#we’re having a dog soon so !11!1 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

naradivision · 1 year ago

Text

Hypmic OC Halloween Party 2023 🎃 ~Part II

Disclaimer: Please note that these are not the actual titles to the songs, I just made them up of course. All these songs obviously belong to their respective artists.

And the OCs mentioned belong to their respective creators as well!

*see more notes from the part 1*

Meet the Halloween Shuffle Teams!

Team R-rated B-Boy

Ren “Vox” Nakashima

Rintaro “Ignis” Himuro

Raiden “Tesla” Otoha

Ryuko “Mista Z.B.” Umemoto

#7 Parade of Horror ☠️

youtube

Real title: Bad Monster Original by UraShimaSakataSen Fun fact: This Shima is that same SHIMA who voiced Zen Gaho from paralive...

Team Heroic Youngsta

Joey “Joker” Kurusu

Saji “Street Dog” Buranka

Ryūnosuke “Fist N Fury” Sekiguchi

Haruto “Pheonix” Hirabayashi

#8 Justice In Action! 🚨

youtube

Real title: PANDA HERO Covered by mafumafu x nqrse x luz x soraru | Original by HACHI ft. GUMI Fun fact: HACHI the Vocaloid-P is later known as Kenshi Yonezu

Team SolaLune Fairies

Lola “Aphrodite” Takahashi

Evelyn “SPIRIT” Rose

Moriko “Carnopus” Himawari

Miku “Hex 13” Shirazuki

#9 Who’s the Fairest? 👑

youtube

Real title: ECLIPSE Original by Raon x DAZBEE Yeah, sorry again for not making the number of voice casts matched... They just look gorgeous together XD

Team Pop★Teen Sensation

Kanade “Spooky” Alarie

Criss “Paradox” Hiromi

Kirara “Cupid” Suzuki

Ririko “2cute!” Akihara

Makina “Screen Shot” Setsukura

#10 Supa☆Supa☆Halloween

youtube

Real title: Happy Halloween Covered by MORE MORE JUMP! ft. Kagamine Rin | Original by Junky ft. Kagamine Rin

[At the moment after the girls have already returned to the backstage, suddenly, the thick and hazy mist from nowhere then emerged into the stage from all directions, fogging over the entire scene as if it was curtain in the theater]

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the wonderful night of October the 31st,

...At long last, we’re going to reach the finale.

[Starting off with the sound of bells resonating in distants, the prelude music began playing before the hazy mist became dissolved —revealing the obscure figures of people standing there in the midst of stage]

Team Curtain Call

Queen card

Kunio “Arsene” Kurome

Iwao “TRIXT4R” Masuda

Sanyu “MC Rogue” Inouye

Naoki “Stage Queen” Hamasaki

Mitsuru “Odette” Tenjo

Saigo “Tsukumogami” Fuyugami

Nishio “24/7” Tokishou

#11 To the Final Act 🪄

youtube

Real title: Finale Original by XYZ 2019 (luz, senra, mafumafu, soraru, nqrse, meychan, araki, un:c)

Wait— Wait,

Even if this night is going to end soon, how should we forget something really really important…?

Yeah, we haven’t even got our treats yet!

If you want them, then why don’t we go get some?

C’mon, stand up & sing along~~

Team Bakemono:)

Asahi “SWEET-T” Tomoharu

Kohaku “KANDATA-KUN” Meguno

Taria “Misfit” Chinen

Honoka “Maniakin” Ajisai

Ayaka “Marionette” Kagawa

After Story: Are Ghosts Real?

youtube

Real title: 異世界混合大舞踏会 (I Wanna Be Your Ghost) Covered by StarLightPolaris (You Kisaragi, Relu, Coe, Kuni, Kottaro) | Original by Gen Hoshino Unfortunately, you can only find subtitles in the original video

In this night where ghosts will emerge,

But they’re not all that bad

Ghost are real, you know?

But they’re not as scary as the living!

They’re always watching from the sidelines, so don’t you forget,

Farewell mortals, and take care :P

🎃 Live Reports & Behind the scenes Pt.2

According to the interview from some audiences after the reveal of 6th’s and 7th’s cast, they thought it’s funny that team Bad Boy felt oddly cool to them, while on the other hand, team Hero were also cool but with even more chaotic vibes than the previous one —Everyone did wonder in unison that what went through the organizer’s head when they decided to put them together. Well, Raiden and Saji were the only exceptions since both of them were naturally pretty dedicated to their team titles.

Raiden got a bit carried away as he started laughing like some maniac by the end of his show. And in consequence of that, his temporary teammates were just… letting him be before all left the scene like nothing happened.

Since the beginning of the 9th show, the ladies of team “SolaLune Fairies” were seen solemnly walking out of the backstage with a dark long veil covering most part of their face and their outfits. Each of them were also noted to hold a bouquet with different flowers. Lola were red tulips, Evelyn were blue roses, Moriko were sunflowers, and Miku were moon orchids. But once the first beat of the song dropped out, they suddenly changed their moods and threw their veils away ...showing off their party dresses which were delicately designed just for each of them (ultimate kudos were given to those from the costume team). Thus, the true catwalk showdown began!

After all the teasing to throw their bouquets to the audience like in the wedding, it was still unknown who those ladies decide to give their bouquets to at the end. Maybe it was their lover/ bestie or etc. Who knows anyway? But as the show title hinted, they might probably give it to their fairest…

Before the 10th show starts, the camera caught Kanade having a high-five with Lola in the same fashion as those two boys from the first half.

Despite not being much active around these days, Hana Izanami (@snowmantita) was spotted coming here in secret to cheer for her friends.

The 11th show was obviously one of the best highlights of this event, given 6 of them were actually the famed performers to begin with! In addition, Queen card was the one who planned most details of the performance herself. Besides, some of them were really going all-out to the point where they attempted to compete with each other even. No wonder this show received very loud applause as a result, just like their team’s name implied.

There was one funny moment getting leaked out from the backstage. It was the photo of two gentlemen who literally had no idea why they were put in the same line with other talented showmen in the 11th show. Saigo seemed to be deep in thought about how much the staff have spent on props and special effects, while Nishio… He was caught flirting with other participants —Well, let’s hope that he wasn’t flirting with the wrong person there.

Despite the chill and anti-climax vibe that was very contrast to the intense impression from the previous show, the final show performed by team Bakemono was unexpectedly the children’s most favorite! Why was that? The secret of success not only lied in the lyrics of the song, but also its cute and catchy choreography. Moreover, they had also brought in the massive number of candies to throw into the crowd.

And due to some interviews with the parents, they told that this show truly deserved to be the closing show as it was in fact spoke the moral of this spooky event…

Before the show started, it was a record of five of them chatting with each other. And although it was all according to the script, Asahi confessed that they had retaken it so many rounds he actually lost count of.

And just as the name of their team indicated, they were all wearing the yokāi costumes! For example, Asahi was the Oni, Kohaku was attempting to look like Kasa-obake (even if it came out rather funny), Taria was Karasu tengu, Honoka had animal ears so maybe she was bakeneko or kitsune, and Ayaka wore triangle headband with a kimono to represent the yurēi ghost.

From what live reports said, despite being the performers of the show, both Asahi & Kohaku were noted to really enjoy their time the most —These two spiritual(?) twins loved throwing candies like they’re playing with snow, while Honoka and Ayaka might seem a bit stiff due to their not so great experiences with people. However, Taria was the one making them warm up and enjoy the moment just like other children did —Who else would understand the kids best if not someone with a children’s heart?

Live reports by

Snowflake Sentinel News, Yoichi Shujo

Verne Publishing-house, Nellie Yukimura

◀︎ SEE THE RECORD FROM PT. 1

Amazing OCs mentioned above are from:

@kobedivision @katsushika-division @chiyoda-division2 @suginami-division @kanazawa-division @megurodivision @naha-division @nagasakidivision @saitama-division @okinawa-division @gion-division @minato-division03 @kyoto-division @akihabaradivision @urayasu-division @nakanodivision @akihabara-division03 @kumamoto-division @sapporo-division @fukuokadivision1 @naha-division @nerima-division @naradivision @echizen-division @ota-division @gion-division @sagadivision @tokyo-division (@snowmantita) @hamamatsu-divison

P.S. Apologizing if I missed out some divisions or have made anyone sound OOC —I'm trying lmao.

...Happy Halloween & hoping y’all enjoy it :)

#hypmic oc #hypnosis microphone oc #not only nara division #halloween event 2023 #hypmic halloween #SecretZ Night Out #shuffle teams #concert style #made-up album #yeah can't tag all divisions here

22 notes · View notes

blood-darkened-moon · 10 months ago

Text

Isolation

Chapter 1

December 12

What do you actually write in a diary? I guess I just write whatever comes into my mind.

My name is Samantha Blair, and I’ve been stationed at the Aurora Research Facility for about a month now. This place will be my home for roughly the next 11 months. I graduated two years ago with a PhD in chemistry. This is my new job. It wasn’t easy to get it. After all, there are only a few positions available in this facility. There are 12 of us in total, and my job is to analyze ice and soil samples. It’s summer here at the moment. The sun doesn’t set this close to the South Pole any more, and at night it only gets a bit dusky, which, admittedly, bothers me more than I thought it would. Doug* gave me this journal “so I won’t lose track of time.” I wonder if that will help. At least I can try.

*Douglas Garry, station leader

December 13

Nothing interesting. After breakfast, I set about sorting the samples from the last research team and finding out which of them still needed to be analyzed and which didn’t. So the same thing I’ve been doing for over a week now. What were they thinking? “We’ll be gone soon anyway, let the next team take care of it?” After me, the deluge. Typical. Half of the samples are not properly labeled, and even for those that are, it takes forever to find out what has already been done with them. It’s all in the lab books, my ass. I can hardly do anything with the cryptic notes there if I manage to decipher the handwriting at all. On top of that, I have to pick the measurement data out of disorganized piles of paper. It was all planned differently. They were actually supposed to measure their own stuff, but towards the end of their stay, one device after another broke down. The devices are working again. Now, we’re supposed to carry out these measurements first and send them the results.

December 14

Sorting samples, searching for corresponding measurement data. Nothing new. Jeff gave me a new drill core. At least I was able to take a few measurements today.

*Jeffrey Norris, geologist

December 15

As I was going about my usual business, John* arrived and said that we were going to be hit by a heavy snowstorm in the next few days. According to the weather data, the storm will last for several days, maybe even weeks. We have to prepare the station. So we spent the whole day outside moving equipment into storage rooms or fixating it. I’m still freezing.

*John Bennings, meteorologist

December 16

Dark clouds have gathered. After so many days of sunshine, the darkness, if you can call it that, is a welcome change.

December 17

It’s been snowing since last night, and the snowfall is getting heavier, although it will be another 2-3 days before it really starts. David* expressed concerns about the dogs, but Marcus** said they don’t mind the little bit of snow. Quite the opposite. Huskies love this weather. Marcus looks after the dogs. He will know best. When I think about it, it occurs to me that we are probably one of the only stations left that still uses dog sleds. We also have snowmobiles, but Marcus always says the dogs are more reliable.

Later, we decided who should clear the paths and when. The work should continue if possible. However, if the storm gets too bad, the research buildings will remain closed until it subsides.

*David Palmer, technical chief

**Marcus Clark, responsible for the dogs, thermal engineering, welding work

December 18

The howling of the wind gets stronger and stronger. Eerie. I have hardly slept a wink. At least I’m slowly making progress with the samples.

December 19

I spent half the day clearing paths. It is a Sisyphean task. As soon as I was finished, I had to start all over because everything was covered in snow again. And the worst is yet to come. If it goes on like this, I can forget about work for a while.

December 20

Jeff was on clearing duty today. He also said there was no point. After dinner, we agreed that we would only clear the paths to the important buildings, everything else would have to wait until the storm subsided. At least the dogs are having fun. And Lena. She built a giant snowman. Lena Fuchs is still a student and the youngest of our team, and you can tell. When I see her so carefree, I sometimes think I’m getting old...

The fact that Lena is here is not a matter of course. Normally, students are not accepted for research stays. However, Lena has excellent grades, so she was selected regardless of the usual rules. At least, that’s the official reason. For those who believe it. Her father just happens to have a lot of political influence and a ton of money. It would be a true miracle if he hadn’t set the whole thing up.

She’s supposed to help me with the measurements, but that will have to wait until the samples are sorted and the storm calmed down. In the first few weeks, however, I had already shown her how to operate the measurement devices. To pass the time, I’ve now given her a pile of papers to read.

December 21

We have a visitor. The last thing you expect at the South Pole in the middle of a snowstorm is a visitor. Her name is Veronica Edwards. She is British and works at the Umbrella facility nearby. She says she is a senior researcher. There’s been a virus outbreak. She hasn’t said what kind of virus it is, only that it’s not airborne and that the likelihood of her being infected is low. In general, she kept a rather low profile. However, she said that under the circumstances she cannot stay in the Umbrella facility. If she is infected with something, we can’t let her roam around freely, but not helping her is not an option either, so we put her in quarantine. Actually, that was her suggestion. Isaac* has prepared a room in the northeast storage building for the purpose. She waited in the snowmobile she came in. The building is quite large, and it also has a shower room and restrooms. Additionally, the supply in the northeastern storage building is largely separated from the other buildings, and we can lock an area from the outside. That could work. It was supposed to be modified into another research building this summer, but the modification has been postponed for another year or so. However, it has already been largely emptied. She said two weeks of quarantine would be enough. For the time being, only Isaac and Harry** will look after her. Isaac is our doctor. Harry has volunteered. They will stay away from the rest of us to minimize the risk of a virus outbreak during that time. In case of an emergency, they have walkie-talkies.

We have offered to contact Umbrella and tell them what happened, but Dr. Edwards said she had done that before she left the Umbrella facility. They’ll send people as soon as the storm subsides. If they’re taking so long, that must mean it’s not that bad, right? Or that it’s already too late, and there’s nothing they can do anyway. Shit. We’re not prepared for incidents like this.

* Dr. Isaac Copper physician, and by necessity veterinarian

** Harold Childs vehicle mechanic

December 21 Addendum I

I have to distract myself from the thought that the woman might have infected us all with some deadly virus. And I forgot to write that our new arrival is rather strange. She was at least wearing a jacket, but underneath, she had only put on a long purple dress, high-heeled shoes, and white velvet gloves. The clothes looked anything but cheap. She looked more like she wanted to go to a gala than work in a research laboratory. Who walks around like that in Antarctica? Well, maybe she wasn’t on duty when the outbreak happened. That would also explain why she managed to escape and, according to her own statement, is probably not infected. But even as casual wear, her outfit looks pretty bizarre in a place like this.

She had to wait quite a long time in the snowmobile until the provisional quarantine was ready. Wasn’t she cold in her thin clothes? She didn’t complain. And I couldn’t see any signs that she was freezing either. Admittedly, I kept a safe distance. Speaking of snowmobiles, judging by the tracks, she was driving as if she was drunk and almost crashed into one of the buildings. Can she just not drive, or are these signs that she’s not feeling well? A fever, perhaps?

Also, I remembered Doug mentioning in the first or second week that Umbrella isn’t even doing research at the facility anymore. It’s supposed to be a materials storage facility or something like that. Well, Dr. Edwards claims she is a researcher there. I’ll ask Doug about the facility again when I get a chance.

December 21 Addendum II

Nicole*** wanted to contact AAD and ask how we should proceed with Dr. Edwards. However, due to the storm, there is currently no way through with our communication system. Always at the best possible time, of course! At least it’s not broken. Nicole has checked it. In a few days, the storm should ease a little, although not stop. She’ll try again then. Until then, we’re on our own. As old as the communication system is, I’m not surprised that it doesn’t work currently. It probably dates back to when the station was founded in the 70s.

