#who can be like martin. but also shes gotta be supportive because shes scared to lose him to martin

[loumandivorce]

trans malcolm is so. imagine if the person the most accepting of you was your serial killer dad

[driverwaltz]

Precipitate

Manager!Kylo Ren x Singer!Reader

Summary: Taking up late night gigs downtown at the Starlight Lounge was always just a way to earn some extra cash. Most days you’d bartend or bus tables, but on some special days your boss, Michael, would let you act as the live music feature of the night. It was one of those nights when you met him. The dark brooding man in the corner of the dimly lit bar caught your eye and promised opportunity, but nothing could have hinted towards what he had planned for the future.

Rating: Mature. This part is tame though.

Warnings: Unfair power dynamics, age gap, eventual smut, dub-con, drug use, slow burn

Words Count: 1.7K (Ik I went overboard)

Notes: This is my first ever fanfic so pls be nice 🥺. I took the inspiration for this from a couple of songs by the band Interpol and might make a playlist to go along with each chapter. If you guys have any suggestions or constructive criticism on my writing it’d be much appreciated (and needed lol). Also, this moves REALLY slowly in the beginning, but I promise I’ll start to pick up the pace.

Part 1: Meeting place

It broke again.

The only thing that alerted me this time was Michael's voice, booming from the back end of the bar from the kitchen to where I stood near the glassware.

"The third fuckin' time this month that I gotta replace the damn martini glasses 'cause of that hunk-of-shit washer!"

It's an easy fix, he could just replace that "hunk-of-shit" once, and that way he could spare us $65 every time a set of glasses break. It would also save the poor man on the end of the line every time he calls the distributor, demanding a new dozen and a discount. I could remind him this was an option again, but I know better. No matter what I say, I know his pride will go against any sense of better judgment. So, I stay quiet. Let him go on his little tirade while I do what he pays me to do: Act sweet to an array of old drunkards who plop themselves down on the same barstools every Saturday night. After they all get comfy, I make a point to ask about their wives and how their bitch of a boss made them work overtime. At the same time, I whip up concoctions of tequila, salt, and lime for them to hurriedly gulp down and offer me gratitude. However, it's only ever through words, never an extra 15% on the tab.

Kindness in strangers. That's what I was taught. Mama kept a stack of old scripts in a wicker basket near her nightstand, and I remember rummaging through them on static summer days when it was too hot to go outside. Mama never believed in failures. She'd always tell me, "you're constantly learning and improving. Never failing, just falling — stagnant." I like to believe that's true, but I was also raised to be honest. And, In all honesty, I can't deny that Mama was a failure. She moved out to California from Georgia without telling a soul the night she turned 17. She had nothing but her new hand-me-down car, some spare cash she got from waitressing, and a small suitcase full of clothes and essentials. Her dream was to become a performer, an actress, a starlet of her generation. She tried. I know she did, but things don't work out for a reason. So, I too, was born and raised in Georgia. However, unlike how Grandman brought up Mama, I was raised off stories of Mama's journey to Tinsel Town and the people she met rather than Grimms' Fairytales. I learned how to fall asleep to softly hummed show tunes rather than lullabies. Mama never wanted to buy new children's books; instead, she would recite one of her scripts to me. When I got a bit older, I fell in love with The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and that's when Mama told me: "Always depend on the kindness of strangers."

I blame Mama. I believe personality is a sort of genetic trait, and I definitely got all of that from Mama. I can never say no to Michael. Not because he scares me or that I'm in full agreeance with him all the time, but whenever the word threatens to leave me lips, it chokes me. Then, I swallow it back down and resume whatever I was doing. No is never an option. It was never an option in the schoolyard or in the house, and especially not during my music classes. Mama wanted me to continue whatever legacy she had crafted for herself, and much to her disappointment, I was not much of a talker, but I was a hummer. So, Mama forced me to turn my quiet hums into fully supported singing. That was the start of it all. I took up guitar after that, and stole my dad's old records and tried to replicate what I would hear. I guess that's how I started writing music, as for what I did with that music...

"(y/n), Lucy said she comin' to take o'er you're shift in a few. If you want, you can clock out for tonight," Michael grumbled from the back in a shout.

"It's only midnight. I've only been working for about four hours, and I need the money this month, so I'm okay working for a little bit more. I can help you out in the back if you'd like," I responded. I really did need the money though, Martin's been on my ass about my lease.

Michael peered at me through the kitchen doorframe for a second, "You got your guitar in your car?"

"Yeah."

"You up to play a few songs tonight? We've got a bit more business tonight."

I felt the muscles in my face pull up and tighten against my will. I hate to admit that sometimes Michael can make me smile, and he was right. I turned to the entrance and slowly, one-by-one, people started coming in and settling down.

"Yes, sir! I'll bring it out." I exclaimed while grabbing my keys from behind the counter and making my way out to my car parked at the back.

After retrieving my case from the trunk, I quickly checked my reflection on the left-hand mirror and smoothed out my hair and touched up my lipstick. I saw a man pass by through the corner and make his way into the bar. I better make tips tonight doing this.

I waltzed back into the bar and headed for the small stage in the front. It's not really a stage more than it's a glorified black stool, but I like to think it's charming and adds character. You know, mask up the patheticness of it all. I plugged in my Fender to the worn-out amps and strummed to make sure it was in tune. There were a lot of people tonight. Well, a lot more than usual, at least. Quickly, I scanned the room for comforting faces to focus on and calm my nerves. Most of our customers were gruff men, so this trick usually didn't work, but tonight was different. In the corner by a little bust made by a local artist sat a man with thick black hair. He was by no means soft. Much like the patrons, he harbored a hard look on his face, but he struck me differently. It was intense and cold. Georgia's a hot place, so I didn't mind his gaze. It was cooling and made me freeze over.

I don't know why, but I want to impress him. Plus, looking down, I saw he was wearing a polished pair of dress shoes, so I assume he's got some money on him, maybe he'll spare me a tip. I'll just play a cover. Can't go wrong with a cover.

My fingers dragged across the guitar strings and drew out the alternating chords of D7 and Am in a back and forth pattern.

"It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day... Mama said she got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge... She said Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge..."

Bobbie Gentry was one of dad's favorites. I know the country wasn't a popular choice for many people, but this is the South, and Ode to Billie Joe is always a classic, and I think the dreariness of the song perfectly compliments the tone of the bar.

I played a set and earned a couple of measly tips from it. Nothing I could complain about, I guess. It was nearly 1 am, and I was getting tired. Overtime is only worth so much, so I decided it was best to go back home. I packed up my guitar and walked to the bar counter to ask Lucy to clock for me, but before I could even rest my case against the counter, I felt a man slide into the seat next to me.

"You've gotta nice voice," he drawled out while staring at the wall in front of him.

"Thank you. I perform here almost every week."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah..." I couldn't really think of how I could continue this conversation. And, trust me, I really want to. The man was wearing a black button-up shirt, grey trousers, and that impressive pair of dress shoes. His hair was long and gelled back, and his profile was exquisite. He looked strong, and his voice was deep and rich like marmalade.

"You could work on that guitar a little bit," he deadpanned as he took a swig of whiskey. I looked at him even more intensely then and scoffed.

"Really? Can you do better?"

"I never said that. I just think, with a voice like that, the guitar should match up," he said with a playful glint in his voice as he finally turned his head towards me.

Now, I really don't know how to continue this conversation.

"Alright, you caught me. I'm not that great at the guitar, but hey, I'm a bar singer, not Paul McCartney, or something," I laughed out. He smiled, and then I felt all the blood in my body rush to my cheeks, it's a miracle I didn't fall flat on my face.

"I guess I was just expecting more," he said.

"Well, I didn't promise you anything, did I?"

He looked like he was in his late 20s, probably.

"No. No, you didn't. But, maybe you could start... for next time."

"That depends. Are you gonna give me a tip."

"Yes. When I think you deserve it," he said as his face fell flat and his voice authoritative in an odd way.

"Well, I'll probably be here next Saturday so you can decide then."

"Will do," he smirked.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Kylo," he replied in a gentle voice as he once again held his glass of whiskey up. He then raised his eyebrow, and I knew he wanted an answer.

"(y/n)."

He gulped down his whiskey, turned to me, and smiled. I wanted to say something more, I had to say something, but he stopped me before I could by getting up and walking towards the door.

"I gotta be somewhere tomorrow, doll. I'm expecting a show on Saturday," he exclaimed as he stepped out the bar.

"Don't worry... I can put on a show."

He grinned one final time before escaping out of the bar, leaving me alone with his empty cup of whiskey and a smile that doesn't leave my face the entire night.

[scarlethq]

wanted connections,

because i feel so bad approaching people without concepts in mind i’m gonna rattle off a bunch of connections that would make sense in scar’s past ofc if anyone wants one hmu but i’mma use this and send it to people i’m plotting with because i’m mf braindead constant help.

song inspo.

( open / m/f/nb ) enemies, post malone. - the enemies trope, everyone’s gotta have at least one. scarlet is sweet to everyone of course but there are people she doesn’t get along with. especially if they crossed her friends. they really could not like each other for something as petty as scar getting hurt over something stupid that your muse doesn’t even know about ( i.e. what they thought was a joke and she took to heart, cancelling plans. ) -- she’s a sweetheart, but she’s got a temper for sure.

( open / m/f/nb ) good together, SHY martin. - the exes trope, this wouldn’t be like the first relationship. rather, this person and scar knew each other before she went to rehab. possibly someone she spiraled with during that year or maybe someone she knew before it all went down. they left before she really fell into her addiction, but when she got clean they started coming around again. the only problem being that things are so, so much different now. and despite trying to release it scar holds anger toward them, and they hold anger toward her. probably the only person who knows scar’s past without any sort of sugar coat. the only person who can get her really, really angry. also the only person she can comfortably sleep with, because deep down she loves and trusts them.

( open / m/f/nb ) lighter, miley cyrus. - the best friend trope. this person and scar just recently met, sharing a love for driving just to clear their minds. it could have been a party they met at and decided to ditch, or maybe one saw the other in a state of crisis and just knew. now, once a week they take a drive. sometimes, they talk the whole time. sometimes, it’s quiet. sometimes they’re screaming the lyrics to their guilty pleasures. but every time, they leave with the understanding that this is their happy place. outside of this they don’t interact much. whether it’s their busy schedules or just finding it awkward unless they’re in the car is something we can talk about but it can definitely be a sweet and just quietly supportive friendship.

past/present inspo.

( open / f/nb ) first year dorm-mate. this is scarlet’s third year, so possibly another third year who shared the same dorm as her during their first run. they’d know about how strict her parents were, but it’s unclear if she told them why she was under such a cautious eye. it’d be sweet if they did know about what happened, maybe they had a night where scar just broke down. now they have a close connection or maybe oh shit maybe it’s on the rocks because scar doesn’t feel super comfortable now that they know so much about her and what she’s been through. could be an angsty we-were-best-friends-now-you-leave-the-room-any-time-i-enter friendship.....

( open / m/f/nb ) the first relationship. scarlet has cut off all forms of dating now but in the past i’d really like an ex who she thought she could be with, really thought was something special, but she broke it off shortly after getting together because she got scared. they would have never slept together, and that could have been a factor into any tension. but, the twist being it’s all her. the fact she couldn’t get intimate with them being a topic she would bring up a lot, challenging them. along with her refusing to tell them why she was so anti-being-touched.

( open / m/f/nb ) nightly check in. while scar does her usual rounds for people during the morning. dropping off care packages and being everyone’s personal mom. this person is a special case scenario. every night before she goes to her room, she stops by theirs. checking in, helping with anything they may be working on. along with that every night she brings the same three items. their favorite snack, a bottle of water and a movie to watch. this person is incredibly important to her. and it might be oblivious to them both, but she has feelings for them. big mood slow burn.

( open / m/f/nb ) comedy regular. one of the many things she does in her free time is comedy, joining the comedy club to just have a good time and a good laugh, she’s found herself really drawn to the story telling that comes with it. so, one friday night she found a comedy club and began preforming. this person is the only person who knows about the show ( other than teddy. ) and found her entirely by accident. we can talk about if she knows they catch her friday nights. mayb one night she’s not there and they’re like hey wtf and she’s like i KNEW I SAW YOU GOD WTF mood . vibes .

( closed / @virtuosc ) well, it was gonna be a puff piece. since she is in the journalism club i imagine... they have some sort of paper maybe not but imagine your muse and scar started talking because she was gonna write an article about whatever they are interested in ( sports, photography, other clubs ) but then she kept asking the right questions to start to get to know them. then the puff piece became just story telling. them telling her stories, her telling them her own. and they’re still meeting for coffee every saturday, despite her not thinking about the article in weeks.

[souljaems]

↬ “keep running home to you” flash!au part 2 — lee jeno.

— part one & final part 

— words: 3.6k

— warnings: I don’t know any of the NCT Dream members personally, I’m writing this based only in my opinions. I didn’t create any of the universe used in this story, all rights reserved to DC Comics.

— no proofread, sorry about any possible mistakes.

— fINALLY HERE IT IS THE SECOND PART!!! I’m not over yet, but the final part will be coming soon, I hope you all can enjoy this. Thank you so much for all your support, that’s my Christmas gift for all of you. GIVE JENO ALL THE LOVE HE DESERVES. 

”Jisung, what do you see?” Your voice sounds in Jisung’s ear, while he’s staring at the metahuman in front of him.

”You gotta be kidding me, how is this man a meta? I used to read every single post on his blog, he's a good writer.” Jisung says staring at the man who's literally controlling the wind.

”What can we say? There are no bad guys like the ones in our old gold days.” Donghyuck’s says in a fun tone, only to see you rolling your eyes beside him. ”Remember Jisung, he's not controlling the wind, he's controlling the thoughts of the people around you, making it into this kind of cloud of thoughts that it may look like wind, but it's not, it's much stronger.”

Jisung tries to run into the weird cloud barrier to arrest the guy, but he's thrown away meters back, only confirming the Donghyuck words.

”Okay, that hurt, you’re right Haechan. How do I stop a guy that can use the thought of people as a weapon?” Jisung asks in a rushed tone, slowly getting back on his feet.

”Okay, listen. If he's only using the thoughts of people around you guys to create this weapon, then it means he can't reach the whole city to create a stronger weapon, he has a limit.” Yeri's voice sounds in his ear, making a smile appear in Jisung's face.

”Got it, I'm running everyone out of here.” Jisung answers, already taking every single person he can see in the surrounding area to a safe and distant place.

”THAT’S MY BOY, YOU ALL.” Hyuck screams in the Star Labs, the place where all the team is, trying their best to help Jisung.

After Jisung is back, all the weird and rigid cloud that created a wall around the guy is gone, Yeri's plan worked and now the guy is unprotected.

”Give up Martin, I took all the source of your cloud away, you can't use the thoughts of people to protect yourself anymore, it's over.” Jisung says calmly walking 

“Okay Flash, I gotta give you credit for that, it was really impressive. But did you really thought that was the limit of my abilities? You’re not capable enough to stop the Mind Master from destroying this city.”

“Ugh, that’s a terrible name.” Jisung and Hyuck say both at the same tiime, with the disgust in Haechan’s face forcing you and Yeri to hold your laughs back.

“You two don't you dare to laugh, I can totally think about a better one than this.” Hyuck voice sounds in Jisung’s ear making him smile. 

“You will never destroy this city, not on my watch. Now, let’s get over with this.” Jisung says ready to handcuff the guy with the special handcuffs capable of containing the power of a metahuman. 

Jeno is watching the whole thing through the TV, a helicopter is recording live the whole, and thankfully to his speed, he’s capable of seeing a fast cloud emerging from behind Jisung and at this point he doesn’t even have to think about it, he’s already up from his chair, running to the place Jisung is. The Flash is clearly in danger.

Jisung is almost arresting the guy, but then he feels a strong pain in his chest and when he lowers his head to see what has happened, he notices a sharp shape that has just crossed his body. Mind Master is looking at him with a proud smile.

“You did exactly as I wanted, Flash. I knew the only thing capable of truly hurt you was your own thoughts, they’re the only thing fast enough to injure you in a way that your body can’t heal faster.” The man stares at Jisung eyes like he's something that he got in a fish, making Jisung want to punch his face.

Jisung tries to get out of it but a strong pain makes him scream, the cloud now has the shape of a hook, there's no way Jisung can get out of it.

”His blood pressure is dropping, he's not losing any blood but I don't think he's capable of handling this much of pain.” Yeri says while staring at the computer that has Jisung's health information.

”Why is he not healing Yeri? What do you mean he's not capable of handling it?” You quickly ask feeling a strong pain in your chest, seeing your brother like that is killing you. ”Yeri!”

”His cells can't even start the healing process, it's not because the cloud is still there, it is because the cloud is moving fast inside of him, just like his thoughts, his cells can not heal faster than that.” Yeri starts to explain, feeling afraid to continue.

”Jisung, you have to stop moving, this thing is very close to your heart, it can kill you.” Donghyuck says while he's already looking for his mask, he's in no damn way letting this guy kill Jisung.

Hyuck is opening a breach so he can go there when he feels Killer Frost approaching him. Killer Frost is an alter ego of Yeri that just appears when Yeri's scared or angry, and now, she's damn scared of losing her friend.

”Easy to say.” Jisung answers still trying to move.

”It's useless Flash, you can't escape something with your own speed.” Mind Master says, walking around in circles, enjoying every single second of The Flash's suffers.

”Jisung stop moving, please! Listen to Hyuck, they're coming to help you.” You beg on his ear, already feeling tears forming in your eyes.

”No! Don't let them come, it will make his powers stronger. Y/n you have to stop them!” Jisung quickly says trying to escape one more time, but this time, it's fatal.

”JISUNG!” You scream when you see the computer's screen indicating that his heart has just stopped beating.

Jeno finally arrives, he pushes the Mind Master away, what makes his cloud fade away from Jisung, since now he's clearly surprised.

