#why’d I choose middle schoolers. why.

[lesbianstarlightglimmer]

First day and I’m already ready to throw in the towel

[queenofthursday6599-blog]

You know what would have been interesting, if South Park had continued aging the boys up over time.

Not in sync with real world time or anything, they don’t have enough episodes a season for that to be satisfying.

But the boys used to age in the early seasons even if it was really slowly.

They started out as (mostly) 8 year olds in the 3rd grade, by the end of season 4 however they’d all (except Kenny, he’s a year behind the others) become 10 year olds in the 4th grade.

I’m not even saying that they need to age a year every 4 seasons. It’s just that we’re on season 26 now, and the boys have been in the 4th grade for the past 22 seasons with no signs of them ever reaching 5th grade or turning 11.

I think it would have been interesting if they got a year older every 10 seasons if they really intend to just have the show go on basically for ever. Then at least the status quo would get shaken up more permanently every once in a while.

If they did that then the boys would be 6th graders right now, and would be in their last year before becoming teenagers. Not to mention other child characters would also progress with the siblings like Ike, Karen, Keven, and Shelley also getting older.

Keven and Shelley would be 15-16 year olds, and able to do things like get licensees which could change up family dynamics. Heck maybe Shelley could finally get that head gear off and have less intense braces and start to grow as a person.

Ike and Karen would be nearing the ages the boys were when the show first started. Ike would be 5 and in the 2nd grade (he got accepted into kindergarten at age 3 remember), while Karen would be 8 and in the 3rd grade. So she’d be exactly the boys’ age when the show started.

I understand why they didn’t choose to continue to age the boys up. South Park Elementary is such a massive part of the show. It’s one of the first places to ever appear on the show period, after the bus stop.

The boys being elementary schoolers doing and experiencing everything in South Park is also such a large part of the show (hilariously enough, similar to how the boys’ being kids doing all of this crazy stuff is basically the bed rock for Phineas and Ferb).

But if they were so worried about keeping the boys’ in elementary school, why’d they age the boys out of 3rd grade in the first place? They basically undid all of the real changes that came from them moving up a grade anyways. Their new 4th grade teacher was eventually replaced by their old 3rd grade teacher, the composition of their class was basically identical.

Though they could age the boys another year and keep them in South Park Elementary, as it’s K through 5th grade. So it’s not like they couldn’t age the boys up at least another year and keep them in Elementary School.

I just think seeing the boys actually grow up some would be interesting. Seeing them leave South Park Elementary and start middle school would definitely shake things up. Especially considering the boys made such a big fuss about moving from 3rd grade to 4th grade.

I honestly could see Kenny and Kyle specifically, majorly freaking out about being so far away from their younger siblings for the first time.

Kenny’s such a mama bear when it comes to Karen, that I could easily see him trying to get held back a year to try and stay at South Park Elementary. To remain close enough to Karen to fight anyone who tries to pick on her.

While Kyle has never had to deal with Ike not being either at home with their mom or in the same school as him that I could definitely see him have some kind of freak out about it. Along with their parents often leaving Kyle to look after Ike and take care of him to some degree.

[rozcdust]

I know how this story goes

pt. 12

Pairing: Rindou Haitani x f!reader x Sanzu Haruchiyo

Genre: Crack, SMAU

Word count: 500ish

Warnings: Violence, profanity, irresponsible behaviour, reckless driving, reader is a cocky bitch, rindou hates her guts, ooc

Synopsis: Bonten needs a driver for a job. You just so happen to be Rindou’s fuck buddy with a talent for speeding and knowing the map of Tokyo’s back streets like the back of your palm. Rindou hates you.

pt. 1 | previous | next

Sanzu and Rindou both had their hands buried into their hands, looking absolutely miserable.

The five of them decided to go to a club to celebrate a job well done, relax a little, but listening to Sanzu and Rin mope came as part of the package, apparently.

Kakucho would have had sympathy for them, but seeing them run after you like lost puppies while you did everything in your power to make it harder for them, was hilarious.

“Why can’t she just choose?” Rindou groaned, downing a shot of vodka.

“For real, this is just prolonging the inevitable.” Sanzu lit up a cigarette.

“She’s picking me anyways.” Rindou grinned, moving his leg just in time so Sanzu stabbed the couch under him.

Kakucho exchanged a look with Kokonoi and Ran.

“Doubt it, fish boy, she actually fucking likes me.”

“Fuck no, she doesn’t. Why’d she like a junkie?”

“I’m fucking delightful and you know it! Besides, I spend the most time with her, I show her I care, I kissed her.”

“Oh, yea? Well, I fuck her!”

“By the sounds of it, she fucks you.” Ran murmured as he took a sip of his drink.

“She should write that down as community service, honestly.” Kakucho said, dodging the glass thrown his way.

Kokonoi pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You two sound like children.”

Their pouts did nothing but prove his point further.

“What did she even tell you when you talked to her?”

The pair looked at Kokonoi dumbfounded.

“What are you talking about?” Sanzu asked, frowning, Rindou nodding along.

“When you talked to her about how you feel? Before you started all these antics?”

Silence.

Ran burst out laughing, Kakucho sighed, annoyed, and Kokonoi looked as if he was close to an aneurism.

“YOU FUCKERS DIDN’T TALK TO HER?!”

“We thought she figured out we wanted her to pick!”

“YOU DUMB HAITANI FUCK! THAT IS SO ODDLY SPECIFIC THAT NOT EVEN GOD HIMSELF COULD FIGURE IT OUT!”

Glaring at the pair, Kokonoi grabbed them both by the collar.

They gulped.

“Fucking talk to that demon bitch, you hopeless, brainless imbeciles!”

All of their confidence left them as soon as they heard the sound of your bike.

Sitting across them, arms crossed, you looked way more intimating than you should.

“So?” You raised an eyebrow, trying to keep on the stoic face.

On the inside, you were cackling maniacally. You knew exactly why they pulled you here, but watching them fidget under your glare was entertaining.

Two of the most dangerous criminals in Japan, reduced to nothing but nervous middle schoolers with a crush.

“Y/n, I- We-“ Rindou started, but before he could get the words out, Sanzu interrupted him.

“We- We’d like to get together with you.” The tips of his ears went red.

You couldn’t help but laugh.

The two seemed to wilt at hearing that sound.

“And? What am I supposed to do about that?” You raised an eyebrow, amused.

“I- We-“

“Come on Rin, use your big boy words.” Grinning sadistically, you enjoyed the glare he sent your way.

This was payback for enduring months of them jumping around you.

