#we hope you can play soon ruben

[mj-loves-rejjxxxx]

Faves from the week ❤️

[footballerimaginess]

Period

Here is a period fic with Ruben, hope you like it. Word Count: 417 Laying all snuggled on the sofa under the cosiest blanket that you could find. Having been sent home early from work because you weren't feeling your best, the period was definitely playing up and you could barely keep your eyes open. "Helloooo" Ruben shouted out as you shut your eyes as you felt another cramp hit. "What are you doing at home so soon love? is everything okay?" Ruben asked as he crouched down next to the sofa as you simply opened your eyes and smiled softly at him. "Sorry, I got sent home from work. My cramps have been awful all morning and I just couldn't concentrate at all. I have medicated and have a heat pad on. But I am still feeling super rough" you sighed as you winced as the pain came back. "Oh darling, I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked you. "No it is okay, it will pass away" you smile as you grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Are you sure? I hate seeing you like this, at least this little one is cuddling up with you. But I feel he may like the heating pad more than you right now though" Ruben teased. "Yeah you're probably right babe" you smirked. "Okay so shall I get you a cup of tea? and maybe you can nap or something if you aren't feeling great" you nodded as Ruben got up and left to go and make a cup of tea for you. "Here we go" Ruben walked in and handed you the cup of tea. "Thank you, why don't you come and snuggle with me?" you asked Ruben as you stretched out, showing a small gap on the sofa for him to sit on as you gently tapped the space. "Urgh fine, I can't resist it. What do you fancy watching?" he asked. "We have the rest of Emily in Paris to watch or do we want to watch something else?" you asked as you flicked on Netflix. "Watch something new, we may be laying here for a while" Ruben smirked as he gently tapped the dogs head who was looking very happy with himself as he curled up in your lap. "Okay that sounds perfect, all we need now is snacks. You find something, whilst I go and find us some snacks" you smiled as Ruben jumped up as you cuddled into your heat pad as you felt the cramp hit.

[rubendiasthoughts]

Hi girly pops! ❤ I had a few stressful days cause I was finishing up writing my bachelor thesis and I had to do this pliagrarism check, which made me super nervous, but this morning just got the info that everything was fine and my thesis got accepted to be reviewed, so I thought what a better way to celebrate than to write something cute about Ruben 🤭 I hope you enjoy this short headcanon and thank you to the person who sent in this idea ❤

Going to a wedding with Ruben Dias - headcanon:

- Can you imagine getting ready with him for that wedding? How handsome he would look in a suit 🤭 and maybe he asks you to help him with his tie, so you go and fix it for him and after you are done he lightly pecks your lips saying "thank you, angel". And he would definitely help you with your dress too and zip it up for you or maybe help you with your shoes. And then he is 100% telling you that you look beautiful and gives you another kiss on your lips and maybe this time it gets a bit steamier and when he pulls back from you, he still has his eyes closed and rests his forehead against yours, a sigh leaves his lips, the only thought on his mind is how he wishes he was already taking you back home 🤭

- Throughout the whole ceremony and the party he is holding your hand or just keeps his hand on your waist as you two walk around and talk to other people.

-If there is a buffet table he would for sure be the best boyfriend and go bring you whatever food you wanted. Can you imagine him placing the plate on the table, in front of you and saying "here you go, sweet girl". And if there is a little bar or something he would bring you drinks. And he's definitely keeping an eye on you and taking care of you if you're drinking, making sure you don't have too much to drink. Cause we know that most probably he wouldn't be drinking. So at some point when you ask him to get you a drink he looks at you, caresses your cheek gently and says "no, I think you've had enough" and he hands you a glass of water saying "drink some water, sweet girl", ignoring the pout you make.

- Although, if he would make an exception and actually drink I feel like he would get tipsy pretty quick and maybe then he would get a little touchy with you, just putting his hand a bit too high on your thigh or kissing your neck when you're dancing 🤭

- And he would be leaning in to you the whole night, whispering into your ear how beautiful you look all dolled up for him. And when you're sitting at your table his hand would be on your thigh and maybe you would place your hand on top of his and play with his fingers as you listen to him chat with whoever is sitting at your table.

-Could you imagine how nice it would be to dance to a slow song with him?? He would ask you to dance when he hears the song you like come on and he stands up, holds his hand out for you as he would smile to you. He would be holding you in his arms, your head resting on his chest, you're listening to his steady heartbeat as he sways you back and forth. Maybe he would rest his cheek on top of your head and you would just enjoy this sweet, quiet moment together.

-And can you imagine if you caught the bouquet? You would be laughing to yourself as you make your way to Ruben, who was watching you and the other girls trying to catch the flowers. And he has a grin on his face and takes you in his arms, your giggles muffled by the material of his shirt as he leans down and presses a kiss to the top of your head. And when you pull away, he would lean in and whisper "soon, baby" in your ear, making you blush and hide your face in his chest. 🤭

[melanieph321]

Request 1: can u do no son of mine 3 pls (ik i’m late) but j more maybe where the reader goes in the pool with him and the aunts are romanticizing and the uncles r making sure he doesn’t get toó touchy

Request 2: Hey, can I request Ruben where the reader is pregnant & has symptoms but just blames it on other things, like bloating/eating bad food. Ruben picks up on this and suggests that she may be pregnant? Thank you x

Ruben Dias x Reader - No Son of Mine Part 3

Enjoy!

Another day was spent around the pool. The São Paulo heat made it impossible for any other activity during the summer. You were glad that you and Ruben would be going back to England soon, although you would surley miss your parents, siblings, aunties, uncles and all of your cousins. Being surrounded by a big family made you feel very loved and safe. And you were greatful that the they made Ruben feel the same way.

"Y/N, come on, join me!" Ruben said, whom for the second time urged you to abandon your taning bed and join him in the cool water.

"I'm good here, thanks." You said, to Rubens obvious disapointment. He returned to the children, but did not play with them with the same vigor as before.

"Look what you did." Your aunty hissed. She sat two taning beds down from you, next to your mother and sister. "If you don't join that man in the water right now, you know damn well who will."

"Who?" You frowned.

"Me." She chuckled.

"And us." Your sisters second.

"Me three!"

"Mom?" You gasped.

"We will all go."

Your oldest aunty stood, letting her robe slide off her shoulders and  onto the taning bed. She wore a yellow bathing suit, proud to show it off.

"Alright ladies, let's go!"

"But..."

One by one they all got up, leaving your side to join Ruben, your fiance, in the pool.

"Where are they going?" Your uncles appeard, all of them as confused as you.

"To swim with my man." You muttered.

"Nah uh, not on my watch!"

Your uncle stripped himself of his shirt, dive bombing into the pool without hesitation. The children screamed whilst the aunties laughed and soon everyone jumped in, everyone except for you. But you set your self on the edge of the pool, the fear of being the odd man out if you didn't.

Your feet dangled in the crystal-clear water. The summer sun beating down on your back, warming your skin. You watched the others have the time of their lives, splashing around. You were anxious to join them, something holding you back.

Your stomach churned, the feeling uncomfortable. You had been feeling bloated for the past week, with intermittent headaches and bouts of nausea that left you feeling exhausted. It had become increasingly difficult for you to keep up with your daily routines, and even the idea of slipping into a swimsuit seemed daunting.

Ruben noticed your drifting gaze and waded out of the pool, his wet hair dripping onto his broad shoulders. Sitting down beside you, he gently placed his hand over yours.

"Y/N, what's wrong?" He asked, eyes filled with concern.

You sighed, voice trembling with uncertainty. "I don't know, Ruben. I just feel off lately. I'm bloated, and I've been having all these strange symptoms. It's been bothering me all week."

Ruben's brow furrowed as he listened attentively. He had noticed the change in you and understood the unease, however he was one step ahead of you.

"Have you considered taking a pregnancy test?" He gently suggested.

Your eyes widened, breath catching in your throat. The idea had crossed your mind but seemed too daunting to confront. You had been hoping that the symptoms were just a passing phase or perhaps related to stress. However, Ruben's suggestion made you realize that it may be time to face your fears.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check," You said, wavering between apprehension and curiosity.

Ruben squeezed your hand reassuringly. "We'll do it together. Whatever the result, we'll face it together and support each other."

Together with Ruben you pushed yourself up from the pool's edge, and together you made your way towards the house. Thankfully your family was too busy to notice.

Entering the bathroom, you unwrapped the pregnancy test while Ruben stood beside you, facing the door. His presence provided much-needed stability.

Silence enveloped as you followed the test instructions, the anticipation reaching its peak. After peeing on the stick all that was left to do was wait. Ruben had stopped facing the wall and held you in his arms whilst you waited, your hearts beating in unison.

Moments later, the test's results appeared, and you gasped, tears pooling in your eyes. Ruben's grip around your hand tightened, his own excitement evident on his face. The test was positive, revealing the beautiful and unexpected answer to your worries.

Overwhelmed with joy and disbelief, You and Ruben embraced, your laughter filling the bathroom. In that moment, all fears and uncertainties melted away, replaced by the exhilaration of new beginnings.

"Do we have to tell your dad?" Ruben spoke into your tight hug. "I don't think he'll be happy to know that I got you pregnant before our wedding."

You laughed. It felt so good to laugh again. As the news sank in, you realized that your worries and discomfort had not been in vain. They were simply a prelude to the miracle growing within you. And with Ruben's unwavering support by your side, you knew that you were ready to embrace every step of this journey, no matter where it led you.

You squeezed his hand, "No, let's tell everyone!"

[number1rizgukgakstan]

FANTASY HIGH JUNIOR YEAR EPISODE 19 (PART 1) LIVEBLOG

HERE WE GO FOLKS! THE BEGINNING OF THE END!

Spoilers below (under the cut)

FANTASY HIGH JUNIOR YEAR EPISODE 19 (PART 1) LIVEBLOG

HERE WE GO FOLKS! THE BEGINNING OF THE END!

Spoilers below (under the cut)

"Re-ANKARNATE" Brennan Lee Mulligan the man that you are!!! Excellent pun

Fig Faeth and Gerard Neigh are my favorite animal companion duo ever <333

"Kristen Applebees might be class president in her senior year" crying laughing. Yeah the world is ending but isn't THAT the real thing to stress about??

So do we think that the Thistlesprings are watching the world end from their front porch? Or are they driving the fucking tank across the town to go fuck shit up? I hope they show up.

"This ship isn't actually flying by the way" insane.

"FABIAN DO YOU HAVE A PLACE YOU'RE HOPING TO LIVE?" GORGUG I LOVE YOU

they're putting the seacaster manor by the school's campus I'm crying. Fabian's mom IS going to kill him.

ASK FOR ALLIES! ASK FOR ALLIES! DO NOT BRING K2 BACK AT THE EXPENSE OF BETTER OPTIONS NOOOO

KRISTEN NOOOOOO KRISTEN I GET IT YOU HAVE BIG SISTER HEART BUT I'M CRYING.

ARE THEY ALL MOVING INTO SEACASTER MANOR??? SCREAMING.

Zac Oyama's comedic genius is insane. This man is so fucking brilliant give him a season as a DM

"zelgug fans are finally recovering- WHAT'S THAT? IT'S GORGUG AND UNIT WITH A STEEL CHAIR?????"

"107 degrees farehenheit" average summer temps tbh.

MAZEY! MAZEY! MAZEY! The fact that she's taking everything in stride is brilliant. She's definitely an honorary bad kid now

Ragh + Jawbone flying is a great picture. They're so cool.

I love their strategizing. They're right- Oisin first because wizard's are excellent at crowd control. But Mary Anne needs to go down or be persuaded to not fight ASAP because a powerful barbarian can do massive damage. Gorgug is one example of that- if Mary Anne is allowed to fuck around as much as she wants she'd wipe them out.

Ruben is a lesser threat, as even a high level bard isn't the strongest fighter on the field, but his spell list matters because shit like Irresistible Dance and the higher level buff spells can turn a fight very quickly. Ivy as a Gloomstalker is a problem, but if they can get her to burn her abilities quickly she might be easier to manage. If Buddy's still a Life cleric, he's easier to deal with, but if he switched subclasses upon raging out, a War cleric in particular is a HUGE problem. Offensive clerics are stupid busted.

Honestly is the Ratgrinder's are ACTUALLY level 20, they're going to need a miracle on their side, because level 20 pcs have insane hp and damage outputs, and some of their class skills are busted. Rogue's 'stroke of luck' alone is fucking scary. Not to mention that KLCK might have Elusive if she's level 17, which means RIZ CANT GET SNEAK ATTACKS OFF ON HER. This is INSANE.

ICE FEAST IS REAL!!! FUCK YEAH!!!! 1 level of exhaustion and 1d12 ice damage is insane but the benefits are CRAZY. Holy shit why the FUCK did Kristen never used this before

'Only 1 person needs to be exhausted' and it should be Fabian, actually, because if they only have 1 person on counterspell Jace and Oisin are going to fuck them over so hard.

K2 WITH THE UNION JACK IS ABSURD.

"Fuck it I'm playing the pipes" the most hilarious bit ever especially when they immediately stop being able to fight with the party as soon as he stops concentrating on playing them. 10/10 gag gift

SQUEEM SHOWS UP FOR THE FINAL BATTLE???? HUH??? SQUEEM SHOWS UP??? INSANE ENERGY

Ruben: "why are you so yoked"

Gorgug, in the deepest voice imaginable: "I'm a wizard"

You know what? PEAK Bad Kids energy tonight. We're winning.

"Loser says what" GORGUG IS FUCKING GOING OFF TONIGHT. THE FACT THAT PORTER FELL FOR THAT IS WILD

No one recognizing Fig is so funny. Wanda Childa, the secret seventh Bad Kid

I never noticed Riz has a 6 in strength- no wonder he had to have people load canons for him. Absurd.

PORTER HAD TO BURN A LEGENDARY RESISTANCE??? BEAUTIFUL.

RUBEN's COUNTERSPELL BEING ROBBED BECAUSE OF SLOW IS THE BEST FUCKING MOVE EVER. That takes them down to 2 counterspells a turn, assuming Jace and Oisin both have it prepared, since its a reaction. The ability to prevent multiattacks, slow spells, and force them to use either an action or a bonus action

IVY'S TARGETING HIS FUCKING DOG??? :( EVIL!

Oisin is getting his ass beat by Fig and the Vultures and I love it. Fucking GET THAT BITCH!

"That bitch in the back? I'm gonna skin her alive. She said she was going to do it to Maisey, so I'm gonna do it to her" THATS THAT SEACASTER BLOOD IN HIM!!! Bill would be so proud.

26 AC is wild. Fucking- this battle is going to go so hard I can't wait.

If Ivy dies in 1 turn I'm going to laugh so hard. Most cringefail ranger ever. I love her and hope she gets to come back Aelwyn style.

HOLY SHIT HE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO USE THE ACTION SURGE ATTACKS. HOW LOW WAS IVY????????

"I'm Going to Lose My Virginity to That Girl" FABIAN ARAMAIS SEACASTER, THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND.

DOES OISIIN NOT HAVE SHIELD???? WHY DOES OISIIN NOT HAVE SHIELD????? WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED THERE???

Kristen leaping under the disintegrating gym is such a beautiful idea and I need to see fanart immediately.

God, Porter's such an intimidating villain. That's some scary ass shit.

I forgot how fucking powerful Psychic Scream is. Bards get insane shit.

NOOOO THE HANGMAN :(

The party has been doing so well in combat it was bound to take a bad turn at some point

"YOU SUCK AT PVP! YOU SUCK AT PVP!" That was Murph possessing Riz for a brief moment.

The fact that they all have low HP but level 9 spells is fascinating. That's not a natural curve to end up on. They must either have shitty con, or level 10 or so stats but access to higher abilities?

"You're a WASTE OF MY TIME" OUCH. OW! OUCH! GET HIM FIG! That whole speech at Ruben fucking HURTS she got his ass good holy shit.

"BUDDY, BAKARATH IS! NOT! REAL!" I love all of them actually.

They all got clustered together because of Riz's slow and now Adaine is casting SYNAPTIC STATIC??? holy shit. This was the most brutal set-up ever.

HOLY SHIT I FORGOT HOW OP SYNAPTIC STATIC IS. GET FUCKED JACE!!!

HOW the FUCK IS JACE CONCENTRATING ON 4 FUCKING SPELLS??? I WANT WHAT HE HAS

This battle is, again, super fucking scary. They're clearly fighting for their lives right now and they just do not have the numbers or the spell slots. I have to have faith BleeM wouldn't give them a fight they didn't have the resources to win,,,, but oh god is it a nail-biter.