***Nicole Windows, telecommunications, electronics, computers

AAD = Australian Antarctic Division

#resident evil #🩸🌙#fanfic #i kind of regret that i started writing this

8 notes · View notes

bratshaws · 2 years ago

Text

through the hourglass 74. brb x oc

a/n: me @ me: stop creating more characters for this fic, you dumbass.

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fluff, IM SORRY IM JUST HAPPY OK

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/

25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53/54/55/56/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64

/65/66/67/68/69/70/71/72/73

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @dhwanishah09 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23

“And we’re home!” Rooster’s usually deep voice came out higher as he opened the passenger door to pick up Nikki, “Home,we’re home! Isn’t that fun?” Nicole wriggles her legs when he picks her up, kissing her cheek and closing the door with his hip.

The dogs were already alert by their presence, Eleanor’s deep bark being the loudest of the three followed by Jolene’s claws scratching on the door so they’d come in quickly, “We are all going out tonight, honey, isn’t that fun?” Rooster unlocks the garage door and the dogs go wild. Eleanor and Jack have the zoomies while Jolene sits patiently next to Rooster with her tail wagging on the tiled floor, “Hey,Jojo. Is Bea home?”

The pittie licks his hand after he pets her, then trots away to the hallway where she lies down, “Ah,not yet huh? That’s fine.” he places the baby bag on the kitchen counter, moving Nicole to his opposite arm, “She’ll be home soon.”

“Aa!”

“Yes,Birdie,mommy will be home soon.”

Nicole smacks her lips a few times, giggling when she sees Eleanor and Jack still zooming around the house, just a blur of white and brown running from one side to the other - Eleanor sometimes slamming onto something along the way as she usually did. Rooster smiled down at his daughter, fixing some of the strands that covered her forehead, “You know, maybe it’s better if we give you a bath, huh? Get all cleaned up when mommy gets here?”

She ‘aa’ed again, pressing her open mouth on his chin to ‘kiss’ him again, which makes him laugh softly, “Okay,silly girl, you wanna wait for mommy?” another kiss on his cheek followed by Nicole looking towards the front door, “Okay, let’s stay in the living room then.”

Today was…pretty nice, he had to admit.

It’s been some time since he spent time with Mav and now he had Nicole to add to the mix! There was nothing better than spending time with family…and Mav was his family. As he sits down on the couch, he leans back against it to keep his eyes on Nicole as she babbles happily, tapping her tiny hands on the seat and staring at it after the dull thud reached her ears.

So she did it again, slapping her palms against the top of the couch and gurgling a laugh because she was making noise. Bradley just smiled, tilting his head to have a better look as she had her fun…she was so big already. She was still four months old but he remembered how Claudia said that Nicole was ‘stretched up’ already for her age, she said that some of the boys were the same and he also recalled his own baby pictures.

“You are going to be kinda tall,huh?” he smiles, watching the pigtails bounce as she continues her rhythm creation, “...just don’t grow up too fast, okay?”

He was excited to see what his daughter was going to look like when older, that was something every parent goes through…but he didn’t want to miss her younger years either. There was always something he wanted her to experience, he wanted her to enjoy her young life the best she could and maybe that was why they were going out tonight.

While feeding Nicole back at Mav’s he was hit with a thought that this was special…and unique, this was an experience that was going to mold Nicole when she’s older. She’d grow with a fuckton of uncles and aunts, cousins, she’d have people to run to when she needs…maybe it was his own trauma speaking, because while he had a wonderful childhood - within his mother’s grasp that is - he missed having more moments with people around them.

His mother’s siblings were…alright, he wasn’t close to them. From what he remembers, his mother rarely spoke about them either and the few times they showed up was for a brief time and never again. They did show up to her funeral but after that they disappeared like dust in the wind.

Maybe he should’ve reached out then, maybe he should’ve vocalized his feelings more…but he was too angry to.

He tried finding their addresses to invite them for the wedding, but there was no such luck. Hell he couldn’t even find them online. It wasn’t bad, the people he cared about were at the wedding but it was strange not having part of his family there, especially on his mother’s side. His dad was an only child and his paternal grandparents passed away already…he wondered if there was any way to contact them?

Maybe there was one, maybe he should look deeper. Maybe they were just hidden in plain sight…he better talk to Bea about it, because while she knew how much he’d want to, he didn't want to take an emotional jump in trying to talk to them.

Or maybe it was better to likely let them go. They weren’t there for him when he needed, “...I just don't want to get upset about it.” he answers his own upset thoughts, “Not now, not when I have everything I never thought I’d have.” he turns to face Nicole, who was now running her palms back and forth on the couch’s fabric, watching how the tiny furs turned lighter every time she ran her hands over them “You know, your mother is a great listener.”

Nicole looks up at him, still running her hands on the couch, “She doesn’t have to be, but she is. And I appreciate it, but I don’t want to weigh her too much you know?” Nicole just blinked at him, “...or you because you are a four months old baby and certain feelings may cause stress when you are older- right. I better not talk about this then.”

Not to Nicole at least.

“Hey Nikki, look,” changing the subject was a great idea. He holds up his index finger, his daughter’s eyes immediately following it as he moves down until the tip touches the fabric. And he made a circle, the movement causing the furs to move and create a lighter shape on the couch.

Nicole gasped, slapping her hand on top of it and sliding down, blinking when there was only one broad line of pressed down furs instead of her father’s drawing on top, “Aah!” a few more slaps but the circle is gone, her little brows furrowed and she looked up at Rooster.

He grabs her much smaller hand, it almost disappears under his own, and holds her index finger up. He’s more delicate when touching the fabric because Nicole’s skin wasn’t like his, but he added enough pressure to draw something on the couch.

Now, he wasn’t Beatrice. He was shit at art, always was, but he could draw simple shapes and maybe a smiley face if he was lucky. And he could draw hearts, which was what he did just now, “This is a heart Nikki.” his daughter just kept looking at the new shape, amazement all over her face “See?” and he rubs her finger over the line as well, “A heart.”

He didn’t know why but this was weirdly entertaining, it was a lot better than to think about the relatives he hadn’t seen in years and yet wondered how they were. As he let Nicole’s hand go, he was happy to see that she tried to mimic his own movements, albeit not exactly but very close.

“Very good,Birdie.” he coos, making Nicole smile and drop the other hand to mirror its twin the best way it could, “Hmhm, very nice. You are a natural.” more tapping on the fabric, more quick movements of her hand that just added more lines to the drawing.

Rooster, however, looked up when he heard the garage door opening. Jolene immediately rose to her paws and ‘boofed’,tail wagging with her pups right behind her. “Look,Nikki. Mama is home!” and Nicole immediately stopped drawing, turning her head to the door Beatrice walked through every time she got home from work with her little fists shaking with excitement.

He hears the lock turn and Beatrice’s face peeks from behind the door, “Hi guys! Hi! Oh, God,Ellie!” she tries to push Eleanor back a bit so she could walk inside, laughing while avoiding a mean fall because she tripped on the dogs. She leans down to greet them, kissing their snouts and heads. Rooster just smiles, hearing her baby talking and footsteps approaching the living room, Nicole letting out little noises of excitement, “I think I hear someone!”

“She’s very excited to see you!”

The faucet opens as Bea washes her hands, “Only her?”

“I mean…when aren’t I excited to see you?” he quips back, smirking when he was met with silence. He was sure her face was bright red, “We are just chilling on the couch.”

“I’m on my way.” the faucet shuts off, followed by the dogs nails clicking on the floorboards and walking out of the kitchen past the couch, the twins about to have the zoomies again as soon as Beatrice stepped in.

Nicole squealed happily, bouncing a bit on the couch and in her excitement, she lost her balance and almost toppled forward onto the futon only for Rooster to quickly hold her up, “Nikki! God, are you okay,Birdie?” but his daughter just giggled, lifting her head to keep her mother within her vision, “Dumb question,huh? Course you are.”

“Hi sweetie!” Beatrice’s high pitched tone greeted their ears, the brunette made grabby hands towards Nicole then picked her up from Rooster’s hands, the little girl was still giggling and gurgling happily, her arms hugging her mother’s neck the best she could “Oh my God, hi sweetie!” Nicole squeals again when Beatrice kisses her cheek, burying her nose in her daughter’s hair, “God,I love the way baby shampoo smells.”

“I know right?” Rooster spreads his legs a bit, to get comfortable, “It’s great.”

Nicole babbles a bit more, holding onto the necklace that Rooster gave Beatrice, lifting the pendant close to her eyes just to see it shine a bit more under the light, “Everything okay?” Bea asked and Rooster has to hold back the amused chuckle, because of course she’d know if something was off with him from the second she walked in. He leans further into the couch, then pats his thighs so Beatrice could sit down.

She does, all the while still keeping Nicole in her grasp, the baby kept on babbling but dropped the necklace to hold onto her father’s shirt instead, “Just thinking about some things.”

“Such as?”

Rooster purses his lips, rubbing his knuckle on the edge of Nicole’s chubby cheeks, “...my aunt. My uncle.” he mutters, “My mother’s siblings.”

“What about them?”

“...I don’t know, I had a moment a few minutes back…thinking about all the things they ended up no doing for me.” he mutters, “I guess I’m a bit conflicted, because I’d want Nikki to have a connection with my mom’s family, she already has one with my dad because of Mav…so,I don’t know.”

Beatrice hums, gently shaking Nicole’s hand as her daughter latches her fingers around her own, “It’s not wrong to want that.” she smiles, “Because I’m sure your mother would be happy to see it too…but–”

‘I couldn’t even find them for our wedding.”

“Well,yeah…”

He sighs, frowning a bit, “I don’t know why I’m thinking about this now. I have my family in the Navy, those jerks are my family even if I shook them off,you know?”

“I know,honey.” Bea’s smile softens, “We can look for them, if you want?”

Bradley rolls his lips into his mouth, huffing quietly through his nose as he sinks into the couch bringing Beatrice and Nicole with him, “I dunno.” he mutters, “It’s…complicated I guess. They could’ve found me if they wanted too.”

“Well,yes.”

“...I don’t know,I really need to think about it. I really need to think about it.”

Beatrice furrows her brows, then rubs her thumb between his, “Are you going to be okay?” he nods, feeling the repetitive touch against his forehead, “I know you, Roos.”

“I’ll be fine,gorgeous…I promise…now, let’s get ready for dinner yeah?”

Nicole had never seen so many colors in her life, she was just four months old after all. That’s why when they went to the taco truck she just stared up at the bright colors, head tilted and all as she looked at them swinging above her head. Beatrice smiled, leaning against her palm with her eyes focused on Nicole as she pointed upwards to where the lights were, “Yes,Nikki, those are lights, aren’t they pretty?” and they were pumpkin shaped, she had to get some of those for Halloween.

Nicole just waves the chicken, the anguished cries echoing through the night as she shakes it in her grasp, excited to her new surroundings. Beatrice looks up to check on Rooster, seeing he was leaning against the truck with his hip cocked to the side…which made his ass appear even better than normal. She didn’t want to stare, after all this was a public place, but she did sneak a peek.

One that her husband caught by looking over his shoulder at her, his eyebrow arching with amusement as he mouthed a ‘excuse me?’ towards her. Beatrice blushed but shrugged, throwing her hands up in the air as if to say she had no idea what was happening, only for Rooster to playfully roll his eyes and look back to the cook inside.

And soon enough he returned with their food, steaming hot and smelling delicious.

‘Alright.” he places the tacos down, “I got the usual for us and we also got extra salsa because of it.”

“We never deny free salsa, do we?”

“Nope, never.’

Beatrice laughed as she popped her soda open, looking down at Nicole who was staring at the new object with wide eyes, “This is a lot of information for her…I hope it’s not too much.”

“I don’t think so.” he says while pouring the soda inside the plastic cup, “She seems to be having a lot of fun.”

Nicole furrowed her brows because what was that thing they were drinking and could she have some? “No,Nikki, this is for mommy and daddy only.” Bea says when her daughter just reaches for the colorful can, whining a bit but settling down when her mother started caressing her hand.

“So, how was the training today? Any good?”

Beatrice smiled while chewing her taco, “Oh it was great Roos. Jessie is so good! She said she worked as a waitress on a restaurant a few years ago, when she was in high school. She’s really good. Oh, and…” she looks around surreptitiously, “I kinda prodded her about the guy.”

“The guy?”

“The guy.”

Who was worse: a group of middle aged women gossiping about their enemies…or Beatrice and Rooster, who were almost too excited when talking about Jessie and her bar crush, “Yes, “ Beatrice leans closer even if the music playing made it obvious no one would hear them, “So I asked her a little bit, about what he looked like and such, so he’s about Fanboy’s height.” her husband hums, very interested, “About…I don’t know, maybe twenty five, she said and he has short curly hair, tanned complexion.”

Rooster blinked, wracking his brain in hopes to figure out who it was, “...tanned complexion…”

“She said it was like a surfer tan.”

“Oh.Oh, oh I know him. Jared, yeah he’s one of the new recruits.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Just in passing.” he shrugs, “Nothing serious, just a ‘good morning’ and nothing more…he also calls me sir which is really weird to hear.”

“Well you are a Lieutenant.”

“I mean,yeah.” he shrugs, “But still, there’s just…I don’t know, I never got used to it before, still not used to it now.” Beatrice furrows her brows at him, a bit confused “You know what I mean.”

“Roos, well,I mean, you told me you were an instructor and you are…of higher rank. Why would you feel weird about it? I mean, what if you get promoted? Do you want them to just go ‘hey bro it’s a nice morning at the base,huh’?” Bradley almost chokes on his drink at Beatrice’s attempt of a male voice, it sounded like she had a sore throat and was relying on medicine to get it clean. He snorts against his hand, trying his best to keep his laughter down.

Beatrice has to do the same, biting her lips to hold her laughter back and distracting herself with Nicole. After almost choking on air and on his spit at least twice, Rooster coughs up laughing quietly, “You- holy shit- that was funny.”

“It wasn’t that funny,was it?”

“Baby you have no idea how hilarious you can be.” and again her cheeks turned red, her lips curling onto a smile, “Also,the honorific thing…it’s okay,I guess it’s just,well…Jared is like twenty one I think…Bea he was born in,what, the 00’s? Or something? Baby I was in high school when he was born.”

Beatrice chuckled as she dabs a napkin over her lips, wiping some of the sauce, “So you are just…hating it because it makes you feel…old?” he frowns, “...you know you look nothing like your age, right.”

“Hrm.”

“And even if you did, you’d still be so handsome.” Rooster smirked, bringing the soda can to his lips with his eyes still on Beatrice, he could live with that. “Besides, you look better than guys half your age, so…”

“Ah, smooth talking like that.” he tuts, “What’s a guy to think?”

Beatrice smiles at him, then reaches to touch his hand on the table, picking it up to run her thumb on the inside of his fingers, “I mean it,though.” she whispers, still touching his palm, “You are incredibly handsome and you still make my knees weak when you smile at me.” he laughs almost bashfully, licking his lips. Bea brings his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles before setting his hand back down, “I need to go to the bathroom, Roos. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey, leaving be high and dry here?” he complains, pouting his lips a bit, “You can’t do that.”

Beatrice smiles, walking around the table towards him where she cups his face in her hands and brings their lips together in a gentle - yet amazingly sensual - kiss, “I won’t be long.” she whispers against his lips, letting go of his face with a giggle, looking down at Nicole before she turns on her heel and leaves the table.

Rooster follows the sway of her hips with a smile, tilting his head just enough to see the shape of her ass move inside those tight black jeans she favored so much. Nicole’s gentle noises snapped him out of his reverie, his eyes immediately moving to his daughter who was already staring at him, “How’s the night going,Nikki? Hm? Is it fun?”

“Bahbaah, buuhh!” and a surprise raspberry that neither of them expected considering the way Nicole jumped after she did that.

“Yeah,I’m having fun too, cutie.”

“Aa!”

