#the wig stand is a bag filled with other bags taped shut

[portsandstars]

AAAAA IM SO HAPPY I FINISHED IT TODAY!!

[thatgoblin]

Small Town Affairs Chapter 2

Summary: Hazel is an Omega in the small town of Tin Springs, Midwest America. She's trying to live her life after breaking up with the local sheriff, John Walker, and his mate, Brock Rumlow. New people aren't something that happens often, but when a new pack comes to town her whole life goes from a small mess to a complete disaster in the best way.

Warnings: Domestic Violence, Assault, Sexual abuse, Himbo Bucky, Misogyny, will update as story goes.

Chapter 2

The rest of the day went by smoothly. The lunch and evening rush came and went, making time pass by quickly.

At a half hour till close, Clint came back in.

“Hey,” I said, waving to him with a smile. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going. Got our stuff unpacked and put up so that’s a relief. I was on my way to pick up dinner from the restaurant and decided to stop in and say hey, also thanks again for helping out our first night,” he said, moving the lean against the counter as he talked to me.

“It’s not a problem. Like I told one of your packmates, Helmut, we’re a pretty friendly bunch here,” I said, tidying up my area before shutting down for the day.

“Oh, he came by?” Clint asked, his brows raising.

“Yeah, him and I think his name was Bucky. They came by to get some groceries and Helmut asked about a plant nursery. I pointed him to the one on the west side of town,” I said. “Why do you look surprised?”

“Well, Bucky and Helmut usually keep to themselves. Especially Bucky. I guess it’s the small town just bringing it out,” he said with a chuckle as he began to fold a piece of trash paper into something.

“They were nice. Well, Helmut did most of the talking, but Bucky was courteous. It’s not often we get Alphas that aren’t forceful or dominating. Even if they don’t mean to, it happens a lot around here,” I said, printing out my end of day numbers.

“Yeah, I got that sense the other night,” he said with a cringe. “Does the sheriff always greet new people like that?”

I paused a moment, chewing on my lip as I thought of my answer carefully.

“It differs. Like I said, Alphas around here tend to be more old school and domineering,” I said softly, my smile gone. Any time John and Brock were brought up directly to me I couldn’t help but go quiet and submissive. It took me so long to start breaking out of my old shell and still I’d slip right back into it at the mention of their names. “I’d be careful of him. Just don’t get on his bad side.”

“Is he that scary?” Clint asked, his fingers pausing in their movements to lean forward as if we were sharing a secret.

“Hazel, why don’t you head home early today?” Peggy said as she stood in the office doorway, stopping the conversation. Whether it was to protect me or put a barrier up for Clint, I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t going to argue. “I’m sure you need to get cleaned up for your other job before heading over. I’ll finish up your register for you.”

“Alright, thanks,” I said, not wanting to argue. “Uh, I’ll see you around Clint.” Handing the sheets and keys to Peggy, I grabbed my thermos and purse before heading out the back door. Peggy was my boss and felt like family, but there were times that she was different. Mostly when it felt like she was trying to hide something, a switch flipped and she turned into almost a commanding officer. I liked my job and knew there was a limit with her if I tried to push back, so I didn’t bother trying to figure anything out. Some mysteries were better left unsolved.

I drove home to get ready for my other job. I told people I was a bartender at a hole in the wall in the next town over, but if they knew the truth, they didn’t say a word. Probably because they weren’t supposed to be there themselves. I packed my small bag before grabbing a quick nap and snack. It was dark when I left the house and twenty minutes later I was backstage at the Pink Pony strip club. The other girls and guys were all in various stages of getting ready as I stepped into a smaller, private dressing room.

First things first was, well, to strip. I put my comfy, warm clothes in the small bag before pulling out my costume for the evening. It was a black mesh and bedazzled number that left little to the imagination. The mesh kept it together and on me as well as double sided tape, lots of tape. I quickly ran a baby wipe over my arms and legs to dry my skin a bit which would allow for the smaller crystals and stones on sticky strips that were for decoration to stick better.

Well, for decoration and hiding blemishes and marks I didn’t want others to see. I had a lot of those that would identify me, but the sparkle helped cover them nicely with some make up as well. I moved on to fix my hair into a wig cap then pinned it down with almost a thousand bobby pins and nearly a whole can of hairspray to help keep everything in place. I would glue the front of my wig down before doing my makeup to blend everything together. Lately I've been using a dark ruby colored wig with lots of curls, I got a lot more tips with that one than my other neon yellow wig. Coming out of the dressing room, I spotted a work friend Kira who was just finishing her own costume.

“Hey, Kira, can you get my back spots please?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure,” the other woman said with a smile. Her own costume of chains and feathers jingled like tiny bells as she walked over to me. Almost all the dancers got along well enough to help each other out as much as possible. There were a few dancers that didn’t get along very well, but they were at least able to either avoid each other or were at least courteous. It made the job 100 times easier if things were hunky dory backstage. A few minutes later, Kira had finished and I was set. I thanked her as she went to go do her own show. I pulled my knee high boots on, double checked my makeup, then went to work.

The seating areas at the front of the house as well as the other four smaller stages for one person were filled and still there were people standing at the bar. It was busy for a Friday night, but I wasn’t about to get mad about it. The drunker people got, the more money they’d spend.

“Hey, Carrie,” my manager said, waving me over to the bar. All the people that worked there had a stage name, some for safety and some because it was fun. I wanted to fly under the radar and be left alone when I wasn’t on the job. I walked over to him, waving and smiling to everyone that paid me any mind.

“Hey, Nick, what’s up?” I asked, leaning against the bar next to him.

“I know you’re my girl when I need extra sessions, especially private sessions. You wanna take this group coming in later? There’s supposed to be six or so. Includes lap dances and pole work, maybe a few body shots. They’re paying extra for my best girl. You want it?” He asked as looked around the floor of the club with his one eye.

“Sure. I never say no to extra tips,” I said with a shrug.

“I knew I could count on you,” he said. “They’ll be here in about an hour. They called ahead for some reason. No one calls ahead.”

“Great, hopefully they’re out of towners and get drunk easily,” I said, looking over the floor as well.

“Let’s hope so, go ahead and let Holly know that you’re not on the main stage tonight so she can have it,” he said, motioning to a brunette who was chatting up a table.