Maybe if we're lucky, Arthur Aguefort will come in with the steel chair? Come on man come back and DO YOUR JOB

FABIAN DROPS???

Jace splitting into multiple versions of himself makes this fight brutal. They just don't have the manpower to fight this many spellcasters.

Kristen should have picked allies </3 it makes sense to pick K2 but god yeah

Gorgug's clutch NAT 20s coming back!

OISIN + IVY are both defeated, meaning that they've gone 2 for 2 so far on main party deaths.

"Make sure to cut his head off so he can't be revivified" CANONICALLY SAID BY RIZ??? THIS IS HIS MOMENT.

Holy shit, Gorgug manhandling Porter is maybe the coolest fucking move ever. Gorgug is the world's GREATEST WIZARD!

OISIN DIDN'T EVEN GET A TURN??? LMAO GET WRECKED DRAGON BOY!

What they need is some kind of powerful magic of their own, but none of them have high level spells left. It sucks ass but they're going to get through it cause these are the BAD KIDS!!!

RIZ IS IMMUNE TO FIRE???? OH MY GOD. LAVA SWIMMING TIME!

Brennan not taking into account what full fire damage immunity would do is maybe the funniest bit of this episode. He's essentially given them free range to play lava shenanigans with his battlefield. He has essentially built a battlefield where ONLY HIS VILLAINS have to worry about the hazards.

The army of spellcasters being unable to counterspell because the Bad Kids are being tactical wizards is so fucking sick. I hope Jace and Reuben feel as useless as they fucking are.

"all the jace's waste their reactions' PEAK CLOWNERY!

NOOOO GORGUG WENT DOWN :[

"What's my name?" The SASS! I love Adaine so much

Mary-Anne is my favorite character forever and ever. "Jace, I don't feel well" GIRL ME TOO!

"I counterspell his counterspell" WIZARD BATTLESSSSSS!!!! AND SHE CRITTED THE SAVE FOR FLESH TO STONE??? HELL YEAH!

"STUPID IDIOT! HAVE WE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION?" THEY ARE BEATING HIS ASS!

THE RAGE TOKEN MECHANIC WAS FOR THE FINAL BATTLE??? HOLY SHIT THEY LUCKED OUT!

"No one wants to engage with the temptation of my sort of philosophy- You're juicing and we can all see it" DEVASTATING. Porter keeps taking hits that would kill me instantly

There's only ten minutes left in the episode right now so I have to ask- how did they cut this? What cliffhanger am I going to be left on? Should i be fearful? I'm gonna be fearful.

Riz's mindgames are so fucking brilliant. This man is just as much as a Mastermind as KLCK, he just has better motivations. (They're real

The music kicked up? What the fuck is this music? Hm? Hm? Is this a good sign or a bad sign? Whatever it is, I'm fucking with it.

FIG SURVIVING BY THE SKIN OF HER FUCKING TEETH! SHE IS THE CHOSEN ONE BITCHES!!!!!!

"YOU DON'T KNOW HER LIKE I DO!" FUCK YEAH!

That moment with Ankarna was seriously sweet. They are the best friends forever to me.

NOOO MARY-ANN'S STRAWBERRY D: BRENNAN THAT WAS THE CRUELEST THING YOU COULD HAVE DONE.

BUDDY LOST CONCENTRATION!!!!!! HELL YEAH!!

Fig is THE plan-slayer. The bit-defeater! THE SCHEME-FOILER!

RUBEN FUCKING DIED! FIG FUCKING MURDERED THE SHIT OUT OF HIM? HOLY SHIT???? SHE SENT HIS ASS TO THE BLACK PIT!

THE OUTFITS IN THE PREVIEW ARE BRILLIANT AND I LOVE THEM!!!

ARTHUR SHOWING UP AT THE LAST SECOND IS BRILLIANT!

I'm SO EXCITED FOR THE LAST EPISODE!!! :D

[paleparearchive]

Pre-Halloween voicelines

Trick or treat!🎃 Here's everyone's limited voicelines for the day before Halloween!

Van Gogh: It's almost Halloween! I want to dress up and play too!

Courbet: Halloween, huh... I bet there will be some morons playing pranks…

Da Vinci: It will soon be Halloween. You also... seem to be looking forward to it.

Renoir: Halloween, huh? Pranks from you are more than welcome.

Rembrandt: My Halloween costume? Apparently, Van Dyck-kun is going to prepare it for me.

Michelangelo: I'm not gonna wear a costume. Don't get your hopes up.

Hokusai: “Halloween”? I see, so it's like Obon¹.

Gauguin: I have a feeling that Van Gogh prepared a costume for me without my permission…

Monet: It's almost Halloween! I'm gonna dress up as a werewolf! Roaaaar!

Raffaello: Halloween is almost here... I am looking forward to see everyone's costumes.

Munch: I love Halloween! I get to make more frieeends!~

Giotto: It's almost Halloween! Shall I prepare some sweets for the kids?

Sisley: I'm sure everyone will be dressed up in wonderful costumes.

Bazille: It's fine to enjoy Halloween, but don't use fake blood because it's confusing, okay?

Kuroda: Are there kids who will try to get sweets from me… yes, there are. Guess I have no choice, I’ll just go to the candy store.

Ingres: So you want to make a jack-o-lantern. ... Then, let's start with the measurements.

Delacroix: It's the kids' job to get sweets. What's the point of me dressin' up?

Watteau: It’s almost Halloween, huh? What are ya gonna dress up as? If ya don't know, I can pick one out for ya…?

Velazquez: If you're going to hand out sweets to kids, you'd better be prepared early.

Van Dyck: A costume? I would look beautiful in anything.

Rubens: Halloween is all about costumes, of course! What kind of costume should we make everyone wear?

El Greco: Halloween, huh? On my island, the spirits would play tricks on people.

Jan: It seems Bert-nii is making more sweets than usual.

Hubert: Halloween is almost here... Leave the sweets preparation to me!

Millet: Halloween costumes, huh... I'm a bit plain, so I guess that would be okay…

Manet: Halloween is coming soon. It's fun to enjoy the commoners' entertainment once in a while.

Mucha: Everyone seems enthusiastic about getting ready for the masquerade.

Hiroshige: “Halloween”... is it like the Obon¹ from my hometown?

¹: Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however, its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. Traditionally, Obon was celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. [Source: Wikipedia]

[thegaypatron]

Commissioning Music

So what does it mean to commission music, as opposed to making it? It helps to think of me as a Patron of the Arts--thus, The Gay Patron.

I've hated how little fun LGBT-centric music exists in the genres I enjoy most; those genres can be summarized as, "anything you might hear at a Renaissance Fair".

Every song starts with an idea--or, really, two ideas: one for the content of the lyrics, and one for the type of instrumental.

Let's take my upcoming release, Who we Are and Who We Love, for example. I hired a lyricist, Travis Myles, who I found in an LGBT Professionals group on social media. He had written religious content in the past, which was appealing because I wanted the song to make references to Christian hostility.

I provided a short creative brief, "I'm looking for an LGBT march to war against Christianity. Something uplifting, as a rallying cry. Not in the march genre, but a march to war such as in these sample songs. I don't want Christianity named overtly; show, don't tell. And include as much of the rainbow as you can, with the same show, don't tell, style."

We went through a few rounds of revision. Some were structural, "the tone focuses too much on us being victims; we're too passive in our story. Turn it around: make these slights against us become our weapons. Have us do so actively. Rally us."

Others were much smaller, like, "I like the concept you have here, but that word makes it very America-centric. Here are some ideas for making it more universal."

When it was finished, I had lyrics that met my specifications, but still showcased the writer's personal style. That was important to me; even though I'm commissioning this music, I'm not looking for something that's perfect as I'd write it, otherwise, why wouldn't I just learn to write it myself? It's as much about our community as it is about my tastes.

Next, I went to the musician. I exclusively hire Ruben Monteiro, via Fiverr. Why? He specializes in hurdy gurdy, and has a wide range of specialty instruments that he plays at a high level of skill. I can get bagpipes, an oud, even a riqq through him. And every single time, he tries to understand my goal--and he nails it very quickly!

I provide a short brief to him. For this upcoming song, it was to the effect of, "I'm looking for a march to war similar to these samples. I specifically want it to be uplifting, not at all somber. Hurdy gurdy as the lead, and I really want to include the riqq again, but I'm open to your recommendation about the other instruments."

He starts with a digital composition and a warning that the real version will sound better. 🤣 This time, though, he realized the lyrics were a bit long: 6.5 minutes vs the usual 4, and he felt it didn't showcase the powerful chorus enough. He recommended cutting 2 verses.

Those verses had some great lyrics, so I opted to trim it myself. Instead of cutting them, I pulled out the lines that I thought were less powerful, and re-combined the ones that remained in a way that made sense.

This allowed me to remove the equivalent of 2 verses, but keep the meaning. And of course the lyricist was sent the new version! (Side note: I absolutely do not take a writing credit in my commissions. Even after a significant structural change like that.)

Once the chorus repetitions were added, the song remained 6.5 minutes. And after hearing the first draft, I realized it would sound even better with some harmony. I identified where I'd like it, and Ruben hired another singer to fill in those parts.

The final song is absolutely incredible, and I'm really excited to share it soon! The distributor is out of office until tomorrow, then it takes about a week to process on Spotify and other platforms. When it's ready, I hope you enjoy it!

[judebellswife]

Rúben Dias Ig file , where Y/n and him make it public.

dear anon, i hope you like this Rúben IG files 💕🥰

PUBLIC — Rúben Dias

summary: when y/n and ruben made their relationship public on the occasion of 1 year of love 💕

warning: english is not my first language

rubendias

Liked by bernardetealvesdias and others

rubendias Summer break and my 🐝 @y/username

View all comments

bernardetealvesdias Nice shoulder

rubendias Haha thanks mama

y/username Taken by me 💖

hello_it @y/username ?0?

mancity_ As far as I'm stalking the accounts of his brother, his mother and his cousin, I think this trip is just the two of them

y/username

1.338 likes

y/username Happy 1 year anniversary!! @rubendias

Comments on this post are limited

rubendias Happy 1 year anniversary, and i love you.. i can’t wait to spend the whole summer break with you

y/username Don’t worry 😉 We will spend summer break together as if tomorrow were the end of the world

sasha_rebecca You finally public it

y/username Yesss i did, i’ve been think about should i or shouldn’t i public my relationship for like 3 and a half month 😂

sasha_rebecca It’s took you a LONG LONG time huh?

y/username It is

addisonalvesseking I was here on my 4th wedding anniversary when I saw @rubendias and @y/username, looks like they've been dating for a long time. I also asked to take a picture of him with Ruben that day, she is really a very kind and gentle person. Happy 1 year anniversary @y/username @rubendias

thesun

4.228.011 likes

thesun Rúben Dias professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester City. Along with his girlfriend, who is not active in the entertainment industry, they posted a picture of them publicizing their relationship on their personal Instagram account. According to us, they have been dating for 1 year, her name is y/n y/l/n and currently works at Chelsea club.

View all 3.209 comments

maaaan._ How can she keep their relationship for a year i mean it’s a long time you know, if she were me i would probably go public on our first date, to let the world know i’m his 😩🤌🤌

mancityy I think i’ve met her once, she’s so so nice

masonfan.chelseafan She work at Chelsea and date a man from Man City 🤣

y/bff/n Well that’s fast, i mean she just posted about her and Ruben yesterday

y/username 😳😳😳😳

rubendias

Liked by y/username and others

rubendias My sunshine 🌞

Views all comments

ruben_03 Is she a model?

mason.masey Nopee

ivandias03 How was my sister-in-law?

y/username Haha im great, but i’m not your sister-in-law… YET

rubendias 😹

y/username

Liked by bernardetealvesdias, rubendias and 5.042 others

y/username My NEOW hair style, what do you think? 🌴

Comments on this post are limited

rubendias It's a bit weird but because it's you so i love it

y/username Babyy, come here i’ll give you kisses

rubendias YASSS BABY !!!

bernardetealvesdias It’s beautiful y/n

y/username @bernardetealvesdias Thank you Bernar, you looks pretty too 😊

beatriz_dials Unique huh?

y/username 🤣

rubendias

Liked by ivandias03, y/username and 3.640.899 others

rubendias I can’t wait until i get my own little Rúben or little y/n one day, am i having a baby fever?

View all comments

y/username You are 🤌

philfoden Ronnie has fully prepared his personal belongings to move to uncle Ruben's house

y/username We'll be back in England tomorrow 😂

philfoden You definitely have to prepare yourself for Ronnie

y/username I don’t have to prepare anything, cause i’m always ready for Ronnie

rubendias @philfoden Really?

philfoden @rubendias Yep, it’s mine and Rebecca anniversary soon so i think you guys can help me babysit Ronnie, also prepare for you LITTLE RUBEN

y/username Ahhh im so excited 😆

y/username

84.278.045 likes

y/username I just wanna live in this moment forever

View all 854 comments

rubendias You're my angel

rubendias.3 💖

ivandias03 @bernardetealvesdias want to invite you to our home for dinner, she talk about you everyday 😂

y/username Aww i miss her too, maybe next week i can have a dinner with you guys.. that would be great

ivandias03 Well okay, she’ll be so happy to here that

manxcityfan_ He’s hot as hell

joopiu @ivandias03 Dear Ivan, i just wanna ask you that, are you single or taken?

y/username @ivandias03 😳

ivandias03 @y/username 😳🤭🤫

y/username @ivandias03 🤫👌👌

[13leaguestories]

Hey Tierra. I’m super excited and super super proud of you (not that you need it) for almost finishing Ruben’s route, and for non-Patreons getting to play it soon. I can’t wait to see how the last chapters of my children’s love story goes, and I literally feel so protective of that giant grumpy man and my girl Senara. Really, sometimes I look at them and just go all mushy, which honestly isn’t a good look on me and it’s all your fault.

I may also be the person who sent the evil twins ask, which I’ve thought about since knowing of Eni and Esgo, and I’m excited to see it all coming together. I already had an inkling about it possibly becoming canon when you posted that Patreon poll, but the feeling’s getting stronger. I’m keeping my eyes peeled 👀

I also wanted you to know that it’s all as angsty as can be (though poetic too) because of you. Sure, I had headcanoned this by myself, but you’ve been validating it and I’m sure have had this idea longer, so, you can’t blame or curse me. Plus, we actually didn’t know what the twins looked like, so I was simply planning to make Ruben’s twin children as similar to him as can be, and stick with that. However, I didn’t know that Eni and Esgo had black hair to begin with, and Senara does have black hair and black eyes, so… it’s your fault really, you shouldn’t have given me all this power and knowledge 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, all this to say. I really love this to bits and I’m giving it all my brain cells until my other girl and Rahim come back to me. Just a quick question though… will the Patreon version be up for everyone on the 21, or will it depend on the tier? Just asking because I know you usually put things out first for the highest tier, and idk if it will work the same way with a published game. I was gonna end this with something sweet and supportive, but no, we’re too cold hearted for that, so just know that you better believe in how amazing ToA is or I’ll force the knowledge on you daily 🖤

Oh no, it's canon. Like the twins thing was already a thing and then you put that idea of black hair and red eyes in my head and there's no way I can go back. Your fault, Anon! Of course, this is just universe canon. Everyone can still create their own idea of the twins and what they got from what parent and what not.

Just a quick question though… will the Patreon version be up for everyone on the 21, or will it depend on the tier?

So, yea, probably. Because all of the beta tier has probably already read it and so I was like, what's the point of doing early access for a game that has literally been in early access since it's been created.

And thank you for the last part, it means a lot to hear with all this nervous energy. I hope you have a great rest of your day!

[lomappreciationblog]

Legend of Mana Anime: Thoughts on Episode 3!

Whew! Lots to talk about in only one episode, but they packed in a good amount of happenings aside from Flame of Hope. I'm a bit surprised, they finished it in one episode, but they did cut out chasing the Sproutling sequence, which works better for the anime since they can get right to the narrative.

Talking about scenery first - the place where Shiloh meets Inspector Boyd is a building you see in Domina! It seems to be the one used for 2 players too, how neat. I don't know for sure though since I never, ever played it with another person before.

Gato Grottoes is also beautiful! It's nice seeing the care they put into recreating the Temple's lobby, which really is one of the most beautiful sights of the game.

Moving onto characters, Shiloh is a sweetheart as always! Which makes it tougher seeing that it was a rough day for him. Imagine tagging along to a new town, just curiously asking about, meet a cute girl, try new foods, and bam, someone gets brutally murdered in front of him. Poor guy.

