#when beef has been given the time and patience and care until it breaks down into something more delicious than

[whiskeyswifty]

Taylor: im so glad midnights sucks :D

Lmao I don’t think she thinks it sucks that’s the problem. She thinks it’s as good as (if not possibly better than) her previous work and that’s an issue as she’s now convinced she doesn’t have to work as hard as she used to to achieve that same level of work. Which…. puts us in a dire situation.

[lovely-little-bull]

Character Bio

«« BASICS »»

« Full name »

Taura Caterina Andreas

« Meaning »

First and middle names mean "pure and innocent bull"; last name means "manly, brave, or warrior".

« Nickname »

Catie

« Reason for Nickname »

It was easier for her childhood classmates to spell and pronounce

« Age »

14 (can vary if RP takes place before/after ToA)

« Birthday »

April 27

« Gender »

Demigirl (she doesn't feel totally connected to the female gender, but she doesn't have a label for it yet)

«Sexuality »

Panromantic Asexual (also doesn't have a label yet)

« Species »

Demigod (¼ Monster)

««Appearance »»

« Height »

5'3

« Weight »

152 lbs

« Body Type/Build »

Mesomorph

« Hair Color »

Golden Brown

« Hair Style »

Wavy/Curly mix; usually loose or tied back with a thin rope

« Eye Color »

Brilliant blue, just like her father's

« Scars »

Various scars spread over body, mostly along torso and arms

« Birthmarks »

N/A

« Tattoos »

N/A

« Piercings »

Ears (Closed)

« Skin Tone »

Fair; lightly tanned

« Other Distinguishing Features »

A pair of nubby ivory horns has begun to protrude from her temples, ending about ¾ of an inch off her head

«« PERSONALITY »»

« General Personality »

Taura is very clever and shy. She comes off as a bit mysterious, preferring not to talk about herself or her past. Despite that and her tendency to keep to herself though, she desperately wants to be accepted for who she is and to feel like she belongs somewhere. She is also very understanding, and she tends to see the good in people. In fact, she'd probably be extremely loyal and kind to her friends if she had any. Still, she is capable of disliking others, usually if they’re rather mean without a good reason to be. Despite all this, Taura is not one to mess with. When she gets too upset, she goes into a blind fury, attacking anything that comes near her. She also suffers from depression and anxiety; she feels as if she is worthless and will constantly get nightmares and traumatizing flashbacks of her past. Taura rarely feels at peace and will run off when she starts getting upset, so that she can calm down and avoid losing control. She has an incredible amount of patience though, so she rarely gets to her breaking point. Given time, her strong sense of imagination will lead her to be a very creative and artistic individual.

« Typical Mood »

Apprehensive

« Triggers »

Mentions or images of car crashes or Tartarus

Unprovoked hatred/violence towards monsters or similarly misunderstood people/creatures

Violent deaths

Can also be physically triggered during a fight if someone takes things too far

« Likes »

People getting along

Things that remind her of home (certain foods, scents, surroundings, etc.)

Reflections of light and other light effects

Nature (although, not so much the sea)

Animals

Different forms of art

Hearing stories

« Dislikes »

Violence

Bullying

Being alone

Matadors

Beef, leather, etc.

Complete darkness 

Her looks (especially her horns)

« Fears »

Zeus, Poseidon, and their children

Tartarus and the possibility of ending up there

Becoming emotionally attached to people

Losing people she cares about 

Losing control of her anger

Socialization with new people

« Accent »

Greek

«« RELATIONSHIPS »»

« Father »

Apollo

« Mother »

Calantha Andreas

« Grandmother »

Damaris Andreas

« Grandfather »

Asterion (The Minotaur)

« Relationship Status »

Single

«« COMBAT »»

« Weapons »

None currently; Trained with a battleaxe and naturally talented at archery (undiscovered)

« Armor »

None currently

« Powers/Special Abilities »

Heightened senses (except for sight)

Increased strength and stamina

Ability to talk to bovine animals

Slight control over the mist

Minor healing abilities

«« BACKSTORY »»

Calantha's Story

Taura's grandmother, Damaris, was a skilled artisan and witch based in Rhodes, Greece. At the time, the Minotaur lived in some ruins near her house, and she came across him one day after he had injured himself. Seeing only the blurred figure of a distressed man, Damaris treated his wounds and found herself rather enamored with the strong, silent nature of the stranger. She made offerings to Aphrodite and Hera in order to have a successful relationship with him, and a year later, Calantha was born. She had developed her father's short temper, which got her into plenty of trouble throughout her adolescence. It didn't help that her mother was virtually blind and her father was constantly going off on his own.

When Calantha turned nine, her father was killed and sent back to Tartarus. To her and her mother, it seemed he had just disappeared. However, they got through it, and Calantha gained a new sense of maturity. She took care of her mother and learned to sew, so that she could sell clothing in her mother's shop.

In high school, Calantha was an outcast. Rumors had been spread that her father was a murderer who fled the country, which wasn't too far from the truth. People were scared of her and constantly avoided her. Even the teachers felt uneasy around her. So, as soon as she graduated, she headed to an arts college in New York. There, she reunited with her father and fell in love with a man she met at a poetry bar. That man turned out to be Apollo. They dated during her last year of college, but eventually, he had to leave.

Later that year, Calantha moved back to Greece. She was planning on bringing her mother to New York to visit her father, but she was forced to stay home when she discovered that she was pregnant. Soon, she gave birth to a beautiful baby who she named Taura Caterina, in reference to the child's astrological sign.

A few years later, Calantha was offered a job in New York. One of her friends from college had gotten into the fashion industry and wanted Calantha's help starting a new line of clothing. She decided to take the offer and moved to New York with her mother and daughter.

After visiting the Minotaur, Calantha's mother, who had been sick for quite a while, passed away. Calantha became more determined than ever to make sure her daughter had a happy childhood. She amassed a decent amount of money from all her hard work and used it to open a successful clothing boutique. For the first time in her life, everything was going perfectly. Unfortunately, that all came to an end when she lost her life in a tragic accident.

Taura's Story

Taura was born in Greece, where she was raised by her mother and grandmother. When she was a few years old, they moved to New York. Her mother had no way to contact Taura's father and let him know of her existence, but Taura was able to meet her grandfather, the Minotaur, for the first time and he grew rather fond of her. She brought out a side of him that most others didn't see. Her grandmother, receiving her final wish of having her family reunited one last time, passed away a few days later.

When she was five, Taura started being able to heal small wounds, such as cuts and scrapes. However, she found herself unable to save her mother, who died in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. She survived the crash with minor injuries and was taken in by her grandfather. Despite his brutal nature, he had a soft spot for young Taura. He taught her how to fight, and when her horns started growing in, he helped her understand her heritage. Although, she wasn't able to learn much, because a few years later, her grandfather was sent back to Tartarus after battling Percy Jackson.

Afterwards, Taura lived on her own. She was careful not to be seen by others unless she needed to go to the market for something. She always wore a hat in public and stayed away from anything that smelled dangerous. Taura also managed to learn quite a bit of English, but she's still not completely fluent.

Everything was okay until Taura found a strange archway labeled Camp Half-Blood as she was wandering around in the woods. She attempted to go through it, but was unable to, due to her monster heritage. She has since become fascinated with the archway and has returned to it every night for the past week.*

*This backstory only references everything Taura has been through up to the start of this blog and does not include events that may have happened in any threads since then. Overall, this character bio is just to get a sense of who Taura is, but I fully expect her to grow and evolve over the course of roleplaying.

Template based on:

http://aminoapps.com/p/q7z85f

[tachyon-at-rest]

DOGS IN ELK

An insanely funny story of "domesticated" dogs reminding us that they are still kinda wild.

https://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/dogsinelk.html#dogs

From: Edward Hume <ehume@pshrink.com> Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 20:40:36 -0500 Subj: Dogs in elk ____________________________________________________________

I edited the follow-up thread

The original is here:

http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/load/party/msg101444109927.html?2

dogs in elk Posted by Anita z8 Seattle (anita@is2inc.com) on Fri, Oct 22, 99 at 14:44 The following apparently appeared recently on one of the newsgroups, rec.pets. It sounds pretty believable to me--though it's so funny, I'm not sure that I care. It's pretty long, but it's worth it. ---------------------

Anne V - 01:01pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1318 of 1332) Okay - I know how to take meat away from a dog. How do I take a dog away from meat? This is not, unfortunately, a joke.

AmyC - 01:02pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1319 of 1332) Um, can you give us a few more specifics here?

