#wife's halloween countdown

[pedroshotwifey]

Frankie One Shots

Bad Idea Frankie “Catfish” Morales x f!reader - During a mission, you and Frankie find yourselves covered in some kind of pollen and realize it’s going to be impossible to resist each other. (3.3k)

Topped With a Bow Frankie Morales x afab!reader x Santiago Garcia - On your birthday, you expect for Santiago to have something waiting at home for you. What you don’t expect, however, is for that something to be Frankie Morales. (4.5k)

Hungry Like The… Werewolf!Frankie Morales x afab!reader - You and Frankie decide to attend an 80s themed Halloween party. Through all of the excitement, you must have forgotten what day the full moon falls on. (3.6k)

Thanksgiving With My Husband Husband!Frankie Morales x wife!reader - Frankie wakes up to find you preparing thanksgiving dinner. That fact doesn’t deter him from taking what he wants. (611)

Requested Frankie Fics

A Real Man Frankie Morales x plus size!fem!reader - Frankie has you sit on his face. (1.2k)

Good 'n' Deep Fat!Frankie Morales x f!reader - Fat Frankie can't be sated. (2.6k)

Needy Sub!Frankie Morales x dom!f!reader - Frankie gives you control for the night and you make sure he gets the most out of it. (1.6k)

Wifey's Christmas Countdown Frankie Fics

Cravings Frankie Morales x pregnant!reader - Frankie comforts you after you ignore his advice. (975)

The A-Team Frankie Morales x f!reader - Frankie distracts you from wrapping gifts--not that you're complaining (1.5k)

Lights Frankie Morales x f!reader - Proof that you and Frankie can be festive sometimes. (1k)

[sahmwithwords]

🍂🎃Countdown to Halloween Writing (1/?)🍂🎃

Prompt: A ghost who travels the world.

Summary: Sebastian hasn’t had a reason to resent his afterlife in many, many years. Until he met her, that is. A very short story. 

WC: 4.5k

Sebastian was dead, to begin with as they say. He’d been dead for quite some time now, since the last fighting surge of the Spanish Flu took him in the Autumn of 1920. 

Turns out, when you become a ghost - and not everyone does, mind you - you still go through the stages of grief. Denial, of course, that you couldn’t possibly be a ghost. Ghosts weren’t supposed to be real, just a figment of childish imagination or in works of fiction. There’s the bargaining, yes, what should he do to try and not be a ghost? What could he possibly be capable of, and if he is capable, how does he go about it then? Depression, oh my goodness yes, there is nary a being in existence more depressed than an already dead ghost who’s stuck as such. Anger! Of course, of course - the anger is palpable. Many living souls had been scared out of their wits by the aftermath of Sebastians anger on more than one occasion. Slamming doors, falling vases, eerie sounds that send chills down ones spine - to be quite frank, it was a fun stage sometimes. Then, finally, acceptance. 

Acceptance had thus far been an odd stage, but a welcome one. 

Once Sebastian learned that he only needed to envision a place, any place at all, to appear there his life, er, afterlife that is - got a little more interesting. 

So far Sebastian had been to so many places he could never dream to keep count or remember them all. Sure, perhaps he couldn’t eat the cuisine, perhaps he couldn’t interact with the locals (at least not without being quite a mischievous spirit). However, he could bask in the scenery. The beautiful beaches, hanging cliffs, the amazing architecture, the flowery fields - and sometimes, if he concentrated hard, he could even feel the sun warming his skin. It was pleasant, and over the years he found that he quite enjoyed his travels. 

After nearly one hundred years however, Sebastian has decided that maybe, just maybe, he’s seen enough. So he decides to go home. 

At first he haunts the cemetery, but that gets dreadfully boring very quickly. So he chooses to visit his old house, the house he worked so hard to build. One day he would fill it with a wife, some children, perhaps a pet. That was his intention, anyway, he just never got the chance. The work never seemed to be quite finished, his life never quite ready to settle down, everything had to be perfect before he brought love and family into the equation. He just never quite got there.

Surprisingly his house still stands, even over one hundred years later, though he thinks that it looks now as much like the house he built as a shoe looks like a hat. The bones are there though, under the layers of new paint, exterior, and pipes. The shape is strong, it’s familiar, this is his house. 

As he wades through rooms he finds that the interior isn’t as grotesque as the exterior. Whomever resides here has simple, traditional tastes. In fact, it isn’t so much different than his own preferences, and despite no longer being able to have an opinion on how his home is decorated, he finds himself pleased and relieved. 

The sound of a cat hissing startles Sebastian as he makes his way into the kitchen. 

“Hello,” he greets the small creature. The small black cat growls while making direct eye contact with him. 

“What’s wrong with you now? You grump.” 

A woman, who must have previously been crouched down looking for something in the bottom cupboards, seems to appear out of nowhere. 

Sebastian had avoided close contact with the living during his century of world travels. Prolonged closeness tends to make them uncomfortable, cold, and slightly anxious - none of which Sebastian finds pleasant so he never stayed anywhere long, and certainly nowhere that forced him into close proximity with living people. 

“What are you looking at?” the woman continues questioning the cat as if she expects a response. Sebastian watches as the woman follows the cats gaze to where he stands. For good measure he bows his head a bit and gives a wave, though he knows she can’t see. 

“You freak me out sometimes, you know that?” she scoffs, then goes back to preparing her supper. 

Call it just being curious about who’s living in his house, but Sebastian picks a corner to stand in and watches the woman as she flits around the kitchen. She’s light on her feet, quick but calculated movements. She apparently likes to sing while she cooks, though Sebastian doesn’t know the song, but he wouldn’t. He chuckles as she gets very into her performance for the cat, picking up a wooden spoon as a microphone, and pointing at her feline friend who only licks its paw and side eyes Sebastian in the corner as if to say “do you see what I deal with?” 

“Why is it so damn cold in here?” the woman whispers after the song changes, and walks over to the thermostat that sits on the wall, rubbing her arms. 

She looks down at the cat, who’s still staring at Sebastian and follows its gaze once more. 

“Is there a ghost in here or something?” she laughs, walking back to the stove. 

“Yes,” Sebastian answers with a playful smile. 

Sebastian watches the woman eat, he watches her sit down in the living room and turn on the television - a concept that Sebastian never quite understood the appeal of - but then she picks up a book and curls up.

“Why have the television on if you’re only going to read?” Sebastian wonders out loud with a chuckle. 

The woman doesn’t hear him of course, but his voice seems to lure the cat into the room, and he watches as it hops onto the couch near the woman protectively and sets up post on the arm rest, giving Sebastian a cool glare. 

“Seriously, what has gotten into you tonight?” the woman asks the cat, she sets her book down on the coffee table nearby. She stares, concerned, at the cat who refuses to budge for a few seconds before rubbing her arms again. “The heat is broken, I swear,” she huffs, reaching for a neatly folded blanket that hangs on the back of the sofa. 

The woman looks around the room, then at the unmoving kitty and sighs, “Fine, I’ll play along,” she chuckles dryly at herself then clears her throat, “Is there someone in the room with us?” she looks up at the ceiling expectantly. 

Sebastian wonders what she thinks she’ll find on the ceiling, he chuckles and crosses his arms, “I’m over here, but yes,” he answers. 

At his voice, the cat starts growling, a low long noise, the hair on its tail fanning out to something that resembles a feather duster. 