“Yes Sir,” I said, giving him a mock salute and getting an eye roll in return.

I let Holly know of the update and made myself useful by helping with serving drinks, making sure to give the tips to the servers I was helping, did a few lap dances, and mingled on the floor to pass the time till my party got there. My shifts were shorter, just five hours, compared to others because I only worked the weekends and was lower on the pecking order, but I still made a good amount on the weekends.

A little bit before my group got there, I headed to the room I was told we were using to double check that everything was clean and in order before getting on stage. I was swaying on the pole when the group came in. I nearly tripped over my platform heels when I saw who it was. It was the new pack in town, including the Alphas I had met at the store.

Fuck me.

Thankfully I was able to grab the pole and make it look like I meant to swing further, spinning myself around.

“Hi ya, fellas,” I called, making my accent thicker and my voice higher to hide my real voice. “Glad to see ya’ll made it. I’m Carrie, what’re your names?”

Taking seats around my stage, they all ordered drinks when a server came in. At first no one said anything, looking at one another almost nervously before I stepped down the stairs towards them.

“Oh come on, don’t be shy. I don’t bite,” I said, giving the dark haired man with a salt and pepper mustache a wink. He was dressed in a wine red button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black slacks. It was all tailored to him instead of the usual baggy church clothes most men around the area wore. The material didn’t look like something from Walmart either. As I slid my hands over his shoulders and straddled him, getting a feel for his disposition, the shirt had to be a mixture of expensive fabrics. There was no other explanation for how soft it was without looking cheap.

“That’s disappointing,” he said with a chuckle, leaning back in the leather seat. “I’m Howard, that’s Thor, Bucky, and Helmut.” Howard pointed to each in turn from the blond with a beard and shoulder length hair that was pinned back in a half ponytail to Bucky and Helmut. “We’re new in town and figured we’d see what this place has to offer.”

“And what do you think so far, Sug’?” I asked.

“I think we found a good place,” he said, smirking looking me up and down.

“I’m glad to hear that,” I said, standing from leaning over Howard. “Now, who wants a lap dance?”

“Bucky, why don’t you go first?” Howard said.

“Me?” Bucky choked as the drinks were brought in, set on the small side tables between the seats.

“You shy, Sug?” I asked, moving to pull an armless leather clad chair to the front of the stage. “I promise, I’ll be nice.”

“Go on, live a little,” Thor chuckled as he picked up his drink. Even in the dim, colored lighting, I could still see a bit of blush across Bucky’s cheeks as he begrudgingly stood up. The men cheered as he moved to the chair in front of everyone.

“Now, some small ground rules, boys,” I said, sliding my hand along Bucky’s shoulders as I walked behind him. “No touching unless I say so, ask like good little boys and you’ll get body shots, AND the bigger you tip, the more you get.”

“I like her,” Helmut said as he watched. The music started for me, something with a good beat that allowed me to tease and taunt. Bucky’s clothes were different for tonight, more like Howard’s really. It was a dark navy blue button up with the sleeves buttoned around his wrists. What was odd was that he had leather clothes on. They were tight around his hands and while I usually wasn’t one to question someone’s fashion choices, I also wasn’t complaining as I took his hands to slide down the sides of my body as I faced away from him. My ass was inches from his face, letting me lean over to twerk for him.

It was common to smell arousal, the need from Alphas and Betas and Omegas alike when I gave performances, but Bucky was different. His scent was coming off in wafts, no hindrance at all. It was intoxicating and easy to get lost in. Especially being so close to him. All the dancers used neutralizing spray to keep our scents to a minimum, adding manufactured floral or fruity scents. I was so glad that I had put on an extra layer that night. When it came time for the tips from Bucky, it took a bit of prompting to put the bills in fun places.

“Put the bills down your shirt or the waist of your pants,” Howard said with a laugh. Usually I hated when customers did that, but with this group I didn’t mind. With slightly shaky hands, Bucky slid a few bills under the belt of his slacks as well as down the front of his shirt to peek out.

“Jesus, Howard, you’re going to get us kicked out,” Bucky huffed at his friend, shooting him a glare before looking down when I had squatted in front of him. Slowly, I slid up his body, making sure to grab the bills with my teeth to end with the tips of our noses touching. His steely blue eyes were wide open, his small gasp letting me smell his breath that had traces of mint and whiskey. Had it been just us, I would have been even dirtier, but with an audience most customers didn’t want to get too turned on.

“You did good, Sug,” I said with a grin, moving to sit directly in his lap as I plucked the rest of the bills from him to shove down my top. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning to the group.

“Who’s next?”

Thor took his turn, much happier to have a scantily clad person in his lap. He was fun too. Apparently he was from Scandinavia or something and was new to this type of club. I figured they had strip clubs abroad, but he seemed to be tickled to be in one now. Howard had his, showing off exactly how much he knew about dancing with how he knew where he could touch without getting in trouble. Then there were body shots between the dances that all the men took part in. After a couple, they were all pretty loose and goofy, even Bucky who was laughing and smiling wider.

The last dance of the night was for Helmut and that man was the one I was most worried about. Despite being the smallest Alpha there, the man had something about him that was alluring and almost dark. It was the same with Bucky and when both of them were together it felt like I was in one of those cartoons where the scent of fresh baked treats floated through the forest to beckon the lost ingenue to it. While Bucky had been nervous though, Helmut was not.

He wasn’t cocky like Howard or playful like Thor, no the man was steady and was moving with me almost. I would go to one side and his nose would follow, barely touching my neck and shoulder. His beard would tickle my chest as I peeled off a layer of mesh to let him motorboat me. The dance was intense and when I was done, I was sure that the neutralizer wasn’t working. Just like the others, he got a kiss on the cheek before letting him up.

Despite my fear of being recognized, no one said a thing. Overall the group had a good time, tipping generously as I finished on the stage.

“Now, I hate to say it boys, but that’s all the time there is for us. Make sure to come back and see me Sug’s,” I said, winking at them. They had paid for almost 4 hours and my shift was nearly up, but I would have rather kept servicing them the rest of the night. Especially Helmut and Bucky.

I waved to them as they all got up and left, Howard leaving more tips under his empty glass as he held back. “How about one last lap dance? Hmm? I’ll make it worth your while,” he said. The man had been leaving hundreds all over the place in my room, Nick would understand if I spent an extra fifteen minutes getting the house tips that way.