As for our other MC, Serafina is an absolute cutie! And voiced by Saori Hayami too, who people probably now know better as the VA for Yor in Spy x Family. It's pretty obvious since she uses the same way of speaking as her Yor voice, but it fits Serafina well, too!

She also voices several characters in F/GO too, notably, Meltryllis, Martha and Ushiwakamaru. Just another funny coincidence, since Shiloh's VA, Nobunaga Shimazaki, voices the male Ritsuka Fujimaru in the anime adaptations of F/GO and also other characters, like Arjuna. I can't get away from F/GO, can I?

Sorry for talking a lot about the voice thing, I just can't help but find it amusing that my first favorite game is linked to the only gacha game I play through the VAs, heh. I did want to try Echoes of Mana but my phone cannot handle any more games, it's a bit old and storage is full.

More about Serafina - I was mislead by the teasers, it appears she and Shiloh aren't familiar with each other and meet here for the first time. They can both see and talk to Faeries - another good nod to the game! Both MCs are capable of that. It's too bad she doesn't get involved with the main happening of Flame of Hope though, they leave her out of it…for now. I hope we get to see her again soon, though!

Seems like the anime is setting to ship up Shiloh and Serafina, or at least make it so Shiloh has a bit of a crush on her with all the blushing. It's cute, and honestly I did think of them as a couple whe I was younger, but then the manga adaptation turns them into siblings so it became weird to me…but, there is nothing in the actual game to say that is their relationship, so I'll see what the anime does differently. Their interactions really are cute, though, just hanging out together.

Alex makes a small appearance here and looking as harmless and gentle as an NPC can be. He really does seem nice and not at all suspicious, but it's a bit harder to pull off the Alexandrite twist seeing how much he looks like the Jumi in the opening...but that is me speaking with knowledge of what happens in the Jumi Arc.

Now onto the main focus. Poor, poor Rubens. I was really, really hoping he got more screen time being alive but nah, they offed him fairly quickly too. Which isn't really a surprise, Flame of Hope is meant to end with him dying. Or to be precise, being killed. I was really led on by how prominent he is in the opening, but hopefully we get to see more flashback scenes of him later on. For those who aren't aware of the game, they do try to mislead you with the sacred torch thing and at least in the anime it makes more sense as to why Inspector Boyd would be fooled, since the torch is given some history and is made to look more like Sandra's target.

It was a little clunky that Rubens talked about how Jumi worked in partners as guardians and knights, but it did clear something up for me. It wasn't too bad, just felt more exposition-y and not as natural as some dialogue was. But anyway, Rubens's explanation is that the the Jumi with roles to heal are called "princess" (I hear the word hime used so it seems "princess" is the correct term, but I can't deep dive too much into it as I don't know Japanese). In the English version of the game, they're called guardians instead - but going by what Rubens said, then that's why Pearl is the Lost Princess in the first quest - she was a lost "princess" in the sense that she was a lost guardian, not that she was royalty. So that was something lost in translation, but in any case I do like the term guardian better.

Also, in the anime, rather than the Jumi drifting apart because they were scared without Florina to heal them in the Bejeweled City, it was out of suspicion because they knew it was another Jumi who had stolen her away. In the game, I don't think anyone else was aware who was responsible for Florina's disappearance, only that she did disappear. Rubens doesn't seem to suspect Alexandrite and doesn't mention anything, which is game accurate, I think only Diana had suspicions and later, Blackpearl.

Moving onto Sandra's... her appearance is really chilling. They made her very threatening and I like that. And rather than the protagonist just standing by weirdly, there's a more legit reason as to why Shiloh couldn't act - she had thrown him and he was too winded to move. And again it makes sense - he was just fighting Du'Inke the day before and it could be Shiloh hadn't recovered fully yet. In the game Sandra just threatens to kill Rubens quickly before the MC can do anything, which still makes sense but it does result in them just standing awkwardly around while Sandra threatens Rubens.

Rubens's death scene still hits hard though, even knowing it leads up to that. I have to credit Nobunaga Shimazaki for his excellent voice acting, he makes Shiloh sound really anguished.

Overall, a good episode! If one that breaks my heart.

Also, it's sweet that Shiloh keeps referring to Elazul and Pearl as friends now. It doesn't really make sense considering he knew them in so little a time, but he's such a softhearted guy you can tell he does become good friends with just about anyone.

Gahh, this turned out super long again, but if you read this far, thanks for reading!

[fakeloveaskblog]

Yay lasertag!!! Janus you should totally go visit Remus on the weekend and hang out! Also, maybe invite Remy too, if they wanna come. Then (specially if they don't show) you can plan with them both to maybe go on another hangout with Remus but to somewhere you like and let Remy tag along for the ride if they wanna while u're at it.

(Words: 3153 words)

Janus: "Ah yes! I will let you know that after hanging out with Remus I managed to use my incredible totally very good texting skills to ask the Rems if they wanted to go to an art museum and they both for some reaosn, maybe they are being blackmailed, said yes! I hope it will go g-"

He cut himself off as he saw the two Rems come towards him. He had been waiting outside the museum. (Honestly half the reason he had choosen it was because he knew Remus liked art)

Remus waved at him while grinning. He had on sweatpants, a way too large t-shirt and a necklace made out of animal bones. Remy had their arm swung around him. Even though they had sunglasses on their eyebags were still visible.

“Aight gamers! Are we ready to do an epic art heist!! I got my sunglasses ready!” Remus exclaimed. He didn’t, he was planning on stealing Remy’s sunglasses.

“Partner you’re forgetting that we must first observe the security measures of the museum before we can even start to plan the heist” Janus replied.

“Oh!!! That’s what we’re doing today isn’t it??”

“Correct partner!”

“Babes I dunno why you gotta steal art when I’m standing right here” Remy added while posing.

“Good point. Good point” 

Janus had on a yellow bowtie he’d gotten from Logan, a loose purple shirt and black dress pants. People had to look fancy when they went to museums right? Remy had a skirt short enough to fool god and their boyfriend’s hoodie on (it looked oversized on them but with how skinny they were Everything looked oversized on them).

As soon as they got in Remus started to bounce up and down as he looked at the posters showing all the different exhibitions. There was a modern art one, classical and one smaller exhibition for specifically mosaic works.

“So whatcha you wanna look at Snakey?” Remus asked.

Janus was caught of guard “Why are you asking me?”

“Well you chose how we would hang out. C’mon you deserve to choose this too”

He looked over to Remy who shrugged “Uhm okay. Well. The classical paintings would proably give us the most money on the black market so lets look at those”

“Yay!” 

Remus quickly took on his noise canceling headphones and a chew necklace before doing thumbs up. He firmly took Janus’ hand in his. He sent him a soft smile which made Jan’s heart spin before dashing of with him into the exhibition.

A few big paintings from the renaissance hung on the wall. Remy came a little later since with the cane they walked pretty slow. Remus eyed the paintings from a distance before squinting at them up close. He flapped the hand he was hoding Janus with around.

"Oh!!! This is so cool!!!! This is from the renaissance but it's not using the chiaro oscuro technique like everyone did 'cause Da Vinci would eat their newborn if they didnt!”

"Is that why it's looking flatter than me?" Remy asked.

“YEah!! Augh I love the renaissance!!! Mostly because they were dissecting bodies so much!! sometimes for the sole purpose of drawing anatomy better!! I wanna do that! Or watch someone do that! Getting to see one of those old classrooms where they dissected corpses would be so awesome!”

“Huh good way to get rid of bodies. Great time for serial killers” Janus commented.

He let out a dreamy sigh “It truly was. They’re doing serial killers dirty nowadays”

They went through some more rooms of renaissance paintings. Janus made sure to hold Remus back a bit so Remy could keep up with them. The duke kept rambling about different shading techniques.

They stepped into another room and the style changed. Remus continued to flap his hand nonetheless. Janus was definitely going to have pain in his wrist tomorrow. It was worth it if he could hold his hand though.

Remy leaned their elbow on top of Janus’ head “This is like the baroque time right?”

“YEah!” Remus’ eyes went huge “Bean you didn’t tell me you were into art history??! Do you know about Ruben too?? I like how he paints butts!”

“What? Nah. I just- I can like see it on the clothes in the paintings. Can’t you?”

“Do I look like a time traveling fashiong guru” Janus replied sarcastically “That is honestly impressive”

Remy sunk in on themself and a hint of red appeared on their cheeks “No. Nah. I’m like a total airhead! Completel idiot! hehe I’m like tots sure everyone knows this stuff. Y’all are just bad at fashion. I uh anyway Rem you were gonna rant?”

“I was?”

“Yeah!”

“Oh....Okay!!” He looked around the room before getting caught on a small painting in the corner. He dashed over to it “HANds!”

The painting depicted 2 bloody hands over a table. They were holding onto each other. the red stuck out against the dark background. It was hard to see if they were supposed to belong to two people who were fighting or in love.

Remus looked down at Janus’ hand while playing with his fingers “I think my favorite body part are hands” He mumbled “I mean they’re horseshit to draw but they can do so much”

Janus looked away from the painting as well. He let his crush do whatever he wanted with his hand as long as he kept holding it. the way he held him so lightly but kept rubbing his thumb up and down his skin made him melt.

“Yeah they can do a lot of fucked up shit” Remy butted in. Jan nearly jumped. He’d completely lost himself in adoring his crush.

“Well hands can also be used to give snakes small berries! And to make coffee!”

“Girl I wasn’t starting an argument. But you sure did won it!”

Remus was staring down into the floor as he said “When I become a cannibal I would wanna try eating human fingers first. I’m sure they would be tasty”

“Why was there a when in there?” Jan asked in a small amount of terror.

“Oh yeah babe totally. I will like actually eat a dick” Remy agreed.

“Why is there a will in there? What kind of time tenses are you people on?? Does english grammar mean nothing to you heathens!?”

Remy got a smug look on their face. They poked their finger right into Janus’ chest “C’mon say what you will eat when you become a cannibal”

“Yeah Snakey” Remus squished his cheeks “Say it! Say it! Say it!”

The two of them kept going on while Janus looked like a sour lemon until he finally caved in.

“Fine. I would either eat the stomach or....the buttocks since they would have the most fat and sustain me the longest”

The Rems looked at each other before bursting out into laughter. “He said butT!” Remus cackled out. The other Rem nodded along and pretended to wipe away a tear from laughter.

“Aight babe let’s put the guy out of his misery” 

They motioned for Remus to go ahead. He happily skipped into the next room and grabbed Jan’s hand to take him with him. The snake couldn’t help but notice how Remy stayed behind for a monent.

“Oh cool!! We’re onto impressionism! The first real art style!” He sighed “From impressionism to cartoon furries. How magical the journey of art is” 

(Jan who had a scaley phase in high school chose to not reply)

“I love the music as well. Crazy lads. My favorite lad?” Remus snickered “De bussy!!”

“That’s my porn name” Remy instantly replied, coming up behind them. “Hey that paint lady kinda like looks like Terra” They pointed at a painting.

“....Hey YEaH! I guess my art is timeless!”

Janus looked between them “who’s Terra?”

“Well girl” Remy playfully ruffled Remus’ hair “She’s just Rem’s tots cool like cartoon character. She’s like all over his sketchbook. Makes it look kinda straight if you ask me but she does have like a very cool design so I get it!”

“Oh......Yes...Sounds very....cool”

The group kept going around looking at art. While it felt like lead was filling Janus’ chest. He’d never heard about Terra. He’d never seen his sketchbook. Meaning they had spent time with each other without him.

He pierced his nails into his palms to stop the thoughts. He refused to be some jealous person who didn’t allow his friends to hang out without him.....Still he wish he could have seen the drawings as well....seen them smile together...heard their shared laughter....

Oh. Oh what if they thought he was annoying. What if they preferred being without him. What if he’d forced them to come here today. What if-

“Hey snakey wanna look at the modern art as well?” Remus interrupted.

“What?” 

Without realizing they’d gone through all of the classic art. Now they were in the last room with not much more than a giant painting the size of one of the walls and a bench.

“That sounds horrid!”

“Yay!”

Remus quickly continued of into the next exhibition. Janus still had the taste of lead filling his throat as he went to follow. Until he realized Remy wasn’t there. He turned around and saw them sitting on the bench in front of the painting. They were leaning their arms on their cane.

“It would probably give us a lot on the black market” Jan said while sitting down beside them.

“Mhm. It’s pretty. I just like wanted to look at it some more” They lied.

“Understandable” 

The painting was pretty much a big flower field with a summer sky shining down on it. Janus noticed how Remy forced deep breathes through their gritted teeth. Their brows were furrowed and their hands kept shaking.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course!” 

“I have some painkillers with me. Would that help agains the pain you’re totally not in?”

They glanced over to him “Girl what you doing walking around with painkillers?”

He looked at them with the most deadpan expression “Remy I’m overweight. You can not phantom how often I get knee pain" He took out a pill and held it out to them "Here"

"There's really like no need! I can like handle it"

Even more deadpan "You shouldn’t have to ‘handle it’. It's 1 painkiller dear. I'm not exactly becoming a saint because of this"

They hesitantly took it "Thanks"

He did fingerguns "No problemo"

They stayed sitting for a bit so the pill could kick in. Jan shuly glanced over to admire them every now and then. Remy kept looking down into the floor while picking at their skin.

“I’m sorry” They said it in a much quieter voice than their usual high pitched one “I tried to do everything right so I wouldn’t ruin everything. I even went to bed early so I wouldn’t get tired....I...I really looked forward to getting to be with you two”

Janus heart beat faster. He pulled himself together to comfort them “You haven’t ruined a thing”

They hid their face in their hands “I’ve been tired and out of it all day. I keep like slowing you down. Don’t think I haven’t like noticed how much you have to hold Rem back from going faster! I’ve just been making this all much worse than it should have been”

“Well you’re here aren’t you? I for one appreciate you simply being here. You don’t have to do anything to make me appreciate you, don’t even have to talk. I hope you know that”

“....really?”

“Oh no darling I totally expect you to win the nobel prize while in a kind of pain I can’t even imagine being in on a daily basis”

Remy chuckled “Thanks”

“There’s really no need for that. I am at any and all times doing the absolute minimum to be counted as a decent human being”

“Sure snakey-babey” They had a soft smile on their face.

They moved to hug him. Their arms wrapped around his back and they muffled their head right between his man titties. Janus sat still for a few seconds, too flustered to think before moving his arms around them as well. A hand on the back of their head, another on their lower back. Their skin felt so cold against his.

Remy closed their eyes and let themself calm down. They could feel Janus’ breathing against their hair.

“I think my fav like human part is the chest” They mumbled out “‘Cause I can hear the heart beat. It reminds me I’m- we’re still like alive”

“Like a bloody biological seashell”

“Exactly” They pressed themself closer. “I like being with you” It was nothing more than a whisper, like it was a secret “When you’re here I feel a bit less like a rotting corpse”

Janus held onto them harder “Well I-I try my best”

“I know babe”

His heart was beating out of his chest. The people around them must think they were a couple. He closed his eyes and focused on Remy’s touch, on Picani’s words from their last session. He managed to push enough of the shame away and focus on the happy butterflies in his stomach instead.

Remy moved away. The moment broke.

“We should probs go find Rem before he starts like eating the art”

“haha yeah” Janus did thumbs up but kept sitting. He’d gone full idiot.

It wasn’t until he saw Remy straining to stand up even with the cane his brain kicked back in.

“Is there some way I could help?”

They didn’t answer. But they did lean their arm around his shoulder to let him carry some of their weight. They slowly but surely made their way to the modern art exhibition.

Remus was sitting crosslegged in front of a weird statue, he was doodling in his sketchbook but shone up into a smile when he saw them.

“There you are! I was starting to think that either the zombie apocalypse had started or you were making out somehwere”

“Oh yeah babe. Full tounge” Remy joked back. Jan let out an inhumane noise.

He closed his sketchbook “I think we’re done here. You’re looking tired beanie. We can come back some other day”

Remy held back the urge to lie that they were fine. Instead they weakly nodded.

The gang left the museum. Right beside it was an ice cream shop. Remus got 3 scoops of a worryingly weird mix of flavors. Janus got 1 scoop of lemon. Remy didn’t feel like eating.

They sat down on a couple of benches right outside. Remy laid down with their head leaned onto Remus’ thigh. He chewed his ice cream while calmly moving his hand up and down their back.

Soon enough they were deep asleep. Janus quickly laid his jacket over their legs. He didn’t want to accidentally see anything under their skirt without their consent.