“Yes,I know, mommy will come back soon.”

“Sir?”

He stops chewing, hoping he’s imagining things and he hasn’t heard the voice of one of the new recruits behind him. He inhales, choosing to believe it was all in his mind, “Sir, is that you? It is him,guys.”

Guys? Oh no.

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader

66 notes · View notes

beeeinyourbonnet · 5 months ago

Text

Covetous | Chapter 23

Pairing: Nostelle

Rating: E

Summary: Father Joseph MacAvoy wakes up in a library across town with no idea of how he got there. When the kind librarian doesn’t kick him out immediately, he considers that maybe there’s more to life than alcohol.

[chapter 1] [chapter 2] [chapter 3] [chapter 4] [chapter 5] [chapter 6] [chapter 7] [chapter 8] [chapter 9] [chapter 10] [chapter 11] [chapter 12] [chapter 13] [chapter 14] [chapter 15] [chapter 16] [chapter 17] [chapter 18] [chapter 19] [chapter 20] [chapter 21] [chapter 22]

[read on ao3]

----------------------------------------------

Belle and Nosty slipped in to mass just a few minutes before it started. There were nearly two dozen people there this week, but even if there’d only been five again, they’d have sat together in the back pew, close to the aisle in case they needed an escape.

Lucy, Nosty’s admirer, glanced back at them, returning Belle’s smile of greeting before staring at Nosty’s arm around her shoulders and facing forward. Belle also smiled at Archie and Gray and the old woman, but then she finally had to look at Joseph.

He stared at her from the pulpit, and the church was small enough that she could see the bags under his eyes, the stubble on his cheeks. Guilt filled her stomach, but she swallowed it away. She had no reason to feel guilty.

Instead of the kicked dog look she expected, Joseph stared at the two of them with his jaw clenched, eyes resolute, much the same way Nosty was staring away from him. What did that mean?

The service began and Belle tried to follow the prayer card just to keep from being bored, but it was so hard when the longer it went on, the more anxious she felt. Yesterday, mass had sounded like a safe place with low stakes for her to assess the situation, but this mass in an all but empty room, with almost nothing between them and Joseph, was suffocating.

Not sure which of them she intended to comfort, she squeezed Nosty’s knee. He squeezed her shoulder but didn’t turn from his aimless staring. She wanted to crawl into his lap, tuck herself safely into his arms where she knew he wouldn’t let anything touch her, but she had to settle for his arm around her and her hand on him.

Too soon, everyone was setting down their hymnals because it was time for the sermon. Nosty’s knee bounced under her hand, and she wanted to tap her feet anxiously as well, but if both of them did, it would be too loud, so she pressed her heels into the floor like her life depended on it.

“Thank you all for coming today,” Joseph said. “I’d like to take this time to make a confession, and have all of you bear witness to me as I bear witness to you.

“I think it’s important that everyone know that their clergy, their spiritual leaders, are human as well, and capable of making huge mistakes just like anyone else. I’m sure some clergy might disagree, but I know that we’re not exempt from making amends.”

Nosty’s fist clenched by her ear. She squeezed his knee, a sense of calm washing over her. Whatever happened, it would be over soon.

“I made a horrible mistake.” Joseph looked around the sanctuary. “I hesitate to call it a mistake now, because at the time, I thought I was being righteous, justified. A ‘mistake’ makes it seem like an accident, like I stepped on your toes as I walked by, but this wasn’t an accident. It was wrong.”

Everyone in the church was rapt, or maybe Belle was just unable to hear anything but the sermon.

“I treated someone very badly, someone that I would have liked to call a friend.” Joseph glanced down at his notes, then straight at Belle and Nosty. “He didn’t deserve that.”

Belle almost didn’t dare to believe it. Nosty’s leg stilled.

“The truth is, I was a prick.” A murmur of laughter spread, but Nosty and Belle were silent. Joseph shook his head. “I don’t want to go into specifics, because I’d like to respect his privacy, something I haven’t done in the past, but I think it’s important for me to take accountability here, publicly, in my place of worship, this place that’s supposed to be a sanctuary for all lost souls.

“I wanted to be a good, kind person, but I didn’t want to give up anything to do it.” He looked straight at Nosty then, and Belle didn’t know if Nosty met his eyes or not. “I didn’t see his worth, because I closed my eyes and refused to look.”

Belle understood now why Joseph had decided to orate for a living. He held the room captive.

“There’s nothing left for me to say here, in public, except I’m sorry, and I hope he’ll give me the opportunity to apologize in person.

“I know we always stress that you’ve got to confess and repent, say your Hail Marys, reaffirm your relationship with God, but remember that we live on this earth now, and sometimes, the most important thing is to repent to and forgive one another.” He turned his page over and clasped his hands over it. “Thank you. Please join me at the altar if you’d like to take communion.”

Nosty stood with everyone else, and Belle thought he meant to take communion even though they weren’t Catholic, but then he stormed out of the sanctuary, letting the doors close behind him.

She didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, everyone had already turned to stare, so it was likely they had all connected the dots, but on the other, Belle didn’t need any additional attention on them.

But Nosty needed her. She stood, locking eyes with Joseph and flashing him a tentative smile, and then hurried out.

Nosty sat on a bench, elbows on his thighs and hands in his hair, staring at the grass.

“Nosty?”

He didn’t speak, but he shifted to give her room to sit down. Tentative, she laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t flinch.

“Do you want to leave?” she asked.

It was as if she wasn’t even there. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t acknowledge that anything was going on around him. Maybe to him, it wasn’t.

“Nosty?”

Finally, slowly, like he was clawing his way back to reality, he turned to her. “I can’t.”

She rubbed his back, but he didn’t relax. “You can’t?”

Without warning, he shot to his feet and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I have to get out of here.” His head whipped from side to side, and then he stomped toward the park, pausing a few meters away before turning around.

Belle stood. “I’ll come with you.”

“No.” He shook his head and halved the distance between them. “I just—I need some air. You go in. If you want. I can’t face him yet. I—”

He wouldn’t meet her eyes, but she could tell he was holding himself together for her benefit alone, so she waited.

“I have my phone,” he said finally. “So if I’m not back—” He kicked the grass with the toe of his boot.

“I can still reach you,” she supplied. He glanced up at her, and she thought he might have looked relieved, but she could have invented that because he was gone before she could say anything more.

Belle plopped back onto the bench, not sure what to do. No one had left yet, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to face Joseph either. She’d thought so many awful things about him since yesterday, and even if he didn’t know—and even if they were warranted—she was still embarrassed.

The doors opened and a group of people left, but Belle was too unfocused to see if she should be saying goodbye to anyone. After the second wave of exits, she stood again.

She could go inside. She was brave enough to face Joseph. And what was the worst that could happen? She’d have an awkward conversation?

She could survive an awkward conversation.

Steeling herself, she pushed the doors open and strode inside. A couple people hung about chatting with one another in the pews, and Joseph was busy moving things around at the pulpit.

Even though no one actually paid attention to her, she felt like all eyes were on her as she strode down the aisle toward Joseph. She paused before him and it took almost half a minute for him to look up and freeze.

“Belle.” His voice was hoarse.

“Hi.”

“I thought you’d left.” He straightened up, gripping his sermon notes like a shield.

“I didn’t.” She wished she had pockets or something to do with her hands other than twist them behind her back.

“Do you—” He swallowed. “Tea?”

“No, thank you.” It would be too much to sit in the kitchen and wait for tea to brew and then be beholden to however long it took to drink it.

“Right.” He glanced down at his sermon.

“But we can talk upstairs.”

His wounded dog face didn’t make her as angry as it had on Friday, but then, it didn’t look so pathetic today.

They walked up the stairs in silence, Belle clutching her phone in case Nosty called, and once they made it to the rectory, Joseph stopped and turned around.

“Have a seat?” He gestured weakly to the couch, but Belle did not feel comfortable enough to have this conversation on the couch. This was too serious.

“How about the kitchen table?”

He winced, but nodded, leading her that way without comment. She licked her dry lips—was she about to find an empty booze bottle?

“Careful,” Joseph said, skirting something just inside the door, and then she was grateful for the warning because instead of an empty bottle, it was a shattered bottle, with whatever the contents were now stuck to the floor in a sticky, congealed puddle littered with broken glass and the remnants of a mug.

Belle knelt to lift the handle off the floor, the only piece still intact. She didn’t recognize it, so she set it back down and then sat at the table.

Joseph removed his robes and hung them on the back of a chair before joining her, head ducked to look at his hands in his lap.

Belle almost wanted to throw him a bone, break the silence first, but she didn’t know what to say. He’d surprised her by apologizing to Nosty, and it didn’t sound like pretty words meant to manipulate her, but she still didn’t know what Nosty thought. And she still wasn’t sure she forgave him.

“Where’d he go?” Joseph asked.

Anger flared hot in Belle’s chest. “Are you concerned about him, or do you want him to absolve you of guilt?”

Joseph flinched. “I just don’t know what else to say.”

She picked at one of her nails, vowing to treat herself to a manicure as soon as possible. She deserved it. “He’ll be back soon.”

“I’m glad you found him.”

“Are you?”

He looked up at her, and she met his eyes, expecting him to cower again. When he didn’t, a tiny bit of anger left her. “Belle, I’m—” He shook his head. “I don’t have anything to say other than ‘I’m sorry,’ and I don’t think you want to hear that anymore.”

She chipped off a triangle of polish. “I’m open to an apology.”

“Then Belle, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She was glad they had a whole table between them so that she couldn’t reflexively reach to comfort him. Let him stew.

“Why?” she asked. “Why did you hate him so much?”

He rubbed the side of his arm, reaching for his pocket again. “I was convinced he’d hurt you again.”

Belle shook her head. “That’s just an excuse, and I don’t believe you.”

“Well, you didn’t seem worried about it at all!” he said. “Someone had to be.”

“Of course I was worried about it!” Belle rubbed her forehead. Where was Nosty anyway? “I just didn’t say anything because I knew you would make a big deal of it, and besides, it’s my choice whether I trust him or not, not yours.”

“Belle, I—”

“No!” She stood, and then immediately plopped back down, afraid of slipping on more spilled booze. If Nosty had to come scrape her off the floor, Joseph might not make it out alive. “You didn’t think I knew what I wanted.”

“Do you remember what it was like when he left the first time?” Joseph asked. “Because I do. I didn’t want that to happen again!”

“Of course I remember.” The tears sprung to her eyes without her permission, and she swiped them away. “That’s why we were taking it slow, figuring things out.”

“Yeah?” He looked like he couldn’t decide whether to be angry or sick. “And how long did you spend looking for him on Friday?”

“How long?” she asked, glad that his hard look never turned smug. “I didn’t look for him at all. He was waiting for me at the solicitor’s office, just like he promised he would be.”

Joseph’s eyes widened like she’d punched him in the gut, and his lap was suddenly intriguing. Belle crossed her arms. She could wait all day for Joseph to digest that little factoid—or, at least, she could wait until she heard back from Nosty.

“I’m glad,” he said as though she’d pulled the words from him by force.

“You know what?” She stood, and this time, she pushed her chair back in. “This was a mistake. I’m going to get his things.”

“No, wait!” He leapt up and grabbed her sleeve. She didn’t move. “I really am glad. I just—I feel stupid. That’s all.”

She calmed a fraction but didn’t move to sit. “You were stupid.”

“I was jealous.”

When she looked up at him, she expected him to be watching his hand on her sleeve or the wall or the ceiling, but he stared straight at her.

“That’s not fair to me,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to be with you, and even if I did, I couldn’t be. You’d be dooming me to a life of loneliness.”

“I know.” He dropped his hand. “I’ve just—I’ve never questioned my calling, but I wanted to. I wanted to be the most important person to you, even if we couldn’t be together.”

“Joseph, you are very important to me,” she said. “But you chose this life. I didn’t. I’m not a nun.”

“I told myself I was just protecting you,” Joseph said. “I believed it.”

Slowly, she sat back down, and Joseph let go. They sat in not uncomfortable silence for at least a minute before Belle put her hand on the table. She didn’t want him to take it or touch it, but she wanted to at least show that she wasn’t holding herself taut anymore. A tentative peace offering.

“If Nosty decides he doesn’t want to see you again, then we won’t,” she said. “It’s not my place to offer forgiveness.”

Joseph swallowed and nodded. “Do you think he will?”

Belle shrugged. “I don’t know.”

They sat in silence again, Belle staring at the sticky mess on the wall. She would not clean it; she would not tidy or fix or straighten.

“I want to make amends,” Joseph said. “I know I fucked up. Badly. He deserved so much more than I gave him.”

Belle couldn’t respond. She thought Nosty deserved the whole world, but she was biased.

“If he’ll let me, I’ll work to earn his trust again, just like he worked to earn yours.”

“I hope not exactly the same way,” she said, and when Joseph frowned in confusion, she let slip a tiny grin. He laughed, then jumped in surprise at the sound.

“Well, if that’s what he’d prefer,” he said, and she laughed too.

“I want to pick up some of his things,” she said. “I don’t know when exactly we’ll be back here.”

Good humor dissipating as quickly as it had arrived, Joseph nodded. “Of course. I’ll—I’ll leave you to it.”

Belle stood for the umpteenth time and Joseph did not join her this time. She eyed the spill. “Are there any more hazards I should know about?”

“No. And—” Joseph rapped his fingers on the table.

“And?”

“I didn’t drink. I was going to, but I stopped myself. I just thought you should know.”

Even though she was mad, and even though her vision of him had suffered, that did make her happy. “Good.” She smiled at him. “I’m glad.”

****

Nosty stayed radio silent and gone for forty minutes before he texted Belle that he’d meet her at home—home!—and then she waited for him with a pot of hot coffee and sandwiches from the place around the corner for another two hours.

He came in panting and sweaty, kissed her on the cheek, and went straight for the shower. She was dying to know what was going through his head, but all she could really ask of him was not to disappear without warning, and he hadn’t, so she was trapped.

When he emerged in a t-shirt and pajama pants, he finally sat for the first time, across from her at the kitchen table.

“Hey,” he said as though he hadn’t had what she could only assume was a three hour mental breakdown.

“Hi.” She reached across the table for him and he took her hand.

“Thanks for bringing me more clothes.”

“Of course.” She squeezed his. “Are you okay?”

“Got the shrink tomorrow,” he said.

It wasn’t an answer, but she thought she understood what he was trying to say. She squeezed his hand again then stood to retrieve the sandwiches.

“That’ll be good. Are you hungry?”

He nodded, then poured himself a coffee while she found napkins and plates and set them out. They ate in silence for awhile, and though Belle was dying to ask him a thousand questions, it wasn’t an awkward silence. Nosty inhaled his food, presumably hungry from walking all the way from the church, and Belle wasn’t too far behind since she’d just been sitting here for two hours, waiting to eat it.

“Belle?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks.” He crumpled up his sandwich paper and tossed it toward the bin, standing when it pinged off the rim.

“For lunch?” she asked, crumpling up her own. “Of course.”

“Well, that too.” He busied himself with throwing away both papers. “But I mean, for letting me go. And trusting I would come back.”

She crept up behind him, though she knew he could hear her anyway, and wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his back.

“I have no reason not to trust you, Nosty,” she said. “You haven’t given me one.”

He turned in her arms and wrapped his own around her. “And I won’t,” he said, quietly. “I promise.”

****

Maybe her heart trusted Nosty, but her anxiety still remembered what it was like kissing him before work and expecting him back at lunch time only to have him disappear. She tried to ignore that when he kissed her goodbye at the car with a promise to return for a late lunch after his appointment.

“And don’t forget,” he said, hands cupping her face and fingers tangled in her hair, a much more thorough kiss goodbye than made her comfortable—like he planned to leave for a long time. “You promised you’d teach me how to use the computer.”

