks at me or speaks to me again, she’s mine. Even if I’ve been a horrible jerk to her for two years and she pales every time I pull into the parking lot on my motorcycle, she is mine. Just seeing her with him enrages me, so I walk straight toward my usual seat, directly behind Lexie, and slam my textbook down onto the desk.

Startled, Rys looks up at me, “Hey, Walker. What’s up?” 

It’s not the first time he tries to make a move on Lexie. Last time –two years ago, we almost killed each other. Pretty boy might be an entitled ass, but he knows how to fight. Maybe he thinks Lexie is game again after all this time. He couldn’t be more wrong. 

 “Don’t you have a class this period?” I ask him. Liam cocks his left eyebrow, adjusting the straps of his backpack. 

“I fail to see why that concerns you, Creep.”  

My smile is murderous. “Get the fuck out of here before I break your face, pretty boy.”

I think he has a death wish because he looks at Lexie when he talks, “See you after class, Alexis, when your watchdog will be busy mowing my lawn.” Finally, he just shakes his head and gets out of the classroom. I resume my daily routine. Staring at the back of Lexie’s head, tracing the curve of her perfect neck, my cock getting hard over her perfect cherry scent. 

“So that’s what you like,” I say, leaning forward to speak an inch from her ears. “You like them with blond hair and pink polo shirts. Prospects for Cambridge or shit. A huge trust fund. Don’t you? A brat like you needs someone who can spoil her. I bet you’d introduce him to daddy, wouldn’t you?” 

She doesn’t respond. She never does. Her eyes stay stubbornly on the front of the class where the teacher has started writing today’s lesson on the board—my hands fist in desperation. I’m dying for her to talk to me. To look at me. Anything. “Too bad, Lexie. I’ll scare every single one of those fucking entitled boys off. You’re going to sit alone in your house on prom night, crying into your designer sheets like a baby. And I’m going to enjoy it.” 

The only sign that she hears me at all is the quickening rise and fall of her shoulders. Even that tiny display that I’ve upset her is agonizing, floods me with self-loathing, but I can never stop. She ripped out my fucking heart, and I can’t deal with the consequences of that alone. I can’t let her go. I’ll never let her go. This toxic feeling is the only thing left between us. My hands shake with the urge to take her in my arms, to stop the trembling I caused. To protect her from everything. Even myself. I’d love to move my fingers up into the silky, brown hair that reaches the middle of her graceful neck. I don’t have a lot of money; most of the cash I earn as a handyman goes to food and fixing my dad’s cabin, but I’d give every last cent for her to turn and lock those soft brown eyes on me, just one last time. Sometimes when I jerk off, all it takes is fantasizing about Lexie looking at me, giving me one of those shy smiles, and I lose it. One stroke. Maybe two. Done. I can’t breathe without having her close. And I can’t breathe with her close. It’s a strange condition, this obsession, but she’s an addiction that I just can’t give up. 

How could I? She’s intelligent, strong, and so damned gorgeous. Once upon a time, I thought she had a good heart too. But that was before she broke my pathetic heart only because I’m poor. I’ve been hurting since then, and I need her to hurt too. To know what it feels.

“Do you actually think that dumb rich boy would be a good choice for your first time, Lexie?” I grip my desk so tight it nearly breaks down, just thinking about her being kissed –touched by someone else. “At least that’s one thing us poor motherfuckers have going for us. We know how to fuck. If you went out with Rys for a while, you’d eventually give in and come slumming it one night, wouldn’t you? Knock on my rundown cabin door, begging me to fuck you as we both know you’d like.”

A pretty blush is starting to climb her neck. I have to take a deep breath to keep from kiss her pink cheeks. But I think if I got to touch her skin, my wall of bullshit would crumble. I’ve only fucked one girl. Since seeing Lexie for the first time freshman year, there’s been no one but her. I want no one else. She owns my cock as sure as she owns my heart. How easily she’s forgotten about both leaving me in agony. 

“Stop,” she breathes. I freeze. Did she just speak to me? It’s the first time in two years that she’s even remotely acknowledged my existence. 

“Lexie,” I managed to say. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. That’s all it took. One pleading word out of her mouth, and I’m done. 

“Just stop,” she says again, turning her head slightly. “Please.” 

I fall back in my chair, my heart thundering on my chest. If we weren’t in the middle of class, if I didn’t feel like a monster, I would pull her into my arms right now. I’d hug her until she stopped struggling, then beg her to hit me, bruise me, make me pay for every shitty thing I’ve ever said to her. But before long, the class is over, and she’s leaving the classroom to get out of here. To put distance between us as quickly as possible—and I have no choice but to watch her because I feel physically ill. Still, I manage to get out into the student-packed hallway, my plan to apologize for being crude and a jerk and torturing her for so long. 

My head is telling me not to apologize, though. It’s telling me she deserved it for being such a snob, for breaking me, for valuing money and status like everyone else. My damned heart is telling an entirely different story. It’s insisting there is an explanation for her behavior. Am I going to apologize or not? The decision is taken out of my hands when Lexie opens her locker, and the little gift I left before class falls down. It’s a picture I cut out from our last yearbook. In the photo is a gorgeous smiling Lexie above the caption Most Likely to Succeed. Except I’ve crossed out the caption and added my own. Most Likely to Be a Trophy Wife. Watching her read it, I almost get sick right there in the hallway. Usually, she’s perfectly composed, not betraying a trace of emotion where I’m concerned—a real Ice queen. I’ve always thought she honestly didn’t care. Today, though… she’s not pulling it off. Something is not okay with her, and I don’t like it. She has to bite down on her bottom lip to stop it from quivering as she puts the photo back into her locker, out of sight, her bright eyes finding me briefly, massacring me where I stand. Betraying with one single look how much she has been affected by my actions. Christ. She hasn’t been indifferent at all.

Before I can react, before I can call her name, she’s gone, vanished into the crowd of wild students excited to be leaving for the day. And I know what I have to do. I have to see her. To apologize. To get an explanation for everything. Tonight. I’ll return to her house for the first time in two years.

LEXIE

I’ve known this was coming all day. Sitting on the couch in my living room, trying to make myself as small as possible, I watch my father pace. He rants, gesticulating noisily. This isn’t new, my father’s rage threatening me. But it’s going to be worse than usual. Business has declined for him and it’s put his temper on a trigger. Dad’s new wife, Nancy, hates to be on a budget, and she’s been spending his money like crazy all over Paris --where she’s now. When dad gets home from the office, he’s rarely in anything but a horrible mood. A tornado eating up everything in its path. Completely terrifying. At least dad’s temper makes me forget what Drake told me today, the ugly words he said to me, the boiling anger in his eyes when he looks at me. 

“Are you even listening?” The slap across the face comes as a shock because I’d momentarily disappeared into my thoughts, but the sting quickly brings me back to reality. 

“Yes, sir,” I say, my ears ringing. “I’m listening.” 

“This C on your algebra test is going to drag your whole average down.” He’s waving the test in my face. “What a disappointment you are, Alexis. Your teacher shared my disgust.” I nod solemnly, but I’m listening for the rain outside. “I guess you’re your daughter’s mother after all. A poor Mexican girl who could barely count.” It’s not true. My mom learned English and Greek by herself, and she was a great Spanish teacher in Portavira, but my father would rather die than acknowledge how smart she was. 

“Don’t talk like that about her,” I retort.

My father snorts. “I beg your pardon?” He takes a step towards me, and I can see the threat in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry.” I hate to be such a coward, but I know what he can do to me.” I’ll do extra credit. Something to bring my grade back up to an A.” I wet my lips. “Even if I can’t manage to raise the grade, it’s not going to show up on the college transcripts I sent off with my applications.” That’s the reason I let my focus slip a little in algebra. The finish line is in sight for everyone, and we’re just waiting to find out where we’ll be accepted for college. It’s a wonder I’ve been able to maintain my focus this long in any class, considering Walker sits behind me in every period, brooding making me feel … something. At the reminder of him, I want to close my eyes and dream about him. I replay that night in my garden when he kissed me two years ago, so tenderly and passionately, when he spoke to me so sweetly and honestly before he became the second villain in my story. Someone I dread, as much as I crave the sight of him.  