“Sure, have a seat, darlin’,” I said with a smile, sliding from the stage to the floor. I pushed him back into the chair when he hadn’t sat just yet, earning a surprised look.

“So, out of curiosity, do you do parties?” He asked, looking up at me as I straddled him, holding onto the back of the chair as I moved my body to the music.

“Never been hired to do one out of the club. Usually we keep them in house,” I said, rolling my hips over his thighs.

“I see. So, if I wanted to book you specifically for an event, would I just ask the manager then?” He asked, his eyes roaming over my body. It wasn’t out of the norm for customers to do that as they talked with us, but it felt off with Howard. Like he was acting the part of a customer instead of being one.

“Yup, his name’s Nick. He’s at the bar right now probably, he’ll be the guy with the eye patch,” I said with a hum. “Why are you so curious how things work here? I heard you new people were from New York. You must have fancier clubs there than this nowhere town.”

“True, but there’s a certain charm to this place,” he said. “My mate seems to have taken a liking to the town, especially a certain Omega at a grocery store he’s been seeing.”

“Oh yeah? Good for your mate, though if you’re here and not at home, I’m not sure how good that is,” I said, feeling my heart pick up pace. What the hell was he doing? How did he figure it out without even seeing me at the store?

“Clint, my mate, says the sheriff here is kind of odd. I haven’t met him yet myself, but small towns always have those sort of secrets don’t they?”

“You’re in the middle of the midwest in a small town, Sug’. There’s secrets everywhere. Everyone wants to save face despite hating the people they wanna impress,” I said. This was Clint’s Howard? Did Clint know then? He added me on Facebook, but I rarely posted more than work stuff for the store and even then I had nothing to say that I worked at the club.

“What about you? Do you have any skeletons in your closet, Hazel?” He asked, whispering my name. I stiffened, standing up to glare down at him.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but leave the money and go,” I said firmly.

“Look, I’m not trying to cause any trouble,” he said, holding up his hands.

“Uh huh,” I said. “I don’t care what you were thinking or doing, but your time is up and you should go. Now.”

“Look, Clint said some weird stuff about the sheriff and said you acted funny around him and when pressed about it. Why?” Howard asked, standing up as he pulled out a wad of bills.

“It’s entirely none of your business and honestly, stay away from the sheriff if you know what’s good for you,” I said, reaching out to snatch the money from him as he held it out.

“Well, I would, but he likes to make house calls and greet everyone,” he said. “I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it if it didn’t worry Clint and my pack, okay?”

“What do you mean, house calls?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“The sheriff came by to see us, going almost door to door to introduce himself. Usually people don’t do that unless they’re trying to prove something or if they have something they want to stay hidden,” Howard said. “I was out when he came by, but enough of the pack was put off by it that it became a concern.”

“Just don’t put your nose in other people's business and you’ll be fine. Sheriff Walker just likes to make sure everyone knows he’s the one in charge,” I said.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Howard said with a sigh.

“How’d you know it was me anyways?” I asked as he turned to leave.

“Clint said you had a weird birthmark under your left ear, that it looked like a crescent moon. Also when I pulled up the website, he recognized you from a promotional picture,” he said, his eyes trailing over my face. “But it’s not a birthmark is it?”

“You better go before security thinks you’re holding me hostage,” I said, gathering all the money as well as the glasses onto a server’s plater. If Clint figured it out, did Bucky and Helmut? Fucking hell.

“I’ll see you around, Carrie,” he said, giving a small wave before leaving the room.

I watched him leave the room before exiting myself, going right to the dancers room. There I sorted the bills before giving the house mom a tip and paying the house a cut. Sitting down, I took a bit to catch my breath and grab a snack. Things that had been simple were suddenly getting so very complicated. I had my second job for nearly six months now and was doing fine with keeping that part of me a secret. Things were steady, kinda boring, but steady. I needed that to get on with my life. Maybe it was time to start saving up to move to a new place. Somewhere far from the small town that was eating me alive.

“Hey, Carrie,” Kira said, coming into the room. “Your weekly visitor is here.”

Another thing to just make the night crap.

“Thanks. Tell him I’ll be out in a minute, I’m just changing,” I said, giving up on the last half hour of my shift. Usually I would have worked the floor more, but he was early this week. As quickly as I could, I took off my costume and accessories before wiping myself down then changing into my usual clothes.

Walking out the door for the night, I had made sure to get the money ready beforehand, wanting to hand it off then leave.

“Hey Sweetheart,” a gravelly voice called from a picnic bench next to the back door. I looked over to see Brock sitting there with a stupid smile on his face as he smoke a cigarette. He was lit up by a lamppost that was supposed to give us a good range of vision. Most of the time it just made everything orange and looked like it was from a horror movie. With Brock waiting for me, it felt like one. “I didn’t cut your night short, did I?” He asked, standing up to his full 6 foot four height, to throw the butt of his smoke on the ground and grind it out with his boot. I put my shoulders back as I marched over to him, pushing the envelope of money into his stomach. With Brock I couldn’t show hesitation or weakness, the man was a predator that would go for the throat the moment it was shown.

“There’s your cut,” I said, turning to leave.

“Uh-uh, you know the rules,” Brock said, grabbing my elbow tightly. Growling, I moved back over to him as he counted the money.

“Can you hurry up?” I hissed, pulling my hoodie sleeves down over my hands as I shifted my feet in wait.

“Calm your ass. I’m just making sure,” he said, not even looking away from the bills. “Ah, see, this is why you wait. You’re $300 short.”

“That’s because John decided to stop by the grocery store this week and bother me,” I said. “Per our deal, if either of you interact with me beyond necessary needs, you get less money.”

“Not $300 worth,” he said, looking up at me.

“He was an ass and I’m in a mood, so just take it and go,” I sighed, adjusting my bag strap on my shoulder.

“Not how this works, Sweetheart,” he said, holding out his hand. “Fork over the other $300 and we’ll call it even. I’ll talk to John and remind him of our agreement. After that, if he still decides to be an idiot, then you can give less money, but not till then.”

“That’s not what you said,” I snarled. “I’m not paying you to sometimes stay away. So that’s what you’re getting and nothing more till next week.”