Anne V - 01:12pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1320 of 1332) They're inside of it. They crawled inside, and now I have a giant incredibly heavy piece of carcass in my yard, with 2 dogs inside of it, and they are NOT getting bored of it and coming out. One of them is snoring. I have company arriving in three hours, and my current plan is to 1. put up a tent over said carcass and 2. hang thousands of fly strips inside it. This has been going on since about 6:40 this morning.

AmyC - 01:19pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1321 of 1332) Oh. My. God. What sort of carcass is big enough to hold a couple of dogs inside? Given the situation, I'm afraid you're not going to be create enough of a diversion to get the dogs out of the carrion, unless they like greeting company as much as they like rolling around in dead stuff. Which seems unlikely. Can you turn a hose on the festivities?

Ase Innes-Ker - 01:31pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1322 of 1332) I'm sorry Anne. I know this is a problem (and it would have driven me crazy), but it is also incredibly funny.

Anne V - 01:31pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1323 of 1332) Elk. Elk are very big this year, because of the rain and good grazing and so forth. They aren't rolling. They are alternately napping and eating. They each have a ribcage. Other dogs are working on them from the outside. It's all way too primal in my yard right now. We tried the hose trick. At someone elses house, which is where they climbed in and began to refuse to come out. Many hours ago. I think that the hose mostly helps keep them cool and dislodges little moist snacks for them. hose failed. My new hope is that if they all continue to eat at this rate, they will be finished before the houseguests arrive. The very urban houseguests. Oh, god - I know it's funny. It's appalling, and funny, and completely entirely representative of life with dogs.

Kristen R. - 01:37pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1324 of 1332) I'm so glad I read this thread, dogless as I am. Dogs in elk. Dogs in elk.

Anne V - 01:41pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1325 of 1332) It's like that childrens book out there - dogs in elk, dogs on elk, dogs around elk, dogs outside elk. And there is some elk inside of, as well as on, each dog at this point.

Elizabeth K - 01:57pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1328 of 1333) Anne, aren't you in Arizona or Nevada? There are elk there? I'm so confused! We definately need to see pics of Gus Pong and Jake in the elk carcass.

Anne V - 02:03pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1329 of 1333) I am in New Mexico, but there are elk in both arizona and nevada, yes. There are elk all over the da*n place. They don't look out very often. If you stand the ribcage on end they scramble to the top and look out, all red. Otherwise, you kinda have to get in there a little bit yourself to really see them. So I think there will not be pictures.

CoseyMo - 02:06pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1330 of 1333) "all red;" I'm not sure the deeper horror of all this was fully borne in upon me till I saw that little phrase.

Anne V - 02:10pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1331 of 1333) Well, you know, the Basenji (that would be Jake) is a desert dog, naturally, and infamous for it's aversion to water. And then, Gus Pong (who is coming to us, live, unamplified and with a terrific reverb which is making me a little dizzy) really doesn't mind water, but hates to be cold. Or soapy. And both of them can really run. Sprints of up to 35 mph have been clocked. So. If ever they come out, catching them and returning them to a condition where they can be considered house pets is not going to be, shall we say, pleasant.

CoseyMo - 02:15pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1332 of 1333) What if you stand the ribcage on end, wait for them to look out, grab them when they do and pull?

Anne V - 02:18pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1333 of 1333) They wedge their toes between the ribs. And scream. We tried that before we brought the elk home from the mountain with dogs inside. Jake nearly took my friends arm off. He's already short a toe, so he cherishes the 15 that remain.

Linda Hewitt - 02:30pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1336 of 1356) Have you thought about calling your friendly vet and paying him to come pick up the dogs, elk and letting the dogs stay at the vets overnight. If anyone would know what to do, it would be your vet. It might cost some money, but it would solve the immediate crisis. Keep us posted.

ChristiPeters - 02:37pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1337 of 1356) Yikes! My sympathy! When I lived in New Mexico, my best friend's dog (the escape artist) was continually bringing home road kill. When there was no road kill convenient, he would visit the neighbor's house. Said neighbor slaughtered his own beef. The dog found all kinds of impossibly gross toys in the neighbor's trash pit. I have always had medium to large dogs. The smallest dog I ever had was a mutt from the SPCA who matured out at just above knee high and about 55 pounds. Our current dog (daughter's choice) is a Pomeranian. A very small Pomeranian. She's 8 months old now and not quite 4 pounds. I'm afraid I'll break her.

Lori Shiraishi - 02:38pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1338 of 1356) Bet you could fit a whole lot of Pomeranians in that there elk carcass! Anne - my condolences on what must be an unbelievable situation!

Anne V - 02:44pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1339 of 1356) I did call my vet. He laughed until he was gagging and breathless. He says a lot of things, which can be summed as *what did you expect?* and *no, there is no such thing as too much elk meat for a dog.* He is planning to stop over and take a look on his way home. Thanks, Lori. I am almost surrendered to the absurdity of it.

Lori Shiraishi - 02:49pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1340 of 1356) "He is planning to stop over and take a look on his way home." So he can fall down laughing in person?

Anne V - 02:50pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1341 of 1356) Basically, yeah. That would be about it.

AmyC - 02:56pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1342 of 1356) No, there is no such thing as too much elk meat for a dog." Oh, sweet lo*d, Anne. You have my deepest sympathies in this, perhaps the most peculiar of the Gus Pong Adventures. You are truly a woman of superhuman patience. wait -- you carried the carcass down from the mountains with the dogs inside?

Anne V - 02:59pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1343 of 1356) The carcass down from the mountains with the dogs inside? no, well, sort of. My part in the whole thing was to get really stressed about a meeting that I had to go to, and say *yeah, ok, whatever* when it was suggested that the ribcages, since we couldn't get the dogs out of them and the dogs couldn't be left there, be brought to my house. Because, you know - I just thought they would get bored of it sooner or later. But it appears to be later, in the misty uncertain future, that they will get bored. Now, they are still interested. And very loud, one singing, one snoring.

Lori Shiraishi - 03:04pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1344 of 1356) And very loud, one singing, one snoring. wow. I can't even begin to imagine the acoustics involved with singing from the inside of an elk.

Anne V - 03:04pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1345 of 1356) reverb. lots and lots of reverb.

Anne V - 03:15pm Sep 9, 1999 PDT (# 1347 of 1356) I'll tell you the thing that is causing me to lose it again and again, and then I have to go back outside and stay there for a while. After the meeting, I said to my (extraordinary) boss, "look, I've gotta go home for the rest of the day, I think. Jake and Gus Pong are inside some elk ribcages, and my dad is coming tonight, so I've got to get them out somehow." And he said, pale and huge-eyed, "Annie, how did you explain the elk to the clients?" The poor, poor man thought I had the carcasses brought to work with me. For some reason, I find this deeply funny. (weekend pause)

Anne V - 08:37am Sep 13, 1999 PDT (# 1395 of 1405) So what we did was put the ribcages (containing dogs) on tarps and drag them around to the side yard, where I figured they would at least be harder to see, and then opened my bedroom window so that the dogs could let me know when they were ready to be plunged into a de-elking solution and let in the house. Then I went to the airport. Came home, no visible elk, no visible dogs. Peeked around the shrubs, and there they were, still in the elk. By this time, they had gnawed out some little portholes between some of the ribs, and you got the occasional very frightening glimpse of something moving around in there if you watched long enough. After a lot of agonizing, I went to bed. I closed the back door, made sure my window was open, talked to the dogs out of it until I as sure they knew it was open, and then I fell asleep. Sometimes, sleep is a mistake, no matter how tired you are. And especially if you are very very tired, and some of your dogs are outside, inside some elks. Because when you are that tired, you sleep through bumping kind of noises, or you kind of think that it's just the house guests. It wasn't the house guests. It was my dogs, having an attack of teamwork unprecedented in our domestic history. When I finally woke all the way up, it was to a horrible vision. Somehow, 3 dogs with a combined weight of about 90 pounds, managed to hoist one of the ribcages (the meatier one, of course) up 3 feet to rest on top of the swamp cooler outside the window, and push out the screen. What woke me was Gus Pong, howling in frustration from inside the ribcage, very close to my head, combined with feverish little grunts from Jake, who was standing on the nightstand, bracing himself against the curtains with remarkably bloody little feet. Here are some things I have learned, this Rosh Hashanah weekend: 1. almond milk removes elk blood from curtains and pillowcases, 2. We can all exercise superhuman strength when it comes to getting elk carcasses out of our yard, 3. The sight of elk ribcages hurtling over the fence really frightens the nice deputy sheriff who lives across the street, and 4. the dogs can pop the screens out of the windows, without damaging them, from either side.

