#the hospital just really likes sam and max

[yoylechess]

i love being trapped places where the place contorts to keep me inside its like enrichment for my brain

[leeloooonfire]

Steve hasn't read out loud since 4th grade - he still remembers the snickers of his classmates when he stumbled over the words as the letters twisted and turned on the page.

He doesn't like to read in general. It takes him so long to finish a story, let alone an entire book. He tried to read Hamlet once. When he and Nacy were a thing and he knew she liked classic literature. He hated it. Shakespeare, while the storyline seems to be interesting enough, nearly bored him to death.

So, that's the thing: Steve doesn't read, especially not out loud.

But then Vecna happened, and while Max and El finished the bastard off, they barely managed to get a deadly wounded Eddie out of the Upside Down.

(Eddie died in Dustin's arms and came back to life under Steve’s furious hands.)

While Eddie is bound to the hospital bed, unable to move, Steve picks up The Hobbit. He doesn't intend to read it, but when Edide can't hold the book long enough, let alone concentrate on it, Steve takes over. (He always does these things for the people he cares about. It is a small mystery to Steve when he started to care about Eddie.)

So, he reads - stumbling over the words, stuttering and slowly, but instead of laughing or making snide comments, Eddie listens to him patiently, a small smile on his lips.

(They finish The Hobbit and the first of Lotr before Eddie is allowed to leave the hospital.)

Steve thinks with Eddie free to go, that's it. No more hours sitting together and learning the tale of Frodo and Sam.

He is surprised when Eddie wants to hang out with him every other day. (He didn't think Eddie would want to be his friend.)

Two months after Eddie was allowed to go home, they lie in Eddie’s bedroom, sharing a joint and listening to Dio when the cassette comes to an end and Eddie turns slowly to him, brown eyes wide.

(Steve doesn't try thinking about kissing Eddie. He fails. Just a little bit.)

it's then when Eddie turns and grabs something from underneath his bed. A book. The two towers. "Aren't you interested how the story continues?"

Instead of waiting for Steve to answer, Eddie lays back down and starts reading. He is so much better than Steve at it - voice animated, each character distinguished.

(Steve loves it. Maybe even loves Eddie a bit.)

After a while, Eddie's voice gets rough and he pushes the book into Steve's hands, "Your turn." And he's too high to say no, so he reads. Less animated, less practiced, but Eddie lays his head on Steve's stomach and he smiles, humming whenever they reach parts he especially likes.

(If Steve's free hand runs through Eddie's curls every now and then, there's no one here to call them out for it.)

The letters still play tricks on him, turn and twist and make it hard for him to read, but Steve gets better. He doesn't really care if he comes to a stuttering halt or if he doesn't know how to pronounce a word, because Eddie doesn't seem to mind and only speaks to help when Steve gets frustrated with himself. Then they take turns and Eddie takes over reading.

(If Steve gets frustrated on purpose so Eddie reads for him, it's our tiny secret.)

[lonelym00n]

Max Fox x Reader - Headcannons

this is for all the max fox girlies out there. if you're a mikey madison fan and haven't watched better things just for her, shame on u.

this is likely going to contain max snippets from every season, so don't read if you care about spoilers.

GO WATCH BETTER THINGS!! seriously it's a really good show about a single mother raising three daughters.

also, LOOK AT BABY MIKEY. LOOK AT HER.

Pre-relationship

when max isn't with paisley or her boyfriend of the week, she's with you

you're the most chill of all her friends so she hangs out with you mostly when she doesn't feel like causing her mom an aneurism

sam loves you more than max's other friends

you always thank her for her hospitality and do the dishes for her if she cooks when you're around

max's favorite thing about you is that she doesn't feel the need to worry about if you think she seems cool or not

you love watching old movies with max because she always has such thoughtful comments on the cinematography

you always arrive early to her band's gigs just so you can cheer her on from the front row

you are max's personal Lyft driver when you get your license (sam is thankful that the bill has gone down significantly)

How you catch feelings

you fall for max first

your feelings for her start when she begins opening up to you about her dad and how much her parent's divorce has affected her

she tells you about the jealousy she holds for how much she has to share her mom with her mom's job and her two sisters

she also opens up about how she has no clue what to do once she graduates

you tell her that sam loves her just as much as she did before her sisters were born and that there's no rush to decide what path she wants to choose post-graduation

you realize your feelings for max when she surprises you by playing your favorite song on the guitar

the smile she gave you after she finished playing made your heart leap into your throat

you knew you had it bad for her after that

Unrequited feelings

you're too much of a chicken to admit your feelings to max because you don't want to ruin your friendship

you are horrified when she starts dating the 34 year old man, you tell yourself that it's not because you're jealous, but because max is only 16 (it's definitely because you're jealous)

max cried on your shoulder when she learned her dad had stood her up on her graduation day

you threaten to train chewy to bite him for the next time he shows up to interrupt her life

she laughs and your heart skips a beat at the sound

when max tells you about her decision to go to college in Chicago, you try not to cry (let's pretend you chose to go to college somewhere in LA)

you do cry when you drop her and sam off at the airport on their way to Chicago (cry is putting it lightly, you full on sobbed into max's shirt)

Other people notice your feelings

with max off at college, you have a hard time figuring out what to do with yourself when you aren't attending classes

you take to moping around the fox's house

frankie is the first to catch onto your feelings for max, after seeing you sniffle pitifully into a carton of ice cream for the third weekend in a row, they figured you must've loved max more than you let on

frankie doesn't say anything to you about their realization, concluding that you probably hadn't yet registered that you harbored more than friendly thoughts for max

sam doesn't question why she keeps finding you fast asleep on her living room couch, so she remains none the wiser about your love for her daughter

when max calls you crying one night and tells you about how she doesn't think college is right for her, it takes everything in your willpower not to encourage her to hop on the next flight back to LA

you tell her she has to make the decision on her own but that you will wholeheartedly support her either way

when she does return, you don't even hide how ecstatic you are

the pain of hiding your feelings for her does return, but it's nothing compared to how heartbroken you felt while she was away

when she starts dating olivier, you feel more depressed than you do jealous

max notices your more frequent sad moods and her heart pangs dejectedly whenever she asks if you're okay and you brush her off

you feel lost and decide to confide in rich about your love for max, you always thought he was such a good second dad to her

he isn't fully surprised at your feelings for the other girl, having sensed that something more was likely going on between you two

he's so happy that you decided to tell him and offers you words of advice that he had picked up from being in similar situations to yours

from that moment on, he's silently rooting for you and max to get together

Max realizes her feelings for you

with her new love for photography, she innocently invited both you and paisley to model for an idea that she wanted to shoot

paisley agrees excitedly while you agree with more reluctance

the pictures with paisley turn out great

when it's your turn, max is in utter awe at how gently your beauty comes across in the photos

you fit the image she had wanted to capture so perfectly and as she continues to photograph you, her heart thumps wildly in her chest

the slow groundbreaking realization of the love she so deeply holds for you creeps up her spine

she pushes you away the next week and the week after that, filled with panic

now that she has figured out how she feels about you, she knows she'll never be able to hide it from you

you feel hurt that max is avoiding you, but you figure it's because she's spending more time with her boyfriend (max didn't tell you that she had broken up with him directly after the photoshoot)

max tells rich about her feelings for you and he only just barely manages to hide his joy at the news

he reassures her there's nothing wrong with the way she feels about you and that her family would accept and support her regardless

after a week of gathering up her nerve (and a third week of avoiding you), she reveals her feelings for you to sam

sam is shocked but reassures max that she is so happy and proud

when max falls asleep for the night, sam rushes to frankie's room for advice on ways that she could be there for max

Confession

one morning, frankie urges max to confess to you

needless to say, max is pissed at sam for telling frankie

a big fight starts between the three of them (max upset with sam for telling frankie, sam mad at frankie for telling max that she had told them about it, and frankie yelling at max to just tell you how she felt)

you, completely fed up with being avoided by max, stomp into the fox household to give the girl a piece of your mind

the fighting comes to a halt when you walk in the door, frankie and sam quickly scurry away

just as you're about to speak, max gently grabs your arm and tugs you outside with her

she shushes all your attempts to talk and apologies for avoiding you

she looks nervous and so uncharacteristically max as she takes your hand in hers

when she tells you she was avoiding you because she realized she was in love with you, you nearly forget how to breathe

she looks at you so worriedly while she waits for your response

when you tell her you feel the same, her eyes crinkle in happiness

max leans closer and the two of you share a soft kiss

max lovers you better cause some commotion in the comments!! she needs more love and I won't be silent about it anymore!

[lost-in-frog-land]

Want and desire in the hatchetfield series, and how it almost always directly leads to a character's demise. Buckle in for this long post because I have been thinking about it for a while

THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS

Established individual desires for the characters tend to lead them to take actions or make mistakes that lead to their demise.

Paul - doesn't want anything, until he wants to be with Emma -> if he'd just gone with General Macnamara he would've gotten out alive but he went back for Emma. Then he died. Then everyone died.

Emma - wants to get out of hatchetfield/ not die in hatchetfield -> gets out, ends up helping the infection spread to clivesdale (this one's more irony than causation but it still counts)

Bill - "I just want my daughter back" -> goes to rescue Alice which leads to his death

Ted - wants to get out alive, even at the cost if his friends ("everyone else died just rescue me") -> runs straight into the infected army and dies

Charlotte - wants to reconnect with Sam -> is easily manipulated by him when he's infected and dies

Professor Hidgens - wants his musical to be real, possibly also wants to reconnect with his old college friends (depending on how we interpret his show) -> purposely leads the infected to his location and gets killed

BLACK FRIDAY

characters individual wants and goals are often intertwined with the common want of gaining a wiggly doll, and this is what leads to their downfall

Lex - wants to escape her life and move to California -> wants a wiggly doll to sell -> leads her and Hannah to get caught up in the cult and Lex to almost die, even asking on her deathbed "should I never have wanted?" (The answer is yes. You shouldn't have. Wanting in hatchetfield only leads to suffering)

Tom - wants to reconnect with his son -> wants a wiggly doll because he believes his son wants one -> gets stuck in the mall looking for one and goes insane for a good portion of the musical

Becky - Becky wants a doll for the children's hospital but that actually isn't what leads to her getting caught up in the plot. It's her desire to reconnect with Tom that leads her to follow him deeper into the mall, because he won't leave without a Wiggly and she won't leave without him

Linda - wants to be worshipped / adored -> easily taken in by wiley and convinced to start the cult, dies as a result

Ethan - wants to make Lex happy -> dies protecting Hannah

NERDY PRUDES MUST DIE

Steph & Pete - doing them together because it's their love and want for each other that is almost their undoing. "I never wanted you anyway" "what do you want Steph?" "We want what you really want" - they almost have to kill the other because they wanted eachother. That's how the Lords get you.

Grace - wanted to rid herself of "sin" (normak sexual desires) -> tried way too hard to get rid of Max and, as a result "ruined [everyone's] lives". This also leads to her gaining the powers of the LIB and killing many more people.