“I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with, but I can assure you that it’s not nice guy John who you can just sweet talk,” Brock said, grabbing my arm hard to jerk me close. “Now, either give me the money or I make things really hard for you at your regular job. You know, the one where everyone likes you enough to pity you instead of whispering about what you really are.”

“Let me go, Brock,” I growled, trying to pull away from him.

“See, this is making the price go up. Now we’re at $400 that you owe me. Wanna fight me some more and make it higher?” He asked, tightening his grip on me.

“Fine.” Pulling out my wallet from my bag, I grabbed the extra money for him. Waiting as he counted it out, he slipped it into the envelope with a smirk.

“See, was that so hard?” He asked with a chuckle.

“Fuck you, Brock,” I said, wanting to just go.

“Oh no, no, no,” he growled, his hand shooting out to grab my face and force me to look at him. “We are not going to start that attitude. Understand? I can remind you why you hate me so much if you really want me to. It’s no skin off my back to take you home and fuck that look off your face.”

“Let go,” I grunted, struggling as his grip tightened.

“Not until you promise to be a good girl,” he sneered. The music to the club was loud, making it impossible for anyone to hear me scream for help or even know there was something happening. The music also covered the sounds of footsteps approaching us as Brock easily lifted me onto the picnic table to pin me down, making me lose my bag as I held onto his arm to try and pry it off with a cry.

“Hey! Get off her!”

Brock’s tight grip on my face kept me facing him, hiding the people who were coming over to us. It didn’t stop me from struggling though.

“This isn’t your business, fuck off,” Brock snarled, making my hair stand on in. John was a bully, someone who could only get so rough before feeling bad. Brock was a fucking monster. Something I’d wished I’d known before being with him. Just the sound of his voice raised and angry had me trembling.

“That’s not how this works,” another voice said as they got closer. “Let her go now.”

“Or what? You’ll call the cops?” Brock scoffed.

“No, we’ll just kick the shit out of you.” That voice I knew, making my stomach roll. They should have all left by now, what were they doing still there?

“Brock just go,” I managed, hoping he wouldn’t do anything. “Just take the money and go. I’ll pay extra next time.”

“Damn right you will,” he grumbled as he let go of my face before backing up. “She’s all yours. A heads up though, she likes it when you bite her.” Brock chuckled as he walked away, probably planning something for next week. My stomach rolled at the thought.

Sitting up, I swallowed hard as I hopped up on shaky legs to grab my bag. I kept my face down as shame threatened to set it on fire with how hot it was. I was near tears as I picked up my bag, my hands so unsteady I almost had to drop my stuff.

“Are you okay?”

My hair only covered so much of my face, but the people had seen everything already. I wasn’t hidden anymore.

“Look, uh, just. . . It’s fine, okay? It was just a misunderstanding,” I said, seeing Helmut recognize me. “You guys should go.” There was a confusion of sorts as his brows furrowed together, but he didn’t say anything. Before anyone else could say anything, I started off towards my truck, hoping that I would be able to make it without tripping over my own feet.

“Wait,” Helmut called as he followed. “Please.”

“I’m leaving for the night. It’s fine, I promise,” I said, putting on a nice smile as I stopped. Everyone loved my smile at the club. They said it was warm and friendly with a little spice. “It was just a mix up, that’s it. Thank you for checking on me though.”

“At least let me walk you to your car. You look shaky,” he said, trying to be a gentleman. I wanted so badly to let him, to have someone who wanted to help me instead of use me, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do that to him when there was so much more that could hurt him and the others.

“I think your friends are waiting for you actually, but thanks,” I said, my eyes watering as I kept forcing my smile. The last thing I needed was anyone getting involved between me and my exes That would just make the mess even bigger. Worse, I liked Helmut and his friends. Him and Bucky specifically. I didn’t want them to get in trouble or tangled up in my stuff. They didn’t deserve that.

On the way home, I had to pull over to keep from driving off the road. My vision was cloudy from tears and I couldn’t breathe. Things had been so good for me and now shit was hitting that fan. Why me? I didn’t do anything wrong! I played by the rules and got nearly killed only to escape and think I can leave it all behind. Why can’t I just be free of this!? I screamed as I hit the steering wheel, so mad and hopeless that nothing else had work. About ten minutes later I had calmed down to a sniffle and was able to see properly. I put my truck into gear and drove home.

I pulled into my short driveway to see everything was still the same there at least. I trudged in to put things up before bed, almost not caring enough but knowing I would be pissed in the morning. As I flopped onto my mattress after changing into my pajamas, I got a text.

[Brock SMS:] You owe double next time for the trouble.

Fuck.

[artificialqueens]

A Clownfish & A Mermaid (5/?): Snatched! (Biadore) - doctor bitchcraftt

Anonymous request from AQ: “I love your fic of Bianca playing Adore for snatch game on bots, could you write one where Adore surprises Bianca by coming out as her? Maybe Bianca is being the host and doesn’t know till Adore appears.”

A/N: Keeping it non-AU by having it take place before Adore left for AS2, because as far as I remember she did have Bianca as her backup character for Snatch Game. And oh how I wish we’d been able to see that…  A little bittersweet, because we know Adore didn’t stay for Snatch Game.

Regarding Bianca’s waist measurement: her dress form is a 12, which has a 29-30 inch waist; additionally, it’s quoted as 28 in an article from years ago and she looks to be about the same size now.  Xoxoxoxo, bitchcraftt

********

“Show me what else you’ve got?”

Bianca lounged on the couch surrounded by piles of drag and half-packed suitcases.  Still in drag after hosting a show, she’d ignored the stare from the Uber driver (typical) and his awkward attempts at flirting (not typical), and blown through the door at full force to find Adore already spreading her chaos across every available surface.

NDA or not, Danny’s excited call a couple of days ago about accepting All Stars 2 made it clear that the planning had to include Bianca.  Roy kept his mouth shut at the objections he desperately wanted to voice - fallout from Danny' losing his dad, amongst other things - and promised his support in any way possible.

They’d spent the better part of the last two hours going through Adore’s drag, matching items to the list as best as they could and trying to guess what the challenges might entail.  Vintage shopping yesterday netted a gorgeous purple sequined shift that would go wonderfully with her crimped lavender wig, and they’d agreed on a half dozen other looks already before test driving for Snatch Game.  Adore’s Snatch Game needed to be strong, even stronger than her season six Anna Nicole Smith if possible.  Without Bianca and DeLa giving her a run for her money, she should be a standout.  Her first choice seemed decent, but having a backup option was always a good idea.