Remus stared at him like a blood sucking eagle while smiling “Soooo now when beanie is in dream land.......Do” He stopped to giggle “Janny. Janny. Do. Do you like someooooonnneee??”

Janus just blinked at him for half a minute. This was too much. This whole day was too much. He was a wreck. His crush was asking him THis?! While his other crush was laying in his crush’s lap?!?

“Why- Why- What- Who are you working for?! The fucking FBI??? Are they after me?” He desperately tried to joke it away.

“No. No. But seriously JanJan!” He wiggled his shoulders around in a stimmy way “Do you happen to like anyone with a name that starts on R????”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Janus kept glancing between his two crushes while his blushing could be seen out into space. He wanted to lie but his mouth wouldn’t move.

Remus leaned closer and whispered “You’re into Remy right?”

He nodded. A breathe of relief went through him. At least Remus didn’t know he liked him.

“OH I KNEW IT!” Remus yelled out in excitement while flapping his hands.

“Shh! Shh!” Janus scrambled to cover his mouth as Remy stirred for a moment. “Shhhh!” They cuddled closer to their friend and fell back asleep.

“I knew it!” He giggled “Or I mean Remy knew. They told me they thought you were into them”

“WHAT?!” 

Now it was Remus that covered his mouth. He was full on cackling “Yeah! They said it was really obvious! But good for you snakey! I’m sure if you murder their boyfriend you can get them in no time! Or you can become a fab homewrecker!! I can help you buy a nice sexy dress and all!!”

Janus paled in terror “How- In- What- In what way did they say it was obvious?”

“Oh y’know-”

The notif on his phone went off. He checked and his eyes went wide. He carefully moved Remy’s head onto the bench before standing up.

“Sorry snakey! Ro needs super duper emergency help! Gotta go!! See you later! Don’t die!”

Remus left him just like that.  Right after dropping THAT bomb on him. Janus sat unmoving. His mouth was slightly agape in shock. His thoughts were runnig around screaming nonstop.

He sat like that for over 20 minutes until Remy let out a yawn and slowly woke up. They took off their sunglasses to rub their eyes. Just seeing their vibrantly green eyes made Janus panic even more.

“Did Rem disintegrate?” Their voice was hoarse from sleepyness. Janus pinched himself to hold back the uhm feelings.

“He- he uh he went he went he sure did went yeah”

“....Cool!”

They stretched their joints, they all cracked. They looked to Janus and moved closer. He couldn’t breathe. They knew. They knew. They knew.

“Girl are you feeling okay?” They pressed their palm to his forehead “You’re like super hot. In both ways! Maybe you should like go home and rest. I gotta get home before my boyf gets home anyway”

“Y-yeah” Was all Janus could get out.

“Cool. OH! By the way! Girl!!! We haven’t like hung out just the two of us right?? We should tots do that! Just like tell me whatever you wanna do and we can do it!”

“Yeah”

“Awesome! Well I’ll see you on that hang out then”

They hugged him for just a few seconds but for those seconds Janus felt like he was in heaven.

They got up and left. Janus slumped over on the bench. His heart was going crazy. They knew. They knew and now they wanted to hang out alone with him. He turned to you. His eyes were wide and panicked.

Janus: “W-what am I supposed to do? I don’t know any good hang out plans! Do you know any??? I’m- this is all- how did they even know I like them! Oh I’m sounding like an overdramatic 13 year old.....This totally isn’t really overwhelming. I would hate getting Logan cuddles right now!”

[footballerimaginess]

Christmas Day

Christmas Prompt 25. Christmas Day Ruben Dias Word Count: 499 Author's note: Merry Christmas everyone!! Thank you for all your support this year and hope you have a lovely day!! x

The day started off a little differently to previous years as Ruben had an early training session, so you didn't see him until later as he had rushed straight out before anyone even woke up.

"y/n when will Ruben be home? do you have any idea?" His mum asked. "I have no idea, I was still fast asleep when he left the house so he never woke me up. I am guessing it will only be a few hours of training and then he'll be home. I just hope he is okay, I know he is out for the game tomorrow so must just be in for physio" you smiled. "Oh I am glad, he should be home soon then. I have a few things to do, so I will get them done" His mum smiled as you nodded whilst getting ready to start preparing Christmas lunch as you heard the door open. "Ruben is that you?" his mum shouted as he walked through the door. "Yes it is me mum, Merry Christmas everyone" Ruben shouted as he walked to see you in the kitchen. "Hey, I didn't even hear you go this morning. How are you?" you asked him as you wrapped your arms around him. "Sorry I had to get going, I'm okay. Injury is still there so out of the game tomorrow which is a shame as I'd have liked them to see me play tomorrow. But I guess that isn't going to happen now" he huffed. "It is okay babe, we can get them to come over for a game another day. Now you go and get ready because we need to open presents and I'll try and sort out the food" you smiled as you pushed him out of the kitchen. "Yes boss" he turns and winks at you as he shouts, wandering in the living room to get ready to open all their presents as he greeted his family. "Right, who wants to open presents?" you shouted as you walked into the living room to see all the family waiting patiently getting ready to open their presents. "Oh my god"you squealed as you opened your first present which was from Ruben, it was a bag that you had your eye on for ages which you were so excited to see. "Ruben, I have been wanting this for SO long, thank you so much I love it baby" you jumped up to give him a big cuddle to show how incredibly grateful you were for this gift. The rest of the day was perfect, you somehow managed to cook a very good traditional Christmas dinner. "Today has been amazing, you are just the best. Thank you for welcoming my parents for their first Christmas here in Manchester. I have had a lovely day and I know they have too" you smiled as you embraced him. "Aww that is okay, I have loved today too" you told him as you pulled away from him.

[grigori77]

Summer 2021′s Movies - My Top Ten Favourite Films (Part 2)

The Top Ten:

10.  WEREWOLVES WITHIN – definitely one of the year’s biggest cinematic surprises so far, this darkly comic supernatural murder mystery from indie horror director Josh Ruben (Scare Me) is based on a video game, but you’d never know it – this bears so little resemblance to the original Ubisoft title that it’s a wonder anyone even bothered to make the connection, but even so, this is now notable for officially being the highest rated video game adaptation in Rotten Tomatoes history, with a Certified Fresh rating of 86%. Certainly it deserves that distinction, but there’s so much more to the film – this is an absolute blood-splattered joy, the title telling you everything you need to know about the story but belying the film’s pure, quirky genius.  Veep’s Sam Richardson is forest ranger Finn Wheeler, a gentle and socially awkward soul who arrives at his new post in the remote small town of Beaverton to discover the few, uniformly weird residents are divided over the oil pipeline proposition of forceful and abrasive businessman Sam Parker (The Hunt’s Wayne Duvall).  As he tries to fit in and find his feet, investigating the disappearance of a local dog while bonding with local mail carrier Cecily Moore (Other Space and This Is Us’ Milana Vayntrub), the discovery of a horribly mutilated human body leads to a standoff between the townsfolk and an enforced lockdown in the town’s ramshackle hotel as they try to work out who amongst them is the “werewolf” they suspect is responsible.  This is frequently hilarious, the offbeat script from appropriately named Mishna Wolff (I’m Down) dropping some absolutely zingers and crafting some enjoyably weird encounters and unexpected twists, while the uniformly excellent cast do much of the heavy-lifting to bring their rich, thoroughly oddball characters to vivid life – Richardson is thoroughly cuddly throughout, while Duvall is pleasingly loathsome, Casual’s Michaela Watkins is pleasingly grating as Trisha, flaky housewife to unrepentant local horn-dog Pete Anderton (Orange is the New Black’s Michael Chernus), and Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story) and Harry Guillen (best known, OF COURSE, as Guillermo in the TV version of What We Do In the Shadows) make an enjoyably spiky double-act as liberal gay couple Devon and Joaquim Wolfson; in the end, though, the film is roundly stolen by Vayntrub, who invests Cecily with a bubbly sweetness and snarky sass that makes it absolutely impossible to not fall completely in love with her (gods know I did).  This is a deeply funny film, packed with proper belly-laughs from start to finish, but like all the best horror comedies it takes its horror elements seriously, delivering some enjoyably effective scares and juicy gore, while the werewolf itself, when finally revealed, is realised through some top-notch prosthetics.  Altogether this was a most welcome under-the-radar surprise for the summer, and SO MUCH MORE than just an unusually great video game adaptation …

9.  THE TOMORROW WAR – although cinemas finally reopened in the UK in early summer, the bite of the COVID lockdown backlog was still very much in effect this blockbuster season, with several studios preferring to hedge their bets and wait for later release dates. Others turned to streaming services, including Paramount, who happily lined up a few heavyweight titles to open on major platforms in lieu of the big screen.  One of the biggest was this intended sci-fi action horror tentpole, meant to give Chris Pratt another potential franchise on top of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, which instead dropped in early July on Amazon Prime.  So, was it worth staying in on a Saturday night instead of heading out for something on the BIG screen?  Mostly yes, although it’s mainly a trashy, guilty pleasure big budget B-picture charm that makes this such a worthwhile experience – the film’s biggest influences are clearly Independence Day and Starship Troopers, two admirably clunky blockbusters that DEFINED prioritising big spectacle and overblown theatrics over intelligent writing and realistic storytelling.  It doesn’t help that the premise is pure bunk – in 2022, a wormhole opens from thirty years in the future, and a plea for help is sent back with a bunch of very young future soldiers.  Seems Earth will become overrun by an unstoppable swarm of nasty alien critters called Whitespikes in 25 years, and the desperate human counteroffensive have no choice but to bring soldiers from our present into the future to help them fight back and save the humanity from imminent extinction.  Less than a year later, the world’s standing armies have been decimated and a worldwide draft has been implemented, with normal everyday adults being sent through for a seven day tour from which very few return.  Pratt plays biology teacher and former Green Beret Dan Forrester, one of the latest batch of draftees to be sent into the future along with a selection of chefs, soccer moms and other average joes – his own training and experience serves him better than most when the shit hits the fan, but it soon becomes clear that he’s just as out of his depth as everyone else as the sheer enormity of the threat is revealed.  But when he becomes entangled with a desperate research outfit led by Muri (Chuck’s Yvonne Strahovski) who seem to be on the verge of a potential world-changing scientific breakthrough, Dan realises there just might be a slender hope for humanity after all … this is every bit as over-the-top gung-ho bonkers as it sounds, and just as much fun.  Director Chris McKay may still be pretty fresh (with only The Lego Batman Movie under his belt to date), but he shows a lot of talent and potential for big budget blockbuster filmmaking here, delivering with guts and bravado on some major action sequences (a fraught ticking-clock SAR operation through a war-torn Miami is the film’s undeniable highlight, but a desperate battle to escape a blazing oil rig also really impresses), as well as handling some impressively complex visual effects work and wrangling some quality performances from his cast (altogether it bodes well for his future, which includes Nightwing and Johnny Quest as future projects).  Chris Pratt can do this kind of stuff in his sleep – Dan is his classic fallible and self-deprecating but ultimately solid and kind-hearted action hero fare, effortlessly likeable and easy to root for – and his supporting cast are equally solid, Strahovsky going toe-to-toe with him in the action sequences while also creating a rewardingly complex smart-woman/badass combo in Muri, while the other real standouts include Sam Richardson (Veep, Werewolves Within) and Edwin Hodge (The Purge movies) as fellow draftees Charlie and Dorian, the former a scared-out-of-his-mind tech geek while the latter is a seriously hardcore veteran serving his THIRD TOUR, and the ever brilliant J.K. Simmonds as Dan’s emotionally scarred estranged Vietnam-vet father, Jim.  Sure, it’s derivative as hell and thoroughly predictable (with more than one big twist you can see coming a mile away), but the pace is brisk, the atmosphere pregnant with a palpable doomed urgency, and the creatures themselves are a genuinely convincing world-ending threat, the design team and visual effects wizards creating genuine nightmare fuel in the feral and unrelenting Whitespikes.  Altogether this WAS an ideal way to spend a comfy Saturday night in, but I think it could have been JUST AS GOOD for a Saturday night OUT at the Pictures …

8.  ARMY OF THE DEAD – another high profile release that went straight to streaming was this genuine monster hit for Netflix from one of this century’s undeniable heavyweight action cinema masters, the indomitable Zack Snyder, who kicked off his career with an audience-dividing (but, as far as I’m concerned, ultimately MASSIVELY successful) remake of George Romero’s immortal Dawn of the Dead, and has finally returned to zombie horror after close to two decades away.  The end result is, undeniably, the biggest cinematic guilty pleasure of the entire summer, a bona fide outbreak horror EPIC in spite of its tightly focused story – Dave Bautista plays mercenary Scott Ward, leader a badass squad of soldiers of fortune who were among the few to escape a deadly outbreak of a zombie virus in the city of Las Vegas, enlisted to break into the vault of one of the Strip’s casinos by owner Bly Tanaka (a fantastically game turn from Hiroyuki Sanada) and rescue $200 million still locked away inside.  So what’s the catch?  Vegas remains ground zero for the outbreak, walled off from the outside world but still heavily infested within, and in less than three days the US military intends to sterilise the site with a tactical nuke.  Simple premise, down and dirty, trashy flick, right?  Wrong – Snyder has never believed in doing things small, having brought us unapologetically BIG cinema with the likes of 300, Watchmen, Man of Steel and, most notably, his version of Justice League, so this is another MASSIVE undertaking, every scene shot for maximum thrills or emotional impact, each set-piece executed with his characteristic militaristic precision and explosive predilection (a harrowing fight for survival against a freshly-awakened zombie horde in tightly packed casino corridors is the film’s undeniable highlight), and the gauzy, dreamlike cinematography gives even simple scenes an intriguing and evocative edge that really does make you feel like you’re watching something BIG.  The characters all feel larger-than-life too – Bautista can seem somewhat cartoonish at times, and this role definitely plays that as a strength, making Scott a rock-hard alpha male in the classic Hollywood mould, but he’s such a great actor that of course he’s able to invest the character with real rewarding complexity beneath the surface; Ana de la Reguera (Eastbound & Down) and Nora Arnezeder (Zoo, Mozart in the Jungle), meanwhile, both bring a healthy dose of oestrogen-fuelled badassery to proceedings as, respectively, Scott’s regular second-in-command, Maria Cruz, and Lilly the Coyote, Power’s Omari Hardwick and Matthias Schweighofer (You Are Wanted) make for a fun odd-couple double act as circular-saw-wielding merc Vanderohe and Dieter, the nervous, nerdy German safecracker brought in to crack the vault, and Fear the Walking Dead’s Garrett Dillahunt channels spectacular scumbag energy as Tanaka’s sleazy former casino boss Martin, while latecomer Tig Notaro (Star Trek Discovery) effortlessly rises above her last-minute-casting controversy to deliver brilliantly as sassy and acerbic chopper pilot Peters.  I think it goes without saying that Snyder can do this in his sleep, but he definitely wasn’t napping here – he pulled out all the stops on this one, delivering a thrilling, darkly comic and endearingly CRACKERS zombie flick that not only compares favourably to his own Dawn but is, undeniably, his best film for AGES.  Netflix certainly seem to be pleased with the results – a spinoff prequel, Army of Thieves, starring Dieter in another heist thriller, is set to drop in October, with an animated series following in the Spring, and there’s already rumours of a sequel in development.  I’m certainly up for more …