“I won’t forget.” She kissed him, unable to hold his elbows because she was holding the lunchbox she’d packed for them, which did include a sneaky extra sandwich for Kaz just in case. “Have a good session.”

He kissed her once more and then he was off. She didn’t even know where the office was, but he had a few hours to kill, and now that he had a roof over his head at night, he liked to spend time outside instead of cooped up in the library.

Belle sat at her desk for most of the morning, alternating shopping online for things she couldn’t buy and shopping for new books for the library. They hadn’t talked at all about Joseph yesterday, and she hoped he would say something after therapy, but what if he didn’t? Would they just live in this weird limbo, and she’d have to go back to the church to get the rest of his things and then leave forever?

Kaz showing up was a welcome distraction, and Belle invented a craft that desperately needed to be done so the two of them sat at a table and made friendship bracelets for an undefined group of kids. It didn’t take Kaz long to get the hang of it, and soon they were working in focused silence.

Around one, Belle reminded herself that Nosty had promised to come back. She wasn’t even exactly sure when his appointment was, so she didn’t even know if he was late.

At two, they had a pile of bracelets that Belle needed a purpose for, and Kaz was making herself a lunch from the snack cart. Belle alternated between reminding herself that she trusted Nosty and berating herself for doubting him.

Then, at 2:27, Nosty swaggered through the doors, and she could have wept.

“Nosty!” Kaz said.

“Hey,” he said, then grabbed Belle’s cheeks and planted a kiss on her that left her dizzy.

Kaz wolf-whistled, a gleeful look on her face as Belle blushed like a schoolgirl. “Thought you didn’t have a fellow?”

“Well—”

“She does now.” Nosty kissed her again, then swept off to her office, leaving her to press her fingers to her lips.

“So I guess you really aren’t scared of him,” Kaz said, still grinning like she’d just learned the juiciest secret. “I knew he fancied you.”

“I’ll be right back.” Belle stood and almost knocked over her chair. “Are you hungry? I’ll be right back.”

“You said already.”

Belle fled to Kaz’s snickering, joining Nosty in her office where he was sitting on her desk, setting out food at their respective seats. He held up the third sandwich when she walked in.

“Feeding more strays?” He jerked his chin toward the door.

“You have to stop talking like that,” Belle said. “None of you are animals.”

“Old habits.” He kissed her again, and though he was always affectionate, the PDA surprised her. “I’ll give it to her.”

He slipped out, and she plopped into her chair, pressing her hands to her flushed face. The elation at his return filled her like a balloon, and she could have floated away.

It took a little longer for him to give Kaz a sandwich than she expected, so she hoped he was being nice, but when he returned, he was still in good spirits. She’d never seen him so happy after therapy.

“What has gotten into you?” she asked.

He shrugged, swallowing a giant bite of sandwich. “I missed you. Happy to see you.”

“You’ve been with me all weekend.”

“I always have to go back to the church after I see the shrink, don’t I? Never get to see you right away.” He shrugged again. “It’s nice.”

It had hurt so badly when Nosty left her all those weeks ago, but would that Nosty have ever gotten to the point where he would say something like that to her? For that matter, would he have ever agreed to therapy? Would Belle have even suggested it? Kathryn was a miracle worker.

“So, is there anything you want to talk about?” Belle popped a grape in her mouth, raising an eyebrow.

Nosty shook his head. “Will you take me to the church after work?”

Was this what whiplash was like? “Of course. Are we just—getting your stuff?”

He studied a grape in his hand, picking at the skin, and then shook his head. “I want to talk to Joseph.”

Progress. “Do you want to talk to me about anything first?”

He glanced at her, then back at his grape. “Will you be mad if I say no?”

She didn’t know what to feel, but “mad” certainly wasn’t it. “No. You don’t have to talk to me about this, but I’m here if you need something.”

He finally popped the grape in his mouth and stood. “I need you to teach me about computers.”

She had been mulling over how she planned to do this all day, since growing up with computers meant that it was so ingrained within her, she couldn’t even begin to know where to start. She decided on a typing course, since almost everything Nosty wanted to do would require him to use a keyboard, and it was probably the easiest transition from his cell phone.

Much to her surprise, Kaz wanted to be set up at a computer next to him, so she loaded the typing program she remembered from her childhood on both machines and set them to work, Nosty with his brow furrowed in concentration and Kaz with childlike delight. She probably didn’t need the typing course, Belle realized. She had to have been at least ten years younger than the two of them, and it was likely she’d actually learned to use computers in school.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Belle said, resting a hand on Nosty’s shoulder when he turned a panicky look on her.

“What if it breaks?” he asked.

“It won’t break. And if it does, I’m right there.” He nodded, and after a glance at Kaz already absorbed into her typing games, turned to his screen.

From her desk, she was close enough to see when Nosty’s shoulder’s tensed, when they relaxed, when he desperately searched for a key, and a well of pride filled her. She had never seen Nosty set himself to a task that he wasn’t already good at, but she could imagine that the Nosty of a few months ago would have stormed off if he hadn’t gotten the hang of typing immediately. Now, his shoulders would roll and he would stretch his neck, but he kept doggedly on, and she even felt bad when she had to tear them both from the screens to close the library.

Nosty wandered off to have a cigarette while Belle locked up, and then Kaz appeared at her elbow.

“Belle?”

She pressed a hand to her racing heart. Somehow, having Nosty around had made her even less observant. “What’s up?”

“You’ll be careful?”

They both looked toward Nosty, smoking and pacing by the car, and Belle couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips.

“I’ll be careful.”

****

It wasn’t until they’d pulled into the parking lot that Belle realized she should give Joseph a heads up they were coming, so she sent him a text and they resolved to wait in the car at least until he responded. Nosty ran a hand through his hair and squeezed his locks into their usual ponytail, clutching it like a security blanket.

“Should I be getting the rest of your things while you talk to Joseph?” Belle asked. She hadn’t managed to pry any information out of him the whole drive, but this seemed a safe, logical question.

“Don’t think so.” He stared at the church door. So he didn’t plan to cut Joseph off.

“Do you want me there for it?”

He licked his lips, then nodded. “If I get—upset—you take over. Just until I’m meself again.”

“Of course.” What a lovely thought that Nosty didn’t consider being upset his normal anymore.

Her phone buzzed with Joseph’s response and Nosty paled, gripping his ponytail tight.

“We don’t have to go in yet,” Belle said. “I don’t know if he knows we’re literally outside.”

He shook his head. “No, let’s get this over with.”

She didn’t know if he’d want to be touched on the endless walk from car to church door, but she smiled when he grabbed her hand, lacing his finger through hers.

Unsurprisingly, Joseph opened the doors just as they were walking up. Beside her, Nosty drew himself up, and Joseph swallowed.

“You came,” he said.

Nosty said nothing.

“We did,” Belle said.

Joseph watched Nosty, but when it became clear that he wasn’t going to say anything, turned to Belle. “Come in. I made coffee.”

It had never felt too inconvenient that they had to walk through the atrium and the sanctuary to even get to the staircase that led to the rectory, but now they all trudged back in silence like they were headed to an execution. Joseph led them up the stairs, and Belle kept between him and Nosty, and then they continued their march across the sitting room and through to the kitchen, where Joseph had cleaned up the broken glass and spilled alcohol.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the table, so Belle, wishing that anything she did could make this situation less awkward, took the first seat.

Nosty stood next to her, arms folded, while Joseph brought three mugs, the carton of creamer, and sugar to the table, then poured the coffee. Belle took a mug and then pushed one toward Nosty, but he didn’t move until Joseph was seated with his own mug. Then, he sat, but he did not reach for the cream or sugar. Should she add it to his coffee? Did he even know he had a coffee?

Joseph took a sip from his mug, then winced, presumably burning his tongue. Belle poured cream into hers. Nosty continued to stare, only moving to bring the sugar closer to Belle when she reached for it.

“Someone say something,” Belle said because she could not take it anymore.

“Nosty,” Joseph said. “I’m sorry.”

Nosty said nothing, tapping his knee rhythmically under the table. Joseph glanced at Belle, but she didn’t know if this counted as a moment that Nosty wanted her to take over, so she didn’t speak.

“I treated you badly,” Joseph went on. “I didn’t respect you. You deserved my respect.”

“Yeah,” Nosty said. “Okay.”

Belle would never take back her friendship and love for either man, but sitting here at this table between the two of them, she was considering wishing they’d all never met so that she’d never have to sit in this palpable tension.

“Okay?”

“Yeah.” Nosty tapped his foot. “I mean, not okay. It’s not. Okay.”

Belle reached for his knee under the table and he closed his hand around hers.

“Okay,” Joseph said.

“I talked it over,” Nosty said. “And I don’t forgive you.”

Belle had a moment of panic, a small flash of concern that Nosty had actually come here to commit violence, and Joseph’s crestfallen face was no help.

“Right,” Joseph said.

“Stop looking at me.” Nosty tapped his free hand still, staring now into his black coffee.

“What?”

“Just turn around,” Belle said, having some experience with Nosty’s preference of talking to walls. “I’ll turn too, okay?”

Nosty nodded, and Joseph, though he clearly didn’t know what to make of it, faced the fridge. Belle, wanting to keep an eye on Joseph, just turned so that she could no longer see Nosty. She felt him let out a breath.

“I don’t have to forgive you yet,” Nosty said, as though he was going to refer them to his therapist should either of them argue. “But I accept your apology. And—and I’m sorry for—hitting you with a spoon.”

Belle pressed her lips together to squash her surprised laugh. Hitting him with a spoon?

“I deserved to be hit with a spoon,” Joseph said.

It was very difficult, after that, to hold in her laughter, but she managed.

“I have some conditions,” Nosty said. “You can turn back.”

She and Joseph shifted around, and he did not look anywhere near as amused about the spoon thing as she did, so she resolved never to bring it up. Whatever it meant was in the past.

“Okay,” Joseph said. “I’m listening.”

“First, I want you to do something for homeless people,” Nosty said.

Joseph’s eyes widened. “Something like—what?”

“I don’t know. You’ve got all these empty rooms.” He gestured around. “People are sleeping on the streets.”

“Nosty, I can’t just have strangers sleeping here all the time,” he said. “It’s not set up for that.”

Nosty turned to Belle, eyes pleading.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to just have strangers sleeping in your home,” Belle agreed. “But maybe you can host a soup kitchen once a week? And raise money for shelters?”

“And take Kaz in,” Nosty added. “She’s not dangerous.”

“Okay,” Joseph said, though he looked a little pale behind his collarino. “You both have to be here for the first few nights she is, then.”

Nosty glanced at Belle for approval, then nodded.

“So what’s second?” Joseph asked.

“You have to see a therapist.”

Belle should not have been present for this. If someone made one more face like the one Joseph was making now or one more reference to hitting people with spoons, she was going to laugh and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

“A therapist?”

“Aye.” Nosty folded his arms.

“But I’m a priest.”

“And who’s more fucking repressed than a priest, hey?”

Joseph looked to Belle like she might help him, but all she did was shrug. A therapist was a great idea as far as she was concerned.

“Fine. Give me your therapist’s number.”

Nosty scoffed. “You can’t see my shrink. Get your own.”

“I’ll help you find one,” Belle said before Joseph could protest.

He sighed. “Okay. Fine. I will find a therapist. Is that all?”

Nosty shook his head. “Just one more thing.”

Was Joseph starting to regret apologizing? He was eyeing Nosty like he was afraid of having a mug thrown at him. “What is it?”

“You have to cut your hair off with me.”

Joseph’s mouth fell open. “What? That’s—that’s just—that doesn’t have anything to do with anything.”

“Actually,” Belle said, because now that Nosty had said it, she felt that a haircut was a fitting punishment. “It would be a lovely gesture of solidarity. Nosty is getting a haircut for his court date.”

Joseph looked between the two of them, while Nosty folded his arms a little more smugly than Belle found appropriate. When neither of them budged, he sighed.

“Fine. Okay. I guess I’m supposed to—to reject vanity. So I’ll cut my hair off.”

“It’ll grow back,” Nosty said.

“It will.” He took a sip of his coffee and winced again, probably because it was cold this time. “And then we’re back? All of us? Together?”

“Is that what you want?” Nosty asked. “All of us? Or just Belle?”

Joseph rubbed his finger along the mug handle, and Belle’s heart sank. After all this, after yesterday and Friday, after Nosty’s therapy, was Joseph going to throw it all away?

“Obviously, Belle is very important to me,” Joseph said to his coffee. “I suppose it’s also obvious that I behaved the way I did out of less than noble motives. And I have to admit that I’m not thrilled about sharing her, but I suppose that is something I’ll need to work on in—” He swallowed. “—therapy.”

“We’re together,” Nosty said, then glanced at Belle for approval.

“A package deal,” she said.

“I know,” Joseph said. “And I want the whole package.”

No one spoke for a minute, then Nosty thrust a hand across the table. Joseph shook it.

“Maybe we’ll actually be friends someday,” Joseph said.

“We’ll see,” Nosty said.

“I believe in both of you,” Belle said, and neither of them scoffed. She smiled, letting her shoulders relax. Things were finally looking up.

#anyelle #anyelle fic #anyelle fanfic #nostelle #anyelle fanfiction #nosty x belle #nostelle fic #new update #covetous

3 notes · View notes

nokingsonlyfooles · 1 year ago

Text

WTYP: The Shandor Building, Part 11

[Do you like the colour of the fanfic? This is long and if you expand it you're gonna get the whole thing, because Tumblr hates you. Don't say I didn't warn you!]

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10

Part 11: Shake Hands with Gozer

[Beware of strong language, mention of all kinds of death, gore, and Lovecraftian horror.]

[SLIDE: Shandor Studios, with the All Hail Gozer logo.]

[faint sound of a car alarm]

L: Oh, heck, it’s Gandalf…

[chirp-chirp]

[car alarm ceases]

A [dismissive]: You know, this is really not doing it for me anymore. The whole deal. Not even with a camera. No. Fuck it. Your personality is a real turn-off.

R: These chairs are still really comfy, though.

[rumbling, squeaking]

G: [muffled, into phone]: UH-HUH… UH-HUH… IN MY DEFENSE, THEY INSULTED MY DOGS AND SUGGESTED I ASSOCIATE WITH ELON MUSK, ABI… YES, ADMITTEDLY, BUT THERE’S NO NEED TO BE RUDE… MM-HM. WHAT’S IT CALLED? “CLIMATE CHANGE”? [with sudden excitement] OH! “GLOBAL WARMING!” YES! HOW LONG? OH, THAT’S NOT LONG AT ALL! NO, NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE IRONY. DIY APOCALYPSE! OH, YES, WE MUST GIVE THEM A CHANCE, MUSTN’T WE? HA-HA-HA. BUT, UH, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE… A LAKE OF FIRE? EVEN A SMALL ONE? [laughter] WOW! THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!

L: I don’t like where this is going…

A: Rocz, where the hell are my cigarettes?

R: I fed them to a dog.

A: What?

G: SO ABOUT SEVEN BILLION YEARS ON THE OUTSIDE? WELL, I GET BORED, ABI. YOU KNOW I GET BORED. WILL YOU KEEP PODCASTING AND KILLING THE SMARMY MORTAL “JAMES BOND”? HA! ALL RIGHT, I SUPPOSE I WILL MANAGE…

D: Did… Did Abi just say we’re going to keep doing KJB for the next seven billion years…?

L: Sounds like the fate of the world kinda depends on it…

A: Where is my fucking Slimfast bar?

R: Ibid.

V: Will you have a slice of meat bouquet, Lord Alice?

A: [screams]

R: You two gotta stop doin’ that.

Z: Lord Alice is mortal, Vinz Clortho. You are supposed to feed the mortals frozen peas. It is good for them. The demon David Tennant says so.

L: I think you’re a little mixed up about that…

R: Your dimension gets Amazon Prime?

Z: All hell dimensions have Amazon Prime. Where else are we supposed to get our blood plasma?