Richie - wanted friends, to be accepted -> as soon as he gets this he is killed. More of the tragedy inherent in almost getting what you wanted than it inherently causing it, but this is also a key theme in the tragedy of hatcehtfield, as also seen with...

Ruth - wanted to perform, to overcome her anxiety -> also gets killed as she takes a step in this

The tragedy of the hatchetfield series is all about the idea of wanting. It's about how your desires can lead to your destruction, and how you'll never be able to truly get what you want before it is taken away from you. Its about peoole who will do anything to achieve their desires, and people who will never achieve theirs. That's the tragedy and the driving force behind these stories. That is what gives the Lords in Black their power.

[secretsandwritinggs]

Random headcanons for the Lawrusso family:

They have a day out of the week where they eat junk food and get snacks for the weekend

Sam and Johnny found two puppies in the dumpster and begged Daniel to keep them

When is Anthony is having another growth spurt Johnny likes to say it’s his “time of the month”

Sam steals Johnnys flannels because she likes the smell and how big they are on her

Robby has a messed up sleep schedule due to Daniel giving him a play station

Sam makes random pieces of furniture and puts them around the house

Daniel accidentally bought a detergent that broke Anthony so bad that he had to be hospitalized for it

Every time there’s sweets in the family it will be gone in a matter of two-three days max

Anthony, Daniel, Johnny, and Robby all avoid Sam while she’s on her period since she gets very cranky and snippy, though sometimes she’s very chill and doesn’t know what’s happening

Sam and Johnny one time in the mall laughed at a mom and child falling down the stairs

Johnny bought Sam’s favourite shirt at Hot Topic and never told Daniel (Daniel is not too pleased with Hot Topic since he saw what he thought were dicks on the wall)

Sam teaches both Johnny and Robby how to cook and clean after themselves

Anthony spends most of his day in his bed or just chilling on the floor of his room (he really likes floor time)

Sam likes to pretend to be shocked for whoever came out first like, “You’re that [sexuality]? I had no clue 😲” when she says that she definitely already knew way before you did. She has an impeccable gaydar though everyone claims her as straight…

All of them (besides Robby) have some level of speaking another language: Italian and French is what they can speak

All of the kids has a different speech impediment

Sam’s impediment consists of L and S’s, Anthony’s impediment consists of L, W, and R’s, and Robby’s consists of Q and N’s.

Only three of them are right handed: Anthony, Daniel, and Robby while the other two are lefties

Sam is self taught ambidextrous after breaking her arm once when she was 11

They all collectively go to book stores and have a respected genre

Anthony’s favourite genre is murder mystery, Daniel’s favourite genre is romance/something fluffy, Johnny’s is also murder mystery and a bit of horror, Robby’s is dystopian (and current favorite book series is Divergent), and Sam’s favourite genre is thriller, murder mystery, and true crime!

They have a lot of notepads scattered around the house to write down for the other people in the house

The kids have letters on their doors so Daniel and Johnny know where they are (the house is big and a lot of rooms, alright?)

These are loosely based on my own family, but I can see them doing this too, and I hoped you enjoyed them as much as I did! Let me know if you want to see more of these type of posts! :)

[lubotomies]

I don't know if it's exactly "blasphemous" to ask, but maybe you could point me to webcomics similar in tone to comic!EW (at least the way it is now) that don't rely on 4th-wall breaks as much (or at all)?

i dont actually read as many webcomics as i do just regular comics so i cant give you a 1-1 similar to eddsworld rec but i can give just general comics ive read and enjoyed

sparklecare - i havent read this one in a while but i remember really liking it, eyestrain warning and a lot of medical abuse cw of course since its a comic about a hospital

popee the performer - the manga is quite hard to come by but its about a circus performer, his dad and his out-performing wolf companion, kedamono and their mishaps in their traveling (and failing) circus. very light hearted and plenty of bloodshed

johnny the homicidal maniac - very gorey and bloody and very silly though it touches on some serious issues every now and then. made by jhonen vasquez who also made invader zim

sam and max - freelance police dog and bunny. lighthearted and silly with lots of violence

the little trashmaid - eco-conscious take on the little mermaid. really cute from what ive read so far. also another webcomic

mysillycomics - though there hasnt been a comic in a long time its still a nice scroll-through for simple 2-4 panel jokes

thats about all i can think of thats remotely similar to eddsworld shrug

[andiwriteordie]

omg??? congrats!! so well deserved <3

hmm. what abt wheelclair friendship where Mike has his “oh” moment while Lucas is talking abt how he feels abt Max? maybe they have a chat abt it? I j love them <3 ;__;

ahh!! hi, thank you so so much!

i got carried away with this one, WOOPSIE. can you tell i love wheelclair friendship? like HELLO I LOVE THEM.

hope you enjoy! (also. highly recommend listening to this song it is very byler coded!)

—

wherever i'm going, i'm going with you

Today’s Mike’s day to sit at the hospital with Lucas and Max.

It’s been nearly six months now that Max has been in a coma—nearly six months since Vecna nearly killed her and ripped open the gates in Hawkins. Nearly six months since the Upside Down first began bleeding into Hawkins and nearly six months Will’s nightmares, caused by his growing connection to Vecna, first began. 

It’s been nearly six months, there’s no end in sight, and Mike feels completely useless.

Seriously. There’s nothing that he can do right now—nothing that any of them can do but sit and wait until Vecna strikes. The only good thing about Will’s connection to this asshole is the fact that they can somewhat monitor him as well and at least get a basic understanding of what Vecna’s state is. He’s still injured, according to Will. He’s not in any condition to strike and to come after them again.

So, now… all they can do is wait.

Talk about the world’s slowest apocalypse. 

In the meantime, Mike tries to keep himself busy. Things… don’t really go back to normal, but he tries to find normalcy in any way that he can. He goes to the makeshift shelters often and volunteers with Dustin, Steve, Robin, and Robin’s friend, Vicki. Will tags along sometimes, but a lot of days, he’s exhausted from being unable to sleep well at night, so Joyce makes him stay at home more often than not.

(Will hates it, but he doesn’t ever say anything to Joyce about it. Instead, he rants to Mike about it on the nights when neither of them can sleep—sharing his thoughts about how this type of thing makes him feel so pathetic and like his life will never be normal. Like… like he’ll always be different because of what has happened to him.

His words feel hauntingly familiar, and some night, after Will does manage to fall asleep, Mike finds himself staring up at the painting that had been gifted to him just six months ago.

He doesn’t dare fall down that rabbit hole though, lest… lest he find himself with many, many questions he doesn’t wanna deal with.)

On top of going to the shelter, the Party also takes turns sitting with Lucas and Max at the hospital. They have a schedule planned out, and between the four of them plus Steve and Erica, they always try to make sure Lucas isn’t alone at the hospital. 

He shouldn’t be alone. He shouldn’t. 

And so, that’s exactly why Mike finds himself sitting in the chair opposite from Lucas and listening to him read the newest novel he’d chosen to read to their comatose friend. He’s reading The Two Towers—one of Mike’s personal favorites, actually.

“'Master, dear master!' said Sam, and through a long silence waited, listening in vain,” Lucas reads, and Mike looks up, a pit growing in his stomach.

He knows this scene. Oh God… Mike knows this scene, and judging by the way Lucas’s hands are clenched tightly around his books, he knows it too.

“Then as quickly as he could he cut away the binding cords and laid his head upon Frodo's breast and to his mouth, but no stir of life could he find, nor feel the faintest flutter of the heart,” Lucas reads, his voice getting quieter as he continues the paragraph. “Often he chafed his master's hands and feet, and touched his brow, but all were cold.”

“Lucas,” Mike starts to say, his own voice soft, but his words are lost to the sound of Lucas continuing the passage of the book.

“'Frodo, Mr. Frodo!' he called. 'Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling. Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo! O wake up, Frodo, me dear, me dear. Wake up!’” Lucas reads, and his voice breaks.

The room goes impossibly quiet, and Mike holds his breath, watching his best friend carefully.

He… he doesn’t have the right words to say. It feels like a common problem nowadays. Back when he was younger, Mike always felt like he knew what to say to make his friends feel better. He’s a writer, a storyteller for God’s sake. Words are kind of his things.

But nowadays, he never seems to know what to say to help anyone.

So, Mike just swallows the lump in his throat, and he whispers, “I… I’m so sorry, Lucas.”

It’s the first time he’s said those words aloud, but God, Mike has been thinking them. He’s been thinking about them ever since he first heard about what happened to Max from Dustin. He’s been thinking about these words every single day he’s come and sat with Max and Lucas, and he’s been thinking about these words every night that Will wakes up, breathless and terrified from another nightmarish encounter with the monster tormenting everyone’s lives.

"Don’t go where I can’t follow," Sam had said—desperate and pleading and terrified.

Oh, how Mike knows what that feels like.

And Lucas does too.

Lucas looks up hesitantly. There’s a watery look in his eyes, and he meets Mike’s gaze, before taking a shuddered breath. “I miss her,” he admits, his voice impossibly soft. “God, Mike… you have no idea how much I miss her.”

Though he doesn’t actually say it, Mike knows from talking with Dustin and with Will that Lucas… really hasn’t opened up to anyone. The person who has had the biggest breakthrough with him has been El, but even then, Lucas really has kept most of his pain and grief to himself. 

It feels like bitter irony, considering the fact that this is exactly how Vecna had been able to target Max.

“I know you do,” Mike whispers back. “God… I know, Lucas. And I… I’m so sorry.”

The words don’t feel nearly big enough, and that sucks. But somehow, they must help, because Lucas manages a shaky breath and wipes his arms on his sleeve. 

“I keep thinking about what I could’ve done differently that week, you know,” he confesses, looking down at Max now. “About… how maybe if I’d been just a little faster, or if I’d made one different decision… maybe I could’ve prevented this. Maybe… maybe she’d still be here.”

Mike can’t help but flinch. The lump in the back of his throat grows, and he… he can’t help but think back to his own regrets—ones he’s had all the way back since 1983. An old memory replay over and over again in Mike’s mind—haunting him and reminding him of how his own mistake could’ve prevented so much pain.

“It was a seven.”

“Huh?”

“The roll, it was a seven. The demogorgon… it got me.”

…

“Well, see you tomorrow!”

“I get that,” Mike finally manages to say, and he swallows the lump in his throat. “I… I think I get that.”

For a moment, Lucas is quiet, like he doesn’t know what to say. Then, finally, he murmurs, “Right… I… I bet you would think about that stuff a lot when El was missing that year… after the fight with the demogorgon.”

The words are a gut punch, and Mike’s breath catches.

Why…. God, why hadn’t he been thinking of El? Obviously… obviously, Mike felt guilty about that instance too, but… that hadn’t been his first thought, even though El used to be his girlfriend and everyone still expects them to get back together someday.

But the truth is… El is rarely the first person that Mike thinks about… in any circumstances nowadays.