7.  BLACK WIDOW – no major blockbuster property was hit harder by COVID than the MCU, which saw its ENTIRE SLATE for 2020 delayed for over a year in the face of Marvel Studios bowing to the inevitability of the Pandemic and unwilling to sacrifice those all-important box-office receipts by just sending their films straight to streaming.  The most frustrating part for hardcore fans of the series was the delay of a standalone film that was already criminally overdue – the solo headlining vehicle of founding Avenger and bona fide female superhero ICON Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow.  Equally frustratingly, then, this film seems set to be overshadowed by real life controversy as star and producer Scarlett Johansson goes head-to-head with Disney in civil court over their breach-of-contract after they hedged their bets by releasing the film simultaneously in cinemas and on their own streaming platform, which has led to poor box office as many of the film’s potential audience chose to watch it at home instead of risk movie theatres with the virus still very much remaining a threat (and Disney have clearly reacted AGAIN, now backtracking on their release policy by instigating a new 45-day cinematic exclusivity window on all their big releases for the immediate future). But what of the film itself?  Well Black Widow is an interesting piece of work, director Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome) and screenwriter Eric Pearson (Thor: Ragnarok) delivering a decidedly stripped-back, lean and intellectual beast that bears greater resemblance to the more cerebral work of the Russo Brothers on their Captain America films than the more classically bombastic likes of Iron Man, Thor or the Avengers flicks, concentrating on story and characters over action and spectacle as we wind back the clock to before the events of Infinity War and Endgame, when Romanoff was on the run after Civil War, hunted by the government-appointed forces of US Secretary of State “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) after violating the Sokovia Accords.  Then a mysterious delivery throws her back into the fray as she finds herself targeted by a mysterious assassin, forcing her to team up with her estranged “sister” Yelena Belova (Midsommar’s Florence Pugh), another Black Widow who’s just gone rogue from the same Red Room Natasha escaped years ago, armed with a McGuffin capable of foiling a dastardly plot for world domination.  The reluctant duo need help in this endeavour though, enlisting the aid of their former “parents”, veteran Widow and scientist Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) and Alexie Shostakov (Stranger Things’ David Harbour), aka the Red Guardian, a Russian super-soldier intended to be their counterpart to Captain America, who’s been languishing in a Siberian gulag for the last twenty years. After the Earth-shaking, universe-changing events of recent MCU events, this film certainly feels like a much more self-contained, modest affair, playing for much smaller stakes, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less worthy of our attention – this is as precision-crafted as anything we’ve seen from Marvel so far, but it also feels like a refreshing change of pace after all those enormous cosmic shenanigans, while the script is as tight as a drum, propelling a taut, suspense-filled thriller that certainly doesn’t scrimp on the action front.  Sure, the set-pieces are very much in service of the story here, but they’re still the pre-requisite MCU rollercoaster rides, a selection of breathless chases and bone-crunching fights that really do play to the strengths of one of our favourite Avengers, but this is definitely one of those films where the real fireworks come when the film focuses on the characters – Johansson is so comfortable with her character she’s basically BECOME Natasha Romanoff, kickass and ruthless and complex and sassy and still just desperate for a family (though she hides it well throughout the film), while Weisz delivers one of her best performances in years as a peerless professional who keeps her emotions tightly reigned in but slowly comes to realise that she was never more happy than when she was pretending to be a simple mother, and Ray Winstone does a genuinely fantastic job of taking a character who could have been one of the MCU’s most disappointingly bland villains, General Dreykov, master of the Red Room, and investing him with enough oily charisma and intense presence to craft something truly memorable (frustratingly, the same cannot be said for the film’s supposed main physical threat, Taskmaster, who performs well in their frustratingly brief appearances but ultimately gets Darth Maul levels of short service).  The true scene-stealers in the film, however, are Alexie and Yelena – Harbour’s clearly having the time of his life hamming it up as a self-important, puffed-up peacock of a superhero who never got his shot and is clearly (rightly) decidedly bitter about it, preferring to relive the life he SHOULD have had instead of remembering the good in the one he got; Pugh, meanwhile, is THE BEST THING IN THE WHOLE MOVIE, easily matching Johanssen scene-for-scene in the action stakes but frequently out-performing her when it comes to acting, investing Yelena with a sweet naivety and innocence and a certain amount of quirky geekiness that makes for one of the year’s most endearing female protagonists (certainly one who, if the character goes the way I think she will, is thoroughly capable of carrying the torch for the foreseeable future).  In the end this is definitely one of the LEAST typical, by-the-numbers MCU films to date, and by delivering something a little different I think they’ve given us just the kind of leftfield swerve the series needs right now.  It’s certainly one of their most fascinating and rewarding films so far, and since it seems to be Johansson’s final tour of duty as the Black Widow, it’s also a most fitting farewell indeed.

6.  WRATH OF MAN – Guy Ritchie’s latest (regarded by many as a triumphant return to form, which I consider unfair since I don’t think he ever went away, especially after 2020’s spectacular The Gentlemen) is BY FAR his darkest film – let’s get this clear from the start.  Anyone who knows his work knows that Ritchie consistently maintains a near flawless balance and humour and seriousness in his films that gives them a welcome quirkiness that is one of his most distinctive trademarks, so for him to suddenly deliver a film which takes itself SO SERIOUSLY is one hell of a departure.  This is a film which almost REVELS in its darkness – Ritchie’s always loved bathing in man’s baser instincts, but Wrath of Man almost makes a kind of twisted VIRTUE out of wallowing in the genuine evils that men are capable of inflicting on each other.  The film certainly kicks off as it means to go on – In a tour-de-force single-shot opening, we watch a daring armoured car robbery on the streets of Los Angeles that goes horrifically wrong, an event which will have devastating consequences in the future.  Five months later, Fortico Security hires taciturn Brit Patrick Hill (Jason Statham) to work as a guard in one of their trucks, and on his first run he single-handedly foils another attempted robbery with genuinely uncanny combat skills. The company is thrilled, amazed by the sheer ability of their new hire, but Hill’s new colleagues are more concerned, wondering exactly what they’ve let themselves in for.  After a second foiled robbery, it becomes clear that Hill’s reputation has grown, but fellow guard Haiden (Holt McCallany), aka “Bullet”, begins to suspect there might be something darker going on … Ritchie is firing on all cylinders here, delivering a PERFECT slow-burn suspense thriller which plays its cards close to its chest and cranks up its piano wire tension with artful skill as it builds to a devastating, knuckle-whitening explosive heist that acts as a cathartic release for everything that’s built up over the past hour and a half.  In typical Ritchie style the narrative is non-linear, the story unfolding in four distinct parts told from clearly differentiated points of view, allowing the clues to be revealed at a trickle that effortlessly draws the viewer in as they fall deeper down the rabbit hole, leading to a harrowing but strangely poignant denouement which is perfectly in tune with everything that’s come before. It’s an immense pleasure finally getting to see Statham working with Ritchie again, and I don’t think he’s ever been better than he is here – he's always been a brilliantly understated actor, but there’s SO MUCH going on under Hill’s supposedly impenetrable calm that every little peek beneath the armour is a REVELATION; McCallany, meanwhile, has landed his best role since his short but VERY sweet supporting turn in Fight Club, seemingly likeable and fallible as the kind of easy-going co-worker anyone in the service industry would be THRILLED to have, but giving Bullet far more going on under the surface, while there are uniformly excellent performances from a top-shelf ensemble supporting cast which includes Josh Hartnett, Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice, Sicario), Andy Garcia, Laz Alonso (The Boys), Eddie Marsan, Niamh Algar (Raised By Wolves) and Darrell D’Silva (Informer, Domina), and a particularly edgy and intense turn from Scott Eastwood.  This is one of THE BEST thrillers of the year, by far, a masterpiece of mood, pace and plot that ensnares the viewer from its gripping opening and hooks them right up to the close, a triumph of the genre and EASILY Guy Ritchie’s best film since Snatch.  Regardless of whether or not it’s a RETURN to form, we can only hope he continues to deliver fare THIS GOOD in the future …

5.  FEAR STREET (PARTS 1-3) – Netflix have gotten increasingly ambitious with their original filmmaking over the years, and some of this years’ offerings have reached new heights of epic intention.  Their most exciting release of the summer was this adaptation of popular children’s horror author R.L. Stine’s popular book series, a truly gargantuan undertaking as the filmmakers set out to create an entire TRILOGY of films which were then released over three consecutive weekends.  Interestingly, these films are most definitely NOT for kids – this is proper, no-holds-barred supernatural slasher horror, delivering highly calibrated shocks and precision jump scares, a pervading atmosphere of insidious dread and a series of inventively gruesome kills.  The story revolves around two neighbouring small towns which have had vastly different fortunes over more than three centuries of existence – while the residents of Sunnyvale are unusually successful, living idyllic lives in peace and prosperity, luck has always been against the people of Shadyside, who languish in impoverishment, crime and misfortune, while the town has become known as the Murder Capital of the USA due to frequent spree killings.  Some attribute this to the supposed curse of a local urban legend, Sarah Fier, who became known as the Fier Witch after her execution for witchcraft in 1668, but others dismiss this as simple superstition.  Part 1 is set in 1994, as the latest outbreak of serial mayhem begins in Shadyside, dragging a small group of local teens – Deena Johnson (She Never Died’s Kiana Madeira) and Samantha Fraser (Olivia Scott Welch), a young lesbian couple going through a difficult breakup, Deena’s little brother Josh (The Haunted Hathaways’ Benjamin Flores Jr.), a nerdy history geek who spends most of his time playing video games or frequenting violent crime-buff online chatrooms, and their delinquent friends Simon (Eight Grade’s Fred Hechinger) and Kate (Julia Rehwald) – into the age-old ghostly conspiracy as they find themselves besieged by indestructible undead serial killers from the town’s past, reasoning that the only way they can escape with their lives is to solve the mystery and bring the Fier Witch some much needed closure.  Part 2, meanwhile, flashes back to a previous outbreak in 1977, in which local sisters Ziggy (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink) and Cindy Berman (Emily Rudd), together with future Sunnyvale sheriff Nick Goode (Ted Sutherland) were among the kids hunted by said killers during a summer camp “colour war”.  As for Part 3, that goes all the way back to 1668 to tell the story of what REALLY happened to Sarah Fier, before wrapping up events in 1994, culminating in a terrifying, adrenaline-fuelled showdown in the Shadyside Mall.  Throughout, the youthful cast are EXCEPTIONAL, Madeira, Welch, Flores Jr., Sink and Rudd particularly impressing, while there are equally strong turns from Ashley Zuckerman (The Code, Designated Survivor) and Community’s Gillian Jacobs as the grown-up versions of two key ’77 kids, and a fun cameo from Maya Hawke in Part 1.  This is most definitely retro horror in the Stranger Things mould, perfectly executed period detail bringing fun nostalgic flavour to all three of the timelines while the peerless direction from Leigh Janiak (Honeymoon) and wire-tight, sharp-witted screenplays from Janiak, Kyle Killen (Lone Star, The Beaver), Phil Graziadel, Zak Olkewicz and Kate Trefry strike a perfect balance between knowing dark humour and knife-edged terror, as well as weaving an intriguingly complex narrative web that pulls the viewer in but never loses them to overcomplication.  The design, meanwhile, is evocative, the cinematography (from Stanger Things’ Caleb Heymann) is daring and magnificently moody, and the killers and other supernatural elements of the film are handled with skill through largely physical effects.  This is definitely not a standard, by-the-numbers slasher property, paying strong homage to the sub-genre’s rules but frequently subverting them with expert skill, and it’s as much fun as it is frightening.  Give us some more like this please, Netflix!

4.  THE SPARKS BROTHERS – those who’ve been following my reviews for a while will known that while I do sometimes shout about documentary films, they tend to show up in my runners-up lists – it’s a great rarity for one to land in one of my top tens.  This lovingly crafted deep-dive homage to cult band Sparks, from self-confessed rabid fanboy Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim), is something VERY SPECIAL INDEED, then … there’s a vague possibility some of you may have heard the name before, and many of you will know at least one or two of their biggest hits without knowing it was them (their greatest hit of all time, This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us, immediately springs to mind), but unless you’re REALLY serious about music it’s quite likely you have no idea who they are, namely two brothers from California, Russell and Ronald Mael, who formed a very sophisticated pop-rock band in the late 60s and then never really went away, having moments of fame but mostly working away in the background and influencing some of the greatest bands and musical artists that followed them, even if many never even knew where that influence originally came from. Wright’s film is an engrossing joy from start to finish (despite clocking in at two hours and twenty minutes), following their eclectic career from obscure inception as Halfnelson, through their first real big break with third album Kimono My Place, subsequent success and then fall from popularity in the mid-70s, through several subsequent revitalisations, all the way up to the present day with their long-awaited cinematic breakthrough, revolutionary musical feature Annette – throughout Wright keeps the tone light and the pace breezy, allowing a strong and endearing sense of irreverence to rule the day as fans, friends and the brothers themselves offer up fun anecdotes and wax lyrical about what is frequently a larger-than-life tragicomic soap opera, utilising fun, crappy animation and idiosyncratic stock footage inserts alongside talking-head interviews that were made with a decidedly tongue-in-cheek style – Mike Myers good-naturedly rants about how we can see his “damned mole” while 80s New Romantic icons Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, while shot together, are each individually labelled as “Duran”.  Ron and Russ themselves, meanwhile, are clearly having huge fun, gently ribbing each other and dropping some fun deadpan zingers throughout proceedings, easily playing to the band’s strong, idiosyncratic sense of hyper-intelligent humour, while the aforementioned celebrity talking-heads are just three amongst a whole wealth of famous faces that may surprise you – there’s even an appearance by Neil Gaiman, guys!  Altogether this is 2+ hours of bright and breezy fun chock full of great music and fascinating information, and even hardcore Sparks fans are likely to learn more than a little over the course of the film, while for those who have never heard of Sparks before it’s a FANTASTIC introduction to one of the greatest ever bands that you’ve never heard of.  With luck there might even be more than a few new fans before the year is out …

3.  GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE – Netflix’ BEST offering of the summer was this surprise hit from Israeli writer-director Navot Papushado (Rabies, Big Bad Wolves), a heavily stylised black comedy action thriller that passes the Bechdel Test with FLYING COLOURS.  Playing like a female-centric John Wick, it follows ice-cold, on-top-of-her-game assassin Sam (Karen Gillan) as her latest assignment has some unfortunate side effects, leading her to take on a reparation job to retrieve some missing cash for the local branch of the Irish Mob.  The only catch is that a group of thugs have kidnapped the original thief’s little girl, 12 year-old Emily (My Spy’s Chloe Coleman), and Sam, in an uncharacteristic moment of sympathy, decides to intervene, only for the money to be accidentally destroyed in the process.  Now she’s got the Mob and her own employers coming after her, and she not only has to save her own skin but also Emily’s, leading her to seek help from the one person she thought she might never see again – her mother, Scarlet (Lena Headey), a master assassin in her own right who’s been hiding from the Mob herself for years.  The plot may be simple but at times also a little over-the-top, but the film is never anything less than a pure, unadulterated pleasure, populated with fascinating, living and breathing characters of real complexity and nuance, while the script (co-written by relative newcomer Ehud Lavski) is tightly-reined and bursting with zingers.  Most importantly, though, Papushado really delivers on the action front – these are some of the best set-pieces I’ve seen this year, Gillan, her co-stars and the various stunt-performers acquitting themselves admirably in a series of spectacular fights, gun battles and a particularly imaginative car chase that would be the envy of many larger, more expensive productions.  Gillan and Coleman have a sweet, awkward chemistry, the MCU star particularly impressing in a subtly nuanced performance that also plays beautifully against Headey’s own tightly controlled turn, while there is awesome support from Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino as Sam’s adoptive aunts Anna May, Florence and Madeleine, a trio of “librarians” who run a fine side-line in illicit weaponry and are capable of unleashing some spectacular violence of their own; the film’s antagonists, on the other hand, are exclusively masculine – the mighty Ralph Inneson is quietly ruthless as Irish boss Jim McAlester, while The Terror’s Adam Nagaitis is considerably more mercurial as his mad dog nephew Virgil, and Paul Giamatti is the stately calm at the centre of the storm as Sam’s employer Nathan, the closest thing she has to a father.  There’s so much to enjoy in this movie, not just the wonderful characters and amazing action but also the singularly engrossing and idiosyncratic style, deeply affecting themes of the bonds of found family and the healing power of forgiveness, and a rewarding through-line of strong women triumphing against the brutalities of toxic masculinity.  I love this film, and I invite you to try it out, cuz I’m sure you will too.