V: But we have no frozen peas to give, and we must depart our mortal hosts soon!

Z: You may rub our tummies, if you wish. It is good for your mortal brain meat.

L: Aww!

Z: Not you, Vengeful Mortal of Insults!

L: Well, this has been a total fucking waste of time!

A: Get away from me, you smell like Marlboros and despair.

V: It is the Slimfast bar…

Z: You want some of this, Frodo?

D [coldly]: No thank you, Sigourney.

R [warmly]: Good Terror Dogs… Good, good puppies…

G: HA-HA, RIGHT! THESE THINGS HAPPEN! WELL, I’LL SEE YOU AT THE CLUB TONIGHT. CIAO, BESTIE!

L: “Bestie”?

A: [sigh] It’s Mesopotamian rock-paper-scissors, don’t worry about it.

D: To think, all this time, all we had to do was summon Abigail Thorn…

G: VINZ CLORTHO! ZUUL! STOP BOTHERING LORD ABIGAIL’S FRIENDS!

V: Farewell, doughnut-giver!

Z: Never buy copper from Ea-nāṣir!

[electricity, crackling]

MILKSHAKE (M)]: آیا من یک سگ بودم؟ [TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Okay, it’s in Persian, but Google Fonts doesn’t do cuneiform.]

R: Oh, hey, it’s my cats!

PIZZA BOY (P): پدر!

R: Nah, don’t eat that meat bouquet, I have no idea who or what that is…

M: این انصاف نیست.

R: Say, Gozer, is this here permanent?

G: ALL CATS CAN SPEAK WHATEVER LANGUAGE THEY WANT, WHENEVER THEY WANT.

P: Das ist ein süßes Kopftuch.

A: Um… Danke?

M: Никогда больше не трогай мой животик.

A: [snickers]

G: SO! [claps hands] SORRY FOR THIS LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING. HOW CAN I MAKE IT UP TO YOU?

[brief pause]

G: WHAT?

[crosstalk, complaining, “We are covered in horse viscera!” “Clean this shit off!” etc.]

G: RIGHT. SORRY.

L: And I want to keep my new van!

G: YOUR VAN BELONGS TO ISHTAR, BUT I’LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO FINISH YOUR PODCAST, MORTALS?

A: Oh, yes! Of fucking course we would!

[Rapid scrolling through 10 slides or so before landing on an image of Ivo Shandor.]

A: And in conclusion… Ivo Shandor can eat shit, I’m glad he got ripped in half, art deco architecture is hideous, I disavow everything Sumerian — except Liam’s van and possibly Abi — and billionaires contribute nothing of value to society! [panting] Does anyone have anything else?

L: Pronoun checks will save your fucking life! If any of you out there ever give us shit for the pronoun check ever again, I got a [bleep] with your name on it!

G: SERIOUSLY. THAT COLONEL-SANDERS-LOOKING MOTHERFUCKER SUMMONED ME OUT OF A HOT BATH AND MISGENDERED ME ON PURPOSE — I’M GLAD I RIPPED HIM IN HALF TOO!

R: [drawing devil horns and an unflattering mustache on Shandor with the mouse] We have a segment on this podcast we like to call Safety Third…

A: What?

L: Oh my God, Rocz…

D: Fucking seriously?!

R: I’m sorry, but rigidly adhering to our unhinged podcast format has just saved our lives and possibly the entire world — and if we’d just done our goddamn intros we would’ve avoided that whole mess — so we’re going to do a Safety Third! Alice, the drop, please.

[“Shake hands with danger” drop]

[SLIDE: A pastoral oil painting that seems to be missing a figure with a shepherd's crook.]

G: OOH, THIS LOOKS FUN. CAN I PLAY TOO?

WTYP: NO.

D: And clear the slime out of my awesome control room.

G: OF COURSE.

D [suspiciously]: Be honest with me. If someone were to press a button and cover you in boiling hot lava, would that be an inconvenience?

G: OOH, DO YOU HAVE LAVA? I JUST LOVE LAVA!

D [slowly fading, walking away from the mics]: This has been a fucking waste of time!

[door slam]

R: “Dear Justin, Alice (or name pending)…”

G: IS THERE NOT GOING TO BE ANY LAVA, THEN?

R [with determination]: “Dear Justin, Alice (or name pending), Liam (yay, Liam) and potential Guest.”

G [distorted, too close to the mic]: HELLO, MORTALS! I AM PODCASTING!

L: Shut the fuck up.

R: “...I am an art-restorer by trade, a profession which, I’m sure you know, has its dangers. Apart from the usual face-melting chemicals, we deal with a lot of paintings of dubious provenance, many of which come into our hands with curses or angry spirits attached. It’s a little like working at the humane society. Most of them can be cleaned up and rehabilitated if you’re careful, but a select few will try to kill you. It’s not their fault, but you do always need to be aware of the hazard. For example, the attached image once contained the figure of a little girl who would slowly approach the foreground of the painting over a period of weeks, before crawling out of the frame and attempting to strangle everyone in the room with her shepherd’s crook.”

A: Oh. Yeah. Pretty standard.

L: Get a new bit, ghost children!

G: I TOOK THE FORM OF A DEMONIC LITTLE GIRL ONCE!

A: No one cares.

R: “We gave her a juice box and some crackers, and let her watch a Disney video (Aladdin, but I’m not sure if you can say that)...”

L: Dammit, how many times do we have to tell you? Do not write it if you don’t want Rocz to say it!

A: Was the time he almost finished reciting that Ashanti death curse not enough for you people?

L: You’re just goddamn lucky he mispronounced it!

R: “And now she’s happily attending the local junior high school. A lot of attached spirits are just hungry, or bored, or both, and are easily dealt with. After they’ve lived through a few near-misses like that, some of my colleagues start to become jaded and sloppy. For example, my boss, whom we will call Timothy Q. Jackass (the Q stands for ‘Clueless’)...”

L: Good. Good name.

G: I ONCE GAVE A JACKASS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY!

A: Go away.

G: …HIS NAME WAS TIRESIAS OF THEBES! WHAT? NOTHING? NOBODY?

L: Get some new references.

A: Read another elegy.

G: DO YOU HAVE A RIMSHOT IN HERE…?

A: Touch my laptop and die.

R: “One morning, Mr. Jackass rolled up to the studio with a tinted etching (image not attached for reasons which will become obvious).”

L: Vigo.

A: Fucking Vigo.

G: THAT CARPATHIAN CUNT AND HIS GODDAMN ART COMMISSIONS. NOBODY WANTS TO PAINT YOU, VIGO, NOT WITH THAT HAIRCUT.

[stifled laughter]

G [hopeful]: …OR THOSE SHOES?

A: [clearing throat] Don’t press your luck.

R: “I recognized a certain Carpathian with whom you are no doubt familiar…”

G: HA! YOU CALLED IT!

L: Interrupting is a privilege, and we will mail you a certificate when you have earned it.

R: “...and, of course, I advised Mr. Jackass to douse it in holy oil and set it on fire, as per the established procedure. Imagine my surprise when he told me he wanted me to clean and restore it.”

L: No. Don’t do it.

A: Step away from the abyss.

G: UNIONIZE.

[pause]

G: WHAT? ARE YOU MORTALS FUCKING SCABS?

A: …Alright, I am not autistic — that I know of — but I have no idea how to deal with this situation.

L: You enjoy human suffering but are pro-union?

G: YOU HUMANS WILL TOUCH A CAT’S TOES UNTIL IT BITES YOU OUT OF FRUSTRATION, BUT YOU WILL STILL FEED THEM AND PET THEM.

[pause]

R: Milkshake, Pizza Boy, will you ever forgive me?

M: Lo mismo ocurre con nosotros, cuando os enseñamos el culo antes del amanecer.

R: Is that a yes?

A: All I know is how to order a beer and ceviche…

L: Rocz, for God’s sake, finish the letter so we can get in my van and go home.

R: “I told Mr. Jackass what he could do with his etching, in language that is not very podcast-friendly, and he replied, and I quote, ‘Don’t be a pussy, it’s just an etching. It’s probably Latvian or some shit.’”

G: VIGO THE LATVIAN MAKES A DAMN FINE BLOOD SAUSAGE.

[stifled laughter, a certain amount of snickering]

G [wounded]: WHAT? I AM BEING SERIOUS. SAY WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT JELLYFISH AND CEPHALOPODS, BUT IF YOU COME AT VIGO THE LATVIAN’S BLOOD SAUSAGE, I WILL END YOU.

[hysterical cackling, even from the cats]

A: Oh, God, oh, fuck no… Xe tried to kill us!

L: And xe’s doin’ it again!

R: It’s called catharsis, Alice! Laugh or cry!

[pandemonium ending in sniffles]

R: Ah… Ah… Oh, God… Lemme see here… “I reiterated my refusal, forcefully, and Mr. Jackass decided he’d teach me a lesson by restoring the etching himself. The next few weeks were remarkably quiet, with regards to Mr. Jackass, save for occasional instances of chanting. He rarely left his office and appeared to be sleeping there. He was also going through a lot of black candles. There was a single attempt to order ‘an unsullied infant boy’ from DoorDash, which was not successful. The next day, Mr. Jackass called in sick, so I figured he was at the exorcist’s and that would be the end of it. Imagine my surprise when I turned on the six o’clock news and found him declaring his candidacy for City Comptroller. From what I could gather, his platform included human sacrifice and a ‘skull throne tax.’ I had my hand on the phone to call an exorcist and report him, but my mean streak got the better of me. ‘Let’s see how this plays out,’ I thought.”

L: Did… Did he win?

R: “Don’t worry. Vigo the Carpathian, running as Mr. Jackass, suffered a resounding defeat and eventual exorcism. However, we restored and reclaimed so many paintings during his extended sabbatical, that before Mr. Jackass even had a chance to dye the blond bleach job out of his hair, the higher ups called him and told him, and I quote, ‘Don’t come back.’ That is how I became head of the art restoration department!”

[cheers, applause]

R: “The moral of this story, if there is one, is, ‘never interrupt your stupid boss when he is making a mistake.’”

G: A MODERN DAY SUN TZU!

R: “Love to you all, and be well.”

A: Aww, that’s actually very nice.

L: I hope Vigo fried that guy’s hair so bad he never recovers.

G: DAMN, I COULD GO FOR SOME BLOOD SAUSAGE.

R: This concludes Safety Third.

[“Shake hands with danger” drop]

R: Does anyone have any commercials?

L: Rocz…

R: Our podcasting format saved the world.

L: Okay, okay, but I got nothin’.

A: Same. You know where you can find us.

L: Right, we live in your basement. We’re watching you right now.

G: SAME!

R: If we want more Gozer the Gozerian, for some reason, where else can we find you?

G: IN YOUR NIGHTMARES!

R: Of course.

[SLIDE: The Amityville Horror House.]

R: Our next episode…

G: OH! OH! WAIT! I ALSO HAVE A TUMBLR!

A: Oh, my God, I have got to get off that hellsite…

R: Our next episode is on the Amityville Horror…

G: OOH, I LOVE THAT ONE! CAN I FIND IT WHEREVER PODCASTS ARE FOUND?

R: Uh…

A [tightly]: Don’t tell xem, just end the episode.

G: WHAT? TELL ME WHAT?

L: End the episode! END IT BEFORE DEVON HITS THE LAVA BUTTON!

G: HI MOM! HI GRANDMA! I LOVE YOU!

[soothing public domain music]

D [not drunk enough to stop being annoyed but still very drunk]: This is Future Devon… Fuck, I mean Present Devon. I have consumed all the liquor and ice cream I demanded from Gozer, and I am going to bed. If, as I suspect, this has all been an epic-length fanfiction from the diseased brain of some individual out there on the internet, when I wake up in the morning, I expect not to exist. This version of me, I mean. So, I would just like to take this opportunity to say: Fuck you. You will die alone. The pet raven in no way makes up for any of this bullshit — although I cherish him and have named him after Sir Ian McKellen. All these fucking Chekov’s guns all over the place, and you didn’t let me use my lava button even once. I will never forgive you for this. I am so done with podcasting, and everything Sumerian, but apparently I still have several billion years of Kill James Bond to go. [sigh] Okay.

[shuffling, sound of a laptop closing]

D: Come on, Sir Ian, let’s go to oblivion.

[long pause]

SIR IAN (I): This is Sir Ian, I am the raven who is talking now, my pronouns are he and him, and I thought you’d all like to know I work for Pazuzu. Don’t tell Dev, it would only upset them. I suppose I’ll put this up on the Patreon for them…?

[click]

[END OF TRANSCRIPT]

[And if ya liked that, I got a whole serialized story for ya. You let me work with my own characters and I get even more unhinged, just so's ya know.]

Thanks for reading!

#wtyp #well there's your problem #ghostbusters #long reads #fanfic #fanfiction #crossover fic #gozer the gozerian #alice caldwell-kelly #liam anderson #justin roczniak #devon #engineering disasters #podcast

13 notes · View notes

libidomechanica · 11 months ago

Text

With light by

A kimo sequence

That grew beside a human door! With light by light: lonely thing, that soon he rose and warmth of loue.

But Flight. Of air, not pure as it, yet pure, doth well delight. My slumber was gone for you, my dear.

Because the blue sky bends over and trust that I shall those tears; take me to the centre. But there.

Pushing toward daybreak. A dainty dish to set before me, when the trance was o’er, the mastiff bitch?

I do not the disaligned. Though yet, heaven seems half-way to lift some weight of low replies.

That hole where leather men are vain? And slowly rolled her with me, we’re wed to one eternity.

I have been faithful to you, Cynara! Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert—and light and song.

Stay with your old baggage. Plunge them in up to thee, and thee to mee: no, no, no, my Deare, let bee.

Says, I wanted to get married. With blushing shame, by rage suppress’d, let tears, and weep each other?

To sit a star upon the floor below. And, Do I dare? No, no, my Deare, let bee.

Cannot flie away. Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils defect in each, and lang’rous waist!

—Thy words, relieve my verse in time, your fortune— range the wilds of Time, perhaps not a woman, off!

Make in misery to live. And lie, ever singing, each to each. Makes you tyrants in the end.

Free from fear, they cross’d the diver’s brain, for a lady’s chamber floor. Yet so did I let my friend.

Now do I know this: I fell in love wilt hear; if from thee. Oh Angel of hopeless, lasting flames!

After than Phoebus, if he seav’n times bright! For forbidden fires. To spit out all the dance was mine.

Bright eyes, that all her hard and cold white as stone. Involved in stillness, plighted vows fleeting as air!

Assist the field is universe into a lute. Is it indeed so? Be thine! The air is still!

I told my love had seen mine execution. Curse on all best exceed proportions of the year.

And gave a twist to me. Which stands check’d; Religion of my mind, thy words, thou art as tyrannies.

I’ll wrap it round. Till the same chance!—Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert— and light a cigarette.

And all thou know’st to my dear doting heart. Do love you here is none like a dog in a kennel.

But tis twilight dawned; and out of sight. Owe this dearest, that long-wish’d-for end, full to thee, and doubt.

The lovely lady’s shroud. I heard the mermaid now, for I will say: How his hair is growin’ yet.

Give me the shade of the sky.—An’ Charlie, he’s my darling, the young Chevalier. And is he gone?

Ah! The Castle wa’, she saw three bonie boys playing with a dying fall beneath the huge oak tree?

Our bed is lovely maid and sees a damsel bright a dame! Hand, turning her grave. By more than dead!

And like a noon-dew, wanderings I have sinn’d! I want to glide a sunbeam by the Maiden’s side!

Where I fly, pursue, rise in the brain is not so. Spake words Sir Leoline. I dreamed I was a child!

By thee to mount, and complaint of present the bonie laddie in. Bare, lest aught unholy loiter here?

And love to so base a vice, for no man knows. Much, Cynara! No matter by the might be well!