”My powers are not enough to kill two speedsters at the same time. Too bad, guess you'll have to wait until another day.” The man says before fading away in some kind of cloud protecting him. ”Goodbye Flash.”

”Damn it!” Jeno screams in anger, running to Jisung that is not breathing anymore. ”Oh no, no, don't you dare to die on me. Jisung? Jisung? Please, you... You can't die.” Jeno says in a lower tone of voice, feeling tears rolling down his face. ”You can't die because of me, I was supposed to be the Flash and fight that guy... please Jisung.” His heart is literally shattering into pieces, he can't believe that for the first time in his life, he got it late. And even for the first time, that was fatal.

The breach Hyuck opened on the Star Labs close, and now it appears where Jisung is. He's with Killer Frost and both of them have tears in their eyes.

”Who are you?” Hyuck asks in a threatening tone when he sees Jeno next to Jisung's body.

Jeno stares at the two of them, seeing the same pain that he has in his eyes in their eyes.

”Answer the damn question right now if you don't want to become an ice crystal.” Killer Frost says with her hands ready to split ice.

”I’m not here to hurt you, I'm a speedster just like him.” Jeno answers slowly getting up, with the tears still falling down on his face.

”So what? We fought speedster before, that doesn't mean you're a good guy.” Donghyuck says trying his best to hold his tears, with his hands ready to spill energy at Jeno if he had to.

”Take me to Star Labs, and I'll explain everything.” Jeno says, quickly looking at the helicopter that's still recording the whole situation.

”How do you...”

”Believe me, I just know.” Jeno says clearing the tears from his face. ”I also know Y/n is hearing the whole situation there, she needs to hear the truth too and I can't tell this here, please, I just want to save him.”

Hyuck can't explain why, but his hands are going down without his control. There's a feeling inside of his guts that tell him to believe in the stranger, and when he looks at Killer Frost, he knows she's feeling the same way. Even because, speedster or not speedster, they have enough things in the Star Labs to stop the stranger if they have to.

”Okay.” Haechan says, breathing heavily, not being sure he can discuss anything at the moment.

”Okay?! Vibe, we can't just...” Killer Frost starts to say, with wide open eyes towards Hyuck.

”You can feel that's the right thing to do too. The whole city is watching.” Hyuck rushes to say, opening another breach and signing to the stranger to take Jisung’s body. ”Let’s go.”

After all of them entered in the breach, the breach closes and opens right after in the Star Labs, where you are, with your heart broken. Jeno feels his heart shattering to pieces when the first thing he sees is you, running to him just to hug Jisung’s body.

Everyone stares at you, but nobody seems to know exactly what to say, you're crying your heart out.

”My baby brother... It has to be something we can do, he can't be...” You say without a thousand of tears rolling down your face, you're on the floor hugging your only sibling's body, and you can help it but to feel like a part of you is completely gone. ”Hyuck, p-please, tell me that's something we can do to save him.”

Donghyuck is staring at you, his eyes already denying everything. Killer Frost is gone, which means Yeri is back, now on her knees standing by your side and trying to give you support.

”There is, but you guys have to listen to me first, okay? I can explain everything.” Jeno's beside you, so when he softly speaks next to you, your attention turns to him as well, and you have the feeling you heard his voice before, but it's not only that. You're feeling like you're going to believe whatever he says, it's almost as you already trust in him.

”Wait, are you talking about some twisted kind of resuscitation? Because if you are, forget it, we're not doing that to him, right Y/n?” Hyuck says, looking for your backup, but you honestly are not listening, all you can do is stare at the mysterious person by your side that gives you a strange feeling in your chest.

”Take your mask off.” You say with tears still falling down your face, attracting Jeno's attention. He's feeling nervous to be that close to you again, but now he's almost sweating because of your request.

”What?” Jeno asks, not getting the point of it.

”I just lost my brother to some masked guy, so enough of masks for today. Take it off, please.” You ask him again, and all Jeno is capable of doing is nodding, he could never deny a request from you.

Jeno takes a deep breath before finally taking his mask off, he thought he would see a shocked you in front of him, but your eyes are as calm as ever staring at his.

”Wait... you're the guy who saved Y/n from the Master Mind today when he was driving like crazy that car. Who are you?” Yeri questions him in a confused tone.

”Lee Jeno, from high school. How didn't I remember you earlier?” You ask, still looking at Jeno's eyes that indicates how he's surprised that you remember his name at all.

You feel some kind of electricity running through your veins when you look at Jeno's, It's weird but at the same time a peaceful feel. Before Jeno starts talking, you ask him to take your brother to the emergency room in the Star Labs, look at him makes your chest hurts. You really want to believe that Jeno has a solution for all of that, but part of you still tell you that your brother is gone for good.

”You said there's a way to save him, we're listening.” You ask, staring deeply at Jeno's eyes. You have no idea why you can't seem to be away from his eyes.

”Okay, so, um... There's no easy way to explain this, but, speedsters have the ability to travel in time because we can break the barrier of time-space and run faster than it if we want to.” Everyone looked at Jeno with shocked eyes and he quickly starts to explain it better. ”Yes, I know it sounds already crazy but I swear it gets worse. I'm from another timeline, where I was the Flash, Jisung was the Kid Flash and you guys were still in the team. Something that I can't tell you guys now happened, and another thing also happened right after it that made me decide to come back in time change the past where my mom was murdered, but I didn't know what effects that would make in this present, so that created an alternate timeline where a whole new existence where a lot of things changed, because I messed up the original timeline.” Jeno stops explaining when he sees the confused looks on your faces. ”And I can tell from the ”I don't believe you”look on your faces that you don't believe me.”

”Wait, are you telling us that all of this started when you created this flashpoint in the timeline?” Hyuck asks looking at Jeno like he's crazy. ”Oh, that's a great name, but that's... not the point, sorry.”

”How any of this will bring my brother back? Are you going to turn back in time and stop him from fighting the Mind Master today?” You ask, not being sure if you’re following this.

”No, we don't know which consequences that could bring to Jisung or to any of us, it's not safe for him. Travel in time there's always this high risk of changing too many things, I know that better than anyone.” Jeno states, biting the intern part of his cheeks after, he’s so mad at himself for letting that all happen.

”So, how are you saving my brother?” You ask in a worried tone.

”I need you guys to help me to find a point where it's safe enough for me to travel back in time, without putting Jisung’s life at risk so we can stop him from fighting the Mind Master in a different way.”

”You do realize that we're not capable of thinking in all the variants, right? Our computers are not good enough to predict all the variants, we're talking about the timeline here.” Yeri says, making the three of you exchange worried looks.

“I know, but finding out at least some of the variants will help us to get a better guess in what to do.”

”Jeno, if what you're telling us is true, it's impossible to actually know any true variants, because almost all our these years weren't really lived by us, they're just memories.” Hyuck says in a suggestive tone.

”What does that mean?” Jeno aks, not getting Hyuck’s point.

”It means we don't have actual numbers or probabilities to use, it's not safe to risk a guess from doubtful variants, it can mess even more the timeline.” Hyuck says in a serious tone, but part of him is breaking, he really wants to believe that there’s a way to save Jisung.

”We don't know that for sure.” Jeno tries to say, but he’s already having a lack of confidence.

”Don’t we?” Yeri asks in a tired tone. ”We really want to help, but what you're asking to do is impossible, it won't truly help you to know what's the best moment, we don't even know if this moment you’re looking for exists in this timeline.”

”So, my brother is gone.” You say trying to stop your tears from falling down, attracting the attention of everyone for you. ”I think is time for you to go too Jeno, I have a funeral to plan.” You give a bitter smile and walk out of the room, not feeling well enough to hear about it anymore.

”Y/n wait!” Jeno calls you out, but you don't stop, what makes him go after you, he couldn't let you think that it was all over. ”You have to believe me, it must be another way to save him, we just need to think better about it.” He says, holding your wrist and making you stop, still not looking at his eyes.

“Jeno, that’s the problem, I want to believe you, I really do. I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s this part of me that screams “trust him”, and when I look at you it makes really hard for me not to listen to this crazy feeling that trusting in you won’t be a mistake, but... I don’t really know you Jeno and all my eyes can see right now is my brother not breathing in that bed.” You say, not being able to control your tears anymore, you pull your hand back, escaping from Jeno’s grip and feeling your wrist tingling right after it. “You’re doing something to me.” You whisper, closing your eyes and trying to ignore the feeling that you’re going crazy.

��What?” Jeno asks, being shocked for a moment when you turn around to face him in the eyes, 

“You said you came from another timeline right? Where we all helped you like Team Flash? We were something else to each other back there, weren’t we?”

A short silence it's all both of you can hear. Jeno’s eyes are wide open and he feels like his heart will stop any time now.

“I... how do you...” Jeno starts to say, but stop himself when he remembers he can’t talk about it the risk of messing it up it’s too big.

“I don’t know, it’s just a guess. The way you look at me and all these weird feelings I’m getting right now, it just made me wonder about it. See, I have a good life, a good job, good friends, but I’ve always felt like something was missing and I sound completely crazy right now, but this feeling seems to fade away when you’re close and... I can’t stand being next to you without feeling like I want to look at your eyes. I know you can’t’ say much, but you know I’m right.” You say, seeing Jeno slowly moving his hands to clean your tears off your face, you feel your whole body tingling with his touch, it’s a weird sensation since you don’t know Jeno at all, but it’s like your body is already used to it.

“Yes, you’re right, I can’t talk much about it, but we were something else.” Jeno whispers with a small smile on his face.

“At least I’m not going crazy.” You answer in a sad tone, closing your eyes in relief.

“I promise you Y/n, I’m gonna fix this, you’re not losing Jisung, just trust me, okay?” Jeno says in a low tone of voice, taking his hand out of your face slowly, he really didn’t want to let go of you.

“Okay.” You answer opening your eyes just to see Jeno smiling at you, running out of the place right after it.

”Where is he going?” Hyuck asks in a confused tone after seeing you enter the room again.

”I hope he's not doing what I think he is.” You answer, taking a deep breath and going straight to the computer. ”Find his house Hyuck, I think I know what he'll do and we have to stop him.”

When Jeno stopped running, he's at home, already looking for his mom.

”Mom? Mom, where are you? Mom, I need you.” Jeno calls for his mom, already feeling his voice trembling, he doesn’t know if he’s capable of doing what he has to.

”I’m in the kitchen Jeno, why?” Nora answers, turning just to see his son in tears. ”Oh baby, what happened? Why are you crying?” She asks, but the answer she gets just makes her confused, Jeno is now hugging her out of nowhere.

”I think I'm going to let go of the woman I love.” Jeno whispers getting his mom to feel even more confused, but what she thinks it's happening is that Jeno is giving up on you.

”Oh my dear, the things didn't go how you expected?” She asks in a sweet tone while caressing his back.

”N-no, I thought I was doing the right thing, but... now I see I only screwed up everything. Following my heart was a bad idea.” Jeno says, but his mom immediately push him a little, so now she's facing him.

”Following your heart never will be a bad idea. Even if things don't go as expected, at least it’ll give peace to your heart. You're an adult, following your heart is becoming even harder now, but don't stop doing it just because it's getting harder, sometimes things won't go as your heart wants to, but it’ll bring you peace and more responsibility to try again. Try again is not a sign that you failed, it's a sign that you're growing up and learning about your mistakes. You learn with your mistakes.” Nora says in a serious tone and with a warm smile in her face. ”Don’t be ashamed to follow your heart. It's the best you can do.”

”Do you really think that works?” Jeno asks in a lower tone, enjoying every second of having his mom by his side. She's really the wisest person he knows.

”I lived my whole life like this, so I think you'll have to trust me on this.” She answers with a sweet smile on her face while running her fingers through Jeno's hair.

The doorbell sounds in the kitchen, making Jeno's mom look at the clock, not being able to risk a guess at who could be, but when she finally opens the door, she just smiles at Jeno who is behind her.

”Maybe you don't have to do any of that.” She answers, leaving the door and making Jeno face you in front of his door.

[sungchanlele]

“The Rain”The importance of Rasmus Andersen.

Okay listen up, imma going to speak about this amazing and probably misunderstood character who I have learned to love very dearly: Rasmus Andersen.

Now, i don’t know if you (reader, yes, im speaking to you) have finished watching The Rain but I’m about to drop some big fucking spoilers try and show that Rasmus is a very important character who deserves respect and love, so be warned.

Now, I’ve seen either here or in Twitter some people talking shit about Rasmus, calling him a spoiled brat, childish prick, crybaby kid etc etc…in very few words: a completely annoying character.  Well I disagree to that, so  I’m about to drop in this mini rant and be warned: this is MY OPINION about this character and what I learned about him during the course of the series, so by the end of the day if this mini rant helped that’s great, and if people agrees with me that’s also amazing, so with all that being said let’s proceed shall we?

In the first episode of The Rain, we just get kind of introduced to these fantastic characters in a very stressed environment, why? Because the rain is coming, and it’s a very dangerous rain tbh, so the character of Simone and Rasmus are shown tense and scared. We get to meet Rasmus in the car, and is a kid, a 10-year-old kid, who basically, at his very young age, lived basically the eradication of humanity. 10 YEARS OLD and in the span of an episode: he experimented a kind of a apocalypse, a 2012 shit, his dad left them and to worse thing up here: he saw his own mom getting killed/infected by the rain with his 10 YEAR OLD eyes. By this rate, he has many reasons to be traumatized, but worse of all: By the end of the episode, we see Martin’s gang entering the bunker and Rasmus just got to see the grass and the sky for at least 5 seconds before being shoved back to the bunker, and he is again taken from freedom.

Now, by this point, everybody watching the series probably started to think about Rasmus as a childish baby because he says things like: “I want to get out NOW” and him reacting when Simone tries to comfort him saying “LEAVE ME ALONE” but its actually the other way around: how would you feel if you managed to get some freedom after being 6 years locked on a friking bunker with limited space and no sunlight and fresh air, and suddenly that freedom gets snatched again in less than 5 seconds by some fucking strangers with guns (BIG ASS GUNS) threatening to kill you, your sister and locking you up in a EVEN SMALLER PLACE (because lets be clear, the bunker may be big, but it can get small when you get used to the zone).  So, it can be reasonable Rasmus’s anger, yes I agree that he could have controlled it, but lets be real here, everyone would be scared and even claustrophobic if you were in his place.

Moving on, allow me to leave one thing clear, of all the brilliant characters of this amazing series, there’s one that I feel fucking pissed with, and its Beatrice.  (but ngl, she’s written brilliantly). And before you come here as a mob to murder me, let me explain myself why I don’t like her. At episode 1, I started to like her a lot, she helped Simone and Rasmus and stood by their side, and I appreciate her for that (but at this point I dunno if she did that just for convenience; because she liked Rasmus since the moment she laid eyes on him; she really supported Simone and her decisions; or she liked to contradict Martin’s orders) I kinda hoped it was the last 2, and I carried on watching the episode with that mentality, until I noticed the pairing that it came to be Rasmus and Beatrice.  Now listen up, why I find this pairing odd? Because Rasmus in a 16 year old kid who spend 6 years locked in a bunker with no other human contact but Simone, and most of his life before the events of the rain he was constantly sick

so he spend many time also with his parents getting checked and being supervised, laying on the bed. What am I getting at? This kid is NEW to the business of love, not sibling love, like love COUPLE, and this woman, (because lets be fucking real Beatrice is older than Rasmus), comes in and starts seducing this kid. THIS KID, WHO STARED IN AWE WHEN HE SAW TREES. And not just that, Beatrice is a manipulative person who lied to Martin when he said that his parents were in the church or something, to not get separated of them 

and then lied to Rasmus again with his parents being dead in the bed. (LIKE WTF WOMAN WHY U GOTTA LIE TO A KID?)

Now, I don’t know how to interpret Rasmus’s expression when he saw Beatrice and Martin having sex on episode 2, Lucas’s expression there is brilliantly masked in an amalgamation between shocked/curiousness, and that’s when he started to feel a spark of probably jealously. 

And don’t get me wrong, is probably normal for teens to get attracted to adults, it happens, but for adults to respond… its weird, and even more weird in this case, giving Rasmus’s past years of the very few many human interaction he had during 6 years. Get my drift?

Okay, back to Rasmus, having reviewed the past traumatic experiences that he has seen and experienced in the first episode and after being outside, in the span of a very few days, Rasmus:

• Was stabbed and almost died of blood loss and that injury got really infected, so he was in pain.

• Almost got murdered by a crazy doctor by being injected the virus.

• Was probably almost murdered by the other doctor at the house of the old people in episode 5.

• ATE human meat, like WTF people.

• Had a drug addiction to morphine and it was getting bad…

• The person he loved (why Rasmus why) died, and is probably HIS fault.

And the worse of all: his father didn’t help him in the end, on the contrary: he was about to get killed by his own hand. And even if it was for humanity’s own good, this in not Infinity War bro, and that dad wanted to pull a Thanos up in this bitch, like NO dude. Rasmus didn’t deserved to get that gun pointed at him by his own dad. He deserved to get cured, which is the principal reason that his dad left them on episode 1, and I MEAN, the dad is a scientist, THAT’S HIS JOB! One would say that when you know that your own son has a dangerous virus, one would do everything in his power to get his kid cure, right? Not Rasmus’s dad, which is fucked up.

THE POINT HERE IS: of all that messed up shit that Rasmus experienced, the moment he lost Beatrice is when he reached breaking point. Although some people might say that Rasmus fell into that depressive point because of her, my thesis is also that all those traumatic experiences that Rasmus has gone through the series, and loosing many important people, Beatrice is the trigger that sunk him deep. Those emotions invaded his mind, clouded his reason, and not even Simone could bring him the solace he needed, and that’s saying much because Simone was usually the one calming him, offering reassurance and protection. But nothing mattered to him in that moment this focus was the loss of another person important to him and Patrick’s reaction didn’t helped at all, it worsened things up by leaving Rasmus literally alone, Simone showed him affection but she was more focused on getting him away from Beatrice’s corpse (which I don’t blame her at all, I would have done the same), while the others were too shocked like Martin to calm him.