It’s always Will.

…

Why? something in the back of Mike’s mind wonders, and he can’t help but look at Lucas and Max curiously. There’s a gentle gaze on Lucas’s face, and he reaches up, brushing some of Max’s hair from her face.

Why is it that Mike always thinks about Will? Why is it that Will takes up so much space in Mike’s mind and heart—to the point where Mike had noticed the difference in that year that the two of them barely spoke? Will’s his best friend, sure, but… but so is Lucas. And so is Dustin. But Mike doesn’t think about them this much, and… and he can’t imagine himself doing the same things for Lucas and Dustin that he would for Will.

If Will was ever in Max’s position, Mike knows he would be just like Lucas—faithfully sitting by Will’s side and waiting for him to wake up. Hell, it was only for a couple days, but Mike did that, just a couple years ago when Will was suffering through his possession. Mike would’ve stayed for as long as Will needed him. He knows he would’ve.

But why?

You know why, that voice in the back of Mike’s mind whispers, and Mike’s breath catches as he watches Lucas press a gentle kiss to Max’s forehead. You know why.

…

Oh.

Oh.

…

Oh, shit.

The lump in Mike’s throat grows, and his heart pounds inside his chest as this newfound revelation begins to sink in. Suddenly, it feels as though the blinds have been opened, or like he’s finally seen the light, or like the last piece of the puzzle has finally slotted into place, allowing him to solve the mystery of why things have always been different with Will.

…

Mike is in love with Will.

…

Mike is in love with Will.

Holy fucking shit.

“Lucas,” Mike blurts out, before he can stop himself. His heart continues to beat nervously—thump, thump, thump—and Mike forces himself to take a deep breath… in and out. In and out.

Lucas looks up, a confused expression on his face. “Um… yeah?”

“I… I wasn’t talking about El,” Mike whispers, watching as a confused expression forms on Lucas’s face. “And I… I think I just realized something, and to be completely honest with you, I am freaking out right now, and honest to God, I should just shut up before I say something I regret, and—”

“Mike,” Lucas interrupts sharply, and Mike closes his mouth, still staring at his best friend with wide eyes. “Dude, okay… first of all, breathe. Second of all… what are you talking about? If… if you weren’t talking about El, then who were you…”

His voice trails off. Mike can pinpoint the exact moment that Lucas makes the same realization he did, and Lucas stares at him with wide eyes. “Oh, shit.”

“Yeah, ‘oh shit,’” Mike echoes, the panic still rising in his chest. His face feels like it’s burning up, and he runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. “Lucas, I don’t… what do I… I’m not supposed to…”

The words fall flat again, and as tears sting Mike’s eyes, he looks away, lest Lucas see him cry over this. Fuck. This is bad. This is bad, and Mike has no idea what he’s going to do here. He’s officially fallen down the rabbit hole, and there’s no turning back now.

“Hey,” Lucas says softly, and Mike looks up, tentatively meeting his best friend’s eyes. “Let’s just… let’s not freak out or anything. I mean… there’s nothing wrong if you do feel that way for Will… but… but let’s just try to figure this out first. Okay? Nobody has to know but you and me.”

“Right, right. You’re right.” Mike takes a deep breath again—in and out. Okay. It’ll be fine. Maybe he’s just overthinking all of this, or… or maybe he’s not. But for better or for worse… this is happening. He’s down the rabbit hole, and he’s dragged poor Lucas in with him. 

“What makes you think that… that you might feel that way for him?” Lucas asks gently. 

It’s a loaded question, but then again, it’s not. It’s really, really not, especially when Mike stops to think about all the moments in his own life—staying by Will’s side through thick and thin and doing anything to make sure that Will is protected and safe and cared for. All those moments… they parallel exactly what Lucas is doing for Max right now. The similarities are undeniable.

Mike glances away from Lucas to look at Max, then back at Lucas again, and with a shuddered breath, he whispers, “Because I’d follow him anywhere, Lucas.”

Just like you’d follow her anywhere.

“Don't leave me here alone,” Sam had cried, in the passage of the book Lucas had just read. “Don’t go where I can’t follow.”

Mike doesn’t have to say anything else.

Because better than anyone else in the world, Lucas gets it.

[fandomofisolation]

My own internalized misogyny pisses me the fuck off sometimes, because I NEVER give female characters the same understanding and compassion I give male characters.

I love Sam and Dean Winchester of The CW's "Supernatural" (2005-2020). I love Ed Teach and Stede Bonnet of HBO Max' "Our Flag Means Death" (2022-2023). I love Marvel's Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Loki. These characters have done some really fucked up shit. These characters have killed people. Most of them have killed without remorse - often for reasons that I personally cannot see as justifiable.

But I forgive all those characters. Don't get me wrong, I don't just love them because they're well-written, three dimensional, compelling characters. I love them like I care about them. Like they're my fictional friends. Like if I knew them in real life, I'd want them to be proud of me. I think that in their universes, they are good people.

I know that it sucks that we don't have as many female characters like that. But what sucks even more is that when we do I hate them! What is wrong with me??

Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. I read those books in high school and I hated her because I thought she was selfish. Selfish! Like, what? Who do I think I am?

Clarke Griffin of The CW's "The 100" (2014-2020). I had beef with her because I couldn't agree with some of the decisions she made, so I disliked her whole character.

Fiona Gallagher of Showtime's "Shameless" (2011-2021). *Season 4 spoilers* After Liam got into the cocaine in Season Four and was hospitalized for an overdose, I was so mad at her. I was like, "You stupid bitch! How could you just leave cocaine just lying around when you have a three-year-old in the house? That is so dumb and irresponsible!"

What stands out to me is that Katniss, Clarke and Fiona are facing circumstances every bit as difficult as any of those male characters I mentioned previously. They've lived through immense trauma. They're up against insurmountable odds. But I don't give them the same grace that I do Sam or Ed or Bucky.

I hold women, myself included, to a much high standard than men. It's ridiculous because that double standard is itself part of the very same systematic oppression that creates so many obstacles for women already (before you even ask, yes I'm including trans women. "Women" always includes trans women. Women are women are women. Genitals and chromosomes do not determine gender. Terfs go fuck yourselves).

It's not fair. It's not fair to the people writing female characters. It's not fair to female actors. It's not fair to the women and girls all over the world who need to see themselves represented in well-written, three-dimensional, complex, imperfect characters. It's not fair to me. I am part of the problem!

So anyway. Not cool, self. I gotta work on undoing those unhealthy thought patterns. Wish me luck!

[digitalhate]

⠀ ﹒⠀⠀⠀⠀➴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀˚⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ 𓂂　⠀⠀⠀𓇼

⠀hi⠀hi!⠀i’m⠀marco⠀or⠀eiji.⠀i’m 16 years old⠀&⠀boygirl, nonhuman ( it + ) i’m mixed ( 🇨🇺 🇯🇵 ). my birthday is june 3rd. i'm taken by my lovely boyfriend and partner 🤍

⠀byi: i’m a system (osdd) & have bpd, autism, and others (ask if VERY close).⠀i struggle to talk to people and don't use tonetags (unless asked) please don't use them on me!⠀i use a screenreader and english is NOT my first lang.

⠀dni: basic dni,⠀you say "i like (interest) more than you" and "i'm gonna touch you,"⠀your only sense of humor is nsfw jokes,⠀ragebait,⠀anti-recovery,⠀those ranfren / okegom / regretevator / 8:11 / southpark fans,⠀i block freely.

⠀interests: animanga,⠀roblox (daybreak, limbo, regretevator +),⠀sparklecare hospital,⠀idv,⠀be more chill,⠀tmf,⠀sam and max,⠀mysme,⠀omswd,⠀twst,⠀amphibia,⠀voltron,⠀it,⠀starberry,⠀spicymints,⠀alien stage,⠀sam and colby,⠀8:11 and more (bold is what i'm most fixated / defensive on right now)

⠀blog info: this blog is mostly for whatever!⠀reblogs, interacting with others, and maybe making my own posts…⠀it really just depends on the day!⠀i may disappear for sometime, mostly due to school or just being with my partners!⠀if anything, that's what i'd post most about.⠀interact with caution if you're iffy with obsessive / posessive, vent-ish, borderline posts!

⠀anons: none..

[cellard0ors]

They're a united front now, but it doesn't mean they always agree.

"How about Harriet?"

"Ew. No."

Travis frowns, even as he continues to rub Laura's sore feet. She's over thirty weeks in and enormous. She's been moody and unhappy, but Travis has been doing his best to keep her spirits up.

He owes it to her.

While his absence is far behind them, he has no problem groveling until the day he dies if he has to. Laura loves him. She forgave him. She's having their baby.

He can do no less.

Still, "What's wrong with Harriet?"

"I don't know - Harriet Hackett just sounds strange. I don't like it."

Travis slows his rubdown of her toes and looks over his shoulder at her, "So...they're going to have my last name?"

Laura looks a little startled, as if she just realized what she said. Travis swallows, "Because, I mean...we-we just started dating..."

"No, yeah. No, I know..." She looks unsure now and he turns to her fully, "I mean...I'm okay with them having my last name. But, it does have a bad history behind it. We can go with Kearney if you want."

Laura's lips twitch, "Well, I am the alpha in this relationship..."

"Ha, ha." He returns dryly and she gives an official chuckle, "Seriously though, I think it's okay for them to have your last name. We can start a new history for your family name. A happy one."

She notes a gleam in his eyes and he clears his throat before going back to her feet. Laura remembers thinking Travis was really cut off emotionally.

Turns out that's not true.

If anything, he's brimming with feelings, his current one a cross between happiness, pride, and tears. Such a secret softie.

"Alright then. How about Alexander? If it's a boy?"

"Again. Pass."

She can practically hear him roll his eyes, "You haven't liked any of the names I've suggested."

"That's not true. I liked Sam or Samantha. I used to have a friend with that name in elementary school. She was great."

'Okay, so...one?"

"Oh," Laura now rolls her eyes, "Like you've liked all of my suggestions."

"I haven't shot any of them down."

"What about Max?" She asks with a smirk. It was tossed out as a sick, dark joke she knows she shouldn't have made, but did anyway. The look he shoots her now just reconfirms that.

Regardless, she feels she's made her point, and just as she goes to settle back down she feels it. It's a full ache in her back, a tug at her belly and she frowns, confused.

But then it comes again, stronger, and she gasps, shooting upright. Travis looks at her in concern and Laura gasps, "I-? I think I'm having contractions."

His eyes go wide, "What? Now?"

"Mm hmm." She hums, a hand on her stomach and then there's another deep yank inside, like a menstrual cramp, but far worse, and she cries out. Travis looks horrified, "It can't be! It's too soon!"

"Well something is-nngah!" Is how it ends, because the next contraction is even worse than the last and she feels a cold sweat break out all over her body. Travis immediately gets to his feet, "Okay. Alright. Let's go."