2.  THE SUICIDE SQUAD – the most fun I’ve had at the cinema so far this year is the long-awaited (thanks a bunch, COVID) redress of another frustrating imbalance from the decidedly hit and miss DCEU superhero franchise, in which Guardians of the Galaxy writer-director James Gunn has finally delivered a PROPER Suicide Squad movie after David Ayer’s painfully compromised first stab at the property back in 2016.  That movie was enjoyable enough and had some great moments, but ultimately it was a clunky mess, and while some of the characters were done (quite) well, others were painfully botched, even ruined entirely.  Thankfully Warner Bros. clearly learned their lesson, giving Gunn free reign to do whatever he wanted, and the end result is about as close to perfect as the DCEU has come to date.  Once again the peerless Viola Davis plays US government official Amanda Waller, head of ARGUS and the undisputable most evil bitch in all the DC Universe, who presides over the metahuman prisoners of the notorious supermax Belle Reve Prison, cherry-picking inmates for her pet project Taskforce X, the titular Suicide Squad sent out to handle the kind of jobs nobody else wants, in exchange for years off their sentences but controlled by explosive implants injected into the base of their skulls.  Their latest mission sees another motley crew of D-bags dispatched to the fictional South African island nation of Corto Maltese to infiltrate Jotunheim, a former Nazi facility in which a dangerous extra-terrestrial entity that’s being developed into a fearful bioweapon, with orders to destroy the project in order to keep it out of the hands of a hostile anti-American regime which has taken control of the island through a violent coup.  Where the first Squad felt like a clumsily-arranged selection of stereotypes with a few genuinely promising characters unsuccessfully moulded into a decidedly forced found family, this new batch are convincingly organic – they may be dysfunctional and they’re all almost universally definitely BAD GUYS, but they WORK, the relationship dynamics that form between them feeling genuinely earned.  Gunn has already proven himself a master of putting a bunch of A-holes together and forging them into band of “heroes”, and he’s certainly pulled the job off again here, dredging the bottom of the DC Rogues Gallery for its most ridiculous Z-listers and somehow managing to make them compelling.  Sure, returning Squad-member Harley Quinn (the incomparable Margot Robbie, magnificent as ever) has already become a fully-realised character thanks to Birds of Prey, so there wasn’t much heavy-lifting to be done here, but Gunn genuinely seems to GET the character, so our favourite pixie-esque Agent of Chaos is an unbridled and thoroughly unpredictable joy here, while fellow veteran Colonel Rick Flagg (a particularly muscular and thoroughly game Joel Kinnaman) has this time received a much needed makeover, Gunn promoting him from being the first film’s sketchily-drawn “Captain Exposition” and turning him into a fully-ledged, well-thought-out human being with all the requisite baggage, including a newfound sense of humour; the newcomers, meanwhile, are a thoroughly fascinating bunch – reluctant “leader” Bloodsport/Robert DuBois (a typically robust and playful Idris Elba), unapologetic douchebag Peacemaker/Christopher Smith (probably the best performance I’ve EVER seen John Cena deliver), and socially awkward and seriously hard-done-by nerd (and by far the most idiotic DC villain of all time) the Polka-Dot Man/Abner Krill (a genuinely heart-breaking hangdog performance from Ant-Man’s David Dastmalchian); meanwhile there’s a fine trio of villainous turns from the film’s resident Big Bads, with Juan Diego Botta (Good Behaviour) and Joaquin Cosio (Quantum of Solace, Narcos: Mexico) making strong impressions as newly-installed dictator Silvio Luna and his corrupt right hand-man General Suarez, although both are EASILY eclipsed by the typically brilliant Peter Capaldi as louche and quietly deranged supervillain The Thinker/Gaius Greives (although the film’s ULTIMATE threat turns out to be something a whole lot bigger and more exotic). The film is ROUNDLY STOLEN, however, by a truly adorable double act (or TRIPLE act, if you want to get technical) – Daniella Melchior makes her breakthrough here in fine style as sweet, principled and kind-hearted narcoleptic second-generation supervillain Ratcatcher II/Cleo Cazo, who has the weird ability to control rats (and who has a pet rat named Sebastian who frequently steals scenes all on his own), while a particular fan-favourite B-lister makes his big screen debut here in the form of King Shark/Nanaue, a barely sentient anthropomorphic Great White “shark god” with an insatiable appetite for flesh and a naturally quizzical nature who was brilliantly mo-capped by Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Project, who also plays Waller’s hyperactive assistant John Economos) but then artfully completed with an ingenious vocal turn from Sylvester Stallone. James Gunn has crafted an absolute MASTERPIECE here, EASILY the best film he’s made to date, a riotous cavalcade of exquisitely observed and perfectly delivered dark humour and expertly wrangled narrative chaos that has great fun playing with the narrative flow, injects countless spot-on in-jokes and irreverent but utterly essential throwaway sight-gags, and totally endears us to this glorious gang of utter morons right from the start (in which Gunn delivers what has to be one of the most skilful deep-fakes in cinematic history).  Sure, there’s also plenty of action, and it’s executed with the kind of consummate skill we’ve now come to expect from Gunn (the absolute highlight is a wonderfully bonkers sequence in which Harley expertly rescues herself from captivity), but like everything else it’s predominantly played for laughs, and there’s no getting away from the fact that this film is an absolute RIOT.  By far the funniest thing I’ve seen so far this year, and if I’m honest this is the best of the DCEU offerings to date, too (for me, only the exceptional Birds of Prey can compare) – if Warner Bros. have any sense they’ll give Gunn more to do VERY SOON …

1.  A QUIET PLACE, PART II – while UK cinemas finally reopened in early May, I was determined that my first trip back to the Big Screen for 2021 was gonna be something SPECIAL, and indeed I already knew what that was going to be. Thankfully I was not disappointed by my choice – 2018’s A Quiet Place was MY VERY FAVOURITE horror movie of the 2010s, an undeniable masterclass in suspense and sustained screen terror wrapped around a refreshingly original killer concept, and I was among the many fans hoping we’d see more in the future, especially after the film’s teasingly open ending.  Against the odds (or perhaps not), writer-director/co-star John Krasinski has pulled off the seemingly impossible task of not only following up that high-wire act, but genuinely EQUALLING it in levels of quality – picking up RIGHT where the first film left off (at least after an AMAZING scene-setting opening in which we’re treated to the events of Day 1 of the downfall of humanity), rejoining the remnants of the Abbott family as they’re forced by circumstances to up-sticks from their idyllic farmhouse home and strike out into the outside world once more, painfully aware at all times that they must maintain perfect silence to avoid the ravenous attentions of the lethal blind alien beasties that now sit at the top of the food chain.  Circumstances quickly become dire, however, and embattled mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) is forced to ally herself with estranged family friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy), now a haunted, desperate vagrant eking out a perilous existence in an abandoned factory, in order to safeguard the future of her children Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and their newborn baby brother.  Regan, however, discovers evidence of more survivors, and with her newfound weapon against the aliens she recklessly decides to set off on her own in the hopes of aiding them before it’s too late … it may only be his second major blockbuster as a director, but Krasinski has once again proven he’s a true heavyweight talent, effortlessly carving out fresh ground in this already magnificently well-realised dystopian universe while also playing magnificently to the established strengths of what came before, delivering another peerless thrill-ride of unbearable tension and knuckle-whitening terror.  The central principle of utilising sound at a very strict premium is once again strictly adhered to here, available sources of dialogue once again exploited with consummate skill while sound design and score (another moody triumph from Marco Beltrami) again become THE MOST IMPORTANT aspects of the whole production. The ruined world is once again realised beautifully throughout, most notably in the nightmarish environment of a wrecked commuter train, and Krasinski cranks up the tension before unleashing it in merciless explosions in a selection of harrowing encounters which guaranteed to leave viewers in a puddle of sweat.  The director mostly stays behind the camera this time round, but he does (obviously) put in an appearance in the opening flashback as the late Lee Abbott, making a potent impression which leaves a haunting absence that’s keenly felt throughout the remainder of the film, while Blunt continues to display mother lion ferocity as she fights to keep her children safe and Jupe plays crippling fear magnificently but is now starting to show a hidden spine of steel as Marcus finally starts to find his courage; the film once again belongs, however, to Simmonds, the young deaf actress once and for all proving she’s a genuine star in the making as she invests Regan with fierce wilfulness and stubborn determination that remains unshakeable even in the face of unspeakable horrors, and the relationship she develops with Emmett, reluctant as it may be, provides a strong new emotional focus for the story, Murphy bringing an attractive wounded humanity to his role as a man who’s lost anything and is being forced to learn to care for something again.  This is another triumph of the genre AND the artform in general, a masterpiece of atmosphere, performance and storytelling which builds magnificently on the skilful foundations laid by the first film, as well as setting things up perfectly for a third instalment which is all but certain to follow.  I definitely can’t wait.

[page150]

The Potion 🔮🧪Ruby Martinez x Reader

Request: None 

Pronouns: They/Them 

Word Count: 1633

Warnings: None :) 

Ruby frowned as, from across the classroom,  he watched Monse laugh loudly at your misfortune. The only thing worse than Monse’s humor was that it happened to include you. It wasn’t your fault that everything that you were having to read aloud happened to be a bit inappropriate. Ruby watched you read a line in the directions and gasp, causing Monse to laugh even harder. Your cheeks turn red as you tried to explain that you needed to add 10 grams of butt-ring to the f-hole of the bottle. 

“They're so cute when they blush.” Ruby thought, resting his head on his hand. He closed his eyes and imagined telling you a compliment that would make you blush even harder. With a sigh he dived more into his imagination, before his lab partner interrupted his thoughts.

“If you don’t focus on this potion I am never speaking to you again Ruby!” yelled Jamal, “Look at all this!” He waved his hands over the mess they had created on the table. It was covered in bottles, feathers, and stained notes. Sitting in a large pot in the middle of the table was supposed to be the potion they had spent weeks learning. 

“This is the last chance for me to get my grade up in Potions 1. If I don’t pass, my dad is going to make me study all week after watching me ‘play’ football. So unless y/n is going to finish this, stop looking at them!”

“Why don’t you finish it then?” Ruby argued, “I wrote the notes, the least you can do is follow them.”

“Because I have a sprained wrist!” said Jamal, pointing at the fake cast.

 Ruby groaned and placed the goggles over his eyes. He pushed Jamal out of the way and began to add in the rest of the ingredients. Slowly he poured the lake water and juice of liptenberries together. Then he added the mixture to the dry ingredients that Jamal had already prepared. 

The last step was to say the activation words and then the mixture should form into a type of drink. Ruby lifted up a page of his notes and began to read the words. 

“Rubat tey aviant day should not kae in does-” Ruby started. He looked over and saw your and Monse’s potion spilling over. Seemingly about to burn your arm as it was close to the edge of the pot. 

“Y/N your potion!” yelled Ruby. 

You turn around quickly and back away from the pot. Monse works on turning off the stove while you add some more lake water to the potion. Luckily it goes down. 

Ruby, satisfied with saving you, looks down at his and Jamal’s potion and smiles. He sees that it looks and smells exactly like what it was supposed too. Jamal reaches up and with the wrist that had the cast on, gives him a high five. 

Jamal packages up some of the potion to give to the teacher. Ruby looks up and feels his hands start to get clammy as you and Monse get near his table. 

“Thanks for the heads up, Ruby.” You said sitting down at one of the open chairs at the table. 

“Yeah, I didn’t add enough lake water but y/n knew what to do.” said Monse wrapping an arm around you. 

“You’re welcome y/n,” Ruby stuttered. Looking into your eyes with the sweat from the googles around them was incredibly distracting. “Do you guys uh want to try the potion?” 

Monse laughed, “Well I know you did it right... Jamal, not so much?” 

“What!” said Jamal. “When I find Honeycraft’s hidden spell book you’ll all know how intelligent I am. Thank you so very much”. 

“How many times do I have to tell you Honeycraft didn’t have a spell book?” 

“She did and it’s more important than any potion we’ll make in this class.” 

You and Ruby laughed at Jamal and Monse’s bickering. “I trust you Ruby,” You answered, “pour me a glass. If everything goes well I should be able to speak different languages!”

Ruby nodded and shakily poured a small glass of the potion. He handed it to you and with a smile you drank all of it. It was supposed to taste faintly of seaweed but instead it tasted like strawberries. 

“It tastes like strawberries?” You questioned. 

With that Jamal and Monse stopped bickering and turned to you. 

“Strawberries?” said Ruby. 

“Did you make this correctly?” You asked, you felt a headache start and your heart started beating fast. You rested your head in your hands and tried to calm the pain. 

“Y/n, Y/n? Are you okay?” Ruby asked. Monse gave you a hug and Jamal went to find the teacher. 

“Ruby what did you do?” Monse yelled. 

Ruby felt like he had been slapped. He was hurting the person he cared about the most. He racked through his brain and then realized his mistake. 

“I-I,” Ruby stuttered, “I didn’t end the activation correctly. It was supposed to be ‘Rubat tey aviant day should not kae in does lae tae’ but instead of ‘lae tae’ I said y/n”. 

“Why would you say her name?” Monse yelled. 

“You guys were going to get burned! I had to warn you.” 

You picked your hands up from the table and suddenly started to blush. 

“Y/n? Y/n? Are you okay? Why are your cheeks warm? Jamal’s getting the teacher.” Monse rambled. 

You felt a smile dance on your lips. 

“Wow Ruby, have you always been so handsome, it’s like you're glowing.” You giggled. 

---------

You had been at the infirmary for a few hours and luckily it looked like you would be fine. The only problem was that apparently Ruby’s language potion got turned into a love potion because of how he said the activation words and now you had to wait 7 hours until it wore off.

 Technically it was the teacher’s fault for not supervising no one was in big trouble. Even though this was unplanned Ruby was positive that this was the best day ever. He happily walked down the halls holding your hand in his. With Jamal, Monse, and now Caesar walking behind, Ruby finally felt like he was the king. He decided that this was the perfect time to go on one of the many dates that he had planned. 

“I’m a little worried for him,” Caesar whispered, “He knows y/n isn’t going to be like this forever, right? I want the best for Ruby, but the only reason they are like this is because of the potion.” 

“Yeah,” Jamal whispered back, “but you see the way he looks at them. Even if Ruby hadn’t said their name during the activation he probably would have knocked over the potion running to open the door for them if they had gone to the bathroom. He knows his boundaries, lets just let him have this.” 

For once, Monse agreed and the group headed out of the school building. The rest of the day was spent at Ruby’s dorm room. While Jamal, Caesar, and Monse observed, you and Ruby watched movies. He gave you food and loads of compliments. You kissed his cheek and laughed at his jokes, no matter how corny they were.

 The group spent the rest of the day there and soon it got dark. 

After eating the wings Caesar ordered everyone fell asleep in random sections of the room. Luckily Ruby’s roommate wasn’t there.

Jamal fell asleep in the tub, and Monse and Caesar laid together in Ruby’s bed. You laid next to Ruby in front of the TV. A random show was on and Ruby played with your fingers. He looked over at you, seemingly asleep. 

“The potion should have worn off by now.” Ruby softly spoke, “ Is it bad that I wish it would last a little longer? I know you don’t really feel this way, but spending all this time with you has been so amazing. I want to be with you y/n. I want to hold your hand and kiss your cheek. I want to have study dates. I want to cast spells with you. I want you so bad it’s torture.” 

The whole room felt silent and heavy. He pulled the blanket that was covering you so that it rested under your chin. He had thought of giving you this blanket for your birthday. 

“If you wanted to be with me, why didn’t you tell me? I really like you Ruby.” You whispered, rubbing your eyes and letting out a small yawn. Ruby looked at you puzzled. 

“You don’t mean that.” Ruby sighed, “Any moment now, the potion will wear off. I’m really sorry y/n.”

“It wore off already dum dum,” You replied.

“What! When?” 

“Like two hours ago, when the wings came. I didn’t really know what was happening, but when I came you started holding my hand so I just played along.” 

“So you just let me act weird to you? How embarrassing…” 

You laughed and squeezed his hand. 

“And miss the chance to cuddle with the Ruben Martinez, I could never.” You joked. 

Ruby laughed too and took the opportunity to put his arm around your shoulders. 

“So what are we, are we dating?” Ruby asked.

“Do you want to date?”

“Only if you want to date me.” 

“So, you do want to date me?”

“Ruby, how many of your potions will I have to take for you to believe me. I want to date you.” 

Ruby smiled and lifted your chin with his finger. 

“Well, Snow White, can you forgive me for poisoning you with an apology kiss?” 

You giggled and started to lean in, “That’s fine by me.”

Authors Note: This is my first story and I hoped yall enjoyed it! I hope I can improve on my next one which should be out soon. Some playlists will be posted soon and remember requests are open! I hope you have a wonderful day ~ k 

[katie-writes24]

I’ll Be Your Safe Place

Pairing: Ruben Marcado x reader

Warnings: Language, suggestive material, mentions of sex, hurt/comfort, two insecure confused fools, violence, Ian Price, Jason Cole, angst, and lots of sad Ruben.

Part 1

This was not supposed to be a continuation...buuuut, here we are. This is a sequel to ‘I’ll Be Your Escape.’ I honestly got whiplash writing this so I hope you all enjoy! Ruben deserves everything, especially more content. Let me know if you want to be tagged. Leave some feedback! Thank you @tinywhim for your constant encouragement! Enjoy!

“Does it hurt?”

“Not really.”

“Then why are you pulling back?”

“It’s just…” Ruben lowered his head, as if in shame and bit the inside of his cheek. His sweaters comforted him, they definitely hid the lines on his forearm that Y/N slowly ran her fingertips over. He was sort of glad she didn’t see them before. No matter how much guilt filled his stomach when he looked at them, he couldn’t help but shiver at the small touch she was currently giving him. 

