#the wind chill is as low as -15 today like. girl come on

[sleepyhurts]

not me looking at the temperature and having to blink my eyes to assure myself i was reading the right thing because it said 1 degree F is our low for today. like hello?? it's currently 11 degrees but 'feels like 6 with the wind' and i'm just like ok where are my warmest blankies i need to eat some soup and snuggle up for the third day in a row

[hitsuackerman]

Unpredictable (Overhaul x Reader) pt.19

a/n: so... uhh... nothing much happens here but the last part is worth it :’) i guess? hope ya’ll like this nonetheless! 

warnings: this cannot be read solo

Links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14, part 15, part 16, part 17, part 18, part 20

Masterlist to my other fics: here :)

Overhaul’s waiting list: @jjk-biased @infinite-universe-love @dirtypride @blackymomo03 @azzie @purple-rabanito​ @meximorrita @awesomeee19​​ @celestial-kanzakii​ @laure-lo​ @team-wang-puppy​ @aydience-world​ @choros-main-hoe​ @colorseeingchick​  @but-kairis-not-that-smart (i cant seem to tag again :( hope this lands in your timelines!)

Two days since that fated encounter with Chronostasis, you were now left with a vacant rest day. And where better place to spend it than with Dr. Hanayaka. Setting an appointment with him, as he liked to call it, you were tasked to help with the blood pressure for each patient he had. Luckily, his schedule wasn’t that straining.

“So you mean to say, his henchman met with you in secret?” Gei asked and raised an eyebrow. With his stethoscope resting on his shoulder and white coat on, it was sometimes hard to believe that this flamboyant man was a well respected doctor. “And handed you trash man’s sim card?”

“Yeah. I’ve already checked the contents of the sim and there’s not a lot to go on.” Aside from your messages, the contents of his inbox were that of an average man’s. Expecting some tea about his trade or even important numbers of other villains, you had to think whether or not Chrono deleted some or not.

“And what about that plan of yours, hmm?” Gei fixed his eyelashes before staring back at you. “What if it backfires and Chrono takes the blame?”

“He won’t. My instructions were clear and I set a time frame as well. Just something to please the heroes for setting me up.”

“You movin over to the dark side, baby girl?”

“Just balancing things out.” You shrugged. “Levi made it clear that they shouldn’t interfere with my relationship with Overhaul. Even though I’m on justice’s side, I still want to tip the scales a bit due to personal reasons.”

“Wouldn’t your badge and title be removed if they found out? And why in Todrick’s name are you so chill with this topic?! Are you certain you don’t have a bug on you?” Your friend eyed you down so quickly. Worried that policemen might end up barging inside his office.

“Don’t worry. I’m wearing new clothes so there’s no way they can. Besides, I’m being as cautious as ever. Seriousness aside, I do have some information you might want to feast on.” You smirked at the mental image of a maskless Chrono.

“Spill…” Gei shifted in his seat and leaned in closer. The look on your face only meant one thing.

“Okay, so Overhaul’s right hand man was the one who met me right? Well~ He took off his mask and I will have to admit the man looked hella fine~”

“Describe! Describe!”

“For starters, he has bluish-gray eyes. Though he looks like he wants to kill a person right there and then, he probably could since his jaw was rather prominent. His voice without the mask is different too.” You watched as Gei listened with such focus. “But, if I were to be honest, describing him doesn’t do him good. He looks really handsome.”

“Why is it always the villains who look good?” Gei commented with a pout. “Hawks aside, because that man is something else, but they just hit different you know?”

“That’s true. Shame they have to wear those masks, though.”

“On the contrary, I think it’s good that they do. Otherwise they’d have to endure the wrath of fan girls.”

“Right. Also feels good when they trust you enough to show what’s behind the mask.” Nodding at your own statement, the memory of having lunch with Overhaul came back. With no given warning, he took off his mask and casually drank water. Realizing that he had done it on purpose, a tiny smile formed on your mouth.

“If you miss him that bad, just call him.”

“He changed numbers and I’m not that desperate to ask Chrono for it. Nao said in due time he’ll contact me but the chances of that are negative.”

“Honey, it’s the modern era. Women aren’t as shy as they were before. If you want something, go and get it. If it is a guy’s new number, then go ahead. It’s not just men who make the first move. And besides, I think Overhoe would be surprised if you just suddenly ring his doorbell.”

“You do realize, I do not have the same confidence as you.”

“Fake it till you make it, boo.” He snapped his fingers in a z-formation.

“You’ve been watching Soopernatural again, haven’t you?”

“Okay, first off, Jenred Padackles is a god and I would worship his feet. Second, that show has references to everything and you can’t deny that.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Standing up from the sofa, you stretched your limbs. “Anyway, I gotta scram.”

“Where you headin’ off to missy?”

“I have to meet up with Nao regarding the Fukuo Kai case.”

“But it’s your day off. Get a life and do something else other than work, (n/n).” Gei threw a pen to your direction but you dodged it effortlessly. “Don’t make me tell your father.”

“It’s only for a few minutes. It’s in preparation for tomorrow.” Not bothering to wait, you exited the room and sofly closed the doors to his office. Time spent with Gei was always an eye opener. However, it still wasn’t enough for you to stoop so low and ring his doorbell.

Making your way out of the hospital, you took a quick stop to the vending machines and chose a cold cafe au lait. Perfect for the hot and humid weather Japan had to offer. Feeling the cold liquid running down your throat was amazing and within seconds, you downed the whole drink. Tossing the empty bottle to the recycle bin, a gust of wind caused you to lose balance.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“I have a meeting to attend to Hawks.” Hawks took his visors off and ruffled his wings. Offering to buy him a drink, he chose a tetra pack of  apple juice. Walking to the vacant bench, you followed him and decided that perhaps his visit would be worth it. “So what did the bird hear today?”

“Twice and Toga Himiko.”

“League of-” Then it hit you. “I see. Since when?”

“Yesterday. One of my informants saw them entering the base and left late at night. They didn’t look too happy about it, though.” Lowering his headphones, he ruffled his hair and stared at the clear blue skies. “Do what you will with this information. Just thought I’d let you know.”

“How and why do you even bother?”

“I work for the HPSC dove. If I don’t want them getting in my head, I gotta kick their crotches first.”

“That’s not the best analogy.”

“Still works though.” He winked and put on his headphones and visors back. Standing up, he offered a hand and you accepted it. Tailing you, Hawks was now opening the door for your car. “And one more thing, another of my birdies caught the scent of the quirk erasing bullets nearing its completion stages. Probably 80% now.”

“That’s fast.” You had to admit.

“Heard he’s been pissed. Be careful baby bird.” Hawks closed your door and saluted before flying off.

80%? That was enough information to speed up the Shie Hassaikai raid. Reaching out for your bag, you took the burner phone you recently purchased and reread each message the both of you exchanged. With two League of Villains now part of the yakuza, the possibility of casualties was much higher now.

Within minutes, you were now on the road. Fingers tightly wrapping the steering wheel. Your thumb bouncing with growing guilt at choosing to hide what Hawks had just said. Of course this wasn’t to ensure his victory, it was to even the field, right? It was the pettiness taking over you and Nighteye going against his words. It had to be.

Turning towards the precinct, you saw your designated parking area. The basement parking was a bit crowded today.

Heading towards the meeting room Tsukauchi had prepared for the small info sharing, you greeted fellow coworkers and kept conversation till you disappeared around the corner. Not too long after, you were now fiddling with your fingers. Basking in the silence till the doors opened revealing your partner and Shinezu. Both men took their seats and commenced the meeting.

“So, Shinezu will be tagging along.” He nodded at your coworker who seemed to be trembling at the thought. “It’ll do you good, Shinez. Trust me.”

“I-I know, Tsukau-kun.” He adjusted his tie, loosening it a bit. “I just think I’m not cut out for this mission you know? I do better behind the scenes.”

“While I believe that’s true, the 4th division works best when you’re around.”

“That’s true.” You agreed. Shinezu may not be the most social cookie out there but his brain was close to Namase. He also had the knack of coming up with solutions when things went wrong. All he needed was to amp his social skills. “We all know the 4th division leader is weak for you.”

“Not t-true.”

“All too true. You’ll be fine, Shinez. Have I ever lied to you?”

When the raven-haired man finally nodded his head, Tsukauchi cleared his throat and relayed the plans for tomorrow. It was the standard undercover data gathering in your books.

“So, to recap, the 4th division will be handling the snooping and we’ll remain on guard should all else fail?” You repeated the information given. Tsukauchi scratched his chin and nodded. Confirming that you had fully understood his message. “All this should happen within 5 hours. Got it. That’s quite cramped but manageable.”

“5 hours was the only allotted time I could fit in.” He scratched his nape and looked away. “You were right when I had to take it slow with my cases.”

“I’m not one to comment~” Waving the conversation aside, you stood up and the others followed.

With the short meeting now over, Tsukauchi and you were now seated in the break room. Cups of coffee present as you exchanged more information about your days and current mission. For a brief moment, despite him not being a part of the Shie Hassaikai Raid, you wanted to pour every single information you had just gained from Hawks. The lingering guilt was much more present now.

“You’re spacing out.” He snapped his fingers in front of you. “You alright?”

“Aside from the growing problem of trashman, I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.” Taking a sip from your coffee, the usual taste of bitterness was strong today. “Nothing to worry about~”

“You should go home, (n/n). I already took up a portion of your time. Any more and I might drown from embarrassment.”

“That’s gross. Even coming from you.” Kicking him from under the table, the two of you laughed before chugging the remaining drops of coffee. “I will take that offer though. Need me some beauty sleep before shit happens again. See ya!”

Hours had passed and you were now stuffing your face with chips. He was right when he said you had purchased too much but you weren’t complaining. The movie playing now was one of your favorites, Prisoner. Gake Jyllenhall was divine in this movie. It was always the twist of the movie that kept you watching it over and over again.

“I wonder if we had watched this… would the wall pinning  happen?” You thought out loud. Shaking your thoughts away from him, you stopped the movie and stored the chips.

Now that you were settled in bed, Overhaul’s jacket rested on top of you. By now, his scent had disappeared and was now replaced by yours. Grabbing your phone, you opened the messaging app and clicked on a certain conversation. Rereading his messages was not the best idea but at least you would be able to relive whatever memories you had created.

Glancing at your desk calendar, in just two months time, you would meet him again. Would things still be the same? Or would things go back to the way they were? Tucking your phone under the unused pillow, you willed yourself to sleep and surprisingly succeeded.

Waking up not so refreshed happened again. But, nothing out of the ordinary. Not being a morning person, you dragged your body away from the bed and began the necessary clothes. Deciding to just buy breakfast, it took you less than an hour to lock your doors and head over to the parking lot.

Making your way up the steps, you met up with Shinezu.

“You look like shit, Shinez.” You teased him. “Take a chill pill.”

“I already did. But it’s still not working. This would be the first case in a while where I’ll interact with others.” Leading the way, the both of you were now walking through the empty hallways. The sounds of your footsteps muffled by the cheap carpeted floors. “How do you guys even manage to survive situations like these?”

“By taking it one step at a time~” Not the best advice for someone who’s socially challenged but it is what it is.

Opening the doors for you, the both of you entered the room and took your designated seats. A bunch of people from the 4th division were now present. Tsukauchi had not yet arrived but it was still early so it was excusable. Exchanging a few small talk, you caught up with what the 4th division was up to till the doors finally opened.

“Good morning everyone.” Tsukauchi greeted. Feet glued to his spot. His eyesight focused on you. “Before we head out, we have a special guest joining us.”

“Holy shit.” Shinezu uttered under his breath.

- - - - -

a/n: shits bout to go down again! I would like to take this time to thank each one of you who take the time to read this! Unpredictable was supposedly a 10 chapter story but we bout to reach 20 now! i cant really respond to your comments as much but i read all of ‘em and they always make my day :’) my schedule has just been very hectic these days huhu and yeas that ends my rant~ see ya’ll next week! :* and yes, the waiting list is still open :)

[rimaiahwrites]

Slumber party—

Part five

Israel was sitting in her room with a thick book pressed in between her fingers while her cute round glasses hung on the tip of her nose. Since it was Friday, It was a chill day for her. She had no chores or errands to run because she had gotten them all done the day before, so that meant it was just going to be herself, her books, silence, And her baby turtle Franklin, of course. He was cute, small and a bit smelly but he was one of her first friend.

Israel slightly jumped from the screeching sound of her window Flying open and hitting her wall, with a loud slam.

The weather was a bit breezy today but Israel loved when it was like this. The sound of the wind blowing against her window and The soothing clicks and clacks of her mother Wind chimes hitting against each other. It triggered a feeling In her that was hard to explain... It brought her back to a place she missed dearly, her childhood. Summers at her grandparents house playing outside, and sleeping in a full size bed with four of her cousins, scratched up together with nothing to cool them down but the loud fan in the window.

it was a feeling that only lasted seconds before life pulled her back to the harsh reality that she was grown and had responsibilities.

She got up from her window seat and shut it. She glanced out the window and her eyes drifted over to the site of her parents loading the car up with what looked to be suit cases. Her eyes frowned in confusion before she throw her book on the bed and jogged down the crackling stairs. The front door opened before she could reach the bottom of the stairs, her mom came in frantically looking around the room like she was looking for something.

"Mom where are y'all going?" She asked concerned at this point. She had only seen her mother like this once, and that was when her oldest brother got arrested. That was another story for a different day.

Isabel finally grabbed her keys and headed for the door not even hearing her daughters question. Israel followed her outside and grabbed the car door before she could close it. "Where are you going? What happened?" Her mother let out a huff since she was out of breath from running around the house grabbing things.

"your aunt got into a really bad accident this morning, so me and your dad is catching a flight to Chicago to make sure she already, this was the earliest flight we could catch. We're probably gonna have to stay a week or two since she has no one to take care of her. Call and Tell your brothers we're leaving, and make sure to lock the door." Her mom yelled out the car window as her father drove out of the driveway slowly as Israel stood there dumbfounded by the news. She watched as they drove away. It more then odd but why would her mother lie about her sister being in a car crash? She shrugged before going back into the house.

She sat on her knees in front of the couch with her Palms facing The ceiling saying a quick prayer for her aunt before hopping up with a squeal.

She felt bad for her aunt...(even though she only met her once when she was about ten) she really did....but that didn't mean she wasn't excited to have the whole house to herself for the day. Having three older brothers will leave you drained and in-dire need to some privacy and alone time.

She decided it was the perfect time for her pamper routine she tried to do every week.

She jogged up the stairs before grabbing her speaker and phone. She Blue-toothed it to the speaker. Soothing music was a very important part of the routine, or else it was boring. She turn on her Noel soul/feminine empowering play list. Which was full of, erykah-badu, Ari Lennox, Lauryn Hill and Solange, plus more amazing female artists.

She ran her bath water hot, and clear of soap since she was very sensitive in her lower half area. She pull flower prattles in the water to make it look pretty before adding a few drops of some scented oils.

Her bathroom smelled of vanilla.

She stood in-front of her bathroom mirror, slowly swaying her body to the beat and voice of Ari Lennox. Backseat.

Israel dragged her oversized shirt over her head, and slowly dragged the thick fabric of her white sweatpants down her smooth pretty brown legs. She turned away from the mirror and dipped her foot in first before fulling sitting down in the hot water. She took a breath of relief.

She reached over her bathtub to grabbed the book she was reading. 'How to embrace your feminine' it read on the cover, in big bold pink lettering. She was very interested in the topic lately. And it was differently helping her embrace her feminine side more and more. Her mother, of course taught her the basics such as, how to properly clean herself and to cross her legs when she sat, but it was so much more to it then just making sure to cross your legs when you sit.

It was WAY deeper then that. It was the way you dressed, acted, speak.

When you hear that it may seem a bit intimidating but it truly changed the way the whole world looked at you, especially as a brown/dark skin women, Since they were seen as aggressive, anger, and bitter by Society for whatever reason.

It hurt a bit to know you have to change yourself for society to except you, but Israel wanted this. Ever since she was a young girl but never knew how To express her girly side since she was mainly around her older brothers.

A hour later, her music was interrupted by her phone ringing and she sat her book down on her sink before standing up from the water and stepping out, dripping water everywhere.

"Erik." She whispered, a grin spreading on her glossy lips, as she stared down at her phone screen. She jumped on her bed and unplugged it. "hello?" She answered, her voice getting softly automatically.

"Wassup babygirl, what you doing?" He asked, putting his phone on speaker so he could set it down on the floor next to him. Grunting as he pulled himself up, his chin tapping the pull up bar slightly before he lower himself, repeating it over.

She stood up from her bed and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around her breasts. She walked back into her bathroom and drained the now lukewarm bath water. "just got out the tube, and about to shave, exfoliate and put a face mask on." She giggled softly.

"Damn that sounds good as fuck right now, you mind coming over and pampering me?" He half joke, chuckling before jumping down from the pull-up bar to grab his ice cold water. She laughed throwing her head back. "Awww poor baby, you sore?" He sighed laying down on his mat. his hands on his head, feeling the soreness really kick in. It was most likely gonna be worst tomorrow.

"Hell yeah...my legs, arms and stomach feel like they just ran over."

"Why do you work yourself so hard Erik?" Things got quite on his side, she looked at her screen wondering why he was speaking. He was staring off into the distance with his lip in between his teeth. "Because I got some important shit to get done..." he tailed off.

"Life changing shit. Get ready I'm about to pick you up." She chuckled rolling her eyes, dipping her fingers in to the clay face mask that she was in love with. It made her skin so soft and scar free. It was a very important part of her skin care routine.

"How you know I wanna go somewhere with you?" He chuckled standing up from the floor taking the phone with him.

"Cuz you ain't got shit else to do." She opened and closed her mouth, offended but know he was right.

"Fine I guess, but this time I get to stay out how ever late I want since my parents are out of town." She cheered brightly. Smiling into the camera with her gray face mask on. Then She gasped As a genius idea popped into her head. "Oh my gosh can we have a sleep over at your house? That would be so fun!" Erik on the other side of the phone sorted. "A sleep over? What is this 5th grade?" Well shit. Israel thought putting a pout on her face.

"Well I wouldn't know since I never got to have a sleep over or go to a sleep over before of my parents." Having strict parents was a struggle. She knew that they only did it to protect her but she feels like she missed out on a lot stuff when she was a child.

"We ain't having no damn sleep over." He said sternly, pouring some cold water in his glass water bottle. Israel pout got bigger but Erik ignored her. Israel stomped her bare foot on the ground, the smacking sound catching his attention. "Please? Pleeeeeeease! We can get candy, movies blankets the whole thing....pretty please? With a cherry on top?" Erik sighed harshly staring at her with a bored expression. "Alright whatever Sasha, start packing ya shit, imma be there in like 30 minutes." He said chuckling before hanging up on her before she could ask why he called her Sasha. She laughed at the fact that he thought it was only gonna take her 30 minutes to get ready.

Israel shrugged and ran back into her bathroom to shaved, deep condition her kinky curls and moistures her whole body.

a horn honk was heard two times and Israel already knew it was Erik so she didn't bother looking out the window. She ran down the stairs and out the front door with her big brightly blue duffel bag. She locked the door before skipping off the porch happily, with a big grin on her face, Her big duffle bag swinging around from her running.

"Look at her spoiled goofy ass." He mumbled to himself smirking.

"You're 2 hours and 15 minutes late." She stated jokily because sliding into the passenger seat. He chuckled dryly. "Ha ha I was low key rethinking this whole thing to be honest."

Bold.

Israel had been trying to think of a word to describe him and one of them was bold. He didn't really have a filter...or maybe he just didn't really care about other people's feelings. Not saying that it hurt her feeling because she knew he was only joking...probably.

"Stop acting like you wasn't the one that asked me to come with you. You don't be having anything to do ether." She assed back, cutting her eyes at him. Only making him chuckled.

"What the fuck is in that bag? You pack ya whole room?" She rolled her eyes before unzipping it to show him everything.

"No, I just brought some of my favorite movies, some popcorn and the rest is some clothes and stuff."

"The notebook?" He said eyeing it in disgusted, picking it up and throwing it back into her bag.

"What? What's wrong with the notebook? It's a really sad and loving story." She defended her favorite movie hugging it to her chest. "That shit is so soppy-" she smacked her lips. "Ok and? You probably only watch thug where the main character always dies in the end from some gang related shit." Erik sat quietly because she was right. She snickered shaking her head.

"Yeah but that's real life shit, niggas die every in the hood but how likely is it that you meet this girl in high school, y'all parents make y'all break up on some Romeo and Juliet type shit then years later y'all find each other when one of y'all about to get married then y'all fuck fall in love again them find out whole time the bitch had short term memory lose-" Israel gasped at his harsh words, smacking him on the arm. "Erik!" She screamed covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

"That's shit is just not possible." He shrugged stopping at a red light.

"You're just looking at it In the wrong way- she grabbed the movie case looking at the back of it. -think of it like this, they had a love so strong that even years later they were still in love with each other, even after ally found love again there was no love compared to the love she had for Noah." She sighed batting her eyelashes towards the blue sky, like she looking at the love of her life.

"It's a beautiful story Erik." He rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath. "I still don't want to watch that shit but ok."

-

Erik unlocked his front door to his house and Israel stepped in.

His house smelled like him- was the first thing Israel thought, while spinning around to get a full look at the house from the door way.

Since it was a loft his Kitchen, living room and bedroom was all in one room, basically, Except you had to go up stairs to get to his bed. And it was all decorated with a African theme. Masks and ancient looking spears and weapons hung on the wall almost like in a museum. Israel was so intrigued She forgot Erik was even standing there. "Wow..." she whispered reaching out to touch The long sliver spear. "You like it?" Erik whispered in her ear making goosebumps appear on her arms The back of her neck. "Yeah...it's beautiful, where you get it? Is it real?" She said dragging her finger tips down the front of it feeling it's smooth texture. "You mean is it from a real African tribe? Yes it's is, it from a tribe of women." Israel's eyes lit up brightly.

"You have so many cool things up here." He nodded watching her look closely at everything. He went to the kitchen to let her explore a little while he popped the popcorn for the movie. Eventually she walked into the kitchen to find Erik pouring the bag of popcorn into a big bowl for the both of them to share.

"You have a beautiful home." She complemented him as he passed the bowl over for her to grab some. She stuffed her mouth full as she grabbed the bowl. "Thanks, Damn slow down mamas it's not gonna run from you shit." He mumbled watching her barely be able to swallow the rest that was in her mouth before a another hand full was in her mouth. "My bad, it's a habit." She laughed chewing slowly now.

"Nah yo ass just always hungry." He joked. teasingly poking her in the side, making her squirm from how ticklish she was.

"stop that!" She groans smacking his hand before grabbing a another handful of pop corn.

______

Israel plopped down on Erik's bed as he turned on his projector and set everything up for the movie.

She loved it here, his whole loft was a vibe. From the front door to his bedroom— his bedroom was probably her favorite part since she has never really seen anything like this.

"What are we watching?" Israel asked innocently looking up at him through her eyelashes.

"IT." He shrugged clicking on the movie before walking back over to the bed to sit next to her.

"but...I don't want to watch it..." she tilted her head to the side, sticking her bottom lip out at him. "Oh come on you cry baby you'll be fine, ain't no clown ass nigga bout to come in here and get you, and if they tried I'll kill his ass." He said making her laugh out. "I still don't want to watch this shit, imma be scared to night...I'm going to be by myself all weekend most likely and you live all the way out here so what you gonna do?" He only chuckled and hushed her pressing play on the movie.