Anne V - 09:58am Sep 13, 1999 PDT (# 1401 of 1405) What I am is really grateful that they didn't actually get the damn thing in the window, which is clearly the direction they were going in. And that the nice deputy didn't arrest me for terrifying her with elk parts before dawn.

AmyC - 09:59am Sep 13, 1999 PDT (# 1402 of 1405) Imagine waking up with a gnawed elk carcass in your bed, like a real-life "Godfather" with an all-dog cast.

Anne V - 10:01am Sep 13, 1999 PDT (# 1403 of 1405) There is not enough almond milk in the world to solve an event of that kind.

[monkee98]

What It Takes Ch. 2 19 days mafia au

Warning: Torture scene. (its not too bad)

Ao3 link

They arrived at the base, the place was almost set up like an average office, if you ignored the excessive amount of dangerous looking armed men posted at nearly every corner. They all greeted Jian Yi as he passed despite always being ignored. It is not as though they were doing this for Jian Yi, they feared his father far more than they felt anything about being treated like lifeless statues by his moody son.

They finally arrived outside Mr. Jian’s room, the two body guards at the door stepped aside at their arrival. He Tian opened the door for Jian Yi and let him enter first, and followed him inside before letting the door fall shut behind them.

The room was large and well furnished with a long cherrywood desk set behind two couches and a low table. The walls on either side of the room were lined with bookshelves and various knick-knacks tastefully arranged within them alongside the books.

Mr. Jian himself sat in a high-backed leather chair behind the desk, his black two piece suit pressed to perfection so not a wrinkle would dare disturb his image. His hair, a very similar color to his son though mixed in with a few whites, was kept short and slicked back from his clean shaven face.

“I hope you enjoyed your little break” Mr. Jian commented as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

Jian Yi plopped down on one of the sofas in front of the desk, carelessly kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.

He Tian kept a stoic expression as he remained stood by the door, his hands clasped obediently behind his back.

“It was short and sweet” Jian Yi replied nonchalantly, resting one arm over the back of his seat while scrolling through his phone with disinterest.

“Get your feet off the table and put that phone down”  Mr. Jian demands, a frown on his face.

“...”

When Jian Yi made no move to do as he was told his father sighed, he honestly would have been more surprised if his son had actually listened for once.

“Jian Yi” he growled in warning.

That seemed to get his attention and Jian Yi set his phone down and noisily dropped his feet to the ground with a dramatic huff.

Jian Yi still refused to turn his head to face his father, but Mr. Jian did not have the patience to tell him to do so.

“We caught another one last night, hopefully he will be more useful than the last one” Mr. Jian reported with a sly knowing grin.

“Is that all?” Jian Yi muttered.

“Behave yourself Jian Yi, don't forget who your father is” Mr. Jian warned, narrowing his eyes at his son. To anyone else his tone of voice and warning look would cause them to wet their pants, even He Tian took care to stand up a little straighter, but Jian Yi merely shrugged in disinterest.

“Is that all Sir?” Jian Yi sneered, rising to his feet as he did, “Then I will be taking my leave” he began walking out before his father could reply.

He Tian waited until Jian Yi made it to the door before opening it and following him out without looking back at the, most likely seething, mafia boss. Luckily his responsibility is to Jian Yi rather than to his father, so he had no real reason to exchange any words with him at the moment. The only time they ever spoke was when he was first recruited at the recommendation of his own older brother. He came in while he was still young and was trained vigorously to make him who is today. Along the way he got to know the son of the mafia boss, who he was delighted to see was his own age and became fast friends due to being unable to meet anyone else even close to their age.  

He Tian’s older brother works closely with Mr. Jian and is often sent out on missions or is traveling abroad for whatever reason he was given. The two rarely see each other, although at this point He Tian could care less.

“I don't know how you manage to get away talking to him like that” He Tian commented.

“Well, it's not as though he can do anything about it” he replied bitterly.

It was true, Jian Yi is supposed to be the heir, so Mr. Jian had little choice but to tolerate his disobedient son to some degree. Not to mention the fact that, despite his attitude, Jian Yi gets his work done.

Speaking of work, Jian Yi and He Tian leisurely made their way to the basement of the building where Jian Yi spent more time than he cared to keep track of.

“You can have a break if you want, I know you just ate” Jian Yi suggested to his bodyguard and only real friend. He tends to prefer it when he stays even though they don’t tend to talk much while Jian Yi is working. He likes the company of a trust one at his side, a kind of company that is very hard to come by for the blond.

He Tian thought about it for a moment, it would be a shame if that delicious stew he just ate went to waste, but it’s not as though he could not handle it. Most of the time.

“I think I will be taking you up on that offer” He Tian conceded, Jian Yi seemed to be in a bad mood and he still had the leftover beef stew to take care of. The safer option for him would be to leave Jian Yi alone with his unfortunate victim.  

The blond shrugged and shuffled down the hall, raising a hand in a half wave, “Alright then, see you later” he called, then shoved his hands into his pockets as he made his way to the room.

There were another two bodyguards standing guard outside the room, as Jian Yi neared one of the guards pulled open the steel door for him while the other had put out his arm for Jian Yi’s suit jacket.

Jian Yi walked into the room while rolling up his shirt sleeves and the guard shut the door behind him.

The captive was tied and gagged in a chair, his head down and his dark hair slightly damp with sweat. Jian Yi grinned, oh this was going to be fun.

The man lifted his head as Jian Yi neared, his gaze cold boring into Jian Yi’s own.

“Well now, who do we have here?” Jian Yi grinned, lifting the man’s head by his chin.

The man muttered something but the cloth shoved into his mouth made it indecipherable.

“Oops” Jian Yi untied the gag, “this thing doesn't help us right now” he chuckled.

“Might as well have left it, I have nothing to give you” the man snapped.

“That's what they all say” Jian Yi walked around behind his chair where his tools were laid out. He really didn't care to leave them in the view of his victim, let them fear what they don't know.

“Alright buddy, how are we doing this?” he selected a small needle to start with and moved to stand in front of his new victim,  “Personally, I don't mind if you want to keep your mouth shut for a bit, we’ve got plenty of time together”

Jian Yi pushed the needle below the nail of the prisoner’s middle finger, slowly moving up the underside of the nail. The prisoner squirmed and tensed, refusing to voice his discomfort, for now.

“So tell me...what is your boss planning?” Jian Yi inquired as though he were asking a friend how his day went.

“Dammit, I said there is nothing” he squirmed at the feeling of the needle painfully separating his nail from skin.

“That doesn't help us, but we’ve only just begun right?” he commented cheerfully. He pulled the needle out and walked around to his tools to select something else.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? We have not made a move in-aaargh" he yelled in pain as Jian Yi broke his right pinky finger at the knuckle.

“What’s wrong, I bet you don't use this finger that often anyways” He chides, “See, I'm being nice”

“How the hell is this ‘nice’? I bet a sick monster like you enjoys doing things like this!” the prisoner spat harshly.

“What kind of monster would enjoy something like this?” he mumbled thoughtfully, seemingly to himself, but the slight upturn of the corners of his mouth gave him away.

If someone had accused him of enjoying torturing people a couple years ago when his father first assigned him this duty after refusing to work with his thugs on the streets, he would have been livid. But after doing this for so long he had become numb to it, and more recently he found himself having a little fun watching these supposedly strong and prideful men crumble under the knife. Their screams that once haunted him in his nightmares, now made him smile with satisfaction at his work.

“You’re a psycho, your group has been attacking ours for no reason!” the prisoner yelled, clenching the fist without the broken finger.

“Damn, you sure do talk a lot, but you still refuse to answer my question” Jian Yi said, his irritation growing at the accusations.

Jian Yi reached for the small dagger on the tray, and without warning brought it down on the man’s left hand, pinning it to the chair handle.

“Aaaagh”

“Ok, just tell me what's going on with your boss and maybe I will spare your other hand”

“You fucking freak, I told you our group has been minding our own business, it's you guys that are causing the trouble”

Jian Yi connected his fist with the guy's face, breaking his nose.

“You know, I'm not a huge fan of using my hands, but you are really starting to piss me off” he growled. Usually the prisoners would deny knowing anything about what's happening, but this guy was denying anything happening at all. His father hasn't given him too much information about the trouble they were looking into and it was starting to seem like this guy was telling him the truth.

He grabbed the thick heavy duty clippers and kneeled in front of the chair, he would figure out for sure what was going on.

“Fuck! I'm telling you the truth!” he insisted.

He started clipping off his toes, starting with the second toe. Jian Yi smiled with satisfaction at the resulting scream.