This seems to scare, or at least unsettle, the woman, Sebastian watches as her fists clutch the blanket around her. 

“Okay…” she squeaks, “Okay. Are you going to hurt me?” she continues. 

“Goodness no,” Sebastian scoffs, “how could I even if I wanted to?” 

“Wait!” she tosses the blanket off and walks over to a nearby bookshelf, plucking a trinket - a bell, “I saw this in a movie once!” 

Sebastian cocks his head to the side as she sets up her little experiment on the coffee table. He should probably disappear at this point. Paris is nice this time of year, or perhaps Tokyo or Sydney? Yet for some reason he doesn’t really want to go, he’s curious about this woman who lives in his house. More curious than he’s ever been toward the living. 

“Okay, so I’ll ask a question, a Yes or No question, and you tap the bell once for yes and twice for no, can you uh…can you do that?” she wonders. 

Sebastian crosses over and sits on the opposite side of the coffee table, he looks at the bell, envisions the sound it will make and concentrates. 

Ting. 

“Oh my god!” she jumps to her feet, “You can! Holy shit my house is haunted!” her hands cover her mouth and Sebastian truly can’t tell whether she’s excited or terrified her face is such a mixture of the two. 

She drops back down to her knees in front of the table. “My name is Juliet,” she says. Juliet, a nice name, Sebastian thinks. “What’s yours? Wait - no - that’s not a Yes or No question, sorry. Um…have you been here the entire time I’ve lived in this house?” she asks. 

Sebastian stares at the bell again. 

Ting. Ting.

Juliet looks relieved, “Why…ugh…that’s not a Yes or No either…Is this your house? I know it’s an old home,” she wonders. 

Ting. 

“It is,” she nods, “I bet I can look up property records then, to figure out who you are…are you a female ghost?” she raises an eyebrow. 

Ting. Ting.

“Ah, well hopefully you’re not a creepy peeper ghost,” she crosses her arms and Sebastian laughs, the cat startles on the sofa. 

Ting. Ting. No. Not a peeper ghost. 

“Good, because I will smudge you right out of here if you try anything funny,” she points out. 

Sebastian chuckles. He likes her. 

“Have you…been dead a long time?” she continues. 

Ting. 

“Then I wonder why you’re here now? Why all of a sudden, sorry, I know that’s not a Yes or No question…I just wonder…” 

“I just felt like coming home,” Sebastian answers, but she doesn’t hear him. He frowns, suddenly this game isn’t as fun as it was a few seconds ago. 

“I need to start getting ready for bed,” Juliet says, looking at the clock, “I have to go to work in the morning. If you stay please just, you know, give me my space and don’t scare me,” she chuckles. 

Ting. Okay. 

“Thanks.” 

<3

Several weeks pass by, with Sebastian and Juliet playing their Yes or No bell game. Between sessions Sebastian finds he quite enjoys spending time with her, and she doesn’t seem opposed to spending time with him, despite his whole being dead thing. 

So far he’s decided that he likes the way she laughs, it sounds light and sunny, reminding him of the feeling on a warm Spring afternoon. Refreshing. He also likes her hair, which at first felt like an odd thing to enjoy, but she wears it very long, and he likes how wavy and free it is. He likes to count the strands of honey colored streaks hidden in the darker brown. He likes the way she looks when she reads, her face changing and reacting to the words on the page though she doesn’t seem to notice but he does. He especially likes the way her face scrunches up when she doesn’t like something she sees, tastes or hears - it’s quite adorable. He can’t help but think that if he had met someone like Juliet all those years ago, he would’ve liked to court her. 

One afternoon Sebastian sits on the window seat, staring out at the back garden. Juliets cat, which he has now come to know as Tibs, lays curled up next to him on the cushion. Unbothered now by his presence, he purrs as he naps, and Sebastian finds the sound comforting. 

Juliet barrels through the front door on the other side of the house, “It’s come!” 

Under her arm she carries a large, thick envelope. 

“I requested the property records a few weeks ago and they’ve come, I can finally learn your name!” she says excitedly and Sebastian finds that this too excites him very much, as if the two of them can finally meet, in a way. 

She tears open the envelope and pulls the documents out. 

“These on top are too recent I think, do I need to look at the ones before 1950?” she asks, flipping through the pages. 

Ting. 

“Okay, do I need to look before 1920?” 

Sebastian started construction on the house in 1913.

Ting.

“Were you the original owner?” she guesses, getting near the end of her documents. 

Ting. Sebastian has not felt this excited in over a century, possibly never in his life. 

She drags her fingertips down one of the very last pages. 

“Sebastian?” she smiles.

TING!

The bell tips over and hits the table with a loud clank and she laughs. 

“Sebastian Alexander Elliot,” she says the name and Sebastian, could he actually produce tears, could cry. He doesn’t think he’s ever heard anything as nice as his name coming out of her mouth. To hear someone speak it after all these years is truly something he never anticipated to move him in such a way. 

“All this really tells me is that the property was yours until your death in 1920,” she says sadly, but perks up, “but I have your name now!” 

She runs to her bedroom and grabs her computer, bringing it back to the living room and begins furiously clacking her fingertips against the buttons. 

“Death records…” she whispers under her breath, “Not really a lot of information, but it brings up a couple links about Milton Cemetery, is that where you’re buried?” she asks. 

Ting. 

“Let’s go!” she says, hopping up and grabbing the keys she tossed onto the table. 

After speaking with the groundskeeper Juliet is directed to the part of the Cemetery that houses the older grave sites. 

Sebastian has never seen anyone so concentrated as she walks up and down the rows of graves, he’s waving her over as he stands next to his stone, but of course she can’t see him. It’s terribly frustrating but he can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. 

Finally, she stops, the words barely still legible after all these years but it’s there all the same. 

Sebastian Alexander Elliot

September 7th 1890 - October 29th 1920

Beloved Son & Friend 

“Wow,” she says quietly, “You were only thirty years old - that’s how old I am,” she frowns. 

“We didn’t have the medicine and knowledge you have today,” he points out to no avail. 

“It’s kind of weird, I feel like I have so much in common with you, I feel like we’re friends, but yet here I am standing over your grave, standing right on top of whatever’s left of you,” she sighs and shakes her head, “I’m sorry, that feels incredibly insensitive to say.” 

“You couldn’t offend me Juliet, not even if you tried,” he smiles weakly and touches her arm. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps and she shivers. 

She looks at her arm, “It’s really weird, actually. It makes me sad.” 

“I don’t wish to make you sad, Juliet.” 

“I wish I could have known you, I wonder what you looked like?” she smiles. 

“My hair is darker than yours, black - I got my fathers hair. My mother had the brightest green eyes, mine aren’t quite as bright as hers were, but they’re green. I’m a little taller than you,” he says standing on the tips of his toes with a grin, not by much but you don’t need to know that.” 

“Ma’am?” the groundskeeper calls and both Sebastian and Juliet spin around, startled. 

“Find what you were lookin’ for?” he calls. 

“I did, yes, thank you,” she calls back. 

“Well, I’m glad - but, it’s time to lock the gates up, so unless you want to spend the night with me you’re going to have to go on your way,” he laughs crassly and Sebastian glares at him. 

“A most inappropriate thing to say to a lady, disgusting,” he scoffs and is proud that Juliets face twists into a look of irritation. 