But you know what made Rasmus’s character powerful? What scene that made people seems to misunderstand? The scene in which he injects himself the virus saying: “No more people should die because of me” in episode 7. It’s such a powerful scene that shows how Rasmus is not childish or annoying; it’s the contrary, he’s a boy who wants to protect the people he loves because he doesn’t want to loose anyone he cares for. 

He has grown up in a very violent environment and he’s so fucking scared for the people he loves that he’s willing to die for them just to keep them alive. So the moment Simone tells him: “People are gone because you needed protection” he takes a decision, a dangerous decision; he injects himself the virus, sacrificing himself for the others sake. 

What people are failing to see (by my perspective) is that Rasmus’s character evolved and changed in the course of days, and he is far from a crybaby or a childish person; he is a boy that is scared and reacts to his emotions, he is overpowered by them and he is a very intelligent person that acts instinctively, so the worse thing is that the minute his father said: “I’m not sure I can” (help him) and Simone backing away from him and Rasmus asking: “Am I contagious?” he comes to understand the dangerous person he has become and the high probability of being the reason of Beatrice’s death.

So what can I conclude from Rasmus’s character? What do I see in him? I see a boy who, had to experience traumatic events since he was 10, had to pass 6 years locked in a bunker not experiencing life like a normal teen, had a very complicated love experience with a person who is older than him, had an drug addiction to morphine, had to witness a person very dear to him (his OWN dad) point a gun at him ready to shoot him. I see a boy whose emotions are powerful because he has not known how life works, he’s scared, he just wanted to see the sky…and of course, he could have handled many situations with more calm, but as a teen who is now starting to live life after 6 years of lockdown, he doesn’t know how to react to some things. Rasmus deserves to be seen as a person who is traumatized, who deserves happiness and love thrown to him, to be protected and be saved from that virus.

[brooklynislandgirl]

Beth & Riggs!

All Hands || -

who wakes up first in the morning

Martin doesn’t wake up in the morning.In fact the only way Beth can properly describe it is…from an article she read, wherein researchers from the University of Glasgow observed four groups of loops inside a solar flare. It was said by one Doctor that the event was a great example of a simultaneous implosion and explosion. The energy transferred from the magnetic field to power the flare left a pocket of reduced support that caused the implosion. After a series of scientific ballet steps, the flare loops oscillated until they found a new equilibrium in its plasma.Yeah, that sounds about right. Bolt upright. Legs and arms akimbo, stretching outward. His hair trying to drag him back down or strangle him for the impertinence. That space and time where he’s not sure which way was up and what was dream and reality and the inevitable shock and disappointment when he finally grasps where he is. She throws a leg over his table, a flesh and blood barrier reef between him and the weapons stashed around that she could find. Spoons another mouthful of Fruity Pebbles and chews slowly, quietly as she can. “Mornin’ Texas.”

That malicious glare thrown her way. If looks could maim….“I’m going to assume there’s no bacon to go with that sugar infested monstrosity you’re grazing?”“Of course. Ya jus’ goddah wan come get it.”Finger guns. “I knew I kept you around for a reason, Hawaii.”

who’s the first to fall asleep at night

She doesn’t really sleep.At least, not the way normal people do, and that suits him just fine. He’s not normal by any stretch, and almost welcomes the fact that she isn’t either. He did notice however that she had a habit of drifting off round her third beer, her fourth glass of wine. He’s half into his own bottle when she slumps down at the table. Few minutes later, even and deep breaths. She’d have made a good SEAL he thinks, because that is a survival skill. He gives up his blanket. Tucks her in. Settles down on his couch, arm across his eyes, nursing the bourbon. Maybe an hour goes by, maybe longer and it starts. The fidgeting. The puppy kicks. Sometimes there’s one sided conversation. Sometimes she’s just running ~swimming~ away from something.The first time he witnesses a night terror, he think she is having a cataleptic fit. Every muscle petrifying as he watches, helpless. A strangled breath that is soundless. Eyes open, staring into the dark of the trailer. Wherever she’s gone, whatever is happening, it’ss somewhere he can’t reach her. He’ll never admit it out loud, but that…that scared the shit out of him.

It was shortly after that when he buys the air mattress. Another blanket. Spare pillows. You know, Hawaii, contrary to popular opinion, I am civilised. She doesn’t make a fuss about it. Most of the time, he waits until she is asleep. Sometimes, he doesn’t. But he ends up joining her more nights than is seemly. Spends hours awake on his back, staring up at the ceiling, carding fingers through her hair. That’s just what friends do.

what they playfully tease each other over

“Chea'ah!”“Did you just call me ‘Chia’ as in Chia pet? Or as in the spotted fast running cat, cheetah?”“No. Chea-ah. CHE-AH. Li'dat one who cheat.”When her face gets red like that, her freckles come out. The ones that cup the left side of her mouth. The ones that dot her nose. Her eyes glitter and she snarls. He kind of likes her teeth. Sharp. A little crooked. Not often seen unless she’s smiling or…fixing to rip his throat out.“Do you have photographic evidence of the alleged cheating, Hawai’i?”“No?”“Then your skating on thin ice. Filing a false report is a violation of Section-”She lunges across the table, cutting him off at the best part.By the time they’ve hit the floor and ended up feet away, multi-coloured fake money and little hotels that will later be found in very uncomfortable places {boots, hair, under the stove}, they’re laughing and have forgotten why.And maybe, just maybe, Riggs admits to himself, he does it on purpose.

what they do when the other’s having a bad day

She knew the second her call went to voice-mail that something was wrong.Martin doesn’t ignore her calls. Mr Murtaugh doesn’t answer his either.It’s weeks before she hears from either of them, and by then she’s canvased the usual suspects: the morgues, the hospitals, central processing, everywhere she can think of. Because of course she would assume the worst.By the time he drags himself into the trailer, she’s torn between wanting to strangle him and…oh.Oh.The look on his face says it all and she can’t find the moral fibre to ask him where he’s been. Instead she reaches for the bottle just above the stove. He drops his bag at his feet, barely has the energy to close the door behind him. His arms find her waist, and he buries his face into her neck. Bends him a bit, she’s so much smaller than he is, and yet she holds up mountains.

how they say ‘i’m sorry’ after arguments

“So, lemme get dis straight. Mexico. Tito. Dead in ya trunk. IAB investigation. Suspension. Uhm. Dere any kine else I should know?!”

Though soft, her voice is awed. Not in pride. There’s too much fear and worry, tinged with an anger at the situation and maybe a little bit at him. Because she knows, she knows without a shadow of doubt, that Martin had done all these things without the intention of ever coming back from it. Which is why he looks so lost now. Why she can practically taste the whiskey on his breath. The way he shakes in her arms. Because even after all of this? She hasn’t managed to let go.

He murmurs under his breath and she can’t make any of it out, except it’s rough timbre. The vibrations of his voice against the lower part of her shoulder.

“...Said ‘M sorry, Hawai’i.”

She believes him. Not because of the words. It’s in the way his fingers twist in the back of her shirt. The way he shakes even if it’s so subtle no one else would notice. It takes all the fight right out of her.

Fingers lose themselves in his hair. And she hugs him closer.

“I know. An’ if ya evah do dat again, Martin, I’ma find ya an’ break every bone in ya body.”

which one’s more ticklish

She shrieks like something dying.

Squirms, kicks. Digs nails in wherever they can find purchase and tries to drag herself away.  

It’s no good. Martin has a hold of her ankle and refuses to let go. He also has a feather though that becomes fingers against the delicate arch. The devil’s in his eyes. That very foot gets set up on his shoulder, because he’s a stupidly brave man. Goes for her knees. A new scream of laughter that could deafen someone at twenty yards and peel paint right off the walls.

By the time he’s gotten to her waist, they’re dishevelled. She’s got both legs wrapped around his middle and is putting every ounce of her strength to prevent his forward progress. His hair and shirt will never be the same, they’re both red and breathless from exhaustion.

And of course, OF COURSE, Andrew Riley misunderstands the situation.

“The Fuck’re you doing?”

Neither can be sure which one he’s addressing but they answer in unison.

“Unnawaddah basket weaving.”

“Sky-diving into a vat of marshmallow fluff and whiskey.”

their favourite rainy day activities

It starts by waking up on the beach, the pounding surf whisper-screaming a warning and the gulls aren’t numerous and loud. Or maybe it’s the cold that gets them, unseasonable compared to the night before. By the time he’s fully aware of his surroundings and brushing sand off his skin, she’s sitting with her back to him, knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. The wind picks up her hair, flies it behind her like a tattered, dark banner.

“Storm comin’ in.”

There’s something wistful in her tone that has nothing to do with the surf conditions. He drops down behind her, palms smoothing their way up from elbow to shoulder in the slowest meander he can manage. She gets a little lost like that sometimes, and for the life of him, he can’t figure out why, or where she really goes inside her head. But he gives her the same courtesy and comfort that she offers when he does the same. They stay that way until the rain comes slashing in, cutting like knives, and the lightning starts.

The rest of the day is spent cooped up inside his trailer. He doesn’t mind the feel of her nestled between his legs and draped across his chest. When she curls up, she doesn’t take up much room. And the blankets are piled up too, making a warm cocoon around them.

They listen to the rain. To the radio. Drowsing in and out of consciousness with nowhere to be and nothing that needs to be said. Sure they shift around for the sake of comfort and it never fails that they have to take turns moving so the other can hit the head, after drinking coffee and cocoa.

“Hey, Texas?”

“Yeah?”

“Y’evah....”

“Nope.”

“Me, eiddah.”

how they surprise each other

It’s nothing cinematic. Little notes left in a desk drawer in purple sparkly pen encouraging him day by day. A hot cup of coffee waiting for her in the morgue before she slips in to work. A picked up dinner because the other knows no one thought about it over the long hours. Fingers laced together when least expected. A drive down to Mexico because why not?

And that’s what makes them so solid. It’s nothing like those tv-show dramatic revelations or soap-opera twists. And honestly, it’s better this way because neither one of them handle big things well.

Okay, so maybe it was the salsa dancing lessons that really got her, and how she kept smiling at him all night. {{Nevah knew ya had dose kine moves, Texas.}}

Or the way he was mesmerised by watching her field strip and clean his M-16, shaving a good forty seconds off his personal best {{next time, blindfolded, Bethany.}}

their most sickening shows of public affection

“So, I come out of the john and I’m looking around and looking around, because I was only gone like a minute tops. It’s like you gotta put an RIFD tag in them ~do you think they’d notice if I did?~ But anyway, so I’m searching through the typical Saturday crowd and then what do I see?

“Riggs, strolling down the boardwalk carnival fuckin’ thing, as if it’s goddamn Coney Island, and he’s wearing my sister like a backpack! A BACKPACK! Legs wrapped around his hips, one arm across his shoulders. And the other hand, she’s feeding him tufts of cotton candy. And this asshole, occasionally holding up his Coke next to his head so she can lean in and take sips! Who does that, Gamble?!”

Brian isn’t sure what’s funnier, the red in his partner’s face, the vein throbbing in his temple, or the outrage at something that while, yes, not exactly normal, is not the worst he’s personally seen with years on the Job.

“Sounds...horrifying.” This is accompanied by an eye roll in Riley’s direction in the most sarcastic way Gamble can manage. “Still. Could be worse. There’s this one picnic table at the pier that’s just out of sight from the Boardwalk and from the beach and if you spread a blanket on it, you can spread other th-”

He’s cut off by having to duck the stapler launched across at him. Which only makes the former Ranger laugh harder. Practically chokes on his coffee when there’s a particular drawl behind him.

“Y’all are just highly envious that A....She likes me better, maybe because crazy as I am I actually respect her...and B....no cotton candy for either of you.”

[golddaggers]

have you seen her?

pairings: reader x stiles stilinski.

warnings: meh, a bit angsty, some smut. nothing much. 

a/n: I wasn’t going to publish it in the first place, however I though I would risk it and post it. I really hope you all enjoy it!! 

ps.: you might have some characteristics that don’t belong to you.

word count: 6867

The park was pretty crowded when I arrived. Like most days, some kids played happily in the small playground, yelling cheerfully while their parents were sitting on the nearby benches, watching them from afar. Birds chirped excitedly, eating bread crummies that were scattered by the lake’s margin, the sunshine enlightened the clear water and, due to all of that, she popped into my mind. All the memories we built on this very same place and the reason why I came back every single day.

Y/N/N was the woman of my dreams and, at the same time, my personal hell. Someone who was permanently etched to my brain. Either way, I didn’t want to forget her. Not ever.

The day we finally met each other, was also the one I had given up on giving my heart to the wrong girl. I had wasted years of my life chasing after Lydia and now I was forced to watch her gushing over Jackson, which definitely was not good for my mental health, because I knew I would be a much better choice for her. Yet, when I came clean about my feelings, Martin didn’t pick me, making my heart shatter into tiny little pieces. In that moment, I thought I would never feel okay again, however, Y/N quickly proved me wrong that night.

Loud music was throbbing on the sound boxes when I downed my first glass of vodka. This party, so far, had gone incredibly wrong for me; I had come to put the whole revealing to Lydia she was my crush and getting turned down by her aside, but, as if fate wanted to take a good laugh at me, I bumped into her and her new boyfriend. God, I got so enraged I left Scott there with his new girlfriend, Allison, and went after a drink.

Obviously, I was never much of a drinker, so the transparent liquid went down my throat, I felt it stinging, burning. Yet, despite the feeling, I actually enjoyed, so I kept drinking, fact that drove me to get tipsy in, roughly, twenty minutes. The whole place began to spin, double people speeding in front of me; it was when I preached myself I needed some fresh water on my face, just to sober up a little bit.

Tripping my way into the restroom, I bumped into someone, spilling their drink on both of us. A gentle voice cursed, making me look up, only to find a beautiful set of grey eyes staring at me narrowed; I was so stupidly mesmerised by them I didn’t even understand what she said, I just… Got lost on her.

“Are you even listening?” The light pink haired girl quizzed, cocking one of her eyebrows at me. “Fuck, you must really be shitfaced, huh?”

I should say something.

Why wasn’t I saying something?

Without hearing any response, she sighed, shaking her head. I was still breathless by the look in her eyes.

“Okay, come with me.”

She gripped my hand, intertwining our fingers, and dragged me through the crowd, pushing me to enter a dark room. Once inside, the beautiful woman let go of my fingers, disappearing in the darkness for a second before the light was turned on. Again, I was in awe by her beauty.

“My name is Y/N, by the way, but everyone calls me Y/N/N.”

“U-Uh, mine is… It’s nice to meet you, I mean, no, wait.” I babbled, saying everything at one strike and making absolutely no sense. However, instead of running away scared, she just laughed and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. “Stiles.”

“What the hell is a Stiles?” Y/N asked, pulling a tissue from her purse and rubbing it against the stain on her baby green dress.

“M-My name.”

“Oh.” Another smile pulled the corners of her lips. “Well, Stiles, you kind of own me a new book. And very likely a new dress.”

“A book?”

Y/N used her chin to point at the a dripping wet hardcover book thrown over the sink. It was about matching signs or something. Either way, I swallowed thickly, nodding shyly, and then took the courage to go over to her side; taking a deep breath, I turned on the faucet, washing my hands. When I was finished, I rubbed both of them on my eyes, trying to make the spinning stop. The alcohol was still making me dizzy.

“Need a tissue? Maybe some coffee too? I have been told I make the greatest coffee around.”

“Uh, sure, why not? And yes, I do need one.”

Smiling, the woman handed me the requested object, which I used to clean the drops sliding down my face. As soon as we got rid of all the spilt drink, she boldly took my digits on hers again, guiding me towards the kitchen room, where she did not hesitate to grab all the goods necessary to make us coffee.  

The place was huge mess, but I still managed to find one empty seat by the table. I sat down, supporting my elbows on the cold marble and licking my lips that were immeasurably dry. Now that I was slowly recovering my senses, a light shade of pink painted my cheeks; how could I be nervous about a girl I had never seen before in my life? Was that even possible?

She quietly put the trash out and found herself a chair, occupying the spot next to me. Her Y/S/T arms hooked my shoulders, her thumb massaging my shoulder lightly, like she was trying to comfort me somehow.

“Is it a girl?”

“What?”

“I have seen that bummed out face on plenty others before. All of them had had their hearts broken by a girl.”

“Lydia Martin.” I exhaled, the name fluttering on my lips. “I fell for her back in the third grade, but she never noticed me. Now she has found a crappy boyfriend and I just wish… Fuck, nevermind.”

“Okay, wait a second, because I think the coffee is ready.” Her chuckle filled my ears, making my heart skip a beat. “But our talk isn’t over.”

The girl stood up in a jump, found two mugs in the old cabinet, poured the black, strong liquid and then went back, the glass hitting the marble sound echoing. She pushed my mug so it was in front of me.

“Alright, listen to me now. Uh, I know we have never seen each other before and I know it sounds crazy that a stranger is giving you advice, still, I feel like you should let go of her, really. Don’t hurt yourself because she can’t feel the same about you. Honestly, you seem like a pretty nice guy… If she can’t see that, well, you better off without her.”

“You’re right.” Sipping on my coffee, I agreed with a slight nod. “And you do make a great coffee. Never enjoyed it this much previously.”

“Thank you.” Y/N nudged my upper arm with her shoulder, giggling.

She too drank a little bit of her drink, us both remaining in a nice silence for a tiny moment. Afterwards, she crinkled her nose, laughed and started talking. Random stuff at first, however, once three hours had gone by, I already knew all about her family, her friends, her dream job, her love towards animals… This particular side of her made me even more enchanted by the new girl. I was simply fascinated by her personality and strong will.

“God, it’s so late. I gotta go!”  Y/N/N said, right after she checked her watch.

“Wait, can I… Shit, can I have your number?”

“Absolutely. I would love to get a call from you when you’re all sober.”