At least that’s one thing us poor motherfuckers have going for us. We know how to fuck. If you went out with that punk for a while, you’d eventually give in and come slumming it one night, wouldn’t you? Knock on my trailer door, begging me to ride you right. 

Should I be ashamed of the way my body reacted to those words? I grew uncomfortably damp in the hard plastic chair, the center of my body clenching, seeming to beat like a heart. His breath on my neck made me shiver, head to toe. Even the way he scared off Liam Rys did something to me. Aroused me. Deeply. It got so bad that I broke the rules and asked him to stop. I can still hear him saying my name in that tortured way after. That shocked, uneven sound. Lexie. And whether I’m ashamed of myself for it or not, I know I’ll think of it when I touch myself tonight. His voice, his hands, his eyes obsess me. 

“College?” My father snorts, tearing the test in half. “You’re not going to college.” 

This grabs my attention. A horrible feeling is making me cold. “I’m…what? What do you mean? I applied to nine different schools. I have a four-point five GPA.” 

For the first time, I notice his red face is about more than just rage. There’s…humiliation. I’ve never seen him display that emotion. 

“None of the American colleges that accepted you offered scholarships.” 

“I’ve been accepted?” I gasp, sitting forward, heart pounding in my chest. “Where? I didn’t see the letters—” 

“All the mail in this house goes through me, Alexis. I read them. And you failed to get academic scholarships. You failed. Not that I’m surprised.”

 I don’t point out that his refusal to let me participate in any extracurricular activities is more than likely to blame for that. I’m too worried about what he’s saying, what this means. The blood is draining from my head, making the room spin around me. 

“Okay, I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry. But…we have money. We can pay tuition, can’t we? Or colleges in Cordonia are almost for free. I can go to any of them; I don’t have to go to NYU.” I have to get out of here. I have to get out of here. This is my way out. College is the escape route. I counted on going back to New York, but I can stay here and go to college in Cordonia City. 

“Listen to you, so quick to spend my hard-earned money—spoiled brat. And of course, you can’t go to college in Cordonia. What for? To end up being a schoolteacher like your mom? A housewife as Nancy?” He laughs bitterly. “No, you’ll stay here, and I’ll help you find someone suitable to marry.” 

I shake my head. “There’s financial aid, then. Loans or I can get a job and go to college in Portavira…” 

“You want to leave, just like her, don’t you? You’re all the same.”

 I don’t even flinch when he yanks me to my feet, shoving me into the wall. In fact, for the first time, I took him right into his eyes. And I can see the violence burning on them has nothing to do with me. It never had anything to do with how I behave, my choices, how hard I worked in school. How welcome I made Nancy feel or cooked a roast. It’s about him and his self-loathing. It’s his sickness. Not mine. I can also see that he was never going to send me to college. Because he wouldn’t be able to control me from a distance or stop me from sharing what I’ve been subjected to since my mother died. Not like he does now. He wasn’t physically abusive all the time. Especially not when his new wife is around. But she traveled often, and then he’d push me. Shove me. Slapped me several times. I’ll graduate at the top of my class for nothing. He knew I would all along. 

That’s when I realize I’m free. I don’t have money, but college is free in Cordonia. I can work, save a little and go to college in one or two years. I’ll be a writer; it’ll just take more time than I thought. “Go to hell,” I whisper. 

He steps back, giving me the momentary satisfaction of his shock. “What did you say?”

Liberated, I scream it this time. “Go to hell!” From the moment I sat down to have this conversation, I knew tonight would be worse than usual, but I’ve just bought myself a ticket to hell. Usually, I can retreat to the untouchable place inside of me as he unleashes his rage, but not tonight. He doesn’t stop at one or two slaps. He punches and kicks, and I’m present for every punch and kick. Every yelled insult. Finally, I start to get scared. I’m crawling across the carpet on my hands and knees, searching for a weapon I can use in my defense when I glance out the window and see Drake staring back at me, his face a mask of horror.

 Drake

 What I’m seeing just isn’t possible. It can’t be real. My head won’t accept it. Not until her terror-filled eyes meet mine through the window and the truth pounds on my chest, leaves no doubt that this is real life. Lexie’s father is beating her. Her mouth is bloody, one of her eyes beginning to swell, arms and legs visibly weakened. I can barely fucking process it before my body is springing into action, desperate to protect her. To put a stop to the worst thing I have ever seen. What the fuck. Scorching hot rage takes over. I kick in the front door and throw myself between Lexie and her father. His fist is raised, but it pauses when he sees me, his momentary confusion giving me the time I need to knock him out cold. It only takes one right uppercut from someone his own size, and he goes down, his blank, glassy eyes staring at nothing, mouth opened. It’s not satisfying enough.

Nothing will ever be satisfying enough. I want to kill him, destroy him, but my Lexie is struggling for breath behind me, and she’s all I can think about. Turning, I approach her, my heart threatening to jump off my chest. As gently as I can, I catalog all of the cuts and purpling skin. No. No. Who could do this to her? Who could lay a finger on her in anything but reverence? Get her out of here. Calling her name, I reach down to pick her up, but she flinches and hurries back, bringing her body up against the wall. 

“Don’t touch me!” Those words filled with fear rip the soul clean out of my body. My hands drop limply to my sides and two years come rushing back, hitting me in the chest like a hammer. Every word, every action. Everything I did to make her life harder when this is what she’s been dealing with at home? Fuck me. 

“Lexie…” My voice is as kind as I can. I feel broken. “I’m sorry. I came here to apologize. For everything.” 

She puffs a humorless laugh, testing her cut lip with the tip of her tongue. “Bet you weren’t expecting to see this.” 

“If I knew this was happening, I would have been here a long time ago. I would have stopped it. I swear Lex.” 

Her expression can only be described as stunned. Maybe even a little pissed. “You are not my savior, Drake. You are my enemy. You’ve been for two years, and I want nothing else from you now.”

 “I am not your enemy.” Those words barely make it out of me, my chest hurts so fucking bad. “Don’t say that.” 

Unsteadily, she uses the wall to try and stand. I try to help her, but she recoils, and it’s a dagger straight into the center of my throat. Nothing less than I deserve, though, isn’t it? Her distrust of me is entirely my fault. I’ve made her hate me. There has to be some way to fix what I’ve done. Please God, let there be away. But right now, my main concern is her physical safety. Knowing she’s been in danger all along is unbearable. I only decided to come here tonight a few hours ago. What if I didn’t? What if I arrived an hour later? The possibilities are going to haunt me for the rest of my life. From the floor, her father groans, shifting slightly. 

“We need to get you out of here,” I say, anxious to get her free of this place. “Now, Lexie. I need to get you somewhere safe.” 

She’s standing now. Leaning against the wall and cradling one arm to her stomach, regarding me warily. “How do I know I’m safe with you?” It’s so much worse that her question is honest. Not meant to hurt me. She honestly doesn’t know if I pose a threat. It guts me where I stand. 

“You are the safest with me,” I say thickly, cursing myself. Wanting to erase the last two years so badly, my hands shake. “Please believe me. I’d die before hurting you. I’d never, Lexie. I’d never do something like that.” 

Her father rolls over onto his back and slurs a few words before losing consciousness again. Still, the sound of the older man’s voice seems to scare Lexie, “I…maybe you can just give me a ride to…a motel maybe?” She pushes off the wall, her step uneven as she walks toward the stairs. “I need some things from my room.” 