“You...you don't even know w-what's going on, y-you're just fucking me up..be-because your sick ass likes it” he hissed, trying to speak through the pain.

“Maybe I should ask again. What is your boss planning?” Jian Yi demanded, a finger on the butt of the dagger, gently tipping it back and forth.

“...”

Jian Yi removed the dagger from his hand and violently drove it through his other, not reacting at all to his screams of agony.

After that it appeared the man had nothing left to say and used his voice up screaming at the various tortures Jian Yi put him through. But Jian Yi’s frustrations grew, this guy was more useless than the last, and now his clean white shirt is blood stained and essentially ruined. He couldn’t believe they had to leave that restaurant for this.

The prisoner finally passed out, he had lost a lot of blood but since Jian Yi did not know if they needed him left alive he made sure he did not do enough damage to kill him. He would surely survive but maintaining his mental state was none of his responsibility.

He walked over to the corner of the room to a large metal sink to wash his hands, he pulled off his shirt first and left it in a heap beside the sink, someone will clean it up. He cleaned any blood off his skin that soaked through the shirt, there were no towels so he just left the room with a wet torso, droplets of water streaking down his chest and stomach starting to dampen the waistband of his pants.

When he left the room he was handed his jacket, he debated putting it back on, but decided to just hold it in his hand while he went to find his black haired friend.

[athounderouscalling]

Dan, Allison and Renee in their Sophomore year. TFC fan fiction

“We had to face our teammates as a united force," Renee said, motioning from herself to Dan and Allison. "It was the only way to survive. Our friendship was a show that started and stopped at our bedroom door. It took most of the year for us to realize it wasn't an act"

So we all know that the girls didn't bode well with each other in their whole freshman year until the summer after when they realized that their act of a friendship was becoming real.

I always wondered how they finally accepted the truth that they really cared for each other and how they admitted it out loud. Loving drama, I thought it should have been a breakthrough, so here is how I would like to think it went:

I came up with tis plot by listening to ‘Intention’ By Kiiara

Sophomore year for the girls: (summer practices just began)

Dan’s flight got really delayed (fucking storm) and arrived to the dorm in the wee hours of the night and on top of it was raining like hell so that's just great. Anyway quietly enters the room not wanting to disturb the girls which is new, cause before she really didn't give a shit about them but their relationship dynamic is changing and also she's hella cranky by the flight and the rain and doesn't want to associated with anyone. She takes a shower and sleeps on the couch, not having the energy to climb the bunk bed. It seemed like just seconds has passed her alarm starts ringing.

Dan is so over this shit and just wants to keep sleeping off her exhaustion but she's finally team captain and she needs to start leading her team like a boss, to see her new recruits coming in and basically just to prove to anyone that Wymack made a goddamn good decision when he made her captain.

Her alarm is extra early so she can get a head start and be ready on the court when everyone gets their lazy asses out of bed. She skips meeting on the girls, their still sleeping and she shrugs she'll meet them later.

Fast forward to two hours later. She introduced herself to the new recruits who were enthusiastic enough to come to court early. Now was in Wymack's office, catching up.

"We have another newbie coming in tomorrow, said something happened to his truck...or something? I don't know, I kinda tuned him out after he said he's won't be arriving today. You'll just have to show him the ropes tomorrow"

"No problem. Any press updates about the team?"

After their catch up, Dan finally went to the locker room, fingers Itching to change out she could get back on that court in her gear as the captain of a Class I Exy team. Everyone thought the Palmetto Foxes were a joke. Fuck them. Wymack saved her life and she will spend every minute trying to repay what he had given her.

Dan entered the room as Renee was bucking her straps. They both made eye contact, it surprised her when she felt absolute no harsh tension between them and a close look at Renee, it seemed she came to the same conclusion. Her eyes had gone softer. Renee was always a kind mannered person but she knew her enough to know that this was new for renee as well. Maybe she missed Dan as much as Dan missed her. Maybe things were finally going to change.

Abruptly the door flew open, bringing the powerful scent of the most expensive perfumes and the sound of a confident break of sneakers. Allison. She turned just in time to see her roommate in all perfect makeup and a resting bitch face. God I missed her. Allison stopped in her tracks for a second while seeing Dan in the locker room, but her quick surprised face transformed into a blank stare. They considered each other before Allison spoke, “You were cutting it a little too close captain. You almost missed the first practice.”

“It was close, but as you can see I made it”

“Your flight got delayed?”

“Yes”

“You slept on the couch”

Not really a question. “I did”

“I see, you couldn't bear to be in the room with the wildly annoying goody-two shoes and the permanent bitch-face whore?”

Ahh. Dan had called them that in one of their million fights that took place in the privacy of their dorm. They came a long way since then, the only way she was entirely sure was in this instance, there was no more bite in her tone when she recalled those insults to Dan.

“Well, Considering when the permanent bitch-face whore intends to kill the human race when she farts in her sleep, I thought I would fare better on the couch.”

“Trust me, you did.”

Dan and Allison both turned at sound of Renee’s voice, who had kept quiet until now Not even now, but always, Renee would not involve whenever herself in Dan and Allison’s arguments. But now, even Renee could see there was no malice in their banter.

The surprise on Allison’s face quickly morphed into her lips forming a smirk, not feeling insulted but looking impressed by Renee’s comment, just as Dan was. Allison looked to Dan, “I see you haven't lost your big mouth as well, pretty sure it'll be just as loud on court. I’m heading out, get your asses in gear before Wymack gets in here”

I missed you too. She was pretty sure Allison just wished Dan good luck on her first day back in captaincy in typical Allison fashion. Dan and Renee quickly got their ‘asses in gear’ and were heading out, when Dan felt goosebumps. She felt those at very rare times. When she was officially signed the contract to play for the foxes she had those same goosebumps, when she looked her team at the first day of summer practices. The time she stepped on the court in front of a full stacked stadium. And now she felt them, she didn't know why; perhaps the new turn in her relationship with her roommates. Perhaps it was the second year as captain, she was wiser and she now knew to how to control the misfits that called themselves foxes. Or perhaps it was the new recruits, recruits she had a hand in selecting.

A sharp while sounded through the doors. A signal that coach was losing his patience. Time to get moving.

Let’s do this Wilds.

x—————————————————x

“That asshole is going to get my fist up his ass!”

Okay then.

“Allison…You’re being a little too loud”, Renee chastised. She was looking over her shoulder, at the slow closing of the door to the female locker room, probably checking if anyone heard the loud rant.

Allison turned onto Renee “Does it look like I give a damn of what that dickhead thinks?” She then turned to the door and yelled, “If he needs to get his ass pulverized so he can stop being a dick then I’ll gladly volunteer!”.

With that, Renee took Allison gently by her shoulders and steered her away from the door. Probably didn't want to increase any more drama than what happened occurred. Renee was always the peace keeper, but her calm facade was showing hint of apprehension.

She was right into thinking that. Jacob was always an asshole, dominantly to the girls. But there was something about him that made him a bit dangerous to meddle with.

Allison looked straight at Dan, “I guess you’ll start on how I’m better than this and I shouldn't have done what I did and all that bullshit.”

Dan looked at Allison blankly. “I’m the last person who would defend Jacob.” God knows how much I want him off my court. “That being said, yes. You didn't need to stoop down to his level of douchebaggery.”

“Douchebbagery?”

“Yup. But I have to say, That was hell of a tackle you did.”

Allison’s face plastered an evil grin. “What can I say, Jacob brings out the best in me.”

“He sure does bring out the best in Seth as well”.

Allison winced in disgust, and Dan sighed.

Jacob Mathews was an upperclassmen. And a total misogynistic bastard. He had a permanent bitch face, and his attitude perfectly matched his face. He hated the girls, despised Dan for taking his chance to be captain. Hated Renee for her eternal calm demeanor (but then again, he wasn't the first and not the last to be unsettled by that). He has had beef with Seth since what feels like the beginning of time. And to add to that, he's had a not so secret aim to try to fuck Allison.

The only redeeming quality he had was that he was a killer striker. The bad thing was that he was always in Seth’s face, always taunting him, especially if Seth and Allison were on the outs. Which always led Jacob to openly flirt with Allison.

Will there ever be a day where Seth can get along with another striker?

“Are you and Seth off at the moment?” Renee asked gently after a pause.

Allison rolled her eyes. “It doesn't matter.”

“It does.” Dan and Renee replied in unison.

“No it doesn’t. Regardless of me and Seth, I can handle this all on my own” Allison walked away to the showers, terminating the conversation.