And sure, you could have made the first move, but where’s the fun in that? You enjoyed the chase, who could blame you?

“If you like one of us too… Please tell us.” Sanzu managed to get out.

“Oh, that so?” You moved closer to them, leaning on the table, grinning wider than ever.

“And why would I have to pick just one?”

Taglist (open):

@rindous-wife @marrymemanjiro @kampfkuchen85 @camilosa @shadoweepingscream @1818cigarettes @gulfkfl @youpieceofwasabi @bxnten @lovelybimbo @babu-haitani @tsukkisukkii @ihateuguys @kenma-yuuu @yukihime-mikeys-girl @lagrimasdeglitter @pirana10 @hana-patata @reapersimps @sammcaav222 @brokencoinlocker @graythecoffeebean @waywardzonkprofessorpainter @own-it-baby @chilledraft @haitanihime @odecamiskorden @t04dxm @wakasa-wifey @missarabellla @queen-flower @levistiddies @snowyseungs @hxked @coachukaishairband @wakasagurl @bontensbabygirl @screwlogic101 @dilf-city (i’m sorry if i forgot to tag anyone, please let me know! 🤧)

a/n: :)))

[q-gorgeous]

Falling Out

fanfiction

ao3

Sam and Paulina are assigned as partners for a school project.

word count: 2581

for @phandom-phriend

heyo bro

“I don’t get what the big deal is.”

Sam stared at Paulina, who was standing in the middle of the hallway twirling her hair between her fingers. 

“You don’t get what the big deal is? Your boyfriend literally just beat someone up!”

Paulina scoffs. “He’s not my boyfriend! And that kid was a loser anyway. His family is just a bunch of freaks.”

Sam looked at Danny who was still laying on the floor, his breath wheezing from when it was knocked out of him. “He’s not a loser.” Sam mumbled.

“Excuse me?” Paulina looked over her nails.

“He’s not a loser!” Sam stomped up to Paulina, her face inches from the other girl’s. “He’s really nice and actually likes hearing about things I want to talk about! Unlike you.”

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Paulina turned her nose up into the air. “That’s because all you like is that spooky ooky goth stuff. No one wants to listen to you talk about ghosts and spiders and witches.”

“He does.”

“That’s because he’s a loser.” Paulina poked a finger into Sam’s chest. “Why don’t you just drop him and this freaky goth phase and come hang out with your real friends.”

“You are not my friend.”

Paulina froze. “What?”

“I don’t know what bug crawled it’s way up your ass Paulina, but if this is how you’re going to treat people now I don’t want to be your friend anymore.”

She watched as Sam walked away from her and helped Danny off the ground. Sam whispered a few things to him and he nodded. They began to limp their way to the nurses office. 

Paulina clenched her fists together and her throat tightened. That’s fine. She didn’t need Sam. She had plenty of other friends. What did one falling out matter? She turned around and stomped her way in the opposite direction towards the cafeteria.

She didn’t need Sam Manson. 

QQQQQ

“But Mr. Lancer!” Paulina whined, her hands resting on the top of her desk as she stood up in protest. 

“I’m sorry Ms. Sanchez, but you and Ms. Manson will be partners for this project.”

Sam raised her hand. “I’d rather do my project on my own than work with her.”

Lancer pinched the bridge of his nose. “You two are partners for this project, end of discussion.”

“But-” Both girls chorused. 

“That’s enough! Ms. Sanchez, take your seat.”

Paulina huffed and crossed her arms as she sat down. Why did Lancer have to assign her and Sam to work together? Hasn’t he figured out that they hate each other yet?

Her gaze flicked over to where Sam was sitting. She was angrily scratching something into her notebook. She paused and her eyes met Paulina’s. They stared at each other for a moment before Paulina sneered in her direction and looked away. 

Paulina sat angrily stewing in her seat until the bell rang. She grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder, heading out of the classroom at a brisk pace. She was putting the combination into her locker and had just gotten it open when Sam walked up and pushed it closed. 

“What do you want, Manson?” Paulina snapped. 

Sam rolled her eyes. “We’re supposed to work on that project together, remember? When are we going to meet for it?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you just do it on your own and write my name on it.” Paulina twisted the dial on her locker again. 

“Nu uh. If we’re forced to be partners you’re gonna help with it.”

Paulina groaned and opened her locker again. “I guess we can start working on it today after school.”

“Great. I’ll meet you at your house when school is over then.”

“What?” Paulina squawked and turned towards Sam. “Why my house?”

“I don’t want my parents thinking we’re friends again.”

Paulina just stared at her but frowned when Sam pushed the locker closed again and started walking away. She clenched her fists. As if they would ever be friends again. 

The rest of the day passed by both too quick and slow at the same time. She dreaded having Sam come over and having to talk to her so much that even though the day dragged on and on, when she was at home and a knock sounded on the door it felt like she had just been standing at her locker. 

Paulina opened the front door, a bored look on her face when her eyes met Sam’s. They stood there for a moment before Paulina waved her in. Sam stepped in, looking around and Paulina closed the door behind her. 

“So what is this project we’re supposed to be doing anyways?” Paulina led the way to the kitchen where her backpack sat on the table.

Sam sighed. “You weren’t even paying attention when he went over it?”

“I was too busy being angry at Lancer.”

Rolling her eyes, Sam set her backpack on the table and pulled some papers out. “He wants us to find a screenplay to go over. We have to read it and analyze it like we would for a book in class but he wants us to perform part of it in class.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know Paulina!” Sam threw her hands up in the air. “Why do they make us do anything? Now pick one from this list.” She threw a piece of paper at Paulina. “This is a list of plays I thought we would both be interested in.”

Paulina stared at Sam, stunned that she’d even consider Paulina’s interests when they clearly hated each other. Slowly, she looked down at the paper, her eyes scanning over the list. One popped out to her.

“Isn’t this one a musical? Does that count?”

Sam peered around at the paper. “I would think so. They’re basically plays, just with songs. I can’t see why it wouldn’t count.”

“Hm.” Paulina pursed her lips. “If we do this one are we gonna perform a song or a different part of the musical?” She looked over at Sam. She had a dangerous, determined look on her face.

“Only if we want to blow everyone else out of the water.”

Paulina stared for a few seconds, her cheeks heating up. Then she coughed and looked back at the paper.

“Yeah, okay. Let’s do that one.”

QQQQQ

“Why are they all named Heather anyways?”

Sam shrugged as Paulina squinted at her copy of the script. 

They sat in the middle of the stage in the empty auditorium. The rest of their class was in the library, but Mr. Lancer had given them permission to go over their own project in the auditorium. 