“It still kinda shakes me up,” She looked confused, so Ruben cleared his throat and took a breath. “I was thrown around like that in high school, you know. There were always bullies, but this. When he ran his fingers in my blood… I was scared that it would be so much worse than it was.”

Y/N dropped her hands for a moment, and Ruben could see the tears in her eyes. 

“It hurt. I didn’t try to resist, I couldn’t,” He chuckled as he thought about it. “Guess that’s kind of pathetic, right?”

“Not pathetic. No, Ruben, you’re not pathetic. Please understand that it wasn’t your fault. Please? I need you to understand that Ruben.” Y/N held his face so softly that Ruben felt his eyes shut. He was so tired, it was all so overwhelming. 

“I need you to say it.”

Ruben blinked and shook his head, “Say what?”

“That it wasn’t your fault.”

He didn’t understand. 

Jason came up to him and asked about his work. He seemed genuinely interested, asking questions and writing down little notes. He asked Ruben for a small favor, asked if he knew about certain aspects of the brain. Ruben was just a chemist, but he learned a lot in college, and what Jason asked of him was a bit extreme. It certainly wasn’t the small favor he asked for years ago. 

But Jason asked so kindly, always visiting Ruben in his office every day. Jason looked at Ruben so differently, like he was some blessing that came from the sky. It made Ruben feel warm, it made him feel good. He’s never been paid that much attention before he met Jason. 

Jason asked a lot. He kept Ruben working long nights, took a lot of his time away from his real work. The doctor told him so many things that he made sound like a promise, but was just an act. 

Jason got him into this mess. Jason got him hurt. 

Ian damaged him. He carved his skin, gagged him up and made him feel so small. Ian made him feel useless, stupid. A coward. Ian dragged him to a club all as a pawn just to get on his ‘good’ side. Just so he could get into his head and tell him theories that sounded insane. 

And for a time, Ruben believed that he would continue this cycle of insecurity and pain. 

He was sure that night at the warehouse would be his last day alive. 

Then he met Y/N, and he’s never felt so….

Well, Y/N drew Ruben into a feeling he never knew was there. 

He could see how gorgeous she was, obviously. She caught his attention as soon as he saw her, hanging in the shadows while everyone around them got higher than the clouds. Ian had told him that she was a bit shy, but as soon as he had her in a room, Ruben seemed to be the shy one. 

It was an unforgettable experience. He still remembers the way she whispered his name, remembers her legs shaking around his head as she came. He remembers her looking at him with bright eyes, remembers her praising him. 

He remembers feeling on top of the world. 

Ruben didn’t think he’d ever lose his virginity at the age he did, certainly not in a slimy room in a warehouse filled with even slimier people. But he certainly didn’t think he’d meet someone like Y/N there, either. 

Y/N was kind to him, never judging him. In that small amount of time that he was with her, he felt like he was being heard. Even after he shut her accusations down, she still spoke to him with such sincerity. 

He would have never thought they were so alike. 

They both were birds trapped in a cage, looking for an escape but every turn led to the same place. Half of him didn’t even want to know what the girl had gone through, the other half wishes he could just hold her in his arms and never let go. He barely even knew her, but he was so lucky to have her.

And it made him realize that he shouldn’t have her. He often wondered if he would feel so in danger if he hadn’t made any face-to-face contact with Ian that night in the elevator, if he walked away from Jason when he yelled at him about selling Blackout, if he did sell Blackout. Well, Ruben would probably be in the sun in Jamaica right now, not a care in the world. 

Instead he sits on a bed in the smallest apartment he’s ever seen with Y/N across from him, looking at Ruben with such care. She’s holding his face gently, not like he could break, but with a grounding touch. And looking at her makes him think about every decision he made all over again.

So how can Ruben lie and say that it wasn’t his fault? He kept helping Jason, he made the drug. 

“Ruben?”

He looked into her eyes, which were wide in concern. Her thumb was caressing his cheek and he could melt from the simple act. 

“I…I don’t know if I can.”

“What?”

“I mean it when I say it’s complicated. But I just...I did something, that I shouldn’t have done in the first place. I pissed Ian off and if I hadn’t then maybe I wouldn’t have these sca-”

“Ruben, please listen to me. What Ian did to you was not your fault. And- and maybe I don’t know what exactly happened, but I know you couldn’t have done anything that would make this your fault.” Her voice cracked and his heart shattered. 

If only she knew the full story. 

Ruben’s silence had caused her some sort of frustration, and Y/N lowered her hands and hesitated before asking, “What do I need to do to prove it to you?”

“No, Y/N, it’s not like that, it’s…I don’t know. Maybe I’ll believe it one day, but I just can’t right now, and I don’t think there’s anything you could say to make it better.”

The woman shook in front of him, and he felt a little guilty. But it was the truth. It was a situation she couldn’t control, not with words, not with actions. 

“I’m sorry,” Ruben took her hand in his, rubbing her knuckles slowly. “Does that make me a bad person?”

“No, I understand what you mean. I’m sorry I pushed, I just...it’s not fair. It’s not fair that you have to feel this way.”

There was nothing more to say, Ruben wanted to change the subject. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and moved to kiss her cheek. He kept his lips planted on her skin for a few extra seconds, and he felt Y/N lean into the touch. 

Eventually, Ruben leaned his head on her shoulder, enjoying the contact. Y/N was playing with his fingers, gradually moving up his arms and tracing over his scars again. 

He wondered if she would ever just let it be, like how he currently is. That’s how he’s coping, because how could he blame Ian when he took him to an amazing party where he met an amazing girl?

But Y/N lifted his arm to her lips and pressed the most delicate kisses against the lines. 

They stayed like that for a while, moving back and forth between different spots. They always ended up in each other’s arms, and when Ruben felt his eyes drifting shut when Y/N ran her fingers through his hair, he cleared his throat. 

“I should go.”

“You could stay.”

But it wasn’t like that. 

They’d seen each other three times since that night. Ruben had been ignoring Jason’s and Ian’s calls for days, and he was only just going back to work tomorrow. He knew that neither of them would be happy, and he probably shouldn’t care what either of them think, it serves them right. 

But that’s not the person Ruben is. He can see himself getting right back into routine in a matter of days all because Jason will say his name in a pleading voice. 

Y/N gave him an address, not her phone number because it’d be too risky. She spent most of the time tending to Oz’s beckoncall, but on the rare occasion that there was no huge party, she stayed in this small flat. 

She told Ruben she was comfortable here. She trusted Ruben with that. 

But they weren’t a thing. He didn’t stay. 

“I have work tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

Her arms grew tighter around him.

“Does Ian bother you at work?”

Ruben snorted, “Kinda, yeah.”

She just shook her head to herself, letting Ruben go and bringing her knees up to hug her body. Before Ruben could feel hurt from the treatment, he couldn’t help but notice that she looked so small. 

“Y/N-”

“It’s not fair.” She whispered, running a hand over her face. Ruben would agree, but again, she doesn’t know the whole story. This was just the way things were for now.

He reached out his hand and she kissed the center of his palm before standing up and wrapping herself around him once again. And Ruben did the same.

Because now that he’s got a taste of Y/N’s affection, something caring, physical, and emotionally soothing, it was like a drug.

“When can I see you again?” Y/N whispered softly against his neck.

Ruben didn’t know if he’d still be alive tomorrow, it all depended on how pissed he made the two men. 

“Soon,” He kissed her forehead as she clung to him. “I promise.” Y/N tilted her head up and tilted his chin down with her finger. She kissed him softly before sucking his bottom lip. 

With one final kiss, Ruben stood up, and it felt like he was being ripped apart. It was an odd feeling. 

“You should sleep, sun’s coming up soon.” His soft hand ran over her forehead as she laid down in the bed. In a way it felt domestic, it felt right. 

He hoped it wasn’t just his previous lack of physical affection, and that he was actually starting to have feelings for Y/N. 

“You made me tired, with all your fancy talk on being some doctor.” Y/N’s eyes were closed but she smiled when Ruben giggled. 

“I’m a chemist, boring people is what I do.”

“Shut up.” Y/N reached out to shove him but missed, and Ruben had second thoughts about leaving. But he fought through, because if he ever wanted to run away with her, he would have to get out of here and go to work. He would have to be patient. 

As Ruben looked for his shirt, Y/N sighed deeply behind him. “Has anyone told you that you have the nicest ass?”

Ruben choked on his own spit. 

“I-uh, no, heh, no. That’s a not a normal conversation starter for me, no.” 

Y/N giggled and got up from the bed, walking towards him slowly as he fumbled with the fabric in his hand. Ruben swallowed as she pulled on his belt loops. 

He knew that he could stare into her eyes forever; now that he’s thinking of it, he was probably hypnotized the first day they met. It felt like time stopped when he’s tired into those bright, yet dark orbs.

Y/N’s nose grazed his as her hands moved to frame his ass, and Ruben let out a shaky breath. It was quite the feeling. 

She chuckled, “What? That too much?”

He shook his head, “No, it’s...it’s nice.”

Y/N hummed and paused for a moment. She squeezed both cheeks as she stared into his eyes, and Ruben felt his face heat up. 

“Would you ever let me fuck you?”

“Christ, Y/N.”

His mouth easily fell into hers, moving with rhythm that seemed so easy. When Y/N pulled back, she smiled cockily before turning to walk back to the bed, tucking herself under the covers like she didn’t just easily give Ruben a boner from her words. 

“I hope you’re satisfied with yourself.”