Danny had briefly complained about having to go into full drag and face for each look, but there was no way to get a complete opinion otherwise.  Because of that, she’d insisted that Bianca not watch her prep so that she would be able to give advice on the final product.  

Bianca was prepared to loan her anything she needed, and tried to guess what the character would be based on Adore banging around her closet and cursing.  After twenty minutes, Adore’s voice drifted around the corner.

“Close your eyes!”

“Really?"  Bianca rolled them instead.

"I want it to be a surprise!”  

She’d teased that it was another queen, and Bianca tried to picture her dressed as Alyssa or Laganja in things garnered from her own extensive wardrobe.  Although, Adore did have a wicked DeLa voice…

“Fine, they’re closed.”

The sound of heels clicking nervously on the hardwood heralded Adore’s arrival, tapping to a stop on the carpet in front of the couch.

“ ‘Kay, you can open them.”

Bianca blinked a few times, shook her head in disbelief, and tried to find her voice.

“You like it?"  

Adore had borrowed a pair of Bianca’s platform pumps covered in jet black rhinestones, and her nude fishnets showed where she held the weighted hem up.  Above that, she was corseted tighter than ever before over actual padding, clad in a fitted black velvet cowl-neck sleeveless gown with oversized sequin flowers pinned at the shoulder and hair piled up to ridiculous heights.  Was that five wigs? An assortment of sparkly bangles and large bracelets worked their way up from her wrists to almost the elbows on both arms.  To top it off, Adore had picked Bianca’s most obnoxious chandelier earrings to accompany the exaggerated eyes and what had to be eight pairs of lashes.

She clutched a throw pillow in front of herself, cocked a hip, and grinned before schooling her face into a disapproving frown.  

"NOT TODAY SATAN!"

Bianca opened and closed her mouth a few times, before starting at the floor and making her way up with a critical eye. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the clink of bangles as Adore fidgeted.  

"Well fuck me,” Bianca managed at last.

”…was that a good fuck me?”

As she watched nervously, Bianca’s blank expression transformed into a howl of laughter, raspy cackle filling the room.  Unable to speak through it, she flailed wildly.  Adore’s smile drooped a bit on the edges, face gone anxious.  Her posture melted into a slouch, vaguely ridiculous given the silhouette of her outfit.

”…okay, I get it.  I look fucking stupid, and I’ll -“

Bianca pushed off the couch, catching her hand before she could do more than turn.  

“N- no!  Don’t!  It’s…fucking…hee hehehe hee hee- oh my fuck it’s perfect!”

“Yeah?”

“Lemme hear what you’ve got planned."  This should be something else.

Adore scowled, dropping her voice and rolling her eyes.  "I ain’t got time for this.  Beat it queen!  Need help packin’ ?”

”Fuck you bitch, I do not sound like that!  You sound like you’re gargling gravel in there.”  After a night of yelling at a crowd her own voice was scratchy and rough, and Bianca couldn’t hold a straight face.  “All right fine, maybe I do.”

She pulled her into the drag room to stand side by side in the mirror, ignoring how the usually neat racks of dresses looked like a tornado touched down.  Without her own heels on she was the better part of a foot shorter than Adore, but together they looked like Bianca standing next to some of the more accurate fan art.  Seeing her own signature evening gown on Adore’s body set her off again.

”Adore Del Rio,” she giggled, dabbing at her eyes, “this might be the best fucking thing I’ve ever seen.  Including Anna Nicole.”

“Really?“  

"Not when you stand with your mouth open like that,” Bianca teased, nearly losing it again when Adore stuck her tongue out.  

“Put your hand on your hip.  No, like this,” Bianca repositioned Adore’s arm and tugged her knee until her right leg crossed in front of the left, bent slightly.  “Emphasizes the hips, it looks more feminine like that.”

“We won’t be doing runway like this, I’ll fucking trip over the hem.  I hope?"  

“You wanna be prepared.  And you’re taller so it won’t hit the floor…Visage is going to love that."    

The sequined flower was perfect and she didn’t need a necklace, but… “Here.”  She pulled the bracelets off and dug back into the jewelry drawers, discarding some and adding others to the pile.  She slipped them back onto Adore’s wrist sorted by color, switching the smaller beads for chunkier ones.  “Exaggerated but still detail oriented.”  

A second pair of less garish earrings followed, Bianca’s signature hoops with colored beads.  “In case you wanna use them for something else.  Now sit.”  She nudged her down in front of the vanity, picking up eyeshadow.  "Gotta get you beyond clown."

Frowning in concentration, she gripped Adore’s chin gently to hold her steady and reached for a lipliner.  "Your lips are full enough, don’t overdraw, just make the Cupid’s bow curved right here."  Adore had done a good job reproducing her eyes, although the liner was a bit more winged than Bianca would wear it.   Punk rock style or not, Danny was a talented makeup artist and the Bianca face only needed a little bit of adjustment.  “Raccoon territory next.  You need to avoid too much color on the lids.”  With a few deft strokes, she painted even darker eyes and added more white to the bottom lids before making the beauty mark bigger.

Once satisfied that the face was right, Bianca collected a few items - two shades of gloss, new packages of lashes - and zipped them into a cosmetic bag with the earrings for Adore to pack.  "Stack them fresh, you don’t want to wear someone else’s lashes, who knows-”

“Yes mom."  Her tone of voice implied that this was yet another lecture.  "I know, but they’re yours so…"  She wilted a little under Bianca’s unimpressed stare.  "Okay fine, but it’s not like I’m gonna get eye herpes from them.”

Moving up from the face, Bianca studied the auburn curls tenuously balanced on her head.  Frowning, she pulled it apart to set three of the five wigs aside, teased and re-pinned, then nodded decisively.

“Forget you trying to do this in the workroom.  Let me style you a full wig so it’s ready to go.”

Adore nodded and stood, leaning on the table for support.  Bianca narrowed her eyes when she noticed that she seemed to be slightly out of breath.

”Can you breathe in that?”

”Yeah?”