“What I wanna know is why there’s always so much drama in musicals set in high schools.” Sam wrinkled her nose. “Like I know we have the A-Listers and everything but this in here is so excessive.”

“What, you don’t like drama?” Paulina rested her chin on her hand, shooting Sam a smile.

“I don’t like high schoolers killing other high schoolers.”

Paulina’s smile fell. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” Sam looked down and away. She took a deep breath and stood up with her script in her hand. “Anyways. Let’s figure out which part we want to perform for the class.”

Paulina took a look at the list of songs they had. “What about Seventeen or Shine a Light? I listened to those a couple times and they both have different tones but they seem like they’d be fun to sing.”

Sam nodded. “And there’s not much about sex in either of those. That’s another thing, why do musicals about high schoolers talk so much about sex?” She faked a gag. “I think those are good choices because some of those songs would be so embarrassing to perform in front of the class.”

Paulina frowned. “If this one has stuff in it that makes you uncomfortable why’d you include it on the list?”

Sam shrugged. “I figured it’d make Lancer squirm. He didn’t actually give any specifications on what we could pick anyways. Now let’s get started. Which part do you want?”

“Oh oh! Can I have the lead part? That is, if you didn’t want it?” Paulina started standing up from where she sat on the floor.

Sam shook her head. “You can have it if you want. Want to practice Seventeen first?”

“Sure.”

The music started playing after Sam hit a button on her phone and it filled up the room.

Paulina took a deep breath. 

“Fine, we're damaged

Really damaged.

But that does not make us wise.

We're not special.

We're not different.

We don't choose who lives or dies.”

Paulina looked up at Sam as she sung the lyrics.

“Let’s be normal. See bad movies

Sneak a beer and watch TV.

We'll bake brownies, 

or go bowling --

Don't you want a life with me?

Can't we be seventeen?

That's all I want to do

If you could let me in.

I could be good with you.”

Paulina’s cheeks flushed but she continued singing.

“People hurt us.”

“Or they vanish…”

Goosebumps traveled over Paulina’s arms as Sam’s voice rang out towards her. 

“And you're right that really blows.

But we let go…”

Sam looked up and met Paulina’s eyes and it felt like Paulina was electrocuted. She pulled her eyes away and looked back down at her paper. They finished up the song and Paulina kept staring at her paper until Sam left out a breathless laugh.

“That was so cool! I’ve never really thought about doing theater or anything because it’s not very, you know, goth. But that was exhilarating!” 

Paulina watched as Sam laughed and smiled. She could feel herself falling in and laughed herself. 

QQQQQ

Paulina and Sam laughed as they walked out of the school together. Their project was due in two days and they were heading to Sam’s house to practice their song a bit more. 

“I can’t wait to see Lancer’s face when we discuss what the musical is about. Do you think he’ll-”

BOOM! 

Sam got cut off as something exploded ahead of them, sending both girls sprawling to the ground. 

Looking behind them from where she was on the ground, Paulina saw a giant animalistic ghost. It looked somewhere between a cross of a snake and a cat and it looked like it was about to shoot another blast off from it’s fangs. 

Just as the blast was launched towards Paulina, something crashed into the side of the ghost's head, sending the shot soaring into the sky instead. 

“Run! Get out of here!” Phantom shouted as he shot back at the ghost.

She stood up shakily but didn’t run away. She looked around the front of the school for Sam, where she saw the other girl in the middle of the sidewalk holding a...lipstick? With a determined look on her face. 

What was she planning to do with a tube of lipstick?

Paulina had begun inching her way over to Sam when a green blast came out of the lipstick she was holding onto. It shot into the ghost a couple of times, distracting it from Phantom’s attacks for a moment. 

It bared its teeth at Sam but Phantom punched it in the side of the head. Snarling, it batted Phantom away, sending it flying across the parking lot and it faced back towards Sam. 

Paulina felt like everything was happening in slow motion. When the ghost bared its teeth again, when another ball of ectoplasm started dripping from its fangs, when Paulina ran desperately across the parking lot and barreled Sam out of the way and onto the ground just before the blast created a crater in the ground where she stood a moment before. The ghost started snarling at them again.

“Hey ugly!” 

Phantom viciously threw another ectoblast at the ghost, stunning it before finally pulling it into his thermos. 

Paulina gasped and turned back to where Sam was still laying underneath her. 

“Sam! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m-” Sam paused, frowning and her face flushing before she spoke again, looking over Paulina’s shoulder. “Shut up.”

“What?” 

Sam groaned. “That dip is making faces over there.”

Paulina turned around to see Phantom making kissy faces at them. She raised an eyebrow at him and he paused to give her a grin.

“Okay well, my job is done. Have fun you two!”

And he jumped into the air and flew away. 

“Seriously though.” Paulina crawled off of Sam and helped her up. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Why’d you do that anyways?” Her brows furrowed. “I would’ve been okay. You didn’t have to do anything.”

Paulina gaped at her. “It was about to attack you! It tried! It left a crater in the ground where you were standing! Why wouldn’t I have done anything?”

Sam looked away. “I didn’t think you cared.” She said softly.

Paulina’s stomach plummeted. “I wouldn’t have two weeks ago.” She whispered. “But then we got paired up for this project, and I realized that you’re actually very cool and that I was just really dumb in middle school.”

Sam looked at her. 

“And I think I’ve always sort of missed you. But I decided to never stop being mad so I never figured that out.”

“I guess I did the same thing too.” Sam said. “I could’ve decided to talk to you on my own and talk things out after a while but I just didn’t want to.”

“But it was my fault. I was the one being a terrible person.”

“Are you going to continue being a terrible person though?”

Paulina’s mind went back to the first time Sam’s rage had been bestowed upon her, when one of Paulina’s friends beat up one of Sam’s friends. She didn’t want to be the cause of that again. 

“No.”

“Well.” Sam smiled. “That’s the important part. That you’re capable of change.” She picked up her bag from where she had dropped it during the attack. “Now come on, my mom was gonna make cookies when we got home.”

Paulina smiled back at her and held up her arm to the other girl. Sam looked at it and linked her own arm with Paulina’s. Together they walked away from the school.

QQQQQ

Sam and Paulina’s chests rose up and down as they held their arms up into the air after performing the piece they picked from their musical. The class clapped for them and they lowered their arms and bowed.

“Very nice, Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Manson. Though, I wish you had picked something more appropriate than.” He squinted at the sheet they handed him. “Heathers the musical.”

Sam snickered. “Of course, Mr. Lancer. We’ll try to keep that in mind next time.”