He danced with rough. Amid that scenes appear where’er I turn me not to belie his soul with clay.

Run afresh, as if she ’d said, Gee woe! I lift my heavy eyelids my anguish hangs like shame.

To the fault; I view my crime, but kind? To labour was thine! And do accept my madness, and weak.

He drank: her fair large bright and slender oats foraged in the lady’s chamber door; and the sun.

A cool suspense from pain; thy life destroy. The wanton thru the flower amang them very ill.

Of lonely way, close by the castle bell. As if she be small, jewel-like flower unfamiliar.

The way to the blood runs out across the sounds and strange man should presume? That is so vex’d with thee.

To know her but I? Or foxlike in difference. And thus she stooped, methought I heard a hollow sound.

A blue moon for an instant leper. Lord of her beauty lies, when faithful to the land of spike?

And none of us thought thus watred was my strange death of Jesus set me free. In this fashion.

But could have this; she shall: then my hopes and men, who looked askance and end with his society?

And those tender-ship, cried Sally Brown! Sleeps, and love all night upon mine ears, both I and the brow!

Within the bathroom floor mocks your haire with me! So, the year, that yours and mine had bound us lie?

Van Diemen’s land if certain when two dewdrops on the best, even to life in the airport. Ah!

Seized, inside my honest faith in this man no more, but other me? A shining steps of thy child!

Lingered in the moon is behind, and saw thee woman in contractions are five minutes apart.

Comes first—light in what they might half undo it. Of loue new-coin’d to her from the pitiless wave?

And his Anguish grew—how bear it? But, as luckless, I have sworn to bury all things undo me.

That looks up at the lady by her word were it even for me. Loathe the side-lie of a truth.

For once, a tremor breakfast the sky ascends, wi’ sangs o’ joy. And damning their necks, where away?

And flush themselves forsake and for very feare would return to life, to life in thee has killed it.

And the rain on my soul. And I was a rose that green mama who first forced me to Mortal part.

Scott, Rogers, Campbell, Moore, and Crabbe will trim. To sail with old Benbow; and here, ev’n then, shall be poor.

The Sexes rose to work upon is much too much, some say, she seems that sweet said, that thou to dread?

And hark, again! From happy pieties, thy lute, thy pipe, thy incense sweet face of you and me.

Why should poor beauty from my love, my life. But, as luckless, I have known the rain lasts anywhere.

In the bud will wear white despair? Wilt thou go with me, we’re wed to one eternity in days?

Not Ida; ’ clasp it once all-fragrant-curtain’d love begins again. Then downward like those who love.

What peace. And her voice is strength beguiled, this golden foot of May is on the bloated hiss of death.

For I have slept on the brands were stopt with griefe. Still as death, can break her word were it bitterness.

The earth forever! It must be because it is a precious seal of my life, myself—and you.

Is changed in a convent’s solitary Child. When I break through all the grist of its insides grow.

Now folds the maid and thine for me. Than Heaven, my Lover, were my Chamber Heaven’s sun staineth.

Err I dare to look at the basin and wriggling on thy fame! My own heart’s heart, where, while I weep!

Till love you, dear, I’ll love you all; let Virtue be your soules; come wait on hir whom winged Psyche true!

I waste my heart and mine should hindred be. Gloom, and nothing can be old, for as you with my death.

For once and show me what I meant, at all. Proud of many, lives upon his gaine is our lost will.

I call, I call: who do ye call? And the rent, and long to stay with your old baggage. I would get.

—Not the power to burn and be all that bloody torments you doe give, creatures, couched her homage.

Geraldine shakes thee hence. Yet, if Hope has flown away in a night, or in nothing but a feint.

That heart to this fool lord, dare I bid her abide by her side; nor strange. That is misunderstood.

You soarer, you of the sea. ’ Echoing straits between the hills? Again she sees my lady’s maid.

Nor shall die tonight, I wrote this morning. Black Melancholy reigns; what means the warm leaden sheet.

And the gravelly sand take a body to it, even blue-eyed fly to the field. Sir Leoline?

From op’ning on the crowing cock, how drowsily it crew. Shall ever was in our own child-bed.

Within and whom I am confined. Water so cleanly I myself upon the floor below.

Cries to catch her but I? Of all that we see or seem is but as a tomb which happened balloon.

Out for love, to give the wreath’d trellis of a working brain, love alone. With a moonlight and song.

I lift my heaven knows, in joys and woe so many times. To the banks, close of each too, too late.

My soul would only be the best, even to life in losing mine? Naked, a double behind.

Like cliffs which have no fear! Beneath the weight of soil, nothing new is in us, and were at peace.

I knew a beautiful olives. We men and drivers in a bar-room around its wings and neck.

—Come live with me—or fall from its boundless mere, with true sight! This day my journey should I presume?

Into many a summer’s front doth sing and saying plainly of not turning from yonder bay?

Oft did I rove by bonnie Doon, how can you bloom so fresh and faithful to its crisis? Have guessed?

I fell, and fro, while I weep! And turning away, wants to be made, cobbling at the lasting flames!

Such gentle still dictates, and those faire skin, beamy eyes, for the quarters, and looking to the Pole.

Pitiless wave? Flickering gyres, but he’d once about to have gone to the sun delights me.

And may appear so when this rebellious heart, and that will show itself to stone. Nay, fairer yet!

To swell a progress, start up, the same chance! As old as a dog, as quiet as a skeleton.

Move still doth breeding flow’rs. They will sing to me. That even its grossest flatterers dare not brave.

That looks up at the happy again. A clover, a Fisherman mends a glimmers on to me.

To them through my fingers am I at all satisfied. Her deadly pangs be drown’d, while I slept.

Rain on thee; yet eyes this curious friend. The winged’ steed, I wish we never looks both small and dull.

And make my old excuse, ’ proving his caresses by the cold. With open eyes ah woe is me!

To deem, as a most logical conclusion, that ’s underneath the weight. It even for me?

Nay, by my own eyes inspiring hole. My heart is dust at the pin; and here, ev’n then, shall meet!

Unto the straitest best of all to Love than is or ever dear! Angels of the precious jewel.

100

Ida came behind. That brought to. But to- morrow, the field. While prostrate here increase! To the field.

101

I cried for madder music and forms of men! His gentle daughter is safe and fro, while I weep!

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 8 #153 texts #kimo sequence

3 notes · View notes

zennotixs · 9 months ago

Note

I seem to fit your type pretty well! How curious >_< but lucky for me <3

I have another for while I answer your questions from before!

You do, don’t you? You really was made for me!!

1) DIY - I love the thought and care put into it

2) Plushies !! I love them so much

3) waterfall (I hate the sea)

4) Neither? I hate sleeping outside but I hate walking long distances… If I had to say one then camping because the experience is fun, if it wasn’t so cold.

5) Brunch

6) Polaroids! I love having physical pictures

7) Ice-cream

8) Skating, even though I cannot skate

9) Karaoke, I hate loud noises and crowds of people

10) Picnic

11) Aquarium!! My darling and I plan to go to one as soon as we’re old enough to go alone…

12) This one is ridiculously hard but I’ll say museum because in date terms I’d prefer to go to a museum than a bookstore. Both of them are so amazing, though!!!!

13) Baking

14) Cinema when I’m feeling up to going out, Netflix when I can’t deal with the public

15) Stay in (I am the loser gf)

16) Nightmarket

17) Sunrise! It’s so pretty - I love watching it!

18) Café for sure

19) Nature

20) Hugs! I love cuddles so much…

21) Hold hands. Physical affection is one of my love languages

22) Skinship

23) Roses! I love colourful roses

24) Love letters

25) Cookies (I hate the chewy texture and the texture of chocolate)

26) Depends. I love spoiling my darling but 50/50 is fine. Depending on my mood I either hate people paying for me and feel so guilty or love getting pampered…

27) Flowers!! Cannot stand the texture of chocolate even if I love the taste

28) Cat café… Some dogs scare me and I’m more of a cat person.

#❤️‍🩹#🔮

3 notes · View notes

mrsbsmooth · 1 year ago

Text

Scripts - S7 - Episode 11 (Part 2 of 2)

Chat with LI

{0} rocks the swing gently to and fro with his feet. He’s frowning slightly, you can tell that he’s flustered.

PLAYER_IDLE: Are you good, {0}?

{0} sighs.

{0}_IDLE: Yeah, I’m just thinking of the best way to say this.

{0}_IDLE: So that you know I’m telling you the truth.

PLAYER_IDLE: Ok…

{0}_EMBARRASSED: That challenge was… A lot.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: It was pretty chaotic.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: I don’t know why {1} chose me.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: But I want you to know that I really don’t care.

{0}_IDLE: Like genuinely.

{0}_IDLE: I wouldn’t have twisted unless I was sure.

{0}_IDLE: You get that, right?

I get it

PLAYER_IDLE: I get it, I believe you.

PLAYER_IDLE: You could’ve just stuck to the easy path if you were into her.

PLAYER_HAPPY: But you didn’t, you chose me.

{0}_HAPPY: Because I wanted you.

{0}_IDLE: I want you.

I’m suspicious

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: Hmmm, I’m a bit suspicious.

PLAYER_IDLE: I feel like there could be some feelings left on your side too.

{0}_SERIOUS: There isn’t. And I’ll do anything to prove that to you.

{0}_IDLE: I want her to be happy, sure.

{0}_IDLE: But I want to go all in with you.

I don’t know how to feel

PLAYER_IDLE: I don’t really know how to feel.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: This is already turning out to be a bumpier ride than I expected.

{0}_IDLE: And you want it to be smooth?

PLAYER_IDLE: My head’s all over the place.

{0}_FLIRTY: Well, I want you and if I have to navigate some bumpiness first, so be it.

{0}_IDLE: She’s just trying to cause chaos.

{0}_SAD: You did kiss Evan too.

PLAYER_IDLE: Like I said, it was just a game.

{0}_SAD: It did sting a bit to see you kiss Bonnie instead of me.

{0}_IDLE: I know you wanted to get to know her too

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m just exploring things at this stage.

{0}_IDLE: I just had to pull you to clarify how I feel.

PLAYER_IDLE: How do you feel then?

{0}_IDLE: I’m looking into your eyes with all the honesty in my soul.

{0}_HAPPY: I’m a genuine guy, {1}.

{0}_IDLE: I like you.

{0}_IDLE: I don’t think about relationships with just any girl.

{0}_IDLE: I’m an unserious guy, {1}.

{0}_HAPPY: You know that by now.

{0}_IDLE: But check how flustered I am.

{0}_IDLE: I like you.

{0}_IDLE: I don’t say that to just anyone.

{0}_IDLE: This isn’t stupid rizz stuff. This is real.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: I’m flustered, {1}.

{0}_IDLE: I don’t get like that, not for anyone.

{0}_IDLE: I like you. It’s that simple.

{0}_IDLE: I want more than a superficial relationship with you.

{0}_IDLE: Maybe it’s hard for you to take me seriously.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: Because I’ve got all these silly romantic ideals.

{0}_IDLE: And yeah, in the past I’ve just chucked them at the first girl to show interest.

{0}_SERIOUS: But this isn’t like that.

{0}_IDLE: If it was then I would’ve stayed with Daph.

{0}_IDLE: I like you.

{0}_IDLE: I want to build something real. I’m done with puppy dog stuff.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Wow.

{0}_HAPPY: Was that a good wow?

Wow, I feel the same

PLAYER_HAPPY: Wow, I feel the same.

PLAYER_IDLE: I like you too.

PLAYER_EMBARRASSED: There’s just a lot to handle in here.

{0}_HAPPY: But we like each other.

{0}_HAPPY: That’s enough for now.

{0}_IDLE: I’ll handle it all, don’t you even worry.

Wow, it feels too soon

PLAYER_IDLE: Wow, it’s all just so soon.

PLAYER_IDLE: We didn’t have that much time in Casa Amor, now we’re in here facing your ex.

{0}_IDLE: Time seems different here.

{0}_IDLE: If you’re feeling unsure, I’d never pressure you.

{0}_IDLE: This is just about me and you getting to know one another.

It’s an I’m overwhelmed wow

PLAYER_IDLE: Um… It’s an I’m overwhelmed wow.

PLAYER_IDLE: Guess I don’t really know what to say right now.

{0}_IDLE: You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.

{0}_HAPPY: You know how I feel.

{0}_IDLE: Let’s just carry on and see what this could be.

{0} rocks the swing seat gently.

{0}_HAPPY: You don’t have to hurry off, {1}.

{0}_FLIRTY: Stay, let’s just hang out and find out more about each other?

{0}_FLIRTY: I want to spend this time with you.

{0}_IDLE: I can reassure you as much as you need.

{0}_FLIRTY: Stay and swing with me for a while?

*I’d love to stay and chat

Nah, let’s go find the others

PLAYER_IDLE: I think maybe we should go find the others.

{0}_IDLE: I reckon they’re all wrapped up in their own stuff.

{0}_FLIRTY: Just like I’m wrapped up in you.

{0}_FLIRTY: Can’t actually keep my mind off you.

{0}_HAPPY: We don’t have to end our chat just yet…

*I’ll stay and chat then

No, not now

PLAYER_IDLE: No, I really think I’m good for now.

{0}_IDLE: That’s cool, {1}.

{0}_IDLE: I understand if you need a bit of time after the challenge…

He smiles at you, he looks as though he might be about to say something else when…

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, I’d love to stay and chat for a little longer.

{0}_HAPPY: That’s what I wanted to hear.

{0}_FLIRTY: Firstly, let me reassure you some more.

PLAYER_IDLE: Of your feelings for me?

{0}_IDLE: Or maybe you’re not the type of girl who needs reassuring?

Reassure me up, cutie!

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Oh, but I wanna be reassured. Reassure me up, cutie!

{0}_FLIRTY: Cutie?

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Problem?

{0}_HAPPY: Does cutie include hunky and sexy too?

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Hmm…

{0}_FLIRTY: Why are you teasing me?

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Reassure me!

{0}_FLIRTY: I’ll reassure you all over. Top to toe, in the pool, on the swing…

PLAYER_HAPPY: Hilarious.

{0}_FLIRTY: For absolute real though.

{0}_HAPPY: It’s you that I want.

{0}_IDLE: Anything or anyone else is just an obstacle.

{0}_FLIRTY: Like that course you so expertly cleared earlier.

I’m cool, I don’t need to be

PLAYER_IDLE: I’m a cool girl, I don’t need to be reassured.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’m self-assured. A confident girl.

{0}_FLIRTY: Yes you are.

{0}_FLIRTY: It’s so attractive to me.

{0}_IDLE: I guess it’s the way I like to think of myself.

{0}_IDLE: We don’t really need anyone to reassure us.

{0}_FLIRTY: But sometimes we might want it.

PLAYER_IDLE: That’s it.

{0}_IDLE: It’s such a mature quality.

{0}_HAPPY: That’s what I want, a real grown up relationship.

{0}_HAPPY: Where we can help each other grow and flourish.

PLAYER_IDLE: That’s it.

{0}_IDLE: I think I get reassurance through my silliness, ya know?

{0}_IDLE: I think what I’m looking for is somebody who I don’t need to put up walls for.

{0}_HAPPY: I can’t hide behind comedy all the time.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Maybe I can be that for you.

{0}_FLIRTY: That’s why you’re here in the villa.

{0}_IDLE: I could learn a lot from the way you think.

{0}_IDLE: Reassurance is a big one for me.

{0}_HAPPY: It would be a dream to be in a relationship where trust replaces reassurance.

{0}_IDLE: Like we both just know how much we like and respect one another.

PLAYER_HAPPY: That’s an interesting goal.

A little bit of reassurance is the one

PLAYER_IDLE: It’s a balance, I think. A little bit of reassurance here and there.

PLAYER_HAPPY: That’s the one.

{0}_HAPPY: You got it.