Israel hide herself on the side of Erik as it began.

-

A hour and 5 minutes later A jump scare popped on the screen and Israel jerked so hard the popcorn spilled over landing on Erik's lap. Erik on the other hand was unfazed and haven't jumped not once yet, and it was annoying Israel. "You're making me look like a scary cat damn...at least jump once." She mumbled cutting her eyes his way. "Because it's not scary, you just a pussy." She gasped and smack him on the arm playfully. He chuckled and throw a piece of popcorn at her face that she throw back without a hesitation and then that turned into a popcorn fight.

Israel throw a hand full of popcorn and Erik won by dumping the whole bowl onto her head. "Erik! That's not fair!" He stuck his tongue out at her and hopped off the bed before she could throw more at him. "I won fair and Square, don't be a sore loser." He chuckled as she sat on her legs with a pout on her face and her arms crossed over her chest with the bowl on her head. "Stop making that face before I come over there and attack your cute ass."

"You always cheat when we play games....like last night when we played 8 ball-"

"I didn't cheat you just trying to make yourself feel better because you know you suck ass." Israel mouth hang open in fake shock and Erik tossed a piece of popcorn into it. She couldn't help but laugh at his dumb ass as he yelled "buckets!"

He pick up the remote and pressed Pause on the movie that they had completely forgot about and scooped some of the thrown popcorn back into the bowl. "Imma go get my vacuum, I'll be right back." Israel Nodded her head, popping a few m&m's in her mouth.

It was popcorn literally everywhere and Israel felt kinda bad that he was the only one trying to clean even though she helped make the mess. She didn't want him to think she was a horrible guest so she started to push the popcorn up in a pile in the middle the bed. As she was reaching over to grabbed more popcorn she stretched her leg out accidentally kicking something off of the bed. It made a loud crashing sound and Israel prayed that she didn't break anything. She was sure Erik would ripe her head off if she did.

She turn around and pecked over the side of the bed. It was a laptop- a Mac book to be exact. A two Thousand dollar laptop. "Shit." She mumbled reaching over to grab it by the screen. She plunged it back into the charger and the screen popped on. it was unlocked which was surprising since not many people left their laptops or phone without a password.

She hummed and focused on what was on the screen. It was a girl with pink prissy Lingerie and tall white platform heels on. Her makeup was bright and her curls were loose and blonde. It caught Israel's attention immediately. It looked to be on Tumblr but she wasn't quite sure. She knew it look familiar to the app that her cousin jazz spent hours. Jazz had tried her to get into it but Israel just wasn't really fascinated by the app. It looked boring and plan to her.

And eventually after looking at the picture for a couple of seconds Her Curiosity got the best of her And soon her fingertips were moving to the scrolling pad and she was invading his privacy.

The page was full of beautiful girls dressed in cute girly outfits and pigtails and she was hooked. She was already a whore for fashion so she was always up for finding and exploring with different aesthetic's. And this was definitely one that she was not TO familiar with. She has dressed in prissy and girly things of course since she was a girly girl but never to this Extreme. The hair bows butterfly clips, knee-high socks pastel color platforms and tutus styled with crap tops were so cute to her. It was nothing like the clothes she had in her closet.

Her style had multiple personalities and this was one that she definitely wanted to add to the Collection. Then something Else caught her attention, the words DDLG, princess, daddy, little, and dom/sub printed everywhere on the site. One girl put #miss my daddydom in her caption and Israel went to click on the tag curious as to what that meant. She knew the girl wasn't talking about her father with the type of picture that went with the caption clearly.

She was so lost in Computer and finding new pages that she didn't hear or see Erik walk back into the room...not until the laptop was being snatched away from her hands. She gasped and scramble to get her words out. "Why were you on my shit?" He hissed slowly pressing his body against hers making her lay flat on the bed with her palms gripping the cushion. She let out a shaky breath turning her head avoiding his eyes. "I'm sorry I-it was a accident-" He let out a deep and scary chuckled that made her blood run cold.

It was like he was a completely different person.

"So you accidentally turn my laptop on and was looking through my shit?" He asked. She then realized how stupid that sounded how much trouble she had just got herself into. She should have knew that he would snap like that since he did that the first she got in his car and was looking through his shit. "Well n-no I just meant I didn't do it intentionally....I accidentally kicked your laptop off the couch while I trying to clean up the popcorn and your laptop popped on and then the cute ass outfits that girl had on caught my attention and the next thing I knew I was scrolling through your st-uff." She whispered trying to Swallow the lamp that was Forming in her throat. The tears filled her waterline and her vision became blurry. Erik's face softened a bit and he sat her up on her butt. With tears now running down her face and a little pout silently asking for forgiveness.

Erik's big thumbs ran across her cheeks taking the tears with it. He let out a deep breath before pulling her head up in the air so that she was looking at him. "Stop all that crying shit, look at me." He demanded. Her doe eyes stared into his. "It's alright just don't be looking through my stuff without my permission, I hate that shit."

She nodded and they sat in silent until her Curiosity got the best of her. "What is...that?....i really like the way they dress... it's cute." She said batting her eyelashes trying to lighten the mood. Erik ran his hand down his face cracking a small smile before resting his hand on his chin, Staring at her.

"You like... the outfits? the only thing you saw was the outfits?" She shrugged. "I mean some of them were half naked but nothing more then their panties and bras" He plotted down on the bed next to her pulling her down with him so they were both laying down staring at each other. "I got some filthy shit on there I don't think you're innocent ass would be able to handle." She broke out into a fit of laughter, she laughed so hard tears came to her eyes. She didn't know exactly why it was so funny to her but it was- maybe it was the fact that she couldn't see Erik as a 'filthy' man. Erik didn't find it as funny as she did. Once she saw he wasn't laughing she stoped, and bit her lip. "Sorry."

"Why you laughing tho?" She shrugged again.

"I just...don't see you as- I don't know a dirty man. When I think of a 'dirty man' I think of a man that's really  really sexual. You talk dirty sometimes but you even talk about your sex life that much- a matter of fact you never talk about you sex life like ever, I mean expect for that one night but other then that you don't." He give her a teasing grin before pulling her closer by wrapping a arm around her waist.

"you want me to talk about my sex life?" She blush And smacked him on his chest, it vibrating from his deep laugh. "No of course not...unless?" She mumbled before placing her hand over her face to hide her embarrassment. "How you gonna say that then get embarrassed?"

He lick his thick lips slowly watching her peck through her fingers with a small smile on her face. "I just mean like....what so interesting about it? My cousin literally tells me everything about her and her man sex life so I'm sure I can handle what goes on in yours."

"'ight bet." He smirked getting up from the couch And over to the cabinet that was across the room. He grabbed a key that was hanging a above it and unlocked the cabinet. Israel leaned over to try and see what was in it but his bold ass shoulders were in the way of her view. Soon he pulled out a dvd case with no picture on the front and popped it in. He jumped back onto the bed with her, he watched the screen load while Israel starred holes into his face.

"What did you just put in?" She asked as she got a bit suspicious. His behavior had changed she could tell by the way his body shifted and the look on his face. It was hard again with a slight smirk glazing his lips. His eyes hazy and low. He shrugged at her question just as she did not to long ago to him.

He pressed play and the smirk he had on his face turned into a full on grin when a dark room with little to no light in it. The only light was a red LED lightbulb that gave the room a dark glow. Israel frowned as she tried to figure out what was happening. Realization hit her when she saw Erik come into the camera shot with a limp girl laying in his arms. She almost looked....lifeless with the way her arms just flopped around.

Erik laid her in the bed and took what looked to be rope from the dresser next to the bed. He brought her arms up to the headboard and tied them tightly. Since the girl was unconscious he had no problem tying her up. He kinda wished she was awake cause he liked the struggle sometimes. After he tired her arm and legs to the headboard he reached In the dresser again and pulled out a long white candle and a lighter. He sparked the lighter and the girl's finger twitched a bit and he grinned evilly knowing she was coming back. He lit the candle and let it malt slowly. The tip of the candle wax was clear now so he slowly pour it onto the back of the girl's legs since they were up in the air. She blotted awake in shook and in pain.

Israel slowly began to sink into her seat as chills were sent down her back, this wasn't something she has ever seen and he haven't even got started yet.

"You're awake.....how lovely of you to join me princess, how was your sleep." The girl breathing was heavy and loud but she calmed down when she saw it was just Erik. Erik ran his hand down her the valley of her breasts all the way down to her naked pussy.

Her body shivered slightly and jerk. "Just fuck me already Daddy!" The girl whin. He had already teased her to unconsciousness she was tired of his games.

"This is what you call foreplay, it's basically just getting the girl turned on before you start fucking her. Mainly because if she isn't wet it'll hurt her and won't feel as good for the guy ether." He answered before she could even ask because he knew she was going to ask. She clueless, poor thing.

She nodded trying to swallow her spit even though her mouth was dry. She was getting hot everywhere. Erik could tell by the way she squirmed and shifted in her seat. Her eyes were glued to the big tv screen. eyes watching his every movement, as crazy as it may sound she was slightly jealous of the girl on the screen. As she got older the more she craved to be touched by a man, she was definitely sexually frustrated and she just had to deal with it.

"Ok Erik I get it now we don't have to watch the whole thing." She huffed out a breath reaching out for the remote to turn it off but Erik snatched the remote from her.

"Nah you wanted to watch it so watch it." He snapped making her roll her eyes. They were now 15 minutes in and Erik was fucking the girl to tears. Her voice was horsed and almost gone with the way she was screaming for him to fuck her harder. Erik's body was glossy from the sweat that was dripping down in tear drops onto the girl's.

The tension in the room had gotten so thick that Israel was feeling a bit uneasy, her cheeks were hot and her hands were shaky but her eyes stayed on the screen.

This was probably the best porn she had ever seen- even though She hadn't searched and looked for porn on her own since she was semi traumatized from All the videos her cousins tried to get her to watch one night at a sleep over they had about a year ago. And all the videos that they showed her were videos of white girls fake moaning 'yes daddy give me that big thick cock' and ever since she it had been a big a turn off for her— but this? This was on a whole different level of sexy. The way his body moved mesmerized against the girl's. she couldn't help but imagine the girl as herself. In a deep arch gripping the sheets begging for him to let her cum.

Israel lip was sucked in between her teeth in a hungry manner and her feet played with each other on top of the blankets that were now at their feet.

"Erik..." he hummed at her, moving his eyes to hers. "Why are you showing me this?" He grabbed the remote and stopped the video.

"Because you asked to see it, don't ask me to show you for no shit like this again-" He mumbled taking the dvd out his dvd. "-cause clearly you can't handle it." He snapped, now facing her.

"I Didn't expect you to show me that..." she mumbled moving her eyes around the room to avoid his.

It was silent on both sides, Israel was more so embarrassed then amused like Erik was. "Why so quite now mamas?" He asked laying back on the bed.

"I feel...tingly, down there" He hummed, smirking. turning his face towards her. "You feel all hot and bothered?" She nodded her head before laying against his shoulder, in embarrassment.

The fact that she just admitted that to him was probably the most embarrassing thing she has every done.

"You want me to fix it?" He asked very softly, against the shell of her ear. She whimpered. "E, stop...can you put my movie in now?"

"You don't want daddy to help you?" He said in a jokily manner, Teasing her while poking her in the stomach.

"Erik stop teasing meeeee you're making it worse!" She whined pushing him off of her. "Nigga put my movie in." She demanded, pointing to the tv laughing nervously.

"Alright alright, Baby." He chuckled loudly before getting up to put her movie in.

Part 1 of 2

[perksofzen]

Strawberry and Sunflower

Hello everyone,this is my first imagine on Tumblr.I've been writing in Wattpad for sometime now and,today I have the courage to write on Tumblr too.I know some people here likes Tumblr more than wattpad but we have our own opinions on that and I totally respect it.

There are some accounts here on Tumblr that inspired me to give a shot on writing on Tumblr so thank you so much.

This is really not an imagine for starters,this is the first chapter of my HS fanfiction on Wattpad,Its called Baby Angel and I hope you like it.

Soon enough,I'll start doing some imagines in here so Im really hoping that my writings in here are welcome.

Thank you!

-S

🍓🌻

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

September 27,2018

The soft breeze of LA hit the people who is walking, who is doing good on their own. The street lamps are being lit as the dark starts to creep in. People are starting to go home in their home to be with their family.

A certain man couldn't help but longed for a home. He was just sat there on a bench, with his head hung low as the air brushes his curls.

It's been months now, he kept giving everyone a smile, like he's always used to but the media nor the people doesn't know what he's feeling or what's the real reason. All he could think about was her, he didn't mean to but when they broke up, he started to feel that maybe the certain French girl wasn't his endgame.

As he thinks, a beautiful smell invaded his senses and a hand with strawberry was put in front of him. He furrowed his eyebrows before moving his head to the side.

Soon, he was met by a fair girl who is looking at him straight to the eyes and his green eyes was met by a grey one,her raven black hair swayed back and forth while her pink plump lips have a small smile.

Somehow, the girl looked familiar to him.

"Looks like you need it"the girl said that made him surprised on the inside of how soft her voice.

Both of them just stared at each other before the girl motioned to her hand that held the strawberry.

The guy hesitated for a second before taking it.

"You'll love it"the girl smiled before placing the box of strawberries between them and popping one in her mouth.

"I reckon you love strawberries then"the guy said as he took a bite on it as the girl hummed happily. "I'm sorry, can I ask where did you get it?'know s'not a season for strawberries right now"

"I have my ways"the girl winked at him before taking another bite. "So, what is Harry Styles doing here?At almost 7 pm outside in LA?"

"Oh... Uhm nothing"Harry looked ahead after finishing a strawberry.

The girl groaned softly before looking at him,"You have that look, you know?"

"What look?"Harry was confused to her question that made him look back at her.

"That look! the look look thingy"the girl tried explained.

The girl means one thing.

The look of a broken man.

"I don't know what you mean right now"Harry shook his head along the girl sigh before silence creep to the both of them as the wind blew past them. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, not like you're not asking already"the girl shrugged, slowly making herself comfortable towards the popstar.

"Would you write a song for your ex?"Harry asked with that look again.

The girl was taken aback from his question but she immediately knew where was this coming from so she tried to help.

"I mean if I can't let my feelings or talk to someone about it, then yeah I'll write one but not if it's not necessary really, but it depends on the person"she said softly looking at guy beside him, "I-is this about the girl?What's her name?Cam... -Camille?"

"Yeah"Harry breathed out before leaning back to the bench. "Thanks for that"

"I'm sorry by the way but you're welcome, Mr. Styles"she smiled with a teasing smile because of what she called him making Harry chuckle a little before taking another strawberry.

"So, I reckon you like strawberry?"Harry then change the subject while motioning to the fruit in his hand before taking a bite, the sweetness immediately hit his tongue and remember that the girl didnt  answer his question earlier.

"Love it"she closed her eyes nodding her head making Harry chuckle again.

Another silence went passed as Harry continued eating the strawberries. Much to his surprise, he liked the strawberry. The way the juice surrounds in his mouth and the sweetness hitting in his palate, he liked the feeling of it.

The silence was broken when the girls phone rang startling them a little. She took out her phone seeing a text from her friend who is in her house with his her brother.

"Holy-Uhm hey, I gotta go now"The girl stood up from her seat as Harry look at her. "My friend is asking me to go home already"

"oh erm okay"Harry said, a little sad that she will go now, he liked her company already even though they barely spoken but he felt at ease, "Your strawberries"

"No, take it"She pushed the box to him again. "You need it more than I do right now"

"oh"Harry looked down at the strawberries.

"See you around, Harry"the girl smiled before turning around to walk to another direction.

Harry looked up and watch her back as she slowly walked away from him before he stood up when he realized something.

"What's your name?"Harry called.

"Noelle"she smiled turning back to him a second before walking away again.

"Noelle"he breathed out as the name started to burn in his mind.

Harry then widen his eyes knowing that name too well ever since he was 16 and he felt stupid for not recognizing her immediately.

He looked at her retreating back once again before he saw something at the Jean pocket of her jeans.

A sunflower patch.

-

"I'm so sorry I got home late"Noelle apologize.

"Yeah sure unless you want your mom and dad to kill me that you're still not home by 7 or 8"Andre sarcastically said as he stood up from his position on the couch.

Andre is one of Noelle's close friends who went to her house earlier to help her 15 year old brother on an assignment.

"and you're still scared of my Dad and chill, mom's not in LA"Noelle laughed fist bumping her brother in a way of greeting.

"Dude, he's Robert Downey,in that happy expression lies the scariness"he exclaimed.

"Oh shut up and go home to your grandma"she shoved him a little making them both laugh.

"Alright, night little Downey's"Andre smiled at them as he take his jacket off of the couch before walking out of the

house.

"So, how's the homework?"Noelle asked as she walked towards the kitchen to get some water.

"It was good, he really is a genius when it comes to music"Wesley Night Downey sighed dramatically. 

Noelle just chuckled at him knowing what her brother said is true.

As Noelle poured a glass of water for her while Wesley continued watching TV, the door then opened revealing their tired yet all smiles father.

"Aye Big Downey"Noelle and Wesley greeted.

"Ah my little Downey's"Robert grinned back fist bumping Wesley.

"Evening dad"Noelle greeted and walked to him to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Evening, Downey"Robert greeted back with a smile before looking at the glass in her hand. "Oh is this mine?Thanks, Elle"

"I-.. What?I'm not even gonna ask"Noelle huffed as Robert took the glass and drank in one gulp.

Noelle then just laugh at him knowing it always goes this way, her dad taking away everything she holds.

Then she remembered Harry on the bench, he looked really sad earlier that it made her approach him without a second thought.

I guess he was really heartbroken, she thought.

~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[plasticbullet]

BET YOU WON'T ANSWER THEM ALL

1: Full name

I've gotten creepy messages on here so I'm gonna keep that private lol

2: Age

27

3: 3 Fears

Abandonment, driving by semi-trucks, bugs

4: 3 things I love

Music, coffee, nature

5: 4 turn ons

Sense of humor, intelligence, height, big hands.. happy trails are sexy

6: 4 turn offs

If they're rude, judgy, closed-minded, or act fake

7: My best friend

Tammy

8: Sexual orientation

Straight

9: My best first date

I have no idea honestly. First dates are always weird

10: How tall am I

5′5″

11: What do I miss

Not having anxiety, traveling, when my boobs were bigger

12: What time was I born

11:30 pm

13: Favourite color

Yellow, green, blue

14: Do I have a crush

It’s more than a crush, but yes

15: Favourite quote

"This is cracking me out" - my kid

16: Favourite place

The forest, Havasupai, California

17: Favourite food

Just about anything Italian. Or with a lot of cheese

18: Do I use sarcasm

Pretty often

19: What am I listening to right now

Wind blowing through the window. It’s like 65 degrees here I love it

20: First thing I notice in a new person

If they seem nice or not

21: Shoe size

7 or 7.5 depending on the shoes

22: Eye color

Blue

23: Hair color

Reddish dark blonde

24: Favourite style of clothing

Grungy but hot

25: Ever done a prank call? Yes

27: Meaning behind my URL

I’ve answered this a couple times before, I’m too lazy

28: Favourite movie

Peanut Butter Falcon

29: Favourite song

All the ones that make me feel things the most

30: Favourite band

A Day to Remember, Brand New

31: How I feel right now

Relaxed

32: Someone I love

My son

33: My current relationship status

In something

34: My relationship with my parents

They’re cool

35: Favourite holiday

Christmas

36: Tattoos and piercing I have

Treble clef on the back of my neck, pierced ears

37: Tattoos and piercing I want

I’m good for now! Maybe more one day

38: The reason I joined Tumblr

I don’t even know, I’ve used this shit off and on since I was 16

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other? Nope!

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts? Yep

41: Have you ever kissed the last person you texted?

Nope

42: When did I last hold hands?

Held hands with my son today

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning? Like 20 minutes

44: Have you shaved your legs in the past three days? Yes

45: Where am I right now? In my room

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?

Probably one of my friends lol

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?

Loud unless I’m sleepyy

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? No

49: Am I excited for anything? 🎄🎄🎄

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?

Yepp I think so

51: How often do I wear a fake smile?

Sometimes if I don't want my kid to sense my stress. Or during boring conversations

52: When was the last time I hugged someone?

Today

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?

🤷🤷🤷

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?

I don’t think so

55: What is something I disliked about today?

I was super sleepy, slept until some stressy dreams woke me up, and can't go back to sleep 🙃

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

That guy from My Octopus Teacher

57: What do I think about most?

People I love, things I have to do, and the randomest shit imaginable

58: What’s my strangest talent?

I barely have any normal talents

59: Do I have any strange phobias? No

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? Behind it unless I feel cute

61: What was the last lie I told?

Something about Santa to my kid

62: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online? Depends!

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

I feel like ghosts are possible, our energy could keep existing in some ways after our body dies who knows. Aliens exist for sure. Just not anywhere near our planet imo

64: Do I believe in magic? No

65: Do I believe in luck? I believe in good karma

66: What’s the weather like right now?

Kinda chilly/breezy but nice

67: What was the last book I’ve read?

Read Fox in Socks to my kid

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline? No

69: Do I have any nicknames? Kind of

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?

One time a horse stepped on my foot and it was bruised for months lol

71: Do I spend money or save it? Both

72: Can I touch my nose with my tongue?

Noo! I just tried though hahah

73: Is there anything pink 10 feet from me?

A crayon

74: Favourite animal? Sloths but I love all animals

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?

Sleeping surprisingly

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?

I can't think of anyone I hate enough to make a good joke out of this

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?

Colorado Symphony version of The Stable Song by Gregory Alan Isakov

78: How can you win my heart?

Good conversations, make me laugh, show me you care, show me good music, etc

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?

Nice things, I don't know lol

80: What is my favorite word? Fuck

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr

I ♥️ all the ones I follow

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?

Realistically I would have a panic attack and say something stupid 😂

83: Do I have any relatives in jail? Not that I know of!

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?

Maybe the power to pause time so I could sleep or do whatever for however long I want without wasting any time. Or maybe the ability to teleport

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on? Idk I can't think of one

86: What is my current desktop picture?

It’s the default one, I don’t go on it very often lol

87: Had sex? Yes

88: Bought condoms? No the guys always did that

89: Gotten pregnant? Yes

90: Failed a class? No

91: Kissed a boy? Yes

92: Kissed a girl? Yes

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain? Yes

94: Had a job? Yes

95: Left the house without my wallet?

Yepp I used to forget it all the time

96: Bullied someone on the internet?

No I'm not a pussy ass bitch

97: Had sex in public?

If you count in a parked car, yes

98: Played on a sports team? Yes

99: Smoked weed? Yes

100: Did drugs? A while ago

101: Smoked cigarettes? Yes, quit a while ago

102: Drank alcohol? Yes

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?

Nope! I tried one time just for fucks and it did not last long

104: Been overweight? No

105: Been underweight? Yes

106: Been to a wedding? Yes

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight? Yes

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?

Yes. Marathons and binge sessions

109: Been outside my home country? Yes, Mexico

110: Gotten my heart broken? Yes

111: Been to a professional sports game? Yes

112: Broken a bone? Nope

113: Cut myself? Yes

114: Been to prom? Yes

115: Been in an airplane? Lots of times

116: Fly by helicopter? No

117: What concerts have I been to?