Lancer gave her a look. “Yes, be sure that you do. Alright up next we have-”

Sam and Paulina walked back to their desks and sat down. Paulina shot a look to where Sam was sitting with Danny and Tucker, who were both making kissy faces at her while she swatted at them. Sam’s gaze met hers and Paulina waved at her before blowing a kiss to her across the room.

Sam’s face turned the brightest shade of red Paulina had ever seen it and she opened a folder and stuck her face inside it. Danny and Tucker were both teasing her even more, seemingly losing their mind about it. Paulina giggled at them and turned her focus back to the front of the classroom.

[northcarolinanative]

𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞

Requested by @maybebanks : K so y/n and jj have a little thing going as pogues and they always flirt, one day when they want to take their relationship to the next level and they are drunk, they are about to hook up and jj takes off her shirt, he sees loads of bruises and asks her how because he’s protective. She gets really defensive and denies anything. The next day at John b’s house y/n brings it up because he is really worried. Y/n lies again but jj has never looked more worried. They side with him and y/n storms away, she gets abused at home. The pogues corner her and force her to tell the truth, she does and they all hug?

A/N: I am sooo sorry that this took so long. I really wanted to do it justice and did not want to romanticize abuse in any way shape or form, because I see that too often. If you are going through anything like this at all or feel like the character, please, please, please, reach out to someone you feel that you can trust. The first step is the hardest, but in the long run will help so much. 

TW: Mentions of Abuse, Angst 

John B, Kie, and Pope all sat in the lounging beach chair that encircled the fire that we all had built behind the Chateau. I walked out carrying the next round of beer, but this time just bringing the whole case, pouring them into the ice cooler. I grabbed myself one, tossing one across the way to Kie. I stood up opening my own. 

“Mind bringing me, one princess” JJ called from the Hammock. I grabbed a second can from the cooler walking over before flicking water from my hands on to JJ. “That so not cool” 

I sat down on the opposite side of the Hammock. “If we’re getting wet now…” JJ said in a soft quiet voice, followed by a chuckle. His comment caused my cheeks to blush as I shot glare his way before looking around to see if any of the other pogues had heard his comment. JJ and I were in a weird place. We flirted like middle schoolers, one of us always going at it with the other and vice versa. I wondered how the other pogues could breathe with the amount of tension between the two of us sometimes. I was not in the place for a relationship of any kind. My parents liked to remind me of that often, that if I did not change how I acted or looked that boys wouldn’t take an interest in me. They were right, I had a lot of personal work to do. JJ flirts with everyone though, so I don’t take it too seriously. 

The night was filled with drinking games, chugging contests, and other events that lead to our very intoxicated state. Everyone was slumped over and slightly slurring their words. “Never have I ever…” John B looked up at the sky, trying to think. “Had sex outside, under the stars” Everyone was still. JJ slowly lifted the beer can and took a sip. 

“You kinky little bitch” Kie laughed along with the rest of us. I looked up at the stars, they felt like everything was rotating around me. I am the center of the universe. I am drunk. 

“Your turn Kie,” Pope told her. 

Reading the group she said “Never have I ever wanted to go to sleep right now” 

The group laughed in unison and we all began to sit up and gather things. JJ leaned over to where I was, now, sitting up in the hammock we were sharing. “I’m gonna stay out here, watch the fire die down, stay with me?” I nodded. 

“Of course. Don’t want our baby to get scared out here in the dark.” I laughed. The other three started their way back to the house, turning around and realizing that we had not followed. 

“Y’all coming inside or?” John B called 

“Gonna head in after the fire dies down dude” JJ called back. They all waved and JJ and I watched them go inside. Moments after the door shut JJ pulled me down into him. I flinched a little as he pulled me toward him, his hand directly on a bruise on my lower back. I quickly tried to play it off as a yawn, I thought he didn’t notice, but he did. 

His breath was warm on my skin before I felt his lips brush against mine. I was shocked at first. I was not sure where this came from. I moved back and kissed him back moving my hands into his hair. What was he doing? Hell, what was I doing? 

He pulled away and moved his lips to my neck briefly. “Why don’t we add having sex outside to your ‘never have I ever’ list?” JJ breathed into my ear making me giggle. We were still spinning and I went back to kissing him. It was spark after spark his hand found their way to my shirt slowly pushing it up and off behind me in the hammock. JJ slowly started kissing down my chest, slowly sucking on the skin. He let his eyes travel down. Then he saw it. His heart stopped and he sobered up quickly, His mind moving fast. 

“JJ?” I looked at him. “Why’d you-” I followed his eyes down to where he was looking. I saw the bruises on both of my sides, being illuminated by the dying fire. 

“Y/N?” JJ backed away a little looking back down. My buzz was still there but I was sobering up quickly. I tried to keep my hands from shaking. As they were still rested on JJ’s shoulders, I did not want to give myself away. The bruises had come from my father, he was not the best, he provided the things I needed, but if I did not do as he expected, that is how he relayed the message. This time it was because you had stayed out with the pogues too long. John B’s van had broken down, meaning you had a long wait to get home, and that was unacceptable.

“Who did this to you?” I felt JJ tense up as he asked the question. I felt bad for the lie that I was about to tell him, but he has his own problems to worry about, with his dad. I did not need the others worrying about me either. 

“JJ no one did this to me.” I laughed slightly, it didn’t sound convincing, but I hoped that it was enough for JJ. “I feel cleaning the boat the other day, it was a nasty fall, between the boat and the dock.” I looked at him trying to read his expression. He didn’t say anything just kept looking between my eyes and the bruises. “The fire is pretty much dead, let’s just go to bed” I stood up and grabbed my shirt turning to face away from him, I began to put my shirt on, and that’s when he saw the healing bruise on your back. He knew I had lied to him. 

“Y/N, where did the bruise on your back come from then?” JJ asked. I had completely forgotten about that one. 

“JJ you know I’m clumsy!” I fired back, my tone becoming defensive. JJ got up from the hammock.

“You know you can talk to me, about anything? 

“Just drop it okay? Nothings wrong, nothings going on, I’m fine!” I said, turning back toward the house. I walked inside to find Kie passed out on the left side of the pullout. I pulled the covers back and slipped into the right side. 

“Everything alright?” Kie mumbled sleepily. “I thought I heard you and JJ bickering?” 

“Haha nothing serious, Dude thinks he’s a better surfer than me.” Another lie. I hated it, but I didn’t want anyone to worry about me, I was fine. Kie nodded and rolled back over. I settled down in bed before I fell asleep. I heard JJ enter the back porch and rustle around some cans, I guessed he was sleeping on the couch out there tonight.  