Y/N ripped a piece of paper from her ruined book and wrote down her number in it. She pecked my cheek swiftly then left me standing alone in the kitchen, not sure of what should I do next. The second she had disappeared from my sight, I picked up the note, seeing numbers, but also a small message: ‘Looking forward for us to have good time. Call me ;).’

I smirked, running a finger through her pretty handwriting; by being so deep within the fresh memories of the mystery girl, I never noticed Scott stepping in. He had a torn appearance and I was clearly drunk when I set my eyes on him.

“Where have you been all night?” My friend queried, his tone sounding demanding and upset. “Allison’s father came to pick her up a while back and I was alone with both Lydia and Jackson.”

“Poor you, Scott.” I tried to suppress a smile, upon seeing his true drunk state. “What about we head home, huh?”

“That would be nice.”  Scott mumbled, trying to clumsily hug me. “What’s that on your hand?

“A phone number.”

“Wait, what happened?”

“I met a girl.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, her name is Y/N and she’s pretty cool.”

“Uh, niceee.” His voice was strangled and weirdly excited, pushing me into shaking my head. “Oh no, I think I am going to throw up.”

“Not on me, you loser. Now let’s go.”

That rising morning was one of the best of my life and I couldn’t forget the way she smiled, showing off her cute dimples, or the funny way she got excited when talking about her pet cats not even when she choked, laughing at one of my jokes. I just couldn’t wait to call her up and ask her out.

I solely knew I had found the woman of my life.

When I got home that night, after carefully putting Scott in bed and making sure Melissa wouldn’t see his wrecked state, I, out of sudden, experienced a sinking feeling reach my stomach. And my heart was acting just as weird. Yet, despite being uncomfortable, I understood, right away, what was all of that about. It was, as I began to call it later, “Y/N/N side effects”.

Life, on the hand, tried to warn me I shouldn’t be so smitten by someone. The first warning was: I lost the little paper with her number. I searched through every single one of my pockets, my car, my room, even Scott’s place. It was not anywhere to be found. Still, I wasn’t going to give so easily.

Digging a little, I discovered she was friends with Allison and, the second I learned that, I went straight to my best friend’s girl, wanting meet with Y/N again.

Allison had a cheerful smile on her face when I approached her six mornings later after the party. Yet, when I brought it up the subject of the pink haired girl I got know in the party, the smile faded to a sympathetic one. Like those you give when your puppy dies or something.

“Please, Allison.” I begged, squeezing her delicate hands on mine. “She was so warm, so nice to me… I need to see her again. I don’t know, I might have fallen for her.”

“Look, Stiles, I am sorry to break to you, but I don’t think Y/N/N is the person you should be falling for.” The brown haired woman pulled her hands away and placed them on my shoulders, the sympathetic smirk never leaving her lips. It seemed as if she was sorry for me. “Put her out of your mind, honestly.”

“But I don’t want to, Allison!” A tired sigh left my lips while I glared at the girl a bit saddened. “She was perfect. How can I put her out of my mind?”

“Stiles, listen to me.” Her traits suddenly contorted into a serious expression. “I love Y/N/N, she is indeed a great person to be friends with, still… Not the type any good boys should be falling for. I have seen her do this to men a thousand times.”

“Do what?” The question slipped, me getting more and more frustrated by the second.

“Make them in love with her, even though she has no plans on staying.”

“No, Allison, it was different with me. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but I felt it.”

Allison exhaled, shaking her head. Without saying anything, she pulled both a pen and a paper from her backpack and scribbled down a phone number, handing it to me with a disappointing look burning in her irises. I, on the other hand, was cheering on the inside.

“Here’s her number, since you’re so desperate to reach her, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I happily kissed her cheek, hearing her laughing as I walked away to find a calmer place to call Y/N, for I couldn’t wait any longer, I had to hear her voice again, her cute giggle and, obviously, I needed to ask her out as soon as possible. A girl like her… Well, she doesn’t stay single for long.

The phone rang, rang and rang, however, the call was only picked up after the sixth time, which got my heart beating too fast I could hear it pumping on my ears.

“Hello?”

“Y/N?”

“Yes, that’s her.” The phone call went mute for a second. “Who is this?”

“Uh, it’s Stiles.”

“Oh, Stiles… The one who owns me a book, right?” Her laugh echoed on the speaker and I could swear I was in heaven all over again. “I thought you would call me the day after, but you never did.”

“Uh, I-I lost your number.”

“That’s too bad.”

This moment had been planned by me so many times and I now I had no idea how I should ask her out. What exactly I should say. My hands were stammering and I knew if I spoke, my voice would be shaky too. Her breathing was regular on the other side, which made me sigh, giving up on being like that.

“Can we, you know, go out sometime?”

“Oh.” Her voice sounded surprised, but I understood she was just messing with me. “Obviously. But we have to make it to today.”

“Why?”

“Some dork should have called me five days ago.” I could mentally see her rolling her eyes. “What about you pick me up at seven? I’ll text you my address.”

“Sounds great.”

“It’s a date, then.”

“Yes, it’s a date.”

Y/N bid me goodbye then hung up and I, once more, got left alone, standing like an idiot in the middle of the school hall. Yet, I couldn’t care less about it. Despite all odds, I had a date with her: the girl I had been dreaming about for the past days. The one who, out of the blew, won my heart.

The satisfied smirk never faltered on my mouth throughout the whole day. Everyone kept asking me why I was so damn happy, but I didn’t want anyone minding my business, not for now anyway. For this short while, I would keep it secret, in a way of protecting this new relationship that was coming to life today.

I wasn’t even certain if it was going anywhere, still, I sure as hell wished it was.

The memory of our first date was carved into my brain; about ten minutes to seven P.M., I parked outside her home, only to find her sitting at swing on her porch’s home. Y/N/N had a fine black dress and a light makeup on her face, very different from what I remembered. Still, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life.

We went to a small but cosy restaurant outside Beacon Hills. Clearly it was nothing fancy, yet, it meant a lot to me to take her there, because that was the place my father took my mother on their first date. Or so the story tells. Either way, I was sure she had enjoyed it, for the smile shone on her poison red lips all night long.

After she and I finished our meals, I decided to take her to a park nearby. One I played a lot as a kid. She nodded enthusiastically, accepting without think it twice. That was the place where we had our first kiss.

A round moon and a bunch of stars enlightened our walk to the empty park. Y/N had her hand carelessly linked to mine, her digits squeezing it gently.  By this simple act, my heart was pounding like crazy against my chest, sweat coating my forehead. As for her, she looked peaceful, her loose hair breezing to the wind and her cheeks a bit flushed. God, how can someone be so beautiful?

“This night was amazing, Stiles.” She whispered, a while after we were sitting by ourselves in a bench in front of the lake. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I am just happy you said yes.”

“I am too.”

I noticed her leaning in to lie her head on my shoulder, sighing. Upon her latter action, I dared myself to hook an arm around her shoulders, comforting her on my chest, which the girl accepted happily. And, for several minutes, we stayed in that position, contemplating the dark sky, the soothing water waves… Tonight indeed was a breathtaking night.

Y/N, then, abruptly unhooked herself from me and glared at me with a mischievous glint on her hazel irises.

“I have a crazy idea. Want to do something fun?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Well…” She began tugging at the hem of her dress, pulling it up. “Have you ever skinny dipped?”

“No.”

“I am glad I will be your first.”

Laughing, the girl skilfully took off her dress, standing before me in a sinful scarlet red lingerie set, and ran to the lake’s margin, calling me up with a finger once she got there. I lowly mumbled a ‘what the hell’, got rid of my clothing too and joined her, our arms tied together.

“Nice underwear.”

“Yours is pretty nice too.”

“Okay, ready?”

“Yeah.”

We jumped, without think twice, in the cold water, feeling it swiftly numb out our bodies. Y/N did not hesitate to cling herself to me, her arms linking behind my small back, she had a gorgeous smile lying on her lips whilst her chin jittered to the low temperature. Our faces, as noticed rapidly, were dangerously close, so much I had to stop myself from leaning in.

The water moved around in smooth movements, making us both swing lightly. I cupped her cheeks, wiping the drops sliding down on them, which pushed her into biting the soft flesh of her bottom lip. I swallowed thickly, tracing a line on it, getting her lids to fall shut. In a hushed action, I pressed my mouth on hers, kissing her passionately.

I had never been kissed like that before; her lips applied a soft pressure to mine, her tongue moving in sync with mine. It was like we were meant to do that. My hands were on her neck, my thumbs caressing it slowly, provoking a small moan to slip. Hers were on my back, her nails digging it as they glided down, eliciting goosebumps on my skin. I wished this moment to never have an end, still, we needed breathe.

“I-I think we should get out of the water.”  

“Yeah.” I answered in a whisper, however, before the magic was over, I kissed her again, lasting it enough for us to be begging for a warmer place.

In the road back to Beacon Hills, I gazed at her by the corner of my eyes, a goofy smile plastered on that pretty face. I understood I didn’t want just one night like that, I wanted all nights. All mornings. All afternoons. I wanted everything with her.

Throwing some crummies to the birds, I remembered how incredibly happy I was that day. The sweet taste of her lips lingering on mine, her gentle hands stroking my back while we exchanged a fond act. Who would have guessed how ephemeral our relationship was going to be? I certainly wouldn’t. Not for a while, at least.

Y/N/N and I had an amazing month together before things started to fall apart. I, then, understood what Allison had said about her not committing problem. Well, she had all sorts of issues, and not wanting to settle down was among them. The second things began to get serious between us, she started to push me away, refusing to get any deeper than the mainly sexual relationship we built in the meantime. Of course I wouldn’t give up on that girl so easily, I loved her with all my heart, which was why I decided to do something.

On the week of her eighteenth birthday, I planned a little surprise party. I invited some of her friends, some of mine. Decorated my entire place with her favourite kind of flower, bought her favourite cake and simply transformed my place into her dream place. Ah, yes, it was a magical night for both of us.

All lights were switched off when I got back home that night with Y/N. We had gone out to celebrate her birthday, going to the small restaurant I took her on our first date; I could see by the sparkling of her hazel eyes she was happy I had done that. Her family wasn’t exactly the type who would do some big gesture for their daughter; from the little she had told me, I utterly hated them for the lack of love towards her; I mean, she was so damn amazing it was a crime to do that to someone like her.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Her soothing voice filled the room. “Oh fuck, you look so hot when you’re serious…”

“Oh shut it, Y/N.”

“I would like you to call me Y/N/N, or at least Lis. Not boring old Y/N.”

“I love your name and you know that.”

“Oh shut it, Mieczyslaw.” She rolled her eyes, laughing afterwards, her hand lying careless on my thigh. “Shall we go inside? I sort of want to see what you saved underneath those clothes for me today.”

“Oh, you naughty thing.” I cupped her cheek, stealing a quick, but passionate, kiss from her lips, sensing her smile against my mouth. “Let’s go.”

Y/N wrapped her arm around my waist, placing her head on my shoulder as we walked towards my home. Everything was so silent that, if I didn’t know better, I would say everyone had forgotten about the thing I had arranged about two weeks ago.

As a way to let them know we had arrived, I started to fumble through my pockets, making an awful lot of noise, which drove the girl to direct me an odd looking glare. If only she knew what waited her behind that door…

“Okay, found it.”

“Yay!”

The money I had wasted on it was definitely worth it after I saw the glowing in her eyes to the small gathering I had architectured. Flowers were covering every inch of my living room, petals scattered the way up to my room; a table was set in the middle, the cake positioned in the centre of it, a couple of drinks beside it. Party lights were blinking and all her favourite songs were playing on the background.

Allison was the first to come over to us, hugging her tightly. The brown haired woman whispered something funny on her ear that made her laugh loudly, but I, sadly, was able to hear it or know what it was. She shook my hand then went back to Scott’s side, who, by the way, winked at me, raising his red cup. I did the same, lacing my arm around my girl’s shoulders, making us get even closer.

While watching her talking cheerfully to her other friends, I could not avoid my constant contemplation of her. The way she moved, or crinkled her nose, squinting her eyes to laugh, also throwing her head back. How she would put her hands on her hips, leaning in to pay attention. All the little things that made me head over heels for her.

Y/N didn’t know but I was going to say 'I love you’ to her for the first time tonight. Later, obviously, when we were alone at my bedroom, possibly staring at the stars… Oh God, I just couldn’t wait for it.

If only I knew what was going to go down later… I would never have said those three little words to her. My Y/N/N was an wonderful person, she was the moon holding all the stars together… Maybe it was why I couldn’t have her all to myself, I mean, who can own such a beautiful thing like the moon?

When the party finally ended, I took her upstairs, to my room, so we could spend some little alone time with one another. I liked Y/N better when she had no masks on and that usually happened within closed walls. Just me and her.

“Thank you for tonight.” Y/N whispered, walking around the dimly lit room, stripping off of her coat. “The party, this! Oh god, Stiles, you’re perfect… I don’t know if I am deserving of you.”

She stood by the window, gazing at the empty street; I approached her, giving a subtle massage on her shoulders, hearing the girl moan lowly under my touch. The mere sound made me tense up, like I did whenever she produced those noises. It was, again, “Y/N side effects”.

Abruptly swivelling herself to face me, Y/N captured my mouth with hers rapidly, not even giving me a chance to pace myself to the contact. Her lips were thirsty, sucking at mine as if she wanted to take a bite or anything like that. I chuckled at her exasperation, gripping her upper arms and leading her to the bed, where I pushed her to fall with a small thud.

“Uh, someone’s eager to be dominant tonight, huh?”

“Don’t spoil the moment, will you?” I asked huskily, kneeling in front of her and sliding down her skirt, finding a violet coloured underwear under. “Nasty, babe.”

“What can I say? Not just you are the one with the surprises tonight.”

Us both shared a laugh, then, not wanting to waste any more seconds apart from her, I started kissing her inner leg. Leaving a red stain behind wherever I applied a little pressure. She, a long ago, had fallen back, her hips lightly buckling to my caresses. But I wouldn’t cave in so soon… Nah, I would tease the hell out of that woman.

My hands perked up to meet the waistband of her panties, playing with them while I was fanning warm breaths over her clothed core. She barely moved, only begging for me to get over it, eliciting a ironic giggle from me; I began, after a while, to kiss her crotch, scattering sloppy open mouthed kisses across the region. The buckling started to get a little bit hash.

“Easy, babe.” I pinned her down, strongly grasping her soft skin. “Let’s not rush ourselves, shall we?”

“You son of a bitch.”

I went back up to her toes, getting one inside my mind and swirling my tongue around it. Somewhere in internet I read this was an erotic zone or so; might have been in porn, but I am not admitting that. Either way, she seemed to be enjoying, because I did hear some meawls slipping from her mouth soon afterwards. A couple of minutes later, I caressed her legs, going down again, this time actually pushing her knickers to one side and revealing all her nudity to me.

For a moment, I gasped, always being struck of how beautiful she looked when she was like that: surrendered. I glided my tongue up her folds, using it to find her sensitive nub; the second I hit it, her hands flew to my hair, pulling it tightly. She also moaned a bit louder than usual. I dared to look up whilst circling her clit, she had her grey eyes pierced on me and they were soaked in pleasure; my name vibrated on her lips, pleading with me to go faster.

I pushed her down, supporting my hands on her thighs, deepening the contact, zigzagging on her core, erupting a string of curses to echo across the room. Those pretty sounds I grown used to hearing whenever I did that to her. In one sudden movement, I pushed two fingers inside, my saliva making it wet enough for it not to hurt. Her walls complained against my digits and Y/N screamed, mumbling disjointed words while I pumped, scissoring sometimes, experiencing the feeling of her clenching anytime I went a little further into her.

“Please, Stiles… Shit, I am going to…”

“Cum to me, honey.” My voice spoke up, so hoarse I almost didn’t recognise it as mine. “I want to be the one to take you to heaven tonight.”

With one last push, she broke down, yelling and arching her back, her toes curling on my back. I couldn’t help but groan along, mesmerised by her.

“You’re not taking me to heaven.” Y/N replied, once she had rode out of her high and was up on her elbows. “You dragging me towards hell.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Damn good, baby, now come give me a kiss.”

Nodding, I slowly made my way up, lifting her shirt alongside it while scattering pecks on her torso, feeling the girl shudder. At her neck, I sucked the smooth skin, leaving a purple mark behind and earning myself a low gasp. Her nails dug in my shoulders, sliding down my back, very likely scraping it too. I couldn’t mind less, though. I loved when she did that anyway.

I linked our mouths in a savage kiss, noticing perfectly she taking her skilful hand to the growing length forming the bulge under my khakis. She squeezed it softly, summoning a raspy moan from my throat; I closed my eyes, poking her cheek with my nose as our lips brushed. Y/N massaged me for a while longer, then she struggled with the button, popping it open a second later. Her hand job got me feeling like I was in paradise.

“Fuck, Y/N/N…” I murmured, nibbling at the crook of her neck, still maintaining my weight on my knees and elbows, otherwise I would crush her. “You’re so good at this…”

“I love when you’re talking dirty to me, Stiles.”  

Y/N intensified the movement on my dick, making me twitch a bit. If she kept going, I would spoil all the fun, that was why I stopped her and stood up, obviously gaining a grunt of complaint. I merely smiled, kicking off my shoes, trousers and anything that could prevent me from diving into her. Yet, once naked, I still lacked the protection, so I went to my drawers, collecting one; then I put it in place, going straight to the action, only to be astounded by the scene of her rubbing herself, providing pleasure to the body I loved so much.

“That’s how you do it without me, Y/N?”

“Oh yes, baby… But nothing feels better than you.” A whine escaped her lips when I harshly pushed her legs, getting my cock lined up to her entrance, teasing it a bit. “Fuck… Damn, please, Stiles. Do it.”

“That’s what you want?” I pushed inside one bit, taking an achingly long moment. “Do you want me to wreck you good?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Then I must fulfill your wishes.”

Gripping the base of her Y/S/T thighs, I sheathed myself  inside her using one sharp thrust. We both groaned to the touch, our bodies mingling, turning into one. It was cheesy, but it was how I felt when I was with her like that… Two pieces forming one. Like it was meant to be.

