#you don't have proper lemonade

[itsmebytch001]

PILOT:

Angel had noticed Alastor had barley moved from his frozen stance awaiting by the door like a statue looking off into the distance clutching his staff with an unusually tight grip.

Angel: "Hey Husk, what's got Al all frozen like that?"

Husk looked up from his rag shining his glass and glanced over to Alastor still frozen and unblinking.

Husk: "Ugh, His kids coming to visit, they don't see each other often but whenever they do see each other, Al makes a whole big thing of it, stressin me out" He grumped out.

Angel: "His daughter? How is that possible? Ain't me like, Asexual or something? How you gonna have a kid if you won't bone?"

Husk: "I dunno, maybe she's adopted, she got his eye's though"

Angel: "Huh, so you've met her?"

Husk: "A couple times"

Angel: "Is she like him...with the radio and the tentacles?"

Niffty: "Nah"

Angel: "Ah! Niff Jesus we gotta but a bell on ya, you can't just run up on a guy like that jeez"

Niffty: "She's more into modern tech, and no tentacles, none that Ive seen" She said caressing her knife slowly.

Angel: "aha, well why she coming in now? it's been like five month's I ain't never heard him talk about her"

Husk: "No idea, last I heard they fell out after she brought a TV"

Niffty: "The guy hates Tech" She said, scratching her knife into the wooden table front of the bar.

*knock Knock*

Alastor's already strained smile expanded to reach his eyes as he strides to the door swiftly opening the door to reveal...

Alastor: "Y/N! So very good to see you my dear, Oh how I've missed you" He said pulling her in to the foyer in a tight, unnatural embrace , Angel leered over to get a proper look at her, from across the room little could be seen her face squashed into her fathers torso as she pushed herself away he squinted to look at her face, and indeed he did have his eyes, but little else, except the yellow teeth.

Y/n: "Good to see you to Dad, I've missed you too i guess" She said under her breath.

Alastor's eye twitched, you had just walked in the door and already you are testing him.

Alastor: "I heard that My love, keep your snide little comments to yourself, m'kay?" He asked, snapping his neck to the left.

Alastor: "Chum's! come greet my dear Y/n won't you?!" He bellowed pushing you towards the bar by the small of your back.

Y/n: "Dad, I already know Niff and Husk I-"

Alastor: "OH! but you haven't met Angel Dust, oh he's such a character" He said practically shoving you onto a stool across from Angel.

Y/n: "Hey Husk"

Husk: "Hey Y/n...you want me to make you something?"

Y/n: "Yeah, Gin and Tonic please" You said slumped over the bar.

Alastor: "She'll take a strawberry lemonade"

Y/n: "Dad I'm too old for thi-"

Alastor: "She'll take a strawberry Lemonade" He said again sternly looking you in the eye.

Alastor: "Now my Dear, where oh where are you belongings'?"

Y/n: "Just outside the door" You answered as Husk poured you a Strawberry Lemonade passing it over to you.

Alastor: "Good good, Husk go take them to Y/n's room won't you?"

Husk: "I'm a bartender not a bags boy Al"

Alastor: " I said go get her bags"

Husk lowly exhaled and dragged his sorry self towards the door.

Alastor: "right well, Angel this is my daughter Y/n"

Angel: "Daughter aye? And how exactly did that happen?"

Alastor: "Why what ever do you mean dear Angel?"

Angel: "Ain't you asexual? Can't exactly have a kid if you ain't boned someone"

Alastor: "Oh! well I made her of course"

Angel: "What?"

Y/n: "He made me, as a precaution"

Alastor: "Oh no dear we've been over this, I made you because I wanted to raise you"

Y/n: "Uh huh"

Angel: "Wait wait, I'm confused did you make her as like, a Frankenstein while you were alive or like..?"

Alastor: "No no, I bared no children when I was alive I made her down here"

Angel: "Okay but HOW?"

Alastor: "with some gold dust, an old voodoo doll and a rib of mine. It doesn't hurt to to supplied with a sum of power and magic of course"

Angel: "...uh huh" he watched as Husk dragged your bags up the stairs.

Alastor: "And my lovley creation will be staying with us for some times"

Y/n: "A month, that's all"

Alastor: "Oh a whole month! we have so much catching up too do, shame you won't ever answer any of my messages"

Y/n: "maybe I would if it weren't in the form of a telegram!"

Alastor: "Oh you young people, with your phones and TV's, whatever happnded to radio"

Y/n: "oh god please don't start" He patted your head as you slumped even further down the bar.

Alastor: "Yes well, while you chat with Angel I'll be sure to arrange the others I'm sure they'll be dying to meet you"

Y/n: "Yeah, okay Dad" you said dismissively sipping on your straw, Alastor of course saw this as his body tensed forcing himself to walk off following Husk up the stairs to corral the other tenants.

Angel: "So, Toot's you don't seem all that happy to see your pop's why is that?"

Y/n: "I didn't want to come here, It's just till extermination day since that dates been moved up"

Angel: "Oh, so your coming here for safety? well this place get's attacked every other week so I'm not sure if that's a great idea"

Y/n: "Oh no, I don't want to be here, It's just my Dad is convinced my place isn't safe enough, and he goes on about how we barley chat (mainly because he refuses to get a phone) and like 'how would I know if you were slain, am I just supposed to go looking for you sliced corpse' and besdies it's not like I have a choice so here I am, until the end of this month and then I'll finally go home again and not talk to the fucker for another seven years"

Angel: "Damm, if you hate the guy so much why not just not come, technically your Hell born so I'm sure you could leave the city, go on down somewhere like Pride, or Lust he can't come dragging you back"

Y/n: "Oh, but he can"

Angel: "How? Guy can't leave the ring"

Y/n: "You've seen that keyring of that little doll on his staff?"

Angel: "Yeah?"

Y/n: "That's me. He shakes that thing a couple times and BOOM and back where he wants me, coming 'voluntarily' just feel's less shit I guess"

Angel:" Oh...Damm" he looked over around the bar awkwardly tapping his foot waiting for Al to come back while you sipped on your god damm strawberry Lemonade.

Pt 2 anyone?

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

Let's go enjoy the sun and 55!

Hopefully I'm doing this correctly eksoqheb-

Let's go enjoy the sun!

Haru might have convinced you to help out for their fundraiser so let's see who are the three people who come to spend the evening in Jabberwock

Wc: ~1,8k

“Is everything ready?” Haru asks from the door of Jabberwock while he carries out a very homemade stand under his arm before setting it down. It's the equivalent to a child's lemonade stand but rather it read ‘jabberwock fundraiser’ in big black letters

“Are you honestly doing this?”

“We are really in need of money, ren!” He pouts before saying something to Towa who was humming in agreement.

“Why are you even here? You aren't even part of Jabberwock” Ren looks up from his raid to side eye you.

“Haru looked pretty depressed while he vented so I decided to help”

“Are you stupid or spineless?” a sigh leaves his lips and he doesn't wait for an answer before focusing again on his phone.

“Stop bothering them, Ren! At least I heard what you said so now you only have to wait on visitors and charge them”

“And you forced me to not take shifts to do what I do for my job?” 

Ignoring him Haru pulls a marker and writes down the prices.

500 yen for 30 minute foraging group tour with Towa

800 yen for 30 minute capybus ride with Haru

But when you reach your price for essentially frolicking around the hills and sunbathing your breath scapes your lungs

“So expensive”

“Don't undersell yourself!” Haru chimes and towa hums “I'm sure you will get us more earnings than you think!”

“That is like 2500 diamonds in Shock of clans” Ren comments, and it makes you remember when he spent 30 minutes thinking if buying diamonds was smart. Next he throws a sly smirk  “seems like someone else can take care of the cashier for me”

“Then you can go feed the salamanders! Such good thinking Ren!” Haru chimes.

“Forget it, I just remembered they weren't good at math"

“Hello, senpai” Sho smiles as he hands the money to Ren, who was still bitching about now having to pay proper attention to his job and not the game.

“oh? I didn't expect you to come by, Sho!” quickly you walk around the stand and hug him. Seeing he paid, you link both of your arms and start leading where Haru told you was your ‘station’.  

“and leave you with whatever pervert might come? After you helped around the truck some weirdos came asking when you would be there again” 

“Mhm, so you decided to be the weirdo?” You two walk down a path between some overgrown red cap mushrooms that were as tall as trees, this would be such a good place to record an Alice in wonderland movie.

“Here I come trying to save you from perverts and this is how I get treated?” Sho feigns being hurt, his hand slapping his chest “so what were you supposed to do?”

You throw yourself on the red blanket laying down on the floor before smiling knowing he would crack up “ I'm hosting a flower themed tea party” and your hand signals to the glass teapot with lotus designs and the matching lotus shaped teacups that hotarubi lent “and if you want I can make you a flower crown” without missing a beat he laughs “to be fair, I thought I would lead a tour or play cashier” 

“And they ended up having you serve tea?” You nod “and you didn't complain?” you nod again “well, are you going to pour me or what?” He sits down next to you, soon drinking the jasmine tea.

For the hour that he booked you two mostly chatted about how he was doing, how he was getting closer to Subaru, and how his food truck was going. It was so nice to be able to chat with Sho without Leo interrupting or him dividing his attention between cooking and receiving clients but every few minutes his phone would start buzzing making him frown until he checks who is sending the texts.

“Oi, smile” Sho raises the telephone and takes a photo of you making him a flower crown with some dandelions and wild flowers.

“keeping a photo for the memory? I would have fixed my hair if you were gonna to photograph me” 

“Leo is texting me nonstop, maybe this will stop him a bit” he puts down the phone and grabs one of the cookies that were on the plate, they are the typical chocolate chip cookies from the kiosk but that are a worthy accompaniment.

Not even a few minutes later Leo uploads a post on wickchat and Sho gets a notification, from his scowl you can guess he isn't happy. In his screen there is a story with a snarky comment mocking his friend and soon the comments flooded with people sympathizing with him.

damn, my friend bailed out of a hang out to go out with his crush who doesn't even like him

“That asshole” the comment and the cluck of his tongue slip without thinking, soon getting your attention from the almost finished craft.

“Is it that bad?” Curious, you take your own phone from your cardigan but before even being able to type Leo's user in the search bar Sho throws himself at you, arm quickly swatting away the phone. Effectively ensuring you didn't see the post but making him lose balance and fall over just in time for Ritsu and Ren walking in.

“Hey, YN, can you watch the stand for a sec? He wants to go on a tour and I can't find To-” his eyes widen when he sees the scene “what the…”

“If you  desire to file for sexual harassment I would be honored to be your lawyer in the proceedings”

“Wait a minute this isn't what it looks like!” 

“He just lost balance, there is no need to jump to conclusions”

“No need to feel ashamed, there are two visual witnesses to attest, I'm sure Darkwick will respond”

Soon enough, either because of embarrassment, Ren looking at him with thinly veiled disgust or Ritsu pushing you to file a restraining order, Sho leaves soon after entering jabberwock.

“Tsk, why would you bring me here?” Jin scratches the back of his head, icy blue eyes almost closed due to the sunlight he isn't used to.

“Hermits can be prone to vitamin D deficiency, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity for you to take some sun”

“Go to hell and die, asshole” Jin barks at him between clenched teeth but Thoma doesn't bother with him and goes to the stand.

“Morning, Thoma!” You wave as he gets closer

“inspector? I wasn't expecting to see you here”

“Yeah, Ren left me here while he led a first year to Towa’s tour” your hand points to the wooden slate with the three options and prices.

“Oh? I didn't hear that there were different tours” Thoma grabs his chin, looking over the proposals curiously. Behind him Jin is kicking dirt and cursing under his breath, if he could teleport with his sword why is he here still?

“Yep! Towa just left with the foraging party so he shouldn't return for a good few minutes, but Haru should be back soon”

“Hmm… I do see your name here, do you host a tour of your own?”

“It isn't quite like that” you laugh a bit “we decided that I shouldn't be alone with the anomalies just in case anything goes wrong. I just have a sort of tea party” 

“That does seem more like Jin's thing out of these options” Thoma mumbles lightly

“Oh, right now I'm taking care of the stand so I can't really entertain people” out of nowhere Ren’s hand lands on your shoulder, prompting you to give him his seat, last time you refused to he pulled his floatie around your torso so you couldn't move. He had a smile from ear to ear, sadistic brat.