-- 

JJ was woken up by John B moving about in the back yard cleaning up from the night before. He rubbed his eyes and stretched out a bit, the back couch was probably the least comfortable of the options in the house. He walked back out to John B, sitting in one of the chairs. He ran a hand through his hair, staring out over the water. “Everything okay JJ?”John B said, pulling JJ out of his thoughts. 

“Yea” He breathed. “Well not really, no,” he said standing up to help John B pick up the trash. 

“I heard you and Y/N out here last night, what was that about?” He questioned. 

“Dude I don’t know, but I’m worried.” He said John B looked at him confused. “We were…” JJ coughed and cleared his throat “Anyway, she had bruises, all over her stomach and her back. When I asked about it she said that they came from falling off the boat because she was clumsy” 

“Okay?” John B questioned, he did not want to believe what JJ was getting at. “Maybe she was telling the truth.” He asked

“No,” JJ said quickly. “You weren’t there, They were bad, some were healing already, it was not just like fall, They were bad John B.” He began to pace around the small circle. “Some’s hurting her JB. I have to figure out who it is, get her away from them.” He started to get angry, throwing the empty beer can harshing onto the ground. He thought about how sweet I was to him when he would come to after a bad run-in with his dad, or how I patch up all the boys after they got in it with one of the kooks, or even when I was there, letting Kie cry on your shoulder after her parents getting angry with her for not choosing the kook life. “She doesn’t deserve this” 

John B and JJ headed inside to find Pope scrounging through the food in the pantry, and Kie sitting up on her elbows. She exhaled smoke, but put a finger to her lips, pointing at me, still sleeping. JJ looked at me, his eyes soft, causing Kie and Pope to exchange a confused glance with one another. John B patted JJ’s shoulder “Lets help Pope make some grub, yea?” He said trying to pull JJ out of his thoughts.

I woke up to the sight of everyone in the kitchen laughing. I sat up looking at my friends. “Y’all started the fun without me?” I joked. I leaned against the headboard, pulling my knees up to my chest just to watch the four try and cook. This did not happen often, so I might as well savor it. 

“Look who’s finally up! Sleeping beauty!” Kie laughed. 

“Haha” I said rolling my eyes.”After last weeks party you were dead to the world till the next night” She glared at me playfully before laughing

“That is only half true” 

JJ began making his way beside me. The events of last night, the moments between the two of us. If the fire had only been slightly dimmer ,I would be experiencing something completely different, awkward feeling. He sat on the bed next to me, pulling me in closer by wrapping his arm around your shoulder. Pope and Kie looked at John B who just shrugged his shoulders and continued cracking eggs. The other pogues continued their work with breakfast. 

“I’m worried about you” JJ spoke softly, so only you could hear him. I quickly glanced over at the other busy pogues, before looking at JJ. His eyes were dark, he looked tired, and the worry looked evident on his face. 

“JJ, look” I whispered, running a hand through my hair and letting out a deep breath. “I told you I’m clumsy.” I looked him in the eye, but quickly looked down. “You have nothing to worry about.” 

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. This caught the attention of the other pogues. “Look me in the eye and tell me. Look me in the eye and tell me not to worry.” JJ said in a normal voice. Everyone was looking at us now. My face turned red and tears started to form in my eyes. Everyone was looking at me. I had lied to all of them. I froze looking between JJ and the group. 

“Tell him not to worry about what Y/N” Pope spoke slowly. 

“Nothing! Do not worry about me!” I said firmly. I got up quickly feeling the hot tears begin to fall down my face as I quickly walked out the back door of the Chateau. I walked into the yard seeing the hammock that JJ and I had laid in the night before and I stopped. 

“Y/N! Wait” I heard JJ yell and he came up behind me. He followed my eyes to the hammock. “I know what I saw Y/N. I just want to help” 

I felt the sobs trying to fight their way out. I did not want to lie to my friends anymore. I did not want them to see me differently, how I see myself, but especially how my parents see me. JJ noticed me crying. “You can trust us Y/N” 

“You wanna know where the bruises came from JJ?” I breathed out, a breath I realized I was holding in.  “My parents JJ, that’s who. I’m not the daughter they expected okay?” I finally felt the sobs leaving my throat as I fell to my knees crying. I held my face in my hands. JJ was quick to run beside me rubbing my back. 

“Oh Princess. You don’t deserve this. Believe me you do not deserve this.” He felt a tear of his own leave his eye before quickly wiping it away. The others were standing on the porch. When I calmed down, my breathing had started to even out, JJ asked if I wanted to go back inside to join the others, who left to give us some privacy. 

When we walked in Kie was the first to practically tackle me in a hug, then JJ, John B, and finally Pope. I felt loved in that moment, like I always did when I was surrounded by the pogues. When they all pulled away Kie put both hands on either of my shoulders. “Never hesitate to reach out to one of us for help, or even to talk, we’re here for you, just as much as you are here for us, ok?” 

“Ok.” I sigh before pulling her back into a hug. She walked back into the kitchen. JJ pulled on my arm, sitting me down next to him. He wrapped his hand in mine, before placing a kick kiss to it. 

“I didn't mean to pry like that. I just want you to be safe Y/N” I leaned my head on his shoulder. 

“I know J. I'm sorry for lying to you. In a weird way, it feels better to have it out there.”

“We’re gonna help you get to a better place” He spoke softly before placing a kiss to my forehead.

[22l94-norman]

When The Curtain Falls

ao3

Summary: Ray takes the booklet from her, if only to get the damned thing out of his face, and starts reading through it himself. Her ideas aren’t bad, actually, she has them bullet pointed and neatly organised - it’s unlike her, meaning she’s serious about it. Each idea is somehow so uniquely Emma that it makes him smile. The only problem is that she doesn’t have any kind of a plot - it’s more like a series of short skits so far. Not really something useable for a play just yet, Ray almost dreads how much work he’ll have to put into helping her. “Some of these aren’t half bad,” he says approvingly, still scanning through the last few ideas, “You just need a plot. If you can come up with a plot,” he tells her, “I’ll help you write it into a story.”

Emma launches herself forwards, attacking him in a hug, “Thanks Ray, you’re the best!” 

Ray wraps his arms around her in return, shaking his head knowingly, “You’re only saying that because you won and now I have to help you write a script.“

: : :

Emma, Norman and Ray have been part of the middleschool/highschool drama club for the past three years, upon becoming highschool first years, Emma decides she has big plans for this year’s play.