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her we don’t have time, but I’m just grateful she’s trusting me enough to leave with me, so I don’t argue. I just wait until she’s halfway up the stairs, then tie her father’s hands behind his back with my belt in case he wakes up before we leave. I have no problem knocking him out a second time, but Lexie has seen enough violence for one night. Cautiously, I walk up the stairs toward the light coming from a room halfway down the hall. This place is a far cry from my home. It’s elegant and clean, and tasteful, but it lacks any warmth whatsoever. It’s cold, like a museum. Turning the corner into Lexie’s room, it’s time to hate myself all over again. There is nothing on the walls, none of the expensive furnishings. Just four white walls, a bed, and a dresser that doubles as a desk. Several textbooks. She looks back at me over her shoulder as if judging my reaction, and I keep my features impassive, though I’m dying on the inside. 

“What can I do?” I ask. 

“How long do we have?” 

“As long as you need.” It’s physically painful not to pull her into my arms when I’m standing this close, and she’s hurt. Sad. Yet full of more inner strength than I’ve ever witnessed in another human being. I’m lucky just to be in her presence. I fucked up royally. And if she allows me back in, I’ll never do it again. It’s probably, definitely, too much to hope for. Being allowed back in. She doesn’t even look sure about having me in her room. Let alone her heart. I was trying to protect my own heart, but I lost it instead. 

 “Um…” She closes her eyes to focus, a familiar trait I’ve seen in class countless times. “There is a black bag in the hallway closet. Can you just stuff anything into it from the bathroom that looks useful?” 

Ask me to bring you a unicorn. I’ll find a way to do it. “Sure.” We work in silence, Lexie taking things out of drawers and adding them to the bag, which I’ve left open on the floor. I add toiletries from the bathroom, and once it’s zipped, I wait, watching her hesitate in the doorway. 

“Lexie?” Conflicted chocolate eyes meet mine. 

“I can’t just leave, can I?” 

“You’re not safe here, baby,” I say softly, trying to keep the residual rage at bay because it’s the last thing she needs. Not to mention she’s had her fill with negativity from me. No more. “How long…how long?” 

She shrugs, the saddest expression in her eyes. “My mom died five years ago. Ever since then, it’s gotten worse and worse. Although I never had a chance to talk to anyone about what happened behind closed doors, you know? I don’t think a person can evolve into a monster. It’s inside him.”

 “I don’t know,” I say. “I became one, didn’t I?” 

That gives her pause, forms a line between her delicate brows. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” 

She starts to walk past me, stops, standing close enough to fill my nose with cherry. “He told me if I ever spoke to you ever again, he would hurt me. Ruin you, have you evicted. Make sure you never got hired again. I didn’t mean to…hurt you. Or hurt your feelings, if that’s what happened.” 

That revelation destroys me, sets me on fire. “Jesus, Lexie. You were protecting me? And I…I tortured you for it?” I twist the neck of my T-shirt, trying to calm down, but it doesn’t work. I’ll never be calm again “I’m so fucking sorry.” 

She glances at the doorway, then back at me, eyes closed again in that way that says she’s thinking. “All I want from you now is a ride out of here, okay? And on Monday morning, you’ll stop.” She opens her shining eyes again. “No more bullying, Drake. If you’re really sorry, you’ll do that for me.” 

Fuck. I couldn’t say one more single shitty thing to her if my life depended on it. Put me at gunpoint, and I’d rather get shot at than torture this girl for one more second. But I’m highly, painfully aware that with an end to the bullying comes an end to the possessiveness. No more scaring off guys who show interest in her. No more getting close enough in class to count the hairs on her head, to smell her sweet fragrance. And to tell the truth, I’m pretty fucking worried I don’t know how to give those things up completely. I don’t think I can physically do it. This addiction with Lexie isn’t something I can cut off. A leg would be easier to sever. But my hesitation is causing her eyes to worry. If I don’t agree to, essentially, let her go… she’s not going anywhere with me. And that means her safety won’t be guaranteed. I need it to be. More than anything. 

“No more bullying,” I say, finally. A moment later, I follow her out of the room and down the stairs, trying desperately to count the hairs on her head before I no longer have the chance.

[justapayneaway]

Rita, I’m so sorry to send this rant to you, but you’re someone I respect so much for level headed opinions, it feels safe to send my thoughts your way.

From the moment a friend sent video of the slap incident to a group chat, I thought “PR stunt”… Chris Rock looked totally ready for what was coming and barely reacted in the “aftermath.” I’ve taken stage fighting classes, and it looked like a stage slap, from Rock being ready for it to the direction of Smith’s arm.

I suppose being an Oscar winner, Will Smith is considered a great actor, but his shouts of “keep my wife’s name out your mouth” looked phoney as fuck. I’d be as bold to say he looked like he was about to laugh.

Chris Rock produced an entire documentary about black women’s hair, praising that culture in hope that his own daughters would be proud of their hair. He’s hardly one to criticize such a thing even for a joke, in my opinion.

And no security intervened? Please.

This is why I believe it was a carefully planned stunt.

This is all water cooler talk to me (as every Oscar stunt over the years is intended to be lol) until I see Liam’s reaction/comments trending and jokes about his accent changing. Then I get annoyed. He’s admitted to problems with alcohol and is clearly drunk and trying to be neutral.

I don’t have a point really, other than people need to open their eyes to PR stunts (do people still think Kanye’s “imma let you finish” moment with t swizzle wasn’t a well orchestrated stunt?) and they definitely need to back the fuck off Liam.

Again, sorry for the rant! I’m currently taking deep breaths…

If you disagree with any of my points, let me know! I’m totally open to any disagreements or other interpretations!

Hi darling :)

No problem at all! We all need to rant sometimes.

About this mess at the Oscars between Will and Chris being a stunt, I'm a little on the defense about it and I wouldn't say it's 100% a stunt.

At first when I watched the clip at the beginning I definitely thought everything was a plan because Will was indeed laughing when Chris said the "joke". But seeing after that Will keeping his rant and the way Chris looked completely lost really made me think it wasn't planned at all.

I think this is a very sensitive topic and I definitely don't want to say the wrong thing, but what I know is that it's extremelly wrong to use Jada and her disease as the butt of a terrible joke.

Not only for Jada present who must have felt humiliated, but also for all the people around the world that suffer with alopecia. I know a couple of people in real life that suffer with it a lot and at one point had no hair (a children inclusive).

So it's extremelly damaging to normalize a "joke" with a disease. I really hate when comedians say these things because it gives space to other people in real life to make fun of someone or bullying them. It's not okay.

With that said, I condemn violence and if this was indeed a stunt both Chris and Will look terrible in it so no public advantage to them for this one. All my love to Jada though, you're a gorgeous lady!

[lokisprettygirl]

there lovely darling, im back with another rant. if you dont mind

oh shit i may have crossed streams and remembered the affair of laufey and frigga then remembered thats from hmn whats with the him when it comes to her mother, did rocky adopt her when he was with her mother? and i remembered something about her mother falling for her bodyguard aswell? honestly my memory is horrid

ohh was rocky actually a good guy and the mean world just corrupted him. for some reason that gave the smallest bit as in a molecule of hope that hes actualy good

awww shes trying to protect her because shes affraid of the enevitable. she doesnt know what lokis plan is how long its gonna take to work but shes making sure he safe no matter what happens to her

noo no no i am not fond of these promises. i know how dangerous this whole thing is. I am not entertaining the possibility of his death anymore, not anymore. i cant take that anymore no no no

thank you so much peter. when i thought of peter i did not think for one second of parker. it clicked a few chapters later, eheheh.