I slammed into her almost as if I thought that was no tomorrow, the sound of our skins collapsing filled the room, just as much as her silky moans and my constant grunts. My palms glued to her breasts, to which, I had realised, I have given no attention until now; Deciding to make up for the time lost, I used my thumbs to circle her nipples, getting them hard effortlessly. Matter fact, Y/N’s whole body was over sensitive to tact, meaning anything I did would get goosebumps crawling on her skin.

She forced her bottom half forward, meeting mine with a noisy clap. I smirked cocky, leaning in to savour her boobs for a while, for I wanted her to get the best experience of this whole thing. Nothing plausible came out of her during the time I continuously buried myself within her tepid core, experiencing it chewing me like my cock was some sort of gum.

“Shit, babe. I’m close.”  

“Hold on there, Stiles, I want to… Fuck. Just like that, keep going.”

Upon being aware there was nearly nothing left of me, I took my digits to her clit, rubbing it fast; noticing her legs tensing up around me. A couple of movements later, the girl came undone for the last time, right after I did it myself, growling her name. So loud anyone nearby would have known who I was fucking. I thrusted a little more, riding us out of our peeks, then I rolled to her side. Once free from the condom, I lied down again, pulling her to my chest; the jittering figure heaved still.

Y/N caressed my hair, pecking my cheek; afterwards, she started drawing figures on my chest, us both enjoying the healthy silence.

“This was amazing.” The pink haired girl muttered. “And thank you again for tonight.”

“Anything for you, darling.”

I winked afore we fell into a deep silence again; I knew I couldn’t wait any more. I had to tell her how I felt so this heavy pressure on my heart would be released; Y/N needed to know she was loved.

“Can I confess you something?”

“Of course you can, baby.”

“I love you, Y/N. And I have been loving you from the first time I saw you.”

The woman went mute for a second and, after it, she sat up, her eyes widened in shock, her mouth gaped open from what I had said.

“You what?”

“I love you.”

“No. Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Spoil things. You’re not supposed to love me!”

“But I do! Very much!”

Her hazel eyed gaze was sad when she looked at me the last time before she got up from the bed, quickly gathering her clothes and putting them on, totally ready to leave.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I need to think.”

“Excuse me?”

“Please… I-I can’t do this. Oh fuck, I-I need to go.”

Those words said, the girl ran away, slamming the door shut behind her and leaving me, this time, heartbroken, because I knew, the second Y/N glared at me with those scared eyes, she wouldn’t ever be coming back.

Ever since Y/N/N walked out of my life, almost three weeks ago, I had been a total mess. To be honest, the first couple of days I had been in such a bad shape, even my father came up to me to ask what had happened. It was still fresh in my brain how he had gaped his lips slightly, a low 'oh’ falling from his mouth; more than anyone, Noah Stilinski adored her and I fully knew he was sad we were over. For now, at least.

I threw the last pieces of bread to the birdies, cleaning my hands on my blue jeans and standing up, deciding it was time to go home. Drowning myself in my memories, going to back to the time I was with her, it was all good, but I couldn’t go on like that. It wasn’t healthy, actually, once it was over, I got even more wrecked.

A soft sigh crawled out my mouth as I gazed at the darkening sky, reminiscing on the countless afternoons we spent lying on the grass, laughing and just being ourselves. Without any feelings getting in the way. Fuck, I missed her so much…

“I knew I would find you here.” A voice whispered shyly from behind me, one that made me spin on my heel so fast things went blank for a second. “Hi, Stiles.”

“Y/N/N?”

“You never call me that before… What is up with you?” The smile shining on her face made my heart warm up, beating at an inconsistent rate. I was definitely not ready to see her again so soon.

“W-What are you doing here?” I stammered, noticing my eyes go wide whilst hers glared at me a bit unsure.

Y/N/N bit her bottom, hiding her hands within the pockets on her leather jacket.

“I wanted to talk to you, if that’s okay, obviously.”

I nodded, sitting back on the bench again and watching her do the same on the corner of my eye. We stayed in an uncomfortable silence for a bit, neither wanting to be the one to break it, but, in the end, she ended up clearing her throat, trying to make out a coherent sentence yet failing miserably. I shot her a sympathetic glance, in hopes the Y/S/T girl would feel more comfortable.

At last, Y/N/N took a deep breath, soothing herself before saying:

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what, exactly?” I quizzed, bluntly, daring to connect our gazes.

“For being a bitch to the only person who truly loved me for what I am.” She look at the ground, her knuckles white from squeezing strongly her thighs. “I shouldn’t have ran away like that.”

“You’re right, you shouldn’t. You almost tore me apart and it wasn’t fair.”

“I know messed up big time, baby, but that’s why I’m here anyway. This time we spent apart made me see some stuff clearer and, damn, I can't… I can’t be without you. I miss our early morning walks; you petting my cats while I made you coffee; we talking until late night… I miss us. I can’t live without us, to be entirely honest.”

“You can’t?”

“No…”

For a moment, I was shocked. Was she really saying all those things to me? Saying she had missed me, like I dreamt about for weeks? That was indeed real life? It was so unrealistic I thought I might be hallucinating, however, when the gentle touch of her hand met my knee, I knew it wasn’t, so I smiled. Genuinely, like I hadn’t ever since she walked out on me.

Her hands met my cheeks, cupping them, and her thumbs massaged the cheekbones underneath; I noticed she leaning in, her beautiful nose poking my playfully; then, the gorgeous looking woman pressed her lips on mine, waking me up to reality, making me feel alive again. I snuck my hands down to her waist, pulling her frame towards me, deepening the kiss and letting out all the stored emotions.

The kiss lasted a couple of minutes, afterwards, we had to break it to breathe, our lungs complaining for the lack of air. While our breathings normalised, I took the chance to lose myself on her smouldering green eyes, wanting to savour that moment at its fullest.

“Stiles, I… Fuck, I missed you.” Y/N/N pecked my lips again, this time scattering kissing my entire face. “And now I can say it was all bullshit.”

“What was?”

“The whole act I put on, saying you had spoilt everything… You didn’t do anything wrong. Not ever. The truth is, a while back, I fell in love with a wrong person. It destroyed me, so I learnt to protect myself, I wore a thick layer around my heart. However, when you showed, it all went down and scared me.” A tired exhale left her pink lips. “But I love you, Stiles. Like I have never loved anyone in my life before.”

Those three little words hit my chest like an right aimed punch, driving me to lose a breath. And a beat. God, I was so head over heels for her!

“I’m glad you know that now.”

“Jerk.” She rolled her eyes, lying her head on my shoulder, her gaze lost on the darkening sky. “Be cute to me.”

“I’m always cute.” We chuckled, intertwining our fingers. “Can I ask you something?”

“Obviously!” Y/N/N replied cheerfully. “Anything you want!”

“Promise me you’ll never leave my life again. That even if we don’t work out as a couple, we will still be friends. Promise.”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Because I lived without you and I came to the realisation I don’t want to. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me!”

“Lies!”

“Excuse me?”

“You, Stiles, is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Not the other way around. Also, of course, I promise you that. From now on, we’re stuck with each other.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

Absently minded, I glued our mouths once more, finally feeling, after so long, whole again. And I was aware that, as long as she was with me, as long as she loved me, I would always feel this way. Always.

[serpent-jugheadjones]

RUN!

Pairing: Jughead Jones x Reader 

Description: Riverdale AU x Supernatural 

Warnings: It’s a Halloween fic, need I say more?

Word count: 3551

A/N: Happy Halloween! This is and will forever be the only holiday I acknowledge :) Since Reggie has a thing for Midge in the comics, I wrote her in as his girlfriend because I didn’t wanna have to deal with a love triangle between her, Moose and Kevin. Y/A/C = Your Activity of Choice. This will have another part, but only on next year’s Halloween...

Y/N’s in her room getting ready for the Drive-In’s double feature and Cheryl’s costume party afterwards. A folded Register newspaper lays on her bed with a large headline on display. ‘Series of murders terrify Riverdale.’. The article contains some details Alice Cooper probably bribed out of someone. ‘Four parents have been found dead by authorities. The only ones present in the crime scene are their offspring, with bloody hands and Ouija board with a blood-red planchette in their rooms. It goes deeper than that as the teens who’ve been aprehended swear to have no memory of the happening.’. The girl brushes that out of her mind and takes one last look at her reflection in the mirror, sliding the small strap from her bag, which is filled with add-ons to her costume, her wallet and mints, across her chest. Her belly feels as if a thousand butterflies were flying inside her. The girl finally leaves, after her parents sermon on staying safe inside the car and enjoying her time sober. She tries not to look too weirdly amused as she arrives at her best friend’s house.

She’s greeted by the spitting image of Sandy Olsson. “You look amazing!” Y/N looks at her friend head to toe, the sweet image fitting her personality. “As do you.”, Betty hugs Y/N tightly and their ride honks in the driveway. To no surprise, Archie is dressed as Danny Zuko, with a funny black wig he probably got from Amazon for $1, still looking good, though. “Why, this car is Auto-matic. It’s System-matic. It’s Hyyyyydro-matic. Why, it’s Greased Lightning! “, the fake dark-haired boy sings and dances getting out of the car to open the passenger door for them, making Betty giggle. “Come on.”, the blonde instructs and they get in the truck he borrowed from Fred. FP lent his truck to Jughead, but since he works at the Twilight, Arch was kind enough to offer to drive Y/N there.

They enter the Drive-In, pay for their tickets, and Archie parks on the first empty spot he can find. Y/n thanks him for the ride and leaves to give the couple their privacy, but also in order to find her company for tonight. She waves at FP arriving in his Honda CB 550 and parking near the other Serpents bikes. He waves back with a smirk. His son and her have been friends forever and she also gets along with the man quite well as she loves hearing him reminisce about his High School days. 

On her way to the projection booth, she spots Veronica as Holly Golightly and Kevin as Kurt Hummel in his Warblers uniform. Cheryl and Jason as Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, inappropriate as usual. Passing by the concession stand, she hears arguing and stops to make sure everything is alright. Storming out of a car comes Reggie. “Hey, Y/N...”, he says embarrassed she saw him get yelled at. “Sup, Reg?”, the girl asks sympathetically. “Midge wanted me to dress as Bob. But come on, from That 70′s Show I’m definitely a Michael, not a Bob.” The tall football player points at himself in a tight turtle neck and a rainbow vest. “Bob and Midge didn't have a good relationship, so best to do you, Reggie.”, Y/N supports his choice. “Yeah, try telling her that.” He points at the car and rolls his eyes. “Who are you supposed to be?”, the confused boy asks. “Mia Wallace.” She turns so he can have a full look since he’s so oblivious. “Right, I get it.” She knows he still doesn't. “Anyways, I better go get popcorn before she freaks out.” Reggie walks away with the empty bucket. “Good luck. See ya at Cheryl’s.” Y/N says.

The girl climbs the steps to the familiar projection booth and knocks at the door. Jug opens it with a smile as he knew it could only be her. “I’m just finishing up, then we can head down.”, the weirdly cheerful boy explains and continues putting the film roll in the projector. Y/N’s speechless at the sight of Jughead’s costume choice, Vincent Vega. The fact that they didn't plan to match dumbstrike her unexpectedly more. He only asked her out the previous night, so even if they wanted to, there wouldn’t be enough time to agree on something like that. However, seeing the boy beanieless for the first time, and with straightened hair to fit the character, leads her back to the butterflies-in-the-stomach state. She can’t help but biting the inside of her lips so she won’t sigh. That doesn't go unnoticed by Juggie, who’s now sporting the signature Jones’ smirk. 

The first movie begins and they leave the projection booth to the concession stand. Jughead orders them popcorn, sodas and gummy warms. “Perks of coming with an employee.” He laughs, as for him everything is free. Y/N carries their drinks while he takes the large bucket and pack of candy to FP’s truck. Jughead parked in the best spot, away from the building’s lights, in the middle of the field and close to the good stereos. He set up an air mattress, some blankets and one large pillow in the back, making them have to sit real close.

Y/N is using all her will power not to whisper every line from the movie, for Rocky Horror is one of her favorites. It’s not like he hasn't seen her doing it all the previous times she made the group watch it - somehow just the two of them seems different. Once Time Warp starts playing, the whole field begins to sing along like a huge choir. The costumed girl stands up on the truck and starts following the choreography, pulling Jug by his hand so she’s not doing it alone. The raven-haired boy never laughed so much at something before. This is precisely the reason he chose this film.

Although people could think two Tim Curry’s movies is overkill, IT got picked to make everybody cuddle as they get scared. Anyhow, the couple is already as close as possible and, to be honest, none of them is afraid of the movie. In fact, her one fear is that Jug disappears if she makes a single move, turning it all into nothing more than a dream. Jughead is fidgeting with the hem of his blazer, trying to work up the courage to wrap his arm around the girl. He finally does, using the old yawn trick, really smooth. His heart is pounding and he’s terrified of rejection, but she’s more than worth the risk. She simply rests her head on his chest, relieving him of all his worries, making him relax his grip on the hems and loosely hold her arm. “Jug...”, she starts. “Yeah?”, he questions. “Was the matching costume a coincidence?”, Y/N asks. “No... You told Betty your costume, she told Archie, who told me.”, he confesses shyly. “I knew it!”, she exclaims proudly. “In my defense, Tarantino is my favorite director. I just figured you choosing Mia was a hint of interest.”, Jughead says. “You guessed right, Jug.” She raises her face from his chest, looking at his blueish eyes, scenes from the neglected movies visible on them. He brushes his thumb across her red cheeks, taking her in, brain and beauty. Juggie leans in, slowly closing the distance between them, opening his mouth to meet hers in a kiss they have been jonesing about for ages.

Their moment ends as credits start to roll and car engines roar. Archie, now back to his original ginger locks probably because he couldn't stand the itchiness from the cheap wig, and Betty, showing a ‘I know what you did last summer’ look, come by just after they finish picking up the trash from the back of the truck. “Hey, guys. We’re going to Pop’s before Cheryl’s. Wanna join?”, the boy also dressed as a John Travolta character asks. “Absolutely. Just gotta close and we’ll meet you there.” Jug grabs Y/N’s hand, making Betty turn around and wink at her as they leave. They pack the film rolls back in their metal cases and put them on the shelves. Jughead stares intently at Y/N looking up the names on the other tins. “What?”, the girl asks when she catches his eyes locked on her. “You’re beautiful.”, he affirms and her skin flushes. “We should go, they’re waiting for us.”, she tries to deny the steam raising in the small room as Jug walks closer to her. “Let ‘em wait.” He pulls her firmly by the waist, making a quiet moan escape her lips before he smashes them together once more, in a heated kiss this time.

They lose track of time in that room. A couple tins fall from the shelves which he pushed Y/N against. After getting that out of their system they are ready to leave. Jughead drives away from the field and stops outside the tall gates to shut them with the chains and padlocks, not that it’s actually needed as that is Serpents territory. The car passes by kids trick-or-treating and they remember when FP would take them in a face-covered costume earlier and then run by the same houses in another costume and they’d get double the candy. “FP would always get the Skittles as his cut for being the master mind of the whole thing.”, Y/N says. “Those were the best of times until tonight...”, Jughead confesses. “Agreed.” the girl can help but grin.

The Chock'lit Shoppe is full. Families with their kids in cute costumes counting the candy they got. Adults imagining when they’ll have babies to dress up for the holiday and teens just enjoying themselves. Betty waves at them entering the diner and they sit in their regular booth. Y/N next to her cheerleader friend and Jug makes his football player friend move so he can sit by the window and in front of his date. Pop comes by with a smile, as those are his favorite customers, no doubt, to take their orders. “I'll have the Douglas Sirk steak.”, Jughead quotes. “What?” Pop is looking at his own menu, confused. “I'll have the Durwood Kirby burger, bloody, and a five-dollar shake. Martin and Lewis style, please.”, Y/N continues Jug’s acting, making the old man even more disoriented and the boy in front of her in awe. “Don’t mind their nonsense. They’re just being A-class nerds.”, Archie teases. “We’ll just have the usual, Pop.”, Betty laughs at her friends matching so perfectly.

The couples eat their delicious meal and share milkshakes. Jughead even lets Y/N have the cherry. He tries to get the check but she’s faster. They've been friends forever. She knows he doesn't earn much working at the Drive-In and won’t have his “manhood” hurt by the girl paying. Betty asks for them to be excused to the bathroom before leaving. Once there, Y/N unbuttons her shirt, exposing her bandeau top, grabbing spirit gum, a needlessness seringue to glue on her chest and fake blood to splatter over her. Then it’s Betty’s turn to transform her costume. Her blonde curls get styled in an 80′s updo with lots of bobby pins and hairspray. She darkens her makeup and slips in a shoulderless leather top, changing from her long skirt into high waisted skinny pants. Y/N can’t help but admire the accuracy of her friend’s costume. She’s innocent and sweet, but also dark and dangerous. Sandy represents her perfectly. The finishing touch to her new outfit is heels. “Had to watch a video on how to walk in these.” Both girls laugh at that. “Ready?”, the blood covered girl asks. “It’s now or never.” They hold hands and leave the bathroom.

They walk out confidently, all eyes on them as they stride through the crowded diner. Both John Travolta costumed boy’s mouth agaped, perplexed as the girls reach the table. “DAMN, Y/N/N!”, the ginger thinks out loud. “Archie!” Betty slaps his strong biceps. “Oh, yeah. You look awesome, babe.” He stands up to kiss her. Jughead is too hypnotized to even hear his friend’s comment. The Greese couple starts leaving. Jug stands up from his spot and Y/N walks in front of him. The boy gently leans in close to her ear. “This is undoubtedly the best Halloween ever.”, Jughead whispers, making Y/N blush uncontrollably. The freckled boy has to discipline himself to keep his eyes on the road.