“did you decide what you want to do?” Ren uses his customer service voice, barely different from his normal voice, just somehow more lifeless. If that was possible.

“we both will go with YN” Thoma pulls his wallet and pays. Ren hums while counting the money.

 Jin scoffs seated on the checkered blanket, a smirk on his lips “so you are going to be waiting on me again, servant”

You roll your eyes at his comment, even if this time you were technically serving him “yeah, yeah, it was indeed on the description” a soft smirk forms between your lips seeing a way to tease him. you turn around to face the teapot you ask “jasmine or black tea?” your hands fiddle with the lid, acting as if you were going to open it and put leaves in.

“Fine then, I want black tea”

“Wrong, it's jasmine” as you turn around to serve it and see his annoyed face and Thoma's amused one “this teapot never runs out of warm tea but it's always Jasmine” silently he complains but still drinks the tea, getting slightly more annoyed from the fact it tastes good, soft flowery flavor that leaves a nice sweetness on the tongue.

“Isn't that quite the useful anomaly?” Thoma muses, watching how slowly the liquid inside swirls from side to side and starts going up, filling itself again.

“I thought the same, Subaru was so nice for lending it to us for a day! He said to take it as Hotarubi’s support” you can remember clearly how he offered it before assuring that he didn't mean that he expected Jabberwock to help his dorm if anything happened! And that it wasn't like he was expecting anything like that and- luckily Haku popped in before his dorm leader had a panic attack.

“Isn't that nice of them? I'm sure we could use a source of warm drinks in Frostheim” 

“Haku told me that the wait list for it can get pretty long, around two months at a time” idly your hand brushes the grass, plucking a white flower growing close to the blanket and you bend the stem to make a small ring. Seeing Jin's pale hand resting on his lap you might as well give it to him but before you lean to the right and grab Jin's hand he moves it.

“Don't even think about it” like a cat with a too cuddly owner, he swipes his hand behind his back.

“Fine, Thoma give me your hand then” you lean forward but before you can grab Thoma's hand Jin snatches it “oh~? I thought you didn't want it”

He stuffs the ring in his pocket “Tsk what you give to your king can't be taken back even if you want to so stop whining”

When the time finished they both walked back to frostheim when Thoma hums softly a song.

“Do you want to die? bastard” when he flips him off the little white flower is in the next finger to the middle finger 

“Did I do something to anger you? It's just some notes” and he keeps humming the wedding march.

[uumeboshii]

tadashi sits up straight, broad shoulders back and his gaze avoiding yours. his freckled cheeks are rosy, matching his pretty, plump lips.

"it's okay, y'know. you look really tense, like, very" you say, a lighthearted hand grazing his, the one on his knee, his legs folded neatly under him. he nods because he knows, he knows it's fine with you, but everything leading to this event had made his muscles hard as a rock and his hands clammy.

you had been talking to him and hitoka earlier that week, probably on monday between class and the beginning of their practice. hitoka had been rambling about a nice boy she'd met a few months ago and how she was ready to, maybe, initiate a kiss. you tried to give her some advice, but the opinion she wanted the most was the one of a man.

"so, tadashi! how have you been approached? i really don't want to mess this up, and tsukki doesn't seem like the type to talk about this stuff..." hitoka had turned to him with her big, wide eyes full of curiosity, only to encounter a flustered 180 centimeters boy, cheeks red and stuttering.

"i-uhm, well. when- the instances, yes, they... pleasant. have been. they've been pleasant. consent. hiro! hey, hitoka, isn't it time for you guys to, uh, prepare the equipment? i'll be there in a minute!"

"yes, cap" hitoka grabbed the first-year manager and led him into the gym, leaving you with tadashi. it was funny, truly, but you had to hold in your laughter in order to not embarrass him even more.

"what was that?" you asked, lips pressing together. tadashi was covering his face with both hands, big and calloused. pretty.

"a secret"

"i can keep a secret" lie. but hitoka was usually the one listening to you telling other people's business, so this actually seemed immoral.

he dragged his hands down his face, putting them on his waist (did he get that from the previous captain?). "...kissedanyone"

you frown at him, turning your head a little. "say that again?"

"i've never... kissed. no one." he looked down, standing on the balls of his feet.

it wasn't that bad, right? you couldn't wrap your head around it, with him being so kind, smart, dedicated and with that defined body of his- ah.

"i can teach you"

"shouyo has tried but-" you raise your hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

"proper, hands-on teaching. come to my house on... thursday. no one's home, and you don't have practice." behind him, kageyama was rapidly walking towards you- him, really, and he looked a bit mad. "time to go. see you!"

"you didn't even give me time to process, you just ran away and left me with an angry kageyama practically dragging me to practice" he says, still avoiding your eyes. you had plenty of time, but having him so close and all to yourself made it intoxicating. you want him now. so you nod, inch closer to him who's at the edge of the bed. face to face.

"'m sorry, i was nervous too." middle and pointer finger dance up his arm, resting on his shoulder. "tell me to stop and i will, yes? it's just kisses." it's his turn to nod, and he finally looks at you. you give him a close-lipped smile and peck his cheek. "close your eyes."

he obeys, long eyelashes brushing against his skin. you lean in, softly pressing your lips to his. after a few seconds, you pull away.

"that's a peck." he nods again, his hand moving to properly hold yours.

"i gave my cousin one when we were babies."

"yeah, been there... i'll kiss you properly. do what i do, okay?" you look at him, he whispers okay and you lean in, a simple peck again. your free hand moves to the nape of his neck, slightly parting your lips. he does so, too, and you kiss. your lips move, softly, unsynchronized and so, so sweet.

his lips are soft and taste faintly of the lemonade you offered him when he got to your place. he gains confidence after a few movements, leaning in and doing his best to keep up with you and the pace that's been set.

you feel bold, so you tug him closer and deepen the kiss, a choked uhmf leaving tadashi as he adjusts to the new sensation, his hands on your waist, gripping tightly.

it's all so nice, not smooth, but the innocence of it makes your stomach flutter every time your teeth end up clashing or your noses bump into each other. he pulls apart, glossy lips spreading into a smile.

"what"

"nothin'. you're just really soft. i like it."

[bornagainmurdock]

ice cream // matt murdock

A new ice cream shop had popped up just outside of Matt's apartment. It was one of those shops with a rotating menu, and a dozen of the weirdest ice creams the shop employees could fathom.

It had been over two weeks since you and Matt had gone on a proper date, something that you promised to do once a week as a vow to make time for one another. It was your turn to plan, so you scheduled the day and time making sure Matt was availible, but not the place. This is where the new ice cream shop could come in handy.

"Can you read the menu to me again? I can't decide between a few of them." Matt was facing you, feeling you scan the menu over and over.

You had walked Matt here after he got off from work and decompressed for a bit. You didn't tell him where you were going until you stepped in the front door of the shop and he heard the silly pop music blasting on the speakers.

"Yah I can! Okay, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, you know the regulars. Then for ice cream, there's an olive oil avocado ice cream, mango passion fruit, marshmellow and liquid smoke, blueberry banana, and red hots and sriracha. Then for the sorbets there is raspberry cotton candy, blackberry kale, juniper mint, and mint lemonade." Each one felt like a tongue twister.

"I feel more confused. Are there two you're deciding between?" Matt was smiling, knowing this was the key to helping you decide your own choice.

"I have to know what the olive oil and red hots ones tastes like. How do those sound?" You said, leaning on Matt.

"Sounds great." He said before approaching the counter to order. He got you both one scoop in fear both would be too much if you got more.

Matt paid and you grabbed the bowls and spoons, leading him to a table to sit.

"First bites!" You said grabbing a small spoonful, Matt doing the same, to 'cheers' one another. "Ooo, Matty what do you think? I really like the olive oil one actually. Here have a bite."

You grabbed another spoonful and passed it to his lips.

"I think you're right, the olive oil is oddly really good. I didn't expect to like the red hot one this must either. Here."

He passed a bite to you as well, waiting for your mouth to find his spoon.

"Oh damn! I don't know how they made both of these weird flavors so good but we're coming back here regularly now."

"I concur." Matt said, giggling.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

10 Jikook Fanfictions Part 1

I said I'd make a list before the end of the year and I kept my promise. Now, it's difficult to choose, especially when I have more than 300 bookmarks and unfortunately I also started doing that some year and a half ago. Safe to say, there's probably plenty of good fics I read that are now lost. Anyway, enough with the boring chit chat, here's 10 random jikook fics in no particular order and most likely, several other parts will follow, probably next year 😉

1. Dead in the Water

It's been a couple of years since I read this and honestly, I barely remember much, but what I do know it's that it had an impact on me. Usually fics that have death as a central theme end up resonating with me, but perhaps it's because I've always been attracted to more darker fiction. This one is gritty and there's a lot of pain and I must have cried a lot (those tend to stick in my head)

2. we're holding hands beneath the silver screen

I think this story is taking place in the 90s (you'll see that a lot of the fics I recommend are taking place in the past). I think I ended up reading everything ChimneyCricket wrote, but this one remained a favorite. Coming of age during a summer in Jeju in the 90s. Apart from the theme, it's the writing that made me stick with it.

I'm not the biggest fan of young adult stories. Or better yet, it's not something that I'd go to as a preference. When I do, it's more of an indulgence and thankfully, I found some writers (like this one) who can do a really good job with the genre.

3. Stockwell

Another writer that I've become a big fan of after reading one fic of theirs. And I think it might have been Stockwell that did it for me. I like that it's fanfiction with adult themes for an adult audience. And I also resonate with a lot of the cultural references and themes. I will also admit that this fic leaning into the enemies to lovers trope was a selling point because I'm a sucker for it. I can't help myself.

4. Burn for You

This is a complete self indulgence for me and I embrace it. Just like watching Bridgerton is a guilty pleasure for which I don't actually feel guilty (and the inspo for this fic). This story has everything and I must say the combination of lust, fear of revealing feelings, rumors, proper behavior and hidden romance is a lethal combination!

5. Light of a century

I might have recommended this story before, but it being inspired by Up on Poppy Hill is not just due to the plot, but the writing is able to evoke that studio Ghibli mood. This fic is to be read on a hot weekend afternoon.

6. Map of the Soul

This might be one of the most complex fanfictions I read due to the amount of research needed, but also in the depiction of political contexts and identity politics. Most of all, I like it because as much as relationships are a vital part of the story, there is an entire world surrounding the main characters. Events and other people that have also room to develop and not just remain props that advance the story.

7. Proceed with Caution

I don't know what snatchim did with this fic, but it's the only one I ever reread multiple times and I'll probably do it again in the future. I don't even reread books from my library, let alone fanfics. But Proceed with Caution did it for me. Perhaps it's because of the process of Jungkook inevitably falling for Jimin and even though it's a bad thing considering the context, it's so good. Maybe it's the image of Jimin with a bellybutton ring or maybe because the picture of hot Californian days in the 70s is so vivid, it feels like a nostalgic Paul Thomas Anderson movie.

8. Dishwater World They Said Was Lemonade

The description does not do this story justice because it's so much more than that. It's a canon compliant thriller with really complicated and complex characters and once again, a story meant for adults who understand that it's fiction. Unfortunately, judging by the comment section, a lot of people cannot distinguish betweem real people and characters. For those of you who might be fans of Korean thrillers, this story might be the one for you. It's also one of my favorite jikook fics as well.

9. souvlaki

Need I say more, considering the description? This is a self indulgence as well, but of a different kind. If I happily read tropey fics, I also like the ones that can sound like a uni course. Set during the 1997 FMI crisis in SK, any reader will get familiar with a socioeconomic and political perspective of that time through the eyes of the main characters. If you're only looking for romance, this one is not for you.

10. you wouldn't remember

I think littleflumes might be currently my favorite writer of canon compliant jikook. I think the author really captured their dynamic in its essence and the room left for fiction perfectly fills in the holes left in the last 2 years and up until the present. But what did it for me, not only with this story, but the others in the series as well, is that it's concentrated almost entirely on the two main characters, almost living in a bubble of their own in which their relationship can be explored.