Renee and Dan stayed back, having a silent conversation in their eye contact.

After a long pause, Dan asked quietly, “Renee…what are you thinking?”

“He seemed different after we walked off court. And he walked through the opposite exit of the stadium.”

“Yeah that’s because he sometimes smokes up after practice. That’s not exactly news to everyone.”

‘I know. I’m just saying he was acting different. Renee’s calm facade was showing more hints of concern.

Dan clasped her shoulder in encouragement. “I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, we have you as out secret weapon”

Renee smirked, “You will never let me live that down. Go shower, I’ll be a minute.”

“Sure thing.”

x———————————-x

Ten minutes after soaking in the near scalding water, Dan walked out of her stall in her underwear. Allison had just gotten out, coincidently right when Renee decided to go in. Probably waiting to see if any unexpected events would occur. Dan was running the towel through her hair, spending some moments infant of the mirror, shaking through the strands vigorously. Maybe that was why she didn't hear what she was walking into.

What she walked into, she stood the corner of the entrance and what she entered to  was nothing she would've guessed.

Allison backed into the lockers. Jacob slowly walking up to her, his movements slow and menacing. Allison was half dressed, he must have sneaked up to her. She had her hands by her side, her face was calm yet annoyed (a look only she can master). But Dan knew better. Allison was afraid, She was caught off guard, and by the looks of her hands turning into fists, she was preparing for the worst scenario.

“I don’t care about what you want, get the fuck out” Allison pointed to the door.

Jacob kept slowly progressing, “Are you sure you want me to leave?-”

Fuck. he was wasted.

“-I think you would want me here, and we can finally have some privacy without your guard dog” When Allison started to speak, he gave her a striking look, “Shh. Let’s not be loud okay, no one needs to know”

Okay that’s enough.

Dan stepped forward into the room, “You have exactly three seconds to get out before I get coach so he can drag your ass out of here himself”

Jacob leaned back infinitesimally. “This doesn't include you Wilds.” Allison locked eyes with Dan, showing her alarm before Jacob stole her attention back to him. He grazed his fingers on Allison’s jaw, and Dan’s body tensed. Jacob pointed to Dan with a thunderous grin on his face. “She can join us you know, so can the other freak.” “That’s enough, I’m getting Seth.” Allison shoved him off hard, making her way to the door, not caring about her half dressed state. Then in an instant Jacob moved so quick, took her arms and shoved her back to the lockers. He took her hair in his hands and pulled so hard, Allison cried.

Until then Dan was stiff, stuck to her place as she couldn't comprehend the sudden movement. But when Allison gave a cry, a yell of pain she never heard from her, she charged forward without a care.

She tackled Jacob into his side, pushing him into the side wall. As soon as his body hit the wall, she punched him in the jaw. clearly not knowing how to correctly punch someone, Her hand shook from the unbelievable pain. But she didn't have much time as Jacob didn't seem too affected by the punch, even as blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth.

As he smiled at Dan’s attempt, he whispered, “You punch like a girl”. Dan’s blood boiled, her body shook with the urge to beat him to death, she looked him dead in the eye, with quiet rage in her voice she replied, “My bad. Let me try again.”

Her arm leaned back, to punch him harder than anything she had ever done. But Jacob was quick, he grasped her arm and pushed her into the wall, into the same place he was just a few seconds ago. He pushed her arm behind her body, her face digging into the concrete wall, and was twisting her arm behind her back with so much pressure, she was scared he would break it. With all the strength she could she twisted her arm free of the place he kept it in, and elbowed him so hard he bellowed backward.

It was that instant that Allison dragged him further backward by his shirt, but Jacob turned and back handed Allison so loud and hard she fell to the floor. Dan was already charging toward him, but Jacob was ready for her this time. He leaned down and punched Dan in the stomach, causing her wheeze in pain. With that he grasped her throat in his hands and shoved her back to the wall. Dan kneed him hard, Jacob cursed but didn't let go and put more pressure in hands at her throat. Dan was took his wrists and her hands and was trying to push him off.

He looked her in the eye, with so much hate she had ever received from anyone, even more than her aunt. “You took what should've been mine Wilds.”

“Fuckkk…you”, Dan wheezed out.

Jacob smiled, “thanks but I plan to do that with Allison”. He squeezed her throat even harder, and Dan was squabbling for anything, her hands reaching out for anything that could help her. Her throat was on fire, and she could feel the lack of air in her body.

Then she saw a quick movement in the corner of her eye. and she saw the smile wiped off at Jacob’s face as he released the death grip on her throat. With nothing to grab onto and hold her up, Dan fell to the floor. Her hands went to her throat, and she coughed and wheezed air back into her body. Allison was next to her in a heartbeat, she was holding Dan’s face in her hands, Shock and concern on her face. Allison’s eyes were wide, and her cheek was spilt open from the slap, blood dripping down her face.

Wait. Where’s Jac—

Jacob grunted. He was lying on the floor a few feet away from them. With Renee straddling him, holding something to his throat.

Is that a… oh shit.

“Renee!”, Allison yelled. She left Dan and ran to Renee, “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Quiet.” Renee’s voice was low and menacing, completely opposite to what she was. Dan tried to get up but couldn’t, somehow her legs were numb form the previous altercation. She crawled as fast as she could to Jacob’s side so she could see Renee.

Jacob was quiet, his face was bloody, bruises were quickly forming as well as a black eye. He was motionless. His eyes were jumping to and back to the eyes of the girl who was straddling him, and to knife she was holding to his throat.

Holy shit. Where did she even get that knife?

Dan looked to the raw and bloody knuckles of Renee’s hand and ran her eyes to Renee’s face. It was this moment Dan realized, that Renee didn't have a article of clothing on. Her body and her were still wet. It was as if she heard what was happening in the shower and she didn't think about anything but to pin Jacob on the floor. She didn't grab anything. Nothing. Except that knife. That huge, shiny knife.

Renee’s face was completely devoid of emotion. Her eyes completely blank. She looked … calm. But this was the worse kind of calm. She didn't tear her gaze away from the spot Jacob’s throat, a few breaths away from the edge of the knife she held there.

Dan was daunted by the look on Renee’s face. This side of Renee answered questions of her past, while raising so many others. Dan didn't know if she could stop her. Hell, she didn't know she could do anything with Renee if she was like this.

Dan swallowed, looked intently at her…friend, and spoke in what she hoped was a clear tone. “Renee. Put the knife away.” Renee didn't move an inch, her hand moving the knife even closer to the skin.

“Oh my God”, Allison whispered. Allison locked eyes with Dan, Her distress obviously apparent. It was understandable. She never saw Renee this way. At least Dan had witnessed a variation of it, but this was something she had never came across. Dan stared at Allison, and her fear was shrinking.

Only one of us are allowed to be scared.

Dan nodded to Allison. giving her silent strength. While holding her stare, Dan called out to Renee, shifting her gaze to the unmoved being on Jacob.

“Renee look at me.” She was unsuccessful.

“Renee…look at me.” Unsuccessful again.

Fuck this.

“Renee Walker, FUCKING LOOK AT ME!”. At the sound of her full name, Renee looked at Dan. Her eyes gaining little emotion.

“Renee put the knife away. Do not do this.”

Renee shifted her eyes Jacob, who was shaking, her hand tightening on the knife. “He deserves this”

Dan looked at Jacob. “He does.” Jacob’s eyes flew to her and his body started shaking even more.

“He does deserve this.” Dan shifted her eyes back to Renee, “But you aren’t the one who is allowed to punish him.” With that statement Renee lifted her face back to Dan. Her eyes getting more stormy.

Holding her stare, “You don't want to do this. You’re doing this for us, but we don't want it. Renee I know how important your faith is to you, you know you can’t do this”

Renee’s hand holding the knife was shaking so violently. Her eyes brimming, it was more than evident she was torn.

Allison was completely quiet until this moment. She saw Renee’s hand shaking and spoke up gently, “Renee. If you do this, you’ll never forgive yourself for this. you’ll never come back from it.”

Dan added, “It doesn't matter what you’ve done, you're not that person anymore. So please. Just give me the knife.”

Renee’s cheeks were stained with tears flowing continuously. Regardless of her eyes, her face was dead serious. She leaned into Jacob’s face and the room fell silent. Renee pressed the knife to his throat, and Dan’s breath caught.

Renee leaned down and spoke in a low and serious voice, “If you ever come near them again…I will kill you. Make no mistake of that. Are we clear?” Jacob nodded vigorously, his voice silent. Renee extended the knife to Dan, who took it gently from her hands. Couldn't bear to hold it for long she threw in the passage way towards the showers.