Chapter One

The music room is quiet and warm, with sunbeams streaming in through the large glass window and opened sky blue curtains, Ray sits himself comfortably on the stool in front of the darkwood piano and gently strokes the head of the cat that sits atop it, looking contentedly at the view of the garden outside as he does. The cat, Bernie, is black from head to tail and purring - and a recent addition to the household. It looks like him, Emma had said and Norman had agreed, so somehow he’d been convinced to take it back home when they found it in the street and Ray had made a deal with his mother that if he did all of the looking-after then it’d stay. Emma was right, at least, because the cat has the same good taste as Ray does, the music room is his favourite place too. Bernie yawns, stretching her paws out and laying her head down to sleep, he gives her one last little scratch and starts to play a lullaby. Ray closes his eyes, listening to the melody that rings out from every key that he presses as if he were living in it, it’s soft and sweet and ever so slightly sad, like the melancholy of pouring rain. The part of the song he loves most is the harmony, a slow progression of low chords played in parts underneath the pretty, twinkling high notes of the original song that he added in himself. Behind him, the door creaks ever so slightly. Ray’s song trails to a natural end. There goes the rest of his practice time.

“Don’t just stand outside the door, Emma,” Ray says, just slightly loud as he closes the lid of the piano, “Come inside.”

Emma walks inside looking slightly sheepish at the fact that she was caught listening, and watching. She was definitely watching, “Why’d you stop?” She asks, cocking her head to the side a little the way she always does when she’s curious, “It was pretty.”

“Yes, it was Papa’s song to Mama after all, and I stopped playing because you wanted to talk,” Ray reminds her, pointing at her as he speaks, “What are you here for?”

She holds up a thick wad of paper to eye level as way of explanation and settles cross-legged next to him on the piano stool. She’s sitting a little bit too close, if he’s honest, but it’s not like there’s anywhere else in the room to sit, so he supposes it’s okay even though she nearly pushes him off the edge with how much room she takes up on the small seat. Ray mirrors her, pulling his own legs up and leaning forwards slightly.

“Okay, so you know how all the upperclassmen from the club graduated last week?” Emma starts, waiting for Ray to nod before she continues, “That means we’re the oldest there now, as official high school first years, I figured we’d get a bit more influence with Yuugo, since we’re no longer middle schoolers.”

“That’s probably true,” Ray agrees, for a club that’s merged between a middle school and the highschool it feeds into, Yuugo always did only give privileges to the high schoolers. “What about it? Were you thinking you’d get to choose the play or something?”

Emma shakes her head and grins, “Almost,” she says, her eyes lighting up with excitement, “I was thinking I could write it.”

“Are you an idiot?” Ray blurts out, raising an eyebrow at her in surprise, “Do you know how much work that is, Emma?”

“Yep, a tonne,” Emma tells him with a mischievous sparkle to her eyes, “That’s why you’re going to help me write it, Ray!”

Ray gives her a withering look in response, chopping at her head with the side of his hand as his answer. Emma reaches up and rubs at her head, whining that he always does that and someday he might give her brain damage, he can’t help but laugh. “If anything, I’m fixing what’s wrong with your head,” he teases her.

Emma pouts at him, flipping open the poorly stapled wad of paper and shoving it so close to Ray’s face that he can’t even make out the words, “See, I even came up with ideas for it, Ray.”

He takes the booklet from her, if only to get the damned thing out of his face, and starts reading through it himself. Her ideas aren’t bad, actually, she has them bullet pointed and neatly organised - it’s unlike her, meaning she’s serious about it. There’s roughly a billion of them, each idea somehow so uniquely Emma that it makes him smile, though some are outright ridiculous. He’s not even sure what a rain cloud mech robot is, but he’s sure Emma knows. The only problem is that she doesn’t have any kind of a plot - it’s more like a series of short skits so far. Not really something useable for a play just yet, Ray almost dreads how much work he’ll have to put into helping her.

“Some of these aren’t half bad,” he says approvingly, still scanning through the last few ideas, “You just need a plot. If you can come up with a plot,” he tells her, “I’ll help you write it into a story.”

Emma launches herself forwards, attacking him in a hug, “Thanks Ray, you’re the best!”

Ray wraps his arms around her in return, shaking his head knowingly, “You’re only saying that because you won and now I have to help you write a script.”

Emma laughs, admitting that he’s right. “By the way, Aunty Isabella sent me from the nursery to come get you, she wants you to come help out there round about now,” Emma adds with a too-sweet smile, releasing him and springing up from the stool.

“Damn it, I knew there was another reason you’d come. Can’t I ever get some free time?” Ray grumbles peevishly, Emma is not someone to be trusted.

“Come on,” Emma coaxes, tugging him towards the door by the arm, “Norman’s already there, it’ll be fun.”

Ray protests - to little success since Emma is stronger than him - and is forced out of his own home to go help look after some kids that he refuses to admit to her that he likes spending time with.

“Be good Bernie,” Ray calls out to the cat mournfully, Bernie cracks an eye open to look at him, “You’re the only one in this world who’s truly my friend.”

: : :

They’re about halfway to the nursery when it starts raining, quickly turning into a downpour. Ray tugs his jacket up over his head in defense and looks about the street for shelter; Emma doesn’t seem to mind the rain nearly as much, reaching out a hand to catch the raindrops in. She half twirls, almost dancing as she looks towards the clouds, looming large and grey overhead but parted in places by the sun poking through. Ray tugs her underneath the canopy of the nearest shop that has one, hiding them from the rain.

“Up there,” Emma says softly, arm outstretched, pointing towards the sky, “Look Ray, a rainbow.”

Ray turns away from the window of the bakery they stand in front of, following her gaze, “Yeah,” he breathes out, “It’s pretty.” The colours streak across the sky, blurred by the still falling rain. He wonders if it’ll ever stop. He’s starting to consider giving in to the temptation that the smell of freshly baked goods wafting through the door of the bakery presents, especially if the rain doesn’t let up soon. “Do you want to buy some cookies whilst we wait?” He finally suggests, glancing longingly at the window - he’s too much of a sweet tooth for his own good.

“Sure,” Emma agrees, spinning on her heel and pulling open the door.

Ray steps inside behind her, rummaging in his pockets to check he has enough money to buy them whilst Emma browses the selection. She orders fifteen cookies in three different flavours before he’s even had a chance to figure out which one he wants. Emma looks at him expectantly as the cashier shoves the cookies into a light pink paper bag with the name of the bakery printed on it in swirling golden letters. The cashier hands the bag over to Emma which she then puts in her backpack and Ray pays for her - it sort of feels like he’s suddenly bankrupt with the amount they cost. They wish the cashier a good afternoon, heading back outside. Ray sighs, it’s still raining.