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Given that the farmer is frequently pulling weeds, it would make sense that there’s an occasional bit of skin irritation and burns from touching specific weeds. How would the SVE spouses respond to their partner getting burns from improper handling of weeds and plants?

I imagine Magnus and Sophia probably both know a bit about these plants and might have even told the farmer ahead of time to be cautious.

Oof, I can feel that nasty itch because of plants right on my own skin from just reading this ask.... Burns from weeds and plants, brrrrr!

Nevertheless, it's a very interesting question! Enjoy some headcanons, dear anon! 🫰💕

_________________________________________

SVE bachelors/ettes react to Farmer's weed burns:

Magnus Rasmodius:

Magnus could understand the first time a Farmer came home from the field covered in scratches and red spots. It happens, even the most experienced farmers and gardeners make mistakes.

...But this was the fifth time in a row.

"I can't get it why you allow this to happen, love. Treating weed burns is hardly a pleasant pastime." "But you do care about me, Razzy." "We can do that without the burns, you know."

After healing Farmer's skin, Magnus will ask his spouse what the reason is for their continued disregard for safety rules while pulling weed.

Maybe their farmer's overall isn't comfortable for work? Is it too hot in this clothes? Does the poor quality fabric make everything itch even more than the grass burns itself?

Let Farmer speak, and the wizard will find a solution. With or without magic.

Victor:

Victor covered Farmer with bandages and ointment almost from head to toe. Well, because Farmer was covered in red spots from head to toe, so that makes sense.

"You're allergic to weeds! What if you started having trouble breathing and then choking?

Farmer now definitely regretted not wearing their farm clothes to treat the field for weeds. Because worried Victor looks like he's going to cry.

And he can be understood - Farmer is risking their life not only on an adventure, but also on the quiet work on the farm field! Although they can avoid danger by at least wearing gloves.

Speaking of which... "Gloves, no buts! Please... don't injure yourself."

It's now Victor's job to remind Farmer for proper farm clothes and gloves (also lightly slap their hands when they want to scratch itchy skin).

Lance:

Lance's stern look immediately made Farmer realise that they were now in trouble for their own carelessness.

Though it would seem they hadn't been on the missions for a week or so, fully immersed in harvesting a bountiful crops. But now...

"You're constantly risking your life fighting monsters. So why would you risk your life in your own home? Such an aggressive weed allergy can quickly go from annoying itchiness to suffocation."

Lance activated his healing magic and began treating Farmer. "...You want me to find you with no signs of life in your own field?" Ouch...

"No more risking your health like that, my love." From a stern look to a look full of concern for his loved one.

If need be, Lance could put a special protective barrier on Farmer's skin, but wearing protective clothes necessary too.

Sophia:

Sophia always had a first aid kit nearby for such occasions when she had to treat grapes for weeds.

She thought that her partner, as an experienced farmer, had also done their best to prevent burns from weeds and grass at work.

But judging by Farmer, whose skin showed a multitude of red spots, the pink-haired girl was wrong.

Poor Sophia was thrashing around the house looking for the first aid kit, quickly treating Farmer's skin.

She absolutely hated to see Farmer squirming in pain. Why didn't he wear special clothes to provide this unpleasant occasion?

She tearfully asks them to be more careful next time.

From now on, Sophia is vigilant to make sure her spouse doesn't forget to put on farmer's clothes, and she always has the burn ointment with her.

Olivia:

Olivia nearly dropped the glasses of cold lemonade in her hands when she saw Farmer on the doorstep.

"Honey! You're all red and swollen! Did you... Picking hogweed? Without special clothes?! You're terribly allergic!

Considering how panicked and almost screaming Olivia was while on the phone with Harvey, the doctor arrived at the farmhouse instantly.

Thankfully, everything turned out okay, but the former accountant (along with the doctor) later scolded Farmer for being so careless. Allergies are no joke.

Olivia apologises for panicking in the evening, but Farmer must promise her that they will no longer put themselves in danger while working on the farm.

She will then order an anti-allergy medication so that next time she can help her spouse immediately, rather than panicking over the phone.

Claire:

Claire, looking at the abrasions and in some places red spots on Farmer's skin, at first thought that her beloved spouse had managed to fight with someone.

But upon closer inspection, the ginger girl immediately realized it was because of the weeds.

"I'm allergic to certain plants too, bluegrass for example. I have an ointment in my bag that will definitely help with burns like this."

Farmer can't help but notice the sadness in Claire's eyes as she dabbed the ointment on them.

"Please be more careful next time, dear. I'm so worried about you."

She keeps reminding Farmer to dress better so they don't get grass burns again. Or would leave them little notes in the kitchen if Claire was busy/at work.

[swan2swan]

Yasammy Week Recap:

Day 1: "Hurt/Comfort"

This one was basic and simple; me just starting out. I probably could have done better, but, hey, Yaz literally comforting Sammy to calm her down from a full-blown panic attack works. As a sidenote, it's incredible that the writers had Panic Attacks be a Yaz Thing, and then brought her back to show that she's currently the Best Qualified on the team to deal with them (and fixed up her relationship issues with Sammy in the same blow, it's SO CARTOONY but perfect, I feel like we don't get these one-episode resolutions that often anymore).

Day 2: "Firsts"

This was a fun one, and probably the only one that I actually had some mental tryouts for. First kiss? First meeting? First teamup? There were so many choices...but this one felt right. Yasmina admitting that this is her first time having feelings for someone of the same sex (and the word "crushes" clearly means that Sammy's her first partner, too!).

Day 3: "Prom"

This is where things started falling apart, obviously. If we'd been given a proper five seasons with all sorts of Lost-style flashbacks and fantasies, I might have been able to pull something legitimate out. But also...Sammy said the word "prom", and also let it slip that she either loves fancy dresses or loves girls in dresses...and you know what? I count the latter as a point toward Yasammy.

Day 4: "Proposal/Engagement"

I don't remember how my brain wandered over to this, but I do know that I was lying down in bed at that time, because I literally sat bolt upright. My eyes snapped open, and I leaned up to secure all of that brain juice, as I realized the famous "Alan Grant uses two female buckles to tie himself in, foreshadowing the female dinosaurs finding a way to breed" could also have some WLW implications. It was a good joke, and you know what? As Sammy Gutierrez said: "It's beautiful, and we should be proud."

Hopefully, if the same prompt comes up next year, I can use a gif that actually includes the literal characters, and not metaphorical versions...Chaos Crew, please.....

Day 5: "Track Meet"

I think I was walking home when this one clicked in my mind, and I think I did a little hopskip and a dance. I was initially considering something like the two of them running for their lives together, or Sammy telling Yaz that she needed to rest to win gold medals in the future...but then, I thought about wordplay. I wondered if they were ever standing in dinosaur footprints, or tracking something. Then I thought about train tracks, and realized...yes. YES. This was perfect.

Had this not been available, I think I might have played with Yaz's scene where she uses running to realize her love for Sammy. Which is just a beautiful metaphor and a wonderful scene. Gifset's coming soon, by the way, I have the whole thing captioned.

Day 6: "Baking"

For every peak, there's a valley. Sometimes, you win. Sometimes, you lose. This was kind of a loss, because the girls sadly don't do any baking together. I considered the part where they're throwing the chips into the fire (TOXIC FUMES, GIRLS, DON'T DO THIS AT HOME, KIDS), but that's not really "baking". Furthermore, the Powers That Be chose to deny us any cooking escapades on the island, and while Sammy certainly bakes pies, Yaz is never present during those scenes...and, yes, I checked, and she never mentions her girlfriend while doing so, either. She only talks about her while fetching lemonade, which is different. Thus, I found myself in a sticky situation...which was kind of like the weather this month! So, it felt appropriate to use the concept of "baking in the sunlight on a hot day" here. I do like Sammy's silly little wave, and Yaz looking pityingly over at her.

Day 7: "Free Day"

This one, well...it ended on a bit of a sad note, but I was looking for something I had already set up. The caption is "Free Day", so I didn't want to put any work or effort into this. And while browsing my files, I saw that this one had the word "date", which is close to "day", and "expiration", which is the end of something, so...it felt apropos for the finishing touch on this beautiful week.

[thescarlettbitch]

Worshipping Inanna / Ishtar

This is an informative post about how Inanna was worshipped, or believed to be worship, back in her time, and at the end I'll share how I worship her.

Ritual sex - her high priestess would have ritual sex (whether it was true sex or symbolic is unknown) with the new king to ensure his fortune.

Gender non-conformity - her cult was primarily composed of those outside the binary, and shows men and women adopting the opposing dialect and engaging in sex with each other.

Music and art - most of her myths are in the form of Hymns, and most of her followers were artists, musicians, or dancers. Specifically, war dances would be done in her temple.

Libations - a libation is the ritualistic act of pouring a liquid offering straight from a container onto the earth. In depictions, the person doing the offering was naked.

Unfortunately, due to the passage of time, many specific rituals have been lost. I've scoured and this is really all I can find about her ancient original worship, and a lot of it is disputed because no one knows what was a metaphorical ritual or an actual ritual.

That being said, here is how I worship her in the modern day.

Self-confidence - Inanna was not one to be meek, it is said by many experts and proven in her myths that she was headstrong and didn't care how she was perceived. To honor her, I wear whatever I want. I have a very alternative style and I used to fear people looking at me. She has helped silence my worry and in turn, helped me gain confidence.

Non-conformity - I'm nonbinary, and although my femininity is a major part of my identity, so is masculinity, and so is androgyny. Learning that she had a queer cult following was so liberating, as before learning that I felt like it was wrong of me to work with her. So every little thing I do that isn't in the social construct of the gender binary is for her.

Libations - lucky for me, this is one area of her ancient worship that can be done in a modern setting. I don't have a "proper" container, I just use a normal glass. I've done it with water, coffee, tea, lemonade, and even kool-aid.

Honey/Butter cakes - in, I believe, Inanna and The God Of Wisdom, Enki welcomes her with honey/butter cakes and alcohol. I have only made a honey cake once before and it was shit, but I plan on trying again soon to combine both into a honey bourbon cake. I know they didn't have bourbon back then, but it's a local good I can find and adds a personal touch.

Self love - my fiancé lives across an ocean, so some things we can't do together (both living with family and thin walls), so to honor and worship her, self love is a great way for those in similar situations and she enjoys it from what I've seen.

Offerings - usually dates, sometimes cherries, often lemonade or tea, and more recently honey whiskey. These offerings might not be "traditional" in style, but they work for me and her. I have a small glass from an old Costco tiramisu and an iridescent bowl I got half off at our local grocery, both have an 8pointed star on them. Usually I sit them out for days at a time, or at least over night, and then either ingest them or just toss it in the trash (any other alternative isn't doable in my current situation)

Music - I listen to a variety of music with her, songs about sex, love, anger, fighting, injustice. She loves it, and if you want more detail on this I have a post about the songs on her playlist here.

Driving with the windows down - I love driving, and I feel like doing so with the windows down is an easy multitasking way to cleanse myself and invite good vibes in. Usually I do this while playing her playlist.

Making posts - it may seem a little silly, but a way I honor her is keeping her and her family alive. They are old deities, their civilizations and worshippers lived about 6,000 years ago, and some of her family have had their names lost to time. Making posts about them helps get word out, and keep them "alive".

Digital temples - I play the sims 4 and I saw someone talk about how they wanted to make a temple to their goddess in the game, so... I'm making my own. And will probably have my sims "worship" her via a club. Some people don't see this as an act of worship, but I do. As @thrashkink-coven said in this post, the gods are as modern as they are ancient. I know she enjoys it.

I will go through and make a full post detailing specific UPGs (personal practice things not backed in historical fact) with her, for anyone interested.

[notahorseindisguise]

corn did you know., they dont have solo in america. this is killing me

YEAG the idea of lemonade in australia and america is VERY different . they have drinks similar to solo tho but i don't remember what its called. american lemonade is like real proper stuff, like what we call lemon squash . and then solo is a carbonated version of lemon squash

[treason-and-plot]

“Where’s Roy?” says Sonia after she has hugged all the children and given Violet a quick but loving kiss on the lips. “Isn’t he coming?”