“That shouldn’t be a question.  You need to be able to sit for an hour, you remember what it was like.  Show me how you’re cinched.”  When Adore seemed reluctant, Bianca bent to hike up the skirt of the gown, waiting until Adore took the fabric from her before peeling the dress up her midsection (thank goodness for stretch velvet) to reveal the corset.  

"Adore.” The gently chiding tone was worse than annoyance.  “You’re not Chachki for fuck’s sake.  We can get rid of some of that padding and loosen it up."  While she spoke, Bianca turned Adore around to untie the laces before unzipping the front to reveal angry red welts where the boning strained around her waist.  Sighing, she pulled the tights down enough to work the pads out from underneath.  

"But…” Adore protested, “your waist is so small!”

“It’s about proportion.  You’ve got enough to cinch in without the pads. Just make your tits a little bigger, squeezing down to this isn’t going to even show when you’re sitting behind a table."  Bianca searched on the side table for a tape measure, wrapping it around her own waist.  "I’m 29 corsetted, 30 with the gown.  I only take two inches off.”

“I wanna get it right."

The muttered comment seemed more weighted than just a corset disagreement and Bianca paused with her hands on Adore’s hips.  "Pussyface?

"It’s…” Adore met her eyes, more serious than she’d been the entire night.  “I don’t want to disappoint you.  What if I fuck this up?"

"Hey."  Even with the heels, Bianca still needed to tip Adore’s chin up to make eye contact.  "You’re gonna be amazing, you hear me?  They’re lucky to have you, and it doesn’t matter what happens on some reality tv show filmed in RuPaul’s basement.  You could go home the first week and I’d still be proud of you for going back in to that fucking shark pit.”

Adore was silent while Bianca zipped her back up and smoothed the dress back down.  Bianca turned her to face the mirror again, and was relieved to see the small smile.  

“Really, pussyface,” she felt the need to repeat, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

[nuclear-reactions]

i’m on an angst binge and i’ve had this scenario in my head for days!! how would the companions from fallout 4 react to sole suddenly leaving without a trace, only leaving behing a letter or a holotape with an apology about them not saying goodbye in person?

(Dogmeat and Strong can’t work nor understand holotapes so they’re excluded)

“If I got thenerve together to go through with this, you’re wondering where I am.I would have given  you a proper goodbye, God knows you deserve that,at the very least. But I knew, if I stayed, if I brought myself tomeet you and say to your face ‘I’m leaving’… I know I wouldn’t havebeen able to. Don’t try to follow me. You can’t follow me throughthis. I’m sorry. This is goodbye.”

MacCready- He’dalways been expecting something. A knife in the back, getting leftbehind when one of the bullet maelstroms they endured proved too muchfor Sole, their friendship too tenuous and unimportant for them tosuffer for him. They surprised him every time they helped pick himout of the dirt after a fight. It had always been too good. He knewit was. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he had hoped, foolishand idiotic as that was. Hoped he had found someone to trust, someonedeserving of it. Someone he could give his all to, knowing they hadhis back. And here he was again; alone. He’s angry, understandably.He kicks chairs and curses after he finds the holotape. He wants tothrow it against a wall so hard it shatters, smash it under his heel,with an anger he hasn’t felt in so long he almost isn’t sure what todo with it. But he hesitates when it’s in his hand. If they didn’tcome back, this would be the last time he hears their voice. He’storn between the white hot anger that bobs in his throat and theinexplicable need to keep something of theirs close. The need winsout in the end. He tucks the holotape away in his rucksack and goeson, alone, as he’s always been.

Preston- In theback of his mind, he should have known things couldn’t stay the waythey were. It was dangerous to put so much weight on one person’sshoulders. He had thought if the burden was ever too heavy, theycould share it with him. He had prayed to God or whatever benevolentdeity that was gracious enough to let him wake up in the morningsalive, whatever force brought them together, he had hoped… this wasa person like him. Better than him. Kind enough to want to tilt theworld back on its axis and strong enough to see it through. Succeedwhere he failed. But that had always been the fatal flaw of PrestonGarvey. He hoped. Worst of all, even as he surveys Sole’s room, emptyand cold as the day they wandered back to Sanctuary, he still hashope. Hope that one day he’ll see their shadow on the horizon again.He leaves the holotape where it lays and walks out into the streets,shaking off the foggy daze in his head. There’s work to do. Too manypeople depend on him for him to linger too long on the dense pit inhis stomach.

Danse- People cameand went in Danse’s life, too many for him to even remember most oftheir faces. Even some of the faces of soldiers he’s buried blur atthe edges. He’s no stranger to loss. Yet the striking sense of losshe feels when those words crackle from the radio, that’s somethinghe’s not prepared for. He has to play it several times for themessage to really sink in, and each play leaves him angrier than thelast, his brows furrowing, chest tightening. It didn’t make sense.They had faced down monsters together, the military might of theBrotherhood, they saved his life several times over, and now they hadleft without so much as a proper goodbye. Or a reason. What could bethe reason? What could be so important or dangerous that he couldn’tfollow them? The thought they might be in danger, alone, makes hishead spin. He never got to really thank them for all they did. Henever repaid them. What if now he never got the chance? No, hedecides, climbing into his armor. He wasn’t going to spend his dayswondering, hoping to see them some day long from now, dreading theywere rotting somewhere far from him. Whatever they thought they werewalking into, or walking away from, they were not going without him.

Curie- She’sconfused, hurt, as much as she knows she has no right to be. Curiehad always planned on going off on her own someday. Or at least, shehad thought that at first. She had always wanted to see the world,learn what she could, and when she left the Vault, she had alwaysintended to do that alone. In all her visions of her own future, Solewas never in them. After they met, the change was subtle, enough shedidn’t notice it. With their departure, she realizes she had seenthem together in all those lofty dreams she had once dreamed alone.She feels a heat behind her eyes too late, fat tears streaking downher synthetic face before she has a chance to stop them. “Why nottake me? Huh? Why can I not follow?” She shakes her head, blobs oftears slipping loose from her jaw to plop softly to the tabletop.“This is unfair. You are being unfair!” She would have let themcome with her, whatever dangers she might have faced. She couldn’thelp thinking they thought her weak, or worse, she had somehow grownfonder of them than they had her. Both prospects filled her withequal parts anger and grief. She shoves the holotape as harshly awayfrom her as if it had burned her, turning on her heel to march awayfrom the offending farewell. She had never thought herself quitecapable of hate. Now, she hated the person she cared most for, nomatter how dearly she wished not to.