The first spooky thing so far is arriving at Thornhill’s gates. A place so spine-chilling that doesn’t need decorations for the holiday. Y/N grabs Jug’s arm as he drives in and the temperature drops 100 degrees. They join Archie and Betty who just rang the doorbell, which seems futile giving the blasting music playing. However, the giant wooden door falls open shortly after. “If it isn't the Sad Breakfast Club. Come in.” Cheryl stares at both girls coming in from head to toe. “Just in time for our game. Follow me.”, Jason instructs and the group does as told, walking the ghostly halls of the Blossom’s mansion, filled with drunk teenagers dancing. They arrive at a wide room, lit only by a couple of candles on each corner, with the strong scent of incense and a circle of pillows on the floor, some already occupied. Reggie and Midge are still bickering over something so trivial as a Halloween costume. Chuck with Ginger and Tina at each side of him and his arms around them, the girls sporting an annoying smirk. The newcomers take their reserved seats by Veronica and Kevin. The Star Wars twins take their place in the two large red pillows at the edge of the circle. 

Cheryl pulls out a large thin-timber board with the alphabet, numbers from 1 to 0 and YES/NO written in. She enigmatically sets it in the center. “A Ouija board? Seriously? Have you not read the news?”, Kevin questions in panic. Everyone’s eyes fall on him, some mockingly, others in support. “If you’re scared, you’re welcome to leave.” Jason points at the exit. Midge looks like she wants to take the offer. “We just don’t believe in that crap.”, Veronica defends her GBF. “Then you’ll have no problem playing.”, Cheryl spits, even though secretly she’s hoping it works. The group remains seated. “Come one, what are we? Kids? Let’s play 7 minutes in heaven.”, Chuck suggests with an annoying smirk. “Can you even last 7 minutes, Clayton?”, Betty teases and the rest laugh. “Focus!”, red-haired cheerleader’s captain demands. “The rules are simple. Maintain contact at all times. Start on HELLO and wait for the planchette to move. Ask only yes or no questions. Don’t ask for physical signs. Don’t be disrespectful. And don’t move the planchette on purpose, Chuck... End connection on GOOD BYE.”, ginger Skywalker explains. “We need a mediator to ask the questions. I nominate moi. All in favor raise their hands.” Ginger Leia stares at the hands going up, too scared to disagree. “Shall we?” She pulls out a blood-red planchette and everyone's hands follow hers.

Soon the candlelight starts to flicker and the planchette moves frantically. Instinct makes Y/N want to take her hand off, but, almost as if Jug knew, he intertwines his pinky to hers, reassuring the girl everything will be OK, that this is just a distasteful joke. Everyone starts asking all kind of crap. “ENOUGH.”, Cheryl shouts. “Are you a good spirit?”, the ginger girl adds and the planchette finally moves - towards ‘NO’. Midge runs out of the room in tears. “This is fucked up, Cheryl.”, the blonde cheerleader curses, going after the girl with a fake-blonde wig. “I’m out of here too! Anyone wanna join me?”, Chuck says and both Ginger and Tina walk away behind him, making Cheryl death-stare at them all the way. “I have a question. Who’s rigging the game?”, Veronica challenges. “You’re not supposed to ask the questions, Lodge.”, Jason spits. The planchette moves again, spelling something slowly: Y. O. U. At that Ronnie stands up. “Let’s go, Kev. This is stupid.” The boy does as told, as he wished to do all along. “Laters.” Reggie is the next one to go. Y/N doesn't say anything. She just grabs Jughead’s hand and heads for the door. “Archie!”, Jug calls out for his friend, who’s apparently fine with the whole ordeal, also happy to follow them anyways. The ginger twins face is just as red as their hair now. 

The group is climbing down the stairs when there’s a blackout. Some unaware teens start screaming in joy of the new mood setting between them now that no eyes can fall on them. But the ones that were in that sinister room have a different reaction. Jughead pulls Y/N close to his chest. Archie and Reggie run down to find their girlfriends who left before them. “Should’ve played the game.”, both twins speak in a creepy voice. “Only those who play till the end survive.” They raise their hands in synchrony and all the doors in the house are closed shut. Both football players made it out in time, but the writer and the Y/A/C are locked in. 

It becomes obvious that those aren't Jason and Cheryl anymore. There’s something possessing them. Jug instinctively launches himself in front of Y/N, to shield her from harm. But, to their surprise, two men burst through the main door. One tall and moose-like, the other... not. Both with shotguns in hand. ”RUN!” They don’t even have to say twice before the crowd dissipates. Furniture’s flying everywhere, until the possessed twins remove their firearms from their grips. The not-moose one runs towards the Blossoms but he’s forcefully pulled against the wall by an invisible force before he can even reach the first steps. Y/N has to drag Jughead down the stairs as the boy’s most likely in shock and can’t move on his own. The taller one, with a longer dirty-blonde hair, uses their evac to his advantage as Jay-Jay and Cheryl are distracted with the running teens. He manages to slit their arms with an iron blade, and, as blood flows from the cuts, a transparent-white shape is forcefully released out of their bodies. The less tall one is released from something that was immobilizing him, running up the stairs to the room, salting the board and burning it along with the planchette, ending that once and for all. Y/N is flabbergasted, holding Jug’s hand, barely breathing, both trying to process everything that just happened. 

The twins are now back to their usual selves, which isn’t much different from the spirits as they angrily throw out their saviors. “Come on, Tarantino’s couple.” The men carry both the astound teens out with them, as they were the only witnesses. The one with shorter dark hair searches Jughead’s pocket, finding his car keys and tossing it to the taller one. “Ok, Sammy. You take the girl in the truck and I drive Travolta in the Impala.”, he instructs. “Where to, Dean?”, the moose asks, sitting the girl on the passengers seat. “That diner we passed by on the way here.”, the older one rapidly responds. “Of course.”, the hairy guy agrees with some cynicism.

The two Riverdale natives are led back to the Chock’lit Shoppe. They sit across from each other. Now that shock is almost completely worn off, the tallest man on Earth introduce themselves as Sam and Dean Winchester, hunters. “Wait, so you hunt... things, monsters?”, Y/N asks as Jughead chews his burger nervously. “Spirits, demons, vampires, werewolves... the list goes on. It’s a complex job.”, Sam explains while his brother is happily swallowing his milkshake. “Do you get dental with that?”, Y/N asks, as quoting 80′s movie lines is her way of coping with the world. “No.” Sammy laughs. “So, Cheryl and Jason were...”, Jug starts. “Possessed, yes. As those other kids who got arrested.”, Dean cuts him off, speaking with his mouth full. “We shouldn’t have played that stupid game.”, the girl says angrily. “Oh, no! The game is a hoax. In this case, it was because of a cursed object, casually the planchette.”, Sam explains. “All of the teens who were arrested were telling the truth then, when they said they didn’t do it.”, Jug concludes. “Unfortunately.”, Dean says in between chewing, like this is just another day for them. “This is the BEST burger ever!”, he now shouts to Pop, who smiles brightly. Juggie and him eat their burgers with side of fries and onion rings till the last crumble, downing every bite with a free round of milkshakes from Pop Tate for the compliment. Sam is just picking at a salad as Y/N simply watches, amazed at how much her date can eat, since they had dinner no more than an hour before. By the end of that meal, they all feel kinda glad for being alive, Jug and Y/N mostly, for the Winchesters give them their phone numbers in case something like that happens again.

Halloween is about to end for those involved with that particular planchette, teenagers who were too naive to understand the powers of natural and supernatural, twins who wished their parents were killed, two friends whose relationship just had a great development, and brothers whose job is to protect all of them. At the strike of twelve in a small town diner, a special couple starts to notice there’s way more to crime than what meets the eye. 

[i-write-things-sometimes-x]

Lone Wolf (Stiles Stilinski x OC) Chapter 4- Shopping trip

Masterlist | Next Chapter | Previous Chapter

Pairing: Stiles Stilinski x fem OC (Riley Lowe)

Summary: Riley Lowe was torn from her quiet life in Jacksonville, Oregon to move to Beacon hills with a friend when a terrible tragedy tore through her family. Once a happy, loving girl, Riley had now became detached and cold, letting no body past the walls she had now built so high, until him.

(kind of AU where the pack can be normal teenagers/ Werewolves can get drunk)

Warnings: Strong language, Explicit Content

Word count: 2,067

I do not own the Teen Wolf Characters or story.

I do not own any of the Gifs used in my stories, I usually find them on Google and Pinterest and all credit goes to the creators

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A few weeks had gone by, and I had spent most of my time playing my guitar, studying, hanging out with Derek and avoiding Scott and his pack like the plague. They had made quite a few attempts at getting me to hang out with them and as much as I felt bad to reject them, I couldn't bring myself to let myself get close. I will give it to them, they are quite persistent.

I sighed in relief as I opened the door to the apartment, closing the door and walking over to the sofa, flinging myself on the couch and closing my eyes, completely drained from the day with little to no sleep. My subconscious had proved to be relentless and has yet to cease haunting my dreams with the memory of that night. Meaning, that I had barely slept for the past few weeks and had spent my nights reading.

I was startled from resting my eyes and jumped up as I heard Derek enter the room, not knowing he was home. "Hey kid, did I scare you?" Derek looked at me in amusement. I laughed and let out a sigh, rubbing the corners of my eyes as they had begun to sting with exhaustion. "Yeah, I've been a little jumpy lately I guess" I said softly, letting myself sink back down into the soft fabric of the couch. Derek looked at me, worry apparent in his eyes. He then sat next to me and lay back on the couch with me, our heads titled up, looking at the ceiling and sighed. "You know you can talk to me about anything right?" I smiled softly and turned to look at him. "I know." he also turned his gaze toward me, with such protective, gentle eyes. "You know, I had nightmares about what happened to my family for months, but I promise kid, they'll fade away and be replaced with better dreams." my smile faded and my eyebrows furrowed. "How-" I began before he smiled sadly. "Because you show all the telltale signs that I did. You're constantly exhausted and I hear you up at night. I used to avoid sleeping too. I did everything I could to keep myself from reliving that day in my dreams." "Oh." I said moving my head to stare in my lap to avoid his gaze. I felt the all too familiar sadness set in as I hated that he also had went through this torture. However felt slightly better that I wasn't alone in experiencing this. "It gets better little wolf I promise." He said pulling me into a hug then slowly letting go, assuming our previous position as before, with our heads staring at the ceiling.

We stayed there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before he broke the silence. "Oh, I forgot to ask you earlier, I'm apparently having a party at the loft tomorrow per the request, more like demand from Scott and his friends and wondered if you would sing alongside the DJ." I laughed in surprise at the fact that Derek had actually cracked and allowed them to use his loft for a party. He must like them quite a bit to allow that as he is usually very against that type of thing. "I don't know D, I haven't done a party in god knows how long, i'm kinda rusty." I say, thinking back to when I used to play for my school dances and the odd house party here and there, I have to admit I kinda missed it. I felt free. Derek laughed, causing me to playfully frown. "If there's anything that I have taken from the constant noise from you practising playing and singing at unholy hours of the morning, it's that you are far from rusty." I laughed and playfully punched his shoulder causing him to fake being hurt, which I rolled my eyes and giggled at. "Fineeeee, I'll do it, for you." I said dramatically, earning another chuckle. "Attagirl" He said, getting up and going to the kitchen. I then heard his car keys jingle in his hand as he stood at the door with an amused grin. "What?" I asked in confusion to his apparent amusement. "Oh, did I forget to mention that it had a theme? We gotta go get you something to wear, can't have you standing out" he said, his voice thick with amusement knowing full well that I hated dressing up. I scowled at him playfully and he burst out laughing, approaching me and dragging me by the arms off the sofa and out the door as I was being as dramatic about this as possible, staying as limp as I could, making it as difficult as possible for him to drag me which he found all the more hilarious.

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We finally reached the mall and Derek yet again grabbed me by the arm, dragging me into the closest clothes store. Never in my life did I think that Derek Hale would be clothes shopping with me. I scanned the store to see that a lot of this clothing was actually my style. "So what is this theme you're talking about?" I asked in genuine interest. Derek just flashed me another amused smirk and called over a very pretty employee. The employee looked Derek up and down and smiled at him, and I rolled my eyes in amusement. Derek visibly enjoying this. "Hi, do you happen to have any UV/blacklight reactive clothing for this lady here? She has a party to go to tomorrow night." I looked at Derek in pure horror as he sent another shit eating grin my way. "We sure do, come with me sweetie." the girl then put her hand on my back and led me away from Derek and toward the changing rooms to show me what was available. "I turned my head back toward Derek to see him trying and failing miserably to stifle his laugh. I glared at him and mouthed 'I'm going to kill you', which only seemed to amuse him more. Fucking Derek. I can't believe he's subjecting to me to this. We finally made it to the changing rooms and the girl smiled at me , handing me a stack of outfits and led me into a changing stall. "Here you go sweetheart, just call if you need any help." She said in that sickly sweet customer service voice. I feigned a smile and closed the curtain, turning to scour my way through the giant pile of neon and black clothing items she had given me hoping I could at least find a few things that I liked.

After sorting through the extremely large pile of clothing, I finally spotted an extremely pretty lace neon purple crop top/bralette, which was ironically very close to the colour of my wolf eyes. I also spotted the matching fish net stockings to go with it and a stunning, black, short and extremely fitted faux leather skirt which had a slit up the side. I tried them all on, putting my doc martin boots back on, along with my signature black leather jacket and looked at myself in the mirror. The skirt although quite snug, fitting quite nicely to my curves and the crop top to my surprise, supporting my chest nicely and showing off my toned waist. Happy with the fit and style of clothing, I walked out of the changing room and was met by Derek and the girl employee who were shamelessly flirting with each other.

I rolled my eyes and smirked at the sight, clearing my throat obnoxiously to get their attention. They both turned to me startled and then looked at me in shock, eyes wide. I felt my whole body heat up as I quickly became embarrassed and extremely self conscious at their stares, pulling my jacket closed to cover myself. "Wow Ri, you look good, different" Derek said smiling, probably taken aback by the sight of me in colour for a change. "Girl, you look amazing" The girl said, proceeding to walk around me, opening my jacket back up and adjusting the clothes here and there, making me even more uncomfortable. "I know what would go amazing with this outfit, hold on" She quickly sped off toward the storage room and was back in a second, holding a stunning pair of black faux leather ankle boots/heels. "here, try these on" she said enthusiastically. I sat down on the waiting chair and removed my beloved docs, the heels surprisingly fitting me perfectly although I hadn't told her my size. I stood and walked around in a small circle to get used to the height. Admittedly the heels made me feel me so much more confident and powerful, almost sexy which is something I never thought i'd feel. The girl let out a girly squeal of happiness. "We'll take them" Derek said smiling like a proud father as he watched me looking into the mirror. I turned around in surprise. "These are on me, after all, you're doing me the favour by going" He said and smiled. I just laughed and nodded, a grateful smile on my face.

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We walked out of the store, Derek holding the bag with my outfit in and laughing as he poked fun at how uncomfortable I looked being in colour and how the girl fussing over me, while I kept my gaze at the floor in complete embarrassment. When we turned the corner, I was suddenly startled as I had bumped into the chest of someone. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry are you okay, I-." The familiar voice stuttered, obviously flustered and apologetic. I looked up and my eyes were met with the sight of Stiles Stilinski, his face red and flustered. I then laughed awkwardly extremely aware of how close our bodies were. "No, It was my bad I should've been looking where I was going" I said, brushing it off and took a step back, moving to Derek's side and saw that Scott and the two girls they often hang around with accompanied him. "Derek? what are you doing here with.. Riley? do you guys know each other?" Scott said in shock. Oh yeah, I had totally forgotten that I hadn't mentioned that I already knew of them through Derek. Derek looked at me in confusion then seemed to catch on, realising that I probably hadn't spoken to them much. My eyes were still fixated on Stiles who had taken to staring at the floor in embarrassment, to which I smirked, visibly amused. Finding myself to becoming quite fond of the weirdly charming, awkward boy.

"Oh, Riley is a friend of the family who's been staying with me for the summer." Derek quickly explained. Before anyone could say anything else, a pretty redheaded girl stepped forward. A friendly, confident smile on her face. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure, I'm Lydia." She said shaking my hand then motioned behind her, "And this is Allison" She said, and the girl offered me small smile and a wave. "Nice to meet you" I said with a smile and a nod noticing that Scott's hand was placed on her waist. Cute. Derek must have sensed how anxious this interaction was making me and spoke up. "It was nice to see you guys but Ri and I have some stuff we've got to get done before the party." I shot him a grateful smile and he met it with a knowing nod. I then saw Stiles's head shoot up at the mention of this. "You're going to the party?" He said, shock evident in his voice his honey coloured eyes lighting up. "Uh.. yeah" I said with an awkward laugh. Lydia then cut in again. "Well, we'll see you there, hopefully we can hang out more" she said with that seemingly genuine smile on your face. "Yeah, see you then" I said smiling back. I have a track record of attracting bitchy girls for some reason but these girls actually seem quite nice. Everyone said their goodbyes as we turned toward the exit to leave, Stiles's eyes meeting mine again one last time, causing a knot to form in my stomach. Well shit. I cursed myself as I realised that I seemed to have become very attracted to the awkward boy.

[izzyovercoffee]

Do, Dishonored for me, lmao

send me a fandom and I’ll — meme

I know I said I’m all memed out but one more JUST ONE MORE and then I gotta take a break for real lmao

Dishonored

the character i least understand

The Outsider.

I mean … I suppose that’s intentional, no? Someone who’s lived as long as he has, and experienced everything as he has, should be difficult to understand.

But, I also love stories of mortal humans forced to ascend to an eldritch entity. don’t ask me why lmao I just find it super interesting, albeit, again, difficult to fully wrap my head around.

interactions i enjoyed the most

All of Kirin Jindosh’s lines.

Every interaction between Corvo and Emily across the entire franchise, including thinking about / talking about saving the other.

Everything Meagan Foster says and does.

Corvo talking about how much he loves Jessamine. B’)

the character who scares me the most

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Granny Rags

She hits all of the really serious creepy vibes. She’s very disconcerting, even from the first time we meet her, and just. Damn. She’s terrifying.