“Yeah, he's here. He just had to go to the bathroom,” says Henrietta. Violet gives Sonia a knowing look. Sonia arches her eyebrows high in reply. “Later,” Violet mouths. She isn’t going to let Roy ruin her reunion with Sonia, who looks incredible- clear- skinned and animated and glowing with health.

“Are you all better now, Mummy?” says Alexandra.

“Very nearly,” says Sonia with a smile. “I just needed a lot of rest. And some…tools.”

“What kind of tools?” says Angus.

“Coping tools,” says Sonia. ”For when things get a bit too much.”

“Cool,” says Angus. “Are you coming home soon? I’m getting sick of Apollo’s cooking. He puts too much garlic in everything.”

This makes Sonia and Violet laugh. The girls fill Sonia in on what has been happening at school, and the fact that they have all lost baby teeth since Sonia ‘went away.’ Angus’s football team made the semi-finals. The Book Club selection for this month is ‘Down the River Unto the Sea’ by Walter Mosley, chosen by Violet. And their friend Effie announced at the Book Club meeting last week that she’s pregnant!

“That's wonderful. She must be so happy,” says Sonia. “Where was the meeting held? At Lyndall’s house?”

“Yeah, and everyone was bitching about how cold it was, but she wouldn’t turn the heating on,” says Violet. “She served up some delicious lemonade scones, though. I got the recipe.”

“What reason did you give them for me not being there?” says Sonia.

“I just said you weren’t well,” says Violet. “Nobody asked any questions. Well, nobody except Judy, of course. You know what she’s like. But she realised I wasn’t going to tell her anything so she shut up. Eventually.”

“She’s such a gossip,” says Sonia. Angus and the girls ask if they can go for a walk around the grounds.

“There’s a lovely fishpond down the end of that path,” says Sonia. “You should go and have a look. Please makes sure nobody falls in, Angus. And don’t talk to anyone.”

"I've missed you so much," says Violet after the kids are our of earshot, plonking herself down next to Sonia. "I need to give you a proper kiss. Come here."

They are so engrossed that they don't hear Roy approach.

"HELL YEAH," he whoops, punching the air. "That's what I'm talking about. Hey, is either of you hungry? How about both of you scooting over and making some room for a Roy sandwich?"

[thatone-artsykid]

INTRODUCTION POST (i guess)

Ummmm... Since I have almost 300 followers, then ig, i should make some welcome post or smth, so, HIIIIIIII, HAIIIIIIIII EVERYONEEEE!!!

(I'll TRY to keep this updated, no promises tho)

I'm Kamil, you can either call me by my name, or Kamik, or any other way you want (except slurs ofc, unless we're close friends lmao). I am a minor, trans/enby artist, who went to artschool BUT most of the art has learned by themselves:333

Art

The comms are open!! (Feel free to ask about em if you have any doubts)

Askbox is also open, if you have any doodle ideas or smth, feel free to share (I don't promise I'll do em, sowwy😭)

I mostly do digital art (I use Krita for everything), occasionally i do some scribbles in my sketchbooks, doodles in class, or generally school assignments (which i hate, but let's move on). I am a multifandom artist, who draws whatever they are hyperfixating on (rn im again stuck in re8 brainrot).

Here's the list of fandoms im (mostly) in:

Resident Evil series (mainly Resident Evil Village)

Just Shapes and Beats

Hollow Knight

Detroit: Become Human

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (mostly Stardust Crusaders)

Original characters

I'm trying to finally bring my original characters to life, and give 'em a proper lore (which isn't going well, for now, lmao). Here's the list of em!

Claire/Clara Heisenberg (re8, Karl Heisenberg is her uncle, who became like a father to her)

Carl/Clara Heisenberg (same as Claire, but in D:BH universe)

Kazakura Marcatney (jjba part3, i'm shipping her with Kakyoin Noriaki)

Surya (Kazakura's stand)

Asuril and Lumi (Hollow Knight oc vessels)

Blixer Fresh (my version of that circle coward from jsab)

Lessyr (golden eyelash pit viper oc I made based off a song Snakes from Solence)

Spooder (a jumping spider oc I made when I was bored)

Bumblee (oc based off my ikea bumblebee plushie)

Other socials i post on (including my redbubble shop)

ThatOne._.ArtsyKid

That1-ArtsyKid

Now, let's settle out, 🚫DNI 🚫 if you either are a:

transphobe/homophobe/anyother lgbtq+phobe, a terf, JK Rowling Supporter, pro-shipper, racist, NSFW/18+, p0rn bot, sexist, or any other problematic folk (if you have an blank blog with an emtpy bio, then im also gonna block you)

More things about me :333

I come from Poland (therefore my english might not be the best)

My b-days are on 29th April

I have 4 budgies (named Lemon, Lemonade, Lime and Larry) and one rabbit (named Robin)

Im not the best with human interactions, sowwy

I easily get overwhelmed, and tend to disappear for few hours/days if I do, bear with me

Not looking to become friends with anyone, but if our vibe match, then hell yeah

I'm taken by the sweetiest pookie ever existed on this earth (my bf)

I have a tons of plushies occupying my bed

I've lived most of my life having high anxiety levels, so now im tryna take everything slowly (please be patient with me)

My fav music genres are metal, alternative metal, rock, rap-rock or anything that sounds good for me

I mostly listen to System Of A Down, Solence, My Chemical Romance, Grandson, Linkin Park and Cavetown (ofc)

I want to have many face piercings and tattoos in the future (I wish to have a septum, snake bites, a helix piercing and brow piercings so bad)

i'm a really really big bug nerd, if you have any cool bug pics, SEND EM OVER!!(im not joking)

my fav drinks are green tea and mojito (alcohol-free cuz i despise alcohol)

My comfort characters are:

Karl Heisenberg from re8 (I see him as a father figure)

Connor from dbh (the tism android)

Kakyoin from jjba part 3 (he's such a nerd, istg we'd go along together)

Lucas Baker from re7 (im not joking, i love this psycho-nerd)

Luis Serra Navarro from re4 (he so diva)

Angel Dust from hazbin hotel (i love him by his feminity and sassines)

Quirrel from Hollow Knight (another father figure, yes, I see a pillbug as a father figure, don't judge me)

[inaconstantstateofchange]

back at you though, drinks edition? a type of drink you couldn't do without, that is your go to for any occasion? give us the specific deets, recipe if needed

oh no you've activated my trap card i love drinks

okay so special occasion drink: brown sugar boba (50% ice 50% sweet) but specifically from the tea shop close-ish to my house. it's expensive so i don't go often but holy shit. they use actual proper tea and fresh-as-hell boba and it's just. it's so good, i think anything from there would be insanely worth it (but i've never bothered to branch out from perfection).

my daily bev: i can't be too specific on brand without lowkey doxxing myself a tad, but there's a local company that does this flavored black tea with cornflower, raspberry, red plum petals, and blueberry, and it's just. it's incredible. mellow and rich and lightly (but not overwhelmingly) floral and fruity. i have it every single day and i'm convinced it is the perfect tea.

and two other faves because you asked for recipes:

strawberry (cheong) lemonade: okay so this is more effort than truly necessary, but i went to one of those u-pick strawberry places last summer and then the cultivar fucking sucked so they weren't even good, so i made cheong with them, which is a korean fruit syrup/preserve you make by layering equal amounts of fruit and sugar in a jar and letting them sit (i put them in the fridge just to be safe) for a few weeks.

the end result is preserves that you can blend into a bangin' spread and a fruit syrup that is like the nectar of the fucking gods. i didn't think it would make a huge difference doing it that way rather than a typical heat-based reduction, but it tastes like fresh strawberries. you don't lose any of that to it breaking down via heat treatment, so similar to the difference between a cold brew and a heat-based one.

anyway those mixed with lemonade (i make a concentrate using half lemons and half regular lemon juice, and include some lemon zest) makes one of the best summer drinks i've ever had.

i'm adding a cut for the last one because i can't/won't stop now but i have some self-awareness. okay, last one:

vanilla chai: i haven't made this in a bit, because when i moved here i ended up using up my stock of cardamom, and the local brand available here is just... not it, and i'm still trying to work out the most cost-effective way to order them online. which is devastating, because cardamom is the flavor most beloved to me in chai. anyway-

the thing that rocks about chai is that it is not actually all that hard, and you can customize it so specifically to your taste. my go-to add-ins are cardamom (5-6 pods, crushed open), cloves (2-3), cinnamon (about half a stick, crushed a lil), fresh ginger (idk how to measure this one, like an inch or two?), and vanilla. i used to use vanilla bean paste i got ages ago as a gift, but that is too rich for the world we live in nowadays, so it's whatever vanilla i have.

technically there's a specific kind of tea you're supposed to use, but i prefer it with regular loose-leaf black tea (which i always have on hand anyway). so you basically get a small pot, and bring your water (about half to 3/4 of your mug) to a boil. once it does, add your tea leaves and spices (not vanilla tho) and let them vibe out there for 5-10 minutes.

then, add your milk (about half of your mug) and vanilla, and warm to desired temp, but don't let it boil (this is my personal preference). add desired amount of sugar to your mug (i usually do a small spoonful of white and a small spoonful of brown sugar) and pour the chai into the mug through a fine mesh sieve (to get out the spice bits). if you have a milk frother, i like to aerate it a bit before drinking (improves flavor and also makes it less likely to burn your tongue).

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to Miracle Creator's Chapter 144

TLDR; HD drinks Ron's lemonade. Dead mana is called Black Death Energy. Demon Cult plan to go on a destroying spree. GED meeting begins.

Soos? LSH = ✅ CJS = ✅

HD and Cale's Conversation Continuing from last chapter, HD doubted tsundere Cale's words that he was "perfectly fine." 😂 And then there was the part where Ron served both Cale and HD lemonade, saying that it was Cale's preference... HD took a sip and paused before saying that Cale had a unique preference. 🤣🤣🤣

HD was also aware of Cale's disposition. His Demon Cult members had proposed to make their new benefactor as their "Great Elder," but HD refused, saying that Cale would not like something that was bothersome and tie him down. Aww... Cale and HD only knew each other for a few days, yet they understood each other so well.

Black Death Energy So the Blood Cult called that formulation mixed with dead mana as Black Death Energy (BDE). I won't go into the details, but HD was injected with the highest amount of BDE every year.

Then there's our Cale who goes "If HD has the highest amount of BDE, then purifying the other Living Jiangshis will be easier!" Of course, he earned the silent stares of everyone in the room, including HD. 🤣🤣🤣

Let's Destroy Everything Raon faced HD with sparkling eyes when HD said that he would just destroy everything when dealing with the Blood Cult. 😂 It was HD's quick solution to the Blood Cult problem. Cale was uncomfortable and tried to dissuade HD, but everyone seemed to be on HD's side.

Cale and the Soos We've recently be blessed with Soos content. However, Cale was feeling awkward at how LSH and CJS did not react much upon seeing him cough blood. LSH simply stayed by Cale's side while CJS went off somewhere with CH.

These three who used to be so close are now like this... Perhaps, like in CH and CJS's case, someone should plan for these three to talk it out properly. I don't think those three had a proper talk yet, right? Unless author tells us that they did it off-screen. 😒

Ending Remarks Nothing exciting happened today as this was mostly a chapter focused on planning. Next chapter is the meeting of the Caleism believers GED. I guess we'll have misunderstandings and poetry again. See you all next week to find out how Great Elder Kim Hae-il will handle the meeting!

[prefect30]

At The Heart Of It All

Warnings: DARK short story, death, blood, cannibalism, toxic freind, grotesque scenes, and one slightly suggestive scene. Please read with caution! This is a DARK SHORT STORY, if any of these warnings are triggering to you, then don't read this. Your media consumption is choice. This is all FICTION.

In the slums of California, where trash was mountain high, the rats living in the streets saw them as castles. However, stay clear of these rats, for you don’t know if the one you end up finding could talk or not.