Piper- The firsttime she listens to the holotape left behind, she’s too stunned tothink much of anything. Sole’s voice pours through her brain like asieve. Nothing quite sticks enough for her to make sense of it. Thesecond time, she argues with just about everything it says, aloud.“-if I stayed, if I brought myself to meet you and say to your face‘I’m leaving’-” “Oh, what you would think twice? Why on Earthwould that be a good idea, huh? Thinking twice about something, no,that just wouldn’t do!” “-n’t try to follow me. You can’t followme thr-” “No, you know what’s the best idea, to creep out in themiddle of the night like a- like a-a vampire or something! A selfish,stupid, blood sucking-” “I’m sorry. This is goodbye.” Herbreath catches in her throat, mid disapproving finger wag at the tapeplayer. A long stretch of silence follows the click of the tapecoming to an end for the second time. “No.” She swipes up thetape, stuffing it in her rucksack, along with an armful of suppliesoff the counter. “No, no, no. You don’t get to do that, Blue. Youdon’t get to ghost off mysteriously into the fog without so much asan explanation. You better hope I don’t find you because you will bethat! A ghost I mean!” Too flustered to properly berate the emptyair she imagined Sole would have occupied had they not been an ass,she shoves everything she can fit into her bag. The door rattles onits hinges when she slams it shut. This is why you can’t disappear onan investigative journalist- they find out the truth in the end, andlittle stands in their way.

Cait- She hardlygets through the message. Before Sole is finished saying goodbye,Cait’s fist collides with the player, caving in the speakers. Garbledstatic and the distorted remnants of what Sole was trying to saylinger until she brings down her knuckles on it once more, smashingit over and over and over again, until the crumbling shell of theholotape player and its contents are all that remains. Pieces shredher skin, blood mingling with frayed wires and scattered shards ofplastic. She shouldn’t have been so angry. One more let down washardly a surprise, nor was disappointment new to her life. Hot tearsstill struggle past the lump in her throat, and she feels so stupidfor crying over someone who doesn’t deserve her tears. If they did,they wouldn’t have left some pussy message and ran away like acoward. She buries her face in her bruised hands, cursing, hatingSole and the trembling in her limbs and herself for letting them getso close. What had she expected? This was always going to be theoutcome. She had been a fool to think otherwise. When the ragesubsides, she regrets letting it get the better of her. The tape shedestroyed might have had a clue where Sole had gone. She tellsherself she would want to know so she could find them and beat theirface in like they deserve. Really, she just wants to know where theyare. There’s nowhere she wouldn’t have followed, no matter what theysaid.

Deacon- He canhardly blame them. It’s practically a page out of his handbook.Vanish in the night, leave behind cryptic message, never be seenagain. Hell, it wasn’t just one of his plays, it was his retirementplan. But then, he was a spy, a habitual liar, and wholly unattached.Sole was another story. Deacon leans against the table, tapping hisfingers against the holotape left behind. He understood the need forsecrecy. Sometimes you just need to disappear. Understanding doesn’tmake it sting any less. They were honest with each other. As honestas one could really be. There was something comforting about havingsomeone else hold onto some of his secrets for him, and stick closeenough he always knew where they were. To know they were out in thewild somewhere, he feels suddenly exposed, like when he felt his wigssloughing off to an angle on a job. Not like Sole would go blabbingto everyone the deeply personal things he had shared with them, butstill. “We tell each other shit, y'know?” he says aloud, as ifthe holotape would respond. “You coulda told me anything.” Healmost takes the tape with him when he goes. Almost allows himself anattachment. He buries it instead, truly leaving no trace of Solebehind.

Nick- There was amoment, a few long moments, even after he files the holotape away andcontinues his work in Diamond City, that he thinks about going afterthem. Missing persons werepractically his specialty at this point. Finding people, especiallyones that didn’t really want to be found, made up a good percentageof the cases that came across his desk. Sole was different. He knewthem too well, respected them too much, to go against their wishes.They had gotten close since their first meeting in that Overseer’soffice, when they came to his rescue. They became one of the fewpeople he trusted without second thought. That was the only reason hedidn’t go after them. If they had vanished without proper goodbyes,they had a damn good reason, that he was sure of. Every now and then,glancing over to the empty chair they so often occupied in hisoffice, a seed of doubt unfurled somewhere in his chest. You betterhave a good reason, he thinks. And you better not stay gone. Despitethe finality of their goodbyes, he expects to see them every time thedoor of Valentine’s Detective Agency swings open, and they occupy histhoughts in the moments of quiet between cases.

X6-88- His ordershad been to follow them, do as they say, within the bounds of his ownprogramming. The news of their disappearance displeases hissuperior’s in the Institute, but X6 finds he doesn’t much care fortheir reactions. More than anything, he’s struck by how much heappears to miss them. The two of them had become familiar with oneanother, in a fashion that came dangerously close to fondness. Heknew better than to reveal this to anyone. He’d be sent off forbehavioral recalibrations if he ever expressed how empty the hallsfelt without them walking shoulder to shoulder with him. How quiet itfelt without them making idle conversation. It was almostoverwhelming at times, how the quiet pressed in, how asphyxiating theemptiness felt. Weeks later, when he’s assigned the task of trackingthem down, he’s glad. The way his pulse leaps at the prospect ofseeing them again should concern him like it would concern Father andthe others, but he doesn’t give it much thought. He has to hide theslight tilt at the corners of his lips when he accepts the mission tofind Sole, whatever the cost. 

 Hancock- Theirvoice is filled with such sadness, it weighs heavy on his heart longafter he turns the holotape off and pockets it. Something was wrong.It had to have been, if they couldn’t share it with him. They hadtaken on everything the Commonwealth threw at them as a team. Neveronce had something been so bad they felt the need to protect Hancockfrom it. Whether that was a rampaging Deathclaw or the revelation hisonly brother had been replaced by a synth. As hurt as he is to beleft behind, he’s more concerned than anything. He pulls every stringhe can get his hands on, calls in every favor, until there isn’t aneye in Boston that doesn’t belong to him. Every wisp of smoke that somuch as resembles Sole’s figure is relayed back to him. The search ismostly fruitless, and he suspects it’ll remain that way. Sole is aperson who can get lost if they really want. He keeps it upregardless, for both of them. If he lives his life never knowing whatbecame of them, it would eat at him for the rest of his very longlife. If they end up in bad straights, they would be grateful for hisefforts, no matter how badly they wanted to disappear. Either way,he’s not letting them go sight unseen.