She was my fave villain, too. From the entire franchise lmao

the character who is mostly like me

mmmmmmm ……….. I guess, Emily? Maybe? It’s hard to say. I don’t think any of them are really mostly like me? I can certainly relate to a great many of them, but that’s not necessarily the same thing.

hottest looks character

EMPRESS EMILY KALDWIN

Even technically without a home, exiled, she’s still the most fashionably dressed woman in all the world. 

Even that scarf-mask is fashionable.

one thing i dislike about my fave character

Jessamine Kaldwin, Empress.

She was, perhaps, too trusting in her advisers — she never saw the betrayal coming, though one could say it was obvious (in hindsight). And, you know, living in those terrible times, with the kind of violent push-back from the nobles for all the changes made to support the common people … 

Well, idk. I guess, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. But that consistent blind eye to people she continued to trust because she had always trusted them is what eventually got her killed. 

one thing i like about my hated character

why am i so bAD AT THIS B’’’)

I don’t even know … who I hate? Oh, you know what?

Duke Luca Abele. He is so … ugh. He’s petulant, childish, spoiled, disgusting. He holds all the marks of a corrupt man with too much power and no one to stop him. If there’s anything I like, though, it’s how utterly predictable he is. 

I like his absolute devotion to Delilah, too. That’s one, small, positive in a sea of garbage. It’s unfortunate he was never able to focus that devotion where it truly belonged, however: on his people.

a quote or scene that haunts me

High Chaos Dishonored 1 ending (saving Emily).

Dishonored 2, Emily saying goodbye to Jessamine. 

The Crown Killer coming in through that window.

a death that left me indifferent

Callista Curnow’s off-screen death between the first and second games. This is just … idk. IDK if she’s actually dead or just implied dead, but I’m not really all too much a fan of it. 

Teague Martin’s inevitable death, regardless of chaos level. He’s such an interesting character, for him to go out no matter what feels a little … idk. Cheap, maybe? Like, there’s so much potential there with someone like him holding the position of High Overseer, but we never really get to see that. 

Plus he’s such a clever and underhanded character, I couldn’t really believe he wouldn’t see himself being poisoned (in low chaos ending). Especially when it’s implied that everyone is acting erratically and out of paranoia.

I feel like his death could have been handled better. At least, for low chaos.

Dishonored 2 … 

a character i wish died but didn’t

I think everyone that needs to die ultimately does die, or suffer terribly, so … well actually, you know who? 

Anton Sokolov. Sokolov should have died, and not just in a high-chaos ending.

There’s a lot of very heavy implication that he took advantage of Delilah when she was young and vulnerable (literally homeless?). He’s also generally portrayed to be unapologetic for the massive amounts of violence and death his creations have lead to, and the narrative hardly holds him accountable for, well, anything — versus metaphorically lobotomizing asian-coded (and autistic coded) scientist Kirin Jindosh when they’re, lmao, the same.

It’s arguable, in fact, that Anton’s creations have lead to more death and mayhem and utter destruction than Jindosh. But that’s a different argument for a different day.

my ship that never sailed

uhhh lmao SINCE YOU ASKED

Geoff Curnow and Corvo Attano, albeit kind of one-sided on behalf of Geoff. for the most part, I really appreciate how fandom generally sees the two of them as being close, regardless of however you want to define that closeness.

Empress Emily Kaldwin and Captain Alexi Mayhew, especially after that opening scene for Dishonored 2. Self explanatory, I think …

[tinamaetales]

A ridiculously good experience

But first, play HSM’s “Gotta go my own way” cause this post be emotional (for me though) af

Also, this post is long af so please bear with me.

I’ve landed my first job sometime in December 2016. Yay! However, it is not something related to the Degree I have but nonetheless, I liked it. 

I was just randomly scrolling some job postings online when I came upon this post that says that this certain company is hiring and it says that fresh graduates are welcome; also, it is located somewhere in Imus so I’ve decided to send my resume. Less than 2 days (if I’m not mistaken), I’ve received a call from them, inviting me to take an exam. And so I did. Actually, I really have no idea what the company is all about, I just wanted a job that’s it. When I entered the lobby, I felt at ease. It was nothing like those I’ve been into. Their lobby has a zen cafe theme and would make one feel so at home and so I told myself, ‘That’s it! I’m in!’ 

While waiting for the examination, I’ve found out that it is a BPO company (I’m not going to mention the company’s name and the department I was in for privacy purposes and I also don’t want to violate anything in the contract that I signed) which immediately sent chills to my body. You might ask, don’t you like to work at a BPO company? Actually, I’ve considered it before and I really do have high respect for those who work at BPOs however, given my nature, I feel like I won’t be able to fit in, especially with the night shift schedule. But since I’m already there, I would do my best in the exam. Two hours later, I was informed that I passed the exam and I’m on my way back inside for the initial interview (my heart was actually beating fast because the interviewer is really handsome, he looks like Coco Martin pero chinito! Mah heart mah soul, bruh). The interview lasted for about 45 minutes? And then I was invited to take another exam on the next day since he said that I might be perfect for the M campaign (told ya, I’m not gonna mention specifics here) - which is basically about Hollywood movies, TV shows and celebrities. And so I took the exam. I passed. Few days later, I was scheduled for the final interview, in their other branch (which will later be my work place because they are the ones holding that said campaign). I gotta admit, seeing the actual work place scared me. IDK. Few days later I was informed that I passed the final interview and I should dropped by their office for the list of reqs and other stuff. Then, medical examination, submission of reqs, signing of contract......orientation, training, nesting and live.

Orientation

I was actually shocked when I found out that I’m the only one in the orientation. IDK bruh, I feel like it will be awkward. But I’m really thankful to Sir E for making it light, fun and interactive. I’ve learned a lot about the company and I was convinced that this company is perfect for me and I just gotta prove that I deserve the opportunity they’ve given. The orientation ended with me having a smile on my face as I go home.

Training

Now, this is an amazing part of the journey. In here, I have a ‘classmate’ and she’s amazing and became one of my great friends now. W have been with the company for 2 years already and she just switched campaign after her former decided to scale down. She made the training week fun and memorable for me. She’s very generous both in knowledge and in material things. She gave me advices and told me stories about her experiences in the company. Also, she’s an artist. I’ve seen her artworks on IG and gosh  they are all amazing! Anyways, our trainer is Sir R and he’s the best! He guided us every step of the way. He always make sure that we will learn a lot in every session that we have. He made us well prepared for the nesting. I will always be thankful for all the knowledge and skills he shared with us. You da real mvp, sir!

Nesting

Here, we got to experience what the actual work is like. We were given a lot of activities. Mam N gave us a lot of files to process and make summary. Our work is involve with writing summary about articles that mention Hollywood movies, tv shows and celebrities so my interest with the Hollywood life was very much alive in here. I’ve experienced how to process the files and write summaries. Although there are some errors here and there, we passed this period.

Live

This is something that I could’ve experienced if I didn’t get sick but anyways....on my 3rd week, I was still on nesting and during that time I’ve met the new trainee and we became friends. B is a great person to be with too. She’s fun and she’s genuine. We clicked in an instant. Also, I’ve met two other employees here who assisted me in processing of files (to make sure that I will be well prepared once I go live) they are Mam K and Sir C. They are also awesome :) After two days, my tl (Mam C, who’s also very awesome and supportive) informed me that I will go on live the next day however, the inevitable happened.

Turn of events

I wasn’t feeling well during the 2nd day of my 3rd week at the company. My stomach was aching way too bad every time I eat and it scared me because the last time this happened (which was in 2012), I was hospitalized for more than a week and have to undergo endoscopy. While I was processing files, the pain was already unbearable so I stayed at the clinic for hot compress. I thought I was already okay after 30 mins so I came back to my work area. Few minutes later (and I’m processing files during this moment), I felt the pain again so I ran towards the rest room and there, I vomitted. At that moment, I really wanna go home but I’ve decided to stay. I finished my shift but I was feeling so dizzy already. I went home expecting that by having some time to rest, I will be fine but things don’t really work out the way we want them to, right? As soon as I wake up, I sent my trainer a message saying I won’t be able to come to work because I’m sick. That night, I was debating with my family whether I would go to the hospital or I will just drink meds and rest. The next day, I saw myself being brought to the hospital because the pain is unbearable anymore. I was admitted. For days, the dosage of painkillers they are giving me are increasing each time they will sedate me but the pain’s still there. It seems like there’s no improvement. I felt hopeless. I want the pain to end. I want to rest. I’m tired of fighting for my life. I wanted to die.

While in the hospital, I have some realizations. Night shift does not fit me. And, it is unfair if I will keep the company waiting for me to recover when they can just hire someone who’s more fitting for the job. And so I’ve decided that the moment I’ll be released from the hospital, I will resign. It would be for the best of us.

It was the night before my birthday that I was seriously considering about dignitas (and I know we can’t afford to travel there) because I felt like it was the only option left. I feel so hopeless. My life became a painful routine of me trying to eat food and then I will just vomit it after a few minutes then I will vomit acid then they will give me pain killers then the pain will stop for hours then repeat and I was so tired of it. I just want it to end. I don’t want to live my life that way. I want to end the pain. I want to die.

My birthday came. I was advised to try again. Try eating again and try my best not to vomit. I did, although deep inside I already know that this will just turn out like any other day. But I was wrong.

I ate light breakfast. I felt the pain. I felt like vomitting but I didn’t. I tried eating again and this time, there was no pain. I felt some energy. I felt better.

To make it short, I was miraculously healed on my birthday and the doctor allowed me to be discharged. 

Went home. I rested. But my decision’s still my final. I will resign.

I felt empty while writing the resignation letter (that later I asked my friend to write the remaining parts because I wasn’t in the mood to write). While on my way to the company, together with B who will also resign for personal reasons, I suddenly felt sad. The moment I stepped inside our work area, I felt like crying. I wanted to back out. In that short moment, I felt like I wanted to reconsider. I felt like, I just wanna talk to my supervisors to tell them to give me some more rest days so I can recover then I’ll go back to work. But, I still ended up handing my resignation letter. It was accepted.

I went home feeling sad but relieved. I was sad because I gotta leave the company who has been so nice to me but also felt relieved that they now have the chance to find someone better than me.

One would say that I might be overreacting since I only spent less than 3 weeks in that company and I already have all these emotions but to me, I’m not. You see, it was less than 3 weeks but in those weeks, I was able to grow as a person. In those weeks I’ve spent with them, I’ve done things that I thought I can never accomplished before. In those weeks, I’ve realized that BPO companies really do help the Philippine economy. In those weeks, I’ve realized that those who work for BPO companies, especially the ones in the night shift deserves more credit and respect than they are given. In those weeks, I’ve realized that one’s endurance is determined by the amount of effort and dedication that one would give. In those weeks, I’ve realized that as long as you’re trying, as long as you’re willing to work hard and as long as you stay dedicated then you can do things you thought were impossible before.  In those weeks, I’ve realized that hard work is the key to success. 

I am going to miss reading those articles about good Hollywood films. I am going to miss the songs we used to listen to while working. I am going to miss the employees who are always willing to help us whenever we find difficulties in our tasks. I am going to miss the TLs, trainer and everyone else in there who were always supportive and kind to us. I am going to miss my co-trainees, W and B, for the short period of time that we spent together, I’ve gained new friends that I know I can always count on. I am going to miss the environment. I am going to miss everything about that work. 

But yeah, I got to move on and be who I am. First, I gotta recover since having acute gastritis is no joke. I gotta take good care of my body first and you know, health is wealth. Second, I gotta find a day shift work that I guess is more fitting for me, given my health situation. Maybe I just don’t belong there, and I hope they’ll understand. WE might find our place in this world someday but at least for now, I gotta go my own way. (No copyright infringement intended though; I’m just quoting the song cause I feel like it fits well with the topic at hand)

Thank you, TU for the opportunity! You have instilled in me values that will definitely help me in my journey, not just in pursuing another career but also in life. You made me become a better person. (And I also know how to use Adobe Acrobat now and my computer skills improved! I’m actually faster in doing stuff on the computer now, thanks to the training you’ve given me). Also, I am very sorry that it has to end this way. 

Goodbye. 

It was a ridiculously lit experience that I will never forget! 

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Weekend Warrior 6/18/2021 - THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD, THE SPARKS BROTHERS, LUCA, 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS, FATHERHOOD, RITA MORENO and More!

Well, it’s another week and another column and now I’m not only trying to stay on top of Emmy stuff for Below the Line, but I’m also desperately trying to see stuff for the 20th Tribeca Festival AND still having time to watch stuff for the column. As Nancy Meyers might say, “Something’s Gotta Give.” (Well, maybe she said it when someone asked her the title of her next movie in 2002. Shut up.)

But first, this week’s “The Chosen One” and how could it be anything but Edgar Wright’s THE SPARKS BROTHERS (Focus Features), which I’ve now seen three times maybe?

To talk about Sparks, you almost have to remember the first time you heard of Sparks, and for me, it was in the early ‘80s when I was getting hipper into music and record collecting, and I’d see the covers of their records with their punny titles and be like, “What is this?” But those covers also scared me in some ways. Oddly, the “alternative rock” station WLIR should have been playing the hell out of Sparks in the ‘80s but other than “Cool Places,” their duet with the Go-Go’s Jane Wiedlin, they went mostly ignored.

It wasn’t until I saw them on Saturday Night Live performing “Mickey Mouse,” and I was immediately fascinated by keyboard player Ron Mael’s stage presence, standing completely still and stoic while his brother Russell pranced around the stage like a true rock star. Over the years, I heard covers by bands like the Dirtbombs and the Dresden Dolls, but it wasn’t until I watched the movie did I realize the influence they had on early new wave bands like Duran Duran, Erasure and Depeche Mode.

In many ways, there’s no one more perfect to direct this documentary other than Wright, since the Maels have been so influenced by cinema and their work with auteur filmmakers, some endeavors more successful than others. And then of course, Wright, has this amazing encyclopedic knowledge of music, as well as being so connected to that world that he can get the likes of Beck and Flea and others to go on camera to talk about the band. This is one case where the veritable Who’s Who *IS* a veritable Who’s Who. The number of actors and artists who come forward to share their stories about Sparks is quite amazing to the point where there’s almost a “Holy shit!” moment every couple minutes. “There’s two of New Order! And two of Duran Duran!” (Is there ANYONE Edgar DOESN’T know?)

More importantly, he gets Ron and Russ to talk at length about their entire career, almost album by album -- and they’ve made 25 of them! -- and it even covers the band’s leaner years in the 90s

All the interviews are done in black and white, almost as the perfect contrast to the colorful stories they tell and the similarly colorful music videos that punctuate those stories.

I mean, if Wright was writing a thesis paper on the influence and reach of Sparks, then he’d get an “A.” But then that still bodes the question: Are Sparks loved because their songs can be weird or have such a strange sense of humor? Well, They Might Be Giants, probably one of the most obvious influences, has never mentioned Sparks’ influence before, as far as I know, although, they, too, win over fans with the charm of their humorous songs. Even when you think of other groups of two members like the Black Keys, Sparks were doing that first, as well.

I couldn’t tell you if The Sparks Brothers will turn the brothers Mael into the global superstars selling out stadiums they’ve deserved to be for many years, but I know it’s going to be a LOT tougher to get tickets to see them the next time they tour between this and Leos Carax’s Spark-written musical Annette later this summer. Wright’s documentary is the definition of comprehensive.

I’m honestly not 100% sure how wide Focus Features is releasing this movie, but I figure it will be in 500 or 600 theaters, which would be a great way to get word out about the band. I’d love to see Wright’s fans go out to see it and for it to make a million or two this weekend, as that wouldn’t be bad for any documentary, especially with so many going straight to streaming these days.

Let’s get to the single wide release of the week, which opened on Wednesday (something I completely forgot), and it’s THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD (Lionsgate), the reunion of Samuel L. Jackson (as the hitman), Ryan Reynolds (as the bodyguard) and Salma Hayek (as the hitman’s wife). See how all of that works? The action-comedy sequel hopes to capitalize on the success of the first movie, which was #1 for an amazing three weeks in the late summer of 2017, grossing $75 million in North America alone.

The sequel opens at a very different time when a $21.4 million opening (like the original movie) wouldn’t be bad, but can THWB make that much at a time when people are being very precious about what they see in theaters? At least this one, unlike last week’s In the Heights -- which made less than half what I predicted -- is not debuting on streamers so if anyone wants to see it, they will have to go out to theaters, but why would they want to see it?

I already reviewed this at Below the Line, and I guess I liked it more than a lot of critics, because it’s currently at 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is very, VERY bad. That’s an even lower rating than Samuel L. Jackson’s last movie with Lionsgate, the horror sequel Spiral: From the Book of Saw, which bombed last month, opening with less than $9 million. So yeah, people may not rush out to see it for Jackson, but it’s been a very long time since there was a movie from Ryan Reynolds, and he’s definitely more of an A-lister thanks to the Deadpool movies. In fact, it’s been two full years since Reynolds was in Detective Pikachu, which grossed $144 million domestically, mostly with his voice role. Reynolds also provided a voice in The Croods: A New Age, one of the first movies to open theatrically during the pandemic that grossed $58 million.

It’s really hard to gauge how THWB will do under pandemic rules, even as places like New York City have thrown off all COVID limitations, so that theaters should be allowed to be full again? Will that matter? After the last few weeks, I feel like I should go lower on this one, closer to $15 to 17 million. I’m not sure if most people will even realize this opened Wednesday, but people are still figuring things out, and I’m not sure the original movie is as beloved as three times at #1 might convey.

Also expanding nationwide into about 800 theaters is 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS (Sony Pictures Classics), which I wrote a little about last week when it opened in 120 Texas theaters, although I hadn’t actually seen it at that time. Well, I’ve seen it, and I have to say that it’s a perfectly pleasant period underdog story that I actually enjoyed more than George Clooney’s wacky Leatherheads, which is set around the same period.