Renee stood up in a swift motion, and walked to open the locker door. Jacob got up gingerly and as he stood in the middle of the girls, he shook his head and ran out of the door Renee was holding open.

As the door shut closed, the three girls stood still as they looked at each other.

x——————————————x

Dan locked their dorm door after the girls entered two hours later.

After Jacob left, Renee started shaking and went to the shower and sat on the floor while hot water was running over her head. Regardless of just taking a shower, Renee pulled her legs in to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Dan and Allison stopped just shy of the shower stall, and just looked at her. Dan wanted to comfort Renee but there were more pressing matters.

Dan grabbed Allison’s elbow and lightly led her out of the room. They stopped in the middle of the locker room. Allison looked around with her lip between her teeth, “Are you sure we should leave her right now?”

Dan went to put her pants on, “I think she just needs a minute to herself. You need to finish getting dressed.” Dan looked over and Allison was still immobile. Allison had tears in her eyes. “This is all my fault.” she whispered.

Dan walked over to her, took her face in her hands and spoke to her in an intent matter. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. There’s nothing to blame you for. Now I need you to buck up and help me.” She walked over and grabbed the clothes Allison left in the middle of dressing. she handed them over, “I need you to get dressed, get Abby in here so she can examine you both, while I talk to Coach.”

Dan was about to pull away when Allison tugged her hand and pressed her fingertips on Dan’s throat. “What about you, you have so many bruises on your cheek and on your throat. God Dan, I’m so sorry” Dan held and gently squeezed Allison hands and looked into her eyes and calmly said, “I told you there’s nothing to blame you for, I need you to get dressed okay? I’ll come back with coach and I’ll get checked by Abby. Okay?”

Allison sniffled, wiped her tears and nodded. She finished putting her clothes on and after they glanced at Renee, they walked out of the locker room. Everyone had left, of course they had. No one here was their friend, and the girls always arrived and left together, so no surprise. Allison turned to one end of the hall walking to Abby’s office, while Dan turned to Wymack's office. She entered without knocking.

Wymack was buried in paperwork, and was going over stats on a sheet. Without looking up, he grumbled, “What do you want? I’m busy here.”

Dan was close to tears after seeing Wymack, her relief of seeing someone who made her feel so secure. She starved off her tears and replied in a calm voice, “We need to talk.”

Wymack raised his head after hearing Dan’s voice, his face curious. His curiosity froze on his face, as his eyes went wide on Dan’s cheek and throat. And finally he shot up from his desk, fists at his sides, and replied with quiet rage in his voice, “Who did that to you?”

Dan was caught off by his demeanor, and her eyes went wide. Wymack strode forward while Dan remained immobile. He gently took her jaw in his hands, and spoke softer, “Danielle”, Dan’s breath caught at the term of endearment, and a tear slipped free. Wymack wiped the tear by his thumb. “Danielle” He repeated. “Tell me who did this to you.”

His touch was kind, while his voice was serious. And Dan took ahold of herself.

This is not the time.

“Jacob.” She saw Wymack take a harsh look on his face but she continued, “It’s not just me. You need to come with me right now, Abby’s already there.” Coach’s eyes were wide but he followed Dan on her heels when she walked back to the locker room.

x———————————————————x

Allison and Renee in the middle of the living room, staring outside the window at the rain pouring down. The lights weren't on. Dan turned and leaned back on the door, trying to process what just happened to them in the last three hours.

The attack. Renee giving up the knife. Wymack and Dan entering while Abby sat a towel covered, ashen Renee on the bench. Abby inspecting Dan’s purple and blue bruises in a forced calmness. Allison relegating the whole incident to Coach, not mentioning the knife, only that Renee was on top of him. Coach asking each player in the room if they wanted to press charges. Dan and Allison said no. Renee just shook her head, still ashen. Coach stating he was calling the board and telling them about this and expelling Jacob. Abby stating that they should go to her house so they can rest while she can watch over them. They all declined the offer. Wymack dropping them off at the dorms, looking at Dan in a way that screamed, to call him if they need anything.

And now they were here. immobile. In the living room. In the dark, except from the light outside.

Renee stood closest to the window, Dan was watching her. She was so quiet since she gave the death threat to Jacob. Now she was shaking as she was before, and after a pause she let out the first sound since that, and she turned.

She looked at Allison, her lip quivering, before moving her gaze to Dan.

“I’m…so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry” She kept repeating this while staring at the floor. Her tears flowing in steady streams, and her voice breaking more after each time she apologized.

Dan strode forward and gathered Renee in her arms. Her heart was breaking for her. She couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Renee to cross that line. She pressed their foreheads together, closed her eyes and spoke in a low voice:

“Renee…What you did…You saved me. And not for the first time. You've always been there and you saved us today.”

Renee broke and fell into her arms and cried. Allison joined right then, her arms encircling Renee’s squeezing her so tight as if she was trying to take her pain away. Renee raised her head, and spoke to both of them, “I didn't want to hurt him, you have to believe me…I just wanted him to stop hurting you both. I wasn't going to…”

Dan’s dam broke with Allison’s and let her tears flow freely, “I know, and I’m so proud of you for stopping yourself.”

Allison whispered, “Thank you for saving me Renee Walker.”

Renee closed her eyes, her tears flowing down her cheeks.

Dan took each one of their hands in one of her own, and made a triangle. She looked at Renee, “You are not that person anymore Renee. Don't ever be afraid of turning back into that person.” Renee looked at her, and whispered, “You don't know. Of the person I was.”

Dan squeezed the hands held with her own. “True, but I could care less of who you used to be. You're Renee Walker, and you're my family.”

Allison and Renee both looked at her, emotions over flowing her their features. She grabbed them both in a hug, and while they they circled their arms around each other, she whispered, “If anything happened to either of you…You both are my family, and I will never let anything happen to you ever again.”

x—————————————x

Dan was gently shaking Allison from her sleep next morning.

“Allison wake up, we need to go.” Renee never needed to be woken up. In the year they lived together, she learned Renee was a very light sleeper, and would wake to the slightest sounds. And true to her discovery, Renee roused sleepily, stretching her arms above her head before blinking unto Dan, “Coach excused us from practice today.”

He did. He texted Dan late last night after dropping them off. He called the team an hour before their usual time to fill them on the details. He would let them know that Jacob was expelled and was no longer allowed on school grounds, and someone would pack his things while he was off school property. But Dan would not sit out on this one.

“I know. But we need to go anyway. Allison I need you to wake up, Come on.” she started shaking Allison even more until she groaned.

“Go away from me before I pull a knife to your throat”. Dan and Renee stood still as they looked to her.

Allison, looked up to both of them, fully awake with a smile, “Too soon?”

“You think”, Renee said while Dan replied, “No shit”, chuckling. Renee then, grew serious, “Speaking of, where is the knife?”, Dan’s eyes went wide.

Oh shit, I forgot about the knif-

“I have it.” Allison shocked both of them by standing and walking to her gym bag and pulling the knife from the side pocket.

Allison walked back and put it next to Renee on the couch. “I swiped it when Abby was wrapping you in the towel, better than to raise questions. But honestly, I don't think you need this anymore.”

Renee took the knife in her hand, twisting it in her hand. “You’re right, I’ll put this somewhere safe.”

“Good.” Allison turned to Dan, “Now tell me why we have to go to practice this morning, when have the day off?”

Dan straightened, the intent clear and headstrong in her voice, “Because we need to prove something.”

“And what’s that?”

Dan grinned, “That we’re the last three girls anyone who should make the mistake of messing with.” Dan looked at the the widening grins of her roommates fixated on their faces.

x—————————————x

Dan and Allison walked onto inner court in full gear, rackets in their hands, with Renee trailing right behind them, racket across her shoulders. Wymack was going over some notes, while a play was in motion on court.

One player saw them approaching, and stopped short, with a shocked expression. This caused Wymack to look over to see them standing there. He stopped the play and everyone looked to what he was staring at. And the court went silent.

It was Allison’s idea, to not put on a speck of makeup. Instead of covering the bruises, Dan and Allison pulled their hair back and high so every bruise and cut was painfully visible. Additionally with the bruises, the lack of fear was also evident on their faces. Even Renee was looking indifferent than her usual kind calmness. It seemed the team finally understood the girls.

Wymack stayed where he was, and after a pause, he turned away with a calm, “You’re late.”

Dan couldn't help but grin, “Better late than never Coach.”

“Yeah yeah, get warmed up and lead the practice Captain.” Wymack pointed to court, “Finish the play Gordon.”