Oh fuck I know I’ll leave some out. Kelly Clarkson (don’t judge me I was 12), All Time Low, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Flogging Molly, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, Atreyu, Escape the Fate, went to Warped Tour a couple times in high school so a bunch more emo bands

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex? No

119: Learned another language?

A decent amount of Spanish

120: Wore make up? Frequently

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18? Yes

122: Had oral sex? Yes

123: Dyed my hair? Yes

124: Voted in a presidential election? Yes

125: Rode in an ambulance? No those are expensive

126: Had a surgery?

Does getting my wisdom teeth removed count

127: Met someone famous?

Saw Alice Cooper at a Cheesecake Factory one time

128: Stalked someone on a social network?

Not stalked, more like checked up on lol

129: Peed outside? On camping trips

130: Been fishing? Yes

131: Helped with charity? Yes

132: Been rejected by a crush? Probably!

133: Broken a mirror? No

134: What do I want for my birthday?

Christmas is coming first idk

135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?

I have one kid whose name I won’t be posting publicly, annnd I’m open to having another kid sometime in the future but not set on it. No names in mind for that lol

136: Was I named after anyone?

My parents are Catholic so they named me after St. Kieran

137: Do I like my handwriting? It’s alright idk

138: What was my favourite toy as a child?

I liked my toy horses and barbies the most probably

139: Favourite TV Show?

Idk I have lots of favorites. I've probably rewatched The Office the most out of all of them tho

140: Where do I want to live when older?

Somewhere chill, surrounded by lots of nature. Arizona doesn’t have much of that lol

141: Play any musical instrument?

I can play the piano but it’s been a while

142: One of my scars, how did I get it?

One on my knee from a car accident

143: Favourite pizza topping?

I love onions on my pizzaaaa

144: Am I afraid of the dark?

No, unless I watched a scary movie or something

145: Am I afraid of heights? No

146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?

Got caught sneaking out when I was 15. Countless other things I can’t remember

147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end? Yep!

148: What I’m really bad at

Doing things on time, paying attention when I’m not interested in something

149: What my greatest achievements are

Having an amazing kid, got first prize in the science fair in 6th grade for gluing a fucking key finder mechanism to the back of a shoe charm (shoe finder), was on time to something once

150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to me

Idkkk

151: What I’d do if I won in a lottery

Give a lot of it to some family, save a lot of it, get a new house, set aside a savings for my kid, buy a sloth or something

152: What do I like about myself

Fuck I don't know, I try my best hahah

153: My closest Tumblr friend

@spencerwithac

154: Something I fantasize about

Sex in public

155: Any question you’d like?

Nope this was plenty thank you

[hargroves-angel]

Cookies And Cream 🏹🍪

Chapter 2 - Angel Cake

A/N * Sexual themes, No actual Smut. 

// Chapter 3 - Chocolate Sundae // Cookies and Cream Masterlist //

Billy knocked on Y/Ns door. That familiar scent of cookies filled his senses as she opened the door. She looked so heavenly, even in the morning, she was wearing a baby blue with white polka dots dress , his eyes traced over her figure, “Good morning Billy” her voice was soft and sweet. “Good morning gorgeous, I know it’s early and all but i was hoping to show you around town” Billy smiled, his pearly whites on show.

“I’d love to, I need to drop some muffins off at my mothers bakery actually, so if you don’t mind could we go there first?” He nodded. She stepped to the side to allow him in. “I just need to package them, do you want a drink or something to eat?”.

“If that’s alright angel” She nodded and made him some french toast and a cup of coffee, placing it down in front of him. Her house was simply decorated, a large painting of a ballerina hung on the wall. Fluffy white carpets and light gray wallpaper. It was too girly for Billy’s taste, but he respected it, it was her.

She came into the dining room holding a gift basket filled with muffins. “I hope everything tasted ok” He grinned at her.

“It was great, so is the bakery in the mall?”

“Mmmhmm” She hummed, placing a ribbon around the basket. “Shall we go?” She picked it up and smoothed our her dress.

Billy agreed taking out his car keys, leading the way to his house.

Max was outside with her skateboard, trying out some tricks on the curb. She stared at Y/N and Billy, she wasn’t his usual type, she seemed too innocent. Billy glared at Max, telling her to back off silently. She rolled her eyes and skated off.

Billy opened the passenger door for Y/N. She mumbled a ‘thank you’ before sitting down on the leather seat, he took the basket from her hands and placed it in the back.

They drove off, Billy played his music at a lower volume than usual. But was surprised when she started to hum along to the lyrics.

“You like Led Zeppelin?” He asked taken back. She let out a soft giggle,

“I occasionally listen to them, my father sent me a vinyl record of their new album, mom doesn’t appreciate it but I can listen to it on low volume” Billy smirked.

“Well it’s no fun when it’s quiet, here” he turned up the volume and noticed your smile grow. Cute, she was adorable... shame he was only trying to bed her, he thought.

Billy rolled into the mall parking lot. He had a a whole plan for the day, once he’d taken her to her mothers bakery he was going to show her around the mall a bit more, specifically the vinyl store now, then take her down town to hang around at the park and finally arrive by the lake, where hopefully he would have buttered her up enough to get laid. Besides who could resist him.

He helped her out of the car and walked with her to the entrance. “So where you from then?”.

“I was born in California but since my parents split my mom moved us to France, wanted a fresh start I suppose”

“France? You don’t sound French, like your accent” He was actually kind of interested.

“Well we lived there for only 2 years and I never picked it up” Billy smirked, following you as you walked towards the end of the mall.

“You know any French then?” Billy asked.

“Ouí, je parle couramment le français” He raised his eyebrows.

“Impressive, I have no idea what you said but it sounds cool” He chuckled, you both reached the bakery.

It was similar to your house, softly decorated, pretty pictures put around the walls, cakes and desserts were placed around the place. She opened the door with a key. “My mother isn’t here so feel free to take a cookie or something if you want” Billy took a cookie from the jar on the counter.

“These taste really good, the ones you bought yesterday were finished really quickly, your mom make them?” He looked around at the other treats.

“No, She makes the big cakes for events and stuff but I make the little desserts”

“Well you’re great at it doll” She placed the muffins on a stand.

“Thank you Billy, I’m all done here so we can go on our tour now”

Billy showed Y/N around every store, suggested the best places to eat and the worst. They had the most fun in the record store, both looking at albums they liked, Billy suggested more bands and other music he enjoyed. She even ended up buying a new album.

They left the mall after 2 hours, and Billy drove her around town, telling her about the different shops.

“There’s a park at the end of this street, sometimes me and my friends chill out here, and so since we are... friends” His voice deepened at the word ‘friends’ “I thought we should hang out there for a bit” She nodded.

“I really appreciate all of this Billy, it’s really sweet of you to give me a tour, Hawkins is actually quite interesting” Billy smirked.

“At times..., when new people come around things get a little more exciting” He pulled up outside some trees. “Now unfortunately, we have to go through a path which can be a bit over grown” he pointed to a dirt path which didn’t look too easy to walk through, stinging nettles and twigs where everywhere.

You went with him to the path, the mud was a little bit wet, which wasn’t going to go well with your white shoes and pastel dress.

“You know I could carry you, if you don’t wanna get muddy” Billy offered, his smirk even more evident.

She thought about it for a second. “I should be ok, but thanks for the offer, nothing wrong with getting a little dirty” a seemingly innocent comment from her, which Billy obviously found sexual undertones within it chuckling to himself.

“Ok princess, I’ll go first” he moved the branches out of the way and she followed. She tried to avoid the wet spots of mud but her shoes still ended up getting dirty, mother wasn’t going to be pleased.

They arrived at a small clearing. An abandoned park sat in the middle.

“Tommy says that this was going to be bulldozed and turned into some big apartment complex but something to do with the soil and trees got in the way so they left it all here” Billy gestured to the trees around them.

He took a cigarette out from his pocket brought it to his lips, lighting it.

He walked to the swing set in the middle, sitting down, for it being abandoned the park was actually in good shape, Y/N went on the swing next to him, pushing herself forward on it. She lightly swinged on it, clearly enjoying herself. Billy felt a little bad, his intentions with Y/N weren’t pure, her innocence made him feel different things.

“You gonna swing too?” She asked.

“Hell yeah, I have the record for highest!” He boasted. She giggled.

“Not if I beat it” she challenged. With that Billy put his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it before pushing himself back on the swing.

“Sure thing angelface, but no one can beat me” He let his feet off the floor and swung forward, the wind in his hair. Y/Ns giggles filled him with joy as he laughed along with her.

After a few minutes of swinging and Billy winning at heightest swing, they decided to sit down and talk for a while. Billy talked about California, how he enjoyed the beaches and over all life back there. Y/N talked about what she remembered of California, finding out that they both liked the fries in Dawson’s Diner, turns out they lived close to eachother only a 15 minute drive away, this was one of the first times Billy had really spoken about California and in a comfortable light.

It started to get dark. “We should head back now” Y/N, got to her feet. “My mom thinks I’ve been at the mall all day” Billy chuckled.

“Can I show you one last place?” She thought about it for a second but nodded.

They hopped into his car and Billy drove to the lake. He had wanted to fulfil his impure ideas, he felt as though he’d charmed you enough, but thinking back on it, you seemed to be very fragile, like a rose, he didn’t want to be that much of an asshole and do what he usually did, so he knew that they’d be going to the lake to look at the sunset and that’s it.

“This is the lake, not many people come here... I’ve been here a few times, you wanna sit on the hood?” He took her hand and helped her onto his car. The sun started set through the trees,

“This place is beautiful Billy, I bet you take your girls here all the time” He brushed off the comment.

“Maybe” He sat back a bit and watched the lake water reflect the sun. A cool breeze flowing through his golden locks.

Y/N’s eyes were wide with amazement at the scenery. The sun disappeared behind the lake and the sky got a lot darker. Y/N and Billy went back into the car, and drove back home.

“I had so much fun today, thank you” She was like a kid on Christmas, so much genuine happiness in a person.

“No problem doll” He dropped her off at her house, “see you at school tomorrow, want me to take you in?” She looked over at him.

“Are you sure, you’ve done so much for me, surely..” he hushed her.

“Don’t worry about it” I’ll see you at 7:30am tomorrow” He winked. He walked her to the front door, she unlocked it.

“Thank you Billy” she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and entered her house. Billy felt his cheeks heat up. That wasn’t his usual reaction to a kiss? He never really gave a shit about a kiss? He gulped, still a bit shook. But quickly realised he should probably get away from her door now, he ran a hand through his hair and got into his car, parking it up into his house.

He opened his front door, Max was with one of her friends on the floor of the living room looking through a magazine. “Who was that?” Max asked.

“None of your business shitbrain, clean that crap up before dad gets home” he quipped, walking into his room, hearing her huff.

Billy looked at his window. You were dancing gracefully around your room, a huge smile on your face, he smirked and closed his curtains.

He needed to think of something. He was getting very sexually frustrated, he needed to get laid but he couldn’t get her out of his mind, he couldn't do that to Y/N though unlike the other girls he’d slept with she seemed like she would be hurt if she knew his only priority, she seemed sweet and kind... He huffed and got changed.

Looks like it was just himself for now. She will probably end up dating one of the preppy boys at Hawkins and then leave him anyway, that way he could go back to one of the various women willing to sleep with him, no strings attached. Something about that thought made him feel jealous, he cursed himself. He's only known you for like a day or two, yet you’ve had such an impact on him, he hated it but some what loved it? ‘Feelings are complicated’ he sighed. 

[esther-ti-designs]

Hey everyone, uhh so I have some tea for you all.

So I met this guy (I’ll refer to him as J) during the last meeting of the quarter for the graphic design club last fall.  Here’s everything that happened between December 5 through February 22.

December 5

Honestly, I haven’t noticed J at any of the previous meetings, but that one night, he just came up to me out of the blue and complimented me on my cozy winter gear.

So J and I happened to be taking Intro to Design that quarter and we talked about our group projects for the class, which we just turned in earlier that day (I had just pulled two consecutive all-nighters and had just taken a 3-hour nap prior to the meeting, so I was very sleep deprived at this point).  We continued our conversation while walking down some stairs and outside the building, and he asked me about other clubs that I’m involved in, to which I told him that I’m the secretary and Head of Hufflepuff for the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) and that I’m also in the ballroom dance club.  He seemed very interested in HPA.  He mentioned that he played second violin in the video game orchestra (VGO) and that they were having a quarterly concert that weekend.  A friend in HPA had promoed the VGO concert the night before, but I wasn’t really interested, as I had no knowledge of video game music.  J and I exchanged Instagram handles and later that night, I answered all of his questions about HPA.  Then on Sunday, sort of at the last minute, I found out that a few friends from HPA were going to the VGO concert and I went along because $5 for a concert is not bad, and I haven’t been to an orchestra performance in a while.  The concert was so much better than I expected!

December 9

Finals week just started and J randomly asked if I was studying on campus 👀

December 11

We met up at a boba shop near my apartment to study for the Intro to Design final (it was raining pretty hard and J refused to have me bike out to campus in the rain).  We studied off a Quizlet set for about 3 hours until my laptop’s battery was running low, and then we talked for another couple hours!  It turns out we have a lot in common!  We’re both only children, 22 years old, left-handed, design majors (J is actually a design and managerial economics double major), and we play the violin (I used to play violin and cello, but I digress).  Oh and we both have an iNTeResTinG injury story haha.  Then, before we went our separate ways, he gave me a one-armed hug, which I couldn’t reciprocate because I had my arms full with a cup of boba and my umbrella.

December 12

J DM’ed me out of the blue asking for my Spotify wrapped up.  I normally don’t give in to trends easily, and this was something I wasn’t really interested in sharing with the entire world, but I shared it with him anyways (Spoiler: It’s mostly Game of Thrones soundtracks, Taylor Swift, and BTS).  Despite being an orchestra nerd, I find it really difficult keeping up with popular music, and my musical taste stays fairly consistent even several years later.  I was kind of expecting him to laugh at my musical taste, but he actually complimented me for liking dramatic tv/film soundtracks.  And then we arranged another study session right before the design final.

December 13

The Intro to Design final was supposed to be 50 questions, all multiple-choice, no trick questions.  It was supposed to be really easy, and I thought we got almost everything down at the previous study session.  So why were we having another study session right before the exam?  I thought either he really wanted an A in the class, or he wanted to see me again before we went on winter break.  Right before going in for the exam, he asked if I wanted to meet up again for a “post-final celebration” when we were done with the exam.  Okay, now I was really starting to think he wanted to spend some more time with me before winter break 👀

So after the design final, we walked down to one of two boba shops on the edge of campus and downtown.  We both ordered our drinks, he got some popcorn chicken, and we talked for four hours!  I can’t remember everything we talked about, but time really flew by.  And then, before we went home, he gave me a one-armed hug again.

December 14

I had plans to fly home to LA today.  I had spent the previous night cleaning my apartment and packing stuff (I managed to forget to bring a pair of sneakers because, for some reason, dumbass me decided to wear heeled boots to the airport because ~fashion~).  I was sitting in the airport, about to board the plane, when I got a message from J.  He remembered that I was flying that day and was asking if I got home safely.  Aww he actually cares.  I told him that I would be boarding soon and will be offline for the next couple hours.  And then I updated him when I got off the plane, when my parents picked me up at LAX, while we sat in the typical LA traffic, until we all made it home.

December 15 - January 5

Over the next few weeks of winter break, we messaged each other a couple times every day.  We shared pictures of the holiday decorations in our home, and I shared pictures and video clips of my pet bunny too.  On Chistmas Eve, he asked if I had any plans, to which I told him we were going out for dinner to celebrate my mom’s birthday.  He wished my mom happy birthday and I passed the birthday wishes to my mom. “Hey mom, my friend says happy birthday.” “Thank you — who???” And I had to tell my mom about J (whoops).  Her judgmental ass was not exactly happy to hear that J is a Caucasian dude from yeehaw country, and after showing her J’s Instagram feed, she was not a fan of his art style smh.  Anyways, the day I was coming back to Davis, J was like AHHHH you’re back!!!!!!!  Just pure excitement 💖

January 9 - 16

We met up at yet another boba shop after the first week of classes.  Our meeting was shorter than all our previous meetings, because I had to bike back to give an apartment tour later that afternoon.  Two weeks into the winter quarter, we met after our design studio classes and walked to an HPA meeting together.  We also went to a graphic design club meeting together, after which he offered to drive me home so that I wouldn’t have to bike with the cold wind on my face.  I trusted J at this point, so I gratefully accepted.  I think my trust in him went up at least 10 times in this moment, because J managed to secure my small and heavy bike to the bike rack on the back of his car, which already had his bike strapped in.  After dropping me off at my apartment, he invited me out for dinner that weekend (it was also MLK weekend).

January 18

J picked me up at 7.  The restaurant he chose was hella ~ f a n c y ~.  It was an Italian restaurant downtown with dim lighting and pasta priced at $13 - $16.  He said he didn’t know the place would be that fancy and that he trusted Yelp’s description of “casual Italian.”  I told a friend about our sort-of-date night and she thinks J picked a date-y restaurant on purpose 👀  Oh and my mom went the extra mile of writing down J’s name, the place we were going to, and I was to call home at 10 PM (I ended up getting back and called an hour early).

February 14 - Valentine’s Day ❤️

Unfortunately, J never came to another HPA meeting because the campus radio station, KDVS, holds meetings at the same time, and he’s trying to get a job with them.  And we don’t really see each other very often because design classes are usually 3-hours long and J is really busy with 5 classes.  But J has been super excited about Yule Ball ever since he met me.  J came over while I was tabling for ticket sales.  He mentioned that VGO was going to see Sonic that night, and invited me to hang with VGO.  Let me tell you, it was quite an experience and definitely not the typical Valentine’s Day date.

We pulled into a Sonic drive-in for dinner (because gotta get in that Sonic mood lol).  A girl introduced herself as D (name altered to protect identity, of course).  She clearly has some sort of leadership role in the group because everyone pays attention to her, but she constantly makes jokes about being everyone’s daddy.  The jokes are so vulgar and obscene.  It was like weirdest video game nerd and band kid hybrid (J later tells me she’s a violinist.  What?!  Orchestra people are usually super chill lol).  After dinner, we get in our cars and head down the street to the movie theater.  The VGO had reserved seats in Row J.  J and I had just booked our tickets several hours earlier and we were in Row F.  Throughout the movie, someone in the theater yelled at every pivotal moment (including, yes, that Tails reveal in the post credits).  J thoroughly enjoyed the movie and laughed along with whomever was yelling behind us, while I knew absolutely nothing going into it, except that Sonic is a blue hedgehog that can run super fast.  J also gave one additional bit of info before the movie: Sonic really likes chili corn dogs for some strange reason???

So that’s how my Valentine’s Day went lol

February 18

J came by around 3 in the afternoon, right before we were going to pack up for the day, and purchased a Yule Ball ticket.  He’s obviously very excited to go to Yule Ball with me but he says he doesn’t know how to dance.  I told him we have a waltz lesson planned.  He’s like aww and says he wants me to personally teach him (my heart 💕).  And as always, he gave me a hug before leaving to go to class.  Recently, I noticed that J has been giving full hugs instead of his usual one-armed hugs, though it depends on the situation.

February 22

✨❄️ Y u l e   B a l l ❄️✨

J and I arrived separately at Yule Ball because I had to help set up the venue for the event and I had spent the entire day working on an Azkaban wanted poster prop and literally finished it two hours before our meeting time for setting up the venue.  The dance was supposed to start at 7 PM and J got there early enough to help me out with last-minute decorations.  I had signed up to be in charge of the photobooth from 7 to 7:30, but no one came for pictures during that 30-minute period, so I was free for the rest of the night.  J and I had a fantastic time admiring the detailwork in the decorations around the venue and laughing and dancing to the weird selection of 2000s music.  J did pretty okay with learning waltz basics and I gave him tips here and there on standing in closed frame, balance, the slight tension in the left hand, etc.

Sometime towards the end of the night, my ballroom friend pulled me aside for a bathroom chat and asked if we’re dating.  I don’t know???  We haven’t decided to call it official so ??

After helping clean up everything at the end of the night, J dropped off a friend and right before turning to drop me off (I live across the street from that friend), he remembered that I hadn’t had actual food all day prior to Yule Ball (aww he actually cares, and he probably wanted some extra time with me even though my apartment was right there).  So we went downtown for (a very late) dinner.  While we chatted over food and boba, our conversation drifted towards soundtrack music and I mentioned The Theory of Everything soundtrack, my favorite soundtrack besides Game of Thrones.  J immediately searched up The Theory of Everything soundtrack album and streamed it on the way home (that’s some serious dedication right there), and he liked it!

Oh and I forgot to mention that J forgot to bring a jacket and I had a very warm scarf and coat, so we held onto each other with a one-armed hug while we walked to his car.  I really love his hugs, one-armed or full hugs.

I usually post a picture from Yule Ball every year so here’s this year’s!  Yep, that’s J.  And we’re both Ravenclaws :)

I’ll end this post here, so I don’t end up with a romance novel in a single post lol

[hunterartemis]

The Assistant: Chapter 13: Blood on White (Part 2)

Word count: 2929 (as the chapter was divided)

Summary: a dark history and an unexpected guest; where the narrative is going?

warning: Some dark stuff (adult and disturbing)

Chapter Theme: A Claim to the Throne by Max Richter : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYk7hunqus8

Sometimes all it takes is moments, moments so unexpected and horrible than worst nightmares that sweep away the pride, expectations, hopes, dreams and reputation to leave dust, blood and ashes.

Within the sacred hall of the Saint-Chappelle, stood all the important persons of every European Magical Ministry, who were now looking up at the ceiling where cinematographic veil hovered over them to scream out the truth that was, until this very moment, hidden with utmost care and cruellest of efforts.

The dark murky tapestry sharpened its scenery from a hazy silhouette of a curly haired girl, whose doe-eyed innocence was laced with fear and equal amount of intelligence. She studied in blood red robes amongst much older students than her into the stony and cold halls of Durmstrang. She was portrayed in a manner in which the onlooker could see that she was never directly looked at, as if a following glance of an ever present entity followed her wherever she went. She rarely spoke until she was twelve of age; and that was the time when another feature in her character looked out at the world from the window of her eyes, like a demon caged for long.

It looked like it was the infamous Dark Arts class of Durmstrang, which put the German, Slovenian and the Bulgarian minister at high anxiousness as the French, British, Russian and Italian ministers looked at the scene with awe and disapproval. The moving shadows on the other hand continued to perform in the shadowy stage, where young Maxine was asked to perform a Crutiatus Curse. As soon as the young girl shot her first, flawless Unforgivable Curse, the softness of her eyes looked like the young cub of a predator which just tasted how the taste of blood feels in the mouth.

The sight that was hovering over her intensified upon her pre-pubescent figure; as if the onlooker could swallow that little girl up— the quivering shape of her lips, the clammed lily neck, the contours of her budding breasts resting upon the underbust leather corset on her white shirt, and the slightly unsteady knees wrapped closely with brown tights under the black skirt. And so mesmerised was the onlooker that he found the girl after class and introduced himself as the most charming and empathetic person the little girl has ever seen. The sixteen year old Anatole Malfoy was charmed by the little girl and soon Maxine Valois came to fall in love with him.