That bitch, psycho and asshole. really thats each one of them but lets think of it as individuals. Mostly to the bitch. You manic psychotic bitch. Your fucking need to impress her hott bodyguard is the reason your look like liam payne. Bitchhhh my god. Im too mad at that fat bitch

again peter thank you so so much. i wasnt fond of you at first now you have an appeal. your actually good and kind. what are you doing with these people sweetheart. thank you thank you thank you peter. thank you for helping them on getting her out of that hell hole

ohhh okay i didnt know we were going daredevil vigalante okay ehehe wow okay (sorry im watching daredevil and masked vigilante equalled to him to me right now) eheheh

based on the line, never laying a hand on her again, im expecting broken fingers, bones, arms, him not being able to work for steve anymore you know the life threatning shit.

and loki beter come back okay in the end or i will be raging (jk)

you are a brilliant writer. the reactions im expressing, the utter rage i feel for these horid characters. you are brilliant. absolutely amazingly brilliant

From your lovely 😊❤️💜💙💚💛😊

I was wondering if that would confuse people 😂

Y/n is actually Rocky's own daughter, her mother's backstory will be revealed soon ;)

Liam Payne cracked me up 🤣🤣🤣 and yes she got her own hair destroyed, y/n wasn't at fault here but then she never was, Katlyn has always been obsessively jealous of her and it's only getting worse with time.

And we will definitely see what Loki will do to Bucky but yeah that mark on her face has really gotten him so angry 👀👀

You are amazing and so kind to me dear, I got your request too and I'll work on it soon 🥰🥰😘💚 thank you

[y0itsbri]

🍺, 🧑🏻‍🦰, 😠

benja! hello! thank you for the ask! 💘💘 (sorry these got kinda (very) long and some more fic-ish than hc-ish but i had fun with it)

🍺 - drunk headcanon

lately, debbie has been flooding the gallagher fam groupchat with pictures of cocktails and mixed drinks that she's been trying from the new lesbian bar she's been going to. carl tells her no one gives a shit, but she just tells him to fuck off. ian always sends a thumbs up emoji in response to the photos.

"wonder what's in that one," mickey pondered from their couch, zooming into the most recent picture like somehow the ingredients were written on an ice cube.

"looks like 1.5 oz empress gin, 4 oz ginger beer, juice of 1/2 a lime, 1/4 oz monin desert pear syrup, and mint, for garnish, of course," ian confidently rattled off.

mickey's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, "the fuck are you? the lesbian drink whisperer?"

ian chuckled at the accusation, "found the recipe on pinterest. 's something called the prickly pear gin buck."

"on penny trust what now?"

"pinterest -- a website where you pin your interests," ian smirked like he was the most clever motherfucker on the planet.

"alright, fuckin' martha stewart over here."

"wanna make it sometime?"

"make what?"

"the 'lesbian' drink."

"nah, man, too fuckin' fruity and won't even get me drunk."

"yeah, well we're fucking fruity, mick."

mickey sent ian a death glare.

ian threw his hands up in mock surrender and a teasing glint, "alright, alright, but you like it sweet, so i bet you'd like it."

"yeah, i like your sweet ass alright, c'mere, dork."

--

"hey, mick, look what i got!"

"more toothpaste?"

"shit! i knew i was forgetting something... but, uh, no, i splurged on some things to make that drink debs sent that week."

ian looked so damn excited about this, he couldn't even make fun of him.

"double the gin. if i'm drinking it, i better get buzzed."

"done."

"and you're not tellin' fuckin' anyone about this."

ian paused too long.

"gallagher," mickey said sternly. gallagher. he wasn't messing around.

"aaaanyways, let's get it cookin', good lookin'."

-

for all it was worth, it was fucking delicious and mickey got more than a little buzzed. he woke up the next morning... or afternoon rather, with several notifications from the gallagher groupchat.

shit. he was gonna fuckin' murder ian.

ian had sent an artistic photo of the purplish drink topped with a mint garnish and another of mickey, blissfully unaware of the photo being taken while sipping his second? third? drink, cradling it dear.

deb: looks great guys! so good, right! 🥂

lip: mickey sure seems to think so huh? ;)

liam: mickey's gonna kill you for this, ian

carl: rip fly high bro 💀🕊️

-

despite the teasing from his brother-in-laws, mickey really did enjoy the drink and the excitement ian had putting it all together. debbie, ian, and mickey all start a new groupchat called 'gallabitches getting tipsy🍹' where they share all their new recipes without judgement. they later added tami to the group, not being able to drink during her pregnancy, but living vicariously through them.

👨‍🦰 - ian is tall and likes to manhandle headcanon

the only cabinet in the kitchen that's tall enough for their boxes of cereal is above the refrigerator. this is, of course, no problem to ian who is practically eye level with it. mickey, however, has a little more difficulty.

he thought he was alone in the kitchen, he had left ian finishing getting ready in the bathroom, when he wanted the goddamn lucky charms.

mickey ungracefully climbed on top of the countertop and acquired the beloved box of sugary cereal. right then, he noticed he'd been caught -- ian leaning against the kitchen wall, amused as all hell.

ian stalked over, "can't reach, baby?"

"got it just fine, thanks." but mickey didn't make any effort to get down.

"hey, you're finally taller than me, never thought i'd see the day."

"fuck off."

"hmmm, dunno if i like this," ian said, looking up at mickey, "might have to do something about it."

"yeah? whatcha gonna do about it, big guy?"

in a swift motion, ian nudged mickey's legs apart a bit and held them on either side of him. mickey threw the box of cereal god knows where, fuck the cereal, and complied, wrapping his legs around ian's torso and his arms around ian's neck.

"oh, you'll see."

😠 - jealous headcanon (also hi @gardenerian , here's a little bit of gardener ian content for you🍅)

ian starts bonding with one of his neighbors about their plants in the community garden at their apartment. mickey was totally on board with ian's rants about his tomatoes and peppers, but all mickey can hear lately is julie this and julie that.

-

"julie bought this new fertilizer for me to use on my plot! she said it'll double the amount of tomatoes we get this year!"

"fuckin' great."

ian frowned, "i thought you were excited about the garden."

"i am."

"then why doesn't it sound like that?"

"julie just sounds like she likes you a bit too much is all."

"julie?"

"yeah, man, buyin' you shit, now. why doesn't fucking julie just suck your dick while she's at it?"

"what the fuck are you going on about now, mick?"

"you don't even wear your ring down there! i bet the bitch is just trynna get in your pants."

"mickey."

"no, it's cool, i get it, whatever."

"mickey. i don't wanna lose the ring in all the fuckin' dirt, but i promise julie knows all about you -- about us."

"yeah?"

"of course," ian crowded mickey's space a bit, judging how much his husband was really mad at him. he tilted his head down, "come down there with me next sunday, yeah? there's nothing to worry about."

mickey considered for a moment. he would love to size the bitch up, even if he had to wake up a bit earlier.

"fine."

"mmmm, good."

--

the following sunday, true to plan, mickey followed ian down to his garden plot. he'd been down here before, of course, but never early enough to chat with julie. he couldn't see her now, though, just some white-haired old lady in a big hat with an orange cat perched on her lap.

"ian, darling, good morning!"

"hey julie, good to see you!" ian said smiling as he crouched down to pet the cat's head, "you too, george." the cat purred against his hand.

oh.

"this is my husband, mickey. he was finally up early this morning, so i made him tag along."

"oh, what a pleasure, dear," julie smiled warmly, "i've heard so much about you."

"uh, yeah, ditto." mickey definitely didn't expect this -- she was genuinely sweet. she kind of reminded him of his great aunt back in ukraine.

"remind me to give you boys my new recipe for lemon tarts..." she trailed off.

mickey sat himself on a red modern-style chair as the two chatted the latest drama of some pests on antonio's plants and how sarah hadn't been out in weeks to water.

julie nudged the cat off her lap as she gestured for ian to follow her to one of the flower beds. george made his way over to where mickey was sitting.