“We should just run for it,” Emma decides after another moment of waiting, she doesn’t give Ray time to protest before dragging him along by the hand and breaking into a sprint.

Ray quickly finds his feet and matches her speed, getting soaked all the while. Emma, however, revels in the feeling, laughing as Ray grumbles at her. He’s not sure how she can laugh when he can barely find his breath, Emma runs so fast it’s no wonder his lungs are burning. At least they’re getting closer to the nursery with every pounding foot step, the streets passing by him in a blur of vibrantly coloured shop fronts and soft glowing lights until they arrive. They’re thoroughly drenched by the time they get there, Ray’s bangs are plastered to his forehead and he’s sure his shirt is pretty much see-through. Emma lets go of his hand, pushing open the door and running straight for the play room.

“We’re here everyone,” Emma calls out, immediately being swarmed by the younger children. There are twelve of them today, she stoops down to pat each of their heads fondly, beaming from ear to ear.

“Emma, Ray, you’re both dripping wet!” Norman all but gasps, taking in their wet hair and soaked clothes with worry, “Do you guys want towels? You’ll catch colds,” he frets.

Emma shakes her head, “That’s okay Norman, I don’t need one.”

“Are you sure?” Norman pauses, “I don’t think there’s an inch of you that’s dry.”

“She’ll be fine,” Ray interjects with a smirk, “Idiots don’t catch colds. I’d kill for a towel though,” Ray adds, striding over to the closet and rifling through it to find a towel.

Emma pouts at the comment, eventually bursting out in laughter herself when Norman starts sniggering uncontrollably, he isn’t wrong, after all, Norman’s the one always catching colds, not Emma, and he’s the smartest of the three of them. Even though Emma is an idiot who doesn’t think she needs a towel, Ray gets one for her anyway, passing it to her and putting the other over his own head, rubbing to dry it. A slight pull at his sleeve distracts him, Ray glances down.

“Hi Jemima,” He says with a smile, “What’s up?”

“Let me dry your hair for you,” Jemima requests, doing her best to pull him down to the ground, Ray complies, sitting cross-legged on the floor and staying still as she rubs his hair with the towel; his hair tats horribly, too long and fluffy to stay neat when towel dried so roughly.

“Norman, where’s Mama? She’s usually here.” Ray asks, he’s used to being greeted by her whenever he comes.

“She went to a meeting with the school’s chairwoman. She’s trying to get new toys for the nursery and I think they’re discussing renovating the kitchen, since it’s getting a little old.” Norman tells him, drying Emma’s hair for her as she plays pattycake with one of the girls, Conny to be exact.

After a few minutes of Ray indulging her, Jemima stops and pulls the towel away, “There,” She says, patting his head, “As dry as can be!”

Ray twists around to face her, reaching over and ruffling her hair with affection, “Thank you Jemima, now I won’t catch a cold.”

Jemima beams at him, crawling into his arms for a hug, Ray rests his chin on her head and hugs her back. “We were playing fairies, do you want to join in?”

“Yes,” Ray agrees, “I’d love to play, but before that,” he says, pausing as he lets go of Jemima and reaches towards Emma’s backpack, “I have something for you.”

“Oh that’s right!” Emma pipes up, stopping in the middle of playing house with Conny, Sherry, Phil and Norman, they’d just started the game too, “We bought everyone cookies! Well, Ray was the one who paid, I’m broke.” Emma adds with a chuckle.

Ray peers in the bag curiously, he never got to see which ones Emma had chosen: triple chocolate, strawberry with white chocolate chips and smarties cookies. The corner of Ray’s mouth twitches up; she’d bought each of their favourites - well, smarties were Norman’s second favourite, but he hadn’t seen any butter cookies at the bakery. “Alright everyone, let’s get some juice and have snack time,” he calls out, almost immediately regretting it as all twelve children surround him in their enthusiasm, forgetting the juice.

Ray hands out the cookies, one each and trying to make sure at least one of each flavour is left for them as Emma and Norman rush to the kitchen to find the juice boxes before it can be stormed by thirsty toddlers and under sixes. Once all the kids have theirs, the three take their own cookies, his strawberry and white chocolate one disappears much too fast for Ray’s liking.

“Can we play now?” Jemima asks, still munching on her cookie, she looks up at Ray hopefully.

“What game are we playing?” Emma exclaims, bouncing up more excitedly than the kids themselves.

Ray exchanges a quiet smile with Norman, fondly shaking his head at her. Her enthusiasm always was why the kids liked her so much. She’s good at playing games and immediately starts acting out Jemima’s game with her, pretending to be humans who had strolled into the fairy forest with some of the other children pretending to be fairies. It’s a weird forest, but Ray and Norman arrange the chairs in the room to stand in for trees and Phil crawls between them, claiming to be a fairy waiting to catch the humans. He jumps out when Emma and Jemima crawl by, knocking them over and landing on top of them. Emma laughs heartily, hugging the two. There’s some convoluted plot to it, thought up by Conny and Sherry and Christy, Ray isn’t quite sure what’s going on except that he’s apparently the fairy queen and that Emma and Jemima are escaping from him. He follows them slowly around the room, dragging Norman behind him as his lackey and with Christy on his shoulders directing him in what happens next in the story. Norman plays the game like chess, cutting off all their escape routes through the makeshift forest by directing kids around.

“You know,” Norman remarks with a mischievous smile directed at Ray, “I think that our fairy queen ought to be prettier.”

Ray knows what that look means all too well. It means Norman is planning something and the thought fills the pit of Ray’s stomach with dread, because although it will be sweet and innocent like every other game Norman plays with the kids, it will also be something Ray absolutely hates. He wonders why they couldn’t have just read the kids a book and then set them down for a nap, then Ray could have read a book himself instead of having to deal with whatever betrayal he’s about to deal with.

Conny hugs her rabbit toy to her chest as she looks up at him, “Norman’s right. You’re not very pretty Ray.”

Ray’s mouth presses into a thin line, he disagrees with the statement and the muffled sniggers that come from his friends’ mouths, “I’m plenty pretty, Conny.” Ray says, deadpan and with thinly veiled displeasure.

Conny ignores his words, running over to the toy chest in the corner. She pulls out every dress up item she can find, beaming delightedly as she sets aside fairy wings, butterfly hairs clips, a tutu and even a tiara, when she finds no other suitably fairy themed dress up clothes she scoops them all up in her arms and rushes over to Ray.

“I’m not wearing those.” He tells her flatly, scowling.

“Well that’s mean, Ray.” Emma says with a laugh, “Look at her, she’s all disappointed now. You should put them on.”