It was clear to see that living in the slums of California was not ideal. The kids living there could be seen wearing worn out clothes, hand-me downs, and those in the worst cases, rags. Surrounded by trash everywhere, the putrid smell of dead rats (most kids chose that those dead are the non-talking ones to help keep their days going good) and just straight up trash could be smelled from all the way in Washington.

With its crime ridden streets, many riots, robberies, and on the occasion, murders, no one, even the many rats that would help in these events, were safe. The police have tried to stop at least some of  the crimes and bring the crime rates down, but it has gotten so out of hand that they have just given up. But to begin with, they never really were good cops. With most of them having a beer belly and almost all of them being over 50, most were in due time to retire or just give up. But the younger ones, the ones more fit for the job, well they gave up too once they realized they could make more money being one of the rats. Letting most rats out of the cage by “accident” because what is a reward with no risk?

However, the lucky ones, like Lilith, could be seen living off in the distance, in her pristine, castle-like home. She was one of the few lucky, rich families that could afford proper protection from the rats living in the slums and shelter. Spending most of her time in her Victorian themed bedroom, she truly was living like a princess. Her light pink drapes, hanging high from her windows, brought much darkness into her baby pink room. Her blush pink canopy would lull her to sleep as it would gently dance to the wind singing to her every night.

Her hair was rich as dark chocolate and skin as pale as snow. Her pearly white smile shone as bright as day. Towering over all her peers, she stood at a lofty 5’9, ever the long stick she was. However, it was her eyes that were the main attraction. Her bright, sapphire eyes always captured people’s attention, always shining like the true gem itself. 

The beautiful eyes could always be seen. Wherever she was, whoever she was with, her cerulean eyes would be the first thing one would see even in the darkest of places.

Her mother taught her from a very young age to always be polite, sweet, kind, and everything a boy could want in a wife. With her mother, drilling it into her head with a jackhammer, she would never forget what she taught her.

The voice of an angel, soft and delicate could only describe as she was to the ones she talked to. She seemed to float as she walked and would glide across the stage when she would dance, yet another thing her mother thought was needed to increase her feminine traits. She could sit at your normal Chick-Fil-A and eat as if she were dining with the Queen of England.

So here she was, eating lunch with her friend, Nelly, at Chick-Fil-A as if she were at a fancy tea party.

“Did you watch the newest Scream movie yet? I know that you’re a huge fan.”

Ah, yes. Scream. It was Lilith’s favorite movie of all time, with American Psycho coming in as a close second. 

“No. I didn’t get the chance to go to the theater yet to see it. I don’t think my mother would be too fond of me watching the film anyways.” Grabbing her lemonade, Lilith took a sip after answering.

“God, why do you always talk like you got a stick up your ass?” Nelly reached over and grabbed a fry from Lilith’s nicely splayed food on the tray the food came on.

Incompetent pig.

“It’s just proper English. Now come on, we should go now, it’s almost supper time.” Lilith gracefully jumped down from her chair as she started to clean up her area.

“Supper time. I mean, really! Who even talks like that.” Nelly exclaimed, waving her hands around like a lunatic.

“Proper English, my friend. Proper English.” Lilith patted Nelly’s back, subtly pushing her out of her chair.

“Supper time. Phh. Old lady talk.” Nelly muttered, pushing her chair in and throwing her food onto Lilith’s tray.

Lazy ass.

Walking out of Chick-Fil-A, the sun was slowly saying goodbye, leaving pink and yellow skid marks across the sky. God, how Lilith hated sunsets.

I mean, what’s the point of having someone come and leave their mess everywhere, just for someone else to clean it up. The moon should be the one that everyone loves, oh so much. She’s the one doing all the work.

“Remind me again why you can’t come over tonight?” Nelly looked up at Lilith.

“I need to prepare supper for my mother and me. We are having chicken and I need to cook it before she gets home.” Lilith answered, looking down on Nelly.

“But we just ate? Why would you eat again?” Nelly gave a confused look to the tall stick.

“Because Nelly, my mother didn’t eat yet and I only ate my fries. You’re the one who truly ate.”

Like a damn pig.

“Oh.” Nelly looked down at her shoes.

Fuck.

“However, it was near supper time, so of course you ate. You were hungry, as one should be when it’s time to eat.” Lilith saved face, grabbing Nelly’s left hand.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right!” Nelly exclaimed, swinging both of their hands.

Continuing their walk to Lilith’s house, Nelly started to skip a bit, slightly dragging Lilith along with her. Anyone walking by could see just how uncomfortable Lilith was. How she looked as though bugs were crawling out of her. Piercing her skin, leaving tiny, maggot shaped holes, with small streams of blood, slowly oozing down her arm, covering her in her own dark red blood. As if the bugs, now at her feet, slowly start to gnaw at her shoes–like carpenter ants–and make their way up her legs, leaving deep bites, right down to the bone. As if they made their way all the way up her mangled body just to seep into her eyes and mouth, slowly choking and blinding her.

That is how Lilith felt right now, just from a simple hand holding that she, herself, initiated.

Finally reaching her house, Lilith tried to pull her hand away from Nelly, but she held on tighter and then pulled her into a hug.

“Bye Lily! See you tomorrow!” Nelly beamed at the girl.

Lilith swore she could feel the bugs on her backside now, slowly going down her body and stopping at her legs again. She could feel them bore deeper into her eyes and choke her harder at the close proximity and nickname. No one, and I mean, no one, called Lilith, Lily. It had the complete opposite of her name. The complete opposite of her.

“Lilith. See you tomorrow, Nelly.” Lilith grumbled.

“Right. Sorry, Lilith. Bye!” Nelly apologized, giving Lilith finger guns and she backed away.

Lilith gave her a fake smile and watched Nelly as she turned around and started to walk away, wondering how someone so simple-minded could get on someone like Lilith’s nerves so much.

Imbecile.

Turning around, Lilith picked the key out of her pocket, unlocking the door. Walking in, she looked at her beautiful castle like home, smiling. She took a minute to look around the living room. There was a small mug resting on the short, crystal living room table. Raising her eyebrows, Lilith slowly walked over to the mug, resting her dainty hand on the mug.

Warm.

Her mother must be home. Why was she home so early, Lilith didn’t know. She did know, however, that she hoped her mother didn’t want to spend bonding time with her. She couldn’t stand the woman. Thought that she was a wasted body. The female Frankstien, born without a brain. Though Lilith swore that even he had more brains then the woman could ever have.

“Hey honey! How was the walk with Nelly?” The woman gently asked, walking towards her daughter.

However, to Lilith, it sounded like the murderous siren calls. The one sailors would hear right before the sirens would show their true nature. She would give that to her mother. She was beautiful, but in the old timey way. Where you knew that she was once a beautiful woman, one filled with joy and hope. Now she just looks like a rose that someone tried to preserve in time, but it dried out much too quickly. Slowly rotting away.

“It was fine, mother.”

“That’s good. Did you have fun? Where did you guys go?” Her mother asked, trying to keep the conversation going, while moving closer to Lilith. Her mother thought that their conversations were always cut so short. She loved her daughter very much and while she always tried to make sure that she would always present herself in a very feminine way, it was her way of showing her love. Besides, she was helping her daughter. If this little girl is what took away her beauty, she was going to protect hers at all cost. She didn’t want to see her only daughter rotting away just like her.

Lilith, however, thought that her mother was asking too many questions and was way too close.

“I had a wonderful time, mother. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to prepare supper. I think that I’ll be fine by myself in the kitchen. Goodbye.” Lilith answered, putting her mother down before she could even ask a question to help her.

“Ok. I love you!” Her mother hollered to her as she watched her daughter walk away from her.

Rolling her eyes, Lilith walked into the kitchen and her eyes found the dead chicken right away.

Smiling, Lilith let out a quick sigh. She walked over to the kitchen counter and bent down to open up the middle drawer and pulled out her baby pink, flora design apron.

Bunny looping it around her waist, she grabbed the flour, breading, eggs, and knives. She got to work preparing the chicken.

Lilith loved preparing food, specifically meat. She loved how she could just let go and relax.

Digging her hands into the chicken, she gently pulled out the liver. Looking at the slimy, red liver, she wondered how it differed from a human liver. If it were to be stabbed, would it react the same way a humans’ would? She could know her answer to the chicken’s, but not the humans.

This angered Lilith. She hated not knowing things, especially when the things she had to do to attain what she wanted could be done, but just frowned upon by society.

Deciding not to linger on this, knowing it would only anger her more, she moved on to taking out the gizzard. Pulling it out rather quickly, she couldn’t wait to get to her favorite part. The heart. Gently taking the knife to her left, she cut open where the heart should be and sliced through the skin. She knew how to fix it up for her mother so she wouldn’t know she did this. As she put her dainty hand into the chicken, she delicately wrapped her hands around the heart and pulled out the heart.

The heart was still a bit bloody, but Lilith didn’t mind. As she looked at the heart more, she started wondering again.

What would it taste like?

She had tried it cooked before, but never raw. Her mother always talked about how she could get Salmonella. But she never cared and each time she was told that, she never was talking or thinking about the chicken’s heart.

Putting the heart onto the counter to her left, she started to really get to work on the chicken. She cracked the eggs and poured the breadcrumbs into a medium sized bowl. Then she got to the chicken. She worked her way from the bottom up, meticulously getting rid of any imperfections.

While doing this, she reflected on her actions towards Nelly today. She knew she had gone a bit too far with the food comment, but thankfully was able to save herself.

So naive.

She needs to be more careful, Nelly is overly sensitive and will burst into tears at any given moment.

However, Nelly is a simple girl and so easy to manipulate. With her being a short, plump girl, she didn’t have many friends, and the ones she did have, she cherished. Friends like Lilith. Lilith knew the day she met Nelly that she would be annoying, but useful. Nelly came from a wealthy and influential family. So while Lilith was rich, Nelly was richer. And while Lilith held some power with her “ranking,” Nelly held more, even if she didn’t know it.

So whenever Nelly had a big decision to make, Lilith would always be there, to help her decide what to do. She needed Nelly to be dependent on her, and as annoying as the girl was, it would only benefit Lilith. She needed to get it into Nelly’s head that Lilith was the only one who would be there for her. The only one whose opinion mattered. The only one she needed for anything. 

Lilith was so deep in thought that she didn’t realize that she had completely gutted the chicken until she heard her mother’s shriek.

“Lilith! The chicken! What did you do?!” Her mother came barreling in and pushed Lilith out of the way and stood in front of the chicken, examining what her daughter had done to it.

While her mother was distracted by the mangled chicken, Lilith sneakily grabbed the chicken heart and put it into her pocket.

“What was the-why would?” Her mother took a deep breath. “Why did you do this Lilith?” Her mother said, finally looking up at Lilith.

“I was not paying attention. I got distracted, mother.” Lilith replied.

“You can’t get distracted when you are using knives Lilith! Just, just go to your room. Now.” Her mother said, looking back down at the chicken.

“Ok.” Lilith answered, taking off her apron and turning to go to her room.

Her mother just sighed. The chicken had been completely torn up and gutted. Lilith had taken the knife and sliced the chicken from the bottom up, opening it cleanly. She had put her hands inside of the chicken, completely ripping out its insides. What little blood was left on the chicken now covered its entire body, smeared everywhere. It was on the chicken, knives, and the counters.

Lilith couldn’t help it though. Of course she didn’t mean to, but her mind and hands had separate plans. Once she got her hands inside the warm chicken, she completely let go.

Oh well.

Reaching her room, Lilith quietly closed her door and locked it. She moved to sit on her beautiful cherry blossom colored bed. She sat down and just started at her baby pink walls.

Oh!

Then she remembered. The heart. The chicken heart.

She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it attentively. It was covered in blood from the gutting and was dripping a bit onto her white carpet floors.

Still warm.

She slowly brought it up closer to her face, a mere few inches away from her lips. She stared at it, mesmerized at how the blood seemed to glisten in the sun’s lowering rays. She brought it closer to her face, deeply inhaling its scent, her eyes fluttering in the pleasant smell. She then slowly lowered it to her mouth, lips caressing the heart as she thought about what she was about to do.

This is wrong. It is so very wrong. Sadistic even. Right?