It was no mystery to anyone in the room what Anatole Malfoy’s intentions were; Maxine’s easy innocence was soon distorted with the most perverted way possible. The scenes melted to a cold winter evening. Young Maxine was sitting in some elevated space, facing directly to the onlooker and so near to him that it felt like she was sitting on his lap. Her face lit up with joy and there was no trace of the sadistic streak in her liquid black eyes, the one the onlooker saw in the Dark Arts class. Young Maxine then bent to kiss the onlooker, and the sound and the darkness signified that the kiss was deeper than light crush. What happened afterwards was so shocking that it mortified the core of every person’s heart present in the room.

“This—this is...STOP this immediately, this is most heinous –with a young girl—most immoral...most immoral” the Italian Foreign Minister screamed with a prominent rageful disgust and cast a reproachful eye to the French Diplomat who was standing near the front row, “Senor Valois, this is the man you formed an alliance with? I understand that it is a troubled time, but this is the most--che schifezza!”

When the mayhem broke, the obliviated brother of Anatole, Abraxas ran away from the place. It wasn’t that his memory came back, but something in him that screamed that whoever or whatever was interrupting the wedding would not spare Anatole. If it can cross the entire iron-clad boundary his shrewd brother had cast, it also can break into Anatole’s body and end his life. Therefore when Anatole tried to reach for his brother to break himself free from his spellbound state; the Memory extractor fluid immobilises the host so that until all the memory is extracted the host doesn’t resist; Maxine knew that fact from the very beginning, and chose this fluid as her last resort. She was forcing herself to relive her worst memories, a punishment reserved only for the Prisoners in Azkaban.

“The worst is yet to come, Senor...” Maxine veered her eyes towards the elderly Italian minister and spoke with a cold tone. Hrothgar Valois was standing at his own place, like a marble statue as his wife Marguerite was silently scolding him. Maxine didn’t notice how, at this point Marguerite’s eyes were streaming with tears; she pitied the sons and daughters-in law who refused to come to a bastard’s wedding, they missed a great deal about the girl they hated. Newt, Tina and Theseus looked at the ceiling like some helpless devotee waiting for the wrath of god to split the sky in two; they knew what Anatole was, but they never suspected this hellish murk of a character.

The scene changed; ghostly pale mountains stood against the inky black sky. Fast footsteps sloching on the snow could be heard very easily. Three teenage boys and one early teen girl perched up on a rock, and as the onlooker’s eyes adjusted in the dark, he lit up a light that cast a greenish yellow pallor over the dead-cold snow.

“Bloody hell Tolya, could we use some light now... it’s fucking dark around here--” the girl growled in a low voice, her tone raspy and hoarse, but it was clear from the light that was cast from Anatole’s hand that she was not the same innocent girl—there was something cigarette-like between her fingers, but the mother-of-pearl sheen that was wafting from the burning end distinguished that it was no ordinary smoke.

“Shut your face Max—I have the hand of glory, I can see everything, we don’t wanna signal anyone round here—keep me updated on the road.” Maxine scoffed and smoked deeply, “this is bullshit... shit’s isn’t strong enough today--” she whined, while the other three laughed, “quiet!” Anatole snapped raspily, as his Hand of Glory brightened with a flicker. Signs of movement could be heard from under the cliff, one of the boys rapidly descended after looking at Anatole briefly and came up quiet soon, with his hair covered in powdery snow. After huffing the boy informed

“Wizard...mudblood...” he paused for a while, “and he is loaded”

As soon as the speech finished, Maxine briefly looked at Anatole, and with what cruel eyes. Her crooked smile towards Anatole signalled that she knew what she needed to do. She jumped off the cliff with the swiftness of wind, while the four started to run upon the rocky cliff. The Hand of Glory lit up only a little ahead, but even in the slight light, it could be seen that the powdery flakes of dead-night snow flying towards the runner with the swiftness of bullet. No footsteps could be heard, not even a breath, and after a while the view settled and light was cast down towards the deep cliff down at the deep forest.

“Maxine should be there by now... c’mon let us settle” it was no doubt who was speaking these lines.

“A lot of people in this room, including my father know where this narrative is going” Maxine’s calm and cold voice broke the horrified silence; “you are currently seeing one of the infamous murders of the Black Forest. The official account states that the kill count is nearly 15, that makes three kills per head, all these done by children--” Maxine gripped the stolen wand in her hand and whipped out some of her own memories from her temple, and in that silvery blue wisp, a tinge of red lingered, “now to add my point of view, to clarify the entire truth.”

The capture of the wizards that was roaming in the forest was a simple bait game, but what was most sinister was the predetorship of the group. After their wands were snatched and snapped they were tortured most brutally before they were looted. Anatole’s pale’s face emerged from the dark like an infernal shape and started to whisper into Maxine’s ears.

“You know what to do Maxine...” his voice echoed with the gravity of a bass drum into Maxine’s ears, “you know what they are—Mudbloods, born of filthy muggles for whom we, the old pureblood wizards are suffering and hiding like rats in forests and mountains... we are the better beings, we are more advanced, stronger and more intelligent than them, our soul are different and unique, and yet they—they rule us... do it, show them their place--”

The words, even to the onlookers felt like ammunition. A collective chill ran through everyone’s spine as they looked how the low deep footsteps were taking Maxine towards the wizard couple. Her vision settled with an uncommon stillness as the couple begged for mercy, but their whimper turned to a heart-wrenching scream and the little girl whispered “Crucio”

“—it is not Anatole Malfoy who should be punished; it is clear that Madame Malfoy--”

“Quiet, you fool...” a heavy scream pacified the agitated room, which could not take the scenary of a young girl torturing people to death. Theseus Scamander was trying to break free from the arm lock of his brother and Tina Goldstein, and his blood chilling scream even made Travers and British Prime Minister sheepishly look at each other.

However the memory narrative that was being displayed above had more things to say than the cruelty of five youngsters and the murderous antics of the minds laced with power-hunger and dark magic. The scene changed again. This time, fast yet subdued footsteps were rushing through dark, seldomly lit corridor; the vision confirmed it was of a young and short person and undoubtedly it was of Maxine’s. Her pants suggested that she was out of breath and equally excited for something. But the time she reached her destination, she saw the bare back of Anatole’s, sweaty and glistening, even in the cold of Durmstrang. The hip of his trousers loose and threatening to fall off his bottom and two legs that was obviously not his own were propped at either side of his waist. Maxine could not understand was going on, especially when the other two legs were shaking like they had some kind of spasm in them. However the growl and the motions of Anatole’s grinding looked awfully familiar. When she came at Anatole’s side and saw how he was slapping his groin with another upskirted older girl, Maxine started to scream so loudly, that the girl ran away and Anatole frustratingly zipped his pant.

“Max... I can explain...”

“You said when a boy and girl are in love only then they do it...”

“Max please... calm down, it’s not what you think... we were just playing a game--”

“You said the same thing to me when I was sitting on your lap... you told me to prove that I loved you and only you... it hurt for several days, but you didn’t stop... you didn’t stop—I know it, you don’t love me anymore...”

“Max, my sweet little honeysuckle--”

“DON’T YOU DARE TO TOUCH ME” Maxine slapped Anatole’s face and hexed him to walk out of the room, “I don’t love you anymore... you treat me the same as everyone else, as my family, my teachers... you are THE SAME AS EVERYONE, AND I AM SICK OF IT”

The scene whirled again and this time two people were running into the dark forest side by side. The wet sloches of setting ice and debris on the forest floor made a distinct wild sound. Although it was dark, it wasn’t easy to pick out that they were Maxine and Anatole, now content with each other and kissing. They laughed in a low tone and nuzzled face with each other.

“so...” Anatole spoke, “I am so glad you forgave me, and that’s why I got you a surprise...” and he started to step backwards a little by little with a playful smile. When the young girl was relatively distanced and the curtain of darkness and inky canopied shadowed their faces, a blue spark sent a ring of livid flames across Maxine. Her screams of betrayal covered the crackling sound of blue fire around her, and somewhere from far away a voice came towards her.

“I don’t need you anymore...”

With the five words and the accompanying crackling sapphire flames, all of the cinematographic tapestry dissolved into the thin air, leaving behind the ear-deafening scream of a thirteen year old, alone and afraid in the dark forest amongst the mountains. The entire room was holding its breath until now, and when they got their airs back in their chest, uproar ensued when Anatole Malfoy, who had been immobilised, stood up firmly.

“These are all lies... I—I had been framed... I would never associate myself with any of them... if there is anyone to blame, it is her—Maxine Valois and her father... they cheated me to marry such a criminal girl—” Anatole screamed pointlessly, and spewing other nonsense to prove his innocence, however it was too late. The British Prime Minister stepped forward with a frown on his face along with his Defence Head, Travers and their face clearly spoke of their intention.

“We all saw what happened here Mr. Malfoy, and we already know everything there was to know.” The Prime Minister said grimly, “before I came here, I had received a letter confirming the documents of your guiltiness, which you have shrewdly concealed from the British and French Ministry of Magic—a transcript from the Trans-Siberian Wizarding Prison under the Ministry of Russia where you have been registered under the name Vasily Malakov--” it didn’t gone unnoticed that Travers glanced briefly towards Theseus and smiled shrewdly. With the lasting four hours in hand, Theseus flooed the Editor of the Daily Prophet, showing Newt’s letter from Dumbledore and tipping him off about Vasily aka Anatole Malfoy; it wasn’t hard to track prison records and decode them since the transcripts may be crypted but never fully concealed because they are written with truth ink, which rejects any false information. Travers knew from the beginning that Theseus was behind this and felt annoyed, but after the grand confession, he certainly felt proud.

“—as you have already served your sentence, legally you cannot be imprisoned for the same reason again, but from now you are discharged from your office and banned from joining British Ministry. Your interrogation on falsifying accounts will be held on a tentative time—Scamander!”

The voice signalled that the minister looked for Theseus, he spared no disapproving glance towards Theseus for breaking the prison, or perhaps he chose not to prioritise the fact for now, “since you are the only Auror present here... I order you to apprehend--”

Before the British minister could finish his words, a jet of emerald green light hit Anatole’s chest square and pushed him at the bottom of the altar unconscious. His icy blue eyes now glassy and aghast and the disturbed anxiety that plagued his face froze like he was trapped into a forever surprised state. The crudeness and feudal pride softened into a mild wonder as his fixed eyes looked at the ceiling towards the heavenly paintings.

Newt rushed over and pushed the cuff off his wrist; it was the first physical action he did after the shocking revelations, as others stood like statues, as if the aura of the green light petrified them along with Malfoy. The fleeting human warmth and the complete stillness of his pulse meant the obvious thing.

“He’s dead... Anatole’s dead, someone hit him with a killing curse--” Newt admitted hoarsely and along with everyone looked at the direction from where the killing curse was hit. A figure could be distinguished from the rows of people, undoubtedly a woman, now coming forward with her low heels clicking on the marble floor. Her footsteps paved her way in the jumble of important wedding guests, as everyone looked at the incognito figure, dressed austerely and rather oddly. She dressed peculiarly for a winter wedding, in springlike Cornflower blue; her face covered with a translucent veil and secured with a small hat. With her appearance, the colour from Hrothgar’s face drained and he grabbed Marguerite’s shoulder so that he wouldn’t fall down on the floor. When she was three feet apart from the main parties, she gently lift her face covering, and the sight of her face felt like a crack of thunder inside the cold and bright church.

“It can’t be...” Newt gasped at the sight of the woman; he knew him briefly but very well, it was approximately a month ago when she stepped inside his doors in a cold evening for the interview of his assistant post, it was the same neat blond ringlets, the wide blue eyes, soft features and thin lips but the skin was more wrinkled and the softness of her eyes seemed unable to hold the amount of cruelty that her dilated pupils stored in the depth of her soul.

“Mum...” Maxine whimpered in the tears of joy, “is that you?”

--

Tags: @my-current-fandom-is

--

So that’s Maxine’s entire backstory revealed. But (un)fortunately this is not the final chapter. The story is still yet to finish. 

I was greatly inspired by the concept of Wizard’s Chess when I wrote the Blood On White parts, and I dropped some imagery of Chess in ‘The Truth Must Perish’. I really enjoyed writing Anatole’s death. He was an ignoble character who died like an insect. It was hard for me to write Maxine’s backstory and to include something shameful, trust me, I hated writing it.

[lovemeclowndaddy-blog]

Yelling matches ( Pennywise x reader)

Prompt: Can you please do a penny x reader where the reader is penny's gf but lately he's been going through a phase of obsessing and only abducting young/teenage girls? the reader can be a teen too if you're comfortable with it! and it just leads to a lot of insecurity and jealousy and angst and maybe some makeup smut?? it's rly up to you, but i like the plot! if you're not comfortable with writing about underage readers, then maybe they argue about why he's so interested in young girls?? idk idk but!!

requester : @murphysconnors

Warning: Smut (first-time plzz i know its bad)

Here is my first completed request! I actually had so much fun with this, and it got my creative juices flowing! If any of you guys want to request anything, my box is open if you guys want to request anything else! This is my first go at Pennywise smut, so I hope it isn't too bad, and I hope you guys enjoy!!

You paced back and forth in front of your desk, your thoughts going a hundred miles per hour as you felt your chest tighten uncomfortably with each step you room. Today, the children long were gone and lots of paperwork awaiting you, you felt as if you needed to do something about this large onslaught of feelings and thoughts before they consumed you completely.

You just had to be overthinking the disappearances, the disappearances of these girls that used to sit in the desks in front of you as you taught them their two times tables. Their innocent smiles were haunting the back of your eyelids, the obvious staring you right in the face but you were too ignorant to believe that it could be true.

Step, step, step, and turn. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

It had been going on for about a month now, nearly reaching it's two as it reached the end of the school week. Young girls, not only in her class but from across the school and of all ages had started to go missing, vanishing without a trace. It was something that had been happening for a quite a while, the disappearances in Derry seemed to always stretch over a period of a year, but they had never seen such a large group of children in such a short space of time goes missing.

The tole reached 15 today, with the young Sophia Kevin being reported missing overnight by her worried parents when she had not returned home after a playdate at her friend's house, who just lived down the street. She was only 12 years old, and it sent shivers down your spine to imagine what had happened to such a sweet and innocent girl that you saw frequently while teaching at the middle school.

There was only one logical reason for these disappearances no matter how much you hated to admit it, and that was Pennywise the clown. You knew there had to some way you could stop this, something you could say to the clown to at least slow down the abduction of the girls….

But thinking about this further, if Pennywise was abducting girls, ranging from ages 10 to all the way up to 18 and 19-year-olds who were believed to have simply run away, does this mean that he had finally gotten bored of you? Gotten sick of having you around and simply found it easier to devour and keep around younger girls to mess around with (scare, not anything sexual), and he was shoving you off to the side or would he use you as a snack?

It created a painful feeling in your chest, like Pennywise himself was plunging his talon-like claws into your chest and then ripping his claws back out again, your still beating and warm heart in his hands in your face until he swallowed it hole without another care.

He wouldn't do that to you… would he?

Halting, you quickly gathered up the paperwork you decided you would finish later that night and shoved it into your carry case before quickly dashing out the door before a thought entered your mind to stop you. Your speed increased as you were now practically sprinting down the empty school corridors, soon reaching the front entrance and stumbling down the flight of stairs and into the teacher's car park.

Reaching your car, you were quick to unlock it and shove your belongings onto the empty passenger's seat before scrambling in yourself and quickly shutting the door while your other hand worked on putting on your seat belt. The second thoughts and the worry were seeping in as you started the car, the idea that Pennywise no longer wanted you made you squirm in your seat.

Starting your car, you pressed down on the accelerator and shot out of the school's car park, out onto the cracking tar road and headed straight for Neilbolt road, straight towards that run down house that had never once given you the chills, but a feeling of comfort and love. Straight towards a fight you knew would happen, because with the tears of anger welling in your eyes you knew you wanted answers, and you knew how Penny acted when there was raised voices or anger involved.

But you couldn't ignore it anymore, no you couldn't let another kid get hurt because you were in love with the clown, well… maybe fewer children, as you also couldn't stand the idea of your beautiful boyfriend starving…

~

It was a 9-minute drive on the way to Pennywise’s dwelling if you counted in the 2 red lights you had gotten on your way there. On a good day when there were no red lights it could take you no less than 5 to 6 minutes of travel to reach your boyfriend's house, and this closeness had always been a comfort to you (and to Pennywise but not like he had ever admitted that to your face).

Pulling up out front, you wondered what people must have thought of you when they saw your car parked outside of the rundown house from time to time. You made a conscious effort to work over to the building, or Pennywise would simply visit you, so no questions would be asked about you entering such a deserted and unpopular area.

The small travel time between the school and Pennywise’s dwelling had let the thoughts intensify in your mind. In a rush of anger, you stood for the car door and slammed it as loudly as you could, knowing that Pennywise would know you were here whether you did this act or not.

It wasn't for him, it was for you; to let out some of the emotions that you felt. Tears still clung to the side of your eyes as you trudged up the stairs onto the small desk, before pushing the door open roughly without bothering to not knock.

“Pennywise!?” You shout, not caring if anyone heard, all you needed was for him to know you were here. And you were sure he could smell the anger and growing fear and doubt simply by you being there.

It didn't take but a second for you to hear that familiar sadistic giggle, bells ringing eerily as your head large feet clambered down the rickety and decomposing staircase. Slowly coming into view, the larger than life Pennywise reached the bottom of the stairs and in the blink of an eye he stood right in front of you, his gloved hands (stained with red, obviously blood) reaching up and gently caressing your cheek. His usual large grin on his face, his eyes shone in their usual way when he saw you, with a hint of lust but overall adoration.

“Kitty, kitty, kitty... So good to see you! Now, why is my pretty little girl yelling?”

But, as his large hand pressed against your cheek, you flinched back away from his touch and continued to hold back the tears in the corner of your eyes. His large frown dropped, an edge in his eye coming to rather a confused and angered look. You knew that Pennywise was easy to anger, and that made a shudder run down his spine.

“Pennywise, you have been taking all of these young girls haven't you?”

As soon as you said this, the clown’s arm lowered and he let out a low growl, teeth showing out the sides of his mouth as his eyes met yours. They were smouldering with angered emotions, and he knew he had been caught. It was as if you had told off a cat that had killed a bird and brought it inside the house, but this cat was 2 times as big as you and got angry if you did the slightest thing they didn't like.

Tears welled up in your eyes, your head shaking as you stepped back. As soon as Pennywise growled you knew the gig was up, this was something he always did when he was caught, when someone seemed to be attacking him. Penny’s eyes watched you still, his lips curled into a snarl, his large hand falling back to his side, and you now noticed the large amounts of blood splatters that covered his otherwise grew clown suit.

“W-why Penny? Am I not good enough for you anymore? Not young enough!? Not pretty enough!?” You scream at him, throwing all caution to the wind, not worrying if you would anger the clown or not with your yelling or words. You needed him to know how you felt, and that this wasn't okay.

Another large angered, deep growl ripped from his painted lips, coming from the back of his throat like a feral animal that is trying to stand its ground. It sent a shiver down your spine, you knew he wouldn't keep his cool much longer.

“Come on Pennywise! Tell me!? Am I not good enough for you anymore!? No one could love you like I do Penny, no-fucking one!” You screamed out angrily, your fists curling up as you wanted to hit something.

In less than a second, his hand shot outwards and curled around your neck, fingers digging into the sides of your neck as your small frame was slammed against the wall roughly. You were winded for a couple of seconds, and before you knew it Pennywise’s body was pinning yours against the wall of the house. His eyes were now golden, his fingers starting to curl deeper into your throat, cutting off your windpipe and making it hard for you to breathe.

His face came up to your ear, fear starting to slowly slip into your veins at the lack of oxygen that you were getting into your lungs. This was something he did when he was angry, pin you down and make you feel small to make sure you knew he was in power, and it caused adrenaline to run through your veins.

“Young girls… they are easier to catch than other children my dear, their fear more intoxicating and delectable in their flesh…” He admits, his tongue slowly trailing over your earlobe, causing you to squirm under his hand. You could feel him smile, his hips pinning you harder against the wall and you couldn't help but feel the least bit aroused.

“But, my dear (Y/n), nothing can top your sweet taste, your delectable fear… You are mine and I have no intention of letting you out of my grasp anytime soon, those stupid little children mean nothing to me. You silly, silly girl” Penny growls, his lips touching your ear as he continued to talk, his teeth gently nibbling where he had licked earlier.

“Now my little kitten, do I have to fuck some sense into you? To make you remember that you are mine” Penny’s fingers dug in that little further at the word ‘mine’ “And that you always will be? Because I am more than willing to teach you the lesson my pretty little thing…”

“P-penny…” You croak, a wave of adoration and ease wafting over you at the words, the words of the clown both turning you on and reassuring you that you were his, and he did care about you in some messed up and psychopathic way only you could understand.

Pennywise’s other hand was travelling down your front, down the valley between your breasts, your stomach and to the belt that held your pants up. Quickly unbuckling it, his hand easily slipped into your pants, long fingers already groping and massaging your clothed pussy. Admittedly, you were already a bit wet from being pinned so hard against the wall, the feeling of his hips pinning you hard against it.

His giggles filled your ear, his lips now tracing down your throat and his teeth grazing early over your skin as you continued to squirm, buck your hips outwards into his hand that worked against your pussy “such a naughty kitty aren't you, already wet for me!? So so dirty my little one…” He teases you, fingers continuing to rub your pussy with your undies still on, making you crave his gloves to be against your actual skin.

Mewling, you felt saliva slipping out of Penny’s mouth, also effectively turning you on as you felt the dampness grow between your legs as his fingers worked. Biting into your neck, Penny growls yet animalistically and you could feel him hardening against your thigh. It was a couple more movements of his finger before they skillfully moved your soaked panties aside, shoving his long gloved finger into your pussy. His fingers knew their way around quite well, knowing all of your crevices and sweet spots.

Moans left your mouth in between moans and gasps, your mind becoming fuzzy as you hands shot upwards and into the clowns orange hair, grasping it tightly between your fingers and tugging it out of pleasure causing even louder and longer growls to escape from the back of Pennywise’s throat, his teeth slowly starting to break skin as his hips ground against yours hungrily, lustfully.

Biting down hard, Pennywise broke the skin on your neck and you couldn't help but gasp in shock, but also as it excited you, the feeling of being bitten causing your arousal to continue to build.

“You will always be mine (Y/n), Always!”

Pennywise growls animalistically, his mouth moving away from your neck, your blood smeared across his lips as they then smash against yours hungrily. Penny’s tongue forcefully enters your mouth, your tongues intertwining in a small battle which Pennywise won easily. Adding yet another finger, your whole body shook as you felt the familiar sensation of an orgasm building up in the pit of your stomach.

Growing sick of the layers of clothes that hid your body from his eyes, Pennywise quickly ripped your clothes off your body with his claws, hungering for your body. You gave a small gasp as his eyes roamed your naked body, a feeling of excitement as he still had a hand inside of you while ripping off your clothes. Your nipples hardened in the cool temperature, and the rough wood against your back added another layer of pleasure to the experience.

Not wanting him to remove his hand from inside you, your fingers furiously worked on the buttons of the clowns uniform, tugging it down frantically off his lanky frame and onto the floor. His cock was hard and erect, and it caused you to clench your thighs in excitement. This caused Penny to giggle, watching how you reacted to him.

“Jump kitten” He snaps bossily, and you quickly did as you were told, jumping up and wrapping your legs around his waist before he lets out a small giggle.