He helps Laura up and does his level best to stay calm. Years as a police officer, even in a backwater like North Kill, must have helped, because Laura appreciates how he manages to get her from the house to the car to the hospital without freaking out once

However, once inside the hospital, as staff starts swarming around Laura, it's clear Travis is an emotional trainwreck.

He wasn't wrong.

It is early for Laura to give birth and she knows this even as nurses and her doctor talk her down, tell her everything is going to be alright. Yes, she's earlier than planned, but they're going to do their very best to take care of her and her baby.

The pain has ratcheted up to unbelievable levels and Laura is doing her best not to scream and failing miserably. She's calling out for Travis and someone keeps telling her why he wasn't allowed in but she could care less.

Her frantic shouts and panic must turn some sort of tide, because soon enough he is in the room with them and she's gripping one of his arms and crying, screaming, the pain immeasurable.

Laura lost an eye. She turned into a werewolf. This hurts far worse than those two combined. Her throat is raw from her cries and Travis is repeating her name gently and pressing his lips to one side of her head and holding her back just as tight as she is holding him.

The doctor tells her to bear down and push and she does - again and again and it feels like it's never going to end, this horrible misery and she's frantic about how the baby is doing and if they're okay even as she grunts and keeps doing as instructed.

Laura feels blind, deaf, and dumb in the throes of her agony but she thinks she hears something about the baby's head or their shoulders or how they're coming out, but it doesn't matter, because on the next struggling push she feels an unbelievable release.

All the stress and pain that had been beating down on her nonstop suddenly seems to rise as does a thin wail with it. Her baby's wail.

Travis is still holding her, but no longer is his face buried in her hair. Instead he looks at the tiny wriggling mass the doctor is holding and the nurses are all talking in awed hushes as both he and Laura hear, "It's alright. She's here, she's here."

"She-?" Travis repeats and the doctor lets out a windy laugh, as if he'd been holding his breath, "It's a girl "

Travis nearly collapses into Laura, Laura into him as they watch the doctor take special care of their itty bitty child.

There's a lot of talk about how, while she was born prematurely, the baby should be in fine health with the proper care. How while she's a week or two early that's better than some cases, she might just need more check ups than most newborns and so on.

Neither Travis or Laura really care or listen because all that matters is that their baby is alive. She's alive and she's with them and it feels like it takes forever (considering the baby has to spend some time in the neonatal intensive care unit), but eventually mother, father, and daughter are all together and alone in the hospital room.

Their newly born child is swaddled up against Laura's bare skin, their head resting on her breastbone and Laura's looking down at her with pure love.

Travis too, can't seem to take his eyes off his daughter and he has one hand resting on her back, his palm practically dwarfing her whole body.

Laura looks up at him and says, "Luna."

"Luna?"

She nods, "Like the moon."

"Yeah?"

Laura sighs, presses a very gentle kiss to her daughter's head, "It's how we met. Under the moonlight."

"Hmm. Not the best of meetings."

"True,"Laura sighs, "But one of the best things in my life came out of it."

Travis can't help but give an exhausted grin, "Her, I take it?"

"Yeah " Laura admits, "But you too."

Laura weakly reaches out for him with her free hand and he takes it, gives it a squeeze, even as he nods, "Okay. Luna."

He edges closer to the baby and whispers to her, "Luna Hackett."

Laura gives him a sleepy smile and he returns it. Luna, fast asleep but very happy, is unaware of her parents' smiles. She is also blissfully unaware of what an unexpected gift she is.

But she'll learn soon enough in time.

The end

[therealteslathedog]

SPOILERS FOR SAM AND MAX: THE DEVIL’S PLAYHOUSE

(Also a rough personal vent based on how much this game resonated with me. Trust me, it’s not for the faint of heart. Warning: contains instances of childhood trauma and the many other mental health conditions it came with)

This game did so much justice for Sam and Max themselves, considering how this game is the first time anyone has seen these two in this multi-layered light since the original was released by Telltale back in 2010. I could go on about how this game has very much given me even more appreciation for Sam, because it has! But I really do want to talk about what was confirmed in this game about Max.

First of all, I love that when we’re in the Museum of Mostly Natural History in the episode They Stole Max’s Brain, we get an exhibit on how “the world will end” which shows a display of a giant monster destroying a city and the scene mechanically rotating into a desolate wasteland where the city used to stand. Mostly because of how well it works as foreshadowing for what was to come, (that foreshadowing also happened in The Penal Zone where Sam and Max first discover the Toybox) which ended up being Max turning into that giant monster that was predicted to bring the end of the world by the end of The Alley of the Dolls.

In the grand finale The City That Dares Not Sleep, when we’re literally inside Max himself, we end up learning his own Super Ego hates him and wants him to die. The Superego isn’t a separate entity, he is very much a part of Max’s own mind. I’m pretty sure every other Sam and Max fan who’s played this game has pointed out Max being as depressed and self-loathing as he is, and hiding it behind his sense of humor and his iconic smile. (He even brings up earlier in The Tomb of Sammun-Mak that he likes to fall asleep to the song “Tears of a Clown” which if you’ve heard of it, it’s 100% because he relates to that song. That’s just more good foreshadowing)

Honestly, I’m just going to say this, this 100% is something I deeply relate to. I’m probably going to vent a lot, but it’s important to understand where I’m coming from. During my childhood, I kept finding myself in these special Ed programs that I hated being in, they never truly felt like they were safe, but I had no choice but to put up with them since as far as my parents knew from the people who misinformed them, kids are completely incapable of truly understanding what is best for them. There were several times where I knew something was wrong with the way my life was, but I couldn’t put my finger on it since I was so young and constantly surrounded by people gaslighting me because I was that young. My autism diagnosis was something I deeply resented because it put me into these programs where I was objectified and told how the way I am and behave is wrong and should behave how THEY instruct me to. A lot of pressure was often put on me to behave with this standard of “perfection”, often leading me to be punished for not perfectly following that standard. I had no choice but to bottle up those imperfections because of the teachers of Special Ed that would constantly watch me like a hawk and sometimes even follow me around when I’m just trying to get on with my school day and get to my latest class in time. It didn’t help that I also kept getting prescriptions for medication that did more harm than good for me. One of the pills caused me to rapidly gain around 20 pounds in the span of a few weeks as a 9 year old, (making Sam pretty damn relatable in his own right too.) and another prescription REALLY messed with my brain. (If you want an example to how I acted on that awful drug, just think about how Lemongrab from Adventure Time was like) All this along with a few other reasons I might bring up someday ended up getting me to first develop suicidal thoughts at age 10. And as soon as that happened, I was taken to a children’s psych ward in a hospital where for some fucking reason, some “responsible adults” thought it would be a good idea to put the kid that thinks they’re a freak of nature that never should have existed in the first place in to a children’s psych ward made up mostly of kids that were surrendered from their parents for then being drug addicts and committing crimes they’re now in prison for. My much pickier childhood self when it came to the foods I ate (which is something a lot of autistic people are known for diagnosis wise) and the people running the ward didn’t give a damn and I spent my time malnourished lying in bed waiting for myself to starve to death and finally end everything I was going through up to that point. It took my mother INSISTING constantly that she bring food that I like so I could finally be more well nourished. But I can assure you it was hell, a hell I was stuck in for 11 days.

A bunch of other messed up stuff happened too, but I think this information has the gist of why I’m like this. It really wasn’t easy for me to type out, let alone have the nerve to publish on a public site. Honestly, I’d say Sam and Max: The Devil’s Playhouse resonated with me in a similar way Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 did. (If any of you have also seen that movie, you’d know EXACTLY what I mean. What I brought up also made Rocket Raccoon’s story resonate with me as much as it did.)

I’d like to thank the people of Skunkape for remastering this game so more people like me can have access and experience this masterpiece of a game. It was just what I needed now, and I couldn’t be more grateful of it happening!

[amberjazmyn]

fire & rain💔

pairing : daniel ricciardo x wife fem!reader

summary : astoria ricciardo, wife of daniel ricciardo finds out her drug addicted older sister commits suicide whilst inside the mental health facility she had been taken into.

warnings : sadness, death, crying, maybe a funeral but a happy ending with a sweet birthday post for the deceased sister

a/n : i have written this before but not for formula one so that's why i decided to do so. and yes, i have decided to give lando, max and charles a break from depressing one-shots for now. but i promise i will also write happy ones for daniel since this is the second depressing one-shot i've written for danny ric! i promise i don't hate my special aussie boy!

just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone. suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you. i've seen fire and i've seen rain. i've seen sunny days that i thought would never end. i've seen lonely times when i could not find a friend, but i always thought that i'd see you again. 

astoria ricciardo had been relaxing with her husband at the belgian grand prix and some of his fellow drivers and their girlfriends. her phone had been buzzing like crazy and all she was trying to do was relax with her husband and friends before the race was to start. she was constantly apologising anytime her phone rudely interrupted a conversation or a joke but, no one took offence to it. they had only become worried due to how consistently her iphone was buzzing but astoria kept on pushing it off, saying they didn't need to worry since it wasn't necessary. that was until it did become important when texts stopped coming through but her phone started ringing. when dainel spoke up saying that it was probably a smart idea for astoria to answer it, she timidly shook her head and excused herself further from the vcarb hospitality and out into the corridor. astoria finally paid attention to her phone and saw that it was her mum that had been texting her but it was the mental health hospital that her drug-addicted sister was admitted to that was ringing her. taken aback, astoria hesitantly accepted the call as the hospital was never one to really ring the families of the patients unless it was an emergency so, what emergency could they be ringing astoria up for? especially considering astoria isn't the main point of contact for her sister, she still picked the phone call up nevertheless and probably wishes she didn't whenever she brings herself back to this moment. 

sammy's mental health hospital 

"hello, this is dr randolff from ***** mental health hospital. am i speaking with mrs astoria ricciardo?" 

"yes, this is she. is everything okay, dr randolff?" 

"i'm afraid not, mrs ricciardo, hence why i've called you and why you've been sent tons of messages from your mother, mrs menendez" 

"oh, okay, umm, may i ask the reasoning for this call as i am actually in belgium with my husband and the other f1 drivers right now just before the belgian grand prix. is...is sammy okay? is she doing her rehab? is she--"

"--this is why i am ringing you because this phone call does have to do with your older sister sammy menendez and it is unfortunately not good news i'm afraid either" 

"and? could you please tell me, doctor? my husband is in another room waiting for me, what's wrong?" 

"samantha has unfortunately passed away, mrs ricciardo. she was found dead in her room, laying in her own blood with a gun by her side. we suspect that she shot herself after we had told her that for the safety of herself and others that she would need to be moved into an isolation cell, away from everyone else..."

"...sam...sammy's dead?" 

"i am afraid so, mrs ricciardo. it breaks my heart to have to tell you this over the phone but there was simply no other way considering you are out of the country and i would not have been able to get this information to you in any other way but through this phone call. in regards to the passing of your older sister, the staff at the hospital, local law enforcement and your mum back home in england are working together at this moment to see if we are able to bring samantha's body back home to ireland safely. we are going to continue to work closely with your mum, family and law enforcement just to make sure there was no foul play involved. if there is anything else that i, or the rest of my staff, can do to help, please don't hesitate to ring us, okay?" 