As she heard her mother coming up the stairs, she quickly bit into the heart, eyes closing in pleasure. She heard her mother come closer to her room and she took another bite, moaning in delight from the taste.

“Lilith?” Her mother knocked on the door.

Of fuck off and let me enjoy this.

Lilith didn’t answer, instead she continued to scarf the heart down, getting its blood and juice all over her face, her bed, and carpet.

“Listen, I get that you don’t want to talk. I just-I’m sorry for yelling, but you can’t get distracted like that, Lilith. What if that were to happen with your husband? Who knows what he would do?” Her mother tried to reason with her.

Lilith just ignored the woman, too caught up in the heart she was almost finished. Besides, Lilith had heard this lecture before. Her mother would always “apologize,” but then right after would bring up how her future husband would react and how it was not very “ladylike.”

As Lilith continued to ignore her mother, her mother put her ear up to her daughter’s room and was horrified by the noises of squelching and moaning. Of course her mother thought the worst, but Lilith wasn’t doing that. No. She was simply just eating something delicious.

“Lilith, what are you doing?” Her mother whispered shakily.

Lilith, too caught up in eating the heart, missed the way her door handle jiggled and slowly opened as she finished the heart.

Her mother screeched in horror as Lilith looked up at her like a deer in headlights.

Shit.

“Oh, oh my Go-” Her mother started, but was cut off as she started to throw up all over her daughter’s carpet. Lilith grimaced in disgust watching her mother throw up.

Ew.

As her mother realized that she wasn’t going to stop throwing up, she quickly moved to Lilith’s bathroom and sat in front of the toilet, trying to aim the yellowish, pungent smelling fluid in there.

What am I going to do now?

Lilith didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t have her mother calling her crazy just because she wanted to try something different. And God, if the woman even tried to put her into therapy, oh, then Lilith would kill herself. She thought therapy was so stupid and only weak people had to talk to someone about their feelings and thoughts just because they couldn’t handle them themselves. And Lilith was not weak.

Maybe? No! That’s crazy. I can’t.

I shouldn’t.

I could.

…

Yes.

Lilith quickly picked the pen to her right–the same one she used to write in her diary–and carefully walked to her bathroom.

I can do this. I am not weak.

However, as Lilith got closer to her bathroom, she heard gurgling.

Quick. I need to be quick.

But when she entered, pen raised, she saw her mother lying down on the ground, choking on her own puke. Her mother was gagging, unable to sit up for some reason.

Why can’t she sit up? How are you able to find the strength to try to stay alive, but not sit up?

Lilith watched as the woman was gagging, unable to get air into her lungs from the puke blocking the way. As her mother reached for her daughter’s hand, Lilith stood still, unmoving or caring.

She watched in awe as the woman before her fought so hard to stay alive, but the odds were not in her favor.

She was going to die either way, either by the hands of nature or me. So why not let her choose the surprise option of her own hands?

Lilith stood watching for a few more minutes, waiting for her mother to die. She watched as each minute went by, something new would happen to her mother. The first minute, her face contorted into a pained expression while her face slowly turned all different colors of the rainbow, from red to indigo. The second minute, the puke started to bubble up around her mouth, pouring down her sides and she tried to coax it out without success. Lilith watched as her mother would sputter the puke around, causing it to land all over the floor of her bathroom, her mother’s clothing, and her mother’s face. By the third minute, Lilith knew that her mother would soon be dead. Her eyes had started to bulge from her socket–almost looking like they were about to pop out–and dark red tears started to fall from them. Slowly running down her face, mixing with the puke all over her face, making a red-orange, disgusting looking fluid. Her lips had turned an icy blue. When the fourth minute occurred, it was like Cinderella’s carriage had turned back into a pumpkin. Her mother’s body had caved in on itself, her hands turning in towards her body, looking broken. Her eyes had rolled to the back of her head and her body started to violently shake. Then, it all stopped. The blood tears, the puke sputtering everywhere, the bulging eyes, and the shaking. She was dead.

Well shit.

Lilith looked at her mother, tilting her head in curiosity. Was she really dead? Would it be like in Scream where the killer comes back to life for one last scare before they really die?

I mean, she was her own killer, so maybe she will come back to scare me one final time.

As Lilith waited for her mother’s final scare, it never happened. She truly was dead.

Lilith slowly walked out of her bathroom and saw how disgusting her room looked. There was blood and puke everywhere. Deciding to deal with her room and bathroom later, she went to her mother’s bedroom and walked straight to her bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. There was blood all over her face and mouth, speckles of puke on her chin that her mother so graciously gave to her, and her clothes and hands were drenched in blood.

Lilith didn’t even bother taking her clothes off as she stepped into the shower and started to wash herself. She felt a shock as the cold water flowed down her body.

She watched as the blood came off of her body and ran down the drain. She steadily started to pick her clothes off one at a time, starting with her socks and working her way up. Once she eventually got clean and got rid of all the blood and puke off her body, she stepped out of the shower and dried herself. She didn’t bother going to her own room to get clothes for herself, but rather grabbed what she needed out of her mother’s drawers.

When she was changed, Lilith walked downstairs to find that her mother had completely cleaned up the mess she made.

Mother.

Her mother was still up in Lilith’s room.

What am I supposed to do with her body? Call the cops? No. Well, I didn’t kill her, but I also didn’t try to help her. Whatever, I’ll figure it out later.

Lilith decided that she wouldn’t ponder on her mother’s dead body for longer, but instead she decided to call Nelly. Lilith needed to get out of the house for a few hours, and while she hated Nelly, this would only be a way to strengthen their friendship.

The line rang twice before Nelly’s mother picked up.

“Hello?” Lilith heard her say.

“Hello, Mrs. Hunapo! This is Lilith.” Lilith responded.

“Lilith, yes dear! How are you?” Mrs. Hunapo asked.

“I’m doing great. I was actually wondering if I could come over to spend some time with Nelly. I know we hung out earlier, but I just wanted to hangout with her again. And forgive me for sounding, one might say, clingy, but I kind of miss her.” Lilith finished her sentence trying to sound nervous, really making sure that she would let Lilith come over.

“Oh, my dear. Of course! You know, I was actually about to call you! Nelly just left a few minutes ago to come over to yours. She said something about being invited over for dinner.” Mrs. Hunapo told Lilith to her surprise.

What?

“Oh my goodness! I completely forgot about that! I am so sorry for bothering you, Mrs. Hunapo! I guess I’ll see Nelly soon then. Goodbye!” Lilith hung up before Mrs. Hunapo could even say goodbye. Lilith didn’t understand why Nelly would lie about her asking Nelly to come over for supper. Lilith never, and would never, invite Nelly to supper. She already has to spend the whole school day and most weekends with her, so why would she want to be around her for supper as well?

Then there was the even bigger problem. Her mother’s dead body.

Well, I guess I have to worry about that now.

Just as Lilith was about to try to somehow hide the carcass of her mother, the doorbell rang.

Dammit!

Lilith quickly collected herself and opened the door.

“Hey Lily!” Nelly said, giving Lilith a big hug.

Lilith, deciding that the nickname was the least of her problems right now, cautiously hugged Nelly back.

“Hey Nelly.” Lilith gritted out.

Nelly let go of Lilith and walked right into the house. As Lilith turned to close the door, that’s when she noticed that Nelly had a bag with her. A night bag.

She can’t be serious.

Nelly saw Lilith staring at her night bag with confusion.

“Oh, yeah. I hope you don’t mind, but I kinda might have told my parents that you also said I could stay over. Sorry.” Nelly said, looking down at her feet.

I do fucking mind you lying bitch.

“Of course not, Nelly! But why did you lie to your parents in the first place? I don’t remember inviting you to supper or over at all for that matter.” Lilith tried to joke, but it just came out bitterly.

“Oh. I-I thought that you wouldn’t mind, since we’re such good friends and all.” Nelly whispered.

“No. It’s fine Nelly. You know what, why don’t we just go to bed?” Lilith sighed, trying not to yell at Nelly.

“Ok! But, you don’t want to eat or anything?” Nelly asked, concerned for her friend.

“No. I’m fine. Besides, we both already ate earlier, remember? You can't possibly still be hungry?” Lilith said, trying to get Nelly shut up and just go to bed.

“Y-yeah, You’re right. Could I get changed maybe?” Nelly asked.

“Yeah, first door on the left.” Lilith told Nelly.

Lilith watched as Nelly walked into the bathroom to get changed and let out a sign of relief.

I just need to make it through the night. Then I can figure everything out. God, why do you always have to make everything so complicated, Mother?

Lilith waited patiently for Nelly to get dressed, but she was starting to get annoyed as the girl was taking forever. Every so often, she would hear a clank!

Did she fall or can she not get her fatass into her pants? It’s probably the latter.

Finally, Nelly came out of the bathroom.

“Hey, sorry I took so long, I was washing my face and teeth.” Nelly said, looking up at Lilith brightly.

“It’s fine.” Lilith forced out.

“Hey, um, where is your mom, if you don’t mind me asking? I thought she would be home by now or something.” Nelly asked.

Shit.

“She, um, she went on a date. Yeah, she uh, she met this new guy and has been spending a lot of time with him. She left right after supper.” Lilith quickly came up with, trying to sound sad to earn Nelly’s sympathy.

“Oh! I am so sorry for asking, Lily. I didn’t know. Why don’t we go to sleep now.” Nelly asked, trying to comfort Lilith.

“Lilith. But yeah, ok. Let’s sleep.” Lilith quickly said.

As Nelly tried to go upstairs, Lilith quickly stopped her, insistenting that they sleep downstairs in the living room. Nelly, of course, agreed.

The girls got adjusted on the floor, surrounded by blankets and pillows. Nelly had insisted that they sleep in a fort. Lilith reluctantly agreed, doing whatever she needed to make sure that Nelly stayed downstairs.

Lilith was looking at the top of Nelly’s Hello Kitty blanket, which she so kindly brought with her, and was trying to figure out how to deal with her mother’s body. She knows she shouldn’t think about it right now, not with Nelly over, but she couldn’t help it.

She couldn’t go to the police, she had already crossed that out earlier. She can’t just leave her there, she would start to rot soon and that would leave a dreadful smell. She can’t put it in a lake, there are none close to where she lives and she was not walking around California, holding a dead body.

As Lilith kept thinking of options, she got distracted by Nelly shuffling in her sleep out of the corner of her eye.

God! Lay still!

Lilith thought about burying the body in the backyard, but that would be too obvious. Plus, she would have to start a garden to cover up the dirt patch and Lilith did not like dirt.

Nelly kept shuffling and every so often, Lilith would hear her whimper.

Must be having a nightmare. Well, I’m living in one, you can just wake up. Granted, I did make my own nightmare, but still, she can wake up! Crybaby. Oh!

Lilith had done it! She had thought of the perfect plan. She would burn her mother in the fireplace, then she would convince everyone that she left for a lover, leaving her only daughter to live alone. She would get rid of her mothers body, get pity and sympathy from others, and her mother’s money. She would not be an orphan for long. No, she was almost eighteen. The second she would get out of that orphanage, she would get her money, house, and freedom. No one would know.

Lilith, closing her eye’s in sweet victory. Everything would go the way she wanted. She would get away with everything. With the money. With the house. With her freedom. Hell, even with the murder that she didn’t even commit! She could feel it in her heart. It was throbbing at a high rate, excited. She could feel it pumping blood all over her body from the exhilarating feeling she was getting right now. Her whole body just felt so warm right now.

Then it hit her.

Her heart wasn’t throbbing from excitement. No, it was from the hole she could feel in it. Her heart wasn’t pumping blood all over her body from the exhilarating feeling. No, her heart was pumping blood on her body from the cavity left behind in her heart. She was warm because of her blood.

What th-

Before Lilith could even finish her thought, her body started spasming from the loss of blood and the hole in her heart. She shakily opened her eyes, not understanding what was going on. As she opened them, she was graced with a face covered in blood. Her blood.

Nelly.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! GET O-” Lilith quickly shut herself up with a scream after Nelly pushed her 9 inch filet knife deeper into Lilith’s heart.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Nelly said, smiling sweetly at her.

Lilith knew that she was losing blood, and fast. A pierced heart does that to you.