Penny kept you pinned against the wall skillfully, making sure you didn't fall. His mouth had now fallen to your chest, lips hungrily lapping and sucking at your nipples before biting them, causing you to moan and squirm harder in his embrace. Saliva dripped down your stomach, slipping onto the floor, his fingers still working to tease your pussy.

Your arms locked around his neck, his lips still working on your chest, leaving small bite marks and bruises across your chest to prove his ownership of you. His claim of you. As he felt you growing to a high, he could now tell from your smell due to a number of times you had fucked each other, his fingers seemed to immediately vanish form in you.

Whining, this caused another sadistic giggle escaped his lips as his now free arm locked around your waist, the other holding himself steady as he lined himself up with your wet pussy. Pennywise entered rough and hard, slamming into you without any warning and quickly sinking into you before bottoming out inside you. You moaned loudly, your fingers leaving his hair and scratching down his back, leaving red marks behind as you arched your back to make him go deeper.

“P-penny!” You cried out, the first thing you had said since you had screamed at him only moments before.

With another cheerful giggle, he pulls out before slamming back inside you, as hard and fast as he possibly could. His hips kept a fast pace, moving in and out of you reaching further and further, slamming into your g-spot causing you to create new red lines on his whine back over and over as you arched your back to meet his thrusts.

Pennywise kept up a high tempo, slamming you against the wall and you continued to moan loudly, saliva covering your body as Penny now gripped your hair, yanking your face forwards and forcing your bruised lips to smash against his once again. His tongue was soon in your mouth again, your moans flowing into his mouth as a low growl emitted from his throat, and you knew that neither of you would last this round much longer.

“I-I’m close Penny…” You whimper, his speed only seeming to pick up as he heard you whimper this, another giggle escaping his lips. Penny’s excessive slobber now slipped down both of your chins, both of you panting.

“Come for me (y/n), come for me my little kitten!” Pennywise growls, his tone low and demanding you, his lips once again against your ear as his teeth bit down onto your earlobe once again.

You only lasted a couple more seconds, coming hard as you bucked your hips harder as you rode off your high, Penny’s thrusts starting to become sloppy himself as he released also after large thrusts into you. Both riding off your high, the clown slowly lowered you back onto the ground, before sweeping you up into his arms and appearing in ‘his bedroom’. Pennywise had created a clean room with a queen sized bed for when you decided to stay over, and it was the only normal room in the house.

Laying you down on the bed, pulling up the sheets to cover both your body and his, Pennywise grinned at you, laying down on the bed beside you as you rolled onto your side. Long arms encircling your waist, Penny tugged your naked form to his side, your face nuzzling into his collarbone. Emitting a sigh, you closed your eyes.

“If it…. If it really bothers you so much kitty, I won't eat any more little girls okay? I’ll stick to those little boys, okay?” The clown grumbles, his lips ghosting your forehead as he held a firm grasp on your form. It was always comforting, and it helped Pennywise control his protective notions between you.

“That you be nice Penny… as long as you don't starve. I'm so sorry for yelling, I just thought that you were over me” You mumble, not opening your eyes as a wave of tiredness hits you, making you realize how long and strenuous your day had really been. Well, you also had to factor in the events that had just happened, but your mind was starting to grow fuzzy.

“I want my kitten happy” Pennywise huffs stubbornly, his mind made up as he watches you slowly fall asleep, your breathing becoming a slow and steady rhythm. “Goodnight kitten, remember that you will always be mine” This was the last you heard, his gloved fingers ghosting the large bite mark that resided on your neck.

Soon enough, you had fallen asleep in the clown's arms, feeling no more fear and worry that Pennywise had moved on or was tired of you. He had you, and he always will. You would also always have Pennywise, watching you from the shadows and taking care of you, even if you didn't know he was there.

MASTERLIST

[inkyardpress]

Excerpt: Everlife by Gena Showalter

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CHAPTER ONE

“Life isn’t about what you gain; it’s about what you give.”—Troika

Ten

Present day

I peer up at the indomitable Killian Flynn, my heart thudding against my ribs.  Every breath I take fills me with hope, wonder…and dismay.

Our relationship is about to change. Everything is about to change.

Earlier we snuck out of our realms to meet in the Land of the Harvest. A secret cave in Russia’s Ural Mountains, to be exact. Now we stand face-to-face, hand in hand. Jagged rocks create the perfect frame for Killian’s wild, ravaging beauty and the unwavering strength he wields. Strength forged on the bloodiest of battlefields.

There’s no other warrior I’d rather have at my side.

Our people might be at war, but we are going to usher in peace. One step at a time.

I drink him in, this boy I’m trusting with my present—and my future. His skin is a magnificent shade between bronze and gold while his hair is jet black. His eyebrows are thick, masculine, and his nose sharp as a blade. His mouth is soft and lush. Pure temptation…

A shadow of a beard dusts his triangular jaw. Under his T-shirt and jeans, his deliciously muscled body is covered in tattoos. Skulls, stars, roses and other images, all connected by lines, creating some sort of map. That map appears on both his spirit and his Shell—an outer casing made to resemble a spirit—but he’s never told me where it leads.

One day, he’ll share all. We both will.

But it is his eyes that draw me in and hold me captive. His eyes are soulful gold with flecks of electric blue.  Always those flecks strike a chord inside me, different songs piercing my soul.  Some are fast and erratic, eliciting passion, while others are slow and dreamy; always they are haunting.

Today I hear a seductive melody that sets my blood aflame and chills me to the bone.  Makes sense. I am fire, he is ice, yet we fit. After all, the warmth of a fire is best enjoyed on a frigid winter’s day.

So many differences. Too many, most would say.

Just enough to rock the entire world.

I am day.  He is night.

I strengthen in Light.  He is unrivaled in darkness.

I like rules, structure.  He thrives in chaos.

I believe our worst emotions should never dictate our actions; we should help, forgive and care for others.  Emotions are fleeting, after all, and subject to change. Why let one ruin your life? He believes emotion should drive us every moment of every day, and caring for others is foolish. Those you help now will stab you in the back later.

To me, today’s choices dictate tomorrow’s reality.  To him, Fate decides for us.

I’m a Troikan Conduit.  He’s a Myriadian Laborer.  We are Lifeblood-born enemies, and yet he is the love of my Everlife.

As different as we are, we are also the same. Painful pasts shaped us, made us stronger. We hold on tight whenever something—or someone—threatens the people and things we love. We fight for what we believe is right, no matter the obstacles in our way.

I’m one of only two Conduits responsible for lighting Troika, and I’m supposed to kill Killian, our enemy.  I’m going to marry him, instead.

Chemistry doesn’t care about expectations.  I love and adore this boy, and I hold on tight, remember?

Even if I despised him, I would say “I do.” There’s more at stake than our hearts.

Once we unite our spirits, we will have the opportunity to unite our realms and facilitate the peace we so desperately crave. Together, we will enter Myriad and slay Ambrosine, Prince of Ravens. The realm’s corrupt Secondking.

A corrupt leader corrupts his people absolutely.

Then Killian will take the crown, and command, and order his armies to stand down. He will accept the truce Troika once offered. A truce Eron, Prince of Doves and the Secondking of Troika, has wanted for centuries.

Finally the war will end.

Once that is accomplished—or maybe before, we haven’t decided on an order yet—we will save the poor souls trapped inside Many Ends, the hellish sub-realm connected to Myriad.

Many Ends is home to the Unsigned who experience Firstdeath, as well as monstrous beings with a single goal: kill everyone. Spirits are hunted and killed in the most horrific ways.  Again…and again. Because, once a spirit “dies” in Many Ends, it comes back to life, ready for round two…three…four…

Four, the number for stability, order and justice.  A strong foundation, considering there are four sides in a square. Four cardinal directions—north, south, east, west. Four seasons to complete a year—winter, spring, summer, fall. Four winds, and four phases of the moon.

Four is the only numeral spelled with the same amount of letters as its numerical value.

Focus. I believe the spirits trapped inside Many Ends come back to life, but my theory hasn’t yet been proven.

Another uncertainty? Killian’s mother, Caroline, and my friend Marlowe could be there.  But here’s the thing. Neither Caroline nor Marlowe were Unsigned. Caroline made covenant with Myriad years before, only to experience Second-death within days of reaching the realm. Marlowe made covenant with Troika, only to void it when she committed suicide. Different people, different policies.

Myriad claimed Caroline’s spirit Fused with the spirit of a newborn infant the day of her death, but I think they lied. I think all Myriadians wind up in Many Ends, like all Troikans wind up in the Rest.

If people knew, they might not sign with Myriad. Falsehoods and propagandas keep business booming.

I need to save the damned, and I can.  I know I can.  Not because I’m special. Please. I’m just a girl who can navigate Many Ends’ treacherous labyrinth better than most, because I’ve been there.

A shudder of dismay rocks me.

“I hope ye weren’t thinking of me just then, lass.” Killian lifts my hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles, sending tingles down my spine.

 “Are you kidding? The great Killian Flynn only ever makes girls shiver with desire.”

“Or vibrate with anger.”

Smiling, I nod. “That’s fair.”

The ring on his thumb glints in the firelight, warming my heart. After my grandmother Meredith experienced Second-death, I was presented with a token of remembrance. A gun-ring with six-round cylinders, 2mm pinfire.  A gorgeous piece of weaponry and a fashion statement. My most prized possession.

I could think of no better gift when Killian gave me a hand-carved pendant in the shape of pi. Infinite possibilities rest within the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter; every possibility for every life. A number without end. Convert letters to numbers, and they, too, can be found within pi. Meaning, every number with any meaning—from our birthdays to the date we die—and every word ever spoken, every word that will be spoken, exist within pi.

“I love you” becomes 9 + 12 + 15 + 22 + 5 + 25 + 15 + 21 = 619.

Or as Killian says:

I = one letter.

Love = four letters.

You = three letters.

143, 10.

Even now, the pendant hangs from a string of leather around my neck, both beautiful and useful. Whenever I’m in trouble, I can press the center, and my location will be sent to Killian’s comm.  He can find me in an instant and help.

Now, we’re going to help each other and intertwine our futures with an unbreakable covenant.

What if, despite this, I’m unable to enter Myriad?

Zero! The doubt devil surfaces, and swarms of others follow. Will my Light hurt him?  Will his darkness harm me?  Will we weaken or strengthen each other? Will our covenant to the realms be voided? What if, after this, neither of us can return home?

Firstlife was a dress rehearsal. Now the curtain is up, and we’re performing in front of a live studio audience.  Every word, action and decision comes with a consequence. There are no second chances to right our wrongs.  No do-overs.

I’ve been told I’ll turn the tide of the war, somehow, some way. What if my bond to Killian turns the tide in Myriad’s favor?

 Maybe I should back out. Except…every fiber of my being suddenly screams in denial. Both realms have reached a boiling point. Every day innocents are slaughtered. Something has to change, and fast. This is our best shot at peace. Our only shot. And really, I want to save Myriad just as much as I want to save Troika. I shouldn’t put one realm above the other.

 Face it. If I back out now, fear wins and everyone loses.

 I will not make decisions based on “what if.” I will do what’s right, always. Because, in the end, I’m the only one who has to live with my regrets.

 Doubt devils can suck it.

Killian squeezes my hands. “Yer paler by the second, lass. There’s still time tae back out.”  His accent is thicker than usual, his voice low and husky, and irresistibly sexy.  “I doona want you feelin’ pressured.”

“I just…I wish we could speak with other inter-realm couples. We aren’t the first Troikan and Myriadian to fall in love. We can’t be.” Though we’ve searched high and low, we’ve found no one else. Either the others are in hiding��or dead.

He stiffens, as if he’s expecting a devastating blow.  “We can put this ceremony on hold and continue searching.”

And end up right where we are, perhaps far too late. “We’re doing this.  I’ll share my Light with you, and you’ll share your darkness with me. I’ll pass through the Veil of Midnight.” The doorway that leads into Myriad freezes Troikans to Second-death.  But I’m about to become half-Myriadian. Maybe. Probably. Fingers crossed.

 “If yer doing this for your mother…”

 Mom is locked in the Kennels, a prison in Myriad.  I’m going to find and free her, so she can defect to Troika to raise my little brother, Jeremy.  “She’s one of many reasons,” I say.

 He relaxes, but only slightly. “Yer only seventeen years old. We can revisit the bond in a few decades, yeah.”

Decades? I inhale deeply, drawing in the familiar and beloved scent of peat smoke and heather.  His scent.  A new wave of calm flows over me, as warm and sweet as honey.  “I’m almost eighteen, and you’re only nineteen.  So what?  We’ve lived, died and lived again.  I’m not going to wait to fight for what’s right, and I’m certainly not going to wait to claim you.”

“I doona want you doin’ something you’ll regret.”

His accent has reached maximum thickness. Aka sweet, mouthwatering molasses. Meaning his emotions are engaged and running rampant. “How could I regret a miracle?” I ask.

One dark brow arches as his incredible eyes glitter. “Explain.”

“There are over one hundred billion galaxies.  And counting!  There are incalculable universes, two realms in the Unending, two sub-realms, nine planets in our solar system, one hundred and ninety-six countries, seven seas, and over seven hundred islands.  The fact that we found each other—miracle.”

He laughs.  “Ye trying to seduce me, lass?  ‘Cause it’s working.”

This boy. Oh, this boy. He’s the one seducing me. Heart, mind, body. I love him.

But go ahead. Remove love from the equation. It doesn’t matter. Still I trust him.  Time and time again, he’s defied the orders of his Secondking in an effort to protect my family.  He’s helped me when he should have harmed me.

“It’s working, but it hasn’t carried you to the finish line yet?” I mock-growl. “I can’t believe you’re making me talk you into this. It was your idea. Maybe I should wait until you get down on one knee to beg for the honor of becoming my husband.”

His good humor fades in an instant, his features tight with tension. “I willna beg. I had tae beg for scraps as a child, simply to survive. Now I’d rather die than beg for anything.”

“Hey, hey.” Amusement gone, I gently cup his face. Tenderness wells inside me. There’s so much I don’t know about him. So much I’m eager to learn. “I was only teasing, I promise.”

He releases a shuddering breath. A second later, his lips curve in a slow smile full of promise, and tendrils of heat unfurl inside me. He is beautiful beyond imagining, though every chiseled line is cut by cruelty, as if pain lives and breathes inside him. I look at him, and I want to kiss him, hug him and shake him all at once.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “You get I’ll be cherishin’ ye every day of my Everlife, yeah?”

Just like that. I’m undone. One smile—and I fall deeper in love with him. One moment of time—and I can’t imagine a single day without him. One sentence—and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

I rise on my tiptoes and press a soft kiss to his lips.

 “Will ye be cherishin’ me? I mean, yer wearing Troikan armor. Think your marriage is going to be a battlefield, eh?”

I give the collar of my black catsuit a self-conscious tug.

“I kid, I kid.” Killian brushes his knuckles across my jawline. “Ye look good in anything.” His voice takes on a husky timbre. “Later, ye’ll look even better in nothing.”

Heat blooms over my cheeks.

His smile returns, and it’s full of mischief, wonder and adoration. He brushes his thumbs over the rise of my cheekbones. “Yer eyes are like mini-TV screens. They broadcast yer emotions.”

 Others have told me I’m impossible to read. But then, Killian knows me better than most, and he wants me anyway. Not because I’m a rare Conduit, but because I’m me. Tenley Lockwood. A girl who’s messed up, time and time again, but continues to get up and keep fighting the good fight.

“Today, a new future will be forged,” I say. “Enemies become family.”

“The first step toward concord between our realms.”

Wind whistles outside our cave, snow billowing, while a fire crackles inside. My gaze snags on the far wall, where the numerical equivalent of our names is carved. 68 + 39.

Killian: 11 + 9 + 12 + 12 + 9 + 1 + 14 = 68

Ten: 20 + 5 + 14 = 39

68 + 39 = 107

Sonnet 107 by William Shakespeare.

Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul

Of the wide world dreaming on things to come,

Can yet the lease of my true love control,

Suppos’d as forfeit to a confin’d doom.

The mortal moon hath her eclipse endur’d

And the sad augurs mock their own presage;

Incertainties now crown themselves assur’d

And peace proclaims olives of endless age.

Now with the drops of this most balmy time

My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,

Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme,

While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes;

And thou in this shalt find thy monument,

When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are spent.

In other words, love is not subject to time, or even death.

In the back of my mind, the Grid ripples with approval and delivers a new surge of confidence. I am doing the right thing. We will succeed in our endeavors.

Once, I lamented my invisible link to other Troikans. Now I rejoice. Support can mean the difference between victory and defeat. But who would approve of this union? No one but me knows about it.

“Whatever happens next,” Killian says, “doona forget I love ye.” The brawler capable of any dark deed leans down to rub his nose against mine. “All right?”

“All right.” I’ll never forget, and I’ll never tire of hearing those words. “I love you, too.”

His smile reignites, and oh, wow, it’s like Cupid’s arrow through my heart. Killian is more than beautiful. He is life. The crystalline flecks in his eyes… there are eight. Eight is the atomic number for oxygen. Killian is my oxygen, the reason I breathe.

“Ready?” He lifts my hands to his mouth once more and traces his tongue between my knuckles.

 My stomach flips over. If not for Shells, Myriadians and Troikans would be unable to touch without agonizing pain. Usually Shells mute sensation. Today I feel everything.

 “Tell me what to do,” I rasp.

“Our word is our bond. Speak, and it’s done. We’ll pledge our lives tae each other. Simple, easy.”

As simple and easy as pledging our Everlife to one of the realms. Okay, I can do that. The simplicity doesn’t negate the difficulty, however. I’m giving my life—my future—to another person.

He raises his chin. “I’ll go first, aye.”

“Aye. I mean yes.” My heart thuds against my ribs, and I lick my lips.

When he releases my hands, panic invades. I’ve lost my anchor. Then he cups my face, holding me as if I’m more delicate than glass. “Tenley Nicole Lockwood, you’ve given me life beyond the grave. Until ye, I never knew the power of being connected tae another person. Ye saw the best in me even when I showed ye my worst. Ye trusted me when all evidence pointed tae my guilt. For that, I give ye my Everlife. Everything I am, everything I have, is yers.”

Hot tears well in my eyes, catching in my lashes. How am I supposed to match such a glorious pledge? Well, I have to try.

Nope. Troikans do not try. Troikans do. “Killian—” Zero! “I don’t know your middle name.”

“Niall.”

Killian Niall Flynn. Five Ls. Four Ns.

5 + 4 = 9

Killian Niall Flynn + Ten = 5 Ls and 5 Ns.

5 + 5 = 10

10 = existence. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10. (1) the FirstKing (2) the Secondkings (3) human life (4) the four elements: earth, air, fire and water.

Ten is completion: the end of one cycle, the beginning of another.

Concentrate!

Oops. My bad. I tend to lose myself in number trivia when I’m nervous. But there’s nothing to be nervous about, right? This is Killian. My Killian. Together, we can handle whatever comes next.

“Killian Niall Flynn.” I wrap my fingers around his wrists as I peer into his eyes. “You found me before the grave and taught me how to live. Until you, I’d known only disappointment and betrayal, but you picked me up every time I fell. You carried me when I was too weak to walk, and you put me first, even when it meant torture and possibly Second-death. For that, I give you my Everlife. Everything I am, everything I have, is yours.”

His expression softens, and I wish, so badly I wish, that my family and friends could witness our union. While my mother is in the Kennel, my father is training to be an ML. He hates me, anyway. My aunt Lina, his twin sister, is missing. No one knows where she is.

Lina can see into the future. As a child, she taught me a rhyme that aided my escape from Many Ends. Only a few weeks ago, she taught me a second rhyme, saving my life when a supposed friend—Victor Prince—attempted to kill me.

I frown. “I don’t feel any different.”

“We aren’t done.” Killian steps back, his arms falling to his sides. “Out of yer Shell, lass.”

I’m confused by the command, but still I obey. He steps from his Shell, as well, gifting me with the sight of two potential husbands. The inanimate Shell, and the spirit man—the real Killian. Usually darkness surrounds him, his own personal veil of smoke. Now the darkness is muted, but there’s no Light emanating from him, either.

He’s so much taller than me, I’m forced to look up, up, up. Scars circle his neck, proof of the pain he’s suffered throughout his Secondlife.

I reach out, intending to trace a fingertip along the raised flesh, but stop myself just before contact. “You’ve been a spirit all your life. Why didn’t you regenerate after you were injured?”

“Spirits are unable to regenerate fully until they reach the Age of Perfection. What you receive as a child, you keep.” He crooks his finger at me. “Come here. I’m goin’ tae kiss ye now.”

A kiss. Of course! A wedding always ends with a kiss.

I move toward him, eager, and he enfolds me in his muscular arms. His lips descend, claiming mine in our first spirit-kiss, no barriers between us, and he isn’t gentle about it. He’s demanding and possessive, pure masculine aggression, and I love every second.

Everything about him makes me think of forbidden nights and carnal indulgence.

I’m burning up rather than freezing as usual, pleasure consuming me, the pain I’m used to feeling nothing but a distant memory.

Realization: We can touch without consequence!

I melt into him, the rest of the world is forgotten as I luxuriate in the sweetness of his flavor.

Now the deal is sealed. This boy is now my husband. And this, our first kiss as a bonded pair, is everything I’ve ever dreamed and more. It’s—

A bolt of ice slams into me, tossing me across the cavern. I collide with the wall and slide to the ground, fighting for breath. Agony sears my right arm. Panting, I look down. Doubletake. An image appears in my flesh, as dark as ink and in the shape of…a horse?

The animal rests under the words Loyalty, Passion, Liberty.

Loyalty to my realm. Passion for the truth. Liberty for all.

The words appeared immediately after my Firstdeath. Actually, numbers appeared. The moment I figured out what those numbers represented, the words took their place.

Why a horse? There has to be a reason. There’s always a reason.

I rack my brain, but all I can come up with—Killian once likened me to a warhorse.

The warhorse paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray. It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword. The quiver rattles against its side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, “Aha!” It catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

But I’m not here to fight him. I’m here to make peace. Unless…

The moisture in my mouth dries. Ready or not, a new battle is headed our way.

My vision goes hazy, and I moan. I am Light, and I’ve never needed to see more! Blinking rapidly helps, allowing me to search for Killian. The same terrible phenomena must have bombarded him, because he’s slouched against the opposite wall. When our gazes meet, he reaches in my direction, the numbers tattooed on his wrist visible.

143, 10. I love you, Ten.

Beneath the numbers I spy a new image. A horse. A match to mine, though his is white and mine is black.

His eyes are alight with…no, impossible! The flecks I so adore cannot be doused in literal flames, flickering with both light and shadow.

I need to get to him, now, but my muscles are like frozen blocks of ice. And the Grid—

The Grid! My connection to Troika, and a reminder that there is so much more to the world—to my world—than what I can see and feel at any given time.

Shadows dance along the Grid, where multiple doorways loom. Those doorways lead to rooms. In some, I’ve stored extra Light. Others provide a link to the conscious minds of different citizens. One in particular opens up to the Rest, where our dead spend eternity at peace.

A pang of homesickness strikes me. Meredith, Archer and Levi are there. I miss them desperately.

Radiating hatred, the shadows try to sneak into one room after another. I fight to keep the doorways closed as information bombards me. Darkness is measured by the absence of Light. These shadows, whatever they are, must have come from Killian, and our bond, and yet they are so familiar to me…as if they are old friends. How is that possible?