“Then I guess I better hurry,” she mutters and begins walking back to her car. 

Sebastians stays where he is and watches the groundskeeper with a smug look on his face, arms crossed. He waits until Juliet is moving before he stirs. 

“You know I didn’t mean anything by what I said to her,” the groundskeeper calls out and Sebastian looks around but the groundskeeper seems to be looking straight at him. 

“Are you speaking to…me?” he asks warily. In all the time he’d been a ghost no one had ever looked at him, no one had ever spoken to him as if they could see him. 

“Yeah! You’re the only one here, right now anyway,” the man starts walking towards Sebastian. 

“You can see me?” Sebastian is practically shaking at this point. 

“Yeah, yeah,” the man grumbles, “I can see ya. I see all of ya, all the time, that’s why I finally broke down and started working here, it’s the only job I can do where people don’t think I’m a freak. I thought maybe that woman you was with could see ya too, but I guess she can’t?” 

“No. She can’t,” Sebastian says, wishing that she could. 

“Yeah, that makes sense, not a lot of us out there, Hell I’ve only ever met one other besides me and he’s long been dead now,” the man explains. 

“I don’t know what to say,” Sebastian struggles, “I’ve not had a conversation with anyone in so long…” 

The man squints and looks down at the headstone, he whistles, “Damn boy, you been gone a long time, why ain’t ya moved on yet?” 

“Moved on?” Sebastian shakes his head. 

“Oh come on,” the man rolls his eyes, “What in the world have you been doin’ all this time? Surely you don’t think you still belong here?” 

“I…I’ve been traveling,” he answers, feeling sheepish. 

“Traveling?” the man laughs heartily, “You never wanted to move on?” 

“You keep saying that, move on, but I don’t know what that means,” Sebastian feels embarrassed, like he ought to know what this man is speaking of but also that he should have moved on by now, whatever that means. 

“Oh man,” the groundskeeper drags his fingers over his face in frustration, “Well I’ll tell you this, the longer you been hangin’ around the harder it is to do. You gotta figure out what you’ve been missin’ and you also gotta let go of whatever it is you been holding on to, it’ll be harder,” he looks in the direction Juliets car drove off in, “Especially since you seem to have grown attachments to this world.” 

“What if I don’t want to move on anywhere?” Sebastian points out, because why not? He’s been fine for nearly 105 years. He enjoys spending time with Juliet and Tibs. Why does he need anything more? 

“You really wanna stay and watch your girl that was here a minute ago move forward without you? Get married, have kids maybe, grow old and happy and then die and go on to where she ought to be while you just…stay, in the background, not mattering to anyone?” 

Sebastian thinks about this for a moment. The thought of Juliet outgrowing him like he’s some silly imaginary friend from childhood feels painful. At first he thinks Juliet would never do that to him, but of course she would, eventually. A woman as beautiful and smart and funny as she is? Of course she’ll find someone alive to laugh with and talk to - after all the only way Sebastian can talk to her now is through a damned bell. 

“Look kid,” the groundskeeper sounds sympathetic, “the longer you’ve been dead the more you start forgetting about what you had or didn’t have when you were alive, but once you figure it out, the best thing to do is go on to where you’re supposed to be.” 

“What happens?” Sebastian wonders, “What happens when a ghost moves on?” 

“Hell if I know,” the man shrugs, “but I’m not supposed to know, not yet.” 

“What if it’s bad?” Sebastian worries. 

“Nah,” the man says with a dismissive wave, “It ain’t bad. I’ve watched enough of you walk into the light that I do know that much. The look on your faces, when you finally see what’s waiting for ya? I’ll tell you this, I look forward to whatever it is, never seen anything like it, the relief, the happiness - trust me boy, you want whatever’s waiting for ya.” 

This does sound awfully appealing to Sebastian. Yet Juliets face flashes in his mind, and in this moment he’d rather go home to her. 

“I’ll think about it,” he says. 

“Alright then, if you ever want to talk about it you can find me here every night from 5pm to 5am, name’s Jake, good to meet ya,” he says, then starts walking off. 

“Yes, good to meet you,” Sebastian responds quietly. 

<3

Sebastian wanders the cemetery for a long time. He visits his parents grave, as he’s done so many times, hoping to see them. He never has though. He wonders what they had that he didn’t, what did they possess in this world that allowed them to go straight to whatever awaited them on the other side? He feels like he’s back to the bargaining stage again and sighs. 

Juliet is asleep when he appears in the house. Tibs, who seems to have become accustomed to Sebastians presence, wakes up from where he’s curled at the foot of her bed, but only yawns and then lays his head back down, instantly falling asleep again. 

Normally, Sebastian leaves Juliet alone when she sleeps. Just like he leaves her alone when she’s in the bathroom, or getting dressed for her job in the mornings. Tonight he decides to break his rule and lays down next to her on the bed. 

“I’ve grown attached to you I think,” he tells her sleeping form, watches as her chest rises and falls rhythmically in sleep. 

“I’ve only known you for a few weeks, maybe a month, and look at me. I’m hopelessly enamored with you, what must that say about me? Probably that I need to move on,” he sighs. 

“You and I can never be together Juliet, not as friends, or as…more. The only tangible parts of me are buried six feet under my grave at Milton Cemetery. Bones, and whatever scraps of clothes I was buried in that may have made it over a century. How bleak is that?” he grimaces. 

He rolls onto his side so he’s face to face with her. He tries to brush a piece of hair out of her face, like he sees in the romantic shows she likes to watch, but nothing happens, the hair stays in her face and she doesn’t even stir at the chill. 

“I wish we could have met when I was alive,” he whispers, “Sort of. I suppose that would mean you’d be dead by now too. I guess I just wish you and I could have existed at the same time somehow.” 

“I wish we could have met, and that we could have maybe fallen in love. I wish you could hear me now, so that you know how much you mean to me. How much knowing you just this short time has meant to me. I think the man from the cemetery is right, though, I’ve been here long enough.” 

Tibs lifts his head again and stares at Sebastian as if to say “shut up! I’m trying to sleep!” so Sebastian kisses Juliet softly on the head and stands from the bed, heading to the window seat he stays in while he waits for her each day. 

“Sebastian.” 

Sebastian stops and whips back around toward Juliets bedroom. He knows without any doubt that he just heard her say his name. He stares at her sleeping body, thinking maybe she’s called his name out in her sleep, but all he hears are her soft breaths. 

“Sebastian.” 

Again, he hears her calling his name but the sound is not coming from her bed. He turns around and around, unsure of where this voice is originating from or who could possibly be calling him with Juliets voice if not Juliet. 

Tibs awakens, then stretches and hops down off the bed. He stops in front of Sebastian and looks at him, then begins walking towards the kitchen. Sebastian follows. 

“Sebastian.” 

Sebastian freezes again, this time it’s his mothers voice calling to him, his chest feels heavy with emotion, he hadn’t realized how much he missed the sound of his mothers voice. 

“Sebastian.” 

His father this time. Sebastian begins moving faster to catch up with Tibs who has disappeared into the hallway off the kitchen. 

The entire house is dark, as it always is at night, so Sebastian is surprised to see such a bright blue light illuminating from the doorway Tibs sits in front of. 

“Sebastian.” Juliets voice has returned, louder now, and coming from the blue light. 