"they're some of the good ones, huh?" mickey addressed the cat.

george slow blinked in return as he flopped over on the pavement.

they basked in the early morning sun, watching ian water both his plot and julie's as they laughed about something he couldn't hear.

he smiled. he could get used to sunday mornings like this.

[caitlyn-winchester]

Pilot (Part 3)

Cordell Walker x daughter!reader

word count: 1,667

warnings: mention of dead parent, abandonment issues?

masterlist

»»————-　★　————-««

It was the next morning and I got ready for school. I went toward the kitchen and saw grandma making breakfast and August sitting on the kitchen island.

"Goodmorning." I greeted my family and hopped up on a stool.

"Mornin' Y/N, eat up!" Grams said while putting some eggs and toast in front of me. I poured myself a glass of juice and started to eat my breakfast.

"Is dad almost ready to take us to school?" I asked August but he shook his head which caused me to frown a bit.

"He got a call, he had to go into work." He replied and Uncle Liam entered the kitchen while fixing his tie.

"Of course." I grumbled, "Can't even greet his kids in the morning" I sighed.

"Come on Y/N/N. We got a good morning routine going anyways." Uncle Liam reminded

"I know but I just wish he'd be here with us, you know, to parent and do family like things together." I pointed out.

"He can't just not do his job, Y/N. It has always been like this. I don't know why you're being so annoying about this now." August seethed

"Really August? You're telling me you didn't want dad to be here these past eleven months? To go through this tough time together, lean on each other like we've always done, have him by our side when we went through these life adjusting changes. You really didn't need him at all?" I asked and August was quiet. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"That's enough, Y/N." Grams chimed in. "You're dad is here now."

"No he's not!" I raged. "I don't think you understand, yes he is here in Austin but he is not here spending time with us." I ran a hand through my hair and got up from the island. "I-I'm sorry, I'm just going to walk to school today." I apologized, grabbed my backpack and left the house.

                               »»————-　★　————-««

I left school after my morning classes. Every little thing started to aggravate me, especially after this morning. I decided to go to the gazebo at Lady Bird Lake to clear my head. I just don't understand why dad wanted to jump back into work so quickly. Why couldn't he just take a second to get to know his family again. I miss him.

As I sat on the floor of the gazebo I heard a truck pull up. I turned my head to see who it was and it was dad. He climbed out of the car and we made eye contact. I turned my head away and sighed.

"Do you know who worried we've been?" he asked.

"Well you actually showed up, so this must be a super big deal for you." I quipped.

"Did you forget the part where I picked you up at the police station last night? And now you're here?" He motioned to the lake. "What are you playing at Y/N?" he demanded.

"It's not a game." I stood up from where I was sitting and faced him.

"Then tell me what the hell this is so we can end it," he began, "I'm telling you right now, we can't keep going on like this. Trying to figure out where you'll be next, scaring the crap out of everyone. I'm in the middle of a case!" he ranted.

"When aren't you?" I challenged him to cross my arms. Right his precious case that's always way more important than his family. He sighed and was left speechless for a second. I could see in his eyes he was searching for something to say.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked. "What do you want me to do? I am here and I am trying."

"Yeah," I scoffed, "when you're forced too."

"I just got back and I am trying to make this work. Be here for you, protect you and yes, do my job. I can't just do it all." he tried to reason.

"She did." I dared. "But what? You're somehow more important?" I asked.

"Of course not" he said as I started to walk away. "Y/N...Listen, stop!" he called and I turned around to face him again. "You think it sucks just having me, I know but it's not just me. You have Gramps and Grams and Liam-"

"I needed you! August and I needed you!" I shouted and I can feel tears pressing against my eyes.

"Ok well we need to find a way to have a balance because when I get a call I have to go." he stated.

"Do you?" I challenged him. "Do you just have too? You can't just call up your boss and say 'oh oops i have to actually pay attention to my kids now'. We lost mom, then you left. I-I felt like I lost you too." I choked up at the end. A tear threatened to slide down my face but I quickly wiped it and looked away from dad.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and started to walk away "How can I fix this?"

"I don't know, the only person that could have fixed anything is gone!" I exclaimed. Dad swallowed and looked at me with a half angry, half sad expression.

"Get in the truck." he commanded and I did so slamming the car door behind me.

                                  »»————-　★　————-««

I heard dad and grandma talking right outside my room so I decided to stand by my door frame and listen in. They were talking about August and I and Grams basically reiterated what I said this morning about dad being in Austin but not at home with us. She also mentioned the farmhouse that could be our new home.

"You already arranged the whole thing, didn't you?" dad asked grandma.

"Well I wanted you to put your own personal touches on it first" she responded and my dad chuckled.

"Mama," dad began, "It's a tricky time for me. I-I mean there's a task force I've been recommended for. It's down south and it's really important-" dad was cut off by August walking into the room. I entered my room and slammed the door. He's probably leaving again, I can't say I'm surprised though. He always put work over family.

                               »»————-　★　————-««

It was much later when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in" I said. I sat at my desk and doodled in my sketchbook. I never really liked doing very detailed art, just basic doodles. My door opened and August entered my room.

"Dad and I are sleeping in the farmhouse. Would you like to join?" he asked me

"No thank you." I grumbled and I heard August let out a sigh.

"You're so confusing." he huffed

"What do you mean?" I asked as I concentrated on my drawing.

"You always say Dad's never here but when he actually is, you're the one that avoids him."

"Well sorry if I don't want to get attached just to have him leave again."

"He's not leaving."

"Did you not hear him earlier? He got offered another case away from us." I started tracing the same circle over and over again on my paper. I concentrated on the circle getting darker to distract me from the tears trying to escape.

"He isn't taking the job." August insisted.

"Ok so say maybe he isn't taking this job, but he will take one eventually and leave us again, just like he always does." I pressed too hard on my paper that it tore. I ripped the page out of my sketchbook and tossed it in the trash can. I sniffed and started a new page.

"You alright?" he questioned.

"Yea," I lied, "Augie just go spend time with dad. Let it be a father son thing." I forced a smile and August nodded and left the room.

                                »»————-　★　————-««

I walked up to the farmhouse holding a blanket grandma gave me to bring up to Dad and August. I know what she's actually up to. She wants dad and I to talk. I opened the door and entered the house.

"Hey." Dad greets while looking towards me. August was sleeping on my couch next to him.

"Mawline told me to bring you this, which was super subtle." I said and dad offered up a smile. He took the blanket from me and draped it over August. "I heard you earlier." I told him referring to his conversation with Mawline about his job offer down south.

"Come on" he motioned for me to sit next to him on the couch. I sat on the floor beside the couch instead. I'm trying to not get too used to him being around because there will always be that fear of him leaving us for good in the back of my mind. I bit my lip nervously, not knowing if he is going to take that job makes me anxious.

"I am not going to that job." he affirmed.

"You might feel different in the morning." I said sadly.

"I am not going to feel different about you, and being here." He vowed which made me smile a bit.

"For now." I scoffed. Sometimes I feel like I am to blame for mom's death and that's the reason dad went away.

"I'm learning. Now's all we got." he said and I took a deep breath

"Do you think I could have saved mom?" I dared to ask "I mean when I heard the gunshot, If I went back, would have I been able to save her?" Dad was silent which had me terrified.

"Y/N, I can't tell you if you could or couldn't have saved her but I think," he paused for a moment, " you did everything you were supposed to that night. You did exactly what mom told you to do, which was always our number one rule for when you went out with her. If you went back, you'd probably have died too" he informed me. I sniffed, leaning further down the floor and resting my head on the couch cushion.

                                      »»————-　★　————-««

[lilacsandwhiskey]

Can you do a Liam rescuing a Riley from a flat tire on the highway?