“I know, I know! Why, Nelly? Oh, why!” Nelly said dramatically, laughing to herself. Lilith just looked at the crazed girl expectedly.

“Well, how about I just really wanted to see your fucking insides.” Nelly whsipered, taking the knife out of her heart and slicing her way down through Lilith’s body, finishing at her lower stomach.

Lilith just laid there, confused on how Nelly was getting to do the things that Lilith wanted to. She gutted the chicken, she won that one, but Nelly got to gut a person! A living person! She got to gut Lilith.

That’s not fair.

As Lilith watched Nelly worked her way through her body, she couldn’t help but wonder what brought this on. She was always so nice, innocent, and easy to manipulate. Maybe Lilith rubbed off on her too much.

Lilith let out a scream as Nelly ripped out part of her large intestine, getting blood all over her abdomen and Nelly’s hands.

“You know, I always wondered why you were so weird. I mean, who goes into the shower with clothes on?” Nelly said, as she looked at Lilith’s ripped up and bloody intestine.

What. God, even when she is literally killing me, she is so random. I mean, just shut the fuck up and finish the job. I already gave up, I know I’m not making it out of here.

Wait a fucking minute.

How the hell does she know that?

“What?” Lilith gurgled as she felt blood start to pool up in her mouth.

Like mother, like daughter.

“I mean really Lilith? Water and clothes don’t mix. Well unless it’s a swimsuit and you're in the pool or an ocean. Oh! In a hot tub too.” Nelly said, starting to rant as she threw her bloodied right hand around as she talked.

“Nelly! Ho-how did you know that I went into the shower with my clothes on?” Lilith asked in shock and confusion. She didn’t understand how Nelly could possibly know this and it was starting to worry her, more than gutting her. Did that mean she also knows about her mother as well?

No. She can’t. She never went upstairs.

Nelly smirked, “Well, I didn’t. The recording device stopped working and I figured that you had got it wet. I just assumed that you took a shower with your clothes on.” Nelly stated as if it was the most obvious thing.

“Recording device? Ne-” Lilith started, but was cut off by Nelly, “And really Lilith, you need to clean your bathroom. Smells horrible.” Nelly joked, looking Lilith right in the eye as she started to slurp Lilith’s intestine down as if it was spaghetti, getting blood all over her mouth.

The second Nelly said that, Lilith finally realized. She realized that she did feel those bugs on her legs, crawling right into her pant pocket. She realized that she didn’t feel a shock from the cold water, but from the electronic getting wet. She remembered that the vent in the spare bathroom downstairs went straight up to her bathroom, and realized that the clanking was from her removing and putting the vent back on to put her airhead in to see her mother. Her dead mother.

Lilith looked at Nelly in shock. How could she have missed all of the signs?! Lilith felt so dumb right now and she did not like that. Nelly just bared her teeth to her like a wolf after a kill, with blood smeared all over her face and little pieces of the intestine stuck in her blood stained teeth.

“What? Feel dumb?” Nelly laughed in her face.

Now that. That pissed Lilith off. Lilith weakly brought her hand up to hit Nelly, but Nelly was faster and stronger. She cut Lilith’s wrist, right to the creamy white bone. Lilith bellowed in pain. As she was distracted, Nelly set her knife down and shoved her hand into Lilith’s chest, ripping her heart out. Lilith let out another howl of agony.

Lilith’s eyes were barely staying open when she saw Nelly take a huge bite into her heart. She watched as her own blood splattered all over her, Nelly, and the blankets. She watched as Nelly's eyes fluttered close in pleasure, just like Lilith’s did when she bit into the chicken heart.

Nelly saw that Lilith was staring at her and her own heart intently. She smiled, licked her fingers off of the blood and said, “It tastes marvelous.”

Lilith just nodded.

“And don’t worry Lily, I’ll get rid of both yours and your mothers body for you. I’ll take that off your plate for you.” Nelly smiled, like she was actually helping.

“H-how?” Lilith stuttered, knowing that her time was up.

“I’m gonna feed you to the rats.” Nelly smiled, taking another bite into Lilith’s heart.

As Lilith's eyes slowly fluttered shut and her body gave out, she had only one thought left on her mind.

Which ones?

Thank you for reading my friends short story!

[cetaitlaverite]

Hypothetically speaking, if Daniel didn't die and he and Freddie were still together, possibly even engaged, but Freddie still somehow met Rosie, how do you think Freddie would react to meeting Rosie, and how would Rosie react to meeting Freddie?

this is such an interesting question (and, funnily enough, someone else also asked me the exact same thing - pictured above because i don’t want to leave that other anon out - so i’ve been thinking about it for a while). i think the big thing about freddie and rosie's story is whether you think they're the kind of soulmates who will meet each other in every lifetime and thus there's no universe in which they don't end up together, or if you think they're the kind of soulmates who come together once in a million lifetimes and the stars had to align to bring them together. i'm not sure, personally, which one i think is more plausible.

realistically, daniel has to die for freddie and rosie to cross paths. i'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, and freddie meeting rosie is the reason for daniel’s death. whether freddie and rosie might live a million different lifetimes and daniel dies in all of them or whether this lifetime is the only one they work out in - as i said, i don't know (i'm open to hearing thoughts, though!!!). but for fun let's imagine an alternate universe where daniel doesn't die. walk with me here.

in the fic freddie leaves the airfield she was assigned to originally, the airfield daniel flew out of, because she couldn’t stand to be there anymore after he died. so she’d still be there if daniel hadn’t died. but for the sake of this au, let’s say it’s a similar situation to cecelia’s; she gets transferred away from the airfield for some small infraction. in cecelia’s case it was for flirting with her pilot boyfriend over the radio, so let’s say it was that. so now she’s at thorpe abbotts.

there is the issue of daniel having been preparing to propose right before he died, which was in march 1941, so chances are by august 1943 when freddie meets rosie she would’ve been married. but let’s say that she wants to hold out until they can have a proper wedding where she can invite all her friends and family instead of just immediate family, so they have a long engagement. because there’s no wiggle room if she’s married.

everything else happens in the same way as normal. freddie goes home on leave for a few days and comes back and speaks german over the radio to a confused messerschmitt pilot to lure him in which has all the other w/ops lording her as a war hero when they go to the officers’ club that night. millie and bucky want her to drink beer, she wants to drink lemonade, the only person who buys her lemonade is rosie. what i think might happen in an au chapter 1 is as follows:

“Excuse me, ma’am,” spoke a voice from behind Freddie. It wasn’t a voice she recognised, and she liked to think with all of her accumulated experience talking to both the pilots and the radio operators over the radio she recognised voices rather well.

Turning, she found a pair of earnest blue eyes and a well-groomed moustache, a shy smile tilted above a proffered glass.

“Hi,” Freddie greeted in a chirp.

“Hi,” the man - one of the new pilots, by the looks of his insignia - replied. He shook his head a little bit, as though to clear it. “I hope you don’t mind, ma’am, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation and I thought - well, here’s your lemonade.” He offered the glass to her again.

He was handsome, this pilot who had bought her lemonade when no one else would. Not handsome like Daniel, who was all fair haired and boyish, crooked toothy smiles and mischievous eyes, but handsome in a gentle, mature way. Dark hair, striking eyes, soft smile, he was the kind of handsome which would have made Freddie’s heart flutter if she wasn’t engaged. Well, it fluttered, because whilst she was taken she wasn’t entirely immune to the charms of other men, but his handsomeness didn’t fluster her as it might have if she had been single.

“Oh,” Freddie said, accepting the glass of lemonade from him with a bright smile. “Thank you. That’s very sweet of you.”

He smiled again and she smiled back. “Nothing at all, ma’am.” 

She didn’t make to say anything else and he didn’t either, but he lingered as though he wanted to. Freddie considered him for a moment, in all his earnestness, and decided to take pity on him. He was sweeter than most of the American airmen she’d met at Thorpe Abbotts so far. “I’m Freddie,” she introduced herself.

The man smiled wide, less uncertain and more, just, happy. Like the sound of her name had solved his life’s biggest problems. “Nice to meet you, Freddie,” he answered her. “I’m Rosie.”

“Rosie,” Freddie repeated with a nod and a smile. “That’s a nice name.”

Rosie smiled wider. She had dimples. “Thank you, ma’am. Comes from my last name - Rosenthal.”

Freddie laughed to herself. “You don’t have to call me ‘ma’am’. Just Freddie is fine. That’s how everyone knows me.”

“Alright,” Rosie conceded. “Freddie it is.”

Freddie couldn’t seem to look away from his eyes. She was sure she’d never seen eyes so blue. Even in the warm, low lighting of the officers’ club they were somehow still glowing, bright and kind and alive. 

“So, uh,” Rosie started, with a certain degree of awkwardness. “They said you were on leave?”

“Yes,” Freddie confirmed, taking a sip of her lemonade. “I went home for three days, to Oxford.”

“That must’ve been nice,” he replied. He hated how he suddenly had so very little to say. She must have thought he was so, so boring.

Freddie couldn’t help it. She giggled at the awkwardness.

“Yes,” she replied again. “Yes, it was wonderful. Strange to be home, to be sure - I haven’t visited since Christmas - but it was especially lovely to see my dogs again. I don’t get any letters from them, see.”

Rosie chuckled lightly, nodding along with her, relieved at the release of the uncertainty. “Right,” he said. “They’re not big on writing letters, then?”

“They’re dogs of few words,” she agreed with a grin.

“How many do you have?” he questioned next.

“Dogs?” Freddie wondered. “Two. The big one’s Bruno and the little one’s Earnie, both boys. A German Shepherd and a Westie.”

“What are they like?”

Her eyes glinted. “Trouble.” She loved talking about her dogs.

“I always wanted a dog,” Rosie confided in her, tilting his head to the side and slightly down to let him meet her eyes more easily. “But where I’m from, in Brooklyn, we always lived in an apartment. No pets allowed.”

Freddie gasped. “That’s tragic.”

Rosie grinned. “I know. Someone oughta fix that rule.”

She sipped on her lemonade, nodding, contemplating. Instinctively, her eyes found the floor. 

Rosie watched her, tapping his fingers against his glass of beer. 

He opened his mouth to say something more - desperate to say something, anything, really, that might get her to smile again. Those dimples of hers - if he hadn’t signed up to go to war already he knew he would’ve enlisted just on their behalf.

But whatever he was about to say never made it out. It was for the best, probably, since he couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t have been something incredibly forward, some grand statement about her startling prettiness which she was bound to have heard a million times before. Instead, he was swiftly cut off by Millie, returning from the bar with two pints of beer, one in each hand. “Fred, I got your beer, and you are going to like it, god damn it, even if I have to pour it down your throat myself.”

Freddie rolled her eyes as she turned to Millie and watched with a faint grin as realisation dawned on her face. “Oh.”

“I have lemonade,” Freddie declared, holding up her glass for her to see. She took a sip from it to punctuate her statement and also to prove a point; if she said she didn’t want to drink beer then she wouldn’t be drinking beer.

Millie laughed, her eyes flicking between Freddie and Rosie. “Is that right? And who do I have to blame for it?”

“That would be me, ma’am,” Rosie answered, and Freddie noticed a glint in his eye.

“Rosie,” Millie replied with a tut. “Now why would you do that? You’ll only encourage her!”

Rosie shook his head with a light little laugh. “I just figured war heroes should get to choose what they have to drink, otherwise what’s the point of being one?”

Millie laughed along with Rosie’s joke and Freddie smiled to herself. This was the kind of man she wanted to see Millie with; sweet, thoughtful, a gentleman. Too many times she’d caught Millie’s eyes lingering on bolder, colder Americans who were so excited to be away from home for the first time, in spite of the circumstances, that they bulldozed their way through women like it was their job. But Rosie wasn’t like that, Freddie could tell. He had really listened to everything she’d said, had hung onto her every word even though they weren’t terribly interesting. He’d look after Millie, she was sure. And so she took her leave.

Freddie gave Millie’s arm a squeeze as she turned and beelined for the piano in the corner, setting her lemonade down on top of it before taking a seat at the bench. She lifted the key cover with all the reverence of someone who had never touched a piano before, smiling as she brushed her fingertips noiselessly across the keys, and laughed when she heard Bucky call out, “Fred, play Blue Skies!”