Doesn’t matter. Must…do…something. Now!

Left with no other choice, I change tactics and open a door to one of my storage rooms. In a vivid, dazzling rush, bright Light escapes. Shadows hiss, some dying the second they come into contact with a beam, others slithering away, and, oh, zero, sharp pains explode through my head, and I scream.

Can’t give up. Strengthen in the Light, die in the darkness.

Between one breath and the next, the pain leaves me, and a scene opens in my mind. A memory that is not my own.

I’m standing in a doorway, watching a young couple walk down the center of a hallway. There are thirteen children lined up beside me, all under the age of ten. The couple stops to question a little girl before dismissing her and moving on to a little boy. He, too, is dismissed. The next three children are ignored, but the couple pauses to inspect the teeth of the fourth.

Closer to me by the second…

I’m nervous. I would kill to have a family of my own—literally—but no one will look at me twice. What’s wrong with me? What do I lack?

Easy: absolutely everything.

Once, my superiors thought I was destined to become a General. Everyone wanted me, then. When I failed to develop the necessary skills, the want turned to disdain.

I try so hard, and I train harder than everyone else combined. I learned how to use a sword and every type of gun. Even the Stag and the Oxi, the most dangerous weapons in a Laborer’s arsenal. One day I’ll kill more Troikans than any General in our history. I vow it.

Just give me a chance. Please!

The couple is on the move again…so, so close to me…the woman looks me over and gives an almost imperceptible shake of her head before passing me, silent. My heart sinks, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.

Me? Cry? Never! I keep my head high. If this family doesn’t want me, fine, I don’t want them, either. They aren’t good enough. I’m better off at the Learning Center, anyway.

The scene goes blank, and I—Ten—blink open my eyes. I’m back in the present, back in the cave, panting and drenched in sweat yet shivering with bone-deep chill. I was wrong. The pain didn’t subside; it ramped up.

The memory…it came from Killian. I know in my heart. Having died soon after his mother gave birth to him, he spent his childhood inside the Learning Center, a Myriadian orphanage.

Humans—both in flesh and spirit form—could be ugly in so many ways. Rotten inside. Vile and cruel. But they were also layered. Pull back the ugliness, and you might see a hurt. Pull back another layer, and you might see a child who used to crave approval, affection and acceptance.

A child like Killian had been. My husband has seen the worst the world(s) have to offer. I want so badly to hold him in my arms and comfort the boy he’d been, and praise the man he’d become.

My gaze seeks him. He’s on his back, pulling at his hair. Like me, he’s panting and drenched in sweat. But he’s muttering, “Kill, kill, kill.”

Kill…who? Is he seeing into my memories?

“I’m here,” I tell him. “I’m—”

My heart stops, stealing my words as a man and woman storm into the cave.

[that-black-parade]

V’s Route Walkthrough (Day 3)

[Previous Day | Next Day]

00:31 Under the Shimmering. Selection 1

I was waiting to meet you, Zen. (Zen)

I wanted to chill out more and then go to sleep. (Nothing)

Selection 2

The beautiful are sleepy heads…? (Zen)

I think your biorhythm will break living like that. (Nothing)

Selection 3

God, finally we’ll have some peace and silence. (Nothing)

Wow, you’re even humble! Such perfection! (Zen)

I actually want to see V’s photos! (V)

Selection 4

Zen, riding your bike under the moonlight… (Zen)

I wonder how Jumin will look riding the bike! (Nothing)

Are you in a motorcycle gang? (Nothing)

Selection 5

That’s the thing, you can never find your driver’s license when needed. (Nothing)

Share with me some photos of your driver’s license, if you have some. (Nothing)

Selection 6

It’s the same thing. Just do it. (Nothing)

Both are so perfect. How am I to choose!? (Zen)

Wow! It’s you when you were younger! (Nothing)

Selection 7

You’re here to see me!! (Nothing)

I want to chat with everyone together. (V)

Selection 8

Aren’t motorcycles dangerous? (Nothing)

Zen, you had an accident? (Nothing)

Selection 9

When you’re feeling frustrated and all, playing games are the best! 0% accidents! (Nothing)

What if something dangerous happens to you? (V)

You feel free as a bird when you ride with the wind. (Zen)

Selection 10

How exactly did the crash occur? (Nothing)

Tell me what happened back then. (Nothing)

Selection 11

It would have been serious if V didn’t follow you. (V)

V, you’re quite persistent. (Nothing)

Selection 12

V, you should take photos of someday as well! (V)

Trying to deny it by myself is too hard. I need some help here. (Nothing)

Selection 13

Flowers? V, were you Zen’s fan? (V)

Zen, what were you like back in the days? (Nothing)

Selection 14

Maybe you’re in a slump? (Nothing)

You still look promising. (Nothing)

Life is about rebounding back when you were considering quitting lol (Nothing)

Selection 15

I lie low for a while. (Nothing)

Do something that brightens your mood! (Nothing)

Forget about everything and let time pass by. (Nothing)

Selection 16

You seem to be coming in at late hours… Are you okay? (V)

V, do you normally clock in such late hours? (Nothing)

Selection 17

Have you ever heard of alcohol-related dementia? (Nothing)

Zen, I hope you get to shoot a beer commercial. (Zen)

V, you go well with wine! (Nothing)

Selection 18

Good bye! (Nothing)

Don’t drink to much! (V)

Selection 19

You have a lot to worry about. (Nothing)

I’m like that as well. (V)

Selection 20

I’m going to stay up late. (Nothing)

I think I should get going now. (Nothing)

02:46 Paradox of the Survival of the Fittest. Selection 1

Ray, why aren’t you sleeping? (Nothing)

We  connected as I wanted to see you as well! (Ray)

You seem to have a lot of work to do. (Nothing)

I was testing the game you gave me. (Ray)

Selection 2

If you have something to say, come over yourself. (Nothing)

There’s the modern convenience called the phone. (Nothing)

Selection 3

Wonder why it grew in two stalks. (Nothing)

Then it’ll bloom twice as much flowers! (Nothing)

Selection 4

I feel sad for the weaker stalk… (Nothing)

It could be that one of its like an extra giveaway, since it grew into two from one stalk.

Wouldn’t it be because only one had sunlight and the other had none? (Nothing)

Selection 5

There’s nothing you can do, it’s nature’s way of survival of the fittest.

I want to save the weaker stalk somehow. (Ray)

Selection 6

You’re right. The weaker stalk was the one that sacrificed! (Ray)

Throw it out and buy a new pot.

But for flowers to blossom, the weaker one should be stripped.

Rescue both. (Nothing)

Selection 7

Wow…I’ll look forward to it, Ray! (Nothing)

It’ll be a flower gained from the other’s sacrifice… (Nothing)

Selection 8

Yawn. I think the game you made is more interesting.

It was fun. With hidden morals and all… (Ray)

Selection 9

Are you going back to work? (Nothing)

Ray, when are you going to sleep? (Nothing)

07:00 Take Care of Your Health. Selection 1

Change you glasses into sunglasses lol (Nothing)

Why don’t you lower the brightness? (Nothing)

Selection 2

I’ll get ready to write it down! (707)

Huh. The name’s even suspicious for a start. (Nothing)

Selection 3

Isn’t that just a bunch of powders and not a drink? (Nothing)

Can I taste it? (Nothing)

Selection 4

Reports to police right now. (Nothing)

It’s not like the stakes are some kinds of market free-giveaways… (Nothing)

Selection 5

Send in an ingredients review document as well. (Nothing)

A match of outstanding product quality!! (707)

Selection 6

You don’t even know the prices at convenience stores? You must be joking! (Nothing)

Seems you have an innocent spot in you, Jumin. (Jumin)

Selection 7

You’re suddenly acting a bit pathetic. (Jumin)

Throwing it out down the drain…of something you made with great difficulty… T_T (707)

Selection 8

Catch your breath is important as well. (707)

In other words, you’re distracted. (Nothing)

Selection 9

You’re nodding to that? ;;;;; (Nothing)

Tell me more of this cleaning fairy. (Nothing)

Selection 10

Awesome! Why don’t we learn its secret cleaning methods at the party? (Email)

Cleaning fairy sounds too suspicious… (Nothing)

Selection 11

Huh; It’s Jaehee;; (Nothing)

Jaehee, good morning! (Nothing)

Selection 12

You are very persistent. (Nothing)

Too bad, you were this close to being successful in your fabrication. (707)

Selection 13

Jaehee, good luck today! (Jaehee)

You just came in. Are you already leaving? (Nothing)

Selection 14

Isn’t it enough to have one friend like V? (Jumin)

You really have only two friends? (707)

Selection 15

Can someone translate what Seven’s saying? (Jumin)

1011011… (707)

Selection 16

I thought it was funny lol (Nothing)

It wasn’t too far. It was way way too far.  (Nothing)

Selection 17

Stop getting distracted and get to work.

Don’t forget to bring Sevenstar Drink Version 2 when you come back! (Nothing)

09:13 Back in the Days. Selection 1

Did you get your license renewed? (Nothing)

Cat cafe. (Nothing)

A morning meeting of beautiful people? lol (Zen)

Jumin’s company? (Nothing)

Selection 2

I’m actually tired of seeing it since I’ve seen it numerous times. (Nothing)

I’m ready to hit Save. Please show it to me!!!! (Zen)

Selection 3

Oh! I suppose the roads were familiar to you— (Nothing)

When did you debut? (Nothing)

Selection 4

And the story goes that it was your girlfriend. (Nothing)

You must be happy. (Nothing)

Ooh, celebrity! (Zen)

Selection 5

What did photo did V debut with? (V)

It must have been worthwhile! (Zen)

Selection 6

Zen, I invite you to the room of mirrors. (Nothing)

Oh, um, yeah. Let’s put it like that. (Nothing)

Yeah, I think its harsh to compare appearances with you, Zen! (Zen)

Selection 7

I wanna be — most very best — (Nothing)

The one with Pickachoo!? (Nothing)

Selection 8

Great! I’ll catch Backpack Monsters by inviting him to the party. (Email)

I will decline as Ninpendo might get us because of copyright infringements. (Nothing)

Selection 9

Wow lol (Nothing)

Oh…sweet jesus…! (Zen)

My eyes are screaming out with joy! (Nothing)

Selection 10

Welcome! (Nothing)

Jaehee, our professional Zen-critic, can you please explain to us what kind of performance it was? (Jaehee)

Selection 11

I want to see that performance — (Nothing)

And like this, the number of photos in my folder increase one by one… (Jaehee)

Selection 12

AI role…? It must have been easy for an AI to play an AI role. (Ray)

Jaehee, your Zen-intelligence is really awesome. (Jaehee)

Selection 13

Truth is, I think I prefer V than Zen. (V)

Skin conditions are always better when you’re young… (Nothing)

Jaehee, have a glass of cold coffee right now before you run wild. (Jaehee)

Selection 14

t’s a meeting with V’s acquaintance, right? (V)

I want to know whom he’s having the meeting with — (Nothing)

Selection 15

It’s my father-in-law ^^ (Nothing)

V’s dad…I wonder what kind of person he is. (Nothing)

Selection 16

Silver spoon family class… (Nothing)

He would have received some hardcore education. (Nothing)

Selection 17

I like V’s humble attitude. (V)

They have few things in common, but they’re also different — (Nothing)

Selection 18

A visual world of their own… (Nothing)

I think they pair well together ^^ (V)

I think their relationship is… too glorified. (Nothing)

Selection 19

You do know that beer isn’t part of brunch, right? (Nothing)

Enjoy your meal— (Nothing)

Selection 20

Are you worried? (Nothing)

Does V know about this? (V)

Selection 21

You have one…called being a fan-girl. It’s your boyfriend and friend. (V)

It kind of bothers me that there’s a secret V keeps even form his friend. (Ray)

I want to be friends with V too. (V)

Selection 22

Bye— (Nothing)

Jaehee, have a great day today! (Jaehee)

12:22 My Best Friend. Selection 1

I did— (Nothing)

Not yet. (Nothing)

Selection 2

No…humans betray someday. (Nothing)

Of course! Friends are really dear. (Nothing)

Selection 3

Aren’t you working indoors all the time? (Nothing)

You’re friends with flowers ^^ (Ray)

Selection 4

Lisianthus. (Nothing)

I like lily-of-the-valley! (Nothing)

What’s the flower language of daffodils? (Nothing)

What’s the flower language of blue roses? (Nothing)

Selection 5

Um…I think I feel more close with the friends inside the game. (V)

You can! Thought more time would be needed. (Ray)

Selection 6

I’m jealous… (Ray)

Who is it? (Nothing)

Selection 7

Um, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it… (Nothing)

I don’t think you’re obsessed with me. I’m just glad that you seem to care for me a lot! (Ray)

I don’t feel it at all…I wish you’d be obsessed with me a bit more… (Nothing)

Selection 8

The Ray, are you working for this person? (Nothing)

Who is this person? (Nothing)

Selection 9

I want to be with you…! My mind will not change. (Ray)

When the party is held…I think I would want to leave here. (Nothing)

Selection 10

Bye! (Nothing)

I want to see you today, Ray! (Ray)

14:09 Small Cute Adorable. Selection 1

Every day is crossroad lol (Nothing)

Is something wrong? (Nothing)

Oh, Savior of Justice!! Has a villain appeared? (Nothing)

Selection 2

You’re a person receiving a salary. (Nothing)

What’s your real job? (Nothing)

Selection 3

I secured your portrait of the deceased. Thanks. (Nothing)

What a dangerous mission…I wonder if you can return safely…? (707)

Selection 4

Condolences to Jaehee’s eyes… (Jaehee)

I understand her. She must’ve been surprised to learn that your mission is a dangerous one… (Nothing)

Selection 5

Will a nude photo be next? (Nothing)

I think I’m already used to it now—^^ Hahaha. (Nothing)

I pray for your successful mission. (Nothing)

Selection 6

I’m curious of the next theme. (Nothing)

Do I need to feed the fairy with compliments? (707)

Such delicate plot…This messenger is truly awesome. (Ray)

Selection 7

Is 3 days enough? Won’t you need a week? (Nothing)

3 days…? (Nothing)

Selection 8

Got it. (Nothing)

…Let me hear it out first. (Nothing)

Selection 9

Oh! Compliment from the bottom of Jaehee’s heart! (Nothing)

I was about to recommend the first one!! (707)

Jaehee…you want to get out of this fast, right? (Jaehee)

Selection 10

Seven! Sell your car to me! (Nothing)

Cars are dreams! Don’t sell it! (Nothing)

Selection 11

Maybe it’s duty-free business? lol (Nothing)

Since it’s largely influencing the national economy…I think it’ll be larger that what we imagine… (Nothing)

Selection 12

Okay…Good bye. (Nothing)

It’s inevitable because of its size difference. (Nothing)

Selection 13

What is it…? (Nothing)

Selection 14

Not really. (Nothing)

I pay a decent amount earnestly. Thought not as much as Jumin… (Nothing)

I’m a person with a fragile wallet that gets billed with withholding tax. (Nothing)

Selection 15

Wouldn’t V’s mother hair color have been mint? (Nothing)

The father might have dyed his hair…. (Nothing)

V might have colored his hair… TT (Nothing)

Selection 16

You’re the son of a dragon? Whatever… (Jaehee)

I wish a dragon would come to the party… (707)

Selection 17

Let’s make an equal world for everyone together! (707)

Wouldn’t it be better if we invite those who can actually attend the party? (Jaehee)

Selection 18

Whoa… (Nothing)

lololol (Nothing)

It looks like a strong name. (Nothing)

Selection 19

Okay! Let’s invite it! (Nothing)

It’s not the right time to unveil the sealing of the dragon Smug, so I therefore decline. (Nothing)

Selection 20

Can the party be really held properly? T_T (Jaehee)

Wow— (Nothing)

Selection 21

You’ve put your effort in trying to find the most ordinary person! (Nothing)

So this person has nothing to do with the pilot you first mentioned! (Jaehee)

How is that person related to you, Jaehee?;; (Nothing)

Selection 22

We’re already too ordinary, and I don’t think we need to invite this person! (707)

We cannot decline someone like that! (Jaehee)

Selection 23

Whoa…are you going to fall now? (Nothing)

What are you talking about? I’m sure you’re not really through the sky… (Nothing)

Selection 24

Sound dangerous… (Nothing)

I want to try that! (Nothing)

Selection 25

I don’t think it’s a good idea to trust all of Seven’s words. I mean, we’ve seen him playing tricks a lot… (Jaehee)

A genius! (707)

I’d expect nothing less from someone V has appointed in charge of security. (V)

Selection 26

Didn’t he invite the vampire and udon…? (Jaehee)

The party might become more interesting! (Jumin)

Selection 27

I’m worried that V might become baffled with all this. (V)

You don’t think V told those two to recommend only the weird guest to pretend to be holding a party, do you? (Ray)

No way—They both don’t look like bad people. (Nothing)

Selection 28

I’ll start my grand afternoon…! (Nothing)

I should pick up and finish up the work I was doing— (Nothing)

To rest during the evening, I must continuously work. (Nothing)

16:32 Precious Friend. Selection 1

V! Hi! (Nothing)

Hello. (Nothing)

Selection 2

I think it’ll be fun! (Nothing)

Do you think the members were serious with their recommendations? (Nothing)

Selection 3

Two friends gathered in a chatroom ^^ (Nothing)

Jumin, welcome. (Nothing)

Selection 4

What kind of person is V’s father? I wonder what his impression is like. (Nothing)

Did you exchange any secrets? (Ray)

Rich people helping each other out — what a great word they live in. 

Selection 5

Is it a humiliating secret that you can’t share with me? (Nothing)

Ah, then you two should enjoy your conversation through the phone ^^ (V)

Selection 6

Fathers are said to be close but distant as well. Especially in case of a father-son relationship…! (Nothing)

V, you have a lot of secret…. What kind of secrets are you hiding from your father? (Ray)

Oh…You’ve become estranged. I’m a bit like that as well. (V)

Selection 7

It would have been better if you’ve told V before proceeding with it… (V)

I think it’ll be a good occasion to get together. (Jumin)

Can I go to that occasion? (Ray)

Selection 8

I think it was Jumin’s way of being considerate of you— (Jumin)

V…you seem very uncomfortable wit your father. (V)

Selection 9

You must have seen each other ofter since you both lived in the same neighborhood— (V)

Feels like your business will be a big hit! (Jumin)

Do you have any stories…like secrets regarding V? (Ray)

Selection 10

I want to hear memories of you two ^^ (Nothing)

Church…?! I don’t think that type of religion can heal people. (Ray)

Impressive; (Nothing)

Selection 11

Cute - !! (V)

Who sang better? (Nothing)

Selection 12

So, who won? (Nothing)

I think V would have won… (V)

Selection 13

Yes…sometimes an emotional decision can worse the situation.  (Ray)

Please don’t say that, V. It’s not your fault. (V)

Selection 14

It’s going to get better little by little, V. (V)

Don’t you think this sadness isn’t something you can overcome? (Ray)

Selection 15

V…don’t fall into too much despair, and try to cheer up! (V)

Bye.  (Nothing)

Selection 16

I think Rika was more unfortunate. (Ray)

Thought he looks very cool on the outside…I think he’s having a hard time. (Nothing)

He wouldn’t think me as a replacement of Rika, would he?

Is there anything I can do for V? (V)

Selection 18

I’m going to take a break now! Take care! (Nothing)

I’m going to think of  V… Bye. (V)

18:24 Explosion of Emotions. Selection 1

Yes, I did. (Nothing)

Umm… I did see it, though I didn’t understand quite well. (Nothing)

Selection 2

Please calm down… (Nothing)

Doesn’t it feel like everyone is hiding something? (Ray)

Yoosung, you must be in pain… (Yoosung)

Selection 3

Hello — (Nothing)

Welcome, Zen the Gorgeous — (Nothing)

Selection 4

We were talking about Jumin. (Yoosung)

Yoosung is currently exploding with emotions. (Zen)

Selection 5

You should be nice to your relatives. (Nothing)

Aunt and uncle? (Nothing)

Selection 6

Whoa…isn’t that harsh? It was their daughter’s funeral… (Yoosung)

Don’t you think Rika’s family affected her in a bad way? (V)

Selection 7

There seems be a lot of drama… (Nothing)

Rika was adopted? (Nothing)

Selection 8

I didn’t know since Rika had a bright image… (Nothing)

They’re a family. Didn’t they keep contact with Rika? (Nothing)

Selection 9

It’s not easy to trust someone with secrets. (Nothing)

I think V’s trying hard too. Why don’t you leave him alone for a bit…? (V)

Selection 10

Lololol (Yoosung)

I think having someone next to you would help ^^; (Zen)

Selection 11

Yup. It is a heal-all-potion, the panacea. (Zen)

I don’t think that’s something…Yoosung needs. (Yoosung)

Selection 12

Zen said that to help you…but you just shake it off… (Nothing)

Don’t treat Yoosung like a child. He’s an adult. (Nothing)

Selection 13

I don’t think it’s a good idea to enforce your method. (Nothing)

Zen…it might reach him later on. (Zen)

Selection 14

I wonder what V’s thinking… (V)

Everyone might become more light-hearted when everyone reveals the truth! (Ray)

I’m glad that at least you’re acting more positively. (Zen)

Selection 15

His way of grieving might be out of this world! (707)

Seven maybe has a heart made of steel? (Nothing)

Selection 16

Riding your motorcycle? Through the wind- (Nothing)

If you ride the motorcycle, V will get worried. (V)

You can ride through the wind with a VR game. (Nothing)

Selection 17

I hope you’re not taking your motorcycle for a trip around your neighborhood! (Nothing)

Zen, you’ll look gorgeous even when after sweating. (Zen)

20:11 Reason Behind the Curiosity. Selection 1

You’re on you way here? Wow… (Ray)

Why does the background look different whenever you log in? (Nothing)

Selection 2

I was about to have dinner — (Nothing)

I’m not in my room yet… (Nothing)

I was reading. Doing this and that… (Nothing)

Bzzzz! Wrong, you’ve got them all wrong! (Nothing)

You’ve got a few right ^^ (Nothing)

Selection 3

How much do you like me? (Ray)

Um…don’t we need time to learn about each other? (Nothing)

Selection 4

I feel…a tad suffocated. (Ray)

I actually feel good. (Ray)

Selection 5

It was more fun today as well. V turned a bit more active. (V)

I acted naturally, not trying to pry out secrets. The AIs felt really natural… (Nothing)

Selection 6

Yes! (Nothing)

Give me a second… (Nothing)

VNM — Selection 1

Aren’t you busy?

I’ve been waiting for you! It’s great to see you. 

Selection 2

You talked about a garden.

You said you needed caffeine. 

Selection 3

I want to go to that garden fast.

I’m not an idiot—

Selection 4

They’re beautiful…!

It’s a little chilly.

Selection 5

But…just what is this place?

Just what do you do here, Ray? Why are you so busy?

When will this game end? 

I want to finish it quickly and go home.

No, I’d like to try it some more.

Selection 6

Let’s walk for few more minutes. I want to talk to you some more. 

Already? I don’t want to go back. I feel trapped in there…

I want to go back and rest!