A Nice Thank You

Pairing: Liam Rhys x Riley Brooks

A string of curse words fall out of Riley’s mouth as her cal begins rolling lopsided to the side of the highway. When she’s far away off the road, she just sits for a minute, taking a breather before slapping their steering wheel. “Of course this would happen today, why wouldn’t it?”

Riley pulls her phone out, mentally slapping herself because she should’ve listened all those times her dad tried to teach her basic things about the car - like changing a freaking tire. “Should I google it?” She asks herself, not wanting to face the embarrassment from calling her dad to rescue her and hear him say “told you so” repeatedly.

She lets out a deep sigh before carefully stepping out of her car, cars flying past her with no remorse. She’d probably do the same thing, she can’t blame them. It was early in the morning, everyone was probably doing the same thing she was doing - heading to work.

Meanwhile, Liam is toddling along the highway, ranting about how he doesn’t understand why Americans drive on this side of the road, to his best friend who was miles away. Liam had promised he’d be there with Drake while he visited his mom this year, but unfortunately duty called and Liam had to catch a flight later than him, only a few hours, but still.

“Can you just pay attention to the road and not kill yourself in the process? Just hurry and get here.” Drake pleads, knowing that Drake’s family had probably already sent him over the edge several times in just the short few hours he’d been there. “Fine, fine.” Liam hangs up the phone, focusing on the road in front of him. He’s in the very right lane, cruising so that he doesn’t have to deal with the rush and bumper to bumper highway road rage.

He noticed multiple people slowing down but not stopping, and as he begins inching up towards the reason for the braking, he glances at the clock, knowing he really didn’t have the time to stop but no one else seemed to be.

From the looks, it was a woman with dark brown hair, and she was scrolling frantically on her phone, staring down at a spare tire. That’s when Liam saw the one that had been torn to shreds. He hesitated before putting on his flashers and maneuvering himself onto the side of the road.

Riley turned quickly, hair smacking her in the face as she heard gravel crunching behind her over the frantic cars of the freeway. A nice black car had pulled in behind her, and her immediate thought was “please don’t murder me.” She wanted to refuse help because she was stubborn but she couldn’t for the life of her figure this quite out.

Just then, a blonde hair blued eyed man steps out, dressed up in a button down, chinos, and nice dress shoes. “You need help?” He calls out from behind his door. “I think I got it!” She calls back. Liam doesn’t buy it as she pressed her hand to her cheek, scrolling frantically before letting out a loud groan.

Liam is careful to approach, but it’s obvious this girl needs help. As he inches up, he can’t help but notice - are all girls from Texas this pretty? “Hey, I can help if you don’t mind.” Liam offers once again.

Riley feels and looks defeated. She takes a step back, looking at the man next to her. “Are you going to murder me?” This question makes Liam stop in his tracks. “What? No. What makes you think that?” “Sure sounds like something a murderer would say.” Riley responds, looking as serious as a heart attack. She finally cracks, a small laugh escaping her lips. “I’m only kidding.” Liam lets out a breath, shaking his head with a laugh.

Riley shows him her spare and the emergency items she has in her trunk. Liam nods, taking everything out and gets to work immediately and effortlessly. It was a funny thing - for someone so royal to know how to actually do these things. Drake actually taught him one day when his truck broke down on the side of the road when they were teenagers. It’s happened a few times since then with both of them cruising, but of course - Liam had never really been in the situation himself. He’d need to think his best friend when he got there.

Riley felt bad, watching such a well dressed man on his hands and knees working to fix her car. “I’m really sorry you’re stuck here doing this. I’m sure you had more important things to do today than help me out this morning.” Liam looks up at Riley, giving her a smile, sweat beads covering his forehead. “Nothing more important than getting a pretty girl back on the road today.”

Riley feels herself blush. “Is this how you’re going to lure me in to kill me? By looking that good and complimenting me?” Liam just laughs, keeping his work steady. “I’m Riley, by the way.” Riley offers. Liam picks himself off of the ground. “I’m Liam. And your tire is on. I just would get you a new one soon, that one won’t last long with these speeds.” “How can I pay you?” Riley is pulling out her wallet. “No need! Just a thank you will do.” Liam says, holding up his hand.

Riley looks at the man, feeling a little too confident for her own good. “How about dinner?” “Hm?” “How about I owe you a dinner?” Riley repeats. Liam smiles. “I think that’d be a rather nice thank you. I may take you up on it.”

[screamingatanemptyroom]

Please Fix the Story pt 3 - Zombie Apocalypse

The story continues. At least one more part in the zombie world before moving on to the next one. 

Part 1 / Part 2 Linked here. (If I get to 5 pts or so I’ll make a master post)

Enjoy!

_____________________________

“Why’d they let YOU in?”

An angry shout stopped us in our tracks as we reached the center of the camp.

I paused, smiling. Ah, the nostalgic smell of unnecessary internal strife. NOW it feels like a proper post apocalyptic story.  I raised a hand in greeting. “Hey there, kind and pleasant person, I’m Blaire!”

“Don’t pretend like we’re friends! You shouldn’t be here!”  The angry young man stepped closer, allowing me to get a better look at his face. His copper colored hair framed sharp, angular features, his brown eyes practically burning with rage as he tried his best to stare a hole through me. 

He seems familiar. 

Searching my character’s memories, I was finally able to place him.  Jason, the hero’s best friend, who had gone to high school with my character. Before I could celebrate placing his identity, however,  I felt a surge of deep terror flood through me. My heart beat wildly in my chest, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I frowned, pushing back the feeling that weren’t my own, but those from my character.

It’s rare for emotions from the character to be this strong, even in the last world I was able to easily put away any feelings of the character I’ve taken over. Why is she so scared? I don’t see anything in her memories that would warrant her being frightened of Jason. And why is he so antagonistic towards me?

As I stood there, trying to comb through what information my character knew about him, he had continued to rant. “Eric, what were you thinking accepting people like her?!”

Eric sent Hannah away with a smile, before turning towards his friend with a tired expression. “They have extra supplies and skills, both of which we’re in desperate need of.”

“We don’t need HER!”

As they argued, Liam walked up to me, pulling an apple from his bag. “Want a snack?”

“Sure, these idiots might take a while, I’d hate to get hypoglycemic while they argue.” Before I could say anything further, he pulled out a knife and silently started cutting the peel off.

“What are you doing?”

“Peeling the apple for you.”

“Why?”

“…” He paused, looking honestly confused. “I’m not sure, but I feel like this would make you happy.”

I couldn’t help but shake my head in amazement. “I love apples, but I can’t stand the peel. How did you know?”

“Really?” He grinned, continuing to peel. “My support husband instincts must be kicking in.”

“You’re very… optimistic.”

“Thanks!”

I sighed. “Don’t get attached, Liam. It won’t end well.” I thought of the heart wrenching pain I had felt when pressing “No”  in the last world. That was just after 4 weeks. If I have to stay here years…

“It’s okay. I already count myself fortunate being your lackey.” His smile was bright, but his attention to the apple never wavered. “As long as you live well. I think I could die happy.”

I shuddered. The habit was just too strong. A character casually mentioning dying in a story…such a red flag. “Try not to die. Happy or otherwise.”

“Yes ma’am.” He saluted, his silly expression making me feel less tense. 

“Blaire! I’m talking to you!” Jason had finished arguing with Eric while Liam and I chatted and was obviously still furious.

I felt the same edge of fear from the character at the sight of him again, and pushed it back down with irritation.

“That must be so exhausting to be so angry all the time.”  I muttered quietly as I watched him approach.

Liam nodded. “No kidding. I think I’ll need a nap just from watching him perform.”

Jason stopped just a few feet away, sneering. “I don’t know what lies you sold Eric earlier, but don’t’ forget, I know the real you! You’re a rich brat without any skills! You’re deadweight to any group, just a worthless bit….ARGH!” He flew backwards as a mostly-peeled apple struck him in the mouth, splitting his lip.