Sebastian stops, could this be what Jake was talking about? The light? Moving on? He turns back towards Juliets bedroom, he hasn’t said goodbye to her. 

“Sebastian. It’s okay,” her voice calls from the light. “Come home to me.” 

Tibs is sitting, licking his paw in front of the kitchen doorway, he looks at Sebastian and blinks. 

“Is…am I supposed to go in there?” he asks the cat, as if he expects Tibs to respond. 

Tibs only continues licking his paw. 

“Sebastian, come home,” Juliets voice, soft and welcoming beckons from the kitchen again. 

“Okay…okay I’m coming…” 

Sebastian shuts his eyes as he steps across the blinding threshold into the kitchen. When he opens them he’s surprised to find that he is in fact standing in his kitchen, the kitchen it looked like when he first built the house. 

“Where have you been?” 

Sebastian whips around towards her voice and there stands Juliet, she wears her same bright smile, her hair is down and just as wild and free as ever as she slices a cake and sets the pieces on plates. 

“What?” he says in barely a whisper. 

“Your parents are over, we’ve been waiting for you, they’re outside on the patio,” she smiles and licks some frosting off her finger before pointing toward the backyard. 

“How?” he can feel the warm wetness sliding down his cheeks, he touches the tears and looks at his fingers, they’re real, and he looks back at Juliet, “How are you here? You weren’t…you’re not…” 

She stops slicing cake and walks around the counter toward Sebastian, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, a sob escapes as he buries his head into her neck, holding her so tight that he fears he may be hurting her but, oh God, he’s actually holding her. 

“You silly stubborn man,” she chuckles, “We’re always supposed to find each other, in every lifetime, the last one just got fudged up a little, it happens sometimes,” she scrunches her nose in that adorable way he loves, “but we ended up finding each other anyway, didn’t we?” she guesses. 

He pulls away and nods, tears streaming, “I couldn’t hold you.” 

“Well now you can,” she smiles and wipes his tears away. “Don’t cry love, we’re together now, as it should be.”

[frie-ice]

This Disney Villains crossover collage is of Lady Tremaine and Gaston, as part of my crossover collage series of Disney Villains, to mark the countdown to Halloween. The time of year when Disney gives their villains control of the rains. Note; this is a friendship collage before you ask.

When making this collage I came up with a little story to go with it. In the Beauty and the Beast remake Gaston is a war hero and is respected in both versions of the Disney film, making him a possible suitor for Lady Tremaine's daughters, to give their family respectability. After meeting the man and learning what he thinks on how a wife should act, however, she changes her mind about him. Until the Prince choose her step daughter over her own daughters, Lady Tremaine turns to Gaston in hopes that he'll help her to "take care" of Cinderella.

[twistedtummies2]

The Price May Be Right - Number 19

Welcome to “The Price May Be Right!” I’m counting down My Top 31 Favorite Vincent Price Performances & Appearances! The countdown will cover movies, TV productions, and many more forms of media. Today’s choice might be a bit confusing. I give you two performances for the price of one, with Number 19: Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”

The names of Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe are practically synonymous, at least in cinematic circles. While Price made many, MANY movies in his long and storied career, arguably the ones for which he became best well-known were the special movies produced by AIP for what is now referred to colloquially as “The Corman-Poe Cycle.” This was a series of eight films, all directed by Roger Corman for the company, which were based – some more loosely than others – on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Vincent was the nominal star for seven of the pictures within the octology. The only one which DIDN’T feature Price was the third film of the bunch, “The Premature Burial.”

Most of the movies in the series were treated as more or less straightforward horror films of the time. However, the one exception was the movie inspired by the great author’s most famous “Poe-m” (I am so sorry), “The Raven.” The original poem is easily one of Poe’s greatest pieces of work, telling in short verse the story of a lonely man, mourning the loss of his beloved wife, Lenore. He receives a visit from a mysterious raven, which turns out to be a supernatural harbinger of doom and despair. It’s a tragic, ambiguous, deeply perturbing poem, and still a classic to this day. Corman’s 1963 movie interpretation, however, eschews much of the pathos, as the film is actually a horror-comedy, with emphasis on the latter half of that equation. In essence, the picture is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek spoof of all the others in the eight-part series, which is sort of a clever idea. In the film, Price plays the main protagonist: Dr. Craven, a physician and ex-sorceror who, like the narrator in the poem, has seemingly lost his precious Lenore. Also like in the poem, he is visited by a talking raven…but this is about where all similarities cease, for the raven turns out to be a fellow dark wizard, by the name of Dr. Bedlo. He reveals to Craven that Lenore is apparently still alive, and in the grasp of their shared nemesis, the evil Dr. Scarabus. The two magicians thus set out on a quest to confront Scarabus, so Bedlo can get revenge on him for past humiliations, while Craven ascertains if his wife is, indeed, still breathing…and if so, what she is doing with the evil wizard. Much like “House of the Long Shadows” would do many years later, the film acts as something of a “Who’s Who?” of classic Gothic horror pictures. Not only does Price play the lead role, but the perpetually-drunk Bedlo is played by Peter Lorre, while the redoubtable Boris Karloff tackles the part of the slimy Scarabus. Future Joker and star of “The Shining,” Jack Nicholson, also appears in an early role, playing the part of the romantic interest for Craven’s daughter, who is played by the much-less-famous (but no less talented) Olive Sturgess. It’s more fun than frightening on the whole. Price’s Craven is an interesting protagonist for the story: despite being very gifted in magical arts, and coming from a long line of distinguished warlocks, he’s a very mild-mannered individual, most of the time. The film gives him a story arc of essentially growing more of a spine, as he learns to fight more fiercely against the injustices around him, and accepts his destined place in the world: an atypical hero’s journey.

All this is well and good, and the movie is definitely worth checking out, if only for the novelty of the adventure and its stellar cast. However, this was not the only time Price would tackle Poe’s Raven onscreen. Many years later, Price would get a chance to theatrically perform a reading of the original poem for a Halloween Special during the 1980s. Unfortunately, I cannot remember what the name of the special was, nor the exact year it came out: I actually tried to look it up, since I DID learn that information…but I can no longer find the source, and I sadly never wrote it down, dummy that I am. Whoops. Whatever else is in the special in question, however, it’s hard to believe much could top Price performing Poe’s greatest poem the way it was always meant to be performed.

In my opinion, Price’s reading of The Raven is the definitive interpretation of the poem. He brings the right amount of melodrama and emotion to the work, giving the Narrator a sense of both decadence and dismalness befitting the story as it happens. From his tragic nostalgia to his wonder at the appearance of the talking bird and even to his moments of desperation and spooky loss, he runs the whole gamut of the poem’s emotional breadth with marvelous aplomb. Others, such as Christopher Lee and James Earl Jones, have done masterful interpretations and readings of the poem in their own rights…but for me, Price is the eternal voice of Edgar Allan Poe’s work, and no single take on the poem has ever matched his reading for me. Bottom line: whether it’s the movie or the poem, when I think of “The Raven,” I think of Vincent Price. End of story. Tomorrow, the countdown continues with Number 18!

[cobrastrikes421]

Happy (late) Halloween

Spider demon - It can shapeshift into a beautiful woman, so the demon that represent its actual meaning are ( demon spiders ) and their deadly venom and bladed webs.