21:49 Power of the Coordinator. Selection 1

Cleaning Fairy! Have you completed all you chores? (707)

Hi-ho. (Nothing)

Selection 2

Yes. I went for a walk in the gardens. It was great. (Ray)

Yes, it was great talking to V and all. (V)

Selection 3

Yes! (Nothing)

I don’t know… (Nothing)

Selection 4

This time is an insurance scam? (Nothing)

When can I receive reimbursement? (Nothing)

Heartwarming… (Nothing)

Selection 5

Yes ^^ (V)

I’m holding my phone right now. (707)

Selection 6

I’m embarrassed ^^ (Nothing)

What else did you fin out apart from that? (Nothing)

Wow! I’m so glad! (Nothing)

Selection 7

And what other kinds of information did you find out? (Nothing)

You really didn’t come in very ofter before lol (Nothing)

Wow…! (Nothing)

Selection 8

A tad later, please. (Nothing)

Sure — (Nothing)

Selection 9

Feels great that he’s looking out for me! (V)

I don’t know…perhaps he’s not sincere about it. (Ray)

Selection 10

Can I change the channel? (Nothing)

V said not to advertise. (V)

Let’s hear it out first. (Nothing)

Selection 11

Done with the advertisement? (Nothing)

I want to buy one for V. (V)

Where did the insurance ad go? (Nothing)

Yes, I’ll order one box, please….there’s someone here who needs it… (Nothing)

Selection 12

Good luck with your convenience store thing! (707)

Bye, Mr.Advertiser. (Nothing)

23:07 Another Level of Salvation. Selection 1

Hello, Jaehee! You’re up late! (Nothing)

Jaehee you sould have some of Sevenstar Drink…! (707)

Selection 2

I believe Seven will be able to avoid them without a problem. (707)

Troubled times, these times… (Jaehee)

Selection 3

I have a bad feeling about this… (Nothing)

Why don’t you go to a shaman? Or hide an exorcist… (Nothing)

Selection 4

Yes…I hope they stop before they create more victims. (V)

Um…maybe it could actually save someone…that’s probably why deeply religious people look very happy. (Ray)

Selection 5

Yoosung, what have you been up to? (Nothing)

Welcome — (Nothing)

Selection 6

Was it effective? (Ray)

No…we must stop him!!! (V)

Selection 7

Did you fall into the world of gaming? (Yoosung)

Are you ordering Sevenstar Drink!? (707)

Selection 8

Seems like a sign. (Nothing)

Isn’t that a virus…! (Nothing)

Selection 9

Sniff…I smell something…the smell of spaceship burning… (707)

Weren’t there any hidden information?

Sob… (Nothing)

Selection 10

Star binge-gaming from now on. (Yoosung)

I’m thankful that he’s become brighter…. (Jaehee)

Selection 11

I believe it’s a problem you eventually have to return to and solve… (V)

Go back to the game. (Yoosung)

Selection 12

Sounds like good words, but it’s always better to do and adequate amount of good deed. (Nothing)

She’s right! (Nothing)

Selection 13

I can see how dangerous it is just by hearing it; (V)

It may be happiness to those that want to be saved by force… (Ray)

Selection 14

Why don’t we, the RFA, inherit and continue that!? (Yoosung)

Yes…but we won’t be able to do as much as before. (Ray)

It might not be fancy like salvation, but I will do my best. (V)

Selection 15

Yoosung, it might be time for you to look for professional help. (Nothing)

Eating might help you ease that stress. (Nothing)

Selection 16

I’m a bit suspicious lol (Nothing)

Whoa, interesting! (Nothing)

Selection 17

He looks too fishy. I’ll decline. (Nothing)

Let’s invite him! I wonder what his next costume will be after the leopard. (Email)

Selection 18

Yoosung, you’re leaving in a speed of light. (Nothing)

Vent out your stress by gaming! (Nothing)

Selection 19

He needs a true salvation… (Ray)

I think he just needs a way to vent out like that for now. (Jaehee)

Selection 20

If you fin it, please tell me as well!! (V)

I think I should get rest too. (Nothing)

[atombail7-blog]

Family Friday (vol. 90): Hawaii Dreaming in the Frozen Tundra

It’s late Friday afternoon and I’ve had a highly productive day. The kids have been engrossed in making valentines and are showing no signs of stir craziness. They must realize it is SO FREAKING COLD outside. I’ve never seen a dog do her business quite so quickly – it’s rather impressive, actually. Next Wednesday is a HIGH of -1. WHAT IS THAT?! My tennis coach said that these temperatures are record-breaking low. Ugh. I also learned that schools are cancelled if temperatures are -15 with wind chill and so I’m bracing myself for the morning scramble of what to do with my kids when daycare closes. It happened Monday of this week due to pipes freezing and it happened on Wednesday due to snow. I should have found a daycare that prorates tuition in such instances…

After I ruined Mark’s surprise of returning from India a day early, we arranged for a babysitter last Saturday and went to a brewery and out for dinner. Except, I had started feeling pretty crappy. I had stomach cramps and nausea. It was very bizarre. When the symptoms worsened on Sunday and I slept much of the day before skipping my hockey game and eating next to nothing, I knew something was up – I don’t miss meals. On Monday, I made an appointment with my PCP, convinced it was appendicitis or something. She ruled that out but said it was either a viral bug or my gallbladder. I went back to work, ate a bit for lunch, and experienced radiating pain between my shoulder blades. I sent my PCP a quick note and she ordered an abdominal ultrasound. My symptoms continued but by Wednesday morning when the ultrasound was scheduled, I had started feeling a bit better. I moved forward and got negative results from the ultrasound on Thursday. Come today, I’m feeling nearly back to 100%. Guess it was something viral…but I think I had a little gallbladder issue sprinkled in there, too. It wouldn’t be the first time. So, $600 later, I had a viral something and a week of no cooking (until last night), little eating, and little exercise. Glad to be back on my feet especially since Mark is suffering from yet another man cold.

In the evenings, we’ve been starting to plan our trip to Maui. Thanks for all the recommendations so far! I’m getting SO excited! We are typically not ones to plan out a full itinerary, but Hawaii is so dang expensive, we want to be sure we get to do and see all that we can while we’re there. With scheduled pool and beach time, too! Some of the restaurants in Maui look absolutely incredible and just looking at pictures online of traditional luaus makes me want to hop on a plane….yesterday.

We have no plans this weekend. Gina and I are recording a podcast episode tomorrow morning and we’ve got a date night planned on Saturday. Otherwise, hockey, TV, hockey, Peloton, and church before it’s back to the grind. I’ll soak up some cuddles with my girlfriends because lately, I feel like I no longer have babies. I have 2 little girls that are 2 going on 20 and 4 going on 14. I’m not sure which is worse. Lately, the nanny and Mark have been telling me that if I ignore the kids they’re better behaved. Currently, they’re playing in the bathroom, lights off, with a flashlight. Before that, they entertained themselves with a couple of baby blankets on the floor for a solid hour. There may be some truth to this whole hands-off parenting business. 😉

I’m going to Seattle next week to help my sister-in-law shop for wedding dresses! Can’t wait! It will be a nice little break and it certainly isn’t any colder there. She’s going to be a beautiful bride and I am both anxious and curious to see what she picks out for her big day!

My niece, Ava, is still in the NICU. She’s 8 days old and it is now assumed that she was born closer to 35 weeks and not 38 weeks as originally thought. She has been getting caffeine to help get her a bit more alert and interested in eating. She still has a feeding tube but is off oxygen so that’s wonderful news. I am yet to meet her – grandparents only are allowed in the NICU. I get it, but I can’t wait to snuggle that angel baby. She has the most beautiful features and that Filipino skin is gorgeous! Maybe this week if I can swing it before Seattle – fingers crossed!

I’m heading to drop-in hockey in a bit after coming up empty for happy hour goers. Exercise is probably a better choice, especially after several days without exercise on account of illness. Afterwards I’ll probably cuddle up with the TV remote and try to get caught up with the Australian Open…unless Mark wants to binge on one of our shows: Shameless, 90 Day Fiance, or Married at First Sight. I tell ya, we have excellent taste in programming.

Stay warm and happy weekend!

Be well,

Source: https://preventionrd.com/2019/01/family-friday-vol-90-hawaii-dreaming-in-the-frozen-tundra/

[justira]

STORY STARTERS MEME

Rules: List the first lines of your last 15 stories. See if there are any patterns. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!

@petite-neko tagged me, and I have never been tagged for anything before in my life. But, uh, sure, let’s do this!

I definitely do not know 10 writers on tumblr because I am very terrible at doing The Tumblrs and also I mostly talk to artists on here? But why not, let’s tag my partner in crime @sevdrag; @wordsdear, who I know writes; and @kaizokunohime, who doesn’t write prose but does write story ideas/prompts, and I’d like to see how those do with this meme.

I have no idea what is meant by “first lines” here? The first sentence? The first block of text until whitespace? idek, I tried to keep it reasonable. This is in reverse chrono order, so first story is most recent.

1. Acclimating

[One Piece — Law/Luffy, Law & Strawhats — E, 31.3K ]

Law probably should have seen this coming. It wasn't his splintered self-worth that made him avoid things like this (and what business of anyone's was it, anyway, if he lived for Cora-san's memory? He'd been living on borrowed time for over a decade, and every step he'd taken since then had drawn him closer to a confrontation he expected (hoped) he wouldn't survive). But his utter lack of interest in making himself likable because there was nothing much to like certainly helped cut down on complications. Or, it usually did. The standard rules did not seem to apply to Strawhat. Black Leg had warned him, although, all things considered, that shouldn't have been necessary. 

2. A Slow and Vicious Hemorrhage

[BBC Sherlock / Hannibal Movies — Holmes/Watson — M, 5.5K, WIP]

The air gets heavier, down here, cooler and tinged with inescapable subterranean damp. John breathes it in, steadily; it doesn't particularly unnerve him. It reeks of institution and he's had practice enough with those. It's not calming, precisely, but it's familiar. It's all familiar. It's all fine.

It is.

His hand tightens on the two case files. It doesn't stop the tremor, but he rubs his thumb across the labels, the rough reality of them, already thoroughly ragged from the flicks and scrapes and polishing and various pointless attritions of dozens of fingers, despite the very recent dates stamped on both of them. Two dates, two names. Neither name belongs to Sherlock Holmes.

3. Swimming Lessons

[Final Fantasy X — Auron/Braska/Jecht — T, 1K ]

Auron sputtered as Jecht dunked him under the water again. He came up for air, gasping, to hear Braska rebuke Jecht. "Jecht, he can't swim." Braska's tone was just this side of sharp, showing that Jecht was testing his patience; good, as he had surely tested Auron's. Auron clawed his hair out of his face where it had escaped his tail. Jecht was already too far away to shove. Braska floated over to him, touched his shoulder. "Are you all right?"

4. This Stolen Interstice

[Dragon Age: Origins — Duncan/Teagan — M, 8K]

The Grey Warden came during the harvest. The field Teagan was working was cradled in one of Rainesfere's rolling valleys; trees rose high on all sides, crowning the surrounding hills and wind-murmuring to each other as the harvesters worked. The air was thick with dust and chaff and the smell of fallen leaves, just edging into cold. That hint of crispness settled pleasantly on Teagan's skin as he worked amidst the slice and whisper of sickles and threshing, the barking of dogs weaving through the rhythmic sounds — no laughing children, not during the harvest, as all but babes were put to work at some task or another. He found one such child suddenly in his path — Rogher's youngest. Deliah? That must be it.

"What is it, Deliah?" Teagan wiped his brow as he stood, stretched his back.

"There's a man to see you," the girl mumbled, shy before her bann. "Mama says he's a Grey Warden."

The words spilled a chill down his back, much harsher than the gentle bite in the air. Darkspawn, here?

5. The Storm That Sweeps So Quiet

[Final Fantasy Tactics — Alma/Tietra — T, 1.2K]

Alma's spine aches. She has been bowed over this tome for entirely too long. Study is normally a pleasure, particularly the histories or the great tales of the Church, but this day she set aside to get through an endless dissertation on courtly graces. Studious as Alma may normally be, her heart is not in this. Today, the floor is distractingly hard beneath her folded skirts, even with the spare cushion. Her bodice itches unreasonably. Behind her, Tietra's quiet breathing and quieter warmth brush down Alma's back; she had persuaded her friend to take the window seat and regrets it not one bit, discomfort or no. It's not Tietra's fault that Lord Haverell's text drones so. Outside, the sunshine drips between tumultuous clouds; the air is heavy and moist, and the clouds tower high. It is not a day for study, not at all.

She runs her finger down the rich vellum of the page and listens to its smooth whisper. Behind her, she hears Tietra shift, the soft sigh of fabric and the rougher-edged rasp of pages rubbing together. Well, if Tietra feels it too...

6. So let it out and let it in

[Supernatural — Castiel & Mary, Castiel & Dean, Castiel & Sam — G, 5.1K]

"Jay Bird Family Special," the waitress announces, clear and cheery above the lunchtime clinks and conversation buzzing through the diner. She tips Mary a wink. Mary grins back as Heather sets the giant platter in front of her, gently intercepting baby Dean's hand going straight for the steak. "Your man running late?"

"Course not!" John pops up behind Heather. He's breathless under a thin sheen of sweat, his face all smiles and engine grease, and Mary could not want to touch that handsome curve of jaw more.

Instead, she puts a mild growl of threat in her voice, not even trying to cover the laughter crowding up alongside it. "If you think you're getting those paws anywhere near my food or my son—"

7.  And Under Sky, the Shelter

[Final Fantasy Tactics — Ramza & Rapha, Marach, Mustadio, Agrias  — G, 1.4K]

The hill cups gently around a lee; pebbles gather in the shadow where the wind abandoned them, making for a stony bed, but it will serve well enough for their purposes. Ramza, at least, is tired enough to collapse where he stands. He watches Agrias survey the site and thinks dully about what to do if it does not meet her standards of defensibility. It is well that she nods in approval, as he had not managed to think of any alternatives. The weariness runs too deep in his bones, leeching at thought, at care. It frightens him, distantly. So many have ceased to care, it seems. He rouses himself with a shake that feels like trying to shift mountains.

Tired to numbness or no, camp must be made, the birds cared for. The birds and — his teeth tug at his lip as his glance lands on Rapha and Marach, hovering at the edges of the group — the people. The tasks have been long apportioned, but in their ever growing and shrinking company, they reassign the routine often enough. It is just that he is too tired tonight to think on it.

8. There the Bones of Us May Lie

[Final Fantasy XII — Ashe/Balthier — T, 2.5K]

The hollow starlight sinks into ashen softness before her as she boards the Strahl; the hungry roar of the Cataract is hushed, made muted and metallic. It is like sinking into water, reversed. The quiet is the same, the sense of distance, but as she ascends there is no persistent buoyancy, no insistent upward press. Weight seems to sink down on her instead, settling deeper about her shoulders like a mantle.

It's familiar.

The silence of the ship eats her sigh, giving back nothing. And that, too is familiar — comforting, even, to have no wraiths answering those unmeant nighttime summons. The Occuria's illusion of Rasler is shattered, and Vaan isn't here to haunt her either, sleeping below with the others; Ashe is alone if not exactly unfettered. It is beyond her, just now, to judge whether that is better, and that is, in any case, irrelevant. There is little point in dwelling on it, now.

9. Best Hand

[Ace Attorney — Apollo & Trucy, Phoenix — G, 0.5K]

Apollo eyed the backs of Mr. Wright's cards. Wright kept them low, hands resting easy and relaxed on the table — Trucy was just the opposite, her fan of cards held up in front of her face, casting conspiratorial glances over the top. Hiding her smile. Trucy had something; Apollo'd figured that much out. Not as good as his own hand, though, he was sure of it.

(Now if only...)

He looked back at Wright. Nothing to see. Nothing to sense; bracelet quiet and loose on his wrist. (Damn! It's not just that he used Trucy for the games, he's impossible to read anyway!) Apollo resisted gritting his teeth.

10. Eclipse

[Final Fantasy IV — Kain/Cecil, Kain/Rosa, Cecil/Rosa, Kain/Cecil/Rosa — G, 1.5K]

In the old forgotten passageways beneath Baron Castle the walls exhale ghosts like vaporous winter breath: a fine spice on a hunt for treasure, harmless old haunts that feather around them as they creep down the halls with their stolen torch, their voices a nervous-laughing titter of echoes.

When the revenant comes Kain's blood freezes and he sees the panicked bloom of Rosa's untutored magic, shielding them; Kain's lips parting in awe and breathlessness as they flee.

But as they tumble back down the halls, to light and safety and a likely spanking, it is Cecil who clutches his hand.

11. Where Memory Rests

[Thief: Deadly Shadows — Garrett, The Shalebridge Cradle — G, 2.3K]

Thick exhales of steam crowd the night air, damp on your skin, as you make your way through the noise and shadows of the City. Grit has gathered close to the walls where you walk, giving the soft sound of your steps a rougher edge. Your fingers trail where a gas arrow once crystallized: a pipe carrying hot air hisses quietly at the leak. Magic lies thick in the air since the Final Glyph, dispersed and unformed. You can feel it in your hand. It washes across the red new scar like warm breath, like the air trickling from the pipe. The elemental crystals form faster, now, and someone harvested this one before you.

It doesn't matter. You have other things on your mind tonight.

And besides, you can always get it back.

12. the silent fulcrum in the interstice

[Kingdom Hearts — Kairi & Riku & Sora, Kairi & Naminé — G, 1.2K]

It begins with her hands: she plunges them into the place where earth meets sea meets sky. The light falls fragile across the grains, soft contrast to their coarse texture against her palms, her bare knees. The damp sand is heavy in her palms and something stirs in her as she pauses, hands suspended, full of infinite possibilities: This is how worlds are created, she thinks. Memories, falling like sand, like stars, like snow (where does she remember snow from?); she pauses, hands suspended, full of infinite worlds.

She can't remember the last time she did this, or maybe she never stopped: this is where she sat and stitched together a star, a promise; this is where she stood and watched the horizon and waited, or tried to remember what she was waiting for. The sand is heavy in her hands, and she wonders if this is any different, or if it is all reconstruction and remembering.

This is how worlds are created, and she sinks her fingers into the sand.

13. Same As It Never Was (cowritten with @sevdrag)

[Final Fantasy VIII — Rinoa/Squall, Laguna/Squall, Quistis/Rinoa, Kiros/Laguna, Quistis/Rinoa/Squall — E, 72K, WIP]

“I’m sorry, Commander, sir,” the waiter said over Squall's shoulder, “but we don’t have that particular vintage — our sincere apologies. Can I recommend another bottle — on the house, of course?”

Squall tried not to grit his teeth— too hard, anyway, because they were already grinding a little at the waiter’s placating, admiring, sorry-to-your-famous-personage-please-be-kind tone. He glanced up. Rinoa was smiling at him, that smile of hers that carried beaming wattage like a Thundaga to the chest, and even though it still made his heart skip a beat he could read in it what neither of them was saying: her hesitation playing across her face, the tense strain of her smile even as his own lips quirked back in response.

“Not a problem,” he said, aware that his voice was gruff and sounded irritated; maybe everyone would assume he was aggravated about the wine.

14. Coward Heart

[Final Fantasy X — Auron & Braska & JechtI — G, 3.6K]

The caves cast light back at them, fractured reflections and the rock's own native glow: the water was still and star-littered, pinpricks of light beneath a surface so motionless that Auron could barely tell where water ended and the pressing dark of the caverns began. All the light should have illumed the air, but the icy breath of the place seemed nearly solid, swallowing the light before it could reveal more than it hid. Auron had drawn his sword long ago, its rasp loud and echo-inhaled. Even the fiends glowed, here, great gelid flans with galaxies glittering inside them, dissolving into pyreflies like gentle novas.

Auron's gaze slid to Braska. In the gloaming, Braska's eyes seemed wide and white, his robes silver-edged black, all the careful distinctions of colour — red, for mourning; purple, for hope; blue, for seas and skies — lost in the half-light. Jecht was a suffocated flame beside him, the leaping fish on his sarong like the empty spaces between licks of fire as he shrugged off the wool-lined jacket Braska had finally convinced him to wear.

15. Disconnect

[Final Fantasy VIII / Kingdom Hearts — Maleficent & Squall — G, 3.7K]

He opens his eyes to the sight of water falling up. The spray coats his face, his clothes— he tries to sit up and make sure Lionheart is dry in its sheath and realizes that everything, everywhere, hurts.

(Rinoa.)

He makes it to his feet, checks on Lionheart. The gunblade survived the trip, maybe in better shape than Squall had. He flexes his hands, staring at them. They still feel numb. (Did it hurt you like this? Your magic?) His spells are gone, eaten up by the trip from Traverse Town. He hadn't counted on this exhaustion. (Yeah, and Cid had said it was impossible and called me an idiot. Whatever.)

It doesn't matter. He heaves himself away from the rocks he'd been leaning on, and starts climbing.

Analysis, I guess?

Okay well the immediate thing I notice is that I used the word "interstice" twice in this set of titles and that's just mortifying.

Decent mix of fandoms! 14 fandoms counting crossovers, although 8 were Final Fantasy of some kind.

I counted 6 past tense intros (though one of those fics switches to present tense halfway through, which is 15K words past the opening lines), and 9 present tense ones. That's a 2:3 ratio of past to present, and I actually had never realized I wrote in present tense this much. In the grand scheme of fiction writing, past tense is heavily more common so I guess this sample puts me in the... minority? I find present tense more immediate. I rarely actively CONSIDER which tense to use, I just start writing in whatever FEELS right for the idea. The first story where I actively considered tense was "Acclimating", the most recent story on here. Whoops >.>

Also I don't tend to open with dialogue. For short fics (less than 10K) I tend to write mostly in order, and I find writing dialogue difficult, so I tend to kind of "settle in" with a story by writing description first, and only after I'm properly settled try some dialogue. There were only 4 stories with dialogue in the opening lines here, and only 2 that actually had dialogue as the first thing in the story.

Fewer em dashes than I expected, as I know I overuse those. But not, apparently, in the opening lines. I wait until the reader is settled in/committed before pulling that shit on them.

I seem to vary between starting in the middle of things vs. doing a bit of setup. I couldn't really pin numbers to this one, as it's a bit more nebulous. For example the very first sentence of "This Stolen Interstice" (that word again, shoot me now) is in medias res, but then I back up to a bit of scene-setting. So who even knows!

Anyway, this was a fun exercise!

[codsilk80-blog]

Family Friday (vol. 90): Hawaii Dreaming in the Frozen Tundra

It’s late Friday afternoon and I’ve had a highly productive day. The kids have been engrossed in making valentines and are showing no signs of stir craziness. They must realize it is SO FREAKING COLD outside. I’ve never seen a dog do her business quite so quickly – it’s rather impressive, actually. Next Wednesday is a HIGH of -1. WHAT IS THAT?! My tennis coach said that these temperatures are record-breaking low. Ugh. I also learned that schools are cancelled if temperatures are -15 with wind chill and so I’m bracing myself for the morning scramble of what to do with my kids when daycare closes. It happened Monday of this week due to pipes freezing and it happened on Wednesday due to snow. I should have found a daycare that prorates tuition in such instances…

After I ruined Mark’s surprise of returning from India a day early, we arranged for a babysitter last Saturday and went to a brewery and out for dinner. Except, I had started feeling pretty crappy. I had stomach cramps and nausea. It was very bizarre. When the symptoms worsened on Sunday and I slept much of the day before skipping my hockey game and eating next to nothing, I knew something was up – I don’t miss meals. On Monday, I made an appointment with my PCP, convinced it was appendicitis or something. She ruled that out but said it was either a viral bug or my gallbladder. I went back to work, ate a bit for lunch, and experienced radiating pain between my shoulder blades. I sent my PCP a quick note and she ordered an abdominal ultrasound. My symptoms continued but by Wednesday morning when the ultrasound was scheduled, I had started feeling a bit better. I moved forward and got negative results from the ultrasound on Thursday. Come today, I’m feeling nearly back to 100%. Guess it was something viral…but I think I had a little gallbladder issue sprinkled in there, too. It wouldn’t be the first time. So, $600 later, I had a viral something and a week of no cooking (until last night), little eating, and little exercise. Glad to be back on my feet especially since Mark is suffering from yet another man cold.