Seth looked as if he was about to drop his racquet and run to Allison, but Allison shook her head no, and gave him a look that said they would talk later.

“Now Gordon.”

And the play began again. Wymack turned them back to them, “Get warmed up, and get on court. Renee I want you to give them hell with goal”

Renee grinned, “I’ll try my best coach.”

As they walked away, Coach called Dan to stay back, he leaned in close, “You didn't have to be here today you know.”

Dan looked at court, “I know, but this is my team and I’m not letting anyone forget that.”

Wymack looked at her with a proud gleam in her eye, “Good, now get warmed up, and also the rookie arrived today, You mind showing him the ropes?”

Dan backed away, “Nope, where is he?”

Wymack called out, “Boyd!” and got a “Yes Coach” from next to the glass, away from both of them.

Dan looked over to the voice, and spotted the newcomer. Wymack picked him, she knew that because she never saw his file. Only his games. He was tall. Way too tall for a newbie. And by that way he was looking at them, he was observing them for some time. However, it was the look he was giving Dan. It was unrecognizable, if she had known any better, she could've stated that was respect. Dan gave him a once over, and wasn't surprised when he gave her one in return. But this time, her stomach flipped.

Don’t even go there.

“You’re Mathew Boyd?”

“Matt. And yeah.” He was clearly scared of her.

Good.

“Okat Matt. You mind running a few extra laps while I give you the rundown?”

“Not at all” He was drawing near her.

Dan raise an eyebrow, and smirked. “Great. Let’s go rookie” and with they ran alongside each other on their laps.

message me for more plots!

[diningrheum]

Gratitude: RA and an ex

It’s a 2 for 1 sale on the blog this week! While my last blog post was lengthy, the majority of it wasn’t about the gratitude I had promised would be the focus this month.  So, this is a do-over of sorts.  I’m really longing for a do-over in real life right about now, but I’m afraid that isn’t always possible.  I’m trying to reconcile myself to the fact that my past actions do have consequences, but in the meantime, I just need a place to vent my thoughts and feelings.  Therefore, though it’s an odd choice for something to be grateful for: this post is about getting RA and being dumped.

Obviously, if I could trade in either of these situations I would in a heartbeat.  I want neither of them to be true for me, but they are both at the forefront of my reality, so it’s time to make lemonade out of these lemons and discuss their usefulness.  While both being pretty crappy situations, both have forced me to count the blessings I actually have.  They taught me a tough lesson in not taking things for granted because you never know when you might lose something. In the case of RA, it taught me to not take for granted even life’s simplest pleasures, like the ability to walk pain free.  I am so grateful that the medications seem to be keeping my RA well controlled, so I may once get to experience these joys again someday.

Breaking up has taught me the same lesson.  It has forced me to take a good hard look at all the things my boyfriend had to offer that I had started taking for granted over time.  I mean, obviously many of them are just basic qualities one would expect a significant other to have(kindness, patience, attractiveness, intelligence), but that’s part of the problem.  I grew to just expect it as a given, but I didn’t fully appreciate it.  There were many times I would request he comply to a desire or need, and he would, but I didn’t thank him. Or I didn’t even acknowledge that he did something that was much more for my benefit than his.  And he did it to make me happy or to try to make life easier.  This was especially true after my RA diagnosis.

RA is a real jerk, and in turn I have been a real jerk because of it! It not only disrupted my life, but it also disrupted his.  We were both healthy, fairly active young adults prior to RA, but then I got sick.  My boyfriend and I used to often discuss health in both fitness and nutrition aspects.  He was more the workout guy and I was a bit of a nutrition nerd, pouring over paleo or keto blogs and reading cited literature to support it to see if it was really right fit for me.  I loved sharing  it with him if I found some interesting information on grass fed beef or the nutritional benefits of mushrooms or something.  He not only tolerated this passion, but he showed an active interest in it.  He especially liked when I would find out some good information regarding protein powders and find a good one to try.  I bought him one brand for his birthday, and he still likes to use it to this day.

He is very passionate about working out.  In my mind, maybe a little obsessed even, but hey I got to reap the benefits of having a man who took good care of his body, which I can’t complain about, right?  In the earlier days of us dating, we would often go to the gym together.  I was always more into swimming than any other form of exercise, and he was extremely accommodating about that.  We would often do a little weight lifting first, then I would go swim, while he lifted just a bit longer, and he’d join me in the pool  a bit later. When we first moved in together, he was recovering from an injury, so he wasn’t doing his usual Tuesday night soccer routine, but he still wanted some exercise.  There was a pool near our new house, so we would go swimming almost every Tuesday night. It was wonderful and as I look back on it, I remember those may have been some of the last days I remember being truly happy even after my brief pregnancy and its aftermath.  I think I often blamed my unhappiness on that whole situation, but now that I think about it, there were still flashes of joy so it wasn’t all depression.

I think we stopped swimming together around the new year, which is around the time my RA was starting to really bother me.  It still took me months before I got a diagnosis, but all I knew was that working out didn’t feel very good anymore, so I didn’t want to do it. I think this was a little soul crushing to my ex.  And I was too stupid and selfish back then to appreciate that he was more bummed about spending less time together than he was that I wasn’t working out at all.  Honestly, its taken me all the way up until this very moment in writing this to realize what a jerk I was about it.  I probably really hurt him and I didn’t even care.  Ugh! How did I screw this up so bad?  Not only did I hurt him by abruptly stating that I didn’t want to work out with him at all anymore, but I also got angry and called him a control freak.

OK OK….less self loathing…more gratitude!!!

He really was a wonderful partner and friend.  He was my rock when I was sick…much more caring and compassionate than I ever cared to give him any credit for.  We still wanted to be active and he tried to not show how much it bothered him.  He still tried to include me when I was unable to bike for a while, by suggesting we bring the dog along and I drive with the dogs while he biked and I’d meet him somewhere.  It was a fair compromise…more than fair actually.  He was completely rearranging his life for me and I wish I’d seen it sooner.

Recently, he started talking with me on Mondays about what we had done the previous weekend.  He said he’s been doing that kinda of reflection himself for a while.  He thought of me more that I even gave him credit for.  It was really sweet and thoughtful.  He would always ask if I thought the mix of time alone vs time spend with other friends was appropriate.

During many of our fights, he would suggest the best way to resolve our issues is to write a list of several things we are grateful for in the other person, and then a much smaller list (so, like 10 good vs 3 bad) or things we thought we issues that needed to be worked on.  Unfortunately, we never really followed through and implemented that plan on a regular basis though.

In addition, for our house, he took on a much greater financial burden than I did.  I make less money than him and so he covered the down payment, and I am paying half the mortgage plus a percent of the down payment back to him each month. Thus far, he has paid in full for some of the repairs needed, like electrical work, a new water heater, and a hear pump installation.  We were planning a kitchen remodel and he was willing to foot the bill for that as well until I felt in a better position to contribute to the cost. It was all very generous.

Even in this breakup, he is being exceedingly kind toward me.  As horrible and unhinged as I had become on Tuesday, I would not have been that nice to me.  He is offering to help me move and help me out with any money issues if I need to look for a place to move to.  (I don’t since I’m just moving in with my parents)  He even agreed to meet with me tomorrow to talk some more because I think he knows I am really struggling to come to terms with this breakup.

Its just a shame that I have learned to fully appreciate all of this just a little too late. If you are reading this, let this serve as a cautionary tale and reminder to make space for those you love.  Appreciate everything they give to you, before they are gone and it’s too late to fix things.  So, this really really sucks right now, but hopefully being dumped for my lack of gratitude will make me appreciate what I still have left.

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Character Name: Blaise Zabini Canon or OC: canon Faceclaim: Keith Powers Age: 17 House: the best one Slytherin Blood Status: Pureblood

I’m so glad you decided to join us, Fleur.  Your app was a fantastic read, and I love how you took our idea of Blaise’s vanity and expounded upon it at a much deeper level.  We can’t wait to see what you do with him!

MUN Name: Fleur MUN Age: 25+ Timezone: GMT+1

Blaise has never been left wanting for anything in his entire life. Many would think he misses a father figure: after all, those he does have always end up dead after they’ve done their time, and aren’t you worried, Blaise? Why no, thank you, he isn’t. His mother’s love knows no bounds and once he was old enough to know better than get attached to the men she wed, Blaise got over them as fast as she did. They were accessories to make their life shinier, warmer, richer. Some people, Gloria had said, were made to rule and others to be used, that was how things were and he would understand in his own time.