“I don’t know that one!” Freddie called back, which everyone knew was a bare-faced lie because she’d played it once before. The first time Bucky had requested she play it she had done so all too readily and consequently been confronted with the horror of a drunken, out of tune, up close rendition performed by one Major Egan himself. Never again, she had vowed as she reluctantly finished playing the tune. But her refusal had never stopped Bucky from asking.

Instead, while Jem hurried across the room to turn the gramophone down, Freddie started to play Stardust by Artie Shaw, which wasn’t quite romantic enough to make Millie give her a hard time for her lack of subtlety but which still had a certain air about it which always made couples want to dance.

“Fred, come on!” Bucky called, shaking his head playfully. “We want Blue Skies!”

“You’ll get what you’re given and like it, Bucky Egan!” Freddie called back, speeding up the tempo of her playing just a little bit to appease him into quiet.

It didn’t take long for Freddie to lose herself in her music - it never did. And over by the bar all conversation between Rosie and Millie had ceased. Rosie hadn’t replied to Millie as soon as he’d seen Freddie sit down at the piano, in fact, and he’d been mesmerised ever since.

She must have been some kind of angel, he thought, his lips hanging slightly agape, a warm flush high in his cheeks. With her eyes closed and her fingers moving fast across the keys, a soft smile on her face as she filled the club even to its most secluded corners with her beautiful music, there was no possible way she was a human being the way everyone else was a human being. There was no way she’d been born into the same world he had.

Millie was far from oblivious to Rosie’s infatuation. She had wondered, in fact, when she’d first met Rosie a few days ago while Freddie was back in Oxford, whether the two of them might hit it off. But there was, of course, one minor detail in the way of what she was sure had the potential to be nothing short of a fairytale.

“Rosie,” Millie said softly, hoping to draw his eyes to her.

Her efforts were to no avail. While Rosie hummed back at Millie, letting her know he was listening, his eyes were still firmly fixed on Freddie at the piano, on how she was giggling as Major Egan started trying to sing along to her instrumental.

Millie sighed and stepped in front of him so he’d have no choice but to look at her. “Rosie, she’s engaged.”

Rosie’s attention was not quite so hard pressed elsewhere anymore. “What?”

Millie nodded. “To a man she’s been with since she was fourteen. He proposed two years ago.”

“Then why ain’t they married?”

Millie wanted to laugh at his defensive tone of voice. He was clearly so invested already.

“Because Freddie wants to invite all her friends and extended family to the wedding and that just isn’t possible in wartime.”

Rosie stared at Millie silently for a moment, lost for what to say, before his eyes ventured over her shoulder to Freddie at the piano, finishing off her song and smiling shyly at the applause.

It couldn’t be, he thought, that she was going to spend her life with someone else. He barely knew her, true, but he’d always believed in his own convictions. He’d had girlfriends and some of them his mother had wanted him to go all the way with, but he knew himself and he’d always believed that when he met the right person he would just know. And he knew. With Freddie, he knew. She wasn’t supposed to be getting married to some childhood sweetheart, not when there was no one else for him.

“They’re having… some trouble, at the moment,” Millie said suddenly, diplomatically. She was frowning a little bit when Rosie looked back at her, as though she wasn’t entirely sure she believed she should be telling him this. “She’s been thinking about becoming a translator but he hates that she speaks German - she’s half-Austrian, see. And it’s been causing a bit of a rift. And she mentioned to him off-handedly that she’d like to teach their future children German, too, and he didn’t like that at all.”

Hope started to swell in Rosie’s heart like warm air in a balloon.

“But Fred -” Millie spoke abruptly, sensing the change in Rosie, “- she’s loyal. And I won’t tell you she doesn’t love him. All I’m saying is -” Millie sighed and ran a hand down her face, smudging her lipstick as she went. “All I’m saying,” she repeated as she glanced over her shoulder at Freddie, “is that it would take a lot to turn her head. So don’t get your hopes up or anything.”

His hopes were already up. How couldn’t they be? He had never before met anyone and been so immediately sure that they were supposed to be in his life for the long haul.

She was it for him. He knew it. He couldn’t explain how he knew it but he knew it, as he’d always trusted he would. With her warm brown eyes and her lemonade, her dimples and her talking about her dogs, he’d been smitten. But with her sitting at the piano and playing Artie Shaw so effortlessly, so elegantly, with that gentle smile on her face? Oh, he was head over heels. There was no possible version of his future which didn’t have her at its centre. There was no alternative. Her or no one. Absolutely only her.

Freddie was playing a different song now, a classical song Rosie didn’t recognise but which had filled the dance floor with couples. And her shoulders swayed as she played it. It was less like she was pressing down keys and playing a song from memory and more like she was carefully extracting from her heart whatever story the piano wanted to help her tell.

Yeah, Rosie thought, she’s the one for me.

As though she could feel the weight of that decision, could feel how Rosie had just tied himself to her, Freddie opened her eyes and met his, inexplicably, across the room.

[scaryfangirl2001]

Racetrack Deal (fanfic, 1356 WC)

@flufftober

The sun hangs high in the sky, a relentless ball of fire beating down on the asphalt of the racetrack parking lot. The air is thick with the scent of gasoline and sweat, mingling with the fresh aroma of cut grass from the nearby fields. Rick wipes his brow, the heat making his black polo shirt stick uncomfortably to his skin. He checks his watch; it's just past noon, and the first race is about to begin.

As he walks towards the entrance, his gaze falls upon an out-of-place sight. A small wooden table stands outside the fence, barely knee-high, adorned with a makeshift sign that reads "Lemonade: $1." Behind it, Daryl, a burly man with a Southern drawl, is busy squeezing lemons into a pitcher, his eyes darting nervously toward Rick's approaching figure. Rick's jaw clenches. He's seen this before — people trying to make a quick buck without the proper permits. He strides towards the table, his steps purposeful and authoritative.

"Daryl," he calls out, his voice carrying a warning edge. "What are you doing here?"

Daryl looks up, his expression shifting from nervousness to resignation. "Just trying to make some extra cash, Rick. Not hurting anyone."

Rick crosses his arms, his eyes narrowing. "You know the rules. No selling without a permit. You could get fined or even arrested."

Daryl's shoulders sag. "I know, I know. But I don't have another way to see Buttercup run today. She's my favorite horse, and I won't miss her race."

Rick's gaze softens momentarily, but only for a brief moment. "That doesn't change the fact that you're breaking the law, Daryl."

Daryl's eyes plead. "Please, Rick. Just this once. I'll get the permit next time, I promise. Let me stay long enough to see her race."

Rick sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He understands Daryl's passion for the horses, especially Buttercup, but rules are rules. He needs to find a solution.

"Alright," Rick says slowly, his mind working through the options. "I won't call the cops this time. But you owe me."

Daryl's eyes widen with relief. "Anything, Rick. Name it."

Rick's lips curve into a sly smile. "Meet me in the stables after the race. We'll discuss your debt."

Daryl nods eagerly, his anxiety replaced by hope. "Thank you, Rick. I won't let you down."

Rick turns and walks away, leaving Daryl at his lemonade stand. As he makes his way back to the track, his thoughts drift to the stables. The heat intensifies, and the smell of hay and horseflesh fills his nostrils as he enters the cool, dimly lit interior. The sound of hooves clattering on concrete echoes around him, mingling with the soft voices of grooms and trainers. He finds a quiet corner, leaning against the wall, watching the bustling activity around him. Anticipation builds within him as he waits for Daryl to show up. He knows this encounter will teach Daryl a lesson he won't forget.

Time seems to crawl by, each minute an eternity. Finally, the sound of approaching footsteps quickens Rick's pulse. He turns to see Daryl standing in the doorway, his face flushed from the heat and the excitement of the race.

"Rick," Daryl greets, his voice a mix of relief and nervousness. "Buttercup ran like a dream. Thanks for letting me stay."

Rick pushes off the wall, his eyes locking onto Daryl's. "Glad you enjoyed the race. Now, let's discuss your debt."

Daryl swallows hard, his eyes scanning the empty stable. "What do you want me to do?"

Rick, the stern security guard, approaches Daryl with a determined gaze. "You know the rules, Daryl. No unauthorized betting. Now, you're going to learn a lesson." He steps closer, his presence commanding attention. "First, you're going to kiss me."

Daryl's eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn't hesitate. He leans in, their lips meeting in a kiss that starts as a tentative exploration and quickly turns into a passionate embrace. Rick's hands cup Daryl's face, his thumbs caressing the soft skin of Daryl's cheeks as he deepens the kiss. Daryl's lips part and Rick's tongue slips inside, exploring every inch of Daryl's mouth, igniting a fire within them. Daryl responds with equal fervor, his hands gripping Rick's waist, pulling him closer as their kiss intensifies. Their breaths mingle, heavy and urgent, echoing in the stables. When they finally break apart, both men are breathless, their hearts pounding in unison.

Rick's eyes gleam with satisfaction, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Now, let me teach you about betting and horse races." He guides Daryl deeper into the stables, their footsteps echoing on the straw-covered ground. "In this world, you need to understand the rules before you play the game."

They enter an empty stall, the door creaking softly as it swings shut behind them. The dim light casts shadows on the walls, creating an intimate atmosphere. Rick presses Daryl against the rough wooden boards, their bodies flush against each other, the scent of hay and sweat filling the air.

"Take off your shirt," Rick commands, his voice dripping with authority. "You need to understand the stakes."

Daryl complies, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his shirt and letting it fall to the ground. Rick's hands roam over Daryl's bare chest, tracing the lines of muscle, his touch both gentle and possessive. "In betting, you put your money on the line, just like you're putting your body on the line now." Rick leans in, capturing Daryl's lips in a searing kiss, his tongue delving deep as his hands move lower, unbuckling Daryl's belt. "And just like in a horse race, the thrill is in the anticipation, the build-up to the climax."

Daryl moans into the kiss, his hands fumbling with Rick's shirt, eager to feel the warmth of his skin. He pulls the fabric over Rick's head, revealing his toned back. "Show me," Daryl whispers, his voice hoarse with desire.

Rick breaks the kiss, his breath hot against Daryl's ear. "Bend over, and I'll show you the thrill of the race."

Daryl obeys, bracing himself against the wooden boards, his heart racing. Rick positions himself behind Daryl, his hands gripping Daryl's hips firmly. "In a race, you need to find the right pace, the perfect rhythm." With a slow, deliberate thrust, Rick enters Daryl, filling him to the hilt.

Daryl gasps, his hands clutching the rough wood as Rick begins to move, each thrust powerful and purposeful. "Just like a horse, you need to find your stride, your rhythm," Rick whispers, his breath hot on Daryl's neck. "Feel the power, the intensity."

Daryl moans, his body trembling with each thrust, the pleasure building with every stroke. Rick's hands roam over Daryl's skin, his fingers digging into the flesh, leaving marks of possession. "You're doing great, Daryl. Feel the rush, the excitement."

"Oh, Rick," Daryl pants, his voice raw with desire. "I... I can't..."

"Yes, you can," Rick growls, his voice rough with desire. "You're almost there, just like a horse approaching the finish line." He quickens his pace, his movements becoming more urgent, mirroring the final stretch of a race. "Feel the climax, the ultimate reward."

Daryl's body shakes with the force of his release, his pleasure crashing over him in waves. Rick follows soon after, his climax overwhelming him. They collapse against the wooden boards, their breaths mingling, their bodies glistening with sweat.

Rick pulls out slowly, his hands still resting on Daryl's hips. "Remember this lesson, Daryl. Betting and horse races are about taking risks, but you must understand the consequences." He straightens his clothes, his voice firm. "You broke the rules, and this is the price you pay."

Daryl nods, his body still buzzing with the aftermath of their encounter. "I understand, Rick. I won't forget this lesson." He straightens his clothes, his eyes meeting Rick's. "Thank you for teaching me."

Rick's stern expression softens slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he gives Daryl's ass a final, firm squeeze and steps back. "Just remember, Daryl, in the world of betting and horse races, you always need to play by the rules."