In the evenings, we’ve been starting to plan our trip to Maui. Thanks for all the recommendations so far! I’m getting SO excited! We are typically not ones to plan out a full itinerary, but Hawaii is so dang expensive, we want to be sure we get to do and see all that we can while we’re there. With scheduled pool and beach time, too! Some of the restaurants in Maui look absolutely incredible and just looking at pictures online of traditional luaus makes me want to hop on a plane….yesterday.

We have no plans this weekend. Gina and I are recording a podcast episode tomorrow morning and we’ve got a date night planned on Saturday. Otherwise, hockey, TV, hockey, Peloton, and church before it’s back to the grind. I’ll soak up some cuddles with my girlfriends because lately, I feel like I no longer have babies. I have 2 little girls that are 2 going on 20 and 4 going on 14. I’m not sure which is worse. Lately, the nanny and Mark have been telling me that if I ignore the kids they’re better behaved. Currently, they’re playing in the bathroom, lights off, with a flashlight. Before that, they entertained themselves with a couple of baby blankets on the floor for a solid hour. There may be some truth to this whole hands-off parenting business. 😉

I’m going to Seattle next week to help my sister-in-law shop for wedding dresses! Can’t wait! It will be a nice little break and it certainly isn’t any colder there. She’s going to be a beautiful bride and I am both anxious and curious to see what she picks out for her big day!

My niece, Ava, is still in the NICU. She’s 8 days old and it is now assumed that she was born closer to 35 weeks and not 38 weeks as originally thought. She has been getting caffeine to help get her a bit more alert and interested in eating. She still has a feeding tube but is off oxygen so that’s wonderful news. I am yet to meet her – grandparents only are allowed in the NICU. I get it, but I can’t wait to snuggle that angel baby. She has the most beautiful features and that Filipino skin is gorgeous! Maybe this week if I can swing it before Seattle – fingers crossed!

I’m heading to drop-in hockey in a bit after coming up empty for happy hour goers. Exercise is probably a better choice, especially after several days without exercise on account of illness. Afterwards I’ll probably cuddle up with the TV remote and try to get caught up with the Australian Open…unless Mark wants to binge on one of our shows: Shameless, 90 Day Fiance, or Married at First Sight. I tell ya, we have excellent taste in programming.

Stay warm and happy weekend!

Be well,

Source: https://preventionrd.com/2019/01/family-friday-vol-90-hawaii-dreaming-in-the-frozen-tundra/

[ificouldflytotheclouds]

And somehow the stars align

So I was just thinking of my top favorite artists of all time: Taylor Swift, One Direction, and 5sos. And they strangely all have similar pathways even though they're on different roads. 

The beginning. 

Out of the three Taylor is the artist I can tell you the least as to how I fell into her music but it I believe it manifested from a friends recommendations. 

One Direction I remember seeing the countdown for WMYB on my sidebar every day I was on youtube, by the time the music video dropped I finally clicked on the videos because I was intrigued by this video trying to encroach on my life. 

5sos was a friend recommendation. 5 Years ago (+1 day) she sent my a link to try hard. I didn’t listen to it at the time because I didn’t want to download anything onto my mom’s computer. A month later she sent me the link to Luke’s cover of please don’t go, it wasn’t till I looked into his other work did I realize he was part of 5sos. Check yes Juliet and drop in the ocean that won me over.

Getting into them

I saw Taylor perform at the mall and after the show we got a signed cd (rip, at the time someone standing near us was like can we meet her after and security was like no, something about being too many ppl, but like…)

For 1d my friend had me watch their video diaries and I fell in love. We saw them at the same mall (and when I say mall I mean the Mall of America, aka the biggest mall in the U. S. A. anyways…) that was crazy busy. We didn’t have tickets but we went to watch anyways, that was fun, and it actually spawned a friendship with someone who went to my school and is now one of my besties now (who was the person who introduced me to 5sos). 

5sos. I remember wanting to go to the Stars, Stripes and Maple Syrup Tour (actually, I completely forgot about this until today, I forgot how whipped I was for them before slsp came out). But we couldn’t go. (rip, wasn’t able to go to wwat for same/similar reasons, but this year finally traveling to Chicago for a show so it kinda makes up for it). Got tickets for Rock Out with Your Socks Out Tour but we ended up selling them to go to a second 1d show. I don’t regret this decision, because 1) that was ones for the books and 2) we knew that this might be the last time we will ever see them (once Zayn left me and my friend were intent on going to more than one show). Back to 5sos, the day of their show we almost ended up getting into their radio show, but we still go to see them walk past. 

The second album ‘Hiatus’

This is where things strangely align

Way back to middle school I wasn’t into music the same way I am now, it was healthier, lol. I still loved Taylor but I didn’t get fearless until Christmas, I fell in love with that album on my grandma’s staircase. I watched all the behind the scenes pictures, but compared to the information that goes out now I knew nothing, I just knew the bigger things (I think this is why I always struggle/feel like I don’t fit in with online Taylor stan culture, bc it wasn’t how I fell for her and her music). We tried to get tickets to the fearless tour but were unsuccessful.

Before I begin with 1d, I also want to remind you that Spotify has not always been around, and even then I didn’t download it till sometime in 2017. I don’t even know when it comes to the tmh era. Back sophomore/junior year when I got into things it would be in waves (it’s starting to go back to that which is healthy). So tmh was when I wasn’t following 1d so much. My friend invited me to see a prescreening of the this is us movie. I /sort of/ forced myself to listen to tmh. TMH era might have been one of their best but there’s a reason why it took me a while to get into this album, it’s just not my fav, I find it the least memorable, even though generally speaking its a better album than uan. (I still love the album don’t get me wrong)

5sos, oh 5sos, just trying to figure yourselves out. I don’t like talking about this much, it’s important to acknowledge but it can also feed negativity. Them as people were getting harder to stand and the fandom was getting to be too much, so I had to say goodbye to social media side. I don’t regret this decision and I really wish I had done this at one point for 1d, but with that, it was a little different (baby gate being announcement was hell). I still loved their music but my friend was pressuring me not to listen to it, so that winter I didn’t buy livesos, but I do remember a year later I listening to the skh ep, and enjoying it (Even though I was iffy about skh at the time). School had started and I was kinda out of the loop so I don’t think I actually knew when sgfg came out (Even though I defs followed a few 5sos ppl still, just not update accounts at the time)

Even though I wasn’t there for sgfg I equate this time period with the self-titled album era - post album release because I was there but I wasn’t. I liked the album but it ended up being the least memorable, similar to take me home. 

3rd album hoopla

For each of them, the hype began months before the album was released, most likely starting with the drop of a single and riding a high from there.

For Taylor it started with her live stream announcing the 3rd album, to mine that released when I was in a cafe in the Northwoods, the album release week was epic, we finally got tickets to see her on tour (for my friends 15th birthday, 15 I still cry I go to listen to this live when I was 15). I EMBODIED THIS ERA. I had my first crush, the world was magical, I was in a world wind.

This was my school friend forcing me to let my fangirl out lol. (For 1d this wasn’t their peak compared to Taylor and 5sos currently, but it was a very important era for me as a fan). It started with me going to the prescreening of this is us, wow I loved them. SNL performances, being excited for the first show, I had all the lyrics printed out so I could sing them...good times. (I feel like 1d’s best era was tmh but I wasn’t there so its not my #1 era as a fan, from there it’s hard to pick bc I didnt get to see them during wwat, I did with FOUR/OTRA, but there was also DRAMA with that era, and then there was MITAM mini era which got us high and dry(ingourtears)).

And now here we are for 5sos’ 3rd album. You can FEEL that this one is different. SGFG was good, heck, that is one of the best albums I have ever heard, and ngl I was low key nervous as to how they were going to out beat it. But that album was rushed, they didn’t get as much time off as it feels, but this album there is SOOO SOOO much love put in this album. And it goes beyond the lyrics. They really pushed themselves, instrumentally, emotionally, vocally, as people. There is growth, expansion. They reinvented themselves, and yet they are just an embodiment of who they always were, the lessons they’ve learned, and just a better more empowered version of themselves. I wish I could remember if it was pre or post want you back but I ended up getting into SGFG (properly) around this time. THe first few songs made it hard to get into the album when I had listened to it in the past. But I was finally able to skip around those (this is one of those times where I probs would've listened to the album earlier if I had spotify at the time) and later fall in love with them. I think that album came in at the right time. I got to go to 5sos3, got tickets for meet you there, youngblood is amazing. Life is great.

Since the 3rd album hoopla for 1d and Taylor

I got to see both of them from row, in the same year,  b stage for 1d and center catwalk for Taylor. Still love them, they’re chill, since 2015 I can say I’ve seen Niall at least once every year, 2 times for OTRA, met him during his golf tournament in ‘16, 2 radio shows in ‘17 on which Liam also played at. I have a Harry concert in a few days, seeing Niall twice this year to continue the tradition, might see Taylor (tixs are sooooo expensive, don’t love her new album that much but this girl loves  Taylor sooo, I’m not going to miss it - I don’t hate it but it’s just not the same as how I feel in love with yb instantly, it doesn’t give me that feel), and I get to see 5sos again in the fall (I want to go to their Chicago radio show so bad bc it’s close to the Chicago Niall show, but not close enough, darn)

[reddieforthiam]

Chaos: Chapter 1

Point of view: Cadaver Willems

"Hey, there's still some boxes left in the moving truck!" The oldest Moores sibling yells out. From the information that I've gathered, her name is Delilah. A very pretty name for a very pretty girl. Today is June 15, 2017. The day that the Moores family left their lovely town in Rhode Island.

"Who gives a damn?" The youngest one hollers back to her sister. Her name is Allison. She's fifteen years old and completely spoiled, but a rival to Delilah's beauty. Allison whips around and stalks into the house raising her middle finger behind her back towards her sister. Oh lord, look at that adorable little brat trying to seem tough. Allison just hasn't found her niche in society. Delilah gives her an icy glare that would send chills down anyone's spine. Allison is lucky that she doesn't have to see that fearsome facial expression.

"Allison, wait a minute! I'll tell dad if you don't come back here. You were supposed to unpack with me!" Delilah yells at her rude sister that continues to walk away. Delilah just throws her hands up in the air and kicks a pebble off the ground in Allison's direction. A soft sigh brushes past her lips that are formed in a frown.

"Ugh, siblings suck," Delilah grumbles fairly loudly after the front door of their new house slams. I nod my head in agreement behind the bush that shields me from their view. I had a terrible sibling of my own, but I killed her. The little wretch's name was Lilium. The leaves rustle and Delilah whips her head around in my direction. Her pretty green eyes squint and stare in my general direction. Her hand reaches for her back pocket where she usually keeps a switchblade, but her father opens the door and out trudges a scowling Allison. Delilah wouldn't have been able to do anything serious to me, but she might've been able to notify her father that there is a demon here in this town. I don't really want that just yet...

The leaves from the bush I'm sitting behind scratch my thin shoulders. They leave slight red marks on my pale skin, but nobody will be able to see them since this body that I'm in is dead. Not to seem creepy, but I've been stalking them for years. My name is Cadaver. Yes, I realize that is means a corpse. A name that suits me very well; since I've left corpses scattered around the country. It's a fairly daily process that started many, many years ago. I've been doing that kind of thing for a while now; you could say longer than that. Their father hunts monsters like me, and his darling little daughters know about this whole other realm too. That's the only reason why Delilah keeps that switchblade in her pocket and the only reason why I track their whereabouts.

"Allison, you better stay out here to unpack or else that phone you're holding won't be in your hands for a few days! Now, I expect you girls to get along while unpacking the rest of the boxes," Mr. Moores scolds his daughters.

Delilah sucks in a breath and glares at her sister, but Allison doesn't notice. All Allison does is roll her her shiny hazel eyes at her father's dark silhouette standing in the doorway. Mr. Moores turns away from them and gently shuts the door behind him. Allison squeals loudly in frustration and Delilah groans at her sister's annoying attitude. However, they both turn around and finish unpacking anyways.

No need to watch them much more tonight if it keeps going in this boring direction. The Moores family members aren't very interesting unless they're fighting with each other, hunting, practicing their skills, or getting undressed. Yes, I have watched them do that. Yes, I realize that actually could be considered very creepy in the normal human population's eyes. However, I am not just any normal human. I could even be considered not human. In the hunter world I am considered an enemy, a monster. Simply, I am a demon. I have been on this planet longer than the existence of the light bulb. Many demons and other creatures have been here longer than that, but still, I'm fairly old in the human perspective. For god's sake, I've been here for around 400+ years. All those years have consisted of me possessing people and having a grand old time. They've been quite interesting all and all, but sometimes one can get quite bored with it all. That doesn't mean that I don't like living, but some hunters seem to get the impression that I would like to be burned and put under the ground. Obviously not.

The slam of their front door brings me out of my thoughts. I glance up through the low branches and they have left the front yard and the moving truck's door is shut. Allison yanks open a window in the front of the house and faint rock music comes out of the house. She then starts dancing in the living room and occasionally that little skirt of hers rides up her nice legs, and wow... Gosh I wish I could meet them some time in the future. At least when they still look nice and youthful. Allison picks up her cat that was peacefully sleeping in the couch that I can see and starts jumping around with him looking pitifully at the wall. The poor creature. I'll have to put it out of its misery soon. Just kidding!

Delilah also opens up a window but it's upstairs. I'm guessing it's either in the hallway or her room. My slightly dry eyes follow her walking away from the window and a small grin adorns my cracked, sickly lips. The shock of pure black hair on the top of my head blows in the wind as my form darts across the road and up to her window. I realize that she won't be able to see me, but that doesn't matter to me. I flicker through her window and follow her down the hall. The only reason why I can do this floaty trick and go through walls is that I'm in my original form (which is obviously dead). If I were possessing someone right now I wouldn't be able to do half the stuff I can do while being in the body that I was born in. The thing is, when I kill people I like to see the fear in their eyes as they look into my cold ones. I can't exactly do that when they can't see me. It is just a personal taste after all.

Delilah walks into the room that she chose and leaves the door cracked open. Gosh Delilah! Do you have to make my life even harder? I struggle to slide through the wall once again and watch her flop down on her air mattress. She puffs out a large amount of air and groans loudly. It sounds kind of like a cow, but if I ever told her about that, it wouldn't be very nice of me. Then again, I'm not a nice person in general.

"Hey," I jump lightly at the sound of her father's voice, "Delilah, in the morning remember to go talk to the other hunters in town. Ask them if they have any information that I should know about. I haven't heard anything funky about this town yet."

"Fine, Dad. Is there anything else you wanted to bore me with?" Delilah sasses her father. I can guess accurately what's coming next.

"Do you want to have your phone taken away too? You aren't supposed to disrespect your father like that you know," Mr. Moores retorts to his very stultified daughter.

"God, I guess I'm not supposed disrespect Mom either, am I? Wait... Oh I remember! You decided one day that she wasn't safe for us and killed her! Thanks Dad!" Delilah grumbles at him. Her father raises his eyebrows and points a finger at her very aggressively, but Delilah just kicks his hand from where she lays on the makeshift bed. A little bubble of a laugh comes out between my thin, pale lips. I don't usually laugh like this, but times like this make me remember the good old days inside Serena's head; which is their mother. The dusk light plays on Delilahs face and hair, and makes her look even more beautiful than she already is. She'll need every ounce of beauty to make her father forget her disrespectful attitude. No, he does not sexually abuse her or anything, however, that doesn't mean that beauty doesn't help lessen the severity of the wounds. Mr. Moores gasps in shock that his daughter would do such a thing to him.

Delilah usually is a very good daughter and isn't very rude to him. They actually have a nice father and daughter relationship, but right now she's just really unhappy that they had to move to another town again. She does realize that he is supposed to since that he is a hunter, but it doesn't make her any happier every time that they leave another town behind.

"Delilah, I know the reason that you are doing this to me, but that doesn't excuse your behavior!" He calmly says to her. She seems to get even more angry at this comment, but doesn't say anything because she already knows that she's gonna get an earful from her little outburst from a few seconds ago.

"Just leave me alone, Dad. I don't need the usual speech that I get whenever we move; which is a lot," she mumbles the last part so that he doesn't hear it as well. I know for a fact that he caught it since he tilts his head towards the ground for a second in shame, but he lifts it again because he knows that it's not exactly his fault.

"Now, Delilah, I know that you don't like the situation that we are in, but think about the fact that we're saving people's lives here!" Her father tries to reason with her, but she just won't have it this time.

"That doesn't make this any more fun," she hisses at him. She turns her head to the side so that she doesn't have to maintain eye contact with him. Mr. Moores kneels down beside the bed and puts his hand on her shoulder, but Delilah shrugs it off in disgust.

"Don't touch me, Dad. I don't want you in here right now," she says to him while glancing up at him through the curtain of mousy golden brown hair. The warm evening light shining in from her window without curtains makes the few flyaway hairs look like a halo; for the angel that she obviously is.

"Oh honey, you know that I don't like moving you guys around either. If I could give you what you want, I would do it in a heartbeat--" He gets interrupted by the little darling Delilah screeching out in annoyance. I feel like interjecting so badly!

"Oh, shut up. Save the sadness for someone who has an ounce of compassion in this moment. Don't give me that crap. You love your job, I don't blame you! I mean killing people must be so fun!" I say with venom dripping from my voice. Yes, I realize that nobody can hear me, however, it's extremely hard not to comment anyways. The dumb guy doesn't realize how stupid or rude he can be sometimes. If I were one of his kids I would've killed him by now, but sadly I'm not. I'm working on it though.

"Lilah, calm down sweetie," Mr. Moores responds soothingly to his raging daughter. He brought out the nickname; which usually calms her down in minor situations. He's so dumb to not realize that this isn't a normal situation. I hope she's not PMS-ing.

"I would be calmer if you just leave my room. I see that there is no point in begging to go back home, so just leave. I don't want to fight with you. I find it extremely boring and tiresome," Delilah says with a deadly calm voice, and her father cocks his head to the side with mock curiosity.

"Honey, you may be the sass princess; next to Allison, of the world, but I am still your father and you seem to have forgotten who I am and what I can do," He growls at Delilah and she rolls her eyes at him. I swear to god, she must be PMS-ing along with being pissy about the move.

"Are you threatening me? My own father... threatening me?" Delilah sputters.

"Damn right, honey," he snarls at her. After that he lunges at her with his fist raised and falling towards Delilah. Luckily, she rolls to the side fast enough. Her stupid father taught her how to defend herself. It bites him in the ass in times like this. Once again, Mr. Moores lunges towards his extremely swift daughter, but this time he lands a hit on her. It's nothing like what he does to demons, werewolves, vampires, etc. However, it still hurts when you're hit by your father. I would know, sadly. He still keeps trying to smack her but she dodges most of the blows that are thrown at her. She manages a few scratches, slaps, punches, and shoves at him. Even a nick from her near by throwing knives. Never enough to kill or scar him, but she still does it. Mr. Moores somehow manages to tie up her hands with his belt so that she can't hurt him any more. Delilah still struggles against him, but her efforts are to no avail.

"Why do you have to win every time!" Delilah whispers grumpily. He just looks at her sadly. He doesn't particularly like showing her up every time that they fight, but she can be fairly hard to control. That's the reason why he keeps such a short leash on her. The only reason why I know this is the fact that I've been following them for years and watching them interact. I've always liked Allison the most, Delilah is still great. I was the one to make their mom go crazy though, but that was so that my plan to make Delilah or Allison mine.

"Because you would think that you are free to do whatever the hell you want. I can't have that!" He huffs. Delilah screeches at him in frustration and Allison cracks to door open to see what's going on. This isn't exactly a daily exchange of words, but it usually happens most every time that they move to a different job because people have encountered a monster there.

"Now, are you done being a little bitch, Delilah? If you are, it would really make unpacking the boxes and setting up the house much easier--" Mr. Moores gets interrupted by Delilah loudly rebelling.

"What makes you think that I'd want you to help you after you did this to me... to us?" Delilah protests, but it's all for not.

"What makes you think that I wanted you to come out of your room after this outburst?" Her father chuckles darkly. She just looks at him with surprise in her green bambi eyes. Her light brown hair is flipped over her shoulder by her small hands that are tied together accompanied by an eye roll. Why do teenagers insist on rolling their eyes all the time? However, on Allison and Delilah; and a few choice others, this little movement looks fairly good though.

"I don't think that I would like you even in the same house as me right now--" Once again he gets interrupted by Delilah.

"Good, does that mean that I can go back to Burgstone?" She jeers at him. Burgstone was the town that they were living in before, and was Delilah's favorite town by far. She seems to be at her supreme amount of sadness and annoyance. Mainly the annoyance is caused by her father and the fact that she let herself get so attached to that town and now she is regretting her decisions. Or it could just be her father. Her hands are still stuck in that belt that Mr. Moores tied around her hands.

"No, for god's sake will you let that damn town go? I know that you had a wonderful life there, but you do this every time," he says, exasperated about how difficult she is each time, "You realize that you will make great friends here too? You realize you have the whole summer to gather up a group of them? There's a whole entire town to meet. We will be here for three years. You might as well try to settle in while you can." Delilah sighs about his small speech.

"I save my sympathy for you and Allison, Darling," I hushedly whisper to her, with a small sliver of love in my voice.

Delilah slumps her shoulders and Allison just looks down at the floor with a depressed and bored expression adorning her face. Allison starts to shut the door.

"Just because I'm still talking to you, doesn't mean that you won't be staying in here for a little while before I see you again," He grumbles at Delilah, "And to you, Allison, don't think that I won't talk to you later. I know that you didn't lay a hand on me, but you did sass me outside."

"Great, now I have to stay here for the rest of the night!" Delilah mumbles under her breath. Her father doesn't catch it this time. Mr. Moores slowly turns his head towards the slightly open door where Allison is watching from with a raised eyebrow. She knows to leave after he spots her. He slowly gets up from where Delilah sits on her bed. After that he bends down to rip the belt off of Delilah's hands. The cut that she made on his shoulder is still bleeding and stains his no longer pure white, wrinkle free shirt.

"Don't even think about leaving this room unless it's because you are going to the bathroom or brushing your teeth. I'm very disappointed in you, Delilah," he sighs. She just glares at him with her mouth glued shut. Delilah starts to rub her wrists as soon he leaves the room to go talk to Allison. I wish that I could hug her, and I'm 90% sure that she would hug me back.

I leave her room and go to follow Allison down the hall. There's already yelling coming from her room. Most of the sounds I hear are coming from Allison, but there are a few loud phrases that come from Mr. Moores. This stupid family just keeps going at it and never learns that this unstable life will never end until they are killed. I decide that I've had enough drama for the night and rush out the window to find something to do in this bland town. Boy, oh boy, the neighbors are going to be pissed for the next few days ******************************************** 👍🏼💕