“Oh I am, thank you,” Y/N smiled before throwing him a kiss. “Sweet dreams.”

~~~

It was overwhelming how quickly Ruben got attached to Y/N. Maybe it was from the way she would whisper in his ear stories from her past, or how she would kiss his forehead during moments of vulnerability. Maybe it was the way she smiled, blushed when Ruben complimented her. Maybe it was the way she was so genuine when giving Ruben praises, so honest. Whatever the reason was, it made it more difficult that Ruben couldn’t send a quick text to see how her day was going, or even ramble about his own.

Like right now, as he sat listening to the endless amount of voicemails left from the one number that made his blood boil. From the two people who asked so much of him.

Nothing was working, a screen staring at him that only showed a negative. Nothing was working. 

“Ruben, where the hell have you been?”

It was a cycle. 

Maybe he should have known that this was what it would always be like, that Jason wouldn’t give a shit about him, not unless he stepped a foot outside this hospital, and at that point, Ruben must be insane to do so. He wouldn’t care unless he miraculously found a cure for him. Jason wasn’t concerned about him missing, he was concerned that Ruben wasn’t in the lab. 

So he confronted him, tried to anyway. Why would Jason care about Ian’s threats to him, towards his family, as long as he was back at his desk, right? And Ruben was about to burst, about to tell him there’s no hope, it’s pointless, it’s impossible-

He didn’t know what the truth was anymore with Jason. He promised a lot, made sure to tell Ruben time after time just this once. And those were lies. And who’s to say that Jason having a son isn’t a lie, either? Why should Ruben care about Jason’s family, when Jason doesn’t care about Ruben’s family?

But even he said that there was nothing he could possibly say to apologize to Ruben. 

He was right.

Turns out Ruben was gullible.

He worked again and again, trying different elements and twisting certain angles. Nothing was working. Ruben was so gullible that he completely forgot that Ian could easily find him, too. 

Despite his words, he didn’t seem very happy to see Ruben, having a harsh tone and sharp eyes. It was like jumping back to the beginning, where Ruben was nothing but terrified of the man. He said that he wouldn’t hurt Ruben, but who was he to trust Ian?

A lab rat. That’s what he was, right? That’s all he was meant to do.

“Well maybe you need to be a little better...what’s the word, motivated?”

Ruben felt his stomach twist.

“You know while you were playing hide and seek, I had to go to parties all alone. Oz keeps his promises, always one of the most thrilling party hosts. And you know, there’s always one girl that always peaks my interest at these things.”

Ruben swallowed hard.

“But this time, she seemed a bit...distracted. So, you know me, ever the gentleman, I just wanted to make sure she was okay. So I waited around till the crowd died down, and when I saw her leave, you wouldn’t begin to imagine what I saw.”

Sometimes I feel like I’m being watched. But I guess that’s what I get right? I mean they all know that I’m...different from Oz’s girls. They probably think I’m up to something.

Ruben was sweating.

“You know, I should tell her to invest in some curtains. You never know who might be peeking up from the street to see her bouncing on some dirty, lying chemist’s dick.”

Don’t worry, I don’t need them. Besides, if you ever see a light on, you’ll know I’m home. You can always come up.

Ruben tried, he tried not to give himself away, tried not to blow their cover, but Ian was intimidating. He was threatening and he could see right through Ruben. Everything was over. There was no way this would end good, whether the drug worked or not. There was no escaping this lab, this drug, Jason, Ian-

“So, think about all the good things that will happen if you make the drug, and think about all the bad things that will happen if you don’t.”

“I’m just saying, it’s complicated.”

Ian didn’t understand because Ian wasn’t the one under so much pressure. Ruben really was doing everything he can, even if Jason didn’t deserve it, even if it wasn’t meant for Ian. Whoever would ultimately be affected by the drug, it wasn’t working. There were no signs or chemicals that could treat it properly. 

And what could Ruben do about it? In one corner he would have to keep working and working and never stop until he got it right. In the other corner he either got it right or he dies. Who’s to say that he won’t die in either outcome? Who’s to say that he gets to run and live on the beach with his lover? Who’s to say his family would be okay with his disappearance? Who’s to say that any of them win in the end? Nothing good could come out of-

“I think my prescription is ready.”

Ruben couldn’t believe it, one that he actually did it, and two that he actually did it. 

He also couldn’t believe that it had worked under the watch of Ian. 

But it did, and now the two of them sat there for hours. Just as Ruben felt his eyes drift close, he would hear Ian shuffle behind him, and jolt awake, reminded how much danger he was in. Ruben would rather grow exhausted then be stabbed in the back in his sleep. Though he knew Ian needed him right now, still, it wasn’t a comforting thought. Maybe Ruben would pass out from exhaustion. 

“So tell me, what’s she like?” Ian leaned against the desk.

“What?”

“Y/N, what’s she like? She’s a tough one, ain’t she? You know, I’ve been trying to hit that for months, but she stands her ground. She knows what she wants, and somehow, she wants you, Rubes.”

He was not going to do this right now, he was not going to talk about something private and something he found comforting to Ian Price. Ruben was not going to reveal his thoughts on Y/N, not what she’d like in bed, not how he feels about her, even though he’s made it quite obvious. He was not going to listen to Ian taunt him for the next three hours. 

“Really, you should be thanking me for putting you two together. I never thought that it would get this far. I mean, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I tried, and she just wouldn’t budge. It was almost annoying, you know?”

Did Ian hurt you?

They talked about all kinds of things, from how the subway gives them both the creeps, to dream houses, even how they wanted to start over. But they never got to talking about Y/N’s past with Ian. 

Ruben would never force her into telling him anything. But he showed her his scars, something he was insecure about, something he was ashamed about. It seemed a little unfair.

“Did you touch her?”

Ian chuckled, “Excuse me?”

Ruben shouldn’t have said anything, he should’ve kept his mouth shut, gave Ian the drug and he would leave him alone and leave. But he needed to know what had happened. He needed to know if Y/N was in as much trouble as he was.

If he wasn’t lost in his own thoughts, then maybe Ruben would’ve heard Ian get up from the chair. He would’ve heard him approaching. But instead Ruben was face down on his desk with Ian’s hand pressed down hard against the back of his neck.

He winced and struggled but Ian only scoffed.

“What kind of person do you think I am, Ruben? Huh? What has that bitch been telling you?”

“Nothing, nothing! She didn’t say anything about you.”

“Don’t lie to me, Ruben. I think you know better.” 

He couldn’t breath, he felt overwhelmed. What time was it? 

“Y/N’s just jealous, always has been. Of the attention, the action that she doesn’t get. She’s been stuck on the sidelines for forever, and just when I give her a better offer, she thinks she’s better than everyone else. So, don’t you accuse me of something you know nothing about Ruben, or maybe you’ll be put in the same place she was in.”

The hand was suddenly gone. Ruben choked. He was shaking.

“You’re lucky, Ruben. It’s showtime.”

He was confused, but as Ian rolled up his sleeve, Ruben’s fear of him doing something much, much worse disappeared, and realized that it was almost 8:25. But he couldn’t do it, there was no way. There’s too much risk, too many things that could happen, and Ruben felt pain in his neck and knew that this wasn’t going well.

“Think about what’s important to you, Ruben.” 

“And you’ll leave me alone? You’ll leave my family alone, Y/N alone?” Ruben swallowed, thoughts already forming in his head. What about Jason?

“Of course, unlike Jason, I’m a man of my word.”

He promised.

As Ruben turned his back, he clenched the needle in his hand, another one going in his pocket. Ian kept his eye on the clock.

“Don’t think about it as taking a life. Think of it as saving two; mine and yours.”

Mine and Y/N’s.

Ruben stared at Ian, wondering how easily this could go wrong, how it wouldn’t work, how he’d be dead in an instant if Ian got his hands on him again. 

But he had to try. 

Ian shoved him back and growled, “Give me the drug.”

As Ruben punched the needle into his arm, he looked at Ian, waiting for a reaction. Time was frozen and they both just looked at each other. 

Ruben saw the exact moment when Ian came to realization.

“You lied to me!” He swung out an arm but Ruben jumped out of the way, reaching for the door. But he wasn’t fast enough as Ian grabbed onto his coat and threw him backwards, his back hitting the cabinet. 

Not only was Ian growing weaker but his body was starting to shake, a classic signal that he was starting to shift. Ian kneed Ruben in the gut and as he cried out and toppled over, he felt Ian fall to the floor beside him. 

His first instinct was to hold him down, keep him still until he passed out, but Ruben was so shaky, so scared, there was nothing he could do except watch the scene with wide eyes and a rapid beating heart.

Ian called out his name one more time faintly, like he was in the distance. It still easily sounded like a threat. 

Ruben didn’t move for what felt like hours, but was most likely a few minutes. He didn’t move until he saw Ian’s breathing even out, eyes closed. He honestly didn’t think he could pull it off that easy, he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As his fear crept closer, he grabbed his laptop and papers, shoved it in his bag before walking out of the lab, leaving an unconscious Ian behind and in a dire search for Y/N.

[oscars-wifeyyy]

Chapter 2 (The Innocent)

Two weeks has passed since everyone found out that Cesar was jumped into Los Santos and two weeks has passed that most of the group tried to find ways to get Cesar out. Elizabeth refused to take any part, knowing there was no way for Cesar to get out, only hoping that he could just fly by with no huge responsibilities. There was going to be a meet up at Ruby’s place to discuss the plans, but Elizabeth had a shift at the restaurant after school so she sent Oscar a quick text. After school, Elizabeth and Oscar met a block from the school to go to the sports restaurant and bar that she worked at.

She already had the uniform shirt on with her blue jeans with her waitress apron already around her waist. It’s almost weird because Oscar has been giving her rides lately and it was inevitable for them not to become great friends and get to know each other more, not the big details. Their rides were mostly laughing and getting to know small parts about each other. It was leading to Elizabeth gaining some kind of feelings for the big bad gang leader that was actually a really sweet guy.

After her shift was over, the gang texted the group chat to tell her about the plan of getting Cesar out of the gang, but she quickly texted back that it was a terrible idea. However, like all her other opinions, it didn’t go along with theirs so it was ignored. The next morning, she was with them in the morning sans Cesar so she could find out more even though she didn’t agree. They walked up the stairs as they talked about their failed plan.

“Cesar’s reaction was a wake up call. The plan isn’t fully formed. We need more time to let our ideas marinate before we take action,” Ruby explained.

“Marinate? No,” Monse insisted, “we gotta cook now. Longer we wait, the deeper Cesar’s in,”

“Guys,” Elizabeth sighed, “this is a gang we’re talking about. Cesar is in and he can’t do anything about it,”

Monse ignored her negativity, “right now he’s got no responsibilities. We gotta get him out before he puts in work,”

Cesar popped up behind them, “who’s putting in work? You’re still with that?”

“With what?” Monse acted dumb.

“Jamal?” Cesar wrapped an arm around his neck.

“We’re still with it,”

Cesar sighed, “this isn’t funny anymore. Trying to reason with my brother is dumb. You gotta promise you’re gonna drop it,”

“You’re overreacting-” Monse got cut off.

“Especially you,” Cesar looked straight at Monse, “Promise,”

“I promise,” Monse lied.

“Ok, good. See you after class,” Cesar nodded at Monse, “Eli, you coming with?”

“Sure,” Elizabeth shrugged, “my class is there anyways,”

The two walked away from the rest of the group and once they were out of earshot, Cesar cleared his throat, “Eli, I’m sorry. I had to claim Monse as protection for her,”

Elizabeth sighed, “alright. You’re forgiven,”

Cesar grinned, “so...am I Salad, again?”

Elizabeth laughed, “Yes, you’re Salad again,”

It was after school and Elizabeth was running to catch up with Monse and Jamal who were on their way to Ruby’s place. When she slowed down next to them, she heard Monse talking about Ruby’s diction so she quickly jumped in.

“Yeah. Sometimes I don’t get half of the things Ruby says,” Elizabeth agreed, out of breath.

Jamal grabbed his face in frustration and pulled, “what?” Monse asked.

“You’re driving me a migraine!” Jamal told Monse.

“Think about how I feel,” Monse disregarded Jamal, “I have no time to teach Ruby not to talk with his hands. He can’t do that stuff with Oscar. Dudes gesticulate a lot in prison. We don’t want to remind him…”

“Hey,” Cesar called out from inside a Santos car, “where you headed?”

“Nowhere,” Monse replied.

“Whatcha doing, Jamal?” Cesar asked.

“Decorating Ruby’s room,” Jamal lied.

“So there is no scheming?” Cesar pried for the honest answer.

Elizabeth groaned at the group, but took out her phone to see a text from the one and only Oscar Diaz.

Future Mans

Whatcha doing, mamita?

Eli <3

With the crew to “feng-shui” Ruby’s room apparently lol

Future Mans

Nice...not really. You got any work this week?

Eli<3

Nope. Thank God lol I’m not tryna do any work. Wassup with “Future Mans”?

Future Mans

Well, bebe. You’re gonna be mine.

The group finally arrived at Ruby’s place, but as soon as they knocked on the door, his head appeared through the half open door, “we’re here to feng-shui your room! That’s why we’re here!” Monse held her arms out.

“I don’t have my own room, but…” Ruby went out the door and ushered the group back, “I have a boner. My cousin just moved in. Not like my cousin-cousin, like ‘what up, cuz,’ you know like fam, but not fam,”

“Like if you can’t keep it in your pants, keep it in the family,” Cesar jokes.

“Exactly,” Ruby paused, “no. not exactly. There is no blood relation. There is no in-breeding. Oh, and call me Ruben. I go by Ruben now,”

“Ruby!” Geny shouted as she walked outside

“Ruben,” Ruby corrected.

“Ruby, aren’t you forgetting something?” Geny ignored his correction as inside, “guys, this is Olivia. She’s going to stay with us for awhile, ok?”

Geny went back inside as an awkward silence came, “is it me or did things just get weird?” the new girl said.

“It’s you,” Monse stepped up, “this is Jamal and Cesar,”

“Elizabeth,”

“Ignore the stares. They haven’t been neutered,” Monse smiled, “Jamal, why don’t you tell Olivia what you didn’t do to your neck. Ruby, can we discuss our chem assignment?” Monse pulled Ruby away to the side to, undoubtedly, talk about their plan to get Cesar out of Los Santos.

Elizabeth didn’t pay any mind to the two that just went to the side, instead engaged into the conversation; however, Cesar lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe off some “sweat” that he had to show off his abs. The sophomore was glaring daggers into the boy as Ruby was glaring at the boy. Monse and Ruby were on their way back to the group, but Ruby had yelled out.

“I’m saving Cesar!” Monse glared at Ruby as Cesar looked at Monse with a disappointed look.

The next morning, Elizabeth got ready to meet up with the girls, but when she left her place she didn’t feel like rushing to rush to where they were so she just stuck with Ruby who she saw pacing. She approached the small freshmen with a concerned look as she heard Ruby call out to Santa Maria. Ruby started walking into the backyard of the Diaz house so she went up to the small friend and wrapped an arm around him, causing him to jump.

“‘Sup, compa? What are you doing?” Elizabeth smiled.

“Gonna talk to Spooky about Cesar,” Ruby stressed as he walked further into the backyard, “acid? I can’t. I can’t. I can’t,” Ruby tried walking away.

“‘Sup, fool?” Oscar called out causing Ruby to pause and turn.

Oscar advanced towards him with two bins so they could sit. Elizabeth walked further into the yard with Ruby and sat on the stack of tires while staring at Oscar’s shirtless body with his Dickies shorts and long socks with his high-top converse. He had a scowl on his face, looking at Ruby, who was beyond intimidated.

Oscar started leaning in closer to inspect Ruby’s face, “What’s with the glitter?”

“Late night at the club. You know how hynas be,” Ruby tried to play it cool, but it caused Elizabeth to try and hold her laughter in.

Oscar chuckled, “I feel you, homie. Sometimes my ruca wears the same shit. She be rubbing all up on me. I can’t get that crap out for days,” Elizabeth frowned.

Ruby shrugged, “Women,” Oscar offered him a cigarette, “trying to quit,”

“Whatcha wanna chop it up about?”

Ruby looked terrified, “Um, Mr. Oscar,” Oscar raised an eyebrow, “I mean, Spooky. I know you’re a busy man, so I’ll cut right to it. Is that acid?” Lilo slapped the back of Ruby’s head and took the lighter that Oscar had in his hand to light her cigarette, “you know what? Don’t answer. None of my business,” Ruby took a breath, “so, Cesar. I mean, can we just talk about how smart he is? You know, I’m smart, but he’s like...a certifiable genius. He has off the charts emotional intelligence, which is rare, combine that with his innate ability to empathize and problem solve and you get the real deal. A natural leader,” Ruby felt more confident, “which is a testament to you and how well you raised him,” Lilo felt offended but was taken by surprise by Oscar’s sudden grip on her and the force taken to make her sit on his lap.

Oscar nodded, “I feel you, homie,”

Ruby continued, “so, what I’m saying is, he has so much potential that hasn’t been realized. He’s just a baby bird waiting to take flight. Who knows how high a bird can fly given the right wind and lack of avian predators,”

“I never looked at him that way,” Oscar said.

“‘Cause he’s not one to toot his own horn. Yet another one of his many attributes,” Ruby smiled.

“You’re right. He just needs to be given that right opportunity, with good wind and no vultures and shit,” Oscar leaned forward a little bit.

“Well, vultures are more like scavengers. I was thinking hawks,” Ruby said.

“Hawks can suck a dick!” Oscar yelled.

Ruby leaned back, “exactly. I mean, you feeling me Spook,” Ruby immediately corrected himself, “Spooky,”

“Yeah, mos’ def’. You opening my eyes, homes,”

Ruby scoffed, “that’s what I do. You know...I will take that smoke,”

Oscar fished out his pack, giving one to Ruby as well as one in his own mouth, “Time to give Cesar his wings,” Oscar said, lighting his then moved it to Ruby’s cigarette.

Ruby immediately started coughing as Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her friend and laughter bubbled up to the surface.

“You alright there?” Oscar asked while Ruby nodded.

It was finally time for the high school kids to go to school, but as they were gonna exit the backyard, a voice called out, “Elizabeth, stay here,”

Ruby rushed out, leaving his friend behind to defend herself, “y-yeah, Spooky?”

“Oscar,” Oscar corrected, “why you going back to Spooky?”

“Spooky, whatever you’re trying to accomplish with me needs to stop. I got other things to focus on and I don’t need a guy that thinks that he can lead me on when he has a ruca the whole time,” Elizabeth shrugged, “bye, Spooky. Delete my number,”

Elizabeth walked out and to school with jumbled thoughts in her head like why he would even think to do that, why she was even dumb enough to actually almost fall for it. She has enough things to focus on and worry about, like her jobs and the money she needs to help around the house as well as her college. Fortunately, she was lucky enough that she could go to a nearby university on a full ride scholarship and the university being UCLA is a pretty big deal for anybody. Thoughts about her life and the future became jumbled so she took a breath and decided to take her earphones out and listen to music.

Her journey to school came to an end when she saw the school and entered the premises to go to her locker and grab her books and things that she needed for classes. However, she felt stares on her so she turned to see people staring at her, causing her to take out her earphones and hear the last part of the announcement.

“Congratulations to Elizabeth Hernandez. She received a full ride scholarship to UCLA, only being a sophomore,”

Elizabeth groaned and continued shoving books in her bag, as well as taking some out, then walked towards her class. There was a sudden force on her back as two hands pushed against her back and she fell down, laying flat on the floor, so she slowly got up and turned to see a group of seniors.

“Why you hangin’ with Spooky this morning?” the obnoxious gum-chewing girl asked.

“It’s nothing,” Elizabeth looked straight at the girl’s eyes, “we were just talking about important shit with my friend,”

“You’re friend left, but you stayed for a few minutes longer, por que?” another girl that stood next to the gum-chewer asked.

“It was a few minutes. We didn’t even do anything or talk for those few minutes,” Elizabeth groaned, “chill, he’s all yours. I ain’t got time for any of that,”

“Mhmmm, it better stay that way. Name is Lupe and I’m his ruca,” the gum-chewer said.

“Ok, cool. Now I gotta go so have fun with all that,” Elizabeth turned and began walking towards her class again, but on her way there Cesar caught up to her.

“Felicitaciones por la beca, hermana,” Cesar smiled at the slightly older girl.

“Gracias, mano,” Elizabeth grinned, “I learned about it this morning from my mom,”

The two bid their goodbyes as they arrived outside of Elizabeth’s class. Elizabeth walked in and took her usual seat next to the door, taking out her notebook and textbook to do tonight’s homework. Time passed and class dragged on until the bell rang and bodies rushed to leave the room and meet up with their friends while Elizabeth simply took her time and went to her locker to grab books until a hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see a guy standing there nervous.

“Hey,” the guy said, “my name is Damien. I’m in your english class,”

Elizabeth nodded her head, “hey. What’s up?”

“W-well, I was wondering if y-you wanted to maybe, I don’t know, go on a d-date with m-me?” Damien asked.

“Y-y-yeah sure,” Elizabeth blushed, “when and where?” “We can meet up at Dwayne’s then go to the mini golf course? 7 p.m, tonight?”

Elizabeth thought it over, “yeah sure. Why not? What’s your number?”

The two exchanged numbers, unaware of the eyes and ears of a Santo that was texting everything to Oscar.

Oscar was out doing business for Los Santos, but half of his head was out and cursing himself at his stupidity to say that he had a ruca. He doesn’t have a ruca because Lupe and him broke up two months ago, but he only said he had a ruca to Ruby because he didn’t want other people to find out about his thing with Elizabeth. A ding interrupted him from his thoughts so he pulled out his phone and became angry at the updates about Elizabeth.

She got a date with Damien @ 7

Dwayne’s BBQ and mini golf

Ok. gracias, mano.

No problemo, mano

The leader was angry as he looked at the time when he was done with business for the gang. He pulled out his phone to see the white numbers at the top of the iPhone reading ‘5:50 pm’ so he rushed home and showered. Cesar came home when Oscar was done and getting ready to leave. 6:45 pm.

“Mano, I’m leaving. Be back soon. la comida está en la nevera,��� Oscar closed the door and to his car.

He arrived at the joint at 7:05 pm and saw that the two were sitting and looking through the menu, even though Elizabeth knew what she was getting. The cholo got out of his car and made his way inside the restaurant, bells dinging as he opened the door. Elizabeth turned and saw the cholo, causing her eyes to open wide and shake her head at him, but he ignored her as he stopped next to their table.

“‘Sup, fool?” Oscar looked at Damien with a raised eyebrow.

“‘Sup, Oscar,” Damien nodded, “this is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is my best friend, Oscar aka Spooky,”

“Nah, homes,” Oscar chuckled with no humor in his phone, “we ain’t friends. Elizabeth is gonna be mine so back up,”

Damien flew out of the booth, “o-oh, sorry, Spooky. I-i didn’t know that. I thought you were still with Lupe?”

“We ain’t together,” Oscar crossed his arms, “we broke up two months ago. Tell everyone that we broke up two months ago,”

Damien ran out of the restaurant, leaving Elizabeth to Oscar, but she moved to get out of the booth and out of the restaurant to go home. Oscar blocker her way out.

“That ain’t happenin’ again, mamita,” Oscar nudged Elizabeth to sit next to the window, “I said you were gonna be mine and I don’t back out,”

“I don’t care, Spooky. I got other things to focus on, seeing as though you might be playin’ me and I am not gonna entertain that shit,” Elizabeth rolled her eyes.