Minotaur - when King Minos of Crete failed to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon, the god caused his wife to lust after the animal. By it, she conceived the Minotaur, a monster with a bull's head and a man's body, which was confined in a labyrinth.

Changeling - a deformed or imbecilic offspring of fairies or elves substituted by them surreptitiously for a human infant. According to legend, the abducted human children are given to the devil or used to strengthen fairy stock.

Qiong qi - is a Winged Tiger, a highly valued ancient beast. At the start of his story, he's at the Second Xuan Qi layer. He agreed to be tamed by Lin Feng in order to fight against a Lei Yan Mao, a cat beast of the Tian Qi layer, which threatened to kill them both.

I forgot to post these drawings and I forgot I put them in the countdown.

[anime-of-the-day]

Anime of the Day: Halloween Countdown: Hell's Paradise

Alt title: Jigokuraku

Released: 2023

Let’s kick off the holiday season with something new and just a little bit gory. Gabimaru has found himself in a tight spot: he is on a demented island filled with mysterious things trying to kill him while looking for a magical elixir of immortality, so he can get a pardon and return to his wife.

[gtsuniverse]

GTS Halloween Costume Regal Rumble: Chaos and Comedy Unfold

Experience the hilarious chaos as GTS wrestlers battle in a Halloween costume Royal Rumble. From cocaine antics to unexpected eliminations, this event is a rollercoaster of laughs and surprises.

Prelude to the Rumble The tension was palpable even before the main event began. There was a mysterious disappearance of Uncle Rowdy, slated to be one of the participants. Accusations flew, with Grim and his business manager, Lici, at the center, trying to pinpoint the culprit. The void left by Uncle Rowdy's absence necessitated a replacement, stirring unexpected drama before the match even began.

Characters Enter the Stage As the Halloween Regal Rumble kicked off, the participants began to emerge with great fanfare:

Jungle Jim Wilder: The reigning champion, donned as Batman, determined to retain his title and prove his dominance. Twisted Tea aka Ice T Curtis: Entering as the first contestant, Twisted Tea was ready for a long fight. Controversial Entry by "Cocaine": Stirring the crowd by impersonating Grim's old character, bringing a mix of confusion and excitement. CeCe: Making her in-ring debut, dressed as Poison Ivy, wielding a solid steel whip that immediately made her a force to be reckoned with. The Joker (Damon Dante): Bringing his sinister energy, eager to create chaos in the ring.

Action Unfolds in the Ring The match started with a bang as Twisted Tea and “Cocaine” went head-to-head. Every 30 seconds, a new contestant would join, adding to the frenzy. CeCe's entrance marked a significant shift as she unleashed fury with her poison ivy whip, creating memorable moments that left fans in awe. Participants came and went, with notable eliminations like Michael Jackson, portrayed by LJ Wash, adding to the surreal and entertaining nature of the event. Each elimination was a story, as contestants battled with all their might to avoid being thrown over the top rope.

The chaos continued as contestants brought weapons into play—solid steel objects, poison ivy whips, and even illegal substances became part of the mayhem. As the Joker got involved, it was clear that this Regal Rumble was unlike any other. With each countdown, the tension grew, and the ring became more crowded, amplifying the drama. Personal rivalries added an extra layer to the match. Grim's wife, Tina, entered the ring against his wishes, showcasing her bravery and fighting spirit. Her elimination by the hands of Emily Saxton stirred emotional reactions, both from Grim and the audience.

The Ultimate Warrior, making a surprise return, stirred the crowd further. As the final moments approached, it was clear that this was more than just a battle for a title; it was about legacy and proving oneself as the true hero of the night.

Amidst the chaos, alliances were formed and broken, with Jungle Jim and Rad Dad emerging as key figures. The crowd was divided, each faction cheering for their hero. Ultimately, the resilient efforts of Jungle Jim and his strategic eliminations set the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

The GTS Halloween Regal Rumble concluded with Tanner Wilson earning a title shot, while still playing the special guest referee for the upcoming match between Jungle Jim and Rad Dad Bradley Belmont. This twist adds a strategic element to the future showdown, ensuring that fans stay on the edge of their seats.

The intense battle left a significant impact on the participants and the audience. Rivalries were intensified, alliances were tested, and new feuds emerged, setting the stage for even more thrilling encounters in the GTS wrestling universe.

[deuterosapiens]

I've accepted that this was a weird idea to groove into the Halloween season, and that I could have chosen any number of other film franchises to devour, but because I couldn't stop thinking of a dumb joke I made once about a horror-themed version of ABC's Twelve Days of Christmas (is that still a thing?), here we are. Day Two of our Countdown to October First, marked by the follow-up to yesterday's Hellbound Heart. The film adaptation, Hellraiser.

Well yeah, it's a solid adaptation: Barker wrote the book, he wrote the screenplay, he directed the film. Evidence is sometimes lacking on whether a writer can translate their work to screen well (looking at you, Maximum Overdrive!), but this does the job.

I'll happily remind everyone that the weirdest shit you remember from the film does not come from the book in the slightest and in fact accounts for the most significant amount of deviations from the source. I touched upon the Cenobites as a deviation from the book, but that's not the only notable change:

Kirsty is no longer a random girl, she is now Rory (name changed to Larry because we don't like that whole R-vowel-R thing here; ask a General American English speaker to say 'rural', you'll see what I mean)'s daughter.

Julia is specifically Larry's second wife.

Neville (a minor character with no significant role in the book, outside of flirting with Kirsty at the Housewarming party) is expanded to have a more active role as her love interest. He has also been renamed Steve, I think.

So, Cenobites.

In Hellbound Heart, only two are really given focus. The Cenobite which one might associate with the Pinhead character has no real appearance outside of appearing. This one is identified as possibly feminine, but ambiguous due to severe mutilation. The role of leader is given to the one most analogous to the film's "female Cenobite" (as the credits so lovingly list her). The Engineer Cenobite is named in the book, and returns the Lemarchand Box to Kirsty after Frank's defeat; in the film, I can't honestly decide if The Engineer is actually present- it's possibly the homeless man who transforms into a dragon, but the Chattering Cenobite steals its weird moment where it wears Julia's veil.

I must praise this film's practical effects work. Its monsters look phenomenal, in their disturbance. Frank's rebirth is a spectacularly unsettling thing to witness. I dare say it holds up remarkably well, well sort of.

There's a type of visual effect very popular from films pf this era that I have never once found I like looking at. I know Clive Barker worked on those hand-animated visuals, but yikes. Giant neon colored outlines when something weird goes down. I get it, you have to indicate visually that something is going on when the Box is used, but I'm not strictly sure that a trick performed with a neon highlighter was the best solution.

I know these movies get weird. I've only seen the first two and the Hulu one, but I'm familiar enough with their insanity. So, when these things get unbearable, I hope we can still sit back, laugh, enjoy them.

I end this ramble with the most hideous shirt in the universe. So hideous, yet mesmerizing.

[violetfairydust]

Countdown to Halloween

#19

....

Cora stared at him angrily and did not sit down, but she started a ghost story.

“A long time ago,” she began, “there was a group of friends. They were adventurers. They never said no to a challenge. They had heard on the news of woods in California that were supposedly haunted. Many hikers had gone in, but none of them ever came out. Their bodies were always discovered mangled and unrecognizable. But these friends were not scared. They packed a backpack and started into the woods.