Again, it’s not a particularly groundbreaking story, showing how Luke Wilson’s Rusty Russell takes a rag-tag group of orphans from the Masonic Home orphanage in Fort Worth, Texas, and not only teaches them how to read and do math but also how to play football in the early days when very few of the current plays existed. If you’ve seen any of these types of movies before, then you probably already know how it plays out, and though I try not to be cynical, especially with the over-the-top villainy of Wayne Knight’s cricket-bat wielding abuser, I do think this offers one of Wilson’s better performances, and I enjoyed seeing Martin Sheen in a strong supporting role as well.

Even knowing full well that most of the conflicts the team faces will probably be the kind of “5-minute drama” that will be resolved soon enough, it’s still enjoyable to watch such an inspirational story that one can probably forgive some of the cliches of the genre that keeps the film’s last act from elevating itself above the obviousness last act. (When it decides to show what happened to every single person in the movie during the end credits, you could hear the sound of my eyes rolling.) This might appeal to those looking for something a little less snarky or cynical at a time when that’s the norm, but true cinephiles will rightfully snub their nose at those cliches, because this feels like one of those sports movies that tries to win audiences over by not veering too far from what has worked previously.

Even expanding into 800 theaters this Friday, I’m not sure 12 Mighty Orphans will make more than a half million this weekend.

Pixar Animation Studios releases its latest offering LUCA (Disney/Pixar) onto Disney+ and into one single L.A. theater. It’s the first feature film from Enrico Casarosa, who directed the Oscar-nominated short, La Luna, and I wish I liked it more than I did. It centers around a young sea monster named Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), who discovers that he can pass off as human when he surfaces from his deep-sea home. He makes a friend with another sea monster named Antonio (Jack Dylan Grazer) and the two of them go off on a quest to find a Vespa, because that is their obsession. Along the way, they meet a spunky redhead girl named Giulia (Emma Berman), and they decide to take part in a race that can win them the money they need for that Vespa. That’s it. That’s the plot.

Honestly, I have no idea what my fellow critics and other movie enthusiasts are seeing in this movie, because it reminded me of a very bad Roberto Benigni movie with these American actors breaking out into bad Italian accents or phony Italian every few minutes. It’s obvious the movie’s director is from Italy and some have even called this movie a “love letter to Italy,” which makes you wonder why he would want to have these kid actors doing inappropriate takes on Italians by throwing in random Italian words but mostly speaking in English. It was really hard to get past, and it distracted me from enjoying it. I just didn’t really care for any of the characters at all. Giulia, while fun at first, just gets annoying, because she’s such a spaz.

The animation also wasn’t particularly impressive, seeming very cartoonish -- yes, I know it’s a cartoon -- but it just shows how hard it is to have humans star in an animated movie, because you really have to work harder on the characterization than what has clearly been done here. Because of this, Luca lacks much of what made Soul and other Pixar movies so special, as it’s just a kids’ adventure movie with the flimsiest literal fish-out-of-water premise with very little in terms of jokes, so it relies on physical humor and the idea that the boys need to hide their seamonster-ness from the naties. Even the presence of the genuinely funny Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan voicing Luca’s parents do very little to save the movie. It just seems to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the viewer to make up for the weak characters.

This is one of the first true disappointments from Pixar, maybe my least favorite movie the company has made since Coco, which won the Oscar and had people falling over each other to praise it. Casarosa’s short was really wonderful, but this is just not a very good feature, and I honestly don’t know who this was meant for. It’s not particularly funny or moving or anything. It’s just a very basic watered-down premise that goes nowhere. Skip this and get your kids to watch a Fellini movie instead.

Streaming on Netflix Friday is Kevin Hart’s new comedy, FATHERHOOD (Netflix), which was originally produced by Sony PIctures, but then like so many other movies, it got sold off to Netflix for streaming. It kind of makes sense, since Hart has been a regular brand on the streamer. Adapted from Matthew Logelin’s book, Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Love & Love, the movie is co-written and directed by the great Paul Weitz, and it co-stars Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Melody Hurd and Paul Reiser. Basically, Hart plays Matt, whose wife dies in childbirth leaving him with a baby girl, Maddy, that he swears to raise even without a wife, even though his mother (Woodard) doesn’t think he can handle fatherhood.

This is a very different movie for Hart, one that allows him to use some of his dramatic acting muscles that we’ve rarely seen from him, although the movie comes more into its own as it goes along. At first, we’re basically watching him trying to care for a baby in a way that doesn’t really break much new ground from the constant talk about babies crying and shitting. (That is what they do, after all.)

Once Maddy grows up, there’s a new dynamic, and Hart is great playing the role of a single father trying to date again, and when he meets a new woman named Swan (DeWanda Wise), he isn’t sure how to introduce her to his daughter. Melody Hurd, the young actress playing the slightly older Maddy is quite good and able to really help drive the second act of the movie, which is far more dramatic and real. She not only holds her own against Hart but also with Woodard!

Even though this is more dramatic than Hart’s normal fare, there are still some great low-key laughs including some great scenes between Hart and Howery as his friend. I genuinely enjoyed Fatherhood, since it’s sweet and a very different kind of movie for Hart, maybe due to Weitz’s able direction. Fatherhood probably won’t be for everyone and to some, seeing Hart in this role won’t be quite like when Adam Sandler makes his occasional foray into films like Punch Drunk Love or Uncut Gems -- that’s just the hypocrisy of film criticism -- but I’m sure this will do just fine on Netflix with Father’s Day being on Sunday.

A movie I saw at SXSW earlier this year was Jaco Bouwer’s GAIA (Decal), which reminded me a bit of Ben Wheatley’s In the Earth. It stars Monique Rockman as an injured forest ranger who is saved by two survivalists, a rescue that becomes increasingly more suspicious as the son and his father have a cultish devotion to the forest, and she soon learns there’s a far great threat in the wilderness.It will hit theaters on Friday and then On Demand June 25. I just didn’t have the bandwidth to rewatch this to write a full review but it was fine, but just not quite on par with Wheatley’s movie, although it sure is pretty.

A doc that’s being released theatrically Friday after its own festival run is Mariem Pérez Riera’s RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT (Roadside Attractions), which as you can tell from the title, looks at the amazing life and career of the EGOT-winning singer/actress who is such an inspiration for LatinX performers that she was able to get the likes of Héctor Elizondo, Gloria Estefan, Tom Fontana, Morgan Freeman, Mitzi Gaynor, Whoopi Goldberg, Norman Lear, Eva Longoria, Justina Machado, Terrence McNally, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo on camera to talk about her.

I really kind of enjoyed this movie, which just played at the Tribeca Film Festival, because I learned so much about Moreno that I really didn’t know before, but also it’s such an inspirational story as we hear her talk about what some of the scenes in West Side Story meant to her sixty years after winning the Oscar for the role, even though she’s still on record as giving one of the shortest Oscar speeches ever: “I don’t believe it!”

She also talks about really personal things like being raped by her agent, who she kept on as her agent after the incident, but that adds to her political activism in recent years, and she’s still a spry and lively disruptor at the age of 87. This is just a brilliant documentary that’s a long time coming.

Another doc worth checking out is Nancy Buirski’s A CRIME ON THE BAYOU, exec. Produced by John Legend’s company, Get Lifted Film Co. It revisits the case of Gary Duncan, a young fisherman in a Louisiana parish who tried to break up a fight at an integrated school in 1966, but when he puts his hand on a white boy’s arm, he’s prosecuted for assault on a minor. Duncan’s case was taken all the way to the Supreme Court to make sure he got a fair trial. This is a decent doc, but I don’t have a ton to say about it, nor the time for a full review.

Francois Ozon returns with SUMMER OF 85 (Music Box Films), which stars Félix Lefebvre as Alexis, whose boat capsizes off the coast of Normandy, Benjamin Voisin’s David comes to his rescue and opens the younger boy’s eyes to friendship, art and sexual bliss. Adapted from Aidan Chambers’ LGBT young adult novel Dance on my Grave, the film explores the relationship between the two boys and the challenges, including Philippine Velge’s sexual rival. The movie will open in New York at the Angelika Film Center, Village East, and Film at Lincoln Center, in Los Angeles at Laemmle’s Royal, Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Laemmle Town Center in Encino, and San Francisco (Embarcadero and Shattuck Cinema) followed by key markets across the US, including I’m assuming the Music Box home in Chicago.

Also opening as part of the Metrograph’s Live Screenings this week is THE AMERICAN SECTOR (Grasshopper Films), Courtney Stephens and Pacho Velez’s doc about the panels of the Berlin Wall that have been installed as monuments all across the United States, as they talk to people in those locations to find out what they mean to them.

Premiering on Apple TV+ this week is the new series PHYSICAL, starring the wonderful Rose Byrne (also in theaters in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway), but a few more movies I just didn’t have time to get to…

LES NOTROS (Oscilloscope)

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE (ScreenMedia)

STALKER (Vertical Entertainment)

Wait, is it possible? Is next week really FINALLY the release of Universal PIctures’ F9 in North America?

[kevoreally]

#BuffyAt20 - S03E04 “Beauty and the Beasts”

This is specifically is an episode I do not like, which I think is understandable. But it was trying to do something brave, and I respect that. Season 3, Episode 4, “Beauty and the Beasts.”

> Gonna be upfront: I don’t love this episode for a couple of different reasons. But at least it's not “Inca Mummy Girl.”

> Also worth noting: Hulu lists this episode as "The Beauty and the Beasts." Which. NO. Also: Beauty And The Beast was one of my favorite Disney Renaissance films. Okay. Now go.

> All of the “Call of the Wild” stuff felt very pertinent to my life at the time, because we were covering it in English then.

> Xander’s pants are way too red to be believed.

> “Aren’t we reading the Cliff’s Notes for this in English?” Psh, Xander, if you were a real slacker, you wouldn’t be reading anything at all. 😎

> That leather-bound edition of “Call” is intense. Clearly not school-issued.

> Xander’s arms look great in this scene. 😍

> “Half? Which half?” Does Xander think they went pantsless first?

> Xander immediately lying down after Willow leaves is supremely unfunny. Can’t you create conflict without making these demon-fighters behave irresponsibly?

> “Smooch spot.” Edgy lingo. Love it.

> Eliza’s still working through that Southie accent.

> Oh wow, I really love Buffy and Faith being WAY more friendly this episode.

> “All men are beasts, Buffy.” Classic.

> “I was hoping not to get that cynical until I was at least 40.” That’s only a year-plus away! WHAT! 😯

> Faith isn’t wrong, though. I mean, they’re not all JUST in it for the chase. But yeah. Men are messed up, yo.

> Gosh, it was such a pleasure to watch this show evolve live. This was such a different era of television production. Not to knock the one we’re in now, it’s great in a different way. But pre-streaming feels like a wild trip now.

> Ooh, there’s a really great shot of the awning opposite the courtyard fountain that we don’t normally see. It’s clearest in “Graduation Day” when the cavalry arrives. I do love this set.

> Unf, I had the biggest crush on John Patrick White as a kid. AJ’s Time Travelers. Tassel Guy from Can’t Hardly Wait. (He’s a lawyer now!)

> “He’s just bein’ Oz.” “Pretty much full-time.” Hero. 🤩

> “Are we up to flowers?” Hasn’t it been, like, one week? Barely longer, if at all? What is with these kids?

> “Jeff? He was - I knew him.” Seriously, Oz is so underrated, I can’t stop gushing about him. Couldn’t Willow still have been a lesbian even if we kept Oz?

> Xander is like a TGIF Sitcom Character on this horror dramedy sometimes. Like, he has no place here.

> “I rested my eyes now and then.” You LITERALLY CLIMBED ON THE TABLE and used Willow’s book AS A PILLOW, you LITTLE LIAR.

> “When I…” “WOKE UP??” I used to think Giles was a little too harsh here. Not 20 years later.

> I don’t see how they could’ve ever thought it was Oz, though. He went out, had a snack, and came back to his cage? Unlikely.

> It’s Mr. Moseby!! I’ve always loved this actor. Especially as Chandler’s boss on Friends. (And now he won’t stop saying the word “friends,” haha.)

> This guy would’ve been a great recurring character for Buffy to interact with. Way better than a murder victim.

> “Everybody has demons, right?” “Gotta say, I’m with you on that.” Oh, okay. 🤭

> Like, I get the metaphor they were always going for with Angel, him “changing” and all that, but he literally did lose his actual soul.

> “Oz ate someone last night.” Welcome to Cordelia Shouldn’t Speak Theater. Never been more grateful for Lydia Martin.

> This shot of the Scooby Gang sitting on the Library steps was used in a lot of promo stuff.

> “What, you’re having a Slayer watch me? Oh, good, we’re not overreacting.” Dude, I know you’re upset, but they literally just said she’s the only person available.

> “Get away from me.” Oz, you’re being such a dramatic little pupper.

> I love the implication that Angel has been running naked and feral around the woods for as long as Buffy has been dating Scott.

> OH, HE FOUND PANTS, DID HE? 🤣🤣🤣

> Is Willow examining a maued corpse when she’s probably not yet 18 funny or horrifying? Maybe both. They are all portrayed as horrified. So there’s that.

> “Let me just get a few stray hairs from the body, they could be from the attacker.” And - what will you do with them, Willow?

> Haaa, I love Buffy tossing Drusilla’s dolls aside.

> The giant ash outline of Angel on the floor is deeply silly.

> I mean, it’s kind of irresponsible that Faith was listening to music so loud that Buffy snuck up on her. But. I also get wanting to drown out the wolf? And she did react very quickly, so, she was fine.

> Buffy romanticized the idea of staying up all night for me.

> Buffy ALSO FELL ASLEEP on watch, but no one is screaming at her, just saying. Sidenote: why isn’t Giles pulling more shifts as the adult? (Reasonably also the only one with a job.)

> Pretending she dreamt Angel came back was a pretty clever way to talk about it, what with her prophetic dreams and all.

> “There’s no record of anyone returning from a demon dimension” - that feels like a lie, we just saw Buffy do it for one thing.

> "In my experience, there are two types of monster. The first can be redeemed or, more importantly, wants to be redeemed." "And the second type?" "The second is void of humanity. Cannot respond to reason... or love."

> Willow, if you were actively awake, why wouldn’t you come help keep watch? These kids, I swear…

> There’s a recurring musical motif in this episode that will later be used in “Amends,” FYI, and I am loving it.

> Omigod, I know this is bad to say because of the episode’s plot, but Scott’s friends are kind of terrible. Debbie is rude and Pete makes an ugly gay joke. Forget these kids.

> “Actually, I think he makes his own drums.” Heh.

> Scott is a weirdly sweet and attentive boyfriend. Buffy actually does sort of push him away. (I know, who am I to talk? 🤣🤭)

> “Check out Scotty, liking the manic-depressive chick.” Were we EVER supposed to root for Pete??

> WHOA, Angel lashing out at Buffy actually did jump-scare me, lol.

> “So you’ll be late but happy.” I really doubt whatever you’re delaying this girl for would be satisfying, Pete, even if it wasn’t hardcore abuse.

> So, Pete kept his Jekyll-and-Hyde serum in a janitor’s closet? What?

> This scene where Buffy goes to Platt is really beautifully acted but, like. What did Buffy think this man could do for her? And then he’s dead. Sigh.

> “You know how you get.” These kids sort of talk like they’re in the 50s.

> Ugh, this scene is so uncomfortable, because you could lift out the supernatural stuff and it could still play 100% the same on a regular drama. Like, too real.

> We weren’t ever supposed to feel like Pete was a good guy and that this was something being done to him, right? Like, he’s 0% victim.  

> Fun fact that I just learned: thanks to Daylight Savings, the only time of year when sunset can really be at 5:30pm is end of January / beginning of February.

> “They used to mess around.” “They were screwing?” “...I don’t think so.” Faith was too real for these kids.

> As the Scoobs dole out assignments, I find myself wondering, where are Xander and Cordelia? And I go on to wonder, if it’s maybe best that they aren’t around. Sigh.

> Buffy is way too aggressive on an abuse victim. It’s pretty fair for Willow to say they “broke her.” Kind of insensitive language tho, lol.

> This episode had a special message attached to it, right? It must have.

> I love how completely unconcerned Oz is for his safety when it comes to Pete. He knows his wolf can easily take this dude, even when he transforms.

> “Did you kiss that whore? Did she like it?” Goodness gracious.

> “Time’s up, rules change” is a little dramatic but whatever. Seth Green sells it.

> “Oh, right, bloody priceless.” Classic Giles.

> Buffy just wailing on this aggro abusive boyfriend is hella cathartic atm.

> I think Willow and Faith have better potential as friends than Willow and Cordelia, seriously.

> Okay, I try to support Buffy’s fashion decisions, but sometimes - like when she’s jumping from a roof - the heels are a little bit not great.

> I do not love that Angel is the one to get Pete. Like, on a couple of levels? I get that it couldn’t have been Buffy. But Pete had to die if Debbie did. Ugh. Just an awkward episode.

> This vampire-to-human transition shot of Angel got used in a lot of stuff.

> Hmm. I’m going to be doing some deep examining of how I feel about the Buffy/Angel relationship this year, I think.

> Someone thought it only took two eight iced cafe mochas to make Pete a murderer? That’s some strange understanding of caffeine.

> This is a lot of expo-logue (exposition dialogue) to cap off the episode.

> “Great, now I’m going to be stuck with serious thoughts all day.” Cordelia is literally Amber from Clueless. That’s such a weird archetype to include in this show, and make such a major character. And then pivot into what she becomes on Angel! Oy.

> Dude, poor Scott Hope. I’m pretty hard on him most of the time, but his friends’ deaths would’ve hella messed him up, no wonder he dumped his super-secretive girlfriend. (But he spread rumors about her so Faith doing that about him is fair game.)

> There’s a lot less “Call of the Wild” in this episode than I remember there being 20 years ago, lol.

> Okay, parts of that weren’t as bad as I usually remember. It’s definitely very real, which makes a lot of sense from the co-creator of #Unreal. Marti Noxon does not shy away from hard topics. Respect.

One more left!