“Oops. Sorry did that hit you?” Liam watched him coldly, not sounding sorry at all. “My hands get slippery when I hear pure stupid.”

“Is that why people around you tend to get hit with flying projectiles often?

“It’s a curse…” He paused, then looked mortified. “THAT WAS MY LAST APPLE!”

“It’s okay.”

“WHY DIDN’T I USE A STONE?” He groaned into his hands. “That idiot wasn’t worth losing your snack! Now you’re going to go hungry!”

“I’m fine…” I tried to comfort him, but he had already pulled out a walkie-talkie and was growling instructions in some sort of code.

Jason, on the other hand, was now pointing in shock at Liam. “You! You’re William the destroyer!”

“…” I glanced over at the man who was still panicking over his lack of snack options to offer me.

“What’s the leader of the Blood Wolves doing here?” Jason was now looking nervous, clambering to his feet and keeping a good distance from us both

Liam ignored him, continuing to talk on his walkie talkie. Shaking my head, I stepped in between him. “He’s with me. Do you really want to argue now about whether or not we should be here?”

“But… but…”

“Jason!” Eric had returned, a grim look on his face. “I told you to leave them alone. We’ll go out hunting for supplies tomorrow, they can prove their worth then.”

Jason’s expression showed his clear unwillingness, but he slowly nodded. “Sure.” Glancing towards me, he sneered. “Then I guess tomorrow we’ll see just how useless you are.”

“Did I step on your dog or something? Seriously, try to reign in the hostility there, buddy.”  With that, I turned and walked towards the empty tent Eric had pointed out earlier. 

Despite my casual tone and outer appearance, my hands were clenched at my sides, the fingernails digging into my palms to keep my hands from shaking. My back was soaked with sweat, an uncontrollable reaction from the character I had become.

What is going on? It had been a long timesince I had been unable to fully control my character’s emotions like this. I swallowed uncomfortably. The sensation  was unpleasant, a sense of incongruity between body and soul that I couldn’t quite overcome. It reminded me too much of the first mission I had undergone, the worst time of my life that I could still remember.

Waking up without memories, with no idea of who I was or why I was there, thrust into a romantic drama where my mission was to fulfill the role of a foolish, calculating villainous side character. Overwhelmed by intense love for the male lead and mind-numbing hatred for his heroine, I lost myself in despair. Later, I would learn to maintain my sense of identity. Even if I didn’t know who I was, I at least knew who I wasn’t.

And I wasn’t this character. A spoiled, angry young woman who thought the world revolved around her.

So why can’t I remember clearly? Not just Jason, even the events surrounding my character’s kidnapping and death were vague.

Something’s wrong with this world.

Sitting down with a sigh, I pulled out my phone.

“Let’s see how helpful this new ‘character description’ function is.” I typed in Jason’s name. After a moment to process, the phone’s screen filled with text.

Jason, the hero’s best friend and this world’s hopeless secondary male lead. In the story, he is shown to be in love with Hannah, but hides his feelings for fear of hurting his friends. He often supports her from behind, helping the hero rescue her during her frequent misadventures and kidnappings. Despite his devoted acts, Hannah remains blissfully unaware of his feelings, and treats him as a friend.

Nothing to explain why my character is scared of him. I grinned maliciously as I re-read the part about his unrequited love. “No wonder he’s so high strung. If he were nicer I might even feel sorry for him.”

Unable to control my curiosity, I typed in a second name.

“William.”

Character unknown.

“Hmm. Let’s try ‘Liam.’”

Character unknown.

“Blood Wolves.”

The most notorious and highly skilled gang in this story’s world, they often sell their services as mercenaries, and are considered a major power in the post-apocalyptic society.

I stared at the screen, even more confused. Such an important group, but the leader isn’t mentioned? Who is Liam?

But no matter how much I searched, there were no answers.

_____________________________

Shortly later, Liam called me out.  The smell of freshly cooked food hastened my steps, and I sat at a table across from Hannah, ignoring her wide-eyed look of fear at my approach.

“The others are checking the perimeter. Here, I made you dinner!” Liam placed a bowl in front of both of us with a proud grin. It was filled with a stew, with vegetables and chicken. Hannah stared at the food suspiciously, although I didn’t see anything wrong with the food. Carefully, I lifted a spoonful up to my mouth, my eyes widening with shock.

“It’s delicious!”  I took another few bites before pausing. “Where did you get the ingredients?”

Liam sat down next to me, peeling an apple with an affectionate grin. “My friends happened to have gathered some extra supplies and brought them over.”

“… You sent the Blood Wolves on a snack run?”

“What were they supposed to do? Let you go hungry?” He raised an eyebrow.  “They wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I don’t know how you manage to sound so supportive and yet so… ominous at the same time.”

“It’s one of my many talents, I’m so glad you noticed!”

Hannah watched our exchange back and forth, before looking down at the food once more. She seemed very hungry, but she still hadn’t made any moves towards eating.

“You should try it, it tastes really good!” As I coaxed the girl sitting across from me, I saw Liam beaming with pride.

“…” She stared silently at us both for a long few moments before nodding and taking a bite, her hands shaking and almost spilling the stew from her spoon. As she swallowed the food however, her eyes filled with tears.

Why do all the heroine’s I meet cry so easily? Maybe the problem is with me? Do I just not cry enough?

“It tastes so good!” She ate quickly, blinking to keep back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

Oh… so… happy tears? That’s refreshing. I patted her on the shoulder gently. “Not had a lot of hot meals lately, huh?”

Hannah nodded at my sympathetic words. “Yeah, Eric and James are too busy with security and supply runs. And I…” Her words trailed off.

Why hello there, mission opportunity!I rejoiced inwardly but kept a gentle look on my face.  “You what?”

“I’m weak… I can’t fight. I can’t even cook.” She looked up at me her eyes still wet with unshed tears. “I wish I could be scary like you…”

… Scary?

Liam laughed at my dumbfounded expression, quickly silencing himself as I turned to glare at him. Looking back over at Hannah, I tried to smile comfortingly, the expression stiffening as a look of terror flashed across her face.

“You want to be a well-rounded useful person? I can help you.” Not like I have a choice.

“Really?” Hannah clasped her hands together in front of her. She still looked frightened, but excitement was clearly pushing back her fear. “I really want to be helpful!”

“Really. Just come watch me tomorrow during the outing. I’ll show you what I can do. From there, we’ll come up with a plan.”

She now was smiling brightly, giving off the impression of a small, adorable animal that should be protected. “I promise I’ll work hard, Boss!”

She trusts me so quickly… no wonder she kept getting kidnapped. 

“Wait... Did you just call me Boss…?”

“One day, I pray I can be just as terrifying as you!” Hannah cheered excitedly. 

“…”

I feel like her motivation has gone in a weird direction.

As I struggled on how to answer her, Liam nodded solemnly. “It’s good to have goals, but you shouldn’t aim too high.” He handed me the freshly peeled apple, and continued. “No one’s as terrifying as your Boss. But with hard work and effort, one day, you can reach ‘lackey status’ like me!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” The two high-fived as I watched on silently, feeling tired.

“… I’m going to bed.”

_____________________________

The next morning, we all headed out, running into a group of zombies, almost immediately.  We halted a good distance away to discuss a plan.

“Will it be okay?” Hannah’s face looked extremely nervous as she looked at the zombies in the distance.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!” Jason smiled at Hannah, his eyes full of tender emotion.  “I promise, as long as I have breath in my body, no zombie will get near you.”

I still felt a small thread of fear running through me as I looked at him, but fortunately, it was much easier to control now. I rolled my eyes at his words. Didn’t the character summary say hehides his feelings? How is this subtle at all?