Backing away and shaking his head in refusal, Ray glares at her. She’s encouraging them and he’s not going to forgive her.

“Well, we can always make him,” Norman grins at Emma conspiratorially.

Convincing Conny to give her the dress up items she’d found, Emma stalks towards him brandishing the tiara in what he can only assume is a threat - he wishes he’d stayed at home with Bernie, he was right, he definitely should not trust Emma, or Norman, because Norman is just as complicit.

“No, no I am never wearing that thing and you cannot make me,” Ray makes a move to run away from her, if he doesn’t get a headstart he isn’t going to win, he doesn’t even care if he has to run out into the rain to escape. There is no way he is going to dress up in a tutu probably meant to fit no one over the age of ten.

Norman doesn’t allow his escape, sneaking up on him from behind whilst he’s preoccupied with avoiding Emma, Norman grabs him by both arms and holds him in place, Ray stomps on his foot to little avail and struggles to break free. It’s not that Norman is stronger than him, Ray’s always been stronger regardless of the fact that he hasn’t been the tallest between the two of them for a couple years now, but his arms are pinned behind his back and for the life of him he can’t get them out of Norman’s grip to push him off. Even the little kids surround him, watching the three of them and laughing, they don’t even realise they’ve doomed him by blocking his way.

“Let go of me Norman, please, I’m begging you!”

Norman chuckles, “It’s only a tutu Ray. Come on Emma put it on him before he manages to push me off.”

Emma nods, coming closer. She reaches up to hold the tutu above his head, struggling on her tiptoes and Ray is, once again, thankful that she’s so much shorter than him. His gratefulness is short lived, Emma slips the tutu on him anyway, dragging it down his body. Once the tutu is on, Emma moves onto the fairy wings, Norman forces Ray’s arms into the straps and Emma adjusts them on his back until they’re properly settled. Ray gives up on protesting, there was already no saving his dignity so he might as well let them do what they want. Emma clips up his bangs so that they don’t cover his eyes anymore, using at least five different butterfly clips on him. They’re sparkly and covered in glitter, he’d almost say they’re cute except for the fact that he’s the one wearing them, they’d probably look much better on Emma, he thinks. Finally she adorns his head with the tiara, stepping back and looking proud of herself, she seems quite pleased with what she’s done, as does Conny.

“Aww, don’t be so grumpy, you look so pretty Ray,” Emma says, reaching forward and tapping Ray’s nose affectionately.

Ray scowls at her but doesn’t try to take any of it off, he’ll just get shoved into it again, “I hate both of you so much.”

Norman laughs at that, releasing him, “You love us really Ray, come on, you don’t mean that. You make a very cute fairy princess.”

Norman is right, of course, Ray doesn’t really hate them just for that, but it doesn’t make him any less annoyed. He sighs, accepting his fate and letting Christy climb up on his back again; Ray’s scowl softens, the children seem to like the costume and he at least gets lots of compliments from them before the game starts again.

“Princess Ray.” Christy says drawlingly into his ear.

“Don’t call me that,” Ray mutters, just loud enough for Christy to hear him.

“Catch them so we can protect the magic world from humans!” Christy commands, pointing towards Emma and Jemima now that the story of their game has resumed.

It continues for a while, Ray running about after children in the nursery’s large playroom whilst avoiding chairs and keeping Christy on his back, then, eventually - and to Ray’s great relief, since he’s getting tired himself - they start to yawn.

“Alright,” Emma whispers softly, “Let’s set them all down to nap whilst they’re tired.”

Norman keeps an eye on all of them whilst Ray gathers all of the pillows and blankets with Emma’s help, laying them out in three neat rows that are quickly filled with tired kids. They go around properly tucking them in and making sure everyone is settled comfortably. Ray spreads Jemima’s blanket over her, patting her head fondly. She tugs on his sleeve again.

“Will you read us a story?”

Ray nods, pushing himself up off the ground and choosing a storybook from the shelf across the room then settles himself next to her and Christy again. He opens the book, turning to the first page and reading the fairy tale written inside. Listening intently, as Ray reads to them both kids cuddle up to his sides, falling asleep. Ray shuts the book and sets it aside, yawning tiredly - he could use a nap himself. He’s still wearing the tutu, fairy wings and the clips when he lays down, he doesn’t particularly care anymore though he’s taken off the tiara, he slips his around both of them, hugging them tight and closing his eyes. He thinks he feels someone slip a pillow under his head, they also cover him with a blanket - Norman, probably - but he’s too tired and sleepy to tell who, dozing off as he mumbles a thank you.

: : :

Ray wakes up to giggling. The lights are dim and all of the children are gone, home probably. Even the blankets and pillows had been put away except for his own ones that he’d kicked half away in his sleep, he must have been asleep for quite a while.

“You’re finally up, sweetie,” Isabella giggles, standing in the doorway and eyeing his get up with laughter, “The slumbering princess wakes after a hundred years.”

Ray flushes with embarrassment, he’s sure she must have taken a picture or two, “Mama,” he whines petulantly, “Don’t make fun of me.”

“Oh it’s alright Ray,” she tells him, “Just put those away so I can close up.”

“Yeah, hurry up so we can go home for dinner, Ray,” Emma pipes up from the little table in the corner where she sits next to Norman.

He hadn’t noticed they were still there but he’s unsurprised really, he hadn’t expected they’d just leave him at least. “You know it’s not your house right?” He drawls sarcastically, of course they’d be coming over for dinner, they do that at least four nights a week.

They’re writing something, slightly hunched in the too low chairs. Ray scoops up the pillow and blanket, tucking them under his arm and striding over to the closet near them. Putting away the blanket and pillow, he peers curiously over their shoulders, “What are you two writing?”

Norman and Emma both twist around, holding up their pieces of paper, “Whilst you were napping - which was very cute by the way, we got some lovely pictures,” Norman teases him, “Emma came up with an idea for her play, so we’ve been brainstorming a plot.”

Emma hands him her piece of paper and Ray quickly reads through it, it’s good, “Fairies?” He questions approvingly with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

“The kids’ game was good inspiration, we’re adding in lots of puzzles to make it more interesting. Norman’s been coming up with some for me to solve and I’ve come up with a few for him to solve too, that way we’ll have lots of choice for puzzles to use when you help me write the proper script.” Emma explains, she seems very happy.

Ray ruffles her hair, deliberately messing it up. He’d mess up Norman’s too if it weren’t for the fact that he’s never seen Norman’s hair look bad no matter how much he’s tried to mess it up in the past. “Yeah, come on, let’s go home.”