"okay, thank you so much, dr randolff. thank you for ringing me and letting me know!" 

"bye astoria, please take care, sweetheart. see you soon" 

"bye, dr randolff, you take care too, sammy was your patient so you deserve to have a moment to grieve for yourself too. see you soon"

once the call was disconnected, astoria cleared her throat and went right back over into vcarb's hospitality to her husband and the rest of the drivers, acting as if everything was okay and that the phone call was just her mum. however, daniel knew better than that and knew something wasn't right and that this phone call wasn't just her mum ringing her. pulling her aside from the group once again, daniel was careful with how he brought up the phone call that clearly shocked, unsuspecting and devastated astoria no matter how hard she tried to hide it. 

"...tori, darling, who rang you? is everything okay?" daniel softly asked as astoria was frozen almost, it was like she was in a state of shock 

she didn't know how to react or what to do so, she just handed her phone to her husband where he was shown who the phone call had come from and the texts that her mum sent her. almost immediately, daniel could feel himself getting all choked up and emotional at how erratic his mother-in-law's text messages to her daughter were. they were messages that astoria had been ignoring before the phone call gave her the exact same information as her mum's desperate text messages in all caps did. 

"tori, darling, why didn't you tell me what these messages were?" daniel spoke up again as astoria just looked up at her husband, her mouth open in shock as she just shrugged her shoulders as daniel closed his eyes, refusing to cry straight away 

"i...i didn't realise the reason why mum was texting me so desperately in the first place..." astoria trailed off quietly as daniel bit his lip as he pulled his wife in for a hug, knowing how painful the loss of her older sister was going to be for her

"...oh, oh, darling! i am so sorry, come here!" daniel whispered, even though he was already hugging her, he pulled her in closer as she wrapped her arms around her husband's torso in absolute shock, not even able to cry 

"my older sister is dead, daniel, she...she's just gone..." astoria trailed off as she rested her chin on her husband's shoulder, her mouth slightly open in shock and her eyes constantly moving around the room that seemed as if it was swallowing her whole 

daniel breathed in and out as he tried to stay calm for the sake of his wife. holding her close, he could feel like he had a good sense of what was going through her mind as they stood there in an embrace that looked romantic but felt more heartbreaking than any romantic gesture. 

"i...i just...i thought i'd see her again..." astoria broke what was silence between the husband and wife as daniel nodded his head, rubbing his hand against his wife's back as he held her close and tight

 "...i know darling, i did too, i did too," daniel whispered as he swayed the both of them side to side with no other words or noises to interrupt their moment of silence in what was a moment of loud, aggressive noises in astoria's mind

won't you look down upon me, jesus, you've got to help me make a stand. you've just got to see me through another day! my body's aching and my time is at hand and i won't make it any other way, oh, i've seen fire and i've seen rain. i've seen sunny days that i thought would never end. 

astoria found herself smiling as she looked through a photo album of family photos from when she, samantha and their four other siblings were younger and having the times of their lives. it had now hit the five-month mark since samantha had died and whilst astoria was still utterly devastated that she was gone, the thing that killed, no pun intended, her more and more each day was what she said at the funeral. at the time of her sister's funeral, it had been two weeks since the happenings of her sister's death and she was finally back in ireland from being in belgium for the grand prix as was her sister's body from the mental health hospital in england and astoria still hadn't got to her "depression" stage of grief and still hadn't broken down in tears over her sister's death. 

this worried her entire family, including the f1 grid but none more especially than daniel. it worried him because astoria, was the definition of a crybaby. she would start crying over everything yet nothing at the same time. so, when this horrific news of losing her sister crashed into the universe, it seemed as if astoria's emotions started to shut down one by one. and this was something that daniel did not like one bit because when it came to the funeral when she said the eulogy for her sister, it just seemed like the words she was saying to those who didn't know the sibling relationship between samantha and astoria was that they were in fact, sisters. all because it looked as if astoria wasn't showing the "correct" emotions that were supposedly meant to be felt at a funeral of a loved one. 

everyone looked in shock. it had been years since they had seen astoria ricciardo. this was the first time they were seeing the daughter of mary-kate and steven menendez since her wedding dau to formula one driver, daniel ricciardo. after that, astoria left ireland to move to monaco to live with her husband. so, seeing astoria back in ireland at the funeral of her sister truly shocked people. it shouldn't have shocked them but it did because it had truly been years since astoria and her feet had touched irish soil. however, they shouldn't have doubted the fact that if there was one reason and only one reason that she'd return back to ireland that it would have been for her older sister, samantha. they watched as the younger sister walked to the microphone to say a eulogy.

looking at those around her, it reminded astoria why she decided to pack her things and leave ireland. not because she hated ireland. she'd never say it out loud but, there were moments where she very much missed living in ireland. daniel knew that as well. of course he did, however, coming back to ireland for her sister's funeral was the moment in which daniel knew for sure would be the last time astoria's feet would be touching irish soil. the only people connecting astoria to ireland was samantha, her husband and children. and now samantha was gone, there was no reason for astoria to return. especially since samantha's widowed husband and children were now also leaving ireland to be closer to their grandparents since the rest of the family, mary-kate and steven, all lived in england. after today, daniel knew for sure that the next time he'd even think about ireland, astoria wouldn't be in the picture.

daniel gave his wife a look of support as she opened her mouth, beginning her eulogy, "samantha was my older sister, she was the oldest of six and it was very clear how favoured she was to the other five of us *giggles*. i'm astoria, i'm the youngest of the six siblings and this is my first and last time back on irish soil since i had my wedding to my wonderful husband, daniel. however, this isn't about me or my husband. it's about the wonderful person that we've lost tragically. even though there is quite a gap in age between samantha and i, we were the two siblings that got along perfectly. besides oliver and me but, that's a story for a less upsetting day *lighthearted laughter* sorry...i...that wasn't supposed to come out that way but, umm, it did...anyway, despite the age gap between sammy and i, we were the best of friends. we did everything together, we went shopping together, we would go on double dates together with our husbands, and we would sleep in each other's beds just because we wanted to be kids again for just one night..." astoria trailed off as she didn't know where to look before deciding to just focus on her husband daniel and continued her eulogy

she watched as daniel's eyes filled with tears as she took a deep breath and continued, "...the first time we were split from each other was when samantha was put into the mental health hospital due to her terrible mental health and her addictions to drugs after she had made the greatest accomplishment of sobering herself up from alcohol addiction. sadly not able to do the same for the drugs, even when she tried her hardest when she got pregnant and had her own children..." hearing his wife talk about addiction as an outsider who came into the family and saw the way it ended for his sister-in-law was heartbreaking for daniel

"...watching the way my sister was losing herself to all these drugs was scary. it was truly terrifying. it really showed me a new side to her that i hadn't ever been exposed to and it wasn't something you would want to see nor wish on your worst enemy when you saw the reality of it daily. the way she'd be so nice one day and then absolutely awful the next is something i don't think i'll ever really be able to erase from my memory. i had never seen the effects of drugs on somebody until i watched it happen to my sister. thankfully it never happening to myself or my husband. i...umm...i just wished she fought for a bit longer and didn't give up because i just wish for that day i'd get that call say...saying that she had finished her recovery and is able to come home...and it's also the call i wished for her husband and children to have gotten as well..."

"...i mean, that's the one thing i've been constantly dreaming about every night since i was given the alternative phone call that on the other side of things, i never thought nor wished i'd ever receive about samantha. i also know it was something that sammy was wanting so hard for herself the last time we talked to one another because she was wanting recover. she really wanted to get sober so she could be discharged and be with her family again. i thank every living god that exists that i was with daniel after i had that phone call otherwise knowing me, i wouldn't have made the smartest decisions or known my limits. and i would have turned into the exact same ghost of a person that samantha did. daniel realised what was going on in my head and forced his mum, my mother-in-law, grace, to leave the belgian grand prix and take me back to the hotel. for almost the entire length of a grand prix race, she sat with me and hugged me and took care of me. listening to my silly demands, making sure i was eating and drinking until daniel came back to the hotel and told his mum that he could take it from there and she could go home. when daniel got back to the hotel, he sat in front of me and just listened as i just talked and talked until i couldn't any longer before i shut down and kind of got mad at the fact samantha gave up so easily..." astoria trailed off as she suddenly felt that anger again, daniel's eyes widening in worry that a similar thing was going to happen again

"...however, i took a step back and realised, the only reason why i said she gave up so easily was because i wasn't the one living in samantha's mind. i wasn't living her life through her lens and i wasn't having to open my eyes every single day and go through those treatments. or those hardships every single day like she did. how selfish was i, someone who was well aware of my sister's disease to be all of a sudden mad at her because she was struggling. she was struggling in a place, a hospital, where she was supposed to be getting help?! i...i...i just wanted to see her one last time, to hug her one last time. to just see her smile, to hear her laugh, to watch her play around with her husband and children and just be samantha..." astoria couldn't bear to say another word as she closed her mouth, locked her jaw and walked off the stage

walking back down to her seat in the front row of pews and sat right back down next to her husband. daniel comforting her straight away, making sure she was alright. even though 'alright' wasn't exactly the right word to describe how she felt at all.

🥀

sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground, oh, i've seen fire and i've seen rain. i've seen sunny days that i thought would never end. i've seen lonely times when i could not find a friend, but i always thought that i'd see you, baby, one more time again, now. 

astoria smiled as she woke up this morning. on the morning of what was supposed to be her older sister's 37th birthday. she giggled as she brought her arms above her head to stretch when she heard her husband's not-so-in-tune singing what she swore was a michael buble song, me and mrs jones. all the while when he was supposed to be making breakfast for the both of them. shaking her head, she got herself up out of bed, grabbed her phone and walked down the stairs into the kitchen to see why her husband was singing and not cooking them the breakfast he promised her he'd make them in celebration of their sister's 37th.

'...me and mrs jones, mrs, mrs, mrs jones, mrs jones, mrs jones..."

"-daniel, sweetheart, why are we singing instead of cooking? there's a reason why you drive really fast cars and not sing," astoria jokingly asked, pressing pause on the song from daniel's phone as he smiled, stifling a chuckle

"because, it's a good song thank you very much, darling! i do not appreciate your teasing!" daniel spoke in a posh british accent instead of his normal perth, australian accent which made astoria giggle even more

"i'm just teasing babe, you know i love hearing your smooth, raspy, sexy but slight out of tune morning vocals in the morning!" astoria smiled as she wrapped her arms around her husband's naked chest and rested her head against his back as he smiled back

"i know you were joking my love! how are you, you feel good?" daniel then asked as astoria smiled bigger, appreciating that he was still checking in with her

after having a rough patch a couple of weeks ago, realising that it was going to be her sister's birthday and she wouldn't be alive to celebrate it. daniel had made sure to tread carefully around his wife whilst also making sure they were okay as well as the rest of the family. specifically samantha's husband and children.