Eric stared at his friend silently for a moment, and then patted Hannah’s head with a sigh. “Make sure to stay away from the fight.” Loading up a handgun, he glanced over at me. “Are you coming?”

“Ha, bet you’re gonna run and hide, huh?” Jason glared at me, his face looking extremely punchable, forcing me to hold back.  

I sighed, admiring my self –restraint. “I’ll take the ten on the right.”

“There’s only fifteen!”

“Yeah, so we’ll split it by skill.” I turned back and grinned. “Ten for me, four for Eric and one for you.”

Pulling out my sword, I headed over, ignoring his stuttered complaints.

GRRRR.

The closest of the zombies was reaching out towards my head, several fingers missing from its hands, its half rotten jaw open, ready to bite.

I lopped it head off, knocking the body away from me.

IT SMELLS SO BAD!!! I had only been able to wash in cold water from a basin. I still desperately missed hot showers.

“Go Boss!”

“Yeah! Kill the zombies! You’re the best!”

Shouts from behind me caught my attention. After killing several more zombies I glanced over, giving out a loud sigh at the sight.

Liam and Hannah cheered off to the side, jumping up and down with excitement.

“Zombies don’t stand a chance against her!”

“Yeah! They’re toast!”

… I’m just going to ignore them for now.

In the corner of my eye I saw Jason struggling to defeat his first zombie, waving a metal bat but missing several passes. He backed up, putting some distance between him and his foe, and turned to stare longingly at Hannah for a few moments, before looking over to glare at me as he realized who she was cheering for. I smiled and winked, watching with interest as his face turned even redder with rage.

Feeling an undeniable urge to taunt, I called out to him as I continued to decapitate zombies.

“Don’t lose focus, little Jason! Or do you need me to help you with your one zombie too?”

“SHUT UP!”

“Try not to bully him, please.” Eric called out as he calmly dodged attacks, occasional shots ringing out. Each was a perfect headshot, as expected of the hero of an action novel. “Jason is sensitive to criticism.”

I nodded, kicking a zombie head into the air and batting it away with my sword, watching it sail away with interest. “Sorry, I’ll try harder to support his emotional well being.”

“Thanks!”

Having finished off our respective zombies, Eric and I high fived before heading back towards the rest of the group.

“Guys… I’m still fighting here!” Jason’s helpless cries caused me to pause.

I glanced at Eric “Will he be okay?”

“Yeah, he’s just milking it so Hannah will pay more attention to him.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Eric shrugged. “Not really, but he doesn’t step over the line and extra hands are necessary, so I just ignore it.”

Is this a… reasonable male lead? Could it be possible?

“Okay, then.” I raised a hand, not turning around. “Good luck Jason, we believe in you!”

Eric grinned and called out behind him. “See you back in camp, buddy!”

“Boss!” Hannah ran up with a grin. “That was amazing!”

Liam stepped closer, handing me a thermos with hot tea. “I told you she was awesome! She saved my life, you know.”

I ignored him, turning my attention to Hannah. Time to make some progress on this mission. “Did what you see today inspire you?”

“Yeah!”

“Do you want to be helpful?”

“Yeah!”

Getting excited, I pumped a fist into the air. “You want to be strong and fight along side me?!”

“…” Hannah stared at me in shock. “What? No. Fight zombies? It’s scary… and kind of gross.”

I looked at her silently. “I… thought you were inspired?”

“Yeah! But not like that.” She nodded firmly. “I realized I was too eager when I wanted to be as terrifying as you…”

“HEY!”

“So I’ve decided.” She grinned. “I’m going to be a professional lackey, just like Liam!”

“…”

“…”

Eric and I sighed in unison.

Liam smiled, patting Hannah on the shoulder. “Now don’t look down on us weak and vulnerable support spouses!”

“You’re not even weak…and we’re not married...”

“We may depend on our stronger counterparts to protect our lives, but we can keep everything running smoothly so you don’t have to worry about anything else.” He looked at me expectantly. “How is your tea?”

Giving up on arguing, I sipped it, and paused, shocked. “It’s… amazing. How did you even make hot tea out here?”

“It’s a trade secret.” Hannah and Liam gave each other a thumbs up, as Hannah handed Liam a thermos, which he drank from silently.

We headed back to camp.

“I feel like we’re forgetting something.” I muttered as I sipped my tea.

“GUYS? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!! I’m STILL FIGHTING!” Jason’s angry shriek pierced the air, but no one turned around.

“I know what it is!” Liam grinned, cleaning one of my hands with a warm towel before handing me a freshly peeled apple. “Here, snack!”

“HANNAH? ERIC? ANYONE?”

I nodded, taking a bite. “That must have been it.”

_____________________________

A few days passed.

I tried again to convince Hannah to train to fight, thinking that combat skills would be the fastest way to  change her status as kidnappable dead weight.  After much convincing, she agreed to start training with me.

Unfortunately, the results were not what I had hoped for.

“OWW!” Hannah laid on the ground, staring up at me sadly. “I’m dying.”

“All I did was have you hold my sword. We haven’t even started fighting yet.”

“It hurts.”

“How did you even hurt yourself?” I stared at the small cut on her leg in consternation. “You only had the sword for fifteen seconds?”

Needless to say, the sword was confiscated. Strengthening exercises were meant with similar outcomes.

“How’s it going?” Liam brought me a bowl of hot soup, as I stared in disbelief at the figure attempting to do a pushup in front of me.

I pulled out my phone, glancing at the mission screen. The first completion bar for Hannah’s mission had been stuck at 10% since we started. “Not good. This is still her first push up.”

“Well, everyone takes a different amount of time…”

“We’ve been out here four hours.”

“Oh… how’s the soup?”

I sighed, taking time to try it. “It’s amazing. I’m still convinced you might be magic to be able to cook like this in the apocalypse.”

“This is just the beginning of my skills!”

I drank the soup quietly, staring at Liam while thinking.

“What is it?” He grinned. “You think I’m handsome and finally want to upgrade me from lackey to support spouse?”

“Who are you?”

My question was whispered, but he still heard it, a look of helplessness spreading across his face. This wasn’t the first time I had asked him this.

“I’ve told you everything, Blaire. I swear I’m not hiding anything from you.”

“You’ve told me everything you’ve remembered.” I corrected him quietly, turning away. Focusing my attention back on Hannah, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged. “This isn’t going to work.”

“You said you’re trying to make her a well-rounded, useful person, right?” Liam finally spoke up, his expression thoughtful. “You might be pushing her in the wrong direction. There are many different ways to help out, fighting is just one of them.”

“Yeah… but that’s what I’m good at.” I rubbed my head. “If I have to teach her other skills, I might not be able to.”

I had memories from multiple story worlds, but most of them required me to act as a brain dead villain, not staying long. Only a few provided practical skills such as the assassin guild story.  A sense of frustration filled me.  

“I can teach her cooking, supply management, and basic book-keeping.”  Liam watched me, seemingly worried. “And you can teach her your special skill.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Negotiation.” He grinned. “It’s amazing to watch you reduce that idiot Jason to an apoplectic fit every time you argue.”

I thought it over, a small return smile forming on my face. “I guess I have developed some good interpersonal skills. I once helped my brother overcome an obsession with behavior modification training.”

“You have a brother?” He asked, his eyes widening.

“In a different life.” I felt a pang of loneliness for the time I had spent in the previous world. I wondered if Adam was doing well. Looking back at Liam, I reached over and patted him on the head.

“I’m glad you’re here.” That I got to see you again. Even if you look different. Even if you don’t remember me.

Liam froze with shock at my touch for a few moments, before his face lit up with delight. “I’m glad I’m here too!”

I looked back down at Hannah, who still hadn’t completed her first push up. “Let’s go with your plan.”

Scratching the plan to make the heroine a one woman army, it was time to make her into an overpowered support character.