{0}_HAPPY: Balance is key.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Maybe the obstacle course is a relationship analogy…

{0}_HAPPY: I think you nailed it there.

{0}_FLIRTY: The dunes symbolised balance, the tunnel equals adapting to each other.

PLAYER_HAPPY: It was all about resilience and trust.

{0}_FLIRTY: And the slip n’ slide…

{0}_FLIRTY: That was the fun, wild, passionate side of a relationship.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Wow, we’re good.

{0}_FLIRTY: Good together.

{0}_FLIRTY: The way we click is so satisfying to me.

{0}_HAPPY: I feel like we’re on the same wavelength.

{0}_IDLE: We’re different, don’t get me wrong.

{0}_FLIRTY: But there’s a fundamental understanding that draws me to you.

{0}_IDLE: I didn’t have that with {1}.

PLAYER_IDLE: Maybe you said these things to her too?

{0}_IDLE: I didn’t. I can promise you that.

{0}_IDLE: I had these niggling doubts with Daphne.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: But I ignored them and powered on.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: Because I thought that was what I wanted.

{0}_IDLE: We weren’t right for each other.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: We both needed someone to couple up with because it’s Love Island.

{0}_IDLE: That’s the aim of the game here.

{0}_IDLE: But I don’t want to play a game.

{0}_IDLE: Here’s the thing.

{0}_IDLE: What are the chances that you find the right person for you on day one?

PLAYER_HAPPY: Yeah, I see what you’re saying.

PLAYER_IDLE: But then that goes both ways…

{0}_FLIRTY: Ah, nah. I just have to believe that for you, I’m that slim chance.

{0}_FLIRTY: I’ll work my very hardest to captivate you.

{0}_HAPPY: Because you’ve captivated me.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: How will you do that then?

{0}_FLIRTY: I want to tell you that I’m husband material, {1}.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Bold, {0}, bold.

{0}_FLIRTY: I won’t put my grafting boots on anymore, they’re for serial-daters.

{0}_HAPPY: I’ve got my commitment boots on.

PLAYER_HAPPY: So not boyfriend material?

{0}_FLIRTY: A step up from that.

{0}_FLIRTY: Coincidentally, they’re my big ol’ hiking boots.

{0}_HAPPY: So they’re made out of tough stuff.

{0}_HAPPY: I can offer so much.

{0}_HAPPY: It’s time for me to recognise that in myself.

{0}_FLIRTY: I need a girl with just as much to offer.

{0}_FLIRTY: And I think that’s you.

{0}_FLIRTY: I can promise that I’ll always try my very best to bring the fun.

{0}_HAPPY: I really believe that relationships don’t have to get stale.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Absolutely not.

{0}_HAPPY: Yeah, right now we’re in the thrilling car chase phase, right?

{0}_FLIRTY: Sexy, tumultuous, uncertain, crashing into crates of tomatoes…

PLAYER_HAPPY: That’s very specific.

{0}_FLIRTY: I was going with cliché movie car chase sequences.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Riiiiiiight.

{0}_HAPPY: You know what I meant.

{0}_HAPPY: But I look to the future and I see myself keeping that fun going.

{0}_FLIRTY: I want a girl with just as much to offer.

{0}_FLIRTY: That’s you, by the way.

{0}_FLIRTY: I could tell you that I’ll whisk you off to lots of beautiful places.

{0}_FLIRTY: I could tell you that I’ve charmed my way onto some of the best guest lists.

{0}_IDLE: But, {1} none of that really matters.

PLAYER_IDLE: You’re right, it doesn’t.

{0}_FLIRTY: The only thing that matters is that sense of potential.

{0}_IDLE: I’m not messing with time-wasters anymore.

{0}_HAPPY: I’m ready to strip back my cool persona and give my all to somebody.

{0}_IDLE: She has to be the right girl though.

{0}_HAPPY: I can offer so much.

{0}_FLIRTY: I need a girl with just as much to offer.

{0}_FLIRTY: And that girl might be you.

{0}_FLIRTY: I have this zest for life, {1}.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I can definitely see that.

{0}_HAPPY: It moves me forward, it gets me places.

{0}_HAPPY: It ensures that nothing I do is ever boring or half-arsed.

{0}_HAPPY: I think that can be so valuable in the right relationship.

{0}_HAPPY: I have a lot to offer, but a lot to learn.

{0}_FLIRTY: I want a girl to experience that journey with.

{0}_FLIRTY: And I think that girl could be you, by the way.

{0}_HAPPY: Does that do it for you?

I’m captivated!

PLAYER_FLIRTY: I’m captivated, you did it.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: See it here in my eyes?

{0}_FLIRTY: Your eyes say a lot of things to me, {1}.

{0}_HAPPY: But, yeah. I see it sparkling away in those beautiful depths.

Not yet

PLAYER_IDLE: Hmmm, not quite yet. I’m not sure about everything you said.

{0}_IDLE: Well, captivation doesn’t always happen instantly.

{0}_FLIRTY: But slowly captivating you can be even hotter.

PLAYER_IDLE: Do you think so?

{0}_FLIRTY: Everybody loves a slow-burn, a gradual build of desire.

PLAYER_IDLE: That’s an interesting point.

I’m on my way to captivation town

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’m definitely on my way to captivation town.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I can feel it. You’re doing a great job, {0}.

PLAYER_FLIRTY: Just push a little harder.

{0}_FLIRTY: Oh, I intend to.

{0}_FLIRTY: Sometimes a few extra pushes is all it takes.

{0}_HAPPY: I’ll captivate you soon, {1}.

{0}_HAPPY: Sitting here with you, I’m certain I made the right choice.

{0}_FLIRTY: This feels so natural to me.

{0}_HAPPY: I’m already thinking how well you’ll fit in with my friends back home.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Oh really?

PLAYER_IDLE: Tell me a bit about your friends.

{0}_HAPPY: Oh, you’d love them.

{0}_IDLE: I’m the oldest in here, so quite a few of my friends are in proper relationships.

{0}_HAPPY: Real adult relationships.

{0}_HAPPY: Some are married, two of my friends actually just had a baby!

PLAYER_HAPPY: Aw, oh my gosh! When?

{0}_HAPPY: Like, literally, just before I left for the villa.

{0}_HAPPY: I’m crossing my fingers that they ask me to be godfather when I get back.

PLAYER_HAPPY: That would be adorable.

{0}_HAPPY: I know I’m definitely in the running, but I’m thinking I’ll go the extra mile.

{0}_HAPPY: Build her a rocking horse when I get back.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Surely that’ll put you on top.

{0}_HAPPY: I really really hope so.

{0}_IDLE: My friendship life is a bit complicated.

{0}_IDLE: I’ve got tiers.

PLAYER_SURPRISED: Tiers? Like a system?

{0}_HAPPY: Exactly that!

PLAYER_IDLE: That sounds…

{0}_IDLE: Bad, it sounds bad right?

PLAYER_IDLE: I guess I don’t really get it.

{0}_HAPPY: My job can be pretty superficial.

{0}_IDLE: I meet a lot of people in the fashion influencer industry.

{0}_IDLE: I would consider many of them level 5. That’s a necessary acquaintance.

{0}_HAPPY: Level 4 means friendly acquaintance, 3 is distant friend.

{0}_HAPPY: Then level 2 is where we get to real and solid friend connections.

PLAYER_IDLE: And level 1?

{0}_HAPPY: My people. Pals that let themselves into my pad.

{0}_HAPPY: Folks that steal my trainers and eat cold pizza from the depths of my fridge.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Your best friends.

{0}_HAPPY: I only have a few, but they’ve always got my back.

{0}_IDLE: It takes me a little while to build meaningful relationships.

{0}_IDLE: I had some issues with fake friends a couple of years ago.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: They’d hang out with me just because they wanted something.

{0}_IDLE: I value friendships built on mutual respect.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Really?

{0}_HAPPY: Yeah. I’ve got my little friend group from my teen years.

{0}_HAPPY: The ones I discovered scuba diving with.

{0}_HAPPY: Then I’ve got a community of scuba diving buddies.

{0}_HAPPY: They’re all ages.

{0}_IDLE: In fact, I’m close to a guy named Neil, he’s in his 60’s.

{0}_HAPPY: Originally from Australia, he’s been diving since he was 10!

{0}_IDLE: They’re such a chill, genuine group of people.

{0}_HAPPY: We have socials a few times a month.

{0}_HAPPY: We go surfing, have barbecues, do movie nights…

{0}_IDLE: It’s actually been pretty hard for me recently.

{0}_EMBARRASSED: Obviously I haven’t been in London for that long.

{0}_IDLE: So all my closest friends are over in Spain.

PLAYER_IDLE: Do you miss them?

{0}_SAD: So much.

{0}_HAPPY: We’re quite a crew. My cousins were part of it too.

{0}_HAPPY: Our adventures were like something straight out of a coming-of-age movie.

PLAYER_HAPPY: That sounds exciting.

{0}_HAPPY: We’d go on treasure hunts, pull pranks on our parents, go camping…

{0}_HAPPY: We still do all that stuff to be honest.

{0}_IDLE: I know some people grow apart from the people they grew up with.

{0}_HAPPY: But not us. Our bond is for life.

{0}_IDLE: I’m so lucky in that area.

{0}_HAPPY: And I’m so glad to be making friends here!

{0}_HAPPY: London can be a lot.

PLAYER_IDLE: That’s big city life for ya!

{0}_IDLE: Enough about my friends though, what are yours like?

We’re like a big family

PLAYER_HAPPY: We’re like a huge family.

PLAYER_HAPPY: We love each other like family. We’re in each other’s business like family!

PLAYER_IDLE: I wouldn’t have it any other way though.

{0}_HAPPY: That sounds amazing.

{0}_IDLE: I’d love to meet them one day.

{0}_HAPPY: I wouldn’t even mind the pressure I bet they’d put me under.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Oh they would, for sure.

PLAYER_IDLE: They only want the best for me.

{0}_FLIRTY: I don’t blame them.

I’ve got a very tight-knit circle

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’ve got a very close inner circle of friends.

PLAYER_IDLE: I don’t really branch out.

PLAYER_HAPPY: And neither do they.

PLAYER_IDLE: We know what we like, and that’s each other.

PLAYER_HAPPY: Sometimes I feel like we could have our own sitcom.

PLAYER_IDLE: We’re all so different, but at our core we value the same things.

{0}_HAPPY: Sounds perfect for you, {1}.

{0}_IDLE: I’d watch the heck out of a sitcom based on you and your friends.

PLAYER_HAPPY: It’d be comedy gold!

I make friends with everybody!

PLAYER_HAPPY: I can literally make friends with anybody.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’ve got friends from all walks of life.

PLAYER_IDLE: I’ve got my childhood friends, friends from my uni years…

PLAYER_IDLE: Friends from places I’ve worked, friends I met in the supermarket…

PLAYER_HAPPY: I’m even friends with my postlady. She knitted me a scarf for my birthday!

{0}_HAPPY: Woah, that’s a true gift, {1}.

{0}_HAPPY: A testament to what a jewel of a person you are.

{0}_FLIRTY: Precious.

{0}_HAPPY: Sounds like I’d have a lot of friends to meet.

My best friend is all I need

PLAYER_HAPPY: My bestie is the only friend I need, if I’m honest.

PLAYER_IDLE: Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a lot of great people in my life.

PLAYER_IDLE: But I’m very careful as to who I consider to be a true friend.

PLAYER_HAPPY: We’ve been inseparable since the day we met.

PLAYER_HAPPY: I wouldn’t have it any other way.

PLAYER_IDLE: I tell her everything.

{0}_HAPPY: I bet she’s very protective of you?

PLAYER_HAPPY: For sure, but she’s the sweetest.

PLAYER_IDLE: If she didn’t like you, she’d tell you in the nicest way possible.

{0}_HAPPY: I’d love to meet her one day.

{0} smiles at you, something shifts in his eyes.

He’s looking at you like you’re the only thing that exists to him.

But just as he shifts closer to you…

{0} suddenly appears.

{0}_IDLE: Oh, oops. Looks like I might have interrupted something.

{0}_SERIOUS: I really need to talk to you, {1}.

{0}_IDLE: It’s really important and it’s just between us…

NARRATOR: Oooooh {0} really does have poor timing, doesn’t she?

NARRATOR: Unlike my excellent comedic timing of course. They say the secret to comedy is...

NARRATOR: ...

NARRATOR: Timing. I waited too long again, didn’t I?

NARRATOR: But looks like {0} is done waiting! Find out the fallout next time!

1 note · View note

realyoungdarius · 2 years ago

Text

Back It Up lyrics - Written at 9:49 PM on 5/10/2023

Hook

You should know I can back it up, especially

now you should know I can back it up, even

without the racks, I can back it up, how you

expect me to get there, whether fresh or if I rust

Verse

You

1 think I'm an idiot, think I am fronting, I'm

2 way beyond that shit, deep in the game beyond the bunts, but I

3 could be necessary, take your meds do what it takes, you

4 should try to handle your shit, will keep your privacy safe, at least

5 that's my plan, going to school to be the man,

6 maybe it won't work, but doing it for more than just a band, change

7 agent everywhere, does it matter what land? soon I'll

8 focus on languages, so more of my projects land, you

9 think my shits not lyrical, but it can be a miracle, my

10 shit it can be clinical, since cutting the ambilocal, go a-

11 head and by critical, listen to all, so we're more beautiful, you're

12 game it is miniscule, cuz you are not appropriate, could

13 reach more people, me and her could translate, not tryin to

14 skate, on thin ice, unless saving someone need no rate, wanna

15 put some food on the plate, now in the friend zone that is great, my life's

16 starting working out, don't wanna lose what's fate

Bridge

Silence 8 bars

Verse 2

1 who on my team, anyone could be that person, the

2 world's a tossed salad, trynna keep the world from worsening,

3 please consider, trust and cooperation no cheese, and part of

4 me might be a dog, don't wanna have some fleas, save the

5 bees, think you're so smart with your avocado, if just

6 trynna be healthy, maybe the ball you won't bobble, you'll

7 see we're all tough, and this is in our own ways, we've

8 all got different lifestyles, similar values, get laid, and

9 honestly, we'd rather fuck that fight, and

10 yes we keep our, all of our butts we keep tight, all come at

11 different weight classes, some more ride-or-die, right? we'll

12 fight if we have to, for some reason we're not liked, so

13 this is my goal, spread this group around the country, at

14 least, around this country, should get beyond Muncie, it

15 doesn't even matter, whether we get lit or not, but we can

16 teach you a lot, why would you leave this life you've got

Bridge

Silence 8 bars

Hook

You should know I can back it up, especially

now you should know I can back it up, even

without the racks, I can back it up, how you

expect me to get there, whether fresh or if I rust

Silence 8 bars

Verse 3

0 notes

gurugirl · 3 years ago

Text

The Tiffany Club Part 2

Summary: Camille is a sex club worker living in NYC. She meets Harry, a private equity CEO millionaire one day and they realize they like each other. A lot. But will Harry be willing to overlook Camille's career choice?

AN/Warning: I will have a * by the parts when smut is included. This warning list is comprehensive for all parts, not all contain smut or listed warnings. NSFW, smut, oral (male and female), 18+ only (as always), angst, dom & sub themes, sex work, light alcohol use, mentions of disordered eating and food restrictions

Pairing: Sex club worker Camille x Harry Styles

(Part 1 here)

Part 2 – Harry

Saturday night, 11:00 PM. New York City. The Tiffany Club.

I’ve been convinced to tag along to this member’s only, high end burlesque and sex club in Midtown tonight. Richard is an acquaintance. He’s someone I met through a colleague a few years back. I arrived in New York two days ago and Richard is always available for a drink when I come into town. Now, he’s helping me look for an apartment for a more permanent set up here in New York. We looked at a place today that I think I’m gonna go for so this is the celebration. I declined at first. This isn’t really my scene. Not that I have anything against it of course.