"i'm feeling good my darling, i'm excited for today because it's going to be a good one! it's sammy's 37th birthday and i know she's partying it up wherever it is she is!" astoria smiled as daniel smiled back, content in knowing that his wife was slowly returning back to her normal self 

"i'm glad to hear that my love! well, i shall not keep you waiting for breakfast so, just rest on the couch, pop the tv on and i'll call you when breakfast is finished!" daniel kissed his wife on the cheek as she nodded and then left the kitchen and wandered into the lounge room to put something interesting on whilst her husband finished breakfast 

it hadn't taken the husband and wife that long to finish breakfast after daniel had finished making it when all of a sudden, it was around lunchtime and notifications of birthday messages to samantha's still-active facebook were pinging. whilst there was still a painful pinch to the heart for both astoria and daniel, it mostly just made them smile that mary-kate, steven and samantha's husband refused to deactivate their eldest daughter and wife's social media just because she was now deceased. it made the entire family feel like people still cared about samantha if they wrote birthday messages and just sent photos of themselves with samantha to her dashboard for the reason that they just missed their best friend, work colleague, cousin, sister, daughter, niece, etc. 

so, as astoria and daniel went through the birthday messages and liked them and commented back on them, that was when astoria got the idea to post on her instagram for her sister. it was something she hadn't done in a while and, in all honesty, she missed posting photos of her and her sister so, that's what she did! 

liked by danielricciardo, maxverstappen1, austinmenendez, selenamenendez, carlossainz55, gerihalliwelhorner and 889,564,23k others

astoriaricciardo it's your 37th birthday today, sammy, and it's the birthday you were really hoping you'd be able to celebrate with us outside of the mental health hospital. but it's okay that you're celebrating somewhere else where you're safer and not needing to constantly walk on eggshells everywhere you go, cause i know that's not how you wanted to live your life. i just know for sure that you're singing fire and rain by james taylor and just about every single abba song and annoying every single person with your awful, screechy, pitchy singing but, i'm sure they're just glad you're finally happy again. i really do love you a lot, sammy and these three photos i like to think really show that. the first photo was from daniel and i's wedding when you were my maid of honour and the only one who was able to see me get into my wedding dress. the second one was during my hens night and our theme was "dress up or give up" where we were either dressed up looking like we were going out to win a grammy award or to give up and wear the daggiest clothes and every single person dressed up in their finest. but in all honesty, sammy, you were the best dressed that night and i can't even be mad at you for upstaging me at my own hens night. and i'll also never forget the two of us being accidentally mistaken for mother and daughter, you being the mother and me being the daughter and you being the most offended i had ever seen you as selena, grace, michelle and the rest of the bridal party just laughed at your reaction as we continued to have our hysterical fun before daniel and i's italian wedding. and this last photo is probably my favourite of all time. we were in italy (when are we not, my husband is bloody daniel ricciardo for god's sake) for my 29th birthday with the family and daniel's family and, like at my hens night, i was mistaken for an actual teenager despite the fact i was wearing a pin that clearly stated that i was turning 29. i'll never forget how happy we all were but especially you. the smile you smiled, the laughs you laughed and the you you were, were the most genuine i had seen in a long time, it felt like it had been since we were kids that i'd seen you that happy. my 29th and your 37th were two birthdays that you really wanted to be in recovery and sober for and, i'm just grateful, like you definitely were, that you were at least sober for my birthday because that's just how selfless you were. you cared more about your own family than yourself and the original reason why you wanted to recover and become sober was for the family and your husband and kids. and i'm just grateful to say that for the most part, you were sober and it was truly only in the last couple months before your death that really snatched you away. i love you forever, sammy, you are always going to be my fire and rain. love, astoria 🤍

p.s. your kids, arlo and sage are absolutely gorgeous and are looking like their stunning mamma every single day and mr menendez-mcknight is also doing well, just so you didn't have to worry about them 🤍

view all comments

danielricciardo i am so proud of you my darling! i know how hard this has been for you but you still prove so many people wrong! we all love you so much sammy🤍

maxverstappen1 these photos are wonderful and really capture the authentic sammy that we all knew and loved. what an honour it was to know her, astoria 🤍

austinmenendez aww, these photos tori! they are so gorgeous! happy birthday, sammy🤍

selenamenendez happy 37th sam. beautiful post tori🤍

carlossainz55 i've got tears in my eyes reading this, astoria. this was a beautiful post for your sister and it was an honour to know her 🤍

gerihalliwellhorner my heart is torn and heartbroken reading this. happy heavenly 37th birthday sammy, you are so loved baby 🤍

honeybadgerfan happy 37th sammy! 

sebastianvettel happy birthday in heaven sammy 🤍 

gracericciardo happy birthday, sammy, i miss your pretty face 🤍

michellericciardo happy heaven birthday sammy 🤍

thought i'd see you one more time again. there's just a few things coming my way this time around, now. thought i'd see you, thought i'd see you, fire and rain, now. 

fin

i'm aware i didn't make the timeline obvious but just imagine daniel is like in this very late twenties verging on early thirties since i did make the age of reader turning 29.

©⠀amberjazmyn's original work. do not translate or steal any of my fics. 2024

[sizebrained]

Characters & Stats: Humans

So here's some brief stats and backstories about the humans in my imaginary Borrower universe. Some of this may or may not get further fleshed out in my stories. But I think the context helps. There's really no choice but to get it out of my head when all of this just starts bubbling up and filling it.

Ben (Benedito Alvarez) - Main Character

Age: 20 years old. 

Species & Gender: Human male. 

Height & Weight: He thought he was 6’11” tall (210 cms), 250 lbs (113 kgs). He’s actually 7’3” (220cm) and a little heavier. Here's when he finds out.

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual. 

Hair & Eyes: Brown curly hair. He kept it buzzed when he played basketball but it’s growing out. Bright green eyes.

Skin color: Whenever asked, Ben says “this color”. Hazel says his skin reminds her of the Professor's preferred drink of strong black tea with cream. Ben says that drink sounds disgusting and was offended the only time she told him that, but only because she compared him to something he thought was gross.

Details: Born in America to Brazilian immigrant parents (his father was forever disappointed that neither Ben nor his older sister played soccer). Speaks with a General American accent.

Growing up, Ben always felt out of place given his size and the meaner kids picked up on it. They teased him relentlessly through every grade until he became a freshman in High School. He often felt like he was some kind of zoo animal and hated that his height was the center of everything. He wished he could be more like Sam about it. Ben was very anxious growing up and his social situation made it worse. The summer before High School, Sam had had enough and trained Ben intensely basically demanding he try out for the basketball team. It worked and Ben found a new outlet that gave him some confidence. He earned the nickname “Big Ben” and fans would shout out “Ding Dong!” when he played.

Ben was a star player at his Big Ten, Division 1 NCAA school. He had just started his 2nd year at college and the basketball season. One night, he went home from a practice, in a bad thunderstorm, with his best friend and teammate Max. Ben had to sit in the backseat of Max’s car to fit. They were in a horrific head on collision withal a tractor trailer and Ben's right leg was destroyed, but Max died at the scene. Ben's basketball career was likely over and his anxiety had never been worse. Ben also now suffers from severe PTSD because of the accident. Using money from his lawsuit settlement, he bought a luxury condo and lived alone. One night he discovered Hazel in a glue trap and rescued her.

Ben and Hazel became fast friends, maybe more, and one day shortly after they met, Hazel suggested they enter into a revealing pact. Hazel is helping Ben recover mentally like she did with many of the wounded soldiers in Mary’s care at hospitals during the 2nd World War. Hazel is also tutoring him in school now, given her own extensive schooling from the Professor. Since Ben doesn't play basketball anymore, he decided to take studying more seriously and finds he really needs her help. ***

Sam (Samara Alvarez)

Age: 25 years old.

Species & Gender: Human female

Height & Weight: 6’7” (200cm), 175lbs (75kgs). 

Sexual Orientation: Gay. 

Hair & Eyes: Brown wavy hair she keeps in a ponytail almost all the time. Same green eyes as her younger brother. 

Skin color: Same as her younger brother.

Details: Born in America shortly after her parents arrived from Brazil. Has the same accent as her younger brother. Sam not only played almost every sport but dominated. She finally settled on volleyball in high school because that was what her girlfriend played. Sam was a star volleyball player, going to the same Big Ten D1 school that her brother would eventually attend. Sam was in a long term relationship with the team's captain (who was the same girlfriend from high school). They broke up shortly after Ben's car accident and Sam’s ex started medical school on the other side of the country.

Unlike her brother, Sam loves being bigger than almost everyone else. She’s very comfortable with her size and extremely outgoing. She’s also a goof ball and sometimes it makes her and Ben go together like oil and water. But Sam is fiercely protective and caring for her big little brother even though they don’t ever talk about emotions or anything that deep.

Sam is in now in graduate school at the same university for physical therapy (PT). She's very close friends and maybe more with Hazel's younger borrower sibling Cob. But Sam and Con are not in a revealing pact like Ben and Hazel…yet.

*** Mary Worthington Ward

1920-2011 (died Age 91) Species & Gender: Human female

Height & Weight: 5'4" (162 cm), 110 lbs (48 kgs) Sexual Orientation: Conflicted bisexual. Hair & Eyes: Dark black hair that was almost always braided or in a bun with Blue eyes. Skin color: Pale white. Details: British but left England after World War II with her new American husband, an injured pilot named Lt. James "Jack" Ward. Mary entered into a revealing pact with Hazel during World War II, shortly after they met in the hospital where Mary worked as a nurse. Mary was very conflicted and loved Hazel, it got physical. A lot. But Mary felt it was improper to be in a relationship with another woman, let alone a borrower one.

She was married Jack to try and prove she could be just as happy with a human man. Mary and Jack could not have children of their own and led a simple quiet life. She was very happy that Hazel understood her position and chose to stay with her even trying to undo the revealing pact, which she learned could only end when one of them died. After many decades together, Jack died of a heart attack and Mary suffered a terrible stroke not long after.

Mary was rendered nearly catatonic by the stroke and Hazel moved with her into a retirement home. Hazel took care of Mary for a few more decades before Mary finally passed away one night in her sleep. Hazel felt lost and took solace in her father and younger sibling.

The retirement home was eventually torn down and replaced by a new luxury condominium building that Ben eventually moved into, unknowingly along with Hazel's borrower family. ***

The Professor (actually Sir Reginald Ampleforth IV)

1879 -1941 (died age 62) Species & Gender: Human male. Height & Weight: 5'6" (167cm), 140 lbs (63kg)

Sexual Orientation: Asexual. Hair & Eyes: Gray for the time he knew Hazel and her family. Curious brown eyes behind wire rim glasses.