Codsworth- Thegears click in his head, spinning uselessly as he tries to make senseof what he’s hearing. If he had olfactory senses, he might havesmelled the coppery tang in the air of his circuits burning hot inhis chassis. He was a machine, made to serve the express purpose oflooking after a family. Without that family, he had no purpose. Hehad suffered it once before, been without them for centuries. To seethem again filled him with- there was no way to put it, really.Filled him with things he couldn’t begin to understand or quantify.They had made him think he might get to live out his purpose again.What would he do without them?  He replays the tape several times,until eventually he simply puts it on loop and lets it run while hefloats about the town, aimless. He never ventures far from home, andthe sound of Sole’s voice is never quiet for long. Just a few secondsbetween plays, while the tape rewinds. He answers to no one, andafter a few months, no one in the settlement tries to coax anythingout of him. He’s left to float the streets, the quiet hum of hisengines and Sole’s voice the only sound the bot makes.

[gishwheshistorian]

Rhino Hunt Rules and Item List

February 12 2011

Dearest Rhino Puzzlers

Your clever participation in Project Rhino has been most pleasing.

And now it is time for the next phase…the RHINO SCAVENGER HUNT…

RULES AND REGULATIONS (these are designed to optimize confusion and red-tape):

As you have already demonstrated your strengths working in teams, we will continue this adventure IN TEAMS with points being awarded according to the master list of scavenger items below.

Now, because I am capricious and arbitrary, I have changed the rules already. I said the first 200 people to respond could go on to the next round, but that’s bullshit. I lied. Everyone can go on to the next round.

However, I’m going to award points to the teams according to how quickly they deciphered my email address and sent me a message.

Team 3 – 50 points

Team 2 – 45 points

Team 5 – 40 points

Team 4 – 35 points

Team 1 – 30 points

(There is no team 6. I lied about that too.)

1.  Each item below must be submitted electronically to this endangeredspecies email address  ON OR BEFORE 2:27 PM, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME. Late submissions will be scoffed at and disqualified.

2.  All photographic/video submissions must be undoctored! No photo-shop! If I determine that you have forged any of these items, i.e. digitally layered an image of a cockroach on a croissant over an image of the Eiffel Tower, I will deduct 50 points from your team’s total score and I will make a voodoo doll of you and stick it with pins. This is not a photo manipulation contest. If you want the points, you must really have a photo of a person on the Yangtze holding a puzzle piece.

3.  All photos require you to show one of your team’s puzzle pieces with the team number showing in order to be credited the points.

4.  Once you submit an image to me. I may put it up on a website or in a museum, so if you don’t want pictures of your naughty bits circulated on the web, don’t send them to me.

5.  Only one of each item can be submitted from each team. Duplicates will be discarded.

6.  Only those individuals on a team who submit at least one scavenger hunt item will be considered a “member of the winning team.” In other words, if you are currently a member of team 5, but you don’t personally submit, by email, one of the items listed below, you will not, in the final tally, be considered a member of the winning team. You must participate to be a winner.

7.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM NUMBER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOUR EFFORTS!

8.  All entries will be judged by me, Misha Collins, and I will determine whether the entry is valid.  My decision will be final  - no matter how many times you email, pleading for another chance, there will be no mercy.

9.  The team that has accumulated the most points by the deadline will be the winning team.  There will be only one winning team. Second and third place are not “silver” and “bronze,” they are simply losers. This is a cut-throat, winner-take-all situation.

10.  Winners will receive the ever-lasting admiration of their peers and something awesome from me. I’m not going to tell you awesome thing is yet (because I don’t know), but I promise it will make your friends jealous.

MASTER LIST OF SCAVENGER ITEMS:

1.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece standing near (or far) from an actual rhinoceros (or reasonable facsimile of a rhinoceros) – 9 points

2.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece with any President, Prime Minister or Supreme Ruler – 8 points

3.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece with Jim Beaver in which both the person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece and Jim Beaver have cigars in their mouths – 14 points

4.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece standing next to fully decorated as a Christmas tree – 13 points

5.  A photo or video of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece dancing the hora and lighting a menorah – 16 points

6.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece, sitting next to a lime jello mold with a piece of the Berlin wall suspended in it – 19 points

7.  A video of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece(s) setting up a tent on a traffic island (must also unroll a sleeping bag and get in it and zip the tent shut) – 15 points

8.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece and 3 parking tickets made out to the same license plate number – 17 points

9.  A video of a live mouse or gerbil and an authentic rhino puzzle piece in a Barbie’s dream house – 9 points

10. A video of a 5 year old child (or younger) playing any song by the Sex Pistols on a saxophone – 17 points

11.  A video of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece singing an original song of 43 seconds in duration – 7.5 points

12.  A photo of a cockroach on a croissant with the Eiffel Tower in the background – 19 points

13.  A video of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece bestowing an act of random kindness for a complete stranger – 30 points

14.  A video of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece(s) projecting an image at least 20 feet wide of the attached photo on an exterior wall of a federalgovernment building at night  - 30 points

15.  A photo of a child swimming/bathing in a tub full of cranberries -  22 points

16.  A photo of a man standing next to a sheep. The sheep must have a German flag draped over it’s back - 26 points

17. A photo of a skateboarder wearing a wig in front of Buckingham Palace - 21 points

18.  Written or photographic proof of the existence of life after death - 16 points

19. A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece in a Russian MIG fighter jet (any class of MIG will suffice) - 31 points

20.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece while being carried by a firefighter in front of a fire truck - 11 points

21.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece in a small, motor-less watercraft on the Yangtze River  - 27 points

22.  A photo of a person holding an authentic rhino puzzle piece with me while I’m wearing a single glittering, fingerless glove - 33 points

Break a leg!

Misha                        

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can find more hunt commandments and item lists on our blog.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.