“In the middle of the first night, one of the boys went missing. His wife wanted to go look for him, but the others tried to persuade her not to go because it would be too inconvenient, even though it was more inconvenient for her to lose her husband in the woods. So… the wife murdered the rest of her friends for being dick weasels and went to look for her husband anyway.

“The next day, the husband and wife came back alive. The end.”

[meanstreetspodcasts]

BONUS - Halloween Haunts: Death Robbery

Our annual countdown to Halloween kicks off with one of the biggest names in Hollywood horror. Boris Karloff plays a scientist who thinks he can bring the dead back to life, and he wants to test his theories on his late wife. Lurene Tuttle co-stars in "Death Robbery," a chilling tale from Lights Out (originally aired on ABC on July 16, 1947).

Check out this episode!

[blood-powered-radio]

https://youtu.be/cqgBNnHP7LY

David Buckley - Countdown to Execution

off the soundtrack for The Good Wife, 2014

[imaginedreamwrite]

Halloween countdown day 15 — make a delicious Halloween breakfast

The sound of the door chime as the front door opened and shut had him jumping from the counter. He landed with a thud and scurried toward the door with an excited shriek then threw his arms around his neck to hug him as tightly as he could.

“Missed you, Noah.” Steve hugged his son just as tightly as Noah was hugging him, dropping everything for his boy.

“Where’s your sister?” Steve questioned, feeling Noah kick his feet back and forth.

“Sleeping upstairs. Mama made Halloween breakfast.” Noah whispered into his ear as if it was a big secret. “She made everything.”

“And you helped?” Steve carted him off toward the kitchen like he was a toddler again, stepping into the other room and physically relaxing when he saw you and Noah safe.

It was always a thought on the back of his mind now that he had so much to lose. His son, his future wife, his entire idealic life that he’s always wanted.

“Expecting someone?” Steve wondered, setting Noah down and chuckling under his breath when he ran straight to you.

“Mummy waffles, coloured black and white…ghost grapes that Noah stuck googly eyes into-“

“They’re the best, mama!” He climbed onto the cupboard and took a place next to you, crossing his legs on the granit.

“And…a surprise.” You picked up a small, tasty treat and shuffled toward Steve.

“For me?” He took the miniature pie from you and looked at the crust decorated in detailed black icing.

“Read it, daddy! Read it!” Noah chanted excitedly, bouncing where he sat.

“Rogers 4 + 1.” He grinned, wide and brightly. “Another one?”

“Hmm hmm.” You nodded your head, your stomach fluttering. “Someone’s got some potent…stuff.”

“We’re having another baby! This is the best day ever!” Noach cheered, jaunting his over abundant glee.

“Just when I think I couldn’t love you more.” Steve leaned in and kissed you breathlessly. “You surprise me every day.”

[savoies]

3, 2, 1 happy new year! - jamie drysdale.

summary: spending nye with jamie.

specified pronouns: nope.

word count: 418.

warnings: one sexual innuendo if you squint hard enough.

a/n: jamie once said that he liked nye better than halloween and of course I had to write something. Here is this short and sweet blurb + me just wanting to say happy new year! and here's to a hopefully good year. 🥂

Jamie and you were now sitting in Hampus' living room. Hampus had decided to throw a new years eve party for his teammates this year so now all of them piled into the large living room. Drinking, eating, and talking about their new year's resolutions that were probably going to be broken two weeks in.

Jamie laughing about something funny Josh said and you sitting on the couch talking to Ricky's wife. 

Everyone gathering together from their prior conversations to gather in front of the TV and look at the countdown. Sitting next to their partners to ring in the new year with hugs and kisses.

Everyone getting a flute of sparkling apple cider waiting for the countdown to begin.

3….

2….

1….

"Happy New Year!!" Was heard throughout the Lindholm household and fireworks were heard outside in the neighborhood. 

"Happy New Year baby, I'm thankful for having you here with me." Jamie said as he placed a soft kiss on your lips, leaving a sticky feeling from the sweet apple cider he had just taken a sip of seconds before.

"Happy New Year Jamison, I love you." You said with a small smile on your face, knowing that he didn't like that nickname one bit. 

~~~

Everything was starting to settle down. Everyone already heading home but a few stragglers still remained. You and Jamie helping Hampus clean up.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" Jamie said as he looked over at you and at the time. It was reaching 2am and since being at Hampus' was still kind of new to him he hadn't asked you to stay over yet.

"Or do you maybe want to sleep over. I can ask Hamp." He said, wanting to make sure that you were comfortable with actually staying over if you wanted to.

"Yeah I would like that. If you want me to and if Hampus let's me." You said knowing it was already late and your place was kind of far.

"Hamp, can Y/N stay over. It's just kind of late to drive them back home." Jamie said. 

"Yeah of course. Just be safe, you know." Hampus said playing out his dad role.

~~~

Both of you laid in bed that night, in each other's arms, enjoying each other's warmth. Both of you were glad to be spending the new year together. Happy to have made great memories in the past year and excited to see what new memories you would be making in the new year.

taglist: ​( send in ask if you want to be added) ​@hartsyhart @nhlpetey @mitch-slap @frostythegoalman @cizkas  @aria253264  @josty @kaitieskidmore1 @stfukie @alxvlasic @hockeyallthetime @barzy-baby @sophiesreadinglist @martynecass @joshsandersons  @connormcdavo @maattamatthews @joelsfarabees @boqvistsbabe @ana-maa @stars-canucks @bbrissons @joeljuice @2manytabsopen @wildflowermarns @kentjohnsons @three-headed-monster @kindaahockeyblog @b-brz @drei-mrssvechii

[slasherkisss]

I just watched Hellfest and I need more…can I get swf and nsfw headcanons of the Other please?

[He needs more love honestly T-T]

SFW

Loves to do creative things with his s/o. Art, macramé, knitting, he'll basically try it all if you're interested in it. He likes keeping his hands busy

It's literally Halloween all year around with this guy. It's his favorite holiday. He's the type who will keep a countdown to Halloween calendar in you're home and you're like 'babe its April'

Actually a very good male wife type of guy. He likes to come home and make you things or surprise you with some clean up around the house. He's very considerate

That being said he does tease a lot though, and will make fun of you for your quirks or hobbies once in a while. It's all in good faith, though. He doesn't actually 'care' if he hurts your feelings, but will apologize for it if it makes you feel better

Great cuddler, but it's best to rest your head on his chest versus his shoulders. They're kind of pointy

NSFW

He likes to keep his hands busy by fucking you with them also. And he's GOOD AT IT

Spreading you open for him and shoving his fingers deep inside of you and watching you squirm as he cruelly sets a pace turns him on. You make such gorgeous faces

This is such a specific thing but like. When he wins you cute stuffed animals from games at carnivals he goes to kill at. If you hump them to get yourself off while thinking of him, or he catches you doing it, it's a huge turn on for him

Loves public sex. He'll fuck you at one of the carnivals or fairs, behind the stall of a bathroom or in a dark corner of a horror ride as people pass by. The thought of getting caught turns him on.

He's a huge tease about everything he does, though, and prefers you trembling and begging him to make you cum more than anything else in the world. It's like a fun game to him and he's winning

[twistedtummies2]

The Devils I Know - Number 7

Welcome to “The Devils I Know!” For this spooky time of year, from now till Halloween, I’ll be counting down My Top 31 Depictions of the Devil, from movies, television, video games, and more! And SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND! Number 7 is…Al Pacino, from The Devil’s Advocate.