Skin color: Pale white. Details: Minor British nobility, but he was the black sheep of the family. The Professor was an odd man out in more ways than one. He served in the Boer War in 1899 with his older brother but abhored everything about armed conflict between people. After the war he became a staunch pacifist and pursued his real love of academics. Eventually he earned a doctorate and became a tenured professor at Oxford (his nobility was a big help in getting the position at the school). His older brother stayed in the military and died in World War 1. After his older brother's death, the Professor took over the family's country estate. He was unmarried and the last of his line.

One day in the library, a 2 and a half inch tall girl walked out onto his desk interested in the illustrations in his copy of Audubon's The Birds of America. The tiny girl's mother, who would be named Lily by the Professor, explained borrowers and entered into a revealing pact with him for her daughter’s safety. As part of the revealing pact, the Professor promised to educate Hazel with her mother's blessing.

When World War II erupted in Europe, the Professor chose to volunteer with his brother’s connections in military intelligence in London. He had a lifelong guilt that he had survived the Great War while his brother did not. He also knew how much of a threat Nazi Germany posed to the world. Lily and Hazel accompanied him into the city. Hazel's then 2 year old sibling, Cob, stayed with their father at the country estate. During this period, Hazel would meet and enter into a revealing pact with Mary at a war hospital next door. One night during the Blitz, the hospital and intelligence building were heavily bombed. The Professor and Hazel's mother Lily died. Hazel was devasted by the loss. Unbeknownst to Hazel, the Professor had left all of his family's wealth and estate to her considering her the daughter he never had. ***

That's the main ones so far, other than Jack. Send help I love them so much.

[forensicated]

A Stiffy (*snigger*) recap for the sextet of Conviction episodes. Sadly no longer Smiffina related as Rachel (boo!) is Inspector for now but still useful for fic background further down the line as they really are quite Callum/Smithy heavy and it feeds a lot of their story.

Conviction aired between the 1st to the 16th July 2009. Gina left October 2nd 2008 so we are 9 months on from An Honour To Serve Part 2. A quick scan back through the wiki episode guides tells us that in the last few months, Smithy mentored Mel a little bit during her first NYE attached to the MET that had her brother down from 'Oop North' to get caught up in a crime, Smithy and Leanne Samuels (Witness 1-8 and others before that) got back in touch during a case that involved a single mother and her sister who happened to attend a community hub that Leanne runs. He learnt Brooke is thriving and that Leanne had met someone and was getting married. Callum got close to another victim of domestic abuse who trusted him enough to tell him about criminal matters her husband was involved with (A cash in transit job). The case was further complicated when Max trampled over it. During Nate's Extra Special School Season, Smithy was stabbed by a school boy during an arrest and his lung collapsed but luckily all was OK in the end. Diane returned for one night before she transferred to another station as a Sgt. She and Smithy ended up undercover in a club with uniform to catch the dealer of mis-identified drugs and Arun, Beth, and Sam all left.

Conviction - Part 1 - Cover Up (1/6)

Ben and Sally find a burglar still on the premises, unfortunately he runs into the allotments behind the houses and Sally loses him. Callum and Roger arrive to give support.

Smithy is called to a disturbance outside the E1 club/pub. He breaks up a fight and threatens a bloke peeing in public with arrest, only to find an assault victim next to him. He asks the rather unhelpful group watching who heard or saw anything - noone helps out!

Sally speaks to their informant, she's in her 70's and can't see very well so can't give a description other than 'male'. The owner returns rather worse the wear and doesn't seem too surprised to see the police. He claims nothing appears to be missing other than an expensive watch. Callum points out the man has a rip in his trousers and some cuts and bruises on his hand. He asks if it was a good night, and the man says he fell over after one too many. Callum just nods and tells him CID will be in touch with a crime reference number in the morning when asked about making an insurance claim.

The assault victim, Andrew Brennan, has 100 pounds and his own bank cards. It doesn't seem like a mugging. Stevie tactfully explains what happened to the mans wife when she calls. Evie rushes to the hospital and explains that her husband told her he was going to speak to someone 'about work' - he's an odd job man/painter decorator. She doesn't know who he met or who might want to hurt him. Roger finds an expensive watch engraved with OR - Oliver Robinson - the owner of the burgled home that Callum was dealing with - at the scene. Brennan could be the burglar.

In the morning, Callum and Ben head to the Brewery where Robinson works to ask if he knows Brennan. Robinson asks if he's the person who took it and Callum explains the man is still unconscious. Robinson claims not to recognise him and says he's had no work done on the house recently. He seems evasive and excuses himself for a meeting, telling them he doesn't want to take it further as he's gotten the watch back - even if the police are holding into it for the time being as evidence. Ben and Callum are in agreement - he's lying. He definitely recognised Brennan from the picture.

Smithy and Stevie return to the E1 bar where Brennan had been drinking the night before. Pete, the head barman gets them a copy of the CCTV whilst Smithy asks a woman at a table if she'd been in the night before. She says she doesn't work there and is just waiting for her boyfriend. As they leave, Jason Devlin, the manager appears and introduces himself and says he recognises Brennan and that he was with another man who was wearing a suit and they appeared to be having a 'heavy discussion'. Watching the CCTV back, Roger recognises Oliver Robinson as the man meeting Brennan.

Callum wonders if the watch was even stolen in the first place, it's possible that the 'heated discussion' turned violent outside and that the watch fell off in the fight. He wonders if Robinson faked the burglary given that - despite his inebriated condition - one of his first questions was about insurance. Noone has come forward to admit to seeing Brennan in the alley, however one witness did describe a man in a suit getting into the back of a gold coloured car at approx 9.20pm. There's no CCTV on the required street so Rachel tasks Sally and Roger with trawling through the CCTV of the surrounding area.

Rachel tasks Smithy and Stevie with returning to the hospital to speak to Brennan's wife to see if she knows if he'd worked on Robinson's house or to at least give them access to his paperwork for them to check. Things get a whole lot murkier when Evie tells them that Robinson is Andy's real surname. Brennan is his mum's maiden name that he took after he was released from a young offenders institute because he was finding it hard to get work. Stevie asks if Oliver Robinson could be a family member and his wife shakes her head. "I doubt it. His family are dead."

Smithy looks him up and finds that Brennan has convictions dated in the 1980's for drugs, theft and arson. Oliver Robinson is listed as his brother. Difficult to explain why he lied to Callum about not knowing or recognising the picture of his brother! He tells Callum that he didn't want to get him in trouble for taking his watch. Callum tells him that it's bigger than the supposed theft of his watch and that they're suspicious he infact attacked Brennan himself. Robinson insists he didn't and says that Brennan has gotten himself caught up in something that he wants nothing to do with. He's apparently hassling Robinson for money but won't tell him what it's for.

Brennan insists he doesn't know who hurt him, he was out for a few drinks after work, left the bar approximately 10 past 9 and was attacked and left laying down so didn't see who did it. Smithy asks if he left the bar with his brother. Evie is confused and asks if it's a joke and Stevie clarifies that it's the man who they spoke about earlier. She is horrified Brennan never told her about him, even if he hadn't seen him in years. She refuses to leave the room and wants to know what's going on. Smithy tells them that Robinson is being questioned and that he's told them Brennan wanted to borrow money. Brennan insists that it's money owed to him and that his brother owes him and gave him the watch. "You think it's my brother who beat me up?"

Robinson tells Callum he hadn't seen his brother since the late 80's and they were never close but he gave him 'some money' because he's his brother. Callum says that doesn't make sense. Robinson says he only met him the night before to tell him he'd give him no more before they went their separate ways. He says he left E1 before his brother and stopped for a kebab before he walked home. Callum asks what Brennan did. "Obviously he went round to my house and stole the watch, didn't he!?" "I don't know. I'm asking you."

Brennan tells Evie he's always been straight with her but doesn't say why his brother owes him several thousands of pounds. Evie storms out, followed by Stevie. Evie tells Stevie that her husband is a good man, there'll be a reason why he's lied and that they're trying for a baby but the 'trying' is proving difficult as nothing seems to be happening and they've just finished a second round of IVF.

Rachel asks Callum if it's feasible for Brennan to have gotten to his brothers and back in the time suggested. It's possible but doesn't make sense as he lives the other side of Canley so why return to the club? Robinson's kebab stop is confirmed by the CCTV from the shop and there's no way he could have returned in time to assault Brennan. Rachel suggests that if his brother didn't assault him then he definitely knows something given the fact he's lied so consistently. FIU look into Brennan's accounts and find he's paid a private fertility clinic for tests. Stevie and Smithy return to the hospital to talk to him about it but he's done an illadvised runner after getting dressed.

Evie is as confused as the officers for why her husband has left and tells them she has his keys so he can't have gone home. They ask if she has any idea where he might have gone, especially as he still thinks his brother was the one who attacked him and that he's in the frame for stealing the watch. Smithy and Stevie arrive to double check on Robinson and they find Brennan collapsing at the brewery.

Sally spots a gold Volvo on CCTV and they go to speak to the owner. He's cagey as he has been mini-cabbing without a licence but Callum just says they'll 'assume for now he's in the process of getting one'. He admits being in the area and that he picked up a man in a suit the night before. His voice sounded familiar to the driver who thinks he's spoken to him previously but can't say where or how. Callum suggests to Ben that he's a 'regular' of the drivers which could potentially lead to him being a member of staff. They take him in and run him through an ID parade of staff members from the CCTV and he identifies the owner, Devlin.

Rachel suggests that they concentrate their efforts on Devlin as the man who attacked Brennan. She shows them CCTV of Brennan and Devlin talking over the bar which seemed innocent. She suggests they have history but Devlin said he'd never met Brennan before in his life - though he would if he'd gone on to attack him. Smithy and Callum can't agree who should go speak to Devlin so Rachel says they can both go and sends Ben with them to 'keep them in line'.

At the E1 the Sgt's meet Matthew Devlin, Jason's father who asks if it's something serious. Devlin appears down the stairs with his girlfriend. He insists he was at the club all night doing the books in the back - as he'd said earlier - and that he didn't leave at 9.20pm. His father says he can vouch for him and Devlin adds that the barman, Pete and his girlfriend can too. Devlin Senior suggests they have the wrong man. "Who did you say the cab driver was?" Devlin asks. "... I didn't." Callum replies. The suit he wore is at the dry cleaners and his girlfriend covers that she spilt a drink over him approx 9pm in the smoking area - an area covered by CCTV. Callum asks for a copy and they spot Brennan talking to Devlin's girlfriend but no Devlin until they hug and the girl kisses Brennan's cheek - and Devlin appears from a doorway at 8.40pm.

Stevie tells them that she has done some digging on the earlier convictions of Brennan. Two separate witnesses spotted two boys at the scene of the arson. The officers investigating thought that it might be Oliver but their parents gave him an alibi. Oliver was older so perhaps the parents thought he'd get a rougher deal being 18 with two drug possession charges so Andrew took the rap alone and that perhaps that is why Oliver has been giving his brother money. Callum wants to nail Oliver on top of the assault but faking the burglary would only get a caution. All three say they should speak to Brennan and offer to listen should he want to clear the air.