Mothers know best, and before long little Blaise, first year Slytherin student, figured out some people were better to have around than others. Like Gloria he kept to the sidelines just enough to be safe, while not depriving the school of a treasure such a himself, either. He associated with those who understood the principle of equality, the fact that there was no such thing in the world and you had to stick to those who were at least nearly as good as yourself. Draco Malfoy was interesting, sure, but his name was too big and would attract way too many eyes, just like Harry Potter’s. They were friendly for sure, but those two would never be the closest in Blaise’s circle for one good reason: he couldn’t be outshone.

As for blood purity, he only cares about it to the extent that purebloods are more likely to meet his expectations, and he doesn’t have the patience to teach mudbloods everything or coddle them when they get homesick, or whatever it is people feel when they see their world brutally shoved upside down at a young age.

Being so selective about who he chooses to associate with, Blaise is a mysterious figure to most. Even with friends like Zacharias or Adalia he doesn’t let his walls down completely, because only those who stay are worth the risk that comes with being known. The one thing about him everyone has noticed is that he is handsome and acutely aware of the fact. If asked about an awkward phase during his teenage years he’d say there was room for no such thing in his genes, and even if there was, no one would have noticed it because Blaise Zabini at his worst is still above everyone else at their best. His vanity could mean he finds complimenting others a ridiculous endeavour, but the truth is quite different: his closest friends are reminded often of their value, whether it be physical or otherwise, because it is important to Blaise that they know why he took a liking to them and not somebody else. Much like his mother he holds sacred a handful of people, hardly enough to count on one hand, and would throw the rest under the Hogwarts Express without a second thought.

It’s not surprising that he would be so like Gloria when she has been his only constant in life until Hogwarts. Some of his step fathers he was courteous with to the point of putting a distance between them they could never cross, while others were alright. He no longer likes them but some of them made a strong enough impression to garner a sigh of ‘how unfortunate’ after they’d pass away. None of them were ever considered good enough for his mother, who is the only person Blaise places above himself. Theo, Gregory, Vincent, and Millicent are, for all intents and purposes, his equals – meaning whoever is heard or seen giving them anything less than profound respect will come to regret it sooner than later. He doesn’t always target them personally, because the best way to educate people about the sacred nature of friendship is to tackle their own friends, make them understand the impact of their actions better. Blaise Zabini is magnanimous like this: through harsh lessons he helps itsy bitsy students learn and grow.

Applied and disciplined, Blaise is no joy to have in a classroom nonetheless. It’s not that he causes trouble, rather he is silent to the point where teachers will sometimes forget he is even in the room. Whenever asked a question he gives a correct answer, then goes back to his quiet state. The only times he seems to come to life despite a professor’s watchful eyes are during quidditch matches or duelling club. Quidditch is the easiest way to stay fit while indulging in his love of flying, although at the expense of his own body from time to time given that bludgers have no understanding of beauty. Duelling is simply a matter of surviving: what use is there in being rich and beautiful if he can’t keep himself alive? No, he must also be strong and powerful, above all others in everything just like he was born to be. This leaves him no time for tending to the needs of others as a prefect, a role the headmaster and staff know would not have fit him, anyway.

Were Blaise to face the Mirror of Erised, he would see himself and his mother, both older but still as proud, him wearing tailored robes reminiscent of his status – because of course he will hold a valuable place at the ministry, and Gloria will be proud, and the name of Zabini will more than ever be synonymous with grandeur. A boggart, on the other hand, would take the appearance of his mother, emaciated and wearing rags he imagines to be the uniform of Azkaban prisoners, where she would have been taken for the murder of his step fathers. The boggart would stand with a rounded back and a feeble voice, the only words past its chapped lips being, “now we are nothing”.

SAMPLE

“I am simply saying it was a bit unwise of you, that is all,” Gloria’s voice rang clear above the noise of the crackling log in the fireplace.

They were not having an argument – Blaise and Gloria Zabini never argued – but her tone was a little curt. Both mother and son were tired of the topic at hand, but wouldn’t drop it simply because they did not wish to end their discussion, nevermind the turn it had taken. Having dinner in silence when Blaise’s last school year was fast approaching would be a waste of time when mother and son knew they would miss each other dearly.

“I understand, but I didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, there aren’t many people out there who are both interesting and alliance-free.” “Dalliance free?” Gloria’s mouth was caught in the middle of a fight between a firm line and an amused grin. The grin won. “Alliance, mother, alliance. Although I can’t say dalliances aren’t common occurrence,” Blaise replied with a smile of his own. “Do you do dalliances?”

His scrunched up nose should have been answer enough, but he was unwilling to let the conversation fall flat now that they had steered off the topic of his chosen friends. He did take his time to chew on the roast beef the house elf had prepared, though, patting the corners of his mouth with an embroidered serviette more expensive than some clothes he’d seen on the back of his schoolmates.

“Few people are worth my interest, whether at Hogwarts or the parties you are so fond of,” he said, tone accusing. His raised eyebrows diffused what little tension could have escaped him, but Gloria didn’t need to look up to know her son was peeved, at most. He knew how important it was that he attended her parties, and she knew he would do anything for her. So the parties came and went all year round with hordes of teenagers she left to her handsome Blaise’s begrudging care. “Won’t you at least try, for me? I would like a grandchild, you know. I would like that very much.”

Blaise sighed and rolled his eyes: they had had a similar conversation before so yes, he knew his mother was looking forward to his keeping the bloodline alive. But he wasn’t too sure he would fare well with a baby, or even a young child; more than that he had no idea how well he would take to living with someone else. Blaise was quite likely to have an arranged marriage, which didn’t bother him. If he waited until he found someone he truly appreciated, he might die alone, and he couldn’t deprive his mother of a grandchild. Maybe he would take after her and let go of his wife once she’d served her purpose, or keep their union political. He wasn’t afraid to love, or unable to. This he knew in spite of having never felt anything more than vague interest or fleeting physical attraction; no, it was simply that people were… lesser, and he wouldn’t dirty his hands touching any of them.

“I will do my best for you, mother,” he assured. “Since you are so accepting of my friends.”

His teasing had the expected effect on Gloria, who rose her hands to the ceiling like the extravagant furniture in the room directly above their heads shared her despair.

“You better hope never to get dragged in some suspicious business, Blaise, or any situation where you’d have to make a statement. Good for you to keep Potter and Narcissa Malfoy’s boy around, keep it balanced. And if you hear anything, anything at all, about anyone, you tell me and you—” “Remain neutral, mother, I know.” “Good. You best remember it. It might not look like it matters now, but better safe than sorry. You never know whose help you might need in the future, isn’t that right, Wendy?”

The house elf nodded, stumbling over her words in her haste to say ‘yes, master, of course, master,’ but earning a satisfied grin all the same. Wendy’s pillowcases were also more expensive than most Hogwarts students’ wardrobe. The Weasleys came to mind immediately and Blaise snorted. Another reason not to get too close to Potter: his choice of friends could sometimes be a little… poor. Literally.

“You know, with you being so scared, if ever another war breaks out I will be the first to say you jinxed it.” “Jinxed a war? What in Merlin’s ever-growing beard is that supposed to mean?” “It’s a muggle thing, apparently. It means you spoke something that became true and ruined a situation. Isn’t it cute?” “Cute?” Gloria repeated to herself, like the word was alien to her. It probably was, Blaise thought. “There is nothing cute about it. Muggles are ridiculous.” “Indeed,” he replied, digging cheerfully in his plate.

His mother worried too much. With the Dark Lord dead and his Death Eaters in Azkaban, the worst that could happen to Blaise was somewhere between a pimple and a bludger to the nose, and though he wished neither on himself, he had to admit how likely they were compared to a new wizarding war. Besides, even if that particular bit of paranoia came true, what were the odds that their small family would be targeted? Gloria had made sure to remain carefully neutral, so that attaching themselves to the winning side as they saw fit wouldn’t be too hard. Money bought everything, shelter and protection included, and thanks to late husband number seven they were rich enough for three wars. Still, he hated to worry his only parent, and so made sure to soothe her anxiety before dessert.

“None of my friends make any noise about aligning with anyone in particular. We have no reason to talk about such matters, and if things started to get too dangerous for me you know I would get out of the way. You raised me well, you don’t have to worry.”

She seemed placated, which in turn lifted the guilt off Blaise’s shoulders enough that he would surely finish his letter for Theo once he went back to his study, and start writing his other friends, too. Every year his mother found something new to fuss about, and every year he went home for the summer having not been in any danger whatsoever. His last year wouldn’t be any different, and he was looking forward to it in the same way children looked forward to have ripped off a band aid.