Several years before facing Peter Stormare’s Lucifer in “Constantine,” Keanu Reeves had to challenge the Prince of Darkness in the 1997 crime/horror combo “The Devil’s Advocate.” In the film, Reeves plays Kevin Lomax, an up-and-coming lawyer working in Florida. Lomax is not necessarily an evil man, but he is a highly ambitious one, and is both dedicated and skilled when it comes to his job: even when defending a client he realizes is guilty, Lomax is still able to find a way to gain an acquittal from the jury. He’s a man who refuses to lose a case, no matter what. Indeed, his incredible ability to help his clients gets him the attention of a prominent law firm in New York City. Kevin accepts their job offer and moves to New York with his wife, Mary Ann (played by future Evil Queen and Morticia, Charlize Theron), expecting big things from this change in his life…and he certainly gets them, thought not at all the way he expects. The head of the firm is Al Pacino’s character, who goes by the name of “John Milton.” (A reference to the writer of “Paradise Lost.”) At first, Lomax and Milton get on swimmingly, but over time, as Kevin’s life begins to fall apart – his wife going insane, his career taking nightmarish directions – he begins to realize more and more that Milton is not all he seems. It’s ultimately revealed that Milton is not only Kevin’s long-lost father…but, more importantly, that Milton is the Devil himself. Milton’s whole scheme is to force Kevin into a position where he will willingly become the father of the Antichrist, so that Milton can – of course – take over the world. While Pacino was always the first choice to play the Devil in this movie, the creators didn’t secure his performance right away. Apparently, Pacino initially felt the role of Milton was too one-note, and rejected earlier versions of the script no less than three times. He did recommend other actors who might be able to take the part – apparently, both Sean Connery and Robert Redford, of all people, were considered for the role, per Pacino’s suggestion – but these performers ended up being either unavailable or simply unwilling to tackle the character. Finally, on the fourth proposal - and with some changes made to the script by that point – Pacino accepted the part. Thank goodness (or badness, I guess, in this case), because it’s hard to imagine anyone but ol’ Scarface here doing such a great job with the portrayal of the Devil in the film. Pacino’s Devil is a wonderfully fun villain; he’s somehow a character who hides nothing and yet remains an eternal enigma. Much like Jack Nicholson’s Daryl Van Horne, there’s a mixture of coarseness and dignity to this take on the concept. Pacino swaggers through the role, and carries himself with…basically the exact kind of attitude you’d EXPECT Pacino as the Devil to have: he's somewhere between a gangster and a sleazy snake oil salesman. It’s Pacino at his most…Pacino-y, but he also has a strength and sense of uneasy menace to him that gives him the power and believability a part like this requires. He speaks so sensibly and makes many good and interesting points, yet at the same time he never hides the fact that…well…he is who and what he is. To me, when I think of the Devil, this is one of the first versions I think of, and it’s easily in my Top 3 of Pacino’s performances (my favorite is Michael Corleone, my second favorite is Tony Montana). All in all, an easy choice for high placement on this countdown. Also…Keanu, you should probably stop ticking off the Devil. It, uh…doesn’t seem to go well for you, whenever it happens. Plus, now you have both Michael and Dracula mad at you, so…(pauses)…oh, who am I kidding, he’s John Wick. He can take care of himself. :P Tomorrow, the countdown continues with Number 6! HINT: One…Two…Three Strikes, You’re Out!

[samuel-de-champagne-problems]

And I Will Hold Onto You

Summary: They’ve never been apart for holidays since they started dating. That was until Spencer Reid found himself behind bars for a crime he’d never think of committing. Growing and healing, Spencer realizes that it’s not the holidays that matter, it’s the person. Because with that special person, who’s laugh he can recognize anywhere, even cleaning up the empty bottle the next morning is magical.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female Reader

Word Count: 2.1K

Author’s Note/Warnings: Body Image Issues (Male) nothing too descriptive, prison arc is mentioned/is central issue; loosely based of New Year’s Day by Taylor Swift

Also this is technically a part 2 to Drag Me Head First but it doesn’t have to be read that way.

And I Will Hold Onto You

There’s something special in the way that the first midnight of the new year feels. All that hopefulness and excitement packed into a 10 second countdown. The energy in the room slowly bubbles up, culminating as the ball drops. It fizzles out as loved ones share chaste kisses and friends hug. But all that remains are last year’s bottles and this year’s dreams. Maybe it’s something that Spencer always took for granted.

The cold midnight air is jarring, compared to his warm and cozy house. Spencer walks quickly, taking out the trash, filled with bottles of beer and wine. The snow crunches under his shoes and Spencer can see his breath in the air as he huffs to toss the bag in the black trash bin. Spencer, despite the way the cold air nips his nose, stops in his tracks and gazes up at the stars. It’s unfortunate living where he does, you can never really see all the stars. Maybe Y/N would like to take a trip in their cabin the next time he can get off? He could show her all the stars. But Spencer doesn’t need to go to the middle of the woods to see the stars; he can simply look into Y/N’s eyes and see all the magic the universe has to offer.

Spencer lets himself back into his house, just as Garcia and Derek are putting their shoes and coats on to leave. Y/N comes out of the kitchen carrying two trays of leftover food for their friends to take home.

“Penny, please kiss those sweet babies for me,” Y/N says, handing Luke the trays of food. She leans over to kiss Penelope on her cheek.

“They can only sweet when they are sleeping,” Penelope says, rolling her eyes and putting her coat on. It’s more of a cape in a spectacular plum purple color with cream colored faux fur trim.

“Don’t act so surprised, mi amor, look who their mother is,” Luke says, cheekily. He hugs Spencer and Y/N before grabbing Garcia’s hand with his empty one.

“Happy New Year!” Garcia and Luke call as they leave, shutting the door behind them. Spencer locks the door and heads back to the kitchen to help Y/N clean up. The plates sit in the sink piled high, with tall champagne glasses resting next to them on the counter. Glitter scatters on the floor, confetti in the shapes of “1s” and “6” lay littered on the tiles, remnants of the festivities just moments before.

Y/N stands over the sink, her hand rests on the ledge. She turns on the water and starts washing the dishes. Spencer walks up quietly behind her, nuzzling his hand into the corner of her ear and shoulder. He hums, the vibrations echoing into Y/N’s neck, causing her to giggle. He joins his hands together around Y/N’s waist, holding her tight.

“Happy New Year, my love,” Spencer whispers, his voice hardly audible above the stream of water. Even though Spencer can’t see Y/N, he can feel the way her cheeks grow against the side of his head. She’s smiling.

“It is a very happy, new year,” Y/N says, her voice strong, yet Spencer can tell it’s hard for her to keep it together. It’s not their first new year, far from it, it’s their 13th. But this time, it feels different to hold her in his arms and kiss her as the clock strikes 12.

They wash the dishes in silence, a comforting silence where certain things don’t need to be said. Like a well oiled machine, Y/N washes, Spencer dries. The sudsy dish soap smells like home and Y/N’s quiet hums sound like peace. Spencer really forgot how much he could love even the most mundane of tasks when Y/N stands next to him.