Brennan says that he talked to the girl, Abbie, for the first time that night and that she was really nice and sweet and that the hug and kiss on the cheek meant nothing and that 'even the tall guy behind the bar was joking about it.' He says that he warned him off and to keep his hands to himself and that Brennan laughed and said she was out of his league. Stevie asks why she hugged him. Brennan explains he'd told Abbie he was about to be a dad - she asks if that was because his brother was going to pay for him to get private treatment. "You know about that?" he asks and Stevie nods and says she reckons she knows why. Brennan clams up and tells Stevie she doesn't know what she's talking about and that he served the time and will stick to his original statement if she starts digging.

Smithy suggests that Devlin is really dangerous if he can kick a man half to death for a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek. The level of violence he used is far too much for a first offence and so Devlin should be someone they know about. Rachel gives permission to bring him in for an interview.

Devlin claims he doesn't remember the conversation with Brennan and that Abbie is a very pretty girl so he's used to people hitting on her but he trusts her implicitly so has no worries. He claims the angry expression on his face is 'his thinking face' and laughs off any inference that he was the one who attacked Brennan. He claims he doesn't know which dry cleaners his suit is at because Abbie deals with it all and she has lost the ticket and mocks them for having only the word of an illegal cabby for evidence. The Sgt's are aware Abbie won't inform on her boyfriend and Smithy suggests getting forensics to go over the taxi and see if they can get some DNA. Unfortunately before they can get to the car, Sally is called to an arson attack on the cab drivers car and everyone claims they saw nothing. "If someone's trying to intimidate you-" Callum starts saying to the driver who responds. "It's worked." and he withdraws his statement. Callum tells him that with his help Devlin will go down for a long time. "Where is he now?" he asks with Callum telling him he's at the station. "Exactly..." he says, gesturing to his burning car. Callum threatens to nick him for illegal minicabbing and he tells him to arrest him and that he'd rather be sent down than have his family at risk.

Abbie can't help with the dry cleaners name and so Smithy and Callum turn to go with a warning they're going to search Devlin's house for 'the ticket' but there might be a clean up job required after. Abbie suggests there is a place on Gasson Street that they might have used. Pete is clearly listening in and then asks the men if he has been charged when Abbie goes to answer a call. He tells them that Devlin has a temper but is very wary of the CCTV camera watching them and insists he can't help them any further.

Smithy hits a dead end with the Gasson St Dry Cleaners and is not happy to have to bail Devlin because of the lack of evidence. Callum is pissed off at having to give Robinson his watch back whilst he only gets a slap on the wrist for faking a burglary. Neither are very happy boys!

Stevie and Callum tell Robinson they know exactly what happened. Robinson reluctantly hands the watch back and tells them to give it to Brennan. At the hospital Evie tells them they don't want the watch and that all she wants is their life back. She thinks that the watch would be blood money and taint whatever it bought. Brennan gives them the watch back.

Ben spots at fire engine approaching them and tells Roger that he used to beg his dad to follow them so he could see them in action. Roger chuckles and humours him and turns the car to follow the engine. "Don't say I don't treat you nice!" In the meantime Smithy is tracked down by Callum who tells him the E1 bar is on fire and both men hurry to the scene. Callum suggests Devlin has upset someone further up the food chain. "Nothing like a bit of poetic justice, hey?"

[goldengay00]

So my town’s library has a old ass game rental section and I saw a Wii game called the Michael Jackson Experience and me being me (gay and adhd-ridden) I thought “haha michael jackson wii game... Illuso would like that.”

Then I got home, and I was bored, so here is this bullshit: La Squadra’s favorite Wii Games and some other random bs because I have a problem. (Might do Bucci gang and Unità Speciale in the future if I feel like it)

Risotto: Guitar Hero: Metallica

I mean.

Come on... What else would it be

In all realness, I think he'd actually like Guitar Hero

Formaggio probably got him to play it and he ended up enjoying it

Completely straight faced while he plays, unblinking and unmoving other than his hands and arms

Doesn't play often

Prosciutto: Wii Chest

He simply refuses to play an actual game

Has better things to do with his life

So confused when Risotto first brought it in randomly

"Ris what the fuck is a wii"

Hasn't truly played a single console game in his damn life and isn't keen on changing that, usually sitting out to just watch on game night

Pesci: Endless Ocean

You'd think it'd be one of the Wii's fishing games, but he can fish all he wants in real life, so he actually finds himself playing this a lot more

Very wholesome

Doesn't play often however, he likes watching others instead– Especially Ghiaccio and Gelato

Formaggio: Rabbids Go Home

Simply found it stupid

Says it's a joke

Isn't sure if it's a joke anymore

Also enjoys Wii Sports Resort, and he's weirdly good at pretty much all of the games

Anywho his Rabbid is horrid looking

Like what the fuck did you do to it

It's not offensive or anything, just...

Horrific.

Illuso: The Michael Jackson Experience

The reason I made this stupid lil thing

Gelato gave it to him as a joke

And he... actually really liked it

It's basically just a Michael Jackson version of Just Dance, so it's not just a him thing, others play with him quite a bit

Absolutely shows off. He slays so hard and has no shame

He probably 100%ed the game within a week

Melone: Trauma Team

I feel like he'd like visual novel games

Combine that with a partially human anatomy centered plot (in this case a hospital) and what's not to like for him

Wasn't big on it at first since he knows the Wii isn't the best console

Pleasantly surprised, however– actually wasn't bad.

This shit probably sent him down a Sega Visual Novel rabbithole– He has a crippling love for the Persona series

Ghiaccio: Kirby's Epic Yarn

Hear me out

He'd rather die than admit it but he actually loves Kirby

The game isn't too hard for him so he's not too stressed while playing it

The artstyle is also just,, so cute. How could he not love this shit

Sometimes he'll let someone else play with him, usually Pesci or Melone

He's broken two wii remotes now because of Formaggio and Wii Sports Resort

(Replaced both of them, though)

Gelato: Rayman Origins

Played the first game as a kid and is a sucker for nostalgia

He can and will fight you if you insult his beloved childhood series

They're like, also the only games he plays unless the others want him to play some party game or something.

Rayman might've been his gay awakening and he isn't sure how to feel about it

He does not care who plays with him if you ask to play this stupid lil game with him he'll literally get so excited

It is very possible Sorbet is jealous of this fictional character

Sorbet: Sam & Max: Season One

Probably liked the comics a lot

He isn't a gamer really. He isn't even really good at the game– but he doesn't give a shit because he likes Sam and Max

He played Babysitting Mama as a joke because Gelato brought it home once

Somehow hates babies even more than he already did because of it (Gelato is not getting kids, fuck that)

Only got more pissed when Melone gold medaled the game with ease

May have been the reason they no longer own Babysitting Mama

[rosietrace]

Hello Rosie [evil] we need to interact more so ∅ for Walton with Max and Sam or Victoria with Keres >:)

Hi Mercie! I'm gonna do a separate post for Vic and Keres, since this post is gonna be longer if I do both in one go HSJSHDJS

Edit: I'm so sorry this took so long to post 💀

Oc thoughts: Walton Morrigan on Maxwell Murray and Samuel

Character Featured: Walton Morrigan

Mentioned: Maxwell Murray, Samuel

Warning(s): Walton /j, Samuel being a little shit, Trinity™, implied murder(?), Walton's room, potentially ooc

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

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“Hmm….. My dorm leader intrigues me. I don't know much about Maxwell, but I wish to know more… It's funny, really. Uncharacteristically tall, with a unique magic that makes him almost invisible… He'd make a wonderful test subject.”

“Samuel. That troublesome little- Ugh…. They exasperate me, to no end. His childishness and annoying voice make my ears bleed, and sometimes, in the dead of night, I wonder what would happen if I…. Oh, hah. You didn't hear that.”

— Walton Morrigan

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Non-verbal Thoughts

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「 General Thoughts 」

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ They don't talk to Walton. Or rather, Walton doesn't talk to them as much as he should.

➜ Walton's always busy with his machinery and computer work, and in general, pretty unapproachable. Not because no one wants to talk to him, but because Walton doesn't allow anyone closer to him. Simply put: He keeps everyone at arm's length.

➜ And Maxwell and Samuel aren't exceptions. Not in the slightest. Walton only goes to them when it concerns any conditions he needs to meet regarding his machinery, but that's about it.

➜ They've interacted with him, of course, but it's just unusually rare. Walton doesn't make it any better, his eerie — almost uncanny — sort of personality.

➜ Perhaps there's another reason Max doesn't approach Walton. The latter claims he works at a hospital on the side, after all…

➜ Walton's one of the few people who immediately notice Max is around. Quietness doesn't stop him from being as analytical as he is.

➜ Samuel's shenanigans frustrate him to no end. He has this almost murderous look in his eyes every time he talks to them. He gets progressively angrier when Samuel starts messing with him through his ‘childish’ pranks.

➜ Trinity seems to be the only one who can properly restrain Walton from throttling Samuel, then and there, at any given moment. Despite that, Walton's significantly taller than they were, and has gotten close to see the light leave Samuel's eyes…. Allegedly.

➜ When they do dorm room check-ins, Walton doesn't allow Max to check up on him in his room. And frankly, Max prefers it that way.

↳ There's just this…. Stench, to Walton's room. Max didn't wanna know what was the cause of it, and just left Walton's room be.

➜ Walton begrudgingly accepts the candy Samuel offers, even if — at times — there's probably some sort of concoction to them.

↳ If it can get Samuel away from him, then so be it.

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ「❃」

「 Interactions 」

❐ Well- Walton was in Terrovania since before Max became the dorm head. It was no surprise that he met Max, and later met Samuel.

➜ Walton wants to do experiments on Maxwell. Weird, I know, but he really isn't trying to beat the ‘mad scientist/potential serial killer’ allegations. (Maybe the latter, but not so much for the former.)

➜ He recommends movies to Max from time to time. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Oddly enough, Walton would usually recommend children's movies.

➜ He legitimately believed Samuel was like…. 12, at most. Then again, he didn't care how old he was, Samuel was a continuous nuisance to him.

➜ Walton ‘Samuel-proofed’ the ceilings in Terrovania so he couldn't crawl on them anymore. But, alas, it was only a temporary little addition.

➜ They really can't point their finger at it, but…. There was just something off about Walton. He talks, acts, and thinks like a normal overly analytical genius would. But, something about him just… Doesn't feel right.

➜ Walton brings lollipops everywhere he goes, just to shove them in Samuel's mouth to get him to shut up.

➜ ‘Conversations’ between Max and Walton barely feel like conversations. Because of how quiet the two are, most would just assume they were having an unusually tense staring contest.

➜ Learning about Max's unnatural strength, only made Walton want to run experiments on him even more. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, he can't do that as long as Max is still Terrovania’s dorm head.

➜ Both Max and Samuel can agree that they don't want to go into Walton's room at all. The stench emitting from it was enough of a reason, but it seemed there were more reasons than they let on…

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