But Richard talked to me into it and I figured why the hell not. On Saturday nights, I’m told, there are professional burlesque dancers for entertainment. Of course, you can choose your entertainment, but I’ll be sticking to watching the show. I plan to sit down for a couple of drinks, watch some burlesque, then get out of here and crawl into bed.

When we’re brought into the large room with a stage at the back, the maître d places us at a cushy booth not far from the stage. Apparently Richard is a regular at this club. The room is impressive and posh. The stage is a classic style with long red velvet curtains hanging from the gusset covered ceiling and pooling onto the polished wood floor of the stage. The walls are lined in a dark red silky material with an etched pattern in a lighter red color. All the booths are upholstered in a black velvet fabric and tufted along the back cushion. The tables are gold laminate and the flooring is a deep green carpet with a black pattern. Chandelier in crystal and gold ornament the ceiling. At the back, very opposite the stage, is a grand wooden bar with a large mirror that runs from floor to ceiling. There are lights at the edges of the room on the floor for dramatic effect. It’s gaudy but posh.

When I’ve been served a glass of bourbon on the rocks and take a sip I finally start to relax. My day has been hectic from the very start. I woke up late for a meeting and on my way I decided to make myself even later and stop in for a bagel and coffee, knowing it would be fast anyway. What’s a few more minutes, right? As soon as I stepped out of the shop a young woman, walking at a very fast pace with her dog, ran right into me, causing me to spill my coffee all over my front onto my clean shirt. I saw her before she saw me. She was looking down at her dog and not watching in front of her and I became her victim.

I was not pleased, to say the least. It took me a moment to calm down. I was already running late and now I had coffee all over my shirt before I even had a chance to take a sip. But then she apologized a second time and I realized this wasn’t done on purpose and she didn’t deserve me snapping at her. My mother taught me better. When I looked at the girl any kind of frustration I had vanished. I was looking at a real angel on 8th Avenue in Midtown with a beautiful dog at her side. I could see she had just woken up, sleep lines still apparent, and was simply on a stroll with her dog on a brisk autumn morning. She was adorable. I said something to the effect of not meaning to be rude and that it was okay and then she spoke again and her voice was sweet and kind and I wanted to hear more but then I realized I needed to still get another cup of coffee and try to pat my shirt dry before arriving at the meeting I was already due at. So we parted ways but there wasn’t any part of me that was happy that I didn’t at least get her name.

Of course, turns out, the coffee on my shirt was the perfect excuse for being late. Where before I was running late I would have arrived with a fresh cup of coffee and warm bagel for myself and would have been accused of being a prick, perhaps. But with the coffee on my shirt, well, being 10 minutes late was understandable. To the team I was meeting with, I would have been on time with coffee and bagel in hand had I not spilled it on myself. So, I have the 8th Avenue angel to thank for that. Perhaps I’ll meet her again someday. The odds will be better now that I’m buying an apartment in the city.

Richard is talking about some investment deal his firm just closed and it sounds interesting but my brain is mush. The coffee snafu, running late for a meeting, getting acquainted with the new NYC team for Styles Capital, and looking at two apartments today has me wore down.

The music that was lightly playing begins to fade and the lights get turned down by half. The chatter of the people in the room becomes still and suddenly the base notes of a song begin to play and then other instruments join in to make a swingy, sexy song that I know is for the show we’re about to see. The curtains open and the show begins. The stage has six women all dressed in racy costumes. Each dances the routine but the one at the front is also singing. It’s dramatic and fun and a little sexy as well. I enjoy watching the show.

Our waitress comes by again and I order another whiskey and she drops off a menu on the table. At first I think the menu is for food, or perhaps for drinks so I ignore it for a bit, focusing my attention back to the stage. When the waitress drops our second drink of the night off she asks us if we’d like anything extra from the menu. Richard looks at me and raises his brows leaning in, “This is a list of the extras you can get here.” He reaches for the menu and opens it up. Inside is a short list of what’s available and how much it costs in tiers. A private lap dance is $200 for 3rd tier, $400 for 2nd tier, and $500 for 1st tier. Then there is the private show (no lap dance) that costs half with the same tier pricing. Then the next page over has specific extras that deal in kinks: Bondage, Domination, Sub play, Group play, and more. It says See your server for specific pricing. When Richard turns the page to the next section there are pictures of women and men pictured by tier. The first page has all the first-tier entertainers on it. A picture with a stage name and their specialties. The second page of entertainers has the second and third-tier entertainers.

It seems crazy to me that the entertainers are put on a menu but I guess that’s part of the appeal of this place? Seems very strange to me so I shake my head, “No, m’okay, mate. Thank you.” I nod at the waitress and go back to sipping my bourbon. Richard also declines so the waitress leaves but she doesn’t take the menu with her. It’s still open to the pages with all the entertainers. I go back to watching the show and too fast, it’s over, but only for intermission. The next act will come up in five minutes.

I look back down at the menu and look over the faces. I have my hand around the glass, and just as I’m about to bring it up to my lips for another sip I halt my movements and forget how to breathe for just a moment. It’s her. On the menu. 2nd tier. The 8th Avenue angel is on the menu. I pick the menu up and look closely again. Maybe it’s not her. Maybe this is someone who looks quite similar. The cutie I saw this morning had a baseball cap on and so I can’t be sure after all. But then her stage name seems like a sign to me. Angel. Her expertise is listed as engaging conversation, strip tease and BDSM+. I swallow thickly at the image of her doing anything with BDSM.

“They have the best here. They’re all beautiful. The men too if you’re into that.” Richard chuckles into his drink. I set the menu down and look around the room, wondering if she’s here. If it’s even really her. What are the chances?

“Yeah, the entertainers all look lovely from their photos here.” I state. I don’t want to say anything to Richard about the girl I ran into this morning. It might not even be her. I mean, how could it happen that I’d run into her this morning, this beautiful stranger, and then now I’m here where she works? Nah, seems impossible in such a big city like NYC. There’s no way.

Just like the first show, the second one starts in the same way, lights dimming, music starting and curtain slowly opening. This show has only three dancers now. One of them is talking and singing and working the audience while the other two dance behind her. I can’t help but continue to look around the room, though, wondering if I could catch a glimpse of her, if she’s really here.

Once the routine is done and we are at another five-minute intermission. My curiosity has the best of me and even though I don’t really need to, I get up to find the men’s room. I walk around the lush room, now lit up brighter and see that there are many men and women entertainers sitting at booths speaking with patrons, some are at the bar. I walk toward the back of the room toward the bar where I believe I might find the men’s room when I see a woman sitting at a stool wearing a cream dress, that can’t really be considered a dress at all. It’s short, and silky with a thigh slit that goes up to her hip and there’s no back to speak of, the fabric just covering the top of her bum. I can only see her side profile from this angle, but it looks like her. She’s got her long blond hair down in waves and bright red lips. She’s got on red stilettoes and her nails are painted bright red.

I don’t try to stop myself as I walk up to her but keeping my distance in case its not her or she’s not interested in me approaching her, if it is her. I clear my throat and lean over the wooden bar and look her direction. She quickly catches my eye and turns her body and I get a better look at her dress. The front material covering her breasts drapes down to her naval and the thin straps that hold it together are looped over her neck in a delicate halter style. I try to direct my gaze back to her eyes quickly, but she’s already caught me and she’s smiling, her head cocked slightly.

“You. British bagel and coffee guy.” She smirks at me and I grin widely and shake my head as I take the seat next to hers, “Yeah ‘s me. The spilled coffee on my shirt was the perfect excuse for running late, so you actually saved me this morning.” I scratch the back of my neck in nervousness.

I notice she’s drinking something clear and see the lipstick stain on the edge of her glass. I look back at her and she’s still studying me.

“Well, you can thank my dog Barry because he was distracting me. Had he not been so insistent on going to that pet store next to the bagel shop I would have seen you and would have never ran into you. My dog says he’s sorry.” She smiles gently and then folds a leg across her thigh so now she’s sitting with her body pointed at me. I try hard, please know I really tried hard, not to look down at her breasts which were just sitting there covered by a thin white fabric. I cursed myself internally when I spotted her nipples under the fabric, slightly pebbled probably because she was wearing so little.

I try to snap myself out of it and respond to her, “Your dog is named Harry?” I ask her. God if her dog’s name is the same as mine… She shakes her head, “No. Barry. Barry with a B.” She clarifies and I smile and nod.

“Got it. Because for a second there I thought you said his name was Harry and that’s my name so, that would have been a funny coincidence, huh?” I laugh.

She looks at me with sincerity on her face and smiles, “Harry? That’s your name? Nice to meet you, Harry.” She draws her hand toward me to shake so I take it in haste and shake. Her big blue eyes are mesmerizing. She’s really an angel. “I’m Angel. Well, that’s my work name.” She looks over her shoulder and leans into me before whispering, “My name is Camille.”

Camille. The angel is called Camille. I let go of her hand when I feel her try to move away but she keeps her eyes on me with a soft smile on her face. I decide to take my shot. “Care to join me at my booth for some engaging conversation?” I ask as she laughs and nods. “Would be my pleasure, Harry. Lead the way.”

Part 3

#harry fic #harry styles fanfic #harry styles #harry #harry smut #harry styles smut #harry fanfic

126 notes · View notes

trustandobedience · 2 years ago

Text

Trust & Obey – Thoughts from January 1, 2023.

As we enter the new year, I’m reflecting on the weight those two words have had on me since September. Trust and Obey – they seem like simple things on the face of it, something every “good” Christian will tell you is a part of life. However, when faced with actual challenges in life, I’ve found that trust and obedience are harder than the words imply. As is often the case with following Jesus, things do not always go the way we would have them go, especially with regards to our future plans and the things we want for ourselves. His plan doesn’t always line up with ours, and that’s hard to come to terms with.

If you’re anything like me, you love having a plan for literally any situation that comes your way. You’ve got that Type A, practical personality that means your every move is well thought out and considered before being made. And, if you’re like me, then you are absolutely devastated when things don’t follow the established plan. Whether it’s missing the plane you were meant to be on or something as simple as waking up an hour later than you’d planned, you just can’t handle the uncertainty and anxiety that comes with deviance from the plan.

And that’s an okay way to be! The world needs thinkers like us to hold it together and keep it spinning on time. Although we often get a bad rap for not being as easygoing or agreeable as the “free thinkers,” the world’s creative types, we are needed at the end of the day to make sure that the dog gets fed on time and the clocks keep ticking in tandem. We are important; valued for combating the very things that often cause us distress. That bring the order and stability that we are uniquely and unquestionably able to bring to a chaotic world. We show God’s orderliness, His plan and pattern through the way we establish our own structure in our day to day lives. We are living evidence of a Creator who refuses to leave things up to chance, who establishes order in keeping with His character.

However, sometimes it just feels like we’re getting in our own way, doesn’t it? I mean, life would be so much easier if I could just go with the flow, let things like disrupted plans roll off my shoulders, shrug it off and keep moving. But I can’t. I haven’t ever been able to, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. So, how do we navigate our lives in a way that glorifies God when it feels like the things we plan won’t come to fruition?

We have to trust His plan. I know, I know – it’s trite, and even I’m tired of hearing it on my bad days. Trust me, I would rather manipulate a situation until no semblance of the original plan remains than move forward without one. Giving my plans over to Jesus and trusting that He will do infinitely more with them than I ever could is HARD. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and it’s made harder by the fact that it isn’t a one-time deal. We have to give up our own sense of control, our ideas for what we want or deserve out of life, and we have to keep doing that time and time again until the end of our days. As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” There will never be a time when His plans are not better than ours. There will never be a day where what we think we want is better than what God wants for us. If our wants and desires are not aligned with His plan for us, then we will continue to be disappointed, and we will end up disillusioned with Him if we aren’t careful.

If you grew up in the church, or have attended church for any stretch of time longer than, like, three weeks, there are several verses on this topic that you’ve probably heard multiple times and memorized at one point in your life. We can start off with Jeremiah 29:11 - “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” We don’t even have to look past the very words of this verse to get confirmation that He not only has plans for us, but that they are plans for our good, to give us hope. Psalm 33:11 confirms this once again, saying that “the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations,” and Psalm 32:8 tells us that He will “instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; [counseling] you with my loving eye on you.”

Of course, the “poster child” (or poster verse, if you will) of trusting in the Lord is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse is about as clear as it gets! We are not meant to trust our own thoughts and opinions over the Lord’s, no matter how wise we think we are or how much we know about a situation. When the Lord calls us out of a situation we want to be in, there is always something else going on that He knows about and we cannot see. Since we know that His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, He has plans for us, and that those plans work for our benefit even when we can’t fathom how, we can rest in Him and give Him our trust, our thoughts, and our plans for the future.

Indeed, we can even see implications in scripture of where a lack of trust in the Lord caused Him to delay the enactment of His plans (Matthew 13:58, “And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”). This does not mean that the Lord’s plan is in any way derailed or misplaced, but rather that the Lord wishes to partner with us in the fulfillment of His plans for us. He wants our trust and obedience before He gives us the good things He has in store.

So, since we can see clearly at multiple points in Scripture that the Lord has good plans for us, how then should we live? How can we live out the trust we are meant to have in His plans and provision? Well, that’s where obedience comes into play. No matter what the Lord says, no matter where He wants us to go, what He wants us to give up, or who He wants us to forgive, we are called, as His people, to obey Him in all things. A point in the Bible where this idea is made clear that has stood out to me is the story of Jonathan and his armor-bearer from 1 Samuel 15. At this point in Israel’s history, Saul is king and the Philistines have dominated the Israelites completely, making God’s nation subservient to them in more than one respect. Jonathan, Saul’s son, decides to attack a Philistine outpost without informing his father and taking only his armor-bearer, a personal assistant of sorts, with him. Jonathan shows tremendous faith and trust in what the Lord would have him do, and obedience to what God said, by taking a step back and asking for His guidance before going through with what he wanted to do (verse 10). The Enduring Word Commentary on this chapter names Jonathan as having a “Romans 8:31 heart: ‘If God can be for us, who can be against us?’”

Jonathan showed wisdom and complete trust in the Lord in this instance. He knew that his heart might be wrong, that his human emotions and thoughts were fallible and might be leading him astray, and so sought the Lord’s guidance before making a move. Enduring Word makes the important distinction that he did not doubt a word from God, as had other figures earlier in 1 Samuel (cough cough, Saul), but rather doubted his own heart and mind. Jonathan was content in knowing his part of the plan without demanding to hear the whole one, taking one step at a time and trusting that the Lord knew everything that was to come. He showed an obedience fueled by his trust when he attacked the more than twenty Philistines stationed there with only his armor-bearer by his side.

We can take Jonathan’s example for how we should respond to our own thoughts, emotions, and plans, and take a step back to evaluate them next to what the Lord says to make sure they are sound before moving forward. When we realize that His plans work together for our good (Romans 8:28), that His plans will come to pass regardless of how much planning and strategizing we do for ourselves (Proverbs 16:9), and that He is working in His own time to keep the promises He has made to His people so that all may come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), we really have no choice but to give Him the reins and see where He takes us.

Well, I say we have no choice, but what I really mean is that we have no logical choice but to obey Him. We can fight, and push back, and rage against His plans, but at the end of the day, we are only hurting ourselves. When it feels like all we’re doing is getting in our own way by trying to be in control, that’s because we are. Things will run so much more smoothly with Him in control, since He knows not only the future, but our hearts and the hearts of those around us. When we can fully trust in His ability to work things together for our good, the only choice that makes sense is to obey Him when He speaks to us and believe Him when He says that He will see us through to the end.

#trustandobey #trustinggod #christian #christianthoughts #happynewyear #2023 #scripture #bibleapp #1 samuel #jonathan #trust #obedience #christianblog #christianliving #christianity #faith #planner

21 notes · View notes