“Come on, Y/N we can do this tomorrow. Let’s just go to bed,” Spencer says, tugging on Y/N’s long sleeve of her thermal shirt.

“Hmm, I can’t argue against your cuddles, sweetheart,” Y/N murmurs tiredly, easily pushing the thoughts of clean up to the next morning. Her hand joins his, like a key finding it’s matching lock. They are cold from the water, but Spencer doesn’t really mind.

A tangle of limbs and hands, they make their way up the stairs to their shared bedroom. They pass the wall filled with pictures of their smiling faces or candid countenances in mismatching frames hung against the wall. It’s just a testament to how long they’ve been together, going back to their first date right before Y/N’s college graduation and Spencer’s fifth, leading up to their most recent Halloween. Each photo stuck in time, frozen with utter happiness and unadulterated joy. But there’s a gap in the collection, a gap that Spencer rather not talk about. A gap where, for the first time since they met, Spencer and Y/N were separated. Sitting in jail, all Spencer could think of was the personal mental prison that Y/N must have confined herself too.

They don’t like talking about the gap, but he knows they have too. Spencer knows that Y/N is proud of him, she tells him that everyday. Proud of him for keeping up with therapy, proud of him for letting go of the little things that he can’t control, proud of him for trusting her with his secrets and fears. It’s the strangest thing, to have someone be proud of you for just living.

“We’re going to need a bigger wall,” Spencer says, hoping that his attempt at referencing pop culture would land. Y/N stops to turn to Spencer, who in the moonlight that drips in from the window, looks much younger than he really is.

“Did you just make a pop culture reference that’s not from, like, 300 years ago?” Y/N says, her brow upturned in a quizzical stare.

“Come on, Y/N, you love when I recite all Sir Walter Raleigh to you,” Spencer says, reaching up to tickle Y/N sides, causing her to giggle and run up the rest of the stairs.

“Spencer! You know that I’m too ticklish,” Y/N says in between short laughs and gasps for air. She plops down on the bed, dragging Spencer down with her. He lays his head down on her chest and like a Rube Goldberg machine, her fingers come up and tangle themselves in his hair.

“Maybe our New Year’s Resolution should be to get some more exercise, Spence. Your heart is beating faster than mine and that run from the steps to our room is like a good 10 feet,” Y/N jokes as she continues scratching Spencer’s scalp lulling him into a peaceful, sleepy state.

“Two things, baby, one, we don’t exercise and two, that’s not why my heart is beating so fast, I think it has something to do with the beautiful girl laying so close to me,” Spencer murmurs quietly.

“Hmm, you certainly know how to charm a girl, even like 13 years later,”

“Actually it’s, 13 years, 7 months, 17 days, 17 hours, 58 minutes and 31 seconds,” Spencer says with a quick glance at his watch.

“And I’ve loved every single minute of it,” Y/N says, reaching up to sneak a pillow under Spencer’s head. She moves to get out of bed, much to Spencer’s displeasure.

“No, no, Y/N you’re so warm and I’m freezing,” Spencer whines, shifting so he can look at his wife, who has shrugged off her thermal shirt and jeans.

“And who’s fault is that?” Y/N chides. Spencer, almost bashful at her teasing, attempts to hide his blush with the pillow that rests under his head.

“I only turn the heat all the way down at night so we’re forced to cuddle for body heat,” Spencer says, his voice muffled by the pillow.

“So you say,” Y/N tells Spencer, sitting down back on the bed. She pulls on Spencer’s legs, dragging him down the bed.

“Come on lazy boy, get your PJs on,” Y/N orders. Spencer, who under Penelope’s less than pure supervision, had enough shots to make up for all the college parties that he missed. There’s happy drunks, forgetful drunks, and then there're sleepy drunks.

Spencer stands in front of the mirror, inspecting his body. The low, yellow lamp light casts shadows on his naked torso. He’s filled out a little bit since they’ve started dating, especially within the last few months of Spencer’s healing. Y/N knew that it’s a sore spot for him, but there’s something about the way that Spencer’s dress pants sit tightly against his thighs or the way his shirt clings to his stomach that just makes him look so much older. Both of them, including their bodies, have changed so much since 13 years ago. Or 13 years, 7 months, 17 days, 18 hours, 5 minutes and 12 seconds ago. They’ve grown up together, and now Y/N can’t wait to grow old together.

But the look in his eyes is not pride over his growth or confidence over his physique. It’s confusion. Spencer stares at himself like he’s an unsolvable puzzle. Y/N knows he must hate that; Spencer hates things that he can’t find an answer to. Y/N walks up behind him, lacing her finger together so her arms clasp against his waist. For a moment, Spencer flinches. Even her gentlest touches and softest kisses can’t wash away the fear of much harsher contact. Their eyes meet in the mirror, but Y/N can feel that Spencer’s not looking at her. After all these years, she can still see the terrified young man who brazenly kissed her in her car in the middle of a rainstorm. After all these years, Spencer is still the only man she ever loved.

“Spencer,” Y/N says quietly. His name off her lips is more tender than any pet name in existence.

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I’m being immature, it’s just,” Spencer closes his eyes, trying to focus himself in the present. It’s something that his therapist suggested. In moments of distress, find your anchor. Luckily for Spencer, his anchor has been his anchor for quite awhile.

“You can tell, I’m not going to judge you,” Y/N says, her lips leaving small kisses on his exposed shoulders.

“It’s just I thought this whole nightmare of prison was behind me. Therapy has been helping, I’m better on cases and I love teaching,” Spencer says, the pain in his voice leaking out.

Y/N doesn’t say anything, instead she guides Spencer to sit on the edge of their bed. She rubs her hand down his back, tracing his spine and around the freckles that collect on his right shoulder.

“I thought that the emotional healing would be the hardest part, I mean it is, but physically, I don’t recognize myself. I can imagine you don’t either,” Spencer says, he turns to lay on the bed, bringing his feet up to his chest in a textbook self-protective position.

“Spence, your body is gonna change, baby. God, mine has changed so much since we met,” Spencer gives Y/N a confused look, like he’s not thoroughly convinced by her explanation.

“It has Spencer. We’re not 22 years old anymore, we’re going to be like 35 in a couple of months. But you know, this is something we can work on together, I’ve gone my whole life not loving the skin I’m in. But being with you makes it easier, Spence.” Y/N says, running her fingers across the bridge of Spencer’s nose and down to his lips, that always a ridiculously gorgeous shade of pink. Spencer doesn’t say much, he’s still trapped deep inside his mind.

“I don’t know how you put up with me and all my antics, Y/N”

“You do my taxes every year,” Y/N jokes, making an effort to kiss every freckle and dipple on the expanse of Spencer’s back.

Spencer turns in the bed so he’s facing Y/N, he cups her face all the way from her ear to her jaw. It’s an intimate gesture that somehow is more loving and vulnerable than saying “I love you,”

“You know you make me fearless, Y/N,” Spencer tells her, not blinking because he doesn’t want to miss out on any more time looking into her eyes.

“You say that everyday Spencer Reid,” Y/N responds, letting herself melt into the touch. She grabs onto his wrist, physically telling him to not let go.

“I have a lot of days to make up for,” Spencer says, solemnly.

“It’s not making it up if it’s the rest of our life, Spencer. Besides, there’s no one I’d rather spend New Year’s Day cleaning up all those bottles with,”

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